Meeting with a brother the other day, expressing most of the things that has been troubling me, about relationships, school, future life, social life, my concerns for others. Afterward, he emailed me back with an encouragement and reminded me of Philippines 4. That Paul was saying he learned to be content in any situation, because of Christ.
I always seem to go to me and all these problems but i never seem to face the facts that none of my problems or issues matter, when it comes to how i should be living my life to Christ. That as Paul learning to be content no matter what happens in his life. Thats the issue that everyone faces, is that not seeing Christ right beside them, and that everything that is happening does not matter.
I wonder how are we to think " 8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you." I wonder how impossible it is for me to think of these things and how much is it that is depended on Christ to change me, and for me to remember him, but at the same time if my works does not show at all, how can i say i trusted and have faith in him, when i am not trying to do anything about it. That is the biggest thing for me, how can i trust in faith, what he has done and remember it and in that the faith coming from it will change me. When I look at my life and my actions has changes very little to reflect, if i really care about him, when nothing has changed.
But i guess that is where is about being content comes in, content in what he has done, content that no matter what happens i am still his. That content knowing that Christ has died for my sins and that no matter what happens in this world, i will be in heaven worshiping Christ in the end, with no sins to hold me back.
Because someone asked about what i am thankful for with all of the issues going around me and wishing things that will be different. The only thing i cant think of that i am thankful for is being saved by Christ from sin, and that is the bottom line of what Christians fall back to. If i was not saved i most-likely be a drinker of my depression so much that i may have taken my own life bring me to hell, But because Christ has saved me, i don't have to fear that anymore. But is so hard to remember these simple trusts and remember What Paul was saying in Philippines. Is impossible for me but with Christ anything is possible.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Revised entry on Friendship
About a year ago, I wrote some entries about how I think Godly Friendships should work. Now, looking back I think what I said was still right but in how friendship worked for me since then has changed some of my views.
First i will address about the different type of friendships, before i came to CBC. I always trying to look for mentors, so to speak, and people i can help. As, it being the older people, will help me and guide me and i am able to guide the younger people. I was never in my life able to find someone to be a mentor to me, and i did try to guide others but it never really turn out well, plus the fact that i am not in a position to do so. It gave me a almost impossible task, that I needed to find that Christian that was further then me in life and can help me and understand me completely, the issues i have, means i need to be all these things to someone younger then me. In my mind before, i just didn't understand why did i ever not find this person that i can look up too, and even if i think someone else was similar in that position, there was something about that person that ether they just didn't understand me as much as i want to or they are just to busy to get to know me that much. I just keep on thinking that one day God will give me this person.
Now after coming to CBC and being here for over two years, with the church leaders being so transparent, where they always remind people that they are sinners and have issues and thinks stuff anyone else would. Also, with the fact that there is not mentorship so to speak at CBC, i started to wonder if it was right for me to think like that. (as expressed in one of my first entries a year ago) But around the time I wrote the entries last year, i realize that i have not been very good friends to the brothers, that i have spend a lot of time with. After i realize that, i realize that being a brother in Christ, and being a loving brother to people, there is no real mentorship. It was as the Bible says loving one another with brotherly love. If i was really a Christian and i truly cared about my fellow Brother or Sister in Christ then I should be loving and caring to them and that is the basic. There is no mentorship involved in it. In a way viewing Christian friendship as a mentorship, the one doing the leading is almost always has to be right, and that is wrong, because everyone is a sinner and no one more right then the other person, only God's word can show US, what is right or wrong and what we should do about it. We are to speak to each other in love and Speak Gods word, not our own options on what the person should do. But most of all, just loving the person, if the person does not think they are being loved there is no way, they think anyone can help them and being hard on them is not going to help them at all. ( some people it may but most of the time it does not)
One of the guys i knew for a long time, when i first meet him, i think he was cold because he hardly try to talk to me, but i realize he was just not a very good speaker, then he become my teacher, and then he was like my older brother who watching out for me, but the more and more i knew him and knew that he himself sinned and seeing him as a person, and not as a mentor, he is now, i see him as a brother in Christ, someone who is older then me, who has his own sheep to take care of but he is no better then me, in anyway and if asked he will say the same.
One thing that must be noted that, with say people whom God has put as leaders over me, is not like i don't treat them as leaders, but i think of it has, First of all he is a brother in Christ, he is still a man and needs help as much as i do, but at the same time, God has put him as a leader him myself and someone who wants to help me and expresses issues, that he thinks i need to look out for, or rebuke me about sin. But if is just what they think i should do, it does not mean i need to do 100% what they say, is more like why are they telling me that matters, unless is clearly a sin issue. But all of it still comes down to if they and i understand, the core what a brother is to do for another brother loving one another.
As true Friends, we are to remind each other of Christ and be loving and caring to each other, not to boss the other person around thinking they can change their lives but knowing Christ is the one that changes lives and just pointing people to Christ, knowing that they are not any better, a Christian then anyone else, they need Christ as much as anyone else. Only in that way, where we can be loving to one another and not trying to replace God, or trying to find someone who can take the place of God, in their loves.
First i will address about the different type of friendships, before i came to CBC. I always trying to look for mentors, so to speak, and people i can help. As, it being the older people, will help me and guide me and i am able to guide the younger people. I was never in my life able to find someone to be a mentor to me, and i did try to guide others but it never really turn out well, plus the fact that i am not in a position to do so. It gave me a almost impossible task, that I needed to find that Christian that was further then me in life and can help me and understand me completely, the issues i have, means i need to be all these things to someone younger then me. In my mind before, i just didn't understand why did i ever not find this person that i can look up too, and even if i think someone else was similar in that position, there was something about that person that ether they just didn't understand me as much as i want to or they are just to busy to get to know me that much. I just keep on thinking that one day God will give me this person.
Now after coming to CBC and being here for over two years, with the church leaders being so transparent, where they always remind people that they are sinners and have issues and thinks stuff anyone else would. Also, with the fact that there is not mentorship so to speak at CBC, i started to wonder if it was right for me to think like that. (as expressed in one of my first entries a year ago) But around the time I wrote the entries last year, i realize that i have not been very good friends to the brothers, that i have spend a lot of time with. After i realize that, i realize that being a brother in Christ, and being a loving brother to people, there is no real mentorship. It was as the Bible says loving one another with brotherly love. If i was really a Christian and i truly cared about my fellow Brother or Sister in Christ then I should be loving and caring to them and that is the basic. There is no mentorship involved in it. In a way viewing Christian friendship as a mentorship, the one doing the leading is almost always has to be right, and that is wrong, because everyone is a sinner and no one more right then the other person, only God's word can show US, what is right or wrong and what we should do about it. We are to speak to each other in love and Speak Gods word, not our own options on what the person should do. But most of all, just loving the person, if the person does not think they are being loved there is no way, they think anyone can help them and being hard on them is not going to help them at all. ( some people it may but most of the time it does not)
One of the guys i knew for a long time, when i first meet him, i think he was cold because he hardly try to talk to me, but i realize he was just not a very good speaker, then he become my teacher, and then he was like my older brother who watching out for me, but the more and more i knew him and knew that he himself sinned and seeing him as a person, and not as a mentor, he is now, i see him as a brother in Christ, someone who is older then me, who has his own sheep to take care of but he is no better then me, in anyway and if asked he will say the same.
One thing that must be noted that, with say people whom God has put as leaders over me, is not like i don't treat them as leaders, but i think of it has, First of all he is a brother in Christ, he is still a man and needs help as much as i do, but at the same time, God has put him as a leader him myself and someone who wants to help me and expresses issues, that he thinks i need to look out for, or rebuke me about sin. But if is just what they think i should do, it does not mean i need to do 100% what they say, is more like why are they telling me that matters, unless is clearly a sin issue. But all of it still comes down to if they and i understand, the core what a brother is to do for another brother loving one another.
As true Friends, we are to remind each other of Christ and be loving and caring to each other, not to boss the other person around thinking they can change their lives but knowing Christ is the one that changes lives and just pointing people to Christ, knowing that they are not any better, a Christian then anyone else, they need Christ as much as anyone else. Only in that way, where we can be loving to one another and not trying to replace God, or trying to find someone who can take the place of God, in their loves.
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