A New Prez

So, for my first post I'm going to address something that I feel I simply must: Barack Obama. He's our new president and I'm fine with that. But last night, when he was announced president, I was on facebook. And let me tell you, the Christian facebookers were sqirming. Almost everyone had a status update about how angry/terrified they were, yada yada yada.

Do you know how much that breaks my heart? The simple fact that a man can scare the people of God so much is not alright. People are treating it as though it was the end of the world. But, it's not.

This is a human being, a mortal. And we're all running for cover. And yet, the book of Luke tells us never to fear man, because all he can do is kill us. But we serve and love a God so much bigger than puny Barack Obama.

Another thing is, Barack Obama is not the Antichrist (queue gasps from audience). Yep. It's true. How do I know this? Two ways: One, in the Bible it says that the antichrist will come out of Rome. Barack's most certainly not from Rome. Secondly, I read a note on facebook from someone who we would probably consider a modern prophesier. They said that Barack might do some awful things, but that the end wouldn't come yet and we'd get out of this wealth rut we're in.

Now I'm not sure how much I believe about that, but I do believe that we can all make it through this, no matter how many of our rights Obama takes away, if any.

To be honest, I don't know much about him. I've heard so many mixed messages. Some say he's a saint, while others the antichrist. But, I know this: He has a family, which means that he's got to have some sort of morals and at least a little bit of conscience.

For the first time in my life, I feel at peace. I don't trust Obama, or the government. But, for once, I'm not afraid of them. Whatever they dish out, I'm willing to counter and stand up against. I've never felt like this before.

Of course, that's easier said than done. And it's hard for me to keep my cool when the Christians around me are running helter skelter like chickens with their heads cut off.

Honestly people, trust God! Have you learned nothing?! He is our rock, our deliverer. Yes, these are scary times but, I just feel like we'll all come out of these four years stronger. We may be different or have less rights, but I am not afraid. I know that the end will come later. If may be in my lifetime (I certainly hope not) and then again in may not.

But, I trust Him. And if I, a guy who is just starting to get to know God better, can do that. So can you.

Well, that's all I have to say about that. Ah. It feels good to let that out. I'm almost on the verge of not signing into Facebook for a few days until everyone calms down a little bit.

In other news, I feel like I'm being given an ultimatium at the moment. I'm stuck between the church I've been going to for years and this new church, where I feel that I fit better. I love the people at the church I'm at now, but I don't feel very connected with many of the people that go to the youth group.

I got busy, what with lots of homework and such, and stopped going to church activites and such. I expected to hear a barrage of "where have you been's" and "why haven't you been to youth group in a while's."

Instead, I got nothing. Silence.

A little bit before this, I had signed up for a retreat and I had hoped for the best. The retreat is this weekend and I was told that the people who had been praying about it had said that they felt that God would use this as a time to bring back passion and that something big would happen.

So, on a spur, I signed up. I am not very good with retreats and I'll explain why later. But I did it, thinking that it would do me some good.

In two months I went from being active in my youth group and not at all. Within these two months, I have had a the pleasure of meeting the Evans family, who have really shown my so much and grown so dear and important to me in my heart. They told me that they were a part of the Vineyard and I got interested.

I knew the vineyard and was friends with several people that went (a lot of these people have been the most honest, loving friends who I can really see are seeking after Christ). I knew they did SOS and Fall Weekend and how many people had been so changed through that.

My mom suggested visiting, because I knew so many people there and I thought this would be really great. The vineyard was a place where I knew people were changed, passionate and really doing something about the world around them (not that my other church wasn't).

I went and had a great time. It was a little awkward for me, but still really great. The worship service was inspiring and I really felt that this was a place where I might be needed and wanted, unlike my old youth group.

Thats when the youth group leader started to talk about Fall Weekend, a retreat this weekend. I was asked a ton of times if I was going and really felt that if I was going to go to a retreat, I might go to one where I felt wanted, even though I'm still not comfortable with retreats.

My mom signed me up and told my youth group leader that something had come up.

Yesterday, it all blew up in my face.

My youth group leader called and was asking my mom why I wasn't coming. She took about an hour to explain all of this to him and finally help him to understand that we weren't making a decision between churches yet, but we were just wanting to try out the vineyard.

At the same time, a mentor of mine who goes to my church calls me and starts asking me why I'm not going. It turned into a two hour long conversation. I guess, I wanted people to want me there but this seems sort of ridicious. I always wanted attention and wanted to impress everyone there, but lets face it...I never fit in there and its not healthy for me to keep striving after their attention and approval.

So, I'm going to Fall Weekend but not deciding on churches yet. I'm really nervous about the retreat, because I've had a lot of bad experiences with them. These reasons may sound stupid, but this is how I feel: I don't like being pranked. I don't like sleeping in a huge room with a ton of other guys, it can just get awkard. I don't like being forced to play sports that I'm not good at and making a fool of myself in the process.

I'm really nervous and would love some prayer in this area. Just pray that God would help me to feel comfortable and teach me a lot.

Well, thats all for now. Leave lots of comments and let me know what you think! See ya!

Josh