The Disappearance of the Babes

I love reading Jarrid Wilson's blog post. They are sort little reads that shed light onto people in my age group.

As an almost adult {Yes, I've stopped considering my 19 year old self as an adult} making life decisions about life are starting to come into play. Wilson recently posted a blog on his Facebook page on why youngsters like myself are leaving the church.

As you may or may not know with the closing of my high school chapter and the entering into a new chapter known as college, the very real idea of walking away from it all [Church] became an idea I struggled with. As I read Wilson's blog I realized that was exactly why, among a few more ideals that I wanted to leave church.

So I'd like to take the time to express them.

***Disclaimer*** I by no means am saying one type of church is far better than another nor am I say that church should conform to meet the needs of every member.


1. Wilson's Reason: They Find It Hard To Fit In
     As I began to question where I wanted to go, the church that I was at seemed to offer little to no support for my entering this age group. I understand why, many college students will no longer be attending that church on a regular basis. So my options were to either be grouped with my parents {30+ year olds} or grouped with the youth {12-17 year olds}. On top of that our church leaned more to preaching to the older adults rather than the younger ones. Or the older generation expected us to be more or less heathens and were often shocked when we weren't. I'm not saying this model of church was bad but it was based around grouping and generalizing which often led to discontent towards others or the feeling of being an outsider.

2. Wilson's Reason: They Claim It’s Tough To Connect
     This is was also true for me at a sense. Before leaving for college my family made a really difficult decision to change to a church plant. My first semester I struggled with bouncing from church to church being in Greenville one week and Rocky Mount the next. I was always lost in the middle of a series. My second semester of college though I've made a commitment to coming home every weekend to be connected to my home church. However, often times churches tend to be so programmatic that either the same people are doing the same stuff or members are doing so much that they have no real time to sit down and get to know each other. With a lack of disconnect you often experience resentment towards others or a lack of true transparency.

3. Wilson's Reason: They Yearn For Organic Community Vs. Organized Community
     This goes back to being programatic. In an age of technology that rules our everyday lives, many people I know yern for one-on-one time. We find enjoyment out of going to a coffee shop for coffee and to catch up on the meaning of life or going out to dinner and laughing. Yes, we spend a lot of our time Instagraming, tweeting or facebooking but we yearn for a deeper connection. Many old-school churches make everything into a program. While attending an older church everything I ever did was through a program with set times, schedules and lots of organization. Which in idea was fine. I met people and got to know new people but often times after that program was over we all went our separate ways. A large ideal of the new up and coming churches is the idea of lifegroups. It's taking church to it's original origins: the home. Each week you have the ability to sit and life together with a group of people. It's easier to be transparent and to gain that one-on-one time. We yearn for that realness. Many of the people my age {And I think a lot of the older adults} are tired of the "Perfect, put together Christian" ideal. God called us out none of us are put together or perfect or better or righteous {Romans 3:10-19} yet as a collective body we act this way. My observation though is many my age are tired of this, we want realness. We are broken and we aren't afraid to tell you that or that we need a savior.

4. Wilson's Reason: They Are Turned Off By Corporate Gatherings
      I believe this point relates back to being organic and real. The American church has decided to divide God's Church. We do this by denominations, race, and ultimately by bricks and mortar. Inside the church building we have divided up each other by age, gender, relationship status and preference. Church was never suppose to be one building, Church is an idea, a way of life. You don't go to a church, you are the church. For many young people the idea of going to a room filled with religiosity and judgement is scary. We already live in a world where we are judge because we claim to be a Christian or for the views we possess and then we come into a building filled with people who rather display their judgement on us rather than love us. So the idea of judgement plus the idea of church not being a building but a collective group of people has lead to a new coming of age idea where we worship and gather anywhere. God is everywhere and so should we. Quick story, one day my best friend Meredith asked me to join her at a church gathering for college students downtown. I was down for it, I was in a time where I was really seeking God in my heartache. We met at a local resturant, ate dinner and then headed on down the street. Outside the door a girl stood at a table with a clipboard, checking off names. Meredith and I signed up and then headed inside. The room was dark, crowded and some Lecrae was banging in the background. We were at a club church. As the preacher, a man dressed in a snapback, button up and baggy jeans spoke the word I couldn't help but notice the yuengling beer sign that hung over him. Nearly every Wednesday since then I have attended Uprise and felt completely wrecked afterwards. The worship is real and authentic. We shout "Holy Spirit you are welcomed here." and people walk by the bar and wonder what we are doing. Many people would have be appalled at the idea of having church in a bar without giving it a second chance. God is everywhere though, He's in schools, restaurants, strip clubs, and bars, he's in living rooms and bedrooms and jails. His presence is everywhere. I believe the old way of churching is gone dwindle down and you're going to see a new age of gathering in homes and in unusual places.


I once was told by a sweet lady at my current church how she wishes there was more young people like me. I smiled at her and told her that there was. Young people like me understand that rules aren't going to get you into Heaven. Tattooing your body, dying your hair or having church in a bar isn't going to keep you out of Heaven. That ideal isn't welcomed in a judgmental setting, it's the reason why people left the church that our my parent's age and why people are leaving now. Pretending to be high and mighty doesn't win lost people because it's an ideal that is seemingly impossible to meet. Showing that you are broken just like the lost though is something that they can relate to.


I may be wrong, trust me I have been before. A new wave though of Christianity is coming through. Youngsters are realizing that being perfect is far less important than winning souls to Christ. Being real and upfront is overtaking being self-righteous and filled with religiosity. Programs are being replaced by relationships.

Have a Blessed Day,

Amanda Larson


If you want to read Jarrid Wilson's blog, here it is: Why Are Young People Are Leaving The Church?




PLEASE SHARE THE BLOG ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND LEAVE COMMENTS, I'D LOVE TO KNOW WHAT YOU THINK :) ALSO IF YOU HAVE ANY REQUEST FOR A BLOG LET ME KNOW

Sarcastically Single

So I was scrolling through my Facebook feed, like usual, and came across this article by Jarrid Wilson. The dude is an awesome Christian blogger who often hits exactly what I want to say on the head.

So the article was called 10 Things Single People Are Sick of Hearing. Okay, interest peeked for several reason one being I am single and two being that I love to just know that I am not the last person on the Earth who hasn't found someone to hitch myself to on this amazing journey called life.

As I read through the article I found myself doing what I often do best: Making sarcastic remarks about it in my head. Mainly I was picturing the people in my life who would say these sort of things and how I would answer them if I honestly could.

So I thought I'd share.

Question 1: “Why are you still single?”
      Well this is a very good question, maybe it's because of my dad and his gun collection.

Question 2: “Just pray about it.”
     WOW! I didn't think of that, thank you for opening the Pandora's box on relationships. I knew I was forgetting something.

Question 3: “Are you dating anyone yet?”
     Probably not. I have a weird addiction to nutella and my bed.

Question 4: “When is the last time you went on a date?”
     Well... ummm... that didn't end well so let's not

Question 5: “Maybe you’re just being too picky.”
     Really? It is called having standards. Look at where not being picky has gotten many American girls these days, have you seen 16 and Pregnant, Teen Mom or any other MTV reality TV show??

Question 6: “When are you going to get married?”
     Next month, didn't you get your invite? It must have gotten lost in transportation LIKE MY HUSBAND!

Question 7: “Hurry up! I want some grandchildren.”
     They are called arranged marriages, if you want grandchildren so bad, put in some sweat equity.

Question 8: “I have this friend…”
     Wow I am glad you have friendships, because if you try to set me up chances are you'll lose mine.

Question 9: “He/She will come when the time is right.”
     I totally forgot that God's timing was perfect, thanks for reminding me. I was starting to get a little worried that God was late.

Question 10: “Maybe you’re just called to be single.”
     I sure hope not because God has also put the calling on my life to adopt and be a wife and mother all of which generally need a spouse...




 With all joking aside though I have learned to be content in my singlehood. Right now God is molding the man of my dreams into the man I am suppose to marry and at the perfect time God will colloid our lives to where we will wonder how we ever spent them a part. Until then I am doing things to grow myself in my walk with Christ. I am becoming the godly woman that God wants me to be in my marriage and my own life. I am taking this time to do things that I may or may not be able to do with a boyfriend or a husband. I am taking time to figure out what I did wrong in my last relationship and how I can do it better in my next relationship. I'm not bitter about my place in life for my place in life is where God wants me to be. His plans are divine my plans are weak. I also feel as if God is making sure that my husband has enough time to grow a killer beard.



Peace and Blessings,

Amanda

***Feel free to share or comment***

P.S If you want to check out Jarrid's blog you can look at it here: 10 Things Single People Are Sick of Hearing














 

Run

Hey y'all!

So I wanted to take the time to give a quick update.

If you read my 2014 Resolutions you would know that I wanted to start writing a book amongst other resolutions.

Though many of the resolutions I have already failed at writing a book has seemingly been one of the ones I kept.

A few weeks ago I had a Christian Ah-Ha moment. It was magical. God revealed several things to me that week and one of the things was the idea for my book.

Ah exciting!! :)

Anyway I have {So I think} a lot of people who read my blog who don't see me on a regular basis and I use my blog to kind of keep up with them. This includes my ideas for my book. So I thought it would be nice to give you the names of my chapters.

Mind you the whole book is a work in progress in which I am seeking God and His guidance. I don't want to write a word or even a book for that matter that isn't blessed by Him and isn't ultimatum for His Glory. My gift I truly feel is the ability to use my words both written and oral words. I want to use every last bit of them to glorify my Father. So with that in mind, these chapters might change and the big idea behind them might change but right now I feel this is what God is calling me to write about.


Chapter 1: Why I felt lead to write this book
Chapter 2: Stop Running to Things that Don't Call your Name
     Things like people, stuff, addictions etc. 
     1 Samuel 3:1-10 
Chapter 3: Run Away from Earthly Greatness and great plans
     Never use God's greatness and His plans for personal pride 
     John 13 Serving is Success 
Chapter 4: Let God be Enough
     Psalm 3:3-5 
Chapter 5: Run with Your Calling
     1 Corinthians 12 
Chapter 6: Run Towards His Love
     John 14:1-2
Chapter 7: Christian Race is a Mud Race 
    Luke 9:23 


So stay tune for more :)


Amanda :)

Education

Honestly, the thing that has been a constant irratation of me this week is the lack of education amongst people.

It all started with my American History professor this week when he went on SEVERAL rants about Christianity and all of which had false pretenses.

Then today I was reading a status where a kid I know said 

1. We should have a Revolution

2. We should have a Revolution every 10 years 

3. He believes in make love not war. 

***Faceplant***

It made me think of something my dad has always told me. Educate yourself. 

Now it's true a lot of my political views align with that of my father's but honestly I have always educated myself. Especially now. 

However, this seems to be rather uncommon for those around me and it made me want to rant. So enjoy.

Honestly, you want to know why our country has gone down in flames? It starts with the lack of History.

Sadly, if most people would take the time and truly educate themselves, not being spoon fed by others, but truly educated themselves on the history of America and the World, you would learn from the mistakes of those before us. BUUTTT NOOOOOO! People don't want to live in the past!

Guess what y'all you are.

 By perpetually ignoring our history you are perpetually making the same mistakes that others made before.

Heck, let's just removed historical education and just leave it at education.

By not educating one's self they are literally expecting to be given the information correctly.

Don't expect Barack Obama, Mitt Romney, Matt Lauer whomever to give you honest information, because they won't.

Don't simply rely on educators to unbiasedly give you information because most of the time they won't, instead read, educate yourself.

Read liberal news and conservative news. Read radical blogs and cookiecutter blogs.Watch documentaries.

Learn the difference between each of the biased views, because trust me each view is biased.

Not to toot my own horn but often times people are blown away when I tell them GPA speaking in high school I was a B average student.

I'm just not book smart.

But then again other than a degree what is being taught and regurgitating information gonna do for me if I can't form my own ideas and my own opinions.

A majority of Americans are plagiarizers and they don't even know it.

Politically this runs on both sides of the asisle.

They take others' argument and make them their owns. 

I love to argue with people and you generally see this happen.

I can actually give you the stance on many arguements:

Abortion :

Conservative- It's murder; thou shall not murder,

You're going to Hell.

Liberal- It's just a clump of cells, it's a woman's right

Gay Rights: 

Conservative- It's a sin

It's gross didn't you read Leviticus?

Liberal- You don't choose to love who you love

I will not eat at Chick-fil-A or shop at Hobby Lobby

Guns: 

Conservatives: Guns don't kill people, people kill people

It's my constitutional right  

Liberals: Guns cause violence 

The list goes on.

Both sides think they are right. 

Both sides will resort to name calling and hatred if argued with. 

Sadly, this resorts from a lack of education on their part. 

I love arguing with people whose views don't fall on the same lines as the cookie cutter views.

See the truth is if BOTH sides of the aisle took the time to educate themselves they would know that on average women find out they are pregnant week 4-7 and on week 5 the baby's spinal cord, heart and other organs begin to form. Oh and every human till they die are a clump of cells. They would also know that instead of bullying women who have had an abortion we should love them and care for them because it generally isn't a warm and fuzzy feeling when you get an abortion. 

If BOTH sides of the aisle took the time to educate themselves they would know that yes homosexuality is a sin but so is adultery, divorce, gossip, lying, cursing, sex before marriage, lust, hatred etc. They would also know that though being gay isn't something you are born with it can be something you feel is out of your control due to rape, fatherlessness, etc. They would also know that hating those who are gay is just as much a sin as those who are actually gay. They would also know that just because we don't believe in it that we are afraid, hating etc. against gays, we just don't believe in it. Also they would know that as CHRISTIANS we aren't PERFECT we need just as much GRACE as you so please forgive us when we show that we are actually HUMAN and not GOD.

If BOTH sides of the aisle took the time to educate themselves they would know that Heart Disease causes 597,689 deaths a year yet you don't see anybody moving to abolish things that contribute to it like fatty foods, ALCOHOL, processed foods etc. Annually 42,000 people die in motor vehicle accidence. Yet, it is projected an average American will spend $22,000 on gas in their lifetime to fuel the on average $30k car they bought. On average there was 11,078 deaths caused by firearm homicide. Only 3.6 people out of 100,000 people would die as a result of firearm deaths. 

So with all that being said. Educate yourself. Don't take the word of a faulty human as cold hard facts because trust me reporters, politicians and humans have been know to lie. 

Until next time, 

Amanda 

Why I Need to Stop Listening to Sermons

If you don't already know I am a dork. Many of the times I rather spend my days listening to sermons and/or documentaries and eating Nutella than going out and doing the "normal kid things".

One of my favorite types of sermons to listen to is sermons that are based upon relationships, particularly marriage. I know, I know many of you are like Whoa you need a husband first or Whoa you're too young to concern yourself with marriage. False.

I listen to relationship sermons for 2 reason, 1. Being that marriage is a direct relation to how Christ loves the Church {Eph. 5:23}, if I can get a better idea of how I should serve my husband, I can also understand how I am suppose to serve Christ and 2. One day I will date, one day I will find a hunky man who loves Jesus and I don't want to be scrambling to figure out just what the heck I am doing.

This love for relational sermons {BTDubs, these are't the only sermons I watch} came during my last relationship. One that I crashed in burn. Which brings me to the title:

*****WHY I NEED TO STOP LISTENING TO SERMONS*****

Today as I fiddled along listening to Mark Driscoll's sermon called "Real Marriage: The Respectful Wife". I started off like "OMG I got this in the bag, I am respectful." However only 20 minutes into not only did I feel convicted about prior relationships but I also felt convicted of my relationship towards my father and brother. I felt like "Wow Amanda, you're awesome... Not". 

See particularly with my last relationship, I had been conditioned to think horribly about him already. Most of the time I was crushing on him I was defending his behavior. I already had in my heart what everyone thought about him and naturally I was always defending him. So coming into a friendship with him I didn't allow myself to get to know-know him, I just built on the negativity that I already had in my heart. So as we entered into a dating a relationship those assumptions followed. Most importantly I failed to respect him. I failed to honor him. 

I do the same thing in my relationship with my father and my brother. I am always the first to jump on their case about them doing something stupid. I feel the constant need to remind my dad how forgetful he is or remind my brother how stupid he is.

With that being said, I need to stop listening to sermons because I feel convicted. Like that's a sucky feeling. Like my ego-centric attitude is being tore down and I can't deal. Like what do you mean this world doesn't revolve around me and my happiness?

Amanda:)

Check out Mark Driscoll's Sermon :)

 

Love of a Father and Unlikely Friends

Hey y'all!

So I wanted to take a break from my usual series post and talk about some awesome things that God is doing in my life.

This last week has been probably THE best week that I have had. Nothing fancy happened. All my problems didn't magically fix themselves, but I had an overwhelming sense of both joy and peace.

Two Thursdays ago is probably when all of it started. It was horrendous, like no joke.

I like to think of myself as having high character values but Thursday night I let them fall. I won't go into detail on what exactly happened, those who know, know. It was bad and like good parents my parents pulled me downstairs and made me cry.

Okay, it wasn't necessarily all them who made me cry. It was mostly God. Thursday night was the slamming of a book. The finishing chapter. The light at the end of the tunnel. As I found myself once again running from the God I loved, I heard Him calling.

God knew I was tired, weery and mostly just broken. He knew that as I ran my hell-bound race that clutched in my hands was the piece of my heart, destroyed by my own doing. All He did was whisper. "Stop running." I broke.

Jesus held me.

One of the many things I love doing {okay, don't really love doing} is when I am broken and hurt, is my father hold me. As I cry into his chest he just steadies me. That's exactly what Christ did.

Fast forward to Monday.

After my mom had dropped me off and my roommate was out, I figured it would be a great time to read my bible. As I was reading I realized that was what I was missing. For the past 5 and a half months {I know people are tired of hearing about this} just complaining to God and asking Him, Why me? So like any good Father, He punched me {I am being completely sarcastic, about a good father punches people}. God gave me a wake up call. He said "Amanda, stop asking why, stop seeking for ways to get revenge. I got this." So I did.


So Monday was AWESOME! Tuesday was just as good and Wednesday I realize now I needed to step out and be available to God.


So I am just gonna fast forward through my week I'll just jump over a conference and a book idea to head into a new unlikely friend.


As I road back with one of my good friends last night, I was reminded at how blessed I am. I have a few godly girls {My age, I seem to have a collective bunch of older ones too} that continually push my idea of Christ forward. They are the girls that I know I could run with any problem and they would 1. Point me back to Christ and 2. Give me the best biblical advice they can muster up. However, I am continually praying for more guidance and more godly influences in my life. I have also turned my "Why God, Why me?" into "What God, How can you use me?" God delivered.


The other day as I was scrolling through my Pinterest notification {I was that bored} I stumbled upon someone who had commented on my pin. I wondered at first what it could be and I even scrolled by it at first. However something pulled me back to it and I clicked it.

The message was from a girl in TN. She said: hey Amanda! I have been following you on Pinterest for a while and tonight the Lord really used some of your pins to speak to me.. I feel like we have a lot in common and I'd love to be friends! Feel free to add me on Facebook. I'd love to talk about Jesus and missions with you :) I was taken a back. Like Pinterest? Like the greatest thing known to the Internet world was used as a tool for God {Mind=Blown}. So my natural response was to add her on Facebook.

Side note on why I add random people on Facebook: After my whole abortion post and some of the weirdos from that, I no longer fear who I add. I figure I can always delete them... or file a restraining order.


So anyway, I add this girl on Facebook. Right off the bat I just knew we were going to be friends. I spent a good hour talking to her and I don't think I shared that much of myself with a complete stranger before {Unless you count those who read my blogs, lol}.


God though is moving in a mighty way.


Amanda

“Since God is for God, and God is ultimately about the praise of His glorious grace… God is not after my begrudging submission but after my joy." -Matt Chandler

Welcome to the Journey: Greatest Fear

At the young age of 19 I happen to wonder very often, "Am I normal?". The truth is most likely I am not but if I am also being honest, I don't want to be either. Normality according to the world's standards is seemingly bitter towards me sometimes.

Meritocracy was never something I was taught. I was never taught to fit in by my parents. I however did a lot of trying to fit in during my middle school and high school years. Sometimes even now I try to fit in with a group of people.


In today's world though being better than meritocracy is measured by money, popularity and achieving the "American dream". It is about having a least a two story home, 2 cars, a dog, a cat and 2.5 children. It is about having a degree to go to work in an office and rise up the corporate ladder. Or in the new generation it is about having so much money that you have no idea what to do with it.

As humans, particularly Americans, we chase this idea of power and being better. We fear the alternative.

I don't want that though.


See after the week I had this past week, I have been so clearly opened to God that my fears are no longer the same.


I don't fear being poor.

I don't fear not having an education.

I don't fear not being a good friend.

I don't fear not being a good daughter.

I don't fear not being a good sister.

I don't fear not being a good wife.

I don't fear not being a good mother. 

I don't fear being easily forgotten.

I don't fear not being important.

If I fail to be rich, smart, popular, relevant or what have you because God calls me to take my cross else where. So be it.

I am more afraid in my life right now of wasting 5, 10, 15 years of my life trying to achieve the world's ideal of awesomeness and not pleasing God than I am of being looked down upon by the world.


As Christians we often miss this. Every one of those things I would love to be blessed with. I would love to have money to help others, I'd love to have a great relationship with my parents, friends and brother, I'd love to one day be a great mother and a great wife, I'd love for people to remember me and to be important, but I rather have all of those things because I am so clung to God's shirt, with my ear pressed against His chest that I can hear His calling for me than to flippantly chose that. But as Christians we often think that to be "good" that we need all of those. So we chase them. We chase after the worldly view of Christianity rather than chasing Christ.


So my greatest fear isn't that I won't be much in this world but that I won't be anything in Him.




-Amanda