End of story.

For real.
I went for a physical today, because my high school needs it.
And they gave me a shot. =[[
But I was brave and I didn't cry. =P
So they gave me a band-aid with Snoopy on it. [a.k.a Becky's husband]
=]

Oh, and.
I need glasses. =/

I've been asking myself that question a lot lately, and I've finally settled on an answer. Well, three actually.

[This will be quite lengthy. I'll apologize now.] 

My first answer focuses on people who are having doubts, and just not feeling close to God. People like.. me.
these people who have been Christians possibly all their lives, suddenly feel empty when it comes to praising God the way they should. They can't praise Him, because as much as they want to, there's something there. Something distracting them, or keeping them from it. Now let's say this is you. Then let's say.. at youth group for example.. they'll play one of your favorite praise or worship songs. You glance around the room, seeing everyone clapping their hands and feeling God. Everyone but you. Now see, usually youth group is the highlight of your week. But this time, something doesn't feel right. You feel weird and alone.
Even outside of church, You have a pretty busy life. School, sports, extra-curriculars, music, friends. In the past, you would do daily devos. But suddenly, God seemed last on your to-do list. You want to feel close to God again, but you just don't know how. You keep going back to youth group because you think that everything would eventually just go back to normal. But nothing changes. Then your youth pastor tells you all to spend 15 minutes alone with God, one-on-one. But ypu just sit there, unable to concentrate. All of a sudden the only thing in your thoughts are school, and your own problems. For as long as you can remember, you've never felt this way. So what's up? Surely there has to be something wrong with you. So what is it?
Nothing.
Sometimes, things get in the way of our relationship with the Lord. We still love him, but we feel as if something's wrong with us, because we're falling short. But the fact of the matter is, we ALL fall short.
"For all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23
So what do we need to do? Allow God back into our everyday lives, and then try our hardest to keep him there. In other words, spend less of your free time in front of the computer, or the tv, or your cell phone. Take some time out to study the Bible and pray. At first, you won't feel all that different. But then one day, you go to youth group and pray again with your friends, just sit quietly for a bit and just listen.. give God your full attention. You'll feel the difference. He will feel real to you. God never left you. You were the one who got distracted and pushed God to the side. Make sure that God is number 1 on your priority list.
This is a lesson I have yet to learn.

My second answer is.. the youth of this time.. are so.. ugh. It saddens me.
Just the other day, I was talking to a friend who had added one of my church friends on myspace. She said to me in school. "Hey, I added that friend of yours. She's super-religious. In her blog she's like, 'God cleanse, me.' I mean come on, that's so weird." She said all of this in such an obnoxious way with a snarky attitude. [snarky attitude.. Dane Cook.. haha] I felt angry. I just ignored her, but all that week her words haunted me.  I mean, if she thinks this of one of my best friends, what kind of example am I being? What kind of light? A terrible one, I would say.
So what part of this don't we get?
We have to be a light shining in the darkness.
We have to be an example.
We have to go out and preaching the Gospel, making disciples of all nations. [Matthew 28:19]
Or doing the next best thing.. playing in a band for God. But then we have to be careful of doing so much for God, that we don't have enough one-on-one time for him. But that's another topic for another day.
So what's up with that? I'll tell you. We're scared. Of what? Of what people will think of us. Whether we'll be accepted. Whether people will listen, or whether they'll think we're some kind of weirdo religious person. It doesn't matter. Look at Jesus. People hated him for what He did in his ministry. They hated him to the point where they took him prisoner, tore his clothes off, whipped him, condemned him, spat on him while he was carrying the cross, and finally nailing him to a cross and leaving him there to die.
But then again, he rose on the third day.
So we have to be willing to take that risk. People will highly disagree with you, but isn't that one of the costs of witnessing?
All that should matter is you're doing it for God's glory. So hold your head up high and do it for Him, knowing that in the end it will pay off in Heaven.  

Now for my final answer to this question.
People trying to follow Jesus are too busy trying to be perfect.
Jesus said, "Be perfect, therfore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." [Matthew 5: 48]
Many people misinterpret this verse. They think they have to be absolutley perfect. But no one is perfect, because perfection is unattainable.
When Jesus says to be perfect, he's not saying, "Don't ever make a mistake. Don't ever sin again." Of course, he doesn't want us to sin, but that's not the point here. The point is, he's saying that following him is a way of life. It may include some commandments, but it's ultimately about abundant life in him, and most importantly, love. Lving our neighbors, as well as our enemies. As hard as that may be.
Jesus is saying, "Yes, you need to take the life of discipleship seriously. But don't forget, it's not about the rules. It's about love. So enjoy yourselves!"

And those were my answers. Hopefully, you agree, and they've helped you in some way or another.


My God, what a world you love.