From January 1st until January 4th, many of the high schoolers from our Church went on a retreat to North Carolina. Each night, a different leader spoke on a topic relating to rest. Now, this doesn't mean physical rest exactly, but rather spiritual rest. So, in this thread, I'll share a bit about what I got out of it.

First, let me mention a bit about our scheduling. Each morning, we'd get up by 8:30am for breakfast. At 9am, right after breakfast, we'd enjoy an hour of 'quiet time': time spent alone with God. We'd get somewhere quiet, and just read in the Bible and pray about a pre-determined topic. After this, we split into groups of 5 or 6 to discuss what we learned and such. In the evenings, around 7ish (after all the day's activities), we'd meet together for a brief 'sermon' by a youth leader, and we'd split into our small groups to discuss that again.

If I was to go into this very much, I'd be typing all night. So, I'll basically sum up some main points and then get to the real point of this thread.

Over the 4 days, I didn't actually learn very much about God or myself. Rather, this weekend served to reinforce crucial ideas that I already 'knew'. Especially through the quiet times, much of what I 'knew' about the topics went from being 'head knowledge' to 'heart knowledge'.

For example: I've always struggled with feeling accepted by people who truly know me. Many times, relationships I attempt to invest in soon prove themselves to be fruitless or walls begin to build between me and my friends. Now, I doubt this is the intent of the other person, nor do they realize this is happening (I don't think), but this is something I've always struggled with. I often feel as though I am not who I need to be, in order to have deep friendships. Now, while I'm online, I can shape how I look to what I want. In that way, I can get 'friends' because I've shaped my online being into something that people want in a friend. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not saying I'm deceiving you all. Rather, I hide many things about myself that wouldn't be appealing in order to get friends (or, at least, to avoid being ignored). I know that isn't a good thing to do, and I've been working on it.

To sum up the last paragraph: "I reveal what I want to be made known, so that I don't feel shunned or friendless." Offline, I don't have many real friends. This is, most likely, on me. I don't think, though, that it's solely on me. Like, I don't get many responses to a friendly 'hello!' or some such greeting. That's been changing somewhat recently, I will admit. Still, the vast majority of people I attempt to befriend won't ever talk to me unless required. So, as I hope I've shown, I often struggle with feelings of acceptance by people I know.

So, I should get to the point of those two paragraphs. Over the 4 days away, I 're-learned' that I am accepted by Christ. Even though friendships with others may not happen 95% of the time, Jesus will always accept me (as I've given my life to Him). For me, this has been incredibly relieving. After discovering and applying that mindset, I've already seen God bless my friendships with others as well. People who wouldn't really talk to me before, despite my friendliness and openness, now actually will hold a conversation with me.

The point of that, much condensed (well, at least the point... lol condensed might not happen)? For the Christian, we are accepted by Christ. I believe He will grant us the good gift of friendships with others, if we stop attempting to get noticed or whatever by others. God is our ultimate sustenance, we can be completely satisfied with His favor. However, God did design the Church to include fellowship with other Christians. So, I believe this means He will raise up Godly friendships that will be more worthwhile than any others we will have.

So, now to the point of this thread. I think it'd be a good idea to devote at least an hour each day to 'quiet time'. Like, an hour away from electronics or stress, to spend solely with God. Read the Bible, pray to God, etc. An hour a day can make a HUGE difference (and I'm speaking from personal experience).

So, is anyone else willing to commit to that with me? I'm assuming, from here on out, that this is for Christians.

If we aren't willing to devote an hour per day to the God we pledged our lives to, why do we pretend that we care so much about Him? I don't mean to guilt-trip anyone, but please consider that, when you got saved, you devoted your life to God. If you aren't spending 1/24th of your day with Him, then are you really dedicated? You can spend 1/4 of your day working because you have to, but not 1/24th with God? Just sayin... (also, I'm preaching to myself as much as to you guys)

A user of this : Man, I know exactly how you feel! In fact, I believe many people know exactly how you feel. I'm still like that a lot of the time. :s Sounds like you're sticking with it, tho, which I can't say about myself all the time. good job!

Also, Romans is an incredible read if you really read into it. That's what I'll be going through, starting shortly.

mrfe :


Quite time each day with God?

Been doing that since I was 12. I love to just walk around aimlessly outside as I brainstorm and reinforce ideological Ideas. It's very good for you, and it has helped me gain a lot of wisdom. I recently put the cap on my theology, I finally have an answer for every hard question that an atheist could answer. And I have an entire historical for important Biblical events. I'm quite happy actually.

Heh.

Actually, I wonder all the time how good a friend I am. I am a little strange, part of the problem is I've dedicated myself to seeking the truth, and that can put people off because I just love talking about anything. politics, religion, health, history, anything. I'm actually fairly different in real life, mostly in that I can just talk and talk and talk about this stuff in real life. But On Vizzed, I'm not nearly as patient. But I have been showing my crazy side more lately.

I've found at least two real good friends online. the first is Eirinn. and second is zerothesaint. Just because I can talk to them about anything. I don't exactly consider someone a great friend unless I can talk to them a whole bunch, if they don't enjoy talking to me, they can forget calling me a "friend" friends enjoy talking to each other, and they love it. The thing I hate the most is when "friends" put me on their list, but they won't ever talk. I understand if their busy, but If they never talk. It's pointless in my opinion.


I guess that the weirdest thing about me is that I sometimes look at things to impersonally and to technically. It is nice to be able to do that in some situations, but it doesn't always make me able to comfort others either.


But hey, if people don't like you. Then their not interested in you. Their choice. Although we must always analyse ourselves to be sure that we are representing God's character. If we are in line with the Bible, then that's all that we can do. As for changing our online personality, I would worry about it to much, I don't think that that's wrong, can't remember why though. In all honesty though, I don't care who want's follow me, and who doesn't. If you can't find a crowd to join, then form your own crowd. I did the later. It's great having a following of people on my own forum now.

Only through trial do we find the strength we need.

- Shadow the Hedgehog.


A use of this:

I only read a chapter a day of the good book, but I do spend 30 minutes to an hour reading other religious books- depending how interesting they are. j

Of the Brit Chadashah, Torah, and the Tanakh, I find the Torah to be the greatest because if provides it provides the baseline and the foundation for which everything else comes from. Not to mention, it's probably the most accurate of all the sacred texts, because of the way it was passed down. If they made a mistake while writing a new copy of the Torah, they would tear the entire page out and rewrite it. The Torah is the best!

Interesting. Since my point to about being a Christian was never about making friends. More about what your personal relationship with God is.

And you cannot hide what that relationship is to you. Who knows, having one hour of study a day is enough for him or it might not. But I doubt it it it will be about how many hours a day you studied the Bible.