My godbrother and I were having some small talk before our Thanksgiving dinner and we were talking about churches that I was thinking of attending in Boston. Being that he was a graduate of Gordon, also nearby Boston, he was able to relate to all the different churches that I was looking at. But he asked one striking question that is still coming up in my head constantly since that conversation: What are you looking for in a church?
Honestly, I really don't know. I feel like when I attend the church, I'll feel like this is the church that's right for me. I did that for colleges, can't I do that for churches as well? It occurred to me that the Feeling side of my ENFJ personality has been overcoming the Thinking part. Maybe I need a checklist of everything that I'm looking for in a church.
After some thinking, I guess what I'm looking for is a church with a tight knit community; one with people that could help keep me accountable with my regular church attendance, and one with older mentors that can help guide me through college and all my problems, if I ever have any. I think I already have one really high up on my list, but I don't know whether thats because I've already established a group of friends there or because God really wants me there. I guess, like a sister told me, I just have to pick a church and stick to it.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Monday, November 22, 2010
Community
In the beginning of the year, I had a sort of resentment towards going to Intervarsity every week. There was no point in going to large group every Monday if they were simply going to reiterate the gospel to me for the 28967104819th time in my life for the newcomers who were nonexistent. Yet, I constantly saw the same people go to IV every week and never understood why.
Lately at IV, we’ve been talking about family and how our group of students that make up IV at Northeastern is our family on campus. When we have any troubles, we open up to other brothers and sisters in hopes that they would encourage us and/or help us out. After a few more weeks of banging this material into our heads (which is a great topic i’m not gonna lie), it’s finally pushed through to my understanding of what IV truly is.
I now know why these people constantly show up every week. It’s not that they’re there to hear the gospel for the umteenth time in their life. It’s because the people in IV are family. We go so that we are able to fellowship with other Christians so that we may continue living as Christians and loving God. We go so that we have a sense of community and family-like values.
It’s only my second month here at Northeastern and I feel like I’ve known everybody at Intervarsity for years now. I feel like I’m so much closer to everybody in the group, whereas on the first day, I didn’t know anybody’s names. It feels so good to know that we’re connected not just by religion but by simple commonalities like longboarding or photography. The IV family is so open and loving and I’m glad that I can always go to an older sister or brother for advice on things like finding a church here in Boston or even how to pass my next orgo test. I’ve found my family here in Boston: my support, my friends, my community.
Lately at IV, we’ve been talking about family and how our group of students that make up IV at Northeastern is our family on campus. When we have any troubles, we open up to other brothers and sisters in hopes that they would encourage us and/or help us out. After a few more weeks of banging this material into our heads (which is a great topic i’m not gonna lie), it’s finally pushed through to my understanding of what IV truly is.
I now know why these people constantly show up every week. It’s not that they’re there to hear the gospel for the umteenth time in their life. It’s because the people in IV are family. We go so that we are able to fellowship with other Christians so that we may continue living as Christians and loving God. We go so that we have a sense of community and family-like values.
It’s only my second month here at Northeastern and I feel like I’ve known everybody at Intervarsity for years now. I feel like I’m so much closer to everybody in the group, whereas on the first day, I didn’t know anybody’s names. It feels so good to know that we’re connected not just by religion but by simple commonalities like longboarding or photography. The IV family is so open and loving and I’m glad that I can always go to an older sister or brother for advice on things like finding a church here in Boston or even how to pass my next orgo test. I’ve found my family here in Boston: my support, my friends, my community.
Sunday, November 7, 2010
What Gets You Up Every Morning?
What do you live for?
Some say friends, family, grades, school.
When I first went about this question, the first thing that popped into my mind was calculus. If you constantly follow my series of Facebook statuses, you would know that calculus is the bane of my existence. Why is it the one thing that gets me up in the morning? It doesn't even get me through the day, and it's the last thing I think about every week.
Reevaluating my answer, I would choose a more general term: success.
I said calculus because I need to be at every class so that I could understand everything that goes on in that class. I want to understand everything so that I could get a good grade on my quizzes and pull up my D grade from the previous midterm. I don't want any grade below a C and I don't want to retake any courses. I just want to do well so that I could get a good co-op and succeed in everything I do. Granted, I would not be able to succeed in EVERYTHING, but I want to at least put in the effort.
The worst part is when I study for hours on end and somebody else who barely studies and barely goes to class gets a better grade than me. THAT kills me. I constantly compare myself to others, and I set my goals so that I could beat the slackers and my efforts can be shown through my grades.
I'm in constant need to succeed.
Some say friends, family, grades, school.
When I first went about this question, the first thing that popped into my mind was calculus. If you constantly follow my series of Facebook statuses, you would know that calculus is the bane of my existence. Why is it the one thing that gets me up in the morning? It doesn't even get me through the day, and it's the last thing I think about every week.
Reevaluating my answer, I would choose a more general term: success.
I said calculus because I need to be at every class so that I could understand everything that goes on in that class. I want to understand everything so that I could get a good grade on my quizzes and pull up my D grade from the previous midterm. I don't want any grade below a C and I don't want to retake any courses. I just want to do well so that I could get a good co-op and succeed in everything I do. Granted, I would not be able to succeed in EVERYTHING, but I want to at least put in the effort.
The worst part is when I study for hours on end and somebody else who barely studies and barely goes to class gets a better grade than me. THAT kills me. I constantly compare myself to others, and I set my goals so that I could beat the slackers and my efforts can be shown through my grades.
I'm in constant need to succeed.
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