Well that was at our youth group and the name was moderatly intentional (not too mention our church gets a little obsessed with ackronyms sometimes). It was definitly a pretty hardcore night and touched alot of people I think, but now I'm babbling since none of you were there cept for Crazy boy of course. Singleness is definitly a gift from God in High School since right now we should be focusing on Him, school, and various other things and dating's really going to distract you from God especially when you start leaning on that person to be your everything and naturally you'll want to give your self to them physically. Dating, at least in the way it's come to be a very casual physical thing, in High School is definitly just another thing this world throws at us telling us it knows the way to true happiness and God's wrong. Satan's the accuser remember and his main trick's getting us into stuff that has us, unintentionally or not, saying "We don't need you God" by telling us this has all the answers. Now don't think I'm not saying that I don't desire someone to be super close with and whatnot as God created us to join with another in soul as well as body, but when the time is right. It's really hard alot of times desiring this thing that if I pursued it I could obtain it but instead restraining myself that I don't fall into so many of the lies this world presents. So obviously I'm not saying it's bad to desire this stuff God's created for us to experience and enjoy, more so that they're things not for us to have at this time. Remember too that we are not to be ruled by our emotions and get them confused with love. Aeros(forgive me if I can't spell Greek) love is a very passionate and almost lustful love that is very intense but very short lived, and this is what alot of people confuse with real love when they're in a relationship and for the most part what the "feelings" towards the opposite sex we have are. The kind of love we should have for all and for our spouses is what's called agape love. This is true love and the ultimate love as Christ showed us by dying on the cross. It is a sacrifical love that is a concious and deliberate choice to do so and a willingness to give everything, including your life, ala John 15:13. Now in every relationship we are to show agape love to one another and we can't be doing that if we're seeking aeros love from the other person. When we're seeking this love from another person it also pulls our attention from God when his numero uno commandment is to love him with everything you have ala Matthew 22:37-38. When you start to give your heart away to another your not loving God with everything you have and start trying to serve two masters, and this will drive your relationship with God into a ditch as you start to love this other more and more and will start to loathe God because of it ala Matthew 6:24. Now obviously a time will come when your ready to give your self to another and God has someone for you. As for what that time will be and how you'll know and what not I'm sure Elite and the other married folk out here can expound on this. It's a road we all walk and all stumble on due to the way our culture has trivialized some of the most sacred, prescious, and beautiful things God has given us. I'm out with my benediction for those who are struggling to guard your heart and give it only to God until the appropriate time as Song of Songs 8:4 says, "Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you: Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires."
-Trevor
-amusedtoe
Wonder if anyone will acctually read this through since I seem to have written a little mini-sermon. ;-)
*Edit* If you read this well today now I guess come to Gravity Group today at 7 at the church. If you need a ride let me know preferablly before 5 or after 6 since that's practice. ;-) Rides are no problem though as Joe's said he'd pick you up and Paul lives right over there anyway.
