If you were here on Wednesday, you heard my rant about gender, right?
I’m still convinced that the Bible teaches that men ought to be 100% masculine and ladies ought to be 100% feminine. In fact, I am so convinced that this year’s Preaching Rally is focused on that exact topic.
Your gender matters. You were created in God’s image as a unique male or a unique female. You bear His image in your being exactly what He designed you to be.
Men, I got onto you a little for not serving more actively. I am naturally an introverted and shy person, but I still try to be an active person, regardless of my personality. I try to happen TO things rather than things happening to ME. I want to make change happen rather than passively sit back and watch it happen.
Men, there ought to be a certain drive in you that bothers you when you are not the one that is needed in a certain situation. If your life is so cushy that you never have to stretch yourself or get out of your comfort zone, it’s time to shake things up.
We do random things to help with that in the Teens of Faith. We have camps and activities and class time games. We take volunteers and we lay out service opportunities to see who will rise to the occasion (like frames, anyone?). We do a lot of things to stretch you past comfort and into growth.
Even our Wednesday night outreach practice times are stretching times. They’re awkward—and that’s good. They’re uncomfortable—and that’s good. They’re weird—I know!
I was talking with Bro. Aaron as we were door-knocking on Thursday, and I said, “It’s almost like the things we SO don’t like to do are the things that help us the most. It’s like it’s inherently good for us if we don’t like it.”
So, men and ladies both, learn to seek God in the stretching times. Learn to rely on Him. Learn to grow spiritually. It’s uncomfortable, but that’s usually what you really need to hear. Love God. Love others. Do right.
– Bro. Ryan