You want to know what ticks me off?  Church’s and Youth Groups that are surface level and shallow.  There I said it.  I’ll be honest.  It truly cuts me to my core.  This is so frustrating, because God created us to live for so much more than just a shallow “surfacey” existence with one another.  (sounds like a good song, maybe John Foreman should write one.)  As Christians we should be setting the bar for what it looks like to have relationships with one anther, and what it looks like to belong, and have a sense of importance and acceptance, and genuine love from others.  We have been wrestling with this thought and others recently in our student ministry here at FBC.  We have titled it, “Our IPODS are different”.  We have been checking out and studying 1 Corinthians 12 & 13.  The basic idea is that we are each made incredibly different.  And that is a good thing.  God made it that way.  Yet, why then do we want everyone to look like me, act like me, and be like me?  And then here’s the kicker:  If you aren’t like me, then we just can’t be friends.  

How do we develop community?  What ways can we grow together; Youth Group’s, Church’s, Blogging communities, Scouts, Biker Clubs, even knitting groups… How can we grow together and develop a sense of belonging?  This has got to be the most difficult question.  If I had the answer I would publish a book and sell it.  I might call it something like, “The Purpose driven life” or the “Purpose Driven Church”, or even the “Purpose Driven Youth Ministry”.  I have read all three of those books.  They are great books.  But right now I am looking for more.  

I want our ministry here at FBC to be one which is defined by love; Love for God, Love for others, and Love for Family.  How do we do accomplish this?  Do you guys have any ideas?  How can we communicate love to each other in a real, non romantic way?  How can we start right now and make a difference on our community here in Doylestown PA?

~Peter