(flashback to 7/27/09)
Got back from summer conference. Liked the message, but thought that the conference itself was kind of a disaster- people going off campus to do as they wanted, people messing around with each other, and general chaos/disorganization...
My thoughts:
hmm... one week til Teen Camp, and then one week til college. Whatever- I have no expectations of meeting God, especially after I didn't really [choose to] find Him after SC or any other retreat for the past year for that matter...
(8/11/09)
Boy was I WRONG. And thank God I was wrong. Teen Camp was different. It's not a spiritual high, because right now- even 3 days after it ended, I still feel nearly as passionate about Christ as I did when I was there. I like to think of it as an "awakening" rather than a "high."
The best part was that the people there already had two bonds- one in Christ and one as asians!
I really wanted to have the same passion for Christ that some of them had during worship and just in general. One guy I talked to- who I got to know pretty well during camp- responded in this way when I asked him about his passion for Christ: "the only reason is because of His grace." That really hit me hard. So many times, growing up in church all my life, I take for granted the real nature that is Christ. Often, we forget how much his sacrifice means, and how easy and lazy you can be a Christian in America, without persecution. Teen Camp really inspired me (plus the worship was awesome and not distracting, so you could really really focus) and hopefully that will carry on as I leave for college next week. I thank God for showing me something, even though I didn't even ask or expect it. This is a true example of Him pulling us back to the relationship, even if we have strayed and don't want to come back.
____________
On a different note, most of the Teen Campers were from CCUC in Chicago. Many times when colleges were brought up during the week, I got this: "YOU'RE CRAZY. YOU'RE NOT GOING NORTHWESTERN AND YOU GOT ACCEPTED?!?"
Getting ready for bed today, it kind of hit me. Northwestern was right there on my doorstep and I DID pass it up. Just like that. Yes you can say "it's more of a hype than what it's made out to be," but really, there would have been so many benefits: close to home, strong music program, big name, hardworking student body, right next to Chicago and Chinatown, I could visit my CCUC friends, it's right next to a lake- (water? in Houston? ha...), though the loans would be more than Houston, I would be paying considerably less than most Northwestern students. What more could you ask for?
Yet, I believe that there's a reason I'm going to the U of Houston. What that reason is, I'm not sure yet. I guess I'll tell you when I find out. What I do know is that I have to trust that God has a purpose for all this, whether or not I can see the end result...
6 days left.... My next post will probably be from the land of cowboys and country music.
Hasta más tarde,
-K.k.Z.
Got back from summer conference. Liked the message, but thought that the conference itself was kind of a disaster- people going off campus to do as they wanted, people messing around with each other, and general chaos/disorganization...
My thoughts:
hmm... one week til Teen Camp, and then one week til college. Whatever- I have no expectations of meeting God, especially after I didn't really [choose to] find Him after SC or any other retreat for the past year for that matter...
(8/11/09)
Boy was I WRONG. And thank God I was wrong. Teen Camp was different. It's not a spiritual high, because right now- even 3 days after it ended, I still feel nearly as passionate about Christ as I did when I was there. I like to think of it as an "awakening" rather than a "high."
The best part was that the people there already had two bonds- one in Christ and one as asians!
I really wanted to have the same passion for Christ that some of them had during worship and just in general. One guy I talked to- who I got to know pretty well during camp- responded in this way when I asked him about his passion for Christ: "the only reason is because of His grace." That really hit me hard. So many times, growing up in church all my life, I take for granted the real nature that is Christ. Often, we forget how much his sacrifice means, and how easy and lazy you can be a Christian in America, without persecution. Teen Camp really inspired me (plus the worship was awesome and not distracting, so you could really really focus) and hopefully that will carry on as I leave for college next week. I thank God for showing me something, even though I didn't even ask or expect it. This is a true example of Him pulling us back to the relationship, even if we have strayed and don't want to come back.
____________
On a different note, most of the Teen Campers were from CCUC in Chicago. Many times when colleges were brought up during the week, I got this: "YOU'RE CRAZY. YOU'RE NOT GOING NORTHWESTERN AND YOU GOT ACCEPTED?!?"
Getting ready for bed today, it kind of hit me. Northwestern was right there on my doorstep and I DID pass it up. Just like that. Yes you can say "it's more of a hype than what it's made out to be," but really, there would have been so many benefits: close to home, strong music program, big name, hardworking student body, right next to Chicago and Chinatown, I could visit my CCUC friends, it's right next to a lake- (water? in Houston? ha...), though the loans would be more than Houston, I would be paying considerably less than most Northwestern students. What more could you ask for?
Yet, I believe that there's a reason I'm going to the U of Houston. What that reason is, I'm not sure yet. I guess I'll tell you when I find out. What I do know is that I have to trust that God has a purpose for all this, whether or not I can see the end result...
6 days left.... My next post will probably be from the land of cowboys and country music.
Hasta más tarde,
-K.k.Z.
TC'09 STRONGER. Seniors '09.
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