Alex on #Guys ...what else?

We've started talking about dating at Varsity. Dating is a very interesting topic, if I call it that. I don't know if my story is like yours, but I have never dated anyone. It's not that I haven't liked guys (I do), its because I haven't felt like God was giving me the "go-ahead". Plus, I'm very traditional, and I'd like the guy to make the first move. And since none have... Well, you know how it goes.

Tonight at Varsity, we talked about guys. I know you've heard it all before: Guys are visual, guys don't show emotion, guys are rude and think bodily functions are funny... All of those in true in some capacity. But here's something you probably didn't know.

Guys are and need to be manly. It's a guy thing. I was talking with a group of friends (all girls). Some had boyfriends and some didn't. They kept saying things like: I wish guys were nicer, I wish guys didn't stare, Wouldn't it be better if guys were easier to talk to, I wish guys were more sensitive... And it began to dawn on me that they were asking guys to be girls! Listen, there's nothing wrong with guys being masculine. In fact, nothing is more "hot" than a masculine guy who knows how and when to demonstrate his strength.

So, guys... Be guys. And girls - let the guys be guys.

Alex W / Message Writer

Alex on #Prayer

Read these three scenarios and see if you can identify with them.

#1 - Clara is a nice girl and she always wants to hang out with people. Sometimes she can come off as a little bit needy, though, because she's upset if one of her friends can't hang out on the weekends. She's always asking them to come over or to do something with her. If they don't want to spend time with her or take her places, she becomes upset.

#2 - Jason's dad has been emotionally absent from his life. Sure, his parents are still together and his dad lives in his house, but his dad doesn't normally take him to sports games or anything like that. When Jason brings home straight A report cards, his dad treats Jason well, but as soon as Jason makes a B or C, his dad is angry. Likewise with making sports teams or school organizations. Jason feels like he is constantly vying for his father's acceptance and support.

#3 - Rachel and her boyfriend are attending colleges in different states. Trying to maintain their relationship from high school as they start attending college has been very difficult, not to mention staying in touch. They keep up conversation by texting goodnight every evening and by calling to talk every Thursday, the day neither of them have work or other activities. It's still difficult, and sometimes Rachel wonders if she's still getting through to him.

I chose these specific scenarios because I believe that they all relate to God. Look back up and see if you recognize your relationship with God in them.

I'll help you out: You are like "Clara" if you constantly want stuff from God without developing a deep relationship with him. Maybe it's material things, certain feelings, or relationships. You are like "Jason" if you think that God doesn't accept you for who you are or that he isn't interested in your life. But you may be like "Rachel" - it's hard to endure a "long-distance" relationship with God, but you're trying your best to sustain it.

Listen, there are 3 things God is NOT. God is not a vending machine; God is not mad at you; and God is not far away from you.

In reality, God loves you. He will always give you what you need, not necessarily what you want. God wants to hear from you when things are bad, and when things are good. God desires that we tell him everything. Like Aaron said, "Tell God the truth. He's big enough to handle it." God wants to communicate with us just the way we are.

Think about it this way: When you send a text message to Twitter or Facebook Mobile, send up a prayer to God. If your status says, "Varsity was awesome!", then thank God for Varsity and the people who put it together. God wants to know what's on your mind. Go tell him!

Alex on #Stuff

Picture this: You come home from school and barge in the front door. You shove your iPhone in your mom's face and start explaining how your friend Casey bumped your arm and you dropped the phone and the screen is cracked and you need a new one. Your mom barely glances at the phone before saying something like, "I don't think you'll get a new one."

You put the phone on the table and run up to your room, slamming the door behind you. You had a pretty bad day and you can't believe your iPhone is broken. You can still see the screen, but you'd really like a new phone, even though you just got this one for Christmas.

Later, your mom and dad come up to your room together. Your mom sits on the end of the end of the bed while your dad sits in your desk chair. They calmly explain how your family is going to have to move. They can't afford the house you're living in. Your dad tells you that you will have to share a room with your younger sister/brother who drives you crazy. Your mom tells you there probably won't be enough room in the bedroom for your desk and you will have to sell it. As your parents are leaving, your dad makes a negative remark about all the stuff in your room. You slam the door behind them because you are so angry. But then you sit on the floor and look around you. There's a 1st generation iPod Touch on the floor which you don't use anymore since you got your iPhone. Near it is that book you begged your mom to buy that you "haven't found time" to read yet. There's also a couple games you've only played a couple times.

Is this starting to sound familiar? Sure, you may not have an iPhone. You may not have to move. You may not feel very rich at all. But seriously, compared to a vast majority of the world, we are quite rich!

James says to us, "Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you." (James 5:1) He goes on to say that wealth and money will not provide security or happiness to us. How many wealthy celebrities are facing problems right now? How many are in drug rehab centers or dealing with nasty divorces? Money doesn't make our problems go away.

However, money isn't bad. Dave Ramsey says that money is like a brick. You can use it for bad (like throwing it through a window) or good (like building a church). It's up to you.

We, as rich people, need to learn to live for something bigger than ourselves. See, God has this super-mega plan for the world which involves each person in a significant way. When we focus on how we can use our money, our talents, and our time in meaningful ways for other people, we can further God's plan and obey his commands.

Keep in mind, also, that God will not give you what you want just because you do what he wants. God isn't a vending machine. Be willing to do what is right even if you don't get any earthly rewards. Matthew 6:20 says, "But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal."

Alex W / Message Writer