I am setting out for the lofty peak which Christ obtained.
If a Christian, when did you come to Christ?
I don’t remember. It was at an early age.
What church do you attend? How are you active there?
I’ve been attending a lot of different ones so far. I will eventually choose one. I’m active in First Presbyterian church. Trevar and I go on Thursday mornings to help out with the food ministry that serves breakfast and lunch.
Are you active in the community?
I’m involved in College Life, which is a branch of Young Life, but for college age people. I work at the ministry thing on Thursday mornings. I’m a GRD in Manuey. (Here Dave waves his hands in the air excitedly, almost replicating a T’ai Chi move) I’m in T’ai Chi! I’m working on hopefully soon, volunteering at the men’s homeless shelter in Shelby called the Beacon. I possibly am going to be a youth pastor soon, which would be nice.
(Would you like to explain the youth pastor thing?)
Well, I’ve been involved in Young Life for a couple of years, but I really got involved this past summer. Basically, I had things friend who was in charge of Young Life in his area, and a few things feel through for him. He called me up and he needed another leader for the summer, and I was very happy and excited to oblige. So, anyway, I went and I was involved in this ministry, and I was involved for just three weeks, and the last week was camp. I feel in love with these students, and they just fell in love with me. Than I realized afterwards that they didn’t fall in love with me, that they fell in love with the Christ that was in me. At the end of the week, one of the students who had gone to church for most of his life, picked up the Bible for seemingly the first time and he would point to something and ask me what it meant, and I would give him my best answer. And than he would point to something else a few verses later, and ask again, “What does this mean?” It was so wonderful to be able to help somebody who was so hungry for the Bible and for God.
Now, I’m here, and I’m involved with College Life. College Life is good, but high school students are so much better. I think that I’m finding that I’ve got a special heart for high school students. And I just discovered this over this summer. And so it’s something new, and I’m still exploring and hence the youth pastor thing.
Have you been on any mission trips?
Yes. I have been on two trips to Jamaica. When people think of Jamaica, they think of the island, but once you get past the beaches, it’s third world. And it pretty much rocked my world. I went to serve, and to bring the gospel to the people, and they served me, and I was blessed ten times more than I blessed them.
How do you witness to people?
Hopefully with my actions, more so than my words. To be completely honest, I never have witnessed with the definition most people think of. I’ve never done that “witness” but I have had people come up to me and tell me how they can see that I live like Jesus. Which to me, is a strong form of witness, and it is sometimes stronger than words.
What are your parents’ beliefs?
My dad grew up Southern Baptist for a majority of his life. He would say that he is a Christian, and I think he is. My mother has had a lot of hurt done by the church, and by people who claim to be Christian. At times, she seems unsatisfied with the Christian faith, and she likes to explore other spiritual outlets, such as Buddhism.
What is your political standpoint?
I try not to consider myself on the liberal or conservative scale. I used to call myself a moderate but even that doesn’t seem to be an answer that I am comfortable with. I try to base my politics on what I see is most in line with God’s love, which often puts me in both camps. That’s why I don’t see the spectrum to be a good one. For some issues I will agree with the Republicans and other issues, I’ll agree with Democrats. But it’s because I use God’s love—I try to use God’s love, as a heavy influence in my political standpoints. Most people would probably say I am more liberal. Das ist gut! Ja.
What do you think are some major issues in the world? What do you think you can do about them/want to do about them?
There is a social disconnect between the Haves and the Have Nots. I would like to educate and guide the Haves about the circumstances of the Have Nots is what I would like to do about that.
There appears to be a disconnect between the teachings of Jesus and the actions of the Church. I would like to educate people, maybe even be a prophet to the church.
There is a problem with human nature in general that wants to, or is will to do almost anything to gain power over the oppressed or rather, not the oppressed, but the marginalized. And I have no clue what to do about that.
I was talking to the people who are going to Miami, and what we are going to do down there. Maybe bring them some food, water, bandages, and basically, we will be putting band-aids on broken limbs. But the root problem is the laws. We should change the laws. But the more I thought about it, that isn’t the real problem. When the people that are making the laws are referring to ex-convicts as monsters, that is a problem with human nature, not the law, and I don’t know how to fix that. Other than showing them the love of Jesus, which I don’t know how to do, because I don’t know how to get to this person. (Click here to find out more about the issues in Miami.)
Can I go pee? You don’t have to type that. Wait. Type it!
"high school students are so much better [than college student]"
ReplyDeletehaha