Welcome/Questions...Read Below for Instructions!

Hi,
Welcome to the McLean Pres. Student Ministries Youth Blog. Right now, this post should suffice as an area for you to ask anonymous questions that you may have pertaining to God, faith, or whatever. Just respond to this post by clicking on the comments button below (this post) with your questions, then I'll post them as individual blogs with a response that you can comment on. The questions are answered in the "comments" section of each post. You can view below to see the questions that have been asked already. Some have been responded to and others have not. Please be patient, each question will be given the attention that it deserves. Also, feel free to e-mail me directly with questions if you so desire. Please feel free to send your friends here as an outlet to reason or to ask questions as well. The only bad question, is the one that isn't asked.

Peace,
Derrick Harris
Director of Student Ministries
McLean Pres. Church
derrick@mcleanpres.org
derrick@derrickharris.com

Devotions Help Needed!!

Okay, so I was wondering if you could help me. I've been having some trouble with keeping to my daily devotions and prayer time, and sometimes it doesn't seem really, you know, GENUINE and from the heart. Like it's too much of and obligation and not as much of a privilege. I know, I've seen lots of comments similar to this, but I was hoping you could help me with this PARTICULAR branch of the problem. I just really want my prayers to be, kinda, more REAL.
Thanks.

Did God Kill Jesus?

This question brought up an insightful discussion with our Jr. High Students. This post is an attempt to summarize a biblical response to this question.

I Just Don't Care!

I appreciate what you said, and I know that doubting one's faith is in reality an assurance of his or her faith. I also know what it feels like to doubt my faith, and what I'm feeling is not doubt. The problem is I understand and agree with everything you said. I know that doubt in a Christian's life is necessary in order to strengthen his or her faith. I know that new believers experience extreme feelings of doubt because of their sensitivity to sin, and that mature Christians are, in a way, more immune to the "little things." I know all this and agree with it. The problem is that I find myself not caring about it. I don't doubt that I'm a Christian, I'm just afraid of the path I'm on. I find myself in Church listening and praying, "OK, God, help me here, I really need you right now. I know I've been saved, help me live my life right." But after I open my eyes I just go right back to not caring. It's not that I doubt my faith, it's that I'm apathetic toward it. Again, I appreciate what you've said, but what can I do about just not caring? I know how to be a Christian, and I know how to live a faithful life. I just don't care enough to try sometimes.

-Doubting Thomas (original poster)

Struggling with Living Life in God's Image?

I am struggling with living life in God's image. I sometimes do fine but then i put on my music and it gets me pumped but its all about getting with girls and cussing and protecting your reputation. It has a really good beat but it gets me mad and then I go do things i shouldn't. I know I should stop but this music is everywhere and when i hear it I instantly go to that place.

Struggling with Forgiveness?

I'm having a really hard time forgiving several different people who have hurt me and made my life miserable. They have all either apologized or gone out of my life, but I still have a hard time bringing myself to forgive them. I always tell myself that i have, but I can't really believe myself. I pray about it constantly, but i don't see any improvements. Any suggestions?

Spiritual Warfare?

I've been reading a book lately about spiritual warfare that was mainly about demons. The author, along with another well known Christian author, both implied that demons are responsible for our sinful thoughts and temptations. I always thought that was just our sinful nature and that demons COULD tempt us (i dont know about the sinful thoughts) and sometimes did, but that we were generally responsible for everything we thought or were tempted to do. How much of what we think ARE we responsible for, and are we really sinning if a demon puts sinful thoughts into our heads?
-Confused