My Christian Theism gets Personal!

Hello, everyone! I now realize what a tame message board that this one is compared to some of the more militant atheist sites on the net. They told me that I would change my beliefs after a few days debating them. I have not. I will acknowledge that the atheists are some of the more learned and intelligent people in society, and I will also agree that many of the Christian theists are unable to provide any compelling reason why theism is preferable to atheism.
I want to try.....in this thread.
I am a volunteer with the denver area Youth For Christ. I and several of my ministry partners are personally involved with the lives of quite a few of the inner city youth of Denver. We see some shattered lives, and we actively seek to help these kids in the times of crises which they face. One kid, 11 years old, watched his Dad die from a drug overdose in the family bathroom one week ago. Several of the kids have seen a life end in front of them. Many of their parents are addicts or are in prison. we have seen how the government and the social services programs attempt to help these kids. The kids themselves will tell you that we are their best hope and their best way out of the hurting and pained lives that they live. We don't preach to them. Sometimes, we share some wisdom and tie in a biblical parable, but we believe strongly in relationship as the cure for these young people. This has been one of my strongest proofs yet for a personal God and an active Holy Spirit. God works through relationships. The facts show that spiritual mentors have a better success rate than secular ones. God can be challenged in an intellectual and a logical way, but when it comes to matters of the heart and of relationship, God and His people are leading society.
My point? My point is that without God, we would not be able to be as effective. Otherwise, many non spiritual counselors would have similar success rates. Anyway, it is all for the kids..not for our churches or our agendas. we do it for free, and we love what we are being used for!

My Logo was given to me by one of the kids. We all get along great, and my Logo in no way detracts from the respect which the kids give me. As expected, the only people who have problems with the Logo have so far been adults who find it offensive. You have to understand the younger generation. When they wear a t-shirt that says "Im a Porn Star" it does not indicate that they have any inkling towards that lifestyle. Same with my "pimpin" logo. Its just a caracature or a bunch of homies chillin on the street. At 44 years old, I hardly qualify as a true Pimp!

Brian, I am sure that you have heard all of the arguments from a theists point of view. I know that I have heard plenty of the agnostic/skeptic/atheist arguments against God. Why does He allow suffering? He gave us free will, we have a choice to trust His Son and let Him make all things right, and yet people think that God is sadistic and plays with humanity like a kid plays with bugs. You have to know that I trust God. God has influenced my life. I may not be able to prove it just yet, but if I had a while to think, I could tie together some stories which I believe truly show His influence.
If I am talking to a kid in Juvie, why is it wrong to bring God up? You mean to suggest that we simply tell them to believe in themselves? They have a broken image. They have had hurt lives and are unable to trust their male and/or female role models...often their very parents! I am not gonna be their Daddy! I can only tell them how my "Daddy" has helped me. God is like my Daddy. You may scoff. I will tell you that God is not a sugar Daddy! God is not a Disneyland Dad! God is like a Father who has never let me down. I am sorry for people such as you, DC85. You say that God was never there for you? You say that you once were a Christian? well, did you ever have a good sense of having personally "met" God? Did you ever feel safe and secure just knowing that feeling? What convinced you that it was untrue? Why is it so realistic to trust in ourselves and the natural world around us? This planet is no more secure than a Belief in God! This planet will pass away. This life has no guarantees anyway. People experience pain in life. Divorce tears relationships apart, and the kids suffer. Cancer and disease. Accidents, casualities of life and of war. For inner city kids, the casualties have been high. It is not enough to give them social service programs. It is not enough to think that they can be taught personal empowerment. They need an infusion of love, and of hope. If they get it from me, they will get my spiritual views and beliefs. My personal faith in a living and loving God. Brian, you may think that it is un necessary to bring up Christianity. For you relating to them, that may be true. If you ever influence any hurt people in life, I hope that you are successful.
DC85, I am sorry that your life has forced you to become tough and cynical. Perhaps it is what is needed for now. God has not forgotten you, nor has He ignored you. The option is always there.
All that I know is that I and the other YFC volunteers have made a difference in the lives of more than a few kids, and we are honored to have done so.

I was gonna go off on a rant, but I saw the appologies and I am now gonna go take a nice long nap! [This message has been edited by Phatboy, 03-16-2004]