Taking Risks
September 13th, 2009
Today was full of risks.
I mean, besides the obvious ones, like driving your car to church, or sharing something personal with a stranger, or breathing air.
I mean risks like our youth group worship team performing in front of the WHOLE CHURCH. Or Jason giving his teaching in front of the WHOLE CHURCH. Or me introducing communion in front of the WHOLE CHURCH. Or the youth group praying for people in front of the WHOLE CHURCH. Get the point?
Thing is, today was a great example of people applying the point of Isaac’s teaching to real life. Risks are a necessary part of life. If we took no risks, we would never taste new foods. We would never try anything new. We would never even love. That sounds like the type of life I, personally, don’t want. I applaud those who took risks today…but I alsochallenge everyone. Find a way to take a risk sometime this week. Share something personal with someone else, start a conversation with someone who might reject you, or volunteer for something you’re not sure you’ll like. Do something outside your comfort zone, and post a short summary here of the risk you took — and the outcome. I’ll be doing this too; you can call me out next week if I don’t post by Sunday morning. Go out and take a risk!
September 14th, 2009 at 6:25 am
okay, you have convinced me!
i will take a risk today. i am going to JUMP off a 100 foot tall bridge and try to survive.
i will let you know how it goes.
September 14th, 2009 at 12:18 pm
Isaac’s teaching really made me think. Last night I had a hard time going to sleep ‘cuz my mind was running a million miles per hour.
But our relationship with God is all about risks. I’m going to make a bold statement: It is impossible to truly trust God without taking risks. Getting out of our comfort zones and into the unknown makes us uncomfortable enough to get out of the “me, me” thinking and begin to focus and rely on God.
If all we ever did at church and youth group was stand in the back and observe worship and brush off the teachings, we would have one heck of a boring relationship with God! Personally, I’m glad I’m not part of a traditional, rules-based church. No offense to them, but I don’t think that risk-taking is a big part of their growing as a church.
I applaud you, Walker. What a great teaching!
September 17th, 2009 at 3:13 pm
Taliah is def right. God gives us opportunities and it’s our job to take them. Jason and Isaac’s teachings were great! good job guys!:) FROG yall-Sarah
September 17th, 2009 at 5:20 pm
On Wednesday I was riding my horse and he didn’t seem to be stepping quite right. I was going to go ask Emily (a horse trainer) to look at him, but then I started thinking, “Well, what if nothing’s wrong and my horse is just a little sore? I don’t want to interrupt Emily for nothing. I’d feel really stupid.” Maybe it was because of the feeling I’d had all day that something wasn’t quite right with my horse, or maybe it was God, but I finally made up my mind to go and talk to Emily.
It was terrifying for me do–even though Emily is such a wonderful woman of God–but as it turned out, I was completely correct in my feeling that my horse was more than stiff. We ended up having to give my horse pain killer and treat one of his legs. Thank God I didn’t give into my fear!
September 20th, 2009 at 6:47 am
All right, so late post. Sorry, guys. Been pretty busy…besides, I just forgot, lol.
So this week I started sitting next to a couple girls I’ve been making friends with. Not a huge deal, right? But for me it was really hard because I’m constantly thinking about what other people think about me. So that was my risk for the week. See, not that hard, right? More of you need to post, too. Just sayin’.
September 20th, 2009 at 7:44 am
Lately I’ve been seeing that like Taliah said before that it’s impossible to have a healthy, growing relationship with God without taking risks. Taking a risk is like eating protein during a growth spurt (or some other wise simile)
After some rest and proper care of your body over time, that protein translates into growth. Thing is, we have to take care of our bodies/relationships with God even before the risk, or we won’t be ready to swallow some protein, if ya know what i mean.
A risk I took in the last week… I’ve been talking some with two (separate) people in a friendly way that I had not been at peace with. Not ginourmous, but I consciously made an effort to restore the bond of peace with these two people that before I wasn’t on bad terms with but there was a kind of disunity present that i didn’t like. Not that hard, but its a stepping stone for bigger things. anyone else besides the faithful Kurylaks and the one who gave the teaching?
September 20th, 2009 at 6:44 pm
This teaching really made me think too…I think we all hear people tell us that we shouldn’t be satisfied with our relationship with God, and that we should always pursue a deeper relationship. I was thinking about it, and really, there isn’t any growth without risk. In my life, growth and a deeper relationship with God have always followed after some kind of risk.
Great teaching Isaac!
September 20th, 2009 at 6:46 pm
Once again…..nice picture