While listening to the fish, I came to find out that blogging actually releases stress. It's a good way to let your anxieties out. Speaking of being anxious, there's Philippians 4:6. "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." So that's a better solution for anxiety. But blogging is nice because you can put all your thought into paper.
So I recently took the trip to Pennsylvania for the Teen Leadership Conference at Baptist Bible College. That was a blast. I didn't know I could learn so much in a day. An average day had three speakers. And honestly they were the speakers God was using to project his voice. It was amazing going to the workshops. Everything was so independent it made feel like I was really grown up. TLC really let you pick and choose what you wanted to do. You weren't forced to do games and the workshops weren't already picked out for you. Everything was for you to take the initiative in.
While I was there I took two two-day workshops. The first one I took was called Blessed Are the Merciful. Fun stuff. The second day we went to a nursing home in called Allied in Scranton, Pennsylvania. I talked to a woman named Rose Marie and she was lovely. (Which reminds me, I have to send her a letter.) She was a Jehova's Witness and it was a little big of a struggle explaining the Trinity to her. But yeah, I'm still praying for her. She was so cute. I really want to see her in heaven.
The second workshop was with Don Jackson. It was Answering Tough Questions. That was quite interesting. I learned a lot from those two days. We got a booklet to remember things and how to defend ourselves from unbelievers. It's how to explain our beliefs. I found this workshop useful with the Day of Truth (hopefully coming) and all.
Overall TLC was a big eye-opener. You can't expect to be a hero for God if you don't get up in the morning to do your devotions. We have to pray for success. Like Nehemiah. The speakers had a lot of good analogies. They were all pretty funny. I can't pick a favorite one, they all pretty much had an impact. Although, Mr. Dwight Peterson did kind of leave an impression. He laughed at me when I was running from the door to my seat. The next day he ran up to me the same way I had ran and he shook my hand. HAHA. He seems like a pretty funny guy. I hope I see him again. Mel Walker asked Ron how tall he was. HAHA. And Doc Harris smiled for forever. He just made everyday happier.
What I liked best about the speakers was that they all showed emotion. I mean, they were all authoritative but they had feelings too. Whenever they teared up, I wanted to cry my eyes out.
I got convicted lots of times. And I gave up my dream to be a journalist. You know, if God doesn't want me in film or journalism, I'll give it up. If he's calling me to serve, then so be it. I'm not willing to fight him. Peter didn't fight him, and he was close to Jesus. They went everywhere together. And it was here that I decided to serve God. You know it means sacrificing. But at the end it doesn't seem like a sacrifice because it will all be worth it.
Going to Pennsylvania took a lot from me. When I worked I had to save almost all my money to go. I sweated a lot carrying my baggage and my muscles hurt for days. I had to make a lot of cutbacks at home. But honestly, every single part of it was worth it. I would do it again a million times.
Victory Ranch came next. It was quite fun. Pastor Gary was great. He was funny too.
