Service
In less than 9 months, I’ll (hopefully) be finished with college. After that, what do I want to do with my life? I’m not really sure anymore. Originally, the goal was to finish up whatever schooling was necessary to land a high-paying job, and then start making a lot of money, buy a house, have a family, become a respected person in the community… you know, live the American Dream and all that (and presumably, in my spare time, I would find small ways to serve God).
But lately, as I’m reevaluating my priorities, I’ve been asking myself… is that really what I want? Right now, I have no long-term responsibilities. No commitments. No mortgages. Really, I have total freedom. Should I be seeking to trade that in for the ability to “settle down” into a life of domestic tranquility?
I know it’s possible to serve God with that lifestyle, but maybe I would find it more fulfilling to pursue a full-time service opportunity. A few 2-year assignments that look especially exciting are…
- Peace Corps (the only bad part is that it’s government-funded).
- North American Mission Board’s US/C2 Program.
- International Mission Board’s Journeyman Program.
I think the idea of going to a third-world country (or a hurting part of North America) and helping people is very cool indeed, and I think I could see myself doing that.
Whatever the case, right now, these are just thoughts/questions that are floating around in my mind. I have no idea where God will lead me in the next year or so. But what I do know is that I want to use my life to serve Him somehow.
Posted: April 8th, 2008 under Religion.
Comments
Comment from Marty
Time 2008/04/15 at 8:41 pm
I am proud of you for considering some ministry opportunity. A two year commitment is quite a large undertaking. There may also be some short term options available.
The ten weeks that I spent as a summer missionary in northern Alabama was an experience that I will always remember. The deadline to sign up for this year is in 5 days:
http://www.answerthecall.net/...
I have often thought it would be cool to attend a Summit conference. The teaching sounds first class and they have the conferences in such interesting places. The closest one is hosted by Cedarville University in Ohio:
Comment from Jed
Time 2008/04/15 at 9:21 pm
Wait, is this Dad speaking?? Using Mom’s screen name?
But yeah, the summit conferences look interesting.
Comment from Nathan
Time 2008/04/16 at 7:14 pm
Yeah, come to the Summit Cedarville Conference! 
Oh, and check out http://www.cedarvillesituation.com (or .org – I forget), and look at the controversial articles. Guess which fundamentalist wrote an article “supporting” feng shui? It’s hilarious!
Comment from Jed
Time 2008/04/16 at 9:02 pm
Nathan, I will (possibly) go to the Cedarville Summit Conference if you go too. Otherwise, there is nobody there that I know, so I would feel totally lost and lonely on campus. 
I will check out those articles at a later date. Right now I’m going to bed. I’m just about falling asleep here at teh keyboard, so if i start writing incoherent or anything youll know why …. zzzzzZZZZZ
Comment from Bethany Wheeler
Time 2008/04/10 at 10:56 pm
Proverbs 3:5-6