Temptations

When you come to college, there are a lot of temptations that you will face. For example, sex, alcohol, and drugs. These are not necessarily new temptations but they are more prevalent in college and with all the new freedom you now have, you will be tested. One thing I struggled with was all the freedom and having the power to choose what to do and when to do it. When you get to college, your parents aren't there to tell you when you can go out and who you can go out with. There is no curfew, rules, or guidelines to follow. You are your own guardian and you have to decide for yourself what is right or wrong.

If you decide to join a sorority or fraternity, the temptations will be much stronger than if you did not join. There are parties every weekend which have a lot of alcohol and everyone will be drinking most likely. I am not trying to deter you away from sororities or fraternities, I have a lot of good, christian friends who are in sororities. You just need to be aware of what temptations you are facing and have a plan of how you will stay away from them.

Some things that helped me not give into the temptations, were that I had good friends who helped me stay on track, I went to church regularly, and I joined some christian organizations. In order for me to not fall into temptations, I had to be poured into constantly by the word of God and to surround myself with people who had the same beliefs and morals as me.

So, to end this on a positive note, you can keep away from temptations and stay strong in college, you just have to put some effort into it and make it happen for yourself, not for anyone else.

Finding A Church Home

One of the first things that you hear upon entering into your first year of college is to find a church home and to get involved. Well, as a sophomore I can say that I just found my church home this semester. During my freshman year I went to the church closest to campus because I didn't have a car and it was on the bus route. It was a good church but it wasn't what I was looking for in that particular place in my walk. I first went to the college service but that was more for staying on track than for expanding and strengthening your walk with Christ. I then went to the family service and that was a little better but it just wasn't what I was looking for. I found my church home after going to it once and it just felt like home. It was the church I was looking for all along and it is just five minutes away from my house. This was only the third church I visited and was lucky enough to find it so quickly.

When you come to college, there are an overwhelming number of churches in such a area it is easy for someone to feel overwhelmed and not know where to start. My suggestion is that you pick a church and try it out for a few weeks and see if you like it, if you don't, repeat the process with a different church. Don't settle for a church because you don't want to go looking for the right church for you, or because one of your friends goes to a specific church. We are each different people and we are in different spots in our relationship with God and we need different things, so find the church that is right for you. The first church I went to I settled because it was the closest one to campus and because it was on the bus route. I had plenty of friends trying out different churches that I could get a ride from.

One of my friends has tried pretty much every church in College Station, TX because she wanted to feel and receive certain things from the sermons and from the church body. She did not settle and has now found a church home that she is happy with and one that fits her wants and needs in her relationship with God.

It is easier if you are a specific denomination, the number of churches narrows, but just because you were raised baptist or catholic, don't give up on the idea of going to a non-denominational church. There are a number of non-denominational churches out there that preach just as well as the denominational churches do. All churches are preaching pretty much the same idea, that Christ came down and gave His life up for us and paid the ultimate price for our sins by dying on the cross.

I am not saying that you should go out and find a church that fits everything you are looking for, no church out there is perfect and you have to be somewhat flexible when you are looking for churches. What I am saying is that you should not settle for less than what you are looking for in a church and to not take the easy road out because you do not want to take the time to find the right church. There is a church out there for you so go out and find it. Don't get frustrated if you don't find it right away. Be patient and persistent. God Bless.

Here is a website that you can use to help you look for a church in your area, http://www.forministry.com/profile/ChurchSearch.cfm

Getting Started

At first, I had trouble thinking of a topic to write a blog about, but when I asked my roommates about topics, they said to talk about something you are passionate about. There are two things in my life that I am passionate about : God and college. I decided to put the two togther and talk about the different struggles that christians in college go through and I will give some advice on how to overcome those struggles based on my own personal experience.
Some of the topics I will talk about are:
1. Finding a church home
2. Finding good christian friends to keep you on track
3. Staying away from the different temptations you might encounter
and many others.

I am a sophmore in college and I love the Lord but I struggle with staying on track in school and in my walk with Christ but my friends have kept me on track and I have made time for Him, for school and for friends. I know when many of you come to college, its like a whole new world and you are faced with many temptations, new friends, and a new life. Sometimes it can be overwhelming trying to fit it all in and do well. I am writing this to help you get through the rest of this semester of college and hopefully to renew or strengthen your relationship with God.