(NOTE: CATALYSTs, please read this entry and keep an open mind regarding this matter. This is for the good of the youth and for each of us as well.)
Too much of something is not good.
Even too much of the good ones is not good.
This is a potential concern being spotted by Kuya Ades and it's just wise to post it here so that everyone will be alerted of it.
In the past, one of the concerns of the youth (YM) was that people had their own cliques. An individual always hang out with the same people every Friday night. Imagine the new people who visits. They will have a hard time to get into the youth. It may even lead to rejection (without the harsh words). In fact, some of the regulars now in CATALYST went through this painful experience, and thankfully by God's grace, they continued to visit until they become regulars in the youth. This is not to offend anyone who used to lead the youth before or anything, they are stated so that the new ones who weren't there before will have the knowledge of the youth's history, even including the bad ones.
Lately, it is a victory that the atmosphere of bonds and friendships that was not too noticeable before is now clear as crystal. Kuya Ades pointed it out, and it feels good. We may not be at the point were the bonds are strong as now, some people may not be as connected to us and there may be some areas that we still lack, but still a victory is a victory, and it is to be celebrated. Thank you for the individuals who have helped out in every way, from entertaining the new people every Saturday afternoon, to the following up and the conversations that you have made with them to connect with them and be a friend to them. Your labor and hardwork is not in vain, and the Lord will bless you for that.
Yes we love to have great fellowship with friends, especially Christians. And it feels good to be connected with them, to be with them and hang out with them. BUT TOO MUCH FELLOWSHIP WILL RESULT TO OVERBONDING! Remember guys, the enemy is a deceiver, and he can even use the good ones for his primary evil intentions: to kill, steal and destroy. Fellowship is good. TOO MUCH is overkill. It can take us away from His presence. We might enjoy each others company too much, we forget THE ONE we should spend time with first and foremost. This is not an attack to the fellowship that every one in CATALYST enjoy, in fact we deeply encourage that. But fellowship to others is just minor compared to our FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM!
It's good that everyone is taking advantage of the benefits that Multiply (or any other social-networking site) has to offer, that many are having their own accounts, and that each one has a chance to connect and post replies to the photos, videos and other stuff posted in the CATALYST account, but getting hooked to it is another story. Because when you get hooked, it will take up most of your time, and when your time is focused on the computer (and any other stuff for that matter), it will take out the precious time you will spend with HIM. It will become an idol, and we all pretty much know that the God that we serve is a jealous God. We all know that he hates idols and idol worship. We know that, but are we absorbing it and taking it deeply inside our hearts or are we letting it go out the other ear?
This concern has been brought up to serve as a warning and a wake up call to those who may be slipping away to that horizon. We just came from a very powerful and wonderful camp, and it would be a pity that the fire from that burning bush experience will be extinguished just a few weeks after. We all learned our lessons from last year, and it would be a shame if it happens again this year and the years to come.
SO HOW'S YOUR WALK WITH HIM CATALYST?
Are you getting into a new season of intimacy with God, or is it just as dry before the summer camp? Please, review your daily routine. Are you giving God the time that He deserves, or are you rejecting Him without even saying it?
"Keep the fire burning on the Altar continuously. It must not go out" Leviticus 6:13
Is the fire in your heart still burning for God?
or is it burning for the wrong reasons?
 | i thank K'ades and CATALYST for teaching me to "keep the main thing the main thing"..^^ |
 | I myself am guilty for being just close to the people I knew... Coz I know the History of the Youth... And it was painful.... That's why I stopped attending youth when I was in 1st year HS... It's hard to lose dear friends... Thanks K'ades... We should dedicate our multiply accounts to God... God Bless (n_n) |
| Do not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God. Exodus 34:14
"too much fellowship can take away our focus on God.. fellowship can be a form of another God"..
Let's remember what K'ades told us "let's keep the main thing the main thing"..uu |
 | everything stated above is so true... im glad that we`re taking this seriously coz it may seem so trivial, but the results of our being obLivious about these matters` a threat to our desire to get more intimate with God and to keep that Loving reLationship we have with other beLievers... . . . . |
 | Mat 28:19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[1] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Mat 28:20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Luk 19:10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."
It's fun to be with fellow believers. I think that when we do it too much though, it becomes almost useless.. a waste of time even to a certain degree. People out there... actually, in our very social circles are walking on a path to hell because of their sins and they need to see that more than anything so that they can come to repentance for their sins. After preaching sin and death, then preach faith and life!!! there's nothing more amazing in this world to me than guiding people away from their sinful lives and onto christ and incorporating them into discipleship to grow and not to wither and die! May God Bless You Catalyst Youth.
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