I need help/advice

[gzus]

I need some advice


I have been a Christian maybe 1 and a half years, I just graduated from High School(barely). I am now attending a bible school, but because of my background, it is hard for me to make friends.
It isn't other peoples fault, it is mine. I really don't have any hobbies, I am open to anything, but I just don't have much to talk about because all I used to do was go to parties, get drunk, get high and everything else that was fun for a time.
Now I have to change myself completely, I can't hang out with old friends because they will bring me down and I will do the same things again. So I don't have very many people I can relate to and leaving those old activities out, leaves me with nothing to do. When I was my old self, I was really outgoing, funny, popular, fun to be around, but that has changed because I don't really know what Christians do for fun, and what I did in my past is really all I know.
I need some good christian hobbies to replace with my old ones, but I can't think of any. I need some good Christian friends.
If you guys have any advice for me, or websites to go to, books to read, or any encouragement from people who can relate I would greatly appreciate it.
- God Bless

 

[drdeancrosby]

Your bible college must have big problems.Don't they have any clubs,organizations or groups for their students to join and engage in after-school activities?Must be a huge budget problem of some sort right?Ok I'll give you an assignment for God.START SOMETHING.Forget the ordinary bible study group.THINK BIG AND CREATIVE.How about a group that will provide volunteer services for elderly and physically disabled church members?How about a group that will advocate world peace by teaching the public that Jesus' command to love our enemies and do unto others as we would have them do unto us does not allow us to go over to their country to maim and murder them!How about a group that would work with ghetto kids to help them with their school work,family relations and basketball skills?Just think of all the fun times you can have by starting a volunteer group at your college,working with other students,putting Jesus' teachings into practical action.Go for it man!God's waiting for you to do something.

 

[seangoh]

If you guys have any advice for me, or websites to go to, books to read, or any encouragement from people who can relate I would greatly appreciate it.
- God Bless

Reading is a good way to "get yourself out from this world." or to "pass time wisely". Furthermore, it increases your knowledge. How about looking at reading something from the sciences? Biology, Geology, Archaelogy, Paleontology? Well, here's a website that should be interesting to you as it talks about a whole range of topics.

http://www.amazingdiscoveries.org/index.htm

 

[wvmtnkid]

First off, start praying for God to bring you some good, Christian friends! Even though you may have trouble reaching out to others, God can still place those in your life that will reach out to you. And when He does, say yes! Do you attend a church? Get involved in a singles or a young adult ministries group. That is a good way to start making friends. Or really any type of ministry is a good way. Volunteer at your church whereever they need help. It may be hard at first if you don't know anybody, but the more you work, the more people you will get to know and the easier it will become. Do stuff that might not appeal to you at first. You never know, you might end up having a good time. If not, well, you'll know that isn't your cup of tea, and you can try something new. Just don't wait for people to come knocking at your door, sometimes you have to be the one to take that first step out.

 

[pmarquette]

go to a christian book store , pick up some cards , about the size of
a business card , but with cartoon and bible verse .....

look for some one having a bad day , give them a card and affirm them,
sow joy , peace , and light into their world ...

in due season , you will reap ( worked for me )

 

[desi]

If you partied before your Christian days you probably have plenty to talk about, I sure do. You might want to check around campus and join a few of the clubs. When you meet new people you will probably go back to your old outgoing popular self, minus the vices of course.

 

[KGirl]

You can still talk about some funny things that happend at that time.. It's probably better to tell stories of things that happend to people around you bc it doesn't sound as bad to say that it happend to someone else. Though if they're easy going Christians, they shouldn't be offended by a funny story of you doing dumb or crazy things or something. It's just you laughing at yourself and not taking things too seriously. You just don't wanna make it seem like you miss those things.
If there aren't opportunities to play sports, maybe you could put together a team of some sort. I'm playing basketball at my church.. The reading idea is good.

 

[EdmundBlackadderTheThird]

The fact that you used to do those things and now are striving through God to make your life more Biblical is an awesome testimony, you should not be ashamed to share it with others. Don't hide your past, use it to show that God can pull people out of any lifestyle.

There are lots of good ideas in this thread on what you can do, some of them will even serve to further your relationship with God. The volunteer work idea is a really great one. When you are a new Christian and struggling to shrug off the old flesh it is a wonderful strengthener to see your serving the Lord have an affect on people's lives. Volunteer work does just that, you will see results and you will be bolstered.