I have had some talks recently and this is an outgrowth of these discussions with various people.  We were discussing the relationships people have with each other (within a Christian context).

The focus was on trust in relationships and how much trust people give.

It seems to me that people are not willing to trust as much as they should.

Some say that u get hurt if u trust someone who hasn't "earned" it.  And that they trust few people becuz the others havent earned their trust yet.

I believe this to Not be a good response at all (considering the Christian context)

I really dont see what it has to do with anything.

I say trust first, and it is much better that way.  And here is why

First:  By trusting someone you are less likely to get hurt, becuz they realize that u trust them and would reciprocate those feelings.  People like to be trusted and they will want to keep that trust.  You will find that you can trust most people (and it doesnt take forever to earn it) people are good beings

Second: Relationships grow deeper and they grow quicker with trust established

Third: Be Selfless (and this has many subpoints)

~Regardless of what it does to u, trust them, it helps them, and that should be your priority, put others first, put urself last

~If we are aiming for a perfect world (which is what we should aim for) then we should try to make this world a world of absolute and complete trust.  Now i know that is an impossibility, but just becuz it is impossible does not mean we shouldn't try as hard as we can to make this place as perfect as possible.  After all, that is our calling.

~There is the possibility of hurt and "getting burned".  But we should not avoid everything that has the possibility of turning out bad.  And getting hurt causes growth (now i am not supporting purposefully trying to get hurt), I am just saying that there is something that can be gained if pain should occur.

~Being selfless is aiming for a perfect world, it is supporting others and putting others before yourself, and that there will be risks involved but the RISKS ARE LESS THAN THE GAIN

Fourth: Focus on the good, be optimistic, find the good in people, quit focusing on the fallenness and the bad, find the good in people and the good in the world will follow

If this is not enough, then I can give you more, but who is with me on this?

LOVE is the greatest of all things, and what is trust but a form, version, a part of LOVE.

Show love, dont be scared (dont be weak) stand firm, put your TRUST in GOD and you will find it so much easier.  Follow Gods lead.  He trusts you so trust them.

Love them with all u can and in every way

Eternal life has already begun (Jesus came to give life now, not later, it has already begun)

Live like it

~chad

Now to criticize the chapel speaker wednesday

no one gets by me without a lil criticism.

He preached too much on not doing anything, living life righteously is good, but it is not enough.

You had better put forth some effort in doing as much as you can.  We all better die with regrets of not doing enough no matter how much we have done.  Because we cannot do enough, so we must do alot.

Now u are saying, why should i do alot when i will still have regret in the end.  It is not to get rid of regret, it is to do as much as possible.  Thats all there is to it, of course this is an ideal, but we should do more than the chapel speaker's example of the lady who on her death bed decided that it was too late to actually do something.  I am tired of seeing Christians sit around living normal lives when they should be radical lives.  Normalcy is not what we should be.  We aren't normal anyway.

thanx for readin, 

chad