Dean will continue our new series called "Waking Up in Vegas" and will reference Jonah 3.  If you missed weeks one or two, keep up to date by watching the message any time at TheWellTallahassee.com.

 

Christmas on the Moon
Sunday, December 5, 2010 @ The Moon, 8:00 p.m.
 

The Well's Christmas Party
Wednesday, December 8th, 2010 @ Mint, 7:00 p.m.
 

(more info on these events coming soon!)

Convenient, secure online giving, is available at our website: www.TheWellTallahassee.com.  Just click the Give tab!

by Stephen Henderson

Driving down the road a song came on the radio called, "I'm Popular" by Nada Surf. I know we have all heard it but I thought... "What a stupid song!" This made me start to think about Dean's series on Ambitions and Waking up in Vegas.  I do not know why but bear with me while I try to bring all my thoughts together.
 
Growing up and going to school, you had your athletes, popular kids, band nerds, hippies, gothics, and Christians. Over time, the Christians began leaving their groups to become "more popular" and fit in among the other groups, which seemed to give them a sense of worth.

Back to "I'm Popular", there is no doubt that some people have it easier in life because of the blessings and/or talents that God has given them. You know who these people are or you may be that person. Things just seem to go their way. They have many friends, are athletic, make good grades, and probably are very ambitious. The type of people whom you might look at and say, "They're going somewhere in life".  They may have grown up in the church or have never been around any Christian influence in their life. This person can easily fall away from Christ or be the hardest person to reach becoming in a sense his or her own "God". They take the gifts that God gave them and begin thinking, "I don't need God, and I can do all this on my own!" or "Hey, look what I've done." They are caught up in a glamorous life style, sex, drugs, and rock and roll.

You may wish to be this person, envy them, or may even despise them. You look at them and think, "What are they doing? I would never do that."  It is easy to sit back, judge, and say what you would or would not do. However, you do not know what you would do if you had been blessed with the same gifts or walked in their shoes.
 
Sometimes our biggest asset can also be our biggest down fall in following Jesus. You see it in Hollywood all the time, in the rise and fall of stars. We need to be thankful for what God has given us and realize that next to our salvation, nothing was promised to us, and anything can be taken away in the blink of an eye. Proverbs 18:12 says, "Before his downfall a man's heart is proud, but humility comes before honor."

Let me try to wrap this up. Almost all of us have tried to define our self worth by worldly measures such as being popular, being in the right relationship, being ambitious and successful in a career, or whatever gives you a sense of worth. All these things will come and go, but in the end , without a strong walk with the Lord these things will just lead you away from Christ and you will have the feeling of 'waking up in Vegas'. Always keep things in prospective and know that following Jesus Christ is the only way to be truly blessed. Psalm 34:8 says, "Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!"

Remember, you will have friends, you will meet new people and you may become the person that strays from God but try not to judge or look down on anyone because you might act the same way if you walked in their shoes. The Parable of the Lost Son in Luke 15 and the Parable of the Lost Sheep in Matthew 18 are great chapters to read. Be a friend that helps the ones that stray from their Christian walk and reach out a hand to the ones that are lost.

The Well Classifieds can help you find a roommate, give a dog away, sell a car, etc. With circulation to over 700 people each week, who knows how you might connect! To submit an ad contact Matthew Robinson at matthew@thewelltallahassee.com.

PART TIME JOB
East Hill Baptist Church has an afterschool program and is currently seeking to fill two positions: an Arts & Crafts instructor and also someone that likes working with older elementary-aged students.  We are a ministry and therefore desire to hire students that have a personal relationship with Christ and will bring His love to our children.  Please contact Doug Bennet if interest at (850) 224-9918 or doug@easthill.net.

FOR RENT
Indian Oaks West: 1828 Apartment E, Jackson Bluff Road.  One bedroom, one bath, almost 1000 square feet of living space.  Walking distance to FSU, convenient to TCC.  Two reserved parking spaces, community swimming pool.  Available August 1, 2010.  $425/month.  Shown by appointment only. Contact Dick Holihan at 850.556.6820 or Garrett Waldron at 863.206.6988.

The Well is a church that is committed to connecting with the unchurched community of Tallahassee. It is the desire of the Well to create an atmosphere that is engaging to this generation in the twenty-first century. While the culture of Tallahassee is always changing, we believe that the message of Jesus Christ is as relevant today as it was 2,000 years ago. The Well is a church that will speak an everlasting truth in an ever-changing culture.