school has started. and soon to be another school year of ups and downs and whatever senior year has in store for me. not only that, it's the last year for dances! oh geez... what am i gonna do? you know.. i think it's hard for some guys like me to ask a girl JUST as friends. i'm not saying that it's not possible, just really really hard. especially if you don't know the girl that well, and even if you do know the girl it's really really hard. i would like to say that IT'S A TRAP! hahaha, just kidding... but really. you don't want to pass up an oppurtunity to have fun with your buddies and of course with your date. i talked with some people about this and they know what i mean when i say that a Homecoming (or Turnabout or Prom) dance is an emotional high. sort of like how you get a spiritual high when you go on a retreat. and man, your emotions are so high up during these periods of the year that if you just might get damaged emotionally when you land in the pit and hit the low. and man, is it gonna hurt...

so that's what has been going on in my mind because neuqua homecoming is so close. and that is why i'm considering on not going... because not only do i have to keep my emotions in check, i want to save money for mis padres. i don't know if i want to close the door completely on going to dances or not

I liked a story that Greg Speck used in his book, Living for Jesus Beyond the Spiritual High, from A.E Janzen so here is an adaptation.

A man once came to a preacher and said, “I was filled with joy at TEEN CAMP. Now it has all gone—all—and I don't know what to do. It is as dark as night.”

“I am so glad,” was the preacher's reply.

He looked at the servant of Christ with astonishment and said, “What do you mean?”

“At TEEN CAMP, God gave you joy. Today he sees you are resting on your emotion instead of on Christ. He hast taken it away in order to turn you back to Christ. You have lost your joy, but you have Christ. Have you ever passed through a railway tunnel?”

“Yes, often.”

“Because it was dark, did you become melancholy and alarmed?”

“Of course not.”

“And did you, after a while, again come into the light?”

“I am out now!” he exclaimed, interrupting the preacher.

“It's all right, feelings or no feelings!”

(A.E. Janzen)

So we should follow the Lord no matter what we feel. And God says “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Isn't that awesome!? God is with us no matter what we're feeling. Even though Teen Camp is over and all that passion has died down, we should not stop seeking after Him in our devotions, quiet times, prayers, and meeting up with your fellow brothers and sisters at youth group meetings and Bible Studies. The foundation of our faith should not be based on our feelings. Rather, it should have its roots in the truth of the Lord (AKA Bible). Feelings may change every once in a while, but God's Word will remain true no matter what you are feeling.