[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”3.0.47″][et_pb_fullwidth_header title=”6 Months In!” subhead=”July 6, 2018 | True Story Project” background_layout=”dark” background_overlay_color=”rgba(38,38,38,0.32)” _builder_version=”3.0.92″ background_image=”https://truestoryproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/True.jpg” custom_padding=”200px||200px|” text_orientation=”left” header_fullscreen=”off” header_scroll_down=”off” image_orientation=”center” content_orientation=”center” custom_button_two=”off” button_two_icon_placement=”right” custom_button_one=”off” button_one_icon_placement=”right” /][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.0.47″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.0.92″ background_layout=”light”]
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]his week we reach the middle point of our one-year-long “True Story Project”! So far we’ve had six months of simple, and real ‘behind-the-scenes’ stories of life shared by young Christians from all different walks of life.
In December last year, I was chatting with a group of friends as we were just beginning work, leaving school and cracking on at university. While we were discussing together the huge transition from school to the wider world we realised that growing up and living life brings a whole heap of different changes, challenges, and experiences. Throughout all these changes, we had found it immensely helpful for our faith and walk with God to share with each other our stories of life — with all its lows and highs. We wanted to open up the conversation to a wider audience, in the hope that you as the reader will be inspired to seek God more, encouraged that there are others in your shoes, and challenged to live differently.
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The beginning of the year, January, is a time when we tend to encounter ‘Expectations’. Often the things we expect from others and what others expect from us are often very far from the reality. So then, we shared stories about expectations from God, yourself, friends, and family. Here’s what one writer learnt about experiencing expectations from friends, “It turns out that these expectations provide great opportunities to challenge presumptions and show people an authentic love for Jesus and, most importantly, his love for them. Every expectation is an opportunity for authenticity.”
[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.0.92″ custom_padding=”||1px|”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_image _builder_version=”3.0.92″ src=”https://truestoryproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/FebruaryTheme.jpg” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” force_fullwidth=”off” show_bottom_space=”on” animation_direction=”left” animation_duration=”1900ms” disabled=”off” disabled_on=”off|off|” animation_style=”fade” url=”https://truestoryproject.org/relationships/” /][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_3″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.0.92″ background_layout=”light”]
In our culture, relationships are a big deal and often at the front of young people’s minds. So then, in February, the month of Valentines Day, we wanted to ask how we navigate the tricky world of relationships — What is the Christian response to a world where love is a buzzword and singleness is strange?
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March is the beginning of Lent, a time for remembering the time when Jesus went without food and drink. Jesus became human for our sake and He made the ultimate sacrifice of giving up His life for our salvation. Today, this sort of sacrifice is a really difficult challenge and totally countercultural. So then, what does sacrifice even mean? How do we sacrifice in our day-to-day life?
[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.0.92″ custom_padding=”||1px|”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_image _builder_version=”3.0.92″ src=”https://truestoryproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/shutterstock_252125971-LoRes.jpg” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” force_fullwidth=”off” show_bottom_space=”on” animation_direction=”left” animation_duration=”1900ms” disabled=”off” disabled_on=”off|off|” animation_style=”fade” url=”https://truestoryproject.org/happiness/” /][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_3″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.0.92″ background_layout=”light”]
What does it mean to be happy? Am I happy? Is it ok not to be happy all the time? Happiness is one of the most enticing and elusive things ever, so we decided to spend April sharing stories about the depths of joy found in walking with Jesus. This was one our favourite months because it touched on something that is right at the core of human experience — the pursuit of happiness. Through our stories, we hoped to show how this pursuit can only be satisfied in the all-out-pursuit of following Jesus.
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During May, we touched on something that was underlying at least one of the stories about happiness — Anxiety. Anxiety takes many different forms and most people face in some way. We all need to find ways of coping with stress, worry and struggles with anxiety. One of our writers shared this, “…Don’t believe the lie that God isn’t there for you. Don’t make yourself guilty over what you feel. It’s all part of being human, and Jesus knows what that is like best of all…”. In the next story, the author wrote, ”We have a kind Father who is prepared to let us suffer and struggle, within limits, to discover that deeper vein of heroism within ourselves”.
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In June we have looked more specifically at how faith has a direct impact on how we live our lives. Our faith is living and active, its not about following rules or law, rather it comes from a place of first and foremost following God. June’s stories look more closely at how this works out in our normal day-to-day life — i.e. how does being a Christian change my attitude towards work or how I relate to other people? Among others, we looked at a lifestyle of action, where the author’s outlook had been shaped by Jim Elliot’s radical statement “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose”.
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Our prayer, as editors, is that you will read these stories and be encouraged, helped and inspired as you follow Jesus. The Christian life isn’t straightforward, particularly for young people who are navigating new territory. We hold the conviction that living life with Jesus makes sense of it all – bringing true meaning, hope and purpose to life.
What about you? We would love for you to let us know your favourite stories or the ones that have challenged and encouraged you. It would also be great if you could invite others into the conversation by sharing these stories amongst your friends and family — anyone you feel would be blessed by these stories.
(P.S. Join us for the next 6 months by following us on Instagram and Facebook for weekly updates!)
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