Because Singles are COOL!

Why is it that singles tend to think there's something wrong with them and that’s why they’re single? I hear it a lot. They feel they are in some way not good enough, not smart enough, not good looking enough, not thin enough, and their laugh is annoying.

Sound familiar? Actually, single, widowed or married, who hasn't had those thoughts? Satan has an annoying way of finding the things we're most self conscious about and turning them into the things we obsess about.
But what would happen if we started obsessing on looking at what God sees in us? Instead of obsessing about the negative, we obsess about the positive. It's a hard thing to do. Not often do we hear God audibly say to us, "You are beautiful. I created you to look exactly the way you do, to be as smart as you are, and maybe you could lay off the carbs but those extra pounds you're carrying don't make me love you any less. And that laugh you find so annoying? It brings me absolute joy!"

How many of us have heard Him say that to us? In fact, He says it to us all the time. I believe single adults have a particular challenge in hearing what God says to them. Because, “If you're single, then clearly you have faults and that's why you're single... in essence you’re not good enough for someone to love", right? (NOT TRUE!) I want you to think about just how wonky and ill-conceived that thought is. Thoughts like that put a wall up in our mind; a wall between the truth of just how much we are already loved by God, spouse or no spouse.

So, how much does God love us? It’s easy to find out! But first, you have to get involved! You take that first step and immerse yourself in studying the Bible. And what do you know but our next study IS reading the Bible! That’s right, Thursdays at 6:30pm in Rms. E-201/202 (April 4 through mid-December) we’ll be using the book and participants guide for "The Story". What is it? It's the Bible, written in chronological order from Genesis to Revelation, with "story-like" connectors. It's a very easy read and will prove to get us thinking and talking.

Then you take a second step. You come and socialize with us. We do things, outside of Bible study, at least three times a month.

• The first Friday of each month we go dancing... that's right, I said it... we go dancing! The Ballroom of Sacramento offers Country Dance lessons prior to their dance nights ($8/person). Now don't get all out of sorts, country dancing is actually a lot of fun. And to be honest, after we get through the first hour of lesson we're usually so exhausted that we leave and walk across the street to Giovanni's Pizza and share a calzone, probably the best Caesar salad I've ever tasted and a really fun time just getting to know each other. These are casual times for people to mingle.
  
• The third Sunday of each month we have lunch together following the third service. We go to different restaurants each time or have everyone bring their own lunches and we meet at a park. When we go to a restaurant, your meal is on your own but we try to keep the locations affordable.
  
• We're also working on the event calendar for 2013. We've got some really fun things planned like white-water rafting, going to a Rivercats game, heading into San Francisco for a day, Gilroy Garlic Festival, Ladies-only and Men-only nights, movie nights, comedy nights, and more! We're also going to try to get a camping trip planned for this summer! FUN! Clearly there ain't no moss growing on us!

So, if you're single and over 30 years old, check us out. Nobody will stare at you, point at you or ask you to bite the head off a chicken. We're real, regular, normal, everyday folk who are friendly and want to make friends with other single people. A good way to keep up with what we've got going is to keep an eye on our webpage (www.fbceg.org/engage) as well as our Facebook page for updates. (Please be patient with us as our webpage is undergoing a radical transformation.) Or you can always call me or email me to get details (685-4821 ext. 130 or mstone@fbceg.org). We're also going to begin a bi-monthly email newsletter you can subscribe to.

You have a decision to make. You can continue down the same road, or you can Engage with us. Engage in life as a single and stop watching the world go by. Tell Satan to get out of your head and listen to all the wonderful things God is saying to you. Join us because at the end of the day, who are we to find fault in what our Father, our Creator, our God created us to be? We are exactly where He wants us and He's not ever going to leave our side!