Fun things christians can do

[Bellicus]

I have a boring life. About all the fun things I got is computer games, and having some beers in the weekends, and reading books. And as a christian I feel even these things get limited, like that I should stay away from violent computer games, I should not get drunk, and I should read the right kind of literature. Usually when I used to get really bored before I would get something to smoke in a joint, but I certainly can't do that anymore. Going to party's with non-Christians seem wrong also. And I have zero interest in sports. So I guess this is things that makes the path narrow. But how can I reduce the boredom, how to live a christian life that is more fun?

[tb7294]

I have a boring life. About all the fun things I got is computer games, and having some beers in the weekends, and reading books. And as a christian I feel even these things get limited, like that I should stay away from violent computer games, I should not get drunk, and I should read the right kind of literature. Usually when I used to get really bored before I would get something to smoke in a joint, but I certainly can't do that anymore. Going to party's with non-Christians seem wrong also. And I have zero interest in sports. So I guess this is things that makes the path narrow. But how can I reduce the boredom, how to live a christian life that is more fun?

i am not certain how old you are, etc;
but.. if you are into a good church - you can usually get involved with
other like minded believers and do stuff (doesn't have to be expensive)
youth groups usually have stuff going on during the week. usually like a prayer / fellowship once a week and than maybe get involved with a church activity.
I picked up guitar and taught myself how to play. I also - made a few
friends and we hung out at coffee shops, etc.
you can also ask Jesus to help fill your schedule = after all, he is the
creator and mastermind of this universe, i am positive he will direct
your steps if you ask him, he desires that you have no boredom!
Tb

[paperneck]

here are just a few general suggestions i think you will find you can do while keeping true to your believes:
go to the movies
get coffee
join a book club
go hiking
there are restraunt/bars/arcades(like Dave and Busters) you can go to with your friends
i'm sure if you look into it you can find a number of activities and social events at local churchs


you also don't have to avoid non christian people. if they try to shake your faith then you don't have to be friends with them, but there are plenty of non christian folk who also don't want to spend there time doing the things you are avoiding.

[LilLamb219]

Have you ever considered volunteering your time someplace? I love helping others and I know that there are so many people who could use our help in one way or another.

[Brendan1000]

I think this has been said throughout all the different posts but it is in finding a sense of community that we can really enjoy life without having to associate guilt.

[Criada]

Are you part of a church, brother?
Christians can be fun... and Christianity isn't a straight-jacket!
Jesus said:

John 10:10
A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.
(from The Message)

That doesn't just mean in heaven... He has set us free to live that abundant life on earth. It doesn't mean you won't have problems, or down times... it does mean that you have joy and peace whatever happens.
And He wants you to have fun!! Being a Christian is the most exciting life there is.

[Dulzzinea]

Like others said already get involved in your church, it is truly rewarding. Also I see that you mentioned that you do not like sports, what about joining a gym? Doing exercise is a great way to relieve stress and boredom, I do it because I am also not the sporty type, but I do enjoy a good workout with my trainer, and other activities within it. It will make you feel better. I am also the organizer of various events in my community, just get involved, ask around, and believe me, then you will have tons of stuff to do. Good luck and God Bless!

-Dulzzy :D

[JoshButler]

My two cents is to not worry about fun so much as profit. Which'll probably be hard at first, but once you get going, it's awesome! And of God, which is important!

And I'll add my voice to the "get involved with church" crowd.

[Bellicus]

Well, I don't belong to a church, and I don't really want to either, cause churches here in Norway are dead. There's only really old people there and priests that talk about something boring they learned somewhere in theology-education. It's no Spirit at all in it.

I could go to christian meetings that are outside church, but really don't know any to go with, and I'm really not a social guy unless I'm drunk or drugged up. Taking some Valium to go to a christian meeting don't really make sense either. I actually hate crowds, a lot of people gives me anxiety and if I ever met someone that would like to talk to me, then I would just have to pretend I would be interested, cause 99.9999% of all the people I meet seem to be completely different from me. Not because I am too good for them or anything, but because I had a really crazy life and most people have no clue how crazy it can be, specially not Christians that often have lived very sheltered lives. Most Christians seem to be of a special kind of personality, like into sports (all of them), they like family stuff (I hate it), they got or are working on a education (I got none and don't plan to get any) or have a good work (not me, I'm ill), they are thinking positive about things (I believe life is dark and evil, that nothing make sense) and I could go on forever.

So I have no idea.

[Benjamin1981]

I know all about that when u said that churches are dead. In Finland 90% of churches are dead as well. I got lucky, I met a Brazilian guy, he comes from a lively church, and we've been worshiping with him and other young people. It's been wonderful! Seems like u haven't been touched by the Holy Spirit yet. It changes everything. I used to be the most pessimistic and cynical person in the world. I wasn't evil, but I was just very negative and arrogant. Now everything has changed and I'll never be the same. It's all about positive thinking. Do it like Peter Pan, think happy thoughts and u'll fly in no time! :D

I like hugging animals, lambkins are my favorites! :D I like singing and laughing. I meet people on the street, and chat with them. I do good things, it's fun. Not necessarily physically, but in my mind. I've probably hugged and kissed every person in my city. :D Just couple of weeks ago I met an adorable 10 year old girl that suffers from down syndrome. I fell in love with her, she's so open and sincere. So we went to have some ice cream and hugging farm animals. I told her about Jesus, and it was awesome. I'm sure that I got much more from that day than she. I could be totally open, and silly, and she just loved it! :D

Amateur psychologist evaluation: Seems like your still a child, and u would like to do all that funny things u did when u were a kid, but in your age it's restricted or at least really weird. So u end up in boredom and depressed. All things that people talk is not interesting, coz actually u would just rather jump around happily and giggle. U have to pretend that u're interested, and suffocate yourself more and more. U build up inhibitions, and u feel trapped around people, crowds are torture to u. U have to be like everybody else, but it's just pure acting. U need substances to sustain your act, coz it takes lot of energy. I guess u have a lot of oppressed energy in u, that just needs to be released. So i would like u to know who u are! And just let it go and be free!

Was it even close? Well it's common knowledge that shrinks only reflect their own issues to patients life. :D

I pray for u Bro!

[heymikey80]

Can I point something out? To me drugs are simply a bad way to push out feelings that should come from somewhere else. It's in you. It's not that the feelings are bad. It's that the drugs are not a wise way to get the feelings.

Christian life isn't "don't swear, smoke, drink or chew // or go out with those who do." It's an attempt to reach after that same joy that people steal from their bodies physically with drugs -- but reaching it the right way, through the God of the Universe, despite the evil and dark lives we lead in this broken world.

It's hard to reach after that in isolation. It's even tougher when it's hard to find the groups of Christians who are really alive. And there's one more: it can be hard when the right group of Christians doesn't quite understand you. But at some point they are thinking the same thing -- that you wouldn't understand how dark they see their own lives. They just don't want that darkness to get in the way of associating with you. "I hate myself" isn't a great way to start an introductory conversation, is it. So they hide the darkness 'til you and they feel close and comfortable enough revealing it.

I feel like God's gotta have Christians nearby you. The Spirit isn't working around you for no reason. They're hard to find, I don't know why.

[StormInside]

Well, I don't belong to a church, and I don't really want to either, cause churches here in Norway are dead.
Or burnt down by the black metallers?!

Why not go to some concerts, watch films, go to the cinema, take up a sport (you'll enjoy it once you get into it) learn a new language, visit historical sites or other countries, learn an instrument?

Why do you feel that hanging out with non-Christians is wrong?

[Bellicus]

StormInside: Yeah, some of them got burnt down in the 90s, one near where I live, a beautiful stave-church hundreds of years old got burnt by the Count himself. Hes getting out of prison soon, so wonder what he's going to do then. I used to be into that stuff in the 90s myself, listening to Immortal and Burzum, getting stoned in a old churchyard, and I had some weird plan involving decapitated rabbits and lots of blood to my local church. Glad I never found a rabbit.

I feel it is wrong to hang out with non-christians, since all I know uses drugs, so I just end up stoned if I visit them, and the few ones I know from childhood I don't got contact with anymore since I've gotten to weird for them.

I visited a church-meeting tonight, was actually good, even on valium. I'm planning to repeat it next sunday. Maybe I get into some social stuff from there, but I have doubts since all of them just looked so incredible normal, healthy and different from me. But maybe I am just judgmental.

[StormInside]

I believe the Count has just had his parole request denied, so he won't be getting out of prison just yet. When he does, I don't think he'll risk doing anything like that again!

Not all non-Christians are into drugs, in fact most are not I'm sure. Limiting your social circle too much may deprive you of some good friends.

So you must live in or near Bergen then? I'm so jealous, I would love to live in Scandinavia! There must be many beautiful places to go walking, perhaps you should take up hiking? The fresh air and exercise will do you good.

[Bellicus]

Double post..

[Bellicus]

I don't think he will be burning churches again, but he got a really strong personality and now hes into some Nazi/nationalistic stuff, and still hates Christianity of course, he thinks that we should be like in the good old days of the vikings and most secular Norwegians support the hatred towards Christianity from the days that it was forced into the country by military power, this will never be forgiven. But at least he has said he is never coming back to town again.

I'm not really limiting myself, but really just get along with weird people. So it is either drug-addicts, I feel that I can talk to and get understood, or Christians where I at least don't get hated.

I'm living in Bergen yes, but you wouldn't be jealous if you got here, 270+ days with rain each year.. Its better weather eastwards, but not the same nature there, just forests and fields. But hiking could be fun, I used to spend a lot of time in the forests as a kid, but just don't got the energy anymore. Flat battery.

[StormInside]

I love hiking in the rain, it's really refreshing! Once you start, your energy will increase massively. I know exactly what you mean about only getting on with weird people, but maybe you should join a rambler's group to begin with? Then you can hike and meet some people at the same time.

[heymikey80]

I'm sure our tastes in music are different, just from culture, but I thought it'd be interesting to share.

Break Me Down (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQtXIJq1Xlc&NR=1)

[twistedsketch]

I visited a church-meeting tonight, was actually good, even on valium. I'm planning to repeat it next sunday. Maybe I get into some social stuff from there, but I have doubts since all of them just looked so incredible normal, healthy and different from me. But maybe I am just judgmental.
Do give them a chance, who knows, some of them may have been just like you at one point. God changes people's lives, it's not as if all Christians have always been goody-two-shoes their whole lives. Far from it, I know Christians who used to do a lot of drugs, those who used to have a good deal of sex outside of marriage, my best friend before he became a Christian even got himself in jail. Most of them look normal now, too. This one girl I know used to be a goth (among other things), and given the extent she had changed by the time I met her I still have trouble picturing her that way.

These kinds of people know what it's like to change and leave things behind. They have found new things to do with their time, and are growing in their love for the Lord. They know the meaning of grace. They have overcome many of their own struggles, and may just be helpful in helping you to overcome your own. Give them a chance, and don't give up on them too quickly.

[footprints_nthe_sand]

There are a few other things to do for fun that i can think of, mind you they are just some suggestions. :) Ive been a christian since i was little but now im learning to actually accept God myself and realize what that really does mean.

For fun i like going out with some of my friends that are Christians. Do you have any friends that follow Gods lead? Bible studies can be lots of fun sharing ideas, ideas, and opinions. Try excersise it will help out with all of your stress and also keep your selfesteem high while keeping you in shape.
Lastely you dont have to be avoiding non-Christians you just need to avoid from joining in or accepting their non-Christian behaviors. Share the love lol and have a little more fun with your life, God didnt make this wonderful world so you would have to sit in bed all day :)

God Bless!