spencer

After I went to get my hair cut, I went over to Spencer's for a bit. I caught him in the middle of a Warcraft III game where he was getting owned. After another 20 minutes or so, he was done. We decided to go to the mall.

We were just walking around, with no real objectives in mind. We stopped by this street vendor because Spencer was looking for a new necklace. I noticed that they had some chokers, but none of them were black. Apparently, they were sold out of black chokers. We both commented on how some girls just look so hot with a simple choker.

At the next vendor, I saw shaving brushes. I had actually been looking for shaving brushes for awhile. The prices varied from $8 USD to $50 USD for the brush. There were sets that had a razor, stand, and brush for around $60 USD to $70 USD. I figured I didn't really need the razor or the stand, I would just go with the brush. I picked one up with real badger hair for $40 USD. Afterwards, I realized that now I need to get shaving soap and a stand for the brush. I can probably just get some high gauge wire and twist my own stand for the brush.

On the other side of the cart were various knives. There was one butterfly knife there that we were looking at. Spencer really wanted it. But the knife was around $30 USD so he was a bit iffy about getting it. After walking around the mall some more, we came back, and he decided to pick it up.

On the way home, I broke the news to Spencer. He had started dating a few months ago but had only come to my attention recently. After talking to some people, I made a decision about what I should do. My original reaction was just to kick him off the team entirely, but this didn't seem fit. That, and I didn't want to seem like I was punishing him. At the same time, dating is one of those things that those in any of the arts ministries should not be involved with.

I explained to him that as members of the arts ministries, whether it be Undignified, Broken Strings, or Soul Purpose, they are leaders because of their public ministry. As such, dating introduces several problems.

Since it is such a public position, your witness is being watched and judged by those who see you while you're off stage. Your day to day walk and relationship with God becomes that much more visible. Just like when celebrities are discovered to be in scandals. Their credibility as an actor, a sports figure, a politician, or whatever, is compromised. Granted, we are not celebrities, not by a long shot. But we are witnesses to Christ and leaders by example.

The arts ministry has always focused on the heart of the artist. It is never about your skill or talent on stage or during a performance. It is always about where your heart is before, during, and after the performance. What we do on stage, is Worship. Just like the things we do every day, whether it be go to school, or work, these are acts of Worship. Not because of what is being done, but by the position of our heart when we're doing it. God asks us to give Him our all. All of our accomplishments and failures. He doesn't care whether we succeed or not, rather, He cares about our purpose and motivation for what we do. If you're dating, it puts you in a position where God has competition for your heart. God doesn't want a divided heart, He wants its entirety.

Lastily, dating leads to trouble. Dating itself isn't "wrong" in the moral sense. But secular dating has its pitfalls. Not only does it place both people in a hormone hightened situation for temptation, it seperates them from fellowship with others. I know too many people who start dating and end up talking to no one but their significant others. Dating also has artificial commitment. At anytime, one member can choose to leave the relationship for various reasons. The exclusivity that is created in a dating relationship.

In a few days, I hope to post something about dating. I hadn't intended to get into dating in this post, but it needed to be explained to an extent to understand why the decision was made.

In the end, I wished Spencer and his girl the best of luck. I hope their relationship grows strong and that it will be edifying and blessed.