Coffee Shop

[Coffee Shop] - So glad we could get together. - I know. - [Dark Brunette] I haven't even seen you all week. - Yeah. - Oh... did you ever here back from that job interview? - Yeah, I didn't get it. - No, you're kidding me. - Nope. - But your résumé was perfect. You were exactly what they were looking for. - I know. I got the call yesterday. They said that they'd keep my info on record for six months, whatever that means. I heard that they were hiring internally. - Hire internally? Why would they even advertise the position if they were just gonna do that? - I know. After all that work. - I'm sorry. Are you doin' okay? - Not really. I mean, I've been in a daze all morning. I really had a lot riding on this. - Yeah I know you did. - And now I have to get my portfolio ready again. It just, it feels like I'm spinning my wheels, you know? That's what I've been doing. That's all I ever do. - I'm sorry sweetie. - It's just like, nothing I'm doing even matters. I'm alone, and I'm still expected to handle all of this and make things work out. - Yeah, I know how that feels. - You feel that way? I thought God fixes everything for you. - Well, no. Really, sometimes I feel like God's not even here. And I'm left down here to figure it all out, and I can't. - Really? - Yeah. Well you remember how it was with my mom last year. - Well, yeah you had a really rough time. - I felt like God abandoned me. That he left me completely on my own to deal with all of it. - Wow, I'm surprised you'd feel that strongly about it. - Yeah it's true. You know, sometimes I feel like all I want is for God is to just swoop in and take away my problems. You know, nothing too big or anything. But, he usually doesn't. Not in the way I want him to anyway. - I thought, that's what God was supposed to be about. Helping people, isn't that what Christians believe? - Is that kinda what you've seen with Christians? 'Cause I admit, Christians can be confusing sometimes when they talk about what they believe. - Yeah. Well, I just always thought religion was about trying to get God to do what you want. Like he's Santa Clause, and they go to church so he notices, and gives them stuff. Like look, if I thought he was gonna get me a job, I'd believe in him too. - See then it's like a transaction. And you're a dancing monkey, and God's supposed to throw coins in your cup? I think he wants a whole lot more than that from us. Really, I think what he wants is a relationship. - What do you mean? - Okay, it's like this. There's a God, and he's good. And he's everywhere. So none of us are really alone in the universe. And more than that, he's personal. In fact, the Bible says that God created us to have a relationship with him. It's like in our DNA. He wants us. Not so much our good deeds, but us. Do you see what I mean? - Hmm, well, it's weird to think about God like he cares about, anything, actually. - Yeah, but the Bible says that he not only cares, but he's crazy about us. But here's the problem. We screwed that whole relationship up. Think, God is good, and we're all pretty messed up. And he can't just pretend that everything between us is fine. It's impossible. So, the relationship with God was broken, by us. - Well, but I mean, everyone has their own idea of what's right and wrong. - Yeah but, I mean when I look at the world, I know that it is not right. It's broken. I mean bad things, and suffering, it happens all the time. I mean even something like your job search, right? It's not fair. You think, it's not supposed to be this way. - Yeah, it's hard not to. Although, you know, some people have a hard time believing in a God that would just let all of that happen. - I know. But it just makes me believe in God more. - [Light Brunette] Really? - Yeah. I mean, God created the world, and said that it was good. But when I look at what's wrong, I can't get over the fact that it's us. It's people who make it bad by being selfish, or uncaring, or whatever. But, in the midst of that, we still want what's good. And we think the world's supposed to be better, which is why we get angry when things don't turn out right. Right? - Yeah. It seems like it should be easier. It's hard not to get mad or scared when the economy is so messed up. And it seems like everyone always needs something. So, we try to fill that need in the broken places in our own lives. And it doesn't work, or not for long. But, see God wants us to be restored to way we were meant to be. And that's why he sent Jesus Christ to be a human being like us. - So Jesus was from God? - Well, Christians believe that he was actually God himself. I mean, he was perfect in every way, so that when he was put to death on the cross, his sacrifice could make us good again too, and not broken. And once that's taken care of, there's nothing that can separate us from him anymore. - Huh, okay. I mean I'd heard that Jesus was a good teacher and stuff. - What do you mean? - I mean, I just heard that a lot growing up. Actually I took this anthropology class, and there was a chapter on Jesus and how Christians helped shape modern thought. - Yeah, it's fascinating. I mean there are so many idea out there about Jesus, and most of them say, in one way or another, that he's good. But, the Bible says that Jesus was more than just a good man, he actually is God. - Hmm, the class didn't talk about that too much. - Yeah, I mean, I didn't know too much about it myself until a couple years ago. - [Light Brunette] Oh yeah? - Yeah. You know how my parents aren't really religious. But my grandmother is. Well growing up, I was always kind of a brat, and she was always telling me that God was mad at me for being bad all the time. So when I got old enough, I started going to church. 'Cause I thought, that would make God happy. But, then I realized that it doesn't mean anything. I mean, what difference does it make to God what I do on Sundays? So, I quit going. And I just tried to live my life the way that I thought was right. But, I just couldn't shake this feeling that God was mad at me all the time. So, I went back to church. And that's where I met this woman, Helen. She's a soccer mom type. She's really, really nice. And, she explained to me, who Jesus is, and that God loves me and wants me to know Him. That I was looking for Him, but he was looking for me too. And she told me that because of Jesus, my imperfections didn't have to come between me and God anymore. 'Cause it's not about who I am, it's about who Jesus is. And he paid for it all. That's God's gift to us. And all we have to do is accept it. - And, that's it? You don't have to keep doing good stuff to keep God happy? - Not to keep that relationship. 'Cause it's based on what Jesus did, remember? So once we start a relationship with God, it can't ever be broken. I mean, that means he'll be with us always, in this life and in the next one. - Right, you mean Heaven? - Yeah. But, you know, it also means that he'll lead and guide us through life. And we can't ever be separated from Him again. And that's what we mean by having a relationship with Jesus. - Huh - So... I'm not saying that if you had a relationship with Jesus you wouldn't feel bad about not getting the job, but you could know that Jesus would never leave you. And he'd give you a purpose in life, and you wouldn't have to go it alone anymore. - That sounds, good. - I mean, do you think that's something that you might want, to have a relationship with Jesus and know God? - I don't know. I'd wanna think about it. - Yeah, it's a lot to think about, I admit. It's strange to think that God might actually love us and want to be with us. - Yeah. - Well I actually have to get to the office right now. But if you want, you can come over for dinner, and we can go over your portfolio. - Yeah, that'd we be great. - Okay. Well, I'll see ya then. - Okay. - Alright. - Bye. - Bye.