Confirmation Class 2008

I can't say everything of what I believe in, which is okay because I know what I think will change, and I will keep realizing more of what I believe. One of the big things I know is that there is a link between all of our senses and emotions, and somehow all of this comes together and becomes our consciousness, us. Without that sense of "us" we'd really be nothing more than computers and that "us", can only be something with the influence of God. I don't believe that the bible is the exact word of God, I think it's important and has a lot of parts that were God's meaning put into language. I also think that many things in the bible are not literal and should not be taken literally. I think that many things in the bible are not necessarily the exact story or things that actually happened, (like Noah's Ark) but things that still have meaning and are still good stories. I also do not believe in the devil as a physical being, but a representation of sin and temptation to do wrong. I do not believe that a human being can be truly evil, but can be corrupt. I believe that everyone goes to heaven no matter what. On a less serious topic I don't think God has a gender but I just call God he for lack of a better word. After all of that is the general, God loves us.
— Brent Alvey

To me, believing is knowing something is real even when you cannot see it, and there are many things I believe about God. I believe it is not enough to believe in Him, you have to ask Jesus into your life and into your heart. Everyone is given the opportunity to know God, and they are also given the choice whether to believe in Him or not. No one is perfect, and God knows that. We will all mess up, but God is there to lift us up again. He will always give us a second chance. I believe sin is what separates us from God, that is the reason why Jesus died on the cross. He loved us so much He died to forgive us of our sins.
I believe God is love and forgiveness. His love is beautiful and unconditional. He loves everyone, no matter what. His love is always with us. There is a certain peace in my life because of Jesus. I know I do not have to worry because God is in control and that He has a plan for my life. God will continue to forgive us as long as we ask for it. He will forgive and forget our sins. I believe whoever accepts Jesus Christ will spend eternity with Him in heaven.
— Meghan Cyron

All my life I have thought, someday, it's really going to hit me all of a sudden—I'm going to better understand God and I will be a better person and everything will be perfect, but at this point in my life, a lot of things are different now: at school, after school, my life at home, and pretty much everything else. These changes are helping me (Confirmation specifically) to understand that the past years have been good ones, but during those years, I never grasped the fact that Christianity and God don't have time to go around to every person and give them some life-changing experience that makes them realize their beliefs. That only happens to really lucky people. I can see now that it's not just going to hit me, so I try harder to look at life differently and find the religious understanding I now want more than ever. I'm looking to improve myself and start my own journey that will make God's presence in my life stronger and more important to me than ever before.
— Anna Goldberg

God. The three-letter word which has inspired the hopeless, and helped the needy. We know that God exists, that he is not only in this world; he is this world. Without God, the world would surely perish. God did not only make the world, he helps it flourish.
We see God as almighty, the creator, the bringer of justice. We see Him as a source of hope and encouragement. We see Him as our father and mother and sister and brother. God is pure and cannot be tainted or lied to. And in the midst of all that God does, we must also work together and laugh and cry, hope and suffer. We must not depend on God to correct all our mistakes like children. We must face the consequences, and prevent further mistakes from being made. We must join, become one with God, and only through Him can we truly be free.
Let us join hands, and be free.
— Pierre-Henri Joubert

I believe that God is like the wind; touching everyone. The wind is universal; everybody feels it. And just like the wind, everyone feels and hears the love of God. I cannot see the wind, but I can feel and hear it. Although it is hard to see, I can tell the wind is there because I see the trees moving or feel my hair blowing. It is the same idea with God. I can indirectly see God in many forms; through the love of my family, the laughter with my friends, my discoveries in nature, and through caring hearts of those helping the needy. He may not physically be with me, but he is always spiritually present and protecting me at all times. I believe that God is everywhere, helping me through hard times and at the same time blessing me with an abundant life. Through my faith journey, I want to discover, feel, and hear God in my life.
— Lauren Kim

We recognize God everyday in all we do.
We know he made our earth and all that is in it. He still renews, revives, and retains it today.
We see his power and love everywhere in everything.
We trust him and believe in him.
We pray to him for he is our humble ruler.
We are never alone or unaided for he is watching over us.
We feel his love in our children and family.
We witness him in our loved ones smiles and laughter.
We worship him for he is great.
We put our faith in him and ask for his aid.
We trust in his powers making him closer to us.
We believe in the power of Christ and his suffering and that it was not in vain.
We are the people of God and the brothers and sisters of Jesus.
— Megan Parry

In my life there are many things I'm unclear or unsure about, and many things that I strongly believe in, but mostly I have lots of questions. Religiously I believe in some of the things I hear, but a lot of it to me is hard to believe and I always question how that is possible. For example I question where is god? How can he help everyone at once? Is he always everywhere with everyone? Even though I haven't ever seen him or literally heard him I know he's been there for me in my life, when I needed him, or when I prayed for something. I've seen my brother recover from fifteen brain surgeries, and every time people have prayed for him. I think it's hard not to believe god hadn't helped in his recoveries. I also think it seems impossible that our world could have been created without a god. Our world is so complex, it seems unreal it could have been created by anything else. In my life, if I'm playing sports or just being at school I believe god is always with me, and is there whenever I need him.
— Amaia Schultz

In joining LAUMC, I would hope that you (yes, you, sitting there, out in the pews) would not expect me to be held to one standardized set of rules and beliefs, and would instead accept me as an individual who can disagree on some points with you, with the Church, with the Bible, and still be ethical and be a follower of Jesus.
My own brand of faith would most likely draw from many different denominations and other religions, as well as from my own experiences and values. I believe that any god that wants everyone to worship and act the same way and follow the same set of rules would have something seriously wrong with it. Just as a good teacher does not teach all of their students the same way, and will instead adapt teaching styles to fit the individual students, I believe that the God that I worship has the depth to accept all humans as individuals, and would not try to force all individuals into one category, system, and set of guidelines.
— Erik Trewitt


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