When was the last time you saw someone trying something for the first time? How did they go?

Have you ever watched someone learning to Snowboard?

There seems to be two types of snowboarders; those that have lessons, and those that don't.

I guess you can picture those that don't have lessons. These guys often adopt the “point and shoot” method.

Basically you get on your board, get to the highest spot, and point down the mountain and go... and go.

For a few moments you are snowboarding (or so it seems). The wind is in your hair, you're riding the mountain, then BANG. Out of nowhere the snow comes up and bites you.

The pleasure was there right? For a moment it was all happening. You were free... for a moment.

Now, what about those that do have the lessons?

First you seek out someone who has been boarding for years, someone to help you understand how the board works and how to ride it.

You start off slowly, learning to get your balance and how to stop. With time you learn to turn and control the board as you go from edge to edge.

As days go on, you start to realise the freedom you can feel as you link your turns and carve up the slope.

Yeah, you still have some falls, but your instructor is there to help pick you up, and get you back on it.

To get the best out of your board, you follow the guidelines set down by your instructor.

The instructions can seem quite narrow at times. But, ultimately they don't limit you, but instead give you the freedom you are after to absorb the bumps, control your board and carve up the mountain.

Our world has got very good at the “point and shoot” method of life. We are great at creating short bursts of pleasure we like to call freedom.

But they don't seem to last. We get sucked in by them and often we are left in pain or feeling empty.

It doesn't seem to be true freedom, and deep inside we know it.

But what is true Freedom?

If we were going to get lessons in life, who would we get them from?

Who's been around since the start of time? Who knows how we work best?

Jesus Christ said he came to set us
truly free.

True freedom comes through a relationship with God. It’s about being free to live as we were created, both in this life and for eternity.

Often our picture of Christianity and religion is all about what we can't do.

Perhaps we need to look again.

Tell us what you think and see others responses

Find out how you can come to Jesus and be truly free. Free to live, free to love and free from fear.

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