[reallifenewsletter] FCC-YS Student E-mail Newsletter #154
Yo,
It has been a while since I've last sent out a newsletter,
but now my schedule is starting to come back from space so hopefully
they will become a regular thing again (that is "hopefully" if
you actually like them or even care :) )
Anyhow, this Thursday, we're back for a Real Life youth
group meeting at 7:00 at the L'Heureux's. We'll be working
on a video we had started this summer that was an interview-format
video asking random persons the question: "Who is Jesus?"
In this area of Ohio we found that, as expected, many to most
people give a response like "Son of God" or "Savior" etc and
yet we know that this response is more of a religious answer
that lacks any real conviction or relationship behind it. So
we are planning to hone our questions a bit to see if we can
get to some reality...Real Life.
Also of note, we are planning to attend the Aquire the Fire tour
in Cleveland on Nov 12-13. Last year we went for the first time
and found it to be an excellent event. This year the theme is
"Keep it Real" and interestingly uses similar phrases and the same
font as our Real Life logo on our youth website (just a note of
interest).
Anyhow, enjoy the newsletter...
-Nathanael
YS STUDENT E-MAIL NEWSLETTER #154
October 11, 2004
Contents
1. Something for Your Heart
2. Surf Report
3. Forgettable Fact
4. Potent Quotables
5. Parting Shot
===========our|sponsor===========
HAVE YOU EVER CALLED A PSYCHIC OR HAD A SEANCE?
Every day we hear of supernatural phenomenon--from Ouija boards, to crop
circles, to psychics. TV and movies portray the supernatural as innocent,
fun, even cool. But it isn't all fun and games. "Don't Buy the Lie" is a
book that shows you how to think for yourself and respond to the
supernatural with wisdom and understanding. You'll learn how to discern
what's real and what's not, and you'll get biblical answers to frequently
asked questions about such things as Ouija boards, psychics, angels, and
demons.
http://www.YouthSpecialties.com/linker/index.php?id=4492
Also available at your local Christian bookstore.
=================================
1. SOMETHING FOR YOUR HEART
This week we acknowledge Columbus Day, recalling the day 512 years ago when
Columbus and his three ships landed in the New World. To say we "celebrate"
Columbus Day is a bit of a stretch. It's not much of a holiday for most
people.
Yet as Christians, the story of Columbus might inspire us if we let it. It's
a case study on how to define success and failure. Columbus's intent was to
sail west to find a shortcut to the East. In that respect, he was a
miserable failure.
Columbus was right about the world being round, but he never expected to
bump into the enormous land mass that came to be known as North and South
America. It was a mistake. A fluke. And in spite of the fact that the land
was already peopled, Columbus received credit for discovering a whole "new
world."
As a result, some people continue to uphold Columbus as a hero. Others
suggest he did more harm than good--at least to those who were already
residing in the Americas. It's not our intent here to choose off and debate.
Instead of considering the results of Columbus's LANDING, let's think about
his LAUNCH.
Columbus wasn't the only person in his day who thought the earth was round.
But he believed it enough to recruit three rickety boats, hop in, and sail
into uncharted waters. Today we would know what to expect: a watery expanse
of about 3,000 miles and travel speeds of about 90 to 100 miles per day. But
imagine what it must have been like NOT knowing. Every day, more water. Each
day, farther and farther from home. Supplies running low. Without knowing
the end point, how would you know when you had passed the point of no
return?
It's true that Columbus didn't find what he was looking for. But his
discovery was a world-changing event. If nothing else, he proved you could
sail west without falling off the edge of the earth, and numerous others
soon followed in his wake.
As Christians, we may claim to have faith. And it's pretty easy to express
faith in the security of a church setting. But if you sense the call of God
to "set sail" to other territories, it may be harder than you think to act
on that faith. That's the lesson of Columbus. You may not know exactly where
you're going. You may not find anything close to what you expect. But if
your faith in God is sincere and strong, He won't steer you wrong. Even your
"mistakes" are likely to be more productive than anything that would happen
if you never acted on your faith.
Besides, it doesn't take long to discover that when you allow God to provide
the wind in your sails, it's not what you're likely to find that's most
rewarding. It's the sheer joy of the journey.
On your own ...
Read Read Genesis 12:1-9..
http://biblegateway.com/cgi-bin/bible?language=english&version=NLT&passage=G
enesis+12%3A1-9
Think of Abraham as the Columbus of the Old Testament. What do you think you
would do if you received similar instructions from God? What expectations
did Abra(ha)m have before he left? What additional promise did God make
along the way? What's the lesson for us today?
2. SURF REPORT
~ Christian Monitor
How much do you know about Christian persecution around the world? Here's
where you can get the latest updates on fellow believers who are suffering
because of their faith.
http://www.christianmonitor.org
~ Whirlwind Bible Tour
Ready for a "whimsically humorous and brief overview of the Bible"? Hop on.
The tour is about to start.
http://www.pronetisp.net/~diana/wbt.htm
3. FORGETTABLE FACT
The average American driver will spend fourteen days of his or her life
waiting at stoplights.
4. POTENT QUOTABLES
Attempt something so impossible that unless God is in it, it's doomed to
failure.
- John Haggai
Faith always implies the disbelief of a lesser fact in favor of a greater.
- Oliver Wendell Holmes
A faith that hasn't been tested can't be trusted.
- Adrian Rogers
5. PARTING SHOT
When the only tool you own is a hammer, every problem begins to look like a
nail.
Copyright 2004 Youth Specialties
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