[reallifenewsletter] FCC - YS Student E-mail Newsletter #173

OK,
So now the attendees are:
Michael Powlison
David + friend from work
Chris
Jon + possible friend(s)?
That's it so far...

Nathanael

YS STUDENT E-MAIL NEWSLETTER #173
February 21, 2005

Contents
1. Something for Your Heart
2. Surf Report
3. Forgettable Fact
4. Potent Quotables
5. Parting Shot

===========our|sponsor===========

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Also available at your local Christian bookstore.

=================================

1. SOMETHING FOR YOUR HEART

Here's a brief reflection on the song "I'm Not Ashamed" by Newsboys:

"I'm not ashamed to let you know
I want this light in me to show
I'm not ashamed
To speak the name of Jesus Christ"

Are you ashamed to be a Christian? Most Christians would respond with a
resounding "No!" But have you ever found yourself falling quiet in
conversations about things related to your faith, just not mentioning
your point of view or maybe even going along with the crowd? Maybe the
discussion was about a movie or a TV show. Maybe it involved gossip
about someone, a friend, a politician.

We all know when those moments come. We can sense inside, "I don't quite
agree here. I should object or something." If we don't follow that
urging of our spirits, then we have acted ashamed of what we believe. We
may not think of it as being ashamed of our faith, but shame is
basically fear--fear that people won't understand, fear that they will
think we are weird, fear that somehow we will be separated from the
group or set apart from the crowd.

The thing is, Jesus said that this is exactly what will happen to us.

"God blesses you who are hated and excluded and mocked and cursed
because you are identified with me, the Son of Man" (Luke 6:22).

No one likes to be left out of the group or thought of as different, but
remember what Paul said:

"For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of
God at work, saving everyone who believes--Jews first and also Gentiles"
(Romans 1:16).

The Newsboys have recorded a song called "I'm Not Ashamed." In it, they
boldly declare their loyalty to the name of Jesus Christ. I think this
song challenges all of us to consider our words, actions and lack of
actions. Jesus bore the shame of a death on the cross for us. Can't we
say to him, "I'm not ashamed"?
(Suzy C.)

Daily Reflections from Solid Sounds, copyright 2005 The Good News
Broadcasting Association, Inc. (Solid Sounds). Used by permission. To
receive daily Reflections by e-mail or to read on-line, visit:
http://www.solidsounds.org

2. SURF REPORT

~ Big Courage
What's it like to be a right-hand person to one of the most powerful
people in the entertainment world? What kind of courage does it take to
live one's Christian faith in an environment where many people are
hostile to it?
http://www.christianitytoday.com/tc/2004/002/11.38.html

~ Paw Prints Post
If you're an animal lover, you'll want to check out this site, which
describes itself as an "online newsletter celebrating the animal-human
bond."
http://members.bellatlantic.net/~lilbun

3. FORGETTABLE FACT

A mirage can be photographed.

4. POTENT QUOTABLES

Be not ashamed of your faith; remember it is the ancient gospel of
martyrs, confessors, reformers and saints. Above all, it is "the truth
of God," against which the gates of hell cannot prevail.
- C.H. Spurgeon

Great things are done more through courage than through wisdom.
- German proverb

Courage is not the absence of fear, but the judgment that something else
is more important than fear.
- Ambrose Redmoon

5. PARTING SHOT

Being late is in my genetic makeup. My ancestors arrived on the
Juneflower.

Copyright 2005 Youth Specialties

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[reallifenewsletter] FCC - YS Student E-mail Newsletter #172

Howdy!

So far I've only heard that Michael P is going on the ski trip. I'm
sure we'll have a great time! :)

Seriously though, please get back to me on who's coming. For you in the
youth group, this would be a great thing to invite people you are
praying for to.

Just as a reminder:
Ski Trip
Feb 26 2005
Holiday Valley NY
We'll leave early in the AM (say around 6-7AM) and get back around 9PM.


Costs:
Lift Ticket - $44
Ski Rental - $21
Snowboard Rental- $27
Gas $8
Food $20 (estimate since each person
will get/bring their own)

Remember to bring permission slips for persons under 18 (below is some
standard text that you can use).

We'll probably meet and leave from the Althausen's

The youth group is on to reading Acts together, as well as "Case For
Christ, Student Edition" by Lee Strobel. Great stuff!!

All for now...
-Nathanael

Permission Slip Sample Text:
To Whom It May Concern:
I of , , parent/guardian of
give permission for him/her to attend the Freedom Center
Church youth ski trip on February 26, 2005 in Holiday Valley, New York.
In addition, I give permission to Nathanael L'Heureux, Emmy L'Heureux or
their designee to attain emergency medical care for him/her if
necessary.


Signed:_______________________________________

Printed Name: ________________________________
Date: ________________________________________

Medical Insurance Information (fill out or send copy of medical card)
Insurance Company:____________________________
Policy Number:________________________________
Group Number:_________________________________
Claim Phone Number:___________________________
Other Information:____________________________


Here is a version with blanks to be filled out:

To Whom It May Concern:
I __________________________________ of _______________________,
_________, parent/guardian of _____________________________ give
permission for him/her to attend the Freedom Center Church youth ski
trip on February 26, 2005 in Holiday Valley, New York. In addition, I
give permission to Nathanael L'Heureux, Emmy L'Heureux or their designee
to attain emergency medical care for him/her if necessary.


Signed:_______________________________________

Printed Name: ________________________________
Date: ________________________________________

Medical Insurance Information (fill out or send copy of medical card)
Insurance Company:____________________________
Policy Number:________________________________
Group Number:_________________________________
Claim Phone Number:___________________________
Other Information:____________________________


YS STUDENT E-MAIL NEWSLETTER #172
February 14, 2005

Contents
1. Something for Your Heart
2. Surf Report
3. Forgettable Fact
4. Potent Quotables
5. Parting Shot


===========our|sponsor===========

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comes to the supernatural.

http://www.YouthSpecialties.com/linker/index.php?id=5106

Also available in your local Christian bookstore.

=================================


1. SOMETHING FOR YOUR HEART

Valentine's Day. The very thought makes some people melt with gooey
warmth and tingle all the way down to their toes. They move their legs,
yet seem to glide above the ground through the power of love.

Other people are shy. Hopeful. Tentative. Maybe a little desperate. To
them, Valentine's Day brings anxiety and confusion, if not outright
terror. Do they dare risk sending a valentine card or gift to that
person they find so special? If so, what if they get nothing in return?
Worse yet, what if their gesture is rejected?

And then there's a third group of people for whom Valentine's Day is
just another reminder of how alone they are. They don't feel anxiety or
fear; they know better than to expect anything. They walk unaccompanied
through a barrage of chocolates, flowers and affectionate couples. It's
not that they WANT it that way; it's just the way things are.

If you've ever felt the pain of loving and losing, you're not imagining
it. Recent research reveals that any kind of social exclusion registers
at the same place in your brain (the anterior cingulate cortex, for you
science types) as physical pain. Researchers suggest that the "pain" of
being turned down for a date, not invited to a party, breaking up or
otherwise being excluded socially (or romantically) is just as real as a
punch in the gut.

But then, genuine love has long been associated with pain. The world's
greatest act of love involved a grown man being stripped naked, mocked,
tortured and hammered to a cross with spikes through his body. With very
few exceptions, he was rejected, betrayed and forsaken. And when the
soldier thrust a spear into his side, the blood and water that poured
out suggest that Jesus' heart had literally "broken" as he hung there
for the world to scorn.

But the lesson we need to remember during this Valentine's Day week is
that genuine love always overcomes pain. After enduring ultimate
rejection and being knocked down, Jesus got back up. And his
resurrection was the event that provides an endless supply of God's love
and fuels our own loving relationships.

So if you're getting dozens of valentines this year, count your
blessings. If you're taking a risk and hoping for the best, good for
you! (Not everything in life works out the way we hope, but we still
need to keep trying.) And if you haven't yet overcome pain and
loneliness in your search for love, please don't give up. Give it some
more time. Right now you can be assured that God loves you every bit as
much as he has ever loved anyone else. And by the time you begin to
comprehend the full extent of God's love, surely some other people will
come around as well.

In the meantime, when people tell you the pain of rejection or of lost
love is all in your head, they may be right. But you can respond with
the authority of the scientific community behind you: that doesn't mean
it hurts any less.

On your own ...

Read Isaiah 53:1-12.
http://biblegateway.com/cgi-bin/bible?language=english&version=NLT&passa
ge=Isaiah+53%3A1-12

When we think about Jesus, it's usually an image of victory, power and
supreme authority. But that's the end result of Jesus' life and
ministry. The BEFORE picture is quite different. List the painful
experiences Jesus endured because of his love for us. What can we learn
about real love (not mushy Valentine's Day love) by examining both the
before and after images of Jesus?

2. SURF REPORT

~ True Love Waits
Give the gift of purity--to yourself and your sweetheart--this
Valentine's Day.
http://www.lifeway.com/tlw

~ Candy Quiz
Think you're a candy expert? Test your knowledge with this tricky quiz.
http://www.infoplease.com/spot/quiz/candy/1.html

3. FORGETTABLE FACT

Orchids release a chemical that make bees drunk.

4. POTENT QUOTABLES

We are never so defenseless against suffering as when we love, never so
helplessly unhappy as when we have lost our love object or its love.
- Sigmund Freud

Love does not die easily. It is a living thing. It thrives in the face
of all life's hazards, save one--neglect.
- James D. Bryden

Whoever has loved knows all that life contains of sorrow and of joy.
- George Sand

5. PARTING SHOT

Everybody is somebody else's weirdo.



Copyright 2005 Youth Specialties

[reallifenewsletter] FCC - YS Student E-mail Newsletter #171

Ski Trip:
Feb 26 Holiday Valley.
We'll leave early and return in evening as usual.
Please let me know if you (and if any friends) are planning to attend so
I can start the transportation planning.
Be there or...

BTW, I've seen some interesting new search engines out there recently.
One www.gofish.com is a multimedia search engine with links to free and
paid content. Pretty cool.

All for now
-Nathanael

YS STUDENT E-MAIL NEWSLETTER #171
February 7, 2005

Contents
1. Something for Your Heart
2. Surf Report
3. Forgettable Fact
4. Potent Quotables
5. Parting Shot


1. SOMETHING FOR YOUR HEART

What would you be willing to pay for a grilled cheese sandwich? Before
you answer, you should know that this particular grilled cheese sandwich
is ten years old ... and has a bite out of it. So what's your bid?

Oh, yes. One more thing. There's supposedly a face toasted into the
bread, whom the owner believes to be the Virgin Mary.

You may have heard about this particular sandwich. It was all over the
news a couple months ago because its owner sold it on eBay for $28,000.
That's right. TWENTY-EIGHT THOUSAND DOLLARS.

The buyer was an online casino that considers the sandwich "part of pop
culture" and plans to take it on a world tour, raising money for
charity. The casino CEO stated, "We believe that everyone should be able
to see it and learn of its mystical power for themselves."

"What mystical power?" you may ask. According to the seller, the
sandwich brought her luck, including $70,000 in casino winnings. So hold
your breath. Maybe this cheesy souvenir will come to your town. And
don't fret if you missed out on buying the sandwich itself. You can
still purchase T-shirts, ornamental plates, toasters and other related
merchandise.

In all the write-ups of this story, there were numerous references to
the Virgin Mary. (Don't you wonder who has a picture of the original
Mary that could validate the toasted-cheese one?) Yet missing were any
references to God, Jesus or the Bible. The buyers are hoping to draw
people with an interest in spiritual signs. Yet the item may as well be
a four-leaf clover entwined in a rabbit's foot, dangling from a lucky
horseshoe.

During his time on earth, Jesus performed dozens of miraculous signs
(that we KNOW about). Yet his healings, raising of the dead, calming
storms, turning water to wine, and so forth were always for the benefit
of others. He never used his power merely to draw attention to himself,
or as some kind of party trick. In fact, whenever people asked for signs
just to see something cool, he always refused. He even went on record
about such people: "Only an evil, faithless generation would ask for a
miraculous sign" (Matthew 12:39).

Jesus didn't perform miracles as free entertainment for the masses, but
rather as proof that he was sent from God. It wasn't just the miraculous
sign, but the SOURCE of the power that was supposed to get our
attention. Still, among the 5,000 people fed by two fish and five
loaves, you have to wonder how many were only wondering, "What's for
dessert?"

Today a lot of us try to satisfy our spiritual searches with cheese
sandwiches instead of the Bread of Life. But our trinity is NOT Father,
Son, and Holy Toast. So don't be sidetracked by imitation spirituality.
Only God's truth will ultimately satisfy your spiritual hunger.

One "miraculous" grilled cheese sandwich filled with mystical power:
$28,000.

One T-shirt to commemorate the event: $15.

The awareness that none of this hoopla has anything to do with God's
salvation, which is free and available to all: Priceless.

On your own ...

Read Luke 23:6-12.
http://biblegateway.com/cgi-bin/bible?language=english&version=NLT&passa
ge=Luke+23%3A6-12

If Jesus had performed a miracle for Herod during his trial, he might
have been spared death. But then, that's all it would have been: a
performance. Why do you think Jesus didn't use more miracles to impress
the people who were seeking to do him harm?

2. SURF REPORT

~ Spring Break Alternatives
It's never too early to start thinking about Spring Break! If you're
looking for a way to enjoy fun in the sun--in a Christian
environment--check out this site.
http://www.campuscrusadeforchrist.com/students/getinvolved/
springbreak.htm

~ Groundhog Day
Can't believe Groundhog Day is over so soon? Still not ready to stop
celebrating? Then check out the official site of the Punxsutawney
Groundhog Club.
http://www.groundhog.org

3. FORGETTABLE FACT

Forty percent of all car theft victims admit they left their keys in the
ignition.

4. POTENT QUOTABLES

We must not sit down and look for miracles. Up, and be doing, and the
Lord will be with thee. Prayer and pains, through faith in Christ Jesus,
will do anything.
- John Eliot

There is nothing harder to stop than somebody who wants to believe a
miracle.
- Leslie Ford

We must remember that Satan has his miracles, too.
- John Calvin

5. PARTING SHOT

Bomb squad motto: If you see us running, you'd better catch up.


Copyright 2005 Youth Specialties