[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