[reallifenewsletter] FW: [SPAM] - YS Student E-mail Newsletter #192 - Bayesian Filter detected spam

Wow what a trip!  And I'll say it again!  Wow what a trip!

This summer's trip was sensational, powerful, moving and fun!  We know and have heard many stories of how people were blessed, touched by God, given direction for the future, had terrific times with God and with the others on the trip.  Just a reminder to get those descriptions back to Debbie.  If you want to send it to her by email and don't have her address, just email me and I'll forward it to you (I'm not gonna put it in this general letter since it gets posted to a blog and I don't want to add to Debbie's spam :) ).

Also as a reminder, we'll be meeting again with those who wish to continue on the Christian Character stuff as well as additional "Preparation for Marriage" material.  We're shooting for this friday at 8:30.

-Nathanael

 YS STUDENT E-MAIL NEWSLETTER #192
July 4, 2005

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

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

1. SOMETHING FOR YOUR HEART

Early last year a woman in Romania had a tumor removed. After the operation, she weighed 88 pounds. The tumor that had been attached to her, however, weighed 176 pounds. That means that prior to the operation, two thirds of her body weight was doing nothing but weighing her down and creating physical difficulty.

After her world-famous case of neurofibromatosis, Lucica Bunghez could tell you what freedom feels like. Yet her eventual freedom was the result of a difficult campaign of fundraising, international travel, and research that involved a number of financial backers, some charitable doctors, and a reporter who saw to all the details. If she hadn't been willing to undergo a lot of hassle and receive much help from other people, she would never have achieved that wonderful sensation of freedom.

Our national freedom was no small achievement either. It started with a few upstart colonies that were determined to rebel against one of the world's greatest powers of the time. And since that initial success, it has been one war after another to maintain our freedom.

Yet the sensation of freedom is so terrific that we want to share it with others. Consequently, this Independence Day a number of our military men and women don't have the luxury of picnicking with their families, chowing down on hot dogs and potato salad, and watching a spectacularly choreographed music-and-fireworks display. They are stationed in countries around the world, taking a stand for freedom. They are standing guard, holding weapons, running drills, and doing the intense work required for others to enjoy freedom.

Perhaps no freedom is taken for granted more than Christian freedom. We bask in the love, mercy, grace, and forgiveness of God. We want our “rights” as Christians, yet we may show little if any gratitude for all we receive. In fact, some of us allow sin to creep in and sap us of the strength God provides. Before we know it, the “tumor” of sin becomes nasty and unsightly. Some of us may simply need to bathe in God's pure love and forgiveness to be clean again. Others may need more of a surgical removal of accumulated sinful habits, compulsions, and addictions. It certainly doesn't sound pleasant, does it? Yet the resulting sensation of freedom is worth every ounce of effort we make toward restoring a pure relationship with God.

On this Independence Day (and throughout the week), do some reflection on what it means to be free--physically, nationally, and spiritually. Think of others who have paid a price for your freedom, and give credit where credit is due. And because YOU'RE truly free, start looking for ways to help others find freedom as well. It's darn near impossible to enjoy one's freedoms when surrounded by sin-bound, oppressed, and defeated crowds. So have a cheeseburger fresh off the grill. Watch some fireworks. Acknowledge your freedoms. And then get out and share them.

On your own ...

Read Galatians 5:1-15.
http://biblegateway.com/cgi-bin/bible?language=english&version=NLT&passage=Galatians+5%3A1-15

When it comes to spiritual freedom, our privileges as Christians are tremendous. Yet with that freedom comes responsibility. Consider some of the guidelines for how to make the most of the freedom Jesus provides us.

2. SURF REPORT

~ Red, White and Blue Christians
Check out a timely devotional on this day of remembrance and celebration of America's freedom.
http://peggiesplace.gospelcom.net/words161.htm

~ Phantom Fireworks
Virtual fireworks--almost as good as the real thing. This site lets you create your own fireworks display over the skyline of your choice.
http://www.fireworks.com/interactive/fireworks_show

3. FORGETTABLE FACT

Tennis was the first Olympic sport in which women were invited to compete.

4. POTENT QUOTABLES

Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves, and, under a just God, cannot long retain it.
- Abraham Lincoln

We find freedom when we find God; we lose it when we lose him.
- Paul Scherer

No man is entitled to the blessings of freedom unless he be vigilant in its preservation.
- Douglas MacArthur

5. PARTING SHOT

Why do they report power outages on TV?

Youth Specialties :: 2005

[reallifenewsletter] FW: [SPAM] - YS Student E-mail Newsletter #188 - Bayesian Filter detected spam

We're getting close to departure date!!!

If you haven't been able to make it to all the review sessions, you still need to complete the homework and review it with either me or Pastor Norm or your dad. 

 

Outreach Event TONIGHT 5:30 meet at the L'Heureux's.  I'll give a call to all to make sure you get the message.

 

We had a donation toward the trip to pay for a van rental so we could all ride together (a big van) and gas money.  So the good news is that now the base price for the trip is only $180 for the hotel.  So if you had $40 for gas saved already, it can now go toward food or activities or whatever else you need it for.  We will be collecting the $180 at the beginning of the trip.  You can give it to me and I'll give it to Debbie when we hit NC.

 

TTYL!

-Nathanael

 

 YS STUDENT E-MAIL NEWSLETTER #188
June 6, 2005

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

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Also available in your local Christian bookstore.

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

1. SOMETHING FOR YOUR HEART

"Time is money."

We've all heard that old, worn-out saying. Usually we hear it when someone's on our case about wasting time. And maybe we hear it so often that it doesn't have much effect on us. Yet this is a good time of year to reconsider the significance of the old "Time is money" philosophy.

Suppose someone handed you $130,000, give or take a few bucks. What would you do with the cash? One of the first things you'd probably do is sit down and make a list of ways you could spend it. You might request input from friends, and you'd likely get advice from your parents whether you requested it or not. But most people would take great joy in planning how to make the most of a great big wad of cash.

Instead of money, you've just been given a great big wad of time. (Don't look so disappointed!) Your summer vacation has 130,000 minutes, give or take a few hours (90 days x 24 hours in a day x 60 minutes in an hour = 129,600 minutes). What do you want to do with all that valuable time?

Many of your peers have no idea what to do. They make no plans for summer. They lie around complaining about boredom until mid-August, when they shift to complaining about having to go back to school again. For them, summers come and summers go. Then they graduate, get jobs, and discover a real complaint--they'll never get a summer off again until retirement, when "summer fun" will mean a visit from the grandchildren.

Do you want to join the lackadaisical crowd? Or will you dare to do something memorable with your summer?

We're not telling you WHAT to do. We're simply urging you to get out and do SOMETHING. Time is money in the sense that you can treat this stretch of summer days just like you would treat a stack of cash. You can fritter it away, a minute at a time, with nothing much to show for it. Or you can sit down, make some plans, and spend it on something worthwhile.

We know you work hard during the school year and deserve a reward. A bit of rest is fine. But sitting around doing nothing for ninety days isn't really much of a treat. Getting out and working on something you really enjoy is much more rewarding.

So sit down and make a list of possibilities. Look for interesting and affordable classes or sports opportunities in your neighborhood. Learn what it's like to read for fun again. Take music lessons. Arrange to visit a relative in another part of the country. Your options are endless.

Time may not be money--not literally, at least. But it's a gift from God just like any other tangible gift. And time IS opportunity. The question is: What are you going to do about it?

On your own ...

Read the story of the three servants in Matthew 25:14-30.
http://biblegateway.com/cgi-bin/bible?language=english&version=NLT&passage=Matthew+25%3A14-30

It's not very likely that anyone will ever offer you five bags of gold to invest. But since "time is money," how do you think the master in the parable would have responded if his servants had simply slept late every day and done little if any meaningful work until he returned? Consider how you can spend this summer in a way that will be not only meaningful to you, but will also honor God.

2. SURF REPORT

~ Finding Jesus
Bookmark this site. "Finding Jesus" is a new section of passageway.org--and an ideal place to direct your non-Christian friends who have questions about Jesus or the Christian faith. Check it out for yourself.
http://passageway.org

~ Mass Moments
How much do you know about America's sixth state? Here's a place to learn more. This site offers a daily almanac of Massachusetts history. Impress your friends with your knowledge of Plymouth Rock, Paul Revere's ride, and the Boston Tea Party.
http://www.massmoments.org

3. FORGETTABLE FACT

The sound of thunder travels 1,100 feet per second.

4. POTENT QUOTABLES

Summer's lease hath all too short a date.
- William Shakespeare

Nothing is ours except time.
- Seneca

Ordinary people think merely how they will spend their time; a man of intellect tries to use it.
- Arthur Schopenhauer

5. PARTING SHOT

If a kid swears in sign language, should his mother wash his hands with soap?

[reallifenewsletter] FCC - YS Student E-mail Newsletter #187

OK, here's the latest on the summer trip etc.

As far as attendees, this is the list as I know it:

From OH: 12 in all

Chris, Jen, Hillary, Becky, Tessa, Jonathan, Chad

Nathanael, Emmy, Micaiah, Joseph, Angelina

From CA: 5 in all

Justin, Charles, Jason, Rachel, Ruth

From NC: 1 in all

Debbie (although of course Pastor Gordon will be involved while in NC)

From TX: 1 in all

Katie

For a grand total of 19.

We are going to rent a big van in OH and drive down to NC leaving early Sat June 11.

Space will be somewhat limited so each person should have at most one carry-on size item plus another small bag/purse.

I'll check to see if we need sleeping bags in NC.

The van is a 15 passenger one.  From OH to NC that area will be filled with luggage, and from NC to GA it will carry some of the others and the luggage will be in the back of Debbie's truck.

 

Please get the permission slips in order for those under 18.  (Include myself, emmy and Debbie on the slip)

 

The money for hotel ($180) and gas ($40) will be collected up front.  You can hold on to the rest of your funds.

 

I'm waiting to hear on the swimsuit requirements and fireworks issues.

 

Remember: Fri night @ 8 - Next 2 sections from homework at the L'Heureux (no food served this time so we'll get right at it)

Sat night @ 7 - Evangelism training

Sun afternoon after church - Street evangelism in Cleveland

Wed evening @ 5:30 street evangelism in Cleveland

 

All for now

-Nathanael

 

 YS STUDENT E-MAIL NEWSLETTER #187
May 30, 2005

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

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

1. SOMETHING FOR YOUR HEART

This is a busy time of year for many students. Finals. Prom. End of school. Maybe even graduation. You're probably thinking about your grades, your love life and your summer plans. In fact, you have a three-day weekend to spend pondering such things. However, it might be nice to pause long enough to find out exactly WHY you're getting this holiday weekend.

Not long after the Civil War, family members and other caring individuals--women's groups, in particular--started a habit of annually decorating the graves of soldiers who had died in battle. Their spontaneous memorials led to the formal establishment of Memorial Day. Originally the occasion was called Decoration Day.

When conflicts and battle deaths didn't end with the Civil War, the holiday was expanded to honor those who have fallen in ANY war. And now we find ourselves at war yet again. Almost every day we hear of another explosion, crash, suicide bomber or other source of concern in Iraq or elsewhere in the Middle East. And while our soldiers must deal with almost daily casualties, we tend to develop a daily casualness about the situation. Unless we have friends or family members we're keeping track of, it's easy to become TOO casual about ongoing danger, destruction and death. Yet we readily bask in the freedom we have because others are fighting for us.

We tend to get casual about our Christian freedoms as well. Yes, we're supposed to keep our eyes on the future. But in doing so, we should never forget what has taken place on our behalf in the past. If we ignore or downplay what God has already done for us, we cannot genuinely appreciate his current blessings. We need to remember the multitudes of people who have suffered--and died--as they held firmly to their faith. And we need to give daily thought about Jesus' sacrificial death that opened the kingdom of God to everyone who wishes to be included.

So revel in your memories of prom, your plans for summer, and your dreams for wonderful things ahead of you. There's nothing wrong with that. But this three-day weekend is also an ideal time to start giving serious consideration to what has come before. If you have friends or family members who died in wars past, recall and acknowledge their sacrifice. If you know someone in Iraq or Afghanistan, sit down and write a letter or e-mail of encouragement. And by all means, spend some time in prayer, thanking God for his wonderful plan (already faithfully executed by Jesus) that includes you on his guest list for the eternal celebration that lies ahead.

This Memorial Day, let's make sure that remembrance, reverence and gratitude are not additional casualties of wars past and present.

On your own ...

Memorials are big throughout the Bible. Read Joshua 3:14—4:9.
http://biblegateway.com/cgi-bin/bible?language=english&version=NLT&passage=Joshua+3%3A14-14

http://biblegateway.com/cgi-bin/bible?language=english&version=NLT&passage=Joshua+4%3A1-9

What kind of memorial was established to help the Israelites remember their entry into the Promised Land? What similar kind of tangible memorial can you create to help you remember past events that are important to you?

2. SURF REPORT

~ Christian Cheerleaders
The name pretty much says it all. If you're a Christian and you have a passion for cheerleading, you're probably going to dig this site.
http://groups.msn.com/ChristianCheerleaders/_homepage.msnw?pgmarket=en-us

~ Baby Name Wizard
Find out everything you ever wanted to know about names and more at this addictive site.
http://babynamewizard.com/namevoyager/lnv0105.html

3. FORGETTABLE FACT

Virginia has more ghosts registered with the Ghost Research Society than any other state.

4. POTENT QUOTABLES

What was hard to bear is sweet to remember.
- Portuguese proverb

God gave us memory that we might have roses in December.
- Sir James M. Barrie

Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forward. - Soren Kierkegaard

5. PARTING SHOT

What happens if you get scared half to death twice?

 

[reallifenewsletter] FCC - YS Student E-mail Newsletter #185

Howdy all!

Hopefully you've seen the New Summer Trip info (sent last week as Summer Trip Remix).  If not, you can read it on the blog at http://fconline.blogspot.com.  All the newsletters and emails (including this one) are posted there.

 

One of the pre-trip assignments is to work on the "Personal Growth in Christian Character" worksheet and review it with me.  In order to help the completion and review, we are setting up some themed review dinners.  This Friday it's gonna be Bar-B-Que at the L'Heureux's where we'll eat and work together on as many of the topics from the worksheet as we can.  Next week we may have a Mexican or Chinese theme.  These dinners are not specifically mandatory for the summer trip, however it is mandatory that you do the entire worksheet and review the material with me.  Since there is quite a bit of material, it is highly recommended that you attend these if possible since our time is short.

 

Let me know if you'd like to attend but you have schedule conflicts with this Friday night (or other days in the following week).  We'll try to make the meetings available to as many as possible.

 

Also, for the pre-trip evangelistic outreach events, we are going to be doing at least one in downtown Cleveland and possibly another in Macedonia, Cleveland or another high-foot-traffic area.  We'll need people doing different things in the outreach events.  We'll need approx. 3 persons to do a drama (at least 1 guy + 1 girl),

one person to video tape the event, others will be praying, helping the startup, talking to people who are watching etc.  We'll have business cards made up with contact info to give out to people at the event.  More details will follow.

 

All for now.

-Nathanael

 

YS STUDENT E-MAIL NEWSLETTER #185
May 16, 2005

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

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Also available at your local Christian bookstore.

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

1. SOMETHING FOR YOUR HEART

Vacation time is almost upon us. If you haven't made plans yet, you might want to consider a trip to Elkmont, Tennessee. It's in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and is known primarily for a campground there.

What's the attraction, you ask? Bugs. Lightning bugs, to be specific.

Park rangers have identified 14 different species of fireflies in the Smokies. But at the top of their list is the synchronous beetle (Photinus carolinus), a firefly whose individuals blink in unison with one another. During the breeding season (approximately the first three weeks of June), people travel great distances to go to Elkmont, plunk down a lawn chair just before sunset, and then watch the synchronized light show for about an hour and a half as night sets in. If you don't want to go to Tennessee, the next best place to see such a sight is southeast Asia.

In addition to the synchronized fireflies, Elkmont has another variation called "blue ghosts" that blink on and then keep their light on for several seconds at a time as they fly just above the ground.

Jesus called his followers "the light of the world" and told us to let our lights shine so other people would see our good deeds and glorify God (Matthew 5:14-16). But most of us, at best, are like lightning bugs. We occasionally let our lights flicker on for a while, but then go dark for long periods. Few of us are successful at sustaining a shining light for very long.

Every bit of light we project is a blink in the right direction. But perhaps we can learn something from the Elkmont lightning bugs. Just think what would happen if we combined our light with that of dozens or hundreds or thousands of other believers. What if we joined forces with other Christians in a united demonstration of God's love? What if some of us learned to sustain a light for far longer than "normal"?

If that were to happen, we would go from being overlooked little bugs out in the world to becoming a real phenomenon. People would start to notice. They might go out of their way to watch and wonder what makes us so special. And some of them might even decide that the light we carry is something they would like to possess as well.

Being a regular old lightning-bug Christian is an okay start. Anytime we let our lights shine is good. But if we dare to coordinate our efforts with others, and to let our lights stay on for longer and longer periods, THEN we've got people's attention.

Are you up to the challenge? If so, blink twice.

On your own ...

Read Ephesians 4:4-16.
http://biblegateway.com/cgi-bin/bible?language=english&version=NLT&passage=Ephesians+4%3A4-16

Instead of remaining on your own, your challenge this week is to get with another friend or group of friends to discuss how you can work together to positively demonstrate Christianity in your school or neighborhood. Brainstorm a number of ideas, and then come up with a specific plan to put one (or more) of them into action.

2. SURF REPORT

~ Christian Athletes and Positive Values
Despite some of the things you see on SportsCenter, it is possible to find Christian role models among professional athletes.
http://www.crosswalk.com/news/religiontoday/1301521.html

~ American Life Histories Manuscripts 1936-1940
This is history, as written by regular people. Check out these personal stories to find out what life was like during the Depression.
http://lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/wpaintro/wpahome.html

3. FORGETTABLE FACT

A pound of houseflies contains more protein than a pound of beef does.

4. POTENT QUOTABLES

All your strength is in your union, all your danger is in discord.
- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

It brings comfort to have companions in whatever happens.
- Saint John Chrysostom

Unless we give part of ourselves away, unless we can live with other people and understand them and help them, we are missing the most essential part of our own lives.
- Harold Taylor

5. PARTING SHOT

Why do we sing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" when we're already there?

Summer Trip Remix

Hold the presses!!!
Forget everything we've said about the summer trip because it is all changed! :)
The Bahamas ended up being _way_ too expensive ($600/night per person) because of the number of people we have.
So Debbie started at ground zero and started to pray with Pastor Gordon about where, when and what. So here's
what it's gonna be. We are going to the coast of Georgia to Tybee Island, along with some initial and ending time in
North Carolina for some meetings of preparation, prayer, and asking for God's work in our lives.

Some of the following info is based on being from Ohio. Obviously travel and people involved are different if you are not from the Ohio group.

Where: North Carolina/ Tybee Island GA (near Savanna) http://www.desotobeachhotel.com/
When: June 11-19
Cost: $180 per person for hotel in GA plus $40 gas = $220 base per person. Each person will pay for their own food and activities.
Food estimate 7days x $20 = $140. Activities estimate $120. (The food and activities are obviously variable depending on the person,
what they eat and what they do. So you can go more or less depending on budget etc)

Itinerary:
Fri Eve June 10 /Sat Am June 11 leave for North Carolina (8.5 hr drive)
Sat June 11 PM Meeting
Sun June 12 Church / meeting reviewing Personal Growth in Christian Character / prayer
Mon June 13 Depart for Tybee Island - GA (7 hr Drive)
Fri June 17 Return NC
Sun June 19 Return NC



Required Preparation:
1) Personal Growth in Christian Character - read, review scriptures, determine where you are at
- There will then be a meeting coming up soon to review this information
2) Outreach - We will be doing some evangelistic outreach and meetings locally

At the end of this is the Personal Growth in Christian Character that Pastor Gordon put together.
If you are going on the trip, print it out, look up the scriptures and see where you are at personally and what you need to grow in.
We are going to be having a meeting to review this before May 23 (step 1 of preparation) and then we'll meet once or twice for outreach preparation and then have at least two days with outreach activities before the trip. The trip is of course not mandatory. It will involve some hard work of preparation. The purpose and focus of the trip is to grow personally in Christ, pray for the Holy Spirit, be ignited with His fire and be changed and anointed with the Spirit of Elijah that turns us back to the Father. We will also have a terrific time while we are in Georgia, relaxing by the beach, having fun, touring plantations etc.

All for now.
-Nathanael


Personal Growth in Christian Character

At a Glance

(2 Peter 1:5-8)

A. Faith

Sowing in righteousness – Hos. 10:12; Mt. 6:33
Righteousness based on faith – Rom. 1:17; Php. 3:9
Wages of righteousness brings life – Pro. 11:6; Is. 32:17; Rom. 8:10
Faith based on promise – Rom. 4:21; Heb. 11:1
B. Goodness

There is only one who is good – Mk. 10:18

2. Heart after God – Ac. 13:22; Ep. 6:6

3. Pursuing justice – Dt. 27:19; Ps. 11:7; Is.

4. Pursuing righteousness – Pro. 15:9; Mt. 5:6

5. Showing mercy – 2 Cor. 7:9; Mt. 23:23

C. Knowledge

1. Adding to knowledge – Pro. 10:14; Col. 1:10

2. Able to teach others – Rom. 15:14

3. Teaching that brings life – Mt. 13:11; Lk. 1:77

4. Knowledge taught through wisdom – Pro. 15:7

D. Self-Control

1. Tongue as evidence – Pro. 10:19; Jas. 1:26

2. Passions of body – Rom. 7:5; 6:12

3. Temperate in appetite – 1 Cor. 6:13; 1 Tim. 3:3

4. Longsuffering in patience – 2 Cor. 6:6; Gal. 1:11

5. Anger management – Eph. 4:26; Jas. 1:20

6. Taking the long view – 1 Pet. 4:12; 2 Pet. 3:11

E. Perseverance

1. Waiting for rewards – 1 Tim. 4:16; Heb. 10:36

2. Improving over time – Rom. 5:4; Jas. 1:3

3. Maintaining progress – Rev. 2:2; 1 Cor. 13:7

4. Learning to wait – Jas. 5:11; Lk. 8:15

F. Godliness

1. Fruit of the Spirit – Gal. 5:22

2. Separation from the world – 2 Cor. 6:17; 2 Tim. 3:12

3. Prepares salvation – 1 Tim. 4:8; 2 Pet. 2:9

4. Sanctified thinking – Rom. 12:2; Col. 3:10

G. Brotherly Kindness

1. Respectful treatment – 1 Tim. 5:1; 1 Pet. 3:7

2. Justice for the poor – Zec. 7:9; Mt. 12:20

3. Cautious in friendship – Pro. 12:26; 22:24

4. Hospitality – Rom. 12:13; 1 Pet. 4:9

5. Mercy triumphing over judgment – Hos. 6:6; Mt. 12:7

6. Esteeming each other better – Pro. 22:1

7. Correcting in kindness – 2 Cor. 10:1, 1 Pet. 3:15

H. Love

1. God’s love defines God’s wrath – Heb. 10:26,27; Rom. 2:4

2. Love one another as God loves us – 1 Pet. 1:22

3. Love hates falsehood – Ps. 119:163; Rom. 22:15

4. Desires of the righteous will be granted – Ps. 37:4; Pro. 13:4

5. Loving God is obeying his commands – Jn. 14:15; 1 Jn. 5:3

6. God’s love is shed abroad in our hearts – Rom. 5:5

7. God’s love is safe – Pro.28:18; 1 Jn. 5:18

8. God’s love defines the purpose of life and death – Rev. 12:11

9. Love keeps no lists of wrongs – Pro. 10:12; 1 Cor. 13:5

10. Love keeps working for good – 1 Cor. 13:6

11. Love prays for its enemies – Mt. 5:44

12. Love comes before our material possessions – 1 Jn. 3:16,17

13. Love does not defraud one another – Rom. 13:10

14. Love provides life – Jn. 3:16; 10:10

15. Perfect love drives out fear – 1 Jn. 4:18



“For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 2 Pet. 2:8 ESV

[reallifenewsletter] Trip Dates typo

Chris pointed out to me that I had listed the dates as:

 June26-April 3.

 

instead of June26-July3.  The second date should indeed be July 3.

-Nathanael

[reallifenewsletter] FCC - YS Student E-mail Newsletter #183

Howdy all!

Ok I still haven't heard from everyone but here's what I've heard so far:

Potential Attendees:

Chris, Jen, Becky, Jon, Tessa, Chad, L'Heureuxs (And others from CA such as Justin etc)

Location:

People seem to be wanting to go to Bahamas

When:

Looking at dates of June26-April 3.  Let me know ASAP (by this weekend at the latest) if these dates are a problem.

If you are going, you MUST have a valid passport since this is out of the country.  If you don't have one, start the process moving since it takes a while.  You need to get an application at the Post Office or other federal building (or online) and get the pictures that are required then send the packet in.  In addition, minors (Chad and Jon) must have notorized permission slips with permission granted by BOTH parents with Nathanael, Emmy and Debby listed under permissions (I'll send samples later).

All for now...

-Nathanael

P.S.  If you've missed back email's you can view them online at http://fconline.blogspot.com

 

 YS STUDENT E-MAIL NEWSLETTER #183
May 2, 2005

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

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

1. SOMETHING FOR YOUR HEART

If your mom has a peculiar look on her face this week, don't worry too much. After all, Mother's Day is fast approaching and she's probably having trouble believing how quickly you've grown. It may seem like yesterday to her that she was rushed to the hospital to have you. (Or nervously entered the adoption agency to sign the papers to adopt you.) And now you're almost an adult. She may be wondering where that cute toddler went. Or that pert preschooler. She may be marveling at your astoundingly rapid transformation into the person you are today.

That look on her face means she's probably pondering. That's what moms do. They think. They mull over their fond memories, current feelings and deepest desires for you.

Mary, the mother of Jesus, was a ponderer. As her oldest boy grew, she did a lot of thinking about him. After a bunch of shepherds rushed to the manger explaining that angels had told them about the birth of Jesus, Mary “quietly treasured these things in her heart and thought about them often” (Luke 2:19). Twelve years later when Jesus got separated from the family caravan returning from Jerusalem and was found in the temple debating the top religious teachers, again Mary “stored all these things in her heart” (Luke 2:51). And who knows how much more pondering she did that we aren't told about?

What was the result of all that pondering? Well, it was Jesus' mom who prompted him to perform his first miracle. Apparently she had come to realize that he was capable of much more than an ordinary person (John 2:1-12).
http://biblegateway.com/cgi-bin/bible?language=english&version=NLT&passage=John+2%3A1-12

And even during the last moments of Jesus' life on earth, his mom was there. Most of his followers had deserted him. Yet Mary was there at the cross, suffering along with her son (John 19:25-27).
http://biblegateway.com/cgi-bin/bible?language=english&version=NLT&passage=John+19%3A25-27

A mother's love is something special. Clearly, you're no Jesus. (The word's out!) But your mom loves you every bit as much as Jesus' mom loved him. She worries about you because this world is a dangerous place. And regardless of the strength or shakiness of your current relationship with her, she wants what's best for you.

When you see her pondering this week, surprise her with a hug and a kiss on the cheek. Let her know you appreciate all her efforts. Give her something new to treasure in her heart. Remember that she's not going to quit pondering about you just because Mother's Day comes and goes.

Your mom deserves the best of your love and consideration every day throughout the year. And if you find it difficult to let that thought sink into your head, maybe it's something YOU should ponder.

On your own ...

Consider an alternative to a store-bought Mother's Day card this year. Why not write a heartfelt letter to your mother--and to other strong female influences in your life (grandmothers, aunts, teachers)? Let the words flow from your heart and express the things you love about your mom that you rarely say out loud. If you have trouble putting your feelings into words, read Proverbs 31:10-31 and write your own paraphrase, substituting “mother” for “wife.”
http://biblegateway.com/cgi-bin/bible?language=english&version=NLT&passage=Proverbs+31%3A10-31

2. SURF REPORT

~ One Person's Story
Sandtown's Jasmine Macklin explains how God used her involvement in a youth choir to change her heart for eternity.
http://passageway.org/go.asp?initial_page=32

~ Buy Joel Dessert
The guy likes his desserts. Who are we to deny him such simple pleasure?
http://www.buyjoeldessert.com

3. FORGETTABLE FACT

The stirrup, the tiniest bone in your body (it's in your ear), is smaller than an ant.

4. POTENT QUOTABLES

Mother is the name for God in the lips and hearts of little children.
- William Thackeray

Compassion for our parents is the true sign of maturity.
- Anais Nin

5. PARTING SHOT

Why isn't there mouse-flavored cat food?

© 2005 :: Youth Specialties

[reallifenewsletter] Summer Trip Options

Some people have expressed a concern about the cost of the trip this summer going to the Bahamas and Debbie wanted to know if people would prefer to do a more local trip/activity that would cost less.

 

What are your thoughts?

[reallifenewsletter] FCC - YS Student E-mail Newsletter #182

Yo,

  From the department of reminders department in the redundant repetitions division, we are needing responses for the summer trip.  So far Jon, Chris and Tessa have responded.  Don't miss out.  If you are interested, let me know, even if you are unsure about being able to fund the trip.  We are right now just needing to know who wants to go and try to schedule around as many conficts as possible.

So let me know if you are interested, yes or no, and if yes if you have any dates in the range of late June, early July that you would not be able to make.

Thanks!

-Nathanael

 YS STUDENT E-MAIL NEWSLETTER #182
April 25, 2005

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

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

1. SOMETHING FOR YOUR HEART

Here's a brief reflection on the song "Me Against the World" by Superchic[k]

"Back again one more time
Couldn't keep me down last time
Leaving what I know on faith
To take on the world and make waves."

Have you ever stepped out in faith? I'm the kind of person who always wants all the answers first. But more than once God has said, "Come on, girl. Let's go!" And because of my love for him, I went. And you know, each time I've been glad. Even writing these devotions is an example of obeying when I didn't have all the answers. And what a blessing they've been to me.

When we step out, not knowing where we're going, it's called a "faith walk." One of the best accounts of a faith walk is that of Abraham. One day God came to him and said:

"Leave your country, your relatives, and your father's house, and go to the land that I will show you" (Genesis 12:1).

How would you like it if God said, "Leave all you know and start off, say, east, to a place I will show you?" He didn't even tell Abraham where he was going, how far it was or anything about it. As far as we know, Abraham had never heard from God before. But the next verses tell us Abraham went. He stepped out in faith.

The disciples Jesus called to follow him left their families, homes and livelihoods to do so. The prophets of the Old Testament (with the exception of Jonah) went the first time God said, "Go." Do you have such faith? Do I?

In the song "Me Against the World," Superchic[k] sings that they are going to pursue God in spite of the odds and the world against them. You can do the same. If you know God is asking you to do something new today, do it. It could be as simple as calling someone and telling them about Jesus. It could be to try a new class or a new school. It could be to take a new job or move to a new city. Whatever it is, know this: If God calls you out from where you are, he intends to take you to where you need to be. Trust him today.
(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

~ Billy Graham's Story
Before he became the best-known evangelist of our time, Billy Graham was a skeptical teenager who thought Christianity was "hogwash." But then he encountered Christ for himself.
http://passageway.org/go.asp?initial_page=31

~ The Official Flat Stanley Project
Flat Stanley hung out with Clint Eastwood at the Academy Awards. He traveled into space on the Space Shuttle. He attended a series of briefings at the White House and had his picture taken with the president. He visited a Willie Nelson recording session. And he's traveled to all seven continents. Who is this amazing character? Find out for yourself.
http://flatstanley.enoreo.on.ca

3. FORGETTABLE FACT

Ears of corn always have an even number of rows of kernels.

4. POTENT QUOTABLES

Regret looks back.
Worry looks around.
Faith looks up.
- John Mason

Removing all risks from your life renders faith unnecessary. Faith requires risks!
- Ken Mahaynes

Faith makes it possible, not easy.
- Sally Nguyen

5. PARTING SHOT

Anything not nailed down is a cat toy.

© 2005 :: Youth Specialties

[reallifenewsletter] FCC - YS Student E-mail Newsletter #181

Howdy!

  Debbie is trying to get a head count for the potential trip to the Bahamas this summer.  We are probably looking at early-mid July timeframe.  These trips have been not only great fun but times when God has spoken, helped us and challenged us.

Cost estimates:

    Flight: Cleveland CLE- Fort Lauderdale FLL - $200;

              Fort Lauderdale-FLL - Nassau Bahamas $100?

    Lodging: House rental (includes boat) divided by those going: $200?

    Food: not sure since we'll probably bring in + cook + fish + minimal eating out (not much around) - say $10/day X 6days = $60

    Activities: Not sure of this but say there might be some somewhere - $50/per X 2activities = $100

This puts it at $660, but possibly in the $500 range?

 

If you are interested, please let me know asap, so we can get better estimates for lodging etc and begin reservations.  Also let me know if you have blackout dates in that timeframe so we can try to accomodate as many schedules as possible.

-Nathanael

   

 

YS STUDENT E-MAIL NEWSLETTER #181
April 18, 2005

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

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

1. SOMETHING FOR YOUR HEART

Whenever the topic of suicide comes up, some people can usually make pretty good arguments in favor of it. They say it's their life to end whenever they choose. They argue that death is an eventual certainty, so the “when” part doesn't really matter. They sound convincing as they proclaim that quality of life is just as important as length of life.

But consider a recent news item from Rome. A woman had a stroke and went into a coma. Her husband visited the hospital every day for a month ... and another ... and another. His grief was intense and unrelenting. In the fourth month after his wife's stroke, unwilling to go on without her, he killed himself. Then, JUST TWELVE HOURS LATER, the woman came out of her coma and immediately asked to see her beloved husband. If he had waited one more day, there would have been happy endings all around instead of another senseless tragedy.

Teenagers have a too-high rate of suicide because you don't always have enough life experience to put dark times into context. When something goes wrong--when a series of miserable experiences comes in rapid-fire--sometimes the best alternative seems to be to bail out. But even though the suicide option may SEEM like a clear answer, it's the result of short-sighted thinking.

Almost any adult can recall times of intense loss, misery and despair. But in looking back, adults see that those problems were overcome through any number of unexpected ways: a financial windfall, meeting someone who became a lifelong friend (or spouse), a new job that brought balance and energy back to life or simply the passing of sufficient time.

Suicide is irreversible. It prevents God from showing us a way up and out. It indicates we have given up on him--that we believe our problems are too much for him to handle. But God is ALWAYS there for us. As we learn to wait for him--to act in his timing--life takes on an element of hope that can carry us through our darkest moments.

One other thing to consider: it's NOT just your life. God created us to be interlinked--dependent on one another. The loss of one person's life and gifts affects a circle of people much wider than you might expect. Friends and family members are the hardest hit, but the shock wave that rips through a school after a teenage suicide leaves few people unaffected. Their lives go on, but never the same after being forced to deal with a peer's premature decision to die.

Sometimes life isn't everything we want it to be. But it's LIFE. Each life is a gift from God, and he will see us through it. As we learn to focus on him more than our problems, we begin to see the good things more clearly. And when that happens, the bad stuff just doesn't seem to matter as much.

On your own ...

Experience teaches us that our worst situations can improve in dramatic and unexpected ways. Christians, especially, should know that God can step into any set of circumstances and make even seemingly impossible conditions bearable and maybe even wonderful. Just ask Job ... or Jonah ... or Isaac (after Abraham untied him and took him off the altar).

Think of your favorite story of faith. (Daniel in the lions' den? Joseph in prison? Esther approaching King Xerxes?) Look it up, reread it, and see what got the person through his or her crisis situation. Then pray that God will increase your own faith and make you an available friend for others who might be contemplating suicide or other harmful decisions.

2. SURF REPORT

~ Christian Teenz 4 God
This is a site where Christian teens can just hang out. What more could you ask for?
http://www.teens.christian.nu

~ The Mariner's Museum
This online arm of the Mariner's Museum in Newport News, Virginia, allows you to look at maritime artifacts from all over the world. You'll find photos of Titanic remnants, nautical prints, navigational aids, maps, and anything else used on a ship.
http://www.mariner.org

3. FORGETTABLE FACT

The reason your eyes don't freeze in winter is that you have a lot of salt in your tears.

4. POTENT QUOTABLES

Suicide is the worst form of murder, because it leaves no opportunity for repentance.
- Churton Collins

The divinity who rules within us forbids us to quit this world without his command.
- Cicero

The man who, in a fit of melancholy, kills himself today, would have wished to live if he'd waited a week.
- Voltaire

5. PARTING SHOT

I was going to get my teeth whitened, but I figured it would be easier just to get a tan.

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© 2005 :: Youth Specialties

[reallifenewsletter] FCC - YS Student E-mail Newsletter #179

Here is the email newsletter I tried to send last week, but it got held
up...

Howdy! At long last the pictures from the ski trip are now posted
online!

You can either view them from the link on the youth page on the church
website (http://www.fconline.net) or here is a direct link (you'll
probably have to cut and paste it into your browser address bar)
(http://www.fconline.net/skipics05/index.htm)

When asked about favorite runs Jon said:
All the runs were great but my favorite run was Maple Leaf

David said:
My favorite run of the day was my second to last run down of the day
down Morningstar. It was a technically excellent run...

The next activities we are looking to are seeing a play and going on
another paintball trip.

This summer, Debbie is planning the youth trip to be in the Bahamas.
She is looking to rent a house out on a small island somewhere. Our
only transportation will be a boat and stores and restaurants are hard
if not impossible to find...just us and the water, sand and sealife.
When she went previously, there were rays in the water to swim with and
lots of fish and things to see in the water.

For those of you interested in music and perhaps forming a Christian
band, read the article below under the "Surf Report" about the band
"Overflow". Pretty interesting!

TTYL!
-Nathanael


YS STUDENT E-MAIL NEWSLETTER #179
April 4, 2005

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

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

1. SOMETHING FOR YOUR HEART

"April is the cruelest month, breeding
Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing
Memory and desire, stirring
Dull roots with spring rain."
- T.S. Eliot

T.S. Eliot had his reasons for thinking April is the cruellest month.
Perhaps you have your own. Chances are, your Aprils may be worse than
Eliot's ever were. For one thing, you probably have to contend with much
more sadistic jokes on April Fool's Day than he ever did. And Eliot,
being a British subject, never had to endure the "spring ahead" clock
setting, forcing him to get up an hour earlier every day as April rolls
in.

Another popular quote about April isn't any more promising: "April
showers bring May flowers." The month of May gets credit for the best
nature has to offer--bright colors and sweet floral scents. But April?
Showers. Gray skies. Storms. The calendar says it's spring already, but
the lingering snow and ice in many parts of the country beg to disagree.
When the sun comes out, the air is still chilly. And when it warms up,
the clouds roll in and pour down rain.

In addition, April is about the time you start looking forward to
summer. Yet you have another couple of months of school to finish. And
not ordinary school, either. These next two months bring due dates for
all the big assignments you've been putting off ... and final exams ...
and stress and exhaustion. If T.S. Eliot thought April was cruel a
century ago, he should try being a teenager in 2005!

Of course, it's easy to talk in generalities and arrive at some bleak
conclusions. Sure, April brings rain, daylight savings time, numerous
school commitments and (for you working types) income tax. Yet when we
move beyond the general malaise of weather and responsibilities, we
should be able to list a number of specific antidotes to the "cruelty"
of April.

This year, especially, we should cling to the power of the Easter story
we celebrated at the close of March. We should be propelled into cruel
April with the promise that no matter what tends to knock us down, God
offers us the power to get back up and prevail.

April may be the cruellest month. Your boss may give you the cruellest
chores at work. Your math teacher may be the cruellest grader. Your
so-called friends may give you the cruellest treatment. No matter. Your
God is an infinite source of kindness, mercy and strength. HIS gifts are
all "good and perfect" (James 1:17). His mercies "begin afresh each day"
(Lamentations 3:23).

If you find yourself looking around this April and resenting the cruelty
of the early mornings, the weather or anything else that creates a sense
of despair or frustration, you're not seeing the whole picture. God's
goodness is all around. You're just not looking hard enough.

On your own ...

Read Habakkuk 3:17-19.
http://biblegateway.com/cgi-bin/bible?language=english&version=NLT&passa
ge=Habakkuk+3%3A17-19

These verses are the prophet's expression of faith in God even when
circumstances (and weather conditions) were not what he would have
wished. Create your own statement of faith in God's sovereignty by
substituting your own "cruel" circumstances in place of Habakkuk's.
(Those of you with your own fig trees and olive crop won't need to adapt
the passage.)

2. SURF REPORT

~ Overflow: A Better Place
Five friends started a band for their youth group. Now they're playing
to churches across the nation. Meet Overflow.
http://www.family.org/teenguys/breakmag/features/a0035671.html

~ Comedy Tragedy Masks
You've seen them--the pair of masks that represent drama. One's happy
and one's sad. And both are creepy. Here's where you'll find everything
you need to know about the masks--including where to order your own.
http://www.angelfire.com/art/masks/menu.html

3. FORGETTABLE FACT

The Pacific Ocean is twice as big as the Atlantic ... and bigger than
all the continents combined.

4. POTENT QUOTABLES

'Tis a month before the month of May, and the Spring comes slowly up
this way.
- Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Hope keeps the heart whole.
- Antony Brewer

For all your days prepare, and meet them ever alike:
When you are the anvil, bear--When you are the hammer, strike.
- Edwin Markham

5. PARTING SHOT

Bigfoot IS blurry, that's the problem. It's not the photographer's
fault. He's a large, out-of-focus monster, and that's extra scary to me.

(c) 2005 :: Youth Specialties

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[reallifenewsletter] FCC - YS Student E-mail Newsletter #174

Ski trip was excellent!
My best run of the day was when I went down The Wall - on my rear end -
laughing all the way.
Thanks to Michael P for being an additional driver.

I hope to have pics up soon. Let me know what your favorite run was.

TTYL
-Nathanael

YS STUDENT E-MAIL NEWSLETTER #174
February 28, 2005

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

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better. Here's a book that flows in the opposite direction! Veteran
youth worker Wayne Rice brings interesting stories, practical
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relationship and communication with your parents.

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Also available in your local Christian bookstore.

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

1. SOMETHING FOR YOUR HEART

It happened a year ago this week. In a small town near Memphis,
Tennessee, a 15-year-old boy had recently gotten his learner's permit.
So sometime after his family went to sleep one Saturday night, he got
up, took his father's keys and went for a drive. He soon picked up six
other friends--including four girls who sneaked away from a slumber
party to go with him.

At 2:30 A.M. a motorist came upon the car, totaled, with all seven
teenagers dead. The vehicle had apparently gone airborne after topping a
small hill at a high rate of speed and had hit a tree. No skid marks
were found. Four of the passengers were 15; one was 14; the other two
were 13.

When the driver's father woke up at about 5 A.M. and found his son
missing, he called the boy's cell phone. A policeman at the crash scene
answered.

According to the adults who knew them, these were good kids. They went
to church. There was no evidence of alcohol use in connection with the
wreck. They were out for a little innocent fun. Yet one night of trying
to flaunt the rules a bit will result in a lifetime of painful memories
for the people who knew those seven good kids.

Many of us have done something similar, if not worse. We want to be
free. Independent. Cool. And there's nothing wrong with that. Where we
get in trouble is in disregarding the instructions of parents or other
authorities. Believe it or not, adults don't make rules just because
they want to impose misery on our lives. Their instructions usually come
from their CONCERN for us. They know from experience that one of the
hardest-to-learn lessons of life is that bad things don't just happen to
OTHER people.

"Obedience" sounds like such a churchy, old-timey word. But it's for
good reason that God wants children to obey parents, citizens to obey
authority and all of us to obey him. It's hard to willingly submit to
the authority of another person. Yet Jesus proved it was possible--and
beneficial--while living as a human being on earth. He remained in
complete submission to his Father's will throughout his entire lifetime.
He certainly didn't get to do everything he might have WANTED to do. And
he could have bailed at any time in order to avoid the rejection and
death he experienced. But he didn't. (And we should thank him every day
for his obedience.) As a result, we can find forgiveness and second
chances for our own disobedient, non-submissive behavior.

Seven teenagers want to go for an early-morning drive. One has a
driver's permit. It's ALMOST a license--practically as good. The roads
will surely be empty at 2:00 in the morning. What could go wrong?

When we consider all the potential alternatives of our everyday choices,
obedience doesn't seem like such a bad option after all.

On your own ...

Read Luke 2:41-52.
http://biblegateway.com/cgi-bin/bible?language=english&version=NLT&passa
ge=Luke+2%3A41-52

After a stimulating debate with a roomful of religious teachers, Jesus'
parents abruptly put an end to his fun. How did Jesus respond?

2. SURF REPORT

~ Ask Dr. Dave
Do you ever feel as though you have so many questions about life, God
and life-in-God that you don't even know where to start? Here's some
advice that might help you.
http://community.gospelcom.net/Brix?pageID=7068

~ Drop That Name
Have you ever had a brush with greatness? A personal encounter with a
celebrity? If not, here's the next best thing: stories of people who
have encountered the famous (and infamous).
http://play.dropthatname.com

3. FORGETTABLE FACT

There are 41 references to dogs in the Bible ... and most of them are
negative.

4. POTENT QUOTABLES

Obedience is the mother of success, the wife of safety.
- Aeschylus

Only he who believes is obedient; only he who is obedient believes.
- Dietrich Bonhoeffer

I find the doing of the will of God leaves me no time for disputing
about his plans.
- George MacDonald

5. PARTING SHOT

I just got lost in thought. It was unfamiliar territory.

Copyright 2005 Youth Specialties

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[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

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how the Bible applies to issues you face, and more. Check it out and
discover how deeply God wants you to hear and know His messages -- that
you are valuable, that God is present in your life, and that you are
loved.

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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


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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