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{Heart4Teens.com} *The Connection* 2/17/03 ______________________________________ If you enjoy this free email service, I encourage you to spread the word to family and friends that we may bring inspiration into the lives of teenagers everywhere! If you are not on the list and this has been passed along to you, you can join Heart4Teen.com readers around the world by sending a blank e-mail to: Heart4Teens-subscribe@myinjesus.com Visit our inspirational web site and read all the past articles in our archives, and view the tons of resources we have there for teens! http://www.Heart4Teens.com/Teen_Stories ____________________________________________ Be sure to check out our other inspirational email list and web site! http://www.HeartTouchers.com To subscribe send a blank email to: HeartTouchers-subscribe@myinjesus.com _________________________________________ Reading Books, Changing Lives! For those of you who love to read or love to give out books as gifts... You can now order a number of different autographed best-selling inspirational books for the same price you would get them in the store, the shipping to you is paid for, and you are helping change the lives of teenagers and those they come in contact with! And best of all, every penny from the book sales are going to youth ministry to help pay for a life-changing winter retreat and a missions trip to Guatemala this summer! If you love to read inspirational stories, these books are most likely those you will eventually buy anyway. And how cool would it be to be able to buy books like those in the Chicken Soup series for your friends and family with a personalized autographed message by one of the contributing authors! How's that for a unique gift! Not only are you changing lives through supporting a youth ministry, but every book included on our website has the power to make a difference in the lives of those you give the books to. Check out this link to find out more! http://www.HeartTouchers.com/books _________________________________________ The Connection Jalen Rose, one of the superstars of the NBA, is the son of a former NBA player named Jimmy Walker. Unfortunately, that's about the only common ground the father and son have. Rose has explained in interviews that despite his best efforts, he's been unable to contact his father. The two men have never had any kind of relationship. As a youngster growing up, Rose could get into pickup basketball games with older kids by telling them his dad was Jimmy Walker. He carried his father's basketball card in his sock at all times. It was proof to the other kids that Jalen really was the son of an NBA player. Perhaps it was a reminder to Rose himself. Sadly that basketball card was the only connection to his dad that Rose had. Some people have a similar relationship with God. They carry a Bible. They carry a cross, a bracelet, and other symbols of God with them wherever they go. They go to church and Bible study, yet have no real relationship with God. They know of Him, but don't know Him personally. Like Jalen, they lack a relationship with the Father. The basketball card that Jalen carried in his sock was a poor substitute for his real desire: a relationship with his dad. While Jalen's attempts to connect with his father have misfired, there is no missing when we call out to God the Father. The Bible says everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved (Romans 10:13). Our heavenly Father answers every time. God's desire is for an authentic relationship, too. Take a hard look at your relationship with God. Does it involve authentic heart-to-heart communication? Does it involve complete acceptance of His gift to you, His Son? Do you depend on His Holy Spirit for your counseling and strength? Or do you simply carry a "card" as your evidence of a relationship? Call on your Father today. Tell Him you're going to trust Him with your life, and you want Him to be in charge. Ask Him to forgive you for your failures and fill you with His presence. Christ will be your coach. God will be your Father. And you will have peace with God the Father in His Son Jesus Christ through His Holy Spirit. _________________________________________ LET'S GO SURFING DUDE! ~ The Invisible Battle How much do Satan and his demons really influence us? What should we be doing about it? A well-known Christian expert offers his thoughts. http://www.yugop.com/ver3/stuff/03/fla.html ~ Industrious Clock It's not just a clock; it's the coolest clock on the Web. http://www.yugop.com/ver3/stuff/03/fla.html __________________________________________ Thought For The Day: "He who has learned to obey will know how to command." Verse for the Day: "The wise in heart accept commands, but a chattering fool come to ruin." JProverbs 10:8 Teen's Thought for the day: A Christian Teen must keep the faith, but not to himself. Parent's Thought For The Day "Train your child in a way in which you know you should have gone yourself." Coach's Thought For The Day "Profanity is a device that makes ignorance audible." Deep Thought For The Day: "If a man comes to the door dressed in a Pizza-Hut hat, he's probably a pizza guy. If a guy comes to the door dressed in a white hockey mask, he's probably not a pizza guy, and you should close the door in a hurry!" _________________________________________ ALL-STAR Ministry --The Youth Church of Faith Community Church in Janesville, WI If you are in 6-12th grade and live in the southern Wisconsin/northern Illinois area and would like to check us out, we meet every Sunday night from 6:30-8:00 PM at Faith Community Church which is located at 2931 Lucerene Dr. in Janesville, WI. (About 4-5 blocks south-east of The Skating Place.) Currently we have students from Fort Atkinson, Milton, Janesville Craig, Janesville Parker, Orfordville, Clinton, Beloit Memorial, Beloit Turner, South Beloit, and Hononegah. E-mail me back if you have any questions about our weekly meetings or would like to come to any of our events that are listed below... We have way too much fun and then, most importantly, talk about issues that are relevant to you as a teenager. _______________________________________________ Change Is Here! Starting the week lots of exciting changes are going to happen: All-Stars will be extending its time to 6:00 - 8:30 PM on Sunday nights. 6:00 - 6:30 will be time for the youth to chat and discuss anything they want with the youth leaders or each other. 6:30 - 7:00 PM will be for games or fun activities and then 7:00 - 8:30 PM will be for the lesson and discussion time. Students are still welcome to "hang out" after 8:30 PM if they want, as the leaders are usually at the church until at least 10:00 PM, and some nights even later. (For the past couple of months the students have continually complained that we are running out of time before we get to really discuss the topics in full and asked if we could have longer teaching times... I know, most of you are probably now getting back up off the floor from the shock. We have been most encouraged that the teens have been wanting to stay longer to be able to discuss the lessons more fully.) The Outlet: "Get plugged into Jesus Christ!" (Teen Cell Groups) Wednesday night community groups for teens will also start this week. The groups will be limited to no more than ten teens and will be originally split into Jr. High and High School ages. This night is for those teens who want to dig deeper than what we do in All-Stars, but may not be ready to be a part of the Extreme Teens. These cell groups will also be doing special activities with each other as the year goes on to build community. "The Extreme Teens" (formerly the Core Group) will be starting Sunday March 16 from 5:00 - 6:00 PM at the church. This group will be very extensive with weekly homework, memorization, service projects, etc. Students interested in this group will have to fill out an application, provide references as to why others think they should be involved with this, and sign an agreement as to what is expected of them. (If your teen will also be attending All-Stars that night, they are encouraged to bring a sack lunch or snack to tide them over until 8:30.) We are very excited at what God will be doing with our youth! ______________________________________ UPCOMING EVENTS February 2/21 - 2/22 -- 30 Hour Famine (Students start fasting at 4 PM on Friday through 10 PM Saturday night.) Students need to meet at the church at 8 PM on Friday evening. We will be staying overnight at the church and then ending our fast on Saturday evening. The entire 30 hours are scheduled out with lessons and activities as the teens learn about what other people go through each and every day. March 3/2 Christianity 101 Class: 5:00 - 6:00 PM at church. 3/7 - 3/9 -- Fort Wilderness Winter Retreat (Cost: $94, which may go down as more fundraising is done, but we won?t know exactly until Sunday March 2. This price does not apply to those who helped with the Chili dinner. Your cost will be at the most $74.) Room and board is $78 per person with the extra $16 going to pay for van rentals and gas. Last year cost us over $800 just for van rentals and gas and we will be taking more people this year. Your teen?s $25 deposit is due Sunday February 23. Checks should be made out to "FCC Youth" and the balance is due on or before Wednesday March 5th. Teens will be meeting at the church at 4:30 PM on Friday March 7, departing for Fort Wilderness at 5 PM and returning to the church around 7 PM on Sunday evening. Teens will have regular meeting times where God?s truths are taught by the Fort Wilderness staff members but will also have plenty of time for fun activities. Activities included in the price are: Horseback Riding, broomball, ice skating, cross country skiing, nature hikes, inner tubing, etc. All meals are paid for, however your teen will want to bring money for fast food on our trip up and back as we will be stopping for food during the five hour drive. Extra spending money is up to you and your teen for snacks or purchases at the "Canteen". Teens need to bring their own bibles, towels, sleeping bags, and pillows, along with very warm clothes and winter gear. Warm hats or ski masks, gloves, boots, and layers of clothing are a must. _________________________________________ Author MICHAEL T. POWERS www.Heart4Teens.com "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." Galatians 2:20 ___________________________________________ Would you like to see your story in Heart4Teens.com? Writer's guidelines can be found on our Web site here: http://www.Heart4Teens.com/guidelines/ ___________________________________________ "I need a daily source of inspiration and encouragement in my life!" SUBSCRIBE: To become a Heart4Teens.com Member send a blank e-mail to: Heart4Teens-subscribe@myinjesus.com Then get ready to laugh, cry, and be deeply touched by some of the best stories on the Internet! __________________________________________ UNSUBSCRIBE: Send a blank e-mail to: Heart4Teens-unsubscribe@myinjesus.com __________________________________________ Do you feel as if life has no meaning for you? http://www.greatcom.org/english/four.htm __________________________________________ Author Michael T. Powers Contributing Author to Chicken Soup for the Teen's Soul on Love and Friendship and 14 other inspirational books. Check out his book: Straight From the Heart by visiting: http://www.HeartTouchers.com |
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Touching Lives - One E-mail at a Time! Author Michael T. Powers - HeartTouchers @ aol.com
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