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{Heart4Teens.com}  *Me Against the World*

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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 Heart4Teens.com readers around the world by visiting:

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Visit our inspirational web site to 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



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Me Against the World


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.


Daily Reflections from Solid Sounds, copyright 2005 The Good News Broadcasting Association, Inc. (Solid Sounds). Used by permission.
http://www.solidsounds.org

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Let's Go Surfing Dude!

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


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Thought For The Day:

"The trouble with modern civilization is that we so oftten mistake respectability for character."


Verse for the Day:

"Man looks at the outward appearance but the Lord looks at the heart."--1 Samuel 16:7


Teen's Thought For The Day:

"When you do the things you have to do when you have to do them, the day will come when you can do the things you want to do when you want to do them."


Parent's Thought For The Day

"Sometimes the best way to understand your teen is to remember how you felt or acted when you were a teen."


Coach's Thought For The Day

"People who wait for something to turn up might start with their own shirtsleeves."


Deep Thought For The Day:

"Five frogs are sitting on a log. Four decide to jump off. How many are left?
Answer: five.

Why? Because there's a difference between deciding and doing."



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Author MICHAEL T. POWERS
www.Heart4Teens.com

Contributing Author to Chicken Soup for the Teen's Soul on Love and Friendship and 21 other inspirational books.

"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

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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 Lucerne Dr. in Janesville, WI. (About 3 blocks south-east of The Skating Place.)

Currently we have students from Fort Atkinson, Milton, Janesville Craig, Janesville Parker, Marshall, 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.


This Week:  Sunday May 22 -- Death Vader (Live so that they won't have to lie at your funeral)

Upcoming Topics!
 
 
Sunday May 29 -- Live Right, Travel Light (Dealing with co-dependency)
 
Sunday June 5 --  Annual Summer Kick-off Cook-out!  (Invite your friends!)
 
Sunday June 12 -- Facing our Demons (Dealing with temptation)
 
Sunday June 19 -- Father's Day -- No All-Stars (Stay home and spend time with your dad!)
 
Sunday June 26 -- Mirror, Mirror on the Wall (Becoming salt in a rotten world)
 
Sunday July 3 --  Movie Night!
 
Sunday July 12 -- God's Play Dough (How do we know God's will for our lives?)




Upcoming Events


June 15-18:  Xtreme Teens Camping Trip in the Nicolet National Forest!

June 27 - July 1, 2005:  Special Touch Summer Getaway at Spencer Lake Christian Center in Waupaca Wisconsin.  If you would like to be a volunteer at this camp-style retreat for people with mental or physical disabilities contact Kristi Powers at 757-1938.  What a wonderful way for you as a teenager to make a difference in other people's lives!   
July 6:  Great America Trip!

July 8-16:  Guatemala Missions Trip!

July 22-23:  30-Hour Famine (high school only)

September 16-18:  Annual Fall Retreat!


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Teen Community Groups
6:30 - 8:00 PM Wednesday nights
 
Wednesday night community groups for teens. The groups are limited to no more than ten teens and are 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.

Join us as we do a Bible Study called "The Discipleship Experiment!"
 
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The Extreme Teens

6:30 - 8:00 PM Wednesday nights  is on Wednesday nights from 6:30 - 8:00 PM

"Extreme Teens" meet Wednesday nights from 6:30 - 8:00 PM (September -May). This group is 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.


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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! 

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! Check out this link to find out more!

http://www.HeartTouchers.com/books