Heart Touchers - teen122405

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{Heart4Teens.com} *Christmas Night*

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IT'S CHRISTMAS NIGHT

By Max Lucado

It's Christmas night. The house is quiet. Even
the crackle is gone from the fireplace. Warm coals
issue a lighthouse glow in the darkened den.
Stockings hang empty on the mantle. The tree
stands naked in the corner. Christmas cards,
tinsel, and memories remind Christmas night of
Christmas day.

It's Christmas night. What a day it has been!
Spiced tea. Santa Claus. Cranberry sauce.
"Thank you, so much." "You shouldn't have!"
"Grandma is on the phone." Knee-deep wrapping
paper. "It just fits." Flashing cameras. It's Christmas night.
The girls are in bed. Jenna dreams of her talking Big
Bird and clutches her new purse. Andrea sleeps in
her new Santa pajamas. It's Christmas night. The
tree that only yesterday grew from soil made of gifts,
again grows from the Christmas tree stand. Presents
are now possessions. Wrapping paper is bagged
and in the dumpsite. The dishes are washed and
leftover turkey awaits next week's sandwiches.

It's Christmas night. The last of the carolers
appeared on the ten o'clock news. The last of
the apple pie was eaten by my brother-in-law.
And the last of the Christmas albums have been
stored away having dutifully performed their annual
rendition of chestnuts, white Christmases,
and red-nosed reindeer.

It's Christmas night.

The midnight hour has chimed and I should be
asleep, but I'm awake. I'm kept awake by
one stunning thought. The world was different this
week. It was temporarily transformed. The magical
dust of Christmas glittered on the cheeks of humanity
ever so briefly, reminding us of what is worth having
and what we were intended to be. We forgot our
compulsion with winning, wooing, and warring. We put
away our ladders and ledgers, we hung up our stop
watches and weapons. We stepped off our racetracks
and roller coasters and looked outward toward the star
of Bethlehem.

It's the season to be jolly because, more than at
any other time, we think of him. More than in any
other season, his name is on our lips. And the result?
For a few precious hours our heavenly yearnings
intermesh and we become a chorus. A ragtag chorus
of longshoremen, Boston lawyers, illegal immigrants,
housewives, and a thousand other peculiar persons
who are banking that Bethlehem's mystery is
in reality, a reality. "Come and behold him" we sing,
stirring even the sleepiest of shepherds and
pointing them toward the Christ-child.

For a few precious hours, he is beheld. Christ the
Lord. Those who pass the year without seeing him,
suddenly see him. People who have been accustomed
to using his name in vain, pause to use it in praise.
Eyes, now free of the blinders of self, marvel at his
majesty. All of a sudden he's everywhere. In the grin
of the policeman as he drives his paddy wagon
full of presents to the orphanage.

In the twinkle in the eyes of the Taiwanese waiter
as he tells of his upcoming Christmas trip to see
his children. In the emotion of the father who is too
thankful to finish the dinner table prayer. He's in the
tears of the mother as she welcomes home her son
from overseas. He's in the heart of the man who
spent Christmas morning on skid row giving away cold
baloney sandwiches and warm wishes. And he's in the
solemn silence of the crowd of shopping mall shoppers
as the elementary school chorus sings "Away in a Manger."
Emmanuel. He is with us. God came near.

It's Christmas night. In a few hours the cleanup will
begin-lights will come down, trees will be thrown out.
Size 36 will be exchanged for size 40, eggnog will be
on sale for half-price. Soon life will be normal again.
December's generosity will become January's payments
and the magic will begin to fade. But for the moment,
the magic is still in the air. Maybe that's why I'm still
awake. I want to savor the spirit just a bit more. I want
to pray that those who beheld him today will look for
him next August. And I can't help but linger on one
fanciful thought: if he can do so much with such timid
prayers lamely offered in December, how much more
could he do if we thought of him every day?

Max Lucado

From "It Began in a Manger" Published by Word Publishing
© 1995 by Max Lucado (Used by Permission)

With more than 40 million books in print, Max Lucado has touched millions with his signature storytelling writing style. Awards and accolades follow Max with each book he writes. Max is the first author to win the Gold Medallion Christian Book of the Year three times: 1999 for Just Like Jesus, 1997 for In the Grip of Grace and 1995 for When God Whispers Your Name.

In addition to his nonfiction books, Lucado has authored several award-winning children's titles including , Just In Case You Ever Wonder, The Crippled Lamb and Alabaster's Song. Max's newest book is a follow-up to the award-winning You Are Special entitled You Are Mine. He served as the general editor for the best-selling Inspirational Bible and God's Inspirational Promise Book.

Max serves as the pulpit minister of the Oak Hills Church of Christ in San Antonio, Texas. But he says his greatest accomplishment is finding a one-in-a-million wife in Denalyn and having three unbelievable daughters: Jenna, Andrea, and Sara.

You can visit his web site at: http://www.maxlucado.com

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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 25 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.)

All-Stars: 6:30 - 8:00 PM Sunday nights! Open to all youth grades 9-12.

The Outlet: 6:30 - 8:00 PM Sunday nights in the Multi-Purpose Room! Open to all youth grades 6-8.

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.

Attention!

No All-Stars on Christmas Day! Spend time with your family!

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Teen Community Groups
6:30 - 8:00 PM Wednesday nights (September though May)

These 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 Xtreme Teens. These cell groups will also be doing special activities with each other as the year goes on to build community.

Sixth graders meet at Kent and Rachel Martin's house: 1324 E. Racine St. (Call 373-0886 if you have any questions!)

Seventh and Eighth graders meet at Tedi Knox's house: 429 1/2 Harding Dr.

High School age meets at Matt and Kristi Kauffman's house: 4339 Fox Hills (Call 758-1243 if you have any questions!)

Xtreme Teens

Xtreme Teens meet on Wednesday nights from 6:30 - 8:00 PM all year round at the Powers' house. 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. Admission into Xtreme Teens is on a case by case basis. Contact Pastor Michael for more details!