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{Heart4Teens.com}  *Sex Has a Price Tag*

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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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Over 87,000 people have listened to popular Chicken Soup Author Michael T. Powers' free inspirational message entitled: "Breathing Life into Others".  If you aren't one of them just visit: http://www.HeartTouchers.com and click on the link to listen to the free streaming audio message!


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Sex Has a Price Tag

by Pam Strenzel


Everyone who is committed to sexual purity agrees that protecting the heart, the mind, and the body are absolutely necessary. The question is how?

Each person struggles with different temptations. Person A's weakness might not be a problem at all for Person B. The plan and strategy that you follow will depend on your own areas of weakness. So the first thing you need to do is identify those areas, like we discussed in the section about protecting your mind. Then you need to avoid those situations--even if all your friends are there.

Beyond that, here are some suggestions that will be helpful as you begin thinking about how to actively pursue a life of sexual purity.

1. Write a personal commitment statement regarding sexual purity. List the reasons for your decision. List some action steps. Sign it. Date it. Have your parents sign it (and maybe include their own statement about supporting you in this pursuit). Make copies and give to a few people whom you can trust and who will help hold you accountable.

2. Take part in a sexual purity ceremony with your family. Write you own vows stating your decision and your commitment. Include a promise to your future spouse about your actions. Keep a copy so that someday you can show it to your husband or wife on your wedding day.

3. Check out some of the national abstinence programs (like True Love Waits) to see if they can offer you help and support.

4. Date in groups. Never get into a situation where you are alone with a guy or girl. That's right...never. If you're with other people at all times, you're less likely to do something you'll regret later on.

5. Set clear boundaries in every dating relationship. If the boundary is crossed even one time, call it quits.

6. NEVER DRINK (read Genesis 19:30-38 to see how drinking and sex can affect one another).

7. Never remain in a tempting situation (read II Samuel 11- 12 and see how staying in a tempting situation snowballs out of control).

8. When all else fails (you've averted your gaze, you've closed the magazine, you've turned off the TV, you've said no, etc.) RUN! (read Genesis 39 and see how running can be the best choice.)

9. Never indulge your fantasies. In other words, don't let your mind imagine and dwell on sexual thoughts (read II Samuel 13 and see what happens when someone lets sexual thoughts go unchecked).

10. Surround yourself with people who share your commitment to sexual purity. This doesn't mean that you can only talk to and associate with people who are virgins. This doesn't mean that you look down on or snub people who don't share your convictions. After all, you live in the world and most of the world doesn't buy into God's agenda. It does mean, however, that you'd better have some friends who will encourage, support, and walk alongside you.

11. Be sure to make God part of your plan. Proverbs 16:3 says, Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.

Based on what the entire Bible teaches, this means if you will commit to the Lord your plans and desires that are in agreement with His plans and desires, those plans and desires will succeed.

Since it's clear that God's plan is for sex to be contained inside a life-long marriage relationship, then your desire to be sexually pure can happen if you commit it to God and let him guide you.

Proverbs 3:5-6 says, Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. All three parts of you are included in these verses--your heart, your mind (understanding), and the actions of your body (straight paths).

Trust God--believe that his plan is best.

Don't lean on your own understanding--admit that sometimes you don't know the difference between right and wrong (see Proverbs 16:25).

Acknowledge him always--don't exclude him from any areas of your life, especially sex.

That's the best plan you can have. Simple, sensible, and supernatural, all wrapped up into one.

by Pam Strenzel

Taken from "Sex Has a Price Tag" by Pam Stenzel, copyright 2003, Youth Specialties/Zondervan. Used by permission. Order the book here: http://www.youthspecialties.com/product/249716

Also available at your local Christian bookstore.


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Let's Go Surfing Dude!

What's the Big Deal About Premarital Sex - Click on the link below to find answers to many of your questions about love and sex!

http://www.heart4teens.com/love_and_sex


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Thought For The Day:

"The mountain remains unmoved at seeming defeat by the mist." -- Rabindranath Tagore


Verse for the Day:

"The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock
in whom I take refuge." --Psalm 18:2


Teen's Thought For The Day:

Stop giving your unbelieving friends unsolicited advice on what to do or how to live their lives.  In other words, quit giving out directions and just simply say: "Follow me."-- Michael T. Powers


Parent's Thought For The Day:

"It's good to have money and the things that money can buy, but it's
good, too, to check up once in a while and make sure you haven't lost
the things that money can't buy." --George Horace Lorimer


Coach's Thought For The Day:

"Athletes play their hearts out for Coach Greer, not because they fear him, but because they don't want to disappoint him. When athletes play out of fear, or to show up a coach, their whole heart is not in it. But when an athlete plays hard for herself and because she doesn't want to disappoint a coach, then she is playing with her whole being. When that coach continues to build confidence, she begins to play hard not only for herself, but also for her teammates." --Michael T. Powers


Deep Thoughts For The Day:

"What do you do when you see an endangered animal eating an endangered plant?"


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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 Edgerton, Fort Atkinson, Milton, Janesville Craig, Janesville Parker, Marshall, Franklin, 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.


Upcoming Topics:

New Series!  Rewired:  Developing a Biblical World View

October 8: Making Sense of it All
October 15: If We Come From the Ground We're Nothing But Dirt
October 22: Creatures that Defy Evolution
October 29: Image is Everything

November 5: Special Drama Presentation by the Spring Creek Players!  6 PM start time!

November 12: The Gates of Hell
November 19:  Bad to the Bone
November 26:  Somebody Save Me

December 3: That's Not Fair
December 10: Prepare to Die
December 17:  True to Who?

December 24:  No All-Stars -- Spend Christmas Eve with your family!
December 31: No All-Stars -- Spend New Year's Eve with your family!


Visit our youth website to see our topics for all of 2007!
http://www.faithcommunitychurch.net/youth


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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.

Jr. High age meets at the church and are led by Kent and Rachel Martin

High School age are led by Matt and Kristi Kauffman: 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!