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:
http://www.Heart4Teens.com/Heart4Teens
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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Finally there is a great filter to block Internet pornography and other objectionable content! Kristi and I have used this filter for 5 years now and want to recommend the Bsafe Online filter to you. We absolutely love it. To find out more and get your own FREE 10-Day Trial, just visit: http://www.Heart4Teens.com/filter
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Michael's updated book Heart Touchers "Life-Changing Stories of Faith, Love, and Laughter," is finally here! ($13.95) Visit the link below to preview the book! Personalized autographed copies are available at no extra charge and we pay the shipping for you! An E-book version is also available for just $3.25!
http://www.Heart4Teens.com/books
Be sure to let us know who you would like it autographed for and then allow about two weeks for us to sign it and send it on its way to you. Credit card, PayPal, Checks, and Money orders accepted! The book is also available through Amazon.com, Borders.com, BarnesandNoble.com, and Booklocker.com
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INTEGRITY
If we (Kurt and Mark) tell you we're actually space aliens, we wouldn't have integrity...because, well, we're not space aliens.
If we tell you we're midget wrestlers from an unknown Latin American country, and we tagteam wrestle under the name "Las Floritas" (the little flowers), we wouldn't have integrity...because, well, it ain't true!
Let's say we have three pieces of wood, and we cut all three of them down the middle so you can see "the insides." The first piece, we discover, isn't wood at all. It has a Styrofoam center no different from a cheap coffee cup! And the outside is just a plastic layer made to look like wood! We could say this "piece of wood" has no integrity at all! It's absolutely not what it "says" it is.
The second piece of wood is interesting. The outside of it (called a "veneer") is actually wood. It's just really thin. And the inside is really wood, too--but it's cheap wood that's been all ground up into a pulp with glue in there to hold it all together. It looks like oatmeal made out of wood. This kind of wood is strong like real wood, but way cheaper. And this piece of wood has more integrity than the first piece (at least this one is actually made out of wood!). But it's still lacking integrity, because it's hiding something (the fact that it's not solid wood).
The third piece of wood has perfect integrity: It's solid oak, all the way through. It's exactly what it "says" it is -- with nothing to hide.
Do you understand "integrity" now? Honesty has a lot to do with it, but it's more than that. Integrity means doing what you say you'll do, being who you say you are, following through on commitments, and only saying what you mean (not just what you think will get you what you want). If you want your family to be the best that it can be, you have to be committed to living with integrity. Are you? Do you?
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Taken from "My Family" by Kurt Johnston and Mark Oestreicher, copyright 2006, Youth Specialties/Zondervan. Used by permission. Order the book here: http://www.youthspecialties.com/product/274303
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Creation Q & A
Q: Does the Bible speak of a big bang bringing the universe into existence?
A: Certainly not! Most evolutionists believe in the big bang. They insist that billions of years ago, matter exploded and, as a result, the universe developed by chance, random processes. Eventually the sun formed, then a very hot earth.But as we've previously said, the Bible teaches that God made the earth first--before the sun, moon or stars! Also, the earth was covered with water when it was first formed--it wasn't a hot molten blob. We're also told that God didn't make the sun until the fourth day of Creation. So all of this is in great conflict with the big bang idea. There's no way a Christian can accept the big bang concept and add it to the Bible.But the Bible does talk about a 'Big Bang.' In 2 Peter, we're told that there's a time in the future when God will judge this earth with fire, when the elements will melt with fervent heat, and there will be a big noise. The evolutionists got it all wrong! The 'Big Bang' hasn't happened--it's on the way--as a judgment for man's sin.
Source: AnswersinGenesis.org
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Visit Creation News!
This new addition to our web site will give you an article on the leading news in the Creation/Evolution controversy each day.
http://www.Heart4Teens.com/Creation_News
This section also includes a rotating Question and Answer feature and a weekly Creation Comic strip from the people at AnswersInGenesis.org Be sure to come back and visit each day for an informative article that will help you keep up-to-date on the latest news in this controversial area!
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Thought For The Day:
"A pessimist is one who makes difficulties of his opportunities;an optimist is one who makes opportunities of his difficulties."--Reginald Mansell
Verse for the Day:
"If God is for us who can be against us?"--Romans 8:31
Teen's Thought For The Day:
So many times Christian teens will ask me, "How far can I go sexually?"
I always tell them, "That's the wrong question to ask. You should be asking, 'How far can I stay away!'" --Michael T. Powers
Parent's Thought For The Day:
"The most important thing that parents can teach their children is how to get along without them." --Frank Clark
Coach's Thought For The Day:
"If you have knowledge, let others light their candle at it"--Margaret Fuller
Deep Thought For The Day:
"Did you ever try to get the trash men to take an old trash can away? Can't be done."
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Author MICHAEL T. POWERS
Contributing Author to Chicken Soup for the Christian Teenage Soul and 26 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
Over 100,000 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.Heart4Teens.com
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ALL-STAR Youth 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: 6:30-8:30 PM Sunday nights. 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 on Creation and the Authority of the Bible!
March 18: God's Incredible Design
March 25: God's Master Plan
April 1: Journey to the Cross. A Multi-Sensory Experience!
April 8: Easter Sunday. No All-Stars. Stay home with your family!
April 15: Where Did Cain Get His Wife and Other Important Questions
April 22: Only One Race
April 29: Lies in the Textbooks
May 6: Why Won't They Listen?
May 13: Mother's Day. No All-Stars. Stay home with your mom!
May 20: Special Guest Speaker!
May 27: Astronomy and the Bible
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 - 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 Tedi Knox: 2816 Blackbridge (Call 305-0318 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!
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Do you feel as if life has no meaning for you?
http://www.HeartTouchers.com/Life_Purpose
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