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Check out our Creation News Section!
Weekly articles, daily Q & A, and a Creation Comic!

http://www.heart4teens.com/

 

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

Stop by our web site to view past stories or to browse through the tons of resources we have there for teens!

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http://www.hearttouchers.com/books

Michael's updated book Heart Touchers "Life-Changing Stories of Faith, Love, and Laughter," for just $13.95. Autographed copies are available at no extra charge and we will pay the shipping for you. An e-book is also available for $3.25.

Visit the link below to preview the book.
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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G.I. Christian?
 
So who didn't play with G.I. Joe when he was a kid?  At least when I was growing up, the plan was set: little soldiers for boys and Barbies for girls, right?  Nothing wrong of course with little girls occasionally staging battles with the green army men and little boys sporadically visiting the Barbie beach house (as Ken, right?) to check out the latest shopping spree.  But in general - soldiers for boys and dolls for girls back in the day.
 
I guess the ‘day' has changed over the years.  Suddenly somehow G.I. Joe became the bad guys in some circles, and the attempted G.I. Jane (military Barbie) didn't go over so well - must've intimidated Ken too much?
 
But wait!  Hitting the big time screen with big time actors/actresses is none other than G.I. Joe!  Apparently there has been enough interest to dump millions of dollars into a theatrical interpretation of the scenarios we used to play out in the backyard and on the living room floor.
 
And even if you weren't into all that military stuff, you have to admit that there is something compelling about people fighting for a cause, no matter what the cost.
 
In other words, I believe we are hard-wired to be a ‘soldier' in the sense of anyone fighting for something worth, well, fighting for.  There are soldiers for sports for victory on the field.  There are soldiers for academics for the triumph of scholarships and admittance into great schools. And there are soldiers who go to work and take care of kids every day just to make the world a better place.
 
But wait a minute.where did the G.I. Christians go? Nothing wrong with other causes, but if no one ever told you, when you trusted Christ, you enlisted in a branch of service.  Listen to the words of the Apostle Paul as he writes to his friend Timothy:
 
Endure suffering along with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. Soldiers don't get tied up in the affairs of civilian life, for then they cannot please the officer who enlisted them (2 Timothy 2:3-4).
 
Fairly straightforward, wouldn't you agree?  As Christians, we are clearly called soldiers because we were definitely ‘enlisted' or recruited by Jesus Christ.  In other words, when we signed up for salvation, we were inducted into a lifetime of service for His cause.
 
Oh, we can choose to be lousy soldiers.  I've seen plenty.  During my military service in the Air Force, I knew lots of folks who gave lip service to their commitment, but on the inside they were about as much a soldier as Ken in the beach house.  They weren't serious about the threat and the importance of the cause, and they were very lucky that no serious battles came their way.
 
How about you?  Are you getting ‘tied up' in the affairs of civilian life?  Paul says that there are Christians who forget that all the stuff and the drama of day-to-day life is just that: stuff and drama.  It detracts and distracts us from our real purpose, which is to fight the spiritual battles and champion the spiritual causes that come our way every day. 
 
You know people that need to be prayed for.are you praying?  You have friends who might spend an eternity apart from Christ.are you sharing the gospel?  You have an enemy who is firing round after round of depression, anxiety, despair, and destructive temptation your way.are you putting on the protective gear for your soul?
 
Perhaps you've never thought of yourself as a G.I. Christian and you wouldn't be the only one.  But I hope now that you take your recruitment and calling seriously, because if those who don't are missing a seriously amazing opportunity to be victors, overcomers, and champions for the Lord Jesus Christ.
 
So how can we be a good soldier for the One the Bible calls ‘the Captain of our salvation'? (Hebrews 2:10).  That will mean different things for different people, but as a former soldier, I can say there are three very key elements:
 
First, be ready for the fight at any time.  During my service in the Air Force, I had a bag packed at all times sitting in my closet, because at any time I could be called anywhere in the world if stuff went down.  Now, my ‘bag' is a readiness for a spiritual battle that could escalate without warning.
 
Second, resolve to not be distracted.  Sure, enjoy that full life that Christ has granted you, but don't let the enemy use that to sidetrack you from being a soldier.  There are real G.I. s in Iraq and Afghanistan right now who are playing soccer with kids or jamming out on iPods, but don't think for a minute that they aren't totally focused on what is going on around them.
 
Finally, a good soldier is of good courage.  He/she refuses to be overtaken by fear and discouragement, because the cause is worth fighting - and even worth dying - for.  As a Christian, you have an unlimited resource of strength through prayer and the pages of the Bible.  And most of all, you have the power of God Himself living inside you through the Holy Spirit.
 
G.I. Christian.soldier up!
 
Ask your friends if they ever want/wanted to be a soldier and what causes they think are worth fighting for.  Use that as an opportunity to bring up the ultimate cause to which every Christian is called (serving Christ each and every day) and the difference that has made in your life.  Pray for an opportunity for that conversation to be a bridge to share the gospel. 
  
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints (Ephesians 6:10-18).
 
For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:3-5).
 
For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day - and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing (2 Timothy 4:6-8).
 
 
Source: Dare2Share.org 

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Creation Q & A

Q: Life in a test tube--would this prove evolution?

A: First of all, we need to realize that scientists have never made life in a test--and probably never will. 

But in public school textbooks, students are shown experiments where scientists have been trying to create what they believe were conditions on Earth millions of years ago. Then they try to see if they could make life from chemicals.
 

But what are they really doing? They are using their intelligence to design experiments and complicated pieces of equipment, trying to make life to prove that it all happened by chance! Students can see how illogical this is. The scientists aren't using chance--but their intelligence!

Because all of these experiments have failed, some scientists have stated that life didn't evolve on Earth after all. They believe that it must have evolved somewhere in outer space--and then arrived on Earth! Then they think they have solved the problem about the origin of life--but they have just pushed the problem further out into space!

These scientists could save millions of dollars if only they would read the greatest Book of all time--the Bible, starting with Genesis--which has all the answers we need.

Source: AnswersinGenesis.org


Source: AnswersinGenesis.org

  

http://srv.ezinedirector.net/?n=2996858&s=98380460


Creation News

Click on the Bible above or visit the web site listed below!

http://www.HeartTouchers.com/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. 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

The teacher asked the pupils to tell the meaning of loving-kindness. A little
boy jumped up and said, "Well, if I was hungry and someone gave me a
piece of bread that would be kindness. But if they put a little jam on it,
that would be loving-kindness."


Verse for the Day

"Bless the Lord, O my soul...who crowneth thee with loving kindness and
tender mercies; who satisfieth thy mouth with good things..." Psalm 103: 1,4,5


Teen's Thought For The Day

A young lady's heart should be so close to the Lord that a man must seek Him to find her.


Parent's Thought For The Day

"Never lend your car to anyone to whom you have given birth." --Erma Bombeck


Coach's Thought For The Day

When asked about which team is the toughest team in the league, he
responded with an answer all players must comprehend. He said simply
that it was, "The team you are playing." --Roy Campanella


Writer's Thought For the Day

"I had marked down in my notebook three characteristics a work of fiction must
possess in order to be successful. It must have a precise and suspenseful plot.
The author must feel a passionate urge to write it. He must have the conviction,
or at least the illusion, that he is the only one who can handle this particular theme."
--Isaac Bashevis Singer


Deep Thought For The Day

When you go in for a job interview, I think a good thing to ask is if they ever press charges.



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http://www.heart4teens.com/

Author MICHAEL T. POWERS
Contributing Author to Chicken Soup for the Christian Teenage
Soul and 28 other inspirational books.

Over 180,000 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 and click on the link to listen to the free streaming audio message!

"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 

 

http://www.faithcommunitychurch.net/Youth


ALL-STAR Youth Ministry

--The Youth Church of Faith Community Church in Janesville, WI

Check out our youth group! If you are in 7-12th grade and live in the southern Wisconsin/northern Illinois area come check us out!  Jr. High meets on Sunday mornings from 9:30 am - 10:30 am. High School age meets on 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 Pontiac Convention Center.)

Currently we have students from Edgerton, Fort Atkinson, Milton, Janesville Craig, Janesville Parker, Marshall, Franklin, Edison, Clinton, Beloit Memorial, and Beloit Turner. 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:  August 16

Jr. High -- 9:30 am - 10:30 am - "Scripture Unleashed"
High School -- 6:30 - 8:00 pm - Church Picnic at Rockport Pool! Volleyball at 4:30 pm Eat at 6 pm!  Baptism to follow!


Visit our youth website to see our topics up through the year 2010!
http://www.faithcommunitychurch.net/upcoming_topics
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http://www.faithcommunitychurch.net/Small_Groups

Teen Community Groups

6:30 - 8:00 PM Wednesday nights -- 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 on Sundays. These cell groups will also be doing special activities with each other as the year goes on to build community.

Both Jr. High and High School will meet in the youth room this summer!


This Week August 19:

Bible Study on Proverbs!


For more info on our small groups, visit:
http://www.faithcommunitychurch.net/small_groups


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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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