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In each of the following areas, rate yourself on a scale of 1 (couldn't do worse) to 10 (sheer perfection). We've defined what a "perfect 10" might be. Grade yourself accordingly (and honestly). 1. PATIENCE MY GRADE: 2. KINDNESS MY GRADE: 3. TRUTHFULNESS MY GRADE: 4. JUSTICE/PROTECTION MY GRADE: 5. TRUST MY GRADE: 6. HOPE MY GRADE: 7. PERSEVERANCE MY GRADE: Okay. That's all there is to this quiz. Tally your score before continuing. How'd you do? We're guessing you didn't score a perfect 70. (If so, maybe you need to reconsider your answer to the "Truthfulness" section.) Perhaps you didn't realize it, but this was a love quiz. The characteristics listed are all positive qualities the apostle Paul used to define love in the famous "love chapter" of the Bible: 1 Corinthians 13. So as Valentines Day approaches this week, keep in mind that love--real, deep, abiding love--has very little to do with the silkiness of one's hair, the choice of one's perfume or cologne, the size of one's body parts, or the eagerness to send or receive flowers and chocolates. Many ads and magazine articles suggest that love is a matter of tingly feelings and goofy behavior. And while there is certainly a place for such things in a romance, we must never forget that true love involves much more. From a biblical perspective, genuine love requires that we bring up our scores in the nitty-gritty daily aspects of life--patience, kindness, truthfulness, and all the rest. You aren't likely to find one of those little candy hearts that says, "Always trust, hope, and persevere." But you'll find it in the Bible. When it comes to something as important as your love life, which one are you going to believe? On your own ... Read 1 Corinthians 13:1-13. What are the things Paul says love ISN'T? How does love compare to other spiritual gifts? How would your life be different if your demonstration of love were more along the lines of what Paul describes?
A: First of all, you don't need the sun to have day and night?all you need is light shining on a rotating earth. Now, do we have light on the first three days of Creation? On the first day, God created light and separated it from the darkness. Because there's evening and morning, it's obvious that the earth is already rotating and the light is shining from one direction. Where did that light come from? In the Bible, we find many examples of light without the sun, but originating from a supernatural source. Most of these are associated with the glory of God, which in the Bible is usually manifested as light, although sometimes as fire. This is not surprising, as the Bible tells us that "God is light" (1 John 1:5; cf. John 8:12).
During the three-day plague of darkness on all the land of Egypt, all the Israelites "had light in their dwellings" (Exodus 10:23). In the exodus from Egypt, God led the Israelites by a "pillar of cloud" by day and a "pillar of fire, to give them light," during the night (Exodus 13:21). At night the pillar of cloud moved and stood between the Egyptians and the Israelites, and there was darkness for the pursuing Egyptians, but "light by night" for the Israelites (Exodus 14:20).3 When Moses descended from Mt Sinai with the two tablets of stone, "the skin on his face shone" as a result of his having talked with God (Exodus 34:29). At the birth of Jesus, "the glory of the Lord shone round about [the shepherds]" (Luke 2:9). At the transfiguration of Jesus, "His face shone like the sun" (Matthew 17:2). At the Resurrection of Jesus, the angel at His tomb had a countenance "like lightning" (Matthew 28:3, see also Luke 24:4). During the famous "road to Damascus" experience of Saul (the Apostle Paul), "a light from heaven, brighter than the sun" shone round about him (Acts 9:3; cf. 22:6, 9; 26:13). When an angel of the Lord released Peter from prison, "light shined in the prison" (Acts 12:7). In John's vision recorded in Revelation, the face of Jesus was "like the sun shining in its strength" (Rev. 1:16). In John's vision of the New Jerusalem, "the city had no need of the sun, nor of the moon, that they might shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it, and its lamp is the Lamb [i.e. the Lord Jesus Christ, cf. John 1:29, 36]" (Revelation 21:23). This description of the heavenly city is repeated: "And there will be no night there. And they need no lamp, or light of the sun; for the Lord God gives them light" (Revelation 22:5).
http://www.Heart4Teens.com/Creation_News _________________________________________ Jesus Family Tomb? A review of Sunday evening's television attack on the Resurrection March 5, 2007 It's the latest variation in a long line of lies that started as recorded in Matthew 28:11-15: a claim that the tomb--and ossuary (bone box)--of Jesus has been found and, along with it, the ossuaries of other members of Jesus' family, including His mother Mary and His alleged wife, Mary Magdalene. Over 25 years ago, the bones in the boxes were removed and reburied in unmarked graves, but bone fragments remain in multiple ossuaries--including in that alleged to be Jesus' coffin. The implications are staggering to orthodox Christian belief, which is both built and focused on the Resurrection, divinity, and Lordship of Jesus (see, in particular, 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, 12-22). If the remains of Jesus have been found (or, more precisely--as we'll see--remains of the remains of Jesus), our faith is in vain. Thus, like the debate over origins, it is imperative that Christians closely examine and boldly answer the challenge, both to strengthen our own faith and to be ready to "give an answer" to an unbelieving world. Want to read more? Visit the following link to read the whole article: http://www.HeartTouchers.com/Jesus_Coffin
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"Isolation is the worst possible counselor." --Miguel de Unamuno
"Remember you're never too old to hold your father's hand."
Parent's Thought For The Day "My kids would never share anything of their own free will --except germs." --Bruce Lansky
"As a coach I need to be able to laugh at myself. When you're able to do that you usually end up laughing with someone, not at someone, and you build camaraderie."--Joe Broeker
"Why do people put the window down when they smoke in the car alone? Are they afraid of breathing the smoke?"
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Contributing Author to Chicken Soup for the Teen's Soul on Love and Friendship 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 _________________________________________
--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.
New Series on Creation and the Authority of the Bible!
April 1: Journey to the Cross. A Multi-Sensory Experience! May 6: Why Won't They Listen?
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
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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http://www.hundred-acre-woods.com/magic-list/Heart4Teens
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Touching Lives - One E-mail at a Time! Author Michael T. Powers - HeartTouchers @ aol.com
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