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{Heart4Teens.com} *Finish the Race* 1/27/03 ______________________________________ 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 Heart4Teen.com readers around the world by sending a blank e-mail to: Heart4Teens-subscribe@myinjesus.com Visit our inspirational web site and 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 ____________________________________________ Be sure to check out our other inspirational email list and web site! http://www.HeartTouchers.com To subscribe send a blank email to: HeartTouchers-subscribe@myinjesus.com _________________________________________ Author Michael T. Powers Contributing Author to Chicken Soup for the Teen's Soul on Love and Friendship and 14 other inspirational books. Check out his book: Straight From the Heart by visiting: http://www.HeartTouchers.com _________________________________________ Finish the Race by Wayne Rice The Barcelona Olympics of 1992 provided one of track and field's most incredible moments. Britain's Derek Redmond had dreamed all his life of winning a gold medal in the 400-meter race, and his dream was in sight as the gun sounded in the semifinals at Barcelona. He was running the race of his life and could see the finish line as he rounded the turn into the backstretch. Suddenly he felt a sharp pain go up the back of his leg. He fell face first onto the track with a torn right hamstring. Sports Illustrated recorded the dramatic events: As the medical attendants were approaching, Redmond fought to his feet. "It was animal instinct," he would say later. He set out hopping, in a crazed attempt to finish the race. When he reached the stretch, a large man in a T-shirt came out of the stands, hurled aside a security guard and ran to Redmond, embracing him. It was Jim Redmond, Derek's father. "You don't have to do this," he told his weeping son. "Yes, I do," said Derek. "Well, then," said Jim, "we're going to finish this together." And they did. Fighting off security men, the son's head sometimes buried in his father's shoulder, they stayed in Derek's lane all the way to the end, as the crowd gaped, then rose and howled and wept. Derek didn't walk away with the gold medal, but he walked away with an incredible memory of a father who, when he saw his son in pain, left his seat in the stands to help him finish the race. That's what God does for us when we place our trust in Him. When we are experiencing pain and we're struggling to finish the race, we can be confident that we have a loving Father who won't let us do it alone. He left His place in heaven to come alongside us in the person of His Son, Jesus Christ. "I am with you always," says Jesus to His followers, "to the very end of the age." Wayne Rice wayne@uyt.com Send Wayne an email and let him know what you thought of his story! Edited from Hot Illustrations for Youth Talks by Wayne Rice. Copyright 1994 by Youth Specialties, Inc. ******* Wayne is the founder and director of Understanding Your Teenager. He is a 35-year veteran of youth ministry and co-founder of Youth Specialties, the largest youth ministry training organization in America. He has authored numerous books on youth, youth ministry and parenting including Junior High Ministry, Up Close and Personal, Hot Illustrations for Youth Talks, Enjoy Your Middle-Schooler and Cleared for Takeoff. He is a graduate of Bethel Theological Seminary (San Diego) and lives in Lakeside, California with his wife Marci. Their three children are now young adults. For more information about Wayne, visit his personal web site at: http://www.waynerice.com _________________________________________ LET'S GO SURFING DUDE! ~ Christian Writers Ever thought about trying your hand at writing? This site offers you the chance to submit your work and get feedback from other would-be authors. http://www.ChristianWriters.com ~ Industrious Clock Check out this cool online clock. Nothing like you've ever seen b4... http://www.yugop.com/ver3/stuff/03/fla.html __________________________________________ Thought For The Day: "The way to get to the top is to get off your bottom." Verse for the Day: "How long will you lie down, O Sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep?" Proverbs 6:9 Kid's Thought for the day: "You always spill juice when you are wearing your Sunday School clothes." Parent's Thought For The Day "The best time for you to hold your tongue is the time you feel you must say something or bust." Coach's Thought For The Day The psychology instructor had just finished a lecture on mental health and was giving an oral test. Speaking specifically about manic depression, she asked, "How would you diagnose a patient who walks back and forth screaming at the top of his lungs one minute, then sits in a chair weeping uncontrollably the next?" A young man in the rear raised his hand and answered, "A basketball coach?" Deep Thought For The Day: "I'd send my dog to one of those new pet psychiatrists -- but he knows he's not allowed on the couch." _________________________________________ UPCOMING TOPICS FOR ALL-STARS --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 Lucerene Dr. in Janesville, WI. (About 4-5 blocks south-east of The Skating Place.) Currently we have students from Fort Atkinson, Milton, Janesville Craig, Janesville Parker, 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. Here are our upcoming topics: All-Star Topics 2/2 -- Abortion 2/9 - Teen Pregnancy _____________________ Core Group Topics 1/8 -- Time Management 1/15 -- Spiritual Report Card 1/22 -- Friendship Evangelism Challenge 1/29 -- Friendship Evangelism Challenge Part 2 _________________________________________ UPCOMING EVENTS 2/21 - 2/22 (The 30 Hour Famine) 3/7 - 3/9 (Fort Wilderness Winter Retreat) _________________________________________ Author MICHAEL T. POWERS www.Heart4Teens.com "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 ___________________________________________ Would you like to see your story in Heart4Teens.com? Writer's guidelines can be found on our Web site here: http://www.Heart4Teens.com/guidelines/ __________________________________________ Do you feel as if life has no meaning for you? http://www.greatcom.org/english/four.htm __________________________________________ |
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Touching Lives - One E-mail at a Time! Author Michael T. Powers - HeartTouchers @ aol.com
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