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{Heart4Teens.com}  *Oh, Sweet PEA!*

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http://www.Heart4Teens.com/Teen_Stories

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Good afternoon Heart4Teens.com readers!

Before we get to today's story by Roger Dean Kiser, Sr. I wanted to take the time to congratulate our niece, Jennifer Pozzani on her recent accomplishments.  Kristi and I had a chance to watch her play college basketball this past weekend and it was a joy to see her do what she loves to do.  She scored 33 points on 13-16 shooting and  recently broke Concordia--St. Paul's all time scoring record with 1544 points for her career. Her shooting percentage of .576 is in the top twelve in the nation for all three NCAA divisions and is also a school record.  She not only leads her team in scoring, but also assists and steals, and she is second on her team in rebounding.  Not bad for a five foot seven inch guard!

Jen, we are so proud of you for your sports accomplishments, but even more so because of the way you handle yourself with grace, class, and dignity.  You are the most unselfish athlete we have ever seen and we love you dearly.

Your proud aunt and uncle,

Michael and Kristi


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Oh, Sweet PEA!

by Dave Branon


How about a kiss? Or a semi-sweet morsel? Or a malted milk ball? Or a Special Dark?    We're talking chocolate here. One of the basic food groups if I ever saw one. Essential eating. Mandatory munching. Tongue-tickling treats.

Pardon me if you're allergic to the conquistador of candies, but if you're an M&M muncher like I am, you'll enjoy knowing researchers have discovered a scientific reason chocolate makes you feel great. It's not just the taste. Apparently, chocolate contains a tiny bit of phenylethylamine (PEA). PEA is a natural substance in your body that is released by your brain during moments of emotional euphoria.

So, it seems to me, eating chocolate can cause the same happiness as say, watching your team win the NCAA tournament! Only in smaller doses.

It's important to say that scientists aren't convinced the sweet PEA of chocolate has the same reaction as the natural PEA in your brain. (No! I did not just call you a pea-brain.) But those of us who know and love chocolate are sure there's something really good inside those calories.

Okay, let's get serious for a moment. I just went to great lengths to justify my love for chocolate. Even though the facts above are true, there is in reality no correlation between eating it and making your brain happier. Indeed, chocolate can cause negative effects because of the caffeine.

I rationalize about sin the same way I do about chocolate. So do you. We go to great lengths to justify an activity that's really not good for us. Each time we talk ourselves into doing those things, we threaten our relationship with God--who hates sin.

The next time we think about an activity that's questionable, let's seriously ask, "What good is it? What biblical principles are at work? Will this activity get me closer to God or put distance between me and him?"

Don't sugarcoat the answers!

"You say, 'I am allowed to do anything'--but not everything is helpful. You say, 'I am allowed to do anything'--but not everything is beneficial." (1 Corinthians 10:23).


Here are some questions to ask yourself:
~ Am I a justifier? Do I like to do questionable stuff and then say, "There's nothing wrong with that"?
~ What specific activities do I often justify?
~ Do I need to ask the "What good is it?" question more often?

From Soul Journey, copyright 2004 RBC Ministries Grand Rapids, Michigan. Used with permission.



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Thought For The Day:

"Sin has many tools but a lie is the handle which fits them all." --Oliver Wendell Holmes


Verse for the Day:

"A lying tongue hates those it hurts, and a flattering mouth works ruin." --Proverbs 26:28


Teen's Thought For The Day:

"Tis better to be alone than in bad company."


Parent's Thought For The Day

"If you wonder where your child left his roller skates, try walking around the house in the dark." --Leopold Fechtner


Coach's Thought For The Day

"We must be silent before we can listen.
We must listen before we can learn.
We must learn before we can prepare.
We must prepare before we can serve.
We must serve before we can lead." --William Ward

Deep Thought For The Day:

"If I had to choose one incident that sparked my love, study, and eventual career in astronomy, it would be the first time I saw a picture of that planet--you know, the one with those neat space-rings around it."




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Let's Go Surfing Dude!

1-888-Need-Him
Emergency spiritual help is just a mouse click away. If you're struggling with questions like "Why am I here?" "How do I overcome this loneliness?" "What makes my life so hard?" or "Where is that one special relationship?" this is the place to go.
http://www.needhim.org



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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 20 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.)

Currently we have students from Fort Atkinson, Milton, Janesville Craig, Janesville Parker, Marshall, 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.


New Series!  "The Seven Checkpoints"
 
THIS WEEK:  Sunday March 6 -- Karaoke Night!

Sunday March 13 - Wise Choices Part 2
Sunday March 20 -- Journey to the Cross (Multi-Sensory Experience!)
Sunday March 27 -- No Youth Group (Easter Sunday)
 
Sunday April 3 -- Worship Night with special guest band "The Least of These"  (check out their website at:  http://www.theleastofthese.us

Sunday April 10 -- Others First
Sunday April 17 -- Others First Part 2

UPCOMING EVENTS


Friday March 25: Spring Break Lock-In!   7:30 pm - Saturday 8:00 am.

Saturday May 14:  Annual Fireside Theater Trip! (Juniors and Seniors Only)

April 29-31:  Xtreme Teens Camping Trip!

June 26:  Senior Sunday!

July 6:  Great America Trip!

July 22-23:  30-Hour Famine (high school only)

September 16-18:  Annual Fall Retreat!

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Teen Community Groups
6:30 - 8:00 PM Wednesday nights
 
Wednesday night community groups for teens. The 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 Extreme Teens. These cell groups will also be doing special activities with each other as the year goes on to build community.

Join us as we do a Bible Study called "Life Together!"
 
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The Extreme Teens

6:30 - 8:00 PM Wednesday nights  is on Wednesday nights from 6:30 - 8:00 PM

"Extreme Teens" meet Wednesday nights from 6:30 - 8:00 PM (September -May). 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.

Join us as we study the book "A Life God Rewards For Teens"

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Reading Books, Changing Lives!


For those of you who love to read or love to give out books as gifts...

You can now order a number of different autographed best-selling inspirational books for the same price you would get them in the store, the shipping to you is paid for, and you are helping change the lives of teenagers and those they come in contact with! 

If you love to read inspirational stories, these books are most likely those you will eventually buy anyway. And how cool would it be to be able to buy books like those in the Chicken Soup series for your friends and family with a personalized autographed message by one of the contributing authors! How's that for a unique gift! Check out this link to find out more!

http://www.HeartTouchers.com/books