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*Growing Up* 11/18/02 ______________________________________ 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 _________________________________________ Growing Up by Rubel Shelly As an editorial in the Caledonian-Record of St. Johnsbury, Vermont, put it: "Friday night five teen-age girls at Danville High School became five young adults, and they did so with class." I thought you'd like to know the story. The Friday night in question was January 11, 2002. The setting was a packed gymnasium just prior to the start of the varsity game. The five girls were members of the Danville High School basketball team -- four of them starters. They weren't in uniform to play that night and won't be for the remainder of this season. They were there to explain why they had been kicked off the team. They were there to own a serious infraction of team rules. They were there to support their coach's decision to take them off the team. They were there to let the town know there was a problem in their little community that needs to be addressed. And they did it with appropriate contrition rather than defensiveness. While school had been out for the Christmas and New Year's holidays, the girls had gone to a party with several of their friends. It was New Year's Eve. There was alcohol there. And the five girls all drank some. Coach Tammy Rainville has a zero-tolerance rule on drugs and alcohol for the members of her team. Every kid who plays for her knows that rule. So when classes resumed after the break and accounts of holiday parties were shared, rumors about the five girls began closing in on them. Coach Rainville didn't have to confront them, for they got together and decided to go to her with the full story. The coach said she couldn't back down on her policy. And the players -- two juniors and three seniors -- agreed. That Friday night in the gym was part of their public support of the coach's decision. One of the seniors spoke last. "We hope you will understand that we are not bad kids. We made a mistake... What we did was definitely not worth it. We hope this event will make everyone open their eyes and realize that there is a big drug and alcohol problem in our community," she said. "And if you work with us to try to solve this problem, you will help us feel that we have not been thrown off our basketball team for nothing." The five left the floor to deafening applause. The Danville High School girls basketball team may not win another game this year. But they've learned something about personal responsibility, the effect of one's actions on others, and integrity that will serve them well throughout life. Rubel Shelly whcoc@edge.net Write Rubel and let him know what you thought of his story! (c) 2002 Rubel Shelly. Used by permission. _____________________________ Rubel Shelly has preached for the Woodmont Hills Church of Christ in Nashville since 1978. During that time, he has also taught at David Lipscomb University and Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. He is the author of more than 20 books, including several which have been translated into languages such as Korean, Japanese, Portuguese, Italian, French, and Russian. He is married to the former Myra Shappley, and they are the parents of three children: Mrs. David (Michelle) Arms, Tim, and Tom. Visit: http://www.faithmatters.com to read more of Rubel's writing or to sign up for his weekly column: FAX of Life. _________________________________________ LET'S GO SURFING DUDE! ~Effective Evangelism Discover creative ways to share Christ with others in a style that best fits your personality. http://www.ChristianAnswers.Net/evangelism/home.html ~ Great American Smoke-Out The third Thursday of November is the American Cancer Society's annual Great American Smoke-Out. Tobacco users are urged to kick the habit, at least for the day. Check out the ads and the quitting tips provided at this site for teens. http://www.notobacco.org __________________________________________ Thought For The Day: "As I grow older, I pay less attention to what men say. I just watch what they do." --Andrew Carnegie Verse for the Day: "Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do." --James 2:18 Kid's Thought for the day: "If splashing in puddles means you have to wear wet shoes the rest of the day, sometimes it's worth it." Parent's Thought For The Day "Fatherhood is pretending the present you love most is soap-on-a-rope." --Bill Cosby Coach's Thought For The Day "I have had players who are good, and know they are good; I have had players who are bad and know they are bad; I have had players who are good, but who don't know they are good; I have had players who are bad, but who don't know they are bad. It is this last group that has won more games for me than the first three groups combined." --Paul "Bear" Bryant Deep Thought For The Day: "I'm not saying that the customer service in my bank is bad, but when I went in the other day and asked the clerk to check my balance... she leaned over and pushed me." _________________________________________ FORGETTABLE FACT American Airlines saved $40,000 in 1987 by eliminating 1 olive from each salad served in first-class. _________________________________________ PARTING HUMOR *MONEY It can buy a House but not a Home It can buy a Bed but not Sleep It can buy a Clock but not Time It can buy you a Book but not Knowledge It can buy you a Position but not Respect It can buy you Medicine but not Health It can buy you Blood but not Life So you see money isn't everything. And it often causes pain and suffering. I tell you all this because I am your Friend, and as your Friend I want to take away your pain and suffering... So send me all your money and I will suffer for you. CASH ONLY PLEASE. (Thought that was gonna be one of those "mushy" ones, didn't you????) _________________________________________ 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 (Open to all teens grades 6-12) 11/24 -- "Feel the Noise" a candid discussion of your favorite music! 12/1 -- Teen Pregnancy 12/8 -- Abortion 12/15 -- -- What does the Bible say about alternative lifestyles? 12/22 -- Christmas Drama Presentation 12/29 -- Christmas Party at the Schwandt House! 1/5 -- Macho Man Project (Guys), Mentoring Modesty (Girls) 1/12 -- Going off to College ("I'm finally free to do what I want, right?") Core Group Topics (For those teens who want to get serious about their Christianity and dig deep into God's Word.) 11/27 -- No Core Group 12/4 -- Tyranny of the Urgent 12/11 -- Time Management 12/18 -- Spiritual Report Card 12/25 -- No Core Group (Spend Christmas with your family) 1/1/03 -- No Core Group (Spend New Years with your family) 1/8 -- Friendship Evangelism Challenge 1/15 -- Friendship Evangelism Challenge Part 2 _________________________________________ UPCOMING YOUTH EVENTS November 11/23 Chili Supper Fundraiser for our annual winter retreat at Fort Wilderness. Dinner at the church from 4-7 PM. Tickets $5 11/24 New Believer Class 5:00 - 6:30 PM at church. December 12/1 New Believer Class 5:00 - 6:30 PM at church. 12/7 Youth Leader Hot Seat 10 - 2 PM (Bring $3 for pizza and pop) 12/8 New Believer Class 5:00 - 6:30 PM at church. 12/9 Skating at Skating Place. ($3) 12/14 Salvation Army bell ringing at Woodmans in Janesville. Manning the kettle from 10 - 8 PM. 12/28 Play Station 2 Sports tournament at church from 1 PM - 9 PM. (Guys only) 12/29 Christmas party at the Schwandt House 6:30- 9 PM. _________________________________________ 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/ ___________________________________________ "I need a daily source of inspiration and encouragement in my life!" SUBSCRIBE: To become a Heart4Teens.com Member send a blank e-mail to: Heart4Teens-subscribe@myinjesus.com Then get ready to laugh, cry, and be deeply touched by some of the best stories on the Internet! __________________________________________ UNSUBSCRIBE: Send a blank e-mail to: Heart4Teens-unsubscribe@myinjesus.com __________________________________________ 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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