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{Heart4Teens.com} *Christmas Invitation*
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It was the biggest night of the year in a little town
called Cornwall. It was the night of the annual
Christmas pageant. Since there are no nearby
malls or cities to compete with, the pageant is
packed out every year. It's an especially big deal
for the children in town -- they get to try out for the
roles in the Christmas story. Everybody wants a part.
Which leads us to the problem of Harold. Harold
really wanted to be in the play, too, but he was --
well, he was kind of a slow and simple kid.
The directors were ambivalent - I mean, they knew
Harold would be crushed if he didn't have a part, but
they were afraid he might mess up the town's
magic moment. Finally, they decided to cast Harold
as the innkeeper -- the one who turns Mary and
Joseph away the night Jesus is to be born. He had
only one line -- "I'm sorry, we have no room." Well,
no one could imagine what that one line was going
to do to everyone's Christmas.
The night of the pageant the church was packed,
as usual. The set was in place -- and in fact, it was
an entire wall with scenes of Bethlehem painted
on it -- including the door of the inn where Harold
would greet -- and then turn away -- the young
Jewish travelers.
Backstage, the angels were playing Frisbee with
their halos, the shepherds were waiting 'til the last
minute to put on their annually laundered bathrobes
and Harold was being personally coached by the
nervous directors. "Now remember, Harold, when
Joseph says, 'Do you have a room for the night?',
you say ... you say ..."
Hesitantly, Harold said, "I'm sorry ... we have no room."
The directors looked at each other sort of hopefully.
They'd done all they could.
Well, the Christmas story unfolded according to
plan -- angels singing, Joseph's dream, you know,
the trip to Bethlehem. Finally, Joseph and Mary
arrived at the door of the Bethlehem inn, looking
appropriately tired, discussing whether the baby
might come tonight. Joseph knocked on the inn
door. Backstage, the directors were just out of sight,
coaching Harold to open the door NOW. And
wouldn't you know it -- the door was stuck! The whole
set shook; Harold tried to get that door open. When
he finally did, Joseph asked his question on cue --
"Do you have a room for the night?" Harold froze.
From backstage, a loud whisper -- "I'm sorry -- we have
no room."
And Harold mumbled, "I'm sorry -- we have no room."
And, with a little coaching, he shut the door. The
directors heaved a sigh of relief -- prematurely.
As Mary and Joseph disappeared into the night,
the set suddenly started shaking again -- and the
door opened. Harold was back! And then, in an
unrehearsed moment that folks would not soon
forget, Harold went running after the young couple,
shouting as loud as he could -- "Wait! Wait! You
can have MY room!"
I think little Harold may have understood the real
issue of Christmas better than anyone else there
that night. How can you leave Jesus outside? You
have to make room for Jesus. And that may be the
issue for you this Christmas Day. What will you do
with this Son of God who came to earth to find you?
This One who trades a throne room for a stable ... angel
praise for human mockery . . . this Creator who gives
Himself on a cross? The Bible gives us the only
appropriate response in Galatians 2:20:
"The life I now live I live by faith in the Son of God
who loved me and gave Himself for me."
You look at what Jesus did to pay for your sin on that
cross, and you say those life-changing words -- "For me."
Jesus is at YOUR door this Christmas. Maybe He's
been knocking for a long time and maybe He won't
keep knocking much longer. All your life -- even
the events of the last few months -- have been to
prepare you for this crossroads moment with Jesus
your Savior. Don't leave Him outside any longer.
Open the door this Christmas Day. "Jesus, I cannot
keep You out any longer. Come on in. You can
have my room ... my life."
Ron Hutchcraft
rhm@hutchcraft.com
E-mail Ron and let him know your thoughts on his story!
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Ron Hutchcraft is a 35-plus-year veteran of youth and family work. Mr. Hutchcraft has spoken to parents, professionals, singles, and youth across North America and around the world, presenting practical answers to real-life issues. Stateside, he has also spoken at NFL and Major League Baseball chapels. Mr. Hutchcraft is also involved in work with Native Americans, and is founder of the On Eagle's Wings Native leadership program.
Ron is the host of three radio programs. "Realtime," "A Word With You" and "Threshold" are heard on hundreds of stations across the United States and around the world.
Mr. Hutchcraft's closest partner in life and work is his wife, Karen. He is the father of three grown children, who are all in full-time ministry."
Check out his website at: http://www.Hutchcraft.com
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Thought For The Day:
"How much pain have cost us the evils which have never happened." --Thomas Jefferson
Verse for the Day:
"Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life." --Matthew 6:27
Teen's Thought For The Day:
"Dream."
Parent's Thought For The Day
"The main reason kids eat supper is to get dessert. But the better the dessert is, the less supper they eat." --Bruce Lansky
Coach's Thought For The Day
"Confidence is the invisible cement that binds a team together." --Bud Wilkinson
Deep Thought For The Day:
"I thought I was wrong once, but I was mistaken."
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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 December 12 -- Moral Boundaries
Sunday December 19 -- Moral Boundaries Part 2
Sunday December 26 -- Christmas Party!
Sunday January 2 -- Healthy Friendships
Sunday January 9 -- Healthy Friendships Part 2
Sunday January 16 -- Healthy Friendships Part 3
Sunday January 23 -- Wise Choices
Sunday January 30 -- SnoBall Weekend!
Sunday Febuary 6 -- SuperBowl Party!
Sunday February 13 -- Wise Choices Part 2
Sunday February 20 -- Wise Choices Part 3
Sunday February 27 -- Ultimate Authority
Sunday March 6 -- Ultimate Authority Part 2
Sunday March 13 -- Ultimate Authority Part 3
Sunday March 20 -- Others First
Sunday March 27 -- No Youth Group Easter Sunday
Sunday April 3 -- Others First Part 2
Sunday April 10 -- Others First Part 3
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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
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