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______________________________________ 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 or visit: http://www.Heart4Teens.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! To subscribe send a blank email to: HeartTouchers-subscribe@myinjesus.com _________________________________________ Hola! It is sooooo good to be back at home! My thanks to all of you for praying for me and our team of people who went to minister to the people of Guatemala. I am sure that I will be sharing a story or two from our trip in the coming weeks as it was an incredible experience for me... I can honestly say that I will never be the same again... and to top things off, when I hugged my wife as soon as I got back in Wisconsin she informed me that I am going to be a daddy for the third time. Caleb and Connor are excited that they will be having a new brother or sister sometime this next spring... Life is good at the Powers house... From my family to yours,
Karen will be spending Independence Day on patrol in Iraq. She's hoping NOT to see any fireworks on her watch. When she enlisted last year, Karen never expected to be shipped halfway across the world, much less involved in a war. Her job is to help service the vehicles used by the troops. Though the fighting is over, Karen still has to watch for snipers and suicide bombers and other dangers common to all soldiers in the Middle East. Just last week, two of her closest friends died in a truck accident while transporting supplies. It's safe to say that Kevin probably won't stop to think about his freedom this July 4th. But the fact is, his freedom--and ours--came at the expense of soldiers throughout history who were forced to dodge musket balls, cannon fire, machine gun bullets, and high-tech missiles. For more than two centuries now, patriots have risked--and given--their lives to ensure and maintain freedom, and to extend it to others. Don't let the word fool you. Freedom is seldom free. It usually comes at great cost to someone. On this Independence Day, the Kevins of this world need to think about the Karens--both past and present. During the next week, as you hear the explosive popping of firecrackers, think about the bullet fire that preceded your celebration. As you watch the spectacular fireworks displays in the sky, think about how the "rockets' red glare" must have frightened soldiers who fought to ensure freedom. And while you're at it, when you see a bright red display, think of your Christian freedom. It costs you nothing to join God's wonderful kingdom and claim all the benefits that go along with it. But the reason you can get in free is that the price has already been paid by Someone else. Your ultimate freedom over sin and death was achieved only through the gracious, horrendous sacrifice of Jesus. We're not asking you to obsess on these things and ruin your celebration this Fourth of July. That's not the point. But you'll find that if you give them some thought, you will truly have good reason to celebrate. On your own ... Read John 8:31-36: How does Jesus say we can become free? To what extent is our freedom up to Him? To what extent is it up to us? What does it mean to be "free indeed" (or the equivalent translation of John 8:36)? _________________________________________ LET'S GO SURFING DUDE! ~ U.S. Citizenship Test __________________________________________ Thought For The Day: "Never allow your sense of self to become associated with your sense of job. If your job vanishes, your self doesn't." --Gordon van Sauter
"What advantage does man have in all his work which he does under the sun? A generation goes and generation comes, but the earth remains forever." --Ecclesiastes 1:3,4
"Opportunities are seldom labeled."
"You built no great cathedrals that centuries applaud, but with a grace exquisite your life cathedraled God." --Thomas Fessenden
"Character takes years to form and a lifetime to prove."
"I considered atheism but there weren't enough holidays."
--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 6:00-8:30 PM at Faith Community Church which is located at 2931 Lucerene 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.
All-Stars: 7/13 -- I Will Never Be the Same Again _______________________________________________ UPCOMING EVENTS Summer Challenge continues this Friday June 20th! The Summer Challenge is for those students who would like to develop good spiritual habits. We will meet every other Friday night from 6:30- 8:30 PM throughout the summer. Those that make it through the challenge will be rewarded with a special all-expense paid two day trip at the end of the summer. Meetings will take place at the Powers' house from 6:30-8:30 PM on the following dates: 6/20, 6/27, 7/11, 7/25, 8/8, 8/22
Upcoming Topics: 7/20 -- The Judge 7/27 -- The Trial 8/3 -- The Hatred Within 8/10 -- No All-Stars (Church Picnic) 8/17 -- Creation/Evolution 6:30 - 8:30 PM 8/22 - Creation/Evolution 7-9 PM 8/23 -- Creation/Evolution 10 - 12:30 AM (Beverages Provided) 8/24 -- Creation/Evolution 6:30 - 8:30 PM 8/31 -- Holy Bible, Wholly True 9/7 -- Fresh Start 9/14 -- My Brother's Keeper
All-Stars has extended its time to 6:00 - 8:30 PM on Sunday nights. 6:00 - 6:30 will be time for the youth to chat and discuss anything they want with the youth leaders or each other. 6:30 - 7:00 PM will be for games or fun activities and then 7:00 - 8:30 PM will be for the lesson and discussion time. Students are still welcome to "hang out" after 8:30 PM if they want, as the leaders are usually at the church until at least 10:00 PM, and some nights even later. (For the past couple of months the students have continually complained that we are running out of time before we get to really discuss the topics in full and asked if we could have longer teaching times... I know, most of you are probably now getting back up off the floor from the shock. We have been most encouraged that the teens have been wanting to stay longer to be able to discuss the lessons more fully.)
Wednesday night community groups for teens. The groups are limited to no more than ten teens and will be originally 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. "The Extreme Teens" (formerly the Core Group) meets from 5:00 - 6:00 PM at the church. 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. (If your teen will also be attending All-Stars that night, they are encouraged to bring a sack lunch or snack to tide them over until 8:30.) We are very excited at what God is doing with our youth! _________________________________________ Author MICHAEL T. POWERS Contributing Author to Chicken Soup for the Teen's Soul on Love and Friendship and 15 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 ___________________________________________ 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 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! And best of all, every penny from the book sales are going to youth ministry! 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! Not only are you changing lives through supporting a youth ministry, but every book included on our website has the power to make a difference in the lives of those you give the books to. Check out this link to find out more! http://www.HeartTouchers.com/books
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Touching Lives - One E-mail at a Time! Author Michael T. Powers - HeartTouchers @ aol.com
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