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{Heart4Teens.com} *Avalanche*
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Avalanche
by Ron Hutchcraft
One year in Alaska, there was an avalanche at Alaska's Turn again Pass. The mountain slopes had eight feet of new snow that had fallen on this older, packed-down snow, a warm sun had been beating down all day, and there were avalanche warnings. But that didn't stop some snowmobilers from powering up a 2,000 foot high mountain to see who could go the highest. Twenty minutes before the major avalanche there was a smaller one in a nearby gully. But some of the snowmobilers just kept going. When the big avalanche hit, massive slabs of snow broke loose and slide down the mountain with at least four snowmobilers being swallowed up. Four people died that day. And none of them had to.
You say to yourself, "If only they had listened to the warnings." That must be what God says every time someone goes into eternity unprepared. The Bible makes it clear that He wants us to go to heaven when we die, to experience His awesome love forever. But the Bible also makes it clear that many won't make it to heaven, "because they have not believed in the name of God's one and only Son" (John 3:18). They've heard God's warnings about sin and its death penalty in hell, but--like those stubborn snowmobilers in Alaska--they've ignored the warnings.
Hebrews 2:3 reads, "How shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation." Salvation is what a person receives when a fire fighter brings them out of a burning building. God says that's what Jesus dying on that cross is all about. He's paying the price for all the sinning you and I have ever done so He can come and rescue us forever. But like that person in the burning building, if we resist the rescuer, we'll die.
I think that's how most people end up in hell instead of heaven. They just ignore Jesus and all God's warnings about our need of Him. Maybe that's where you are. You think you're religious and you'll make it on your own goodness, or you think you know Jesus because you know a lot about Jesus. But for one reason or another, you are ignoring the Savior.
And this is one more warning from God. It may be that for someone listening today this will be their last warning. But God is saying, "Don't keep going this way! You are headed for an eternity without hope, without love, without Me." This is just too important to ignore any longer. You are risking the eternal judgment of Almighty God.
Please listen to Jesus' knocking on your heart-door. Tell Jesus you're trusting Him today to do what only He can do--rescue you from your sin and its eternal penalty.
The avalanche of God will sweep away all those who ignore His warning--who ignore His Son. Please, don't gamble your eternity one more day.
Today's Daily Wisdom is written by Ron Hutchcraft, based on his popular "A Word With You" broadcast (Available in transcripts or RealAudio format.) A Word With You Ron Hutchcraft Ministries has been on-line with Gospelcom since February, 1996, providing practical answers to real life issues. http://www.gospelcom.net/rhm Copyright © Ron Hutchcraft Ministries, Inc. Used with permission of Ron Hutchcraft Ministries, Inc
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LET'S GO SURFING DUDE!
~ Planet Wisdom
Billing itself as "the online community for Christian students," this site offers a little of everything for young believers. See for yourself. http://www.planetwisdom.com
~ TVU Music News
If you take your Christian music seriously, this is the site for you. Among other things, you can watch your favorite Christian videos online. (Thanks to Al Fuller for the suggestion.) http://www.tvulive.com
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Thought For The Day:
"One reason the dog has so many friends: he wags his tail instead of his tongue."
Verse for the Day:
"An evil man sows strife; gossip separates the best of friends."--Proverbs 16:28
Teen's Thought For The Day:
"Don't pick on your sister when she's holding a baseball bat."
Parent's Thought For The Day
"A good marriage is the union of two forgivers." --Ruth Bell Graham
Coach's Thought For The Day
"Young people need models, not critics..." John Wooden
Deep Thought For The Day:
On a sign outside a church:
"This is a C H _ _ C H ... what's missing?"
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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 6:00-8:30 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.
THIS WEEK:
All-Stars: 8/3 -- Water Wars
The Outlet: 8/6 No Small Groups this week.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
Summer Challenge continues on Friday August 8th! at Tedi's house!
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
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Upcoming Topics:
8/03 Water Wars!
8/10 No All-Stars (All Church Picnic)
8/17 No Regular All-Stars (All-Star Students will be serving ice cream to the Kidz Camp campers and their parents)
8/24 My Brother's Keeper
8/31 The Hatred Within
9/7 Fresh Start (Also welcoming new 6th graders)
9/14 Creation/Evolution 7:00 -- 8:30 pm
9/19 Special Creation/Evolution 7pm -- 8:30 pm
9/20 Special Creation/Evolution 9 am - Noon
9/21 Holy Bible, Wholly True
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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. have been most encouraged that the teens have been wanting to stay longer to be able to discuss the lessons more fully.)
The Outlet: "Get plugged into Jesus Christ!" (Teen Cell Groups)
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.
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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! 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
