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{Heart4Teens.com}  *The Gospel According to Seventeen*

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http://www.Heart4Teens.com/Teen_Stories

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Good morning Heart4Teens subscribers!

Today we have a very interesting article on a new "magazine" that teens have been reading, taking to school, and sharing with their friends.  I think you will find it very interesting!

From my family to yours,
Michael

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The Gospel According to Seventeen


By Marcia Ford


A quick scan of the Bibles at your local bookstore reveals a publication that seems oddly out of place. What's a teen girls' magazine doing in the Bible section? Thoughtful person that you are, you remove the item from the rack, planning to return it to the periodical display where it belongs. Its heft, though, makes you realize that this is no magazine.

With headlines on the cover such as "Are You Dating a Godly Guy? and other Quizzes" and "Beauty Secrets You've Never Heard Before!" the Revolve New Testament, from Thomas Nelson Bibles, was designed to appeal to teenage girls-and your initial impression offers proof the publisher has achieved that goal.

Compiled by a team of female writers in their early 20s, Revolve's sidebars to the New Century Version text go straight to the heart of the issues facing teen girls today-boys and dating, body image, and family.

"We went into public schools, Christian schools, shopping malls. We set up a website (www.Transitbooks.com), with an online bulletin board, talked to girls one on one, and did focus groups," says Revolve's managing editor Kate Etue. "Once we had the manuscript together, we took it back to the girls and asked what in it was reaching them where they were and what was not. We tested the cover design. And we got some very good feedback through that entire process."

Apparently, the feedback was good: Released last year, the book has sold a half-million copies so far. "We spent two to three years brainstorming, researching-and reading lots of Seventeen magazines," Etue says, adding that the team's goal all along was to make sure the content provided practical advice in a spiritual context. In October, Nelson released a follow-up edition, Revolve: Psalms & Proverbs.

Clearly, despite its fashion-magazine design, the book deals with serious issues. "One thing I see over and over is questions from girls raised in the church who have a problem and say, 'I can't tell my parents-they would kill me,'" Etue says. "Parents need to reinforce their love to their kids even if they don't think they need to. Don't assume everything is okay; girls are carrying heavy burdens, but they have a fear of not being perfect in their parents' eyes." Many girls, she explains, end up turning to their friends to help them figure out a solution to their problems.

"It's important to let them cry on your shoulder," Etue adds. "And they need to know that you don't always have an answer. They need to see you relying on God for the answers to the problems in their lives."

Marcia Ford
misfit@marciaford.com

Write Marcia and let her know your thoughts on her article!

Marcia Ford, a former newspaper reporter and magazine editor, has written 14 published books including several for teens, Checklist for Life for Teens and Checklist for Life for Graduates. She and her husband, John, live in Central Florida and are the parents of an adult daughter and a teenage daughter. Details about her books are available at www.marciaford.com.

This article originally appeared in the Nov/ Dec 2004 issue of Today's Christian. http://www.todays-christian.com.  Copyright © 2004 by the author and Christianity Today International/Today's Christian magazine.

Would you like to check out this new Bible/Magazine?  Just visit:
http://www.Heart4Teens.com/Recommendations


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Thought For The Day:

"Prayer should be the key of the morning and the lock of the night." --Owen Felltham


Verse for the Day:

"It is good to praise the Lord...to proclaim your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night." --Psalm 92: 1,2


Teen's Thought For The Day:

"Most of the things worth doing in the world were declared impossible before they were done."


Parent's Thought For The Day

"At the end of your life, you will never regret not having passed one more test, not winning one more verdict, or not closing one more deal. You will regret time not spent with a husband, a friend, a child, or a parent. --Barbara Bush


Coach's Thought For The Day

"One reason I won't compromise is because I believe honesty helps you win over the long haul. You can win a game tomorrow and lose a team. You can lose a game tomorrow and win a football team." --Lou Holtz


Deep Thought For The Day:

"My friend told me he'd consider taking up cross-country skiing if it was a very small country."



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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 November 14 -- Spiritual Disciplines


Sunday November 21 -- Spiritual Disciplines Part 3
Sunday November 28 -- Give 'Til it Hurts!

Sunday December 5 -- Moral Boundaries 
Sunday December 12 -- Moral Boundaries Part 2
Sunday December 19 -- Moral Boundaries Part 3
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