The 180 Blog

Contents
1. 180 News
2. Something for Your Heart
3. Surf Report
4. Birthdays
5. Video of the Week
6. Forgettable Fact
7. Potent Quotables
8. Parting Shot

1. 180 News

MS Turkey 'N Thanks



This last Saturday evening we as a Middle School group gathered for our annual TNT. We enjoyed an amazing Thanksgiving style feast (Thank you Gloria!), great times of fellowship, cool discussion on what Thanksgiving is all about, and some great worship. Always a good time! We have much to be thankful for.

See all the pictures here.




NO MIDWEEK MEETINGS THIS WEEK

Due to the Thanksgiving holiday there will be no High School gathering on Wednesday or Middle School gathering on Thursday. Enjoy the holiday and we'll see you next week.

SCENE AROUND 180

Last week we asked you to send us photos of people and events that you have captured either on your camera of cell phone. We received one of one of our favorite people. You're going to need that hood Regina when that cold Kansas winter arrives! We sure miss you you and Tim. You are in our prayers.

Thanks for the photo Zach Munger.

Got a photo you want to include in the newsletter? Send it to newsletter@180students.com


PHOTO IN NEED OF A CAPTION

Speaking of photos. There is one that was captured on Saturday night at our MS TNT that is just begging for a good caption. We will award a great big handful of candy to the person who can most creatively caption this photo. The winner will be announced in next week's newsletter.

Get your creative juices flowing and leave your ideas in the Comment section of this week's newsletter. Click on the photo to enlarge.

2. SOMETHING FOR YOUR HEART

LISTENING

1 Samuel 7:5-13

5 Then Samuel said, "Assemble all Israel at Mizpah and I will intercede with the Lord for you."
6 When they had assembled at Mizpah, they drew water and poured it out before the Lord. On that day they fasted and there they confessed, "We have sinned against the Lord." And Samuel was leader of Israel at Mizpah.
7 When the Philistines heard that Israel had assembled at Mizpah, the rulers of the Philistines came up to attack them. And when the Israelites heard of it, they were afraid because of the Philistines.
8 They said to Samuel, "Do not stop crying out to the Lord our God for us, that he may rescue us from the hand of the Philistines."
9 Then Samuel took a suckling lamb and offered it up as a whole burnt offering to the Lord. He cried out to the Lord on Israel's behalf, and the Lord answered him.
10 While Samuel was sacrificing the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to engage Israel in battle. But that day the Lord thundered with loud thunder against the Philistines and threw them into such a panic that they were routed before the Israelites.
11 The men of Israel rushed out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, slaughtering them along the way to a point below Beth Car.
12 Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, "Thus far has the Lord helped us."
13 So the Philistines were subdued and did not invade Israelite territory again. Throughout Samuel's lifetime, the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines.

MEDITATION

In the Old Testament, the Israelites sometimes placed a large stone or built a monument to mark where God had done a great work. Those monuments helped them remember God is faithful. The monuments were often given names, as in this story, where Samuel names the spot Ebenezer, which means literally "stone of help."

Think of the moments when God has done great works in your life. In what ways do these experiences serve as monuments to remind you of God's ongoing work in your life?

Think about one of these moments. Did it occur on a retreat or at a camp? Perhaps at a worship service? Did it happen at a really good place in your life? Or did it happen during a really hard time? Name that moment and ponder it for a while.

As you look back at your "Ebenezer" moment, consider what you learned about God in that place. In what ways did God help you in that time? If there were a plaque with an inscription on that monument, what would it say?

In your time of reflection, take that moment and set it up before God as a stone that marks his presence in your life saying, "Thus far has the Lord helped me."

**

Taken from "Enjoy the Silence", by Maggie and Duffy Robbins, copyright 2005, Youth Specialties/Zondervan. Used by permission. Order the book here.

3. SURF REPORT

~ The Hope Line
A site for you to find help with big issues

~ Stir Magazine
An online magazine for Christian teens

4. BIRTHDAYS

We've got FOUR birthdays this week! BIG 180 Birthday wishes go out to Caleb O'Halloran, Kevin O'Halloran, Katie Leonard, and Jacob Eitzen! Enjoy your birthdays! We are thankful for each of you!


5. VIDEO OF THE WEEK




6. FORGETTABLE FACT

Hippos have killed more than 400 people in Africa--more than any other wild animal.

7. POTENT QUOTABLES

"Evangelism is not a professional job for a few trained men, but is instead the unrelenting responsibility of every person who belongs to the company of Jesus."
- Elton Trueblood

"The Holy Scriptures are our letters from home."
- Augustine

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8. PARTING SHOT

If at first you do succeed, try not to look astonished.