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

Mexico Outreach
Have you ever considered following God into a culture different than yours to share His love with people who really need to experience it? God is leading us to Ensenada Mexico this summer and perhaps He wants you to join in.

We now have our Mexico Outreach web site up. Check it out for all the details of the trip as well as all application downaloads. You will find it at www.180students.com/mexico07.



Spring Calendar
Wondering what you are going to do with your Spring? Well we have a few ideas for you! The 180 Spring calender is now out and you will find all kinds of great opportunities to serve together, play together, worship together, and more.

Pick one up this week at the info. table to find out more about the HS Amazing Race, MS Pool & Pizza, HS Beach Retreat, JH Riot, and more! Can't wait until you can pick one up? No problem. It's available for download too! Click here now to download yours!


HS Amazing Race III
Calling all adventurers and racers: The Amazing race III brings more detours, road blocks, and fast forwards than ever before! If you and your team can win, you'll take home the top prize and the wonder of winning it all!


If you want to race here are the details you will need to know:

•We start right at 3:00 PM on Saturday, March 17.
•We will be done at 7:00 PM
•Racers must bring $5.
•After the race, we will eat dinner.
•Racers must have a 180 Release Form on file. (If you or a friend needs one, download one here.)
•You must register by Wednesday, March 14.

See pictures of The Amazing Race II here.

2. SOMETHING FOR YOUR HEART

HEY MIKE!

HEY MIKE! While I attempt to do what's right and to obey God, I often get caught up in bad choices. Before I know it, I'm doing dumb things: lying, cheating, fighting. What can I do to change?
--T.C., Virginia Beach, Va.

Even Christians with the best intentions can get off course from time to time. Check out what Christian scholar C.S. Lewis has to say about our struggle to follow God:

"A live body is not one that never gets hurt, but one that can to some extent repair itself. In the same way a Christian is not a man who never goes wrong, but a man who is enabled to repent and pick himself up and begin over again after each stumble--because the Christ-life is inside him, repairing him all the time, enabling him to repeat (in some degree) the kind of voluntary death that Christ Himself carried out."

Making wise choices involves more than head knowledge. Pursuing authentic faith means applying God's truth to everyday situations. And the wisest action a Christian can take is to admit a wrong he or she has committed, turn to Christ (confession), then start fresh again--in the right direction (repentance).

HEY MIKE! I've known this girl at church for a long time. (We've practically grown up together.) I really like her and want to tell her how I feel, but I can't. I'm afraid I'll ruin our friendship. But every time I see her, I go INSANE! What should I do? When does "like" turn to love?
--M.H., Winter Park, Fla.

You've asked two different questions, so let's start with the first one: How do I communicate my feelings to this girl?

It amazes me that what comes so easy for girls (verbalizing emotions) is like brain surgery for guys. In fact, I've received a lot of mail on this topic lately. (Check out our September and October "HEY MIKE!" columns.) Think about it, M.H. You've known this girl for a long time, so why are you agonizing over telling her how you feel about her? I seriously doubt that she will reject you. Unlike guys, girls actually want males to share their TRUE feelings with them.

I think what you're most afraid of is the possibility that she doesn't feel the same way about you--which could change your friendship. This brings us to your next question: When does "like" turn to love?

Discerning between serious LIKE and heart-thumping LOVE gets kind of fuzzy. Both involve a magnetic-like attraction as well as those head-over-heels "insane attacks" you mentioned. But the difference between LIKE and LOVE is this: Love goes way beyond simple emotions. True love involves commitment. It means putting the needs of another above your own: "It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth" (1 Corinthians 13:5-6). Is this what you experience when you're with this girl?

Here's what I suggest you do. First, pray about this whole situation. Ask God to help you sort through your feelings and to help you understand the difference between like and love. Ask Him for the courage to accept the possibility that she may only want to be friends.

Next, find a trustworthy adult guy (your dad, a youth worker) and get an older male's perspective. It really helps to learn from guys who have been there.

Finally, when you feel the moment is right, talk to this girl. Tell her how special she is to you as well as how much you value her friendship. Make an effort to clue in to how she feels about you. Then it's time for the next step: Choose to hold on to a great friendship...or move it to a different level.

HEY MIKE! My friends constantly act like idiots around girls. They talk crude and get tough--and think they're being cool. How can I set them straight?
--G.M., Seattle

Show them this comment from 16-year-old Brianna, a Brio reader from Downers Grove, Ill. It's an eye-opener for every teen guy.

"Hey, Breakaway brothers: I want you to understand that most girls get annoyed with juvenile behavior. True, we like to horse around and have fun--as long as it's all good, clean fun, and in the right setting. But if it gets out of hand or if it's unwelcome, then you just might end up with a black eye. Bottom line: Be a gentleman and show respect for girls."

**
Adapted with permission from Breakaway magazine. Copyright © 2007, Focus on the Family. All rights reserved.

3. SURF REPORT

~ Shoutlife: A new Christian social networking site

~ Shakespeare Sonnet Shake-Up: Create your own sonnet using lines from Shakespeare's works

4. BIRTHDAYS

We've have one birthday this week and the wishes go out to Sarah Hunter! We wish you the best Sarah!

5. VIDEO OF THE WEEK

Never think that you are too young to do big things. You are the church of today, not tomorrow. God wants to use you now to change the world.



6. FORGETTABLE FACT

Elephants are the only animal that can't jump.

7. POTENT QUOTABLES

"Go the extra mile. It's never crowded."
- Author unknown

"What is a friend? A single soul dwelling in two bodies."
- Augustine

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8. PARTING SHOT

Dijon vu = the same mustard as before