December 3, 2007
Contents
1. 180 News
2. Something for Your Heart
3. Surf Report
4. Birthdays
5. Forgettable Fact
6. Potent Quotables
7. Parting Shot
1. 180 NEWS
Winter Calendar
Our Winter calendar is now out! Pick one up this week at the Info Table or download one here, or just click on the calendar image on the left.
Lots of great things happening. Don't miss any of it!
Christmas Gifts For Our Neighbors
Christmas is coming! We have an opportunity to be a light to the world this Christmas by sharing presents with those who can't afford them. We have two great ways you can give gifts this year. Consider giving to children both in Portland (through Bridgetown Ministries) and Ensenada, Mexico (through missionaries Tim & Kathy Johnston).
Portland
Bring new toys for children from newborns through 12 years of age.
Mexico
Items you can give:
•Small toys
•Crayons
•School supplies
•Candy
•Fun soap or shampoo
Please make sure that toys are for children from newborns through 14 years of age.
All gifts need to be delivered unwrapped to the Youth Center by Wednesday. December 12.
MUSIC, MUSIC, MUSIC
We have just updated our CD Library with all kinds of new music. Check it out today and find new music by Steven Curtis Chapman, David Crowder Band, Everyday Sunday, Falling Up, Kids In The Way, L.A. Symphony, Mercy Me, and Thousand Foot Krutch
Please remember CDs may be checked out for a period of one week and my not be duplicated in any form.
2. SOMETHING FOR YOUR HEART
STEP 3: EVALUATE YOUR MOTIVES
Proverbs 12:15 says, "The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice."
Motives are tricky. They're often deceptive and difficult to uncover. Ten people can do the same thing, but they might do it for ten different reasons. Yet motives are tremendously important. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus encouraged his followers to pray, fast, and give-but not so that anyone else would know they were doing those good things (see Matthew 6:1-18). He knew that too often we do things--even good things--for selfish reasons.
Human beings are masters at rationalization. A song from a few years ago tried to rationalize a person's desire for sex with these words: "How can love be wrong when it feels so right?" We often assume something is right just because we want to do it. But that attitude is no different from animal instinct. We just have prettier words to describe it, such as passion and romance and desire.
Some people think they can get away with anything as long as they attach God to it. I've talked to teenagers who tried to tell me, "I know God wanted me to have sex."
So I asked, "How do you know that?"
"I just know," came the reply.
Sometimes reason takes a backseat to raw selfishness. I've talked to young people who've stolen things, and when they were caught, they came up with this brilliant explanation: "I needed it more than he did." That's deep.
All of our decisions seem right to us initially. It's only later that we realize just how stupid or short-sighted they really were. What's more, many of us are masters at twisting words to make our actions sound reasonable. If you're uncertain about your motives for making a certain decision, ask yourself these questions:
* How strongly do I feel about one solution over another?
* Am I so biased toward one decision that I'm not open to other ideas?
* Do I know deep inside that my desire is wrong?
While it's difficult to uncover every bias, it's good to force yourself to think about some of the ways in which you're influenced. If you're not sure how strong your biases are, answer the following questions:
1. Do you typically favor one political party? If so, then in just one sentence, explain why.
2. Are there people in your life whose side you'd take even if they're wrong?
3. List the five worst sins a person can commit.
4. What quality do you admire most in people?
5. Why do you dress in the style you do? With what look do you identify the most?
6. Which is more important to you: finishing a task or interacting with someone?
7. Do you typically prepare in advance or do you wait until the last minute?
8. If you're supposed to meet someone, how late can the person be before you get annoyed with her?
9. What kinds of people make you cringe inside?
10. What do you think about people from other ethnic backgrounds?
11. Which groups do you admire and which do you not respect? Explain your attitude in one sentence.
Once you answer these questions, you'll find that you definitely have opinions on some matters--sometimes strong, emotionally driven opinions. Take a moment to reflect on how that might bias you in a given situation.
**
Taken from "Wisdom On... Making Good Decisions" by Mark Matlock, copyright 2008, Zondervan/Youth Specialties. Used by permission. Release date January 2008.
3. SURF REPORT
~ Free Rice: Play this simple game and donate rice to hungry people while you improve your vocabulary.
~ Operation Christmas Child: Help those who are less fortunate this holiday season.
~ Win A 180-Tshirt: Share with us what you are looking forward to the most about Christmas and you just might win a shirt!
4. BIRTHDAYS
We've got two birthdays this week! We want to wish both Trevor McCracken and Chris Pierce the happiest of birthdays!
5. FORGETTABLE FACT
In 1845 Boston had an ordinance banning bathing unless you had a doctor's prescription.
6. POTENT QUOTABLES
"In the Kingdom of God, service is not a stepping-stone to nobility: it is nobility, the only kind of nobility that is recognized."
- T.W. Manson
"It is a contradiction to be a true Christian and not humble."
- Richard Baxter
===========our|sponsor===========
DON'T DO ANYTHING STUPID!
Making decisions can be as simple as choosing the topping on your pizza, or as daunting as choosing your college. Find out how having wisdom can help you with any decision you face.
This month's devo comes from "Wisdom On...Making Good Decisions" which is part of the new "Wisdom On..." series. The "Wisdom On..." series is designed to help you apply biblical wisdom to your everyday life. You'll find case studies, personal inventories, interactive activities, and helpful insights from the book of Proverbs, which will show you what wise living looks like.
The first two books in the series release January 2008. You can preorder today here.
Also available in your local Christian bookstore next month.
Click here and find a Christian bookstore near you:
=================================
7. PARTING SHOT
Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened.
1. 180 News
2. Something for Your Heart
3. Surf Report
4. Birthdays
5. Forgettable Fact
6. Potent Quotables
7. Parting Shot
1. 180 NEWS
Winter Calendar
Our Winter calendar is now out! Pick one up this week at the Info Table or download one here, or just click on the calendar image on the left.
Lots of great things happening. Don't miss any of it!
Christmas Gifts For Our Neighbors
Christmas is coming! We have an opportunity to be a light to the world this Christmas by sharing presents with those who can't afford them. We have two great ways you can give gifts this year. Consider giving to children both in Portland (through Bridgetown Ministries) and Ensenada, Mexico (through missionaries Tim & Kathy Johnston).
Portland
Bring new toys for children from newborns through 12 years of age.
Mexico
Items you can give:
•Small toys
•Crayons
•School supplies
•Candy
•Fun soap or shampoo
Please make sure that toys are for children from newborns through 14 years of age.
All gifts need to be delivered unwrapped to the Youth Center by Wednesday. December 12.
MUSIC, MUSIC, MUSIC
We have just updated our CD Library with all kinds of new music. Check it out today and find new music by Steven Curtis Chapman, David Crowder Band, Everyday Sunday, Falling Up, Kids In The Way, L.A. Symphony, Mercy Me, and Thousand Foot Krutch
Please remember CDs may be checked out for a period of one week and my not be duplicated in any form.
2. SOMETHING FOR YOUR HEART
STEP 3: EVALUATE YOUR MOTIVES
Proverbs 12:15 says, "The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice."
Motives are tricky. They're often deceptive and difficult to uncover. Ten people can do the same thing, but they might do it for ten different reasons. Yet motives are tremendously important. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus encouraged his followers to pray, fast, and give-but not so that anyone else would know they were doing those good things (see Matthew 6:1-18). He knew that too often we do things--even good things--for selfish reasons.
Human beings are masters at rationalization. A song from a few years ago tried to rationalize a person's desire for sex with these words: "How can love be wrong when it feels so right?" We often assume something is right just because we want to do it. But that attitude is no different from animal instinct. We just have prettier words to describe it, such as passion and romance and desire.
Some people think they can get away with anything as long as they attach God to it. I've talked to teenagers who tried to tell me, "I know God wanted me to have sex."
So I asked, "How do you know that?"
"I just know," came the reply.
Sometimes reason takes a backseat to raw selfishness. I've talked to young people who've stolen things, and when they were caught, they came up with this brilliant explanation: "I needed it more than he did." That's deep.
All of our decisions seem right to us initially. It's only later that we realize just how stupid or short-sighted they really were. What's more, many of us are masters at twisting words to make our actions sound reasonable. If you're uncertain about your motives for making a certain decision, ask yourself these questions:
* How strongly do I feel about one solution over another?
* Am I so biased toward one decision that I'm not open to other ideas?
* Do I know deep inside that my desire is wrong?
While it's difficult to uncover every bias, it's good to force yourself to think about some of the ways in which you're influenced. If you're not sure how strong your biases are, answer the following questions:
1. Do you typically favor one political party? If so, then in just one sentence, explain why.
2. Are there people in your life whose side you'd take even if they're wrong?
3. List the five worst sins a person can commit.
4. What quality do you admire most in people?
5. Why do you dress in the style you do? With what look do you identify the most?
6. Which is more important to you: finishing a task or interacting with someone?
7. Do you typically prepare in advance or do you wait until the last minute?
8. If you're supposed to meet someone, how late can the person be before you get annoyed with her?
9. What kinds of people make you cringe inside?
10. What do you think about people from other ethnic backgrounds?
11. Which groups do you admire and which do you not respect? Explain your attitude in one sentence.
Once you answer these questions, you'll find that you definitely have opinions on some matters--sometimes strong, emotionally driven opinions. Take a moment to reflect on how that might bias you in a given situation.
**
Taken from "Wisdom On... Making Good Decisions" by Mark Matlock, copyright 2008, Zondervan/Youth Specialties. Used by permission. Release date January 2008.
3. SURF REPORT
~ Free Rice: Play this simple game and donate rice to hungry people while you improve your vocabulary.
~ Operation Christmas Child: Help those who are less fortunate this holiday season.
~ Win A 180-Tshirt: Share with us what you are looking forward to the most about Christmas and you just might win a shirt!
4. BIRTHDAYS
We've got two birthdays this week! We want to wish both Trevor McCracken and Chris Pierce the happiest of birthdays!
5. FORGETTABLE FACT
In 1845 Boston had an ordinance banning bathing unless you had a doctor's prescription.
6. POTENT QUOTABLES
"In the Kingdom of God, service is not a stepping-stone to nobility: it is nobility, the only kind of nobility that is recognized."
- T.W. Manson
"It is a contradiction to be a true Christian and not humble."
- Richard Baxter
===========our|sponsor===========
DON'T DO ANYTHING STUPID!
Making decisions can be as simple as choosing the topping on your pizza, or as daunting as choosing your college. Find out how having wisdom can help you with any decision you face.
This month's devo comes from "Wisdom On...Making Good Decisions" which is part of the new "Wisdom On..." series. The "Wisdom On..." series is designed to help you apply biblical wisdom to your everyday life. You'll find case studies, personal inventories, interactive activities, and helpful insights from the book of Proverbs, which will show you what wise living looks like.
The first two books in the series release January 2008. You can preorder today here.
Also available in your local Christian bookstore next month.
Click here and find a Christian bookstore near you:
=================================
7. PARTING SHOT
Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened.
Comments:
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The thing I'm most excited about for Christmas.
I love the smell of christmas like the smell of decorations. I know, weird. I also LOVE sleeping in my sisters room (Shannon)and sneaking down stairs a 4:00 am on Christmas and looking at the stockings and presents but not touching them. Then running back upstairs quickly because we know we're not supposed to be up until 6:00! Merry Christmas!!!
~Christine Laughlin
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I love the smell of christmas like the smell of decorations. I know, weird. I also LOVE sleeping in my sisters room (Shannon)and sneaking down stairs a 4:00 am on Christmas and looking at the stockings and presents but not touching them. Then running back upstairs quickly because we know we're not supposed to be up until 6:00! Merry Christmas!!!
~Christine Laughlin
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