November 24, 2008
Contents
1. 180 News
2. Something for Your Heart
3. Surf Report
4. Birthdays
5. Video of The Week
6. Forgettable Fact
7. Potent Quotable
8. Uh, That's Funny?
1. 180 NEWS
No Midweek
Just a reminder, that we will not be meeting this week for High School FUEL or Middle School DANGER ZONE.
Enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday! We will see you on Sunday!
Sunday Fun
A scene from Sunday morning.
Letter From Jaciel
We just received a letter from Jaciel, our Compassion child. He writes:
Hello! Before you read this letter I greet you in the name of our lord Jesus Christ. I hope you are well. I thank God for allowing me to be in this program, and I thank you for the support you have given to me too. I want to tell you that I am doing well, and I am studying primary school. I am working hard in school because I want to be a doctor when I grow up, and I know that I will succeed, God willing. That's all I can say. My parents send greetings to you, and pray for you, for God to watch over you wherever you are. I want to ask you to take care and keep on. I'm going to pray to God, for him to bless you and help you with your purpose. I ask you to pray for me and my family and my little siblings.
Jaciel
Age: 10, Grade: 4
Would you like to write Jaciel a personal letter? He would love it! If you would like to bless him in such a way simply email Pastor Brian with the letter and he will forward it on.
2. SOMETHING FOR YOUR HEART
HOW TO OBSERVE THANKSGIVING
Count your blessings instead of your crosses; Count your gains instead of your losses.
Count your joys instead of your woes;
Count your friends instead of your foes.
Count your smiles instead of your tears; Count your courage instead of your fears.
Count your full years instead of your lean; Count your kind deeds instead of your mean.
Count your health instead of your wealth; Count on God instead of yourself.
Happy Thanksgiving!
3. SURF REPORT
~ The True Thanksgiving Story: Where did the tradition of Thanksgiving come from? How long has the holiday been celebrated? Those are just two of the questions answered at this informative site.
~ On This Day in History: What else was going on in the world on the day you were born? Here's where you can find out.
4. BIRTHDAYS
Hey everyone we've got two birthday shout outs this week. We're wishing the very best of birthdays for Jacob Eitzen and Andy Wiseman!
5. VIDEO OF THE WEEK
What are you doing this Christmas? How about joining the conspiracy!
Watch for more info beginning this Sunday on how you can be a part of this strategic movement.
6. FORGETTABLE FACT
Nike is the Greek goddess of victory.
7. POTENT QUOTABLES
"Thou who hast given so much to me, give one thing more--a grateful heart!"
~ George Herbert
"There's one thing for which you can be thankful--only you and God have all the facts about yourself."
~ Dub Nance
===========our|sponsor===========
THE LIFE OF CHRIST, THE BASIS OF FAITH
Chances are, you know who Jesus is. But do you really know about Jesus? He is probably the best-known person in history, and yet there's a lot that people don't know about who he was, what he did, or why he did it. In this 48-week devotional, you'll spend time reading Old Testament predictions of Jesus, stories about Jesus, what he taught, and the miracles that he performed.
Learn more about or purchase the book "Christ" here.
=================================
8. UH, THAT'S FUNNY?
On the other hand, you have different fingers.
1. 180 News
2. Something for Your Heart
3. Surf Report
4. Birthdays
5. Video of The Week
6. Forgettable Fact
7. Potent Quotable
8. Uh, That's Funny?
1. 180 NEWS
No Midweek
Just a reminder, that we will not be meeting this week for High School FUEL or Middle School DANGER ZONE.
Enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday! We will see you on Sunday!
Sunday Fun
A scene from Sunday morning.
Letter From Jaciel
We just received a letter from Jaciel, our Compassion child. He writes:Hello! Before you read this letter I greet you in the name of our lord Jesus Christ. I hope you are well. I thank God for allowing me to be in this program, and I thank you for the support you have given to me too. I want to tell you that I am doing well, and I am studying primary school. I am working hard in school because I want to be a doctor when I grow up, and I know that I will succeed, God willing. That's all I can say. My parents send greetings to you, and pray for you, for God to watch over you wherever you are. I want to ask you to take care and keep on. I'm going to pray to God, for him to bless you and help you with your purpose. I ask you to pray for me and my family and my little siblings.
Jaciel
Age: 10, Grade: 4
Would you like to write Jaciel a personal letter? He would love it! If you would like to bless him in such a way simply email Pastor Brian with the letter and he will forward it on.
2. SOMETHING FOR YOUR HEART
HOW TO OBSERVE THANKSGIVING
Count your blessings instead of your crosses; Count your gains instead of your losses.
Count your joys instead of your woes;
Count your friends instead of your foes.
Count your smiles instead of your tears; Count your courage instead of your fears.
Count your full years instead of your lean; Count your kind deeds instead of your mean.
Count your health instead of your wealth; Count on God instead of yourself.
Happy Thanksgiving!
3. SURF REPORT
~ The True Thanksgiving Story: Where did the tradition of Thanksgiving come from? How long has the holiday been celebrated? Those are just two of the questions answered at this informative site.
~ On This Day in History: What else was going on in the world on the day you were born? Here's where you can find out.
4. BIRTHDAYS
Hey everyone we've got two birthday shout outs this week. We're wishing the very best of birthdays for Jacob Eitzen and Andy Wiseman!
5. VIDEO OF THE WEEK
What are you doing this Christmas? How about joining the conspiracy!
Watch for more info beginning this Sunday on how you can be a part of this strategic movement.
6. FORGETTABLE FACT
Nike is the Greek goddess of victory.
7. POTENT QUOTABLES
"Thou who hast given so much to me, give one thing more--a grateful heart!"
~ George Herbert
"There's one thing for which you can be thankful--only you and God have all the facts about yourself."
~ Dub Nance
===========our|sponsor===========
THE LIFE OF CHRIST, THE BASIS OF FAITH
Chances are, you know who Jesus is. But do you really know about Jesus? He is probably the best-known person in history, and yet there's a lot that people don't know about who he was, what he did, or why he did it. In this 48-week devotional, you'll spend time reading Old Testament predictions of Jesus, stories about Jesus, what he taught, and the miracles that he performed.
Learn more about or purchase the book "Christ" here.
=================================
8. UH, THAT'S FUNNY?
On the other hand, you have different fingers.
November 17, 2008
Contents
1. 180 News
2. Something for Your Heart
3. Birthdays
4. Forgettable Fact
5. Potent Quotables
5. Uh, That's Funny?
1. 180 NEWS
HS Paintball Retreat
We had a great time last weekend lighting each other up with balls of paint! You don't want to miss these photos. Check them out here .
MS Turkey 'N Thanks
Man did we have a great time last Saturday night! We enjoyed an incredible feast, with our best friends, and were reminded of all that we are thankful for!
See pictures of the event here.
See the formal portraits that were taken here.
2. SOMETHING FOR YOUR HEART
"The choice for gratitude rarely comes without some real effort. But each time I make it, the next choice is a little easier, a little freer, a little less self-conscious. Because every gift I acknowledge reveals another and another."
~ Henri Nouwen, "The Return of the Prodigal Son"
On a scale from 1 to 10, how thankful would you say you are for your family? We're not talking about being thankful when they drive you to a friend's house or when they finally give you a present you've been asking for. We're talking about being thankful for being loved and provided for. So how thankful are you? Now here's another very important question: How thankful do they think you are?
My (Sissy's) grandfather starts off every Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter meal by saying, "Please bow your heads so we can return thanks." He's the only person I've ever heard use this phrase "return thanks" when asking people to pray. But it makes so much sense. As a family we are giving God our gratitude for all he has given us. We're returning thanks.
This chapter is about returning thanks to your family. We would guess that, although you feel pretty thankful for your family--at least some of the time--they don't necessarily know it. If you grew up in a Christian family, you learned how to show your gratitude to God through prayer and worship. But most of us do a pretty lousy job of returning thanks to the people in our lives. It might come a little more naturally with some of them. If one of your friends tells you they're thankful for you, you probably tell them back. But the people in your family are often the very last ones to hear your words of gratitude or know how you feel about them.
At our summer camps we often see significant changes in kids' lives. It might be that they decide to live their lives for Jesus or make a commitment to be a better friend, a more patient daughter, a kinder sister. And they do that--at camp. But several weeks later we see the parents of these very same kids at Daystar.
"What happened at camp?" they ask us. "I know you said it was a great week for Catherine, but she came home as grumpy as ever, if not more. She slept the whole car ride back, and I've hardly seen her since she's been home. She's with her friends constantly. When I try to talk to her, she just gets angry. I thought she matured this summer, but she seems to be moving backward."
We tell these parents that home is often the last place they'll see changes in their children. Why? Because most of us take our families for granted. We know they're not going anywhere, no matter how awful we are to them. We know they'll love us--no matter what. So our families get the brunt of all our bad moods and irritability. You know how it goes: You spend all day at school being kind and patient and friendly to everyone.
By the time you get home you're exhausted. Rather than getting your kindness, your family gets your grumpy leftovers--impatience, frustration, a short temper.
There's another problem with taking your family for granted--a loss of gratitude. How many hours of their lives have your parents spent driving you from one place to another? How many hours have they spent at work trying to earn money to pay for your clothes, or your activities, or your toys, or the gas for all that driving? How many cards have you received from your grandparents? How many times have your siblings shared their stuff with you or helped you with a problem or let you hang out with them, even when you were bugging them?
These questions aren't meant to make you feel guilty. They are meant to inspire gratitude--a sense of thankfulness--in you. We know, as Henri Nouwen said in the quotation at the beginning of this chapter, that gratitude doesn't come without some real effort--especially with our families. For all of us, even those of us beyond the age of 19, our families are often at the back of the line when it comes to showing gratitude.
Recently I (Melissa) met with 17-year-old Maggie and her dad. Maggie's parents are divorced and she lives with her mom during the week and with her dad every other weekend. But as Maggie has gotten older and busier, it's been getting harder and harder for her to get to her dad's on those weekends. She's a cheerleader, so Fridays are booked with football games. Saturday nights she is either with friends or her boyfriend. When it's time to go home, she's too tired to pack a bag and head over to her dad's. Sounds understandable, doesn't it?
Not from her dad's perspective. He sees that in two years Maggie will go off to college. His time with her is running out, and he wants to be with her as much as he can. So he feels very strongly about spending every other weekend with her--no matter what she has planned. He doesn't want her to cancel on her friends. He just wants her at his house so he can at least have breakfast with her on Saturdays and go to church with her on Sundays. He doesn't think it's a lot to ask.
Maggie and her dad are at a stalemate. If you don't play chess, that means neither of them is able or willing to move. She wants the convenience of her mom's house. He wants to be with Maggie.
I told Maggie the same thing we're telling you. Make the effort. Your family may not have been the perfect representation of what a family should be. No family is. But you can still be grateful for them. You can show them by what you say and how you act that you appreciate what they have done for you--no matter how much or how little you think that is.
**
Taken from "Growing Up Without Getting Lost" by Melissa Trevathan and Sissy Goff, copyright 2008 Youth Specialties/Zondervan. Used by permission. Order the book here.
3. BIRTHDAYS
We've got three this week! HAPPY BIRTHDAY WISHES go out to Christine Laughlin, and Caleb & Kevin O'Halloran. We wish you all the very BEST!!
4. FORGETTABLE FACT
Albert Einstein was offered the presidency of Israel in 1952, but he declined.
5. POTENT QUOTABLES
"Dream no small dreams for they have no power to move the hearts of men."
~ Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe
"We can do anything we want to do if we stick to it long enough."
~ Helen Keller
"He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life."
~ Muhammad Ali
===========our|sponsor===========
GROWING UP WITHOUT GETTING LOST
There was a time, not so long ago, when everything in life seemed pretty simple. But suddenly, it seems like everything is changing. Melissa and Sissy, the authors of this book, can help you figure out some of the big questions inundating your mind: Who am I? What do I want? What should I do? Who do I want to be?
Learn more about or purchase "Growing Up Without Getting Lost" here.
=================================
6. UH, THAT'S FUNNY?
Q: What do ducks get after they eat?
A: A bill.
1. 180 News
2. Something for Your Heart
3. Birthdays
4. Forgettable Fact
5. Potent Quotables
5. Uh, That's Funny?
1. 180 NEWS
HS Paintball Retreat
We had a great time last weekend lighting each other up with balls of paint! You don't want to miss these photos. Check them out here .
MS Turkey 'N Thanks
Man did we have a great time last Saturday night! We enjoyed an incredible feast, with our best friends, and were reminded of all that we are thankful for!
See pictures of the event here.
See the formal portraits that were taken here.
2. SOMETHING FOR YOUR HEART
"The choice for gratitude rarely comes without some real effort. But each time I make it, the next choice is a little easier, a little freer, a little less self-conscious. Because every gift I acknowledge reveals another and another."
~ Henri Nouwen, "The Return of the Prodigal Son"
On a scale from 1 to 10, how thankful would you say you are for your family? We're not talking about being thankful when they drive you to a friend's house or when they finally give you a present you've been asking for. We're talking about being thankful for being loved and provided for. So how thankful are you? Now here's another very important question: How thankful do they think you are?
My (Sissy's) grandfather starts off every Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter meal by saying, "Please bow your heads so we can return thanks." He's the only person I've ever heard use this phrase "return thanks" when asking people to pray. But it makes so much sense. As a family we are giving God our gratitude for all he has given us. We're returning thanks.
This chapter is about returning thanks to your family. We would guess that, although you feel pretty thankful for your family--at least some of the time--they don't necessarily know it. If you grew up in a Christian family, you learned how to show your gratitude to God through prayer and worship. But most of us do a pretty lousy job of returning thanks to the people in our lives. It might come a little more naturally with some of them. If one of your friends tells you they're thankful for you, you probably tell them back. But the people in your family are often the very last ones to hear your words of gratitude or know how you feel about them.
At our summer camps we often see significant changes in kids' lives. It might be that they decide to live their lives for Jesus or make a commitment to be a better friend, a more patient daughter, a kinder sister. And they do that--at camp. But several weeks later we see the parents of these very same kids at Daystar.
"What happened at camp?" they ask us. "I know you said it was a great week for Catherine, but she came home as grumpy as ever, if not more. She slept the whole car ride back, and I've hardly seen her since she's been home. She's with her friends constantly. When I try to talk to her, she just gets angry. I thought she matured this summer, but she seems to be moving backward."
We tell these parents that home is often the last place they'll see changes in their children. Why? Because most of us take our families for granted. We know they're not going anywhere, no matter how awful we are to them. We know they'll love us--no matter what. So our families get the brunt of all our bad moods and irritability. You know how it goes: You spend all day at school being kind and patient and friendly to everyone.
By the time you get home you're exhausted. Rather than getting your kindness, your family gets your grumpy leftovers--impatience, frustration, a short temper.
There's another problem with taking your family for granted--a loss of gratitude. How many hours of their lives have your parents spent driving you from one place to another? How many hours have they spent at work trying to earn money to pay for your clothes, or your activities, or your toys, or the gas for all that driving? How many cards have you received from your grandparents? How many times have your siblings shared their stuff with you or helped you with a problem or let you hang out with them, even when you were bugging them?
These questions aren't meant to make you feel guilty. They are meant to inspire gratitude--a sense of thankfulness--in you. We know, as Henri Nouwen said in the quotation at the beginning of this chapter, that gratitude doesn't come without some real effort--especially with our families. For all of us, even those of us beyond the age of 19, our families are often at the back of the line when it comes to showing gratitude.
Recently I (Melissa) met with 17-year-old Maggie and her dad. Maggie's parents are divorced and she lives with her mom during the week and with her dad every other weekend. But as Maggie has gotten older and busier, it's been getting harder and harder for her to get to her dad's on those weekends. She's a cheerleader, so Fridays are booked with football games. Saturday nights she is either with friends or her boyfriend. When it's time to go home, she's too tired to pack a bag and head over to her dad's. Sounds understandable, doesn't it?
Not from her dad's perspective. He sees that in two years Maggie will go off to college. His time with her is running out, and he wants to be with her as much as he can. So he feels very strongly about spending every other weekend with her--no matter what she has planned. He doesn't want her to cancel on her friends. He just wants her at his house so he can at least have breakfast with her on Saturdays and go to church with her on Sundays. He doesn't think it's a lot to ask.
Maggie and her dad are at a stalemate. If you don't play chess, that means neither of them is able or willing to move. She wants the convenience of her mom's house. He wants to be with Maggie.
I told Maggie the same thing we're telling you. Make the effort. Your family may not have been the perfect representation of what a family should be. No family is. But you can still be grateful for them. You can show them by what you say and how you act that you appreciate what they have done for you--no matter how much or how little you think that is.
**
Taken from "Growing Up Without Getting Lost" by Melissa Trevathan and Sissy Goff, copyright 2008 Youth Specialties/Zondervan. Used by permission. Order the book here.
3. BIRTHDAYS
We've got three this week! HAPPY BIRTHDAY WISHES go out to Christine Laughlin, and Caleb & Kevin O'Halloran. We wish you all the very BEST!!
4. FORGETTABLE FACT
Albert Einstein was offered the presidency of Israel in 1952, but he declined.
5. POTENT QUOTABLES
"Dream no small dreams for they have no power to move the hearts of men."
~ Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe
"We can do anything we want to do if we stick to it long enough."
~ Helen Keller
"He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life."
~ Muhammad Ali
===========our|sponsor===========
GROWING UP WITHOUT GETTING LOST
There was a time, not so long ago, when everything in life seemed pretty simple. But suddenly, it seems like everything is changing. Melissa and Sissy, the authors of this book, can help you figure out some of the big questions inundating your mind: Who am I? What do I want? What should I do? Who do I want to be?
Learn more about or purchase "Growing Up Without Getting Lost" here.
=================================
6. UH, THAT'S FUNNY?
Q: What do ducks get after they eat?
A: A bill.
November 10, 2008
Contents
1. 180 News
2. Something for Your Heart
3. Surf Report
4. Birthdays
5. Forgettable Fact
6. Potent Quotables
7. Uh, That's Funny?
1. 180 NEWS
Middle School Turkey 'N Thanks
This Saturday night is our annual Turkey 'N Thanks and it won't be the same without you!
Join us this Saturday night, November 15 from 6:00 to 7:30 in the Ministry Center Great Room for a wonderful Thanksgiving feast, with all the trimmings! The cost is only $5. It is sure to be an event you won't want to miss out on!
See pictures of last year's Turkey 'N Thanks here and here.
Text Message Alerts
Do you have a cell phone? Do you use text messaging? So do we!
If you would like to subscribe to our new Text Message Alerts and receive up to the minute announcements, reminders, cancellation notices, and more, then click on the appropriate link below to be added to our list.
Text messages will be one way messages and will sent from One80@txtsig.us. If you have already signed up at the info table in the youth center please do not use these links.
Sign up now to always be in the know!
Sign up for our High School TXT message alerts!
Sign up for our Middle School TXT message alerts!
Parent Newsletter
Parents have you subscribed to our weekly Parent Newsletter yet? We send it out each Wednesday. Use the form below to subscribe!
2. SOMETHING FOR YOUR HEART
YOUR REAL FAMILY
When you were a child you didn't say, "Thank you, Mommy" every time your mom did something nice for you. But you smiled at her. You hugged her. You acted in a way that showed your thankfulness.
Back then, your mom was your hero. Both of your parents were. And even though you got really mad at your siblings now and then, you still loved them and wanted to play with them a minute after the argument ended.
But now the awareness you've developed over the past few years has made it a little more difficult to just forgive and forget. You recognize the ways your parents hurt you. You see how they hurt each other. You notice that your dad doesn't come home as much as you think he should. Maybe he even left your mom and married someone else. You've noticed that the grandmother you used to think was the most loving person ever is actually really critical of your mom. You see your family as they really are.
As this awareness grows, you have a choice to make. One option is to distance yourself from your family. They used to be perfect in your eyes. Now they're not. You can decide that, since they're not perfect, they have nothing to offer you and you don't want them in your life anymore. If you think that sounds extreme, you should know that we talk to teenagers every day who have decided to do just that--get away from their families. Sometimes it's a physical move to another home, like the home of their other parent. Sometimes it's an emotional move--they stop talking, stop relating, stop engaging.
Another option--the better option--is to offer grace and gratitude. Your dad might have left your mom. She might still be angry at him. But he didn't leave because of you. Even if he's not a perfect dad, you can still have a relationship with him. You can enjoy and even appreciate what he does offer.
Maybe you've realized your mom is a perfectionist and can be really critical of you. That doesn't mean you can't still have a meaningful relationship with her. Tell her--kindly--when she hurts your feelings. Tell her you need her encouragement and support. Do your part to stay connected and grateful.
Think about the times you've messed up or hurt your parents or a sibling. What you wanted most in those moments was grace. You want to be accepted and loved in spite of your weaknesses. You can do the same for your family.
We know there are plenty of families where it can be hard to find a reason to be grateful for anything. We have a friend named Lindsey whose father has a severe anger problem. Most of the time things are great between the two of them. They have dinners together, go to plays, and have a lot of fun. But every so often something sets off Lindsey's dad and he explodes. He yells at her and says horrible things to her, things that are hard to forgive, much less forget.
Lindsey has several different options with her dad. She can naively ignore this problem--never talk about how it affects her and pretend it doesn't exist. But as you know, Lindsey's feelings will just come out somewhere else.
Lindsey could also walk away from her dad. She could decide that his anger is too much and cut off her relationship with him entirely. But if Lindsey did that she would miss out on the times when her relationship with her dad is really good.
Fortunately, there is another way. Lindsey can face the reality of her relationship with her father. She can start to respond differently. She may never teach him to handle his anger in an appropriate way, but she can make sure he doesn't handle it inappropriately around her. When he starts to yell at her on the phone, Lindsey can say something like, "Dad, I'm not going to talk to you when you're like this. You'll just say things that will make both of us feel worse later. Why don't you call me back when you're not so angry?" Even if he calls back repeatedly, Lindsey doesn't have to answer the phone.
Maybe the parent you have a hard time with lives with you. In that case, counseling can be a great idea. Talk to your school counselor, or ask your parents to take you to a counselor outside of school. If it feels scary to tell your mom or dad that you want counseling because of your relationship with them, the counselor can help you handle that. Just tell your parents you have some things going on in your life that you'd like some help with. A good counselor can take it from there.
If counseling isn't an option, then try talking to your parents. We know this can be really hard. But if you find a time when both of you are feeling calm and unemotional, tell your mom and dad what you're struggling with. Let them know that you're hurt by what they're doing, and ask if you might be contributing to the problem in some way. Stay calm, listen, and be honest about how you feel. This kind of conversation can be a great start in healing a damaged relationship.
We want you to offer grace and truth to the people in your life, but there are some people who are too sick to receive it. And those people are unsafe for you to be around. If you are being abused by a family member, the first thing to do is find a way to keep yourself safe. Start by telling an adult what is happening. Keep telling people like teachers, school counselors, and youth directors until someone helps you. Doing this isn't betraying your family. It isn't ungrateful or disrespectful. It's the best way to stop the abuse. No one needs to stay in a situation where they are being hurt. If it's happening to you, there is help and hope out there. Just keep talking to trusted adults until you discover the one who will help you.
**
Taken from "Growing Up Without Getting Lost" by Melissa Trevathan and Sissy Goff, copyright 2008 Youth Specialties/Zondervan. Used by permission. Order the book here.
3. SURF REPORT
~ National Runaway Switchboard: If you or somebody you know is thinking about leaving home, you need to check out this site.
~ The Ridiculously Thorough Guide to Making Your Own Pizza
4. BIRTHDAYS
We have got one birthday shout out this week and it goes out to Evan Mangelsdorf! May all your dreams come true Evan!
5. FORGETTABLE FACT
All polar bears are left-handed.
6. POTENT QUOTABLES
"A loving heart is the truest wisdom."
~ Charles Dickens
"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."
~ Eleanor Roosevelt
"Let thy words be few."
~ Ecclesiastes 5:2
===========our|sponsor===========
GROWING UP WITHOUT GETTING LOST
There was a time, not so long ago, when everything in life seemed pretty simple. But suddenly, it seems like everything is changing. Melissa and Sissy, the authors of this book, can help you figure out some of the big questions inundating your mind: Who am I? What do I want? What should I do? Who do I want to be?
Learn more about or purchase "Growing Up Without Getting Lost" here.
=================================
7. UH, THAT'S FUNNY?
Q: What do you call a pig that does karate?
A: A pork chop.
1. 180 News
2. Something for Your Heart
3. Surf Report
4. Birthdays
5. Forgettable Fact
6. Potent Quotables
7. Uh, That's Funny?
1. 180 NEWS
Middle School Turkey 'N Thanks
This Saturday night is our annual Turkey 'N Thanks and it won't be the same without you!
Join us this Saturday night, November 15 from 6:00 to 7:30 in the Ministry Center Great Room for a wonderful Thanksgiving feast, with all the trimmings! The cost is only $5. It is sure to be an event you won't want to miss out on!See pictures of last year's Turkey 'N Thanks here and here.
Text Message Alerts
Do you have a cell phone? Do you use text messaging? So do we!
If you would like to subscribe to our new Text Message Alerts and receive up to the minute announcements, reminders, cancellation notices, and more, then click on the appropriate link below to be added to our list.
Text messages will be one way messages and will sent from One80@txtsig.us. If you have already signed up at the info table in the youth center please do not use these links.
Sign up now to always be in the know!
Sign up for our High School TXT message alerts!
Sign up for our Middle School TXT message alerts!
Parent Newsletter
Parents have you subscribed to our weekly Parent Newsletter yet? We send it out each Wednesday. Use the form below to subscribe!
| Parent Newsletter |
Subscribe to our weekly Parent Newsletter to receive the most up to date happenings with 180 Student Ministries along with valuable parenting articles, tips and web sites. (Required fields are bold) |
2. SOMETHING FOR YOUR HEART
YOUR REAL FAMILY
When you were a child you didn't say, "Thank you, Mommy" every time your mom did something nice for you. But you smiled at her. You hugged her. You acted in a way that showed your thankfulness.
Back then, your mom was your hero. Both of your parents were. And even though you got really mad at your siblings now and then, you still loved them and wanted to play with them a minute after the argument ended.
But now the awareness you've developed over the past few years has made it a little more difficult to just forgive and forget. You recognize the ways your parents hurt you. You see how they hurt each other. You notice that your dad doesn't come home as much as you think he should. Maybe he even left your mom and married someone else. You've noticed that the grandmother you used to think was the most loving person ever is actually really critical of your mom. You see your family as they really are.
As this awareness grows, you have a choice to make. One option is to distance yourself from your family. They used to be perfect in your eyes. Now they're not. You can decide that, since they're not perfect, they have nothing to offer you and you don't want them in your life anymore. If you think that sounds extreme, you should know that we talk to teenagers every day who have decided to do just that--get away from their families. Sometimes it's a physical move to another home, like the home of their other parent. Sometimes it's an emotional move--they stop talking, stop relating, stop engaging.
Another option--the better option--is to offer grace and gratitude. Your dad might have left your mom. She might still be angry at him. But he didn't leave because of you. Even if he's not a perfect dad, you can still have a relationship with him. You can enjoy and even appreciate what he does offer.
Maybe you've realized your mom is a perfectionist and can be really critical of you. That doesn't mean you can't still have a meaningful relationship with her. Tell her--kindly--when she hurts your feelings. Tell her you need her encouragement and support. Do your part to stay connected and grateful.
Think about the times you've messed up or hurt your parents or a sibling. What you wanted most in those moments was grace. You want to be accepted and loved in spite of your weaknesses. You can do the same for your family.
We know there are plenty of families where it can be hard to find a reason to be grateful for anything. We have a friend named Lindsey whose father has a severe anger problem. Most of the time things are great between the two of them. They have dinners together, go to plays, and have a lot of fun. But every so often something sets off Lindsey's dad and he explodes. He yells at her and says horrible things to her, things that are hard to forgive, much less forget.
Lindsey has several different options with her dad. She can naively ignore this problem--never talk about how it affects her and pretend it doesn't exist. But as you know, Lindsey's feelings will just come out somewhere else.
Lindsey could also walk away from her dad. She could decide that his anger is too much and cut off her relationship with him entirely. But if Lindsey did that she would miss out on the times when her relationship with her dad is really good.
Fortunately, there is another way. Lindsey can face the reality of her relationship with her father. She can start to respond differently. She may never teach him to handle his anger in an appropriate way, but she can make sure he doesn't handle it inappropriately around her. When he starts to yell at her on the phone, Lindsey can say something like, "Dad, I'm not going to talk to you when you're like this. You'll just say things that will make both of us feel worse later. Why don't you call me back when you're not so angry?" Even if he calls back repeatedly, Lindsey doesn't have to answer the phone.
Maybe the parent you have a hard time with lives with you. In that case, counseling can be a great idea. Talk to your school counselor, or ask your parents to take you to a counselor outside of school. If it feels scary to tell your mom or dad that you want counseling because of your relationship with them, the counselor can help you handle that. Just tell your parents you have some things going on in your life that you'd like some help with. A good counselor can take it from there.
If counseling isn't an option, then try talking to your parents. We know this can be really hard. But if you find a time when both of you are feeling calm and unemotional, tell your mom and dad what you're struggling with. Let them know that you're hurt by what they're doing, and ask if you might be contributing to the problem in some way. Stay calm, listen, and be honest about how you feel. This kind of conversation can be a great start in healing a damaged relationship.
We want you to offer grace and truth to the people in your life, but there are some people who are too sick to receive it. And those people are unsafe for you to be around. If you are being abused by a family member, the first thing to do is find a way to keep yourself safe. Start by telling an adult what is happening. Keep telling people like teachers, school counselors, and youth directors until someone helps you. Doing this isn't betraying your family. It isn't ungrateful or disrespectful. It's the best way to stop the abuse. No one needs to stay in a situation where they are being hurt. If it's happening to you, there is help and hope out there. Just keep talking to trusted adults until you discover the one who will help you.
**
Taken from "Growing Up Without Getting Lost" by Melissa Trevathan and Sissy Goff, copyright 2008 Youth Specialties/Zondervan. Used by permission. Order the book here.
3. SURF REPORT
~ National Runaway Switchboard: If you or somebody you know is thinking about leaving home, you need to check out this site.
~ The Ridiculously Thorough Guide to Making Your Own Pizza
4. BIRTHDAYS
We have got one birthday shout out this week and it goes out to Evan Mangelsdorf! May all your dreams come true Evan!
5. FORGETTABLE FACT
All polar bears are left-handed.
6. POTENT QUOTABLES
"A loving heart is the truest wisdom."
~ Charles Dickens
"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."
~ Eleanor Roosevelt
"Let thy words be few."
~ Ecclesiastes 5:2
===========our|sponsor===========
GROWING UP WITHOUT GETTING LOST
There was a time, not so long ago, when everything in life seemed pretty simple. But suddenly, it seems like everything is changing. Melissa and Sissy, the authors of this book, can help you figure out some of the big questions inundating your mind: Who am I? What do I want? What should I do? Who do I want to be?
Learn more about or purchase "Growing Up Without Getting Lost" here.
=================================
7. UH, THAT'S FUNNY?
Q: What do you call a pig that does karate?
A: A pork chop.
November 3, 2008
Contents
1. 180 News
2. Something For Your Heart
3. Birthdays
4. Video of the Week
1. 180 NEWS
HS Paintball
Hey paintballers! We leave this Friday @ 5pm from church. Wednesday we'll have your full packing list and all the rest of the info you'll need to know for a great weekend. See ya then!
Fuel & FCA
High Schoolers...Fuel will go on this week at its regular time at GPCC, but we've got another great option for you. Southridge High School is hosting a Fields of Faith event (www.fieldsoffaith.org) 7-9pm on Wednesday. It's a time for you (not just Southridge students) to join with other Christian teens in our community along with their sports teams for a time of worship, sharing, and getting to meet new people. We encourage you to check out Fields of Faith!
Middle School Turkey 'N Thanks
Hey Middle Schoolers it won't be long before Thanksgiving is here and that means it won't be long before our annual TNT is here!
Join us on Saturday night, November 15 from 6:00 to 7:30 in the Ministry Center Great Room for a wonderful Thanksgiving feast, with all the trimmings! The cost is only $5. It is sure to be an event you won't want to miss out on!
See pictures of last year's Turkey 'N Thanks here and here.
2. SOMETHING FOR YOUR HEART
JESUS FEEDS 5,000: A TOUCH OF HEAVEN
JOHN 6:1-21
1 The following period, Jesus crossed to the dry area diagonally from the Sea of Galilee (a.k.a. Tiberius),
2 where the crowds were furiously thick, tagging behind, fascinated by his miraculous signs which he did on those sickly.
3 So quickly, Jesus went up a mountainside to recline, kickin' back with his closest students for a time of brief interlude.
4 The highest feast of the Jews, Passover, would be coming soon.
5 When Jesus looked up & right in his view he saw the masses coming to see him--they found him--it touched his heart so he wanted to go & feed them. So he turned to Philip and beseeched him, "Where can we buy food, so the people can eat some?"
6 He asked the question to really teach him; he already figured out the procedures.
7 Philip was like, "Jesus, I know your heart is right, but I doubt that one might supply a bite for each one of these Israelites, even w/ 10 billion mites."
8 Then another discip'e, Andrew, Peter's brother, spake up to shed some light:
9 "This kid here has two small fish and five loaves of bread, but with this many heads, how far will that spread?"
10 Then Jesus said, "We'll have the people take a seat." There were 5,000 men alone but plenty of space for each.
11 Then Jesus reached for the bread and gave thanks for the dish and gave it to his crew, who gave to the people & he did the same with the fish.
12 And get this: All the people ate as much as they wished! Then Jesus had his crew gather together the leftovers so that none would be ditched.
13 From five little barley loaves & two tiny fishes, they added up the fragments to 12 baskets of deliciousness.
14 This was a sign. The people insisted when they saw what Jesus just did, "I swear to you that he's a prophet!"
15 They were hype about this topic & Jesus, using spiritual optics, saw that they were locked on making him their king--no stopping. So he departed, back to the mountain alone where he started to roam.
16 Later in the night the disciples went down to the sea,
17 undocked their ship, and got on, heading out toward Capernaum. See...they had waited for Jesus to get back, but they went without him because by now the sky was pitch black.
18 And strong winds began to attack and howl, making the waves wild.
19 When they had rowed the boat between three to four miles, they looked out on the water and was like, "Wow!" They saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking, staying afloat--the sight was so awesome that they were scared speechless, lump in the throat.
20 But then Jesus spoke, "It is I. You don't have to be afraid; you're not about to die." And their fears did subside.
21 Needless to say, they wanted him to come and get inside, and in no time they arrived at their destination on the other side, alive.
DEVOTIONAL
Discovering the other side of Jesus
To embark upon any new adventure, a person would normally leave room to be surprised by new experiences--but the disciples were in no way prepared for the 32-month journey when they ran with Jesus. They knew he was a man because they ate, slept, laughed, and lived with him. Yet Jesus was prone to show them another side to his nature that jacked them up. Jesus simply being himself activated a theological and social tailspin that threw the disciples off their game, constantly causing them to question each other: "What kind of man is this?" Although they never approached Jesus with that type of question, he always told them who he was. Not only did he tell them, but he also backed it up by showing and proving. Miracles were the norm for Jesus because to him heaven was not so far away, and he stayed in touch. Yet he was introducing the disciples to a brand-new world that took some time to get used to...if they ever actually did get used to the surprises of Jesus.
Surprise, surprise!
- What's the biggest surprise from God you've ever experienced?
- Name three subtle surprises we experience every day that are miracles just as big as walking on water.
- Out of all the miracles Jesus did, which one would you most like to have seen?
BREATHE OUT: RAP IT
Freestyle a dramatic account of Jesus walking on the water.
**
Taken from "The Script" by Fred D. Lynch III, copyright 2008 Youth Specialties/Zondervan. Used by permission. Order the book here.
3. BIRTHDAYS
We've got two birthday shout outs this week and they go out to Alex Schoppe and Forrest Anderson! We hope your day is GREAT guys!!
4. VIDEO OF THE WEEK
Your senior pastor like you have never seen him before! This video was shown yesterday morning in honor of his 50th birthday, which is tomorrow by the way!
===========our|sponsor===========
IGNITE YOUR FAITH MAGAZINE
"Ignite Your Faith" tackles real issues and offers honest, biblical answers to life's tough questions. You'll find frank discussions about love, sex and dating, great interviews, profiles on the best in Christian music, and encouragement to live a vibrant Christian faith. Live fully for Christ every single day--get a FREE TRIAL of "Ignite Your Faith" magazine here.
===========our|sponsor===========
THE SCRIPT
A Hip-Hop Devotional through the Book of John
It's the Gospel of John, but it doesn't sound like the version you're used to reading! Fred Lynch, a former rapper who has spent years working in churches with students like you, has taken John to a whole new level. And now, as you listen along to this spoken word translation of the book of John, you'll find yourself hearing God's Word in a way like never before.
Learn more about or purchase "The Script" here.
=================================
1. 180 News
2. Something For Your Heart
3. Birthdays
4. Video of the Week
1. 180 NEWS
HS Paintball
Hey paintballers! We leave this Friday @ 5pm from church. Wednesday we'll have your full packing list and all the rest of the info you'll need to know for a great weekend. See ya then!
Fuel & FCA
High Schoolers...Fuel will go on this week at its regular time at GPCC, but we've got another great option for you. Southridge High School is hosting a Fields of Faith event (www.fieldsoffaith.org) 7-9pm on Wednesday. It's a time for you (not just Southridge students) to join with other Christian teens in our community along with their sports teams for a time of worship, sharing, and getting to meet new people. We encourage you to check out Fields of Faith!
Middle School Turkey 'N Thanks
Hey Middle Schoolers it won't be long before Thanksgiving is here and that means it won't be long before our annual TNT is here!
Join us on Saturday night, November 15 from 6:00 to 7:30 in the Ministry Center Great Room for a wonderful Thanksgiving feast, with all the trimmings! The cost is only $5. It is sure to be an event you won't want to miss out on!See pictures of last year's Turkey 'N Thanks here and here.
2. SOMETHING FOR YOUR HEART
JESUS FEEDS 5,000: A TOUCH OF HEAVEN
JOHN 6:1-21
1 The following period, Jesus crossed to the dry area diagonally from the Sea of Galilee (a.k.a. Tiberius),
2 where the crowds were furiously thick, tagging behind, fascinated by his miraculous signs which he did on those sickly.
3 So quickly, Jesus went up a mountainside to recline, kickin' back with his closest students for a time of brief interlude.
4 The highest feast of the Jews, Passover, would be coming soon.
5 When Jesus looked up & right in his view he saw the masses coming to see him--they found him--it touched his heart so he wanted to go & feed them. So he turned to Philip and beseeched him, "Where can we buy food, so the people can eat some?"
6 He asked the question to really teach him; he already figured out the procedures.
7 Philip was like, "Jesus, I know your heart is right, but I doubt that one might supply a bite for each one of these Israelites, even w/ 10 billion mites."
8 Then another discip'e, Andrew, Peter's brother, spake up to shed some light:
9 "This kid here has two small fish and five loaves of bread, but with this many heads, how far will that spread?"
10 Then Jesus said, "We'll have the people take a seat." There were 5,000 men alone but plenty of space for each.
11 Then Jesus reached for the bread and gave thanks for the dish and gave it to his crew, who gave to the people & he did the same with the fish.
12 And get this: All the people ate as much as they wished! Then Jesus had his crew gather together the leftovers so that none would be ditched.
13 From five little barley loaves & two tiny fishes, they added up the fragments to 12 baskets of deliciousness.
14 This was a sign. The people insisted when they saw what Jesus just did, "I swear to you that he's a prophet!"
15 They were hype about this topic & Jesus, using spiritual optics, saw that they were locked on making him their king--no stopping. So he departed, back to the mountain alone where he started to roam.
16 Later in the night the disciples went down to the sea,
17 undocked their ship, and got on, heading out toward Capernaum. See...they had waited for Jesus to get back, but they went without him because by now the sky was pitch black.
18 And strong winds began to attack and howl, making the waves wild.
19 When they had rowed the boat between three to four miles, they looked out on the water and was like, "Wow!" They saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking, staying afloat--the sight was so awesome that they were scared speechless, lump in the throat.
20 But then Jesus spoke, "It is I. You don't have to be afraid; you're not about to die." And their fears did subside.
21 Needless to say, they wanted him to come and get inside, and in no time they arrived at their destination on the other side, alive.
DEVOTIONAL
Discovering the other side of Jesus
To embark upon any new adventure, a person would normally leave room to be surprised by new experiences--but the disciples were in no way prepared for the 32-month journey when they ran with Jesus. They knew he was a man because they ate, slept, laughed, and lived with him. Yet Jesus was prone to show them another side to his nature that jacked them up. Jesus simply being himself activated a theological and social tailspin that threw the disciples off their game, constantly causing them to question each other: "What kind of man is this?" Although they never approached Jesus with that type of question, he always told them who he was. Not only did he tell them, but he also backed it up by showing and proving. Miracles were the norm for Jesus because to him heaven was not so far away, and he stayed in touch. Yet he was introducing the disciples to a brand-new world that took some time to get used to...if they ever actually did get used to the surprises of Jesus.
Surprise, surprise!
- What's the biggest surprise from God you've ever experienced?
- Name three subtle surprises we experience every day that are miracles just as big as walking on water.
- Out of all the miracles Jesus did, which one would you most like to have seen?
BREATHE OUT: RAP IT
Freestyle a dramatic account of Jesus walking on the water.
**
Taken from "The Script" by Fred D. Lynch III, copyright 2008 Youth Specialties/Zondervan. Used by permission. Order the book here.
3. BIRTHDAYS
We've got two birthday shout outs this week and they go out to Alex Schoppe and Forrest Anderson! We hope your day is GREAT guys!!
4. VIDEO OF THE WEEK
Your senior pastor like you have never seen him before! This video was shown yesterday morning in honor of his 50th birthday, which is tomorrow by the way!
===========our|sponsor===========
IGNITE YOUR FAITH MAGAZINE
"Ignite Your Faith" tackles real issues and offers honest, biblical answers to life's tough questions. You'll find frank discussions about love, sex and dating, great interviews, profiles on the best in Christian music, and encouragement to live a vibrant Christian faith. Live fully for Christ every single day--get a FREE TRIAL of "Ignite Your Faith" magazine here.
===========our|sponsor===========
THE SCRIPT
A Hip-Hop Devotional through the Book of John
It's the Gospel of John, but it doesn't sound like the version you're used to reading! Fred Lynch, a former rapper who has spent years working in churches with students like you, has taken John to a whole new level. And now, as you listen along to this spoken word translation of the book of John, you'll find yourself hearing God's Word in a way like never before.
Learn more about or purchase "The Script" here.
=================================
