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.
=================================
October 27, 2008
1. 180 News
2. Something for Your Heart
3. Forgettable Fact
4. Birthdays
5. Scene Around 180
6. Potent Quotables
7. Uh, That's Funny?
1. 180 NEWS
HS Paintball Retreat
BIG reminder that your registration and fee of $55 for our Paintball Retreat is due this Wednesday night! Hope to see you there!
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
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ARE GHOSTS REAL?
Ghosts are a big part of the increase of supernatural themes in movies, TV, and books. The most common worldview presented in stories about ghosts is that they are the spirits of people who died with unfinished business left on earth.
So, in The Sixth Sense, a little boy sees--and helps--dead people who need to fix something before they can leave to the great beyond. In Ghost, a popular movie from the early '90s, Patrick Swayze sticks around to love and protect Demi Moore after he dies. Nicole Kidman's The Others shows ghosts who don't realize they're the ones doing the haunting.
In the real world, evidence for ghosts is scarce. People who take them seriously talk about psychic energy and show photographs with strange lights or colors. But most of the real research suggests that living people tend to create ghosts, either out of fear, grief, or for profit.
For instance, the strangest ghost stories are rarely told by the people who believe they've experienced an encounter with a ghost--unless those people are getting paid. The tellers are almost always people who heard it secondhand.
In addition, people who claim to hear voices or see dead relatives almost always stop experiencing those things when they take antipsychotic medications. That suggests either that ghosts don't like medication or that people who are having intense emotional and psychological problems are more likely to see things that aren't there.
The Bible leaves little room for the existence of ghosts. It never, ever talks about the spirits of dead humans lingering here. Paul wrote that for Christians, to be away from the body is to be present with God (2 Corinthians 5:8). And the Bible describes very specific judgments for unbelievers--judgments that do not include becoming a haunting spirit on earth (2 Thessalonians 1:9).
WHAT'S UP WITH VAMPIRES AND WEREWOLVES?
Our current ideas about supernatural creatures called vampires and werewolves come primarily from entertainment sources: the original Dracula movies of the 1930s and dozens of sequels and adaptations since then; the books of Anne Rice; and the world created by the popular shows Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel.
According to the myth, a vampire is a demon who inhabits the body of a human. They need to drink blood to stay alive; they're very strong; they can live forever; but they can be killed by sunlight, a stake through the heart, or being exposed to religious symbols like crosses or holy water. [You reading this right now? Be the third person to email newsletter@180students.com to let us know and you will win a handful of candy on Sunday!] Oh, and they can turn other people into vampires if they want.
Werewolves are mythical creatures that appear human during the day, yet turn into ferocious and dangerous wolves when the moon is full. A person bitten by a werewolf will become one, and then he or she can only be killed while a wolf by a silver bullet. (They hate garlic, too.)
It's possible that these monsters of movies, TV, and books got their start in the real world. According to a great book by James Watkins called Death and Beyond (Tyndale, 1993), researchers at the University of British Columbia have studied a rare disease called porphyria. Victims of this illness can't produce heme, the red pigment in the blood's hemoglobin.
They believe some early sufferers tried to alleviate their symptoms by drinking blood. In addition, without that substance in their blood, these people are painfully sensitive to light. Sunlight causes sores that deform their hands; the skin of the face gets thin and tight, causing the teeth to stick out. And the body tries to protect itself with increased (wolf-like?) hair growth.
Finally, people with this disease are also violently allergic to garlic. It's possible that the legends grew out of a real-world illness.
The Bible, of course, teaches that demons are very real and that they can, in fact, possess unbelievers, making them violent and giving them supernatural strength. However, the Bible doesn't ever talk about these people living unnaturally long lives.
**
Taken from "Don't Buy the Lie" by Mark Matlock, copyright 2004 Youth Specialties/Zondervan. Used by permission. Order the book here.
3. FORGETTABLE FACT
C3PO is the first character to speak in Star Wars (Episode IV).
4. BIRTHDAYS
We've got two birthdays this week! We are wishing the BEST of birthdays to Courtney Leonard an Elli Ramirez! Hope your days are GREAT!
5. SCENE AROUND 180
Yesterday Caleb O'Halloran, Haley Calrson, and Zach Munger were all caught having a great time leading our Kid's Church worship.
Thanks guys! You are making a big difference in the world of a bunch of kids!
Want to be a part of the action with our Children's ministry? Contact Pastor Brian. He would love to talk with you!
6. POTENT QUOTABLES
"When creativity and passion come in and clean things out, you are able to care about more than yourself."
~ Zach Hunter
===========our|sponsor===========
DON'T BUY THE LIE
"I'm going to call a psychic." "I want to cast a spell on my boyfriend." "Let's have a seance tonight." Thousands of people make comments like this every day often thinking they're just jokes and not knowing it's all a big trap. TV and movies portray the supernatural as innocent, fun, even cool.
Don't buy the lie. It's not all fun and games.
This book shows you how to think for yourself, and not fall for these lies. You'll learn how to discern what's real and what's not. With this book, you'll be armed and ready to take on the lies that come your way.
Learn more about or purchase "Don't Buy the Lie" here.
=================================
7. UH, THAT'S FUNNY?
Q: How do you fix a Jack-O-Lantern?
A: Use a pumpkin patch.
2. Something for Your Heart
3. Forgettable Fact
4. Birthdays
5. Scene Around 180
6. Potent Quotables
7. Uh, That's Funny?
1. 180 NEWS
HS Paintball Retreat
BIG reminder that your registration and fee of $55 for our Paintball Retreat is due this Wednesday night! Hope to see you there!
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
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ARE GHOSTS REAL?
Ghosts are a big part of the increase of supernatural themes in movies, TV, and books. The most common worldview presented in stories about ghosts is that they are the spirits of people who died with unfinished business left on earth.
So, in The Sixth Sense, a little boy sees--and helps--dead people who need to fix something before they can leave to the great beyond. In Ghost, a popular movie from the early '90s, Patrick Swayze sticks around to love and protect Demi Moore after he dies. Nicole Kidman's The Others shows ghosts who don't realize they're the ones doing the haunting.
In the real world, evidence for ghosts is scarce. People who take them seriously talk about psychic energy and show photographs with strange lights or colors. But most of the real research suggests that living people tend to create ghosts, either out of fear, grief, or for profit.
For instance, the strangest ghost stories are rarely told by the people who believe they've experienced an encounter with a ghost--unless those people are getting paid. The tellers are almost always people who heard it secondhand.
In addition, people who claim to hear voices or see dead relatives almost always stop experiencing those things when they take antipsychotic medications. That suggests either that ghosts don't like medication or that people who are having intense emotional and psychological problems are more likely to see things that aren't there.
The Bible leaves little room for the existence of ghosts. It never, ever talks about the spirits of dead humans lingering here. Paul wrote that for Christians, to be away from the body is to be present with God (2 Corinthians 5:8). And the Bible describes very specific judgments for unbelievers--judgments that do not include becoming a haunting spirit on earth (2 Thessalonians 1:9).
WHAT'S UP WITH VAMPIRES AND WEREWOLVES?
Our current ideas about supernatural creatures called vampires and werewolves come primarily from entertainment sources: the original Dracula movies of the 1930s and dozens of sequels and adaptations since then; the books of Anne Rice; and the world created by the popular shows Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel.
According to the myth, a vampire is a demon who inhabits the body of a human. They need to drink blood to stay alive; they're very strong; they can live forever; but they can be killed by sunlight, a stake through the heart, or being exposed to religious symbols like crosses or holy water. [You reading this right now? Be the third person to email newsletter@180students.com to let us know and you will win a handful of candy on Sunday!] Oh, and they can turn other people into vampires if they want.
Werewolves are mythical creatures that appear human during the day, yet turn into ferocious and dangerous wolves when the moon is full. A person bitten by a werewolf will become one, and then he or she can only be killed while a wolf by a silver bullet. (They hate garlic, too.)
It's possible that these monsters of movies, TV, and books got their start in the real world. According to a great book by James Watkins called Death and Beyond (Tyndale, 1993), researchers at the University of British Columbia have studied a rare disease called porphyria. Victims of this illness can't produce heme, the red pigment in the blood's hemoglobin.
They believe some early sufferers tried to alleviate their symptoms by drinking blood. In addition, without that substance in their blood, these people are painfully sensitive to light. Sunlight causes sores that deform their hands; the skin of the face gets thin and tight, causing the teeth to stick out. And the body tries to protect itself with increased (wolf-like?) hair growth.
Finally, people with this disease are also violently allergic to garlic. It's possible that the legends grew out of a real-world illness.
The Bible, of course, teaches that demons are very real and that they can, in fact, possess unbelievers, making them violent and giving them supernatural strength. However, the Bible doesn't ever talk about these people living unnaturally long lives.
**
Taken from "Don't Buy the Lie" by Mark Matlock, copyright 2004 Youth Specialties/Zondervan. Used by permission. Order the book here.
3. FORGETTABLE FACT
C3PO is the first character to speak in Star Wars (Episode IV).
4. BIRTHDAYS
We've got two birthdays this week! We are wishing the BEST of birthdays to Courtney Leonard an Elli Ramirez! Hope your days are GREAT!
5. SCENE AROUND 180
Yesterday Caleb O'Halloran, Haley Calrson, and Zach Munger were all caught having a great time leading our Kid's Church worship.
Thanks guys! You are making a big difference in the world of a bunch of kids!
Want to be a part of the action with our Children's ministry? Contact Pastor Brian. He would love to talk with you!
6. POTENT QUOTABLES
"When creativity and passion come in and clean things out, you are able to care about more than yourself."
~ Zach Hunter
===========our|sponsor===========
DON'T BUY THE LIE
"I'm going to call a psychic." "I want to cast a spell on my boyfriend." "Let's have a seance tonight." Thousands of people make comments like this every day often thinking they're just jokes and not knowing it's all a big trap. TV and movies portray the supernatural as innocent, fun, even cool.
Don't buy the lie. It's not all fun and games.
This book shows you how to think for yourself, and not fall for these lies. You'll learn how to discern what's real and what's not. With this book, you'll be armed and ready to take on the lies that come your way.
Learn more about or purchase "Don't Buy the Lie" here.
=================================
7. UH, THAT'S FUNNY?
Q: How do you fix a Jack-O-Lantern?
A: Use a pumpkin patch.
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. Uh, That's Funny?
1. 180 NEWS
High School Paintball
High Schoolers, get ready for a weekend of friends, movies, meals, some great times of worship and the Word, and of course some paintballing! Download your flier here.
Revolve Tour
Calling all girls of 180! The Revolve Tour is coming soon: November 21-22. What's the big deal? Check out the video below.
2. SOMETHING FOR YOUR HEART
WISE AND STUBBORN HONOR
It was 7:53 p.m., and we were locked out of the house. But "The A-Team" was going to start in seven minutes!
For my brothers and me, Tuesday night was big church night. I had junior high Bible study, and my brothers had church scouts (or something like that). After church we'd catch a ride home with a family friend and then race into the house to watch our all-time favorite TV show.
For my parents, Tuesday night was free time. I'm not sure what they did while we were gone. But on this particular night, they weren't home when we got there. A note taped to the front door read--
Mark,
We'll be back late. Be sure to feed Jonathan's rabbit while you wait.
Love,
Mom and Dad
I was infuriated! Didn't they know that Mr. T and "The A-Team" were starting soon? How could they leave us out in the cold while they pranced around town like childless married people?
I ripped the note off the door and sat down in the yard. Josh, Jeremy, and Jonathan joined me. All my dad seemed to care about was that we feed Jonathan's rabbit--which Jonathan had done before we left!
I was very upset at my parents. My brothers were mad, too. Josh and Jeremy had homework to do; Jonathan was just mad because we were.
Now it was 8:30 p.m., and "The A-Team", the coolest show on earth, was half over.
I picked up a baseball bat and started whacking a tree. How could my parents be so rude? Josh and Jeremy were looking all around the house for an open door or window. Everything was locked tight.
Finally, at 9:30 p.m., my parents pulled into the drive. Four angry Matlock boys rushed out to jump them. As the four of us expressed our displeasure in no uncertain terms, my dad asked me if I'd fed the rabbit. I told him no, and then I reminded him that Jonathan had fed it before we went to church.
My dad walked us over to the rabbit food. There, taped to the bag, was the key to the house.
"What did you want me to do, Mark?" my father asked in a Mike Brady-like tone. "Did you want me to leave a note that said the key was taped to the rabbit food so anyone who read the note could find it?"
If I'd honored my dad, my evening would have been much happier. Instead, I was a fool worthy of Mr. T's pity. (See, that's a joke for people who've seen "The A-Team". Mr. T was always saying, "I pity the fool!" I'm not really sure why, now that I think about it. I just knew he was cool.)
Instead of honoring my dad by following his instructions, I jumped to the conclusion that he just didn't get it. He didn't understand that the rabbit had already been fed. So I'd decided his instruction was worthless. But if I'd stopped to remember that Dad usually did a good job of providing for us and giving us worthwhile direction, I would have honored him by honoring his note. And that literally would have been the key to my A-Team happiness.
We saw in the last chapter that the fifth of the top Ten Commandments was the "first with a promise." Here it is from Exodus 20:12: "Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you." Since Paul repeats it in Ephesians 6:1-3 and Solomon emphasizes it in Proverbs, we still hold on to the idea that honoring our parents leads to longer, wiser living.
That makes sense, doesn't it? I'm not saying parents are always right. In fact, sometimes they can be selfish, too strict, or too lenient. So what? What other two people in the universe have made it their jobs to love you, take care of you, and invest their lives in you for your own good? That's what parents do.
Since they've been doing it for so long, we sometimes take their investment for granted. It's human nature for us to ignore the things they do right and with good motives 80 percent of the time (or more!) and to be on the lookout for anything they might screw up instead. To continue to honor your mom and dad (even when you don't understand where they're coming from) takes wisdom and a stubborn refusal to give in to the temptation to dishonor them.
**
Taken from "Wisdom On ... Getting Along with Parents" by Mark Matlock, copyright 2008 Youth Specialties/Zondervan. Used by permission. Order the book here.
3. SURF REPORT
~ Last weekend kicked off the PlanetWisdom Tour. Find out how you can be an unlikely hero.
~ 180 Student Ministries Facebook Group
4. BIRTHDAYS
We've got one birthday this week! Josh George we wish you the very best as you celebrate your birthday this week. You are appreciated!
5. VIDEO OF THE WEEK
The video is here! The MS Fall Retreat in all it's glory!
6. FORGETTABLE FACT
Food can only be tasted if it is mixed with saliva.
7. POTENT QUOTABLES
"A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles."
~ Christopher Reeve
"What's another word for thesaurus?"
~ Steven Wright
===========our|sponsor===========
CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS WITH SHANE & SHANE!
Songwriting duo Shane & Shane offer their first ever Christmas project, Glory In The Highest (A Christmas Record), in stores October 14. The album features 8 holiday classics like "O Holy Night," "O Come O Come Emmanuel" & "White Christmas," plus 3 original recordings, all with a jazzy country/gospel flare.
Get a FREE download of "Away In A Manger" by clicking here.
Look for Shane & Shane on tour this Christmas with Bethany Dillon & Phil Wickham!
===========our|sponsor===========
PLANETWISDOM TOUR
Be sure to check out the PlanetWisdom Tour. You can request info, including a free DVD, here.
=================================
8. UH, THAT'S FUNNY?
Q: What do you get when you drop a pumpkin?
A: Squash
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. Uh, That's Funny?
1. 180 NEWS
High School Paintball
High Schoolers, get ready for a weekend of friends, movies, meals, some great times of worship and the Word, and of course some paintballing! Download your flier here.
Revolve Tour
Calling all girls of 180! The Revolve Tour is coming soon: November 21-22. What's the big deal? Check out the video below.
2. SOMETHING FOR YOUR HEART
WISE AND STUBBORN HONOR
It was 7:53 p.m., and we were locked out of the house. But "The A-Team" was going to start in seven minutes!
For my brothers and me, Tuesday night was big church night. I had junior high Bible study, and my brothers had church scouts (or something like that). After church we'd catch a ride home with a family friend and then race into the house to watch our all-time favorite TV show.
For my parents, Tuesday night was free time. I'm not sure what they did while we were gone. But on this particular night, they weren't home when we got there. A note taped to the front door read--
Mark,
We'll be back late. Be sure to feed Jonathan's rabbit while you wait.
Love,
Mom and Dad
I was infuriated! Didn't they know that Mr. T and "The A-Team" were starting soon? How could they leave us out in the cold while they pranced around town like childless married people?
I ripped the note off the door and sat down in the yard. Josh, Jeremy, and Jonathan joined me. All my dad seemed to care about was that we feed Jonathan's rabbit--which Jonathan had done before we left!
I was very upset at my parents. My brothers were mad, too. Josh and Jeremy had homework to do; Jonathan was just mad because we were.
Now it was 8:30 p.m., and "The A-Team", the coolest show on earth, was half over.
I picked up a baseball bat and started whacking a tree. How could my parents be so rude? Josh and Jeremy were looking all around the house for an open door or window. Everything was locked tight.
Finally, at 9:30 p.m., my parents pulled into the drive. Four angry Matlock boys rushed out to jump them. As the four of us expressed our displeasure in no uncertain terms, my dad asked me if I'd fed the rabbit. I told him no, and then I reminded him that Jonathan had fed it before we went to church.
My dad walked us over to the rabbit food. There, taped to the bag, was the key to the house.
"What did you want me to do, Mark?" my father asked in a Mike Brady-like tone. "Did you want me to leave a note that said the key was taped to the rabbit food so anyone who read the note could find it?"
If I'd honored my dad, my evening would have been much happier. Instead, I was a fool worthy of Mr. T's pity. (See, that's a joke for people who've seen "The A-Team". Mr. T was always saying, "I pity the fool!" I'm not really sure why, now that I think about it. I just knew he was cool.)
Instead of honoring my dad by following his instructions, I jumped to the conclusion that he just didn't get it. He didn't understand that the rabbit had already been fed. So I'd decided his instruction was worthless. But if I'd stopped to remember that Dad usually did a good job of providing for us and giving us worthwhile direction, I would have honored him by honoring his note. And that literally would have been the key to my A-Team happiness.
We saw in the last chapter that the fifth of the top Ten Commandments was the "first with a promise." Here it is from Exodus 20:12: "Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you." Since Paul repeats it in Ephesians 6:1-3 and Solomon emphasizes it in Proverbs, we still hold on to the idea that honoring our parents leads to longer, wiser living.
That makes sense, doesn't it? I'm not saying parents are always right. In fact, sometimes they can be selfish, too strict, or too lenient. So what? What other two people in the universe have made it their jobs to love you, take care of you, and invest their lives in you for your own good? That's what parents do.
Since they've been doing it for so long, we sometimes take their investment for granted. It's human nature for us to ignore the things they do right and with good motives 80 percent of the time (or more!) and to be on the lookout for anything they might screw up instead. To continue to honor your mom and dad (even when you don't understand where they're coming from) takes wisdom and a stubborn refusal to give in to the temptation to dishonor them.
**
Taken from "Wisdom On ... Getting Along with Parents" by Mark Matlock, copyright 2008 Youth Specialties/Zondervan. Used by permission. Order the book here.
3. SURF REPORT
~ Last weekend kicked off the PlanetWisdom Tour. Find out how you can be an unlikely hero.
~ 180 Student Ministries Facebook Group
4. BIRTHDAYS
We've got one birthday this week! Josh George we wish you the very best as you celebrate your birthday this week. You are appreciated!
5. VIDEO OF THE WEEK
The video is here! The MS Fall Retreat in all it's glory!
6. FORGETTABLE FACT
Food can only be tasted if it is mixed with saliva.
7. POTENT QUOTABLES
"A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles."
~ Christopher Reeve
"What's another word for thesaurus?"
~ Steven Wright
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CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS WITH SHANE & SHANE!
Songwriting duo Shane & Shane offer their first ever Christmas project, Glory In The Highest (A Christmas Record), in stores October 14. The album features 8 holiday classics like "O Holy Night," "O Come O Come Emmanuel" & "White Christmas," plus 3 original recordings, all with a jazzy country/gospel flare.
Get a FREE download of "Away In A Manger" by clicking here.
Look for Shane & Shane on tour this Christmas with Bethany Dillon & Phil Wickham!
===========our|sponsor===========
PLANETWISDOM TOUR
Be sure to check out the PlanetWisdom Tour. You can request info, including a free DVD, here.
=================================
8. UH, THAT'S FUNNY?
Q: What do you get when you drop a pumpkin?
A: Squash
October 6, 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
High School Paintball
High Schoolers, get ready for a weekend of friends, movies, meals, some great times of worship and the Word, and of course some paintballing! Download your flier here.
Revolve Tour
Hey gals of 180! The Revolve Tour is coming soon: November 21-22. What's the big deal? Check out the video below.
MS Fall Retreat
We had a great weekend at Camp Tadmor! Great times of worship, and teaching. Great times of fishing. Great times on the Giant Swing. Great times in the Game Room. Great night games! GREAT TIMES!
See all the fun pictures here. Watch for the video to appear soon!
Nacho Cheese!
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
High School Paintball
High Schoolers, get ready for a weekend of friends, movies, meals, some great times of worship and the Word, and of course some paintballing! Download your flier here.
Revolve Tour
Hey gals of 180! The Revolve Tour is coming soon: November 21-22. What's the big deal? Check out the video below.
MS Fall Retreat
We had a great weekend at Camp Tadmor! Great times of worship, and teaching. Great times of fishing. Great times on the Giant Swing. Great times in the Game Room. Great night games! GREAT TIMES!
See all the fun pictures here. Watch for the video to appear soon!2. SOMETHING FOR YOUR HEART
COULD'VE...WOULD'VE...SHOULD'VE
Guided Meditation
You have so many thoughts and feelings rushing through your mind all at once. On one hand, you can't wait to experience what's ahead of you today. What are you about to do? It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, isn't it? You've been looking forward to this your entire life, and you can't believe you've been given this opportunity--it's almost surreal. On the other hand, you're scared to death because you've never attempted anything like this before.
The minutes click by and you're closer and closer to actually going through with it. You sense a huge knot growing in your stomach. The fear is beginning to overwhelm you. Maybe you should back out. There's sure to be another opportunity somewhere down the road, right?
But then you consider what all of your friends will think if you back out. Many of them have encouraged you to give this a shot, and you know you'll be disappointed if you choose not to go through with it. But who's making this decision, anyway? You are so conflicted you begin to feel sick. What decision are you going to make?
Finally the moment of truth arrives. Your heart is racing. Your hands are shaking. It feels like everyone is looking at you, waiting to see what you're going to do. So what will it be? Are you going to step up and do it? Or are you going to back away and wait for another opportunity?
Scripture Guides Us
It seems as though fear keeps a lot of people from doing the things they genuinely want to do. What role does fear play in your life? Has there ever been a time when you backed out of something that you wanted to do and then you haven't yet received another chance to do it? What does the Bible say about fear and how it should affect our lives?
Take a few minutes to "chew on" the following Scripture verses, allowing God's Spirit to speak to you.
1 JOHN 4:18
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
LUKE 12:4-5
I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.
PSALM 23:4
Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
Questions for Reflection
1. Think of a time in your life when you were afraid to do something, but you went ahead and did it anyway. What happened? How did you feel afterward?
2. Think of a time in your life when fear kept you from doing something. What happened? How did you feel afterward?
3. Have you ever had to live with the regret of not doing something you wished you had done? How did that make you feel? What would you do differently if you had it to do all over again?
4. Name the things you're most afraid of. Why do you think you're so afraid of these things? What may help you work through your fears?
5. What do you think the Bible means when it says, "Perfect love drives out fear"? What is perfect love? Why do you think it has this effect on fear?
6. What did Jesus have to say about fear in Luke 12:4-5? How do these verses make you feel?
7. David seems to be walking through some incredibly fear-filled times in Psalm 23. What does he do to help manage his fear? How could this same technique help you?
**
Taken from "Chew on This!" by Dave Ambrose, copyright 2007 Youth Specialties/Zondervan. Used by permission. Order the book here.
3. SURF REPORT
~ Check out the latest adventures of Bethany Hamilton, teen surfer and shark attack survivor.
~ Dr. Dare's recipe for a Sixty-Legged Worm. Yep--60 legs!
4. BIRTHDAYS
We've got four this week!! BIG 180 wishes go out to Jason Pittelko, Jared Bass, Jamie George, and Bria Perez! We wish you all the VERY BEST!5. FORGETTABLE FACT
Karaoke means "empty orchestra" in Japanese.
6. POTENT QUOTABLES
"If you can't feed 100 people then feed just one."
~ Mother Theresa
"AHHH. Donuts...What can't they do?"
~ Homer Simpson
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"CHEW ON THIS!"
You have to chew to get to the good stuff!
Meditation essentially means to chew on something over and over again. This month long devotional provides you with the stuff to chew on that will take you deeper--to the really good stuff.
Learn more about or purchase "Chew On This!" here.
=================================
5. UH, THAT'S FUNNY?
What kind of cheese doesn't belong to you?Nacho Cheese!
September 29, 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
MS Fall Retreat
Hey Middle Schoolers...this is the week you've been waiting for! We are excited about all that God has in store for us this weekend at Camp Tadmor!
If you are registered to go here are just a few quick reminders for you.
• We leave the church at 4:30 on Friday and return at 4:00 on Sunday.
• Bring with you everything you need for an overnight stay (sleeping bag, pillow, and all personal items)
• Bring your Bible
• Please leave at home all electronic devices (cell phones, iPods, video games, etc.). If you forget and bring them, we will hold them for you over the weekend.
Gonna be a GREAT time!
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!
2. SOMETHING FOR YOUR HEART
A CHANGING RELATIONSHIP: PARENTS BECOMING "COACHES"
Did you play T-ball when you were a little kid? If so, you remember the coach first told you how to hit a T-ball--then showed you how to hit a T-ball. And finally the coach gave you a chance to try it yourself. (Did you ever swing the bat, hit only air, and fall down? Yeah, me, too.)
In baseball a coach starts by putting a ball on a tee, then throws some pitches to a player, and eventually shows the player how to pitch to a batter. Ultimately, a coach can't play baseball for you, but a coach can help you learn how to play. Well, in the game known as "your life," your parents are basically trying to use that same teaching process with you. And when it works the way it's supposed to, the role of a parent is a pretty cool thing. Really!
When you're born, you need someone to do everything for you, right? Parents feed you, burp you, and change your smelly diapers. But the goal of a parent is never to keep doing all that stuff for you. (Good thing, cuz it'd be pretty awkward to have your mom or dad grabbing the TP for you, now wouldn't it?)
The role of a parent is supposed to change over time. Somebody smart once said that parenting is the only relationship in which the ultimate goal is separation. That's because parents are supposed to train their children so one day they can move out and live on their own. And it's not unusual for teenagers to start feeling a desire to pull away from their parents during the middle school years.
Even though parents can sometimes be annoying and embarrassing, remember that they were also in middle school once. It can actually be very valuable to lean into the coaching they give you. Even professional athletes who play at the highest possible level have coaches to help them continue to play better. Their coaches almost always used to play the sport and still recognize how to do it well. Some athletes pay attention to their coaches and improve. Others are puffed up and overconfident and often lose out because they think they're too good for coaching.
As your parents move into this new coaching role with you, here are a couple of tips for you:
1. BE COACHABLE.
Allow your parents to give you advice, partially cuz it can help you deal with the stuff you won't expect.
2. ASK YOUR COACHES GOOD QUESTIONS.
"Why should I do it that way?" "What can I learn from this?" "How did you mess up when you were my age?"
Pay attention to your parent-coaches--because surviving middle school is way more important than learning how to play T-ball.
**
Taken from "My Future" by Mark Oestreicher and Scott Rubin, copyright 2008 Youth Specialties/Zondervan. Used by permission. Order the book here.
3. SURF REPORT
~ Girls for a Change: Take action and help change the world
~ Teen Ink Magazine: Written by teens
4. BIRTHDAYS
We're sending out three birthday shout outs this week! HAPPY BIRTHDAY wishes go to Janna Ranney, Nathan Potter, and Luke Vincent! We wish you all the BEST!
5. FORGETTABLE FACT
Napoleon constructed his battle plans in a sandbox.
6. POTENT QUOTABLES
"When it comes to the future, there are three kinds of people: those who let it happen, those who make it happen, and those who wonder what happened."
~ John M. Richardson, Jr.
"My interest is in the future because I am going to spend the rest of my life there."
~ Charles F. Kettering
===========our|sponsor===========
DISCOVER WHAT COMES NEXT AND HOW TO SURVIVE IT ALL
Do you wonder (or worry) about high school, college, and life beyond? "My Future" is a survival guide to your future, filled with insider tips to help you make smart decisions and face whatever comes next.
Find out more about "My Future" here.
=================================
7. UH, THAT'S FUNNY?
Q: How do you stop a charging rhinoceros?
A: Take away his credit card.
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
MS Fall Retreat
Hey Middle Schoolers...this is the week you've been waiting for! We are excited about all that God has in store for us this weekend at Camp Tadmor!
If you are registered to go here are just a few quick reminders for you.
• We leave the church at 4:30 on Friday and return at 4:00 on Sunday.
• Bring with you everything you need for an overnight stay (sleeping bag, pillow, and all personal items)
• Bring your Bible
• Please leave at home all electronic devices (cell phones, iPods, video games, etc.). If you forget and bring them, we will hold them for you over the weekend.
Gonna be a GREAT time!
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!
2. SOMETHING FOR YOUR HEART
A CHANGING RELATIONSHIP: PARENTS BECOMING "COACHES"
Did you play T-ball when you were a little kid? If so, you remember the coach first told you how to hit a T-ball--then showed you how to hit a T-ball. And finally the coach gave you a chance to try it yourself. (Did you ever swing the bat, hit only air, and fall down? Yeah, me, too.)
In baseball a coach starts by putting a ball on a tee, then throws some pitches to a player, and eventually shows the player how to pitch to a batter. Ultimately, a coach can't play baseball for you, but a coach can help you learn how to play. Well, in the game known as "your life," your parents are basically trying to use that same teaching process with you. And when it works the way it's supposed to, the role of a parent is a pretty cool thing. Really!
When you're born, you need someone to do everything for you, right? Parents feed you, burp you, and change your smelly diapers. But the goal of a parent is never to keep doing all that stuff for you. (Good thing, cuz it'd be pretty awkward to have your mom or dad grabbing the TP for you, now wouldn't it?)
The role of a parent is supposed to change over time. Somebody smart once said that parenting is the only relationship in which the ultimate goal is separation. That's because parents are supposed to train their children so one day they can move out and live on their own. And it's not unusual for teenagers to start feeling a desire to pull away from their parents during the middle school years.
Even though parents can sometimes be annoying and embarrassing, remember that they were also in middle school once. It can actually be very valuable to lean into the coaching they give you. Even professional athletes who play at the highest possible level have coaches to help them continue to play better. Their coaches almost always used to play the sport and still recognize how to do it well. Some athletes pay attention to their coaches and improve. Others are puffed up and overconfident and often lose out because they think they're too good for coaching.
As your parents move into this new coaching role with you, here are a couple of tips for you:
1. BE COACHABLE.
Allow your parents to give you advice, partially cuz it can help you deal with the stuff you won't expect.
2. ASK YOUR COACHES GOOD QUESTIONS.
"Why should I do it that way?" "What can I learn from this?" "How did you mess up when you were my age?"
Pay attention to your parent-coaches--because surviving middle school is way more important than learning how to play T-ball.
**
Taken from "My Future" by Mark Oestreicher and Scott Rubin, copyright 2008 Youth Specialties/Zondervan. Used by permission. Order the book here.
3. SURF REPORT
~ Girls for a Change: Take action and help change the world
~ Teen Ink Magazine: Written by teens
4. BIRTHDAYS
We're sending out three birthday shout outs this week! HAPPY BIRTHDAY wishes go to Janna Ranney, Nathan Potter, and Luke Vincent! We wish you all the BEST!
5. FORGETTABLE FACT
Napoleon constructed his battle plans in a sandbox.
6. POTENT QUOTABLES
"When it comes to the future, there are three kinds of people: those who let it happen, those who make it happen, and those who wonder what happened."
~ John M. Richardson, Jr.
"My interest is in the future because I am going to spend the rest of my life there."
~ Charles F. Kettering
===========our|sponsor===========
DISCOVER WHAT COMES NEXT AND HOW TO SURVIVE IT ALL
Do you wonder (or worry) about high school, college, and life beyond? "My Future" is a survival guide to your future, filled with insider tips to help you make smart decisions and face whatever comes next.
Find out more about "My Future" here.
=================================
7. UH, THAT'S FUNNY?
Q: How do you stop a charging rhinoceros?
A: Take away his credit card.
