Student Newsletter 02/03/10

Contents

       1.  Something for Your Heart
       2.  Surf Report
       3.  Forgettable Fact
       4.  Potent Quotables
       5.  Uh, That's Funny?
=================================

1. SOMETHING FOR YOUR HEART
A Daily Devotional from PlanetWisdom.com, copyright 2010 Youth Specialties. Used by permission.

 "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." (Ephesians 3:20-21)

 We've spent this last week listening in on Paul's prayer for the Ephesian Christians, a huge prayer for huge power so they could understand and live in the reality of a huge idea -- that the God of the universe loves them and will never, ever stop.

To understand that truth about God's commitment to us in Jesus changes a person. In fact, it changes everything. Ultimately, if the all-powerful God is for you -- and will be always -- how could you future be any better?

In these final verses, Paul responds in the only way that makes sense: worship. "To him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!"

Amen.

Think: Are you convinced that God is all-powerful and that He loves you unconditionally in Jesus -- and that He will love you forever? If so, how does believing that change the way you live? How does it motivate you to respond to God in worship?

Pray: Say to God, "To you be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!"

Do: Make a point this next week to remember God's love for you in Christ and to worship Him for it.

2. SURF REPORT
Pastor Chris Seay at the Lost Premier in Hawaii
http://youthspecialties.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=af5742699a583e671b94078e9&id=71bddadfcb&e=adee7b0436
Movie Review of Extraordinary Measures
http://youthspecialties.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=af5742699a583e671b94078e9&id=807b22d704&e=adee7b0436

3. FORGETTABLE FACT
Even Antarctica has an area code. It s 672.

4. POTENT QUOTABLES
Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple.~ Dr. Suess

Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome.~ Booker T. Washington

5. UH, THAT'S FUNNY?Q. What do you call a song sung in an automobile?
A. A cartoon.

Student Newsletter 1/11/10

Contents

       1.  Something for Your Heart
       2.  Surf Report
       3.  Forgettable Fact
       4.  Potent Quotables
       5.  Uh, That's Funny?
=================================

1. SOMETHING FOR YOUR HEART

"To which of the angels did God ever say, 'Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet'? Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?" (Hebrews 1:13-14)

Angels serve humans? What a wild idea that those awesome, powerful, fiery creatures of the wind who worship Jesus and obey His commands would be sent to serve the humans who will "inherit salvation."
That tells us something about the purpose of angels, but it also tells us something about Jesus and the humans who are trusting in Him for their salvation.
First, we see again -- once more -- that Jesus is above the angels. He sits in the seat of power and victory at God's right hand. But what does He do with that commanding position? How does He put His angel army to use?
He sends them to minister to the people He loves, the people He died for -- including those being persecuted for their faith in Him. He spends His power, in part, to serve His people.
Think: Have you expanded your picture of powerful King Jesus as God this week? Has that changed in any way how you feel about Him, how you might choose to worship Him?
Pray: Praise Jesus that He sits in the victory seat at the right hand of God.
Do: Today's passage quotes from Psalm 110. Check it out to see the picture it paints of conquering King Jesus.
A Daily Devotional from PlanetWisdom.com, copyright 2009 Youth Specialties. Used by permission.

2. SURF REPORT
Movie review of The Princess and the Frog
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/movies/reviews/2009/princessandfrog.html

Movie review of Leap Year
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/movies/reviews/2010/leapyear.html

3. FORGETTABLE FACT
Hummingbirds can't walk.

4. POTENT QUOTABLES
He who laughs last didn't get it.
~ Helen Giangregorio

Love is like pi: natural, irrational, and very important.
~ Lisa Hoffman

5. UH, THAT'S FUNNY?
Q: What do you call a sheep with no legs?
A: A cloud.

Special Announcement:
Please join us Tuesday, January 12th at 11:00 AM Pacific for a live video interview with Kara Powell, author of Essential Leadership. Go to http://fulleryouthinstitute.org/blog/ to watch the video.

Student Newsletter 1/04/10

Contents

       1.  Something for Your Heart
       2.  Surf Report
       3.  Forgettable Fact
       4.  Potent Quotables
       5.  Uh, That's Funny?
=================================

1. SOMETHING FOR YOUR HEART

"In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe." (Hebrews 1:1-2)

Jesus Above All: His Universe
Christmas can sometimes leave us with a limited impression of Jesus. Yes, He's the "reason for the season," but who plays Him in the Christmas pageant? Usually a doll or some nervous mom's tiny baby. And, yes, we say over and over that He grew up and that He came to die for our sins -- but that's still only part of His story.
So we're going to listen in this week as the writer of Hebrews reminds us again that Jesus is far above everything and everyone. And He always has been. And He always will be. All of life is His story, not just Christmas and Easter.
For starters, today's passage tells us that Jesus' name is on everything -- twice. First, He is the "heir," or the one who gets everything in the end. (That includes you and me and everything we can think of.) But He is also the one through whom everything was made in the first place. Turn us over, and you'll see, "Made through Jesus."
It literally is His universe.
Think: Could any person or being be more important than the one through whom everything was made and who will inherit everything in the end? Does thinking about Jesus' power make you feel smaller?
Pray: Praise Jesus as the heir of all things and the one through whom the universe was made.
Do: Read more about Jesus' above-allness in Colossians 1:15-19.
A Daily Devotional from PlanetWisdom.com, copyright 2009 Youth Specialties. Used by permission.

2. SURF REPORT
Movie Review of The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/movies/reviews/2009/imaginariumofdoctorparnassus.html

Movie Review of Invictus
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/movies/reviews/2009/invictus.html

3. FORGETTABLE FACT
People who are lying to you tend to look up and to the left (their left).

4. POTENT QUOTABLES
History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, but if faced with courage, need not be lived again.
~ Maya Angelou

Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome.
~ Booker T. Washington

5. UH, THAT'S FUNNY?
Q: Why did the cookie go to the doctor?
A: Because it was feeling crummy.

Contents

       1.  Something for Your Heart
       2.  Surf Report
       3.  Forgettable Fact
       4.  Potent Quotables
       5.  Uh, That's Funny?
=================================

1. SOMETHING FOR YOUR HEART

When Plans Change: Start Where You Are

"But Jesus said, 'You feed them.' 'With what?' they asked. 'We’d have to work for months to earn enough money to buy food for all these people!' 'How much bread do you have?' he asked. 'Go and find out.' They came back and reported, 'We have five loaves of bread and two fish.' " (Mark 6:37-38)

Problem: Lots of people; no food. Solution: Send the people off to buy food before it gets too late. At least, that was the perfectly reasonable plan the disciples came up with. Then in today's verses, Jesus said, "No, I want you to serve them by doing the impossible."

The disciples were tired, hungry, and under-funded. They got stuck on the impossible part: "We don't have the resources." Jesus rejected that answer just as quickly as He rejected their plan: "Count what you do have."

Maybe you've had a similar experience. God has nixed your Plan A (and your Plan B) -- either through your circumstances or your parents or the weather -- but He still expects you to follow His plan. And it feels impossible. And you clearly don't have the resources.

You have a choice: Give up or expect God to use what you've got to do the impossible.

Think: How often do you feel like it would be impossible to do what God wants you to do? Do you tend to give up or jump in even though you don't have a good plan to make it work? How does that usually turn out?

Pray: Ask God to help you to trust Him to provide everything you need to do what He wants you to do -- even when you can't see, yet, how it will all work out.

Do: Ask your parents or youth leader or some other, older Christian if they've ever seen God provide a solution in an impossible situation.

**

A Daily Devotional from PlanetWisdom.com, copyright 2009 Youth Specialties/Zondervan. Used by permission.

2. SURF REPORT

-The Twilight Saga: New Moon Review
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/movies/reviews/2009/newmoon.html

-Planet 51 Review
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/movies/reviews/2009/planet51.html

3. FORGETTABLE FACT

There are 10 human body parts that are only three letters long.  (leg arm hip eye ear toe jaw rib gum lip) 

4. POTENT QUOTABLES

Praise God even when you don't understand what He is doing. - Henry Jacobson

If you want to change your life, try thankfulness.  It will change your life mightily. - Gerald Good

5. UH, THAT'S FUNNY?

Q: What is a vampire's favorite fruit?
A: Neck-tarines

Student e- letter 11/16

    1.  Something for Your Heart
       2.  Surf Report
       3.  Forgettable Fact
       4.  Potent Quotables
       5.  Uh, That's Funny?
=================================

1. SOMETHING FOR YOUR HEART

Praise Week: He Loves Us?

"Praise be to God, who has not rejected a my prayer or withheld his love from me!" (Psalm 66:20)

What exactly does God owe us? Maybe it's too easy to say He doesn't owe us anything. He did create us, after all. And He is just to His creatures, giving good gifts to all.

But He does not owe us love. We do not have the right by default to have the God of the universe love us and hear out prayers.

David ends his praise psalm -- and our praise week -- amazed that God, the God of all, has not rejected his request. In fact, God has proven His love for one among the billions in time and space again and again.

Does God love you? Does He hear your prayers and answer them? Then let's praise Him today.

Think: Why do you think it's so easy for us to get bored with the idea that God loves us and listens to us? How much does that matter to you?

Pray: Praise God for loving you and responding to your prayers because you come to Him in the name of Jesus.

Do: Look forward to your next opportunity to praise God.

**

A Daily Devotional from PlanetWisdom.com, copyright 2009 Youth Specialties/Zondervan. Used by permission.

2. SURF REPORT

-Hello Hurricane Switchfoot Review (DAVE LOVES THIS CD!!)
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/music/reviews/2009/hellohurricane.html

-Sleep May Limit Teens' Depression
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2009/11/13/MN1E1AFT5P.DTL

3. FORGETTABLE FACT

In the average lifetime, a person will walk the equivalent of 5 times around the equator.

4. POTENT QUOTABLES

Let Let us remember that, as much has been given us, much will be expected from us, and that true homage comes from the heart as well as from the lips, and shows itself in deeds.  - Theodore Roosevelt

Thanksgiving, after all, is a word of action.  - W.J. Cameron

5. UH, THAT'S FUNNY?

Q: What kind of key do you need to get into the jungle?
A: A Mon-key

STUDENT LEAD TEAM

The Student Lead Team meets this Sunday, November 15, following the 10:30 service.  Lunch is being served and we'll be done by 1 PM.

If you are a student interested in serving as a student leader be sure to talk with Dave!

Student e-letter 11/09

Contents
Something for Your Heart
Surf Report
Forgettable Fact
Potent Quotables
Uh, That's Funny?
=================================

1. SOMETHING FOR YOUR HEART
Live Different: Use God's Power

"Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen." (1 Peter 4:10-11)

It's easy for us to walk around with the wrong idea of what Christianity is all about. We can get sidetracked into thinking Christianity is intended to make us better versions of ourselves -- as if Jesus came and lived and died and lived again just to make me a little nicer and better at helping people.

That idea is wrong in two huge ways.

First, Christianity isn't about us, at all. It's about God. It's about Him being praised through Jesus Christ and getting all the "glory and power for ever and ever."

Second, Christianity isn't about making us better. We're not close enough to being good that getting better would help all that much. Nope, God wants us to do His work with His power, with His words, in His strength. God wants to be God through us -- not for us to be good enough on our own to accomplish His mission.

Think: What are some ways God has asked you to serve Him with His gifts and His power? Would you say you're using His power to serve other people? What does that look like?

Pray: Ask God to help you to use the gifts He has given you to serve others with His words and His strength.

Do: Talk to your parents or youth leader or mentor about what your spiritual gifts might be and how you could use them best to serve God by serving others.
**

A Daily Devotional from PlanetWisdom.com, copyright 2009 Youth Specialties/Zondervan. Used by permission.

2. SURF REPORT
-Favorites at Play Joy Electric Review
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/music/reviews/2009/favoritesatplay-mini.html

-Everything is Different Shane and Shane Review
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/music/reviews/2009/everythingisdifferent-mini.html

3. FORGETTABLE FACT
In Tibet it is considered good manners to stick out your tongue at someone.

4. POTENT QUOTABLES
Even if you are on the right track, you will get run over if you just sit there. - Will Rogers

Four steps to achievement: Plan purposefully. Prepare prayerfully. Proceed positively. Pursue persistently. - William A. Ward

5. UH, THAT'S FUNNY?
Q: What do you get when you cross a cocker spaniel, a poodle and a ghost?
A: Cockapoodleboo!