Hello Teens,

Below you'll find the latest Youth Devotion from Josh McDowell at www.josh.org.  Leave a comment and give us your thoughts!

Blessings,

Ms. Cindy and Ms. Lori

You can get a lot of things instantly these days: instant coffee, instant breakfast bars, instant oatmeal, even “instant winner” lottery tickets. But there are still things that take time. You can’t get a high school diploma overnight. You can’t grow a sunflower in thirty minutes or less. You can’t lose weight instantly (no matter what the infomercials say!). You can’t have a baby in a few minutes (it usually takes about nine months). You can’t even make instant Jell-O instantly; you have to put it in the refrigerator and let it “gel.”

The problem is, all those things we can get instantly make it harder for us to wait for other things. We’re so used to “fast food” that we can’t stand to wait more than a few minutes for dinner in a restaurant (and if we do, we complain about the service!). We’re so used to “quick fixes” that we moan and groan when we unwrap a Christmas present that says, “Some Assembly Required.” We’re so used to getting things we want now, we have trouble saving or planning or waiting for the things we want.

And the devil, our enemy, knows how to use our desire for “instant winners” and fast rewards to hurt us and get us to make wrong choices. He knows that most of us are used to getting what we want when we want it. So he tempts us to do wrong by promising that the wrong choice will bring instant gratification.
“I know you don’t have enough money to see a movie,” he’ll say, “but all your friends are seeing that new movie today. Just take the money from your mom’s purse; she’ll never miss it.”

Or, “If your parents see your report card, you’ll be grounded; but if you lie, and tell them you left it in your locker, you can go skiing this weekend!”

Or, “Go ahead, make fun of your friend; everybody at your lunch table will laugh and think you’re cool now. You can always apologize later.”

One of the keys to making right choices is learning that many wrong choices are based on a desire to get what we want now. . . and learning to say no to the sometimes instant rewards of wrong choices in favor of the greater and more enduring rewards of right choices.

In other words, many temptations to do wrong are like a choice between eating a slice of devil’s food cake now, or owning your own bakery later. Or, to put it another way, the devil tempts you with a chance to obtain your favorite CD now so he can cheat you out of owning your own record store later. If you can say no now,you can enjoy much greater rewards later. It’s often as simple as now or later.

Review: In today’s Bible reading, the writer is talking to Christians who chose to follow God (even though it meant suffering now) because they knew their right choices would be rewarded later.

Reflect: Think over recent choices you’ve made; did a desire for “instant” gratification cause you to make the wrong choice in any of those instances? If so, how can you make the right choice the next time?

Reinforce: Buy a pack of the candy called “Now & Later.” As you eat the candy, remember the great reward that obeying God’s commands brings (if you can’t find “Now & Laters,” buy your favorite candy. . . but don’t eat it until later!).

Remember: “Continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised” (Hebrews 10:36b, NLT).

Hello Teens!

Our next adventure will be at the Carolina Ice Palace on Friday, November 2nd from 3pm until 5:30pm.  The cost is $6.00 per person and includes ice skates.  Bring some extra $$ for food/drinks and the arcade, warm gloves, jacket, and if this is your first time...a pillow for the more "sensitive" areas of your body and a helmet to protect your brain! 

Give us a shout (leave a comment below) and let us know if you can make it!

Blessings,

Ms. Cindy and Ms. Lori

P.S.  Check out the new video added on the right side of the page.  It's by Hillsong United...one of our faves...BREAK FREE! (You may want to pause the Standalone Player first...)

Hello Teens!

Every year we're faced with the dilemma with how to approach (or even think about) the subject of Halloween.  Below you'll find the latest devotion from Dare2Share Ministries that addresses this very issue. We'd love to hear your thoughts!

Ms. Cindy and Ms. Lori

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How to Celebrate Halloween

Written by: Lane Palmer
Position: Youth Ministry Specialist
Posted: 10-22-2007
Answers the question: Why did Jesus die on the cross?

It seems that soon after back to school happens, back to ghoul appears on the scene soon after.

Say what? Well, flip on your TV - and most nights you'll be able to tune in to shows that deal with the 'other side' of things. Whether you're pushing up daisies, looking at the Supernatural, or following the Reaper...there's no lack of choices when it comes to things ghostly, ghastly, and grisly.

(Quick note on 'Reaper'...the basic plot is that the main character Sam is in eternal servitude to the devil because his parents promised the soul of their firstborn to Satan in exchange for the Dad's life. Maybe the next time you feel frustrated or angry at your parents, be thankful they didn't sell your soul to Beelzebub. Sort of puts the whole 'grounding' thing in perspective, right?)

Then there's the big event at the end of October where candy makers and costume companies are making bank hand over fist, while trick or treaters and Halloween gatherings are found on every street in America (well, probably not in Amish country - but I'm getting the cart before the horse).

So what's with all the attraction to the 'dark side'? It seems more and more that our culture is mesmerized by the seamy side of the spiritual world. Good entertainment? For many, yes. Dangerous? Potentially...because there's no getting around the fact that there is a spiritual world which overlays ours, and there are things that do much more than go 'bump' in the night. In fact, there are battles raging within a few feet of you that would make the telekinetic entertainment shows look more like Teletubbies.

So what would make supernatural themed shows and celebrations dangerous? Well, aside from the clearly obvious things like participating in séances or replacing Mario Party with a Ouija board, there is another issue to consider for those who belong to Christ. This issue is simply one of perception. There are many believers who give way too much credit to the power of the dark side, and when they do, they usually find themselves under its influence.

And that is dangerous.

The key here is to keep in mind an often overlooked but absolutely critical passage of Scripture that gives us the 'lenses' to see the spiritual world in 20/20 focus and respond accordingly. See if you agree:

God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross. (Colossians 2:13b-15 emphasis mine)

What does this verse have to do with the spiritual world? In a word...everything! Paul is telling us that when Jesus died on the Cross, what looked like absolute defeat by Satan and his army over Christ was actually a total and complete victory over him! First of all, it 'canceled the record of charges against us' - in other words, it erased the guilty charges for all our sin and rebellion against Him, so Satan can't bring guilt and shame your way anymore. Second - and this is the really amazing part - through the Cross, Jesus 'disarmed' Satan and his demons, and even 'shamed' them publically.

The picture behind 'shamed them publically' is that of the Roman army as they marched back through the city streets in a parade of triumph. Behind the General of the Army came the defeated kings, captains and people who were openly displayed for all to see as completely conquered.

So in this verse, Paul paints a picture of Jesus as the conquering General in the middle of a cosmic triumph, and in the victory parade are Satan and all his demons, who are beaten forever, for every one to see. Paul wants us to understand that even though Satan and his demons still exist, because of Jesus they are a crushed and routed enemy.

What does this mean for the supernatural scene and Halloween? Time to celebrate! That's right - let all the scary TV themes and costumes involving the supernatural be a visual reminder that they are just that: fiction and fake masks - and that's a reason to par-teh!

The only power Satan has over you is what you voluntarily give him in the first place. He'll try to convince you that he can defeat you with guilt and deception...but that's the time you remember the victory parade that happened over 2000 years ago when the Captain of our salvation marched the enemy though the spiritual streets of the universe and put on public display a victory notice for all who trust in Him for eternal life.

The 'trick' to all this is not facing Satan in your own strength, and calling on Jesus to bring victory in your life.

The 'treat' is that when you do, you'll experience a life of walking in the light that no amount of darkness can ever overcome.

So this Halloween, forget about 'boo!'...because of Christ, we can say - "boo-ya!"

Head: What you need to know about this truth

At the Cross, Jesus completely defeated the forces of evil for all time, therefore Christians can celebrate the fact that Satan and his demons have no power over us.

Heart: What you need to feel about this truth

Here's some really amazing information about the conquering parade we talked about in Soul Fuel. In order for the victorious general to qualify for the procession, the following conditions had to be met:

• This general must have been the chief general in the field of battle.
• The campaign must have been completely successful.
• A large number of enemy soldiers must have fallen in battle.
• He must gain an expansion of territory for the Roman Empire.

Jesus met all these conditions:

• He was the commander-in-chief in the field of battle - the cross.
• Jesus completely paid for our sins on the cross.
• Satan and all his demons fell in defeat.
• He secured salvation and eternal future for those who trust in Him alone for salvation.

Knowing this can help you feel the amazing confidence that the very powers of hell have no power over you, because a defeated enemy doesn't need to be defeated again!

Hands: What you need to do about this truth

Halloween is a great opportunity to bring up the topic of the spiritual world, so check out this awesome Culture Commission article that will help you take advantage of this once a year chance.

"Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock." Matthew 7:24-25

Hey Teens!

Did you know 2 out of 3 Christian teens will, according to George Barna Researchers, participate in a "graduation evacuation" from the body of Christ once they graduate high school? Here is a list of 30 Core Truths (in question form) that you should know, live, and own by the time you graduate from high school:

30 CORE TRUTHS EVERY CHRISTIAN SHOULD KNOW

By Dare2Share Ministries

1. Who is God and what is He like?
2. What is the Trinity?
3. Who is Jesus?
4. Why did He die on the cross?
5. How do I know He really rose from the dead?
6. Who is the Holy Spirit and what does He do?
7. How do I get plugged in to the power of the Holy Spirit?
8. Is the Bible really God’s Word and does it relate to my life?
9. What is truth and can I know it with certainty?
10. What is sin and how does it impact my life and my relationship with others?
11. Why does God allow evil in this world?
12. What is a Christian and how does a person become one?
13. If Jesus is the only way to heaven, are all other religions wrong?
14. What about people who have never heard about the gospel?
15. What is the Great Commission and how does it relate to me?
16. Is there a real heaven and hell and what are they like?
17. Is there a judgement day and what difference should it make in my life?
18. Can I really be forgiven for all my sins, even the really bad ones?
19. Will God ever leave me or forsake me?
20. Who are Satan and his demons?
21. How do I engage in spiritual warfare?
22. What is the church and why should I be involved?
23. What are spiritual gifts and how do I discover mine?
24. How should the return of Christ impact my life?
25. What is prayer and how do I do it?
26. Why should I study my Bible and how do I do it?
27. How do I defend my faith?
28. Who am I, where did I come from, and what is my purpose?
29. Which is true, creation or evolution, and why does it matter?
30. How can I worship God in everything I do?

So, how many could you answer? Which ones do you have the most difficulty with?  Think of these core truths as a safety net, with each one representing an individual rope in a net. If one area is weak, or several areas together are weak, when you face the challenges of life you could "fall through". As teen leaders, we want you to have a firm net to fall into when faced with difficult decisions and situations. We want you to know WHY you believe!

Let God make you aware of the areas you may be weak in. Be sensitive to His voice and prompting. Build your life on the "rock" of His Word. God has an awesome plan and purpose for your generation, and He's anxious to equip you to lead the pack!

"Rock" on!

Ms. Cindy and Ms. Lori