YS Newsletter::on thankfulness

Contents

1. Something for Your Heart

2. Surf Report

3. Forgettable Fact

4. Potent Quotables

5. Uh, That's Funny?

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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.

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

2. SURF REPORT

-The Twilight Saga: New Moon Review

-Planet 51 Review

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

The Concert. OCC. and YS Newsletter

We filled a total of 10 shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child. Go us! Blessing others with the abundance we have been given. What a great feeling! (Not to mention we had a blast putting it all together!) As you know, there is the need for $7.00 to be included in each of the boxes to help with shipping costs and such. I wrote one big check for all ten of our shoeboxes so if you haven't already given me your $7.00, please do so asap. (If you don't know who you are, ask.)

Last night we served a potluck dinner to the residents at the Monroe Salvation Army. It was a fantastic time and the first of what we hope will be monthly service opportunities! Keep your ears open for that information!

Our Bible Quiz team--made up of Chris K, Ashley, and Michaela--came away with a FIRST PLACE trophy on Saturday. What a great reward for all your hard work and dedication...and not to mention the fact that you guys are just a really great team! Keep it up! Next month's quiz is in Bad Axe, MI and we will most likely need to drive up to stay the night in the church on Friday night December 11th-Sat. the 12th.

Mel's 24th birthday is Thursday. :)

FRIDAY is THE big day! Nevercast, Matt Moore & Burn the Ships are IN CONCERT.

At Monroe FMC.

Doors open at 6pm

Concert starts at 6:30pm.

Concessions (candy bars and water bottles) will be available for $1.

Tickets are $5.

Who's bringing EVERYONE they know?!!!

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and looking ahead to December:

GIRLS NIGHT! December 4th-5th all girls are invited to an 80s Spa Night at our house!

Let me know if you have any great ideas for games or spa activities or recipes you want to make together!

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In this newsletter::

1. Something for Your Heart

2. Surf Report

3. Forgettable Fact

4. Potent Quotables

5. Uh, That's Funny?

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• 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.]

• SURF REPORT

-Hello Hurricane Switchfoot Review

-Sleep May Limit Teens' Depression

• FORGETTABLE FACT

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

• 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

• UH, THAT'S FUNNY?

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

A: A Mon-key

OCC, quizzing, serving, concerts

We had a great time last night filling our shoeboxes to be sent to all the corners of the world! Thanks to all who participated.

Operation Christmas Child: shoeboxes are due next Sunday! You have three responsibilities: 1) collect/save/earn the $7 shipping cost per box. 2) write a letter to your child recipient and 3) find a picture of yourself and/or your family to include in the box.

Bible Quizzing: This Saturday, November 14th @ Westland FMC. If you are in Monroe, please meet us at our house at 7:15am. We will then head to Milan FMC to pick up the remaining quizzers. Please be ready at 7:45am. We should return between 4 and 5pm. Students will need $3 to cover the cost of lunch at the church.

Salvation Army: We will be joining the church in serving a potluck dinner at the Monroe Salvation Army. Meet at the church at 5:30pm (regularly scheduled youth group time) and whenever we are done serving, we will return to our house to finish youth group through 7:30pm.

Nevercast: The concert is quickly approaching! Invite every one of your hundreds of friends!! :D The more people in the audience the more fun we'll have! It's only $5 at the door and there will be a small concessions stand open with candy bars, water, etc. For more information check out the facebook event site:

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=179074024917&index=1

On OCC & Church & Concerts & more

We're baaaack. Kevin and I had a fantastic time at the four day National Youth Workers' Convention. We missed all of and are excited to get back into the swing of things and start applying ALL we learned (which was ALOT!) :D

We will see you at 5:30pm for youth group this Sunday!

Oh and don't forget about the Sunday morning service. Please invite your family--your parents and siblings--to join you at the church service @11am. Sunday School is at 9:45am (there are adult and teen SS classes.)

Have you been building your collection of items for your Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes? They are due November 15th and we are looking to head to the Dollar Tree this Sunday. Who needs to make a trip to the store with us? If you do, be sure to bring at least $10 to purchase the items needed to fill your shoebox. You can also purchase a clear plastic shoebox for $1.

For the four of you who have signed up to help serve at the Milan Rotary Dinner be sure you are dressed in White shirts and Black pants and at Father Joe's Catholic Church at 5pm.

The Nevercast Concert is quickly approaching. Have you invited ALL of your friends? Have you received permission to hang fliers up in your school hallways? The concert is November 20th. For much more info check out the event invitation on facebook. At least 5 local Christian radio stations will be posting the concert info on their community bulletin boards and possibly announcing the concert on the air.

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PS: be sure to check out the new photo links along the right column! Click on the pictures and you'll find the complete photo album.

Updates. And Milan Rotary Dinner Info.

This Friday is Light the Night at the church from 6-7:30pm.

Dress up.

Help out.

Have fun!

Kevin and Mel will be in Cincinnati at the National Youth Workers' Convention from Friday until Monday.

There is No youth group this Sunday, November 1st.

Starting Sunday, November 8th, we will having Bible Quizzing Practice during Sunday School time @ 9:45am. Even if you're not quizzing right now, getting in on practice times might change your mind. You can jump in at any time! Our next quiz is Saturday November 14th.

We will be serving at the Milan Rotary Club Dinner on Saturday November 7th.

Arrive at Father Joe's Catholic Church (or ride to Milan with us) by 5pm .

Wear black pants and white shirts.

Be prepared to help in these ways:

Coat checking.

Valet parking (only with a license).

Clearing tables.

Washing dishes.

We must have at least 8 students helping. Who's in?????

Shoeboxes & Wisdom

So who has been taking the challenge we gave on Sunday?

The "go without your weekly luxuries and save money to fill a shoebox for a child who desperately needs it" challenge.

Operation Christmas Child is an amazing experience.

You get to bless a child in a needy country on the other side of the world.

You maybe have a part in changing that child's life forever--if they believe the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ which is presented to them.

You may get to contact this child and learn more about them through letters.

You have the opportunity to challenge yourself.

To give up Taco Bell. To order water instead of pop when you're out to dinner. To save the money you might spend on that candy bar. or those french fries. or that nail polish. or those shoes. or that energy drink.

To save save save your money (or the money you normally spend out of your parents' wallets).

And to put that toward filling a shoebox.

Full of goodies.

Stuffed animals.

Hard candy.

Coloring books.

YoYos.

Soap bars.

Tshirts.

Toothpaste.

And so much more.

So start collecting your shoe boxes RIGHT now.

Bring them in to youth group each week.

These can be real cardboard shoeboxes or the plastic ones from the store.

And in the meantime (between now and November 16th) start collecting items with which to fill these boxes.

If you buy things little by little it won't hurt your wallet quite as much. :)

You can start a pile in our youth room of the things you're going to fill your shoebox with.

And then we'll fill them and wrap them together.

Oh! And don't forget about the $7 cover charge that must be included.

Let's challenge the adults and bring in even more boxes than last year!

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In other news don't forget our ongoing topic for discussion--wisdom and foolishness.

And be thinking this week about what those have to do with our friendships.

Next week should be quite a challenging discussion!

Be looking up more information in the book of Proverbs (near the middle of your Bible) on wise versus foolish.

KNOW what we're talking about!

Dig in!

If you have questions, you know where to find us!

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P.S. I have officially booked our hotel for Dare2Share

It's amazing! Check it out here.

And please let me know ASAP if you or a friend has not yet registered for Dare2Share or would like more information!

HAPPY First day of School. :)

1. 2009 National Christian College Fair

free admission & financial aid workshop.

Toledo:

Wednesday, Sept. 23, 6:30-8:3pm

Toledo Christian Schools

2303 Brookford Dr.

Toledo, OH 43614

OR

Detroit:

Thursday, Sept. 24, 6:30-8:30pm

Franklin Rd. Christian School

40800 W. 13 Mile Rd.

Novi, MI 48377

For more info: www.nccf.us or call 1-888-423-2477

2. EverydaySunday and Like Jonathan in concert at Spring Arbor Univ. THIS Friday.

• leaving from our house at 4pm
• stopping at the Parlour for dinner/ice cream (bring $$)
• touring SAU campus
• jamming at the concert at 8pm ($5)

I need to know by Thursday who is definitely attending. And we will definitely need extra vehicles. So ask your parents if they want to come and drive some teens with them. Or if they will allow Kevin or I to drive their vehicle for the night.

3. Dare2Share $44 and pre-registration form due by Sept. 15!!!

4. Crot's Corn Maze: Sunday Sept. 20th. leaving from our house at 5:30. Bring $5.50.

5. CarWash--FREE: Saturday, Sept 26th. 2-5pm. Monroe Tractor Supply Co.

You NEED to get sponsors.

You definitely need to mark this date down because I can't wash all the cars alone!