Heart Touchers - Did Miley Miss the Mark

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Did Miley Miss the Mark?

Have you ever been overtaken by a wild animal? If not, let me give you a quick snapshot of the time I was overtaken by three German Shepherds who didn't see me as a little kid, but more like a moving bag of doggie chow.

At first, you realize you're being watched. That's when your heart races faster and the little voice in your head becomes a scream that says "get the heck outta here!"

Then you realize you're being chased, but the worst realization is when you work out the physics in your head that your pursuer is going to catch you.

Then they caught me on my home porch - I almost made it. That's when the voice yelled "duck and cover." Fortunately I sustained minimal teeth marks because my big bro came out and raged against the canines.

Did you know that the Bible portrays falling into a sin or fault like being captured or overtaken by a wild animal? Check this out:

Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are spiritual should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself (Galatians 6:1).

The word "overcome" is a word picture of someone being chased down and caught by a wrong attitude or action.

Would you say that Miley Cyrus was overtaken by a fault with her performance at the Teen Choice Awards? In my opinion.yes. That outfit/dance is not something I would put in the whole "honoring God" category - especially for a pre-teen role model who openly said to a fan, "I sing, dance and act for Jesus! . Now that I think about it, I do everything for Jesus."

What is interesting when stuff like this happens (i.e. big-time Christian hits big-time controversy) is that it usually reveals what kind of Christians we are.

What do I mean? Well, if you noticed, there have been three basic reactions to the Cyrus situation - and I believe only one of them honors God.

The first is a ?whole lotta judging' going on. You know - ?How could she?' and "I don't think she's really a Christian' and much more superiority-sounding "blah blah blah."

Jesus made a clear ruling on this one:

Don't pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults? unless, of course, you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging. It's easy to see a smudge on your neighbor's face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say, 'Let me wash your face for you,' when your own face is distorted by contempt? It's this whole traveling road-show mentality all over again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face, and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor (Matthew 7:1-5).

In other words, whatever standard you're using on Miley will be used on you by God Himself.and I'm pretty sure you and I don't need that in our lives.

The second response I've seen is "So what? Isn't she free to dance and express herself?" Except for that part in the Bible that says this:

So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).

This basic command sets the guidelines for a Christian's behavior and I'm just not seeing a basic pole dance as an offering of worship to God. Plus, for those who might be tempted to downplay this situation and blur the line between the life that God has called us to and what today's culture approves of, we have this principle to consider:

What sorrow for those who say that evil is good and good is evil, that dark is light and light is dark, that bitter is sweet and sweet is bitter (Isaiah 5:20).

So what's the third response? Let's go back to the first passage of Scripture we looked at:

The bottom line is that those who are "spiritual"- those who are living a life that's pleasing to God through the Holy Spirit - should "gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path."

What does that mean for this situation? Well, if your life is right with God, then pray for Miley Cyrus. Ask God to send some "spiritual" people into her life to help her figure out how to use her gigantic platform to honor God and not follow the typical downward spiral of most girls that find stardom at a young age.

And remember the warning as well: "And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself."

I'm not personally tempted to find a skimpy outfit and perform a similar dance on worldwide television - but I am tempted every day to disregard the clear teachings of the Bible for personal gain.

Aren't you?

The word ?sin' means to miss the mark, and I know I often miss the mark, but that shouldn't keep me from picking myself up and trying, in God's power, to do better next time.

So watch out for the wild animals and help those who are on the ground bleeding right now.

Take an informal poll with your friends to see if they thought Miley's actions were appropriate or not, then discuss the difference between judging and helping people see their choices in the light of Jesus' teachings about a better way to live life. For help with this, check out Greg Stier's blog post about judging. Ask your friends if they think it's fair that Miley's public statements about her faith in Jesus influence how people react to her choices?

Pray for an opportunity to talk about how one day we will all be judged and the only way to be prepared is by trusting Christ for salvation.

No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father (Matthew 5:15-16).

When I wrote to you before, I told you not to associate with people who indulge in sexual sin. But I wasn't talking about unbelievers who indulge in sexual sin, or are greedy, or cheat people, or worship idols. You would have to leave this world to avoid people like that. I meant that you are not to associate with anyone who claims to be a believer yet indulges in sexual sin, or is greedy, or worships idols, or is abusive, or is a drunkard, or cheats people. Don't even eat with such people.

It isn't my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly is your responsibility to judge those inside the church who are sinning. God will judge those on the outside; but as the Scriptures say, "You must remove the evil person from among you" (1 Corinthians 5:9-13).

For the time has come for judgment, and it must begin with God's household. And if judgment begins with us, what terrible fate awaits those who have never obeyed God's Good News? (1 Peter 4:17).

Source: Dare2Share.org

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Creation Q & A

The Mystery of Ancient Man

"Colossal stone monuments. Advanced civil engineering. Lost civilizations . No, it's not the plot for an adventure movie! But peeking into our ancient past reveals a true story far more interesting ."

by Steve Cardno

Did visitors from space help build the great pyramids of Egypt and Central America?

Is advanced technology from an alien civilization needed to explain how ancient man could move huge stones, build monumental structures, create intricate artwork and organize complex cultures? Some think so, because of their evolutionary belief that ancient man was ?primitive'.

If evolution were true, the further back into history we look, evidence should show a gradual decline in man's intelligence, moving closer to the ape's. Biblical creation would indicate otherwise. Man, created in God's image, has always been intelligent. People make discoveries and invent things, and this knowledge is passed on and built upon. In this way, technology can increase within a society, but this is not because people become more intelligent.

True History

A short time after creation, people were already inventing things such as musical instruments, and metal-working (Genesis 4:21-22). By the time of the Flood, mankind would have reached a high level of technical ?know-how'. We don't know exactly how high, but there are some clues.

First, it was sufficient for Noah and his helpers to be able to build a huge ocean-going vessel. The Ark measured approximately 135 metres (450 feet) long, 23 metres (75 feet) wide and 13 metres (45 feet) tall (Genesis 6:15). We know that these proportions were ideal for stability. This colossal task would have required advanced knowledge in engineering, not to mention timber-working techniques (see also Q&A: Noah's Ark).

Second, we can get some indication from the level of technology in those civilizations which sprang up rapidly after the Flood. Noah and his family would have tried to carry with them as much know-how as they could, to survive, and restart civilization in the ?new world' for which they were headed.

The Bible records that soon after the Flood, mankind built a huge city. This was in the fertile river valley of Mesopotamia, around present-day Iraq. Even evolutionists can't ignore the evidence here, and generally refer to this area as the ?cradle of civilization'. Which it was?but only for the post-Flood world.

The tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1-9) was probably a ziggurat, or the first type of pyramid, like others still standing in the area (around present-day Babylon). Similar styles of pyramids are found in ancient civilizations all around the world. Evolutionary historians believe that each culture devised the same style of building independently. But it seems more sensible to suggest that they are similar because they all came from the same origin?Babel.

As with any group of people in society today, those that existed at the time of the Tower of Babel would have had a diverse range of skills. Some were builders, some artists, and others farmers. However, when God divided the groups by language, the broad pool of knowledge was divided also. The original groups that became, for example, the civilizations of the Egyptians and Mayans obviously included people skilled in civil engineering, building, and so on, as evidenced by the rapid establishment of their cultures. Other groups would have lacked such knowledge.

Imagine if you and your extended family were suddenly forced to migrate rapidly into an unpopulated wilderness. Even though you come from a society with great technology, it is likely that your family group would not carry all of the necessary knowledge with you to, for example, be able to find ore-bodies, and smelt and work metals. So you might choose to use stone tools to survive.

To read the rest of this fascinating article visit:

http://www.answersingenesis.org/creation/v20/i2/ancient.asp

Source: AnswersinGenesis.org

Creation News

Click on the Bible above or visit the web site listed below!

http://www.HeartTouchers.com/Creation_News

This new addition to our web site will give you an article on the leading news in the Creation/Evolution controversy each day. This section also includes a rotating Question and Answer feature and a weekly Creation Comic strip from the people at AnswersInGenesis.org. Be sure to come back and visit each day for an informative article that will help you keep up to date on the latest news in this controversial area!

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Thought For The Day

"Here is the test to see if your mission here on earth is
finished: If you are alive, it isn't." --Richard Bach

Verse for the Day

"For as the days of a tree, so will be the days of my
people; my chosen ones will long enjoy the works of
their hands."

Teen's Thought For The Day

Just as it was when you were a little kid, sometimes you need a little push to go down the "Big Slides" in life.

Parent's Thought For The Day

"If your baby is 'beautiful and perfect, never cries or fusses,
sleeps on schedule and burps on demand, an angel all the
time', you're the grandma." --Theresa Bloomingdale

Coach's Thought For The Day

"We're never as good as we think we are, nor as bad as we think we are."

Writer's Thought for the Day

"Use plain, simple language, short words and brief sentences. That is the way to write English -- it is the modern way and the best way. Stick to it; don't let fluff and flowers and verbosity creep in. When you catch an adjective, kill it. No, I don't mean utterly, but kill most of them -- then the rest will be valuable. A wordy habit, once fastened upon a person, is as hard to get rid of as any other vice." --Mark Twain

Deep Thought For The Day

"I tried to get in touch with my inner child - but he's not allowed to talk to strangers."

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Author MICHAEL T. POWERS
Contributing Author to Chicken Soup for the Christian Teenage
Soul and 28 other inspirational books.

Over 180,000 people have listened to popular Chicken Soup Author Michael T. Powers' free inspirational message entitled: "Breathing Life into Others". If you aren't one of them just visit: http://www.Heart4Teens.com and click on the link to listen to the free streaming audio message!

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but
Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body I live by faith in
the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."
Galatians 2:20

ALL-STAR Youth Ministry

--The Youth Church of Faith Community Church in Janesville, WI

Check out our youth group! If you are in 7-12th grade and live in the southern Wisconsin/northern Illinois area come check us out! Jr. High meets on Sunday mornings from 9:30 am - 10:30 am. High School age meets on Sunday night from 6:30-8:00 pm at Faith Community Church which is located at 2931 Lucerne Dr. in Janesville, WI. (About 3 blocks south-east of the Pontiac Convention Center.)

Currently we have students from Edgerton, Fort Atkinson, Milton, Janesville Craig, Janesville Parker, Marshall, Franklin, Edison, Clinton, Beloit Memorial, and Beloit Turner. E-mail me back if you have any questions about our weekly meetings or would like to come to any of our events that are listed below... We have way too much fun and then, most importantly, talk about issues that are relevant to you as a teenager.

This Week: August 30

Jr. High -- 9:30 am - 10:30 am - "For the Record"
High School -- 6:30 - 8:00 pm - "The State of the Union"

Visit our youth website to see our topics up through the year 2010!
http://www.faithcommunitychurch.net/upcoming_topics
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Teen Community Groups

6:30 - 8:00 PM Wednesday nights -- These groups are limited to no more than ten teens and are split into Jr. High and High School ages. This night is for those teens who want to dig deeper than what we do on Sundays. These cell groups will also be doing special activities with each other as the year goes on to build community.

Jr. High meet at 2109 N. Pontiac (Kent and Rachel Martin)

High School meet at 1918 Liberty Lane (Michael and Kristi Powers)

This Week September 2:

Getting to Know You!

For more info on our small groups, visit: http://www.faithcommunitychurch.net/small_groups

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Do you feel as if life has no meaning for you?
http://www.HeartTouchers.com/Life_Purpose