Heart Touchers - When the Going Gets Tough

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{Heart4Teens.com} *When the Going Gets Tough*

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If you enjoy this free email service, I encourage you to spread the word to family and friends that we may bring inspiration into the lives of teenagers everywhere! If you are not on the list and this has been passed along to you, you can join Heart4Teens.com readers around the world by visiting:

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Visit our inspirational web site to read all the past articles in our archives and view the tons of resources we have there for teens!

http://www.Heart4Teens.com/Teen_Stories

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Over 87,000 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.HeartTouchers.com and click on the link to listen to the free streaming audio message!

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When the Going Gets Tough

"Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness."
Acts 4:29

When the going got tough, these believers got...bolder?! Their lives were threatened, so naturally they prayed. But do you notice what they didn't pray for? They didn't ask God to miraculously intervene and change their enemies' hearts. They didn't pray for God to make their lives easier and more comfortable. Instead they asked God for great boldness so they could continue to speak out in spite of any danger.

When you're on the hot seat for your faith, what are you praying for? When your teacher says the Bible is just a good work of fiction, do you pray for the boldness to challenge that opinion based on what you've learned? When people at school think it's narrow-minded and arrogant to believe there's only one way to God, do you ask God to give you the words to tell them what you believe? When your youth group leader asks you to share with the group how you became a Christ-follower, do you pray for the courage to speak?

Earlier in Acts 4, Luke (the writer of Acts) tells us that the leaders who threatened Peter and John were astonished at their courage in sharing the gospel--because these guys were ordinary, unschooled men. Their boldness to speak out about Jesus didn't come from their own natural abilities and skills. It came from their conviction that the message should be shared no matter what the cost--and they depended on God to give them the boldness and courage to do just that.

You might feel like you don't have what it takes to stand up and speak out. But it doesn't matter. God can give you the words you need and the courage to share them. Ask him to enable you to speak his word with great boldness. And go for it!

* * * Read the whole exciting story of Peter and John's bold witness, the threats they received, and the subsequent prayer of the believers for boldness in Acts 4:1-31.

* * * God, you gave boldness to the believers in Acts, and I believe you can give me that same boldness. Help me to choose to stand up for you with that same courage, no matter how afraid I might feel...

Taken from "True Images Devotional" by Livingstone, copyright 2005, Youth Specialties/Zondervan. Used by permission. Order the book here: http://www.youthspecialties.com/product/267056

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Let's Go Surfing Dude!

Everything you want to know about Creation and the authority of scripture, epsecially the book of Genesis!

http://www.AnswersInGenesis.org

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Thought For The Day:

"If you want to be a leader with a large following, just obey the speed limit, on a winding, two-lane road." --Charles Farr

Verse for the Day:

"Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I am full of joy over you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil." --Romans 16:19

Teen's Thought For The Day:

"When you drive a new car to school, you find you have lots of friends you didn't even know about."

Parent's Thought For The Day

"Children are likely to live up to what you believe of them."

Coach's Thought For The Day

"The world is divided into people who do things and people who get the credit."

Deep Thought For The Day:

"The more you cry, the less you have to go to the bathroom!"

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Author MICHAEL T. POWERS
www.Heart4Teens.com

Contributing Author to Chicken Soup for the Teen's Soul on Love and Friendship and 25 other inspirational books.

"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

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ALL-STAR Ministry

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

If you are in 6-12th grade and live in the southern Wisconsin/northern Illinois area and would like to check us out, we meet every 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 Skating Place.)

All-Stars: 6:30 - 8:00 PM Sunday nights! Open to all youth grades 9-12.

The Outlet: 6:30 - 8:00 PM Sunday nights in the Multi-Purpose Room! Open to all youth grades 6-8.

Currently we have students from Edgerton, Fort Atkinson, Milton, Janesville Craig, Janesville Parker, Marshall, Franklin, Orfordville, Clinton, Beloit Memorial, Beloit Turner, South Beloit, and Hononegah. 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.

Upcoming Topics:

Sunday August 27 -- Live for God One Day at a Time (Life Hurts, God Heals Part 7)

Sunday September 3 -- Share What You've Experienced (Life Hurts, God Heals Part 8)
Sunday September 10 -- The Truth Project
Sunday September 17 -- No All-Stars due to the annual Youth Fall Retreat!
September 24: Philosophy & Ethics: Says Who?

October 1: Anthropology: Who Is Man?
October 8: Theology: Who Is God?
October 15: Science: What Is True?
October 22: History: Who's Story?
October 29: Sociology: The Divine Imprint

November 5: Unio Mystica: Am I Alone?
November 12: The State: Who's Law?
November 19: The American Experiment: Stepping Stones
November 26: Labor: Created To Create

December 2 & 3: Community Involvement: God Cares, Do I?

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Guys Only and Gals Only Small Groups!
(June - August)

We are starting something new this summer! We will be having a Guys Only bible study and a Gals Only bible study!

Guys Only (Jr. High and Sr. High guys) Led by Pastor Michael
6:30 - 8:00 PM Wednesday nights (June through End of August)
Meet in the sanctuary at church

This Week: August 23-- Wanted: Heroes "Super powers not required"

Gals Only (Jr. High and Sr. High) Led by Paula Marsden
6:30 - 8:00 PM Wednesday nights (June through the end of August)
Meet in the nursery at church to study the book "Authentic Beauty"

This Week: August 23 -- "Passion of a Set-Apart Woman" Part 3

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Teen Community Groups

6:30 - 8:00 PM Wednesday nights (September though May)

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 in All-Stars, but may not be ready to be a part of the Xtreme Teens. These cell groups will also be doing special activities with each other as the year goes on to build community.

Jr. High age meets at the church and are led by Tedi Knox! (Call 305-0318 if you have any questions!

High School age meets at Matt and Kristi Kauffman's house: 4339 Fox Hills (Call 758-1243 if you have any questions!)

Xtreme Teens

Xtreme Teens meet on Wednesday nights from 6:30 - 8:00 PM all year round at the Powers' house. This group is very extensive with weekly homework, memorization, service projects, etc. Students interested in this group will have to fill out an application, provide references as to why others think they should be involved with this, and sign an agreement as to what is expected of them. Admission into Xtreme Teens is on a case by case basis. Contact Pastor Michael for more details!