Howdy folks, I present to you the weekly:

- F2F – we are starting a new series this week called Q & A based on the issues you guys suggested. Last week we talked about denominations, this week we’ll talk about issues related to alcohol.
- This weekend I’ll be talking grace at a retreat Western Oaks youth group is doing. It will start at 6 PM at Centennial Park if any of you guys are interested in coming and hanging out for a little bit.
- Joy Box – Our sacrificial offerings in the Joy Box will be going toward providing clean, healthy drinking water for a community in Africa. Think about what you could sacrifice so that you could give money toward this cause.
- Big Stuf – July 5th – 11th in Panama City Beach, FL. Forms are available now so get them filled out and turned in along with your $50 deposits. Forms and deposit must be in by April 27th. Final payments due June 22nd.
- Big Stuf fundraisers – The awesome mentors have done a great job putting together some fundraiser opportunities for Big Stuf:
- May 31 – CAR WASH – 9 AM to 3 PM – it will be held at Ace Hardware on Wabash Ave. The amount applied to your account will depend on how many hours you are able to volunteer. Come help and invite as many friends and family members as you can!
- Sonic Cards – We will be selling Sonic coupon cards for $5 each. For every card you sell $5 will be credited to your account.
- Pizza Hut Cards – These cards are similar to the Sonic cards, they sell for $10 each and for every card you sell $6 is credited to your account. $$ or cards due back by May 14.
- Boxes of Candy Bars – Sell a box with 52 candy bars in it and you will have $32 applied to your account.
- May 3 – Camp Barnabas Prep Day – All persons going to Camp Barnabas should be at the church from 11 AM to 2 PM

April 17, 2008
Contents
1. Memorization - Verse of the Week
2. Something for Your Heart
3. Video of the Week
4. Surf Report
5. Forgettable Fact
6. Potent Quotables
7. Uh, That’s Funny?

1. MEMORIZATION VERSE OF THE WEEK
1 Corinthians 10:24 “Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.”

2. SOMETHING FOR YOUR HEART
AREN'T ALL RELIGIONS BASICALLY THE SAME?

We've both worked with middle school students a long time, and this question is one that we've heard over and over again. It's a good question. One that deserves an answer: NO! Now, that may sound a bit harsh, but it makes total sense when you stop to think about it.

Almost nothing in this world is "all the same." When you go to Baskin-Robbins to get ice cream, the flavors aren't all the same. You have 31 different types of ice cream to choose from! Starbucks sells all kinds of coffee. You can get a one-dollar cup of plain ol' stuff or pay five dollars for one with mocha, caramel, and whipped cream. Try going to a bike shop and saying, "I'd like to buy a bike, please. Any bike will do since they're all the same." The mullet-headed, nose-pierced, bike-shop-owner dude would look at you as if you looked weird or something.

Religions aren't all the same, either. They may have some things in common, but they aren't all the same. Some of the ways religions are different from each other include what they teach about God, what they teach about Jesus, what they teach about getting to heaven, and what they teach about the Bible. There are other differences, but those are the biggies.

Another question we hear a lot is, "Are all religions true?" Again, another good question that deserves an answer: NO! The reason all religions can't be true isn't just because they're different. Different types of coffee are still true coffees, and different ice cream flavors are still true ice creams. The reason all religions can't all be true is because they all hold different beliefs that they claim as truth...beliefs that are totally opposite from each other. If beliefs about the same thing are opposite from each other, they can't both be true.

A simple example is how somebody gets to heaven. Christianity says that heaven is a free gift. Many other religions believe a ticket to heaven must be earned. Christianity believes that the gift of heaven is given to us through Jesus, God's Son. Many other religions believe that Jesus was a good guy but wasn't God's Son and has nothing to do with heaven. How can both be true?

Another difference between Christianity and other religions? Christianity isn't just a religion. Most religions make a big deal out of making sure you say the right stuff, do the right stuff, and stay away from the wrong stuff. Most religions focus on looking good on the outside. And while Christianity holds outward behavior as important, it's not the most important thing--it's about friendship with Jesus. And a true friendship with Jesus doesn't have a whole lot in common with religion.

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Taken from "My Faith" by Kurt Johnston and Mark Oestreicher, copyright 2006, Youth Specialties/Zondervan. Used by permission. Order the book here.
https://shop.youthspecialties.com/store/product.php?productid=323
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Taken from "Conversations with Jesus" copyright 2006, Youth Specialties/Zondervan. Used by permission. Order the book here.
https://shop.youthspecialties.com/store/product.php?productid=319
**

3. VIDEO OF THE WEEK
Video of the week this week comes courtesy of Mrs. Betsy Martin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sN_LPTNQEqM
* If you know a good video and want to share it, let me know.

4. SURF REPORT
~ Search for lyrics to your favorite songs
http://www.lyrics.com/

~ Create your own Jackson Pollack painting
http://jacksonpollock.org/

5. FORGETTABLE FACT
Most dreams last only 5 to 20 minutes.

6. POTENT QUOTABLES
"Whoever gossips to you will gossip of you."
~Author Unknown

"He who praises everybody praises nobody."
~Samuel Johnson

7. UH, THAT’S FUNNY?
There was a guy who was fired from the orange juice factory for lack of concentration.

Grace and Peace to you, have a great week. josh

copyright 2008 :: Youth Specialties