2009-2010
Victory Leaders Band
International Theme
The Potters Vessel
He's still working on me
A. INFLUENCE OUR YOUTH
B. OUR TEENS NEED HELP
C. SATANISM IS KILLING OUR CHILDREN
D. FOR SUCH A WORM AS I
E. So What Does The Devil Look Like(Feb 26 2010)
F. FAMILY FEUD (Mar 9)
"SIT UP! I've told you fifty times you look like caveman when you eat like that?" It's typical evening meal at the Nelson. Dad is usually engrossed in his own world, but occasionally he looks up long enough to bark at Bruce.
"Dadfor once couldn't stop picking on me about something?" Bruce answers disgustedly. "Just once I'd like to eat a meal without being yelled at for something I'm doing wrong."
"Honey," Mrs Nelson breaks in,"I think Bruce is right. You do criticize him a lot." "There you go again, Dad says with a angry edge to his voice, "taking sides with the kids. If you cant support me keep your mouth shut
13 year old Lara doesn't like family arguments and tries to calm things down. "Dad Mom means well. Please don't get mad at her."
I've work hard all day." he replies. "When I come home I want peace and quiet, not criticism!"
We'd all have peace and quiet if you weren't always jumping on Lara and me."Bruce says, his voice rising. "You yell about our music being too loud: you yell if we haven't finished our homework: all you do is yell, yell, yell.
I don't appreciate your attitude, "Dad snaps, his voice rising sharply.
Bruce abruptly pushes back from the table, knocking his chair to the floor."Well, I'm sick of your attitude," he yells through gritted teeth."I'm going over to Luke's. At least his dad isn't always yelling at me!"
Maybe you've noticed: Parents, brothers, and sisters aren't always easy to live with. But let's be honest-you aren't always easy to live with either. "Okay," one student admits, "so sometimes, especially when I have bad day at school,I get so mad I lash out at Mom. I know it's not her fault, but she's just there and I guess I have to scream at someone.
So are you able to accept the truth about your problems, stress, and emotional blowups? Can you admit living with you isn't always a barrel of laughs for your family? Can you go to your parents and admit when you blew it and was wrong? Can you say, "I know I've been cranky lately and I'm sorry about that. I appreciate your patience. I'm working hard on it"? In a lot of situations, that kind of honesty between family members builds the closeness you all seek. And you never know-they might admit they aren't perfect either.
Which fault do you like to blame on other people> Is there anything you need to own up to when it comes to getting along with family Ask God to give you a heart that is honest about your lest-than-best-side
G Joke for Teenagers
Love Lasts Longer than Ice- Cream Sandwiches
In the blank below.next to each statement, indicate how long you think will last.You can use minutes, hours,days, months or years.
_______A million dollars
_______The most recent pair of shoes
_________The spiritual high after youth camp
_________Your best friend
________A box of ice-cream sandwiches in the freezer
________The fact of loving someone unconditionally
Somethings last along time. Others don't seem to last at all. That box of ice-cream sandwiches in your freezer could vanish in an instant if you and you friends aim to inhale ice cream. On the other hand, a friendship could last for decades. It's tough to know what will last and what will not. Sometimes the thing you expect to be permanent is the first thin to fall apart when things get tough.
One thing that always keeps going is God's love-and the love you show others when you love like Christ loves you. That makes the last item on the list the most enduring.
There's never been-not ever will there ever be-a greater demonstration of love than what Christ did on the cross. Romans 5:8 says, " But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. " The world will feel the impact of what Jesus did on the cross for eternity. Fortunately for the world, God's expression of love didn't end on the cross. When Jesus rose from the dead, he changed us all to spread his love throughout the world (Matt. 28:18-20). When you love someone as Christ loves, the impact of your action can last as long as God's love.It's like knocking down dominoes. Your love changing one person can ripple through countless relationships.
So are you focusing your life on the only thing that will last-loving God and loving others as Jesus loves you? If anything else drives you, your efforts might disappear faster than that box of ice-cream sandwiches in the freezer
What commitments are you making to thins that will last?
Talk to God today about where love fits to your priorities.
Influence our Youth
Rick Flippo
Today's youth have more outside spiritual distractions and pressures than ever before. Quite frankly worldly attractions have nearly pushed God out of many if not a majority of homes. Let me say as I write this I am not trying to offend anyone, but I am trying to raise your awareness. The video game industry has effectively taken simple childrens games and turned them into blood baths of war and carnage, some have even designed "games" our youth play " dealing of witchcraft or sorcery, (we've come a long way since Mario Brothers). The Movie industry is making movie after movie that deals with witchcraft, sorcery, vampires and the like, (as I write this on Nov. 30, 2009 a movie called New Moon which deals in things of this nature grossed over $45 million dollars in America this past weekend). Harry Potter movies have thrived over the past few years, nothing more than how a young man goes to school to learn magic.
What we need are influential adults in our youths lives, adults that will teach our youth about faith in Christ. The adolsecence and young adulthood years are the most active and developmental times in a persons life, and most likely will dictate what direction one will travel in life as far as a relationship with Christ is concerned. During these years we see major personality changes, the need for independence, and values and morals are acquired. Also it is at this time a persons faith or lack of faith is shaped.
More than ever before we need an entirely new level of concern and focus to "nurture faith" in our homes and church. Realize this, that whether on the surface or underneath the surface young people are still pleading for attention. Are we going to be able to give them what they need? or will we allow them to go find it for themselves?. If we are not focused on Christ and our youth, the things that surround them will shape them, instead of us. Yes, youth still are looking for that special direction.....only found in a faith walk with Christ.
How can we help? Well I learned once there are three possible approaches to "guiding" the youth:
Liberal : Being relecutant to guide someone about matters of faith, for fear they might be considered maniplutive. Rarely does this person nurture faith, but instead condones most sin centered activities.
Pusher Crams and hawks the faith at every turn opportunity, and uses power of persuecation to help someone make a faith commitment.
Nurturer (What we should do) Realizes that everyone is unique and each one must make their own commitment to Christ. They provide a living example of love and care, and display the attributes of Christ in a warm and positive manner. Helps foster spiritual growth through guidance and honest assistance when needed.
Our youth need to be Nurtured, not Pushed into something they do not want or Condoned for sinful behavior. If we do not nurture them, the peer pressure and influential world that surrounds our youth will automatically provide a false nurturing for them.
Youth deserve our honesty, we must give them the values of Christ and His Church and provide them with a faith based walk. We must be biased for Christ, for one thing is for sure, Life is biased and it usually isn't for Christ.
Effective nurturing does not require thoughtful or continious efforts, just live your life for Christ and let the youth see Christ in you and it WILL nurture. Remember "Don't act like a Christian, be a Christian, actors get paid and Christian are so because they love Christ".
SATANISM IS KILLING OUR CHILDREN
Do you realize that nearly 2/3 of teenagers do not believe in God? Most of them say, family, friends, music, and even reality television are more important than religion. 6 out 10 (59%) believes that religion has a negative influence in the world. 1/2 half of teenagers have never prayed and 16% have never been to church. The study conducted by Penguin Book also found out that only 3 out of 10 believes there is life after death.. 55% of young people do not even think about religion and 60% only got to church for a wedding or funeral.
Why? What is the reason? Satanism!!! It has been around for a long time, as a matter of fact it has been a religion since the world began, but it has not always been labeled as Satanism. Over centuries Satan has been called many different names; the fact is, he doesn't care what you call him as long as you are worshiping him instead of God.
Satanism has no doubt been practiced in America since it began, but it wasn't till within the last few decades that it became very prevalent or an organized religion. A man named Anton Szandor LaVey, who was a follower of Alesister Crowley, began the Church of Satan in 1966. Shortly after, he formulated his first book the Satanic Bible. The book" remains probably the closest thing to and authoritative statement of Satanism by a contemporary Satanist." (from Lucifer Dethroned by William Schnoebelen) The book in essence teaches the "law of the jungle" ; its philosophy is to look out for yourself only. Here are some excerpts from the "Nine Satanic Statements"
" Satan represents indulgence, instead of abstinence...
"Satan represents kindness in those who deserve it, instead of love wasted on ingrates (ungrateful person)...
"Satan represents vengeance instead of turning the cheek....
"Satan represents man as just another animal..the most vicious animal of all.
"Satan represents all of the so called sins, as they all lead to physical, emotional, and mental gratification.
Satanism is actually a very self-centered religion- It starts out with the gratification of oneself, a beginning Satanism is told that their isn't really a God or Devil. They are told to stay away from the Holy Bible and are lead to believe that it is will harm you and that Satanism is a way to become a stronger person inside. BUT! It is all a lie. The truth is that Satan uses these lies to lure our teenagers ( or anyone) into his trap, because the deeper that a person gets into Satanism the tighter Satan fastens his chains on them. In reality the deeper a person gets into the religion of Satanism the more lies they are told. They start out believing that there is no God or Devil. Then later they are told Satan is real, but he is not evil, but has more power, excitement, etc then one who believes there is a God. They say that he's not evil but misunderstood. Then as the person reaches the hard-core level of Satanism they are told that Satan is the rightful ruler of the universe and that he gets his power from suffering, perversion of that person soul by evil spirits. They are told that Hell is real, but they think they will reign with him there. They do not think of Hell as a place where they will be tormented and later burn, but as party place where all their lust will be eternally fulfilled.
Satan is a liar! The Bible says in John 8:44 that Satan is the father of lies. He is a TRUTH FOR TROUBLED TEENS
Don't let Satan trap you. Plead the blood of Jesus Christ. Get out of that evil world and into the real world of Jesus Christ. Satan didn't die for your sins,.Jesus Christ did. Don't be sucker into Hell and the lake of fire that burns with brimstone
OUR TEENS NEEDS HELP
There many problems facing our teenagers, that does not seem to matter to a lot of parents and people. I feel there are two important things that are causing social problems today, driving and drinking, and teen suicide and are the leading causing of teenage deaths.
New Mexico holds one of the nation's highest DWI. motor vehicle crashes and the leading cause of death of teenagers in that state. We now are face with several questions, why do teens drink, what are the results of teen drinking and driving, and how can society change that pattern. Every year hundreds of teens die in the state of New Mexico. Teen suicide is the fastest growing killer of youth in America and if left unaddressed it will effect are future generations.
Why do teens drink alcohol? Peers play the major role in shaping attitudes about alcohol use. Prior to this time, TV and movies played the most influential role. The attitudes of parents toward alcohol correlated strongly with the attitudes of their children. There are several reasons why teenagers give to drinking alcohol which includes recreation, rebellion, relieve depression, fatigue, and boredom. Also because they personal problems at home that makes them turn to alcohol. Other a love one passes away,fighting with parents, divorce, and separation of family. The main factor of teenage drinking is influence from their peers.
Teenagers of today are pressured into trying out alcohol for the first time to see what it tastes like. If they give in to their peers they become part of the group, but if they do not they are not accepted into the group. As a result of teens being under the influence of alcohol they are not aware that once behind the wheel they are risking their lives, and the lives of others innocent people on the road. Teens thinks it cool to drink and drive, They feel nothing will happen tot hem.
A survey concluded, males having higher rates of daily drinking and binge drinking than females, but these differences are diminishing. While white students report, the highest levels of drinking, blacks the lowest, and Hispanics fall between (1999) The cause that lead them to automobile accidents are driver inexperience, driving late at night, having consumed alcohol, speeding, youthful risk, and driving during emotional stress. Many programs are being offered to educate teens and how to prevent alcohol related accidents
Teens who go to these rehabilitation consist of education, group therapy,life story, individual therapy, coping skills and relaxation therapy Every year thousand of teens die in the US, not fro cancer, or car accidents, but by their hand: they make the choice that they want to die, and they take their life. Suicide is the fastest growing killer of youth in America (www.yellowribbon.org), if left unadressed it will cause a n epidemic in the future Suicide is the 8 largest leading cause of all deaths in the country: third for persons 15-24. Statistics show that more than 13 of very1,000,000 teenager took their live in 1998, and the number is increasing every year. In fact suicide kills teens 3 to 6 times more than homicide, and the incidence of suicide among 15-24 years old has tripled, while the rate of 15-19 has quadrupled.
I don't think the problem is being addressed enough. Teenagers are still dying at a alarming rate. It is grave problem indeed. The future of the next generation is at stake. Let us take actions now before it is too late, before the next teen that commits suicide is your own. Talk to your teenager.Learn what bothers him or her. Listen to them and most all pray with them
FOR SUCH A WORM AS I
Psa.86:15 You,O Lord, are a merciful and gracious God, slow to angry,full of unfailing love and truth.
A teen once she summed herself this way: "A worm doesn't adequately describe how I feel about myself. A worm can crawl underground and hide.I'm more like one of the ugly snails on the porch. Everywhere they go they leave a ugly trail.That's what's what I am like" I mess up everything wherever I go."
What a sad personal description from a mouth of a Christian. This teen is clueless concerning her identity. She makes the mistakes like we all do, but she doesn't mess everything wherever she goes.
If you are a believer who isn't convinced of you true identity as God's beloved, valued, competent child, the results in your life can be dismal.You might have a fearful, pessimistic view of the world and you ability to cope with it's challenges. . You can see new or unexpected stuations as threats to your happiness ans security. And you may think all your difficultes are purely the results of you won failures.
When you are confused about who you are in Christ., it feels easier to endure what life deals you instead of challenging it or attempting to change it. You might picture your self as a victim of a hostile enviroment.
But if you walk in the light of being loved, valued,and equipped by God, you look at the world as a challenge to face and an opportunity to execrise trust in Christ. You can accept the fact the grace of God in your life empowers you to change your environment for the better. You know that your destiny lies in what God can do through you, and that you will accomplish significant things for eternity even indifficult situations.
A fairly sense of identity also affects relationships. A skewed view of yourself puts you on defensive, so that you compare other people's messages and motives to the inaccurate self-portrait you carry. For example this teen girls that talk to me had difficulty accepting praise or compliments from others. In her opinion a snail can't possibly be beautiful or helpful or generous. She future reasons, "How can I trust someone with such a messed up view of me? Until her inner self-portrait is radically transformed, this teen will be skeptical of even the most sincere attempts to build her up.
How you ever find your self thinking like this teen? You can be sure that God understands exactly where you are and how you feel-and he loves you completely! He is a compassionate God. He cares.
Reflect: What doe it mean to you that God is Compassionate? How can understanding God's compassion remake you like? Respond to God's compassion today with you loving thanks
WHAT IS THE DEVIL LIKE?
He is not the picture that you see of him today. Every cartoon you see has him as a long red-tail and red underwear, forked horns and a pitchfork. When the devil came into the Garden of Eden,e came disguised as the most beautiful serpent ( no the slimy snake that we see crawling on the ground today). but the lost beautiful thing in the Garden. And I believe, there are many indications in the Bible that when the devil presents himself among men, it is never satanic, terrible, ugly, horrible bring, but always as something beautiful, even as an angel of light. Listen to what the Bible says about Satan in 2 Cor.11:13-14 "For such as false apostles. deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself as transformed into an angel of light. There it is right there young people, and you too preachers. The Devil present himself not as a red-underwear.pitchfork horns, with a forked-tail Devil, but an angel of light In 2 Cor. 11:15; "Therefore it is no great thing if he ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness: who is shall be according to their works. I hate say this this because I love preachers, and they get enough "cussing" without me saying anything about them. And I believe for the most part. most are godly men. but you can put this down, sometime the Devil takes form of a preacher in the pulpit. Some i believe that God has preachers and the Devil has preachers. Just as God has a church, the Devil has a church. There are many churches around the world that are built for one purpose and that is worshiping the Devil. Just alone there are 400 ordained ministers of the church of Satan in California that go around and organizing churches. . Mu humble opinion is most of the time the Devil doesn't call a satanic preachers and church his church. Most of the time he calls his church "the church of Jesus". The Devil duplicates the doctrines of the Bible; the Devil duplicates the way of salvation; the devil duplicates what the Bible teaches about Heaven and hell: the Devil himself has presented himself as the angel of light. Listen young people, the Devil will damn more soul to hell by coming in the form of some silver=tongue handsome preacher, preaching some hellish, damnable doctrine; denying the virgin birth of Jesus; denying the blood atonement of Jesus: denying the bodily resurrection of Jesus; denying everything that's true in the Word of God. What I am trying to tell you is don't look for the Devil as they appear in the cartoons. You look for him in the most attractive way.
So what does the Devil look like. He looks whatever he want to look to catty on his damnable, hellish work. He makes himself the very angel of light, that would deceive the very elect, if it wasn't for the grace of God
A teenagers is
Someone who can't remember to walk to dog each day but never forgets a phone number they heard once
A weight watcher who goes on a diet by giving up candy bars before breakfast
Someone who receives her allowance in Monday, spends it on Tuesday, and borrows it from her best friend on Wednesday
Someone who can pick the voice of a friend from three blocks away, but can't hear their mother calling form the next room.
A computer whiz who can operate any gadget within seconds, but can't make a bed
A connoissueur of two types, loud and very loud
A person who can drive a car all day, but too tired to wash the dishes.
A romantic who never fails to love more than twice a week
Your own reality show with fewer commercials
Painfully funny at times. At other times is just painful
Someone who will pitch and help clean every room, as long as it's the neighbor's house
