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{Heart4Teens.com}  *God's Motive*

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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:

http://www.Heart4Teens.com/Heart4Teens


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 95,000 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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GOD'S MOTIVE: LOVE

"And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love." (1 John 4:16-18)

The parable of the Good Samaritan is a good indication of how Jesus wants his followers to love people--even if we have very little in common with those people. In John 4:1-26 Jesus has an encounter that indicates just how deep our love should flow.

While in a Samaritan town called Sychar, Jesus stopped at a well where a local woman was drawing water. "Will you give me a drink?" he asked her.

The woman was shocked. The idea of a Jewish man talking to a Samaritan woman was so culturally out of bounds, she barely knew what to say. Here's how the conversation played out, according to Scripture:

The Samaritan woman said to him, "You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?"

Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water."

"Sir," the woman said, "you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his flocks and herds?"

Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."

The woman said to him, "Sir, give me this water so that I won't get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water."

He told her, "Go, call your husband and come back."

"I have no husband," she replied.

Jesus said to her, "You are right when you say you have no husband. The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true."

This is a life-changing story, not just for the Samaritan woman but for all followers of Jesus. In it Jesus shows us how to love unloved people.


*One fell swoop to abolish racism*

Notice that Jesus took a walk through Samaria, something Jews never did because of violent separatism in the culture. As I mentioned in chapter one, Samaritans were half-blooded people. The Assyrian invaders who had occupied Israel took wives and began producing mixed-race children. In response the Jews ostracized the half-breeds, believing they were only half-pure before God.

When Jesus took time out of his day to sit with someone of such an "impure" lineage, he brought attention to the absurdity of racism. When Jesus looked at people, he didn't see skin color or nationality or ethnic background. He saw their need for love. Check the New Testament, and you'll find that Jesus gave his time to all groups of people.


*One fell swoop to affirm women*

Jesus showed men how to love women, not in a sexual way but in a spiritual way?a practical way. In the New Testament culture of the Middle East, women were considered to be little more than servants to men. Jesus, by sitting and talking with a Samaritan woman, began validating women as equals of men.

His attitude was nothing short of revolutionary. From his friendship with Mary and Martha to his healing of Peter's mother-in-law to his first post-resurrection appearance, Jesus left no doubt that women were a central part of his ministry?and key figures in spreading his gospel.


*One fell swoop to advocate forgiveness*

The woman Jesus approached had been married five times. What's more, she was living with a man who wasn't her husband at all. Jesus certainly knew about her sin of adultery, but it didn't stop his relentless pursuit to help her in times of need. Jesus didn't judge her before she had the ability to choose truth. He saw her need and helped her reach the object of her desire.

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Taken from "Love This!," by Andy Braner, copyright 2007, Youth Specialties/Zondervan. Used by permission. Order the book here: http://www.youthspecialties.com/product/273803

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Thought For The Day:

You see things and you say, "Why?" But I dream things that never
were and I say, "Why not?" --George Bernard Shaw


Verse for the Day:

"Without faith it is impossible to please God."
Hebrews 11:6


Teen's Thought For The Day:

"A teen never discloses his own character so clearly as when he describes another's."


Parent's Thought For The Day

"There's a time when you have to explain to your children why they're
born, and it's a marvelous thing if you know the reason by then."
--Hazel Scott


Coach's Thought For The Day

"It is amazing how much can be accomplished if no one cares
who gets the credit!"


Deep Thought For The Day:

"I locked my coat-hanger in the car. Good thing I had a key."


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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:

New Series on Creation and the Authority of the Bible!

February 11: Dinosaurs
February 18: Dinosaurs Part 2
February 25: Noah's Ark


Visit our youth website to see our topics for all of 2007!
http://www.faithcommunitychurch.net/youth


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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 Kent and Rachel Martin

High School age are led by Matt and Kristi Kauffman: 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!