About Christian Teens

Tragedy on a Texas Military Base

2009-11-07T20:23:55Z

I'm still trying to wrap my head around this tragedy at Fort Hood in Texas. Was it religion? Was it one man on a rampage? Was it really fear of serving in Afghanistan? Whatever the answer or answers are, it still doesn't change the tragedy of people dying. It still doesn't alter the fact that this incident happened to those men and women who already had it in their hearts to put themselves in the middle of danger to protect our freedoms.

I ask everyone I know this week to say a prayer not only for the victims and their families this week, but for all our men and women serving around the world. Or even take a step further and do something to honor the troops. We are about to honor our veterans for Veteran's Day this week, and the fact that these men and women serve every day facing danger means we owe them a bit of thanks. Agree or disagree with military action, it does not mean that these soldiers are not out there protecting your freedom to say what you will about what they do.

Tragedy on a Texas Military Base originally appeared on About.com Christian Teens on Saturday, November 7th, 2009 at 20:23:55.

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Why We Keep Watching A Christmas Carol

2009-11-01T23:58:56Z

Disney's "A Christmas Carol"

Every holiday season it seems like there is another twist on A Christmas Carol, and this season is no different with the motion capture version starring Jim Carrey. What is our fascination with the Charles Dickens' tale, and do we really need another incarnation of the story?

Our fascination stems from the overarching theme of the story, which is redemption. We all know someone who is a little Scrooge-like when it comes to faith, some of whom we've seen slowly come to know God. The change in those who were so resistant is remarkable, as is the change in Scrooge.

Yet the fascination with the story is really more of a belief that we ourselves can change. For Christians that change often comes from allowing God to work in our lives. God places people and things in our lives to tell us when it's time to change. It may not be as obvious as three ghosts, but often there are hints that we aren't living quite right in God's eyes - from the pull on our consciouses or the warning from our friends and family.

In the end, we all know at some point we will feel that redemption and freedom from the burdens we have carried. Yet in the meantime, we need to listen to our personal "three ghosts" so that we can rid ourselves of as many burdens as possible. That is why A Christmas Carol will always remain a popular holiday staple.

Why We Keep Watching A Christmas Carol originally appeared on About.com Christian Teens on Sunday, November 1st, 2009 at 23:58:56.

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Sunday Scripture: 2 Corinthians 3:5

2009-11-01T15:41:21Z

2 Corinthians 3:5 - "It is not that we think we are qualified to do anything on our own. Our qualification comes from God."" (NLT)

Trust in God. Sometimes it's hard, because our nature takes over, and we tend to want to do things on our own. It is no different than when we pushed our parents aside for the first time to do something on our own. We do it to God all the time. Yet, we cannot think that our successes are our own. God created us. He provides us with our abilities. He gives us lessons in our failures. He shares joy in our successes. We can do nothing without Him.

Sunday Scripture: 2 Corinthians 3:5 originally appeared on About.com Christian Teens on Sunday, November 1st, 2009 at 15:41:21.

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Happy Halloween...Or Not

2009-10-29T23:38:14Z

This weekend is Halloween. Most Christians have one opinion or another about whether Halloween is acceptable or not, after all, the Bible doesn't directly say that Halloween is bad. Since much debate comes from various interpretations of the holiday, each year I like to find out where you stand by doing a little poll:

Happy Halloween...Or Not originally appeared on About.com Christian Teens on Thursday, October 29th, 2009 at 23:38:14.

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Sunday Scripture: Psalm 67:1

2009-10-25T22:46:06Z

Psalm 67:1 - "May God be merciful and bless us. May his face smile with favor on us."" (NLT)

We often ask ourselves how to be more Godly. How can we be more pleasing to God? Yet, one of the greatest things we have as Christians is to know God's mercy and blessing. There is nothing better than knowing you did something right in God's eyes and feeling his smile upon you.

At the same time, we should be using this verse to ask for God's blessing on others. Take some time this week to ask for God to be merciful to those around you and bless them. You may not know it, but someone you know probably needs it. What a blessing your prayer may truly be.

Sunday Scripture: Psalm 67:1 originally appeared on About.com Christian Teens on Sunday, October 25th, 2009 at 22:46:06.

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We All Make Mistakes

2009-10-24T18:21:42Z

I don't think there is a day that goes by that I don't have to ask God for forgiveness for something that I did. I'm not perfect, and I know I make a lot of mistakes. Yet I also know that I have one thing that makes my life a little better...God. No matter what my mistakes are, I know that God will forgive me if I ask for it.

Does that mean that God's gift of forgiveness can be taken for granted? No. However, God doesn't expect us to be perfect. He knows we all make errors in judgement. That's why he gave us examples all throughout the Bible including big names like Jacob and David - all of whom made big mistakes but also received God's forgiveness and love.

When we ask for forgiveness, though, we need to learn from those mistakes. What good is forgiveness if we need to ask for it over and over and over and over? If we can't find a way to solve our problems, we need to ask for help. We need to allow God to work in our lives through his presence and the people he places in front of us to help us in our walk.

We All Make Mistakes originally appeared on About.com Christian Teens on Saturday, October 24th, 2009 at 18:21:42.

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Sunday Scripture: 1 John 3:15

2009-10-18T00:21:12Z

1 John 3:15 - "Anyone who hates another brother or sister is really a murderer at heart. And you know that murderers don't have eternal life within them."" (NLT)

This scripture isn't talking about murder in the sense that we think of it today. Hating someone else can cause enough damage to not only hurt a part of them, but also kill a part of your heart. Yet sometimes people make it especially hard to like them, like when they're bullying you.

Bullying isn't something all of deal with frequently, but it is something we can all understand. People telling us that bullies really just hate themselves doesn't necessarily help the pain you feel being bullied. Violence in students is increasing, and yet do you know where to turn when you're being bullied?

If you feel like someone is bullying you or see someone being bullied, find help. Tell a parent, teacher, pastor, or youth leader. While you may not like the person bullying you, remember that you are a spiritual guide. What is that person doing to themselves spiritually if they continue to hate? It may not be easy to think of helping your bully, but by getting them help to overcome whatever hurt they feel, you may actually be helping yourself.

Sunday Scripture: 1 John 3:15 originally appeared on About.com Christian Teens on Sunday, October 18th, 2009 at 00:21:12.

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Are You in an Interracial Relationship?

2009-10-16T00:21:01Z

Today I was reading about a Justice of the Peace in Louisiana that refused to marry an interracial couple, because he didn't believe in interracial relationships. He was, of course, fired from his job, because discrimination is against the law. He says it was "for the children" and that he is not racist. But what do you think?

I know that our grandparents and great-grandparents grew up in generations where interracial relationships were frowned upon. Yet out of the civil rights movement came a tolerance and soon what I thought was an acceptance of interracial relationships.

Today we often think of people like this Justice as racists. Some of them adhere to the Old Testament passage of Deuteronomy 7:3 ("Do not intermarry with them. Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons," (NIV)). Yet that scripture was written at a different time. Most of the scriptures that people use to discourage interracial dating weren't actually discussing race at all, but different faiths.

So what are you thoughts on interracial dating?

Are You in an Interracial Relationship? originally appeared on About.com Christian Teens on Friday, October 16th, 2009 at 00:21:01.

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Real Beauty Comes from the Inside

2009-10-16T00:17:26Z

Sometimes I think we live in a backwards world. We reward mean people by giving them television shows and visiting their blogs. We tell women and men that they aren't good enough because they don't look like a model in a magazine or own the right car. Yet do outward looks, money, or fame really make us beautiful or is it something else.

Recently Dove launched the Campaign for Real Beauty to try and free young women from beauty stereotypes. The company even started the Self-Esteem Fund and creates commercials and videos featuring real women. To Dove, beauty comes in all shapes, colors, sizes. While Dove may be a company looking at its profits, the basic message is just what God has been trying to tell us.

He loves us for who we are. He thinks we are beautiful just the way we are. This is why we all look different. It's why we have different ideas and interests. Beauty is not about our external appearance. We all have something worthwhile to the world, and we are all beautiful in so many ways. It may be hard to let go of a desire to fit into a world that worships airbrushed models and Donald Trump successes, but God tells us to move beyond it and look at what is most important - our relationship with Him.

Real Beauty Comes from the Inside originally appeared on About.com Christian Teens on Friday, October 16th, 2009 at 00:17:26.

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Sunday Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:7

2009-10-11T15:02:35Z

2 Timothy 1:7 - ""For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline."" (NIV)

It's okay to be afraid. Even when you put up a strong face, the bravest of us are often nervous inside. Yet God is there with us to provide strength in the face of the things we fear most. For a lot of us, we often water down or hide our faith, because we fear a lack of acceptance by others. It's a normal feeling. We want to be liked and loved. We want to have friends. However, watering things down to where we lose our faith means giving into those fears rather than using God's spiritual gifts.

It is not easy to stand up and say, "I believe," but you will feel better in the long run for it. True friends will accept your faith as part of who you are and love you for it. Your courage to express your faith may inspire others to come to Christ or give them the courage to stand beside you and tell others that they, too, believe. Sometimes that stand may bring about some teasing, and in some cases it may bring about a loss of friends, but if those friends cannot accept our faith, what good are they anyhow? God promises a gift of strength is we seek it. He put it in our inner nature, and we just need to look for it.

Sunday Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:7 originally appeared on About.com Christian Teens on Sunday, October 11th, 2009 at 15:02:35.

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