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Sunday Scripture: Proverbs 15:15

2009-11-22T15:18:03Z

Proverbs 15:15 - "For the despondent, every day brings trouble; for the happy heart, life is a continual feast."" (NLT)

Sure, we all have times when we feel like all is lost. I don't really know anyone that hasn't faced some sort of heartbreak or trouble in their lives. Yet, sometimes we need to learn when to work through our sadness and appreciate the things we do have in our lives. This verse is not saying you cannot be sad about what is going on in your life. What it is saying is to not be sad for things you don't have and learn to appreciate the things you do have.

Finding joy isn't about having the next big thing, a boyfriend, the right clothes, etc. Finding joy in the Lord matters more. Have you ever seen a poor person who is just overly joyful in his or her life? Often those people have learned to find contentment in what matters. Think this week on what means the most to you in your life and what God thinks should matter most. You might find yourself in a feast of joy you didn't know existed.

Sunday Scripture: Proverbs 15:15 originally appeared on About.com Christian Teens on Sunday, November 22nd, 2009 at 15:18:03.

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Vatican: New Moon is a "Moral Vacuum"

2009-11-21T20:19:07Z

Mike Coppola/Getty Images

Well, it is now official. You can't go anywhere anymore without hearing something about the Twilight saga. Even the Vatican is getting into the action with Monsignor Franco Perazzolo, the Culture Council leader for the Vatican, issuing a review that charges the film with demonstrating a "mixture of excesses" aimed at young people and delivering a "deviant message" in a movie that is "nothing more than a moral vacuum."

I don't know if I would go that far in discussing the film, especially since I haven't seen it. Yet I wonder what you think? Is New Moon delivering a bad message to teens or is it just another fun romp in adolescent imaginings? Is it worth seeing, or do you think it should be avoided? Share your opinion in the poll below:

Vatican: New Moon is a "Moral Vacuum" originally appeared on About.com Christian Teens on Saturday, November 21st, 2009 at 20:19:07.

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Sunday Scripture: James 1:19

2009-11-15T22:06:32Z

James 1:19 - "My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,"" (NIV)

I know that I can sometimes be quick to say something before I really think things through. Either I end up embarrassing myself or hurting someone's feelings. In the end, my quick response can sometimes hurt us both. God asks each of us to do more listening than responding, to think before we speak, and to not allow anger to take us over.

Yet making that change isn't always easy. We develop habits that take root. We need to put effort in through prayer and persistence in order to break those habits. Change doesn't come quickly, but it can come. Whether we are stressed, tired, or just have a tendency to say the first thing that comes in our heads, we sometimes need to take a break and be aware of how our words affect those around us.

Sunday Scripture: James 1:19 originally appeared on About.com Christian Teens on Sunday, November 15th, 2009 at 22:06:32.

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2012: Are You Going to See It?

2009-11-12T22:19:05Z

Courtesy of Sony Pictures

Until the year 2012 passes, there will still be plenty of debate on the Mayan prediction of an apocalypse. While just about every religion has some sort of "end of the world" scenario, it seems that Hollywood likes to add plenty of their own stories to the mix. Tomorrow director Roland Emmerich and Sony Studios rolls out another disaster/end of the world movie to thrill and excite you. Except this time, the movie might make you think a bit.

2012 does wallow in a number of disaster movie cliches, which seem to be bothersome at first. Yet, if you can get over the stereotypical situations and characters, there are some great life lessons about human nature. How would you react if you found out the world as you knew it was going to disappear? What if you knew resources would become scarce or that someone around you was in danger? These are the questions that come up, and ones that make us keep going to these disaster movies.

Still, from a Christian point of view, the Bible tells us that the end will come like a thief in the night. While the scientists in the movie make the predictions, the Bible tells us the end is on God's time. While Hollywood threw wrenches in the scientists' plans by speeding up the apocalypse for dramatic value, Christians may walk away with a sneaky feeling that we can make all the predictions we want based on science, but God's still going to do it His way.

Read the review of 2012

2012: Are You Going to See It? originally appeared on About.com Christian Teens on Thursday, November 12th, 2009 at 22:19:05.

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What to Do with Creative Energy

2009-11-10T15:39:29Z

One of the wonderful blessings God provides us is creativity. Each of us has a creative side that shows itself in some way shape or form, so why not find a way to harness that into youth leadership events?

There are so many things youth leaders and pastors can do to help foster God's creative gifts to us. From battle of the band events to craft shows to poetry readings, using events to show off the talents of creative youth group members is a way to get people involved.

Whether you're a participant showing off your creative side or a spectator enjoying what talents God has provided, these types of events allow youth groups to grow together in celebration of one another.

What to Do with Creative Energy originally appeared on About.com Christian Teens on Tuesday, November 10th, 2009 at 15:39:29.

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Sunday Scripture: Proverbs 24:5

2009-11-08T13:12:08Z

Proverbs 24:5 - "The wise are mightier than the strong, and those with knowledge grow stronger and stronger."" (NLT)

I am not really sure when we started down this path of believing that intelligence wasn't important, but it seems like we reward ignorance far too much. People become rich and famous for nothing more than being pretty or unintelligent. It makes it seem like there is no reason to grow in our knowledge of things.

Yet God tells us something different. Wisdom and knowledge make us far more powerful than the world tells us about. Wisdom that comes from God makes us truly strong, because there is an assurance and strength that God provides to us in understanding. We should never shy away from wanting to be smarter. There is nothing wrong with being the smartest or wisest, in fact, God tells us that there is a strength in wisdom that we should strive toward.

Sunday Scripture: Proverbs 24:5 originally appeared on About.com Christian Teens on Sunday, November 8th, 2009 at 13:12:08.

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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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