February 26, 2007
Contents
1. 180 News
2. Something for Your Heart
3. Surf Report
4. Birthdays
5. Video of The Week
6. Forgettable Fact
7. Potent Quotables
8. Parting Shot
1. 180 NEWS
30 Hour Famine
What a weekend we had. Forty five us spent most of the weekend together, not eating, and seeking God's heart for the poor in our world. We were all moved, and changed. The money is still coming in and we look forward to sharing the amount real soon.
If you were a part of the weekend and would like to share your thoughts on what you gained from your experience, please email them to newsletter@180students.com. We would love to include them in next week's newsletter for all to benefit from what God accomplished in you.
To see all the pictures click here.
Read Pastor Brian's thoughts on the famine here.
2. SOMETHING FOR YOUR HEART
LIVING OUT LEADERSHIP TODAY
Many of us think we'll make a difference "someday." It seems like we often live for "someday." We think things will be better next semester. Or, it'll be easier when we make it to the next grade. Or, we'll be happier if we just had more money or a nicer house. But I think God wants us to live for him today—not just wait for "someday."
Throughout history God has used kids to accomplish his purposes. Think about David—too young and too small for a job bigger and older men had turned down. Men would have passed him by, but God used him to slay a giant. Or what about Mary? She was just a teenager, but God chose her to be the mother of Jesus. God could have chosen Elizabeth—someone older and more experienced who really wanted to be a mother. Certainly, Elizabeth would have been more qualified by the local gossipers' standards. But Mary was God's choice. And what about the kid with the sack lunch? Instead of having the disciples go fishing or providing food for the massive crowd in another way, Jesus decided to share the lunch of a young boy with a crowd of 5,000.
I think God is still about using kids and proving to the world he is the one who decides the abilities and usefulness of people. Take my friend Leeland—a guy who started writing songs and leading his congregation in worship when he was just a kid. He's being used to lead a whole new generation in getting closer to God through worship and praise. God didn't check Leeland's ID to make sure he was old enough. God used him because Lee was willing, available, and passionate.
So if you're thinking God has to wait for "someday" to use you, think again. God wants to use you right now. You can be a leader in your sphere of influence. You can lead in your school by speaking up when someone's being mistreated, or remaining silent when you're tempted to say something derogatory or hurtful. You can lead by befriending kids who are having a tough time, or not becoming arrogant or creating a clique because of your popularity. You can lead by setting a good example of character and solid morals by abstaining from sex and substances that harm your body. The qualities of a good leader are discernment (knowing when enough is enough), wisdom (applying biblical truth to everyday situations), confidence (not cockiness), and determination (stick-to-itiveness).
The Bible doesn't say you need to be a certain age to be a leader. In fact, 1 Timothy 4:12 says, "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity." Pretty amazing that God is saying young people should be the ones who set the example for others. It's important to know also that, as a leader, there is more expected from you. God actually judges leaders more harshly than he judges followers, because they have assumed positions as guides. There might be some junk in your life you need to clean up so you have credibility as a leader. It can help if you have someone older and more mature in your life who can help you deal with those rough spots. If you'll allow this person to be truthful with you about your flaws and weaknesses, and help you encounter God's grace for those areas, you'll grow closer to God in the process. Be willing to learn from those with more experience, so you'll be able to lead others in the right direction.
"Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity."
- 1 Timothy 4:12
**
Taken from "Be the Change," by Zach Hunter, copyright 2007, Youth Specialties/Zondervan. Used by permission. Order the book here.
3. SURF REPORT
~ Schools for Schools: Raise money at your school to help support war-torn schools in Uganda
~ Amazing Grace: A movie about William Wilberforce, who was the leader of the parliamentary campaign against the slave trade. William Wilberforce is one of the inspirations behind Zach Hunter's abolitionist movement.
4. BIRTHDAYS
We've got one birthday this week. BEST WISHES go out to Nate Tippie! Have a GREAT one!!
5. VIDEO OF THE WEEK
Our Mexico outreach plans were announced yesterday. We also viewed last year's video. If you weren't with us, here it is.
Be sure to check out our Mexico Outreach '07 web site for all the details of this year's trip, including downloads of all the forms needed for being a part of the team.
6. FORGETTABLE FACT
The average French citizen eats 500 snails a year.
7. POTENT QUOTABLES
"Faith never knows where it is being led, but it loves and knows the One who is leading."
- Oswald Chambers
"Faith sees the invisible, believes the unbelievable, and receives the impossible."
- Corrie Ten Boom
===========our|sponsor===========
YOU HAVE THE POWER TO CHANGE THE WORLD!
Many people think teenagers aren't capable of much. But Zach Hunter is proving those people wrong. He's only fifteen, but he's working to end slavery in the world—and he's making changes that affect millions of people. Find out how Zach is making a difference and how you can make changes in the things that you see wrong with our world.
Check out "Be the Change" here.
Also available in your local Christian bookstore
=================================
8. PARTING SHOT
Time is what keeps everything from happening at once.
1. 180 News
2. Something for Your Heart
3. Surf Report
4. Birthdays
5. Video of The Week
6. Forgettable Fact
7. Potent Quotables
8. Parting Shot
1. 180 NEWS
30 Hour Famine
What a weekend we had. Forty five us spent most of the weekend together, not eating, and seeking God's heart for the poor in our world. We were all moved, and changed. The money is still coming in and we look forward to sharing the amount real soon.
If you were a part of the weekend and would like to share your thoughts on what you gained from your experience, please email them to newsletter@180students.com. We would love to include them in next week's newsletter for all to benefit from what God accomplished in you.
To see all the pictures click here.
Read Pastor Brian's thoughts on the famine here.
2. SOMETHING FOR YOUR HEART
LIVING OUT LEADERSHIP TODAY
Many of us think we'll make a difference "someday." It seems like we often live for "someday." We think things will be better next semester. Or, it'll be easier when we make it to the next grade. Or, we'll be happier if we just had more money or a nicer house. But I think God wants us to live for him today—not just wait for "someday."
Throughout history God has used kids to accomplish his purposes. Think about David—too young and too small for a job bigger and older men had turned down. Men would have passed him by, but God used him to slay a giant. Or what about Mary? She was just a teenager, but God chose her to be the mother of Jesus. God could have chosen Elizabeth—someone older and more experienced who really wanted to be a mother. Certainly, Elizabeth would have been more qualified by the local gossipers' standards. But Mary was God's choice. And what about the kid with the sack lunch? Instead of having the disciples go fishing or providing food for the massive crowd in another way, Jesus decided to share the lunch of a young boy with a crowd of 5,000.
I think God is still about using kids and proving to the world he is the one who decides the abilities and usefulness of people. Take my friend Leeland—a guy who started writing songs and leading his congregation in worship when he was just a kid. He's being used to lead a whole new generation in getting closer to God through worship and praise. God didn't check Leeland's ID to make sure he was old enough. God used him because Lee was willing, available, and passionate.
So if you're thinking God has to wait for "someday" to use you, think again. God wants to use you right now. You can be a leader in your sphere of influence. You can lead in your school by speaking up when someone's being mistreated, or remaining silent when you're tempted to say something derogatory or hurtful. You can lead by befriending kids who are having a tough time, or not becoming arrogant or creating a clique because of your popularity. You can lead by setting a good example of character and solid morals by abstaining from sex and substances that harm your body. The qualities of a good leader are discernment (knowing when enough is enough), wisdom (applying biblical truth to everyday situations), confidence (not cockiness), and determination (stick-to-itiveness).
The Bible doesn't say you need to be a certain age to be a leader. In fact, 1 Timothy 4:12 says, "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity." Pretty amazing that God is saying young people should be the ones who set the example for others. It's important to know also that, as a leader, there is more expected from you. God actually judges leaders more harshly than he judges followers, because they have assumed positions as guides. There might be some junk in your life you need to clean up so you have credibility as a leader. It can help if you have someone older and more mature in your life who can help you deal with those rough spots. If you'll allow this person to be truthful with you about your flaws and weaknesses, and help you encounter God's grace for those areas, you'll grow closer to God in the process. Be willing to learn from those with more experience, so you'll be able to lead others in the right direction.
"Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity."
- 1 Timothy 4:12
**
Taken from "Be the Change," by Zach Hunter, copyright 2007, Youth Specialties/Zondervan. Used by permission. Order the book here.
3. SURF REPORT
~ Schools for Schools: Raise money at your school to help support war-torn schools in Uganda
~ Amazing Grace: A movie about William Wilberforce, who was the leader of the parliamentary campaign against the slave trade. William Wilberforce is one of the inspirations behind Zach Hunter's abolitionist movement.
4. BIRTHDAYS
We've got one birthday this week. BEST WISHES go out to Nate Tippie! Have a GREAT one!!
5. VIDEO OF THE WEEK
Our Mexico outreach plans were announced yesterday. We also viewed last year's video. If you weren't with us, here it is.
Be sure to check out our Mexico Outreach '07 web site for all the details of this year's trip, including downloads of all the forms needed for being a part of the team.
6. FORGETTABLE FACT
The average French citizen eats 500 snails a year.
7. POTENT QUOTABLES
"Faith never knows where it is being led, but it loves and knows the One who is leading."
- Oswald Chambers
"Faith sees the invisible, believes the unbelievable, and receives the impossible."
- Corrie Ten Boom
===========our|sponsor===========
YOU HAVE THE POWER TO CHANGE THE WORLD!
Many people think teenagers aren't capable of much. But Zach Hunter is proving those people wrong. He's only fifteen, but he's working to end slavery in the world—and he's making changes that affect millions of people. Find out how Zach is making a difference and how you can make changes in the things that you see wrong with our world.
Check out "Be the Change" here.
Also available in your local Christian bookstore
=================================
8. PARTING SHOT
Time is what keeps everything from happening at once.
