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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

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The Razor’s Edge


I remember the conversation as though it were yesterday. I was a young, inexperienced, and very naïve youth worker who was certain I had all the answers. A student leader in the youth group had set up a meeting with me to “talk about a few things,” which I interpreted as “please bless me with your infinite pastoral wisdom” - right?

the-razors-edge-1Then she showed me her wrists…

At first I didn’t know what to process. Her skin was road mapped with scars that paralleled and crisscrossed the landscape of her forearms. Then I realized that whatever “wisdom” I had to offer wasn’t going to be much help.

“Ally” was a cutter. On the outside, she had everything together, but her internal state was a boiling cauldron of stress, family dysfunction and unresolved pain that had erupted into self-harming behaviors.

“At first it was just safety pins,” Ally informed me, but like any other addiction, the cuts needed to be sharper and go deeper to obtain the same level of relief. In the beginning, the external scars were a visual catharsis that represented the internal wounding her family had inflicted on her soul. But now she was at the point of utter helplessness and desperation.

Obviously, Ally is not alone. In fact, Teen Vogue recently called cutting “the new anorexia,” as millions upon millions of teens and young adults deal with the pain of life through self-injure. At one time this heartbreaking issue was mainly confined to those outside Christian circles, but that is no longer the case.

And chances are, you personally know someone who self-injures - but the question is - what are you going to do about it?

First and most importantly, someone trapped in the horrific pattern of self-injury needs to know that they are unconditionally and unrelentingly loved. Here’s how the Bible put it:

 

Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed. Share their burdens, and so complete Christ’s law. If you think you are too good for that, you are badly deceived (Galatians 6:2-3, The Message).
 

Trust me, those who self-injure are some of the most “oppressed” people around. This behavior is not “their fault,” and trust me, if they could just quit cold turkey, it would happen in a heartbeat.

But the cutting is more than a stress relief, it is a cry for help, and you are the one who can answer that cry. Many people really do think they are too good to help people in this addictive state, but truth be told - we all have self-destructive tendencies and dysfunctional behaviors - cutters just can’t hide it as well as we do.

 

the-razors-edge-2Secondly, people who self-injure need to know where they can find healing. You must help them seek professional assistance, because cutting is not the real issue. The cause of self-injury is deeply rooted in self-image and body image perceptions, and there are Christian counselors available to help them get to the root of their struggles and help them deal with stress in a healthy way.
 

But the ultimate healing that will lead them into the abundant and fulfilling life they have dreamed about is found in only one place:

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”                                                                                        - Jesus, (Matthew 11:28-30).

No amount of therapy and processing the past will close the wounds and heal the scars that have formed through the years, but there is a Person whose wrists were nailed and whose body was mutilated on our behalf. It is by His wounds that everlasting healing is available, but there are many who have no idea that there is One called the Great Physician who will bring restoration and joy to a broken spirit.

Jesus is the Light of the World, and only He can lead our friends out of the darkness they live with every minute of every day. Pray for those who are caught in this addiction, and remember that a huge part of living out THE Cause is leading people to the One who can “bind up the brokenhearted.”



Flashpoint







This week, pay careful attention to the conversations and encounters you have with your friends. If they seem to be disengaged or have drastic mood swings, it may indicate a problem. Look for ways to engage them in conversations about the love of Jesus and the healing that comes through the gospel.


Accelerant
Pray

Jesus, there are so many who are hurting and need Your healing. Help others see how You have given us new life, and give them a desire to find salvation in You, too.


Read1 Peter 2:24. He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed.


GetIf you or your friends struggle with self-injury, get help. Connecting with your youth leader is good place to start, or talk to a trusted teacher or counselor at your school. They can assist you in finding help locally in your own community. If you aren’t comfortable with confiding in someone you know personally, call one of the hotlines below or visit these websites. They’ll connect you with people who are trained to help.

My Broken Palace www.mybrokenpalace.com

 
Dawson McAllister Hopeline 1-800-394-HOPE (1-800-394-4673) or www.thehopeline.com/getHelp  


 
Self-Injury Outreach and Support sioutreach.org/

Source: Dare2Share.org

Used by Permission

      

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Creation Q & A

What is in the Animal Kingdom's Medicine Cabinet?
 

If you live in the jungle and have an itch, where do you go to get relief if the local clinic won’t let you in? Not a problem for monkeys and many others of God’s creatures. They can find their own herbal remedies … without a doctor’s help!

Holly Dublin’s observations took a sharply unexpected turn. For more than a year, the World Wildlife Fund researcher had tracked the movements of a pregnant African elephant. During that time, the animal lived a fairly predictable life: a few miles’ journey with the herd each day to graze on the usual 500 pounds (227 kg) of leaves and herbs.

But then, around the end of her pregnancy, the animal broke the routine and trekked 17 miles (27 km) across East Africa in a single day. Much to Dublin’s surprise, the elephant suddenly had a taste for a tree in the Boraginaceae family—so much so, in fact, that the elephant ate all of it … leaves, trunk, everything.1

So, why would an elephant with plenty of food available make a long journey to track down a particular tree? The answer reveals something amazing about God’s care for His creation—and us—even in a world that’s groaning because of sin.


Consider the Ravens

Most of us humans are well armed when it comes to dealing with minor sicknesses. Our closets and cabinets overflow with pain relievers, fever fighters, cough quellers, and stomach soothers. We reach in, swallow the right pill, and expect relief soon.

For animals in the wild, the medicine cabinet seems at first glance to be pretty bare, and you might think they’re just left out in the cold when it comes to finding remedies. But even with the fallen nature of our world, the Creator hasn’t left untamed creatures, like the ravens that neither sow nor reap (Luke 12:24), defenseless against all the things that ail them. In fact, He’s stocked their “closets” with a cornucopia of cures.

Of course, you’d be excused for thinking these treatments look a whole lot like your run-of-the-mill sticks, insects, leaves, and dirt. But to animals living in nature, these everyday wonders are just as useful as that well-stocked medicine cabinet.


Dealing with Parasites

For most African apes, parasites are just a way of life. During the rainy season especially, parasitic larvae commonly infect the digestive tracts of chimps, bonobos, and gorillas. The troubled apes, however, have a unique method of dealing with these unwanted gastrointestinal guests. Even with much tastier treats around, the apes will swipe bristly leaves from plants such as Aspilia in the sunflower family, carefully fold them up, and swallow them without chewing.1

While these leaves offer no nutritional value and usually aren’t a part of the ape’s diet, the Aspilia-eating isn’t just for fun. Instead, these fuzzy leaves act much like Velcro in the apes’ stomachs and intestines. Parasites get trapped by the bristles and folds of the leaves and are swept out. Chemicals in the plant may also keep the parasites from overstaying their welcome.

Monarch butterflies seem to know a useful plant when they see one. When a mother has been infected by a tiny parasite that pokes holes in her skin, she carefully flits around to taste various milkweed plants. Her fussy behavior doesn’t mean she’s a picky eater. The evidence indicates that she’s looking for the tropical milkweed to lay her eggs on. When her baby caterpillars munch on the tropical milkweed instead of the more common swamp milkweed, the extra doses of plant steroids keep the parasites at bay for the next generation.3

The pesky fruit fly has a similar weapon in its arsenal when fighting off parasitic wasps, which lay their eggs in the flies. To deal with the infestation, the fruit flies eat foods rich in alcohol. While the alcohol doesn’t impact the flies, it often prevents the wasps from developing.5


Protecting the Home

Parasites also come knocking where animals live, but God provided a number of resources for animals to protect themselves. For example, the duskyfooted woodrat builds its nests from piles of sticks, which may reach several feet in height and width. To make their hovels cozier, the animals construct several chambers connected by tunnels. Researchers at Vassar College in New York discovered that the rats scatter bay plant leaves around their moss-covered sleeping chambers, even tearing the leaves to release the strong aroma. These bay leaves appear to inhibit the growth of flea larvae, a common nuisance for the furry creatures.

6Birds, too, know a bit about protecting their homes. While the nests themselves are a study in masterful architecture, what goes into those nests can be just as fascinating. Many avian species select plant materials that reduce pests and hinder the growth of bacteria. For instance, starlings weave into their nests a few leaves from wild carrots to repel mites.8


Rubbing It In

Pests never rest, at least that’s how it seems when gnats and biting flies swoop in. While many large creatures have tails to swish the bugs away, other animals have rubbed up against another God-given solution.

In the tropical forests of Venezuela, swarms of mosquitoes descend on whatever animals happen to be close by—except for some clever capuchin monkeys. Instead of bug repellant, these simians use something a bit more … well … natural. The monkeys poke around in termite mounds or tree bark until they find a certain millipede (Orthoporus dorsovittatus) and then smash the specimen into their fur from head to feet. Powerful chemicals in the millipede drive the mosquitoes to look elsewhere for a meal.9

The common grackle also knows a thing or two about rubbing in relief. Like many other birds, the grackle bows to the ground with its wings outstretched to let ants crawl on (called “anting”), or it sometimes rubs them over its feathers using its beak. The ants secrete formic acid that helps keep pests away. But if it can’t find ants, the bird has been known to “wrestle” with marigold blossoms, take a dip in walnut juice, or splash on some lemon or lime to do the same thing.11


Eating Dirt

The pharmacy God provided is a bit more down-to-earth for some animals—really down-to-earth. Leaf-eating giraffes, for instance, have been known to scoop up a mouthful of dirt from termite mounds and swallow it down. Scientists call this behavior geophagy, which comes from two Greek root words that essentially mean “eating dirt.”

The giraffes aren’t just playing with mud pies, though. The clay in the termite mound contains elements that coat the animals’ stomachs and give them relief. (It’s not too different from you gulping down some antacids to soothe a bellyache.) Those compounds may also neutralize plant and bacterial toxins in the giraffe’s diet.12

Dirt connoisseurs come in smaller sizes, too. One researcher observed several bird species in New Guinea flocking to dirt exposed by a landslide. In a land covered with trees and grass, the rare exposed clay proved irresistible.14 But why would animals eat dirt? Well, dirt may in some cases contain minerals essential for health, or provide grit for gizzards (a digestive organ) to aid in grinding up food.15 In this case, the dirt provided chemicals that detoxify poisons in plants.


Preparing for New Life

For some motherly animals, the expectation of new life is a vital time to hunt for remedies. Pregnant sifaka lemurs sometimes munch the bark of fig and tamarind trees before giving birth. Compounds in the bark help encourage milk production and also get rid of nasty gut parasites (now that’s a combo meal).12

This type of behavior also helps explain the unusual craving that drove a pregnant elephant to tromp 17 miles to wolf down a special kind of tree. As the local researcher continued rustling through the leaves for an answer, she found that Kenyan women in the area have long used tea from the same tree to induce labor. The elephant, which gobbled up the whole thing, apparently preferred a quicker method.


The Father’s Care

According to Jesus, studying how God takes care of the animals can tell us quite a bit about how He cares for us (Luke 12:24). They don’t hit the supermarket, worry about where they’ll eat, or stock medicine cabinets full of pills. Instead, the Lord faithfully supplies their needs—even in a sin-cursed world. They suffer from parasites, diseases, and infections, but they find remedies right at hand. (The solutions may not always be so palatable for us, but we can’t argue with the results.)

That doesn’t mean we should necessarily empty our medicine cabinets and start scrounging for more natural cures, covering our skin with smooshed millipedes, or sampling dirt. Rather, the example from creation is much more powerful when we see the bigger picture: If God provides so well for the animals, you can be sure He knows how to handle the problems in our lives as well.

 

Source: AnswersinGenesis.org

 

http://srv.ezinedirector.net/?n=3373435&s=98471187
 


Creation News

Click on the Bible above or visit the web site listed below!

http://www.HeartTouchers.com/Creation_News

This new addition to our web site will give you an article on the leading news in the
Creation/Evolution controversy each day. This section also includes a rotating
Question and Answer feature and a weekly Creation Comic strip from the people
at AnswersInGenesis.org. Be sure to come back and visit each day for an informative
article that will help you keep up to date on the latest news in this controversial area!

 

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Thought For The Day

"It is what we give up, not what we lay up, that adds to our lasting store."--Hosea Ballou



Verse for the Day

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth... but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven...For where your treasure is there your heart will be also." --Matthew 6:19-21


Toddler's Thought For The Day

"If it is closed, it must be opened. If it does not open, it must be screamed at."



Parent's Thought For The Day

"The main purpose of holding children's parties is to remind yourself that there are children more awful than your own."


Coach's Thought For The Day


"The Lord gave us two ends to use; one to think with, the other to sit on. Which one we use will determine how well we do in life. In other words, heads you win, tails you lose."


Deep Thought For The Day

Hypocrite: Someone who complains that there is too much sex and violence on his DVR.

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Over 375,000 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.

 

http://www.faithcommunitychurch.net/Youth


ALL-STAR Youth Ministry
 

--The Youth Church of Faith Community Church in Janesville, WI

Check out our youth group! If you are in 7-12th grade and live in the southern Wisconsin/northern Illinois area come check us out! Jr. High meets on Sunday mornings from 9:30 am - 10:30 am. High School age meets on 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 Pontiac Convention Center.)

Currently we have students from Edgerton, Fort Atkinson, Milton, Janesville Craig, Janesville Parker, Marshall, Franklin, Edison, Clinton, Parkview, Beloit Memorial, and Beloit Turner, Tagos, Oakhill Christian and Rock County Christian. 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.

 

This Week: Sunday October 13

Special Guests: Focus One


Visit our youth web site to see our topics through 2014!

http://www.faithcommunitychurch.net/upcoming_topics



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http://www.faithcommunitychurch.net/Small_Groups

Teen Community Groups

6:30 - 8:00 PM Wednesday nights -- This night is for those teens who want to dig deeper than what we do on Sundays. These cell groups will also be doing special activities with each other as the year goes on to build community.

 


For more info on our small groups, visit: http://www.faithcommunitychurch.net/small_groups

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