New Teen Leaders!!!

I wanted to welcome our new Teen Leaders, Danny and Vero, to our family. We're happy you have joined the team and look forward to working with you to help the youth of America.

Memory Scripture-Ephesians 4:2-3

"Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace."

Justine 28
April 22
Cynthia 25
Matt Epps 16
K Tan 28
Taraneh 28
Maria 28
Ejay 25
Erick 28
Daniel 0
Drew 0
Ashley 24
Frankie 0
JP 0
Michael 0
Ray 0
Herlinda 28
Juan 0
John Q 13
Karina 28
Mike W 28

Total POssible points: 28

Good News

Hello all,

We just came back from a short trip to Yosemite with Marcel's mom and Deion. I wanted to share with all of you how inspiring it was to see some of God's creation at its best. Look forward to seeing you all soon!

Does Prayer Change God?

See Malachi 3:6 and Hosea 11:8. In one scripture God says he doesn’t change, and in another he says his heart is changed. So which one is it?

The Christian writer Origen reasoned that if God already knows what is going to happen, and if it must happen in that way, then there is no point to prayer. And if everything happens according to God’s will, and if what is God’s will is fixed, then prayer is pointless.

What good is prayer in a predetermined world?

But if you turn to the Bible’s view of history, you see God as a personal being that listens to prayers and then responds. Jesus was the perfect picture of that (praying to a personal God). The disciples believed this too and picked up right where Jesus left off, making specific and personal prayers for God to act on.

Some see God’s omniscience (knowing everything) as a reason not to pray. Why pray if God already knows? In contrast, Jesus treated God’s knowledge not as a deterrent but as a positive motivation to pray: We don’t have to gain God’s attention by long prayers and big words. We don’t have to convince him of the sincerity of our needs. God already knows and we already have his ear. God knows everything about us and he is not bored – he listens. So, we can get right to the point.

Throughout the Bible, God is portrayed as being deeply affected by people, both positively and negatively. God “delights in those who fear him,” but is also wearied by disobedience.

The scriptures give even more descriptions of prayer affecting God:

Ask and it will be given to you. (Don’t ask and will it not be given to you?)

And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well.
The prayer of the righteous man is powerful and effective.

The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer.

You do not have because you do not ask God.


And there are Old Testament stories that underscore this point as well. When God sent the prophet Isaiah to inform King Hezekiah of his imminent death, Hezekiah prayed for more time. Before Isaiah left the palace grounds, God changed his mind, granting Hezekiah fifteen more years of life.

Four times the Old Testament reports that God “relented” or “changed his mind” in response to a request, and each shift postponed a promised punishment. If you think that prayer has no affect on God, look at God’s track record. He may not do everything that you want when you want it, but he listens and considers your request. That, in itself is comforting, encouraging, and just downright cool.

Check this Out!!!

This is encouraging. Come on, Ray!!!

http://00ebe80.netsolhost.com/pcconline/soundslides_FA08/senate_spiritual%20battleground/

Finals.

As the school year comes to a close, Finals arrive. Everyone knows about finals. Even for adults hearing the word finals makes them panic imagining past experiences of being unprepared and still taking a test. But fortunately for me, I will not have any final exams or papers for my last semester of high school. Isnt God good?
See, 5 out of my 6 classes are AP classes. The entire purpose of AP classes are to pass the AP test. Since the AP tests occur in a two week span in early May, AP classes are virtually done with come finals week.
Instead of exercising laziness like most seniors are doing this late in the school year, I have decided to offer up my intellectual abilities and high school experience to help those that are actually having to take finals. I thought it would be a start in giving back, now that I am nearing the end of my teen ministry years. So teens, if you would like help, please inform me. Practically speaking, you may bring your work to midweek where I will have the easiest opportunity to help you. Or you may call me for immediate help or to schedule a time in which we can meet up in person to study.