Volume 45 - No. 2
In This Issue
• Moment of Opportunity • Mind & Body Connection • Prayer Works —Today • How To Be A Rebel
Regular Features • Puzzle Page • Youth Update • Children’s Corner
When God is
Silent
Contents
Teen Life 4
When God Is Silent Take hold of Jesus and never let go
Gifted 10
Mind & Body Connection Remember to look after your whole body
At The Cross 12 Youth Challenger aims to prepare all youth for the soon coming of Christ. It is published by the Australasian Union Conference Young People’s Department of the Seventh Day Adventist Reform Movement. Annual Subscription for 2010 is AU$23.00. All money orders, cheques or donations should be sent to: Youth Challenger PO Box 132 Riverstone NSW 2765 Australia
e-mail address: youth_challenger@sdarm.org.au Editor Gerson Robles
Called to Serve God Following God’s calling
Relationships 14
Prayer Works — Today Prayer can work anywhere, anytime
Youth Update 16
How to be a Rebel NSW Youth Camp
Puzzle Page
Associate Editor Csongor Matyas Design Tabitha Hauptmann
Images www.stockxpert.com www.dreamstime.com
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The Whole Body WOrks Together Each affects the other
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The Family Poem
Children’s Corner 20
Little Things Small doesn’t mean unimportant Youth Challenger
Editorial
The Moment of
Opportunity by Csongor Matyas
When the rich young ruler came to our Lord and talked with Him about the way of life, we are told that “Jesus beholding him loved him� Mark 10:21. He wanted to do right. He was keeping the commandments to the best of his knowledge. Jesus was drawn to this fine, strong, upright young man, and rejoiced in his pure and beautiful life. So far no one had come to Him of such rare promise. What rich possibilities were here! Surely in this splendid youth was the making of a mighty champion of righteousness. To turn his life into richer, deeper channels, He suggested an act of sacrifice. He wanted the young man to realize that the keeping of the commandments, though very commendable and very necessary, was not sufficient of
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itself. Faith was indispensible, and could not in his case be developed until confidence in riches had been shaken. The young man went away sorrowful, not willing to make the surrender asked of him. Though he knew it not, the greatest opportunity of his life had passed. He held on to his money, but lost eternal riches. Instead of becoming a great leader in God’s cause and championing the fortunes of the early Christian church, he faded out of the picture, and all that remains is the record of his tragic failure. How will you make your choice when the opportunity comes to you? y
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Teen Life
When God is
Silent
by Brian Jaksic
I was 16 years old when I had to face my father, brothers, relatives, and friends about my decision to be a follower of Jesus. I vividly remember how fearful I was, and how isolated and alone I felt. My brothers, my relatives, and my friends told me that I needed to seek “professional” help. With my Orthodox-background believers, and communist/atheist ideologists I was in a “pressure cooker” situation, where many “helpers” made my life a struggle, filled with loneliness and fear. As I read in the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy books, and heard sermons about many great faith heroes, I wished that I had lived in their time and that I too could be counted among the faithful heros for Christ. I day-dreamed about the courage and faithfulness of Joseph, about Luther and of his courage to stand up for what he believed. I imagined him in front of the colourfully dressed, high-ranking clerics of the Diet of Worms, unshaken, strong, and confident. I could picture him saying his famous lines in a loud and confident tone; “Unless therefore I am convinced by the testimony of Scripture or by the clearest reasoning, unless I am persuaded by
means of the passages I have quoted, and unless they thus render my conscience bound by the word of God, I cannot and will not retract, for it is unsafe for a Christian to speak against his conscience” (Great Controversy, p. 160, para. 2).
The Persecuted Christian Jesus told His disciples that they were to be hated and persecuted by the world. “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you” John 15:18. “If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you” John 15:19. The apostle Paul also spoke of hatred and persecution of Christ’s followers. One incident that happened to me at the age of 17, but is still very vivid in my mind, was when I was called to do what was known as a pre-military training. Together with 400 seventeen years olds I was being trained in this forest-surrounded military camp. Our daily routine was in exercises, political indoctrination, and instructions how to defend our homeland. It was all fine until one day a high ranking Youth Challenger
Teen Life He proceeded to hit me and beat me with hatred that only the enemy of God can inspire.
military officer together with four others started attacking religion, Christianity in particular. As a 17 year old I had been reading my mother’s Bible, that she kept safe, for that was the only Bible that we had. The officer who was speaking called upon all those who read “That terrible book, the Bible” to come forward to the high platform from where he spoke. When he issued this challenge, a friend of mine who knew that I was reading God’s Word, asked me if I intend to go to the platform. I told him “Yes, I will go.” He urged me not to go, “For who knows what they will do to you” he pleaded. However I decided to go. After offering a short prayer I slowly went to the platform. Of the 400 only three of us went. I was the last one to be questioned by the now very angry officer. The other two he dismissed by hitting them with his heavy boot, and then with demonic fury he asked me “And why do you read the Bible”? “I read the Bible because the Bible tells me about Jesus Christ my Saviour” was my clear and loud reply. That was too much for the man who was filled with another spirit, opposite to the Spirit of God. He proceeded to hit me and beat me with hatred that only the enemy of God can inspire. That went on for sometime until I was on the ground and with heavy boots he was hitting and stomping on me. I recall feeling the pain for a while then no longer. By the strength that only the Lord can give I called out “you will stop me reading the Bible only if you kill me”. At this point I no longer recall what happened. When I regained sense two officers
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were dragging me from the platform and took me to a small room where they left me to lay on the floor. This incident was the turning point in my decision to be a follower of my crucified and risen Saviour. Throughout history God’s people have suffered persecution and depravity by the world. Millions have died a martyr’s death. However, the 20th century has witnessed the greatest persecution of all times. Statements such as, “More Christians have died for their faith in the 20th century than in all other centuries of church history combined” and “it is estimated that two-thirds of all the martyrs in Christian history died in the 20th century” are frequently used in reports and writings on worldwide persecution today.
The Tempted Christians Perhaps one of the most trying times for a Christian is when he finds himself in the mire of temptation and struggles to overcome sin. He reads in the Word of God of prayers answered, of victories won over sin. He reads Hebrews chapter 11 of those who “Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to
Teen Life I was an unhappy, lost man. I felt lost, forever lost. flight the armies of the aliens...”(Heb. 11:34) The whole of Hebrews 11 speaks of faith that was victorious.
Times when there is no answer—is God “silent” at such times? During the eight years that I worked with young people as GC YP Secretary many came to me with various problems they found too difficult to deal with. While it is vital to keep pointing to Jesus as the only answer to the sin problem, yet many have told me that despite their prayers, their cries, their struggles, they had no answers. Temptations seemed to be so overwhelming at times that all their “efforts” to resist ended in disappointing failures. They told me that there are times when it appears that God has totally forsaken them, does not hear them, and there is no ease of struggle. Here I quote from a letter I received from a young person who went through such an experience: “Dear Brother Jaksic, I greet you in the most precious name of Jesus our wonderful Saviour. He shed His blood on the cross of Calvary to rescue me, the greatest sinner of all. I thank you for your letter that brought me much joy and renewed my hope of victory through Jesus my Lord. I pray that the Lord will keep you safe and give you life to continue to bring hope to the hopeless, to those who feel that there is no end of misery and sorrow. To be a slave to sin is worse then death. I have been a slave, a hopeless slave to sin, until Jesus in His unfailing love touched
you to send me a message of hope, even a very faint hope that there can be freedom, a precious freedom from the chains of sin. Let me tell you that my life was filled with great sorrow and agony. I was an unhappy, lost man. I felt lost, forever lost. My life was filled with darkness, with sins that only the evil one can bring to sin-enslaved minds. Nothing, nothing made me happy, and nothing and nobody could bring me joy, not my mother, not my girlfriend, nor my siblings, in fact no one. My mind was totally occupied with sin; I would fall into a deep despair. I would lock myself into my room trying to run from all, to run from God, from my few friends, from myself. Even though I cried to God to give me peace, and deliver me from the clutches of the enemy of body and soul, yet in that state of mind I kept blaming God for making me the way I was, I blamed my parents, I blamed all but myself. I was in denial and in such a state of mind I could not rationally deal with my problem, and since I felt that I was forsaken of God I blamed all even for my very life, if I could call it life. It was rather like hellish existence. The feelings of despair were beyond any description. My cry to God was very agonizing, very loud and
Youth Challenger
Teen Life from the depth of my soul, yet there was no answer and no end to my miserable existence. I kept returning to revolting sins again and again. At times I would cry: “God if you are there, if you are seeing and hearing me why, oh why do You not rescue me from the horrors of the slavery of sin.” I would walk the streets as a mad person, feeling absolutely deranged. Then I would seek those who partook with me in this degradation. It would somehow ease the agony for a while, but then again the worse would come. Suicide was always on my mind, yet something kept me from taking the step. In the church that I attended, although not a member, I felt extremely out of place. I was a dead person, dead, dead, totally dead.
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I also looked upon others as total hypocrites, lost like me. That gave some satisfaction to my sin-enslaved mind. I also looked at other “normal” people who were not like me as “abnormal”. In despair I would cry: “O God, why? Why am I different? Why have You cursed me so much? What have I done that I should be so punished? If not You, who shall hear me and help me? Is there a way out of this darkness? Why don’t You hear my pleading and rescue me? I want to be rescued! Is there a rescue? I believed that I was forever lost, that there was no way of return, and that Jesus had rejected me, totally forsaken me. It seemed to me that God was SILENT, COMPLETELY SILENT, UNTIL A MIRACLE HAPPENED. Someone tells me, this voice tells me, “THERE IS HOPE. DO NOT HURT YOURSELF ANY MORE. LOOK TO JESUS. GOD LOVES YOU, HE DID NOT REJECT YOU. HE SENT HIS BELOVED SON TO DIE ON THE CRUEL CROSS FOR YOU. HE SHED HIS PRECIOUS BLOOD FOR YOU. HE DIED FOR YOU, YES FOR YOU! BELIEVE, BELIEVE AND BELIEVE.
Teen Life Behold your Redeemer and live. These words, I felt as never before had profound impact on my whole being. For the first time in my life I saw a glimpse of hope, hope that gave me to look, and LOOK, AND BEHOLD MY CRUCIFIED AND RISEN SAVIOUR. My life, until now worthless, became precious. I want to live, for HELP HAS COME, GOD IS THERE, HE HEARD MY AGONIZING CRY, and HE RESCUED ME; ME, UNTIL NOW THE HOPELESS SINNER. Ever since, I have been praising my Saviour and Redeemer.”
When God is “Silent” We need to see with the eye of faith that the “silence” of God is not the absence of God. Within those “silent” moments, or even long periods of time, He is present in our pain, suffering, and isolation. He is present when we suffer and battle with temptation, with agony of guilty conscience, with failings and defeats. It is vital for us to understand that only God knows why He allows storms of suffering and temptations to come upon us.
For our Good We can and should be absolutely certain that nothing will ever befall us for which God has not provided a way out. When we ultimately reach our eternal home, we will see God’s providence in every chapter of our lives. “The Father’s presence encircled Christ, and nothing befell Him but that which infinite love permitted for the blessing of the world. Here was His source of comfort, and it is for us...The blow that is aimed at him falls upon the Saviour, who surrounds
him with His presence...Nothing can touch him except by our Lord’s permission, and ‘all things’ that are permitted ‘work together for good to them that love God’. Romans 8:28.” Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, p. 71, para. 2.
Christ is hurting with us Within those “silent” times He is present in our pain, in our suffering, and in our agony. The battle we fight He knows, and He does not allow the enemy of souls to destroy us. When we are persecuted and tortured He is hurting with us. In His “silence” He is speaking loudly to the world around us. The greatest glory Jesus brought to God was not when He walked on the water or prayed for long hours, but when He cried in agony in the garden of Gethsemane.
The Value of the Soul “The value of a soul, who can estimate? Would you know its worth, go to Gethsemane, and there watch with Christ through those hours of anguish, when He sweat as it were great drops of blood. Look upon the Saviour uplifted on the cross. Hear that despairing cry, ‘My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?’ Mark 15:34. Look upon the wounded head, the pierced side, the marred feet. Remember that Christ risked all. For our redemption, heaven itself was imperiled. At the foot of the cross, remembering that for one sinner Christ would have laid down His life, you may estimate the value of a soul.” Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 196, para. 4. “In the Garden of Gethsemane Christ suffered in man’s stead, and the human nature of the Son of God staggered under
Youth Challenger
Teen Life Within those “silent” times He is the terrible horror of the guilt present in our pain, in our suffering, of sin, until from His pale and and in our agony. quivering lips was forced the agonizing cry, ‘O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me.’ …Human nature that bound me, and I will praise the Lord.’” would then and there have died under the Selected Message, Volume 3, p. 326, para.1 horror of the sense of sin, had not an angel “Is there not woe enough in this sinfrom heaven strengthened Him to bear stricken, sin-cursed earth to lead us to conthe agony…” God’s Amazing Grace, p. 168, secrate ourselves to the work of proclaimpara. 2. ing the message that ‘God so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son, He imbues the soul with that whosoever believeth in Him should Divine energy not perish, but have everlasting life’? This “True, we have no power to free ourearth has been trodden by the Son of God. selves from Satan’s control; but when we He came to bring men light and life, to set desire to be set free from sin, and in our them free from the bondage of sin. He is great need cry out for a power out of and coming again in power and great glory, to above ourselves, the powers of the soul are receive to Himself those who during this imbued with the divine energy of the Holy life have followed in His footsteps.” MediSpirit, and they obey the dictates of the cal Ministry, pp. 20-21. will in fulfilling the will of God.” Ma“Now I am victorious ranatha, p. 91, para. 4.
Take Hold of Jesus and Never Let Go “Again I bid you to look away from yourself. Look to Jesus. Take hold of the Mighty One, and never let go. Our Lord Jesus has expressed His love for you in that He gave His own life that you might be saved; you must not distrust that love. Do not look on the dark side. Be hopeful in God. By beholding Jesus as your sin-pardoning Saviour you become changed into His image. Say, ‘I have asked my Saviour, He has set me free, and I am free indeed. I am the Lord’s, and the Lord is mine. I will not fear. I know that He loves me in my infirmities, and I will not make Him sorry by showing that I distrust Him. I break with the enemy. Christ has cut the cords
Volume 45, Number 2
through Christ”
In closing I am further quoting from the letter written to “Dear Brother Jaksic:” The result: “With a heavy, half believing heart I then looked up and beheld my Redeemer hanging on the cruel cross telling me, ‘You are Mine, I love you, believe and trust.’ The chains of sin are broken. My Jesus gives me power to overcome temptations that the enemy still brings. At times I feel as if I am going to fail, the enemy still tries to enslave me but the sustaining grace of Christ gives me the victory, and I praise my Saviour. I now serve Him with my repented heart, and tell Him ‘Lord give me power to be totally Yours, to gain complete victory, and when You shall come please take me to your Heavenly home.’” y
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Gifted
Mind & Body
Connection by Alasdair Pow Did you know that good health is found in the brain as much as it is found in the body? It is important for young people to look after their brain and its development. Today the medical departments divide the body up and send some parts away to different specialists to fix up. Your heart goes to the cardiovascular specialist, your brain goes to the psychologist, and your stomach goes to the gastrointestinal specialist and so on. The connection between the mind and the body is little understood and poorly promoted in today’s society.
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The mind and the body are so closely connected that each affects the other whether for good or ill. This can be simply illustrated through the use of alcohol. If I ingest some alcoholic beverage into my stomach my mind becomes intoxicated by what I have drunk. The thoughts and emotions of the mind can be dramatically affected by the food and drink we consume. Many children suffer from behavioural problems simply by consuming foods which trigger negative reactions within the brain. We all have a chemical called serotonin inside our brain which is released by the body to stabilize our mood. When this hormonal substance is low and the body reuptakes this hormone too quickly, we can become depressed, anxious and irritable. What many do not know is the majority of serotonin resides in the digestion tract. When the digestive system is upset it can negatively affect the balance of serotonin within the brain thus helping to induce a low, depressed mood. This is the way some headaches are also caused—the origin of the pain often begins in the digestion tract. The same goes with the mind affecting and influencing the body; for certain mental stimuli can affect the body’s physiology. Mental Stress can cause pressure upon the cardiovascular system and subsequently
Youth Challenger
Gifted The thoughts and emotions of the mind cause a heart attack and even can be dramatically affected by the death. The wrong activity of the food and drink we consume. mind therefore can become the real killer instead of the heart itself. The adrenal glands which sit just on top of our kidneys are responsilifestyle. Studies are revealing that physical ble for our stress response in the body. The exercise is one of the best remedies in the Hypothalamus in the brain sends signals prevention and treatment of depression. to the Pituitary gland, which is also in When considering your health, remember the brain, which then sends signals to the to look after your whole body instead of adrenal glands to start secreting anti-stress just focusing upon one area. hormones. The adrenal glands secrete antiOne of the best forms of exercise is garstress hormones to help the body cope dening—notice how many of the 8 health with the stress which is being experienced laws you can keep through gardening: by the mind. Too much mental stress can cause the body to secrete lots of these anti1. gives you physical exercise stress hormones like cortisol. If the stress 2. gives you sunshine continues then this can negatively affect many other areas of the body. One such 3. makes you thirsty and causes you example of that is the female hormone to drink estrogen which uses the same pathway 4. makes you tired and helps to give in the body as cortisol does. Too much you a good sleep stress causes the body to make lots of cortisol and less estrogen. Many women 5. gives you fresh air to breathe find it difficult to conceive when they 6. helps you meditate on spiritual are stressed due to the lack of estrogen things and relaxes the mind being made. Once the stress in the mind is relieved then the body stops making so 7. provides you good fresh organic much cortisol and then begins to make food to improve your nutrition more estrogen again and thus the woman 8. gives you a temperate balance bebecomes free to fall pregnant. The phrase tween mental and physical exercise “its all in the mind” isn’t so far away from the truth after all! Gardening is a great therapy in discoverMental illness is becoming a growing ing a balanced health for the body and the health problem in the midst of today’s mind – have a look out your back window hectic and pressured lifestyles. We need – is it time to get digging? Is it time to to be mindful though that this is not just plant those yummy veggies? Is your strugan illness of the mind but of the entire gle to pick up the hoe and spade in the body. Depression for example can be mind, the body or both—can you see the dramatically reduced through eating the connection? y correct nutritious food and modifying our
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At the Cross
Called to
Serve God by Hayden Wiseman
It was the 2nd of February, 2009, when I was first called to serve God in the capacity of being a Bible Worker. I was so surprised and shocked at this unexpected call that it took quite a lot of prayer and thought as to whether I should accept the call or not. I had always thought that I could do the best work for God in making music and doing missionary work in playing the violin for His glory. But then I remembered that when the church people gather together to make a decision, we can take that decision as being the voice of God. I asked myself the questions, Have I really been open and sincere in following God’s will in the past, whatever it might be? Do I really know what it means to deny myself and take up my cross? Will I do what God tells me to do? After asking questions like this, and experiencing two miracles that opened up the way for me to go to the work, I realized that God knows what is best for my life and that He will guide me and give me strength in doing His will, and it was then that I made my decision to follow God’s calling and to do whatever He wanted me to do. When Jesus talked to His disciples in Matthew 16:24 about following Him, the things they needed to do were, deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow.
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Whenever people commit their lives to God in accepting Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour, they are accepting God’s will for their lives, and they should be ready to do whatever God calls them to do, whether it is the smallest thing like changing their diet, or even if it is some great thing like going to another country to do missionary work. We have to continually commit our heart to God so that we will always be ready for whatever He asks of us. “Consecrate yourself to God in the morning; make this your very first work. Let your prayer be, ‘Take me, O Lord, as wholly Thine. I lay all my plans at Thy feet. Use me today in Thy service. Abide with me, and let all my work be wrought in Thee.’ ”(The Faith I Live By, p.125, para. 4) We have different examples in the Bible of people following God’s commands. There is the experience of Abraham when he was called out from his home country, into a land that God would shew him. Abraham didn’t question, he just did what God commanded, “So Abram departed, as the Lord had spoken unto him;”Genesis 12:4. There is also the experience of Elisha being called by Elijah to work for God while he was plowing with oxen on the land. Elisha’s response was incredible: “Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and
Youth Challenger
At the Cross Are you ready and waiting to work for my mother, and then I will God when God calls you? Do you realize follow thee.” 1 Kings 19:20. where you stand in the great picture? He never even gave the call a second thought. He just left what he was doing and went to work back slidden that they do not realize that for God. they are setting their affections on earthly Dear Brethren, Sisters, and Youth, treasure, which is soon to be swept away Do you treasure heavenly treasure more forever. The love of the world is binding than anything else in the world? Are you them about, like a thick garment; and ready and waiting to work for God when unless they change their course, they will God calls you? Do you realize where you not know how precious it is to practice stand in the great picture? “The cause of self-denial for Christ’s sake.” (Review and God is to hold the first place in our plans Herald, October 31, 1893 par.7.) May we and affections. There is need of bearing a all examine ourselves in the sight of God straight message concerning the indulso that when we receive the call from Him gence of self while the cause of God is we will say like Isaiah, “Here am I, send in need of means. Some are so cold and me.” y
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Relationships
Prayer Works—
Today by Benjamin Thiel
Prayer – what is it? In this busy world of ours, in the struggles humanity faces in the daily round of life, somewhere, sometime there will be an empty place, a void where we realize a need and try to reach out for help outside of ourselves. Where do you turn in that time of need? How and where do you seek for the needed help? Have you found it? In the Bible, we are told to ask, to call on God. He has promised that He will hear us and give us an answer. We are also told that we really don’t know how to ask or what to ask for. “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” Romans 8:26 The fact that naturally we don’t know how to pray, or what to pray for, becomes evident as children are taught to pray. Parents may often be quite amazed at what their children pray for and just how the Lord works to answer those prayers! Once when I was a very small child we were praying at family worship. I don’t know what had gone wrong that day, or what my sister had done to me. In prayer I thanked God for some things and prayed “...and please help my sister to be eaten by a tiger.” To this day, I praise God He didn’t
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answer that prayer—at least not in the way I had asked, as it would have hurt me terribly. But looking back I realize that even this terrible prayer wasn’t ignored in heaven. Somehow, the Spirit worked to change the heart and we have generally gotten on well ever since. Thank God... “the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: and...maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” Romans 8:26. What can we learn from such an experience? The Bible says “except ye become as little children ye cannot enter the kingdom of heaven.” In what way are we to be like little children? Certainly not in praying vindictive prayers – no! Children are generally more open about their likes and dislikes and don’t hold grudges for long. In prayer they will often come straight out with requests that adults wouldn’t dream of making. They reveal what is in their heart. In this way we are to be like little children. God says to you and me, “my son give me thine heart.” What is in your heart? “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.” Mark 7:21-23. Youth Challenger
Relationships Are you willing to be open and honest enough to give your heart, your crazy messed up heart —now, just as it is? Are you willing to give it to Jesus for Him to change and govern? Come as a child without inhibitions and tell it to Jesus. Our God is able and willing to help. He wants to keep you from falling - Today! The same God that sent the most powerful angel in heaven—on a journey many light years away—to this tiny insignificant earth to help guide Daniel when he asked for understanding, is willing to help you NOW! The question we must stop to ponder here is why, why is it that at times when we get into trouble that we don’t ask for help right away? Some years ago our family faced a terrible wind and hail storm. Large trees were snapped off or uprooted, and branches were blown some distance by the strong wind. One large branch flew into our neighbors house and broke through the roof into her kitchen. Our neighbour, who had never prayed before, shouted out “God Stop It!!” Meanwhile we were busy watching the storm from different parts of the house. Someone suggested we should pray but we were all too busy, mopping up water that had come in through a window that was left open, watching the large hail stones come in across the verandah almost horizontal! Next the gutter was ripped off the front of the house and we were worried the roof was starting to lift—then we prayed and the hail stopped and the storm subsided in two to three minutes! Whether its a literal terrible storm, or a storm of emotion to which we are subjected, or cannot control, the question
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Prayer can work for anyone anywhere, anytime. we must ask again is—Why wait? Why wait until things get really bad before we call, before we rely without wavering on God’s amazing power? “And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.” Psalm 50:15 There are many other experiences that I could relate, such as God’s protection in different situations, in redeeming me from destruction and injury, or bringing me out of doubt and skepticism, but what I would like to say is that prayer works. Prayer can work for anyone anywhere, anytime. No matter what your background, age, or gender, God is no respecter of persons. Prayer has changed many people and will work to change things today. Do not wait but call on the Lord, study His Word, claim His promises and prove them today. “Why should the sons and daughters of God be reluctant to pray, when prayer is the key in the hand of faith to unlock heaven's storehouse, where are treasured the boundless resources of Omnipotence? Without unceasing prayer and diligent watching we are in danger of growing careless and of deviating from the right path. The adversary seeks continually to obstruct the way to the mercy seat, that we may not by earnest supplication and faith obtain grace and power to resist temptation.” Steps to Christ 94, 95. y
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Youth Update
How to
Be A Rebel NSW Field Conference Youth Department ran their first Youth Seminar this year with youth attending from Victoria, Queensland and as far away as Hungary. The theme of the seminar was “How to
ndered what it would be like to receive rophet? Would you have the courage to pe and read its contents? letters written under the inspiration oung people to help them make the right
rtship and marriage. al relating to the circumstances and persons d by the compilers. This appears on a Some lengthy letters have been abridged cated; names have been changed. Additional letters, have been included in the various
ight kind of counsel so important as when emplating marriage. Since the Lord loves eternal life and a happy home, perhaps the e letters will help you to have both. the envelope” and read what the Lord has
Be a Rebel.” The new seating arrangement was a success, with all the youth having priority seating at front and adults towards the back.
Letters Young to
Lovers
.
EN G. WHITE ESTATE
ELLEN G. WHITE
The youth were pleasantly surprised when an anonymous person gave each one present this little booklet, “Letters to Young Lovers.”
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Youth Challenger
Youth Update
Phillip Gordon (NSW Youth Leader) and Jeremy Gordon both presented stirring messages with subjects titles like, “Fake Lions,” “What is Sin,” and “Conviction & Conversion.” The messages were short, interesting and to the point and appealed
to all present to rebel against the assumed authority of Satan through God’s power. The NSW Field Conference Youth Department plan to hold these seminars on the 13th Sabbath of each quarter.
About 60 young people attended this seminar on Sabbath 27th June. All those who went thoroughly enjoyed the meetings. Well done to all who had a part in preparing and working for the success of this seminar. Volume 45, Number 2
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Puzzle Page
The Whole Body
Works together Read the article on page 10 to understand more about the very real connection between the mind and body—then test your knowledge by completing the crossword!
Across 5. Plot of ground where plants such as fruits, vegetables or flowers are cultivated.
3. An organ of the body that is the centre of intelligence. 4. A way of life, influenced by the attitudes and values of a person.
6. Name of substance inside the brain, which may affect emotional states when released.
8. A period of rest, during which the body rebuilds and recuperates.
7. The thoughts and _________ can be dramatically affected by what we consume.
10. Moderate or self-restrained; balanced.
11. Physical activity, conducive to good circulation.
14. Substance with specific molecular composition, produced and released in the body
13. What we eat to sustain the health and strength of the body. 16. Absence of disease, wellbeing.
9. Pain within the head. 12. Light and direct rays from the sun.
15. When you are thirsty, you have a __________.
17. Secretion of an endocrine gland that is transmitted by the blood to the tissue on which it has a specific effect. 18. Frame of mind, usually refers to negative or positive state of emotions. 19. Organs of the body that filter waste, part of the urinary system. 20. Atmosphere we breathe.
Down 1. Mental, emotional or physical strain that may contribute to certain illnesses. 2. An intense, persistent state of unhappiness and hopelessness; despair.
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The Family How important it is, the family, When family times are so good, Where Daddy and Mummy treat kindly, And when children obey as they should. But Satan waits around the bend, To see what damage he can do, Ask Jesus to help us to send That old Devil packing for you!
Youth Challenger
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EclipseCrossword.com
Volume 45, Number 2
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Children’s Corner
Little Things by Kaylene Matyas
I’m sure you can think of many small things? Seeds, worms, ants, birds—there are many things that are considered small. But just because something is small, does it mean that it is not important? In Proverbs, King Solomon talked about four things that were small but very wise. “There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise: The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer; The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks; The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands; The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings' palaces.” Proverbs 30:24-28. You might remember the story of the talents that were given to the servants. The servants who received five and two talents went out and made more money for the master. But the one with the smallest gift
thought that because it was small, it didn’t matter. He hid his talent in the ground, and when the master came back, his talent was taken away from him. Now I have a question to ask you. Do you think that children are too small to work for Jesus? Too small to be faithful, and go to heaven when Jesus comes? You might be small, you might only have a small talent, but you can still work for Jesus. One day, when Jesus was on earth, the disciples sent some children away from Jesus so they would not disturb Him, but Jesus told them not to do that. This is what He said: “…Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” Matt 19:14. You are really big enough to work for Jesus, to be faithful to Him, and go to heaven when He comes to take His children. He wants you to do this. y
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