SC3 STUDENT E-MAIL NEWSLETTER 8.8.05 ++

SC3 STUDENT E-MAIL NEWSLETTER 8.8.05 ++
+ New blogs and pictures up @ www.sc3youth.blogspot.com/ and www.myspace.com/cdgant
+ Testimony Tuesday & Mar Far Golf this week! Call for a ride to Mar Far Golf.
Contents
1. Something for Your Heart
2. Surf Report
3. Forgettable Fact
4. Potent Quotables
5. Parting Shot
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1. SOMETHING FOR YOUR HEART
August 13 is National Left-Handers Day. It's a day to remember those in our population who stand out in their preference of which hand to use when writing, throwing, and doing other physical stuff. If you're among that approximately 10 percent of left-handers, it's a day to recognize the struggles you and your fellow lefties face by being in the minority. If you're a majority right-hander, it's a day to think about some of the challenges you'll never have to endure (such as ugly marks on your arm made by spiral notebooks during a long writing assignment).
This may seem like just another silly celebration, but the fact is, we ought to do more to recognize and celebrate the things that make us different and unique. Most of us usually try much too hard to be like everyone else. For example, a girl might have incredibly gorgeous red hair. But if she's teased about it once or twice, she's eager to dye it a "regular" color. A guy who is a little taller than all his friends should feel kind of special, yet is often made to feel self-conscious about it (with comments like "How's the weather up there?").
Just think how totally boring this world would be if everyone looked exactly alike. Yet rather than celebrate our uniqueness, every year we buy billions of dollars' worth of diet products, cosmetics, and clothing in an attempt to look just like everyone else.
And physical differences aren't the worst of it. Some of us even put down people whose talents and gifts differ from our own. If someone has better math skills, we label him a geek. If someone's coordination is not what ours is, we label her a klutz. We're big on labels. Many of us have a wide assortment of demeaning labels to describe anyone not exactly like us.
Jesus always seemed to go out of his way to relate to people who were different and tended to be overlooked by "regular" people: women, little children, lepers, Samaritans, short people like Zacchaeus, and people with all kinds of physical problems. In many cases, his willingness to befriend such people had life-changing results for them.
In some parts of the country, teenagers are catching on to what Jesus taught and are finding worth in themselves, regardless of the labels that others try to impose. They may prefer playing in the orchestra to attending rock concerts, or choose scouting over cheerleading, or like science fiction more than graphic novels ... but they're beginning to take pride in what they do and who they are. They refuse to be ashamed to be "Band Geeks" or "Orch[estra] Dorks" or "Mathletes." Just the opposite: many are making or buying shirts to proudly proclaim the fact.
So just as left-handers have learned to celebrate their uniqueness, so should you--whatever your uniqueness happens to be. God created you to be special, and is very pleased when you excel in your distinctive area(s) of life. You should be, too.
On your own ...
Read 1 Corinthians 12:14-26.
http://biblegateway.com/cgi-bin/bible?language=english&version=NLT&passage=1Corinthians+12%3A14-26
Paul compares the different gifts and abilities of people to various parts of the human body. He points out that it takes all of them working together to function properly. Think about the different people you know. How might you benefit from getting to know each of those people better? How might they benefit from getting to know you better?
2. SURF REPORT
~ The Grandparent Connection
Cool, teen-written newspaper designed to keep grandkids and grandparents connected
http://www.meridianskydesign.com/grandparentconnection.html
~ eHow
Need to know how to change a tire? Get rid of shoe odor? Take the skin off chicken? Check out the site that offers "the fastest and easiest way to find out how to do just about anything."
http://www.ehow.com
3. FORGETTABLE FACT
27,000 pieces of luggage are lost or misdirected by U.S. airlines every day.
4. POTENT QUOTABLES
The world is made up of people who never quite get into the first team, and who just miss the prizes at the flower show.
- Jacob Bronowski
There is no such thing [as great people]! The greatest man or woman is 99 percent just like yourself.
- George Bernard Shaw
It is not only the most difficult thing to know oneself, but the most inconvenient one, too. - H.W. Shaw
5. PARTING SHOT
Imagine how much better summer would be if Noah had swatted those two mosquitoes after he got off the ark.
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