National Survey Shows That 61 Percent of Youths Believe That Antibiotics Can Protect Them From Catching a Virus: Financial News - Yahoo! Finance

Youths in the U.S. don't necessarily distinguish viruses from other causal agents of illness, and their beliefs regarding the efficacy of prevention options reflect this

ROCHESTER, N.Y., July 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Today's young people, tweens (ages 8 to 12) and teens (ages 13 to 18) are raised in a world where potentially deadly viruses frequently make news headlines. In addition to Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) the virus that causes Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), recent public attention has also focused on viruses such as those which cause bird flu (avian influenza), Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and Hepatitis C (HepC). Prevention messages often target youth and the success of this messaging may well be influenced by kids' and teens' assessment of their own risk and their understanding of what viruses are. Recently, Harris Interactive posed a series of questions to young people about viruses and the illnesses they cause. An astonishing 61 percent of youths agree that antibiotics can protect them from catching a virus. This result and others indicate that youths... (Click the link above to read the rest of this story)

Mission trip thoughts...

In just a few days we will embark on our first youth mission trip. We have had our share of bumps and bruises along the way. When we started this process we had no clue what we were doing. Fortunately I was smart enough to go with an established group. I just wish they would make the information on who, what, when, where, and how available before you register for the trip. Parents really would appreciate that and so would I. Don't get me wrong, since signing up they have been getting us all the information that we need as well as working with us to make sure that we do everything that we need to.

We are going to Indianapolis, IN to participate in Group Workcamps "Week of Hope." There were a few reasons that we went with Group this year, the main one being cost. With a limited budget $219 was very doable. We chose the "Week of Hope" program because we wanted to start with something a little easier since we had no idea what we were getting ourselves into.

"Week of Hope" is described on Group Workcamps website:

Affordable “Community Service” Camps

Week of Hope is an affordable summer mission trip at just $219 per person.It’s five days of service. A lifetime of rewards.

The Experience:
Each of these Week of Hope student mission trips offers your youth a unique opportunity to:

• Offer hope to people in need and demonstrate Christ’s love

• Serve in a meaningful way without special skills or experience

• Develop close friendships with students from other churches

• Experience powerful worship and inspiring devotions

• Grow closer to Jesus

Each day of these youth missions, your students will enjoy meaningful, interactive worship and devotion times, plus individual youth group devotions. You and your young people will have lots of chances to spend time together and connect more deeply in your Christian faith. You’ll also meet new people who will help cement the lessons learned through worship and devotion. It’s moving. It’s fun. And it’s life-changing!

The Service:
All you need is a willing heart…no special skills required! Week of Hope teen mission trips are packed with practical acts of service and love. Your youth will develop meaningful friendships as they meet the spiritual, physical and emotional needs of needy children, youth and adults.

This may include:

• Providing meals to the homeless

• Tutoring poor or struggling children

• Helping host sport camps

• Organizing a home or sprucing up a dilapidated yard

• Painting a room or deep cleaning a home

• Sharing stories with a lonely elderly person in an assisted living facility

Whatever the service, your team’s acts of kindness will be rewarding to your group, and will “mean the world” to the people you serve. This is a week that’s all about developing relationships—with the people you’re serving, with the new friends you’ll meet, with your own youth group and most importantly, with Jesus.

All of our youth mission trips place spiritual growth as a top priority—even over the acts of service.

It was that last line that was the clincher for me, they place spiritual growth as their top priority. In doing that they will get the acts of service.

Since I still need to prepare for youth group tonight, Bible studies on Thursday and Friday, the monthly newsletter, and the youth led service on July 30th I had better get to them. Make sure to accept all of the blessings that God has for you.

Because of Him,

Terry

African Anglicans slam US church as gay row deepens - Reuters.com

The debate heats up in other denominations too.

Because of Him,

Terry

Democrat Obama urges response to religious right - Reuters.com

Hmmm ... This deserves some discussion. I especially like the quote from Sen. Obama, "Nothing is more transparent than inauthentic expressions of faith -- the politician who shows up at a black church around election time and claps -- off rhythm -- to the gospel choir."

You can also watch it at: http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=2133032

Because of Him,

Terry

July 2006 Newsletter

Hi All,
Last month I talked about prayer. This month I want to tell you about a prayer. The following is an excerpt from the blog that I have been doing as an Elder Commissioner to the 217th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA). The blog can be found at: http://217ga.blogspot.com/

From Sunday, June 18, 2006:
Last night after I left the committee meeting I stopped in the atrium to post to the blog and I ran into Rev. Russell Smith who I had meet earlier in the day because he had found this blog. ... We talked for about an hour during which time he told me about a 4-year-old girl in his congregation whose name is Regan Harper. Regan has cancer. What is worse is that the doctors are baffled as to what to do with this cancer. It is unlike anything that they have dealt with. They have prayed and the Elders have anointed her with oil. I told him that I would pray for her and that I would let our prayer warriors know so they could pray for her too. We I got back to my room I turned on the TV and after a short time I was overwhelmed with the need to pray for Regan and as I began to pray I realized that I needed to look outside and up into the heavens. I had muted the TV but the light from it, my laptop, and the laps that were on in the room were causing a glare so I turned them all off except for the bathroom light so I would not trip around the room. I shut the bathroom door until it was open just enough to let out a little of the light. It was just enough. I went to the window and tried to open the shears but they were stuck in place. I continued my prayer for Regan, her family, her friends, and her church. As I prayed I sank to my knees grabbing the bar on the inside of the window and I looked out into the night sky. To the right of my and just up a little bit I saw it. The unlikely combination of the light that I had on and the shears had created it. I saw the cross. I began to think about when Jesus healed the boy in Matthew 17. It was not about Jesus forcing out the demon that drew me to that passage, it is what he told his followers in verse 20 when He said, "… I tell you the truth, if your faith is as big as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. All things will be possible for you." I also thought about the when Jesus healed the soldier’s servant in Matthew 8:5-11, 13: When Jesus entered the city of Capernaum, an army officer came to him, begging for help. The officer said, "Lord, my servant is at home in bed. He can’t move his body and is in much pain." Jesus said to the officer, "I will go and heal him." The officer answered, "Lord, I am not worthy for you to come into my house. You only need to command it, and my servant will be healed. I, too, am a man under the authority of others, and I have soldiers under my command. I tell one soldier, ‘Go,’ and he goes. I tell another soldier, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and my servant does it. When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. He said to those who were following him, "I tell you the truth, this is the greatest faith I have found, even in Israel. …Then Jesus said to the officer, "Go home. Your servant will be healed just as you believed he would." And his servant was healed that same hour. I am not sure that I have as much faith as the soldier, but I would like to think that I do. I do know that I have faith at least the size of a mustard seed and Jesus had told his followers that that would be large enough. I know that God is holding Regan in His arms and that He will heal her because Jesus has already told me that my faith is big enough. As I reflected on this time today I realized that it was not just a cross that I had seen. I also saw a white flowing robe and I believe that as I prayed last night that Jesus was giving me His undivided attention. Praise God. Thank you Jesus. Please say a prayer for Regan and her family; I know they would deeply appreciate it.

From Tuesday, June 27, 2006:
More prayers for Regan...
This past Saturday (6/24/2006) Raising Praise Ministries and The New 89.1 The Spirit presented a free concert at Marion (IA) Square Park at which our Praise & Worship team performed. Prior to our turn I went to the prayer tent to ask for prayer for Regan. What happened next blew my mind. I told those that were there about Regan and about my previous prayer for her. Instead of us holding hands they wanted to lay hands on me, that is when I say it out of the corner of my eye. There was a child size Barbie foldable chair. I immediately grabbed it and asked that we all stand around the chair and lay hands on it as if Regan was sitting there. Mary Ellen who was heading up the group could not believe it. She is the one that brought the chair not knowing why as she does not have any children that age. Now she knew. They had me take a seat behind the Barbie chair and I laid hands on it, as did those standing in front of it. The rest laid hands on me and we prayed. To say that I was moved would be an understatement. I was blown away. You could feel the presence of the Holy Spirit there moving around us. We prayed and prayed. I don't think that there was a dry eye amongst us. There are now at least two groups of prayer warriors in the Cedar Rapids/Marion area that are praying for Regan, her family, friends, and church. God's Blessings to you.

Because of Him,

Terry

Upcoming Meetings
July:

• Join us on the 5th for movie night beginning at 5:15 PM. This would be a great night to invite some friends, just let us know how many are coming so we can make sure that we have enough to eat (please be sure to bring $3 to help cover the cost of the meal). Are you part of another youth group? Have your youth leader get a hold of us; we would love to have you join us!
• On the 12th and the 26th we will worship and fellowship from 5:45 to 6:45 P.M.
• There is no youth group on July 19th.

Events not scheduled yet will be announced as far in advance as possible so you can make plans to attend.
The movie scheduled to be shown could change without warning due to availability.

Upcoming Concerts/Events
July
18th Hus Racing League. Youth working in the kitchen from 10 AM - 3 PM. Fundraiser
16th We leave for our first youth mission trip
22nd We return from the mission trip
30th BOOM Sunday - Operation Christmas Child kickoff

Every Monday: Youth Prayer Time, 7 PM at the old SW Target parking lot.
Every Thursday: High School Bible Study
11 AM at Java Creek on the corner of Boyson Road NE and C Ave. NE.
Every Friday: Marion High School Bible Study
11 AM at Perkins on the Collins Road NE.

Times subject to change.

A conversation with God
Hi God. This month is full of new things. We will be going on our first mission trip and ask for safe travel. Bless those that we are going to serve and also the youth that are serving. We pray that you would touch all of their lives in a very special and personal way. Thank you for the blessing of this youth ministry to be a part of an outreach to the Kirkwood students. I pray that we would also be able to reach out to the youth at College Community Schools. In Jesus’ precious and holy name, Amen.

Happy is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he chose for his very own. - Psalm 33:12(NCV)

Teen Shares Self-Injury Secret, Tracy Smith Talks To A Teen Who Overcame The Problem - CBS News

How scary it is to feel so bad emotionally that you have to intentionally hurt yourself physically to try and feel better. This article does a nice job of letting us look at what one young woman went through.