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Rom 12:2 Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.

Rom 12:3 I'm speaking to you out of deep gratitude for all that God has given me, and especially as I have responsibilities in relation to you. Living then, as every one of you does, in pure grace, it's important that you not misinterpret yourselves as people who are bringing this goodness to God. No, God brings it all to you. The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us, not by what we are and what we do for him.

You're really showing how foolish you are when you live your life just trying to fit in to this temporary culture. Following the crowd is like a dog chasing it's tail because all the others in the crowd are trying to find someone to follow too.

There are some people, however, who step out and discover that there is a leader who will not fail. His name is Jesus. He proved His love for you on the cross. His love is perfect, and you do not have to fear someone who loves you perfectly. On the other hand, just being different because you hate following the crowd is really the same thing. You're still making decisions based on what the crowd is or isn't doing. You're just doing the opposite.

You take pride in being different, but that is not a worthy goal in life. It's fluff. What about having a REAL purpose? Well, we only achieve our real purpose by seeing ourselves like God sees us. If you've accepted Jesus as your replacement, then God sees perfection. "But I do bad stuff still?" you might say, and I would respond by saying - that's where you need to start thinking differently.

You DECIDE that what God says is true and what I feel, think, hear, or see that's opposite is NOT true. Deciding that every day is how you are transformed by the renewing of your mind.

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"1Peter 5:5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. "

That word humility means lowliness of mind or humiliation of mind.

The word humble means depressed, humiliated (in circumstances or disposition), base, cast down, of low degree, lowly.

The word proud means appearing above others

The word resisteth means opposes.

Does that give you some ideas? Look if you feel left out, you're actually in a good place to receive the grace of God, not necessarily because God likes you better, but because you are beginning to see that your efforts to fit in will never get you what you're looking for. You already fit in with God. If you've accepted Jesus as your Savior then the Word says you ALREADY ARE loved and HIGHLY FAVORED. Just quit. Quit trying to fit in. Spend your time discovering the person God sees in you already. Somehow this changes things in your life right now. You stop having to prove anything to the world, become settled and content. You find it's okay to obey those who are over you because it doesn't take away from YOU at all! Nobody can do that when you know who you are.

I can guarantee you one thing. You are accepted right here. People may not be all into you or the things you do and say, but they CAN recognize Christ in you. So let Him live through you by giving up!

The folks who have hardened their hearts to God will likely always reject Him. When you encounter these people, nothing you do or say will change their minds. Don't take it personally. It's not you they are rejecting, but God in you. Pray for them, that their hearts will soften, and they will begin to experience the Life of God YOU have found.

Finally, surround yourself with the people who support God's Life in you. Find friends who encourage you, who recognize you may not have it all together in your own abilities, but Jesus in you makes you RIGHT!

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Everyone faces challenges. It's not really fair to compare yourself with someone else. You may think they have it easy, but there maybe something going on with them you don't know about. On the other hand, you may think this other person really has a terrible life, and you're just glad you're not like that.

The Bible warns against this because God knew that this thinking can cause major problems. 

2 Corinthians 10:12 (New American Standard Bible)

For we are not bold to class or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves; but when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding.

But everyone has a choice whether or not to rise to those challenges or to be overtaken by them.

If you're a leader, then you view challenges as a way to grow as a person. It doesn't mean we think those situations or obstacles are great, and it doesn't mean we're totally happy to see them. It just means we know who -- and WHOSE -- we are!

Here are some great personal things you can do now so that you are stronger and better able to RISE to challenges you might face -- with God's grace:

(From The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens, by Sean Covey)

1. The next time someone flips you the bird, give them the peace sign back.
2.  Listen carefully to your words today. Count how many times you use reactive language, such as "You make me ..." "I have to ..." "Why can't they ..." "I can't ..."
3. Do something today that you have wanted to do but never dared. Leave your comfort zone and go for it. Ask someone to hang out, raise your hand in class, or join a team.
4. Write yourself a Post-It note: "I will not let ___________________ decide how I'm going to feel." Place it in your locker, on your mirror, or in your planner and refer to it often.
5. At the next party or event, don't just sit against the wall and wait for excitement to find you, you find it. Walk up and introduce yourself to someone new.
6. The next time you receive a grade that you think is unfair, don't blow it off or cry about it, make an appointment with the teacher to discuss it and then see what you can learn.
7. If you get in a fight with a parent or a friend, be the first to apologize. 

 And finally, Dennis and I would love to hear how you faced your challenges. Share it with the group at the next Downpour.

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"People may not think I know a buttload of crap about the gospel ... but I do"

Do you feel like Nacho felt when he said that? 

1 Timothy 4:12 (Amplified Bible) Let no one despise or think less of you because of your youth, but be an example (pattern) for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity.

You know the gospel - the good news. It's God's Good News that He's not mad at the world anymore. He wants a relationship. Jesus paid the price once and for all. The way was made clear for everyone to come to the Father through Jesus' death and resurrection. 

When we believe that Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice in our place, we accept a free gift of salvation. We're saved from separation from God forever. We're saved from condemnation and guilt. 

It's like someone else went to court for our offense, and they were sentenced in our place - forever!

You know the love of God, the goodness of God. You know the gospel. 

Now live your life like you do!

And if you have a friend who doesn't get it? Just tell them you're concerned about their salvation and stuff.

And remember ... sometimes when you're a man you wear stretchy pants in your room ... just for fun.

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I just wanted to share this chapter of the Bible with you guys. It speaks for itself.

1 Do not envy wicked men,
do not desire their company;

2 for their hearts plot violence,
and their lips talk about making trouble.

3 By wisdom a house is built,
and through understanding it is established;

4 through knowledge its rooms are filled
with rare and beautiful treasures.

5 A wise man has great power,
and a man of knowledge increases strength;

6 for waging war you need guidance,
and for victory many advisers.

7 Wisdom is too high for a fool;
in the assembly at the gate he has nothing to say.

8 He who plots evil
will be known as a schemer.

9 The schemes of folly are sin,
and men detest a mocker.

10 If you falter in times of trouble,
how small is your strength!

11 Rescue those being led away to death;
hold back those staggering toward slaughter.

12 If you say, "But we knew nothing about this,"
does not he who weighs the heart perceive it?
Does not he who guards your life know it?
Will he not repay each person according to what he has done?

13 Eat honey, my son, for it is good;
honey from the comb is sweet to your taste.

14 Know also that wisdom is sweet to your soul;
if you find it, there is a future hope for you,
and your hope will not be cut off.

15 Do not lie in wait like an outlaw against a righteous man's house,
do not raid his dwelling place;

16 for though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again,
but the wicked are brought down by calamity.

17 Do not gloat when your enemy falls;
when he stumbles, do not let your heart rejoice,

18 or the LORD will see and disapprove
and turn his wrath away from him.

19 Do not fret because of evil men
or be envious of the wicked,

20 for the evil man has no future hope,
and the lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out.

21 Fear the LORD and the king, my son,
and do not join with the rebellious,

22 for those two will send sudden destruction upon them,
and who knows what calamities they can bring?
Further Sayings of the Wise

23 These also are sayings of the wise:
To show partiality in judging is not good:

24 Whoever says to the guilty, "You are innocent"-
peoples will curse him and nations denounce him.

25 But it will go well with those who convict the guilty,
and rich blessing will come upon them.

26 An honest answer
is like a kiss on the lips.

27 Finish your outdoor work
and get your fields ready;
after that, build your house.

28 Do not testify against your neighbor without cause,
or use your lips to deceive.

29 Do not say, "I'll do to him as he has done to me;
I'll pay that man back for what he did."

30 I went past the field of the sluggard,
past the vineyard of the man who lacks judgment;

31 thorns had come up everywhere,
the ground was covered with weeds,
and the stone wall was in ruins.

32 I applied my heart to what I observed
and learned a lesson from what I saw:

33 A little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands to rest-

34 and poverty will come on you like a bandit
and scarcity like an armed man. [a]

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This place has seen a lot of changes over the years. Each year we get a new vision and a new face.

The goal is never to change just for the sake of changing, but to change to fit the purposes of God. This website is dedicated to a group of people who are on a journey to discovering their destiny. Their ages are varied, but they are all in transition from childhood to adulthood. 

Each journey is different, but I can promise you it's quite a ride. 

We hope to help you along the way, and we're there when you can't see beyond the curve.

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