Teenage Disease is Spreading Fast

All over the world, people are being diagnosed with a terrible disease. Although anyone is susceptible to this disease, teens seem to be the most contagious. This disease has spread worldwide, but the most cases have been reported in the wealthier countries of the world, such as the United Sates, Australia, Europe, and many more. Experts are now calling this disease affluenza. You may not have heard of it before. However, the chances are that you already have it!!! Not sure? Watch this video and see if you can identify with any of the symptoms.



Affluenza - a feeling of dissatisfaction, anxiety, etc, caused by the dogged and ongoing pursuit of more.

Have you been infected?

Wow. I don't know about you, but I am definitely guilty of breeding "affluenza" in my own life. How can any of us ever think that we've got it tough, that life isn't fair? After seeing a video like that, my little, every-day complaints appear as the awful sins that they really are.

If you have not read Francis Chan's Crazy Love, then I highly recommend that you do! These facts about our wealth are taken from his book:

If one hundred people represented the world's population, fifty-three of those would live on less than $2 a day. Do you realize that if you make $4,000 a month, you automatically make more than the average person on this planet?

I can't tell you how often I've thought that I actually need something. Need something. Not only that, but so often I find myself discontent with the possessions I have. I hate to think of what God feels about this sin. Don't you think He just wants to spit us out of His mouth??? I cannot imagine the kind of disgust He has towards my ungratefulness.

We need to wake up and see that we are blessed. Abundantly blessed! Why do you think God has put you where you are with what you have? Do you think maybe it could be because He wants us to use our blessings to provide for the needs of others, for those who have nothing? We are supposed to love those people just as much as we love ourselves (Matt. 22:39).

I want to see God's blessings in a new way. I want to stop complaining. I want to be known as a giver, not a taker.

I want to do something.

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On a side note, I want to mention a few ways that you can do something:

Check out  Jumps 4 Joy where the goal this year is to raise enough money to build  two wells in 3rd world countries.
Or check out  Teens 4 orphans where the goal is to raise funds to build an orphanage in Myanmar.
You also have to see Do: Living Water, a project that is working to raise $25,000 dollars for clean wells in the Congo.

Each of these organizations were started by teens!!!

Exercise Curse

"Carrying the Cross Around the World"

"The cross is a reminder of God's love for all people. It is at the foot of the cross where the best of God meets the worst of mankind." -- Keith Wheeler

Keith Wheeler felt God's call in 1985 to carry a 12-foot wooden cross through the streets in Tulsa, Oklahoma on Good Friday. Sounds crazy? Keith Wheeler thought so too. But these words kept burning in his heart:

"Anyone can carry a cross--think about Simon of Cyrene; he carried Jesus' cross. Anyone can die on a cross--think about the two thieves on either side of Jesus. Only One, however, could die for the sins of the world ... and that was because of love. I want you to take the cross and identify that message of love along the roadsides of this world."

Since carrying the cross in Tulsa that Good Friday, Wheeler carried the cross to Oklahoma City and then to Arkansas, then eventually overseas. He has now walked with the cross for 25 years, nearly 20,000 miles, and through more than 185 countries on all seven continents.

Keith has carried the cross through Rwanda, Bosnia, Chechnya, Nicaragua, El Salvador, all throughout the Middle East - Iraq, Iran, even Antarctica!!! Though most counties welcome him, he has been arrested many times and jailed (none for crimes). He has also been held at gunpoint, beaten and left for dead, accused of being a spy for the CIA, run over and stabbed.

Keith obeys God no matter the cost, and God has continually provided for and protected him. In Kieth's own words, "When God called me to the mission of taking the cross to the nations of the world I felt His instruction was to "seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness …" (Matthew 6:33). I felt that He said that if I pursued His Kingdom, His righteousness, and His purposes that He would meet all the necessary needs. I have been amazed at God's grace and mercy as He has provided for and watched over me as I have gone with the cross, and the message of God's love into the world. I can truly say Jesus has done it all!!"

Mark 8:34: "If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me."






This video is about 20 minutes, but please watch it. This is one of the most inspirational videos I have ever seen. You have to see it! Keith shows what it really means to follow Christ.




For more information about Keith Wheeler, visit his website at http://www.kw.org/index.htm, or see these articles:


http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=11&articleid=20100403_18_A1_KeithW827779&archive=yes


http://www.newson6.com/global/story.asp?s=12249438

Miss Personality

Don't Forget....

As you go throughout your day today, remember that today is the National Day of Prayer. I would encourage you to set aside some time to pray along with fellow believers around the nation. But let's not pray just because this is the NDP, but because Christ commands it and because it is a privilege! We all say that prayer is powerful...let's live it out!

2 Chronicles 7:14

If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

Poaching, Contacts, and Other Various Contemplations

After many months of continual matches, the tennis season is finally over. For those of you who don't know, I joined a home school tennis team this year. My dad and my brothers have played for years, so I figured this would be a good year to join in (not to mention that my dad is the coach)! It has been so much fun playing all the schools around the area--our team has a winning record!

I have learned so much this year and have improved a bunch (if I do say so myself) =D. It definitely has been a challenge learning to play with one hand, but I've learned not to let that stop me from trying anything new! I'm so glad I decided to play this year!

So, as the tennis season is coming to an end, I thought I'd leave you with some of my "profound" thoughts about this tennis season:


~Whoever came up with the scoring for tennis was a complete wacko!
~Don't judge a player by their "cover"
~Poaching does not refer to illegally killing animals or cooking eggs (and is totally legal in tennis!!!)
~Always have an extra pair of contacts with you in case one falls out while you're in the middle of a match
~And if you think your contact fell out while you were playing, make sure it's not stuck somewhere in your eye
~Half of the battle is footwork
~Put sunscreen on before you play
~The wind is a great excuse for a bad shot =)
~"Hit the strings" means the middle of your racket
~Don't call a shot out until it hits the ground (oops!)
~Overheads are awesome!
~It's not uncommon to get pegged in the face
~Tennis matches can go on for a LONG time (my teammate had a 3-hour match!)
~Keeping your eye on the ball doesn't guarantee you'll hit it


Now I'm still planning on playing tennis through the summer, but it will be mostly practice an tournaments. What about you guys? Do you play any sports? If not, let me recommend tennis. =)

Check out this court! I would totally play on this one (just be sure to bring plenty of balls)!!!

National Day of Prayer - get involved!

On May 6th, 2010, believers around the nation will come before God in prayer. Even though it was ruled unconstitutional, The National Day of Prayer will still be observed this year. Our country is in need of prayer more than ever. We all know this, but does it change how we pray...how much we pray? This year, I want to specifically set aside time--extra time--to pray this Thursday...and I want you to get involved too! So what can we do?

From the Boundless website, here are a few things you can do:

• Attend a NDP event
• Read the NDP blog
• Sign up for weekly prayer tips
• Keep up with NDP on facebook
• Watch NDP videos on Youtube
• Follow their tweets

Will you join me in praying this Thursday?

"We stand tallest when we are on our knees."
--Billy Graham

"Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire?"
--Corrie ten Boom

"Prayer does not fit us for the greater work, prayer is the greater work."
--Oswald Chambers