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Table of Contents

Monthly Grub 3MOV Column 4FiTAVIi GIrls 5Epic Fail 6Passing the Baton 7Awack Pics 8 Psalmist Quarters 9

Thanks for checking out the AWaCKs Newsletter! We chose to name it the BE247 because Jeremiah 24:7 says “I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart.” We are a youth group striving to have a heart that knows God, an ear tuned into His voice and passion for His work - 24 hours a day - 7 days a week! We hope this motivates you to do great things for His Kingdom! God Bless you as you live for Him 24/7!!

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“Lighten Up”

by Alyxandria Peddle

Hey AWaCks! I am super excited about our Newsletter. We have a great committee that is going to work really hard on keeping it entertaining and very satisfying and extremely motivat-ing to do great things for God! We are going to have 1 featured guest/month starting next month! But, for this month you’ve got me! I just want to share a little thought with you about Lighten Up! I was praying about my life’s problems. Do you have life prob-lems? Feeling tight with finances? In a rush to get married? More focused on your future career than your future ministry? Want your own car? Stressed about Bible Quizzing? Have a big test coming up at school? Want a better cell phone? Get in a fight with your parents? It doesn’t matter what age you are – we all have problems. To others they seem insignificant and even silly but to you it is a big deal, a huge deal

– okay maybe even an early life crisis! Whatever it is, it keeps you up at night & you just ain’t gonna put up with it no more! Well – I can tell you exactly how to solve all your life problems! Just…Lighten Up!

“Lighten Up” has 2 meanings: 1. Cheer up! Let it go! Peace man! It’s all good! Just give your problems to God and trust Him. He won’t let you down – ever. 2. Shine brighter for God! We aren’t here on this earth for ourselves – we were sinners, we’ve been redeemed and now it’s our turn to go show the redemption to the sinners! Lighten Up!

Each of these meaning, I believe, go hand-in-hand. If you lighten up and give God your load He will take the burden off of you. The Bible says in Matthew 11:30 that His yoke is easy and His burden is light. In the Message version it says “Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” So, in order to solve all your life’s problems – give everything to God, keep company with Him daily, read & study the manual (that’s the Bible for all you blondies!) and just Lighten Up!

Alright guys I’m excited about starting this column for the young men of our youth group! The name of this column is going to be MOV to symbolize that we are Men of Valor! The definition of valor is: “Great courage in the face of danger” That’s us! When the enemy tries to attack – God gives us courage to stand in the face of danger, to defend and protect, to stand up and be genuine Men of Valor!

First off I want to say that all of you guys are needed and each have a unique purpose in our youth group, never let anyone else tell you other-wise! Second, if any of you young men have any comments or sug-gestions for what you would like to see in this column feel free to give your opinions and thoughts!

Okay so for my first article I want to share something with you that I found very intriguing and inter-esting.

I came across a YouTube video

I saw called “The Strangest Secret”. And in this video the speaker brought up a key point that I believe will determine how successful you will be at whatever you do in this life. Are you ready? “A man will become whatever it is he thinks about all the time”. A very simple line, right? But think about it. How bad do you want to accomplish that goal that you hold in the back of your mind? Do you think of ways to accomplish it? Do you sacrifice

free time for it? God gave each of us an amazing mind that is literally capable of accomplish-ing anything. Seriously,

anything you want to do or become is at

your dis-posal. So keep your eyes on the prize, because

one of the most reward-ing feelings you will ever experience in this life is a goal accomplished that

you worked and sacrificed for. As Jesus said, “Ask and it shall be given you, seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you.” And remember, be confi-

dent and hold your head up high because you’re a prince of the King who owns everything.

God bless you guys! Samuel D. Orazio

All of you guys are needed and each have a unique purpose in

our youth group

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Hello FITAVII Girls!

Have you ever known a per-son who you love to be

around? This person may not be one

of your closest friends; it may be that girl you see at youth camp once a year, it may be

that elder that sits on one of the

back pews each Sunday morning,

or it may even be your brother. Can you close your eyes for 30 seconds and name three people that you love to be around? Three people who make you feel valued, important, special, respected. People who show you love. People who you can be your true self around, without feeling judged.

Now, that you have those people in your mind, ask yourself these questions: Am I one of those people for someone else? Do I make people feel valued, important, special and respected? When people are near me do they feel the love of Jesus through me? Are people able to be themselves around me

without being judged or feeling like they are go-ing to be gossiped about?

What do people see in you? Do they see Jesus when they look at you?

As FITAVII girls we are –

F orgivingI ntelligentT rustworthyA nointedVictoriousI ntuitiveI ncredible

“The only Jesus that some people will see is the Jesus they see in you and me.”

Let’s show the world Jesus!

-SarahB.-

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by Amber Sirstad

Epic Fail:Definition of epic failure-Complete-ly failed attempt to do something that would be considered rather simple.

This year on our annual snow trip we were all bound and determined to go and have fun with NO bumps or bruises. We all jumped out of the vain and hit the hill! After climb-ing up the treacherous mountain Amber E. was ready to show off her mad sledding skills. After getting about ¾ of the way down she falls off the sled. She was trying to retain

her balance after she got up, being complete-

ly discombobu-lated she was not

sure which way was what. To her dismay, a kid came bolt-

ing down on an inner tube, just as she stood up the guy “swept her off her feet”…literally… EPIC FAIL!

Then…

As we all know Amber S. does not have very good luck. Her first car was….well….special. After it finally gave up the ghost, she bought a new one. She is very proud of her spar-kling blue PT Cruiser. Very excited that she will not have to worry about car problems…..only to go out to her car one morning and to her dis-may it will not start. She had to get a new battery, belts, and breaks re-placed… EPIC FAIL

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By Jordan Orazio

Interview with an elder at the AWC…just passing down the wisdom!

This month’s featured elder:

Frank Von Hutton

Q: When you were young, what did you want to be when you grew up?A: I wanted to be involved with music. I played the Tuba in High School and learned a good variety of instruments!Q: How old were you when you got the Holy Ghost?A: 12, almost 13!Q: What is your favorite miracle that God did in your life?A: When I was a child I had a heart con-

dition but when I was in 5th grade God healed me!! The doctor said “it’s like you got a new heart!”Q: What is your favorite food?A: Cheese fondue from Gustav’s or brazed chicken with cooked cabbage…pretty much any German food! Q: What is your favorite place that you have traveled to?A: I have been to 40 states but nothing tops Mt. Hood! Q: Chips Ahoy or Oreos?A: Oreos!Q: What is your favorite child hood mem-ory?A: When I got the Holy Ghost! I felt God so strong and I felt Him calling me to preach!Q: What was your first car?A: 1947 Chevy Club Coupe – 2 door ->

Q: What was your first job?A: Besides working for my dad, a grocery store clerk in Stockton, CA.Q: What is your favorite Bible verse?A: Deuteronomy 6:7 - You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.

AWaCk Youth

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By Mary Portwood

Psalm 46:10 says:Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.This is one of my favorite scriptures in the Bible because it reminds me to just stop and take a breath once in a while. God’s got it all under con-trol, and regardless of the situation, He will see me through it.The song, “Still,” by Hillsong is along the same lines. It serves as both a prayer to God and a personal re-minder to one’s own soul. Some-times, I think we all need to be reminded to just stop. We seem to be good at forcing doors open, or at trying to come up with it quick-fix-it solutions. We do all these things while God just sits back and waits

for us to remember that we need to “be still, and know that He is God.”

The lyrics to the song say:Hide me nowUnder Your wingsCover meWithin Your mighty hand

Find rest my soulIn Christ aloneKnow His powerIn quietness and trust

When the oceans rise and thunders roarI will soar with You above the stormFather You are King over the floodI will be still and know You are God

Read Psalm 46 and see how God pre-vails! Then, check out Pentecostals of Alexandria’s ver-sion of this song on Youtube by clicking here.

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This magazine is published monthly by the Apostolic Worship Center of Gresham Oregon. All rights reserved. Copyright 2012 AWC Gresham.

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