January 6, 2009

A teen and her mom were evicted from their apartment. She started blogging about the eviction, the first night spent in their car, how Denny’s was the only place where they could sleep outside in the car for up to four hours at a time…

Brandilyn Collins, a Christian author, connected with Katy and her mom. Ironic, because Katy’s mom is a huge fan of her books.

Brandilyn asked people to donate enough funds to get them into a temporary shelter. A woman drove to them that day and paid for a hotel room for two nights.

Then a local station picked up on the story. Then it went nationwide.

Good news, right? Yes and no.

Sophie is fielding questions about her health, why her mother doesn’t work, why they are taking “handouts”.

But they are also putting a face on homelessness, especially what it is like to be 16 and find yourself living in a car and running from security who want you off their parking lot.

Are you warm right now? I am.

Is your stomach full. Mine is.

Did you spend Christmas day living in a car? I didn’t.

Do you want to learn more about Sophie? I do. Check out her Christmas story here.

What can one teen do? Pray for this family. Donate a few bucks (information on Brandilynn’s site). Help a homeless shelter in your area by donating food or your time. Give to your church’s food pantry: soups, toilet paper, shampoo, canned meat, peanut butter, jelly (not just green beans or corn).

Stop by Katy’s blog and let her know that you care at her blog, Destination Anywhere But Here.

Filed under: Change*the*World!, faith in action, real issues

January 5, 2009

by Derek Hanisch, RTF Staff Writer

In 1960 the Etch-a-Sketch was created. You all know what an Etch-a-Sketch is right? It’s that red square, where you turn two knobs and draw a picture. If you make a mistake with your picture all you have to do is give the Etch-a-Sketch a shake. When you shake it the lines disappear and you can start over.

Our life is like an Etch-a-Sketch. Yes, I know, I like using analogies. Just hang with me for one moment and you’ll see where I’m going with this. Everything we do, all of our actions, are lines drawn. Some of our lines draw a pretty picture. There are the mistakes present in the picture as well. The lines that shouldn’t be there, the lines of mistakes and regret. (more…)

Filed under: Derek Hanisch, Real Bible Study, Real Teen Faith Writers, real devos

January 1, 2009

By Debra Weiss, RTF Staff Writer

Lately, I’ve been challenged to really live with eternity in mind. I can’t help thinking that accomplishing a huge to-do list through my life doesn’t really mean anything unless it makes an impact for eternity.

Maybe I’m being a bit judgmental, but I look around at Christianity in America and I can’t help but think that we’re putting this huge effort into being comfortable Christians. I mean think of how many books, seminars and conferences there are for Christian teens today. There’s nothing wrong with more information but we get to this point where we feel we “can’t give to the missions” until we attend the next seminar, the next conference, etc.

Doesn’t it seem like we’ve lost focus on what we’re supposed to be doing somewhere along the way? God’s Word isn’t about being comfortable. Living the Christian life shouldn’t be about comfort. If we’re comfortable, if we’re not regularly being stretched, challenged to show Christ’s love, reaching out to others in life’s gutters, then aren’t we missing something huge? Aren’t we missing something important?

Maybe I’m just being weird but I think that I’m not supposed to be as comfortable as I am where I am. Does that make any sense? lol. Probably not but I thought I’d share it anyway…I just thought that maybe my new beginning has to do with living life with eternity in mind…living like I’ve always meant to but never taken the time…

Filed under: Change*the*World!, Debra Weiss, faith in action, real issues

December 30, 2008

By Judi Weiss, RTF Staff Writer

I’ve always thought I had plenty of time. I always thought there wasn’t any need for rush. Then, last Tuesday, an earthquake hit my town, the first one to hit my town since the 1800s. Although no one was injured, it really made me think about some stuff.

The same thing I heard over the next few days was “The Lord’s coming back soon”, and it made me think about if he were to come, would I be ready for it. The answer, of course, is no. No one can be ready because no one knows the true time of when He will come back for us.

What I do know is I need to stop planning like I have so much time because, in reality, I don’t. Although I want to go to heaven, just like every other Christian, I’m not sure how ready I am. Especially when there’s so much more on earth that I want to do before my time is up. (more…)

Filed under: Judi Weiss, Real Teen Faith Writers, real issues

December 29, 2008

“What do these Scriptures mean to you,” I asked.

“That He chose me,” one said.

“That I have spiritual blessings that I’m not choosing,” said another. (more…)

Filed under: Real Bible Study, real word

December 26, 2008

By Debra Weiss, RTF Staff Writer

Recently, I met someone online. We come from different countries, different religions, and different customs. But for all our differences, we have one thing in common—a hunger for truth.

She’s a Muslim and most of her family is Muslim. Her older brother is an atheist. She doesn’t seem too sure of what she believes. She asks me questions about what I believe and why I believe that way.

With each question she asks, I am forced to peel back the layers of theology and years of pat Christian answers. I am both surprised and delighted by what I find each time.

A God that is not too busy to hear a small child’s prayer. A God who cares for each of us. A God that loves us deeply and sent His only Son to save the world.

With childlike delight, I read the story of Christ birth. And as I read, the story feels new and fresh, stripped of all the fancy words and pretty theology.

I find myself thanking God for sending someone into my life to challenge and inspire me, for it is through the simple elementary questions that I am reminded of the true reason for the season—Christ’s birth.

Filed under: Debra Weiss, Real Teen Faith Writers

December 25, 2008

Merry Christmas from all of us at Real Teen Faith!

 

Filed under: T. Suzanne Eller

December 24, 2008

Luke 2:1-7 (The Message)

About that time Caesar Augustus ordered a census to be taken throughout the Empire. This was the first census when Quirinius was governor of Syria. Everyone had to travel to his own ancestral hometown to be accounted for.

So Joseph went from the Galilean town of Nazareth up to Bethlehem in Judah, David’s town, for the census. As a descendant of David, he had to go there. He went with Mary, his fiance, who was pregnant.  While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 

She gave birth to a son, her firstborn. She wrapped him in a blanket and laid him in a manger, because there was no room in the hostel. An Event for Everyone

Filed under: real word