Heart Touchers

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*Growing Up* 3/12/02

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From now on we will be offering our book,
Straight From the Heart "A Celebration of Life" for
only $13 (instead of the regular price of $14.95), and
best of all, we will pay the shipping! So if you have
any interest in purchasing an autographed copy of
the book for yourself, or as a gift for your loved ones,
now is the time to get it!

To order your autographed copy send a check or
money order for $13 (We pay the shipping!) for each
book made out to Michael T. Powers, and then send it to:

Michael T. Powers
1918 Liberty Lane
Janesville, WI 53545

To preview the book by reading some of the stories visit:

http://www.HeartTouchers.com/michael_t__powers/

AOL Users Click below:
Straight From the Heart: A Celebration of Life

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My apologies for not getting a HeartToucher in your email
box last night. I came down with Strep Throat after our
weekend retreat with our youth group and just
couldn't stay in front of the computer for too long...

A special welcome to all the new subscribers that Ken
Pierpont pointed our way! May you feel warm and welcome!
From my family to yours,
Michael

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Growing Up

by Rubel Shelly

As an editorial in the Caledonian-Record of St. Johnsbury, Vermont, put
it: "Friday night five teen-age girls at Danville High School became
five young adults, and they did so with class." I thought you'd like to
know the story.

The Friday night in question was January 11, 2002. The setting was a
packed gymnasium just prior to the start of the varsity game. The five
girls were members of the Danville High School basketball team -- four
of them starters. They weren't in uniform to play that night and won't
be for the remainder of this season. They were there to explain why
they had been kicked off the team.

They were there to own a serious infraction of team rules. They were
there to support their coach's decision to take them off the team. They
were there to let the town know there was a problem in their little
community that needs to be addressed. And they did it with appropriate
contrition rather than defensiveness.

While school had been out for the Christmas and New Year's holidays,
the girls had gone to a party with several of their friends. It was New
Year's Eve. There was alcohol there. And the five girls all drank some.

Coach Tammy Rainville has a zero-tolerance rule on
drugs and alcohol for the members of her team. Every kid who plays for
her knows that rule. So when classes resumed after the break and
accounts of holiday parties were shared, rumors about the five girls
began closing in on them. Coach Rainville didn't have to confront them,
for they got together and decided to go to her with the full story.

The coach said she couldn't back down on her policy. And the players --
two juniors and three seniors -- agreed. That Friday night in the gym
was part of their public support of the coach's decision.

One of the seniors spoke last. "We hope you will understand that we are
not bad kids. We made a mistake... What we did was definitely not worth
it. We hope this event will make everyone open their eyes and realize
that there is a big drug and alcohol problem in our community," she
said. "And if you work with us to try to solve this problem, you will
help us feel that we have not been thrown off our basketball team for
nothing." The five left the floor to deafening applause.

The Danville High School girls basketball team may not win another game
this year. But they've learned something about personal responsibility,
the effect of one's actions on others, and integrity that will serve
them well throughout life.

Rubel Shelly
whcoc@edge.net

Write Rubel and let him know what you thought of his story!

(c) 2002 Rubel Shelly. Used by permission.

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Rubel Shelly has preached for the Woodmont Hills Church of
Christ in Nashville since 1978. During that time, he has also
taught at David Lipscomb University and Vanderbilt University
School of Medicine. He is the author of more than 20 books,
including several which have been translated into languages
such as Korean, Japanese, Portuguese, Italian, French, and
Russian. He is married to the former Myra Shappley, and
they are the parents of three children: Mrs. David (Michelle)
Arms, Tim, and Tom.

Visit: http://www.faithmatters.com to read more of Rubel's
writing or to sign up for his weekly column: FAX of Life.

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Reader Feedback!

Thanks for your sense of humor Betty. That's a scream, no pun intended. Hope
you finally got to where you were going.
In Christ,
Nell, seeking Him.
nell@stoutsville.net

Well, if THAT doesn't break the ice with your new neighbors, what will? Really, Betty, this one had me laughing so hard! You have a wonderful sense of humor and a bright outlook on life. I'd love to be your neighbor! Thanks for brightening my day,
Pamela Jenkins
ramblinrabbit@juno.com

I too, know the fun of helping someone who couldn't get into the" proper status"
of into the car. My Mother-in-law was unable to get into the car and we laughed
so hard, we cried about my trying to get her there. Those are loving and fond
memories of someone I loved so much. I'm sure it was all love that they that
sorrowful, yet wonderful, memory.
jcausby@rain.org

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Thought For The Day:

"As I grow older, I pay less attention to what men say. I just watch what they do."
--Andrew Carnegie

Verse for the Day:

"Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do."
--James 2:18

Kid's Thought for the day:

"If splashing in puddles means you have to wear wet shoes the rest of the day, sometimes it's worth it."

Parent's Thought For The Day

"Fatherhood is pretending the present you love most is soap-on-a-rope."
--Bill Cosby

Coach's Thought For The Day

"I have had players who are good, and know they are good; I have had players who are bad and know they are bad; I have had players who are good, but who don't know they are good; I have had players who are bad, but who don't know they are bad. It is this last group that has won more games for me than the first three groups combined." --Paul "Bear" Bryant

Writer's Thought for the Day:

"There are two kinds of writer: those that make you think, and those that make you wonder." --Brian Aldiss

Deep Thought For The Day:

"I'm not saying that the customer service in my bank is bad, but when I went in the other day and asked the clerk to check my balance... she leaned over and pushed me."

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_
/_/\/\    MICHAEL T. POWERS
\_\ /    HeartTouchers@aol.com
/_/ \    "For I have been crucified with Christ and I no
\_\/\ \   longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I
\_\/   live in the body I live for the Son of God, who
   loved me and gave Himself for me."
   Galatians 2:20
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Video Imagery --Michael's Video Production Business

"I thought of you first after my family sat down to watch
the video we gave them. They loved it, to say the
least! Within thirty seconds my mom was crying
and my dad did too. They said it was the best
Christmas gift we could have given them!! You
did such a beautiful job! They were so surprised
and so touched--they really, really, really loved it.
Thanks for helping to make it so special to us all.
My mom mentioned how the songs were perfect
for the video too! Thanks again!"
Kelli-- College Station, TX

Let me make you a video from your pictures or
home movies! Check out the web page for Michael's
video production business! Visit:

http://www.hearttouchers.com/video_imagery/

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