Featuring Linda Gleason

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Table of Contents

Monthly Grub with Sis Gleason 3MOV Column 4FiTAVIi GIrls 5Epic Fail 6Passing the Baton 7How to Be Authentic 8 Psalmist Quarters 9Cont..... 10Whats the Agenda 11

Thanks for checking out the AWaCk’s 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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Be a Faucet

By: Sister Linda Gleason

When you allow yourself to be a faucet, God can make you great in His kingdom. You may say, “I am nothing. I don’t have a heritage in the church. I wasn’t born and raised in Pentecost. My parents weren’t in the ministry. I can’t speak very well. I’m not an outgoing person. I don’t have a magnetic personality. What could I possibly do?”

If they are willing to be used, God can take the “nobodies” and use them for great things in His kingdom.

-Though his momma was a prosti tute and though his brothers hated him, Jephthah grew up to be Israel’s deliverer, and he was noted in the Bible’s hall of fame.-Though only a little shepherd boy on the backside of the desert, David became a giant slayer and a great king in Israel. -Though she started out a pagan; a stranger in a strange land, Ruth was in the genealogy of the Messiah!

One person can make a difference…

When Jesus needed food for five thou-sand men plus women and children, a little boy provid-ed lunch. When God was trying to get a message to the vile household of Eli, the child Samuel carried the word.A little girl, car-ried captive to a strange land, witnessed about her God and Namaan was healed of leprosy.

Regardless of whom you are or where you came from, if you are willing to be a faucet for God, you can make a differ-ence in your world!

Want to say a big what’s up to all my fellow Christian brothers out there!!

It feels like it’s been a while since I wrote an article for this newsletter, but hey it’s another great opportunity for me to share what’s on my heart for all of my brothers out there reading this. There’s been something that’s been tug-ging at my heart for a while now that I’d like to share with all of you. Unity.

Yes unity for the entire church is very important, but I want to focus more on unity amongst our fellow guys. And by fellow guys I’m referring to the guy you sit next on the front row , or the guy you can see is try-ing and striving to live right and to please first and foremost our wonderful Heavenly Father and not just himself. It’s not always easy living and walking the right path, but I’ll tell you what, at the end when you’re looking back it’s worth it. Knowing you didn’t sell out and cave to the pressure. It’s a feeling like none other. That’s why it’s so important

that we hold one another up and look out for each other. When we see that our fel-low brother is having a rough time of it, it’s good to go out of our way and let him know in our own way that we care. Doesn’t have to be an all-day event, a kind word or con-versation can go a long way.

As young men we hold the responsibility of leading our generation in the future.

Don’t be afraid to grow; don’t be afraid to make decisions or judg-ment calls on things in your lives because lessons are learned through trial and error. Don’t be afraid to

live, and never be afraid to try. Remember you and only you are responsible for how your life ends up. Wear the shoes of who God made you to be and thrive! It says in Psalms “For I am

fearfully and wonderfully made....” Let’s look out for one another, because I’m worth it and you’re

worth it. I’m so excited for the excellent futures God has in store for all of you,

if you’re willing to let Him lead you. May God richly bless you all as you become excellent young men!

Your brother in Christ,Samuel Orazio

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Hey FITAVII Girls!

A few weeks ago I was on my way to work in a mass of traffic! Window rolled down, Jamba in my hand and singing to my heart’s content to the songs on the radio! The song changed. I knew it because it always comes on the radio. “He Said” by Group 1 Crew. I’d never actually lis-tened to the words enough to real-ize what they were saying. Until that day.

“I won’t give you moreMore than you can takeAnd I might let you bendBut I won’t let you breakAnd know, I’ll never, ever let you go”

couldn’t quit thinking of the words “I might let you bend, but I won’t let you break”. How many times does it feel like you are going through some-thing, and you are bent so far that you are almost to your breaking point? How many times have you thought that if just

one more thing that happens, it’s going to push you over the edge. Whether it

was bad grades at school, parents divorcing, your ‘best’ friend being mean to you, abuse of any kind, problems on the job, or even boy issues – the very next thing no matter how difficult, is going to break you into pieces.

God has not promised that things would be easy. If you have been around very long, you have heard that very phrase many times. It’s true; Living for God isn’t always going to be easy! Living for God will have struggles, and everything will not be always perfect. But God knows the plans that He has for us!

“For I know the plans I have for you,”

says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. -Jer 29:11(NLT)

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ContINUED ON Page 10

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By Amber Sirstad

This was probably more like one of those “you had to have been there” moments; however still one of the funniest things ever!!!! Kris, Emily P, and Shayla were performing their trio song on a Wednes-day night at AWC. For the first it was an amazing DUET. Emily and shayla were rocking the house! Was Kris singing? Oh of course he was! However, his mi-crophone was not on so nobody could hear him. The song they were singing was “There is power in the blood” and Kris was determined to convince any-body that had their doubts LOL! Right as they were coming out of the verse into the chorus, Kris’s microphone de-cides to finally cooperate. His voice

comes BOOMING through the sound system prob-

ably 2x as loud as the girls. Of course

everyone was chuckling quite vigorously but nothing com-pared to Emily

and Shayla. They were completely DONE for the whole chorus. Lol Can we all say EPIC FAIL!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have been trying to think of another epic fail. Lol when Mary’s skirt fell as she was walking down platform LOL LOL LOL!!

At Youth service a while back Amber S. was playing the drums and if anyone is knowledgeable of the set that we use for the youth they know that the floor tom is kinda broken. 1st song out of three the leg decides to give out and the floor tom falls on Amber’s leg, so what did she have to do the WHOLE song service? Hold up the tom with her leg while playing the bass with the same leg. Some might think that is hard core talent but that is just a BIG EPIC FAIL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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By Brooke Maland

This months featured lady…Sis. Leeann Orazio

Q: What is your favorite miracle that God did in your life? A: He healed me of leukemia

Q: Favorite dessert? A: frozen buster bar from Dairy Queen

Q: Middle name? A: Jayne

Q: Chips Ahoy or Oreos? A: Oreos

Q: Favorite childhood memory? A: hide-and-go-seek / treasure hunts

Q: Favorite Bible verse? A: Matt 5:5 (message bible version)

Q: Worst fear? A: water that is deeper than the chest

Q: When you get to heaven, who do you want to be your neighbors? A: My dad and grandparents

Q: Favorite song? A: Jesus Messiah

Q: What are you most passionate about? A: kids (especially my own)

As the AWACKS this month we need to develop a love for the Word of God. It is the foundation for anyone’s walk with

God. It gives us direction and guidance. The word of God is simply how we get to know him. In John 5:39 Jesus

tells the multitude “search the scrip-tures for they are they which testify

of me”. In order to have a relationship with him we must know who He is. The word will also help get through our trouble and trials. It gives us hope. When Job is going through his hard-est times in life, he says in Job 23:12 “Neither have I gone back from the commandment of His lips, I have esteemed the words of His mouth more than my necessary food”. He used it to help him through his trials, and by the end of the tribulation in his life he was still close to God. His word also is what is going to guide us. Psalms 119:105 says “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path”. This scripture is showing how the Word is leading our lives now and is our direc-tion for the future. It will lead and direct us towards the will of God. The Word of God also is what is going to keep us

pure and desiring the things of God. Psalms 119:9 says “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereunto according to the word.” It’s put plain and simple right here; if you want to live a holy and pure live, then you need to get ahold of the Word. Last of all, it’s the only thing that’s going to last forever. Luke 21:33 says “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away”. The Word is the only

thing we will be able to take to heaven. It is truly everlasting. A lot of times in life

people think they can get by with just praying and going to church without having to read the Word.

They almost make it seem like it’s not that important, but re-

ally it’s just as important as praying, fasting, and going to church. The Word of God is our spiritual food. We may be able to stay in church for a little while without reading it, but eventu-ally it will catch up to us and affect our walk with God. Besides, if you really want to live for God, eventu- ally

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By Mary Portwood

Life- much to our chagrin- is not in our control. People, events, memo-ries… they can be challenging and painful. Is it a fear that’s gotten you down? An addiction? A relation-ship? Maybe you’ve done everything right, while everything around you seems to be going wrong. Some-times it can seem like your situation is greater than your faith. Try as you might you can’t seem to overcome it on your own. What if that’s the point? In those moments, with life chaotically swirling around you, comes the opportunity to grow in your relationship with God. Put the situation in His hands, and when He knows you’re ready to come out of it, He will bring you out. Your cir-cumstance may be great. But, OUR GOD is greater!

Psalm 44:6-8 says: I put no trust in my bow, my sword does not bring me victory; but you give us victory over our enemies, you put our adversar-ies to shame. In God we make our boast all day long, and we will praise your name forever.

I think sometimes we need to put our situations on “notice.” That is, we have to let the problem know that we’re not worried about it, and our faith in God will not waver over it. A great song that accomplishes this task is Chris Tomlin’s Our God. Watch 15,000 young people giv-ing notice to their circumstances at North American Youth Congress by clicking here!

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They are for good! Not just our thought of good, but God’s. They are of hope and life. They are of love and joy. Things in life may not make sense right now. Things might be going on that we just do not understand. We might not see the end of the tunnel. The hurt might seem awful, the mountain to tall, or the valley to low. But God has plans for us! He knows the end from the beginning. He might let us bend, but He won’t let us break!

Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victori-ous right hand.-Isa 41:10

Another part of the song says:

Who you are, ain’t what you’re going throughSo don’t let it get the best of you‘Cause God knows everything you needSo you ain’t gotta worryYou may be knocked down now, but just believe what He said.

God’s love for us is amazing. FITAVII Girls, let’s remember who we are. Let’s remember who our Father is! Let’s re-member that we are victorious! Let’s remember what “He Said”.

-Sarah B.

Fitavii Girls pg. 5 cont......

you have to find out who He is on your own. There comes a time when just hearing what someone else says about it, isn’t going to keep you in the truth, but only from experiencing it yourself. It is how you learn why you believe the things you believe. It is what teaches us how to live. 2 Timothy 3:16 says “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in

righteousness”. The Word will shape us into who God wants us to be.

So this month let’s get deeper into God’s Qord. Let’s pray that we get a pas-sion for His Word and He helps us to understand it, and last of all that we have a love for it. I believe this will bring our youth group closer to God and will be the start of many of God’s plans for our youth group.

How to be Authentic pg 8 cont.......

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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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