As we continue with our study from the movie Seven Days in Utopia, lesson 3 looks at freedom.  Freedom is something most people take for granted, but it is something that we need to understand the importance of.  We are given something that is very real to us and that is the freedom of choice.  God entrusted this to us when we were created and how we choose to spend our lives is our freedom.  We do, however, need to realize that our freedom should be accompanied by responsible choices and we must accept and live with the consequences of the choices we make.  In this week’s lesson, we will learn that how we choose to deal, recover and move on from a bad past, loss, heartache, or disappointment will determine the next phase of our life.  Our past is one thing in life we can’t change, we can only learn from it and accept it.

“While we are free to choose our actions, we are not free to choose the consequences of our actions.” –Stephen R. Covey

 “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”(Galatians 5:1)

MOVIE RECOMMENDATIONS
Several years ago, Christian movies were hard to find, but with the movie industry changing, good clean movies are now becoming easier to find.  Here are several movies that are family friendly and can make an impact on our teenage culture:  Seven Days in Utopia, Soul Surfer, To Save a Life, Cutback, WWJD, and The Secrets of Jonathan Sperry just to name a few.

Bro. Trent and Ms. Rebecca

Our journey will continue this week as we spend more of our time in Utopia studying how to improve our lives as we see Luke improve his golf game. As we discussed how to deal with distractions last week, we learned how we need to find conviction in what we are doing.  In order for our lives to make sense, we must believe that we are living for a purpose and to focus on God rather than others.  This week’s lesson is dealing with controlling our emotions;   a lesson we all need to pay some attention to as we struggle through the pressures of life.  How do you manage yours?  Are you one who snaps under the slightest misfortunes in life, or do you stay composed and calm as you deal with adversity?  As we study emotional control this week, it is important that we learn to break from our routines and spend some quality time in peace with God.

JUST A THOUGHT!!!!
Let's not forget that the little emotions are the great captains of our lives and we obey them without realizing it. ~Vincent Van Gogh, 1889

Feelings are much like waves, we can’t stop them from coming but we can choose which one to surf. - Jonatan Mårtensson

ENCOUR-age-MENT
Great job Main Event students inviting visitors and being faithful over the past few weeks.  I want to encourage you to keep it up and continue packing the place out.  It’s great to see a lot of students enjoying God’s Word and fellowship with one another.

Bro. Trent and Ms. Rebecca

We had an incredible night this past Saturday as we watched the movie “Seven Days in Utopia”. We had 27 students and parents come to the amphitheatre and enjoy great fellowship, food, and a fantastic movie.  Over the next several weeks, I am using the movie study guide and lesson material to put the movie into practice.  We will break down several scenes and discuss how they impacted the main character’s behavior as the movie went on. All of these lessons will impact you in some way or another, so I encourage you to take part as we spend the next several weeks in Utopia.

We are well on our way into the New Year and are excited about the upcoming semester.  With the spring semester comes our annual softball game, backyard service and other exciting activities.  We are in full swing planning our summer trip and would like to ask you to begin praying for our students as we seek God’s direction for this trip.  We have almost narrowed down a destination and are praying for God to lead us to a great mission opportunity. 

We are also in great prayer for our Youth Sunday on February 5.  We are excited about the opportunity to share God’s praise music, testimonies, and message with our church.  I know God will use our students to touch the hearts of our congregation.  Please join us in prayer as we prepare for this day!

Bro. Trent and Ms. Rebecca

Faith and Mercy Missions Church will be with us this week.  They are bringing their drama team to perform a skit for us.  There will be special music and their Pastor Bro. Scott Cockrell will bring our message.  Pray for our guests as they prepare for our service this week.  Please be faithful as we receive a blessing this Wednesday night. 

MOVIE: SEVEN DAYS IN UTOPIA 

COMING THIS SATURDAY NIGHT
6:00 PM IN THE AMPHITHEATRE
$3.00 ADMISSION

Bro. Trent and Ms. Rebecca

What if you could make any old thing you owned brand new again?  Perhaps your new shoes, computer, car, house, or even your favorite clothes?  All you had to do was make a wish and the old was gone and then it was like new again.  Sounds great doesn’t it?  What about you?  What if you wanted to make yourself new again? Do away with your old self and become like-new and not have to see the blemishes that you have.  Actually this can become a reality and it is offered by Jesus.  He shows us how to make all things new through our faith in Him.  By believing He is truly the Son of God and asking Him into our lives.  He can wash away all of our sins and leave us spic and span.  That’s how I want to start off my new year, by becoming like new……….how ‘bout you?
 
Revelation 21:5 “And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new.”

Upcoming Dates to Remember:
*January 11th- Skit team and speaker will be with us to share a presentation and the Word.
*January 18-Feb. 8th- Video lesson study on the life of Joshua.
 

Bro. Trent and Ms. Rebecca