GLZBCYouthNewsletter • volume 3 • March 2015 • price: Free
VESSELS
MONTHLY
When
Friendships
Fail
What to do when friendships fall apart
1
CONTENTS:
3 Let’s Talk
From the Editor: Angelica Anderson
VESSELSMONTHLY March, 2015
4 The Moody Foodie
5 Spotlight: Black History Presentation
6 CoverStory: When friendships fail
8 Girls Only: Staying Strong
9 Brother: On Blast: The League of
Extraordinary Gentlemen
10Game Page: Poll
11 V-List
12 Moral of the Story
Vessels
Contributors
1 Angelica Anderson
3 Cecily Paterson
Member of Greater Little Zion Baptist Church involved in Youth,
This moth feature Cecily Paterson. Writer. Mother.
Dance, and Girls’s Ministry. Passionate about coaching varsity Christian. Wife. Chauﬀeur. Cook. Cleaner. Thinker. Sorter.
cheerleading, writing, reading and working with youth.
Designer. Creator. Reader. Obsessive. Distracted. Friendly.
Annoyed. Annoying. Wry. Generous. Thoughtful. Quiet. Bossy.
Old and getting older. Just a person really. What I’m REALLY
2 Mea Anderson
Member of GLZBC and is Vice President of the Youth Ministry. interested in is relating to people. The second part of the
greatest commandment. ‘Love God’ seems clear enough. But
Loves reading, running track and great food! This month Mea
sometimes I struggle with ‘love your neighbor as yourself’.
is reporting on weird foods that make delicious snacks. In her
People annoy me. So I think about friendships. Fellowship.
new column, “The Moody Foodie”, Mea will bring her picky
Love and hate and in betweens. How it works. And how Jesus
eating taste to Vessels every month with passionate opinions
makes a visible, tangible diﬀerence to the way I relate to
and reviews about food that she loves and hates!
others.
2
VESSELSMONTHLY March 2015
...About
Cyberbullying
When you think of bullies, you may think of a kid larger
than the rest of the kids who has spiky hair and tattoos. They
may go the extra stereotypical mile of stuﬃng people in
lockers, stealing lunch money or giving the occasional wedgie.
But times have changed. The modern day bully doesn’t need a
scary reputation or street cred. All they need these days is a
computer, Facebook or Twitter account, or an iphone. Social
media has changed the game, making bullies available in our
everyday life, and at times nearly impossible to get away from.
Cyberbullying is a form of bullying that is constantly
mutating. The majority of teens have the diﬀerent social media
accounts in their back pockets right now. These days, bullies
threaten, harass, and intimidate people online. Here are a few
ways to respond to cyberbullying:
1. Evaluate the severity of the threats
Is this a genuine bully, or a friend having a bad day? Do you
feel scared, or worry that the person will harm you physically? If
you do, you need to report it to an older trustworthy adult
ASAP. Save the messages, print them out and take it to your
parents, or a teacher you trust.
2. Pray for the bully
Sometimes, it's obvious the bully has some serious issues, and
is in need of help. I'm sure you want them to get that help, or at
the very least you want them to leave you alone. We know that
God doesn't like bullies - just take a look at 2 Kings 2:23-24 23
3. Tune them out.
Try not to obsess or focus too much on what these bullies say.
Try your best to move on! The more you let this situation hinder
your day to day life, the more you empower the bully. Delete
them from your accounts.
4. Find opportunities to grow
James 1:2-4, tells us to count everything as joy. Even our
trials. It can be hard to consider bullying “all joy” but think
about what you can learn: Conflict resolution,Value of words,
Overcoming obstacle; Trust in Jesus. God will see you through!
3
VESSELSMONTHLY March 2015
The Moody
Foodie: Great
Restaurants for
Lent Season
Busboys and Poets is a community
where racial and cultural connections
are consciously uplifted...a place to
take a deliberate pause and feed your
mind, body and soul...a space for art,
culture and politics to intentionally
collide...we believe that by creating
such a space we can inspire social
change and begin to transform our
community and the world. Serve
many delicious vegan and vegetarian
dishes! Several Locations.
HOURS:
Sunday 9:00 AM - 12:00 Midnight
Monday - Thursday 8:00 AM - 12:00
Midnight
Friday 8:00 AM - 1:00 AM
Saturday 9:00 AM - 1:00 AM
ENJOY GREAT FOOD FROM
RESTAURANTS THAT SERVE,
VEGAN, VEGETARIAN AND GLUTEN
FREE MEALS! PERFECT FOR LENT!
Chop’t
Chop't Creative Salad Company is a
chain of fast casual restaurants with
locations in New York City and the
Washington, DC area. The company
was founded in 2001 and focuses on
serving salads, although wraps are
also available. Many locations in DMV
Mon - Thur 10:30a - 8:15p
Fri 10:30a to 8:30p
Sat 11a to 8:30p
Sun 11a - 7:45p
Chipotle
Chipotle Mexican Grill serves food
with integrity. That means they serve
the very best sustainably raised food
possible with an eye to great taste,
great nutrition and great value.
Mon - Sun 11:00am - 10:00pm
4
BU S B OY S AND
POETS
EGYPTIAN FOOLE DIP
THIS IS A DELICIOUS APPETIZER
THAT IS AS GENEROUS AS A
MEAL! IT IS A WARM FAVA BEAN
DIP SERVED WITH TOMATOES,
SCALLIONS, JALAPENOS, OLIVE
OIL AND TOASTED, WHOLE WHEAT
PITA BREAD! ONLY $7
CHOP’T
VEGETARIAN POWERHOUSE
SALAD
EVERYTHING A HEALTHY BODY
NEEDS: BROCCOLI, EDAMANE,
CARROTS, SUNFLOWER SEEDS,
WALNUTS, CRAISINS AND APPLES
CHOP’T WITH SPINACH AND
ROMAINE LETTUCE WITH
BALSAMIC VINAIGRETTE OR
EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL. $7.99
CHIPOTLE
VEGETARIAN BURRITO BOWL
SERVED WITH A CHOICE OF
BROWN RICE OR CILANTRO-LIME
RICE, PINTO OR BLACK BEANS,
CORN SALSA OR PICO DE GALLO,
OR GUACAMOLE. CHIPOTLE
ALWAYS GIVES A GENEROUS
AMOUNT OF FOOD. SO THIS DISH
IS VERY FILLING!
VESSELSMONTHLY March 2015
Spotlight: Black History Moment
with Youthful Praise of Zion
Youthful Praise of Zion puts on a powerful, Black
Lives Matter, presentation
BLA C K HIS TO R Y
PRESE NTA TI ON
Y O UT H FUL P R AI SE OF ZIO N
Under the direction of Christian Davis, Dolores Claytor and president,
Cayla Parson on the 2nd Sunday in February, the youth gave a memorable
presentation highlighting the senseless deaths of unarmed African Americans by
the hands of the police.
MA R I A H P I TT S
ME A A N D ER S ON
V I C TO RI A P I TT S
K EI T H W I LL I A MS
5
VESSELSMONTHLYMarch 2015
CoverStory:
Putting God On The Witness Stand
By Cecily Paterson
If you flip through the first 15 chapters of
the book of Acts, you see a tight
partnership in Paul and Barnabas. They
travel and preach together, they do
miracles and get beaten up together.
Their lives are pretty intertwined. You’d
definitely say they are close friends.
But in chapter 15:39, we see Paul and
Barnabas disagree so strongly and
sharply, they have to split up and head in
diﬀerent directions.
Friendships fail and fade for a number of
diﬀerent reasons. In this article, I’ll look at
a few of them.
send friends in opposite directions. What
can you do if it happens to you? Work
out if it’s more important to stick by your
opinion, or work with the relationship. If
you and your friend agree to disagree, do
it in a gracious and generous way. Don’t
destroy your friend because they think
diﬀerently.
Natural changes
As we grow up, our priorities shift. A
typical teenage pattern is to have a best
friend who you do everything with. If that
person finds a girlfriend or boyfriend
before you do, all of a sudden they might
not have time for you anymore! And if
Diﬀerences of opinion
All through the book of Acts, Barnabas
is known as the ‘encourager’. When it
came to giving people second
chances, he was always generous.
Paul, on the other hand, found it harder
to work with people who had already
let him down. And when Barnabas
wanted to include John Mark, who Paul
didn’t think much of, Paul wasn’t able
to agree. The two friends had such
diﬀerent ideas about it that they
couldn’t work together.
Diﬀerent opinions don’t have to end a
friendship, but sometimes they might
6
Proverbs 22:24-27
Make no friendship with a man
given to anger, nor go with a
wrathful man, lest you learn his
ways and entangle yourself in
a snare. Be not one of those
who give pledges, who put up
security for debts. If you have
nothing with which to pay, why
should your bed be taken from
under you?
they get married, you can feel like you’ve
lost your friend.
It’s no-one’s fault. It’s a natural change
that happens to everyone as they grow
up. Of course, that doesn’t mean you
might not feel it strongly. But if you can
understand the process, and give your
friends permission to shift, you’ll be
happier.
Personality diﬀerences
When I met Becky at uni, we ‘clicked’
immediately. Our friendship was fantastic
for about two years, and then things
started to drop oﬀ. I felt like I was
chasing to see her all the time and
eventually, I just gave up.
I think it came down to a personality
diﬀerence. I value being on time,
spending time and being available. She
valued gifts and words of friendship.
Her personality allowed her to really
enjoy the people she was with at the
time. Mine prefers loyalty to old friends
and keeping commitments.
If this happens to you, try to
understand the diﬀerences and let it
go. I expected Becky to be like me but
she wasn’t. If it happens that we get
back in touch, that would be nice, but
in the meantime, there are so many
other great people out there.
VESSELSMONTHLY March 2015
Just because
In eighth grade at boarding school, I was
friends with Grace. One day, she just
took a huge dislike to me but never told
me why. She refused to speak to me or
look at me, ignoring me completely at
meals, in our dorm room and in class.
After a while, I decided that she could be
as ridiculous as she liked, but that I
would still be pleasant to her. So every
time I passed her in the hall, I said ‘hi
Grace’. I smiled at her pleasantly. I asked
her to pass things at meals, and I was as
conciliatory as I could be.
She ignored me successfully for about
two months. And then one afternoon, she
found her way down to my piano
practice room, knocked on the door and
said, “I’m really sorry. I just decided I
didn’t like you one day and I was unfair
and mean to you. But you kept being
nice to me, even when I was being
horrible. And I feel bad and I need to
apologize.”
If it happens to you, keep being godly,
generous and kind, even if you don’t feel
like it. Even if you don’t see the results of
your behavior, your friend will still see
what kind of Christian person you are.
People change
7
You hear people say a lot “real friends
don’t judge. They are happy for whatever
makes the other person happy.”
That’s true – but only to a certain extent.
Friends are friends because they have
something in common. But if one person
changes or follows a diﬀerent route in
life, it is hard for a friendship to continue
in the same way.
Maybe you know of friends who are
changing and making decisions that you
don’t think are right: sleeping around,
drinking a whole lot, smoking pot or
doing other drugs.
Psalm 55:12-14
For it is not an enemy who taunts
me— then I could bear it; it is not
an adversary who deals
insolently with me— then I could
hide from him. But it is you, a
man, my equal, my companion,
my familiar friend. We used to
take sweet counsel together;
within God's house we walked in
the throng.
Of course, sometimes you do need to
stick it out. A friend who goes through a
Maybe you’re the one who is making
trauma, or who has depression, or who
diﬀerent decisions. If you change, even in
has long-standing emotional diﬃculties is
good ways, you may expect your
going to need a lot of long term support,
friendships to change too. Young people
even and especially if they do some
who become Christians and start living
unwise things that you don’t like.
diﬀerently often find that their
relationships are altered because of it.
This is an area for wisdom and prayer.
You can’t control your friends. You can’t
make them do what you would do.
However, try not to give up on people. If
you really can’t continue in the friendship
in the same way it may help to express
why – honestly and with love - to your
friend. Perhaps you could have a
diﬀerent type of friendship.
VESSELSMONTHLY March 2015
You were given this life because you are
strong enough to live it!
Stylebizz
Excerpts from chrisitianteens.com
does not forget you. True faith is developed even when you
don’t feel God.
Deuteronomy 31:6 - “Be strong and courageous. Do not
be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your
God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake
you."
2. Do a Daily Devotional
Staying Strong
4 Ways to stay strong in God
“To me, staying strong is really important. A lot of people
have faith, have hope, but now what? How do you continue to
be strong? It’s about doing things daily and taking care of
yourself...” Demi Lovato said to USA Today about her book of
daily aﬃrmations, Staying Strong.
The Disney Channel star and chart topping singer has had
her share of trials. Struggles with depression, cutting, bullying
and an eating disorder have plagued her life but she’s come
out on the other sides. With the pressures of high school,
cliques, cyberbullying and friendship angst, how do we as
children of God cope when finding five minutes for God seems
like just another chore. Here are some ways to keep your faith
strong when you are going through your own trials and feel
weak:
1. Remember that God is Always There
Even in the driest times, when you just don’t feel God’s
presence, you need to remember that God is always there. He
“I’m
nervous
to share
my
story.
But the
last
time I
did
people
were
really
respectf
ul....
8
Developing long-term habits is important to maintaining
your faith. A daily devotional will keep you in the Word and
enhance your prayer life. It will also keep you closer to God
even when you struggle in your faith.
Philippians 2:12-13 – “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have
always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more
in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear
and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act
according to his good purpose.”
3. Get Involved
Many people become apathetic over time, because they do not
feel connected to a church body. Some churches do not oﬀer
ways to connect. Yet, there are a lot of activities on campuses
and in the community. You can even look into other ministries.
The more connected you are to the body of Christ, the more
likely it is that you will maintain your faith. Romans 12:5 – “so
in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member
belongs to all the others.”
4. Talk to Someone
If you feel separated from God or you find yourself backsliding,
talk to someone. Try your old youth leader, a pastor, or even
your parents. Talk through your issues and pray with them
about your struggle. They can oﬀer insight into how they have
worked through their own struggles. Colossians 3:16 – “Let
the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and
admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing
psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts
to God”
VESSELSMONTHLY March 2015
League of
Extraordinary
Gentlemen
African American guys
defying the odds to
become successful
Some excerpts from aboutreligion.com
Akintunde Ahmad is from
Oakland. The 17-year-old with his locs
and laid back attitude might say that
he’s just an ordinary dude from the city,
but he’s actually out here doing
amazing things. The amazing things
include getting a 2100 on his SAT,
sustaining a 5.0 GPA and recently being
accepted to quite a few Ivy League
schools, including Yale, Brown and
Columbia.
But Ahmad says like many
black youths, he’s been judged for his
appearance. However, if asked about his
honor roll status and grades, Ahmad will
show you his outstanding report card,
which he keeps a screenshot of in his
phone. Also an athlete excelling on the
baseball field, Yale has approached
Ahmad about attending and playing for
the university. He says he’s now deciding
between Yale and Brown, but whatever
school he chooses will be quite lucky to
have a young man like him strutting
through the halls.
He’s not the only one making his
mark. 17-year-old Kwasi Enin of New
York and Avery Coﬀey, from Washington,
DC both have been in the news for their
several top-tier, Ivy League school
acceptances to include Harvard, Yale,
Princeton, Brown and Dartmouth. So
what does it take to achieve such goals?
9
1. Pray - Sometimes we think that God
is only in the most spiritual parts of
their lives, but God is in every aspect
of your life. He wants you to succeed.
2. Lose the Excuses - It can be easy to
put oﬀ studying until the last minute.
The things going on around you can
be tempting ways to procrastinate.
You need to keep your focus.
3. Plan Ahead - You know that certain
tests are coming up, so plan your
study time wisely. Try and write down
a study schedule so you know what
you need to study and when you need
to study it.
4. Find a Study Group - Whether you
study with people in your church
youth group or people at school,
having a study group can be very
supportive and helpful. insight into
certain topics for one another. Just be
sure your study group is actually
focused on studying.
5. Prep For Your Exam
How do you practice? Write your own
exam. As you are studying, take some
note cards and write down questions that
you think may make it on the exam. Then
compile your note cards and begin
answering your questions. If you get
stuck, just look up the answer. By taking
the "practice test" you will be much more
prepared for the real thing. SAT prep is
an option for college admissions test.
Yes, the road may be tough but it is
achievable with God. We should all:
“Work hard so you can present yourself
to God and receive his approval. Be a
good worker, one who does not need to
be ashamed and who correctly explains
the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15 NLT
VESSELSMONTHLY March 2015
Vessels Game
Page
Vessels and Lent
Giving God Your Best!
10
VESSELSMONTHLY March 2015
Vessels Book Shelf
Jesus is______.
Reviewed by Jill Williamson
The V-List Top 3
A list of new, great and relevant things that you need to
stay in tune for and too!
OScars
The anthem from Selma – written by John Legend and
Common — was the odds-on favorite to win, especially after it
won a Golden Globe for Best Original Song. Legend told the
Academy audience that “the struggle for justice is right now”
citing the high number of black men incarcerated today.
Congratulations!
Fashion
A New York Times Best-Seller!
Jesus is ____. How would you finish that
sentence?
The subject is there, and so is the verb, but what
comes next? Your answer could shed light on the path to
becoming who you were made to be.
In these pages, Judah Smith fills out that sentence
again and again, each time further revealing the character of
Jesus. He writes as if to a friend, illustrating the importance of
Christ’s message to modern men and women. This is a book
for new believers, for lifelong followers, and for the merely
curious.
Judah Smith shows us the Jesus that somber
paintings and hymns fail to capture. With passion, humor, and
conviction, he shows that
Jesus is life. Jesus is grace. Jesus is your friend.
Jesus is a new and better way to be human.
Meet the Author
Judah Smith and his wife, Chelsea, are the lead pastors of The
City Church in Seattle, Washington. Judah is in high demand as
a speaker, both in the United States and abroad. Judah and
Chelsea have three children: Zion, Eliott, and Grace.
~ Amazon
11
A Pair of Moto Boots
Motorcycle boots are definitely a wardrobe staple to invest in
for the coming year. We love Chelsea boots, knee-highs, and
booties, but there is nothing more seasonally transitional and
sartorially diverse than a great pair of black leather moto boots.
Entertainment
“Fashion Police” host Giuliana Rancic issued a lengthy on-camera
apology for disparaging comments she made about the
dreadlocked hairstyle that Disney Channel star Zendaya sported
on the Oscars red carpet.
Rancic’s comments that Zendaya’s hair smelled like “patchouli
oil . . . or weed” touched a nerve. The first to push back was
Zendaya herself, who in a detailed rebuttal called out Rancic for
leaning on lazy racial stereotypes that associate locs exclusively
with marijuana smokers
Zendaya accepted her apology with a letter that closed with a
quote from Martin Luther King Jr.: “Darkness cannot drive out
darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only
love can do that.” Good for her!
VESSELSMONTHLY March 2015
Moral Of The Story
Almighty Strength
Man will dwell again in his shade. He will flourish like the
grain. He will blossom like a vine, and fame will be like the
wine from Lebanon.
Hosea 14:7 4:6
If you are under a heavy burden or facing tough
problems, you have someone in your corner -- the same
God who freed his weary children from slavery, fed them
in a barren desert and led them to promised peace. He’s
the same God who rescued a drowning Jonah,
nourished an exhausted Elijah, and sheltered Noah
through the rain.
God watches over each and every one of his
children. Get close to the one who sees you, loves you
and hears you. He will strengthen you. Your relationship
with him will get you through any problem that worries
you.
VESSELSMONTHLY
Angelica Anderson
GLZBC Newsletter
Please send all submissions to
[email protected]
Dear Lord,
Let me draw
near to you so I
can unload all
my anxiety.
Guide me and
strengthen me.
I depend on
you. Amen