Here's a little song that's climbing the charts.. and Wow, does this song have a powerful message! (Parents will really miss out if they hear the word "Centerfold" and just change the station.)

The song is called Hollywood is not America. It's about a girl that is looking for fulfillment in all the wrong places.

Here's a glimpse of some of the lyrics:

Born Helena Jane
With a restless soul
She moved west to California
Became a centerfold

But once you change your name
Well the pieces fall
Now she hardly recognizes herself at all

And there’s never any rain, when you want it
A hollow little game, and you’ve won it
Looking for a thrill but you’ve done it all

And then part of the chorus...

So long, put your blue jeans back on girl
Go home
Remember Hollywood’s not America

(complete lyrics here).

This is one of those times when when I'm glad that teenagers DO listen to the lyrics. The song's message is such a contrast to the other songs at the top of the charts right now ike Usher's Let's Make Love in This Club (sometimes titled Love in This Club) or Lil Wayne's sexually explicit Lolliipop. Instead, Ferras' Hollywood is not America deals with the cold reality that sometimes our pursuits are meaningless and hollow.

The song is growing popular fast. Today it's #48 on iTunes (that's of ALL songs mind you), and it's 41 on Billboard's Pop 100 and climbing. According to the Ferras website...

The multi-format radio hit, tipped as a USA Today “Pick of the Week” and an Entertainment Weekly “Download of the Day,” has sold nearly 100,000 copies since its release eight weeks ago. The video for “Hollywood’s Not America,” directed by Paul Brown... is one of only three videos in “Love” rotation at The N, the “VH1 Top 20 Video Countdown” and also MTV Hits, Music Choice and LOGO’s new music show, “New Now Next.”

You will definately be seeing a write up from us on our MUSIC DISCUSSIONS page next week.

Adoption
If you want a great way to explain that God has adopted us as His children, check out this fabulous resource from our OUTREACH AGENDAS page. It has the small group questions and Bible passages already outlined. Plus it gives you a place to insert your own customized story of adoption through the use of a guest interview!

Main Point: We can be adopted by God.

Discussion Starter: Interview with someone adopted.

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Main Point: We must not merely claim to follow Christ, but put action behind our words.

The Movie Clip: "Will you stop at words?"
In The Patriot, Mel Gibson plays Benjamin Martin, a father who after coming home a hero from the French and Indian War has decided to live a peaceful life with his family, giving up fighting forever. However, when the fighting....

Puzzle Piece Invite
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After you have your event planned, and it comes time to do the crucial advertizing, go out and buy a jigsaw puzzle. (How many pieces in the puzzle depends on the size of your group.) The bigger the individual pieces, the better. Then....