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Poetry and punk
I wrote this poem because I have so much gratitude for God and all that He's given me. Whenever I'm in trouble, or even when I'm not, I turn to Him—in every action, every part of my day.
I was raised in a loving and supportive family, but I hadn't always been the most principled person. I had a life-changing experience that got me where I needed to be. I'd been involved in the punk scene for quite some time. It wasn't good for me. I was constantly surrounded by drugs and alcohol, as well as messages from lyrics that I didn't want in my head. I thought I agreed with them at the time, but then I realized that I wanted to get away from them. That was really hard because I was dating a girl who was involved in the punk scene when I was trying to get away from it. Then we broke up, and I was really hurt. But God helped pull me through all that.
The biggest change came when I was moved to a different Sunday School class. I had a new teacher, and he taught like no one else had. His teaching was Bible-based. I was able to get a foundation from the Bible, starting with the Ten Commandments and the Beatitudes. I really got into them—started to study them and consider their true spiritual essence. I had no idea that so much depth and inspiration could be found in them, and I learned that they required absolute consecration of thought.
Enjoy 1 free Sentinel article or audio program each month, including content from 1898 to today.
About the author
Josh starts college this year. Besides being involved with music, he enjoys film and digital video editing.

January 1, 2000 issue
View Issue-
Dear teens around the world:
Heloísa Rivas
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We’ve got Mail
with contributions from D. H., E.B., N. S., S.L.W., H.G., M.T.Q.
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Not afraid to think
Name removed by request
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Spirituality-like a sixth sense
Name: Carolina Wahnish
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One-on-one with God
Name: Gwendolyn Hansen
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Prayer is a part of life
Name: Anis Khemakhem
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I pray every morning
Name: Lyndsy Jones
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Friends Friendship
Natasha Millington,
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To a new friend
Nicole Glownia and Jennifer Hickey
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Goin’ to a new school—and not worried
Greg Wienecke
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Tests, exams, and teachers
Iris Dennery, a high school student from Paris, France, tells the Herald about challenges at school.
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On alcohol—and learning English
Ngemba Fidel
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"gotta get to the test!"
Mildred Laruan
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Love changed my rebellion
Katie and Susan Mack
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Q&A
Suzanne Smedley, Mark Unger with contributions from M.B., A.R., Wondering, Lonely
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Is he "the one"?
(written by a Teen Herald reader)
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I felt he was going to hit on me
Flávio Colombini
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X-MEN
Reviewed by Stephen Humphries,
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A life profile: Bernd Schuster
with contributions from Bernd Schuster
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Poetry and punk
Joshua Sprague
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A kick for the classics!
Jonathan Borja
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Music is my life
Milana Strezeva
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"All the symptoms disappeared"
Diana-Nadine Brammann
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"I wanted to pray for myself"
Tyagita Poerwono
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"I didn't want to lose my tooth"
Kidimbu Sebastião Zesalo
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"Prayer — the best medicine"
Joseph Gaddo
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"A different perspective"
Pablo Campás Ohnikian
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"My name is Raquel, and I'm OK"
Raquel Veronica Fonseca Rivera
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The flower power of Love
Jasmine Hailey
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"My arm was totally healed"
Arista Danielle Songue
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Don't be influenced by other people!
Laura Schrijver
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Making a living
Felipe Pinheiro de Freitas
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I got the job!
Daniel Böckli Winterthur,
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Adventures in babysitting
Katja Kloweit
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Guided by the stars?
Whitney Woodruff Moody
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"He had charted my personality"
Elizabeth Toohey