Innocence of the Young

I have a picture of my great granddaughter as my desktop on my laptop. She is so precious. She has things she doesn't like, and is adamant about it. If she doesn't want you to mess with her, you will certainly know it.

But, at her age, they are so innocent. They look to adults to keep them safe, to feed them, and help them with whatever needs they have. They learn from those who are older. We all set standards and rules for the young. If we show them in our own actions what is acceptable and what isn't, then they will more than likely pick up on those actions. Too may parents do things or say things in front of the young that isn't appropriate. Then, when they try to emulate those things, the child is punished. We need to be careful what we say and do in front of the young.

Teenagers are also very easily influenced by their peers. I believe we need to monitor our children's friends to make sure their actions are in line with how we are raising our children. When children spend lots of time with other children,they tend to pick up on things they do or say. And, if there are negative things in their actions, our children will most likely pick up those things. It's easier to keep our children safe and away from those who will tend to influence our children negatively than it is to try and undo what has been done.

Technorati Tags: Children, Teenagers, Innocence

You be the Judge

I was sent these two articles from my close Christian friend. I knew some of these things were happening but had no idea at what lengths pastors will go to get young people in church or to an 'on-line' church.

It doesn't matter what tactics they use to try and win the young. Only the TRUTH of GOD is going to hold them. When one is won through the Word of God, it will hold him. I do not believe someone drawn to a church through such tactics will be long in the church. It takes a true life-changing experience with God to make you want to leave your old life and join His kingdom! When God woos a person, it doesn't take anything extra to win him/her. Such tactics, to me, undermines the truth of God. It belittles the foundation to which one is trying to win the lost. And I do not believe God is amused at the way some pastors are trying to build their church.

Wanna Be Cool Christianity - Sacrificing Authentic for Hip

The Perils of Hipster Christianity

Technorati Tags: Christianity, Cool Christianity, Hipster Christianity

Teen Challenge

A group of young men from Teen Challenge came to our church Sunday morning. They ministered with human videos on getting out of bondage from Satan and the Hope we have in Christ. These young men serve a year in Teen Challenge where they learn about Christ and how he can work in their lives if they surrender to him.

Two of the young men gave their testimonies on what they came out of and how Teen Challenge has helped to change their lives. Two of the young men gave their testimony. We were greatly moved by the things they said. One young man said he was 21. He had lost his Dad at the age of 10 from cancer and had a mother who was a recovering addict and always has been. He got into drugs at the age of 15, and into smoking and heavy drinking. He said he was a full-blown heady drug addict at the age of 19. He had sort of give up on life, left home and only had the clothes on his back and had to steal or do whatever he could in order to survive. Then, one day his Mom told him she had a place for him to go if he wanted help and came home. And that place was Teen Challenge.

The young man went on to say that he had been told he would not like it the first two weeks. But, after about 4 days, he got into the routine and has liked it ever since. He did get on probation for being caught smoking and said he had to do dishes for 40 days, three times a day. He said it wasn't fun, but he learned his lesson. These young men leave this facility in our community for another one for another 8 months where they will graduate from the year-long program.

The leader of the group was a minister. He said he could identify with these young men, in that he was a graduate of the program 25 years ago. I have been reading some information against Teen Challenge, in that the program didn't work like they say it does. But, I disagree. With this minister having been in the program 25 years ago and come out all of what he had, and lasted this long, the program has to be a good one. These young men were very sincere young men. The 21 year old said this was his first time to give his testimony and he was very nervous. But Teen Challenge had saved his life and got him back in good with his family.

The one thing that those who disagree with the program fail to let people know is that this is a church-oriented program that introduces God into these young men and young women's lives. It doesn't just change their mind about drugs, alcohol, and other abusive things. It changes their hearts and souls, because most of them become a child of God. They learn how to function without all these mind-altering things that reek havoc on them. And one thing the minister said was that not all the participants in the program are teenagers. The ages range from 17 to 47 or so. Most of the guys that came to our church were 19.

This is the second time our church has had teen challenge here. The first time they sent the women's group. But you can tell these young people are wanting to gain acceptance back in the society. So many of them had been turned away from their family and friends because of the abuse. Teen Challenge is helping change many lives and turning them on to Jesus!

Technorati Tags: Teen Challenge

Kim Komando on Digital drugs

When we think of kids using drugs, we automatically think of those that they buy illegally or perhaps steal parents' prescription drugs. But, now, that is not always the case.

Kim Komando has written an article in her newsletter about Digital drugs. These are those for which your child only needs a music player and headphones.

But Web sites are targeting your children with so-called digital drugs. These are audio files designed to induce drug-like effects.

These digital drugs are alleged to alter your mental state. And you will be surprised at the extent of drugs that can be bought through these digital drugs. To get a better understanding of how these things can harm your child, visit Kim Komando and read the entire article. For me, I did not know there was such a thing until I read her newsletter article today.

Linked at Conservative Cat

Technorati Tags: Kim Komando, Digital Drugs, Children, Teenagers

End of an era - beginning of another

When we have children, we relish every moment of their growing years. But there comes a time when we realize they are growing up, becoming a woman or man of their own. Being a Mother, I certainly know how it feels to have your children grown and gone from home. Both of mine have children of their own. But, my daughter had a son to graduate from high school last year and is a freshman in college. Her only daughter graduates this year - only about one month away.

What is so sad is the fact it ends her career in soccer. She has played since a young child - on City League on a Co-Ed team to start with, playing with her older brother. Then, she later played on an all-girl team. When she got to JR High and High school, she began playing for her high school. She plays Varsity and has been the team captain for 2 years running. The coach said, on Senior night, that she had been the only girl chosen captain two years in a row. We are so proud of her, and really hate to see her soccer days coming to an end. They played their last home game last Thursday. They played an away game last night, and on Thursday night, she and two other seniors will wrap up their days as high school soccer players.

The Varsity girls and boys played in an Invitational Soccer Tournament last month in which both teams from their school won first place trophies. The picture here is of my granddaughter. She and one other girl were the only ones to score for the Varsity girls from their school in the entire tournament. We were so proud of her!

She has had a great time at soccer. She has also played Premier soccer ball for the last three years. But, right now, we are almost certain she will not continue to play in college. But, she will beginning another wonderful phase of her life, and we wish her well!

Technorati Tags: Soccer, High School, Graduation

Grandchildren will make you do crazy things

Yesterday was a very rainy day. The weatherman said it would clear up and be nice by lunch time. Well, it did neither! It rained or misted rain all day long. But, we endured it to see two of our daughter's children play in an Invitational Soccer Tournament. I believe there were possibly 8 different Varsity teams playing. Our 14 year old grandson, an eighth grader, made starter on the Varsity team. He has played soccer since he was about 6 years of age.

The one in black is our grandson. He may be small, but he is loud! He will go up against the largest player and give them a run for their money! And, he is able to score against the best.



Our grand daughter is a senior and Captain of her team. She's been a Captain for the past two years. She has also played since she was about 6 years of age. She played on City League until she started playing Varsity. She has also played Premier Soccer for a traveling team for 3 years in the Fall. We are truly going to miss her playing next year because we don't think she will continue to play in college. She is the one in white about to kick the ball. She scored the winning point in the last game of the day. Both the boys and girls teams from their school took home first place trophies and medals. The day was well spent although it meant a bad hair day today! Yes, grandparents will do crazy things for their grandkids!

Click on the pictures for a larger view.

Technorati Tags: Soccer, Varsity, First Place, Captain, Grandparents, Grandchildren

An untimely death

Teenagers are hit with so many things today, one being their sense of appeal. Young girls see the fashion models, commercials, etc., that seem to say 'if you do not look a certain way, then you aren't looking as good as you should'. They are encouraged by these things to have breast augmentation, liposuction, among other procedures, to make their bodies more appealing. And, sometimes these procedures have unnecessary endings.

18 year old senior and high school captain of the Cheerleaders, Stephanie Kuleba, died from what they think was a genetic reaction to general anesthesia. She was undergoing the surgery at a Boca Raton outpatient surgery unit. She had to be rushed to Delray Medical Center when something went wrong.

About an hour and 45 minutes after Kuleba went into the surgical suite, Dr. Steven Schuster came out to tell her mother that there had been an emergency and paramedics had been called to take the girl to nearby Delray Medical Center.

An intravenous muscle relaxant known as Dantrolene sodium (brand name Dantrium) is typically administered in the event of malignant hyperthermia, as it's the only effective treatment for the reaction. But the drug wasn't given to Kuleba at the outpatient center — only later, when she was at the hospital.

Our children are too precious to be pressured to look better than they do as teenagers. We, as parents, should not give into the 'look better' attitude that is going around. We need to make teenagers feel good in their own skin. There is plenty of time in life to make physical adjustments if they are actually wanted or warranted as they grow older. Life can be cut short just as this young teenager's life was just to make the body more acceptable or beautiful.

Linked at Conservative Cat

Adam's Blog

Technorati Tags: Death, Teenagers, Florida, Boca Raton

The Cactus Cuties Singing National Anthem

A friend sent this video to me of the young girls singing. It amazes me the voices they have and they are so young. I believe patriotism is still alive in America!



Technorati Tags: National Anthem, Cactus Cuties

Another school shooting

What is going on with our nation's young? Every where you look, there seems to be one more shooting in school. Today, a student was shot by a fellow student during gym class at a Memphis, Tennessee school.

It is the second shooting reported in a Memphis high school this month. On Feb. 4, a 16-year-old student was shot in the leg in side a classroom during an argument with another student over music. The student suffered non-critical injuries and the suspected shooter was charged.

If I had a child in school today, I think I'd be wanting the school officials to install metal detectors in every door way. Then, have guards checking out the cars of every student. There just seems a need for some kids to have a gun, which is definitely not a good thing for school environment and the hot tempers of some kids. There comes a time when one has to give up some freedoms, and this seems to be one of those times! It may not be the choice of some parents. But, I would rather have a live child than a dead one! And, if metal detectors could help, why not install them?

Linked at Conservative Cat

Technorati Tags: School, Shooting, Memphis, Tennessee, Metal Detector

Vulnerablity of Youth today

The world is constantly after the youth of today. And it is easy for them to be caught up in the worldly ways without realizing it until it's almost too late.

The music that attracts teens today is so different than when I was growing up or even when my children were teens. What our parents thought was inadmissible or what we forbid our kids to listen to was nothing compared to some of the music and lyrics to which the children are subjected today. One of the worse types of music today, in my opinion, is rap. The teens think it is great, but just listen to some of the lyrics coming from the popular rappers! There is no way my children would be listening to rap music in my house. But, in today's world, iPod's are very popular among the youth. And, if a parent doesn't listen often to the music they have on them, then there is no way to keep your child from becoming vulnerable to the world's terrible music.

The world is also pushing for their innocence. No longer is abstinence (just saying no) a popular way of keeping a teen from becoming sexually active. In fact, society thinks the way to keeping a teen 'safe' is to provide condoms and pills to them at an early age. Our children are being pushed into adulthood way before their body and mind is ready.

The government in some states are pushing 'sex education' in the schools that promote alternative life styles. A bill was signed in California by the Governor that was to supposedly protect all children from harrassment. He has taken 'Mom and Dad' and 'husband and wife' out of the schools. This gives way to the 'two Moms' or 'two Dads' idea of a family so the children of these 'couples' won't feel embarrassed. In other words, they will teach your children that these alternative lifestyles are correct and undermine the family teaching that the Bible teaches otherwise.

There are ways to try and protect your children:

• Know the media that is influencing your child. Check their iPods and MySpace pages often. There is an alternative to MySpace called Battle Cry.
• Know their friends. We are too easily influenced by nice talking teenagers. But do you actually know them or their parents?
• Find mentors to whom your children will listen when they will not listen to you. Honoring the parents has sort of become a 'lost art' in society today. The outside influences are so strong, children often forget they are to mind their parents rather than badmouthing them.
  
• Foremost, stay connected to your children. Communication is a life saver! Never let your children feel as though they can't talk with you. Always give quality time to each of your children.

Children today are forced to grow up in society long before they can become responsible adults. They believe, when they turn 18 and able to vote, they are grown. Too many of our youth are in trouble long before they become 18 simply because they are allowed to hang out with the wrong crowd. This is where parenting is so important! Children want rules, but parents are lax sometimes. And, rather than upset their children, they want to be 'friends' rather than parents. This is not what God had in mind.

• Ephesians 6:1-4, "Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord."

Bringing up your child in the ways of the Lord is the best way to keep them being so vulnerable to the ways of the world. When you are an active participant in their daily lives, they will be less vulnerable to the influence of their peers who may not have their best interest at heart.

Linked at Conservative Cat
Pirate's Cove
Don Surber

Technorati Tags: Youth, Teens, Vulnerability, Peers, Music, Parents, Parenting, God, Lord

An angel of light - subtle satan

There is much talk about the Harry Potter books being a bad influence on our children. Now comes The Golden Compass, a movie derived from the works, His Dark Materials trilogy, by British writer Phillip Pullman.

How easily is it to be deceived? Well, the Bible says that ‘satan himself is transformed into an angel of light’ (II Corn 11:14). This should immediately give us cause to be concerned when it comes to our children and what they read or view. Their peers or other things they come in contact with so easily influence their minds. Parents have to be very cautious and involved in everything their children do in order to combat the subtle ways of satan.

I recently wrote an article about The Golden Compass, wondering if it was really a movie we needed to watch. I presented some thoughts and findings of Peter Hitchens. Here are two more great blog entries where you can learn more about the movie and Pullman’s works and perhaps get a good view on just how subtle satan can be.

• What compass are you following?
• About “His Dark Materials”

Christians are ‘in this world, but not of this world’. I believe it would behoove us to take every precaution to teach our children the Truth of the Word, so, when they are presented with things such as the above, they will be able to make the right decisions. Too often our youth are not well versed in the Word and are not equipped to come against the things of this world and the deception that satan sets before them.

Linked at Conservative Cat
Church and State
Pursuing Holiness

Technorati Tags: Angel, Satan, Deception, The Golden Compass, Bible, Truth

Forever changed

Things happen in our lives so quickly. Sometimes it happens so quickly, we are caught unprepared. In fact, none of us are ever prepared to hear that a tragedy has come to our family.

Last night, seven cheerleaders from an area school were returning home after a gymnastics training in a near by town. They didn't make it home and some will never return home. Three of those girls were killed and the others are in the hospital. A deceased cousin's granddaughter is among those in the hospital in serious condition and undergoing surgery today. And, one of the dead girls was kin to my beautician's family. Her oldest daughter is a teacher at this particular school and went to the hospital last night to be with the children who wanted to go. She called her Mom at midnight to tell her there had been a tragic accident on their highway and the first thing my beautician wanted to know was 'which one was it', thinking it was one of her teenage grandchildren. Our biggest fear, when we get those calls is that it is one of our own. It is always someone's loved child.

We never know when that phone will ring late at night to tell us that something has happened to a person we love. These families said goodbye to their girls yesterday morning when they left for school. Some were able to hold and comfort their girls today at the hospital. But, others will never be able to say I love you to those girls again on this side of heaven. It will be a sad Christmas for all these families.

As you read the article on these girls, please pray for them, their families, and friends. Also pray for the cheerleaders and all the friends in this high school who will have to deal with this for a long time to come. This has 'forever changed' their young lives. It is hard for adults to handle these situations, but much worse when a child loses someone close to them with whom they have grown up.

Listed at Conservative Cat
Woman Honor Thyself

Technorati Tags: Tragedy, Cheerleaders, High School

Youth of Today

Too many times, we stereotype our young people. We look at the extreme individuals that are picking fights for no apparent reason, the ones who are shooting other youth and teachers in our schools, or those stealing or doing drugs. We too quickly give up on all the kids of this generation.

Thursday afternoon we were driving home from a luncheon we had with my husband's family. As we rounded the curve on the road leading to our house, we saw a small red car turn into our driveway. We didn't know anyone with that kind of car and wondered why it was coming to our house. About that time, we looked over in our yard and saw a small deer dragging it's back leg, trying to get up but just could not make it.

As we pulled into the driveway, the young man, around 18 or 19 years of age, exited his car. You could tell he was shaken up. He was rubbing tears from his eyes. In a shaken voice, he said, "I am so sorry. I've never killed anything in my life." At that moment, I felt so badly for him, I could have cried. I wanted to console him. He asked what he should he do. My husband told him not to worry, that he would call the game warden and have them take care of the deer. As he turned to leave, tears were streaming down his cheeks.

We live in an area where deers are too plentiful, and, at any given time, you will see one or two deer jumping a fence. They seem to come out more at night. We have to be very careful riding down these long mountain roads in order not to be caught by one jumping out in front of us and having no place to go. This happened to this young man. He said a large deer came across the road and he didn't see the young one. Just as he got in its path, it jumped the fence and hit his car. He could not have avoided the accident. In fact, several have been hit on our road in the same spot. We have seen as many as six deer in our yard at one time.

Hopefully, this young man will not let this stay on his mind and interrupt his life. It was just an accident. But, it is nice to see a young man his age who was not ashamed to let his emotions show. To me, it shows a strong character when a man cries. Nothing to be ashamed of at all!

Linked at Conservative Cat
Church and State

Technorati Tags: Youth, Emotions, Character

J.A.M.

This post is not about jam that you put on your peanut butter sandwich. And, I am not in any jam (traffic jam, etc.) I’m actually speaking about Jesus and Me. However, I have been known to pray to Jesus when I’ve been in a traffic jam. I want to know the easiest way out possible (get me to the nearest exit).

Last night, my 13 year old grandson brought up Jesus. He had seen a small magnet on my refrigerator that says ‘God couldn’t be everywhere, so he made grandmothers’. He took the magnet and came in the Den where I was and asked, “Do you believe God can be everywhere?” Of course, I answered “yes, he’s everywhere – in your heart, if you believe in him.” So, we got into this long conversation on Jesus and God.

The conversation went to what he believed and his misconceptions. We got into evolution and I find science has made an impression on him – too much of one! He got onto the subject of man evolving from monkeys. I explained to him that it did not matter what science said; it matters what God says in His Word. And, Genesis 1:26 says “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness”. I dare say God is not a monkey. In the passages before, he talked about bringing forth every living creature after ‘their kind’. It is hard to explain away scientists’ ‘findings’ to an impressionable child, but hopefully, I made a better impression on him. A child’s mind is so bendable when they are young, and hopefully I have nipped in the bud the wrong impression of where we came from.

Never underestimate what a small magnet on your refrigerator can do. And, never underestimate the thoughts of a child (teenager in my case). J.A.M can help both of us out of a difficult situation. And, Jesus can help you and I explain to these thinking teenagers (and children) what His Word really means and how it contradicts what man has to offer us from ‘his way of thinking’ or perhaps even ‘his findings’ (evolution, for example).

Linked at Don Surber
Third World County
Conservative Cat

Technorati Tags: JAM, God, Jesus, Teenagers, Youth, Truth, Bible

The "Me, Myself, and I" mentality

I recently received a newsletter from a pastor’s wife. The topic was ‘Me, Myself, and I’. Her husband had read an article about ‘Children’s Laws’ in an email about how they always have me, myself, or I connected to anything they do or say.

I went through this with my two children as they grew up. Our son was the oldest by almost 3 years. He had always been the center of attention, and every thing in sight was his, or so he thought. So, when his baby sister came along and got to the age she could sort of play with him, he took control. He took his place of authority; his mentality was, ‘every thing I have is mine – keep your hands off. And, every thing you have is mine – so give it to me.’ Often, we were stepping between the two because of this strong-willed child. He was never mean to her – just possessive of his/her things.

As little children, we learn to take control. We put our wants first, regardless of how it hurts someone else. Seldom do we find a child giving into another child until after a first encounter. Children have friends, but do not let a friend cross over the threshold of ‘my property’! The mentality is, “if I want you to play/hold/touch my things, I’ll let you know; otherwise, hands off!”

In our Christian walk, we sometimes treat God with this same mentality. You would have thought, through the years we would have learned a few lessons of ‘me, myself, and I’, and how it sometimes got us into trouble we could have otherwise avoided.

We all know the number one commandment from God: Matthew 22:37, "Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind."

Do we love God with all our heart? Or, do we just think we do? Love should never cease. In other words, God should be in our heart and minds continually. But, we, as humans, constantly put ‘me, myself, or I’ before God with our actions. Christianity isn’t a religion, but a relationship with God. It should be our desire to always be in communication with God. But, as I said, we are humans, and we make mistakes. We get in a rush and the ‘me, myself, and I’ mentality gets hold of us and we decide we can ‘do it on our own volition.’

The POWER is all ours – after all, God gave us humans ‘free will’. But, when we leave Him out of our plans/our daily lives, we must accept the consequences of our actions. Sometimes those consequences are too hard to bear, and we have to come back to God – His Love is always there, whether we give him our full, undivided attention/love or not. I John 4:8 says that ‘God is love’. After all, He gave His only Begotten Son to die for all our sins. He knew that man would fail in his obedience to Him and His commandments. Jesus Christ became our advocate (I John 2:2) with the Father. The next time this mentality strikes you, remember God was never selfish. Think back to what He has done for us: He shared His Son with us, and He loves us. If we would develop His traits, just think what we could do for ourselves, our families, and for the world. Selfishness is not a trait that endears us to anyone, but having the spirit of love and compassion will.

Linked at Pursuing Holiness
Church and State
Blue Star Chronicles
Conservative Cat

Technorati Tags: Selfishness, Love, Compassion, God, Children, Mentality

Christian Alternative to MySpace

Today I picked up the May edition of the Birmingham Christian Family publication at our local WalMart. While thumbing through it's pages, I found a faith-based networking site created by two Chattanooga residents. Greg Thomas and Ralph Russ wanted to create a Christian alternative to social websites that attract our teens, and sometimes having questionable content.

JCFaith.com was started one year ago and advertised as clean, safe, and enriching, and it's monitored by Christian adults and pastors. Any messages or photos that are questionable that pop up are quickly deleted. The users are encouraged to get involved in the Saturday chat room prayer groups and Bible studies. The site offers Bible resources, music downloads, blogs and both fun and faith-based polls.

Thomas and Russ originally started JCFaith.com for the youth, but they have found that 50% of the members are 25 or older. In just one year, it has grown to over 10,000 people from all over the world. This ranks it in the top three networking sites in existence.

Linked at Church and State
Conservative Cat
Basil's Blog
Pursuing Holiness
Woman Honor Thyself

Technorati Tags: JCFaith.com, MySpace, Christian, Chattanooga, Bible, Networking

Control your child's Online activity with BeNetSafe

Face it; children love the computer. They love the Internet because it is fascinating and holds lots of interests for them. But, all those interests aren't healthy for our children. Some of the social activities around the Web are some of those.

With a BeNetSafe account, you can track the accounts your children have on the Internet, even if they tell you they don't have one. Some of the places children go are MySpace, Xanga, and Friendster. Children will go to other homes and get on the Internet. But, never fear; BeNetSafe works no matter where they log on.

The only bad thing is BeNetSafe only tracks down information on MySpace, Xanga, and Friendster. But, this is a start. The cost is $19.95 a month or $75.95 per year.

BOTTOM LINE: BeNetSafe is a one-trick pony, but it's good at what it does. If your child has a MySpace, Xanga or Friendster page, BeNetSafe will find it and flag specific problems. And it offers resources to help your teen understand online safety.

PROS: Finds your child's social-networking pages by matching personal information you supply. Warns of problems such as too-personal information made public. No local installation needed.

CONS: Only searches MySpace, Xanga, Friendster. Can't protect against inappropriate e-mail or IM contact. Limited ability to flag dangerous content. Some minor bugs in reporting.

COMPANY: BeNetSafe LLC

Linked at Conservative Cat
Don Surber
Woman Honor Thyself

Technorati Tags: BeNetSafe, Internet, Child, MySpace, Xanga, Friendster

Check your child's MySpace

Hopefully, most parents keep up with their child's account on MySpace. I know my daughter does for 4 children. She is sitting there with them. But, one father got some unexpected news when he read his son's MySpace!

A father in Knoxville, TN, read his son's MySpace and discovered his 14 year old son was involved with marijuana and OxyContin - buying and selling these drugs. So, he took extreme action. He made up a sign that said "I abused and sold drugs." His son wore this while standing in front of the Cedar Bluff Middle School. To some, this may seem to be abuse, but I think, in this day and time, we have to reach our children anyway we can in order to keep them alive! Too many are 'reached' by their peers and get into trouble when they are very young.

The boy told his father he had done the crime and was willing to do the punishment.

The school's principal soon came out and asked the father to call it off, which he did.

By that time the boy said he had already learned his lesson. "This is embarrassing. I ain't going to be doing it again."

And the boy added, "Drugs are for losers. That's all I can say."

Those were the words his dad hoped to hear.

Linked at Conservative Cat
Basil's Blog

Technorati Tags:Drugs, Marijuana, OxyContin, MySpace

A little child shall lead them

This young girl is gifted! I love to oil paint, but she has talent that can't be learned at her young age of 12.

HT: Sprucegoose

Technorati Tags: Artist, Child Artist, Gifted

Parental rights slowly being eroded

Nathan, at Church and State has an article on Texas Governor Rick Perry's issuance of a mandatory vaccination for the HVP in young elementary girls before they can attend school this fall. This is a sexually transmitted disease that can cause cervical cancer in women.

Perry passed over the legislative process and has taken away parental rights to decide on whether their daughters will receive this vaccination or not. Merck distributes this drug, which costs $360 or more for 3 shots, and many insurances will not pay the price.

Perry is being asked to rescind the order for the mandatory vaccination for HVP. Perry likens it to polio, which is not the case. One gets HVP by having sex with someone who has HVP and not protecting themselves.

Today, state sen. Jane Nelson, Chairperson of the Senate's Health and Human Service Committee, said, cited by Houston Chronicle, that lawmakers should have been given an a chance to hear what the doctors, scientists and parents have to say about the HPV vaccine before the state implemented such a statewide mandate. She was quoted as saying: "This is not an emergency" and "it needs to be discussed and debated."

Nelson, a Perry' close political ally, was not alone. State Reps. Jim Keffer and Dan Flynn were cited as saying that their phone lines were jammed by phone calls from parents who complained about Perry's order. All these noted state regulators are republican, so is Perry.

Perry says to vaccinate the girls early will save the government money. But, the truth is, to vaccinate all girls of that age every year would cost $126 million dollars a year, and to treat them would cost only $8 million dollars a year.

HPV can be largely avoided by adjusting your lifestyle, according to Josef Mercola, a physician who promotes natural health , who called Merck's HPV vaccine worthless. For instance, one can exercise abstinence to avoid contracting HPV.

Protecting oneself should be paramount in our life. A promiscuous lifestyle will get you more sexually-transmitted diseases than HVP.

Linked at Conservative Cat

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