Topic(s): Nature of Man

Kids and Kids
American girls age 10 to 14 who had babies in 2002: 7,315 (lowest number since 1946)
Mothers aged 10 to 14 who receive no prenatal care: 16% (babies of mothers aged 10 to 14 are three times as likely to die during the first year compared with U. S. babies)
—Time, December 20

2004 Video Game Awards Winners
The winners of the 2nd annual Video Game Awards televised on Spike TV:

Game of the Year: Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (Rated: Mature)
Best Action Game: Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (Rated: Mature)
Best First Person Game: Halo 2 (Rated: Mature)
Best Driving Game: Burnout 3: Takedown (Rated: Teen)
Most Addictive Game: Burnout 3: Takedown (Rated: Teen)
Best Sports Game: Madden NFL 2005 (Rated: Everyone)
Best PC Game: Half Life 2 (Rated: Mature)
—Spike TV Web site, 2004

Games To Avoid for Your Children / Teens
According to the National Institute on Media and the Family….
Doom 3
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Half Life 2
Halo 2
Resident Evil: Outlook
—NIMF Web site, 2005

Smile . . .

Topic(s): Children, Humor

My husband wore his Army uniform with pride. One day, coming home from the base and dressed in olive drab fatigues, he stopped off at the grocery store to pick up a few things. While in line at the check out counter, he noticed a little boy standing with his Mother. The boy took one look at my husband in his uniform, and his eyes grew wide.  My husband in turn gave the young man a crisp salute. The boy was so excited. He pointed at my husband and announced, “Look Mom! A Giant Boy Scout!”

“A merry heart doeth good . . .” —Proverbs 17:22

Our Loss Helps us Help Others

Topic(s): Depression, Pain & Suffering

What can a person do to help a friend deal with the loss of a loved one?

• Do something. Make a phone call, send a note, give a hug, attend the funeral.
• Be available. Being visible and readily available long after a death sends a message that you care.
• Be a good listener. Avoid being judgmental. Avoid giving advice. Don’t say, “I know.”
• Avoid spiritual clichés. Never say, “I’m sure this is God’s will for you.”
• Be patient. Give your friend time to make necessary adjustments. There are no shortcuts here.
• Acknowledge your own limitations. You don’t know everything about the grieving process.
• Encourage your friend to allow time to adjust. Hurried decisions can be devastating.
• Suggest professional help, if appropriate. Certain kinds of advice are best given by pros.
• Look for ways to do practical things for those who are bereaved.
• Pray. Often the bereaved person cannot find comfort by praying alone. They need our prayers.

“Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do” —1 Thessalonians 5:11

What’s Your Hurry?

Topic(s): Priorities, Time

I was watching “The Andy Griffith Show” even today. Since the show began in 1960, I can remember with great fondness watching Andy, Barney, Aunt Bee, Opie, Goober, Gomer, Floyd and the rest of Mayberry characters enlighten and entertain us with their humor and wisdom as well.

Many good hours of great fun and good moral teaching was gained by watching this show then and even today as well. One of my favorite shows was one entitled, “What’s Your Hurry?” because it dealt with a sermon that a visiting minister delivered at their church one Sunday in Mayberry. Dr. Breen, all the way from New York City, extolled the value of rest and relaxation as he thundered his all-important question to the audience that day, “What’s your hurry?”

As the show continued, Andy and his family and the gang all talked about the minister’s message after eating their Sunday lunch. They all agreed with the minister that their lives were too busy and they needed to do things that mattered and were relaxing and enjoyable. Soon they began to reminisce about “the good old days” when they used to have a Sunday afternoon concert on the town square. A comment was made that they ought to do that again and before you knew it, they all started running around trying to organize a musical concert that very afternoon.

Everything that could go wrong did go wrong with their plans. Andy couldn’t get the band to sound good; Aunt Bee and Mrs. Edwards found out how bad the band uniforms had deteriorated; Barney and his sidekicks found out that the gazebo’s foundation was rotten beyond repair. Disgusted, they all ended up at Andy’s house worn out and frustrated by hurrying around so much. Ironically, the minister comes by to find them there and remarks that he is glad to see that they have followed the advice of his sermon. Andy invites him to come and stay awhile but the minister says that he must be running on. The show concludes by Andy saying to the minister “What’s your hurry?”