November 30, 2004

Making Summer Friendships Last

by: Deborah Shelton

Summertime isn t just about getting dirty, staying up all night, playing in the rain, and going off to camp--It s about meeting new people. Follow these tips to turn your vacation acquaintances into lifelong friends.

1. Summer Memory Book

Make the summer last forever by preserving memories in a special book. Fill the plastic sleeves of a photo album with photos, ticket stubs, sections of road maps from summer trips, and other mementos. When you re finished, exchange memory books with your closest summer buddy.

2. Picture Postcards

Keep in touch with vacation friends by sending picture postcards. Scan summer photos and print them on cardstock paper, 4 per page. Use scissors to cut individual cards. On the blank side, include your friend s address, your return address, and a postage stamp. Don t forget to write a cool message!

3. Pen Pal Club

Start your own pen pal club! Swap addresses with your new friends and make a commitment to keep in touch. Be creative don t limit yourself to writing letters. Send an inexpensive gag gift every so often, or an audiotape letter. Send lists of your favorite things. For instance, one month send your pen pals a list of your 20 favorite movies, and then compare your lists.

No matter how you decide to keep in touch, don t let summer friendships end when summer ends.

About The Author

Deborah Shelton is a mother, freelance writer, and author of the brand new book, "The Five Minute Parent: Fun & Fast Activities for You and Your Little Ones." Visit Deborah's website for more family-friendly ideas: http://www.fiveminuteparent.com

deborah@fiveminuteparent.com

Posted by Editor at 06:44 PM

Homework Help for the Attention Deficit Child

by: Jeannine Virtue

Does the homework battle so typical with your hyperactive or A.D.D. child have you at the end of your rope? Relax. We have some tried-and-try ADHD information that should get your A.D.D. child on the right homework path.

The hyperactive or A.D.D. child especially needs consistency, a work place free of distractions, solid encouragement and praise - along with established consequences if the positive homework tips fail.

Establish a Set Homework Routine:

Because the A.D.D. child functions best in a consistent environment, homework should be done in the same place, at the same time and for a set amount of time every day.

Work with your child to develop that routine. Some Attention Deficit and hyperactive children work best immediately after school while others need an hour or two to settle down before jumping back into studies.

To help the A.D.D. child better focus, the work area should be free of distractions, such as televisions, video games, music and other people. The kitchen table might not be the best place if there is too much activity in that room. The bedroom can offer distractions if the television or stereo have a way of "turning themselves on" when you are not there to monitor.

Mandatory Homework Time:

We are strong proponents of establishing an allotted amount of homework time on school days. This set amount of time gives consistency to the hyperactive or A.D.D. child and discourages rushing through homework.

Talk with your child's teachers about the average recommended homework time for the child's grade level. In general, elementary school children should spend about 30 minutes each night on homework. Middle school and high school students should spend about one hour on homework.

If the child does not have homework that evening or they finish before the allotted time, the child can read until their mandatory homework time is over.

"Chunking" and Scheduled Breaks:

The hyperactive and A.D.D. child often experiences difficulty with long-range tasks. "Chunking" homework for the hyperactive or A.D.D. child helps break the homework task into smaller, more manageable pieces.

You can break a 20-problem math assignment into four chunks of five problems each, with a small break in between chunks. If using the mandatory homework time schedule, set a kitchen timer to ring every five to 15 minutes, depending on the child's attention span. At every break, give your hyperactive or A.D.D. child a few minutes to move around or grab a snack to refocus their attention.

Rewards/Consequences:

As with any parenting issue, rewarding good behavior and disciplining poor behavior motivates kids toward good behavior. The A.D.D. child needs all the rewards they can get, along with firm and consistent consequences.

A homework contract is an effective motivator for the A.D.D. and an especially valuable tool to encourage the A.D.D. child to accept responsibility for their work.

The homework contract clearly states that when the homework is completed, the child will earn a reward. The contract also clearly outlines consequences for not completing homework.

You can offer daily modest rewards like earning time to play Gameboy, the right to choose a favorite dinner or a modest treat or special privilege. Or, you can develop a point system for larger weekly rewards. You can give out one point for every night of completed homework for the child to cash in for a trip to the zoo after earning five points, for instance.

Effective consequences for not completing homework are losing phone, computer, stereo and television privileges for the evening. To add a little more discomfort to the situation, have the child stay inside for the evening without friends.

It is important that you remain calm, firm and consistent on nights when Attention Deficit Disorder child decides to get into a power struggle over homework. It may take a couple consequence days before the child realizes that completing homework makes for a better night than not doing homework.

It is also important that you reward for effort and not just grades for the A.D.D. child. The goal is to develop a solid homework habit. With a homework habit established, better grades will automatically follow.

Don't forget to offer the intangible rewards of smiles and praise when your child puts the effort into completing his homework. A "way to go" goes a long way in positive reinforcement for Attention Deficit Disorder children.

Additional Homework ADHD Information:

Using an assignment book for the A.D.D. child helps parents keep track of the child's daily and weekly homework. If the teacher does not use an assignment book, develop a system with the teacher so you know the child's homework assignments.
If the A.D.D. child insist on heavy parental homework help, require that the child attempt problems at least twice before asking for homework help. They may need homework help, but make sure he puts a genuine effort into solving the problem first.
Attention Deficit and hyperactive children may not be able to receive "A"s on every homework and school assignment. Instead of getting hung up on the traditional grading scale, give you re A.D.D. child an "A" for effort.

About The Author

Jeannine Virtue is a freelance journalist and mother of an Attention Deficit Disorder son. To learn more about natural and effective alternatives to Ritalin and other ADHD medications, visit http://www.add-adhd-help-center.com.

jvirtue@add-adhd-help-center.com

Posted by Editor at 06:44 PM

Picking Up The Pieces

by: Annagail Lynes

"My feelings have changed," my boyfriend of five years told me during one of our nightly seven o'clock phone calls. "I don't think we should see each other anymore." His words hit me, probably worse than if he had just punched me in the stomach. The pain of being physically hit would eventually subside, but the emotional pain that his words had left would be a battle wound I would carry with me from relationship to relationship until it finally healed. I have had four steady boyfriends in my life. Two of which I dumped, and two of which I was dumped by. In my experience, it is much worse being dumped than doing the dumping. When you are dumped, you feel like you are being rejected, that you were somehow not good enough. Wen I was freelance writing, evitably I would be rejected either because the magazine didn't have enough room or because they did a similar article. But I read an article that said, "Every article has a home. And when you receive a rejection letter, it is just saying that your article lives at a different address." The same is true with relationship. God has a person in mind for each of us, so when we are dumped by one person, we can just cross that one of our list. The one God has for us is still out there. All we have to do is find him or her. What's the old saying? You have to kiss a lot of toads before you find a prince. After I was dumped, I felt numb. Then the anger set in. My anger was building, and I was afraid if it wasn t released soon that I would explode like an active volcano, spewing destruction on everyone and everything in my path. Ephesians 4:26 warns us to Be ye angry, and sin not..., which indicates that anger in itself is not a sin. It is what we do with that anger, that is.

God gave us the emotion of anger as a built-in system that flashes when evil is triumphing, such as when you see your little sister being beat up by an older student at school or when you see one of your teachers abusing a classmate.

What do we do with that anger?

It is perhaps better to isolate yourself by taking a walk or going into your bedroom. When you are alone, tell God about your problems in detail and from the bottom of your heart. God understands you better than you understand yourself. He knows what you should do and can offer you advice you never thought of. Just talk to Him as if you were talking to a friend.

Then decide what course of action to take. Make sure it is an action where you are able to handle your anger constructively. Punching someone out or telling a someone off is not handling your anger appropriately.

Before trying counseling, find a good friend who will let you use him as a sounding board. Someone you can call day or night, who will listen to you about your problems and feelings. Promise to do the same for that person at some future time.

If you can't find a friend to "vent" to, buy a journal. Some people find writing out their feelings in a private place where no one else will see it helpful. I personally write my journal entries as prayers to God. Or write a letter to the object of your anger. Write everything you want to tell that person. After you are done, either rip it up or put it through a paper shredder. I do not suggest sending it to that person.

When nothing else seems to work, seek counseling. Perhaps your pastor could counsel you or refer you to someone who can. Try to get to a Christian counselor. One who is a mature believer. He will also need to be a good listener. A person who does not necessarily solve your problems for you.

No matter how my ex-boyfriend treated me, no matter what he said, it was still necessary for me to forgive him.

I imagined my ex-boyfriend sitting on my couch and told him why I was mad at him, made a decision to forgive him and to release the bitterness I felt toward him. Then I asked God to forgive me for holding a grudge against him. Afterward, I felt one-hundred percent better.

Matthew 6:15 says But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

This shows how important it is to forgive, if we want God to forgive us. Even after you choose to forgive someone and give the matter to God, you may still feel angry toward that person. It is not that you haven t forgiven him, it is just that your feelings haven t conformed to your decision yet. In time, your feelings will catch up. Your feelings are not an accurate judge of what is true.

In the meantime, Matthew 5:44 (KJV) gives us this advice, But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you. It will be hard at first, but stick with it and your feelings of anger will have to flee.

Don t be anxious to rush into a new relationship because you attract what you are. For example, if you are a hurting person, you attract hurting people. If you are a whole person, you attract whole people.

Instead of jumping into another relationship, spend sometime working with God on you. When you love yourself just the way you are and have developed a relationship with God, then you will be able to attract a godly man who really loves you rather than a loser who will dump you for the next pretty thing that comes along.

About The Author

Annagail Lynes is editor of VisionHope Magazine. She specializes in writing articles for young adults about dating, school, parents, peer pressure and other youth-related issues. Get your Free Sample Issue of VisionHope, plus free articles and free pen pal ads at http://visionhope.ontheweb.com

visionhopemag@netzero.net

Posted by Editor at 06:44 PM

The Top 10 Life Lessons Your Child Can Learn from Playing Golf

by: Bea Fields

During the last seven years, I have watched my son and his friends grow up in the world of Junior Golf. This amazing sport has brought out the best in these young men, and has taught them so many valuable life lessons. I am forever impressed, in particular to the following ten qualities that I have observed my son develop as a bi-product of the great game of golf.

1. Humility and Respect

Golf requires that you show courtesy to others and that you communicate with respect. In the Junior Golf tournaments across the country, it is well stated that good sportsmanship must be exhibited at all times and that all play is ended with an exchange of a hand shake.

2. Punctuality

When the tournament schedule states "Tee time is at 9:00," this means that you are to be on the tee box at 8:55. If you are late to the tee box, you are automatically disqualified, no questions asked. While this can be a tough lesson to learn, it is one that works brilliantly and has instilled in my son the importance of being on time for not only every tournament but every event in life.

3. Confession

Golf is a game of honor, and recognizing that a transgression has occurred and taking responsibility for the transgression is a part of the game. This one act instills integrity and fairness to all concerned.

4. Safety

Golf balls and clubs are very hard and dangerous instruments, and one of the first and foremost rules of golf is safety. My son has been instructed again and again to not take practice swings in the direction of another person, not to swing clubs when someone else is walking by, and never to hit into a group playing in front of him. These rules of safety have filtered into other aspects of his life, including biking, swimming, and safety in the home.

5. Quiet

Golf requires an amazing amount of concentration, and quiet is required at all times on the golf course. While this takes practice for young kids, it is a life skill that teaches constraint and respect for others.

6. Visioning

The night before and the morning of a tournament, my son sits quietly and mentally and visually plays the course. This skill is teaching him how to "see the end in mind," which is key to goal achievement.

7. Problem Solving

Rain, wind, trees, multiple sand traps, and deep rough can make for a challenging day of tournament play. These are a normal part of golf and can be an amazing opportunity for clever problem solving and personal growth.

8. Focus

Golf is a tough sport. It requires that you not only know the physics of hitting the ball (and what club to use when) but requires intense mental and emotional concentration. Silencing the inner critic after a "bad shot" is crucial to regaining clear focus, which is an advanced skill to learn but one that can take you very far in life.

9. Practice, Persistence, and Listening

In golf, instant success is very rare. My son has become a great golfer through daily practice, persistence, and through being open to listening to his mentors. In life, it is important to know that we rarely reach our goal in one "stroke." By practicing, making corrections along the way, being open to coaching, and being persistent, we can tackle most of life's tough challenges.

10. Graciousness

One of the most important life lessons my son has learned from golf is to be gracious and respectful to adults. At the end of each tournament, he and his competitors thank and shake the hands of the tournament chairmen and follow this up with a handwritten note of thanks

About The Author

Bea Fields, Southern Pines, NC, USA

bea@fivestarleader.com

http://www.fivestarleader.com

Bea Fields is an Executive Coach and a Certified Guerrilla Marketing Coach. She is also a Consultant, Trainer, Public Speaker and author of the Five Star Leader e-course. Her area of expertise is that of Leadership Development and Marketing for Executives, Managers, Small Business Owners, and Political Leaders.

Posted by Editor at 06:44 PM

Struggling With Addictions

by: Annagail Lynes

What kind of bad habits do you struggle with? Most people think that when they come to Christ that their bad habits will magically disappear. And some church people act like if you have any bad habits in your life that you must not truly be saved, but that couldn t be further from the truth. Christians or not, we are all people, and people make mistakes. People have bad habits.

If you are anything like me, you have poured your heart out in counseling sessions with your church leaders, stood in prayer lines, repented and vowed to do better. And still found yourself giving into that temptation the next time it presented itself, leaving you asking, What s wrong with me?

Nothing. There is nothing wrong with you. The very fact that you are concerned about it is a good sign. It s the people who won t admit they have a problem that should worry.

Everyone, at one time or another, struggles with some type of bad habit or addiction. Maybe it s shopping too much, smoking, drinking alcohol, pornography, coffee, sweets, etc. People don t want others to know about their problems, so they hide them in the closet, hoping that no one will ever find out about their secret. When a problem is hidden in the dark, it will continue to haunt you. But once it is brought into the light, that is when you will be able to overcome it.

A bad habit or addiction is anything that robs you of your time with God, that you feel that you must hide, that hurts your health or the health of others or is against the Word of God.

It is important that we guard what we are feeding the gates of our heart our eyes, ears and mouth. Looking at pornographic magazines or watching R-rated movies causes those images to enter our eye gates, and once there, our minds store those images for safe keeping. Then at the most awkward moments, it will replay those images. Maybe in your dreams, when you are praising God at church or when you are kissing your girlfriend.

Perhaps you don t watch anything objectionable. Instead your vice of choice is heavy-metal or rap music that talk about killing cops and degrading women. At first, you may just think the music has a nice beat, but after awhile, even though, you are not consciously listening to the lyrics, those words the ones about murder, drugs and sex will seep into your subconscious. You will find yourself getting into trouble because you have a shorter fuse than you used to. You will blur the line between right and wrong. You won t remember why having sex without a marriage license is sinful, why stealing and lying are immoral. All because you didn t guard what you let through your eye and ear gates.

How do you overcome the bad habits and addictions in your life?

1. Repent. I John 1:9 says, If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we didn t struggle with problems in life, there would be no reason to repent. However, we do, so we must ask God to forgive us for our wrongdoings. He is a gracious God who promises to forgive us when we repent. The mistake most of us make is in hiding our sin from God. Somehow we think that we can hide it from the One who sees all and knows all. Run to God when you slip in your recovery. Run to Him when you sin because He is on your side. He is not sitting up in Heaven, waiting to pounce on you anytime you make a mistake. That is not who He is. God is love not hate.

2. Ask God For Help. In II Corinthians 12:9, God tell us My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. God s strength is made perfect in our weakness. Think about that for a moment. In our times of weakness, we can count on God to be strong for us. If we team up with God, we can conquer anything. Romans 8:37 promises that we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

Philippians 4:13 states that I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Never be afraid to ask God for help because without Him, beating a bad habit is like digging yourself out of the bottom of the Grand Canyon. It s an uphill battle.

3. Make A Decision. I will when said together, those two words can be the strongest words in the English language. Why? Because they denote choice. Even in the Garden of Eden, we find humans making their own choices. Eve could have chose not to talk to the serpent. She could have decided not to eat the fruit. Adam could have refused the fruit when Eve offered it to him.

Every day we make choices. Will I have the soup or the salad? Will I cheat at golf? Will I give back the extra change the cashier gave me? Every day we make up our minds to do the right thing or to do the wrong thing. But when faced with a choice, humans usually choose the wrong thing because it is easier to give into temptations than to say no.

So, we must train ourselves to choose the right option. Whenever you have to choose between right and wrong, take a moment and determine which is the wrong option and which is the right. If you don t know, ask yourself what would happen if you picked a certain option. If it would result in someone being hurt or in something that is contrary to God s Word, it is the wrong choice.

4. Find Someone To Talk To. James 5:16 advises us to Confess your faults one to another that ye may be healed... As I said before, when we leave things in the dark, they continue to have a hold over us. In order to stop this cycle, we must find someone to confess our habits and addictions to. Once it is out in the open, then you will begin to heal in that area of your life. Make sure to find someone you can trust to talk to. You don t want your sins to be broadcast all over your church, your neighborhood or your school. Instead go to your minister, youth pastor, parents, school counselor or a close friend.

Expose your bad habits and addictions to God s light, and you will be amazed at how quickly they will crumble under the heat.

About The Author

visionhopemag@netzero.net

Posted by Editor at 06:44 PM

Making The Grade

by: Annagail Lynes

Here--" I said, handing my mother my progress report as I walked into her room. I braced myself for the inevitably screaming I was sure to hear. "My teacher says you have to sign this." My mother looked at the card, then at me. "How could you be getting a 'D' in Earth Science?"

Some students have a natural ability for academics. They receive excellent marks, yet rarely crack open their textbooks. Others have to study night and day to get the same marks. It s not that some students are smart, and others are dumb. It is a matter of tapping into what study methods work for each student.

Here are seven ways you can study more effectively and improve your grades:

Track Assignments

The first step is to keep track of assignments. Some loose-leaf binders come with school-year or all-year calendars. If you don t find one you like, consider buying a teachers' planning calendar from an office supply store. It can be inserted into the front of your binders and used to record assignments. Your teachers may provide you with assignment sheets. These sheets can be slipped in front of the calendar. The day the assignments and tests are announced, work out a study schedule.

Commit To A Regular Time And Place For Homework

You should study every day to continue to make progress. Homework time doesn't have to be a hassle if you are flexible with your schedule. Some students like to start their homework right after school. With their homework finished, they are free to go out or watch television. Other students prefer to relax first, then do their homework with a fresh perspective. Once you have committed to a homework time, stick to it.

Where you study is as important as setting a regular study time. You may enjoy studying at your bedroom desk or lying on the floor in the living room. No matter where you study, the environment should be noise-free and well-lighted. You should be able to spread out your books and papers. Also make sure you have all the supplies you need within your reach.

Be Conscientious

Every night make sure your homework is done, is correct and is orderly. Neat homework and projects earn higher grades. In the business world, if you make a sloppy presentation, you will lose the client's account. Also turn your homework in on time.

After the test and assignments are handed back, sit down with them and see where you made mistakes. Why were the errors made and how could you prevent similar errors in the future? Write notes on the assignments and tests. Make a file for the test and notes, for cumulative tests later.

Use Memorization Techniques

In order to remember lists, try inventing a combination of letters (an acronym). Each letter will give you a clue to an idea you need to remember. For example, BRASS is an acronym for how to shoot a rifle--Breath, Relax, Aim, Sight, Squeeze. You could also make up a sentence where the first letter of each word is a hint to what you need to recall. For instance, Dumb Martians Just Sit Nearby Eating Tender Noodles is the phrase to remember the order of the Eight Is Enough children--David, Mary, Joanie, Susan, Nancy, Elizabeth, Tommy, Nicholas.

For remembering names, devise a relationship between the name and the physical characteristics of the person. For example, Shirley Temple might be remembered as having curly --which rhymes with Shirley--hair around her temples.

When you have an ordered or an unordered list you need to memorize, you can create a story linking the ideas together. The more crazier, the better. If your vocabulary words are success, assistant, cemetery, scrutinize, you might create a story of a successful assistant scrutinizing tombstones in a cemetery, searching for her boss grave.

Studying For Tests

Write down a study checklist of what will be covered on the test. Make a list of notes, formulas, ideas and text assignments that you are responsible for.

Create flashcards--put topics or questions on the front and answers on the back. Have a friend, parent or sibling quiz you. Keep running through the flashcards while you brush your teeth, are on the bus, when you are in the restroom and when you are doing chores.

Produce a mock test. One with only the questions and another with only the answers. Hide the answers in a drawer or give them to a parent. Take the test and when completed, compare your responses with the ones on the answer sheet. Keep repeating this process until you know the material backward and forward.

If you want to make studying for a test fun, team up with a friend and play the game show Twenty-One. A parent or sibling should host , reading off the questions. You and your friend compete against each other until one of you reaches twenty-one points.

Avoid Getting Involved In Too Many Activities

If you want to participate in an extracurricular activity, you can reschedule your study time. However, if baseball, ballet or any other activities make you stay up late trying to finish your homework, then you are involved in too many activities.

Play Educational Games

After the homework is finished, pull out a board game. Monopoly encourages mental calculation when counting money and determining moves, and Clue requires logical deductive skills. Try to figure out the measurements when doubling a recipe in the kitchen.

Playing word games with your family or friends can improve spelling skills. Scrabble, anagrams, Wheel of Fortune and word jumbles can teach you to spell new words.

II Timothy 2:15 says to study to show yourself approved unto God.

If you care enough about your grades to take the time to develop conscientious study habits, you receive better marks, learn self-discipline and will have more options when it comes to selecting colleges. No matter what you choose to do in life, you should have a good education to fall back on. Not everything in life comes easy. The key is to make up your mind to work hard for the things you want. And not to let anyone or anything get in your way.

About The Author

visionhopemag@netzero.net

Posted by Editor at 06:44 PM

Watch Your Language!

by: Annagail Lynes

I have a big mouth. If you have read my testimony, you know that I have struggled with panic attacks and an anxiety disorder that most of the time left my tongue paralyzed when it came to simple things, such as ordering a meal or answering the phone. God delivered me from the solitude I had imprisoned myself in. However, I had a new problem--now I talked too much.

I have started to monitor my words and have been shocked by what I discovered. Complaining...gossiping...fault-finding...even negative words and word curses.

Matthew 12:36 says But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day judgment for every careless word they have spoken. I don't know about you, but I think it's time to get our mouths in order.

According to Proverbs 18:21, death and life are in the power of the tongue. Deuteronomy 30:19 makes it even clearer by saying This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live.

When God created the world, Genesis 1:3 says And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. He gave you that same power to speak things into existence. You might be thinking "how is that possible?"

Mark 11:23 states "I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, `Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. According to this verse, you can have what you say--negative or positive. Throughout the Bible, especially in Proverbs, God speaks about our mouths.

James 3:3-10 shows us that our tongues are like a bit in a horse's mouth. With that bit in place, you can control the animal, turn it any way you want it to go. Or like a ship that can be steered by a small rudder. Our tongues are little, but they can contaminate our whole bodies and the lives of others around us.

We are the only creatures created by God that can choose what we say. Although a parrot can talk, he can't choose the words that come out of his mouth. He only repeats what he hears. Verse 9 notes With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. and Verse 10-- Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.

In church or around godly friends, we praise God and talk about what the Bible says. When we arrive home, when we are in a jam--lost our car keys, , had an argument or our teenage daughter announces she's pregnant, we complain, gossip and, believe it or not, we even curse people and ourselves with our words. Have you ever called a person "stupid," said you wished they were dead or that you were never born? Those are all word curses.

Charles Capps speaks of a woman in his book God's Creative Power for Healing. Whenever this woman got mad, she would say "that just burns me up." She would say it several times a day. For several months, the woman continued to have a fever, but the doctors couldn't figure out why. She had no physical reason to have a fever. Then the doctor asked her about her habits. When he found out she had been saying "that just burns me up," he told her to stop. He wasn't sure if it had anything to do with the fever. Within weeks, her fever left her.

Did you know that angels are all around you, just waiting to carry out your words of faith? When you speak negatively, you cancel out the positive words you have spoken. James 1:8-- He is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does. A double-minded person is one who has one foot in the world's way of thinking and one foot in God's promises. God is calling us to choose one and be steadfast in that thinking and that thinking only. The Bible says that God would prefer that we either be hot or cold rather than lukewarm Christians.

So, how do we start to change our mouths?

1) Ask God For Help. Make Psalm 141:3 Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips. your daily prayer.

2) Renew Your Mind. Romans 12:1-2 says Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will. By changing your thoughts, you will change your mouth because Proverbs 23:7 (KJV) reveals For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Memorize scriptures on the mouth. Meditate on them by thinking about them, reciting them, mulling them over in your mind. Make them personal to you by inserting your name into the scripture, such "For God so loved Annagail that he gave his one and only Son, that Annagail who believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16) Then try to visual yourself speaking and thinking according to God's Word.

3) Monitor Your Mouth. A wise person watches the words that come out of his/her mouth.. Ask God to convict you when you utter wrong words, use profanities or cut someone down. When you get into a bad situation, Philippians 4:8 says to Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.

4) Start to prophesy over your own life. God told us to calleth those things which be not as though they were.(Romans 4:17 KJV). As long as it lines up with God's will, you can speak out what you want as long as you keep speaking it and believing it in your heart. Speak God's promises over your life.

5) Use your mouth to exhort and encourage others. Begin to pray God's word of your life and the lives of your friends and family.

I am still struggling in this area, but every day I am growing up more in Christ. We must train our mouths and flesh to conform to God's Word. I challenge you to make a decision to do so today.

About The Author

visionhopemag@netzero.net

Posted by Editor at 06:44 PM

10 Tips for Better Grades in Math

by: Dr. Kempton Smith

Pass these on to your high school math student:

1. Don't just aim for 70%. Aim high and shoot for 100%.

2. When doing your math homework, be neat. It does make a difference.

3. It's not just the answer that counts in math. Much of your grade is based on the intermediate steps in getting to the answer. So show all your work. Your objective should be to convince your teacher that you know how to do the problem.

4. It is important to read over the material in your math text book. Don't just focus on your homework problems.

5. Take notes from lectures, writing them neatly. When you study them, check points you need to review.

6. If you don't understand something, ask your teacher as soon as you can.

6. Watch for summaries within and at the end of assigned chapters.

7. Look for bold face and italic copy. They signify important points to remember.

8. If your homework assignments were just the even numbered questions, then do some of the others in reviewing for a test.

9. Keep up with your class on a daily basis. Try hard not to get behind.

10. Don't take the attitude that you aren't good in math. Have a positive attitude. Think, "I can do my math and I can get a good grade in math."

About The Author

Dr. Kempton Smith provides math tutoring services for high school students by email. For more information and tips for getting better math grades, visit his web site http://www.conejomathtutor.com

kempton@conejomathtutor.com

You have permission to publish this article electronically or in print, free of charge, as long as the resource box is included.

Posted by Editor at 06:44 PM

Poke'Mon Exposed!

by: Annagail Lynes

Have you seen the Campbell soup commercial about the two brothers playing a video game. The one where their mom calls them to eat. One video game monster says to the other, "Don't worry. They'll be back. They need us." Then the monster whispers, "I hear footsteps," obviously convinced it was the kids coming to finish their game. As the mom turns off the video game, you hear "Oh no! It's the mom!"

Most find this commercial amusing, maybe enough to write "Campbell's soup" on their grocery list. Seeing nothing odd about it. After all, kids playing video games are commonplace scenes in our society.

Now consider this next scene: children, maybe your younger brothers or sisters, are playing in the school yard. They are running around, waving sticks in the air. Summoning spirits by screaming, "Spirits enter me." Across the nation, this scene too is commonplace.

Why would kids do that? Where were they taught this?

According to Berit Kjos website (http://www.crossroad.to), government schools from the Pacific to the Atlantic are teaching students pagan formulas for invoking "angelic" or "demonic" spirits through multi-cultural education, popular books, movies and television shows. But video and role-playing games, such as Poke'mon, have only attributed to the problem.

Since the release of the Poke'mon trading cards, children have been stabbed and beat up by classmates, demanding Poke'mon cards. Young adults have stolen money from their mothers' purses and others have broken into houses. All to collect the Poke'mon trading cards.

Once we realized the demonic force involved with Poke mon, we banned everything from our home. At first, the kids were resistant, but after we flooded them with information concerning how and where Poke mon derived they were very open to doing what was right in the sight of the Lord, Joni Lamb, mother of three children,. says.

As you log onto the Poke'mon website, you find the objective of the game spelled out for you. "Welcome to the world of Poke'mon, a special place where people just like you train to become the Number-One Poke'mon Master in the world."

What is a Poke'mon? A Poke'mon is an unbelievable creature that its own unique fighting abilities. One of these creatures can grow and transform into an even more forceful creature. There are currently 150 types of Poke'mon.

How do you become the Number-One Poke'mon Master in the world? In an episode, the boy hero, Ash, had seized his fifth Poke'mon. According to his mentor, he had to catch a lot more Poke'mon if he wanted be a Poke'mon master. The mentor told him that the more Ash caught and trained, the more power Ash would have for future battles. From this, clearly you have to catch all 150 Poke'mon to gain number-one status.

How does Poke'mon and other video and role-playing games affect your mind? By giving you a seductive vision to become a Poke'mon master. As a Poke'mon master, you are guaranteed supernatural powers. Just as an addict, the more you get, the more you need. To top it off, after every episode of the Poke'mon television series, you are commanded "gotta catch 'em all."

On the Berit Kjos website, Susan Gavano, also a mother of three children, states "From what I hear, he [her son] and two other out of the 23 children in his class are the only ones who aren't addicted to it. No one at his school now is allowed to bring in their Poke'Mon cards, it got too out of control."

On the Poke'mon website, you will find tips, explanations and ads that encourage you to express the darker side of human nature. You will be able to link onto other occult games, such as Dungeons and Dragons. The children's pastors at our local church sent some information home about Poke mon and their concern as to what these little creatures represented. They had pulled descriptions of the different characters off of the Poke mon website and I was shocked to read some of the alarming names and functions of these pocket monsters, Joni Lamb comments.

In these types of games, you become the master. Similar to contemporary witchcraft, you wield your power. Your arm, mind, Poke'mon or other action figures are the channel for spiritual forces. Christians are taught to say, "Thy will be done" whereas in these types of games, the player is taught to say "My will be done."

To win, the player must follow the rules. Obedience is mandatory and is validated by instant rewards or positive reinforcement. After repetitive practice, the player now knows that if he obeys, he will be rewarded. He develops new habits and eventually the player learns to de-value life and will think of murder, robbery and assault as normal behavior.

Joni Lamb warns Poke mon deceives and distorts clear cut issues of what is right and wrong. Poke mon takes seemingly innocent creatures and gives them power to give you power and delve into a spiritual realm full of darkness.

As Christians, how should we determine whether a game is occult? First, what does the game teach you? About power? About magic? About God? About yourself? Look for obvious and subtle messages. Second, does it have anything to do with supernatural power? What is the source of that power? Does it agree or oppose with God says in the Bible? Third, what does it teach about violence or immorality and their consequences? Fourth, does the game have symbols or characteristics that link it to New Age or occult powers? Fifth, does it build godly character?

Remember that God tells us in Phillipians 4:7-8, "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things."

Once you've been involved with Poke'mon or occult role-playing games, you must do the following:

1) get rid of the trading cards, video games, taped episodes--anything with Poke'mon on it.

2) you must repent of your involvement in the occult. God says in I John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." Ask God to wash you in Jesus' blood that was shed on the cross and cleanse your from your sin.

3) you must not become involved in the occult again. Don't start watching the Poke'mon television series again or hang out with people who are Poke'mon traders.

Don't take my word for it, research Poke'mon for yourself and ask God for wisdom concerning it. James 1:5 says "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him." Pray for God's guidance. He will never steer you wrong.

About The Author

visionhopemag@netzero.net

Posted by Editor at 06:44 PM

The Last Day of 'Who Cares?'

by: Skye Thomas

Yesterday was the last day of Who Cares? for my oldest child. Today is his first day of high school. From now on, his choices will have a long-term effect on his life. Nothing will ever be the same for him.

Our culture doesn t make a big deal of that moment when a teen is officially considered an adult. Many older more traditional cultures have ceremonies and such so the teen and everyone around him knows from that day forward he is considered an adult and is expected to behave as such. By the time they re old enough to move out, they ve had a few years to get comfortable with the idea that they re adults. In America, we just say that at the age of eighteen you are old enough to vote, to get married, to serve your country, to go to jail, and to move out of your parent s home. There s no ceremony, no transition, no empowering.

If we re honest, we have to admit that by the time our children enter into high school, our influence has seriously dropped off. That s not to say that our love, presence, and role modeling isn t still crucial. It s just that we ve already taught them most of the really important stuff that we were going to teach them. We ve taught them to believe in themselves, or we haven t. We ve taught them about religion, or we haven t. We ve taught them the Golden Rule, or we haven t. We ve taught them to say no to drugs and premarital sex, or we haven t. You get the idea. By the time our children are entering into high school they know what we think of life and what we think of them. They know if our approach to life and towards them is basically optimistic or not. They know if we value higher education or not.

I told my son the truth, From the day you walk through those doors into high school, I no longer have any real control over your life. You re in charge. If you decide to flunk out of school, there s really nothing I can do about it. If you decide to blow off my rewards and punishment systems, there really isn t a damn thing I can do to stop you. If you blow your grades, all I can do is deny you driving privileges. Legally, I don t have to let you drive. Otherwise, I can t really do much to force you to be a good student. I can t force you to stay clean and sober. I can t force you to surround yourself with quality people.

You stand four inches taller than me and weigh as much as I do. What am I going to do? Spank you? Put you in time out? I can ground you only if you agree with me that you should be grounded and only if you choose to honor my authority. I can t physically force you to stay home at night. I can t physically force you to show up for classes. Your size alone dictates that I no longer have power over you. I can only lead from a place of having earned your respect.

Up until now, nobody really cared what kind of grades you got. The grades you get now effects whether or not you get into a college. The grades you get now effects whether or not you get scholarship money. Whether or not you join in student government, compete in sports, participate in the arts, it all matters now. The grades you get and the activities you choose to participate in now effects your placement in society when that eighteenth birthday hits.

Will you be a high school dropout or going away to the school of your choice entering into a field of study that fascinates you? Will there be scholarship money to pay for your schooling or will you be forced to struggle and work your way through school? The grades you get now effects how hard will you have to work in the future. The better your grades, the more activities you excel in, and the longer you stay in school, the easier you will have it later.

From this day forward, you re in charge of your destiny. You decide. How much paid vacation do you want as an adult? How many nice toys will you be able to purchase? How nice of a place will you live in? How important are expensive clothes to you? How many hours per week will you want to work to support your children? Will you travel? Will you love your job? You actually have the power now to start choosing for yourself and designing for yourself what your future will look like. You do not have the freedoms nor the responsibilities of an adult yet, but you do have the power to create your own dreams. That means that from this point forward you are really secretly in charge of your future

As a toddler, I taught you society s opinions of right and wrong. As a child, I taught you the laws of cause and effect. Throughout the process, I did my best to help you find your unique and beautiful authentic self. You aren t legally free to leave and do as you please, but you are now at that point where I have to teach you how to create a life for yourself that is meaningful and worthy of you and your incredible heart. From this day forward, you get to choose your soul s journey.

Yesterday, you played at the beach as a carefree child. Today, you began your journey into adulthood. From this point forward people are watching, they care about your work ethic, your personal conduct, who you surround yourself with, and who you have chosen to become. You have four years to design and build your wings. They will carry you when you leave the nest. Choose wisely, my dear.

Who cares? You do.

About The Author

Skye Thomas began writing books and articles with an everyday practical approach to spirituality, motivation, and inspiration in 1999 after twenty years of studying spirituality, metaphysics, motivation, and parenting. More of her articles can be found at www.tomorrowsedge.net as well as free previews of her books.

skye@tomorrowsedge.net

Posted by Editor at 06:44 PM