Thoughts On Child Violence in Our Country

"As the snow flies….
On a cold and gray Chicago morn
Another little baby child is born
In the ghetto
And his mamma cries…"
The words to this song are haunting to me this morning. I woke up with the snow flying all around (no accumulation) and my world cold. It seems that the children and I mean children, in this country are committing or contemplating heinous acts upon others. There is no way that we can make everyone’s life a fairytale. But I can’t believe that this many kids have it that bad.
I am keenly aware that we adults do not know the intensity of the pressures that our kids face at school. This is a different day and age. Computers, Internet, television, music, video games, radio, billboards, magazine ads on and on…. Our kids are overwhelmed with immorality. It is "…in their face…" every day. If we could only take them back to a simpler day...
Remember when sexuality wasn’t spoken of on TV? Remember when there was no cursing allowed? Homosexuality was unheard of? My dad had to explain it to me. Isn’t that how it is suppose to be? Remember when jokes were funny and witty and not connected to sexual innuendoes? Remember when songs spoke of love as an emotion and not an act? Did you ever think that modern music would promote incorrigible, immoral, drunken, suicidal and irresponsible behavior? Did you ever think that we could have technology in our homes that could be used by our children to learn how to make bombs, view pornography, show how to make illicit drugs or how to steal other peoples writings and use it as their own? Did you ever think that we would live in a society that openly produces almost-naked pictures of women and men just to sell a product?
How did we get to where we are? We’re the adults. Let’s quit pointing a finger at everybody else and be keenly aware that these things exist because of us. Yes, us! These things exist because we allow them to exist. I speak of "us" as the society of adults.
The adult society doesn’t want to be regulated. Freedom of speech. Freedom of expression. Freedom to know. All the "freedoms" that the adults want for themselves is killing our kids.
You see adults should know how to regulate themselves. Kids don’t know any better. They don’t know the end results for getting involved in immoral things. Stick a kid in a candy store. When will he quit eating? Most likely after he gets sick from stuffing himself with candy. He’s a kid. What else would you expect? But, an adult knows better!
Can we get this society under control? I don’t think so. Immorally, we are out of control. The only thing that will bring our society back for our children is God, and an immoral society doesn’t look for God.
So, our nations bored, overweight, spiritually depraved and empty-soul children search for meaning in their parents "stuff". They will find nothing of value. They will then turn to what they have seen, heard, and learned. They will try drugs and alcohol, pornography, sex and homosexuality. And when they get angry enough they will take a gun to school to settle their issues for them. Why will they do all this? Because they can…
"People don’t you understand, the child needs you helping hand
He’s gonna’ grow to be a young man someday
Take a look at you and me, are we to blind to see
Or do we simply turn our heads and look the other way…"
"Then one night in desperation the young man breaks away
He buys a gun, steals a car, tries to run but he doesn’t get far
And his mamma cries
A crowd gathers ‘round an angry young man
Face down in the street with a gun in his hand
In the ghetto
As her young man dies…
On a cold and gray Chicago morn
Another little baby child is born
In the ghetto…"
("In The Ghetto" written by Nick Cave)

Felicam Tibi Natalia Diem

I’m not real big on birthdays. When I was a kid, a birthday celebration was a song and a cake at dinner. That’s a nice birthday. My wife, on the other hand, thinks differently. Since we have been together, my wife has tried to celebrate every birthday. She thinks they’re "special"…. I don’t.
Last year my birthday fell on a Wednesday. Wednesday is youth nite at my church. I am the youth pastor. Wednesday is busy! In the middle of youth worship, I noticed some of our adults from the church slipping in for the youth contemporary worship service. I was so pleased. I had been trying to get adults to come for weeks so that they could see what was going on during Wednesdays. You could only imagine my surprise to find out that they had come to celebrate my birthday at the request of my wife.
So I ate cake and ice cream had punch and said "thank you" for the gesture. Then came the cards. Of course, I had to sit and open them all in front of everyone. That’s when I discovered a harsh reality.
Not one, not two, not three, nor four…. Yea five cards wished me a happy 40th birthday. I am humbled. For you see, I was turning 39. After the 3rd card I finally commented that I was only turning 39 to which one of my parishioners responded, "ah, come on pastor. We all know you’re older than 40!"
I guess the best roasts are the ones that don’t realize their roasting you. I suppose since I had my 40th when I was 39 that now when I am about to turn 40 no one will remember. And to make matters worse, the very next week (the one after my non-fortieth birthday surprise party) I got my first pair of bifocals. The next week… my first letter from A.A.R.P.

Just Do It!

I’ve been looking at my waist lately. Can’t miss it. I’ve been thinking that I need to get back to that exercise thing I use to do. So, I’ve been wondering when I can fit it in. Let me see. If I got up earlier on Mondays I might be able to get in a twenty minute work out before I have to get the kids up. But then again, I wouldn’t be getting a quality work out and it wouldn’t be worth it. Monday evenings are family time. I won’t touch that. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday morning are already spoken for so I can’t go there. Tuesday and Thursday evenings are for study and research for the classes I teach. Wednesday ooohhhh, that day is already so long I could write a book about it. Friday is for writing, bloging, and sermon preparation. Saturday is to catch up around the house day. I am already so far behind on this day that I could use two weeks to catch up. Sunday is the Lord’s Day. I try to leave that day for worship and spiritual edification. It doesn’t always work but I try. That’s my week. There just isn’t time to work on my growth problem. Actually, instead of a problem, you could call it an investment. It would make me feel better.
Some time ago NIKE had a slogan. “Just do it” This becomes the definition for discipline. When we accomplish anything thing in our lives it comes down to the slogan “Just do it”. If I am going to read that book, work on my prayer life, learn more about God, earn my degree or burn this fat off my middle I have to just do it!
We all have excuses that keep us from “…doing it”. The fact of the matter is the “thing” hasn’t hit high enough on the priority list for us to do anything about it. True. All those other things that clutter my life are a higher priority than sweating and burning calories. I know this and yet I can’t get my "self" to embrace this new priority. It sounds and feels too much like work. Yet, I know after I get started that I will feel better and even enjoy it. But still…..You know they make pills for everything these days. Maybe they can make a pill for guys like me, a pill that will remove all my obstacles so that I can…”git ‘er done”.

Rainy Days & Fridays… In A Small Town

As I stepped out on the porch this morning with my coffee in hand, it was raining. Autumn’s chill is in the air… here in Wisconsin. Unlike the song, rainy days and Fridays don’t get me down. O.K., I know the song says Monday, but today is Friday and the rain is soothing to my soul. I sip my coffee, listen to the creaking of the runners on my rocking chair and the soft patter of the gentle rain. Life has slowed down, at least for the moment.
Before I came to live in Wisconsin, I asked around "What’s it like to live in Wisconsin?" I got a lot of different answers. The one that influenced me the most came from someone who lived here as a child. He said, "Wisconsin is a great place to raise kids." I don’t know if it is so much Wisconsin. Our tax burden is among the highest in the country. I think it is because most of Wisconsin is rural, small town-ish.
I have had the privilege of living in a metropolis with over two million people and a town with over 10,000. I now live in a burg with only 400.
Besides goods and services, the biggest difference from the largest place I’ve ever lived to the smallest is pace. The city just can’t seem to slow down. Not like here. I am reminded of this every time I get caught behind some piece of farm equipment on an impassible road going 3 miles per hour. Ain’t no since gettin’ in a hurry there.
I have traveled back to the city many times in the 5 years I have lived in this little burg. Each time I go, I notice more and more how difficult it is for me to keep up. Traffic is way too hectic. The malls are to crowded. The days seem to long. You can do just about anything 24 hours a day. The cell phones are always ringing, the computer is always running and you can always get something to eat. Go, go, go! People forget to "whoa".
Maybe that’s why folks come up here to vacation. Here you can’t go, go, go. There ain’t nuttin' to go to! Shoot, we roll up and put away the side walks by 5 p.m. And on a Friday like this, we don’t even get ‘em back out. So when you get out of the city, because there doesn’t seem to be anything to do. You just relax. For some folks, it is unnerving because we have poor cellular service and they’re cell phones don’t work very well. While I have met others who travel here for the peace of mind that comes from their cell phone not working.
I have tasted both sides. I must admit that I miss the goods and services. I miss a good steak. I miss the ability to run to the store to get whatever I think I need. I miss 2 a.m. coffee shops and breakfast anytime. It agitates me a little to have to drive an hour in any direction to go to a movie.
So I have traded all that for mornings like this. And I would gladly make the same choice again. You can’t put a price tag on this. Lets see… how does that commercial go? Cup of home brewed coffee - .50 cents. Comfortable rocking chair on the front porch - $55.00. Sound of gentle rain – free! The cost of having these few moments to reflect on my soul and drink in God’s goodness – PRICELESS.
TO THOSE OF YOU WHO LIVE IN A METROPOLIS: I hope that someday you would have the opportunity to leave and experience the peace and simplicity of a small burg (like the one I live in). It is a change. But, it’s a good change! Well, my time is up. My wife is telling me it’s time for breakfast. This morning is biscuits and gravy.

…About Sunshine & Labor

…About Sunshine & Labor
This morning I came out to the porch early. I made my cup of coffee and sat in the porch swing. I am tired of the rat race I have been running. So, I thought I would steal me a few moments on the front porch swing with a cup of Jo, singing birds and sunshine. What a gorgeous morning! I know I can’t sit here all day. But at this moment, I had better not be disturbed.
You know…it’s really about the sunshine. It makes you feel better. Did you know that Seattle, Washington has the longest rainy season of any major U.S. city? Did you know it has the highest mental depression rate of any major U.S. city? Did you know it also has the highest suicide rate of any major U.S. city? And yes, it is related to sunshine. Sunshine is one of our major sources of vitamin D. You have probably guessed by now that vitamin D helps fight depression. Do you ever feel blah after getting stuck inside the house or office all day?
It’s not just the sunshine, but also the satisfaction of accomplishment. Follow with me here. My wife is a stay-at-home mom. From the time she gets up until she goes to bed, her schedule looks the same. She feels like she spinning her wheels because when she wakes up tomorrow, she will do it all over again. As for me, my job is the same as a broker. I invest in people’s lives. Some days the stock values go up. Some days they go down. I don’t know if I have accomplished anything until I have tracked the investment for 5, 10, or even 15 years! So for me there’s no real sense of accomplishment.
That’s where we help each other out… the laundry. For a family of 7, the laundry is a never-ending mountain of work. And, I do mean a never-ending mountain. Therefore, I have relieved my wife of the monotonous task of the laundry… she is happy. That alone is worth it! Now, this is where I get my sense of accomplishment. Have you ever waded through a week of laundry from a family of 7? It can’t be done!
I am proud to announce that I have conquered a mountain of dirty clothes… and my wife is proud of me. She is happy… yes! Seriously, I can’t begin to tell you the satisfaction I get when I look around the basement and the mountain has been removed. My wife tells me of her sense of satisfaction that she doesn’t have to face it. You see, I think we all have a need to be satisfied with our accomplishments.
I hope that you can accomplish something today or this week. Stick with it until you do, then get outside and soak up some sun even if you live in Seattle (you might have to get a sunlamp). Well, gotta’ go. I just heard the wash machine finish the rinse cycle.