Saturday Morning CarTunes

Every U down in Uville liked U.S. a lot,
But the Binch, who lived Far East of Uville, did not.
The Binch hated U.S! the whole U.S. way!
Now don't ask me why, for nobody can say,
It could be his turban was screwed on too tight.
Or the sun from the desert had beaten too bright
But I think that the most likely reason of all
May have been that his heart was two sizes too small.

But, Whatever the reason, his heart or his turban,
He stood facing Uville, the part that was urban.
"They're doing their business," he snarled from his perch.
"They're raising their families! They're going to church!
They're leading the world, and their empire is thriving,
I MUST keep the S's and U's from surviving!"

Tomorrow, he knew, all the U's and the S's,
Would put on their pants and their shirts and their dresses,
They'd go to their offices, playgrounds and schools,
And abide by their U and S values and rules,
And then they'd do something he liked least of all,
Every U down in U-ville, the tall and the small,
Would stand all united, each U and each S,
And they'd sing Uville's anthem, "God bless us! God bless!"

All around their Twin Towers of Uville, they'd stand,
and their voices would drown every sound in the land.
"I must stop that singing," Binch said with a smirk,
And he had an idea – an idea that might work!
The Binch stole some U airplanes in U morning hours,
And crashed them right into the Uville Twin Towers.
"They'll wake to disaster!" he snickered, so sour,
"And how can they sing when they can't find a tower?"

The Binch cocked his ear as they woke from their sleeping,
All set to enjoy their U-wailing and weeping,
Instead he heard something that started quite low,
And it built up quite slow, but it started to grow...
And the Binch heard the most unpredictable thing...
And he couldn't believe it – they started to sing!

He stared down at U-ville, not trusting his eyes,
What he saw was a shocking, disgusting surprise!
Every U down in U-ville, the tall and the small,
Was singing! Without any towers at all!
He HADN'T stopped U-Ville from singing! It sung!
For down deep in the hearts of the old and the young,
Those Twin Towers were standing, called Hope and called Pride,
And you can't smash the towers we hold deep inside.

So we circle the sites where our heroes did fall,
With a hand in each hand of the tall and the small,
And we mourn for our losses while knowing we'll cope,
For we still have inside that U-Pride and U-Hope.
For America means a bit more than tall towers,
It means more than wealth or political powers,
It's more than our enemies ever could guess,
So may God bless America! Bless us! God bless!

---Author Unknown

(Author unknown)

Monday Wash Day
Lord, help me wash away all my selfishness and
Vanity, so I may serve you with perfect humility
Through the week ahead.

Tuesday Ironing Day
Dear Lord, help me iron out all the wrinkles
Of prejudice I have collected through the years
So that I may see the beauty in others.

Wednesday Mending Day
O God, help me mend my ways so I will not
Set a bad example for others.

Thursday Cleaning Day
Lord Jesus, help me to dust out all the many faults
I have been hiding in the secret corners of my heart.

Friday Shopping Day
O God, give me the grace to shop wisely so I may purchase eternal happiness for myself and all others
In need of love.

Saturday Cooking Day
Help me, my Savior, to brew a big kettle of brotherly
Love and serve it with clean, sweet bread of human kindness.

Sunday The Lord's Day
O God, I have prepared my house for you. Please
Come into my heart so I may spend the day and the
Rest of my life in your presence.

Last night, Derek and Suz were blessed to welcome to Bowling Green the new Christian duo, "Cadia." Of course we took them to check out historic "Mariah's" where Tory enjoyed the 'best ever' chicken fingers and Courtney dined on Stoplight Pasta. These 19 year-old women from Nashville just finished a 35-city tour with Avalon before the release of their Cadia debut CD, "A Place Of Peace", which is a translation of the band's name. Their website is www.cadiaonline.com. Have I ever told you that I love my job?

Kimberly Daniels’ column, “Draw the Line,” which ran in the November issue of Charisma, appears below.

Draw the Line!
White Christians can’t say this—and black preachers won’t touch the issue. But it’s time black Christians faced the reality about Barack Obama’s dangerous moral values.

As a child in the 1960s I rode in the back of the bus. I was at the front of the riot lines in the 1970s, when I hit white boys on the head with bricks and dragged white girls down sidewalks near my school. I also experienced serious racism when I was an athlete in college.

I have been called the "N" word many times. I was taught to hate white people, and some of my relatives still call white people names such as "honky" and "cracker." But after I found Jesus, I was delivered from racism. I am free indeed!

The residue of my abuse has dried up at the root, and I am no longer a victim of what I call "ricochet racism." This occurs when the abused becomes the abuser.

Ricochet racism is a boomerang that grips the victim with pride and makes him think he has a right to hate. When I was saved, God taught me that I did not have a right to hate white people. Jesus nailed all my excuses to the cross, and I moved on.

Now that I am a born-again Christian, I do not consider my race to be my primary identity. I am a Christian first—before I am an African-American, a Democrat or a Republican. That's why I am troubled that so many African-American Christians are voting for Barack Obama simply because he is black.

If someone won't vote for a person because of race, we call this racism. But it is also racism when someone votes for a person because of his race!

Believe me, I would love to see a black brother in the White House—but not someone like Obama, who has embraced humanistic doctrines. Many white preachers are afraid to say this, and many black preachers won't touch it with a 10-foot pole.

I love Obama and pray for him and his family. But as Elijah troubled Ahab in Israel, I will challenge his views because they are dangerous to our religious liberties. It's time to draw the line.

Black Christians today need to put their faith first when they step into the voting booth. Does Obama represent godly values?

We know, for example, that he is an inclusionist. For 20 years he attended a church in Chicago that preaches that (1) Jesus is not the only way to God; (2) there is no hell; and (3) God will allow homosexuals to go to heaven even if they remain in their sinful state. Obama also has defended the killing of unborn babies, even in the third trimester.

He claims to be a Christian, but in his book The Audacity of Hope he calls the first chapter of Romans an "obscure" passage of Scripture. God's admonition about the sin of homosexuality is hardly obscure. It is very clear!

Jesus is the only way to God, and God will surely send homosexuals to hell if they do not turn from their ways and accept Christ—just as He will do for all other sinners who do not trust Jesus.

Regardless of political opinions, the Bible makes it clear: Those who support the homosexual agenda and the murder of unborn babies will be judged (see Rom. 1:32). These were the main issues in the days of ancient Israel, and they are critical issues today.

The pro-abortion movement is tied to the worship of two idols, Chemosh and Molech, the gods of child sacrifice. The movement toward gay marriage is rooted in the spirit of gameo, a Greek word that refers to same-sex marriage (see Matt. 24:38).

How can we vote for politicians who favor these ungodly movements? The Bible says we must separate ourselves from sin and wickedness. God is looking for faithful Christians who will not bow to the gods of this world.

I know what I am saying is not popular, and some people will denounce me for it. But I believe it is time to draw a line.

Believers can no longer make excuses by pulling their race cards, leaning on their lukewarm denominational rules or hiding under the covering of a political party. If we want America to recover, we must repent. We must choose the right side.

We must stand strong for what we believe and hold our ground. We must declare, as Joshua did, "Whoever is on God's side ... stand with me!"

Kimberly Daniels is the founder of Spoken Word Ministries in Jacksonville, Fla., and author of several books including her new release, Inside Out. Her website is www.kimberlydaniels.com.

If you use Twitter, you can follow my occasional updates as CruiseWithSuz. Check online at www.twitter.com...and thanks for listening to the CFR Morning Cruise With Suz.

Words of Life
by Randy Robison

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth,
where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break
in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in
heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where
thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is,
there your heart will be also." (Matthew 6:19-21)

There’s a lot of talk about the economy these days. The stock market is taking a beating, homes are being foreclosed and the dollar is losing value. The news is full of doom and gloom, so people are worried. Accusations of thievery and mismanagement abound. But when the blame is set aside and the financial intricacies are stripped away, what is the core issue?

Mark Punzo, a friend of the ministry who works at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, recently asked me, “What is something worth?”

It didn’t take me long to reply, “Whatever somebody will pay for it.”

“So what are you worth?” he asked. I admit my first thought went to life insurance actuary tables. My salary times x number of years before I retire…

But I knew that wasn’t what he was driving at, so I guessed, “Whatever someone will pay me?”

“Whatever someone will pay for you,” he corrected. Then he asked a question that really bent my mind. “What did God pay for you?”

Now I got it. God paid for me with His only Son’s blood. It certainly wasn’t the first time I’d heard that principle, but it was the first time I had heard it put that way. It struck me hard. Is that really the value God places on me? Am I worth the sacrifice of Jesus Christ? Why don’t I act like it?

“When God spoke that to me,” Mark continued, “He then said, ‘Look at all the people around you. That’s what they are worth to Me, too.’”

What incredible value! You, your loved ones, your acquaintances and even the people you don’t know are by far the most valuable things ever created, worth more than any company’s stock, assets or investments.

So why is it that we seem to be more concerned about our retirement plans than our relatives? Why do we react to an economic crisis with more urgency than a spiritual crisis? Do we really see the value in ourselves and in other people that God sees?

I confess that I take people for granted. If I spotted a $20 bill in the gutter, I’d stop to pick it up. But I have passed right by a person lying in the gutter without any second thoughts. I think perhaps my sense of value is askew. As a “responsible” husband and father, I spend time laying up treasure on earth for medical bills, college and (hopefully, some day) retirement. But those things will all pass away. My daughter’s car will eventually break down and rust, but her spirit is eternal. My son’s braces will give him a nice smile for a while, but what kind of man will he be when his teeth are falling out and his looks don’t matter any more?

I have decided to not worry about the economy. Good or bad, God is in control. I can only have one response if I want to hold on to anything of value: invest in the things in which God has invested.

You are worth what God paid for you. So is your spouse, your child and your neighbor. If you want to be rich, don’t look to your bank account. It will fail you. Look to the people in your life and invest in them. Then you will be truly prosperous, no matter what the economy does. And unlike the wealth of this world, you can take it with you forever.

This week, don’t worry about the economy; just make good investments. Deposit your time and love into someone’s life.

Prayer
“Father, forgive me for focusing on the temporal things of this earth. Help me to see the value in people that You see and lay up treasure in heaven by investing in them."

The following words were spoken by the late Red Skelton on his television program as he related the story of his teacher, Mr. Laswell, who felt his students had come to think of the Pledge of Allegiance as merely something to recite in class each day.

Now, more than ever, listen to the meaning of these words.

"I've been listening to you boys and girls recite the Pledge of Allegiance all semester and it seems as though it is becoming monotonous to you. If I may, may I recite it and try to explain to you the meaning of each word?"

************
I: me, an individual, a committee of one.
Pledge: dedicate all of my worldly goods to give without self pity.
Allegiance: my love and my devotion.
To the flag: our standard, Old Glory, a symbol of freedom. Wherever she waves, there's respect because your loyalty has given her a dignity that shouts freedom is everybody's job!
United: that means that we have all come together.
States: individual communities that have united into 48 great states. Forty-eight individual communities with pride and dignity and purpose; all divided with imaginary boundaries, yet united to a common purpose, and that's love for country.
And to the republic: a state in which sovereign power is
invested in representatives chosen by the people to govern. And government is the people and it's from the people to the leaders, not from the leaders to the people.
For which it stands, one nation: one nation, meaning "so
blessed by God"
Indivisible: incapable of being divided.
With liberty: which is freedom -- the right of power to live one's own life without threats, fear or some sort of retaliation.
And Justice: the principle or quality of dealing fairly with others.
For all: which means, boys and girls, it's as much your
country as it is mine.

************
"Since I was a small boy, two states have been added to our country
and two words have been added to the pledge of Allegiance...UNDER GOD

Wouldn't it be a pity if someone said that is a prayer and that would be eliminated from schools too?

CFR joins the friends and family of Maria Sue Chapman, five year-old daughter of Steven Curtis Chapman, in mourning the passing of this precious little girl.

Condolences may be posted on the website or mailed to:
The Chapman Family
P.O. Box 1510156
Nashville, Tn 37215

The family has asked that donations in lieu of flowers be sent to:
Shaohannah's Hope
P.O. Box 647
Nashville, TN 37065

Thank you for your prayers.

Hebrews 11:17 TLB While God was testing him, Abraham still trusted in God and His promises, and so he offered up his son... -

A few years ago, I was at the lowest point in my life as a parent. My older son, Joseph, was at a very rebellious stage, and no matter how I prayed or sought the Lord, nothing seemed to help. As I tuned in to one of my favorite TV ministry programs, I heard the preacher speak Holy Spirit-inspired words about my situation that would change my life and my family forever. I'd like to share those words with you today: "Maybe God wants you to sacrifice your children by allowing them to be led by God instead of being led by you. Some of you are trying to control your kids, and those kids are old enough that they need to be hearing from God. And you're not obeying God by continuing to try to run their lives. We may have to trust that, even though they're off track now, God will do something--as we trust Him--to bring them back in line. We may have to realize that WE can't make them do what's right, but if we'll let go of them, then GOD will make them do what's right. Some of you need to back off and let your kids make their own mistakes. Don't keep bailing them out." I felt so sure that the Lord was speaking these words to me personally that I copied them down and asked Him to give me confirmation. That's when God showed me Hebrews 11:17: "While God was testing him, Abraham still trusted in God and His promises, and so he offered up his son . . ." For the past six years, I had been praying and standing on God's promises for Joseph. Now it was time for me to offer him up to the Lord as a sacrifice so that He could do in my son's life what He needed to. As fearful as I was, I put Joseph completely in God's hands. Exactly one month later, my husband asked our son to leave our home. Even though I felt like my heart was breaking, I knew that this was God's will for us as a family, and I supported my husband's decision. It was time to "let go and let God."

Job 36:15 NLT says that "By means of their suffering, [God] rescues those who suffer. For he gets their attention through adversity." When my son left home, I experienced a period of intense suffering, and during this time, God had my undivided attention. As painful as this time was for me, I trusted the Lord to bring good out of it for me and my family. As I sought Him daily through prayer and Bible reading, God showed me that my son had become a kind of idol to me. When He led me to Jesus' words in Matthew 10:37, I felt convicted. "Anyone who loves his son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me." Until that moment, I hadn't realized that I had often demonstrated more love and devotion for my son than for God. And God was not about to play second fiddle in the life of one who had professed Christ as their Lord and Savior. I immediately confessed my sin and committed myself to put God first from that moment on, with His help. It was then that God gave me a promise to stand on for the restoration of my family. "The Lord spoke to me again, saying: In Ramah there is bitter weeping--Rachel weeping for her children and cannot be comforted, for they are gone. But the Lord says: Don't cry any longer, for I have heard your prayers and you will see them again; they will come back to you from the distant land of the enemy. There is hope for your future, says the Lord, and your children will come again to their own land." (Jeremiah 31:15-17 TL This promise from God, along with many others, gave me the encouragement and hope I needed to stand in faith for the healing of my family. Though we've endured some periods of estrangement, tension and conflict, God has worked wonders in restoring our family. And we continue to seek and trust the Lord to help us please and glorify Him more and more. Last month, Joseph married Miriam, a godly young woman who brings out the best in my son and is truly an answer to prayer. I hope and pray this message will encourage you to let go of the loved ones in your life that the Lord is asking you to, so that He may perform the work and wonders that will ultimately bless you and glorify Him.

Lord, reveal to me today how this message applies to my life. Give me the strength and courage I need to let go of the loved ones You want me to. Remind me that as long as I'm holding on to them too tightly, You can't do the good work in them or me that You long to do. Thank You that as I choose to "let go and let God," we will be blessed and You will be glorified!

The Best Way To Help Your Child's Faith Stay Strong
By Marlene LeFever

Q. Our daughter is in second grade and she's already starting to notice that other children see movies she's not allowed to see, talk about sex in ways she's been taught are wrong, and use language she knows is inappropriate. How can we help her hold on to her Christian values when many of her peers live so differently?

A. All Christian parents wish they could protect their children from the dangers of our secular culture, but the truth is you can't. So rather than simply pulling children away from the world, I encourage parents to create a "parallel culture" where their children can discover a different way of living in a world that doesn't always honor their beliefs. In doing so, we can help them become agents of redemption who bring their best into a world that desperately needs Jesus. Here are some ways to start:

Create a safe place for questions.
Give your child the freedom to talk about her concerns. Do your best to help her understand why your family chooses to live the way you do. Ask her what she thinks about the language she hears or the topics others are talking about. Use these family conversations to help your daughter begin to develop her own filter for what's appropriate and what isn't.

Make church a family habit.
Expand on what your children experience while they're at church with questions, prayers, and real-life applications. Commit to your Christian community and involve yourselves in the lives of others you meet there.

Provide alternatives.
If your child is feeling left out because her peers are watching movies she's not allowed to see, help her discover the positive movies out there (go to dove.org for suggestions). Encourage her to invite friends over for family movie night. As she gets older and music becomes more of a concern, steer her the huge variety of Christian alternatives. Or skip media altogether and spend an evening telling stories. Talk about how Grandpa became a Christian, read about one of the heroes of our faith, or tell each other about times when you've felt God at work in your life. One study found that the average child spends just 12 minutes a day in intimate conversation with parents, so just hang out and talk.

Build new traditions.
When my friend Amy was young, her father bought her an expensive pen that would be hers when she grew up. Every Christmas and Thanksgiving he would use the pen to write her a letter telling her why she was special and to share his dreams for her. Now Amy has the pen and is doing the same for her son. This kind of tradition helps a child feel connected to something bigger than the world of peers and popularity.

Model good stewardship.
Show your kids how to share what they have—time, talent, money—with others. One man I know, Caleb, says he's never forgotten the year he and his family saved enough money to buy a mule for their missionary friend, Ed. Brainstorm ways your family can give of your resources and help your children see that this is part of bringing God's kingdom to life here on earth.

Connect with other families.
Building relationships with other Christians can help your children understand that there are plenty of other people who do share the values they've been raised with. Get together with these friends often to talk about the ways God is working in your lives and to encourage each other as you seek to impact the world for Christ.

Marlene LeFever is the Director of Church Relations at Cook Communication Ministries.

Copyright © 2003 by the author or Christianity Today International/Christian Parenting Today magazine.
Fall 2003, Vol. 16, No. 1, Page 23

Ten money-saving strategies to reduce household expenses.
By Cynthia Sumner
...portions were heard on The Morning Cruise...

Simplify, Substitute and Share: You can cut down on household expenses and clutter by considering three words before making a purchase:
• Simplifyo I really need this item?
• Substitute:Can I get something else that costs less? Can I make it myself?
• Share:Can I borrow this item? Would someone else agree to split the cost?

Declare a Time-Out: If you need to save money to catch up on bills or just get a little ahead, declare a "no spending" month in which you only pay bills and buy necessities such as food, diapers and gas. That means no toys, books, haircuts, movie rentals, clothes or eating out. You'll be amazed at how much you'll save.

Clean Up: The markup on household cleaning products is huge, so consider making your own household cleaners. An excellent how-to book on the subject of nontoxic homemade cleaners is Clean and Green by Annie Berthold-Bond.

Get Thrifty: Remember infants and young children have no label preference (unless you instill it). You can save a lot during these years by using hand-me-downs or buying at secondhand stores and garage sales.

Save at the Grocery Store:
* Save money when you buy bread, rolls and snack cakes from a bread or bakery outlet.
* Purchase nonfood items at a discount store instead of the grocery store.
* The best deals on grocery store aisles are on the top and bottom shelves. Manufacturers pay a premium to display their goods at eye level and pass the costs on to you.
* Don't buy food you're not going to use from a warehouse club. Buying more than you need is wasteful regardless of how low the price. Consider dividing bulk goods and their costs among friends and neighbors.
* Keep nonperishable snacks and drinks in the car to cut down on visits to fast food drive-throughs and convenience stores.

Save Seasonally: There are times of the year when certain items are less expensive. Shop off-season and save yourself a bundle.

* January: Christmas decorations, cards and wrapping; winter clothing and bedding.
* February: housewares and small appliances; furniture; jewelry and chocolates.
* March: outerwear; gardening supplies; luggage.

Left to right: "Mr. West", Ken Ham, Mark Looy, Suz
www.creationmuseum.org
Click here to listen to the interview

The Bible In A Nutshell
(as heard on The Morning Cruise)

In the beginning, which occurred near the start, there was
nothing but God, darkness, and some gas. The Bible says,
'The Lord thy God is one, but I think He must be a lot older than that.

Anyway, God said, 'Give me a light!' and someone did.
Then God made the world.

He split the Adam and made Eve. Adam and Eve were naked,
but they weren't embarrassed because mirrors hadn't been
invented yet.

Adam and Eve disobeyed God by eating one bad
apple, so they were driven from the Garden of Eden.
Not sure what they were driven in though, because they didn't have cars.

Adam and Eve had a son, Cain, who hated his brother as long
as he was Abel.

Pretty soon all of the early people died
off, except for Methuselah, who lived to be like a million or something.

One of the next important people was Noah, who was a good guy,
but one of his kids was kind of a Ham. Noah built a
large boat and put his family and some animals on it. He asked
some other people to join him, but they said they would
have to take a rain check.

After Noah came Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Jacob was more
famous than his brother, Esau, because Esau sold Jacob his
birthmark in exchange for some pot roast. Jacob had a son
named Joseph who wore a really loud sports coat.

Another important Bible guy is Moses, whose real name was
Charlton Heston. Moses led the Israel Lights out of Egypt
and away from the evil Pharaoh after God sent ten plagues on
Pharaoh's people. These plagues included frogs, mice, lice,
bowels, and no cable.

God fed the Israel Lights every day
with manicotti. Then he gave them His Top Ten Commandments.
These include: don't lie, cheat, smoke, dance, or covet your
neighbor's stuff.

Oh, yeah, I just thought of one more:
Humor thy father and thy mother.

One of Moses' best helpers was Joshua who was the first
Bible guy to use spies. Joshua fought the battle of Geritol and
the fence fell over on the town.

After Joshua came David. He got to be king by killing a
giant with a slingshot. He had a son named Solomon who had
about 300 wives and 500 porcupines. My teacher says he was wise,
but that doesn't sound very wise to me.

After Solomon there were a bunch of major league prophets.
One of these was Jonah, who was swallowed by a big whale and then
barfed up on the shore. There were also some minor league
prophets, but I guess we don't have to worry about them.

After the Old Testament came the New Testament. Jesus is the
star of The New. He was born in Bethlehem in a barn.

(I wish I had been born in a barn too, because my mom is always saying
to me, 'Close the door! Were you born in a barn?' It would
be nice to say, 'As a matter of fact, I was.')

During His life, Jesus had many arguments with sinners like
the Pharisees and the Republicans.

Jesus also had twelve opossums.
The worst one was Judas Asparagus. Judas was so evil that they
named a terrible vegetable after him.

Jesus was a great man. He healed many leopards and even
preached to some Germans on the Mount.

But the Republicans and all those guys put Jesus on trial before Pontius the Pilot. Pilot didn't stick up for Jesus. He just washed his hands instead.

Anyways, Jesus died for our sins, then came back to life again.
He went up to Heaven but will be back at the end of the
Aluminum. His return is foretold in the book of Revolution.
(Author Unknown; submitted by Vickie in Monticello, KY)

6 strategies for strengthening your influence on your kids
By Susan Alexander Yates

My daughter's pulling away from me. She's so into her friends, what they think is more important than what I say."

Is that lament familiar to you? If your kids are entering the preteen or teen years, I'm sure you can relate. Suddenly friends dictate what's in, what's out, who's popular, who's not. It's the power of peer pressure. So how can you keep influencing your kids when peer pressure kicks in?

1. Maintain an Open Home

I had five kids in seven years entering the teen years, so I realized I needed to make our home a hangout for their friends. Why? Because while I can't control what goes on in someone else's home, I can control what goes on in mine. That's why one of the most important purchases I made was a $10 Ping-Pong table at a garage sale. It was ugly—but it worked! The kids flocked to it.

Making your home the hangout means being willing to put your own social life on hold. And while you're at it, postpone redecorating plans, too. Your couch may be gross, your carpet may need replacing, but it's better to have a friendly atmosphere instead of one that communicates, Don't disturb anything in this house.

Institute an "open door/lights on" policy. A dark basement family room's an invitation to sexual temptation. Set curfews. Simply say to the kids ahead of time, "The house closes tonight at midnight" (or whatever time you and your teen choose).

2. Get to Know Their Friends

Another advantage to making your home the hangout is that you've got a natural way to get to know your kid's friends. But how do you get started making conversation? Think in two categories: schedules and relationships. Everyone has them! So ask your son's friend Joe, "What's your toughest class this year?" or, "What kind of job did you have this summer?" Ask questions that call for more than a one-word answer.

3. Spend Time on Their Turf

When our son John was a high-school junior, I went on his student government leadership retreat as a parent chaperone, and stayed in a hotel room with some of the teachers. Our walls were thin, so we could hear everything in the student girls' room next to us: obscene language, gossip about who was sexually involved with whom, which teachers "sucked." It was simultaneously embarrassing, horrifying, and enlightening. That experience opened a window into my son's world!

Volunteer at your child's school. Drive carpools to sporting events and performances. The car is a tremendous research lab. You'll hear things you might not hear at home! When you spend time in your children's world, you'll be better able to understand their pressures.

4. Call Their Bluff

My friend Sally got tired of her daughter constantly saying, "Everyone else gets to.…" Sally decided to find out if that was true. So she invited several parents to a local restaurant for some pie and coffee so they could talk about their kids.

Although the other parents didn't always share Sally's Christian values on how to handle a particular parenting issue, they established a relationship in which it was easier to call each other and ask, "What do you know about the kids' plans for Saturday?"

5. Encourage Adult Friendships

Our friend Doug always has taken an interest in our son Chris. Doug's adept at interacting with teens, and Chris often called Doug for advice during his teen years. Typically Chris followed Doug's recommendations—the same advice he wouldn't have accepted from us.

As your kids hit the preteen and teen years, they're more likely to listen to someone other than you. It's vital you encourage your kids to spend time with other adults who love Christ. You cannot parent alone.

6. Teach Your Kids to Be a Good Friend

Cliquish peers can be a source of intense pain. That's why it's important to teach your children how to be a good friend. Emphasize every person is created in God's image, and there's simply no place for snobbery. Ask your children to list what they think it means to be a good friend. Our list included items such as not talking behind another's back or not being possessive with friends.

My husband, John, and I interviewed several teens to see what advice they'd give parents with kids approaching the teen years. They told us: "Stop talking about the teen years as being awful. We get a negative reputation before we earn it."

So stay positive and remember you still can influence your kids despite peer pressure. Never give up!

Susan Alexander Yates is the author of numerous books, including And Then I Had Teenagers (Baker Book House).

You say you will never forget where you were when you heard the news on September 11, 2001.

Neither will I.

I was on the 110th floor in a smoke filled room with a man who called his wife to say, "Good-bye."

I held his fingers steady as he dialed

I gave him the peace to say, "Honey, I am not going to make it, but it is OK...I am ready to go."

I was with his wife when he called as she fed breakfast to their children.

I held her up as she tried to understand his words and as she realized he wasn't coming home that night.

I was in the stairwell of the 23rd floor when a woman cried out for Me for help. "I have been knocking on the door of your heart for 50 years!" I said, "Of course I will show you the way home - only believe in Me now."

I was at the base of the building with the Priest ministering to the injured and devastated souls. I took him home to tend to his Flock in Heaven.

He heard my voice and answered.

I was on four of those planes, in every seat, with every prayer. I was with the crew as they were overtaken. I was in the very hearts of the believers there, comforting and assuring them that their faith has saved them.

I was in Texas, Kansas, London. I was standing next to you when you heard the terrible news. Did you sense Me?

I want you to know that I saw every face. I knew every name - though not all know Me. Some met me for the first time on the 86th floor.

Some sought Me with their last breath.

Some couldn't hear Me calling to them through the smoke and flames; "Come to Me...this way...take My hand."

Some chose, for the final time, to ignore Me.

But, I was there.

I did not place you in the tower that day. You may not know why, but I do.

However, if you were there in that explosive moment in time, would you have reached for Me?

September 11, 2001 was not the end of the journey for you. But someday your journey will end.

And I will be there for you as well. Seek Me now while I may be found.

Then, at any moment, you know you are "ready to go."

I will be in the stairwell of your final moments.

Remember...I love

American Idol alumni and our good friend Chris Sligh is ready to shoot his first music video for the hit song “Empty Me” from his “Running Back To You” project. But, he’s looking to you to help him out.
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Email from Chris:
Hey guys

So, for a while, we’ve been trying to figure out what to do for a video on “Empty Me. The song is a special song to me, and as we’ve been out on the road, we’ve seen how special it is to so many people, that I knew the treatment of the video needed to be something cool and special. We’ve finally figured out how to do it.

You, my friends, can star in my first music video!

We want for you to video yourself in an interesting situation (in front of the White House, in the airport or on a plane - be creative) lip-syncing to “Empty Me”. It doesn’t matter the quality of the video: use your cell phone, or use professional quality stuff, if you have it! Just make sure you have the actual song playing either through headphones or over a sound system to make sure your lip syncing lines up with the actual song.

First off….because we want to make it as easy as possible for you guys, we are asking (depending on what letter your last name starts with) you to do 35-second clips of the song. Secondly, we’re doing this because it will make file sizes smaller. So…you can totally do the whole song if you’d like to, but it might make more sense for you to do a couple or three 35 second clips.

So, here’s the breakdown of names and what 35 second clips you’ll do:

A-C - 0:00-0:35 (start of song until “to see how it gets in the blood”)
D-F - 0:30-1:05 (”I’ve tasted my share” until “Empty Me” of 1st chorus)
G-I - 1:00 - 1:35 (full 1st chorus)
J-L - 1:30 - 2:05 (full 2nd verse - “I’ve seen just enough…”)
M-O - 2:00 - 2:35 (full 2nd chorus plus 1st “everything is a lesser thing” from bridge)
P-R - 2:30-3:05 (full bridge - starts with “everything is a lesser thing” - plus guitar solo - DO A CRAZY AIR GUITAR SOLO!)
S-V - 3:00-3:35 (quiet chorus until 1st “empty me of me so I can be” of last chorus)
W-Z - 3:30-4:05 (first “empty me of me so I can be” of last chorus until the end of the song - MAKE SURE TO MAKE THOSE HIGH NOTES AT THE END LOOK AS PAINFUL AS POSSIBLE!)

So…the key to this is going to be your creativity…do crazy things and you WILL end up featured in my first video!

To send it, you will need to use a website called yousendit.com. The site is pretty self explanatory…you simply upload your file and send it this email address: emptymevideo@gmail.com.

You need to have your video submission in by October 24th to be in the video!

Now, get to work and thanks for your help in this…I think it’s gonna be pretty awesome!

-Chris

Compassion Honduras Vision Trip Day 1 is complete. We landed in Honduras around 2pm and meet with the staff at the country office. There are several departments within the country office that ensure all aspects of the ministry operate as smoothly as possible. One of those departments was the Program Communication department which oversees the communication between sponsors and their children.

Each cubbie represent a different Compassion project center. Inside those cubbies are letters that Compassion sponsor have sent to their child. Compassion Honduras receives on average 7,000 letters per month from sponsors to their children...and about 10,000 letters per month go out to the sponsors from their children. Each letter has to be translated by the staff in the Program Communication Department.

Tomorrow (Friday) we visit our first Compassion project and will hopefully get to have a home visit with one of the sponored children's family. In only a few short hours today we've learned a lot about Compassion International which I will share with you more during our "Two Days of Compassion" next Wednesday and Thursday.

Continue to pray that our eyes, hearts, and minds would be open to what God is doing here and that He will give us the strength of mind to process each moment.

Mucho amor, (much love)
Derek

11 year old Misael. He loves futbol! I met him during our first project visit. We also visited his home where we spent time with his mom and 2 sisters. Their father was out working at the time. Misael and his family just recently accepted Jesus as Savior and Lord because of Compassion's work through the local church in their community.

Greetings from Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Day 3 is a wrap. Tomorrow we board the plane back home. None of us are ready to come back to the states. Today we visited the Beth Shalom Center, where students are in their adolescent years. I think today was more emotional because we got to see just how developed (spiritually and socially) the children become through Compassion. During our visit I met Robert who I know will be a great leader in the coming years in his community and country. Robert prayed for us soon after we visited his classroom. That was a very humbling time as he asked God to speak wisdom into our hearts and lives and for us to be effective ministers of the Lord! We all became fond of Robert in just a few short minutes. I'll post a photo of me and Robert real soon.

God's hand has been all over this trip. And I have met some beautiful people in the Lord. I encourage you to ask God right now how He wants to use you in rescuing a child from poverty in Jesus name. Make sure you join me, Susan, and Dale for "Two Days of Compassion" this Wednesday and Thursday. It's your opportunity to be a missionary to a child right from your home!

Is that Chris Sligh or his twin brother Derek? LOL

Hope to see you at the concert next Thursday, Aug. 21st
Get the concert details and tickets here!