A lot has been happening lately.  Bombs, shootings, wars, natural disasters, crashes, and other terrible things.  But do you ever feel detached from it all?  You know, like you are concerned about it and all, but it isn't that big?  Obviously, if it happened to you, it would seem different.  Just remember that it could.  Those things in the news tell about things that happen to people just like us.
Ever noticed that with nearly every terrible event, there is a hero?  I don't know about all of them, but with at least some of them, the reason that they kept a level head during those times might be because they avoided thinking "Oh, those things happen to other people, not me."  If they were mentally prepared, even just a little bit, they could have kept a level head better.  But than, I don't know.  But it is something to think about, isn't it?

Study

     Here is something that will really help you in your studies throughout the year.
     During the summer, keep learning.  I know, you want a break from all your school/homeschool work.  (You're lucky.  I keep working during the summer.)  I'm not saying to work as hard as during the winter; just brush through your work.
     The first lesson in my pre-algebra book is about addition and subtraction.  The next is about multiplication.  Division doesn't come until several lessons later (and even then it teaches remainders, not decimals, until several more lessons are passed).  I should expect that division is in the first review lesson at the beginning of the book, but no, it's not.  It's several lessons in.
     I was surprised by this, since I never take long breaks during the summer.  After all, it is made for eighth grade.  Eighth graders should know division, right?  However, I was told that people really do forget a lot during the summer.  Not quite that much, but having such ridiculously easy lessons is necessary so people are all on the same page.
     So what I'm saying is that you should just practice your work once or twice a week so you don't forget a lot when school/your homeschool work begins again.  That way, for the first several weeks of school, you will be brushing through your work and you will eventually turn out a lot smarter than if you didn't.
     I hope it works out for you.  Good luck!

Hi everyone.  Sorry for the delay.
Have you ever marveled at God's creation?  Not just thought "Wow.  That's pretty," but actually studied it really closely?  It is wonderful to look at, but if you study it really closely, it just gets better.
Take the woodpecker, for example.  God somehow taught it to close it's eyes the first time that the first one pecked.  "Why?" some of you might wonder.  The reason is that if the woodpecker's eyes would pop out if it didn't, so great is the force of the blow.  The first woodpeckers had to know this, yet until they actually pecked, how could they?  The only answer is that God put it in the woodpecker's natural instincts.  Amazing, right?
Take any other animal.  They all have natural instincts and features that all point to the fact that they could not possibly evolved, because if they did, the very first ones would have died before it could reproduce, thus there would not be any of those creatures.  God had to create them.
For more amazing animals, check out the documentary series "Incredible Creatures That Defy Evolution."  It's interesting and highly informative.
It is indeed true.  All creatures really do glorify God.

The last two posts were more serious, so I figured that I may as well put something a little more lighthearted.  Here's a link: http://www.studentnewsdaily.com/archive/human-interest-news-stories/.  It's a page full of interesting (and unique) news stories from 2008-present.  Hope  you enjoy!

  Here's an observation that I had today: In almost of the history books that I read, the myth that Emperor Nero fiddled while Rome burnt is refuted only by the fact that there were no fiddles at that time.  The original myth stated that he played the lyre, not the fiddle, but that is not the case.  He did work hard to save Rome, and he even opened up his personal gardens to the homeless.  He only played the lyre on a short break.  Please remember, I am not trying to excuse Nero's despicable behavior, because it has no defense.  He was terrible, murderous, cowardly, and preferred pursuing little pleasures rather than making decisions about Rome.  (But based on the decisions that he did make, that may have actually been a good thing.)

  My point is that people are so willing to make up things to make their grudges even more reasonable to them.  It's not needed; Nero did plenty of bad things, and we don't need to make up more.  But people do, because of their grudges.  But we shouldn't be that way.

  A while ago, Gen J's book of the month was Do Hard Things.  It's a great book; very informative.  And I think that just the title tells us something about what people are not doing: hard things.  How aren't they?  Well, it's easy to hold anger, hate, and grudges.  But what about keeping a grasp on reality?  That's harder, I'm sure, but it is better in the long run.  We don't need to make up stories just because Nero was a horrible person, but instead we should learn from his real mistakes.

  Learn the facts instead of making up fiction.  America needs thinkers, not people who let their hatred make decisions.  I challenge you.  Do the hard thing.  Do the right thing. 

  Hey people!  Sorry about the lack of posts, but Gen J of the Lehigh Valley has been a little inactive.  But we are now trying to get started again, so here come the posts.  I will try to post a small challenge, link, video, or fun fact every week until the club is back up.  That will get me in the habit of posting things, so I will remember to post things when the club is up and running again and there is something to post about.

  So, for this week here's a challenge: Many people think that the Bible has been re-written many times over the thousands of years that is has existed.  However, they cannot explain how the Bible is the most historically and scientifically accurate book ever written.  There has been no book found from ancient times that has been more accurate.  However, most people don't know about that.  They believe what they are told to believe by people who are trying to destroy proof of any moral standards that distinguish right from wrong, like the Bible does.  So here's where the challenge comes in: inform people.  Not just on that subject, but on other things, too.  Many people believe anything that a large newspaper or a famous movie star say, but you don't have to.  Read from more than one viewpoint, be willing to listen, and most importantly, think. If you do so, you will be able to refute myths and lies that you hear.  I'm really serous about this.  Please think.  America's future lies in the hands of the people.  If  the people do not think, America will undoubtedly be driven into the ground.  Please, I know it sounds like I'm exaggerating, but America's future really does lie in your hands.  Please think.

Don't Go With the Flow

There is a common saying: "Go with the flow." It means, as we all know, that we should fit in and do what all the others are doing. Well, I am telling you not to.

I am telling you not to take lots of time and using lots of money on looking like everyone else. The styles are just going to change, and looks are extremely deceiving and unimportant. Yes, I am a teenage girl telling you that I don't care about how I look aside from looking decent.

I am also telling you not to do what everyone else is doing. I'm sure that you know about the thousands of people lured into drugs, alcohol, crime, et cetra, simply because they wanted to fit in.

Perhaps you are wondering that if you should not look or act like other people for the sake of fitting in, then what should you do? After all, if you are shy and do not want to stand out, then it seems perfectly logical to work to fit in. However, if you spend your time on things other then just to fit in and impress your friends, then you will find that you lead a much more productive life. If you are productive, then you will slowly start to be less shy, and more concentrated on getting the job done then hiding from embarrassment.

If you need an encouraging example, then look at the Christian Church. Christians believe that you should not do what others are doing if it is not right according to the Bible, and the core feelings, also known as the conscience. We believe that, despite being ridiculed, tortured, and killed. Christians refuse to give up their core values, even if it means being laughed at (or worse).

Generation Joshua supports making a difference (from a Christian perspective), even though some people may laugh when they hear about what we do.

In conclusion, ignore it if people laugh at you for being out of style! Ignore it if people laugh at you for doing what's right! If you're doing what's right, continue doing it, no matter how much others may laugh at you!

Onward Christian Soldiers!