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!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving! Boys and men, don't watch too much football and help with the dishes! Girls and women, make them help with dinner! If they don't, have them make Christmas dinner.
Thanks-
Marie

A Tale of Two Current Events

There are two major political current events in the U.S. right now: Occupy Wall Street and a possible verdict that President Obama's heath care is unconstitutional.
On the latter subject, while Gen J is neutral on most things, we do have some principals in Gen J. And forcing people to get something that will cost us thousands, perhaps millions, of unnecessary dollars, does not comply with our principals. But what will the Supreme Court decide? Will we be forced to pay our hard-earned money to a program that does not even comply with our principals, or with the constitution?
On the Occupy Wall Street protests, they are unlawful. They are unsanitary, sometimes violent, and they disturb the peace. The protesters are well-off people, and what they are doing is a rebellion against the government. And Obama, who is the president, the highest office in our government, seems to support them. There is a problem here. There is a thick line between a peaceful protest and an outright rebellion. As I mentioned before, the protesters are well-off people, more so then many of the people who are against the protests. Also, many of the protesters are drug abusers who overdose on drugs. Not unusual. How ever, in a crowded camp... I think you get the picture of the unsanitary conditions. They probably also influence others to take drugs, too, before they take just too many pills. Concerning the violence, while I haven't heard of any fatalities, these protesters are dangerously brutal. Aside from attacking police officers while resisting arrest, however, there is none. But attacking any one is illegal, and police officers... well, I'll just say that these people are either brave or foolish, probably the latter. Gen J does support protests, but only non-disruptive, non-violent ones. Occupy Wall Street does not fall into those categories, to say the least. Gen J supports changing the government by campaigning, not by camping out and being stubborn, while blocking access to public places. Thus I can say that Gen J does not support Occupy Wall Street.

Always Do Your Best! Yes, This Means You!

Some people call the people who want to get somewhere in life "over achievers." But think about it. It's not us who want to go somewhere, do something, and help lots of people who have a problem. It's those who don't want to who have a problem.
For everyone, "over achievers" or not, I want to challenge you to something. Do more or better with something. Here are some examples:
You can do 30 push-ups. Try to do 50. (Do this over a perod of 2 or 3 weeks, otherwise you'll strain yourself.
You just can't finish a book. It's great, but just too long. Finish it.
Your grades average around Bs and Cs. Strive for As and A+s. (Homeschoolers, you too. I know that homeschoolers sometimes don't do much with grades because, on average, the grades are As, but there are still those harder subjects that you can probably work on some. Strive for 100%, everyone.)
Everything comes easly to you: school work, sports, dance, gym, making friends, carrying on a conversion. You hardly ever need to work hard. Change that. It might take a little while for an oppertunity to arise, but once an oppertunity does come, take it, unless it's something that you don't want to do for any reason other then pure laziness or fear. If everything comes everything comes easely to you, then you're not even working, really.
Your conversations center around jokes. You have great grades, you're athletic, you're scholarly, you are in 3 clubs, and you're popular. But your conversations have more laughing then talking, more joking then seriousness. You are not a joker, but you're not serious, either. Improve that. Teenagers are not at an age were they can play too much, teenagers are adults in training. You know this, but don't put it into practice. You laugh at things that aren't funny, which puts everyone into a silly mood. There goes a productive conversation. Change that behavior. I don't talk like that, I don't want to. If you stop, then you will find that you are glad that you changed your behavior, so change it!
These are just a few of the many things that you can improve/change. Work on these things, and then comment on your success. By the end of January, I want at least 30 people to comment on their success. But you need to keep these traits up, even after you report your success. I know that 30 people is a big goal, so tell your friends about this. I had it bigger, but I didn't seem to be getting any comments except my own. PLEASE comment on your sucess! I know that people CAN do better at things, but they don't seem willing to do so! If you CAN do better at some good quality, (and I know that EVERYONE can do better at good things) then PLEASE, PLEASE DO SO!! I even had to give an extra month for people to improve in! I shouldn't need to do that! PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE IMPROVE!! Please, even after the new year, keep commenting on your success. Keep the comments going, and strive for excellence!

Thanks for your co-operation!-
Marie

Holidays, Holidays

Thanksgiving. Christmas. Easter. The three most celebrated holidays in the U.S.A. Of course, they are true "Holidays," since the the word "Holiday" comes from the words "Holy Day." However, many people have no idea that Christmas, Easter, and Thanksgiving are Christian holidays. If they do know it, then they don't show it.
For everyone who is a Christian, we know what the holidays are about: Thanksgiving for thanking God for our many, many blessings, Christmas for celebrating the coming to earth of out Savior, Jesus Christ, and Easter for rejoicing the resurrection of Jesus and the ultimate victory over evil. But how much do we include the true reasons in our celebrations of the holidays? Is football intruding too much on Thanksgiving? The merriness and presents too much on Christmas? The egg hunts and candy intrude too much on Easter? How much are you letting those things upset your worship and praise? I'm not saying that football is bad, I think that it's rather pointless, but I have nothing against it. Presents, egg hunts, and candy aren't necessarily bad; they can be bad if you let them get in the way. Being merry isn't bad, but shouldn't we be joyful on Christmas?
I want people to comment, telling how much they really think about the real reason for the holidays. You might be surprised at how little that we think about the true meanings of the holidays, and that's something that we need to change.
Thanks-Marie

Election Day 2011

Election day 2011. There are no big elections this year, but there are still local elections. Here are some things that you always should consider before you vote:
Who is the most pro-life?
Who is the most pro-family?
Who values marriege as a commitment between one man and one woman?
Who is the most honest, and has the best record?
Who will control taxes the best?
Who has the most qualifications?
Who does not build themselves up only by tearing down their opponents, often with half-truths?
Who will be affected by any laws that they will propose/pass/support?
Who has a similar belief structure to yours?
Who values integrity above money or power, and who doesn't?
Who has prior experence with leading?
Keep in mind that there are other things to consider, too, this is just a base to branch off of.
Thanks-Marie

Global Warming vs. Snow Men

Ah, global warming!
Snow in November,
Snow in October,
Blizzards in April,
A cooler year now then a few years gone by.
Yes, indeed, global warming!
The world must be getting hot!
"'Tis a danger," some insist, but I say "'Tis not!"
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Yes, we have had a blizzard in April, years ago, before I can remember, but other, older people do remember such a thing, and I think that it was around 15-25 years ago. Don't quote me on that, though.
Last year or the year before, we had enough snow on Thanksgiving to make a good-sized snow man. And right now, October 31, there is a lovely snowman in my yard. It was built on the 30th. There was around four inches of snow. Please keep in mind that Pennsylvania can be unpleasent because of humidity, not cold!
Yes, global warming is heating up the earth, is it not?
Thanks-Marie