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!

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