We will honor and celebrate our family ministry volunteers during the month of January. I ask you to thank the special family ministry servants in your child and/or student’s life. We have created a calendar for the month of January to celebrate each family ministry volunteer. If you did not receive a copy of the calendar in the mail, email me at heidi@rockspringschurch.com for a copy.

On each day of the month of January, we ask you to pray for the volunteers listed. Then, if your individual children are impacted by these special people, please take time to write them a note, send them an email or give them a small gift of appreciation on the day you are remembering them in prayer. You could even leave a comment on this blog for them.

Also, if you are a family ministry volunteer, be sure to plan to attend the appreciation breakfast on Sunday, January 25th. More information will be announced.

Thank you for being faithful to God and the Rock Springs Church kids & students. Without you, we could not do the ministry that happens each week.

One of Santa's helpers visited the children's ministry areas on Sunday to remind the kids of the "true" meaning of Christmas - the birth of our Savior, Jesus. Santa's helper read the nativity story to the kids, watched them enjoy milk & cookies and then took time to pose for a photo with each child. The kids (and parents too) enjoyed it much! Special thanks for Chris & Angela Elkins for providing everything needed to make this special event happen.

Today's focus is on the virtue of friendship. Our pastor often says that "people aren't looking for a friendly church, they are looking for friends." Isn't that the truth? Many times in our life, we seek others to share with. We want to feel accepted by someone other than our family. Ultimately, Jesus is our forever friend. He provides friends for us for accountability, godly counsel, prayer and friendship. People will always let us down but Jesus NEVER will. Grab hold of Him today and thank Him for the friends He's provided for you here on earth. Here are some ideas for practicing "friendship" today:





-- Write down prayer concerns of your close friends in your new prayer journal and commit to praying for them daily.





-- Offer to do an unexpected favor for a close friend.





-- Think of one or two people who you would like to grow closer to and commit to nurturing those friendships this year.





-- Ask Jesus to be your forever friend today and let Him take control of your life!

Today's virtue is worship. When you hear the worship, everyone automatically thinks that it must involve praise music. Of course, that is one of the many ways to worship God in your daily life. Explore some of those other ways today and start making them an active part of your relationship with Christ.

Here are some ideas:

-- Get on your knees today. I mean, really get down on your knees and bow before God. We often don't do this enough.

-- Start a prayer journal and document all of your prayer requests this year. As prayers are answered, highlight them. Then, next year at this time you'll be able to look back and see how God has been so very active in your life.

-- Write God a love letter telling Him how much He means to you.

-- Attend a church service and listen intently to every word.

-- Share Christ with the waiter or waitress who serves you at lunch today.

Today, we're playing catch-up with Day 7 - KINDNESS. There is definitely not enough of this in this world so here's your chance to pass it on!

Here are some ideas for promoting kindness:

-- pay for the person's order behind you as you drive through at a restaurant today

-- hold the door for someone as you walk in to a public place and say "Merry Christmas"

-- Call an elderly neighbor or friend and make sure they are ok today (especially since its so c0ld) and offer to run errands for them

-- Come up with your own way of promoting kindness and let us know about it!

Today's challenge virtue is to exhibit "generosity." I have to admit that its not always easy to be generous with our time or even our resources. I challenge you to find a way to give something away today. Here are some ideas:

--Decide right now to give up 2 gourmet coffees per month and support mothers in Africa. Go to www.mochaclub.org to sign up. The Ignite youth group just signed up to be active in this ministry.

--Go through your closets/toy chests/linens and give away anything that hasn't been touched in 3 months. Give it to a non-profit organization like the Nashville Rescue Mission.

--Search for all your spare change in the house, car, etc. Empty it into a container and give it to your home church, the local food bank or some other non-profit organization.

--Go to www.holtinternational.org and commit $30 per month to sponsor a child until him or her is placed with a family through their adoption services.

Today's virtue is JOY! Yeah!

A few weeks ago I watched a young boy that I know be truly joyful over inviting Jesus to be his Savior. You could just see it written on his face. It was one of the most touching things I've ever experienced.

We should have that kind of joy all the time. But, we forget it sometimes, don't we? Today's our chance to show the world the joy we have in our heart because of what Jesus has done for each one of us. Let's share that joy!

Here's some challenge ideas:

- Go to your favorite store, coffee shop, restaurant, etc. and hand out candy canes, exuberantly wishing everyone a "Merry Christmas."

- Put something wacky (like a small, blown up balloon) in your child's (or spouse's) lunch box. Can you imagine what they will think when they open it?

- Go to http://www.makeachildsmile.org/ and click on "featured kids." Gather your family together and make cards to send to these children. This organization gathers information on children suffering from life-threatening illnesses and encourages people to cheer them up by sending cards. Be sure to read the guidelines on making/sending cards. Wouldn't you love to see the faces of these precious kids when they open your families' card? Be sure to add these kids and their families to your prayer list.

- Share your faith with someone today.

Every November, we participate in a ministry called Operation Christmas Child. We pack shoeboxes with toys, candy, books, crayons, toothbrushes, toiletries, socks, shoes and many other things to be given to needy children all over the world through the ministry of Samaritan's Purse. Its an awesome ministry and one our own kids enjoy and get involved with. This year, the mission team set a goal of collecting 80 boxes, which we totally achieved. Way to go church! You are spreading the gospel to children and their families all over the world through these precious gifts. Merry Christmas!

Showing THANKFULNESS today isn't just about looking around the thanking God for the big things. Its looking up and realizing the little things in life that we sometimes overlook. Its being thankful even on the hardest of days for: our spouse, our kids, our families, our church, our country. Join us today in giving thanks for all the things God has blessed us with.

Here's some challenge ideas:

- Write a list of all the things you are thankful for. Keep track all day long. Tonight, thank God for all that He's given you. Ask your spouse to add to it tomorrow. Then, pray over it together on Thursday night.

- Write a thank you note to someone in your life who needs to receive one.

- Say "thank you" to everyone today and really mean it.

I just wanted to let every parent know that the Ignite Parent Link Newsletter are now uploaded to this blog. If you look to the right and down toward the bottom, you can find the links to download the newsletters. This is a great way to stay informed!

During the last few weeks in November, you, as the congregation of Rock Springs Church, gathered together canned food, diapers and other items for the Smyrna/LaVergne Food Bank. Here's what you gave. Incredible! Thank you for particpating and showing Christ to others through the spirit of giving.

Well, you've made it to Day 3 of the "Christ"mas cheer challenge. This one may be a little difficult for some of you. I can surely relate. I'll be praying that God blows your mind. Today's virtue is FORGIVENESS. Do you need to say sorry to someone? Do you need to forgive someone and move on? Now you have the chance and the challenge to do so.




Here's some challenge ideas:

• Apologize through a letter to someone that needs to hear from you.


• Call that person that you've been putting off and wish them a Merry Christmas.


• Pray for someone who has hurt you in the past.


• Ask God for his forgiveness and finally make the turn and commit your life to Him!

"In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace" Ephesians 1:7, NIV

Ohhhhh...this one's good. Today, we are going to practice the virtue of Service - showing someone you care by doing something for them.



Challenge ideas to do today:

- Serve your spouse and/or your kids dinner at the table.

- Volunteer to serve in your church's children's ministry area once per month.

- Ask an elderly neighbor if you can rake his/her leaves or put up Christmas decorations.

- Be joyful as you "serve" your family through the menial chores that you do.


That completes day 2...let us know how you are doing and if you've come up with anything creative to do on your own.

Welcome to Day 1 of the "Christ"mas Cheer challenge.

All day long today, I want you to have an attitude of gratitude. For the Zone parents, your kids just exercised this virtue during the month of November so maybe they can help you today.

Take time today to thank those around you.

Challenge ideas to do today:

• Think about someone who has really helped you this past year and write them a note telling them how they have encouraged you.


• Hold the door for someone and smile at them while you are out and about today.


• Bake a meal or a dessert for someone and leave it for them anonymously.


• Bundle up all the canned goods in the cupboard that you haven't been using and drop it off at the local food bank and thank them for their support of the community.


• Thank a solider for his/her military service aloud and in front of others.

See...its not hard. Let me know how it goes.

A few weeks ago, I woke up in the middle of the night with this idea. I'm throwing it out there because I think that it was actually God's idea and I'm just trying to be obedient. So here it is.

Introducing...Cliff & Val. I'll try to get a better picture of them but I caught them in action in this picture a few weeks ago.

They recently became the worship leaders for the Ignite youth group on Wednesday night and are also leading worship for the Zone on Sunday mornings. We (the family ministry team) have been praying for them for a very long time. We thank God for this answer to prayer!

We invite parents to check out Ignite and the Zone to see what goes on and how much your kids and students are learning.

The last several weeks Caiden, along with the other preschoolers in the Kids Klub class at our church, has been learning the story of creation and exactly what God made or did each of the 7 days. Its been an incredible journey for the kids. Each week, they made a page that coincided with the days' lesson. The pages eventually became a booklet (shown here).

Just in case you need a quick creation lesson, here's what God made or did each of those 7 days (from the preschool standpoint). Go to Genesis 1:1 to read all about it.

Day 1: God made light and dark.
Day 2: God made sky and water.
Day 3: God made land, plants and sea.
Day 4: God made the sun, moon, stars, day and night.
Day 5: God made fish and birds.
Day 6: God made animals. God also made people.
Day 7: God rested.

Many people have asked me where I got the video that I showed on Wednesday Night. So I thought that it would be a good video to put on the blog. The Family Ministry team hopes that you have a great Thanksgiving this year and enjoy the small things of life.

During the month of November, we are learning about virtue of gratitude.

As we realize the many things God has done for us, we want to do something for others in His name.

As our ministry project this month, we will be collecting items that will help stock the food pantry at the Smyrna/LaVergne Food Bank.

The Smyrna/LaVergne food bank provides food for families in need. Please allow your child to bring one or more canned goods or boxed food items with them to church during the next two Sundays, November 23 & 30.

At yesterday's service, our church baptized 3 people. If your child was in the Zone, they were present at the baptisms, along with some of the older children in the Kids Klub area. Because your child witnessed the baptims yesterday, now is the perfect time to make some "small talk" with your kids to see where their understanding of God and salvation lies. Here are some questions you can ask to get your kids thinking about God and salvation while you seek insight as to how to lead your child to Christ.

We have started doing announcements with L.T. It is a fun creative way to communicate our announcements. I'll post these weekly.


Announcements with L.T. 11-05-08 from Shelby Craig on Vimeo.

If you participated in this year's chili cook-off at our fall festival and would like to know where you placed, here's the results. Start working up your recipe for October '09!

Chili Numbers ranked First to Last


6


2


5


1


4


3


7


8



Great job guys & gals! All of the chili that I tried was delicious!

...at our annual Fall Festival!


Shelby Craig, our Student Minister, braved the cool fall temps and was a good sport in the dunk tank.










Everyone lined up for the "trunk-or-treat" time.

Come join us for our annual fall festival on Sunday, October 26th from 4-6 p.m. at Rock Springs Elementary School, 1000 Waldron Road, LaVergne. We'll have hot dogs with all the fixins', a bounce house and games for the kids, a chili cook-off, and a trunk-or-treat with candy and toys. This event is free and open to the community.

We have been given an opportunity to host a workshop centered on teaching purity to our children at a young age. The conference entitled, Planting Seeds of Purity into Young Hearts, will be conducted by Susan Henson. Susan is a pre-conference speaker for an upcoming True Women ’08 event (www.truewoman.com) and on staff with Revive our Hearts www.reviveourhearts.com), Pure In Conference Ministry for Moms & Tween Girls 7-12.

Here’s what she says: “I have a deep burden on my heart for Young Moms & Grand-moms trying to combat the negative influences that are bombarding our children at such an earlier age from today’s culture. This workshop will also address how to plant seeds of purity into young hearts. The window of innocence is closing faster than ever before. Unfortunately, we as parents & grand-parents are being forced to address sensitive issues of purity at an earlier age leaving us all wondering how?”

Are you concerned about how to combat the negative cultural influences that are bombarding our children? Learn how to:· Combat Cultural Lies with Truth· Create a Safe Place of Communication· Carve out Courageous Convictions Early· Plant Seeds of Purity in an Impure World· Lock Arms and Enlist in the Battle for our Children’s Hearts

The workshop will be held from 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. on Monday, September 29th in Smyrna. If you are planning on attending, you can sign up at the welcome center on Sunday.

Susan will have some resources available on Monday night if you are interested. Please consider attending this. Its an incredible opportunity for us to hear from God what He wants us to teach our kids about the issue of purity.

An Excellent article by Time Magazine:

Unless you're an adolescent male, you have already asked yourself this question, perhaps in the past few days: Is there something wrong with teen girls? Specifically, are they getting too sexy? Barely a week passes without a flash bulletin blinding us with news of another prominent preadult who is in the family way or showing off her underthings. Miley Cyrus, 15, seminaked! Jamie Lynn Spears, 16, pregnant! A bunch of Massachusetts high schoolers all having babies together! It's an epidemic! [Read More]

After readin the article, I would love to hear your comments. Leave them below.

We take Caiden to a preschool program at a local church. This past week, Dawson and I were leaving the church after dropping Caiden off. Dawson noticed the cross on the top of the church building, pointed to it and said, "Jesus, Cross." Wow! I was so impressed and humbled at the understanding of my 2 year old. From a parent's standpoint, this reminded me to say "thank you" to all of the volunteers who serve faithfully in our children's ministry area at our church. Now, as the director of that ministry, I quote the Bible:

...'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. ... Matthew 25:21

What if Rock Springs Church earned a penny every time you searched the Internet? Or how about if a percentage of every purchase you made online went to support Toward Tomorrow Together: The Journey Begins? Well, now it can!
GoodSearch.com is a new Yahoo-powered search engine that donates half its advertising revenue, about a penny per search, to the charities its users designate. Use it just as you would any search engine, get quality search results from Yahoo, and watch the donations add up!

GoodShop.com is a new online shopping mall which donates up to 37 percent of each purchase to your favorite cause! Hundreds of great stores including Amazon, Target, Gap, Best Buy, ebay, Macy's and Barnes & Noble have teamed up with GoodShop and every time you place an order, you’ll be supporting your favorite cause.
Just go to www.goodsearch.com and be sure to enter Rock Springs Church as the charity you want to support. And, be sure to spread the word!

So how do you do it? Well there are a couple of things that you can do. You can make Goodsearch.com your homepage once you have verified what organization you want to donate to. Or you can download the IE toolbars or Firefox toolbars to do your searches from your browser, all while donating to Rock Spring Church.

If you have any questions, please feel free to email me, shelby@rockspringschurch.com

What's your "if only"? Every one of us has one, two or a hundred different scenarios in which we would do or say something differently. That e-mail we wish we would not have sent. That relationship that we should have avoided - or never began. We all have regrets, things we would do differently if given the chance. So if life inevitably brings those "if only" moments, how do we handle the regrets that haunt us? How can we turn the "if onlys" from our past decisions into something more, something that will help both us and others?

Here is a breakdown of the weekly sessions:
Session 1-9/3/08: Rewind - Bottom Line: Yesterdays regrets affect today.
Session 2-9/10/08: Haunted - Bottom Line: Freedom begins when we name our regrets.
Session 3-9/17/08: Redeem - Bottom Line: The regrets of yesterday can be redeemed for tomorrow.

Check out the new Text Message Devotionals!

Send a text message with IGNITEDEVO to 41411, and you'll automatically be subscribed to the weekly text message devotional from Shelby Craig of Ignite Student Ministry.

You will receive weekly scripture along with reflection questions with them sent straight to you phone every Monday. What a great way to start out your week! Mondays just got a whole lot better!

This Months Theme: RISK

Standard text messaging charges apply. But if you are already texting...you are covered!

Pass this email along to your friends.

I hope this will encourage you throughout the week!

Press On,
Shelby Craig

To celebrate going back-to-school, we're meeting tonight at the Smyrna Town Center Pool for a pool party from 6-8 pm. A light dinner and refreshments will be provided. Feel free to join us!

There is an informational meeting for all parents and students going into grade 6-8 on Sunday, July 27 after the worship service. Food will be provided along with a Q and A time with the Family Ministry Team. Any questions, please contact Shelby@rockspringschurch.com or Heidi@rockspringschurch.com

Do you know what the word fuel means? No it is not an acronym for something deeper to life...keep thining. If you are thinking about the stuff we have to get loans for, then you are thinking of the noun version of FUEL. Do you know what the verb definition is: "something that sustains or encourages". That is what this is all about.

On August 3, a brand new junior high ministry is launching on Sunday Mornings called FUEL. It is going to be during the normal worship time and will supplement my lessons from Wednesday Nights. The student will worship with their families and then be dismissed from the auditorium to a designated area just for them. It will meet the first three Sundays of every month breaking the fourth and occasional fifth Sunday to spend the whole time in worship with their families. I am so excited about the potential of this ministry and let me tell you why.

First, this ministry is going to be a small group setting just for the 6th-8th graders. It is exclusive to them to grow, learn, and encourage each other about the issues that are going on in each others lives.

Secondly, It is an opportunity for us to bridge the gap between children's ministry and student ministry. In the past, the baton has been dropped in this transition and we want to make sure that your student is introduced to Ignite Student Ministry in the right way. This class is taught by Nina Wildes, (she has been teaching in children ministry for many years now) and by myself, Shelby Craig. With both of us tag-teaming, it will give them a taste of what they are use to and a flavor of what lies ahead. This will ease them into the ministry with full support from both of us.

Let me say that this is not a substitute for Wednesday night but an opportunity to dig deeper. It is a chance for your student to fully grow in the Lord in a personal way. 6th-8th grade is a foudational time in the lives of students. It will mold thier teenage years for the good or the not-so-good. I encourage you to be in prayer about this ministry and the leadership behind it. I look forward to seeing you August 3rd as we FUEL the next generation!

Press On,
Shelby Craig
Student Minister

On the way to church last weekend at my in-laws, the girls were being over-dramatic about it taking FOREVER to get there (it only takes about 5 minutes). The following conversation took place...






Emily (3): Momma, it's taking a long, long time to get there.
Me: Chill, we're almost there.
Mara (4): Remember Sissy, when we see the three crosses then we'll know we're there.
Emily: Yeah, just like Jesus died on the cross.
Me: He did! Do you know who Jesus died on the cross for?
Emily: For my sins!

Phillip and I were both absolutely speechless. I was frustrated with them for being so over-dramatic (yes, that "Chill" was said with much impatience.), but my four-year-old turned it around to an amazing conversation about Christ.

Father, thank you for choosing me to be the mother of these three amazing people. Help me to take advantage of each and every moment of our 'normal' day to point them to You.

Carrie

Enjoy these pics of the Family Fun Day our church held a few weeks ago. Thank you to the numerous volunteers that helped put this together. You served God well and you're awesome!

What is FUEL you ask? FUEL is our new Sunday morning small group for middle school students in grades 6-8. FUEL will begin on Movin' Up Day, August 3rd. FUEL will meet 3 out of the 4 Sundays of every month. The middle school students in this small group will further study the material that is taught every Wednesday night by our student pastor, Shelby Craig at the Ignite youth group. Your middle school students are encouraged to attend both Wednesday nights study and the Sunday morning small group. FUEL will help transition the middle school students make the tough transition from The Zone. It will be taught by Nina Wildes with frequent appearances by Shelby Craig.

Parents, please mark Sunday, July 27th on your calendars. We will have a brief meeting after church on that day to address any questions you may have regarding this new small group. We're excited to offer this to your family and student. Please pray for this new small group and its leaders.

The More You Know
Sir Francis Bacon said, “Knowledge is power.” I prefer “applied knowledge is power,” but regardless, the more we know, the better chance we have of guiding teens through their use of the Internet. We tend to condemn the Internet as a tool of the devil when we hear stories about online predators and identity theft, but we don’t seem to mind having 24-7 access to previous episodes of “Lost,” or real time updates on the NBA Finals.

So, how can we help steer kids through an Internet that offers them the same benefits…and liabilities?

1. Bring the 41% of you, the parent, who don’t know what their kids are doing online up to speed. Scratch that. Inform 100% of you…just to make sure! When the dark practices of kids’ Internet usage is brought to light, many parents want to blame the Internet instead of conversing with their kids about it. I encourage you to have MULTIPLE conversations with your children about their Internet usage. One “talk” is just not good enough!
   
   
2. Share with your kids your own strategies for staying pure and safe while online. No, I’m not referring to your endorsement of spam-filters; I’m talking about the intentional steps you employ as a parent to make sure you don’t fall victim to online sin. (Keeping the computer out in the open...only going online when someone else is present…restricting the amount of time you spend online…etc.) Sharing this kind of “inside look” at your life with your children will have multiple positive effects on your kids!
   
   
3. Make students aware of the consequences of ungodly actions while online. This isn’t a scare tactic! But, so many students divorce virtual life from real life, with little understanding of the connection between the two. From “seemingly” harmless activities like posting a sexy pic on their profile, or blogging inappropriately about a friend, many teens are simply naïve about the results of their actions, until they feel the pain associated with them. Like our grandmothers always said, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

So much of a teenager’s life hinges on you the parent. All I want to do is bring you alongside of me so we together can transform students into a lifelong disciple of Christ. I hope this has given you some insight and some encouragement as well. If there is anything that I ever can do to help or partner with you with your student, know that I am just a phone call or email away.

What Kids Are Up To Online
We’re aware of most of the dangers associated with the Internet. Like my student “Dylan,” we know that teens can stumble onto porn sites; they might also be solicited by a sexual predator. They could even be a target for the ever-increasing trend known as cyber-bullying, which made news again last week because of its potential connection to this teen’s suicide in the UK.

But, they could just be watching hour after hour of goofy streaming videos. (Nielsen says the average for 12-17 year olds is about 132 minutes per month, making them the biggest group of viewers.) Or perhaps they’re spending untold hours simply “hanging” with friends in virtual worlds or social networks. Who knows?

Not you if you don’t ask.

Fortunately for us, the Norton Report mentioned above has invested some time into studying teenagers’ Internet habits. Of the students polled in the US:

• 35% say they “make friends” online. (That percentage increases the older they get.)
  
• 76% visit social-networking sites (Facebook, MySpace, and Bebo).
  
• 35% of students claimed to be shopping while connected.
  
• 42% of them admitted receiving an online request for personal information.

More research just came out of GenDigital’s recent study of teens’ online lives.

• A whopping 93% of teens use the Internet.
  
• 55% of that group has a profile on Facebook and/or MySpace.
  
• AddictingGames.com is quickly becoming the leading “casual gaming site” for all youth.
  
• Only 16% of teens use email, compared to the prolific use of it by adults.

Stay tuned for tomorrow as we tackle the last part of this.

www.whataretheyreallydoing.com--I wish that website was real and it would be that easy to see what your kids are doing online. I want to share with you a true story and for identity purposes, "Dylan" will be the name that we use.

Most nights found “Dylan” in front of his laptop looking at online pornography when his parents thought he was asleep. We know that teens love the Internet…so why is it that 41% of parents are still clueless about their kids’ use of it?

Here’s one simple example of the glaring misunderstanding between kids and parents when it comes to kids’ use of the Internet. A new study by Norton Online Living claims that kids spend almost 20 hours online each week. Does that amount shock you? Maybe, maybe not. But it DID shock the parents of the same group of kids who thought their children only spent 2 hours online each week!

Are these 41% of parents just disconnected from their kids, or, do these kids intentionally keep mom and dad in the dark?

A Quick Test
Whether you’re a parent or a volunteer, take a moment and answer each of the following questions?

1. How much time do your kids spend online in a typical week?
   
2. Do your kids have a Facebook and/or MySpace profile? If so, are you a “friend” of theirs?
   
3. What are they actually doing when they connect to the WWW?
   
4. What are their favorite sites to visit?

Many parents do not have the “right” answers to these questions. Sadly, many more don’t have an answer at all.

Stay tuned for tomorrow as we look at "What kids are up to online."

If you follow the news and the media, you know that when you hear the words "abstinence education" or "virginity pledges" ... most likely they are followed with reports of how ineffective they are.

Last week we heard a different story.

Reuters reported about a Rand Corporation study that shows virginity pledges to actually be slightly helpful.

Taking a pledge to remain a virgin until married may help some teens and young adults in delaying the start of sexual activity, U.S. researchers reported on Tuesday.

A study by the Rand Corporation research institute found that 34 percent of youths who took such pledges as teens had had sexual intercourse within three years compared to 42 percent of similar teens who did not make virginity pledges.

The Rand team said they had taken into account differences such as religious beliefs, parenting and friendship characteristics.

If some of you are wondering why we should be excited about a pledge that is only 1/3 effective... I understand your confusion (and frustration). But realize... most reports up to this point have mocked such pledges, concluding that those that take virginity pledges are actually more likely to engage in oral sex, and are more likely to get pregnant.

But this Rand study (and a recent Alan Guttmacher study) show different.

Some researchers had speculated that teens might substitute other sexual activities such as oral sex for intercourse.

But the Rand study found that those who pledged were no more likely to engage in sexual behaviors that fall short of full intercourse than other comparable youth -- findings that fit in with a study by the non-profit Alan Guttmacher Institute in New York last month.

Again... I'm not jumping for joy. If you read what I just read, it says that these kids are "no more likely" than other comparable youth. That just means that those who take these pledges aren't MORE likely to go to third base since they pledged to not "hit a home run." Unfortunately they seem to be just as likely to engage in these activities as those who didn't take the pledges.

But it's nice to see some data that these pledges aren't "harmful." This is the first report I've seen in a while that actually showed them to be slightly helpful.

The Reuters article even went on to say...

"Waiting until you are older to have sex is good for teens from a health standpoint," Martino said in a statement. "There are lots of reasons for more kids to wait until they are older."

Wow. It's nice to hear some good new every once in a while.

(thanks to YPulse.com for the article)

Facebook is usually used to arrange parties and keep in touch with friends, but now religious leaders have ambitions to combat extremism and encourage multi-faith understanding through the social networking site.

Faithbook was launched today on the popular website by a group of British Jews and is supported by the Muslim Institute. It aims to be a place for debate about religious issues and allows members to upload photos, start discussions and add notes.

Pictures of the sacred texts of the major religions are also on display and prayers for international and interfaith “understanding” are written on the page. Discussions about the place of religion in modern society and countering extremism through websites are underway but so far the only posts are from pre-arranged commenters engaged by the organisers.
The Movement for Reform Judaism, behind Faithbook, said that it was essential to use social networking sites for good.

Rabbi Shoshana Boyd Gelfand, executive director of the movement said: “So much of what has happened with new media is that it has become a place where extremists can construct messages of hate and intolerance. We have got to combat that and create a space where people who may not meet face to face can have a constructive debate.”
Simon Cohen, spokesman for Faithbook, told Times Online that it was the only faith group on Facebook to invite all faiths to participate. It would “engage the younger generation” and inform people about religion.

The page has generated 23 fans since it launched at midnight.
Simon Barrow, from the Christian think-tank Ekklesia, criticised Faithbook as being “just another Facebook group”. Another commentator on the page urged people to “ditch your skygods and try out some rational thinking”.

Ghayasuddin Siddiqui, director of the Muslim Institute, said that the group would be a success regardless of the differences between the major faiths. He added: “Irrespective of whatever cultural baggage we carry, racial background or faith that we follow, we have to recognise that our creator is the same whatever we call him.” (source Times Online )

This is Greatmom holding Mara Lin four and a half years ago. She loved to sing hymns to her.
Here she is again holding Emily Elizabeth right at 3 years ago. I can guarantee that she was either singing or humming hymns to her when this picture was taken.
And here she is serenading Becca Sue almost two years ago, and less than a year before she passed away.

Even when she couldn't remember the babies' names or what day it was there towards the end, she never forgot one word of those old hymns.

I can just see Greatmom holding my baby right now in heaven...and I can hear 'Blessed Assurance' or 'Great is Thy Faithfulness'.

Give my baby a kiss for me Greatmom.