Being There For Other People

In the Bible we read of the story of the Good Samaritan. This one person helped the poor soul that he met unlike so many others that passed him. Often times we forget of the Good Samaritan and how we should be like them. Here lately my school has went through a lot of tragedies in the past 6 months. We lost a senior in October when she got hit by a car then just a week ago a young man went to a church to fight and ended up getting shot in the neck and is now in the hospital paralyzed from the neck down. This young mans life and the family of that girl will never be the same again. Just yesterday there was a house fire in Adamsville killing 4 people and leaving a 1 year old in the hospital. We all go through tough times some worse then others but together as a society we can get through them. No matter how bad you think your situation is there is always going to be someone out there going through something worse. It doesn't matter if we know the ones in need personally or not it is our job as Christians and human beings to help each other. Let's be more like the Good Samaritan and less like the ones who just walked away.

Suicide

There are people who die everyday by committing suicide. People are judged so much for committing it but do the people judging think or even try to figure out why they did what they did. Suicide is caused by bullying, depression, abuse, thinking that they don't have a purpose or meaning, and so many other reasons. You never know how what you say or do will affect someone else. That one thing that you say bad about their clothes or that one time you let your anger get the best of you and you hit them could set them off and cause their decision for suicide. Being to someone might be cool to your "friends" but how do you think it's affecting the person your bullying? Or do you even consider that at all? I've had friends in the past that have been suicidal. Friends that I was close to. It was my job as their friend and as a Christian to be there for them and get them away from that path. So many times people try to avoid the situation because they think they will just make it worse but as their friends and as Christians we NEED to help them. God didn't create mankind for it to be destroyed over something so crazy as suicide. The World is crazy enough and this could be the one thing we do to help change it around and get it back to a Godly world.

Should I Keep Posting After Lads to Leaders?

This is my last year being able to participate in Lads to Leaders. I have been working on this blog for a while now and have loved doing it. People keep coming to me asking if I am going to keep my blog after this year. I would like to know what everyone else's perspective is on this issue. I write to help others and help spread the Gospel, hoping that someone will be able to learn from what I share with all of you. I greatly appreciate everyone's support and encouragement with my blog. Whatever decision is made after this years convention has nothing to do with the present and as of now I will be continuing to blog at least up to Lads to Leaders and I hope that it will continue to inspire and help everyone in some type of way.

Blaine

Recently I received a comment from someone named Blaine and I'm glad that I did. So many times we consider how things have affected us but forget to consider how they affect other people. Blaine like myself has gained confidence through participating in Lads to Leaders. Blaine I don't know if you are reading this but thank you for sharing part of your story with me. It means a lot! I would love to hear more of everyone's stories so please comment and chime in on your experience and growth through Lads to Leaders. Not every one story is the same that's what helps make everyone different. Some things affect some people in ways that they don't and never will affect another person, but that doesn't mean they can't experience them through someone else's words. So please let the comments flow in and lets see how everyone has grown as people and Christians!

Exposure Youth Camp 2015

This year was my last year going to Exposure as a kid. If you have never heard of Exposure Youth Camp and are wondering what it is then here you go: exposure is held in Huntsville, AL from Sunday December 27th to December 30th. When going to exposure you are getting the opportunity to be around 1800-2000 Christians from all over. You are put into teams that you spend time with and make friends while playing games and having devotionals. There are worship services, spiritual challenge sessions which are different classes that you can chose from to attend and the Atrium singing. This is when everyone at exposure goes to the balcony outside of their rooms or to the lobby and the entire hotel is filled with joyous melodies sung to the Lord. I had so much fun this year and learned a lot. Growing closer to old friends and making new ones. If you didn't go this year you missed out and I recommend that you put it on your calendar for next year!

Child Abuse

Did you know that children die everyday from abuse or neglect? In 2005 alone about 1,460 children died from being abused or neglected. Most of these children about 76.6% were 3 years old and younger. This is truly sad and heartbreaking. No child or any person no matter who they are ever deserves to be abused and neglected. Parents that don't even want their child or children often take advantage of the fact that they have them. According to National estimates that about 15 to 20 percent of all pregnancies end in miscarriages. There are people who love children and want to badly have some of their own while there are others who don't want their child or children at all. Children are beaten, starved, hated, sexually abused, and emotionally abused. Some people just honestly are crazy and don't care about anyone but themselves. It doesn't have to be physical for a child to be considered to be abused. Ignoring, rejecting, isolating, exploiting, corrupting, verbally assaulting, terrorizing, and neglecting the child are all considered emotional abuse. It sickens me that someone can harm and hate a creation of God. God could've hated us but he chose not to and instead sent his ONLY BEGOTTEN SON to die for OUR sins. If you don't want your child and you have the tendency to hurt them get yourself some help because that is just plain crazy. Adoption is an option but it seems to be forgotten about any many circumstances. Let someone who will actually take care of the child or children take care of them as their own. If you know about a child that is getting abused report it. You might be the one to save a life. STOP THE ABUSE!!!!!!!!!!!!

Busy Busy Busy

Busy, busy, busy! That pretty much sums up everyone's life styles during the year. Busy working, busy with school activities, with friends, with sports, always busy with something. This continues throughout the entire year even during the Christmas holiday. When we stay so busy we become guilty of losing sight of the things that really matter. Everyone has been guilty of this and some point in their lives. Having a well paying job is important you have to be able to survive but at what cost? Is it honestly worth working so much that you miss spending quality time with family because you "have to have the money"? Is it honestly worth it to miss a grandparents birthday party? A child's play? A family get together? Christmas Dinner? All of these things are important because one day these loved ones your neglecting for worldly desires aren't going to be around. People say all the time I can't miss going out with my friends, if I miss the dance at school I will be an outcast, if I take off from work because my grandmother is in the hospital on her death bed I won't get the raise. When it honestly comes down to it family just isn't as important to some people in the World today. Then as soon as something happens to a loved one they will be the first one balling their eyes out, when they were never there when the person was in good health and alive. Not everything is about gaining something in life. I would rather spend quality time with family making memories that I can cherish for a life time over hanging out with friends, making extra money that I don't really need, or even going to a school activity any day. Maybe it's time we all slow down and look around us at everything we are missing. Even say thank you to God for everything he has done and is still doing for us or are you to busy to do that either?