Choosing Hope

     Have you ever known someone who always seems to be complaining about something? I have met several people like that in my lifetime. Some people just tend to always look at the negative and completely miss the rosier side of the picture. We often refer to these people as pessimists or "the the glass is half empty" folks. While these people would prefer to be called "realists" rather than "pessimists" the truth of the matter is that they tend to move past the positive aspects of reality in favor of exposing people’s weaknesses and less noble qualities. Of course the reason they often approach life from this perspective is really out of convenience. It takes far less creativity and is much easier to criticize and fault find than it is to say an encouraging word or to discuss the admirable qualities of one person or another. Consistently saying nice things about others requires an amount of energy and effort that most people are simply not willing to expend. And it is a fact that people tend to find a bit of juicy gossip or an insightful criticism more entertaining than hearing about the virtues of an individual or all the great things happening in one’s own life.

     This truth can be clearly demonstrated in our media outlets. When you turn on the news, read the newspaper, or read the internet headlines what kinds of stories do you find? Are they stories filled with happy endings and silver linings? No. What you find are stories of natural disasters, murders, robberies and a host of other terrible happenings. Why? Because it is a fact that people are more interested in bad news than they are in good news. And in our interpersonal relationships this tendency holds true as well.

     Our community is no different. When someone commits a crime people talk. When a vagrant comes into town we all know about it. And when our local teens get into trouble it becomes a hot topic of conversation over breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Since my family moved here we have heard a lot of talk about the teens in the community. It seems that they have a knack for getting into trouble and working their way into the everyday conversations of the local citizens here in Topock. In fact I heard about the failings of the local youth before I even moved here. Word travels fast in a small town.

     But I have to ask a question. What are we doing to help our young people? You see it is easy to point a finger and vocalize disapproval with the actions of our youth, but what are we doing to help them make better choices? I contend that there are many good kids in Topock who would make better choices if they had more options. Yes, some of the kids here will make poor choices no matter what opportunities they are presented. But there are many others who would make better choices if they had some. And I believe as the wiser, and more compassionate members of this great community provide more options for our teens we will begin to see a notable difference in the attitudes and actions of our youth. I believe that if we work together we can make a difference in the lives of our young people. But we must work hand and hand, shoulder to shoulder, and side by side. But then again I guess that some would say that I am a hopeless optimist, because I see the glass as half full. I believe we can make a difference.

Till Death Do Us Part

Have you noticed that everything in our culture has become disposable? From disposable cameras to paper plates and cell phones everything that is manufactured and distributed in our culture is only intended to be used temporarily. There are two reasons for this trend in the 21st century, one is convenience, and the second is capitalism. People want the convenience of being able to upgrade and to move on to bigger and better things and companies make things disposable to satisfy their clients, increase their sales, and rake in record profits.

Unfortunately this recent tendency to view things as temporary vehicles to the next hot new thing has bled its way into many of our relationships and with this mind-set has come some undesirable and even devastating consequences. More specifically an increasing number of people see marriage as a temporary arrangement and a vehicle for their own happiness and personal fulfillment rather than the life long commitment it was intended to be. According to the most recent data provided by the U.S. government more than half of all marriages solemnized in the U.S. end in divorce. Over the past forty years this number has steadily increased as Americans consistently demonstrate that their commitment to marriage is increasingly deteriorating.

While some believe this trend is a sign of progress and an indication that Americans have broke free from the bondage of traditional values, all social indicators point in a different direction, that is to the decay and unraveling of our culture and its foundational values. The increase in divorces in the U.S. can be directly linked to the increase of American poverty, the demise of the American educational system, the exponential increase in national crime rates, increases in the ratio of teen pregnancies and unwed mothers, as well as the staggering proliferation of alternative lifestyles and immoral behaviors. While other social factors have been involved in some of these recent national trends the irrefutable fact of the matter is that the decline of the American family is causing a tidal wave of other social ills. Our actions are always followed by consequences and it appears that the epidemic of divorces in our culture have produced some alarming and undesirable results.

The fact of the matter is that no civilization that has ever existed has survived the demise of the traditional nuclear family. Even the great Roman Empire could not survive the decay of the family, the foundation of its great dynasty. If Americans do not renew their commitment to the institution of marriage and the family it is just a matter of time before our culture is a mere memory on the ash heap of history.

Ultimately the only way to restore America’s commitment to marriage and to the family is a change of heart. We must recognize that marriage is valuable and that it is not just a vehicle for personal fulfillment. Marriage is not about finding happiness or about personal convenience, no, marriage is all about commitment. It is a choice to love, honor, and cherish, regardless of whether it feels good or is convenient. Marriage is a permanent covenant made before God to guide and protect our families and to provide a bedrock foundation for our society. When we recognize that marriage is about giving rather than getting and when we recognize that it is about commitment rather than happiness we will discover the fulfillment that God intended for us to experience in marriage and we will choose to love "till death do us part".

How to Keep Your Resolution

     Well it’s almost that time of year again when we say goodbye to another year and embrace the next. During this time as we reflect inwardly about the way we have lived our lives many will commit to make major lifestyle changes and to adopt new more productive habits and values in 2008. The New Year’s resolution is a practice almost as old as time itself. And studies reveal that more than half of all Americans will choose to adopt a New Year’s resolution this coming year. Many will resolve to quit smoking, or to begin exercising, or maybe to focus more on their family or even find a new job in the coming year. While each of these goals is good and even admirable, these studies show that few will succeed in holding fast to their new commitment, after all New Years resolutions were made to be broken, right?

     And maybe that is the problem with the New Years resolution. Maybe too few of us are really committed to doing what it takes to follow through with our new commitments for 2008. I mean losing weight, quitting smoking or drinking, or beginning a consistent exercise program require a stead fast commitment and even hard work. Major lifestyle changes don't just happen over night, they are often painful and inconvenient. But I would suggest that the real problem isn't our lack of will power or resolve. In fact maybe the real problem is that we are failing to recognize that we need help. Commitment and determination are not always enough to make lasting changes in our lives. Sometimes the answer is to look outside of ourselves to discover the key to making and maintaining lasting changes.

     The Bible tells us that there are two key ingredients in making lasting change a reality in our lives. The first key ingredient is seeking good counsel or advice from a trustworthy source. The Bible states, “Without counsel, plans go awry, But in the multitude of counselors they are established" (Proverbs 15:22 NKJV). The second key ingredient to making lasting change is to involve God in the development and execution of your new plan to initiate change in your life. The Bible says it this way, “Commit your activities to the Lord and your plans will be achieved" (Proverbs 16:3 HCSB). So to make significant change a reality in our lives it is really as simple as seeking out the help of others and trusting God to help us make those difficult changes.

     Of course this means that we will have to heed the wise advice of others and that we will have to humble ourselves a bit and admit that we need God's help as well. But if we really want to lose those extra pounds, if we really want to let go of that nagging habit, and if we really want to become all that we can be, we will do whatever it takes to change the course of our lives for the better. And the answer is as simple as seeking some good advice and seeking some strength from our creator. And if we do those two things we just might keep our New Years resolution. Happy New Year!

Pastor Chris

An Attitude of Gratitude

Ok I admit it. I love Thanksgiving! In fact I like Thanksgiving more than any other holiday, even more than Christmas or Easter. This is quite a statement coming from someone who was raised in a home where Christmas was king, an extravaganza of lights, gifts, family, food and fun.Growing up my family went all out during the Christmas season. In fact it would probably be more accurate to say that my family went overboard during the Christmas season. Like many American families during the holidays we over extended ourselves, we overspent, and we overate. Don't get me wrong I enjoyed the holidays as a child but as I look back I recognize that while we had a lot of fun during Christmas time there was something missing. What was missing? Gratitude. An attitude of thankfulness. An awareness of the fact that we were blessed and that God was the giver of all the gifts we so freely enjoyed.

     And that is why I enjoy thanksgiving so much! You see thanksgiving is a time to reflect upon how God has blessed us and it provides and opportunity for us to take time to thank Him for all he has done in our lives. During Thanksgiving there are no worries about buying the "perfect" gift and no crowds to contend with at the department store. In fact aside from the work that goes into preparing the meal Thanksgiving tends to be a time where we focus upon relaxation, reflection, and relationships. During the thanksgiving holiday people tend to focus on how precious their family is, how fortunate they are to have what they've been given, and how good God has been to them.

     But to be quite honest what makes Thanksgiving so special is not the holiday itself but rather an attitude of gratitude. It is fascinating how a slight attitude adjustment changes things but it really does. When we count our blessings and express our gratitude we almost always find that we feel better, that things are better than we had previously thought and that God has blessed us! When we focus on what we do have, rather than what we want or don't have, we find that life is more enjoyable, more fulfilling, and more valuable. So this year as you sit at the table to carve a turkey or cut slice a ham in the presence of friends and family whether it be Thanksgiving or Christmas take time to count your blessings! Because an attitude of gratitude changes things. Try it! You'll be glad you did!

Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas,

Pastor Chris Zeller

Homeschooling Vs. Public Education

  After more than seven years in the public school system we have decided to pull our 13 year old son out of the state run schools. This was not an impulsive or sudden decision, as we have observed the slow decay of the American School system and the steady decline of morality and decency in the schools we finally came to the conclusion that our children would be better off receiving home instruction than in the public school system.

     Even though we just began homeschooling a short time ago we have been pleasantly surprised at the change in our son. While he has always been an intelligent and well behaved kid we have found that his attitude, demeanor, and over all behavior improved as a result of homeschooling. As we have began to homeschool we have noticed that some bad habits and attitudes he was developing as a result of peer pressure in school have disappeared. And his focus has moved from impressing his friends and trying to win over the girls, to studying to achieve academically and meet his obligations at home. The transformation in our son is nothing short of amazing. My wife and I both wish we had started homeschooling earlier, it is hard to believe that we overlooked this option for so long.

    Before we made the decision to homeschool we spent several weeks researching the pro's and con's. When we were finished with researching the issue we were surprised when we discovered that homeschoolers score better on most standardized tests, that 2/3 of them go on to college and earn college degrees, and that children that are homeschooled by ordinary parents score better academically than children who are taught by a parent with a teaching credential. After examining the data we knew we had to give homeschooling a shot.

     The public school system is broken. In fact I believe that the public school system in the USA maybe single handedly responsible for the slow but sure demise of our great country academically, morally, and ethically. Americans know the school system is failing but most parents feel that they are not qualified to teach their children in a homeschool setting. We have been conditioned to believe that credentialed educators are the only ones truly qualified to teach our children. As a result of this perception parents send their kids to the school so that their children can be educated by professionals.

      But is that what is really best for the kids? Can one teacher in a classroom with 20-35 children really do an adequate job of training each and every one of those children in the areas of math, science, reading, langauge arts etc.? Even if a teacher is successful in training the majority of her students in the basics of reading, writing, and arithmetic she inevitably fails to successfully teach these principles to some of her students. But a dedicated parent working one on one, side by side with his or her child can continue to work with their child until that child completely grasps and masters the necessary concepts being studied. Because of the individual attention a child receives during homeschooling there is little doubt that it is the most effective educational method. A 1 to 1 or a 1 to 3 teacher student ratio will almost always lead to success in any educational endeavors.

   So why is it that so few parents choose to homeschool? As we have already established many parents simply feel inadequate. But I believe that reason that most parents do not choose to homeschool are more complicated. In many American homes both parents work full time jobs in order to get ahead financially. Homeschooling would require a tremendous amount of sacrifice for those families. When a family chooses to homeschool they typically make a choice to become a one income household. Many parents are not willing to make that sacrifice and enjoy their careers far too much to even consider giving them up. Homeschooling is work for the parents and is a labor of love. It is so much easier to send one's children off to school and let the professionals take care of their education. But in the end it is often not what is best for the children but rather what is best for their parents.

     Americans know the public school system in this country is failing and that our children are performing miserably compared with the children of other countries. And yet despite this common knowledge Americans continue to send their children to public schools. Americans know that the negative influence of peers especially in teens years often leads to experimentation with drugs, exposure to pornography, and even premature sexual activity. Parents know that navigating their teens through their highschool years keeping them our of trouble is difficult if not impossible. And yet parents continue to send their children to public schools. Why? Because it is easy. Because it is expected. Because the public schools allow parents to pursue their own careers rather than take responsibility for the education of their children. While homeschooling is not the answer for every family and every child, it would be a vast improvement for many, but the effort required to educate one's own child is simply a price that many are not willing to pay. If you love your children and you are able you should homeschool them.You'll never be sorry you did.

What do you think?