North Stafford Church of Christ

A.J. Jacobs - The Year of Living Biblically

From Ted.com:

A.J. Jacobs' writings stand at the intersection of philosophy, Gonzo journalism, and performance art. Stubbornly curious and slyly perceptive, he takes immersive learning to its irrational and profoundly amusing extreme -- extracting wisdom and meaning after long stints as a self-styled guinea pig. For his widely circulated Esquire article, My Outsourced Life, he explored the phenomenon of outsourcing by hiring a team in Bangalore, India to take care of every part of his life -- from reading his emails to arguing with his wife to reading bedtime stories to his own son. A previous article, I Think You're Fat, chronicled a brief, cringe-inducing attempt to live his life in Radical Honesty, telling all the truth, all the time.

Jacobs is author of The Know-It-All, which documents the year he spent reading the Encyclopedia Britannica from A to Z, uncovering both funny and surprising factoids but also poignant insight into history and human nature. For his latest book, The Year of Living Biblically, he attempted to follow every single rule in the Bible as literally as possible for an entire year.

Burkes

New Vision School Supply Backpacks

School supply backpacks for New Vision.  Thanks to all who helped get these loaded and packed and delivered.

Something to Think About - The Four Soils - Soil #3

Charles Jackson
Aug 19, 2008

"Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants."  (Matt 13:7)

No soil, no matter how rich, is capable of growing a harvest of wheat and a harvest of thorns.  The problem here is to allow the best within us to be choked and dwarfed by the less than best.  If it were a problem in Jesus' day, perhaps it is even a greater problem today...with worldwide communication.

Three kinds of thorns were mentioned (verses 13-23).  The first is worry.  An example is seen in Martha.  She is a beautiful character but she got so worried about dinner, she did not enjoy the guest.  She is in the kitchen rattling pots and pans, calling attention that she has no help   Then, she explodes on the company and made every one uncomfortable.  What's wrong with Martha?  She's growing a thorn.

The second thorn is money.  The Bible never speaks disparagingly of money.  It has no moral worth.  Money receives its moral quality from the hand that holds it.  However, money is absorbing, it grips us, drinks up our energies, rivets our attention and gives us a false sense of security.   Remember Absalom, David's son?  He was rich in good looks, it being climaxed in his hair.  But, it was by his hair that he hung in the oak and waited for a dart through his heart. 

The third thorn mentioned is pleasure.  Is the Christian faith a kill-joy? No.  But, any pleasure, no matter how innocent or good, becomes a thorn if it crowds out something better.

As a lad on a farm in South Arkansas, I spent hours cutting down healthy corn stalks by the hundreds, maybe thousands.  To the uninitiated it would look like ruthless waste.  But, it was done in faith that if soil concentrated itself on fewer stalks it would bring a better yield than squandering itself on many.

Charles is a retired but busy missionary and preacher of the Gospel.  Charles and Mary live in various places (depending on the time of year) but are surrounded in love and respect by family and friends from all over the world.  Charles is a mentor to and supporter of those associated with mission work at NSCofC.  Charles likes to tell stories just like Jesus liked to tell stories.  We reprint with permission.

Love is Spelled T-I-M-E

GoodSearch

From GoodSearch.com:

We all have a cause we care about - whether it's finding a cure for cancer, saving the environment, finding homes for abandoned pets or so many other worthwhile endeavors. But what we don't all have is the time or money to support these efforts as much as we'd like. So, what if we could raise money for our favorite charities and schools by doing something we do every day — searching the Internet?

That's the question Ken Ramberg (the former founder of JOBTRAK, now a division of Monster.com) and JJ Ramberg (an MSNBC anchor and the former Director of Marketing at Cooking.com) asked themselves a few years ago. After realizing what a fraction of the $8 billion generated annually by search engine advertisers could do if it were directed towards organizations trying to make the world a better place, they launched GoodSearch in 2005.

GoodSearch is a search engine which donates 50-percent of its revenue to the charities and schools designated by its users. It's a simple and compelling concept. You use GoodSearch exactly as you would any other search engine. Because it's powered by Yahoo!, you get proven search results. The money GoodSearch donates to your cause comes from its advertisers — the users and the organizations do not spend a dime!

In 2007, GoodSearch was expanded to include GoodShop, an online shopping mall of world-class merchants dedicated to helping fund worthy causes across the country. Each purchase made via the GoodShop mall results in a donation to the user's designated charity or school – averaging approximately 3% of the sale, but going up to 20% or even more.

Ken and JJ wanted to create a means to support charities so that people would say, "Why wouldn't you do it?" That's what GoodSearch does. Since it doesn't cost anything and you get proven search results, there's no reason not to use it!

GoodSearch is dedicated to Ken and JJ's mother, who passed away from cancer and who taught them both that by working together with dogged dedication, we can really make this world a better place.

Spread the word!  Our goal is to help as many nonprofits and schools as possible. We want to help fund the great works they are doing. And, as important as the money, GoodSearch allows people to feel connected to organizations helping to make the world a better place and support them every single day. We believe that "doing good" should be a part of people's everyday lives.

Because we donate such a substantial part of our revenue to the organizations that you designate, we're not spending a lot on advertising. That's why we need your help in spreading the word!

We hope you'll not only use GoodSearch as your main search engine from now on, but will also tell your friends, family and co-workers so they, too, can start using GoodSearch to support their favorite cause!

So ...

Find a cure
Support your school
Provide disaster relief
Protect our environment
Start using GoodSearch today — there's no reason not to!

Awakening Fest 2008

Click on the image for more information.  Be in touch with Misty or Joel for details.

Something to Think About - Unity in Diversity

Charles Jackson
Aug 15, 2008

"I urge you to...be completely humble and gentle, be patient, bearing with one another in love.  Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace."  (Ephesians 4:1-3)

Churches of Christ have opposed written religious creeds or rules on the grounds that they alienate followers of Christ from one another.  How can two bodies, each with a written set of rules that differ, ever meet?  Consequently, we have encouraged each person to study the Scripture for himself.  A search for truth is an open-ended process.  As one probes the depths of God's Word, we must be free to explore new possibilities, free to outgrow old misconceptions.  But, it is inevitable that academic freedom will lead to diversity of views...no two people are at the same point in their intellectual journey at the same time.

As we live together in one body we are challenged to be of one mind and spirit, but, we have all brought our baggage.  Being pre-conditioned by our past experiences, we have individual concepts.  So, a good bit of energy is required to keep all pulling together...nothing pleases everybody...anything will make someone unhappy.  Can there be unity in such diversity? 

If God had wanted us to all be exactly alike, He would have created clones, not unique individuals.  There must be a message in the fact that no two human beings are identical. 

We must come to realize that the church is greatly enriched by its diversity.   We all did not want to marry the same woman.  Diversity enriches life.  Pluralism broadens our perspective, lengthens our vision and expands our  interest.  Diversity forces us to look at Scripture with fresh eyes.  Any attempt to force conformity upon the church is tantamount to a creed and takes away its spice for life.

The key to unity amidst diversity is our common love for the Lord and commitment to His will.  Please note.  It is love, not total agreement, that binds us together in harmony.

Charles is a retired but busy missionary and preacher of the Gospel.  Charles and Mary live in various places (depending on the time of year) but are surrounded in love and respect by family and friends from all over the world.  Charles is a mentor to and supporter of those associated with mission work at NSCofC.  Charles likes to tell stories just like Jesus liked to tell stories.  We reprint with permission.

Words About the Safest Place on Earth

◘  Don't ride in automobiles. They cause 20% of all fatal accidents.

◘  Don't stay at home.  17% of all accidents occur in the home.

◘  Don't walk on the street or sidewalk.  14% of all accidents happen to pedestrians.

◘  Don't travel by air, rail, or water.  16% of all accidents happen on these.

◘  Only 0.001% of all reported deaths occur in assembly worship services.

Psalm 34

I bless God every chance I get; my lungs expand with his praise.

I live and breathe God;
   if things aren't going well, hear this and be happy:

Join me in spreading the news;
   together let's get the word out.

God met me more than halfway,
   he freed me from my anxious fears.

Look at him; give him your warmest smile.
   Never hide your feelings from him.

When I was desperate, I called out,
   and God got me out of a tight spot.

God's angel sets up a circle
   of protection around us while we pray.

Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see—
         how good God is.
   Blessed are you who run to him.

Worship God if you want the best;
   worship opens doors to all his goodness.

Young lions on the prowl get hungry,
   but God-seekers are full of God.

Come, children, listen closely;
   I'll give you a lesson in God worship.

Who out there has a lust for life?
   Can't wait each day to come upon beauty?

Guard your tongue from profanity,
   and no more lying through your teeth.

Turn your back on sin; do something good.
   Embrace peace—don't let it get away!

God keeps an eye on his friends,
   his ears pick up every moan and groan.

God won't put up with rebels;
   he'll cull them from the pack.

Is anyone crying for help? God is listening,
   ready to rescue you.

If your heart is broken, you'll find God right there;
   if you're kicked in the gut, he'll help you catch your breath.

Disciples so often get into trouble;
   still, God is there every time.

He's your bodyguard, shielding every bone;
   not even a finger gets broken.

The wicked commit slow suicide;
   they waste their lives hating the good.

God pays for each slave's freedom;
   no one who runs to him loses out.

Psalm 34

RO-AL Conf Update

Updated information on our Jan 2009 missions conference here.  Lots of work to be done by then.  Under the leadership of our elders and our Foreign Missions Committee, you may be asked to help out.  We anticipate people from Europe and from locations around the U.S. for our conference so we want to be ready in practice and in spirit.

Registration for the conference will begin in several days.

This will warm up our Virginia winter!

Prayer Wall

Click on the image to be taken to the Prayer Wall.

"Smile For A Child" at Christmas

We once again have the opportunity to provide "A Smile for a Child" for children in Nicaragua at Christmas time.  With your help, we want to send 100 boxes filled with little items that the people at Misión Para Cristo will distribute to deserving children just in time for a child's special Christmas this year.

Four easy steps:

1.  Fill a small box with toys, school supplies, personal items, clothing, hard candy, and other happy things for a girl or boy.  About ten items fit nicely in the little boxes.  Please don't include toys that need batteries or that have English instructions and no candy that melts.  The boxes have already been purchased by Karita and are available to you from her to fill up with goodies.  Also, Karita has put together a good list of items to put in the boxes so hook up with Karita or see the list at NSCofC for guidance and instructions.

2.  Wrap the box and lid separately (not as a single package!) in holiday wrapping paper. Use only the boxes that Karita has made available, please.

3.  Designate whether the gift is for a boy or girl and attach $5 to the top of the box to cover shipping from the U.S. to Nicaragua.

4.  Get the boxes back to Karita or NSCofC by early Oct so we can ship all of the boxes in one huge shipment to Nicaragua in time for Christmas.

Help us out even as we give "A Smile for a Child" in Nicaragua.

Mision Para Cristo strives to share Jesus and serve the people of Nicaragua.  The mission's main objective is for the message of Jesus to be shared with all people.  To accomplish this goal, the mission work in Nicaragua is to provide health care, food, shelter, and education to those in need.

You may contact Mision Para Cristo at 700 Garland St., Plainview, TX 79072 or call 806-296-2708 or visit www.misionparacristo.com.

Good Times at Belvedere

 

Youth Internet Online Usage Statistics & Information

◘  69% of teens regularly receive personal messages online from people they don't know and most of them don't tell a trusted adult about it (Teen Research Unlimited. "Cox Communications Teen Internet safety Survey Wave II," March 2007).
◘  When they receive online messages from someone they don't know, 60% of teens say they usually ask who the person is, 57% of teens claim they ignore such messages, 31% say they usually reply and chat with people they don't know, and only 21% tell a trusted adult when they receive such messages (Teen Research Unlimited. "Cox Communications Teen Internet safety Survey Wave II," March 2007).
◘  While 16% of teens say they've considered meeting face to face with someone they've talked to only online, that marks a significant drop compared to the 30% of teens who were considering such a meeting in 2006. In 2007, 8% of teens say they actually have met in person with someone from the Internet, down from 14% in 2006 (Teen Research Unlimited. "Cox Communications Teen Internet safety Survey Wave II," March 2007).
◘  23% of children have had an encounter with a stranger on the Internet, including 7% of children who reported having met someone in the real world from the Internet (Harris Interactive, "Kids Outsmart Parents When it Comes to the Internet," August 2007).
◘  79% of sexual solicitation incidents happened to youth while they were using their home computer (Wolak, J., Mitchell, K., & Finkelhor, D. (2006). Online victimization of youth: Five years later. National Center for Missing & Exploited Children Bulletin - #07-06-025. Alexandria, VA).
◘  40% of solicitations began with a solicitor communicating with a youth through an instant message or IM (Wolak, J., Mitchell, K., & Finkelhor, D. (2006). Online victimization of youth: Five years later. National Center for Missing & Exploited Children Bulletin - #07-06-025. Alexandria, VA).
◘  56% of solicitations contained a request for the youth to send photographs of themselves to the solicitor and 27% of solicitations contained a request for the youth to send a sexual picture of themselves (Wolak, J., Mitchell, K., & Finkelhor, D. (2006). Online victimization of youth: Five years later. National Center for Missing & Exploited Children Bulletin - #07-06-025. Alexandria, VA).
◘  30% of teens use chatrooms to converse with strangers (Wolak, J., Mitchell, K., & Finkelhor, D. (2006). Online victimization of youth: Five years later. National Center for Missing & Exploited Children Bulletin - #07-06-025. Alexandria, VA).
◘  90% of sexual solicitations are directed to youth ages 13 and older (Wolak, J., Mitchell, K., & Finkelhor, D. (2006). Online victimization of youth: Five years later. National Center for Missing & Exploited Children Bulletin - #07-06-025. Alexandria, VA).
◘  34% of youth have encountered unwanted sexual material while online (Wolak, J., Mitchell, K., & Finkelhor, D. (2006). Online victimization of youth: Five years later. National Center for Missing & Exploited Children Bulletin - #07-06-025. Alexandria, VA).
◘  34% of online solicitors made a phone call to the youth, 18% visited to the youth's home, 12% offered money or other items, and 9% sent offline mail to the youth's address (Wolak, J., Mitchell, K., & Finkelhor, D. (2006). Online victimization of youth: Five years later. National Center for Missing & Exploited Children Bulletin - #07-06-025. Alexandria,VA).
◘  Only 5% of youth who received a sexual solicitation and 2% of youth who encountered unwanted sexual material online indicated that they have told law enforcement, their Internet service provider, school authorities, or other authorities about the incident (Wolak, J., Mitchell, K., & Finkelhor, D. (2006). Online victimization of youth: Five years later. National Center for Missing & Exploited Children Bulletin - #07-06-025. Alexandria, VA
◘  96% of students ages 9 to 17 who have access to the Internet have used social networking technologies (Grunwald Associates, "Creating & Connecting - Research and Guidelines on Online Social and Educational Networking," July 2007).
◘  71% of students ages 9 to 17 use social networking sites on a weekly basis (Grunwald Associates, "Creating & Connecting - Research and Guidelines on Online Social and Educational Networking," July 2007).
◘  20% of youth include swear words in their MySpace profiles and 33% of MySpace pages have swear words in the comments sections (Hinduja, S. and Patchin, J.W. "Personal Information of Adolescents on the Internet: a Quantitative analysis of MySpace.com." Journal of Adolescence, 2007).
◘  18% of youth MySpace pages contain evidence of consumption of alcohol by minors, 8% reference underage smoking, and 2% refer to marijuana usage (Hinduja, S. and Patchin, J.W. "Personal Information of Adolescents on the Internet: a Quantitative analysis of MySpace.com." Journal of Adolescence, 2007).
◘  64% of teens post photos or videos of themselves online, while more than half (58%) post info about where they live. Females are far more likely than male teens to post personal photos or videos of themselves (70% vs. 58%) (Teen Research Unlimited. "Cox Communications Teen Internet safety Survey Wave II," March 2007).
◘  Nearly one in 10 teens (8%) has posted his or her cell phone number online (Teen Research Unlimited. "Cox Communications Teen Internet safety Survey Wave II," March 2007).
◘  58% of teens don't think posting photos or other personal info on social networking sites is unsafe (Teen Research Unlimited. "Cox Communications Teen Internet safety Survey Wave II," March 2007).
◘  Nearly half of teens (47%) aren't worried about others using their personal info in ways they don't want (Teen Research Unlimited. "Cox Communications Teen Internet safety Survey Wave II," March 2007).
◘  About half (49%) are unconcerned that posting personal info online might negatively affect their future (Teen Research Unlimited. "Cox Communications Teen Internet safety Survey Wave II," March 2007).
◘  32% of all teens and 43% of teens active in social networking have been contacted online by a complete stranger (Lenhart, Amanda and Maddox, Mary. "Teens, Privacy, and Online Social Networks - How Teens Manage their Online Identities and Personal Information in the Age of MySpace." April 18, 2007).
◘  Boys are more likely to post personal information than are girls (Lenhart, Amanda and Maddox, Mary. "Teens, Privacy, and Online Social Networks - How Teens Manage their Online Identities and Personal Information in the Age of MySpace." April 18, 2007).
◘  Among teens active in social networking sites, 61% post the name of their city or town, 49% post their school's name, 29% post their email address, and 29% post their last name (Lenhart, Amanda and Maddox, Mary. "Teens, Privacy, and Online Social Networks - How Teens Manage their Online Identities and Personal Information in the Age of MySpace." April 18, 2007).
◘  90% of ten to twelve-year-old children say their parents know where they are going online, compared with 41% of thirteen to fiftteen-year-old children. (Harris Interactive, "Teens and Cyberbullying." Research conducted for the National Crime Prevention Council, February 2007).
◘  Parents of children under 18 who access the Internet estimate their children are online an average of three hours a week, however, children ages 8-17 admit to spending an average of seven hours online a week, and nearly a quarter (23%) report doing things online that their parents would not condone (Harris Interactive, "Kids Outsmart Parents When it Comes to the Internet," August 2007).
◘  25% of teens say their parents know "little" or "nothing" about what they do online (Teen Research Unlimited. "Cox Communications Teen Internet safety Survey Wave II," March 2007).
◘  41% of teens report their parents talk to them "a lot" about Internet safety, and three out of four say their parents have talked to them in the past year about the potential dangers of posting personal info. The level of parental involvement is higher for younger teens and girls (Teen Research Unlimited. "Cox Communications Teen Internet safety Survey Wave II," March 2007).
◘  Teens whose parents have talked to them "a lot" about Internet safety are more concerned about the risks of sharing personal info online than teens whose parents are less involved (Teen Research Unlimited. "Cox Communications Teen Internet safety Survey Wave II," March 2007).
◘  Teens whose parents have talked to them "a lot" about online safety are less likely to consider meeting face to face with someone they met on the Internet (12% vs. 20%) (Teen Research Unlimited. "Cox Communications Teen Internet safety Survey Wave II," March 2007).
◘  85% of parents of online teens say they have established rules about the kinds of personal information their child can share over the internet (Lenhart, Amanda and Maddox, Mary. "Teens, Privacy, and Online Social Networks - How Teens Manage their Online Identities and Personal Information in the Age of MySpace." April 18, 2007).
◘  69% of parents say they have rules about how long their teen can spend online. (Lenhart, Amanda and Maddox, Mary. "Teens, Privacy, and Online Social Networks - How Teens Manage their Online Identities and Personal Information in the Age of MySpace." April 18, 2007).
◘  Only 47% of homes with teens ages 15 to 17 use filtering software. Parents with teens younger than 15 are much more likely to use filtering software, though it is beneficial to youth of all ages (Lenhart, Amanda and Maddox, Mary. "Teens, Privacy, and Online Social Networks - How Teens Manage their Online Identities and Personal Information in the Age of MySpace." April 18, 2007).