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When I think about what I am thankful for this year the answers seem more sharply clear than in most. With the addition of my son to our family, my thankfulness is very much focused on him and his mother. Families are great things to be thankful for. Coming home to see my son, who is now sitting up and reaching for me with that great big smile of his, is more than enough to make my heart melt and for me to praise God and be thankful.
We will have three days of Thanksgiving this year. Thursday with my wife’s family and Friday with my family and then Saturday we head up to Bakersfield for the day to visit my grandmother, who will get to meet her great-grandson for the first time. With all that travel and family it may become easy to reach a point of overload. Today we are not as used to the large and close presence of family as had been experienced in decades past. When ones extended family all lived near by and was more routinely over and a part of ones life, celebrations like Thanksgiving would feel more normal, though still special. Today many people have to fly across the country just to visit a portion of their family. We are a society that is so blessed/cursed by our conveniences. We can stay connected at such great a distance that we are able to remain geographically distant while remaining relationally close.
The tradition of Thanksgiving is an opportunity to return to geographic closeness and gain perspective on our lives. We are able to connect as we cannot through technology. We are able to, hopefully with all the traveling, pause with those we care the most about and give some consideration to where we are in life, how God has blessed us, and what priorities we ought to be moving forward with in our lives. So, as you move from event to event, do not forget to give yourself some time not merely to digest before the next round of stuffing, but to reflect upon all that we have to be thankful for and all they ways in which we can return our blessings to God through service in His name to others.
Veteran youth worker and conference speaker, Megan Hutchinson has written a book entitled “I Want to Talk With My Teen About Addictions.” The book helps you to:
EXAMINE why people become addicted and feel hopeless.
DISCOVER how alcohol and drugs poison the body, mind, and spirit.
DEVELOP healthy coping strategies for resisting unhealthy behaviors.
REALIZE that addiction is a choice teens make – but can be overcome.
EMBRACE God’s power, good friends, and love in breaking addictions.
Want a great way to both teach your children about Christmas and promote health in your family at the same time (just in time for Grandma’s fabulous pies). Then join with the SOTH Health Ministry’s “A Journey to Bethlehem.”
FAQ’s
1) What is Journey to Bethlehem
Journey to Bethlehem is a SOTH Health Ministry program developed to promote exercise, togetherness, and spiritual growth among the congregation of SOTH. A focused sermon series will be offered in conjunction with the exercise event.
2) Who can participate?
Anyone can participate. There are no entry fees or sign up requirements. Simply fill out a mileage card and return to the church. Cards will be available each Sunday and throughout the week in the Health Ministry literature rack. We encourage the participation of families and nonmembers in this event! If you wish, you may pledge mileage by signing up at the Health Ministry table each Sunday.
3) When and where is the Journey to Bethlehem
JTB will start on November 23 with a group kickoff at Heritage Park. The event continues until we reach Bethlehem (7566 miles), hopefully by Christmas! You can participate in one (or more) of four weekly walking groups at different locations, form your own group, or exercise on your own.
4) How can I get more information?
Contact Ron Herman at 909-921-7059 or rherman@soth.org.
Counting Mileage
1) What counts as mileage?
Any non-motorized form of travel counts. Stationary exercise such as aerobics is counted as one mile per 20 minutes. Every one is welcome to participate, so we will work with those using motorized scooters. If you have questions, contact the Health Ministry.
2) What is the group bonus?
We encourage group participation. If you exercise as a family, each member gets 2 bonus miles per exercise event. For participation in one of our organized groups or your own group, each person also gets 2 bonus miles per day. Attend the kickoff at Heritage Park, and get credit for 5 bonus miles!
3) How do I record my mileage?
Use the weekly mileage cards and return to SOTH each week. Or e-mail your mileage to rherman@soth.org.
4) How far did I go?
The organized group events will be at locations with predetermined distances. We also have pedometers available. Wear your pedometer all day and walk a few extra steps.
HERITAGE PARK KICKOFF
November 23, 2008
Heritage Park, Beryl and Hillside, Rancho Cucamonga.
Come any time between 1 and 4 and walk a mile or two. We have a reserved picnic area, so bring your lunch! Water will be provided.
A recent study pointed to a correlation between the amount of sex teens view on TV and their rate of pregnancy. A Townhall commentary reviews the claimed outcomes of the study and points out how foolishly the researchers are as they suggest that the solution is to offer more realistic depictions of sex on TV rather than limit the amount of sex shown during family viewing hours. Read more here.
Here is the latest HomeBase (a family newsletter fromt he LCMS).
http://www.lcms.org/graphics/assets/media/DCS/1008HomeBase.pdf
