What's Next?

What is our job and our responsibility, as parents and educators, to our youth? To those asking for guidance or those in trouble?  What do you want? What should you expect? What tools are we passing along to enlighten our children and those we touch daily as to how the world really works? 

How do we frame this conversation so that you will listen and not simply give us a "what-ever"?
 

Are you looking for answers that make more sense than, "Because I said so?"  Is this another, "do this, don't do that" speech?  Did someone say you should read some old guys thoughts about Drugs, Alcohol, Study Habits, Looking Ahead in Life, Making Plans, Driving,  Something about Pregnancy or Sexual Behavior? Are you worried about what comes after high school, is college optional, considering your next job change, or even getting a job? What exactly is a Career?  I mean, what else is there… Right?
 

Think to yourself... What have you recently learned in school or from someone close to you that has made your life easier, more enjoyable, saved you money or aggravation, or just made your life better?  What was it? What class? What situation? Take a moment and think about the subject matter, the instructor, a coach, or even a boss. How did you apply that information to the world around you? Are those lessons easily transferred to other aspects or areas of your life?
 

Please consider just "how" you are currently applying those lessons, if at all. Can your lessons be readily applied to make you more competitive, more forward thinking, or are you becoming complacent or passive in a very competitive world environment? Consider, "the slower I go, the behinder I get" If your are not bettering yourself , and those around you are, why are you surprised if they are getting ahead and you're not? 

Does your mental attitude draw others to you or push them away? Who are you attracting? Who are you attracted to? Why?

Finding methods of transferring your applicable skills is vital... your attitude just as much. If your lessons and skills aren’t readying you for a results driven life, you’re cheating yourself and short changing your potential for future successes.  If you aren't being a positive impact through attitude and action, then what image of you are others seeing?  When did you last take an inventory of what you're good at? Of what you enjoy? The decisions you make today WILL impact your future, both in the short term and your future options. It’s not why you should be listening, it’s why you need to hear.  Let’s dive in. Today, relax, we’ll try to touch on some of the big stuff.  First, a little story from my teaching days. We'll call it My Chemistry Class Story.
 

When I was a young man, I taught a chemistry/physics class, tho my true background was in macro biology and geology. During one of my classes, the students were to observe and note changes after blending two clear liquids in couple test tubes and make notes. They were to follow basic instructions listed in the book about volume measurements, timing, visual changes, and safety. One student finally looks me square in the eye and says,  "why the hell do we need to know this shit?" The class went deadly quiet. Everyone froze. (I was known for not taking much crap from anyone and had been known to give detention to students which meant doing exercises with my wrestling or football team.    I thought sitting in detention for an hour was stupid and I didn't have time for stupid). If that didn’t work or the student wanted to opt out, swats were the alternative. ..(and Yes, corporal punishment was available and I hit quite hard. In 5 years, I didn't hit one student twice).  I ask the young man why he felt that way and quietly listened to his answer. He said he’d never use this crap in his life and didn’t see why it was important to know that 2 clear liquids made a yellow solid and smelly gas. I nodded in agreement. “I can see your point,” I acknowledged.

I then asked him the following questions. “Ben, what do you like to do in your spare time, like weekends or free time in the summer?” Ben answered he worked on cars. I asked him what type of cars and was he any good at it. He responded that he was pretty good and could break down his brother's Chevy motor and get it back together again over a weekend. I asked if he was considering doing that for a job after graduation. He said, "by all means." I then presented this thought.
 

“Ben, let’s say word gets out that you’re a very good locL mechanic in the neighborhood and have a great reputation for being fair and reasonably fast. You know domestic cars like the back of your hand. One day a friend of a neighbor drops by with a Ferrari 458 Italia Spyder and asks you to find out why it’s running rough and repair it. He has his checkbook with him ready to give you a down payment to begin work. You have never worked on a Ferrari before. Question; do you turn down the job knowing it pays much more that a Chevy or seek more information? 

You asked, why do these silly experiments. The answer is because it gives you practice at finding information, following directions, and seeing the process needed for satisfactory answers. By practicing here, you’ll absorb skills to aid in other aspects of life. It provides a roadmap for finding workable answers and the process to work thru problems.  Would you take the Ferrari job? Who knows, but you'd be able to see "how" you might go about it. You'd have options.
 

Ben wasn’t going to be a chemist, but he was going to be one hell of a mechanic because he understood the process of learning, of application, of direction, where to find and how to apply what he found. Ben did finish with a B in the class, not the C- or D+ he was heading for originally. 

es, anonymous postings, and very odd senses of humor (some bordering on sick), this is NOT a good position to be in.  And this worse for a factor of 2 or 3 for a female party-er. (You can imagine why...)

Many belief systems around the world consider, that in our lives, we attract  problems because we need their lessons. There may have been times or there definitely will be times when you ask, “How could God let this happen?” or "What did I do to deserve this?" 

You will find that God will let us test our free will. He will let us see how our decisions shape the world around us. Sometimes, it’s simply a way of tempering our mettle (character), teaching us in ways we must listen to because they're in our face, and maybe to hardening us for what lies ahead. Today, I will attempt to introduce you to where to find the answers…to lessen the impact of those lessons or how to cope with them, and install some tools for how this game of life works.
 

How many of you have found yourself making the same mistakes over and over again? Not following or reading directions? Waiting till the LAST minute to start a large project, homework, a task or chore at home or school assignment. How many of you seem to trust the same kind of untrustworthy individuals repeatedly, guys or girls? You know who I’m talking about… the ones who talk a good game but never help, never keep their word, work harder to get out of doing the work than the task itself? Problems are never their fault  Excuses are easier than being responsible. How many get dragged along into behavior or situations you know will probably end up badly? If anyone hasn’t nodded yes or raised your hand, you’re either not listening or you love pain and failure. Mistakes and problems are not the major issue. It’s learning from them that makes the difference in your life. It's not allowing yourself to keep finding excuses instead of workable answers. Part of the human experience is learning from our behavior as well as those around us, and using that experience to shape our decisions for better future outcomes.
 

What’s the definition of Insanity? Doing the same thing over and over again, expecting different results. Who’s been guilty of being a little insane?

A brief note about the pleasures in this world. We seem to be looking for more and more diverse types of pleasure. We look to satellite TV, we look to videos on YouTube, Vimeo, and any other entertaining venues, we seek the most outrageous actions and statements possible. We see how those we listen to; our friends, those that call us friends on social media (though we don't know them), and even, total strangers, act out in more and more bizarre ways simply to get short term reactions, comments, and "shares" to give them some feeling of success or accomplishment... or to get noticed.

Does this make you happy, but for a shorter and shorter time? How many dancing cats, cute dressed up babies, or people doing stupid human tricks and hurting themselves (or someone else) does it take to keep you smiling? OH, you don't feel good for more than a few minutes?  Anyone wonder why?  Has anyone mentioned that there is TRUE Pleasure and FALSE Pleasure?
 

False pleasure is WHY you feel empty. It's why drugs, alcohol, meaningless sex, money, and more and more radical acts don't bring any lasting fulfillment. True pleasure only comes from pure intentional acts. You feel good by doing things for others, getting a special gift for a child, doing an unexpected favor for a relative or neighbor, and volunteering to help those who truly need the help. Many times we find pleasure in being of value to others. 

In the words of a great man, Ravi Zacharias;

1. All pleasure must be bought at a price.  For true pleasure, the price is paid before you enjoy it. For false pleasure, the price is paid after.
 

2. Meaninglessness does not come from being weary of pain. It comes from being weary of pleasure. – G.K. Chesterton
 

3. The closer you get to pure pleasures, the closer you get to the heart of God. The closer you get to impure pleasures, the farther you move from the heart of God.
 

4. Do you know what your heart longs for? It longs for an intimacy that touches both body and soul.

Getting the idea why young suicide is on the rise?  Like to part of the problem OR a piece of the solution?