Sermons Online are Here!

My sermons are now online! Click here!

Once on the web page click on the podcast link and it will open your iTunes and begin the download. New sermons will be downloaded when they are posted and you open your iTunes program.

You can also listen to the latest sermon on the web page. Just to let you know I began preaching through Romans in June and will post them two a week beginning with chapter 1.

Hope you enjoy and let me know what you think!

Thanks!

Dave

A Few New Pics

This is a picture of Alexander with the young man that he was named after. Alexander Mrakovich was a young kid in the church In Lombard, IL. where I served as youth pastor. He impressed me with his love for the Lord, his passion for truth and his joy of life. I've had the privilege of watching him grow up to be a man of God who leads worship at his college and has a desire for ministry. There are very few young men I respect as much as Alex. Jenn and I both liked the name and thought it would be meaningful to name him after Alex as he remains a dear friend to us to this day.


This is Alex's first bites of solid food. He has since graduated to green vegetables. It is hard to beleive that he is six months old this week!


Alex savors a mouthful of something other than milk. Now the possibilities are endless!


Some close friends of ours have blessed us with season passes to the San Diego Zoo. This picture was taken a few days before the tiger attack up north. I think we'd think twice next time we visit. Someone had a dog with him which set the lions off to pacing. Scary!


Yes, I am out of my gourd. (Yes, I also write my own jokes.)


Huh? What's over there? I can't see. Drat, I can't even crawl yet.


Princess Grace. Talk about a girly girl. She loves to dress up in princess dresses, complete with high heals, earrings, and a tiara.


This is Alex and Grace at Christmas. She loves her little brother. She wants to hold him all the time. I hope it stays that way.


This is Alex with Grandpa Monreal up in Wisconsin over Christmas. He is so wonderful with kids. Alex and Grace really love him.


Grace waits patiently as Grandma Monreal opens her gift. If she doesn't do it quickly Grace is sure to help.


Grace has absolutely no idea what Daddy is doing out side. What is all that white stuff falling down? Obviously we weren't in San Diego when this was taken.


Grace was ready to go outside and join me in the snow. Why is snow so much fun when you are a kid and such a pain as an adult?


Two diehard Green Bay Packer fans. There will always be next year (Favre, please come back).


A few fun-filled moments with Grandma and Grandpa. They love their new grandson.


Alex is perpetually amazed at every new object. Here he is fascinated with a few of his Christmas gifts.


Alex is one happy baby. In fact, both Grace and Alex were joyful, laughing children. What a blessing.


This final shot was taken in Lombard at a restaurant called Ed Debevic's. They specialize in insulting the people who patronize their place. Only in Chicago!

Well friends, that is a few recent pictures of family and friends and gives you a little insight into our life. I want to thank all of you who continue to check up on us and read our blog page. Some of the stuff consists of my ranbling streams of consciousness.

By the way, the church recently put up a webpage. (You can now download my sermons at www.cccelcajon.com) Check it out sometime. We'll be posting two to three sermons a week until we are caught up.

Predictions for 2008

I am a student of history and culture but I usually keep my opinions to myself. But in a break from my usual timid, non-opinionated nature I am going to share with you ten predictions for 2008. I know that I am going out on a limb and I want to make it clear that I am neither a prophet nor the son of a prophet but I will share them with you today.

10. We will endure a seemingly endless cycle of presidential ads that will mysteriously and mercifully end on November 4, 2008. (Hopefully)

9. A major catastrophe is going to occur somewhere in the world momentarily united us behind a cause and causing famous, pretty people to raise money that will be misspent by nonprofit organizations.

8. We will continue to be frustrated with the decisions in Washington and Sacramento (feel free to substitute your state capitol here) but will feel powerless to change things.

7. “New” discoveries will occur causing people to question the accuracy of the Bible only to be disproved minutes later to absolutely no fanfare.

6. Most people’s New Year’s resolutions will be but a faint memory by January 13, 2008.

5. Celebrity scandals in Hollywood will make news and once again fascinate us as we buy our groceries.

4. Hollywood will put out movies that will offend and shock people and push a violent, immoral agenda and yet people will continue wonder why we are becoming and increasingly violent, immoral culture.

3. New technology will be unveiled that will make the old stuff you bought in 2007 seem archaic and obsolete.

2. Cost of living will continue to increase causing you to be frustrated and reminisce about the good old days when gas and bread were cheap.

1. You will follow through with your commitment to read your Bible and pray daily resulting in deep spiritual growth and a revival in the church.

Of course much of what I have written was done so with tongue firmly planted in cheek. Almost everything that I wrote will happen without exception and there is not much we can do about it. The one exception is your own commitment to your spiritual growth. What is amazing is that God has given us the means necessary to grow and draw close to Him if we will avail ourselves to them. In this New Year I encourage you to commit to draw near to God in an fresh and deeper way than you may have ever done in your life.

There is much in this world that we will never be able to affect change. Baring divine intervention or the return of Christ the world will continue to move on its present trajectory. However, God has put it within our reach to change the fundamental direction of our hearts and lives by His grace through constant commitment to reading your bible, praying, being in fellowship, worship, serving others and giving. Will you join me today in making a renewed commitment in this New Year that will last beyond a few weeks and will result in a changed life?

Pictures of Alexander and Grace

Wait, wait, I'm not ready yet!


Okay, now I'm ready. Make sure you get my good side mom.


This was taken on November 30, 2007. It is Alex's first attempt to eat rice cereal. He has been growing by leaps and bounds. He was at the 5th percentile on the preemie chart two months ago now he is at the 25th percentile on the non-adjusted chart! Simply amazing. He was 5 lbs. 12.9 oz. at birth and at four months is at 13 lbs. 10 oz. He is definitely an eater. He is only 10 lbs. behind Grace!


Don't let him fool you, he's only posing for the camera. He is so cute when he is sleeping.


This is a picture of Alex with his uncle Charley at thanksgiving. We even caught Charlie with a smile on his face!


This is Alex's great-grandmother. How she loves her great-grandchildren.


Grace found her Nana's reading glasses and put them on. She is a ham in front of a camera. Definitely not shy.


I love this shot of Jenn and Grace. Grace is so loving right now. She loves to walk up to us and give us spontaneous hugs then run off again a second later. This was one of the times I had my camera in my hand.


Grace has to hug and kiss Alex twenty times a day. We'll enjoy it now because there will be days we'll have to remind them how much they love each other.


This was Grace's first solo flight on a ride. I was afraid she wouldn't want to go on by herself. I should of been afraid that she'd never want to get off. she ended up riding three times in a row.


I wish they all could be California
I wish they all could be California
I wish they all could be California girls


Just getting ready for our trip to Wisconsin over Christmas. Go Green Bay!!!


Reminiscing about my childhood!


Alex is plum tuckered out. Sleep, eat and go to the bathroom. That's a baby's main job. Oh yeah, looking cute too.


All the cousins of the Martikan clan.

20 Reasons to give thanks

As our country was first being formed our forefathers saw fit to make a day of thanksgiving to express to God their gratitude for His providential goodness to them. God had delievered them and shown Himself faithfulness in the midst of difficulty. Thanksgiving is a type of praise that focuses on the goodness of God and expresses our appreciation for that goodness.

But how about us today? Why should we give thanks? Sometimes we find ourselves discouraged by our circumstances or think that there is nothing that is going right. What should motivate us to give thanks to God in the midst of difficulties? Why should we give thanks to God both now and all our days? Let me briefly share with you twenty biblical reasons why we as Christians should give thanks always.

1. We give thanks to make God known.

“Oh give thanks to the LORD, call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples.” (1 Chronicles 16:8; cf. Psalm 9:1; Psalm 105:1)

2. We give thanks to Praise God.

“Therefore I will give thanks to You, O LORD, among the nations, And I will sing praises to Your name.” (2 Chronicles 22:50)

3. We give thanks because God is good.

“O give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; For His lovingkindness is everlasting. Then say, "Save us, O God of our salvation, And gather us and deliver us from the nations, To give thanks to Your holy name, And glory in Your praise." (1 Chronicles 16:34-35; cf. Psalm 106:1)

4. We thank God because it is too late to do it on earth when you are dead.

"For there is no mention of You in death; In Sheol who will give You thanks?” (Psalm 6:5)

5. We thank God because it is practice for eternity.

“That my soul may sing praise to You and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to You forever.” (Psalm 30:12)

6. We thank God corporately because it shows our solidarity and strength.

“I will give You thanks in the great congregation; I will praise You among a mighty throng.” (Psalm 35:38)

7. We express our gratitude because it glorifies God.

“I will give thanks to You, O Lord my God, with all my heart, And will glorify Your name forever.” (Psalm 86:12)

8. We thank God because it is a good thing to do.

“It is good to give thanks to the LORD And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High;” (Psalm 92:1)

9. We offer thanksgiving because God gives us the ability to express our praise.

“With my mouth I will give thanks abundantly to the LORD; And in the midst of many I will praise Him.” (Psalm 109:30)

10. We thank God because His is God 24/7/365.

“At midnight I shall rise to give thanks to You Because of Your righteous ordinances.” (Psalm 119:62, cf. Psalm 121:4)

11. We thank God because He created us.

“I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well.” (Psalm 139:14)

12. When we thank God it reveals we are righteous.

“Surely the righteous will give thanks to Your name; The upright will dwell in Your presence.” (Psalm 140:13)

13. We thank God because His anger is turned away from us.

“Then you will say on that day, "I will give thanks to You, O LORD; For although You were angry with me, Your anger is turned away, And You comfort me. Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; For the LORD GOD is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation." (Isaiah 12:1-2)

14. We thank God because Jesus did.

“and He took the seven loaves and the fish; and giving thanks, He broke them and started giving them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people.” (Matthew 15:36; cf. Luke 22:17-19)

15. We thank God because it is a sign that we are true believers.

“For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.” (Romans 1:21)

16. We thank God because He has given us victory in Christ.

“…but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:57 cf. 2 Corinthians 2:14)

17. We thank God for the blessings of our inheritance.

“…giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.” (Colossians 1:12)

18. We thank God in the midst of suffering for Christ as a sacrifice of praise.

“Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name.” (Hebrews 13:15)

19. When we thank God we reveal the pattern demonstrated in heaven.

“And when the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, to Him who lives forever and ever,” (Revelation 4:9)

20. We thank God because as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords He will establish His kingdom.

“We give You thanks, O Lord God, the Almighty, who are and who were, because You have taken Your great power and have begun to reign.” (Revelation 11:17)

So this Thanksgiving and every day offer your praise and thanksgiving to God because He is great and greatly to be praised.

Superdome and Qualcomm Stadium

I received an email today asking me if the Chargers Stadium (Qualcomm) was like the New Orleans Super Dome. Here is part of my reply.

It couldn't be less like the Super Dome if you could imagine that. I volunteered at the Salvation Army emergency relief station and people who were coming up for everything from clothes to toothbrushes and toothpaste could not be more gracious or grateful. I would say 1 in 100 had a bad attitude and we saw thousands of people. At its height there were about 12,000 people staying there. We had so many supplies it was almost comical.

(By the way, the picture I found randomly online actually has our station in the picture. If you look in the background you will see the back of my head. I am wearing a dark blue shirt. I organized all those diapers that you see in the background. That was only a small portion of what we had at the beginning of the day!)

It is almost a festival type atmosphere there. They have teachers volunteering to offer kids activities in a safe zone (they are even screening the teachers before allowing them to work with the kids). There were table set up for free massages and acupuncture. Several companies had free internet and cell phone use to anywhere in the country. There was grief counseling and I saw signs for AA meetings. There were impromptu orchestras putting up signs for a little music practice and concert. There is face painting, balloons for the kids and comedians putting on shows.

FEMA was right on the spot, there is a police and military presence second to none, and ample supplies. The insurance companies all have booths set up to help process the claims.

I think there are a number of reasons for the difference.

1. The tragedy didn't affect everyone in San Diego. 1 in 5 people were evacuated but that made 4/5th of the people who were unaffected and able to help.

2. Without sounding racist, I think that those displaced here were higher education and income. They have the means to recover and not slip into a helpless victim mindset. They know things can and will get better so they are not angry at the system.

3. The government (local, state, and federal) learned from Katrina and the Super Dome. I think that in that tragedy as with this one that it starts with the local politicians and moves out to state then federal. The federal government is like trying to move a mountain. To expect them to be nimble and immediately responsive is to misunderstand the role or effectiveness in government. It reminds me of when I was a kid and we approached a mega church about doing an outreach. They told us if we started planning now it could happen in 12 to 18 months.

4. Interestingly, it was the Christian community that moved in force to step in and help. I walked around and talked to high school students and adults and the vast majority were from Bible believing churches. It seemed like at every volunteer organization from Red Cross to Salvation Army to everything in between when I asked them why they came out they were a part of a youth group, church or ministry.

5. Finally, there was an outpouring of help that staggers the imagination. People drove to Target or Wal Mart and bought hundreds of dollars of supplies. So much so the police had to turn them away for a while on Tuesday because there was an hour wait to get into the stadium and traffic was too backed up. Cars, vans and trucks waited for hours to get in. They were afraid that there were so many donors that the evacuees couldn't get in!

I have to tell you my heart swelled with pride at being an American that day! This is what people will do if they have an opportunity and know a need in a tragedy. America is still the most generous, most compassionate nation on this planet. I say that knowing that statistics bare this out. We often only look at government donations to relief efforts around the world. But when you add in private direct donations to relief efforts we blow the rest of the world away! Don’t let the media tell you otherwise.

I'll go back today again just to make sure they don't need anymore help. I've been there the last two days so I do need to get some church stuff done. Our church wasn’t affected so that allowed us to help others.

I may take my camera today (which I forgot the last two days) and take pictures.

Sincerely,

Dave

P.S. There were some negative stories of people trying to take advantage of the situation. Driving their cars in and filling up with donated supplies. Then there is the looting. Sad but it reminds me that sinful people will always find ways to do evil, even in a tragedy.

Birth Control to 11 year olds

(Click Title above to connect to the original story.)

I just read the article this morning that the Maine junior high is going to start offering contraceptives to their 11, 12 and 13 year old children. If it wasn't so shocking I would this that this is some kind of hoax because sane adults would try to discourage kids that aren't even teenagers yet from having sex rather than supply them with contraception. Now keep in mind, we aren't talking about condoms here but giving girls the pill or the patch.

Wait a second, the school nurse cannot distribute an aspirin or Tylenol because it is unsafe and they don't want to take the legal liability. But they are willing to pump an 11 year old girl's body full of hormones that can have side effects. I know many adult women who have a time adjusting to birth control in the weeks leading up to their wedding.

What bothers me most is that the school CANNOT tell the parents that they are distributing birth control pills. Don't the parents have a right to know what medicine their child is receiving by a medical professional? Don't parents have a right to know what their kids are doing that they need birth control at age 11. We are talking about kids who legally cannot consent to have sex in the first place.

Furthermore, we have seen that at least some of these kids who are getting pregnant so young do so because they are being abused by someone who is much older. In order to protect the children from emotional and psychological harm isn't it in the best interest of the child and the parent to discuss this and decide?

We’ve taken the erroneous idea that they are going to do it anyway so we need to give them contraception to its logical absurdity. As a society we have bought into the idea that it is inherently immoral to tell a kid "no" or "stop doing that." Furthermore, we assume that kids cannot be influenced by positive moral teaching and are going to do it anyway. We also undermine any structured moral teaching given by family and church when we tell them that these services are available. Beyond that, we end up teaching them that other 11, 12 and 13 year olds are having sex when we tell them these services are available.

The article says only a small percentage of kids are having sex at that age. I believe that national statistics would bear that out. However, as we have become sexualized as a nation and have shielded kids from less and less adult material they have an even greater awareness of sex at a younger and younger age. However, when a teacher or health official tells them that these services are available, they not only are speaking to the small percentage of kids but to the larger percentage who are not engaging in sexual activity as a child.

Suddenly there is an awareness and curiosity of who is doing this coupled with the natural curiosity that is stirred within themselves. Ah, but it might be argued that it is only the kids who come to the health office that will be told these services are available. But that won’t do either. If you wait until they come to you then it is already too late because they won’t come to you if they don’t know these items are available. The only other reason they will come to you is if it is too late and they are already pregnant. So you must inform everyone in advance which does the very thing that I disagree with in informing everyone about the sexual activity of a few and stirring curiosity.

Let me make one other observation that is at least as controversial as my first point, what we are missing in this society is a sense of morals and a sense of stigma towards those who violate these moral standards. People are motivated to do right or avoid wrong by two forces, one external and the other internal. The external one is the expectations that have been placed on them and the fear of consequences for doing the wrong. The internal one is a sense of morals and values that have been instilled and cultivated over the person’s life.

We have removed all sense of shame and guilt from any behavior (because we have no absolute standards only personal “values”) and then we don’t teach any enduring morals that we believe that people are able to strive toward and keep. We don’t want to teach any values that might smack of religion or traditional morals so we take the cop out way and just hand out condoms.

We miss the point of previous generations that some actions brought shame upon myself and my family. We have a "guilt free" society that doesn't like the idea that others might look down on a person's behavior or, heaven forbid, say that a certain action is wrong. Well, 11 year olds having sex is wrong, dead wrong and someone needs to stand up and say something. The people who want to give out contraception rather than informing the parents ought to be ashamed of themselves.

We put Band-Aids on cancerous melanoma rather than getting to the root issue and dealing with the disease. The moral decay and our inability to articulate moral values in our society has brought us to this new low point of giving 11 year old girls the pill rather than redirecting their lives to something more fruitful and productive.

Happy 2nd Birthday Grace Rose

Dear Grace,

As I watched you run and play today I can believe you are already two years old.

You are the happiest, most precocious little girl I have ever known. But you have to understand how ridiculously biased I am.

I don't have a lot to say to you but I want you to know how much I love you and how precious you are to me. You are daddy's little princess. I'm under no disillusion that you are perfect. Trust me, you get into more mischief than I know what to do with. You somehow manage to know exactly what I don't want you to touch in a room and you make a beeline straight to it.

Lest I forget your high pitched scream that could wake the dead when you don't get something that you want. You've gotten more than one spanking over that (even in California!). But every time I look at you or you crawl up in my arms and put your head on my shoulder I just melt. Lately you have started to just walk up to mom and me and spontaneously give us hugs. Just your loving heart tells me that we're doing something right.

If I could communicate one thing to you today that you will know and remember for the rest of your life is that I love you. I never want you to forget that or question that fact. Your daddy loves you with his whole heart and I can't imagine my life without you.

Happy Birthday Grace Rose!

Love,

Daddy

God's sovereignty and the Problem of Evil

Dear friends,

I want to share a portion of a letter I wrote to a friend who has recently lost his daughter. He was struggling know that God is sovereign and that his daughter's death was within God's planning and purpose yet struggling to reconcile that with this fallen, messed up world we live in. Perhaps these words that were directed at him might help in the situations you are facing as well:

Dear Jeff,

I have been thinking about what you asked and I have some further thoughts concerning this. Let me begin by sharing some thoughts on a well known verse, Romans 8:28: "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."

Keep in mind that this is not the only verse that addresses the issue of God's sovereignty and human freedom so I don't want to make it seem like it says everything that needs to be said but we can glean some important truths.

First, notice the confidence that Paul has when he says, "we know." There is a confidence that transcends the momentary and our circumstances. The reality of God and the goodness of God intrude in on our misery and pain and every circumstance that we face. We must not lose this confidence regardless of the situations that we may face on a daily basis.

Secondly, Paul notes that God is at work causing all things to work together for good. God is behind the circumstances that we are in. He is sovereign. Now here, it does not say that God is the direct cause of all things that happen. Some things occur as a result of living in a fallen world, other things happen because of the sinful choices of man. And at times God directly and immediately intervenes directly causing an event to happen. However, when God acts directly it is never for evil. Even when He brings justice by pouring out His wrath it is for a good cause, namely, establishing justice and punishing evil.

Having said that, in an ultimate sense God is in control of every situation. Even our free choices are under the permissive will of God. If we wanted to do something and God did not want it to happen it wouldn't happen. God could choose to intervene and stop an evil from occurring. When He doesn't it is because it is in His permissive will and in some way within His sovereign and mysterious will. (Deuteronomy 29:29)

This is why after being mistreated, left for dead and traded to the Midianites by his brothers (not to mention falsely accused of rape and thrown in prison for a few years!) Joseph could say, "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive." (Genesis 50:20) You see, Joseph didn't diminish the fact that what they did was in fact evil. Yet he also understood that God was in an ultimate sense behind it and worked through all that happened. God's sovereignty over an event doesn't take away human responsibility.

Thirdly, God is able to cause all things to work together for good. We need to understand the good in question here in a kingdom sense and not necessarily in a personal and individual sense. If I lose my job or get cancer it is hard to argue that this is good. Granted God may do amazing things in my life and use me to minister to others. But I believe the good that is in view goes beyond just the individual. God is using the good to impact the world for Christ and ultimately bring glory to Himself. That is why being tortured for your faith can be seen in an ultimate sense as good. Those tortured or martyred for their faith suffered and died yet it is the blood of the saints that has become the seeds for the church to grow as was said centuries ago.

Also, the good that God is going to bring out of a tragic situation is not always immediately present. I would never be so brash to suggest to someone that they see the good in a tragedy (or worse yet, to call it good immediately). Some things are not readily evident and at other times the good that God is going to bring out happens months or years later. Our confidence is that God will bring good out of every situation but we should not necessarily expect to see it immediately. Some things we may not see or understand on this side of eternity. That is why we have to walk by faith and not by sight. (2 Corinthians 5:7, cf. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18)

Fourth, notice that the good that God promises to always work out is in regards to the genuine believer in Christ. God has particular and special love for His children. He is gracious in many ways to all even those who reject Him (Matthew 5:45) but He places His special favor on those whom He calls His own (John 16:32-33; Matthew 11: 27-30; Hebrews 12:5-10 even God's discipline reveals we have a special place before Him.)

This brings great comfort and hope. We know that God sees everything, knows everything, is at work in everything and for the believer everything has an ultimate purpose that is good. Even when we only see the evil of the moment we can rest assured that good will come of it.

Finally, related to my fourth point is the final phrase, "to those who are called according to His purpose." This relates to what we have already seen concerning those who love God but it looks at us from a different perspective. We were reminded that this promise relates to the true believer, the true lover of God. Now we see our standing from God's perspective. We have been called by God in a special, personal way. We have become His children not because we first loved Him but because He first loved us (1 John 4:10, 19)

Also, God has a purpose for our lives. All of the details of our lives are working towards that purpose. We know that our lives are to glorify God and every detail of our lives is in some mysterious and incredible way working towards that end. That we will glorify God fully and completely with out lives.

Having said this let me answer your question directly. It is appropriate and right to say that your daughter's death was a result of living in a sinful, fallen world. However, it is also correct to say that God, in His inscrutable mercy, chose to take your daughter home. Not that we may understand the reason why.

If you read my blogs from June-November 2005 you will see that we thought we were going to lose our daughter at 19 weeks. In fact, the doctor came in while my wife was in the hospital and told us that we almost definitely would. We cried and prayed throughout the night fully expecting to have lost our daughter by morning. As it turned out her complete heart block was not the onset of a miscarriage but rather due to a rare antibody my wife carries for a disease she has never had. They delivered our daughter 5 weeks early and six weeks later she had heart surgery and a pacemaker put in. What should have been routine turned into another week's ordeal as she had an infection and was in the neonatal intensive care unit for a full week and could have died.

God has used that experience to teach us so much and to use us in the lives of others.

There is much more that I could say but I have probably said enough for now. There are some deeper issues that I have not explored namely the relationship between Divine sovereignty and human freedom, the reasons why God would freely choose to create this particular world with human beings (and angelic beings) that would rebel against Him, and in what sense are we truly "free." What does the term "free will" really mean? How can we be "free" if Jesus said we were slaves to sin?

Let me know what you are thinking and feeling. I am concerned because I don't want all of this discussion to interfere with the process that you are going through in dealing with the loss of your daughter and the healing that needs to continue to take place. These are important issues to wrestle with but not to the exclusion of those other necessary things.

Love,

David Monreal

What are the Keys to Youth Happiness?

Below is an article I read today about an extensive study by AP and MTV regarding what makes people between the ages of 13 and 24 happy.

What is so surprising about the article isn't what they found, what is so surprising is that they are surprised by the results. As a Christian it is self-evident that faith and family are the cornerstone to true happiness.

I included the entire article below for you to read or you can click on the title above to read the original.

Another "startling" find is that students between the ages of 13 and 18 who have sex say that it makes them less happy. I would observe that our permissive society that promotes casual sex has tended to deny the emotional scars that this lifestyle leaves in its wake.

Poll: Family Ties Key to Youth Happiness

Monday August 20, 2007 3:16 AM

By JOCELYN NOVECK and TREVOR TOMPSON
Associated Press Writers

NEW YORK (AP) - So you’re between the ages of 13 and 24. What makes you happy? A worried, weary parent might imagine the answer to sound something like this: Sex, drugs, a little rock ‘n’ roll. Maybe some cash, or at least the car keys.

Turns out the real answer is quite different. Spending time with family was the top answer to that open-ended question, according to an extensive survey - more than 100 questions asked of 1,280 people ages 13-24 - conducted by The Associated Press and MTV on the nature of happiness among America’s young people.

Next was spending time with friends, followed by time with a significant other. And even better for parents: Nearly three-quarters of young people say their relationship with their parents makes them happy.

“They’re my foundation,” says Kristiana St. John, 17, a high-school student from Queens in New York. “My mom tells me that even if I do something stupid, she’s still going to love me no matter what. Just knowing that makes me feel very happy and blessed.”

Other results are more disconcerting. While most young people are happy overall with the way their lives are going, there are racial differences: the poll shows whites to be happier, across economic categories, than blacks and Hispanics. A lot of young people feel stress, particularly those from the middle class, and females more than males.

You might think money would be clearly tied to a general sense of happiness. But almost no one said “money” when asked what makes them happy, though people with the highest family incomes are generally happier with life. However, having highly educated parents is a stronger predictor of happiness than income.

And sex? Yes, we were getting to that. Being sexually active actually leads to less happiness among 13-17 year olds, according to the survey. If you’re 18 to 24, sex might lead to more happiness in the moment, but not in general.

From the body to the soul: Close to half say religion and spirituality are very important. And more than half say they believe there is a higher power that has an influence over things that make them happy. Beyond religion, simply belonging to an organized religious group makes people happier.

And parents, here’s some more for you: Most young people in school say it makes them happy. Overwhelmingly, young people think marriage would make them happy and want to be married some day. Most also want to have kids.

Finally, when asked to name their heroes, nearly half of respondents mentioned one or both of their parents. The winner, by a nose: Mom.

Family Photos

Here are a few family photos that Jenn's sister Kim took for us a few days back. I hope you enjoy!

Alexander Jonathan Pictures

Okay, I've been taking heat for not posting more pictures of Alexander. By the way we don't mind him being called "Alex" just not Al or Zander.







If you want one of the pictures just click on it and a large jpeg image will appear. Right click on it and select "save as" and a location and you can have a copy for yourself.