Tommy Mitchell / The Rurban Church Blog

Great Gifts for Your Children!

I've noticed that over the last few years, birthday parties for children have changed.   Birthday parties used to be four or five kids, cake, a few gifts, and playing outside!  They have evolved into a big cash business for retailers.  Now it seems that 10 - 20 kids are there - anything from cake to a full meal is provided - and then some major entertainment is provided - jumpers - sliders - movies - theme parks!!!!!  And the gift giving looks like Christmas!  I'm not complaining - my kids are grown!!! But I do want to suggest that there are some very important gifts that kids need that many are missing.  Be sure to give your children these gifts:

1. The gift of responsibility!  At a fairly early age, kids need to learn the gift of responsibility. Simple, but important tasks can be assigned to them - make up their bed, clean their room, pick up their dirty clothes and put them in the hamper etc.   They can be assigned duties as they grow older - helping with dishes, doing the laundry etc..

2. The gift of self-sufficiency!  Some of those above mentioned tasks also help a child to learn to do things for themselves.  Many kids grow up these days and basically can't take care of themselves. They need MUCH parental help well into their 20's and beyond.  They need to learn to do things on their own.

3. The gift of work!  You may be "wealthy" enough to provide everything your child needs financially, but it is a mistake to do so.  Children need to learn the value of work and the value of earning their way!  They want an IPAD!  Consider the value of having them save their money to buy one!  Then they realize the cost and value of their purchases.  Of course you will give them gifts! But don't give them everything!  Children need to have a work ethic!

4. The gift of losing!  Children need to learn that they don't always win!  They will not always be the best at everything they do.  Let children compete - and learn to win with joy and lose with grace! Don't go "make it up" to them when they lose! This instills in them that losing is not fair - and that they should be compensated when they lose!

5. The gift of service!  Children should learn to be "others oriented" early on.  Involve them in helping others! Involve them in meaninful service projects. Expose them to real need so they will appreciate the blessings they have been given.  Help them learn to personally sacrifice their own time and resources.

6. The gift of Christ!  From the beginning teach, model, talk about, love Jesus Christ!  Help your child learn of the Lord!  Help your child come to a point of genuine repentance and faith in Christ. Without Christ, all that you teach your child will be useless for the next world - eternity!  Celebrate Jesus! Live authentically for Christ! Your kids can spot a phony!  Give them Jesus!

What I Remember About Graduating From High School!

1. It was a GREAT relief to be finished with the High School routine!

2. Cap and Gowns are ok - BUT - that cap is just weird!

3. A few weeks after graduation I realized that I would not be seeing many of my friends again! (different colleges - different career paths - things just change)

4. While I enjoyed getting past the High School experience, it was easier than the WORK and GO TO COLLEGE experience!

5. Within 6 months of finishing High School, I had put on some pounds!

6. Of all the things I missed after graduating, I missed BAND the most!

7. Getting the line-up right at the graduation ceremonies almost requires a superior intelligence not usually found in humans!

8. In the south, it is almost always HOT or WET or BOTH at graduation!

It's Free!

There are some outstanding things you never have to pay for:

1. A beautiful sunrise!

2. A beautiful sunset!

3. A concert - of nature - sitting on a porch listening to the creatures!

4. Coyotes howling at night! Quite a show when they really get cranked up!

5. Watching bees pollinate plants!

6. Watching purple martins feed in the evening! Quite the aerial show!

7. The smell of rain!

8. The heightened sounds in a snow filled forest!

9. Watching hummingbirds dogfight!

10. Nature's fireworks - watching a lightning storm! (safely of course)

11. Watching shooting stars on a moonless, clear night!

I Never Read Books!

It is true!  I seldom read books anymore - physical books that is!  Practically all my reading is done now on a Kindle! I have used this very neat "book reader" now for several years.  Last week I was in the Lifeway store in Mobile to pick up Lord's Supper cups! While there, I realized just how much my reading and book experience has been changed by the Kindle!

First, I seldom enter a brick and mortar bookstore.  I don't have anything against them, but they seem cumbersome to me now!  I greatly prefer the online search for books - mostly at Amazon in the Kindle book area.   I can easily and quickly browse titles, subjects, or authors!  And I can do that without ever leaving home - 24/7!

Second, I still get a price break by purchasing Kindle books.  It is true that some books are bit higher than they used to be - but it is also true that I find many books, especially older books for free or just a dollar! 

Third, I am no longer putting more and more books on shelves that are already crammed full.  I have over 60 titles on my Kindle, and have room for thousands more!  You can really take your library with you! 

Fourth, my Kindle is so convenient when I am at a conference.  Usually they will have book displays of the featured conference speakers.  I will put them in my Kindle as a sample! Usually that provides you with the first chapter for free.  At my convenience I can read those samples and either purchase or delete the book. You can usually tell enough by the sample to determine whether or not you want to purchase it.

Finally, I love the "no waiting" aspect of it all.  Back to Lifeway! While I was waiting in line to pay for the Lord's Supper cups, a lady walked up beside me and told the clerk that she had received a call that her two books were in.   She had ordered two titles from the Lifeway the week before and they had just arrived.   If she had a Kindle, she could have instantly loaded them wirelessly and already been reading them.    A week - or - about a minute or two! I choose the latter!

I really enjoy the Kindle!  I read more than ever!

It Must Be Monday!

Marvelous! It is Monday! I stayed up for it!  Current time as I am typing is 12:06 am!  Why am I up? I do not know!  I did not nap on Sunday afternoon - yet - I am not sleepy!

So - it is back to work day - back to school day for most folks - and back to some amount of routine!

So, here are 5 tips for a better Monday:

1. Don't think about next weekend until at least Wednesday!

2. Don't think about last weekend until at least Tuesday!

3. Pretend like it is Friday when you leave for work! It will probably seem like Monday though!

4. Figure that working on Monday might be less stressful than all the stuff you did over the week-end!

5. Eat some of that candy your kids brought home from all those Easter Egg hunts!

Happy Monday!

Somebody Said It!!!!!!!

Here are a few "funny quotes" you might enjoy!

The only reason people get lost in thought is because it's unfamiliar territory.

The average woman would rather have beauty than brains, because the average man can see better than he can think.

When I die, I want to go peacefully like my Grandfather did, in his sleep -- not screaming, like the passengers in his car.

All generalizations are false, including this one.

There is a fine line between fishing and just standing on the shore like an idiot.

Why is it called 'after dark' when it really is 'after light'?

We Are Blessed With Amazing Healing Places!

Today we have spent the day at University Medical Center in Jackson with our nephew who was in his wheelchair last night when hit by a car.  His injuries are staggering!  Prayers are appreciated.

It was also a day filled with much waiting and anticipation.  That certainly gave me a little time to think about where I was and what we were experiencing.   A lot of criticism seems to abound in this country regarding our health-care system - it's too expensive - too impersonal - or - griping about insurance.   I would say, however, that we have the greatest healthcare system in the world.

At UMC today, I drove onto a clearly marked campus, and found a parking place in a parking garage. I had clear directions to the trauma entrance.

When we entered and stopped by the information desk, we asked which elevators to take to get where we needed to go.  The kind lady told us not to worry,  the volunteer would take us.  And sure enough, this nice gentleman escorted us all the way to our destination!  What a thoughtful thing to do.

We were given ample opportunities to visit Bradley - considering his condition.  Everyone was friendly - and helpful.

A chaplain came and asked if there was anything he could convey to the medical staff about our needs.  We had only heard a little from different specialties, and it was sort of piecemeal. So after asking him if someone could give us a little better idea of the "whole picture" he left.

Within a few minutes people began to show up in the waiting area giving us detailed information about his injuries and what they could and couldn't do and why.  It was extremely helpful.

When we went to lunch, there was a Subway and a McDonalds in the hospital.  How good is that?!

The waiting areas were spacious - great sleeping couches were available, and parking validation was available for trauma families to get parking for $1.00 per day! 

Plus, being a teaching hospital and a trauma center, I believe every possible medical avenue available is being explored and if possible, will be utilized to get Bradley through these critical hours. 

On top of all that, he was flown by helipcopter from Starkville to Jackson, receiving great care enroute. 

I know that every medical center is not a teaching hospital nor a trauma center.  But we are so structured that most people can be receiving the care they need in a few minutes or, if needed, within  an hour plus or minus a few minutes.  

Again, we should be grateful for such a great medical community and organization.  I am!

FACEBOOK OBSERVATIONS!

Even though my conclusions may have an error rate of +/- %100, I will share with what I think I have observed about Facebook in the last year!

1. Facebook may still be growing, but long term users are losing interest or becoming more selective about how they use it!

2. Morning posts by my more than 750 friends are declining. 

3. Facebook seems to be, at times, event driven - like during a Saints game, or a basketball game, or some national news event.  Absent the event, Facebook gets quieter!

4. Facebook is more of a winter-time tool than a spring and summer tool.  People are engaging in sports etc. and just don't have time or interest in looking at Facebook.

5. After being on Facebook for a while, I think most people come to see it as something that is there when you need it!  Want to share a picture - post it!  Got an incredible event in your life - post it! Otherwise, we may or may not get to it!

My thoughts for today!

A Great Vacation!

The week we just had off was wonderful!  We got to do everything we wanted to do!

1. We were able to have all our family home!  Everyone was well - no major problems - great fun and laughing!

2. We were able to do all the projects we had planned!   Yard cleaning - wedding shopping - sun tanning! (and other stuff around the house)

3. We were able to get away for a while - great couple of days on the beach and change of scenery!

4. We were able to rest!

5. We were able to stay unengaged from the church (work)!  It is not a vacation if you keep working!

We are thankful for all our staff who carry on without a hitch when we are gone!  It is wonderful to work with a great team!  Makes the vacation worry free!

We're All Here!

We have saved the best part of our vacation to the end - our entire family is home - have been since last night!  I sure do enjoy when all the kids, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter are here!  It doesn't happen that often!

Riley has about run our legs off - are all kids that active? or is it that why you have kids when you are young??? 

The smoker is full of country style ribs and chicken - the lawn tractor and trailer are ready for some more Riley - riding - and I have seen more cartoons / kids shows than I have seen in years!

Love it all! Beautiful day to top it all off! We are blessed!

PS  We will add one in May - Rob Hunt! He couldn't be here today - flying back from mission journey in Vancouver!