Ola...

Ola, mudei de endereco. Quer saber de mim? _ Estou no numero 7, casa da felicidade, rua das maravilhas, bairro da sinceridade, no Pais do Amor. O meu numero telefonico e: Ar puro, Paz, Carinho, Honestidade, E bem querer. O meu email e: passeiportienaodestepormim@quersaber!!apaguei-te do meu coracao.Chora.Perdeu. Beijos... Hi, I've moved, my adress is: 7 happiness house, wonder street, sincerity bourough, love country. My phone number is: Pure air, Peace, Honestity and warming. My email is: Ihavepassedbyouandyoudidn'tnotice@youknowhat!ihavedeletedyoucompletlyoutofmyheart.Cry.Youlost. XOXO...

Talk to Your Teenager—Without Arguing

“When my daughter was 14, she started to talk back to me. If I told her, ‘It’s time to eat dinner,’ she would reply, ‘I’ll eat when I feel like it.’ If I asked her if she had finished her chores, she would say, ‘Stop bugging me!’ Many times, she and I would raise our voices and shout at each other.”—MAKI, JAPAN. * If you are the parent of a teenager, conflict may test every bit of your parenting skills—and your patience. “When my daughter challenges my authority, it makes my blood boil,” says Maria, the mother of a 14-year-old in Brazil. “We get so frustrated that we yell at each other.” Carmela, in Italy, faces a similar challenge. “Arguments with my son are always heated,” she says, “and they end with him shutting himself up in his room.” Why do some teenagers seem so contentious? Are their peers to blame? Perhaps. The Bible says that a person’s associates can be a powerful influence, either for good or for bad. (Proverbs 13:20; 1 Corinthians 15:33) Then, too, much of today’s youth-oriented entertainment fosters the stereotype of teenage defiance. But there are other factors to consider—factors that are not too difficult to deal with once you understand how they might affect your teenager. Consider some examples. DEVELOPING THE “POWER OF REASON” The apostle Paul wrote: “When I was a babe, I used to speak as a babe, to think as a babe, to reason as a babe; but now that I have become a man, I have done away with the traits of a babe.” (1 Corinthians 13:11) As Paul’s words indicate, children and adults think differently. In what way? Children tend to think in concrete, black-and-white terms. In contrast, adults are often better able to grasp abstract concepts and think on a deeper level when reaching conclusions or making decisions. For example, adults are more likely to consider the ethical issues behind a matter and think about how their actions will affect others. They may be used to thinking that way. Teenagers, by comparison, are new to the process. The Bible encourages young people to cultivate their “thinking ability.” (Proverbs 1:4) In fact, the Bible urges all Christians to use their “power of reason.” (Romans 12:1, 2; Hebrews 5:14) At times, though, your teenager’s reasoning skills might cause him to argue with you, even over a seemingly trivial matter. * Or he may express a view to you that clearly shows a lack of good judgment. (Proverbs 14:12) In such a situation, how can you reason with him instead of arguing? TRY THIS: Consider that your teenager may simply be trying out his newly discovered reasoning skills, and he may not be that committed to his viewpoint at all. To test him out, first commend your teenager for his thinking ability. (“I like the way your mind works, even if I don’t agree with all the conclusions you reach.”) Then, help him to examine his thinking. (“Do you think that what you just said applies in every situation?”) You might be surprised at how your teenager reexamines his own ideas and refines them. A word of caution: When reasoning with your teenager, do not think that you have to have the last word. Even if what you say seems to fall on deaf ears, your teenager will probably take away more from the discussion than you expect—or than he will admit. Do not be surprised if in a few days, your teenager has swung around to your viewpoint—perhaps even claiming it as his own. “Sometimes my son and I would argue about little things—for example, about not being wasteful or about teasing his sister. But in most cases he seemed to want me to ask what he was thinking and to show some understanding and say, ‘Oh, so that is the situation’ or ‘So that is what you think.’ Looking back, I see that if I had just said something like that, we probably could have avoided many of our arguments.”—Kenji, Japan. FORMING CONVICTIONS Wise parents create an environment in which teenagers can express their convictions A major part of raising an adolescent is preparing him for the day when he will be able to leave home and live as a responsible adult. (Genesis 2:24) Part of that process involves forming an identity—a set of traits, beliefs, and values that define who he is. When confronted with pressure to do wrong, a teenager with a strong sense of identity will do more than think about the consequences. He will also ask himself: ‘What sort of person am I? What values do I hold? What would a person with those values do in this situation?’—2 Peter 3:11. The Bible tells us about Joseph, a young man who had a strong sense of identity. For example, when Potiphar’s wife urged him to have sex with her, Joseph replied: “How could I commit this great badness and actually sin against God?” (Genesis 39:9) Even though a law forbidding adultery had not yet been given to the Israelites, Joseph perceived God’s view of the matter. More than that, the words “how could I” indicate that he had made God’s view his own—a part of his very identity.—Ephesians 5:1. Your teenager too is in the process of forming an identity. This is good, for his convictions will help him to cope with pressure from his peers and stand up to them. (Proverbs 1:10-15) On the other hand, that same sense of identity might compel him to stand up to you. If that happens, what can you do? TRY THIS: Instead of getting embroiled in an argument, simply restate his position. (“Let me make sure I understand. You’re saying that . . .”) Then, ask questions. (“What makes you feel that way?” or “What led you to that conclusion?”) Draw out your teenager. Let him express his convictions. If the difference of opinion is just a matter of preference and not an issue of right and wrong, show your teenager that you can respect his viewpoint—even if you do not fully agree with it. Developing an identity—and the convictions that come along with it—is not only normal but also beneficial. After all, the Bible says that Christians should not be like young children who are “tossed about as by waves and carried hither and thither by every wind of teaching.” (Ephesians 4:14) So allow and even encourage your teenager to develop an identity along with firm convictions. “When I show my daughters that I’m willing to listen to them, they’re more inclined to consider my viewpoint, even if it differs from theirs. I’m careful not to force them into my thinking but to let them form their own convictions.”—Ivana, Czech Republic. FIRM, YET FLEXIBLE Like younger children, some teenagers have learned the art of bringing up a matter repeatedly in an effort to wear their parents down. If that happens frequently in your household, be careful. Although giving in might bring momentary relief, it teaches your teenager that arguing is a way to get what he wants. The remedy? Follow Jesus’ advice: “Just let your word Yes mean Yes, your No, No.” (Matthew 5:37) Teenagers are less likely to argue with you when they know that you are consistent. At the same time, be reasonable. Let your teenager explain, for example, why he feels that his curfew should be adjusted in a particular instance. In such a case, you are not caving in to pressure but simply following the Bible’s advice: “Let your reasonableness become known.”—Philippians 4:5. TRY THIS: Hold a family meeting in which you discuss curfews and other house rules. Show that you are willing to listen and weigh all factors involved before making a decision. “Teenagers should see that their parents are willing to say yes to a request if a Bible principle isn’t violated,” recommends Roberto, a father in Brazil. Of course, no parent is perfect. The Bible says: “We all stumble many times.” (James 3:2) If you find that you are at least partly responsible for an argument, do not hesitate to apologize to your teenager. Admitting your error sets an example in humility and will pave the way for your teenager to act in a similar manner. “After one argument, when my feelings had calmed down, I apologized to my son for my emotional outburst. That helped calm him down too and made it easier for him to listen to me.”—Kenji, Japan. ASK YOURSELF . . . In what ways might I be contributing to arguments with my teenager? How could I use the material in this article to understand my teenager better? What can I do to communicate with my teenager—without arguing?

YOUNG PEOPLE ASK, Am I Obsessed With My Appearance?

Quiz: Am I obsessed? Which statement best describes how you feel? I am never satisfied with how I look. I am sometimes satisfied with how I look. I am always satisfied with how I look. What would you like to change most about your body? Height Weight Body shape Hair Complexion Muscle size Other Complete the following sentence. I feel most insecure about my body . . . when I get on the scale. when I look in the mirror. when I compare myself with others (friends, fashion models, movie stars). Complete the following sentence. I weigh myself . . . daily. weekly. less often than once a week. Which expression best describes your feelings? Negative body image. (Example: “Every time I look in the mirror, I think that I see an obese, hideous figure. I’ve even starved myself in an effort to lose weight.”—Serena.) Balanced body image. (Example: “There’s always going to be something we don’t like about our appearance, but some things we just need to accept. It’s silly to be anxious about something we can’t change.”—Natanya.) The Bible tells us not to think more of ourselves “than it is necessary to think.” (Romans 12:3) So it’s proper—even necessary—to think about yourself to a degree. That’s why, for example, you brush your teeth and give attention to your hygiene. What, though, if you frequently get discouraged over your body image—perhaps to the point of being obsessed about it? If that’s the case, you might wonder . . . ‘Why do I have a negative body image?’ There could be several reasons. These include: Influence of the media. “Young people are bombarded with images that make us feel that we have to be superskinny and gorgeous at all times. As a result, if we’re anything less than perfect, we feel disgusting!”—Kellie. Influence of parents. “I’ve noticed that if a mother is obsessed with her body image, often the daughter views herself the same way. It can be the same with fathers and sons.”—Rita. Low self-esteem. “People who are obsessed with their body image constantly demand positive reinforcement from others about how they look. It gets tiring to be around that!”—Jeanne. Regardless of the cause, you might be asking . . . ‘Should I change the way I look?’ Consider what some of your peers say. “You can’t always change the things you don’t like about yourself, so it’s best to accept your flaws. If you do, other people are less likely to notice them.”—Rori. “Do what you can to be healthy. If you’re healthy, you’ll look the way you’re supposed to look. And if someone can’t appreciate you for who you are (rather than what you look like), that person isn’t your friend.”—Olivia. The bottom line: Do what you can to look your best. But don’t worry about the rest. Being overly concerned about how you look can be dangerous. (See “ Julia’s Story.”) On the other hand, a balanced attitude will help you view yourself realistically, as a young woman named Erin learned. “Sure, I have insecurities,” she says, “but I notice that I feel bad only when I focus on the wrong things. Now I just exercise regularly and eat right. The rest falls into place naturally.” The best makeover ever! When you have a balanced view of your body image, you will feel (and even look) your best. The Bible can help. It encourages you to cultivate the following: Contentment. “It’s better to enjoy what we have than to want something else, because that makes no more sense than chasing the wind.”—Ecclesiastes 6:9, Contemporary English Version. A balanced approach to exercise. “Bodily training is beneficial for a little.”—1 Timothy 4:8. Inner beauty. “Man sees what appears to the eyes; but as for Jehovah, he sees what the heart is.”—1 Samuel 16:7. “Our face shows how we feel about ourself. If a person is content, others can see that and they are automatically drawn to that person.”—Sarah. “Prettiness can get quick attention. But who you are on the inside and your good qualities are what people will remember about you the most.”—Phylicia. See also Proverbs 11:22; Colossians 3:10, 12; 1 Peter 3:3, 4. Julia’s Story When I was 16, I had major issues with my weight. I’ve never been overweight, but I’m not naturally skinny either. I was curvy. I thought that just maybe, if I were slender, guys would like me. So I almost starved myself in order to achieve the body I wanted. I got skinny, but I ended up with health problems as a result. These were addressed, but the emotional effects are still there. To this day, I have issues with food. I’ve slowly come to terms with my body. I eat right and exercise. But when I’m upset with myself about something, my automatic reaction is to punish myself by not eating. If I could, I would tell other young people to remember that everyone has a different perspective. No matter what you look like, there will always be some people who think you’re attractive and others who don’t. The important thing is that you’re healthy. That’s what matters to those who truly care about you.

BASEIA-SE EM FACTOS VERIDICOS...MINHA HISTORIA DE AMOR!!

Captei o melhor momento em que a minha alma atraiu-se a tua alma, como se fosse um iman, me degustei com o sabor dos teus beijos molhados, fazia-me de forte mas o meu coracao dizia em silencio, vem toma-me em teus bracos, embriaga-me com o teu amor insaciavel, minhas pernas tremulas batiam-se uma na outra so de estar diante de ti. Algo inesplicavel te envolvia, tua pele tao macia ahahh, quao suave sao as tuas maos que deslizavam em minha mente incansavelmente, palavras os meus ouvidos nao ouviram sair da tua boca, somente o teu olhar cativante e sedutor me paralizavam por completa. Eras o Galan da noite, vaidoso e orgulhoso da tua pegada, todo safadinho te fazias pra mim. E o calor que me envolvia, parecia uma labareda de fogo, e tu o meu bombeiro, apagavas a minha chama do jeito perfeito que tu sabes fazer HMPV, tudo iluminado, o teu caminho cruzou-se ao meu na hora certa no momento certo, cometemos tantas loucuras como se nao houvese amanha, nossa testemunha sao as aguas do mar da Ilha de Luanda. Cada carinho que trocavamos dentro dela, ela derramava mais lagrimas de alegria e batiam palmas...E o poema escrito com carinho dentro de um envelope perfumado uhumm, dizia o verso: _ROSES ARE RED, THE SKY IS BLUE, THE SUGAR IS SWEET AND SO ARE YOU...Fez meu dia este verso, sonhei a noite inteira, rindo sem querer estava muito panka por ti BB... This is just a bit of my romantic story!! xoxo

Esta Decidido Pronto...

Optei pelo simples, simplesmente por ser simples e pronto...o natural me atrai, para mim e sempre o mais belo e maliavel. Sou o que sou e nao mudaria por ninguem neste mundo, a nao ser que seje a vontade de Deus claro!! Acho muito curriqueiro tentar se passar por uma pessoa que voce nao e, o mundo nao precisa de mudar voce, pelo contrario voce e que precisa mudar o mundo como? Dando o teu exemplo, nao compactuando com as maldades que sucumbem a humanidade, amando o proximo como a ti mesmo, nao acarrete ideas como, sou top e nao me misturo, ingulindo o orgulho so para nao dizer que precisa de outrem, que feio nao e?. Eu gosto de prosar muito kikiki e um defeito sem concerto, mas respeito os outros, sei que onde termina a minha liberdade, comeca a do outro, sei ate onde e o meu limite. Gosto da simpatia mas nao deixo que a mesma me torne vulgar, gosto de observar as pessoas e ver o lado bom de cada um, acho interessante cada ser humano, o que e dificil para uns e facil para outros. A maneira de contornar os problemas tambem depende de cada ser, muito bom perceber as pequenas coisas que a natureza nos oferece, e, por incrivel que pareca, as pessoas nao se apercebem, estao muito ocupadas a satisfazer os seus desejos e esquecem de viver intensamente cada detalhe maravilhoso que Deus nos porpociona. well por hoje e tudo, paz e amor nos coracoes de todos voces... simples e o mais simples de simplificar compriendes?

BOM DIA, G'MORNING, BOUNJOUR, BUENOS DIAS, WUA NANGUE FOR YOU ALL. Acordei a pensar, em como sou privilegiada de mais uma vez ver a luz do dia, muitos ficaram pela madrugada, adormeceram na morte talvez por motivos de doencas ou por uma outra causa. Mas eu pela graca do Altissimo Soberado ainda estou respirando, ainda oico os sons que em minha volta ecoam, posso ver os meus familiares e amigos, bens a Deus por essa bencao, eles sao tudo para mim!! Sei la e um feeling muito strong, assim poder beijar a pessoa amada mais um pouco, sorrir para as pessoas carrancudas ou simpaticas, ricas ou pobres e indeed um privilegio. SO, SEJA FELIZ, FACA ALGUEM FELIZ TAMBEM, NO MATTER IF YOU RICH OR POOR. ONE LOVE, XOXO, ME KM.

COVER SUBJECT: WHY SO MUCH SUFFERING? WHEN WILL IT END? So Many Innocent Lives Destroyed!

Little Noelle was an affectionate child who loved to draw. One summer evening she wandered into her backyard and somehow tumbled into the family’s swimming pool. She drowned just two weeks before her fourth birthday. Charlotte, Daniel, Olivia, Josephine . . . These are the names of some of the 20 six- or seven-year-olds among the 26 victims gunned down at a school in Connecticut, U.S.A., on December 14, 2012. At a memorial service, President Obama called out the children’s names and told the grieving audience: “These tragedies must end.” Eighteen-year-old Bano left Iraq in 1996 and moved with her family to Norway. Her friends called her by the nickname Sun Rays. Sadly, however, on July 22, 2011, Bano was one of the 77 victims whose lives were cut short by an extremist, who boasted: “I wish to apologize . . . that I wasn’t able to execute more.” Similar heart-wrenching stories have been reported over and over around the world. Think of the grief and pain that have resulted from accidents, crime, warfare, terrorism, natural disasters, and other tragedies. So many innocent lives snuffed out and so much suffering, often for no apparent reason! Some people blame God, reasoning that our Creator does not care about the human family. Others conclude that God sees our suffering but simply chooses not to intervene. Still others say that such tragedies are predestined. There seems to be no end to opinions on the subject. Where can we find reliable and satisfying answers? In the following articles, we will look into God’s Word, the Bible, for answers on what causes suffering and how it will be brought to an end.

Did Our Languages Come From the “Tower of Babel”?

“Jehovah scattered them from there over all the surface of the earth, and they gradually left off building the city. That is why its name was called Babel, because there Jehovah had confused the language of all the earth.”—Genesis 11:8, 9. DID that event recorded in the Bible really happen? Did people start speaking different languages all at once, as described? Some scoff at the Bible’s account of how human languages began and spread. One author claims: “The Tower of Babel myth is definitely one of the most absurd stories ever told.” Even a Jewish rabbi called it “a naive attempt to explain the origin of nations.” Why do people reject the Babel account? Simply put, it contradicts certain theories regarding the origin of language. For example, some scholars suggest that language groups did not appear suddenly but evolved gradually from one “mother tongue.” Others believe that several original languages developed independently, advancing from simple grunts to complex speech. These and other conflicting theories have caused many to agree with Professor W. T. Fitch, who wrote in his book The Evolution of Language: “We do not yet have fully convincing answers.” What have archaeologists and researchers uncovered regarding the origin and development of human languages? Do their discoveries confirm any of the proposed theories? Or do the findings support the Babel account? First let us take a closer look at that Bible account. WHERE AND WHEN DID IT HAPPEN? The Bible states that the confusion of language and dispersion of the people took place “in the land of Shinar,” later called Babylonia. (Genesis 11:2) When did that happen? “The earth [“earth’s population,” footnote] was divided,” says the Bible, in the days of Peleg, who was born about 250 years before Abraham. So the events of Babel evidently took place some 4,200 years ago.—Genesis 10:25; 11:18-26. Some scholars theorize that modern languages stem from one original language—the so-called mother tongue that they thought humans spoke nearly 100,000 years ago. * Others claim that today’s languages are related to several root languages spoken at least 6,000 years ago. But how do linguists reconstruct the development of extinct languages? “That is tricky,” says the Economist magazine. “Unlike biologists, linguists do not have fossils to guide them through the past.” The magazine adds that one evolutionary linguist arrives at his conclusions by “mathematically informed guesswork.” Nevertheless, “linguistic fossils” do exist. What are these fossils, and what do they reveal regarding the origin of human languages? The New Encyclopædia Britannica explains: “The earliest records of written language, the only linguistic fossils man can hope to have, go back no more than about 4,000 or 5,000 years.” Where did archaeologists discover these “linguistic fossils,” or “records of written language”? In lower Mesopotamia—the site of ancient Shinar. * Hence, the available physical evidence is in agreement with the facts stated in the Bible. DIFFERENT LANGUAGES, DIFFERENT THINKING The Bible account says that at Babel, God acted to “confuse their language that they may not listen to [“understand,” footnote] one another’s language.” (Genesis 11:7) As a result, the workers “left off building the city” of Babel and were scattered “over all the surface of the earth.” (Genesis 11:8, 9) Thus, the Bible does not say that all modern languages can be traced to a single “mother tongue.” Rather, it describes the sudden appearance of several apparently fully developed new languages, each capable of expressing the range of human feeling and thought and each different and distinct from the others. [Picture on page 11] A clay tablet with cuneiform writing, from Mesopotamia, third millennium B.C.E. What about the language groups of the world today? Are they fundamentally similar or different? Cognitive scientist Lera Boroditsky wrote: “As linguists probed deeper into the world’s languages (7,000 or so, only a fraction of them analyzed), innumerable unpredictable differences emerged.” Yes, although tongues and dialects of one language family, such as Cantonese and Hakka in southern China, may be similar to one another, they are fundamentally different from those of another language family, say West Catalan or Valencian in Spain. Languages shape the way people think about and describe the world around them—color, quantity, location, direction. For example, in one language a person says, “There is a bug on your right hand.” But in another language, one would say, “There is a bug on your southwest hand.” Such differences would be confusing, to say the least. No wonder the builders at Babel found it impossible to continue their project. GRUNTS OR COMPLEX SPEECH? What was mankind’s original language like? The Bible reports that the first man, Adam, was able to coin new words when he named all the animals and flying creatures. (Genesis 2:20) Adam also composed poetry to express his feelings for his wife, and she clearly described what God had commanded and the consequences of disobeying Him. (Genesis 2:23; 3:1-3) The first language, then, enabled humans to communicate fully and to express themselves creatively. The confusion of languages at Babel hindered mankind’s ability to combine their intellectual and physical powers. Yet, their new languages, like the first language, were complex. Within a few centuries, men built bustling cities, assembled powerful armies, and engaged in international trade. (Genesis 13:12; 14:1-11; 37:25) Could they have made such progress without the use of an extensive vocabulary and grammar? According to the Bible, the original human tongue and the tongues introduced at Babel were, not primitive grunts and growls, but complex languages. Modern research supports this conclusion. The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Language states: “Every culture which has been investigated, no matter how ‘primitive’ it may be in cultural terms, turns out to have a fully developed language, with a complexity comparable to those of the so-called ‘civilized’ nations.” Similarly, in his book The Language Instinct, Harvard College Professor Steven Pinker states: “There is no such thing as a Stone Age language.” THE FUTURE OF LANGUAGE After reviewing the age and location of linguistic “fossils,” the fundamental differences between language groups, and the complexity of ancient languages, what reasonable conclusion could we draw? Many conclude that the Bible’s account of what took place at Babel is a fully credible explanation. The Bible tells us that Jehovah God confused the people’s language at Babel because they rebelled against him. (Genesis 11:4-7) However, he promised that he would “give to peoples the change to a pure language, in order for them all to call upon the name of Jehovah, in order to serve him shoulder to shoulder.” (Zephaniah 3:9) This “pure language,” the truth from God’s Word, draws together a people from around the world today. It seems logical that in the future God would unite mankind further by giving them one common language, undoing the confusion at Babel. LEGENDS THAT ECHO THE BIBLE’S ACCOUNT “Once upon a time all the people lived in one large village and spoke one tongue,” according to a story told by a hill tribe in Myanmar. While building a great tower, the builders “gradually acquired different manners, customs, and ways of speech, [eventually] being scattered all over the land.” Similar legends are found among indigenous peoples of Africa, East Asia, Mexico, and elsewhere. If the Babel account had been an invention by Moses, the Hebrew writer of Genesis, would it have cropped up in the legends of such far-flung national and language groups? That is very unlikely. Thus, the existence of such diverse legends and tales testifies to the credibility of the Babel account in the Bible.

God Can Feel Hurt—How We Can Bring Him Joy

Have you ever been hurt so badly that you cried?— * All of us probably have. At times, though, the pain may not be to our body. Someone may say bad things about us that are not true. That can hurt, can’t it?— God too can feel hurt when lies are told about him. Let’s talk about this and see how we can bring God joy rather than pain. The Bible says that some people who said they loved God made “him feel hurt.” Yes, “they pained” God! No one, of course, can hurt the body of Jehovah God. He is almighty. Let’s see, then, why Jehovah feels hurt when we don’t do what he says. The first two people Jehovah created on earth caused him to feel a lot of pain. These two were put in the Paradise on earth called “the garden of Eden.” Who were these two?— Yes, Adam and then, sometime later, Eve. Let’s see what they did that caused Jehovah pain. After Jehovah put them in that garden, he told them to take care of it. He also told them that they could have children and could live together in the garden without dying. But before Adam and Eve had children, a terrible thing happened. Do you know what that was?— An angel moved Eve and then Adam to rebel against Jehovah. Let’s see how this happened. The angel caused a snake, or serpent, to appear to speak. Eve liked what she heard—the serpent said she would become “like God.” So she did what the serpent told her to do. Do you know what that was?— Eve ate from the tree that Jehovah had told Adam they should not eat from. Before God created Eve, he had told Adam: “From every tree of the garden you may eat to satisfaction. But as for the tree of the knowledge of good and bad you must not eat from it, for in the day you eat from it you will positively die.” Eve knew that law. However, she kept looking at that tree, and she saw that it “was good for food and that it was something to be longed for to the eyes . . . So she began taking of its fruit and eating it.” Later she gave the fruit to Adam, and “he began eating it.” Why, do you think, did he do that?— It was because Adam had come to love Eve more than he loved Jehovah. He chose to please her rather than to please God. But obeying Jehovah is more important than obeying anyone else! Do you remember the snake, or serpent, that spoke to Eve? Just as a person can make a puppet appear to speak, someone made that snake appear to speak. Whose voice was coming from the serpent?— It was the voice of “the original serpent, the one called Devil and Satan.” Do you know how you can make Jehovah happy?— You can do so by always trying to please him. Satan says he can get everyone to do what he wants them to do. So Jehovah urges us: “Be wise, my son [or daughter], and make my heart rejoice, that I may make a reply to him that is taunting me.” Satan taunts, or mocks, Jehovah. He says that he can turn everyone away from serving Him. So make Jehovah happy by obeying him and serving him! Will you try hard to do that?— Read in your Bible Psalm 78:40, 41 Genesis 1:26-28; 2:15-17; 3:1-6 Revelation 12:9; Proverbs 27:11

Keys to Family Happiness...

A family riding in a car APPEARED IN Inculcate Moral Values in Your Children Loida, * a mother in Mexico, says: “Condoms are given out at school, so teenagers think having sex is all right—as long as it’s ‘safe’ sex.” Nobuko, a mother in Japan, says: “I asked my son what he would do if he and his girlfriend were alone. His reply was, ‘I don’t know.’” WHEN your son or daughter was a toddler, did you childproof your home? Perhaps you covered electrical outlets, hid sharp objects, and barricaded stairways—all in an effort to keep your child safe. If only it were that easy to keep your teenager safe! Now you have greater worries, such as: ‘Is my son accessing pornography?’ ‘Is my daughter ‘sexting’—sending lewd photos of herself via cell phone?’ And the dreaded question, ‘Is my teenager sexually active?’ The Illusion of Control Some parents try to maintain 24-hour surveillance over their teens by hovering over them and monitoring their every move. Later, many of them discover that such ‘helicopter parenting’ only drove their teen underground. Their son or daughter became adept at hiding the very conduct the parents were trying to prevent. Clearly, control is not the answer. Jehovah God himself does not use that method to elicit obedience from his creatures, and neither should you as a parent. (Deuteronomy 30:19) So how can you help your teens make wise moral decisions?—Proverbs 27:11. A basic measure is to have ongoing discussions with your children and to start when they are young. * (Proverbs 22:6) Then, when they enter adolescence, keep talking. As a parent, you should be your teenager’s primary source of reliable information. “A lot of people think that we’d rather talk to our friends about sex,” says Alicia, a girl from Britain, “but that’s not true. We appreciate this information when it comes from our parents. We trust what they have to say.” The Need for Good Values As they grow, children need to know more about sex than just the facts of life. They should also have “their perceptive powers trained to distinguish both right and wrong.” (Hebrews 5:14) In short, they need values—a moral code made up of strongly held beliefs about sex—along with conduct that conforms to those beliefs. How can you inculcate good values in your teenager? Start by considering your own values. For example, you may strongly believe that fornication—sex between unmarried individuals—is wrong. (1 Thessalonians 4:3) Likely, your children know your position on the matter; they may even be able to quote Bible passages that back up your beliefs. When questioned, they may readily answer that premarital sex is wrong. But more is needed. The book Sex Smart observes that some youths may outwardly agree with their parents’ beliefs about sex. The book states: “They feel too uncertain to form their own opinions. When they stumble into an unexpected situation and face an immediate dilemma about ‘how far to go,’ they find themselves mixed up and in real trouble.” This is precisely why values are essential. How can you help your teen acquire them? Make your values clear. Do you believe that sex should be reserved for marriage? Then tell your teen, clearly and often. According to the book Beyond the Big Talk, research reveals that “in homes where parents have given their teen children clear messages that indicate that they disapprove of teens having intercourse, these teens are more likely to delay becoming involved in sexual intercourse.” Of course, as mentioned earlier, simply stating your values does not guarantee that your son or daughter will choose to live by them. However, solid family values will provide a foundation upon which children can build their own. And studies have found that many youths do eventually adopt their parents’ values even if during the teen years the children seem to have put them in storage. TRY THIS: Use a news event to initiate a discussion and communicate your values. For example, if a sex crime is reported, you might say: “I’m appalled at the way some men try to take advantage of women. Where do you think they get such ideas?” Teach the whole truth about sex. Warnings are necessary. (1 Corinthians 6:18; James 1:14, 15) However, the Bible primarily portrays sex as a gift of God, not as a trap of Satan. (Proverbs 5:18, 19; Song of Solomon 1:2) Telling your teens only about the dangers may leave them with a distorted, unscriptural view of the topic. “My parents put a lot of emphasis on sexual immorality,” says a young woman in France named Corrina, “and that gave me a negative attitude toward sex relations.” Make sure that your children get the whole truth about sex. “What I have always tried to get across to my teens,” says a mother in Mexico named Nadia, “is that sex is beautiful and natural and that Jehovah God gave it to humans for them to enjoy. But it has its proper place within marriage. It can give us happiness or suffering, depending on how we use it.” TRY THIS: The next time you talk to your teen about sex, end the discussion on a positive note. Do not be afraid to portray sex as a wonderful gift from God that he or she can enjoy in the future as a married person. Convey confidence that until that time your teen can adhere to God’s standards. Help your teen to evaluate the consequences. To make good decisions in any aspect of life, teenagers need to know how to identify options and then weigh the pros and cons of each option. Do not think that their simply knowing what is right and what is wrong is enough. “Reflecting on the mistakes of my youth,” says a Christian woman in Australia named Emma, “I can say that just knowing God’s standards doesn’t mean you agree with them. Understanding the benefits of those standards—and the consequences of violating them—is vital.” The Bible can help, for many of its commands are reinforced by phrases that set forth the consequences of wrongdoing. For example, Proverbs 5:8, 9 urges young men to shun fornication “that you may not give to others your dignity.” As those verses indicate, those who engage in premarital sex sacrifice a degree of their character, integrity, and self-respect. And that makes them far less attractive to any potential mate who has those qualities. Reflecting on the physical, emotional, and spiritual dangers of disregarding God’s laws can bolster your teen’s resolve to live by them. * TRY THIS: Use illustrations to help your teen see the wisdom of God’s standards. For example, you might say: “A campfire is good; a forest fire is bad. What is the difference between the two, and how does your answer apply to the boundaries God has set regarding sex?” Use the account at Proverbs 5:3-14 to help your teen understand the harmful consequences of fornication. Takao, an 18-year-old in Japan, states, “I know that I should do what is right, but there is this ongoing struggle against the desires of the flesh.” Youths who feel that way can be comforted by the fact that they are not alone. Even the apostle Paul—a stalwart Christian—admitted: “When I wish to do what is right, what is bad is present with me.”—Romans 7:21. Teenagers would do well to realize that such a struggle is not always bad. It can prompt them to contemplate just what sort of person they want to become. It can help them to come to grips with the question, ‘Do I want to take charge of my life and be known as someone who has character and integrity, or do I want to be known as a follower—a person who weakly caves in to his desires?’ Having good moral values will help your teen answer that question wisely. The Bible Has Stood the Test of Time “The instruction related to sexual behavior in the Bible has stood the test of time. In a day when an increasing number of young teens are reaping the serious emotional consequences of premature sexual activity, out of wedlock pregnancies, and AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases, the Scriptures’ advice to save sex for marriage . . . is extremely relevant, the only ‘safe sex,’ and effective.”—Parenting Teens With Love and Logic. ASK YOURSELF . . . What indications do I have that my teenager has strong moral values? When talking to my teenager about sex, do I portray it primarily as a gift of God or as a trap of satan?