Youth in Crisis

Solutions to ‘Youth in Crisis’ are in the Bible

The Book of Good Family Stories

Hardly a day goes by that we don’t hear or read about a boy or girl falling victim to a violent attack by another boy or girl who cannot be named for legal reasons. Also, it is common now that every new incident is followed by calls to stop the bloodshed. Politicians on all sides of the house, peace keepers and in some instances parents whose offspring happen to be on the receiving end, never seem to be short of corrective initiatives

Calls for stiffer penalties for youngsters found with knives or guns are now common place. But at best measures introduced seem only to stem the tide, for maybe a night or two. Sooner rather than later you can bet your life that the rhetoric will be heard again and finger pointing will be rife.

My take on this is that any move to bring home real awareness of the problem may not rest in the imposition of stiffer controls or penalties alone. Take for instance, the Ray Lewis initiative. The founder and chief executive of Eastside Young Leaders Academy (EYLA ), attributes its success to strict discipline and mentoring. He believes that these are the pillars of the EYLA programme that enables otherwise belligerent youngsters to aspire to take on leadership roles in their communities.

Lewis is a former prison governor and part-time preacher. I will not try here to suggest how his governorship influenced or motivated him, but I am quite sure that his principled stance is the result of his Christian upbringing and teaching.

You see in all the talk about conjuring up a feeling of goodness and love in youngsters , no one, let alone the media, seems to consider the guidelines for living, contained in the Book of Books. It would be natural to think that in a country, built on the doctrine of Christianity, this would not be too difficult. But sad to say, we live in a Christian country that continues to turn away and stray from transmissible biblical truths and the path of righteousness.

In her book ‘The Shelter of Each Other - Rebuilding Our Families’ Dr. Mary Pipher, http://www.marypipher.net/books.html offers advice on rebuilding troubled families. If we agree that families make up communities and communities make up countries, then Pipher’s example of the ideal family is worth a look in. Here, she speaks of the need for children to mix with the older generation, so they can listen to and hear the stories of aunts, uncles, grandparents and parents. This she concludes will help them to learn from those who have gone on before.

But I can even go one better than that and point our law makers in particular to the book of Joshua, one of the books of the Old Testament. In fact, the Old Testament places much importance on the need for children to be taught about their spiritual heritage. ‘Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,’ comes to mind. It comes from a Psalm (Psalm 33:12) which speaks about the greatness and goodness of God.

I have said all this to say that until our country returns to the God of the childhood of the majority of its people, solutions to the ‘crisis of youth’ and other troubles that beset the nation will continue to elude us.

Maybe what we really need to stem the tide, is for the church to again engender spiritual interaction between generations. The Good Book is loaded with family stories and our children need to hear and know them just as much as they need a mummy and a daddy. The country today also needs law makers and leaders who still find time to read for wisdom and search the Bible for guidance in solving the nation's problems. Have your say here…

Is A Severe Cold Snap On the Way for The UK?

The Answer You Get Depends on Who You Ask

The UK could be in for a period of severe weather conditions with more snow and ice than the country has seen for decades. At least that’s what a leading insurer would have us believe that forecasters are predicting.
Although forecasters are often chided for getting or guessing the weather wrong, not all seem to agree with ‘Severe Weather Forecast to Hit the UK’ the headline of a release published by the Insurer. In fact Forecasters on the BBC Web site predict that the weather will remain unsettled through February, but say the country will experience temperatures well above normal for the time of year.
So who is fooling who? The insurer’s release, which warns that cold weather can play havoc with cars, is loaded with 'staying warm' tips and advice for motorists and homeowners.
I maybe selfishly inclined to take the forecasters more seriously than the insurer. Why? I have a feeling that the company’s forecast may be nothing more than a ploy to scare us in to switching allegiance or taking out additional coverage.
But then again the country may be past due for a snowy winter. Looking back 50 years, there seems to be around six really snowy winters on record - 1963-64; 1965-1966; 1976-77, 1977-78, 1981-82 1984-85. During some these winters snow on the ground virtually all over the country was measured in feet. As unbelievable as that may sound today there are those among us who will tell you that there were colder winters with even heavier snow falls in the 1940’s.
I was in conversation with a few of them the other day and heard about walking four miles to and from school with snow drifts at over six feet. At over 70 or maybe 80, they also experienced cold snaps during which it was deemed too cold and dangerous to take babies outdoors.
So far this year we have had our fill of days with temperatures below and above average. So regardless of what forecasters and insurers say, I don’t think now is the time to worry about who is fooling who. And you know what? It may not be a bad idea to heed the insurer's advice, prepare for the worst, and go on and winterise your car and check-up you central heating now.

Finance Companies Turn to Military Style Manoeuvres for Leadership Training and Team Building

‘Sandhurst is no fun, but it is an experience worth enduring.’ Once upon a long time this is a statement you would expect from one preparing to fight for king and country. Think again. I have just discovered that Sandhurst is a sought after training facility in the worlds of finance and commerce in the 21st century.

Rewind to the statement. I really heard it from a friend who at most is a thirty something year old manager in a finance outfit. She was at the time musing over the events of a week she spent at Sandhurst. The more she spoke about it, the more it sounded as if she was involved in a physical for some kind of combat exercise.

She spoke of multitasking moves; manoeuvres more than waist deep in mud, star jumps and marathon chases. I was baffled. Why would anyone without the slightest inclination for the military want to put herself through exercises at Sandburst. Could be a kind of fad way to loose weight or maybe an outlandish way to impress a suitor? Neither of the above; it’s called ‘The Experienced Manager Programme.’ EMP, she glibly explained is a comprehensive Sandhurst initiative, designed as a leadership and performance development programme, which the Royal Military Academy makes available to the commercial sector.

In fact, the programme, now in its sixth year started when the Academy teamed up with Inspirational Development Group in 2001 to offer what it described as ‘leadership and team working’ training to the private sector. And according to an article in the ‘Wish Stream’ journal, it favours the initiative as a way to enhance the reputation of the academy as ‘global centre for leadership excellence.’

So far, banks, mortgage and other finance institutions have been among the chief takers up of a training programme which exposes senior and middle management staff to at least a week long grooming of new habits that encourage change in their approach to customer service, leadership and team building.

All this sounds good. So good that maybe, just maybe its time for the likes gas and in fact utility companies in general, to seriously investigate the programme. It may be all it takes to establish the kind of customer service most of them long for, but for now, only dream of.

Businessmen of Two UK Towns Promote an Auction as the Perfect Fundraiser

The Altrincham and Sale Chamber of Commerce (ASCC) is out to raise big money in an event that it is promoting as a ‘better way to give to charity. ‘

The ASCC has announced that an auction with a professional auctioneer is to be the main feature at a fundraising Gala Ball later this year. According to an article in Altruism, its business magazine, it is hoping that Ian Crawford could hammer out his magic at the ball.

Before becoming a professional auctioneer, Crawford, recalls for the magazine, how he once found a badly cracked little pottery cat that when auctioned off fetched £3000. In another instance a painting, concealed in belongings left for two sisters by their parents sold for £4,800. The sisters thought the painting was worth five pounds, or at most maybe £50. It is no wonder therefore that Crawford really believes that put under the hammer, items often raise more money than owners think they would and the ASCC is confident that it is on to a winner.

The November 17 Gala Ball is expected to attract around 300 ASCC members and President Michael Lister is said to be hoping it will set a fund raising record. “I can’t think of a better way of giving money to charity,” he said.

In the fundraiser for St. Ann's Hospice, the ASCC is hoping to put, up to two dozen items on the block.


If auctions are a still to be tried and tested freehearted fundraising activity , the upcoming ASCC event may yet be a pace setter in fundraising for charity.

The Ultimate Smokers IQ Test - To Quit or Not to Quit Smoking

The ban on smoking in England may well be the best thing that has ever happened for anyone who has been earnestly trying to stub out the habit.

If you are among those who have given up only to light up again, then you are ready to try what I like to call the ‘Ultimate Smokers IQ Test’. Whether you are among those who smoke 10, 20, or even 40 a day, believe me it is worth a try. It has worked for people like you. It is free and it will work for you; but only if you honestly, earnestly want to quit.

How many times have you been asked this question? Why do you smoke? Or put another way, what do you get from smoking? If you are like most people I know, you probably answered with the psychological cop out- stress or the proverbial just to relax my mind. Now, if you are familiar with these answers, its time to be honest with yourself and take the Ultimate Smokers IQ test.

Find some place where you can be alone, away from all sources of stress for a smoke. Start the test. It’s you against ciggy. (A) 1.Light up ciggy. 2. Ask yourself. Why am I smoking ‘ciggy’? 3. Answer.... (B) 1. Ask ‘ciggy’; Why shouldn’t I be smoking you ciggy? 2. Answer....
Here’s the deal. If you find more reasons to smoke than not to, go ahead and smoke yourself to death. If you find more reasons why you should not smoke, congratulations! you have finally found an honest reason to earnestly kick the habit, so go ahead and kick it. (You know what? I created this test. It worked wonders for me. Try it and pass it on.)

Altrincham Set for Multimillion Pound Make Over

Altrincham, Trafford is all set to launch a redevelopment programme that will take it to the top tier of towns its size. The Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council and developers David McLean Nikal have cleared the way for the project with the signing of an agreement for the £150M Altair Development.

The Altair project takes its name from Altair, the brightest star in the Aquila constellation, and according to Susan Williams, leader of the council, the agreement means that the developers can now go ahead and submit planning applications that will set the project on course for a 2009 start. She indicated that the project was expected to re-launch Altrincham as a modern, vibrant exciting town centre.

Scheduled for completion in 2012, Altair will feature a modern glassed complex that will be home to a state of the art ice rink, a hotel, select shops and restaurants.

Speaking on behalf of the developers Nick Payne said signing of the agreement has secured the missing piece of ‘this fantastic, inspiring town centre jigsaw.’

Trafford Primary School Picks up Top Green Award

Former US Vice President Al Gore visited Sale, a small town in Trafford this week for a ceremony to recognise the Woodheys Primary School, winners of the Ashden Award for Sustainable Energy.

The Ashden Awards for Sustainable Energy worldwide, recognises inventive projects which promote climate change and focus on renewable energy in the UK and developing countries.

The former US Vice President said an Ashden Awards event is an inspiration for anyone who attends. He told the ceremony there was a need for a new path, away from the present that still falls short of what's needed for a sustainable future. Gore said he was particularly impressed by the school’s projects which are truly becoming of the change that's needed in the world. “These awards have told us” he added “how to illuminate the path to a sustainable future together.”

Woodheys Primary School was rewarded with the prestigious award for its efforts in raising awareness among pupils and staff on the importance of conserving energy and initiatives it has taken locally to tackle climate change.