YOUTHin Action - Lake Union Conference - General Conference of ...

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FAMIL| TIES Dispensers of Hope b y S u s a n E . M u r r a y An important gift we can give our teens is to teach them about the concept of balcony people. Balcony people are those who, living and dead, show us we can live above the petty and discordant levels of life and who give us hope, suggests Ross Campbell, author of How to Really Love Your Teen. Balcony people are those who we can trust wholeheartedly and admire. They are the ones we know will love us no matter what. Of course, we want to be balcony people for our children, and we can be. However, teens are very sensitive to pessimism, especially from their parents. Sometimes we are pessimistic about our children in one way or another, in addition to being preoccupied with our own personal challenges. As parents, we are sometimes puzzled about what our teens really need from us. Our young people need balcony people to counter the cellar voices that come from the “basement” of their lives ... rash temper, boiling anger, vindictive feelings. Cellar voices also come from the effects of those around them who, because of their own guilt, frustration, pent up hostility and low self-esteem, cut others down and tell them how bad the world really is. An important aspect of parenting is to prepare children for life outside the home, to introduce people and experiences that broaden children’s horizons and introduce them to their own abilities, those who can assist them in developing skills to get along in the world. One way to do this is to be sure they have others, outside the family, to whom they can look to for inspiration and instruction, and whom they can trust. These could be called balcony people. And where are the best places to find balcony people for our children They may be relatives, neighbors, those in our church congregations, teachers, school administrators, coaches or family friends. God has placed so many among us who can be balcony people for our children. First, we need to build confidence and trust in our children’s lives so they can be open to the influence of other positive people. We need to be sure that our children are in environments where they can come to really know other adults and develop relationships with them. They also need to understand, from a Biblical perspective, that there have always been people who are loyal to God’s Word and who have served Him. During family worship, exploring verses such as Romans 8:28, Isaiah 41:10 and Psalms 34:19 can be a powerful part of this journey. Hebrews 11 is a roll call of people who proved that faith is workable in spite of circumstances and that life can have meaning any time in history. Most of us learn from our own experiences, but it takes a wise person to learn from the experiences of others. Our teens face an uncertain world. They need hope, confidence, courage, moral strength and a sense of responsibility. Balcony people can provide these things. They are the dispensers of hope in an uncertain world. © 2008 Jupiterimages Corporation Susan Murray is an associate professor of family studies who teaches behavioral science and social work at Andrews University. She is a certified family life educator and a licensed marriage and family therapist. 8 | Oc t o b e r 2 0 0 9 • L a k e U n i o n H e r a l d T h e L a k e U n i o n He r a l d i s a v a i l a b l e o n l i n e .
HEALTH| CHOICES Lear ning a new language helps preser ve mental shar pness. Life in the Blue Zone b y W i n s t o n J . C r a i g Sur round your self with people who have a healthy lifestyle. The world’s longevity all-stars live healthy, active lives well into their 90s and 100s. Yes, they not only live longer, but they also retain their vitality well into old age. Places where there exists a high percentage of centenarians in the population are called “Blue Zones.” Longevity experts identified four Blue Zones in the world—Sardinia, Italy; Okinawa, Japan; Loma Linda, California; and the Nicoya peninsula in Costa Rica. Their longevity secrets were discovered not in pills or surgery but in the everyday things that they do, such as the foods they eat and the company they keep. In the last chapter of his book, The Blue Zone, Dan Buettner describes a number of common features that characterize people living in the Blue Zones. The inhabitants of these areas engage in low-intensity physical activity as part of their usual work routine. This includes a combination of aerobic and muscle-strengthening activities to ensure good body balance. All centenarians were noted to walk every day. Longevity all-stars also did not overeat. They ate to satisfy hunger rather than eating until they felt full. They typically ate nutrient-dense foods rather than caloriedense foods. It was noted that the Okinawan stir-fried tofu and greens has the same volume as a hamburger and fries, but the Okinawan meal has only onefifth the calories. In the Blue Zones, the biggest meal of the day is typically eaten during the first half of the day and typically plant-based foods are eaten. They often eat food from their own gardens rather than processed foods, soda pop or salty snacks. Whole grains, beans (or tofu) and garden vegetables are the cornerstone of all Blue Zone diets. Of all the centenarians interviewed, Dan says there was not a single grump in the whole bunch. Inhabitants of the Blue Zones were happy people, possessing a strong sense of purpose and a clear goal in life, giving them fulfillment and meaning. People who make it to 100 were seen to exude a sense of serenity. They have time periods where they slow down, unwind and de-stress. Meditation allowed the mind to get rid of incessant chatter in the head. The most successful centenarians also put families first. They make family time a real priority. Healthy centenarians everywhere possess faith and participate in a spiritual community that fosters social networks and connectedness. Religion typically encourages positive expectations that improve health. People normally relinquish the stress of everyday life to a higher power. Dan encourages the reader to surround themselves with people who share the same Blue Zone values. It is easier, he says, to adopt good health habits when you hang out with people who practice those things. By adopting the lifestyle habits of Blue Zone inhabitants we also can live longer and improve the quality of our lives. © 2008 Jupiterimages Corporation Winston J. Craig, Ph.D., RD, is a professor of nutrition at Andrews University. Vi s i t w w w. L a k e Un i o n He r a l d . o r g L a k e U n i o n H e r a l d • Oc t o b e r 2 0 0 9 | 9
Page 2 and 3: “Telling the stories of what God
Page 4 and 5: After her baptism, Barb Zoltowski (
Page 6 and 7: YOUTH in Action As a recent Bachelo
Page 10 and 11: EXTREMEGRACE Survival Lessons b y D
Page 12 and 13: SHARING our HOPE A Living Example o
Page 14 and 15: Rethinking Education 5 0 Y e a r s
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Page 20 and 21: Oh, We Are the Pathfinders Strong!
Page 22 and 23: Gerry Chudleigh Gary Burns on build
Page 24 and 25: During the clinical pastoral educat
Page 26 and 27: News [ e d u c at i o n n e w s ] E
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Page 30 and 31: MilePOSTS Within the Lake Union, th
Page 32 and 33: Classifieds HOME FOR SALE NEAR GREA
Page 34: Classifieds to ASO-40, 2747 Nonpare
Page 37 and 38: Announcements Nov. 30 - Dec. 3, 200
Page 39 and 40: Profiles of Youth [ A n d r e w s U

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