Misternorm's Blog

And away we go…

Mr. Norm — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 01:13:24 +0000

As most of us know, the world we live in spans much further than the borders of the United States. As Americans, we often fall into the trap of believeing that the issues we deal with on a daily basis are worst than they really are. For example, I recently came across a sad statistic that states that the poorest of Americans are still richer than the majority of the people of the world. As Americans we have the luxury of being taken care of, regardless of how poor we really are, a luxury not known to many of the citizens of the world. In America, even the poorest individuals have opportunity, something also not realized by many of the poor living in the world today.

This is one of the many reasons I’ve decided to take part in a humanitairan mission trip to the Rybnoe orphanage, in the Ryazan region of Russia. On December 27th, myself, along with five other individuals sponsored by Children’s Hopechest of Colorado will travel to Rybnoe to head up a winter camp for more than 100 orphans, and just as many staff members. Throughout this camp, we will provide these orphans with something they lack: the love and support of adults, as well as the knowledge of the life-changing fact that Jesus loves them.

At this time I would like to thank all of you who have personally sacrificed to make this trip possible for me through prayer and through financial contributions. As of today, I have received almost $2000 in financial contributions. This amount is $1000 short of my goal, but I am confident that God will provide me with the means to take part in the the trip and to spread His love all the way on the opposite side of His globe. There is still time for you to make a contribution, simply contact me and I will give you instructions on how you can help. Most importantly though, please pray that the trip goes off without a hitch. Please pray for safe travels as well as the power and strength to spread God’s love to these children who have a bleak future ahead of them.

Please keep track of this blog. I will update as necesary before I leave, but will update on a daily basis while in Russia. Thanks, and God bless.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

The Wrong Boogeyman: My Version

Mr. Norm — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 06:32:47 +0000

Some of us remember Milli Vanilli, a pop/dance music project formed in Germany in 1988. This duo dominated the radio waves with their smash hit “Blame it on the Rain,” and other catchy tunes, until it was discovered that the voices recorded on their CD’s were not actually theirs. Once their folly was discovered they were rarely heard of. In fact, in 1998, ten years after their start, one of the duo was found dead, courtesy of a drug overdose.

Blame it on the Rain, a catchy tune back then but a reality even today; you see, blame is a common occurence to us all. Everyone casts blame. Whether on the rain, or the weatherman, or the mother, or the father, or God, everyone casts blame. Throughout my life I’ve run into those who are quick to cast blame, it’s easier that way. Who wants to look in the mirror and see that they are responsible for an undesirable outcome? Not me. Not you. The fact is, we don’t have to like the truth, but we can’t change it. Every one of our actions has a consequence, whether positive or negative. Some consequences are immediate, while others are not. Sometimes they happen spontaneously, along with the action, but sometimes they wait, they grow, they fester and then, finally, they show themselves, sometimes even years later. At this point these consequences have grown to be so overwhelming that we can do nothing more than place the blame on somebody else. “It’s your fault!” Albert Ellis once said, “The best years of your life are the ones in which you decide your problems are your own. You do not blame them on your mother, the ecology, or the president. You realize that you control your own destiny.”

Yes, you do control your own destiny, but the fact is, you also share in the destiny of others. When you bully the small kid in school, constantly beat-up, or verbally harass your younger siblings, or take part in any type of destructive behavior at the expense of others, you are stealing their destiny, robbing them of a future free of consequences of YOUR actions. You see, when these things are happening not much deal is made of them. But years later, when those beatings, and ridicules are a thing of the past, their consequences are not. But what do we do when they show their faces, we “Blame them on …”

Like Milli Vanilli realized, the things we’ve done in the past always come back to haunt us, whether we’ve committed them against ourselves, or against others.

We SHOULD NEVER try to mimimize our sin, or the sin of others, by shifting blame. Be careful who you blame for your shortcomings. It’s easiest to cast blame on those most convenient, but it’s not always easy to see the truth.

Follow Mr. Norm on Twitter @MisterNormG

www.mrnormstutoring.com

A Valentine’s Day Wake-Up Call

Mr. Norm — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 00:22:51 +0000

I recently read a very interesting article on the internet regarding teens and the internet:

“Social media, social networking sites, and blogs where people can create a profile, share pictures, video clips, and personal information – including MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, Xanga, and YouTube – has millions of people logging in to their accounts on a daily basis. These sites also may incorporate instant messaging, chatrooms, discussion boards, and email.

Social networking sites are not inherently dangerous; however, the types of information teens share online may be inappropriate or put them into dangerous situations. Most teens have “friends” on their site that they do not know as friends in real life.

There are virtually no teens that aren’t using these social networking sites to connect with others and share details of their lives. And, whether a teen’s profile or posting details are true or false, the majority of those teens are sharing information publicly that may damage reputations and relationships, hurt their future, such as getting admitted to a college or securing a desirable job, and make them vulnerable to cyberbullies and predators. In a pair of related studies released by Seattle Children’s Research Institute and published in the January 2009 issue of Archives of Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine, researchers found that 54 percent of adolescents frequently discuss high-risk activities online, including sexual behavior, substance abuse or violence” (http://www.focusas.com/Online-Posting.html).

The next section of this article poses the question, “What can parents do?”

Well, I have my own question, “What can teenagers do?” The fact that teens are sharing such personal information with absolute strangers, allowing themselves into (so-called) relationships with people they’ve never even met, and even scarier, posting provocative photographs online for all to see, while using a keyboard to say things to the opposite sex that they wouldn’t dare say in front of their parents, or more importantly, in church, is an absolute sign of immaturity and something drastic needs to be done to stop this practice. It’s about time that somebody charges these teens to better themselves by avoiding such risky and infantile behavior. That’s where you, the teenagers, come in. Ironic, isn’t it? Take charge of your generation, show some responsibility and declare this behavior as what NOT to do. Do something…your generation is in danger. Remember, when you say the things you say, post the pictures you post, it’s not just your friends that see it. There are people out there that you would never even consider talking to, yet you show them your pictures and tell them your name… without even realizing it. Sad.

New Year Excitement!

Mr. Norm — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 19:12:17 +0000

As this new year begins I feel very refreshed about my new endeavors. Of course, as always, there’s the, “I’m gonna start taking batter care of myself” stage. It wouldn’t be a new year without it. As always, there’s the, “I’m gonna save a bunch of money this year” stage. I think that one fizzled out already. But the one that I think I’m most excited about is the new class I’m offering at Palaestra this semester, TeenSurvival:101. I’ve worked tirelessly on creating a course that will be not only engaging, but addicting. The course is centered around the skills it takes to transition successfully from adolescence to adulthood, as well as a distinct call to action, to prove the grown-ups wrong when they say, “Ahhhh, she’s JUST a kid!”

I’m currently working on the ‘climax’ of the course, a half-day summit dedicated to teenage issues such as alcoholism, eating disorders, and religion in teens. This summit will be a one-stop-shop for fellowship, as well as some eye-opening experiences. I’m excited!

contact Misternorm at www.mrnormstutoring.com

What an Intro to My New Class!

Mr. Norm — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 18:44:22 +0000

Teenagers: “Five More Minutes, Mom!”

Mr. Norm — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 07:03:29 +0000

In recent days I’ve become fascinated with the phenomenon that parents feel their adolescents are, in some way, rebelling against their rule when they don’t wake up early in the morning. Parents can remember when their children woke up with the sun, bright and early, when they were young and innocent, but now feel their teenagers have become nothing short of lazy slugs that would sleep the day away if they could. The fact is, those pesky teens just can’t help it (yeah kids, I have your back on this one)! Studies have shown that during middle to late adolescence the body may secrete melatonin, a sleep related hormone, at really weird times of the day. This untimely secretion disrupts the circadian rhythm, the rhythm that guides an individual’s sleep-wake-cycle, causing teens to fall asleep later and want to sleep in later. So parents, when ole’ Johnny don’t want to get out of bed in the morning it may not actually be his fault. Teens, don’t use this as an excuse to sleep in all day!