State Prison in Pekin, Illinois 

A visit to prison

On Saturday, we went to visit a friend in prison in Pekin, Illinois. The person had some very bad judgement but didn't deserve the sentence that was given. It is a sobering experience just going to the prison and see the barbed wire. Men and women do very foolish things and have to pay a big price. It made me resolve even more to be honest and walk humbly before my God. This person is just one of three people that I know where are currently in jail.

STUDY: COLLEGE STUDENTS HIGHLY INTERESTED IN SPIRITUALITY

Hey all,

Here is a very interesting study on College students. The harvest and plentiful and the workers are always few.

Rich

STUDY: COLLEGE STUDENTS HIGHLY INTERESTED IN SPIRITUALITY

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) - As many as 80% of college students are interested in spirituality and 74% claim to have discussions about the meaning of life with friends, according to the latest study by UCLA's Higher Education Research Institute.

"College students appear to put a premium on their spiritual development," says Alexander Astin, co-principal investigator for the project. "They are clearly very interested in these larger questions in life, and many of them hope that the college experience will support them in their spiritual quest.

"The challenge for higher education is to understand the priority young people place on these issues and explore how well they are supporting their students' quest."

The study, based on a survey of 112,232 freshmen at 236 colleges and universities conducted last fall, finds that students are searching for deeper meaning in their lives, looking for ways to cultivate their inner selves, seeking to be compassionate and charitable and deciding what they believe about social and global issues, according to a news release.

Of the students surveyed, 76% are searching for meaning and purpose in life, 81% attend religious services, 80% discuss religion or spirituality with friends, 79% believe in God and 69% pray.

Researchers also say today's college students are tolerant of the non-religious as well, with 83% agreeing that "non-religious people can be just as moral as religious believers" and 64% saying "most people can grow spiritually without being religious."

Students' political views may be related to their level of religious involvement, the study finds, because among the most religious students, conservatives outnumber liberals by more than three to one. Even so, the survey indicated more liberals than conservatives are on a spiritual quest and care about their fellow man.

UCLA's institute also reports that students with high levels of religious engagement are far less likely to believe abortion should be legal, think casual sex is okay, support same-sex "marriage," and endorse legalization of marijuana than students with low levels of religious engagement.

Contrary to what many secular educators contend, 67% of the students surveyed said they consider it "essential" or "very important" that their college play a role in developing their personal values and 48% say it is essential or very important that colleges encourage their personal expression of spirituality. (Source: Baptist Press, www.sbcbaptistpress.org)

We all like sheep have gone astray

450 Sheep Jump to Their Deaths in Turkey

The Associated Press
Friday, July 8, 2005; 9:30 AM

ISTANBUL, Turkey -- First one sheep jumped to its death. Then stunned Turkish shepherds, who had left the herd to graze while they had breakfast, watched as nearly 1,500 others followed, each leaping off the same cliff, Turkish media reported.

In the end, 450 dead animals lay on top of one another in a billowy white pile, the Aksam newspaper said. Those who jumped later were saved as the pile got higher and the fall more cushioned, Aksam reported.

"There's nothing we can do. They're all wasted," Nevzat Bayhan, a member of one of 26 families whose sheep were grazing together in the herd, was quoted as saying by Aksam.

The estimated loss to families in the town of Gevas, located in Van province in eastern Turkey, tops $100,000, a significant amount of money in a country where average GDP per head is around $2,700.

"Every family had an average of 20 sheep," Aksam quoted another villager, Abdullah Hazar as saying. "But now only a few families have sheep left. It's going to be hard for us."

The lawnmower brigade at the neighborhood parade. 

Olivia and Mary Alice in the parade. 

Claire in action at the parade 

Claire and Olivia at the neighborhood parade. 

Fun on the 4th

It was a slow, lazy weekend in which we enjoyed the 4th of July. I can't say that we really did a lot. We live in a wonderful neighborhood which values getting together and connecting. Every year, the neighborhood does a special 4th of July parade for any one and everyone who would like to join down one of our main streets. I must say that in the parade there are usually more participants than there are spectators. The kids love to decorate their bikes. There is a special tradition of decorating lawn mowers. I have a couple of pictures posted for your enjoymnent.