Come be part of the solution.
Why do we as Christians tend to be surprised by the ways of this world? I could go on and on about how much sin is in our world. We know there are problems with our schools, corruption in our governments, growing numbers of cults, numerous murders, and plenty of hatred and sexual immorality. News networks, talk radio, and gossip sessions everywhere seem surprised by the sin that is creeping into every aspect of our society. But my question is why. Why are we surprised by what the world is becoming? The Bible says that Satan is the one who leads the whole world astray (Rev 12:9). The Bible says that man cannot serve two masters (Matt 6:24). Everyone serves God or Satan. That is the only two choices. Do you know someone who gives you a hard time, or lies a lot, or cheats on their spouse, or does something that makes you tend to have bitter feelings towards that person? I think we all know at least one person like that. Now ask yourself whether or not that person is a Christian. If the answer is no, then stop being surprised by the sinful actions of that person. All non-Christians serve Satan, period. Some just serve him more openly than others do. They do not walk by the guidance of the Holy Spirit like Christians do. That is why I vote for politicians who proclaim Christianity; because I want God’s people in power, not Satan’s people. That is why Meredith and I want to home school our kids; because publics schools do not serve the same master as my household does. We must understand that people have either built their lives foundation out of truth or out of lies. That is why Jesus did not defend himself when he was being tortured and killed (Luke 23). Jesus understood that the people knew not what they were doing (vs. 34). He knew that they were lied to and blinded by the sins of this world. They didn’t know who Jesus really was. They were not believers. Jesus not only had compassion for these people but He asked God to forgive those people. We need to understand this as well. We need to love and pray for our enemies (Matt 5:44), not talk bad about them. It is easy to get caught up in the complaining and finger pointing. Satan has his agenda and he will not stop until Christ returns. Satan wants to keep his people from knowing the truth. When God’s people who are called to share the truth are occupying their time complaining and worrying about the sinful nature of this world, then Satan is happy. Okay, so Satan is never happy, but defensive action is not God’s will being done. We need to go on the offense and start scoring some points for the Kingdom. If we are not spreading the truth, then we are part of the problem. No more lukewarm Christians. This world is full of heathens and lukewarm Christians. The ways of this world will parish, but the people do not have to. Governments cannot save our world, schools cannot save our world, and churches cannot save our world. Only Jesus can save our world. So lets say we focus more on the solution than the problems.

I have been tagged by my wife Meredith. I guess the deer she tagged wasn't yet dead so it is up to me to finish it off. I guess this tagging thing requires you to have read books. Had I been tagged before marriage it would have been a list of book. Luckily I've since turned the TV off some and actually picked up a book or two. Here goes.

1. One book that changed your life: The Magic of Thinking Big by David J. Schwartz. Talk about learning to think beyond how the average person thinks. Even just thinking, and not letting everyone else do the thinking for you.

2. One book that you've read more than once: Big Red Barn by Margaret Wise Brown. Jack loves it (I do too), so we read it almost everynight. I have so many books that I have not yet read, that I haven't reread any of my "adult" books yet.

3. One book I'd want on a desert island: the Bible, no contest

4. One book that made me laugh: Daddy and Me by Karen Katz, this is also one of Jack's books. It's about a son helping his daddy build a dog house. The funny thing is they cut the wood and then they measure it. You better stick to writing baby books Karen.

5. One book that made me cry: The Greatest Miracle in the World by Og Mandino. You get caught up in the story while at the same time you are relating it to yourself. I more like teared up, but never actually cried. And no, the greatest miracle in the world was not when the Browns won the Superbowl. It would have been had it ever happened. (go Steelers!)

6. One book that you wish you had written: the book of Revelation. John is the man! I know I will get to see the end times eventually, but it would be awesome to get an early preview.

7. One book you wish had never been written: the Book of Mormon, it is sad how many lost people believe it. If you are a Mormon reading this, there is something you should know about Joseph Smith...

8. One book that you are currently reading: Destination Success by Dwight Bain. So far it really opened my eyes to what success really means. From what I have read so far, these tagging games are not in the steps to any kind of sucess. :)

9. One book that you've been meaning to read: Wild At Heart by John Elderedge. I hear it really dissects who a man really is. A must read for women too I hear.

10. One book that you think everybody should read: (okay so I added one more) The Tongue a Creative Force by Charles Capps. Once you read it, you hear how poorly most people speak and you just want them to read this book.


I am now supposed to tag three, err two people. How about....
Vince Tornero of FYI News
and Justin Rolston.

Taxes
Did you know that the average working American pays so much tax that he/she works for nearly 5 months of the year just paying taxes. And people wonder why they are broke. President Bush realizes this and thus gave us a tax cut. Not a huge one, but it’s a start. Now many of you are thinking the 5 months I stated is exaggerated. Let’s do the math. We have our income taxed before we ever see it. Let’s say 10% because most of us get some of our income tax returned. Then Medicare and Social Security taxes take a percentage, which is not returned to us. Then the state takes a cut. Then there is local tax. School tax. Most states have a tax on retail purchases. Tax on gasoline is about 46.4 cents per gallon in Ohio(http://www.taxfoundation.org/news/show/1054.html). Besides gas, there are other excise taxes like tax on alcohol, cigarettes, and gambling (which I hope does not apply to you). Homeowners have to pay property tax. Investors have a capital gains tax. For some there are yearly taxes on cars. we even have estate taxes when someone dies.

You get taxed when you earn money, you get taxed when you spend the money. You get taxed when you live, you get taxed when you die. When you are getting taxed at every stage in the money circle and from every angle in life, you end up paying anywhere from 30-50% in just taxes. At 40% you have to work 5 out of the 12 months just to pay for taxes. yet the liberals politicians do not want to make Bush’s tax cuts permanent. I say not only keep the cuts, but cut some more. Liberals know that most Americans are too stupid to use their money wisely, so they want to use taxing to get the money in the hands of the government where hey can put it to “better use”. I say give the people their money and if they blow it, shame on them. Sorry, the government will not bail you out. And those who are wise with their money will get more choices and enjoy more of America’s freedom.

Long Term Thinking

“I want what I want when I want it” has been said before by Pastor Steve. Not because he thinks that way, but rather because he refers to that as the way the world thinks. I have touched on this subject before by condemning the problem of instant gratification in our world. People will get into debt to have things now rather than delay those desires until they can either afford them or realize they do not really want/need them. This time I would like to discuss how the problem of short-term thinking is negatively affecting our lives and the lives of future generations. Many people who demand peace now among our militaries are unknowingly willing to jeopardize the lives of future generations by ignoring the rising threats from our enemies. People will vote for officials who will help them now over someone who wants to make the future better for our children and grandchildren. We need leaders who know that sometimes we have to give up something now so that future generations will not have to. We need to work hard planting seeds so that our future generations will reap from the harvest (2 Cor. 9:6). It takes selflessness, which is not a common trait now days. This short term thinking is putting us into a rat race that we cannot seem to get out of easily. Yet we have done it to ourselves. Why would we want to create mountains in our lives to climb when there are already plenty of them out there that life throws at us? Here is why: because I’d much rather climb the mountains so that my children do not have to. Today our Nation battles terrorism that should have been dealt with in the past, but our former leaders had selfishly chosen to avoid conflict rather than temporarily inconvenience them to do what was right. Doing what is right is rarely convenient. So what can we do now? We need to ask ourselves: is what we are doing going to impact where we are 5-10-20 years from now? Is there something I could be doing to improve where I/ my family/ my country will be in 5-10-20 years from? Is the way life has been the past generation the way I want our future generations to be? Or should I be doing something to ensure things will be better? The next time you struggle over a decision, just think of how many people that decision will effect. If it only affects you, then it is probably a short term and selfish decision. Only proceed with the decisions that will positively affect numbers of people. This applies for the actions that governments take, that business owners take, that parents take, etc. Make sure you are making decisions based on the long term rather than the short term. I am not talking about hoarding up various kinds of insurance, preparing for the worst of what could happen in the future. I am talking about preparing for the best to come, and then taking action to make it happen. In doing so, you will feel better about yourself, and futures lives will be better off as well.

You may remember one of my first Snyd Remarks regarding sugar, specifically in soda. Here is a website link for an article about Doctors who agree.
Fat Tax

And also on my wife’s past article on the need to consider Home Schooling:
Exit Public Schools

This upsets me to see how stupid some people's thinking really is. Some people never accept responsibility for themselves. (see article):
Those Feeling Guilty Like to Blame Bush
Why is it that adoption seems to no longer be an option? Okay, so maybe you are not ready for parenthood, but you could at least give the baby his/her right to live and put him/her up for adoption to a family that would love to have a baby. Again, selfishness seems to have taken the place over selflessness in today's society.

My take on Home Schooling, by Meredith Snyder

Parents choosing to home school their children are becoming more common now days, especially with the secular agenda that is flooding our public schools. For Brian and I, whether or not to home school will not be a choice, but rather a calling by God. I do not believe that every family is called to home school, but I do feel that parents should consider it as an option for their children. It is a huge commitment and responsibility and unless you are willing to put in the time to do it correctly then you should not consider the undertaking. There are many reasons why we want to home school but I am only going to explain a few.
I actually began my desire to home school my future children while I was in college getting my education degree. The main reason I majored in education was because I felt it would prepare me the most thoroughly to home school someday. Many people have asked me since having Jack if I would resume teaching someday, and I can honestly say I have no desire to teach in a classroom setting again. I enjoyed my time as a teacher, but I feel I can be make more of an impact by teaching on a more personal level such as home schooling my children as well as one on one tutoring (which I am currently doing).
My short time as a teacher helped to build my desire to home school. I know from experience that teachers are overworked and underpaid. I also think that the task they are given is often impossible. Without considering the paperwork, meetings, grading and other countless duties of their job, the task of teaching a set curriculum is often too big for anyone to do well, especially if they have a family of their own waiting for them at home. I went into teaching thinking I would somehow find a way to reach every student and that is simply not possible. No one person can make sure that 25+ students understand everything they teach, everyday. For me I could not live with the burden that some slip through the cracks. I was often reminded of the Shepard that went back for the lost sheep. He knew where the other 99 were, but he had to go back for one. That was how teaching was for me; I couldn’t leave anyone behind. Realistically, there are always students left behind.
For me, home schooling will be a way to make sure my children get a proper Biblically based education and that my time and effort is most effective. Many times home schooling gets a bad rap because people see it as a means of “sheltering” children. You hear people say, “But what about their social skills?”, “what about PE?”, or “what about learning the ways of the world?” RBC has a home school co-op that allows parents to take their children to classes they do not feel prepared to teach and it allows the children to build social skills in a wholesome environment. As I stated earlier home schooling should not be taken lightly. If you do it correctly you will find a way to balance your child’s mental, physical, social, academic, and most importantly their spiritual needs. To emphasize the importance of their spiritual needs, ask yourself which is more important: that you pass on you love for football to your sons, or pass down the family business, or [substitute one of your passions], or that you pass on the gift of salvation and a life lived for are Lord and Savior Jesus Christ?
I know home schooling is not for everyone, but I do feel every parent should consider the option. For the families that choose to send their children to public or private schools, make sure you are taking an active role in their education. Take the time to learn your children’s teachers, and make sure you know what is being taught to your children. Make sure you discuss topics in school that might go against our religious foundations. You will need to fill in the blanks that schools do not cover like marriage between one man and one woman, creationism, and purity education. The bible tells us to “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it”. (Proverbs 22:6) For our family this means we need to home school our children, search the Lord for what this scripture means for your family.

2006 Winter Olympics

In past columns I have often expressed my pride as an American. Every two years we get to bask with American pride in the celebration of the Winter/Summer Olympics. This year was no different as Americans took home the second most medals at Torino. Growing up, I have always enjoyed the Olympics. Unfortunately the joy associated with the games is being quenched by manufactured drama and advertising. The media has managed to taint the American legacy this year by making a drama over the whole Chad Hedrick/Shani Davis catfight. I enjoy hearing about the battles that individuals may have had to overcome to get to the Olympic Games. What I do not want to hear is the whining when they get there. Not only the Chad and Shani ordeal, but also the subsequent whining of our hockey team and the completely unrelated affairs of coach Gretzky. I feel the best athletes deserve to win. So I feel sorry for the individuals with enormous talent who lose their only chance due to an unfortunate event. With that said, to constantly hear about Bode Miller’s inspirational failings was becoming more than I could take. Couldn’t NBC spend a little more time on the numerous victories won at the games? Why all the negative? I was appalled by the number of people in the media who went out of their way to say they think the Winter Olympics stink. I personally prefer the Summer Olympics games better, but that doesn’t mean I cannot enjoy the Winter Games. Bryan Gumbell actually said, “I am not watching the Olympics because there are not enough black athletes representing in the competition.” Do I even need to comment on this? What a stupid comment to air on national television. To me the Olympics are about Americans uniting and competing against other countries in a friendly environment. Not a competition between races, or religions, or even political stances.

Advertising and drama has already ruined America’s greatest sporting event, the Super Bowl. Now they are trying to take the heart and soul out of the Olympics as well. It seems everything is sponsored at these games. The new Olympic motto is “citius, altius, sponsorship”. The games are all about money. For example: deals with corporate partners were so sacred that a journalist at the snowboard venue was chastised for drinking an Italian bottled water and forced to remove the offensive label out of respect for the “official beverage supplier” (aka Coca-Cola). Unbelievable! These athletes are becoming pseudo professional in the sense that if they are able to win a medal and capture an audience, they are almost guaranteed a multi-million dollar deal with some sponsor. That puts a lot of unnecessary pressure on these athletes to get results. The games are changing, and not all for the better. The number of viewers proves that the popularity is decreasing. When will these television producers realize that people are no longer falling for manufactured reality? And when will big businesses realize that people are no longer loyal to a specific beverage just because it is displayed on everything they see? I still believe in the Olympics games and all the hard work those athletes have to endure to get there. It’s just a shame that the broadcast puts a tarnished finish on their legacy.

We have all heard our mothers say “if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” Why then does that not seem to apply to adults? Turn on the news and all you hear is negative. Listen to a politician and all you seem to hear is criticism. I for one am getting tired of all the complaining. It is no surprise that when a political party is a minority; they always seem to be attacking the majority party. And usually this causes enough sway among the voters that after a few elections the majority party switches again. Why do we continue to be pawns in this game of theirs? Cannot we see right through their agenda? Let’s face it, no president gets into power and wants to do a bad job. They all want to lead a great revival among the American people. Look at Bush. He is a very successful businessman who did not seek the presidency for the money or fame. His supporters can see that he is genuinely trying to do his best for our country and for the hope of a free world. Yet according to the news, the Bush administration seems to be doing everything wrong. To quote the governor of Virginia Tim Kaine, “there is a better way.” You can always look back on a situation and say that there was a “better way”. Hindsight is always 20/20. I am just thankful that we have a President who is not afraid to take action. He doesn’t stall forever, waiting for the perfect plan before taking action. He goes out and tries. Sometimes he fails, but then he adjusts. It is called try, fail, and adjust. The democrats have for a long time been criticized for their passive approach. They fear failure. Yet it is the man who fails the most that stands to gain the most. Look at Lincoln, Edison, and Washington. All of these men failed hundreds of times, but they never feared getting back up and trying again. Now people remember only their victories. We should be forever grateful that those men were not quitters or afraid to fail. We need to stand behind our President and focus on the victories, giving him encouragement and support. Not ridicule him and constantly tear him down.

One example is Bush getting the blame for slow federal response to the hurricane damage in New Orleans. I feel that they needed to be ready locally, and only rely on the federal government for additional aid and support. Another example is the lost coal miners. Bush was blamed for not having strict enough regulations on the mining industry. Since when did the government become experts in coal mining? We cannot expect our government to become experts on everything that goes on in our country, so we should stop asking to be involved in everything. The states need to do their role and we as people need to do our part as well.

The federal government is in place to protect our borders and keep unity among the states (through infrastructure, legislation, etc.). It seems though that politicians think their only responsibility is to get reelected and get their own party at a majority. Every year partisan wrangling and election worries keep Congress from passing much legislation. They either hurry it in under the radar, or they stall, stall, stall. It is all or nothing for some of these people. This does not seem like a very efficient way or a very responsible way of serving the people who elected you. Businesses cannot run this way. A CEO appoints VP’s to head different divisions and he expects results. When something goes wrong down the chain somewhere, the VP over that situation works to quickly resolve it. He/she doesn’t go to the press and say it is all the CEO’s fault. That is childish and irresponsible. But that is exactly what is going on with the opposition to the President. The President cannot do it all. What he needs to do best is to keep the people optimistic and safe. The president provides us with new hopes and big dreams for our country. Just like the CEO is to keep the shareholders happy and his executives keep the business running, the President is the one who sees the big picture and delegates his cabinet to work out the small details. We need to trust in our President. By hearing all the criticism towards the President that causes the American people to have doubt and mistrust in their leader. I am thankful that we live in a country with free speech, but we should not abuse that freedom. To quote Paul from his letter to the church of Ephesus, “Do not let unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” (Eph. 4:29) Positive talk is a fundamental trait for Christians. However, most of the negative we hear comes from people who do not proclaim to be a born again Christian. Mrs. Lincoln had a firm understanding of this during the Civil War when she stated: “Don’t criticize [the opposition], they are just what we would be under similar circumstances.” There are times when I would like to see Bush counter-attack his opposition more than he does, but I respect him more for not doing so.

The American Dream

We live in the greatest country on Earth. We know it, and millions of foreigners know it. That is why we have a lot of immigrants coming here. America gives others hope, but it has come at a price. It creates immigration issues such as job loss, language barriers, national security and government aid. These are not easy to deal with either. How should our government handle them? I do not know, but I think there are lessons to be learned from why people come to America in the first place. The answer is not as simple as just “freedom.” And the answer is not the same today as it was for immigrants 200 years ago.

A lot of our ancestors came to America because they heard of this great new country where people were free to work, worship and whine as they pleased. Word had spread that America was the new hope for the freedom seekers. Partial thanks to our own media only reporting the negative, the once “utopia” status is now gone. Although still the greatest, America has lost a lot of her charm. Fewer people come here because it is the land of opportunity, but rather because it’s the land of easy money and free handouts. We are greatly being taken advantage of and we have no one to blame but ourselves. Why? -Because America has given up on her Dream.

Ironically, in the land of free enterprise and capitalism, most Americans have waived their right to pursue the American Dream. We have instead settled for a disguised version of socialism. Immigrants see us teaching our children that if you go to school and get a good education, you can then get a job for some big company and are able to live a decent lifestyle. As long as we play society’s “game of life”, we think we should all get to live like the Jones’. What we should be teaching our kids is success principles, the law of reaping and sowing, delayed gratification, how to be over-comers, how to deal with people, and how to make long-term decisions. Our country was built on these and our government was originally structured to reward the people who practiced these principles (self employed and entrepreneurs). Immigrants know they can come to America, start their own business, work hard for a certain number of years, and then go back to their home country with all the money they profited. They don’t place their whole future in the fate of one company, work as a modern-day-slave for that company, and then complain when their lifestyle is not what the want it to be. The largest casualty in the industrial revolution was the American Dream. Fortunately for our grandparents, working your whole life for a large company turned out rather well for them. Businesses took care of their employees. No longer is the case today. Putting all our eggs in the job basket will almost surely result in failure. But, since we haven’t been taught to have a dream and to go after that dream, most of us just hop from job to job willing to settle for mediocrity. As Christians we are promised a life of prosperity, living for our risen Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is hard for me to believe God’s promise includes those who are under the control of their boss.

How can we learn from immigration? They understand the power of capitalism and the importance of the free enterprise system. Yet most Americans do not. People come here for a better life, and most Americans complain about their lives. We have settled for middle class, the most we can get for the least amount of effort. I am glad our forefathers did not settle for second best. They had a dream, and were willing to fight for that dream. America, go find your dream. Center it in God’s will and He will give you the ability to achieve that dream. Thank God we live in a country where dreams can come true.

Christmas is the celebration of the miraculous birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. So why do we keep trying to turn it into the annual shopping season instead of the Christmas season? Churchgoers are in an uproar over some retailers who are not using the word “Christmas.” I myself was at first upset with Target and Wal-Mart (like I needed another reason). But after I gave it more thought, I realized I do not want a non-Christian business to use the sacred name of Christ to help sell their products. Christians are commanded to live outside the ways of the world. So why do so many Christians continue to get upset when the world doesn’t live the way we do? Our lives, words, and actions should daily display Christ’s awesome love. Not just on Easter and Christmas. Perhaps some people get upset over this new politically correct holiday because they rely on the retailers to tell them when the Christmas season begins. Like a switch, the first big sale on Thanksgiving weekend signifies the start of the Christmas season. Thanksgiving has somehow been turned into the four-day weekend that our jobs give us time off to do some bargain shopping.

That leads me to my next question. Should we even be giving these big retailers our money? Especially if they are not Christ based businesses, and most of their profits come from imported goods (two things that are destroying this country). I typically will go out of my way to buy American made products and from Christian owned businesses. Many times I have to pay a little more. Does that make me a bad steward with my money? I do not believe Christians have to be penny-pinchers. People will go to far lengths just to save a buck, and they usually waste more time doing so. Americans spend on average 50-100 hours per year shopping. With all the time spent on driving from store to store, searching through sale ads, cutting out coupons, and waiting in lines, when does this become a bad steward of time? All for $30-40 of savings per month? God promises to provide for His people. And He keeps His promises! So why do some Christians fear that if they don’t get the lowest price they won’t have enough money? That’s not living by faith. I propose we find a business that sells mainly American made goods and is Christian owned (and be loyal to it). If Christians were to keep their money within the Christian society, it would put more money in the hands of good people instead of businesses who have little to no agenda for expanding God’s Kingdom. Plus, the time saved could be used in serving.

We shouldn’t care if retailers don’t use the word “Christmas,” because we probably shouldn’t be shopping from them anyhow. “But I can’t afford to shop at the non-discount stores”. Don’t be controlled by your pocketbook. Start doing what is right for your God, your family, and your country. This issue is more important than saving a few bucks. Stop feeding the idea that Christmas is all about buying and giving gifts. Giving is great; so long that you give with meaning as well as give within your means. The fact is, we should be givers all year round and let this season be a time to focus on the real meaning of Christmas. Thank God for sending us His Son, and go share this good news with others. Have a Merry Christmas everybody!!!!

Having a Baby in Today’s World.

Wow has having a baby changed over the years. Or so I have been told since my wife and I just had our first. Everything is politically correct now. Can I just state for the record that i am not big on politically correctness. What happened to Biblically correct? Oh wait, I can’t say that because it is not P.C. For one, less people are having babies now. Although it seemed like we had a good year for new arrivals, in general there are less babies being born. God commanded us to be fruitful and multiply. So why aren’t we multiplying? Perhaps because we are not being fruitful… oh, sorry, that’s a little harsh. I am not saying that Meredith and I are great parents carrying out the will of God because we are great bearers of fruits. What I would like to point out is this. Not only did we just have a baby, but we as a couple are married and the mother plans to stay at home with her child. Thirty years ago people would say “big deal”. Today that is quickly becoming less common. Forms at the hospital are customized for single mothers. Daycares are springing up everywhere. A nursing mother has lost her “cool factor”, and the percent of natural childbirths is too small to report. Now please, take no offense if you or your mother did not nurse or used modern medicine to ease the discomfort of childbirth. Let me get to my point. God’s plan is so amazing, that we as humans are kidding ourselves by trying to “improve” upon it. Believe it or not, the woman’s body is designed for childbirth. The world (aka Satan) telling you how much it will hurt and you believing it is what really makes it hurt. Pain is a curse that Jesus bore for us on the cross. So why do we keep choosing to bear the pain ourselves?

Switching gears. Mothers are giving up numerous blessings by not nursing and even worse, not staying home with their children. A nursed babies, even for a couple months, is healthier than formula babies (and healthy for the mother too). I was glad to see the hospital encouraging the mothers to nurse. And as far as stay home moms, I believe that is God’s will too. No exceptions. I will not apologize for that one. But, I also will not judge anyone who is a working mother, for society has made it extremely difficult to live off of one income. That is a major reason why couples are reluctant to start a family. We discovered though that if you are waiting for the “right time” to start a family, it isn’t coming! The Devil will always whisper you reasons why now is not a good time. Take a step of faith people. Were we planning it? No. Were we doing anything to prevent it? No. Call me “old school”, but I don’t believe in that either. But here’s my disclaimer. You better have a lot of faith, or your actions could indeed be deemed irresponsible. It isn’t easy for us to add little Jack to our budget and then on faith decide that Meredith will not go back to work, losing 30% of our income. God has provided for us a plan though that He will provide for us through. Yes, times have changed. That doesn’t mean that God’s plan has. If you follow it, you will realize how awesome it is. Just like a pregnant woman’s body gets bigger, even when you don’t see how it is possible, your life can be better if you just step out into the unknown. I will end with a quote from Robert Frost. “Two roads diverged in a wood and I - I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.”

I can't go wrong with football. That is what I concluded when I pondered what I could write about for this edition of Snyd Remarks. It is that time of year when you can count on every local news channel to be talking about “Buckeye’s this” and “Tressel that”. As an OSU graduate, I too find myself caught up in the excitement of Scarlet and Grey, yet I cannot even name you 5 players on the team. Okay, so I do not claim to be a die hard fan, but I am trying to understand the people who are. Now for those of you who know me, you may think I am being hypocritical as I do consider myself a devoted fan to the black and gold of the Pittsburgh Steelers. So I guess I am trying to figure myself out as well as the rest of you football junkies. However, I will be focusing specifically on the Buckeyes in this example.

I am an analytical chemist by trade, so let’s analyze the situation. By buying a lot of scarlet and grey apparel, watching every game, and memorizing every player; does that give OSU a greater advantage over their opponent? Does it give you a greater advantage at your job? Your home? An extra jewel in your Heavenly crown? No, no, no and no. I suppose having fired up fans that stand behind their team through thick and thin does help motivate a team to work harder toward winning. And the money royalties from the purchased apparel could circle back to better the team somehow. Knowing more OSU stats could give you a one up in your sibling rivalries. But what is it that really drives people to become the dedicated fans that they are? Media brain-washing? I don’t think, or at least I hope not. Perhaps it is that they can use the game to escape the realities of the world. When you watch a football game, you tend to forget about the stresses of work, bills, honey-do-lists, etc. You feel like if only the Buckeye’s could win today, then today will be a good day no matter what else happens. Am I getting close? If this is the case, is this healthy? What if happens when they lose? I know I get slightly down on Monday morning if the Steelers got beat on Sunday. Good thing that rarely happens.  All I know is that as I try to distance myself from time spent unproductive, the less I find myself watching sports on TV. Whether it is a game, a reality show, or a soap opera, it is still unproductive time wasted in front of a picture box. Wow, I am starting to sound like my mother…. One last remark: if people would just get as excited about their future as they do a star Buckeye or some other athlete, then they may just actually go somewhere in their life.

Do you think men died in the war of Independence for us to have the freedom to eat whatever we want? Of course not. Americans were once people who would do whatever it took to secure a better future for America. Now days, Americans care only about themselves and little about their future. Where have we gone wrong? One way is the degradation of our diet by flooding it with sugar. I believe sugar is perhaps the #1 “silent killer” that has evolved in western culture. Sugar contributes to obesity, type II diabetes, certain mental illnesses, and tooth decay (would Methuselah have lived 969 years if his teeth were gone by age 60?). Oh well, that’s why we have health insurance, right? The Bible says to care for our bodies because they are the Holy Spirit’s temple (1 Corinthians 6:19). But does the Bible teach us how to do this?

We’ve all heard the phrase “What Would Jesus Do?” Couldn’t this be answered by “NOT what the world does”? (Romans 12:2) Look at the mainstream media for example. The fact that a lot of the "Worldly Americans" hate George W. Bush is just more of a reason for me to believe he is a genuine Christian (1 John 3:13). So I dare to be different when the rest of America is eating donuts and drinking super sized Cokes. A wise man once said, “even a dead fish will go with the flow, but it takes a live one to swim against it.”

According to the USDA, one should limit themselves to 40 grams of sugar per day. Currently, the average American diet consumes 115 lbs of sugar per year (or 140g per day). That’s 3.5 times the recommended limit. Unfortunately, in today’s society it is impossible to completely eliminate processed sugar from our diet. But one can limit the intake. For many people, pop is a large source of sugar. For example, one 12oz. can of Coke has 39g of sugar, and a 20 oz. bottle has 65g. Therefore one Coke would meet or exceed your sugar limit for her entire day. With 1 teaspoon of sugar weighing 4 grams, there would be an equivalent of 10 teaspoons of sugar in just one can of Coke. In comparison, do people put 10 teaspoons of sugar in their tea? Of course not. The sad thing is, most people have an addiction to sugar, and do not realize it.

So what advice would I give cokaholics, chocoholics, and get the sugar bowl out and just eat it straight-oholics? Drink lots of water, 100% juice, low fat milk, and my favorite, an sugar free energy drink like XS. Don’t leave room for any dessert when you eat. After a 5th or 6th helping of juicy turkey or ham, you are less likely to be tempted by the sugary delights. :) Lastly, but most importantly, build a support group (Sugar Addicts Anonymous). Will power alone is not enough to resist sometimes. Even I have fallen victim to my weaknesses. I have a weakness for anything with peanutbutter in it. But I too am only human, and strive work daily to improve upon my weaknesses.

Sources:
http://education.wichita.edu/caduceus/examples/soda/soda_index.html
http://www.organicnutrition.co.uk/articles/is-sugar-bad-for-you.htm

Are your kids lazy? When I was a kid, I was not allowed to be lazy. If I didn't work, I didn't do anything. Sure, my parents were great to us kids. They gave us an allowance, but ONLY if we did all our chores. We got rewarded for good grades, but only if we hard enough for all A's and B's. Later in my teenage years, my parents even paid for my car insurance, but I had to have a job first. Yes, I had to have a part time job along with going to school. That is rare now days. So rare, that I am willing to bet that there is a good number of kids today that will not have a job until they graduate from college. That is, if they can get a job. I think it was all the part time jobs that helped direct me in life. After working three years in fast food during high school, I needed to go to college and study for a real career. I worked hard for a minimum wage. (Perhaps even harder than I work now as a chemist.) Part time work taught me work ethic, discipline, and how to work with others. Working in a video store and a grocery store allowed me to be around people, and learn how to deal with people better. Skills most kids do not have much of. They have really good game playing "skills" though. I even worked temporarily in the chemistry field before getting my masters in chemistry. Not only did this give me some spending money over the summer, but it also gave me an idea of what i need to learn while in graduate school in order to get the type of job I would be most happy at. A lot of people go into school having no idea what they want to do afterwards. What a waste of money. You do not go out and buy a car just because your parents say you need a car. You look at you situation, figure out why you need a car, what you are going to do with a car, and then decide what car you need to buy. Lazy people will pick a major just because it is an "easy" degree. Not because it will provide a job they will enjoy doing, in a field that is not saturated, and has a pay that will support your family's needs. But Brian, "money isn't everything." Well, no it's not, but it is the reason why we go to a job everyday! Lazy people have also screwed up our government. We, the working educated, have to pay for hand-outs for a lot of undeserving people. I admit, the programs are usually started for good reasons, but then the lazy man abuses the programs. So why do we not teach work ethics to our children? Why is that not a topic discussed in school, but evolution is? I am a quote/unquote "scientist" and whether or not man was started by a creator or by evolutionary chaos, has no relevance to what kind of job I will take. Okay, that is a whole different Snyd Remark topic. Anyhow, we go to school to learn how to get a job. We go to a job to make money. So why not teach kids how to work and how to manage their money. "You'll get a good job" isn't that what school's are trying to sell us? But not delivering. schools want to diversify our kids and they do not want to discipline the lazy ones...I am sorry, I am sure there is some kind of disorder term I should be using as "lazy" is probaby not P.C. If you have kids, and you love them (which I pray that you do), then do not allow them to grow up with a lazy work habit. A disciplined child will grow up to say "thank you." I know I am thankful!

It’s time we complete what the French only half finished. Now hold on, I am not bashing the French. I am referring to the Statue of Liberty which the French delivered to the American people some 120 years ago. To represent freedom within the United States, we need more than a symbol of liberty. According to the Dr. Viktor Frankl, to have freedom survive liberty must be accompanied by responsibility. Frankl suggested that the “Statue of Liberty on the East Coast be supplemented by a Statue of Responsibility on the West Coast.” Eight years after Frankl’s death, his dream is finally being carried out. Unveiling of the Statue of Responsibility is scheduled for July 4th 2010.

So why are we just now starting to focus on responsibility? Let’s look at the current state of our country to answer this question. Parents are more eager to give their children the liberty to do what they want, but fail to teach them to take responsibility for their actions. Young couples are less willing to commit to the responsibility of marriage, while older couples are quick to quit the marriages that they “committed” to. We have freedom of choice, to abort an unwanted child, avoiding the responsibility we have towards that child. Freedom to eat whatever we want, yet lacking the responsibility of caring for our bodies (thus becoming the most obese nation on the planet). Sinful lifestyles are now accepted, even in some “Christian” churches. Crime is at an all time high for this nation and there are lessened consequences for those crimes. Is this what our ancestors fought and died for? Will God allow us to remain a free nation if these trends continue?
We may not realize how great freedom is until it is gone. It may appear that we have it okay now simply because we are still reaping the benefits of the seeds sown by our forefathers and the soldiers who have fought for our freedom in the past. What kind of seeds are we sowing for the future generations? What harvest will they reap? We must plant the seed of responsibility. The best way to teach responsibility is by example, and we as Christians need to lead the way. We cannot rely on lawmakers to do what God has called His church to do. The fight for freedom is an ongoing battle that we must never quit. The Statue of Responsibility is simply a reminder to Americans as well as the World that with freedom comes great responsibility (I am having Spiderman flashbacks all of a sudden). For more information on the statue, go to www.statueofresponsibility.com

“Common Sense on the Decline, Stupidity Rising”

As I searched the web for ideas on what to write about for this edition, I came across a lot of stupid articles. Has anybody else noticed how common sense seems to no longer be…well… common? I saw headlines like School’s banning pajamas in the classroom and Students deem “drug bust” a racist term. How have these issues become major news? My favorite was 1/3 of Americans want to be taller, as if we don’t already waste enough money on stupid surveys and polls in this country. There was one article though that I would like discuss. Evidently there is a controversy over the fact that U.S. currency only depicts white, European-Americans and I quote “does not reflect the true diversity of the American people.” Am I the only person who does not care whose face is on the front of money? I am willing to bet that the majority of Americans couldn’t tell you who the current people are on the bills. And when did currency become the means for which our country displays its vast diversity? I thought that was what TV is for (okay, for the record I do not really think that.) And why depict a variety of people based solely on race? Why not by lifestyle? i.e. religion, career, favorite color, etc. To get a good mix we would have to include Baptists as well as Atheists, steel workers as well as professional athletes, red heads as well as the bald. How could you possibly represent all types of people equally? We should use a 60 year old Wal-mart employee. After all Wal-Mart is on track to employ 10% of the U.S. population by 2010, so we’d hate to discriminate against 1 in 10 Americans. My point is that our country is not just a melting a pot for race, it is a melting pot for freedom. Not everyone is born a white man of European decent. But all do have the same freedoms. You have the freedom to believe in God or not believe in God. You have the freedom to voice your opinion or to be quiet. You even have the freedom to be stupid if you so choose. That is what makes our country unique. But to continue fighting for “equal rights” defeats the purpose if you ask me. My common sense tells me that by arguing for more ethnic diversity on our currency fuels the fire under the vary issue that these people are trying to eliminate. Depicting our country’s forefathers seems like a good idea to me. I guess some people just need something to complain about. Will this “controversy” remain an issue? I hope not. It is a waste of time and it only stirs up more negative feelings in people. For the two of you who are reading this, if God has given you common sense, get down on your knees and thank Him. If you are one of the many who lack it, get down on your knees and ask for it. That will make it easier on the rest of us.