I Love You Dad

Below is an email that I recieved this morning from my son's t-ball coach Jay. His son has been in Afghanistan for about 2 weeks. It kinda puts all our problems in perspective...

-Pastor Joe

Monday, September 22, 2008 10:16:42 AM Dad, I do need a few things

1. An absentee ballot, if you could send me one. They have something here, but it closes before I get off work. I think it will be easier if you send me one compared to getting one sent online.

2. I'd like to purchase some land when I get back, somewhere in the mountains away from a town, maybe 5 acres or more. I've been looking, but time is crunched. I can't use my own computer, because everything here has to have security clearances and you can only use theirs. I was thinking NC, VA, maybe even TN. Just look into it, I believe it's going to be the only thing that is worth much soon. You can put a cabin up for 12000 dollars, they come in pieces and it takes like 3 days to put them up. One could buy some solar panels for small electronic devices such as laptops, cell phones, etc. The refrigerator and stove can be run off propane (I'll have to look into how expensive that is). That's pretty much how I want to live. The simple life. Walden, by Henry David Thoreau, is about Thoreau building his own cabin and living away from society for two years. It's very interesting what your priorities become out there. I tell you what, I will let you and mom build a vacation house on my land if you find me a good piece. Try to settle mom down about getting me stuff. I don't need things.

I am having trouble reading the Bible. I guess I have a pretty good overview of it and when I start reading it just sounds repetitive. I know that's wrong, but I just can't get into it. My prayer and worship are good. I struggle with other's intentions during their worship. We have this nut that changes his voice completely and gets very soft and dramatic when he prays, "Oh yes, Father God, I just want to thank you, Father God, we love you so much, Father God, Father God, you are awesome, Father God." I just want to shake him and say, "He knows his own name. You don't have to repeat it to Him religiously" (pun intended). It just reminds me of the people shouting prayers on the street corners just to be heard. It really messes with my head. Then I feel bad that my heart isn't where it's supposed to be when all of this is going on. You really have to push the "love others" around here. People are so ignorant thinking all Afghans are bad and complaining about any little obstruction to their daily priorities. "YOU SIGNED UP FOR THIS." Heaven forbid you have to do something that you don't enjoy! Just pray for me to have compassion and humility.

I already got into a little tiff when someone pushed me. I saw red and pushed back, which I shouldn't have done...I guess the stress is getting to me a little. 17 people have died since we've been here. They cart them down the road in a flatback humvee in their caskets with the American Flag draped over it. All available personnel line the streets with a salute. This usually happens at midnight, separating my sleep in two.

I know this letter sounds depressing, but I'm not depressed. I'm me, working continuously and thinking and trying to figure out what God wants from me in this chaotic world we all live in.

I love you Dad

Teen suicides dip, experts worry rate remains high

CHICAGO (AP) — The number of teen suicides has fallen slightly, but the rate remains disturbingly high, possibly fueled by drug warnings that have scared many from using antidepressants.

The suicide rate was about 4.5 per 100,000 in 2005, the most recent data available. That follows an 18% spike the previous year that alarmed experts when first reported.
That's because until then, suicides among 10- to 19-year-olds had been on a steady decline since 1996.

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Dr. David Fassler, a psychiatry professor at the University of Vermont, said the report suggests a "very disturbing" upward trend that correlates with a decline in teen use of antidepressants.
FIND MORE STORIES IN: Ohio Food and Drug Administration Columbus University of Vermont University of Illinois-Chicago Nationwide Children Dr. David Fassler

That decline stems from the Food and Drug Administration's 2004 black-box warning label because of reports that the drugs can increase risks for suicidal tendencies.

Fassler, who wasn't involved in the new study, is among psychiatrists who believe the drugs' benefits, including treating depression that can lead to suicide, outweigh their risks. He said he has no financial ties to makers of antidepressants.

The new report shows the rate dropped by about 5% from 4.7 in 2004 — or from 1,983 suicides in 2004 to 1,883 in 2005.

That's still 600 more suicides than would have been expected had the earlier trend continued, said lead author Jeffrey Bridge, a researcher at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.

Patrick Tolan, director of the University of Illinois-Chicago's juvenile research institute, said it will be important to continue tracking teen suicides to see if the rate continues to decline or hovers at a higher than expected level.

Regardless, suicide remains a leading cause of teen deaths and "a major public health issue," he said.