for and about today’s youth
from Timothy Ministries-The True Son & accompanying blog, The Maiden’s Portion
Dying To Be Cool
A new study shows heart disease, lung cancer, and emphysema may be more
prevalent in popular youths. The University of California and the University of
Texas collaborated on a study which found that popular students in seven
different California high schools were more likely to smoke cigarettes than
unpopular students. (see full article: www.medicalnewstoday.com)
When I was growing up, almost everyone in my family smoked in one form or
another. My dad preferred Winston's, and smoked about two packs a day, but quit
cold-turkey in 1980. My great-grandfather, Bly, smoked a pipe. Even though he
lived to well into his 90's, it was throat cancer~caused from the raw tobacco in the
pipe~that killed him. The cancer came to the top of his skin like giant bruises, 2 to
3 inches in diameter, all over his body. He died the day after my 19th birthday.
All teens are looking for acceptance~they need to fit in, be a part of the gang, yet
be unique at the same time. In their search for the place within the popular
groups, they fall into the trap of being just like everyone else. It was not so many
years ago that I was a