Avoid becoming a statistic by knowing some

Christmas vacation is around the corner. It's a great time to be away from school, close to family and friends and worship the Savior that was the greatest Christmas present we have ever received. 


Unfortunately, this time of year also includes a rise in alcohol-related accidents. Avoid becoming a statistic by knowing some.

According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), deaths from drinking and driving spike around the holidays, with alcohol being blamed for about 52 percent of fatal collisions on Christmas and 57 percent on New Years compared to a rate of 41 percent for the entire year. In addition to the more than 1,200 alcohol-related deaths that will occur on the road this holiday season, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that more than 25,000 people will be injured.

So what can you do? 

For starters, plan on attending Example's Christmas party.  There you will find fun and cookies and pizza and white elephants and ugly Christmas sweaters.  You will also find young men and women who are not interested in drinking or using drugs.  You will find young men and women who daily face the challenges and temptations of drugs and alcohol, but are striving to make God-pleasing decisions. 

The Example Christmas party is Saturday, December 14 beginning at 7:00. The cost is $3.00.  Lutheran North students only. 

Contact Mr. Brandt if you have any questions.  

Wrap that white elephant; Example's Christmas party is here!

Dust off that hideous Christmas sweater for Example's Christmas Party on Saturday, December 14 at 7:00. Don't have a Christmas sweater that will turn heads and stomachs? Fret not. Cajole Aunt Ethel, cousin Matilda or ol' Uncle Ernie to let you wear one of their sweaters for the evening.  They will be happy you asked them; you will be thrilled when you best all competitors at the Christmas event.

There will also be a white elephant gift exchange.  Wrap a funny, creative or quirky gift. Tell nobody what it is.  Don't even write your name on the TO: __________________  FROM: _____________ ticket.  The surprise will be greater if nobody knows it was you who gift-wrapped a live gold fish in its own water-filled bowl.

The festivities begin at 7:00 p.m. 

The cost is $3.00 and this is for Lutheran North students only.

Who is 5 times more likely to develop alcohol abuse?

Parents and students please know the research about alcohol and drug use; know that alcohol use is not an inevitable component of middle school or high school. 

 

Age of First Use of Alcohol and Drugs:

Using alcohol and drugs before the brain has fully developed increases your risk for future addiction to alcohol and drugs dramatically.  Young people who start drinking alcohol before age 15 are 5 times more likely to develop alcohol abuse or dependence than people who first used alcohol at age 21 or older.  Research for drug use and drug addiction has found similar results.

Learn more about the dangers of underage drinking and drug use.

Example's SHOCKtober event

Example's SHOCKtober event is this Saturday, October 26 from 7:00 - 9:00 pm.

Cost: $3.00. North students only.

Here are three reasons that demand your attendance.

1.  Costume Contest:

  Compete in one of the following categories and win fabulous and really good prizes:
Most Creative Costume,
Most Like an LHN Teacher Costume,
 Scariest Costume,
Best Literary Author Costume,
Best I-Just-Wanted-To-Wear-A-Costume-And-Not-Compete Costume,
Best Book Cover Costume

2. Carved Pumpkin Contest
Bring your already carved pumpkin and dazzle your friends by competing in one of the following categories:
 Scariest Pumpkin, 
Funniest Pumpkin, 
Best Dressed Pumpkin, 
Most Creative/Unusual Pumpkin, 
Best TeacherFace Pumpkin.

The pumpkins must be carved.  While Mr. Faszholz may appreciate your drawing skills, we want to appreciate your carving skills.

 



3. Puffy, Sugary Mallow of Marsh Spitting Contest

Due to the squeamish nature of many Internet viewers we cannot be held responsible for any stomach churning reactions.  As a result we refrain from publishing pictures of puffy, sugary mallows of marsh being projected across the gym floor. 

Do you know Molly?

Below are some disturbing excerpts from a recent article in The Michigan Daily on the dangers of Molly.  Molly isn't a who, it's a drug that functions by "altering brain chemistry and increasing the amount of serotonin present to interact with serotonin receptors." While it may create the feeling of eupohoria, the drug's tragic consequences were evident at a New York City dance music festival in September.  If you are a parent don't assume your children know about the dangers of this drug. Don't assume this drug doesn't show up at weekend parties.  Don't assume that the dangers of drug use are not real.  Don't assume there is nothing you can do.  There is plenty.

Silence is acceptance.

Sure, you may receive an adolescent eye-roll or two, but neglecting to remind your children about the dangers of any drug may have grave consequences. 

"MDMA, Molly, Ecstasy — whatever you want to call it — binds to the transporters so serotonin interacts with receptors for a relatively long time, causing an unnatural response. Because serotonin influences some emotional pathways — such as those controlling empathy and happiness — users experience a heightened sense of euphoria, among other effects. But Molly can change the brain chemistry to a point that can make it impossible to return to a normal level of happiness through sensitization of the receptors — when the receptors no longer cause their expected response due to repeated and long-term exposure to serotonin — making the drug highly addictive.

Because the neurotransmitter is involved in many different physiological pathways, when it causes problems in those pathways the body can lose control. Unfortunately the symptoms — such as kidney failure, high blood pressure and seizures — can have a quick onset, making it difficult if the situation is life threatening to have adequate medical treatment. "

You can read the entire article here.   

Zero Tolerance Teaches Zero Lessons

This story is troubling.
Erin Cox, a 17-year-old student at North Andover High School in Massachusetts, received a call from a friend who been at a party and was too drunk to drive home. She asked Erin to pick her up. The consequences Erin received because she helped a friend are disconcerting.
Read more about this story and watch the video.
Erin decided to help a friend that night.  In the long run her friend's life is more important than five volleyball games and being captain of the school's volleyball team.
Erin's courage and convictions during and after the party is the real lesson.

Example's First Event

You're no longer walking into the wrong class. 
You've finally figured out what lunch you have.
You've also figured out what it is you've been eating during lunch: Mustang Surprise. 
You now know Lutheran North doesn't have a pool so that pool pass you purchased online isn't the deal you first thought.
Every textbook you have is color coded and matched to a folder.
You survived Mixer 2013.
You are settling into the year.

Not so fast. 

You still need to attend Example's first event of the year. 
It begins this Saturday, September 14 from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.  The cost is $3.00. 
LHN students only. Enter through the cafeteria doors. 

Get your hot dogs!...and Example encouragement

Back pack:  Check

New pencils: Check

Locker organizer: Check

Hot dogs? Check

Once again Example welcomed freshmen and their parents to Lutheran North's Freshmen Orientation night.  As they walked up to the school for the evening's events, members of Example calmed some of that freshmen anxiety by offering the best grilled hot dogs north of Hall Road.  They also explained to parents and the newest Mustangs about our events and the benefits of being involved with Example.

During the presentation, seniors Will Kruse and Jackie Schwark encouraged students to have a great year and gave more details on Example's activities.  There were even two of the newest Mustangs who went home with Example gear.  

Free hot dogs, t-shirts and Example wrist bands? Win, place and show: the perfect Example trifecta. 

Our first Example event is Saturday, September 14 

7:00 - 9:00 p.m. 

Cost is $3.00

Heading to college soon?

If you are headed for college in the fall or have a year to think about where you will attend college next fall, you might want to watch this video.

Josh Hamilton speaks to Example

Josh Hamilton spoke to future, present and past Lutheran North students

before a recent game against the Detroit Tigers warning them about the

dangers of drug and alcohol use.

Example had a great time visiting with Josh Hamilton, five-time MLB all-star and right fielder for the Los Angeles Angels before yesterday’s Tigers game.  He was scheduled to speak to our group for ten minutes and ended up sharing his struggles with drugs and alcohol for thirty minutes.  At one point it was announced that he needed to attend a batting meeting.  When somebody from our group reminded him that, “You already know how to hit,” Hamilton laughed, agreed and resumed speaking to our group. 

Josh Hamilton explained how he fell victim to the temptations of drugs and alcohol after he was in a car accident following a spring training game.  Unable to play baseball while recuperating from his injuries, he turned to drugs and alcohol to replace the rush of playing baseball.  His honesty about his failures and the advice he gave to everyone in the room was encouraging.  He implored the young men and women to surround themselves with people that share their values.  He also reminded the group that it doesn’t matter what others may think of their decision to not drink or use drugs.  Sure some people may not understand or pressure you into changing your mind, but that doesn’t matter because you have to stay away from the negative pressures and their potentially life-changing consequences.

Hamilton also explained how important his faith in Christ has been.  He admitted that he has not made God-pleasing decisions all the time and used his descent into drugs and alcohol as just one example.  It was refreshing to hear a professional athlete share how his faith in Christ is more important than his career, friends and anything else.  Hamilton admitted his mistakes and finds comfort in Christ and His redeeming sacrifice.  He shared with the group that being in God’s Word daily is vital for daily living.

Several times Josh Hamilton referenced how he accepted Christ as his Savior.  While Hamilton clearly professed that Christ is his Lord and Savior, I wanted to clarify what God’s Word says about how we come to faith and the role God has in that conversion. As revealed in Ephesians 2: 1-9, God through Paul explains how the Almighty first came to us because we couldn’t: 

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked… But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.  

It is so comforting to know that we are declared God’s redeemed children in spite of our sins and because God, through Christ, came to us.  Our salvation, our redemption is not based on our abilities but always found in God’s almighty power and love for His creation.  Rev. Bryan Wolfmueller crafted an excellent explanation on why  it's important to understand that faith is God’s work.

“If we think that the unbeliever has the will to choose Jesus or make a decision for Christ, then we undo Jesus' words, as if He wanted to say, ‘Apart from Me you can do nothing except invite Me into your heart.’ But Jesus wants us to have the comfort that He Himself, through the Holy Spirit, has given us repentance and faith.  Far from making a decision for Jesus, the Lord's people rejoice that He has made a decision for us, to die for us, to forgive all our sins, to baptize us into His family, and to call us through His Gospel. Our faith is Jesus' work, and this is our great comfort.” - Rev. Wolfmueller

Thanks to everyone who came out to see Josh Hamilton and the Detroit Tigers.  While the Tigers didn’t win, we can all treasure the eternal victory that is ours because of the heavenly righteousness given to us through Christ’s death and resurrection.