Wednesday, February 6, 2008

Job opening at Lois' Lodge- JOB FILLED




We have a job opening at Lois' Lodge. We are in need of an assistant to come alongside our housemother to assist her by performing some of the following duties: help with transportation to appointments, work, etc.; provide oversight of dinner preparation and other chores; interaction with clients while house mom meets with individual girls and accomplishes record keeping and other related tasks.

This is a parttime position, 20 hours a week, Monday through Thursday, 2 PM to 7 PM (although some flexibility regarding hours is appreciated).

If you are interested in applying please submit your letter of interest and resume to debbie at debloislodge@aol.com.

You Go Girl!




One of our young moms has earned her High School diploma during the course of her stay at Lois' Lodge. She also has been working at Target in order to save money so that she can be in a good place when the baby arrives. Bravo Tauri. We are proud of you. Also in the photo is Lois' Lodge board member, Falinda Farley.

Monday, February 4, 2008

Walkathon April 12


LOIS' LODGE WALK-A-THON

Join us in making a difference in the lives of women facing the challenges of an unplanned pregnancy!

Date: Saturday, April 12, 2008
Time: 8:00am - 10:00pm
Location: Stumptown Park
Street: South Trade Street
City/Town: Matthews, NC

This fun event will raise awareness as well as funds to support
the mission and work of Lois' Lodge.

There are 4 ways that you can become involved:

1. Become a Walker - you can either raise sponsorships to benefit the ministry or make a donation to walk.

2. Recruit a group to walk

3. Make a contribution (If you are not already sponsoring someone please consider sponsoring me- Debbie. Email me at debloislodge@aol.com.)

4. Volunteer to help.

If you or your group is walking, please register though the website so that we know you're coming! www.loislodge.org

Questions? Contact Dawn at dg_loislodge@bellsouth.net
or (704)376-8550

Sunday, February 3, 2008

American Idol Mocks Abstinence Choice



Baptist Press 2/1/08

CULTURE DIGEST: Abstinence ridiculed on 'American Idol'
By Erin Roach

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--A teenage contestant in a preliminary round of this season's "American Idol" was mocked for his abstinence stance, sending a message to thousands of viewers about how the culture treats the issue.

Bruce Dickson, a 19-year-old from Bastrop, Texas, was asked to tell something about himself during the Dallas auditions for the reality show, and he said he had never kissed a girl.

"What?" Randy Jackson, one of the show's judges, asked. "On purpose?"

"On purpose," Dickson said. "On my wedding day, that will be my first kiss."

The home-schooled, Christian teenager went on to explain that he has made a commitment to abstain from sexual activity until marriage, and his father holds him accountable in his decision.

"Maybe next year he'll come back less a boy and more a man," host Ryan Seacrest quipped as Dickson's segment ended.

Dickson later told Cybercast News Service he disagreed with Seacrest's assertion.

"A real man would rather wait than just do whatever with whoever," Dickson said.

And on Fox News, the editor of a pornographic magazine said American Idol is a "national popularity contest based on talent and sex appeal. There's nothing sexy about a 19-year-old guy who's never kissed a girl and wears a heart necklace his father is holding the key to."

Dickson told CNS he is firm in his decision despite the puzzling ridicule.

"I respect women and don't think of them as a sexual object, and I'm the freak?" he said, adding that divorce and other problems his parents observed in their extended family led them to challenge their children to abstain from sex outside marriage.

"It wasn't anything they forced on us," Dickson told CNS. "It was something they talked to us about, something they taught us the importance of."

Jason Burtt, national director of Silver Ring Thing, a Christian organization that promotes abstinence, commended Dickson for his stance and said a growing number of youth are choosing to abstain based on their morals and faith. Burtt also lamented the treatment Dickson received on the show.

"Bruce has said he's going to walk the hard walk, and instead of lifting him up and praising him, we're mocking him," Burtt said. "I think that's because when someone is up on a chair, it's easier for people to pull him down than to pull everyone else up off the floor. Maybe they feel bad they couldn't do it themselves."

In related news, a Boston University School of Medicine study said teens with positive attitudes about delaying sexual activity are more likely to practice abstinence. Influences like parental opinions on sex, personal beliefs and their friends' sexual behavior help determine whether a teen will have sex, the study said, while fears of pregnancy and STDs did not make teens more likely to abstain.

"This study proves that when teens are given the skill sets needed to make the best health choice about sex, it is clear they are capable of choosing to abstain," Valerie Huber, executive director of the National Abstinence Education Association, said Jan. 16. "The core teachings of abstinence education include character building, goal-setting and exploring the emotional risks of casual sex. Abstinence education is the only curriculum that offers such a clear, risk-avoidance approach to sexual health."