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♦ FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2006 6A ‘Shop for a Cause’ will help Pregnancy Resource Center Special to the Journal The first annual Shop for a Cause winter event will he held Tuesday from 5:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. at First United Methodist Church on North Davis Drive. A love-offering and/or new baby items will be accepted as event admission at the door. All donations at the door will directly benefit the Early stimulation promotes learning ability Question: What causes a child to be a “slow learner” one who just doesn’t learn like other children in the classroom? Dr. Dobson: There are many hereditary, environ mental and physical factors that contribute to one’s intellect, and it is difficult to isolate the particular influ ences. For many children who have difficulty in school, we will never know precisely why their ability to learn is limited. Let me tell you what is now known about intellec tual development that may explain some - but not all cases of learning deficits. Accumulating evidence seems to indicate that some children who are slow learn ers and even those who have borderline retardation may not have received proper intellectual stimulation in their very early years. There appears to be a crit ical period during the first three to four years when the potential for intellectu al growth must be seized. There are enzyme systems in the brain that must be activated during this brief window. If the opportunity is missed, the child may never reach his capacity. Children who grow up in deprived circumstances are more likely to be slow learners. They may not have heard adult language regu larly. They may not have been provided with interesting books and puzzles to stimu late their sensory appara tus. They may not have been taken to the zoo, the air port or other exciting places. They may not have received daily training and guidance from adults. This lack of stimulation may inhibit the brain from developing properly. The effect of early stimu lation on living brains has been studied in several fasci Church Briefs New youth minister called Friendship Baptist Church of Warner Robins announc es the call of Christopher Michael Rice as full-time minister of youth and activi ties. Rice will begin his min istry Dec. 11. He is a grad uate of Lexington Baptist College and Southern Baptist | THESE SERVICE PROVIDERS 1 __ I x y i HAVE SPONSORED THIS L , O L? | , l Church & KeligiorirAGE Bupport Your Local Reiigious Instituti()n And Place Your Ad On 'this Page By (filing 478-987-1823! SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL RELIGIOUS L T institutions!^^ Sponsor This & Page By Calling 4 Betty or Brandy jP* % IJjl at 987-1823 f Arnold's Auto Scr\ ic 1202 Main St. Perry, Ga. 31069 Complete Car Maintenance Pick-up & Delivery "Road Servi Cali Thomas or Shelby Pregnancy Resource Center of Warner Robins as well as 5 percent of all retail sales. The event is the brain child of Allison Soine, Emily Wiegert, and Gail Simon- Boyd who got together to find a way to raise funds for the center. “Ultimately, we wanted to do something good for the community, and help ing babies in the Houston nating animal experiments. In one study, researchers divided littermate rats into two identi cal groups. The first was given maximum stimula tion dur ing the first few months of life. These Dr. James Dobson Focus on the Family rats were kept in well-lighted cages, surrounded by inter esting paddle wheels and other toys. They were han dled regularly and allowed to explore outside their cages. They were subjected to learning experiences and then rewarded for remem bering. The second group lived the opposite kind of exis tence. These rats crouched in dimly lit, drab, uninter esting cages. They were not handled or stimulated in any way, and were not permit ted outside their cages. Both groups were fed identically. At 105 days of age, the rats were sacrificed to per mit examination of their neurological apparatus. The researchers were surprised to find that the high-stimu lation rats had brains that differed in several important ways: (1) the cortex (the thinking part of the brain) was thicker and wider; (2) the blood supply was much more abundant; (3) the enzymes necessary for learning were more sophisticated. The researchers con cluded that the stimula tion experienced during the first group’s early lives had resulted in more advanced and complex brains. It is always risky to apply conclusions from animal research directly to humans, but the same kinds of chang es probably occur in the brains of highly stimulated children. If parents want their chil- Theological Seminary. A Maryland native, he has served churches in Kentucky, Ohio and New York over the last 10 years. He and his wife Marcy have two chil dren, Timothy James and Corinna. Paul Cowles is the senior pastor of the church, which is located at 1322 Feagin Mill Road, Warner Robins. LONGHORN BUTCHER SHOP youk Homom Birtcm Sim 1976 1207 Sunset A\e. • Perry Plaza Pern. (.A 31009 l.ee Lavselrr 478-987*5711 Greer Lasseter County-Wamer Robins area seemed like the right thing to do,” Wiegert said. Without any reservation, these three ladies started Shop for a Cause. “We knew the center needed more than baby sup plies to maintain its opera tion, and we knew we could help,” Soine added. The ladies industriously pulled together eight independent dren to be capable, they should begin by talking to them at length while they are still babies. Interesting mobiles and winking-blink ing toys should be arranged around the crib. From then on through the toddler years, learning activities should be programmed regularly. Of course, parents must understand the difference between stimulation and pressure. Providing books for a 3- year-old is stimulating. Ridiculing and threatening him because he can’t read them is pressuring. Imposing unreachable expectations can have a damaging effect on children. If early stimulation is as important as it now appears, then the lack thereof may be a leading cause of learning impairment among school children. It is imperative that par ents take the time and invest their resources in their chil dren. The necessity for provid ing rich, edifying experienc es for young children has never been as obvious as it is today. Question:What do you think of the phrase, “Children should be seen and not heard”? Dr. Dobson:That state ment reveals a profound ignorance of children and their needs. I can’t imagine how any loving adult could raise a vulnerable little boy or girl by that philosophy. Children are like clocks; they must be allowed to run! Dr. Dobson is founder and chairman of the board of the nonprofit organization Focus on the Family, PO. Box 444, Colorado Springs, CO. 80903; or www.family. org. Questions and answers are excerpted from “The Complete Marriage and Family Home Reference Guide” and “Bringing Up Boys,” both published by Tyndale House. YMCA plans yard sale The Houston County YMCA will have a yard sale Dec. 9, starting at 7 a.m. The location will be 1902 Suite B Elberta Road in Warner Robins. There will be gymnastics equipment and other office items for sell. Serving Houston County Ferry • Warner Robins Member FDIC CBST Bank of Middle Georgia fjk 1 THE BANK W OF PERRY Please worship at the church of your choice 40094 1006 Main St. • Perry 987-2552 Member FDIC RELIGION consultants representing dif ferent companies: Arbonne, Cookie Lee Jewelry, Creative Memories, Discovery Toys, Pampered Chef, Partylite, Southern Living At Home, and Tastefully Simple. All consultants plan to have the orders back before Christmas. “We decided on a ‘One- Stop Shopping Experience’ for the event so that the com Telling a Thanksgiving story On Thanksgiving morning in 1945, I was riding my bicy cle through Perry’s streets. Traveling down Highway 341 towards Hawkinsville, I passed a middle-aged man hitchhiking. He was shab bily dressed and appeared to be a drifter passing through town. I felt sorry for him and stopped to talk. He stated he was down on his luck and had hitchhiked from Tennessee. He was heading to his sis ter’s home in Florida where he hoped to find work. Since mother was preparing a scrumptious Thanksgiving dinner, I asked him if he wanted something to eat, to which he replied affir matively. I raced home and asked mother to prepare turkey, dressing, vegetables, dessert and tea. Mother obliged and I carried the food back. The man took the food and sat down on the curb ing to eat. He removed his hat and muttered a blessing. He obviously hadn’t eaten well in days as he literally devoured the food. He finished eating and handed me the picnic bas ket, then said something Personal satisfaction holds priority The year was 1981. A young friend asked if I had plans to attend a local football game. “No,” I replied, “I just don’t have time for ball games.” “If you really wanted to go, you’d find time,” was his prompt comeback. The truth cannot be denied. Other interests hold prior ity over sports. I tried getting interested in televised games. That fizzled out when I kept rooting for George only to discover that George was not on either team. According to Natasha Gibbons at the YMCA, gen tly used donations will be welcome and volunteers are needed to post signs and help set up the sale on Dec. 8. All donations can be dropped off at the main YMCA located at 2954 Moody Road. If you have a large load of items, call Gibbons Heco- ‘Pervuf (jCeeutete 736 Main Street Perry, Georgia 31069 Jackie & Terry Mullis 987-1965 uon-uHWT 100040090 Perry DrugCqmpany Friendly, Professional Sendee Ben Bartlett & Hubert Bennett, RMiISTEREO PHARMACISTS 4 lit Awwmw Acctpttd 1036 MACON RD. • PERRY, GA 100040089 988-1144 munity could do the msgor ity of their Holiday shopping in one place,” added Simon- Boyd. “Each consultant agreed to donate at least five per cent of their sales to the Center. Their generosity and support has been over whelming.” ;The first annual Shop for a Cause Winter event will be held Tuesday from 5:30 that I shall never forget. He remarked, “Young man, I once was married and had a family. We looked forward to spending Thanksgiving together. I had a successful job and was doing well, but some- thing happened in my life. My wife started running around with anoth er man behind my back and took the kids away from me. I started to hit the bottle and before long, I lost my job. I’ve been in jail sev eral times, and my life has gone to pot. Although my wife left me, I should have pulled my life together and begun counting my bless ings instead of my trou bles. “I am going to my sis ter’s to stay for a while and hope I can get back on my feet.” As he walked away to resume hitchhiking, he turned and said with a pointed finger, “Don’t let this happen to you, son. Later when George was playing on a televised game, guess who was not at home to see the action. Why was I not at home? You prob ably could have guessed. I was involved in a gospel sing. My young friend’s com ment is accurate. We are 922-2566 or e-mail programs@hocoymca.org. Chamber singers to perform Eight chamber singers will present Gabriel Faure’s Requiem at 7 p.m., Dec. 8 at St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church in Perry. The concert will be under [lßl2 II.S. 41 N.l Perry, GA 987-1112 (39&£e%:s FlooringAMßHCA 00041001 Perry Antique Mall 63ij Courtney Hodges Blvd. \ Perry, GA 31069 tSqxt- to Petty AnitiKtl Hospital 478-987-8775 -LNGC perryantiques@alltel.net ALA G ,,,v lotMMotm HOUSTON DAILY JOURNAL p.m. until 8:30 p.m. at First United Methodist Church on North Davis Drive. A love-offering and/or new baby items will be accepted as event admission at the door. All donations at the door will go to directly benefit the Pregnancy Resource Center of Warner Robins as well as 5 percent of all retail sales. Stay positive about life and don’t let bad torns in the road get you down.” As I rode away on my bike, he waved goodbye and I recip rocated. Indeed, we should count our blessings and not our problems our gains and not our losses, our joys instead of our woes, our friends instead of our foes, our smiles and not our tears, our courage and not our fears our full years and not our lean years our kind deeds and not our misdeeds, our health and not our wealth. And finally, count on God instead of ourselves. The 100th Psalm is fitting for the Thanksgiving sea son: “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with glad ness: come before his pres ence with singing. Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people and the sheep of his pasture. “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him and bless his name. For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlast ing; and his truth endureth to all generations.” Billy Powell Columnist inclined to devote our time and energies to things which bring personal sat isfaction. God designed each of us with individual likes and dislikes. He is due the honor of these characteris tics used to reflect examples of Christianity. “Who can put into words the mighty deeds of the Lord?” (Modern) “Who can praise Him half enough? Happiness comes to those who are fair to others and are always just and good.” - Psalms 104 2 -3, Living Bible. Earline Cole Reflections the direction of organist and choirmaster Joseph. O’Berry. A reception will follow in Buchanan Hall. The concert is free and open to the pub lic. O’Berry will also perform at 6 p.m. Dec. 17 with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra at Peachtree Presbyterian Church. 478-988-2448 740 Main Street Perry GA 31069 'VcAit Tie Online www.sewingbees.com Sperry florist 734 Main Street Perry, Georgia 31069 987-1656 800-516-1004 00040100 0004 11HM