Newsletter March 2010
"Where are the Parents?"
So last night I went to driving school. Yes, after 22 years of not receiving a speeding ticket, Barney Fife caught me doing 62 in a 45 on Hwy. 278. Honestly, I wasn't even in a hurry, I thought the speed limit was 55, and I was listening to music and my foot can get a little happy when I am listening to some great thumpin' tunes. The last time I went to court, it was in Nashville, and it was specifically traffic court. This time I was in there with people who had been arrested for domestic violence, theft, and DUI's, they were actually handcuffing people, and I was in there for a little speeding ticket. The judge had the same name as my dad and knew my mother so when he called my name out, he did it with a big boisterous voice, “Kerri Anne King Mullins.” He had not called anybody else's name like that, and I wanted to crawl under my seat. I guessed he was having a little fun with me, so sheepishly, giggling a bit, I approached the bench, and he didn't act like he was kidding at all. He asked me if I pleaded guilty, I did, and he gave me driving school, and then commented on the fact that we were not related. I think next time, if there is a next time in the next 22 years, I will just pay for the ticket.
Back to driving school, I'd say there were about 30 people there last night and about 10 of those people had been caught at the exact same place I did! (Can you say speed trap?) I learned some things though. The teacher who taught Drivers Ed at a nearby school was very good at what he did and you could tell he really cared about people knowing the laws for safety reasons. So, I got a little spank on the hand as a mom on safety and learned a few interesting things that I didn't know. Like, if you gargle with Listerine and swerve on the road and get pulled over, if you have to take a Breathalyzer test, your breath would register at .10%, legally declaring you drunk. I use Listerine every day. I learned about what to do if an aggressive driver comes after you. I also learned that if you observe an accident, not if you are part of it, but if you see an accident and you don't stop to assist or call 911, if someone gets your tag number, you could be arrested for not coming to the aid of the people in an accident. Did not know that one.
After we watched a gruesome video involving fatal accidents, with some cheesy 80's music, and some really bad acting, the man spoke about prom night and this is where I want to dwell. He asked one of his high school students that happened to be there, about prom night which is this weekend at their school. He talked about the dress and the money, and how parents take pictures in front of the fireplace, etc. He then asked the girl, how many people will be drinking alcohol and/or doing some kind of drug that night. She replied, just about everybody. He continued with the percentage of 80 to 90% of kids that are going to prom this weekend will be high on “something.” the night of prom. He told us how last year at his school, he took down the tag numbers of the kids cars as they were leaving and then drove around to all the local hotels where the kids would go to drink and party after the prom and called their parents to let them know where their kids were. I thanked him for being a teacher that cared.
But I have to ask myself, where are the parents? If there are 80 to 90% of the kids that will be doing illegal drugs and alcohol on prom night, which also tells me, 80 to 90% of the kids will also be engaging in sex, where are the parents? You have to know that if that many kids are doing it, some parents have got to know what is going on. I have been to the mall on Friday nights and have seen things that scare me to death. Baby girls that have just developed into women with their cleavage hanging out all over the place, skirts and shorts so short, that if they bend over, anybody, as my mother would say, “could see all their business.” What are the parents thinking? Are we throwing our hands up and saying parenting is too hard, so we just give up? I want to knock on some of their heads and say, “hello, is anybody home?” Is it because some parents think, I messed up as a teenager so I don't have the right to tell my kids they can't do it? Or I did it in high school and nothing happened to me. Praise a merciful God that nothing happened to you, but do you really think the possibilities are not out there?
Can't we just say as parents, you will not be going to a party like that after prom, you can have a party here at our house, or better yet, what about some church youth groups stepping up and having a “Just say no to drugs, alcohol, and sex” party at the church after prom. If you messed up as a teenager, then to me you have triple the right to tell your kids they can't do it because you don't want them to have to deal with the same consequences you did. I read in a book called “For parents only” by Shaunti Feldham, how kids want us to set boundaries, that it makes them feel secure to take the option away from them so they don't have to choose. Matter of fact, Victoria came to us and thanked us for setting boundaries for her where some parents had not for their children. Don't leave the choice to them. We can talk to them until we are blue in the face, but their brains are not mature enough yet to think rationally. They have the idea that the consequences of sin happen to other people, but not to them.
In the book by Andy Andrews called “The Noticer” (yes Melinda, I am reading it and making Victoria read it too) Andy defines Wisdom as “the ability to see, into the future, the consequences of your choices in the present.” It reminds me of a verse of scripture that my dad pounded into my head as a teenager. “When lust has conceived, it brings forth sin and sin when it is finished brings forth death.” My dad and mom, in their wisdom, set boundaries for me and taught me that the “wages of sin is death” not necessarily physical death but something always dies. Drinking and doing drugs leads to irrational thinking, which most often leads to consequences like teen pregnancy, rape, STD's, violence, suicide, driving under the influence and killing people, not to mention the “death” of becoming addicted and unable to stop the vicious cycle of not being able to quit.
I'm not trying to be a square here. I am honestly scared to death for our teenagers. I looked at the girl about to go to prom and my heart ached for her. I wondered if her caring teacher reached her or will she end up possibly at the Etowah Pregnancy testing center, innocence vanished, wondering if she has to make the hardest choice of her life. Will we be there for her, of course we will, and we will encourage her to choose the life of the precious baby inside her, to lead her to Christ, but how much better would it have been for her, if her parents had stood up to her and said, “You know I love you, you will not like me for this decision I am making for you right now, but you are not going to that “after prom” party.” They may hate you at the moment, but parenting is sometimes about tough love. And above all else, Pray. Pray for your children, pray to be a good parent, pray for direction in rearing them. I leave you with these two verses that my parents taught me and said to me every time they disciplined me. It is our commandment from God, if we are rearing children, to train them in the ways of the Lord.
Deuteronomy 6:4-7 says “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.
“Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6
ALBANIA 2010: Victoria is planning on going to Albania this year in September to see the work there. This will be her first mission trip and I would really like to go with her, but the cost is a lot for one family. So I am putting it out there that if God lays on your heart to support us to go, you can make a donation to Hope for the World Albania and put the attention for Kerri and Victoria’s trip. Thank you so much.
2/28/09
The last year has been a bit topsy turvy for us since as of April of 08, Buddy has accepted the position of Worship Pastor at Cross Point Community Church in Gadsden, AL. We really miss our friends in Nashville but we absolutely know God has called us to be in Gadsden at Cross Point. He is still travelling some and is available for some concert dates.
Also in July of this year, Buddy was priviledged and honored to be one of the GVB members and took part in the GVB Reunion which is now available on DVD from www.Gaither.net.
We would love for you to sign up for our monthly e-newsletter. God Bless!
________________________________________________________________________
7/25/07
As of July 6, 2007, Kerri is officially cancer free. Praise the Lord. Check out our blog for more details. Also check out Everyday Driven’s site for news on upcoming concerts and events.
4/12/07
Thanks so much for all the prayers over the past three months. Kerri is doing very well. God has truly blessed us with His presence and His power. For more info on her journey you can read it at the www.myspace.com/everydaydriven blog.
Make sure you check out my new myspace site
www.myspace.com/buddymullinsmusic
Hey! Be looking for the new Everyday Driven project due out at the end of this month. We are also working on a new website for the group and a new myspace at the same time the project releases. So keep checking www.everydaydriven.com
Thanks for visiting my site and come back often.
11/27/06
Hey everyone, thank you for your patience in our transitional period. We are proud to announce the new and improved BuddyMullins.com! Feel free to browse around and let us know what you think.
Also, keep an eye on this page for news and updates.
11/23/06
Happy Thanksgiving everyone! hope it is a good one.
11/21/06
Everyday Driven - Powerhouse vocals and musicianship with an undeniable message. Buddy Mullins, Kerri Mullins, and Channing Eleton are moving forward as "Everyday Driven" continuing the vision God gave to them a year ago. If you have seen them in concert, you also know of the enthusiastic young percussionist, Justin Miller. He will also continue on with them in ministry. "We have all been through a refining process, but rest assured, we are going forward and pressing toward the mark." says Kerri Mullins." "We are so excited to announce that Paul Lancaster will be a permanent addition to our group." says Buddy Mullins. He has sang with Buddy for almost 20 years with the Mullins Family, Mullins and Co., and Sunday Drive. Over the past few years, he has stepped in and helped such groups as the Martins, Booth Brothers, and others. Paul says "My wife and I always knew I would be back in ministry with Buddy at some point, and now with Channing and Kerri, its like being back home." Buddy and Paul's sound together is very recognizable and the group is thrilled to have them back together again. "We are driven everyday by something. Our prayer is to be driven by Christ and to lift Him up so that He can draw others to Himself. We want to lead people to worship God with passion" says Channing Eleton. What's driving you?