VAPING
There was a time in our society when smoking was portrayed as the cool thing to do. Characters like the Marlboro Man and Joe Camel depicted smoking as socially acceptable, even harmless. Evidence of the harmful effects of smoking led to a better understanding of the dangers of smoking, and eventually a shift in public perception. While still common, it is not nearly as popular as it once was. Every pack of cigarettes now contains an explicit warning label about the dangers of smoking to your health.
The next generation of Americans is currently being bombarded by an entirely new temptation: vaping. Even though smoking continues to decline in popularity, vaping is picking up where smoking left off. Vaping, or inhaling vapors from an e-cigarette, is often marketed as an alternative to smoking. These products often have catchy names such as e-juice or pods. One brand, Juul, has achieved such a popular status that “Juuling” is now a verb used by people to represent vaping, regardless of the brand. Vaping is designed to appeal to young people through things such as a sleek look (some e-cigarettes can pass for a USB drive) or flavors that taste like candy.
Evidence now shows that not only does vaping have its own set of harmful side effects, including dangers from inhaling secondhand vapors, but usage among teenagers is increasing at an alarming rate (see sidebar). The pressure to try vaping is something young people who desire to follow God’s way of life are not immune to. When faced with the temptation of vaping, here are some things to consider as you talk to your parents, your friends at church or peers at school:
REALIZE THE HEALTH DANGERS ASSOCIATED WITH VAPING, PARTICULARLY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
Although e-cigarettes are marketed to consumers as a safe alternative to cigarettes, there is still significant risk, particularly for young people. Last December, the Surgeon General of the United States, Dr. Jerome Adams, issued the following advisory: “I am officially declaring e-cigarette use [vaping] among youth an epidemic in the United States.” According to a September 12, 2019 article on CNN.com, six people have already died from lung-related illnesses due to vaping.
Even though vaping does not produce actual smoke, possible harmful effects include exposure to the addictive properties of nicotine as well as cancer-causing chemicals, heavy metals and other harmful, ultra-fine particles that can be inhaled into the lungs. As if that isn’t enough, the potential for chest pain or difficulty breathing, severe diarrhea, tooth loss and lung disease poses a very real threat to the longterm health of vapers. A YaleMedicine.org article dated
The Latest Attack on Your Generation T
by Steve Parker

Sept. 7, 2019 reports there is significant concern that vaping during teenage years will increase the chances that teens will take up smoking later in life. Contrary to popular opinion, vaping is a dangerous habit to start!

VAPING IS ILLEGAL FOR ANYONE UNDER 18
Being an outlaw has always been part of the mystique associated with smoking cigarettes. Movies depicting characters who are rebellious will often portray them with a cigarette to enhance the image. However, vaping is still a violation of the federal law for people under the age of 18. In addition to the legal consequences, breaking the law of the land is also an act of rebellion toward God. Romans 13:1-2 (New Living Translation) reminds us, “Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished.”

TALK TO YOUR PARENTS ABOUT THE REAL TEMPTATION FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO VAPE
In a recent UYC camp survey, respondents said that vaping is the number one pressure facing young people today. Your parents are probably very familiar with the temptation to smoke, as it was much more common when they were your age. However, they may not be as familiar with vaping since it can often be hidden, and does not carry the same stigma as smoking does. Help them understand that the pressure you face today is similar to what they faced as a teen!
One camper said that 90% of her classmates in high school had tried vaping. “It’s just everywhere at school. Students keep it in their backpack and the teachers don’t even know it’s there,” she said. It can be difficult to say no in the face of peer pressure. Talk to your parents or your local minister if you are feeling this pressure.

BELIEVE THAT GOD DESIRES FOR SOMETHING BETTER FOR HIS PEOPLE
God’s plan for mankind involves teaching us to make decisions that are healthy for our minds and bodies. The Bible says that our “body is the temple of the Holy Spirit” (1 Corinthians 6:19). Making good decisions about how we treat our bodies is not only healthy, but it pleases God.
In 3 John 2, we read, “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” Believing that God wants you to make healthy choices will encourage you as you stand out. Look for ways to connect with friends who feel the same way. It is more important to please God than to fit in with the wrong crowd.

VAPING IN THE NEWS (HEADLINES FROM AROUND THE U.S.)
First vaping deaths in Florida and Georgia bring nationwide total to 11
“As of last week, at least 530 cases of lung injury associated with the use of e-cigarettes or vaping products have been reported to the CDC” (Jacqueline Howard, CNN, 9/25/19). cnn.com/2019/09/25/health/georgia-vaping-death-bn/index.html
Trump administration readies ban on flavored e-cigarettes amid outbreak of vaping-related deaths
“The Food and Drug Administration is currently finalizing its guidance to remove all non-tobacco flavors of e-cigarettes, including mint and menthol, from the market within 30 days” (Angelica LaVito, CNBC, 9/11/19). cnbc.com/2019/09/11/trump-to-consider-e-cigarette-policy-amid-outbreak-of-lung-disease.html
Walmart says it will stop selling e-cigarettes due to connection with lung illness
“‘Given the growing federal, state and local regulatory complexity and uncertainty regarding e-cigarettes, we plan to discontinue the sale of electronic nicotine delivery products at all Walmart and Sam’s Club U.S. locations,’ the company said in a statement” (CNN, 9/20/19). kivitv.com/news/national/walmart-says-it-will-stop-selling-e-cigarettes-due-to-connection-with-lung-illness
Teen Has Mouth Wired Shut After Vape Explodes, Fracturing His Jaw and Knocking Out Teeth
“‘The vape blew up his lower jaw causing a major fracture and bone loss,’ said Katie Russell, a pediatric trauma surgeon who treated the boy at the University of Utah Health Care and Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City. ‘He also lost multiple teeth, had a large cut in his mouth, and some lip burns’” (George Dvorsky, Gizmodo.com, 6/20/19). gizmodo.com/teen-has-mouth-wired-shut-after-vape-explodes-fracturi-1835689187
Teens Exposed to ‘Secondhand’ Vaping Fumes
“The danger to teenagers’ lungs from e-cigarettes isn’t only occurring in those who vape: A new report finds many young bystanders are breathing in ‘secondhand’ fumes (Robert Preidt, HealthyDay News, 8/28/19). webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/news/20190828/lots-of-teens-are-breathing-in-others-vaping-fumes

BE PREPARED TO RESPOND WHEN SOMEONE ASKS YOU IF YOU WANT TO VAPE
Say no. Temptation is unfortunately part of life in today’s world. To resist, you need to have a plan for how you will respond. If someone asks you if you would like to vape, a simple but firm “no” is a good answer.
Talk about why you say no. If they ask why you don’t want to try vaping, be prepared to give an answer. You may have a chance to educate others in your peer group about the dangers of vaping or to even talk about God’s way of life!
Report it. Intense pressure from someone asking you to vape should be reported to your parents or school authorities.

PRAY FOR PROTECTION, WISDOM AND THE RIGHT WORDS TO SAY
Vaping is the latest trend in unhealthy behaviors. Standing firm in your beliefs can make you seem like the odd person out, but God will come to the aid of those who seek Him and His ways. Psalm 46:1 reminds us, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
By standing firm, you are not only doing the right thing, you are being a leader to others around you who may have difficulty resisting the temptation to vape. You can successfully do this by going to God in prayer, and asking Him to help you to respond wisely when you are faced with vaping or any other temptation that comes your way!
Steve Parker is active in the UCG congregation in Austin, Texas. He lives outside of Austin in a little town called Spicewood with his wife, Angela, and their two daughters, Layla and Charlotte.
Let’s be honest—life can be really busy! I live in America, one of the wealthiest nations on the planet. Keeping in mind the old saying “Time is money,” I wonder how rich Americans really are. Compared to many developing countries, Americans feel rather poor in their time reserves. No one seems to have enough!
Why do so many of us feel so busy, and what can we do about it?
We long for time to relax and reflect, but many of us get tangled up in hectic schedules that suck up our time like an industrial-strength vacuum! We often tell ourselves we will make time after our schedule gets back to “normal.” But “normal” never seems to happen. The struggle is real to find balance with our time!
This struggle can be represented by using the word “busy” as an acronym, each letter standing for another word. There are two versions of the acronym, two ways of looking at it that give us something to consider.

BROUGHT-UNDER-SATAN’S-YOKE (B.U.S.Y.)
Here is the root of the problem. There is a devil. His name, Satan, means “adversary.” This powerful spirit being is evil and cunning, and he hates us. (See our Bible study aid Is There Really a Devil? to learn more.)
Satan knows that if he can’t get us to reject God and His laws, then he can prevent us from having a close and active relationship with our Creator by keeping us super busy!
We give in too easily, and thus we have “no time” to “seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33, New International Version). But strangely enough, we find the time for lower priority activities like checking Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, watching movies, hanging out, traveling and reading novels.
So let’s move on to the positive—a way to save our time going forward.
Breathe—Understand—Simplify—Yearn (B.U.S.Y.)

BREATHE!
It’s impossible to create extra time in the day—trust me,
I’ve tried. After spending some time in Africa, I noticed the
cultural difference in terms of time management priorities:
Relationships came first, then deadlines and punctuality.
For sure, there needs to be a balance, but it was interesting
to see that life didn’t have to be as busy or stressful as life
in America!
Sometimes at work I literally have to remind myself to
breathe. This is not how God planned things! Our bodies
were not meant to be constantly this busy. Take time to step
back from stress and breathe!

UNDERSTAND GOD’S PLAN.
This sounds like a big task, but you’re never too young
to seek God wholeheartedly! “Remember now your Creator
in the days of your youth, before the difficult days come,
and the years draw near when you say, ‘I have no pleasure in
them’” (Ecclesiastes 12:1).
Understanding God’s way and seeking Him first will
help us to have the right perspective on life. Obeying God
brings us into His time rhythm, which greatly revolves
around the seventh day of the week—the Sabbath—as a
day of rest. Faithfully taking that day off to vertically orient
ourselves toward God greatly refreshes our lives and shields
us from the devil’s influence.

SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE.
In an age of distractions, we are far too easily influenced
by society’s norms and trends. Video gaming, hyper-social
networking and television add to the cloud of devices, events
and activities that steal our precious time. The tempting but
trivial smorgasbord of distractions leads us away from the
more important things in life.
Several years ago, I began a life without cable television—
a big step for me! Next I freed more time by nixing
Netflix. These things aren’t inherently bad, but they can
become our go-to activities when we have an ounce of free
time. Is there anything in your life making you unnecessarily
busy and keeping you from connecting with God and family?

YEARN FOR THE RIGHT THINGS.
Ask God to help you focus. We make time for what’s
important to us, so it’s important to have the right things be
important! “So teach us to number our days, that we may
gain a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12). After a long day of
work, my heart yearns to endlessly scroll Facebook for hours,
but wisdom reminds me to find something more fulfilling to
do instead, such as taking a walk outside without my phone
and focusing on God’s creation.

TIME OFFERING
Being busy doesn’t make you a bad person. You might
think that your priorities are fine; I did. But Jesus Christ
wants us to make Him and His way of life our top priority,
to “present [our] bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to
God, which is [our] reasonable service” (Romans 12:1).
Today, we typically think of sacrifices and offerings in
financial terms; showing that God is more important than
our money. Yet our time is extremely important to God as
well. Instead of being so busy with everything else, our great
Creator wants us to be living sacrifices by giving Him the
right amount of our time.
We are busy today—possibly busier than at any time in
history. Satan will constantly try to consume our time to distract
us away from God. But you can take steps to use your
time wisely. What does B.U.S.Y. stand for in your life?

CC

Corbin Rose