Shade Tree Wisdom 10/12/09

Columbus Day, do you observe it, or celebrate it? It really was an achievement. We had the privilege of seeing the replicas of the originals when they were in Corpus Christi . Maybe they still are there. But that tiny vessel, not much larger than a standard life boat for a modern liner. Carried, what, 60 crew, and food enough to keep them? Yes, it was an achievement, regardless of how it is regarded today.

Here is one good note from present day events. American homes being built today are smaller. People want to buy only the homes they need right now, they’re not going for the extra 1000 square feet any more, said Stepehn Melman, an Economist with the National association of home builders. Average American homes peaked in 2007 when they reached 2521 square feet. Compared to other nations, in Germany and France the average size in 2007 was 1200 square feet, in England , about 700. Quite a difference.

Here is a horror story from Sunday’s paper. A Pasadena , Texas mother who is a school Board member found her 17 year old daughter dead from strangulation. Police speculate she had been playing the “choking Game”, which seems to be the rage among teens today. Usually more teens are together. The deal is to choke someone till they pass out. They say thy enjoy the brief feeling of euphoria that comes when the blood rushes back to the brain. Children are not aware that each time they do this, denying blood to the brain, they are destroying brain cells. This mother believes many children who would never ‘do drugs' are playing the game to experience a ‘high’. How sad this is, and how rampant in society. Parents are more and more being alerted to watch for warning signs, red marks on the necks, or teens locking their bedroom doors for long times etc. And remember, it is God who made them too. “Thou hast made man a little lower than the angels”.

And one more note, I do not see it as a cheerful note. The article began on the front page of Sunday’s Houston Chronicle that tells us, “Twitter goes to Church”. This has been met with some skepticism. One pastor of a nondenominational church sees it as a distraction. Craig Hayes says, “If two people are talking at the same time, somebody’s not listening. You cannot do two things at once and expect you’re not going to miss something”. It bothers me, where is the “Be Still, and know that I am God”? Psalm 46,10. The Liturgy helps separate us from the world when we enter God’s House to hear what we need, what we are, and what God has done for us. A Worship service is not meant to be about ME, but about GOD. And twitter ignores this basic reason for worship, does it not?

“God is our Refuge and Strength; an ever-present help in trouble.
Therefore will we not fear.
Be still, and know that I am God,
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.
The Lord Almighty is with us, the God of Jacob is our Refuge.” \
Psalm 46, 1.2a.10.11

GPD 10/12/09