Shade Tree Wisdom 5/3/09

Kind of a gloomy day, and some of the thoughts expressed in the day’s Chronicle tend for gloomy thoughts, because there is an article about 12/21/12. This is somehow based on the Mayan calendar. The Mayan civilization was in its heyday about 300 to 900, and was already in decline when the first Europeans set foot on this continent. About 16 million Mayans live in Mexico and Guatemala today. This civilization gave us cocoa, domesticated tomatoes, and corn.

But let me lighten the mood by pointing to the Word of Jesus. “Of that day and that hour knoweth no man, neither the Son, but the Father”. So any speculation is really out of place, and fruitless.

The times call for knowing how we ought to live, how to master life, and the answer to that, I believe, lies in St. Paul’s second letter to Timothy. Here he writes of Timothy’s faith, and of the God “who has saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works,. But according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.” 2 Tim 1,9. He speaks about the Gospel, "of which I have been appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.” Bv.11 A teacher has material, a teacher has something to teach, a doctrine, as Paul pointed out. “Hold fast the form of sound words which you have heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.”v.13. That is Gospel, that is doctrine, that is proven truth. In verse 12 Paul speaks of suffering, and then adds, “nevertheless”. In a sense Christianity likes in that one word, “Nevertheless.” This is rising above it all, this is reaching for the Rock we know is there which stands firm.

In the great Chicago fire of 1871, Horatio Spafford, a real estate builder, lost a fortune. With work, planning and, effort, he helped the 100,000 who were homeless and in the process rebuilt his own fortune. In 1874 he decided to take his wife and 4 daughters to Europe on a vacation, but business affairs at the last minute kept him in New York. His wife and daughters sailed on the Ville de Havre, Spafford promising to join them soon. During the night of November 18 that ship collided with an iron sailing vessel and sank quickly. Mrs. Spafford survived, clinging to a piece of wreckage, while their 4 daughters were lost. Horatio hastened to rejoin his wife and took ship, and when they passed the scene of the accident, the captain told Mr. Spafford. He went to his cabin, could not sleep, and composed this Hymn:
“When peace like river attended my way,
When sorrow like sea billows, roll
What ever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
It s well, it is well, with my soul”.

That is what The Gospel does. Paul has written,” I know whom I have believed.” So the Christian always can speak that “Nevertheless”. I KNOW, and “am persuaded.” That is what the Christian believes, and that is what makes his life one that is secure, one that is triumphant.
GPD 5/3/09

Shade Tree wisdom 4/30/09

Murphy’s laws are observations that seem to come from experience. The one most of us think of is this ”If anything can go wrong, it will”. Another “You can’t do just one thing, everything has its consequences.”

In life, of course, we know all about that. We are nearing graduation and prom and party time. Every year we read of tragic accidents because someone was driving who should not have, or drank too much, and felt immune to accident. High School Counselors and parents do their warning and admonitions, often sadly, with little result.

In Texas we recently had days of rain, up to twenty inches in some areas. The result was rushing water, high water, stalled cars, drivers carelessly driving into high water and being swept away. We read of one swept into an overflow tunnel that did not have standard guards erected yet.

Choices have consequences – always.

What brings all this up is the new public art piece erected in The Woodlands. It is called “The Woodlands passage”. I look at it and can’t quite see the connection. I hesitate to tell you what I am reminded of when I look at it. And then I wonder, who is on the art committee that makes selections, and what makes them decide on this. I can understand the piece called “The Dreamer”, because I can see such a lad. Or the piece showing a lad standing on the shoulders of another, and seeing farther because of the past generation and what they did. Another piece supposing to depict the family is beyond me too.

Then I ask myself, does anyone on such a selection committee ever wonder whether “The King is no clothes on?” But then I am reminded of what the Catechism teaches me, “And put the best construction on everything.” And so let us do that.

But the lesson of all this is, Every action has a result, sometimes unintended. St. Paul teaches: “8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things. 9 The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things; and the God of peace shall be with you. “ Phil. 4, 8.9.
GPD 4/30.09

Shade Tree Wisdom 4/27/09

“Do you worry? Charlie Brown” asked Linus?

Charlie says, “Last Saturday we went to visit an uncle in the next town. I played with my cousins, we had dinner, and finally my aunt put them to bed. I fell asleep on the sofa. When it was time to go home my Father got me, put me on the back seat and we drove home, When we got home he carried me to my room and put me to bed. And I never worried, because my father was at the wheel”.

Isn’t that what our Lord Jesus is teaching us? He said, “Let not your heart be troubled, you believe in God, believe also I Me. John 14,1. For the same God who said “As long as the earth remains seedtime, and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter day and night, will not cease.”Gen 8,22, Is the Lord of all creation.

Certainly, there are things of concern. The Lord wants us to manage wisely, plan well, but when that is done, leave it in His hands. Let our watchword be that of the psalmist, “But as for me, I trust in you, O Lord: I say,” you are my God”. “My times are in your hand”. Psalm 31, 14.15.
This morning’s news speaks again of swine flu, and more and more people are getting ill from it. So much so that the US has declared a Public Health Emergency.

Then there are the ongoing problems of natural disasters, continuing wars and killings, dire news from nearly every corner of the globe. Not worry? I should smile.

I know you all hear the same news, live in the same world, care about these things too. So, let us together read again what Jesus teaches us about that. I am giving you the Message wording. 27 "Has anyone by fussing in front of the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? 28 All this time and money wasted on fashion—do you think it makes that much difference? Instead of looking at the fashions, walk out into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They never primp or shop, 29 but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them. 30 "If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? 31 What I'm trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God's giving. 32 People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. 33 Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. 34 "Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes. Matthew 6, 27 - 34.

Indeed, St. Paul says, “My God will supply all your need” and this promise, so rich and filled with comfort. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of God’s grace”. Eph. 1,7. Always reemember, My Father is at the wheel.
GPD 4/27/09

Shade Tree Wisdom 4/25/09

This morning on my way to Bible study I saw a blue bird earnestly chasing a squirrel. I mean he meant business, now and then speeding up and giving a peck or two to the scampering rodent till he managed to reach some bushes and hide. I don’t know what stirred the bird up, maybe the squirrel got too close to a nesting site, but he looked and acted mad, and did something about it. At least the bird was riled up for the right reason. What came to mind was the contretemps reported when Miss California, I believe, said she was raised that marriage meant “one man and one woman”.  And right away she was accused of being ‘insensitive’, narrow minded, and worse. But that illustrates the truth Jesus laid before us. He said,             “Light is come in to this world, and men loved darkness instead of light, because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light and will not come into the light, lest his deeds will be exposed.” John 3, 19.20. That’s always the way it works, because Satan is very active, and always tries to make the evil sound good, and the good, evil. His way is always the dark way. But Jesus also warned us about it. Our Lord said, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated Me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, because I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you”. John 15, 18.19.              Our dear Lord Jesus also called us “The light of the world”. Matt. 5,14, and “The salt of the earth”. 5,13. Both salt and light reveal. Salt stings, light shows up. The afternoon sun slanting into the west window always showed the dust the cloth missed. So the Christian, by His presence, is a light that shows the world how it ought to be to follow Christ’s teachings.              And that is what the world hates. Light shows imperfections, reveals character flaws, shows the rotten side for what it is, rotten. So the world, when its true lack is shown clearly, reacts by trying to use smear tactics, name calling, and whatever means come handy to try to tear down, rip down, and destroy the truth. So Jesus prayed for you and me, “My prayer is not that You take them out of the world, but that you protect them from the evil one.” John 17,15. So, let’s be strong, and remember that His promise is, “I will be with thee.” So rest content. GPD 4/15/09

Shade Tree Wisdom 4/23/09

Yesterday was Earth Day when people are supposed to maybe rethink their lifestyle to make it conform more to saving instead of squandering.  The emphasis is on recycle, reuse, make do.  On saving things, making them last, re-using items etc.  Wonderful. Sally and Pete, a young couple living in the city, decided to move to the country and make an effort to ‘live off the land’.  So, they moved to a small plot of land outside a village.  They planned to use those twenty acres for orchard, vegetable garden, maybe raise some chickens.  Live a more laid back life.  They were warmly welcomed by the villagers, many of whom pitched in with tools and expertise on using them. Things were really going as planned, and they were starting to feel right at home.  But one thing bothered Pete, and he approached the village leaders for help.  He said there was a “Deer Crossing’ sign on their road which was quite busy with traffic, and he wanted it moved.  They asked the reason for this request, “Well,” he said, “There is this sign, and too many deer are using the crossing and getting killed.  So please move the sign to another place where the traffic isn’t quite so heavy.   Well, such things do happen in this world.  But once we've had our chuckle, let’s move on with “What’s next?"  Because St. Paul offers us advice for life.  Paul could either fix his attention on his past failures and rue them, or have the attitude he did have.  He said, “forgetting those thing which are behind, and reaching toward those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”  He had also confessed, “Not that I had already attained, or am already perfect, but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has already laid hold of me”. Philippians chapter 3, 12-14. Easy to say, often hard to do because of the things we have in our past; wrongs, sins, false dealings, and the list goes on.  What of them?  Repent, cried Jesus, and then makes this promise, “I will remember their sins and lawless deeds no more.” (Heb. 10,17.  And Isaiah’s word, the Lord will blot out “Like a thick cloud, your transgressions. Is. 4,22.  And the word from Jeremiah, “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” Jer. 31,1. So we can “Press on toward the mark of the high calling of Jesus Christ.” Do. GPD 4/23/09

Shade Tree Wisdom 4/22/09

For some reason Walter Cronkite’s comment about retirement came to mind.  He said, “When you get up in the morning you don’t have a thing to do, and by noon, you‘re behind schedule.”              One of the grandsons had an assignment for class to write a history of his family.  He sought advice about names dates and so forth, and that set my mind to what our ancestors did.              Thy came to Milwaukee in 1839 and were invited to settle there.  But they elected to go further into the wilderness and buy some government land.  The forest was so dense they navigated by compass instead of the sun and stars which they couldn’t see through the heavy growth of trees.  They bought a large tract of land, and in the middle, they set aside forty acres for church, school, and cemetery.  (That forty acres, by the way, is still being used for that purpose today).  They cut timber and set to work building cabins, and by that winter most of them, of the forty families involved, were under roof.  And by spring they had cleared six acres so they could plant some crops and vegetable gardens.              One Psalm that came often to their mind was the twenty seventh and especially verse fourteen, ‘Wait on the Lord; be strong and take heart, and wait on the Lord.”              Of necessity they were thrifty and careful of their environment.  A lesson we are even now trying to teach again, use less, save what you do not need, don’t get careless in use of materials.  TURN OFF LIGHTS not being used!  Some of you may remember how commentators thought it was funny when President Johnson did that at the White House!              Now we are starting to read articles about how this generation is learning such lessons again, thrift, making do, using up instead of throwing out or simply buying too much, or unneeded stuff.  One who can still afford it says, “We don’t buy purses for one thousand dollars any more, because it simply is too much”.  Another has the dog groomed once a month instead of each other week.  And Americans are starting to save.  Many hope the lessons learned will stay with us.              The serious times have led to closer family ties, more families eating dinner at home more often, carrying lunch to work, not buying unless they can pay cash.  And one interesting side light in this time is that charities are seeing more volunteers to help dish out meals or sort clothes and help in other ways.              So maybe the times prove a blessing as well.  Let me quote from Psalm 27: The Lord is my light and my salvation, Who shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life, Of who shall I be afraid? Vv.1.2. GPD 4/22/09

Shade Tree wisdom 4/19/09

Her name was Maria.. She was a happy child, her hair was dark, her eyes brown and sparkling, always had a smile, a happy disposition, ready to help her mother, do errands, be helpful around the house. Maria was one reason this was a happy  place.  Maria took care of the chickens, made beds, swept and dusted, worked in the garden when weeding or harvesting was done.              One day all this changed.  The Syrian raiding party hit the area, and swept up Maria and her family into captivity.  Maria ended up as a servant in the house of Naaman, the commander of the Syrian army. Here, too, she proved to be obedient, an excellent worker ,willing and able to do the work assigned to the best of her ability.  One cloud in this family was that Naaman had leprosy.  Though he was a Commander, he had this terrible disease.  It worried them all.              One day Maria said to her mistress – I think it was while they were snapping green beans for the evening meal, ”If only my Master would see the prophet who is in Samaria.  He would cure him of his leprosy.” (2 Kings 5,2).  For the most part, such conversation is just idle talk to pass the time.  But the mistress heard this “Cure him”, and promptly quizzed the servant  intensely.  Then she reported to her husband, and he, looking for any way to find a cure, decided to ask his King for permission to go to Samaria and seek this cure.  The king said, “By all means, go”.              So Namaan made the trip to Samaria.  And he went armed with a letter to the King of Israel, and carrying lots of gifts.  The report mentions gold, silver, and sets of clothing.  So he came to the King of Israel with his letter, and the king, after reading  the letter, cried, “Does he think I am God? He is trying to pick a quarrel with me.”              But Elijah the prophet, hearing about the visit, and the king's reaction, sent a message asking the king to direct Naaman to his door, and ‘\"He will know there is a prophet in Israel”.              So Naaman came with his outriders, his guardsmen, and his entourage to Elijah’s door, and is met by the servant with a message, “Go, wash seven times in the Jordan, and you will be cured”.              Naaman receives that with bad grace.  He snorts, “You expected him to come out and stand there and do something great.  Buit this?  Why, our rivers at home are cleaner than this Jordan.”  And he starts to pack up to go back home.              But his servants and companions manage to convince him to at least try “since you have come this far”. So, reluctantly, Naaman does, and is cured, as the prophet said.  Of course he is thrilled, and offers the prophet gifts, and is turned down.  The story is in 2 Kings chapter 5.  [Elijah’s servant runs after Naaman and asks for gifts after all, and is srruck with leprosy.]              But the point of the story is this, nothing happened until and when Naaman obeyed the prophet’s word exactly.  So should we, do what He says, and not what seems best to us because we are “after all, living in 2009.”  Give that some thought, please.  How is our obedience to God’s Word and will? GPD 4/19/09