Over 2500 years ago the ancestors of modern day Jews, Christians, and Moslems believed God used a man named Hosea. Through him God warned Israel, the world and all people of history, even us today, that eventually all peoples are held accountable to God, because it’s God’s world.
Was that warning presented because we the world were feeling more accountable to our own selves, our families, our religions, and our causes, than we were toward God? The message of Hosea declared survival was not possible if that was true.
Why? The moral character of people, as a whole and as individuals, is accountable to God. Ultimate survival is not possible for those that refuse to acknowledge the Creator’s divine authority and to commit to the basic tenets of honor. We all answer to the Creator for the lives we lead, whether we believe it or not. The intellectual force that created and now sustains life, through what is called the natural laws of creation, is concerned with every created creature and their contribution to the rest of creation.
What does it mean to be accountable? It is to be: agreeable - accepting the ideas of others as valid as yours. For instance you let others talk as much as you do, because more views increase the understanding and value of things. That is why with diamonds the fewer the facets the cheaper the diamond.
What does it mean to be answerable? When we acknowledge that everything we do effects others we begin to understand why everyone answers to someone. In the oceans scientist know that every wake made in that water rocks in some way every boat. How much depends on both boats and the distance apart.
Remember the ad, "Ring around the collar?" A woman feels guilt because her husband’s shirt has ring around the collar. If we hold all accountable, why didn’t we ever ask, "Why didn’t the husband wash his neck?"
To comprehend this notion that all are accountable to the Creator, we must be open minded to the ideas of others and feel responsible toward them. No snowflake in an avalanche ever feels responsible. No raindrop in a flood ever feels responsible. No one in a war ever feels responsible. No person in a book burning community ever feels responsible. Yet God the Creator has taught us in every known faith that we are responsible for others in this world of which we are citizens.
What is a citizen? It is a resident of my street, community, state, nation, continent, and world. No person one can totally withdraw from life. We cannot isolate ourselves in any corner of this planet, it is too large and still growing. Like the boats in the ocean, every one’s actions affect the others, whom we are responsible for in this life.
What is it to be responsible? It is our duty to all others. After all, we believe, "God so loved the world," not just some of it or one particular people or area, but all of it. People who blame others for the problems of the world haven’t begun to learn about life. People who blame themselves for the problems of the world have begun their education. And people who blame no one for the world’s problems have finished their education.
Why is this so? Because to accept human imperfection as the norm and part of the landscape is to accept the fact that love/holiness can only come through blameless people responsible to God.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Monday, January 9, 2012
2012 A time to die or reboot?
In almost every church across our great nation the members are concerned with a declining membership. Even in evangelical churches with their big numbers the decline is evident. Just look at the financial crisis of the Televangelical Groups. As to the number of people "saved" on a weekly basis, the membership growth doesn't change that much. More and more people, who profess Christianity as their faith, are opting to no longer worship in organized churches.
Why are they staying away? They are tired of the constant bickering between Christians. They do not feel comfortable with theology of the 1800's. Even the contemporary worship services tend to be years behind them. Church programs modeled after those of the 1950's are of no interest to those in a fast paced computer driven world. We in the church are kidding ourselves if we believe we are establishing a church for tomorrow that will be bigger than the one our parents left us.
What can be done? Let's follow the example of the first century church. Go to where the people are and establish means of teaching and worship that reflects theological tradition as well as the converts life situation and setting. That early church had to meet in secret in many places. It mingled Jews and Gentiles as well as men and women. It was conducted with and without music and musical instruments. The greater issue was the idea of a resurrected Christ. How were his followers to proceed. They struggled with all of this while trying to understand a life governed by a living God.
A living God who taught there are only two great commandments - "Love God above all things and your neighbor as yourself." A God who commanded them to do nothing till they received the Holy Spirit and baptism of fire a sanctification process. Today's vast majority, who shun traditional churches, want to know what it means to have a living God direct their lives and the life of the church. They want that living God to come into their lives as they really are today.
The churches that reach these people address some important elements of tradition. For instance since the late 1600's church school was the center of our public education. In the late 1800's when public education begin to take hold the church school programs were reduced.
Held on Sunday primarily for convenience they became known as Sunday School. The majority of people were farmers and Sunday was their church day all day long.
Now many churches across the land are once again meeting people at their convenience for church school. Because today's workers are no longer farmers, but busy hard working members of the information society, Sunday's are more precious in regards to family time.
Surveys have shown a majority of them work five and a half days a week. If they regularly attend worship and church school on Sunday they have very little time to re-create with family or themselves. They live stress filled lives, where time is a precious commodity.
Where can God meet them so they may experience the peace and love of a living God? One solution is to move church school to a different day and worship earlier on Sunday. Here is what happens when you do that: attendance at church school goes up and the people have an extra day to relax and experience the peace of God.
Why does attendance go up at school? First all of these churches provide a catered supper on School Nights. It is served right after the work day and just before school. Busy mothers don't have to worry about preparing a dinner, so they are anxious for every member of the family to attend. And church school is usually only forty five minutes to a hour long just as it was on Sunday mornings. Tired people are usually on their way home by 7:30 pm.
Why does attendance go up on Sundays? The early services allows the people to leave refreshed in God with a whole new day before them to re-create their lives. A win win situation for all. It is works! Let 2012 not be a time of ending or dying, but a time to reboot or reset the Church for a new era of reforming the church to today’s world in the image God intended.
Why are they staying away? They are tired of the constant bickering between Christians. They do not feel comfortable with theology of the 1800's. Even the contemporary worship services tend to be years behind them. Church programs modeled after those of the 1950's are of no interest to those in a fast paced computer driven world. We in the church are kidding ourselves if we believe we are establishing a church for tomorrow that will be bigger than the one our parents left us.
What can be done? Let's follow the example of the first century church. Go to where the people are and establish means of teaching and worship that reflects theological tradition as well as the converts life situation and setting. That early church had to meet in secret in many places. It mingled Jews and Gentiles as well as men and women. It was conducted with and without music and musical instruments. The greater issue was the idea of a resurrected Christ. How were his followers to proceed. They struggled with all of this while trying to understand a life governed by a living God.
A living God who taught there are only two great commandments - "Love God above all things and your neighbor as yourself." A God who commanded them to do nothing till they received the Holy Spirit and baptism of fire a sanctification process. Today's vast majority, who shun traditional churches, want to know what it means to have a living God direct their lives and the life of the church. They want that living God to come into their lives as they really are today.
The churches that reach these people address some important elements of tradition. For instance since the late 1600's church school was the center of our public education. In the late 1800's when public education begin to take hold the church school programs were reduced.
Held on Sunday primarily for convenience they became known as Sunday School. The majority of people were farmers and Sunday was their church day all day long.
Now many churches across the land are once again meeting people at their convenience for church school. Because today's workers are no longer farmers, but busy hard working members of the information society, Sunday's are more precious in regards to family time.
Surveys have shown a majority of them work five and a half days a week. If they regularly attend worship and church school on Sunday they have very little time to re-create with family or themselves. They live stress filled lives, where time is a precious commodity.
Where can God meet them so they may experience the peace and love of a living God? One solution is to move church school to a different day and worship earlier on Sunday. Here is what happens when you do that: attendance at church school goes up and the people have an extra day to relax and experience the peace of God.
Why does attendance go up at school? First all of these churches provide a catered supper on School Nights. It is served right after the work day and just before school. Busy mothers don't have to worry about preparing a dinner, so they are anxious for every member of the family to attend. And church school is usually only forty five minutes to a hour long just as it was on Sunday mornings. Tired people are usually on their way home by 7:30 pm.
Why does attendance go up on Sundays? The early services allows the people to leave refreshed in God with a whole new day before them to re-create their lives. A win win situation for all. It is works! Let 2012 not be a time of ending or dying, but a time to reboot or reset the Church for a new era of reforming the church to today’s world in the image God intended.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
A small Revolution for 2012
Help Me Out Here!
It is Tuesday and I have read my two newspapers from front to back and I am confused. So help me out here!
In Section A, on page one are columns about the cost of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the number dead and number of additional soldiers still needed. Another column reveals the Taliban’s connections to monies from their Saudi Arabia roots and supporters.
On page two is a column about a couple of huge contracts signed in the good ole’ USA to supply weapons to Saudi Arabia and another "friendly" Arab nation. Below it, at the bottom corner of the page is an insert showing the number of total casualties over the last ten years.
On the last page is a page wide column about the cost of oil and amount of monies we have supplied to the once poor desert tribes since we started buying their crude.
Before turning to a new section I asked myself, "Are we supplying our antagonists with our own resources to kill us?"
In Section B I find several columns decrying the lack of monies for education, special ed children, police and firemen, roads, and medical care for the poor and middle class. It also carries a column on two people being convicted for stealing from public and non-profit funds. And finally there is a column showing the plight of the ghettos in even the smallest cities.
In the Sports and Entertainment Sections I discovered that the NFL first round draft picks will all be instant millionaires. In fact a recent top man received $68,000,000 with a guarantee of $32,000,000. And the tickets to a kids concert are being scalp at $1200+? And in ad insert I saw where one could buy an autograph from a famous person.
I asked myself, "Are we stealing from ourselves to support the sports and entertainment industries?"
In the Business section I learn about a CEO who is fired because his leadership was instrumental in the company stock plunge. The story also revealed that he was given a $15,000,000 severance package upon being "canned" from his job. Below that story was a note of 4000 people losing their jobs because that very same company needed to cut costs.
I asked myself, "Have we returned to the Middle Ages where the Lords and Earls once again are crushing down the workmen?"
Then I wondered out loud, "Are we heading to another revolutionary war to over throw the greedy Lords and Earls of the economic world? Maybe a few simple rules could prevent such a war."
What rules do I have in mind?
1. Prohibit any American made or financed weapons from being sold to any country or group who will not endorse "The Spirit" of our nation’s Declaration of Independence.
2. Charge the Sports and Entertainment Industries and Personnel a 15% surcharge for public works and education. And require any of them to do community service in their ghettos back home whenever they are arrested and convicted of drug related crimes. No make that any crime.
3. Restrict the practice of paying a CEO, or any executive, more than 250 times the lowest worker in his or her company. And forbid any tax deduction for severance packages of fired executives.
This nation was built on the backs of men and women who fought and believed in freedom and opportunity for the individual. I think we have lost that perspective and allowed the tail to wag the dog. What say you?
It is Tuesday and I have read my two newspapers from front to back and I am confused. So help me out here!
In Section A, on page one are columns about the cost of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the number dead and number of additional soldiers still needed. Another column reveals the Taliban’s connections to monies from their Saudi Arabia roots and supporters.
On page two is a column about a couple of huge contracts signed in the good ole’ USA to supply weapons to Saudi Arabia and another "friendly" Arab nation. Below it, at the bottom corner of the page is an insert showing the number of total casualties over the last ten years.
On the last page is a page wide column about the cost of oil and amount of monies we have supplied to the once poor desert tribes since we started buying their crude.
Before turning to a new section I asked myself, "Are we supplying our antagonists with our own resources to kill us?"
In Section B I find several columns decrying the lack of monies for education, special ed children, police and firemen, roads, and medical care for the poor and middle class. It also carries a column on two people being convicted for stealing from public and non-profit funds. And finally there is a column showing the plight of the ghettos in even the smallest cities.
In the Sports and Entertainment Sections I discovered that the NFL first round draft picks will all be instant millionaires. In fact a recent top man received $68,000,000 with a guarantee of $32,000,000. And the tickets to a kids concert are being scalp at $1200+? And in ad insert I saw where one could buy an autograph from a famous person.
I asked myself, "Are we stealing from ourselves to support the sports and entertainment industries?"
In the Business section I learn about a CEO who is fired because his leadership was instrumental in the company stock plunge. The story also revealed that he was given a $15,000,000 severance package upon being "canned" from his job. Below that story was a note of 4000 people losing their jobs because that very same company needed to cut costs.
I asked myself, "Have we returned to the Middle Ages where the Lords and Earls once again are crushing down the workmen?"
Then I wondered out loud, "Are we heading to another revolutionary war to over throw the greedy Lords and Earls of the economic world? Maybe a few simple rules could prevent such a war."
What rules do I have in mind?
1. Prohibit any American made or financed weapons from being sold to any country or group who will not endorse "The Spirit" of our nation’s Declaration of Independence.
2. Charge the Sports and Entertainment Industries and Personnel a 15% surcharge for public works and education. And require any of them to do community service in their ghettos back home whenever they are arrested and convicted of drug related crimes. No make that any crime.
3. Restrict the practice of paying a CEO, or any executive, more than 250 times the lowest worker in his or her company. And forbid any tax deduction for severance packages of fired executives.
This nation was built on the backs of men and women who fought and believed in freedom and opportunity for the individual. I think we have lost that perspective and allowed the tail to wag the dog. What say you?
Monday, December 19, 2011
Christian and Pagan Holidays
It’s that time of the year. Where do we draw the line between “Christian” and “pagan” customs, such as Halloween, Christmas, and Easter? These three more popular special days all have a connection to some “pagan holiday” in terms of time of the year and the kind of celebration. The only holy day (holiday) that is nearly pure in its Christian origin is Pentecost (A Jewish Holy Day), which celebrates the birth of the first church.
So what should I do about these pagan slanted days and my own faith? Should I support them, boycott them vigorously, ignore them, or keep them in perspective with my faith and ethics?
In my youth I understood from my particular church that they were against a or any special day for celebrating Christmas, and if I recall, it also felt the same about Easter. I don’t recall anything big about Halloween. Our town always had a great big Halloween party on Front Street with awards for best kinds of costumes, vats to dunk for apples, cider and powdery donuts, and lots of pumpkin jack-o-lanterns.
But even though our church didn’t celebrate Christmas and Easter, almost all of the members did. We just looked upon it as a cultural holiday. As I have matured, I have seen how that distinction has greatly expanded. Christmas and Easter are Special Marketing seasons for American retailers. Their coffers have benefitted from these celebrations. Our economy depends upon them.
When was Jesus born? Exactly what happened at Easter? Neither question is of concern to the retailers celebration. That is why in most Churches we take a special evening and a special morning to celebrate these events within the walls of our church. That is my major separation.
Paul taught the followers of Christ that they are in the world, but not of it. So my special religious events are celebrated with my own people, and I don’t impose them on others.
In turn I can pick and choose within my own society or culture which special days I want to celebrate and which ones I don’t. It is the same option I had when I lived in or visited other countries. I found some of the Greek, Mexican, German, and Israeli holidays to be great fun! I enjoyed getting to know the people in the places where I traveled. I never once took on their celebrations as my own.
The same is true in my own country. When I walk around and feel surrounded by the retail Christmas, which starts in early October, I don’t take them on as my own. They are popular, so somebody must like them.
I don’t believe there can ever be a culture totally based on one set of religious standards. Ever where I look, I see “religious based countries” with deep religious divisions within themselves. Unfortunately the religious bullies try to reign over the others, and ruin it for all. I see this today in the major Muslim movements throughout the world. They don’t care to share their space with anyone different.
So where do I draw the line between religious and cultural celebrations? I keep the religious ones within my religious body, and pick and chose which cultural ones I will celebrate. Let’s see I love chocolate bunnies, powdered donuts, and cider. I hate the loneliness and stress I see in people around our retail orientated Christmas, because suicides increase and people go deep in debt to satisfy children seduced by clever marketing tools. It is a season of depressions of all kinds.
In my life there is no line needed between pagan and Christian, because they are two separate worlds. In my spiritual world a man’s word is honored. It ain’t so in the one where I now live.
So what should I do about these pagan slanted days and my own faith? Should I support them, boycott them vigorously, ignore them, or keep them in perspective with my faith and ethics?
In my youth I understood from my particular church that they were against a or any special day for celebrating Christmas, and if I recall, it also felt the same about Easter. I don’t recall anything big about Halloween. Our town always had a great big Halloween party on Front Street with awards for best kinds of costumes, vats to dunk for apples, cider and powdery donuts, and lots of pumpkin jack-o-lanterns.
But even though our church didn’t celebrate Christmas and Easter, almost all of the members did. We just looked upon it as a cultural holiday. As I have matured, I have seen how that distinction has greatly expanded. Christmas and Easter are Special Marketing seasons for American retailers. Their coffers have benefitted from these celebrations. Our economy depends upon them.
When was Jesus born? Exactly what happened at Easter? Neither question is of concern to the retailers celebration. That is why in most Churches we take a special evening and a special morning to celebrate these events within the walls of our church. That is my major separation.
Paul taught the followers of Christ that they are in the world, but not of it. So my special religious events are celebrated with my own people, and I don’t impose them on others.
In turn I can pick and choose within my own society or culture which special days I want to celebrate and which ones I don’t. It is the same option I had when I lived in or visited other countries. I found some of the Greek, Mexican, German, and Israeli holidays to be great fun! I enjoyed getting to know the people in the places where I traveled. I never once took on their celebrations as my own.
The same is true in my own country. When I walk around and feel surrounded by the retail Christmas, which starts in early October, I don’t take them on as my own. They are popular, so somebody must like them.
I don’t believe there can ever be a culture totally based on one set of religious standards. Ever where I look, I see “religious based countries” with deep religious divisions within themselves. Unfortunately the religious bullies try to reign over the others, and ruin it for all. I see this today in the major Muslim movements throughout the world. They don’t care to share their space with anyone different.
So where do I draw the line between religious and cultural celebrations? I keep the religious ones within my religious body, and pick and chose which cultural ones I will celebrate. Let’s see I love chocolate bunnies, powdered donuts, and cider. I hate the loneliness and stress I see in people around our retail orientated Christmas, because suicides increase and people go deep in debt to satisfy children seduced by clever marketing tools. It is a season of depressions of all kinds.
In my life there is no line needed between pagan and Christian, because they are two separate worlds. In my spiritual world a man’s word is honored. It ain’t so in the one where I now live.
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Religious Freedom or A Religious Dictator
Reflecting on the past few weeks - November 19, anniversary of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address; November 21, date of signing the Mayflower Compact. The 26 remembers the first nationally proclaimed Thanksgiving Day. Seven days of celebrating our heritage in freedom. Each of these milestones includes a reference to God. But whose God?
Some would have us believe it was God as they define God. This thinking would frighten our Founding Fathers. This nation was created by people from many segments of planet Earth. They came to establish and reside in a free society that practiced the separation of church and state.
Today some organizations in the far right and the far left want citizens of this nation to return to a state that no longer tolerates people with different beliefs. Our Founding Fathers would be against these groups left or right. They were devout men. None were enemies of God. All were of the Enlightenment or Age of Reason.
Benjamin Franklin strongly affirmed God's existence; the freedom for individual choice; and the potential value of institutional religion as an enforcer of moral codes. But he rejected churches that focused exclusively on dogma and neglected moral reasoning. Asked his belief, he said, "Here is my creed. I believe in one God, Creator of the universe: that he governs the world by his providence. That he ought to be worshiped. That the most acceptable service we can render him is to do good to his other children. That the soul of man is immortal and will be treated with justice in another life respecting its conduct in this. These I take to be fundamental principles of all sound religion, and I regard them as you do, in whatever sect I meet them."
Washington had the least to say about religion. As an baptized Anglican he kept his beliefs private and declared his religious tenets to few and simple. He studiously avoided referring to the person and ministry of Jesus. When some Presbyterian leaders complained of the lack of any Constitutional reference to "the only true God and Jesus Christ, whom he hath sent," he calmly replied, "The path of true piety is so plain as to require but little political direction."
The congregationalist, John Adams joined the crusade for liberal Unitarianism that grew out of his own denomination. In France he had been exposed to the Enlightenment and was definite a free thinker. He hailed the sovereignty of God with deepest feelings. For him it was enough to be answerable for your own actions. He was not overly concerned with acts from the beliefs of others.
As a member of the Virginia legislature and US Congress, plus as Secretary of State and President, James Madison held long and hard for separation of church and state. In fact he argued vigorously against Patrick Henry's tax bill that would support "the Christian religion." Madison strongly advocated leaving all laws pertaining to religion to the only true qualified authority in this area: "the Supreme Lawgiver of the universe."
Thomas Jefferson the primary author of our documents that emphatically defend religious freedom was the strangest of all the five Founding Fathers. Instrumental in bringing about the First Amendment, he very much admired legislation that "had the courage to declare that the reason of man may be trusted with the formation of his own opinions." In 1803 he stated, "I am a real Christian ... sincerely attached to his doctrines, in preference to all others." Yet he rejected the divinity of Jesus (as he believed Jesus did). He felt the idea of the Trinity was "mere abracadabra." In 1819 he he declared, "I am of a sect by myself, as far as I know."
The Founding Fathers wanted a land where people were able to explore and define God in their own way. A place where the evidence of faith and not the law of the land will bring people to God. My God as I believe is my business and your God is your business. Can we not build a bridge to the future with a keystone of freedom AND tolerance? It is what built the first bridge of a freedom for so many pilgrims from so many lands.
Please allow us all the privilege of the basics of religious freedom established so long ago? Huh, could we?
Some would have us believe it was God as they define God. This thinking would frighten our Founding Fathers. This nation was created by people from many segments of planet Earth. They came to establish and reside in a free society that practiced the separation of church and state.
Today some organizations in the far right and the far left want citizens of this nation to return to a state that no longer tolerates people with different beliefs. Our Founding Fathers would be against these groups left or right. They were devout men. None were enemies of God. All were of the Enlightenment or Age of Reason.
Benjamin Franklin strongly affirmed God's existence; the freedom for individual choice; and the potential value of institutional religion as an enforcer of moral codes. But he rejected churches that focused exclusively on dogma and neglected moral reasoning. Asked his belief, he said, "Here is my creed. I believe in one God, Creator of the universe: that he governs the world by his providence. That he ought to be worshiped. That the most acceptable service we can render him is to do good to his other children. That the soul of man is immortal and will be treated with justice in another life respecting its conduct in this. These I take to be fundamental principles of all sound religion, and I regard them as you do, in whatever sect I meet them."
Washington had the least to say about religion. As an baptized Anglican he kept his beliefs private and declared his religious tenets to few and simple. He studiously avoided referring to the person and ministry of Jesus. When some Presbyterian leaders complained of the lack of any Constitutional reference to "the only true God and Jesus Christ, whom he hath sent," he calmly replied, "The path of true piety is so plain as to require but little political direction."
The congregationalist, John Adams joined the crusade for liberal Unitarianism that grew out of his own denomination. In France he had been exposed to the Enlightenment and was definite a free thinker. He hailed the sovereignty of God with deepest feelings. For him it was enough to be answerable for your own actions. He was not overly concerned with acts from the beliefs of others.
As a member of the Virginia legislature and US Congress, plus as Secretary of State and President, James Madison held long and hard for separation of church and state. In fact he argued vigorously against Patrick Henry's tax bill that would support "the Christian religion." Madison strongly advocated leaving all laws pertaining to religion to the only true qualified authority in this area: "the Supreme Lawgiver of the universe."
Thomas Jefferson the primary author of our documents that emphatically defend religious freedom was the strangest of all the five Founding Fathers. Instrumental in bringing about the First Amendment, he very much admired legislation that "had the courage to declare that the reason of man may be trusted with the formation of his own opinions." In 1803 he stated, "I am a real Christian ... sincerely attached to his doctrines, in preference to all others." Yet he rejected the divinity of Jesus (as he believed Jesus did). He felt the idea of the Trinity was "mere abracadabra." In 1819 he he declared, "I am of a sect by myself, as far as I know."
The Founding Fathers wanted a land where people were able to explore and define God in their own way. A place where the evidence of faith and not the law of the land will bring people to God. My God as I believe is my business and your God is your business. Can we not build a bridge to the future with a keystone of freedom AND tolerance? It is what built the first bridge of a freedom for so many pilgrims from so many lands.
Please allow us all the privilege of the basics of religious freedom established so long ago? Huh, could we?
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Goofy or Deadly? Watch what you buy for children at Christmas
“Goofy String” scared me Straight! Not the string itself, but what I read on the can.
Let me start from the beginning. My eight year old grandson is visiting us for “Camp Meemaw” and he had five dollars burning a hole in his pocket. Meemaw took him to a local Dollar Store. He bought an assortment of kid things from the children’s section of the store.
The next morning while we were all on the deck watching the birds, he decided to surprise meemaw and papa. He sprayed us with “Goofy String” as we laughed aloud. With great vigor and merriment he covered us from head to toe. It all seemed like great harmless fun.
As we laughed and brushed off the “Goofy String,” I picked up the can and read the label. As fast as it started, the laughter stopped. I read the label aloud as my left eye began to sting a bit. Here is what I read in small print on the can of “Goofy String” found in the toy department of a local store, “Caution. Contents under pressure. Do not puncture or incinerate container. Do not use near open flame or heat sources. Do not store at temperatures above 120 F. Keep out of reach of children. Test before use. May stain fabrics and other surfaces. Do not spray at eyes or faces. Do not ingest.” And on the side it says, “Non-flamable”
This caution label was on a can sold to a lone eight year old boy, who found it on the shelves in the toy department at that store in our own community! I am trying to remember if at eight years of age did I know what incinerate or ingest meant.
Now my ire and curiosity were up. My attention turned to what were the ingredients of this spray can that should be kept out of the reach of children. Guess what? The ingredients are listed. The only other information are the simple directions for use by the prohibitive child; the weight at 3 oz.; and that it was Made in China and distributed by Greenbrier International, I.nc., in Chesapeake, VA. 23320.
Let me capsulize the above. A company in China sells something, who knows what, in a spray can. It has many safety potentials and by all means it must be kept out of the reach of children.
A company in Virginia in the USA distributes it in this country without any further information. Then a company puts it on the shelves of the toy or children’s department for any unsuspecting innocent child to purchase with their birthday money. Have I got it correct so far?
Let me clarify even further. Business people could careless if something is harmful as long as no one notices. Guess what? I noticed.
And Mr. Businessman, it does take a genius to know that things that are labeled “Keep out of reach of children” don’t belong on the shelves where children can reach them, or worse yet buy them.
One of the very first things I learned at New York University’s Safety School of Certification is that labels should be red by the distributer BEFORE it is distributed. Buyer Beware is not for children When it comes to children it is Seller Beware, because we consumers depend upon your honesty.
My grandson has learned a lot from this experience. In fact, he is taking this article back to New York with him for discussion in class when school starts next week or so. I only hope our local merchants are astute. And young customers, Read the Label before you buy.
My left eye still stings. Be careful what Santa brings this year!
Let me start from the beginning. My eight year old grandson is visiting us for “Camp Meemaw” and he had five dollars burning a hole in his pocket. Meemaw took him to a local Dollar Store. He bought an assortment of kid things from the children’s section of the store.
The next morning while we were all on the deck watching the birds, he decided to surprise meemaw and papa. He sprayed us with “Goofy String” as we laughed aloud. With great vigor and merriment he covered us from head to toe. It all seemed like great harmless fun.
As we laughed and brushed off the “Goofy String,” I picked up the can and read the label. As fast as it started, the laughter stopped. I read the label aloud as my left eye began to sting a bit. Here is what I read in small print on the can of “Goofy String” found in the toy department of a local store, “Caution. Contents under pressure. Do not puncture or incinerate container. Do not use near open flame or heat sources. Do not store at temperatures above 120 F. Keep out of reach of children. Test before use. May stain fabrics and other surfaces. Do not spray at eyes or faces. Do not ingest.” And on the side it says, “Non-flamable”
This caution label was on a can sold to a lone eight year old boy, who found it on the shelves in the toy department at that store in our own community! I am trying to remember if at eight years of age did I know what incinerate or ingest meant.
Now my ire and curiosity were up. My attention turned to what were the ingredients of this spray can that should be kept out of the reach of children. Guess what? The ingredients are listed. The only other information are the simple directions for use by the prohibitive child; the weight at 3 oz.; and that it was Made in China and distributed by Greenbrier International, I.nc., in Chesapeake, VA. 23320.
Let me capsulize the above. A company in China sells something, who knows what, in a spray can. It has many safety potentials and by all means it must be kept out of the reach of children.
A company in Virginia in the USA distributes it in this country without any further information. Then a company puts it on the shelves of the toy or children’s department for any unsuspecting innocent child to purchase with their birthday money. Have I got it correct so far?
Let me clarify even further. Business people could careless if something is harmful as long as no one notices. Guess what? I noticed.
And Mr. Businessman, it does take a genius to know that things that are labeled “Keep out of reach of children” don’t belong on the shelves where children can reach them, or worse yet buy them.
One of the very first things I learned at New York University’s Safety School of Certification is that labels should be red by the distributer BEFORE it is distributed. Buyer Beware is not for children When it comes to children it is Seller Beware, because we consumers depend upon your honesty.
My grandson has learned a lot from this experience. In fact, he is taking this article back to New York with him for discussion in class when school starts next week or so. I only hope our local merchants are astute. And young customers, Read the Label before you buy.
My left eye still stings. Be careful what Santa brings this year!
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Christmas and Defcon 5
Recently a poll indicated that while 87% of Americans claim to be Christians only 36% focus on the birth or coming of the Christ child. Surprise, Surprise, Surprise!!
Every Christmas focuses on the coming of the Christ. Advent means arrival or coming and we celebrate the first and second coming of Christ. While Jesus, the babe in the manger is the image of our celebration, the real issue is who he was, is and will be that inspires believers to annually celebrate .
When will he come? Two thousand years ago, this was the question on the lips of a few Jewish believers. The vast majority had begun to focus on the celebrations and traditions. Ever since the fall of Jerusalem they had been told by their leaders, the Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed One would be coming soon. Their annual disappointment had caused them to push it into the back of their minds. Not to worry. When and if he comes, he comes! Not a thing we do can help it happen.
Years ago I was up on a high mountain in Greece looking out on the Aegean Sea toward Sparta in the southwest. I asked my friend Yani, a captain in Greek Air Force how far away was the huge island that held Sparta and Patriae. He asked me how far I believed it looked to be. I replied about twenty or thirty miles. He chuckled and said it is over one hundred US miles. Many things in life seem closer than they are in reality. We just need to look with an educated eye.
In the military we had five levels of alert status. Defcon 1 thru 5. Number One was total let your guard down time. Number Five was: we are being attacked or about to be attacked any minute. Twice in my military career I experienced Defcon 5. Both involved President John Fitzgerald Kennedy. The first time was the Cuban missile crises. The second was in Turkey when he was senselessly assassinated. The first seemed like an exercise and few of us cadets took it seriously. Why? Because our lives had been sheltered from reality.
The second was total experience of living on the edge. We were on total alert with every listen devise we had cranked up and pointed north over the Black Sea. The ears and eyes of Trabizon where fully focused on the Soviet Bear.
Was the bear ready to come out of his cave and ravish the free world? Was JFK the start of Armageddon? If so they would be moving through Turkey to the valley of the Jordan River. To the last man, we were thinking, "My God this is it!" Its not an exercise or movie script. The Evil empire has started their move. A move that will lead to the most horrible war we could imagine. I recalled the many times in school during air raid drills, we climbed under our seats to avoid the shattered glass. At first we were all scared, but by the seventh grade it had become a joke. But there in Turkey on November 24, 1963 it was no joke. We soon expected to hear the roar of Soviet bombers or missiles overhead any moment. Armageddon was about to begin and we were ready! And nothing happened!
That was 48 years ago in another life. I no longer worry about Armageddon or major catastrophe. Life every day keeps me busy enough.
Yet, we are told to always be alert and keep watch. Every Advent and Christmas season so far has been an exercise. Yes, it has become extremely routine. It is hard to imagine that Christ will be coming to usher in a new era of existence and end life for many. But then after marching in JFK's inaugural parade, I thought he would live forever and freedom would triumph over the evil empire. That assassin's bullet in Dallas yanked me back into reality. We must always be alert for the advent of the Christ and the Day of the Lord. It is just part of life.
How do you maintain a state of readiness? Believe it will happen and have the essentials ready. Christ will come whether we see it as the first or second time. Those, who are about his business in life are deemed ready. God’s business? Loving others with all our hearts as we love ourselves. Simple straight forward. In 1963, we knew it could happen. When it did we did exactly what we had practiced over and over in other exercises. When the Lord comes we are to do what we have been practicing Advent after Advent; Christmas after Christmas: showing our love for God and others. The world is in Defcon 5. Are you ready?
Every Christmas focuses on the coming of the Christ. Advent means arrival or coming and we celebrate the first and second coming of Christ. While Jesus, the babe in the manger is the image of our celebration, the real issue is who he was, is and will be that inspires believers to annually celebrate .
When will he come? Two thousand years ago, this was the question on the lips of a few Jewish believers. The vast majority had begun to focus on the celebrations and traditions. Ever since the fall of Jerusalem they had been told by their leaders, the Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed One would be coming soon. Their annual disappointment had caused them to push it into the back of their minds. Not to worry. When and if he comes, he comes! Not a thing we do can help it happen.
Years ago I was up on a high mountain in Greece looking out on the Aegean Sea toward Sparta in the southwest. I asked my friend Yani, a captain in Greek Air Force how far away was the huge island that held Sparta and Patriae. He asked me how far I believed it looked to be. I replied about twenty or thirty miles. He chuckled and said it is over one hundred US miles. Many things in life seem closer than they are in reality. We just need to look with an educated eye.
In the military we had five levels of alert status. Defcon 1 thru 5. Number One was total let your guard down time. Number Five was: we are being attacked or about to be attacked any minute. Twice in my military career I experienced Defcon 5. Both involved President John Fitzgerald Kennedy. The first time was the Cuban missile crises. The second was in Turkey when he was senselessly assassinated. The first seemed like an exercise and few of us cadets took it seriously. Why? Because our lives had been sheltered from reality.
The second was total experience of living on the edge. We were on total alert with every listen devise we had cranked up and pointed north over the Black Sea. The ears and eyes of Trabizon where fully focused on the Soviet Bear.
Was the bear ready to come out of his cave and ravish the free world? Was JFK the start of Armageddon? If so they would be moving through Turkey to the valley of the Jordan River. To the last man, we were thinking, "My God this is it!" Its not an exercise or movie script. The Evil empire has started their move. A move that will lead to the most horrible war we could imagine. I recalled the many times in school during air raid drills, we climbed under our seats to avoid the shattered glass. At first we were all scared, but by the seventh grade it had become a joke. But there in Turkey on November 24, 1963 it was no joke. We soon expected to hear the roar of Soviet bombers or missiles overhead any moment. Armageddon was about to begin and we were ready! And nothing happened!
That was 48 years ago in another life. I no longer worry about Armageddon or major catastrophe. Life every day keeps me busy enough.
Yet, we are told to always be alert and keep watch. Every Advent and Christmas season so far has been an exercise. Yes, it has become extremely routine. It is hard to imagine that Christ will be coming to usher in a new era of existence and end life for many. But then after marching in JFK's inaugural parade, I thought he would live forever and freedom would triumph over the evil empire. That assassin's bullet in Dallas yanked me back into reality. We must always be alert for the advent of the Christ and the Day of the Lord. It is just part of life.
How do you maintain a state of readiness? Believe it will happen and have the essentials ready. Christ will come whether we see it as the first or second time. Those, who are about his business in life are deemed ready. God’s business? Loving others with all our hearts as we love ourselves. Simple straight forward. In 1963, we knew it could happen. When it did we did exactly what we had practiced over and over in other exercises. When the Lord comes we are to do what we have been practicing Advent after Advent; Christmas after Christmas: showing our love for God and others. The world is in Defcon 5. Are you ready?
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