7.7. 07

777

Global Warming is the observed increase in the average temperature of the Earth's atmosphere and oceans in recent decades and its projected continuation into the future. Global Warming

I prefer the phrase Global Climate Change.

Your political preferences are of little consequence unless you remember that the "personal is political" and the "political is personal".

July 7 2007 may be remembered in Las Vegas for its lucky numbers the 777 jackpot.


Yet on a broader scale, it may be noted as the day LIVE EARTH( http://www.liveearth.org/ ) took Global Warming to a new level of global awareness to billions of people. I hope so.

I want to share a video with you. I hope it takes here ok.

Independence Day

In America we celebrate the 4th of July as Independence Day.

Flags, Patriotic music, Parades, Fireworks and summer festivals highlight the day.

As I watched the fireworks on my street, I heard the echoes of the National Anthem in my mind. .

."o'er the ramparts we watched ...and the rockets
... the bombs bursting .... gave proof thru the night that our flag was still there..."

The galaxy has our best fireworks

and I wept for our military still at work in faraway places doing exactly that

while we applauded colorful displays at home.

Later I watched parts of two programs on television which gave renewed perspective on our nation's Independence: The Howards of Virginia and 1776.

The freedom which our founders sought was not achieved by peaceful means.

The grandiose promises and dreams expressed at Independence Hall in Philadelphia certainly gave us some lofty goals and eloquent aspirations.

Yet, a close look at the history of that time reveals much struggle. Even among the most peaceful people. (I am thinking of John and Abigail Adams)

Peace is not easy. It is rarely demonstrated in the everyday world.

Peacemakers are called to remember the reasons for peace,

the alternatives for peace. And the consequences of continued strife.

Perhaps in 200 years plus, Americans can

become more peaceful people if we work on it.

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God"

Matthew 5: 9

Who Thinks Peace?

Vacation Bible School.

Hmph.

Why do my friends think I am a martyr for teaching VBS?

Maybe because you could not pay them to do it. But that is not their gift and I know it. Mine is sharing what I love with people who I love. Where is the martyr in that?

Perhaps because in some parts of the world Christians are persecuted it seems risky to teach such controversial topics as Love, Mercy, Truth, Peace or Compassion.

I suppose even more subversive is to teach the process of making peace. That is also much harder to do. Perhaps the best we can do is to create climates where people learn to prefer peaceful solutions. And then we can begin to lead them toward creating peaceful alternatives.

One step at a time. But some of us have to take more steps to keep up.

Teaching children about Bible stories and history and geography surely gave a fresh perspective on situations in the Middle East.

Did Jesus get blisters on his feet from walking all over the Holy Land? Hm.

It also reminded me of the LAST time I taught VBS.

I was 15 years old and things were very different then. We did not use hi tech videos or DVDs to launch each day. I wonder if we anticipate short attention spans by building programs that only allow for twenty minutes together for each activity. I know it would seem Luddite to use a chalkboard and construction paper on a corkboard for the lesson, but I found myself wondering how much of the drama was really needed for a personal interaction with the children about faith.

Given a few extra minutes and a little less technology perhaps we could have a smaller footprint on our planet and a greater impact on our hearts and minds.

Why? Because we worked harder for it. Now there is a model for simplicity in a VBS setting. THAT seems like an oxymoron in this world of competitive marketing for our children's time. But maybe that is what we need to do more often.