We were discussing cell phone use today in Sunday School. Ninety eight percent of our class is over 50 years of age. Some do not even text, much less Facebook, and have no desire to do either. We were discussing how we thought that cell phones had taken the place of visiting in person and how we had lost that "personal touch."
As I reflected on this for a while it came to me that the younger generation does not even remember "front porch sittin'." Women used to quilt together. (Not in my time. haha) They used to have play dates for their children and sit over a glass of tea or a cup of coffee while the children played. Today, most women under the age of fifty have a full time jobs. For a time, between the eras of quiltings and women having careers; there was very little visitation. Cell phones, therefore, have replaced the "front porch." Because of them, people are able to keep in touch in a way they never could before. We really can't even argue that they cannot see each other. With programs such as Skype, even that is possible. My daughter "Skypes" a friend of hers in Africa all the time. My son had a "Skype" date with his girlfriend, who is doing an internship in California.
What we have to remember is that just because something is different, that doesn't mean it is bad. It is just different. In this case, it is progress. Granted we could use a lot more cell phone etiquette. There should be some hard and fast rules about when and how to use this wonderful little device, but that is another blog!
Personally, I love both texting and Facebook. I have gotten in touch with old friends whom I would never have had contact with had it not have been for Facebook. And I can text my son and tell him to call me when he doesn't answer his phone. Texting can be done when the conversation needs to stay private, or when an actual conversation is not possible. So come on 50+er's, get in the groove! I can make up words like 50+er's, because I'm a "texter!"
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Red Sky @ Morning
Coming home from Colorado City last night I looked, as I always do, at the sunset. It was a beautiful red-orange sun descending in a sea of red sky. It was awesome! My mothers "saying" came to mind.
My mother had so many sayings; one for every occassion. Many of them she "took" from the Bible. Mostly "took" out of context to suite her needs. "Spare the rod and spoil the child," she took to mean "Spare the rod, but use the switch." "Honor your father and mother," needs no explanation and was used often.
But there were some sayings whose origins were never found. Such as: "If there's a ring around the moon it will rain within three days."
One of my favorites was, "Red sky at night, sailors delight. Red sky in morning, sailor take warning," which she said meant that if the sky was red at night the wind would not blow and storms would come, but if the sky was red in the morning a sailor knew to stay off the seas because it would be windy or there would be storms. When asked where this saying came from she said, "From the Bible."
A few weeks ago I researched that scripture, because I figured it was just one of those she pulled out of the air. I was wrong. It can be found in Matthew 16:1-4. And from my interpretation, the saying is correct. Jesus is talking to the Pharisees and Sadducees and He tells them, (NKJ Version) ..."Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times."
Even though He was talking to the Pharisees and Sadducees, He could say the same things to us today. We know so much and yet so little.
What I do know is, without a doubt, we have some of the most beautiful sunsets in the world right here in West Texas! Thank you Lord for being such an awesome artist and sharing such beauty with us!
My mother had so many sayings; one for every occassion. Many of them she "took" from the Bible. Mostly "took" out of context to suite her needs. "Spare the rod and spoil the child," she took to mean "Spare the rod, but use the switch." "Honor your father and mother," needs no explanation and was used often.
But there were some sayings whose origins were never found. Such as: "If there's a ring around the moon it will rain within three days."
One of my favorites was, "Red sky at night, sailors delight. Red sky in morning, sailor take warning," which she said meant that if the sky was red at night the wind would not blow and storms would come, but if the sky was red in the morning a sailor knew to stay off the seas because it would be windy or there would be storms. When asked where this saying came from she said, "From the Bible."
A few weeks ago I researched that scripture, because I figured it was just one of those she pulled out of the air. I was wrong. It can be found in Matthew 16:1-4. And from my interpretation, the saying is correct. Jesus is talking to the Pharisees and Sadducees and He tells them, (NKJ Version) ..."Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times."
Even though He was talking to the Pharisees and Sadducees, He could say the same things to us today. We know so much and yet so little.
What I do know is, without a doubt, we have some of the most beautiful sunsets in the world right here in West Texas! Thank you Lord for being such an awesome artist and sharing such beauty with us!
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
First Blog
This is my first blog. I had to see if I could actually set one up. I'm so excited!
I have been contemplating a lot of things this morning as I watered the yard, listened to the birds, and sat on the porch with a cup of coffee.
I was shopping yesterday and it seemed as if everyone I came across was frustrated. My husband always says that I am the only person he knows who goes in to get a loaf bread and comes out with a new best friend! I do tend to talk a lot, but you didn't hear that from me. From the government healthcare mess, to the lightbulb fiasco (I hate flourescent bulbs!), to fires, to our parched, dry land, to lack of morals, and to our horrible economy; everyone is frustrated. Then I read my daughters post:tishablaylock@blogspot.com. And my thought was, "If we would all concentrate more on God, our problems would be solved." Our country has strayed so far from the christian, moral country we started as. It is no wonder God has chastised us. Like my husband, I don't know which will come first: rain or rapture, but I'm ready for either!
Yesterday, I watched a little bird that was either too weak or too small to fly. In a few minutes another bird lit on the bird bath and got a drink of water and then dipped his bill again and went over to the other bird. They tipped their heads and the second bird gave the first a drink. Maybe that is what our country needs more of: a willingness to help each other. Not through the government, but personally. We have lost so much of that personal touch in our modern world. We need to reach out to each other; maybe sit on the porch together. We need to give our neighbors someone to share their troubles with so there will be less suicide and fewer people on tranquilizers.
I believe God expects more from us than we are giving, and I for one, am going to do my best to give more. Join me, won't you?
I have been contemplating a lot of things this morning as I watered the yard, listened to the birds, and sat on the porch with a cup of coffee.
I was shopping yesterday and it seemed as if everyone I came across was frustrated. My husband always says that I am the only person he knows who goes in to get a loaf bread and comes out with a new best friend! I do tend to talk a lot, but you didn't hear that from me. From the government healthcare mess, to the lightbulb fiasco (I hate flourescent bulbs!), to fires, to our parched, dry land, to lack of morals, and to our horrible economy; everyone is frustrated. Then I read my daughters post:tishablaylock@blogspot.com. And my thought was, "If we would all concentrate more on God, our problems would be solved." Our country has strayed so far from the christian, moral country we started as. It is no wonder God has chastised us. Like my husband, I don't know which will come first: rain or rapture, but I'm ready for either!
Yesterday, I watched a little bird that was either too weak or too small to fly. In a few minutes another bird lit on the bird bath and got a drink of water and then dipped his bill again and went over to the other bird. They tipped their heads and the second bird gave the first a drink. Maybe that is what our country needs more of: a willingness to help each other. Not through the government, but personally. We have lost so much of that personal touch in our modern world. We need to reach out to each other; maybe sit on the porch together. We need to give our neighbors someone to share their troubles with so there will be less suicide and fewer people on tranquilizers.
I believe God expects more from us than we are giving, and I for one, am going to do my best to give more. Join me, won't you?
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