Shopping Stampedes and the Perils of Parenting

What would drive a 'Black Friday' shopper to camp-out in overnight lines to buy the laset Wi-Fi or cell-phone for their kids, much less plow over and kill an innocent security guard at a Wal-Mart on the way? You did hear about the blacker than usual incident of the day after Thanksgiving rush at said store in New York right?

How far has our materialistic (even in times of recession) culture gone off the deep-end? According to the news report, ""This was utter chaos as these men tried to open the door this morning." The video showed as many as a dozen people knocked to the floor in the stampede of people trying to get into the Wal-Mart store. The employee was "stepped on by hundreds of people" as other workers attempted to fight their way through the crowd, said one detective. "Several minutes" passed before others were able to clear space around the man and attempt to render aid. Police arrived, and "as they were giving first aid, those police officers were also jostled and pushed," he said. Where does this savagery and lust for stuff come from? Obviously a focus on mammon or money instead of the kingdom which is fed by media doesn't help..

Fresh from today's headlines... Lots of TV and Web harms kids' health

Duh, you think? According to a new study from a government agency, "Spending a lot of time watching TV, playing video games and surfing the Web makes children more prone to a range of health problems including obesity and smoking, U.S. researchers said on Tuesday." Can we add 'media obsession leads whiny kids and all too pleasing parents, to consider camping out on Black Friday to snatch up the latest deal at the store? Even if you have to literally step on someone to get it?' BTW, ADD and HD have been linked to such behaviors and the relationship of media and sexual activity, is now considered irrefutable, according to the report which said, " Thirteen of 14 studies that evaluated sexual behavior found an association between media exposure and earlier initiation of sexual behavior, the researchers said. "

Does the Bible have something to say about all this? Consider, Ro. 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Or how about Phil. 4:8? Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. How are you dealing with the Christmas shopping season? If it means much to you, get your helmet and strap on the pads!