Embracing Kingdom Hope for a Broken World
World Water Day
Today, March 22, is World Water Day. According to the official website, Word Water Day serves “as a means of focusing attention on the importance of freshwater and advocating for the sustainable management of freshwater resources.” This year’s theme is “Clean Water for a Healthy World.”
For many of us, we don’t even think of water – where it comes from, how we get it, how many people don’t have access to it, etc. But today we pause and reflect on a growing issue around the world – access to clean water. The numbers related to unclean water are staggering. Consider the following information from their website:
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) 4 billion cases of diarrhea each year in addition to millions of other cases of illness are associated with lack of access to water that is safe for human consumption. Per year 2,2 million people die as a result of diarrhea most of them are children under the age of five. Human health is severely impacted by water-related diseases (waterborne, water-washed, water-based, and water-related vector-borne infections) as well as by chemical pollution discharged to water.
It is easy to forget, ignore, or turn your back on these issues. Many of us will never suffer from this. Many of us don’t personally know people affected by this. Many of us will never even travel to places plagued by this. But that doesn’t let us off the hook. Now, consider this:
‘I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink… Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’ (Matthew 25:35, 40)
As followers of Jesus we are called to care for those in need. The first step to caring is understanding.
Please take 5 minutes to watch this interesting video about water issues for World Water Day:
Please also consider visiting the official website and checking out some of the additional resources below.
Also consider:
Green Living: #6 – Public Fruit
Please subscribe to our quarterly newsletter.
#19 Rain Barrels
about 1 year ago - No comments
In the past we have looked at conserving water as a way to care for God’s creation, today we look more specifically at using rain barrels to help with that task. First off, what is a rain barrel? Simply put, a rain barrel is a container that is used to collect and store rainwater. [...]
Shine Like Stars
about 1 year ago - 1 comment
A while back the Christian worship band, Shine Like Stars, approached us to work with them to better care for God’s creation via their then upcoming tour. As I have been a fan of their music for several years, I was really excited about working with them. Caring for creation while on tour is not [...]
#15 Conserving Water
about 1 year ago - 1 comment
Green Living: a series in which we provide tips to help you implement practices, habits, and products into your life which respect and work towards the redemption of God’s creation. This last week as I worked with children on creation care, we had them fill out and color a poster. In it there was [...]
Involving Kids
about 1 year ago - No comments
For the past several months we have been working with the children’s director from Presbyterian Church of the Covenant to help bring the creation care message into their Vacation Bible School. After months of planning their VBS began this past Monday. During the course of the week they will be learning more about God’s creation, [...]
A Few Distinctions
about 1 year ago - 3 comments
As Christians… We are not environmentalists who care only for our own surroundings. We are people who care for God’s creation. Our dominion of creation is not domination. Our dominion should reflect the way our Lord uses power in life-giving ways. While we marvel at creation, we do not worship it. We [...]
Book Review: For the Beauty of the Earth
about 1 year ago - 7 comments
Media + Creation: a series which explores all things green and creation care related as found in the media and pop culture Just last month a new edition of For the Beauty of the Earth: A Christian Vision for Creation Care by Steven Bouma-Prediger was released. This book, originally released in 2001, is an [...]
Dogs, Cows, and Sparrows… Oh My!
about 1 year ago - 7 comments
I like dogs. I like cows – well, I like hamburgers and tacos. I’ve never really been a fan of birds though – I think it’s the germophobe in me. Over the past months I have really come to see all animals – those I like, those I eat, and those I’ve not really been [...]
Creation Care Resources
about 1 year ago - No comments
Resources: a series that highlights valuable resources to help you on your journey to better understand and participate in caring for God’s creation In the wake of Earth Day and in anticipation of Creation Care Sunday, I thought I would share some resources to help you on your journey to care for God’s creation. [...]
Earth Day & Creation Care Sunday
about 1 year ago - 1 comment
You may well have heard that this Thursday, April 22, is Earth Day. What you may not have heard is that this week many celebrate Creation Care Sunday as well. So what are these days? Should we participate? How? Earth Day Earth Day is an effort by the Earth Day Network to raise awareness [...]
Q & A: What if I don’t believe in global warming?
about 1 year ago - 3 comments
Q & A: a series which answers your questions about all aspects of creation care and the work of Creation Hope. Question: I’m not convinced of this whole global warming thing. In fact, I’m quite skeptical. Where does that leave me? Answer: We understand that some people do not agree with the science [...]
about 1 year ago
Great post, Scott, this would be the perfect type of thing to crosspost at SustainLane’s creation care community (http://www.sustainlane.com/creation-care). Remind me to tell you more about that opportunity tomorrow, and I can put you in touch with the moderator.
By the way, have you ever come across this water-food-production graphic? – http://awesome.good.is/transparency/web/trans0309walkthisway.html
It’s pretty startling when it comes to animal food generation – Ben
about 1 year ago
Ben, what a fascinating graphic. I had not seen that yet. Really makes you think about things differently. Thank you for bringing this to my/our attention.