Embracing Kingdom Hope for a Broken World
100 Days Later
Jul 28th
Do you remember back when the disaster of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion first happened? When we were surprised that the Gulf Coast Oil Spill had not been stopped after 2 weeks? When we were shocked that the leak had not been capped by 30 days? When we were in unbelief that 60 days did not come with a solution or much hope of one even?
Here we are now, 100 days into this disaster. The cap that was put into place nearly 2 weeks ago seems to be holding. Less oil is on the surface of the ocean to be skimmed. The relief wells continue to progress.
At the same time, however, the families of the 11 workers who died still deal with their loss. Thousands have lost their jobs. Countless others have been hurt economically. Churches and other relief groups are seeing increased demand. Marshes, wetlands, and the gulf (homes to so many of God’s creatures) have oil and the toxic dispersant floating through them and in places unknown. Beaches are damaged. People are hurting, scared, and depressed. The effects go on and on.
So, have we turned the corner? Can we declare victory?
While we seem to have turned a corner with the continued spill – though I hesitate to celebrate until the well is permanently killed – the effects could last for decades. This is the part that cannot be forgotten. The temptation will be to let this fade into the background. But we cannot ignore the fact that the implications of this spill will likely go on for many years. The 3 to 5 MILLION barrels of oil spilled will have an ongoing impact on God’s children, creatures, and creation.
As the situation continues to develop and change, followers of Jesus Christ need to step in and meet the needs. They need to participate with God in realizing His kingdom here on earth. They need to share that God is with those affected and the hope that His better future awaits.
Let this be a wake up call to live differently. Let this be a time where we realize how our care for neighbor and evangelism overlap with caring for God’s creation. Let this be a moment where we share the love of Jesus Christ with those in need.
Please continue with us in prayer that God be moving in the midst of this tragedy.
Also consider:
All of our coverage of the oil spill
Praying Confidently in the Midst of Disaster
Colossians 3:17
Jul 27th
Green Verses: a series which seeks to highlight scriptures that point to God as the Creator, His sovereignty over the earth, His redemption of the earth, and our call to participate in that redemption. Take a moment and reflect on what God might be saying through His Word.
Colossians 3:17
And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
I realize that you may look at this verse and not think that it is related to creation care. But it is important that we take note that our efforts to be green or to help the environment are much more than that. They should be done in the name of our Lord. When we do so it should be to care for God’s creation, to serve our Lord, and to witness to our Savior.
Also consider:
#16 Disposing of E-Waste
Jul 26th
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.
Do you have old technology lying around? Perhaps an obsolete cell phone, a broken printer, or an extra television that you have been holding on to for 20 years just in case you needed it?
Often we have a hard time parting with this technology that held a special place in our hearts and probably set us back a pretty penny.
Take this guy for example. This IBM Model 5100 was the world’s first “portable” computer. It weighed in at about 55 pounds, boasted a 5 inch screen, and could be loaded with up to 64K of RAM (yes, you read that right). Depending on your configuration this baby would have set you back between $8,000 and $20,000. When we spend that kind of money on items we tend to want to hold onto it.
The downside of this is that we often find ourselves storing old items just because we don’t know what to do with them. At some point, however, we realize that we absolutely must dispose of them. But what do you do with e-waste (electronic items that are to be disposed of because they are obsolete, broken, etc) like this?
First, do not dump them in the trash. Many of these items contain materials that can contaminate the environment if dumped in landfills. Additionally, there are many valuable elements in these electronics that can be salvaged and used again.
Second, consider if someone else could benefit from the item. We often replace cell phones, televisions, microwaves, MP3 players, etc even though they still work. If the item is still functional, consider selling or donating it to someone that might be able to get more use out of it. You can sell you products via Ebay, Craigslist, or even a garage sale. When donating consider giving it via Freecycle or the Goodwill. You can also give it to a family member, friend, or local charity.
Third, if there is no other way this item can be reused or repurposed, then recycle it. Keep in mind that not just any recycling center will accept e-waste. Be sure to check with you local recycling center or hazardous waste collection center. Also, many companies like Best Buy now accept some e-waste (although sometimes they will only swap your e-waste in exchange for a new purchase). If you are having trouble finding a place to recycle your items, be sure to check out Earth 911 which helps you find recycling centers for specific items in your area.
- – Don’t forget to remove your data before recycling it – -
I leave you with a list of some things that can be considered e-waste. Happy recycling.
- Alarm clocks
- CD players, DVD players, VCRs, etc
- Cell phones
- Computers, laptops, etc
- Digital Cameras
- Digital Thermometers
- MP3 players
- Phones
- PDAs
- Printers
- Radios
- Stereos
- TVs
- Video Game systems & accessories
Also consider:
Eco Anecdotes: St Mark Presbyterian Church
* Image of IBM Model 5100 from http://oldcomputers.net/
* Image of Garage Sale sign from Home Depot
Beauty of Creation: Trees Growing in Water
Jul 22nd
Beauty of Creation: a series where we look to take a moment and appreciate the amazing glory of God’s creation.
Photo by Ben DeVries
I find it fascinating that these trees can grow in the water like this. This photo was taken in Louisiana recently during our oil spill prayer journey. I have also seen this in the state of Washington. I find this to be so incredible. How did they get started? How do they survive?
While I am sure there are good answers for these questions that can scientifically explain this phenomenon, it no less diminishes the beauty of God’s creation. Our God is amazing!
Have you taken a picture that contains a glimpse of God’s glorious creation? Consider sharing it with our Creation Hope readers. Send it to us and we will post it so that others may appreciate the majesty of God’s creation.
Also consider:
Beauty of Creation: Ocean Glimpse
Shine Like Stars
Jul 20th
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 an easy thing. You have to cover many miles, transport people and equipment, and live on the road for a significant length of time. Very few bands try, let alone pull it off. That is why we have been so excited to work with Shine Like Stars to help where we could. The ideas we worked with them on ranged from maximizing gas mileage, minimizing energy use, eliminating waste, recycling, removing chemicals, and much more. We at Creation Hope are so proud of their efforts when it would have been easy to ignore.
Here are what some have said of their recent tour:
I believe your stop at Westfield Church was of divine intervention. How else could a little church such as ours be blessed with a band like you. We were all left with wonderful feelings of inspiration after your worship service. the entire evening was awesome! Thank you Lord and thank you SLS for coming to Westfield.
You guys are GREAT!! Thanks for your ministry to our church!! We are instantly big fans.
You guys are AWESOME! It was amazing hearing you guys today and meeting you all!
Now, their tour came in the wake of their most recent CD launch – Repeat, Rewind, Redux – Hymns We Tried Not To Ruin
I also appreciate how they opted to print the CD case on recycled paper. No wasted plastic here. This was another conscious decision by the band to care for creation through their work. How great! Of course, we also appreciate the attribution to Creation Hope on the back as well. Thanks Shine Like Stars.
If you don’t trust my musical expertise, don’t take my word for it. Here are some things others have been saying:
Shine Like Stars is rad and their take on these ancient hymns is something that I always wanna listen to. Get this music now!
Awesome rendition of the classics! A thoughtful and respectful album that elevates classic hymns to a whole new modern and relevant level. Well done Shine Like Stars!
This cd is one of my families’ faves. My teens shudder at most hymns because they are so slow and solemn. These are anything but. The lyrics are kept intact, but the music is a definite upgrade. This is the kind of music you won’t be embarrassed to invite your unchurched friends to listen to, and it would make a great gift for friends as well. It’s sweet!
Shine Like Stars also has another album, See You There
If you would like to purchase their music, you can find them on Amazon and iTunes. Or you can go to our Creation Hope Store and find both albums under “Partner Music” which would help support our ministry.
Theirs is a great story of people being faithful to God’s call on their life and to care for His creation. If you get a chance be sure to encourage and support them.
Also consider:
Book Review: For the Beauty of the Earth
Green Verses: Psalm 96:11-13
Jul 20th
Green Verses: a series which seeks to highlight scriptures that point to God as the Creator, His sovereignty over the earth, His redemption of the earth, and our call to participate in that redemption. Take a moment and reflect on what God might be saying through His Word.
Psalm 96:11-13
Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field exult, and everything in it. Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy before the Lord; for he is coming, for he is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with his truth.
I find it so interesting every time I read these scriptures about God’s creation worshipping Him. It is incredible to read how the sea and the forest can sing His praises. This is not some sort of animism. It does reveal, however, that God’s creation brings glory to His name.
If that’s the case, Since that’s the case, what a unique nuance that places on our care of creation. By caring for creation we help it to glorify God’s name. How incredible!
Also consider:
#15 Conserving Water
Jul 19th
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 a bubble that said “I will conserve….” Except for the boy that wrote down that he would conserve fire (awesome!), many of the kids quickly wrote down “water.” Makes sense, right? It is such a natural answer.
As the kids got to the point of writing in how they would do it, that is where they had more difficulty. You see, many of us know that we should conserve water (as clean water is one of our most precious resources), but outside of not being ridiculously wasteful (i.e. leaving a hose on all week) many of us struggle to understand how to put that into action.
So, here are 25 ideas as to how you can practically care for God’s creation in this way:
- Take shorter showers
- If you wait for the shower/ bath water to warm up before getting in, collect the cold water in a bucket and use it to water your lawn and garden
- After cooking pasta or vegetables in a pot of water, dump that water in your garden (after it cools, of course)
- Install a greywater system at your home or work
- Install dual-flush toilets
- When washing dishes by hand, fill the sink instead of letting the water run
- Be sure your sprinklers are water your plants and not your sidewalk
- Run your dishwater when full to maximize the water use
- Using a kiddy pool this summer? Re-use the leftover water
- Replace your shower head with an efficient one
- Use a broom to clean off your driveway or patio instead of hosing it off
- Install a rain barrel at your hose to catch the rain water
- Fix any leaks around the house quickly
- Use mulch around your garden to retain water (and prevent weeds)
- Use a single glass for drinking water around the house over the course of the day in order to reduce the amount of dishes to be washed
- Turn off your irrigation system manually or automatically (by installing a rain sensor) to avoid wasting water after it has already rained
- Don’t use more water than needed for your laundry
- Use local, drought-resistant plants to lower your water needs
- Purchase appliances that use water efficiently
- Use your sprinklers and water your plants during the cool hours of the morning to avoid losing water due to evaporationTurn off the water while you brush your teeth
- Fill the sink with water when you shave to rinse the razor instead of running the faucet. Alternatively, grow a nice beard and don’t shave at all.
- Use a nozzle when washing your car to avoid running the water while lathering your car up. Or take your car to a car wash that minimizes the amount of water used or recycles it.
- Do not thaw meat by running water over it. Let it thaw in the refrigerator.
- Wash fruits and vegetables in a bowl rather than running the faucet continuously
Be sure to talk to your family, friends and co-workers about ways that they can conserve water as well. Remember, this is not something we do because it is popular or otherwise. We do it as a way to care for God’s creation and for our neighbor.
*Image used courtesy of Nikhil Verma
Also consider:
Beauty of Creation: Egret in Louisiana
Jul 15th
Beauty of Creation: a series where we look to take a moment and appreciate the amazing glory of God’s creation.
Photo by Scott Williams
I took this photo near Venice Marina, Louisiana on our recent Gulf Coast Prayer Journey. I believe this bird is an egret, although I am not sure of the specific type. Perhaps it is a snowy egret. [Please comment below if you know. My identification skills are lacking.]
Regardless, this is an impressive bird that we came across on our journey. It was captivating to watch them walk around and fly overhead. I so appreciate the diversity and beauty of God’s creation.
Have you taken a picture that contains a glimpse of God’s glorious creation? Consider sharing it with our Creation Hope readers. Send it to us and we will post it so that others may appreciate the majesty of God’s creation.
Also consider:
Beauty of Creation: Zebras in Ethiopia
Involving Kids
Jul 14th
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, their role to play in caring for it, and God’s great plan to restore it.
It has been exciting so far to see the children engaging with aspects of creation care. How encouraging to see kids composting and able to explain why they should do it! More importantly, how incredible is it to hear kids speak of God’s love for them and the beauty of His creation!
On a personal level, I have loved watching my daughter help with gardening, composting, and conserving. It is such a great thing to see children caring for God’s creation. This is not just for some general environmental reason; rather they are beginning to understand the Christian call to care for God’s creation. Now that gets me excited!
How have you seen children caring for God’s creation?
Also consider:
Green Verses: Psalm 24:1
Jul 13th
Green Verses: a series which seeks to highlight scriptures that point to God as the Creator, His sovereignty over the earth, His redemption of the earth, and our call to participate in that redemption. Take a moment and reflect on what God might be saying through His Word.
Psalm 24:1
The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it;
In a world driven by ownership, rights, and the protection thereof, we often struggle to understand where God falls into that picture. The Bible is clear, however, that all belongs to God. This concept should impact our lives – my life – a lot more than it does. It should shape our tithing, our stewardship of creation, our entire worldview. Just think how you might act differently if you were fully cognizant of God’s ownership and care for each aspect of creation that you pass by.
Also consider:
Book Review: For the Beauty of the Earth
