its a great deal.
http://tampa.craigslist.org/pnl/msg/1521718427.html
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Peace? or a Genocide of the Wicked?
"There will be times when nations -- acting individually or in concert -- will find the use of force not only necessary but morally justified." - Barack Obama
Recently Obama made his decision to send 30,000 additional troops to Afghanistan, and shortly after recieved the Nobel Peace Prize.
The fact that he declared this war morally justfied was very troubling. There have been too many "morally justified" wars in our world. I heard a story on NPR from the people of Afghanistan asking Obama not to send more troops, but to create jobs and build schools, and I longed to see that kind of peace making. Martin Luther King Jr. who also won the Nobel Peace prize said "violence never brings permanent peace" and history shows this to be true. I understand that there are threats against the United States, but is force really the answer? I had hoped for Obama to be better than this. His inauguration speech made me hopeful that I would see America act differently, non-violently and make real steps towards nuclear disarmament, And he did act differently for the most part, but a little leaven leavens the whole lump. Has war made the world a better place? If these people had jobs, and their children were educated they would never want to join the radicals. But with every terrorist killed, countless more are born.
This war is about revenge,
This is not peacemaking.
Peacemaking is forgiveness. Reconciliation.
This is a genocide of the wicked.
If you look up the antonym of peace, you'll find out that is war. Peace by way of war truly is like purity by way of fornication.
If Bush had sent 30,000 more troops, advocates for peace would be raising hell, but it seems like many have been pacified by Obama and their voice is becoming a faint whisper. There have always been anti-war activists in Downtown Dunedin over the past few years almost every evening, dozens of them. Now there are only about three people out there still there asking for us to get out of Afghanistan. As Christians and as human beings we cannot support this war. I pray the church and all people of good-will will rise up to practice radical peace. Non-violent peace. Imagination. Shining a light in the darkness. It takes a very creative mind to practice non-violence. War becomes the easiest solution to so many problems. History is full of stories of war and battles of people who believed themselves to be morally justified, in fact that is a majority of what I learned about in all of my history, and we record the periods of our country by all of the wars we were in. But every once in a while we stumble across people who did things differently, Ghandi, M.L.K., Jesus, St. Francis, Thomas Merton. These were some amazing minds, but why have there been so few?
When God told Solomon that he would give him anything he asked for he was pleased that Solomon did not ask for the death of his enemies. We should do the same, because we do not have the right to judge the fate of the wicked, only God. This world is broken, and it can't be fixed with smart-bombs, and tanks, but with peace and love for our fellow human beings.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.
Love your enemy.
Another world is possible.
Recently Obama made his decision to send 30,000 additional troops to Afghanistan, and shortly after recieved the Nobel Peace Prize.
The fact that he declared this war morally justfied was very troubling. There have been too many "morally justified" wars in our world. I heard a story on NPR from the people of Afghanistan asking Obama not to send more troops, but to create jobs and build schools, and I longed to see that kind of peace making. Martin Luther King Jr. who also won the Nobel Peace prize said "violence never brings permanent peace" and history shows this to be true. I understand that there are threats against the United States, but is force really the answer? I had hoped for Obama to be better than this. His inauguration speech made me hopeful that I would see America act differently, non-violently and make real steps towards nuclear disarmament, And he did act differently for the most part, but a little leaven leavens the whole lump. Has war made the world a better place? If these people had jobs, and their children were educated they would never want to join the radicals. But with every terrorist killed, countless more are born.
This war is about revenge,
This is not peacemaking.
Peacemaking is forgiveness. Reconciliation.
This is a genocide of the wicked.
If you look up the antonym of peace, you'll find out that is war. Peace by way of war truly is like purity by way of fornication.
If Bush had sent 30,000 more troops, advocates for peace would be raising hell, but it seems like many have been pacified by Obama and their voice is becoming a faint whisper. There have always been anti-war activists in Downtown Dunedin over the past few years almost every evening, dozens of them. Now there are only about three people out there still there asking for us to get out of Afghanistan. As Christians and as human beings we cannot support this war. I pray the church and all people of good-will will rise up to practice radical peace. Non-violent peace. Imagination. Shining a light in the darkness. It takes a very creative mind to practice non-violence. War becomes the easiest solution to so many problems. History is full of stories of war and battles of people who believed themselves to be morally justified, in fact that is a majority of what I learned about in all of my history, and we record the periods of our country by all of the wars we were in. But every once in a while we stumble across people who did things differently, Ghandi, M.L.K., Jesus, St. Francis, Thomas Merton. These were some amazing minds, but why have there been so few?
When God told Solomon that he would give him anything he asked for he was pleased that Solomon did not ask for the death of his enemies. We should do the same, because we do not have the right to judge the fate of the wicked, only God. This world is broken, and it can't be fixed with smart-bombs, and tanks, but with peace and love for our fellow human beings.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.
Love your enemy.
Another world is possible.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Give your greed
Then the Lord said to him, "Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. You foolish people! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also? But give what is inside the dish to the poor, and everything will be clean for you.
-Luke 11:39-40
I find this to be an amazing statement.
-Luke 11:39-40
I find this to be an amazing statement.
Friday, November 6, 2009
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"We have all our beliefs but we don't want our beliefs, God of peace, we want you."
- from "Four word letter" by mewithoutYou
That's how I feel a lot of the time.
- from "Four word letter" by mewithoutYou
That's how I feel a lot of the time.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
For richer or poorer (pt 2)
There are a few verses that have really impacted me recently.
Out of the seven letters that John wrote in Revelation there are only two which have nothing bad to say. One of those was written to the church of Smyrna.
Rev 2:9
"I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich)"
The reason this verse really stands out to me is because of what is says in the letter to church of Laodicea (which recieves one of the more popular rebukes). Its such a clear contrast.
Rev 3:17
"you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked."
He calls the rich poor, and the poor rich.
Amazing.
I've been to some churches that really glorify riches and desire insane amounts of money for things they do not need. I've heard plans like "we need 1 million dollars to save 1 million souls". How can you put a price on salvation?
There is nothing wrong with trying to be successful, but there is something wrong with being incontent.
Paul goes into detail about a person caught up in thirsting after riches instead of righteousness!!
1 Timothy 6:4-10
"He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth,IMAGININING THAT GODLINESS IS A MEANS OF GAIN. Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs."
So godliness is not a means of gain. But there is gain in godliness in contentment. I love that. Contentment is so important. I really think its the key to success, despite what the world says. I've written other blogs on contentment so I wont spend too much time on that.
You don't need lots money to preach the gospel. You need love. Lots of love. You need a community of people who are willing to give of themselves and share. A group of people who have the love of God in their hearts and in their hands can do more to change this world than any billionaire. Jesus hung out with twelve dudes, and they took the message they received to every corner of the known world at their time, and they didn't have private jets, huge semi trucks, and sound systems, but they had a community of love, and that made anything possible. Philip and Matthew labored in Ethiopia, Mark in Egypt, Bartholomew and Thomas in India, Simon the Zealot in West Africa and Britain, and the rest of the Apostles preached throughout the Middle East and Europe. These guys were all over the place, and if we just work together and selflessly share we can do the same and even greater things. If they can change the world, then so can we.
1 Timothy 6:17-19
"Charge them that are rich in this present world, that they be not highminded, nor have their hope set on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy; that they do good, that they be rich in good works, that they be ready to distribute, willing to communicate; laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on the life which is life indeed. "
I don't want you to think that I think poor folks are better than rich folks, or that God has beef with you because you're rich (even though most of us are considered middle-class, I would consider us rich compared to the millions of people suffering in poverty today), but the point I want to make here is that we need each other. I heard someone say " the church needs the poor more than the poor need the church". The poor need us to provide them with clothing, food, and shelter, and we need them so that we can be provided an entrance into the kingdom of God.
Which brings us the final scripture that I really embraced this week. Its a reminder to what the gospel is really about.
1 Timothy 1:5
"The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith."
Take that verse to heart!
Grace & Peace!
Out of the seven letters that John wrote in Revelation there are only two which have nothing bad to say. One of those was written to the church of Smyrna.
Rev 2:9
"I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich)"
The reason this verse really stands out to me is because of what is says in the letter to church of Laodicea (which recieves one of the more popular rebukes). Its such a clear contrast.
Rev 3:17
"you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked."
He calls the rich poor, and the poor rich.
Amazing.
I've been to some churches that really glorify riches and desire insane amounts of money for things they do not need. I've heard plans like "we need 1 million dollars to save 1 million souls". How can you put a price on salvation?
There is nothing wrong with trying to be successful, but there is something wrong with being incontent.
Paul goes into detail about a person caught up in thirsting after riches instead of righteousness!!
1 Timothy 6:4-10
"He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth,IMAGININING THAT GODLINESS IS A MEANS OF GAIN. Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs."
So godliness is not a means of gain. But there is gain in godliness in contentment. I love that. Contentment is so important. I really think its the key to success, despite what the world says. I've written other blogs on contentment so I wont spend too much time on that.
You don't need lots money to preach the gospel. You need love. Lots of love. You need a community of people who are willing to give of themselves and share. A group of people who have the love of God in their hearts and in their hands can do more to change this world than any billionaire. Jesus hung out with twelve dudes, and they took the message they received to every corner of the known world at their time, and they didn't have private jets, huge semi trucks, and sound systems, but they had a community of love, and that made anything possible. Philip and Matthew labored in Ethiopia, Mark in Egypt, Bartholomew and Thomas in India, Simon the Zealot in West Africa and Britain, and the rest of the Apostles preached throughout the Middle East and Europe. These guys were all over the place, and if we just work together and selflessly share we can do the same and even greater things. If they can change the world, then so can we.
1 Timothy 6:17-19
"Charge them that are rich in this present world, that they be not highminded, nor have their hope set on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy; that they do good, that they be rich in good works, that they be ready to distribute, willing to communicate; laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on the life which is life indeed. "
I don't want you to think that I think poor folks are better than rich folks, or that God has beef with you because you're rich (even though most of us are considered middle-class, I would consider us rich compared to the millions of people suffering in poverty today), but the point I want to make here is that we need each other. I heard someone say " the church needs the poor more than the poor need the church". The poor need us to provide them with clothing, food, and shelter, and we need them so that we can be provided an entrance into the kingdom of God.
Which brings us the final scripture that I really embraced this week. Its a reminder to what the gospel is really about.
1 Timothy 1:5
"The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith."
Take that verse to heart!
Grace & Peace!
Friday, September 25, 2009
sometimes i get a little frustrated.
if you are sure that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness,an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself?
you who ban nuclear projects, do you drop bombs?
you who demonize dictators, are you a tyrant?
you who fight terror, do you terrorize?
what does murdering murderers accomplish?
why do you have the right to weapons of mass destruction?
who made you judge?
you try to make peace, but you cause more chaos.
Therefore you have no excuse, everyone of you who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.
wake up. have an imagination. Love one another.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
searching my heart
from the book of Isaiah
12 “ When you come to appear before Me,
Who has required this from your hand,
To trample My courts?
13 Bring no more futile sacrifices;
Incense is an abomination to Me.
The New Moons, the Sabbaths, and the calling of assemblies—
I cannot endure iniquity and the sacred meeting.
14 Your New Moons and your appointed feasts
My soul hates;
They are a trouble to Me,
I am weary of bearing them.
15 When you spread out your hands,
I will hide My eyes from you;
Even though you make many prayers,
I will not hear.
Your hands are full of blood.
16 “ Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean;
Put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes.
Cease to do evil,
17 Learn to do good;
Seek justice,
Rebuke the oppressor;
Defend the fatherless,
Plead for the widow. "
Its so easy for me to take a scripture like this and always relate it to someone else, how someone else is doing something wrong, and how they need to change. A lot of times when I'm reading I find myself pointing the correction towards someone else, which may have its place, but it can only be after we've examined our own hearts. Jesus said "first remove the log from your own eye, before you try to remove the twig from your brother's eye". Finding the log in your eye, can sometimes be an obvious thing, but sometimes it can be difficult and you only find it when you really meditate on how you are affecting or not affecting your world by your actions.
This can really happen when you immerse yourself in different social justice issues. You see all of these terrible things and you want to call people out on it. It may be the right thing to do, but do I have the right to do it?
God show me the injustice I cause! Is there blood on my hands?!
12 “ When you come to appear before Me,
Who has required this from your hand,
To trample My courts?
13 Bring no more futile sacrifices;
Incense is an abomination to Me.
The New Moons, the Sabbaths, and the calling of assemblies—
I cannot endure iniquity and the sacred meeting.
14 Your New Moons and your appointed feasts
My soul hates;
They are a trouble to Me,
I am weary of bearing them.
15 When you spread out your hands,
I will hide My eyes from you;
Even though you make many prayers,
I will not hear.
Your hands are full of blood.
16 “ Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean;
Put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes.
Cease to do evil,
17 Learn to do good;
Seek justice,
Rebuke the oppressor;
Defend the fatherless,
Plead for the widow. "
Its so easy for me to take a scripture like this and always relate it to someone else, how someone else is doing something wrong, and how they need to change. A lot of times when I'm reading I find myself pointing the correction towards someone else, which may have its place, but it can only be after we've examined our own hearts. Jesus said "first remove the log from your own eye, before you try to remove the twig from your brother's eye". Finding the log in your eye, can sometimes be an obvious thing, but sometimes it can be difficult and you only find it when you really meditate on how you are affecting or not affecting your world by your actions.
This can really happen when you immerse yourself in different social justice issues. You see all of these terrible things and you want to call people out on it. It may be the right thing to do, but do I have the right to do it?
God show me the injustice I cause! Is there blood on my hands?!
Monday, August 31, 2009
review of my band
Creative Loafing covered the festival we just played, and they wrote a little review of our set which I found pretty entertaining.
"The night was getting late, and I was getting tired, having been back and forth between the two venues several times on a half-healed broken toe, so I decided to swing by New World to catch one final local act before hitting the road: Alexander & the Grapes (pictured below). Lead singer/guitarist Alexander Charos looked the part of mountain man with his thick, gnarly beard, well-worn plaid shirt and cowboy boots, his emo-twangy vocals paired with the band’s easy-going roots rock. Bassist Tom Dicks brought the good-natured bounciness to his low-end frequencies and looked like he’d just got back from summer vacation with his youthful appearance — sloppy tee-shirt, boat shoes (no socks, of course), and a tendency to smile goofily while staring off into space. Drummer Philip Charos (the younger underage brother of Alexander) played with lively enthusiasm and grinned all throughout, wearing the blissed-out expression of a person perfectly in his element, his dark curls and dressy casual attire (white collared shirt and tie) reminding me of Tom Everett Scott’s stick-wielding character in That Thing You Do. And support guitarist Chase Swan played electric guitar but was best when he was drawing out the long, lazy sliding notes from his lap steel, adding a nice texture to the band’s countrified leanings."
"The night was getting late, and I was getting tired, having been back and forth between the two venues several times on a half-healed broken toe, so I decided to swing by New World to catch one final local act before hitting the road: Alexander & the Grapes (pictured below). Lead singer/guitarist Alexander Charos looked the part of mountain man with his thick, gnarly beard, well-worn plaid shirt and cowboy boots, his emo-twangy vocals paired with the band’s easy-going roots rock. Bassist Tom Dicks brought the good-natured bounciness to his low-end frequencies and looked like he’d just got back from summer vacation with his youthful appearance — sloppy tee-shirt, boat shoes (no socks, of course), and a tendency to smile goofily while staring off into space. Drummer Philip Charos (the younger underage brother of Alexander) played with lively enthusiasm and grinned all throughout, wearing the blissed-out expression of a person perfectly in his element, his dark curls and dressy casual attire (white collared shirt and tie) reminding me of Tom Everett Scott’s stick-wielding character in That Thing You Do. And support guitarist Chase Swan played electric guitar but was best when he was drawing out the long, lazy sliding notes from his lap steel, adding a nice texture to the band’s countrified leanings."
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Change
I hear a lot of people praying for God to do something powerful in America.
But I feel like I hear God asking us to do something powerful in America.
LETS LOVE ONE ANOTHER :)
But I feel like I hear God asking us to do something powerful in America.
LETS LOVE ONE ANOTHER :)
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
televangalist
lyrics to a song i wrote today:
you say you've got the answer
well ask yourself
is this something you deserve
more than someone else
you say you're a prophet
speaking for God to man
but if God is love
why is there a gun in your hand?
televangelist, stop telling me
how to exist, i don't want to be
your prize, another trophy
for you to wave around
you keep running your mouth waging wars
but this isn't what i was looking for
i'll just wait till someone with more
love comes around
the blind are leading the blind
into a fancy house
but Jesus is out on the street
and he's crying out
"I never knew you seer,
get away from me,
I never knew you healer,
do you even recognize me?"
i feel like crying out to God
and i don't want your help
i feel like crying out to God
for help
you say you've got the answer
well ask yourself
is this something you deserve
more than someone else
you say you're a prophet
speaking for God to man
but if God is love
why is there a gun in your hand?
televangelist, stop telling me
how to exist, i don't want to be
your prize, another trophy
for you to wave around
you keep running your mouth waging wars
but this isn't what i was looking for
i'll just wait till someone with more
love comes around
the blind are leading the blind
into a fancy house
but Jesus is out on the street
and he's crying out
"I never knew you seer,
get away from me,
I never knew you healer,
do you even recognize me?"
i feel like crying out to God
and i don't want your help
i feel like crying out to God
for help
Sunday, August 16, 2009
turning
Ezekiel 33:11-17
"And you, son of man, say to the house of Israel, Thus have you said: 'Surely our transgressions and our sins are upon us, and we rot away because of them. How then can we live?' Say to them, As I live, declares the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel?
"And you, son of man, say to the house of Israel, Thus have you said: 'Surely our transgressions and our sins are upon us, and we rot away because of them. How then can we live?' Say to them, As I live, declares the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel?
"And you, son of man, say to your people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him when he transgresses, and as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall by it when he turns from his wickedness, and the righteous shall not be able to live by his righteousness when he sins. Though I say to the righteous that he shall surely live, yet if he trusts in his righteousness and does injustice, none of his righteous deeds shall be remembered, but in his injustice that he has done he shall die. Again, though I say to the wicked, 'You shall surely die,' yet if he turns from his sin and does what is just and right, if the wicked restores the pledge, gives back what he has taken by robbery, and walks in the statutes of life, not doing injustice, he shall surely live; he shall not die. None of the sins that he has committed shall be remembered against him. He has done what is just and right; he shall surely live.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Bless This Mess
A very thought provoking song.
God bless the man who falls
God bless the man who yields to temptation
God bless the woman who suffers
God bless the woman who weeps
God bless the children trying her patience
Trouble getting over it
Is what you're in for
So pour yourself another
'Cause it'll take a steady pair of hands
Holy or unholy ghost
Well now I can't tell, but either way you cut it
You should get some distance if you plan to take a stand
God bless the house divided
God bless the weeds in the wheat
God bless the lamp hid under a bushel
I discovered hell to be the poison in the well
So I tried to warn the others of the curse
But then my body turned on me
I dreamt that for eternity
My family would burn
Then I awoke with a wicked thirst
By my baby's yellow bed I kissed her forehead and rubbed her little tummy
Wondered if she'd soon despise the smell of the booze on my breath like her mom
And it makes me want to be a better man
After another drink
God bless the man at the crossroads
God bless the woman who still can't sleep
God bless the history that doesn't repeat
Thursday, August 13, 2009
For richer or poorer
2 Corinthians 12:9-10
"He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness " Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.
Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong."
Philipians 4:11-13
"Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me."
When I read this verse in Philipians I usually focus on the part that speaks about being content in hardships, but more and more I'm finding the other half of the verse very interesting.
Paul says he's learned "the secret of facing plenty". Could this be a harder than facing hard times? I don't know if it is, but in 2 Cor. 12 it says "His power is perfected in our weakness". Is it possible that it is easier to follow Christ when things are difficult? Or do we face the same temptations whether we are rich or poor, just in different ways? Last week we took in a friend for a couple days who has been making some wrong choices and he's ended up on the street. One thing he told me really touched me. He said "since I've been on the street I've really seen God providing me with everything", and I have felt the same in those situations.
But in abundance we face complacency, greed, gluttony, laziness, and just an overall abuse of our abundance.
How is abundance affecting you?
I pray that we can learn the secret of facing plenty.
here's a little side tangent in the same vein, its one of my favorite stories:
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Loving God, Loving Earth
Caring for the earth is something that has been heavy on my mind for the past few weeks, and I feel that its a vital part of being a follower of Jesus that is so overlooked. Me and my fiance recently took up gardening, and for me it has really opened my eyes. Watching something you put in the ground transform into a plant and then produce food for me was just amazing. It really opened my eyes to the beauty, order, and mystery of the Earth and of God. When people used to grow their food that had to put a lot of hope in God for their produce, and they could really see his hand at work. Today everything is so accessible, we don't have a clue where our food comes from, and we miss out on much of the beauty of God.
I am really falling in love with everything about our planet, it truly is beautiful. When I look at the ocean, or a tree, or an animal, I see God in it. I see the wisdom and purpose in it, and it comforts me because it makes me see the purpose and wisdom in myself. This is something I don't want to lose. I want my children to exprience the earth in the way he created it, and to the best of my ability I want to abstain from things that are destroying it and partake in the redemption of all creation!
something i read today:
I am really falling in love with everything about our planet, it truly is beautiful. When I look at the ocean, or a tree, or an animal, I see God in it. I see the wisdom and purpose in it, and it comforts me because it makes me see the purpose and wisdom in myself. This is something I don't want to lose. I want my children to exprience the earth in the way he created it, and to the best of my ability I want to abstain from things that are destroying it and partake in the redemption of all creation!
something i read today:
"The most important idea found in Scripture for taking care of the Earth is "shalom" (in Hebrew) or "eirene" (in Greek). Often these words are translated as "peace" in English. Yet the word "peace" as we use it and understand it in everyday language fails to fully capture the total meaning of "shalom" or "eirene."
In addition to the absence of conflict, "shalom" and "eirene" carry a sense of well-being, health and wholeness. These words call for a peace that includes right relationships on all levels of being - in our hearts, in our families, among nations, between classes, between races and also with the Earth. Justice is central to a world built in "shalom" and "eirene."
In connection to the environment, not only are we simply not to "hurt" the Earth, we are to empower and work toward its well-being, balance and health. An alive and vibrant ecological system is central to the full vision of "shalom" and "eirene" for the world (Isaiah 55:12, Romans 8:19-21). When we recycle, compost or plant a xeriscape yard, we are doing holy work.
We fail to understand what is required in our relationship to the Earth because we have focused too long on one verse in Genesis that says we should dominate and subdue the Earth (Genesis 1:28). This verse leads to a domination/submission way of being.
Rather, there are many more references to God's vision of "shalom" and "eirene." In God's vision, we are to see humanity and the Earth as partners, cooperating to bring about greater well-being and health than we currently can imagine. "
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