Finally a Gospel presentation that is holistic!

I love the Gospel presentation that James Choung came up with. Watch a short presentation by going to this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCVcSiUUMhY

Save the trees

"At one time forests covered nearly 15 billion acres of land. But men have consumed and destroyed trees far more rapidly than the trees have been replaced by nature, with the result that approximately one-third of the original forests have disappeared. In most industrial countries wood is still being consumed more rapidly than it is being replaced by new growth--in Europe and America at a rate between 10 and 15 per cent faster than the rate of replacement."
~Harrison Brown, The Challenge of Man's Future, 1956, p. 128

Now, I need to see how those figures stack up today--this quote is 51 years old! But what an interesting bit of research it would be to see how this measures with today's rates of consumption and re-plantation.

God--Man--Nature

It seems that we have the following scenario: God...Man...Nature

Now here is the debate: Exactly what relationship does this produce? There are some who say that this causes Man to dominate and destroy nature. What he sees as an object he misuses, abuses, and refuses...

But I would pose this question: I don't misuse my car. I value it and try to take care of it--it's the only car I have (yes, my wife has a car also, but I don't have many cars at my own personal disposal).

I have a home. It's the only home I have. I take care of it, seal the windows, fix leaky spots in the roof. I take care of it.

I have clothes. I don't wear high fashion, but I don't have an unlimited budget either. So I wash my clothes, patch the holes that sometimes come, and sew back buttons that have fallen off.

You see my point? Just because God has given Man a position of dominance over Nature, this does not mean that we must abuse it either. Man values what he cares about. And, as Christians we value what our Lord values--and this earth is still His earth--therefore we should value it as He values it.

Fair-Trade Coffee and the Kingdom

Would Jesus drink coffee? I'm not sure if they had it in Bible days--my limited research on that seems to be 'no'...

But if Jesus were walking around today, would he drink coffee? And what kind?

Now you have to understand--I love coffee. Yes, I love Jesus. And I love coffee. I know--it's cheap to use the same word 'love' for things you like versus people you really love. I know...

But I think if Jesus were walking around today--he'd drink Fair-Trade coffee. Why? Because it's a great way for us in the West to say to those in developing countries--Hey, we care...

Fair-Trade is a great way to promote justice, a fair living wage, and puts dollar signs on compassion. I know it doesn't fix all the problems in the world, but maybe, just maybe, Juan Valdez will be able to send his kids to college because of it.

And that's good to the last drop!

Eco-Justice--a concept Christians should understand...

When it comes to global stewardship of the earth and its resources, it is fitting to show how the Christian faith promotes such activity (albeit historically this has not always been the case). And I think another dimension worth considering is that of 'eco-justice'.

Eco-justice gives a moral picture or flavor to environmental stewardship/management. Are we practicing justice towards future generations by our use of resources today. Yes--if we are doing the best of our ability to use those resources wisely and prudently. No, if we are acting and consuming as if there is no tomorrow (or, as if the resources are bountiful and unlimited).

Eco-justice also brings up another interesting point. For the developing nations around the world who want to 'play catch up' to our Western lifestyles of wealth and privilege, many of them may feel that the rope out has just been cut. Let's face it--the Western nations--or even moreso, the developed world, was made by huge amounts of resources that were consumed at unsustainable rates.

So this begs the next question: Is the Developed world standing up a foundation built upon the mismanagement of resources--and now, to be 'green' we are preventing the developing nations from digging out of their economic holes? Just a question...

Should SUVs be illegal?

Sometimes I see people driving big SUVs, and of course they're the only person in it, and I just think to myself--why???

I'd like to see a tax on any vehicles that have more than 4 cylinders...Kind of like a luxury tax, but if your car has 6 cylinders than you pay an additional amount of tax--if your car has 8 cylinders then you pay a greater amount, etc...

This would help 'steer' consumers towards smaller, more economical cars. And I say, why not?

The Lord's Prayer

When Jesus' disciples asked him to teach them how to pray, I think they got more than they bargained for. Look closely at the core of Jesus' prayer--it's this line that strikes me: "Thy Kingdom come; Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven..."

When we consider those words--we're not asking for an escape from our circumstances! We're not asking for spiritual grit to endure until we can escape to a heavenly eternity. No, we're asking that all of heaven would in-break NOW--in every way.

That also has ramifications for how we treat the earth and the environment. Would Jesus care for the world--its people and its resources? Yes! Why? Because it is still God's world--and God's world is His in every way.

To me, it's impossible to separate caring for our world and walking in hand with the Savior.