And it’s the same price as the 50 percent coal-sourced electricity from the regular supplier!

AND – when I cook, I’m on propane, which is the cleanest burning of the fossil fuels.

So, I’m OK, right?

Well, sure, it’s a lot, lot better than the regular source, which as I say, where I live, is generated from burning coal (lots of particulates, mercury, noxious sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides) with more than a dash of nuclear.

But we have to realize that – in the words of an old campaign by the Friends of the Earth – “all power pollutes.”  Those wind turbines are made of a lot of metal, which was fashioned using a lot of energy, after digging up the landscape to get the metal ore in the first place.  Those solar panels have cost energy to assemble, and they too are made of silicon and other minerals (e.g., cadmium) that have to be mined and refined.

So, what to do?

Well, very few of us could live electricity-free.  And torturing yourself about the fact that you cannot be 100 percent ecological is fruitless.

Instead, do your best.  Every little does help.  And don’t forget, if your carbon/pollution footprint is giving you too much angst, planting a tree is a great way to help with Creation Care restoration.  Visit our site to learn more.

Our Lord came to Earth in the most humble of circumstances.

Buy less stuff, give more away, save what energy you can, and have a peaceful, low-impact Christmas!

John Humphreys is a biochemist and long-time friend of Blessed Earth. Born and raised in Great Britain, he is an avid gardener, birder, and eco-evangelist.  John and his wife Nancy live in eastern Pennsylvania.

The gift: to be reminded we are created by a loving God who longs for us to discover our place in His world and to be healed.

The challenge: to wrestle with our own inclinations to fill our lives with busyness and to give in to a cultural tide of “more, faster, louder.”

The way forward is not legalism or another set of rules to follow.  The good life marked by Sabbath rest is distinguished by trust, obedience, and humility. By spending time in God’s creation, taking naps, studying the Word, and fellowshipping with our brothers and sisters in Christ, we renew our hearts, minds, and spirits for the week ahead.

Blessed Earth continues to discover that the message of biblical stewardship — of time, the earth, and our own bodies — is good news, no matter how busy we are or what kinds of lives we lead.

If you would like to hear Dr Sleeth speak on observing the Sabbath, follow this link to watch a short video.  Dr Sleeth also has a new book, 24/6, due for release in the Fall of 2012.

Dr. Sleeth (left) spoke Dec 6 with the The Christian Medical and Dental Association (CMDA) at the University of Kentucky.

Geoff Maddock makes his home with his wife, Sherry and 8-year-old son, Isaac in downtown Lexington, KY. He is a missionary in his neighborhood and serves on the board of Seedleaf (www.seedleaf.org ) while also working part-time for Blessed Earth.

A few months later, I watched the video again as I was preparing to teach the session on Sabbath rest.  This time I was struck by how much I had really not been taking a Sabbath.  I had no rest on Sundays or any other day of the week.

The day after I watched the DVD for the second time, I had a friend ask me about how I was doing making room for rest in my life.  I questioned why he asked.  He said he just knew I was very busy with work and was concerned I was taking enough time to rest.   That was enough to move me to action.  I committed to not work on Sundays.

Now, that took a step of faith.  I am a realtor, and most of my clients expect me to do open houses on Sundays.  Two days after I made the commitment not to work on Sundays, I had a listing appointment with a young man.  The first thing he said to me was that he did not want any open houses.   That was an affirmation and a great encouragement to me.

Since my re-commitment to the Sabbath, I have had numerous agents offer to do open houses in my stead on Sundays.  I have not needed to ask someone to step in for me on a Sunday even one time.  There are now two other agents in my office that have committed not to work on Sundays.  Now we are asking God to help us find creative ways to do open houses on weeknights or on Saturday afternoons.

My time with my wife, children, grandchildren, and friends has been so much richer because my batteries get recharged on the Sabbath day.

Thank you, Dr. Sleeth, for encouraging me to think about how God created the Sabbath for me to restore and bring health into my life.

Paul is a realtor specializing in ‘green thumb’ real estate. Before moving to Lexington, he lived near Seattle, WA, where he raised his family and, for over 30 years, ran a small organic farm. He attends First Alliance church and is currently leading a bible study group through the 12-part Blessed Earth Film Series.

On Monday nights, we attend a worship service, take communion, and feed those in need.  After the shared meal, we help distribute donated food.  It’s become a regular highlight of our week.

On this particular Monday, we had about twice as many people attending as usual. Extra tables were set up. Testimonies were shared.  And, as in the story of the fish and loaves, we had enough to feed all.

I have begun to think of our Monday nights as a metaphor for Blessed Earth’s ministry:  God is the host of everyone here on earth.  As stewards, our job is to look for opportunities to share.  By living consciously, we can help ensure that there is enough for others, including future generations.

One of the things I love best about Blessed Earth’s ministry is that it encourages each of us to put our faith into action, not just one night a week, but every moment of every day.  Where we set the thermostat, how much we recycle, and whether we buy lots and lots of presents or instead use some of our surplus to care for those in need–including this earth that is home to all of us–are all ways we can show our love for God and neighbors, every day.

Can one person make a difference?  Yes!  Washing dishes or recycling the cans that result from our Monday night meals might seem like small acts, but they are the acts that I honor most in my husband.

We have all heard it said: No one can do everything, but everyone can do something. This holiday season, we hope you will participate in caring for God’s creation by consuming less and sharing more, in the name of Jesus, our Savior, who was born in a humble manger–cradled by God’s magnificent creation.

* this reflection ran in our December Newsletter…if you would like to receive Blessed Earth updates, please follow this link and click on the ‘Join Us’ button.

Nancy Sleeth serves as the Program Director for Blessed Earth and is the author of Go Green, Save Green: A Simple guide to saving time, money, and God’s green earth, the first-ever practical guide for going green from a faith perspective.

As Christians catch a vision for creation care they are often inspired to take responsibility for their place.  While this can be a delightful journey it can also be overwhelming.   Where do we start?  Lightbulbs, parking lots, solar panels, garden beds, and green roofs…just to think about the possibilities can be exhausting.  As a way to explore the myriad possibilities and to take meaningful steps, without feeling smothered by vast projects, i highly recommend the resource, “Caring for Our Corner of Creation.”  This five-part study created by the Lutheran Community Foundation is a free resource for church groups.  Taking this journey as a group is another key way to avoid feeling overwhelmed by the task ahead and this resource provides an excellent balance of information, inspiration, and suggested actions.

You can download the PDF book for free here and you can find other resources from the Lutheran Community Foundation here.

We still need your help!  You can help us grow the project in four ways:

1. Pray for God’s protection of the trees we planted–and that He helps them thrive.
2. Make a contribution in a loved one’s honor–tree certificates make great Christmas, birthday, and anniversary presents!
3. Contact us about planning a spring planting in your neighborhood.
4. Write a tree planting piece for the Your Story section of our website.

Tree planting will continue throughout much of November and resume next spring. Thank you for your prayers and generous contributions–and for your continued support. We are grateful.

(Photos by Geoff Maddock)

Volunteers begin to gather at Castlewood Park.

Nancy and Matthew greet the more than 25 volunteers.

Asher, Blessed Earth's youngest volunteer.

Volunteers bow their heads, as Pastor Sean Gladding asks for God's blessing.

Before volunteer teams start, professional arborists lead a tree planting demonstration.

Maggie and Seth help plant the first tree.

Now, the hard work begins. Removing the sod...

Digging holes...

Checking for proper planting depth...

Loosening the burlap and rolling the tree into place...

Leveling the tree...

Removing the burlap, watering, and back filling...

A good morning's work! Redeeming God's creation, one tree at a time!

Nancy Sleeth serves as the Managing Director for Blessed Earth and is the author of Go Green, Save Green: A Simple guide to saving time, money, and God’s green earth, the first-ever practical guide for going green from a faith perspective.

I recently returned from a trip to Houston, Texas, a city I called home for 7 years.  While living in Houston, I co-pastored Mercy Street, a group of people recovering from addictions and bad church experiences – often both.

It was heart-breaking to drive around the city and see the effects of this summer’s drought – countless trees dead and dying and once-productive gardens left untended because of water restrictions.

On Saturday night, I went to worship with Mercy Street. It was great to visit with old friends beforehand and to see new faces as people got out of vans from treatment facilities and halfway houses. I was reminded of the importance of this oasis of hope in a parched city. Then, just before the service began, someone pulled me aside to tell me that a young woman I knew had taken her life that morning.

I first met Jennifer[i] in “The Story of God” bible study that my wife and I facilitated. Addiction had taken its toll on her marriage, yet she and her husband had hopes their relationship could be restored. I sat with them both, listened to their story, and watched them continue to wrestle with their demons. They were in and out of recovery and in and out of each others’ lives. And now Jennifer is gone.

The psalmist says, “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.”[ii] In my experience it’s more often, “they that sow in joy, reap in tears.” I’m thinking of Jennifer’s family and friends. Of the boys’ home I visited this week who had planted pecan trees for food and a possible source of income only to lose them to drought. Of a friend who worked so hard to rally others to get her town to begin recycling, only to find herself the sole remaining voice for its importance. Of a friend who started a C.S.A.[iii] venture, but who just could not make it work out for his family. Of those who worked so hard to enact regulation of the polluting effects of industry, only to hear politicians call for the easing if not abolition of that regulation in hard economic times. Of the whole of creation that “groans and suffers”[iv] because of what we do to it. How do we not lose hope in the face of such loss, frustration, and despair?

Here’s what I learned from my AA friends at Mercy Street. When feeling sorry for myself, or despairing that things will ever get better, or feeling powerless to affect meaningful change, I make a gratitude list. Instead of focusing on all that is going wrong in my life and the world, I write a list of all that I have to be thankful for. If that sounds too simplistic, I encourage you to try it. Here’s how mine began this week:

1. I am grateful for Mercy Street – that there is a safe place where the despairing can admit their brokenness
2. I am grateful for the boys’ home – who are teaching young men to tend gardens and orchards while they learn to tend their own lives
3. I am grateful that my friend has not given up hope that others will work with her to expand recycling in her town
4. I am grateful that my friend will still find ways to farm.

Above all, I am grateful that we live in the promise and the hope of the resurrection: that one day, God will make all things new, and until that day we have the privilege of partnering with God in the work of new creation–one tree, one recycled can, one tomato plant, one life at a time.

Sean Gladding, a native of Norwich, England, now makes his home in Lexington, Kentucky. He was greatly inspired by Matthew’s book, Serve God, Save the Planet (Zondervan, 2008) and arranged for Matthew to speak at Mercy Street.  His family are members of Communality, part of the family of New Monasticism. His first book, The Story of God, the Story of Us (IVP, 2010) is the written form of a narrative bible study he and his wife Rebecca first began leading at Mercy Street.

The park is named Great Crossing. For Matthew and me, each Sabbath is a great crossing–both an end and a beginning. It’s a time when we turn over the controls to God, and remember that the world can go on just fine without us for 24 (or, in this case, 25!) hours.

Returning from our walk, we realized that we had not set back our watches: a delightful bonus–an extra hour of Sabbath rest!–and a reminder that every Sabbath is a gift from God we can open 52 times a year.

Sycamore tree along Elkhorn Creek. Photo by Matthew Sleeth. (Reason 2,389 that I feel fortunate to be married to such a multi-talented guy!)

Nancy Sleeth serves as the Program Director for Blessed Earth and is the author of Go Green, Save Green: A Simple guide to saving time, money, and God’s green earth, the first-ever practical guide for going green from a faith perspective.

As I was preparing for the Asbury Seminary faculty retreat last month, I heard a loud thump against my study window. I opened the sash and looked out; seeing nothing amiss, I continued working. Two hours later, my wife Nancy came home. She told me there was a dead sparrow along the walkway, and asked if I could take care of it. It was as if God had dummy-slapped me on the side of my head: as I was writing about God caring for every sparrow in the sky, I had unwittingly participated in the death of one of God’s precious creatures.

God is in the life business. It’s his desire that the sky, seas, and land teem with animals. He allows Adam the privilege and responsibility of naming each creature, and He entrusts us with their stewardship. We are charged with caring for and protecting the habitats they depend upon for survival.

Even though God has entrusted us with stewardship of animals, the reality is that He still holds the deed to the planet. It’s therefore not surprising that compassion for animals is associated with godly people, such as Noah, Moses, Rebecca, and Laben. In contrast, people such as Levi and Simeon are cursed not only because they are cruel to humans, but because they are cruel to animals.

Jesus, our model for compassion, is “the firstborn of all creatures.” He’s born in a manger surrounded by animals, and his first visitors are shepherds who have come to see the Lamb of the World. After Jesus is baptized, the Holy Spirit descends upon him like a dove. Christ gets his taxes out of the mouth of a fish and rides into Jerusalem on the back of a colt. Little wonder we often call him our “Good Shepherd.”

As followers of Christ, we should love what God loves. When we care about every bird in the sky as deeply as our Father, He is pleased. I have asked forgiveness for the death of his sparrow, just as I pray for his blessing on all the creatures that fill our lives with beauty, sustenance, and joy.

Dr. Sleeth is the executive director of Blessed Earth and is the author of Serve God, Save the Planet (Zondervan, 2007), the introduction to the Green Bible (HarperOne, 2008), and The Gospel According to the Earth: Why the Good Book is a Green Book (HarperOne, 2010).

He is the one who sends forth the springs into the ravines; between the mountains they flow; giving drink to each of his wild creatures. (Ps 104:10-11)

In the Whirlwind Speeches of the Book of Job the Creator queries: Do you know the time the mountain goats give birth? Have you watched the calving of the deer? As any environmentalist would say, the single greatest cause of the extinction of animal species is the reckless destruction of their habitat—and in America we are presently devouring nearly 2 million acres a year for the noble quest of urban sprawl, and experiencing a related species extinction rate of as much as 1,000 times the historical loss ratio—the fact that the wild animals’ habitat was designed and given to them by God should give us pause.

In the law code of Deuteronomy, God offers specific commands to Israel regarding the care of the wild creature. I find this quite interesting as we can safely assume that in the early stages of Israel’s urbanization (i.e. the era of Deuteronomy), the impact of human development did not present a serious threat to the Levantine ecosystem. Yet in the political foundations of Israel, Yahweh promulgates law that requires the long-term protection of the creatures who share the Promised Land with his people. Regarding wild animals, Deut 22:6-7 offers us the following:

If you happen upon a bird’s nest in front of you in the road, or in a tree, or upon the ground, with young ones or eggs, and the mother sitting upon the young or on the eggs, do not take the mother (who is sitting) upon the young. Rather, you will surely shoo the mother away, and the young you may take for yourself, in order that it may be well with you and that you may prolong your days.

Here we find the utilization of a pars pro toto and  analogia: a vehicle of Wisdom literature that formulates a more abstract point by way of a practical example. The abstract point is very similar to that of Deut 20:19-20—the sparing of the fruit trees during siege warfare that we discussed last month. The common idea between these texts? The preservation of the means of life. In other words, to take both tree and fruit, mother and offspring, would result in the extermination of a particular species in a particular place. Of special interest is the fact that the phrase “mother with her children” often appears in warfare contexts as an expression for wanton killing. Hence, several have hypothesized that the language here in Deut 22:607 is intended to communicate the same within the arena of hunting and gathering—the ruthless, total and cruel extermination of creature life. My research has also indicated that seizing the mother bird with her young may have been an aspect of the iconography of royal prowess in Assyria (the Borg-like empire responsible for decimating orchards and vineyards as we discussed last month). In one of the famous stone wall reliefs of Assyrian king, Aššur-bani-pal, in which the king’s return from the hunt is celebrated, this practice of seizing a bird with her eggs is depicted alongside the notorious royal slaughter of wild lions (see our cover image). [1]

But in Deuteronomy Israel is commanded to be different. In contrast to practice of their neighbors, Israel is instructed in the wisdom of preserving the creatures with whom they share the promised land. Moreover, as this command is part of Israel’s foundational political documents, and is issued as coming from God himself, we learn here that the wild creature is indeed privileged with protection under God’s government. As I’ve stated previously, there is a critical ideological principal here: God has offered the wild creature (indeed all of the created order) to humanity to be utilized for human need, but not to be exploited for human greed. Scripture attests that God does indeed value his wild creatures as well as their habitats. It also clearly communicates that humanity will be held responsible as God’s steward of the same. Indeed, Deuteronomy states that if Israel were to kill off the wild creatures without a thought as to the creatures’ ability to replenish their populations, it would not “be well” with Israel in the land. I believe the same would apply to us.

[1] Here men are pictured carrying back dead lions, a hare, a bird and bird’s nests. This panel is part of the larger Lion Hunt Relief exhibit at the British Museum in which dozens of  royal hunt scenes are depicted. These reliefs are well known for their graphic celebration of the slaughter of wild creatures as an illustration of royal prowess (Photograph of the original relief displayed in Gallery 10 of the British Museum [BM 124889]. Photo © Lawson G. Stone, used by permission; cf. C. J. Gadd, The Assyrian Sculptures [The British Museum; London: Harrison & Sons, 1934], pp. 72-73).

Sandra Richter is Professor of Old Testament at Wesley Biblical Seminary and Affiliate Professor of Old Testament at Asbury Theological Seminary. She is a graduate of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and Harvard University’s Near Eastern Language and Civilizations department. She is a popular speaker and has published on an array of topics. Her most recent book is The Epic of Eden: A Christian Entry into the Old Testament (InterVarsity Press, 2008).