Blessed Earth, in partnership with Duke Divinity School, Wake Forest University School of Divinity, and Anathoth Community Garden, is hosting a gathering titled “Summoned Toward Wholeness: A Conference on Food, Farming and the Life of Faith”. The conference will be held September 27-28, 2013, at Duke Divinity School. Scripture portrays God as a gardener, farmer,… Continue reading Summoned Toward Wholeness: Food and Faith Conference
Category: Featured
Featured articles appear on the front page of the website, in the “Recent Posts” section.
Forty Days of Lent: An Almost Amish Journey Toward a Slower, Simpler, More Sustainable Life
Use this Lenten season as a time to grow closer to God and simplify your life. Try a new suggestion from this list each day and experience the stronger relationships and calmer pace of an (almost) Amish lifestyle! 1. Start a giveaway box and add at least three items of clothes you have not worn… Continue reading Forty Days of Lent: An Almost Amish Journey Toward a Slower, Simpler, More Sustainable Life
Special Report: Creation Care at the 2012 Meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society (Part 3 of 3)
(Read Part 1 of 3) (Read Part 2 of 3) PART III: SO WHAT The conversation at ETS at points became heated, a reflection of the reality that we as Christians, and especially American Evangelicals, should have something to say about the raging environmental cultural war, even if we forget to listen to other voices,… Continue reading Special Report: Creation Care at the 2012 Meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society (Part 3 of 3)
Special Report: Creation Care at the 2012 Meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society (Part 2 of 3)
(Read Part 1 of 3) PART II: A BIBLICAL WORLDVIEW? 1. Where is our bottom line; should we care ultimately for the welfare of humans or animals? 2. What is the gospel? 3. What does the Bible say about the nature of human freedom and sufficiency? As you can imagine, libraries of books have been… Continue reading Special Report: Creation Care at the 2012 Meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society (Part 2 of 3)
Rethinking the Manger
Recent studies of the gospels have invited us to read the Nativity stories again. They challenge us to discover the real narrative enclosed in traditional wrapping. In the story, the holy couple were not actually in haste and rejected. Rather than bouncing around from “no vacancy” to “no vacancy”, they were warmly welcomed into… Continue reading Rethinking the Manger
Special Report: Creation Care at the 2012 Meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society (Part 1 of 3)
PART I: SETTING THE SCENE Creation Care. It appears on the surface to be an uncontroversial and noble cause, a potential rallying point of unity for peoples of many faiths. We can see the devastating effects of oilrig disasters with our naked eyes. Our intuitions tell us that there is something intrinsically wrong… Continue reading Special Report: Creation Care at the 2012 Meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society (Part 1 of 3)
Hugging the Tree of Life: Revelation 21, Ecotopia (Part 6 of 7)
Series: Hugging the Tree of Life- Mark 1.9-13, Jesus, Animals, and Isaiah Read part 1 of 7 (introduction) here. Read part 2 of 7 (A Lesson from the Earth) here. Read part 3 of 7 (We are so Connected) here. Read part 4 of 7 (The Cosmic Christ) here. Read part 5 of 7 (Jesus,… Continue reading Hugging the Tree of Life: Revelation 21, Ecotopia (Part 6 of 7)
Discovering the Sabbath Shouldn’t Be Work: The New 24/6 Film Curricula for Your Small Group
“Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy.” Just as the Hebrews were slaves in Egypt, we have become slaves to the fast-paced, always-on, always-available 24/7 lifestyle. Setting aside just one day of rest a week helps us to reconnect with our Creator and find the peace of God that passes all understanding. In this four-session… Continue reading Discovering the Sabbath Shouldn’t Be Work: The New 24/6 Film Curricula for Your Small Group
24/6: A Prescription for a Healthier, Happier Life
About the Book About Matthew Sleeth 24/6 Press Praise for 24/6 Reader Testimonials Sabbath Sermons Lenten Study (Centenary UMC, Winston-Salem) Sabbath Hymns 24/6 on DVD Purchase 24/6!
National Cathedral/Blessed Earth Partnership Begins This Month!
NATIONAL CATHEDRAL KICKS OFF CREATION CARE YEAR Year-long partnership with Blessed Earth spurs sustainability events Washington, DC (October 7, 2012) – Fracking, mountaintop removal, GMOs, and numerous other environmental issues have been monopolizing newspaper headlines over the past several years. One positive way these issues are being addressed is through the creation care movement, which… Continue reading National Cathedral/Blessed Earth Partnership Begins This Month!
Press Release: Blessed Earth Participates in White House Dialogue on Congregations and Energy Efficiency
Washington, D.C. –September 13, 2012- Dr. Matthew and Nancy Sleeth, founders of Lexington-based Blessed Earth, joined dozens of other leaders at the White House today for a conversation about boosting the energy efficiency of our nation’s houses of worship. The assorted group of leaders represented the nation’s faith community and the White House Office… Continue reading Press Release: Blessed Earth Participates in White House Dialogue on Congregations and Energy Efficiency
Why Our Roots in the Land Still Matter
In this recent article, Jonathan Stauffer examines the Church of the Brethren’s agricultural roots. Since their founding, the Brethren have been closely associated with agrarianism, particularly in rural areas. Stauffer explains the importance of this link, and the strong need for it to continue into the age of modern farming. Click to view a PDF… Continue reading Why Our Roots in the Land Still Matter
Colossians 1:9-20: The Cosmic Christ — part 4 of 7
Read part 1 of 7 (introduction) here. Read part 2 of 7 (A Lesson from the Earth) here. Read part 3 of 7 (We are so Connected) here. In the last two posts, I talked about a larger paradigm for green theology (inaugurated eschatology) and God’s primary action plan for creation care (the transformation of… Continue reading Colossians 1:9-20: The Cosmic Christ — part 4 of 7
Romans 8:19-21: We are so Connected — part 3 of 7
Read part 1 of 7 (introduction) here. Read part 2 of 7 (A Lesson from the Earth) here. The creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in… Continue reading Romans 8:19-21: We are so Connected — part 3 of 7
Picking up Trash on the Road to Creation Care
We live in the country, and we got into the business of picking up trash by keeping our own road cleaned up—something we’ve done for many years. Now we’re in our mid seventies and retired, and to keep ourselves active we walk on nearby country roads, and we figure that if we’re going to walk,… Continue reading Picking up Trash on the Road to Creation Care
A Picnic for All Occasions
For Mother’s Day this year, my family knew what would bring me the most joy: a picnic. My husband, Matthew, served as sous chef. Our daughter, Emma, made the fruit salad and homemade bread. Clark brought his wife, Valerie, along with her extraordinary storytelling abilities. The evening air was punctuated with cheers from a friendly… Continue reading A Picnic for All Occasions
Making Peace with the Land: God’s Call to Reconcile with Creation
God is reconciling all things in heaven and on earth. We are alienated not only from one another, but also from the land that sustains us. Our ecosystems are increasingly damaged, and human bodies are likewise degraded. Most of us have little understanding of how our energy is derived or our food is produced, and… Continue reading Making Peace with the Land: God’s Call to Reconcile with Creation
His Good Work is Everywhere!
“There came to St. Anthony in the desert one of the educated men of that time and he said, “Father, how can you endure to live here, deprived as you are of all consolation from books?” Anthony answered, “My book, philosopher, is the nature of created things, and whenever I wish, I can read in… Continue reading His Good Work is Everywhere!
And What Does God Require?
And what does God require regarding the domestic animal? Once again, the law codes of ancient Israel are full of instruction. God says in Deuteronomy: But the seventh day is a sabbath belonging to Yahweh your God; you shall not do any work, not you or your son or your daughter or your male servant… Continue reading And What Does God Require?
