Extras! Creation Care Week 4

So how can we live in gratitude to God for his amazing creation? How can we discover more about God through his world? How can we embrace Scripture’s call to stewardship? How can we care for people through our creation care efforts?

Check out these 10 organizations, resources, and links to find out more:

A Rocha – A global, Christ-centered conservation organization. Find out about hands-on opportunities to get involved! (Click here to read my interview with A Rocha USA’s Tom Rowley over at Relevant.)

Blessed Earth – Great biblical resources for how the church can mobilize to care for the environment. (This upcoming Monday Blessed Earth’s Nancy Sleeth will be here on my blog for some Q & A. Stay tuned! You can also read a TCW article I wrote with insights from Nancy by clicking here.)

charity: water — Works to save lives and prevent disease by engineering clean water wells and sanitation.

Earth-Wise — My favorite Bible study resource on creation care. I highly recommend this study guide by Calvin B. DeWitt!

Evangelical Environmental Network – This organization inspires and equips evangelical Christians to care for creation. You’ll find podcasts, Creation Care magazine, and more.

John Ray Initiative – This British web site provides TONS of resources exploring the science behind critical environmental stewardship issues, all from a faith-based perspective. (P.S. If you’re skeptical about climate change, this is a great place to get more info you can consider.)

Local Harvest — Interested in finding farmer’s markets or CSAs to “green” your eating a bit? This web site will point you toward sustainable family farms in your community.

National Wildlife Federation – Support conservation efforts by getting NWF’s fantastic kids’ magazines like Ranger Rick and Your Big Backyard.

Plant With Purpose – Help the poor through reversing deforestation! Plant With Purpose addresses poverty in the name of Christ by planting trees and other environmental efforts.

World Vision – World Vision addresses many environmental issues in their work among the poor, including engineering clean water and advancing sustainable farming techniques.

Meditate and Act: Creation Care Week 4

As we focus on how creation care has direct implications for the lives of others–especially the global poor– consider this Scripture to guide a time of meditation and pick an action step to try.

Meditate: Matthew 22:37-39

“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”–Jesus

 

Respond with Action:

• Meaningful Meal: As a family or on your own, fast by eating a very simple meal such as rice and a bowl of broth or some beans. Use the experience to think more deeply about the daily experiences of the global poor. Conclude your meal by reading or praying through a passage (such as Isaiah 58) that illustrates God’s heart for the poor and vulnerable and God’s desire that his people stand up with justice and compassion.

•  Pray: We can’t always see the effects of our lifestyle upon others. For example, we may not see how our energy consumption contributes to emissions that pollute rivers and fish with mercury that then threatens the life and health of the unborn. This is just one of many examples! So we can ask that God open up our eyes. Pray a daily prayer: Today show me one way to love the poor and vulnerable through my care of creation. And as God shows you one way to be a better steward, consecrate your act by praying: Lord, I care for creation out of love and obedience to you. And I make this small choice as a way of loving others in your name.

• Research: Read more about the effects of environmental degradation upon the poor. I highly recommend the document you’ll find here from the National Association of Evangelicals. (Take time to click on and read the whole pdf.)

Loving the Least of These

Caring for the planet is about a lot more than caring for fish or trees or birds or rivers or dirt or air. As Christians, we care for creation as a means of loving our neighbors (Matthew 22:36-40). We believe that human life is of inestimable worth—far beyond the value of diamonds or gold or rubies or dollar bills. Because of our belief in the sanctity of life, we take seriously Scripture’s call to protect the vulnerable (Isaiah 58), care for the “least of these” (Matthew 25:31-46), and do unto others as we’d want others to do unto us (Luke 6:31).

It’s a basic biological fact: Human life is inextricably tied to the health of the created world. The harsh reality is that environmental degradation directly and negatively impacts human lives! All over the globe, people are getting sick, remaining mired in cycles of poverty, and even dying as a result of environmental degradation. Air pollution, water pollution, deforestation, climate change, and many other factors are directly hurting humans whom God created, whom God loves, and whom God has called us to love like he does.

So as Christians we care that unborn babies are born with toxic levels of mercury in their blood as a result of the pollution caused by certain forms of energy production. And we care that other babies are born with birth defects linked directly to air pollution.

Creation Care Radio Interview

A brief departure from this month’s topic “Changing” with a throwback to April’s topic of creation care. I got to do an interview with a national Christian radio show in Australia about my interest in and passion for environmental stewardship. If you’re interested in hearing it, you can listen to it by clicking here.

Meet My Friend . . . Nicole Unice

This month I’m pleased to introduce you to a friend and co-worker of mine, Nicole Unice. She’s got great insights to share about a unique fasting experience she recently participated in with her church.

Nicole! Thanks for stopping by. Can you tell my readers a bit about yourself?

Yes! I’m a woman going in lots of different directions. On any given day, I’m doing the mom thing, the writer thing, the leadership thing….but my favorite thing to do is talk with women about the intersection of God’s word and their reality.

This month we’re talking about fasting on my blog. I know you recently participated in a fast together with your church family. Tell us more about that — why did you fast? What was the experience like? How did it challenge or inspire you?

The True Fast

“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen?”

This is God speaking. And a statement like this should get our attention.

God is about to tell us how he wants us to fast in pretty specific terms . . . but his message may not be what we expect.

Stewardship, Stuff, Justice — Part 2 of interview with Amanda Siebold

As we launch into September’s discussion of Stewardship, I want to share “part 2″ from my interview with Amanda Siebold, a ministry leader with 24-7 Prayer and Just 24-7. (You can learn more about Amanda by reading my last post.)

Stewardship has been a profound spiritual theme in my own life over the past few years as I’ve begun to think more deeply, pray more, and feel convicted about God’s call for us to be caretakers of what he has given: our money and possessions; our talents, abilities, and spiritual gifts; the resources of this amazing planet we live on; and also, I believe, as caretakers of our fellow man. We’ll get into this more over the next few weeks, but for now the conclusion of my interview with Amanda. Keep on reading . . .

August’s topic Simplicity leads right into September’s topic of Stewardship. The way we relate to our “stuff” in simplicity is intricately related to stewardship, particularly in the way we can relate to those in need. When we have too much, we contribute to global injustices (perhaps even without realizing it); when we choose to live with less, we can more freely use our resources to address issues like poverty and injustice. OK, enough of my thoughts! What are your thoughts on this? How can a person’s choices about her everyday life relate to biblical justice and stewardship of our fellow man?

I always try to remember, whenever I purchase something that someONE rather than someTHING created it. We are so disconnected in our society from how our “stuff” is made. We think it just appears on shelves by little magic “stuff fairies” for our pleasure and consumption. The reality is that people operate the machines run by the corporate machine, for whom the bottom line is the supreme god. We get excited when we find massive amounts of really cheap stuff. Where do we think all of this stuff came from? And do we consider why it is so cheap? Labor practices are a tricky and complex issue and it can get very overwhelming when we begin to discover just how tainted our supply of goods from electronics to clothes to bananas has become. However, the Bible does have some very specific things to say about the reality of mistreating laborers and the importance of fair labor practices. James, in the beginning of chapter 5 gives a warning to the rich that hits me like a sucker punch to the gut every time I read it:

“Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten.Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire.You have laid up treasure in the last days. Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered the righteous person. He does not resist you.”

It’s important to realize that those laborers, the ones whose cries have reach the ears of the Lord of Hosts, are the same ones who grew our coffee beans, sewed the shirts hanging in our closets, and mined the diamonds in our wedding bands. There is a lot we can do to begin to use our wealth as a weapon against those who exploit laborers by spending it on products that are Fair Trade Certified and making it known to companies that we will consistently spend our money on products that are fair trade. This is a movement that is rapidly gaining momentum, which has resulted in the availability of more and more fair trade products and is a simple way in which we can begin to stand against unfair labor practices.

Big global problems (poverty, disease, sex trafficking, etc.) can seem overwhelming. But what are some practical ways my readers can take action today to address some of these issues?

I know this sounds like a cop-out to many people, but I always encourage folks to start in a place of prayer, with others if possible. The Father is far more committed to establishing justice for the mistreated and abused than you or I could ever be. I have found that He is always ready to share this passion with us when we ask (and sometimes when we don’t!). As you listen to the Father’s thoughts on these tough issues, be willing to offer him what you have. Anything from time to money to careers to talents can be used to fight injustice. We all have something to give, the important thing is to SAY YES to the Father’s invitation to engage, whatever that looks like. This practice also helps to protect us from the heavy burden that can overwhelm us when we begin to wade into these waters. Knowing that the Father is in charge and not me is very important to keep in the forefront of all our efforts. The other thing that anybody can do is to educate themselves. Many times, simply bearing witness to the suffering of others through taking the time to hear their stories will begin to change our lives and consequently the lives of others. The internet gives us unprecedented access to information. Take advantage of it!

Amanda, are there any resources on this topic that you’d like to tell us about?

I recently joined the board of a local non-profit organization called the Boston Faith and Justice Network. Through community organization, they have made Boston an official Fair Trade City and are committed to fighting poverty through practical choices. They have developed an open source Bible Study call Lazarus at the Gate, which I highly recommend. It is a small group discipleship experience designed to impact global poverty by challenging us to live generously and spend our wealth wisely and joyfully in light of the inequitable distribution of wealth. Other books I would recommend specifically for human trafficking would be:

Not For Sale: The Return of the Global Slave Trade – David Batstone

The Good News about Injustice – Gary Haugen

Half the Sky – Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn

The Slave Next Door: Human Trafficking and Slavery in America Today – Kevin Bales

The Trafficking in Persons Report – Published by the U.S. Department of State

Thank you, Amanda! Readers, over the next few weeks let’s talk more about the inspiring and challenging questions Stewardship asks of us: How much is enough? What will we do with what God has given to us? How can we be wise managers and grateful caretakers of these blessings and gifts? How can we use and enjoy these gifts in a way that advances God’s Kingdom and his values?

Meet My Friend . . . Amanda Siebold (part 1)

Simplicity . . . Stewardship . . . Justice

This month we’ve touched on the discipline of simplicity — which is quite a multifaceted discipline, involving our time, our energy, our heart-focus, as well as our money. Simplicity is intricately tied to September’s discipline of Stewardship. I’ve invited my friend Amanda Siebold to chat with us about both of these practices in a 2-part interview.

Amanda is a leader in a ministry organization called 24-7 Prayer, focusing on international justice issues (Just 24-7) and also helping to provide leadership and oversight in their ministry in the USA, particularly in regard to justice. She also works in a domestic violence shelter, caring for women in crisis situations and has done this as her “day job” for 8 years. Amanda has traveled internationally quite a bit and has some great insights regarding prayer, simplicity in daily practice, stewardship, and justice. Here is “Part 1″ of our two-part discussion…

Amanda, thanks for swinging by to talk with my readers. Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

I guess you could classify me as a “young professional,” although I have not arrived in this place by conventional means! My education and qualifications have come in the faces and stories of thousands of survivors of trauma, whom I have been honored to know. By day, I help survivors of domestic violence, and other forms of trauma regain their lives through my work at a local domestic violence shelter. I also help lead a small family of believers from all over the world in learning how to effectively engage in issues of injustice from the homeless man who asks for spare change who you pass on your way to work everyday to abolishing the modern-day slave trade. In my “spare time” I love to cook big meals for friends (and strangers), walk by the ocean, read good books, and indulge in long conversations with good friends. I live in Boston, and I love learning from all of the history to be discovered here and have come to love the unique culture of the locals, who apparently don’t recognize the letter “r” in the English language!

What are your biggest spiritual passions? Why?

I am passionate about the body of Christ actively living as family, being engaged in each other’s lives. Crying together, praying together, succeeding together, failing together — I think it is what the Kingdom of Heaven is made of and built on. I am also passionate about the body of Christ recognizing the invitation that lies in front of us to be Christ to the hurting world around us through prayer and the marriage of prayer with activism and social justice. Perhaps my deepest calling, however, lies in the realm of gender inequality. I have come to cherish the story in Genesis when God created male and female “in His image” and it was good. The enemy has had a heyday twisting and distorting God’s image through broken men and women throughout history. I long to see humanity restored and all of us living out of a place of true masculinity and femininity to the glory of God.

This month we’ve been focusing on “simplicity” on my blog. What role do you think prayer plays in helping us have a simple focus in our daily lives as we seek God’s will for us?

Prayer, is the means by which God is able to speak to us about the things that matter to his heart. The more we are in tune with what he is speaking, the more fulfilled and satisfied we are in the richness that comes from communing with him. Those material things that vie for our affection, even our worship, lose their luster. It reminds me of the classic worship song “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus” —  ” . . . and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of his glory and grace”. True communion with Christ also allows us to know when to accept his wonderful gifts as they sometimes come in the form of material things. I don’t believe we are called to poverty, but rather fulfillment in those things that actually satisfy. This frees us to enjoy all of his good gifts and to know the joy of giving them away!

Simplicity as a spiritual discipline enables us to combat the dangers of materialism and consumerism in our culture. How do you see materialism and consumerism negatively affecting the church? How have your global travels given you a sense of perspective on simplicity and its importance in the Christian life?

I was reminded again this week that convenience does not produce character. As you mentioned, I have had the privilege of traveling to many nations over the last twelve years. One thing that consistently strikes me is the depth of joy, generosity, and peace that those who are very poor can possess. “Things” tend to complicate life. The more stuff we have, the more stuff we have to manage and the more the stuff goes wrong, breaks, gets stolen, or dies. This creates stress, selfishness, and myopic absorption in dealing with a life full of stuff. When we learn to embrace simplicity, it frees us to be full of those things that really satisfy — people, the Spirit of God, and the practice of giving away.

Stay tuned . . . more powerful insights coming in a few days as Amanda and I next discuss the way Simplicity and Stewardship merge in our calling to care for our fellow man.