An Interview with The Earth

Interviewer: First of all I would like to thank you for taking the time to speak to me. Should I call you Earth, Gaia or Mother Nature?

Earth: I don’t really care. My friends call me Suzanne. I really liked the tune by Leonard Cohen and let the other planets know this would be my new name.

Interviewer: Well, Suzanne, we are here on the occasion of the 40^th Earth Day, our annual celebration of you. First of all- Happy Earth Day!

Earth: Thanks. Did you bring me any flowers? I like flowers and compost. The candies are wrapped in pretty toxic wrapping.

Interviewer: Do you have any thoughts on Earth Day?

Earth: It reminds me of every other human holiday, well without the cards. At least some of you do give me the flowers. I have heard Christians complain about all the non-practicing Christians that show up for Easter and then forget about church and Jesus every other day. It kinda feels like that. Suddenly people take the bus or write a proclamation, or even worse, someone like Exxon puts a green symbol on its website. They think I don’t notice how crappy they behave every other day, but I do. I guess I appreciate the 1 day. Of course, I would like a whole month.

Interviewer: So, Earth Day is like Easter?

Earth: Actually, Earth Day Is more like Valentine’s Day. I am the longsuffering girlfriend and you “humans’ are the bad boyfriend. One day per year you guys tell me how sexy I am, hoping you will get lucky and I will let you stay. The rest of the year you are a bunch of cheating slobs that won’t pick up after yourselves and you just trash the house. Plus, you kick my pets around. Then you come around and say “I’m sorry baby. I will treat you better. I forgot how special you were. Here honey. Can I get you some nice organic veggies today?” And then tomorrow its back to the same old behavior. If I thought it was worth it, I would get you guys on the Marriage Ref or Dr. Phil.

Heck, even NASA is flirting with Mars continually. Like Mars would be interested in Earthlings. She already ridded herself of lifeforms a long time ago.

You actually think I could not live without you. Hmmmph. I could replace you with chimps and dolphins on the top of the chain any day of the week. They are just about as smart and clean up after themselves. At least the dolphins do. You are nothing a good flood would not handle.

Interviewer: That brings me to a touchy subject. Lately things have gotten a bit crazy. It seems as if we are getting more earthquakes, flooding, volcanic activity and bigger storms. Some say it is due to global warming, others say El Nino, while still others say God is bringing the end of the world.

Earth: You guys are always saying it is the end of the world. Heck, you have been saying that since you could fashion words into sentences. “Oh, Ice Age, Big Flood, turn of a century.” It is the end of the world every day. Look, I am not saying anything conclusive. But, if you had a really crappy roommate or significant other that was always paying the rent late, trashing your house or was continually unfaithful, would you eventually want to kick that roommate or significant other out?

Interviewer: Are you saying that all of these natural disasters are a concerted effort to kill us?

Earth: Are you saying that you guys have not been trying to kill me? I hear what some of you say? “Survival of the fittest” and “dominion of the earth.” Yeah, well you started it.

Interviewer: Any thoughts on Global Climate Change?

Earth: Yes. You keep turning up the thermostat, eventually it breaks.

Interviewer: Well, is there anything we can do to stay?

Earth: Clean up after yourselves and I will think about it. Just shut up and stop trying to win some battle against me. I will kick your asses any day… and then dolphins rule. Just watch your backs if you keep up this behavior.

obligatory earth day blog post: redux

If you are a happy idealist, please don't read this.

So, Thursday is Earth Day and everyone is wearing green. Businesses are telling us how to buy their products through green-washing, hoping that we will give them the green they actually care about. Networks are touting green initiatives they ignore every other day of the year. Products using too much packaging are telling us how environmental they are and everyone is using this as an excuse to show off their green cred, earth piety or once a year conviction.

In fact, I turned on to NBC Monday night and their was their little green NBC symbol which will disappear next week. My son told me that on Thursday we need to make sure we send his lunch without anything that can be thrown away. He never noticed that his lunch is packed in a reusable container each day... because the school would not talk about it beyond their once per year obligation and I gave up preaching a number of years ago.

It is kinda like Easter and Christmas for nominal Christians, a time to think about something we will forget about until the next time it is all over the media. While I should appreciate Earth Day and the sudden emphasis, it is hard to get myself excited. It is the same reason I don't get excited about Black History Month and MLK Day, relegating something so important to a day, week or month, so we can appease our guilty conscience for the rest of their year. Yes, it is a start. Yes, it is better than nothing. Yes, we have come a long way. But, I am more concerned with what people do and talk about on the Monday after Earth Day than I am on Earth Day. Man, do I sound like a preacher talking about Sunday morning.

Excuse my cynicism. However, I think you either care about your impact upon the earth and take it into consideration when making decisions or you do not. You either think about how your decisions and lifestyle effect other people, animals and the environment or you do not. To what degree to take the environment and sustainability is a personal choice, even if you end up like Mark Wahlberg's character in I (heart) Huckabees, unable to make any choices because you are constantly concerned with the impact of any choice. Like is a series of sell-outs and repentance for selling out.

No Earth Day emphasis is going to change the minds of those that do not care. It will only guilt them into silence for a day... or they will act like it matters to them because they want others to think they are with it (see most corporations and many churches).

I am also a bit cynical because I attended my first Earth Day Celebration 21 years ago, convinced it would change things. I took the whole thing seriously and put my money where my mouth was. I was considered a freak by most of my fraternity brothers and my Christian friends. Luckily, we have come a long way, not because of earth day celebrations, but because of people like Al Gore making movies and Christians no longer willing to be silent finally getting on board.

However, what was an emphasis a couple of years ago, probably due to gas prices and scare tactics, has become familiar and even uninteresting to many in light of recession, slightly better gas prices and someone that may actually kinda like the earth in the White House.

So, do something for your planet today (of course, if we did what our planet really wanted, we would cease to exist before it decides to kill us for being a bad roommate). Or don't. Just don't act like you care unless you really do.

coming later, news from the Earth regarding Earth Day

simple ways to green your next event or church meeting

Tampa’s alternative newspaper, Creative Loafing does a great job promoting and discussing sustainability and green topics. This week they give advice on 5 ways to green your next event. None of it is rocket science and the simple practices are common sense that many are already putting into place. In fact, we have promoted these practices at our former church plants and events I have been part of in the past, namely Brian McLaren’s Everything Must Change tour and our own A Sustainable Faith event last year.

However, in case you are a church leader wondering how to make your Sunday morning a bit more sustainable (yes, moving away from a corporate event which drains a substantial amount of energy and resources once a week is even greener), consider these ideas. If you are planning an event, such as Christianity21 or the Theological Conversation, here are some ideas which you may be doing already.

One thing to think about is who you say you are and want others to see you as. If you want others to see you as someplace that respects the Earth and values sustainability and those that care about such issues, your practices must express that. Remember, your practices betray what you believe more than your words.

The key to all of these is Education.

Link to original posting by CL.

1. Use Local Products and Vendors (I wish churches would remember this when they serve coffee and scones)
2. Market through the Web (churches that spend an inordinate amount of money and destroy countless trees with their postcards really need to hear this)
3. When serving food, make sure it is local and sustainable (it was cool at the McLaren conference last year to use a local organic/ natural foods fast food joint called Evos for our boxed lunch)
4. Charity (donate leftover food and products, especially those serving poor and homeless persons- Check with them ahead of time for rules, even before you finalize the menu)
5. Reduce and Recycle (common sense. Recycling is a nobrainer, but reducing and reusing is even better)

of course these are the simplest and take very little effort. If you have other ideas, please feel free to share them.

working on something about Sustainability with an unheard voice

On my blog and twitter I mentioned my problems with Earth Day and its fans. My problem is that Earth Day is to Environmentalism what Valentines Day is to Love. It is either a celebration of the every day experience one has, or it is something crass. To often, it is a marketing scheme to sell something green (like Valentine's Day sells something with hearts) and to talk about something you care about every once in a while and then forget the next day.

I said that what one talks about on Earth Day should not matter. What one talks about on the Monday after Earth Day should matter. To that end, I am teaming up with a friend to offer some ideas, tips and thoughts on sustainability and our part in it. This friend, whom I will unveil when the process is complete is someone dear to my wife and I. I performed her wedding ceremony, she has been part of 2 churches I have led, she helped deliver our second born and her husband and she have been instrumental to many things in our lives. In other words, I am not unbiased regarding her value to this conversation.

She takes the environment seriously and lives it out, not through preaching, self promotion and book writing but through learning, teaching, traveling, education and as a green business owner. Because she is not a self promoter, like most of the people I seem to know, you may never hear of her and her ideas, which are light years ahead of where most Christ followers, even the earth friendly crowd, are.

I hope to unveil this series soon and would love to get some of you to share it once it happens. It is part of what I have been convicted to share lately. As I did with my post on Christian organizational structure, I will be promoting the work of someone with very little voice in the greater conversational circles. I am beginning to feel that part of what I have to offer (even in a small way), is a voice to those with something we should be hearing, but with no desire to promote themselves. In other words, we need to hear from the non-Celebrities and I want to do my part to help them get their words seen and heard, especially those that came before us and are wise (or wise beyond their years in this person's case).

When done, I hope you like it and spread the word so others can hear such a voice.

obligatory earth day blog post

If you are a happy idealist, please don't read this.

So, its Earth Day and everyone is wearing green. Businesses are telling us how to buy their products through greenwashing hoping that we will give them the green they actually care about. Networks are touting green initiatives they ignore every other day of the year. Products using too much packaging are telling us how environmental they are and everyone is using this as an excuse to show off their green cred, earth piety or once a year conviction.

It is kinda like Easter and Christmas for nominal Christians, a time to think about something we will forget about until the next time it is all over the media. While I should appreciate Earth Day and the sudden emphasis, it is hard to get myself excited. It is the same reason I don't get excited about Black History Month and MLK Day, relegating something so important to a day, week or month, so we can appease our guilty conscience for the rest of their year. Yes, it is a start. Yes, it is better than nothing. Yes, we have come a long way. But, I am more concerned with what people do and talk about on the Monday after Earth Day than I am on Earth Day.

I am cynical because I think you either care about your impact upon the earth and take it into consideration when making decisions or you do not. You either think about how your decisions and lifestyle effect other people, animals and the environment or you do not. No Earth Day emphasis is going to change the minds of those that do not care. It will only guilt them into silence for a day.. or they will act like it matters to them because they want others to think they are with it (see most corporations and many churches).

I am also a bit cynical because I attended my first Earth Day Celebration 20 years ago, convinced it would change things. I took the whole thing seriously and put my money where my mouth was. I was considered a freak by most of my fraternity brothers and my Christian friends. Luckily, we have come a long way, not because of earth day celebrations, but because of people like Al Gore making movies and churches finally getting on board.

However, what was an emphasis a couple of years ago, probably due to gas prices and scare tactics has become familiar and even uninteresting to many in light of recession, good gas prices and someone that may actually kinda like the earth in the White House.

So, do something for your planet today (of course, if we did what our planet really wanted, we would cease to exist). Or don't. Just don't act like you care unless you really do.

Lent Ideas

as we enter the season of Lent everyone has their own little agenda as to how we should engage. I get emails from too many groups with advice, ideas and ways to help their organization. Filtering through the choices can be overwhelming. Among my favorites of today is from Interfaith Power and Light (great organization with one of the worst names). Here is their Lenten advice from the email I received.

Christians begin the season of Lent today, which lasts until Easter Sunday on April 11th. Whether or not this practice is part of your faith tradition, it can be a renewing experience to try to extend your energy-saving habits one step further for a specified amount of time. If you haven't decided what to give up yet, you might try one of the following ideas or a few, depending on how far you want to go:
 
Buy more locally produced food. You can reduce emissions from transportation by buying from farmers markets and eating foods in season rather than foods shipped in from around the globe. 

Use alternative transportation to work, school, or your place of worship.  This is a good way to slow down and find a few extra minutes for contemplation during Lent. 

Eat less meat. Reducing the amount of meat you consume, even just one day a week, will make a difference in your carbon footprint. 

Turn down your thermostat. Grab a blanket and add an extra layer of clothing. Even one degree lower will add up to big energy savings. 

Try a media fast. It can be very rewarding to turn off televisions, computers, and radios a few nights a week and sit down to a board game with your family.

For info click here. 

a Local/ Green Communion

If you, like I, think a lot about sustainability and the church's role in it, some steps can be taking quite easily and simply to become local.

The first thing any church can do is green their communion. My suggestion would be local wine and local bread. There is no excuse, unless you live in a place that does not offer any local wines or bread, which is probably not the case.

Since the wine (or grape juice) does not have to be from Napa or the Bordeaux region of France for these purposes, a nice local will do. So, if you live in Tampa, you could try something from Keel and Curley in Plant City (only 15 miles away) and get your bread from Sami's Bakery on Busch Blvd (both available at local stores).

So, take a moment to look for local businesses for your church to use. It would not cost much more, it would support local business (which is good PR) and be the greener option.

By the way, I have no idea what they are doing, but this idea (not the cups, but the green church) was an idea I had 7 years ago. I am glad a less lazy person is moving forward. i hope they do it justice.

Clinica Verde- sustainable healthcare for the poor

This organization is building health clinics in Nicaragua. So? Lots of people are building clinics throughout the world for poorer people. What is the big deal?

These are green certified. Enough to get someone that loves the poor and the earth very excited.

Church Gardens

Instead of building extra playgrounds, parking lots and educational space, it is my wish that more churches would follow the lead of Vineyard Boise and plant organic gardens for the community's well being. I met the pastor at a conference on Christian Environmentalism in March and found him truly inspiring.

To use church space as a gift to the community, whether coffee shops, clubs, bars, dog parks, community play spaces or organic gardens is a step a few churches have taken in the past decade, including our former church in Houston. It is amazing how well the surrounding community responds when a church actually acts neighborly and gives itself away.

My dream is to see many more churches using their own extra space for community gardens, or better yet, begin gardens in the open unused spaces of their cities and towns (or buy 2 or 3 acres and start one).

Read the article here.

Wall-E Irony

Like anyone that is not a agenda driven nincompoop we thoroughly loved Wall-E when we saw it last week. After an initial bout of rebellion from our daughter due to the intensive preview (Eve blows something up loudly), it was all systems go and no one left disappointed, least of all the parents (of course, we think all Pixar movies are made for mom and dad).

However, isn't the thought of buying any of this authorized merchandise just a little too ironic in face of the film's premise? Of course, tell that to a 5 year old.

random goodness

• long article in the New Yorker, The Fall of Conservatism about the history of modern conservatism in America (Republican style), its decline and its future course (more sociological and historical than political).

• another long article in the New Yorker in which Pulitzer Prize winner Lawrence Wright (one of my favorite writer/ reporters) details the philosophical shift away from jihad by one of Al Qaeda's masterminds; The Rebellion Within.

• From its Inconvenient Truths series on rethinking what it means to be green, Wired magazine examines the dangers of focusing all of our energies on Global Warming at the expense of other environmental crises. Thanks to Kellie for the link.

• My friend Mike shared this amazing photo.
  

• Just finished reading Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove's latest tome New Monasticism. The subject is pretty easy to figure out. Wilson-Hartgrove weaves history and his own personal account from typical Southern Church world to radical community. it is compelling and timely. I recommend it to anyone, especially those in traditional churches. He spends much time helping non-adherents learn from the movement. I would recommend it to any fan of Shane Claiborne or one that wants to learn from Anabaptists.
  

put down the hamburger and step away

I know this may come as a shock, but apparently factory farmed meats pose health, environmental and economic risks to the world, America, its farmers and citizens.

Down with cheap meat!

Here is the study, which says the risk is unacceptable.

It is not liberals only taking notice. American Conservative has, too. Thanks to Crunchy Con for the link.

Just get down to the Library, bookstore or iTunes and pick up In Defense of Food, Michael Pollan's great new book which is the opposite of everything you have heard from official sources concerning eating over the past 40 years or his instant classic The Omnivore's Dilemma, the story of where our food really comes from and put down the fast food and learn to eat... not just feed or refuel.

short takes

• Interesting article in USA Today on Black Churches and the schism between the candidate of choice and an important icon within black churches. link

• The critics are right. Iron Man is that good. It made $100 million this weekend and Rotten Tomatoes declares it the best reviewed film of the year (94% good reviews). As a recovering comic addict (not just a fan), I can say it is among the best comic to film adaptions yet. I need to see it again (in IMAX- if it exists). While not my favorite Marvel hero, he is in the pantheon (and my best friend's fave) and translates very well to the screen, especially with the brilliant casting choice of Downey as Tony Stark. I had some problems with continuity (weapons photographed with enemies bearing the logo of the American defense contractor, etc.), but the coolness factor, the testosterone and the personality of Stark made up for any minor contrivances.

• Crunchy Con on the inevitability of global warming and its acceptance. link

praise Jesus and change the lightbulbs

have you see this?

Southern Baptists sign Environmental pact.

I am almost speechless. Here is the SBC site. Here is the resource page (not bad- seriously). While they sidestep Global Warming, it is a good beginning.

live blogging from C3 Creation Care Conference in Orlando

sorry about the typos, this is live without edits...

up at 5:30 AM and picking up friend Warren at 6AM to drive to Orlando for the conference at my favorite megachurch.

As we walked in to register, I ran into Joel Hnter, the pastor of the 10,000+ Northland Church (toured the church facility- woah! they have thought of everything including a natural food cafe and credit card giving stations outside the sanctuary. the art is wonderful. i don't like large church facilities, but this thing is pretty cool). I had interviewed with Northland back in 1998 and kept in touch with a few members of the church over the years. I remember Rev. Hunter with great affection and it was nice to reconnect.

He has taken some flack from the Evangelical Right for his stance on Global Warming but he is a true believer. His church is attempting to become the leading green church in America, even going as far as preparing a Creation Care Internal Audit Report. YES! A church actually gets the fact that they should make their building itself green and think through all of the details.

Right now Tri Robinson, the Pastor of Boise Vineyard is speaking. He has been dealing with enviornmental issues for a long time and has written some well recieved books. His organization Let's tend the Garden is pretty innovative. His reports from Boise and the response to his message in a very Red State has been overwhelmingly positive. Closeted Environmentalists came out of the closet in his church, which I think is common. the members of our churches may be waiting for their leadership to talk about an issue they feel strongly about, yet keep quiet because of their perception of the church response.

He has also noticed non-Adherents have responded to this message in ways nothing he had done in 30 years of ministry. Suddenly he is speaking to environmental groups, on NPR and local college campuses, things he had never done as a pastor. Churches should learn what the world perceives as important and how the church can positively respond.

The coolest thing his church is doing is an organic garden. Over the past year his church and its members have provided 20 tons of organic veggies to the local poor in their community. No longer is organic food for the rich only!

- just got through with a break out session. As usual with conferences 1 breakout time is packed with good seminars. I had to pick the practical discussion of green building design (especially churches) instead of the session with Matthew Sleeth, author of Serve God, Save the Planet. Hard choice. It was exceedingly helpful and a bit dry (but that is okay- building materials are not exciting). I hope to see Matthew later to connect.

-right now Richard Cizik from the National Association of Evangelicals, a leading voice on "Creation Care" and global warming is up. I will check in later. Excellent talk with too much to report on. He does compare the environmental crisis and the church's lack of response in the area to slavery and the civil rights eras. We need to step up like Daniel did to King Darius. He makes some interesting Biblical arguments I may share later.

-for lunch I ate with Matthew Sleeth and Scott Sabin of Foresta. We talked about the initiative I am starting. There was lots of good energy. After lunch I spent a few minutes with Richard Cizik. He is a funny guy and lacks any of the pretense or arrogance of your typical lobbyist (esp. the Religious ones).

-Peter Illyn of Restoring Eden is what the church needs. His talk was refreshing and sounded pretty radical for your typical churched Evangelical. Presently I am listening to a Catholic Bishop ("the poor contribute the least to the problem, but will pay the biggest price for our environmental destruction"). I will head to a session with the guys from Floresta on Creation Care and the Poor, followed by a talk by the grandfather of the Christian Environmental movement, Calvin DeWitt.

I am hoping to get a few minutes with a couple of the guys from the Evangelical Environmental Network and tell the pastor of the host church a little more about the initiative I am heading up.

Almost done- I was able to connect with Ray Pritchard of the EEN. We had a good talk about Atlanta, Emergent Cohorts and living in the city. Right now I am enjoying Calvin DeWitt and will try to connect with a couple of more people before leaving. But, I am done here for today.

Green Church Conference (in FLA)

On Thursday I will be heading over to Orlando (by myself, not carpooling) for the Creation Care Conference at Northland Church in Longwood, FL.

It is only $35 and offers some important names in the Christian environmental movement. I am excited about a number of things regarding this event, including the chance to rub shoulders with people of like mind and values. However, I am most excited about the chance to listen to a green builder sharing his experiences building environmentally friendly churches and sharing his ideas on this subject (for a number of years, this has been of utmost importance to me- thinking church buildings must be green).

This looks like a great event, one that I cannot believe is in this state, which seems to care little about such things.

By the way, here is my wife on the subject of Going Green.

Also, check this great website for anyone interested in the practical realities of low impact living and how to do it.

A Sustainable Faith

If you live within a few hundred miles, don't forget to attend the Sustainable Faith Event (snappy title, huh) this weekend in St. Pete. I am the emcee, which is the best thing about the conference I am sure. However, for only $25 you get more than just my wonderfully snide sense of humor on display (plus wardrobe changes, oh yes)...

Shane Claiborne will be leading 2 plenaries, while Tim Keel and Frank Viola will lead others. A panel discussion will have such luminaries as Danielle Shroyer, Chris Haw, Tim, Frank and Troy Bronsink. Breakout sessions will be lead by everyone previously mentioned and other local legends. Oh, and the one-and-only Spencer Burke will be our guest teaching everyone how to publish their books.

There will be great music, great fellowship, a Super bowl Party, lots of promotion of great sustainable ideas for your church, life, shopping and faith, as well as time to spend in St. Pete getting in touch with their vibe and eating their great food.

take a small step (away from plastic)

My favorite 2 Christmas presents were not really Christmas presents, just things I wanted or needed and the holiday coincided with the purchase of something.

First of all, I got a couple of new water bottles (the metal canteen kind that do not leach). Kristi bought them at the local Organic Food store.

Secondly, due to simple attrition and use elsewhere we were down to 3 canvas bags for use at the grocery store (instead of using those forbidden plastic bags). Since they are too expensive at farmer's markets and stores, we were going to buy them online. However, we had not gotten around to it.

Imagine my surprise when our friend Jen had as her facebook status that she was checking out www.smallsteps.in. I headed over to the site and found a great nonprofit that is making and selling bags to use instead of paper or plastic (and providing much needed jobs in India). The bags are free (you pay shipping), but they need donations to survive.

So, make a resolution to give up plastic and paper (which you should have done eons ago). Then take the simple action of going to this site and making a small donation. Then ask for some bags. Then use those bags and spread the word.

Doing the right thing has never been so easy. Plus, the bags come in cool colors, fold into a tiny carrying case with lanyard and come in different designs.

Worm Poop

I am sure that word will give me another R rating... I want to share some cool t-shirts made by friends of mine to promote their business venture.

Sunnye Dreyfuss, a member of our community in Houston and Boston (I was honored to perform the ceremony for her and Josh) has a sustainable business called WormJava. It is natural fertilizer for your plants made from worm poop (in her words). Check out their site and buy some plant food (and buy a great t-shirt that will get you noticed around town- the t-shirts are sweatshop free).

new leader of the Religious Right (let us hope)

Talk to Action considers whether SBC leader Richard Land is usurping the power of James Dobson as the leader of the Religious Right. While I am no friend of the Religious Right and feel much of its political power is a danger to the nation and cause of Christ, I would welcome this change.

While I disagree with Land on a number of issues (OK- most issues), his understanding of Biblical, personal and moral ethics is consistent, which is terribly important to the debate. He has already parted ways with the Falwell, Robertson, Dobson Hard-Right on a number of issues, including immigration reform (taking Matthew 25 seriously). He took Dobson to task for his call to the NAE to fire Cizik over global warming and he has the same problems with Newt Gingrich and Dobson's support of his candidacy that most people do. He even treats Wallis and liberals with respect while debating them.

I just hope he uses his Oxford educated brain and comes to his senses on the war, patriotism and and the relative unimportance of gay marriage. He is much too smart to hold some of the traditional SBC beliefs with out question. He has shown a thoughtful side on a number of issues and I hope he continues to move in that direction in the future and does not retreat to his throne, believing his own hype, like Dobson, Perkins and Fallwell continue to do.