Comments on: Earth Days and After

By: speedcreed

speedcreed — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 04:34:11 +0000

The question is: “Does ‘creation care’ have a place in the Christian life?” The premise in assuming ones response to be negative is considered, perhaps, attributable to our Christian belief that the Earth will pass away when the Lord returns. And so, the postulation goes something like this: ‘why bother?’ I cannot think of any line of thought that could be any farther removed from biblical reason.

After all- our bodies are temporal, but no one doubts our spiritual duty in caring for this, ‘the temple of the Holy Spirit’ … so how much less the ground where that temple stands? And likewise, though we understand the ‘brick and mortar’ that are our church buildings to be places that will ‘also pass away,’ would anyone dare to presume that that makes structural ‘upkeep’ and ‘maintenance’ unnecessary? Of course not- and neither should we neglect anything else that might be used in the reflecting of God’s glory. And I’m pretty sure that the earth qualifies in that respect.

Romans 1:20 is often quoted in response to the ‘Creation Care’ issue and I think it appropriate enough for repeating: “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.” NIV

And another bit of verse comes to mind, though it is not so often quoted, is: “But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee: Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee. Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this? In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.” Job 12:7-10 KJV

“… In whose hand is the soul of every living thing … ‘every’ living thing.” That’s grass and trees and things that crawl, fly, or swim. How dare we not care for all that our God has made?

By: poohpity

poohpity — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 16:40:02 +0000

jay1,

I am not for sure but it seems that before the flood would have been their time of existence when everything was running hay wire. Ken Ham has studied this and I have not read his work recently but he explains a lot about creationism and the dinosaurs.

By: Rick123

Rick123 — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 15:17:09 +0000

jay1: Dinosaur-like creatures are mentioned in the Bible. The Bible uses ancient names like “behemoth” and “tannin.” Behemoth means kingly, gigantic beasts. Tannin is a term which includes dragon-like animals and the great sea creatures such as whales, giant squids, and marine reptiles like the plesiosaurs that may have become extinct.

The Bible’s best description of a dinosaur-like animal is recorded in Job chapter 40. “Look at the behemoth, which I made along with you and which feeds on grass like an ox. What strength he has in his loins, what power in the muscles of his belly! His tail sways like a cedar; the sinews of his thighs are close-knit. His bones are tubes of bronze, his limbs like rods of iron. He ranks first among the works of God…” (Job 40:15-19).

By: jay1

jay1 — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 11:36:38 +0000

whilst on the subject of creation,my friend whom i amhoping will come to accept jesus , always asks why dinosaurs are not mentioned in the bible?..can anyone help?

By: Claudia

Claudia — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 02:05:59 +0000

Mtman,
oooooooh, you and your wife and your dogs and all the animals there, you are all soooo in my prayers. That just can’t go on. Tonight I am going to do some research on someone, or organization, something, that can stop that poison. With prayers and prayers!

By: Laurielee

Laurielee — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 00:22:14 +0000

GeeTee, I really enjoyed your post!

Mtman, a suggestion; there is supposed to be an open forum thing where you can post messages to the president. What could it hurt? If you make enough noise (like the poor widow) maybe you can get someone to pay attention. Be wary of what you get in exchange, though.

By: mtman

mtman — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 22:48:22 +0000

laney: Thank you for your concern and prayers. The spraying is actually being done by the association I am a member of. There were two kinds of agent orange and only one was banned due to the very high dioxin it contained. The other is still on the market as potent as ever. To answer your third question I have no neighbor help as the other members are afraid of those who run our assoc. I do not fear those who can destroy the body, only those who destroy the soul, so I fight on alone.

By: ALAN

ALAN — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 20:55:18 +0000

I really enjoyed the articles & photos. Thank You all.

By: laney

laney — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 18:07:16 +0000

Cherielyn, thanks for taking the time to share with us the story about the clay balls.I did enjoy it.You are right we do need to get to know the person.Sorry about your computer.Hope you are back soon.We will miss you.

By: GeeTee

GeeTee — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 17:58:53 +0000

When I was a little tyke(3-5) I was short-sighted. Born and raised in a somewhat small town,and lived on a friendly street where everyone knew each other. To me, there was no other place in the world. I was unaware that there was any other place besides the house I lived in and the yard I played in. Although there were people that lived in all the houses on our street, I only knew them in the context of them coming to our house. I lived in a child’s world. When I started kindergarten I became aware that there were other children and families that lived in my little world and even though I didn’t know where they lived, I began to understand the nature of this place. My worldview was enlarged to include places and people that were invisible to me except when they were in my presence. I could think about them as though they were with me and I could share their existence without them actually being there, and that was a wonder that I didn’t quite understand. After all, I was 5 years old. Things more or less remained that way for the next few years even though older sisters and brothers took me places that were unknown to me up until then. They took me around the town I lived in and I was fascinated at the things I saw. But in a childs’ way there was no other place in the world but our town. I had heard my parents talk of where they were from(Texas), and how they had moved to California years ago(’36), but I had no idea that these places were a part of the world I lived in. They were somewhere else in my childs’ mind. Mind you, we’re talking about the 1950’s and we didn’t even have a TV yet. In school I would hear about the president or some other USA concern, but it didn’t really register that this world is a big place. I remember hearing about Kruschev in Russia in maybe ‘57or8 and being suddenly aware that there were things that went on in this world that were not fun and games. Like a child thinks. In 3rd grade we began to study history and geography, and my little world became much larger. Even though I was still a little boy I could envision the world in its true light. A big place with lots and lots of people. It was at 9or10 that I began to take interest in other peoples and other places, and the world began to take on its’ true perspective. I was still just as fascinated and filled with wonder at God’s creation, but I began to be a user of his resources and not just an admirer. At 12 I began to hunt and fish, so I became a consumer of His provision. Being young, I was reckless and wanton when it came to these pursuits. I wanted to kill more birds or catch more fish to prove to my compatriots that I was skilled in my prowess. I had total disregard for the conservation of the targets I chose to kill, and would kill ducks and pheasants or quail when they were in their mating seasons or rearing stages. I was not mindful of the earth and it’s resource. I never killed an animal that I didn’t eat, but that doesn’t justify the way I pursued my pastime. In early adulthood I moved to another state(OR) and I began to utilize the game that was available in a conservative manner. Shot or caught only the limits, and never out of season. I remained a hunter and fisherman until I was 40. I didn’t discontinue these hobbies from a ecolo/enviro/conservation necessity, but from an economic standpoint. So that’s okay. Today being Earth Day I would only ask the populace this: Is it earth-friendly, environmentally-sound, ecologically -saving, and conservationally-conservative to stand under the banner of Earth Day and “yeah!yeah!yeah! I’m with you” while the rally at city hall is going on, and then leave the gathering in a gas-guzzling SUV that you bought with money you don’t have(credit card), to return to a home you can’t afford? Do you get what I’m saying about the bandwagons and the causes and the seemingly empty pursuit these things can be? And what a distraction they can be to the really important issues and concerns we’re faced with. Let’s be gentle in our consumption but be radical in our efforts. “When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now we know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.” I Cor13:11,12 We can make the difference that needs to be made, but it’s so much more involved than just being supportive or showing up, or any of that superficial ‘look at me’ stuff that’s so popular these days. “When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it; For He has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you have vowed—Better not to vow than to vow and not pay.” Eccles 5:4,5 What is the point that I’m trying to drive home? It’s better to be active in your attempts and efforts to do what needs to be done than to be on all the committees and go to all the demonstrations as a show of support for that worthy cause. All those things are well and good for the stuffed-shirts of the world to stand around pattin’ each other on the back as the buuldozers wreak their havoc on the place. You gotta start somewhere and let it be with me(us). Old NIKE slogan…Just Do It GT