//contemplative spirituality

disconnected.

disengaged. 

distracted. 

find a tree or

a flower.

contemplate God's goodness 

reflected and shown through 

His creation.

breath.

He gives you breath.

//are you kidding me?

Ok so I know that we are out of the Bush-era, but I stumbled upon this image and could not believe my eyes...

Even setting aside my  beliefs in non-violence and my distaste for the Bush administration, this sign is hard to grasp.

I guess I will let it speak for itself.

But a couple questions:

+How does this sign communicate the greater [macro] ideals of our Christian brothers and sisters of different though persuasions?  How are we too react in love?

+If you happen to be one of our brothers or sisters that share the ideal that is communicated through the words and pictures represented on the sign, could you shed some light on my confusion?  

//33 miles per gallon

So we finally made the transition.  

My wife and I have attempted to make many changes in our life to be more conscious and lessen our impact on the global ecosystem.  But there has always been one big, enormous, gas guzzling issue staring us in the face.

Our 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee.  

13 miles [city] to the gallon to be exact... 

Although we were disgusted every time we got into our vehicle, we didn't really have an option.  It isn't like we have a large amount of cash sitting around to buy a "greener" vehicle.  So we adjusted our life to cut down on consumption and emissions by walking places if they were in town and riding my bike to campus [when it wasn't snowing].  We began looking for a new car a long time ago [8 months], trying to find something we could afford.  Slowly, our jeep began to fall apart.  We knew that we still couldn't afford to buy a new care, so if we were supposed to get one, we would have to be patient and wait.

Then God made a way. [insert criticism of the idea that God blesses people with money to buy a car...I know what you are thinking.  I am thinking the same thing.]

To make a long story short, Holly's parents [who are amazing] decided to give us enough money to buy a new [used] car, a 2003 Ford Focus station wagon with only 37,000 miles!  

Now we are cutting our emissions and consumption of foreign oil by almost 70%, and we drive a car that is definitely more practical and family friendly.

God provides.

//soon...

This is a pointless post...more informative i guess.

Just wanted to let you know that I will be posting a blog shortly in response to the previous post on being vegetarian. 

Thank you for all your responses!

//Vegetarian?

So in the last few weeks, my wife and I have been playing around with the idea of becoming vegetarian.  First off, we are in no way fully committed to the lifestyle yet and do not believe it to be a absolute moral obligation or required spiritual discipline.  We have dramatically cut our meet consumption, but still eat meet that is offered to us [considered "consumer vegetarian"]. 

I grew up very much a environmentalist.  As a teenager I watched all the PETA videos and even thought about protesting at my local slaughterhouse.  Not to discredit those that partake in those activities, I found myself passionate about the ideas, but really doing nothing to impact the world around me.

As I have matured in my walk with Christ, I have become aware of certain industries and systems at work in the world that operate contrary to the Kingdom of God.  One of them, no matter how you feel about it, is the food industry.  I have have a few people tell me that there is no value in being vegetarian, I would argue that there are many unconsidered and valuable reasons to consider being vegetarian [apart from the tradition "radical environmentalist" approach].  I am not going to hit on the moral or ethical implications as it come to the "rights of animals", nor will I speak on the theological/biblical reasoning, but would actually like to shed a little light on a couple of the "not so well known" global community aspects to the food industry.  I think the following reasons should be considered in our walk with Christ.

-If we eat the plants we grow instead of feeding them to animals, the world's food shortage will disappear virtually overnight. Remember that 100 acres of land will produce enough beef for 20 people but enough wheat to feed 240 people.

-African and other underdeveloped countries - where millions are starving to death - export grain to the developed world so that animals can be fattened for our dining tables.

-Half the rainforests in the world have been destroyed to clear ground to graze cattle to make beefburgers. The burning of the forests contributes 20% of all green-house gases. Roughtly 1,000 species a year become extinct because of the destruction of the rainforests. Approximately 60 million people a year die of starvation. All those lives could be saved because those people could eat grain used to fatten cattle and other farm animals - if Americans ate 10% less meat.

-The world's fresh water shortage is being made worse by animal farming. And meat producers are the biggest polluters of water. It takes 2,500 gallons of water to produce one pound of meat. If the US meat industry wasn't supported by the taxpayer paying a large proportion of its water costs, then hamburger meat would cost $35 a pound.

My issue is not necessarily with eating meat [although that is part of it], it is with the industrial/factory farming industry that is highly unethical from any moral stand point, especially through the Christian World view.  I encourage you, if have not, to read up and research the industry.  Some great resources are any Wendell Berry book or essay, and Ragan Sutterfeild ...and anything else on a sustainable environment. 

//reading...

Last night was an amazing night...

I got to read for a couple hours.

This was amazing mainly because this is not as common of an experience as I would like it to be.  Granted, I am reading most of the time, just not necessarily books of my choosing.

Last night was different.

I had the blessed opportunity to sit in a chair, and read to my content.

It was nice to spend some time with Neil Postman [Amusing Ourselves to Death, a critique of modern communication and media culture] and one of my favorites Wendell Berry [Sex, Economy, Freedom and Community; a series of eight essays on local economy, conservation, gardening, sustainability and also a critique of modern society...].  

I would highly recommend picking up either of these books, they are amazing writers that challenge the societal norms that are quite contrary to the Kingdom of God.  Very interesting.

//dirt

I am longing for the day when I am released from all my responsibilities and can plant a garden with my daughter.  

A very large part of me just wants to quit everything [mostly just school...actually more like Greek II] and just plant a garden.  I guess it's good that it is still cold out...maybe by the time it is warm enough to begin sewing seed, I will have my head on straight and be thinking "rationally".

I can't wait to smell dirt...

//Dependance

I have been thinking a lot lately.  

But I have not posted anything for many, many weeks...

I think it is because I now know my words are hollow and are better left within my mind.  I am becoming more and more aware of my "finite-ness" as a human being.  I am feeble and weak, unable to start or complete any movement or thought without being completely dependent upon my Father.  

While I am aware of this cognitively and rejoice at the thought of it, I cannot help but confess that my flesh is in rebellion to this satisfying dependance.  While I long for communion with Christ,to  acknowledge and live in His full will, I get so lost in my own words, thoughts, conjectures and critiques that I so quickly loose focus of my Beloved.

May we come to see the Kingdom of God not only lived out on earth, but also thriving within us.

//A question...

Where does ministry begin?