Jul
18
2011
It has been a year of flood and drought. This spring’s floods along the Mississippi and Missouri rivers are old news to most of us, as is the ongoing drought in Texas, which is breaking records set as long ago as 1917, long before the Dust Bowl of the 1930′s.
But nowhere in the world are things as bad as what is happening in East Africa, not far from where Craig and Tracy Sorley are serving in Kenya.
The Worst Drought in 60 Years
“Once More Into the Abyss”. That’s how the Economist news magazine described the developing drought in Kenya and other East African countries a week or so ago:
BLOATED bellies with stick arms and legs; huge eyes staring out of skeletal heads; gaunt mothers trying to suckle babies on withered breasts. The world thought it might never see such scenes again. Famine in Africa, absent for many years, appeared to have gone the way of diseases for which we now have cures or vaccines. Read more »
Jul
08
2011
Who knew? Your best way to survive this might be to go to church...
So once again cutting edge research shows that if the church will just be the church, she will be better positioned to respond to crisis than any other institution. For the last two or three years I have been winding up my presentations with a call to the church toward Repentance (change our attitude toward God’s creation), Restoration (work to restore what has been damaged), and Preparation (be ready for more disasters to come). A report from NPR this week reinforces the effectiveness of this kind of preparation.
You could start with a multiple choice question: In the aftermath of the 2004 Tsunami, which Indian villagers had a great chance of survival?
a) Those who were rich.
b) Those who were influential.
c) Those who attended weddings and funerals.
And the answer, surprisingly, is … Read more »
Jul
04
2011
While it is hard to find a mainstream newspaper or magazine that does not have one, two or more stories on environmental topics these days. Out “in the world” the crisis enveloping God’s creation is apparent and people are concerned. Scanning the pages of Christian periodicals and journals yields the opposite result: Little or no coverage of anything remotely environmental. Which is why it is encouraging to find creation care appearing in two important magazines and journals in the last couple of weeks. Read on and click through – they are both worth your time.
My colleague in Kenya, Craig Sorley, has an important paper in the latest issue of the International Bulletin of Missionary Research. The entire issue is devoted to the topic of Creation Care, including topics like Mission and the Care of Creation by Jonathan J. Bonk [HTML or PDF] and Historical Trends in Missions and Earth Care by Dana L. Robert [HTML or PDF]. [All these papers require free registration to read.] Read more »
Jun
30
2011
Some of you know that I am planning to spend the summer writing. It’s been five years since Our Father’s World was published, and I have been hearing from many who would like to know when the next book is coming out and what it will be about. Read on for some details and about how you might be able to have a part in this process…
Dear Friends,
Summer is here – Susanna’s flowers are out all over the garden, our summer birds are back, and we even have budding raspberries on the bushes we planted at the end of last summer. This season is so glorious in Wisconsin that it almost makes the winters worthwhile.
We are ready to change pace for a while. After a busy winter and spring, with many trips to many places (and countries) our travelling is done for several months. Our family obligations peaked with our son Tim’s wedding last weekend to Kim Dykwell (see picture) – a wonderful event that brought together not only all of our children, but many of our extended family as well.
And now we’re ready to settle down to the primary goal for the next three months: Writing another book. Read more »
Jun
07
2011
85 years Strong
We pause here for a break from our normal focus on creation-care to note a significant family event. The following is a tribute to my Dad, who is 85 years old today, co-authored with my sister Marilyn, and simul-posted on her blog, Communicating Across Boundaries, as well as on various Facebook pages of Dad’s numerous offspring. Happy Birthday, Dad!
85 years ago today, June 7th in 1926, a baby boy was born to a family in the city of Pittsfield, Massachusetts. He was fourth in the family, joining three sisters, a mom and a dad. Three years later his youngest sister was born and the family was complete. He was named Ralph Edward Brown and he is our father and grandfather. Read more »
Jun
02
2011
My niece Stephanie Burkard has just finished her freshman year at Old Dominion University and wrote the following essay for a scholarship contest. (See the link toward the end of the piece to help her win…) I post it here with her permission. [And if you are also a student and have a piece like this that you'd like to see published, send it my way. ]
I picked up Blue Like Jazz this week. Chapter 2 coincided with some deeper thoughts I’ve been having. One sentence sums up the chapter. ”I am the problem” (Miller, 20).
Read more »
