May
17
2010
I am having a hard time believing that we have been watching the tragedy in the Gulf of Mexico for four full weeks, and only this morning did we have the first bit of partially good news – an attempt to siphon some of the oil into a tanker is starting to work. No one dares to say this is even the start of a solution – it has just made the current situation a little less bad. Meanwhile, reports over the weekend suggested that one of the reasons not as much oil has reached land as originally anticipated is because the stuff is lurking underwater, in enormous “plumes” – one of which might be as large as 10 miles by 3 miles. Read more »
May
10
2010
“Old Literature” is an occasional series pointing to works of the past, sometimes well known, sometimes not, that have embedded in them a clear creation care message. [Check out previous posts in the series here.] C.S. Lewis’ Narnia books are perfect subjects for this series, and have long been on my mental list. Before I got to him, though, Dean Ohlman at Wonder of Creation blog did the job for me, with a little Isaac Watts and John Newton thrown in for good measure. Here is his meditation on Narnia – reposted by permission:
[Peter said,] “Now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders. But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Christ would suffer. Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus. He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets (Acts 3:18-21)
Read more »
May
07
2010
No one knows.
The “official” estimate is 210,000 gallons per day (5,000 barrels). This is almost certainly way too low. Some outside experts (non-government and non-oil industry) put the rate at more like 1,050,000 gallons (25,000 barrels). BP itself has admitted that in a worst-case scenario the rate could be more than double that pessimistic amount, or 2,520,000 gallons (60,000 barrels).
Whatever the amount, it adds up fast. NPR has designed a Widget that I have installed to the right ———>>>
You can use the slider to adjust the rate and see what the current total would be if it were leaking at that rate.
Again, no one knows. But what we do know is it isn’t going away.
Lord, forgive us.
[If you are reading this post on FaceBook or on Networked Blogs, you will need to come over to http://ourfathersworld.org to see the widget.]
May
05
2010
Situations like the oil spill in the gulf tend to leave us deflated and discouraged. It’s good, therefore, to be reminded that amid the rubble that we have created in God’s world, he occasionally shows us that there is (still) beauty and wonder when we can shout “Stop!” and look. This post from our friend Donn Ring is a perfect counterpoint to the last one on praying over the oil spill. Enjoy, and spend some time pondering his fantastic photography. Then get yourself *outside* today and look for some wonders yourself!
A few weeks ago we heard rumors of wild flowers in bloom on the south side of the Superstition Mountains east-northeast of Phoenix. We hopped in Dennis’ Honda Element “Pudge” and charged up the road from Arizona City. Once spring temperatures heat up, desert flower displays can be very short lived. We must move!
Read more »
May
02
2010
How do you pray about an oil spill?
It’s a legitimate question: The news is getting worse by the day for those of us many miles away, and no doubt by the hour for those living in the area of impact. This morning we learned that some experts believe the amount of oil leaking may be much more than even the revised estimate of 5,000 barrels per day. More worrisome than that, there is now real concern that the oil may join the Gulf stream ocean current, which would send it around the tip of Florida and all the way up the East Coast of the United States, staining beaches and killing wildlife as it goes. Read more »
Apr
23
2010
Pastor Kevin DeYoung, Senior Pastor of University Reformed Church in East Lansing MI has posted some comments on how Christians can celebrate Earth Day “better” over at his blog. This is a response to that post.
While I appreciate Pastor DeYoung’s sincere desire to “build a Christian foundation” (his very good image) under the concept of Earth Day, the ‘bricks’ he is using to build that foundation, most of which were purchased somewhat uncritically from Jay Richard’s Environmental Stewardship in the Judeo-Christian Tradition, could have been baked a little longer.
Here are his ‘bricks’ and my thoughts in response: Read more »
