We're Treehuggers

Well, we hug near trees, anyway. That's our engagement portrait with a tree. We have others. Really.

I'm not about to go out and find a job as an environmentalist, though- I'm admitting my Earth Day failings over at Homemakers Who Work today. I'm not as green as I'd like, but I'm still trying to tread softly. Creation care matters to me.

To celebrate the day, I'm planting vegetables tonight at the Grace Garden. Anyone want to join me?

Book Review: Enough by Will Samson

To start, let's just say this book wasn't at all what I expected.

I had expected Enough: Contentment in an Age of Excess by Will Samson to be a long rant about how much plastic we consume, the Barbies and shopping malls that brainwash us into buying, buying, buying, and the awfulness of capitalism. Instead, in this fairly-quick read (just 160 pages) was a very thoughtful look not at WHAT we're consuming, but what it is doing to us- to our bodies, environment, economy, and community. The book is also very timely (as in, go read it NOW), talking about the recession that we are now in and some of the causes.

That said, this isn't a rant, or a scolding. Samson is writing to Christians specifically- he says so in the introduction. He expands on ways the consumer culture is ruining our churches and our spiritual lives, and suggests the alternative of Eucharistic community. At the end of the last few chapters, there are really, really practical suggestions that help combat consumerism in our lives. I appreciated the ideas like "Spend locally" "Eat together" and "Get out of your car". Stuff I can do, and stuff I can be aware of in my day-to-day, not just nice theories that I may or may not apply. Enough reminds me that I don't need to consume, hoard, or buy out of fear. If I trust God I have enough and that he will provide, I can opt out of the crazy rat race the rest of the culture is running. And I'm all for that.

Here's a few excerpts I appreciated:

"There is a saying in philosophy: Every ought implies a can. In other words, it is assumed that everything we should or ought to do is also something that we have the ability to do. But in America we seem to have turned that equation on its head: Every can implies an ought."

"If you want to understand that there is no ready access in this world, plant a garden. ... I also think of planting a garden as a simple step in the revolution to transform life from the erotic to the aesthetic. There is nothing sexual about my tomatoes. But there is something good about them. ... When cared for, they stand as a monument to the beauty of creation, with red and green and yellow, the burst to tell a story of hope for the future."

"Too many of us who were raised as "Bible-believing Christians" have often approached Scripture to affirm the things we wish to be against, and to provide permission for things we wish to do, like spending frivolously without concern for the future. But we do not have that freedom."

I'll definitely be including this one in the church library- if you're in the area, come pick it up! If you're not, read this excerpt.

Our Christmas Cow

We have 1/8 of a cow in our freezer.

That may not sound like much, but it's about 50 pounds. If we eat one pound of beef a week, the 1/8 of a cow won't last us until next Christmas, to put it in perspective.

How did we end up with 50 pounds of beef in our freezer, and more importantly, why?

How:

Well, we just went over to our friend's farm & picked it up. Obviously. How do YOU get YOUR beef? The farmer who raised the cow had dropped it off earlier that day, and we were splitting the quarter-cow with another couple, so we went over to pick up our share. Our "cowshare", or, the trendier name, "cowpooling". That's right, we're trendy. All in all, it wasn't a bad deal. The beef was $4 a pound, and that's pricy if you're used to buying just on-sale ground beef at the grocery store, but when you take into account the quality of the meat PLUS the fact we got a good number of steaks & roasts in the mix, it was a fabulous deal.

Why:

This is the important part.

Josh & I both read The Omnivore's Dilemma earlier this year. Really interesting book. I recommend it. The author, a journalist, traces his food to the source, and talks about "factory farming", "industrial organic," sustainable-farming, and hunter-gatherer sources of food. There was a lot more that could be said about all of the types of food sources, but at the end of it all, we were convinced that cows were meant to eat grass, food policy is too slanted towards corn, and we wanted to gradually work towards eating more sustainably. One step in that was finding a source of local, grass-fed, free-range, organic beef. We're also concerned about the sources of our poultry, dairy, & pork, but beef was a starting place for us.
Baby steps.
And this was a baby step that filled our freezer.

What did YOU find in your stocking? A train set, silk ties, or raw meat?

Earth Day Activity

What did you do to celebrate Earth Day yesterday?

Both to celebrate Earth Day as well as the daytime highs nearing 80 degrees, we set up a clothesline for the first time ever. (Beth, be proud of me!)

The stakes and poles were a bit of a pain to set up, and Josh mentioned that he's not looking forward to taking them down to mow, and having to finagle them into being upright again. It took as a while- by the time everything was finally set up, we were working by the light of our outdoor lighting fixtures. Perhaps we'll invest in a permanent clothesline in the future. For now, though, I'm glad to finally get to try to air-dry clothes- saving energy and money!

Low-impact Christmas

So far, I have resisted the magic advertising pens of the marketing departments of the large corporations. I did not run out & buy any unneeded gadget on Black Friday- for myself or as a gift. I have yet to step foot into a toy store this season.

And yet, I think that might change. I do need to get Christmas shopping done at some point. We have about 75% of our list left to buy for, and a planned-ahead Christmas budget to draw out of. Josh & I have decided that the house counts as a big gift for both of us, so we're not getting much for each other this year, just little things. I just want to bless my loved ones with something they'll enjoy (and, hopefully, use). Unfortunately, I have barely even started thinking about what those things may be.

Josh and I had a discussion earlier about having a "low-impact Christmas"- buying gifts that won't someday end up in a landfill. Ideas I've seen for this include:

• Giving experiences as gifts rather than things- tickets to a movie, concert, or play, gift certificates to restaurants, etc.
• Giving to an organization in the name of the gift recipient. Picking an organization the recipient cares about is a bonus. Along these lines, an idea I heard at church this week: giving family members "gift certificates" for a donation and letting them choose where they would like a monetary gift to go. It's particularly fun with organizations that put out "catalogs" with suggested donation amounts for needed items. World Vision has an annual catalog, and it's fun to imagine your gift going directly toward buying a goat or a couple rabbits or a chicken for a family that needs them. Our church put together a similar 'catalog' listing some of the ministries outside the walls of the church that it supports, with the opportunity to make a specific gift to one of those ministries. It also includes examples of an amount and what the money could go toward.
• Giving something recycled or secondhand. This may check an item off a Christmas list AND save an item from becoming waste in a landfill.
  
• Giving nothing but quality time. In a hurried culture (especially around the holidays!), just slowing down to enjoy family is a gift.

I'll be honest- we don't plan on having a totally-low-impact Christmas this year, but it's in the back of our minds. I like the idea very much, and a big part of it would be explaining to our loved ones why we have no wrapped boxes for them to open. It will also take more creativity on our part. We're still learning, and will get there someday.

What do you think? Is it worth having a "low-impact Christmas", pulling back from both waste and consumerism? or are a few gifts to open both symbolic of God's gift to us and fun for the family? What other ideas do you have for your gift-giving?

Garden ideas

Twice now on Prairie Home Companion, I've heard a song called Talkin' Harvest Time Blues by Stephanie Davis that has made me laugh- and wonder what I'm getting myself into, thinking I can start a vegetable garden. Here it is:

Well, it starts with a catalogue that comes in the mail
In the middle of the winter, when you’ve had it with those pale
Thick-skinned, store-bought, sorry, hard-as-rock
Excuses for tomatoes with the flavor of a sock

And there on the cover sits THE juicy, red, ripe
Homegrown tomato you’ve had dancing in your head
Never mind you said last August that you’d had it up to here
With the hoeing and the weeding—that’s what you say every year!

So, you fix a cup of cocoa, sink into your favorite chair
Put your feet up and you thumb through the pictures and compare
Big Boys, Better Boys, Early Girls, Romas
The new disease and drought-resistant hybrid from Sonoma!

Then it’s on to peas and carrots, lima beans and beets and kale
And you’ve never tried kohlrabi—say, the lettuce is on sale!
What’s a garden without sweet corn—better plant some marigolds
And you just read in “Prevention” ‘bout how garlic’s good for colds!

So, you phone an order in that nearly melts your Visa card
Then stare out at the foot of snow that blankets your backyard
And visualize your garden, oh, so peaceful and serene
Until at last you close your eyes and slip into a dream about:

CHORUS
Harvest time (bushels of red, ripe tomatoes!)
Harvest time (sweet corn that melts in your mouth!)

Well, the days turn to weeks and the next thing you know
There’s a robin at the feeder and the last patch of snow
Disappears ‘bout the time that a UPS truck
Backs up to your house and you stand there, awestruck

As 47 “Perishable—Plant Right Away”-
Marked boxes are unloaded on your porch as you say,
“Are you sure?” “Yes, ma’am, need your signature here—
Looks like someone’s gonna have ‘em quite a garden this year!”

Well, you watch him drive away, then you sink to your knees
‘Cause you feel a little woozy: Forty-seven boxes—Please!
God, I know I’ve got a problem and we’ve had this talk before
But help me this one last time—I won’t order anymore!

Just then, as if in answer to your prayer, your sister’s van
Pulls up into the driveway with Aunt Martha, Uncle Stan,
Two nephews and a cousin, who just stopped to say hello
But soon are sporting calluses as up and down each row

You, their warden, push ‘em; it’s a scene from “Cool Hand Luke”:
“Over there—those clods need breaking! Leave more space around that cuke!
See those bags of steer manure? Bring a dozen over—fast!
Yes, I know you have lumbago, but you’ll thank me when at last (it’s)

CHORUS
Harvest time (show you what a real strawberry tastes like!)
Harvest time (might even let you help me dig potatoes!)

Well, that night it starts to sprinkle and you can’t help feeling smug
‘Cause your garden’s in the ground and getting watered while you’re snug
Underneath the covers, or at least until midnight
When the temperature starts dropping and in no time you’re smack right

In the middle of your garden, in your jammies, on your knees
With a headlamp and a hammer and some tarps and jeez Louise
It’s cold but you keep working ‘till the last plant’s safe from harm
And there’s holes in your new jammies and bursitis in your arm

“Cause by gosh, you’re a gardener right down to your muddy clogs
And even when the rabbits take your lettuce and stray dogs
Pee on your zucchini and a fungus coats your kale
“Cause it’s rained for two weeks’ solid—do you falter? Do you fail?

Yep. You throw your hoe down, stamp your feet and call it quits—
Declare to all the neighborhood that gardening is the pits
And you’ll never plant another and this one can bloody rot
Then suddenly the sun breaks through the clouds and, like as not

You see a couple weeds you must have missed the last go-round
And shake your head and meekly pick your hoe up off the ground
And hoe and keep on hoeing ‘till your romas dangle red,
Ripe and juicy on the vine, sweet corn towers overhead,

Beans hang from their trellis, big orange pumpkins sprawl about
And you get that satisfying feeling once more when you shout:

CHORUS
Harvest time (Break out the canning jars!)
Harvest time (Man the pressure cooker!)
Harvest time (You have to take zucchini—we're related!)
Harvest time (Now THIS is a tomato!)

So, my question... what should I grow? I know the fresh veggies and outdoor exercise that a garden provides will beat a diet patch any day, so the garden will be good for us. The catch: I need to be sure to grow only the kinds food we'll eat, or the work will be a waste-- unless I have family, friends, and co-workers that promise to take the bounty ;-)

Some ideas I've had: I know I at least want to plant peas, green beans, and tomatoes, for sure. Beyond those, do I try corn? Strawberries? Pumpkins? Potatoes? Carrots? Broccoli? Cauliflower? Spinach or lettuce? Do I start asparagus or rhubarb this year so I can have it in the future? I don't know. I just want to brainstorm a list to research.

I need to go out and measure the space I have, and construct a plan on what will go where. Once I have a plan, I'll need to figure out what variety of seeds I'll be getting, when, and when everything needs to be started indoors or out. I'm starting to think about this as early as I can this year because I don't know what I'm doing.

For those of you who have done this before, what's your experience? What're some things I could grow that won't be TOO ambitious for this newbie?

Sally's story

On my way into the apartment on Tuesday, before I got to the door of our building, I stopped dead in my tracks. My mouth was agape, and I stood there for an awkwardly long amount of time.

Ahead of me on the sidewalk was some sort of lizard- of a size I thought only existed in tropical climes and pet stores. I know for a fact we aren't a tropical climate, so my conclusion was that I was looking at a pet that someone freed- that I was sure wouldn't survive long in the dropping temperatures that Fall is now bring us. What did I do? Anyone remember the last critter in peril that I came across?

Yeah, I pretty much did the same thing, except I didn't touch it. I put it in a box and took it up to my apartment, and put it under a warm desk lamp until I figured out what it was. If it was someone's pet, I would either keep it (not likely, with my husband not preferring creepy-crawly pets) or find a pet store or rescue to return it to. If it was an indigenous species, I'd release it near the pond behind our apartments- probably where it came from. With Ashley's help, we determined it is a Tiger Salamander (hence, Sally.) Apparently this is a local wild species- though I certainly had never come across one before! The only wild lizard-like things I've encountered were geckos and anoles in Hawaii.(To be clear- I say lizard-like because salamanders are amphibians, not reptiles, like lizards. They just happen to be the same shape.)

Wikipedia says "Eastern tiger salamanders are large, with a typical length of 6-8 inches." and this guy was on the upper end of that- definitely closer to 8 inches long and about an inch and a half wide. Wikipedia also says "Adults are rarely seen in the open"- which explains why I've never come across one of these, even after living in Indiana for 10 years. I was feeling pretty silly about not knowing about this piece of native wildlife.

So, Sally Mander is now free! Who knows if I'll come across one again.

Meet Sally.

This post is supposed to be 'wordless', so I'll tell Sally's story, and why she's in a box on my desk, later. I'll just leave you wondering for now.

To Save a Turtle

Once upon a time, when I was young, we had a turtle as a pet. It lived in an area of the backyard, and we fed it vegetables, and I rather enjoyed it. It was much better than the rabbit we had for a time, which would writhe and scratch us every time we tried to pick it up.

My senior year of college, I was reintroduced to turtles, as my friend and roommate had two adorable turtles. She also had a bunny, which was much cuter and more peaceful than the bunny we had as a child. But I digress.

So, I have a soft spot in my heart for turtles. On the way home from work this week, we saw a turtle trying to cross a four-lane road near our apartment complex. It had just started the trek, and did not appear it would make it all the way across the street in the midst of rush-hour traffic. I sped into action! Josh had an extra box in the car, and pulled over into a side-street. I hopped out and, when traffic cleared, I snatched the turtle from peril! It was a very exciting rescue.

The turtle was none too happy about being in a box in the car, and immediately peed in it. Can you get incontinence supplies for turtles? I thereafter removed the box from my lap and set it in the backseat. I asked Josh if we could keep the turtle as a pet, but this was a large turtle, and would probably need to live in our bathtub, and would probably NOT be very happy there, so in the best interest of the turtle, I decided to let him free near the ponds in our apartment complex. I set him down and he took off- there was nothing "slow and steady" about his gait. Before I let him go, however, I snapped some pictures to remember the experience.



And that's my turtle story for today.

Cars are Silly

I love walking to work. If I could both live in the country and walk to work, I'd be set. As it is, I drive about once a week during the summer, and I'm probably in better shape thanks to the fact we now are in an apartment just a mile from work so that I'm able to do this. I'd love to give up my car entirely, because cars are silly.

Why Cars are Silly:

• They're given too much value. I'm not talking about the thousands of dollars they cost, I'm talking about the thousands of prestige points people are given for driving this car or that. People often judge others based on what they drive, or covet others because of what they drive. Toys, movies and TV series are fashioned around cars. The practical transportation value of the automobile is overshadowed by the image a given car projects. This is silly.


• They hurt the environment. The use a non-renewable resource to get around (and lots of it!) and spout bad stuff into the air. In my lifetime, fuel economy has not improved. Technology has, and there's a lot of smart people out there. You'd think someone could figure something out. Even with those big pickups with big wheels and thick truck bed liners - there's got to be a way to get more than 7 MPG. This is silly.


• When obesity is an epidemic in the US, there are more cars on the road than ever. Cities aren't walkable, and at least in this Midwest city, there's not good public transportation- which at least forces people to walk to and from a bus stop. This is silly.

And I haven't even touched on the silliness of the antisocial-ness of cars and garages, or commuting alone, as relates to community. We'll save that for later.

Maybe someday I won't have a car. We'll see. For now, I'm extra-silly, because we have 2 cars, and only one person who drives more than once a week. This will change someday, I know. I'm enjoying my almost-car-free existence for now.

Big foot

CATEGORY-------------GLOBAL ACRES
FOOD.............................4.9
MOBILITY......................0.2
SHELTER......................4.2
GOODS/SERVICES..........3
TOTAL FOOTPRINT 12

IN COMPARISON, THE AVERAGE ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT IN YOUR COUNTRY IS 24 GLOBAL ACRES PER PERSON.

WORLDWIDE, THERE EXISTS 4.5 BIOLOGICALLY PRODUCTIVE GLOBAL ACRES PER PERSON.

IF EVERYONE LIVED LIKE YOU, WE WOULD NEED 2.8 PLANETS.


Take the quiz yourself.

One way for me to look at these ecological footprint results is "I'm using up Earth's resources THREE TIMES faster than what is a sustainable rate. I need to do better! I need to cut my usage of resources by ONE THIRD to do any benefit at all. Theoretically, to balance out fellow Americans' consumption, I need to cut my consumption to 90% or more of the average!" If that was the case, I'd be hopeless and discouraged. Another way to look at it is, "I'm doing great! My ecological footprint is HALF of the average American's! I'm saving the planet TWICE as much as my neighbors! Hooray!" but we know the dangers of comparing ourselves to others... so I just take the results as encouragement and a challenge. I'm doing pretty good, but I can improve. I'm not there yet.

How are you doing? What's your footprint?

Al Gore's Son: An Inconvenient Youth

"Al Gore's Son: An Inconvenient Youth" was the TIME headline about Al Gore's son, who was pulled over for going 100 mph and arrested when drugs were found in his car. I thought the headline was clever.

My favorite part of the story? He was driving a Prius.

One way to save the environment...

Low Impact Week Reflections

Yesterday was the end of Low Impact Week. Overall, I didn't make too many changes to my routine, but I was more mindful of the changes- does that make sense? For example, I turn off my computer or lights when I'm not using them when I think of it, but this week I did it all the time- I thought of it all the time. I was walking to work when I thought it was convenient, and this week I did it every day, realizing it wasn't SO inconvenient any day. I expect to keep up these practices, as this week has shown me they can be 'normal'.

And that's the point, isn't it? To shrink our 'carbon footprint'? To change our lifestyle such that we impact the earth a little bit less and care for creation a little bit more? Long term, one week won't make a difference. One person treading lightly for a lifetime might not even dent the problem. If the earth-saving things can become 'normal', however, and everyone understands what can be done to help, progress can be made. If my neighbors see that it's not that big of a deal to walk a mile to work, or grow some food in my garden, or keep a canvas bag by the door for grocery-store runs, they can be impacted and perhaps change their lifestyle too. Systemic changes need to be made, yes. Laws need to change. But I do what I can- I do what is in front of me.

I feel somewhat of a hypocrite writing about this, because I know people much 'greener' than myself, but I'm learning. Hopefully I'll get to a place I'm comfortable with someday. Hopefully others will come along with me.

Low Impact Week Update

Here's the round-up so far this week... how are you doing?

- use the air dry on my dishwasher instead of heat dry - I've run my dishwasher once, and it doesn't have an option NOT to heat-dry. When I'm home & it gets to the drying portion of the cycle, I just turn it off & open the dishwasher door. I wasn't home the one time I've run it. I'll try to be around for the next one.

- Turn off my computer at work when I leave for the day - So far so good for the computer at work AND home.

- turn off the water when I'm brushing my teeth- Check.

- be aware of water usage when at the kitchen sink - turn it off in between tasks- Check.

- visit a farmer's market Saturday & knock a couple things off my grocery list - Did this. Had a lot of fun in the meantime.

- use cloth bags at the grocery store instead of getting paper or plastic- Did this both at ALDI AND the farmers market. I think I was the only one at the farmers market with a canvas bag. I was proud of myself.

- print out only what is necessary- Check.

- don't use paper towels; when you can, use cloth napkins or towels instead- I've used paper towels a few times this week when I could have used a kitchen towel. Also, for our first anniversary (our "paper" anniversary), friends of ours got us a HUGE tub of paper products (toilet paper, tissues, paper plates, napkins, etc) It made us laugh. Alas, it landed during Low Impact Week, when I was supposed to be cutting back on the stuff.

- be aware of using leftovers, rather than throwing them out (or forgetting them in the fridge...)- still working on this one. I've eaten leftovers once this week. Didn't have leftovers from most meals. The leftovers from the large batch of macaroni & cheese I cooked this weekend will go to hungry kids to eat during the week.

- look for items to donate or post of Freecycle- Haven't done this yet.

- bike or walk to work every day- Check.

- combine trips when going out to run errands- Check.

- replace light bulbs with a Compact Fluorescent light bulb as needed- I planned on only doing this if a light bulb came up for replacing. Hasn't happened yet. I have been extra-conscious of turning out unused lights this week.

- take your name off of junk mail and mailing lists for catalogs you don't want- Done this once. I probably could go looking for more opportunities.

I'm doing my part to keeping the KNOZONE Action Days to a minimum this summer. Walking and biking to work has become 'normal'- a habit- now. It's really a fabulous way to start the morning. As long as I continue to dodge the business park sprinklers.

Low Impact Week

I've mentioned before the importance and responsibility I feel to care for the earth. The God's Politics blog points today at a piece that argues for the same thing.
The next week has been declared Low Impact Week by concerned bloggers, and ideas have been offered for ways to participate. Here's what I'll try to do:

1. Reduce energy consumption -

• use the air dry on my dishwasher instead of heat dry


• Turn off my computer at work when I leave for the day

2. Reduce water usage -

• turn off the water when I'm brushing my teeth


• be aware of water usage when at the kitchen sink - turn it off in between tasks

3. Change your food habits -

• visit a farmer's market Saturday & knock a couple things off my grocery list


• use cloth bags at the grocery store instead of getting paper or plastic

4. Reduce your dependence on paper products -

• print out only what is necessary


• don't use paper towels; when you can, use cloth napkins or towels instead

5. Reduce your garbage output -

• be aware of using leftovers, rather than throwing them out (or forgetting them in the fridge...)
  
• look for items to donate or post of Freecycle

6. Reduce Single Occupancy Vehicle usage -

• bike or walk to work every day


• combine trips when going out to run errands

7. Do something that lasts more than a week -

• replace light bulbs with a Compact Fluorescent light bulb as needed


• take your name off of junk mail and mailing lists for catalogs you don't want

What can you do to lower your impact on the Earth?

Global Peace Index

From a BBC news article, a group called the Economist Intelligence Unit has done a study and rated 120 countries on 24 factors to determine how peaceful the country is. Norway's at the top of the list, and Iraq's unsurprisingly at the bottom.

But where do you think our fine country fell in the list? In the top 15 countries, we find 'civilized' places like Japan, New Zealand, Ireland, Canada, and Germany. Australia falls 25th. Italy & France are next to each other, at 33 and 34. Further down the list, we get to less-reputable countries. Libya & Cuba are 58 & 59. China, with all their human rights violations, is 60. Croatia is at 67, Syria at 77. Bosnia and Hercegovina fell at 75. Serbia & Cambodia are 84 & 85. Saudi Arabia is 90. Iran is 97. Lebanon & Pakistan are 114 & 115. The bottom 4 are Russia, Israel, Sudan, and Iraq.

So, knowing that, where does the US fall? Are we up with the other European countries, in the top 35? Do we fall near China, with a large population? Certainly our Christian nation doesn't rank below those in the Mideast, like Syria & Saudi Arabia! Or perhaps we do... Check out the list. If you're having trouble finding the US, we're at 97, one spot up from our best friend Iran.

I see many reasons for the US's position. Yes, we are involved in a war and spend a huge amount on our military. Looking at the factors measured, however, this is not the only reason. Our domestic policies also do not match up with those of a peace-loving nation. We have a high crime rate, and lots of people in prison. We don't trust visitors from other countries. We have a lot of police officers. Practically anyone can get a hold of a gun. Do we really love peace?

For,
"Whoever would love life
and see good days
must keep his tongue from evil
and his lips from deceitful speech.
He must turn from evil and do good;
he must seek peace and pursue it.
-1 Pet 3:10-11

For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.
-James 3:16-18

Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.
-Hebrews 12:14

Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels.
-1 Timothy 2:22-23

not to mention the gospel of peace, peace as a fruit of the spirit, our God of peace, the peace of Christ, and "Blessed are the peacemakers". There are lots more.

Our leaders (and many, many Christians!) say we are a Christian nation. What does the world see? How do we represent our 'God of peace' and the 'Peace that passes all understanding'? What are we teaching the next generation?

Bike to Work Week Wednesday

Today I rode my bike to work, as promised. I saw two gaggles of geese, and steered clear. Those geese can be mean. I saw a lone egg sitting on the grass near the sidewalk. It had been abandoned by its parents- perhaps only temporarily. Indiana has a new law allowing people to get a permit to destroy goose eggs. I wondered about the fate of this lonely egg. I wanted to take it and incubate it and see it hatch and treat it as I might a middle-school science experiment, but I didn't. I left it to let nature run its course. Besides, I have herbs growing at my desk at work, I'm not sure a goose chick would be allowed to grow here too.

Check out Frugal For Life for more reasons to ride your bike to work.

Unrelated question to think about today: How would the US, the political landscape, and Christianity be different if Jerry Falwell had taken the offer from the St Louis Cardinals to play baseball for them over 50 years ago? How would baseball be different?

Bike to Work Week!

So, I had no idea- I just discovered today that this week is Bike to Work Week! For the rest of the week, weather permitting, I'll participate. Josh dropped me off at work today, and I'll probably walk home. If you can, join lots of people on Friday for National Bike-to-work Day!

Indianapolis is having a big event, and has even made an official proclamation.

Get some exercise, avoid the traffic, help the planet!

TV Turn-Off Week

The idea is simple: take your TV, your DVD player, your video iPod, your XBOX 360, your laptop, your PSP, and say goodbye to them all for seven days. Simple, but not at all easy. Like millions of others before you, you’ll be shocked at just how difficult – yet also how life-changing – a week spent unplugged can really be.

But there’s a lot more to TV Turnoff Week than shaking up your relationship with passive entertainment. It’s all about saying no to being bombarded with unwelcome and unhealthy commercial messages. It's about saying no to unfettered corporate media concentration and to the democratic deficit that results. And it's about challenging the heavily distorted reflection of the world that we see on the screen, a reflection that is keeping us ill-informed and unaware of the very real political and environmental crises that we all currently face.

According to Adbusters.org, the average person in the US watches 4 hours and 35 minutes of television per day, and the average US household has a television on in the house for 8 hours per day [Nielson, 2006]. I know for a fact that our TV isn't on 8 hours, or that we watch 4.5 hours of TV a day, but we probably watch an average of an hour of Star Trek or Firefly on DVD per day. Or, Josh will, and I'll be up working in the kitchen or and the computer, and will sit down and watch with him for a half-hour or so. The aforementioned headband got done during a couple episodes of Firefly.

So, end of story, I don't have a TV-watching problem (I've actually threatened to put the TV in a closet, but I doubt we have the closet space), but I know we all can improve somehow, so this week, my very little TV-watching, I'll try to cut to zero. I'll read instead. Or go on a walk. Or cook. Or blog... beware! I might even try to turn off the breakroom TV a couple times at work and see what happens... unless there's another Twilight Zone marathon on the Sci-Fi channel. Then it stays on. Perhaps I should get one of these.

Could YOU give up TV for a whole week, cold turkey? What would be hard about it? Anyone wanna join me?