April 24th 2011 : MAN, THE CARETAKER OF GOD’S CREATION

“The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein.”-Psalms 24:1

PRACTICAL STEPS TO Become BETTER STEWARDS OF THIS EARTH:

Last week’s blog post was about the passionate love of Jehovah God who sent His only begotten Son to the earth for us and the obedient Son Jesus who took our place on the Cross and thus defeated Sin and Death forever. This week’s blog post talks about a God assigned role of Man that mankind has unintentionally neglected; The Caretaker of God’s Creation.

We have a God of great organization and order. We see in the Book of Genesis that after having created the Universe,God gave man the responsibility of being the caretaker of the earth. Being good Christians, we take good care of ourselves, our bodies, minds, talents, possessions, careers, families, loved ones, churches, missionaries etc. Unfortunately, however, often we overlook and forget our duty to look after the earth we live in. God gave Adam the command in the Garden of Eden Gen 1:28:“to be fruitful and increase in number and to fill the earth and subdue it and God also made Adam ruler over all the works of His hand.(Psalms 8:6).

What better time to remind ourselves of this forgotten role of ours than the 41^st Earth Day Celebrations?

 History of Earth Day:

 Earth Day was originally started in 1970 by a newspaper publisher and activist John Mc Connell from the US. It was Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson (1916 - 2005), (a passionate advocate of protecting the environment and increasing awareness about Environmental issues)who inspired and helped organize the Earth Day celebrations in the United States on April 22, 1970. The UN has designated April
22^nd as Earth Day and the month of April as the Earth Month.

Why Earth Day?

Earth Day highlights many environmental issues and aims to address environmental problems such as air and water pollution, habitat destruction, over-consumption of non-renewable resources, global warming etc. This year, the Earth Day Network is launching the Green Generation Campaign which focuses on reducing carbon emissions through renewable energy sources, promoting sustainable consumption, and creating greener jobs and a greener economy.

Embracing Earth Day in other words means directing our love for the Creator to flow from our hearts to all His Creations as well.

MAKING EARTH DAY CELEBRATION A DAILY EVENT: ADOPTING A GREEN LIFE STYLE:

In order for this venture to be a success, it is essential that we aim to celebrate Earth Day not  for a day/week/month, instead we should strive to adopt a green life style .For this,we must alter some things in our lives and adapt to some changes in the way we live. This is how we can make every day Earth Day.

“Sounds good, but I am too busy/ what can I do / where can I start? /Will what I do make any difference at all?” I hear you ask me….Well; let’s listen to what Mother Teresa once said:

"Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love….. I can do things you cannot, you can do things I cannot; together we can do great things."

 Now, let us look at some Practical steps to help us be better stewards of this beautiful earth that God has created and asked us to look after:

Always Keep in Mind The Four R'S – They are:

REUSE, REDUCE, REPAIR, AND RECYCLE:

1) REUSE:

You can "reuse" materials in their original form instead of throwing them away, or pass those materials to others who could use them. Remember, one man's trash is another man's treasure!

a) Take your own reusable bags to the store with you.
b) Stop buying bottled water instead carry your own water bottle.
c)Use cloth napkins instead of paper napkins so you can wash and use them again.
d) Carry travel mugs / washable cups to offices or restaurants .This helps reuse as well as is hygienic.
e) Use old Styrofoam containers for Crafts /Old T shirts to make a quilt, old jars as containers for household items like hairpins, clips, buttons, safety pins, nails, screws etc. This is called Repurposing.
f) Hold and participate in yard sales where you can find useful things you may require at a cheaper rate and you can get rid of unwanted things as well.

2) REDUCE :

i)Buy products with the least amount of packaging  and preferably recycled packaging (Help support green corporations by looking for the recycled symbol.)
 ii) Avoid buying disposable items (plates cups, pens, diapers, batteries, etc.) They only fill the landfill more.

iii) CONSERVE WATER: Some tips to help: a) Do not turn the faucet on full blast while using and turn off faucets tightly after use. b) While washing dishes/brushing teeth etc  don't let the tap run free. Instead, fill vessels with water and then use. c) When waiting for running water to turn hot or cold, collect the water in a pitcher and use it to cook with or for plants.

iv) CONSERVE ENERGY: Some tips:

On a more humorous note....LOL!

 a)Always turn off the lights when not in use
b)Use natural daylight as much as possible
c)Replace your light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs
d) Don't open the refrigerator door more than you need to
 e)Read books instead of watching TV or playing electronic games
 f)Don't leave computers, TVs or other appliances on when not in use

v) CONSERVE FUEL: Some tips:
a) Service your car to keep it at peak performance.
b) Go lightly on the gas pedal.
c)Keep your tires properly inflated.
d)Don't rev your engines.
e)Save fuel by car-pooling, walking or riding bicycles. 
f) Combine errands and trips.

vi) CONSERVE PAPER:  Some tips:

 a) Say NO to junk mail! Take your name off unwanted mailing lists
 b) Whenever possible, use Internet to obtain (and pay) bills, news, catalogues, stock reports and other information that usually comes in a paper format.
 c) Always use both sides of paper for writing.
d)Avoid unnecessary printing and opt for back to back documents.

 vii) AVOID POLLUTION:

Tips:

a) Keep your neighborhood clean. Throw all litter in the designated trash boxes.
b) Change your car’s air filter regularly to avoid pollution.
c) Avoid spitting in public places
d)Avoid honking as far as possible

3) REPAIR:

The next time something is broken we must try to repair it instead of replacing it with a new one. Bicycles (or other durable goods like washers, dryers, etc.) can be repaired rather than replaced when they break. New is not always better, nor it is always necessary. You'll be helping your environment as well as your pocketbook!

4) RECYCLE:

Recycling occurs when we save and take reusable materials to places where they can be remade into either the same product or new products. Making new items from recycled ones takes lesser energy and other resources than making products from brand new materials.

a)Buy recycled paper products whenever possible. 
b)Make a compost pile with biodegradable garbage such as scraps from fruit and vegetables to use in the garden.
c)Recycle glass bottles and jars.
d)Learn to separate your trash.
e)Buy long life and concentrated items to save on packaging as well as product.
f)Recycle electronic items,batteries,etc  Have an old cell phone? Visit www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com a program that uses money received from recycling cell phones to purchase calling cards that are sent to military troops overseas.

PRECYCLE means to Prevent Recycle: Action that should be

 taken well in advance to Prevent recycling .

5) OTHER STEPS:

a)Buy a house plant
b)Become a gardener.
c)Eat and buy local products.
d)Plant a Tree

e)Use Organic Products

f) Use Natural Household Cleansers like lemon to neutralize odor, fight stubborn stains, ketchup to  polish brass cookware, use alcohol to remove permanent marker stains on solid surfaces etc

g)Eat Healthy food particularly fruits and vegetables. Avoid all junk food.

h) Read labels for ingredients. Stay away from chemicals that harm our plant and animal life and poison our land.

i)Don't purchase Styrofoam. It contains polystyrene, which is the most difficult material to break down and is considered a hazardous waste.

j)Buy items in cardboard/ aluminum/steel/glass and plastic containers marked 1& 2.(These containers can be recycled more easily.)

Thus you can see that there is indeed a lot that each one of us can do to help in becoming more environment friendly consumers and thus prove ourselves to be accountable caretakers of this earth. And to the question: will what I do make any difference? Will that be enough to save the Earth?

I leave you with yet another quotation from the great woman of God:

Mother Teresa: "We know only too well that what we are doing is nothing more than a drop in the ocean. But if the drop were not there, the ocean would be missing something."

If all of us do our bit, we will definitely be able to make a huge difference gradually.

DECISION: Let us strive to make our hearts bigger, our hands dirtier and voices stronger for God’s creation by rediscovering the Biblical Call to love , serve and protect God’s Creation and thus help in Restoring Eden



 Let me end this post by sharing with you a link to a  song that says it all!  Hope you enjoy it!
Click below to hear this amazing song with catchy tune and meaningful lyrics: 
 



MOTHER NATURE NEEDS US :  http://youtu.be/0kLxAeyyom4 (Duration 3.47 mins)






Have a Wonderful week,

Take care, God bless,
 Sparky Laurie

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April 18th 2011 The Week That Changed The World

Lessons to Learn from the Week That Changed The World :

Psalms 30:5:“Weeping lasts for the night, but joy comes in the morning.”

As we commemorate the Holy Week, let us journey back 2000 years ago and walk through the shadows and darkness of the First Holy Week and Good Friday. Let us share in horror the magnitude of the consequences of sin that caused our Lord Jesus to suffer in agony on the cross of Calvary, understand the despair that the disciples felt on Holy Saturday, and then only will we truly understand and enjoy the light and hope of Resurrection Sunday!

This week,let us look at the true significance of the events leading to the death and resurrection of our Beloved Savior and learn some invaluable lessons from the HOLY WEEK:

1)    The  Welcome of Palm Sunday:

 Palm Sunday observes the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem riding on a young donkey. The crowds welcomed him singing Hosanna and waving palm branches to proclaim Him as the Messianic king fulfilling the prophecy in Zech 9:9 :“See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a colt.

 Lesson : 1 HUMILTY :
 What a lesson to learn from The Savior of the world who chooses a humble and despised young donkey to ride on instead of a glorious horse that would indicate royalty!

 Lesson 2 FICKLENESS OF PEOPLE:
 The very crowd who welcomed Jesus as their King would only 5 days later cry for his execution. We should never place our identity on the praise of the fickle crowd.

 2) The New Covenant of Maundy Thursday:

 The word Maundy comes from the Latin word ‘man datum’ which means ‘to entrust’/ ‘to order’/ ‘to command. ‘He gives us the New Covenant in Mathew 26:26-29 and asks us to partake of His Body and Blood in remembrance of Him. John 6: 53: ‘Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you’.

The Last Supper: We see Jesus and His Disciples sharing their Passover Meal together in John13.

   Lesson 1: CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP IS SERVICE:
Jesus washes the feet of the disciples thus illustrating the spirit of servant hood.  John 13:14, 15:“If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.

 Lesson 2: LOVE:

Jesus gives them a new commandment:  John13:34 “A new command I give you, love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”

3) The Anguish of Good Friday:

 On this day, we remember Jesus’ arrest, his trial, crucifixion and suffering, death, and burial.

 Garden Of Gethsamene:  

Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsamene

 Lesson 1 : JESUS UNDERSTANDS HUMANITY :

Jesus was 100% human and also 100% divine. That is why it is written in Heb 4:15-16 that we have a high priest who is able to empathize with our weaknesses, one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin….so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” We can count on him to understand whatever we go through for he has already experienced it and is victorious.

 Lesson 2: OBEDIENCE:

Jesus knew the agony, torture and horrors that he was going to face and is afraid and wishes that he didn’t have to go through it: Math26:39 : He asks God to take the cup of suffering away from Him and yet surrenders to God’s will. “Jesus was obedient to the point of death”: Philippians 2:8

THE 7 LAST CRIES OF JESUS AS RECORDED IN THE GOSPELS AND LESSONS TO LEARN FROM THEM:

 
1) THE CRY OF THE FORGIVER: Luke 23:34: “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.”

Lesson :FORGIVENESS IS FOR THE UNDESERVING:

How could Jesus pray this prayer even after being betrayed, falsely convicted, beaten, spat upon, ridiculed, mocked and unjustly nailed to the cross to die an agonizing death? This is because Forgiveness ultimately comes from God. 

    

2) THE CRY OF THE SAVIOR: Luke 23:43 “This day you will be with me in paradise.”

Lesson : UNLIMITED MERCY:
 Even in His time of extreme agony & humiliation, Jesus extends mercy and assures hope to the dying thief on the cross. It is never too late to repent! 

3) THE CRY OF THE SON: John 19:26:“Woman, behold your son..”

·         Lesson  : SELFLESSNESS & LOVE:  Even in His time of Ultimate pain and suffering, Jesus remembers to comfort his heartbroken mother. He entrusts John to look after her before dying.

4) THE CRY OF THE LAMB:  Mathew 27:46:“My God, my God why hast thou forsaken me?

THE MYSTERY OF INCARNATIONAL SUFFERING: “God forsaking God, who can understand it?”-Martin Luther.

·  Lesson : GOD WILL NEVER REJECT US: This cry of Jesus is perhaps the most painful cry of all: It was the Ultimate Rejection of God Himself- For one excruciating moment, the Holy Jehovah had to abandon His Son who took the sins of all humanity upon Himself and had now become the Sacrificial Lamb to be slain for the redemption of all mankind.(2 Corin 5:21)This cry quickens our spirits to the need and urgency of Evangelisation. Let His ransom sacrifice be known to all humanity.Let no man undergo the unending torment of the Rejection of God ever again!                                                                                                                    

 5) THE CRY OF THE THIRSTY:  John19:28: “I thirst.”

·         Lesson : OBEDIENCE : This Thirst was more a spiritual than a physical one: Here we see the commitment of Jesus to obey His Father’s Program for His life and to fulfill the Scriptures. (Psalms 69:21): “they gave me vinegar for my thirst.” He was thirsty to do the Will of God.

6) THE CRY OF THE VICTOR: John 19:30:“It is finished!”

·    Lesson : ENDURANCE: Jesus endured everything (without a question or murmur)and faithfully finished His Mission on earth to save mankind from Sin. We can learn a lesson from the Perseverance and Fortitude of Jesus. Heb 12:2: “Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”

 7) THE CRY OF THE SURRENDER: Luke 23:46 “Father into your hands I commit my Spirit.”

Lesson 1: THE FULLY SURRENDERED LIFE:

Jesus was the Perfect Son who lived a life so totally dedicated and surrendered to God that He never did what He wanted but always enquired what God wanted. John 6:38: “For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.”

Lesson : 2: INTIMACY:

Jesus died with a prayer on his lips. Psalms 31:5:`Into your hands I commit my spirit.' was the prayer every Jewish mother taught her child to say, before the threatening dark came down. Even on the cross Jesus died like a child falling asleep in his Father's arms." We need to learn to have this same INTIMACY with our Heavenly Father.

4) The Silence of Holy Saturday:

Holy Saturday or rather Silent Saturday is a day of quiet meditation, reflection and waiting while we contemplate the darkness of a world without a future and without hope apart from God and his grace.

  Lesson 1: PATIENCE:
This is a day to consider the despair & desolation that the disciples felt about two millennia ago. Having just witnessed the brutal execution and agonizing death of their Lord. They were now like sheep without a Shepherd; without a leader and full of misery & confusion. They were uncertain & unsure about their future and had no idea about what to do next. They had no choice but to wait patiently. Many times in life, when things don’t turn out as expected, we need to be patient and self disciplined just like they were. We have to “let go and let God”, trusting in His abundant wisdom and never failing love and mercy.
  
Lesson 2: REST:
Jesus rested in the tomb while his disciples observed the Sabbath. It is God Himself who set the first example by resting on the 7^th Day after Creating the Universe. Gen 2:3: “Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it He rested from all the work of creating that He had done”
If God Almighty rested on the 7^th Day, how much more should we?

 5) The Jubilation of Resurrection Sunday:

Resurrection brings hope and  joy and the promise of new life and beginnings against the background of pain, suffering, death and endings. The empty Tomb is what makes Christianity a living religion.
"The Resurrection is the ground of our assurance, it is the basis for all our future hopes, and it is the source of power in our daily lives here and now. It gives us courage in the midst of persecution, comfort in the midst of trials, and hope in the midst of this world's darkness." –John Mac Arthur

Lesson : NOTHING CAN SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF GOD:

We have a God who has defeated Sin and Death. In its place, He gives us Righteousness and Eternal Life. Our hope and happiness is that we have within us the same powerful Holy Spirit of God who raised Christ from the dead. (Romans 8:11)

Rev 1:18: “I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.”  

Let us as Christians accept this time of the year as an invitation to stop, reflect and remember the many lessons that we can learn from the life,death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Let us rededicate ourselves to live a life worthy of  the blood of Jesus Christ since  “it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that we were redeemed ... but with the precious blood of Christ.”- 1 Peter 1:18,19

In conclusion, let us sing:                                                                      
God sent His son, they called Him Jesus
He came to love, heal, and forgive.
He lived and died to buy my pardon,
An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives.
Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.
Because He lives, all fear is gone.
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living just because He lives!

YOU MAY CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW TO ENJOY THIS BEAUTIFUL SONG: http://youtu.be/4M-zwE33zHA 

Take Care, God Bless,
Sparky Laurie

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