2011/06/15
2011/04/22
I was challenged on Earth Day, the way I never expected
Earth Day Should Always Fall on Good Friday
Ben Lowe
On today, April 22, 2011, millions of people in over 175 nations are commemorating the 41st Earth Day.
This is a time to celebrate. Great good has come out of Earth Day since Senator Gaylord Nelson first started it in 1970, and we are a better people because of it.
This is also a time to mourn. The planet continues to struggle under the debilitating weight of unsustainable human consumption. This reality hits my generation"the Millennials"especially hard as we gear up to inherit the earth. Inheritances are supposed to be a blessing; this one is becoming a curse.
Creation is worse off now, by almost every measure, than it was back on the first Earth Day. It is easy to look at the interconnected environmental and social crises of today-- the water crisis, food crisis, energy crisis, climate crisis, global pollution and toxicfication, disease, natural disasters, wars and violence and fall into despair.
But these crises, while very real, are better understood assymptoms of a deeper problem. KenWilson, shares the following quote from eminent environmentalist Dr. James"Gus" Speth in his book, Jesus Branded Spirituality (Thomas Nelson 2009):
I used to think that if we threw enough good science at the environmental problems, we could solve them. I was wrong. The main threats to the environment are not biodiversity loss, pollution, and climate change as I once thought. They are selfishness and greed and pride. And for that we need a spiritual and cultural transformation, something we scientists don't know much about.
So it is especially fitting that Earth Day happens to coincide with Good Friday this year. As we contemplate both the crucifixion of Jesus and the current state of the creation he died to save, an appropriate call to action comes out of the Cape Town Commitments, the official statement published by the most recent Lausanne Congress, held in Cape Town, South Africa:
"Love for God's creation demands that we repent for our part in the destruction, waste, and pollution of the earth's resources and our collusion in the toxic idolatry of consumerism. Instead, we commit ourselves to urgent and prophetic ecological responsibility. We support Christians whose particular missional calling it is to environmental advocacy and action, and those committed to godly fulfillment of the mandate to provide for human needs from the abundance of God's creation. We remind ourselves that the Bible declares God's redemptive purpose for creation itself. Integral mission means discerning, proclaiming, and living out the biblical truth that the gospel is God's good news, through the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ, for individual persons, and for society, and for creation. All three are broken and suffering because of sin; all three are included in the redeeming love and mission of God; all three must be part of the comprehensive mission of God'speople.
Ben Lowe
On today, April 22, 2011, millions of people in over 175 nations are commemorating the 41st Earth Day.
This is a time to celebrate. Great good has come out of Earth Day since Senator Gaylord Nelson first started it in 1970, and we are a better people because of it.
This is also a time to mourn. The planet continues to struggle under the debilitating weight of unsustainable human consumption. This reality hits my generation"the Millennials"especially hard as we gear up to inherit the earth. Inheritances are supposed to be a blessing; this one is becoming a curse.
Creation is worse off now, by almost every measure, than it was back on the first Earth Day. It is easy to look at the interconnected environmental and social crises of today-- the water crisis, food crisis, energy crisis, climate crisis, global pollution and toxicfication, disease, natural disasters, wars and violence and fall into despair.
But these crises, while very real, are better understood assymptoms of a deeper problem. KenWilson, shares the following quote from eminent environmentalist Dr. James"Gus" Speth in his book, Jesus Branded Spirituality (Thomas Nelson 2009):
I used to think that if we threw enough good science at the environmental problems, we could solve them. I was wrong. The main threats to the environment are not biodiversity loss, pollution, and climate change as I once thought. They are selfishness and greed and pride. And for that we need a spiritual and cultural transformation, something we scientists don't know much about.
So it is especially fitting that Earth Day happens to coincide with Good Friday this year. As we contemplate both the crucifixion of Jesus and the current state of the creation he died to save, an appropriate call to action comes out of the Cape Town Commitments, the official statement published by the most recent Lausanne Congress, held in Cape Town, South Africa:
"Love for God's creation demands that we repent for our part in the destruction, waste, and pollution of the earth's resources and our collusion in the toxic idolatry of consumerism. Instead, we commit ourselves to urgent and prophetic ecological responsibility. We support Christians whose particular missional calling it is to environmental advocacy and action, and those committed to godly fulfillment of the mandate to provide for human needs from the abundance of God's creation. We remind ourselves that the Bible declares God's redemptive purpose for creation itself. Integral mission means discerning, proclaiming, and living out the biblical truth that the gospel is God's good news, through the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ, for individual persons, and for society, and for creation. All three are broken and suffering because of sin; all three are included in the redeeming love and mission of God; all three must be part of the comprehensive mission of God'speople.
2011/04/17
2011/04/16
Apple Cinnamon Roses
I've made these this afternoon. Boy they're great. Many times good looking sweets are not necessarily good tasting ones. Well, these are a great combo. You do not need much.
1 pkg puff up pastry
3 large apples
3 Ts sugar (white or brown)
1 ts mapeline
4 cups water
2 Ts butter, melted
1 ts cinnamon
3 Ts brown sugar
You need to thaw the pastry if stored frozen.
In the meantime, core the apples, halve them lengthwise and slice them to thin slices. (Do not peel) Put them in a saucepan and add sugar, the mapeline and water. Bring to boiling then boil for 2 minutes more (or until slices do not break any more). Remove apple slices.
Place apple slices on the stripes the way you can see it on the picture and roll them up. Place them on a baking sheet and put them in the 400°F oven for 15-18 minutes. Sift a bit of powdered sugar over them when taken out of the oven and enjoy. I think they are the best when you eat them lukewarm.
A meal plan tip. if you save the syrup in which the apples were boiled and cook another apple along with the rest, you can make a wonderful apple soup for the following day. All you need to do is to add 1/2 c cream mixed with 1Ts cornstarch and an eggyolk, cook it for 5 minutes and serve it chilled the next day.
Why is it RSR? Apple is available all year round, because it stores well and it can be grown locally practically all over the world. Can be baked in a cold oven, but add a 5-10 minutes to the baking time depending on your oven type.
2011/04/11
2011/03/30
Keeping up with gas prices - I won't
It is spring time. I refuse to use the car as much as possible. It feels so good to take a walk for Aron to the nursery every day. 4.8 kms one way! Who needs to join a fitness club?
On the way back we partially take the public transport and walk a bit more (another 2 kms roughly). It is refreshing, a great bonding time with the boys, cheap and absolutely sustainable. Wish me luck to keep up with it.
I am pretty positive this will add another pocket to my RSR savings. Hmm, how shall I spend it?
On the way back we partially take the public transport and walk a bit more (another 2 kms roughly). It is refreshing, a great bonding time with the boys, cheap and absolutely sustainable. Wish me luck to keep up with it.
I am pretty positive this will add another pocket to my RSR savings. Hmm, how shall I spend it?
2011/03/28
Meal plans
Soon I am posting "Q1" results of my RSR lifestyle :) but one thing is for sure, I made savings. Roughly 70% of my savings came from returning to meal plans.
This is a wonderful tool to keep myself organized and a brilliant aid to reduce the family’s consumption. It does not take more than 30 mins a month and can save me both energy and money.
What do I do?
1. I make a list of whatever I have in the pantry, fridge, freezer, etc. It is wise to indicate expiry date so that i could remember, that i need to use that ingredient up soon.
2. I open an Excel file in calendar format and start filling it. First I fill out the days when we'll be eating elsewhere, i.e. parents' or friends' house, and it is arranged. These normally fall on the weekends. Then I fill out the remainder Saturdays and Sundays. Not only because i have more time to cook at the weekends, but also these are the meals that leave you with the most leftovers. So for Mondays i would plan something using the leftover of the Sunday roast (with salad, in a strata or in a wrap or sandwich etc). This will go on for the rest of the days. If i have grilled veggies with something, next day i would have a casserole to use them up. I reduce waisting, we have a greater variety of meals and i save money.
I know lots of people just throw leftovers in the freezer for 'rainy days' or busy days. I did that in the past and never really liked the taste when i thawed it. I always had to make something with it, so why not use them up the following day, why store them longer?
3. I make the shopping list of the things i'll still need for the month. Yes, i do major shopping once a month. This way i only need to go the farmer's market once a week to get fresh veggies, meat, bakery and dairy.
4. I reorganize the shopping list by the sequence of the aisles in the supermarket. I know it sounds that the german in me took over again, but i actually do find it really helpful. It helps me reduce the time i spend in the shop which prevents me from impulse buying thus saves me money. Not so ridiculous now, is it?
What do I do?
1. I make a list of whatever I have in the pantry, fridge, freezer, etc. It is wise to indicate expiry date so that i could remember, that i need to use that ingredient up soon.
2. I open an Excel file in calendar format and start filling it. First I fill out the days when we'll be eating elsewhere, i.e. parents' or friends' house, and it is arranged. These normally fall on the weekends. Then I fill out the remainder Saturdays and Sundays. Not only because i have more time to cook at the weekends, but also these are the meals that leave you with the most leftovers. So for Mondays i would plan something using the leftover of the Sunday roast (with salad, in a strata or in a wrap or sandwich etc). This will go on for the rest of the days. If i have grilled veggies with something, next day i would have a casserole to use them up. I reduce waisting, we have a greater variety of meals and i save money.
I know lots of people just throw leftovers in the freezer for 'rainy days' or busy days. I did that in the past and never really liked the taste when i thawed it. I always had to make something with it, so why not use them up the following day, why store them longer?
3. I make the shopping list of the things i'll still need for the month. Yes, i do major shopping once a month. This way i only need to go the farmer's market once a week to get fresh veggies, meat, bakery and dairy.
4. I reorganize the shopping list by the sequence of the aisles in the supermarket. I know it sounds that the german in me took over again, but i actually do find it really helpful. It helps me reduce the time i spend in the shop which prevents me from impulse buying thus saves me money. Not so ridiculous now, is it?
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)