New Creation Care Video

Check out our latest video with tips for reusing and reducing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8C8dZrHwcA

Reusable Practices

The Challenge: To Use As Little As You Can

This challenge is fairly simple to relate: try to avoid using as many disposable things as possible. Putting this into practice can be a little more difficult. Nearly everything we buy has something disposable along with it. It’s sanitary, it’s quick, and most of all it’s easy. But, we are making lots and lots of trash, and using lots of resources to make it. Each of us is responsible in a lifetime for so much more trash than our great-grandparents. It is hard not to just go with the flow. I find it very rewarding, though, to know I am contributing less, even if it is extra work. But, you have to be ready to remember to bring reusable things with you, for strange looks, and to do much more cleaning. But, this can be spiritual, as menial as it sounds. To me, it is getting the most from what we are blessed with and not wasting God’s gifts just because it is easier. Here are some common examples, but I am sure there are plenty others to come up with. If you have other ideas of practices or ways of making the practices habits, please post them as comments on this post.

Water Bottle/Cups/Coffee Mugs: Carry a water bottle or cup with you, even when you go to get fast food. Most fast food places these days will let you use your cup for water or soft drinks once you explain what you’re doing and that you are saving them money on cups. You can still find water for free nearly everywhere you go, too, and most city water standards are the same or even better than bottled water company standards.

Silverware: Just like with cups, you can carry a fork or even spork with you and never have to use the disposables. You can do this with chopsticks as well.

Reusable shopping bags: Next time you are in line at Wal-Mart, look at how many plastic bags get used by the people checking out. One family doing a week of shopping uses many. Multiply that by everyone that day, then by all the Wal-Marts in the world, then by each day in the year and think about how much plastic that is. And, that’s just Wal-Mart. The toughest thing about the reusable bags is remembering to bring them with you.

Plates: I have noticed that churches have gotten into the habit of using paper or Styrofoam plates much more with meals. I remember going to the Men’s Breakfast with my dad every first Sunday of the month when I was a teenager. We had a great breakfast from scratch, a speaker, and then we cleaned up. One of the most vivid images in my mind, is washing and drying dishes with the men of the church—all ages—and I wonder how much of my memories of those men would be lost if we had simply thrown away the paper plates, because it was so much easier than washing the church's dishes.

Paper: So many people waste paper on a consistent basis. Be sure to save paper you print on and use the other side if your document is not something official. Recycle the paper you finish using. You can use it to stuff packages. If you are really industrious, you can turn it back into new paper yourself.

Diapers: Of all the ones we looked at, this is clearly the most difficult and requires the greatest sacrifice. Not being a father, I cannot say that I would be enthusiastic to wash diapers, but I do know it would save a great deal of resources and landfill space. And disposable diapers take a very long time to decompose (if ever).

Doggie Bag: Keep some Tupperware in your vehicle, so you don’t have to use the typically Styrofoam take-out containers restaurants offer.

Sandwich Bags etc.: My wife and I have not bought plastic, zipping sandwich bags in the entire time we’ve been married, because we simply wash them after we use them.

These are just a few practices you can carry on. Basically, anytime you throw sometime away, ask yourself if there is a better way to use that resource. You will have to remember to keep these reusable items with you. You will deal with huffs and puffs from people thrown off their routine. You will have to explain yourself to more people than you care to. But like many lifestyle changes we choose to make, we don’t choose it because it is easy, but because we feel convicted. To me, this is a way of praising God for his gifts—to use them to their utmost. For me these lifestyle changes have been an act of praise.

August Focus: Reuse

Some people make "going green" or "living green" into a herculean challenge. But this month, we want to highlight the fact that one of the most effective things to do involves simply doing more of what you do already and with greater intentionality.

You probably don't go out and buy new bath towels every week. Instead of throwing towels away after every use, you clean them and reuse them. I'm also guessing you eat on dishes that you reuse, use utensils that you clean, and drink from cups that get washed and put back in the cabinet for another use. In fact, most of our daily routine consists of lots of reusing.

We're suggesting you turn what you already practice in your daily living into an intentional mission - reuse as much as possible. Use your towel several times before cleaning it. Even hotels are now asking people to do this. It saves them water and energy, but also money, and it will do the same for you. Take your favorite coffee mug to work with you. Use it for coffee and water throughout the day. Then bring it home, rinse, and repeat. If you really feel courageous, start taking your own cup to restaurants (especially those that use styrofoam) and ask them to let you use your own rather than using theirs. If they balk, remind them that you are saving them money because they aren't losing a cup on you.

The outcome is fairly simple: less waste. When you reuse, you automatically reduce.

Watch for more updates in the days to come about ways to reuse and motives for taking this green step.

Annual Conference Message

Hey Memphis Annual Conference, Go Green for God!

Weekly Green Practice: Volunteer in Some Sort of Outreach

We have concentrated, so far, on animals and plants in nature, but we cannot forget helping in the growth of humans as well. I have spent a good bit of my life helping children, youth, and adults to grow physically, mentally, and spiritually. Through this, I have learned as much as I have taught. There are so many possibilities to be involved in the growth of people around you that we will only throw out some ideas. What you have available specifically will, of course, depend on where you live.

• Volunteer to help with young people. Churches are constantly searching for people to help with children and youth ministries. In many cases they aren’t looking for a director, but simply someone to be a mentor and help lead. In addition to the church, in larger cities, there are many youth organizations such as sports leagues, scout societies, service organizations, and many others. You can basically help with just about anything you have an interest in.
• Volunteer to help the marginalized. This is another type of ministry where there is no lack for need of help. You can find ways to help the poor, hungry, refugees, homeless, sick, abused. There are programs in the church and in cities throughout our conference. It would be as simple as asking your pastor to get put with the proper people.
• Volunteer to visit shut-ins, the elderly, or the imprisoned. Companionship can sometimes be a greater gift than money or food. There are many people who need more people in their life. By going and using a resource which so many of us seem to be short on: time, you can change lives, one of which will probably be your own.

Finding the Spiritual in this Practice: This, for anyone religious, is a no-brainer. To reach out to those in need is one of the most important things we are called to do as Christians. There are many verses that resonate with these actions that you can repeat to yourself each time you begin this type of work. This type of work calls you to prayer for the people you are helping. The more you develop ways to help other people, the more you tend to learn something about yourself. I believe that we become better by helping others to be better. It is the nature of God to cause things to grow. When we can take part in that, it is a truly holy thing.

Weekly Green Practice - Get to know the other animals around you

In addition to the birds, there are many, many other animals around you that you may not even know about. There are plenty of those animals that you probably want to continue not to know about, but there are some that could benefit you practically and spiritually.

• Communing with the wild animals around you. You have to be very careful with which animals you interact with and what you do, but appropriate actions can be very beneficial. You don’t want to begin feeding animals and having them come to depend on your food. On top of making them less able to survive in the wild, it can become quite a nuisance around the house. So, you can’t exactly go feeding the raccoons, snakes, coyotes, mice and other wild animals around you as you would the bird. You can put out a salt lick for the deer, though. Putting up a bat house, while not supporting the most beautiful of animals, will help control your mosquito population.
• Adopting a pet. With so many domesticated animals being abused or just left out, it is very generous to give one of these animals a home. This is yet another chance to care for something God has created, but with these animals it goes a little deeper. You are caring for one of God’s creatures that has been hurt or cast aside. This is not only an act for the benefit of having a pet—it is an act of charity.

Finding the Spiritual in this Practice: I’ve had many spiritual experiences with animals that I can’t really describe. They are a source of comfort. They can be challenging. They can be wonderful representatives of the nature of God. Whether you are just observing animals or taking responsibility for an animal’s well-being, you are coming into contact with a life besides yours. I recommend seeing this time as a Sabbath time. Clear your schedule and your responsibilities and us this time to connect to God and part of his creation. Take a time of prayer. Read scripture that references animals. Notice those qualities in the animal you are observing. I find that these planned or chance encounters with animals can be very spiritual.

Weekly Green Practice - Grow plants around you

I, by no means, am gifted at growing plants, but the more I try, the more I get right. I have gone from being a plant killer to an occasional plant rescuer. I like to dig up plants and move them near me. I enjoy growing plants from seeds. I am still not always successful in these endeavors, but there is something nice about getting it to work and figuring out what a plant needs. Here are some of my amateur suggestions and ways these practices have become spiritual for me.

• Grow a plant. It’s as easy as going to the store and buying some seeds, then getting soil and a container that will let excess water get out. You can grow flowers, herbs, or just a plant that you like. Many people talk about having plants in offices and other rooms that bring life into that place. Anytime you are responsible for the life of something (parents and pet owners understand this) it changes you. If you care for your plants, this can have the same effect.
• Transplant a plant. I really enjoy rescuing plants that might not make it. For example, I like to dig up young cedar trees that grow up on roadsides. I know eventually road crews will come in and mow them down, so I find a place to plant the tree where it might be useful. At camp, I’ve been able to save some trees, plant a tree in a spot Lakeshore needs one, and saved the camp the cost of buying a tree (which can get pricy). I also love to think about the possibility of one day being next to a tall tree that I put in the ground as a sapling.

Finding the Spiritual in this Practice: For me, there is just something deeply spiritual about helping something to grow. In the routine I make for myself of watering my plants, pruning limbs and dead leaves, and adding mulch and compost, I feel like I am part of something God is doing. To see my plants bloom, sprout leaves, and bear fruit is a satisfying feeling—a call for thanks and praise. Pray as you carry yourself through these routines. Find the metaphors between tending a garden or house plant and God taking care of you. Read verses that have to do with plants growing (there are so many). Growing plants is a major theme throughout the Bible. These practices will help you to identify with the stories and parables throughout the Bible. You may begin to see yourself in your plants.

Scripture: Read Jonah 4:6-11. This is one of my favorite passages. God is asking Jonah to see things from God's perspective. Jonah is whining about a plant he had nothing to do with, and God is saying, "Imagine what it's like for me the Creator to see my creation destroyed." When we take part in helping something grow, we re-connect with creation and with the Creator.