the green gospel

In the beginning.....

2011-05-04T19:37:00.000-07:00

Let's talk about the greenest of all the books of the Bible, shall we?

Genesis.

This is where it all starts. This doesn't get any greener. It doesn't get any more au natural...if you know what I mean. Let's look at a verse shall we:

Genesis 2:15

God took the Man and set him down in the Garden of Eden to work the ground and keep it in order.

So, God's original plan for us was to work the land and keep it in order. Take care of it. Rule over it. Treat it with respect. The fruit and veggies and even the animals were ours to rule over. That was His order to us.

How are we doing with that?? Yeah, not so good are we? We certainly are having challenges taking care of the place. We certainly don't eat what He gave us. (the McRib was not taken from an animal...) I'm not talking strict vegetarian here (although that is very healthy), but I am talking natural. And Nature.

We need to make sure we are getting out in nature and taking care of it. It's Biblical. We need to also be aware of the products we buy and the charities we support. We also need to be aware of our brothers and sisters on this big blue ball that do not have even the essentials that God gave in the garden. They are struggling to get a clean glass of water. That's just ridiculous.

No one in the year 2011 should be struggling to have a glass of water. Something we waste more of than we drink, I promise you. Still, there are countries with towns that have children with no water. None to drink. None to clean them from basic diseases.

Please, there are many charities out there that help support it, but if you are in need of one and can contribute even $10, a friend of mine is raising money to build a well in Africa. She went there on a mission trip last year and plans on returning next year to see the first cup drawn from it. Check it out:

http://mycharitywater.org/laurasurovik

Even if you can't contribute, please take a look at this and hopefully it will tug at your heart to do something, somewhere.

We have been charged with taking care of this place. And each other.

Sometimes those things go hand in hand....

I lovin' it...

2011-04-26T18:36:00.003-07:00

So, how's your diet going? How are the fad trends working for ya? Not so good? Yah, me neither. I try and I try and I try. So, I look to the good book and what does it say-it can't be a diet book can it be?? Take a look:

Genesis 1:

29 Then God said, "I've given you every sort of seed-bearing plant on Earth And every kind of fruit-bearing tree, given them to you for food

Daniel 1:

12 "Try us out for ten days on a simple diet of vegetables and water.13 Then compare us with the young men who eat from the royal menu. Make your decision on the basis of what you see."

14 The steward agreed to do it and fed them vegetables and water for ten days.15 At the end of the ten days they looked better and more robust than all the others who had been eating from the royal menu.16 So the steward continued to exempt them from the royal menu of food and drink and served them only vegetables.

Then there are the Leviticus and Acts chapters that debate which meats are good for you-so take your pick.

You know what's not there? The McRib. I joke, sort of, but I am serious. There are plenty of natural, hormone-free foods that can be your diet. They are not always the easiest choice or the cheapest or the even the ones you enjoy the taste of the most. But, you know what a diet of God's food and the enjoyment of His planet will make you healthier and happier.

This is not about being thin. This is not about losing weight. This is about health and faith. This is about going stronger in who you are, as you are. It's not about a waist size or a dress size, it is about feeling and being healthy in who you are.

I am 5'11” and about 175 lbs. Softer in middle than I'd like to be, but I eat as healthy as I can and I just ran my second 5k this year. I will continue to run a couple of miles a night and eat more salads than I used to. I will look to scripture for influence, no matter what the topic will be. I know that the topic will be somewhat covered. And if we have to, we will look at those who I feel are modern day prophets: Mother Teresa, Gandhi, Bono, you know I'm not sure why the Bible stopped having chapters added to anyway.....

So, today start thinking about what you put in your temple. You know, enjoy yourself. Have a beer, some ice cream if you need to, but remember-healthy food and getting out and moving is the bottom line.

live differently....

kid logic.....

2011-04-25T17:55:00.001-07:00

What happened to recess? Why is the idea of a 15 minute break to get some energy out only good for 4-10-year-olds? Why do we no longer need that once we become adults?

I think we do need it. I think part of the reason my Shamu trainer friends love their job so much is that they have recess all the time. They get to spend some energy, keep themselves fit and raise those endorphins. We are crazy to think that just because our numerical number goes up that we no longer need to feed the kid inside us. Actually, we are killing our inner child if we don’t get some nature once in awhile.

We need to get outside, breathe in creation, and be surrounded with it. We need to raise our heart rates a little and get moving. We can not rest-not all the time, anyway.

You know, I bet there are a majority of us who can go days with some recess. I bet, not only that, but that recess is not the norm. The norm is leading a sedentary life. The norm is not eating healthy. The norm is just buying a bigger size, and chalking it up to a “slower” metabolism.

I was watching “Wall-E” with my son the other night and they have these chairs that take them form place to place because they are too out of shape and that is how they live. Eating junk and being driven from place to place. Seems to be not too far from the truth, eh?

Jesus tells us in Matthew 18:3 "I'm telling you, once and for all, that unless you return to square one and start over like children, you're not even going to get a look at the kingdom, let alone get in. “ I have the feeling that He was not only talking about our faith, but our lives as well. And, in my opinion, if we think that we can only change one aspect of our lives and not do a complete make-over and live it legitimately, I think we are mistaken. We need to look at everything.

Have faith like a child. Live like a child. Trust like a child. Laugh like a child. Play like a child.

They all go hand in hand.

Spring Cleaning

2011-04-24T17:04:00.000-07:00

Well, hello and welcome to The Green Gospel blog. What exactly is this, you may ask? Well, it is combining 2 of my passions, Environmentalism (care of our plant and its creatures) and faith. I firmly believe that God has tasked us with taking care of this planet and live as an example to both our children and each other. I'm not sure how exactly this is all going to tie together, so enjoy the ride!

We will talk about being a positive leader, a good steward of the planet, a friend to animals and how to connect to each other in only positive ways.

So, the first thing I am going to challenge you all with is removing the negative nouns from your life. Any person, place or thing that brings any negativity into your life-remove it! This may not be an easy task, you will tick some people off, you will have to make courageous changes, you will move in ways that your family and friends may not be used to seeing you move. But, at the end of the day-you need to only be around things that make you happy and bring light into your life. Life is too short for you to put up with annoying stuff. Positive stuff.

Life is full of enough crap, you don't need to bring more of it into your life. trust me your job or family or friends or the world in general will help you with that........

Please enjoy and chime in often.

live differently...