Going green...

I recently completed a seminary course at Fuller called Christian Ethics.  My final paper for this course was called The Christian's Care of Creation.  In this paper, I addressed some of the issues Christians often face when it comes to our care for creation.  If you would like to read it, click on the title and you will be taken to the paper in pdf format.

My conclusion can be summed up as follows:

I now understand that my pursuit of God's kingdom and his righteousness and justice must include a pursuit of both the redemption of humans and the reconciliation of the rest of creation.

So that was my conclusion, but how am I fleshing this out?  Well, for starters, we are using the mower you see above.  I have also been riding my bicycle, when it isn't so stinking hot.  I'm praying/thinking about buying a scooter.  We are truly trying to purchase less stuff and when we do go to the store, we don't use a bag to put our stuff in unless we have too much stuff or even take a bag with us.

That's about it so far.  What are some other ways to go green?  What do you do? 

Comments

[Damon]

115mpg? Dang, where do I sign up?

[Eric]

I wonder if it actually gets that or is it just hype...

[Michele]

We've been trying to live as "green" as possible since our move to Houston. We bring our own reusable bags to the grocery store/Target/etc, buy organic foods, use environmentally friendly/natural cleaning products and recycle everything we can. We've also cut down our use of ziplock bags, etc dramatically by using Bento boxes for packed meals such as lunches. Having a car that gets 40+mpg also helps.

[Kimberly]

my bark is definately much more devoted than my bite in this area.

I think part of the reason is a "green" lifestyle necessitates slowing down... and I desire to slow down... and I would go so far as to say that it is Biblical to slow down... I just haven't quite figured out how to extract myself from the hectic lifestyle I've been socialized into.

I applaud your commitment to put flesh on your words.

[Ines]

Some ways that I've "gone green" or simplified my life is to give away the nice stuff that I have. I'm not allowed to buy any more shoes, unless I give away some of the ones I NEVER use. I'm not buying any more lotions until I use the last drop of the last bottle of the dozen lotions sitting in my bathroom right now. It's consuming less for simplicity and $$ sake, as well as giving away something to someone when I buy something for myself, so it's not all about me! (i'm trying)

Other practical things are shutting the water when I'm washing my hands or taking a shower if the water is just running not being used. I never use hot water in the washer for laundry because that consumes more electricity. 4 light bulbs at a time, we've been switching all of house light bulbs to fluorescent energy star rated bulbs. (FYI- you only need a 10-watt green bulb!! the 13-watt is HOT AND BRIGHT!!). I try to keep all my appointments in one day so I don't have to drive my car every day of the week. I recycle the grocery bags for trash liners or/and give them away to places like Food Pantry's, Clothes Closet type community service, etc. who need bags for people to shop in.

okay- i'm done! i think. :-) I've been more and more excited about taking care of God's creation as well as our food choices for our bodies, lately, so I kind of got excited when you posed the question.

alhamdulillah,
~Ines

"Sometimes I'd like to ask God why He allows poverty, famine, and injustice in the world when He could do something about it...but I'm afraid God might ask me the same question." -unknown

[Eric]

Thanks for all of the comments...

Michele, what kind of car?

Kimberly, thanks. Slowing down is hard, but well worth it. Just say NO! :-)

Ines, I forgot that we have systematically been switching to the fluorescent bulbs.

[Michele]

Eric-
We have a Scion xA. It's made by Toyota. It's a smaller car, but there's just the 3 of us so it's perfect.

[Michele]

The Living Proof Ministries Blog also touched on this topic today. Thought you might like to read it!

http://livingproofministries.blogspot.com/

[Mom]

Finally getting around to how your old Mom and Dad are trying to go green. We participate in our city's recycling of paper, plastic and cans. What can we do with glass? Any suggestions. Of course we do the new lightbulbs when one goes out. I just ordered a clothesline from Walmart for $12 that attaches to the house and pulls out when you need it. I'll at least dry sheets on that. I'm looking into compost heap. We had one at other place and I miss it. Any ideas on the best way for that? We just used chicken wire before. We are trying to combine trips even tho we live close to work, store, etc. Dad's been riding his bike and talks about taking it to work when he is going to be in office all day. I also am going to begin using natural cleaners - baking soda,vinegar, etc. Got on a website and found that. Would love to do the windmill, but guess that wouldn't work where we live. That's it for now - looking for more ideas.

Have a great day! What you are plus God is enough!!
Linda

[Eric]

Mom,

Thanks for the comments. Not sure what to do with glass. I saw a compost container made out of three shipping pallets that looked pretty good...

[Ina]

I try to save on trips to store, etc....save on taking some clothes out of dryer and finish drying on coat hangers, recycling (we have help from Trash Pickup people)...trying not to use oven as much. Water...watching it...not letting it run unnecessarily...that is a problem !
thanks for tips,
Ina

[Eric]

Ina, thanks for the input.

Michele, thanks for the link...

[Michele]

As for glass, a lot of cities have a community recycling area that accepts glass for recycling. You can usually find out where the nearest one is by calling your local government offices. We have a separate bin that we keep our glass in and drop it off once a month at our local recycling area.

A lot of grocery stores now also accept plastic bags for recycling. Here in Texas, HEB and Kroger have bins for the bags right by the doors.

[Hollie Lisk]

Eric, You know I agree!

We bought a scion Xb...it gets about 31 miles to the gallon in town 37 miles on the interstate.

I'm making a recycling center in my home and educating my family on it. I'm watching what I buy. I'm picking up trash on my walks. I'm researching more how to recycle in our town.

http://www.regionalrecycling.org/

[Rachel Lipsey]

Thanks for sharing your paper. After signing the Creation Care statement from the SBC (http://www.baptistcreationcare.org/), and then days later seeing such strong negative feelings against is in the Arkansas Baptist News Magazine Letters to the Editor section; its always good to see other Christians who feel that this is an area that God has called us to work.

As far as what we do, my new thing this year is to try to buy food that is local - so we joined the basket a month club, that has all local (Arkansas) food in it, shop at the Farmer's Market as much as we can, and even grew a garden in our backyard (can't get more local than that!)

We also have two small sedans (Honda Accords) that get around 38 mpg on average. Not only helps the environment, but also the budget.

I would say that I try to save water by only taking showers every other day, but to be painfully honest it is really because I have two small children who take up most of my waking hours - and I'd rather spend my spare time reading blogs:)

[Rachel Lipsey]

Oh - Do you still have a copy of these books from your paper? If so, I would enjoy borrowing them (see, don't want to waste any paper and buy the book:)) if you still have them.

[James Collier]

Enjoyed your paper. Since moving to Colorado I share your sentiments. Our family thinks we are "hippies" for trying to be good stewards of what God has given us, the earth. We bring our own cloth bags to the stores and refuse plastic bags. We bike whenever possible. Carpool a lot. Filter our own tap water and drink from Stainless steel bottles. Thanks to your picture I will be getting one of those mowers, no noise pollution either.

I will share your paper with many...thanks.

James Collier

[Stacey]

Hi Eric! I'm totally on the "green" bandwagon. I'm reading a really good book right now called "Deep Economy" by Bill McKibben and there's a whole section on eating locally. The food we buy at the grocery store travels hundreds, even thousands, of miles on trucks or by plane that pollute our environment (not to mention, the pennies that farmers make vs. selling directly to the consumer). When I get moved to NLR, I'm going to join a CSA (community supported agriculture), shop at the farmer's market, and start a garden. (I've never had a garden before, so this will be a new challenge for me.) I also am going to catch rainwater to water my lawn, as well as get my bike tricked out with a basket or two! I want to check with the city to see if they allow homeowners to catch grey water from the dishwashers and washing machine. Do you know?

How is that lawnmower working for you? Just today, I looked at one of those in a magazine and was thinking of getting one.

I can't wait to get moved and be your neighbor! We can share green tips.

See you soon.

Stacey

[Eric]

Michele, thanks for the info on glass...

Hollie, yes, I don know. Thanks for the link...

Rachel, thanks for the comments. I remember the days of young children. That's why we only had one. Just kidding. Yes, I do still have the books and you are welcome to borrow them...

James, wow, a college bud turned hippie. Imagine that. Thanks for the input and for reading the paper. Good to reconnect with you...

Stacey, yes, the mower is great. As James said, also no noise pollution. I'll ask a friend of mine about the grey water question. Welcome to the neighborhood...