Jeremiah 36

I just turned around from my computer to see my husband standing in the middle of our living room holding his Bible. While happy to see him using it, I was a little perplexed at the choice of position to study scripture. When he got done reading he filled me in on what he was doing, and it's a good observation.

Dave Horn, a professor at OSU, Maggot coach, and friend, commented today that God has commanded us to back up our files. Most lab folks were pretty confused, and he urged them to look it up in Jeremiah 36...also commenting to Ryan that he thought I'd appreciate it.

While not necessarily a command it is an interesting passage giving good reason to make more than one copy of our writings. When God tells Jeremiah to write all the words thatt God has spoken and show them to the people of Judah as a warning, he does so but the king burns the scroll and God tells Jeremiah to do it again. Think of allt he work he could have saved if he simply would have backed it up on jump drive or CD...... Look it up, it's a good lesson.

1,000 Visits

So my site meter reached 1,000 today. That's pretty cool.

I started my internship this week and am really enjoying it. I've learned about maple syrup production and have enjoyed the large amount of time spent outdoors. It really great to see kids in nature and enjoying it. A preschool group came out today and they all had snow suits on, so cute.

I'm reading from Manure to Medow to Milkshakes, which is about sharing environmental education with kids. It's pretty neat if not a little hokey. I really feel like I will learn a lot on this internship even if it doesn't turn into a permanent job.

Woot woot!

always busy

Most of my recent posts have been brief and to the point. That is because I've been busy as all get out. But when someone comes up to me and says they read my blog, it gives me inspiration to write more. So I thought I would do some updating on how things are going in my life and get some things off my mind.

Last week we were off of school because of snow, and now this week it is melting like crazy, causing ALOT of wetness. I like it though, I'm a fan of weather in general. Which brings me to my next point.

Weather has nothing to do with the climate. What I mean by that is just because last week was cold and would be what we consider "normal" winter weather for this area, by no means does it rule out climate change. The activity of daily weather is so unpredictable that it does not say anything about the condition of our environment in one weeks time.

I got an internship at the Stratford Ecological Center, which I'm really looking forward too. I'll be teaching kids about sustainable agriculture and working outside everyday. I also have an interview for a more permanent job there tomorrow, keep your fingers crossed.

I have had my first invitation to speak to a church about global warming. I am very excited as this is where I am feeling called in my ministry. I have a lot to do before March 11.

The plans for my rally are coming a long nicely and I've reached a kind of state of rest as far as major planning goes. It will kick back up in the next few weeks. My other projects outside of school work are moving along slowly, but I have not lost hope and am still looking at them as turning out positively.

So I suppose that is all for now. Peace.

Scientific Evidence is Clear

The American Association for the Advancement of Science made a statement about Global Warming at their annual gathering today.

The scientific evidence is clear: global climate change caused by human activities is occurring now, and it is a growing threat to society.

To read the whole statement you can follow this link for the AAAS.

I would like to point out that this is a report from SCIENTISTS, imagine that! Getting our information from the world's leading scientists instead of our favorite religious leaders or journalists.

A Green Valentine's Day

All my daily websites discussed ways of having a green Valentine's Day and earth friendly gifts. I am convinced however that a truly Green Day would be not really celebrating at all. We had a snow day, so we spent some time being lazy, then went snow shoeing. I made a dinner out of things that were already in our freezer and were not purchased for a special occasion.

Also, because of the cold I came to the realization that the long underwear I've been looking for are now being worn my a good friend. Which is about one of the best way to treat clothing that you are no longer wearing, giving them to friends and/or those who need them.

So Happy Valentine's Day!

School is CLOSED!!

I'm like a little kid. MTSO is closing at NOON, which means since I don't have class till 2 I don't have school today! I'm rather excited, we are getting lots of snow here, predicted upwards of a foot. Which is three times the amount of snow we've seen since living in Ohio!! I'm a kid of the Northeast and LOVE the snow. Too bad Ryan will probably be stuck in Columbus and won't be able to enjoy it with me. If you want to check out what is going on here you can look at the website for NBC4, they know their stuff.
I'll be in bed under my flannel sheets for awhile, and then I'll do some reading....oh and eventually I will have to clean a little house. Such is life. Enjoy your day.

And...someday I will write something important on my blog.

Could I Be Any Cooler!

I just did something very reminiscent of the tool box incident. If you are not familiar with the story, I shall tell you. In the fall of 2005 I had a day off from Dick's Sporting Goods and I was cleaning our apartment in the Buckeye Village. With very little room in the apartment things were stacked on top of each other in the closet. When I bent down to get the dust pan I smacked my head on a tool box. To make a long story short I ended up going to the OSU emergency room about 24 hours later, they told me I gave myself whiplash and I had a facial contusion. Basically I had a big bump that made me look like Frankenstein. I got some good drugs and it was better in a few days.
Well, I was just getting some string cheese out of the drawer in the refrigerator. Apparently my head was too far in and I hit it on the freezer door. Now I have a bump on the back of my head and my neck is sore. UGH.

I have a paper to write but it's very short. Besides that I'm ready for the week, so hopefully I'll be feeling better.

After yesterday

So I've heard from several people about yesterday's rant. All in all it had to be said. I feel better and have accomplished many things over the past two days.

I would just like to comment that the previous post has no reflection on the nature of MTSO as a whole. I love this place and feel very blessed to be here. In no way would I like to create bad publicity for my wonderful school and that is not what I was intending to do.

I do however think people need to wake up and realize how their everyday actions affect the environment and other human beings. This includes not only taking steps that are environmentally friendly, but also being aware of the way humans are treated in the process of getting consumer goods into your hands.

Lately there has been talk about steps the Walmart company is taking to become sustainable, but how are they treating their employees. Does this new "green" outlook take into account providing a living wage and the people working in the sweatshops that their products are made in.

So while my main concern is for that of the environment and what is happening to it, you CANNOT over look your fellow human beings.

This is a rant!

Everyone around here hates big ideas!! I'm so disgusted it makes me want to vomit. I've been working consistently on this Step it Up project for almost a month now. Everybody is fine with it as long as it doesn't affect them. They think it's "such a great thing" and they are "so glad I'm doing it."

What I don't get then...if this is all so wonderful, why when I bring ideas up for other projects no one wants to have any part in them! There is always something to complain about, or something that isn't going to work and I'm sick of it!

We can't continue to live the way we are living now, because eventually we are going to run out of natural resources. So we could chose to do something about it, or we could sit around and wait. From what I have gathered, everyone here at MTSO wants to sit around and wait.

And now you know I don't mean everyone, because most likely if you are reading this you care about the things I care about. This is not to you. This is to the person who gave me attitude when I asked what brand of copy paper we use and how much it cost. Who said, for the quality of the machines and documents we could not use recycled paper. This is to people who, when hearing a good idea they find ways to complain about it and about some of the good things the school is doing. This is to everyone who doesn't "think" to recycle their pop bottles during class. YOU ARE ALL PHENOMENALLY STUPID!!!

Lots of comings and goings

The last few days have been hectic, but I feel that I have gotten a lot accomplished. Last Thursday I met with the president of the seminary to discuss the environment and the greening of MTSO. It went very well and I received overall support from him. I doubt that he reads this, but if he happens to come across it, THANKS JAY!

I will be working on some new projects in addition to the Step It Up project I have already started. I am getting much support from community members and environmental organizations and it is going very well. A few weeks ago I would not have thought I could do any of this, but God has provided.

I got an internship at the Stratford Ecological Center that will start at the end of the month. I will be an education intern and it will last for three months. As part of my stipend I receive free eggs and produce which I am stoked about. On another high note, I am still in the application and interview process for a longer more permanent job at the same location as the Field Trip Coordinator. I'm very interested in this and feel that I would gain a lot from the experience. Please keep me in your prayers as it will still be a few weeks before I hear anything.

I'm trying to work on my writing skills. Which means I'm trying to write more intentionally before I post it on my blog. It did not happen today, but I am working on a meditation on "Being the change you want to see in the world." I hope to have it done by tomorrow.
Peace.

Revolution of Love

Ryan and I attended Terra Nova (new ground for your spiritual journey) today for the second time. I was not looking forward to going outside, as our thermometer read 6 degrees. Brrrr..... But I'm so glad I did. We began a new series today called Revolution of Love.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as your self. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.
Matthew 22:37-40

How can we be a church if we do not love God and love others?

And what does a church look like if they do love God and others?

Terra Nova is a new church, and over the next few weeks they are deconstructing and reconstructing the meaning of church. I'm really looking forward to it.

On a side note, I mentioned that it is cold today. And all you good Methodists will recall Wesley and his experience of having a "strange warming" in his heart. While my warming might have not been to the caliber of the Wesley experience, I did enjoy the hot tea and comfort that Terra Nova brought to me this morning.

Peace.

Climate Panel Issues Urgent Warning to Curb Gases

John P. Holdren, an energy and climate expert at Harvard University, said that the “report powerfully underscores the need for a massive effort to slow the pace of global climatic disruption before intolerable consequences become inevitable.”

In other words, stop crapping on the earth!!!

Read the full story from the New York Times.

And visit the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change.

busy busy

Extremely busy in my first week of school.

This semester I am taking World Religions at the Pontifical College Josephinium, Hebrew Bible, and Church History II. I have tons of reading to do, but it should be an EXCELLENT semester.

I'm especially excited about the Hebrew Bible class. I think the Hebrew Bible is an amazing place to start talking about the environment. To begin with Genesis 1 is where humans are granted dominion over creation, and it's great to discuss the theological and ecological implications. All those laws and guidelines give pretty good explanation of how we are suppose to treat the earth and the Psalms say some pretty spectacular things.

Our first CEEN meeting is Wednesday, be looking for a huge amount of environmental discussion. It will be an ecological smackdown!

Suppose to be SUPER cold this weekend, but it's all ok, warm blanket and my sweatpants!