Possiblities That Come Fom "Talk"

I know, another song that has resonated with me.... There are just times in our lives where things resonate more than usual. I've always been a person that loves and relates well to good music. I love this song as well as the video.

"Talk" Coldplay



Oh brother I can't, I can't get through
I've been trying hard to reach you, cause I don't know what to do
Oh brother I can't believe it's true
I'm so scared about the future and I wanna talk to you
Oh I wanna talk to you
You can take a picture of something you see
In the future where will I be?
You can climb a ladder up to the sun
Or write a song nobody has sung
Or do something that's never been done

Are you lost or incomplete?
Do you feel like a puzzle, you can't find your missing piece?
Tell me how do you feel?
Well I feel like they're talking in a language I don't speak
And they're talking it to me

So you take a picture of something you see
In the future where will I be?
You can climb a ladder up to the sun
Or a write a song nobody has sung
Or do something that's never been done
Do something that's never been done

So you don't know were you're going, and you wanna talk
And you feel like you're going where you've been before
You tell anyone who'll listen but you feel ignored
Nothing's really making any sense at all
Let's talk, let's ta-a-alk
Let's talk, let's ta-a-alk
___________________

I am thankful for those in my life that are there to "talk".
My prayer is that I coninue to be this to others, and that this is a message that I never lose sight of.

For all those lost, confused, questioning, feeling, contemplating....
let us "talk"!

This is where I live

It's both a beautiful and desolate place.
A place of calm ebb and flow, and crushing waves.
Sometimes I can't tell the difference.

The sun rises on one side and sets on the other,
yet at neither time of the day
does it illuminate which way I should go.

The day will be clear.
Then, without warning,
A storm will show up out of nowhere.

Day will become night,
Smoothe becomes rough
Up cannot be distinguished from down.

This is a land of many questions,
A land with few answers to match.
A land of paradoxes!

Am I swimming towards shore, or simply treading water?

How can one place be
two
totally
different
things?

A place of hurt
A place of hope.

A place of excitement and adventure.
A place of confusion loss.

A place where one min. I'm confortable
And one I am screaming for rescue.

This is where I live...
this is my wilderness....
this is life.... this is faith!

Beautiful, confusing,
and desolate
all at the same time!

JMB

Land of Confusion

I saw this remake of the song "Land Of Confusion" by Disturbed. Originally by Genesis, This song video caught my attention quickly. I was drawn to the Todd McFarlane (of Spider-man and Spawn comic fame) graphics and vision. Once I saw what the video was representing, I was even more drawn to it. It reminds me of "V For Vendetta"

In a world where everything seems upside down from what it should be, it was refreshing to see this harsh-yet-hopeful vision of the video. In a world where we are bombing and killing for oil, where sports stars get payed more than teachers, where love of money motivates more than love for humanity, where power and control seem to trump humility and meekness... this truly feels like a "land of confusion".

I know it is so far from what the Kingdom of God is supposed to be taking us. The money we spend on weapons could eleviate world poverty and hunger. This is a world where there seems to be more greed, anger, and hatred than love and compassion.

But it isn't just the video that is worth taking a look at. Here's some of the lyrics:



There's too many men, too many people
Making too many problems
And there's not much love to go around
Can't you see this is a land of confusion?

This is the world we live in
And these are the hands we're given
Use them and let's start trying
To make it a place worth living in

Oh, superman, where are you now?
When everything's gone wrong somehow?
The men of steel, these men of power
Are losing control by the hour

I won't be coming home tonight
My generation will put it right
We're not just making promises
That we know we'll never keep

There's too many men, too many people
Making too many problems
And there's not much love to go round
Can't you see this is a land of confusion?

Now, this is the world we live in
And these are the hands we're given
Use them and let's start trying
To make it a place worth fighting for

This is the world we live in
And these are the names we're given
Stand up and let's start showing
Just where our lives are going to

_____________________

For what it's worth (nastalgia?), here's the Genesis video:

Noodles for my Noggin (2)

As some of you know from a recent post, last week I had one of the hardest weeks of my life. Its a culmination of a lot of things, worse of all, the feeling that the light at the end of the proverbial tunnel just blinked out. Plans, hopes, dreams, steps in life...to have those things tossed up and not being able to see where they landed is a tough thing for anyone.

So, I wrote a lot last week in my journal, and looking back, its amazing to see what quotes resonate with you that hadn't before. In light of that last entry, I post some things that resonated in my mind and heart last week, and not all of them are gone. Call me a pessimist or a cynic, I don't care...this is life, and God is teaching me things I never could have learned without these things happening. Even amidst the pain, I am thankful for so much...starting with the ability to share my thoughts!
____________________

by Thom, aged 19, from West Yorkshire

__________

Yeah, I know nobody knows
where it comes and where it goes
I know it's everybody's sin
You got to lose to know how to win

Half my life

is in books' written pages

Lived and learned from fools

and from sages

You know it's true

All the things come back to you

Sing with me, sing for the year

Sing for the laughter, sing for the tears

Sing with me, if it's just for today

Maybe tomorrow, the good lord will take you away

--Aerosmith "Dream On"

What if I wanted to fight
Beg for the rest of my life
What would you do?
You say you wanted more
What are you waiting for?
I'm not running from you (from you)

Come break me down
Bury me, bury me
I am finished with you
Look in my eyes
You're killing me, killing me
All I wanted was you

I tried to be someone else
But nothing seemed to change
I know now, this is who I really am inside.
Finally found myself
Fighting for a chance.
I know now, this is who I really am.
-- 30 Seconds to Mars "The Kill" (Sorry Jeff, this was before you told me to stop listening to them:)

Keep you in the dark

You know they all pretend

Keep you in the dark

And so it all began

Send in your skeletons

Sing as their bones come marching in...again

They need you buried deep

The secrets that you keep are at the ready

Are you ready?

I'm finished making sense

Done pleading ignorance

That whole...defense

Spinning infinity, boy

The wheel is spinning me

It's never-ending, never-ending

Same old story

What if I say I'm not like the others?

What if I say I'm not just another one of your plays

You're the pretender

What if I say I will never surrender?

-- Foo Fighters "The Pretender"

I'll make the most of all the sadness,

You'll be a &$!*$ because you can.

You try to hit me just to hurt me

So you leave me feeling dirty

Because you can't understand.

We're going down,

And you can see it too.

We're going down,

And you know that we're doomed.

My dear,We're slow dancing in a burning room.

-- John Mayer "Slow Dancing in a Buring Room"

The heart.

It's just a muscle, really.

How it performs this thin called "love"--

That's the miracle

--Card I got for Valentine's Day

Love creates, inspires, believes, and dreams.

Love is everything that ever was and everything that will ever be.

--Card I gave Ali for Valentine's Day

(my response: if love is everything, then love is all that matters!)

"Only those who dare to let go can dare to reenter." --Miester Eckart

(This really resonated with me because of my thoughts and feelings on rebirth in the previous post as well as the Aerosmith lyrics).

"I suppose that since most of our hurts come through relationships so will our healing...." --William Young "The Shack"

"I seem caught somewhere inbetween imagination and common sense." --Me

________________________

So it's not all negative...but it really is amazing to see what strikes you how and when!

thanks!

peace and love!

Questions On Conditional Forgiveness: A Dialog

"Forgiveness" by Edenbeast

I read this today over at Tim Challies website. For those who don't know, Challies is spouted as the highest read Christian blog on the web. He is well known for reviewing books, but also publishes articles on his own thoughts and beliefs. He has quite the following.

I skimmed his site, and stumbled onto a well-written article about his beliefs on forgiveness. Before I post the link or quote, please note that I respect his beliefs and thoughts as I would anyone else’s. He is free to believe as he feels led, and I am in no way trying to diminish him. I am simply using his clearly presented thoughts as a spring-board for some questions...those are always fun:)

You can find the full article here: Is Forgiveness Conditional or Unconditional?

He elucidates his thoughts in several sections... I'm going to quote for brevity (I encourage reading the whole article), but will try to stay true to the context and esp. the line of logic below:

Forgive as God Forgives
According to the Bible, our forgiveness of one another is to follow God’s model of forgiveness. We see this in several New Testament passages.
Matthew 6:12b “…forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.”
Ephesians 4:32 “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”
Colossians 3:13 “…bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.”
In each case you’ll notice the little word as. We are to forgive as God forgives or in the same
manner as He forgives.

God’s Forgiveness Is Conditional
It is beyond any reasonable dispute that God’s forgiveness is conditional. God is not a universalist who chooses to forgive all men for their offense against Him. Nor does He offer forgiveness without expectation or condition. Rather, God forgives only those who turn to Him in repentance and who put their trust in Him. We affirm that God’s offer of forgiveness is universal, in that He extends it to all of humanity. But the reality of forgiveness is only for those who accept the conditions of faith and repentance. Proof for this assertion can be found throughout Scripture, but perhaps no more clearly than in 1 John.
1 John 1:8-9 “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

God Does not Hold Us to a Higher Standard
Nowhere in the Bible do I find that God holds us to a higher standard of forgiveness than He does. If God’s forgiveness is conditional, and if we are to model Him, our forgiveness will also be conditional. Of course we will also freely offer forgiveness and we will pursue and long for the ability to extend forgiveness. We will seek reconciliation. But we will not forgive those who are not repentant. This makes sense when we understand that, in its fullest sense, forgiveness requires repentance.....
So there is my case. To summarize it simply: We are to model God’s forgiveness; God forgives conditionally; there we are to forgive conditionally.
_____________________________________

Ok, so I one, applaud his logic. I am not trying to tear him down at all, just reflect and think on where his logic leads. Is this idea True? Is it true in my life? How do these thoughts reflect or conflict with other beliefs/doctrines of God. Again I encourage you to read the whole article; I don't want to be accused of taking out of context. Also the comments are always worth the read. Most people will agree with Tim, but some will not or will question him. There are some interesting comments, but honestly, people respond to quickly for me to try and bring them into a coherent conversation without diluting the material. Tim is a well written communicator, and has stated his case eloquently.

One interesting thing about logic is that a logic stream or thought, once a conclusion is reached, can also work in reverse. This is much like checking a math problem by going through it backwards....indeed the rules of classical logistics are mathematical equations. So is the reverse logic true? There are several ways to state it, I'm not sure which is best, but here's the gist: "because mankind is conditional in its forgiveness, and we are called to forgive as God has forgiven us, then God's forgiveness must be conditional as well!"

On the surface, that statement seems to make sense. It means that Tim has followed the rules of logic well and that the same conclusion can be drawn backwards or forwards. But "true/pure logic" also has to withstand questioning. Pelted with questions, I'm not sure how I feel about this thought pattern. I'll work from the reversal statement.

I agree, unconditional forgiveness is hard if not impossible for humanity. I don't like to say that, and would like to be proven wrong, but throughout history this seems to be a reality. However, simply because we are incapable of unconditional forgiveness, does that mean God is incapable as well? Either he is 1) incapable, or 2) unwilling.

It's hard for me to believe that God is incapable of ANYTHING! I also hate to think that there is something that I could do that a God whom I believe LOVES UNCONDITIONALLY would not forgive me unconditionally. This conditional forgiveness was very prevalent before the reformation, before battle, a priest or bishop would grant absolution to the killings they would commit. Absolution could be granted as a part of confession and penance, or be granted in advance before a sin was committed. This of course was not the ideal for absolution, but is a marked reality in our Ch. history. The deliverance of absolution was pivotal in medieval Catholicism and can be seen by the sacrament of extreme unction.
Most people don't believe that absolution can be granted by the clergy any longer, but that salvation and forgiveness of sin falls to God alone. One of the reasons for the change in pace was because of the doctrine of unconditional love that came out of the reformation. To this day unconditional love remains THE defining characteristic of the modern and postmodern view of the Christian God.

So, can unconditional love fail to forgive unconditionally? 4 main questions rise with the logic illustrated in Tim's post.1) Simply because man can't seem to forgive unconditionally, does that mean that man shouldn't or isn't supposed forgive unconditionally? I know that love and forgiveness are not the same, but in Christian thought they are tied together as inseparable. Just think of John 3:16
or John 15:12-- My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.
or 1 John 4:10-- This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
or Luke 2: 27-- The greatest commandment (love God; love neighbor)

2) Can we truly love others as God calls us to if we practice conditional forgiveness? Tim speaks of reconciliation (which I think we both would agree) is a (if not the) major theme of the bible. I think we would both agree that reconciliation is found through love. So can reconciliation occur if the forgiveness is conditional, or (because of the conditions) non-existent?

3) What are the conditions of forgiveness? According to Tim's theology, God's forgiveness is conditional in this way: "God forgives only those who turn to Him in repentance and who put their trust in Him." Tim goes on to say that reconciliation can only happen if both parties are willing. But do both parties have to be willing for forgiveness to happen? What exactly ARE the conditions we can set around our call to forgiveness?

4) Is God's forgiveness truly conditional/limited? Tim states at the end how hard his truth may be to swallow. In the same spirit, I know this question is a scary one. It challenges the very fabric of Modern Christianity's idea of absolution. But it is a question that is being asked regardless of whether we like it or not. Many people are asking this type of question, because it makes God seem so small compared to a much bigger God that they see in the scriptures, in nature, in others, and in life in general! I agree that I am uncomfortable saying, "without a doubt God IS or IS NOT this or that." I don't believe that ANYONE knows completely all about God and how he does or does not work. That's what makes him God and us not! Many believe that boxing God in on things like forgiveness (even though much scripture can be quoted to support these closed ideas) does not free him to be God. Some have gone as far as calling this idolatry, because then it becomes a false and limited God that one is worshiping. I will say that there is scripture out there NOT being quoted that supports these ideas such as Rom. 11:28-32, Rom. 5:9-11, 2 Cor. 5:19, and most quoted Colossians 1:15-20.

Is God bigger than our theology? I am not claiming to have the right answer over Tim, only publically exploring questions that have come up in conversations, readings, speakers, music, well...everywhere. I apologize for using Tim as a focal point, but he clearly explains a theology that many hold and are challenging today. My point was not to pick on Tim. I respect Tim's views, and thank him for allowing me to use his blog post to pose some hard and challenging thoughts.

I would love to hear your thoughts. As always, they will be respected, for argument is not my goal, but conversation is!!

Confessions

"alone" foto from http://twolips.wordpress.com/

I am not a person who often publishes raw feelings on my blog. Even my "thoughts in progress" tab/topics have been thrown around somewhat, and have been allowed to mature and settle before posting. But tonight, I found myself just typing my raw emotionally-driven thoughts and have found not only some therapy in that, but also something deeper that I can't explain. I am not a perfect person, and I never want to be seen as one. I value authenticity and honesty, and that's where these words are coming from. So I have decided to share them. Its poetic in some sense, because wrestling with these questions of who I am supposed to be (esp. in the context of my calling) was the whole reason I began this blog 137 posts ago. This is why I've never changed my profile "about me". It reminds me that my journey continues; I'm still in search of the person that I am being called to be.

So, this is my confession. These are my thoughts as of tonight after a very rough, and emotionally draining day. Some editing has been done to better clarify a thought that would not make sense without context, and to take out names. This is not meant to be a polished post, but instead, these are my raw emotions tonight that have been building up over a long period! I'm not looking for pity or sympathy, this was just something I needed to do, and I feel that is a part of my healing process to share. Suggestions/advice are welcome, but that's not the reason for this post either. I know us protestants have gotten away from the idea of confession, but there's something cathartic about laying it all out there and allowing the world to see who you are, flaws, doubts, pain and all. It may seem pointless to most, but perhaps some good will come of this. I feel LED to publish this...and at this point, feeling led is becoming a rarity...so I must cherish the opertunity when it arises!
______________________

I know I feel called to DO something! What that is? I have no clue. I'm overwhelmed by the need out there in the world (as I sit in my own world in my living room). I care about SOOOOO much! World poverty, Aids, the Environment, civil rights, human rights, world hunger, genocide, etc..

The problem is that I feel sooo overwhelmed by how big these issues are and how little I can do about them. The world and all of its problems are my responsibility as a follower of Christ, but I can't figure out where to begin, and what in the world I can do! I can do small things, but I question, "in the end, will that have been enough?" I want to enable others into action so that more people together can accomplish bigger things, but again, in the end will even that be enough?

I personally feel like none of the answers to any of my questions lie in the old, only in the new. The old informs the new, the past informs the present and the future, but there's a veil in front of whatever that "new" is that I'm searching for.

Something was said to me today that I've been thinking a lot about: "the opposite of depression is not happiness, its human vitality". So if I'm not feeling like I'm living my life to the fullest, then am I closer to depression? It feels like it! A lot like it!

Going back to the whole reason I started my blog (and is seen in wit in my profile description about being Spider-man), is that deep down I want my life to mean something. Not because I want nice things said at my funeral, I honestly could care less. Ask my wife, a point of contention we have, I'm like, "just burn my body, scatter my ashes and be done with it!" But I honestly want to know that my life made a difference in this world....more specifically, that my life and my actions have bettered the lives of others! But again, the more issues/problems I see, the more overwhelmed I become because the less I feel that I'm being productive.

Yes, I have a huge Messiah Complex and I'm the first to admit that. IDK, I've always been like that. It's just what I feel like my life is for! I felt that way even before I became a Christian. I knew that I wanted my life to count towards something important that made a difference in the world. But looking at the world, I feel like I do when I look at our office here that Ali's been begging me to clean and throw out stuff. There's SOOO much, that I stand in the door frozen not knowing where to begin. Thus, I get frustrated and depressed and nothing gets done. That's how I feel about my place in life compared to my calling right now.

I make it sound easy and simple, and in a way it is! Love God and love Neighbor. But a wise person could meditate on the meaning of that all of his or her life and never reach a full understanding of the concepts. It is both profoundly simple, and deeply complex at the same time. I want to say to myself, "stop thinking, just start walking and the first thing I come across that I can do, then do. Let that be difference I make for that day. And the next day I walk a little further and DO. And further I go each day, until I am affecting things on a bigger scale... dare I dream it to be a more global scale? For if we are walking in the shadow of Christ and caring about the things Christ cared about, we don't have to say a word, all we need to do is just do.

And we will pick up some help along the way??? We’ll have to in order to effect bigger change. But it’s not about marketing a product like Christianity...its about going out and doing because its what We're supposed to do. It's less like the Ch.'s modern approach of doing "missions" in order to up attendance. No, its more like the running scene in Forest Gump. He just ran, and ran, and ran, and people joined him. He didn't have to say a thing. He just ran, and somehow people got that without ryme or reason, without explination. Living like Christ is contagious, and needs far fewer words than we've used in modern Christian history.

But where will this journey take us? It might take me 2 blocks over to the Latino section of my own neighborhood, or to the wake crisis ministry in downtown Apex on day one. It could take me to a homeless shelter, or the food bank. I may find myself giving my coat to a person on Hillsboro St. who's cold. It may take me to a new town or city. It might even take me to the farthest reaches of the world. Or maybe not. Who knows? However, I imagine the further I go each day, the more I lose in terms of what I've been brought up to believe mattered ($, prestige, pride, possessions, etc...), but in turn I gain the things that do matter (love, compassion, humility, servant hood, direction, purpose, etc...).

But all of that sounds good in theory. Will it work? At this point in my cynical life, I have no freakin' idea? For the first time ever, I am not comfortable with where my life is. I see no light at the end of a tunnel, no hope, no direction. This would be my wilderness I would say. And the desert around me is so vast that I don't know which way to move, even though I know moving in ANY direction is better than standing still. But there I stand frozen. Waiting...Wondering....Wishing

What has brought this on? I'm not completely sure. Does having bad church experiences play into this? Does being hurt so badly by those who are supposed to be my brothers and sisters factor in? I would be lying if I said no. It plays a really BIG part. But I also realize that there are other things that play into this too! I am not placing blame, I am admiting a reality. The truth is that many experiences, the bad ch. stuff being the most recent and harmful, all play a part in where I am today.

Waiting...Wondering....Wishing

I wonder if for the first time in my life I'm actually mad at God...not because I blame him for something he's done...but because I want to serve him so badly, yet it seems no doors are opening for me. I ask my question, "if I want to serve you so badly, then why won't you lead my willing heart?" Yet there's silence in the wilderness. I see a bush, but it does not burn. I look out to a sea that will not part.

I am trying to "walk my block", but my calling is so up in the air right now. I don't think I knew how much pain and hurting I was in until today, when, after talking with a friend and mentor, I realized how distressed and cynical I've become in less than a year's time. I have no answer to how I got to the place I'm at, but here I am, and all I want to do is move forward, but I can't figure out what's keeping me from moving my legs!

so my philosophy for my life today is, "this sucks!"

so at this point, I am a person who is sick and in need of something more than a cure. I diminish Christ when I subjugate him to ONLY being a cure to a disease. Jesus more than just a "cure to the human condition; more than simply an answer to a question?" (I think that's how Rob Bell puts it) So if he's more than that, then I too am in need of something much more drastic. New Life? Rebirth? Resurrection? Maybe when all this is done, I'll finally have a better understanding of what those things truly mean! Perhaps one can't really understand these concepts until they first experience the death of themselves. Not in a suicidal way, but strictly metaphorical: I'm ready for this old me to die so that the new can be reborn within me!!!!

Reflection

I've been thinking a lot about what's next for me. I've been asking questions about my calling now (I know that my general calling hasn't changed, but am still searching for my spicific calling as in what to do next).

Here's the thought that popped into my head the other day....thought I would share:

"I seem to be caught somewhere in between imagination and common sense."

Since then I've added to that a positive statement:

"But at least I can mostly distinguish between the two!"

Young Baptists are Going Green

From today's N&O:

Young Baptists are going green
Environment is their new priority

Yonat Shimron, Staff Writer

ATLANTA - Sarah McCoy mixes her own laundry detergent from biodegradable ingredients, saves cardboard by taking a cookie sheet to the pizzeria to bring home a pie, and got her parents rechargeable batteries for Christmas.

She's not just another tree-hugger, though. She's a 26-year-old divinity school student at Campbell University in Buies Creek and a new generation of Baptist leader who characterizes global warming as a "burr in my butt."

On Thursday, McCoy was one of 2,500 people who bought $35 tickets to lunch on salad and chicken while former vice president Al Gore, also a Baptist, delivered his now-famous slide show on the crisis confronting the Earth because of global warming. Gore's presentation was part of the Celebration of a New Baptist Covenant, a gathering of black and white Baptists, moderates and liberals, meeting at the Georgia World Congress Center.

Among those in attendance, McCoy represents the new generation of Baptists who will one day take the helm of churches across the nation. Their passion for environmental stewardship signals a different slate of concerns they'll champion as they move into positions of leadership.

"The environment is the No. 1 issue in terms of how we are putting hands and feet to the call of Christ -- not just saying but doing," said Bailey Edwards Nelson, a 24-year-old divinity school student at Mercer University's McAfee School of Theology in Atlanta.

On the second day of celebration, orchestrated by former President Jimmy Carter, divinity school students mingled with the old guard -- adult leaders in their 60s who planned and organized the event but who grew up in a far different world. The celebration is thought to be the first time black and white Baptists have ever met together on a large scale.

"Carter is rightfully very proud this is occurring under his watch," said Loyd Allen, professor of theology at Mercer. "But in my classroom, it's typical to have one out of every three ministers an African-American, and one out of two a woman. It's a different world."

And they bring different priorities. But not just young Baptists are raising environmental concerns. Prominent evangelical Christian leaders -- such as the Rev. Rich Cizik, vice president of governmental affairs for the National Association of Evangelicals -- have warned that global warming is an urgent threat, and that the Bible calls on people to care for God's creation.

But they have not nearly succeeded in capturing the hearts and minds of more conservative evangelicals. Some, such as James Dobson of Focus on the Family, have seen global warming as a distraction that diverts evangelicals from other issues they deem more important, such as the breakup of the family, abortion and homosexuality.

According to a Barna Group study published last week in the Baptist Press, a publication of the Southern Baptist Convention, global warming was last on the list of problems evangelicals rated. Instead, they listed abortion as the top issue facing America, followed by personal debt, the content of TV and movies, homosexuals, poverty, immigration and HIV/AIDS.
'Climate refugees'

But for the young, energetic crowd Thursday who took in Gore's presentation, the environment was the top priority.

Gore, who received several standing ovations, fired up the crowd with his PowerPoint presentation, splicing in biblical quotes about humankind's responsibility to care for creation. Showing slide images of glaciers melting and rivers drying, Gore spoke of the disproportionate pain these disasters cause for the poor, especially in developing nations. He introduced a new term to the Baptist lexicon -- "climate refugees" -- in reference to people who are displaced by environmental changes that make their homelands unliveable.

He also tried instill in listeners a sense that they can make a difference, not by changing incandescent light bulbs to fluorescent, but by challenging political leaders to pass legislation that would reduce the carbon emissions.

After a sustained standing ovation, Carter asked the crowd assembled to raise their hands if they agreed with Gore about the urgency of his call. Hands flew up. "Any disagree?" he asked. Silence fell on the room.

"We do not have to countenance the heaving of contempt on God's creation," Gore said.
____________________________________________________

also see sidebar: DIVERSITY IN EVIDENCE

It's really great to see denomination that have not traditionally taken an interest on the environment (with some exceptions), taking this moral issue seriously.

To be fair, there has been a lot of excitement and some criticism of the New Baptist Covenant. Wade Burleson, a noted (and sometimes controversial) voice in the Southern Baptist Convention, has issued an official statement. It seems kind and gracious. Officially, the SBC is (unusually) quiet about this event, with criticism floating sporadically from individuals.

I for one, am simply to see some of the issues being addressed from a Christian responsibility POV.

For more on the New Baptist Covenant, see here and here

Reports from the Celebration can be found from Tony Cartledge.