My Soul’s Dark Night
May 30, 2008
This article first appeared in the December 2005 issue of Christianity Today. Used by permission of the author (Chuck Colson).
I am a product of the best in evangelicalism: converted 32 years ago in a flood of tears after hearing the gospel, discipled by a strong prayer group, taught by great theologians. I know the strength of evangelicalism in bringing people to an intimate relationship with Jesus.
But what happens when you have relied on this intimacy and the day comes when God seems distant? What happens in the dark night of the soul?
I found out this past year. Weeks after finishing The Good Life, my son Wendell was diagnosed with bone cancer. The operation to remove a malignant tumor took 10 hours—the longest day of my life. Wendell survived, but he’s still in chemo.
I had barely caught my breath when my daughter, Emily, was diagnosed with melanoma.
Back in the hospital, I again prayed fervently. Soon after, my wife, Patty, underwent major knee surgery. Where was my good life?
Exhausted from hospitals, two years of writing The Good Life, and an ugly situation with a disgruntled former employee, I found myself wrestling with the Prince of Darkness, who attacks us when we are weakest. I walked around at night, asking God why he would allow this. Alone, shaken, fearful, I longed for the closeness with God I had experienced even in the darkest days of prison.
An answer came in September. I was standing alone on the deck of a friend’s home in North Carolina, overlooking the spectacular Smoky Mountains arising out of the mist. I was moved by the glory of God’s creation. It’s impossible not to know God as the Creator, I realized, for there is no other rational explanation for reality. God cannot not be.
It struck me that I don’t have to make sense of the agonies I bear or hear a clear answer. God is not a creature of my emotions or senses. God is God, the one who created me and takes responsibility for my children’s destiny and mine. I can only cling to the certainty that he is and he has spoken.
I’m not sure how well the contemporary evangelical world prepares us for this struggle, which I suspect many evangelicals experience but fear to admit because of the expectations we create. At such times, we can turn for strength to older and richer theological traditions probably unfamiliar to many—writings by saints who endured agonies both physical and spiritual.
Teresa of Avila was a 16th-century Spanish mystic and author of The Interior Castle. Teresa, who suffered from paralyzing illnesses, wrote, “For his Majesty can do nothing greater for us than grant us a life which is an imitation of that lived by his beloved Son. I feel certain, therefore, that these favors [sufferings] are given us to strengthen our weakness.”
John of the Cross, persecuted and thrown into prison, wrote the classic The Dark Night of the Soul. “O you souls who wish to go on with so much safety and consolation,” John wrote. “If you knew how pleasing to God is suffering and how much it helps in acquiring other good things, you would never seek consolation in anything but you would rather look upon it as a great happiness to bear the Cross of the Lord.”
In the evangelical heritage, we could draw on spiritual forebears like the Puritans and Charles Spurgeon. “When thy God hides his face, say not that he has forgotten thee,” Spurgeon once wrote. “He is but tarrying a little while to make thee love him better, and when he cometh, thou shalt have joy in the Lord and shalt rejoice with joy unspeakable.”
The point of these older traditions is that faith becomes strongest when we are without consolation and must walk into the darkness with complete abandon.
Faith isn’t really faith if we can always rely on the still, small voice of God cheering us on. A prominent pastor once told me he experienced the Holy Spirit’s presence every moment. Contemporary evangelicals regard this as maturity. Perhaps it is—or maybe it is a form of presumption. True faith trusts even when every outward reality tells us there is no reason to.
As theologian Michael Novak explains, true faith says, “Let this be done, Lord, according to your will”— even if we don’t know what “this” is. Evangelicals must rely on more than cheerful tunes, easy answers, and happy smiles. We must dig deeply into the church’s treasures to find what it is like to worship God, not because of our circumstances, but in spite of them.
Following the events of 2005, my faith is deepened. Countless times over the years I’ve experienced God and his providence, but I’ve also known the dark night. God, I’ve realized, is not just the friend who takes my hand, but also the great, majestic Creator who reigns forever.
Eureka! How One Church Discovered The Value of Creation Care
May 29, 2008
Jason Chatraw is co-author of Saving God’s Green Earth: Rediscovering the Church’s Responsibility to Environmental Stewardship. He loves equipping churches with ways to incorporate creation care into their ministries. He and his wife Janel and their daughter, Faith, live in Boise, Idaho.
This article originally appeared in Creation Care Magazine.
As the groundswell of support continues to grow for incorporating creation care into the life of church ministry, ways to approach teaching good stewardship and an appreciation for God’s creation may vary vastly. There are simple, obvious ways—and then there are ways you may have never dreamed could teach others about the value of creation. Trinity Vineyard Church senior pastor Kris McDaniel stumbled across the latter. Situated in the northwest edge of downtown Atlanta, McDaniel’s church began to seek out ways to practically show love toward the impoverished neighboring community of Vine City, an area where Dr. Martin Luther King and other civil rights activists lived during the 1950s. What the church discovered was the environment played a big role in opening doors into the community—and it surprised them all.
“Our long-term goal is more connected to urban renewal and development through the youth in that community,” McDaniel said. “We believe if we can impact the youth in the community, we’ll be invited to participate with them in what they want to do. We felt like we needed to take a step back and instead of trying to put our handprint on their environment, we wanted to expose them to some places in nature they had never seen before in person.”
Trinity’s outreach to Vine City consisted of inviting a handful of youth on a trip to one of Northeast Georgia’s crown jewels, Amicalola Falls. And McDaniel and the rest of the team couldn’t believe what happened, rediscovering a newfound appreciation for creation and the beauty in nature. “These kids never leave Vine City, so it was amazing to watch them take in a waterfall in person for the first time in their lives,” he said. “I’ve been to Amicalola Falls plenty of times, but when you take 20 youth from the inner city to some beautiful spot in creation, you kind of look at those things you’ve seen so many times through the lens of their perspective. To them, it was brand new and so natural.”
Once, Trinity’s Vine City outreach consisted of taking some of the kids to an Atlanta Braves baseball game. That was the last time that happened. All the kids wanted to know was when they were going back to a lake or some other place in nature. “At first we said, ‘Let’s go do some something practical,’” McDaniel said. “And the most practical thing we can do is invite these kids out into nature so they can experience the beauty of God’s creation and we can develop relationships with them.”
As Trinity moves forward in building inroads into the Vine City community, McDaniel hopes they can help the community create more green space for the residents to enjoy, something which is much-needed in the inner city. And they want to help lobby for more green space with the community’s youth, who have discovered a new passion for creation. “In ministry, there must be a holistic approach to whatever you do,” McDaniel said. “And in this case, helping usher in renewal and revitalization begins in the hearts of the people who have ownership in the community in which they live.”
Cooling Our Future: Young evangelicals take powerful message to U.S. Congress
May 28, 2008
Representatives of more than 1,500 young evangelical Christians from forty-one states presented a statement on November 16, 2006 that called for government and religious leaders to take definitive action against global warming. Thirty students from evangelical Christian colleges and Christian fellowship groups on secular campuses visited over 20 Senate offices to share how their Biblical understanding of creation and compassion for the poor led them to speak out on climate change. They also sent letters to the President, urging him to announce new measures against global warming in the State of the Union address; and to Congressional leaders, urging them to chart a new course for the United States to solve global warming. Their statement was called “Cooling Our Future: A Declaration by Young Evangelicals on Climate Change”.
Ben Lowe, who attends Wheaton College and was part of the delegation in Washington, said: “Climate change is a crisis for all of us, and must be addressed as such. As young evangelicals, we hope that our government leaders will tackle the challenge of reducing global warming pollution. Making the world safer for our generation, and for their grandchildren, is not exclusively Republican or Democratic; it is a moral issue, and the faithful expression of God’s people.”
The young Christians’ statement was developed last spring and the signatures of college-aged students were collected with the partnership of Restoring Eden, an EEN partner organization that ministers on Christian college campuses. As part of the Washington event, the group of students was briefed on climate legislation and Christian environmental responsibility by staff from EEN and Restoring Eden. The Evangelical Youth Climate Initiative included students from Wheaton College, Abilene Christian University, Point Loma Nazarene, Azusa Pacific University, Houghton College, Bethel University, UNC-Chapel Hill, Montreat College, Toccoa Falls College, Trinity Christian College, Palm Beach Atlantic College, and others.
Right Wing, Wrong Bird: Part 2
May 27, 2008
The Rev. Dr. Joel Hunter is Senior Pastor of Northland Church in Lakewood FL and a spokesperson for the Evangelical Climate Initiative. This excerpt, used with permission, is found on pages 78-83 of Right Wing, Wrong Bird: Why the Tactics of the Religious Right Won’t Fly with Most Conservative Christians published in 2006 by Distributed Church Press (Longwood, FL). See www.rightwingwrongbird.com.
This post originally appeared in Creation Care Magazine. Part 1 appeared yesterday.
Peace – Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers …” (Mt. 5:9). Though conflict is sometimes necessary, it is never God’s ultimate choice. Ambrose and Augustine outlined a “just war” theory; it s purpose was not to justify aggression but to limit it. The primary question for a Christian is never, “Do we have the right to go to war?” The primary question for a Christian is, “How can I work toward peace?” When the Bible talks about peace, it is not just talking about the absence of conflict, but also the building up of all of life. Peace is a term for betterment and fulfillment. So the basic value that we must voice and vote is this: How can I take the present situation (or issue or candidate) and support what will bring not only the solution to conflict but the reconciliation of people?
Basic Human Rights, Including Religious Liberty – Every person is created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26- 27). Each person, therefore, deserves life, liberty, and to be treated with respect. Any form of oppression that subtracts from the dignity and freedom of people is wrong. These forms include:
• any restriction of religious freedom;
• any permanent class or caste system;
• human sexual trafficking and slavery;
• failure to search for the cures of any disease that would disable large segments of the population;
• any long-term restriction of a freemarket system.
Poverty – Scripture doesn’t just talk about giving to the poor, it talks about empowering the poor so that they can be poor no more! The famous verses found in Deuteronomy 15:11-18 (from which Jesus quotes) are really about equipping the poor so that they can be free from the benefactors some day. So the question on legislation is not merely “What temporary relief can we give people?” (although that is often needed) but “What does this bill or candidate promise to do that will end the cycle of poverty?”
Creation Care (environment) – As I have mentioned, in Genesis 2:15 God gives a simple command to mankind about the earth: “Cultivate and keep it.” That is to say we must not only be concerned with production, but also with the protection of God’s creation. Dominion is never given for the purpose of exploitation. Christians, of all people, should be thankful enough for the grace of God and His immeasurable gifts that we would not want to pollute such gifts. The question for us is, “How does this candidate or bill seek to balance production with protection, or how can I be a part of preserving the earth for generations to come?”
Justice Issues – In Isaiah 61:8, as well as many other places in the Bible, God declares, “I, the Lord, love justice.” Of course this has everything to do with each person being made in the image of God. It also has to do with God being a holy God Who demands that right prevail. Ron Sider does a fine job writing about an approach to justice. Particularly interesting to me is his definition of “Distributive Justice,” which he defines as “how the numerous goods of society are divided.” Of course there are other types of justice, such as retributive and procedural … The question from a biblical standpoint for a Christian to consider is, “How much does the community or state or nation have an obligation to equip the individual for the good of all?” Or more personally, “Will this legislation or candidate result in the kind of redistribution of wealth that strengthens all of society?”
Right Wing, Wrong Bird: Part 1
May 26, 2008
The Rev. Dr. Joel Hunter is Senior Pastor of Northland Church in Lakewood FL and a spokesperson for the Evangelical Climate Initiative. This excerpt, used with permission, is found on pages 78-83 of Right Wing, Wrong Bird: Why the Tactics of the Religious Right Won’t Fly with Most Conservative Christians published in 2006 by Distributed Church Press (Longwood, FL). See www.rightwingwrongbird.com.
This post originally appeared in Creation Care Magazine.
We need to reverse the established trends of the religious right to attack opponents. Even well respected and usually thoughtful leaders of the religious right vilify other Christians when they disagree with them, without first getting their facts straight. We have adopted the methods of talk radio and cross-fire TV, and diminished the art of debate so that we are fighting only our version of their side.
For example, in a May 2006 radio broadcast, a nationally known Christian leader mischaracterized and misquoted a well-respected evangelical leader about global warming. Richard Cizik, the Vice President of the National Association of Evangelicals (a 30-million member organization) was attacked for his stance – only it wasn’t his stance. The Christian leader quoted Richard as saying things than none of us (including Richard) would ever agree with, including, “global warming is the most important social issue of our day”; “those who are skeptical of global warming are immoral”; “he and his associates want to roll back the use of fossil fuels, oil, to the 1998 levels or even earlier, which would paralyze industry and put millions of people out of work … the net effect is anti-capitalistic and underlying hatred for America.”
Wow! Does that sound like what any of us would be for? Putting concern about global warming above the sanctity of life instead of being another expression of it? Putting millions of people out of work? Hating America? What? No!
I use this example not only because I was one of the original signers of the Evangelical Climate Initiative along with Richard (and therefore know what we are recommending and what we are not), but also because this kind of rebuttal is such a clear example of what so many debaters are doing in the media: radicalizing someone’s position so that they can knock it down more easily. The leader did not contact Richard to verify his facts, and then he accused Richard and his associates of trying to divide evangelicals … Global warming is certainly a complex issue. Those who do not believe it is happening, or that humans do not contribute to it and can’t fix it, or that there are no impending dangers connected with it, believe that because there is some evidence to support their argument. Those who do believe that global warming is real, that humans can be helpful in addressing the problem, and that it might well have some effects that are not gradual but currently volatile, also have evidence. Let’s encourage the debate!
But first let me ask, is debate a prerequisite to doing everything we can to be good stewards of creation? Do we really need to settle the scientific debate before we stop accepting pollution as a necessary evil and diligently work to devise better forms of energy usage? The issue to evangelical Christians isn’t global warming; the issue is whether or not we will exercise a moral and biblical obedience to a direct command of God (Genesis 2:15). How we do that, personally and policy wise, is something we can all work on together. We just need to keep working on it together, and that will require seeing our differences as informing instead of inflaming.
Conservative Christians need to be more ambidextrous rather than just “Right” or “Left” oriented. The Bible is more holistic, more fulfilling to all of life’s needs rather than heavy-handed on what is morally right or compassionately left. We need to expand our repertoire. Before we expand, though, let’s sing some praises for the foundation that has been laid.
The issues that have defined evangelical voters up to this time are biblical and moral ones that will always be primary for us. The protection of all life, especially the most vulnerable, the protection of the biblical definition (Genesis 2:18- 24) of marriage as between one man and one woman, the nurture of the family, the advocacy of religious liberty, and the advocacy of sex only within marriage are crucial issues for the Christian in addressing his or her culture.
There is another constituency, though, that is looking for leadership on other important issues in order to be a blessing to all the families of the earth (Genesis 12:3). These are usually younger Christians, or more liberal ones who have learned that in order to effectively deepen our impact on society we must broaden our team. What are these other areas addressed in the Bible that are also important to God?
My Christmas w/ Reverend Billy & Doctor Matt: Part 2
May 23, 2008
John Murdock works as an attorney for the federal government, focusing on water and environmental issues. He lives in northern Virginia and is currently helping to facilitate a class on environmental stewardship at The Falls Church (Anglican). John blogs at republicantreehugger.blogspot.com. The personal views expressed here are of course solely his own.
The following originally appeared in Creation Care Magazine. You can find part 1 here.
Ultimately, I survived my extended stay in the mall without buying anything—after seeing WWJB the night before, the guilt of an impulse buy would have simply been too much to bear. Still, the question remained, how does Jesus feel about the over-consumption done in the name of his birthday. Obviously, Jesus bought many things during his time on earth. He once praised an extravagant gift given out of love, even while those around him invoked the plight of the poor. (Mark 14:3-9) So, I wondered, just what would Jesus buy today.
Luckily, Creation Care’s own Green Doctor was on call with an answer. Matthew Sleeth, who is a real physician, offers the following test for Christian purchasing: “Will this bring me closer to God?”
I had previously read articles by and about Dr. Sleeth, but I had not read his book Serve God Save the Planet until it became my holiday travel companion. A pastor friend has asked me to help lead an adult Sunday School class on environmental matters and suggested the text as a guide for discussions. I found it to be a thoughtful challenge to lovingly do more to steward God’s creation. Regarding the particular question raised by Reverend Billy, I was reminded that there are indeed some things into which I should financially invest, and there are other spending temptations that I should let pass by. The true goal is serving God rather than money or possessions. (Luke 16:13)
Any rule can become a legalistic idol if taken to the extreme, and so I do not anticipate asking myself Dr. Matt’s question before every burrito or newspaper I might pick up. Yet, if our aim in life is to love the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, then we Christians must think seriously about this important aspect of our lives. Channeling spending into avenues that actually bring us closer to the Father does indeed sound like something that Jesus would do.
On December 29th I was flipping through Dr. Sleeth’s chapter on Christmas, It’s a Wonderful Life, at the Dallas-Fort Worth airport. About 75 feet in front of me stood an Apple iPod vending machine (yes, I said vending machine) where one could add several hundred dollars to a credit card and avoid plane conversations. To my right, a woman on CNN said, “Americans are addicted to debt,” but a writer from Best Life magazine countered that we must continue our free spending ways for the short term sake of the economy. The Dallas Morning News in my lap told the sad tale of a mother who faked a kids’ essay contest entry, writing that her husband had died in Iraq. The essay won and earned her six year old daughter four highly sought Hannah Montana concert tickets. When confronted with the fact that the soldier’s death was a complete fabrication, the woman defiantly stated, “We wrote whatever we could to win. . . . It never said it had to be true.”
Clearly, our culture has a warped sense of consumption priorities, and unfortunately this is probably expressed most at Christmas. The Green Doctor advocates diverting more of our $750 per capita holiday spending to Kingdom work. Reverend Billy calls for much the same thing, “Spend half as much, and give twice as much.” It sounds like a good place to start.
As I returned to Washington, I was reminded of both the great resources and problems that exist in the United States. The plane circled higher than normal as we approached Reagan National Airport. Looking down from my window seat, I could see the reason why. Crossing surprisingly close below us—near enough to make out Old Glory on the tail—was Air Force One, that great symbol of America‘s wealth, power, and prestige. Shortly thereafter, on our final approach, we flew over a massive black stockpile that fuels a controversial power plant. Like a credit card at Christmastime, those lumps of coal fulfill our current energy needs and unrealistic wants, but the bill will eventually come due. In the meantime the interest is mounting steadily in the form of mercury pollution, leveled mountains, and CO2 emissions.
Thankfully, the mound of coal was not the day’s last memory. A half hour later, as my train emerged from a subway tunnel into the bright light of day, God had another symbol waiting. Though there was no hint of storminess in the sky, the sun shining through the wispy mare’s tail clouds produced a beautiful rainbow. Science calls the phenomena a circumhorizontal arc, but for me it was a beacon of hope: a reminder that the Creator loves his world and is reconciling all things on earth through Christ. (Genesis 9:13; Colossians 1:20) This new year, I have resolved to more fully be a part of what God is doing to make all things new. As Reverend Billy is apt to say, “Can I get a change-a-lujah!”
My Christmas w/ Reverend Billy & Doctor Matt: Part 1
May 22, 2008
John Murdock works as an attorney for the federal government, focusing on water and environmental issues. He lives in northern Virginia and is currently helping to facilitate a class on environmental stewardship at The Falls Church (Anglican). John blogs at republicantreehugger.blogspot.com. The personal views expressed here are of course solely his own.
The following originally appeared in Creation Care Magazine.
Reverend Billy from the Church of Stop Shopping is not a real reverend. He is not even a Christian, but in a culture where shopping has replaced worship as the activity most associated with Christmas, he asks a valid question: What would Jesus buy? This past December I encountered that question anew and found a voice ready to answer.
The independent documentary What Would Jesus Buy? follows Reverend Billy (anti-consumerism activist Bill Talen) and his Stop Shopping Choir on a cross-country journey fueled by bio-diesel and prophetic zeal. I had heard of the film and was curious whether the “Reverend,” with his over-the-top televangelist parody, was setting his sights on Christianity as well as America’s materialism. A free screening sponsored by a Washington, D.C. ministry presented the perfect opportunity to find out. As an added bonus, it so happened that Talen and his wife were in attendance.
WWJB is a funny, ironic (some might say snarky) piece of advocacy filmmaking produced by Morgan Spurlock of Supersize Me fame. Talen first began performing as Reverend Billy in the 1990s outside the Times Square Disney Store where he proclaimed Mickey Mouse to be the Anti-Christ. Fittingly, the movie ends with the shepherd and his singing flock being kicked out of Disneyland. (Apparently, one is not free to preach about the plight of real downtowns on the corporately-owned pavement of Main Street U.S.A.) Before that climax, the camera follows Reverend Billy across the country as he warns that we are consuming ourselves with the consumer economy and face a looming Shopocalypse. Along the way, Talen’s pastoral persona walks a fine line between rhetorical homage and sarcastic mockery.
During the post-screening question and answer time, I asked Talen about his personal attitude towards Jesus. Quite frankly, beyond offering that Jesus probably had a good sense of humor, he largely dodged the question. Yet, from his comments, and indeed his presence before this group of believers, it was clear that Talen’s target is reckless consumption, not Christianity. While Reverend Billy himself may pray only to “the great unknown,“ the character is meant as a creative attention getter, not a direct assault on the faithful.
Over the coming days, several friends who had also seen the film wondered aloud why the real Church was not more involved in spreading this message. It is, after all, the infant Jesus that has been pushed aside by a commercialized Santa. Certainly, many congregations have taken steps to keep the focus on Christ, but it seems undeniable that multitudes of Christians have implicitly embraced the materialistic hijacking of this holy day.
The following night after seeing WWJB, I was forced to face the power of American consumerism alone. A friend who is trying to break into the entertainment industry was gathering folks to see a blockbuster-to-be on which she had worked. As it turned out, I was the only member of the group who underestimated the mass appeal of Nicolas Cage ferreting out secrets in our nation’s capital. While standing next in line to purchase my ticket, the “sold out” announcement came booming over the loudspeakers. The others, including my ride, had purchased a ticket online, and thus I was left to face the mall alone for over two hours.
Normally, my shopping excursions are of the commando raid variety—get in, attack the predetermined target, and get out as soon as possible—but this night things would have to be different.
Blessedly, my family has toned down our gift exchange in recent years, and I already had what I needed for my coming journey home to Texas. So, with no clear list and facing a mega-mall packed at its holiday peak, I quickly retreated to a bookstore. There I was greeted by commercialism at its finest. In the 1965 classic A Charlie Brown Christmas, Charles Schulz bemoans the holiday’s exploitation and has Linus poignantly recount the biblical reason for the season. Now, however, you can purchase a plastic replica of the little natural tree Charlie Brown rescued and then wrap it in a genuine reproduction of Linus’s blanket, sold separately of course. Plus, the official Charlie Brown Christmas domino set and a variety of other branded do-dads can also be yours; allowing the buyer to nostalgically remember a cartoon that once stood for something more. After shaking my head, I left the bookstore and proceeded to walk every inch of this three level shopping mecca.
It’s A Frog’s Life
May 21, 2008
Tim Keyes is a Wildlife Biologist with the Georgia Wildlife Resource Division, focusing on non-game birds. He has been involved with wildlife education, research and conservation for the last 15 years.
This post originally appeared in Creation Care Magazine.
Long before the first migratory songbirds return, even when snow remains on the ground, the winter breeding frogs can be heard as an early promise of the return of spring. I had often enjoyed this evening chorus of frogs and toads, and knew several of the more common species, but had never mustered the time to learn the 40 or so species that occur in Georgia. The initiation of the North American Amphibian Monitoring Program (NAAMP) in Georgia finally spurred me to learn the frog calls of the southeast and it has been a real pleasure. The calls of our frogs range from the beautiful rapid whistles of the Birdvoiced Treefrog to the bizarre nasal bleat of the Eastern Narrowmouth Toad and frantic Morse-code –like tapping of the Pine Woods Treefrog. Kids love the “bodily function” calls of many species (the ‘snore’ of the Gopher Frog, and ‘vomit’ of the Eastern Spadefoot).
Learning the calls of your local frogs is a perfect activity for anyone who likes the idea of birding, but hates getting up early, as frogs really only get cranking after dark. This fact allowed me to convince my wife to join me on my frog survey route, something she has never done with bird surveys. There are also far fewer frogs than birds to learn in any one part of the country. For some, hurdles must be cleared to fully enjoy frogs. From an aversion to their sometimes slimy skin, to (false) rumors of warts, frogs and toads often suffer from unfair perceptions. Even the official term for studying reptiles and amphibians- herpetology—refers to the study of “creeping things”—a lamentable description of the diversity encompassed by the word.
Frogs can be found in most parts of the globe excluding the coldest and driest parts of the world. Species such as the spade-foot toads can inhabit desert environments they must remain buried in a cocoon-like case for months to avoid drying out. Others, such as the wood frog, lives north of the Arctic Circle and only survives winter by letting intercellular fluids in their bodies freeze, keeping cells and organs from freezing by producing biological “antifreeze” in the form of extremely concentrated glucose. These are clearly extremes and the vast majority of the worlds frogs live in warm humid climates.
Brazil holds the distinction of having the greatest diversity. While most frogs lay their eggs in water (where the eggs begin the fascinating process of metamorphosis from egg to tadpole to adult frog) there are significant variations on this theme, including the “gastric-brooding” Australian frogs that swallowed their young, letting them develop in their stomachs (sadly, this species is likely extinct). Other species like the Suriname Toad actually force their eggs into their spongy skin, where they form protective cysts and develop. Frogs range in size from the monstrous Goliath Frog, which can weigh 7 pounds, to the minute Brazilian gold frog, which full grown barely exceeds 1/3 of an inch in length.
Lacking protective scales, fur and sharp claws, frogs exhibit some remarkable defenses against predators. The “warts” on toads are actually parotid glands that contain a distasteful milky toxin to protect them from predators. Toxins on frogs and toads range from mild irritants to hallucinogens, nerve toxins and vasoconstrictors. As long as you don’t put them in your mouth or handle them with open wounds, you should be fine. The skin of some of the renowned tropical “poison-dart” frogs contain some of the most toxic natural substances known. Their high toxicity allows them to sport brilliant colors and brazenly forage on the forest floor in broad daylight, which is quite a sight if you have the good fortune of visiting the tropics. You certainly don’t need to travel to the tropics to enjoy frogs however, as many species can be found much closer to home.
Frogs can be enjoyed with all the senses. Since frogs live in a primarily auditory world you will typically hear many more than you will see, and my primary pleasure is to listen to the raucous clamor of calls. If you live near standing water, enjoying frogs can be as simple as sitting outside and listening. If you live high and dry, you may need to travel, but you shouldn’t be far from a pond, swamp or ephemeral pool for an evening visit. The best time to listen is on a warm spring evening after rain. In winter or early spring, you will primarily hear cricket frogs (genus Acris) or various species of chorus frogs (genus Pseudacris). These include the well known spring peeper. As spring and summer progress the diversity will increase dramatically.
If you want to move beyond listening, grab some boots, a flashlight and some patience, for simple searching will often yield close views of a variety of species. Especially enjoyable are the tree frogs that will often allow you to get very close as they call from shrubs and small trees near the water.
To study the remarkable transformation of developing frogs (eggs to tadpole and frogs), you can collect a cluster of eggs and keep them in an aquarium. This is a fantastic activity for kids. I have rarely seen young boys and girls enjoy themselves more than at a pond’s edge with a bucket and a net, and no squeamish fear of muddy feet. Make sure when handling frogs at any stage of development to keep your hands free of insect repellent or sun block, as it can traverse their skin easily. Collecting eggs in the wild and returning the frogs to the same place is far superior to buying eggs. If you purchase frogs eggs or tadpoles to raise, do not release them into the wild, as they are likely not native to your area.
Many species of frogs require standing water without fish, as fish eat the vulnerable eggs and tadpoles. This means that ephemeral and vernal pools that dry up in summer are critical to a number of frog species. If your passion for frogs continues to grow, think about putting a small pond in your yard. Withstand the temptation for fish, but provide some native vegetation and see what turns up.
So, before summer comes, take a nice warm humid evening and go out in search of frogs. I hope you will be serenaded by one of the auditory wonders of the natural world, a deafening chorus of frogs and toads on a damp spring night. With a little practice, you will be able to identify many of the singers in the
choir.
Peas In The City: Part 2
May 20, 2008
Dr. Matthew Sleeth is a former emergency room director and chief of medical staff, who now writes, preaches, and teaches full-time about faith and the environment. He is the author of Serve God, Save the Planet (Zondervan).
This post was originally posted in Creation Care Magazine. Part One can be found here.
The first dream of our city is a principle that undergirds its very foundation: All are welcome. This does not simply mean that the doors to the city are open to everyone. It means that this welcome is made real through city planning that does not isolate the rich from the poor, the young from the old, or the business from the residential. Much of this type of functional isolationism is both the product and cause of automotive dependence. It results in a positive feedback mechanism: greater use of the car necessitates that more people have them. As a result, autoless-based methods of transportation become less available, and the air is made less wholesome. More roads are built, and more pedestrians fi nd themselves confronted by impassable rivers of concrete. The final outcome is a city built for a sedentary lifestyle conducive to its attendant ills.
As worldwide demand for gasoline increases and the supply diminishes, those cities that plan accordingly will flourish. The transformation of the urban landscape has already begun. Bikeways and greenways represent the future. In a generation, America’s most walkable cities will be those that plan and build them today. Picture the downtowns that have been revitalized in the last two decades. It is not by chance that they feature areas closed to vehicles and open to pedestrians. Cities that are most inviting also integrate businesses and residences.
Perhaps no trend is more wholesome in its promise than local agriculture. For the Christian, this trend has biblical implications. The Bible begins in a garden. On its last page we are given a description of heaven, God’s city, in which both an “unpolluted” river and a “tree of life” that bears fruit year round stand at the center. Talmudic writings say that this tree is so great that it would take 500 years to climb it. We, as followers of Jesus, are instructed to bring the kingdom of heaven to earth—trees and all. How do we bring about this fruit bearing tree? There is a beautiful symmetry in buying one’s produce from the hand that grew it. Encouragement of local agriculture, urban gardens, and community supported agriculture build the face-to-face relationships that the human heart craves.
The city of shalom models The Golden Rule. It cannot be peaceful at the cost of another’s welfare. Our brothers and sisters are upstream and down. We are connected to each other by a river of morality. The vast majority of this country’s cities are built on rivers. The Rocky, Smokey, Catskill, and other mountains give life and water to these cities. But something is happening to one of our mountain ranges. In the vast Appalachian area, the mountains are disappearing. Trees are knocked down. Bulldozers scrape the creatures off of the forest floor and amass them in piles. Holes are dug, and explosives remove 97 percent of the mountain to get to the remaining 3 percent—its veins of coal. The equivalent of one atomic bomb is detonated every 10 days in leveling the mountains of West Virginia alone. What, you may ask, do they do with the 97 percent of the mountain that is removed to get to the coal? They throw it in the stream and river beds of the valleys.
Our city of peace does not shoot itself or its sister cities in the foot. It does not cut off its very headwaters. A city of peace is powered by clean sources. If coal is needed, it is mined using ethical methods. Period. The city of peace does not profit from the violent end of its headwaters.
The last dimension of urban shalom centers on the economy. The most vital and resilient forms of capital is moral and spiritual wealth. Who and what is the trustee of that capital? Our city comes to rest one day a week. There can be no shalom without a Sabbath. Its institutions of spiritual growth are its houses of worship. The symbol of God is the tree of life—and the city’s residents are reminded of this by the trees that line the streets, greenways, and parks.
One method of urban church building has been the following—drive from the city’s center until you can afford the land and then build a church. I look forward to the day when the downtown church is really the downtown churches. Imagine going into its lobby and getting on the elevator. “Going up—first floor: Catholics. Second: Presbyterians. Third: Evangelicals.” Then a massive auditorium would be available to all, as well as an intimate chapel and well-equipped classrooms. If the believers in the same God cannot learn to share here on earth, how will they get along in the city of God?
Let us all pray that the future of our cities is built upon a wholesome environment, an urban shalom, filled with greenways, urban gardens, and the peace—and the peas!—of the city.
Peas In The City: Part 1
May 19, 2008
Dr. Matthew Sleeth is a former emergency room director and chief of medical staff, who now writes, preaches, and teaches full-time about faith and the environment. He is the author of Serve God, Save the Planet (Zondervan).
This post was originally posted in Creation Care Magazine.
I’m fortunate. I get to preach all across America—from sea to shining sea. Although many towns claim the honor of being where the Bible belt buckles, with 500 churches, Knoxville is certainly in the running. Let me tell you about a recent Sunday in Knoxville. On that morning I donned my tie and Bible and headed off to one of the city’s well-attended houses of worship. As I concluded my sermon, a congregant came up to greet me. “We are the most vibrant liberal church in Knoxville,” he said.
In the evening, my wife and I made our way to another part of town. There, in a Southern Baptist church, I gave the same sermon again. After closing in prayer, a church elder pumped my hand and thanked me. Then, as if to clarify and inform, he added, “We’re the most conservative church in Knoxville.”
On Monday morning I dropped in on the mayor. We talked about the challenges Knoxville faces. Many of the issues relate to energy, the environment, and health. In Knoxville, as in many cities, air pollution is prevalent. The result: for the third time in five years, in 2008 Knoxville was ranked the asthma capital of the U.S. Obesity and diabetes are on the rise. The cancer rate is too high. These problems stem from causes outside of the area, as well as etiologies under Knoxville’s control.
The city’s chief executive also talked about a taskforce that was forming to work on some of the issues. The group would bring together various perspectives and organizations—the TVA, Oak Ridge Labs, The Southern Energy Alliance, and “the church”—if I would care to join. (I would, and did.) What brings together politicians, nuclear scientists, and a green evangelical Christian like me? The peace of the city.
Twenty six centuries ago, the prophet Jeremiah warned the people of Judah to repent…or else! They did not listen. Their city was invaded and off the survivors went to Babylon. I wonder how I would have reacted if my town had been overrun, my home razed, and my wife, kids, and I sent off to Iraq—site of the former Babylonian empire. I suspect I would want to join the resistance, or isolate our family with an enclave of fellow refugees. But that would be just the opposite of what God told his people to do:
Seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to the Lord for it; for in its peace you will have peace. Jeremiah 29:7 NKJV
Seek the peace of the city. Pray for it. When the city prospers, everyone prospers. But what is the “peace” of the city? In this instance, peace is translated from the Hebrew word shalom. Shalom is more than the mere absence of conflict. It encompasses—but is not limited to—safety, wellness, happiness, friendliness, welfare, health, prosperity, rest, wholeness, and wholesomeness. To bid people shalom is to wish them the entire catalog of God’s blessings.
The commandment to secure the peace of the city is timely, indeed. Three out of every four Americans now lives in an urban setting. If God wished his Chosen People to seek the shalom of their Babylonian conquerors, how much more would He have us strive for shalom in our hometown?
Now, it is important for us to understand the history behind our current problems. If we do not learn from the past, the past will come back to teach us. It is equally important to have a firm grasp of things as they are. God’s plan is that we move toward the peace of the city, toward the solution and away from the problem. As one writer asked, “What if Martin Luther King had offered us a nightmare instead of a dream?”
Part 2 will appear tomorrow . . .
