Journaler #3

Official JOURNAL

5/16

The degree to which it ain’t simple.

Akin to money, it takes energy to make energy. Burn coal to boil water to create steam to turn turbines.

Medic: Water and power are linked. (In that statement, we acknowledge that he meant “energy” when he said “power.” But we’re also talking about all those other worldly powers.)

When we burn something, we produce CO₂. How to sequester (now there’s an unsettling word) it? National Center for Carbon Capture is run by Southern Company. Hmm.

How do you store energy? Well, coal would be one way…

Hippie Meatloaf as a life-changing experience. Good to have the esteemed Dr. Bill Brown with us.

How to change people’s behavior? MADD did it. JFK did it. Can the church do it? Be part of the public process; maximize electricity the way we must also maximize water

What do pastors say to congregants? What do congregations do differently?

Our Presbytery has a lobbyist, Wendell Phillips. The church is to be engaged in life.

The bulk of energy-use growth isn’t here. The rest of the world wants the goodies we have; they can’t possibly want the problems, though.

All current technologies are bridge technologies. Bridge to…?

“Don’t tell the people they can’t have it.” Yeah, but what if they can’t?

GIPL
Help churches change behavior. Use faith language of our tradition:

Stewardship: The Earth is the Lord’s and everything in it. Love creation. Nature Deficit Disorder—go outside

Interconnectedness

God saw everthing that God had made and indeed it was very good.

For God so loved the world (not just us)

Awe The heavens are telling the glory of God (Hubble pix) Psalms

Justice: Ezekiel 34:17-19, consider the consequences of my actions on others

GIPL has over 700 “Partner Congregations.” How has that occurred?

Assume congregants do not understand climate change. There are some easy things people can do.

“We are drifting into a world of adaptation apartheid,” Desmond Tutu

We’re blowing up mountains. We’re going to have to move some mountains to address these issues.

“This work is possible.” What can we do as Christians? Talk about it. We’re so afraid of offending. But creation care is part of our calling.

Mercury regulation only since 1999—really??

Environmental Working Group report on mercury; Seychell Islands mercury study

Journaler’s Privilege:

Donning safety goggles & hardhat to enter the coal-fired plant somehow felt kind of duck-&-cover, no?

Bursar’s drawing may belong on the blog.

Photog’s photos: black-&-white plus only one color—now there’s a metaphor just looking for a meaning.

Foodie took over the driving—way to go, CM.

Worshiper’s got a plan for theology and worship. And not a moment too soon. I mean, if the only hope is eschatological, then why not drink the koolaid? Ah, so that’s why we have a Medic.

Turning off lights; unplugging appliances; shortening showers; noting alternatives to some plastics while lamenting inescapability of others; aiming for 8:20 AM at The Happy Bus That Rolls For Jesus