‘Bees for Peace’
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‘Bees for Peace’

All humanity has this in common: we rely on plants to provide us with nutrients. We also, by extension, rely on the creatures that help our plants flower. Bees play a vital role in pollinating our fruits and vegetables. In short, we all need bees. This simple fact is what fueled Carrie Dohe to start…

Offering streams of hope
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Offering streams of hope

In a March 2017 Christian Courier article, I interviewed art prodigy Josh Tiessen about his then just released book, A Decade of Inspiration, written and produced with his mother, Dr. Julie A. Tiessen. Recently, Tiessen contacted me about his new book of art, Streams in the Wasteland, the title and the theme of which were…

A Non-Disposable World
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A Non-Disposable World

“The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it, the world and those who live in it.” (Ps. 24: 1 NRSV) In the context of a discussion on environmental stewardship, a Pentecostal friend recently posed a question. “If you came upon a burning house,” she asked, “what would you do first – try…

Lo and Behold

Lo and Behold

The first speech I ever gave as a schoolteacher was called “Seeing Things,” in which I asserted that “believing is seeing.” I was trying to help the hearers “see” in a way which is shaped with the lens of Christianity.

From creation care to climate justice
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From creation care to climate justice

I am puzzled. I thought calls to action on climate change would resonate within the Reformed branch of the Christian church and lead to a strong public witness. In reality, political leaders say they hear about other issues but not much about this one from our community. Numbers remain low for educational events, marches and letter-writing campaigns, leaving sponsors to wonder why. Perhaps unpacking possible reasons for the low response will help us think about this issue more clearly.

Colossians 1: A foundation for earth care
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Colossians 1: A foundation for earth care

I received a distressing email from a friend who had encountered a group of climate-change denying Christians. These evangelical Christians, some of whom depend on the continued success of the oil sands directly or indirectly, apparently think that the whole climate change issue is somehow a ruse of anti-Christian forces bent on duping the world.

Sustainability: Don’t sit this one out

Sustainability: Don’t sit this one out

You might expect that the biblical principle spurring environmental action is stewardship. Several Wisconsinite environmentalists, however, suggest that community is even more important.