Thinking About Earth Day

From Dean Ohlman on April 19, 2013

Monday, April 22, will be the 43rd Earth Day.  I celebrated the first one in 1970 with the then typical “conservative” scoffing.  [Photo is of US Senator Edmund Muskie, author of the 1970 Clean Air Act, addressing an estimated 40,000-60,000 … Continue reading »

Is Environmental Concern “Left-wing”?

From Dean Ohlman on April 16, 2013

Environmental issues always have a way of polarizing people politically. Many who consider themselves left-wing and liberal are often opposed to the ethical standards and religious beliefs of conservative Christians. It also appears that issues related to caring for creation … Continue reading »

Our Sense of Beauty

From Dean Ohlman on March 27, 2013

  My belief is that exposing ourselves to and being sensitive to the beauty of the creation is in large part a spiritual endeavor that will draw us toward our Creator.  It’s a spiritually fruitful practice that we moderns perform … Continue reading »

Good and Beautiful

From Dean Ohlman on March 5, 2013

  I keep coming back to Genesis 1 and 2 in my contemplation of the wonder of creation because they are so fundamental to a biblical theology of nature.  To help me think about the meaning of nature, I’ve  plodded … Continue reading »

Is Caring for the Earth Pagan?

From Dean Ohlman on February 18, 2013

Because the earth is an object of worship for many of those given to New Age beliefs and other modern forms of pantheism, it’s logical for them to demonstrate devoted concern for the earth. That’s all they feel they have … Continue reading »

Ambling

Crystal Mornings

The last couple days have given us fantasy mornings. With the temperature in the mid-teens, clear skies, and humidity fairly high, everything outdoors gets “crystallized.” Ice crystals form on every twig, weed, seed head, leaf, and needle making the natural … Continue reading »

The Dying of the Trees

“Under a spreading chestnut-tree The village smithy stands…” “O no, Dad, not again!” That was my youthful reaction to my dad’s quoting of the one poem he remembered from eighth grade, the last grade he attended as a farm boy … Continue reading »

Big-leaf, REALLY BIG, maple

I could hardly believe it the first time I saw it: the leaves of the big-leaf maple. Even though we lived in Northern California for seven years and could have seen specimens of the tree, I did not recognize it.  So the … Continue reading »