Credit for Learning

Recyclebank is a neat site for learning more about caring for the environment and recycling. I was already doing quite a bit of recycling but I learned even more by watching VERY short animations and taking quizzes. And I get rewarded with points that can be used for coupons, discounts, gift cards and magazine subscriptions. If you'd like to join (free)here's a link you can use:http://www.recyclebank.com/referafriend/?___store=us&bl=am9hRbmNvbG9yaXN0QHlhaG9vLmNvbQ==&utm_campaign=Refer-a-friend&utm_medium=direct%20link&utm_source=H9853667&cm_mmc=Refer-a-friend-_-direct%20link-_-H9853667-_-referral

Green Paint

I finally tried a low VOC wall paint. Though chemical sensitivity has required me to use natural products for everything else, when it comes to enriching my walls with liquid color, I usually just open the windows and tough it out. I haven’t known what else to do since I needed a low budget solution and others clamored, “It’ll cost you $40 to go green!” But the more I read books such as Matthew Sleeth’s Serve God Save the Planet, the more convicted I become that I need to consider more than what I can put up with or afford; I need to consider God’s creation.

I spent weeks choosing just the right color, noting the lack of environmentally sound paints at various stores. Then at just the right time when the weather turned cooler, Lowe’s weekly flyer proclaimed, “ Lowe’s is the only national home improvement store to carry zero VOC paint available in any color.” And it was on sale for only $15.98 ($2.00 off)! So I made the change and bought their Olympic Premium Interior Latex. However, I had to settle for the “flat” finish or pay $22-something.

The can says that the paint is “low odor”. I indeed noticed very little odor while painting my two walls on opposite ends of a large, open living area but a concentrated dose such as one would inhale while painting an entire closed-in room could be a problem. The label still warns to “USE ONLY WITH ADEQUATE VENTILATION”. (Remember that fumes and odors are not necessarily the same thing. Some dangerous fumes such as natural gas have no odor of their own.)

The flyer boasts, “one-coat coverage”—maybe, in a pale color but my rich medium red-violet took two coats.

Would I use it again? Probably--unless the market produces another “zero VOC” paint that has still less odor and a lower price.

Hummingbird?

I was SO excited this morning when I thought I saw a miniature hummingbird--an inch long!Several were humming around some Victoria Blue Salvia. But something told me I should check it out on the good ol' internet and alas it was a hummingbird Moth, though still fearfully and wonderfully made by our Creator!

Were Humans Created to Commune in Nature?

I can attest that being out in God's Creation soothes my soul like little else. One reason is that I recognize the Artist's magnificent hand resulting in worship and honor of the One True God.

Check out this article: http://www.icr.org/articles/type/9/ (please copy and paste into your browser)

Destroying the Earth

Revelation 11:17-19 (New International Version)

17saying:
"We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty,
the One who is and who was,
because you have taken your great power
and have begun to reign.
18The nations were angry; and your wrath has come.
The time has come for judging the dead,
and for rewarding your servants the prophets
and your saints and those who reverence your name,
both small and great—
and for destroying those who destroy the earth."(emphasis added)

The Greek word translated as earth includes everything from soil, ground and land to the people inhabiting it. God is not at all pleased when people abuse his creations.

The Rush of Wings

A skittering, fluttering sound of many bird wings overhead, my attention paused, breath stopped. “What is that?” Then dozens of maple wings merrily spun down from the roof and out into the yard!

What a marvelous creation of God—one of my favorites! I love dropping the perfectly balanced winged maple seeds off our landing, watching them helicopter many feet down and away. My husband is just this year discovering their joys (we didn’t grow up with maples) and is like an excited kid hurrying up and down the stairs to launch yet another.

Protecting the Masterpiece

“People of faith claim to know the Artist but lack any compunction for protecting the artwork. Why have God followers not been defending this masterpiece from degradation?” Michael Abbate’