Week 24

The green family.  

At a friend's house our family dressed green. It was our green day for Earth Day. Actually it was just Dayse's idea for the family to take a nice picture. But the idea reminded me of something I studied in the seminary. Theologians try to pinpoint what is the center of the Old Testament theology. Theology books also talk about peripheral theologies, one of many is called Ecotheology. It teaches that we are connected with the natural world and that our actions affects nature, in terms of blessings or curses. There are verses in the Old Testament that demonstrate this symbiotic relationship, for example: Dt 11.10-17; 22.6-7; 28.12a, 23-24; Os 4.1-3. The God of Israel is Lord over nature and over us. No wonder why nature and I are so connected. We have the same Lord that sustains both. In the movie, “The Day The Earth Stood Still,” Klaatu (Keenu Reeves) says he came to save the earth from mankind. If man dies, the whole earth survives. This is a very contemporary ecological thought. We are destroying the earth. It makes some sense. Remember however, Jesus came to save man instead. Our Klaatu came to save mankind, so that man could survive—and earth too. 

Week 23

I don’t know if Herbert Spencer’s axiom “The Survival of the Fittest” is true to evolution in the animal kingdom. Yet, it sounds so true in the city jungle. It’s the urban survival of the fittest. In the city of Recife there is a hierarchical kingdom on the roads—the massive trucks don’t respect the buses, the buses don’t respect the cars, the cars don’t care about the motorcycles, the motorcycles don’t respect the bicycles. If you’re the pedestrian, watch out, you’re the weakest! It’s different in other countries, I know. Some are very orderly, others are totally chaotic. It’s mean and stressful. It’s dangerous and cunning. Here we are more toward anarchy. How’s the Christian to survive in such jungles?
“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.”

Week 22

The 2014 Soccer World Cup will be in Brazil!
Unlike baseball or football, soccer moves nations. It’s an international sport. Among the many cities where teams will play, Recife was selected. São Lourenço (Saint Lawrence) is part of the metropolitan area of Recife and it’s where we serve the Lord’s Kingdom. But guess what? São Lourenço (SL) will host some of the games. The city will even build its own stadium and a village to accommodate the players. It’s great for the city and I pray will be great for the growth of the Church. Nevertheless, the irony of all this is that SL has some of the most undeveloped places in the metropolitan area. The city’s hospital is less than a clinic. The schools are in bad shape and students miss classes because there are no teachers. Many are the roads unpaved and areas of danger during the raining season. Yet, we will host world soccer games! Politicians want sudden development. Last Sunday there was a huge party to announce the news—“Bread and Circuses” (panem et circenses).
“You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”