Frankenfish Salmon

Frankenfish Salmon


Frankenfish Salmon

So, what do you think of the genetically modified salmon that has been nicknamed Frankenfish? Various news agencies reported last week that the company AquaBounty is asking the FDA to approve as safe the farm raised genetically modified salmon. It apparently grows much faster and much larger (2-3 times) than your average salmon

It’s Out!

It’s Out!


It’s Out!

A month ago or so, I mentioned that a “small catechism” version (about thirty pages or so) of Together With All Creatures: Caring for God’s Living Earth appeared in time for our church’s National Youth Gathering (on right and below). Well, this past week the “large catechism” version (on left) is now out and has been sent to our pastors and congregations. It provides a more thorough treatment of the subject. The first half explores where we fit within creation by providing brief historical overview and then developing a theology of our place within creation for today

On churches, ladders, and living in community

On churches, ladders, and living in community


On churches, ladders, and living in community

I drive passed it every morning and evening to and from work. First Presbyterian Church in University City currently displays a massive sculpture of ladders in its front lawn at Delmar Blvd and Midland Blvd. Assembled by sculptor Charlie Brouwer , they’re calling it Transcend2010 . I finally got a chance to walk through it this past weekend

Creation Care and Scripture

Creation Care and Scripture


Creation Care and Scripture

Last week, Concordia Seminary hosted its annual symposium and dealt with the topic regarding the function of Scripture within the church. I was asked to reflect on how I used Scripture in working on various reports for our church’s Commission on Theology and Church Relations. In other words, how did my assumptions shape or even pre-determine the outcome of those reports. In other words, I had to do some self-reflection, something I’m not sure I’m always very good at doing

Great Overview

Great Overview


Great Overview

As a systematician, I like the big picture. I like to see how all the individual pieces fit into the entire picture. It helps me to grasp—as much as I can—what’s going on. That’s partly why the field of ecology intrigues me as well

Christwire: “The Onion” for Christians?

Christwire: “The Onion” for Christians?


Christwire: “The Onion” for Christians?

Christwire.org has become a popular Web site for news and reporting with an ultraconservative Christian slant. And it’s all one big joke. I have to confess I was completely unaware of Christwire until I ran across the New York Times article that outed the identities of Christwire’s founders, Bryan Butvidas and Kirwin Watson

A Lesson from 1927

A Lesson from 1927


A Lesson from 1927

It’s that time of year. Most of the the birds at our feeders are house sparrows. They descend upon the feeders in flocks and consume nearly all the food within a day or so in the feeders.  So how can I get rid of them? After all, they are not as colorful as Cardinals, Goldfinches, and Indigo Buntings

More on Chickens

More on Chickens


More on Chickens

In his introduction to Wendell Berry’s recent book, Bringing it to the Table, Michael Pollan observes that one of Berry’s favorite quotes comes from British agronomist, Sir Albert Howard. He urges us to think of “the whole problem of health in soil, plant, animal and man as one great subject” (p

Wetlands in Kansas?

Wetlands in Kansas?


Wetlands in Kansas?

When I think of the great plains, I think of wide open spaces, undulating landscapes like waves of an ocean, corn and wheat. I don’t think of wetlands. Yet on my way back from a workshop in Atwood, KS (where Don and Bonnie White were wonderful hosts), I stopped at Quivira National Wildlife Refuge

Check it Out!

Check it Out!


Check it Out!

The summer issue of the Concordia Journal (published by the faculty of Concordia Seminary) has just come out and its centered on the theme of “Caring for God’s Groaning Earth.”  It’s a terrific issue (of course, I am a bit biased). In addition, it provides a balance Biblical approach to the topic. It doesn’t say everything that could be said but does chart out some directions that we need to pursue. Its contents include “The Cathedral of Creation” (by President Dale Meyer), “Caring for God’s Groaning Earth” (by yours truly), Yahweh versus Marduk: Creation Theology in Isaiah 40-55” (by Dr