J.J. Buckfart* communications * environment * leadership * science *

Over the Christmas holidays my friend Ken asked me what books I read a second or third time and why. A very good question. Why do we go back to certain books and leave others half read?

Books I’ve read more than once include…

• Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die by Chip Heath and Dan Heath
• The Divine Conspiracy: Rediscovering Our Hidden Life In God by Dallas Willard
• Integrity: The Courage to Meet the Demands of Reality by Henry Cloud
• The One-Life Solution: Reclaim Your Personal Life While Achieving Greater Professional Success by Henry Cloud
• Resilience Thinking: Sustaining Ecosystems and People in a Changing World by Brian Walker, David Salt, and Walter Reid
• Bible

What have you read more than once?

About a month ago Rick Mercer visited Thunder Bay and even mentioned my hometown, Nipigon, ON.

Check it out on youtube.

I got my first curry … or I should say masala submission. Gordon sent me a pdf entitled “A Graduate Student’s Guide to Indian Recipes.” I chose one of my favourites for the first submission to the curry page. If you are interested in receiving the full pdf recipe book, send the request to my email address.

Mattar Paneer (Peas & Cheese)

2 Onions
2 Tomatoes
4 cloves Garlic
1/2 packet frozen Peas
1″ cube Ginger
1/4 t Turmeric
to taste Salt
to taste Pepper
1/2 t Garam Masala
2c Water

Method
1. Cut paneer in 1″ cubes and deep fry.
2. Make Masala with onion, garlic, ginger, and tomatoes.
3. Season and add turmeric.
4. Add peas and paneer.

I’ve been distracted lately and haven’t been blogging.

I recently discovered www.learner.org. The Annenberg Foundation provides all kinds of free online educational content. Since the majority of my formal education consisted of science courses, I am realizing the huge holes in my knowledge. So, I am well into a series called The Western Tradition. It has 52, 1/2 hr sessions. I am also watching a series called The Habitable Plant.

Do you know of any credible free online content?

I know for some Christians they get a little nervous or concern when they visit a so-called Christian website that doesn’t have a statement of faith. Well, if you are one such person, no need to be concern any more. As a credentialled pastor with the Christian and Missionary Alliance in Canada (yes I am authorized to officiate weddings), check out the faith statement I believe and signed off on before taking up my current position.

So what does a pastor who has a Masters degree in Forestry do in his spare time?

I have this theory about the fig leaves used to cover Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. The common fig species in current-day Palestine is Ficus carica. In my opinion Ficus carica is not a good candidate for covering of one’s private parts as the leaves are palmate, deeply divided into 3 to 7 main lobes. Now there is a fig in current-day India that has broad round leaves called Ficus roxburghii which are obtuse, cordate, entire to undulate, alternate, 21.5 cm long, 23.5 cm broad. A much more likely candidate to cover Adam and Eve. (If I have lost you on the jargon, check out these two links for some pictures; CANDIDATE 1 and CANDIDATE 2)

I am making the assumption that it’s more likely they chose a leaf that was broad and somewhat round, rather than one that is palmate and lobing. But here is the problem. Is it possible that a fig tree which is naturally found in current-day India could be used in the Garden of Eden? I think it is possible. Tree species migration over time is well-documented in science. (Check these papers out if you are interested in the science: Williams et al and Jackson et al.) In changing climates, plant species ranges can change.

Also, I have to also make the disclaimer that we really have no any idea where the Garden of Eden was located. I suspect it must have been tropical or sub-tropical as these systems sustain high levels of diveristy.

This is all playful speculation, so don’t take me too seriously.

Ficus roxburghii at Thunder Bay's Centennial Botanical Conservatory

Each time I visit the conservatory, I find interesting plants. Earlier today, I was there with Robby my bud from Teen Challenge. I found a plant that’s mentioned in the Bible and will be writing about that one soon.

Happy New Year. As we enter a new year, I’ve been thinking about my ecological footprint and how that relates to my faith.

I think I am going to take a different approach this year and not make any New Year Resolutions; at least not in the traditional sense. I am not going to make a Top ten things I must do to be a green Christian list or anything of the sort. Rather I am thinking through broad biblical principles relating to caring for the environment and then applying those principles to a specific decisions I make. (I just got up and turned off a light that wasn’t being used.)

So here’s some five principles that I am going to try to use as I make decisions in 2009.

1. God sees the creation as good, so I should too.
2. Creation was created for humanity’s benefit. Its for our use but not our abuse.
3. We have been placed on Earth in the image of God to act as benevolent rulers, motivated by love.
4. Loving our neighbours can sometimes be expressed by caring for the environment.
5. Because care for the environment has eternal consequence I should steward the Creation well.

So, one of the things I’ll be doing in 2009 is thinking through these five principles and trying to find ways to live them out. As I wrestle with the theology behind these principles, I’ll be writing. So feel free to visit often and join the conversation. I have a feeling #5 will be a lot of fun and somewhat challenging as I think through its theological implications.

This has absolutely nothing to do with Christianity or the environment. I just figured it would be funny to poke fun at the pastoral team at Redwood.

Curries are spice blends originating from Asia and India. With the right blend, mixed at the right time in the cooking process, you get music on your tongue. I try to approach Christian spirituality and environmentalism with the same spirit. The right blend of various spices, and voila music.

Submit your favourite curry recipe by emailing J.J at jj@buckfart.com. I will post them on the “Curry” page.

Dear Santa,
I’ve been a pretty good boy this past year. I would really like it if you left a Green Bible under the tree for me this Christmas.
From J.J. Buckfart

From the Green Bible website,

“The Green Bible will equip and encourage people to see God’s vision for creation and help them engage in the work of healing and sustaining it. With over 1,000 references to the earth in the Bible, compared to 490 references to heaven and 530 references to love, the Bible carries a powerful message for the earth.”