08 January, 2007

Life: Ohio Warming

I just have to post something about my daffodils.

My daffodils are sprouting. And not just mine, but everyone's. Granted, they are my ex-wife's, and I only have custody through the divorce, but I still have to claim them. The point though, is that the Buckeyes still have one last football game to play here at the late start of January.

Why are my daffodils sprouting while they are still playing football!?!?

This is not good.

I should not see daffodils for another 6 weeks.

This morning I saw my first sleet of the year. Maybe I saw a snowflake once in December.

We still have not had our first hard freeze. It should be about 10 degrees right now, and it has not really even been below 31 yet.

Dudes, I may love to play tennis all winter long, but not at the cost of the death of all species. I have my limits.

Maybe this global warming thing is just a cycle, and has nothing to do with man's contributions - I don't believe that any more, but we'll suggest it for argument's sake - but it doesn't matter. I am sick of Christians poo-pooing global warming. It's time to get out of the ostrich phase and begin asking what we do about it.

---

It occurs to me to mention that I don't believe in heaven. I believe in a new earth. And I don't really believe in a new earth. I believe in this earth renewed. By us, under the watchful Headship of Christ our Lord.

I don't believe this earth is a "throw-away," and it scares me when Christians treat it like one. People! We can do better!

27 comments:

Anonymous said...

Cowboy,
If you were in Oklahoma we’d be calling ya Chicken Little. I have pictures of us on Christmas in sun glasses and short sleeve shirts ans some of us in the snow. We are use to the weather being odd.

As for your belief of Heaven and earth I’ve heard it before a friend told me almost the same thing once. To me it doesn’t matter as long as God brings me in.

I think that we have let go of some of the stuff of the seventies about taking care of the earth, I’m puzzled by the fact that we seem to not care like we did before. God gave us this world to take care of and we are failing.

pearlie said...

It occurs to me to mention that I don't believe in heaven.
How then do you take account of the mention of it in the bible?

Kevin Knox said...

Milly,

To me it doesn’t matter as long as God brings me in.

No, so far as salvation, and the big things go, it does not matter. I agree. But in so far as some of the Christians in this nation seem to believe that we can treat the earth like a disposable diaper, I'm not happy. Anything I can say that makes anyone treat the earth like the treasure it is valuable.

Kevin Knox said...

Maeghan,

It occurs to me to mention that I don't believe in heaven.
How then do you take account of the mention of it in the bible?


Heaven is often presented as the place where the saints spend eternity. The streets are paved with gold, we all have a mansion there, St Peter runs its pearly gates, and people are allowed in or sent to hell. As such, heaven is the spiritual counter-type to hell.

That place does not exist.

The third heaven to which Paul was carried exists, but not as our eternal abode. It is a realm of spirit, and not the natural, eternal abode of human beings. Christ lives there now. Paul visited there. The martyrs are there in some way, and in Abraham's bosom in some way.

But our eternity, our heaven, is on the new earth. So, let's treat this one with some respect.

Anonymous said...

Christians in this nation seem to believe that we can treat the earth like a disposable diaper

I don't understand the trend to do that. I've seen the trend myself in the last few years.

I want my children to grow up on this earth without the fear of some of the illnesses because I was so darn careless.


The scouts have a leave no trace law. Not even a fire ring left behind now if it wasn’t there. Not all of us think that God’s gift of this earth should be trashed.

DougALug said...

CP,

Ummm, there is still the story of Lazurus that you aren't accounting for.

Here is the inconvenient truth: Global warming is a reality! It is just not as greatly exsaserbated by man as compared to things like volcano's and the earth's proximity to the sun.

Sorry dude! If that make me an ostrich so be it. Worst of all, if we continue this warming trend (which all data indicates that we will), it is likely that we will lose New York (by flooding) before we lose Los Angelas (faults).

The solution: there isn't one. I guess we need to look harder huh! Well here's the rub: we're doing study after study so that we can point fingers at mankind, rather that coming up with real tangible solutions to these very real problems.

BTW: I do believe in heaven.

God Bless from you feathered friend
Doug

Kevin Knox said...

DugALug,

we're doing study after study so that we can point fingers at mankind,

Let's assume that all the scientists everywhere are a part of a giant conspiracy to blame mankind, and all their studies are nothing but vehicles to express their secret loathing for rich people. That given, and that they are ignoring all the volcanos and the methane produced by the cattle of a thousand hills.

I still believe their numbers are meaningful, and must be dealt with. I've been blogging for something more than a year now, and you can tell this is not a part of my core vision, but the earth is not my enemy.

Ummm, there is still the story of Lazurus that you aren't accounting for.

Accounted for in the comments.

BTW: I do believe in heaven.

After my more complete explanation to Maeghan, which heaven do you believe in?

DougALug said...

CP,

There is no conspiracy here: there is just tons of money. You scoff college football (Our Buckeyes looked pitiful BTW last night), I scoff the billions of dollars poured into silly research. For instance they did a study that showed that most accidents occur in the house. Did we really need a study to tell us that the place we spend 60 percent of our time in is where most accidents occur?

There is no money if you say that Global warming is a natural effect, because the largest contributers to these studies are the greeny-weenies. Their money funds these research projects and they reward like-minded thinkers.

Scientific American has many articles debunking the claims made by groups on both sides of this one. The bottom line is that money drives the research and no one will pay if it is nature's fault.

Let me give you an example of how our eco-buddies are so manipulated. R12 refrigeration in cars. Remember when they took that away? It was to protect the ozone right?

Well let's see: I think I was buying the stuff for 3 bucks a can. Why could I do this? Because the patent had run out on it and everyone could make it. So Dupont, which had an inferior refrigerant (but it had a nice patent on it), that was more 'emmission friendly', tickled the ears of some lawmakers and 'support' some environmental groups. Overnight, By golly, R12 became the next antichrist, and we were evil for even thinking of using it in our cars and homes. Dupont sold their junk for what $50 a can? Yep, the evironment really dodged a big bullet there.

Yeah I guess you kind of accounted for Lazurus. But then I will point to Revelation and John's visions. And then I will point to Elijah and where is he?

For a moment, let's say you are right about New Earth. This old earth's core is cooling and our current trajectory around the sun is changing: all spell a finite time until this planet becomes uninhabitable. Do you see God fixing this so that we may be here for all eternity? Be careful when you answer.

If God can (We know he can) 'fix' this problem, then why wouldn't he 'fix' these other problems while he was at it?

Not that I wan't to go around and polute the earth, but the motivation to keep it clean is not if God establishes his kingdom here on it: the motivation to do this is if Jesus tarries and our children will inherit the slum we created.

Responibile actions and good stewardship is all I'm asking for.

God Bless
Doug

DougALug said...

CP,

Oh yeah, I beleive in a heaven completely detached from the physical realm. That seems to be what John is alluding to and that would also explain where angels come and go.

God Bless
doug

Kevin Knox said...

Our Buckeyes looked pitiful BTW last night

Truer words have never been spoken. UF came to play, and we came to collect some glory. It was amazing how their line manhandled ours on both sides of the line. Pittman's TD run was the only time I saw us collapse the UF line all night long.

'Twas a pity.

So Dupont ... tickled the ears of some lawmakers

Did any of this make R12 good for the environment?

Look, I don't expect to see large corporations fail to manipulate any reality. They will find a way to make money on anything. That's their reason for existing, and I'm sure they do a stand-up job of finding money under any rock. That does not mean we should not turn the rocks over.

Responibile actions and good stewardship is all I'm asking for.

You and me both.

I want my winters back.

Kevin Knox said...

Do you see God fixing this so that we may be here for all eternity? Be careful when you answer.

Be careful? Ummm. OK.

It's an awful big universe, all for just one little blue-green ball. I won't pretend to know why God created as many stars as He did grains of sand, but I will take the liberty to wonder whether He might have some use for them beyond twinkling.

Eschatology is on the list of things about which I care and love to talk. I talk about it every 5 years or so, whether I need to or not. I've wanted to blog about it, even, but there have always been more important things going on, and there probably will be for a while longer.

I'm sure we agree on the bottom line stuff. Christ is returning. We will be caught up with Him. We will live with Him and worship Him forever. If that happens to occur in a detached spiritual realm, I'll be a happy camper. I certainly believe (as I said earlier) that there is such a realm, and that people have been there before. I just don't believe that this is where scripture says we will spend eternity.

Lord bless you and yours,

Kevin

pearlie said...

Heaven is often presented as the place where the saints spend eternity. The streets are paved with gold, we all have a mansion there, St Peter runs its pearly gates, and people are allowed in or sent to hell. As such, heaven is the spiritual counter-type to hell.

That place does not exist.


How do you know?

I do believe in this heaven, it does exist: the gold paved streets, the pearly gates, our mansions and all the works. As to what they really are and where exactly it is , that I will wait until the day I am there. What I know is that it is the Kingdom of God, where He resides, and I hope I will be there.

But our eternity, our heaven, is on the new earth. So, let's treat this one with some respect.

You do believe in heaven. Just not the kind depicted in movies. Yes? It is this very new earth and new heaven that is with streets paved with gold and gates studded with pearls. Just what these gold and pearls are, we will soon know, when we are granted entry by his grace and mercy.

God bless,
maeghan

DougALug said...

Did any of this make R12 good for the environment?

You're missing the point: R12 is no worse for the environment than any other aersol, including Dupont's newer refrigerants. It is like these new zero-emmission cars.

God Bless
Doug

Anonymous said...

I have always thought it cool that Heaven was paved with gold and all the silly things like jewels. It tells me that those things won’t mean anything to us like they do now. I don’t care what it looks like as long as I’m in His presence.

Kevin Knox said...

Maeghan,

How do you know

I am merely persuaded. I do not have any resource than the same bible everyone else has, and I read the same glorious descriptions as everyone else.

I do believe in this heaven, it does exist: the gold paved streets, the pearly gates, our mansions and all the works.

I believe in all these things, too, but I believe they are descriptions of the kingdom, not of a place. We are the kingdom of God, not heaven, so I believe the New Jerusalem is us. John sees us coming down out of heaven, not a 1500 mile cube of gold. I certainly don't mean to say that I could not be wrong, but I am quite persuaded that we will be busy on earth forever.

You do believe in heaven. Just not the kind depicted in movies. Yes?

Yes.

Heaven will be heaven because the Father and Son are there with us forever. I just believe "there" will be "here," renewed. If I'm wrong, I'll apologize to you directly when we meet. :-)

Thanks for working to understand my poorly stated opinion.

Kevin Knox said...

DugALug,

If you trust Wikipedia, it has articles on
R134a
and
R12

These contradict your assertion, stating that R12 has a .82 ozone depletion potential, while R134a has an insignificant ozone depletion potential.

Kevin Knox said...

Milly,

It tells me that those things won’t mean anything to us like they do now.

I love your point, Milly. Rubies meant nothing in El Dorado - they were just paving stones. And amen to being in His presence.

pearlie said...

Yes.

Heaven will be heaven because the Father and Son are there with us forever. I just believe "there" will be "here," renewed.


Then we are on same ground :)
Only that you are more passionate about what it is not.

And I thank you for your thoughts - I will now start to insist on what it is and what it is not when situation calls for it.

If I'm wrong, I'll apologize to you directly when we meet. :-)
Hmmm ... I always wonder what we can we and cannot do when we are in His kingdom. "Cannot do" as an absolute, as a fact. E.g. we cannot tell lies, cannot cheat. But I suppose we can still apologise :) :) -- nah, you don't need to. I suppose we will so joyous and happy that all these trivial things are forgotten.

DougALug said...

CP,

Global warming is only one problem with R134/R12. Take a look at this comparison.

R12 Comparision

Here are the points: R12 is cheaper; uses less energy to cool; R12 is much less corrosive; much less toxic and isn't flamable.

So which one is more eco-friendly? Just FYI.

God Bless
Doug

Weekend Fisher said...

<< I have always thought it cool that Heaven was paved with gold and all the silly things like jewels. It tells me that those things won’t mean anything to us like they do now. I don’t care what it looks like as long as I’m in His presence. >>

Luther once said that a fallen man doesn't love gold as gold -- he loves it for ego reasons, he wants to acquire it as a means of loving himself and glorifying himself. He supposed that when we were restored to our true natures, we would see these things as God intended us to see them, and we would love them truly for the first time. Which I thought was a cool thought.

Kevin Knox said...

Doug,

Your document here confirms that R12 is pretty poisonous, and should be banned, and that R134a is a decent replacement. It merely suggests that their own ES12a is a better replacement than R134a.

I'm all for better replacements.

Kevin Knox said...

Maeghan,

I suppose we will so joyous and happy that all these trivial things are forgotten.

I already am. :-)

Thank you for being such a great listener. My passion about the "nots" gets me in trouble pretty regularly.

DougALug said...

CP,

Ummm, did you actually read the chart? Anything that caused and possibly sudden death like R134a is a real no-no in my book. R134a, by this chart, and other is much more poisonous. And with the other factors I mentioned is a lame-overpriced replacement.

But heh! Your entitled to your opinion.

God Bless
Doug

Kevin Knox said...

DugALug,

Yes, I read the chart, but I also read safety information on R134a not written by a direct competitor. Surprisingly, they don't exactly agree. Wikipedia makes it pretty clear that if you take a blowtorch to the R134a, and you don't huff it, it's benign. If you are looking for rocks to turn over, investigate R134a for its global warming hazards. The stuff ain't perfect.

The point, though, is that R12 is what the environmentalists say it is. Pulling it was a step in the right direction.

And I'm gonna keep believing it! ;-)

Thanks for the fun chat.

DougALug said...

CP,

You are/were a diesel mechanic right? So help me to understand what I missing.

An air conditioning system is a self-contained unit. You put the refrigerant in and unless there is a leak, it stays in indefinately. Let's just say that a car goes for 5 years without an issue with the AC unit. Over that course of time if you lloked at a car with R12 versus one with R134a. If you recall, R134a requires about 20 percent more work to maintain the same cooling as r12 (I know I'm being generous, but it makes my point).

Now I'm no expert, but I beleive I remember reading that the average AC-unit takes about 5 percent of the total power used by the car. This is based on the gas mileage reduction as a result of using your AC unit. So, taking 20 percent of 5 percent, I get 1 percent.

So a R134a unit forces the car to use 1 percent more fuel than an r12 equipped card to maintiain the same cooling level.

The average car gets about 15 miles to the gallon and travels 12000 miles a year. That means that:

R134a equipped car will use an extra 8 gallons of gas a year. Which also means that the car, will spew whatever the equivalent of 8 gallons of aledged ozone-killer into the atmosphere because the government 'chose' to make r12 its villian for a week.

We're not even talking about other factors of how much more corrosive R134a is and because of this fact is more likely to leak. Or that it requires a bigger compressor, which adds weight to your car.

At the end of five years, how much r12 has been leaked into the atmosphere versus r134a? If the system is still working normally, not a lot. Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't you have to extract refrigerant. Meaning you just don't open it up and let all the stuff out. In other words government made a big todo over an extemely insignificant contributor to greenhouse effect.

Perhaps... now I'm going out on a limb here, but shouldn't they have gone after a CFC that is commonly spewed into the atmosphere? Like spray-paint cans, hair spray, and anti-persperant aerosols? Common sense tells you that these are far worse for the environment than my A/C unit.

The r12 laws are completely hypocritical and do little to help the environment, but Dupont has been very happy for them.

So keep beleivin' bro.

God Bless
Doug

Anonymous said...

Hair spray!
Don't ya take that away from me!
;-)

DougALug said...

Awe Milly,

There are plenty of non-cfc hairsprays. And, according to my wife, they work great!

God Bless
Doug