Pathways to Community and Creation Care

Another benefit of driving EVs
By John Watson

Here’s another reason to feel good about driving EVs…

https://www.thecooldown.com/green-tech/ev-brake-dust-pollution-electric-vehicles/

What do you think?
Thanks for engaging with us about community creation care.

Also, I’ve decided that this will be my very last Facebook post for Pathways to Community and Creation Care. I hope you have found these posts helpful, encouraging, and inspiring.
Blessings on each of you.

New study reveals unexpected side effect of having more electric vehicles on road: 'It's not just the tailpipe' New research reveals that electric vehicles don't just reduce exhaust emissions but also cut down on brake dust pollution.

Wouldn’t they like to know they have an eternal home?
By John Watson

Read 2 Corinthians 5:6 in a modern translation (The New Living Translation is a good place to start).

I wonder how many of our neighbors would like to know they can eventually “go home” but have no idea or certainty on how to get there?

Wouldn’t it be cool if they had a desire to go home someday and be with the Lord forever?

Perhaps in our small group we could ask the Lord to give us opportunities to share with our neighbors how to finally “get home”.

What do you think?

Thanks for engaging with us about community.

One billion fewer bags!
By John Watson

Learn what happens when one state decides to get serious about eliminating plastic bags…

https://www.thecooldown.com/green-business/colorado-single-use-bag-law-plastic-reduction/

What do you think?
How does this impact your thinking about creation care?

Thanks for engaging with us about creation care.

New report estimates over a billion fewer plastic bags used in just one state: 'We've seen dramatic change' Colorado has eliminated more than a billion single-use bags from its system, thanks to a recent anti-pollution law.

How about joining your neighborhood association?
By John Watson
Read Luke 10:25 - 37 in a modern translation (The New Living Translation is a good place to start).

How about joining your local neighborhood association? It’s hard to love and serve your neighbors if you don’t know them. As you begin to love your neighbors you can begin to build a neighbor community.

If you don’t yet have a neighborhood association, perhaps you could start one.

My wife and I joined our local neighborhood association after moving into our new home several years ago and have been actively involved ever since.
https://jefferson-sa.com/

What do you think?

Thanks for engaging with us about community.

new.jefferson-sa.com Each resident, household, and business can contribute diverse thoughts, ideas, and opinions for discussion in our community to help make it the unique place we all love to live in. 

Stumbling blocks to Caring for God’s Creation
By John Watson

“Some of the troublesome stumbling blocks in the way of creation-keeping discipleship are ones we ourselves have invented. Others have been devised by our friends, and still others by enemies..”

Calvin B. DeWitt has identified at least 10 of these stumbling blocks.

https://www.asa3.org/ASA/PSCF/1994/PSCF6-94DeWitt.html

What do you think? What stumbling blocks are standing in your way? How does this impact your thinking about creation care?
Thanks for engaging with us about creation care.

Christian Environmental Stewardship While convicted by environmental degradation and scriptural teachings on environmental stewardship, we may find ourselves hesitating to do what must be done. Stumbling blocks and pitfalls often prevent Christians from engaging in stewardly care and reconciliation of creation. Once identified and rec...

How about a night out with your neighbors?
By John Watson
Read Luke 10:25 - 37 in a modern translation (The New Living Translation is a good place to start).

How about spending a night out getting to know your neighbors? It’s hard to love your neighbors if you don’t first get to know them. As you begin to love your neighbors you can begin to build a neighbor community.

https://natw.org/

In Texas, we hold our neighbor night out on the first Tuesday in October (when it’s a whole lot cooler!).
In San Antonio, we call our neighbor event, “San Antonio Neighbors Together”.

What do you think?
Thanks for engaging with us about community.

How are you investing in creation care where you live?
By John Watson

Recently, a number of doors have been opened for me to serve on various boards and committees that enhance our city and neighborhood.

I believe that the Lord has been opening these doors and allowing me to also love my neighbors. Sometimes those neighbors are my physical neighbors and sometimes those neighbors are staff who serve our city.

I want to introduce you to an urban oasis where I’ve been able to offer some input into the final phase of their walk and bike trail. Since the final segment opened, I’ve also had the privilege of leading our neighborhood bike group on this trail on nearly a weekly basis for the last several months.

https://spcculturepark.com/

Can you think if ways you can serve your own city or neighborhood in creation care?

What do you think? How does this impact your thinking about creation care?

Thanks for engaging with us about creation care.

San Pedro Creek Culture Park - Flowing with Purpose | San Antonio, Texas Flowing with purpose, the San Pedro Creek Culture Park is a world-class linear park that serves as vital infrastructure for a growing downtown.

Seeking a “better life”?
By John Watson

Read Philippians 1:21, 23 in a modern translation (The New Living Translation is a good place to start).

Are you or your friends or neighbors dreaming of a “better life”, free from chronic pain and bodily limitations? Perhaps we could ask the Lord to give us opportunities to share with those in our community seeking a “better life” here and beyond?

What do you think?

Thanks for engaging with us about community.

A Cycling testimonial
By John Watson

1. Why I bike:
• It’s good for the environment.
• It’s good for my health. I’m a senior citizen.
• It reduces traffic for other motorists.
• I don’t harm others by polluting the air they breathe.
• It’s less stressful than driving.
• I don’t have to worry about trying to find a parking space, like I would if I were driving.
• I enjoy cycling.
• It’s great exercise: it builds leg muscle and keeps my weight down.
• I get to travel at a slower pace and see the world around me.
• It saves me money: less gas and car maintenance.

2. Where I bike:
• Anywhere and everywhere I possibly can in San Antonio. I ride about 50 miles a week.
• To the YMCA.
• To my neighborhood church worship services.
• To do most of my errands.
• At least weekly on the Greenway and other bike trails.

Do you bike? Why or why not? How does this impact your thinking about creation care?

This testimony was originally written at the request of a city staffer in the Department of Transportation in my hometown. I just included excerpts.

Thanks for engaging with us about creation care.

What if our neighbors could experience God’s love through His miracles?
By John Watson

Read Acts 4:18 - 30 in a modern translation (The New Living Translation is a good place to start).

What if our neighbors could actually witness God’s love for them through his miracles? Perhaps a miracle could be the “tipping point” for our neighbors to finally put their faith in the God of miracles and salvation. Perhaps we and our small group could begin praying now for our neighbors to actually see God’s miracles “up close and personal” and then finally start believing.

What do you think?

Thanks for engaging with us about community.

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A thanksgiving prayer about God’s creation
By John Watson

Here’s an interesting prayer from The Book of Common Prayer (1549) that I found in the preface in a creation care devotional.

“We give you thanks most gracious God, for the beauty of the earth and sky and sea; for the richness of mountains, plains, and rivers; for the songs of birds and the loveliness of flowers. We praise you for these good gifts and pray that we may safeguard them for our posterity. Grant that we may continue to grow in our grateful enjoyment of your abundant creation, to the honor and glory of your Name, now and forever.”

https://www.amazon.com/Green-Bible-Devotional-Daily-Readings/dp/0061885851

What do you think? How does this impact your thinking about creation care?
Thanks for engaging with us about creation care.

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What if our neighbors could experience God’s love?
By John Watson

Read John 17:25-26 in a modern translation (The New Living Translation is a good place to start).

What if our neighbors could experience God’s love in them? What part can we play to see that happen in our community?

What do you think?

Thanks for engaging with us about community.