this week I attended an all-day function for a different organization where refreshments dotted the day. many enjoyed bottled water. as the day progressed, however, I become increasingly disturbed that scads of bottles died a slowly decomposing death in the trash bins. no recycling available.

enter Dallas Theological Seminary. to my great elation, our campus instituted a significant recycling program, one that has been in motion for many years:

1. as early as 1979, we recycled and began a phase-out of all CFCs
2. in the mid-90s, we installed auto-HVAC controls, reducing energy consumption by 25%
3. our married student housing, completed in 2002, was built on “green” industry standards
4. this year, we contracted through 2010 to purchase electricity that includes a portfolio of 40% renewable energies (such as wind, hydro, solar) at below-market rate compared with non-renewable energies
5. for our new single student apartments, we partnered with a contractor committed to LEED® certification, and we await (expect) LEED certification of this building

as a dear, brilliant friend of mine posted, “Create in me a green heart, O God.”

Act I: this is a picture of Eva when she lived in Dallas. the first time. for the first Th.M. from Dallas Seminary. she helped her dad through Greek class by reciting the alphabet to him.

Act II: she moved back to Dallas with me in the year 2000. her second time. for the second Th.M. from Dallas Seminary. she helped her husband through Greek class by paying for his tuition.

Act III: she finally has her chance to study. in her one trip through DTS she earns two degrees. she helped her classmates through their classes by editing their papers and sharing notes.

Act IV: she becomes a missionary. her dad asks her to come share at his church for its Missionary Focus month. her husband dances a jig because he’s so proud of her he could burst. her classmates rejoice as she begins ministering to people around the world through outreach, member care, leading worship and teaching the Word to women. she raises support.

if you want the rest of the story, let me know!

this situation still screams for resolution:

Last week, the Sudanese government attacked the Kalma refugee camp in south Darfur, killing dozens and wounding more than 100 people.

News of this attack coincided with reports that members of the U.N. Security Council may try to let Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir off the hook for his crimes.

Any day now, the Security Council may seek to invoke Article 16, a provision that can suspend the International Criminal Court’s proceedings against al-Bashir. We can’t let al-Bashir escape accountability, and we don’t have a moment to lose.

you can participate in the solution by visiting the Save Darfur site and joining the chorus calling for action. on this day when you enjoyed immense freedom, serve as an advocate for those who suffer loss, instead.

within the span of 10 days I have had to digest a massive pile of painful conversations. more than any other time in my life. realities from every realm of life. and while the grief grinds my soul raw, it strangely gives me the sensation of being alive. in a twisted and indecipherable way, the circumstances trotting through my daily life cause me to wince. and grin.

somehow, experiencing heartache makes me feel more human than ever. walking with others through their heartache even more so. I think it’s because when two souls meet, unguarded and unadorned, they connect at the core. in a twisted and indecipherable way, entering someone’s tragedy excites me because of the prospect of knowing them through it…in a way that the good times never afford.

from personal hurts to family anxieties to professional challenges to ministry anguish, my emotions have far passed snapped. they’re defunct. and in a twisted and indecipherable way, this grief has reawakened me to the reality of our humanity.

we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing.

sadly, I possess an inky past with the law. it deserves no additional attention, here; I merely wish to confess up front that my experiences blur my objectivity and stifle grace.

a busy intersection in Garland, TX, just outside of a massive Wal-mart, inspires rushed drivers to loose their minds. certainly I have been inspired to such great heights. I now seek to observe the lines and patiently wait in line to turn left. drivers often coast in the lane immediately beside the turn lane and then cut over into a much-too-small space so they can turn left. this saves time, but hacks everybody off.

yesterday I approached this intersection and noticed a cop hovering in the lane beside me. fully confident that this law-abiding, law-upholding, law-enforcing patrol would not pull such a stunt, I accelerated to the light to turn left. just as I reached the light, however, the cop nudged into my lane! what in the world? I assumed it was my ungenerous imagination. in the next second, however, he confirmed my fear…the cop nudged into the lane, flashed his lights to force me to stop, and then cut across a solid white line, a lane of traffic, and my trust, to turn left.

attempting to assume the best about him, I told myself he had urgent cop stuff to do. but if so, why not have the lights on before that? I watched him drive unhurriedly down the access lane to…where?  I don’t know. hopefully, an emergency.