BLESSED EARTH

Serving God, Saving the Planet

DECEMBER 2009 NEWSLETTER || WWW.BLESSEDEARTH.ORG || VOL. 1, NO. 11

Celebrating the Savior of the world

I grew up believing in Santa and the
tooth-fairy. When I was eight I knew that
Lassie would find her way home and that the
Lone Ranger could out-draw, out-shoot, or
out-ride anyone. I’m a little foggy on what I
thought about Jesus at that age. During De-
cember he lived under our Christmas tree in
a little open-faced wooden barn with glued-
down straw. He lay in a manger with his arms
outstretched. Around him were glazed sheep
and some grown ups. There were three men
wearing turbans who had a camel in tow.
In a short while I wouldn’t believe in any
of this, and that’s the way it would stay for
decades. When Nancy and I had children we
started celebrating “Christmas” even though
neither of us believed in Christ. It was hard
not to get into the spirit living in a Maine vil-
lage that always had snow on the ground
at that time of year. I’m not so sure that it’s
wrong to celebrate something you don’t re-
ally understand. Who knows when the lyrics
of Handel’s Messiah really begin to sink in?
I do recall the first Christmas I realized
that both the Christmas tree and the Tree of
Life are symbols of God. And I clearly re-
member my first Christmas, as a new be-
liever, when I read aloud to my family from
the second chapter of Luke. “And it came to
pass in those days, that there went out a de-
cree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world
be taxed....And she gave birth to her firstborn
son....and laid him in a manger; because
there was no room in the inn.”
The reason we began Blessed Earth,
and that Blessed Earth does what it does,
is because of the birth, life, death, and the
resurrection of Christ. It is because of the
hope that our children and their children will
come to hear the story of the child born in
the City of David. We live and work and have
our hope in Him. May the joy of all the angels
singing, “Glory to God in the highest, and on
earth peace, good will toward men” be with
you during this celebration of the birth of
Christ.
Your brother in Christ,
Matthew Sleeth, MD
Executive Director

Creation Care Scripture Creation Care Tip of the Month

“They will celebrate your abundant
goodness and joyfully sing of your
righteousness.”
Psalm 145:7 (NIV)
Practice God-centered gift giving. A family we know
decided that each person would receive only three gifts
each year to symbolize the gold, frankincense, and myrrh
the wise men brought Jesus. Each family member now
receives one thing they need, one thing they want, and
one small surprise.

PO BOX 227 || WILMORE, KY 40390 || CONTACT@BLESSEDEARTH.ORG

Letters from You
CONFESSIONS OF A RECOVERING RETAIL MANAGER
“Exchanging gifts is a good tradition, but I should plan ahead and save in
advance, not buy impulsively. I’m sure the Wise Men planned for a long time
to celebrate the birth of Jesus.”
By Teri White
Contributing Writer
Christmas had become the center of my life, but for all the wrong
reasons. It was my job to merchandise stores with the latest sea-
sonal stuff. If it was new, it was better. It was my duty to make others
want all that stuff, and I was really good at it. I helped determine the
Christmas shopping season, and it was best to get it started earlier
each year.
Consumerism was my career focus. I had a sales number for
a goal, and I forgot the real reason for the season. Yes, it was me
displaying all those Christmas ornaments and decorations earlier
each year. Sometimes, I could convince myself it was just better
planning. Planning, I told myself, is good; promoting greed is bad.
What was I thinking? I’m conditioned by consumerism to think
the same way most of us do: I am what I own. I am my house, my
car, my clothes. When I think I am everything I own, I might look
good on the outside, but there’s really nothing good happening on
the inside.
The Bible warned me about this trap:
But the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the
desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it un-
fruitful. Mark 4:19
My work was in conflict with scriptural truth. Somehow, I needed
to become more content with what I had, rather than striving for a
never-ending MORE:
But godliness with contentment is great gain. For, we brought
nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we
have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who
want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish
and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For
the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager
for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves
with many grieves. 1 Timothy 6:6-10
. Prayer & Praise ,
n Prayers for protection for those traveling during the Christ-
mas season
n Prayers for God-centered giving and a focus on Christ for
Christmas
n Prayers for generosity from our supporters -- old and new
-- to help fund exciting new opportunities in 2010.
BLESSED EARTH || SERVING GOD, SAVING THE PLANET || WWW.BLESSEDEARTH.ORG
With the help of groups like Blessed Earth, I began to see that
selfish consumerism is not only bad for me; it’s bad for the planet.
My desire for stuff was toxic to all God’s creation. I started to learn
about another way: God’s way. With His help, I could actually begin
taking care of His creation. I could have a more simple life. I could
separate my desires and needs, and I could plan accordingly.
Conditioned to be an instant gratification kind of girl, I admit my
less materialistic lifestyle is an on-going struggle. I know God wants
me to prosper, but finding a balance is tricky. Scripture helped me
discover a layaway plan:
On the first day of every week each one of you is to put aside
and save, as he may prosper, so that no collections be made when
I come.
1 Corinthians 16:2
Exchanging gifts is a good tradition, but I should plan ahead
and save in advance, not buy impulsively. I’m sure the Wise Men
planned for a long time to celebrate the birth of Jesus.
When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child
with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when
they had opened their treasures they presented unto him gifts; of
gold, and frankincense and myrrh. Matthew 2:10-11
As a reformed Christmas merchandiser, here’s my advice: in-
stead of giving to those who need nothing, give to those who have
nothing. Start saving early, don’t overspend, and make your gifts
symbolic of the offerings that give honor to the Prince of Peace,
who brought joy to the world. No thing will fill your stocking--or your
heart--like the love of Jesus Christ. n
Teri White-Griffin is a recovering retail marketing manager who
now shares creation care wisdom and sustainable meal planning
advice at http://SageMcGreen.com.
n November marked our biggest month for unique visitors
to our Web site!
n We have added dozens of new resources to our Web site,
including a panel of exciting blogs written by special friends
of Blessed Earth.
n There is a heavy sense of gratitude in our hearts for all
that God and others have done not only for creation, but for
us personally. We are grateful.
Blessed Earth Resource of the Month
The Gift of Creation: Images from Scripture and Earth
by Norman Wirzba and Thomas Barnes

Perfect for a Christmas gift, The Gift of Creation: Images from Scripture and Earth is a
beautiful book featuring vivid images of the Earth and the varied forms of life that call
it home.

Coupled with the images are biblically-based essays, written by notable academics and
scholars from around the globe, exploring what scripture really says about caring for God’s
creation, as well as a scientific assessment of the state of the Earth.

Find out more about this and other resources at

www.blessedearth.com/downloads.html

Stock Photo

OUR MISSION
Blessed Earth is an educational nonprofit that inspires and equips faith communities to
become better stewards of the earth. Through outreach to churches, campuses and media
we build bridges that promote measurable environmental change
and meaningful spiritual growth.

Web: www.BLESSEDEARTH.org Blessed Earth

E-mail: contact@blessedearth.org PO Box 227
Twitter: www.twitter.com/blessedearth Wilmore, KY 40390