www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall record 22C temperatures in the Arctic & rain at the North Pole

You're a riot, SPDundas, on a bunch of different levels...

Alexis

This was the Scripture I opened to last night. I thought it interesting in light of all the global warming talk...

Wisdom 19:
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For all creation, in its several kinds, was being made over anew, serving its natural laws, that your children might be preserved unharmed.
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The cloud overshadowed their camp; and out of what had before been water, dry land was seen emerging: Out of the Red Sea an unimpeded road, and a grassy plain out of the mighty flood.
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Over this crossed the whole nation sheltered by your hand, after they beheld stupendous wonders.
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For they ranged about like horses, and bounded about like lambs, praising you, O LORD! their deliverer.
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For they were still mindful of what had happened in their sojourn: how instead of the young of animals the land brought forth gnats, and instead of fishes the river swarmed with countless frogs.
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And later they saw also a new kind of bird when, prompted by desire, they asked for pleasant foods;
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For to appease them quail came to them from the sea.
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5 And the punishments came upon the sinners only after forewarnings from the violence of the thunderbolts. For they justly suffered for their own misdeeds, since indeed they treated their guests with the more grievous hatred.
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For those others did not receive unfamiliar visitors, but these were enslaving beneficent guests.
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6 And not that only; but what punishment was to be theirs since they received strangers unwillingly!
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Yet these, after welcoming them with festivities, oppressed with awful toils those who now shared with them the same rights.
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And they were struck with blindness, as those others had been at the portals of the just- When, surrounded by yawning darkness, each sought the entrance of his own gate.
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For the elements, in variable harmony among themselves, like strings of the harp, produce new melody, while the flow of music steadily persists. And this can be perceived exactly from a review of what took place.
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For land creatures were changed into water creatures, and those that swam went over on to the land.
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Fire in water maintained its own strength, and water forgot its quenching nature;
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Flames, by contrast, neither consumed the flesh of the perishable animals that went about in them, nor melted the icelike, quick-melting kind of ambrosial food.
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For every way, O LORD! you magnified and glorified your people; unfailing, you stood by them in every time and circumstance.

I'm afraid that if we all followed the Eastern Fast, that on Wednesdays and Fridays, us humans will out produce the cows and the other ruminates... what with all the extra beans, corn, and vegetables.

We have to remember that, at least according to what I saw on the History Channel, that the Earth went through a mini-Ice-Age from the 14th to the 19th centuries and we are now coming out of it in the last 150 years.

Now, the experts did say that the only reason that the mini-Ice-Age ended was the Industrial Revolution. I've also heard that the earth warmed up after the Romans started mining for silver, gold, and iron.

So, once again, how much are we really willing to sacrifice to stop global warming. Will we give up metal?

It seems that, at least the pundits that I see on TV, everyone wants everyone else to do something to end global warming. But no one is actually willing to do what it takes on their own.

I have to second the notion that we should follow the Fasts more closely, even if only for health reasons, which are many... except for the sea urchins and other bottom feeders!

I think it is a good idea to "minimize" our impact as much as possible.

Thus we can

1) drive smaller cars less often. Especially in the US we need to get over our "idea of freedom" that a car gives and work together.

2) Fasting sounds good

3) Plant tress, etc.

4) Be good stewards of our own land by planting trees and doing what we can.

Sure it might start off small, but the point is for each person to start making a little bit of a difference.

Soon though, the biggest carbon polluter will be China and there isn't much that we can do about them currently.

Today, October 5th, 2007, here in northwest Ohio, it is about 82 - 85 degrees Fahrenheit. The normal temperature this time of year is 20 degrees cooler.

On New Year's Eve 2006, I picked a blooming dandelion.

Thirty years ago, we used to have snow from later November through the beginning of March. The winters have been been getting milder and milder since then. For the last 6 years, we have been getting autumn-like temperatures and precipitation for most of the winter, expect of about 6 - 8 weeks of decent cold and snow.

The climate is changing where I live, as well as other places too.

-- John

Same here, John. It is a sticky 85 degrees here today. For the last three years, what I have noticed, atleast in New York, is that the seasons have shifted...summer starts later and lasts into early autumn, autumn lasted into January, and winter didn't take hold until February, etc...very strange, and it is affecting the colors and the vibrance of the autumn foliage which was always such a beautiful sight to behold in New England.

On the other hand, in Athens, they had the longest and hottest summer EVER, and that was very scary.

Their were so many 'heat waves' into the 110 degrees area (in the shade), that alot of us would joke and say, 'why don't they just give it up with the 'another heat wave is coming', and just call the whole summer 'one big heat wave'! LOL!

When summers were their norm, (and the word 'heat wave' didn't even exist in modern Greek vernacular), air conditioning was scarce, as Greeks don't particularly like it since the air is not humid there, but it is rather dry and fresh-- after the strong sun dropped, the evenings were delightful, so there was no need for it to sleep either.

This year, it was impossible to live without air conditioning all day and evening long. Something is definitely up with these climate changes.

Alice

I don't know how #1 could work in Houston, unless it is an ideal. It can work in some areas.

I drive about 350 miles a week to and from work alone. This week I'll probably put on 500 miles to the odometer.

#2, you're serious about that one?

#3 and 4 are good and quite managable. I used to clean up some of the growth on trees with my dad once in a while along a major road, trimming the trees and some weeding around them. (We had gotten together with other people to plant them.) The trees, now after 15 years or so, are quite stout.

It was about 90 here in Indy.

I'll grant anyone that it's hotter. But is it a normal cyclical thing or should we all live in a cave? I think the science is still out on that one.

And, who here can afford to really live in a way that doesn't impact the environment. Even burning wood to keep warm in the winter (for the Canadians) pollutes the atmosphere.

#2 might not be the greatest, but fasting has never hurt anyone (when it is done within reason)

As I said before, I'am pro-environment, even though I'm not convinced things are as bad as some people insist. I have no problem supporting our own initiatives, but I positively want no part of the Kyoto Protocol or any treaty that poses a threat to US soveignty.

But fasting (you mean not eating meat?) seems to be bound often with spiritual devotion, to what end would we fast if for the environment?

[I look forward to the day when I will live a less urban life.]

Terry,

Good question, sir ! (By the way, you are making good posts in general.) Hopefully, I can make some good replies.




I'm smiling as I read this because I remember my own initial shock at the fasting rules of the Eastern Church. "They can't be serious . . . they don't actually [i]do that . . . do they? No meat, no fish, no dairy? Every Wednesday and Friday? And for weeks at a time in Lent and Advent and August? Insane!"[/i] LOL . . .

But it's true. "They" (we) do it. Or, we are supposed to be doing it . . . No meat, no fish, no dairy during the fasting days. People observe that rule to varying degrees, and there are many technicalities for those interested in such things. In general, though, Eastern Christians really do keep the basic rule of fasting.

Keep in mind that it's not full fasting. People still eat on those days; they eat carbohydrates (bread, potatoes, rice, etc.), vegetables, fruits, nuts, legumes, etc. It is, technically speaking, abstinence. Nevertheless, Eastern Christians keep the basic rule of fasting: no meat, no fish, no dairy during the fasting days.

I have found that fasting is quite possible with prayer and trust in Christ's grace. Like any other discipline, the key is to start small, to build up one's strength and one's discipline gradually but persistently, and to work up to the more challenging levels.

I have also found that fasting has several big, positive effects.

First, fasting enables me to realize --by direct, personal experience-- that I can make a major change to my lifestyle without ill effects by the grace of Jesus Christ. Once I realized that with food, I realized that I could make needed change in other areas of my life too with God's help.

For example, I kept the Advent fast for the first time in 2006. Much to my surprise, and by trusting in the grace of Christ, I did it. Then, after the holidays were over, I knew that I could start another needed change: quitting smoking. I had been a smoker for 22 years, but now I was able to quit . . . because I had already proved to myself (by keeping the Advent fast) that I could make a substantial lifestyle change. So, I did quit smoking. By the grace of Christ, over eight months later (and counting), I am still not smoking.

Second, there is a deepening of prayer life. One realizes just how much one needs the grace of Christ to make any needed, lasting changes. Those who keep the fasts are kept by them, by the grace of Christ.

Third, there is discipline. This, I think is especially good for men. Men need a certain amount of discipline that challenges us in our personal lives, that builds and focuses our strength. We thrive on it. Well, fasting is a way to practice that discipline: in body, mind and soul.

When I was a Roman Catholic, and when I was exploring the Protestant churches, I often felt things were too comfortable, too feminine, not demanding enough of me as a man.

However, Eastern Christianity makes those demands. It does not force, but it does demand: "Unless ye do penance, ye likewise shall perish." (Luke 13:3)

And the penance of the Eastern Church is balanced, and it becomes a way of life. Fasting is part of it. Church services are part of it. Prayer is especially part of it. But the point is: we are being challenged . . . and not just to sit through another sermon, or to give more money . . . in all the dimensions of our humanity.

Christ suffered for us, for our sins. When we are willing to suffer for Christ, we are willing to stop sinning. (See 1 Peter 4:1) And that's good, especially (in my opinion) for men, to remember and to practice. And fasting is a way to do so. LOL: in a very real sense, it helps to keep us honest.

If you choose to explore fasting, God be praised: you're a brave and unusual man in this flabby culture.

Start small and build yourself up. For example, you might want to start by skipping meat on Wednesdays and Fridays. Substitute it with seafood, cheese, nuts, legumes, peanut butter and other sources of protein for meat. (Ask us if you need food suggestions.) Skipping meat for two days per week won't seem like much of a sacrifice . . . until you actually try to do it. Then, you will realize how meat-saturated our diet it is, and how much we pay for it. You will also realize, more deeply than before, how much we need Christ's grace to make even the smallest, lasting change for the better . . . and you will be driven to deeper, more frequent, fuller prayer in order to do this. And that, of course, leads to a much fuller dimension of life: body, mind and soul. And it builds on itself from there.

Later (after a few months or a year or so, and maybe with some spiritual direction from a priest, monk or nun), you can take fasting to an additional level: skipping meat and seafood. Later still, you can go all the way: no meat, seafood or dairy.

By that time, you will "get it," and the different degrees of fasting (meat, fish, dairy) will seem like a natural progression. Also, the alternating periods of fasting and "normal" eating will be like a rhythm of physical growth and spiritual growth, which can do wonders for your body and soul.

That leads me to the fourth benefit of fasting: helping the environment. Cutting back on the consumption of meat and fish and dairy means cutting down on the demand for these products in the marketplace. That, in turn, means cutting back on the economic demand to cut down forests for ranches and fish ponds. And that means more forests will (God willing) be left alone: to remove carbon from the air, by using carbon dioxide and giving off oxygen. And that means less CO2 will be in the air to absorb heat. And that means, God willing, less global warming. All of this can and does result from the simple activity of not eating meat, fish and dairy on Wednesdays and Fridays, and Lent, and Advent and the Dormition Fast (two weeks) in August.

Finally, there is a transcendent benefit. If you do this, you will realize, even more than before, that we are all really interconnected by God. Our prayers and personal lives really do have consequences. Everything is happening in Christ, through the Holy Spirit, unto our Heavenly Father. It might sound goofy, but it isn't. It's the Trinity and sharing in His life by His grace, even (and especially) here and now.

-- John

I saw this on bbcnews.com today, and thought it was very interesting in regard to this whole thread:

Keep in mind when reading the article that 18C is 64.4 degrees Fahrenheit.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7027693.stm

Well, John, I think you did make a darn good reply.

As I was reading your post, I was trying to remember the last time I heard a homily on penance at Mass: it's been a while. I think the point you make about a man's need for discipline hits a nail on the head. Not that it's "male-only", but a man does usually need a challenge to stay interested.

Thanks.
Michael