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Earth
Day
By Guest Writer:
Mark J. James (Director of Recycling, City of Baltic, Maddocha. Member of Encouraging Word Bible Church in Baltic, Maddocha)
Earth Day was established on April 22, 1970 at the suggestion of Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin. Senator Nelson wanted it to be a National Day like Arbor Day. Earth Day was to be a day focused on the environment. Earth Day is now widely celebrated on April 22.
Should we as Christian focus on Earth Day? The earth is the Lord and the fullness thereof; the world and they that dwell therein, is stated in Psalms 24:1. That let’s us know that we should care for the earth. Did you know that the word Earth is referenced 906 times in the Bible?
God created man from the Earth, as it states in Genesis 2:7, “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.” So, the earth is part of us. When we die, we go back into the earth, so, we are a part of the earth.
The earth gives us our food. The earth gives us shade from the sun. The earth gives us shelter from the elements. We as Christians must help conserve and maintain the earth. We should be leaders in the conservation of the earth.
There are a number of things that can be done to safeguard the earth. They are listed below.
You can recycle. This is something that is relatively easy to. Recycle your bottles, cans, and newspapers. It can be done in four easy steps. First, find a place in your house to recycle.
Second, find out if your city has a recycling program. Third, sort your recycling items into groups. Last, put your recycling out to be recycled.
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Keep your neighborhood clean. Pick up the trash that you see in your neighborhood. If you see trash, don’t just leave it there; make an effort to pick it up. The cleaner your neighborhood is, the better the environment in your neighborhood will be.
Plant a tree or a garden. Planting a tree is a great way to help the earth. Trees add value to homes. They help cool homes and neighborhoods. Trees protect homes from the wind, lowering energy costs. They also provide food for wildlife. Planting a garden has many benefits. Be sure to plant native plants in your garden. This will reduce the amount of water used on watering the grass. It also reduces the use of pesticides and herbicides. It will help the wildlife in the area if native plants are planted. It adds to the property value as well.
Use alternate methods of transportation. Try riding a bike, walking, or riding mass transportation. Driving affects the environment in a number of ways. By using an alternate method of transportation, the amount of carbon dioxide is decreased. The ozone is protected when an alternate method of transportation is used. Traffic is also reduced.
Conserve water. Make an effort to use less water. Using less water stops the drain on natural sources of water, preserving lakes and streams. It reduces the need to look for alternative water sources. Here are some ways to conserve water. Mend any dripping faucets. Use your fridge to cool water instead of letting it run until it is cool. Take short showers instead of long baths. Do not run the water constantly while brushing your teeth.
Conserve electricity. Make an effort to use less electricity. This will help reduce electricity bills as well as help the earth. Here are some ways to conserve electricity. Unplug appliances when they are not in use. Set your thermostat to a sensible temperature. Turn off the lights when you leave the room. Use sunlight as much as possible instead of artificial light.
By doing any or all of the aforementioned items, you will be helping the earth, God’s creation for us.
Be mindful of the earth. It is the home that God provided for us. Let’s try to keep it in good shape.
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