Common Sense Reborn

April 21

³¹Then Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;

let them say among the nations, “The Lord reigns!”

³²Let the sea resound, and all that is in it;

let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them!

³³Let the trees of the forest sing,

let them sing for joy before the Lord,

for he comes to judge the earth.  (1 Chronicles 16:31-33)

Tomorrow is Earth Day, the day celebrated around the world where we spend a few hours doing some good for the environment.  I thought these verses above were perfect to highlight from the Old Testament reading today.  Yesterday, I mistakenly stated 1 and 2 Chronicles was essentially 1 and 2 Kings written by another author.  But as I have just finished 1 Chronicles, I need to correct my statement.  1 Chronicles is the summary of the entire Old Testament from Genesis to 2 Samuel, chronicling every major name and lineage from Adam to Solomon.  It’s very dry and repetitive, but then we get to chapter 16 and see a prelude to the beauty of David’s writings as he gives praise to the Lord from verse 8 all the way to verse 36.  And in the midst of that praise we see these lines about the earth, sea, fields, and trees singing praise for the Lord.

I just spent last weekend “camping.”  Sleeping in a small pup tent and getting three nights of fresh air and perfect weather.  For two nights it rained on us while we were sleeping.  The sound of rain on a tent is peaceful and therapeutic, to me at least.  It is important to reconnect to our Creator as often as we can, and getting out into the wilderness is the best way to do it.  Moses, David, Jesus, they all escaped to the wilderness to talk to God.  It is just common sense.  The wilderness is the only place where you are surrounded by nothing but God and God’s creations.

So we spend one little day every year trying to make Earth a little better.  Well, we should treat everyday like Earth Day and take up practices to help preserve God’s greatest creation.  Let’s get behind green energy and renewable resources.  Let’s support regulation that holds corporations accountable for their pollution and wasteful practices.  Let us all work to a day when every car gets plugged into a home that is powered by the solar panels lining each and every roof.  

I mentioned how good NEEDTOBREATHE’s new live album was yesterday, but after giving it a second listen this morning, I have to share a video from the album.  I wish they would just release the entire show on YouTube, it would be a great virtual concert to enjoy in the comfort of your own home, or out in a field with wildflowers all around you.  Or along the edge of mercy’s shore.

Reading plan:  John 17:13-26

Deeper reading plan:  1 Chronicles 16, 17, 18