Global Warming Questions

I heard (didn't see) that Al Gore got an Oscar for his "Inconvenient Truth" movie about global warming. Now, this post isn't a swipe at Gore, or the movie (I rarely see documentaries, and this one sure won't be on my list... "Ghost Rider," however, was right up my alley). Nor is it meant to suggest that I want to single-handedly destroy the environment, or that I am insensitive to thought of drowning polar bears or submerged cities or all the rest of the stuff we associate with the worst-case scenarios in enviro-catastrophe-land. I just have questions.

My first question is, is this warming thing really happening? I read sometimes that every decent scientist says "yes." Then I read elsewhere that some say "no." Then I read that the earth has gone through cycles of warming and cooling, and warming again. Then I read that a global warming conference in DC two weeks ago didn't meet due to the snowstorms. Then I read that it's warmer now, but that the process isn't man-made. And finally I read that the data they have doesn't go back far enough to tell us anything. I honestly don't know what to make of it. And some of the folks that seem sure, on both sides, seem TOO sure for my taste--as if their surety isn't the least bit dependent upon science, but instead is agenda-driven.

Secondly, if there IS global warming, what are the genuine, realistic risks? Is it a tenth of a degree over 100 years, or the melting of all the ice at the North Pole and time for an ark? I think I'd buy the whole theory more if the predictions were just a little less dire.

Next, assuming it's real, and the consequences are bad, what can we do about it... again, realistically? I know the senate shot down the original Kyoto treaty by 90-some votes, mainly because it exempted "developing" countries, like India and China, so they could go on burning coal while we in the west are all buying hybrid cars. How much does our effort buy us in terms of relief? Can we make enough difference to overcome 3 billion Asians' bad environmental behavior? Or do we all have to get on board to avoid doom? And what, exactly, is the prescription? Are we talking recycle and carpool, or are we talking the end of the internal combustion engine?

Finally, what's the opportunity cost? We all know that a 20-mph speed limit would save numerous lives. But we don't have one because it's just plain not worth it to spend the time. Likewise, what is the cost--in dollars, in lives, in convenience, in quality of life--of doing what it takes to get the benefits/avoid the pains of global warming? If, for example, the cost of saving a million lives in 100 years is $4 gas, fine. I'll pay. But if it's 250,000 lives in the next 10 years lost as third-world nations are stunted in their development, that reads differently. If it's major world-wide economic depression of 1930s proportions, that needs to be weighed, too. Again, I have no clue. But it seems to me that somebody ought to be asking these questions.

None of this is to say that we should just bury our heads in the sand, or behave badly on purpose until it is proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that our actions have consequences. Conservation, "green" behavior, and the like are worthwhile even if there is no imminent threat of cataclysm. I just wish I heard less doom and gloom, less posturing, and more genuine, thoughtful discussion of the issue. Any of my maybe a dozen regular readers got a clue about this stuff?

When in Rome...

Every now and again, my job presents opportunities that are just surreal. A couple of summers ago when a "dream grant" paid for my whole family to travel 7000 mile cross-country in a rented RV was one such experience. This week, another one popped up--Mrs. Sal and I have been invited to serve as chaperones on a class trip to ROME this summer. That's Rome, Italy, not Rome, Georgia. So we're scrambling trying to make 2 weeks worth of child-care arrangements and getting passports and all the stuff that goes with a huge trip. This trip is amazing... almost $4000 per person for the kids (it's also amazing that ANYBODY can afford to send a child on a $4000 trip). We're going for food and tips. I figure the Sal family in Rome will look a great deal like the wide-eyed wonder of the country mouse when he went to town; people who haven't had a working dishwasher in years don't generally zip around Europe. But needless to say, we're pretty thrilled.

Eternal Birthdays

Last night, while at Winterfest in Gatlinburg, my oldest son, David, was baptized. We had talked about the possibility (briefly) before he left--I had rather figured that a kid on the verge of making that decision might find a good opportunity at a giant worship experience headlined by Jars of Clay. Sure enough, late last night we got the call, plus a couple of grainy photos via email taken by a cell phone. Just like his brother's baptism a few weeks ago, this awesome moment served to put an otherwise great weekend in perspective: there are great weekends and then there are GREAT WEEKENDS! This would have been a much-needed long weekend anyway, and a good time has been had by all (kids spent part of the weekend with a favorite Aunt, so parents spent that same part together and kidless). But only one thing happened in our family this weekend that is going to matter forever. As it works out, I didn't baptize either one of my boys, but strangely, I don't mind--I'm just thankful for the way both of them had the opportunity to obey the gospel in a special way.

Ordering Your Private World, Week 5 & 6

Week 5 Notes:

Symptoms of Disorganization:

“The first step we may have to take is that of a ruthless self-appraisal about our habits of time use. Are we actually disorganized or not? Let us consider the traits of a disorganized life. Some of these symptoms may seem a bit ridiculous, even petty. But they are part of a larger picture that all fits together.” (p. 65)

When I am disorganized…
My desk takes on a cluttered appearance (along with other horizontal surfaces).
My car is dirty, inside and out (or behind on regular maintenance).
I become aware of a diminution in my self-esteem (as I wonder if anyone else recognizes that I really don’t have it all together).
There are a series of forgotten appointments, telephone messages to which I have failed to respond, and deadlines I have begun to miss. (This is more than just having a day where things beyond our control de-rail us; it’s the process of things beginning to pile up).
I tend to invest my energies in unproductive tasks (including procrastination and the general loss of will to put forth my best effort).
I feel poorly about my work (know deep inside it’s not my best).
The quality of my intimate time with God suffers. (God gets taken for granted, or pushed to the side).
The quality of my other personal relationship suffer.
I don’t much like myself, my job, or much else about my world. (pp. 66-67)

There are plenty of books and systems that offer help with time management and organization. But beneath the tactics, gimmicks, and tricks are some fundamental principles, which can be found in the example of Jesus:

“All four gospel writers present to us a picture of Jesus under constant pressure, as He was pursued by friend and enemy alike…. But one never gets the feeling when studying the life of Christ that He ever hurried, that he ever had to play ‘catch up ball,’ or that he was ever taken by surprise.” (p. 69)

He clearly understood His mission. (To seek and save the lost, Luke 19:10)
He saw “interruptions” (like Bartimaeus or Zaccheus) through the lens of that mission.
He understood His own limits, and therefore spent regular time in solitude with the Father, as well as time in preparation for major events (as did John, Moses, etc.)
He set aside time for discipling the twelve.

Week 6 Notes:

Chapter 7: Recapturing My Time

MacDonald’s Laws of Unseized Time (pp. 74-79):
Unseized time flows toward my weaknesses. (It’s easier to “fake it” in my areas of strength while putting disproportionate effort into areas of weakness. One solution: delegation.)
Unseized time comes under the influence of dominant people in my world. (One solution: formal “budgeting” of time priorities.)
Unseized time surrenders to the demands of all emergencies. (Solutions: Ask the “why now?” question; also budgeting time.)
Unseized time gets invested in things that gain public acclamation. (Solution: Be proactive, not reactive; be called, not driven.)

NOTE: These “Laws” are related to the idea of called vs. driven motivation/

How Time Is Recaptured (pp. 79-85):
I must know my rhythms of maximum effectiveness. (Sleep and fatigue patterns, morning vs. evening person, rhythm of the week, month, and year)
I must have good criteria for choosing how to use my time. (Picking the “best” over the “good” is a function of being called and knowing your mission; the secret to saying “no” is a better “yes” to a higher priority)
I seize time and command it when I budget it far in advance (“put the big rocks in first”)

Time Budgets vs. Money Budgets:
“Give Every Dollar (Hour) A Name” (Dave Ramsey)
Shared Goals and Priorities Within Families/Marriages (The “budget committee”)
Necessities/ “Bills” before Discretionary Expenses
God gets the first-fruits
If you don’t save off the top, there will never be “left over”
Some people have more money than they can spend, but nobody has extra time!


Jesus’ Time Budget:
Luke 4:16
When he came to the village of Nazareth, his boyhood home, he went as usual to the synagogue on the Sabbath and stood up to read the Scriptures.

Luke 4:42-43
Early the next morning Jesus went out into the wilderness. The crowds searched everywhere for him, and when they finally found him, they begged him not to leave them. [43] But he replied, "I must preach the Good News of the Kingdom of God in other places, too, because that is why I was sent."

Luke 6:12
One day soon afterward Jesus went to a mountain to pray, and he prayed to God all night.

Luke 9:51
As the time drew near for his return to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.

Luke 19:5
When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. "Zacchaeus!" he said. "Quick, come down! For I must be a guest in your home today."

A bad way to get a promotion

Another bantam basketball note for today. As we enter round two of the playoffs, we will do so without our best player, our point guard. Yesterday, in one of the freak accidents that can only happen to 7th grade boys, he broke his thumb. That's bad. What's more, it moves my kid to the point. The only good news is that our pretty-poor record in the regular season bought us a ticket to the lowest level of our playoffs, so hopefully he won't be bringing up the ball against a devastating press like we've seen from some of the big public-school teams we played in the regular season. If we can survive the next round, we may get James back for the semi-finals. Or we may be stuck without him all the way through. Either way, I guess it's a good thing we didn't cut the lucky hair.

I Lost the Bet

Yesterday I told my oldest son it's time for a haircut--he looks like cousin It. He, of course, had a pre-teen conniption. The big claim was that he just CAN'T get a haircut, because he's doing the Samson thing for basketball. Well, smart-aleck dad answered, "if you hair's so lucky, how come you've barely made a shot the last three games? Maybe a haircut would change your luck for the better!" So the boy makes a deal--he says if he scores in double-digits, no haircut. I think, safe bet. His best game so far this season was 6, and he's been as cold as an iceberg since late January. Well, he grabs the opening tip, and makes a layup. Two plays later, he makes his first three-pointer in a month. A minute later, another steal and basket, plus an assist. He has 7 points in the first three minutes of the game. Little son of a gun winds up with 13 to lead all scorers! Of course, I have to be happy for him. But I'd have been happier with a season-high 9 and a trip to the barbershop.

Open Thread for Sunday School

My notes are on the desktop at home, but I can only log on here at work. So if you are just dying to be the first person to post a comment on our recent discussion of time use in Sunday School, here's the place.