Blog

Leah Kostamo is an earthkeeper and storyteller who is passionate about helping others live lightly on the earth from a place of joy and hope. For the past twelve years Leah and her husband Markku have spearheaded the work of A Rocha in Canada. She is the author of Planted: a Story of Creation, Calling and Community.

17th April 2014 | Leah Kostamo | 3 comments

A Sucker for Easter

In these days drawing near to Easter I am mindful of Christ’s work of redemption – of His design to reconcile ‘all things’ to Himself, as Paul says in Colossians. His work of redemption not only transforms human lives, but all of creation as we participate with him in his reconciling work. Allow me to illustrate.

Categories: Reflections
21st March 2014 | Peter Harris | 4 comments

A fatwa for nature

The news that Indonesia’s senior Muslim clerical body has issued a fatwa against illegal hunting and the poaching of endangered species has caused considerable media interest. The story serves to illustrate that it is now mainstream for conservation organizations to understand that religious groups can play a central role in achieving conservation goals.

Categories: Reflections
5th February 2014 | Dave Bookless | 9 comments

Walking the talk: Living with integrity in a disintegrating world

In a disintegrating world we tend to live disintegrated lifestyles, with beliefs, values, and lifestyle choices in separate compartments. This can lead to a huge guilt trip. In ecological terms I know I’m hypocritical. But guilt doesn’t help. Instead, here are some positive suggestions… and I’m speaking to myself here.

Categories: Reflections
31st December 2013 | Dave Bookless | 4 comments

Out with the old, in with the new?

Today’s consumer culture takes a love of new starts to extremes. Fed up with your clothing, computer, phone or furniture? Chuck them out and buy something new. The New Testament is full of ‘new heaven’, ‘new earth’, ‘new Jerusalem’, ‘new creation’. As I grew up I assumed ‘new’ meant exactly what it means in the culture I’m surrounded by.

Categories: Reflections
20th November 2013 | Leah Kostamo | 1 comments

Holy Ground

When Moses stood at the burning bush God told him to take off his shoes because the place where he was standing was holy ground. What made it holy was the presence of God. But what if God, being everywhere, makes every place holy?

Categories: Reflections
31st October 2013 | Dave Bookless | 6 comments

To boldly go? Exploring planetary boundaries

Once upon a time we believed ‘the sky’s the limit’. Then we discovered ‘space, the final frontier’. Now we reach out ‘to infinity and beyond’. Is there no limit to our ambition? The idea of boundaries has become counter-cultural. It’s why tackling humanity’s footprint never gets to the top of the agendas. We simply don’t want to be told ‘Enough!’

Categories: Reflections
23rd October 2013 | Leah Kostamo | 2 comments

Getting in gratitude shape

Perhaps you are like the rest of us who find it easier to count our irritations, challenges, annoyances, etc., etc., than count our blessings. Our gratitude muscles have grown flabby through lack of use. What we flabby would-be appreciators need is something to make us truly thankful. What better place to start than where we are and what we are standing upon. Dirt.

Categories: Reflections