The Heroic Dr. Matthew Sleeth

Back to the Blog... it's been too long!

Several weeks ago I had the wonderful opportunity to spend several hours with Dr. Sleeth.

I attended his presentation at the Church Solutions Conference in Phoenix, AZ. He is disarmingly childlike (not childish) in his presentation style and demeanor, which is very engaging and story-driven. This humility and very charming presentation style is almost apologetic, until you realize he is hitting you right between the eyes, heart and soul. His self-described title of "Ecovangelist" is right on. He has extensive Bible knowledge, especially as it pertains to justice and ecological issues - despite discovering the Bible relatively recently as an adult. Actually, I have seen that before with passionate leaders who meet Jesus as adults - they get "sold out" in a different way and powerfully understand the patterns of truth in the Bible. He's also hilariously funny and comes off as if he doesn't realize why everyone is laughing.

The best part of his presentation is that it was very spiritual and very motivating without resorting to guilt. In a nutshell his premise was: as Children of God we are connected viscerally to God's creation - and environmental issues are spiritual issues that begin with each of us - and it is important to continue to examine our lives in this light. Example: he was asked, "Where is a great, easy place to start this type of lifestyle reflection and improve our impact on Creation?" He explained that until recently he would have said, "Switch out all of your incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs - you'll make the investment back in less than a year, and if everyone did so we could close 22 coal-burning electricity plants..." but he has a new, more holistic answer after a lot of spiritual reflection. Now, his advice is: "Keep the Sabbath." God's plan for our lives has been to give ourselves, our man and maid servants (who are they in today's world? The short-order cook, the waitress at Denny's? hmm...) and the earth a break once a week. And to get out in it - reveling in the presence of God. We were created in a garden, the Bible begins and ends with trees, and Christ died on a tree. We are "without excuse" in recognizing God in his Creation. He told many stories and gave many examples from his own life about choices and sacrificing for the good of others. It was profoundly true, profoundly spiritual, and profoundly motivating. I'm not sure why it should be so difficult, but I would be happy if I can implement just 1/4 of what he discussed in that presentation. That is something to keep wrestling with.

As my friends and I chatted excitedly with him after his talk, he suggested we have dinner together. There, he revealed that his self-imposed rule is that he orders the same meal as the person who sits across from him, which was funny, becaus it made my buddy Jim squirm about his order for the two of them. Almost 3 hours later, we all had a profound respect for the awesome tasks God had laid before us - he as a proponent for environmental awareness as it relates to faith, and we as architects and designers of church buildings that will ultimately require huge amounts of raw materials, resources, embedded energy, and utilities over their useful lives. It was one of the more spirited conversations I've had in a very long time, and it is still resonating. How can we help the church be leaders in this movement?

A very cool aspect of his work is that people are coming to faith at secular institutions because of his presentations. People who had never seen Christianity as a lifestyle of humility and responsibility and servanthood (only fear and judgement) are responding to this "new" depiction of the gospel of Jesus. Also interestingly, Matthew felt he got a better ovation at GreenBuild (a secular eco-conference) than he does at most church-based conferences. When are we as the church going to get over ourselves? If we don't praise God, the "rocks" cry out.

Every now and then, I've encountered someone and realize, "I want to be more like them - because as a result I know I'll be more like myself - what God created me to be and to do." It's that resonance that responds to inward yearnings that just need mentoring or a case study or a catalyst of insight. Matthew - thanks for being one of those people, and I pray that I can be a small blessing to you as well!

A few weeks ago, I recommended Dr. Sleeth to Calvin College as a speaker and he is coming! He'll be there on May 1 and 2, lecturing as part of a day of presentations on environmental student projects, and Progressive AE will introduce him as part of sponsoring his visit. I think he'll be leading a chapel service as well.

Junky Car Club

I just joined the Junky Car Club which I became aware of from my new friend and fellow blogger, Michael Trent. My family's cars aren't really junky but they most certainly are not new. We have a 1988 Subaru Forester and a 1990 Saturn SC2. They're at that point where they might have cosmetic problems but we're not intending to fix them. I don't want to rehash the post Michael recently articulated at third place consultants - that moved me to join up - but I'm creating my own because there are many in my sphere of people who would love the desire and intent of the Junky Car Club: "Living with less so we can give more"

I love the idea behind this club for several reasons:

1. It provides some solidarity for those who could afford new cars if they wanted to, but simply would rather spend money elsewhere - like supporting ministry and relief work and other charities... and makes that something hip. I'll be getting a calendar. All proceeds go to feed the homeless and impoverished in L.A.

2. Yes, there are probably more fuel efficient cars available. I've experienced Prius Envy. However, the most environmental product in the world is the one you never use.

3. I'm one who anthropomorphizes cars. As a small child I saw an emotive face in every grille. Now I still love quirky, character-laden, junky cars. They develop personalities and collective memories that new cars just don't have. Every dent and scratch is like a badge of honor. The favorite car I ever owned was the one I just sold: in 2003 I bought a 1988 Volvo 240DL Station Wagon on Ebay for $1,300. That's incidentally the same price I paid for my first car; in 1989 I bought a 1983 Plymouth Turismo for $1,300.

4. Many of my circle of friends drive junky cars. Some out of necessity, some by choice. Now there's an official ministry basis for doing so! Join up here: http://www.junkycarclub.com/ and let me know if you've signed up. Perhaps we can create a West Michigan Chapter. Well envisioned, Mr. Mike Foster.