One of the questions I have had over the past two or three years is regarding the issue of humanities responsiblity of taking care of the earth. In the very begining mankind was given the responsibility of taking care of God's new creation.  We weren't to just rule over it, but to keep it as best we can.

Now I understand that things were screwed up when sin was introduced into the world.  Both man and earth found themselves cursed by God.  However, does that mean that the original job God gave mankind changed?  

I am not sure I am ready to drink the kool-aid regarding the most extreme of advertised green lifestyle, but sometimes I think we should be doing our best to preserve our planet for future generations and more importantly because our Lord asked us to. 

It seems like we never think of what happens to that trash or cigerette butt when we flick it out the window of the car or drop it on the ground.  A few months ago Nashville had some servere thunderstorms and we got to see first hand what happened to it.  Everything that was in ditches and near streams was washed into the lakes.  Later on, I saw a story that explained that all the toxic chemicals in the cigerette butts (those it filtered from your lungs) were absorbed by the water and by the animals that ate them.  Is that what God intended us to do?  

Likewise, having a new daughter I cannot help but wonder what the world I am leaving her will be like with the thousands of diapers I am adding to landfills that will not degrade for 20-450 years depending on the source.  Shouldn't I make the effort to buy the bio-degradable ones that only take 10?  The same with plastic shopping bags, is it that much more effort for me to remember to take canvas ones with me?

I would like to know if anyone else ever thinks about these things.  Like I said, this is just one of the things that occassionally rattles around my head when i cannot sleep at night.