![]() ![]() But he assured them that this tactic would conquer the very gates of hell, because he would be raised to life again on the third day. Jesus told them that he intended to use his own body to “dive-bomb” the gates of hell, by allowing himself to be arrested, insulted, tortured, and even killed at the hands of the Jewish leaders. However, from this high moment, it all came crashing down in the very next paragraph in Matthew, when Jesus began to tell them about the tactics he planned to use to bring down the enemy. I imagine the disciples were very excited and enthusiastic after that moment, and Peter felt ready to take on any foe after Jesus said to him, “I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18). This mental image of the tiny helldivers bringing down huge aircraft carriers reminded me of the Gospel passage we talked about last week, when Jesus told his disciples that they would be able to storm the very gates of hell. These tiny planes and the brave men flying them were able to assail and overcome massive opponents. In this battle, one pivotal element of the Americans’ success was the pilots who flew dive-bombers, called helldivers, and attempted very dangerous attacks that, when carried out successfully, were able to deliver missiles at exactly the precise spot to sink the Japanese aircraft carriers. I recently watched a movie about the Battle of Midway, one of the most significant naval battles in World War II. But in preaching fear without love, and guilt without redemption, the new religion is failing to satisfy our deepest psychological and existential needs.Video can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: Pick up your Cross – Sermon by the Rev. This spiritual impulse can be natural and healthy. But most of all there is a desire among supposedly secular people for transcendence. ![]() What's really behind the rise of apocalyptic environmentalism? There are powerful financial interests. Curiously, the people who are the most alarmist about the problems also tend to oppose the obvious solutions. And the risk of Earth warming to very high temperatures is increasingly unlikely thanks to slowing population growth and abundant natural gas. Deaths from extreme weather, even in poor nations, declined 80 percent over the last four decades. Carbon emissions peaked and have been declining in most developed nations for over a decade. ![]() And he led a successful effort by climate scientists and activists to keep nuclear plants operating, preventing a spike of emissions.But in 2019, as some claimed ?billions of people are going to die,? contributing to rising anxiety, including among adolescents, Shellenberger decided that, as a lifelong environmental activist, leading energy expert, and father of a teenage daughter, he needed to speak out to separate science from fiction.Despite decades of news media attention, many remain ignorant of basic facts. He co-created the predecessor to today's Green New Deal. He helped save the world's last unprotected redwoods. Michael Shellenberger has been fighting for a greener planet for decades. It is not even our most serious environmental problem. Now a National Bestseller! Climate change is real but it's not the end of the world. ![]()
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