Suter Science Seminars
Friday, January 16, 2009
4 p.m., Science Center 104
Praying for a Change of Heart: What Do We Do with All this Science?
Joe Johnston
What do we know? That the earth is suffering in just about every way that can be measured? That governments, cultures, and social systems all contribute to the declining quality of life? That people are broken physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually? Yes, and we know that God did not create us to sit on the sidelines and watch. So what do we do? What do we say? How do we pray?
Peace, justice, and healing will only come with a transformed and newly empowered Christian community. Nothing less will do. And the yoke falls to us few who can offer a new vocabulary, a new sermon, a new mission. It falls to us who are blessed to know both the science of creation and the fruits of the spirit.
About the Presenter
Joe Johnston
Joe Johnston speaks with the voice of a marketing genius who spawned some of the very problems he's now helping to solve. He's an entrepreneur who hikes wilderness trails, an executive who leads prayer in two languages, and a teacher who lives in a remote solar-powered log cabin. He's uniquely equipped to see through the eyes of commerce, as well as the eyes of creation care, as he calls for bold and informed faith-based action. Armed with degrees in advertising and mass communication, Johnston led the group that invented McDonald's now-famous Happy Meal. After several such marketing milestones that helped establish our wasteful, destructive drive-through American lifestyle, he turned his creative talents to more helpful pursuits.
He now speaks about environmental issues as the author of JWR: Jesus Would Recycle. He's a widely published writer and an accomplished artist. He is best known as an award-winning songwriter, publisher, and producer of Gospel and other popular music. Joe teaches at Art Institute of Tennessee. He has served as a deacon, elder, and Sunday School teacher in a variety of denominations, and toured the U.S. and Canada, speaking and singing in churches. He's a Cub Scout and Boy Scout leader, Little League coach, and a lifelong outdoorsman who serves in both Christian and traditional Lakota spiritual communities. He's a founder and chairman of the newly-formed Moccasin Tracks Charities.
