coming attractions ...

We're feauturing a series on companion animal sheltering and rescue this week on the blog, including discussion of the no-kill movement and one of its leading voices, Nathan Winograd; some excellent perspective by a good friend and committed Christian who works in shelter administration, MeLissa Webber; and a happy-tear-brushing post by Tracy Simmons on a pug resuce parade.

(photo courtesy & copyright Amy Sondova)

social networking ...

Karen Swallow Prior, friend, English professor at Liberty University and author of an excellent article on evangelicals and animals, recently started a Facebook group which I'm helping administrate: Toward a Benevolent Society: Abolish Abortions, Executions, Animal Cruelty.  Here's some of what she wrote about the group, which makes for great reading regardless of whether you're up for joining:

I chose "benevolent" to describe the kind of society envisioned by this group for two reasons:

1. The meaning of the word, "good will," is crucial, I think to making a better world in all respects.  None of us is perfect; the world is not a perfect place; but if we have good will toward others and want the best for them, that would go a long way toward improvement--not only of the world, but of ourselves!

2. As an evangelical Christian (though I hope this group will expand well beyond any one particular religion or interest group), my heritage includes well-known and influential leaders who changed the world, inspired by the impulse toward greater benevolence.  Namely, William Wilberforce, John Newton, and the Clapham Sect of nineteenth century England opposed slavery, hangings, and animal cruelty.  They saw the link in all these issues as the failure to wish the best for all living creatures.  They also saw that the tolerance of and taste for barbarism in any form makes barbarians of us all.

Just a reminder that not one sparrow has a page on Facebook as well, and I'm hoping to put together a group in the near future also.  Of course, you're always welcome to friend me personally!

every little bit helps ...

I'm sorry this note comes halfway through the colder months (and what a winter it's been here in the Midwest), but the HSUS has some great suggestions for small but meaningful acts of generosity we can extend to our wild neighbors in the cold, including simply keeping birdfeeders full and using nature-friendly sidewalk salt.

passages ...

LORD, you know the hopes of the helpless.  Surely you will listen to their cries amd comfort them.  You will bring justice to the orphans and the oppressed, so people can no longer terrify them. (Psalm 10:17-18, New Living Translation)

(photo copyright 123rf.com)

otherwise quotable ...

"I spent the afternoon in the park, trying to feed the pigeons. ...  I guess they all flew West for the winter." (The Office, 02/01/09)

for your consideration ...

The lifelike and emotional qualities which some these beyond-unique pieces of "inflatable street art" by Joshua Allen Harris take on is no less than astounding (video by Jonah Green, New York Magazine):

Update on February 3, 2009 by Ben DeVries

a prayer for Taj ...

I don't mean to abuse any so-called "executive privileges," but I wanted to pass along a concern which is very close to my thoughts and heart at the moment.  I was wondering if you might be able to send a prayer for my cousin and his family and their beloved cat "Taj," who took very sick in recent days.  Taj was having awful seizures which followed quickly on each other, and though he is now stable in a vet hospital, initial test results aren't very promising.

Prayer for a sick pet may seem low on a list of priorities, especially in such troubled times, but it fits with the biblical theme of God's concern for each of his creatures, including Matthew 10:29 - “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?  Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father.” (NIV).  And Taj's condition is understandably quite a weight for his guardian family to carry as well.  I'd feel very much the same if one of our own cats took a turn for the worse.

Many thanks for allowing me to pass this along, and I hope to have a venue for sharing similar requests in the near future, perhaps a not one sparrow Facebook group.  If you have any suggestions, please feel free to let me know. - Ben D.

update - I just learned that Taj passed a little while ago, when they tried to give him medication for his seizures.  I'm not sure what else to say, but thank you for your prayers and concern.  I know my cousin and his family will be feeling the loss for some time yet ...