creation in captivity

Recently we shared about a great new book from our friend Anna Clark, Green, American Style, and some of the creation and creature care themes it touches on, including endangered animals.  This thoughtful post from Anna explores the critical implications of that last concern further ...

The zoo, the aquarium, the arboretum … it’s springtime and I’ve been thinking about activities to do with the kids.  We have memberships to these places, so it’s easy to pop in and out to admire the exhibits.  Today we might visit the “Wilds of Africa” at the zoo.  Or perhaps we’ll take a look at the tropical fish tanks, the manatees, and the penguins at the aquarium.  Or we could have a picnic in the lush gardens of the arboretum.  How blessed I am to have such an abundance of flora and fauna within 15 minutes of my front door.

Then it occurred to me.  There are many others – most, in fact - who don’t have that kind of access.  When did nature become a luxury item?

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God's natural systems

A poignant contribution to our series on creation care and creature care from good friend Dean Ohlman of RBC Ministries and The Wonder of Creation ...

You make springs gush forth in the valleys;
   they flow between the hills;
they give drink to every beast of the field;
   the wild donkeys quench their thirst.
Beside them the birds of the heavens dwell;
   they sing among the branches.
From your lofty abode you water the mountains;
   the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your work.

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faq #10, is not one sparrow part of the creation care community?

We're opening up a new question in our FAQ series this week: "Is not one sparrow part of the creation care community?"  I'll be sharing a reflection on why creation care needs a concern for animals in a day or two, and oddly enough speaking on the same theme at a couple of upcoming events as well.  It's a subject I've wanted to tackle for a while now, and I'm grateful for the opportunity.

We'll also be pointing to some poignant reflections from friends in the creation care community through the rest of the series, and then looking at a number of wildlife, sea life and endangered species issues in following weeks.  But here's just a brief preview of the question du jour from our FAQ page in the meantime:

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meat-eating and money matters

Lauren Merritt of The Christian and Creation continues our series on compassionate eating with a needed look at one factor which often influences our decision making at the grocery store, especially when it comes to the additional expense of more humanely raised meats.  Here is "Meat-Eating, Money Matters, and Some Hard Questions," which will be followed in the next few posts by some additional perspectives on reducing the amount of meat we eat ...

God created Eden as a vegetarian paradise (yes, I said it – vegetarian, if not vegan) where animals had no fear of man and were Adam and Eve’s companions.  There was no death, therefore it should be obvious no killing, not even of animals for food.   The dominion God gave Adam and Eve over the creatures of the earth and sea did not, in his original plan, include using them for food (or even labor, as the land, unstained by sin, easily gave forth its fruit).  The command to have dominion over the animals was given before the fall, when man and creatures were peaceful, gentle, and basking in the presence of God.

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animal rights or human responsibility?

Closing out our FAQ series on animal rights is a helpful perspective from Dean Ohlman of RBC Ministries and The Wonder of Creation, and one which not one sparrow very much identifies with, "Animal Rights or Human Responsibility?" ...

The angel of the LORD moved on ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to turn, either to the right or to the left. When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she lay down under Balaam, and he was angry and beat her with his staff.  Then the LORD opened the donkey’s mouth, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?”  Balaam answered the donkey, “You have made a fool of me!  If I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now."  The donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your own donkey, which you have always ridden, to this day?  Have I been in the habit of doing this to you?”  ”No,” he said.  Then the LORD opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with his sword drawn.  So he bowed low and fell facedown. (Numbers 22:26-31, NIV)

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faq #4, is not one sparrow an evangelical effort?

Number four in our frequently asked questions series has as much to do with not one sparrow's foundation and makeup as a community as with our concern for animals, but it's an important one for that same reason.  Is not one sparrow an evangelical effort?  The short answer is "yes, and ..."  But let me flesh that out a little bit before any eyebrows raise too curiously.

One of the main reasons not one sparrow was launched a little over two years ago was because I (Ben DeVries) had become painfully aware that there was very little voice for animal concerns from, and especially within, my home community of faith, the evangelical tradition.

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Billy Graham on caring for animals

Just as we're answering the question whether Christians are supposed to have other priorities than caring for animals, I was very happy to learn (via Denise LaChance and Our Hen House) that Billy Graham recently answered a similar question at The Christian Post.  The legendary evangelist and much-respected Reverend Graham's guest column from May 17th is titled "Is God Interested in Animal Care?"  

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faq #2, but don't we have other priorities as christians?

"Is caring for animals a valid Christian concern?" was the first in our recently begun frequently asked questions series.  Another question which seems to come up almost as quickly, especially when just beginning to wonder how caring for animals fits into the rest of our walk and community of faith, is something along the lines of, "But don't we have other priorities as Christians?"

Even as we come to understand and believe that animals are loved by their Creator, and that He cares about how we treat them, it still seems hard to know exactly where to place this issue on the scale of spiritual significance, and what lengths we should go to in responding to it. 

I felt the same way less than four years ago, as I was beginning to find myself more and more drawn to animals, and affected by the glimpses I caught of their suffering.  It made to sense that I was supposed to love and care for my own pets, and give myself freedom to invest in a cause like pet rescue and adoption.  But I honestly struggled to know, especially sitting in seminary classes surrounded by fellow students preparing for some form of ministry, to what extent I could ask or expect other Christians to be concerned with animal causes. 

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official not one sparrow apparel!

Updated on August 23, 2010 by Ben DeVries

One last anniversary highlight to pass along ...  We just opened a brand new, official not one sparrow apparel and gear shop at CafePress!  $5 of every item you purchase goes toward supporting not one sparrow, and we're very grateful for the word of mouth and support!

Our CafePress shop has several styles of men's and women's t-shirts, both white and black (including some organic options), as well as long sleeves and sweatshirts, kids' and baby shirts, and even a few fun items like mugs, tote bags and a doggie t-shirt! 

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surprised by a hummer!

An eloquent and touching reflection from my father Daryl DeVries on a surprise visit he received from a ruby-throated hummingbird in need of assistance ...

I started work as a cabinetmaker almost two years ago after returning from the Netherlands and a ministry there of 17 years.  What I initially thought would be a temporary job turned into months and now years.  The cabinet shop is an old, musty basement without windows in an undesirable part of town.

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