- Activist Feedback
- Comment on the Essay “Should We Attend Meat-Eating Churches?”
- Essay: The Faith of Christ
- Resurrection Day Sermon from Rev.
Frank and Mary Hoffman
- Web Site of Interest
- The April
“Peaceable Table” Is Now On-Line
1. Activist Feedback
Clayton, who leafleted at Winter Jam Christian Rock Fest on March 31,
writes:
I arrived an hour before the event and, within 20
minutes or so, depleted about half the box of 300 pamphlets I was
provided. Most responses during these first 20 minutes were rather
positive. A number of folks seemed interested and even surprised to
see vegetarianism in a Christian context. Those who declined the
pamphlet responded politely with "No thanks" or simply shook their
heads.
The second half-hour of the distribution was slightly
less positive. A number of the responses from passers-by seemed subtly
snide. A common response made by those (mostly women) declining the
pamphlet was "I like meat," followed by (nervous?) chuckling. A couple
of people even looked disgusted or genuinely annoyed.
Despite
a few annoying replies, the overall experience was rewarding. Most
were receptive and nearly all of the pamphlets were handed out (I kept
5 for my church clergy). I look forward to helping out again.
Upcoming Activist Opportunities
4/20-21
FL Pensacola Extraordinary Women
Conference
4/20-21 FL Tampa
Acquire the Fire Christian Youth Conference
4/20-21 FL
Tampa
Acquire the Fire Youth Conference
4/21
NE Omaha
Women of Faith "Dream On" For Teen Girls
4/21
Tampa
Tenth Ave North Christian Rock Concert
4/22
CA San Diego TABLE EarthWorks'
EarthFair 2012
4/22 MO St. Louis
TABLE Earth Day Festival
4/26-28 KY Louisville
Joyce Meyers Conference 2012
4/27-28 AL Birmingham
Extraordinary Women Conference
5/27
NY New York TABLE Veggie
Pride Parade NYC 2012
4/27-28 MI Lansing
Acquire The Fire Christian Youth Conference
4/27-28 MD
Baltimore Acquire The Fire
Christian Youth Conference
4/28 KY
Paducah
Toby Mac A Night of Stories & Songs
4/28-29 CT Hartford
Table CT Vegetarian & Healthy Living Festival
5/4-5
IL Greenville AgapeFest-Multi time Opps!
5/4-5 GA Barnesville
RUSH Weekend 2012
5/4-5
PA Pittsburgh Acquire The Fire Youth
Conference
5/4-5 CO
Denver
Acquire The Fire Youth Conference
5/5
NC Charlotte Women of Faith Dream
On For Teen Girls
5/11
IA Council Bluffs Acquire The Fire Youth Conference
5/17
WA Tacoma
Joyce Meyers Ministries Conference
5/19
CA San Diego Women of Faith "One
Day" Conference
5/19 SC Myrtle Beach
Beach Blast -Third Day
5/20 CA Van
Nuys TABLE WorldFest 2012
5/31-6/2 MN Minneapolis
Joyce Meyers Ministries Conference
6/23
VA Richmond
TABLE Richmond Vegetarian Festival
6/21-24 NC Pittsboro
TABLE Wild Goose Festival
2. Comment on the Essay “Should We Attend Meat-Eating Churches?”
It might be a good idea to attend meat eating churches and be a
positive influence but to give our tithes to veggie charities. This
way we are not funding meat eating church events, though we can of
course contribute by bringing veggie burghers. Also we could
contribute by taking lonely or upset fellow church members out for
coffee and giving church staff vegan cakes as gifts at Christmas and
Easter etc. We can be generous with our resources while not funding
meat consumption.
Louise Watt
3. Essay: The Faith
of Christ
Last week, I offered some thoughts on the faith of
Paul, and this week I will consider the faith of Jesus. Though I think
there are significant differences between the nature of Paul’s faith
and that of Jesus, there are good reasons to conclude that Paul
encouraged followers to have “the faith of Christ.” In the epistles
that scholars generally agree were written by Paul (several epistles
attributed to Paul were likely written by people who sought to gain
wider currency for their ideas by attributing the letters to Paul), he
often talked about having what translators have interpreted as “faith
in Christ.” However, the Greek could also be understood as “faith of
Christ,” and in chapter 6 of my book Guided by the Faith of Christ I
give reasons to favor the latter translation.
It is not easy
to discern the faith of Christ, and a good scholar of Christianity
could write a book exploring the topic. The biblical account describes
Jesus as deeply faithful, even choosing to die painfully on the cross
in order to abide by God’s will. The Bible validates this faith by
describing Jesus as then resurrected, demonstrating God’s love for and
commitment to the Son.
Jesus trusted in God, and indeed the
Bible describes how God empowered Jesus to perform miracles. However,
it appears that Jesus’ trust in God was challenged, because Jesus
cried from the cross, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”
(Matthew 27:46). Finally, Jesus confirmed his faith in God, saying,
“Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit” (Luke 23:46).
Let
us now consider the present, 2000 years after these events. Scholars
have raised serious doubts about the historical accuracy of the
biblical accounts, yet the Bible is our only detailed account of
Jesus’ life and teachings. Is Christian faith akin to groundless
superstition, or are there good reasons to follow Christ? I will
explore this question next week.
Stephen R. Kaufman, M.D.
4. Resurrection Day Sermon from Rev. Frank and Mary Hoffman
The Dawning – The New Enlightenment
5. Web Site of Interest
Vegan Matters To Us
http://veganmatters2us.webnode.com/
6. The April
“Peaceable Table” Is Now On-Line
Contents include:
*
One of the "NewsNotes" reports on the current efforts to push ag-gag
bills in a number of farm states.
* Judy Carman reminds
readers in a "Letter" that the annual massacre of baby seals is
underway off the eastern coast of Canada, although the market for
seal-fur is collapsing. She urges us to join in prayers and
healing thoughts both for the victims and the perpetrators.
*
British activist Marian Hussenbux writes a review of the children's
novel Toro! Toro!, set in 1930s Spain, about a boy's love for a calf
intended for the bull-ring. Along the way, she gives some
interesting information about the rescued bull featured in last
month's "Glimpses of the Peaceable Kingdom."
* Millet and
quinoa, two valuable but neglected grains, come together to make up an
interesting and delicious entree in one of this month's Recipes.
* "We met in silence, the cows and I," begins the narrator in "Meeting
at Glenthorne," one of this month's Poetry selections. Not only
are the cows' eyes "heavy with eternity," but the very earth and sky
in the rural scene seem holy.
Toward the Peaceable Kingdom,
Gracia Fay Ellwood, Editor
To read this issue, see
http://www.vegetarianfriends.net/issue86.html