Embracing Kingdom Hope for a Broken World
Posts tagged Animals
Luke 12:6
Aug 17th
Green Verses: a series which seeks to highlight scriptures that point to God as the Creator, His sovereignty over the earth, His redemption of the earth, and our call to participate in that redemption. Take a moment and reflect on what God might be saying through His Word.
Luke 12:6
Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten in God’s sight.
I love how this verse highlights the value of all of creation. Here we see that what we might regard as insignificant is highly appreciated, looked after, and cared for by God.
In this particular verse, Jesus specifically emphasizes the importance of God’s creatures. Listen to what my friend Ben DeVries of Not One Sparrow has to say about this:
And if God places so much value in each of his creatures, how can we model ourselves after him by not making an effort to do the same? Every animal is a unique witness to us and the world of God’s grace, and deserves our respect and admiration on behalf of their Creator.
Good word. As followers of Christ, His values should be our values, His concerns our concerns, His care our care, His love our love.
Also consider:
Beauty of Creation: Egret in Louisiana
Jul 15th
Beauty of Creation: a series where we look to take a moment and appreciate the amazing glory of God’s creation.
Photo by Scott Williams
I took this photo near Venice Marina, Louisiana on our recent Gulf Coast Prayer Journey. I believe this bird is an egret, although I am not sure of the specific type. Perhaps it is a snowy egret. [Please comment below if you know. My identification skills are lacking.]
Regardless, this is an impressive bird that we came across on our journey. It was captivating to watch them walk around and fly overhead. I so appreciate the diversity and beauty of God’s creation.
Have you taken a picture that contains a glimpse of God’s glorious creation? Consider sharing it with our Creation Hope readers. Send it to us and we will post it so that others may appreciate the majesty of God’s creation.
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From Abandonment to Adoption
Jul 7th
Green Adventures: a series in which we invite you into the adventures from our journey.
Last night I found myself doing some work late. Not unusual. But I also found myself with a kitten asleep on my lap, another purring in my ear. Very unusual.
How did this happen? How did I suddenly find myself the owner of two tiny kittens?
You see, I thought I was a dog person. I thought that one pet (our beagle) was enough for us. I though I was allergic to cats. I thought we didn’t have any more space in our home to squeeze in anything or anyone else.
And yet there I was enjoying my time with our 2 new kittens that we got on Saturday.
So how did we get here? Read on to see how my journey to care for God’s creation has helped bring me to this place.
Because He Cares
Jun 30th
Green Adventures: a series in which we invite you into the adventures from our journey.
There are a variety of reasons to care for creation. Here are a few more popular ones:
We care for creation because of its instrumental value. I care for it so that I can continue to use it and benefit from it (food, resources, etc).
We care for creation because we are commanded to. I care for the earth because God called me to steward it.
We care for creation because by doing so we can love our neighbor. I care for the earth in order to help others, including future generations.
Of course, there are many other reasons. One that I have been learning more about lately is this:
We care for creation because God cares for it. As His follower, His cares and concerns should be my cares and concerns.
If God feels that creatures and creation were created good, that it is worth His effort to care for even the sparrows, and that it is important to reconcile all things, then perhaps I should follow Him in this.
I have often been called to follow our Lord, but it is only more recently that I am beginning to intentionally extend this idea to creation care. Perhaps I did this unintentionally before. Lately, I am seeing a plant not just as a plant for decoration or food, but as a creation of my Lord to be cared for. I am seeing the ant, not just as a nuisance, but as a creature of my Lord to be admired.
I find it easy to go through life without recognizing God’s creation for what it is. Trees, plants, flowers, birds, pets, and bugs abound. They are all around. Recently, however, I am seeing them more and more for what they really are – God’s creations. These are not just scenery, items in the background. No, they are incredible creations that praise God’s name.
I hope I can see this more and more. And I hope you can as well.
Also consider:
Choppers, Marinas, & Shelters
Jun 15th
Yesterday – day 1 of our oil spill prayer journey through the gulf coast – was just the beginning. With the arrival of day 2 things really kicked into gear.
We worked our way down to the Venice (Louisiana that is) area which is south of New Orleans. There was no big circus, no neon lights, no large signs announcing “Oil Spill Ahead.” In fact, the highway was characterized by calm and verdant scenery. This was broken only by the numerous police cars (to ward off BP protesters?) and round after round of helicopters that were ferrying bags around (presumably sand for the construction of six berms for the barrier island project).
The first stop of the day was at a community prayer center where we took the 
opportunity to pray. The design (including crosses and a prayer alcove built in the shape of the empty tomb) pointed to the great hope of the gospel. We prayed for the area and the effects of the spill, while holding on to that hope.
From there we headed down to the Ft. Jackson Rehabilitation Center where they are working to clean off the birds (pelicans) that have been oiled by the spill. Unfortunately, they were not letting outside groups in today (though we were able to see some of the cleaned birds from a distance). This article from someone granted media access gives a good description of the work they are doing there. Before we left we were able to pass along some encouragement and spend some time praying for this restorative work.
Our next stop was the Venice Marina. Typically the center of much fishing activity, the marina was lifeless. Very few boats went in or out. We watched as NBC made their hourly update, the pace of their broadcasting contrasted by their news that little was happening.
An interesting conversation with a ship’s mate revealed that many of the boats have been contracted by BP, though he indicated that they are not working too hard. He also pointed out that that they are still waiting on 3 weeks worth of payments. He said that he would really just prefer to be back to fishing. Unfortunately, it sounds like that is a long ways off.
We headed a little ways down the road to Cypress Cove Marina. There we stumbled into a conversation with guy (who asked to remain unnamed) in public affairs from the US Fish and Wildlife Service. This conversation will be fleshed out a lot more in several future posts. Here are a couple interesting quotes from him:
“We are the problem.”
“This is the cost of doing business, but maybe we should re-think how we do business.”
“What is it gonna take?”
He also pointed out that the birds, turtles, and other animals that are dying as a result of the oil is really just a warning sign. He thinks the bigger problem is at the microbial level, where this spill will have even longer term effects. It could be many, many years before fishing is restored, and certain animals could disappear altogether. He also emphasized how much of our food comes primarily from the Gulf, and how much of that may be lost.
My friends, his point was clear: this is bad, very bad! Our consumption and this colossal disaster very well may have changed a culture, a key source of food, an ecosystem, and the species found there.
Lastly, on our way back to New Orleans we stopped by the Plaquemines Parish Animal Welfare Society (PAWS). There we met with the shelter director, Jacob Stroman, who was more than welcoming. The shelter has seen a rise in animals that are relinquished (given to the shelter) recently, most likely due to the economic challenges resulting from the spill (note: “most likely,” because many people do not share why they give them up).
While there, we watched as a woman adopted a 5 year old dog. It was neat to hear as she shared her story with us. And the staff was overjoyed to see this dog find a new home. However, 40+ dogs and 50+ cats remain. This is certainly one of the effects of the spill that goes unnoticed: God’s creatures abandoned, stranded, and left in cages. While the workers at the shelter deeply cared for the animals there and did the best they could, this is certainly a less-than-ideal situation (note: Ben will be sharing this story more fully on the Not One Sparrow site soon).
It has been a long day, but a good one. A day filled with stories, unforgettable sights, and lots of prayer. It is midnight local time as I write this, and we will be up early in the morning to head to Grand Isle, LA where we will spend much of the day around the island with the good people of First Baptist Church, Grand Isle.
Very soon we will conclude this second day of our prayer journey in prayer. Please join us.
More on our prayer journey:
Dogs, Cows, and Sparrows… Oh My!
May 14th
I like dogs. I like cows – well, I like hamburgers and tacos. I’ve never really been a fan of birds though – I think it’s the germophobe in me.
Over the past months I have really come to see all animals – those I like, those I eat, and those I’ve not really been a fan of – in a new light. This is because I have come to see them from a more biblical perspective than ever before. Some of this Most of this has been prompted by the great work of one organization, Not One Sparrow which seeks to be a Christian voice for animals.
Not One Sparrow has prompted me to revisit how I see that my care for creation is not complete without a full, proper view of God’s creatures as well as His creation. I have had to reevaluate all of my views of animals, even those birds which though good to listen to and look at always creeped me out a little bit (perhaps it is left over from that summer that my sister and I watched the move The Birds). I have even had to reconsider what I eat. Their work has both challenged and encouraged me.
I highlight their work for the following reason: the way we view, treat, and consume animals is a critical component of how we care for God’s creation.
This weekend Not One Sparrow is celebrating their second anniversary. So, I take this opportunity to share a little with you about what they do and about Ben DeVries, the founder of Not One Sparrow.
In their own words,
not one sparrow is dedicated to being a voice for animals in the Christian community. Animals are unique and precious beings, and each one is known and loved by its Creator. As God’s children created in His image, we’re meant to model His care for them, and we’re called to play a crucial role in the redemption of all creatures: great and small, domesticated and wild, cherished and disregarded.
Their work is divided into four different areas:
- Celebration – cultivating an appreciation for all animals
- Consumption – considering how animals are used for human purposes
- Companion – looking at how animals are bred and kept as pets
- Conservation – regarding our effect on wild animals
One of the most unique things that Not One Sparrow does is their Companion Animal Suffering & Grief Support group. Here you can share your own struggles and loss, as well as memories and tributes to your fallen friends, even their caretakers. Not One Sparrow prays you will find empathy and comfort from other Christians who care deeply for animals, and also find the grace to share sensitively in return. Although I myself have not dealt with this yet, I have seen how tragic the loss of a deeply loved pet can be. I think this is such an amazing way that they comfort those in need.
This week I had a chance to interview Ben DeVries. Please read on as he has some really interesting things to say.
Scott: What you are doing is totally unique. How did you get into this? What prompted you to become passionate about this area and also what led you to start Not One Sparrow?
Ben: Thank you for saying so. You know, I used to love animals as a child, but really got away from that during my teens and college years. Over the last several years, God used the cats we adopted and some time out in nature to bring back the love and appreciation for animals I used to have, and a deep-seated concern for their well-being gradually grew out of that. I couldn’t believe how countless animals are being neglected and abused by our society, whether as unwanted pets or jeopardized wildlife, or even billions of farm animals being funneled through our grossly inhumane factory farms each year.
I wanted to respond in some way, and as I was finishing up at seminary (Trinity Evangelical Divinity School), I knew that my own heritage and community of faith had next to nothing to do with caring for animals, aside from the pets in our homes in most cases. We don’t even know what to make of animal advocacy most of time, just like I used to disregard and trivialize it only a few years ago. I did my final seminary project on a Christian foundation for animal welfare, which became Not One Sparrow, and I’ve always hoped it might play a part in helping our community and other confessional Christians understand how God has called us to be careful and compassionate stewards of all His creatures. We have a long way to go in fulfilling that calling. (If interested, I posted a more in-depth personal story at Not One Sparrow, and our mission, motivation and FAQ pages might help explain more what we’re about.)
Scott: If you had to condense your message to just a sentence or two, what would you say?
Ben: Sure, I would probably say something like this … God created animals with great care and intricacy, and He continues to care about them intimately and take great pleasure in them. He’s called us as His children and image bearers to steward animals compassionately on His behalf, and to work toward relating to them in a way which more closely resembles the innocence of creation, and the future peaceable kingdom of the new heaven and earth.
Scott: Tell us one random fact about yourself.
Ben: My wife and I are both big fans of British humorist P. G. Wodehouse and BBC mysteries, and I’m also a diehard Chicago sports fan, especially the Cubs, Bulls and Blackhawks.
Scott: Tell us one story (large or small) that shows how God has moved through Not One Sparrow.
Ben: One of the things which has been very meaningful to me of late was hearing from someone in South Africa who had been reading Not One Sparrow for a while, but didn’t quite have the courage to contact us. She’d been caring faithfully for a menagerie of rescued animals for many years, despite tremendous setbacks and even some opposition, as well providing services for many animals owned by the locals, often for next to nothing. She was really discouraged from fighting for so long on her own, and going without the resources she needed due to the tanking of the economy. She wrote to me, and recently to our community, that connecting with Not One Sparrow has been a lifeline for her, when she might have been forced to close up shop and perhaps even have all of her animals euthanized due to not being able to place them elsewhere. She’s not out of the woods yet, but sometimes I feel like I don’t know exactly what good were accomplishing for real, individual animals, and tears came to my eyes when I read what she wrote.
Scott: If someone wanted to learn more about caring for animals from a Christian perspective, what would you recommend?
Ben: Well, I would love to make Not One Sparrow available as a resource, and hope we can be of some help in navigating the sometimes misunderstood world of animal issues. But more than anything, I would encourage anyone to start by simply spending time around animals, whether at home or in the wild, and taking in their amazing personalities and other unique qualities. In the process, I think you can’t help but realize just how much will to live and vibrancy they possess, and how much they mean to their Creator. Knowing this, we can’t help but care more for their well-being and want them to flourish.
By the way, I would like to thank you, Scott, and Creation Hope for being such an encouragement to Not One Sparrow since we first connected a couple of months back. I’ve been blown away by your willingness to engage the issues we care about, and all you’ve done to promote our mission. Thank you, many times over, and we’re honored to partner with Creation Hope and to have you as an inaugural member of our advisory board. We look forward to connecting with more members of the Creation Hope community!
Thank you to Ben for taking the time out of his busy schedule for this interview.
This concept may be new to many of you. I know it was for me not too long ago. But their work has changed me. I now see God’s creatures differently. I eat differently. In fact, I have been so changed that when asked to join their board recently I gladly accepted. I commend their work to you and recommend that you subscribe to their blog feed, follow them on Facebook and Twitter, and bookmark them as an excellent resource to turn to when it comes to caring for God’s animals.
May God bless you as you further engage in this important issue. May God bless Not One Sparrow in their 3rd year as they move forward in their cause.
* Images from Not One Sparrow
Also consider:
Beauty of Creation: Beagle Puppy
May 6th
Beauty of Creation: a series where we look to take a moment and appreciate the amazing glory of God’s creation.
Beagle Puppy
Photo by Lauren Williams
I have avoided posting pictures of pets in the Beauty of Creation series to date. But our pets are God’s valued creations as well, so when I came across this picture of my dog when he was a puppy I couldn’t resist. There is something so incredible about the creatures God has made. Here we see the it-wasn’t-me-I’m-too-cute-to-have-done-it expression of a mischievous beagle puppy.
Have you taken a picture that contains a glimpse of God’s glorious creation? Consider sharing it with our Creation Hope readers. Send it to us and we will post it so that others may appreciate the majesty of God’s creation.
Also consider:
Beauty of Creation: Moose
Apr 29th
Beauty of Creation: a series where we look to take a moment and appreciate the amazing glory of God’s creation.
Moose
Photo by Ben DeVries
Ben DeVries, of Not One Sparrow, sent in this cool photo. This is a picture of a moose silhouetted in Rocky Mountain National Park. I really like this. There seems to be something so peaceful about it. Thank you to Ben for sending it in.
Have you taken a picture that contains a glimpse of God’s glorious creation? Consider sharing it with our Creation Hope readers. Send it to us and we will post it so that others may appreciate the majesty of God’s creation.
Also consider:
Beyond the Taco Stand
Apr 28th
Green Adventures: a series in which we invite you into the adventures from our journey.
I love tacos. Now, I’m not just talking about your average Taco Bell taco. No, I’m talking about authentic, Mexican tacos. You know, the ones that you actually get in Mexico. The ones from the taquería (taco stand) where they warm the tortillas and then throw in that freshly cooked meat. Then they proceed to add on all the accoutrements including the fresh guacamole. They’re best with carne asada but I also enjoy the al pastor, pescado (fish), and even the cabeza (head meat; not brain). Just typing this, my mouth is salivating.
In case you are underestimating how much I love these, many of my usernames and email addresses include some variation of taco and lover. My twitter handle: @scottlovestacos. At my wedding, we had Mexican food. My favorite taquería is El Apache in Ensenada, Mexico.
Long story short: I am a carnivore. Well, an omnivore really, but I really enjoy meat. While I love tacos and all Mexican food, I also really enjoy eating well prepared meat. The odds of me becoming a vegetarian are very slim.
Now up until a little while ago I basically thought my meat originated in the grocery store. Of course, it’s not like I thought that a piece of steak had no history. It’s that I never thought about it, effectively removing any history it did have.
I guess in my mind (particularly due to some very good advertising here in California) I figured that these animals had happy-go-lucky farm lives prior to their journey to the local supermarket. I did not know much about what went on. To be honest, I am not sure I wanted to know. You see, by divorcing myself from their history, I effectively dodged any moral dilemmas I might encounter when faced with the reality of their treatment.
All that said, I have been on a journey of late which has strongly impacted the way I eat. I’m not exactly sure how it came about. Perhaps it was watching the movie Food, Inc. Or discovering more about how animals are typically treated in the factory farms most of our food comes from today. Or learning about the huge ecological footprint of eating meat. Or participating in Meatless Monday. Or from all that I have learned from Ben DeVries and the work of Not One Sparrow. More likely it was some combination of all these things.
The first step in this journey has been one of discovery and understanding. Through the sources listed above and a several others, the curtain has been pulled back. I have learned that there is a deep environmental cost to the meat I consume, especially beef. I have learned that there is a much larger story behind the meat you pick up at the grocery store; that bacon, for example, didn’t began as bacon but as a pig with a history. I have learned that the image of a laid back country farm where the Wilburs are cared for, loved, and happy is not actually the case. I have learned that as creations and and fellow worshippers of God animals should receive our care and consideration.
In the second step in my journey I really took these things to heart. Between the ugly images of how animals are treated and brutalized and the balanced, inspiring words I have read at Not One Sparrow, I have come to realize that this is more than meat, it is an animal. And an animal is much more than food, it is a creation of God. I do believe that God has given us animals for our use and consumption. But He has also given them to us for our care. This journey has led me to see – not just in an abstract way – that our consumption cannot be divorced from our care. I have come to realize that I myself am complicit in the poor treatment of animals even if it is indirectly. I have come to develop a newfound respect and compassion for God’s creatures.
The third step has been to put some of this into action. For me it began with a notion that I should cut meat out of my lunches. I did this for the following reasons: to improve my health, to lessen my impact on God’s creation, and to opt of out our factory farm system a bit more. So I now go about 6 days a week without having any sort of meat for lunch.
Then came Meatless Monday. Jon Mestas, fellow blogger at Creation Hope, brought this to our communities attention. Simply put, you don’t eat meat on Mondays. While the thought of becoming a vegetarian seems daunting, I was certain I could go one day without meat.
Lastly I have made an intentional effort to choose better alternatives. This is less concrete but important nonetheless. Animals with a smaller environmental footprint are preferred. Then attempts at better options based on free-range or not, what they are fed, etc are made. To be honest we have a long way to go on this, but we are trying and moving forward.
The amazing thing to me is how easy all of this has been. Perhaps we are not yet doing much, but the steps we have taken have been quite painless. On meals or days without meat, I do not feel less fulfilled as a person. Nor am I less full. Nor has eating less meat affected my manhood or quality of life. While it does take some intentionality, it is not a hard switch.
The remainder of my journey is yet to come. In fact, we are so new to this that I have no idea where it is going to go. That said, my wife and I have been intentional about talking and exploring ways we can further change the impact of our consumption. Here are a few that we are considering (and are open to further suggestions as well):
- Discovering more about how we can consume meat in a compassionate manner
- Continuing to cut our consumption of meat, especially those with the greatest impact on creation
- Purchasing a side of beef (probably with someone else) of a grass-fed cow that has been raised locally and treated appropriately
- Raising our own chickens in our backyard for eggs and perhaps meat in order to ensure that they are well cared for
- Working to reduce waste to ensure that the cost of an animal’s life is not so that it wind up in a landfill without ever being consumed
To be honest, I am not ready to eliminate meat from my diet. As of today, I don’t think I ever will do so completely. But that does not have to prevent me from continuing my journey to eat in ways that respect the value and worth of each of God’s animals. I have not eaten my last taco. But I have eaten the last taco that thinks the meat originates at the taco stand.
Tacos are now forever changed for me. No longer is it a carne asada (marinated beef) taco; it is a taco made from a vaca (cow). No longer is it carnitas (pork), it is a cerdo (pig). No longer is it pollo (chicken), it is a gallina (chicken). No longer is it pescado (fish); it is pez (fish).
The meat we consume does not come into existence at the taco stand or at the market. It has a history. It was an animal – one of God’s precious creatures. No matter where you are in your journey, I encourage you to see beyond the taco stand and into the life of the cow, the pig, the chicken, and the fish. What steps can you take to better care for each one of these unique and incredible creations.
{I originally wrote this for Not One Sparrow where it was posted as “beyond the taco stand.” Thank you to Not One Sparrow and Ben DeVries for featuring it and allowing us to use it here on Creation Hope as well. Not One Sparrow is doing some great work being a voice for animals in the Christian community. In addition to their website you can connect with them on Facebook and Twitter.}
* Taco image from
Also consider:
Beauty of Creation: Zebras in Ethiopia
Apr 15th
Beauty of Creation: a series where we look to take a moment and appreciate the amazing glory of God’s creation.
Zebras in Ethiopia
Photo by Nate Conklin
Thank you to Sharon Conklin who submitted her husband Nate’s great photo from Ethiopia. To date we have spent much time appreciating the beauty of God’s creation as seen in sunsets, plants, views, and more but little time on animals. Today we take a moment to appreciate the beauty of creation as seen in this picture of two Zebras. How awesome is our Lord?
Have you taken a picture that contains a glimpse of God’s glorious creation? Please consider sharing it with our Creation Hope community. Send it to us and we will post it so that others may appreciate the majesty of God’s creation.
Also consider:
