Weekly Newsletter from Christian Vegetarian Association CVA - August 9, 2017
From Christian Vegetarian Association (CVA)

  1. Activist Feedback
  2. Original Sin, part 4 – What Are Its Features?
  3. This Week’s Sermon from Rev. Frank and Mary Hoffman

1. Activist Feedback

Matthew, who tabled at the Pittsburgh VegFest, writes:

  • The VegFest went amazingly well! There were over 10,000 people at the festival, the weather was great, and we had a whole lot of interest at our table!
  • About 60 people signed up for the CVA Newsletter, with 1 person checking to be a volunteer!
  • We sold out completely on both the Honoring God's Creation DVD and the Eden was Vegan bumper stickers, generating $39 total.
  • The "Vegetarianism Honors God's Creation" and "Would Jesus Eat Meat Today?" bumper stickers generated much interest and discussion.
  • CVA was tremendously praised from a variety of faiths- religious and non-religious stating they were so happy to see Christians involved with animal rights, environmentalism, and human health issues.
  • We probably spoke with at least 1000 people, most notably 3 pastors who believed strongly in what we were doing and many folks from different Christian denominations declaring their interest in CVA.
  • We only had three negative encounters, none outright rude or inflammatory. We responded with tact and grace.
  • Ironically, the son of our Senior Pastor at our church was there and said he was going to make sure he told his dad that we were at the event representing CVA, which hopefully will open doors to our church generating some interest down the road!
  • Overall it was a very enjoyable and rewarding experience and both Nina and I felt like we would love to do it again at a future event.

Upcoming Activist Opportunities

08/12/2017 WA, Seattle Outcry Tour Summer 2017
08/12/2017 MO, St. Louis Mercy Me @ Six Flags Over Mid America
08/13/2017 KY, Louisville Mercy Me
08/14/2017 CA, Concord Outcry Tour Summer 2017
08/19/2017 CO, Denver Outcry Tour Summer 2017
08/20/2017 WA, Spokane Mercy Me
08/20/2017 CA, Bakersfield The Concert for the Youth – Audio Adrenaline ….
08/21/2017 TX, San Antonio Outcry Tour Summer 2017
08/22/2017 TX, Houston Outcry Tour Summer 2017
09/02/2017 GA, Marietta Mercy Me – Celebrate Freedom / Jim R. Miller Park
09/08/2017 FL, Orlando Chris Tomlin, Rock the Universe
09/09/2017 TX, Houston Sisters, Celebrating the Art of Friendship (Women of Faith)
09/16/2017 TN, Memphis Needtobreathe
09/15/2017 CA, Fresno Sisters, Celebrating the Art of friendship (Women of Faith)
09/17/2017 CO, Fort Collins Sisters, Celebrating the Art of friendship (Women of Faith)
09/21/2017 MO, St. Louis Love Life Women’s Conference
10/03/2017 VA, Richmond Needtobreathe
10/05/2017 DC, Washington Needtobreathe
10/06/2017 OH, Columbus Needtobreathe
10/07/2017 PA, Reading Mercy Me, Life Tour
10/07/2017 TX, San Antonio Disciple
10/08/2017 OH, Cleveland Mercy Me, Life Tour
10/09/2017 NC, Raleigh Needtobreathe
10/10/2017 AL, Birmingham Needtobreathe
10/13/2017 IN, Indianapolis Joyce Meyer Ministries Conference Tour
10/14/2017 IL, Peoria Mercy Me, Life Tour
10/15/2017 GA, Atlanta Needtobreathe
10/16/2017 TN, Nashville Needtobreathe
10/19/2017 PA, Reading Chris Tomlin, Good Good Father Tour
10/20/2017 MO, Kansas City Needtobreathe
10/21/2017 MO, Saint Louis Needtobreathe
10/26/2017 FL, Jacksonville Mercy Me, Life Tour
10/27/2017 WA, Spokane Needtobreathe
10/28/2017 WA, Seattle Needtobreathe
10/30/2017 OR, Portland Needtobreathe
11/01/2017 CA, San Francisco Needtobreathe
11/02/2017 CA, Los Angeles Needtobreathe
11/2-7/2017 CA, Los Angeles Hillsong Conference
11/03/2017 CA, Anaheim Needtobreathe
11/04/2017 FL, Tampa Chris Tomlin, Good Good Father Tour
11/08/2017 IN, Indianapolis Needtobreathe
11/09/2017 IL, Chicago Needtobreathe
11/10/2017 NC, Charlotte Joyce Meyer Ministries Conference Tour
11/11/2017 MI, Grand Rapids Needtobreathe
11/25/2017 AR, Little Rock Christmas Tour
11/26/2017 KS, Wichita Christmas Tour
11/28/2017 TX, San Antonio Christmas Tour
11/29/2017 LA, Baton Rouge Christmas Tour
12/02/2017 DC, Washington Needtobreathe
12/03/2017 CO, Denver Christmas Tour
12/03/2017 MA, Boston Needtobreathe
12/05/2017 NY, NYC Needtobreathe
12/08/2017 IL, Chicago Christmas Tour
12/09/2017 IL, Chicago Needtobreathe
12/10/2017 IN, Indianapolis Christmas Tour
12/16/2017 PA, Philadelphia Christmas Tour
12/17/2017 NY, New York Christmas Tour

Tabling

08/12-13/17 IL, Leslie Veggie Fest 2017
08/26/2017 OH, Columbus Columbus Vegfest
09/02/2017 DC, Washington DC Vegfest
09/23/2017 IL, Chicago Chicago Vegan Mania
10/01/2017 CA, San Francisco World Veg Festival Weekend
10/14/2017 OR, Portland Portland VegFest
10/28/2017 FL, Orlando Central Florida VegFest
11/04/2017 FL, Tampa Bay Tampa Bay Vegfest
11/11/2017 GA, Atlanta Atlanta Veg Fest

Many people find leafleting rewarding and fun. And, when you volunteer for the CVA, the CVA donates $20/hr. to the veg. or animal protection group of your choice. Contact Lorena at lorenavalenziveg@gmail.com if you can help.

2. Original Sin, part 4 – What Are Its Features?

John the Baptist declared of Jesus, “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29) Is there, as John the Baptist suggests, a single “sin of the world” from which all other sins emanate? If so, what would be the nature of that sin?

For an action to be a sin, it must be a manifestation of volition. If we unable to resist the desire or temptation to act in a certain way, it would not be a sin. A cheetah killing a gazelle does not sin, because the cheetah has no choice in the matter.

A second feature of a sin is that it must be harmful. It has been tempting to regard actions that some regard as distasteful, such as homosexuality, as sinful, but if nobody is harmed then I do not see this as sinful. (For a discussion of how reasonable interpretations of the Bible are compatible with this view, see What Does the Bible Really Way about Homosexuality by Daniel A. Helminiak.)

For something to be “the sin of the world” it must be universal and underlie all other sins. Next week, I will propose what that sin might be.

Stephen R. Kaufman, MD

3. This Week’s Sermon from Rev. Frank and Mary Hoffman
Understanding Biblical Context

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