I look forward to the day when I can write good things about Lakeshore Humane Society. But I cannot yet because nothing has changed, and nothing will change until the evil, insane board members are ousted and a real leader is put in charge of the shelter. This will only happen if the membership of Lakeshore Humane Society decides to vote the right way. If they do not, I believe the society will fall apart on it's own. The lack of leadership is the downfall of most any company, humane societies included.
Today, I received an email that contained a video of a dog named Mary who is being held in the back of the humane society with the public's boarded dogs, which is another problem in and of itself that I will not get into here. I would really like you to watch Mary's video and understand that these types of dogs are either killed for space, or because they looked at an employee cross-eyed, or for some other trivial justification. The excuses run on and on and on. When will Lakeshore Humane Society realize that they are a humane society and not some place the public needs to be going to everyday to beg them not to kill dogs? Is that not something we detest? Is it any different then when a dog is shot by a farmer or killed by some mean kids? What is the difference if a humane society kills an animal with medication? There is none. Killing is killing is killing. There's no other word for it. It is what it is.
Well, October 18th is coming soon. I know that officials from the city plan to attend the LHS Annual Meeting and speak honestly about the pound contracts and why there are so many problems. They will name names. The officials I am referring to are members of LHS so they have every right to speak at our meeting. Frankly I will be glad when the elections are over. Depending on who gets elected there is so much to do. But again, that's only if the right people are elected. If the wrong people are voted in, then it's all over for Lakeshore Humane Society.
NOTE: I just received word that Mary, along with her buddy Sniper will be transported to the DeYoung Zoo in Michigan for their homes. Great news!
Showing posts with label animal advocating. Show all posts
Showing posts with label animal advocating. Show all posts
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Mixing Faith and Animal Advocating
Mixing my love of animals and my faith in God has been a struggle for me lately. It's no secret that my faith in Christ is the most important thing in my life. But I often ask myself, why I am I putting so much time and energy into advocating for animals and not advocating for Christ? I think I have arrived at an answer to this question.
In Genesis 1:28, God said that we would have dominion over all the animals on this planet. But what does dominion mean? I read quite a few commentaries on this passage and none of them explained it very well. In order to acquire a deeper understanding, I thought I should discover what the original Hebrew word used in this passage was. My research led me to the Ancient Hebrew Research Center. They publish an E-magazine called "Biblical Hebrew". My research confirmed what I initially thought, and I am by no means an authority on the bible. What I read really made sense to me and put my desire to advocate for animal welfare in a different light. The information I found is from their May 2006 issue.
The word subdue in Genesis 1:28 is “kavash” in Hebrew. Kavash is a verb that means “to subdue”. However, the meaning of kavash is broader than subdue and so it is important to have a more complete picture of the Hebrew word. The noun form of this word is "kevesh" which means a footstool or a place where one places their foot. The verb kavash literally means to place your foot on the neck of your conquered enemy and signifies the submission of the conquered to his conqueror. Figuratively, this verb means to bring a people or nation into submission (Num 32:29). This word can also mean to bring under control (Mic 7:19). Incidentally, this is the same word we use today when we say "put the kabash on it" which means to make an end of something or to "subdue" it.
While the word kavash means to subdue, there is another word used in the passage that may further explain God's command. The Hebrew word for "to have dominion" is the verb "radah." Our normal understanding of "having dominion" over another is to rule over them but this idea is found, instead, in Hebrew in the verb malak. The Hebrew verb radah is related to other words which mean descend, go down, wander and spread. This verb literally means to rule by going down and walking among one's subjects as an equal.
The use of the two Hebrew verbs "kavash" and "radah" implies that man is to rule over the animals as his subjects, not as a dictator but a benevolent leader. Man is also to walk among his subjects and build a relationship with them so that they can provide for man and so that man can learn from them.
Have a relationship with them? Walk among them? Learn from them? Nothing could be more true when we are talking about animals that serve us as our companions. Yet, the continued mistreatment and slaughter of these creatures continues.
So, getting back to my original thought, why am I giving so much time and energy to advocate for animals and not Christ? The fact of the matter is, I am advocating for Christ while I advocate for animals. I am seeking truth and justice for the animals he told us to learn from. I may not discuss Christ all the time while advocating but I honestly think people can see a difference in how I approach the subject. I believe people can see a difference in the way I speak or write about advocating for animals. The fact is, I will speak about Christ if I am prompted. But since I feel so compelled to work for justice concerning companion animals, I truly believe that this is my calling and my mission in this life. I may not know why I have been called to speak for animals in this lifetime but I surely will find out in the next. So for anyone who thinks I am spending too much time on animals, my question to you is what do you fill your time with and, if you believe in God, how does it relate to what you're doing with your life?
In Genesis 1:28, God said that we would have dominion over all the animals on this planet. But what does dominion mean? I read quite a few commentaries on this passage and none of them explained it very well. In order to acquire a deeper understanding, I thought I should discover what the original Hebrew word used in this passage was. My research led me to the Ancient Hebrew Research Center. They publish an E-magazine called "Biblical Hebrew". My research confirmed what I initially thought, and I am by no means an authority on the bible. What I read really made sense to me and put my desire to advocate for animal welfare in a different light. The information I found is from their May 2006 issue.
The word subdue in Genesis 1:28 is “kavash” in Hebrew. Kavash is a verb that means “to subdue”. However, the meaning of kavash is broader than subdue and so it is important to have a more complete picture of the Hebrew word. The noun form of this word is "kevesh" which means a footstool or a place where one places their foot. The verb kavash literally means to place your foot on the neck of your conquered enemy and signifies the submission of the conquered to his conqueror. Figuratively, this verb means to bring a people or nation into submission (Num 32:29). This word can also mean to bring under control (Mic 7:19). Incidentally, this is the same word we use today when we say "put the kabash on it" which means to make an end of something or to "subdue" it.
While the word kavash means to subdue, there is another word used in the passage that may further explain God's command. The Hebrew word for "to have dominion" is the verb "radah." Our normal understanding of "having dominion" over another is to rule over them but this idea is found, instead, in Hebrew in the verb malak. The Hebrew verb radah is related to other words which mean descend, go down, wander and spread. This verb literally means to rule by going down and walking among one's subjects as an equal.
The use of the two Hebrew verbs "kavash" and "radah" implies that man is to rule over the animals as his subjects, not as a dictator but a benevolent leader. Man is also to walk among his subjects and build a relationship with them so that they can provide for man and so that man can learn from them.
Have a relationship with them? Walk among them? Learn from them? Nothing could be more true when we are talking about animals that serve us as our companions. Yet, the continued mistreatment and slaughter of these creatures continues.
So, getting back to my original thought, why am I giving so much time and energy to advocate for animals and not Christ? The fact of the matter is, I am advocating for Christ while I advocate for animals. I am seeking truth and justice for the animals he told us to learn from. I may not discuss Christ all the time while advocating but I honestly think people can see a difference in how I approach the subject. I believe people can see a difference in the way I speak or write about advocating for animals. The fact is, I will speak about Christ if I am prompted. But since I feel so compelled to work for justice concerning companion animals, I truly believe that this is my calling and my mission in this life. I may not know why I have been called to speak for animals in this lifetime but I surely will find out in the next. So for anyone who thinks I am spending too much time on animals, my question to you is what do you fill your time with and, if you believe in God, how does it relate to what you're doing with your life?
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