tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9090939740752595952.post4022186681660267589..comments2009-05-19T00:45:43.520-05:00Daniel G. Deffenbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00375320649380862848ddeffenbaugh@hastings.eduBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9090939740752595952.post-82946647789564649772009-05-19T00:45:00.000-05:002009-05-19T00:45:00.000-05:00Dan - <br />I hope you are well. I keep checking in for your fresh perspectives and challenging thoughts... 'Looking for your return to blogging someday soon, I hope. I pray that whatever is keeping you "off line" is feeding your soul and renewing your spirit. Peace.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9090939740752595952.post-24568073496411331902009-05-06T07:34:00.000-05:002009-05-06T07:34:00.000-05:00Dan<br />I miss your blog - please come back soon!lsquaredstudioshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06658659382664638030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9090939740752595952.post-57958204000860556272009-01-29T11:30:00.000-06:002009-01-29T11:30:00.000-06:00Daniel and Montxo, <BR/>Thank you for your thoughts. I'm still pondering them. I may quote you in Sunday's sermon, Daniel, or I may quote the NYT article you quote about beef production.<BR/><BR/>It is very interesting that Paul's solution to the problem is to abstain from all meat.Walkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15289239840781928517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9090939740752595952.post-10188392503172104422009-01-28T13:38:00.000-06:002009-01-28T13:38:00.000-06:00Dear Mr. Deffenbaugh<BR/><BR/>I hope you will be lenient to my daring to comment your entry since I am not expert in anything and less of all in religion. It only is that I was really impressed by your note and felt as if I could say my line.<BR/><BR/>It is absolutely impossible not to agree with your words, but...<BR/>You see, I have lived long enough on this our poor planet to know that anything good would, in the end be touched, as you put it so aptly, by demons. It seems to define a bit superstitious guy to believe in those, inversely charismatics entities nowadays, but I prefer to think that, as a truism of my country says: if the river is noisy it means that there is water in it. I know we human carry enough evil in us not to need the "help" of demonic creatures, but then, it does not prove their nonexistence, anyway, this is besides the point.<BR/><BR/>What really matters is, how can I from my humble platform help to prevent the "cause of their falling".<BR/><BR/>Capitalism, even if with different names through the ages was and is the underlying principle of freedom. <BR/><BR/>It is not possible to think in terms of personal autonomy if there is no free enterprising and the latter is not a real thing unless we live immerse in capitalism. I am not pressing this point as a holy truth, of course, only stating mi point of view.<BR/><BR/>As soon as you develop capitalism, the "Corporation", that demon in black suit and tie, takes control and everything, except "profit" and "growing power" disappears. The global warming is a clear instance.<BR/><BR/>So, can I help being a vegetarian? Will I not develop another kind of problem as that of the CAFO?<BR/>I think we must take a new turn, in the way society changed from the feudal time to our days, only how and what to do is what we need to know. We need leaders with creativity enough to lead people. <BR/><BR/>What I mean is that while we keep trying to change human nature with individual efforts we are condemned to failure. The travels of Paul and his efforts to create new churches around the then known world show he believed in seeding, creating groups that could make the difference in the end and, of course, we are letting out the most important variable in this equation: <B>God's will.</B> Somehow, we know no evil will <BR/>prevail but the cost of it is what worries me. <BR/><BR/>I can follow Paul's line: If food is a cause of their falling, I will never eat meat, so that I may not cause one of them to fall (I Cor 8:13)., but is it enough?, moreover isn't it just rhetoric?<BR/><BR/>Even if I have not expressed an iota of all I wanted to say I cannot extend myself more, this should be half the length it already is, so I will end saying thank you for your work, you are spreading the word and that is what will define the results in the end.<BR/><BR/>Finally, English is a second language, I hope I was clear enough expressing my thoughts in it.<BR/><BR/>Thanks again.<BR/>Montxo.Montxohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05084235553884445888noreply@blogger.com