The Dawn Treader

I received an email from a Christian who will be present at tonight's Pigfest.  Her son was interested in coming until he got wind of her proposition tonight.  She was thinking of presenting an idea related to Christian behavior as it relates to civil disobedience.  Her son is not attending a church and seems to be turned off by Christianity at the moment.

Sensing a set up, he responded with, "You told me the Pigfest wasn't going to be a Christian meeting."

Here are Mr. Dawntreader's thoughts about that.

Getting a Pigfest started can be challenging because folks have no idea of what to expect.  The key is to prepare them with a letter explaining how to prepare a proposition.  I am starting up a new Pigfest in nearby Salem with all new people.  Here is what I sent.  Feel free to copy this and customize it for the Pigfest you are starting.  NOTE: this Pigfest will have all Christians (for now).

Pigfesters,

I am looking forward to the Salem Pigfest on the 30th at the Saville homestead.  We have 10 participants confirmed and I am still waiting to hear back from two more.

The idea of the Pigfest is to present propositions that will stimulate conversation and supply a context to apply our Biblically shaped worldview to discover truth.  Christ followers need to get good at engaging the ideas of the day and presenting prudential arguments in a winsome, compelling and Christ-honoring way.  The Pigfest is the training ground to enable us to take advantage of those divine appointments that God puts in our path each day to share truth.

Each person should come to the Pigfest with an idea.  The moderator of the Pigfest will randomly call on those at the table to present their proposition.  Be ready.

"How do you handle saying grace before the meal when non-Christians are present, one or more of whom may be hostile to Christianity?  We want to make them feel welcome, not by discarding the practice of our faith, but by practicing it with an integrity that attracts them to the Light.  All of our non-Christians will be a friend of one or more of us."

~ Question posed to me by another Pigfest moderator

Civilization, Thomas Aquinas once wrote, is constituted by conversation; that is, by argument. Civilized people, treating each other as reasonable, argue with one another. Barbarians club one another, as if values are mere "preferences," and reason has nothing to do with them. For barbarians, nothing matters but power.
~ Michael Novak, Theologian, Professor, Author

“The dinner table is the center for the teaching and practicing not just of table manners but of conversation, consideration, tolerance, family feeling, and just about all the other accomplishments of polite society except the minuet.”

~Judith Martin (American Author and Journalist, b.1938)

If you would persuade, you must appeal to interest rather than intellect.
~ Benjamin Franklin

A good cause is often injured more by ill-timed efforts of its friends than by the arguments of its enemies. Persuasion, perseverance and patience are the best advocates on questions depending on the will of others.
~ Thomas Jefferson

One of the funnest things about a Pigfest is the challenge of forming compelling propositions to bring to the gathering.  It is a skill that needs honing.

More thoughts on hosting Pigfests

Part 1 and 2.

Who to invite?  Who make the best Pigfesters?

Who among the friends in your network reminds you the most of C.S. Lewis?  Be sure to invite him or her.