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Cal's Pastoral Epistles
All Good Dogs Go To Heaven
June 15, 2007
The apostle Paul once wrote, "I do not understand the things I do. I do not
do what I want to do and I do the things I hate." If my dog Praise could
talk, I think he would be saying that to me this morning. For the second
time in a week, he let himself out and went wandering through our new
neighborhood.
On Tuesday he was fortunate enough to be recognized by a couple of our
neighbors and they brought him home. On Thursday he was not so lucky.
He wandered down the street and was rescued by a nice lady. She sat with
him for over an hour and then made arrangements for him to be kept safe
at Dr. Eslick's office and later at All Friends Animal Hospital. They were
great to him but at the end of the day he was turned over to the City
Pound.
I can't help but conjure up an image of Walt Disney's Lady and the Tramp
when I think of Praise in the shelter. He had the adventure of a lifetime but
ended up behind bars in an unfamiliar place. What started out as a good
idea, pushing the door open with his snout so he could get some fresh air,
led him down a slippery slope that could have had terrible consequences.
Praise is the most friendly dog I have ever met. He doesn't bark. His only
fault is that he likes to jump up on your lap and lick your face. He doesn't
nip, bite or even show his teeth. My wife says he isn't too smart and
stunts like this one tend to prove it. But the one thing that Praise has come
to know is that he can always come home.
When we rescued Praise from the animal shelter ten years ago, he showed
signs of abuse. Today all that has changed. He loves us and the home we
have provided for him. But every once in a while, he still strays. I guess
he's like us. He can't help himself. The good news is that when Praise goes
out for a jaunt, we go looking for him. He belongs with us now and he will
always have a home. The same thing is true for all of us who have come
to know God.
Sometimes we stray, we go off on our own, we do things we know we
should not do. The good news is that God loves us and he will turn the
world upside down to find us and bring us home. Jesus told a story about
a shepherd who left the whole flock behind to find the one lost sheep. His
point was that God loves each and every one of us and he wants to bring
us home. But don't wait for God to come looking for you. If you have
strayed, if you have wandered away from God, turn around and go home.
He will be watching for you and waiting with open arms. So don't be
afraid. No matter how far you have run from him, or no matter what you
may have done in your past, he will welcome you with an everlasting love.
So don't stray any longer. Just go home.
God bless! See you in church. Cal
June 15, 2007
The apostle Paul once wrote, "I do not understand the things I do. I do not
do what I want to do and I do the things I hate." If my dog Praise could
talk, I think he would be saying that to me this morning. For the second
time in a week, he let himself out and went wandering through our new
neighborhood.
On Tuesday he was fortunate enough to be recognized by a couple of our
neighbors and they brought him home. On Thursday he was not so lucky.
He wandered down the street and was rescued by a nice lady. She sat with
him for over an hour and then made arrangements for him to be kept safe
at Dr. Eslick's office and later at All Friends Animal Hospital. They were
great to him but at the end of the day he was turned over to the City
Pound.
I can't help but conjure up an image of Walt Disney's Lady and the Tramp
when I think of Praise in the shelter. He had the adventure of a lifetime but
ended up behind bars in an unfamiliar place. What started out as a good
idea, pushing the door open with his snout so he could get some fresh air,
led him down a slippery slope that could have had terrible consequences.
Praise is the most friendly dog I have ever met. He doesn't bark. His only
fault is that he likes to jump up on your lap and lick your face. He doesn't
nip, bite or even show his teeth. My wife says he isn't too smart and
stunts like this one tend to prove it. But the one thing that Praise has come
to know is that he can always come home.
When we rescued Praise from the animal shelter ten years ago, he showed
signs of abuse. Today all that has changed. He loves us and the home we
have provided for him. But every once in a while, he still strays. I guess
he's like us. He can't help himself. The good news is that when Praise goes
out for a jaunt, we go looking for him. He belongs with us now and he will
always have a home. The same thing is true for all of us who have come
to know God.
Sometimes we stray, we go off on our own, we do things we know we
should not do. The good news is that God loves us and he will turn the
world upside down to find us and bring us home. Jesus told a story about
a shepherd who left the whole flock behind to find the one lost sheep. His
point was that God loves each and every one of us and he wants to bring
us home. But don't wait for God to come looking for you. If you have
strayed, if you have wandered away from God, turn around and go home.
He will be watching for you and waiting with open arms. So don't be
afraid. No matter how far you have run from him, or no matter what you
may have done in your past, he will welcome you with an everlasting love.
So don't stray any longer. Just go home.
God bless! See you in church. Cal
Pastor Cal Lord writes these weekly epistles to
help us see God in every day things.
help us see God in every day things.
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