Weekend Sermon -- "They Will Not Prevail"

      Thank you for reading the sermon for the week once again. As always, I am thankful to the Lord for giving me this opportunity. I hope that you are all doing well this week. 

     Today, I want us to focus our attention on a statement made by Jesus after Peter's confession that Jesus was the Messiah. In Matthew 16:18 Jesus says, "And I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."

     I want to focus on the end of that verse about the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. There are basically two ways that this verse in interpreted. I think that they are both valid, so let's look at both of them. 

     Some interpret this passage to mean that the church made up of believers in Jesus will on this earth be able to withstand the attacks of the evil one. The powers of hell will not be able to stamp out the church no matter how hard they try. Ultimately, those who are in Christ are the victors over death, hell and the grave, so the powers of hell have no way to be victorious ultimately over those who are members of the body of Christ. 

     This is absolutely true. All of us will have trials and trouble in this life. We who know Jesus will be tempted by the forces of evil to turn against the way of Jesus. However, we are overcomers through the power of the Spirit who dwells withing us. The powers of evil cannot snatch us out of the hand of the Father. When we die, we will go to be with Jesus in the place that He has prepared for those who love Him. 

     Also, the powers of darkness try to thwart the mission and ministry of the church. Persecution and trials are brought against the church to destroy it. However, the powers of darkness cannot and will not overcome the body of Christ. 

     Now, there is another equally valid way to look at this statement of Jesus. We as the people of God are on the offensive against the forces of evil. We are to be actively working to bring light and goodness into the world and stop the oppressive forces of darkness that seek to ruin people's lives. 

     When those who are believers in Jesus are working together to bring good and right and hope and peace into this world, the powers of the evil oppressors will not be able to withstand. The power of the people of God will prevail. 

      We as followers of Jesus have as our mission to bring about as much good as we can into this world. We are to bring hope and healing to this world. We are to bring the message of the life transforming love of Jesus to the world. 

     Ultimately, Jesus will return to this earth. He will cast down all that is wrong and evil. Death and Hell will be destroyed, and Jesus shall reign forever and ever. 

     Let us all work to overcome evil with good. Let us seek peace and pursue it. Let us love God and our neighbor. Amen. 

Prayer Requests

      Please pray for those recovering from the bad storms. There are people who need help in the Caribbean, the Philippines, Vietnam and Alaska. Pray that they will get the aid and the help that they need. 

     Keep praying for peace. Ukraine, Israel, Gaza and Sudan all need our prayers. 

     Pray that people will get the food aid that they need here in the US. 

     For our prayer focus countries this week let us pray for those in the nations of North Korea and Lebanon. Pray that many will come to know Jesus. 

     Next week, I will post a topical message. We will start a new series in the New Year. I will post the verses on Tuesday and another chapter of the book on Wednesday. May God bless you all. 

Toby -- The Story of My Friend -- Chapter 11

 Chapter 11

     Of all of the dogs I've known, Toby possessed the most unusual behaviors I've seen.  He wasn't weird.  He was unique.  He was eccentric.
     One of the strangest aspects of his behavior I discovered completely by accident.  I used to love to watch boxing when I was younger.  I would never miss a match.  I enjoyed working out on the heavy bag and doing shadow boxing to try to stay in shape.  Sometimes to get a little exercise, I would shadow box in the kitchen for a few rounds.
     One evening, while I was pummeling my imaginary opponent, Toby ran quickly to his food dish, and he began devouring his food in haste.  When I stopped boxing, he stopped eating.  When I resumed, the munching recommenced.  I thought that this was strange.  It would come in handy.
     Toby was always sort of funny about eating.  Sometimes he wouldn't eat.  Maybe, something was just slightly out of kilter in his routine, and he would just go off of his food.
     During one of these spells, I remembered how Toby ran to his dinner bowl when I boxed.  I started shadow boxing, and Toby started eating Eukanuba.
     This little trick almost always worked if Toby wasn't off of his food because of his ulcerative colitis problem.  If I boxed and Toby wouldn't eat, I knew that something was wrong and that a trip to the veterinarian was in order in the near future.
     I've never understood what is was about boxing that caused this response.  Maybe, he was a big fan of boxing like me, and this was Toby's version of eating popcorn and watching the main event.
     Another one of Toby's strange behaviors was fish jealousy.  I enjoy tropical fish.  I've never taken the plunge into salt water aquariums, but I've had some pretty nice freshwater set ups.  After being away from the fish hobby, I decided to buy a new aquarium and purchase a couple of nice fish.
     I bought a twenty gallon aquarium, a heater, gravel, all of the needed equipment.  After I set it all up, I put the fish into their new environment.
     Toby didn't like this one little bit.  The first time I fed my new fish, he looked at me with a piercing gaze.  If looks could kill, I'd have been disintegrated.  Toby was jealous of my involvement with some other member of the animal kingdom.
     No matter what I did near the aquarium from cleaning to feeding the fish, Toby would give me a dirty look as if I were a traitor.  He would then snort and turn away in disgust.  After I'd finish with the fish, he would be back to his normal self.
     One afternoon I spotted Toby sitting under the fish tank looking up at his mortal enemies.  I could almost see the thoughts of hate forming in his mind.  It was as if he was sending mental death telepathy through the waters.
     Toby didn't have to be jealous of the fish for too long.  I decided to give my aquarium set and fish away.  I just kept one Betta that I placed where Toby couldn't see him.  When the aquarium went out the door, I thought that I detected a faint smile from a well pleased corgi.
     When I told about Toby and his boxing and eating behavior, I forgot to mention another of his unusual eating habits.   Sometimes when we were at my Grandma's house in Cheyenne, Toby would have one of his not eating spells.  I tried the boxing routine, but that didn't work on the road; it only worked at home.  In order to get Toby to eat at my Grandma's house I would have to feed him by hand.  Sort of.  I would take a few chunks of his food from his bowl and place them outside of his bowl.  Now this is strange.  He would eat these food chunks as long as I placed two pieces outside of the bowl.  Not three, not one; it had to be two pieces.  If I kept doing this, he would eat the entire bowl.  He would only do this at my Grandma's house.  I could never figure this out.

Verses For The Week

 James 1:19 -- "My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this. Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry."

Luke 6:31 -- "Do to others as you would have them do to you."

The Weekend Sermon -- "Shine Brighter"

      It is time for the sermon. I am glad to be posting it, and I am glad that you are reading it. 

     Today, I want to talk about something that has been on my mind for some time now. That is the subject of Christians making a difference in the world. The verses that brought this to my mind most clearly are found in Matthew 5:14-16 that read, "You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven."

     The Bible has a lot to say about light and darkness. The world is trapped in the darkness of sin and rebellion to God and His ways. There is a lot of evil and wickedness in this world. No one can deny that. The Bible says that Jesus is the light that has come into this world. He is the light and the darkness cannot overcome it. 

     In our passage today, Jesus tells us that we as His followers are the light of the world, and He tells us to let our light shine. To my way of thinking, these are two different things. By being in the world as followers of Jesus we are light. We are those who shine out the light of the grace and mercy of Jesus into the world so that the darkness of sin is driven back and people can see that Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. 

     There is another thing that Jesus is saying here. When we do that which is good in the world and work for the good, we are actively shining our light. We are in a sense putting a spotlight on problems and making them disappear. Jesus said that when people see the good works that we are doing, they will glorify God. 

     We live in an age that has a lot of bad things going on right now. We as followers of Jesus need to shine brighter. We need to be actively engaged in shining our light for Jesus and driving out the darkness that is in our world. There are so many things that are problems right now. The world is facing many wars. We need to be the peacemakers that Jesus called us to be. Many in the world are dying from hunger and from treatable diseases. We need to shine the light into these situations and do what we can to overcome these problems and the oppressive systems that cause these things to happen in the first place. 

     What troubles me greatly right now is that we are seeing many engage in hateful conduct to others based on their race, ethnicity or immigration status. Let us shine brighter and remember that Jesus loves everyone. There is no distinction in Jesus. The Bible shows us in the book of Revelation that all people will bow and worship the Lamb on His throne. 

     What I am trying to say is that all of us who are believers in Jesus need to start shining brighter. We need to step up and try to combat the darkness of greed, selfishness and war. We need to be the ones who are making a difference in the lives of people who need help. 

     Each of us has been gifted to work in different ways. However the Lord is calling you to make the world a better place and to shine your light in the darkness, do it unto the Lord with all of your might. Amen. 

Prayer Requests

     I am still having health issues. Please keep me in your prayers.

     Let us keep praying for those affected by storms. There are people in Alaska and the Caribbean who need help, so let us pray that they will get the aid and the help that they need. 

     This week, I want us to focus hard on praying for peace in Sudan. That is a horrible situation. Please pray.

     For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those in the nations of Djibouti and Japan. Pray that many will come to know Jesus. 

     Next week, I will have another topical message. I will post the verses on Tuesday and the next chapter of the book on Wednesday. May God bless you all. 

Toby -- The Story Of My Friend -- Chapter 10

Toby -- The Story of My Friend -- Chapter 10

 I went with Toby on many trips, but I just want to focus on one more that was probably the best trip that we took together.  It was also a trip that almost ended in tragedy.
     On our annual trip out to my Grandma's house in Cheyenne, we decided to go down through Southern Kansas and then visit Colorado Springs.  One of the first places that we visited was Greensburg, Kansas.  This was before the terrible tornado hit the town.  I can't fathom the fact that everything I saw in that town was absolutely wiped out.  Thankfully, the town has rebuilt.
     No offense, but I can't say anything really positive about our trip through Kansas.  Through most of the journey, we passed cattle feed lot after cattle feed lot.  The smell was horrendous.  Even with the windows up and the air conditioner on you could smell that awful stink.
     The trip just about ended at breakfast the next morning.  The folks stopped for breakfast, and I waited outside with Toby.  They brought me something to eat and told me what a wonderful meal they had.  I took a piece of toast and gave some to Toby.  He wouldn't eat it.  He smelled the toast and turned his head away.  He wanted no part of it.  That should have tipped me off right there.
     I thought maybe Toby was having trouble with his stomach.  No, he knew that there was something wrong with the food.  I ate the toast.  About two hours later, I was so sick I thought I would die.  My folks didn't have any toast, and they were fine.  This is just one of many occasions when I should have listened to the dog.
     I recovered overnight, and was well enough to enjoy Colorado Springs.  This is one of the most beautiful cities I've seen.  The city is right next to the mountains that seem to be a reddish color.
     We found a motel that faced the mountains.  We had a great view of the Air Force Academy.  I went out on the balcony with Toby, and the two of us watched the gliders at the Air Force Academy for hours.  These training gliders were taken up by an airplane and then released.  They released the gliders, and then the gliders would circle in broad swoops with the mountains as their background.  Toby fixed on the gliders and watched them go around and around until they landed.
     Later that day, the two of us went for a long walk in the area behind the hotel.  We didn't know it, but we were actually on Air Force property.  There wasn't a fence so we just walked on.  I didn't notice until we got back that there was a sign that warned people that if they went on the land that they were subject to criminal prosecution.  I'm glad no one noticed a fat man and a corgi.
     The next morning, in spite of my Dad's protests, we went up into the mountains.  It was a great day of hiking and enjoying the sun and the mountains.  I was worried about Toby in the evening, however.  I think that we over did things because he wouldn't eat.  Finally, before we went to bed.  I fed him some of his food by hand, and he ate it and then ate the rest of his bowl of food.  We went out and watched the city for a long time.
     The next morning we had to be off.  We drove a short while and decided to travel up to Estes Park by the Big Thompson River.  Along the way, Toby and I got out and took a walk down the river.  When we were there it wasn't a raging torrent, but it was flowing along pretty well.  For quite a while, we watched the trout jumping up out of the river.  Every time one of the fish would jump out of the water and splash down, Toby would growl.  I though that this was funny until he got it into his head to go out after the fish.  Toby leaped into the river trying to get a trout.  I had his leash on, but the current was pulling him away from me fast.  He wasn't swimming too well either.  I went down into the water, and the current was more powerful than I thought.  I had a difficult time keeping my footing.  I grabbed hold of Toby, and I got us back to shore.  We were soaked and the water was ice cold.  I thought I'd lost him down the river for sure.  But, we would have gone together because I was going after him no matter what.
     Dad finally couldn't stand the mountains any longer, so we went Cheyenne.  Everyone went out to my uncle's ranch again except for Toby and me.  We didn't want to have anything to do with any more rattlesnakes.  The two of us walked down to the park and had a nice day and a nice meal.  We watched the ducks in the pond for a long time.  I'm glad Toby didn't decide to go after them.  He just watched them floating along.  We then went over and looked at the old steam locomotive.  On our way home, we looked at the abandoned church behind my uncle's house.  I would have loved to have bought that little church and have started a ministry there.  However, the dentist office had already purchased the church and were going to rip down the building and use the lot for parking.
     I always wished that the two of us could have taken more trips together.  By the time I graduated from college and really had the chance to do as I pleased, Toby was not in good enough health to travel much.  The last trip we took out to see my Grandma, Toby developed some trouble breathing.  The veterinarian said that it was altitude related, and that Toby shouldn't go out to the mountains anymore.  So, the two of us just took brief excursions not to far from home.  We went to Omaha on one trip. On another trip we went out to see the Winston Churchill Museum in Westminster, Missouri.  Whatever we did, it was fun because we were together.

Verses For The Week

 I Timothy 5:8 -- "But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever."

Proverbs 21:13 -- "Whoever closes his ear to the cries of the poor will himself call out and not be answered."

Galatians 6:2 -- "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ."

The Weekend Sermon -- "More Than Words"

     Thank you for taking the time to read the sermon again this week. I hope that everyone is doing well. I want everyone to please continue to pray for those affected by the hurricane in the Caribbean. 

     This week, my message is entitled "More Than Words." Our text is found in I John 3:16-18 which reads, "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need and has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth."

     These are powerful words written by the Apostle John. In many ways, they remind me of what James told us when he said faith without works is dead. 

     In this passage, John is telling us that love is the most important thing in the world. Love is what the Christian faith is all about. Jesus is the man of love. The Bible says that God is love. But, John wants us to know that true love is not just words. True love is more than words. True love is action. 

     The Bible is quite clear that God loved us. John 3:16 says that God loved the entire world. That is wonderful to know that God loves the world. The Lord did more than say that He loved us. He demonstrated His love for us. Jesus Christ came into this world to redeem us from our sins. He came to break the power of sin, death, hell and the grave. He just didn't say it. He showed His love by His actions. 

     We can say that we love God and our neighbor. That is great. But the Lord wants us to take it the next step and demonstrate that we are people who love God and love our neighbor by our actions. I believe that we demonstrate that we love the Lord by being willing to do what He told us to do. We demonstrate our love for the Lord by spending time with Him and by telling others how much Jesus means to us. 

     When it comes to loving others, we need to demonstrate that as well. We show that the love of God dwells within us when we are willing to help others and to do what is in our power to do in order to help people have a better life. 

     John says that if we see a brother or sister in need, and we have the resources to help, that is what we are supposed to do. If we don't, John says that we can't say that the love of God dwells within us. 

     It is important to say to people that we care about them and that we love them. It is very important. It is equally important to show it. If you say to someone that you love them, yet you are mean to them all the time, your actions betray your words. 

     Let each of us this week work to demonstrate our love of God and our love for our neighbor. Let us strive to live according to the Lord's will. Let us try to find some way to do good and help others in need. There are many in desperate need. Let's show our love by our actions. And, let us show our love by our actions in our relationships with our family and with our friends. Amen. 

Prayer Requests

     I want to thank the Lord that the storms in my area did not cause any problems. I would ask that you keep praying that my health will improve. Thank you. 

     We need to be in deep prayer in regard to the hurricane. Many have had their lives turned upside down in the Caribbean. Pray that the people will get the aid and the help that they need to recover. 

     Keep praying for peace. Pray for Ukraine and Sudan. Pray that peace will hold out in Israel and Gaza. As I write this, there are difficulties. Keep praying for peace. 

     For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those in the nations of Bangladesh and Burkina Faso. Pray that many will come to know Jesus. 

     Next week, I will post a topical message. I have a new series planned, but I am holding off until after Advent. I will post the verses on Tuesday, and I will post the next chapter in the book on Wednesday. May God bless you all. 

Toby -- The Story of My Friend -- Chapter 9

 Chapter 9

     I took many trips with Toby over the years that we were together.  Every summer, we would always go out and visit my Grandma and my uncle in Cheyenne.  Instead of just going straight out there, we often took different routes and tried to explore some new places where none of us had ever been before.
     One year, my Mom decided to take some extra vacation time, so we had an additional trip that year.  That particular year, Mom wanted to go up to Iowa and visit some of the places where she lived as a girl.  She also wanted to see the place that her Dad grew up, and we wanted to explore some family history.  So, we all decided to take a trip up to Iowa.
     The first day of the trip, we went to the towns my Mom knew as a young girl.  She was born in Vinton, Iowa, so we stopped there first.  We also visited the town of Van Horne where my Grandma was born and where she lived as a girl.  The town of Garrison is nearby.  That is where my Mom's grandparents lived.
     It was interesting to see where my Mom was born.  Visiting Garrison made Mom sad.  She said that it was so different from when she knew it.  Many of the businesses were closed.
     From there, we made our way to the towns of Traer and Dysart.  Dysart was my Mom's least favorite place.  She actually didn't want to visit there, but I wanted to see it since my Grandma said that she liked it. My Mom said that when she was a girl, everyone who was in her class was Scandinavian.  They all had light hair, and they made fun of her because she had black hair.  They called her a terrible name that I won't repeat.
     There really wasn't that much in this part of the trip for me and Toby to do.  It was mostly just a trip for my Mom.  I did have fun walking around Clear Lake with Toby.  My Mom spent most of her younger days in Mason City.  She would often go over to Clear Lake to the Surf Ballroom and listen to the big bands play.
     The second part of the trip was very interesting.  We decided to go and visit what was left of the religious colony where my Grandpa was born.
     I'll have to give a little history of how this religious colony came to be.  My Great Great Grandfather originally lived in Prussia.  He began reading the writings of Emanuel Swedenborg and became a member of the Swedenborgian Church.  Because my Great Great Grandfather wasn't a Lutheran like his neighbors, many of them began persecuting him for his religious beliefs.  He decided to leave Prussia and come to America where he could have religious freedom.
    He eventually settled in Saint Louis where he met up with some other Swedenborgians.  They decided to build a religious colony in Norway, Iowa.  They lived communally for two or three years.  After that, each family owned their own land.  They had their own church and school.
    This is where my Grandpa was born in 1901.  The church that these early Swedenborgian pioneers built is still there.  Toby and I had a great time visiting this old church.  I could just picture my Grandpa sitting in the pews listening to the sermons that were still given in German when he was a boy.
    My Grandpa loved dogs, and if he had been alive to know Toby, he would have loved him too.  When my Grandpa was a boy, he decided to get an old, retired racing greyhound.  My Grandpa went rabbit hunting with that dog almost every day.  My Grandpa's brother told me that they kept the whole family fed one winter with the rabbits they caught.  This was quite a task as my Grandpa had 12 brothers and sisters.
    My Grandpa's old farm was just across the street from the church, and I could imagine that if Toby would have been there the two of us could have had many great adventures in the rural Iowa countryside.
    My Grandpa didn't remain a member of the Swedenborgian Church.  He became convinced that they were wrong, and he joined an evangelical denomination.  Services are no longer held in the old church in Iowa.
    Toby and I walked around the countryside for many hours. We visited the cemetery where my Great Great Grandparents and Great Grandparents are buried.  Many of my Great Aunts and Uncles are buried there as well.  I remembered my Grandpa and all of the fun we had when I was a boy.  Every day I wish that he was still around to talk to.
    After we visited the religious colony, we stopped at the Amana Colonies and looked around.  I walked around there with Toby for a long time.  At one shop they were giving out free samples of red clover wine.  I decided to take a shot.  That was a mistake.  That stuff about knocked me over.  Toby began barking at me like I was stupid for even trying the stuff.  Once again like at Mount Rushmore, too many people wanted to pet the dog.  We went back to the car and ate lunch while Mom and Dad continued there excursions.
    We had a very enjoyable time in Iowa visiting all of the old family places.  I just enjoyed being with my family and my good friend Toby.  I always enjoy the scenery and the beauty of the earth.

Verses For The Week And Prayer Requests

 First of all, let us all pray for the safety of those in the path of the terrible hurricane in the Caribbean. Also, we are having a lot of rain where I live. Pray that all will be safe. 

Verses:

Deuteronomy 31:8 -- "And the Lord, He is the one who goes before you. He will be with you. He will not leave you or forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed."

Psalm 32:7 -- "You are my hiding place, you shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance."

The Weekend Sermon -- "Don't Get Weary"

     It is time again for the sermon. Thank you for reading it. I hope that you have had a good week. I have been doing well. 

     Today, I want to post a message about a verse that has meant a lot to me over the last few weeks. This verse is Galatians 6:9 that says, "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."

     Sometimes, I feel like everything that I am trying to do that good in this world is not amounting to a whole lot. I get discouraged as it seems like the forces of wrong and oppression seem to just keep growing. I at times get the feeling that I would just like to do my own thing, take care of myself and forget about what is going on in the world and in the lives of others. Of course, this isn't the right way to feel, but I'd be less than truthful if I didn't admit it. 

     There are also times when all of us I believe see those who don't care about God or the things of God in this world becoming more wealthy and more powerful while those who try to follow God have one problem after another. It makes me wonder what's up.

     Some of the people that Paul was writing his epistle to must have felt the same way. He encouraged them not to grow weary in doing good. Like them, we need to follow Paul's admonish and keep on going and striving to serve the Lord and do good and right in this world. 

     We all need to keep going and trying to live lives of holiness and righteousness in the world. Even if others reject us, we need to follow the principles and precepts of what makes for a life pleasing to God as taught by the Lord Jesus Christ. 

     All of us need to keep trying to make a positive difference in this world. There are many who are hurting in this world. They are poor and oppressed. We have to be the one to meet the needs of those who the world has forgotten. 

    As I've said before, the greatest good that any of us who follow Jesus can do is to spread the message of His love and forgiveness. If more people would come to Jesus and follow Him in His way, the world can't help but to be a better place. 

     We all sometimes feel weary, but we need to keep in mind the second part of our verse for today. We will reap a harvest if we don't give up. The Bible says that God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. When we do good for others, God will reward us in Heaven. We will receive a reward from the Lord for serving Him and striving to do what He would have us to do in this world. The greatest reward will be to see Jesus face to face in all of His glory. 

     Another harvest I believe we will see in Heaven if we keep going for the Lord are those who came to faith in Jesus as a result of our testimony. What greater joy than to see people in Heaven with Jesus who we told about Him. 

     Let each of us keep going for Jesus in spite of the hardship and the struggle. Don't give up. Let us all keep on doing good, and let us keep doing what is pleasing to the Lord. Amen. 

Prayer Request

     I have been feeling up and down. Please keep praying for my health. 

     Continue to pray for those in Alaska who lost all they had in the storm. Pray that they will get the aid and the help that they need to recover. 

     Let us pray for an end to the diseases occurring in the world. There are new cases of M Pox here in the US and measles is still a problem. Pray that this will all come to an end here and around the world. 

     Pray for peace. Ukraine needs our prayers as does Sudan. There is a terrible refugee crisis as a result of the war in Sudan. Keep praying of peace to hold between Israel and Gaza. Pray for Haiti. Pray that no more conflicts will begin. Also pray for refugees affected by war such as the Rohingya. 

     For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those in the nations of India and Tanzania. Pray that many will come to know about the love of Jesus. 

     Next week, I will post the message on Friday. I will post the verses on Tuesday, and I will post the next chapter in the book on Wednesday. May God bless you all. 

Toby -- The Story of My Friend -- Chapter 8

 Chapter 8

 I begin this chapter by stating flat out that I haven't been to too many places.  I am not well traveled.  I remember students in school telling about where they went on summer vacation.  Some of them went overseas to exotic places.  My family stayed pretty much in our area.
     I have never traveled very far outside of the Midwest.  To the north, I have gone as far as South Dakota and Minnesota.  I've been as far south as Arkansas.  Westward, I've gone to the Rocky Mountains, and to the east I've been to Illinois.  There you have it.
     What's nice about these travels is that everywhere I went, Toby always came too.  After a short time in our home, it soon became apparent that Toby was the type of dog who really attached himself to the family.  He would have been totally heartbroken if I had left him in a kennel while I was off enjoying a good time.
     Besides Toby's attachment to me, I also took his special needs into consideration.  Toby needed special food in order to keep his digestive system working properly, and the little guy had pills that he needed to take on a daily basis.  If he wasn't along on the trip, no matter how good the boarding facility, I wouldn't have been able to have any fun for fear that Toby wasn't receiving the proper care.
     For these reasons, if was decided that at all times Toby would accompany me on all vacations and trips.  As you will see, having him along made the trips much more fun and memorable.
     The first trip came along when we took a trip to the Ozarks.  We went down there quite a bit and stayed in Springfield, Missouri.  There was a nice hotel there that offered a golf course, tennis and three swimming pools.
     I was very pleased with the way Toby behaved on this initial trip.  He didn't make any fuss in the car.  We just drove down there peacefully and in comfort. This place didn't care if Toby was with me on the golf course as long as he didn't get on the greens.  He followed me around while I played.  I embarrassed myself greatly as I always do on the golf course.  I think I caught Toby laughing at me on more than one occasion.  It's probably a good thing I can't play golf anymore.  The last time I played about ten years ago, I hooked the ball so bad it went over the safety netting by the course edge and landed in the practice putting area.  I just missed hitting a man in the head.
     At restaurants, I stayed with him out in the car and just ate out there.  On warm days, we would go sit under a shade tree and have a picnic.  I never left Toby alone in the car.  Even with the windows cracked, a car will heat up tremendously.  For a time, I also feared he would be stolen.  At one time, there was a high incidence of pet theft where I live.  Since that time, I've always been afraid to leave any animal unattended for too long.  By the way, a person has to be really sick to steal someone's pet.
     Most of my Mom's family lived in the state of Wyoming, so when my Grandmother was still living, we went out there almost every summer.  The first trip out west with Toby was fun.
     Instead of driving straight through the barren Kansas Plains to Cheyenne, we decided to take a circuitous route and visit the Black Hills and other sites in South Dakota.  Our first stop was in Sioux Falls.
     When we arrived, everyone was worn out from driving.  We didn't plan to do much in town, but I discovered the USS South Dakota monument listed in a travel brochure at the hotel.  All of us went out to see it.
     This monument consists of a concrete outline of the battleship which is built to the ship's exact dimensions.  An interesting museum and gift shop are located in the middle about where the ship's bridge would be.  Toby and I walked around there for a long time.
 We got up early the next morning and headed west.  We decided to make a quick stop in Mitchell to visit their number one attraction, the Corn Palace.  We didn't stay too long because we wanted to make it to Rapid City by the evening.
     The Corn Palace is a really interesting place.  It is definitely worth a visit.  The outside facade of the building is decorated in a different picture each year.  All of the decoration is made of corn and some other grains.  If I remember right, the building is mainly used as an auditorium.
     Our next stop was Chamberlain by the Missouri River.  I live near Kansas City, so I've seen the Missouri River many times.  However, the river at Chamberlain is extremely wide.  The water seemed to be much clearer than down by where I live.  The surrounding scenery is also much more eye pleasing.
     We came across a nice rest area.  It was situated on top of a hill that afforded a grand view of the river and the surrounding countryside.  This area had several picnic tables that were covered by steel poles in order to resemble a giant tee-pee.  Toby and I walked all around through the park and had an enjoyable lunch.  I was going to go farther, but Toby was getting too hot.  He never could stand very much heat.
     The next stop on our South Dakota excursion was the Badlands.  This is a spectacular sight.  One can drive through the area and see the devastating effects of erosion on the Great Plains.  The area looks like a section of mini-mountains carved out of the barren landscape that surrounds it.
     Toby and I got out to explore.  We walked quite a way down one of the trails taking in the sights.  I was worried about rattlesnakes, so I didn't want to go to far.  Toby was crazy when it came to going after things.  Once, there was a big black snake in the back yard by the garden.   Toby went after that snake barking.  Toby was in the fenced part of the yard, and the snake crawled just outside the fence.  However, it started turning back towards Toby.  I dispatched the snake.  Black snakes aren't poisonous, I didn't want to mess with a snake that was.
     When we arrived in Rapid City, we had a hard time finding a place to stay that accepted pets.  We finally found a place that on the outside appeared to be a dump, but the rooms were very nice.  The restaurant's buffet was great.  Toby and I ate our dinner, and then we went for a long walk.  We really enjoyed South Dakota.
     The next morning, we decided to explore around Rapid City.  We went to a place called Dinosaur Park.  At this park, there are several life-size dinosaurs made from concrete.  The park is up on a little hill.  My Dad is so scared of heights, that he wouldn't even get out of the care.  As we were coming down from the park, my Dad buried his head in his lap so he didn't have to look out the window.  Toby must have thought that my Dad looked ridiculous because Toby jumped up into the front seat and kept licking my Dad's head  and barking until my Dad sat back up in the seat.
     Traveling through the Black Hills was fun.  Toby and I stopped at one place and looked at the bison.  One of the bison at the farm was friendly and let me pet him.  He and Toby sniffed one another.  Knowing Toby, I thought that he might decide to try to go after the bison, so I got him out of there in short order.
     After more sight seeing in nature, we stopped at Mt. Rushmore.  This was the one part of the trip that I did not enjoy.  It was so crowded, you couldn't hardly move.  Toby came with me, they allowed dogs at that time.  We couldn't walk five feet without someone bothering Toby.  People would reach down and try to pet him without even asking.  One person poked him in the eye.  Toby growled.  Who can blame him?  The two of us got the heck out of there.  Another thing that I hated about the place is that at least twenty people must have asked me if that was the kind of dog Queen Elizabeth has.  I was about ready to put a sign on Toby saying, Queen Elizabeth has a corgi like this.   We went back to the car and escaped the madness.  Mom and Dad came back an hour or so later and said how great a time they had.  The best time that Toby and I had there was our nap time when we got back to the car.
     We left South Dakota and arrived for an uneventful stay at my Grandma's house.  We did go out to visit my uncle's ranch about 40 miles outside of Cheyenne.  We were supposed to have a picnic at his house.  All the time we were there, my uncle kept telling me about how many rattlesnakes were around the place.  Toby and I wished we had stayed in town.  We couldn't even enjoy our meal.  I kept watching for those darn snakes.  Needless to say, when everyone decided to walk around the ranch, we stayed at the house.   Neither one of us cared much for the outdoors.  I remember someone saying once that they were an avid indoorsman.  That would describe Toby and me.
     We returned from our trip through Nebraska which is about as exciting as Kansas.  Toby and I never went back to visit South Dakota.  I wish we would have.  It is a nice place.

Verses For The Week

 James 1:12 -- "Blessed is the one who endures trials, because when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him."

Psalm 73:26 -- "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."

The Weekend Sermon -- "Bruised Reeds and Smoldering Wicks"

      Thanks for reading the message this week. I hope that everyone has had a great week. I want to thank the Lord for giving me the opportunity to post the message this week. 

     Since we finished our series on the book of Philippians, I've been having topical messages for the last couple of weeks, and that is what I am going to do today. When I was listening to something on the radio this week, the verses that I am going to be posting about today were brought up. I was really touched by these verses in a way that I haven't been before.

     Isaiah chapter 42 gives a description of the ministry of the coming Messiah. In verse 3 Isaiah writes, "A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not put out." 

     One of the things that you should note is that Matthew in his Gospel likes to show us and tell us how Jesus fulfilled in His ministry the Messianic prophecies of the Old Testament. In Matthew 12, we are told that Jesus fulfilled this particular prophecy when He healed the sick from the large crowd that was following Him and listening to His teachings. 

     This week, I was thinking about the significance of a bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not put out. A bruised reed is a reed that is about to die out. Some would just go ahead and break it off and put it to an end. A smoldering wick is just barely putting out smoke. It isn't lighting up anything, it is just stinking the place up. It would be normal to just put it all the way out and total extinguish the little bit of fire that was remaining. 

     What does this mean for us as people? There are a lot of people who are hurt in this world. They are bruised reeds. Life has dealt them a bad hand. They have had one bad thing after another happen to them, and they are barely hanging on. These are the people that Jesus helped so much during His ministry here on this earth. He cared about the ones that other people had given up on and didn't really care about in the first place. He healed the sick and ministered to the least of those among us. He didn't turn anyone away from His love and His kindness. He was always there to help everyone, even those about ready to give up. 

     There are many people today who are struggling and having a hard time. Jesus is there to be with you and help you. He loves you and He cares about you. Turn to Him in every hour of difficulty. Seek His comfort and His help. He wants to help you in every way.

     Now, a smoldering wick He will not put out speaks to me not of the physical life and its battles but of the spiritual life. There are people who where once really on fire for the Lord. There whole life was about serving Jesus and living a holy life that is pleasing to Him. However, they have cooled way down in their fervor for serving the Lord. They may have fallen so far into sin and selfishness that there isn't much spiritual life left within them. Jesus wants to help. He is not there to condemn. 

     If you feel that you are about to burn out spiritually, tell Jesus. Ask Him to renew His presence in your life. He has not given up on you. He knows that you can get back on track again, and He is there to help you.

    This needs to be how we feel about people in our lives. Let us not give up on people. Let us help those who are knocked down by life in so many ways. Let us help those who are in a spiritually bad place to get back on track with the Lord. Let all of us help bring healing and wholeness to the world for all just like Jesus did and does. Amen. 

Prayer Requests

     I am having a really hard time healthwise again. The arthritis in my hand is really severe right now, and I am having other issues as well. Please be in prayer. Thank you. 

    I want to thank the Lord that the remaining hostages have been freed. Aid is coming into Gaza, and there is a ceasefire. Let us be thankful, and let us pray that peace will hold in that part of the world. 

    Let us continue to pray for peace in Ukraine and Sudan. Let us pray for Haiti as well. 

    Please pray for those in Alaska who were affected by the typhoon remnants. Pray that they will get the aid that they need. 

    For our prayer focus countries this week let us pray for those in the nations of Suriname and Mauritius. Pray that many will come to know Jesus and His love and forgiveness. 

    Next week, I will post another topical message. I will post the verses on Tuesday, and the book about Toby chapter on Wednesday. May God bless you all. 

     

Toby -- The Story of My Friend -- Chapter 7

 Chapter 7

     If you know anything about Welsh Corgis, you are already aware that they were originally bred by the ancient Celtic inhabitants of Wales to nip at the heels of cattle and sheep as they were being driven to market or from one field to another.  Because of this inbred ability, many corgis have retained the herding instinct to this present day.  Some corgis even win various herding titles awarded by the American Kennel Club and other organizations.
     Toby definitely had the ancient blood of his corgi ancestors running through his veins .  He had a strong desire to herd.  Mostly, he wanted to herd me.  I always told everyone that he must have thought that I looked like a sheep.
     Toby wasn't a traditional herder.  He never tried to nip at my heels.  His method of pointing me in the proper direction was to grab hold of my pant or pajama leg then pull and let go.  Sometimes, he would just grab and release.
     One never knew when the old herding instinct would kick in.  At anytime, anyone in the family, but mostly me, could be mistaken for a white, woolly creature.
     What was really funny is when Toby would herd me places my parents wanted me to go.  For instance, if I was in my room and my Mom called that dinner was ready, Toby would make sure that I made it to the dinner table quickly.  I think that he was just as excited about dinner as I was because he might get some left over goody.
     Toby also liked to evoke his herding talents when the phone rang, and I was at the opposite end of the house.  When the phone rang, I'd head for the phone with Toby nipping my pant leg in an effort to speed my arrival.  It actually slowed me down.  He didn't know that, or at least he didn't care.  He wanted some excitement out of even the most mundane and trivial event.
     Toby also loved to herd the vacuum cleaner.  Whenever I got out the vacuum, Toby would wait until it started and then he would bounce over and bite at the end of it as I made it go back and forth across the carpet.  He would hop at it, dart away then return for another quick bite.  This made vacuuming quite difficulty, but it was also a lot of fun.
     While not necessarily a herding behavior, Toby also exhibiting the behavior of grabbing my pant leg and trying to pull me back inside the door when I was going out.  He didn't want me to leave.  The only reason that I could come up with for this behavior was that it was part of the herding instinct to keep his charge from straying.
     One other crazy herding type behavior Toby possessed manifested whenever I would bring the groceries in from the car.  I would try to bring in the groceries, and Toby was just crazy barking and herding me along.  He would jump up and try to get the grocery bags out of my hand.  Once he succeeded.  He got hold of the bag and ripped that sucker wide open.  The bread fell out, and Toby grabbed the bread and went running with it through the house.  Before I could get the bread, Toby shook and shook the package sending slices of bread flying throughout the living room.  I don't know what got into him.  My bringing in the groceries was a really big deal to him for some reason.  He wanted to know what was in those sacks.
     Another cute action of Toby's was his desire to follow me everywhere I went and never let me out of his sight.  My Mom always said that Toby wasn't happy if I wasn't at home for him to keep his eye on me.  We had a really close relationship.  In some ways, we were like brothers, and we both missed each other on the very few occasions when we were apart.
     If I was on the couch watching TV, Toby would always be right next to me.  If I got up, even for just a minute, he came along.
     He always had to be by me.  If I was working in my office or sitting at the kitchen table, he would be there.  When I started working from home all day, Toby stayed in the office for hours.  When he was old, he slept so soundly that sometimes he wouldn't notice when I left for some other part of the house.  I didn't want to wake him up, so I just let him sleep.  It wouldn't be long before he'd be up looking for me.
    As Toby grew older, He also made it known that he wasn't very happy if anyone else got too close to me.  If anyone, including my parents, tried to approach me, Toby would growl until I told him that it was OK.  I was under his complete protection.  I just want to state that Toby wasn't mean.  He never hurt anyone.  He just always looked out for me.  I always felt safe when he was with me.
     These incidents point to the fact that Toby was a fine herder with good instincts.  More importantly, it is another demonstration of the fun and good times we had together and the love we shared.

Verses For The Week

 Matthew 6:10 -- "Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven."

I Peter 2:15 -- "For such is the will of God, that by doing right you silence the ignorance of foolish people."

Weekend Sermon -- "Be Like Him"

      Thank you for taking the time to once again stop by to read the message for the week. I am glad to report that I am feeling quite a bit better, so thank you for your prayers. I hope that all of you are doing very well. I also want to thank the Lord for giving me the opportunity to post this message. 

     Today, I want to bring a message centered on two passages. The first is Ephesians 5:1-2 that states, "Do as God does. After all, you are His dear children. Let love be your guide. Christ loved us and offered His life for us as a sacrifice that is pleasing to God. The second passage is from I John 4:8 that reads, "God is love, and anyone who doesn't love others has never known Him."

     I've entitled the message for today, be like Him. That is what our verse from Ephesians is telling us to do. Those who have come to know the Father through His Son the Lord Jesus Christ are called to be like Him. Jesus is God come in the flesh. Jesus said that if you have seen me you have seen the Father. So, when the Bible says, as it does here, that we are to do as God does, we are to look to Jesus. We are to see what He did, and we are to do it. 

     One translation puts it a little bit differently. It says that we are to be imitators of God. We are to be imitators of Jesus. That is what it means to be a Christian. We look to Jesus. We see how he lived and what He did. We are to follow His teachings and commandments and be like Him in the world. 

     Now, how do we do as God does, or do as Jesus would do in this world? The answer is in both of our passages for today. We are to live in love. We are to love others, and we are to express the love of the Lord in thought, word and deed. Jesus said that we are to love our neighbors as ourselves. 

     The Father demonstrated His love for us by sending His Son to be the sacrifice for our sins. Jesus loved us and gave Himself for us. His love moved Him to make the ultimate sacrifice in order that we might be redeemed. 

     Jesus lived a life of love and demonstrated love throughout His time of ministry on this earth. He cared about people. He healed them and helped them. He taught us to love others by living lives of non-violence and service to others. Jesus loved everyone including those that the religious people of His day tried to exclude. Jesus was and is the man of love. 

     We are to be like Him. We are to be people who love God and love others. We are to be the ones out spreading love and goodness in this world in the same way that Jesus did. That means doing good to the least of those among us as Jesus taught. That means helping this world to be a better place. Being a person of love means telling others about Jesus. It means speaking words that heal and not words that hurt and tear down. Loving others as Jesus loved means lifting people up and helping them be all that they can be for His honor and glory. 

     Sadly, so much of what people see among those who say they are Christians are unloving and hateful things. Hateful and mean words and actions toward other races and ethnic groups. Cruelty towards the poor and the homeless. Violence and warlike attitudes. These things aren't in keeping with being like God revealed in the person of Jesus Christ. 

     If you want to know how to be what God wants you to be, look at Jesus. When you want to know how to act or behave in any situation, ask what Jesus did or what He would do in that circumstance or if facing that issue. If Jesus would do it, that is what we should do. If He wouldn't act in that way, then neither should we. At all times, let us live in love and follow the path of love set before us by God come in the flesh the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. 

Prayer Requests

     As I mentioned, I am feeling better. Please keep praying that I can find a better job. Thank you.

     Continue to pray for peace. Ukraine, Israel, Gaza, Sudan and Myanmar all need peace. 

 We need to pray that those affected by natural disasters will get the aid and the help that they need. 

      For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those in the nations of Chad and Laos. Pray that many will come to know Jesus. 

     Next week, I will post another topical message. I may do that for a few weeks and wait to start a new series after the first of the year. However, I am still undecided. I will post the verses on Tuesday, and the next chapter of the Toby book on Wednesday. May God bless you all. 

"Toby -- The Story of My Friend -- Chapter 6

 Chapter 6

     One unpleasant activity that Toby and I both hated was dodging tornadoes.  We lived right in the heart of tornado alley, so every spring there was a constant stream of severe thunderstorm warnings and tornado warnings.
     The house we lived in didn't have a basement, so my parents purchased a small, metal storm shelter that was supposed to hold four people.  It was creepy.  When I was in that thing, I felt like I was is some sort of a coffin.
     My Mom was so afraid of tornadoes that she would have us go down into the storm shelter all the time.  I couldn't stand being down in that shelter, so I would wait in the house or I'd stay out and see if the storm was coming.  I tried to put Toby down in the shelter in advance, but he hated it too.  He would try to climb the ladder and get out of there to find out where I was.  Usually, we just waited it out together.  There was one time, when the two of us were together while I was doing school at home when we almost waited too long.
     There had been a tornado watch issued early in the morning, which is rather rare, so we were expecting bad weather.  My Mom kept calling me about every five minutes from her work to see if any storms were coming.  I wasn't too worried about the weather, so I wasn't really paying too much attention.
     At about 11:00am, the tornado siren went off in town.  Toby went crazy barking, and I jumped up from behind my desk and went to find out what was happening.  The National Weather Service had issued a tornado warning for my county.
     I picked up Toby, and the two of us headed for the storm shelter.  When we got outside, I really didn't see much.  I decided to wait with Toby above ground and see what happened.  The two of us walked around to see if we could spot anything in the distance.  It wasn't even raining.
     We were across the yard from the shelter when almost immediately the entire sky turned green.  The two of us ran as fast as we could to the storm shelter.  I opened it up just as the rain started to absolutely pour down.  I picked Toby up and made my way down the ladder into the shelter pulling the door shut behind me.
     Just as I pulled the door shut, the hail started.  From the sound of the pounding on the shelter door, I could tell that the hail was huge.  Toby and I went to the far end of the shelter and huddled there together.  We could hear the wind picking up and it was roaring like a furnace.
     I was scared, but Toby was never afraid of anything.  He was growling at the hail, wind, thunder and lightning.  Holding on to him, I wasn't afraid anymore.  We waited down in the storm shelter for about thirty minutes.  After that time, curiosity got the better of me, so I decided to stick my head out and see if it was clear.
     When I emerged, the sun was already back out.  It didn't reveal a pleasant site.  I picked up Toby and went up the ladder out of the shelter.  We had missed the tornado.  That tornado went just north of us through farm fields.  However, the hail and the wind caused a lot of damage.  Two of our air conditioning units were pounded to bits.  Our garden was totally ruined.  All of the tomatoes were destroyed.  Also, one of our apple trees and one of the pear trees in the orchard were uprooted.  In town, several trees were uprooted and the siding was blown off one of the businesses.
     The major damage was to the agricultural interests.  All of the corn in the surrounding area was destroyed.  The large hail stripped all of the ears right off of the stalks.
     I sat with Toby on the back steps, and I just held on to him.  I was glad we made it to the shelter, and that we were together.
     That's the closest I've ever come to a tornado in the state of Kansas.  The closest I ever came to a tornado was in the state of Wyoming when we were out visiting my grandparents.  I watched that tornado absolutely destroy the Buffalo Ridge section of Cheyenne.
     No matter what the storm, I was glad that Toby was around.  Like I said, he was never afraid of anything.  When he wasn't afraid, it helped me not to be afraid.

Verses For The Week

Matthew 23:11 -- "The greatest among you will be your servant."

Romans 12:10 -- "Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves"

Weekend Sermon -- "Animals And Pets In Heaven"

      Thank you for once again reading the message for the week. I hope you all are doing great. I am doing fairly well. I thank the Lord for giving me the opportunity to post this message. 

     Last week, we finished up our series on the book of Philippians. I hope that everyone learned at least a little something from that series. This week and next week, I am going to post messages on topics. After that, we are going to start a new series of messages that I hope will be of benefit to you.

     October 4, which is right around the corner, is the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi. On that day, many churches have a blessing of the animals service. I find these to be very meaningful and important to those whose pets are of great importance to them.

     Those who have had special animal friends in their lives like I had my friend Toby, want to know if they will be reunited with their pets some day in Heaven. I have been concerned about this for many years, and I've researched a lot about it. In my research and study of the Scripture, I have come to the conclusion that we who are in Christ will definitely see our animal friends when we die. 

     First of all, let us look at Romans 8:21-22. Here, Paul makes it clear that all of creation will be set free from the bondage and decay that beset it through the fall of Adam. All creation includes all of the animals that were created by God. All of them suffered as a result of sin. In order for them to benefit from the redemption of the created order through Jesus Christ, they would have to be able to enjoy the fruits of that redemption which can only occur if they are brought back to life. 

     John Wesley, whom I admire greatly, wrote about this in a sermon called "The General Deliverance." He believed that in the world to come, the Lord would restore all things. Everything would be restored to the way that it existed in the Garden of Eden. Those animals who suffered as a result of the first Adam's sin would benefit in the restoration of all things under the Last or Second Adam the Lord Jesus Christ. 

     Jesus is called the Last Adam by the Apostle Paul in I Corinthians 15. He talks about how Adam became a living being, but Christ is a life-giving spirit. In Romans 5, Paul talks about how sin and death came as a result of the first Adam, but the work of the Second Adam, Jesus, will ultimately undo all of what the first Adam's sin did in the world. The first Adam failed, the Second Adam redeems all. 

    What does this mean about animals and pets in the afterlife? The Bible says in Acts 3:21 that Jesus will remain in Heaven until the time comes for the restoration of all things. This means that one day, Jesus will come and make all right again. The creation will be delivered from all its trouble. Everything will be restored to its Edenic state. As the Bible says, the lion will lie down by the lamb. 

     What I have just laid out for you is one of the main Scriptural reasons that I believe that we will see our pets again when we die. Jesus' through His death, resurrection and return sets everything back right. And all creatures that suffered as a result of sin will benefit from the restoration of all things. That from what I can determine, includes our pets. 

     Now, there is another reason that I believe we will see our pets again in the world to come. Jesus Himself is the reason. Jesus when He lived on earth was kind, loving and compassionate. Jesus knows what our pets have meant to us. I believe He was the one who brought Toby and me together. Knowing Jesus, I believe that He will want His followers to experience the maximum level of joy. Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. He knows what we need, and He will make it so. 

     I firmly and unequivocally believe that I will see my friend Toby again in Heaven. No one will ever convince me otherwise. I know this too. Jesus will come again and make everything right just as it was when it was first created. If we put our faith and trust in Him, we can be part of all that He is making new. Amen. 

Prayer Requests

     Please continue to pray in regard to my health. Unfortunately, I have had a small relapse of arthritis. Please keep praying, I appreciate it. 

     Pray for peace in the world. Pray for peace in Ukraine, Israel, Gaza, Yemen and Sudan. 

     Please pray for an end to the ebola virus in Africa and pray that the measles outbreak still in some states in the US will end. 

     For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those in the nations of Tunisia and Azerbaijan. Pray that many will come to know Jesus. 

     Next week, I will post the verses on Tuesday and the next chapter of the book on Wednesday. I will post a topical message on Friday. May God bless you all. 

Toby -- The Story Of My Friend - - Chapter 5

 Chapter 5

     As I mentioned, I was very sick as a child.  I missed a lot of school, and I had difficulty keeping up at times.  If something was going around, I would catch it.  My immune system was very defective.  A stressful environment didn't help much.
     After the church my family attended opened a school, I began attending there.  While there, my illnesses intensified.  Because of insufficient enrollment, the school closed leaving me with no school to attend.  My parents and my doctors felt that going to school at home would allow me to regain my health and complete my high school education.
     Leaving the traditional school room for school at home was quite a transition.  The hardest thing to adjust to was the quiet.
     At this point, you may be asking what all this has to do with the book's main character.  Well, Toby was my classmate, so to speak, during my home school experiences.  He broke the monotony of studying alone.  He was always there ready to provide a grand distraction to tedious algebra and diagramming sentences.
     Every day at lunch time, we would go outside and play with the ball out on the patio.  When Toby was a young dog, he was quite active and full of fire.  We had some great ball games almost every day.
     After lunch, I'd return to my studies and continue until about three in the afternoon.  I kept the same hours as the local high school.  The only difference was that I went to school with a dog.  I also believe that I received a better education.  I really learned to study and think for myself.
     When my daily assignments were completed, Toby and I would usually go out and sit on the patio steps.  The town where I live is on a high plateau.  The view is incredible.  There is a view for miles out back.  We would sit out there and just relax and listen to the birds.  It was great to have a good friend.  We also liked to go out there in the evenings and look at the lights from the closest town about seven miles away.  On clear evenings I'd take out my telescope and look at the night sky.
     I learned a lot by studying at home.  I studied biology, history, economics, algebra, literature and many other subjects.  Every assignment was graded at the center where the curriculum came from.
     After three years of home study, I decided that I really liked this method of study.  I wanted to be a minister, so I enrolled in an external degree program at a Bible college affiliated with the church my family attended. I studied various ministerial and theological topics and earned a degree in theology.
     During these years, my routine with Toby changed little.  I learned much, and the two of us continued to have great times together.  Toby received quite a large dose of religion listening to me give sermons for practice.  He was probably one of the most well-versed dogs when it came to the theological disciplines.
     While I was in Bible college, I began to learn more and felt very uncomfortable in my church.  I just couldn't go along with many of their views.  I planned on becoming  a minister with our church pastor's home mission organization.  However, that all changed abruptly.  I believe that the church has the responsibility to speak up for social justice and for peace.  At this time, the first Gulf War was just under way.  I could not go along with praying for the death of other people.  I had a major falling out with the pastor on this and other issues including legalism and the extent of salvation.  I was no longer welcome in that church or denomination.
    My plans for entering the ministry were on hold.  Also, the Bible colleges in my old church were not accredited.  I decided to get another degree, but I had to start back at square one because none of my courses would transfer.
     I began attending a local community college.  It was difficult at first.  My health did hold up though.
     Sadly, Toby was very depressed when I left for my classes.  My Dad, who was retired at this time, said that Toby would lay by the front door and wouldn't move until he heard my car coming down the road in the afternoon.  When I'd walk in the door, he got so excited that he jumped up and down on all four legs.
     I earned my community college degree and then obtained a bachelor's degree in history at a small college in Kansas City.  After this, I went back to home study for awhile earning a certificate in creative writing from the University of Wisconsin and a graduate diploma from an accredited seminary.
     Toby was so glad that I was back home to study.  It was at this time that I began writing, and my work began to be published.  Toby lay down in my office while I wrote poetry and stories.  I also did a lot of religious writing which became my way of fulfilling God's call on my life.
     I do have one major regret.  I wanted to have a church and live in the parsonage with Toby.  It was one of my dreams.  Sadly, Toby passed away a couple of years after I started writing.  We never got to fulfill that dream together.

Verses For The Week

 Romans 12:17-21-- "Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written, 'It is mine to avenge, I will repay,' says the Lord. On the contrary, if your enemy is hungry, feed him, if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

Weekend Sermon -- Philippians 4:14-18

      I am glad that it is time again to post the message for the week. It is my hope that you have all had a great week. I thank the Lord for continuing to give me the opportunity to post these messages. 

     Today, we are going to finish our series on the book of Philippians. I have really enjoyed having the chance to share these messages with all of you, and I hope that they have been of benefit to you. 

     As we wrap up Philippians, I want to draw your attention to a couple of points in these last few verses. First of all, Paul makes a point of thanking the people in the church at Philippi for being there for him and helping to support him right from the beginning of his ministry. He tells them in verse 17 that he wants them to have the benefits that come from giving. 

     Giving to the work of the Lord and to charitable causes is something that is necessary and truly rewarding. For the believer, those who give to support the spread of the message of Jesus will have an eternal reward in Heaven because they are building up treasure in Heaven where moth and rust does not corrupt and where thieves do not break in and steal. 

     In order for pastors and missionaries to be able to go and spread the message of Jesus' love, they have to have support. That is where we as believers come into play. I hope that we can all give and support our local churches, and I hope that we can give to support missionaries who take the message of Jesus around the world. It is also important that we give in order to help people have a better life. We must help those who are sick, hungry and in need. When we do good and try to help the least among us, that is what is pleasing to the Lord Jesus. 

     Finally, Paul ends by saying that he wants all those in the church to receive the blessings of God that come from Jesus Christ. Jesus is the source of our blessings. By living as our perfect example, He has shown us how we are to conduct ourselves while living in this world. By dying on the cross, He has taken away our sins. Through His glorious resurrection, He has conquered death, hell and the grave. Through His presence within our hearts, the Lord Jesus provides His peace and His direction that sustains us and guides us until we come to see Him face to face in the place that He has prepared for those who love Him. 

     All that we have comes from God through the Lord Jesus. He has blessed us with innumerable things. We need to give Him all the thanks, glory, honor and praise for who He is and for what He has done. It is my hope that you know Jesus as Savior and Lord. You can know His peace and His forgiveness when you come to Him in repentance and faith and accept Him as the Lord of your life. I hope that you will do that today. Amen. 

Prayer Requests

     I am having a renewal of a problem that I had about twenty years ago. I have always had skin problems when going out in the sun. Over the last few years it hasn't been as bad. But lately, I am having a lot of trouble even going out for a little time. Please pray that this will get better. My arthritis flare has completely cleared up, and I am grateful to the Lord for that. I thank you for your prayers on my behalf. 

     Please pray for the people in Taiwan and China who have been affected by the bad storm. Pray that they will get the aid and the help that they need. Also, as I am writing this message, there are some bad storms brewing in the Atlantic. Please pray that these will not bring harm to people. 

     Continue to pray for peace. Ukraine, Israel, Gaza, Yemen, Sudan and Haiti all need our prayers. 

     Let us keep praying for an end to the current ebola outbreak in Congo.

     For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those in the nations of Iraq and Indonesia. Pray that many will come to know Jesus. 

     Next week, I will post the message on Friday as usual. I will start a new series in a couple of weeks. I will post the verses on Tuesday and the next chapter in the Toby book on Wednesday. May God bless you all. 

Toby -- The Story Of My Friend == Chapter 4

 Chapter 4

     Like me, Toby always had a lot of health problems.  They began a short time after he came to live with me, and they continued throughout his life.  Sickness, and its various cures and palliatives, were a major part of my relationship with my friend.  I'm glad that I was able to take care of him.  Actually, we took care of each other.
     Like I said, Toby's health problems began shortly after his arrival.  One night, I awoke to a horrible sight.  Toby had defecated blood everywhere, and he was extremely weak.  It was a Sunday morning, so I called our veterinarian at home.  He told me to get Toby to his office right away, and I did.  The vet ran several tests on Toby and determined that Toby had ulcerative colitis.  We placed him on a course of medicine and hoped for the best.
     That afternoon, Toby seemed like his normal self as he ran through the house barking at motorcycles.  I thought that he would be fine, and I wasn't worried since he seemed to be making such good progress.
     I was mistaken.  About four days later, Toby had another episode.  Of course, I rushed him to the veterinarian's office, and we began a new course of medication.
     Once again, Toby had a good improvement and returned to his rambunctious and happy self.  But, about four days later, he was ill again and back on his way to the vet's office.  This time, more tests were run.  They confirmed the initial diagnosis.  However, this time, the vet placed Toby on a different type of medication, and he was placed on a different diet.
     I fully expected the symptoms to return,  but this time the treatment worked.  Toby was in good shape.  After a fairly long course of this medication, we decided to gradually reduce the dosage.  When we withdrew too much, Toby got sick again.  We did eventually get Toby down to a lower dosage, but he had to remain on this daily medication for the next 10 years.
     Unfortunately, colitis was just the beginning of Toby's troubles.  When he was a little pup, no one looked after his teeth properly.  He developed a lot of teeth issues because the teeth never had a good foundation for growth.  When I bought Toby, he had so much caked in tartar on his teeth that I had the vet clean them right away.  Even at a young age, some of Toby's teeth were so bad that they had to be removed.
     Sometimes, Toby's roots became inflamed and infected.  He'd develop large swollen places in his jaw.  He eventually lost about half of his teeth.  In order for him to eat properly, I had to soak up his kibble.  In later life, I always bought him canned food.
     One of the worst episodes with Toby's health came about when his kidneys became infected.  He seemed fine one minute, and then the next minute he was violently ill.  I knew that something was drastically wrong.
     I was really worried as we traveled to the vet's office.  The vet gave Toby a penicillin injection and some liquid sulfa medication.  I was told to take Toby home and then bring him back in the afternoon for a re-check.
     I waited anxiously through the day keeping a close eye on my friend.  That afternoon, I took Toby back to the clinic.  He received a second penicillin injection, and our vet also did a complete blood and urine work up.
    The next afternoon, Toby's results showed some kidney damage, but it was not extensive.  We kept Toby on the liquid sulfa, and he improved slowly. It was really hard on both of us, but once again the old boy pulled through.
     Toby had many, many other health problems which I'm not going to go into detail about.  One problem that was so bad and I prayed and prayed about I do want to mention.  Because of the colitis medicine that he took, Toby was susceptible to opportunistic infections because of reduced immunity.  When he was about 7 years old, Toby developed an opportunistic skin problem.  We threw the book at this trying to treat it with little or no success.  All the while I was praying that Toby would be healed of this problem.
     I kept praying and praying for years about this.  Thanks be to God.  Toby was healed of this problem.  He lived the last years of his life totally free from this skin condition.  This incident taught me a lesson in being persistent in prayer just as Jesus taught.
     I didn't mention all of Toby's problems in this chapter to make readers feel depressed.  I included them because Toby's health was an important factor in our relationship.  Caring for Toby and seeing him through these times of trial made us a pair of strong friends.  It was my responsibility to care for Toby, and I made sure I did it to the best of my ability.  He was a joy to take care of never causing any fuss or trouble.  At least not for me.
    One thing I have to mention.  As Toby got to about 3 years of age, he came to the place where he only liked me and didn't really care for anybody else.  He tolerated my parents, but he wouldn't play with them.  He wouldn't let anybody come into my room when I was sleeping.  He was extremely protective.  He also absolutely hated everyone at the vet's office.  If they needed to do a procedure, I had to help.  They were scared to death of him.  However, Toby never so much as showed the slightest flash of anger at me.  I could do anything with him.  To me, he was the best.
     It has always been my belief that God brought the two of us together because we needed each other.  I needed him to be a friend when I was friendless.  Toby needed someone to help him through his many problems.  Our veterinarian said that the majority of his clients wouldn't have gone to the expense and hassle of treating Toby's many problems.  I found it to be a privilege.  I miss him every day.

Verses For The Week

 Psalm 9:9 -- "The Lord is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble."

John 14:27 -- "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you, not as the world giveth give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

Weekend Sermon -- "Philippians 4:10-13"

      Thank you for reading the blog today. I am happy to be able to post the message. Something strange happened with the blog yesterday. I thought I was going to have to delete it because it was messed up. However, things are corrected now. Thanks be to God. I really enjoy posting on here. I've been doing this for almost 15 years. I hope that you get something out of the messages and the verses as well as the other things that I post. 

     Today, we are once again studying the book of Philippians. We will have a message from Philippians today, and then, Lord willing, I will wrap things up next week. After that, I will probably have a couple of topical messages before we start a new series that I have planned. 

     Last week, we focused on what our thoughts should be on. We should take into our minds and hearts only that which is edifying and uplifting. We should not set our focus on the things of this world, but we should set our hearts, minds and thoughts on the things that are above. 

     In our section for today, Paul draws his readers' attention to something that is important for all of us. In verse 11 he tells us that he has learned to be satisfied with the things that he has. That is something that I am learning and trying to do. Whether rich or poor or whatever state, I need to thank the Lord for the things that He has given to me. 

     Paul faced it all in his life. He started out as a Pharisee of the Pharisees. He was a highly respected person, and I am sure that he had plenty of money. However, as he went about preaching the message of the Lord Jesus after his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus, Paul faced persecution of high magnitude. He knew what deprivation was. But he did it because he loved the Lord. 

     I haven't faced the things that Paul faced. I have had ups and downs though. All of us have. I went through some really hard financial and emotional times after my parents passed on. I pretty much lost all my savings during the Great Recession. Through it all, I had enough to get by. I thank the Lord for that. 

    Paul knew that he could get through anything with the strength given to him by the Lord Jesus. When Jesus is with us, we can make it through. I know this from my own life. When I faced the hard time with my mother in the hospital for over a month, it was the Lord who gave me the ability to help my dad and get my mother back home. When I faced financial struggles and health struggles, the Lord was with me helping me to overcome and to make it through. Knowing His presence gives us strength to meet the challenges of each day. We can rely on Him, and He is our peace. He will never leave us, and He will never forsake us. 

     In order to help us make it through the problems we face, the Lord has given us our fellow believers. We are to encourage one another and help one another in the best way that we are able. Also, the Lord often sends helpers to us at the right time. That is what happened when the Lord sent me my friend Toby. 

     Our duty is to serve the Lord with all that we have within us. He will be with us. When hard times or good times come, we can keep going and serving the Lord because He is the one who is strengthening us and ordering our steps. 

     If you know the Lord Jesus, you understand what I am trying to say. If you have never come to have a relationship with the Lord, I invite you to give your life to Him today. Amen.

Prayer Requests

     Please pray that I will be able to get my house fixed. Also, pray that I can find out what is troubling me with my health. Thank you. 

     Pray for people to get along with one another here in the United States. It is a difficult time.

     Remember to pray for peace. Ukraine, Israel, Gaza, Sudan and Haiti all need our prayers. Also, remember to pray for refugees around the world. 

     Let us pray for those in Congo dealing with the ebola outbreak. Pray that this will end. 

     For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those in the nations of Ivory Coast and Brunei. Pray that many will come to know Jesus. 

     Next week, we will conclude Philippians. I will post the verses on Tuesday. May God bless you all. 

Toby - The Story of My Friend -- Chapter 3

 Chapter 3

     Toby always was a really playful dog.  He was always looking for and ready to have a good time.  That quality made us quite compatible.
     As I mentioned in a previous chapter, I first bonded with Toby through a game of fetch with some old kite string.  Fetch became an important part of our play time, but we did graduate to better items than kite string.
     The first toy I bought Toby was a small, green alligator.  When I unwrapped the package and gave the gator a sharp squeak, I captured Toby's undivided attention.  His ears stood up more than usual, and he starred intently at this small noisemaker.
     I took the gator and flung it as far as possible across the living room.  Toby dashed after it, pounced on it, and set down to have a good long chew.  He never would return a thrown object back to me.  I would come over to get the gator, and a tug of war ensued.  As always, Toby acquiesced.  With that, our modified game of fetch resumed.  We could play like this for hours.  Finally, both of us would end up breathless from too much gator chasing.
     Toby liked to play with his gator at all times.  He'd squeak it, chew it and fetch it.  Whenever I said, "It's gator time" he knew instantly what that meant.
    I bought Toby several other chew toys over the years.  He had a rubber tennis shoe, a squeaky carrot and some other toys.  Toby never liked these toys as much as his well worn gator.  We played with that old swamp dweller until it finally fell apart.  Sadly, I could never find another gator exactly like it again.
     After gator died, Toby got into the habit of tearing his toys apart, so I didn't leave them out for him all of the time.   One time, I bought him a little rubber beef steak to play with.  The minute I gave it to him he ripped it apart and tried to eat it.  I guess he thought that it was the real thing.
     Besides playing gator, Toby and I engaged in other fun activities like racing.  It was one of our favorite things to do in Toby's younger days.  Out in the backyard, my uncle had an old bathtub that we used as the starting point of our races.  My Mom acted as the referee and official race starter.  Toby and I would stand in anticipation waiting for the signal to cruise to the finish line marked by the rose trellises at the end of the yard.  I always had to hold Toby back as he always tried to gain the advantage.
     When Mom said, "go", we were off and running as fast as possible.  Neither of us wanted to let the other win.  Unfortunately for me, Toby won the majority of these races.  For a little dog, he was lightning fast.  I never would have thought such stubby legs could move so fast.
     Toby had a unique running style.  He didn't move his front and back legs in synchrony as most dogs.  Instead, Toby threw both of this front legs out, and then pushed himself along with both back legs.  It was sort of a bouncing and pouncing motion that looked awkward, but it produced a great deal of speed.
     Toby didn't just race me though.  He liked to race through the house as motorcycles sped down the street in front of the house.
    At one time, before they were outlawed, three-wheeled motorcycles were popular where I live.  The kids would ride fast and loud down the streets and alleys of my community.  These motorcycles drove Toby crazy.  He tried to chase these roaring vehicles down even though he was safe inside the house.
     My house was a long, ranch house that allowed a dog to make a straight shot from end to end without hindrance.  When Toby heard the motorcycles coming, he would start barking, jump to his feet and dash from one end of the house to the other.  In one great leap, he would jump on the chair by the big picture window and bark and growl at this hated nemesis.
     Thankfully, this all ended when the motorcycles were banned.  Toby was relieved that this was all over, and so was I.
     While Toby grew to feeble to play fetch much or race, one game we played right until the end was the most fun of all.  Toby possessed a great sense of smell, and his tracking ability could put a bloodhound to shame.
    The way we tested Toby's tracking was by playing hide and seek indoors and outdoors.  My Mom would distract Toby while I went and hid somewhere.  After I was thoroughly hidden, Mom would say to Toby," Go find Garry", and Toby would be off in search of me.
     Toby always found me.  After a brief glance to see if I was in view, Toby put his nose to the ground and started sniffing out my scent.  From my secure vantage point, I would watch him following my exact track right up to my carefully chosen hiding place.  When he found me, he would jump up and down with excitement.  I really believe that with a little training, Toby could have won some prizes in the AKC tracking competitions.
     Toby loved to play, and I loved to play with him.  We were always trying to think up new ways to have fun.  Toby grew too old to play some of our games, but even when he reached his teens, he was very active and ready to go.
    Don't let anyone tell you that older dogs have no energy or can't learn.  Toby proved that even when they have grown old, dogs still want to play and have a good time.  Give an older dog a chance, and he will become your best friend.

Verses For The Week

 Psalm 56:3 -- "When I am afraid, I put my trust in You."

I Peter 5:7 -- "Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you."

Disregard

  If you saw the last post, please disregard. It was posted in error and has been removed. I am not quitting the blog.

The Weekend Sermon -- Philippians 4:8-9

      Thank you for reading the message this week, and thanks be to God for the opportunity to post the message this week. I hope and pray that everyone is having a good week so far. 

     Today, we will continue with our series in Philippians. Last week, we saw that we need to be gentle and kind to one another. We also looked into the fact that we need to give all our anxieties and all of our worries over to the Lord in prayer. When we take things to the Lord, we are entrusting out lives to the one who really has the power and the ability to help us.

     For our message today, I want to focus on two verses that each tell us something important for the living of our lives for the Lord Jesus. First of all, we see in verse 8 that Paul says, "Finally, my friends, keep your minds on whatever is true, pure, right, holy, friendly, and proper. Don't ever stop thinking about what is truly worthwhile and worthy of praise." This is important as we try to keep our minds and hearts focused on the things of God. 

     The things that we allow to come into our minds have an affect on the way the we live. If we put things into our minds that are filled with darkness and negativity, that will cause us to think of things that are sinful and contrary to the will of God. For instance, I know many Christians who watch TV shows and movies that are filled with violence and other things that are contrary to the teachings of Jesus and the Scriptures. They keep putting these things into their minds, and it eventually leads a person away from following the Lord. 

     Instead of letting our minds be filled with sinful and worldly things, we need to fill our minds with what is true and with what is good. We need to pay careful attention to what we let in our minds and hearts. We need to watch programs and movies and read things that are in keeping with the Word of the Lord. We all need to keep our attention on what would bring glory to the Lord. 

     One thing that all of us need to fill our minds with is the Word of God. We all need to be reading the Bible more and more. And not just reading but also studying the Word. We need to let the Word of God get down deep within us so that we are not just hearers of the Word but doers of the Word. When the Word of God is within our minds, we will be focused on the things of God, and that will allow all of us to lead lives that bring glory to God. 

     Now, moving on to our second verse in our passage for the day. In verse nine, Paul tells the Philippians to follow him as an example of how to live for the Lord. In essence what Paul is saying is that they could look to him as he follows Christ. Paul is not saying to look at him and not at Jesus. 

     Jesus is our ultimate example of how to live and behave in the world. We read about how He acted in certain situations, and we do likewise. We read and comprehend His teachings and commandments, and then we put them into practice in our lives. There are holy people that are great examples of putting the life and teachings of Jesus into practice. Paul and the other apostles are good examples. In all things, we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. If we do what He did in the world, we cannot and will not go wrong. Amen. 

Prayer Requests

     Please keep praying about my being able to come up with the finances for my roof. Thank you

     We need to be in deep prayer in regard to the situation in Ukraine as well as Israel and Gaza. Let us really focus in our prayers this week on peace for these people. Let us also pray for peace in Sudan. 

     Pray for the people in north central Kansas who were affected by the terrible flooding. Pray that they will get the aid and the help that they need. They had ten inches of rain in one day that caused rapid flooding. 

     For our prayer focus countries this week let us pray for those in the nations of Turkey and Lebanon. Pray that many will come to know Jesus. 

     Next week, I will probably finish up Philippians, but it may take an extra week. I will post the verses on Tuesday, and I will post the book chapter on Wednesday. May God bless you all.