Book Review

      "The Speckled Beauty: A Dog And His People" is the story of a stray dog that Rick Bragg adopted when the dog started hanging around his family's farm in Alabama. "Speck" the dog had a rough life. He probably belonged to some people who for some reason decided to dump him out in the country when they didn't want him anymore. As someone who lives in a rural area I am sadly aware of how often this happens. While living as a stray, Speck was involved in dog fights and didn't get the right kinds of food. 

      Even though he wasn't the most well-behaved dog, Rick Bragg cared about the dog who strongly resembles an Australian Shepherd. While Speck might chase the cats and drag stinking deer carcasses near the house, Rick thinks the world of Speck. Rick's family isn't all that thrilled about Speck being around, but they come around in time. 

     This book relates the things that Rick and Speck did during the first years that they were together. However, the book isn't just about a dog. It is a book about the people who are in the dog's life and how they are changed because Speck came. For instance, Rick was going through a lot of health issues both mentally and physically when Speck came. Having a friend like Speck helped him to heal as he stayed to help his mom on the farm during the Covid quarantines. 

     This is a very well-written book, and I would expect nothing less as Rick Bragg is a Pulitzer Prize winning author. I remember watching an interview with him on Charlie Rose's program several years ago now. Mr. Bragg has written several books about his family as well as stories about the South that he calls his home. I read this book quickly, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It's been a long time since I've read a really good dog book, and this is a really good one. Speck reminds me of the farm dogs that I've encountered in my part of rural America. They are good old dogs who love their people, they love adventure, and they fill their owners' lives with happiness. They might not be that well-behaved, but you wouldn't want them any other way. 

Verses For The Week

 I John 4:7 -- "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God."

I John 4:19 -- "We love because He first loved us."

Weekend Sermon -- Favorite Verses -- I John 4:10

       Thank you for taking the time to read the sermon this week. I hope that all is going well for you. I thank the Lord for the opportunity to post the sermon this week. 

     Before I get into the sermon for this week, I just want to let you know again what we will be doing on the blog for the next few weeks. Beginning on October 1, I will be posting each day through the month. We will be going through 31 Days in Proverbs. This series will be similar to 30 Days 30 Psalms that we did last year. Each day we will look at what one or more of the Proverbs have to teach us. I will not post verses or sermons during October. We will resume the sermons, verses and other posts in November. 

     The verse that I want us to focus on today is I John 4:10 that tells us, "This is love: not that we loved God, but He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins."  

     This verse makes it clear that we did not decide to love God and come to Him on our own accord. In fact, the Bible is quite clear that before the Lord sought us out in His mercy and love, we were actually God's enemies. Romans 5:10 says it this way, "For while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life."

     Most don't consider the fact that they are enemies of God. However, those who do not accept Jesus as Lord are living in rebellion against God and against the values of the Kingdom of Heaven as given to us by the Lord Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount, and in other places throughout the Gospels. Those who have not come to Jesus for forgiveness of sins are part of the kingdom of darkness. They need to be transported from darkness to light by the saving power of the Lord Jesus. 

     The reason that I John 4:10 is so important to me is that it really shows me how much God loved us. Even when we were in rebellion against Him. Even when we were His enemies, He still loved us. He loved us so much that He was willing to send His Son to this earth to redeem us. He sent Jesus to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. 

     John 3:16 expresses to us the love of God as well. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but will have everlasting life." God loves us with an everlasting love. Jesus loves us so much that He was willing to leave the glories of Heaven. He came and was born in a manager. He lived a holy and sinless life in order that He might be the spotless Lamb of God to take away the sins of the world. Jesus loved us so much that even while we were His enemies, He allowed Himself to be crucified and mocked. Praise God, Jesus did not stay in the grave. He rose bodily from the grave on the third day that we might have the victory over sin, death, hell and the grave. 

     You may have never given your life over to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. You may still be lost in the land of darkness. Jesus loves you, and He wants you to come to Him. His love is available to all who call upon Him. I urge you today to give your life to Jesus Christ. He has shown His love for you. You can come to Him today. Amen.

 Prayer Requests

     Please continue to pray for an end to the coronavirus pandemic. Where I live, fewer people are now getting sick, and I thank the Lord for that. Let us all continue to pray that vaccines will reach those who need them. Pray that the sick will recover. 

     Please pray for those who have been affected by storms and natural disasters around the world. Pray that people will receive the aid that they need. 

     Continue to pray for peace on earth. This week, let us really focus our prayers for peace on the nation of Yemen. 

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

     This Monday, I will post the verses. I will have a review on Wednesday. Beginning October 1, 31 Days in Proverbs begins. May God bless you all. 

     

Book Recommendation

      Pen Farthing and his Nowzad animal rescue charity have been in the news lately, especially in the UK. Mr. Farthing and Nowzad until recently operated a center in Afghanistan that took in stray animals and helped them to find good homes. Many animals were reunited with those who served in the armed services in Afghanistan. When the US decided to withdraw from Afghanistan, many who operated charities and NGOs had to get out of the country. Mr. Farthing was able to get the animals out of the country, and the staff have now made it out of Afghanistan as well. 

      Before the events that have been in the news recently, I knew a little about Pen Farthing and Nowzad, but not that much. I decided to read the book that tells about how Pen Farthing started helping the strays of Afghanistan. Pen was a Royal Marine who served in Afghanistan. While there, he rescued a stray dog that was being used in dog fighting. He was determined to take this dog, and others, back with him to the UK. "One Dog At A Time" tells the story of how Pen Farthing started helping strays in Afghanistan, and it details his efforts to get some of them back home with him. 

      I highly recommend this book. It is a great story, and it is well-written. There is a lot of information about what the soldiers did while serving. Mr. Farthing has written some other books, and I hope to read those in the future. 

Verses For The Week

 I Corinthians 10:31 -- "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."

Colossians 3:23 -- "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men."

Hebrews 13:16 -- "And do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God."

Weekend Sermon -- Favorite Verses -- I John 1:9

      Welcome to this week's posting of the sermon. I hope that everyone has had a very good week, and I hope that everyone is in good health. 

     Today, we will continue with sermons that are taken from some of my favorite verses and passages in the Bible. I just want to remind everyone that starting on October 1 and going each day through October 31, I will be posting 31 Days in Proverbs. After that we will have a few more favorite verses sermons before the Advent season is upon us. 

      The verse that I would like us to focus our attention on today is I John 1:9 that states, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

     I don't know about you, but I am far from perfect. I try my best to live according to the commandments and teachings of Jesus, but there are times when I fail to do the things that I am called to do by the Lord Jesus. Sometimes I say something hurtful to someone, or I get angry. At times, I believe all of us fall into some type of  sin. It should be our aim and goal to become more and more like Jesus each day, but it is a difficult process. 

      Just because we have received Jesus as Savior and Lord doesn't mean that we have arrived at spiritual perfection. Growing in grace is a process. 

      When Jesus comes into our lives when we receive Him initially, He forgives us of our sins and we receive the indwelling of His Holy Spirit. The Bible says that our sins are removed from us as far as the east is from the west. 

      After becoming a Christian, we can fall into sin and fall out of a proper relationship with the Lord. We still belong to Him, but our relationship with Him is hindered. It is not all that it is supposed to be. 

     I John 1:9 lets me know that even when I commit a sin after becoming a Christian, I can receive the ongoing forgiveness of the Lord. This verse tells me that I need to confess whatever sin that I have committed to the Lord. I believe that it is important for us to confess our sins to the Lord as soon as we are made aware of them by the conviction of the Holy Spirit. When we know that we have done something that is not pleasing to the Lord, we need to confess that sin. We need to ask forgiveness, and we need to ask the Lord to empower us by His Spirit so that we might walk in the path of righteousness and holiness. 

     This verse tells us that when we truly confess our sins, the Lord forgives us, and He cleanses us. He doesn't withhold His love and forgiveness. We are cleansed, and we are restored to fellowship with the Lord Jesus. 

     I believe that it is important for churches to have a time of confession of sin during the service. This is a chance to remind people to come to terms with what is wrong in their walk with the Lord and put it right. I John 1:9 is often used as an assurance of pardon after the public prayer of confession so that people know that they have been forgiven, and the Lord still loves us and wants to be in fellowship with us. 

     If some sin in your life is hindering your fellowship with the Lord and your spiritual growth, confess your sin to the Lord and allow Him to forgive you and cleanse you from all unrighteousness. Amen. 

Prayer Requests

     Please continue to pray for an end to the coronavirus pandemic. Pray that vaccines with reach those who want to take them. Pray for those who are sick that they may recover. 

     Continue to pray for Afghanistan during the difficult time that the people are facing in that nation. 

     Pray for peace. Let us focus our prayers for peace this week on Syria and Chad. 

     For our prayer focus countries this week, let's pray for those who live in Sudan and Turkey. Pray that many will come to know Jesus. 

     Next week, we will continue in our current series with the sermon. I will post the verses on Monday. I hope to have a book review midweek. May God bless you all.

Book Recommendation

      A few months ago, I recommended a book by Jonathan Wittenberg entitled "Walking With The Light". This book tells of how Rabbi Wittenberg, accompanied by his dog Mitzpah, walked from Frankfurt, Germany to the Rabbi's congregation in England carrying the light from the Frankfurt synagogue to the new synagogue in London. I enjoyed reading that book a lot, and I would still recommend it to you. 

     I read on Rabbi Wittenberg's Twitter feed this week that Mitzpah passed away. That is what got me to thinking about the book again. Whenever someone's special dog passes, I think of my old friend Toby and the good times that we had together. 

     Rabbi Wittenberg has written a book that I've intended to read, but I've had difficulty getting it through interlibrary loan here in the United States. The book is called, "Things My Dog Has Taught Me: About Being A Better Human." I saw today that it is available on Amazon here in the US now, so I will be ordering that and reading it in the near future.