Wednesday, May 29, 2013

D-O-G Apologetics or Everything I Know About God, I Learned from My Dog





I am the proud owner of a certified working scent dog and I am a certified handler. 

I confess, my hard working dog, “Dusty Boot” is a bed bug sniffing Boarder Collie mix. Bed bugs are difficult to find. If a business card can slip in an opening so can a bed bug. The bed bugs wedge in, hunker down making a harborage for themselves. 

The faint sweet sticky strawberry smell of the bed bug is no match for Dusty Boot’s keen nose which is over 1,000 times more sensitive than mine! When Dusty Boot alerts, I know there are bed bugs. Whether or not, I can see them or find myself. Dusty Boot interprets reality for me during an inspection. My reason is suspended. 

I have unreserved faith in a dog and his revelations.

This realization revolutionizes my world view.  

What if........what if I looked beyond the boundaries of this physical world--beyond nature, itself, would I find the Creator of the universe--a Holy God?

My Christian friends start with a self-contained Holy God, Creator of the universe, God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit as set forth in the Bible. Yet, they are considered backward in their thinking and less than objective. 

Wait a minute, aren’t I assuming more, by demanding God look at the world and everything in it from my viewpoint, follow my double minded laws of logic? I don’t require Dusty Boot to inspect for bed bugs from my point of view, if I did , I wouldn’t need a dog. Aren’t I judging God with creature capabilities inferior to that of a dog’s? I need a scent dog to find bed bugs maybe I need God, and the Bible to interpret reality for me, daily.

I judge God with the creature capabilities the ones He created and gave me, ones not equal to another creature’s much less comparable to the God of the universe?

What if God created heaven and earth and everything in it
and me, in the Imago Dei (Image of God)?

I would not exist in an impersonal mechanical world of chance. Time, history and meaning would come from a personal purposeful God. Consequently, life’s purpose and my best life would flow from God’s design for man........for me. Wow!  

If I exercise faith daily in a relationship with my dog, a created being whose senses I admit are superior to mine why couldn’t I rely on and trust God, and the Creator’s revelations to interpret and impart meaning for me?

What if God, and God alone is the starting point and source for intelligent thought? 

The Bible’s claims to be the Word of God, the truth with a capital “T”. What if it is? 

If it is, I would not be in Cesar Milian’s terminology spend my time striving to be the “pack leader” but rather:

1.  Delight in and celebrate the fact that I am “fearfully and wonderfully made”. I am made in the image of God: an all-sufficient, self-contained intelligent, powerful, loving and just God.

2.  Seek to know God intimately by embracing the Creator’s and redeemer’s interpretation and purpose for my life and all creation.

3.  Recognize that I am accountable to God. I am not entitled but will bow in His presence at the end of my life 

4.  Exercise my God given authority to take dominion, by being a good steward of His creation. In my world, that’s dog and bed bug.

Say your prayers, sleep tight and don’t let the bed bugs bite!












Comments? Questions about bed bugs?


Monday, May 20, 2013

Earth Day

Give Glory to God When You See Something Beautiful

Every time you feel in God's Creatures something pleasing
and attractive, do not let your attention be arrested by them alone,
but, passing them by, transfer your thought to God and say:
"O my my God, if Thy creations are so full of beauty,
delight and joy how infinitely more full of beauty, delight
and joy art Thou Thyself, Creator of all!

Nicodemus of the Holy Mountain






Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Celebrate Memorial Day in a Meaningful Way! Table for Four








Directions below for "The Table for Four":  A great way to honor those who serve our country on Memorial Day with family and friends.

We had our four-old grandson help with the presentation of the, "Table for Four".

What you need:
A small table, set for four. Cover the table with a white table cloth. In the center of the table place a single red rose with a red ribbon tied prominently around the neck of the vase. Four pictures of an individual in uniform on from each of the armed forces, Army, Marines, Navy and the Air Force. Pictures of family members who have served are the best placed at each place setting. On each plate place a slice of lemon. Sprinkled each plate with slate. Invert the glass set at each place setting and turn the chairs up to the table.  Place a Bible on the table.

Script:

Table for Four  



This small table is a table of remembrance. It is set for four.

It represents the four services in time of war:

The Army, the Marines, the Navy and the Air Force.

This table symbolizes that members of our military are gone from our midst.

We call them brothers, fathers, uncles, and friends.

They are unable to be with us so, we remember them each day.

The Table Cloth is White--symbolizing the purity of their intentions to respond to their country's
call to arms...

REMEMBER:

The Single Rose-displayed in the vase reminds us of the families and friends of their lost
loved ones...

REMEMBER:
The Red Ribbon-tied prominently on the vase reminds us of the blood that was shed for our
country...

REMEMBER
A slice of Lemon-reminds us of their bitter fate...

REMEMBER:
Salt Sprinkled-on the plates reminds us of the countless fallen tears of their families...

REMEMBER:
The Glasses are inverted-they cannot toast with us...

REMEMBER:
The Chairs are Empty-they are not here...

REMEMBER:
The Bible-represents the strength to sustain the families of those gone from us, from our
founded as one nation under God...

REMEMBER
Let us pray for those still serving our country so that we might be free.

We put a slice of lemon on each plate, sprinkled salt on each plate, turned the glasses over and turned the chairs up to the table.

I did not write this and could not find a source for it. If anyone knows who did please leave a comment and share the author's name with others.

Please share with me other meaningful ways that you've celebrated Memorial Day with your family...........