Just A Little Dog?

   Last Sunday several of our members reported to me that there were two little dogs in the yard of our church building. Several years ago I was preaching in a gospel meeting at the Brick Store Church of Christ not far from the front gate of the Talladega Speedway. For two nights there was a pretty little puppy in the yard. Some friends, Joe and Alice Faulkner, from the Lincoln Church of Christ had come over for the meeting. They love dogs and tried on the first night to get me to take the dog with me. It was an unsuccessful try I might add. The next night the dog was still there so Joe and Alice took her home with them. She became like a child to them. (2 Samuel 12:3) They affectionately name her "Boxie." They love that dog until this day. I am not sure whether anyone took the little dogs that were in the yard here last Sunday or not. I do not know how the dogs got here; whether they strayed from home or whether they were just dumped. It is not the Christian thing just to dump an unwanted animal. In dumping an animal you may put a burden or problem on someone else or you may cause the animal to starve or at least be hungry. If you have an unwanted animal give it to someone or take it to a shelter. Allow me to share with you just a little information about dogs and then we will look into the Bible and observe a few things that it says about dogs. Did you know that the State of Alabama  has a  "State  Dog?"  It is the  "Golden Retriever." Did you know that there are approximately 78.2 million owned dogs in the United States? Did you know that thirty-nine percent of U.S. households own at least one dog? Did you know that on average, dog owners spend $248 on veterinary visits for vaccine and well visits annually? This does not include the many hundreds of dollars spent because the dog is sick or injured. The term "dog" is in our King James Bible 17 times and the plural "dogs" is found 23 times.  

   Just a little dog? No! The fact that the dogs did not bark in Israel was a picture of God's complete protection for His people. God sent ten plagues upon the Egyptians to cause them to let Israel go. The plagues were  (1) Water turned to Blood (Exodus 7:19), (2) Frogs everywhere (Exodus 8:2), (3) All of the dust of the land became Lice on man and beast (Exodus 8:16), (4) Flies (Exodus 8:21), (5) Livestock diseased with a very grievous murrain, (6) Boils breaking forth with blains (Exodus 9:9), (7) Hail (Exodus 9:18), (8) Locusts (Exodus 10:4), (9) Darkness (Exodus 10:21-22), and (10) The death of the firstborn (Exodus 11:4-5) These were horrible plagues that were brought against the Egyptians. Concerning the 10th plague God said, "About midnight will I go out into the midst of Egypt: And all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sitteth upon his throne, even unto the firstborn of the maidservant that is behind the mill; and all the firstborn of beasts. And there shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as there was none like it, nor shall be like it any more. But against any of the children of Israel shall not a dog move his tongue, against man or beast: that ye may know how that the LORD doth put a difference between the Egyptians and Israel." (Exodus 11:4-7) In many countries there are dogs everywhere. They bark and bark and bark, especially during some loud commotion. God put a difference between the Egyptians and Israel. "Against any of the children of Israel shall not a dog move his tongue." There would be no barking dogs among Israel because there would be no death, no grief and no commotion there. Just a little dog? No! The fact that the dogs did not bark in Israel was a picture of God's complete protection for His people.  

   Just a little dog? No! This is an illustration of God's hatred for sin. In Deuteronomy 23:18 we read, "Thou shalt not bring the hire of a whore, or the price of a dog, into the house of the LORD thy God for any vow: for even both these are abomination unto the LORD thy God." This verse deals with two kinds of immorality that God did not want money gained thereby to be put into His treasury. God can receive no honor from a woman who is prostituting herself. Nor can He receive honor from the price of a dog. The term "dog" in this text refers to a male prostitute. The expression "price of a dog" refers to a whoremonger or sodomite. God hates homosexuality. (Leviticus 20:13) In Revelation 22:15 we read, "For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie." In Deuteronomy 23:18 God struck a strong blow against lewdness. The practice of prostitution, either by men or women in a land blights everything that is good. The value of a spiritual offering to God is not measured by the size of the gift but by the spirit of the heart that gave the gift. God has no need of human offering. The "gold and silver" already belong to Him. The gift benefits the giver. Therefore God will not accept any offering of a whore or a dog. One cannot be given over to a greater slavery than his own lust. Just a little dog? No! This is an illustration of God's hatred for sin.

            Just a little dog? No! Those who should have been watching were worthless watchdogs. Isaiah wrote, "His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter." (Isaiah 56:10-11) Israel's spiritual leaders were compared to watchdogs which failed to give warning of the approach of wild beasts by barking. These religious teachers sound very much like many preachers of our day. "But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction." (2 Peter 2:1) The description of the character of these watchmen that is given here is very sad! They were slothful and negligent in instructing the people concerning how to do right. They did not faithfully reprove them for their sins. Just a little dog? No! Those who should have been watching were worthless watchdogs.

   God used dogs to teach us not to meddle with someone's strife. "He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears." (Proverbs 26:17) God wants us to avoid things in which we are not concerned, nor any way obliged to meddle in. A living dog was used to teach the value of spiritual opportunities. "For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion." (Ecclesiastes 9:4) While there is hope you should obey God now. To become a New Testament Christian you must hear the word of God (Romans 10:17), believe in Jesus as Lord and Christ (John 8:24), repent of all sins (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus as Lord (Romans 10:9-10) and be baptized into Christ. (Galatians 3:26-27) After baptism we must stay faithful to God. Those who fail to do so put themselves in a horrible spiritual condition. "But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire." (2 Peter 2:22)

- - - - Charles Box

News & Notes

1. Prayer List: UAB Hospital Birmingham: Leroy Waller, Children’s Hospital Birmingham: Dylan Garlock. In Need Of Prayer: Mary Arnold, Mike Bagents, Dee Barker, Jerry Barr, Brenda Burkett, Becky Chaney, Mellisa Coggins (daughter of Felice Kendrick), Johnny Cole, Bonnie Croley, Marie Curlee, Curtis Day, Ron Fisher, Micah Flowers, Bryan Harville, Billy Heartsill, Jason Holladay family, David Jones, Larue Kelsoe, Felice Kendrick, Patrica Kennemore, Dot Killingsworth, Alice Little, Callie Lowe, Larry Lucas, Ricky McGough, Annie McKee, Taylor Merry, Charlotte Miller, Jeff Miller, Dorman Murff, Barbara Parker, Margaret Pierce, Tina Pouncey, Betty Pruitt, Joan Radcliff, John Reynolds, Olivia Reynolds, Lillie K. Rice, Jimmy Riley, Mary Riley, Ricky Roberts, Katie Sanders, Mary Sasser, Wellington Shanklin, Nathan Simmons, Lily Smith, Janie Smith, Sarah Stidham, Rick Sormude, Rebekah Stallings, Perline Thicklin, Frank Thomas, Kayla Thomas, Leisha Till, Charlotte Todd, Jim Watts (nephew of Neomia Collins), Calvin Webb and Florida Wilson. Crowne Health Care: Helen Autrey, Dorothy Buck, Jewel Cauthen, Gladys Childs, Betty Findley, Kathy Johnson, Sarah Knight, Glenn Phillips, and Annie Ruth Tetter. 

2. Sympathy Expressed: Our love and sympathy is expressed to Ty and Van Heartsill and their families in the death of their mother, June Pope Robinson.

3. Crowne Health Care: (a) The annual Christmas party at Crown Health Care will be on Thursday, December 15^th. (b) As is our custom there will not be a class at Crowne Health Care on the Saturday following Christmas (December 31^st).

4. Bridal Shower/Dinner: There will be a bridal shower/dinner for Dennis Phillips Jr. and Haley McDonald on Thursday night, December 22^nd at 6:00 p.m. in the multipurpose room. Everyone is invited to participate.

5. Exposure Youth Camp 2011: Exposure Youth Camp is December 27-30, 2011. It takes place in the Embassy Suites Hotel and Von Braun Center in Huntsville, Alabama. Darrell will take the youth group from Walnut Street. Pray that all will go well with the trip. 

6. Bank Trust Parking Lot: Bank Trust has given us the use of their parking lot for Sunday and Wednesday night. Please do not miss use this privilege by parking in the Drive Through lane for the ATM machine.

7. Birthdays: Celebrating a birthday this week are: December 5^th Brooklyn Acree, and December 7^th Eleanor Stabler.

8. Thank You Notes: (a) Dear Family, thank you so much for all the acts of kindness shown to me during my recent hospital stay. Your visits were rays of sunshine and your prayers, a life line. My daughter and I would especially like to thank the volunteers who work at Stabler’s hospital. It’s always so good to see our church family reach out not only to our own, but to others in the community. It was a blessing to see hands, feet and a friendly smile doing so much in the name of Jesus. Mary Riley (b) Dear Walnut Street Church Family, Thanks for the prayers, thanks for the food, thanks for the flowers, thanks for being there for me in my time of sorrow and time of need. Thanks for making me feel so loved! Jessie Mae Powell & Family (c) Dear Church Family, Thank you for the many expressions of love and kindness shown to me and my family during my recent surgery. The plant, food, cards, calls, and especially the prayers have been a wonderful encouragement to me. I’m very blessed to have such a loving church family. In Christian Love, Mike Bagents

9. Sign-Up Sheets 2012: The sign-up sheets for 2012 are on the bulletin board. Please volunteer to help during 2012. Thanks!

10. Bring a Visitor: Set your goal to make an honest effort to bring a visitor to the services of the church. There is someone that we can all influence to go to heaven. Let us all join together and win souls for Jesus. “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.” (Proverbs 11:30)

Picking Favorites

   What if God picked favorites? What if He liked country folk better than city folk? Or He preferred tall people over short people? Does God like one race more than others? Does He gravitate toward rich people and away from the poor? You are right if you believe we can expect more from God than this kind of favoritism. “So Peter opened his mouth and said: "Truly I understand that God shows no partiality.” (Acts 10:34) God loves each of us unconditionally, and we are expected to do the same for one another.

   James wrote, “My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.” (James 2:1) He went on to explain how people who show more respect to a well dressed person than to one wearing rags are showing partiality. In so doing, we become “judges with evil thoughts.” Can a person who picks favorites based on money, race, social status, gender, or other differences be justified in God’s sight? “But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.” (James 2:9) 

   The way we treat others determines more than just what social circles we run around in. Those of us who discriminate against others are not just hurting the feelings of another person or brother or sister in Christ. They are endangering their own souls. Would God really condemn a person who showed prejudicial treatment against others? James continued, “For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.” (James 2:13) Those who are hateful and unmerciful to men and women made in God’s own image should not expect mercy from the God who created them. 

   Each and every person who will ever live is a part of the reason Christ hung on the cross at on Calvary. He “for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross.” (Hebrews 12:2) Jesus loves that person whom you belittle for his poverty enough to die for him. That person whose skin is not the same color as yours is just as important to the Lord as you are. Are you guilty of showing partiality?         - - - - Darrell Powell

Don’t just own a Bible; read it!

Walnut Street Church of Christ

P.O. Box 551

Greenville, Alabama 36037-0551