These are my dogs;…

This is Sammy our West Highland Terrier.

He is about 7 and he acts more like a cat than anything else.   Although he has an incredibly high pitched bark that will shatter ear drums, its seldom used as anything more than his desire to let you know he wants to play.   I have never met a creature with a kinder heart that this dog.

This is Maggie. Maggie is a Shiranian – Part Shihztu, part pomerian.

We think that Maggie has some vision issues, and as a result is afraid of absolutely everything; coat hangers, coffee cups, cell phones, and on and on and on.   Maggie is a bit of a grouch, but if you are willing to pick her up, and put her on your lap… she’ll stay there for days.

There are many profound truths that arrive in your life when you own a dog.

One of my favorites?

“I want to be the person my dog believes I am.”

When my eldest was just a little girl, maybe 7 or 8, she came home from school very upset once.   A teacher at her school told her that dogs don’t have souls and as such won’t go to heaven.   Besides the obvious glaring failure of the school in hiring such ignorance to lead our children, it made me sad to think that anyone could look at the eyes of their pets and think that.

I look at these dogs and there is a spark that speaks so much more than just feed me. From time to time to time I sense wisdom along with those primal desires to eat and run.   What that teacher missed so shamefully is that our pets can teach us more than we can imagine.

In that spirit, I would ask that you consider this listing entitled;

15 Things I learned From My Dog:

• Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.
• And when you do, allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be nothing but pure ecstasy.
• When it’s in your best interest, practice obedience, when its not…practice passionate disobedience.
• Take long naps and stretch before rising.
• Run, romp and play daily.
• Eat with gusto and enthusiasm.
• Be loyal.
• Never pretend to be something you’re not.
• If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it….even if you have to dig through rose gardens.
• When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.
• Thrive on attention and let people touch you.
• Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
• When you’re happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
• No matter how often you’re scolded, don’t buy into the guilt thing and pout. Run right back and make friends.

The last one,… No. 15… was what prompted me to use this listing as an introduction to our passing of the peace…

When loved ones come home, be overexcited, and run greet them…but down pee on the floor.

That is the spirit that we should embrace in our worship.

The truth is that the Sunday after Sunday we are celebrating. In not so small a way this becomes a weekly victory dance.   You and I, we have made it through the week, and we have decided to come back here and do it all over again.

Honestly that takes guts and it takes courage.   It is also rare.

Look around, so many of our neighbors have decided that church is only important on Christmas, Easter, Weddings or Funerals.   We have a society and a culture that has said you can make your way on your own.   You can figure it out on your own. You no longer need places like the church.

There can be no more incorrect words.   We all need it.   We need it to be here for us and our children.   We need it to be here as a beacon of hope, stability, and promise in a world that makes less and less sense with each passing day.

In it there is comfort.   There is strength.   There is companionship. There is company for the journey.

When someone chooses to find all these here, rather than in all the empty places the world offers; We need to celebrate. We need to rejoice.

The promise of our weekly return to worship is about a call to over excited, wag our tail like mad, and run to greet each other.   In the end, this place – as well as you – would not be the same if you chose