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Tag Archives: Holy Spirit

Greater Power

10 Aug

Sébastien Bourdon [Public domain], via Wikimedia CommonsSo last week I was getting ready to give Saul what for because you said Philip wasn’t going to do it.

And you keep telling me I won’t have to.

I don’t get it.

What?

Philip is doing other things and I need to do other things to?

What do you mean like listening?

***

Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great, and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, “This man is the divine power known as the Great Power.”They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his magic.

***

Magic?

Did you say magic?

Can he conjure up some treats for me?

Yes, I’ll listen.

***

But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw.

***

So does that mean that God’s power is greater than a sorcerer’s power?

I get it now.

I need to ask God for treats.

***

When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them.

***

Peter and John!

They’re fishermen.

I bet they’d give me some fish if I went fishing with them.

I am too listening.

***

When Peter and John arrived they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them, they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Peter and John placed their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.

***

Do you think it would work if I placed my paws on them?

***

When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostle’s hands, he offered them money and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”

Peter answered, “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money!”

***

What about treats?

Okay, I’m listening.

***

Peter continued, “You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.

***

Okay. Never mind the treats.

I’m praying now.

***

Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me.

***

Hey Peter, will you pray for me too?

And then give me some fish?

***

When they had testified and proclaimed the word of the Lord, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel to many Samaritan villages.

***

Did I learn something in this story?

Yeah. Don’t offer money for what you can get with prayer.

God might send treats and fish for free.

 
12 Comments

Posted by on August 10, 2014 in Bongo, Dogology, humor

 

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Wind and Fire

15 Jun

Gebhard_Fugel_PfingtspredigtHey person, I’m still trying to figure out what those weird animals are you’ve been hanging out with all week.

I’m not ready for another Bible story.

If I listen will you tell me about the weird animals?

What do you mean, I have to take my chances?

But last week Jesus went up into heaven.

Isn’t the story over?

Okay, I’m listening.

***

When the day of Pentecost came, the disciples were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.

***

We had wind here today.

Do you think it was the same wind that blew on us and them?

I am listening.

***

They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.

***

Somebody better get the fire hose!

What do you mean, listen to the story?

Are you going to get the fire hose, person?

***

All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

***

Did the Holy Spirit get the fire hose?

***

Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language.

***

I bet some of them could even speak to dogs.

Yes, I’m listening.

I think I hear someone speaking my language.

***

Utterly amazed, they asked, “Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? Parthians, Medes, and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs – we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!”

***

I wonder if the dogs from all those places speak the same language?

I am speaking – I mean listening.

***

Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”

***

I bet if all those people could speak to their dogs it would all be explained.

 
11 Comments

Posted by on June 15, 2014 in Bongo, Dogology, humor

 

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Praying for Fish

22 Sep

Jesus knocking at the doorHey person, last week when you told me a Bible story Mary was sitting at Jesus’ feet listening and Martha was in the kitchen fixing me something to eat while I was taking a nap – I mean, while I was listening intently to Jesus.

But I forgot what Jesus told me.

I was not sleeping – but okay, I’ll listen now.

***

One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When He finished one of His disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray.”

Jesus said to the disciples, “When you pray, say:

“’Father,

Hallowed be your name,

Your kingdom come.

Give us each day our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins,

For we also forgive everyone who sins against us.

And lead us not into temptation.

 

***

I don’t think that works for me.

I’m tempted every day – by Scratchy’s food dish.

Yes, I’m listening, but you know if Scratchy ate all his food I wouldn’t have to finish it for him.

***

Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and he goes to him at midnight and says, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him.’”

***

I would be the one needing the bread because I always eat everything I can find.

I guess I’d better listen to see how to get those three loaves of bread.

***

“Then the friend inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed.’”

***

I wonder if the dog is in bed with them too.

***

“’I can’t get up and give you anything, the friend said.’”

Then Jesus said, “I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is a friend, yet because of the man’s boldness he will get up and give him as much as he needs.”

***

I’m on my way.

I’ve got to ask that guy for some bread. Maybe he has some fish too.

I don’t want to stay and listen. That guy might give his food to someone else.

Okay.

***

Jesus then said, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”

***

Does scratching on the door count for knocking?

***

Jesus asked, “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?”

***

I knew God would give me a fish if I asked!

 
15 Comments

Posted by on September 22, 2013 in Bongo, Dogology, humor

 

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In the Temple

01 Jan
Anna at the presentation of Jesus (right), fro...

“Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: ‘This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.’” Luke 2:34-35

Okay person, I’m confused. What are these words you put on my blog talking about? Is this about the baby who started out life in a manger? After all, his mother’s name was Mary. These words don’t sound good.

Now I’m really confused. My person said this is the same child, but these words by Simeon will have to wait until later stories. She said that when the baby was eight days old they circumcised him – they what? – my person says “never mind” – and at that time they gave him the name Jesus like the angel had told them to.

My person says they met Simeon when they took Jesus to the temple to consecrate him. Hey person, I haven’t heard about any animals in this story yet. Oh yeah? They what? She says there were animals at the temple that they used for sacrifices. I didn’t know what a sacrifice was so I asked my person and she told me I didn’t want to know. Well whatever it is, I hope they treat those animals nice.

Simeon had the Holy Spirit upon him and was told he would not die before he’d seen the Lord’s Christ. When he saw Jesus in the temple courts he knew he had seen God’s salvation. There was also an old lady named Anna who was a prophetess and she knew who Jesus was too.

Mary must have been pretty upset when Simeon told her about that sword. Maybe she should let Jesus have a pet dog. That dog would protect them.

 
20 Comments

Posted by on January 1, 2012 in Bongo, Dogology, dogs

 

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