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Eeny Mina Miny Treat

Parable of the 10 minasI’ve been trying to climb a tree ever since I heard the story last week about Zacchaeus in the tree.

Scratchy is useless.

He’s supposed to teach me how to climb and he won’t even leave the house.

Okay, I’m not getting anywhere with the tree thing, I might as well listen to the next story.

Maybe this story will be about treats.

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Jesus told a parable because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once.

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Do dogs get treats when the kingdom of God appears? Because if they do I’m voting for it to appear at once.

I am listening.

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Jesus said, “A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return. So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas.”

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What are minas? Are they like treats?

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“’Put this money to work,’ the man said, ‘until I come back.”

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Oh, it’s money. Well, I can pretend they’re treats.

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“But the man’s subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We don’t want this man to be our king.’”

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He must have been stingy with his treats.

I’m listening. How do you think I know what the man is doing?

***

“He was made king, however, and returned home. Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the treats money, in order to find out what they had gained with it.

The first one came and said, ‘Sir, your mina treat has earned ten more.’”

***

Woo woo! Treats for everybody!

***

“’Well done, my good servant!’ his master replied. ‘Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.’

“The second came and said, ‘Sir, your mina treat has earned five more.’”

***

And more treats for everybody. It’s a real party!

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“Then another servant came and said, ‘Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.’”

***

What a loser. He’s not even invited to the party.

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“His master replied, ‘I will judge you by your own words, you wicked servant! You knew, did you, that I am a hard man, taking out what I did not put in, and reaping what I did not sow? Why then didn’t you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?’”

***

He could have left that mina treat with me.

I would have deposited a lot of slobber on it.

Yes, I’m listening.

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“Then he said to those standing by, ‘Take his mina treat away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas treats.’

‘Sir,’ they said, ‘he already has ten!’

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I’ll eat some!

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He replied, ‘I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away. But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them – bring them here and kill them in front of me.’”

***

I know who I’m hanging out with.

That guy who has eleven minas treats has plenty to share.

***

After Jesus had said this, He went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.

***

Hey Jesus, where did that guy with all the treats go?

 
8 Comments

Posted by on February 23, 2014 in Bongo, Dogology, humor

 

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Confident or Humble?

Pharisee and the tax collectorI’m still praying for those treats and you’re going to tell me another of Jesus’ Pair a Bulls?

I’m not finished with the last one yet. There sure are a lot of bulls around here.

If I listen do I get some treats?

What!? I’ve got to listen before I can have some treats?

Oh, all right.

***

To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable:

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I’m confident.

Is Jesus telling this to me?

What do you mean, if I listen I’ll find out?

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Jesus said, “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men – robbers, evildoers, adulterers – or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’”

***

Wow, that guy thinks he’s pretty good.

I wonder if he’s nice to dogs.

I’m listening.

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“But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’”

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I bet that guy feels bad because nobody likes tax collectors.

I’ll give him loves – if he gives me treats.

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Then Jesus said, “I tell you that this man – the tax collector – , rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

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I’m the humblest dog around.

Now do I get my treats?

 
14 Comments

Posted by on January 5, 2014 in Bongo, Dogology, humor

 

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The Banquet

Bongo at the table smiling

This Bible story is about food?

I can’t wait to hear it. I’m drooling already.

Did Jesus feed thousands of people again?

I’m all ears.

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Jesus went to eat at the house of a prominent Pharisee.

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Oh, I get it. Someone fed Jesus this time. I wonder if that Pharisee invites dogs to eat at his house.

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Jesus said to His host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

***

I can’t repay for my dinner, so I should be invited all the time.

I’m listening. I’m listening.

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When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, “Blessed is the man who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.”

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Blessed is the dog too.

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Jesus replied,: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’

But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’

“Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’

“Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’”

***

If all those people can’t come that means there will be lots of leftovers. I bet they’ll give them to me and all my dog buddies.

I am listening. I’m waiting for the food part.

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Jesus continued, “The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, ‘Go quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’

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Don’t bring in too many of those people. There won’t be any food left for us dogs.

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“’Sir,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’”

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Oh good. Time for a dog party.

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“Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in, so that my house will be full. I tell you, not one of those men who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.’”

***

Here I am. I’m on this country lane out here. I’ll eat the banquet that those ungrateful men wouldn’t come and eat.

Jesus does care about dogs, doesn’t He?

 
13 Comments

Posted by on November 10, 2013 in Bongo, Dogology, humor

 

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Bird Seed

Soil

Soil (Photo credit: arimoore)

Jesus told a story about bird seed?

He did too. He was by the lake and so many people came that he got in a boat and told them stories while they stood on the shore.

You know, those stories with two bulls in them – those pair a bulls.

But this story wasn’t about bulls, it was about bird seed.

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A farmer went out to sow his seed. Some of the seed fell along the path and the birds came and ate it up.

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See, I told you it was a story about bird seed.

What do you mean, there’s more to the story?

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Some of the farmer’s seed fell in rocky places without much soil. It grew quickly, but when the sun came out the plants withered because they had no root.

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I don’t get it. I understand bird seed – but rock seed?

Okay, I’ll listen.

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Some of the seed fell among thorns which grew up and choked the plants.

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Maybe the birds could eat the thorn seeds.

I am listening.

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Some of the seed fell on good soil and produced a crop – a hundred, sixty, or thirty times what was sown.

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I sure hope that crop was of something I like to eat.

There’s more to the story? I’ve still got to listen?

But I was getting ready to eat.

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Jesus disciples asked him what the parable meant and He told them.

Jesus said that the seed is the word of God. Those on the path hear the word, but then the devil takes the word from their hearts so they won’t believe and be saved.

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You mean those birds are the devil? I thought I saw a few birds looking at me with the evil eye.

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Those on the rock receive the word with joy, but since they have no root they fall away when things get hard.

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It’s really rocky where I live. I wonder if that takes everybody’s joy away. It takes mine away when a little rock gets stuck in my paw.

I am too listening.

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The thorns are those who hear but worries, and money, and stuff become more important to them.

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Does that include food?

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The seed on the good soil stands for those who hear the word, understand it, stick with it, and produce a crop.

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Oh, I get it now. When the word falls on good soil, that means more food.

Come on everybody, get away from that path, and those rocks, and the thorns. You’ve got to hang out on the good soil.

Get moving. I’m waiting for the food.

 
25 Comments

Posted by on May 12, 2013 in Bongo, Dogology, humor

 

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The Prodigal Dog

The Return of the Prodigal Son (Leonello Spada, Louvre, Paris) Image via Wikipedia

Hey person, will you tell me another one of those stories Jesus told about the two bulls.

Yeah, that’s what I mean. One of those pair a bulls that Jesus told.

My person says one of Jesus’ famous parables is about a son who just wants to party. So he talks his father into giving him his inheritance early and he goes to a faraway land and spends it all partying. After the son’s money is gone there’s a famine in the land and the only job he can get is one feeding pigs.

Hey, there’s animals in this story. Did he get all muddy with the pigs?

I am listening person.

He what? He didn’t have anything to eat? Those pigs had something to eat.

Okay. I’ll listen.

The son decided to go home and work for his father like a hired servant. At least he would have something to eat. But when he was still a long way off his father saw him and ran to him. He was so happy that his son was home that he treated him royally and had a big feast for him.

The older son, who had been home serving his father the whole time got really upset that his younger brother, who had squandered all his father’s money, was getting a feast in his honor. The older son felt that he’d never had such special treatment and he’d always done everything right.

Didn’t that older son even get a birthday party?

Okay, I’m listening. I promise.

The father told the older son that he has always been with him, and everything the father has belongs to the older son. But his brother was dead and now is alive, was lost and is found.

Hey person, can I try updating this story so my friends will understand it better?

Okay, here goes.

A young pup talked his person into giving him an extra share of meaty bones and then he ran off with them. He had a big party and treated his friends to some of the bones and gave some to girl dogs so they’d let him make more young pups.

Then he ran out of bones and he couldn’t find anything to eat. His friends he’d shared his bones with had all disappeared and the girl dogs were too busy feeding their puppies.

So he tucked his tail between his legs and headed back home, hoping he could do something to earn his keep and his person would let him stay.

When he got close to home his person saw him and ran out to him. His person gave him a great big bowl of the best dog food and some more meaty bones too.

But the other dog that lived there got really upset. He was always a good dog and he didn’t get any meaty bones.

The dog’s person gave the other dog some loves and told him he always had a home and love there, but he had thought the young pup was dead or lost, and now he was alive and found.

Hey person, if I run off and come back will you give me some meaty bones?

 
22 Comments

Posted by on June 17, 2012 in Bongo, Dogology, dogs, humor

 

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