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Tag Archives: Prayer

Sleeping on the Job

30 Mar

Painting_of_Christ_in_GethsemaneHey person, I’m still waiting for Jesus and the disciples to drop a few morsels and crumbs from that Last Supper.

But wait. If it’s the Last Supper I bet they wanted to make sure they ate all they could.

Guess I’d better look for some other place to get a handout.

You’re going to tell me another story while I’m looking?

Okay, but if I find some good stuff that needs to be cleaned off a floor somewhere I might stop listening.

***

They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to His disciples, “Sit here while I pray.”

***

I hope the disciples brought some leftovers with them to munch on while they were sitting.

I am too listening.

***

Jesus took Peter, James, and John along with Him, and He began to be deeply distressed and troubled.

***

I didn’t think anything bothered Jesus.

Oh yeah, Jesus just had His last supper. I bet He was already thinking of all the meals He wasn’t going to get.

I’m listening. I’m listening.

***

“My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” Jesus said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.”

Going a little further He fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from Him. “Abba, Father,” He said, “everything is possible for You. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what You will.”

***

Did Jesus bring His cup from that supper? He probably should have left it behind.

***

Then Jesus returned to His disciples and found them sleeping.

“Simon,” He said to Peter, “are you asleep?

Could you not watch for one hour? Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”

***

Their bodies will be stronger after they finish their nap.

Okay, I’ll listen.

***

Once more Jesus went away and prayed the same thing.

When He came back, He again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to Him.

***

Maybe they should take Jesus’ cup from Him.

If they had something to drink they might stay awake.

***

Returning the third time, Jesus said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”

***

What a way to wake up those sleeping disciples.

Jesus wouldn’t have had to go to that extreme with me.

All He would have had to say is, “Food!”

 
7 Comments

Posted by on March 30, 2014 in Bongo, Dogology, humor

 

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Money or Prayer

09 Mar

Bernardo Belloto - Jesus cleansing the templeIn last week’s story Jesus was riding on a donkey and now he’s turning over tables in the temple?

I bet He rode the donkey into the temple and the donkey accidentally knocked those tables over.

That didn’t happen?

Jesus knocked over those tables on purpose?

I don’t get it.

I thought Jesus was a nice, peaceful guy who healed people and gave dogs loves and treats.

Okay, I’ll listen to the story.

***

On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple area and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts.

***

So why did Jesus do that?

Weren’t those people just trying to make a living?

They needed to make money so they could feed their dogs, didn’t they?

What do you mean, they were selling things for too high a price?

That doesn’t make sense. Wouldn’t the people just go buy stuff somewhere else then?

Oh. They could only use temple stuff when they worshiped God there – so they had to buy it?

I would bark a lot.

I am listening.

***

And as Jesus taught them, He said, “Is it not written” ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’?

But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’”

***

I get it. Those people were making all kinds of money when they should have been praying.

***

The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill Jesus, for they feared Him, because the whole crowd was amazed at His teaching.

***

Wouldn’t it have been better if those chief priests and teachers of the law listened to Jesus and started praying instead of trying to kill Him?

I don’t think I like those guys.

I bet they never give their dogs treats.

 
6 Comments

Posted by on March 9, 2014 in Bongo, Dogology, humor

 

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Confident or Humble?

05 Jan

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:

***

I’m confident.

Is Jesus telling this to me?

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

***

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.

***

“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.’”

***

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

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

***

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.”

***

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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Keep Bugging

29 Dec
English: Illustration of the Parable of the Un...

English: Illustration of the Parable of the Unjust Judge from the New Testament Gospel of Luke (Luke 18:1-9) by John Everett Millais for The Parables of Our Lord (1863) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Hey, I think that faith thing does work.

Remember last week when I said I had faith that I would get treats?

Well, I did get treats for Christmas so my faith did work.

I’m supposed to what?

I’m supposed to thank Jesus for the treats my faith brought?

Maybe you should just tell me another story.

***

Jesus told His disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.

***

Jesus is telling another one of those Pair a Bulls?

They must have had a lot of bulls around in His day.

I am listening.

***

Jesus said, “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’”

***

Did that widow have to keep getting appointments to see the judge? I bet she had a really big phone bill from making all those phone calls for appointments.

I’m listening. I’m listening.

***

“For some time the judge refused to grant the widow justice. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care about men, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually wear me out with her coming!’”

***

See person. That’s why I keep bugging you until I get what I want. You know that I won’t quit until I get it and you get tired of my bugging.

What, there’s more?

***

And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for His chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will He keep putting them off? I tell you, He will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?”

***

I have faith.

My faith brought me treats.

Thank you Jesus.

I have faith and treats.

Well, I used to have treats.

I think I need more faith treats.

 
8 Comments

Posted by on December 29, 2013 in Bongo, Dogology, humor

 

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Storing up Stuff

29 Sep
The Parable of the Rich Fool by Rembrandt - photo credit Wikipedia

The Parable of the Rich Fool by Rembrandt, 1627.

Hey person, I prayed and I’m still waiting for the fish.

God is being slow in answering my prayer. I figured fish would be falling from the sky by now.

What? You’re going to tell me one of Jesus’ parables about collecting too much stuff?

Fish isn’t stuff. I wouldn’t collect it, I’d eat it.

Okay, I’ll listen to the story.

***

A crowd had gathered around Jesus and someone in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”

Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” Then He said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

***

You tell him, Jesus!

Not me. I’m not trying to collect all kinds of possessions. I would eat the fish as soon as I got it.

I am listening.

***

And Jesus told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’

***

I could help him eat his crops.

Yes, I’m listening.

***

Then the man said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’

***

I think I’m going to go be that man’s dog.

***

But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’

***

Oops! Hey person, I didn’t mean what I said. I’m the most faithfullest dog there is. I would never leave you.

***

Then Jesus said, “This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God.”

***

That doesn’t count toys and dog treats, does it?

 
16 Comments

Posted by on September 29, 2013 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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Hazy Gloom

02 Jul

Thunder Mountain under a layer of smokeWhen I looked outside yesterday morning I could barely see the red rocks on my trails. They seemed to be covered in some kind of fog.

But we rarely get fog here. And especially not in June.

A heavy cloud has covered the land.

And not just your ordinary fleecy cloud that fades away when the sun gets hot.

This seems like a cloud of doom. A cloud of destruction.

And that’s what it is.

It’s weighing over me so I’m going to take a break from being funny, or silly, or adventurous today.

Sedona Red Rocks behind smoke

Because what is covering up my rocks is the smoke drifting over from the Yarnell Fire.

This fire has made national news due to the loss of nineteen hotshot firefighters. These young men were husbands, fathers, sons, and brothers. They left families and friends behind who are in deep grief over their loss.

This fire has destroyed about two hundred houses and other buildings in Yarnell, and has caused the evacuation of hundreds of residents in the towns of Yarnell and Peeple’s Valley.

And the fire is still running wild and is nowhere near being contained.

So today, rather than telling you about one of my adventures I’m going to ask for prayer instead.

Please pray for all of those who lost a loved one.

Please pray for all those who have lost a home, and for all those who have been evacuated from their homes.

Shelters have been set up for evacuated animals. Please pray for the animals too.

Please pray for the safety of the many people who continue to fight this fire.

And please pray for rain. Lots of it. We haven’t had rain in so long and it’s so dry here. Our rainy season should start in a few days. Please pray that it starts right away- at least over that fire.

Sedona Red Rocks in smoky haze

Did I do okay, person?

I hope they put that fire out right away because I’m ready for another adventure.

Bongo with a funny face

 
37 Comments

Posted by on July 2, 2013 in Bongo, dogs, humor

 

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Jump the Fence

29 Apr
The Liberation of St Peter. Museo Nazionale di...

The Liberation of St Peter. Museo Nazionale di Capodimonte, Naples. Regarded as Battistello’s masterpiece, it vividly captures the emotion of the scene as Peter is led from prison by an angel. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I don’t get it person. Do you mean to tell me that Peter, that guy who tried to walk to Jesus on the water, and told Jesus he loved him, got arrested and put in prison? Why would anyone put Peter in prison? Who did it? I want to give them what for.

That mean old King Herod did it? I’m for sure going to give him what for. He’s really nasty. Didn’t he want to kill Jesus when he was a baby?

What? Now I’m totally confused. That wasn’t the same King Herod? That other King Herod was this King Herod’s grandfather? So grandson Herod was a meanie like his grandfather and put Peter in prison.

Is being in prison kind of like being locked in a tiny fenced yard with no way to jump the fence?

What? It was worse? Peter was chained between two soldiers and there were guards making sure he didn’t jump the fence?

What’s the good part? That sounds pretty bad to me.

The church offered constant prayer to God for Peter? What good will that do? Will prayer help Peter jump the fence? He’d have to drag those two guards with him. I can’t even drag you over the fence when you grab hold of me.

Well, my person says that prayer did do some good because when Peter was sleeping an angel of the Lord stood by him and a light shone in the prison. The angel woke Peter up and told him to get up quickly. And you know what? Those chains fell off Peter’s hands.

Then that angel told Peter to get dressed and follow him. Peter thought he was seeing a vision and that the angel wasn’t real, but he followed him anyway. They went past two guard posts and came to the iron gate that leads to the city. And that gate opened all by itself. I wish the gate in my yard would open by itself.

Okay person, I’ll listen.

They went down a street and the angel left. Peter finally realized that everything that had happened was real and he was free.

Hey person, if it was those prayers from the church that sent the angel to free Peter, do you think you could pray that an angel would come let me out so I can run free. I’ll come back when I’m tired. I promise.

 
23 Comments

Posted by on April 29, 2012 in Bongo, Dogology, dogs, humor

 

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