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Tag Archives: Religion and Spirituality

Two Fish and Five Loaves

23 Jun

English: Jesus feeding a crowd with 5 loaves of bread and two fish (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Alright! Coming up is one of my favorite stories about Jesus.

It’s a food story, and for those of you who know me, you know that food is one of my favorite things.

Okay person, I’m listening. Bring on the food!

***

People were coming and going so much that Jesus and his disciples didn’t have a chance to eat…

***

Wait a minute! I thought this was a story about food. Not a story about no food.

I’ll listen. But it’s hard to have patience when you’re hungry.

***

So Jesus took the disciples and they went away to a quiet place by boat.

But many people saw them leaving and they ran ahead, so that when Jesus landed on shore he saw a large crowd.

Jesus had compassion on the people and He healed their sick and began teaching them many things.

***

So where’s the food?

I’m running out of patience.

***

Late in the day the disciples came to Jesus and said, “Send the people away so they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.”

***

You mean there wasn’t any food there?

I am listening.

***

But Jesus said to the disciples, “You give them something to eat.”

“What?” the disciples said. “It would take eight months wages to feed all these people. How are we going to do that?”

Jesus said, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.”

They found a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish.

***

Fish? Did you say fish? There’s not enough fish for all those people. You’d better give the fish to me.

I am settled down. Do I get the fish now?

***

Jesus directed the people to sit down in groups on the grass.

Jesus took the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves.

He gave them to the disciples to give to the people.

***

Here I am. I’m sitting in a group of my own. Bring on the fish!

***

When the food was distributed to the people and they had eaten everything they wanted, the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish.

The number of people who had eaten was about five thousand men, plus the women and children.

***

What are they going to do with those leftovers? They shouldn’t let them go to waste.

Hey Jesus! Over here! I’ll take care of those leftovers for you.

14 Comments

Posted by Bongo on June 23, 2013 in Bongo, Dogology, humor

Tags: Bible, bread, Christianity, dogs, faith, Fish, God, Jesus, Pets, Religion and Spirituality

Sending Them Off

16 Jun

Jesus Discourses with His Disciples (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

What? Jesus is sending His disciples away? You’d think after they were mean to him in his own hometown of Nazareth that He’d want to keep his disciples close by for support.

What do you mean, you want me to listen to a story? Jesus is all alone now. Where’s the story?

What do you mean, Jesus is never alone?

Okay, I’ll listen.

***

Jesus called his twelve disciples to Him and He gave them power and authority to drive out demons and to cure diseases, and He sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.

***

You mean now the disciples could do all that miracle stuff that Jesus did?

You mean they can get me some fish?

But what would they need Jesus for if they could do it themselves?

They needed His authority? I don’t get it.

I’m listening.

***

Jesus told the disciples to take nothing for the journey – no bag, no bread, no money, and no extra tunic.

***

How are they going to eat? I’m getting hungry thinking about it.

I don’t need that stuff they’re leaving behind because you feed me, but what about them? You’re not going to feed them too, are you?

I am listening.

***

Jesus told the disciples that the worker is worth his keep. When they entered a town or village they were to find a worthy person and stay at his house until they left that place.

***

Now I get it. They would go heal people and preach about God so someone would feed them because they were doing that.

But what happens if they can’t find anyone to do that? Would they be like stray dogs then?

***

Jesus said that if the people didn’t welcome them they were to shake the dust off their feet when they left as a testimony against them.

***

Shake the dust off their feet? Is that kind of like when I kick up dust to cover my business?

15 Comments

Posted by Bongo on June 16, 2013 in Bongo, Dogology, humor

Tags: Bible, Christianity, Disciple (Christianity), dogs, faith, God, Jesus, Nazareth, Pets, Religion and Spirituality

Calm the Storm

19 May

One day when Jesus was waiting for all the seeds to grow into good food…

I know that’s not how the story goes, but don’t you agree it’s better if there’s food in the story?

Okay, I’ll listen to the right story.

***

One day when Jesus had a crowd around Him He said to his disciples, “Let’s go over to the other side of the lake.”

So they got into a boat and set out.

***

I hope they brought their fishing nets.

I am listening.

***

While they were sailing, Jesus fell asleep.

Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake and the waves swept over the boat.

***

Hold on to those fishing nets, disciples!

***

The disciples woke Jesus up and said to Him, “Don’t you care if we drown?”

Jesus got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!”

The wind died down and it was completely calm.

***

Time for fishing now.

Yes, I’ll listen.

***

Jesus said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?

The disciples were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and waves obey Him!”

***

The fish obey Jesus too. Maybe he could have a few jump into the boat.

Hey guys, wait for me! I don’t want to miss any of those fish!

17 Comments

Posted by Bongo on May 19, 2013 in Bongo, Dogology, humor

Tags: Boat, Christianity, dogs, faith, Fishing net, Jesus, Pets, Religion and Spirituality, Sea of Galilee, Storm

Leaping Away

10 Mar

Christ cleansing a leper by Jean-Marie Melchior Doze, 1864

Wait a minute, person. I’m almost finished with all that fish in the boat.

I had to work really hard to eat all that. It took me two weeks. There were a lot of fish.

Okay, I’m ready for another story now. Maybe about some water so I can wash all those fish down.

What? No water? You’re telling me a story about a man who leapt around all day?

He leaped everywhere and couldn’t stop leaping so he asked Jesus to heal him?

I leap around a lot too, but I don’t want Jesus to heal me. Leaping is fun.

Oh. The man didn’t leap, he had leprosy? What kind of a thing is that? It sounds like leaping to me.

***

The man had a really bad skin disease called leprosy. In Jesus’ day people with this disease had to stay far away from other people and if anyone started coming near to them they had to shout, “Unclean, unclean.”

***

Couldn’t they take a bath so they were clean again?

I’m listening.

***

Their disease was what made them unclean. People were afraid to touch them because they were concerned that they might get the disease too.

This man came and knelt before Jesus and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”

Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man.

***

Jesus touched him? I thought you said you couldn’t touch those people because you might get that leaping disease.

I am too listening.

***

Jesus said, “I am willing. Be clean!”

Immediately the leprosy left the man and he was healed.

***

Could that man still leap if he wanted to?

Okay, I’ll listen.

***

Jesus told the man not to tell anyone, but to show himself to the priest. In those days lepers went to the priest when they were healed and the priest was the one who declared them clean.

But the man leaped around and told everyone what Jesus had done for him. Crowds of people came to have Jesus heal them and Jesus often had to withdraw into lonely places in order to pray.

***

Do you think any of those people who came to be healed brought any fish with them?

I know I ate a lot of fish. But I’m going to need some more tomorrow.

12 Comments

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

Tags: Bible, Christianity, Disease, dogs, Fish, Jesus, Leprosy, Lord, Pets, Religion and Spirituality

The Nobleman’s Son

10 Feb

Jesus Christ in Capernaum (study) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Jesus went back to where? To Cana? Isn’t that where he turned that water into wine?

Oh no, I’m feeling tipsy already. Can’t Jesus just make some fish juice for me?

Yes, I’ll listen. As soon as you start telling the story.

***

There was a nobleman whose son lay sick and near death in Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus had returned to Galilee from Judea he went and begged Jesus to come and heal his son.

***

Did that nobleman bring a fancy car for Jesus to ride in? Or maybe an airplane?

Oh yeah, I remember you told me they didn’t have cars then. You mean they didn’t have airplanes either?

Yes, I’ll listen.

***

Jesus said to the man, “Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders you will never believe.”

The nobleman asked Jesus to come before his son died.

***

How long would it take Jesus to walk there?

It was about twenty miles? That’s a long ways. I sure hope that man’s son hangs on. They really should have had an airplane.

I am listening.

***

Jesus told the man that he could go and his son would live. The man took Jesus at his word and left.

***

That man was pretty trusting. How could Jesus know what would happen twenty miles away?

I’ll listen. Just keep telling the story.

***

While the man was still on his way home his servants met him and told him his son was living. When the nobleman asked what time his son got better he learned that it was at the same time that Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” So the nobleman and his entire household believed in Jesus.

***

So if Jesus is performing miracles for all these people do you think he will do one for me? I’m still waiting for some fish.

17 Comments

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

Tags: Bible, Cana, Capernaum, Christianity, dogs, faith, Galilee, Jesus, Pets, Religion and Spirituality

The Real Gift of Christmas

23 Dec

Christmas is almost here and I’m getting really excited. Our tree is up, the lights are on, and I’m looking for the presents. I keep hearing that Santa will bring me presents, but I think I saw my person putting some good smelling things all wrapped in brightly colored paper on top of the fridge.

I’m a pretty good jumper, but I wish I could jump just a little bit higher. All the good stuff that doesn’t go into the fridge seems to go on top of it. If I could get up there I could have a treat feast.

But there’s something else I wish I could do besides jump higher. I wish I could sneak back in time – not too far back, just a little over 2000 years. That’s not asking much, is it?

And I’d like to go to a place called Bethlehem. A little baby was born there one night. Well, I guess lots of babies were born there, but this one was special. This little baby was wrapped in cloths and laid in a manger because the inn was full and his parents had nowhere else to go except for where the animals hung out.

Since there were animals there already I’m sure no one would notice one extra dog in the place. Especially when those shepherds showed up. Everybody would figure I was one of their sheepdogs. Well maybe. I could have pretended I was a sheepdog anyway.

Even if I had to change my appearance so I could pass as a sheepdog, travel back in time, and go to a faraway place, it would be all worth it to see God making his appearance on earth as a baby.

***

Hey person, I think I knocked a ball onto the top of the fridge. Could you get it for me, and maybe knock some of those presents down while you’re at it?

What are you saying, person? The true gift of Christmas is Jesus? That baby in a manger is the gift? Never mind then. I guess Jesus isn’t hanging out on top of the fridge.

***

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

20 Comments

Posted by Bongo on December 23, 2012 in Bongo, Dogology, humor

Tags: Bethlehem, Christianity, Christmas, dogs, God, Jesus, John 3:16, Manger, Pets, Religion and Spirituality

Where’s the Food?

22 Jan

Can I tell them? Can I tell them now? Okay, I’ll tell them the story first. But I’m really excited.

What! No animals in this story? There’s something else I like in the story? It better be good because if there are no animals I’m not sure if I want to listen.

Food? There’s food in this story? Okay, I’m listening person. I like food. I like it a lot.

My person said that after Jesus had grown up he became pretty famous in the area where he lived. He’d performed so many miracles and healed so many people that he could hardly go anywhere without bunches of people following him.

What kind of miracles did Jesus do person? I want a miracle. Okay, I’ll listen if you promise to tell me about a miracle – and food.

My person said one day Jesus tried to go to a deserted place alone with his disciples but people heard about it and lots of them followed him. Jesus had compassion (what does that word mean?) for the people and began teaching them and healing their sick.

Well, it got to be late in the day and Jesus’ disciples started getting hungry, so they figured all the people there were getting hungry too. I bet even their dogs were getting hungry. So anyway, the disciples went to Jesus and told him to send the people away to the villages so they could get something to eat.

You know what Jesus told his disciples to do? He told them to feed all those people themselves.

There were about five thousand men plus all the women and children there – and their dogs. Those disciples just looked at Jesus like he was crazy and said it would take about eight months’ wages to feed all those people – and dogs.

One of the disciples said there was a boy there with five barley loaves and two fish but that wasn’t nearly enough food to go around for all the people.

It might not feed all those people but it would be good enough for me. Mmm fish.

Okay person, I’ll be quiet and listen.

Jesus told the disciples to bring him the food and then he told all the people to sit down. He took the five loaves and two fish, blessed and broke the bread and gave it to the disciples to give to the people. All those people ate and got full and when they were finished the disciples collected twelve baskets of leftover food.

Jesus is pretty awesome. I think that leftover food is just about the right amount for me.