Dog Stories

     The first Gospel note in Vol. 1 is titled “Spiritual Stories”, and deals with humans. This message is in the spiritual category but deals with our canine friends. And some readers will question my sanity, but I don’t care. 
       Two years ago, in Sep of ’23 our small dog Baker awoke me in the middle of an ordinary night having an asthma/
seizure fit on our bedroom floor. It was violent & messy – choking & slobbering, etc. After a few serious moments he settled down. We all went back to sleep. In the AM I woke @ 7:00 & the 12 yr. old dog was DEAD in the chair beside my bed, face down & still as a rock, I touched him & nothing like life was there. I woke my wife & said “Baker Died”. Fran came over & started that woman grief routine – sloppy weeping, etc. She went out to get our 30-yr old daughter to say good-bye to Baker. I said to the old puppy, “you didn’t have to die on us, you had a few more years – this is no bueno.”  THEN I noticed his eye twitch a little (It was half opened & I had thought I’ll have to close his eyes which doesn’t work very well on dead things.)  Then a little more eye twitch & the chest started moving.  Then he raised his head slowly & looked at me. Fran came in w/Tori & I said, “he’s coming back!” They flipped out & Tori picked him up & mothered him.
       Now – I’m sure the dog was dead. But I did not pray for him to come back from the doggie pearly gates. We prayed later that he’d be O.K., but not at the time of the incident. My prayer was a week or so before the incident that God would show me a miracle to perk up my faith. I prayed for miracles years ago & would often get one (see note 33). But about every miracle that we have experienced we were amazed. God is just “COOL” & does K.O. things for his kids. This story is from a letter I wrote to my cousin the same day it happened. Sorry if it’s too “wordy” – I did condense it a little from the original. And Baker is still alive & has fewer asthma problems – he’s just slower & fatter, but happy.
      The next dog story is about Reeses – a female beagle/pointer mix our daughter brought home with her from a failed romance. We had a one small dog policy, but we made an exception for Reeses. This “new” dog had a sad “youth”. Her first 3 years or so was; get adopted then sent back to the animal shelter because of problem-dog traits. It happened a couple times so she had a broken heart & spent much time in a cage. When she came to us, we gave her a home & she knew she was loved here. She would once in a while bump me with her nose on my leg just to say “hi” or something. Well, about a day BEFORE she died of old age (14 or so) Fran & I were in Portugal. I had a dream of Reeses coming to me & bumping me in the mouth – some kind of dog kiss w/o a lick. The same way she bumped my leg w/her nose in our house. Then we got the phone call from AZ by our daughter that Reeses had died. The way I take this spiritual dream (see #174) is this: that dog was saying, “thank you daddy for giving me a loving home for 10 years”.
      So, what is the point of this essay? Not sure, but the two dog stories above beg the question, “do dogs have souls?” The Bible is silent on this subject, but animal lovers I’ve talked to say they do. (Also cats may have souls according to one lady who said she saw the soul going up when her cat died.) Do “All dogs go to heaven”? If they did the place would be over-run by dogs which can’t be. Maybe just the one’s we send before us by prayer. “Hitherto you have asked nothing in my name; ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.” John 16:24 How about an occasional horse in God’s kingdom? Revelation speaks of Jesus on a horse. “Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! He who sat upon it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war.” Revelation 19:11 And can anyone imagine Roy Rogers in heaven w/o Trigger? I’ve heard preachers say, “heaven will not lack one thing.”
     Now according to the Bible heaven will lack unsaved people - “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death”. Revelation 21:8 That’s God’s last word on the lost/saved issue.  Are YOU saved?  Choose Jesus – He is alive.

For other Gospel-notes go to:  www.gospelnotes.org                                                                   * * Fred J. Stone * *
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