The True Tragedy of Somalia

Today, we've been thinking and praying about the missionaries and their friends who were killed on their boat by Somalian pirates. If only those pirates had understood that they had found the greatest treasure they could ever find. Those Bibles now have the blood of true martyrs on them. They are, and always have been, priceless.

It comes down to the truth about which god you are going to serve; Mammon/Power or the God of the Peoples of the Book. It is time for ALL PEOPLES to ask this question in regards to their lives and their actions.

Why money? We can't eat it. For guns? We can't eat those either. Why is it so hard to share food and medicines with those who need it? Because of greedy people which brings us back to money. The co-evil I see with money is power.

It's generally my nature to be willing to share my food, water and toys with other dogs. I know dogs, however, who are greedy bullies who don't care about others. I like Slim Jims just as much as the next dog, but they are not worth causing someone pain or death for. Am I getting through? So many people dismiss their animal friends as soulless and dim witted, when they could learn so much from us. We can forgive almost anything. We are loyal whether you have money and power or not. We are the ones you cry with, laugh with and share your innermost feelings with. So would you please LISTEN???

It seems an impossible task to rid the universe of these twin demons (money and power) through prayer and example. But if each ONE of us is willing to pray, and examine our own lives to see who it is that we are really serving and worshiping...if it turns out to be God, then God says He will listen to our prayers and answer them. If I, a dog, can talk to Him, you can too. If you need help getting started you can email me, or contact me on Face Book.

God bless and pray today like never before. Ciao for now. Missy Mutt



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Alzheimer's

Humans can be surprisingly sensitive.

Cathy got up this morning "bright-eyed and bushy-tailed" ready to dig in and get some housework done. Dave called her and asked her to go online to get some info for him. When Cathy checked her inbox it was full of emails about her sister who isn't doing well, and she went back to bed!

Humans seem so tough to us dogs, sometimes,but it's fake. They are almost as sensitive as the rest of us. With lots of coaching from us four four-leggeds (plus Ruff, the cat) we got her back on track. She's grieving for her oldest sister who has beginning stage alzheimer's. What a horrible, horrible disease.

So, I'm busy praying for the whole family. Will you please join me?

Running Free

It's July already! I can tell by how hot it is when we get in the car. As my job dictates, I went with Dave and Cathy when they played golf last night. I love being able to run free and fast, just for the pure joy of it. Going to the hospital to visit sick people reminds me how lucky I am. I wish I could tell them I run for them too. There's so much going on in the world that sometimes we just have to get out there and run free. That's how God designed us. I don't see many humans do it though. Horses know how. Some of the most fun times I've had were with horses, back when Cathy and Dave still rode them. Even more fun was when they were loose in the pasture (the horses, not Cathy and Dave) and they would kick up their heels and I would chase them. I always got in trouble for that though, never could understand why...being free is a good thing! It gets your mind off of your problems. God even says we should do it as often as possible, but definitely one day a week! When I'm running I can feel Him running with me in my joy. That's when I can really WORSHIP Him. I think that's what Heaven is like, being able to run free with God. Aaahhhhhh.

Weddings and Things

I recently got to help out with a wedding! James and Angelica are a wonderful couple. I sat under James' chair during part of the service. Boy, was I surprised when they moved the chair!!!

So, what's the point? Simply that everything can change in a split second. One minute you're cruisin'-snoozin' through life, feeling totally contented; the next minute you're totally confused and running for cover!! It can happen to anybody, at anytime. One of our clergy friends had their roof blow off in a freak storm, water damage all over, and an estimate of $40k to fix it.

If you know me at all, you know I'm a bit of a worrier. I don't like surprises. But one thing I DO know is that God, and my friends, will get me through. When I'm off leash at church, (or when we worked at the thrift store in Oregon) sometimes I get separated from Cathy and I get a little panicky, but God reassures me to have faith, and some kind person always helps me find her again.

The key is the faith. That's the hard part for me. But, I'm slowly learning that stuff is always going to happen, and if I just take a deep breath and hang on, everything will be OK. I worry that someone will kidnap me away from Dave and Cathy. But if I don't walk away from them, it won't happen. Just like if we all don't walk away from God, we'll be fine,'cause He'll be right there with us, no matter what!
I mean, even if the "worst" happens and I get run over and killed, Jesus will come and find me and take me home. So, what is there to be afraid of, really?

Well, gotta go, so ciao for now!

Wow. I forgot to have Cathy write my sign-in info down and I got locked out of my account! Between us, we finally got it fixed. I'm back!!!!

I have mixed feelings about being back in California. It's warmer here, and it's comfortable...like an old blanket. But Cathy and Dave are both much busier, and with 4 of us dogs, well it's just more hectic. Ashley and Terra don't get along, Reuben likes to take charge when no humans are around...politics are everywhere!!!

It's fun to see old friends again, but I miss the new adventures we had in Oregon. And I miss the friends we made. It's a good thing we got the computer back up and running so we can all keep in touch.

I was at a wedding, Saturday, where a little boy came up and socked me in the face. I was so shocked I just stood there, backed against a pew, and looked at him... 'til Cathy whisked me up into her arms. It all happened so fast. I was so sad. Why did he do that? I forgive him, but it sure hurt my feelings and my jaw.

Well, back out into the yard for more sun and fun! Ciao for now!!!!!

Shots for Tots

I learned a lot today. Cathy and I helped out as Rotarians today with Shots for Tots. My main job was to help the little ones stay calm/distracted as they got their vaccinations and to help them calm down afterward. The nurses said my being there helped a great deal and they would like me to help at other locations. When Cathy and I would go to the big room and call for them, the people seemed to really like that I was there to lead the way, and to be with the children during the shots. Some of the children hugged me and, you know what(?), it didn't bother me a bit. I even stopped shaking when I was comforting them. They were way more scared than I was, and when they found out I had MY shot recently, they knew I understood what they were going through. This was the first time that (besides comforting Cathy) I really, truly, understood my role in interacting with people. I was so high afterward that I went out in the back yard and did my "happy dance"!!! I heard one of the nurses ask Cathy if I could come to a 4H Dog Project meeting and tell my story (with Cathy's help of course!). So, today was a really good day, and now I'm going to settle down for a nap!

Well, sure enough, you have to have open heart surgery sooner or later if you're gonna have Jesus in your heart. It just happened to Bishop Schofield for the SECOND time. I knew it, I knew it!!! And now they're talking about how he's in ICU. Does that mean he can see everybody from where he is? Hmmmm... Well, he must REALLY be full of joy now, and much more special than before, what with having opened up his heart to Jesus again like that. Kinda scary when you think about it. I mean, I know we're s'posed to be willing to die rather than deny, it just brings it closer to home for me. I thought getting a rabies shot was bad.

My Favorite Things

Not feeling so great after my rabies booster today. I'm amazed that humans don't have to get regular rabies shots too. But then, I guess I wouldn't want to get them in MY stomach either. I've sat in Cathy's lap when she was having her teeth drilled, and I'm glad I don't have to have that done. Talk about HUGE needles!!!

Aaahhhhhh... Dave started a fire in the wood-stove just now. I love that. It makes the whole house feel warm, even the floor. What else makes me feel that way? A real hug. Hanging out with a good friend. Hot water in my kibble on a cold day. Praise. Knowing I "get to go" along wherever my humans are going. Feeling welcomed in a new environment. A thorough grooming with a soft brush. Getting dried off with the towel after a bath. Snoozing in Dave's lap when he's reading a book. A good massage just behind the ears. Curling up behind Cathy's knees, under the covers, at bedtime. Good morning snuggles. Finding that spot where the sun streams in the window and taking a siesta. And most of all...spending time alone with God!!

Letting Go

I've been thinking about the past a lot lately. I've always felt that survival depends on learning as much as you can from the past so I don't keep making the same mistakes over and over again. But now I realize that if you hold on to the past, you have no room for the future. For someone who lives in the "now" this may seem strange, but I can't seem to get over some of my fears left over from living on my own. I was so small that big birds hunted me as well as coyotes, and people were mean to me. Every time I get in the car I have that old fear that I'm going to be dumped off somewhere and abandoned again. Everyone I meet is so nice to me now, and so polite, yet I can't get over my fear of what they might do to me. I've heard that humans deal with these same issues all of the time, but most of them don't seem to show it as readily as I do.

So, I've been going back and looking at my fears and their causes. When I talked to Jesus about it the other day, He showed me how to give my worries to Him and relax. Most of them aren't relevant anymore, but I've stuffed them so deep they're like extra weight I'm carrying around without realizing it. Habits are hard to break, but when I let go of my fears I feel like I can fly!! It's as if someone took the leash off of my heart!!

You know how, in drawings, Jesus is often holding a lamb in his arms? Well, we need to draw one with an Italian Greyhound in his arms! 'Cause I feel just like that lamb when I remember to give Him my worries. Try it! You'll see what I mean.

Cathy took me to the ocean one day, and as we were walking she said some things I've been thinking about.

As we watched the waves roll in she talked about rivers, and how they empty into the sea. She talked about how everything, including water, is made up of molecules, atoms and light particles, and probably even smaller "bits". The river carries the water to the sea, or a lake, where it evaporates and these tiny bits are in the air, and eventually come down again in rain, snow and fog. The water runs off the land or into the aquafers, makes it's way into rivers and the whole cycle has repeated since time began.

So, the bits in the water I drink, play in, get rained or snowed on by, have been around for a long time. In the waves that crash on the shore, or the rivers we wade in, even in the shower could be bits that Aristotle, Abraham Lincoln, Rin Tin Tin, Lassie or even Jesus might have touched or used. The snow around us on the ground might contain bits that have been everywhere in the world.

Taking it a step farther, Cathy says our bodies are mostly made up of water. So the "bits" that are in the water in my body have varied and long histories. I might have some in me that were in a dinosaur once...or a deer...a tree...a human...or a CAT!!! Oh my.

I sat there on the shore trying to imagine history from a "bit's" perspective, but I got distracted by a dive bombing seagull and chased him off down the beach. I think God is probably the only one who could comprehend it all anyway.

I don't mean to be heretical, but it IS a different way to define "living water", isn't it? LOL

An Attitude of Gratitude

Sometimes it's good to slow down and just lie in front of the fire place, while Dave and Cathy are reading. It's warm, I have a full tummy, there's water in the water dish and if I need to go out all I have to do is get up and look at the door. It's raining outside, but I'm in where it's dry and warm. God blesses me in so many ways. I live in a wonderful home with people who give me lots of love, hugs, scratches, toys and who will play with me if I show an inclination. Of course, I've trained them right from the beginning! Whenever Cathy or Dave does something for me I try to always give them a small lick on the hand or leg to say 'Thank you'. I know God brought us together when I was struggling to survive on my own, and I thank Him everyday.

I see so many beings rushing through life, always focusing on what they don't have. I feel lucky that I had the experience of being on my own for a while. It makes me focus on the many blessings I have. I find that this attitude of gratitude keeps me feeling happy. After all, being happy or unhappy is a moment by moment decision that each of us makes. Why so many humans choose to be unhappy, when they have so much to be thankful for, is truly a mystery to me.

Well, I'm going to stay in front of the fire until it's time to do some under cover work with the down comforter! Ciao for now!

The Soul's Need for Silence

Somewhere I heard that dogs can hear 25 times more acutely than humans. Have you ever noticed how noisy humans are? When they aren't talking they're listening to music, watching TV or videos, clattering in the kitchen, pounding in the garage, going to concerts or the movie theater, or setting off cannons and fireworks. Everybody complains about kids texting...well, at least it's quiet! No wonder we all go deaf after awhile.

It's frustrating for those of us who like to spend lots of time listening to nature while we commune with God. How do humans ever get quiet enough to hear Him? When we try to go for walks out in nature, we're almost always interrupted by ATV's, snowmobiles, jet skis, speed boats, helicopters and airplanes. It's enough to make me want to bite someone. When we find a great place there's usually a "NO TRESPASSING" sign. The deer and squirrels don't pay attention to them and, when I'm off leash, I don't either!

So, back to my question. How do humans find time, I mean hours a day time, to talk to God? Cathy and I go in the spare bedroom and light a candle, but it's not the same for me. I like being outside where I can open my soul, listen to God, and compare notes with the deer, squirrels, birds and rabbits,etc. We all have a purpose in the world and we teach each other what we know and what we're learning. Humans would be surprised if they knew.

Cathy says that's what Church is for, but they're always making noise in there! It's true that humans have to make noise to communicate, they've lost our abilities, but when do they stop and listen? I think everyone should shut off the noise for a good part of the day. If they can't get others to be quiet, they can at least try to stop talking so much and be quiet themselves. If they realized God is waiting in line for a chance to communicate with them, maybe they would make a greater effort...

I'm Gonna Party Tonight!

Humans have no idea how long a "year" is for a dog. Dave and Cathy rarely get excited about New Years eve. Most dogs, on the other hand, spend most of their lives waiting. Waiting for their people to come home, waiting in the car, waiting on a chain, waiting for dinner. Since we live in the "now" waiting can seem like forever, a string of "nows" spent waiting. And since a human year seems like seven years to us, we store up a bunch of New Year's resolutions. I'm so excited! Here are some of mine:

I will be a better citizen of planet Earth, spreading more joy, comfort and love.
I will remember to relax when meeting new people, or when I find myself in a crowd.
I will control my barking at neighbors and people ringing the doorbell, and not just blurt it out.
I will stop ducking under the seat of the car under overpasses on the highways.
I will remember to eat more slowly.
I will get Cathy out for more exercise.
I will stop bugging Ashley (a dog) by trying to lick her face.
I will stop upsetting Cathy by rolling in scat.

There! One for each dog-year plus one more for good luck!

So, what is YOUR New Year's resolution? I hope this new "year" is the best one ever, full of blessings for me, for you, and for the whole world!

Would you do me a favor and spread this idea: If each one of us becomes peaceful, then the whole world can live in peace. We must change ourselves, one person at a time. Thanks! M

Christmas Eve

It's interesting that humans keep track of dates and times. For me, everything pretty much happens in the now. Don't get me wrong, I know what "wait" means, but I usually wait in the now, moment by moment!

Humans have names for each minute, day, month and year. Wow. They even have B.C. and A.D.! Now, that fascinates me. How can so many people dismiss the importance and impact of Jesus on the world when all of human history is kept track of by using His life as the peak dividing point? Everything that happened Before Christ is B.C., and A.D. means "In the year of our Lord", translated from Latin.

Cathy reminded me that tonight we are celebrating Jesus' birth in a stable. Wow. A guy born in a stable has all of history ordered around His life, and many people don't want to be "offensive" by saying Merry Christmas? Doesn't everybody live by the same calendar? Doesn't that mean they all can recognize His birth without getting offended? I mean, I've heard He wasn't really born in winter time, but hey, who needs an excuse to party, right? If it was up to me, we'd party all of the time, in the now.

Well, that's my thought for now. I hope you have a Merry Christmas!

Keeping the Homefires Burning

Now I think I know what the phrase "Keeping the home fires burning" means. It's supposed to get down to 11*F tonight and Dave and Cathy are dripping faucets and keeping the fire going in the wood stove all night so the water pipes won't freeze. It gets so cold here there is a built-in heater in the garage!

Friendships can be like that. If we don't make the effort to keep them going, they can slowly turn cold, break, and the love leaks out until they're empty. That can happen in our relationship with God, too. If we don't work to keep the Holy Fire burning in our heart, our Spiritual Life grows cold, freezes up, ruptures and the Holy Spirit leaks out. Instead of wood we use Prayer, Worship, Communion and the Bible to keep the Fire burning strongly inside of us so we can feel its warmth and protection! It's so easy to let it burn down until the world becomes overwhelming, like a creature prowling around us in the dark. Well, we know who THAT is!

Christmas is a great season to rekindle relationships, and to resolve to keep them going in the New Year. Jesus was born to rekindle our relationship with God, to give us the Fire and to show us how to use it and how to keep it going. Let's rejoice and gently share its warmth with others who are out in the cold.

Post Office at Christmas Time

Today we stood in a long line at the Post Office. People were very angry that only one window was open 4 days before Christmas. I remember hearing Cathy quote her father once, saying "Good manners are the lubrication that allows people to live together, elbow-to-elbow in a civilized society.". Well, there was a lot of squeaking and clashing of gears going on in that Post Office today. Why do people feel it's ok to be rude? Do they think it's going to make a situation better? Does it make them happy to be in a bad mood? Where was the "Christmas Spirit" that everyone talks about? I decided to hide under a table in case somebody went "postal". Cathy wanted to get everybody to sing Christmas Carols, but lost her nerve when she saw the looks on peoples' faces. Dave and I didn't think it was a good idea to do that in a government establishment under the current "politically correct" circumstances. So we stood there and listened to people griping. Why couldn't they be counting their blessings? It was snowing outside, and we were inside where it was warm and dry. Nobody looked hungry except the Postman who skipped his lunch break to keep his window open. I heard the other worker skipped her lunch break to go out and deliver mail in the snow.

Speaking of snow, I love how it covers everything silently with a soft, white cloak. Sometimes we don't even know it's happening, like when it snows while we're asleep. I think when we have Jesus in our heart, that's what happens to us. Jesus covers us with His own clean, soft, white cloak, like snow. It covers all of the dirt we've accumulated in our souls from living in the world, and makes us look pure and beautiful to God. Now THAT'S something to be joyful about! What a Gift! What if we saw each other that way?

Out of the Comfort Zone

Some days I just don't feel like getting out of bed. I have a major anxiety problem that makes me shake so badly our police chief wanted to name me 'Quiver'. HA HA HUM BUG! First of all, I don't like getting stepped on. I'm only 14 inches tall at the shoulder, so I'm on an eye level with most peoples' knees. Cathy is always going places like church, or WalMart. I get so nervous that I crowd too close to Cathy and get stepped on anyway! Have you ever seen how many feet there are at a Diocesan Convention? And excuse me, but I HATE being groped by people I don't know. Why does everyone have to touch me? They spot me clear across a room and make a beeline for me. Of course I AM beautiful and I'm worth it, but I just don't get any respect! When I wear the Service Dog cape it's better, but many people still ask Cathy for permission to touch me. Only a very few ever ask me! And the loud noises! They can really startle me!

So, why am I a Service Dog? Because I love seeing the positive effect I have on people. I mean, obviously it's not me, but God working through me Who works miracles every day. Like the elderly lady in the hospital who asked if I could come into her room. She was really nice. She stroked me and chatted with Cathy for about ten minutes. Many of the staff came and stood in the doorway, watching. When we came out they told us the lady hadn't responded to anyone since she'd been there.

I could tell you lots of stories. Like the man in the convalescent hospital who had a seven-way bypass and wanted to be baptized. He was just another stranger until he was baptized. I can't describe to you what I saw and felt, except that suddenly he was an old friend. I wanted to be near the Holy Spirit Who entered him when he was baptized, so I hopped up on his bed, crawled under his arm and went to sleep!

So what's my point? It's that we often must step outside of our comfort zone for God to be able to use us for His purpose. That's why, when that Service Dog cape comes out I come running and dive into it head first, shaking all the while. I know God is going to use me somehow. All I have to do, as hard as it may seem, is to show up.

So, my advice to you, the next time you are anxious about what to do in a certain situation, is to just show up. Open yourself to the Holy Spirit and he'll show you what to do. It's always been worth it in the end!

(Note from Cathy...It is usually a battle to get Missy to stay home. She doesn't like to leave me alone with my pain. It's amazing how, just having her with me reduces the amount of medication I have to take. Occasionally, when she's been on the go quite a bit, she chooses to opt out of going, and I always give her the right to choose. She is very independent, and lets me know when she is ready to go again, which is usually the next day.)

Yesterday Dave decided to give Cathy her Christmas present early because her back was hurting again. So we went to Big 5 and got an "inversion table". I thought maybe it had to do with fog, and moisture in the air, but no. It's this thing you lie on and hang upside down. Can you believe it? I'm NOT getting on that thing. Life is hard enough trying to figure what's up and what's down without changing it all. But Cathy says that's what being a Christian is like...turning it all upside down. The rules of the world don't really apply anymore...love your enemies, turn your cheek, don't be materialistic, etc. I think I understand, but I'm not sure. How do I turn the other cheek without getting my ear bitten off? Peace is great, but does that mean I'm supposed to let other dogs beat me up and take my food? Luckily, that doesn't happen in our house. Ashley must already be partly a Christian dog, 'cause she never bothers me even though she's bigger and finishes eating faster. Cathy was having a discussion with some other volunteers last Tuesday, and they were trying to explain Christianity to another volunteer who got turned off to the church because of 'hypocrisy'. They said Jesus writes His laws on your heart, and that's why you know right from wrong. That your actions make you a Christian, that you wear it on your heart, not your arm. Does that mean you have to have open heart surgery? Cathy says yes, in a way, because you have to open your heart to Jesus. She says you can do that in private, but that we need help from other Christians to remind us to follow the laws on our hearts, not the louder ones in our heads. I'm gonna have to ponder that.

Christmas baskets

Today Cathy and Dave and I delivered some Christmas Baskets (why do they call them baskets when they are really a couple of boxes filled with food) to some houses. All of the people had dogs, so why didn't we give them dog food too? The people were really happy to receive the food, but I noticed that Cathy and Dave seemed even more happy to be giving out the food. Hmmm. I guess, if I was sure I had enough food, I might be willing to leave some food in my dish outside so the strays in the neighborhood could have some. Would that make me happy?
Why do some people have so much and some people have so little? I used to live with a dog named Tessa Lou. If there was anything to be eaten, or played with, she would take it, willing to let the rest of us go without. It didn't bother her one bit. I've known many dogs like that. Humans seem to be different, at least the ones I've observed. They even give me food off of their plates, and share sleeping space with me. They take in stray dogs and feed them, bathe them and keep them warm.
But you know, I see human strangers sitting by the road every day and no one picks them up or takes them home and cares for them. I wonder why? I've heard of shelters for humans. Do they euthanize them if they stay there too long? Did those humans get dumped off in the country like I did? I'd really like to find a way to help them like I was helped. I'm going to try to communicate with Cathy and Dave about this. Maybe that way I can be of even more service, since I'm a Service Dog. If you have ideas, send them, ok?