"If" by Gary Rose

 

I have been feeling a little “down” lately, with the passing of my best canine friend ever, Pal. I really do not know how to express this relationship, but we genuinely loved one another; of that I am absolutely convinced. In addition to Pal, I have loved my wife of 54 years, Linda. Our love is best described as “complex”, but, it endures. When Pal died, we cried as one. Beyond this, I have many friends and those of you who are my friends know it- because I have told you that you are. For my fellow followers of Christ who I have not told; I am telling you now – I love you. As flawed as I am, I do love you with all the Agape love that I can understand and practice.

Yet, I have a friend that I have never even seen and without a doubt, I KNOW that HE is my friend, because he died for my sins. His name is Jesus and our friendship is unlike any other that I have ever known. You see, HE loves me in-spite of every thing I have every thought, said or done. He forgives me of every sin when I truly repent and will be at my side in the final judgment.

Jesus said:

 

John 15 ( World English Bible )

¹ “I am the true vine, and my Father is the farmer.

² Every branch in me that doesn’t bear fruit, he takes away. Every branch that bears fruit, he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.

³ You are already pruned clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.

⁴ Remain in me, and I in you. As the branch can’t bear fruit by itself, unless it remains in the vine, so neither can you, unless you remain in me.

⁵ I am the vine. You are the branches. He who remains in me, and I in him, the same bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

⁶ If a man doesn’t remain in me, he is thrown out as a branch, and is withered; and they gather them, throw them into the fire, and they are burned.

⁷ If you remain in me, and my words remain in you, you will ask whatever you desire, and it will be done for you.

⁸ “In this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit; and so you will be my disciples.

⁹ Even as the Father has loved me, I also have loved you. Remain in my love.

¹⁰ If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and remain in his love.

¹¹ I have spoken these things to you, that my joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be made full.

¹² “This is my commandment, that you love one another, even as I have loved you.

¹³ Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

¹⁴ You are my friends, if you do whatever I command you.

If I will listen and do what he commands me to do, I have his promise that he will love me and be my friend. This has given me great comfort of late and will continue for the rest of my life, if I remain faithful.

If you don’t know Jesus, now, now is the time to become his friend and be blessed for it! Do it now, you will never be sorry, ever!

Your friend,

Gary

Reminders of love by Gary Rose

 

Today, I tried writing a post several times, but without success. I just couldn’t seem to think clearly. Unlike other episodes of “writers block”, I had a very good reason- My dog Pal. We took him to the vet last Thursday and waited for what seemed like an hour. I held him the entire time and he didn’t move a bit. It has always been like that, for I know he loved being held. His kidneys had failed and this had an awful effect on his already weakened heart. Anyway, there was only one thing to do; put him to sleep.

The thing is: Pal will always be with me. His love was so sincere and intense that over the past decade it has genuinely changed me. Today, as I sat at my computer, I just happened to look up and noticed a paper printout of last weeks picture of Pal that I had used for my blog post. I realized that my memory of him will never fade away because his life and mine will always be intertwined. While looking for a picture for today’s post, I found a poem that just seemed to say how I felt, so I used the picture of the poem (above). After looking at it a bit, I thought about a passage from the Bible and the following words became more meaningful to me than ever before.

The Bible says…

Luke 22 ( World English Bible )

¹³ They went, found things as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.

¹⁴ When the hour had come, he sat down with the twelve apostles.

¹⁵ He said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer,

¹⁶ for I tell you, I will no longer by any means eat of it until it is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God.”

¹⁷ He received a cup, and when he had given thanks, he said, “Take this, and share it among yourselves,

¹⁸ for I tell you, I will not drink at all again from the fruit of the vine, until the Kingdom of God comes.”

¹⁹ He took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and gave to them, saying, “This is my body which is given for you. Do this in memory of me.”

²⁰ Likewise, he took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.

You know, the poem and the celebration of the Lord’s supper have something in common- doing. When I do something it often triggers a fond memory. I will remember my dog Pal by simple actions that I do and I will remember Jesus while partaking of the celebration of the Lord’s supper. Funny, as I think about it, there is another thing that the poem and the supper have in common- love. Somehow, my life seems much better as I contemplate these things. Humm, Pal and especially Jesus both really, really loved me. I think I will hold onto that thought...

Your Friend,

Gary

Of love and friendship by Gary Rose

 

This is a picture of my dog Pal just after his last grooming in November of last year (2022). Lately, he has been having a rapid decline in health and doesn’t look as good as he did in November. Frankly, I don’t think he will make it to his 15^th birthday (June 3^rd).

He is undoubtedly the best dog that I have ever had. His love and dedication to me is beyond my ability to describe. Should he die soon, I don’t know how I will be able to deal with it, but I will have the memory of my best friend to help me cope with his absence.

During the last ten years of Pal’s life, he has reminded me of what love and dedication to his master really means. Namely, that my will is to be that of MY master because I love HIM unconditionally.

As I consider this situation, I am reminded of a passage of Scripture from the Gospel of John…

The Bible says…

John 21 ( World English Bible )

¹ After these things, Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias. He revealed himself this way.

² Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together.

³ Simon Peter said to them, “I’m going fishing.” They told him, “We are also coming with you.” They immediately went out, and entered into the boat. That night, they caught nothing.

⁴ But when day had already come, Jesus stood on the beach, yet the disciples didn’t know that it was Jesus.

⁵ Jesus therefore said to them, “Children, have you anything to eat?” They answered him, “No.”

⁶ He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” They cast it therefore, and now they weren’t able to draw it in for the multitude of fish.

⁷ That disciple therefore whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!” So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he wrapped his coat around him (for he was naked), and threw himself into the sea.

⁸ But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from the land, but about two hundred cubits away), dragging the net full of fish.

⁹ So when they got out on the land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread.

¹⁰ Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have just caught.”

¹¹ Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land, full of great fish, one hundred fifty-three; and even though there were so many, the net wasn’t torn.

¹² Jesus said to them, “Come and eat breakfast.” None of the disciples dared inquire of him, “Who are you?” knowing that it was the Lord.

¹³ Then Jesus came and took the bread, gave it to them, and the fish likewise.

¹⁴ This is now the third time that Jesus was revealed to his disciples, after he had risen from the dead.

¹⁵ So when they had eaten their breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I have affection for you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.”

¹⁶ He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I have affection for you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.”

¹⁷ He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you have affection for me?” Peter was grieved because he asked him the third time, “Do you have affection for me?” He said to him, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I have affection for you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.

^{John 21 ( Emphasized Bible Rotherham )}

¹⁵ When, therefore, they had broken their fast, Jesus saith unto Simon Peter––Simon, son of John! lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him––Yea, Lord! thou, knowest that I am fond of thee, he saith unto him––Be feeding my lambs.

¹⁶ He saith unto him, again, the second time––Simon, son of John! lovest thou me? He saith unto him––Yea, Lord! thou, knowest that I am fond of thee. He saith unto him––Be shepherding my sheep.

¹⁷ He saith unto him, the third time––Simon, son of John! art thou fond of me? Peter was grieved, that he said unto him, the third time, Art thou fond of me? and he said unto him––Lord! all things, thou, knowest: thou perceivest that I am fond of thee. Jesus saith unto him––Be feeding my sheep.

This exchange between Jesus and Peter is important. Important because Jesus refers to true heavenly love (agape) and Peter refers to friendship (phileo). Normally, I use the World English Bible, but today I added The Emphasized Bible by Rotherham as I think the latter more accurately conveys the meaning. Why is this important to me now? Well, I love my dog in a way that he will never understand because HE is a DOG and I am a HUMAN. We both love, but in different ways due to our natures. The same is true for my relationship with God. I love The Almighty with my best effort to attain to the true love which Jesus exhibits. My best efforts fall abysmally short, but nonetheless, I keep striving to do better.

I do not know what the immediate future will bring for my beloved dog Pal, or what will happen to him after he dies, but I know that my master, Jesus, loves me in this life and in the life after this one. I do not know EXACTLY what heaven will be like, but deep down I hope that Jesus will allow Pal to be there. Humm, I wonder if there will be squirrels in Heaven ( I think Pal would like to know as well )?

I know this all may be a bit too personal for many of you out there, but it is what it is. I have just one question for YOU: Have YOU thought about your relationship with God lately- Do you really, really love HIM?

I hope and pray that you respond with an overwhelming YES!