De-skunk your dog, and other small group lessons.
As our small group was shutting down for the night we visited with our overworked and under appreciated friend who happens to be doing an internship here in Horse Country, Nicole Fawns. I let out our Cairn Terrier one last time before putting her to bed and I went to let Nicole out and Daisi in.
Well, let’s just say it was a good thing those two things happened at the same time because Daisi came in with her tail between her legs smelling like…well SKUNK. I shewed her to the garage and Nicole gave us the formula for De-skunking the dog. Here it is for all of you who run into the same situation.
- 1 quart of Hydrogen Peroxide
- 1 tsp liquid soap
- 1/4 cup of baking soda
- Wet dog with water
- Mix Up ingredients
- Pour on dog, being careful around eyes
- Let sit 5-10 minutes.
- Wash out.
Now how is that for a great reason to keep your small group open to anyone and everyone. Nicole is single, and our group is all couples. She’s from the West Coast and we’re all East Coast or Mid-Westerners. She’s in her 20’s and two of us are approaching 40s. There is no reason to have her in our group, right? WRONG!
While she’s more busy than any of us and misses many a small group gathering it’s a place for her to get connected, and we love having her around.
Funny how God knew we’d need her expertese.
Keep your small group open! You never know when you might need a de-skunking formula. After all it’s not about you.
We can’t live apprehensively! – Justin Boyd
He might have just gotten an 18 on his ACT, but this stuff is profound from my boy Justin Boyd.
A BOYd’s LIFE: WE CAN’T LIVE APPREHENSIVELY
WE CAN’T LIVE APPREHENSIVELY
Pursuing Jesus requires instinctive and intuitive actions and reactions. We don’t have time to be apprehensive when it comes to chasing Jesus dreams, nor does God want us to hesitate when he has called us to encounter the unknown. The reality is we are taught our whole lives to be careful and cautious in making decisions that may have a major impact on our lives. Jesus gave no time for logical thinking when he called people to uncomfortably engage his teaching and embrace his lifestyle.
We should trust our instinctive and intuitive jabs relying that the Spirit’s logic trumps our finite reasoning any time. Let’s not allow the uncharted and unexamined exclude us from the destination God may have for the illogical pursuers…
You are never too old to fail.
He should know better than that!”
Ever heard those words? Have you ever said them?
Somehow in my mind, and I assume everyone’s mind, we are tempted to believe that one day we arrive. We will get to a place where we have enough money, wisdom, knowledge, 60″ flat screens, and Audis and we’ll build a $20 million dollar home on the inter-coastal in Sarasota and we’ll have to choose whether to lay by the pool or venture to the private beach to read and have a cup of coffee. We live like we will eventually get to a place in life where decisions come easy, and the decisions we make will always be right.
Today, I realized that this is all wrong. I know, it’s a shocker!
Reading 2 Chronicles 15-16 where Asa rules for 35 years making all of the right decisions, and then
Asa messed up, and his mistake cost him a peaceful end to his life.
This life with Jesus is a journey, and while we are always intended to stay on the narrow path we can choose to detour at any moment. The enemy is lying in wait for any opportunity to lead us away. Our destination is Christlikeness, and the completion of that journey will only happen on the other side of death or Jesus’ return depending upon which comes first. There is no retirement from the work that Jesus needs to do in us.
Are you living your life as if your arrival is eminent, or are you continually being changed knowing that a fight is required to remain on the narrow way?