It happened. This past Saturday afternoon I finally gave in. After six years without a dog and various conversations with my two girls hoping, wishing, begging, and recently researching the "perfect" dogs online and in the paper, we went "dog shopping." It began as a casual drive to the local PetSmart Store "just to look." Little did I know it was the annual "Dog-A-Thon" on the parking lot of PetSmart. Two large tents and a trailer were in place with well over 200 dogs and cats for adoption by several local animal rescue organizations. The sign at the entrance listed the number of animals adopted in the 24-hour event. By the time it was over, we added two numbers to the total of over 400 animals adopted.

Yes, I said “two.’ Little did I know how much my life was about to change! The first tent revealed two “weiner dogs” in a crate together. They had been rescued together from an abandoned home after their owner died. They were close buddies and needed to be together: Mannie and Maci. My girls fell in love with them, including Robin. I’m not real smart, but I certainly know when I’m outnumbered by three women! They really are cute - very playful and loving. I signed the papers and paid the fees. I did request we change the boy dog’s name and we let our son Matt offer his suggestion by text. Murphy is his new name.

I wanted to share a story from Bill Bright about a young boy who was adopted. I trust you will find it meaningful.

Their home on fire, a young boy was trapped upstairs. The grandmother attempted to rescue him, but she died in the horrible flames. A man who saw the fire climbed up an iron drainpipe to the lad’s window. With the boy clinging to his neck and with a firm grip on the drainpipe, he lowered himself and the boy to safety. Weeks later, a public hearing was held to determine who should be given custody of the boy. A teacher, a farmer, and the town’s wealthiest citizen all gave reasons why they should be chosen to give the boy a home. But the sad boy only stared at the floor. Then a man walked to the front of the room and announced his desire to adopt the boy. He slipped his hands out of his pockets and held them up for the crowd to see. His palms bore hideous scars. The boy cried out in recognition and leapt into the man’s arms. This was the man who had saved the child’s life. His hands had been scorched when he climbed up the hot iron pipe. As the boy nestled in the arms of the man who saved his life, the other men walked away. Those scarred hands settled the issue.

In the same way, our Savior’s nail-scarred hands have settled the issue for us. Our Lord’s sacrifice saved us and made us children of God. Like the young boy, we have been “adopted” as God’s sons (Ephesians 1:5, NIV). As believers, we are not orphans who are homeless without parents or family. We have an incredible parent, our loving Heavenly Father, who cares for us deeply and cares for us each moment of the day. We also have a wonderful family, consisting of brothers and sisters all over the world. And we have a marvelous home waiting for us in eternity. Even now, we experience comfort, peace, and a sense of belonging through our Father’s Spirit – the Holy Spirit – who has made our heart His home. We are very important to God because we are His dearly beloved children.

We’ve all been adopted. That’s the only way we can become a part of the family of God through Jesus Christ, God’s Son. We share the same Father and we’re all brothers and sisters in Christ. I trust that Murphy and Maci would agree it’s a blessing to have a real home again and a family to love them. Thank you for being our First Church family. The family of God is the BEST family in the whole world!

Yours in Christ’s Love,
Mark

P.S. Thanks to Gene Massey for preaching and all the participants in last Sunday’s Laity Sunday. You all did a great job and we were blessed!