Ark Valley News - Hope and hilarity

Hope and hilarity
Last Updated: April 16, 2015

Charlie is now famous

Our dog, Charlie, is now officially famous.

Occasionally, I get a response to an article I write for The Ark Valley News. Last week's essay about our little Yorkie, Charlie, drew more responses than usual. I think that people identified with the little dog, who delighted in inundating himself in cow manure. Maybe all of us have been up to our neck, so to speak, in times past. We also know that it was nobody's fault but our own. And maybe all of us can identify with the need to be rescued from our predicament.

Some people enjoyed the humor of the essay. One email I received said, "I just finished reading the paper, and I think you topped them all. Too bad Mary didn't have a camera to record your latest escapade with Charlie, the dog. I'm sure she would have received the prize for the funniest movie. Knowing some of your brilliant ways of solving clean-up problems at home, I could hardly wait to read the ending. It sounds like a new utility sink may be in store." She obviously thought I would run him though the dishwasher. I would have, if he had been a potato or a hub cap.

One reader appreciated the article for another reason. His response told his story. He lost his wife, his children, and his home through divorce. The divorce came about because of his alcoholism. As painful as it all was, he knew that it was due to his own reckless choices. He came to faith in Jesus Christ because of the deep remorse he experienced. In time, he was restored to his family, and now lives an alcohol-free life. He identified with Charlie the dog, who needed to be lifted from the circumstances created by his own bad choices. This man knew what it was like to be lifted by a loving hand.

Another response came from a woman, who wrote: "Your article about Charlie and Jesus was great!!!! Good analogy!!!!" I was excited by her note because nothing I have ever written before received eight exclamation marks in two short sentences.

I wrote her back and said, "I'll stop short of saying I baptized the little sinner. But he did get immersed with lots and lots of shampoo."

Isn't a good cleansing what we all need from time to time? I am so thankful that God has provided the opportunity for a new start through Jesus Christ.

If you didn't get a chance to read last week's article, you can find it at www.arkvalleynews.com on the Church page.

"God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16)

Chuck Terrill is pastor of Valley Center Christian Church. He can be reached at chuck@valleycenterchristianchurch.org or 755-1233.