The Question That Changed My Life (by Dr. David Ryser)

A number of years ago, I had the privilege of teaching at a school of ministry. My students were hungry for God, and I was constantly searching for ways to challenge them to fall more in love with Jesus and to become voices for revival in the Church. I came across a quote attributed most often to Rev. Sam Pascoe. It is a short version of the history of Christianity, and it goes like this:

Christianity started in Palestine as a fellowship;
It moved to Greece and became a philosophy;
It moved to Italy and became an institution;
It moved to Europe and became a culture;
It came to America and became an enterprise.

Some of the students were only 18 or 19 years old—barely out of diapers—and I wanted them to understand and appreciate the import of the last line, so I clarified it by adding, "An enterprise. That's a business."

After a few moments Martha, the youngest student in the class, raised her hand. I could not imagine what her question might be. I thought the little vignette was self-explanatory, and that I had performed it brilliantly. Nevertheless, I acknowledged Martha's raised hand, "Yes, Martha."

She asked such a simple question, "A business? But isn't it supposed to be a body?" I could not envision where this line of questioning was going, and the only response I could think of was, "Yes."

She continued, "But when a body becomes a business, isn't that a prostitute?"

The room went dead silent. For several seconds no one moved or spoke. We were stunned, afraid to make a sound because the presence of God had flooded into the room, and we knew we were on holy ground. All I could think in those sacred moments was, "Wow, I wish I'd thought of that." I didn't dare express that thought aloud. God had taken over the class.

Martha's question changed my life. For six months, I thought about her question at least once every day. "When a body becomes a business, isn't that a prostitute?" There is only one answer to her question. The answer is "Yes." The American Church, tragically, is heavily populated by people who do not love God. How can we love Him? We don't even know Him; and I mean really know Him.

I stand by my statement that most American Christians do not know God—much less love Him. The root of this condition originates in how we came to God. Most of us came to Him because of what we were told He would do for us. We were promised that He would bless us in life and take us to heaven after death. We married Him for His money, and we don't care if He lives or dies as long as we can get His stuff. We have made the Kingdom of God into a business, merchandising His anointing.

This should not be. We are commanded to love God, and are called to be the Bride of Christ—that's pretty intimate stuff. We are supposed to be His lovers. How can we love someone we don't even know? And even if we do know someone, is that a guarantee that we truly love them? Are we lovers or prostitutes?

I was pondering Martha's question again one day, and considered the question, "What's the difference between a lover and a prostitute?" I realized that both do many of the same things, but a lover does what she does because she loves. A prostitute pretends to love, but only as long as you pay. Then I asked the question, "What would happen if God stopped paying me?" For the next several months, I allowed God to search me to uncover my motives for loving and serving Him.

Was I really a true lover of God? What would happen if He stopped blessing me? What if He never did another thing for me? Would I still love Him? Please understand—I believe in the promises and blessings of God. The issue here is not whether God blesses His children; the issue is the condition of my heart. Why do I serve Him? Are His blessings in my life the gifts of a loving Father, or are they a wage that I have earned or a bribe/payment to love Him? Do I love God without any conditions?

It took several months to work through these questions. Even now I wonder if my desire to love God is always matched by my attitude and behavior. I still catch myself being disappointed with God and angry that He has not met some perceived need in my life. I suspect this is something which is never fully resolved, but I want more than anything else to be a true lover of God. So what is it going to be? Which are we—lover or prostitute?

There are no prostitutes in heaven, or in the Kingdom of God for that matter, but there are plenty of former prostitutes in both places. Take it from a recovering prostitute when I say there is no substitute for unconditional, intimate relationship with God. And I mean there is no palatable substitute available to us (take another look at Matthew 7:21-23 sometime).

We must choose.

Dr. David Ryser

~As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, "YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY."
~1 Peter 1:14-16

A Special Labrador (my cousin's dog)

Scott and Kim Marmo and their children are learning a certified therapy/working dog can be lots of fun to own and give pleasure to others as well.

After the family’s beloved yellow Labrador Retriever passed away, Scott, an avid waterfowl hunter, purchased a black male Labrador the family named Hep from a breeder in Mississippi. “We bought this pup before it was conceived. The kennel is an Orvis-endorsed kennel, only breeding British Labrador Retrievers as they tend to be more calm than the American lines,” said Kim. “We have three children and we wanted to make sure our lab was as calm as possible.”

The family raised Hep as a working dog and he had many rules. “We then had him professionally trained at Wildrose Kennels in Mississippi, where we bought him. Scott owns a business and didn’t have the time to invest in training like he did with our other dog. When Hep had completed his training and was returned to us, he was a proven hunting retriever. ” Scott learned about the Orvis endorsed kennel by linking on to its website which directed him to the renowned Wildrose Kennels. “The kennel was on the cover of Forbes magazine. They don’t use shock collars, which is unheard of in lab training. The goal is to make your dog please you without using force. You pay a little more but we would do it again. They are really good.”

Hep spent happy days with Scott in the field. Then duck and grouse season ended. But Hep ’s working days didn’t end. “We wanted to continue working with him so I had the notion to get Hep certified as a therapy dog via Therapy Dogs International and bring him along with us when we visited a nearby nursing home, ” Kim said. Hep soon logged over 15 hours at Broadmore Assisted Living visiting with the patients and bringing them happiness. He is probably most well know for his work at Providence Academy ’s library with children in a program called Tail Wagging Reading Pals. “Kids read aloud to a dog rather than their peers to give them reading experience. The children are less frightened to read to an animal, that won ’t make fun or criticize. We go twice a month to the library and work mostly with 1st to 4th grade students. Many people know him as the Library Dog.”

Hep helped spread goodwill at the Cherokee Indian Reservation recently. Scott, Kim, and their three children, Grace Katherine, 10, Caleb, 7, and Joshua, 3 took a short-term mission trip via Mission to the World to work with children and the elderly on the reservation. “He is truly a versatile dog, serving us as well as bringing joy to those in the community, ” she said. Kim’s church sponsors the outreach program to the reservation. “The program is relational. We go in and build relationships with them. You have to earn their trust. Half of the crew did a construction project. They built a deck on one of resident ’s homes and upgraded the plumbing. Since we had young kids, we went to a nursing home on the reservation and did programs, including a talent show, bingo and storytelling. The Native Americans really enjoyed the stories, ” she said. “They were very friendly. Our kids had more fun at Cherokee than at Disney.” Scott helped bring the elderly residents outdoors and did a dog demonstration with whistles, commands and bumpers, the plastic dummies you use to teach retrievers to retrieve. In the afternoon they did a vacation Bible school at a day care center for ages one to 12.

Certified therapy/working dog owners have many rules to follow in order for their dog to excel. And sometimes they have to train their friends as well. This training makes for a successful working dog and a pleasant family pet. “We wanted a dog trained for no jumping and no excessive barking. We have elderly friends and toddlers and we didn ’t want him bumping them or knocking them down.”

All four feet must remain on the ground at all times “It was kind of training our friends too. These are the rules: You are welcome to pet the dog but not to encourage bad behavior. Some may have thought we were too rigid but there was a purpose behind it. ” People who meet Hep are asked to not get in the dog’s face and to speak to him in a calm voice that won’t get him revved up.

How do people react to Hep? “Lots of people who visit us don’t even know we have a dog! He isn’t allowed to roam around at will. He has his own dog bed and he isn’t allowed on the furniture. We’ve owned him for 1 ½ years and I’ve never heard him bark except sometimes in his sleep – sometimes he’ll have a dream and yelp in his sleep.”

The Marmos also have a German Short Hair Pointer named Ann and a shelter cat named Biscuit. “He’s funny. He rules the roost and tells the dog what to do.”