Overlooked and/or Ignored

Have you ever noticed those “notices” on the back of your hotel room door? No, not the ones that tell you the cost of your room (we all know those prices are not what we paid). I'm talking about the little map that lists all the room numbers on your floor, and just so you know exactly where you are someone kindly put a little red dot on the room you have just booked into. Know what I mean? Have you ever taken the time to read the instructions under the map? Like most people we probably overlook or ignore the map and its instructions. I know it has something to do with fires; this is where you are, this is your nearest fire escape, don't open the door if it's hot and of course use the stairs and not the elevator in case of a fire. They are on the back of every hotel room door and we have grown so accustomed to them that we ignore them. Not a good idea!

Let me share with you what happened to us on our recent summer holiday. We booked into a hotel in Reno, Nevada. This was our last stop before arriving at our daughter Diana and husband Jeremy's home the following day. We were excited, we were tired and we were hungry but first we wanted to admire the view of Reno from our room on the 20th floor. In every city you hear sirens screaming on the streets and Reno was no exception. We looked out from our window to the streets below and wondered where the fire was as fire trucks and police cars rushed by on the streets far below. We could see a faint trace of smoke somewhere in the distance and thought to ourselves “some poor soul is in trouble.” We turned our attention from the window to survey our exceptionally comfortable room. Jill was the first to post the alarm, “look at the smoke.” I went to the window and could not see past the heavy black smoke that filled the air directly outside our room! The phones still worked so I called the front desk. “Hi, this is the Fraser's in room 2018 and I notice all this black smoke outside my window.” The words from the front desk of “don't panic” was cause for concern but the next comment even more so; “we're not certain if it is our hotel or not!” Jill, Natalie and I decided that we wouldn't wait to find out. Remembering not to use the elevators and knowing the direction of the stairwell we made our escape. Going down 20 flights of stairs is not as difficult as climbing 20 flights of stairs but when the smell of smoke is heavy and with each floor you reach more people are filling the stairwell it's not fun either! Finally, we reached street level and when we pushed the fire exit door we were greeted with blackened embers! NO, it wasn't our hotel it was the one directly across the street!

Those notices on the back of hotel room doors are there for a purpose read them the next time you check in and make note of the nearest exit.

I share this account with you not just as a highlight of our trip but I share it with you because I feel that some of us overlook and/or ignore the warning instructions that we find throughout the Bible. There is a Bible in every home but some of us have grown so accustomed to it that we no longer take it seriously. This doesn't apply to me. This will never happen. This is not realistic. This is out of date. God is not like that. Some are inclined to ignore the warning instructions like you ignored the map on the back of the door of the last motel you checked into. Not a good idea! Here are some of the warning instructions found within the pages of Holy Scripture.

• You shall have no other gods before me. Exodus 20:3 (Deuteronomy 5:7, Judges 6:10, Hosea 13:4)
• Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and you turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them; Deuteronomy 11:16 (28:14, Joshua 23:7, Jeremiah 25:6)
• Then it shall be, if you by any means forget the Lord your God, and follow other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I testify against you this day that you shall surely perish. Deuteronomy 8:19
• If we have forgotten the name of our God, or stretched out our hands to a foreign god; Would not God search this out? For he knows the secrets of the heart. Psalms 44:20,21
• And Jesus answered and said unto them, beware that no one leads you astray. Matthew 24:4

My ministry in your midst is to post the warning signs that you might come to enjoy the blessings that God has in store for you. The greeting in Matthew 25:21 is yours provided you have heeded the warnings.

“His Lord said unto him. Well done, you good and faithful servant: you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things: enter into the joy of your lord (Matthew 25:21).”

Don't wait for someone to shout fire to begin looking for the exit.

Your Pastor & Friend
John Fraser

Pets In Heaven

I love dogs, even though they are a lot of work with exercising, brushing, feeding, etc. I still love them. Please don’t get me wrong I also like cats, birds and goldfish as well but dogs have always been my favourite animal. We have had pets of all shapes and sizes but there is something about a dog and how he/she wags their tail when you come home that is very special. No matter what kind of a day you have had no matter how many people have chewed you out your dog is always glad to see you home.

I have adopted dogs from shelters and I have purchased dogs from breeders. My last dog was from a breeder and she was a registered German shepherd. I named her Mona because when I first picked her up she moaned and so Mona seemed appropriate. She was only with us for a week when I had to take her for an emergency visit to our vet. She stayed overnight for tests and the next day the vet phoned with the news; “John, I’m afraid to tell you that your dog has,” and he gave me a name that I hadn’t heard before. Translated into English, Mona had Mega Esophagus. The muscles in her esophagus were not working properly and so her food instead of being forced into the stomach would pocket in the esophagus and later she would deposit it on the kitchen floor! I spent almost the next two years every morning on my hands and knees cleaning the kitchen floor. I tried her on liquids for a time but it wasn’t until I had a special chair constructed for her that the up-chucks became less frequent and she began putting on weight. I would feed Mona and then immediately place her in her special chair in a sitting position for half an hour. My Vet was amazed that she was doing so well.

Last July when I knew that we were moving to Bermuda I applied for a special import permit so that I could take her with us. I booked her flight with Air Canada. I was flying economy and Mona was flying cargo just below me! The Monday of the week we were due to leave Mona was not well and I took her to our vet. I left her for tests and observations hoping that I could pick her up the next day and both of us would be ready for our flight on Thursday. I called the next morning only to be told; “I’m sorry but Mona died during the night.” She died at the age of three of a perforated esophagus. The vet told me that she had three good years of life. We arrived in Bermuda minus our Mona!

I share this story with you and follow it with a question; “Do you suppose our pets go to heaven?” My wife and I have talked about this before and I have always maintained my belief that our pets will go to heaven. Why not? The Bible talks a lot about animals and declares that in the “new life” that the lion shall indeed lie down with the lamb. The Bible also talks about horses in heaven. There is no place in the Bible where it states that animals do not go to a better place. I hope that besides being greeted in heaven by my loved ones who have gone on before me that in the crowds I will see a beautiful German Shepherd with her tale waging and who comes when I say; “Mona.” I also hope to get another dog!