Posted on 06/29/2013 5:46:05 AM PDT by kanawa
Once asked as to where he plans to spend his life after death (I don't remember the exact question), Will Rogers says he doesn't know where he's going but if he had his druthers he would like to go where the dogs go! Me too.
On one hand, I’d like to read it because I feel strongly about what happened and know it’s an important book to read, but on the other I understand it’s a difficult read because of the graphic nature of the abuse detailed in the book. I haven’t been able to reconcile the two — yet. Maybe one day....
And what people tend to forget is that there was no death in God’s original creation — ergo, animals were always intended to be eternal just like humanity (and they were created before humans). What God intended will be fulfilled, despite man’s worst intentions.
It’s only been in the past 100 years or so that imbecilic arguments have arisen to question God’s love for all of his creation: animals don’t have souls therefore they can’t get to Heaven (Scripture implies otherwise when it uses the same term to refer to humanity and animals). They don’t need salvation and surely no thinking person would exclude beings not requiring salvation? Otherwise God and the angels both would need to be excluded from Heaven! Such arguments belong in File 13.
Absolutely! I believe my family will be waiting for me when I get to Heaven and I hope that my precious animals will be there too.
I am an artist, dog portraits mostly. I have a painting in my mind that I have not done yet. I plan on going back through all the photos of my many, many animals who have died and painting them all on the steps of a big house.
I am sure someone has done this already, it is hard to come up with something completely original but I have not seen a painting like that.
CS Lewis remarked in a few different places that dogs and cats pick up a certain amount of humanity from associating with us, and the best of them pick up a lot from being in a good human family. In Screwtape he has the demons noting angrily that everyone who associates with a certain Christian household acquires the "stink" of holiness after awhile. It's not difficult to suppose that those humans who are faith-filled can somehow spread their reflected holiness to the animals they love. As the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the believing wife, per Paul (1 Cor 7) might not our animals be imbued with our love so that they can enjoy eternity with us?
One of my favorite C.S. Lewis quotations (from _The Great Divorce_ and discovered on a FR thread) where he describes a woman in heaven surrounded by children, angels, birds and beasts:
—
What are all these animals? A cat - two cats - dozens of cats. And all those dogs ... why, I cant count them. And the birds. And the horses.
They are her beasts.
Did she keep a sort of zoo? I mean, this is a bit too much.
Every beast and bird that came near her had its place in her love. In her they became themselves. And now the abundance of life she has in Christ from the Father flows over into them.
Yes, thank you for adding that. I didn’t know the best way to convey that idea in this thread— the aspect of creation before the fall. Perhaps we tend to forget because, being fallen, the concept of a perfect creation is not able to be fully comprehended...
That is a nice idea. Regardless of originality, it is a very special way to pay tribute to the special animals in your life.
What you said my friend.
Lucas found love.
I thought of this Lucas while seeing your post: http://www.pet-abuse.com/cases/13218/TN/US/
I have often wondered how Tennessee Lucas is living after his abuse. Tried but couldn’t find an update.
I look at that poor dog’s scarred face and sad eyes and it is heartbreaking.
Thank the Lord he found love before he passed.
Those are not mean or angry eyes... Vick is a piece of human manure.
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