Dogs.
00:00:01.40\00:00:02.73
There are over 500
million of them on the planet.
00:00:02.76\00:00:06.23
There are over 300 breeds.
00:00:06.27\00:00:08.90
Our families had plenty of dogs.
00:00:08.94\00:00:12.77
Pekingese, Bull Terriers,
00:00:12.81\00:00:16.88
Rottweilers, German Shepherds,
00:00:16.91\00:00:20.88
Dobermans, our
King Charles Spaniel,
00:00:20.92\00:00:24.99
and West Highland Terriers.
00:00:25.02\00:00:28.32
But my favorite is the old Lab,
00:00:28.36\00:00:31.76
in particular, the
chocolate Labrador.
00:00:31.79\00:00:35.16
They love fun, they love people,
00:00:35.20\00:00:38.73
and dare I mention it, food.
00:00:38.77\00:00:41.50
This is Cyrus, or
should I say Cyrus James.
00:00:41.54\00:00:46.51
He mean so much to
my wife Coralie and I,
00:00:46.54\00:00:49.21
we gave him a middle name.
00:00:49.24\00:00:51.91
He came to us when
he was 12 months old
00:00:51.95\00:00:53.85
as a failed guide dog.
00:00:53.88\00:00:56.12
Why did he fail?
00:00:56.15\00:00:57.92
Too much initiative.
00:00:57.95\00:01:00.72
Now that he's 12,
he slowed down a bit,
00:01:00.76\00:01:03.86
in fact a fair bit.
00:01:03.89\00:01:05.26
But he still loves to come
out into the bush for a walk.
00:01:05.29\00:01:09.73
Dogs spelt backwards is God.
00:01:09.76\00:01:13.03
Now the last thing we would
do is make a dog into a God.
00:01:13.07\00:01:18.44
They are the
created, not the creator.
00:01:18.47\00:01:21.68
But there are
many practical things
00:01:21.71\00:01:23.38
my dog Cyrus has taught me
00:01:23.41\00:01:25.38
both about God and
how we should live.
00:01:25.41\00:01:30.22
I once saw a sticker that said,
00:01:30.25\00:01:32.19
"Try to be the person
your dog thinks you are."
00:01:32.22\00:01:35.22
They always seem to see
the positive side of us,
00:01:35.26\00:01:39.29
and they just
love us no matter what.
00:01:39.33\00:01:42.70
It's no wonder they're
considered our best friends.
00:01:42.73\00:01:47.14
So what are some
spiritual insights
00:01:47.17\00:01:49.37
our best friends can
teach us about everyday life?
00:01:49.40\00:01:52.51
Attaboy.
00:01:54.54\00:01:55.94
Attaboy.
00:01:55.98\00:01:57.85
If there is one thing
my dog Cyrus has taught me,
00:02:17.33\00:02:20.94
it's to love life.
00:02:20.97\00:02:25.01
All I need to do is
push the window down
00:02:25.04\00:02:28.11
and he sticks his head
right out to suck it all in.
00:02:28.14\00:02:32.31
Cyrus enjoys
the world around him
00:02:32.35\00:02:34.88
through his sense of smell.
00:02:34.92\00:02:37.19
With up to 300
million scent claims,
00:02:37.22\00:02:40.16
you can just sense in
feeling, wow, this is good.
00:02:40.19\00:02:44.59
I could do this all day.
00:02:44.63\00:02:48.23
If we go down to the water,
00:02:48.26\00:02:50.23
he jumps in, he
just can't help himself.
00:02:50.27\00:02:54.04
Once he's in there, he swims,
or should I say dog paddles.
00:02:54.07\00:02:58.94
With his head up in the air
00:02:58.97\00:03:00.38
as if to say,
look at me everyone,
00:03:00.41\00:03:03.51
this is so much fun.
00:03:03.55\00:03:06.21
C'mon, boy.
00:03:06.25\00:03:09.88
Another time we took
him down to the beach.
00:03:09.92\00:03:12.55
He went rushing into the water
00:03:12.59\00:03:14.72
and he was totally
dumped by a huge wave.
00:03:14.76\00:03:18.39
As he came rushing back,
00:03:18.43\00:03:19.79
his eyes were virtually
popping out of his head.
00:03:19.83\00:03:23.33
He had so much excitement.
00:03:23.37\00:03:25.50
Maybe there was a bit
of fear in there as well.
00:03:25.53\00:03:28.50
Whatever he's feeling,
this was another adventure.
00:03:28.54\00:03:33.31
If I throw a
ball, he'll chase it.
00:03:33.34\00:03:36.81
Sometimes he runs
around like a mad idiot.
00:03:36.85\00:03:40.92
And other times, we just hang
around at the house together,
00:03:40.95\00:03:44.79
enjoying the
simple things of life.
00:03:44.82\00:03:47.96
But that's how I look at Cyrus.
00:03:47.99\00:03:50.09
He gives me the impression
every meal is the best one,
00:03:50.13\00:03:54.50
every walk is the best
one, every day is his birthday.
00:03:54.53\00:03:59.23
He just seems to love life.
00:03:59.27\00:04:03.57
There's much we
can learn from Cyrus.
00:04:03.61\00:04:07.64
God doesn't want
us to walk around
00:04:07.68\00:04:09.84
with sad, drawn out faces
00:04:09.88\00:04:12.45
thinking about
what's going wrong in life.
00:04:12.48\00:04:16.12
Think of all the good
things that are happening.
00:04:16.15\00:04:18.89
Enjoy life.
00:04:18.92\00:04:20.79
Take some risks.
00:04:20.82\00:04:22.62
Fly a parachute.
00:04:22.66\00:04:24.46
Go deep sea diving.
00:04:24.49\00:04:26.66
Go down to the beach.
00:04:26.70\00:04:29.23
Hike for 100 kilometers
through the mountains.
00:04:29.26\00:04:32.63
Stop and smell the roses.
00:04:32.67\00:04:35.94
Cyrus showed us.
00:04:35.97\00:04:39.64
Jesus said, "I have
come that you may have life
00:04:39.67\00:04:44.98
and have it to the full."
00:04:45.01\00:04:48.18
Cyrus lives life to the full.
00:04:48.22\00:04:51.15
What about you?
00:04:51.19\00:04:52.52
Can you imagine a world
00:05:06.74\00:05:08.30
where humans love each
other like our pets love us?
00:05:08.34\00:05:12.31
My dog Cyrus had no
idea who is at this door.
00:05:12.34\00:05:15.88
But I can absolutely
guarantee you something.
00:05:15.91\00:05:18.68
When I ring this bell,
00:05:18.71\00:05:20.05
he'll start to
bark in excitement.
00:05:20.08\00:05:23.02
Not because
he's a great watchdog
00:05:23.05\00:05:25.45
but at the joyful possibility
of meeting someone new.
00:05:25.49\00:05:29.49
He'll then come rushing
to the door with his tail
00:05:29.52\00:05:31.89
just about
wagging off his hind legs.
00:05:31.93\00:05:35.16
When he sees it's me,
00:05:35.20\00:05:36.53
he'll wiggle around and
try to lick me all over.
00:05:36.56\00:05:41.37
Now I know that's a
charming thought for many of you
00:05:41.40\00:05:43.87
but let's try it out.
00:05:43.91\00:05:46.41
One of the things
I love about Cyrus
00:05:46.44\00:05:49.01
is his unconditional
love and acceptance.
00:05:49.04\00:05:52.28
He doesn't care
what I look like,
00:05:52.31\00:05:54.15
what color I am,
00:05:54.18\00:05:55.68
whether I'm skinny or fat,
young or old, tall or short,
00:05:55.72\00:05:59.52
whether I'm rich or poor.
00:05:59.55\00:06:01.59
He doesn't even care
00:06:01.62\00:06:02.96
if I forget to
feed him or walk him.
00:06:02.99\00:06:05.46
Even if I
accidentally tread on his tail,
00:06:05.49\00:06:08.36
he gives out a whoop
00:06:08.40\00:06:09.76
and then turns
around to lick me.
00:06:09.80\00:06:12.20
He just loves me
and loves to be with me.
00:06:12.23\00:06:16.24
He never expects
things, never complains,
00:06:16.27\00:06:20.21
never greets me here
at the door with a scowl,
00:06:20.24\00:06:23.45
no ulterior motives.
00:06:23.48\00:06:25.18
Just a wag of the
tail as if to say,
00:06:25.21\00:06:27.38
it's so great to see you,
00:06:27.42\00:06:28.75
let's go and have
some fun together.
00:06:28.78\00:06:30.19
I find it interesting
00:06:36.52\00:06:37.86
that quite a few people
like to come to our home,
00:06:37.89\00:06:40.63
I know why.
00:06:40.66\00:06:42.33
It's not just to
visit my Coralie and I,
00:06:42.36\00:06:45.37
it's always Cyrus
they seek out first.
00:06:45.40\00:06:48.20
I look at him and have
this big grin on their face
00:07:07.26\00:07:10.06
trying to hide the fact
00:07:10.09\00:07:11.43
that we play
second fiddle to our dog.
00:07:11.46\00:07:14.23
But that's exactly
what unconditional love
00:07:14.26\00:07:16.80
does to the one being loved.
00:07:16.83\00:07:19.10
You can't help
but want to love back.
00:07:19.13\00:07:22.00
You feel a sense of purpose.
00:07:22.04\00:07:24.01
You love being
around the person,
00:07:24.04\00:07:26.01
and you look
forward to the next time
00:07:26.04\00:07:27.68
you get together.
00:07:27.71\00:07:29.04
The Bible says,
"Let us love one another,
00:07:35.88\00:07:38.22
for love is of God."
00:07:38.25\00:07:40.79
God loves us no matter
who we are or what we've done.
00:07:40.82\00:07:44.13
And He wants us to have
the same attitude of love
00:07:44.16\00:07:46.39
towards others.
00:07:46.43\00:07:48.46
Cyrus, he loves everyone.
00:07:48.50\00:07:50.87
How about you?
00:07:50.90\00:07:52.23
It seems many of
us are born warriors.
00:08:03.08\00:08:06.41
What if the
stock market crashes?
00:08:06.45\00:08:09.05
What if interest rates go up?
00:08:09.08\00:08:11.02
What if I lose my job?
00:08:11.05\00:08:12.45
And the list goes on.
00:08:12.49\00:08:14.22
Sometimes when planning
my day, I'll say to my wife,
00:08:14.26\00:08:18.13
I won't worry about that today.
00:08:18.16\00:08:20.26
I'll worry about that tomorrow.
00:08:20.30\00:08:22.53
She quickly stops me and says,
00:08:22.56\00:08:24.27
"Neale, would you
like to rephrase that?"
00:08:24.30\00:08:27.57
"Yeah, good point," I say.
00:08:27.60\00:08:30.31
I'll think about that tomorrow,
00:08:30.34\00:08:32.87
not worry about it.
00:08:32.91\00:08:34.91
You see worry causes stress.
00:08:34.94\00:08:38.25
It just eats you
up on the inside.
00:08:38.28\00:08:40.82
It can even make you
feel physically sick.
00:08:40.85\00:08:44.19
But what's the
point of worrying anyway?
00:08:44.22\00:08:47.99
Look at him.
00:08:48.02\00:08:49.42
Cyrus never seems to worry.
00:08:49.46\00:08:52.06
He doesn't get all
stressed out about his future.
00:08:52.09\00:08:55.30
He lives in the moment.
00:08:55.33\00:08:56.87
And if you think about it,
00:08:56.90\00:08:58.63
he's got no
ability to feed himself.
00:08:58.67\00:09:01.47
You'd hardly call
himself sufficient.
00:09:01.50\00:09:04.17
He relies on us for everything.
00:09:04.21\00:09:06.74
We feed him, we give
him a place to sleep.
00:09:06.78\00:09:10.38
If he's unwell, we
take him to the vet.
00:09:10.41\00:09:13.18
We walk him every day.
00:09:13.21\00:09:16.08
No matter what he needs, we
make sure he's looked after.
00:09:16.12\00:09:20.86
Cyrus trusts us
to fulfill his needs
00:09:20.89\00:09:23.93
and that enables
him to just enjoy life.
00:09:23.96\00:09:27.40
I guess you could
say he lives in the now.
00:09:27.43\00:09:31.03
He does one thing at a time
00:09:31.07\00:09:33.03
loving what he
does on each occasion.
00:09:33.07\00:09:35.60
Okay.
00:09:41.04\00:09:44.28
Jesus said,
"Therefore I tell you,
00:09:44.31\00:09:47.85
do not worry about your life."
00:09:47.88\00:09:51.82
The reason we
don't need to worry
00:09:51.85\00:09:53.82
is because just as
we look after Cyrus,
00:09:53.86\00:09:57.43
Jesus looks after
us and He's the point.
00:09:57.46\00:10:01.20
Cyrus is happy
00:10:01.23\00:10:02.86
because his
simple needs are met.
00:10:02.90\00:10:05.63
He doesn't get
depressed worrying about
00:10:05.67\00:10:07.87
what other dogs think of him.
00:10:07.90\00:10:10.21
He doesn't look in the mirror
00:10:10.24\00:10:11.64
and think his color is not
as up mark as the neighbors,
00:10:11.67\00:10:15.24
or get stressed
because his hair is going gray.
00:10:15.28\00:10:19.08
He doesn't fret
because of how much money
00:10:19.11\00:10:21.02
is in his bank account,
00:10:21.05\00:10:22.38
he's got none.
00:10:22.42\00:10:24.49
He doesn't even
feel life is unfair
00:10:24.52\00:10:27.06
because dogs live
shorter lives than humans.
00:10:27.09\00:10:30.49
He's just content,
00:10:30.53\00:10:32.69
and that allows
him to sit and relax,
00:10:32.73\00:10:35.53
play, or lays around in the sun.
00:10:35.56\00:10:39.97
If Cyrus could sing, I think
his favorite song would be,
00:10:40.00\00:10:44.34
"Don't worry, be happy."
00:10:44.37\00:10:48.41
That's his attitude on life.
00:10:48.44\00:10:50.81
What about you?
00:10:50.85\00:10:52.18
Have you ever
failed at something?
00:11:00.59\00:11:04.33
Now I may really fail.
00:11:04.36\00:11:07.43
Maybe it was your school exams.
00:11:07.46\00:11:10.63
You're still
haunted by that number.
00:11:10.67\00:11:13.74
You see that number on anything
from past numbers street
00:11:13.77\00:11:17.44
or the number plates on cars.
00:11:17.47\00:11:21.04
Maybe you've had
a failed marriage,
00:11:21.08\00:11:23.35
two or three of them.
00:11:23.38\00:11:26.41
Maybe you failed in your
job and you've been fired.
00:11:26.45\00:11:31.95
I guess all of us have
had a big F for failure
00:11:31.99\00:11:35.92
at some point in
time in our life.
00:11:35.96\00:11:37.73
Today, we're going to the scene
of Cyrus's greatest failure.
00:11:43.06\00:11:47.97
Hey, you
remember this place boy?
00:11:48.00\00:11:50.01
This is your home.
00:11:50.04\00:11:51.37
Here we are. We're
going back to your home.
00:11:51.41\00:11:53.88
This is the guard
dogs training center
00:11:53.91\00:11:55.81
on the outskirts of Sydney.
00:11:55.84\00:11:57.65
Cyrus was born to be a
guide dog for the blind.
00:11:57.68\00:12:01.55
He was raised here.
00:12:01.58\00:12:05.49
He was trained here.
00:12:05.52\00:12:06.86
This was his base.
00:12:09.59\00:12:10.93
But he failed.
00:12:13.90\00:12:15.66
So why did Cyrus
failed as the guide dog?
00:12:29.71\00:12:33.11
The official report say
he had too much initiative.
00:12:33.15\00:12:37.19
In other words, you can imagine
him leading the blind person
00:12:37.22\00:12:41.26
all the way to the
moldy piece of bread
00:12:41.29\00:12:43.96
he'd sniffed out in the heart
of the prickly blackberry bush.
00:12:43.99\00:12:48.86
Or the end of a carrot
00:12:48.90\00:12:50.30
someone had thrown
out of the car window
00:12:50.33\00:12:52.53
that got him crossing
the road on a green light,
00:12:52.57\00:12:56.07
and the poor old blind
person taken for the ride.
00:12:56.10\00:12:59.04
In fact, Cyrus
was such a failure,
00:13:19.09\00:13:21.53
he got a name change.
00:13:21.56\00:13:23.67
He was originally called
Willis but when we adopted him,
00:13:23.70\00:13:27.84
we changed his name to Cyrus
00:13:27.87\00:13:30.01
after the great
Persian king, King Cyrus.
00:13:30.04\00:13:33.51
Now how would you
feel if you came back
00:13:33.54\00:13:36.11
to the scene of
your greatest failure?
00:13:36.14\00:13:38.35
Would you feel nervous?
00:13:43.89\00:13:46.79
Daunted?
00:13:46.82\00:13:49.26
Embarrassed?
00:13:49.29\00:13:50.69
Maybe a bit ashamed?
00:13:50.73\00:13:53.50
Let's see how Cyrus goes.
00:13:53.53\00:13:55.13
Although Cyrus didn't
cut out as a guide dog,
00:13:59.80\00:14:02.97
he certainly has no
grudges against this place.
00:14:03.00\00:14:06.27
It's like he
remembers only the good things,
00:14:06.31\00:14:10.05
the good smells,
the great people,
00:14:10.08\00:14:13.08
all that yummy food.
00:14:13.11\00:14:14.48
He doesn't see
himself as a failure in life.
00:14:27.00\00:14:30.53
He's not a failed guide dog.
00:14:30.57\00:14:33.10
He's just a dog who is shifted
from this family to our family.
00:14:33.13\00:14:38.31
Coming back here,
00:14:38.34\00:14:39.67
well, it's just like
coming back to his old home.
00:14:39.71\00:14:43.78
Boy, good boy.
00:14:43.81\00:14:46.95
Come, boy.
00:14:46.98\00:14:48.32
One of the most important
lessons Cyrus has taught me
00:14:52.29\00:14:55.66
is to focus on the
future, not dwell on the past.
00:14:55.69\00:15:00.50
The Apostle Paul who
also had a name change
00:15:00.53\00:15:03.47
after a lifetime
of spiritual failure,
00:15:03.50\00:15:06.00
he said this.
00:15:06.03\00:15:07.97
"But one thing I do,
00:15:08.00\00:15:10.61
forgetting those
things which are behind
00:15:10.64\00:15:13.91
and reaching forward to
those things which are ahead."
00:15:13.94\00:15:18.61
The next time you feel
like you failed at something,
00:15:18.65\00:15:21.75
then you just can't
get it out of your mind.
00:15:21.78\00:15:24.32
Think back to Cyrus.
00:15:24.35\00:15:26.79
See the good
things from the past.
00:15:26.82\00:15:28.99
Live in the moment,
00:15:33.90\00:15:35.60
and enjoy what's
coming to you in the future.
00:15:35.63\00:15:39.83
That's how Cyrus see at things.
00:15:39.87\00:15:42.64
What about you?
00:15:42.67\00:15:45.14
C'mon, boy,
that's how you think.
00:15:45.17\00:15:47.44
That's how you think?
00:15:47.48\00:15:48.81
Oh, yes, I see you boy, good.
00:15:48.84\00:15:50.85
Now, he is good.
00:15:50.88\00:15:52.21
This is the grave of my mother.
00:16:21.51\00:16:24.51
We can see by this
plaque, she loved dogs.
00:16:24.55\00:16:28.05
She had 14 of them.
00:16:28.08\00:16:29.62
Her favorite was Macintosh,
a West Highland terrier.
00:16:29.65\00:16:34.09
On the day Mom was told
she had terminal cancer,
00:16:34.12\00:16:37.43
she came home and she
took Macintosh in her arms.
00:16:37.46\00:16:41.83
She hugged him with
all the love she could give
00:16:41.86\00:16:44.90
and that's saying something.
00:16:44.93\00:16:47.50
But tragically, the heart
of Macintosh simply gave way
00:16:47.54\00:16:52.54
and he died in her arms.
00:16:52.57\00:16:55.68
Our dogs have a
connection with us,
00:16:55.71\00:16:57.65
that's hard to explain.
00:16:57.68\00:16:59.61
They're so loving
00:16:59.65\00:17:00.98
and it seems like they
understand our emotions
00:17:01.02\00:17:03.82
and hurt when we hurt.
00:17:03.85\00:17:06.49
I sometimes look into
the eyes of Cyrus here,
00:17:06.52\00:17:09.59
and it's like
looking into the eyes
00:17:09.62\00:17:11.36
of my most loyal friend.
00:17:11.39\00:17:13.90
Someone who gets
00:17:13.93\00:17:16.06
and I love to hear
the stories of the love,
00:17:16.10\00:17:19.50
faithfulness,
and loyalty of dogs.
00:17:19.53\00:17:22.90
I read a story from Argentina
00:17:40.79\00:17:42.92
of a German
shepherd named Capitan.
00:17:42.96\00:17:46.19
His owner, like my mother,
00:17:46.23\00:17:48.76
had tragically died
leaving the whole family
00:17:48.80\00:17:52.13
including the dog in morning.
00:17:52.17\00:17:55.50
When his master
died, Capitan vanished.
00:17:55.54\00:17:59.31
The widow and son
Damian looked for him,
00:17:59.34\00:18:01.84
but they figured he must have
been run over and died as well.
00:18:01.88\00:18:06.48
A week after the funeral,
00:18:06.51\00:18:08.52
the family
visited the grave site
00:18:08.55\00:18:10.55
to remember the one they loved.
00:18:10.59\00:18:13.05
Guess who beat
them to the cemetery.
00:18:13.09\00:18:16.19
The heartbroken Capitan.
00:18:16.22\00:18:19.09
The news reports
quoted the widow as saying,
00:18:19.13\00:18:21.86
"The following Sunday
we went to the symmetry
00:18:21.90\00:18:24.90
and Damian recognized his pet.
00:18:24.93\00:18:27.94
Capitan came up to
us barking and wailing
00:18:27.97\00:18:31.61
as if he were crying.
00:18:31.64\00:18:34.11
We've never taken
him to the cemetery."
00:18:34.14\00:18:36.34
So it's a mystery how he
managed to find the place.
00:18:36.38\00:18:40.15
Cemetery director Hector Baccega
00:18:40.18\00:18:42.25
remembers the day
he first saw the dog.
00:18:42.28\00:18:45.32
He said, "He
turned up here one day
00:18:45.35\00:18:48.52
and all in his own
00:18:48.56\00:18:50.13
he started wondering
all around the cemetery
00:18:50.16\00:18:53.60
until he eventually
found the tomb of his master."
00:18:53.63\00:18:58.73
During the day he sometimes
has a walk around the cemetery,
00:18:58.77\00:19:02.40
but he always
rushes back to the grave
00:19:02.44\00:19:05.77
and every day
at 6 o'clock sharp,
00:19:05.81\00:19:08.94
he lies down on top of the grave
00:19:08.98\00:19:11.51
and stays there all night
00:19:11.55\00:19:13.78
and he's done this
for the past six years.
00:19:13.82\00:19:17.72
You see Capitan had
such love within him,
00:19:17.75\00:19:21.52
he searched and searched
00:19:21.56\00:19:23.53
until he found the one he loved.
00:19:23.56\00:19:25.46
The Bible says this of Jesus,
00:19:30.63\00:19:33.34
"For the Son of Man came
to seek and to save the lost."
00:19:33.37\00:19:39.91
When I thought about that,
00:19:39.94\00:19:41.98
and I thought about the loyalty
00:19:42.01\00:19:45.25
and commitment of
Capitan to the one he loved,
00:19:45.28\00:19:47.35
it made me think
of my own commitment
00:19:47.38\00:19:50.25
to those I love.
00:19:50.29\00:19:52.39
I especially
thought about my mother.
00:19:52.42\00:19:55.32
You see over the years
00:19:55.36\00:19:56.99
Mom's spiritual
life began to drift.
00:19:57.03\00:20:00.60
Before she died,
I talked with her
00:20:00.63\00:20:02.73
about the importance
of being right with God.
00:20:02.76\00:20:06.20
She said to me, "Neale,
I can stop you right there.
00:20:06.23\00:20:10.31
I know where you're heading
and you'll be pleased to know
00:20:10.34\00:20:13.27
I've made the
decision to trust God
00:20:13.31\00:20:15.91
and believe fully in Him."
00:20:15.94\00:20:18.51
Well, when I stood up
here to help conduct a funeral
00:20:18.55\00:20:21.75
right here in this spot,
00:20:21.78\00:20:24.22
the comfort of those words
really meant something to me.
00:20:24.25\00:20:29.09
After all, when
Jesus comes again,
00:20:29.12\00:20:32.59
He won't just lie down on
the graves like Capitan did.
00:20:32.63\00:20:36.70
He'll break them open
00:20:36.73\00:20:38.30
and He'll raise
us from the dead.
00:20:38.33\00:20:42.17
Jesus is totally committed
to finding and saving the lost.
00:20:42.20\00:20:48.98
What about you?
00:20:49.01\00:20:50.35
If there's one
thing my dog Cyrus loves,
00:21:10.33\00:21:13.37
it's great big bones.
00:21:13.40\00:21:17.77
Especially ones like this.
00:21:17.81\00:21:19.51
Now you may think that
what I'm about to do is cruel.
00:21:26.45\00:21:30.52
But like us humans, dogs need
a bit of discipline training.
00:21:30.55\00:21:34.89
So what am I intend to do today
00:21:34.92\00:21:37.16
is to teach him how
to overcome temptation.
00:21:37.19\00:21:41.26
I notice many of us fall
into the trap of thinking,
00:21:41.30\00:21:44.23
I must overcome my sins.
00:21:44.27\00:21:47.14
And all we think about
is our addictions and sins
00:21:47.17\00:21:49.87
when they
distort instead of Jesus.
00:21:49.90\00:21:52.94
When the reality is only
Jesus can give us the power
00:21:52.97\00:21:56.41
to change our life.
00:21:56.44\00:21:57.78
I'm doing this
because I think all of us
00:22:03.85\00:22:05.75
can learn something from Cyrus,
00:22:05.79\00:22:07.42
you watch this.
00:22:07.46\00:22:08.79
No.
00:22:11.79\00:22:13.13
If there is one thing
Cyrus understands is this.
00:22:17.83\00:22:22.04
The best way to
overcome temptation
00:22:22.07\00:22:24.87
is to take your
eyes off the temptation
00:22:24.91\00:22:27.71
and look into the
face of your master.
00:22:27.74\00:22:29.78
The Bible says, "Let
us lay aside every weight,
00:22:37.55\00:22:42.46
and the sin which
so easily ensnares us."
00:22:42.49\00:22:46.43
Looking unto Jesus, the author
and finisher of our faith.
00:22:46.46\00:22:52.83
Now of course, this
is just an illustration.
00:22:52.87\00:22:57.21
So I think I
should give it to him.
00:22:57.24\00:22:59.54
What do you think?
00:22:59.57\00:23:00.91
Okay, Cyrus, there you go.
00:23:04.21\00:23:05.55
And this is just a bit of fun
00:23:10.62\00:23:12.55
but in real life sin is serious,
00:23:12.59\00:23:15.16
the devil will give
us poisonous spines.
00:23:15.19\00:23:18.06
His temptations lead to death.
00:23:18.09\00:23:21.16
We need to take the
time to be with Jesus
00:23:21.20\00:23:24.40
and ask Him to give us the power
00:23:24.43\00:23:26.57
to overcome those
deep-seated sins and addictions.
00:23:26.60\00:23:30.71
And the beauty of
the gospel is this.
00:23:30.74\00:23:33.31
Though we can sin,
00:23:33.34\00:23:34.98
when armed with
the power of God,
00:23:35.01\00:23:37.28
can I overcome any temptation?
00:23:37.31\00:23:40.08
Anything?
00:23:40.12\00:23:42.88
Cyrus has learned how
to overcome temptation.
00:23:42.92\00:23:46.25
What about you?
00:23:46.29\00:23:47.62
Dogs are amazingly loyal.
00:24:00.97\00:24:03.97
It's no wonder they're
called man's best friend.
00:24:04.01\00:24:07.11
In fact I can't
think of one occasion
00:24:07.14\00:24:09.88
when Cyrus has let me down
00:24:09.91\00:24:11.71
or being disloyal in any way.
00:24:11.75\00:24:14.38
He doesn't run away.
00:24:14.42\00:24:16.32
He doesn't look
at me as if to say,
00:24:16.35\00:24:18.32
well, I'm not sure
if I can trust you.
00:24:18.35\00:24:20.86
He never growls at me or
leaves me for another owner.
00:24:20.89\00:24:25.03
He likes to just hang around.
00:24:25.06\00:24:27.20
He especially loves it
when I'm out in his territory,
00:24:27.23\00:24:30.00
the great outdoors.
00:24:30.03\00:24:31.37
Sometime back I read
the story about a dog
00:24:36.67\00:24:39.84
which went way past
what anyone would expect
00:24:39.87\00:24:42.94
in terms of love and loyalty.
00:24:42.98\00:24:46.01
The Russian news reported
00:24:46.05\00:24:47.42
a 48 year old man
feeling so depressed,
00:24:47.45\00:24:50.35
he attempted suicide.
00:24:50.39\00:24:52.22
He got drunk in one of
the towns of Kazakhstan
00:24:52.25\00:24:55.36
and then he fell
asleep on the railway tracks.
00:24:55.39\00:25:00.03
Luckily for the man,
his pet dog followed him
00:25:00.06\00:25:03.30
to the scene of
potential tragedy.
00:25:03.33\00:25:05.80
He always stuck by his side
00:25:05.83\00:25:08.64
so while would
tonight be any different.
00:25:08.67\00:25:11.71
As the train approached
the man on the tracks,
00:25:11.74\00:25:14.44
his pet dog
could see the danger.
00:25:14.48\00:25:17.41
So what did he do?
00:25:17.45\00:25:18.98
He rushed to his master's side
00:25:19.01\00:25:21.62
just as the trains land
on the emergency brakes.
00:25:21.65\00:25:25.79
The good news is
that this loyal loving dog
00:25:25.82\00:25:28.99
took hold of his
master with his teeth
00:25:29.02\00:25:31.66
and then he
dragged him to safety.
00:25:31.69\00:25:34.30
The man had a few
bruises and broken bones,
00:25:34.33\00:25:37.37
but he woke up in
hospital safe and sound.
00:25:37.40\00:25:43.14
It was a different story
however for his loyal friend.
00:25:43.17\00:25:46.07
He was struck by
the train and killed.
00:25:49.14\00:25:52.88
Jesus said, "Greater
love has no one than this,
00:25:52.91\00:25:57.49
than to lay down
one's life for his friends."
00:25:57.52\00:26:02.02
How much do you love
those closest to you?
00:26:02.06\00:26:05.63
A faithful dog from
Kazakhstan was so loyal,
00:26:05.66\00:26:08.63
he was willing to
die for his friend.
00:26:08.66\00:26:11.93
Now, I don't know
what Cyrus would do
00:26:11.97\00:26:13.77
if I really needed help.
00:26:13.80\00:26:15.80
I'd like to think he'd be able
to come and rescue me as well.
00:26:15.84\00:26:19.94
But the key spiritual
lesson I take from this story
00:26:19.97\00:26:23.61
is what Jesus has done for me.
00:26:23.65\00:26:26.31
The dog from Kazakhstan may
have just acted from instinct
00:26:26.35\00:26:30.25
but Jesus chose to die
from a deep-seated love.
00:26:30.29\00:26:34.19
He literally laid down
His life for His friends.
00:26:34.22\00:26:38.39
God's love has no limits.
00:26:38.43\00:26:41.33
What about yours?
00:26:41.36\00:26:42.76
As you can see
00:26:56.71\00:26:58.05
there are many things
we can learn from our pets.
00:26:58.08\00:27:01.28
Sure, they're lots of fun
00:27:01.32\00:27:03.32
but they are
also great teachers.
00:27:03.35\00:27:05.55
They help us see
what's important in life,
00:27:05.59\00:27:08.56
the simple things,
the practical things,
00:27:08.59\00:27:11.83
how to love, how to enjoy life,
00:27:11.86\00:27:15.23
how to live in the moment,
00:27:15.26\00:27:17.40
the importance of
friendship and loyalty,
00:27:17.43\00:27:20.37
even how to overcome temptation.
00:27:20.40\00:27:23.41
Come on, Cyrus.
00:27:23.44\00:27:26.04
Come on, Cyrus.
00:27:26.07\00:27:27.41
I keep coming
back to the thought,
00:27:32.35\00:27:34.65
try to be the person
your dog thinks you are.
00:27:34.68\00:27:38.82
But thinking even more about it,
00:27:38.85\00:27:41.29
we should be the
person God thinks we are.
00:27:41.32\00:27:44.76
Unlike dogs, you and I
are made in God's image
00:27:44.79\00:27:48.93
and we're made to
be God's best friends.
00:27:48.96\00:27:51.93
Take a walk with God,
00:27:51.97\00:27:53.74
talk with Him,
spend fun times together.
00:27:53.77\00:27:57.17
And never forget,
He's your loving friend,
00:27:57.21\00:28:00.24
and you can trust Him
with the rest of your life.
00:28:00.28\00:28:04.01
Come on. Come on,
Cyrus, this way, here.
00:28:04.05\00:28:07.08
Attaboy.
00:28:07.12\00:28:08.92
Attaboy.
00:28:08.95\00:28:10.29
Attaboy.
00:28:25.03\00:28:26.37