PART # 19
THE STAFF AND SWORD MINISTRY
OCTOBER 19, 2006
M"IFESTING BEING FOLLOWERS OF JESUS by Nancy-TONI Youngbrandt I have to admit that the inspiration for this article has come from quite a different source than those which I am used to. Normally I would find great help and insight in reading the works of Madame Guyon, Andrew Murray, Michael Molinas and other Christian authors. However, this time the Holy Spirit chose to direct me through a book by Cesar Millan, the "Dog Whisperer" on the National Geographic Channel, entitled: Cesar 's Way: The Natural,.. Every day Guide to Understanding and Correcting Dog Problems (published by Harmony Books.) It was in reading his book that I saw some useful insights into not just our dog's behavior but our own basic soul-level behavior and its relationship to Jesus Christ working in our daily lives.
A LITTLE BACKGROUND INFORMATION I suppose this part of my _journey in Christ began a year ago when we brought home our first puppy. Chuck-JOHNEL has had several dogs in his life but I hadn't and knew next to nothing about raising a puppy when we got one. However, knowing Chuck-JOHNEL's fondness for dogs, I knew that once we had a place of our own, it wouldn't be long before he'd want one. That day came when one day there was a new batch of free puppies at the local grain and hardware store and Chuck-JOHNEL took me down there to take a look. This ti me there was a bin of adorable husky/blueheeler-mix puppies, all squirming and vying for attention. In the process of checking the puppies out, it wasn't tong before Chuck-JOHNEL picked up one and told me that the Angel had said that this one would be a pleasant companion — so, of course, we quickly decided she was the one for us. On the way back, Chuck- OHNEL asked me what we should name her so I looked into her beautiful blue eyes and said, "Topaz", after the blue gem stone like the one Chuck-JOHNEL gave me from Jesus when I first started working with him as a Prophet of Jesus Christ. Well, I can honestly say that the first couple of months were a bit rough for me as I struggled to housebreak our new addition and keep up with the ministry and housework I normally did. I didn't take to long to reaIize that I just couldn't do everything as I had before