ARE YOU IN THE DOG HOUSE?
by Erwin Bourne

Often when we use this figurative phrase, we are
referring to the plight of a fellow who has displeased
his wife and has to sleep out in the dog house.  Now
he’s searching for a solution to his dilemma.  There’s
no need for feeling sorry for himself whether it was
his fault or not.  One of the pastors of AMA mission
really goofed.  We had tried to forewarn him, but he
thought he knew what was best.  We had him and his
family set up in a really lovely home.  Now he is in
the doghouse.  He has had to move into a very cheap
rental without electricity or running water.

Old Testament Job had known better days.  He was
recounting all this to his “three comforters.”  “Then
I said, I shall die in my nest” (Job 29:18 KJV).  And
don’t we all today enjoy our “comfort zones?”
However, Job’s nest got stirred up, and he said, “How
I long for the months gone by…Oh for the days when I
was in my prime” (Job 29:2 – 4 NIV).  Now notice Job’s
secret fears:  “What I feared has come upon me” (Job
3:25 NIV).  “But now they mock me, men younger than I,
whose fathers I would have disdained to put with my
sheep dogs” (Job 30:1 NIV).

So now we find Job in the doghouse!  He’s a scratchin’
fleas as he sits along side of Fido a studyin’ his new
dilemma.  “What did I do to get put out here?”  Just
over two and a half years ago, Jean and I moved our
mission base into the Casa Grande in Leticia,
Colombia.  The mission potentials were unlimited.  We
gave it all we had.  New areas were opened up.  The
demands were overwhelming.  Then I said like Job:
“When I think my bed will comfort me and my couch will
ease my complaint, even then you frighten me with
dreams and terrify me with visions” (Job 7:13-14 NIV).

Of late, my bed lies vacant by the hour.  By midnight
or 1 A.M. I’ve abandoned my bedroom to spend the
remaining hours of the night with Sasha on the
river-front veranda.  So let it rain!  Let the chilly
night breezes drive the Fila watchdog far back into
the corner.  I must wrestle in prayer over every new
development.  By four A.M. Jean will be brewing a
fresh pot of coffee.  Sasha doesn’t grasp the intent
of the hour; nevertheless, she shares the night vigil
with me.  Good old dog!

Give me a moment to study:  “What is intercession?”
It is to identify with the plight of the people.
Today I talked long distance to Bogota, Colombia, to a
lovely teen-ager in great distress in that city.  Also
I just talked long distance to Iquitos, Peru, to a
Christian mother in great physical distress.  It was
my responsibility as a missionary to attempt to
identify with both parties.  Job continues”  “I was
eyes to the blind and feet to the lame.  I was father
to the needy; I took up the case of the stranger”
(29:15-17).  I was like the one who comforts
mourners—but now they mock me…disdained to put with my
watchdog.”  Job got put in the doghouse!

 

Yours for OUTREACH AMAZON,
Erwin and Jean Bourne