Paddy the Golden Doodle Ponders the Double-Helix!

 

PADDY PONDERS THE DOUBLE-HELIX!

By Pastor Jim Allen, Trinity Evangelical Church

 

My Golden Doodle, Paddy, was giving me his classic, puzzled head tilt the other day. It’s the look that means he’s about to ask a question that sounds simple but hits you like a theological truth bomb.

 

I’d just been talking about the latest science—how some brilliant humans at the Wyss Institute have learned to store the entire world’s digital files on four grams of DNA, and how they’re even learning to grow living computers and cameras out of cells! It's enough to make a pastor raise an eyebrow, let alone a dog.

 

Paddy sighed, a dramatic poof of air. “Wait, Dad. You’re telling me that a whole movie can be stuffed into a molecule smaller than a piece of kibble? And now scientists are making little bug computers that can see? Are they going to ask me to fetch a USB drive and the newspaper?”

 

I explained that scientists figured out how to translate our computer code into DNA’s four-letter alphabet: A, T, C, and G. This sequence holds the information, protected by the DNA’s strong outer shell. It’s the ultimate hard drive, discovered after decades of work by scientists like Watson, Crick, and Franklin, who first mapped the double helix.

 

Paddy leaned his soft chin onto my knee, his eyes serious and deep.

“So, Dad, these clever humans didn’t make the language, they just learned to read it. They found this perfect, tiny, complex system already running inside every one of my fur cells, encoding my goofy walk, my love for Grandma, and the way I chase squirrels. And now they’re just copying what’s already there to make their own little living gadgets?”

 

“That’s right, fella,” I replied. “Right now, much of the science is about repairing the code—using tools like CRISPR to fix typos in the DNA that cause disease. But the ethical fence line is where they talk about enhancement—trying to build a better dog.”

 

Paddy scoffed, rolling onto his back for a belly rub. “Why would anyone want a talking dog, Dad? That sounds exhausting.” Paddy winked.

 

“It sometimes can be!” I agreed.

“And a dog that drives? Why would any dog want to drive, rather than hang their head out the window and pretend they are farm dogs!” Paddy responded with a theatrical shiver of pure joy, clearly envisioning a wind-blown ride.

 

I cautioned, “And I don’t think Sheriff Tom would take kindly to you driving. Remember, the last time he pulled you over!”

 

Paddy nodded, remembering his night of incarceration in the Posey County Jail.

 

“But I showed him my license!” Paddy replied, with a hint of indignation.

 

“Yes,” I answered, “But a dog license doesn’t allow you to drive!”

 

“Well, at least Chief Deputy Fortune gave me a biscuit instead of bread and water!” Paddy happily remembered, his indignation quickly dissolving into furry contentment.

 

“I hope it is the last time I have to bail my Golden Doodle out of Jail!” I replied, giving Paddy a stern look that he, of course, utterly ignored.

 

Paddy then paused, his thoughts drifting back to our original DNA conversation, and delivered his final, profound punchline:

“Doesn’t the code within DNA prove God is the designer of us dogs and you humans? How can humans not be believers? If you need an algorithm to encode a simple sentence into DNA, imagine THEE Programmer who encoded life—a programmer whose code you spent decades just trying to read, let alone understand.”

 

Paddy’s right, I thought to myself. When you realize that the structure of the DNA molecule—its unparalleled storage density and complexity—is something we are only now beginning to mimic, you see it not as a chance event, but as a discovery of an elegant, flawless design.

---

The Paddy Principle: Read the Code, See the Word

“Sadly,” I continued. “To my knowledge, these brilliant scientists discovered the secret to life and God’s embedded code, but not one of them became a believer. How can you deny such evidence!” I groaned, shaking my head.

 

Paddy thought for a moment, then delivered another gem: “And I thought you humans were intelligent life!”

 

I grinned. Paddy had a way of always simplifying the truth. We humans can be so bright, but not see the forest for all the trees.

 

Paddy’s contemplation brings me back to the fundamental truth of Scripture. The DNA code, the universal language of life, points directly to the ultimate Logos, which means WORD in the Greek—the Logos of creation: Jesus Christ.

• John 1:1-3: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God... All things were made through him. Without him was not anything made that has been made.”

 

The power to fix flaws and diseases is a beautiful act of stewardship of the gift we’ve been given. But the very existence of the code itself demonstrates the intelligence and design of the Creator. The Apostle Paul affirms that this Designer is Christ, the one who orchestrated the double helix:

• Ephesians 3:9: “...to make all men see what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God, who created all things through Jesus Christ.”

 

The message is clear, the program is running, and the Designer—the One who wove the fiber of existence and encoded the DNA sequence—has been revealed and His name is Jesus.

Paddy the Golden Doodle's Cosmic Conundrum!

 

Paddy’s Cosmic Conundrum: The Fur-Flinging Truth About the Big Bang! 🐾

By Pastor Jim Allen, Trinity Evangelical Church

 

The air in Pastor Jim’s office at Trinity Evangelical Church in Mount Vernon was thick with the scent of old books, fresh coffee, and a distinct, unauthorized tobacco smoke. Paddy, the distinguished Golden Doodle, was nestled in his favorite armchair, a chewed-up tennis ball discarded nearby, a pipe jutting philosophically from his mouth.

 

“Well now, Rev,” Paddy began, his voice coming out with a perfect rolling ‘r’ after a theatrical puff of smoke. “I was just settling in for a good long think when this whole universe question trotted in. I’ve been studying the work of Dr. Stephen Meyer, and frankly, it’s keeping me up at night, unlike that squeaky toy I usually destroy.”

 

Pastor Jim chuckled, patting his good boy’s head. “Always thinking, aren’t you, Paddy? You’re like a little, golden-furred theologian! You kept nudging that science magazine with your nose, practically pointing at the page that asked: Was the universe always here, or did it have a beginning? It’s the ultimate ‘who opened the treat jar?’ mystery, as you put it!”

 

“Precisely!” Paddy declared. “And I need to know who opened the jar. You said our modern understanding all started with Dr. Vesto Slipher and the red-shift—the light stretching out like a tired elastic band—meaning everything was moving away. Then Edwin Hubble showed us those weren’t just clouds, but entire galaxies, all running away from each other!”

 

“And who do you think put that movement to a cause?” the Rev prompted. “The Belgian priest, Georges Lemaître. He used the evidence to propose a ‘singular explosive beginning’—the Big Bang. But remember the trouble that caused for Albert Einstein?”

 

Paddy’s ears perked up. “Ah, that stubborn poodle! He believed in a static universe, so he stuck that cosmological constant—a ‘fudge factor’—into his equations. He was trying to stop the universe from expanding, like putting a brick in the door to keep the sheep from running out of the barn! By the way, I have better hair!”

 

“That you do, Paddy!” Pastor Jim replied, trying not to laugh at the comparison. “Well here’s what happened, the heavens ‘talked back!’ After seeing the proof from Father Lemaître and Dr. Hubble, Einstein, to his great credit, admitted that denying the universe had a beginning was ‘the greatest blunder of my scientific career.’ You see, Paddy, the universe itself was shouting, ‘I am not eternal!’ In effect, it was God saying, ‘I started all things! I opened the treat jar!’”

 

Paddy let out a soft “woof” of agreement. “See? Even brilliant people mess up. Makes me feel better about that time I ate the entire loaf of bread. But here’s Meyer’s big point, Rev: If the whole physical universe—matter, energy, space, and time—started at the Big Bang, then whatever caused it couldn’t be physical, right?”

 

“You’ve got it, Paddy! That’s the whole ball of yarn!” the Rev exclaimed. “Scientists like Robert Dicke found a beginning upsetting because, as Dicke said, an infinitely old universe would ‘relieve us of the necessity of [explaining] the origin of matter.’ But since everything physical began then, the cause had to be immaterial and exist beyond space and time. That’s the theological concept of creatio ex nihilo—creation out of nothing. It had to be a Divine External Starter.”

 

The Christ Connection: The Ultimate Algorithm

Pastor Jim tied the cosmic puzzle to the core of their faith. “And the Bible tells us precisely who this Starter is in John 1:3: ‘All things were made through Him (Jesus). Without Him (Jesus) was not anything made that has been made.’ That is the ultimate algorithm, Paddy, one that no computer simulation can match!”

 

Pastor Jim then tied the cosmic puzzle to a personal one. “And God doesn’t just speak through physics. I told you about my old church in Wisconsin. The new pastor’s wife—a nurse, just like my Carol—was one of Stephen Hawking’s caregivers. While Hawking’s own work on the singularity theorems was silently pointing to a beginning, she was right there, speaking to him about the need for salvation through Jesus Christ. As Romans 1:20 says, ‘God’s invisible attributes are clearly seen in the creation itself, so that people are without excuse.’”

 

Paddy removed his pipe and wagged his tail, delighted. “So, whether it’s through the silent witness of a singularity or the loving voice of a Scottish nurse, the ultimate truth is the same! The whole cosmos is just a giant signpost! And that, Rev, is why I don’t need to read a complex physics book to understand the universe. The simple, ultimate truth is found in a person. It is a truth that is not found in an algorithm, but in Christ!”

 

 

 

 

The Scriptures’ Final Word

“And that is not all, Paddy, this concept is confirmed in many places in Scripture,” Pastor Jim offered, his voice gaining the rhythmic quality of a sermon. “These verses also corroborate John 1:3:

• Colossians 1:16: ‘For by Him (Jesus) all things were created, in the heavens and on the earth, visible and invisible... All things have been created through Him, and for Him.’
• Hebrews 1:2: ‘...through whom He (Jesus) also made the worlds.’
• 1 Corinthians 8:6: ‘...one Lord, Jesus Christ, through Whom are all things, and we live through Him (Jesus).’
• Revelation 4:11: ‘...for You (Jesus) created all things, and because of Your will they were created and had their being.’

“You’ve earned your rest, Paddy, now go say your prayers, for God in Christ has even created you!” the Rev said, smiling warmly. “The idea that Christ is the equation for everything can give us confidence that we have placed our faith correctly!” Paddy jumped down, tail whipping the air. “Best sermon ever! Time for a treat that is decidedly not immaterial!”

Paddy the Golden Doodle's Water Predicament!

 

Paddy’s Peculiar Predicament: A Poodle-Retriever Who’s Allergic to... Water?

By Pastor Jim Allen, Trinity Evangelical Church

 

Oh, Paddy, my overly thoughtful, fluffy confidante! Life with my Golden Doodle is never dull, especially when his inquisitive mind gets churning. Most mornings, you’ll find him “reading” his dog-eared (literally!) Bible, his brow furrowed in concentration. Lately, his theological studies have led him down a path of profound concern: the perplexing concept of water.

 

Now, anyone who knows anything about dogs knows that Golden Retrievers rejoice in water, and Poodles, well, their very name, pudeln comes from the German for splashing! You’d think with such an impressive aquatic lineage, Paddy would be a blazing torpedo in any body of water. But no. My dear Paddy, despite his impeccable breeding, has somehow inherited an aversion to H2O that would make a desert cat proud.

 

Take last spring, for instance. We embarked on a glorious beach vacation, a picturesque paradise of sun and sand down in Gulf Shores, Alabama. Paddy, ever the enthusiast, was in his element. He dug trenches worthy of a military engineer, chasing seagulls with a joyful bark and rolling in the warm grains until he resembled a sandy, happy tumbleweed. The ocean, however? That vast, shimmering expanse that called to his ancestors? He viewed it with the suspicion of a cat encountering a cucumber. A cautious sniff, a tentative paw dip, and then a hasty retreat, as if the waves personally offended him. Even the sparkling blue of the swimming pool drew nothing but a polite, yet firm, “No, thank you, human.”

 

It’s this curious water-wary nature that led to his recent crisis of faith. Last Sunday, after our Church’s Blessing of the Animals service, where he gracefully accepted a tiny, dignified drop of holy water, Paddy returned to his Scriptures with renewed fervor. He’d been reading about Jesus’ baptism, and the idea of being “dunked under the water” sent shivers down his fluffy spine.

 

“Human!” Paddy exclaimed, looking up from his Bible with wide, concerned eyes. “This ‘baptism’ thing... it involves immersion! Like… completely wet?”

 

I tried to reassure him. “Paddy ol’ boy, dogs don’t get baptized. It’s just for people.”

But Paddy, ever the deep thinker, wasn’t convinced. He’d seen me praying, he’d seen me read the Bible, he even knows the difference between a biscuit and a holy communion wafer (don’t ask). If I was concerned about spiritual matters, why shouldn’t he be?

 

So, with a determined wag of his tail, he asked me with an earnest whine and a series of theatrical splashes of air with his paw… I found myself cornered.

 

“Rev!” Paddy began, his voice laced with urgency. “About this ‘baptism’ business... what exactly does it mean? And is it... a lot of water?”

 

I bent down to pat Paddy on the head and said, “Well, hello there, Paddy! My, you look like you’ve been doing some serious studying. What’s on your mind today, my furry theologian?”

 

“It’s this ‘baptism’!” Paddy stated, looking very serious. “The Bible says ‘dunked’! That sounds... wet, Rev, very, very wet.” He shuddered, looking pointedly at a glass of water on the coffee table as if it were a perilous abyss.

 

I chuckled. “Ah, yes, ‘dunked.’ It does involve water, Paddy, quite a bit of it sometimes! Baptism is a beautiful symbol for people. It’s a public way to show their faith. You see, when a person is lowered fully under the water, it symbolizes the death of their old self, and when they are raised up, it symbolizes the resurrection to a brand new life in Christ. It’s what the Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 6:4:

“We were buried therefore with Jesus through baptism to death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life.”

 

Paddy tilted his head, processing this. “Cleansing? Like a bath? But... without the nice warm towels and the ear-cleaning after?”

 

I couldn’t resist chiming in. “Now, Paddy, you know you get a shower every week! And you hate every second of it until it’s done. But then you run those ‘zoomies’ all over the house because you smell like lavender!”

 

Paddy’s face immediately registered indignation. “A shower is a necessary evil, thank you. And the scent of lavender is simply a pleasant side effect of my survival! It does not negate the trauma of the actual soaking.”

 

I laughed, “Well, Paddy, I can assure you, baptism is not exactly like your weekly lavender wash. It’s about a person’s personal decision and public declaration of faith. It’s a human sacrament.”

 

“But Rev,” Paddy interjected, his voice rising in alarm, “Jesus was fully in the water! I saw the pictures! Even in the swimming pool, I just prefer to walk around the edge. And the ocean, last spring? Too much splash! Too much... vastness!” He gestured dramatically with a paw towards the window, as if the local birdbath was the Gulf of America.

 

I stroked Paddy’s soft fur. “I understand your concern about the water, Paddy. And you’re right, for people, it’s often a full immersion, symbolizing that complete new beginning. But here’s the thing, my friend: while you are a wonderfully spiritual dog, and God certainly loves you very much...”

 

Paddy leaned in, ears perked, hoping for a loophole.

 

“...baptism is a sacrament specifically for humans. It’s about a human’s personal decision and public declaration of faith. It is symbolic to dying to the world as we go under the water, but rising to NEW LIFE in Christ as we come up out of the water.”

 

Paddy’s tail gave a tentative wag, then slowed. “So... no ‘dunking’ for dogs, Rev? No getting my beautiful fluff completely soggy?”

 

“No dunking for dogs, Paddy,” I confirmed with a gentle smile. “Your job is to bring joy, wag your tail, cuddle, and yes, sometimes give us a good laugh with your curious questions. God made you perfect just the way you are, water-averse or not.”

 

“Just so you know Paddy,” I continued, “Some people are water averse as well, so I will baptize using the method of their choice. However, I prefer baptizing them the old fashion way in my cow tank!”

 

Paddy let out a relieved sigh that puffed out his jowls. “Phew! That’s a relief, Rev! My coat is far too luxurious for all that ‘cleansing.’ I shall stick to my weekly, dreaded, lavender-induced shampoo showers, thank you.” He gave a happy shake, as if shedding the very thought of excessive moisture.

 

Later that evening, after his shower and about 45 minutes of the zoomies as he tore through the house with excitement, Paddy snuggled beside me, still contemplating the mysteries of the universe and, more importantly, the strategic avoidance of puddles, I gave him a gentle scratch behind the ears. “You know, Paddy,” I mused, “it’s funny how you come from two breeds, the Poodle and the Golden Retriever, who are famous for loving water. Yet here you are, my little landlubber!”

 

He just sighed, a very dramatic dog sigh, and rested his head on my lap, probably dreaming of vast, dry expanses of sand and perhaps, a slightly damp biscuit. My talking, water-averse Golden Doodle – a true original, and a constant source of adorable, slightly damp, amusement.

 

For More Information: Pastor Jim encourages you to attend your Church of choice, but if you are looking for a Church home, please feel free to join us for the 10:10am Worship in the Trinity Evangelical Church Sanctuary. Pastor Jim and Paddy, the water-averse puppy will be excited to see you. We also invite you to our Hogtoberfest Pork Chop Supper on Saturday, October 18th, 2025. Tickets are $15. Carry-outs are from 11am to 5pm and Dine-In is from 4-6:30pm. A wide variety of Auction Baskets are also possible to win. Tickets for the auction baskets are $1 a ticket or $5 for 6 tickets. (See the Hogtoberfest ad in this newspaper).

Paddy the Golden Doodle is Learnin' Greek!

 

Paddy the Goldendoodle Is Learnin’ Greek!

By Pastor Jim Allen, Trinity Evangelical Church

 

I came home from Church last Sunday in between services and found Paddy, my 10-month-old Golden Doodle, with the Bible on the kitchen floor. Paddy was apparently reading it. I asked him what chapter he was on, and there was no reply. I always wondered what my precious Paddy did when I was gone, but apparently, he studies the Bible. I guess I shouldn’t be too surprised; I’ve already taught him how to pray.

 

Now, some folks might think Ol’ Pastor Jim is becoming a bit daft, and I just might be. But last Monday night, after the Tampa Bay-Houston NFL game, I went upstairs to bed. Paddy usually demands we go to bed around 9 p.m. while Miss Carol stays up to watch her Dodgers or Angels. In any event, I lay down in bed working on one of my papers while listening to the Chargers and Raiders over Sirius radio when Paddy ups and asks me a question! I was shocked, of course, but I noticed Paddy had my Greek book out on the bed, lying next to me, reading it.

 

I looked at him, bewildered. “Paddy, you have a question?”

 

He sat up and cleared his throat. “Well, Rev…” he began. I later discovered he calls me “Rev” because “r” sounds are easier for dogs to pronounce. He then continued, “Rev, which verses are the best examples of the Granville Sharp rule!” Then, he stopped and looked at me over the top of his reading glasses.

 

Wow! I thought to myself. Not only can he pray and read, but he can also actually parse the Greek. It reminds me of the time I was a kid on the farm in Wisconsin, and I came in from the fields to find my favorite sheep, Portia, nudging a hymnal with her nose. You see, we kept a barn hymnal for a good reason—we’d sometimes sing hymns like “Savior Like a Shepherd Lead Us” to settle the sheep down at night. I swear Portia was trying to pick out a song. Or perhaps she thought the hymnal was something to eat. I often wonder what our animal friends are up to when we’re not looking!

 

I put down my paper. "Hold on there, Paddy-boy. Before we get to the examples, we need to know what the Granville Sharp Rule is all about. You see, a fellow named Granville Sharp, a British abolitionist and scholar, came up with this idea back in the 18th century. He was a real stickler for careful reading of the Bible. He noticed a pattern in the New Testament that was really important for understanding who Jesus is."

 

Paddy wagged his tail expectantly. “What’s the rule, Rev?”

 

"Well, think of it like this, Paddy," I said, leaning in. "When you have two nouns, and they’re connected by the Greek word kai (καί), which means ‘and,’; and the first noun has the definite article ho (ὁ) and the second noun doesn’t, they’re usually referring to the same person. It’s a way of showing that the two titles are talking about one single person or entity. It’s a powerful tool for affirming the divinity of Christ. So, when people try to say Jesus wasn’t God, we can point to these verses and see the language itself is telling us otherwise.”

Paddy tilted his head, processing. “Ah, I get it, Rev. So, it’s like when you call me ‘Paddy’ and ‘good boy’ without repeating ‘the’ in between. It’s all about one dog!”

 

"Exactly, Paddy! You’re a smart dog, you’ve got it! Now, let’s look at some of the best examples from the Bible, because you can pray and read, but parsing the Greek is next level stuff!”

 

The Rule in Action

I reached for my Bible and opened it to the New Testament. I read out the verses, and after each one, I’d explain it to Paddy, who lit his pipe and listened intently.

 

2 Peter 1:1 “...by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ...” I looked down at him. "Paddy, this is a classic. Peter is talking about ‘our God’ and ‘Savior,’ but he doesn’t repeat the article. He doesn’t say, “Our God and the Savior, Jesus Christ.” The rule shows us that ‘God’ and ‘Savior’ are both titles for the same person: Jesus Christ. It’s a direct statement of Jesus’s divinity.”

 

Paddy raised his head, puffed on his pipe and blew a smoke ring into the air. “That is fascinating Rev! That demonstrates that Jesus is the one true God.”

 

“That’s right Paddy. But you know Miss Carol doesn’t want you smoking in bed!” Paddy put his pipe back onto his nightstand. Then Pastor Jim continued…

 

Titus 2:13 “...awaiting the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ...” “Another knockout, Paddy. Just like in 2 Peter, Paul is talking about ‘our great God’ and ‘our Savior.’ The construction makes it clear that Jesus Christ is both our great God and our Savior. This verse is a bedrock for understanding the deity of Christ!”

 

“Knowing Greek really unlocks some of the great questions of the Bible,” responded Paddy. “Are there any other verses?”

 

“Yes, two more that really stand out, Paddy!” replied Pastor Jim.

 

2 Thessalonians 1:12 “...according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.” “This one is a little more debated, but many scholars see it as another example. The phrase ‘our God’ and ‘Lord Jesus Christ’ are joined without a second article, suggesting they are a single entity. It shows the intimate connection between the Father and the Son.”

 

Pastor Jim continued, “The we have this verse, which is one a lot of people miss, Paddy.”

 

Ephesians 5:5 “...in the Kingdom of Christ and God.” “The phrase ‘of Christ’ and ‘God’ are linked. The lack of a second article strongly suggests that Christ’s kingdom and God’s kingdom are one and the same, reinforcing His divine identity and authority. It reminds me of the time I had to do two jobs at once when I was in fiber optics—being the team lead and the trainer. In a way, Jesus holds two titles here as one.”

 

Paddy replied, “I was reading Luke 17:20-21 the other day where Jesus says to the Pharisees, “The Kingdom of God is in your midst.”

 

“Yes Paddy,” Pastor Jim responded. “This is what the Pharisees (religious leaders) at the time could not understand. They were looking for a political kingdom. They did not realize that Jesus as God was standing among them offering them His spiritual Kingdom. The very Kingdom of God!”

 

More Than Just a Grammar Guy

Paddy tilted his head and blinked. "What about the Granville Sharp guy, Rev? Was he more than just a smarty-pants?"

 

“Now, Paddy, you asked another great question, one that gets to the heart of the matter: what was Granville Sharp all about? He was more than just a grammar geek. He was a man of action, a champion for the oppressed. You know, Paddy, he was one of the very first and most important abolitionists in England. He wasn’t a lawyer by trade, but he took up the cause of a man named Jonathan Strong, a former slave who had been beaten and abandoned. Sharp saw this as a grave injustice, and through his tireless work, he helped bring about a landmark court case that effectively ruled that slavery had no legal basis on English soil. That’s a big deal, Paddy-boy! It’s like when I was teaching fiber optics—you have to get to the root of the problem and fix it, not just patch it up.”

 

Paddy nudged the book closed with his nose. “And he did all this because of his faith?”

 

“Exactly! He was born into a very devout Christian family—his grandfather was an Archbishop and his father was a clergyman. But his faith was strengthened in a unique way. He got into a debate with a co-worker who was a Socinian (so-sin-ee-an), someone who denied the divinity of Christ. The co-worker told Sharp he couldn’t understand the issues because he didn’t know the original Greek. Well, Paddy, that was like waving a red flag in front of a bull! Sharp, being the diligent man he was, decided to teach himself Greek to defend his faith. And in the process, he discovered the very rule that you and I were just talking about! He used his self-taught Greek skills to prove that the Bible itself teaches the deity of Christ. It goes to show you that sometimes the best way to defend your beliefs is to dig into the truth for yourself, no matter how hard it is. It’s like going to a wrestling match with someone bigger than you—you have to know your moves and your opponent’s weaknesses. He did just that with his opponent’s theological arguments.”

 

I patted Paddy’s head. "And get this, Paddy. He also had a fantastic bass voice—George III, the King of England himself, said it was ‘the best in Britain.’ He was a bit of a musician, too, playing a bunch of instruments, including a double-flute he made himself. A true Renaissance man, Paddy, a man who loved God, his country, and a good argument for truth. He even signed some of his notes to friends as G♯ (G-sharp), the musical note. Now that’s what I call a sense of humor!”

 

And there you have it, folks. I’m not crazy; I’ve just got a Golden Doodle who’s a better Greek student than some seminary students. Who knew a farm boy from Wisconsin who learned to wrestle could have a dog that wrestles with Greek grammar? It’s all part of the wild, wonderful, and surprising life God has given me, and I’m thankful for every bit of it—even the parts where I think I might be going a little daft. I’m just blessed to be on this journey with my dear wife Carol, our kids, our grandkids, and, of course, a theological dog named Paddy. Maybe I’ll start teaching him fiber optics next.