The Prodigal Pig

Luke 15:20 - So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. (NIV)

As a boy, I worked summers on my uncle's pig farm. Every week, I pumped out the sewage pit running the length of the pig barn with the "honey wagon". 

One particular day, I backed up to the barn and pushed the suction hose between the large grates and into the liquid "soup" below.

Hearing squealing, I ran inside and jumped over the pen to where I had slid the hose down, and looked down to find that a pig had fallen into the "soup"!

I yelled across the yard for someone to "Get my uncle, and come quick!" 

I ran back into the barn, grabbed one of the grates over the sewage pit and swung down into the mess below. The liquid was well over my waist! 

The startled pig started a frantic swim for the far end with me pursuing. At the end of the pit I grabbed him by the ears and started my journey back to the open grate above. 

My uncle lowered a ladder, and I grabbed the slippery pig around his belly and lifted. Partway up the ladder, he kicked up a fight, and we both fell back under the surface. 

Sputtering and exasperated, I grabbed Mr Pig and this time got him high enough so that my uncle could grab him and pull him out. 

I was greeted with howls of laughter for my lifeguard efforts as I stood under the sun and got hosed down in my "birthday suit" to get cleaned off. My clothes were ruined and had to be buried.

I think of the rebellious son in Luke 15 who crested a hill and was spotted by his father "a long way off". Despite the repulsive condition of his son, the father ran to him, fell on his neck, and welcomed him with kisses. Such love surpasses our understanding.

Are you wandering? Do you feel no one notices you, no one cares? God knows and God cares. There is always a way back.

God has welcomed us into His presence. He has cleansed us from our sin through Jesus Christ. He has cleansed us and allowed us to sit in His banqueting house, despite our prodigal ways and the ravages of sin that mark us.

1 John 3:1 - How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! (NIV)

Prayer: Father in heaven, help us to cultivate compassion for others in our lives. Help us to realize that with You, there is no such thing as a "disposable" human being. Today, if we are people who are wandering like the "prodigal" of whom Jesus spoke, give us the humility to return to You, to Your ways, to Your Word. Amen.

Don Copp dcopp@canada.com
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Thanks to http://daily.presbycan.ca

The Pigs Don't!

A Christian farmer spent the day in the city.

In a restaurant for his meal, he sat near a group of young men. After he bowed his head to give thanks for his food, one of the young men thought he would embarrass the old gentleman.

"Hey, farmer, does everyone do that out where you live?"

The old man calmly replied, "No, son, the pigs don't!"

The Pig and the Horse

There was a farmer who collected horses; he only needed one more breed to complete his collection. One day, he found out that his neighbor had the particular horse breed he needed. So, he constantly bothered his neighbor until he sold it to him. 

A month later, the horse became ill and he called the veterinarian, who said:"Well, your horse has a virus. He must take this medicine for three days. I’ll come back on the 3rd day and if he’s not better, we’re going to have to put him down."

Nearby, the pig listened closely to their conversation.

The next day, they gave him the medicine and left. 

The pig approached the horse and said:"Be strong, my friend. Get up or else they’re going to put you to sleep!"

On the second day, they gave him the medicine and left. The pig came back and said: "Come on buddy, get up or else you're going to die! Come on, I'll help you get up. Let’s go! One, two, three..."

On the third day, they came to give him the medicine and the vet said: "Unfortunately, we’re going to have to put him down tomorrow. Otherwise, the virus might spread and infect the other horses."

After they left, the pig approached the horse and said:
"Listen pal, it's now or never! Get up, come on! Have courage! Come on! Get up! Get up! That’s it, slowly! Great! Come on, one, two, three... Good, good. Now faster, come on.... Fantastic! Run, run more! Yes! Yeh! Yes! You did it, you’re a champion!"

All of a sudden, the owner came back, saw the horse running in the field and began shouting: "It’s a miracle! My horse is cured. This deserves a party. Let's kill the pig!"

Points for reflection: this often happens in the workplace. Nobody truly knows which employee actually deserves the merit of success, or who’s actually contributing the necessary support to make things happen.

Moral: LEARNING TO LIVE WITHOUT RECOGNITION IS A SKILL!
If anyone ever tells you that your work is unprofessional, remember: amateurs built the Ark and professionals built the Titanic!

This post originally ran on hiyamedia

Lulu The Hero Pig

Lulu the Potbellied Pig with Jo Ann

Jo Ann was taking care of her daughter's potbellied pig named Lulu. Jo Ann suffered a major heart attack while she was watching Lulu. She cried for help, but no one could hear her.

Lulu knew that Jo Ann was in trouble and ran out of the house. The pig laid down in the middle of the street and stopped all traffic. Lulu tried relentlessly to get help. Lulu would return to the house to check on Jo Ann, and then return to the street searching for someone to help. 

Finally, someone noticed Lulu and followed her to the door. Jo Ann was rushed to the hospital and she survived. Without Lulu's help, Jo Ann might not be here today. Lulu the potbellied pig is a well known animal hero.

Patient Confession

Farmer Josh killed a pig and hung it up for the night, intending to butcher it in the morning, but the next day it was gone. He didn't tell a soul about it, and nothing happened for more than two months.

Then another farmer, who lived down the road, came by and said, "By the way Josh, did you ever find out who stole your pig?"

"Nope," said Josh. "Not until just now."

Ten Smartest Animals - No. 6 - PIG

6. Pig

Despite a reputation for gluttony and poor hygiene, pigs are actually highly intelligent animals. Both domestic and wild species are known for their ability to adapt to a variety of different ecological conditions. They seem to be at least as trainable as cats and dogs, and certain domestic pigs have become a favorite pet in the U.S. Pigs are also extremely flexible. Unlike most other ungulates, which are strictly herbivorous, pigs and their relatives are omnivores with a diet that sometimes includes worms and small vertebrates. Where they have been introduced around the world, pigs tend to out-compete the native species. Though devastating to the native species, this trend is yet another strong indication of pig cleverness.

Read more: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/top-10-smartest-animals.html#ixzz1IhwYHtnW