Bob Sjogren - Cat & Dog Theology: Rethinking Our Relationship with Our Master

Bob Sjogren and Gerald Robison have put together a parable, which is not only humorous, but profound. It helps redefine who we are in relationship to Christ in a way that is prophetic, yet easy to accept.

Cat and Dog Theology will help you reevaluate your relationship with the Master. This kind of obedience training is what the church needs, especially in 21st century America!

Many Christians today have lost sight of the fact that the ultimate purpose of man is to glorify God. In their marvelous book, Bob Sjogren and Gerald Robison show very clearly how our theology has deteriorated, and how we can be restored to a correct and dynamic belief and trust in our great God and Savior.

Topics such as feel-good theology, suffering, fairness, winners-circle gospel, wrong priorities, and Christian humanism are dealt with in a fresh way that causes even the most seasoned theologian or missionary to ponder if he or she has not unwittingly been affected with this self-centered mindset.... At first the books title made me skeptical about its contents. But once I began reading it, it was one book I could not put down. Its message is so important I now require all my missions students to read it, and recommend missionaries and mission committees to do so as well.

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InterVarsity Press is the book-publishing division of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA, a movement of students and faculty active on campus at hundreds of universities, colleges and schools of nursing in the United States of America, and a member movement of the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students. For information about local and regional activities, write Public Relations Dept. InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA, 6400 Schroeder Rd., P.O. Box 7895, Madison, WI 53707-7895, or visit the IVCF website at www.intervarsity.org.

ISBN: 978-0-8308-5867-5

Copyright 2003, 2005 by Bob Sjogren and Gerald Robison

All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

This is dedicated to my wife, Sharon, who has been patient and forbearing with this ol Dog. Throughout our time together, God has caused us to grow more like the godly Dogs this book speaks of, and weve been kennel mates for thirty-three years now. She has served as my friend, mate, navigator, inspiration, provider of sermon illustrations, the mother of my children, and the keeper of my home and heart. I look forward to growing old with her (even though Ill get there more quickly) and to helping her become all God wants her to be as she does the same for me.

Id like to dedicate this book to my bride of over twenty years and to my four wonderful, fantastic kids!

Debby, youve been such a faithful friend, sticking with me in the good times and the bad times. You have lived out Dog Theology to me in such a real, tangible way. Thanks for being such a wonderful friend, such a terrific mother, and such a godly person. Im so glad you said, I do, so many years ago. No husband could ever ask for more.

And to Luke, Elise, Abby, and Hunter, you are each so wonderful, and I love you so dearly. Thanks for putting up with all of the recording sessions I made you go through(!), thanks for all the laughter in our home, and thanks for helping us build such wonderful family memories. I know God is pleased.

A s you read this book, keep in mind that the information in this book is also available through our live seminars, which are held in many countries around the world. UnveilinGLORY, a ministry of ACMC (Advancing Churches in Mission Commitment), has men and women trained and ready to visit churches to teach on Cat and Dog Theology. Consider having them come to your church. It would be a great way to help your church to stop thinking like Cats and start living like Dogs for the glory of God! For more information, please visit our web site at www.CatandDogTheology.com.

T he theme of this book is based on the notable differences between what may be two of mankinds (if not Gods) favorite creatures: cats and dogs.

Knowing that there are animal lovers of each, we hope that no one takes offense at our acknowledging the different traits of these beloved creatures, for certainly no offense is intended. Rather, we merely recognize that the God-given traits of cats and dogs can be similar to certain theological attitudes held by many Christians.

In nature, these attitudes are suitable to both felines and canines. But in our theology, some attitudes may draw us closer to God, and others actually pull us away from Him.

We hope you learn to differentiate these attitudes, and, as a result, draw closer to the God who delights in you (as well as to cats and dogs!).

W hen Debby and I (Bob) lived in Phoenix, Arizona, mowing our front yard took no longer than ten minutes from start to finish, and that included raking the grass! Because our postage-stamp lawn was so small, we never got a dog. But when we found out we would be moving to Richmond, Virginia, we promised our four kids that we would get both a dog and a cat. And we made good on that promise!

We love our dog and cat.

Jasmine is a white mixed Labrador. We rescued her from the pound, and she has become a part of our family. She loves to run in the lawn and is the official welcoming committee greeting us when we drive up in the car.

After we had Jasmine, we were on the way to piano practice one day when we saw a sign for kittens. Well, we now have a cat. Simba too has won his way into our hearts. Simba loves to sleep on the kitchen chairs and can be found on our beds at night.

But Ive noticed that dogs and cats are very different.

Any time I turn into my drive way, my dog Jasmine jumps out of her dog house and runs to the car parading around as the official welcoming committee. Shell run parallel to the car until it comes to a stop. Then she barks until I open the door. Once open, she puts her front paws into the car where I begin to scratch her behind the ears. As I do this, her tail begins to wag feverishly. We enjoy the brief moments together, and its evident to anyone watching that we share a deep bond and love!

When I go into my house and walk into the same room where our cat is, theres no evidence of love from the cat toward me. Ill make a loud kissing noise toward the cat, but the cat wont even acknowledge me. In fact, he doesnt even move. Any acknowledgment that he does give me comes in the form of walking over toward me and marking my leg with his head which is his way of saying, I own you, pal. But then hell then go and mark a chair. (Its rather humbling to be relegated to the importance of a chair in my cats life, all I am to my cat is warm-blooded furniture!) Yes, theyre quite different.