Are you a dog person or a cat person?  I'm neither, they're way too much work and I have enough to do and plenty of kids to take care of.  But there are certain families that always need a dog or a cat.  And the irony is, of course, that my family has had one or the other for almost the past decade.  I have fond memories of our dog, Dixie, sitting under our dining room table waiting for someone to hand her food or for some scraps to fall off that she could claim.  Our Scripture passage this Sunday shows us a picture of a dog begging for scraps from the family table.  But there are no actual animals in the passage, the dog is actually a woman, a mother.  Does Jesus actually call her a dog in a demeaning, racist or misogynistic way?  Or is there something deeper going on?

I'm savoring and treasuring every time I get to worship with you.  This is my second-to-last sermon with you all, I look forward to it!  -Dave