Duke, my world famous coon dog, had an experience one day that was worth remembering.

By the way, very few people ever had a world famous coon dog.  He was a black and tan.

This is no joke: Duke was born under a bad luck tree.  He has been snake bitten four different times; hit by a car once; had a fight with a beaver; skunked more times than I can count; had a surgical procedure which made him a duke-ett; was shot which left him with a permanent limp; and received many other injuries which we cannot list here.  Although he does not bark as much as he used to, he still has maintained his winsome personality.  Then something else happened.

Duke was abducted.  

It had been a few days since we had seen him around the house or in the barn.  Early in the mornings I could hear him bark but always at a great distance.  Knowing his history, on the third morning I had time to follow his bark and see what was going on.  Much to my surprise, I found Duke chained to a tree.  I do not know why or how long someone did this to him.  And with his history, I would not be surprised if he did this somehow to himself.  

Knowing Duke, he probably walked up to the person wagging his tail and ready to make a new friend.  And before he knew it, he was chained.

It sounds kind of like the way sin can trip us up.  And before we know it we are chained and caught in a bad habit or sin.  

We don't have to wait for a friend to unchain us.  Jesus already set us free.  Don't allow those things to come in and separate us from being all that God wants you to be.  Let Jesus unchain you today!

You are loved,

Bro. Jim