Many years ago when I was a young preacher, I noticed one day that a new family had moved into a neighborhood not far from my church. So I dropped by late one afternoon. I noticed that one car was parked in the carport. I went to the side door, the one opening onto the carport. I had rung the door bell only once when I heard a deep, bass growl that sounded like the rolling of thunder. It was coming from the back of the carport and it made the hair on the back of my neck stand straight up. I glanced to my left and there about 20 feet away in a crouched position was a huge German Shepherd with glowing, malignant eyes and pearly-white teeth. I could tell he wanted some of me.

I began backing slowly away from that door, in the direction of my car, all the while speaking words of pastoral comf…