Old Dog I
Back to: The Killing Of The Bull
A Walk In The Sun, It Is Time
Bob Neumann
As I started this I looked at my watch and it was 4:44…. And deja vu again. Years ago we “played” with how and when THE MOST HOLY SPIRIT would awaken us and lead us by the #’s on the clock…or snatches of melody…or images in our spirits. All they were was milepost images to get us from there to here. All of us…. Some of us have covered a whole lot of miles and a whole lot of tears. Others have never moved from where they started. But maybe that is how it was meant to be. I am sure not in any place to judge anyone else….
I keep thinking that there is nothing KING JESUS can or will do that should surprise me. And then something(s) happen and I realize what an idiot I am. Because it is not one song, or image, or scripture, or dream, or vision….but a whole bunch…one after another. Eventually even an old dog figures out THE MASTER has a few “new tricks” HE wants me to learn.
Again, all of this is image upon image. And if I who am in the front seat of this spiritual roller coaster ride am short a few answers, then if whoever reads this doesn’t get it….I won’t get bent out of shape.
Sunday I had a most vivid image….vision…walk in the SECOND HEAVEN….and I began to “sit” on it. On Wednesday…I think…I got something else. The difference between the two so dramatic it is hard to discern how to proceed. Then Sr. Edith asks – 50 – Old Dog I about a song….but I had my own song I was “chewing on”/// actually several…but the point got to me….. “Gimme the beat boys and free my soul I wanna get lost in your rock and roll,…………….”
At first I tried to remember the lyrics…could not…but I kept HEARING…SWEPT AWAY…. but it was “DRIFT AWAY”….similar images but not the same….
“Gimme the beat” was going well with another “song” I was hearing… “DID THEY BEAT THE DRUMS SLOWLY….DID THEY PLAY THE PIPES LOWLY…. DID THEY PLAY THE DEATH MARCH WHEN THEY LOWERED YOU DOWN….” goes well with “DID THE BAND PLAY WALTZING MATILDA….”
Dead and wounded men who stood in the battle line….that is the images… nice follow up from MEN OF HARLECH AND THE MINSTREL BOY it seems. but that is where THE MOST HOLY SPIRIT reminded me it is all a matter of cadence as I listened to the laughter of MY KING. all my life I have followed the image of Henry David Thoreau….heathen though he may have been… about following a different drummer…..and the beat and measure “I” hear in my spiritman.
I am what I am because HE HAS CHOSEN….HE, THE CREATOR and THE MASTER CRAFTSMAN….no matter what “image” HE allows me to see and to share. HE WAS…HE IS…HE WILL FOREVER BE…
And that is all that is “real”…everything else is images….
THE WALL
SO….I found myself being awakened….second time in the last two visions…. by a gentle tap on my right shoulder. It was a shoe with a brilliant “spit-shine” and I looked up into HIS FACE…and HIS SMILE. He was dressed once again in a military uniform with a razor crease in the pants and a eastern headcover with gold cords. My first thought was HE is not a western KING…OR GENERAL…no matter how much we want to “americanize” HIM. At this point I “noticed” myself. I was propped up on my good old Alice pack, boots were off and I had been sleeping against a “stone wall” in the middle of a huge field. I had a “baseball” cap pulled over my eyes and felt no strong desire to stand up. THE KING was sitting on the stone wall and watching the activities in the field. Alongside me I realized that in similar uniform and stages of awakening were four others…men who I had “walked” with, had been in “the trench” with. The only difference was head gear. Two had boonies on, one a slouch hat, one a cover like THE KING…a “burnoose”????????? it mattered little…we were all armed differently too. Once again I had a BAR…..but it was never used in this vision.
As I “awakened” I felt another nudge and THE KING passed me a large mug. Identical to the one HE GAVE me once at the beach…a different vision. And I passed it on till all six of us were drinking and I realized how dry I had gotten. And once again the cup would “fill itself” as I drank. So I had no doubt that what was in front of me was “not of GOD”….but could not figure it out.
There were thousands of people making one whole lot of noise and moving around. I looked up at THE KING and was about to speak when HE SAID…”DON’T ASK ME DOG, IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH ME.”
And the next thing I know I am pulling on my boots and standing up…mug in hand. As I walked to the “crowd” I heard one comment…”BEHAVE YOURSELF DOG…” and remembered the last time HE had said that and realized this was not going to be fun.
THE ARMY(?????)
I was walking by a lot of people in utter chaos. Somewhere ahead of me was my destination and I was in no hurry to get there. I could feel the stares as I walked by. The first thing I noticed was all the different colors and styles of uniforms milling about. And the people shouting out orders. And then it hit me….it was like a “massed band” where all the high school bands, drill teams, drum and bugle corps were put together. But there was no cohesion here. Eventually I got to the “center” of the line and I had a repeat of an older memory. Before me was this small woman in a “napoleon” outfit shouting orders. As I stood there watching her shouting one moment and giggling the next I kept drinking from the mug and getting a buzz. It would have been funny except the strong smell of dragon she had. Eventually the “army” came into ranks I watched the “little general” but “gold stars” on some of the uniformed “people”. You know…the ones you licked and but on papers….teachers used to do this in school to “reward” children who “did well”.
That was just one of many things that bothered me.
Eventually the “army” was close to being in order and “the little general” and many others came forward and got in a group. They were arguing about who was in command.
Several faces, like the “little general” were familiar. But most were not and I really did not care. All this time I never looked behind myself because I “knew” that the “enemy” was behind me. Not really an issue…I had my mug and THE KING was in sight. THE PROBLEM was these “uniformed” generals and field marshals who had no idea that THE LAMB OF GOD was sitting there and watching the whole thing.
“EXCUSE ME>>>” I shouted in my best Steve Martin impression. And they stopped and were silent… and stared at me. “What do you think you are doing?” I guess the shock of some dirty, smelly person daring to approach them was unbearable for a few of them. I had no false imagination of how I must have looked…and I could sure notice the strong – 52 – Old Dog I scents in the air. Sweat and dirty and nothing compared to the “odors” these “people” had. But I notice those things…. The woman from the 7th THUNDER just stared at me. But one of the men grabbed my arm and tried to pull me away. I did not move. Another man came up to me and said something like…”Don’t you know who “we” are?” and I laughed…and said… “I have no idea who you bozos are and could care less…..” At this point the woman straightened herself up and took a step towards me. “WE COMMAND THE ARMY OF GOD AND ARE ABOUT TO ATTACK THE BEAST!” all around there were mutterings of agreement with her words. “lady, ” I began, “you stink of the dragon and you and your friends were never sent to do this.”
At that she pointed past my shoulder and said…”there is the BEAST.” Slowly I looked behind and saw a huge “ziggurat”…like the Aztec pyramid with levels. At the top was a throne with a very large “bubba” sitting there and I had the feeling he/it was glaring at me. I sensed I had messed up somebody’s party and felt like laughing.
“That is not one of the dragons, lady,” I began, “and you should know that. He’s a big “bubba”, but I have seen bigger. You can not do this.” At this point the man that had spoken to me pushed at my chest and said “who do you think you are…” he probably had a lot more to say but my hand around his throat ended the conversation. “it ain’t who I am that matters, bubba,” I replied, “it is what I am…” the poor old guy who had been desperately pulling on my arm ceased and asked…. “who are you?” I guess the bright purple coloring of the idiot who I was holding up by his throat bothered him. but he had asked nicely…so I told him…”I’m the old dog”…. at that point I recognized the old guy who was now seriously trying to move away from me. and I put the first guy down…he turned from purple to red very quickly.
“These people were not called by THE KING to do battle today.”, was all I had to say. The woman again pointed toward the pyramid and said…”the enemy is there…” and I pointed towards the KING and said….”AND THE LAMB OF GOD IS OVER THERE…” and everything got quiet. I looked back at the “enthroned principality” and the three “legions” that stood waiting for battle. “so what will it be people”, I asked, “do you play your games or do you kneel before THE KING?”
As I think back, it was a stupid question….none of them “saw” THE KING.
But we were at an impasse….and I had hoped…nothing would happen.
It was then Mr. Red Face decided to take a swing at me. I caught his hand in mid punch and was about to say something about wanting to tearing off his head and “spitting” down his throat when THE KING “cleared HIS THROAT”….gently and I let go.
But what everyone heard was a peal of thunder and our little lady general jumped at it. “GOD has given us a sign! We march to victory!”….and there were cheers in the ranks. And I felt sick. I looked at the “brightly colored army” and realized they were going to march no matter what…. so I pointed toward where THE KING who continued to sit and watch…..and shouted… “If any of you can see or hear THE KING, break ranks and go to HIM.” and I watched as some hesitantly did so…but they were few. Then I pointed towards the demonic legions and shouted…. “If any of you do not see what you are fighting against, stop now.” this time many just started running….like they never wanted to be there in the first place.
But “the army” reformed into ranks….the “generals” were “good”…people jumped for them. And out of nowhere I heard this “drum roll”….many in the ranks had little “tin” drums and were banging away. I could hear “horns” being blown…a real plastic sound like at a basketball game. I watched as the army marched around me. And suddenly there was “the little general” with plastic sword in hand shouting encouragement at the backs of those she had coerced into marching to battle. I was *******!!!! I grabbed her by the back of her oversized collar and dragged, carried her through the ranks and to the front of “the army”….all I said was ….”you wanted to lead them…lead them….” and I threw her towards the demon line. and once again the army walked around me…to battle.
THE BATTLE
I call it a battle…but it was not. I heard shouts from demonic mouths and then screams…. and then watched as “the army of GOD” broke ranks and fled. In moments all I saw were the backs of those pretty uniforms. And then I looked at the fallen and thought…it wasn’t so bad. And I immediately thought of the line from the movie A WALK IN THE SUN that had bothered me…and I understood.
The next moment the other four were with me and we were among the fallen. Dressing wounds and injuries. And I noticed that the “few” who had seen THE KING were trying to help and were quick to take direction from us. In fairly short order the fallen “warriors” had been moved and treated. Some of the few stayed and I noticed many would sneak peaks at Bubba and the Legions. I understood their thoughts. The enemy can be intimidating. But I heard one of the four answer a question I did not hear…. “they will do nothing child, because they do not want to face THE LAMB.” I do not know who asked or who answered , but it was true.. always had been true. I guess I was staring at the pyramid and the false throne and thinking too long when I heard a voice….”it still is not yet our time dog”….and I heard laughter from the demonic legions. the laughter was mixed with curses and blasphemies. and I remembered I was a soldier under discipline. I do what I am told. or as I am permitted.
THE SONG
I just stared at the principality and waited. Out of nowhere I began to hear a “song” and began to hum. After a little while the “words” came and I began to sing a little ditty. A bit of joy and a bit of sadness. I started to move my feet and noticed my four brothers were joining me in THE SONG. As the SONG became stronger and faster I was dancing…. by myself. Nothing new. And I realized HE was beside me clapping and singing. and again I heard a shout…”it is not our time”….and I thought…why not. There we were five hounds and THE LAMB singing and dancing….oblivious of the situation around us.
And I felt BATTLE SONG DEEP inside me, wanting to come out.
“MASTER?”, I asked. “Isn’t it a beautiful day that you have made?” HE SMILED at me as HE and the other four stopped dancing. “DO YOU HEAR A SONG OLD DOG?” and I could “hear” it in my bones. First was the sound and then came some words. The next thing I noticed I was starting a “jig”. My brothers looked like they too were “hearing it” and were joining me. And in the far distance I could hear the faint sounds of WAR DRUMS and TRUMPETS. “LORD,” I asked, “It is a good day to die. TO WALK….” all HE SAID was “IT’S TIME”…. and THE ROAR CAME FORTH as everything changed…. and five streaks of black lightening struck the ranks of the demonic legions. all I remember was going through and up….and I struck the false throne and tumbled over and off the back of the pyramid. all five of us stood there and looked….the pyramid was a facade. a hollywood prop of plywood and plaster….not stone. a principality had fallen, and legions destroyed.
A moment later we stood beside THE KING and our black armor became iridescent as HE WAS GLORIFIED.
And the vision ended.
There is much about this vision that has bothered me. especially in the events that preceded it and followed it…especially what followed.
There is a song that I have heard since the second vision…the one not yet written… I do not like the song….but the chorus keep piercing me….
Ohhh, ohhh, ohhh This is just where I came in
[Bridge] Hope rides on But I’ll go anywhere Yes, I’ll go anywhere with you Time has gone But I’ll go anywhere Yes, I’ll go anywhere with you.
[Chorus] This is the danger zone This is where I came in They know not what they do Forgive them all their sins They know they cannot take away What you have given me No one can take from me what HE HAS GIVEN… and for what we are about to receive may we be truly grateful.
dog