Man’s best fri Rev. Dr. David Maitsberger Contributing Column ist SOMEONE jokingly asked me recently, “What does an agnostic, dyslexic, insomniac do?” The answer was, “He lies awake at night wondering if there really is a Dog.” There is no doubr that folks on the North Shore think a lot about their dogs. Living close to the Hastings Creek Park and its trails, I see a plethora of dif- ferent breeds out for a stroll with their owners. They are walked incessantly. You see dogs of all sizes either towing or being towed by countless joggers. Doleful pouches watch longingly outside the grocery store or at the comer Starbucks, leashes tied to a con- _ Venient post. Man’s Best Friend seems also to be Man’s Constant Companion. Consider, too, the invest- ment of money and time we place in our pets. I mean above and beyond the minimal licens- ing, vaccinations, shots, and trips to the vet for spaying or neutering. We spend millions of dollars on dog food and litle treats designed to give ‘Spot a balanced and varied diet. Rawhide chews. Squeaky toys. Balls. Frisbees for those warm - - summer afterncon play sessions at the beach or park. Little Gore-Tex jackets to keep Fifi ._It’s obvious that we, like the insomniac in the joke, spend a 870 Lyan Valley ‘Read, Nosth Van |. ‘Mt am - Morning Worship Nursery & Children’s Programs co age 12 Pastors John Hardy, John Cuddeford , Youth Pastor Ken Best - 985-1122. Rev, Dr. Don Faris "Youth Worker: Karen Millard] _ 3380 Lonsdale 985-4911. 1044 St Georges Avenue North vancouver $85-e GLORIA DEI LUTHERAN excic “ sx10 Gladwin Drive “Pastor Don Johnson 988-5838 Lenten Services .. on Sundays at ros00am . Sunday School & Adult. 2) Discussion at x7:1Zgam “Lenten Evening Prayer (soup & bread) 0} Thursdays at oOo re a nc ere a lot of dme and enerey thinking abour dogs. Mi wife suggested to me that perhaps if | Jesus had owned a dog, more of us on the North Shore might pay atten- tion. Alas, the Bible didn’t give dogs a lot of coverage. One fellow in the Hebrew Bible was named “Dog” (Caleb), bur by and large canines got the short end of the theological stick. Curses like “dead dog” and “dog’s head” show up trom time to time in Scripture, but puppies had a tough life in those days. Tonce turned up the skele- tal remains of a dog while exca- vating in Israel. A study showed that the 2,700-year-old mongrel lived a less that cod- dled life. He was so mistreated his toes bore the mark of being trod on repeatedly throughout his hard days of scrounging. parently, the ancient “Israelices did nox have as much time or energy to spend focus- ing on Fido as we do today Do we ever spend that much energy thinking about God? I don’t mean thinking about “religion.” For me, the topic of religion has 2 pretty sterile and down- right boring appeal. Religion is about rites and motions and tradition. Sit up, kneel down, close your eyes, raise your hands, sing now, be quiet. Religion bores me. . But God —~ now there’sa topic to dwell on for a bit. Thinking about God and religion isn’&the same thing. God does not want us to focus LYNN VALLEY UNITED CHURCH 3201 Mountain Pighway 10:30 AM WORSHIP SERVICE Minister Rev. Sharon Copeman Youth Group 2nd & 4th Sun4a3s 7-Spm Sunday School & Nursery Gare Community. Reta tucae Centre 2132 Hamilton : Nvan, ” . Sundays, tam $80-8997 our lives on doing “religious things. God would rather we focused ouiselves on relation- ship. After all, that's why the Bible tells us God created humans in the first place. The creation story of Genesis tells how God sought our the first man and first woman he had created so that he might enjoy their friendship. Book afier book of the Bible reflects God’s longing to relate one on one with the pin- nacles of his creative power, Man and Woman. And no matter what the creation did across the millen- nia, God akways tried to bring them back into thar close per- sonal relationship —because he loved them. “L kave loved you with an everlasting fove!” God once exclaimed. T have owned a few dogs in my time. They liked me, and J was fond of them. We enjoyed each other. But none of my dogs ever sent me roses. None couldn’t live without me. In fact, several ran away the first chance time they managed to dig under the back fence. The Bible quotes God as . saying, “I will never leave you or abandon you.” When the busy-ness of Life overwhelms us and looks unmanageable, we can all use an assurance like that. It’s funny who Man’s Best Friend really turns out to be, isn’t it? — David Mateshexger serves as Senior Pastor of Westlynn Baptist Church Monee Chur This week's events: 80en 1200 pp 700 pan 7p 7230 pm _ Mon’s Benak fast ($5 sicket) taceena Tex Cink. Heaopensa taformation Night Cross Troising Classes Begin “ASAP” for Yoong Ackts (10 yrse) 9:15 em — Woraa’s Morning Breck 6:45 pen Cub fee 56 {for erodes 5 & 6) 201 Eust 23rd Stree?, peor: GOOEY info@asocbe.ca T SRAGEEN®S 805 - 22nd Strees, West Vancouver Tha Rev. Keith Gibert~ Rector + |8:0Uain Traditional Communion 10:00am Coatem Communion Nursery facilities Toddler Care» Youth Groups 926-4381. From Page 16 Toneseo. To April 9 (Tue- Sat). $6.50-$12. Box office: 323-5227. Theatre at UBC: Casanova, a play centered on this mythi- cat 18th-century rake. To April 1 (Mon-Sat), at 7:30 p.m. Box office: 822-2678. Telus Studio Theatre. Vancouver East Cultural Centre: 15 Seconds. Governor General's award-winning play about two brothers caught in a love triangle. To April 1 (Tue-Sat) at 8 p.m. $20/516. Ticketmaster: 280- 3311. Vancouver Playhouse: Patience. Comedy-satire about a businessman’ fall from grace. To Aprit 15 (Mon-Sat), at 8 p.m., mati- nees Saturday at 2 p.m. $42/$38/831. Ticketmaster: 280-331). eonceris. WN 7 rons Capilano College Performing Ares Theatre: Pied Purskin String Ensemble. B.C.’s legendary folk tio, Rick Scott, Joe Mock and . Shasi Ulrich. March 25 at 8 p.m. $20/$15. Narashine Hig; School Wind Orchestra Canada Concert Tour per- forms with the Handsworth Concert Band. March 30, 7:30 p.m. Box office: 990- 7810. Centennial Theatre: The Fables. Newfoundland’s newest Celtic-rock sensation. March 25 at 8 p.m. $24/$22/$20. PROX office: 984-4484. Spring Festival of the Arts. Vancouver Waldorf school presents a program of choral and instrumental music, drama, curythmy and recitation. March 29, 6:30- $:30 p.m. $8/S5 /free for children under 12. Infornvation: 985-7435. Mt. Seymour United Church: Jubilee 2000 Youth Choir. B.C. tour concert directed by Crystal Bergman. March 24 at 7:30 p.m. Admission by donation, pro- ceeds to church's outreach programs. Information: 929- 1336, Silk Purse Gallery: Music and Muffins. Classical music concert featuring pianist Gary Eng. March 30 at 10:30 a.m. $8. Information: 925-7292. clubs The Avaton: Dance and lis- ten to the sounds of Jazz Dj, Taylor C., Thursdays from 8- 1] p.m. No cover. Galleria Ambleside Coffee House: Live entertainment every Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. No cover. Information: 913-3449. Lynnwood Pub: Bands every Thursday, Friday, Saturday at 9:30 p.m. - Maplewood Pub: Live music every Sunday night at 7:30 p.m. Silverlode plays the last Sunday of each month. Info: 924-1834. Ocean Cove Bistro: Jazz every Thursday night at 7:30 p.m. » Info: 913-2471. Park Royal Hotel: Thursdays are Jazz nights, at 7:30 p.m. Pemberton Station:Live Sunday Celebration March 26, 2000. Twe services at 9:00 & 11:00:a.m. Fastor Owen Scott will be speaking Topic: “Walking in the Spirit” (Full children’s program offered in both services) Lynn Valley Full Gospet Church, 1160 E, 25th St. . North Vancouver, B.C. Ph. 880-0307 Pastoral Staff: Owen Scott, Glen Ryland, Marcel Kurtz Valley Church ja mode up of ordinary people whoee tes have been touched by the person OF us Christ Delbreok , Baptist: | Church 515 West » Windsor Rd 985-4018 9:30 am “Sunday School » 16:45 am Meraing Worship Pastar jamey McDonald Wed. 6:30 se K-Gr. 6 Bis *Sunday (Oh yess cis 4 bands Friday and Saturday evening. March 24-25, Seven Vercent Distortion. Nearly Neal. Neil Diamond imper- sonator Bobby Bruce, March 30. Info: 984-3558. Rusty Gull Neighbourhood Pub: Jazz every Sunday start- ing at 8 p.m. Info: 988- 5585. Torrefazione Italia: Jazz every Sunday with Dylan Kramer from noon-2 p.m. Info: 913-6781. . Mavericks: TNT Thursdays, 8 p.m. North Shore band SFU Night — DJ Storm, March 30. Info: 430-9594. events Deep Cove Shaw Theatre: March is the Month of McGie Down at Deep Cove. First Impressions Theatre presents works of local playwright John McGie. Readers are wanted to cold read original monologues. March 26, 1-4 p.m. Free to all readers ‘and: audience members. Information: 929-9456, — Compiled by Sharon Cocomile E-mail (scocomile@nsnews.com) or fax a press release for your entertainment event to 985-_ 2104. Deadline for Friday inclusion is the previous ' Monday. The News tries to“: ensure items appear in the paper at least once before the event takes place, but space constraints may limit the nusniber of submissions print: e . MEvent producers can choose. to enter their own informa- - tion in the News Web calen- - dar at ._.