Rev. A.J. Ogden

I discovered America on the second day of January back in 1926. Our little shack which was four miles out in the woods from Woodville, Ms., was poor indeed; no indoor plumbing, electric lights, and only the bare necessities. It amazes me now to think about how little of this world’s goods we can live on.

I had one thing however that seemed to be more valuable than gold. His name was “Trouble” the dog. He was friendly, black in color, and constantly wagged his tail to say, “I Love you,” and I certainly loved him too.

Trouble was a perfect dog in my sight, but I must admit he developed a bad habit. Trouble could catch and kill every snake he could find! As a little boy I would try to talk to him about the snakes and how he should just leave them alone, but he would not. He would go after another and get bitten. After being bitten three times, a very big poisonous snake bit him. As he lingered there while dying, I cried my heart out, but it was too late. I never did like to say good-bye to anyone, but on that day it was “good-bye” to Trouble! It was a sad funeral.

Trouble was only a dog who just could not understand my warning, “Leave the snakes alone.” But you my friends are intelligent human beings and I would like to warn you about something more horrible than snake bites, and that is Hell. You are walking in the midst of Satan’s snakes every day. If you are lost and without Christ in your life, you already have been bitten by the serpent of sin.

Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” The word of God says in Romans 10:13, “For whosoever shall call upon (in simple faith) the name of the Lord shall be saved.”