McDonalds, Arby's and other spiritual thoughts...

You may be unaware, but I have found that the world is full of experts.  I am privy to them at breakfast each day.  Men who have sat for hours contemplating the ins and outs of foreign policy and determining the morals that all others should be aware of.

Now, as you read that last paragraph I hope you realize that it is tongue and cheek.

That these men are mere mortals and their lives are actually enhanced by the time they spend together "sharing".  Although I believe their conversation could be more productive on many occasions, I am sure they would think I should spend my time in more product activities besides sitting and typing a silly article about their social behavior.

All the commentary on life set aside, I want to share a few thoughts.  Thoughts that come to mind when I am sitting in a McDonald's or Arby's or any other place where food and conversation coexist.

Here are some spiritual thoughts I have from time to time as I go about my morning routine...

These may not be original, or maybe they are, I will let you be the judge...

~Everyone should  have to work behind the counter of a food business.  To do so would help us understand the effects of our condescending attitudes about the value of the person behind the counter.

~If we would wait in line at McDonald's the way we wait in line for lottery tickets, we'd have a much nicer place to live.  We'd also begin to get a reality check, people are more important than any pursuit or schedule.

~Paying for the person's meal behind you drive-thru might make you feel good, but if it leads to pride, it's still a wasted act.  That includes doing it so you can use it as an illustration of being a good "(you fill it in)" at some devotion, presentation or sermon.  Value diminished, if not lost.

~When the person behind the counter "gives" you a penny so you won't get a handful of change yourself, it may not hurt to act like they've done you a million dollar favor.  It may also be the only time that day they get any true appreciation.  After all, if you are like me, I hate having a pocket full of change because the total had an .01 in it.  0.99 cents in my pocket doesn't make me feel like I'm rich, it makes me feel like I am a wind chime.

~IF and I mean IF, you are thinking about having a real deep theological conversation, you may want to reevaluate that thought.  The people next to you are probably not going to appreciate you spending 2 hours discussing the fine points of justification, propitiation, abominations or end times. (Although, I am sure, you have figured out the "code" and know that Obama is the ushering in of something).

~I am sure the waiter/waitress you had this morning/afternoon/evening could use some kindness and grace from you instead of your grumpy Christian attitude.  I know you think that the whole world should know about your eschatology (go ahead and look it up, I had to), but.... It's not true

~For a finale, how about this.  Standing in line at any fast food restaurant is an exercise in patience, so learn don't burn (anger for those who are wondering about the meaning).  Having your order brought to you late or wrong by the waiter/waitress is an exercise in kindness... Let's pass it on the next time we have the opportunity.  You may even want to study for the test (my study place is prayer, I even hope that doesn't come off as pious, I have enough trouble as it is.)

So, what about you?  Want to join me in a little discipline for the soul?

Get up and get ready for the your next restaurant adventure and then sing this little ditty...

"this little light of mine...."

If you need the rest of the words, Google it!

Till next time...

Even if...

I wonder if we would lose the wonder if we ever got it all figured out...

If you are human, which I assume you are, you have been guilty of a having salesman's heart. It surfaces in our lives nearly everyday. Even though it has it's place in our world of serving others, sometimes, sometimes more often, we use it for our own good.

Let me use an example from my life and quite possibly from yours.

Have you ever been more interested in getting answers from someone, in order to get a "sale"? Have you ever thought through all the questions you want to ask to elicit an answer that would make your life easier? Easier by getting the "date", easier by getting a "marriage", easier by "selling the car", easier by getting a "paycheck" or maybe just a "bite to eat". These questions were not focused on meeting the needs of the other person, which is a true salesmen's heart, but instead are focused only on our needs. At this point I am not drawing a shotgun to blow you away for wanting your needs met, I'm probing my heart and yours to expose a common flaw. One which I believe we will wrestle with our entire life. But I do not lose hope because of its existence, I instead continue to see its bony fingers slowly pried off my life as I apply the marvelous salve of grace.

You see as science gets closer to how storms are created, as we map more of the solar system, find more of the depths on the human gene and transplant more organs to extend life, we have studied and learned how things work but we have lost the wonder of who makes them work.

I once more come up for a breath of air. I realize that words can heal and words can cut. I am not sure which my heart needs this morning, so I can't begin to know which your heart needs. I only know that sometimes I want the answers to the probing questions instead of the one who is the answer to all my questions. The marvelous thing about him is, that as I seek the one who is the answer, he not only answers some questions, but he sets aside the ones that I will never need answers for anyway.

Isn't it strange that the more we know the less we believe. For some, the loss of mystery has led to the loss of wonder. Knowledge of how things work should not steal our wonder. The ironic thing for me is that often times the more I know the less I worship. How about you?

I search the depths of the words inspired by his Spirit, the comments of men who are filled with that same Spirit, seek to mine out the nuggets that this Helper has left along the path of my life and yet fail to see that this Spirit is actually the presence of the One who orchestrated all that I seek to find knowledge of.

In other words I am more impressed with the light switch than the one who invented electricity. If I'm

not careful I will fall into worshiping the creation rather than the Creator.

This is not intentional nor is it outright disobedience, it is truly the struggle of living in the human form. A form which is flawed by sin. And the longer I live the more aware I become of its flaws.

I invite you to join me, if nothing more than just for a moment, to move back away from the light switch, push back away from the astrological charts, set aside all of the mathematical equations, not because they are of no help, but because now that you've seen the answers step back and see the wonder it creates, which points to the One Who IS all of those answers.

I believe if we do this we will be blown away even more than any epiphany we could stumble on during our search.

We just might see this glorious and beautiful tapestry coming over the ridge shining on all that was created...

"While we were still sinners...", written by a man who called himself the chief of them. (1)

"You are the Christ....:, spoken by the man who would later speak words of fear and denial. (2)

"...a slave of...the Lord Jesus Christ....", claimed by a man who thought his brother was not the person he claimed. (3)

"All things were made through him...", the words of his beloved friend who later died in exile because of his wonder of this man.  (4)

"For God so loved...", "I am the way...truth...life...", from the lips of the Godman, the originator. (5) 

Take a moment, see...

Then worship...

Quietly or aloud, don't fret it, just worship...

Till next time...

Rambling on....



(1)  Romans 5:8
(2)  Matthew 16:16
(3)  James 1:1
(4)  John 1:3
(5)  John 14:6