Skip to main content

A Random Metaphor for God but it works

One of my favorite drinks is a Route 44 Diet Cherry Limeade from Sonic. And in thinking about why I love this drink so much it occurred to me that it could be used as a metaphor for God. So bear with me because here we go. The Route 44 is something that is known in one form in the beginning, like God the Creator. It is good just the way it is, perfect really. It doesn’t need to change but because this drink (God) is so good it does change. When you finish consuming your Route 44 Limeade you are then left with the ice, a lime wedge and a cherry in the bottom. The ice begins to melt and you get a bonus drink, a new way to experience the drink. You get flavored water (would be like God deciding to dwell on earth in Jesus Christ as a new way for creation to know God). And then when the water is finished you are left with a new way to experience the drink – the consumption of the cherry and sucking on the lime wedge. This drink gives us a third way to experience the goodness just like God gives us the Holy Spirit. Now the drink does end but we do have the lasting memory of its goodness and for some people (like me) you’ll do things differently and try to get the experience over and over again in your life (Sonic happy hour is always a call to me if I’m near a Sonic). God will always be a constant and will always be around us but the next time you’re having your favorite beverage think of God’s
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

2024 Wrap Up

 Happy New Year's Eve! 2024 is almost gone as I type this. And it's been ... a year. To whomever may be reading this know this: I'm glad you made it through 2024. You're you and you're here. That's enough. Whether you met your goal/goals or not, you survived. You're still breathing - even if it's hard to do sometimes. I'm proud of you. Keep going. Even if all you can manage is the next minute. Keep going.  Here is my updates and reflection on 2024. The biggest thing for me has been my move and new ministry in Wisconsin. I said goodbye to two lovely rural Nebraska churches in February and started my new ministry in Wisconsin March 1. It was funny that I was actually attending a UCCB meeting in Ohio when I officially met my new conference minister in person on March 1. God has a sense of humor. This past 9 months has been learning about the systems of the church and the community and trying to find my place. I haven't been perfect in this, but I...
Post a Comment
Read more

Stories from Ministry - Things You Can't Make Up

Funerals can bring out the best or the worst in people/families. Here's a story from a funeral that I can't make up. Note that this story is not from my current ministry setting and names and identifying information has been changed. I was asked to officiate a funeral for a family that wasn't connected to a church but wanted a minister. I met with the family before the funeral and learned I was only meeting part of the family and that there was some sort of rift between the adult children. I made a mental note but the family seemed to be okay. Fast forward to the day of the funeral. I arrive half way through the visitation before the service and check in with the funeral home and family and things seem to be okay. It's clear that there's a divide between the children but folks seem to be staying on their respected sides and behaving. The service goes off well and the casket gets loaded into the hearse. Family members get in their vehicles and I get in the hearse wit...
1 comment
Read more

Political vs. Partisan in Preaching

For years now, I have heard in preaching and clergy circles about being political in sermons; the good, the bad and those who state that church shouldn’t be political. There are workshops, books, and podcasts talking about politics in the church with a variety of opinions. What do people mean when they make the statement that the church shouldn’t be political? The IRS has the most say about the rules for the separation of church and state/politics. If your church wants to be tax exempt, there are rules: don’t endorse any candidate or party, if you allow one party to use your space, other political parties also must be allowed to use the space, etc. The UCC’s general counsel, Heather Kimmell, has a webinar on this topic if you’d like to hear a more detailed explanation which can be found on the UCC’s YouTube channel. Churches have gotten “creative” in how to get around this, often partnering with another non-profit group to give support to a particular group. The UCC is proud to claim...
Post a Comment
Read more