You Haven't Had My Green Beans

I have a friend that is a pretty awesome cook, chef, whatever he wants to be called...just call me for dinner. You know what I'm saying? He made a statement one time that I have found to be true about food and the way it is prepared and enjoyed. He really gets bugged out when someone tells him that they don't like a certain food whether it be broccoli, green beans or whatever. On one occasion a friend tried to snub his green beans. Now these weren't regular ole green beans. There was some love and care (onions, garlic and of course, bacon; and other secret ingredients) put into this special concoction. Our friend realized that he loved green beans. The lesson was this: many of us somewhere along the way had someone prepare a certain food in such a way that we decided we didn't like that food, like the green beans. Perhaps, he had them served straight from the can with no special ingredients. Unfortunately, he labeled that food under the "I won't eat" column. For years our friend had skipped out on the delicacy we know as green beans, because someone had ruined them for him. ---I couldn't help to think of how many people have turned their backs on church today, because somewhere along the way they got a bad taste in their mouth. We've met so many people that would say they are believers, but never darken the door of a church. They say they had a bad experience at a church or something like that. Heck yeah, you did! There are people in the church, and if you stay in one long enough they will urinate in your cheerios (now I have your attention). That is such a bunch of bologna! We don't quit on restaurants, stores or whatever unless they mess us over a bunch. Listen, I am sorry for the terrible experience you had with a church (it could have been our church). But it's time to build a bridge and get over it. Maybe you grew up in some legalistic church or a church that only had room for a select few. Maybe you went to a church and there wasn't much going on. Maybe you went to a church that was dead. Maybe you went to a church that...(stunk) didn't represent Christ well. Let me encourage you to give church a try again. And if you feel like giving it another try, come try Living Truth Church...we like salt, onions, bacon and all the special ingredients. Come spice the place up with your presence. To be absent from the body (Church) is to be absent from the HEAD (Christ)...come on back.