Random Musings on Living Well

Fish & Chips Say a Lot

“Ghosts don’t eat breakfast!”

— Os Guinness

Os Guinness, in his book on doubt (God in the Dark) points out that following his resurrection, Jesus didn’t work yet another miracle to convince his followings that it was really him appearing before them in the flesh.

Instead he did the most ordinary thing: He took some fish and ate it.

Bingo!

They believed because they knew that ghosts don’t eat breakfast, only real live humans do that.

Of course miracles are certainly a part of God’s arsenal. I believe that on any given day, concerning any given need, God can (and does) work miracles.

But miracles are seldom God’s first line of offense or defense because the moment God produces a miracle to help people believe, they will then ask for one more. 

I have witnessed this in my own life.

Miracles were a big part of my childhood.  They were reported to happen all the time.  But in the end, what got me through those early skeptic years was the daily lives of my parents.  Every time I tried to convince myself that there was nothing to all that religion stuff, I would bump into my parent’s lives of devotion.

I could pick a part theology.

I could chalk off “miracles” to chance, mistaken identity, emotionalism, or, as yet some undiscovered scientific reality.

But the faithful lives of my parents living out their faith? I knew that was not fake and eventually that was what convinced me that their God was real and worthy of my devotion.

The ONE THING for today: Never underestimate the effectiveness of simply living out your faith faithfully day in and day.

11 that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, 12 that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, 

1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 (NKJV)

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pastorkemp

These are the random musings of a man whose goal is to make Jesus the paramount pursuit of my life who, while in this effort, is writing down a few lessons I've learned along the way. You'll have to decide if they are worth heeding but at least you may learn a few things not to do.

2 thoughts on “Fish & Chips Say a Lot”

  1. Pastor Kemp, awesome words here, reminds me of two different pastors in the Atlanta area from several years ago. First was Charles Stanley, and his comments about pressing on walking down the long dusty road of faith. Yes we might encounter miracles along the way, other sorts of blessings, but the true call of discipleship was walking that long dusty road, whether we encounter the miraculous or not, whether or not we encounter blessings, our calling is the walk the dusty road. The other was Paul Walker, I still tear up when I recall his testimony from the time he buried his son Paul Dana Walker, who was killed in a tragic traffic accident by a drunk driver. There on the hillside at the cemetery, having just buried their son, Carmelita his wife, turned to Dr. Walker and said let’s have everyone sing God is So Good. Dr. Walker told her I don’t feel like singing God is So Good! Carmelita told him, that is why we need to sing the song. So in the midst of such loss, pain and grief, Dr. Walker led all those at the graveside service in a song of praise, God is so Good! We might not understand now, for we see through a glass darkly, but then we shall see Him face to face.

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