a strange mix
In the mid-1990s a Scottish fish and chip shop did something rather odd. They took a Mars bar and deep fried it and started selling it to customers.
This weird combination grew in popularity and spread to other fish and chip shops all over Scotland and is still available today.
I have never tried it, but I have tasted some other strange food combinations. Last December our son visited a Christmas market and returned with some chilli cheese - that had a kick!
I have also come across chilli chocolate, orange and whisky cheese and even chocolate covered bacon! One of my favourites is salted caramel ice cream.
Some of these combinations actually work, whilst others are quite disgusting. In a way they remind me of my life, which is a strange mix.
What I mean is this. I am a Christian, who loves God, and I try to live in a way that seeks to honour Him. But there are times when my thoughts and actions are not as ‘Christian’ as I would like.
Since the beginning of the year, I started reading the Bible again. The book of Genesis tells the stories of Abraham and his son Isaac, and his son Jacob. God says that He is…
“the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.”
When you read about how each of these three men behaved, you discover that they were also a strange mix.
There were times when they connected with God, listening and doing what He said. But then on other occasions, they disobeyed Him and took matters into their own hands.
God saw something in them, and He repeatedly told each of them of His promise for their future and beyond. In other words, God’s vision was unchanged despite how they behaved.
He was loving, forgiving and gracious, giving room for their mistakes and coming to that point of yielding and trusting Him.
I’m so grateful for stories like this, as it shows that even these great Biblical heroes were not perfect! If their weakness and failings was not a problem for God, then I believe the same is true for you and me today!
God bless you :)
Gary Bastin - Hope Community Church leader