"A SPECIAL DAY!"
Tuesday, July 6 is National Fried Chicken Day. Who would have ever guessed it? A special day for Colonial Sanders and Preachers!
Through the years there have been numerous jokes about preachers and fried chicken. One version of an old joke is about a lady getting on a bus and a rather rotund gentleman sitting in a seat, which blocked the lady from getting to a vacant seat. She said, “Hey buddy, move your beer gut so I can sit down.” He responded, “Ma’am I’ll have you to know that I am a preacher and I don’t drink beer.” She said, “Then move your chicken coup!!”
When my children were young and I would be going off to preach I would tell them something that I had heard years ago. I would say, “I am going to preach the Word, and eat the bird.” They still remind me of that from time to time today.
I know that back in the day preachers have been fed a lot of fried chicken. Some of my older preaching friends remember times that they received a chicken (a real live one) as their pay for preaching.
However, that is only a minor reason for Tuesday, July 6 being such a special day. Allow me to share a few additional reasons, and then you can add to them.
It is a day created by the Lord. “This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24) We should rejoice every day that we are alive and have the opportunity to glorify our Savior (Colossians 3:17).
If we are Christians we are able to enjoy the Abundant Life. “…I have come that you might have life and have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10) Sure, there are challenges to meet, problems to be dealt with, and issues to be addressed, but if you are in Christ He has assured you the abundant life.
We can talk to our Father. One of the greatest blessings we have as Christians, and there are many of them (Colossians 1:3), is the privilege of talking to our Father in Heaven every day that we live. We can come to Him at any moment with boldness (Hebrews 4:14-16). We can cast all our worries, concerns, and cares on Him (1 Peter 5:7).
We can share the Good News. It seems that each day is filled with bad news all around us; oil spills, hurricanes, economic problems, wars, crime, family problems, and church problems. Surely everybody grows weary of the constant barrage of bad news. Let’s share some Good News (Romans 1:16; Matthew 28:18-20). Let’s go out and tell someone about Jesus and how He came to take away sin and give a wonderful newness to life (2 Corinthians 5:17).
We can say something kind to someone or do something kind for someone. There are people that will not speak to anyone on National Chicken Day. Find one of those people, give them a call, pay them a visit, do something special, let them know that you care. Let your speech be seasoned with grace today (Colossians 4:6).
I Hope you have a wonderful National Chicken Day and hope your day is special. Now, let’s see, will it be Chick-Fil-A, Raising Canes, Babes (for you folks in Oklahoma Babes is something akin to Eischen’s!), Chicken Express, Chicken Casserole:), Golden Chick, or Chicken Fajitas? Any suggestions?
Dear Father, help us to make this day special by the way we live. Help us to rejoice today, because this is the day You have made. Father, we thank You for sending Your only Son so that we might enjoy the Abundant Life. Help us, dear God to share the Good News with someone who doesn’t know Jesus. Father, help us to speak a kind word to someone who is hurting, help us do a kind deed for someone who is lonely, help us to reach out with Your love to others.