4 Aug, 2010
Aint Nothin' Like the Real Thing
(picture courtesy of google.com/images)
I live in a small suburb of Indianapolis, Indiana, and I recently discovered one of the yummiest (is that a word?) tacos I've had in a very.long.time. See, although I live in Indiana now, I actually grew up in California, where I was surrounded by quality, authentic, ethnic food, especially Mexcian food. As a result, somewhere along the line, I became a taco snob - just ask my husband (who grew up in Kansas City and whose idea of great Mexican cuisine is Taco Bell)! I guess all I can say is, once you've tasted the real thing, there's just no settling for anything less. Well, not too long ago, a big black truck arrived in Indianapolis and created quite the buzz. People began talking about a group of guys who sold tacos out of a catering truck, on a street corner in a busy area of town. As the story goes, it all started with one guy who moved to Los Angeles, CA (from Indy), tasted an authentic, Mexican taco, and he was never the same. He'd never experienced a taco quite like it. It wasn't the typical hardshell taco loaded down with beef, sourcream, lettuce and cheese . . . it was simple: a taco in its purest form (just meat, onions, and cilantro), and it changed his life, literally. Believing that the rest of the world (or atleast Indianapolis) needed to share the same experience, the young man (and a few of his buddies) invested his life-savings into getting the business started. It hasn't taken long for word to spread through social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook, as individuals can't stop talking about "West Coast Tacos." Even the New York Times featured the traveling taco truck, recently. All the talk peaked my curiosity (and my craving) so I made the 25 minute trek into downtown Indy last week, braving the heat and humidity (along with the noontime lunch crowds) to stand outside a truck, amidst a long line of customers to experience it myself . . . and it was so worth it. So much so, that I told my family about it and dragged them back to the truck just a few days later so they could enjoy it! There's just nothing like the real thing!
Read the story of West Coast Tacos here:
http://indianapolis.metromix.com/restaurants/article/west-coast-tacos-in/2025221/content
Mark 3:7-10
Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the lake, and a large crowd from Galilee followed. When they heard all he was doing, many people came to him from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, and the regions across the Jordan and around Tyre and Sidon. Because of hte crowd he told his disciples to have a small boat ready for him, to keep the people from crowding him. For he had healed many, so that those with diseases were pushing forward to touch him.
What does today's story and God's Story scripture teach us about authenticity?
People are willing to sacrifice a lot when they find something that they find to be genuine, pure, or authentic. Obviously - I'm willing to drive 30 minutes to chase down a taco truck and wait another 20 minutes in line just to get one! When people heard about all that Jesus was doing - the miracles he was performing, the healing, and the genuine love and compassion he was showing - they came from great distances to fight the crowds, in hopes of getting just a glimpse of the man who was causing such a stir. Those who were diseased and hurting knew that Jesus was the "real thing," and they were wiling to do anything to be healed by him. It's amazing the lengths we'll go to just to experience something authentic and real (a live concert, a painting, food, friendship, love). When you value it, you'll do and pay whatever it takes. Jesus is the great I Am. He is the Only One who can rescue us from our sin, and the Only One who can restore our relationship with God. There is no substitution for His grace, and nothing will ever compare!
How can we connect God's Story scripture to our lives?
Do you have a craving for a real, authentic relationship with God? Maybe you find that all to often you're willing to attempt to substitute God's grace for a counterfeit that the world is offering. You're settling for Taco Bell when you could be sinking your teeth into something genuinely fresh and rich with flavor! Spend some time this week really seeking out Christ. Work at it, like the crowds did when they had to journey long distances to see his face. Look for God in the things that surround you: people, circumstances, creation. Search for Him in your prayer times, through scripture, and in conversations with others. Ask God to reveal Himself to you, giving you the wisdom to discern what is True and what is not. Knock-offs and substitutes are easy to come by - they're cheap and can be found everywhere - but an authentic, original is the only one of it's kind and people are willing to sacrifice greatly just to get their hands on it.
How can we connect our story and today's God's Story scripture to our friends' lives?
Talk to your friends about the difference between knock-off or counterfiet items and originals. Talk about why one is considered more valuable than the other. Ask them about what things they value in their lives that they're willing to really sacrifice for. Use this as an opportunity to share a few things in your life that you really value and are willing to work for, including your relationship with Christ. Share about all of the people who, just having heard about Jesus and the miracles he was performing, traveled long distances to see and experience his healing hand. Help your friends understand why there is no substitute for the grace and forgiveness that God offers, through Christ.
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