Crispy Orange Chicken Bowl

Those of you who are fans, or patrons, of Applebees know that the Crispy Orange Chicken Bowl is one of their signature dishes. It also happens to be my favorite entree. It has slivered almonds, peppers, rice, broccoli, mushrooms and that just right bite.

Maggie and I treat ourselves on occasion by exploring the menus at various eating establishments in Lincoln. I love most of them and those who have seen my spare tire would agree with me. I am in love with The Oven which serves Indian cuisine. Texas Roadhouse, Greenfields, Jade River are also on my favorite list. But when I want a tried and true meal that I can always count on we go to Applebees where I have only ordered one thing in the past five years (not quite). It just happens that there is an Applebees about one quarter mile from our home, so tonight that's where we went. As usual I ordered, you guessed it, the Crispy Orange Chicken Bowl.....or so I thought.

It didn't take long for our meals to arrive and when they placed mine in front of me, I gasped. It wasn't the Crispy Orange Chicken. Instead it was the Oriental Chicken Salad, also good but not what I had planned on. The server was very astute and noticed my shock. I started to say, "That's not what I ordered," but I suddenly remembered it was exactly what I ordered, although not what I intended.

I told our server to leave it and I would eat it. After all, it was my mistake and I would live with it. She insisted on taking it back and bringing me the Crispy Orange Chicken. I felt bad and thanked her over and over. She just smiled and said, "It's our pleasure." Now, you are surely asking what all this has to do with anything. Truth is, I could go several directions with this story. I could turn it into a political point about getting what we asked for, but not what we wanted. Not a bad thought. However, to me this drives home a spiritual point. It is a modern day parable of sorts. I had hoped for wheat but got weeds? Perhaps, but to me this is a grace parable.

You and I are sinners. Case closed! We are spiritual criminals who have committed acts of lawlessness against God. We have broken God's law more times than we can count. Let's see, how many times have you and I used God's name in a less than holy way? How about adultery? Jesus taught that when you lust after another person in your heart you are guilty of adultery...oops! Ever committed a murder? Jesus said that if we hate someone we are guilty of murder. Okay, point made. We are not always the nice people on the inside that others see on the outside. So, "the wages of sin is death." That's what we ordered, but not what we wanted. That's what we deserve. We worked hard for it, we paid for it, we slept with it, ate it, drank it and so we deserve it. But wait! God through Christ also paid for it on the cross. We were given what we asked for, but God said "Let me bring you what you really want, not what you ordered." God says, "My grace is sufficient for you. I will take back that which you really asked for and bring you something better.....much better. I will bring you healing. I will bring you happiness. I will bring you happiness. I will bring you forgiveness." And that, boys and girls, is grace......God's Riches At Christ's Expense: GRACE.

I thanked my server upon leaving the building also. I thanked the manager. But mostly I thanked God.....no, not for Crispy Orange Chicken although it is divine, but for the lesson of this meal.

Look around you and you too will find grace staring you in the face. You will find Christ in a simple meal.....perhaps bread and wine, but also perhaps Crispy Orange Chicken. I will close, because if I preach any longer I will have to receive an offering. After all I am United Methodist. But wait....the bill has been paid. The offering has been given. We are free from the bondage of sin. A few lines ago I said, "The wages of sin is death," but the rest of that verse says, "but the free gift of God is eternal life."

God Bless You and God Bless America!

(The Tomb in the Garden of Gethsemane)