Flying Krimpets and the Amazing Catch

On Monday, November 2, something strange and wonderful happened in chapel.

It rained Butterscotch Krimpets.

No only that--Peppermint Lifesavers and Hershey's Chocolate also fell from the sky. Can there be a better way to start a Monday?

Probably not, but these goodies also helped Dock students grasp an important spiritual lesson--that God expects instant obedience.

Stretch Dean, youth pastor at Immanuel Church of the Nazarene in Lansdale, began his memorable chapel presentation by saying he had always been told how important it was to start the day with a good breakfast, yet he never seemed to be able to get up early enough to make one for himself. Instead, he relied on his version of an "instant breakfast"--Tastykake Butterscotch Krimpets. And down from the balcony came a shower of Krimpets, and lucky Dock students like Katelyn Kratz (see photo, above) caught themselves a mid-morning snack.

Stretch went on to say that many people spend lots of time, energy and money seeking instant happiness. This time, fistfuls of Hershey Bars cascaded from the balcony--making many students instantly happy.

There are other times when we want (or need) instant fresh breath, Stretch said, and his personal favorite in those times is Pep-O-Mint Lifesavers. Moments later (you guessed it), dozens of Dock students had instantly fresh breath.

Instant breakfasts are great, Stretch said, and instant happiness is awesome. Instant fresh breath--well, it's an absolute necessity sometimes. In the same way, he said, instant obedience to God's will is a requirement for living a Christ-like life.

Stretch pointed to the example in Luke 5 when Jesus first called Simon (Peter), James and John to be his disciples. Jesus instructed Simon to cast his net, and Peter complained that he and his partners had fished all night long and hadn't caught a thing. They were probably tired and frustrated and hungry. But Peter said, "Because you say so, I will let down the nets." Before they knew it, they had caught so many fish that the nets began to break and they could barely haul in all the fish with two boats.

Instant breakfasts are great--especially when they consist of Butterscotch Krimpets. Instant happiness is good, too. But these are temporary delights. The blessings we experience when we are instantly obedient to the will of God are better by far.