Monday, 29 March 2010

• Where's The Bun? The Hamburger Principle of Renewal

  By Bonnie at Faith Barista

  Over here in California, there’s a Golden-State-only burger joint I love eating at pretty regularly.

  In-N-Out Burger is known for its retro 50’s style, courteous service and fresh ingredients.  You can even order your burger custom-made from a “secret menu”, that only the cool people know about.

  One day, as I was standing in line, something to the side caught my eye.  A guy sitting at a table, pulled a neatly stacked layer of lettuce, tomatoes and beef patty out of a wrapper and took a bite out of it, as if it was an actual burger.

  “What the world?…”  I wondered.  “Where’s the bun?” 

  I’m sure he thought I was totally rude, but I couldn’t help staring.

  The Bun Makes The Burger
  I’m not so cool, so I went to search online and found the name of this non-carb special order:  “The Protein Burger”.  It has everything you’d think a burger would have.  Except for the bun.

  The bun’s pretty important in my humble opinion.  Not only does the bun keep the whole thing together, it also holds the ketchup, mustard and pickles.  The bun simply makes the burger taste good.

  Renewal Makes The Faith Walk

  Our faith walk can be like that bun-less burger.

  A central part of working out our faith is allowing God to change us. 

  We want to taste the effect of faith in us.
  We need to be renewed.
  

  Renewed.

  It’s a big word.

  It’s the pivot between two actions we’re called to take –

  “..put off your old self,…
  so that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind
  and to put on the new self…”
  Ephesians 4:22-24

  Can you see the “Renewal Hamburger” in this passage?

  The meat:  renewed

  The two slices of bun on each side:  put off the old + put on the new

  To be renewed — for faith to actually change us — these are the two movements we must continuously exercise. Two opposite motions.

  We’re going to launch into Passion week before Easter, in a just few days.  The words new and life are going to be peeking at us from lily floral arrangements, Easter eggs hunts, and choruses of Because He Lives.

  How can we experience renewal — really see change in our lives?

  We are going to be exploring this question at Faith Barista.  We’ll be swapping stories of how we’re putting off the old — and putting on the new.

  I’m looking forward to enjoying this Renewal Hamburger together, one bite at a time.  With patty and bun intact.
  
  How’s your hamburger of renewal?

  Is God currently calling you to put off the old, put on the new, or a combo of both?

  This is an original post to Faith Barista, where Christian writer Bonnie Gray serves up shots of faith for everyday life.

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