You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. - Galatians 5:13

Friday Devotional – Prodigal Son Part 2

by admin on May 18, 2012

Last week we looked at the first part of the story of the Prodigal son.  This week, we will look specifically at how the older son reacted as found at the end of this parable in Luke 15:25-32.

In verse 28 we see the older son’s reaction to the feast his father was giving his brother.  After what his brother had done he comes back and gets a party.    After demanding his share of the estate, leaving his father and brother behind and moving to another place, squandering all his inheritance, the younger son comes back. Their father not only forgives him, but treats him like royalty!

The older brother is ticked off!  Not only did his younger brother NOT get what he deserved, but he (the older and obedient son) has never gotten what he thinks he deserves.  So he boycotts the celebration and doesn’t go.

The father goes out to get his older son and pleads with him to come and join them.  This was an act of grace on the father’s part, but culturally this was a sign of disgrace.  No father should ever have to go and plead with any of his sons, let alone his eldest.

The son then “lets him have it!”  He reminds his father how faithful and obedient he has been.  In fact he tells the father, “all these years I’ve been slaving for you.” (Verse 29)  And then he adds, “And what have I gotten for it!”   The term “slaving” implies doing something out of obligation, not out of joy or love.  And asking, “What have I gotten for it?” reveals a desire for a pay-off?

In verse 31 the father says, “You are always with me, and everything I have is yours.”  Basically saying, “You’ve got me son, isn’t that enough for you?”  It seems the older son didn’t want the father’s love; he wanted the father’s stuff, the father’s favor, and the father’s inheritance.

Here is a case where knowing the audience gives us insight into the meaning of the parable.  Verses 1 and 2 tells all: “Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus.  But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

The Pharisees represented the older son; super-spiritual and obedient to a tee.  Yet, they were the ones who were really lost.  While the younger son was lost in his sin, he knew it.  The older son was lost in his obedience and what’s worse, he was blind to it.

Here is the message: The Christian life is not about our goodness; it’s about loving the Lord. Our Father is waiting….

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Thursday Video – Dancing

by admin on May 17, 2012

Who doesn’t like a dancing kid?

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Tales from the Trail – Ames, IA

by admin on May 16, 2012

At Pizza Ranches across the midwest, many great tip nights come in to earn some money for a charity.  The one I’d like to share today comes from Ames, IA, and something about it just amazed me.  The group came in to raise money fro March of Dimes, which is an organization dedicated to helping improve the health of mothers and babies.  The group that came in raised about $1000.  But to me, that wasn’t the coolest part.

One guest who came in donated over $300.  This guest was a father of 9 year old twins that were born at 25 weeks.  The event organizers came over and talked to him, learning that he was from Minnesota and was just passing through.  It was one of those moments when you realize sometimes things happen by more than just chance.

Also told by the event organizer was that one of the managers decided to donate some of his own money for this group, above and beyond what the restaurant was already donating.

So, good work Ames Pizza Ranch on your tip nights.

To read more about this event check out the blog post here: http://kampstriplets.blogspot.com/2012/04/night-at-pizza-ranch.html

 

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Tuesday Truths – Impossible

by admin on May 15, 2012

This week’s truth is about impossibility:

“Nothing is impossible, the word itself says ‘I’m possible’!” - Audrey Hepburn

Just because something seems impossible doesn’t mean in can’t happen.  Look past your limits to see what you can truly do.

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Monday Mission – Take Someone Under Your Wing

by admin on May 14, 2012

We all have something we are good at.  

For this week’s mission, use that skill and teach it to someone else.  Find someone to take under your wing and teach them something that you are good at.

Maybe its how to plant a garden, and you could share or help your neighbor plant their garden.  Maybe it’s a music lesson you could give to a family member or friend.  Maybe its how to make the Country’s Best Chicken, or a great pizza.  :-)

Whatever it is, we’d love to hear what you’re teaching and who you taught it to.

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Friday Devotional – Prodigal Son Part 1

by admin on May 11, 2012

Everyone knows the story of the “Prodigal Son.”  It’s found in Luke 15:1-31.  It is this story we are going to consider for the next two weeks.  This week we want to reflect upon the younger son; and the father.  Next week we will turn our attention to the older son and is relationship with the father.

To summarize: the younger son asks for his inheritance before his father dies. [Which is unheard of] His father gives it to him. [Which is unheard of] He takes his money and goes to a distant land and squanders it.  There is a famine in the land and he runs out of money.  So he takes a job to slop the hogs and becomes so hungry that even the pods the pigs ate looked good to him.

He then realizes that even his father’s servants had it better than he does so he plans to go back and ask for his father’s mercy, ready to become a simple servant amongst his father’s other workmen.

His father sees him coming from “far off” and tells everyone to prepare a feast for him, put a royal robe around him, and he runs with open arms to welcome him back, totally forgiving him.  There’s more to the story, but we’ll consider that next week.  Consider:

  • The younger son was self-interested and wanted to put distance between him and his Father
  • The Father gave him the inheritance—this was his first measure of grace
  • The younger son came to a dead-end, empty and to the end of himself realizing that if his father would take him back—even to serve—he would be better off.
    • He came back with a broken spirit—totally humbled
    • The father has compassion (Ps. 51:16,17)
    • The younger son came back
    • The father says, just as the song of Jeremy Camp, “I’ll take you back….always.”

Consider:

The word Prodigal means “recklessly wasteful or extravagant.”

  • The younger son was reckless, totally wasting his inheritance.
  • The Father was even more extravagant, showering his grace lavishly upon his repentant son.

And now, consider this:

  • Many of us are like the younger son, distancing ourselves from a relationship with God, our Father
  • When we come to the end of ourselves, and look to Him, there He is, with his arms open wide, running toward us, and saying, “I’ll take you back…always; let’s celebrate.”

Question to consider: are you running to Him or from Him?

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Thursday Video

by admin on May 10, 2012

A special thank you to all of the mom’s in our lives, not only our own, but our sisters in Christ as well.

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Tales from the Trail – Restaurant Support Center

by admin on May 9, 2012

The power of prayer is an amazing thing.   Each Thursday morning the staff members of the Pizza Ranch Restaurant Support Center have the opportunity to participate in prayer time.  On any given Thursday morning you will find 10 to 30 staff members gathering to share a short devotional and prayer.  During this prayer time, we pray for Pizza Ranch, our office staff members, family and friends, franchisees, as well as any prayer concerns that come out of the communities that we serve.  It is a humbling experience when you hear about the good things that God has done for our families, restaurants and communities.  We want to hear from you, and pray for you as well!   Please be sure to use the prayer link on this website to share prayer requests with us.  We want to be a part of miracles in your life and the lives of those that you serve.

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Tuesday Truths

by admin on May 8, 2012

Mother’s Day is among the most appropriate to reflect on the true meaning of love. A Mother’s love is often a personification of I Corinthians 13:4-7.   Remember not only do you have the love of your mother, you have the love of our lord and savior Jesus Christ in your life.

Love is patient; love is kind. Love is not jealous; is not proud; is not conceited; does not act foolishly; is not selfish; is not easily provoked to anger; keeps no record of wrongs; takes no pleasure in unrighteousness, but rejoices in the truth; love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. ~I Corinthians 13:4

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Monday Mission – Mother’s Day

by admin on May 7, 2012

Mother’s Day is just around the corner … Sunday, May 13.  This is a day that we typically honor our own mother and/or mother-in-law.   Mother’s Day isn’t just for your own personal family, but all of the mom’s in your life.  Our challenge this week is to have you reach out to all of the moms in your life.  Thank your co-workers, neighbors or sisters in Christ that are mothers.  Mothers have had a huge impact in society over the years, and now it is your chance to thank all of the moms in your life.  It can be a simple thank you note, a single flower, or a meal that they can take home for their family.  The simple things in life mean the most to moms all around the world.

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