May 23, 2024 — The Dollar Spot Devotions

Mike and Ike – Sounds Like a Presidential Ticket!

“These are the descendants of Isaac, Abraham’s son: Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah, daughter of Bethuel the Aramean of Paddan-aram, sister of Laban the Aramean. Isaac prayed to the Lord for his wife, because she was barren; and the Lord granted his prayer, and his wife Rebekah conceived. The children struggled together within her; and she said, “If it is to be this way, why do I live?” So she went to inquire of the Lord. And the Lord said to her,

“Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples born of you shall be divided; the one shall be stronger than the other, the elder shall serve the younger.”When her time to give birth was at hand, there were twins in her womb. The first came out red, all his body like a hairy mantle; so they named him Esau. Afterward his brother came out, with his hand gripping Esau’s heel; so he was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them.”   Genesis 25:19-26

“Mike and Ike are oblong fruit-flavored chewy candies that come in several colors and varieties, including cherry, orange, lime, lemon, and strawberry. Popular varieties are Tropical Typhoon, Berry Blast and Jolly Joes.   The candy is kosher and gluten-free.  They are similar to Hot Tamales, another candy introduced by the same manufacturer in 1950, though they are not spicy.  And as to the origin of the name, well  Mike and Ike (They Look Alike) was a comic strip by Rube Goldberg, who introduced the identical twin characters in the San Francisco Bulletin on September 29, 1907.”  (Mike and Ike website)

Mike and Ike (They Look Alike) was a comic strip by Rube Goldberg, who introduced the identical twin characters in the San Francisco Bulletin on September 29, 1907.  (Wikipedia) 

Now Rube Goldberg was a cartoonist, but he is best known for a series of popular cartoons depicting complicated gadgets that perform simple tasks in indirect, convoluted ways. Goldberg received many honors in his lifetime, including a Pulitzer Prize for his political cartooning in 1948 and the Banshees’ Silver Lady Award in 1959. We might know him best though for the complicated gadgets – someone will often look at a device and say “That looks like a Rube Goldberg device”.   “The Rube Goldberg Machine Contest is a contest in which college or high school students build devices to complete a simple task in a minimum of twenty steps in the style of American cartoonist Rube Goldberg. Local contests are held throughout the United States, and local winners are eligible to compete in the national contest.” (Wikipedia) 

Jacob and Esau were twins, but they were not alike at all. They were the antithesis of Mike and Ike. Esau was the oldest and therefore the one to receive the birthright and blessing of his father. And Esau was the favorite of his father. But Jacob was the favorite of his mother, and together the two of them would conspire for Jacob to trick his father Isaac into giving Jacob his blessings. And even though Jacob was a trickster and a liar, he will go on to father the children who will become the leaders of the twelve tribes of Israel.   

Once again we are reminded that G-d does not seek out “perfect” people to participate in spreading the good news of the kingdom of G-d. Instead G-d selects regular people no matter their flaws, people who will trust G-d and follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The sons of Jacob will go on to try to kill their brother Joseph – but again, G-d will use what they devised for evil and turn it into the beginning of the Israelite nation. It is a good thing that we are not all alike – and a good thing that G-d will use imperfect people to continue G-d’s work in the world.

Pastor Dave

May 22, 2024 — The Dollar Spot Devotions

Yan Yan – Can Can you do without your Yan Yan?

”Then his servants came near and spoke to him (Naaman) and said, “My father, had the prophet told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he says to you, ‘Wash, and be clean ‘?”  So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child and he was clean.  When he returned to the man of God with all his company, and came and stood before him, he said, “Behold now, I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel; so please take a present from your servant now.”… 2 Kings 5:13-15

“Yan Yan is a Japanese snack food made by Meiji Seika. It comes in a package with two compartments. One side has biscuit sticks (which can be sometimes called cracker sticks), the other side has chocolate, strawberry, vanilla, or yogurt flavored frosting used for dipping. The sticks themselves may also be flavored. Some Yan Yan products are sold in rectangular containers with 9 sticks and dip.”  (Wikipedia)

I have never heard of a Yan Yan product until I saw one in my Dollar Spot location. I have seen something similar to this product – I believe Nutella has something similar that is sold in the grocery store. It is a great snack for people on the go.  It has biscuit sticks, it has the dip – a container that has everything that you need in one place. It is that simple.

Naaman the Syrian was in need of healing. He suffered from leprosy. He was a great soldier, but this infirmity was a hindrance to living the best life that he could. So he found that there was a prophet named Elisha who could heal him, and he went to see the prophet. Elisha sent a messenger out to see him and to tell him that all he needed to do was to go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and he would be healed. He just needed to go to one place and take a dip, and he would be clean. It was that simple. There are times we wish G-d would give us a challenge so that, when we find the answer we feel as if we have earned it. It is our human nature to want to earn things. This was Naaman’s issue. He felt his status and position deserved at least some amount of “commotion” in his healing. But Naaman was given a gift – he did not need to earn it – he would not need someone to wave their arms over him and make a big deal in healing him.

You and I have also been given a great gift. Jesus died on the cross so that you and I do not need to earn our salvation – we do not need to make a big deal about it, at least so that G-d sees us. But we do need to make a big deal about it so that others know what Jesus has done for us. Jesus has everything we need. It is that simple.

Pastor Dave