Every once in a while, I run across a great feature article that I think is a great story to share with our readers. The basis of the article is that there is currently an initiative that one of the largest national franchise owners of Dairy Queen stores has started to furnish Bibles in their retail locations. In fact, many folks have called this program, “Ice Cream and Inspiration” but I thought “Dairy Queen Bibles” was something that our readership would more closely identify and, frankly, it is much more direct! So here’s the story:
The CEO of this large franchisee of Dairy Queen stores believes that he owes his company’s success to God. In recognition of that belief, he has started an initiative that places Bibles, along with a highlighter and journal, on the front counter of their Dairy Queen locations, many of which are located n Indiana and Kentucky.
Now most of us know that Hobby Lobby, Chick-fil-A and many other large organizations are deliberate in their expression of Christian values and even heavily donate to Christian causes. In-N-Out Burger even goes so far as to print Bible verses on cups and wrappers at their locations. Dairy Queen doesn’t have a similar program but individual franchise owners are free to do their own thing as far as the expression of Christian values is concerned. This company, Fourteen Foods, owns a number of locations, including several here in Indiana.
In gratitude to God, a Bible is placed in a place of prominence at each of their locations so that customers can thumb through the pages and use a supplied highlighter to mark their favorite verses. In fact, they are encouraged to write notes in the margin and a nearby journal is available for them to write notes or thoughts if they so desire.
Apparently, this has been a very popular thing in their restaurants. I can see why. Rather than go on and on, I’m sure you get the idea. So let’s get to our verse for tonight. It’s my favorite verses in the Bible. It’s the one that I would highlight in the Bible at the local Dairy Queen if I had the opportunity. You might wonder why I am so fond of this verse. Well, it’s the first verse of the Bible. The one that begins the greatest story ever told.
The one that causes you to want to read on and see what happens next. Moses, the author of Genesis, starts the Bible by going back to the beginning – well, the beginning of when God decided to create the heavens and the earth – designed to be the perfect “nest” for mankind in his interaction with his Creator. Moses tells us, in Genesis 1:1-2, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and void, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God hovered over the abyss.”
My encouragement this evening is that God, in addition to prayer and other personal interactions, wants to connect with us through His Word. The Bible is a book that contains the answers to virtually all the questions that can help us lead a better life in concert with God the Father and the other members of the Trinity. My prayer is that we all will study the Bible in order to better understand the our history as well as the things to come. The greatest news is that we get to spend eternity with God and, in the end, Satan is defeated and banished forever. Have a great day in the Lord, grace and peace…