SPIRITUAL GRANOLA

I suppose every church has its share of spiritual granola: fruits, nuts, and flakes!

Depending on how you view granola, though, maybe granola in the church isn't such a bad idea after all.

I checked out "granola" on the web and discovered there's one brand called "Bear Naked Granola." Well, let's not get carried away, now.

This Bear Naked Granola claims to use 100% pure and natural ingredients and emphasize they make their granola with REAL whole grains and use no artificial flavors. I see some characteristics there that would make fantastic spiritual granola. We certainly need all the purity we can get in the church these days. And how refreshing it would be to see everyone being their plain, ole natural selves -- no "holier-than-thou" attitudes or "stuck-up" and "artificial" actions and expressions.

Bear Naked Granola states they do not use hydrogenated oils. On the other hand, we need the hydrogenated oils in spiritual granola. You see, in hydrogenated oils, fatty acids have been converted to a different form chemically, are far more shelf stable, and will not go rancid so quickly. Hey, there's where we need hydrogenation -- if there's such a word. We need people who have been converted, who are different from the inside out, who are new creations, as the Bible says, in Christ Jesus. Truly it's those individuals who are the backbone of the church, the ones who are stable. And you can count on it -- they won't go "rancid" so quickly!

Bear Naked Granola is also vegetarian friendly. To me that equates with spiritual tolerance one for another. We don't have to see eye to eye with others on all issues, especially on non-Biblical matters. And if we're "vegetarian friendly" in the spiritual sense, we're not going to be judgmental -- it's not Scriptural.

The last claim Bear Naked Granola makes for its product is that it's "Kosher certified." Hey, I like that. In other words, it's pure, and we're right back where we started -- 100% pure.

Maybe Spiritual Granola isn't so bad after all in spite of the fruits, flakes and nuts! Just beware of hydrogenated oils!

Preacher's Kid