The Wondering Sheep: Episode 10 – Living the Christian Life

It’s Fortune Cookie Time!

February 17, 2026

My wife and I have a “bad” habit of eating out way too much. As you can guess, we have a number of places we really enjoy. One of the fun things about eating at Chinese restaurants is the fortune cookie that serves as a perk at each of them. I know that many people take these little slips of paper quite seriously. We don’t usually, but recently I really had to pay attention to the fortune I received in my cookie! Here is what it said: “You will soon discover a new talent for juggling pineapples.” 

I know, it is overwhelming that the ancients have told me of that very rare skill that I will soon find out that I have! My thoughts immediately went to how I will need to learn the basics. Then, I’ll need to push my skill level to be good enough to compete for a gold medal in the next Olympics! Just think: do I use the stem or the fruit itself to hold and throw them into the air. Do I need pineapple juggling gloves to protect my hands? What weight training routine will I need to build my strength to handle the weight? Where do I find the instruction from the proper sensei to train my mind and body? Do I have to live on a volcano in Hawaii? 

This last Sunday, Pastor Maertz from Great Plains Lutheran High School preached and lead the Bible study. During the study, he made the point that one of the high school’s goals was to train the students to serve Jesus and his church by developing as many of their talents as possible... I should check if they teach pineapple juggling! 😁

The Apostle Paul talks about being part of the “body of Christ,” where each of us serve in different ways, but are all part of the same body. So... I might be the nose, and my wife might be the gold ring on the hand. Pastor Sprain might be the mouth to speak God’s word, and someone else could be the hands to fix things. I’m not sure how pineapple juggling could fit in, but each of us has been given a huge number of talents to use in his service. As I’ve gotten older, I’m amazed at discovering skills that I never knew I had while other skills that used for most of my life become unused or useless as God changes my circumstances. 

How about you? Can you juggle pineapples? Maybe that isn’t a skill God gave you (we can’t all be that lucky!). I bet you know some things you do well right now! How are you using them for Jesus and his church? That is a reason God gave them to you: to serve. Can you clean? Can you cook? Can you take care of kids? Can you talk with friends and tell them about your church? Can you [fill in the blank]. I think you get the idea. 

When I was young, God blessed me with the ability to teach. He put me in position to become a good musician. He, as time went on, taught me to control my nerves enough that I could lead music groups and speak in front of people. That’s how he has used me. Are you open to being flexible for how God can use you? What could you do? We don’t need fortune cookies to guide us - God’s Word is more than enough to guide and inspire. All of us can use many different basic skills to keep the church running. He gives us the skills to support or raise our families. He may give us skills that allow us to lead in the church and society in some way (even if the thought terrifies us). 

What does God want you to do for him? Prayer for guidance helps. Listening to his Word is where you find such guidance. Have you ever felt like God was talking JUST to you in a sermon or Bible Study? If not, read your Bible more and go to more Bible studies. You’ll find he does. One thing that he will encourage you to do is use the skills he gave you. Try making a list of skills and how you can make them stronger. Train yourself or find help to become better at skills you think you’d like to do. Who knows what God will put in front of you?

I’m not sure if I will ever succeed at juggling pineapples, but if the fortune cookie was right, who knows? What is your unknown talent? Can it equal my fortune cookie? Don’t be afraid to find out. God can use you in different ways to carry out his will!