Brussels Sprouts

Andy didn't like Brussels sprouts. Hated them. All his life.

So he was on a missions trip to Australia and had been staying in a hotel for a week, eating restaurant food every day. Finally, it was time to go to the outback (the real outback) and when he arrived, he was greeted by the wonderful news that he would have a home-cooked meal. Yum!

He sits down and (to his horror) what do they bring out in a huge pot? Brussels sprout stew!

But he felt God saying to him, "Dude, this is My provision for you. Humble yourself and eat." Well, at that moment he realized that he had never actually eaten Brussels sprouts.

His whole dislike was based entirely on second hand information. "Everyone" hated them. They said they tasted horrible. He had believed it and taken it as though his own taste buds had been witnesses.

"Try something different," he heard in his heart. So with great resolve, he asked his hosts for a double serving of Brussels sprouts. Fist bite. Hmmm, these are actually pretty good. And now, he LOVES them!

Here's the takeaway: when you base your choices on second hand information and you hear the Lord calling you higher, go ahead and try something new.

As he told me this story, I felt like something broke off of me. Like I was tied to a chair and suddenly the ropes loosed, fell off, and I could relax and be free...free to do something different.

• Have you never tried leading that song that you thought "this would never go over at my church"?
• Have you wanted to call your team to a higher standard or require more from them but wondered if they'd ever follow?
• Have you wanted to really get to know your pastor but you didn't feel important enough for his/her time?
• Have you wanted to ask a team member to lead worship but have been waiting forever "until they're ready"?
• Have you wanted to connect with other worship leaders from other churches, but didn't know if they'd be into it?
• Have you had an idea to switch up the service but haven't suggested it because you felt that it wouldn't be well received?

You get the idea: try something new. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)

Ps. If you'd like to make a great side dish with fresh Brussels sprouts, just put them in a pot with a can of coconut milk, cloves, and salt. So delicious! *Oh, and I know...tomatoes are a fruit.