This is a good story. Joyce got her bonus and took us out to “Steak and Chops,” a restaurant in Grimes, Iowa. It was a celebration of five days of intense ministry which we had just completed at Grimes United Methodist Church. The Lord visited us in a way that would make the happiest Pentecostal jealous. Really, the altar was filled every night and during the day over 80 people received counseling and powerful personal ministry.

What is it about this place called “Steak and Chops?” Well, every politician wanting to be president has been there, including Clinton and Bush. In one night you might see Dan Rather, Sam Donaldson and many others who run the news desks across the country.

We sat in a booth overlooking a table of eight and everyone was smiling and eating. The waiter looked at us as though we were $100 bills. The table was impeccable and the waiter cleaned it with an instrument that reminded me of a mini-vacuum cleaner. The glass he brought for Sprite was the size of a bottle, and the fork and knife weighed more than my hand.

The ceiling was filled with shadows, the sub lights reminding me of a place where no one else was saved but the three of us. I wanted to shout, “Halleluiah!” but my hosts might be embarrassed and Joyce would probably go check the weather, leaving Glenn Ray and myself to pay for the meal ourselves.

I looked at the ceiling and a thought came to me:” If this is the heart of American elections and this is the place where the media is having supper, why not get up out of my booth and do some preaching?” It would be in the evening news or in the police blotter, one of the two. I wanted to yell, “The Lord Jesus is coming; do you hear it??”

Then, the miracle took place. I knew I was in the heartland of America. This is the land of the best corn in the world, the Iowa Cyclones and Hockeye football. However, I had forgotten that this is also “pig country,” the land of the pork chop! This state will produce a two-ton swine that will crash your scale. I ordered a pork chop which is more famous than Elvis Presley. It was 20 ounces of lean, mean, juicy meat that will “make you want to slap your mother” (so says Glenn Ray). Since I do not eat red meat, “the other white meat” seemed to be the best choice. I can eat seafood in the south anytime, but not an IOWA PORK CHOP.

I began to contemplate this meal and in my mind I thought my disposition would not be able to deal with it. The aroma seemed to rise from the plate as an offering. After prayer, I began to battle against it and in no time, the swine could speak no longer.

All of this blessing was because of Joyce’s bonus. You see, a preacher like me would be eating at Wendy’s. This was a treat of a lifetime, and I was impressed. Joyce paid for it and I salute her. Glenn Ray ordered the same and together we celebrated all that God did during a powerful revival at GUMC.

Thank God for Joyce, thank God for Glenn, thank God for Iowa, and more than anything else, “Holy Spirit, You are a blessing to anyone low enough to submit. THANK YOU, JESUS!”

Rick Bonfim

Edited by Betty McKinney