PINEAPPLE THEOLOGY

Note from Steve Shultz, Moderator: I thought the members of the ELIJAH LIST might enjoy eavesdropping on a Word the Lord gave me. (Actually, it's for you too!) Thank you all for your prayers for the direction of this ministry. We feel led of the Lord to grow it all the more and to begin to provide other prophetic books, tapes, etc. as a resource that you can purchase for your own church, body, or just your own learning. I feel called to train many in the Body to hear God speak and to be released to prophesy, both in the church and outside of it. And now, for your reading pleasure, "PINEAPPLE THEOLOGY."

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Word given to Steve Shultz sshultz@worldaccessnet.com December 6, 1998

PINEAPPLE THEOLOGY

Pineapple theology? That's a strange term, isn't it? That's what I thought too, when I was lying sleeplessly in bed a few nights ago, wondering about why my life wasn't turning out the way I'd planned. At least not my two-year or five-year plan. We all have times in our life when our plan isn't coming together--or more accurately stated, when the plan has suddenly fallen apart. Because we all come to those times in our lives---That's why I'm letting you in on this Word I received from the Lord within the last several days.

I lay there agonizing over one of the more major decisions of my life that had quite unexpectedly presented itself---one of those "it can't wait until later decisions." You know, like you do when God begins to change everything in your life--again . . . as if He hadn't changed enough things already.

Suddenly, interrupting my insomnia over this issue, the Lord spoke two words to me . . .

"Pineapple Theology," His voice imprinted on my mind.

"What's Pineapple Theology, Lord?" I asked. But I heard only silence. Was God wanting me to explore my "theology", the study of God or of religion as it relates to the pineapple? strange!

I've learned not to agonize too much over what the Lord speaks. I knew He was "fixin" to teach me something . . . and I also knew if it was Him speaking, He would be faithful to clarify His Word. And I've come to understand that not only what the Lord reveals, but when he reveals it --often signifies something. So I figured I'd leave the timing of the explanation He owed me---to His discretion. Good of me, wasn't it? Because for now, I could make neither heads nor tails of "Pineapple Theology," so I just catalogued it and went to sleep.

Last night I had to finalize that tough decision that God has thrust upon me. It'll change significantly the life of my family and ministry. Part of me likes it (the excitement of something new) . . . while the other part is afraid of the unknown. The good news is that my wife and I (now married 20 years) had reached agreement on our new direction--or at least leaving the "old" direction. As always, we've made our decisions together, especially things related to following the Lord. Our marriage has been blessed in that way.

So last night, after the big decision, we went to a high school play to unwind and then arrived home rather late. While everyone was getting ready for bed, my wife, Derene and our 14-year old daughter (a high school freshman) for some unknown reason got to feeling giddy. They started teasing and then . . . Derene chased Danielle down the hall and into the master bedroom where a raucous pillow fight ensued. I heard playful screaming and the thuds of pillows and then out-of-control laughter. It sounded hilarious, and I walked down the hall to check out this scene for my own entertainment. They were each laughing so hard, it was hard to catch their breath.

As I walked into the room, I discovered that Derene had managed to more or less pin Danielle down and she was "stuck." And they were both laughing uncontrollably. I wanted to know what was so funny, beyond the obvious.

It seems that before I had come into the room, right in the middle of being "pinned" to the bed, Danielle, (the one "child" in the family the Lord has told us a number of times would be a prophet), trying to catch her breath while laughing - had suddenly blurted out, "Did you know that you can't put fresh pineapple in Jello?"

That had undone them both and they could barely talk, they were laughing so hard. Derene was laughing at the absurdity of this popping out of Danielle's mouth at such a moment, and Danielle . . . well, she was just laughing!"

As they told me this, I realized amidst the laughter that the Lord had just spoken to me. Not just in the "words" but in the "deed." Danielle, against her will was "pinned" and couldn't move and at that instant she gave the beginning of the interpretation of what the Lord had spoken a few days earlier to me, "Pineapple Theology."

It turns out that Danielle had a science class this week about pineapples (which I had no knowledge of) and this was the odd timing she'd "chosen" to convey her newly-found knowledge. As they slowly settled down from their laughter, I started questioning Danielle (telling her that God was actually speaking to me through this).

She explained her science teacher had said that nobody has ever eaten FRESH pineapple with Jello. What? That's right. They've eaten pineapple-flavored Jello, and they've eaten Jello made from canned pineapples, but no one has eaten fresh pineapple with Jello. And the reason that can be said with certainty is that fresh pineapple will NOT gel in Jello. Can't be done.

I went to the Internet to research it for myself and it's true. Turns out that the process of making canned pineapple takes the protease (enzyme) in the real pineapple and completely denatures it by the heat involved in canning. In short, the enzymes (the substance that speeds up chemical reactions) are altered and made of none-effect, so it doesn't interfere with the "jelling" process--and that's how you get pineapple Jello.

However, if you don't cook the pineapple, but rather, put it fresh into Jello, the enzymes in the fresh pineapple simply won't allow the Jello to gel. Period. That's why you've never eaten fresh pineapple in Jello. Which brings us to "Pineapple Theology."

So what is God saying here?

Let me tell you what I'm hearing. . .

You want the real thing, the Power of God, the speedy, healthy, genuine - God Himself in your plans? Then you can't put God into YOUR plans, because it simply WON'T GEL. God PLUS your plans won't gel. You want fresh pineapple AND Jello? You want God AND your plans? Then you're going to have to have an altered, artificial pineapple. You'll have to have a God that YOU HAVE ALTERED in order to gel Him into your plans. But it won't be the pure "plan of God" in your life--not if you put Him into YOUR agenda. It'll be your substitute for the plan of God.

Isn't it funny --- or interesting --- or convicting --- and yes, funny. . . that the Lord's "voice" came when Danielle (and therefore, you and I) was stuck. Buried. Immobilized - she couldn't get out of her own mess. When Danielle was "pinned" and she didn't know how to get unstuck - that was when she laughingly said (and when I believe the Lord chose to reveal), "Did you know that you can't put fresh pineapple in Jello?"

Pineapple theology isn't something you are supposed to have or not have. Its a reality that exists by the will of God. You can't mix God's plan with yours and prosper. They don't mix. They don't gel. It won't work.

Just like all of us at one time or another, I wasn't expecting to suddenly make the next decision or move in my own life. But I found myself stuck and not knowing what to do to get unstuck. And no Believer really does when God puts him in that position. We just try to follow our own best wisdom, and then God ultimately shows us how our plans are not His plans --- you know the rest. Come to think of it, have you ever known a Believer that didn't eventually have to say, "This wasn't how I planned it, God."?