• About Us
  • Locations
    • California
      • Southern California
    • Denver, CO
    • Florida
      • Broward County, FL
      • Jacksonville, FL
      • Miami, FL
      • Naples, FL
      • Orlando, FL
      • Palm Beach County, FL
      • Tallahassee, FL
    • Georgia
      • Atlanta, GA
    • New Jersey
      • South Jersey
    • North Carolina
      • Charlotte, NC
    • Ohio
      • Northwest Ohio
      • Southern Ohio
    • South Carolina
      • Charleston, SC
    • Tennessee
      • Nashville, TN
    • Texas
      • Dallas, TX
      • Austin, TX
  • Publishing
    • Content Guidelines for Publishing
    • General Article Submission Guidelines
  • Advertise
  • Contact
Saturday, April 9, 2022
  • Login
No Result
View All Result
NEWSLETTER
Nashville Christian Voice
  • Home
  • News
    • All
    • Government
    • Nashville
    • National
    • Politics
    • Tennessee
    • World
    Thousands Join Pro-life March in Peru

    Thousands Join Pro-life March in Peru

    New Program Helps Churches Provide Mental Health Support in UK

    New Program Helps Churches Provide Mental Health Support in UK

    Ukrainian Children Hopeful in Palm Beach County

    Ukrainian Children Hopeful in Palm Beach County

    Pro-life Groups Demand Justice After Exposé at University

    Pro-life Groups Demand Justice After Exposé at University

    Private Spiritual Life Counters Christians’ Role as Disciples—Barna

    Private Spiritual Life Counters Christians’ Role as Disciples—Barna

    Christian Rivals Unite to Restore Holiest Jerusalem Church

    Christian Rivals Unite to Restore Holiest Jerusalem Church

    Survey: 84% Americans Revere Jesus

    Survey: 84% Americans Revere Jesus

    Christian Charities Unite for Ukraine

    Christian Charities Unite for Ukraine

    Ad Shows New Jesus to Skeptics

    Ad Shows New Jesus to Skeptics

    Trending Tags

    • Lifestyle
      • All
      • Books
      • Education
      • Entertainment
      • family
      • Food
      • Health
      • Humor
      • Relationships
      • Travel
      Jeremy Camp doesn’t write songs for radio: I want to ‘connect with the heart’

      Jeremy Camp doesn’t write songs for radio: I want to ‘connect with the heart’

      Minno is the new streaming platform for Christian kids — and it’s excellent

      Minno is the new streaming platform for Christian kids — and it’s excellent

      Newsboys say they will tour until they are 80: We are just getting started!

      Newsboys say they will tour until they are 80: We are just getting started!

      Netflix’s ‘A Week Away’ is a must-watch faith-based musical

      Netflix’s ‘A Week Away’ is a must-watch faith-based musical

      Netflix’s ‘Penguin Bloom’ has lessons about family, life and death

      Netflix’s ‘Penguin Bloom’ has lessons about family, life and death

      There’s a new streaming platform — and it’s a great option for families

      There’s a new streaming platform — and it’s a great option for families

      Pixar’s ‘Soul’ has multiple great messages about life

      Pixar’s ‘Soul’ has multiple great messages about life

      Actress Miya Horcher Leads With Love

      Actress Miya Horcher Leads With Love

      ‘Jingle Jangle’ is Netflix’s best family-friendly movie yet

      ‘Jingle Jangle’ is Netflix’s best family-friendly movie yet

    • Church
      • All
      • Missions
      • Pastors
      • Worship
      Extollo International: Raising and Lifting up the People of Haiti

      Extollo International: Raising and Lifting up the People of Haiti

      Patrick and the History of St. Patrick’s Day

      Patrick and the History of St. Patrick’s Day

      A Candid Interview with Steve Austin, Author of ‘From Pastor to Psych Ward’

      A Candid Interview with Steve Austin, Author of ‘From Pastor to Psych Ward’

      The English School in Marietta Georgia is Touching Lives and Sharing the Gospel

      The English School in Marietta Georgia is Touching Lives and Sharing the Gospel

      Reaching the Nepali Bhutanese in Harrisburg, PA

      Reaching the Nepali Bhutanese in Harrisburg, PA

      A Blueprint for Prayer: Three Personal Petitions

      A Blueprint for Prayer: Three Personal Petitions

      Why a House Church?

      Why a House Church?

      App Sees Increase in Bible Engagement with 1 Million New Subscribers in 24 Hours

      App Sees Increase in Bible Engagement with 1 Million New Subscribers in 24 Hours

      Weighing In On Death of John Allen Chau

      Weighing In On Death of John Allen Chau

    • Sports
      Bitterness Strikes Out

      Bitterness Strikes Out

      Kia’s Amazing Journey

      Kia’s Amazing Journey

      Bengals Chaplain Kicks COVID-19

      Bengals Chaplain Kicks COVID-19

      NFL Hall of Famer Tim Brown opens up about faith

      NFL Hall of Famer Tim Brown opens up about faith

      Taking the Next Step: An Interview with Noah Turner

      Taking the Next Step: An Interview with Noah Turner

      To Empower and Encourage

      To Empower and Encourage

      Are You Passionate?

      Are You Passionate?

      There is Another Way

      There is Another Way

      Did God See That Coming?

      Did God See That Coming?

    • Home
    • News
      • All
      • Government
      • Nashville
      • National
      • Politics
      • Tennessee
      • World
      Thousands Join Pro-life March in Peru

      Thousands Join Pro-life March in Peru

      New Program Helps Churches Provide Mental Health Support in UK

      New Program Helps Churches Provide Mental Health Support in UK

      Ukrainian Children Hopeful in Palm Beach County

      Ukrainian Children Hopeful in Palm Beach County

      Pro-life Groups Demand Justice After Exposé at University

      Pro-life Groups Demand Justice After Exposé at University

      Private Spiritual Life Counters Christians’ Role as Disciples—Barna

      Private Spiritual Life Counters Christians’ Role as Disciples—Barna

      Christian Rivals Unite to Restore Holiest Jerusalem Church

      Christian Rivals Unite to Restore Holiest Jerusalem Church

      Survey: 84% Americans Revere Jesus

      Survey: 84% Americans Revere Jesus

      Christian Charities Unite for Ukraine

      Christian Charities Unite for Ukraine

      Ad Shows New Jesus to Skeptics

      Ad Shows New Jesus to Skeptics

      Trending Tags

      • Lifestyle
        • All
        • Books
        • Education
        • Entertainment
        • family
        • Food
        • Health
        • Humor
        • Relationships
        • Travel
        Jeremy Camp doesn’t write songs for radio: I want to ‘connect with the heart’

        Jeremy Camp doesn’t write songs for radio: I want to ‘connect with the heart’

        Minno is the new streaming platform for Christian kids — and it’s excellent

        Minno is the new streaming platform for Christian kids — and it’s excellent

        Newsboys say they will tour until they are 80: We are just getting started!

        Newsboys say they will tour until they are 80: We are just getting started!

        Netflix’s ‘A Week Away’ is a must-watch faith-based musical

        Netflix’s ‘A Week Away’ is a must-watch faith-based musical

        Netflix’s ‘Penguin Bloom’ has lessons about family, life and death

        Netflix’s ‘Penguin Bloom’ has lessons about family, life and death

        There’s a new streaming platform — and it’s a great option for families

        There’s a new streaming platform — and it’s a great option for families

        Pixar’s ‘Soul’ has multiple great messages about life

        Pixar’s ‘Soul’ has multiple great messages about life

        Actress Miya Horcher Leads With Love

        Actress Miya Horcher Leads With Love

        ‘Jingle Jangle’ is Netflix’s best family-friendly movie yet

        ‘Jingle Jangle’ is Netflix’s best family-friendly movie yet

      • Church
        • All
        • Missions
        • Pastors
        • Worship
        Extollo International: Raising and Lifting up the People of Haiti

        Extollo International: Raising and Lifting up the People of Haiti

        Patrick and the History of St. Patrick’s Day

        Patrick and the History of St. Patrick’s Day

        A Candid Interview with Steve Austin, Author of ‘From Pastor to Psych Ward’

        A Candid Interview with Steve Austin, Author of ‘From Pastor to Psych Ward’

        The English School in Marietta Georgia is Touching Lives and Sharing the Gospel

        The English School in Marietta Georgia is Touching Lives and Sharing the Gospel

        Reaching the Nepali Bhutanese in Harrisburg, PA

        Reaching the Nepali Bhutanese in Harrisburg, PA

        A Blueprint for Prayer: Three Personal Petitions

        A Blueprint for Prayer: Three Personal Petitions

        Why a House Church?

        Why a House Church?

        App Sees Increase in Bible Engagement with 1 Million New Subscribers in 24 Hours

        App Sees Increase in Bible Engagement with 1 Million New Subscribers in 24 Hours

        Weighing In On Death of John Allen Chau

        Weighing In On Death of John Allen Chau

      • Sports
        Bitterness Strikes Out

        Bitterness Strikes Out

        Kia’s Amazing Journey

        Kia’s Amazing Journey

        Bengals Chaplain Kicks COVID-19

        Bengals Chaplain Kicks COVID-19

        NFL Hall of Famer Tim Brown opens up about faith

        NFL Hall of Famer Tim Brown opens up about faith

        Taking the Next Step: An Interview with Noah Turner

        Taking the Next Step: An Interview with Noah Turner

        To Empower and Encourage

        To Empower and Encourage

        Are You Passionate?

        Are You Passionate?

        There is Another Way

        There is Another Way

        Did God See That Coming?

        Did God See That Coming?

      No Result
      View All Result
      Nashville Christian Voice
      No Result
      View All Result
      Home Featured

      How Badly Do You Want a Turkey?

      by Debby Thompson
      November 21, 2017
      in Featured, Inspiration
      0
      0
      SHARES
      9
      VIEWS
      Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

      Picture a young missionary family in Warsaw, Poland living a covert, double-life behind the Iron Curtain. In the darkest days of the Cold War, immersed in the culture of a nation not their own, they still sought to pause and celebrate their own American Thanksgiving. The following is a true story.

      “Hold the plucked bird over the gas flame of the stovetop to remove the remaining fuzz on the flesh.” Disgusting.

      Imagine Thanksgiving without a turkey! Our problem loomed larger with every passing day. Outside America, the nations of the world feed and fatten turkeys for December, not November. We were stuck.

      In hopes of negotiating a November turkey, my husband Larry and I bundled up and drove downtown to the Warsaw Farmers’ Market. Trudging through the open-air stalls, we located a semi-friendly vendor who cautiously agreed to do business with us as foreigners. In rudimentary Polish, we arranged to collect an early turkey in time for our Thanksgiving holiday. To guarantee the transaction, we paid in advance and set a date to return.

      Ironically, God used a turkey to teach me of His kindness.

      A couple of weeks later, Larry and I made our way back to collect our purchase. Dodging puddles, we shoved past shoppers and merchants, and schlepped down the narrow uneven concrete aisle of the make-do shelter where villagers came to sell their wares. Past the pickle barrels, past the potato bins, past the slabs of hanging pork, we traipsed.

      Just as we rounded the last corner, our agreement came into view. Shabbily wrapped in pieces of old newspaper, our pitiful, scrawny bird waited for us. Oh—it was dead— but barely. Minus the head, “the rest” remained as our homework. What would U.S.D.A. think of this? (Not to mention CDC.)

      Reluctantly, we collected our prize, placed him in the trunk of our yellow Fiat, and drove him home to begin the process of making him presentable, and yes…edible.

      Hold the plucked bird over the gas flame of the stovetop to remove the remaining fuzz on the flesh. Somewhere, someone offered this suggestion. Before long, the singed odor permeated every crack and crevice of our small home, and my appetite for our upcoming feast steadily waned.

      On Thanksgiving Day, the disgusting ordeal stayed with me. The End Product sat on the platter, but my mind served up pictures of its own. I gagged at the Technicolor memory of that nasty bird resting on the newspaper at the market, riding in the trunk of our car, and hanging over the flame in our kitchen. I choked down my portion of poultry and politely refused seconds. I was thankful all right, very thankful, to be done.

      Another calendar year passed, and we were once again faced with the challenge of a turkey-less Thanksgiving. My memories of the previous disgusting ordeal still weighed heavily on me. Minus other options, we repeated the drill, and reserved another bird at the Farmers’ Market.

      Amidst the busyness of life, the details of an upcoming raffle at our son David’s kindergarten barely bleeped on my radar. Small snippets of information seemed less than important.

      Something being given away? A turkey? How nice. Did you say, “An American Butterball from the Embassy’s forbidden-to-outsiders Commissary?” Oh sure, we will buy a couple of tickets. Why not? I’ll even pray, “Lord, please let us win the Butterball. Please.”

      And then…

      A few days later…

      On the street…

      Outside a Warsaw restaurant, I heard someone calling.

      “Debby, Debby, I am looking for you!” In the din of noisy buses and trams, I barely heard my name over the roar as Sandra (David’s teacher) jumped out of the taxi, and frantically came running to greet me. Clutching my children in the confusion and chaos of traffic, I wondered why she was so animated, and why she searched for me. Sandra wasted no time in making her point.

      Shock gave way to overwhelming gratitude as it dawned on me that God actually heard my prayer.

      “We just finished the kindergarten drawing, and guess what! You won! Your family won the prize of the American Butterball Turkey!”

      The American Butterball Turkey. Did she say we won? No. No way! In utter amazement, I asked, “How could this possibly be happening?”

      Shock gave way to overwhelming gratitude as it dawned on me that God actually heard my prayer. He genuinely cared about such a seemingly insignificant matter as a turkey.

      Back in our home, holiday preparation differed drastically from the previous year. In stark contrast to the former bird’s smell of singed flesh, rich aromas of this buttery baking beauty wafted throughout. We gathered around for peeks into the tiny Communist oven, which was nearly too small to house the trophy.

      Once the turkey was baked to perfection and reverently placed on a platter, we took photos of our family standing beside our roasted royalty. Carving the mega-monster 14-pound prize was ceremonial. The festive atmosphere continued as second and even third portions were consumed.

      Suddenly, amidst the excitement around the table, I found myself overwhelmed with a deep sense of gratitude. The words of Psalm 34:4 seemed to be written just for me: Delight yourself in The Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.

      On a Thanksgiving Day decades ago, Disgust gave way to Delight. Ironically, God used a turkey to teach me of His kindness.

      Article first appeared on  SohioVoice.com.

      Facebook Comments
      Debby Thompson

      Debby Thompson

      Debby Thompson and her husband Larry have served in global missions with Campus Crusade for Christ International (CCCI) since 1974, and are counted among the pioneering Western missionaries who lived covertly behind the Iron Curtain in communist Poland.  In total, the Thompsons spent 33 years in Eastern Europe, ultimately leading CCCI’s work in 20 European nations. Together they and their three children were witnesses to a period of dramatic social, political and spiritual change.  Now living in Cincinnati, Debby serves on the Global Leadership Council of Athletes in Action International, the sports ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ International. An active grandmother of six, she is also a sought-after speaker, writer and mentor for women around the world.  Debby’s new book, entitled, The Leader’s Wife, Living with Eternal Intentionality, encourages women to pursue intimacy with Jesus, authenticity with others, a passion for their calling and a purpose for their influence. Subscribe to Debby’s blog, Living with Eternal Intentionality™, GPS for a Woman of Purpose™ at DebbyThompson.com, and follow her on Twitter at @Debbythompson17. To contact her directly, email: Debby.thompson@cru.org

      Next Post

      Chinese Christians Urged to Replace Jesus Images with Xi Jinping

      Recommended

      #ICANHELP…#WILLYOU?

      #ICANHELP…#WILLYOU?

      3 years ago
      Iran Closes Down 100-Year-Old Church

      Iran Closes Down 100-Year-Old Church

      3 years ago

      Popular News

        Connect with us

        About Us

        Nashville Christian Voice is part of One Christian Voice, a growing Christian news network in the United States. We share world news, national news, stories to inspire you and information on activities and events in and around Nashville, TN.

        Locations

        California
        Colorado
        Florida
        Georgia
        New Jersey
        North Carolina
        Ohio
        Pennsylvania
        South Carolina
        Tennessee
        Texas

        Connect with us

        • About Us
        • Advertise
        • Contact

        © 2018 Nashville Christian Voice - Member, Evangelical Press Association.

        No Result
        View All Result
        • Home
        • News
        • Lifestyle
        • Church
        • Sports

        © 2018 Nashville Christian Voice - Member, Evangelical Press Association.

        Welcome Back!

        Login to your account below

        Forgotten Password?

        Retrieve your password

        Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

        Log In