The King of the Universe Works at Carl's Jr. By Adam Metropolis lovethecross.com (2013)

I'm going to tell you a story about a man named Josh. Back in the day, over at Carl's Jr. on Market and 7 th, Josh worked the burger line. He wasn't married, didn't have kids, and lived with his mom and siblings. His dad probably died when Josh was a teenager, because we never saw or heard about him.

Being the oldest boy in his family, and not having an older man in the house, Josh and his brothers worked to provide for their mom and sisters. Josh was a weird guy, but in a good way. He loved talking about metaphysical realities, philosophy, and the Bible. When he a boy in school, some pastors considered giving him a scholarship for Bible School, but ended up deciding he was a bit too unpredictable. Because Josh couldn't pay for college, he went right to work after high school.

Being the oldest boy in his family, and not having an older man in the house, Josh and his brothers worked to provide for their mom and sisters. Josh was a weird guy, but in a good way. He loved talking about metaphysical realities, philosophy, and the Bible. When he a boy in school, some pastors considered giving him a scholarship for Bible School, but ended up deciding he was a bit too unpredictable. Because Josh couldn't pay for college, he went right to work after high school.

Now, not too long ago, something really interesting Started to happen. Josh put in his notice at Carl's Jr., and started putting together a clique – a gang, (kind of.) It wasn't a robbing, cussing, stealing kind of gang. They were good guys who did good stuff for people.

Josh recruited Pete and Andy, who worked over at Sports Basement. They went and got Jonny B. from Starbucks, and his brother Jimbo. Before long, Josh had a bunch of young guys following him around. It's hard to explain. No knew exactly why it was happening, but everybody knows what happened next.

This is where it gets weird. Josh and his crew showed up in the Tenderloin, and he started preaching at random church services like this one. He talked about how God was doing something huge.

At one service, while he was preaching, this girl started flipping out. She was going nuts. Everyone said that she seemed to be possessed.

The crazy girl stood up in the middle of Josh's message, locked eyes with him, and said, “I know who you are, 'Josh from Carl's Jr.' - you are the Chosen One!”

Josh held out his hand toward the woman. “Shut up, and come out of her!” he shouted. The woman seized and convulsed, but then relaxed, and was at peace.

Pete, Andy, Jonny B. and Jimbo were dumbfounded by this display. What did the woman mean when she said, 'You are the Chosen One?' And how did Josh make that woman stop being crazy?

As weeks and months went by, Josh's friends would see him do unbelievable things. He could touch people and heal their diseases. He encountered a lot of possessed people, (like that one lady), and they would always end up in their right mind. “Is Josh an alien?!” they wondered.

He made a lot of the big-time church leaders really, really jealous. Churches were getting emptier and emptier as people went out to see Josh, the homeless miracle-man. The same pastors who had decided not to give Josh a Bible scholarship now started planning how they could destroy his ministry. They loved money more than God.

One day, Josh told his gang that they were all gonna go on a road trip to Las Vegas. While they were driving there, Josh, (who was riding shotgun), looked back and asked them a question. “Who do people say that I am?”

They answered him, “Well, Josh – people say you're some kind of prophet. They say you have special powers, like an alien.” Josh stared at them for a moment.

Josh asked, “But who do you say that I am?”

And Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” And they told him, “John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.” And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Christ.” And he strictly charged them to tell no one about him. (Mark 8:27-30 ESV)

So he said to them again, “I am going away, and you will seek me, and you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come.” So the Jews said, “Will he kill himself, since he says, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?” He said to them, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.” So they said to him, “Who are you?” Jesus said to them, “Just what I have been telling you from the beginning. I have much to say about you and much to judge, but he who sent me is true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from him.” They did not understand that he had been speaking to them about the Father. So Jesus said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me. And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.” As he was saying these things, many believed in him. (John 8:21-30 ESV)