June 4, 2026 – Daily Devotional
“Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” -1 Corinthians 12:27
We all have special memories of places and events that come to mind easily. They might be triggered by smell, a sound, or a particular sight we have not seen in some time. Today, I was thinking about the first time I went to a Pizza Hut.
I was around six years old, and we were visiting my dad’s family in Batesville, Arkansas. My grandmother was in a nursing home in Batesville, and we made frequent trips to visit her and my extended family. It was a challenging trip for a little boy. There was not much to keep me occupied while spending time at the nursing home. My parents would try to help entertain me. We spent time at the hotel pool and went out to eat. I remember stepping into that Pizza Hut and thinking it was so cool. The plaid tablecloth, the video games, the jukebox, and the smell of pizza. It was a fun break from a long day.
This happy memory came to mind after I read about Tim Sparks and his work to remodel and recover the Pizza Hut we remember from decades past. Tim has been hard at work restoring the original look and feel of Pizza Hut at several locations. He has brought back Pac-Man machines, the colorful light fixtures, and the red plastic cups. Tim Sparks is going out of his way to create a fun, family atmosphere.
For Tim Sparks, this undertaking goes far beyond his fond memories of the restaurants he now owns. Tim is concerned about the direction our culture is going. He wants to create an environment where people disconnect from their phones and reconnect with their family and friends. Tim said, “If we can get them in here, they do tend to put their phones down and actually have conversations and speak with each other.” He sees these recovered restaurants as an opportunity to help people reconnect with one another.
Tim Sparks is on the right track. To move our culture forward, he looked back. The lights, pizza, and tablecloths are not the fix to the struggles we face. They are a beautiful reminder that we need one another. We were created to be together. We have much more in common than we think. A good conversation over a slice of pizza is good for the soul.
We must be careful about the things that easily divide us. We should be intentional about connecting with family, friends, and new acquaintances. When we do, we find joy and hope. God created us to be social. That cannot be replaced by social media and technology. Today is a good day to plan some time together. You choose the food (pizza not required), drinks, and location, and go make some memories.
-Rev. Keith King, Pastor of Worship
