A Ministry of Christian Chefs International (CCI)

Thursday, September 15, 2016

Food to cook...Food to cook...over...

For a basecamp for our journey understanding and seeking that Food...lets look at a simple definition...for like anything even a definition can be complex and far reaching...Hmmm  that'll preach too!  OK
Food: ... "any nutritious substance that people or animals eat or drink, or that plants absorb, in order to maintain life and growth." To expound a bit "The substance is ingested by an organism and assimilated by the organism's cells to provide energy, maintain life, or stimulate growth." 
     Jesus was seeing His Father's Will  as "food"  I like looking at synonyms for Food... some synonyms:
nourishment, sustenance, nutriment, fare; bread, daily bread; cooking, cuisine; foodstuffs, edibles, provender, refreshments, meals, provisions, restoratives, rations; solids; eats, eatables, nosh, grub, chow, nom noms; comestibles; viands; victuals, vittles; commons, meat, aliment, fodder, feed, forage.
     It is also a word that for us almost begs for a descriptor like "French ,Chinese, home-cooked...etc".  So we think we have a good grasp on food...it is the "substance" which we manipulate and do all kinds of things to... to create something memorable to eat. Food has flavor characteristics; Sweet ( yum!)  Sour( face scrunching), Salty ( blood pressure raising), Bitter ( Did I eat that unsweetened dark chocolate...really?), and  Umami ( Oooooooooo  Mommy!  Savory!).
     So sometimes when reading or meditating on the Word or Words in the Bible perhaps these descriptors can help describe what Psalm 34:8 says  "Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!".   Taste...when you taste...you partake...just a bit....just enough to identify its characteristics of flavor... of what it is... A taste introduces something familiar or new into your senses and leads to further acceptance or rejection. We taste in faith, trusting the cook to have delivered a delicious recipe into our mouths and bodies, and memories... to the heart of who we are.  The "substance ingested" by us whereby our physiology converts...and then it can "provide energy, maintain life, or stimulate growth."
     Even when we look in the Bible for the word to see how it is defined by the divine...We see Taste written (depending on translation) up to 50+ times... When Jesus tasted the sour wine he did not drink...He had to taste to "Finish the work" His Father started. In 1 Pete 2:2-3  "as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious."   Food indeed!  
    As I experience His Word some things are so sweet..the Sweet Psalm Songs, the Promises, The Good News!  Some are Sour feeling our faces scrunch as words challenge and expose our sinful hearts...And Jesus tasted the sour wine on the cross...did he drink it?  no  but He tasted...as the Word tells us in Hebrews 2:9 "But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone"... Thank you Lord!  Some Salty..The word Salt used as seasoning  in Mark 9:50 "Salt is good, but if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another.”  Bitter words  those spoken by persons (like us) hurtful the cry of "Crucify Him!" words expressing tears and feelings of guilt and sadness.  And then the Words so so Savory so filling and delicious words of deep Love, words of comfort, and Joy...His words that speak life and Light into our very being...
     So eat a bit...taste ...and see ...you may want seconds...

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