Being Real...Intermezzo

God Day everyone!....If you hadn't been introduced via this blog to Pastor Kelly from The Life Center and I love this brother just because he is a Real guy really in Love with Jesus and really being obedient to the calling to feed His lambs, sheep, and tending His(Jesus') flock..thats us!. Pastor Kelly has graciously allowed me to share his "sharings". He leads his flock by Bible reading...and in recent times reading the book of Ezekiel...now The Word is always something that should have priority in our lives...Really! I encourage you to check out these two chapters and taste and see what God is saying to you...here is a glimpse of what Kelly shared about them...OK go read then come back...Have a groovy God day and TIA! For your prayers, attentiveness, and well..just being who you are...His creations His Love shown here on this planet...




Ezekiel 45. Position, power and authority are to be used to benefit others not ourselves. Israel's princes have been using their power selfishly. God tells Ezekiel to proportion the land for it's proper uses and to instruct the princes to lead well and promote wealth, health and fairness to all. God wants everyone to benefit from each other and support each other. Entitlements of the powerful are destructive to society. We should promote a level playing field, equal opportunity and encourage those who are successful to help others around them succeed too. God wants everyone to be blessed and no one to be oppressed.




Ezekiel 46. When it comes to worship, gratitude and thankfulness there are minimums and then there are those who go way beyond the minimums. Let's take our worship, gratitude and thankfulness for God to a higher level. Let's take our gratitude and thankfulness for others to a whole new level also today. The Bible calls it free will offerings. Freely offer more gratitude and thankfulness to those around you. You will love the results! There are so many reasons for worship, gratitude and giving. Pick one or two and get busy.




Rock and Roll! Jesus is the Rock....and we Roll!

Being Real ...is there an echo in here?

Praying you are deep into the culinary journey that is leftovers...and just when you get the urge for a second or third helping...here is another "helping"...

...Brother Lawrence (if you don't know who or what I am talking about look back and read from the beginning).  Yes Bro Larry felt having a proper heart about tasks, made every detail of his life possess surpassing value. We acknowledge that in our ATTITUDE...He writes again..."I began to live as if there were no one... except God and me in the world." Brother Lawrence felt that he cooked meals, ran errands, scrubbed pots, and endured the scorn of the world alongside God. One of his most famous sayings refers to his kitchen:

"The time of working does not with me differ from the time of prayer; and in the noise and clatter of my kitchen, while several persons are at the same time calling for different things, I possess God in as great tranquility as if I were upon my knees at the blessed sacrament“ ...one of the “means and methods of coming to God’s Love..."and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus..."  I hope these nibbles speak to your heart and I encourage you to read more...and hear what this regular guy wrote... about what was happening to Him, and be reminded that He created and put you  right there!   Right where you are... right now...

In our journey through life in this experience sometimes we tire of being real in this world...Read Rom 7 how Paul was like ..." O wretched man that I am!..." much of life's experiences are meant to distract and misguide...we just see it as stuff that is happening...thinking maybe even God is doing that!  Now as we grow and begin to live in the truth that life is all about choices...We are so loved that we get it all freedom of choice...including the consequences of our choices...Look at those walls around the Prisons, Schools and yes even churches...and life without Jesus had us build a protective wall around our hearts...so massive our hearts become one with the wall...hearts made of stone...Time to go to the Stone Mason of our lives get yoked with him and start chippin' away...little by little day by day....Some famous artists say that the sculpture is already in the stone...we just need to chip away all the pieces in the way...God who made us is entirely the best "choice" to put in charge of your being revealed as the creation you were meant to be....Ah Yes!  

Now...what can I do with this stuffing, and yams...Hmmmmm

rock and Roll Jesus is the Rock.....and we Roll! 

...OH yeah ...pass me a roll  ;)

Thanksgiving 2016 . . . Something and Some Song For Everybody November 23, 2016

Spending time this weekend with family and with friends who are special seems to fit well with a day dedicated to the giving of thanks. Aren’t they the ones whose love is not based on our performance? Whose forgiveness covers hurtful words and selfish deeds? What comfort! And in our better moments, how grateful we are . . .For Our Father who does that...as is His "nature".

And isn’t it the transcendence of such love and forgiveness, gifts from beyond the limits of space and time, that makes the celebration of that comfort worth miles of travel? Michael Martin Murphey in his song “What’s Forever For?” minces no words: “What’s the glory in living? . . . If love never lasts forever, tell me... what’s forever for?”

For those of us with a more utilitarian bent, the health benefits of gratitude are now well documented. Maybe medical school curricula should be tweaked a bit? . . . ;)

And when the national well-being comes to mind . . . So does the Battle Hymn of the Republic..."Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord!"
From one of President Lincoln’s Thanksgiving Day proclamations: “I recommend to [my fellow citizens] that . . . they . . . fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility and Union.” (By the President: Abraham Lincoln; William H. Seward, Secretary of State; October 3, 1863)

To our readers, with Wayne Newton, we sing “Danke Schoen”
And in our finest Elvis voice...“Thank you very much . . .”

God is Love...so go and just do that...

 Rock and Roll!  Jesus is the Rock...and we Roll!
and Happy Thanksgiving from all of us here at Christian Chefs International and the Christian Culinary Academy!!

P.S. For other old Jesus Freaks like me...
“Now it all started two Thanksgivings ago, was on - two years ago on
Thanksgiving, when my friend and I went up to visit Alice at the
restaurant, but Alice doesn't live in the restaurant . . .” Arlo Guthrie’s “Alice’s Restaurant”

Being Real...again!

Looking back and looking up...to the great cloud of witnesses that have gone before and the same crowd...that cheers us on...to where we are...where God placed us purposefully...right here...right now...it may be a mountain top...It may be a hard hard place...As we continue this part of the journey...

...Just as we in the mission field of our homes...it is a gift to be able to work in the industry and the home ….For that is Holy Ground!
Why did God tell Moses in Exodus 3...and later to Joshua...

v.5 “Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.”

That harkens to Joshua 1:3, where the Lord promised to be everywhere that Joshua set his feet. The pillar of cloud may vanish, and the column of fire may be extinguished, but God's presence was just as real as ever. Your living room is holy ground, for Jesus is there. Your bedroom is holy ground. Your Kitchen is holy ground. Your classroom or workplace is holy ground, for everywhere you go, Jesus is there...In you. If you all do not know nor heard of Brother Lawrence pleas allow me to introduce you to one of the great cloud of witnesses...who sometimes is called the "patron saint" of the kitchen...

Brother Lawrence was a french monk in the 1600's who lived and served in France. Born Nicolas Herman after joining the Carmelite order took the name "Lawrence of the Resurrection". He was assigned to the kitchen at the monastery where he came into a so intimate and passionate spiritual revelation one we are fortunate to share. And to the heart of this message ...that it's not about religion but about relationship...just about being ...real. He wrote letters compiled in a book called “Practicing the presence of God” which was printed after his death in 1691. he writes, "Men invent means and methods of coming to God's love, they learn rules and set up devices to remind them of that love, and it seems like a world of trouble to bring oneself into the consciousness of God's presence. That is called Religion...Yet it might be so simple. Is it not quicker and easier just to do our common business wholly for the love of him?"

As Jesus said “ Which is easier: to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up and walk'? Is it religion or relationship? It’s all about a relationship with Our Father...we want Him to be proud of us!



For Brother Lawrence, "common business," no matter how mundane or routine, could be a medium of God's love. The sacredness or worldly status of a task mattered less than motivation behind it. God sees the heart and motivation...the heart of the Action...Amen? Another quote from his letters..."Nor is it needful that we should have great things to do. . . We can do little things for God; I turn the cake that is frying on the pan for love of him, and that done, if there is nothing else to call me, I prostrate myself in worship before him, who has given me grace to work; afterwards I rise happier than a king. It is enough for me to pick up but a straw from the ground for the love of God." That is what we want those we feed to see in us...to Taste and See...

I encourage you to google Bro Lawrence...and if the Spirit moves...check out his letters...Hmmm I may be able to share it with you...just leave a message here or on facebook...or at my email chef.leo(at)christianchefs.org

So chew on this amuse-bouche a bit and come back for the next course ...

Rock and Roll! Jesus is the Rock...and we Roll!

Being Real...Really!

Real-ly! 

     After years of service, I still get passionate about our profession...and I am content to still be able to contribute in this ministry. Why? Because of the Passion Jesus showed as He walked through this earth and took on our image...

     I believe in our mission, and the guiding principles of our work. I am very com­mitted with a teamwork approach and enjoy the variety of challenges ...Yes many of us in the world can cook...and as I like to share there are millions of awesome "Chefs" out there...most of them are called...Mom.  

     As Chefs we are wanting to create and produce memorable cuisine food that transcends the physical and feeds the Soul. I was talking once to a young man  13 years of age...and when I asked him what his favorite food was his eyes grew large pupils dilated a bit smiled and said "My Mom's fried chicken and we are having it tonight!".  I could see the physical reaction and excitement to that occurring and he was excited!...

     So...Being always in search of special recipes and "secret" ingredients and wanting to know the secret of such an influential meal...I went to his Mom ( they were our next door neighbors), and struck up a conversation as she cooked, and asked her about her fried chicken focusing to remember each step and nuance that made this fried chicken so special.  She patiently told me...she just put salt and pepper in Flour...dredged the chicken in it and fried it in generic oil till brown and done...I asked her about the chicken...she said whatever was on sale at the store...I asked her about the oil...same she had used soy, corn and peanut   didn't matter to her.   OK so I thought  and asked about her Pan...maybe it was her great granny's seasoned cast Iron....Nope...it was just her large skillet... she didn't even have a cast iron griswold...I even asked about the Salt and pepper!   special method? I asked  "no " she said.."just medium heat and watch it so it doesn't burn."  Hmmm   

     As she hollered for her kids...I felt her presence of being the caretaker, and lover of her family...simple pure Love...She put a couple pieces on a plate and said "here's some for you and your wife...we have plenty"  I thanked her and took it home.  Cat was glad we didn't have to cook on such a hot day...it was a blessing...so we pulled some leftovers and salad and ate dinner...We said a few words thanking Our Father for the provision and asked him to bless our neighbors...then dug in I grabbed a piece and took a bite and while it was nothing special to look at  or texturally nothing "outstandingly special" The flavor...was chicken!  So I settled in to eating...and as I chewed it sorta "filled" me   the Chicken became....more.  I was holding it, I could feel it...I could see it it was Golden brown...and the taste just soared in my mouth to umami and beyond!      Actually it was...the best fried chicken I had tasted in quite a  long time...I always had a saying that sticks with me to this day  " My goal is not to analyze ...but to realize" ....Really!  In all my figuring out I missed the "secret ingredient"....and now I was tasting it. Not only the grand amount of affection and Love...but I thought I could taste if not a happy chicken  then one that was content...I was getting a taste of the Big Picture...or in a food expression...the whole enchilada!  As I ate I heard in that small still voice " This..is my body given for you...and as I reached for a drink " ...and this is the cup of the new covenant that I make with you  today ...here...now..."

      I seek daily to ‘do the right thing.’ And that transcends to the home...I know we make a difference in the lives of many but will never get that kind of recognition. I of­ten tell staff and others that the biggest and most success­ful testimony that makes a difference that I have encountered in my career is simple to describe: It’s the working relationship between staff and clients. JUst as we do in family...We role model behavior and attitude for others. Just as we in the mission field of our homes...we take it to the streets...Do you have any experiences where you could taste the Love?  Try to remember...Tasting and seeing...and with eyes open wide go and do likewise...share...taste and see!

Have a groovy day and lets get real again ...real soon perhaps tomorrow!

  

Rock and Roll!  Jesus is the Rock...and we ROLL!

There is a reason...

There is a song that Cat wanted me to learn and I was in the process of learning it when she passed...She didn’t do that ...normally.  She must of had a reason...the song is a Ron Block Song sung by Alison Krauss   as you listen or youtube it up later...you will be blessed.  I will learn it and play it for my favorite audience of one ...Jesus now present with Cat  Wow the audience is growing….Rock and Roll yall!  Jesus is the Rock...and we Roll!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKXi7Q6OFjI

There Is A Reason

               

I've seen hard times and I've been told

                        

There isn't any wonder that I fall

                   

Why do we suffer crossing off the years

                           

There must be a reason for it all

                                

I've trusted in you Jesus to save me from my sins

                    

Heaven is a place I call my home

                                         

But I keep on getting caught up in this world I'm livin' in

                               

And Your voice, it sometimes fades before I know

Hurting brings my heart to you crying with my need

                          

Depending on Your love to carry me

                           
The love that shed His blood for all the world to see

                             
This must be the reason for it all

                                               

Hurtin' brings my heart to you, A fortress in the storm

                                

what I wrap my heart around is one

                                

I give my heart so easily to the ruler of this world

                                     

When the one who loves me most will give me all

                                               

In all the things that cause me pain, you give me eyes to see    

                          

I do believe, but help my unbelief

                   

I've seen hard times, and I've been told

                 

There is a reason for it all

Reminders...

God morning Sisters and Brothers! Wow...so much going on...Thankful that God has got us all close to His heart and loving us more than we can imagine...As I shared in the previous couple blogs about the Light...Sometimes its a Genesis 1:1 day...And as I awoke today just had a blast of "Yay! we have another day! and THIS is the day!" I shared that with Mac...Just excited about whatever happens today as I get another chance ...to let that Light shine..I just have to get out of the way! And let God shine...that "little light of mine" is like a Pilot Light...sparking a more better light and not hoarding it for myself but letting go...Letting God....

I saw this post from Cat a while back...thought I would share this "Blast from the past" hoping it will be a blessing to you....

Isaiah 43:2-4
“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
And through the rivers, they will not overflow you.
...“Since you are precious in My sight,
...and I love you,

Matthew 6:10
‘Your kingdom come.
Your will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.

Lamentations 3:32
Though he brings grief, he will show compassion,
so great is his unfailing love.

Psalm 63:8
My soul clings to You;
Your right hand upholds me.

When we pass through the waters, God will be there with us. God wants us to trust Him even when we are in deep waters.
Don't be concerned about your feelings during an emergency. The most important thing is that we turn to God, trusting that He is indeed with us. When our heart is sinking under waves of panic, don't focus on those feelings. Instead, Look to God, for "as your soul clings to Me, My right hand will uphold you"--keeping us safe in turbulent waters.

Each jot and tittle of the word to me is like a kiss an intimate sharing of His Love...a group of verses like the ones the Holy Spirit inspired Cat to share...are like a huge hug!

Be Loved, Be Blessed and Be...His Light

Rock and Roll!  Jesus is the Rock...and we Roll!