I know you all have been waiting on the edge of your seat to find out if I've EVER mastered the art of fried Plantains... (See: here and here)
well... I tried again today- this time the texture was spot on- I had to wait 3 weeks for them to turn totally black- but the flavor was all wrong. Oh plantains, why do you vex me so? Do you turn bitter if you over-ripen? Do you need brown sugar? Why plantains, why? Also, why is the internet totally devoid of plantain information? Seriously. I can find out what shoes Jessica Simpson wore to the Emmy's in 2002 but I can't find out how to properly fry a plantain? just ain't right, man... just ain't right.
Update- The Simpson thing has proven to be just as illusive... it just isn't my day..
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Monday, September 26, 2011
Asleep
My buddy Marc is blowing up right now and that is so awesome, but even more awesome is this song he covers by Keith Green. WOW. I had never heard it until yesterday and now I can't stop listening. good stuff.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Tuesdays with Buechner!!
Today's Buechner quotes are acutally not Buechner at all, but rather Henri Nouwen. Why, you ask? Why not I say! :)
Enjoy!!
“When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives mean the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand.”
“Let us not underestimate how hard it is to be compassionate. Compassion is hard because it requires the inner disposition to go with others to place where they are weak, vulnerable, lonely, and broken. But this is not our spontaneous response to suffering. What we desire most is to do away with suffering by fleeing from it or finding a quick cure for it.”
Enjoy!!
“When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives mean the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand.”
“Let us not underestimate how hard it is to be compassionate. Compassion is hard because it requires the inner disposition to go with others to place where they are weak, vulnerable, lonely, and broken. But this is not our spontaneous response to suffering. What we desire most is to do away with suffering by fleeing from it or finding a quick cure for it.”
Monday, September 12, 2011
God as a House and a Pilot. Or: Two About a Storm.
I started writing one, and then it turned into two... SO here are two thoughts about storms... un-original as they may be...
I don't know if they still do this, but it used to be that in farm towns students would be given a "storm house" that was close to their school in the event that a blizzard occurs and traps them in town. Rather than having parents risk life and limb to come into town and pick up their children, or getting the buses stuck in the drifts, the kids would simply go to a house nearby and weather the storm safely there. It really is an ingenious idea that arose out of necessity, no doubt as I've seen first hand the blinding misery that blowing snow causes.
I think it would be really fun to have a storm house. All school year you knew the house that you would go to if the storm hits rendering you stranded at school. Maybe you didn't know the people who lived there, but you walked by the place a couple of times- just so you know how to get there. While it would be better if the big one never hit, you knew you had a save place to stay if it did. Never would you have to sleep on a science table or on the wrestling mat. You had a warm house with good food and a comfy bed in which to seek refuge if the weather outside turned frightful. What a comfort that must have been to the families who lived in the outlying areas. Country storms are no joke, and driving in them is an act white-knuckled heroism to be sure. But to know that their kids would be safe in the storm must be a wonderful relief. I really hope some communities still have storm houses, because it is a fantastic idea.
I think of my storm house. When the storms of doubt and disaster hit. The winds of worry and the hail of haughtiness swirl around me. The green skies of heartbreak and the thunder and lightning of jealousy assail. I sometimes run around in the storm- looking for shelter in houses that are full or uninterested: friends who don't care to listen, or inward reflection that only produces more side aches and emptiness. For these kinds of storms, I need only run to my storm house. Proverbs 18:10- "The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe." Only Jesus can take away worry, pride, heartbreak, and sadness. Only Jesus can give comfort to the broken and peace to the restless. Only Jesus took away our sin. Only Jesus gives us Heaven. He is our strong tower- our storm house. When Satan huffs and puffs, he can't even make a dent. We run to Jesus and we are safe. Oh how foolish we must look running around trying to dodge the rain drops and keep our hair pretty in the wind. Why do we venture out on our own? Lord do you get tired of us constantly running away and then back to you?
No. Thanks be to God that He is good and His mercy endures forever. He is our storm house- He tells us to call upon Him in the day of trouble and He will deliver us. He says to come to Him as weak and heavy burdened children because He'll give us rest. He says He's our storm house and when we see the clouds billowing on the horizon we need only seek refuge in His alimighty, all-loving arms.
Thank you Jesus!
When I am alone
When I am alone
Oh, when I am alone
Give me Jesus
Give me Jesus
Give me Jesus
You can have all this world
Just give me Jesus
-------------------
Last week I flew threw a storm. I've flown over a storm before and I've been grounded because of a storm, but never have I flown through a storm. But last Monday I did. There was no beverage service and the fasten seat belt sign was never unlit. It was 68 minutes of up and down side to side flying. All I could see was grey out of the window and there was time when rain drops seemed like they would never end. It was pretty unnerving. I would have much rather been sitting in the terminal waiting for it to pass, but nonetheless here I was in the middle of a pretty big Arizona desert storm. I took solace in the fact that the pilots had all the latest technology and instruments at their disposal and if they thought it was safe enough to fly through, then who am I to second guess them? I would say there are fewer moments in the 21st century American's life that require more trust than when one is flying. Think about it. We are in control of almost every aspect of our lives, but when you fly, you buckle up shoot up to 30,000 feet and trust. You trust the plane, the airline company's background checks, the flight school's training, the pilot's diligence, the technology's functionality, the air traffic controller, the security measures, the reliably that the mask will indeed inflate when it is filled with oxygen, and undoubtedly 55 other factors. That's a lot of trust! But millions of people every day make it to their destinations without a single hiccup. Its amazing! The things that we trust have proven time and time again their trustworthiness, so we are silly to second guess them in most instances. Certainly, even in the midst of an hour long storm, I was never in danger. The ride was a bit bumpy, but the pilot had it well in hand. His job was to get me safely to PHX, my job was to sit back, buckle up, keep my tray in the upright/lock position, and trust.
I think you know where this is going...
The storms of life seem bumpy and rough and gray, but the Pilot has it well in hand. God has proven time and time again His trustworthiness, so who are we to doubt the Almighty? What He ordains is always good- so even though the storms come and the winds blow, He is in full control. We are safely wrapped in His nail-marked hands. Our sins are forgiven, Heaven is our inheritance, and the peace that passes all understanding is ours through our Savior Jesus. He gave us His Holy Spirit to get us safely home to Heaven, so we need only trust that He is greater than we. Storms come and go- they flare up and whip and blow- but God is forever. He who calmed the wind and the waves took away our sin and guilt, and He invites us to come as weak and wounded sinners because in Him there's rest.
Hallelujah!
I don't know if they still do this, but it used to be that in farm towns students would be given a "storm house" that was close to their school in the event that a blizzard occurs and traps them in town. Rather than having parents risk life and limb to come into town and pick up their children, or getting the buses stuck in the drifts, the kids would simply go to a house nearby and weather the storm safely there. It really is an ingenious idea that arose out of necessity, no doubt as I've seen first hand the blinding misery that blowing snow causes.
I think it would be really fun to have a storm house. All school year you knew the house that you would go to if the storm hits rendering you stranded at school. Maybe you didn't know the people who lived there, but you walked by the place a couple of times- just so you know how to get there. While it would be better if the big one never hit, you knew you had a save place to stay if it did. Never would you have to sleep on a science table or on the wrestling mat. You had a warm house with good food and a comfy bed in which to seek refuge if the weather outside turned frightful. What a comfort that must have been to the families who lived in the outlying areas. Country storms are no joke, and driving in them is an act white-knuckled heroism to be sure. But to know that their kids would be safe in the storm must be a wonderful relief. I really hope some communities still have storm houses, because it is a fantastic idea.
I think of my storm house. When the storms of doubt and disaster hit. The winds of worry and the hail of haughtiness swirl around me. The green skies of heartbreak and the thunder and lightning of jealousy assail. I sometimes run around in the storm- looking for shelter in houses that are full or uninterested: friends who don't care to listen, or inward reflection that only produces more side aches and emptiness. For these kinds of storms, I need only run to my storm house. Proverbs 18:10- "The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe." Only Jesus can take away worry, pride, heartbreak, and sadness. Only Jesus can give comfort to the broken and peace to the restless. Only Jesus took away our sin. Only Jesus gives us Heaven. He is our strong tower- our storm house. When Satan huffs and puffs, he can't even make a dent. We run to Jesus and we are safe. Oh how foolish we must look running around trying to dodge the rain drops and keep our hair pretty in the wind. Why do we venture out on our own? Lord do you get tired of us constantly running away and then back to you?
No. Thanks be to God that He is good and His mercy endures forever. He is our storm house- He tells us to call upon Him in the day of trouble and He will deliver us. He says to come to Him as weak and heavy burdened children because He'll give us rest. He says He's our storm house and when we see the clouds billowing on the horizon we need only seek refuge in His alimighty, all-loving arms.
Thank you Jesus!
When I am alone
When I am alone
Oh, when I am alone
Give me Jesus
Give me Jesus
Give me Jesus
You can have all this world
Just give me Jesus
-------------------
Last week I flew threw a storm. I've flown over a storm before and I've been grounded because of a storm, but never have I flown through a storm. But last Monday I did. There was no beverage service and the fasten seat belt sign was never unlit. It was 68 minutes of up and down side to side flying. All I could see was grey out of the window and there was time when rain drops seemed like they would never end. It was pretty unnerving. I would have much rather been sitting in the terminal waiting for it to pass, but nonetheless here I was in the middle of a pretty big Arizona desert storm. I took solace in the fact that the pilots had all the latest technology and instruments at their disposal and if they thought it was safe enough to fly through, then who am I to second guess them? I would say there are fewer moments in the 21st century American's life that require more trust than when one is flying. Think about it. We are in control of almost every aspect of our lives, but when you fly, you buckle up shoot up to 30,000 feet and trust. You trust the plane, the airline company's background checks, the flight school's training, the pilot's diligence, the technology's functionality, the air traffic controller, the security measures, the reliably that the mask will indeed inflate when it is filled with oxygen, and undoubtedly 55 other factors. That's a lot of trust! But millions of people every day make it to their destinations without a single hiccup. Its amazing! The things that we trust have proven time and time again their trustworthiness, so we are silly to second guess them in most instances. Certainly, even in the midst of an hour long storm, I was never in danger. The ride was a bit bumpy, but the pilot had it well in hand. His job was to get me safely to PHX, my job was to sit back, buckle up, keep my tray in the upright/lock position, and trust.
I think you know where this is going...
The storms of life seem bumpy and rough and gray, but the Pilot has it well in hand. God has proven time and time again His trustworthiness, so who are we to doubt the Almighty? What He ordains is always good- so even though the storms come and the winds blow, He is in full control. We are safely wrapped in His nail-marked hands. Our sins are forgiven, Heaven is our inheritance, and the peace that passes all understanding is ours through our Savior Jesus. He gave us His Holy Spirit to get us safely home to Heaven, so we need only trust that He is greater than we. Storms come and go- they flare up and whip and blow- but God is forever. He who calmed the wind and the waves took away our sin and guilt, and He invites us to come as weak and wounded sinners because in Him there's rest.
Hallelujah!
booked it
I finished a book recently that was very wonderful. It's called Ragman and it's by Walt Wangerin. It is a collection of stories and hymns a prayers that are really powerful. If you have a second, check out this chapter- one of my favorites- called "Killing in the Little Cuts".
Very good stuff. http://tinyurl.com/littlecuts
OH bummer! I just realized that the last 2 pages of the story aren't included in that link... grr. Well, buy the book. It's a dollar on Amazon. You won't regret it. When I have some time, I'll type out and then react to this story- because I think its really important- the whole "its not about me" mentality... and its a struggle because you're inviting people to use you as a doormat if you are only concerned with others and neglect yourself and your own feelings... anyway, more on that later.
Very good stuff. http://tinyurl.com/littlecuts
OH bummer! I just realized that the last 2 pages of the story aren't included in that link... grr. Well, buy the book. It's a dollar on Amazon. You won't regret it. When I have some time, I'll type out and then react to this story- because I think its really important- the whole "its not about me" mentality... and its a struggle because you're inviting people to use you as a doormat if you are only concerned with others and neglect yourself and your own feelings... anyway, more on that later.
Thursday, September 8, 2011
daily bread
Today I made some lovely whole wheat-honey-agave nectar bread. It was my first try, and it turned out ducky, just ducky! Even after I put in Baking Soda instead of yeast... I got my jars mixed up... oops... It still worked- in fact it is quite tasty and delicious. Thanks $20 Ebay breadmaker! We're going to be good friends, I can tell.
Its pretty cool to be able to create every aspect of my diet and know exactly what I'm consuming... well, I'm not sure what baking soda is... and I have no clue how it differs from baking powder, but I know that I unintentionally ate 1 1/4 tablespoons of one of them, and that's something... right? Oh, also, one of them makes volcanoes when combined with vinegar and red food coloring... that's awesome.
Its pretty cool to be able to create every aspect of my diet and know exactly what I'm consuming... well, I'm not sure what baking soda is... and I have no clue how it differs from baking powder, but I know that I unintentionally ate 1 1/4 tablespoons of one of them, and that's something... right? Oh, also, one of them makes volcanoes when combined with vinegar and red food coloring... that's awesome.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Tuesdays with Buechner!!!!
"Turn around and believe that the good news that we are loved is better
than we ever dared hope, and that to believe in that good news, to live
out of it and toward it, to be in love with that good news, is of all
glad things in this world the gladdest thing of all.
Amen, and come Lord Jesus."
"If we are to love our neighbors, before doing anything else we must see our neighbors. With our imagination as well as our eyes, that is to say like artists, we must see not just their faces but the life behind and within their faces. Here it is love that is the frame we see them in."
Amen, and come Lord Jesus."
"If we are to love our neighbors, before doing anything else we must see our neighbors. With our imagination as well as our eyes, that is to say like artists, we must see not just their faces but the life behind and within their faces. Here it is love that is the frame we see them in."
Sunday, September 4, 2011
A Need to Breathe
Think you need a day of rest? You're right
Article by: ELECTA DRAPER , Denver Post
Article by: ELECTA DRAPER , Denver Post
The brain is a machine that needs downtime.
Americans have become so averse to being unproductive that many have trouble waiting in line, riding in an elevator or stopping at a traffic light without simultaneously reading, texting or talking into some device.
Psychologists, ministers, scientists and even politicians are urging revival of the ancient concept of Sabbath -- a sanctuary in time. And it's not just for the religious.
Wayne Muller, therapist and minister, works with chronically stressed people who know they need to slow their pace -- clergy, doctors, educators, social workers, parents and so on -- but they find it so difficult to step back from their work that they desperately seek permission to rest.
Muller points out that no less an authority on people than God gave permission for an entire day of rest every week. "It's not just permission, it's a commandment."
It's the commandment people most frequently blow off, Muller said, but it's the one that scripture explicitly refers to more than the other nine commandments combined.
Religion aside, psychologists and neurobiologists are learning that, if the Sabbath didn't exist, it would be more necessary than ever to invent it.
A constant flow of information and a perpetually busy state interfere with our ability to think and make decisions, scientists say.
Angelika Dimoka, director of the Center for Neural Decision Making at Temple University, studies how the brain processes information. Her research has found that, as the flow of information increases, activity increases in the region of the brain responsible for decisions and control of emotions -- but only up to a point.
Flood the brain with too much information, and activity in this region suddenly drops off. This center for smart thinking not only doesn't increase its performance, it checks out.
Boulder, Colo., psychologist Joan Borysenko works with busy executives who fear taking time off each day or week will break their stride in their high-achieving lives.
"A lot of people I know can't take a full day off. They are anxious the whole time. Their minds are racing," said Borysenko, author of "Fried: Why You Burn Out and How to Revive."
But when people take time to quiet down the left brain, to forget about to-do lists and to unplug from more input, she said, solutions often percolate up from the subconscious.
"The history of creativity is filled with stories like this," Borysenko said. "A few days of not thinking about a problem, then the answer simply appears."
Original Link: http://www.startribune.com/nation/129241828.html
Americans have become so averse to being unproductive that many have trouble waiting in line, riding in an elevator or stopping at a traffic light without simultaneously reading, texting or talking into some device.
Psychologists, ministers, scientists and even politicians are urging revival of the ancient concept of Sabbath -- a sanctuary in time. And it's not just for the religious.
Wayne Muller, therapist and minister, works with chronically stressed people who know they need to slow their pace -- clergy, doctors, educators, social workers, parents and so on -- but they find it so difficult to step back from their work that they desperately seek permission to rest.
Muller points out that no less an authority on people than God gave permission for an entire day of rest every week. "It's not just permission, it's a commandment."
It's the commandment people most frequently blow off, Muller said, but it's the one that scripture explicitly refers to more than the other nine commandments combined.
Religion aside, psychologists and neurobiologists are learning that, if the Sabbath didn't exist, it would be more necessary than ever to invent it.
A constant flow of information and a perpetually busy state interfere with our ability to think and make decisions, scientists say.
Angelika Dimoka, director of the Center for Neural Decision Making at Temple University, studies how the brain processes information. Her research has found that, as the flow of information increases, activity increases in the region of the brain responsible for decisions and control of emotions -- but only up to a point.
Flood the brain with too much information, and activity in this region suddenly drops off. This center for smart thinking not only doesn't increase its performance, it checks out.
Boulder, Colo., psychologist Joan Borysenko works with busy executives who fear taking time off each day or week will break their stride in their high-achieving lives.
"A lot of people I know can't take a full day off. They are anxious the whole time. Their minds are racing," said Borysenko, author of "Fried: Why You Burn Out and How to Revive."
But when people take time to quiet down the left brain, to forget about to-do lists and to unplug from more input, she said, solutions often percolate up from the subconscious.
"The history of creativity is filled with stories like this," Borysenko said. "A few days of not thinking about a problem, then the answer simply appears."
Original Link: http://www.startribune.com/nation/129241828.html
Thursday, September 1, 2011
1 You have searched me, LORD,
and you know me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
4 Before a word is on my tongue
you, LORD, know it completely.
5 You hem me in behind and before,
and you lay your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain. Ps 139.
and you know me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
4 Before a word is on my tongue
you, LORD, know it completely.
5 You hem me in behind and before,
and you lay your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain. Ps 139.
The "too lofty for me to attain"...
Some things are meant to be a wonder and not fully understood or grasped. It's just too lofty - too impossible for the created to understand. How limited the Creator would be if His creation fully understood His ways.
It is fun though - to ponder and discuss... Maybe that is partly what pulls us closer to God - because, like small children, we don't understand, but we trust as He navigates us through life as we, as his dearly loved kiddos trotting along side Him, cling to His finger because His hand is too big for ours to fit around...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)