paravanes:meditations

"Good food is a good gift from a good God."  A friend asked for my recipe for this homemade, whole wheat pizza.  Originally, I planned to post it on Facebook. I then decided to simply post it here, and in that way, anyone who wants it can read and use it. I created this recipe when I realized I did not have some of the ingredients I’d planned to use for a pizza. I wanted something savory, and remembered the frozen kale (a huge bag from Costco ) in my freezer. I have had success with  sauteing  fresh or frozen kale in fresh garlic, butter, and oil and adding the kale to omelets, brown rice, or eating the kale as a side dish to sweet potatoes and sausage, or squash and sausage. Here’s the recipe: Make or purchase your choice of whole wheat pizza dough. I always make my pizza dough at home, and find very useful ways to spend my time while waiting for the dough to rise. My dough recipe comes from The Encyclopedia of Cooking (Parragon Books, 2010), but any reci

Who is that guy  following me in that car? I don’t know him, and I’m sure he doesn’t know me. Could he be a plain clothes cop? He’s talking to someone on a phone or a radio.  I wish I knew what they were saying. Is he really following me? Yes, he is. I turned a corner and he turned a corner. He looks like trouble. Did he mistake me for somebody who owes him money? What’s up with him? Oh God. He just got out of his car. HE JUST GOT OUT OF HIS CAR. He’s walking up to me. I’m scared. Better not show it. I wish I had stayed at the house. I don’t know anybody around here. Who will help me? OK. If he comes up to me, I’ve got to get past him. Is he a thief? Does he want my phone? Does he want money? I thought this was a safe neighborhood.  It looks safe, but it’s not safe. Don’t put your hands on me!  Get away from me!  GET AWAY!!  I’ve got him down---now, I have to get away. JUST GET AWAY. JUST GET BACK TO THE HOUSE. GET AWAY FROM THIS MAN! Oh God, he’s got

“Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.” –Jesus Christ, from John 6:34 Jesus’ words in this passage are some of the most puzzling ever spoken.  Early Christians were falsely accused of cannibalism because of this passage. Many of us avoid thinking about these words unless we are celebrating Holy Communion—and then we idealize away any literal meaning of these words because they seem incomprehensible and mysterious beyond understanding. Only the Holy Spirit can give true insight into many of Jesus’ words. In fact, during one of His last teaching sessions with His disciples (sometimes referred to as the Olivet Discourse), Jesus told the disciples the Holy Spirit would lead them into all truth. We need a little bit of Greek grammar to really understand this passage. Here we go! The words “eat” and “drink” in this passage are "present active participles". These are action words! The words describe