I am a meteorologist and a former youth leader at church…I have a lot to say on both subjects…and then some
Most times after midnights, I have trouble sleeping. I can feel tired by 10 pm, but by 330 am or 400 am. I’ll wake up and can’t get back to sleep. I often have to leave bed and find things to do around the house that won’t wake up the rest of the house, like type goofy blog posts about cold pizza.
So this round of mids was no different. The last two nights, I have awoken at 330am and can’t back to sleep. Tonight, I walked downstairs, wrote some in my journal, and got a piece of cold pizza.
I love cold pizza. I love a lot of left overs cold, but there is something about a good piece of cold pizza for the morning. Upon thinking about this, I have come up with the main reason for a great piece. I think it has to do with the quantity of the sauce.
To me, a great pizza has a balance of cheese, sauce, and other toppings, but for a great slice of cold pizza, the sauce must be there in sufficent force to give that slimy, wet, cold texture that my mouth craves in the wee hours of the morning. If there isn’t enough sauce, then the cheese and crust will make for a dry experience that will do no one less than a stellar performance. So far, this BC Pizza Extra Large Extra Pepporoni we got with a coupon is one of the best. The cold sauce squishes out from beneath the cheese when you bite into it, unleashing the lubricant that allows your mouth to chew on it.
That’s one of the problems with cold pizza, the crust is cold and almost dry. I have been known to get a jar of Ragu Pizza Quick sauce, refirgerated of course, and dump it on the offending dry piece. While the cheese helps a bit, it is the sauce that makes the experience. I like BC’s seasoning in the sauce, so that is never an issue. The issue is always the quantity. I have had others, store bought self rising, too dry. Pizza Hut does a great job at quantity of sauce. Jet’s has had some good pieces too. However, nothing beats the one I’m having right now…
We found one cap where we went. Boo! But we did have fun with the kids!
Here are the pictures of the Mothers from the Lutz and Watton families.
When he was at table with two disciples, the Risen Christ took bread, said the blessing, broke the bread and began to give it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognized him. (Luke 24:13-35)
On my way into work tonight, my audio podcast devotional Pray-as-You-Go, used this section of scripture that describes the walk to Emmaus. This talks about two disciples who were on there way out of Jerusalem and going to Emmaus when they happened upon a stranger. As the three of them discussed the events of Jesus’ death and resurrection, then the stranger talked about the Old Testament verses that described that these events were to take place. It wasn’t until they were having dinner, when the stranger broke the bread that they realized it was Jesus.
So where is Jesus in your everyday life? Have you recognized him yet?
Related post: Watching for Aslan
Mary and I were watching Prince Caspian before I went into work this evening. When the kids are looking to cross a river, Lucy sees Aslan, but is the only one. Why? she is the only one looking for him. Then later there is a conversation between Lucy and Susan:
Susan: Why didn’t I see Aslan?
Lucy: Maybe you didn’t want to.
I think this is endemic in the church. We get into the Sunday services. We even volunteer, but are we looking for Christ?
Over at the Jesus Creed Blog: Scot McKnight is doing a review of King’s Cross: The Story of the World in the Life of Jesus by Tim Keller and makes this observation about Keller’s take on the rich young man who asks Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life. (Mark 10:17-29)
Then he sees Jesus pushing the man from seeing God as his boss (from the laws) to God as Savior, and he compels the man to imagine his own life without money. “All you have is me. Can you live like that?” (131). If you want God as savior, you have to get rid of your money as your savior. The issue is the man’s “moral worth” (132). “It’s our moral worth that keeps us from understanding the economy of the cross” (133). Which leads him to Mark 12, and the famous Jesus Creed passage on loving God and loving others.
The other day, I noticed the truck making a noise in the front end. It sounds like another wheel bearing. We were also told that by the owner of the Suburban that we have been borrowing, they may be needing it back. It would be easy for us to panic over these things, but I’m looking for Christ in the situation. The money that we need isn’t the savior. The Savior may get us the money or some other resource to help us. We have to be looking for Him and hope to see Him, just like when Lucy is looking for a place to cross the river, she is looking for Aslan to help them.
Of course, as the story goes along, Peter, Lucy’s older brother and high king, decides that they can’t wait for Aslan, and they put together an ill-fated attack on the Telmarines. How often do we do this? Instead of looking for Jesus and waiting for his appearance, we take matters into our own hands. I often see this in teen relationships. I have seen both guys and girls looking for a relationship. Instead of looking for Jesus and waiting for his appearance to give Godly advice, or introducing them to who God would have them go with, they take matters into their own hands. I can attest to this in my own life while in college. I got into a relationship with a girl that I probably shouldn’t have. Mostly because I took matters into my own hands, instead of looking for him for guidance. I see teens doing this year after year.
I’ve seen teens, get into jams all the time. They don’t look for Him. They only see the typical saviors, money, friends, and relationships. They see God as boss and not savior. Can you imagine your life without money or friends, relying only on Christ to get your through your circumstance? That’s not to say that you can’t accept money to help you through your circumstance, after all Jesus had people helping Him with His ministry providing support as he went from town to town. The idea is to look for Jesus and rely on him to provide.
I think many times we don’t look for Christ in the everyday, and over spiritualize things to such an extent that when He makes an appearance we don’t recognize Him. We just don’t look. Has a friend offered to give you money or advice (Godly advice), when you were going through something? Teens, if your parents know Christ, do you think that Jesus will make an appearance through them? Do you want Him to? If they don’t know Christ, where are you looking for Him to make an appearance?
When truth can be so distant
and hope evades our reach
Peter swam across the water
and found it on the beach – Five Iron Frenzy
Look for Him. He will be there.
