Meditating on the Commands of Christ (91): Hangry? Feed the Hungry

Ever feel overwhelmed by the needs of everyone around you? I’ll never forget standing atop Hong Kong’s Victoria Peak one moonlit night many years ago, mesmerized by the endless sea of lights and people below. I couldn’t help but think, “If I spent every day working tirelessly for the rest of my life, I could never meet the spiritual hunger in even a fraction of the people living here.*

There is an answer to the question of how our infinitesimal resources can impact the earth’s seemingly infinite needs, and it’s addressed in today’s mediation, which is repeated in all three of the synoptic Gospels: “Give them something to eat.” What? How??

In the story, the twelve weary apostles have just returned from an exhausting mission. Jesus knew they needed rest, so he took them away to a deserted area. However, thousands of people were fascinated by Jesus’s teachings (and particularly his miraculous ability to heal), so they came crowding together to see him.

The apostles patiently weathered Jesus welcoming, teaching, and healing the crowds all day, but by evening, they were more than done! Now, besides being physically and emotionally drained, they were very likely “hangry” (which is a recent and very descriptive portmanteau in English expressing the nearly universal feelings of irritability when we’re so hungry that we become angry).

Therefore, the apostles did the logical, natural, reasonable thing: They told Jesus to send the people away, so they could scavenge for food in the surrounding villages. Fat chance! My husband was one of the 400,000+ young people who crammed into the music festival at Woodstock fifty-one years ago. Food wasn’t on the menu. Music was. Rain was. Traffic jams were. It was an incredible mess. Scavenging enough food wasn’t possible.

Where would 5,000 people (plus women and children) get enough food to eat in a “desolate place” near the little village of Bethsaida (archeological remains of which cover only 20 acres)? Doubtless, they would not! So, why did Jesus respond with an impossible suggestion? “You give them something to eat” (Matthew 14:16; Mark 6:37; Luke 9:13).

The Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes by James Tissot, 1886-1896. Public Domain

To test them, of course! Jesus knew his weary disciples didn’t have the resources to meet the needs of the masses! So, when they pointed out the obvious—the impossibility—Jesus gave them a simple assignment that they could follow. He told them to have the people sit down in groups.

Once resting with lots of other people, Jesus took the food that he and the apostles had on hand (which was only five loaves of bread and two fish), blessed them, broke them, and passed them out to his disciples, who distributed them among the groups of people.

Some people suggest that the miracle wasn’t Jesus multiplying the loaves and fish, but that the people themselves, touched by the unselfish example of Christ and the apostles, shared what they had with one another. The Bible doesn’t explain what happened; it simply states that the disciples distributed what Jesus gave them, that everyone ate to the point of satisfaction, and that there were twelve baskets full of broken pieces of food left over.

I believe it’s completely possible that God miraculously multiplied the five loaves and two fish, because there is an Old Testament account of God miraculously filling the widow’s jars with oil (2 Kings 4). The wording of the texts does not declare that Jesus made bread out of bread, but it does say that the people understood what happened that day as a sign proving that Jesus was the promised Prophet to come.

No matter how you interpret the event, let’s not miss a few obvious points:

• The disciples knew they couldn’t provide for the people’s needs themselves but were willing to obey Jesus.
• The people were organized into groups. (I can’t help but think of our local churches.)
• The people’s hunger was met by the actions and example of Jesus, who blessed and gave what he had.
• Everyone was satisfied at the end.
• There were twelve disciples, and twelve baskets of broken pieces gathered at the end so that “nothing be lost.” If we follow Jesus, we will be broken, but nothing will be lost!
• Not long afterward, Jesus taught us all that there is something more important than physical bread, and that is spiritual bread: “Jesus answered them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.^‘ Then they said to him, ‘What must we do, to be doing the works of God?’ Jesus answered them, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.‘ So they said to him, ‘Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’ Jesus then said to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.^‘ They said to him, ‘Sir, give us this bread always.’ Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day‘” (John 6:26-40).

Texts for this meditation (all in the ESV—English Standard Version): John 6:1-14, “After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, ‘Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?’ He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. Philip answered him, ‘Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.’ One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, ‘There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?’ Jesus said, ‘Have the people sit down.’ Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, ‘Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.’ So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten. When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, ‘This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!‘” Luke 9:10-17, “On their return the apostles told him all that they had done. And he took them and withdrew apart to a town called Bethsaida. When the crowds learned it, they followed him, and he welcomed them and spoke to them of the kingdom of God and cured those who had need of healing. Now the day began to wear away, and the twelve came and said to him, “Send the crowd away to go into the surrounding villages and countryside to find lodging and get provisions, for we are here in a desolate place.” But he said to them, “You give them something to eat.” They said, “We have no more than five loaves and two fish—unless we are to go and buy food for all these people.” For there were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each.” And they did so, and had them all sit down. And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing over them. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. And they all ate and were satisfied. And what was left over was picked up, twelve baskets of broken pieces.” Matthew 14:13-21, “Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick. Now when it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” But Jesus said, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” They said to him, “We have only five loaves here and two fish.” And he said, “Bring them here to me.” Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over. And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.” Mark 6:30-44, “The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. And he said to them, ‘Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.’ For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves. Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things. And when it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is now late. Send them away to go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.” And they said to him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat?” And he said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” And when they had found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.” Then he commanded them all to sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups, by hundreds and by fifties. And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the people. And he divided the two fish among them all. And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish. And those who ate the loaves were five thousand men.”

(*Just for the record, I didn’t have a camera on the trip to Victoria Peak that I described in the first paragraph, but I do have this photo from a much later trip, taken from Hong Kong harbor.)

Melt-in-Your-Mouth Chocolate Cheesecake

I asked my daughter-in-law-to-be what she would like for dessert for her engagement party, and she responded, “Do you ever make chocolate cheesecake?” Actually, I never had! I usually make it with some type of fruit topping, but I decided to make up something in her honor. It was such a hit that she asked if I’d make more for the rehearsal dinner last night. My few photos are from preparing for the rehearsal dinner, so I actually made a triple batch, but I will write it up for just one batch:

Creamy Chocolate Cheesecake
(serves 15±)

Graham Cracker Crust:
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
2. Prepare the crust by adding together in a blender:
9 crushed graham crackers
1/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup melted butter
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Blend until fine and blended, then pat into the bottom of a 13 X9″ baking pan.

Prepare New York-style cheesecake filling:
In a blender, combine:
24 oz. sour cream
8 oz. softened cream cheese
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
1/3 cup melted butter
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
Dash of salt

Blend until completely smooth, then pour on top of the graham cracker crust.

Bake in the oven at 350°F. for 30 minutes. It might still seem a bit jiggly in the middle. Allow it to cool on the counter while you prepare the ganache.

Prepare Chocolate Ganache:
In a saucepan, pour 1 cup heavy whipping cream and heat until it starts to bubble around the edges. ( Stir a few times to make sure it doesn’t brown on the bottom.)
Add 12 oz. dark chocolate chips. Turn off the heat and whisk until the chocolate is completely melted and the ganache is perfectly blended.

Pour the ganache over the baked, cooled cheesecake. Once the ganache is also cooled, chill the chocolate cheesecake in the refrigerator at least 2 hours—or until you’re ready to serve it. It can be made the morning of your party, although the crust will get a bit soggy if it’s kept overnight in the refrigerator, so I don’t recommend making it the day before. Still, I’ve never had anyone complain on the second day if there are leftovers. Enjoy!

Creamy Chocolate Cheesecake

“Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”
(Psalm 37:4)

Thank you, Christoph!

By way of encouragement, my brother (spiritual brother, and the father of my daughter-in-law Gerlinde), sent me this lovely reminder of the wonderful goodness and grace of God, which I’m experiencing this morning while in the throes of preparing for tomorrow’s wedding. May you all have a day overflowing with the joy and blessings of the Lord!

Encouragement vs Discouragement

Have you considered that discouragement comes from beneath and encouragement from above? As you look at the world around you, do you feel the weight of sorrow? Right now in America, terrible wildfires are burning in California after 11,000 bolts of lightning struck in a 72-hour period last week. Some 370 fires have burned more than 1.2 million acres so far, and the fires are not contained yet.

NOAA satellite image of wildfires in Northern California

Two of the fires rank as the second and third largest fires in Californian history. Smoke is not only compromising the breathing in the coastal areas where my oldest brother and oldest son (and families) live, but people can smell the smoke all the way to Nebraska.

NOAA satellite image of Hurricane Laura hitting landfall at 1:00 am this morning

On America’s southern front, Hurricane Laura made landfall at 1:00 am this morning. This colossal Category 4 storm has had sustained winds of 150 mph and is forecast to bring catastrophic damage with a storm surge up to 20 feet that could cause flooding as far as 40 miles inland. Interstate 10 has been closed, and those who have not already evacuated have been instructed to keep ID in plastic bags on their bodies for identification purposes if they are killed in the storm. I don’t remember two such cataclysmic natural disasters occurring in our country simultaneously.

As far as I know, all is quiet on the northern front where I live, although several in my family are still trying to recover from a bad cold —so bad that one daughter-in-law and I were tested for COVID. Thankfully, our tests both came back negative. I was shocked by how discouraged I became during the peak of my illness. Most of the time, I’m super cheery, but a week ago Tuesday, I was downright depressed for no obvious reason. It made me wonder if I was developing Alzheimer’s or a brain tumor—or some other horrible disease.

Beyond national crises (which also include present social unrest and our upcoming election), I thought about my life: Sure, COVID concerns have made sheltering-in-place the state-of-the-art. We’re still part of the group worshiping via church online rather than meeting with our friends. We haven’t traveled anywhere in many months. We aren’t shopping (except for groceries); we aren’t eating out; we are hardly even going to a park for a walk. Alan retired as of July 1, which (although it’s been lovely) is an undeniable statement that we’re both getting OLD! We wave at our neighbors but only chat across the fence. (Last week one of them invited us to a free concert in their backyard . . . but—we’re not quite ready to join in local fun yet.) Also, our last born is getting married this weekend. This is a source of great joy to me, but it’s personally a great loss as well, since our “baby” has been living with us for the past four years and has been a constant source of blessing to both Alan and me. We will miss his company severely.

Still, I have food, shelter, and every reason in the world to be encouraged, happy, and rejoicing, so why the depression? I don’t know. It passed in a couple of days, but it gave me great empathy for my friends and relatives who suffer from depression that doesn’t just come and go but moves into their hearts as an unwelcome guest who refuses to leave. Wow! What a difference it can make!

During that time, I read this quote by Amy Carmichael from Edges of His Ways: “I have always noticed that when God has purposes of blessing for some soul, the demon of discouragement, who is one of Satan’s most useful servants, is sure to come and whisper all sorts of sorrowful, depressing, miserable thoughts. He drops these thoughts about, sometimes in one heart and sometimes in another. If they take root and grow into feelings and words and deeds, he knows that a great deal has been done to hinder what our God intends to do. Do not forget that discouragement is always from beneath; encouragement is always from above; God is the God of encouragement” (emphasis mine).

This reminder was so encouraging to me that I wanted to pass it on to you! Are you feeling discouraged today? Whether or not you have reasons for sorrow, as believers, we also have every reason to rejoice! We have eternal life! This world is not our final home. The day will come when we are free from pain and everything that impedes us now. Be patient, my dear friend, and encourage yourself in the Lord. He sees; He cares; He redeems. Don’t give in to discouraging thoughts or words. Remember: They are from below! Look up to Jesus and allow Him to fill your mind with encouraging words from above! Words from His Word and His heart to you.

“Tremble, and do not sin; Meditate in your heart upon your bed, and be still.”
(Psalm 4:4)

Rose of Sharon

“Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished“ (Isaiah 51:6).

Palau: The Movie and The Story

What’s the greatest passion of your life? For me, I think it will always be sharing the good news of God’s great love for us and his provision for our redemption through Jesus Christ. This is the Gospel that Jesus told the healed maniac to share with his family—what great things God had done for him—and this is the Good News that so compels those of us who have been washed in the fountain of life.

Some of us (like me) have not had a very wide audience with whom to share our delight in Christ. (But, no matter! Our job is to run deep and pure; God’s job is to decide how wide our scope of influence.) Others, like Billy Graham and Luis Palau, have reached multiple millions.

Luis Palau spoke in Grand Rapids at our city-wide festival last summer (2019), although it was one of his last addresses. Now eighty-five and dealing with stage-4 lung cancer, Luis is retired and living with his family in Oregon, but what an amazing ministry he has had! Over the past 70+ years he has shared the gospel with tens of millions people in over 75 countries.

Last year (2019), Palau the Movie came out, a biographical drama about Palau’s life, starting with his happy childhood in Argentina, where his father was a wealthy builder with a passion for evangelism. I think Kara Weller (whoever she is) wrote a better summary than I could: “Amidst both seemingly insurmountable struggles and remarkable miracles, Luis never lost sight of his calling. Luis Palau’s story demonstrates what God can do with a willing heart. PALAU the Movie will inspire people of faith for generations.” Amen!

What can I say? Please watch this movie if you get a chance! It will make your day and may change your life. It has certainly encouraged my heart!

“Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation” (Mark 16:15, ESV).

P.S.—If you are not a believer and happen to read this but are left wondering what “the Gospel” is, please click on the “Coming to Christ” icon at the top of this page for a fuller explanation. Thanks! I’m also open to answering questions if you contact me in the comment box, or you can write me at kathrynwarmstrong at gmail.com. I will also pray for you if you send me requests. Blessings~

Meditating on the Commands of Christ (90): Share Your Story

The account of Jesus healing the maniac of Gadara is one of the most strange in the New Testament, and in many ways, it’s bewildering to me. (See biblical texts at the end to read the story.) But, even though I don’t have experiences to draw from, I would like to stand against cultural prejudices that assume certain biblical accounts are apocryphal because they do not fit into the context of modern Western culture. Colleges (even some theoretically Christian institutions) now talk about the biblical “myths” or “legends.” Many skeptics consider all material with miraculous content as “impossible” (because they don’t believe in miracles) and therefore fictitious by definition.

Against this backdrop of disbelief, I would like to encourage us to start from a position of faith as we examine the scriptures. Instead of saying, “This doesn’t compute in my brain!” how about saying: “What if this story is true? What if there is a God who can (and sometimes does) miraculously intervene in the lives of his beloved created ones?” Best yet, how about stating, “By faith, I believe this story is true, even though I have not met someone who is demon-possessed and a raving maniac.” (That is—if you haven’t.)

I haven’t personally met anyone I can definitively identify as demon-possessed, although I can’t watch a video of Hitler during his later years without wondering why he was so wicked. He was certainly obsessed with evil, addicted to drugs, and a neurotic psychopath who committed suicide after murdering untold millions of people. Beyond wondering about psychopathic killers, I have read accounts of people in other countries around the world who were demon-possessed but later freed by Christ. Demon possession is a reality, even though it’s not common (or commonly understood) in our historically Christian Western culture.

Jesus Exorcizing the Garasene Demoniac by Spencer Alexander McDaniel, 2020

So, once we can wrap our minds around the spiritual darkness that does exist in the world, then we can begin to appreciate the wonder of Jesus’s compassion and kindness in healing this man. “Legion”—so named for all the evil spirits that indwelt him—was naked, homeless, and friendless. Worse yet, he was full of self-loathing. He spent his time screaming and gashing himself. Jesus healed him from all this, and when the locals came to see what had happened, they found the man sitting at the feet of Jesus, “clothed and in his right mind.”

Mosaic of the healing of the Maniac of Gadara
from the Basilica of Sant’Apollinare Nuovo. Public Domain

There’s so much to think through in this story—why Jesus allowed the demons to enter the herd of swine; the horrifying stampede of 2,000 pigs rushing to their death; the anger and fearful response of the people. But, I want to zero in on the response of the man who was healed and the command of Christ to him. The healed man wanted to follow Jesus and be physically present with him wherever he went. Instead, Jesus instructed the healed man to go back to his own people and tell them what great things God had done for him. Well, in Luke it’s recorded “what great things God has done for you” and in Mark it’s recorded as “what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He had mercy on you.”

The beauty of this passage is that the newly healed man did just what he was told. He went back to the people he had offended and told them how he had been transformed from a lethal, suicidal maniac into a God-loving, God-fearing, God-worshiping new creation! From a wolf to a lamb. From a child of Satan to a child of God. You would think the townspeople might have killed him, but they did not. They listened! And, don’t miss this: He told everyone “what great things Jesus had done for him.” He understood that Jesus was God, the Lord!

Healing of the Maniac of Gadara from Hitda Codex.
Public Domain

Is it possible that you have been rescued from demon possession or some horrible condition by the healing touch of Jesus in your life? Don’t be afraid to go home and tell others what great things Jesus Christ—your Lord and God—has done for you! Afraid of getting killed? Well, I guess you’ll have to pray through God’s call to you, and I’m sure there are times when He doesn’t want you to walk right back into harm’s way, but don’t discount returning home as one option. It may be that Jesus wants you to go back home and share the gospel with those you’ve hurt. It’s just possible that instead of hating and killing you, people will listen!

Frankly, no matter how dramatic our life story, if we have been saved by faith in Christ, we have a story to share with our family and friends. For about ten years while our children were growing up, we would sing and share the gospel at our local rescue mission. Most of my children asked Jesus to be their Lord and Savior at very young ages. One son felt like he didn’t have much of a story to tell since the big difference I noticed in him was that he stopped fighting me over letting me brush his teeth at night . . . not too impressive when you’re talking to homeless men who’ve been through the wringer!

No matter how simple or profound your story, if you’ve repented of your sins and trusted in Christ as your Lord and Savior, you are a child of God with a testimony to share with others! May we be faithful stewards of our own precious redemption story.

Jesus Exorcizing the Gerasene Demoniac by Ottheinrich Folio, 1425. Public Domain

Texts for today’s meditation: “Then they sailed to the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. ²⁷ And when He came out onto the land, He was met by a man from the city who was possessed with demons; and who had not put on any clothing for a long time, and was not living in a house, but in the tombs. ²⁸ Seeing Jesus, he cried out and fell before Him, and said in a loud voice, “What business do we have with each other, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You, do not torment me.” ²⁹ For He had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For it had seized him many times; and he was bound with chains and shackles and kept under guard, and yet he would break his bonds and be driven by the demon into the desert. ³⁰ And Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Legion”; for many demons had entered him. ³¹ They were imploring Him not to command them to go away into the abyss. ³² Now there was a herd of many swine feeding there on the mountain; and the demons implored Him to permit them to enter the swine. And He gave them permission. ³³ And the demons came out of the man and entered the swine; and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned. ³⁴ When the herdsmen saw what had happened, they ran away and reported it in the city and out in the country. ³⁵ The people went out to see what had happened; and they came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting down at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind; and they became frightened. ³⁶ Those who had seen it reported to them how the man who was demon-possessed had been made well. ³⁷ And all the people of the country of the Gerasenes and the surrounding district asked Him to leave them, for they were gripped with great fear; and He got into a boat and returned. ³⁸ But the man from whom the demons had gone out was begging Him that he might accompany Him; but He sent him away, saying, ³⁹ “Return to your house and describe what great things God has done for you.” So he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him” (Luke 8:26-39, ESV).

“They came to the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gerasenes. ² When He got out of the boat, immediately a man from the tombs with an unclean spirit met Him, ³ and he had his dwelling among the tombs. And no one was able to bind him anymore, even with a chain; ⁴ because he had often been bound with shackles and chains, and the chains had been torn apart by him and the shackles broken in pieces, and no one was strong enough to subdue him. ⁵ Constantly, night and day, he was screaming among the tombs and in the mountains, and gashing himself with stones. ⁶ Seeing Jesus from a distance, he ran up and bowed down before Him; ⁷ and shouting with a loud voice, he said, “What business do we have with each other, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God, do not torment me!” ⁸ For He had been saying to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!” ⁹ And He was asking him, “What is your name?” And he said to Him, “My name is Legion; for we are many.” ¹⁰ And he began to implore Him earnestly not to send them out of the country. ¹¹ Now there was a large herd of swine feeding nearby on the mountain. ¹² The demons implored Him, saying, “Send us into the swine so that we may enter them.” ¹³ Jesus gave them permission. And coming out, the unclean spirits entered the swine; and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea, about two thousand of them; and they were drowned in the sea. 14 Their herdsmen ran away and reported it in the city and in the country. And the people came to see what it was that had happened. ¹⁵ They came to Jesus and observed the man who had been demon-possessed sitting down, clothed and in his right mind, the very man who had had the “legion”; and they became frightened. ¹⁶ Those who had seen it described to them how it had happened to the demon-possessed man, and all about the swine. ¹⁷ And they began to implore Him to leave their region. ¹⁸ As He was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed was imploring Him that he might accompany Him. ¹⁹ And He did not let him, but He said to him, “Go home to your people and report to them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He had mercy on you.” ²⁰ And he went away and began to proclaim in Decapolis what great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed” (Mark 5:1-20, ESV).

https://video.search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?fr=yhs-SGMedia-sgmedia_maps&hsimp=yhs-sgmedia_maps&hspart=SGMedia&p=we%27ve+a+story+to+tell+to+the+nations+youtube&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly9rYXRocnlud2FybXN0cm9uZy53b3JkcHJlc3MuY29tLz9wPTY1OTkx&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAJajK2uNkCCQEsXr_Y89jS9pwC2pKuCyX5q6TJozgbGUGk2I2tWaNXceWklz4EGCEXq6EG06KaI3oOf-haZFxJ64XC1wb3f5wsnrLpRHJ4CzklMvup8kykIsrPczGFbyPk2CK4I5BWSBvwfFx6IP3RjKLmvHdSSVFlOo3rY-NAQZ&_guc_consent_skip=1597958522#id=48&vid=f1b5fb073a4a0c1897a6622a84b09d01&action=view

“We’ve a Story to Tell To the Nations”

Last, but most importantly, if you feel like you are demon-possessed, know beyond a shadow of a doubt that Jesus can and will heal you if you cry out to Him in repentance and faith. Not sure how? Click on the “Coming to Christ” tab at the top of this post for more information.

Quick and Classy California Cobb Salad

You can even order a Cobb salad at McDonald’s, so you know it’s a part of classic Americana that’s here to stay, although it’s super simple to make. In fact, the story goes that late one night back in 1937, either the owner (Robert Howard Cobb) or his chief chef (Paul J. Posti) of Los Angeles’ original Brown Derby restaurant was looking for something quick and easy to eat, so they threw together some of what they had on hand. But, it turned out so well that it became a signature dish at the Brown Derby, and before long, movie stars were lining up to order “Cobb’s salad” for lunch! The rest is history!

But, if you’d like to be a part of continuing this delicious history, here’s the recipe:

Classic Cobb Salad
(per salad)

On a plate, arrange:
Lettuce greens (ice berg, watercress, endive, and romaine are quintessential, but I just used romaine, and I think nobody will refuse your salad due to lettuce choice)

On top of the lettuce greens, arrange:
1 hard-boiled egg, peeled and sliced
3-4 oz roasted or grilled (NOT fried) chicken, sliced
1/2 avocado, peeled and sliced
2-3 oz. crispy bacon, crumbled
1/2 fresh tomato, sliced
1/4 cup fresh, grated or crumbled cheese (roquefort is perhaps most traditional, but cheddar and Monterrey Jack are also popular . . . or whatever you have!)
1 tablespoon chopped, fresh (or freeze-dried if you don’t have fresh) chives

There are various versions of how to dress your salad. It can be tossed with French dressing (perhaps the original), but another very popular version calls for making your own red wine vinaigrette dressing by mixing red-wine vinegar, olive oil, mustard, a touch of sugar, salt and pepper. Personally, we’re blessed to have some amazing balsamic vinegar that our son brought us home from Modena, Italy (which is very rich and sweet already), so I just use:
Virgin olive oil
balsamic vinegar,
(Coarse-ground) salt and pepper to taste.

As might be obvious, you could serve it with a loaf of fresh bread and butter and various options for drinks, but if you want a super low-cal, highly nutritious lunch or dinner salad—this one is so delicious that it can stand alone!

“And there you shall eat before the Lord your God, and you shall rejoice, you and your households, in all that you undertake, in which the Lord your God has blessed you” (Deuteronomy 12:7, ESV).

Just Mercy

Have you been watching more videos
since COVID has most of us sheltering-in-place?

Any favorites?

I’d love to hear your recommendations!

Alan and I have seen more videos this year than at any time in our remembered past, but it’s a real challenge to find excellent movies!

One of my favorites from the past few months is the freshly minted story, Just Mercy.

This beautifully created masterpiece is based on memoirs by the same name, and it traces the courageous true story of Bryan Stevenson, a brilliant young lawyer—fresh out of Harvard law school—with a heart to work for justice and mercy among prisoners in America.

Just Mercy exposes some of the terrible prejudices and injustices that exist in America’s legal system. It’s PG-13 with an IMDb rating of 7.6. In my mind, Just Mercy deserves its high rating. (In fact, I’d rate it even higher!)

Just Mercy isn’t meant as simple entertainment; it’s a message intended to educate us about injustice and inspire us to perseverance in spite of intimidation. It’s also one of those wonderful biographical accounts where good overcomes evil in the end.

Just Mercy is not an easy story to watch, but it’s carefully done with nothing gratuitous about the dark experiences and circumstances that both Stevenson and the (innocent but incarcerated) inmates have to survive.

To me, Just Mercy is a landmark movie with a message we all need to hear. I hope you take time to watch it!

“Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow” (Isaiah 1:17).

P.S.— When I see a deeply inspiring story, I always wonder what motivates such altruism, and more often than not, I discover a glowing Christian! This was also true as I researched the life of Bryan Stevenson. While speaking at Lambeth Palace at the invitation of the Bishop of Canterbury, Christian Today reported: “Throughout the 45-minute address, he referred frequently to his own Christian faith, and to his belief that the church has a particular imperative to get involved in issues of injustice in the world.” How?

• “We have to get approximate to the problems we care about.”
• “We have to change the narrative.”
• “We have to remain hopeful.”
• “Sometimes we have to do uncomfortable things.”

Bryan Stevenson at TED2012: Full Spectrum, February 27 – March 2, 2012. Long Beach, CA. Photo: James Duncan Davidson

Bryan is the founder and Executive Director of the Equal Justice Initiative based in Montgomery, Alabama. Looks like a great organization to me! https://eji.org/

Five+Star Meals from Scraps

How do you handle all the leftovers when you have lots of summer company? My son Jon’s family was visiting recently, and he taught me a couple of tricks to make using up the leftovers fun! Whenever the fridge was getting crammed with bits and pieces from this and that, we’d pull them all out and have a smorgasbord of leftovers. Now, most people would consider this a rather lack-luster excuse for a lunch, and in my family growing up, each leftover tidbit was called a “scrap.” About once a week (usually on Saturday), my mother would clean out the refrigerator and serve a meal of “scraps.” It was part of being responsible for not wasting any food, but we never thought of it as special.

Jon took a totally different tack! For a starter, he’d say we were going to eat at Trail’s End. For those of you who don’t know our family’s lore (or don’t happen to love camping at Disney World yourselves), let me explain: Trail’s End is a wonderful country-style buffet at Disney’s Wilderness Campground (where we took our annual family camping trip for about 45 years). We didn’t go to Trail’s End often (not even once per year), but we all adored their fabulous salads, entrees, sides, desserts, and drinks—all for one (extravagant) price. It is one restaurant that no matter how young or old, every person can find an abundance of their personal favorite things to eat and drink, and nobody in our family ever whined about not liking the food! (Actually, my kids were great eaters, and eating out was a rare luxury, so they really didn’t whine much no matter where we went, but you get the idea.)

So, the first thing Jon did was elevate each paltry smorgasbord by likening it to our favorite buffet! Second, at this meal, there were no rules about choosing a balanced diet. (I did set apart the desserts for later.) If it was on the counter, it was fair game (although politeness would sometimes require asking how many people wanted some of whatever). We’d try to organize the meats, veggies, fruits, and starches in groups so that people could see all their options in various categories, but kids could still choose whatever, including just one protein and three fruits if they wanted (for example). That got the kids excited about picking out their favorites, and before long, the leftovers were flying off the counter!

What makes it a five-star meal? According to Jon, the meal deserves one star for each scrap that is totally devoured! The blueberries and cantaloupe disappeared? Hey, that’s a good beginning! Two stars! What about the day we finished off the green beans, tossed salad, rice, chicken, and watermelon? That was a five-star meal! Oh, but then somebody polished off the last biscuit and the sausage gravy left over from yesterday’s breakfast, and now the coleslaw is gone too . . . that’s an eight-star meal!

I mean really, does it get any more fun than that? Sometimes we get so full at lunch that we have to wait until tea time to finish off our “scrap” desserts. But, since we all have sweet teeth, it doesn’t take a game to make the last bites of desserts disappear!

“He [God] gives food in abundance” (Job 36:31).

Meditating on the Commands of Christ (89): Peace, Be Still

His message to the wind is also good for us when we’re alarmed: “And he [Jesus] arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm” (Mark 4:39). In the midst of following Jesus, in the midst of toiling through the night, while it seemed like God had abandoned them and Jesus was sound asleep in the back of the boat—totally oblivious to their danger—the disciples came to the end of themselves and their own resources. They could not save themselves or the ship. All they could do was go down trying or cry out to God for help.

They chose the right option! They cried out to Jesus, and he awoke and commanded the storm to stop raging.

No, even better! He commanded the the wind and the waves to become still and be at peace.

Have you ever found yourself in such a storm that you know saving yourself is no longer possible? This past week, I listened to God’s Hostage, by Andrew Brunson. It’s the terrifying true story of Andrew and Norine Brunson, who spent twenty-three years working among the Turkish people as missionaries. However, their work with Syrian refugees, including Kurds, made the authorities suspicious of their intentions, and in 2016 both were arrested. After a couple of harrowing months in jail, Norine was released, but Andrew was accused of spying and sent to prison.

I don’t want to end the suspense by telling you the whole story, because the book is well worth reading (for many reasons), but I want to pass along one kernel of wisdom. Andrew mentioned that he was often so anxious he couldn’t even sleep and struggled with depression. During that time, he received many letters from friends intending to encourage him, but often they just added to his load of guilt for not being stronger emotionally under all the duress. However, he clung to one bit of counsel that comforted him: “Just breathe.” He didn’t have to be brave; he didn’t have to overcome; he didn’t have to pray without ceasing; he could just concentrate on breathing. And, that he could do!

Breathe in. Breathe out. Calm down. Be at peace. God has not abandoned us. Jesus is with us. If we are his disciples, following him, then we can be assured that he is “in the boat” with us. We are his, and He is ours. Can you see his face ? Can you see his hands uplifted to protect you from the storm? Allow his peace to fill your heart and still your soul. The One who commanded the wind and the waves can—and will— rescue us in his time and way. Our only job is to breathe. To surrender. To be at peace.

Texts for today’s meditation: “And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him.²⁴ And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.²⁵ And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish.²⁶ And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.²⁷ But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!” (Matthew 8:23-27).

 ^“But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” ³⁹ And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. ⁴⁰ He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” ⁴¹ And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” (Mark 4:38-41).

“Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a ship with his disciples: and he said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake. And they launched forth.²³ But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy.²⁴ And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm.²⁵ And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him” (Luke 8:22-25).