Chopped

There is so little on the regular channels, that I often opt for The Cooking Channel.  One of my favorite shows these days is Chopped.  For any who may not have seen it, Chopped is a cooking competition between chefs.  There is a mystery basket of ingredients and the chefs have to prepare an appetizer, entree, and dessert with different, and often very strange ingredients for each one of those rounds.

A panel of judges taste the creations of the chefs and eliminate a chef in each of the three rounds, until they name the winner.

The Judges

In addition to the ingredients in the baskets, the chefs have access to a pantry and refrigerator of other ingredients, and a variety of tools.

It is usually a frantic battle, with the appetizers or entrees or desserts getting on the plate the very last second.

It is not so much the competition that I enjoy, but the creative challenge.  And it occurs to me that is probably why I love to cook.



And I indeed do enjoy cooking.  At this stage of our lives, I am only cooking for two,  but those two very much appreciate good, tasty, healthy food.

Cooking possibilities are infinite.  Never ending list of ingredients.  Countless spices and herbs.  Different cooking techniques--roasting, baking, grilling.  Limitless combinations. You can grow your own veggies, or shop at the farmer's market.  You can find endless ways to recycle leftovers.  Nutritional elements to consider.  Lots of bright colors.  Sauces.

I have finally mastered the cooking challenge of not buying so much produce that I have to throw some away.   The key to that is to under buy produce, and go back to the store to purchase one or two produce items during the week.  In the summer,  I make the trip to the farmer's stand for a lot of fresh corn and peaches!

If I had nothing else to do, I could entertain myself endlessly just cooking for two.  Cooking is a creative art.

Creative Mode

Recently, I have realized what makes me happiest.  (You wouldn't think it would take so long!).   There have been so many events and activities in recent months that had called upon me being in the 'creative mode.'  It is being in that creative mode that makes me the happiest.

I have published a novel and given presentations about that process.  I have written original poetry to share at an arts festival.  I wrote words to an anthem for the choir to sing at worship.  I have written biblical monologues for actors to perform.  So many opportunities, so much gratification!

After five years, since I began writing my blog, I have more readers now, and I am therefore inspired to write more often for that.

 When I think about all this, I remember fantasizing about a newspaper column in my retirement as the dream job.  Newspapers are fading fast. An internet blog is a fine outlet for a writer.

I love writing challenges.  That was always my favorite part of ministry--whether it was for newsletter articles, sermons, a children's message, a skit.  There were endless opportunities.  As a creative type, there were parts of ministry in which I was certainly out of my element--heating and security systems, capital campaigns, endowment funds.   Those were the  'price I paid' to do the things I most loved to do.  (I hope that I did those less creative things adequately, at least).

Whenever I am in creative mode, the hours just speed by in a heartbeat.  But there is even something else beyond that.  What I have discovered this year is that it is infinitely better to be able to share with others the results of being in that creative mode!

That moves me from happiness to joy, and the joy multiplies exponentially!

For the Rest of Us

Recently, an old friend and former parishioner stopped by to say hello.  He also gave me a book he had read and thought I might enjoy reading. Generally I read fiction these days, but started reading this book anyway.  It is by Diana Butler Bass and is entitled Christianity for the Rest of Us.

The 'rest of us' referred to therein are the non-evangelical, non- Pentecostal, non-right-wing,  but are the mainstream, largely invisible denominational Protestants.   This book is extremely well-researched and well-written.  And it is a very hopeful book as well.  The main theme is the transformation of churches.  Bass clearly demonstrates how those mainline denominational churches which have transformed themselves can and do indeed grow and thrive.

My first reaction was to wish from the depths of my heart that I had read the book 15 years ago.  It wasn't published until 2006, so that really would not have been possible.  The reason why I felt that so strongly is that the book clearly describes the vision of church , the kind of community of faith that I always wanted to belong to and help create.  However, I would never have been able to articulate that vision with the clarity and specificity of this book.

I will include here just a couple of quotes, or part of quotes, or paraphrases that describe that vision.

'The primary job of church is to be a spiritual community that forms people in faith.'  (as opposed to a political machine)

....an open, nonjudgmental and intellectually generous community
....takes the Bible seriously but not literally
....about finding home and emphasizing acceptance (as opposed to exclusivity)
....comfortable with ambiguity and resists dogmatism
...searching for meaning and growth without saying it has to be one way or the other
...conversion is a communal event, and we must be "continually converted"
...learning that spirituality requires cultivation by means of habit and shared activity
...Jesus is not the way to get somewhere.  Jesus is the Christian journey itself
....churches should make pilgrims, not members
....the 'practices' always include hospitality and healing
....hospitality is not a recruitment strategy

The conclusion of this writer and researcher and teacher is that mainline Protestantism is not dying at all.  While some are in trouble, all still have the ability to transform themselves.  And that is good news indeed!

Anthem Collaboration

Today in church, I had an experience I never ever expected to have in a million years.   Here is how that came to pass.

Back in April, I participated in an "arts festival"  by contributing and reading a couple of pieces of original poetry written for the occasion.  After that, the organizer of the event, who also happens to be the church organist, asked me if I wanted to collaborate on writing an anthem.   I said I had no idea how that could possibly be.  She said I should just pick a scripture that I liked, and use that as the basis for the text, and she would see if she could write the music.  And so, that is how it started.  We did meet once to make some minor adjustments,  but beyond that, it came together so seamlessly.

I actually chose a favorite scripture of mine, Revelation 21: verses 1-6, the new heaven and the new earth.  God speaks directly to prophet John,  saying, 'I am the beginning and the end' and thus, the title--Alpha and Omega.  They are words that call for great majesty and glory.

The organist worked her magic writing the music to go with the text I wrote.   The choir, an extremely talented bunch, sang their various parts,  sopranos, then tenors,  then all together.  The choir was also accompanied by the chimes. This anthem met its scriptural challenge and  really soared to the heights, lifting up the listeners!

Of course, I was moved deeply.  I cannot even explain how it felt to hear music performed, which originated with one's words (or at least, an arrangement of God's words).

 This experience involved a whole congregation, really---all those who made it happen, and all those who appreciated it.

Thanks Sue and the UPC Choir.  You are all talented beyond measure!   And thanks, Paulette.  You are awesomely gifted!  Thank you!  Thank you!

Nancy and Paulette

Sue and the UPC Choir