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20 March 2007

Tossed Salads, Melting Pots, or Integration

As a living example of the "Melting Pot," I've often struggled with conflicts between the different cultural heritages that I have inherited and adopted. Although early in my life, I tended to reject one and embrace the other, when I moved to Egypt, we were given orientation as new students at Cairo American College and I was first introduced to the notion of culture shock and that there were steps I could take to integrate the two cultures that were colliding. They actually called us third-culture kids for the 3rd culture that was formed out of what parts we chose to integrate from the two we were bringing together through the experience of originating from one culture and then being planted in the middle of another. Since that time, I've strived more and more towards integration.

When a friend of mine introduced me to the following quote from Thomas Merton, it resonated with me as articulating the path I've been trying to navigate since I first began to realize that I have a choice in how I confront the different and sometimes conflicting cultures that I have encountered and embraced.

The one who has attained final integration is no longer limited by the culture
in which he has grown up. He has embraced all of life. He passes beyond all
these limiting forms, while retaining all that is best and most universal in
them, finally giving birth to a fully comprehensive self. He accepts not only
his own community, his own society, his own friends, his own culture, but all
humanity. He does not remain bound to one limited set of values in such a way
that he opposes them aggressively and defensively to others. He is fully
"Catholic" in the best sense of the word. He has a unified wisdom and experience
of the one truth shining out in all its various manifestations, some clearer
than others, some more definite and more certain than others. He does not set
these partial views up in opposition to each other, but unifies them in a
dialectic or an insight of complementarity. With this view of life he is able to
bring perspective, liberty and spontaneity into the lives of others. The finally
integrated person is a peacemaker, and that is why there is such a desperate
need for our leaders to become such persons of insight.

Thomas Merton
Final Integration -- Toward a "Monastic Therapy"
Contemplation In A World of Action


Peacemaker is one way that I have been told my name translates to English, and when I'm in the best frame of mind, I can certainly relate to it. The different perspectives provide a place from which, as a third party, alternate views can be perceived objectively and there is more clarity towards how the two views can find common ground.

The Refiner and the Refined

The Foundry, Men's group at Forest Hill Church, Charlotte, NC on March 19, 2007

During Hard Times, you are in one of three places:

  1. coming out of Hard Times
  2. in the middle of Hard Times
  3. concerned about entering Hard Times
"But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand
when He appears? For He is like a refiner's fire. And like a launderer's
soap. He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver, He will purify the sons of Levi, And purge them as gold and silver, That they may offer to the LORD an offering in righteousness. "Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasant to the LORD, as in the days of old, As in former years.
- Malachi 3:2-4

Likens every Hard Time to the Refiner's furnace, like silver and gold. Proverbs, time refines / Lord tests heart What he can be, sees His reflection. Meanwhile, on the sea of Galilee John 21 ;

Our first reaction when we find ourselves in trouble is to run for a comfort
zone. Peter says, I'm going fishing. The rest follow him and go with
him. BE CAREFUL, when you run for your comfort zone you will influence those
around you and convince them to step away from God's will as well!

Jesus cries out, Have you caught anything? (if they caught anything, no one
would need to ask)

Find him by a fire, Peter denied Christ by a fire, now he will be told he is loved by Christ at breakfast by a fire. Fire is a symbol of the foundry, restored by fire, in the middle of the time of trials/troubles/tribulations.


God is the Ultimate Refiner


  1. REFINER Breaks rock of our life intentionally.

    James 1 / Encouraged in trials, boxed canyons, they are used to prepare us for life. Our natural response is to avoid the fire and thus we are not prepared for life.

    1. INADEQUECY : BREAKING DESIRE FOR SECURITY
      Peter walking on water Matt 14, breaking desire for security
      Inadequecy is the greatest fear of a man.
    2. CONTROL : Matt 16
      Want to be a person who controls circumstances.
      Philipi, center of all ???boods? symbol the lower???
      Who do they say I am?
      Who do you say I am?
      Peters example here is from the pinnacle heights (on this rock) to the pit (get behind me Satan). The Refiner breaks the rocks intentionally
    3. SURVIVAL : LUKE 22 sitting by the fire
      Peter followed at a distance.

      1. I am not
      2. You have not
      3. I do not now Him

      Denied 3 times and cock crows and Jesus turned and looked to him.
      What kind of look? disappointment

      We are focused on survival (cya). First thing we ask each other, what do you do for a living? Do not realize is that your significance is in the One who created you, not in WHAT you do.

      Our significance is only in Christ.

  2. REFINER Heats the Crucible

    God knows where the heat needs to be put, he has exerts absolute control over:


    • TARGET
    • TIMING
    • TEMPERATURE

    The only item we have some control over is the TERM

    1 Peter 1:~16 you are of greater worth than silver and gold
    strong until the last day We only extend the term when we ask Why? questions:

    • Why me?
    • Why not him/her?
    • Why now?
    • etc.

    When the heat is on, there are two questions we can ask of the LORD that can reduce the TERM quickly, when taken seriously:

    1. God, what is it that you want to change in me through this?
    2. God, what is it that you want me to learn through this?

  3. REFINER Removes the Impurities

    The most unread book in this country is the Car Owner's Manual. Usually only picked up after you something in the car has broken, but the purpose of the Owner's manual is to prevent problems in the car and maximize the efficiency and life of the vehicle.

    Use our Owner's Manual, the Holy Bible, to be set apart and to let our life stand out. BE HOLY and as you follow me, others will say, what is with him?
    What is the reason for the joy in his heart?

    The story of the 2 cd's for $1.99 instead of $9.99. Pastor gave a sermon on integrity and clerk tested him by charging him only $1.99 for each of the CD's and he returned them. She wanted to see if his faith was something he only put on at Church or if he took it with him into the world . . . and despite his hurry, in the small things he was found faithful and she received Christ as her Lord and Savior. There are teachings that I may know, but have not put into practice. Am I not living the life I know I should be living?

    The REFINER:

    1. Breaks rock
    2. Heats crucible
    3. Removes impurities
    4. pours pure molten self into Christ shaped mold, Romans 8:28-29 (Conformed)
    Proverbs 15:14 or was it 14:15?
    2 Cor 12
    He wants to see His Son reflected in us. ISAIAH 43:1-3


madetocount.com
Beneath the Surface, - read the letter from the 19 year old daughter

Upcoming Events:

Sat. May 19 at Central Church of God - Iron Sharpens Iron (keynote)
Sept 10, 2007 - The Foundry (dinner again)
November 9,10,11, 2007 - Men's Retreat

01 March 2007

American Koshari (siami)

1 can Progresso Lentil Soup
1 box Rice-A-Roni Spanish
1 package ramen noodles
  • Prepare Lentil soup and rice separately per packaged instructions.
  • Prepare ramen noodles, discard or save flavor package for use after Lent.
  • Mix all together and serve.
Please don't mistake this for real Koshari; it is not even close!

Lentil Koftah (siami / vegan)

1 cup red lentils, rinsed
3 cups water
2 tsp. salt
1 cup cracked wheat, fine
1 med. onion, chopped fine
1/2 cup olive oil
1/2 tsp. paprika
1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper

Garnish: chopped parsley, scallions, and red or green peppers
Place lentils in 6-qt. pot, add water and bring to boil slowly. Lower flame so it continues to boil gently. In a few minutes, a thick foam will rise to surface. Remove the foam with large spoon.

Simmer 5 minutes or until lentils turn a deep yellow, stirring occasionally.

Add salt and continue to simmer approximately 20-30 minutes (on low flame). When mixture is quite thick and barely bubbling, lentils should be done.

Spoon the cooked lentils into wide bowl, add cracked wheat and half the chopped onion and mix with spoon carefully.

Set aside for 5 minutes.

Heat oil and quickly stir in remaining onion, sauteing until brown.

Add to lentil mixture.

Add paprika and cayenne pepper and knead with hands for 2 minutes until well-blended. Taste to adjust seasoning!

Moisten hands and shape mixture into finger patties.

Serve on large platter with garnish of chopped parsley, scallions and red or green
pepper.
Serves. 6 or more

Enjoy!! It should last for a while in the fridge, but not too long.
3-5 days maximum. Otherwise, it gets a little gummy.

Recipe courtesy of Maro Telfeyan. Thanks Maro!

Stuffed Green Peppers - Vegan (Filfil Mahshi Siami)

4-6 medium sized Green Peppers
1 cup rice
3 cups tomato sauce
1 grated yellow onion
1/2 grated red onion
1/2 cup olive oil
1-2 finely chopped garlic cloves
1/2 cup finely chopped dill
1/2 cup finely chopped parsley
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon cumin
sea salt & pepper
  • Blanch peppers, then remove stems and seeds.
  • Mix stuffing ingredients together.
  • Loosely fill the peppers with the stuffing.
  • Arrange the peppers in pot upright.
  • Half-cover with salted water.
  • Cook over very low heat for 30 minutes.
Stuffing can be augmented with soy grounds or soy chorizo.