Now I rejoice, not because you were made sad, but because you were made sad to the point of repentance. For you were made sad as God intended, so that you were not harmed in any way by us. For sadness as intended by God produces a repentance that leads to salvation, leaving no regret,…
Healthy Self Love is Necessary for Loving Others (Mark 12:29-31)
Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’h No other…
Know Yourself, Love Yourself, Give Yourself (Matthew 22:37-39)
He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important command. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. (Matthew 22:37-39) In Evangelical circles, self-love is an idea and practice that is often viewed…
My Favorite Bourbons
Since moving to Tennessee, I’ve moved from being a Bourbon n00b to someone who loves to sip the delicious ones. There is a huge difference between common popular swill like Jim Beam and Jack Daniel’s to those in this list. And it’s not about price, but taste. And of course, we all have our own…
Bourbon Beef Stroganoff (InstantPot)
I have searched for a creamy stroganoff that didn’t suck. Here it is. Ingredients 2 lbs sirloin tips (you can buy steaks and cut them up) 1 medium onion, chopped 3 T olive oil 2 T butter 8 oz sliced mushrooms 3-4 ounces Bourbon (1-2 shots) 3 cloves crushed garlic 3 T flour or corn…
New York Cheesecake (InstantPot)
This recipe is actually a direct adaptation of the perfect recipe in The Joy of Cooking (75th Anniversary Edition). For an 8qt InstantPot, you’ll need to get an 8 inch springform pan. Ingredients Part 1: Crust 10 graham crackers (one package) 8 T (1 stick) salted butter 3 T brown sugar parchment paper Part 2: Cheesecake…
Creamy Spicy Chicken
Normally I totally avoid recipes that call for a can of cream of mushroom soup. But this one is too good to ignore. Ingredients 3 cooked chicken breasts, shredded (you can use the ones from Papi’s Chicken Broth) 1 Medium onion, Cut in half and sliced 5 Dried árbol chili peppers 2 cans cream of…
Esme’s Chicken Salad
We love this for lunch and after-school snacks. Ingredients 3 cooked chicken breasts, chopped (you can use the ones from Papi’s Chicken Broth) 3 sticks of celery, chopped 1 jalapeño, seeded and chopped 2/3 cups of mayonnaise 2 t Dijon mustard 1/2 t black pepper 1 T kosher pickle juice Instructions Combine all ingredients in…
Stop Being a Baby (Hebrews 5:12-14)
How does it feel to be called a baby? What if someone you admired told you to stop being a baby? Would that motivate you to change? If I could get over the shock of such an insult, and I knew that they meant it for my good, I would probably ask myself, “What can…
Papi’s Chicken Broth
Chicken broth is a staple ingredient in many dishes, but is also a favorite around our house just as a hot beverage. I (“Papi”) have learned from my wife and tweaked this to fit my taste. It’s generic, but never fails. Ingredients 5 chicken breasts (skinless boneless, but you can use regular ones for more…
