After the Resurrection “When Jesus was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him.” It was at the table, breaking bread, that the disciples first recognized the Resurrected Christ. For Christians the Resurrection of Jesus is the most important event in history and in each Christian’s personal life. Without the Resurrection we would worship a dead and defeated Lord. We would have no promise of victory over death. We would live lives of hopelessness and despair. We are given the promise of Eternal Life. We live lives of purpose and meaning. And it is in light of this Resurrection that we must live. All aspects of our lives must be done in light of the Resurrection of Jesus. When we do things that are knowingly destructive to ourselves and our families, what does that say about our view of the Resurrection of Jesus? Was Jesus Christ born, crucified, and resurrected so that Christians can live lives of self indulgence and carelessness? Because, in the Christian church that is what is happening! The Christian church has been lulled to sleep by the current American culture of self destructive health behaviors. Christians are dying a self induced death of obesity, diabetes, stroke, and heart disease. It is through the sins of gluttony and sloth that the work of Christians, demanded by the Resurrection, is left undone. And this starts in the family. Not only have individual Christians been lulled to sleep by the current American culture of self destructive health behaviors, but so has the Christian family. Our hurried and rushed lives have lead to carelessness about our eating habits. Careless choices are made by parents and passed on to their children. Careless eating choices have fueled the obesity epidemic in our nation, leading to skyrocketing rates of diabetes, heart disease, disability, and now the looming catastrophe of childhood obesity. But there is Hope When we sit at the table of grace and break bread with our fellow men and women, we as Christians must do it in light of the Resurrection of Jesus. If you do this, and do it as a family, you cannot choose foods that lead to destruction. Eating in light of the Resurrection can have nothing to do with satisfying our physical desires - our lust for food. The Resurrection means that we must eat in a way that glorifies the Temple of the Holy Spirit. The Resurrection can only point us in the direction of wholeness, of a life lived with one purpose - to carry out the work of our Resurrected Lord. Your soul suffers when you rush in and grab a bite to eat and rush out. That’s the superficial kitchen. The Resurrection Kitchen is where good food is eaten to nourish you, to refresh you, where memories of good times resurrect your spirit, where coffee is slurped, where trips are planned, where kids and parents connect. Connectedness is the key to wholeness. Home is where the garlic is minced and onions are sautéed and parsley is chopped and the tea kettle makes music with its whistle. So, don’t cook with an ordinary mind and with ordinary eyes. Through cooking you can remind the face in your mirror that you are extraordinary. You are an artist. The kitchen is the place that sharpens us, the place that wakes us up. Our sense of smell becomes keener. Our tastes roll off the tongue with greater subtlety. We see with more clarity and our movements become quick and sure. The Resurrection Kitchen is as much a place of destiny as it is a place of learning, the natural place for creating dialogue about what the family values are, about why we’re here, about our cause, our calling, how we shall serve, how we shall learn to lead, about who the model for our lives shall be and about how we should commit to lifelong learning so that each of us can achieve high levels of mastery at every activity we choose to pursue as we build shared visions with those we love. Resurrection Kitchen Resurrection Kitchen is a simple way for you and your family to connect with each other while making healthy eating choices. We recommend that you come together as a family one night a week (Saturday or Sunday) and prepare a fun and healthy meal that can be eaten for several nights. Each family member is to take part in the meal preparation with children given specific tasks to teach the basics of healthy cooking. Listed below are detailed meal plans to get you started. 7 Recipes Using Two Cups of Chicken (serving four) - Start by making a Brined Chicken Brined Chicken Recipe #1: Cheesy Chicken and Rice Casserole Brined Chicken Recipe #2: Fiesta Chicken Casserole Brined Chicken Recipe #3: Chicken Tortilla Casserole Brined Chicken Recipe #4: Kid’s Play Enchiladas Brined Chicken Recipe #5: Bombay Curry In A Hurry Brined Chicken Recipe #6: Tacos Brined Chicken Recipe #7: Calzone Time Other Recipies Soup Recipe: Tuscan White Bean Soup Supper Salad: Bistro Bacon and Egg Salad Pasta: Penne With Chicken, Broccoli, And Sun Dried Tomatoes Skillet Supper #1: Pan Roasted Chicken Breasts With Potatoes Breakfast Recipe: Homemade Granola Side Dish: Glazed Carrots Side Dish: Skillet Green Beans |
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