Today for lunch, my daughter Olivia and I are having taco salad with homemade leftover salsa that I whipped up last night. My son Nick is in Atlanta on a video/photo shoot and is probably going to eat somewhere fancy, but I doubt it will top our lunch because this quick and easy homemade salsa is even better the second day than it was last night.
Speaking of last night, we had a bit of confusion about dinner. I had told Nick I would make spaghetti sauce this week and sent him to the store for groceries, but I forgot I had told Olivia we could have taco salad. Nick purchased groceries for sauce but had did not get salsa, of course, and we did not have any on hand. So, I pulled a can of diced tomatoes from the groceries Nick had purchased for spaghetti sauce and then went to the pantry to see what else I could find to save a trip back to the store for salsa. In the process, I came up with this “quick and easy” salsa.
Prep time: 10 minutes/Feeds: 2 to 5
10-ounce can diced tomatoes with chilies (mild or hot) 14.5-ounce can diced tomatoes Half a chopped onion (I had a red onion at the house, but I think a white onion would be better.) 1 or 2 garlic cloves or a teaspoon (more or less) of ready-to-use minced garlic Cilantro to taste (We had dried, but fresh cilantro would kick the flavor up a notch.) Juice from a lime or 2 tablespoons of bottled lime juice (I did not have a lime and did not measure the bottle lime. I just eyeballed it. Use enough to give the salsa a touch of citrus.)
Blend to desired consistency with a food processor or hand emulsion blender.
It is that simple! And it really is tasty.
The next time you forget the salsa or if you just feel adventurous, open the cabinet and put this homemade salsa together. Experiment with your favorite ingredients. You might never go back to store bought salsa again.
First, let me begin by saying that even though I teach English, I do not judge people based on their speech. (I didn’t say I don’t judge; I just do not judge based on speech.) I honestly love to hear the different dialects of English, which can vary widely even within a small region. I make a point to tell my students that when they go home, they are not to correct their grandmothers. For putting up with them, Grandma (Granny, Nona, Yaya or whatever she goes by) has earned the right to say what she thinks however she wishes to say it. In fact, I sometimes use incorrect grammar depending on the context simply because it would sound odd and out of place to do otherwise. In other words, there is grocery store English, the English you use at Winn Dixie or Piggly Wiggly (yes, for those “not from around here,” those are real stores), and then there is job application English, or what we in the business call Formal Standard or Edited English.
And speaking of editing, one of the things I most often find in student papers is a complete and utter lack of understanding of comma use. I do not really know why since commas, just like periods, have rules about when and where they are placed. Yet, students (and my buddy Roger) struggle with commas.
I said I do not know why, but I think I actually do. Students simply do not learn the rules, or at least they do not learn all of them. Instead, they substitute their own willy-nilly rules. So here is my little diatribe about the three NOT comma rules that I have discovered students most often employ.
The emotional comma rule:
Student: “I put a comma there because I felt like it needed one.”
Emotions are generally NOT what you want to use to make any decision. Think about the times in your life when you let your emotions decide for you. Yeah, there you go. So do not place a comma somewhere just because you feel like one is needed.
The artistic comma rule:
Student: “It just looks like it needs a comma there.”
Sorry, but your aesthetic choice for placement of commas is as flawed as the emotional commas. Looks, as the saying goes, can be deceiving. You cannot decide comma placement by looks.
The respiratory comma:
Student: “I put a comma there because I paused and took a breath.”
While this looks like a rule and is related to a reading guideline, this is not how you place commas. Somewhere in your early academic journey, maybe second or third grade, your teacher was helping you learn how to read. Along the way, he or she began to coach you on how to read with feeling and cautioned you to slow down or pause at a comma. But just because you pause at a comma when reading is not the reason it was placed there.
Let me draw an analogy for you. When you drive, you stop at stop signs (or at least you better). But, when you stop do you get out of your car and plant a stop sign in the parking lot, your driveway, etc.? Of course not. In the same way, while you might pause at a comma when reading, you do not put one where you pause when reading what you are writing. You might pause at a different spot than I would because your natural speech pattern is different than mine or maybe because I just climbed a flight of stairs.
Beware of these three rules that are not really rules. Just like periods, commas have rules for their placement. After all, hardly anyone above the first or second grade just places a period where he or she feels like it. They use rules to place periods at the end of a sentence or with an abbreviation.
Just as periods show an end, in English commas generally separate or set off things. Depending on how you slice them, there are about ten comma rules, including using a comma to separate items in a series, using a comma to set off a noun of direct address, using a comma after an introductory element to separate it from the main clause, using commas to separate parts of an addresses or dates.
If you are interested in learning or at least looking at a list of comma rules, since I’m not going to list all of them, here is a source I direct my students to for all kinds of English grammar and writing help: https://owl.purdue.edu/ No, I do not get a royalty for sending you here. I am just doing my part to help you develop some “comma sense.” (Now that’s puny.)
Happy editing!
P.S. There’s a comma usage error in the blog. Did you catch it?
Image: Jesus with His Brothers James and Jude Nicholas S. M. Rizzo, 2024
This is an excerpt from a series on the books of James and Jude that I taught at my church a few years ago. Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture are New English Translation (NET, https://netbible.com/).
1 From James, a slave of God and the Lord Jesus Christ, to the 12 tribes dispersed abroad. Greetings! (James 1:1)
According to the Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament: James, the earliest extant manuscript witnesses of James dates to mid to late 3rd Century. The Epistle of James[1] was probably written sometime between 45 and 50 A.D. This makes it potentially the first New Testament book written with Galatians being the other contender for this distinction. Some have questioned if an uneducated 1st Century Jew whose mother tongue was Aramaic could have written the sophisticated Greek reflected in James. Of course, such an objection is easily dismissed when we consider that James could have employed an amanuensis to help phrase his thoughts in Greek. (Such was common practice. In fact, Paul’s writings list several amanuenses; likewise, Peter probably utilized Silvanus in this capacity.) The Epistle of James is one of the General or Catholic (meaning universal) Epistles, which also include 1 and 2 Peter, 1, 2, and 3 John, and Jude. They are called general because they are not addressed to a specific church or person. They broadly address the experiences and struggles of the Christian life. General Epistles were some of the last to be included in the cannon of the New Testament.
The epistle begins with a salutation much like that of the Apostle Paul’s writings. Just as today, letters of the period had a certain form that they followed, for example, an opening salutation that identifies the author and audience. Paul, who was well-educated in both Jewish and Greco-Roman traditions, writes letters that show a masterful use of rhetoric of the period. James’ letter follows the opening formula of naming the author and audience. But beyond that, it departs from the letter structure. Instead, it has a stream of consciousness feel, as Roger Daniel, my friend and mentor, describes it. One idea sparks a comment about another idea and another and another, covering the same themes several times throughout the letter.
In discussing the Epistle of James, Chuck Swindoll points out that there are two great overarching themes of the Bible: the way to God, addressed mostly to the lost person; and the walk with God, addressed to the person who knows God – the believer. Several themes are apparent in James in addressing the issue of the believer’s walk with God. Bruce Metzger in The New Testament: Its Background, Growth, and Content, comments that “the main themes, most of which recur several times throughout the letter, are the following:” trials and temptations, the rich and the poor, faith and works, the tongue, patience and prayer, the true wisdom of life.[2] The epistle is sometimes called the Proverbs of the New Testament because of its similarity to the Jewish wisdom literature of the Old Testament. It also contains fifty imperatives or commands to the Christian believers and almost as many indicatives or statements of fact about God and the Christian life.[3]
As noted, the epistle begins with the standard greeting that identifies the audience as “the 12 tribes dispersed abroad.” Dispersed or scattered comes from the word diaspora (Greek) that would have been applied to a farmer scattering seeds, what today we would call broadcast planting where a handful seeds, such as with turnip greens, is scattered across a field. This is a pseudonym for Israel. The Jews had gone into exile to Babylon in the 5th Century B.C. When they were allowed to return by Cyrus the Great, not all Jews returned, thus creating the first of many Jewish expatriate communities. By the 1st Century A.D., Jews were dispersed across much of the Roman world. Of course, the focus of the epistle is on Jewish believer in Jewish. These may be who were converted on the Day of Pentecost and then returned to their homes across the Roman world. Many commentators believe that more specifically James may have in mind those Christians who left Jerusalem following the martyrdom of Stephen and the persecution that followed. Although we may assume that any Gentile converts are tacitly included in this general salutation, there is no hint of the controversary that would eventually arise over Gentile converts and the question if they should be required to follow the tenets of the Jewish Law, such as circumcision. (This also helps date the letter’s date of composition.) But undoubtedly the salutation reflects that the fledging Church is still Jewish-centric at the time the letter was written.
The author identifies himself as “James, a slave of God and the Lord Jesus Christ.” The Greek term translated “slave” is doulos. Another “good translation [for doulos] is ‘bondservant’… in that it often indicates one who sells himself into slavery to another.”[4] (We will discuss this further below.) The name James in English is the Hebrew Ya’aqor (Jacob). It was a common name in 1st Century Palestine. There are three James from the New Testament who are considered as the possible authors of the epistle: James the Apostle and brother of the Apostle John, two of the twelve disciples of Jesus; James the Less, also one of the twelve disciples; and James, the earthly brother of Jesus.
James, the brother of Jesus, is the most likely candidate, and one we will consider in more detail. Herod Agrippa “had James, the brother of John, executed with a sword” (probably beheaded) (Acts 12, NET). This took place about 44 A.D. With his execution so early in the history of the fledgling Church, it is not likely that the Apostle James is the author of the epistle. James the Less, the son of Alphaeus, is sometimes proposed as the author as well, but this James did not have near the stature in the early Church as did James, the brother of Jesus, so it is unlikely that he would have had the standing or status to send such an authoritative letter to the dispersed believers.
James, the brother of Jesus, was the biological half-brother of Jesus. Jesus was divinely conceived of the Holy Spirit through Mary when she was a young virgin (see Luke 1). Mary was also the mother of James, but Joseph was his father, making James a half-brother biologically to Jesus. Catholic and Orthodox commentators, on the other hand, who hold to the extrabiblical teaching that Mary remained perpetually virgin throughout her life, believe that James was instead a stepbrother by Joseph and a first wife, or even a cousin to Jesus. Is it possible that James and the other brothers and sisters[5] of Jesus were from by an earlier marriage? Sure, but it is more likely that they were younger siblings by Mary and Joseph. (I will add a handout on this later.)
Imagine what is must have been like to have Jesus as a big brother. Even at a young age, his wisdom was obvious as demonstrated by his reasoning with the teachers in Temple when he was only 12 (Luke 2:46-47). Returning home from the Temple with his parents, scripture tells us that he “was obedient to them” (Luke chapter 2:48, NET). Even children are tempted. I recall the first time I deliberately disobeyed my mother. I was six. I had a toy gun that shot a plastic projectile. It was an outside toy and that was the rule set down by my parents. But I fired it inside the house. Confronted by my mother, I then flat-footed lied, declaring that I had not done it. But this was not the case with Jesus, though as a child he was surely tempted to sin, to take his brother’s toys or pull his sister’s hair. Yet according to scripture, Jesus was “tempted in every way just as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15, NET). Imagine living with a perfect sibling! Who did that? Well, we know it wasn’t Jesus. (This is funny for us, but probably frustrating for his brothers and sisters growing up.)
What is interesting to note is that during his ministry, Jesus’ family did not believe he was the Son of God. John MacArthur thinks that it was the animosity his siblings felt toward Jesus is why they rejected him. With all due respect, I do not doubt growing up they may have felt animosity, but I cannot see that as enough to reject him. It may have been because of their familiarity. It could even have been out of concern for him; after all, scripture indicates that they thought he had lost his mind. Mark 3:21 (NET) relates, “his family… went out to restrain him, for they said, ‘He is out of his mind.’”
The Chosen (directed by Dallas Jenkins) is an Internet/TV series adaption of the life of Jesus. I have watched most of it. It does take some artistic license, for which some have criticized it, but I think it is a good dramatic telling of the Gospel. That said, one of the most interesting scenes, at least for me, was when Jesus first openly declares himself as the Messiah as recorded in Luke 4:16-22. .
16 Now Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written, 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointedmeto proclaim good newsto the poor. He has sent meto proclaim releaseto the captives and the regaining of sightto the blind, to set freethose who are oppressed, 19to proclaim the yearof the Lord’s favor.” 20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21 Then he began to tell them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled even as you heard it being read.” 22 All were speaking well of him, and were amazed at the gracious words coming out of his mouth.
Jesus already had a large following. But this surely caught them off guard. It was one thing to believe he was a great rabbi or teacher; it was another to believe he was Messiah, Son of God. The Chosen does a great job showing the confusion among his followers and those in the town where he grew up. His family was the same way. How could their big brother be the Son of God?
But after his crucifixion and resurrection, we see Jesus’ family converted and playing an important part of the early Church. Jesus even makes a special appearance to James after the resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:7). What must that have been like? Did Jesus say, “See, I told you”? Probably not, instead consider what a loving thing this was for Jesus, the Son of God and also the older brother of James, to appear to James after the resurrection! But that is what Jesus does – loves and reaches out to reconcile those who reject him, even his younger brother. James goes on to become a pillar of the Church (Galatians 2:9). He was the leader at the Council in Jerusalem and conveys the decision concerning Gentile believers (Acts chapter 15). According to Church tradition, he was called Old Camel Knees because his knees were so calloused from kneeling in prayer. Eusebius, the Church historian writing in the early Fourth Century, records that James was thrown from the pinnacle of the Temple for his testimony of Jesus, and when he did not die from the fall, he was beaten to death for his testimony about Jesus.
With this in mind about James, let’s return to his greeting in the epistle. He is James the slave or bondservant. Most people love titles, even if the title does not mean anything. But James did not claim to be anything special. He does not begin with James the Pillar or James the Prayer. People also like to drop names because it makes us sound special by association, as if that person’s merits are ours by association. This can be done in Church as well. I could talk about my father being a pastor. Others in my class are descended from the founding members of our congregation, for example. The Jews did this disputing with Jesus in Matthew Chapter 3. Alistair Begg commenting on this says, “Jesus… acknowledges that they are the offspring of Abraham… he says [they have] a biological, a physical… descent, but [they did not] have any spiritual kinship…. [He] absolutely confront[ed] them when he says, “I know that Abram is your father in terms of your pedigree, but you know who your father is? Satan’s your father.’”[6] The point is that it is our personal spiritual relationship that is important.
Of all people, James could have laid claim to a pedigree. He was not only a descendant of Abraham and in the royal line of King David, he was also the brother of the Messiah! Ironically, I have heard some ministers condemn him for not appealing to this relationship to give more credence to this letter. But James recognized that it was not a physical relationship to Jesus that was important. It was his spiritual relationship that was important. Before we even get into the body of the letter, this is a model for us. It does not matter who your mother or father was, what they did for God, etc. We all must come to Jesus for ourselves, depending on no one else and nothing we have done. He may not appear to us in person as he did James. But his invitation to us to accept his forgiveness of our sins is the same.
[1] The name James comes from the Hebrew יַעֲקֹב (Yaʿăqōḇ). In Greek it is Ἰάκωβος (Iákōbos). The name is translated as Jacob in English translations of the Old Testament. However, it is rendered James in the New Testament. This dates back to the fist English translation of the Bible by John Wycliffe (ca. 1330-1384) who used Jacob for the Old Testament but opted for James for the New Testament. It is uncertain why he made this decision. So as you read James, think Jacob.
[2] Bruce M Metzger, The New Testament: Its Background, Growth, and Content, 3rd ed. (Abingdon Press, 2003).
[3] “God’s indicatives are always the basis for God’s imperatives. This is why we often find the word therefore in the New Testament. It’s because of who God is and what He has done for us in Christ that we should therefore respond in a certain way.” Sinclair B. Ferguson, “Gospel Indicatives and Imperatives,” Ligonier Ministries, October 3, 2023, https://www.ligonier.org/podcasts/things-unseen-with-sinclair-ferguson/gospel-indicatives-and-imperatives.
[4] Hall Harris, ed., “New English Translation Bible,” NET Bible, July 2019, https://netbible.com/.
[5] Mark 6:3 and Matthew list the brothers of Jesus. Sisters are mentioned but not named. Mark list reads James, Joses, Judas [Jude] and Simon. Matthew lists them as James, Joseph, Simon and Judas [Jude]. With James named first in both lists, he is probably the oldest of the brothers.
Amanuensis – a scribe or secretary who would dictate what someone else said. Beyond taking direction dictation, the might also assist with diction, etc., especially if the original speaker was less fluent in the language.
Indicative – statement of fact. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16, KJV). (Compare with imperative.)
Imperative – a command. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” (Mark 12:31, KJV). (Compare with indicative.)
Bibliography
Inclusion in the bibliography is not an endorsement of the content of the referenced sources.
Barker, Kenneth L, ed. “James Introduction.” In Zondervan NASB Study Bible, 1803–4. Grand Rapids, Michigan, U.S.A.: Zondervan, 1999.
The impetus for this little flash of inspiration (at least I hope it is inspired) was a recent conversation with a friend and ministry colleague, but as Emerson wrote to Whitman, it also “had a long foreground” in my life’s experiences and in the distillation of ideas by many others. In mulling over what is to follow, I initially thought to title this piece leadership something or other. Truth be told, however, leadership positions are rare and not easily attained. But influence is something that we can develop regardless of our station or role. My proposition, then, is not how to lead but how to live a life of influence, which comes down to one, two, three… six.
ONE LIFE
There is only one of you. You have desires and dreams, and you have abilities and influence, maybe even amazing dreams and significant influence. Still, what you can do alone is limited. On the other hand, through healthy, meaningful, intentional relationships, what you can accomplish in conjunction with others is exponential.
Up front, I need to state an axiom. Two relationships, your relationship with God and your relationship with your family, must supersede the following. If they do, these relationships will invigorate and nourish what follows. If they do not, failure in one or both of these primary relationships will diminish and taint success in any other area of life.
We all have areas of interest and influence, whether you are the gardener or the president. (You might be surprised at which one has the greater sphere of influence. If you do not believe this, study the life of George Washington Carver.) Of course, there are exceptions to every rule. But I surmise the majority of us at most can successfully operate in only a very limited number of areas.
TWO SPHERES OF INFLUENCE
Consequently, I recommend that you select two spheres of influence, just two. These are areas where you have a passion, standing, and opportunity. These could be large and expansive or small and focused. Regardless, they must be realistic for where you are in your life.
There is a good chance you will discover that your two areas of interest are related but not synonymous per se. They might or might not be scalable over time. Likely one will be more important to you than the other. Do not be rigid, yet the more clearly you can enunciate your spheres the more you free yourself of the noise and clutter in your life.
This does not mean you do not have other areas of your life or concerns where you are tangentially or temporarily engaged. But these two areas will frame and focus who you are, where you primarily engage, and how much of your resources, the most precious of which is time, you allocate.
THREE GOALS
Develop up to three goals, no more, for each area. A goal must be concrete and measurable. While you might personally benefit from accomplishments in these areas, ultimately the more altruistic your motivation and goal, the greater your sense of accomplishment and fulfillment will be. (There is nothing wrong with having a feeling or sense of accomplishment and probably something wrong if you do not.)
Your goals are not set in stone. Some goals might be finite and, therefore, could be accomplished at some point. Your priorities could shift for any number of reasons, such as you gain more insight in an area or life in general. Spheres of influence could change, or your own life situation changes. Still, some goals might be perpetual and lifelong.
SIX PEOPLE
Finally, for each area select six people whom you are prepared to invest your life in to accomplish your goals. These can be mentors, mentees, or partners. (Sometimes the lines between these roles will blur.) You could discover there is overlap in the six in your spheres of influence, and you might never have six all at one time. Certainly, I do not mean find people to use to get what you want. Rather, these are relationships that you will cultivate and invest in over time. These are relationships that are mutually beneficial and nourishing. Outside of your relationships with God and your family, these people you select and relationships you develop will form and frame you over the course of your life more than you might imagine, so choose wisely.
Why six? Several reasons, but I will mention one. If you select six individuals in two spheres of influence, you have selected twelve people you value enough to invite into your life. If twelve was enough for Jesus, then it should be more than enough for you.
Mentors, partners, and mentees will come and go in your life for a myriad of reasons. Pastor Roger Daniel contacted me when he needed a six-month interim music pastor. Since then, a meaningful twenty-year friendship has followed. On the other hand, not too long ago I lost a dear friend through death. Only my father’s passing has left a bigger hole in my life than the loss of Randy Beck. Others come and go because of a change in vocation or location. Sometimes your priorities diverge. And sadly, some may leave you through betrayal or apostasy. When this happens, do not be surprised. After all, Jesus had Judas.
When you are young, if you are smart you will find mentors, people who are wiser, stronger, more developed, and better connected in your areas of interest. As you mature and develop, you should continue to have mentors, but you will also begin to make partners, men and women with like passions and complementary gifts and abilities. Of course, at some point you should find yourself in the role of mentor as well if you grow better, not just older. But what you should never do is find yourself alone. Stay engaged with people – your people.
To recap, put God, not ministry, first and family second in your life will align your overall priorities.
Limit yourself to two areas of significant interest or influence will guide you in allocating your resources.
Have clear and measurable goals will focus and direct your actions.
Engage a set of people with whom you intentionally engage will drive your calendar and multiply your effort.
Of course, none of this is a guarantee of success, but it will ensure a greater likelihood of success with reduced stress and decreased anxiety, byproducts of prioritizing and focusing the one life you have.
A one horse open sleigh to ride; Church bells to play their old familiar carols A Red Ryder to shoot your eye out; Pa rum pum pum pum a drum to tap A whistle and a ball and a whip that cracks
Angels we have heard on high And a crutch in the corner with no owner
Tannenbaum, holly, mistletoe Fruitcake, nutcracker, snowman One spear, three spikes, five wounds
(The accompanying photo titled An Old Fashion Christmas was taken in U.G.White Hardware in Athens, Alabama.)
Last week we had a diversity event on my college’s campus, and I was asked to prepare a booth on Italian-Americans. Since October is Italian-American Heritage Month, I thought I would share some of it as a blog as well. (Oh, and I’ve included a tarantella to put you in the right mood while you read.)
“Tarantella Americana for Clarinet and Piano” (c) 2021 Stephen W. B. Rizzo
There’s a litney of contributions by Italian-Americans I could have shared and a long list of names, nationally and locally, all of whom deserve recognition. But instead, I opted for something more basic, something we share, something that reflects us as a group – good, hearty, and comforting food.
As with other immigrants, when Italians came to America most were leaving behind a difficult life in hopes of a better future. The bulk of Italians who made the Atlantic crossing were mezzogiorni or Southern Italians, which reflected the historic reality that Southern Italy was significantly less prosperous than Northern. While in Italy, they lived and made the most of what they had. An example of this is the cultivation of cucuzza, an edible gourd that can grow up to five feet in length.
The plant requires little space when trellised and is a prolific producer.
Southern Italians made the most of the plant, consuming both the gourd and its tender shoots and leaves.
Tenerumi
Tenerumi is made from the (deveined) leaves and tender shoots sautéed with garlic. Cucuzza can also be incorporated into soups and stews, stuffed, breaded and fried as a stand-alone dish or incorporated in cucuzza parmigiana, or served raw in salads.
As they immigrated, Italians brought the seeds with them. Today, it’s not uncommon to find cucuzza in the gardens of Italian-Americans across the country.
Cucuzza Stew
If you are fortunate enough to have an Italian-American neighbor who grows cucuzza, ask for one. Trust me, they will have extras. Like I said, these plants produce. If you’re not as fortunate, then you can probably find cucuzza in a market that specializes in Mediterranean food or sometimes in Asian markets as well.)
Ingredients
One large cucuzza (3 or 4 feet long) A large bunch of carrots peeled and chopped or large bag of baby carrots. Three or four garlic cloves chopped Two large (28 ounces) cans of petite diced tomatoes (Fresh tomatoes are better if they are homegrown. But don’t use the tasteless ones you get from most groceries.) Optional – one large can of tomato puree Oregano, salt, and pepper You can also add celery, potatoes, etc., pretty much veggie that strikes your fancy, of course. Adding stew meat is also an option.
Directions
Peel the Cucuzza. Slice it down the middle longways. Clean out the soft interior with seeds. I usually use a spoon to scoop this out. Then cut the cucuzza into roughly half inch cubes.
In a ten quart soup pot or crockpot, combine cucuzza, carrots, diced tomatoes, and garlic.
Add dried or fresh chopped oregano, salt, and black pepper to tastes. (I really like oregano, so I tend to add a little extra.) Add two to four cups of water as needed water.
You will probably need to cut the acid of the tomatoes. For this batch, I used about a tablespoon of sugar. Don’t worry, it does not make it taste sweet. It just balances the acid. There are other options as well. Mr. Maltese, one of my music instructors from my undergraduate years added raisins to his sauces. I do this for sauces, but tend not to do it for soups and stews. Another trick that I have used is adding a whole, peeled Russet potato, which you remove before serving. Baking soda also could be used.
Bring to a boil and then reduce the heat and simmer until the vegetables are tender. I usually like to let it set overnight to allow, as a friend says, the flavors to marry.
Life happens somewhere in the middle. It’s not at the apex moment of achievement, and thankfully it’s not at the lowest point of tragedy. But it happens somewhere in the middle.
I woke up this morning around 5. My son was already up getting ready to travel with UAB Marching Blazers for a ballgame in Mississippi. He marched with the band last year also. But last year because of Covid, they only marched to their seats in Legion Field. They were not allowed on the field, but continued to play in the stands and support their team and the University. This year, they are back in uniform and in a new stadium. But this morning, the Marching Blazers were in a knapsack on my son’s back, along with an extra bottle of water, some throat lozenges, and some snacks for the trip.
Last year, and I don’t think this will embarrass him, he was a bit trepidatious about driving into Birmingham for practice. Now he zips all over. In fact, he’s driving over early as a part of a service fraternity that is preparing things for the rest of the band to arrive.
We tiptoed quietly this morning because Mother is still at my house. About three weeks ago, she stumbled at home and injured her knee and broke her foot. So for the last several weeks he has stayed with me. Either one of the kids or I have been here with her the whole time. For the first week, she was in a lot of discomfort. But that has subsided. Her foot is healing, and she’s getting more mobile. She’ll be here another week at least, however. Still, she’s much more herself and hilarious without trying. And those of you who know my mother understand what I mean. But right now, she is sleeping.
My little girl is asleep too, except she’s not a little girl anymore, and she’s quick to remind me. But when she’s tired like she was last night, she still curls up on the couch beside her daddy. The kitchen is nice and clean this morning because her stress relief from homework is housework. So every night, I pray that her teachers give her lots of homework. (Let’s not tell her that.)
As the sun comes up, I’ll drink my Metamucil and track my son’s progress toward UAB. When he arrives in the next few minutes, I’ll go back to bed for a while. And then I’ll get up and do something mundane and thank God for life in the middle.
I had lunch today with a long-time friend who had come up because of the death of another Christian brother. As we broke bread, actually chips and salsa, I shared some thoughts that had been running through my head for several months regarding “not forsaking the assembling of yourselves together” (sorry, I think in KJV). Of course, the current situation with the COVID virus and prohibitions on public gatherings has sparked more than one social media conflagration about whether churches should hold services or not. And I’ll sheepishly confess I have been caught up in the machinations, going so saw far as to use the term whack-a-doodle. Yeah, that was mature of me. Anyway….
My thoughts really have little or nothing to do with whether my local congregation will hold worship services this Sunday or next. Instead, they go back to an article I read by a minister some months ago. In it, he discusses Hebrews 10:25. He commented that even when he took his family on vacation he made sure that they were in a worship service somewhere. While there is nothing wrong with this, I’m not convinced that’s exactly what the writer of Hebrews had in mind.
I attend worship services weekly at my local church. We have numbers of gifted teachers who spend hours in preparation for their classes and deliver lessons that uplift and edify. My pastor’s sermons are biblically sound, culturally relevant, and frequently entertaining. The music pastor and his wife are the most musically gifted couple I have ever met, and they lead a choir and band that I would stack up against anyone. The services are powerful and moving. But for me, the most spiritually nourishing time, if you’ll pardon the pun, is the fellowship supper we share on Wednesday evenings.
Turning to scripture for a moment, consider the Acts 2:46 description of the gatherings of the first believers. They met daily at the Temple, probably observing the Jewish times of prayer, and in homes sharing meals with gladness. Far from the austere stereotype many have of believers, these first century brothers and sisters delighted in each other’s company. This, likewise, is how I delight in the Wednesday evening fellowship suppers.
I like seeing Michelle’s beautiful and welcoming smile when my kiddos and I walk in.
I enjoy verbal jousting with Wayne, the guy who keeps the kitchen humming. His dad Marvin and my grandfather were friends. In fact, his dad was instrumental in my grandfather hearing and responding to the gospel. Rita, his sister-in-law, and Pam work the serving window. Pam’s daughter Autumn was my work study when she was eighteen or nineteen. She was and is THE gold standard for being a conscientious young adult. This year I had her daughter in one of my college classes. She is a sweetheart like her mom.
I enjoy chatting with Lisa. We’ve known each other for about ever. Her dad was a minister with my dad. Back in the day, I served with her late husband as his music pastor. Our sons are about the same age and friends. We share memories, the struggles of single parenting, and hopes for our children’s futures over loaded baked potatoes or meatloaf.
I’ve known Johnathan, our young adult pastor, his entire life. His dad and my Uncle Allen were extremely close growing up, and over the last four years, Johnathan and I have grown close. He’s my accountability partner. Since I am a single adult Christian, I hold myself accountable to him, and he inserts humor when he checks on me. His wife Tammie is mission focused! I like to pick at her, telling her that she’s one of only two people in this world I’m afraid of. (My Aunt Susie is the other.)
I enjoy chatting with David, a new friend, who should have his own food-on-the-go blog. The man knows food and how to enjoy life! He knows sorrow, too, a type of sorrow we share.
Finally, my pastor and his wife eat with the congregation. He’s not a celebrity; he’s one of us.
Lest it seem I’m viewing life through stained glass colored lenses, I’m not buds with everyone. Sometimes we have disagreements. (Remember my whack-a-doodle comment. Yes, I’ve repented for it.) We may disagree, but we’re still family. We love each other, even when we don’t like each other so much.
THIS is “assembling together.” This is communion and community. This is where iron sharpens iron. It is also where wounds are bound and healing takes place. This is where we share our joys and sorrows.
Though it is important to spend time together in corporate worship expression, it is equally and maybe more important to share our lives intimately with each other, to strengthen and support each other, “especially as the Day approaches.”
Oh and yeah, pork chops with gravy are my favorite.
“Be kind. It really is important.” – Dr. David L. Walters
One of my dad’s best friends, Pastor William “Bill” Ridgeway, once said, “Life is a journey.” The statement is both simple and profound. Everyday, we travel through life. We make footprints of different sorts as we go along. These rambles and ruminations are the footprints of my journey. I hope you enjoy them. And as I share these footprints, I will try to follow the advice of my college band director, Dr. David L. Walters: “Be kind. It really is important.”
All images copyright Stephen W. B. Rizzo“Tarantella Americana for Clarinet and Piano” (c) 2021 Stephen W. B. Rizzo
Just to be clear, all comments on this and all of my social media platforms are mine and mine alone. I am not speaking on behalf of any entity, organization, or individual with whom I am otherwise associated or employed, etc. Gotta love our litigious society!
Rizzo's Rambles and Ruminations 