Moving Along!

We are moving ever closer to the next step with ISCA ministries!  The campus minister, Kevin, sent us his most recent update letter, and it contains an excellent description of what ISCA does.  So, for those of you who have wondered just what in the world we're getting ourselves into, maybe this will answer some questions.

Last night we attended the summer prayer and Bible study meeting in the ISCA house.  Its was amazing!  Such cool people and fantastic discussion.  Can't wait for more.

I will not let that bitter root grow

Sometimes I just don't have the words to describe how I feel.  This song does.

"Fry Yourself a Pound of Bacon"

In order to prepare for our next step in this crazy life-long faith journey, we've been going through our piles of stuff...all of it: that little closet back in the corner of the house; the scary, dark, spider-filled spaces in the attic under the eaves; the dustbunny colonies under the beds...

In every little nook and cranny I find memories, and its made me a bit homesick for the Lowcountry of South Carolina.  When this mournful longing hits, I have no choice but to shell some shrimp and fry some bacon.  You see, all the best recipes in my hometown of Ravenel, SC start with "Fry yourself a pound of bacon."  MMMMmmmm!  Makes me smile just thinking about it.

So, here's my very favorite cure for the Lowcountry blues:

Red Rice and Shrimp

1 lb of GOOD bacon (not the cheap stuff, splurge on the Hormel black label or the Oscar Meyer center cut)

2 lbs of jumbo shrimp (raw, shelled and deveined)

2 cups of Uncle Ben's converted rice (it makes a difference.  You want the pieces of rice to stand alone and not get clumpy.  UB's is the best for that.)

28 oz. can of petite diced tomatoes in juice (you want the juice, so don't drain it)

1 box of chicken broth

Salt and Pepper to taste

In a big skillet with a tight fitting lid, fry yourself a pound of bacon (big smile).  Remove the bacon to a paper towel to drain.  Add the shrimp to the bacon drippings and fry just until the shrimp is opaque (pink and white).  Don't over cook it.  Remove shrimp to the towel with the bacon.

(I cut the bacon into three pieces per strip, and I make sure I make enough bacon and shrimp so I can "test" a few pieces while I cook the rice.  Best to make sure its good, you know!)

Add the two cups of rice to the remaining bacon and shrimp drippings, over medium heat saute the rice until it begins to turn opaque white and golden brown.  Don't let it scorch!  Stir it constantly.

(My cell phone takes yucky pictures, but if you look closely you can see some solid white pieces of rice in there.  They won't all turn white, though.  Once you see a few pieces of white, add the liquid.  You will be tempted to drain some of the grease.  Fight the urge.  Its SO much yummier when it clogs your arteries.)

Next stir in the tomatoes in juice and the box of broth.  Stir a bit and bring to a boil over medium-high heat.  Once its got a good boil rolling, turn down the heat to medium-low and put on the tight lid.  Don't touch that lid for at least 25 minutes.  

(I like to use a pan with a glass lid, so I can just spin the lid and see how its going inside the pan.  If you don't have a glass lid, wait at least 25 minutes and then take a super quick peak inside.  You want to see holes in the rice with just a little bit of bubbling in the holes.  I know that sounds like a crazy description, but you'll recognize this when you see it.  Check it every five minutes to see if you have slightly bubbly holes.  It usually takes 30-40 minutes. DO NOT STIR THE RICE!!!  If it gets a little extra done on the bottom, it'll have yummy crispy bites in it...but you don't want black bits!)

Once the rice is cooked, stir in the bacon and shrimp you still have (after "sampling") and heat through.   Some folks like the bacon crumbled, but since I cut it before I cook it, I like the big pieces.

There are a couple of crazy good side dishes I serve with this:  

Green Bean and Benne Salad

Green Beans cooked with pork fat 

Layonnaise Squash

Also, you simply cannot eat this meal without real Sweet Tea...not a mix...not with Splenda...and certainly not that nasty brown water called "unsweet" tea...GAG!  You simply have to brew it in a pan on your stove top and let the sugar dissolve in the boiling water first.  There is NO substitute.

And, because my life always has a soundtrack, you need some good old southern rock in the background.  Lynyrd Skynyrd, Charlie Daniels, or my all time fave, The EAGLES!  

ENJOY!

Recklessly Abandoned

I had the weirdest thing happen this evening.  Its never happened before, and I'm still kind-of reeling from the shock.  You see, my son actually put into words what I've been feeling.  Let me tell you, as a mom, its rather bizarre to read something your child wrote and realize, "Wow...that's really wise."

So, basically, my son defined faith as "reckless abandonment."  (Here's a link to his blog about this.)  This reminds me of what we learned from our teaching elder, John Ray, not too long ago: "Faith is being completely sold out for Jesus; NO PLAN B!"

My husband, Rick, and I are actively pursuing a position as house managers with ISCA (International Student Christian Association).  Basically, this would entail us moving from our almost 3,000 sq/ft house into @800 sq/ft of private living space, and sharing the community space with six international students.  We found out today that we'll also need to give up my sweet little dog, Sophie, to take on this ministry role.  We were also told that our private space gets pretty stinking hot in the summer...like, unbearably hot.

I'm sitting her tonight wondering if I can do this.  I think the better question might be if God's glory is worth it.  Something I read while taking the Perspectives class comes to mind:  The missionaries long ago would pack their belongings in a casket to take with them to their mission field.  They knew they would be giving their lives to share God's glory.

I'm probably not going to die as a result of moving into a campus ministry house, but am I willing to?  Giving up my sweet Sophie and possibly having to sleep on a downstairs couch on hot summer nights isn't a big deal.  Jesus is most definitely worth it.  I want to be recklessly abandoned.  I want to live like that!  Please read the lyrics as you listen to this song.  (I think they snuck in and read my prayer journal.)

Sometimes I think 
What will people say of me 
When I'm only just a memory 
When I'm home where my soul belongs 

Was I love 
When no one else would show up 
Was I Jesus to the least of those 
Was my worship more than just a song 

I want to live like that 
And give it all I have 
So that everything I say and do 
Points to You 

If love is who I am 
Then this is where I'll stand 
Recklessly abandoned 
Never holding back 

I want to live like that 
I want to live like that 

Am I proof 
That You are who you say You are 
That grace can really change a heart 
Do I live like Your love is true 

People pass 
And even if they don't know my name 
Is there evidence that I've been changed 
When they see me, do they see You 

I want to live like that 
And give it all I have 
So that everything I say and do 
Points to You 

If love is who I am 
Then this is where I'll stand 
Recklessly abandoned 
Never holding back 

I want to live like that 
I want to live like that 


I want to show the world the love You gave for me 
I'm longing for the world to know the glory of the King 

I want to live like that 
And give it all I have 
So that everything I say and do 
Points to You 

If love is who I am 
Then this is where I'll stand 
Recklessly abandoned 
Never holding back 

I want to live like that 
I want to live like tha