Jon Stolpe
Jon Stolpe
R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Last night, we discussed the subject of respect in our parenting discussion group. The group went really well (I thought). I am blown away by God’s goodness as we humbly approach this thing. Each parent was active in our discussion. Here are a couple of the things that hit me this week:
– Respect is earned, not given.
– It is never too late to change. There is always hope.
– When we positively parent our children we are not just impacting our kids; we are having a positive influence on generations to come.
If you get a chance, look up Exodus 20:12 and Ephesians 6:1-4. These were two of the passages that came up during our discussion.
Until the next post…
Ratatouille Part 2
Last year about this time, Leanne and I traveled to France to celebrate our 10 year anniversary. It was a vacation that we will never forget. We traveled all over the country enjoying that sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of this beautiful nation. One of our stops along our journey was the home of Renee Vachier, a family friend of the Lomickas (my wife’s family). Renee lives in the south of France near the Mediteranean city of Marsailles.
This two day stop in our adventure totally engulfed me in the french language and the food famous in the Provence region of France. One of the many dishes that I sampled here was none other than Ratatouille. Renee’s rendition of this native delicacy was unbelievable.
Having recently seen the Disney movie Ratatouille, I was inspired to look up a recipe that I thought I would share here. I don’t know how it will compare with the Vachier family recipe, but I’m sure it will bring back pleasant memories. We’ll see.
Recipe (12 servings makes about 4.5 litres)
1.6 kg tomato [tomate]700 g eggplant (2) [aubergine]500 g zucchini (2) [courgette]700 g bell pepper (2-3) [poivron]1 kg onion [oignon]6 cloves garlic [ail]Herbes de Provence (basilic,thyme, parsley)
olive oil [huile d’olive]salt, pepper [sel, poivre]140 g tomato paste
Common Method
This method, or a variation, takes fewer pots, is somewhat faster, yet keeps the flavors well and is commonly used. About 65 minutes cooking.
1. Peel and drain the tomatoes (don’t mind the seeds): cut out the stem cores; drop the whole tomatoes into boiling water for 2 minutes. Remove into a collander. The skin should split for easy removal; otherwise, make an X cut in the top, then peel off the skin.
2. Chop the onion and garlic. Clean the bell pepper, cut into small strips.
3. In a large cooking pot with thick bottom, put in olive oil, onions and chopped garlic. Add in the bell pepper. Cover to keep in the moisture. Cook for 20 minutes, stiring frequently, and add olive oil as necessary to prevent singing.
4. Add the peeled tomatoes and herbs de Provence. If you don’t have good garden tomatoes with flavor, add a small can of tomato paste. Stirr well and cook for another 15 minutes. [35′]5. Cut the eggplant into rondelles. Cut the un-peeled zucchini into rondelles.
6. Add the eggplant and zucchini to the pot. Cook for about 30 minutes. [65′]
Conversions
1 kg = 2.2 lbs
0.45 kg = 1 lb
1 lt = 1.06 qt
0.95 lt = 1 qt
30 g = 1 oz = 2 Tbs
60 g = 2 oz = 1/4 cup
115 g = 4 oz = 1/2 cup
180 g = 6 oz = 3/4 cup
225 g = 8 oz = 1 cup
450 g = 16 oz = 1 pint
Until the next post….
Ratatouille
Isaac and I went to see Ratatouille this afternoon. Disney and Pixar are unbelievable with their ability to make animation seem so real. We both liked the movie. I especially enjoyed the animated scenes of Paris.
The movie brought out some interesting themes. One of the primary themes emphasized that you can do anything you want to do. Remy, the star rat in the movie, longs to eat and cook the delicacies of France. He is inspired by a late hailed French chef who wrote a cookbook called “Anyone Can Cook.” (Now that’s a cookbook for me.) Disney does a great job demonstrating the power of positive thinking.
See the link below to enjoy some of the movie.
Until the next post…
Supernanny – Routine
Last night, we had our official first Supernanny parenting group discussion. We discussed the topic of routine. For those of you don’t know, routine or schedule is a normal part of my life. I wake up early to exercise and spend time with God. I eat breakfast most every day. I drive to work (to the office or to a job site). I work. I’m usually home by 5PM. And I have a general routine for the evening.
At any rate, this discussion made me think about some of the places in the Bible that talk about time and how we spend it. Here’s a couple that I came up with:
1 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: 2 a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, 3 a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, 4 a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, 5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain, 6 a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, 7 a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, 8 a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. 3 And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. 4 Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. 5 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. Colossians 4:2-6
I was challenged last night to be more intentional with the time I spend with Leanne and the kids.
Next week, we’re talking about R-E-S-P-E-C-T. We’ll see how it goes.
Until the next post…
Small Group Help Website
I’ve been contributing some to a blog coordinated by our church’s small group team – http://www.smallgrouphelp.com/. Up until now, the site has just been a blog, but in the very near future, we will be turning it into a cool small group resource for your small group ministry. Check it out now to get an idea of some of the cool things that will me available. Also, feel free to pass the link along to people you know who are doing small groups. Stay tuned for further information.
Until the next post….
Jesus Paid It All
Yesterday, our worship band led us in the song below. I’ve been singing it all day today. It is incredible to know that God can rescue us and pay the debt that we owe. Listen to the words. Sing along. Be inspired. And worship the one true God.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onxhvivQYfI]
Can’t We All Just Get Along?
One of my favorite movies of all time is Remember the Titans. Here’s one of the great scenes from the movie.
Can't We All Just Get Along?
One of my favorite movies of all time is Remember the Titans. Here’s one of the great scenes from the movie.
Words Are Like Toothpaste
Did you ever say something that you wish you hadn’t said? I’ve had that problem for years. It’s sometimes like I say something before the words fully form in my head, and I’m left with regret and the awful taste of shoe leather in my mouth.
If you think about it, our words are like a tube of toothpaste. Just for fun, try squeezing a whole tube of toothpaste onto a paper plate. Make sure you get it all out of the tube. Now, try to put the toothpaste – ALL of it – back into the tube. Good luck! It’s impossible to do it. It’s the same way with our words. As soon as they come out, try as we may we just can’t fit our words back into our mouths.
James wrote a verse that speaks pretty well to this subject.
19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because our anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. James 1:19,20
Last night at our parenting discussion group social event, we did an exercise with toothpaste to show kids (and parents) the power of our words. What a great way to kickoff the group.
Until the next post…
This Is The Truth
Check out this video. Our church used a similar clip during communion this week. It is pretty powerful.