Killer Tornadoes by the dozen... Earthquakes in Colorado and Virginia... Hurricane on the East Coast... Super Typhoon between the Philippines & Japan... Ongoing struggles with radiation leaks, pollution, political wackoes, right-wing pundits, gossipy neighbors... oops, that might be hittin' below the belt... Doom, Doom, Doom...
This past spring some aging fellow convinced a bunch of gullible folks that the world was doomed and would end on such & such a date. When it didn't, he confessed that his math was wrong and... Oh my, my, my... If he were the first or the most eloquent or the most passionate, it might be interesting. However, when NPR and other news services begin doing feature stories on various aspects of that particular "what if?" it can become a bit of bother. Doom, Doom, Doom...
Why bother, you ask? OK, here it is... I don't know about you, but I can only come up with a limited number of witty retorts and gentle comebacks when people share their end-time fears! There's a limit to my patience with people whose primary concern in the world is when the world will end. Perhaps it's irreverent but I concur with the movie title, "Heaven Can Wait"! I'm not really motivated by or longing for a Jesus who will come and take me home! I already live at home!! This is my home!! I am in this world!! OK, I may be passing through it; death seems to come to us all! Nevertheless I've a pragmatic and spiritual need to be engaged and available to this messy, confusing, and often frustrating existence! Checking out before our time is up seems akin to cutting class in high school. I know people did it. I did it. That didn't make it right. Doom, Doom, Doom...
I'm convinced that the dance of life is an improvisation based on faith. If that's true, the things in which you place your faith matter!! If I have faith in a baseball team, I'm bound to be disappointed - as in - "Cubs Lose Pennant Again". If I have faith in U2 then undoubtedly Bono will at some point lose his voice and The Edge will play out of tune. If I have faith in Rick Perry, Michelle Bachmann, or Sarah Palin, then I've lost my mind and wandered into twilight zone that pretends to be a magical religion of nonsense and predictions which seems an awful lot like voodoo dressed up in banker's suits. A dance like any of these sounds to me like a tarantella of madness leading to an inevitable collapse of both body and hope. Doom, Doom, Doom...
On the other hand, if I have faith in a Creator God whose work of creation continues and grows both around and within us, then I'm likely to find a dance that uplifts and refreshes me. If our faith is in the continuing salvation of an ever-growing Christ who loves us in spite of ourselves, then our dance will be a romance of joy and delight. If our faith is lived in connection with the determination of like-minded people who follow this God of mystery and grace, then we'll be able to join hand-in-hand to build the "Kin-dom" of God in every facet of life. Doom, Doom, Doom... BAH HUMBUG!!!
Improvisation? Absolutely!! There are no oracles or info kiosks of truth upon which we can fact-check the assumed blueprint of our supposed lives. Still, we can improvise, try and try again, bless and bless some more, no matter where we find ourselves in life. No More Doom!!
Start by taking a deep breath... If you're waiting on a hurricane, if you're cleaning up after an earthquake, if you've survived a tornado, if the object of your faith has crashed and burned and you're wondering what to do... Put on your dancin' shoes and listen for the piping of faith, or the trumpet of hope, or the guitar of grace, or the marching band of peace, or the lyrics of love!! "Dance then, wherever you may be..." Improvising in the face of doom is so much better than listening to folks who "doom" themselves out of the party that's goin' on right now!!
Randy
Friday, August 26, 2011
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Improvisation & "the rules"
Dear Reader,
There are rules in life! I know, I know... I've always thought it was just an ugly rumor and that anarchy was, in fact, the norm except when I'm at my parents' home. Perhaps I've been a bit out of touch but I've begun to notice street signs, various required permissions on the weird software I use, special contracts for this, particular expectations for that, new restrictions on those things, tighter limitations on the other stuff... Where does it all end?
I'm not convinced it will end. Neither am I convinced that anarchy is all it's cracked up to be. Still, I'm not much interested in or excited by a world where someone else makes up all the rules and I'm expected to be stuck in their box. I don't think I'd do very well in corporate America nor do I think I'd like to find out. There's a reason I didn't pursue a career in the military; I don't like to follow orders just because someone thinks I should.
As you might suspect, I'm not much impressed by the right-wing politicians and noisy religio-wackos who are touring our country at this time. It seems they've got rules enough for all of us and even some special rules for those who haven't decided to show up yet. Nor am I thrilled with mega-church this or mega-church that which will try to tell you how to be successful if you'd like to be a cookie-cutter believer in their bill of goods. I don't particularly need or want their brand of "how-to" cluttering up my world with additional guilt, remorse, angst, and religious fervor. I've chosen a faith path that is working out alright and I think I've done more than satisfactory studying, along with trial and error, to be pretty sure that my path will work out for me. I've no idea if it would work for you. I'll happily share my ideas with you if you'd really like to hear them. But, unlike the religious punditry of the modern American church and its religio-wackos, I'll not waste my time hitting you over the head with them.
So, what about "the rules"..? I've spent a lot of time thinking about rules simply because I don't like rules very much. I don't care for the rules imposed by cultural hold-overs (or is that hangovers?). I don't really like the rules set up to "protect" us from everything and its evil brother. I'll wear helmets and seat belts when it seems wise or appropriate and I won't put my hands where they don't belong. But when people waste my time and theirs regulating all those things I wonder who's being served. "The rules" seem to be something put in place so people have something to do. If there were less of "the rules" we'd have far fewer professional busy-bodiness workers trying to "mother hen" our private lives. There would likely be less attempts to police our bedrooms to make sure everyone is "nice" and no one is "naughty" - I'd suggest we leave that nonsense to Santa - for whatever good that might do.
So, what about "the rules"..? Oh yeah, I already wrote that - I hope there are no rules about writing things twice...
About the only set of rules I think we really need is the set that Jesus talked about in Matthew 12:18-34. Contained in this passage are these words of Jesus, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength... and you shall love your neighbor as you love yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these."
When I spend time thinking about this version of "the rules" I'm impressed with the simplicity, the breadth or reach, and the functionality that Jesus laid out. If we actually tried to follow "the rules" as Jesus suggested (or was that a command?), we'd be far more likely to find that our lives were more nearly in harmony with those around us. I know it's probably silly, but wouldn't it be better if we tried to love folks into harmony instead of beating them into conformity? I'm just sayin'...
So... As for "the rules", I'll try to live by the laws of love. Y'all can mess with other laws if it amuses you, but don't expect me to rubber stamp your efforts in those arenas. I'd rather love and be loved than spend my time trying to rule others. I hope some of our world's right-wing politicians and religio-wackos will give it a try as well!
Randy
There are rules in life! I know, I know... I've always thought it was just an ugly rumor and that anarchy was, in fact, the norm except when I'm at my parents' home. Perhaps I've been a bit out of touch but I've begun to notice street signs, various required permissions on the weird software I use, special contracts for this, particular expectations for that, new restrictions on those things, tighter limitations on the other stuff... Where does it all end?
I'm not convinced it will end. Neither am I convinced that anarchy is all it's cracked up to be. Still, I'm not much interested in or excited by a world where someone else makes up all the rules and I'm expected to be stuck in their box. I don't think I'd do very well in corporate America nor do I think I'd like to find out. There's a reason I didn't pursue a career in the military; I don't like to follow orders just because someone thinks I should.
As you might suspect, I'm not much impressed by the right-wing politicians and noisy religio-wackos who are touring our country at this time. It seems they've got rules enough for all of us and even some special rules for those who haven't decided to show up yet. Nor am I thrilled with mega-church this or mega-church that which will try to tell you how to be successful if you'd like to be a cookie-cutter believer in their bill of goods. I don't particularly need or want their brand of "how-to" cluttering up my world with additional guilt, remorse, angst, and religious fervor. I've chosen a faith path that is working out alright and I think I've done more than satisfactory studying, along with trial and error, to be pretty sure that my path will work out for me. I've no idea if it would work for you. I'll happily share my ideas with you if you'd really like to hear them. But, unlike the religious punditry of the modern American church and its religio-wackos, I'll not waste my time hitting you over the head with them.
So, what about "the rules"..? I've spent a lot of time thinking about rules simply because I don't like rules very much. I don't care for the rules imposed by cultural hold-overs (or is that hangovers?). I don't really like the rules set up to "protect" us from everything and its evil brother. I'll wear helmets and seat belts when it seems wise or appropriate and I won't put my hands where they don't belong. But when people waste my time and theirs regulating all those things I wonder who's being served. "The rules" seem to be something put in place so people have something to do. If there were less of "the rules" we'd have far fewer professional busy-bodiness workers trying to "mother hen" our private lives. There would likely be less attempts to police our bedrooms to make sure everyone is "nice" and no one is "naughty" - I'd suggest we leave that nonsense to Santa - for whatever good that might do.
So, what about "the rules"..? Oh yeah, I already wrote that - I hope there are no rules about writing things twice...
About the only set of rules I think we really need is the set that Jesus talked about in Matthew 12:18-34. Contained in this passage are these words of Jesus, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength... and you shall love your neighbor as you love yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these."
When I spend time thinking about this version of "the rules" I'm impressed with the simplicity, the breadth or reach, and the functionality that Jesus laid out. If we actually tried to follow "the rules" as Jesus suggested (or was that a command?), we'd be far more likely to find that our lives were more nearly in harmony with those around us. I know it's probably silly, but wouldn't it be better if we tried to love folks into harmony instead of beating them into conformity? I'm just sayin'...
So... As for "the rules", I'll try to live by the laws of love. Y'all can mess with other laws if it amuses you, but don't expect me to rubber stamp your efforts in those arenas. I'd rather love and be loved than spend my time trying to rule others. I hope some of our world's right-wing politicians and religio-wackos will give it a try as well!
Randy
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Improvising in the face of right-wing "christianity"
OK, I recognize that I'm probably gonna catch heck for this post. That's alright. People have the right to express their opinions. I have the right to express mine. We may differ. Isn't that something we need to accept? We're all different from one another. We all have different experiences and expectations in life. Shouldn't we start with the assumption that it's acceptable to differ and still be able to get along? Apparently not...
Recently, there has been a hardening of positions inside the Christian faith. There are those who somehow have come to believe that following Jesus is intended to make sure that good "christian" people are successful, happy, wealthy, and correct (seemingly about everything). I've come to a rather different point of view about how following Jesus should make an impact in our lives. I believe that people who sincerely follow Jesus will become humble, peace loving, willing to help the poor and down-trodden, and tolerant of those who have differing points of view. As you might guess, I have the most trouble with that last characteristic.
These two poles of Christianity have been named "Right-Wing" and "Left-Wing" by people whose desire seems to be to align various groups with political principles. It's a frightening thought for me. I don't particularly want to be aligned with any specific political position or party. Still, I'd probably accept the label "Progressive Follower of Jesus" as opposed to "Tea Party co-opted christian". Yup... I'm just guessing that that's where the conflict will come.
How does improvisation come into this? No matter our experience, our training, our predilections, or our intentions, life seems to go its own way. We're on the journey without knowing exactly what steps will come next in the trek. We might have a general sense of the direction we're going. But, the specifics of life will almost always vary as the road winds through the vagaries of daily situations. No one is promised a map showing what hurdles we'll have to jump or which chasms will force us to make side-trips. Improvisation enters the picture when we have to navigate the path on which we'll journey. We have to make certain changes and adaptations in response to the variations of the circumstances we face. This is where our improvisational choices make so much difference.
What criteria will we use to decide how our improvisation is guided? Will we put "me" first? Will we seek "my" profit and "my" well-being? Will we demand "my" way or refuse to recognize any approach to life but "mine? Will we put "my" opinion above any other viewpoint or will we refuse to consider any interpretation of the facts but "mine"? Those choices... the "me", "my, "mine"... seem to be the criteria of the the "Right-Wing" and even more so of the "Tea Party co-opted christian". I have had very little luck in understanding or embracing such choices. Nor have I been able to locate the foundations of their movement in a well studied theology or a broadly based understanding of the Bible.
Rather than "me", "my", "mine", I choose to improvise my attempt to follow Jesus based on the rules of faith, hope and love. The example of Jesus' life is a re-enactment of these principles. To have faith in someone is often to allow them the permission to differ from you while believing they will honor the principles and grace given them by the Creator. To hope for something means to seek and find appropriate ways to accomplish that hope. If I hope for peace, mercy, grace, forgiveness, love... then the only means of achieving my "hope" is to abide by my basic principles (ie; peace, mercy, grace, forgiveness, love). If I seek to find peace, then I had better find ways to peacefully learn to coexist with those people who or circumstances which might seek to prevent me from finding peace.
Oddly, people who claim to be Christians are now pitted against other who claim the same name. So-called Christians who promote war, self-enrichment, isolation from other humans they consider undesirable, and nose-in-the-air holier-than-thou attitudes aren't likely candidates for the Nobel Peace prize much less the words of Jesus, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant."
I don't aspire to be that kind of right-wing or "Tea Party co-opted christian". Rather I aspire to be a follower of Jesus who seeks to offer the cup of cold water, help the poor, shelter the homeless, heal the wounded, and harbor the dis-enfranchised. I seek to be the follower of Jesus who isn't bothered by hanging out with lepers, publicans, LGBTQ folk, or just regular people who struggle to make it day by day.
Sometimes it takes some improvisation to offer faith, hope and love. I'm not always sure about the best way to accomplish these offerings. I am, however, quite sure that I'm a better follower of Jesus when I work toward goals that benefit the greater good of humanity while honoring the Creator. I'm not called to serve the interests of "me", "my", or "mine" or folks who look like "me", "my", or "mine". To be a follower of Jesus means to actively improvise solutions on the journey so I can go into all the world improvising ways to teach, heal, serve, love, hope, and offer peace to any and all who I might encounter.
So... If you're upset with my opinion, that's your prerogative. If you're inspired by what I've written, just remember I'm on the journey just the same way you are. I fail, screw up, get angry, lash out, and engage in all kinds of other things that prove I've not yet arrived at my goal. But, I'm on the journey nonetheless... Join me?
Randy
Recently, there has been a hardening of positions inside the Christian faith. There are those who somehow have come to believe that following Jesus is intended to make sure that good "christian" people are successful, happy, wealthy, and correct (seemingly about everything). I've come to a rather different point of view about how following Jesus should make an impact in our lives. I believe that people who sincerely follow Jesus will become humble, peace loving, willing to help the poor and down-trodden, and tolerant of those who have differing points of view. As you might guess, I have the most trouble with that last characteristic.
These two poles of Christianity have been named "Right-Wing" and "Left-Wing" by people whose desire seems to be to align various groups with political principles. It's a frightening thought for me. I don't particularly want to be aligned with any specific political position or party. Still, I'd probably accept the label "Progressive Follower of Jesus" as opposed to "Tea Party co-opted christian". Yup... I'm just guessing that that's where the conflict will come.
How does improvisation come into this? No matter our experience, our training, our predilections, or our intentions, life seems to go its own way. We're on the journey without knowing exactly what steps will come next in the trek. We might have a general sense of the direction we're going. But, the specifics of life will almost always vary as the road winds through the vagaries of daily situations. No one is promised a map showing what hurdles we'll have to jump or which chasms will force us to make side-trips. Improvisation enters the picture when we have to navigate the path on which we'll journey. We have to make certain changes and adaptations in response to the variations of the circumstances we face. This is where our improvisational choices make so much difference.
What criteria will we use to decide how our improvisation is guided? Will we put "me" first? Will we seek "my" profit and "my" well-being? Will we demand "my" way or refuse to recognize any approach to life but "mine? Will we put "my" opinion above any other viewpoint or will we refuse to consider any interpretation of the facts but "mine"? Those choices... the "me", "my, "mine"... seem to be the criteria of the the "Right-Wing" and even more so of the "Tea Party co-opted christian". I have had very little luck in understanding or embracing such choices. Nor have I been able to locate the foundations of their movement in a well studied theology or a broadly based understanding of the Bible.
Rather than "me", "my", "mine", I choose to improvise my attempt to follow Jesus based on the rules of faith, hope and love. The example of Jesus' life is a re-enactment of these principles. To have faith in someone is often to allow them the permission to differ from you while believing they will honor the principles and grace given them by the Creator. To hope for something means to seek and find appropriate ways to accomplish that hope. If I hope for peace, mercy, grace, forgiveness, love... then the only means of achieving my "hope" is to abide by my basic principles (ie; peace, mercy, grace, forgiveness, love). If I seek to find peace, then I had better find ways to peacefully learn to coexist with those people who or circumstances which might seek to prevent me from finding peace.
Oddly, people who claim to be Christians are now pitted against other who claim the same name. So-called Christians who promote war, self-enrichment, isolation from other humans they consider undesirable, and nose-in-the-air holier-than-thou attitudes aren't likely candidates for the Nobel Peace prize much less the words of Jesus, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant."
I don't aspire to be that kind of right-wing or "Tea Party co-opted christian". Rather I aspire to be a follower of Jesus who seeks to offer the cup of cold water, help the poor, shelter the homeless, heal the wounded, and harbor the dis-enfranchised. I seek to be the follower of Jesus who isn't bothered by hanging out with lepers, publicans, LGBTQ folk, or just regular people who struggle to make it day by day.
Sometimes it takes some improvisation to offer faith, hope and love. I'm not always sure about the best way to accomplish these offerings. I am, however, quite sure that I'm a better follower of Jesus when I work toward goals that benefit the greater good of humanity while honoring the Creator. I'm not called to serve the interests of "me", "my", or "mine" or folks who look like "me", "my", or "mine". To be a follower of Jesus means to actively improvise solutions on the journey so I can go into all the world improvising ways to teach, heal, serve, love, hope, and offer peace to any and all who I might encounter.
So... If you're upset with my opinion, that's your prerogative. If you're inspired by what I've written, just remember I'm on the journey just the same way you are. I fail, screw up, get angry, lash out, and engage in all kinds of other things that prove I've not yet arrived at my goal. But, I'm on the journey nonetheless... Join me?
Randy
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Improvising in the face of death...
I've come to that stage in life when I find myself offering condolences more often than I offer congratulations. Without being over dramatic, it's not my favorite place in life's continuum. When I'm faced with those who've lost a loved one, my inability to fix the situation rises like a spectre in a darkened hallway. I don't know which way to run but I know I don't want to get buddy-buddy with ghosts!
Simply put, it's not easy to say what I really mean when my family members and friends report another loss. The polite, normal speeches like... "I'm so sorry for your loss." or "What can I do to help?" or "You're in my thoughts and prayers" don't really communicate what I'd like to say. In fact those words taste like stagnant, insipid water on my tongue. Instead, I'd like to shout, "DAMNIT!! That sucks and I don't want you to have to go through this crap!" I want to say, "IT'S NOT FAIR!" I want to respond to the grief and anguish with hugs that don't let go after a polite few seconds. I want to grab my hurting friends and go get ice-cream so we can be together and cry while our silence rails at the darker end of the tunnel of life. I want to rush into the fray and battle like a contrary berserker against the approaching doom of all humans!!
It probably doesn't help anything that I come from "nice-people" stock. For "my people" the public show of emotion was generally viewed with disdain if not distaste. We're supposed to "be better than that". We're supposed to "rely on the comfort of our faith in eternal life" and other stock religio-pathetic dictums. Well, this is the only life I know!! I'm really not concerned with the afterlife because I'm very involved with this present life! I don't like it when those I love are lost. When those loved by those I love lose the ones they love, it's just as bad!
You'll not be surprised to know that I don't like saying goodbye. I don't think I'll ever like it! I don't think I'm supposed to like saying goodbye! I want to be one of those people who says "hello" with a genuine smile while meaning it! I want to greet each approaching day of life with some kind of hope and energy or some kind of joyful tune. It's just rotten when days and days and days of loss mar the horizon of life. I want to scream at the heavens, "Couldn't YOU have come up with a better solution?!"
So, I improvise... I try to say things I actually mean. I try to stay away from the trite and often meaningless mumblings of those who just want the situation to "be all better" so they can get back to their individually monotonous trudge to the grave. I want to embrace life and draw our collective energy into the dance of hope even when we're peering over the precipice of death. I want to lustily sing a "round" with a large and lively group when most of us are dreading the daily news of another loss. I want to get a new and better pair of glasses so I can see anything besides my name written on the list of those yet to share that ultimate human experience.
Perhaps, like you, I don't like giving up or losing a fight. And so, I try to find ways and words that allow the grace and mercy of each new day to infiltrate our impending doom with something that makes wholeness and holiness one of today's possibilities. Maybe that's akin to avoiding the truth, but it seems to be a noble cause nonetheless.
If you're wondering, I don't know how to tell you to comfort a friend who's lost a loved one. That's probably because I don't know how to offer that solace myself. I only know this; we are in the journey together. I don't want to hurry the inevitable. As much as I might like to, I won't deny the reality of death. But neither will I allow death to dominate my world such that I become a consolation drone on the way to having others drone their consolations to those who loved me...
Randy
Simply put, it's not easy to say what I really mean when my family members and friends report another loss. The polite, normal speeches like... "I'm so sorry for your loss." or "What can I do to help?" or "You're in my thoughts and prayers" don't really communicate what I'd like to say. In fact those words taste like stagnant, insipid water on my tongue. Instead, I'd like to shout, "DAMNIT!! That sucks and I don't want you to have to go through this crap!" I want to say, "IT'S NOT FAIR!" I want to respond to the grief and anguish with hugs that don't let go after a polite few seconds. I want to grab my hurting friends and go get ice-cream so we can be together and cry while our silence rails at the darker end of the tunnel of life. I want to rush into the fray and battle like a contrary berserker against the approaching doom of all humans!!
It probably doesn't help anything that I come from "nice-people" stock. For "my people" the public show of emotion was generally viewed with disdain if not distaste. We're supposed to "be better than that". We're supposed to "rely on the comfort of our faith in eternal life" and other stock religio-pathetic dictums. Well, this is the only life I know!! I'm really not concerned with the afterlife because I'm very involved with this present life! I don't like it when those I love are lost. When those loved by those I love lose the ones they love, it's just as bad!
You'll not be surprised to know that I don't like saying goodbye. I don't think I'll ever like it! I don't think I'm supposed to like saying goodbye! I want to be one of those people who says "hello" with a genuine smile while meaning it! I want to greet each approaching day of life with some kind of hope and energy or some kind of joyful tune. It's just rotten when days and days and days of loss mar the horizon of life. I want to scream at the heavens, "Couldn't YOU have come up with a better solution?!"
So, I improvise... I try to say things I actually mean. I try to stay away from the trite and often meaningless mumblings of those who just want the situation to "be all better" so they can get back to their individually monotonous trudge to the grave. I want to embrace life and draw our collective energy into the dance of hope even when we're peering over the precipice of death. I want to lustily sing a "round" with a large and lively group when most of us are dreading the daily news of another loss. I want to get a new and better pair of glasses so I can see anything besides my name written on the list of those yet to share that ultimate human experience.
Perhaps, like you, I don't like giving up or losing a fight. And so, I try to find ways and words that allow the grace and mercy of each new day to infiltrate our impending doom with something that makes wholeness and holiness one of today's possibilities. Maybe that's akin to avoiding the truth, but it seems to be a noble cause nonetheless.
If you're wondering, I don't know how to tell you to comfort a friend who's lost a loved one. That's probably because I don't know how to offer that solace myself. I only know this; we are in the journey together. I don't want to hurry the inevitable. As much as I might like to, I won't deny the reality of death. But neither will I allow death to dominate my world such that I become a consolation drone on the way to having others drone their consolations to those who loved me...
Randy
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Improvising in The Kitchen!! Yummy!!!
Improvisation doesn't have to be limited to music or much of anything else. I love to improvise in the kitchen!! As church leaders, you might imagine, my wife and I often have to rush a bit in order to be ready for the weekly work of leading and interpreting worship to our congregation. As a result, we often prepare the following casserole ahead of time and heat it up in the microwave so we have a quick but substantial breakfast on Sunday mornings! Just add your favorite tidbits, a cool beverage & some good coffee! Thus fortified, you can happily head out the door to join your favorite faith gathering in honoring your Creator! Life is good!
My Staple Sunday Morning Breakfast Casserole
Adapted/Improvised by Randy Creath from Barbara Creath’s recipe (my mother)!!
All of the listed ingredients can be modified to your preferred taste or consistency. Use your imagination! I sure do! If you come up with improvement or improvisational ideas for this dish, let me know! Please!!!
J
1 quarter medium sweet onion (chopped or minced)
1 TBSP garlic (minced)
½ fresh sweet red bell pepper (chopped)
½ to 1 cup fresh mushrooms (your choice – chopped, minced, chunked, sliced)
Sauté these four items in 2 TBSP. oil (I prefer butter or bacon grease)
Dust the sautéing mixture with fresh ground black pepper and ½ tsp. of ground sea salt
If desired, you can add your desired amount of dried cilantro, cumin, marjoram, or other similar herbs at this time.
Add 1 LB of your favorite ground pork sausage (or other ground meat of your choice) to the sautéing mixture. Add additional spice or flavoring to meat to satisfy your taste - if desired (examples: 1 TBSP. maple syrup, 1 tsp. tabasco or favorite hot sauce, ground sage, cayenne pepper, etc.)
Cook the meat and sauté mixture until completely browned. It should be in small pieces or crumbles when finished. Each person is different but I also prefer to have a small portion of the meat just slightly blackened.
Crack and slightly whisk/beat 12 jumbo eggs in a large mixing bowl
Add 2 standard sized boxes of your favorite dried “julienne” or “hash brown” potatoes. If you use “julienne” or other flavored dried box potato mixes discard all but 1 TBSP. of the “cheese mixture” or whatever flavoring it might be). Lightly stir into the cheese & egg mixture (add mix flavoring if desired).
Add 2 standard sized cans of “mushroom soup” or equivalent (mushroom garlic, golden mushroom, etc.) Lightly stir into the cheese & egg & soup mixture.
Shred 1.5 pounds of your favorite sharp cheddar cheese. Separate into approximately 1 lbs. and ½ lbs. portions. Lightly stir the 1 lbs. portion of cheese into the egg & potato & soup mixture.
Drain the sautéed mixture of onions & peppers & garlic & mushroom & sausage. After draining, add this to the egg & cheese & potato & soup mixture. Stir until even distributed.
Grease a large 9X13 baking pan with spray oil or preferred agent.
Pour in the amazing (and quite heavy) mixture.
Sprinkle the remaining ½ lbs. of cheese onto the top of the casserole.
Garnish with paprika or decorative items of your choice.
Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 1 hour & 20 minutes. The casserole is done when the top cheese is golden brown and the entire concoction is uniformly solid throughout the pan.
Enjoy!!
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Improvisational Love - Really?
So... If you're going to improvise in life, by what principle will you determine your direction - your improvisation? When I improvise musically, I usually pick a key and start from there. I know I'll come back around and explore relative and non-relative keys in a search for sounds that please me. When I improvise in life, the principle I try to choose is "love". If I can practice the various steps of "love" in whatever situation I find myself, I'll probably end up with something that's pleasing to me and potentially pleasing to others. Do I have a goal of pleasing others? Not necessarily. To do what is loving doesn't always mean that people will be pleased by my actions. Is that an excuse not to do what is loving? Sometimes it has been - often to my detriment and the detriment of those around me. When I seek to please others rather than loving them, I'm not likely to be improvising or serving them in a manner that will outlive the short-sighted actions of the day. I'd love to please people more often than I do. Still, by improvising my actions toward the goal of offering love, I've found that I usually end up with something that will be lasting rather than merely temporary. It's not easy. But, in my experience, love rarely is easy. Some people prefer hard and fast rules about how loving should be done. That approach is not for me. Improvising seems to me a better way to travel on the path of life than perpetrating mere rules. In my experience, trying to "love" by the rules usually has the result of creating something that is a dry husk - or an impersonation of love. To "love" and to improvise my actions toward making sure the love offered is what is truly needed by those I'm trying to love... That's when improvisational love actually builds upon a foundation that was started eons ago. My goal in life is love. My means of getting there is improvisational loving so I might better meet the true needs of those around me. Am I trying to be like God? I certainly hope so...
Randy
Randy
Friday, July 29, 2011
More New Lyrics - Canned Peaches
Improvisation can lead us to use any given thought as a jumping off point from which we can incite creativity - to improvise on the plethora of fleeting impressions and half-guessed tidbits of life... That's how this song came about yesterday. Someone mentioned "Southern Illinois Peaches" and I was off and running.
BTW: This means I've got three sets of new lyrics for which I'll write music. It also means that my next album is about 2/3s determined. Soon, the actual recording process will start! I'm excited!
BTW: This means I've got three sets of new lyrics for which I'll write music. It also means that my next album is about 2/3s determined. Soon, the actual recording process will start! I'm excited!
Canned Peaches by Randy Creath 7/28/2011
I can smell fresh peaches as the cooker’s heatin’ up
The steam shrouds the kitchen as my mother fills a cup
The sugar hits the boilin’ water, the syrup turns light gold
The knives and scoops are scalded and the crew’s ready to go
Chorus:
Cannin’ up the garden in the old ball-mason jars
Look ahead to winter and the north wind’s roaring wars
The cold’ll try to beat us down and the snow’ll hide the stars
Glad to eat canned peaches, tellin’ lies and swappin’ yarns
Sometimes it might be green beans, and other times it’s corn
Cucumbers become pickles, while tomatoes wait at the farm
Stealin’ berries, nibblin’ carrots on hot and sultry days
I didn’t much like the turnips but zucchini seemed OK
Dad liked to try somethin’ new, we were never sure
But if he ate it ‘n’ didn’t die, we’d usually try the cure
We learned about how we could take the tiger by the tail
From pickled peppers, brussel sprouts, cabbages and kale
Then came the day my parents said, we’re gonna can some beef
We were goggle-eyed, confused, lost in unbelief
On cold fall days of campin’, Mother’d cook us up a mess…
Of canned beef ‘n’ dried egg noodles, might’ve been the best.
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