As I was returning home from the grocery store Tuesday evening, with ten pounds of ground beef, I couldn’t help but reflect on how food and our current ministry efforts work in concert to build relationships and break down barriers between people. In fact, I have purchased thirty five pounds of beef during the last several weeks. The truth of the matter is that about six years ago I started a small hobby that has turned into something much more than I could have ever imagined.
The origins of this endeavor probably started years ago when I met Thom, who has since become a friend of mine. He was hired as the General Manager of a country club that Janet and I belonged to. Thom has a magnetic personality and clearly was trained in culinary arts. He was a tremendous addition to the staff , bringing us to a new level. He and I hit it off and throughout the years have periodically stayed in touch. Of course, we are FaceBook friends.
When Thom left the club and returned to Kentucky, where he was from, he took an absolutely intriguing job as the leader of one of the first church food ministries in the US. He attended a mega church that resolved to reach out to the community through a “Taste and See” ministry, among other things, and Janet and I were honored to get a “cook’s tour” of what was being built there. As impressed as we were, I don’t think that I ever realized the impact that food and conversation could really have as tools to build relationships and lead people to Christ.
Anyway, Thom has a God given gift for hospitality. In fact, I would call it a finely developed spiritual gift. His final career move eventually took him to Missouri where he enjoyed a leadership position at the Fabulous Fox Theatre. He was in charge of events as well as food services and hospitality before recently retiring. He clearly had another opportunity to share his giftedness with others. We have also bonded throughout the years over the fact that we are devout Christians – brothers in Christ. But I doubt that Thom realizes the impact that he has had on my thinking since I have dialed back my work schedule and taken up several hobbies – chief among them, I have become pretty serious about smoking beef jerky, snack sticks, ribs, pulled pork, kielbasa and bratwurst, smoked meat loaf and a host of other foods that probably fall into the comfort category. I’m sure Thom is proud of where I have ended up – largely a result of his pioneering spirit.
As I have upped my game, I have become more well know in the community as somebody who just loves to cook for others. Aside from our kids and grandchildren, a host of people have honored me by looking forward to whatever I choose to make. From our wonderful neighbors, Mike and Mary, to our barber, vet, dermatologist, ministry partners, the local grocery store manager and almost countless others, I have been amazed at how accepted my offerings have become. Of course there are several standards that I set for myself. Everything is top quality, no cut corners, healthy and tasty!
I periodically add new recipes and try new combinations of spices to create new offerings. Mind you, this is not a business. Although many folks have offered to “buy” from me and I have been asked to start a business or at least to bring my food to the local farmer’s markets in the area, I have maintained that this is a hobby. The more I think about it, it’s become a food ministry…
From time to time, people will buy me gifts cards or stick money in an envelope for me, or even go to the store and pick up meat to help defray my costs, but I never “charge” anyone for anything that comes out of my kitchen. In fact, one time I received a honorarium for teaching a season of Bible study to a church group. I used the funds to buy more meat! I can’t begin to tell you the enjoyment I get from watching people enjoy my culinary creations – almost exclusively MEAT.
So there you have it – something that generates such joy for me that I would never have thought of without Thom’s ground breaking work, as well as his willingness to share his gift of hospitality all those years ago. It’s been a blessing and we never know how God will connect the dots to impact His kingdom – isn’t it awesome that we get to be a part of that!
Our verse for tonight comes from the apostle Peter who wrote his first New Testament epistle as a way for people to recognize that while they had different God given assignments during the mid first century, their common bond was that they were all children of God. Peter tells us, in 1 Peter 4:8-10, “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.” That’s what I am trying to do – using a God given gift to offer hospitality to others. And I am sure that many of you do the same thing in different ways. After all, we are all a part of the same “body.”
My encouragement this evening is that God endows each of us with unique spiritual gifts that we can hone and leverage for the pleasure of the Lord. My prayer is that you will experience joy when you are in your area of giftedness and serving others – even if it’s cooking up a batch of beef snack sticks! Have a great day in the Lord, grace and peace…