It has been a wonderful week here at Kairos. This past Saturday we Katered a Wedding in Gardendale where the Bride and Groom decided they wanted breakfast food at there reception instead of the traditional wedding fare. It turned out really awesome, and it was a great idea even though it wasn't mine.
The best part about the Wedding for me was that the Bride had me do her cake, and it was a massive cake so I was more than a little nervous. I promised her that it would not be perfect but that it would taste great, and it actually came out better than I ever thought I could make something.
The best compliment I received was from a little boy about 7 or 8 years old. He asked me if I made the cake. I said yes and he was happy to report that it was "damp". I was a little perplexed at his comment so I asked him what he meant.
"Well, most cakes are real dry, but yours was damp. It was so good!" he replied heartily.
That was one of the best and most sincere compliments that I have ever gotten from anybody. If you'd like to see a picture of the cake check out my facebook page or my blog. I am very pleased with it, and all the guests said "it looks just like her..."
Tomorrow we are going to Wetumpka to Kater an event there and they ordered the BBQ Chicken Baked Ziti. It made me remember that I haven't done that for you guys in quite some time, so that is the special this week. This is one of the first recipes that was made up exclusively for Kairos.
The Soup is a blackeyed pea soup that is gonna be awesome. It starts with the peas, of course, and then a little celery, onion, tomatoes, green chilies, and ham in a rich broth. My mouth is watering just thinking about it.
The veggie is also a new recipe that I have been turning around in my brain...it starts with sweet grape tomatoes, fire roasted with a little garlic, celery, onions, jalapeno peppers...Mmmm...the perfect side dish to accompany the Blackeyed Pea Soup. We're calling it Fire Roasted Tomato Relish. I hope you enjoy.
The Dessert Special is Three Musketeers Cupcakes. I made up this recipe when someone gave me a case of Three Musketeers and I didn't know what to do with them...why not turn them into a cupcake? The cake part is one part vanilla, & one part chocolate with the candybar cooked right in the center. I believe its gonna be a winner!
I recently did a little cooking on Fox 6. Click the link below if you would like the recipe for Cheeseburger Soup or Kairos Chicken Cheesesteaks, or you may just want to watch me cooking with Janice Rogers
James making Cheeseburger Soup on Fox 6
James Cooking Kairos Cheesesteaks
The past few weeks I have been concentrating on a class that we have here at Grace & Truth called "The Good & Beautiful Life" In it, the author teaches that living in The Kingdom of God is not something that is for when we die, but for right now. His teaching is so encouraging because he says that it's impossible to live that life without first training for it. At the end of each chapter he gives us what he calls a "Soul Training Exercise."
A few weeks ago the exercise was to practice the discipline of hospitality, particularly to those who are not just like you, or to those that seem to be marginalized in our society. My first thought was that I was already a pretty hospitable guy so I didn't think there was much for me to learn. Boy was I ever wrong.
I will skip over the details of taking some folks out to eat, etc. and cut to the chase. The exercise was for one week, but I found this lesson carrying over into the second and third week even though we had another exercise going by that time...
I found out that what God wanted to teach me was that being hospitable was not something that I should do on Sundays and Wednesdays or whenever it suited me. I found that it was more of an attitude of hospitality than an event. These past few weeks as I have been practicing the soul training exercise of hospitality have been some of the most joyful weeks of my life, and I am joyful for no apparent reason. It is so weird. Joy Unspeakable Indeed!
My first encounter was at The Dekalb County Farmer's Market. For some time I have had the sense that people from other countries are harsh to me when they come over to America. I once had some neighbors from another country that were just downright rude to me when I tried to speak to them.
What's wrong with them? was usually my thoughts.
The Farmer's Market in Decatur employs people from all over the world, but somehow when I've been over the past few years I have had the experience of folks being harsh to me or even hollering at me if I didn't know the proper procedures for International Market etiquette.
This time it was weird. I had been practicing a hospitable attitude and when I was nice to them guess what I found out? They were nice to me back! It was amazing. I have never had that experience there and I have been going there for years.
As I left there I realized that a lot of what I get from people (attitudes, etc.) depends a lot on what I am giving out to others. I had never even thought about it that way! Of course there are some people from other countries that are mean, but there are also a heap of folks that are from right here in the USA that are mean.
What are we to do? I'm gonna be hospitable anyways. It's been an amazing thing to watch, even in The Jefferson County Tag Office. I was there today, where I have never had a positive experience, and the lady treated me like a King. Why? I believe it was because I had a hospitable attitude towards her. Awesome stuff!
May we all be a people who view kindness and hospitality not as an occasional event, but as a lifestyle and an attitude to keep with us forever!
God Bless You, Thank You for supporting Kairos, and have a wonderful week!
James K Jones
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