As Beth and I list out our top 10 lists of 10, we come to the discussion of food with day 3. Here is a list of my favorite dishes. Beyond #1, there is no particular order.
Mom’s Vegetable Soup – Far and away my favorite dish. When I got married, I made sure my wife added this delectable delight to her stable of regular meals. Thick and healthy, this slightly spicy soup heats up well and can be eaten for 5-10 meals straight with no complaints!!
Lettuce Wraps – Perhaps the famous dish from the classy Chinese chain P.F. Chang’s. I could eat these alone and be very happy. We have tried to copy the recipe at home. Our dish is good, but not the same.
Thai Food – I know that is a broad category, but I love the mix of sweetness and spiciness with lots of noodles/rice and fresh vegetables. Thai food can be bold, light and filling all at the same time. Two favorites are Pad Kee Mao (Drunken Noodles) and a Green Curry / Coconut milk soup served over rice from our local Thai Restaurant.
Sushi – I would consider myself a moderate sushi eater. I don’t shy away from the raw fish dishes, but at the same time I prefer the rolls with tempura. My favorite is the Special Roll from Ichiban which is fried shrimp, cream cheese, avocado served with spicy crab on top and special sauces below.
Chicken Fajita Gyros – Available at a small shotgun style restaurant just off the square of Bowling Green. Great mix of flavors on delicious pita bread. You must have it along with the pita and hummus appetizer.
Stuffed Jalapenos – Beth has a recipe that she makes that uses fresh jalapenos (straight from our garden), cuts them in half, and bakes them with a cream cheese and sausage filling.
Pizza – But not just any Pizza. I am talking about a hand tossed masterpiece with thin(ner) crust in the middle and a nice soft crust on the outside edge. Not too much cheese or sauce, and topped with ham, banana peppers, garlic and onions. Throw some peppery spices on there and you are good to go. Honorable mention goes to a good chicken white sauce pizza with lots of garlic.
Stew – I love a good thick stew, especially on a cold day. Lots of bay leaves for flavor along with crushed black peppers, big chunks of potatoes and an abundance of meat makes for a great dish.
Mongolian BBQ – I was first introduced to this at a restaurant in Missoula, MT. Usually it consists of thin slices of meat, noodles, veggies, and your choice of sauces. You mix it up and then hand it off to have it cooked in front of you. To make it even better, it usually is all you can eat.
Candy – Come on… if you know me, you know my favorite food of all time is candy. I will eat it all, but I love chewy sweet and sour stuff. Give me some chewy sweet-tarts, or sour patch kids, or sour watermelon slices and I am golden. But… don’t leave it laying around if you ever expect to save some for yourself.
We continue with day 2 of our 10 lists on 10 days. Today, Beth and I have listed the 10 people we would most like to sit and have coffee with. Of course the consumption of coffee is optional — surely it would make more sense to share a beer with a few of these folks, and others, I would rather talk with as we hiked through nature. As always, these are in no particular order.
Martin Luther King Jr. — Surely no surprise here. After all, my daughter Mikayla Lillian is named after this civil rights leader. King is best known for his role in fighting for equal rights for minorities. However, he was also a passionate pacifist. He was as opposed to the Vietnam War as he was Jim Crow laws. I would want to share a drink with him to ask him what issues he saw as most pressing? Would he concentration on gay rights? Would he address war and torture? Would he shift his attention to international issues?For me, MLK embodies the concept of the prophetic imagination (a concept we will explore in a later list). I still cannot hear his I Have a Dream speech without tearing up.
Desmond Tutu – Since we are talking about baby names, I must mention Desmond Tutu. If our firstborn had been a male, I was advocating for the name Desmond. Originally we were going to go with Douglas (my middle name), but I realized I would prefer my child to emulate him than me. Tutu was instrumental in ending apartheid and symbolizes for me how a pastor can lead social change in the name of Christ. His work on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission is awe-inspiring. I want to know from him, how we can apply these concepts to our daily societal fissures.
Bono – I wouldn’t have a string of questions for the lead singer of U2 like I would with many of the others, but in terms of having a good time, hanging out, discussing the ebbs and flows of life, I would think Bono would be the man. Plus, his lyrics are so deep and harmonize the secular and the sacred.
Peter Abelard – Perhaps the most obscure on my list. Abelard was a tormented theologians in the 12th century (read about him here). Theologically he is best known for going toe to toe with Anselm over atonement theory. Abelard advocated for a Moral influence understanding over a substitutionary understanding. He was quite eccentric and misunderstood. Here is a paper I have written on him.
Henry David Thoreau – I love his unfiltered commentary on life and society. In addition to his emphasis on self reflection and the awe of creation, he is always honest with his understanding of faith. I also have been influenced by his thoughts on civil disobedience.
Stephen Hawkins – I have been fascinated by theoretical physics since I was in Middle School. It is only a short jump from physics to philosophy and then to theology. Hawkins not only provides an entryway into this crazy world, but the way he has approached life’s struggles epitomizes focus and direction. As you will see in susequent posts, I am convinced quantum physics provides insights into truth. Here is an approachable clip that will force you to reexamine your understanding of the world. (Not Hawkins, but he works in the same areas.)
John Howard Yoder – deep down I am a Mennonite, I just have not admitted it yet (well except to Brett). I have learned more from other theologians, but I have yet to find a person who such consistency in their life, faith, theology and philosophy. Politics of Jesus should be required reading for… well… everyone.
N.T. Wright – There is not a simple person who has been more influencial in shaping my theology and understanding of the world and scripture than Bishop N.T. Wright. I have listened to so many of his lectures I can hear him speak when I read his books. I find so many of the concepts I regularly explain and rely on come from Wright. I doubt I could keep up with him, but I would love to drink from the fire hydrant of his knowledge. Plus, he has a that super cool British accent. Here is a great resource for other lovers of his work.
The Tank Man – Bravery is not something that is planned. It is not something that is sought out. It is something that occurs when we stand up for what is just. I am fascinated by the story of the Tank Man – the young man who stopped a whole line of Chinese tanks through a simply act of resistence. There are a couple reason he makes my list. First… I want to know who this person is (to this day, it unknown). But more importantly, I am drawn to this person because they were able to change the world with simple acts without demanding fame or recognition.
Jesus – rounding out my list is the God-Man Jesus Christ himself. I almost didn’t list Jesus. That is not because I don’t think it would make for excellent conversation, or because I don’t have the ultimate respect, love, and devotion to Jesus. Rather, it is because I realize I am way too like Peter (see below) and rather than sitting down with a whole list of questions, I would love simply follow Jesus as he navigated the world today.
Beth and I are embarking on a 10 day blog series beginning today. Each day we will post a top 10 list covering a variety of subjects from 10 favorite meals to 10 ideas that define us as people.
This first post we are listing top 10 movies.
Now, for my disclaimer: I am not claiming these are the top 10 movies of all time, but rather I am listing 10 movies that, a.) I could watch at any time and be happy; b.) if I only had these movies, I would be satisfied; and c.) have impacted me as a person.
Here is the list (in no particular order):
Shawshank Redemption– A story of perseverance, improvisation and deep friendship. It shows the humanity of those on the edges.
Fight Club – This movie, perhaps more than any other, demands that the view reexamine life and evaluate what is important and what is superfluous.
Top Gun – Considering I have 95% of this movie memorized, it had to make the list.
Gandhi – One of the most inspirational movies of all time for me. I constantly return to the wisdom of Gandhi conveyed in this movie.
American History X – One of the first movies that actually “changed my life.” The story of hate and redemption is tangible.
Schindler’s List / Hotel Rwanda– Okay, so I am cheating with two movies here. Schindler’s list reminds me of the depth of human depravity and Hotel Rwanda reminds me of our tendency we have to constantly hide from this depravity and deny its existence, even in the face of modern genocide.
Slumdog Millionaire – The only movie from the last couple years to make the list, and it is well deserving of the honor with its story of global struggles and individual perseverance.
Braveheart – The best battle epic of all time. Makes you cheer for the little guy.
Forest Gump – a social commentary framed through the eyes of an ordinary man.
Dumb and Dumber – While not nearly of the significance of the movies listed above, in my opinion, this is the best comedy of all time.