German Pancakes by Diane DiLeonardi

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Day number? Well, I’ve lost count.

“What should we tackle today?" says my husband whose back is still tweaked from endless painting projects. My growling stomach signals what to do first—German pancakes.

As soon as my mind conjures up those two words, I’m instantly transformed into my 11-year-old self walking with my friend Jill the three blocks to Geneva Carlburg’s Victorian house (which, by the way, is still standing in this tear-down neighborhood) on a Saturday morning.

She greets us at the front door, inviting us down the long hall. A glimspe to the left, and we see her husband asleep in an easy chair in the living room. We continue into the room where good things happen—the kitchen.

Ingredients ready on her counter. Mrs. Carlburg guides us in how to make the perfect German pancake. She places the pan with butter in the hot oven. As we mix the batter she talks, we listen, we answer. The specifics I have no recollection, but her smile and love are so evident.

We pour the batter into the sizzling pan and immediately put it back in the oven with a stern warning not to open the door for 15 minutes. Our heads touching, Jill and I peer into the small oven window, mesmerized as the batter begins to puff around the edges, butter pooling in the center until it, too, raises itself like a perfect marshmallow on an open fire, browning with no char.

You must act quickly if you want to post your pancake on Instagram since leaving it in the hot oven causes instant deflating. Of course, back then, there were no pictures taken. Instead, a table set, prayer given, mangia. Eat.

This ritual was repeated many times, the consistency welcome, never griddle cakes, waffles or crepes. God’s love poured out on two little girls of divorce by a godly woman who felt led to do so. Our departing gift each time, beautifully calligraphied verses on crinkly vellum, fit into a paper frame. (I’m sure to find them this week as I go through old boxes)

Today, as I watched the batter rise, I wasn’t craving Alton Brown to scientifically explain how this thin liquid burst into action. Instead I metaphorically saw how God put people in my life at just the right time, again and again. Maybe a German pancake doesn’t bring you to awesome tears, but there’s a food, a song or an event that no doubt triggers your heart.

And this pandemic comes with its fair share of triggers to your heart and to the hearts of those you love. But, Easter is coming and what we do this Easter is essential. Find a way to share God's love, think outside the box. Your traditions are still viable with minor adjustments. Your Savior has risen.

Let your actions be a reward to others—Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. (Romans 12:10-11, NIV)

Geneva Carlburg’s German Pancake Recipe

Geneva Carlburg’s German Pancake Recipe

His Glorious Grace We Praise

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By Erik Dewar, pastor of worship and music

During a global pandemic, we are suddenly reminded of eternal things.

A threat to temporal existence begs questions of an everlasting one.

Paul’s opening words in his letter to the Ephesians lift us to a lofty view of the purposes of God’s grace which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time.

God’s purposes are eternal. He chose us in him before the foundation of the world, and the Holy Spirit is the guarantee of our eternal inheritance.

When Christians look back, they see grace.

When they look ahead, more grace.

In this moment of trouble, may we confidently remember that in Christ the grace of the eternal God has been lavished upon us.

To the praise of his glorious grace.

Ephesians 1:3-14

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Trust and Obey

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By H. E. Singley, organist

O Lord, I give my life to you.

                                                               I trust in you, my God!

                                             “If you love me, obey my commandments.”

                                                                              (Psalm 25:1, 2a; John 14:15, NLT)

Like so many things in life, language continually recasts itself. The usage, even the intent of words, can change. An example is the word “happy.” It seems that many Christians avoid saying “happy,” preferring “joyful” instead, particularly when talking about their spiritual or emotional state-of-mind. (I tend to do the same.)

 

Thus, when I come to these words, . . . .

 

Trust and obey, for there’s no other way

To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

 

. . . . I need to reorient myself regarding “happy.”

 

I note in a typical dictionary that, yes, “happy” can connote “a dazed irresponsible state” or “enthusiastic about something to the point of obsession.” However, those definitions are not at the beginning of the entry for “happy.” Instead, we see “fortunate,” “felicitous,” or “enjoying or characterized by well-being and contentment.” It is that final lexical analysis which I wish to emphasize as we consider “Trust and Obey,” a hymn (a Gospel song) known by many believers.

 

The text is by John Sammis who, in pursuit of a second career, became a Presbyterian pastor and ultimately a member of the faculty of the Bible Institute of Los Angeles (now Biola University). The music is by Daniel B. Towner, director of the music department of Moody Bible Institute from 1893 to 1919.

 

The punch line–the crux of the matter–is really encapsulated in the refrain above and maybe just the two compelling words, “trust” and “obey.” These words represent marching orders for followers of Christ, resulting in well-being and contentment. (Cf. Deuteronomy 13:4; Proverbs 3:5,6).

 

In addition to the refrain, the hymn has five stanzas as seen in some hymnals, four in others. The stanzas serve to underscore the central emphasis of trusting and obeying, even looking ahead to eternity. I’d like to focus only on the first stanza.

 

When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,

What a glory He sheds on our way!

While we do His good will, He abides with us still,

And with all who will trust and obey.

 

Notice “walk with the Lord”–walking on the pilgrimage of life–indispensably illuminated by His Word. Maybe another way to think of “what a glory He sheds on our way” is to appeal again to the dictionary for a fresh perspective regarding a key word in that phrase, “glory.” As components of the definition for “glory,” I notice “a distinguished quality or asset”; and I see “great beauty and splendor.” Think of that! As we walk with God, the Supreme Being over all creation and the one who “knit us together in our mother’s womb” (Psalm 139:13b), we are blessed with the asset, the beauty, the splendor of His inestimable reality in our lives!

The joy of doing His will (cf. Psalm 40:8) is conjoined with His abiding, ceaseless presence which itself enables us to joyfully do His will!

 

I think there’s a “bottom line” for us in “Trust and Obey.” Trust! Obey!

I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace

because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope

through the power of the Holy Spirit.

(Romans 15:3, NLT)

IDEAS FOR LISTENING

  •  Listen for the melody of the hymn-tune throughout.

  • The music begins with the refrain.

  • Two different interpretations accompany the melody of the “verse part” of the hymn. (You might think of the first and final stanzas.)

  • Another presentation of the refrain follows the music of the stanzas, beginning with an emphatic “Trust and obey!”

  • Note how that the final refrain is incomplete, leaving the listener in a bit of suspended animation at “...for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus…” This omission is to emphasize, in a sense, the element of “trust”–not knowing what’s ahead–as we “obey.”

  • Finally, the arrangement returns to the initial idea, based once again on the melody of the refrain.

  • Sing the hymn–words and music–even if you’re by yourself!

Stay at Home to Save Lives by Daniel Bair

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Daniel is the executive director of Englewood Family Outreach and one of our College Church evangelists.

Stay at home to save lives. That is sage advice. However, organizations that provide charitable and social services are exempt from this edict. Therefore, we as a ministry are faced with the difficult question of what to do in the face of such an unprecedented outbreak in our time.

The board of Englewood Family Outreach held a meeting the Friday night Governor Pritzker issued his order to discuss the ramifications for ministry.

We agreed unanimously that we cannot operate as normal, but there was room for discussion on how exactly we should respond in a way to love our neighbors. Do we stay home and eliminate all physical contact in order to halt the spread of this virus, or do we take the risk for the sake of restoring those in need? Staying home is probably the best way for most of us to love and serve our communities, it is not an easy question to answer for those who serve the vulnerable who will be disproportionately impacted by all this.

As I pondered this, I couldn’t help but wonder what Jesus would do if he were here right now. There was a flesh-eating disease in that time known as leprosy. From fear of the spread of this disease or defilement, those who had it living outside the camp wore rags and had to proclaim loudly, “Unclean! Unclean!” When Jesus approached a leper in Matthew 8, he did something unexpected. Before he healed him, Jesus touched the leper. Granted, we are not Jesus. He knew he was going to heal the leper and (therefore) wouldn’t spread the disease but cure and end it. But more than the method, I marvel at the message—Jesus saw a person in need, not a disease. 

Our ministry has neighbors in need, and we are brainstorming ways that we can encourage them and help meet their needs, from the physical to the mental to the spiritual. There is a virus spreading rapidly; if it goes unchecked it will likely overwhelm our medical facilities. But there are people buried under the headlines of fear and toilet paper shortages who are being crushed by the havoc the coronavirus is leaving in its wake. Sure, the government is doing much to try to alleviate their suffering, but without the organizations that have already been serving on the frontlines, the organizations that know the people of the streets, there are many who will be lost and out of reach. We must see the people buried under the rubble. We must see them, touch them (in a no-contact sort of way) and point them to Jesus.

At the end of Matthew 25, Jesus says that he will come back as king and reward his righteous sheep for clothing, feeding and visiting him. Baffled they will ask, “When, oh King, did we do this?” The King will respond that as they did it to one of the least of his brothers, they did it to him (Matt. 25.40). 

In some divine mystery, we are given the privilege of serving King Jesus as we serve the least of his brothers and sisters in the neighborhood. That is the attitude we come to the community with—not the attitude of the hero riding in to save the day, but the lowly servant coming in to help his King. One way to serve them is to stay home and not spread the virus—we could make things physically worse if we become a link in that chain, and staying home is a prudent decision. There is also a second option.

There is something great at stake here. Right now, people are confused, vulnerable and scared; and that is nowhere more true than in our under-resourced communities (just today I spent time praying with a mother from our neighborhood who, full of fear, called me sobbing). We have a unique opportunity to speak peace into their lives. While helping insure their physical, mental and emotional well-being, we can also impact their spiritual trajectories. There may be no greater opportunity than the one afforded by this virus to speak into their lives. It may be that this virus strikes while we are positioned here for such a time as this. 

Yes, the coronavirus has been killing thousands and we want to curb that as much as possible. But in the end death will come for us all; our greater concern is the thousands who may face death from the coronavirus without the hope of Christ. Hopelessness is in the air. The streets are emptied. Businesses are closed. The lights have almost all gone out.

But we will keep a lamp burning. A light will shine forth from our refuge to possibly be the spark of revival in the hearts of people in our community. There may be a day that our light goes out, but it is not this day.

Discover more about Englewood Family Outreach.

Write Your Own Psalm of Togetherness

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Even though we are isolated in a lot of ways, here’s something we can do together. It works for all ages, so don’t think you are too young or too old. You can do this with all the people under your roof or think of it as an exercise to focus on God and bring family or friends together on online. If you have friends in another country or another state, invite them to join you, too.

Part One: Choose something about God—a truth or a character trait about God.

Example: God is present everywhere. Make sure everyone knows this theme.

Part Two: Using simile or metaphor, have each person write a description of God with the theme of your psalm. A simile is when we compare to things with the word “like” in between. A metaphor is taking out the word “like” and comparing them in an even closer way.

Example of simile: God is like the sun.

Example of metaphor: God is the sun. (Note: this is not the same as saying “The sun is God.”)

Part Three: Write one or two lines or phrases that explain or expand the simile or metaphor you chose.

Example: He gives light to all things. No plant can grow without his touch.

Part Four: Return to the beginning. Restate in a different way or reflect on the attribute of God.

Example: His light shines everywhere.

Part Five: Now comes the fun part. Collect them from every person and put them together. Putting them together will be a surprise.

Example:

A Psalm of God’s Presence

God is the sun.

He gives light to all things.

No plant can grow without his touch.

His light shines everywhere.

Add the four lines from each person together into a psalm. Share it with everyone who helped to write it. You could have each person read their own if you are gathered either around your table or in a virtual meeting.

If you would like to share it with College Church, email wtriggs@college-church.org.