Why Allergies? - Reece's Peace's

Spring has officially arrived, bringing with it allergy season to the Ohio Valley. Tissue boxes are flying off the shelves, and yellow pollen is settling on car hoods, patio chairs, and anything else left outside. Despite Spring’s beauty, few of us here in Kentucky are immune to the discomfort that allergies bring.

This leads me to question, why would God make so many of us allergic to His very creation? Why does my nose begin to run the moment I step outside during the very season when all I desire is to escape from my winter hibernation and soak up the sun?

When facing our seasonal adversary, allergies, we might question the goodness of God. However, our understanding of ‘good’ and ‘bad’ is often limited and influenced by our immediate comfort and convenience.

Consider allergies from a different perspective. In many ways, they are a testament to the incredible nature of our bodies, designed to protect us from potential harm. Our sneezes and watery eyes, despite their inconvenience, are our body’s way of expelling foreign particles. It is our immune system at work, tirelessly laboring to keep us healthy.

Challenging times, like the allergy season, can bring about growth and resilience in us. They remind us of our shared human experience, fostering empathy and community as we all navigate these ‘sneezing’ days together. They teach us patience, resilience, and the ability to find joy even in times of discomfort.

Why would a good God allow something like allergies? Perhaps it’s His way of reminding us of the strength He has given us, both in our bodies and our spirits.

As we step into the vibrant outdoors this Spring, let’s carry our tissues with gratitude and resilience. For we know that this too shall pass, and we will be left stronger and more appreciative of the ‘sneeze-free’ days. Even in the yellow haze of spring, we can see the goodness of God, not despite the challenges, but within them.

Christ the Lord is Risen Today - Marc's Music Notables

Charles Wesley wrote this hymn in 1739, less than a year after his Aldersgate conversion. It was first sung in the Foundry Meeting House, an old iron foundry in London that Wesley converted to religious purposes.

Wesley’s original version had eleven stanzas, but did not have the Alleluias that distinguish it today. Some hymns perfectly capture the spirit of their season, which is true of this hymn. Both hymn tunes associated with this hymn (“Easter Hymn” and “Llanfair”) have solid and driving rhythms that make us want to “raise the rafters” with joyful singing. The first line, “Christ the Lord is risen today,” sets the tone and tells us what we are celebrating. “Raise your joys and triumphs high” suggests how to celebrate. The Alleluias soar.

The hymn portrays both the resurrection and the crucifixion. It tells us, "Love’s redeeming work is done, fought the fight, the battle won.” It says, “Death in vain forbids him rise.” But the resurrection is the dominant theme, as we would expect in an Easter hymn.

However, the hymn we have today differs from the one that Charles Wesley wrote. The original hymn had no Alleluias. It seems as if the hand of God directed what came next. Someone whose name has been lost in time decided to set the words to the tune that we now use, a tune by a composer whose name has also been lost in time. But the words didn’t fit the tune, so he added the Alleluias to make it fit.

The perfect Easter hymn came into being through the work of three different people who probably never met. It is unlikely that any of the three had any idea how much their hymn would add to our celebration of Easter.

While this hymn is primarily reserved for Easter Sunday morning worship, it remains a reminder throughout the year that “made like Him, like Him, we rise, ours the cross, the grave, the skies!”

Mushroom Risotto - Jenna's Favorites

Kentucky is blessed to be a prime location for mushrooms in the spring! Whether you like to go out foraging for your own, pick some up at a local farmers market, or buy them at a grocery store, this risotto is a fantastic way to utilize whatever kind of mushrooms you may fancy.

Personally, I don’t care for an overly strong or earthy mushroom flavor, so I usually use Lion’s Mane (which looks like fuzzy cauliflower and has a mild, neutral taste, plus lots of health benefits). You can use any type of mushroom that you enjoy, but I highly recommend varieties like oyster, chestnut, and especially the elusive morel (if you manage to find them somehow – in that case, please let me know where!). Arborio rice is the type that’s most highly recommended for risotto, but you can use whatever kind of rice that you prefer or have on hand.

This recipe requires an hour or so to make, but the result is rich and delicious… totally worth the time it takes! I hope you enjoy this recipe, and as always, feel free to customize things to your tastes.

Ingredients:

• Chopped Mushrooms, about 2 cups

• 3 cups Chicken Broth

• 1 Tbsp Olive Oil

• ½ cup Diced Onion

• Minced Garlic (as much as you like)

• ¾ cups Arborio Rice (or preferred rice)

• Herbs & Seasonings, to taste

• 2 Tbsp Butter

• ½ cup Parmesan (or other cheese)

Directions:

1. Make sure your mushrooms are clean from dirt and debris by gently brushing them off before chopping into small pieces. (Washing mushrooms is not recommended, as it will make them waterlogged.)

2. In a small saucepan, heat the chicken broth to a simmer.

3. Cook mushrooms in a large, dry skillet over medium heat until golden brown. Set aside.

4. In the same pan, add olive oil and onion. Cook onion until it begins to soften.

5. Add garlic and cook for a couple of minutes.

6. Add the rice and stir to combine. Cook until rice begins to turn a golden color, stirring frequently to avoid burning.

7. Add salt to taste and any other seasonings you choose. I like to add extra garlic powder and onion powder, as well as some dried herbs at this point.

8. Once the rice is “toasted,” use a ladle to add about ½ cup of warm broth to the rice mixture and stir. Wait until the broth absorbs into the rice, then continue to add one ladle of broth at a time. Don’t rush this part of the process! It’s important to add the broth slowly and wait for it to fully absorb before adding more. (The exact amount of broth you need may fluctuate. You might not use it all, or you may need a little extra.)

9. When the broth is absorbed and the rice is tender, add the mushrooms. Remove from heat and stir in the butter. Top with cheese and serve while hot.

*Optional Additions: • Add a small amount of dry white wine as the rice finishes toasting, before adding the broth. • As a final step, add some heavy cream along with the butter for extra creamy risotto, or add a pinch of chili flakes if you want an added kick.

Lion’s Mane Mushrooms Recipe sourced from: frommichigantothetable.com

Easter & Springtime - Reece's Peaces

This month we bid farewell to the cold winter and welcome the vibrant hues of spring. Spring is a time of renewal and rebirth in nature. This transformation beautifully mirrors the spiritual journey we undertake during Easter.

Spring is a season of awakening. The once barren trees burst into bloom, animals emerge from their winter slumber, and the earth seems to come alive with a renewed vigor. This natural reawakening symbolizes the promise of life after death, a central theme in the story of Easter.

Easter celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ, three days after his crucifixion. It’s a testament to the victory of life over death, light over darkness, and good over evil. Just as spring breathes new life into the world around us, Easter reminds us of the new life that Jesus promises.

The parallel between spring and Easter is profound. As Christians, we believe in the promise of renewal through Christ’s resurrection. The transformation we see in nature during spring serves as a tangible reminder of this spiritual renewal. The budding flowers and chirping birds echo the joy of the resurrection, reinforcing our faith in the promise of eternal life.

As we journey through the season of Lent towards the joyous day of Easter, let’s take a moment to appreciate the beauty of spring and its symbolism. Let the blooming flowers remind us of the resurrection, and the chirping birds’ songs of the joy that Easter brings. In this season of renewal, both in nature and spirit, let’s strive to renew our faith, hope, and love.

In the heart of spring, we see the essence of Easter. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is mirrored in the rebirth of the world around us. This spring, let us embrace the spirit of renewal and resurrection. Let us look to the blooming flowers as symbols of hope, the singing birds as messengers of joy, and the warming sun as a reminder of God’s love. As we celebrate Easter, let us remember that just as spring brings new life to the world, Jesus brings new life to us

Amazing Grace - Marc's Music Notables

John Newton’s earliest memories were of his godly mother, who devoted herself to nurturing his soul despite his fragile health. At her knee, he memorized Bible passages and hymns. Though she died when he was about seven, he later recalled her tearful prayers for him.

After her death, John alternated between boarding school and the high seas. Pressed into service with the British Navy, he deserted, was captured, and flogged. More voyages, dangers, toils, and snares followed. It was a life unrivaled in fiction, as he eventually became the slave of a slave in Africa.

Then, on the night of March 9, 1748, John, 23, was jolted awake aboard a ship by a brutal storm. He cried to the Lord in great peril and began a slow spiritual journey that eventually transformed his life. The next several years were ones of slow, halting progress. Still, in the end, John Newton became one of the most potent evangelical preachers in British history, a powerful foe of slavery and the slave trade, and the author of hundreds of hymns.

“Amazing Grace” is his hymn of testimony, originally written to accompany a New Year’s Day sermon Newton preached on January 1, 1773, from the text 1 Chronicles 17:16-17. “I once was lost,” he said, “but now am found; was blind, but now I see.”

Hymns are distillations of the wealthiest truths of God, versified, emotionalized, set to music, and released in the mind and from the mouth. They’re miniature Bible studies that lead us effortlessly to worship, testimony, exhortation, prayer, and praise. They’re bursts of devotional richness with rhyme and rhythm. They clear our minds, soothe our nerves, verbalize our worship, summarize our faith, and sing our great Redeemer’s praise.

Everyone should have a hymnbook on their desk and a song of praise in their hearts. Lots of good music will improve our moods, but the great hymns of the faith will fill our hearts with the truths of God and lift our spirits in praise