Cali Que

That would be ‘que, as in BBQ  (be honest, how many of my hispanic friends thought que, as in “what?”).  California is known for many things: great weather, beautiful beaches, and your 2007 AFC West Champions, the San Diego Super Chargers.  BBQ… not so much (for clarification, please read my thoughts on “All American BBQ“).  As we press on through this blog, I’ll eventually get to more detailed restaurant reviews.  For now, here are three important lists (this is based on the overall BBQ Joint experience-meat, sauce, and side dishes):

BEST I’VE HAD ‘ROUND THESE PARTS (from excellent to very good):

1.  It’s In the Sauce BBQ (Ventura/West Hills)

2.  BBQ King (downtown L.A.)

3.  Famous Dave’s (this nationwide chain has just fairly recently come to California; I think they’ve still got some kinks to work out, as I haven’t had quite the same experience with them as I have out of state {Minnesota, Oklahoma and Michigan})

4.  Robin’s BBQ (Pasadena)

5.  Johnny Rebs Southern Roadhouse (Long Beach)

MEH… (not awful, I guess):

1.  Lucille’s (Brea/Rancho Cucamonga)

2.  Mo’s Smokehouse (Pismo Beach)

3.  Memphis Minnie’s (San Francisco)

4.  The Pig (Los Angeles)

5.  Armadillo Willy’s BBQ (Sacramento)

AVOID LIKE LEPROSY (These should cry out, “Unclean! Unclean!”)

1.  Red Hill BBQ (Rancho Cucamonga)

2.  Joey’s BBQ (Pomona/Upland)

3.  Dr. Hogly Wogly’s (Van Nuys)

Secretary of State

II Cor. 5:20 “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ…”

It looks like Hillary will be the next Secretary of State, the highest ranking secretary in the President’s cabinet (and fourth in line to the Presidency, to boot!).  Her first concern will be foreign relations (well, actually that will be a close second to her bid for the Presidency in 2016).  In a nutshell, the Secretary of State is the nation’s top diplomat, a super-duper ambassador to the world.  She will represent the President, and, thus, the United States of America.  Strange that Obama would chose Hillary Clinton to represent him.  Isn’t this the same lady woman that first brought our attention to Obama’s propensity for “palling around with terrorists”?  Has he forgotten her scathing criticism of his foundational political beliefs?  What happened to being ready on the first day?  It was an ugly campaign for the Democratic nomination because they were not in agreement on a number of things.

Consider our incumbent Secretary of State, Condoleeza Rice.  A brilliant woman, and a true conservative.  She has been fiercely loyal to the President and definitely shares in his core values.  Rice has been a great Secretary of State.  She has represented her President well.

In order for someone to be a decent ambassador, they must understand the one they are representing.  The most effective ambassadors will not just have a working knowledge of policies, but a genuine agreement with those policies.  Most Christians are not very good ambassadors for Christ.  Firstly, because they haven’t gotten to know their Saviour.  They spend very little time with Him outside of church.  There’s no true fellowship.  Secondly, there are Christians that have knowledge that has puffed them up.  They can win a Bible Trivia contest, but don’t live its principles.

What a privilege it would have been to represent George W. Bush.  I believe he is a good man and has been a good president (I’ll post more thoughts on this some other time).  It would be easy for me to defend his policies and his person.  Now, Barack Obama would be a different story.  I would defend his office, but definitely not his policies.  Our God is a great God.  He deserves our loyalty.  He deserves good ambassadors, fiercely loyal and in genuine agreement with His Word.

Don’t represent Christ the same way you would represent Barack Obama.

T.E.A.M.

T.E.A.M.: Teens Engaged in Active Ministry! 

I have always been one to aim high.  To dream big, have lofty goals.  That mindset has definitely found its way into the philosophy and driving force of my ministry.  Early on, I wanted to focus my physical and spiritual energy into something huge!  Anyone can take their young people bowling or mini-golfing (we do that).  It’s fun to come up with an original or creative activity (we have our annual Goofy Olympics and Video Scavenger Hunts).  My heart’s desire is to help young people walk with God and, in their walk, serve!

One of the best things I did before going into the ministry was a missions trip to the Philippines.  It gave me a whole new perspective on missions.  Plus, it helped me form my youth ministry philosophy.  In the Philippines, we helped two churches, both Pastored by nationals.  One in the middle of one of the world’s most populated cities and another in a much more rural area.  Like here, the big city people are quite different from the people who live out in the “boonies”.  There was one similarity that stood out: the young people were in the forefront of pretty much everything the church did.  From setting up and cleaning up, to knocking doors, to singing in the choir, they were everywhere.  The best way I can describe it is to call them the backbone of their churches.  I thought, “There’s no reason American kids can’t be the same way!”  This has driven my praying and preaching.  They should serve.  Now!  They are not just the future of the church.  They must be the NOW of the church.  They can and should be Engaged in Active Ministry!

Don’t get me wrong, we have a lot of fun in our youth group.  Teens who visit us from other fundamental youth groups are sometimes shocked by how much laughter and joy they find in our youth meetings.  We hold activities that are for the sole purpose of having clean fun and great fellowship.  But that’s the easy stuff.  You should see my teens knock doors.  You should hear them sing.  You should watch them help a church planter in the Los Angeles area or a missionary out in the Alaskan “bush”.  You should write down their thoughtful outlines as they preach.  They’re pretty awesome.

Because they serve.

All-American BBQ

This is just semantics, I know, but when I speak of barbeque, I’m speaking a language foreign to most Californians.  Growing up, BBQ was slapping some burgers, dogs (as in frankfurters, not Border Collies, as my Filipino heritage might suggest) or even steaks on a gas grill.  Don’t get me wrong, one can cook up some mighty tasty grub on a gas grill.  But think about it for a moment.  How is a gas grill any different than your oven?  It is just a broiler turned upside down (or right side up, depending on your perspective).  I have yet to hear of anyone raving about that fragrant propane flavor.  It’s the smoke from heavenly hardwood that is the heart beat of All-American BBQ!  The humble ranch hands of yesterday’s legendary cattle drives turning a cheap hunk of meat into something succulent over some desert mesquite.  I remember my first experience with true wood smoked BBQ.  It was as if my eyes were opened to a whole new world of truth (almost like getting saved!).  Silly, I know, but we really are talking about two different worlds here:  1) ribs boiled in a pot of water then slathered with sauce and charred on a gas grill; 2) ribs gently smoked in a wood pit for 6-7 hours.  And what shall I more say?  For the time would fail me to tell of brisket, pork butt, tri-tip… (my BBQ ode to Hebrews 11)

Oh, sure, I enjoy a nice, juicy burger and a kosher all-beef dog as much as the next guy (probably more, actually).  But I loves me some BBQ!  Just wanted to get the semantics out of the way so you can understand where I’m coming from.

THIS WILL BE DIFFERENT…

 

Friends, acquaintances, loved ones, strangers and enemies… welcome to my world!  I invite you to follow two of my passions: barbeque and youth ministry!  Hence, the name.  I do hope my random ramblings will be a help to you–in your ministry, walk with God or even at the grill!  More than likely I’ll just have to pepper in some of my right-wing conservative views about politics (and the way things should be), and, of course, my fanatical following of your 2007 AFC West Champions, the San Diego Super Chargers!  But mostly, come here for Devotional thoughts, Lighthouse Teen Ministry happenings, and BBQ recipes, tips, and restaurant reviews.  What a smorgasborg of stuff, eh?

Yeah, this will be different.