Leaving services, I anxiously awaited opening my beautiful new Church cookbook, the labor of love for the Good Works Program. I didn't realize it would also be immeasurably full of food for thought.

Within only a few page turns, contributions appeared from a sister in Canada, then El Salvador, Zambia, South Africa and Australia. Having met some of these contributors by living in and traveling to these far away places, I was reminded of the apostle Paul's statement: "The body is not one member but many" (1 Corinthians 12:14).

Attempting these new recipes will help me to remember my international family since we have been baptized into one body and we all drink one Spirit (verse 13). Mixing these contributions with a heaping measure of reflective effort will insure learning the lesson to remember all those who make up our household of faith.

Revealed within several pages are the creative traditions that families have developed for preserving God's precious Sabbath and Holy Days. How invigorating to be part of such an enthusiastic group committed to taking God's directives of Deuteronomy 6 seriously. This conviction encourages everyone to learn the lesson that we must work hard to continue to build a strong legacy for our Church family's heritage.

On a much lighter note, the cookbook reveals that we love chocolate but we don't care much for fish!

Even with editing, mistakes happen. While they can be annoying, who among us hasn't made them? It only takes a moment of self-evaluation to put this into perspective. Printing mistakes can also give us an opportunity to laugh at ourselves. Enjoy them! Then reflect upon how life's intense daily pressures nullify our sense of humor. It's healthy to laugh—not at others and their misfortunes—but at ourselves and our frequent human failings. Laughter's benefit can't be measured in tablespoons, ounces or any metric equivalent, but it is vital to the recipe of life.

Another lesson from the cookbook is to reflect upon those who have died in the faith. The kindness, generosity and thoughtfulness of those who submitted recipes in someone's memory are among the signs of love within the Body (John 13:35).

Regrettably, I neglected to submit Flornia's "Beef and Green Bean Casserole" and "Peanut Butter Pie" that 15 years ago charmed my [then] teenaged son. With each preparation of her recipes, I celebrate the memory of her loving commitment to our local congregation.

Preparing these recipes gives us opportunity to reflect upon those who have touched our lives. Our cookbook reminds us that, "It is not how many years we live, but what we do with them." What a wonderful way to toast the gallery of the faithful who have gone before us.

Suggestions

Hoping to apply these lessons, I've resolved to do something more than cooking. Will you join me?

• When choosing a recipe from the cookbook, take a minute to offer a prayer to God for the person who submitted the recipe. Thank Him for that brother or sister in the faith and ask Him to surround him or her with His loving kindness.
• Pray for the success of the Good Works Program, that God will bless its effectiveness. Be thankful that you had a part in helping someone less fortunate.
• With the preparation of each recipe, be thankful that we live with abundant blessings and that we have the options of good food and clean water for our meals.
• Be thankful for God's faithfulness to us. Remember that the Kingdom we seek is not one of food and drink, but of righteousness, peace and joy (Romans 14:17). It is our Father's good pleasure to give this to us (Luke 12:32) and to satisfy us with His goodness (Jeremiah 31:14).

All cookbook contributors—whether men or women, whether local or international—are heirs together in this wonderful calling. We are bound together, stirring one another to good works. Seasoned by God's grace, we learn to serve Him with reverence and fear (Hebrews 12:28).

Needing His sustenance, we share spiritual meals with Him and with one another in attitudes of sincerity and service. "Cooking" together, convinced of the ultimate meal—the marriage supper with the Lamb—and committed to its preparation, we become the result of a well-constructed recipe within the pages of the cookbook. Flavors blending, with aromas like bowls of incense, we are sweetness to God. What can be more satisfying to the people of God than knowing we have pleased Him?

It's amazing what you can learn from a cookbook, isn't it? Bon appétit! UN