God and Nature 2025 #1
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Food for the Soul 3
By Kristine Johnson
Bible scholar John Walton says, “God made us more than he made us from” (1). A home-cooked meal shared by family or friends is like that too: it is more than the sum of the ingredients. Something remarkable occurs when we meet together for food and fellowship.
For birthdays, holidays, and significant events, we have special food. I usually ask the person being honored what food they desire. Making a special meal can be one way to communicate appreciation, care, and love. Even if you don’t like to cook, there are other ways to participate in making meals a time of connection, such as helping with the dishes or cleanup. What feelings or memories are evoked when you think about a meal with friends or family?
By Kristine Johnson
Bible scholar John Walton says, “God made us more than he made us from” (1). A home-cooked meal shared by family or friends is like that too: it is more than the sum of the ingredients. Something remarkable occurs when we meet together for food and fellowship.
For birthdays, holidays, and significant events, we have special food. I usually ask the person being honored what food they desire. Making a special meal can be one way to communicate appreciation, care, and love. Even if you don’t like to cook, there are other ways to participate in making meals a time of connection, such as helping with the dishes or cleanup. What feelings or memories are evoked when you think about a meal with friends or family?
Our small Bible study group begins each lesson with a potluck and prayer. A couple of the members of our group have dietary restrictions, including gluten-free and lactose-free diets. It’s important to me to prepare food so they feel welcome and are able to eat with the group. I believe it brings closeness and improves the discussion. One of the main dishes that everyone can enjoy and eat is Hamburger-Rice Hotdish.
How can you use food as a tool of ministry, to build up friends and family, and to bring about flourishing?
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved (Acts 2:42-47, NIV).
Beef: Hamburger Rice Casserole
Serves 6
1 cup jasmine rice, rinsed
1 pound extra lean ground beef
½ cup onion, finely diced
2 cups celery, sliced
10¾-ounce can cream of mushroom soup
8 ounces baby bella mushrooms, diced
⅓ cup soy sauce
10¾ ounces water
2 tablespoons cashews, optional
Pour 2½ cups of boiling water over rice and let stand while you do the next steps. Sauté celery, mushrooms, and onion in 2 tablespoons of water until they are just starting to get tender. Add ground beef, breaking it up into small pieces as it browns. Drain the rice, mix the remaining ingredients except cashews together, and transfer to a covered casserole dish. Preheat oven to 350° and bake for 1 hour. Top with cashews.
Note: for an allergy-friendly version, be sure to use gluten-free soy sauce and gluten-free soup.
Reference
(1) https://youtu.be/JwvFR3uPBM8?si=7Pz4nB7WJ_yxeL0Q
Kristine Johnson is a Senior Advanced Systems Engineer at Honeywell Aerospace Technologies leading various systems, qualification testing, and hardware teams on several commercial aviation products. Kristine is a Fellow of the American Scientific Affiliation (ASA), President of the North Star Chapter of the ASA, and oversees the Christian Women in Science (CWiS) Facebook page. She is on the Industry Advisory Board for the University of Northwestern’s Engineering program, and she is Vice President of the Christian Engineering Society. She is a member of the Society of Women Engineers and is also a professional face painter.
How can you use food as a tool of ministry, to build up friends and family, and to bring about flourishing?
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved (Acts 2:42-47, NIV).
Beef: Hamburger Rice Casserole
Serves 6
1 cup jasmine rice, rinsed
1 pound extra lean ground beef
½ cup onion, finely diced
2 cups celery, sliced
10¾-ounce can cream of mushroom soup
8 ounces baby bella mushrooms, diced
⅓ cup soy sauce
10¾ ounces water
2 tablespoons cashews, optional
Pour 2½ cups of boiling water over rice and let stand while you do the next steps. Sauté celery, mushrooms, and onion in 2 tablespoons of water until they are just starting to get tender. Add ground beef, breaking it up into small pieces as it browns. Drain the rice, mix the remaining ingredients except cashews together, and transfer to a covered casserole dish. Preheat oven to 350° and bake for 1 hour. Top with cashews.
Note: for an allergy-friendly version, be sure to use gluten-free soy sauce and gluten-free soup.
Reference
(1) https://youtu.be/JwvFR3uPBM8?si=7Pz4nB7WJ_yxeL0Q
Kristine Johnson is a Senior Advanced Systems Engineer at Honeywell Aerospace Technologies leading various systems, qualification testing, and hardware teams on several commercial aviation products. Kristine is a Fellow of the American Scientific Affiliation (ASA), President of the North Star Chapter of the ASA, and oversees the Christian Women in Science (CWiS) Facebook page. She is on the Industry Advisory Board for the University of Northwestern’s Engineering program, and she is Vice President of the Christian Engineering Society. She is a member of the Society of Women Engineers and is also a professional face painter.