The thoughts of a newly married, recently graduated, christ-seeking, pastor-to-be

Thursdays are for theology

⊆ 8:04 AM by Zach Tanksley | ˜ Comments

I said this today in a conversation with Rich Kirkpatrick and it felt good. It was in response to people trying to interpret the bible from their perspective rather than trying to understand God's. So I will leave it and hopefully some of you will say something back.

"The minute you bring it [the gospel] into our perspective and why we matter you start shaving the gospel from the inside out"

Bon Apetité

Zach

 

Yes Chef!

⊆ 10:00 PM by Zach Tanksley | ˜ Comments

These words now come as easily and familiarly to me as a "Yes Drill Sergeant" comes to a newly admitted soldier. It is not a yes...chef... it is crisp, it is clean, it is enthusiastic, but not overbearing... it is Yes Chef!

There is something distinctly pleasureful about working in a place where people are passionate. My Chef is passionate about his food, even passionate about his Front of House service. He helps gives us direction and streamlines the flow for us when we hit bumps, heck the guy is ready to jump in and clean the bathrooms if need be. I have seen him polish silverware, wash his hands, and go butcher a halibut into filets, then go and make sure the dish room is prepped.

So when I see my chef go from cooking to cleaning, to helping every side of the restaurant out, and go shake a few hands , I know I am working somewhere amazing.

 

Nothing New... But I still like it

⊆ 8:30 AM by Zach Tanksley | ˜ Comments

The other day I sat at Lunch with my mentor, Rich, and as we sat there and chatted, a startling revelation of the salvation message struck me. It may have been said before, I could be saying nothing new, but as far as I know, it is new to me, and I love it.

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The First Family, not those in the White House, but I mean really, the very first, were Adam, Eve, and God. God's house, his children living with him. It was called Eden, and it was perfect.

Then this sad little bout of rebellion happened, a tossing aside of the Father's gift, and ultimately, because he was being true to his word, he had to kick those kids out, they were tainted with sin now, and sin only corrupts...

The kids understand what happened but they have to move far away from perfection, it is guarded away from them. And as time rolls by, their kids don't get to know about perfection or if they do their parents can't take them back to their Father's home.

Generations roll by, still no one even knows how to get to Eden, it is a lost cause. Eventually kids move so far away that they forget that Eden even exists. The Father wants people living with him, but alas the sin corruption destroys memories of perfection.

Then finally the Father becomes fed up with sin, with no-one coming home and sends out his Son, who delivers the message that the Father wants people back home, he has feasts prepared and many rooms. HE WANTS US TO COME AND LIVE AND DINE WITH HIM!!!!

People are confused, where was this Father before? Why have they had to live drudging up the earth for a radish when a steak lies waiting for them? Because their forefathers separated them, but God has always wanted them! This is exciting! Their is something better to come!

********

I love the concept that God has always wanted us there. It is true, and it amazes me that so many do not want to partake in their heritage. Perhaps this thought needs to be refined, perhaps not. This is a few days after I came up with it, I will try and remember more.

 

Blue Like Jazz to the Silver Screen?

⊆ 11:45 AM by Zach Tanksley | ˜ Comments

I just happened to be cruising over Don Miller's Website when I found out that he is turning Blue Like Jazz into a movie. I cannot tell you how encouraging it is to know that he even feels that the movie will be better than the book. I loved the book, and I hope to love the movie too!
Your Thoughts?

 

So I Got the Job!

⊆ 11:42 PM by Zach Tanksley | ˜ Comments

Alright folks, God is Good.... . And All the Time... . I got the job at Moonstone Bistro. And all I can say is... WOW. No not World of Warcraft (WoW) but rather WICKED OUTSTANDING WONDERFUL restaurant. This place knocks my socks off. I am at the forefront of something amazing in Redding. I am part of a restaurant that will leave foodies with satisfied palates, and everybody with the long wonderful aftertaste of amazing service. This restaurant is like a little Napa Valley in the middle of well Redding.


The Restaurant is off of Placer and Buenaventura in Redding, next to the Starbucks in the Holiday Market parking lot. Come see us next week for your chance to eat amazing food and partake in a true dining experience.

This serves to verify a couple things... 1) Good things do come to Redding; 2) That there are people in Redding who are willing to pay good money for good food and good service.

I have been trying to learn as much as possible from menu items to who my coworkers are. So here is a little breakdown of the restaurant and who works there. Serving Staff today. And the Chef.

Che: Picture an equally intense, but nicer version of Gordon Ramsey from FOX's Hell's Kitchen. This guy is passionate about his food, but he treats his cooks with respect but does not forget to push them to perfection. He makes "food that ROCKS!" His words not mine. His signature dish? The Perfect Chocolate Souffle with Bailey's Anglaise. Try it, it's worthwhile.

Tanya: This is Che's wife and my boss. She is smart, sassy, and savvy when it comes to running a restaurant. I expect that the restaurant will flourish as much under her management and human resource skills as Che's cooking.

Manny: This guy is ridiculous. I have labeled him the Moses of the Food Service industry. He knows food service like the back of his hand and is way better and more experienced than anything else Redding has ever seen. He is my waitering mentor, I already look up to this guy.

Zarrin: Tall, Fiery, Red Head, need I say more? This culinary trained lady is one of the foodies of our serving team. A mother of one she has taken up serving instead of cooking so she can give more time to her kid, big props for that!

Ashley: We actually go way back, she is the child of a Christian Family who live in Nepal most of the time being veterinarians, we went to college together, and didn't realize we would be working together till pretty much the last second. She is smart and sassy and will be another fireball on our team.

Sheena: This lil lady is one of the other experienced servers we have, She can make a martini, turn around and present a bottle of wine, then run a bunch of plates out before taking her next breath. We worked together 5 years ago at Red Robin and now are back again as a team. Woot!

There are other members of the serving team, Robert, Evienthia, Rashelle, Renee but I just haven't gotten to learn much about them yet or see them in action. But all in all I think this is gonna be one heck of a restaurant with one heck of a team!

Eat it up!

Zach