Hamburgers

Summer solstice! Today is longest day of the year and in the Northern Hemisphere that means the sun is at its farthest northern position. But what that really means to my husband and me is that grilling season is underway. We love to grill out, especially hamburgers. Aren't we original?

Think about the best hamburger you've ever eaten. Not too well done but not rare either. Juicy but not bleeding. Maybe a third pound of lean ground beef. Maybe even Laura's brand. Or maybe your ground beef is simply generic. Then add a thinly sliced Vidalia onion or two, a fresh vine-grown tomato, and lots of dill pickles. A dab of Hellman's mayonnaise and VOILA! Truly a summer solstice treat. But hey, I'm not Paula Dean nor is this a cooking blog.

Instead our focus is primarily on one of the most prolific biblical writers --the apostle Paul. His letters comprise almost half of the New Testament. Strangely their structure reminds me of hamburgers. The meat is always in the middle, often with some juice oozing out. The letter to the church at Colosse, better known as Colossians, begins with a "top bun"layer--a simple greeting followed by appreciation and prayer. Then the first bite exalts Christ's supremacy while the middle digests how our freedom in Christ carries responsibilities for holy living. Because Paul began very personally in this letter, he ends that same way with specific names and instructions, hence the bottom bun.

Structure works for hamburgers as well as good writing. Paul may be grimacing right now at my analogy, but he'd like the taste of communication that is both personal and widely applicable.

Athens or Bust!

I'm closing in on 60 and have never been on a cruise. Most of my friends rave about circling Alaska, the Bahamas, and even the Panama Canal. Claustrophobic, I'm not one to enjoy confinement even if a boatload of food and sunshine is part of the deal. Instead give me never-ending beaches, mountains, even deserts! But if you suggested a Mediterranean cruise retracing Paul's missionary visits, you'd have my attention.

Greece, Rome, and even the Republic of Macedonia entice me more than any Caribbean beach. To walk where the apostle Paul greeted fellow Christians and taught Gentiles would be an honor. In my imagination I would see the crowds listening, enthralled with Paul's knowledge, convicted by his passion.

Paul always knew his audience, a vital component of writing and speaking. In fact, I was taught the first rule of solid communication is to know your audience and then define your purpose. Clearly as writers, we need to understand our readers--what they already know and what they need to know.  In the secular, we create and market the brand. As Christian writers, we deliver God's message.

Follow me to Acts 17. There in Athens, Greece, Paul observed well. He saw the idols. He couldn't miss them because archaeologists' estimates hover around 30,000. He knew the Jews who lived there. He knew the God-fearing Greeks (17:17).  He read their literature. He listened to their discussions. He addressed them with personal knowledge, leading to a personal connection, and ultimately their personal conviction.

"Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: To An Unknown God. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you" Acts 17:22-23, NIV.

Paul observed. He studied. He connected. And most importantly he communicated the Gospel of Jesus Christ to an audience who was ready to listen. As Christians, let's do the same.

Joyce

Please visit this site to see photos of ancient Athens.

Ancient Athens