I have had this one thought come back to me over and over again this week.

Christianity without God is insanity.

Why would a God who can create everything from nothing bother with a people as broken and disobedient as those in the church? Why wouldn’t He just start over? Look at the heavens and see what He made. Ponder the expanse, the sheer size of His capabilities. Why would He humble himself and join people on earth? Why would He let them kill Him? Why would He even create us, knowing that this would happen?

It does not make sense.

God’s thoughts are not my thoughts.

Thank God for that.

But I go to church every Sunday, and the pews or chairs are in such neat little rows, and the service is so structured. The worship, the offering, the teaching, the prayers… It all seems so conventional, so weekly, so ordinary.* And these pews are so densely scattered throughout America that it’s easy to go out to the world and expect the world to accept you, the Christian, as normal. But why would America accept any rules or person from a God they do not know?

But God gives anyone the opportunity to know Him. Isn’t that strange? Isn’t that a privilege? He gave us this rich, living, active book that tells us everything we need to know about Him. Pondering the magnitude of creation again… Thinking that the creator of all gives you the opportunity to know Him, even partially, even for a moment… It’s craziness. It’s illogical, nonsensical, ridiculous. Who am I, that I should know THAT being? It’s self-aggrandizing to believe that the creator of the universe shares part of Himself with me. Further, He invites me to ask Him for things. He wants me to be in relationship with Him?

How can I take that for granted? God forbid I spurn the opportunity to know Him.

*This conventional, weekly, ordinary ritual is the one that God ordained as the way to save people. Another thing that does not make sense to me, but because the Almighty outlined it, it really doesn’t matter what I think. He uses it to reach people, and we get to be a part of it. Another privilege that should not be taken lightly.

---

Flatbread Pizza

Ingredients

For the Chicken

1.5 Pounds of Chicken (I used thighs)

Zest and Juice of 3 Limes

1/4 Cup of Olive Oil

2 Garlic Cloves, Minced

1/2  Teaspoon Cumin

1/2 Teaspoon Onion Powder

1/2 Teaspoon Chipotle Powder

1/2 Teaspoon Salt

1/2 Teaspoon Ground Pepper

1/4 cup Cilantro, Chopped

1-2 Tablespoons Adobo Sauce (from a can of chipotle peppers in adobo sauce)

For the Sauce

1/4 Cup Plain Yogurt or Sour Cream

1/4 Cup Mayo

1 Tablespoon of Chipotle Peppers in Adobo Sauce

1/4 Teaspoon Cumin

1/4 Teaspoon Salt

1/4 Teaspoon Pepper

For the Final Assemblage

1-2 Cups Shredded Cheese

2 Mangoes, Diced

2 Avocados, Diced

2 Jalapenos, Sliced

1 Red Onion, Diced

1 Pint of Cherry Tomatoes (Not Pictured), Quartered

1/2 Cup of Cilantro

Chicken (Above)

Sauce (Above)

4 Flatbreads (I used Olga Bread)

Method

Put all the chicken ingredients in a gallon ziplock bag or large bowl and marinate overnight, or for at least two hours.

Grill the chicken.

Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 400 Degrees.

Put all the sauce ingredients in the blender, blend, set aside.

Put the flatbread on baking sheets.

Dividing evenly between flatbreads, top with cheese, chicken, roasted jalapenos, red onion, mango and tomatoes.

Bake for 8-12 minutes or until cheese is melty, and the pizza is heated through.

Remove from oven and top with avocado, cilantro and chipotle sauce.

---

Recipe discovered on The Wicked Noodle.