Iceberg Lettuce Wedge Salad with Blue Cheese

"If you judge people, you have no time to love them." 
Mother Teresa

Food for the Palate

Ingredients:

1 head of iceberg lettuce

1/4 pound of bacon, cooked and crumbed

1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved

1 cup blue cheese, chunks

Fresh ground black pepper

Blue cheese dressing

Croutons, topping

Instructions:

Wash lettuce. Slice into quarters. Make sure to dry the lettuce. Put on plate and add all of the toppings, leaving the dressing and blue cheese for last. Once the lettuce is dressed, top with your favorite choice of croutons. Super easy, delicious and Tasty to the Palate!

Food for the Soul

There is nothing like a crisp, cold, fresh head of lettuce made into a delicious pungent, salty and tasty salad! Well, unless you don't like blue cheese that is. Bold and sharp, blue cheese adds an extra kick to a variety of dishes. This notable cheese also delivers many health benefits.

Blue cheese can be part of a healthy diet, but you must keep in mind that it’s still high in salt and saturated fat, so eat it in moderation. It is also recommended that people with an allergy to penicillin eat it with caution or play it safe and avoid it all together. The dictionary defines the verb ‘avoid’ as “To keep away from or stop oneself from doing something.”

There are over 50 Bible verses that have the actual word ‘avoid’ in them.  But Jesus Himself, spoke of only few things to avoid. And one of them that He repeatedly warned His followers to avoid was being judgmental. We often mistakenly assume that if we don’t judge someone's behavior then it is a form of accepting, condoning and even affirming sin. But judgment from Christians doesn’t determine whether a particular belief, action or lifestyle is either wrong or right in the eyes of God. Only God’s Word can tell right from wrong. James 4:12 says; “There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you-who are you to judge your neighbor?” In other words, “We need to stop playing God!"

There are also just about as many Scriptures about hypocrisy. This too is one area where we as Christians seem to have a problem avoiding. Too many Christians talk about Christ’s love without actually being loving. Meanwhile, the rest of world witnesses this obvious contradiction and simply stops listening to us. Matthew 7:5 says; “You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.” In other words; “We need to practice what we preach and walk our talk.” 

The problem with being judgmental and hypocritical is often caused quite simply by being closed-minded and prideful. We jump to judgement without getting all the facts. We forget that we are all broken and apart from Christ we can’t know God’s Truth.  “Their minds were not able to understand. Even to this day when the Law is read, there is a covering over their minds. They do not see that Christ is the only One Who can take the covering away.” 2 Corinthians 3:14 In other words,  "We need to be reminded that we wouldn’t be offended if a blind person stepped on our toes. So why should we be offended by a unbeliever’s actions?"

If we avoid being judgmental, hypocritical and close-minded, and if we can just stop, look and listen to others, we will discover that it is easier to love them and it opens the door for God to use us to bring others into His Kingdom. There is nothing better than that! And just maybe unbelievers will stop avoiding us too!  Satisfying to the Soul!