The Divine Recipe

 Fast From “Me,” Feast on “God”

The Process of Becoming “Kimchi”

(Scripture: Luke 5:1-11)

03/01/26

<The Kitchen: My Unexpected Sanctuary>

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, let me ask you: Do you enjoy cooking?

Lately, my life seems to have moved entirely into the kitchen. Between feeding my family of seven and leading cooking classes in Houlton and Patten last week, I have been surrounded by ingredients. It has been an absolute joy. In those classes, I shared a secret I discovered: we can see God’s nature even in the simplest pantry items. For instance, just as a potato is packed with natural starch to bind things together, we have Jesus as our "spiritual starch." (I did apologize to God later for comparing His infinite glory to a bag of potato starch, but I believe He smiled at the metaphor!)

Last Wednesday, during our Lenten Luncheon, I shared a message about Dongchimi—a traditional Korean radish kimchi. After the service, my daughter Yeshin asked, “Mom, why do you always talk about food when you preach?”

She was right. My sermons are full of recipes. I told her, “Honey, some pastors find God in thick libraries, and others in mountain retreats. But for your Mom? God speaks to me while I’m chopping onions and flipping pancakes.” I never imagined my life would be like this. Before marriage, I hadn’t cooked a proper meal in my life. Yet here I am, using the fermentation of cabbage as a metaphor for the Christian journey. Welcome to my kitchen! Today, I invite you to explore the "Recipe for Life" known as Kimchi.

 

< The Art of Fermentation: Letting Go to Become New>

Kimchi is the soul of Korea, with hundreds of varieties made from Napa cabbage, radishes, or cucumbers. Today, Kimchi is a global phenomenon, celebrated not just for its spice but for the miracle of fermentation.

Fermentation is a process where a vegetable meets a transformative element—salt—and undergoes a radical change over time.

• A Probiotic Powerhouse: Fermentation develops billions of "good bacteria". This makes Kimchi a superhero for your immune system and digestion.
• Nutritional Enhancement: It is rich in vitamins A, B, and C. Fermentation actually increases the bioavailability of these nutrients, making them easier for us to absorb.
• The Softening: A raw Napa cabbage is stiff, bitter, and hard to digest. But when it meets the salt, it "dies" to its stiffness. It wilts. It loses its rigid strength. Only then can the seasoning penetrate its core. After "resting" in the dark, that plain vegetable is reborn as a masterpiece that heals the body.

This is exactly what happens when we meet Jesus. To become "Spiritual Kimchi," we must let the salt of the Gospel soften our rigid, "stiff-necked" hearts.

 

< Spiritual Kimchi in Peter’s life>  

We see this "fermentation process" clearly in the life of Peter.

Imagine Peter on the shores of Galilee. As a professional fisherman, he knew those waters perfectly. But that morning, he was a defeated man. He had been out all night—the best time for fishing—and caught absolutely nothing. Think of the weight on his shoulders: taxes to pay, a family to feed, and the embarrassment of empty nets. He was exhausted and just wanted to wash his nets and sleep.

Then, Jesus shows up with a noisy crowd. Peter is tired, yet Jesus asks to borrow his boat as a pulpit. Peter sighs but agrees. While Peter scrubs seaweed off his nets, he hears Jesus’ voice. Perhaps he was only half-listening, his mind drifting toward his financial fears. But after the sermon, Jesus says something illogical: “Push out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.”

Can you imagine Peter’s reaction? It’s like I just finished a mountain of dishes, and my kids say, “Mom, let me start a giant, messy baking project!” Or I finally brushed Hannah’s teeth, but she said “'Uppssey, Mom... I accidentally ate a chocolate.' I need to brush her teeth again.

Peter likely thought, "Master, I’m the professional here. The fish aren't biting." But something about Jesus made him pause. He replied, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and caught nothing... but because you say so, I will let down the nets.”

When he obeyed, the miracle happened. The catch was so massive the nets began to tear! He had to call James and John for help. They filled two boats until they began to sink. At that moment, Peter didn't think about profit. He was overwhelmed by the Omnipotence of the Man in his boat.

  

< The Small Cabbage Meets the Great Salt >

Peter fell at Jesus’ knees and cried, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” Why? Because when we encounter the "Infinite God," we realize how "finite" we are. In the light of His holiness, Peter saw his own stiffness—his pride, temper, and lack of faith. He realized he was just a bitter, raw cabbage in the presence of the Great Salt.

But Jesus didn’t leave him. He leaned in and said, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” It sounds to me like: "Don't worry, Peter. You are stiff now, but I’m going to ferment you into something beautiful." Peter didn't stay to sell the fish. He abandoned the biggest catch of his life and followed Jesus. He committed to the fermentation process of discipleship.

Fermentation isn't easy. We see Peter struggling later—sometimes a "Rock" of faith, other times "Satan" for trying to stop Jesus. He even denied Jesus three times. When I make Kimchi, some cabbage pieces resist the salt and stay stiff. I have to wait longer for them to soften. God did the same for Peter. He waited until Peter’s pride "wilted," and eventually, Peter became a perfectly seasoned servant of God.

 

<Who is Really in Charge? >

I realize now that my biggest struggle is that same "stiffness" of pride. I often act as if I am the Head Chef of my life and my ministry. But recently, God used my daughter Hannah to show me who is really in charge.

While we were making Dongchimi, Hannah wanted to "help." In my mind, I was the one with the recipe and the plan. Hannah just followed instructions—and occasionally made a messy "accident" I had to fix. When we shared the Kimchi later, Hannah said with total confidence, “I made this!” Then she whispered, “...with Mommy.”

God used that tiny whisper to convict my heart. You see, I had told my mentor, “I’m so worried I might ruin God’s work in this church.” She smiled and said, “I know you’re capable, but you aren't powerful enough to ruin what the Almighty God has already set in motion.” That was my "aha" moment. I realized I was stressed because I thought I was the Chef responsible for the whole batch. But I’m not. Our only job is to be like that cabbage—letting ourselves be seasoned and softened by the Salt. And our only role in the Kingdom is to be like Hannah—the little helper who gets to say "I did this... with my Father." As J.B. Phillips wrote in Your God is Too Small, we often try to shrink the Infinite God into our tiny containers. We act like we are the "producers" of the fruit, when we are just toddlers in God’s kitchen. God doesn't invite us to serve because He is lacking something; He invites us simply because He loves our company.

 

An Invitation to the Feast

This Lent, I invite you to Fast from “Me” and Feast on “God.”  Fast from the anxiety that says you must carry the world. Feast on the sovereignty of a God who is Omnipresent (always with you), Omniscient (knows your needs), and omnipotent (can do all things).

Last week, I tasted Doris’s kimchi—it was beautifully fermented, with that sharp, lively "zing" that only comes with surrender. Next week, we will hear her testimony. I also saw a man say with joy because he had never read the Gospels so deeply before. That is the "fermentation" of the soul!

To be a disciple is to let our "raw" self die so the Holy Spirit can bring out a new flavor. Don't be afraid to wilt under the "salt" of life's trials. God is simply making Kimchi out of us.

Reinhold Niebuhr, the theologian, wrote the famous Serenity Prayer during the dark days of World War II. He knew peace comes from surrendering our will to God's. Let us close by offering this prayer, fasting from our control, and feasting on His grace.

 

Reinhold Niebuhr’s Prayer

God, give us grace

To accept with serenity the things that cannot be changed,

Courage to change the things which should be changed,

And the wisdom to distinguish the one from the other.

Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will.

Amen.