Cheesesteak at the Philly Film Festival

My girlfriend and I will be attending the following film this weekend.  It promises to be an exceptionally informative and delicious evening.  Please read below, and check out the show if you can.  I am glad that the movie industry is prophesying about cheesesteak, although some might call this a minor abomination of desolation, what with all the calories you receive from such a tasty treat.

Catch this collection of three short films celebrating our collective obsessions: Rocky and cheesesteaks! — Scott Johnston

This Program includes the short(s):

Rocky Jumped a Park Bench
( USA, 2008, 20 min , Matthew Von Manahan, James Rolfe )

The never-ending franchise has created its own myths in this city, and with tongue set firmly in cheek this short doc dares to find the truth by visiting the one true neighborhood of Rocky — every “one true neighborhood” of Rocky. Even if Rocky is fictitious, his mythology is not.

Frankie13 vs the World
( USA, 2007, 25 min , James Eowan, Douglas Shaffer )

Like his hero Rocky, Frankie13 is a man with a dream, only his sport is far more dangerous: Rock Paper Scissors! Franki devotes his time to being the best at his chosen sport. With an upcoming Philly regional competition looming, he prepares to dominate the field and perhaps get to the international competition in Canada.

This Is My Cheesesteak
( USA, 2008, 40 min , Ben Daniels )

In this town, fist-fights have erupted, friendships have been destroyed and families have been brought together over their chosen steak. While this film covers the sandwich’s rise to glory, the focus here is on Philly’s cheesesteak elite, from the lovable Tony Luke Jr. to the controversial icon, Joey Vento, and every major player in between. The result is a portrait of this city’s devotion and a terrific documentary for viewers wit’ or wit’out a love of steaks.

Eye of the Tiger, Thrill of the Fight (Trailer)

Partially shot on the familiar steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, this upcoming feature dramatizes a locally-set reality TV series that leaves several people dead. This preview will whet your appetite.

Cheesesteak Challenge: A Scriptural Defense

Several of us from the Philly area went out yonder (6 hours yonder) to near the Ohio state line in order to join with 6 other Houses Of Prayer in PA. Special thanks to Dennis and Ralph at the Altar HOP in Meadville for pulling off something unpredented in recent history around here.

We had ourselves a blast, what with all our declarations, proclamations, and other utterances. At one point our generous team even had an altar call of sorts for anyone who would like to try to beat the living tar out of the timpani in the front and obliterate the worship band’s rhythmic cohesion in the process.

Yet at one point in the weekend, my disciples came unto me saying something like, “why dost thou offerest the cheesesteak challenge, whilst Jamie’s disciples fast?” And verily I did speak, saying the same:

Did not our Lord speak, saying that we shouldst use our mammon to make ourselves friends amongst the heathen? So that they might find the truth and have eternal rewards?

And should I not use my resources to recognize and reward those, yea those even in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, who do not cease to pray night and day for the harvest?

And is not the Cheesesteak a principality over our city? And are not those who partake of its gluttonies in need of deeper soul food? Are not its proprietors and workers themselves members of an Unreached People Group?

Yet I was somewhat reviled at first, until I was able to find said passage in Luke 16:9.

I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.

Now, it DID take me a few minutes to find the scripture, without being distracted by taunts and false lifelines (“maybe it’s in Hezekiah 2:14!” “have you tried Isaiah 67?”) but in the end the scripture was proclaimed, and my detractors were silenced.

And then we all discovered the local Steak & Shake, which almost none of us had ever seen before.

The Challenge is ON!

This is it!

First 3 KC IHOP commenters win free food at the location of your choice! The winning vote gets it.

This is for lunch on Monday the 28th, hours before the beginning of the fast.

Options already suggested include Waldo, Jack Stack, some juice place, or another place that strikes your fancy.

Just a way of saying “thank you” for all you intercessors. Who’s in?

Automatic Winners… Stay Tuned!

I realize I’m stringing you along here on the Challenge…  The Culinary Challenge  is imminent… but not today!

At this time I would like to announce a few honorary winners –

Shoutout to the following people –

Shawn Blanc of FTSA – Thanks for pulling my name in your contest!

Molly Mosack of Macaroni & Cheese  – For the Cleveland connection awhile back…

Randy Bohlender of Stuff I Think – For returning to the bloggosphere… and fearlessly ministering to the Burning Man.

Ed Hackett – For being so cool and showing me around last time I was in town.

Gregg Stone – For being similarly cool and showing me around last time I was in town.

Andy Cominsky – Haven’t met you yet, but would love to pick your brain about how to minister to the alternative community in Philadelphia.

Each of the previously named people have an open invitation for lunch, coffee, juice bar etc… if you have a spouse they are automatically in on the deal if you want. Priority for Sunday lunch & dinner given to commenters!

Hint: There is a certain burrito spot that I have missed since I left Cleveland…

30 Days to IHOP / Joseph Company

[NOTE – this post has been updated HERE]

Well I finally have a bit of time on my hands and am putting the perks of being an independent consultant in front of me. I’m headed to the next Joseph Company retreat at the end of May in Kansas City. Gonna get some prayer, impartation, motivation, consecration, integration, habitation, manifestation, and other things ending in -tion.

2nd Time Around

It has been 5 years since I have visited the IHOP and back then it was very different. I recall sleeping intermittently through the nightwatch until the “warring in the spirit” was so intense that I had to get up and shokle in my chair for another 20 minutes! They had all manner of comfy cushions and pillows on the perimeter of the room which was ideal for my 36 hour trip down there.

What I did in the ’02 Trip

I stayed in the prayer room and plugged in the whole time except for a tour of the Shiloh property that my friend Gregg gave me. Another highlight was former Clevelander Ed allowing me to sit in on a prayer team prep meeting before their slot. Since I was helping to build the Cleveland HOP at the time I really appreciated that opportunity to see how a team would prepare for ministry.

One Bummer

One thing that was not really a highlight was that I was wanting to just plain talk to people and ask various questions. I understood that plenty of people just show up and leave from out of town all the time so that could be tiresome, but there was another factor: Soon after my arrival I read a posted announcement regarding “40 days of glorious fasting in the grace of God”. This was not really about fasting from food as much as other things I had never heard of one fasting from: unnecessary staff meetings, unnecessary conversations, legitimate forms of recreation, and oxygen… well maybe not oxygen. So as a result I did not find people to be too talkative which was a minor bummer!

What I Learned

Basically I learned that every prayer room has the same basic dynamics and frustrations… overzealous visitors, people hogging the mic too long, unauthorized transient visitors, to name just a couple. It was refreshing. Plus, this was a suburban IHOP a few miles from the city line, and there were the same sorts of challenges as having a prayer room in the city.

The Cheesesteak Challenge… in KC?

I’m due to come down there in late May, and for any readers in the area I am contemplating holding a local challenge, NOT of the cheesesteak variety, but one involving free food at a popular local eatery that does not exist in Philly… so stay tuned!

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