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.

Cheesesteak Challenge Winner, Part 2

Part 2: Here is the first WINNER of the Cheesesteak Challenge:

Jamie is a worship leader out here who has been doing 12 and 24 hour prayer sessions locally for close to a decade now. When I first moved to Philly 3 years ago I found out about his past involvement and briefly swapped emails a couple times but never got to meet him… until last month!

I recently found out about a Friday Night 8-12 that they do at his church only 15 minutes away from me (in Philly, NOTHING is only 15 minutes away!).
He also showed up for my Friday 2-4pm set at the Temple HOP. The TUHOP is currently under 10 structured hours per week, so I continue to maintain that Philly is the largest city without a significant HOP presence. This HOP is about 3 miles north of center city Philadelphia, which is a very sweet spot for prayer. Conversational highlights included the following:

1. How God has been raising up 24/7 in Philly, under the radar

2. Speculations on what the prayer movement in Philly is really like in terms of Ethnicity, Style, Focus and Vision

3. Prophetic Hip/Hop and Intercessory Rap (neither of us is adept at this as you can see from the photo)

4. The role of the Cheesesteak in eschatology (the End Times)

Jamie concurs with my theory that the last commercial subsector to hold out against the mark of the Beast will be Authentic Cheesesteak Joints (ACJs). This is because one of the marks of an ACJ (pun intended) is to take CASH ONLY. I put this to the test, paying for the challenge with a $50 dollar bill. The guy didn’t even flinch at this large denomination, which is often refused by credit card-friendly merchants.

ONLY 10 DAYS LEFT for the Cheesesteak Challenge!

Cheesesteak Challenge Winner, Part 1

Well the Cheesesteak Challenge is going strong. I appreciate all the comments and interaction this blessed challenge has wrought so far.

Many of you are unable to make it to Philly during February for the challenge and I must say in the words of the late Phil Hartman (Bill Clinton impersonator) of SNL, “Ah feel your pain…”

WE HAVE A WINNER!

The Challenge was imbibed at Steve’s Prince of Steaks, one block west of Cottman (rt 73) on Bustleton in the City of Philadelphia.

Steve’s is without question a legitimate establishment, boasting

1. Cash Only,
2. Extensive Condiment Bar
3. Metallic External Appearance
4. Ordering Protocols (strictly enforced)

Who will be the next winner? Stay tuned. Also please take a moment to study the photo on the right because you will see many of the features that make Steve’s Prince of Steaks such a reputable institution.

In PART 2 of this post you will meet the first Winner of the Challenge, which ENDS at the end of February.

ONLY 10 DAYS LEFT for the Cheesesteak Challenge!

At Panera

I am beginning to enjoy life a bit more than during my previous post. I went in the prayer line at church yesterday to receive prayer for some personal issues I had discerned relative to my approach to the job. Had a guest speaker there, and I didn’t really feel like going forward, but churches out here don’t really upen up the altars that much.

 Anyhow I ended up getting slammed pretty good, and during recovery I got a very simple, profound download from Above that summarized the heart of the issue. It was the clearest, fastest answer to prayer that I can recall in the last 5 years! Even after that I woke up at 3 am and got a practical strategy to solve future problems at work!

Also –

During the service, this guest speaker was talking about… what could it be… but how he and his staff in coming off an extended fast in a distant state received untold spiritual edification from… a CHEESESTEAK!!! Yes, I heard it was a CHEESESTEAK!

In addition, and as an additional second confirmation I have just learned about an as yet unsubstantiated theory concerning the role of Cheesesteak in the End Times.

Since I do not want to have my name showing up on one of those “discernment” websites (at least not yet) I will not publicly endorse taking doctrinal sides regarding culinary foods and their role in the end times. But the view seems more plausible the more I think about it!

 CELL PHONE UPDATE: I am down to just 90 minutes left. I will have to refill next month at this rate! If you didn’t read the original post I last filled it in November.

FRUGALITY UPDATE: I am at Panera, and eschewed the $7 sandwich and the diabolically high $9 Crispani Pizza for a French Onion soup in a breadbowl. Under 5 bucks. No drink though, I’m getting thirsty.

WHAT I AM UP TO UPDATE: On my way in 1 hour to Washington Crossing for Soaking prayer. They have played the same cd’s for the past 2 weeks in a row. One of them I suspect features a former girlfriend and her unnamed friends (this cd is everywhere, I am glad we are still friends) and that most un-soakable of TBN artists, Dino.

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