Caesar Kalinowski

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Discipleship and Mission Made Simple

Salami Eggs

If you’ve been following this blog or read any of my books you know that life in community–lived like a family– is a big deal for me…and my family, both natural and extended. And meals are a HUGE part of building traditions and really feeling like a family.

One sure way to get our family and friends out of bed and around the breakfast table is to make a Team K family favorite dish … salami eggs. (Imagine in your mind a plate of food with a glowing orb of joy around it!)

This is one of our own concoctions, combining a few different ethnic traditions into one unique and totally delicious meal. Add to this a little breakfast cake, some black coffee, and the occasional mimosa, and an instant brunch-time feast erupts every time.

What’s kind of amazing about this particular dish is how many of our friends have started making it themselves, posting pictures online and seeking our vote of approval as they declare this meal to be one of their absolute favorites. Why? Because they’ve been so blessed by our tradition and want to faithfully pass it on and bless others. It is, in fact, an impossibly easy meal to make—once you’ve seen it cooked and eaten it a few times.

Countless times my wife and I have shown how many eggs per person ratio we use and how to cut the salami into little half-inch squares and fry them just right before adding the whipped eggs. We have confided in them which of the corn and wheat tortillas they should buy that will hold the cooked salami and eggs. And we have showed them just the right amount of cream cheese to spread on the tortillas before adding a favorite hot sauce. All of it adds up to one amazing bite of righteousness!

To be repeated and passed on, again and again…

This meal has become a ritual, a favored tradition in our household, and now in many others as well. It has multiplied out to new “generations” of salami and egg makers, many whom we have never even met. Each one is putting their unique little spin and nuance on it, but passing it on faithfully with love.

Imagine if life and discipleship all followed this same pattern or process.

It can, and it must.

It’s critical that we not only learn to live as extended families on mission, but that we faithfully and intentionally learn how to pass this life of Jesus on to others who in turn make more disciples.

You’ve probably never enjoyed the salami eggs before…but the next best time is now. Go for it. Here’s a link to the recipe and pictures…I KNOW you’ll enjoy it!

How Introverts and Extroverts Shape a Family on Mission

The difference between introverts and extroverts is one of the most misunderstood aspects of personality. So many people get it wrong, leading to myths and assumptions that just don’t hold up.

In this episode of the Everyday Disciple Podcast, we’re setting the record straight. We’ll break down the biggest misconceptions and uncover how both introverts and extroverts play a vital role in living together as a family on mission.

The truth is, we all have moments when we crave solitude and quiet—Jesus certainly did. And at times, even the most introverted among us step into social settings and engage with others—just like Jesus often did. Understanding this balance is key to thriving together.

In This Episode You’ll Learn:

  • How introversion has nothing to do with “being shy”
  • Why extroverts don’t always have to be the life of the party
  • How spouses that are on opposite ends of this can better understand each other
  • Ways culture has taught us to hide our self-love behind these distinctions
  • Why we need each other to be more fully like Jesus and make disciples

Get started here…

A single person standing at the center, with one half of the image showing a calm, introspective scene and the other half showing a lively, social environment.

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Tuning Into God Over the Mental Static

Are we hearing impaired when it comes to the voice of God? Could it be that what we believe and have labeled as relational, emotional, and spiritual problems are actually ‘hearing’ problems? 

In this episode, Caesar shows us how to turn down the negative voices in our heads, dial in the authentic divine Voice, and listen intently. The voices you believe will determine the life you experience!

In This Episode You’ll Learn:

  • Ways to sort out all of the chatter coming your way each day.
  • Why the voices you listen to shape your own voice in the world.
  • How to apply the “Jesus filter” to everything you’re hearing.
  • Why listening prayer is so different from the ways we usually pray.

Get started here…

Learn how to tune out negativity, dial into truth, and apply the “Jesus filter” to life’s daily noise.

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Death Makes No Sense

​Today I want to talk with you for a bit about a really cheery topic. Death.

Wait! Don’t go away just yet, stay with me.

 

Recently I was at a funeral. The mother of a friend of mine passed away and there were hundreds of people who came to say their goodbyes and be with the family. The ceremony went on for hours.

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A Garden in My Heart

I have a love–hate relationship with my garden and flowerbeds. ​On one hand, I love when they are clean, planted, and blooming at all the right times each season.

On the other, because of the rains that are present throughout every season in Tacoma, where Tina and I have our family home, I have a non-stop battle to fight with weeds that remain the fastest growing and most robust plants I have. They even grow full speed ahead during the winter, when everything else is either dead or taking a break.

I was working on my garden out in front of my house one sunny afternoon, (yes, we do get sun in the Pacific Northwest too!), and as I pulled weeds and replaced them with bright, colorful flowers, something started to shift in me. My heart softened as my nails became caked with rich, black soil. I started feeling as if I was involved in a much grander project or purpose. It was as if I was connecting to the overarching restoration of all things that God has promised to do in our world.

Is my front garden a part of that?

In that moment, it sure seemed like it. The Spirit reminded me that this is how he works within me too, pulling one weed at a time and replacing it with something beautiful. I started to think of all the people I know with weeds and thorny, spiky parts of their personality and life. Maybe I was to be patient and willing to get my hands a little dirty helping to “beautify the garden” of their lives too?

One by one, people from the neighborhood started to notice what I was up to. “Wow! That is looking really beautiful. I just love petunias!” “I was wondering if you were ever going to get around to this project.”

Not the feedback I hoped for, but I’ll take it.

One of the workers from the Salvation Army next door who loves to give me gardening advice, ambled over and said, “This is looking really good. I think I’ll start taking my breaks over here in front of your house from now on.” My flowerbeds were becoming his own little Garden of Eden in the neighborhood. A simple hour or two of gardening had refreshed and re-created my attitude in some pretty profound ways.[clickToTweet tweet=”Maybe everything we work at has a Kingdom perspective if we take the time to notice.” quote=”Maybe everything we work at has a Kingdom perspective if we take the time to notice.”]

Maybe everything we work at is like this if we have that perspective and take the time to notice. There is possibility for redemption all around us.

So, if you’ve been putting off some actual weeding you need to do outside in your garden, or in the garden of your heart or others, the next best time to get started is now.

ABOUT ME

I am the author of the top selling book, The Gospel Primer. My latest books, Transformed and Small is Big, Slow is Fast came out recently on Zondervan.

I help those with a high commitment to intentional living in the areas of their discipleship, family and mission acquire the leadership skills and tools necessary to succeed and leave a lasting legacy.