Jesus Christ demands self-denial, that is, self-negation (Matt. 16:24; Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23), as a necessary condition of discipleship. Self-denial is a summons to submit to the authority of God as Father and of Jesus as Lord and to declare lifelong war on one's instinctive egoism. What is to be negated is not personal self or one's existence as a rational and responsible human being. Jesus does not plan to turn us into zombies, nor does he ask us to volunteer for a robot role. The required denial is of carnal self, the egocentric, self-deifying urge with which we were born and which dominates us so ruinously in our natural state. Jesus links self-denial with cross-bearing. Cross-bearing is far more than enduring this or that hardship. Carrying one's cross in Jesus' day, as we learn from the story of Jesus' own crucifixion, was required of those whom society had condemned, whose rights were forfeit, and who were now being led out to their execution. The cross they carried was the instrument of death. Jesus represents discipleship as a matter of following him, and following him as based on taking up one's cross in self-negation. Carnal self would never consent to cast us in such a role. "When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die," wrote Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Bonhoeffer was right: Accepting death to everything that carnal self wants to possess is what Christ's summons to self-denial was all about.

J.I. Packer

CATEGORY	CUISINE	TAG	YIELD
Meats, Vegetables	Dutch	Beef	6	Servings

INGREDIENTS

1/2	ts	Salt
1/4	ts	White pepper
2	lb	Flank steak
1	ts	Dijon mustard
2	tb	Vegetable oil
1	sm	Onion,chopped
1	cn	(4 oz) mushroom pieces,
		Drained, chopped
1/4	c	Chopped parsley
2	tb	Chopped chives
1	tb	Tomato paste
1/4	c	Dried bread crumbs
1/4	ts	Salt
1/4	ts	Pepper
1	ts	Paprika
3		Strips bacon, cubed
2	sm	Onions,finely chopped
1	c	Hot beef broth
1	ts	Dijon mustard
2	tb	Tomato catsup

INSTRUCTIONS

STUFFING
GRAVY
Lightly salt and pepper steak on both sides.Spread one side with
mustard.Prepare stuffing.Heat oil in frying pan.Add onion,cook 3 minutes
until lightly browned.Add mushrooms;cook 5 minutes.Stir in
parsley,chives,tomato paste and bread crumbs.Season with salt,pepper and
paprika. Spread stuffing on mustard side of steak.Roll up jelly roll
fashion and tie with thread or string. Prepare gravy.Cook bacon in Dutch
oven or heavy casserole until partially done.Add meat roll;brown on all
sides,approximately 10 minutes.Add onions;saute 5 minutes.Pour in beef
broth;cover Dutch oven.Simmer 1 hour.Remove meat to preheated platter.
Season pan juices with mustard.Salt and pepper to taste,stir in
catsup.Serve gravy separately.Yield:6 servings.
From Gemini's MASSIVE MealMaster collection at www.synapse.com/~gemini

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