The Picklin' Parson's Cookbook...and Stories to Ponder When Uncle Sam's in a Pickle

Addressed in the cookbook is the historical fact that Chandler is the hometown of one of the most progressive U.S. senators ever to serve from Texas-a true populist politician-Sen. Ralph W. Yarborough. He was in office from 1957 to 1970. Today Chandler-like much of rural East Texas-is bent more politically conservative, and President Trump has been very popular with many. The cookbook is Stan's attempt to address today's sociopolitical climate through reflections of growing up in the turbulent 1960s in rural America with family, friends, and homefolk. The church the parson serves in Dallas has many facets to its diversity. It heralds a simple mission of "Loving ALL People into Relationship with Jesus Christ." The love, unity and peace of Christ is preached from his pulpit in this very partisan-divided time in our beloved country.

The cookbook that this parson has penned teaches the creative art of pickling and water-bath canning. He shares the techniques and recipes that have been passed down through family for decades. The recipes will make your mouth water with the thought of tasting pickled and spiced goodness, along with the joy of the jellies and jams-many of which are State Fair award winners. Whether your background is rural or not and no matter if you have ever visited Chandler, Texas, the hope is to make your heart resonate with a need for new conversation and an authentic coming together. Conversation-and more importantly, listening to one another's stories-has the power to move us through racial, political, and cultural divides to a place of celebration of all that we have in common in this great land. And nearly everybody loves a pickle-sweet or sour, and we all love Uncle Sam-the good old USA.

The Reverend Doctor Stanley R. Copeland - or simply "Stan" as he's known to most folks - is senior pastor of the 5,000-member, multicultural, urban congregation of Lovers Lane United Methodist Church in Dallas, Texas. Even though he served in Houston and Dallas as a pastor for three decades, his roots are deeply set in rural soil. Some might say he's really just a good ol' boy from a small town in East Texas-Chandler, population 2,959. His parents, sister and her family and most of their kin still live there. He makes the hour and a half drive to "home" every chance he gets. He has a farm outside of Chandler and is a co-owner of the Stillwater Farm Market Store and Dairy Shop in town.