Decadent Day

Don't expect any lofty thoughts here.

I have to confess, I had a totally unredeemable, practically sinful, frivolous day yesterday. A chocolates with spirits pairing class/occasion (a class implies learning something semi-useful). Beautiful, tasty chocolates made by local chocolatier, Melanie Boudar of Sweet Paradise. And, wine pairings, courtesy of Volcano Winery, after which we moved on to Ms. Boudar's B&B for other spirit pairings.

My friend and I started off with a light lunch (we split an order) of Cajun Mahimahi, which was excellent, at the Volcano Golf Club Restaurant. Then, met up with our group at Volcano Winery for the fun taste testing of wines and chocolates - it is important to know which go best with which. Oh yeah.

These are Oriental inspired confections with sesame seeds on top, a ginger infusion and hints of chili pepper.

Ok. Enough already. I think you get the picture(s).
One uplifting, thing - God has given us an amazing array of flavors that we can enjoy, combine and experiment with. Thank you Lord!

Casting Mental Stones?

This little chameleon thinks he's blending in.

We shouldn't be surprised when unbelievers hate us - even our own parents, sister or brother. The best thing is to keep on praying for them. Though, when Christian brothers and sisters give "cold shoulders" and snub us, we are saddened, because we expect more. Right. More often than not my first reaction is to get all, WELL, HOW COULD THEY? And, think about snubbing right back. But, we are told to "love one another" and I usually do remember in time or eventually.

Believers today seem just as prone as those of another age to "nullify the Word of God for the sake of your tradition." And, Jesus is still telling us, "they worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men." Matthew 15:6b & 9
"Do not handle! Do not taste... human commands and teachings." Colossians 2:21-23

I had a few pounds of jaboticabas a friend left after a gathering recently, as well as bananas in the freezer, so the answer to the excess was, yes - banana-jaboticaba wine (bubbling away at the moment). This might offend some, but wouldn't that be putting a denominational ruling or tradition before scripture? My divorced friend is also looked at with disfavor, by some sorts of Christians, despite the fact it was because of marital infidelity and abuse. And, many of those same tradition-bound believers will cave in to the latest "scientific" ruling on the age of the earth, six day creation, the flood, or various psychiatric findings, regardless of what God's Word says. So, isn't it just as bad to try and blend in with a denomination as with the world at large? Ah... the inconsistency of man. I need to keep my Christian coloration, no matter the background. You knew there would be a connection with the lizard on the banana tree, right?

All In The Timing

Reading today in Numbers 9:15-23, I thought it was noteworthy how God taught the Israelites to pay attention and look to him for direction. It says, in part:

Whenever the cloud lifted from above the Tent (Tabernacle), the Israelites set out; wherever the cloud settled, the Israelites encamped. At the Lord's command the Israelites set out, and at his command they encamped. As long as the cloud stayed over the tabernacle, they remained in camp. Nu. 9:17-18

Sometimes they stayed at a place for a short time and sometimes a month or a year. At night the cloud looked like fire. So, if they were to leave at night, they would see it and be able to follow. God used the cloud over the Sanctuary to clearly show them his will and train them to habitually wait and watch for his direction and timing, moving it in an unpredictable way, at least to them. He may have had his own reasons for each move. I would like to have more of that immediate, reaction of obedience toward God worked into my own life. Always looking to him for direction.

Moses had a related quality, worth emulating, and that we can learn from today, (this from Numbers 9:6-8). When asked for a decision, he replies: "Wait until I find out what the Lord commands concerning you." And, in Numbers 27:5, "So, Moses brought their case before the Lord." And, this was almost the last decision he was asked to give. In his answer to Moses God told him to go up on the mountain where he would die. Then, in his final request he asks God to appoint a successor to himself so the people wouldn't be left leaderless. I think most of us, in his place, would be thinking ourselves perfectly capable of deciding these things, but he knew that our ways are not always God's. Even at the very end of his life on earth with all of his experience and closeness to his Lord. What a humble guy!

On a mundane note, I think my banana wine might be finally coming into its own. Either that or I've found the right thing to pair it with? Made in 2005, I've been trying it ever since (a 5 gal. batch!) and dumping bottles, minus the test glass, into my vinegar crock. There was definitely a flavor flaw. Today, however, I opened another and it went well with a little onion, tomato & fresh oregano pizza. Would probably be equally good with spicy Asian or Indian food. Guess some things just need a bit of time. I've heard a comparison made between Christians who are in process, to little green apples (or bananas) - they're perfect for the stage of growth they're at, just not yet at peak flavor, or in the case of Christians, performance.

Get Racked

The guava wine on the right needs to be racked

I have several carboys of wine which need racking at the moment (siphoning off the sediment) and I've been putting it off too long. Such a bother, all that washing up, sanitizing, lugging of heavy bottles, etc., takes some time and effort. But, leaving wine too long on its lees affects the taste negatively. The sediment comes from dead yeasts, and small leavings of the fruit. A little while on it is o.k. for some flavor, but too long, and yuck.

Several of the Old Testament prophets use this image to describe the spiritual state of their people. (Jeremiah 48:11 & Zephaniah 1:12) Junk had accumulated in their lives, contaminants from the dead yeasts of sin, and bad influences from the world around them. What a great analogy. Still applies today. Just look at all the input we can absorb from our culture through movies, T.V., magazines, friends and acquaintances, even family, that taints us spiritually. Then there's the bad habits we sit on, unwilling to let go of, so that our lives might be clarified, i.e. purified. I'm meditating today on what I need to get rid of. I know, some of you are going to say - what about that wine? Maybe so, but hey, Jesus was a wine maker. Then, there's Isaiah 25:6. But, worth considering.....