This month:

October will be spent traveling.  My husband and I concluded our summer of directing a camp (three months of s'mores, energizers, crazy college students and curious children) and are very minimally employed.  We still live at the camp.  We serve retreat groups on the weekends, but our weekdays are completely unscheduled.

As much as we enjoy hiking the grounds of our camp, we have seen it all - so we are seeking new places to explore.  In September, we went up to Maine (as usual) and got to check out the towns of Eastport and Winter Harbor (not the usual).  Last week, we did a spontaneous excursion to Niagara Falls and Toronto.  Let me tell you, that was THRILLING.  I have never been to Canada before; it was the second time I've used my passport.  All the Canadian stereotypes you've heard ("Have a donut, eh!") are true! Oh, and Niagara Falls was pretty awesome/beautiful/impressive/marvelous, too.

Anyways, as we're looking to what to do next with our lives, the prospect of grad school keeps appearing faintly on the horizon.  School!  Again!!  I so loved the academic life.  Even though I did fine arts for my bachelor's degree, what I truly loved were history classes, and specifically, art history classes.  The thought of sitting through lectures, scribbling furiously - as I had done for so many years of my life before! - is rather titilating. Arouse my intellect once more, o' university!

So this leads us to October.  We will spend three weeks traveling throughout the southeast, visiting as many schools as we can.  Many of these are in the Charlotte area.  The thought of dedicating myself once more to study - in an even warmer environment (more outdoor playtime!  longer garden growing season!  grits!  barbecue!)  is very, very intriguing.  I am not sure whether it's feasible financially, whether it will make a difference on the future of our careers (maybe each of us will actually acquire a career along the way?)... but I will find out soon!

The Gastronomes: Cauliflower

The Gastronomes: Cauliflower: ALERT:  COLOSSUS CAULIFLOWER ON THE LOOSE. FIVE-POUND, THIRTEEN-OUNCE MONSTROSITY MAY BE SEEN AT A FARM STAND NEAR YOU. ARMED WIT...

Shocking

Our state has been secretly taxing us.  On...

http://gastronomes.blogspot.com/2012/09/pa-taxes.html

How sinister!

defining Christianity

These days, I am hesitant to label myself as a "Christian."

A weighty reason that I am is the Republican party's use of the name of God to attract "moral voters."  Voting for wealthy, white men in business suits has nothing to do with emulating Jesus Christ.

Another reason is the damage the Church has caused over centuries of history.  Many people (at least in America) hate or disagree with Christians because they've been hurt by them.  All Christians are hypocrites.

Unfortunately, there are so many Christians who will not admit their own hypocrisy.  From small issues, like not forgiving quickly enough or vying to win theological arguments; to massive ones, like picketing hatefully in the name of God.  I don't think God could ever agree with those who hate.

Personal disclaimer:  I AM A HYPOCRITE.  I am messed-up; I am bitter; I am selfish.

These days, I prefer to call myself a Christ-follower.  A follower of Jesus.  That's the original denotation of the word Christian.

Chris·tian  [kris-chuhn] 

1.  (adj.) of, pertaining to, or derived from Jesus Christ  or His teachings: a Christian faith.

7.  (noun) a person who believes in Jesus Christ;  adherent of Christianity. 

(from dictionary.com)

 

It's hard to identify oneself with a word so often used for morality or church-going or slightly-less-evil-than-most-people.

A great essay on the misuse of the word Christian can be found here.

Definition:  CHRISTIANITY is following the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth and embracing Him as Lord.  (Lord:  one's master/ruler/care-taker/provider)

True Christianity has nothing to do with following rules!  It is heartbreaking that this is such a common misconception.  It is commonly perceived as such because there are too many preachers or Sunday school teachers telling their children that if they behave, God will be happy.

Following Jesus means accepting His grace.  He already KNOWS that we will break rule after rule, every single day, and yet He still offers us love and life.  He enables us to quit living for ourselves and grasp for the truth and beauty and eternity He gives.

Look around you.  If you're inside, step out for a moment.  How massive is that maple tree?  How many birds are singing?  Can you count the blades of fragrant grass beneath your feet?  Do you have any idea how many different species of insects are living within your tiny acre of Earth?

How amazing is it that God created so much beauty?  He created it all to woo us to Him!  ...to show us that He does love us and wants us to enjoy life!  Remember the last time you coasted down a steep hill on a bike - how thrilling and breezy and breathtaking!  Swimming in the ocean is one of the best ways to feel miniscule and entirely overwhelmed by the Earth's size and the fact that there are other bathers dipping their toes in the SAME water in England, Morocco, South Africa, Brazil!

I cannot fathom a simple "big bang" throwing dust together to form this world.  It is simply too gorgeous and astounding.  It must have been done by the Creator's Hand.

Religion is defined in two places in the Bible:

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." (James 1:27)

"But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God." (I Timothy 5:4)

True religion means taking care of other people.  Take care of your family; take care of the needy.  Don't become jaded by the sin (selfish behavior of every person on Earth) you see around you.

Going to church is not in the Bible's definition.

God isn't even mentioned.

Christianity is not a religion.

It is a free life of enjoying God and His people and His world.

It is following Jesus' commands when He says,

"Let your light shine before others." (Matthew 5:16)

"Go and be reconciled to (your brother or sister)." (Matthew 5:24)

"But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." (Matthew 5:44)

"Love your neighbor as yourself." (Luke 10:27)

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy;

I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep."  (John 10:10-11)

...and so many other life-giving things.

Real Christianity is a life of redemption, reconciliation, love, mercy and grace.

It is learning from and loving Jesus Christ.

For more on Jesus and life with Him, read Waking the Dead, Crazy Love, Because He Loves Me and the Holy Bible.  Listen to Derek Webb's album She Must and Shall Go Free.

biblegateway.com is a great online resource for reading God's love letters to us.

Emerging Adulthood.

When does one enter adulthood?

How does one know when the crossover has occurred?

What determines it - a biological or a social change?

One might say we become adult humans at the onset of puberty - which can be a slow process, for some.  Bodies slowly fill out in shapeliness; hair appears in new places; testicles and voices drop.  Some girls feel that womanhood happens when menstruation begins.  If that's true, I can say - this year - that I've been a woman for half of my life.  But I'm not sure that, even now, I feel like a true grown-up.

Something New

Something new; a project for Greg and I to share; creative writing; kitchen experimentation; work in the garden; tasting new libations; sharing with the world on-the-line...

...presenting:

The Gastronomes
http://gastronomes.blogspot.com

A new online journal of our adventures in gardening, cooking and eating.
Check it out - and bon apetit!

Tomatoes

It is tomato time in the Mid-Atlantic.  Yes, they're everywhere!  We have made and eaten so much salsa in the past week, it seems like an overdose.  Bruschetta salad is a great alternative (swap the lime & cilantro for balsamic vinegar & basil - plus LOTS of garlic), but I am running out of ideas to keep fresh tomato recipes ... fresh.  Is there anything new under the sun?

We have loved growing our own food this year.  I've pored over cookbooks looking for new things to do with vegetables, but I seem to keep returning to the same stuff.  Salsa.  Bruschetta salad.  Warmed tomatoes over pasta.  Grilled zucchini.  Sauteed zucchini.  Baked zucchini.

Eggplant parmesan
Eggplant parmesan
Eggplant parmesan!!

When in need of kitchen inspiration, I often turn to Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking.  However, all her veggie recipes are as follows:  "Steam.  Add butter."

Are there any new, fresh, obscure-ethnic-type recipes out there for standard North American vegetables?