Sharing

Lily called me up a few days ago. I had not talked to Lily and her family in years. We used to go to the same church but she moved and I moved and … you know how that goes. Well, she said she wanted me to share the gospel to Buddy, a family friend, who is dying in a hospital in downtown L.A.. Of course I was willing to help.

“Buddy is a lifelong atheist but now that he is facing death, he is willing to listen to the gospel,” Lily said, “I’m not good with words so I want you to do this.“

Lily said she would pick me up and bring me to the hospital. The logistics didn’t look good. Lily lives in Santa Clarita. I live in Whittier. The hospital is 60 miles away. That’s a good 3 hour drive one way. I also need to drive to another meeting soon after. But I can see how important this is to Lily. Saving one soul is all important. (Hey, just let me know if you want to talk about the gospel … I’ll make time for you). So I told Lily to skip the driving and do a zoom meeting instead. This meeting will be happening today (Friday) afternoon. Please pray for our conversation.

I am no evangelist. And I’m not that good with words either (I write better than I think on my feet). But I realize that it isn’t words nor the brilliance of logic that saves the lost soul — that’s the Holy Spirit’s job. The Holy Spirit determines who will be saved and who will not. My job is to simply share: We are all sinners and we deserve to go to hell but Jesus Christ intervened and died for our sins because of His love for us. No, we don’t need to work hard or do anything to deserve to go to heaven. No need for long prayers, no need for sacrifice. Simply believing that our hope is in Christ makes us born again; and when we do, the Holy Spirit will enter into our lives and transform us to live as God’s children.

“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.” — Romans 8: 26-27

If you don’t know what I’m talking about, this is what Christians do. We have a duty and a privilege to share the good news that Jesus Christ died for our sins. Sounds weird, huh? Yeah, I get that all the time but this is who I am and I’m not ashamed of it.

I’m super tired. I need to rest. I need to have a clear mind tomorrow. I grew up Catholic, lost my faith in college, became an atheist, lost my moral values, prayed for God to be real to me and became a born-again Christian in my 30s. Buddy is a younger version of me. This should be interesting.

Yawn — I gotta sleep. TGIF people!

Raoul

“Though the Bible was written over sixteen centuries by at least forty authors, it has one central theme–salvation through faith in Christ.” — Max Lucado

“Jesus is not one of many ways to approach God, nor is He the best of several ways; He is the only way.” – AW Tozer

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come..” – 2 Corinthians 5:17

JOKE OF THE WEEK

Thanks to Art of Sierra Madre, CA

Parting Shots

Thanks to Maling of New Manila, Philippines

Thanks to Art of Sierra Madre. CA

Thanks to Bob of Placencia

I found these

The Traveling Boy

My good friend (and jokester) Terry and I came up with these.

Got any good jokes? Come share it with rest of us!

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A Halloween Story

Do you like scary stories? Since it’s Halloween season I thought I’d give homage to my pal, Rod. He passed away almost 10 years ago but his memory lives on. He was a lawyer who had so many talents, he played lead guitar, composed music and wrote terrific prose — he even wrote his own musical play. Halloween season reminds me of Rod because he told the scariest stories. I wanted to share this before but I just didn’t know how to describe it in paper. I figured I’d attempt it now. I welcome your proof reading corrections.

A gathering of wide-eyed friends were huddled around Rodney as he told this original “true story” (yeah, right!):

MARIA’S WALK HOME
by Rod G

Maria was on her way home from school. School was located at the East side of the village while Maria’s home was at the other end, on the West the village. In between them was the village cemetery (this is a horror story so of course there had to be a cemetery). Nobody took the shortcut because it would mean passing beside the cemetery. (You know where this is going, right?)

But this one night … this one lunar night … Maria was exhausted from overtime schoolwork. She wanted to go home to relax in her warm comfortable bed. “Forget this superstitious warning! I’m going to take the silly shortcut!” (Oh noooo!)

Maria walked alone under the late evening moon. The claps of her wooden sandals echoed with the crickets and frogs of the night. As she approached the entrance of the cemetery, something moved. It was an old shrouded woman sitting quietly on the ground and counting white pebbles. Maria glanced over her shoulder. It was too late to walk back. She had to move forward. She walked cautiously as she passed the woman. But that’s when the woman noticed her and stopped counting. Maria couldn’t look at the woman’s face because it was covered with the shroud but when she looked down at the pebbles … they weren’t pebbles. They were human bones.

“Screeeam!!!” Pitter-patter! Pitter-patter! — went Maria as she dashed for home. Her wooden sandals flew in the air as she ran barefooted.

The faster she ran, the faster the footsteps behind her. The woman covered her face with her left hand but she swatted furiously to grab Maria with her right hand. Wooosh! Wooosh! Wooosh!

“Come here!” Wooosh! “Come here!” Wooosh! Pitter-patter! Pitter-patter! — went the woman behind her.

Up ahead, just a hundred yards away, Maria could see the light from her home. “Mama help me! Mama help me!!” Maria shrieked in terror. Maria doubled the pace … but so did the old woman.

Then Maria heard “Wooosh – Wooosh!” Pitter-patter! Pitter-patter! “Wooosh – Wooosh!” Pitter-patter! Pitter-patter! “Wooosh – Wooosh!”

Two hands were now closing in. The shroud no longer covered the face. The snarling face was haggard and wrinkled with sharp and dirty teeth that matched her sharp and dirty fingernails.

“Screeeam!!!”Pitter-patter! Pitter-patter! “Mama! Mama!”

Wooosh – Wooosh! Wooosh – Wooosh! Wooosh – Wooosh! Wooosh – Wooosh!

“That’s odd,” thought Maria, “there’s something different with the sound. What happened to the Pitter-patter! Pitter-patter!?!? … Oh no! … it can’t be! … the old woman’s feet no longer touched the ground. The witch was AIRBORNE! Screeeeeeeeeeeeeam!”

And that was the end of the story. And all my angry friends knocked Rod off his chair. We laughed because we knew he made it all up but we enjoyed being scared.

I loved Rod. Despite his brilliance, Rod lived a troubled life. I felt his pain. He was a proud and stubborn man. Prayed for him for years. When I shared the Gospel with him, he thought I was trapping him and was not open to new teachings. He was very defensive. Who was I to preach to a lawyer? He planned to come and visit me in California and he bragged about it and I was thrilled to be able to spend more time with him. But that opportunity never came.

My cousin called me. Rod had a stroke so I dropped everything and took a flight to be by his deathbed. That’s how important this was to me. The apostle Paul reminded us that “it is by faith and not of works that one is saved” so I prayed with him just in case there was still some cognitive activity. They pulled the plug two days after.

Thanks Rod for the jokes, the Halloween stories … the memories.

Have a good Halloween weekend my friends. TGIF!

Raoul

Joke of the Week

Parting Shots

Thanks to Art of Sierra Madre, CA

Found these

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Monterosola Winery is a 25 hectare hillside estate in the heart of Tuscany, Italy, between the world-famous wine-growing regions of Chianti and Bolgheri. It is a family owned and run vineyard with a brand-new architect-designed state-of-the-art cantina. Monterosola makes award-winning organic wines by combining old traditions with modern technology. Besides the reds they sent me, I received two bottles of white wine to taste. Here’s how they are described:

They Say: Cassero 2018 – “A sophisticated single variety Vermentino, straw yellow colored with youthful green highlights. Enjoys an elegant and consistent aroma with hints of white flowers, grapefruit, pear, white peach and a pleasing minerality. Fresh and well balanced on the palate with a lingering light finish.”

I Say: Cassero is a dry white wine made with the Italian Vermentino grape, which I first tasted (and loved) in Sardinia. It has 14% alcohol, is light and drinkable with a floral bouquet, tree fruit and citrus notes, and a medium acidity – ready to drink now. $15

They Say: Primo Passo 2018 – “A warm light golden color. Intense and elegant aromas come to the fore, ripe apricot, peach, citrus zest and minerality evolve into a hint of sweet spice. A generous, silky and balanced wine with an authentic personality. Remarkable aftertaste.”

I Say: Primo Passo is a blend of three grapes: Viognier, Grechetto, and Manzoni Bianco, the last two (even though Grechetto is originally Greek) being typical for a Central Italy white blend. Its fruity bouquet only hints at the flavorful and dry goodness this winner brought to the table. $28

The Meal: I have the ability to read a recipe and know if I want to cook it and who I want to cook it for. Ever since being served the Brazilian fish stew Moqueca in a whole pumpkin, I wanted to recreate that presentation, just not necessarily with fish. The October issue of Food & Wine magazine has a recipe for rice cooked in a whole pumpkin that I knew would be perfect for two old family friends with discerning taste. Since they also like white wine, they were perfect for this Monterosola Bianco tasting one sunny October Day.

In this age of pandemic dining, a warm early afternoon offered the perfect opportunity for an alfresco meal on the patio. My guests are always game guinea pigs when it comes to my penchant for trying out new recipes on company. Thank goodness, because it did not go as smoothly as planned, although it could have been far worse . . .

Prepping the pumpkin was easy enough, and the simplicity of the recipe had me thinking it would be a breeze. Rice, curry paste, coconut milk, and water are mixed and poured into the hollow pumpkin. Then it gets baked with the top on for one hour at 350 degrees. Easy as pie, right? It was in the oven and well on its way through the first phase of cooking when guests arrived.

We opened the lightly chilled Monterosola Cassero and sipped the delicious wine while nibbling snap peas in a hummus dip with toasted baguette slices and a side of brie. There was crunch, green, and my own smooth garbanzo & sesame paste to pair with the light “summer is still here” Cassero. After the first satisfying tastes of wine, I excused myself to finish the next cooking phase.

Once out of the oven with the filling bubbling, I stirred in fresh green beans, fish sauce and salt, replaced the top and popped the pumpkin back into the oven for another 45 minutes. Then it was back outside for more good conversation and wine. Part way through, I took the pumpkin out of the oven to come together. I opened the Monterosola Primo Passo then, so we could taste the two whites side-by-side. It was touch-and-go which was preferred as we finished the cocktail hour, but the Primo Passo definitely got to shine later.

The main course was beautiful straight out of the oven, and the fragrance filling the kitchen had everyone eager for a taste. I should have quit while I was ahead. The pumpkin split open moving it to a serving platter, so there was no photo op. Saving face, I scooped the insides into a bowl and we took that and a salad to the table. Unlike the wines we tasted, the meal never lived up to the fragrance. It was bland and so undramatic looking out of the pumpkin. The kindest remark was that at least I’d used fresh green beans, not canned or frozen. But they only knew that because the beans were very much al dente! I’ll know better if there is a next time.

Not every meal can be a success, and not every bottle of wine approach perfection. But the Monterosola whites delivered what they promised, a flavorful and delicious addendum to an otherwise unremarkable meal. They were the hit of the afternoon!

The Monterosola winery offers concerts and events in its various performance spaces, with fine dining to accompany their superior organic wines. I can’t wait until it is safe to travel again. After the pumpkin near-failure, I think I want my next wine tasting with their superb Italian food. Tastings and tours can be arranged through the Monterosola website.

The post Monterosola White Wine Paired With Vegetarian Brunch appeared first on Traveling Archive.

And as the trees are turning and the weather’s getting cooler; it’s time to kick back and enjoy a Pumpkin Spice Latte. After all it’s fall!

Pumpkin and Button Spätzli Stir-Fry

Cut the pumpkin into cubes, steam until soft for about 20 minutes, puree, leave to cool.

Put the flour, eggs, salt and pumpkin puree in a bowl and beat to a smooth dough, leave to rest for 30 minutes.

Finely chop the onion, cut the leek into rings.

Sweat both together in hot oil, deglaze with cider.

Add the stock and chestnuts, cook for 10 minutes, season with rosemary, salt and pepper.

Cut the Emmentaler AOP in small cubes.

Heat a good amount of salted water.

Push the dough through a button spaetzle sieve in portions directly into the simmering water.

As soon as the button spaetzle rise to the surface of the water remove using a slotted spoon.

Add the button spaetzle to the chestnut mix, heat briefly and mix in the cubes of cheese.

Ingredients

• 1 pound pumpkin flesh
• 1.5 pound spelt flour
• 3 eggs
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 small onion
• 1 leek
• 1 tbl oil
• 3.4 ounces cider
• 5 ounces vegetable stock
• 12 ounces defrosted frozen chestnuts
• Some rosemary
• Pepper
• 4 ounces mild Emmentaler AOP

Emmentaler is the original Swiss cheese, world-famous for its distinctive holes and one-of-a-kind flavor. First produced more than eight centuries ago in the canton of Bern in the valley of the Emme River, Emmentaler AOP is still made in 200-pound wheels. This endlessly popular cheese is known as the king of cheese, and plays an essential role in Swiss communities and on American tables everywhere. Emmi cheeses can be found in all major supermarkets throughout the U.S.

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