Random religious thought.

My mind is rife with thoughts based on Romans 14. (I’m sure other passages could apply as well.) The following is directed every bit at myself as it is at others…

When you make fun of a particular church or trend, what are you really after? Is the subject of your mockery truly causing others harm? If the criticism is warranted, can it be done intelligently and with respect?

What virtue is there in insulting another part of The Body?

Now…

THIS is a sign of arrogance, if ever there was one.

It feels like I wrote that post just the other day.

Every now and then, the Devil lies to me. Leads me to believe I can be satisfied with a lighter version of my faith…

A little while ago a friend said she intended to pursue Jesus without Christianity. (I’m paraphrasing.)

I have no idea of how that would work. I cannot begin to fathom the idea of following God without the faith and the devotion that the journey requires.

So, what’s changed about me? Nothing, really.

I just went ’round the block and came back again.

Beware of getting cocky during good times. When the pain comes, it’s hard to forget what’s really real.

These days I feel deeply that I am experiencing a love renewed.

I still trust God. Yet worry is something that I continue to wrestle with.

Thank the Heavens for godly friends and family. And church. And scriptures…

Just when I bought myself a new Bible…

Yet another person is trying to tear the Word down. According to Jose Saramago…

The Bible is a manual of bad morals (which) has a powerful influence on our culture and even our way of life.

You can read all about it here.

I just prayed for him. I couldn’t help it. I didn’t know what else to do.

Marked!

Every time I think of drifting away, the Lord pulls me back in.

Just destiny, I s’pose.

Thinking: Ephesians 1:3-5

What we wish for…

One of my dreams is to become a Christian media reviewer. Or, rather, a reviewer of Christian media. (‘Cause I’m already a Christian, and blah, blah, blah….Yay, syntax.)

Opportunities are making themselves known. I am behind schedule with an application for a publication that I really, really would love to write for. Offline, today I went to ye old Christian bookstore and snagged a B. Reith CD.

So far, so good…

I’m also thinking of people that I know who make music. Why shouldn’t I try to share their gifts with the world…? –> Me, thinking aloud.

“A funnel of GINGER smoke…?”

What in the world…?

LOL.

Hi, Cyril!

*ahem*

Ok. So my former pastor, Cyril–of FreeChurch fame–is also known as Ill Seer, and a part of a collective known as Prophetic Poetic.

I just checked out their new site today, and have since begun to listen to their MP3s.

As for the aforementioned smoke, it’s a trait of The Seer. He and his lovely wife Maegan are redheads. And therefore, one in a million.

Or…However that statistic goes.

Bodacious Banana Bread

Hey Readers!

I’m busy. I hate love my life. I miss writing, and in particular, blogging.

Here’s something I scratched up a while ago…

Enjoy!

I keep scratching up notes for entries on my transition into small-town living. But I’m lazy too busy to develop them thoroughly…In the meantime, let’s talk about food!!!

For health reasons, I’m trying to keep off of sugar. Nevertheless, urges for my favorite banana bread keep coming.

Shortly after this photo was taken, my subject was eliminated.

Banana bread…There are ample ingredients in the pantry. The bananas are getting spotty….

*sigh*

Incidentally, how do you like your bananas? I’m only willing to eat them when they’re golden, with barely-there-green tips. After that, somehow, it’s funny…Once the spots start to come in, they are dead to me. Well…At least as far as eating is concerned. Meanwhile, in my head, the first thing that comes to mind is, “Banana bread!!”

In my book, there are two keys to making a good banana bread. Butter and sugar. Yesterday I was watching Oprah. (Oh. Shut. Up.) The show was all about food. Ms. O played a clip featuring Paula Deen. At one point she asked Ms. Deen what she would tell her health-conscious critics. If I remember right, she said, “I’m a cook, not a doctor!”

Dangit, Jim!!

Now, I’ve never posted a recipe. And to this day, I can’t remember who gave me this one. But I’ll tell you something. I thank the Lord and Baby Jesus* every time I make it.

Bodacious Banana Bread
1 cup butter
1 cup sugar
4 eggs
3 cups flour
3 ripe bananas, mashed
1 tspn vanilla
1 teaspoon allspice
6 teaspoons baking powder

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Grease two loaf pans and set them aside.

As for your ingredients…

First, grab a large bowl. Use a mixer. Whip your butter and sugar into a frenzy. Add the eggs and bananas. Then, add the flour and baking powder.

Next, add the vanilla. And at last…

The time has come for you to have some fun. Here’s your chance to…Improvise.

I know the ingredient list says “allspice”. But I don’t have any allspice. Haven’t for years.

Instead, I use a combination of cinnamon and a cloves. And to be honest…I don’t actually measure the spices. But I do shake in enough cinnamon to season an entire box of Apple-Cinnamon Cheerios. I also add a dash of cloves.

Now…You can do what you want at this point, but if you’re messing with cloves, I should warn you–if you use more than a dash, you’re playing with fire. Cloves are kind of like love dancing nutmeg. Under the right circumstances, their powers can be used for good. But too much of that good thing can turn into evil. If you don’t keep an eye out when you’re shaking the cloves over your batter, it’ll be overpowered faster than you can say “haberdashery”.

And I suggest omitting the ginger inthe this recipe. Unless you really want to. Ginger does nothing for it.

*ahem*

So your mix is all together, yes?

Pour your banana bread batter into your loaf pans. Put ‘em in the oven. They’re going to stay there for about a half hour. Be sure to give them a glance and poke them towards the end of their journey. Your banana bread should be golden brown.

Please don’t worry if your loaves come out with a crack on top.

If all goes well, your Bodacious Bread will be fluffy and moist.

And gone within minutes of leaving your oven.

*Once upon a time during my teachers’ college practicum, I met a fellow student named Nick. One day when he was overjoyed about something, instead of letting out a “Cool” or a sugar-laced expletive, he said, “Thank the Lord and Baby Jesus”. I never forgot the phrase, and use it whenever it fits.

Do you ever wonder…

If you spend too much time on the Interweb?

I do.

Think about it.

One of these days I’l be back. I’ll write something long and rambling and witty or crazy or profound. I’ve had a lot of thoughts since I’ve returned to the home in which I was born and raised.

I keep thinking of setting up a blogging schedule. This makes sense. Especially since my recent discovery that unless I make a schedule, NOTHING in my life will get done.

*sigh*

But for now, consider this:

What if Polanski were an abusive priest?

It’s been at the back of my mind of late. I’m glad someone had the nerve to say it.

FT = FC

FYI: Freedomize Toronto is now FreeChurch.

If you can, check out the Vimo video…I couldn’t embed it. It’s adorable.