Fast (But Satisfying) Food (1 Thessalonians 1)

Paul and Silvanus (Silas) had served up some very good food indeed (the bread of life) in Thessalonica for three Sabbaths before they were forced to leave by jealous Jews (Acts 17:1-9).

Afraid that the Thessalonians might have gone on to ruin their lives with poisonous junk, they sent Timothy to check in on them and encourage them to keep feeding on the good stuff (1 Thessalonians 2:17-3:10).

Fruity

Paul, Silas and Tim were now writing to provide (further) assurance that they did really have the gospel of God and were on track.

The gospel of Paul/Silas/Timothy/God had objective content. The Thessalonians had neither been persuaded by Paul/Silas' eloquence nor their cutting illustrations nor confident speech. Rather, they had been convinced (1) by proof from scripture (Acts 17:2-3) that Jesus was the Christ who had to suffer and rise from the dead; (2) by proof from the lives of Paul/Silas/Timothy (1 Thessalonians 1:5) that they were really convinced about their message - suffering for the proclamation of the gospel and leading holy, righteous and blamesless lives (Acts, 1 Thessalonians).

The Thessalonians then came to trust in objective realities: they had faith that Jesus was the Son of God, that he died on cross as an atoning sacrifice for sins, that he was raised from dead and that he would come to save them from God's coming wrath (1 Thessalonians 1:10). Knowing the love of God (1 Thessalonians 1:4), they loved others (1 Thessalonians 3:12, 4:9-10). They had a sure and certain hope of the future when God's Son would come from heaven and deliver them from the wrath to come.

Therefore, there was two-fold (or perhaps just one-fold) proof that they were alright by God: (1) that they were intellectually persuaded and had accepted the gospel; and (2) evidence that they had really accepted the gospel was that their lives had been changed and shaped by these doctrines (their faith worked, their love laboured and their hope was steadfast) because they had come into a relationship with God who was now their Father (1 Thessalonians 1:3). So the three letterwriters observe that the gospel had come to them not only in words but, as evidence that they had been chosen by God in power, in the Holy Spirit and in full conviction and so they received it with joy.

Remembering Babel

If this is so, then:
- one cannot claim to be on a "mission trip" or be serving God if one is merely building houses in a developing country or being hospitable to all and patient to the longwinded and, by common consensus, irritating. These were certainly not the things Paul/Silas/Tim/the Thessies were concerned about and persecuted for. If it is the word (1 Thessalonians 1:5,6,8), and the work of the Holy Spirit (1 Thessalonians 1:5,6) through that word (and the choice of God ultimately), that transforms lives, then any work of God must include the proclaiming of the good news. After all, this was also why Jesus came to earth (Mark 1). And after all, this shows that one's own life has been transformed so to the service of the living and true God who wants all to be saved and not perish.

- while there is a place for bridge-building to, eg. the yet-unnamed post-cyberspace generations, it is the pure gospel that must be preached, not adulterated in the desperate but baseless hope that leaving out sin or Jesus might make "Christianity" much more attractive to unsubscribers. The God who is to be worshipped must be proclaimed in his full justice and glory so that he can be worshipped, and in so doing show that the preacher does actually worship this God. His Spirit will work in those who are his.

- we know we are alright by God and really believe the gospel not because we are in the right (Bible-believing) church or that the church leadership demonstrates their approval of us by appointing us to positions in the church hierarchy or because our friends so assure us, but by the proof in our lives that we have turned from idols to serve the living God, with love for all, while clinging steadily to the hope of Jesus' coming.

- elders, pastors, overseers, leaders and the like who have to account for their flock and who see their sheep wandering off cliffs and taking candy from wolves, need, themselves not to lose sight of the way God has designed lives to be turned back and transformed - by the Spirit, through the word - in both the sheep's lives and their own. Therefore, better music with emotional song leaders, a more persuasive and/or emotive preaching style, church-wide programmes for unity, love and service, a push to missions, more rules on what should or should not be done, accountability groups, topical comments on the latest scandal or political hot potato etc will, of themselves and despite the best of intentions, never bring anyone into a living relationship with God because they point to man rather than God. Better to be preoccupied with God and concentrate on teaching faithfully from the Bible the Christ to be worshipped (or rather, not to obfuscate God's word in proclaiming what God says about the his own glory) and praying, and also (and simultaneously by so doing) demonstrating the conviction of one's faith in one's life, setting the example of living according to the center of one's faith, love and hope. The gospel must first convict the undershepherds before they can so speak and so live in a way that, with the power of the Holy Spirit, generate conviction in the sheep.

********************

Fruit tart recipe from Keiko Ishida's Okashi.
Double chocolate cookie recipe from Donna Hay.


Blood sugar high and failure to make much sense not completely attributable to Mark Bittman's macaroni animal pasta and cheese recipe (accidentally left for too long while Rabbids invaded the Phone).

Churlish Christmas Cookies and Celebrating Christmas

Christmas cookie baking with Karl Richter is always a FAIL

The time came for the Christmas cookies to be baked, and they were baked to Karl Richter's Handel's Messiah, because there was no Masaaki Suzuki in the music stash.

But the burnt and leprosy-ridden butter snowflakes and head-losing gingerbread people were depictions of the real reason for celebrating Christmas.

Jordan (from Jordan), who is wintering hereabouts following an unfortunate accident, says: discover Christ, rediscover Christmas.

Even discounting the gift-giving red-and-white Santa/St. Nicholas popularised by Cocoa-Cola, the real spirit of Christmas isn't ultimately about cultivating a mindset of peace and goodwill to all, love for one's fellowmen and generous hospitality featuring family-togetherness, good friends, roasts and spuds, mixed fruit desserts, mulled wine with cinnamon stick stirrers, consumed in the midst of a heavy cloud of citrus studded with cloves; it is celebrating the birth of the man who did not come to bring peace on earth but a sword, who divided families (Matthew 10:34-36), who demanded absolutely everything (including their very lives) from his followers (Matthew 10:37-39), who condemned those who did not acknowledge him as Messiah and Christ.

Which is why Handel's Messiah isn't all Hallelujah chorus without context - the rejoicing in that popular Christmas chorus is actually in reaction to God's final and terrible judgement on those who do not worship his Son as Lord and Saviour*.

Handel's Messiah was originally written for Easter but surely any Easter song is interchangeable for a Christmas one because any celebration of Jesus' birth must encompass his antagonistic claims that all of history has been awaiting his birth, his exclusivist insistence that salvation from the fallen-ness of this world and its ultimate destruction comes solely through him, his shameful crucifixion, his lonely death and his triumphant resurrection.

Christians can celebrate Christmas because they alone can sing Part Three of Handel's Messiah:

I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth. And though worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God. (Job 19 : 25-26)
For now is Christ risen from the dead, the first fruits of them that sleep. (I Corinthians 15 : 20)

Since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. (I Corinthians 15 : 21-22)

Behold, I tell you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. (I Corinthians 15 : 51-52)

The trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption and this mortal must put on immortality. (I Corinthians 15 : 52-53)

Then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: Death is swallowed up in victory. (I Corinthians 15 : 54)

O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. (I Corinthians 15 : 55-56)

But thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (I Corinthians 15 : 57)

If God be for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8 : 31)

Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth, who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is at the right hand of God, who makes intercession for us. (Romans 8 : 33-34)

Worthy is the Lamb that was slain, and hath redeemed us to God by His blood, to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. Blessing and honour, glory and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb, for ever and ever. Amen. (Revelation 5 : 12-13)

They can rejoice because they have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus and need no longer stumble under the burden of the condemnation of their sin; they can die without fear because Jesus' resurrection is proof that they too will be raised on the Last Day, not to face God's wrath and then everlasting death but to everlasting life, to live in perfect relationship with God forever in a world where things more important than gingerbread people have been made whole again.

* Messiah - Libretto

MAJORA CANAMUS (Virgil, Eclogue IV)
And without controversy, great is the Mystery of Godliness: God was manifested in the Flesh, justified by the Spirit, seen of Angels, preached among the Gentiles, believed on in the World, received up in Glory (I Timothy 3 : 16)
In whom are hid all the Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge (Colossians II : 3)

PART ONE : The prophesy and realization of God's plan to redeem mankind by the coming of the Messiah

Sinfony (Overture)

Accompagnato (Tenor or Soprano)
Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplish'd, that her Iniquity is pardoned. The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness; prepare ye the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. (Isaiah 40 : 1-3)

Air (Tenor or Soprano)
Ev'ry valley shall be exalted, and ev'ry mountain and hill made low; the crooked straight, and the rough places plain. (Isaiah 40 : 4)
Chorus
And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see together; for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. (Isaiah 40 : 5)

Accompagnato (Bass)
Thus saith the Lord, the Lord of Hosts; Yet once a little while and I will shake the heav'ns and the earth, the sea and the dry land: And I will shake all nations; and the desire of all nations shall come. (Haggai 2 : 6-7)
The Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to His temple, even the messenger of the Covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, He shall come, saith the Lord of Hosts.
(Malachi 3 : 1)

Air (Alto)
But who may abide the day of His coming, and who shall stand when He appeareth? For He is like a refiner's fire. (Malachi 3 : 2)
Chorus
And He shall purify the sons of Levi, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.
(Malachi 3 : 3)

Recitative (Alto)
Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call his name Emmanuel, GOD WITH US. (Isaiah 7 : 14; Matthew 1 : 23)

Air (Alto) & Chorus
O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion, get thee up into the high mountain. O thou that tellest good tidings to Jerusalem, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, behold your God! O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion, Arise, shine, for thy Light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. (Isaiah 40 : 9; Isaiah 60 : 1)

Accompagnato (Bass)
For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people; but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and His glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. (Isaiah 60 : 2-3)

Air (Bass)
The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light; and they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. (Isaiah 9 : 2)
Chorus
For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given, and the government shall be upon His shoulder; and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9 : 6)

Pifa (Sinfonia pastorale)

Recitative (Soprano)
There were shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flocks by night. (Luke 2 : 8)

Accompagnato (Soprano)
And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were sore afraid. (Luke 2 : 9)

Recitative (Soprano)
And the angel said unto them: Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. (Luke 2 : 10-11)

Accompagnato (Soprano)
And suddenly there was with the angel, a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying: (Luke 2 : l3)
Chorus
Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth, good will towards men. (Luke 2 : 14)

Air (Soprano or Tenor)
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, thy King cometh unto thee; He is the righteous Saviour, and He shall speak peace unto the heathen.(Zecharaiah 9 : 9-10)

Recitative (Soprano)
Then shall the eyes of the blind be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb shall sing.
(Isaiah 35 : 5-6)

Aria (Soprano)
He shall feed His flock like a shepherd; and He shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and gently lead those that are with young. (Isaiah 40 : 11)
Come unto Him, all ye that labour, come unto Him that are heavy laden, an He will give you rest. Take His yoke upon you, and learn of Him, for He is meek and lowly of heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls. (Matthew 11 : 28-29)
Chorus
His yoke is easy, and his burden is light. (Matthew 11 : 30)

PART TWO : The accomplishment of redemption by the sacrifice of Jesus, mankind's rejection of God's offer, and mankind's utter defeat when trying to oppose the power of the Almighty
Chorus
Behold the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world. (John 1 : 29)

Air (Alto)
He was despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. (Isaiah 53 : 3)
He gave His back to the smiters, and His cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: He hid not His face from shame and spitting. (Isaiah 50 : 6)
Chorus
Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows! He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him. (Isaiah 53 : 4-5)
Chorus
And with His stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53 : 5)
Chorus
All we, like sheep, have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way, and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53 : 6)

Accompagnato (Tenor or Soprano)
All they that see Him laugh Him to scorn; they shoot out their lips, and shake their heads, saying: (Psalms 22 : 7)
Chorus
He trusted in God that He would deliver Him; let Him deliver Him, if He delight in Him. (Psalms 22 : 8)

Accompagnato (Tenor or Soprano)
Thy rebuke hath broken His heart: He is full of heaviness. He looked for some to have pity on Him, but there was no man, neither found He any to comfort Him. (Psalms 69 : 20)

Arioso (Tenor or Soprano)
Behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto His sorrow. (Lamentations 1 : 12)

Accompagnato (Tenor or Soprano)
He was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgressions of Thy people was He stricken. (Isaiah 53 : 8)

Air (Tenor or Soprano)
But Thou didst not leave His soul in hell; nor didst Thou suffer Thy Holy One to see corruption. (Psalms 16 : 10)
Chorus
Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of Glory shall come in. Who is this King of Glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of Glory shall come in. Who is this King of Glory? The Lord of Hosts, He is the King of Glory. (Psalms 24 : 7-10)

Recitative (Tenor or Soprano)
Unto which of the angels said He at any time: Thou art My Son, this day have I begotten Thee? (Hebrews 1 : 5)
Chorus
Let all the angels of God worship Him. (Hebrews 1 : 6)

Air (Alto)
Thou art gone up on high; Thou hast led captivity captive, and received gifts for men; yea, even from Thine enemies, that the Lord God might dwell among them. (Psalms 68 : 18)
Chorus
The Lord gave the word; great was the company of the preachers. (Psalms 68 : 11)

Air (Soprano)
How beautiful are the feet of them: that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things. (Romans 10 : 15)
Chorus
Their sound is gone out into all lands, and their words unto the ends of the world. (Romans 10 : 18 / Psalms 19 : 4)

Air (Bass)
Why do the nations so furiously rage together, and why do the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth rise up, and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord, and against His Anointed. (Psalms 2 : 1-2)
Chorus
Let us break their bonds asunder, and cast away their yokes from us. (Psalms 2 : 3)

Recitative (Tenor)
He that dwelleth in heaven shall laugh them to scorn; the Lord shall have them in derision. (Psalms 2 : 4)

Air (Tenor)
Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel. (Psalms 2 : 9)
Chorus
Hallelujah! for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth. (Revelation 19 : 6)
The kingdom of this world is become the kingdom of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever. (Revelation 11 : 15)
King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. (Revelation 19 : 16)
Hallelujah!

PART THREE : A Hymn of Thanksgiving for the final overthrow of Death
Air (Soprano)
I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth. And though worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God. (Job 19 : 25-26)
For now is Christ risen from the dead, the first fruits of them that sleep. (I Corinthians 15 : 20)
Chorus
Since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. (I Corinthians 15 : 21-22)

Accompagnato (Bass)
Behold, I tell you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. (I Corinthians 15 : 51-52)

Air (Bass)
The trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption and this mortal must put on immortality. (I Corinthians 15 : 52-53)

Recitative (Alto)
Then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: Death is swallowed up in victory. (I Corinthians 15 : 54)

Duet (Alto/Tenor)
O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. (I Corinthians 15 : 55-56)
Chorus
But thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (I Corinthians 15 : 57)

Air (Soprano)
If God be for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8 : 31)
Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth, who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is at the right hand of God, who makes intercession for us. (Romans 8 : 33-34)
Chorus
Worthy is the Lamb that was slain, and hath redeemed us to God by His blood, to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. Blessing and honour, glory and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb, for ever and ever. Amen. (Revelation 5 : 12-13)

from here

World Peace, the Good Book and the Christmas Incarnation

Bake-a-thons give rise (pun!) to much time for somewhat random thinking.


This year's Christmas cookies were born of amalgamated instructions* for Pierre Hermé/Dorie Greenspan's Korova or World Peace Cookies and David Lebovitz's promo of Clotilde Dusoulier's Very Chocolate Cookie. In Baking: My Home To Yours, Dorie explains:

When I included these in Paris Sweets, they were called Korova Cookies and they instantly won fans, among them my neighbor Richard Gold, who gave them their new name. Richard is convinced that a daily dose of Pierre's cookies is all that is needed to ensure planetary peace and happiness.

The cookies did indeed elicit sms-es containing many exclamation marks (and not all of them of the ARE YOU TRYING TO KILL ME?! YOU ARE PAYING MY HOSPITAL BILLS! variety either). Can totally imagine Dorie togged out in Miss World/Universe tiara and sash handing the plate around in the Middle East, Afghanistan, Pakistan and few other little 'stans, with glasses of cold milk.


But we know that world peace isn't quite a matter of having the right sort of confectionery in hand, a cup of hot tea on the lap and a sit-down. And we know that only Jesus will bring real world peace when he comes again to inaugurate a world where:

The wolf shall dwell with the lamb,
and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat,
and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together;
and a little child shall lead them.
The cow and the bear shall graze;
their young shall lie down together;
and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
The nursing child shall play over the hole of the cobra,
and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder's den.
They shall not hurt or destroy
in all my holy mountain;
for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD
as the waters cover the sea. (Isaiah 11:6-9)

Well, world peace for those who'd acknowledged him as Lord in this world at any rate.

Had always considered Jesus' first coming as a bit of a deus ex machina set in a modern musical: world fallen and under judgement because of man's sin, the imminent consummation of God's wrath, then the fortuitous arrival of Jesus descending on a platform, rapping: if there's a problem yo I'll solve it check out the hook while my DJ revolves it.

So the Christian life had seemed like a glorious play with audience participation. All real of course but yet with a certain invisible-theatre-like distance. If I'd been given a time machine for Christmas, I'd have set the dial for around 30AD, just so's to get a firsthand gob at Jesus y'see.

But the thinking was flawed. It was based on the same presumptions as the other thought experiment of the nativity taking place in the 21st century: of Jesus on Facebook, of several million photos and videos of Jesus doing miracles and teaching on Flickr, of thousands MSN-ing him to clarify issues (or asking him to get their brothers to share their inheritance with them), of the disciples Twittering away after running off from the Garden of Gethsemane (Mark: OMG! Soldiers arrested J. Managed to run away but nekkid!); the presumption that if we could only put our finger through the wounds in his hand and have a wriggle around in the holes in his side, we would believe or be able to have a more intimate relationship with Jesus than we have now.

Au contraire, said Jesus to Thomas,"Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."(John 20:29). During Jesus' time on earth, there were many who saw and heard and touched him but not all believed. And there were many who followed him, but they could not understand what he was saying until God allowed their minds to be open to receiving such revelation (Luke 10:21-22). It is a grave error to imagine that it is man's effort and faculties that are the catalyst for salvation rather than the whole work and grace of God alone.


While physical proximity to Jesus is unimportant to our faith, proximity to his word in the Bible is of utmost importance. It is the word of God that is the sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17) to wage war against the dominion of sin and darkness. Yet, quick and powerful, sharper than double-edged sword, it also judges us, penetrating even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow, to weigh the thoughts and attitudes of our hearts (Hebrews 4:12). It is the Scripture alone that is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16). It is the word that truly reveals the Word to us. In The Incomparable Christ, John Stott quotes Erasmus as saying "The Bible will give Christ to you in an intimacy so close that he would be less visible to you if he stood before your eyes."**

It seems to me then that Christmas shall be most profitably and properly spent with the birthday boy, meeting through his word.***


*Note to self:
Ingredients
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup Valrhona cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
156g unsalted butter, at room temperature
2/3 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon fleur de sel
1 teaspoon vanilla or chocolate extract
140g bittersweet chocolate (Valrhona Guanaja), chopped into chunks

Over-creaming will result in flatter biscuit. Use non-non-stick baking parchment for best insulation and friction. Remove cookies from baking tray and baking parchment as soon as possible for a less soggy base.

**Suspect the conflation of The Word with the word of God is quite right but that's probably another post. Also have a theory that the incarnation took place at that particular time in human history after writing had been "invented" but before the saturation of the democratic media so that the focus could be on the authoritative word (written/spoken) alone.

*** that is until one realises that one has yet to do some sort of dessert for the night's dinner and happily, comes across an Ottolenghi recipe for Clementine & Almond Syrup Cake on the internets. Because my friends are nothing but encouraging, one exclaimed of the strips of orange zest:"There are maggots on top of the cake!" Then there was a round of applause when the knife sliced easily through the confection - "Well, things could be worse; it could have been a rock cake!" the nearest explained. "We must be grateful for small mercies!" agreed another.

Liked the citrus fragrance, the sticky sweetness of the orange and lemon syrup caramelised on the edges of the cake and the moist ground almond textured interior. The coating of melted good dark chocolate (mixed with a tablespoon of Cointreau) add a nice finish to overall experience. Of the assembled guinea pigs, several said it was actually good and very nice, and others, after being rather dodgified by the ground almond, thought it rather rich and too moist.

Notes to self: skip baking parchment next time. Used only 200g of caster sugar for the cake which was just right. Replaced cognac with Cointreau in icing. If baking for other people, reduce height for drier cake (bleah).

Easter Cupcakes at the Easter Cupcakery and Dale Ralph Davis on 2 Kings

The almost perpetual rain over the last few weeks ruled out all macho outdoor sports (cos those huge raindrops frighten us, yeah), leaving us with nancy indoor ones like badminton. And table tennis. And figure skating.

Ugg Cookies
Ugly like the boots but less woolly and more edible

Why not go the whole nancy hog and bake something then. Darkies over blondies any day. Preferably the sort that will stick to the roof of your mouth, then to your gullet and then give you such a sore throat that only the most potent liang cha made from the horn of a pure gold unicorn can cure. It was pointed out however that although this was pretty nancy compared to a mutual friend's Indian curry which has been known to vapourise the digestive tracts of the unsuspecting, it still didn't quite register on the poof-o-meter. And this even though we left some (ugg) blonde highlights in.

Fondant flowers in naff pink and naff purple. Fondant leaves in naff green.

Righto. Would cupcakes do the trick then? Oh, and what if they were topped the sort of useless foul-tasting fondant cuties that people coo at for 2 seconds then scrape off into the dustbin?[1] Unfortunately, despite the attempt at outward adornment to accessorise the innocent cupcake disguise, these still went far wide of the poof-o-meter on account of their actually being if-thrown-will-leave-hole-in-ceiling things densely molten with 85% African Valrhona chocolate at the core and slathered with thick stick-to-your-teeth 70% Venezuelian Valrhona cream cheese[2]. Like Keith Richards in drag.

I am pink. Therefore I am not a cabbage.

(This being my first time with fondant, impeccable logic dictated that I head straight for the rosa centifolia. Meanwhile, a great debate ensued about proportionality in simulacra and the manifestation of Fibonacci sequences in roses and I forgot to hold on to the fondant, then it just got too boring sticking on more petals, hence this halfun-baked attempt.)

Woohoo! Alien eggs! Dark chocolate Maltesers.

When the beta-testers KO'ed after only a bite[3], I knew I'd gotten the recipe right. Unfortunately, since weighing machines weren't a feature in the kitchen and I didn't know how much of what ingredient had gone into the deadly dessert, there was no way of replicating that. (There were loads of "baking essentials" that didn't feature in the kitchen. The kitchenaid, for instance, had opposable thumbs and was powered by elbow grease.)

Da bunny dunna belong to Easter. So Audrey II ates him.

Tooling around the kitchen was actually an awful lot of fun. Especially with Dale Ralph Davis on 2 Kings, which led to a lot of snorting of icing sugar and laughing into the batter.

Staging area for happycake fondant decorations awaiting deployment.

Baking is reminiscent of fooling around with the chemistry set I got for my 12th Christmas but without Rylands v Fletcher consequences. Those experiments were wet squibs compared to the smoke bomb a friend made with a recipe he'd gotten off the web. The resultant product did successfully give off a lot of smoke and, as a bit of a bonus, also left a crater in his backyard. Naturally, he figured he must have gotten the ingredients wrong and tried to make another in his kitchen ex-kitchen.

So comparatively, messing about with these edibles was pretty harmless stuff, a marzipan carrot up the snot, some chocolate warming in the armpit, nothing terrible, except for the time, unbeknownst to me, someone gave away some experiments to the neighbours. I think an ambulance pulled up for the old dear next door shortly after.

Cadbury's Twirl for nesting material, Cadbury's Mini Eggs. Poof-o-meter = +1

Obviously, with such clear confirmation of my incontestable baking talent, the only loving thing to do for Easter was to whip up a batch of cupcakes for my Bible study group. What better opportunity, after all, for them to demonstrate their assurance of salvation?

And yeah so what if these products were chock-full of such healthy nutrients as refined sugar, refined flour, nuts specially for those allergic to nuts, scary E numbers, unidentified preservatives and the recommended daily calorie intake for a woolly mammoth? Focus on those resurrection bodies, people!

Very thankful for the few hours of sabbathing while kneading and stirring, listening to Dale Ralph Davis[4] gossiping about God in 2 Kings 3 - 7 ("The Days of Elisha"). It is always wonderful to have a womble through the Old Testament if for nothing else (but there's so much more to it), then just to ogle again at the internal consistency of different parts of the Bible written over hundreds of years by many different authors all telling parts of the same story.

There is also something about seeing how God worked in Old Testamental times that adds to our knowledge of the richness of his character and person and so the growth of our love for him. A read through a few books of the Bible tosses out the generalisation that the strict Old Testament God changed into a loving God in the New Testament. God's character remains consistent throughout the records of his dealings with mankind, so we don't have to second-guess his will at any given time.

From 2 Kings 3, we see a God who is sovereign over affairs so that he might choose not to help the ungrateful who do not acknowledge him (Elisha points out that Jehoram who has come to seek God to help him out of his impending devastation isn't making much sense. He still worships other gods, why come to God for help? And why should Elisha entertain him?) or still choose to help them inspite of their ingratitude. We also see a God who is generous and sometimes doesn't just give what is asked of him but lavishly more (Jehoram and his pals just needed water supplies. God gave them more water than they needed and not only that, but also gave their enemies the Moabites into their hands.). And wonderfully, God is a God who is willing to listen to his creatures. We do not realise what a privilege this is until we contrast this with how the king of Moab resorted to burning his own son as an offering to call in his god's favour for the battle (2 Kings 3:27).

God's generosity is also demonstrated in his willingness to give abundantly in 2 Kings 4:1-7 - the poor widow whose son was about to be sold off by creditors not only got enough oil to pay off her debts but even more than that so that she and her son could live off the proceeds. God works through the person's faith to bring about the petitioned result.

(Sometimes, when God works wonders in your life, it may be that he wants you to keep it to yourself; it may be that he doesn't want you to put it in your testimony at the next convention (Elisha, God's representative, told the widow to go into her house and close the door behind her).)

There are times that God gives, just because (2 Kings 4:8-37). God gave the wealthy old childless woman a son even though she didn't ask for one. Whereas with Sarah and Rachel a child had been necessary to continue the Abrahamic line so that God's promises could be fulfilled, this nameless son was, in that way, unnecessary.

We see also how God cares that people live in right relationship and full dependence on him. He made the self-sufficient needy so that they would relate correctly as creatures to their Creator and Sustainer. The wealthy old lady had told Elisha that she didn't need anything from God ("I dwell with my own people") but later, after the death of her only son, she held onto Elisha's feet and begged him to resurrect him, which he did.

(Despite Elisha being the agent of this miracle, we must remember the limitations of the LORD's servants. Elisha was God's representative, his wisdom and his power came from God. We must be careful not to make idols of God's servants because they can't bear the burden of God. And we too are God's servants - we may not always know what the Lord is doing in other people's lives so we should not presume to judge or advise if (as is likely) the LORD has hidden it from us (2 Kings 4:27).)

The caring nature of God does not mean that he miraculously spares his people from the circumstances they are in. The sons of the prophets in 2 Kings 4:38-41 weren't spared the famine in Gilgal. They were so in need of food that it was a real problem when the stew was rendered inedible because of some wild gourds someone had cut into it.

(God created the universe just by speaking, but he caters to our human weakness by giving us physical signs of his works: Elisha poured flour into the pot of stew to make it edible again. Similarly Jesus put his fingers into a deaf-and-mute man's ear and put his spit onto the man's tongue in the process of curing him (Mark 7:31-37). So we should not despise God-instituted signs like the breaking of the bread and the drinking of the wine in remembrance of Jesus' death and resurrection.)

Our God is a God who is not only concerned about his great plan for humanity but also for simple needs. For the son of a prophet who lost his axehead in the water, the loss was not trivial in his sight (2 Kings 6). He was poor enough not to be able to own his own axehead and had borrowed it from someone. And God was pleased to help the man in his time of genuine need even though his concern was simple.

Lest anyone think that God is just God of a little Israelite ghetto, 2 Kings 5 reminds us that God is the God of the whole world. God decides who wins and who loses in wars and in that instance, he gave victory to Syria through Naaman. God's rule is sweeping. There are no bounds to his sovereignty. And God is sovereign not just in world affairs but also in the small circumstances. He put a little Israelite servant girl in Naaman's household and she told Naaman's wife about Elisha.

Yet even though God is sovereign all things, we think that we know well enough so that we can presume to find God's ways offensive. Naaman was offended at being directed to wash in the dodgy rivers of Israel rather than the therapeutic waters of Damascus. But God, through Elisha, said that the way was narrow and there was only one way he could be healed from leprosy. In the same way, the gospel is offensive too to some people. It messes with their broadmindedness. Why only this way? Why only one way? The greatest objection to God's ways seems not to be the difficulty of their execution but that they humble our terribly misinformed pride. Yet humility, because of our inadequacy and our creatureliness, has been the right way to relate to our Creator since the first human was created.

The interesting thing is that if we'd invented God, we would have made him far more congenial. The fact that we are offended and irritated and angered by this God suggests that he might, in fact, be real.

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[1] Turns out that people didn't scrape off the stuff after all. In fact, they liked the fondant and thought it tasted like tang yuan (glutinous rice balls).

[2] I therefore dub these "happycakes" (not to be confused with spacecakes) because of the alleged psychoactive tryptophan-carrying endorphin-inducing qualities of the chocolate and the hours of rampant giggling wrought by the silly fondant decorations (though not doubt also caused by the ingested chocolate).

[3] Perhaps this had more to do with the choice of beta-testers. A staffworker came over to our lunch table saying that he'd heard that chocolate cupcakes were emanating from hereabouts. When handed one for a small taster, he shovelled the lot up in about a minute and was perfectly fine after. (He did say however, that even though he was sure of his salvation, he still had young children that needed his care and that his wife mightn't be too pleased if I'd sent him on his heaven-bound way earlier than she expected.)

[4] Davis is a good combination of scholar, preacher and pastor (he current pastors and teaches at Woodland Presbyterian Church). He deals with the critical theories and interpretative problems of the text and traces the Messianic thread through the Old Testament, yet this is never merely academic but breathing doctrine to be lived out in our lives as our God lives and we live. Reckon his commentary on 2 Kings, The Power and The Fury, might be a good read.

John Piper: Desiring God or Desiring Desire?

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1. Watching Volver, at midnight, with the whole theatre to ourselves, meant we could put our feet up on the row in front without kicking the backs of people's heads and chatter all the way through with such inane comments like "Eeeee. Pedro Almodovar is so humsup" (even though he's professedly gay) and "If Raimunda's mom is a ghost, why can't she just appear in Madrid instead of being stuck in a car boot?", and also, "Is Sole a very bad actress or is she just meant to portray awkwardness?" and then, towards the end of the show, "Eh. Why is there a man in white standing behind us?"

2. Completely cool geek t-shirt spotted after service. Ultimate was ultimately scuttled by rain, but some painting, baking (edible) cookies to use up soon-to-expire stuff and giving the old piano ivories a bit of a run wasn't half bad. Thank God for pottering.

3. Finally. A dry evening! Not time enough, though, for a Singapore Biathlon pitch. Time, however, collapsed and compressed, for a half-hour run round the Singapore Botanic Gardens before dinner. Nifty Nike Frees, fresh air, fecundity of flora and fauna, Lesser Whistling Ducks ducking. The next evening: underwater hockey scuttled by thunder and lightning. Sub-aqua ice hockey soon perhaps? Singapore Ironman 70.3 Triathlon in September 2007. Pwnage.

4. At the Gingers': crowding round some good curry, tandoori and prata and tossing about really bad jokes:

"Would you prefer prata or naan?"
"Ah, the naan that begot Joshua?"
"..."
"You know, Joshua - son of Nunn?"
"........"

We had a listen to a scrap of their impressive collection of John Piper's sermons and a good chat about his Christian Hedonism.

*Off-the-cuff Stuff*

Even without toe-dipping into discussions about classical philosophical definitions of the term "hedonism", it appears slightly worrying that Piper has built his whole ministry around this idea of Christian Hedonism.

The gist of Mr. Piper's argument seems to be:
Premise I: Obligation of a human is to seek one's own pleasure.
Premise II: The greatest pleasure is to be found in God.
Conclusion: Therefore, obligation of a human is to find pleasure in God.

While the conclusion may seem biblical:
1. Syllogisms can sometimes be used invalidly, eg:
Premise I: God is love.
Premise II: Love is blind.
Premise III: Stevie Wonder is blind.
Conclusion: Therefore, Stevie Wonder is God.

2. In Piper's case, the fundamental premise itself is fallacious: the primary obligation of a human is not the seeking of our own pleasure or the fulfilment of our desires. It is to seek God and his pleasures and desires.

3. Just because God has designed us to find greatest pleasure and satisfaction in the worship of him does not mean that we should conflate the two. Our motivation for worshipping God is not to the end of gaining self-centred pleasure but for God himself: because of who he is, his all-encompassing power, authority, compassion, mercy and love etc. Our pleasure is not God; only God is God.

In Which There Was Yuletide Doggerel, Gingerbread, Carolling, Reunions and Plans for the Future

T'was the night (and one) before Christmas, when all through the house, all the creatures were stirring (pots of chocolate), with nary a louse. The gingerbreads (and others) were built on strong foundations with care, in full knowledge that Jesus would soon be there.

And all thanks to Faye and Claire and Bernard Who Bends, pretty stacks of gingerbread people for colleagues and friends. And later at parties with mince pies in tummies, and turkeys and mulled wine and Santas on Harleys, the people sang carols but some didn't believe, the birth of our Saviour who died so we'd live. And how shall we celebrate while dead in our state, for doubtless and sure we will go to our fate.

Doggerel above thanks to the Visiting "Poet". ;-)

The long Christmas weekend was all the smell of freshly baked goods, gingerbread on clothes, sugar frosting in hair, eating candied decorations while waiting for baked goods to cool, cookie cutters left out to dry then retired for the while, enough colourful sweets and chocolates of all flavours and sizes to make a wildly successful Halloween kid do a double take, loads of carolling, juicy turkeys expertly carved, fat sizzling fat sausages, honey-baked ham studded with pineapple and cherry chunks, floor space piled with pretty wrapping and ribbons pulled off wonderful presents, then more carolling and twinkling Christmas trees, open homes and grand parties, wild dancing, the warm smell of pine, pots of mulled wine, last minute wicker baskets ladden with goodies, coldish Christmas and Boxing day morns to dally over hot mince pies with dollops of brandy butter melted over and cups of rum tea, rainbow streamers and confetti in hair, new friends made at parties, unexpected bells from old friends overseas and shimmery glittery cards from even older friends in wintery climes.

Best of all, everyone taking the opportunity to share the good news because every once a year, even staunch suspicious atheists aren't humbuggy enough to refrain from belting out praise and adoration of Jesus as king, ruler, lord, saviour and God in carols.

And it may not seem much to merely tell the simple gospel story and reason why we rejoice at the birth of a wee baby 2000 years ago. But we never know how God works through even the little we do to turn the hearts and minds of others towards him.

"So", someone asked a couple attempting to feed their energetic kids at the table,"how did you finally come to settle down in ARPC?"

"Yes, how?" I wondered, having known them for quite some time.

They looked at me curiously. "You brought us here and settled us down? And you were right about the good solid bible teaching and gospel-centred, Christ-centred preaching, so we stayed."

Couldn't recall having done anything at all. And so it is good that God choses to work even through mindless memory-like-goldfish, blur-like-sotongs to grow his people in love and knowledge of him. Phew. Thank God!

And so there was also alot of excitement bouncing off great plans for the future in between endless bites of turkey and glasses of wine: plans for DGs and loving and encouraging dear members, ministries to the unreached, Moore graduates going on their way (and so perhaps Choong Chee Pang rejoicing), Phillip Jensen addressing the mainland Chinese next year, John Chew being made pointy-hat Archbishop of South-East Asia, mergers and amalgamations of ministries for the proclamation of the good news, potential partnerships in the gospel, The Campus Hub with PSPC (Prinsep Street Presbyterian Church)...

A very very exciting time indeed.

However, we know that God is sovereign in all things. So the LORD works out everything for his own ends — even the wicked for a day of disaster (Proverbs 16:4) and though in his heart a man plans his course, it is the LORD who determines his steps (Proverbs 16:9).

So though we seek the salvation of all by bringing the message of salvation to all, and though we seek to please him who is our master, lord and God, we must ultimately say with James,

Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit"-- yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that. (James 4:13-15)

To preserve anonymity, images thanks to Getty Images and sydneyanglicans.net.