Ok - so I’ve got a question…

I’ve recently read Alexander Strauch’s little book entitled The Hospitality Commands.

Hospitality is a subject that comes up often in the home making books and the wife and marriage books but this is the first book I’ve ever read that deals solely with the subject of Hospitality.

The 2 sub-titles if you like are

Building Loving Christian Community

Building Bridges to Friends and Neighbours.

After opening up the whole issue of how hospitality is a forgotten Christian virtue in our lives Strauch goes on to prove how hospitality can be a means of strengthening the love of the Christian family and also a launching pad for the Gospel.

In the fourth chapter the author goes through the New Testament commands to practice hospitality taken from the following texts.

Romans 12:13, 1 Peter 4:9, Hebrews 13:1,2, 1 Timothy 3:2, 1 Timothy 5:10, 2 John 10:11, 1 Corinthians 5:11.

He finishes the book with helpful hints in practicing hospitality as well as well as recommending other books on the subject.

The overall theme of the book (if you haven’t already got it) is hospitality is a command not an option.

So..

my question is…

(and the book doesn’t mention this as far as I can tell)

Is there ever a legitimate reason for a Christan not to be hospitable?

A few scenarios…..

A new church member whose husband isn’t a believer and refuses to have his home used for such practices?

A divorced lady who while juggling a nursing job in shift patterns and raising her family simply can’t find time to reach out to others.

A single man, living at home under the authority of his parents, who aren’t believers, and aren’t sympathetic to his beliefs?

Church members who in general struggle to provide for themselves because of their physical disabilities?

Is this an area of Christian service which is important to you?

Surely if it’s commanded in scripture it ought to concern us?

Any thoughts?

Elaine

Just a skate in the park….

So our friends are due home from their honeymoon in a few days time.

JP and I were discussing this on the way home from church on Sunday and the kids wanted to know what a honeymoon was…..

So we explained….

“The little holiday people have when they have just been married.

The kids thought that was funny.

They wanted to know why we have a honeymoon.

So we explained….

“Once life gets back to normal it’s never the same as a married couple”.

The kids thought that was funny.

Then ….

They asked why it’s called a honeymoon?

and we explained…

….we didn’t really know!

And they thought we were funny!!

So I distracted them by singing much to JP’s delight.

So why is it called a honeymoon?

Wikipedia says that Oxford English Dictionary offers no etymology for the word.

There are a couple of suggestions here, including that the first month of married life is the sweetest.

I’m not so sure, perhaps I’m married to long, I barely remember, but from the angle of 11+ years down the line I say things just get better and better.

Only he’s not a skater

Elaine

My mum’s Lentil Soup.

Saturday afternoon there is nearly always something simmering on the hob.

To-day it’s my mum’s Lentil Soup. I was having a quick blog and found Dorothy’s Split Pea Soup (well actually Dorothy’s sisters Split Pea Soup) and I thought I really ought to add to-days recipe. Even though this isn’t even a Recipe Round-up day!

This is so easy…..

8oz red lentils

3 pints water

1 onion

Piece of Ham/Bacon

Chopped Carrot

2-3 potatoes.

Boil the lentils, water, onion and ham until cooked 1/2 hour per lb.

Remove the Ham. Add chopped carrot and potatoes and pepper.

Boil gently till the veg are cooked.

Blend to required consistency.

Add some chopped parsley.

Enjoy

Elaine

What would you do?

Mrs B from church sent me this - I thought it was worth sharing:-

More Little Links and a little favour….

In the light of the recent wedding of a fellow church member I appreciated Kim’s post on An Impossible Love - Kim’s not writing about the love between husband and wife but between parents and children. It’s well worth a read.

 

Daniel wrote a couple of posts lately that I’d like to link to. In this link he reminds us of Pastor Chanski’s theme of Dominion, taken from Manly Dominion, Daniel quotes an illustration that those who attended our ladies conference will remember.

 

I recently read Courtship and Dating, So What’s the difference, it’s a well balanced book which sets parents up to search these things out for themselves. As well as Dennis Gundersen’s writing and also Mrs Shay, it was a delight to see Mary Mohler’s article “Modelling Modesty” (which I originally read a few years ago) in there too. This is a great article, I know many of my readers have read it before but if you haven’t (warning it isn’t a little link - more of a longer link) it is worthwhile taking the time to read. If you don’t have time to read that whole article perhaps you would like to check out Daniel’s latest post where he links to Pastor Martin’s sermon on the same subject.

 

If you like an earthly story with a heavenly meaning you may be interested in checking out a post Michelle (who until recently was only known as Mrs B) wrote a few days ago.

 

The little favour is to help me out ….  Did you read any of the links?  Did you benefit from any of the articles?  Do you just scroll on down to the next blog you read?  I can tell from my site meter that I have readers and they do click on my links, what I can’t tell is wether any were of any benefit to you - perhaps you could just let me know in the comments.

  

 Blessings

 

Elaine

A Side From that……

The recipe round-up is all happening tomorrow over at Juloyes place.

The theme is side dishes and as Juloyes says she’s decided to stretch us all a bit

Juloyes is The Accidental Pastor’s wife, she’s got 2 boys and a girl and mostly likely didn’t expect to end up being The Pastor’s wife.

Sound familiar?

On with the excuses business.

1. Hubby is on the other side of the world doing his James Bond impression and he took our camera so sorry folks there are no pics.

2. Let’s be honest - do you make sides dishes when Hubby is out of town?

That being said I really, really, really, did want to take part as I think this recipe round-up is a great idea. (Thanks Rebecca!)

So I’ve come up with a few ideas of how I spruce up the side dishes - hear me out…..

When you are serving your boiled or steamed carrots, add a couple of spoonfuls of orange flavoured marmalade and a sprinkling of ginger, so simple but adds an edge to a bland side dish.

If I’m entertaining a crowd on a Sunday along with my Roast Beef and Yorkshire Pudding (which would also be classed as a side) I most often serve my vegetables this way:

Start with a large casserole and slice in wedges tomato, onion (white and red) and red, yellow and green pepper into the casserole. Then steam some chopped vegetables (sliced in wedges too), sweet potato, carrot, parsnip, leek, baby potatoes, mange tout, or really what ever you like. Mix all the vegetables together (I do this on Saturday afternoon and store in the fridge until Sunday morning). Then I drizzle some honey, crush a few garlic cloves and add a couple of teaspoons of wholegrain mustard to the vegetables. Mix well. Cook in the oven for 1/2 hour and you have a lovely colourful dish of vegetables ready to serve.

If you visit our little province, one dish which is certainly making a comeback and is now regarded as a side is Champ. When I was young champ would have been served on it’s own, making it a very frugal meal, nowadays the local restaurants would all use it as a side to the main meal, either way it is delicious. There are many variations on how to make champ but if you are looking for a traditional Irish meal or side dish, champ is certainly in the top ten. It’s one of those dishes though that no matter how many variations you try you will never quite make it taste like they do in the restaurants

Note to self: - Insist that hubby takes me out for a meal on his return

I would say this recipe with the exception of using the red potato skins is most like my mum’s version, some recipes on-line just add the spring onions without cooking them a little first, we normally cook them first to soften them. I maintain the hotels/restaurants probably improve their flavor by using more salt and adding cream.

Let me know if you give this easy one a try.

Lastly one I found and hope to try is this Parsnip, Thyme and Caramelized Onion Gratin, this recipe featured on one of our local radio programmes - sounds delicious.

I’m posting early as I’m away most of the day tomorrow but I’m really looking forward to gathering up some interesting side dishes on my return.

Thanks for hosting Juyoles.

Elaine

Slemish

Seems everyone is busy celebrating St Patrick’s Day.

I’ve been telling loads of other bloggers to-day that St Patrick’s Day isn’t really an event that all celebrate here…..

….. in Ireland.

Which I’m sure seems kind of strange to you as truth be told it’s kind of strange to me too.

Regardless I thought I would share with you the hill called Slemish which we can see from my boys bedroom window.

Note: This isn’t the view from the window - just an image of Slemish - it’s much more in the distance than that!

One theory has it that St Patrick tended sheep on Slemish and that is where he was converted.

Maybe some of you who have studied the life and times of St Patrick can let me know if that story is true.

Regardless, let me know if you celebrate St Patrick’s day or if like oldest son (about 3 years ago) you’ve climbed Slemish.

Elaine

As promised…..

Can you tell the difference?

We don’t care what they say - We think you look well

We love you Daddymac.

xoxo

Spring is….

… most certainly on it’s way.  

As I have a little browse round the blogosphere folks all over the world are either celebrating St Patricks Day or decorating their homes for Easter.  There’s Daffodils and Easter chicks in abundance.  I know I’m somewhat boring in the decorating department, my home looks the same during the Easter period as it does during the Fall period and that’s pretty similar to how it looks to-day

I had cause to visit in one of our local hospice centres this week.  I’d never been in this type of unit before.  What a pleasant environment both for patients and their carers.

 Marie Curie Cancer Care offer specialist support in a relaxed, friendly and comfortable environment and no charge is ever made to patients or their families.  

How do they do it?

Fundraising. 

One of their big Fundraisers is The Great Daffodil Appeal  it takes place throughout the month of March and with this year being the 60th anniversary of Marie Curie Cancer Care they are hoping for their best fund raiser ever.

My own mother (who passed away last year due to cancer) always said she never understood until she had cancer why the Marie Curie used the Daffodil as their symbol.  She reckoned that every spring when the daffodils were again in bloom was another season given to her by God.  It was always good to see the daffodils back.

 

 

 

Perhaps as you decorate your home this Easter you could spare a thought for those who aren’t in their own homes, those, who last year watched the daffodils opening up to the call of spring in their own gardens, but this year are relying on the donations of others to provide them with the care they require wether at home or in one of the specialists centres. 

Over at the Marie Curie site there are loads of ways to help.

Yes you can buy a daffodil here and here but why not make a difference this year.

A word from Hugh.

Remember, as I said before according to the National Statistics on-line 1 in 4 of us will be diagnosed with cancer and 1 in 3 of us will die from it. 

Don’t put your daffodil in a vase - wear it with dignity.

Elaine

 Previous posts on cancer.

 

 

 

 

 

Church Members et al…

JP updated the church web-site before he left.

It’s still a work in progress but you might like to check it out anyway.

(Look carefully - I hope that’s not the hat she’s wearing to the wedding!)

Elaine