Vinegar

Vinegar has been made and used by people for thousands of years. Traces of it have been found in Egyptian urns from around 3000 BC.

In the

Bible , it is mentioned as something not very pleasant ( psalm 69:21, Prov 25:20).

Boaz allows Ruth to "dip her piece of bread in the vinegar" (Ruth 2:14).

While the Nazarites, on the other hand, were not allowed to drink either wine vinegar or malt vinegar.

Jesus was offered vinegar while on the cross according to the King James version of the Bible, yet actually it was sour wine or wine that was off. It was common for this to be given out by women of charity to comfort those dying on the cross.

Whatever it was - it tasted bitter.

Jesus knows the bitter taste.

Christmas points to Jesus

It points to his birth, his life, and the joy of heralding the new kingdom.
But is also envitably points to the cross.
The mention of ol' rugged,
the mention of the pain and suffering,
the mention of atonement for our darkest deeds.
In one sense it tarnishes the moment.
It casts a shadow across the gleeful celebrations.

It leaves a bitter taste.

Bitter like the wine he tasted in his last moments on the cross

But just like the sharp bite of a merlot - the first taste leads on to a fuller experience, a deeper satisfaction and a greater experience of life.

Give a gift of taste...

Today- pass a piece of fudge/ chocolate/ sweet wrapped in a promise from God to someone...

At Christmas- rather then giving an iphone why not bake a cake, create a dish or make Turkish delight for everyone you know...

For Life- Determine to leave a sweet taste in peoples mouths; build up don't pull down, bring out their goodness not their badness, promote their interests not your own interests...

"How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!" Psalm 119:108
Shall we take time to remember the words of God, savour their significance.
Okay, put some honey in your mouth. I mean, literally, do it. Maybe you don't have easy access to honey, maybe a bit of a candy cane, strawberry, a chocolate...
As you let it sit on your tongue, melting, dissolving, coating your mouth with sugar, reflect on some of Gods promises.
I will never leave you...
Nothing can separate you from my love...
Sift through your mind and choose one. Turn it over, look at it from different angles, like a prism in the sunlight.
Let Gods promise sit there, permeating your mind as the sweetness in your mouth permeates your taste buds.

I read in the paper that they were thinking of bringing in a simple taste test to diagnose depression, so impacted are our taste buds when we are sad or stressed. Amazing... Life is hard= food tastes bland.
Equally I think of the memorable meals I have had ones where the tastes have exploded in my mouth... almost all of them were on dates where I was head over heals in love.
Songs of Solomon is one of those contested books in the Bible- a pure description of two lovers, or a slightly cryptic message from God to the Church? Dissapointingly perhaps, I'm going to sit on the fence. I don't see why I have to choose! the depth of love is an excellent example for marriage and the passion displayed is clearly matched, if not blown out of the water, by the love God has for us. And what depictions; taste, sight, smell, sound, fruit, nuts, waterfalls... the imagery is amazing, getting across love that encompasses everything, where anything can be claimed in the name of love.
Know the passionate love God has for you, the kind of love that makes your taste explode, the kind of love that possesses God to send the one, loved son for us...
How beautiful your love, dear, dear friend— far more pleasing than a fine, rare wine, your fragrance more exotic than select spices. (Song of Solomon, Chapter 4:8)

This Sunday we light our second symbolic sparkler and remember the meaning of Advent (the visit of Jesus).
We wait and we marinate in:
The remembrance of Israel’s yearning for the coming Messiah, to save, forgive and restore them.
Our hope for the second coming of Jesus where everything will be restored.
The realisation of our own need for Gods grace, through Jesus.

God, stir in our hearts excitement about the visit of your Son.

Jesus, prompt us to dwell on the idea that you are waiting for us too.

Help us to hear you and help us to be a sweet sound.

Waiting is the theme for today.

I feel a great unrest in these days - maybe you do too. Christmas is soon. The smells of pine in the lounge, the mince pies and the fragrant curries ( my christmas' may vary from yours) speak to me of family and love.

But it is also the time to that we turn our focus onto Christ. His first coming as a child reminds us he is coming again. And he's coming to liberate us.

The world is messed up - suffering and pain is all around us. Our limitations and inadequacies threaten to overtake us. Romans 8.22 reminds us of this.

And perhaps the madness of the pre-christmas build-up helps us appreciate the dec 25 that much more because it is such a contrast.

But as Christmas is coming and as the day Jesus returning comes closer - we must realise Jesus is also waiting for us.

He's waiting for us to see him because he's so close.

As he sits in a dark corner of the street in his dirty clothes and unkept beard.

As he sits in a foster home with five other sad faces.

As he sits in a prison - alone, rejected, hurting, and waiting for us to see him.

THe clip of Al Green is rather strange - he looks like he may be on acid but i do know he became a pastor a few years after this video was shot. But the beauty of his voice and his passion invoke the cry of our messiah to me.

And i'll end with this clip of Ben Harper - he trully has a amazing gift to take his listeners to heaven. The angel he speaks of - could be us. We can be angels on this earth - bringing heavenly things to the ordinary meanderings. We can bring rest and peace for those who are hassled and bring refreshment to thse who are burnt up.

And let us carry those too tired to go on - so they may see Jesus when he comes.

There is a day, created by a musician, called No Music Day. It is on 21st November, the eve of St Cecilias Day, the patron Saint of music and the idea is to, well, have a day of no music. A Guardian Columnist who observed the day this year wrote
"What is it about silence that scares us? Why do so many people only feel able to face the world clad in tinny iPod armour? Why put our feet at the mercy of others' rhythms, and pay so little heed to our own? We've been making music for millennia, but we've only been able to store it and broadcast it for a tiny fraction of that time. The excitement of attending a Haydn premiere in London in the 1790s, certain that this sound had never before entered a human ear, can now hardly be imagined. With our MP3 players and our silent discos, we are masters and mistresses of music as never before; perhaps, the inventor of No Music Day seems to be saying, we are getting a bit blasé."

In this paragraph he portrays the major themes of No Music Day and makes two beautiful points;

Silence shouldn't be scary
and
Sound should be special.

We, probably can't take a whole day, but how about taking a little time to be quiet. Plug your ears with your fingers or earplugs/ some loo roll (it works fine.) Use this silence fast to recapture the wonder of sound and to set your pace to Gods rhythm...

"How silently, how silently
The wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of His heaven.
No ear may hear His coming;
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive Him,still
The dear Christ enters in."