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colossians, discernment, false teachers, lloyd-jones, spurgeon

Don’t let anyone disqualify you from the prize!

Posted on August 1, 2022August 1, 2022 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

One of the most surprising things to me after my salvation was that there were people claiming to be Christian who would try to draw me away from the truth. I had been relieved to enter the kingdom, and I felt literally like I was stepping into a safety zone, an oasis of calm after having lived in turbulence and chaos for 42 years. It was a jolt to my system that though peace reigned between me and God, turbulence between false professors and true believers was abounding.

False professors are people who profess Christ but do not possess the Spirit. I.e., false believers.

Colossians is a tremendous book. Of this verse in Colossians, let’s first focus on the first five words, Paul’s warning, underline mine-

Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize by delighting in self-abasement and the worship of the angels, taking his stand on visions he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind, (Colossians 2:18, NASB).

Other translations say let no one disqualify you from the prize.

There were some spiritual elites going around Colossae, intimidating the new believers there. They threatened them with disqualification from the faith, and the newbies were buying it. Now, a true believer can never actually be separated from Christ, but the elites claimed the newbies were under a threat of failure in the faith if they did not believe and practice things in addition to Christ. This is what the book of Colossians is about- Paul re-teaching that Christ alone is sufficient.

Christ was not all-sufficient to these elites. They said the new believers must also practice one or more of three things: self-abasement (humility), worshiping angels, and visions.

True humility is a true virtue. The elites in Colossians were not practicing it though. They evidenced a prideful humility that pointed to themselves. Which isn’t humility at all, of course. They delighted in their humility, in effect, saying, ‘Look how humble I am! I’m sooo godly! I’m sooo faithful!’

Secondly, worship of angels in Colossae was an issue well into the fourth century. Worship of angels destroys the one thing believers are commanded to do: “worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.” (Matthew 4:10b).

And visions. Oh, my, let’s talk about visions. They were a problem in the first century and they are a problem in the twenty-first century. People who are errant in their beliefs and know there is no biblical support for these beliefs, (if diligent believers go looking) the false professors instead try to buttress their beliefs with experiences and visions.

John MacArthur preached,

What is he [Paul] saying? “Don’t let anybody tell you you’re disqualified from attaining the prize of spirituality because you haven’t reached the level of self-abasement, you haven’t understood the worship of angels, you haven’t had the right visions.” … They’ve said, “It’s Christ plus my visions; plus my experiences with the angels; plus my deeper experience, my higher experience.” (MacArthur, “Spiritual Intimidation, part 1“)

No. Just…NO. Christ alone. Satan’s wiles have always been to sway a believer from the path to Jesus feet, and bundle belief with other beliefs, actions, rules.

Spurgeon said in his excellent sermon on the verse titled “A Warning to Believers“,

THERE is an allusion here to the prize which was offered to the runners in the Olympic games, and at the outset it is well for us to remark how very frequently the Apostle Paul conducts us by his metaphors to the racecourse. Over and over again he is telling us so to run that we may obtain, bidding us to strive, and at other times to agonize, and speaking of wrestling and contending. Ought not this to make us feel what an intense thing the Christian life is—not a thing of sleepiness or haphazard, not a thing to be left now and then to a little superficial consideration?

These elites have “fleshly minds” as the verse indicates. They were puffed up with their visions and boasting of humility and spiritual pride of ‘knowing more’ (mysticism). They had no reason to be secure. Their minds were flesh, not of Christ.

“There is a tendency in human nature to move from objectivity to subjectivity-to shift the focus from Christ to experience. This has always intimidated weak believers and threatened the church.” (MacArthur, Commentary on Colossians & Philemon.)

False doctrine is not only a corruption in the church, it does damage to you individually. One way false teaching and false teachers harm you is that following them even temporarily and certainly for a longer period disqualifies you for the prize. It is the false teacher’s intent to try and disqualify you. Even if they make you doubt, they have succeeded. Even if they make you wander, thus diminishing your effectiveness for a time, they have succeeded. That is why Paul wrote such a strong warning.

For the strong believer, what is inferred is a stronger believer’s responsibility to our brethren who are following a false teacher. How will it be when they are judged, when told to give an account of themselves (Romans 14:12, 1 Corinthians 3:11-15) and we hear Jesus say that a friend has lost some prizes because they followed a false teacher and thus were disobeying Jesus, while we knew all along and never said anything.

Jude says, But you, beloved, ought to remember the words that were spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, that they were saying to you, “In the last time there will be mockers, following after their own ungodly lusts.” These are the ones who cause divisions, worldly-minded, devoid of the Spirit.

Catch that. They are devoid of the Spirit. This means they do not possess the Spirit. i.e. unsaved. But Jude goes on in Jude 1:22-23,

And have mercy on some, who are doubting; save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh.

This means, snatch them from wandering, grab them to prevent disqualification, help them understand in love and in discernment the person they are following will lead them AWAY from the prize.

Let’s end where we started. Don’t let anyone defraud you of the prize. The ultimate prize is Jesus, His faith, His comfort, faith in Him and Him alone.

theology

Kay Cude Poetry: The Trinity

Posted on July 31, 2022 by elizabethprata

Right click the picture to see larger in new tab. Used with permission of author.

Kay Cude Author Statement:

“I [Kay Cude] was reading the July 2022-Volume 706 Banner of Truth Magazine when I came upon an article by Nick Needham, “Shapers of Christianity-Gregory of Nazianzus (AD 330-390).”

Mr. Needham begins, “The fourth century is often considered the Golden Age of the Early Church Fathers, owing to the sheer intellectual and spiritual brilliance of that century’s Christian thinkers in expounding the faith doctrinally and practically. Among its most influential figures were the Cappadocian Fathers.”

‘”This was a group of three theologians from the Roman province of Cappadocia in Asia Minor –Basil of Caesarea, his brother Gregory of Nyssa, and his friend Gregory of Nazianzus. Of the three Cappadocians, Gregory of Nazianzus came to be the most treasured by following generations. Greek speaking Christians reverentially called him “Gregory the Theologian,” as if he were the first true theologian after the apostle John. In the Greek East, the term “theologian” had special reference to the Doctrine of the Trinity. The apostle John was held to be the first great theologian in that sense, and Gregory the second.”

As a Southern Baptist, I [Kay Cude] am insufficiently read of the early Church Fathers, but that four page article drew me into a “beginning understanding” that their unwavering dedication to stand in and teach the Doctrine of the Trinity and lead the church in rejecting and vanquishing the Arian heresy, should also be the understanding and dedication of the 21st Century’s true Body of Christ. We also are to understand that the fullness of the Trinity is wholly divine. And that should also compel us to stand unwaveringly against Arianism and any other demonically inspired weaponry raised against the Doctrine of Trinitarianism.

This dedication is perhaps more important than too many of the redeemed of the invisible church realize; for the bewitchment that is Arianism is once again an acceptable theology of a greater portion of the visible church. Far too many do not believe in the Holy Trinity; and most assuredly far too many reject the second person of the Trinity, our Lord and Saviour Christ Jesus as divine and of the same full essence and nature with God the Father.

In summary, I find that the more I seek to learn and understand, the more I realize how very little I know and how very faint is my understanding of the Holy Trinity; and yet I am compelled to want to know. And that is the excellency of the mystery of the sovereign and providential work and will in our spirits by our Father the Lord God I AM WHO I AM; that our hearts are compelled by the Holy Spirit to seek to know the Lord God I AM as He really is; and in that, to know and honor and worship the divine fullness of the Trinity and the three distinct persons, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. We must desire to have a right understanding of what is the true honoring in the true worship of the “One Deity and Power, found in the Three-in Unity.”

ORATION 40, CHAPTER 41 – GREGORY OF NAZIANZUS

I set before you the One Deity and Power, found in the Three-in-Unity,
Embracing the Three One by One, equal in essence and nature,
Neither increased nor decreased by ideas of greater or less;
In every way equal, in every way the same,
Just as the loveliness and hugeness of the heavens are one:
The infinite oneness of Three Infinite Ones,
Each of whom is God when seen individually in Himself.
As the Father is God, so is the Son,
And as the Son is God, so is the Holy Spirit;
And the Three are likewise One God when seen together.
Each is God because they are of the same essence,
And they are One God because of the single principle of Deity.
The very instant I conceive of the One,
I am enlightened by the brightness of the Three;
The very instant is differentiate them,
I am carried straight back to the One.
When I regard any One of the Three, I think of Him as the Whole;
My sight is filled to the brim,
And the greater part of what I am thinking of eludes me!
I cannot grasp the greatness of One of the Three
So as to reckon a greater greatness to the Others.
And when I see the Three together, I see only one torch,
And I cannot divide or share out the Undivided Light.

right click to open larger in new tab. Poetry by Kay Cude

theology

This body of death/This body of life

Posted on July 30, 2022July 30, 2022 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

For the wages of sin is death, but the gracious gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23).

We all have a sin-nature. Every person born on the planet (except Jesus) has inherited the sin of their Federal Head, Adam. All humans are sinners, and therefore all people are worthy of death, according to God.

After our salvation, when we repent of our sins and trust in Jesus, we are no longer under the penalty of death. We have been transferred to the gift of eternal life. Jesus absorbed the wrath for all who would believe when He was on the cross, and more than that, HIS righteousness was imputed to us who would believe. So we no longer have the death penalty hanging over our heads. His death and resurrection cleared those who would believe back to zero on God’s books. In addition, we do not remain at zero, for we would naturally sink again. Being sinners, even forgiven sinners still sin. We have the plus of His righteousness, which launches us from zero to infinity and beyond. Thus when God looks at a believer, He sees the righteousness of His Son.

Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? (Romans 7:24).

It was Jesus who delivered us from this body of death.

I have read that in the ancient days, a penalty for a murderer was to strap the dead body of the person he had killed to him. As the dead body putrefied, the corruption would seep into the convict’s pores and soon he would begin to decay as well. The dead consumed the living person’s life. Perhaps this was what Paul had in mind when he cried out for deliverance from “This body of death” in Romans 7:24.

Every person alive today has one of two types of a body ‘strapped’ in him. The unsaved person has a body of death, he IS a body of death. The saved person has a body of Life. Every genuinely saved person possesses the Holy Spirit indwelling him or her. God resides IN us!

We have a body of life strapped on us: we have two persons of the Trinity with us at all times: the Spirit IN us (indwelling) and Jesus with us never forsaking us

the Helper is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him; but you know Him because He remains with you and will be in you. (John 14:17).

The Spirit is in a believer and the Lord is with us, never to leave or forsake us. Two Persons of the Trinity are with us and in us at all times.

Therefore,

Knowing that we have been given deliverance from the body of death,
and knowing that we have been given Jesus’ righteousness,
and knowing that two persons of the Trinity are in and with us at every moment…

then…

Is what you’re doing right now honoring to Him? What you’re saying? What you’re watching? What you’re thinking? Just as the putrefaction of the dead body strapped to the murderer seeps in, so does the holiness of adhering to the statutes of Jesus. What pleases Him will seep into us. The Spirit holy thoughts and holy words and holy acts to expand our righteousness, further cleanse our sin nature, and wash our conscience.

It’s truly simple: sin corrupts … holiness cleanses.

bible, encouragement, sailing

Our Captain of the Mighty Seas

Posted on July 29, 2022July 29, 2022 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

“O Lord of the oceans,
My little bark sails on a restless sea,
Grant that Jesus may sit at the helm and steer me safely;
Suffer no adverse currents to divert my heavenward course;
Let not my faith be wrecked amid storms and shoals;
Bring me to harbor with flying pennants,
Hull unbreached, cargo, unspoiled.“

Excerpt from ‘Voyage‘, The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions, Edited by Arthur Bennett

I simply love the Valley of Vision Puritan devotionals. They are so Jesus-centered. It’s refreshing to read and ponder written prayers devoid of anything from today’s toxic effects of me-centered, prosperity, self-esteem nonsense.

I lived aboard a small yacht for two years, and through that experience I have a deep appreciation for the biblical allusions related to anything nautical. The Lighthouse, the stormy seas, the waves, reefs, and lee-side are all familiar to me and I can deeply identify with them. I suppose it is the same with the believing farmers and fishermen regarding the agricultural or fishing metaphors. Not that one needs to have had a certain life experience before understanding, but the life experience Jesus causes us to have does deepen some aspects of the Word and we gravitate to them on a different level. It’s like when a person becomes a parent for the first time, they understand the biblical verses related to parenting on a different level then they did before.

Though our boat is at anchor in this photo, we spent many a day where the sea looked as calm and as flat as it is in the picture as we tried capturing wisps of wind flowing here and there and inching along over tiny waves.

The sailor is ever restless. We want to go and we thus pray for wind. The wind comes but it’s not enough, or it’s too much. When the boat finally settles on a loping rhythm up and down the waves, the sailor wishes he was in port. Of course the moment one is in port, one wishes for the freedom of the sea. And so it goes.

The frustration of no wind can’t be overstated. The luffing sails, slack and listless seem almost an affront. One cannot manufacture wind. One cannot control the wind. One only waits, hopes, prays, and looks. The sailor learns patience. The sailor learns to relinquish control.

The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit. (John 3:8)

The opposite is a problem, too. Too much wind can damage the boat, set the sailor off his course, or even swamp him and all will be lost at sea. The storms can be terrifying.

But the LORD hurled a great wind upon the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship threatened to break up. 5Then the mariners were afraid, and each cried out to his god. (Jonah 1:4-5a)

Luke wrote of the travails Paul endured when he put on a ship that set forth too late in the year. In their part of the world, winter was a time when many storms brewed up and winds became contrary in a moment.

The Storm at Sea:
Now when the south wind blew gently, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, they weighed anchor and sailed along Crete, close to the shore. But soon a tempestuous wind, called the northeaster, struck down from the land. And when the ship was caught and could not face the wind, we gave way to it and were driven along. (Acts 27:13-15).

And putting out to sea from there we sailed under the lee of Cyprus, because the winds were against us. (Acts 27:4).

Sailors know the prevailing wind‘s direction given the time of year. Prevailing winds are winds that blow predominantly from a single general direction over a particular point on the Earth’s surface. They try to use islands as their shelter, making it a lee. This means if the prevailing wind comes from the east toward the west, if you sail or anchor on the west side, the island has blocked the wind and you will have more peaceful waters upon which to sail or sleep. Like this:

As the poet stated in Valley of Vision, “Bring me to harbor with flying pennants, hull unbreached, cargo, unspoiled.” That is always the sailor’s main objective- get to harbor. Sailors are not made to voyage permanently, or Christians are not made to pilgrimage permanently. We are all voyaging toward one and only one harbor, the feet of the risen Jesus in the safety of His harbor, the Kingdom of God.

Until then we have a great and powerful Captain, our Rock to shelter and protect us from the storms and winds that try to blow us off course or drown us. Our Lord is our ever-present and mightily capable Captain of safety. Thus, thanks to Jesus Christ, it is well with our sail soul.

theology

What happens when we go outside of God’s word?

Posted on July 28, 2022July 28, 2022 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

The Shack. You remember that book, right? Written by William P. Young. After Young received repeated rejections, it was self-published in 2007. A year later, one million copies had been sold. It then vaulted to the top of the New York Times bestseller list, where it comfortably spent 139 weeks, or two-and-a-half years, resurging to the top ten again when the movie came out in 2017. It seems that The Shack is here to stay.

Since this book and now the movie has had such lasting power and such impact, let’s take a look behind the scenes of its origins.

Continue reading →

apollos, church, encouragement

Apollos: a man mighty in the scriptures but humble enough to be taught

Posted on July 27, 2022July 27, 2022 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

We don’t often read those two words in one sentence, “mighty” and “humble,” let alone see those qualities in the same man.

There are so many names in the Old and New Testament. We read of Adam, Noah, Joshua, David, Mary, Joseph, Paul, Peter. And the rarely-mentioned names like Jason, Philemon, Jairus, Cornelius… The great scope and sweep of biblical history from Genesis to Revelation is a tremendous river of events and real people rolling on and under the Providential care of the Holy God we serve. These real people are ones we will have fellowship with forever. They aren’t characters, and they are not long-gone. They are alive! They’re in heaven eagerly awaiting their resurrection body, awaiting the arrival of the rest of their brethren, and worshiping Jesus right now like we will do when we get over yonder.

It’s important to remember that. When we read the Bible and see that Cornelius was commanded to go to Joppa and speak with Simon the Tanner, those are real people, alive today in heaven. Do you ever wonder more about these men and women, the oft-mentioned like Paul and the little-mentioned, like Simon the Tanner? How their lives were, how they died, what their conversion story is?

Continue reading →

brimstone, gomorrah, mercy, prophecy, remember lot's wife, sodom, wrath

"Homosexuality is the unfailing characteristic of paganism"

Posted on July 26, 2022 by elizabethprata

In reading the Word of God, it is such a delight when one re-reads the same passage and yet unearths new insights. It’s a delightful mystery to me how this happens, but it is also a wonderful confirmation that the Word is living and active, just as was promised. (Hebrews 4:12).

Genesis 19 is the pivotal chapter where God sends Jesus in a pre-incarnate visit along with two other angels to speak with Abraham and to render destruction onto Sodom (and Gomorrah and Admah and Zeboiim, and apparently Zoar was also slated for destruction but mercy came when Lot pleaded to be allowed to live there).

In searching out the parallel scriptures the Spirit brought the following to mind:

Mrs. Lot. I’ve always wondered about her turning into a pillar of salt. I’ve always wondered about the admonition from Jesus to “Remember Lot’s wife!” (Luke 17:32).

Well, if you read right before verse 32, Jesus is saying what NOT to do when the day of Destruction comes,

31On that day, the one who is on the housetop and whose goods are in the house must not go down to take them out; and likewise the one who is in the field must not turn back. 32″Remember Lot’s wife.

Mrs Lot had turned back. She was already behind, and she did not merely glance back, but had turned back, thus becoming embroiled in the destruction. Also by her action she demonstrated which path she wanted to take (the broad path).

I was also astounded to learn there is another parallel verse which mirrors the language of Genesis 19, in Judges 19. When I read the parallel verses I had to double-check them to make sure I wasn’t reading the same incident.

Continue reading →

theology

Should we look at a teacher’s lifestyle? Or only his/her doctrine?

Posted on July 25, 2022July 25, 2022 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

A reader took issue with me recently, saying that me pointing out things related to a teacher’s lifestyle is hitting below the belt, is wrong, and now she has to wonder at my heart motivations.

This kind of discussion often comes up when I post about a false teacher’s lifestyle. People seem to think that their lifestyle is off-limits while only comparing their doctrine is acceptable. That is what being a Berean is all about, look at doctrine only, they say. Lifestyle is off the plate and not our business.

But is it?

Continue reading →

encouragement, Uncategorized

Kay Cude: The Light of Our Salvation

Posted on July 24, 2022 by elizabethprata

Artist’s statement:

For me, the lone tree speaks of God’s wonderful handiwork, not only representing His gift of nature, but brings to mind that His redeemed are not alone, but safely tucked within His Might eternally. And as the brilliance of the sun pierces boldly through the dark-ending of the storm, one thought leads me to another — remembrance of Christ’s death and resurrection. Then speaks to His beloved redeemed: the “things” of this world are now more clearly seen through the light of His Salvation! We must daily pause to remember…

theology

Best of the Summer

Posted on July 23, 2022 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

This is my last day of summer. In fact, yesterday really was. Today I have a church event for 2/3 of the day. And tomorrow is the Lord’s Day.

It was a good and relaxing time of peace and quiet. I work 190 days a year in school, spread out, but the summer is the longest break educators have. I try to put the time to Godly use, making the most of my singleness. (1 Corinthians 7:32).

I had some goals I’d set out in May at the last day of school/first day of summer. I think it’s good to set goals. Reagan Rose of Redeeming Productivity has a lot of helpful essays and podcasts teaching how to be productive, if you’re interested. My father always used to say “A body in motion tends to stay in motion, a body at rest tends to stay at rest.” (Newtons’ First Law of Thermodynamics). And boy is that true of me and my flesh! It doesn’t want to do anything. That is why I set goals. AN unmet goal drives me crazy and being driven crazy keeps me in motion.

I’ve read some books that were good, some that were bad, some that were forgettable, and some that were unforgettable. Two of them in the unforgettable category have been

From Death to Life: How Sanctification Works, by Allen S. Nelson IV. Fantastic book.

Internet Inferno: A Contemporary Warning and Reminder Regarding this Ancient Truth – “The Tongue is a Fire, the Very World of Iniquity, and is Set on Fire by Hell” James 3:6,” by Michael John Beasley. Digestible and convicting treatment on social media and the Christian.

And now this summer I add a third book in the unforgettable category: Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy: Discovering the Grace of Lament by Mark Vroegop. It’s not a surprise to anyone that times we live in are bringing much sorrow, grief, and confusion. I was asked if I had written any blogs on how to biblically lament. I hadn’t but it was a GREAT question I sought to rectify immediately. I “happened” to have Vroegop’s book on lament, so I read it and wrote a three part series. Vroegop’s book was helpful in understanding the elements of lamenting, how complaints can be OK (with a caveat), and how through grief, we can trust.

I love the Puritans and I love studying about them. At Media Gratiae (The Means of Grace) they have some wonderful documentaries, and of course essays, podcasts, and a store. For my summer gift to myself, I bought the Documentary Puritan in streaming form. It’s a 2-hour documentary, and includes 35 different, shorter lessons focusing on various Puritan man, women, and topics.

I watched 21 of the short bios, I have 15 more to go. So I didn’t quite make it through all of them but I watched 2/3 of them and found the videos edifying. I loved them. I’ll continue.

I did finish my Institute for Church leadership course at The Master’s Seminary (online). The course was Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, with John Street. Those videos were sprinkled in with the Puritan ones, so having both those goals going on at the same time seemed to be a bit much for my poor brain to take in.

Open Hearts in a Closed World (OHCW) is an online conference founded by Brooke Bartz. Over the 3 years since the conference was founded, we’ve been blessed by music from CityAlight and The Master’s University Praise Band, hosts such as Media Gratiae, the Master’s Seminary and American Gospel TV, and from teachers such as Susan Heck, Brooke Bartz, Erin Coates, and Martha Peace. That’s quite something!

The theme this year for year 3 was “Spiritual Sisterhood: Going Beyond the Facade“.

I like all the teaching from everybody on the schedule that Brooke presents to us. It’s all good. This year Martha Peace’s teaching stood out to me. It was a thoroughly enjoyable and educational time. Her video is here. It is called “Developing Godly Character.”

Our church watched the 2019 documentary American Gospel 2: Christ Crucified. It’s a PHENOMENAL documentary. The film is a masterpiece of truth, and a hugely beneficent gift to the church. SO many of us were edified, left revived with gushes to share with family and friends, convicted over our sins, unified in our understanding. THANK YOU, Director Brandon Kimber! The film’s blurb says:

“The gospel message of “Christ crucified” has always been offensive. In our culture it is common for preachers to soften the offense of the cross, and the attributes of God that are displayed in the person and work of Jesus Christ. “American Gospel: Christ Crucified” explores how the paths of post-modernism and progressive Christianity lead to a different gospel, and a god created in our own image.
“But we preach Christ Crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness…” (1 Cor. 1:23)”

We often hear the phrase, “Jesus died for our sins.” What does that mean?
Is the God of the Old Testament the same as the God in the New Testament?
Did God the Father kill Jesus?
Can a loving God also express wrath?
Why is hell necessary?”

The pacing, the graphics, the interviewees…all so fantastic. Going through those complex doctrines together is so helpful for our church and progresses us toward not only unity among ourselves (which is GREAT) but a growing love for Christ. The day we all watched that together was one of the best days of the summer.

I like to kick back after a day of writing and absorbing Godly content with some good ole TV. I like well-written, well-acted shows, with nice scenery and clean of skin, cleavage, yelling, quick cuts, (the yelling and quick cuts leaves out most cooking competitions), and no profanity. Ha. I’m looking for a unicorn.

Bu unicorns exist. Just not in America. I found three shows I love, one is Japanese and two are Korean.

Old Enough is a long-running Japanese show of many years. Netflix has acquired the latest season. Toddlers aged 3 and up are sent on their first errand alone. They’re told to go to the store to get tofu, or to bring some mandarins to a neighbor down the street or bring Daddy his lunch. At first it seems ridiculous to watch toddlers toddle off into the world alone, crossing streets, having to remember the list of things mommy told them to get (usually two or three). But it turns out that Japan’s cities are designed for pedestrians, set in small communities with small shops, where everyone knows everyone. In addition, a cadre of crew from the show surround the kids in the form of cameramen, and fake pedestrians, gardeners, electrical workers, etc. The child isn’t alone at all. It’s a lighthearted fun, cute show of about 20 minutes each episode. Rated G!

Extraordinary Attorney Woo and Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha are two Korean dramas, or K-dramas in the lingo. I liked Attorney Woo because I like lawyer shows with court cases. It’s interesting to see how Korean courts work. Woo is autistic, and it’s the best show I’ve seen that accurately depicts a life of an autistic person, with all the intentional insults, unintentional slights, marginalization, and difficulties of the autistic person’s life and also the the life of the people around her. Though the show does it subtly and is not the total focus by any means. The show is good at subtlety with developing characters during the season, too. No profanity, skin, sexual innuendo, or really anything to object to. The elderly are honored, the clothes cover, education is prized, politeness is expected…Ahhhh.

Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha is a romantic comedy (subtle comedy, not guffaw har har). A dentist resigns from her big city job in Seoul for various reasons to move to the sticks to open an dental clinic. The show presents the difficulties of changing her mindset from big city, high income, credible reputation to small town community, being involved with people not just patients, and lower reputation (Koreans apparently have a high regard for education and if you attend University you’re expected to do something huge with it). She meets a cute guy who seems to be a simple laborer and she resists on that basis, but learns there’s much more to him along the way and also about life’s priorities.

Netflix has an enormous cadre of Korean shows. You can watch them either dubbed into English or with subtitles.

I’ll Fly Away is simply the best TV show ever made in my opinion. It was SO GOOD it only lasted two seasons. (1991-1993). It stars Sam Waterston pre-Law & Order role. IMDB has the info here.

A reviewer summarized the plot: “This was a sensitive, complex series about a family struggling with the complexities of life in a small Georgia town during the Civil Rights Movement. It was ably acted by the entire cast, beautifully written. Never cloying, always intelligent.” So of course they cancelled it. It is not available on any streaming platform, but as of this writing you can see it on Youtube. The Network did allow for a concluding two hour TV movie to tie up loose ends, which was as expected, well done and satisfying. The entire series plus movie is available below, except for the 1st episode, which you can find as of this writing, below the video below.

Brooklyn Bridge is another well received, well done 1990s series that only lasted a short time Starring Marion Ross (Of Happy Days fame) and Amy Aquino, it is about a Jewish family in Brooklyn in the 1950s. The show evokes a sense of place, atmospheric and full of nostalgia, but more sensitively and realistically than Happy Days did. It’s just a plain old nice show. A Unicorn. On Youtube as well.

baba ganouj: I love making this Mediterranean dip in the air fryer. I let the eggplant cool, scrape the meat out and add lemon juice, tahini (peanut butter of I’m out), salt and blend. A hearty dip or a sandwich spread, it is one of the best things of my summer. After tomatoes!

One day I had too many grapes. So what do I do with them? I roasted them, of course! I figured out that if I roasted grapes the flavor intensifies. I topped my salmon steak with them and it added a sweet-tart flavor and juices that blended well with salmon. A new dish was born!

So that was summer. The best of! I hope you’re enjoying the warmer weather wherever you are and have an opportunity to get out and enjoy God’s green earth.