Draining Good Health

Perhaps the best part of the potato is the potato water, packed full of added nutrients extracted from the potatoes themselves! Nutrients like vitamins B and C, potassium and fiber, and phytonutrients like carotenoids and flavonoids which are thought to promote good overall health.

The potatoes release their starchy goodness into the water as they are boiled or steamed. The potato water can then be used as a substitute for tap water in your bread making recipes for example, or as a thickener in other recipes that is naturally gluten-free.

Want to show even more love and care in the form of great-for-you vitamins? Use the water that you used to boil or steam your vegetables instead of pouring the water down the drain, as I see in so many TV cooking programs.  

For example broccoli, kale, spinach, to name a few, are packed with vitamins, minerals, containing potent antioxidants, bioactive compounds that contribute to reduced inflammation, protect against cancer, and support a healthy heart. 

Repurpose that liquid left in the pot after cooking or steaming, avoid wasting any part of food byproducts.  Think twice when boiling or steaming.  I'll drink to that!

Creepy Cults And High Priests

What is the nature of a man who considers himself a Christian and High Priest of his family, relegating his wife to subordinate status? What kind of church does this man subscribe to? What drives a person to seek a life’s position other than equal, and more importantly, what is his message?

This man is not part of the main stream churches, although President Jimmy Carter left the Southern Baptist Church because of their failing to promote women as pastors of the church. Moreover, Jimmy Carter said that the leaders of the SBC choose to interpret the bible phrases that subjugate women rather than exalt women.

This defining oneself as High Priest is clearly a case of self-adulation! Where does one get support for his Priest Hood? The main-stream Christian churches do not support this sacrilege. He would have to search for a cult religion, where they twist the interpretation of scripture to meet their selfish ways.

A “Purity Ball” is an example of a cult. It is a sacrilege where the father swears an oath as High Priest of the family before god to protect his daughter’s virginity. Likewise, the daughter swears an oath to be faithful to her father and remain “Pure”.

The “Purity Ball” is sick, creepy, and a sacrilege thus violating Matthew 5:34 “But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne;” and James 5:12 “But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath; but your yes is to be yes, and your no, no, so that you may not fall under judgment.” The idea of “Purity” should be discussed in the privacy of the home and not put on public display with a cult ritual!

The New Testament clearly teaches that all believers regardless of gender, are joint heirs with Christ, and wives are not junior partners in the marriage. Men are not the High Priest and women are not subordinate. Galatians 3:28 “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

The High Priest uses the Bible as a tool to further his gain and justify his behavior using twisted scripture to get his way. He thinks that he holds the keys and locks out those who do not agree with him, and joins groups that think like him. Salvation is the tool that gives him the power to divide and shut out family members who do not worship his twisted scripture.  And we know where the Jews stand with his outspoken beliefs. 

The creepy cults focus on the “me” society rather than the “we” society. Therein lies a major conflict with the Bible: Matthew 25:45 “Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.”

The basis for their entire thinking revolves around 1st John 5:5 "only those who believe in Jesus are saved."  They wear the "Jesus Blinders" proudly, placing the "Jesus Name" over the Jesus Message as their creed.

The High Priest believes that if you are rich, it must be because God loves you. If you are poor, it is of your own sinful doing. The High Priest singles out one or two needy people to help thus fulfilling Matthew 25 and not costing him too much money or effort, but still justifying his “me” society.

There are many back-yard, barn yard churches with their self-ordained ministers and cult church followers that the High Priest can seek out. The High Priest seeks out the cult church where he can join to influence and be an active part of the ministry, solidifying his High Priest knowledgeable status.

The High Priest’s thinking would not be complete without home schooling, which completes full circle the living in a 'cloud' where he holds the keys. After all, the earth is 6,000 years old, dinosaurs were on Noah’s Ark, and homosexuals are going to hell!

The religious intolerance of this group is repulsive, including their social behavior and lack of humanitarianism, and qualifies as a cesspool congregation.

 I believe in Dr. Kimball’s phrase from his course “Comparative Religion” regarding the similarities of the 5 basic religions, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism, the “human capacity for self transcendence” transcends all religions. This religious creepy cult group is excluded!

The Beaker of No

“Listen with the ears of tolerance!  See through the eyes of compassion!  Speak with the Language of Love” a quote from Jelaluddin Rumi,

When Rumi's advice is tested beyond compassion, testing tolerance, we have the choice of saying "No" if only to persevere the love of ourself.  Your "Beaker" is the measurement.

I'm reading "The Righteous Mind, Why Good People Are Divided By Politics And Religion" by Jonathan Haidt and through my  eyes a morality test:

The husband who found scattered throughout the house narcotics hidden.  She was a nurse who stole from her patients.  He said No, and she divorced him.

The husband and wife work The wife's company gives dental insurance. His company too.  He goes to her dentist for a crown. Dentist asks her to double dip on both company insurance plans. and split it. Wife says yes.  Husband says no.

The Bride followed the demands of the Groom to wear sneakers under her wedding gown so that she would not tower over him.

A son who moved many times with his wife and children, finally somewhere unknown for 7 years, only to be contacted for a wedding invitation for his second marriage.

A son who married into a hateful family, who showed hate at every gathering, starting with the shitty seating arrangements for his parents at the wedding reception, next to the kitchen and restrooms.  It ended with no announcement of the birth of their child, and the non acknowledgment of a personal announcement of a death in the family.

A daughter who took sides with her husband who took sides with his cottage neighbors over the physical attack on her father, starting with the neighbor's whippet, and continuing with the fists.  The Sheriff said state law says all dogs must be on a leash and that he would witness for a personal law suit.  The daughter calls her father begging for dropped charges.

A daughter who joins with her husband a wacky doodle church after leaving a traditional Christian Church, and sends a letter stating they want nothing further to do with her parents because they are bad grandparents.

We have an umbrella enveloping our likes and dislikes hopefully guided by ethics. "Even children have an innate sense of morality, knowing right from wrong", from his story of children playing a game of marbles, a game of simple rules from his book.

But some things go beyond the pale.  The "No Beaker" overflowed. I wonder under which foundation would Jonathan Haidt place these beyond rude, absurd behaviors?