Dear Friends! We have an incredible lineup of courses launching in the fall of 2024! Register today for one or more of these free courses and please remember to invite your friends!
EXALTING JESUS IN EPHESIANSw/ Dr. Jason Hubbard In Ephesians, the Apostle Paul, the great interpreter of the mind of Jesus, opens to us the wonders of Jesus’ person, work, and call! In this lecture series, we will soak in this letter which the Apostle Paul wrote from a prison cell in Rome. We might consider the first half of the letter good news and the second half good advice. The first half of the letter is about the “wonder of grace” and the second half is about the “walk of grace.” As we will discover, grace brings us into an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ―“In Christ,” as Paul says again and again.
DIETRICH BONHOEFFER:HIS LIFE AND THEOLOGYw/ Bruce Kerr and Jonathan J. Armstrong Dietrich Bonhoeffer stands as one of the most influential theologians of the twentieth century, and yet his life and theology are still something of an enigma. Hanged at the age of only 39 on April 9, 1945, for his part in a conspiracy to assassinate Adolph Hitler, Bonhoeffer is remembered for his versatile and brilliant contributions to our understanding of the unity of the church, the significance of grace in a secular age, and the practice of Christian community.
THE BOOK OF JOB:FAITH IN SEASONS OF SUFFERINGw/ David Wang and Jonathan J. Armstrong The Book of Job is one of the more mysterious and difficult books of the Bible. Its central theme of faith in the midst of suffering is clear, yet sounding the depths of its response to the theological problem of pain and evil is challenging at every level. We will conduct this course as a multinational Bible study comprised of smaller discussion groups.
JESUS IN THE JEWISH HOLIDAYSw/ Herbert Lang and Jonathan J. Armstrong This course will focus on the major Jewish holidays in the Bible: Passover, Shavuot (Pentecost), Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), Succot (Feast of Tabernacles), and Shabat (the Sabbath). We will review how and why they are celebrated. In addition, we will try to understand how each one of the biblical holidays represents elements from Jesus’ life, ministry, and purpose.
P.S.—There are even more classes listed on the website, which you can access by pressing the “Register Now” icon above. I am really excited about the topics and the qualifications (and wisdom) of the teachers. Hope to see you there!
“Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that has nothing to be ashamed of, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:14-16, JUB).
The drive along coastal California between Los Angeles and San Francisco is as beautiful as any I know of . . . competition for Going-to-the-Sun Road in Montana, the Blue Ridge Parkway through the Carolinas and Virginia, the Overseas Highway from mainland Florida to the Keys, and even my almost all-time favorite in the autumn: Canada’s Cabot Trial around Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia.
If you love road trips and water, and if you live in America and can take a week off for vacation now and then, please consider reserving one week of your life for enjoying a road trip along the West Coast along Highway One, also known as Pacific Coast Highway.
Big Sur, California
We’ve gone a couple of times both ways, but I think from north to south and in the springtime is ideal for two reasons. Heading south allows the passenger the full benefit of seeing the ocean right out the window without any obstruction.
Also, let’s face it, springtime flowers are the best!! Autumn doesn’t flame in California like it does in New England, but springtime is fabulous.
In springtime, the highlands are green.
The lowlands are dotted with cattle (and some of those illusive bluebonnets I was hunting in Texas)!
The valleys are rivered with ranches and blooming orchards.
The roadsides are often adorned with beautiful wildflowers—like these Pride of Madeira.
Hillsides crowned with golden poppies dance in the breezes.
Mounds of ice plants adorn the sandy beaches like jewels (while providing natural erosion control).
Whenever you go, take time to stop at some of the most iconic places, like Monterrey, Big Sur, Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, Santa Barbara Mission, Hearst Castle, and Morro Rock.
And, of course, Pismo Beach, which I mentioned last week, although if you visit the State Beach (401 S. Dolliver St.) between November and February, you might find somewhere between 25,000 and 100,000 monarchs seeking shelter at the Pismo State Beach Monarch Butterfly Grove. (Open daily from sunrise to sunset; no charge.)
This time (spring of 2022), we left Pismo Beach on April 1 and headed north toward Carmel-by-the-Sea.
Every trip is unique. We remembered one night years ago (1995) when we had reservations in Morro Bay. We left Monterrey and planned to travel south on Highway 1, but torrential rains had washed away part of the road south of Big Sur so we had to travel inland via Highway 101 and try to get across the Santa Lucia Mountains on Highway 41, which was a twisty little two-lane road back in those days. Blinding rains made it almost impossible to see, but we caught glimpses of the hills running with waterfalls, which soon turned into streams of muddy water coursing over the road.
Just five miles before we reached Morro Bay, we were stopped by a mudslide and had to go back miles to Highway 101. By then it was too late to get a refund if we tried to cancel our reservations, and Alan, who has driven us through hurricane, tornado, hail, ice, and flood, now got his chance at mud slide dodging. Truly, it wasn’t nearly as bad as we feared—although there was some serious flooding on the road—and we made it safely.
Compared to that memorable adventure, this trip was comparatively easy (although driving with a motor home in California is never truly “easy”)!
One of the most entertaining stops was at Piedras Blancas (“white rocks” in Spanish”) State Marine Reserve. We stopped about seven miles north of San Simeon on Highway One.
Once hunted almost to extinction, there is now a thriving colony (“bob”) of some 17,000 elephant seals who enjoy protection and relative lives of ease!
Some of the males look like 2.5-ton blimps, and it was fun to see their lazy antics that sunny morning.
They can be quite fierce, but their chief occupation while we visited was throwing sand up in the air to cover themselves (and their neighbors) in order to feel as cool as they looked. (What? You don’t think two-ton, slug-shaped Jabba the Hutts look cool??)
Back on the road , there was no end of beauty!
There’s something maximally soothing about the blue-green end of the rainbow.
“The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.” (Psalm 19:1).
Our driving distance wasn’t very ambitious (about 160 miles), but there were so many places to stop that we spent the entire day enjoying the trip (and could have spent several days had time permitted).
Lunch à la seaside is always a pleasure!
Probably “the best of the best” hiking trails are at Big Sur and Julia Pfeiffer State Park.
However, as happened back in 1995, there were again serious mudslides affecting the area this spring (2024), so be sure to check before you venture down Highway 1, as so far they have no promise for when the road will be open again. 😦
On our visit, we were totally charmed by the ambience and the critter company.
Brilliant ice plants
Cormorants sunning themselves along Pacific Coast Highway in California
Bindweed is a type of morning glory that has been labeled an invasive wildflower. How can you tell the “good ones” from the “bad ones”? Domesticated (the “good guy”) morning glories have heart-shaped leaves; bindweed has arrow-shaped leaves. I think there’s something we can learn from morning glories! 🙂
“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:23-24).
Shrine of Junipero Serra, in Carmel, California
Well, I have to quit before getting to Carmel-by-the-Sea because this blog is already too long and it’s time to post, but I wanted to share some of the heart-stopping beauty of the California coast AND remind you that there is something even more beautiful than what we can behold with our eyes, and that is God’s beauty, which we can only behold with our spirits: “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).
(Credits: I took all the photos on the day we visited, April 1, 2022, except for the map of Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, which is from their website.)
One of my prayer partners, Cindi Fouch, shared these pictures with me after visiting Scotland.
I loved her reflections so much that I asked if I could share them with you for Father’s Day:
“To answer your questions: I took these photos during a boat tour out to Staffa Island, off the coast of the Scottish Isle of Mull.
The biggest highlights of Staffa Island are puffins and Fingal’s Cave.
This is Fingal’s Cave. (Mendelssohn wrote a piece by that title after being impressed with the sound of the waves in the cave!)
It is, indeed, the same formation that runs from the Giant’s Causeway all the way up to these Scottish Islands. (This is a photo of Alan and me at the Giant’s Causeway in Ireland; I asked Cindi if they were contiguous.)
So beautiful and surprising, those basalt columns!
On the boat trip out to Staffa Island I noticed a man who was extremely attentive to (I think) his son, a young man with a serious leg injury.
After disembarking and climbing a lot of steps up a steep slope we made our way up the path to where the puffins nest.
This man led his son that entire way!
I thought, “Surely he won’t be able to do this and go to Fingal’s Cave also, since they’ve only given us one hour to explore the island.” But, they did!
The father led his son up slopes and along the rocky cave shoreline to see everything— the puffins and the basalt columns—enabling him to go places and see things he never could have without his father’s constant presence!
The walk was obviously hard for the son, but the father always took on the greater risk, putting himself on the cliff side, standing between every danger and his son.
I love the way that father did not hesitate letting, and helping, his son do something really hard but so rewarding, and it gives me appreciation for my relationship with our great Father, Who also does this for us! Because of our heavenly Father’s constant presence— leading, protecting, helping—we are able to go places we could never go alone . . . to do and see things that would otherwise be impossible! It was a precious reminder of our patient, encouraging Father God.
“The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms” (Deuteronomy 33:27).
Here’s sushi without being sushi. I call it “Landlubber Sushi.”
It’s a light and luscious appetizer perfect for summer garden parties (and fun again around Thanksgiving)!
Cindi provided these at one of our dinners, and she kindly shared her recipe with me. I’m not a big sushi fan (neither seaweed nor rice being on my “great favorites” list), but this recipe combines the visual appeal of sushi with more landlubber tastes.
Turkey and Cranberry Spinach Wraps
Ingredient List: Gluten-free spinach wraps, or other regular sandwich wraps Cream cheese Dried cranberries (could use other small dried fruits instead, like cherries or blueberries) Sliced turkey Brie cheese
Directions: Spread Whipped Cream Cheese in a thin layer on the wrap Sprinkle chopped dried cranberries over cream cheese Lay 2 slices turkey on the wrap, crowding them toward the side closest to you (plain, smoked, or honey-smoked turkey as you prefer; could also use chicken or ham) Lay two slices brie cheese on top of turkey so they run across the length, in the center Roll up tightly, starting from side with turkey and end with just cream cheese on the edge to help “glue” the wrap closed. Use toothpicks to secure the pinwheels, running them all the way through. Slice with sharp knife into pinwheels (Discard or eat! leftover end pieces)
I’d planned to make these before sharing the recipe, but I’ve just returned from three months abroad and am struggling to catch up with life! If you make them and like them, I’d love to have you share photos with me, and I’ll use yours to illustrate!!
“Praise ye the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power. Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness” (Psalm 150:1-3.)
This entire blog has been passed along to me by friends via the internet, so I have no idea who the original author is, but I thought it might make you smile, as it has me:
You may not be familiar with the word “paraprosdokian,” but you’ve almost certainly heard one. The Macmillan Dictionary defines a paraprosdokian as “a figure of speech in which the latter part of a sentence or phrase is surprising or unexpected in a way that causes the reader or listener to re-frame or re-interpret the first part.” It’s a strange word, but in Greek — from which it derives — it makes perfect sense: It comes from “παρά,” meaning “against” or “despite,” and “προσδοκία,” meaning “expectation.”
“Aristotle” by Lysippos, 330 BC. (Public Domain)
One of the oldest, oft-cited paraprosdokians comes from the Greek philosopher Aristotle, who wrote, “On his feet he wore… blisters.” “Blisters,” here, is the subversion of our expectations, as we’d normally expect someone to be wearing shoes, or sandals, on their feet.
The Aristotle example isn’t a side-splitter by any means, but paraprosdokians are frequently used for their comic effect by comedians and satirists. Politicians have also used paraprosdokians when looking for a laugh, whether poking fun at themselves or at others. Here are some classic examples of funny paraprosdokians, from Abraham Lincoln to Homer Simpson.
If I were two-faced, would I be showing you this one? — Abraham Lincoln
Everybody laughed when I said I wanted to be a comedian. Well they’re not laughing now. — Bob Monkhouse, comedian
I have had a perfectly wonderful evening, but this wasn’t it. — Often attributed to Groucho Marx, but was in use before he made the remark
Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society. — Mark Twain
There are a terrible lot of lies going about the world, and the worst of it is that half of them are true. — Winston Churchill
Outside of a dog, a book is a man’s best friend. Inside of a dog, it’s too dark to read. — Attributed to Groucho Marx
He’s a writer for the ages — the ages of four to eight. — Dorothy Parker
Gentlemen. You can’t fight in here. This is the War Room! — President Merkin Muffley (Peter Sellers) in “Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb”
People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day. — Often misattributed to Winnie the Pooh, despite being in circulation in various forms since at least 1906
I backed a horse today, twenty-to-one. It came in at twenty past four. — Tommy Cooper, comedian
I also remember something that Thomas Jefferson once said. He said, “We should never judge a president by his age, only by his works.” And ever since he told me that, I’ve stopped worrying. — Ronald Reagan
The day after New Hampshire, I went home and slept like a baby. Every two hours I woke up and cried. — Bob Dole
People say I’m indecisive, but I don’t know about that. — George H.W. Bush
When I was a kid my parents moved a lot, but I always found them. — Rodney Dangerfield
I haven’t slept for ten days, because that would be too long. — Mitch Hedberg
Behind every great man… is a woman rolling her eyes. — Bruce Nolan (Jim Carey) in “Bruce Almighty”
If I had to name my greatest strength, I guess it would be my humility. Greatest weakness, it’s possible I may be too awesome. — Barack Obama
She thinks I’m too critical. That’s another fault of hers. — Lucille Bluth (Jessica Walter) in “Arrested Development”
If I could just say a few words… I’d be a better public speaker. — Homer Simpson (Dan Castellaneta) in “The Simpsons”
“And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh” (Luke 21:28).
If any of you grew up on Looney Tunes like Alan and I did, you might remember the Bugs Bunny cartoon where he and Daffy Duck travel underground from Albuquerque to Pismo Beach “and all the clams you can eat.”
That became a family joke, so when we actually made it to Pismo Beach, California, I just had to have fried clams for dinner!
They don’t get any fresher, and they were delicious!
After dinner, we took a beautiful stroll down to and along the beach.
It was a golden afternoon, and the area is stunning.
There have been a few times in our lives that Alan and I have taken a week to drive up (or down) the coast of California, and each time I feel breathless with the wonder of God’s magnificent creation.
“What hath God wrought?!”
this time the ice plants were in their glory. I’ve relished them before so hadn’t targeted them for our bucket list, but what a joy to behold!
Of course, the unique attraction at Pismo Beach is watching all the seagulls hunting clams.
Why are there so many clams at Pismo Beach? Because it’s become illegal for people to dig for clams!
However, the seagulls are exempt from this ordinance, so they come from miles around to dig for sweet, juicy clams.
We watched with fascination as the seagulls searched for just the right clams.
Some of the clams were so big you’d think the birds couldn’t really get them in their beaks, but they could!
Carefully, each cagey hunter would take off with his clam securely wedged,
fly way up high in the sky
look for the perfect spot on the beach below,
and let his prize drop onto the sandy beach.
Immediately, he’s swoop down to retrieve his prize before any other seagull could scoop it up.
Can you see the broken clam shell in his beak?
From there, it was the happy task of shucking the shell and gulping down a tasty treat!
As I watched the majestic drama of fetching and feasting while the tides receded, so many ideas came to mind. For one, God provides for all his creatures: “Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds?” (Luke 12:24)
God is a GOOD provider:
“These all wait for You, That You may give them their food in due season. What You give them they gather in; You open Your hand, they are filled with good.” —(Psalm 104:26-28, NKJV).
Also, despite the fact that God provided the resources for fine clam dinners, the seagulls were working very hard singing (and screeching) for their suppers! “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not” (Galatians 6:9).
I also pondered how it felt to be a clam. Were they terrified? Did they have thoughts about screaming gulls and dark shadow descending on them?
How did they feel about being hoisted skyward, crushed by their terrible fall, and devoured by their enemy? Did they feel helpless? Do we sometimes feel like clams? Are we okay with allowing God to fashion us for His uses, even if that means our death? Have we come to the point in our lives where we can ascribe to the Apostle Paul’s faith: “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21)? Do we keep our eyes on Jesus, knowing how much He loves us and that God—our heavenly Father—sees every hair as it falls from our heads? He notes each sorrow we bear . . . yet encourages us over and over in the scripture: “FEAR NOT!” He calls us to keep believing, knowing that though our earthly bodies perish, our spirits never do! Those who are trusting in Christ’s sacrificial death to redeem us from sin won’t lie broken and empty on a vast beach forever, buried in the sand. We WILL rise to be with Christ forever!
And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one . . . I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one” (John 17:11,15).
“Satan may bite our heels but Jesus crushed his head.”
Isaiah 40:30-31 (NKJV)
“Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.”
The last time Alan and I visited our son, Stephen, he made a wonderfully refreshing specialty drink for us while we waited for their gourmet dinner. It was so yummy I “just had” to have his recipe to share with you!
Stephen with his cousin Dawn and me
Coconut-Lime Cooler (per glass)
Just 4 ingredients: limes, Cream of Coconut, cold Seltzer water and Rose Grenadine Syrup
1 fresh lime, cut into about 8 chunks 2 tablespoons “Real Gourmet Cream of Coconut“
Mash together until the lime juice has been well squeezed, but leave the lime in the drink.
Add enough cold seltzer water to fill your glass (12-16 oz.).
Pour 1 tablespoon Rose Grenadine gently into the mix at the end, which provides a sunset glow to the bottom of the glass as well as another pleasant taste point.
Stephen made ours one at a time in 16-oz. glasses, but it only takes about 3 minutes per glass, and it was a refreshing way to keep our appetites in check as we anticipated other great things to come!
“Whether therefore you eat, or drink, or whatsoever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).
P.S.—As an alternate to store-bought grenadine, you can make your own syrup using equal parts of the juice from mashed pomegranate with the seeds strained out and sugar with about 1 tablespoon of lemon or lime to preserve the color [or rose water]. Simmer until ALL the sugar crystals are gone (to keep crystals from reforming later), about 10-15 minutes if you use 1 cup each of the juice and sugar. Cool and store in a capped bottle in the refrigerator.
Want to craft win-win situations rather than dissatisfying compromises in life? My son-in-law works for Pokemon, and last year over the holidays he mentioned reading a great book on negotiating. (Not sure if he got the tip from his company or not, but Pokemon must know how to negotiate given their huge success!) Anyway, this year many of us read the book, including me, and I loved it!
The author, Chris Voss, is a brilliant negotiator. His resumé includes training at Harvard and the FBI, 14 years serving as a member of the New York City Joint Terrorism Task Force and 24 years working with the FBI Crisis Negotiation Unit, including 4 years as the FBI’s chief international hostage and kidnapping negotiator. At present, he’s still an adjunct Professor at Harvard Law School (and others) as well as the CEO of his own company, The Black Swan Group.
So, doubtless one of the best men on the face of the earth to be giving advice on how to negotiate! But not just hostages and international kidnapping cases. Chris’s intention is to teach his readers how to solve personal and business negotiation issues by using what he calls emotional intelligence tools.
Never Split the Difference reads a little like a thriller, because Chris begins each chapter with a personal example. It’s definitely my kind of book, because the stories are inspirational and true, and most of the time, good overcomes evil in the end. Not only do the stories draw you in, they are unforgettable, practice applications of the life lessons he’s trying to teach. As he points out, “Life is negotiation.”
Chris distills his lessons into 10 easy chapters, and I’m going to list a few key points, but if you (like me) really want to learn how to help yourself and others get through negotiations to a win/win end, you (like me!) will need to read (and study and practice) the book. Here are a few of his top strategies:
*Let other people go first. (Not just to be nice; he explains the “why.”) *You want people to say, “That’s Right!” not “you’re right.” *Beware of “yes” and master letting other people say “no.” *Master the “FM DJ nighttime voice” to help people relax. It’s a small skill that makes a massive difference. *Learn to mirror what people say. Don’t “feel their pain, but label it.” *Find the “Black Swan” (the something small and subtle that has a great impact on how the other person thinks and effects what he needs).
As with all power tools, these skills can be used for good or ill, but my prayer is that each of us who practices becoming a better negotiator will focus on desiring that good overcomes evil with the goal of truly loving one another.
“Now the goal of our instruction is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith.” (1 Timothy 1:5, HCSB)
Long before I knew there was such a thing as Channel Islands National Park, I would see a group of islands off the coast from Los Angeles, California, and wonder what they were and if they were inhabited.
They are definitely inhabited! 🙂
There are more than 2,000 species of plants and animals within the parks, 145 of which are unique and found no where else on earth.
For adventurers and nature lovers, the parks are a little breath of paradise!
Especially given that the parks are just off shore from Los Angeles, with a metro area of about 12.5 million people.
Channel Islands National Park encompasses a quarter of a million acres and is surrounded by six nautical miles of Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary.
Whales and sea birds fish and play in the safe waters of the marine sanctuary!
The park’s base on the mainland includes an excellent Visitor Center in Ventura Harbor.
You are also welcome to get reservations on a ferry to take you to Santa Cruz or some of the other eight islands, although it was a windy day when we visited.
The Pacific Ocean is notably rough, and Alan has notable issues with sea sickness, so we didn’t try to get tickets.
Nevertheless, I have an obsession with the beauty of seas and skies and shoals, so we visited in hopes of gaining vicarious pleasure and learning. (Note: This desire for vicarious positive experience really motivates me to share what I learn with others.)
So, we parked near the warm, well protected inland harbor and spent the day studying about Channel Islands National Park instead of adventuring out to the islands.
Did I ever mention that once when my mother was about to leave for a trip to Japan, my mother-in-law said, “If I wanted to learn about Japan, I’d buy a picture book!” The world is so far beyond our capacity to personally experience even the best of it that I think there are plenty of opportunities for using both methods of learning! Of necessity, this was a “picture book” sort of day for me, and hopefully you’ll enjoy some picture-book style photos too! 🙂
Two of the largest Channel Islands became a national monument 85 years ago (1938), and then in 1976 all eight islands became a designated UNESCO biosphere reserve.
However, it wasn’t until 1980 that five of the islands became Channel Islands National Park.
The stated purpose of the park is: “to protect and connect the public to the nationally significant natural, scenic, wildlife, marine, ecological, historical, archeological, cultural, and scientific values of the Channel Islands in the state of California.”
I dare say, this is a very high and noble purpose, and I think they do an A+ job of fulfilling their goals!
They have fabulous posters and photos details highlights from each island and all sorts of interactive exhibits.
They have webcams so you can watch some of the thrilling aspects of nature unfolding, like the progress of nesting birds.
They share the ancient history of the area and remind us of the sacrifices made by the indigenous people so their treasured islands could become a resource shared with the world. (Some of the islands do have residents living on them.)
There are colorful exhibits to help us know what’s actually going on “under the sea” for those of us with as much curiosity as Ariel!
Did you know that 71% of the world is covered by one gigantic ocean (which we’ve divided into 4-5 named oceans, although it’s really one connected body of water).
The visitor center also has a beautiful aquarium to highlight some of the marine life we’d see if we went scuba diving.
Although we didn’t attend any classes, they have a very active program for learning.
We were able to see their magnificent movie about Channel Islands National Park, and many of the photos I’m using were taken from the movie and various fabulous photos showcased throughout the center, shared by people who were able to explore in ways I can only dream about:
Seals look absolutely adorable, but I’ve heard they can be fierce!
Close up of a whale coming to the surface
A pelican in flight, skimming just above the water
Well, it was a day well spent for me, and I came away with a sense of almost being there. Almost! There’s nothing quite so wonderful as actually experiencing the glory of God’s grand creation!
However, I am thankful for every person who shares the blessings they’ve received, and I also want to be a conduit of blessing, both for natural and spiritual beauty.
My prayer is that the beauty of Jesus—who created the heaven and earth and all that’s under the sea—will be seen in me, and that I will be a channel of blessing to others.
“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being” (Revelation 4:11, NIV).
I’ve been making “Black Forest Tortes” so long I can’t remember where I first learned about them. Probably either from my mother’s first trip to Europe in 1960 or from the days when I’d go early to my piano lessons as a youngster, armed with a notebook and pencil so I could scour Mrs. Dykie’s Gourmet Magazines while awaiting my turn for a lesson.
Black Forest Torte served on a cruise
My parents were very indulgent and would buy whatever ingredients were needed to prepare any new dish I wanted to try! I was the youngest of five children, but also the least busy, so by the time I was ten it was my job to prepare dinner for the family most week nights. I think their encouraging my practice of culinary arts kept me busy in the kitchen while no one else was home, but it also served to add variety to the evening meals, which were always served promptly at 6:00 pm. (Oh, ya, my dad ran a very tight ship, but he was also the most appreciative patron of my little restaurant!)
From studying, I’ve learned that “genuine” Black Forest Tortes probably originated in the Black Forest region of Germany, which is famed for tart cherry trees and a specialty liqueur distilled from the juice called Schwarzwalder Kirschwasser, both key ingredients in Black Forest cakes (along with lots of whipping cream). However, I have no memory of asking for or ever using any kind of alcoholic beverages in my cooking, so that was never on my shopping list!
Through the years, I’ve always loved Black Forest Tortes and would order them for special occasions when they were on the menu.
This photo of a Black Forest Torte was taken aboard Air Force One as depicted at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Museum, which we visited on our trip through the Southeast. (So, popular with presidents as well as paupers!)
Black Forest Torte served on MSC’s Sinfonia in the Adriatic Sea
I discovered that my “very favorite” Black Forest Tortes were made with black cherries and tons of whipping cream, so over time my recipe has morphed a little.
Larry holding the recipe he copied as an exchange student in Germany (1967)
Not long ago, our childhood friend, Larry Hembroff, brought an authentic Black Forest Torte to one of our dinner parties. It was excellent, but I don’t think it’s possible to make a cake from scratch as light as the boxed cakes you can buy in America. (Even my German daughter-in-law agrees.) I also noticed he used black cherries too and no liqueur, so I figured I could legitimately give you my recipe without feeling guilty for inauthenticity!
Here is my rendition, cheating with a cake mix, stuffed with tart cherries but loaded with black cherries on top, and smothered with whipping cream. You won’t find anything quite like this anywhere else online, but I assure you, it will be a hit with anyone who likes chocolate cake, cherries, and whipping cream!
Kathi’s Bountiful Black Forest Torte Serves 12
Ingredients List: For cake: 1 triple chocolate fudge cake mix (or whatever you like, but I will say Betty Crocker cake mixes don’t fall apart, whereas Duncan Hines cake mixes are so fluffy they can’t take the pressure of all the cherries on top) 3 eggs Cooking (canola) oil 1 (30-oz) can of cherry pie filling
For Frosting: Powdered sugar Butter Milk Vanilla flavoring Salt
For toppings: 8 oz. pitted fresh (or frozen but defrosted) black cherries 2 cups heavy whipping cream 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
The chocolate cake
Preheat the oven to 350°F. and butter 3 matching 9″ circular cake pans Prepare a boxed cake according to directions, but reduce the liquid by 1/4 cup
Divide the cherry pie filling equally between the 3 cake pans; don’t go entirely to the edge, so the cake mix will be the “glue” that holds everything together.
Distribute the prepared cake mix equally among the three cake pans and smooth.
Bake for 30-35 minutes at 350° until the cakes are thoroughly baked and almost firm to the touch (they need to be well baked to withstand the weight and wetness of the fillings).
While the cakes are cooling, prepare the buttercream frosting. It’s important that the cakes be entirely cooled or they may crack under the pressure of fruit and frosting.
Buttercream Frosting
In a mixing bowl, combine: 4 cups powdered sugar 1/4 cup (= 4 oz) softened butter 3 tablespoons milk or light cream 1 teaspoon vanilla Dash of salt Whip until smooth
Once the cakes are completely cooled (no less than a couple of hours; if you have room in your refrigerator, it even helps to chill them), flip the first cake upside-down onto your serving platter. I have cake pans with little bars that can be pulled around to loosen the side and bottom, which is ideal, but if you don’t, be careful to loosen the cake as much as you can. If it won’t simply drop out for you, I’ve resorted to turning it over on my hand and then sliding it onto the platter. Either way, there will probably be a little of the cherry filling left in the bottom of the pan, which you need to scrape out with a spatula and add, smoothing it onto the surface. Alternately, most recipes just say to add a layer of whipped cream and load the cherry pie filling on top, but I think baking the cherries with the chocolate cake produces a more integrated, better flavor.
If you bake your cakes and then add the fruit and frosting, then the frosting goes first and then the fruit. But, if you bake the cherries into the cake, the the frosting has to be carefully arranged on top of the cherries. If your frosting is too thick to spread easily, you can add a touch more cream, but the firmer the better so it doesn’t ooze out too much!
After frosting the first two layers, add the top layer, and I like to add a final crown of black cherries. The cake will be groaning under this weight of glory, but it’s for a good cause, so wipe up any excess from the edges and place it in the refrigerator to chill thoroughly.
For the finishing touch, in your blender combine: 2 cups heavy whipping cream 2 tablespoons sugar Whip until stiff peaks are starting to form (but don’t turn it into clotted cream).
Lavish a thick layer of whipping cream over all the gooey frosting and cherry filling that made the sides look so atrocious. Once covered, you have a fabulous looking cake that tastes like the best combination of cherry pie and chocolate cake you ever ate!
Place it back in the refrigerator and don’t take it out until you serve it. Your friends may think they can’t eat such big pieces, but it sort of melts in your mouth and never seems to go to waste! 🙂
“Because thou servedst not the Lord thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things; Therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies which the Lord shall send against thee, in hunger, and in thirst . . .” (Deuteronomy 28:47-48). I usually like to share positive verses about praising the Lord for his bountiful goodness to us, but I also struggle with feeling “too blessed” (if you know that I mean). How can I be happy and well fed when billions of people aren’t? I am NOT advocating being indifferent to the needs of those around us, and the Bible reminds us repeatedly that we’ll be blessed for sharing with and caring for the poor, BUT—God wants us to serve Him with “joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things!” If we fail to acknowledge the Lord’s hand in providing our abundance or serve the Lord joyfully and gratefully for giving us abundance, we’ve fallen for a satanic deception. God intends us to experience times of feasting as well as fasting. “To every thing there is a season” (Ecclesiastes 3:1). With the Apostle Paul, we (I) need to learn, “I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need” (Philippians 4:12).
Summer Setting 