Ginger wine

My family has an obsession with two things, and no time of year does this obsession show as Christmas time. This obsession is Ginger loaf and Ginger wine. Until my Gramma passed away she used to make her ginger loaf right through the year, in my home town they were regarded as worth their weight in gold. Since then my sister in law has taken on the mantle of ginger loaf baker although they are not quite the same.

The ginger wine is the product of my Grandma who has been producing this fine liquid for longer than I have been alive. It does not seem to be popular outside the region that I live, but up here in North Eastern England it is loved, especially at Christmas time. Unlike its weak cousin ginger beer, ginger wine is a winter drink that will put hairs on your chest and keep you warm whatever the weather outside. Agin as with the ginger loaf there can be no substitutions, people will go to great lengths to obtain my Grandma's ginger wine above any other's.

The recipe my Gramma used for the ginger loafs was a closely guarded secret which she refused to share with anyone, not even family. The same is true for the ginger wine, although vague allusions to the recipie have been made no one has worked out exactly how to make it just like her.

There are many things in life which claim to be a secret recipe such as Coke Cola or KFC. The owners of the secret go to great lengths to protect the secret and relying on it to bring customers their way time and time again. They are the keepers of this secret knowledge and the only way to obtain acces to their product is through them and them alone.

Often religions and cults can be like this, mystic and secretive. The only way to obtain the truth is through the priesthood and their mystical rites and passages. "Religions" like scientology will charge you a fortune to "learn" the secret knowledge, other cults require you to give up everything and give it all to the cult. But what kind of truth can earthly goods and treasure buy you? what kind of knowledge is available to buy?

Christianity is always available to everyone, not only is it absolutely free, but as Christians we should want to give it away. Christ came to earth to give us the good news of God's love for us and the redemption that we would receive through Him. Christianity should never be a secret, it should never be hidden or made inaccessible. God gave to us freely that we should have everlasting life. We are all His children and He loves each and everyone of us, why not share Him with those who do not yet know Him? Do you hold back from telling others about Him in your day to day life? If so why? What is it that holds you back?

If God means everything to you, if you have accepted Jesus as your Saviour then it should shine out of you in all that you do. Live right, follow the teachings and it will not be hard to spread the news Jesus came to tell us, people will come to you asking why you live so different to the rest of the world. When that happens you will see how easy things become when God is in control.