Watermelon Love

Many years ago, Wendell and I bought tickets to see Leo Anthony Gallagher Jr. in person. Are you familiar with him?

He became one of the most recognized performers of the 1980’s and 1990’s. You might know him better as simply Gallagher. According to my online search this morning, he passed away last November at almost 76 years of age.

He was best known for his signature act of smashing a watermelon, and other melon-type fruit, on stage with a very large, wooden sledgehammer. He called it the “Sledge-o-Matic”, and he made a mess of the people in the first few rows. (If you were smart, you brought large pieces of plastic to cover yourself)

Part of Gallagher’s act was also a play on words, or “witty wordplay” as it were. For instance, “why do they call them buildings when they are done building them?” Gallagher proposed we call them “builts” Or, “Why do they call it a TV set when you only get one?”

Another part of the act was making fun of the English language and I loved it!

He held up a sign that read ‘bomb’. He pronounced it. Then he replaced the first ‘b’ with a ‘t’ and it became ‘tomb’. He then asked, “Tom? No, it’s tomb”. He then put the first ‘b’ back and asked, “Ok, then this is ‘boom’? no it’s bomb.” Then he dropped a ‘c’ where the first ‘b’ was, and it became “comb” with a long o.

The skits were funny, but they really drove home how confusing the English language can be.

Take the word ‘read’. If past tense, it sounds like ‘red. If present tense, it sounds like ‘reed’

Look at the word ‘to’. Or is it too? Or perhaps you meant two?

Did you stub your toe waiting for a tow?

I wonder if he knew is was new?

These are homophones. Two or more words having the same pronunciation but different meanings, origins, or spelling.

How about the word ‘binder’?

If you are in school, you might automatically think of the three-ring binder that holds your papers, schedule and such.

If you are a farmer, you might think of the binder that binds the wheat into bundles or sheaves.

A binder could be an actual person that binds something such as books.

If you are an insurance again a binder has a totally different meaning. You might think of a temporary insurance contract that provides coverage until the policy is issued.

A binder could be something such as money given in earnest, or an agreement arrived upon.

If you are a chef or a baker, a binder has a much different meaning. In fact, the USDA has a long list of binding agents, and I will add those to the bottom of today’s writing if you want to print them out.

A binder, in this instance however, binds something together.

What if you are Jesus?

Colossians 3:14 tells us that love binds everything together in perfect harmony.

In this case, ‘love’ is the binding agent. Love is what holds it together. Love is what makes it whole and complete.

In fact, without this binding agent, we are useless and pretty much worthless.

1 Corinthians 13:1-3 spells it out. You can’t get around it, you must show love.

“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

“And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

“If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.” 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 ESV

Love is very important to our Creator God. He risked everything because of His love for each and every one of us; the least we can do is show love to those same people.

What does it mean to love? I can love chocolate cake, and I do but it’s not the same love I have toward my dog. And that love doesn’t compare to the love I have for my children and grandchildren. So, it’s a legit question, what does it mean to love the way God wants me to love?

That too is spelled out for us very plainly.

Love is patient and kind.

Love does not envy or boast.

Love is not arrogant or rude.

Love does not insist on its own way.

Love it is not irritable or resentful.

Love does not rejoice at wrongdoing.

Love rejoices with the truth.

Love bears all things.

Love believes all things.

Love hopes all things.

Love endures all things.

Love never ends.

That chapter ends by telling us faith, hope and love abide, but of those three, the greatest, the most important is love.

Love binds everything together in perfect harmony.

When you speak, speak through the lens of love. When you act, act through the lens of love. When you think, filter your thoughts through love. If we do that, we please our heavenly Father, we lift up our Savior and our lives become much more meaningful. Love is the binding agent we must mix into every aspect of our lives. Love.

by Jeanette Stark – Tuesday, May 2, 2023

USDA list of binding agents: Eggs, Wheat flour, Cracker crumbs, Oatmeal, Rice, Milk, Evaporated milk, Gelatin, Guar gum, Xanthan gum, Psyllium husk, Potato starch, Ground flax, and Tapioca.

Eggs lead the way as the most useful binders, but if you are not loving the price of eggs right now, Ree Drummond has suggestions.

Aquafaba. This egg substitute is likely already in your pantry! The magical ingredient known as acquafaba is simply the liquid from canned chickpeas! It makes a great binder on its own, but you can also whip the liquid to create an egg-free meringue. 3 tablespoons aquafaba = 1 egg

Vinegar + Baking Soda. When it comes to baking, eggs are what helps your cakes and muffins to rise so you'll need a replacement that won't leave your muffins flat. Enter: This old-school science project! The vinegar and baking soda bubble up to create a leavening agent in your baked goods. 1 tablespoon distilled white vinegar or apple cider vinegar + 1 teaspoon baking soda = 1 egg

Flax Seeds + Warm Water. Have you ever heard the term "flax egg" or maybe you've seen it referred to as "flegg." No matter what you call it, this swap is a no brainer. When the ground flax seeds and water combine, it creates a thick mixture that's similar in texture to eggs. 1 tablespoon finely ground flax seeds + 3 tablespoons warm water + 10 minutes = 1 egg

Buttermilk. Ideal for baked goods where there's another leavening agent at work, this egg substitute is used more for binding and moisture. 1/4 cup buttermilk = 1 egg

Vegetable Oil + Baking Powder + Water. This easy substitute uses kitchen staples you likely already have on hand! It's ideal for recipes where eggs are the only leavener, such as quick breads like muffins and scones. 1 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil + 1 teaspoon baking powder + 1 1/2 tablespoons water = 1 egg

Yogurt. Using yogurt in place of eggs is ideal for baked goods where there's another leavening agent at work. It'll help with binding and moisture. 1/4 cup yogurt = 1 egg

Carbonated Water. Using carbonated water in place of an egg is a surprisingly effective baking swap, especially when another leavener is being used. 1/4 cup carbonated water = 1 egg

Chia Seed + Water. Similar to the “flegg,” this replacement works best as a binder in quick breads and brownies. Baked goods will likely turn out slightly denser, as the “chegg” isn’t able to trap air pockets like the classic egg. 1 tablespoon chia seed + 1/3 cup water + 15 minutes = 1 egg

Applesauce. Ideal for baked goods where there’s another leavening agent at work, this substitute is used for binding and moisture. Unsweetened plain applesauce works best for the swap, but if sweetened or flavored is you have, just cut back on other sweeteners in the recipe or save the swap for baked goods that will benefit from the extra spice. 1/4 cup unsweetened plain applesauce = 1 egg

Mashed Banana. A mashed banana will impart its own flavor and sweetness to any baking recipe. This egg sub won't help your baked goods rise, but it will provide lots of moisture. 1/4 cup mashed banana = 1 egg

Soy Protein Powder + Water. Ideal for baked goods where another leavening agent is called for, this egg substitute is used more for binding and moisture. 1 tablespoon soy protein powder + 3 tablespoons water = 1 egg

Arrowroot Powder + Water. Arrowroot powder is used more for binding and moisture, ideally for baked goods that call for another leavening agent. 3 tablespoons water + 2 tablespoons arrowroot powder = 1 egg

Pumpkin Puree. ¼ cup canned pure pumpkin puree = 1 egg (Source: thepioneerwoman.com)