I'm posting faster this time!
I just finished eating this:
It says it's an explosion rice ball!!! basically, I totally fell for this ridiculous marketing scheme to call it an "explosion" rice ball and thus had to buy it upon discovering it =P I was hungry though so it wasn't just a thoughtless impulse buy though. and it was delicious. forgot to mention that part. but yeah, contrary to popular belief this actually isn't mean to be a food blog.
This past weekend I went to Uji to record a tea ceremony for a class project. And I have to admit, Uji is just more or less known for having tea so even though I really like tea, I wasn't expecting very much from this trip.
But lo and behold, I think I found my new favorite place in Kansai! (the name of the southern part of honshu, the island of Japan that I'm on right now in Kyoto)
As somewhere that isn't a major tourist destination, it was amazing getting out into a more rural town of Japan and enjoying the calm serenity of creation. Food stands for a local festival lined the streets as kids darted back and forth between delectable snacks and children's games.
(Yes it says Kobe Beef...I tried it here though not that great =P)
This was the real deal though...I got to eat it with some other people in my program on a class field trip to Kobe =p it was good. no joke.
This ramen was also really delicious! Karakamen from Ippudou....
ok NOT a food blog. back to Uji...
Further away from the train station I stepped into a lovely country-side with the sound of the river babbling along as ferrymen carted passengers up and down on scenic boat rides. The forested mountainside already seeing some of fall's colors provided the perfect backdrop to what was already complemented by the sweet sounds of a soprano sax playing melodies from classic Miyazaki films.
Anyhow, it was basically really chill and scenic and relaxing, a much needed sabbath from what had been a busy week.
Not to mention, the tea indeed was great. The tea there is considered the best in Japan and with vendors who've been serving the heads of Japan for 16 generations, they have the history to prove it. I bought some tea where I was informed the quality of the tea was so high that you can eat the tea leaves after brewing them. gnarly. (or perhaps it'll taste bitter)
and every other snack was green tea themed! from cha-soba (a green tea flavored noodle) to class green tea soft serve but coated with real matcha powder, the food was amazing.
and there also happens to be a national heritage cite there that is on the back of the 10 yen coin. pretty.
I was definitely surprised by how pretty it was. I came in expecting a somewhat mundane boring experience but was completely blown away. In fact, Uji was so interesting it changed my belief that Kyoto was considerably less interesting than Tokyo and other bigger cities and in fact made me believe Kyoto is now one of my more favorite places to be in Japan.
I think it's interesting how much actual knowledge can change our opinions, but of course it should right? it's totally biblical after all.
Jesus taught "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." John 8:31
He also taught that "they may indeed see but not perceive, and may indeed hear but not understand, lest they should turn and be forgiven.” Mark 4:12.
The truth about Jesus Christ changes lives.
Anyhow, as truth is a life-changing key that frees us from destruction through faith in Christ, then I figure it must be pretty important. So I thought I'd just make some observations about truth and why I think it's important and life-changing (so you know it's life-changing not just from my Uji story and all....)
It saves us.
By hearing the word of God and truth about Jesus Christ and then by having faith in Christ we can be saved. Besides the two verses above there is also:
"So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ." Romans 10:17
"and with all wicked deception for s those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved." 2 Thessalonians 2:10
"Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearer." 1 Timothy 4:16
It makes us more godly and spiritually mature.
By growing in the word and in understanding the truth of God, we rise from drinking spiritual milk to eating spiritual meat with which comes greater discernment and the ability to understand God's will.
"About this we have much to say, and it is c hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again d the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil." Hebrews 5:11-14
"If anyone's will is to do God's will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood." John 7:17-18
It produces the ability to love.
God calls us to love others as He has loved us (John 15:12). We should seek to know all the ways in which God has loved us to return that love to others.
" As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not h to teach any different doctrine, nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith. The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith." 1 Timothy 1:3-5
"Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart" 1 Peter 1:22
But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. 2 Peter 3:18
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