This Summer has been one of the hottest summers on record but one of the most memorable. How did we survive? Well it had alot to do with indoor activities, sprinklers, popsicles, & hardworking a/c's. The beginning of this summer we celebrated my Dad's 60th birthday. We surprised him by having a close friend fly him down to San Antonio to meet his family. None of which my Dad had any clue about. He was stunned to see us all there in our cars. We ate lunch on the riverwalk & watched the ducks and boats go by as we listened to a Mariachi band.
The following day we stayed at my sister's house and pretty much did nothing but let the kids play. This doesn't happen often so it was alot of fun to let the cousins play like we used to play when we were little. One evening, we took my Dad to a vineyard outside of Wimberely, TX for dinner. It was a very kid-friendly place even though it had 5 star cuisine. There was even a playground and changing stations in all of thee bathrooms at the restaurant & at the tasting room complete with spare diapers of all sizes. (I may have taken full advantage of this feature.) Needless to say, I was quite impressed. We stayed for hours watching the sunset and ate delicious food, tiramisu and vino. They also had a filming crew there and a few actors were shooting a scene. We weren't sure what it was for but we got to watch them yell ' action' as a guy on a motorcycle went through the vineyards at sunset posing for a gal. ( Something to do with a new Brad Pitt film I believe). Bella even charmed a few of them as she walked by to talk to them. They called her princess. That girl does not meet a stranger. And she even got to pet a movie star cat. The boys, including Jude, went to the tasting roomand the girls looked around at all the barrels in storage as we danced about. It was a beautiful evening.
Watching my dad at the head of the table looking out at his whole family & a perfect view of the vineyard reminded me of the passage in John 15. Its all about wine production and how the winedresser has to carefully take care of the vine in order to produce good fruit.
There is a great amount of process in the making of wine. If a branch is unable to produce grapes, that branch is cut off so that other branches can grow grapes in more abundance. And the branches of the vine that are able to produce must be cleaned. Grapes cannot be produced without the vine as its source nor can it be maintained without the skill of the vinedresser.
Jesus called himself the vine to his disciples and was demonstrating how he remains in his father's love as we are to keep his commands & abide in him so that we too can produce abundant & sweet fruits. 
We are no longer servants but are called friends. Together we are made to bear much fruit in that we love one another. This was right before the last supper in which the disciples shared wine and broke bread as Jesus was preparing for his death. We are to take his blood and body to remember how he died for our sins and suffered greatly on our behalf. Well not literally but symbolically. 
Interesting also that Jesus' first miracle was about the making of wine at a wedding in Capernaum. He saved the honor of a wedding he attended. The wedding party ran out of wine as it was custom to serve. 
As his mother requested the immediate need to help his friends Jesus instructed 20 jars to be filled to the brim with water. Thus was custom to immediately serve good wine and latter the inferior. Instead, Jesus made far superior wine (a process that we all know takes years) he did this immediately & it was served not at the beginning but the end.
There are so many implications here as to why Jesus did this. It was a great gift to the newlyweds & it prevented shame from coming to their friends. It also showed that the old order was no more as those jars of water were often used for washing. And now he sits enjoying food & drink with his friends near his last hour as the Godman on earth contemplating what is to come as he is now serving himself to each of them so that they may one day understand after all this time. What love. What sacrifice. Thank you Daddy for demonstrating this love, and true discipleship to your children and your grandchildren. We honor you. And I thank God I was blessed with such a daddy who can actually lead all of his life by true example. Happy 60th Birthday!
Love, Beppy.
