…While it is true that only the sufferings of Christ are a means of atonement, yet since he has suffered for and borne the sins of the whole world and shares with his disciples the fruits of his passion, the Christian also has to undergo temptation, he too has to bear the sins of others; he too must bear their shame and be driven like a scapegoat from the gate of the city. But he would certainly break down under this burden, but for the support of him who bore the sins of all. The passion of Christ strengthens him to overcome the sins of others by forgiving them. He becomes the bearer of other men’s burdens–”Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ” (Gal 6.2). As Christ bears our burdens, so ought we to bear the burdens of our fellow-men. The law of Christ, which it is our duty to fulfil, is the bearing of the cross. My brother’s burden which I must bear is not only his outward lot, his natural characteristics and gifts, but quite literally his sin. And the only way to bear that sin is by forgiving it in the power of the cross of Christ in which I now share. Thus the call to follow Christ always means a call to share the work of forgiving men their sins. Forgiveness is the Christlike suffering which it is the Christian’s duty to bear.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship (New York: Simon & Schuster, 1995), 90.

Sweetened iced tea is a staple of the Southern (United States) diet. Everyone drinks it at home, it goes good with any meal, you can order it at just about any restaurant (and refills are limitless and at no additional cost), and you can buy it by the gallon at the grocery store. So, how does a Southerner make sweet tea? Well, I’ve experimented a bit, and here’s the recipe I’m currently using.

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