8/10 Day is Coming!

8/10 Day is a day to celebrate our forgiveness from sin that started with some guilt as we heard from God’s Word, but that led to confession which led to grace which leads to an eternity in the beautiful presence of God in the New Heaven and New Earth.

That is something to celebrate!

We eat the fat and drink the sweet and share with those who have nothing prepared. For the joy of the Lord is your strength.

Here’s some thoughts from my book on how to do an 8/10 Day Party either on August 10 or October 8.

I threw my first 8/10 Party a few years ago and I hope this can be something you do as well. First, we get a nice fatty portion of meat and some good wine ready. Again, I understand if alcohol is an issue for you. I believe that Christians have freedom to drink wine in moderation as long as you don’t get drunk or have addictive issues with it. But if this is a problem for you then make sure to have something good to drink. Go get that fancy root beer, sparkling blood orange soda, a delicious mocktail or the classic Shirley Temple. 
I made two legit Texas beef briskets as close to the way that the barbecue genius Aaron Franklin from Austin makes them. Brisket is a lot of time and work, but it is a perfect fatty portion of meat. I think that North Carolina style pulled pork is a good and slightly easier option as well. I think Steve Raichlen’s recipe in the BBQ Bible is near perfection. I have actually cooked a few of these for another 8/10 Party.  If you don’t have a lot of time for cooking, then ribeye steaks are the best choice. It’s the best cut for steak because it has the best flavor due to the marbling of fat. I also like the ease of the idea of doing a charcuterie board of cured meats and cheeses. That’s eating the fat, but all you have to do is buy some salami or other cured meats and some fancy cheese and put it on a board. And don’t forget that Nehemiah specifically mentions fat. It’s biblical. Don’t get the lean and healthy stuff. Today we eat the fat and drink the sweet.  The next step of the party is to explain the concept of 8/10 Day to the guests, read a portion of the scriptures out loud to a group of friends and talk about how it convicts us and moves us. We talk about how this God Joy frees us from guilt and strengthens us in suffering. Now it’s time to dig in and “eat the fat and drink the sweet.” Over dinner, share stories of how being convicted or moved by God has led to great things in your life or how the Holy Spirit’s correction has led us to make significant changes in our life. I’m sure it has! Finally, we will share with those who have nothing prepared by cooking this meal for our friends and then also taking some “to-go” packages out for some homeless friends on the streets nearby. My wife has befriended a homeless man named Kenneth in our town who has some mental health issues that most likely mean he will always be on the streets. I hope we can always find Kenneth on our 8/10 party days. Remember that this isn’t just about sharing with homeless people but you can share with anyone. It’s the sharing that matters most in this situation. An 8/10 Party is all about eating good food, drinking something special, sharing with others, and celebrating the fact that God has given you his very words to read and to learn what his voice sounds like. The conviction of sin that God gives you is from his love and kindness toward you and that leads to repentance and that leads to eternal life! That’s a reason to party! Would you consider throwing a party like this to celebrate being convicted by the word of God?