True Faith

FAITH:

James 2:14-20 tells us the substance of true faith,

What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?

My favorite translation of this last verse is, “Faith without actions that correspond is dead.” Faith must have actions that correspond with it.

You can talk about catching fish, about what lures you are going to use, and how you are going to cook them after you catch them, but if you never throw a line in the water, you are not going to catch a fish.

Or it’s like the golfer who comes to a 3-par hole with a lake right in front of the green and says, “No problem, I can hit that green with my six iron.” Then he digs out an old ratty golf ball. If he truly believes he can hit the green, he will hit his brand new $3 golf ball!

For faith to be genuine, it has to have corresponding actions.

When speaking of faith, it is critical to talk about the motive of our faith. James 4:2-3 tells us what a wrong motive is,

You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.

God is very concerned about the “why” behind our prayers of faith. He is very interested in the state of our hearts. And I think it is good to check our motives from time to time.

Why do we want what we want? Is it ego driven? Am I asking for it because I want to impress someone? Are my motives right?

Now, you don’t have to overdo it. You can over analyze things to the point that you become spiritually frozen and don’t do anything. I think if you will get honest and lay your heart out before God, He will very quickly put the spotlight on the things that should not be there.

Our dog always stands at the back door and scratches on the glass like he really loves us and wants to come in and be with us. But the moment you open the door he runs right by you into the kitchen looking for food.

Why do you want the thing you want? What is the purpose behind asking? Is it for the glory of God? Is it to help people? Is there a pure motive there?

When your motive is right, God will not be long in answering. But if your motive is not right, God won’t answer until it gets right. by Bayless Conley

FRIENDS:

Father, we will never learn faith in comfortable surroundings. You give us the promises with your word, then you step back and wait to see how much we believe them. When the tempter comes and all seems to contradict what you have spoken, it is then when faith wins it's crown. That is the time to look up through the storms and cry out to You, "I believe." Help us when we falter. In Jesus' name, Amen

DAILY BIBLE CHALLENGE ~July~

1. Luke 7:11-17; Colossians 1:1-14; Psalms 123-124; 1 Chronicles 1-2
2. Luke 7: 18-35; Colossians 1:15-29; Psalms 125; 1 Chronicles 3-4

~1 Chronicles ~
Ever been held up by a grandparent?

You naively ask how the grandkids are, and before you know it the purse opens and out pops a billfold, thick with pictures.

"This is Joey in the third grade holding his puppy named Snapper. And this is Joey in the fourth grade on his little league team where he played second base. And this is Joey in the fifth grade. The kid behind him is his cousin Terry who is living in Seattle with his dad. I've got some pictures of them I'll show you in just a minute. But first let me show you Joey in the seventh grade wearing his football uniform......"

Yawn.

Hard to stay interested hearing names of people you'll never see who live in places you'll never know.

Such is the case with the Book of First Chronicles. Full of names, many hard to pronounce. Full of places you'll never see. The book won't keep you on the edge of your seat. It wasn't intended to. It will, however provide you with a catalog of facts and names of people who matter to God.

Which reminds us of an encouraging truth: God keeps up with his children. He knows their names and keeps them in a book. What may be dry to us matters to him, beause they are his kids. by the way, he's working on a new volume. This one is entitled the Book of Life

Is your name in it?

FOOD:

It can be made with apples and pears in the winter and peaches and
blackberries in the summer. Make it in giant casserole pans and
individual ramekins. It's impossible to screw up. And while there are
people who claim you need a bottom crust, perhaps some cinnamon or
baking soda, I think simple is better. If your fruit is ripe, you can't go wrong.

Easy, Foolproof Cobbler for Any Fruit
makes enough for a 9x9 baking dish

1 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 cups sugar, plus a bit more for sprinkling
1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, melted
fresh berries or fruit (peeled and cut into chunks) about 4 cups

Combine the flour and sugar. Add the butter, mixing as you go, until
the mixture forms a soft dough. It can be slightly crumbly, but you
want it to hold together when you squeeze it.

Spray a baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. Put the fruit in the
dish — you will probably need about 4 cups of berries or chopped fruit.
You want to create a thick layer that comes about two inches up the sides.

If the fruit is particularly tart, sprinkle with a light layer of sugar. If the fruit is soft and sweet, you don't need it.

Take the dough by the handful and pat it into disks that are about
1/4-inch to 1/2-inch thick. Lay them on top of the fruit, continuing
with the patties, until it is covered. Bake the cobbler at 350 degrees
for about 45-50 minutes, until the crust is light golden brown. Let
cool slightly, then serve with ice cream.

Note: In my family, we find cobbler is even better the next day, cold
and firm from the fridge.


FUN:

Overshadowing of God’s Personal Deliverance

FAITH:

. . . I am with you to deliver you,’ says the Lord —Jeremiah 1:8

God promised Jeremiah that He would deliver him personally— ".

18 For I will surely deliver you, and you shall not fall by the sword; but your life shall be as a prize to you, because you have put your trust in Me,” says the LORD.’” Jeremiah 39:18 NKJ

That is all God promises His children. Wherever God sends us, He will guard our lives. Our personal property and possessions are to be a matter of indifference to us, and our hold on these things should be very loose. If this is not the case, we will have panic, heartache, and distress. Having the proper outlook is evidence of the deeply rooted belief in the overshadowing of God’s personal deliverance.

The Sermon on the Mount indicates that when we are on a mission for Jesus Christ, there is no time to stand up for ourselves. Jesus says, in effect, "Don’t worry about whether or not you are being treated justly." Looking for justice is actually a sign that we have been diverted from our devotion to Him. Never look for justice in this world, but never cease to give it. If we look for justice, we will only begin to complain and to indulge ourselves in the discontent of self-pity, as if to say, "Why should I be treated like this?" If we are devoted to Jesus Christ, we have nothing to do with what we encounter, whether it is just or unjust. In essence, Jesus says, "Continue steadily on with what I have told you to do, and I will guard your life. If you try to guard it yourself, you remove yourself from My deliverance." Even the most devout among us become atheistic in this regard— we do not believe Him. We put our common sense on the throne and then attach God’s name to it. We do lean to our own understanding, instead of trusting God with all our hearts. by Oswald Chambers

Proverbs 3:5-6
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;

6 in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.
(or will direct your paths)

FRIENDS:

Father, Thank you for the life you have given me. When I rise in the morning, I worship the Lord and you call me by name. I think back to the way I was and how you accepted this prodigal child without hesitation. For all these reasons and so many more, I give you thanks. I offer up my life to you and your service. I can think of no greater way to live than to consider each day a holy living sacrifice to you. May your will be done through all of my days. In Jesus' name, Amen.

10 Things To Be Thankful For
1. A cool breeze after a hot day
2. A call from an old friend that you lost contact with
3. Fresh picked flowers
4. A picnic lunch
5. Children splashing around in the water
6. Being able to sleep in
7. The creation of a special moment
8. When you are expecting the worst and it does not happen
9. Fresh corn on the cob
10. Enjoying a glass of iced tea in the shade

FOOD:

This is soooooo good!!!!!
Sausage Chowder

1 lb. smoked sausage (halve lengthwise and slice thinly)
1 (32 oz) pkg. frozen hash brown potatoes, thawed
5 c. water
2 tsp. dry parsley
1 tsp. dry basil
1 tsp. salt and dash of pepper
1 (15.25 oz.) whole kernel corn (do not drain)
1 (15 oz.) creamed corn
1 (12 oz) evaporated milk
2 tsp. granulated chicken bouillon ( I use 2 cubes)

Brown sausage in dutch oven. Add hash browns, water, and spices. Cook until potatoes are tender. (once it boils, I cook it about 15 minutes). Mash them a little, but leave some cubes.

Add the corns, milk, and bouillon. Cook another 10 minutes to blend flavors. Stir often now, because it will stick. Taste, and add more seasoning if needed.

FUN:

A couple is in bed sleeping when there's a rat-a-tat-tat on the door.
The husband rolls over and looks at the clock, and it's half past 3 in the morning.” I’m not getting out of bed at this time," he thinks, and rolls over. Then, a louder knock follows. So he drags himself out of bed, goes downstairs, opens the door, and there's a man standing there. It didn't take the homeowner long to realize the man was drunk.
"Hi there," slurs the stranger, "Can you give me a push?" "No, get lost. It's half past three and I was in bed," says the man as he slams the door. He goes back up to bed and tell his wife what happened and she says, "That wasn't very nice of you. Remember that night we broke down in the pouring rain on the way to pick the Family up from the baby-sitter and you had to knock on that man's house to get us started again? What would have happened if he'd told us to get lost?"
"But the guy was drunk," says the husband.
"It doesn't matter," says the wife.” He needs our help and it would be the Christian thing to help him." So the husband gets out of bed again, gets dressed, and goes downstairs.
He opens the door, and not being able to see the stranger anywhere,
He shouts, "Hey, do you still want a push?"
And he hears a voice cry out, "Yeah, please."
So, still being unable to see the stranger he shouts, "Where are you?" The drunk replies, "Over here, on the swing."

Is is about you or Him?

FAITH:

The request came when I was twenty. "Can you address our church youth group?" We aren't talking citywide crusade here. Think more in terms of a dozen kids around a West Texas campfire. I was new to the faith, hence new to the power of the faith. I told my story, and, lo and behold, they listened! One even approached me afterward and said something like, "That moved me, Max." My chest lifted, and my feet shifted just a step in the direction of the spotlight.

God has been nudging me back ever since.

Some of you don't relate. The limelight never woos you. You and John the Baptist sing the same tune: "He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less" (John 3:30 NLT). God bless you. You might pray for the rest of us. We applause-aholics have done it all: dropped names, sung loudly, dressed up to look classy, dressed down to look cool, quoted authors we've never read, spouted Greek we've never studied. For the life of me, I believe Satan trains battalions of demons to whisper one question in our ears: "What are people thinking of you?"

A deadly query. What they think of us matters not. What they think of God matters all. God will not share his glory with another (Isaiah 42:8). Next time you need a nudge away from the spotlight, remember: You are simply one link in a chain, an unimportant link at that.

Remember the other messengers God has used?

A donkey to speak to Balaam (Numbers 22:28).

A staff-turned-snake to stir Pharaoh (Exodus 7:10).

He used stubborn oxen to make a point about reverence and a big fish to make a point about reluctant preachers (I Samuel 6:1-12; Jonah 1:1-17)

God doesn't need you and me to do his work. We are expedient messengers, ambassadors by his kindness, not by our cleverness.

It's not about us, and it angers him when we think it is.

We who are entrusted with the gospel dare not seek applause but best deflect applause. For our message is about Someone else. by Max Lucado

FRIENDS:

Father, May Your name forever be praised. I have chosen to live for You and to serve You each day of my life. Help me to cling to what is pleasing in Your sight and give me the wisdom to glorify you today and every day.
In Jesus' name, Amen.

10 Things To Be Thankful For
1. Making a child laugh
2. Nurturing creativity in someone
3. Laying on your back and watching the clouds
4. Finding an arrowhead
5. Lingering over coffee with a friend
6. Someone who never dramatizes a difficulty
7. Having someone to come home to
8. Getting rid of a bad habit
9. When someone teaches you something good
10. Learning to love yourself better

FOOD:

Lemon Cake Rice Krispy Cookies

1 box lemon cake mix (type with pudding in the mix works ok)
1 cup Rice Krispies cereal
1 stick butter or margarine, melted
1 egg, beaten

Heat oven to 350º.

Mix ingredients well and shape into 1-inch balls. Bake on ungreased cookie sheet 10-12 minutes. Cookies will be chewy.


FUN:

TRY THIS: MICROSOFT INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

http://www.sellsbrothers.com/fun/msiview/default.aspx?content=question.htm

Do you still love Him

FAITH:

Mark 3:1-35

Mark affirmed the spiritual authority and power present in Jesus' ministry. Jesus properly interpreted the Mosaic Law. His power was greater than evil spirits. This passage also revealed Jesus' ministry to call his spiritual brothers and sisters to do the will of God.

Jesus demonstrated remarkable patience. Through many questioned his authority, he patiently refuted them. When his immediate family thought that Jesus was a lunatic, he expanded the concept of his family to include the kinship of people who love God.

Can you still remember? Are you still in love with Him?...Remember Jesus. Before you remember anything, remember Him. If you forget anything, don't forget Him.

Oh, but how quickly we forget. So much happens through the years. So many changes within. So many alterations without. And, somewhere, back there, we leave Him. We don't turn away from Him..........we just don't take Him with us. Assignments come. Promotions come. Budgets are made. Kids are born, and the Christ......the Christ is forgotten.

Has it been a while since you stared at the heavens in speechless amazement? Has it been a while since you realized God's divinity and your carnality?

If it has, then you need to know something. Hi is still there. He hasn't left. Under all those papers and books and reports and years. In the midst of all those voices and faces and memories and pictures, He is still there.
by Max Lucado

Applying it: Have you forgotten Jesus? Has your love for him slipped through time? Let Christ renew your love and let it flow freely again, as it once did.
Exploring it: Spiritual Family--Isaiah 63:16; John 1:12; Galatians 4:6; Ephesians 2:19; Hebrews 2:11

FRIENDS:

Father, You have given Jesus as a sacrifice for my sin. Today I bow my knees in thanksgiving for that love. May you forever dwell in my heart with your everlasting love. Fill me with the power of your presence through the Holy Spirit and guide my steps each day to make a difference in life for your Glory. In Jesus' name, Amen.

10 Things To Be Thankful For
1. The little things in life that really make your day go right
2. Life after 60
3. Breakfast cooked over an outdoor fire
4. The sound of an oar dipping in the water
5. Thinking happy summer thoughts
6. A clean windshield on a dark night
7. Looking at the past through genealogy
8. Finding the answer to a problem
9. A new recipe that turns out well
10. Inner tubing down a river

FOOD:

Chickpea Burgers and Tahini Sauce
* Serves: 4

1 (19 ounce) can chickpeas, rinsed
4 scallions, trimmed and sliced
1 egg
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 (6 1/2-inch) whole-wheat pitas, halved and warmed, if desired
1/2 cup low-fat plain yogurt
2 tablespoons tahini
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/3 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions
1. To prepare burgers: Place chickpeas, scallions, egg, flour, oregano,
cumin and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a food processor. Pulse, stopping once or
twice to scrape down the sides, until a coarse mixture forms that holds
together when pressed. (The mixture will be moist.) Form into 4 patties.
2. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add
patties and cook until golden and beginning to crisp, 4 to 5 minutes.
Carefully flip and cook until golden brown, 2 to 4 minutes more.
3. To prepare sauce and serve: Meanwhile, combine yogurt, tahini, lemon
juice, parsley and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl. Divide the patties
among the pitas and serve with the sauce.

Nutrition Info Per Serving
* Calories: 414 kcal
* Carbohydrates: 56 g
* Dietary Fiber: 9 g
* Fat: 15 g
* Protein: 15 g
* Sugars: 8 g

FUN:

For those who love to craft, a very cute idea:

http://henriettashandbags.com/magazine_purse.html

Why Are We Afraid?

FAITH:
If we medicate fear with angry outbursts, drinking binges, sullen withdrawals, self-starvation, or viselike control, we exclude God from the solution and exacerbate the problem. We subject ourselves to a position of fear, allowing anxiety to dominate and define our lives.
Joy-sapping worries. Day-numbing dread. Repeated bouts of insecurity that petrify and paralyze us. Hysteria is not from God. “For God has not given us a spirit of fear” (2 Tim. 1:7).
Fear may fill our world, but it doesn’t have to fill our hearts. It will always knock on the door. Just don’t invite it in for dinner, and for heaven’s sake don’t offer it a bed for the night. Let’s embolden our hearts with a select number of Jesus’ “do not fear” statements. The promise of Christ and the contention of this book are simple: we can fear less tomorrow than we do today.
When I was six years old, my dad let me stay up late with the rest of the family and watch the movie The Wolf Man. Boy, did he regret that decision. The film left me convinced that the wolf man spent each night prowling our den, awaiting his preferred meal of first-grade, red-headed, freckle-salted boy. My fear proved problematic. To reach the kitchen from my bedroom, I had to pass perilously close to his claws and fangs, something I was loath to do. More than once I retreated to my father’s bedroom and awoke him. Like Jesus in the boat, Dad was sound asleep in the storm. How can a person sleep at a time like this?
Opening a sleepy eye, he would ask, “Now, why are you afraid?” And I would remind him of the monster. “Oh yes, the Wolf Man,” he’d grumble. He would then climb out of bed, arm himself with super- human courage, escort me through the valley of the shadow of death, and pour me a glass of milk. I would look at him with awe and wonder,
What kind of man is this?
Fearless
Might it be that God views our seismos storms the way my father viewed my Wolf Man angst? “
Jesus got up and gave a command to the wind and the waves, and it became completely calm” (Matt. 8:26 ncv).
He handles the great quaking with a great calming. The sea becomes as still as a frozen lake, and the disciples are left wondering, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!” (v. 27 ncv).
What kind of man, indeed. Turning typhoon time into nap time.
Silencing waves with one word. by Max Lucado

FRIENDS:

Father, How tenderly you soothe our fears. Help us to keep our eyes fastened upon You. Let us abide continually in You and to cling closely to You. In Jesus' name, Amen.

DAILY BIBLE CHALLENGE ~June~

23. Luke 6:37-42; Phil 4:1-7; Psalms 120; 2 Kings 20-21
24. Luke 6:43-49; Phil 4: 8-13; Psalms 121; 2 Kings 22-23
25. Luke 7:1-10; Phil 4:14-23; Psalms 122; 2 Kings 24-25
This will be the last challenge post until a week from Tuesday, June 30th. Use this time to catch up or just reread something that was particularly important to you.

10 Things To Be Thankful For
1. The smell of a fresh cut lemon
2. Watching an old movie you love
3. Sitting around a campfire
4. Having company for dinner Sunday after church
5. On the lake at dusk
6. Soul soothing routines
7. When you finally see something with new eyes
8. Setting up a buffet table
9. Life moving in mysterious ways
10. Being prepared ahead of time

FOOD:

SOMETHING REALLY GOOD FOR YOU
Salt-Free Seasoning "Salt"

1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 1/2 teaspoons onion powder
1 1/2 teaspoons white pepper
1 1/2 teaspoons dry mustard
1 1/4 teaspoons paprika
1 teaspoon dried lemon peel
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon celery seed
3/4 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

SOMETHING REALLY BAD FOR YOU
Bacon Mayonnaise
Yield About 1/2 cup
* 1 egg yolk
* 3/4 teaspoon Dijon mustard
* 1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
* Sea salt and freshly ground pepper
* 1/2 cup liquid bacon fat

* Combine the egg yolk, mustard and lemon juice in the small bowl of a food processor or in a blender and process to mix. Season with salt and pepper.
* Have the bacon fat liquid, but not hot. With the machine running, gradually the bacon fat until the mixture starts to stiffen and emulsify, about 2 minutes. Once it starts to emulsify, you can add the fat more quickly. If the mayonnaise is too thick, just blend in 1 teaspoon of boiling water to thin it. Taste and adjust the seasoning.

Source: The New York Times

FUN:

Holding On

FAITH:

Genesis 12:2
"I will make you into a great nation
and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
and you will be a blessing.
Genesis 15:5-6
Then God led Abram outside and said, "Look at the sky. There are so many start you cannot count them. Your descendants also will be too many to count."
Abram believed the lord. And the Lord accepted Abram's faith, and that faith made him right with God.

Abraham was shown the beautiful night sky and the Lord said to this childless man, “These are your descendants.” Each star and every grain of sand represented a promise of God to him.

As years passed and he remained childless. I wonder how many times he stood beneath the heavens only to hear Satan's mocking voice as he pointed to each star saying, "Lie, Lie, Lie."

In Hebrews 11:13, in the Hall of faith, we see how none of these great men of God saw the fulfillment of their hopes and dreams.
--13 All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth.

These great promises would come true through future generations.
Acts 3:25 And you are heirs of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham, 'Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed.

We must realize that the promises of God are true and that we have a pivotal and important role in doing our part. We must get the
~BIG PICTURE~.
We must consider the potential millions in eternity who will be Blessed by our faith. The job God has given us, is to big for us. Others will follow and see fulfillments we can't imagine. (Rev. 21 and 22).

14 The LORD said to Abram after Lot had parted from him, "Lift up your eyes from where you are and look north and south, east and west. 15 All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring [a] forever. 16 I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust, then your offspring could be counted. 17 Go, walk through the length and breadth of the land, for I am giving it to you." Genesis 13:14-17

Hold onto your faith. Your future fruit will be like the stars of the heavens for the multitude. by Michael Tiemann

FRIENDS:

Father, I willing to share my life, along with all it's capacities with others. I want to exercise my faith in a deliberate and positive way. Jesus, when you lived amongst us you were delighted whenever you found even the tiniest fragment of faith being exercised in You. Please forgive me when I act in a faithless way. Please help me to hold onto my faith in a way that pleases you. In Jesus' name, Amen.

DAILY BIBLE CHALLENGE ~June~

21. Luke 6:17-26; Phil 3:10-14; Psalms 119:161-168; 2 Kings 16-17
22. Luke 6:27-36; Phil 3:15-21; Psalms 119:169-176; 2 Kings 18-19

10 Things To Be Thankful For
1. Walking barefoot in soft grass
2. The first tomatoes off the plant
3. A Child's imagination
4. An impromptu dinner you didn't have to cook
5. Meeting someone at the airport
6. Keeping busy
7. The sound of water on small rocks
8. Finding that one sock that disappears from the laundry
9. Feeding large groups
10. Finding an old written in notebook

FOOD:

Golfer's Chicken (crock pot)

4 to 5 lbs chicken thighs (or breasts)
1 packet Lipton Onion Soup Mix
1 bottle Russian dressing
1 jar Apricot Jam

Mix last 3 ingredients, pour over chicken. Cook in crockpot for 6-8 hrs on LOW or 4-5 hours on High. Serve over rice.

Easy to freeze! Cool in refrigerator, place in 2 or 3 freezer bags, lay flat to freeze. In baggie, defrost in microwave for 3-4 minutes. Once it's softened up enough, place in bowl or microwave-safe container microwave on HIGH until bubbly. Serve over rice.


FUN:

Seeing Abundance

FAITH:

"The LORD gives you meat to eat in the evening and your fill of bread in the morning, because the LORD has heard the complaining that you utter against him." --Exodus 16:8


The desert was a frightening place. Even as slaves in Egypt, the Jews had become accustomed to a city life of relative luxury. The desert, however, was dry and hostile. Scared by scarcity, the people could only see how little water, how little food, how little security they had. But Moses spoke a word of divine abundance-of quail in the evening and manna in the morning-that silenced their muttering and revealed a God of bounty and faithfulness.

Seeing abundance when others see only scarcity is an act of faithfulness. It is to fly in the face of what others consider self-evident, limiting, and problematic. Those who see abundance see possibility and future while others dwell on caution, security, and practicality. Seeing abundance allows one to remain hopeful and gives one the courage to be venturesome and bold.

The opposite of faith is not doubt, as we often suppose, but fear. For the root of "faith" is trust. When we cannot fully trust, we fall into a fearfulness that seeks to preserve, protect, and control the world around us. Drawing in on ourselves, we close ourselves off to the world around us. We go into a fortress of self-preservation. Leadership requires that we resist the urge to preserve and open ourselves instead to the abundance of God.

Leaders see talents, possibility, and potential all around them as gifts of God. They help others hear God's call that we trust in the fullness of God's bounty-that there will always be enough, and more than enough, and that what we have is not to be conserved but given away. Leaders dare to be venturesome and courageous even in the dryness of the desert, for they know we are being well fed on our journey to the promised land.

In what way is your congregation rich, and how are you spending those riches?

Note: I can't speak for everyone but myself, and I feel that my church is the most wonderful place to be. We are so blessed with caring loving people that want to be part of life's solutions instead of life's problems. We are human so it is our job to make mistakes but there is nothing so great that we cannot get past it with love. I am so grateful to Jesus that when He left this earth that He left the church behind for us to be a part of and I feel it's my home (here on earth) away from home (heaven).

FRIENDS:

Father, Open our hearts to see your bounty, to trust your promises, and to venture forward in faith. May we lead with boldness, confident that your goodness and gifts will forever sustain us. In Jesus' name, Amen.

DAILY BIBLE CHALLENGE ~JUNE~


19. Luke 5:27-32; Phil 2:12-18; Psalms 119:137-144; 2 Kings 10-11
20. Luke 5:33-39; Phil 2:19-30; Psalms 119:145-152; 2 Kings 12-13

10 Things To Be Thankful For
1. A rainstorm that clears the air
2. Having a friend make you tea in a teapot
3. Singing to your favorite music
4. A warm terry cloth robe when you step out of the shower
5. A good haircut
6. The feel of the sand underfoot
7. Stretching out on the carpet to play a game
8. Burying the hatchet with someone whom you have had a falling out
9. A moment that you know could only be from God
10 .Watching the sun glistening on the lake

FOOD:

It is often said that having guests over for brunch is one of the easiest ways to entertain people. This could be served after church or on a Saturday morning. A little fruit and some good coffee and this makes a special meal.

BRUNCH Casserole

2 pounds hot bulk sausage (mild can be used)
8 slices bread, crusts removed
3/4 pound grated sharp cheddar cheese
8 large eggs, beaten
3 cups milk
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 1/2 teaspoons dry mustard

In a large skillet, brown sausage, crumble and drain. Butter a 9x13 inch casserole dish. Place bread (torn into bite-sized pieces) in bottom of dish. Place sausage on top of bread. Sprinkle cheese over top. In a large bowl, mix beaten eggs, milk, salt and dry mustard. Blend well. Pour over other ingredients. Cover and refrigerate overnight. The next morning, bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes uncovered.. Slice into squares

FUN:
How to cool off in the summer.....

Seek an Understanding.

FAITH:

It is a few days after Jesus' resurrection. Cleopas and another disappointed believer are walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus, talking "about all these things that had happened" in Jesus' trial, death, and resurrection (Luke 24:13-14). As they walk, a man they do not recognize joins them and asks what they are talking about. Cleopas says in amazement, "Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place?" (24:18) In other words, "Don't you know what's been going on? Everyone in town is talking about what has happened!"

Cleopas and the other believer then recount the events of the preceding days. As they walk, the stranger begins to explain to them passages about the Messiah from "Moses and all the prophets" -- from the beginning of the Hebrew Bible to its end. The three journey together until daylight begins to fade, and the travelers invite the stranger to join them for a meal. He agrees. But they still do not recognize that the stranger is Christ. Then, as Christ blesses and breaks bread, Cleopas and the other traveler suddenly have their spiritual eyes opened. In one remarkable instant, they see what is before them in a new way and understand that the risen Christ has been walking with them, that Christ has been part of their conversation.

This story shows us an important truth about the path to deeper faith: we are not meant to walk it alone. It is not meant to be a lonely or solitary journey. Like Cleopas and the other traveler, we have the opportunity to talk with other believers about the events of our life and consider their deeper meaning. The "conversation" takes many forms. Insight may come as we grapple with scripture in the company of other believers in a small group, as we simply talk together about our lives, as we work alongside others serving those in need.

The Emmaus travelers show us that understanding is not automatic. It is important to note that these two who had actually seen Jesus still needed help to understand what had been happening. We often seem to think that we should know all the answers about matters of faith, when even those who knew Jesus face-to-face had questions. As we try to find the meaning of "all the things that [have] happened" outside us and within us, as we struggle with confusion or doubt, fear or failure, we need one another. To have someone who will listen as we honestly examine ourselves and our faith is a gift of Christian community.

This story reflects another deep spiritual truth: Our honest conversations about our life and our faith are not just flawed people applying human wisdom and reason to their dilemmas and wounds. As Cleopas and his companion talk about the meaning of what they have experienced, Christ joins the conversation. Christ applies the words of scripture to their situation and to what they have seen and heard and are feeling. Any time we seek deeper insight into our faith, Christ joins us. Matthew tells us that wherever two or more gather in Christ's name, Christ is present (Matt. 18:20). In times of grief or doubt or pain or loss, Christ walks with us and other believers as we journey toward understanding and comfort.

Yet the story takes us one step further. The travelers knew the facts of what had happened that week and could recite them, as they did to the stranger. But knowing the facts, even knowing what scripture says about any particular subject, does not guarantee understanding. Like the two travelers, we need our spiritual eyes to be opened. Paul told the Ephesians that he was praying for "the eyes of [their] heart to be enlightened" (Eph. 1:18) so that they might know the hope to which they were called and the riches that were theirs in Christ. ("So that" is an important phrase in scripture; it opens the door for us to see the result God wants or the fruit we are meant to bear.) We pray and seek insight not for its own sake but so that we can move more deeply into the life God has for us. True spiritual friendship is having someone who will ask God to act in our lives, who will ask the Holy Spirit to help us.

This holy conversation continues today any time we talk with one another, seeking deeper understanding of our faith. One form of it is the magazine you are holding in your hands. In these pages, people we may never know personally can walk and talk with us and help us come to deeper understanding of our shared faith. We can trust that here as with the Emmaus travelers, the Holy Spirit works beyond and through the words we write, speak, or read.

FRIENDS:

Father, You have taught us in the way of wisdom; you have led us in right paths. When we walk our steps will not be hindered, and when we run we will not stumble. Help us to take firm hold of instruction, and not let go: to keep it for it is our life. In Jesus' name, Amen

DAILY BIBLE CHALLENGE ~JUNE~

17. Luke 5:17-26; Phil 2:1-11; Psalms 119:129-136; 2 Kings 8-9
18. Luke 5:27-32; Phil 2:12-18; Psalms 119: 137-144; 2 Kings 10-11

10 Things To Be Thankful For
1. Successful surgery
2. Having a cup of coffee in the park
3. Watching nature
4. Being at the cabin
5. Learning the art of compromise
6. How your heart melts when you hear a friends voice
7. That piece of furniture you bought fits without measuring beforehand
8. Dinner with people you care about
9. Finishing a To-Do list
10. People who volunteer

FOOD:

I have had a request for more casseroles since many are suffering hard times and less cash for groceries. This one is not only inexpensive but it's easy...

SLOW COOKER LASAGNA

INGREDIENTS:
• Olive oil or cooking spray
• 1lb. lean ground beef, (cooked & drained)
• 1 (32oz.) Jar spaghetti sauce
• 1/2 box no-boil lasagna noodles, (gently broken in half)
• 2 Cloves garlic, (minced)
• 1/4 tsp. Dried oregano
• 1/4 tsp. dried basil
• 1/2 c. onion, (finely minced)
• 2 c. Mozzarella cheese, (shredded)
• 1/4 c. Parmesan cheese

DIRECTIONS:
1. Grease inside of slow cooker with olive oil or cooking spray.
2. Combine beef, sauce garlic, spices and onion in a medium-sized bowl and mix well.
3. Combine ricotta and mozzarella in a separate medium-sized bowl.
4. In the slow cooker, layer the beef, noodles and sauce mixture. (Create several layers.)
5. Sprinkle with Parmesan.
6. Cover and cook on low for 3-4 hours. Then serve.

FUN:

YOU'RE NOT OLD UNLESS YOU CAN REMEMBER...

...being sent to the drugstore to test vacuum tubes for the TV.

...when Kool-Aid was the only other drink for kids, other than milk and sodas.

...when there were two types of sneakers for boys: high tops and low tops.

...when boys couldn't wear anything but leather shoes to school. (And shirts tucked in, belts had to be worn, and skirts no higher than mid-knee.)

...when it took five minutes for the TV to warm up. (Remember watching test patterns, and that itty-bitty screen?)

...when nearly everyone's parents smoked and cigarettes were $3 a carton.

...when all your friends got their hair cut at the kitchen table.

...when nearly everyone's mom was at home when the kids got there. (Usually with hot homemade cookies and milk.)

...when nobody owned a pure-bred dog.

...when a dime was a decent allowance, and a quarter a huge bonus. (And penny candy?)

...when you'd reach into a muddy gutter for a penny.

...when girls neither dated nor kissed until late high school, if then.

...when all your teachers wore either neckties or had their hair done, every day.

...when you got your windshield cleaned, oil checked, and gas pumped, without asking, for free, every time. (And gas was 19 cents a gallon?)

...when any parent could discipline any kid, or feed him, or use him to carry groceries, and nobody, not even the kid, thought a thing of it.

...when it was considered a great privilege to be taken out to dinner at a REAL restaurant with your parents.

Hope Restored Along the Way

FAITH:

What would it take to restore your hope?

What would you need to re-energize your journey?

Though the answers are abundant, three come quickly to mind.

The first would be a person. Not just any person. You don't need someone equally confused. You need someone who knows the way out.

And from him you need some vision. You need someone to lift your spirits. You need someone to look you in the face and say, "This isn't the end. Don't give up. There is a better place than this. And I'll lead you there."

And, perhaps most important, you need direction. If you have only a person but no renewed vision, all you have is company. If he has a vision but no direction, you have a dreamer for company. But if you have a person with direction--who can take you from this place to the right place--ah, then you have one who can restore your hope.

Or, to use David's words, "He restores my soul." Our Shepherd majors in restoring hope to the soul. Whether you are a lamb lost on a craggy ledge or a city slicker alone in a deep jungle, everything changes when your rescuer appears.

Your loneliness diminishes, because you have fellowship.

Your despair decreases, because you have vision.

Your confusion begins to lift, because you have direction.

Please note: You haven't left the jungle. The trees still eclipse the sky, and the thorns still cut the skin. Animals lurk and rodents scurry. The jungle is still a jungle. It hasn't changed, but you have. You have changed because you have hope. And you have hope because you have met someone who can lead you out.

Your Shepherd knows that you were not made for this place. He knows you are not equipped for this place. So he has come to guide you out.
by Max Lucado

FRIENDS:

Father, We need your guidance to stay on your path. Sometimes you guide us to rest in the green pastures and other times you lead us through the darkness, sorrow or even death. We are assured that if we put the governing of our lives upon Your shoulders we will be safe. Thank you for this hope. In Jesus' name, Amen.

DAILY BIBLE CHALLENGE ~ JUNE~

15. Luke 5:1-11; Phil 1:12-20; Psalms 119:113-120; 2 Kings 4-5
16. Luke 5:12-16; Phil 1:21-30; Psalms 119:121-128; 2 Kings 6-7

FOOD:
Why not make up several batch's and bottle up part and give to someone as a gift. Would make a nice Father's Day gift for someone that grills.

Montreal Steak Seasoning

4 tablespoons salt
1 tablespoon black pepper
1 tablespoon dehydrated onion
1/2 tablespoon dehydrated garlic
1/2 tablespoon crushed red pepper
1/2 tablespoon dried thyme
1/2 tablespoon dried rosemary
1/2 tablespoon dried fennel

Mix together and store in a shaker. Shake or rub 1 tablespoon seasoning onto
1 pound steaks, pork chops and hamburgers before grilling or broiling.

FUN:

"Winterize your lawn," the big sign outside the garden store commanded. I've fed it, watered it, mowed it, raked it and watched a lot of it die anyway. Now I'm supposed to winterize it? I hope it's too late.

Grass lawns have to be the stupidest thing we've come up with outside of thong swimsuits! We constantly battle dandelions, Queen Anne's lace, thistle, violets, chicory and clover that thrive naturally, so we can grow grass that must be nursed through an annual four-step chemical dependency.

Imagine the conversation The Creator might have with St. Francis about this:

"Frank, you know all about gardens and nature. What in the world is going on down there in the Midwest? What happened to the dandelions, violets, thistle and stuff I started eons ago? I had a perfect, no-maintenance garden plan. Those plants grow in any type of soil, withstand drought and multiply with abandon. The nectar from the long-lasting blossoms attracted butterflies, honey bees and flocks of songbirds. I expected to see a vast garden of colors by now. But all I see are these green rectangles."

"It's the tribes that settled there, Lord. The Suburbanites. They started calling your flowers 'weeds' and went to great extent to kill them and replace them with grass."

"Grass? But it's so boring. It's not colorful. It doesn't attract butterflies, birds and bees, only grubs and sod worms. It's temperamental with temperatures. Do these Suburbanites really want all that grass growing there?"

"Apparently so, Lord. They go to great pains to grow it and keep it green. They begin each spring by fertilizing grass and poisoning any other plant that crops up in the lawn."

"The spring rains and cool weather probably make grass grow really fast. That must make the Suburbanites happy."

"Apparently not, Lord. As soon as it grows a little, they cut it - sometimes twice a week."

"They cut it? Do they then bale it like hay?"

"Not exactly, Lord. Most of them rake it up and put it in bags."

"They bag it? Why? Is it a cash crop? Do they sell it?"

"No, sir. Just the opposite. They pay to throw it away."

"Now let me get this straight. They fertilize grass so it will grow. And when it does grow, they cut it off and pay to throw it away?"

"Yes, sir."

"These Suburbanites must be relieved in the summer when we cut back on the rain and turn up the heat. That surely slows the growth and saves them a lot of work."

"You aren't gonna believe this Lord. When the grass stops growing so fast, they drag out hoses and pay more money to water it so they can continue to mow it and pay to get rid of it."

"What nonsense! At least they kept some of the trees. That was a sheer stroke of genius, if I do say so myself. The trees grow leaves in the spring to provide beauty and shade in the summer. In the autumn they fall to the ground and form a natural blanket to keep moisture in the soil and protect the trees and bushes. Plus, as they rot, the leaves form compost to enhance the soil. It's a natural circle of life."

"You better sit down, Lord. The Suburbanites have drawn a new circle. As soon as the leaves fall, they rake them into great piles and have them hauled away."

"No! What do they do to protect the shrub and tree roots in the winter and keep the soil moist and loose?"

"After throwing away your leaves, they go out and buy something they call mulch. They haul it home and spread it around in place of the leaves."

"And where do they get this mulch?"

"They cut down trees and grind them up."

"Enough! I don't want to think about this anymore. Saint Catherine, you're in charge of the arts. What movie have you scheduled for us
tonight?"

"Dumb and Dumber, Lord. It's a real stupid movie about..."

"Never mind, I think I just heard the whole story."

"See His Face, Hear His Voice"

FAITH:
There is a wonderful verse that I love.
When we shall see Him we shall be like Him (2 Cor 3:18). We must see God. Look at the responses of people who saw God or his Angels.

In Daniel 10:1-12.Daniel fasts and prays and God answers and He is on his face, out cold. In Acts 9:3-4 Paul has an encounter with Jesus and, Boom, down on the ground. John has a similar encounter in Revelations 1:17. Bam, and he's out of there. Moses, Gideon and Jeremiah suddenly are the great I can'ts in the face of the Great I am. Peter simply tells Jesus to depart for he is a sinful man.(Luke 5:8)

These are the responses that the Bible's greatest men had when they met God or His Incredible Messengers. Total Humility, Total Conviction, Total Devotion. Why must we encounter our Lord in a similar way?

It seems that the very standard to be an Apostle was to have seen the risen Christ and look at what these men were able to do.

In John 14:19 the Lord begins to explain that His disciples will see Him but the world will not be able to see Him. The Disciples are curious and the Lord, in His amazing way, expounds on this incredible relationship that we will have with God by the Holy Spirit.

Do you believe that you can see God or hear His voice? Imagine the empowering available to those of us who see Visions. The birth of the Church is declared by Joel through Peter on Pentecost as "Your young men shall see visions and your old men shall dream dreams (night visions) not to mention your hand maidens (women).These are prophetic revelations and they are available to us all.

We each have the Spirit in our own measure but I find it hard to believe that we cannot all have a deeper relationship with Jesus and God by the Holy Spirit. Whether it is having your ears suddenly stand up, or the hairs on your arm or neck.

Pray and seek God and learn His still small loving voice. You will never be the same.

Does your heart burn as Jesus walks with you, opening the scriptures, or is it when He breaks bread that you suddenly realize his presence. Does it take seeing Him walk through a wall, maybe your personal wall, to let you physically put your hand in His wounds. Or is it when you seek Him, with tears, crying for His presence in the garden that the gentle voice calls your name (Mary) You may dance, (David), sing, fast and pray or prophecy, but you must know where you meet Him.

How your life will be changed! No rule, no law can keep you on the straight and narrow but the Spirit is always right. To be spiritually minded is Life and Peace. Only Christ, in you, accomplishes the task at hand. For it is Christ in you working His good pleasure. In the end the name of the City of God is called The Lord is There (Ezekiel 48:35). We all long to simply be where He is. Where do you meet Him and hear His Voice? That's where the transforming power of God is. by Michael Tiemann

FRIENDS:

Father, We want to see you and know you better. We ask you to help us see Jesus and to deepen our faith upon seeing him more clearly. May we see the joy that is before us. Would you pull back the eternal curtain and give us a glimpse into the everlasting? Please keep us close to you this day. In Jesus' name, Amen.

DAILY BIBLE CHALLENGE ~JUNE~

13. Luke 4:31-37; Ephesians 6:10-24; Psalms 119:97-104; 1 Kings 21-22
14. Luke 4:38-44; Philippians 1:1-11; Psalms 119:105-112; 2 Kings 1-3

~2 Kings~

The tone for the book is set in the first two verses.
After Ahab died, Moab broke away from Israel's rule. Ahaziah fell down through the wooden bars in his upstairs room in Samaria and was badly hurt. He sent messengers and told them, "Go, ask Baal-Zebub, god of Ekron, if I will recover from my injuries" (1:1-2)

In those inaugural words you find death (Ahab died), rebellion (Moab broke away), calamity (Ahaziah fell down), and superstition (Go ask...the god of Ekron).

What a beginning. It doesn't get any better. Second Kings is not a book for the faint of heart. But it is a book for the serious disciple. Its message is embossed at the top of every page: "The way of transgressors is hard."

Remember what Paul said about the wages of sin being death? This book proves his point. Twenty-five chapters of people reaping the harvest of sin. Story after story of people learning firsthand the eternal truth: The consequence of persistent sin is pain. Pain, not just in your life but in the lives of those you love.

The book relates the decline of two powers.

The Northern Kingdom, Israel, was headquartered in Samaria. Nineteen kings led this nation. Not one was godly. Not one! In spite of strong prophets like Jonah, Amos, Hosea, Elijah, and Elisha, the kings didn't listen.

The Southern Kingdom, Judah, used Jerusalem as it's capital. Of its twenty sovereigns, only eight walked with God. Again powerful prophets challenged them. Obadiah, Joel Isaiah, and Jeremiah were just a few of the men who proclaimed God's message.

But the people didn't listen. They slipped from conviction to compromise into captivity. The book ends with the battered nations of Israel and Judah dragged behind the horses of their conquerors. God will leave them in captivity for seventy years. Plenty of time for them to ponder the lesson: Do not be fooled: You cannot cheat God. People harvest only what they plant (Gal 6:7).

It took these people several decades to get the point. I hope we are better listeners.

FOOD:

Skip the iceberg lettuce and go for the dark leafy greens on your next trip to the salad bar.
Turns out the vitamin K in greens like kale and spinach may reduce your chances of developing insulin resistance -- a major risk factor for diabetes.

Roasted Red Peppers Stuffed with Kale & Rice

Makes 6 serving

Peppers
3 medium red bell peppers
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
¼ teaspoon salt
Freshly ground pepper to taste

Filling
8 ounces kale (6 cups lightly packed), trimmed
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
½ cup chopped red bell pepper
2 cloves garlic, minced
¾ cup cooked short-grain brown rice (see Tip)
½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
¼ cup toasted pine nuts, divided (see Tip)
1 tablespoon lemon juice
¼ teaspoon salt
Freshly ground pepper to taste

1. To prepare peppers: Preheat oven to 400°F. Halve peppers lengthwise through the stems, leaving them attached. Remove the seeds. Lightly brush the peppers outside and inside with oil; sprinkle the insides with salt and pepper. Place, cut-side down, in a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Bake until peppers are just tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Let cool slightly. Turn cut-side up.
2. To prepare filling: Bring 2 cups salted water to a boil in a large wide pan. Stir in kale, cover and cook until tender, 10 to 12 minutes. Drain, rinse under cold water; squeeze dry. Finely chop.
3. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add onion and chopped bell pepper; cook, stirring often, until onion is golden, 6 to 8 minutes. Add garlic and cook, stirring, for 30 seconds. Stir in the kale. Remove from the heat and let cool slightly. Stir in rice, Parmesan, 2 tablespoons pine nuts and lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper. Divide the filling among the pepper halves. Sprinkle with the remaining 2 tablespoons pine nuts.
4. Add 2 tablespoons water to the baking dish. Cover the peppers with foil and bake until heated through, 15 to 20 minutes. Uncover and bake for 5 minutes more. Serve hot.
Tips: You may Prepare through step 3, cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days.
Tips: To cook brown rice: Place 1 cup brown rice, 21/2 cups water and a pinch of salt, if desired, in a medium saucepan; bring to a simmer. Cover; cook over low heat until rice is tender and most of the liquid has been absorbed, 45 to 50 minutes. Makes 3 cups.
To toast pine nuts: Heat a small dry skillet over medium-low heat. Add pine nuts and cook, stirring constantly, until golden and fragrant, 2 to 3 minutes. (Or spread in a small baking pan and bake at 400°F for about 5 minutes.)

Per serving: 171 calories; 11 g fat (2 g sat, 5 g mono); 6 mg cholesterol; 15 g carbohydrate; 5 g protein; 3 g fiber; 304 mg sodium; 285 mg potassium.
Nutrition bonus: Vitamin C (210% daily value), Vitamin A (20% dv) 1 Carbohydrate Serving

FUN:

Gods Love

To increase my FAITH

When we look at the world around us, sometimes it's difficult to understand the unfairness of life. It's not fair that the young should suffer. It's not fair that the innocent should go hungry. But not is it fair that a God would have to come to earth and hang on his own cross to protect us from the evil one. It's not fair....but that's love. And that's God.

God's love for you is not dependent on how you look, how you think, how you act, or how perfect you are. His love is absolutely nonnegotiable and nonreturnable. Ours is a faithful God. No matter what you do, no matter how far you fall, no matter how ugly you become, God has relentless, undying, unfathomable, unquenchable love from which you cannot be separated. Ever! Run to Jesus. Jesus wants you to go to him. He wants to become the most important person in your life, the greatest love you'll ever know. He wants you to love him so much that there's no room in your heart and in your life for sin.

If you haven't all ready, invite him to take up residence in your heart.
by Max Lucado

To pray with our FRIENDS
Father, We look at your plan and it's all based on love, not on our performance, and we pray that you'd help us to understand that. To be captivated by your love. To be overwhelmed by your grace. To come home to you in that beautiful path that you've already carved our for us.
In Jesus' name, Amen.

DAILY BIBLE CHALLENGE ~June~
Luke----------Ephesians------------Psalms----------1 Kings
12. 4:13-30----------6:1-9-------------119:89-96---------19-20
13. 4:31-37----------6:10-24----------119:97-104--------21-22

~PHILIPIANS~
Perhaps the symbol of this generation is the exercise bike.
It represents what most have---excess weight.
It represents what most want---to be different.
It represents what most people spend most time doing---pedaling furiously and getting nowhere. High activity but low achievement. Car pools, diapers, bills, time clocks. Office walls painted grey with routine. Houses framed with wooden humdrum. For many, life is lived on the exercise bicycle. Day after day in the same seat, doing the same thing but seeing the same scenery. Is there any end to this tunnel of greyness?
There is.
Go with me back in history a couple of thousand years. Let's go to the city of Rome. The thrilling metropolis of gladiators, chariots, and empires. But don't stop at the coliseum or palace. Go rather to a drab little room, surrounded by high walls. Let's imagine that we can peek into the room and look. Inside we see a man seated on the floor. He's an older fellow, shoulders stooped and balding. Chains are on his hands and feet. And chained to him is a guard from the Roman army.
It is the apostle Paul. The apostle who has traveled all over the world. The apostle who has liberated people in every port. The apostle who was bound only by the will of God is now in chains---stuck in a dingy house---attached to a Roman officer.
Here is a fellow who has every reason to be in a slump!
He is restricted by walls. He is afflicted by friends (v. 15). He is conflicted by danger (v. 21).
He is writing a letter. No doubt it is a complaint letter to God. No doubt it is a list of grievances. No doubt he is writing the New Testament version of Lamentations. He has every reason to be bitter and complain. But he doesn't. Instead, he writes a letter that two thousand years later is still known as the treatise on joy.
Sound interesting? Of course it does. Who couldn't use a guide to joy in this world? Why don't you spend some time with it? Dismount the bicycle to nowhere and follow Paul as he guides you down the trail to peace.


To share our love of FOOD
Garlicky Sesame-Cured Broccoli Salad
From the NY Times
Time: 10 minutes, plus 1 hour marinating
1 1/2 teaspoons red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon kosher salt, more to taste
2 heads broccoli,
1 pound each, cut into bite-size florets
3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
4 fat garlic cloves, minced
2 teaspoons cumin seeds
2 teaspoons roasted (Asian) sesame oil
Large pinch crushed red pepper flakes.
1. In a large bowl, stir together the vinegar and salt. Add broccoli and toss to combine.
2. In a large skillet, heat olive oil until hot, but not smoking. Add garlic and cumin and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in sesame oil and pepper flakes. Pour mixture over broccoli and toss well. Let sit for at least 1 hour at room temperature, and up to 48 (chill it if you want to keep it for more than 2 hours). Adjust seasonings (it may need more salt) and serve. Yield: 6 to 8 side-dish servings or more as an hors d'oeuvre

FUN or at the least, something to make you smile...... A man appeared before St. Peter at the Pearly Gates.
"Have you ever done anything of particular merit?" St. Peter asked. "Well, I can think of one thing," the man offered. "Once, on a trip to the Black Hills out in South Dakota , I came upon a gang of bikers, who were threatening a young woman. I directed them to leave her alone, but they wouldn't listen.
"So, I approached the largest and most heavily tattooed biker and smacked him in his face, kicked his bike over, ripped out his nose ring, and threw it on the ground. I yelled, 'Now, back off! Or I'll kick the stuffing out of all of you!'
St. Peter was impressed, "When did this happen?"
"Just a couple minutes ago".

Running on low..

FAITH:

I pray that the God who gives hope will fill you with much joy and peace while you trust in him. Then your hope will overflow by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15.13

There are those who will tell you that all you have to do is believe in yourself and you can have it all. There are others who say you can move mountains if you are driven by a great purpose. Both are partially right. But a healthy sense of identity and a driving purpose are not enough in themselves. One thing more is needed. It is the in-dwelling Spirit of the living God.

Luis Palau tells about an Air Canada flight that ran into trouble one fateful Monday. Passengers were enjoying a movie on a Boeing 767 when the jumbo jet's massive engines abruptly stopped. Only those without earphones noticed at first. Then came a break in the movie. The pilot announced that Flight 143 would be making an emergency landing. Sixty-nine people were trapped in an agonizingly slow but inescapable descent to earth.

For several minutes, a desperate silence hung over the cabin. Then fear gave way to screams as the landing neared. All the latest technology couldn't keep the jumbo jet in the air another second.

What had happened was this. The electronic digital fuel gauge was out of order. The flight crew depended on figures given by the refueling crew before takeoff. But someone on the refueling crew confused pounds for kilograms. Thus, eight hundred miles short of its destination, the jet had run out of fuel. Fortunately, the captain and the co-captain were able to glide Flight 143 some one hundred miles to a former military air field. A dramatic crash landing heavily damaged the jumbo jet's landing gear, but, by the grace of God, no one on board was hurt.

An impressive craft--headed in the right direction--but running out of fuel. That's happening to a lot of people today. They have a high sense of self-esteem. They are motivated by a sense of purpose. But one day they wake up disillusioned and disheartened. The fuel has all been spent.

Where does the fuel we need for life come from? It comes from God's in-dwelling Spirit. This was the most important gift that the Father bestowed upon those first disciples of Jesus. And this is the most important gift He can bestow upon us. And He will give it to all who ask.
by R Newhouse

FRIENDS:
Father, Our hope is in you . You are our help, our shield to protect us. We rejoice in you because we trust your Holy name. Lord, show your love to us as we put our hope in you. Thank you for loving us. In Jesus' name, Amen.

DAILY BIBLE CHALLENGE ~ JUNE~

Luke Ephesians Psalms 1 Kings
10. 3:21:38; 5:1-21; 119:73-80; 15-16
11. 4:1-12; 5:22-33; 119:81-88; 17-18

10 Things To Be Thankful For
1. The pain you get in your side when can't quit laughing
2. The last day of school
3. Giving a laughing child a ride in a wheelbarrow
4. Putting on freshly pressed clothes
5. Eating lunch in a bathing suit
6. Laying on your back gazing at the stars
7. Summer
8. Dinner by candlelight
9. The feeling of a evening breeze wafting in the window
10. People working together in harmony

FOOD:

Who knew?
Just 10 prunes delivers 20 percent of your daily potassium and copper requirements, 14 percent of your iron requirements, and 10 percent of your manganese and zinc requirements. Prunes also provide a whopping
dose of the essential vitamins A, C, E, and B-complex, including folate.
If you don't like the taste of prunes, this will definitely make them edible.

DRUNKEN PRUNES
2 heaping teaspoons Darjeeling or other black tea leaves
2 cups boiling water
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1 1/4 pounds pitted prunes, (dried plums)
1 cup Armagnac, or cognac (buy a few of those little airplane sized bottles or don't use at all)
1 vanilla bean, cut in half

Directions
1. Stir tea and water in a small bowl; let steep for 5 minutes. Strain into a medium saucepan; stir in brown sugar. Bring to a boil over high heat; boil until slightly thickened, about 2 minutes. Place prunes in a large bowl; stir in hot syrup. Set aside to cool to room temperature, about 1 hour.
2. Meanwhile, sterilize two 1-pint canning jars by steaming them upside down, their lids alongside, in a closed steamer for 10 minutes; or place in a large pot and cover by 1 inch of water and boil for 10 minutes.
3. Drain prunes, reserving liquid separately. Whisk Armagnac (or cognac) into the liquid. Pack each sterilized jar with half the prunes. Nestle half the vanilla bean in each jar. Pour 1/2 cup of the Armagnac mixture into each jar. Seal and turn upside down to blend ingredients. Set right side up and store in the refrigerator for 1 week to plump.


FUN: