DON'T YOU JUST LOVE A MIRACLE

FAITH:

Exodus 5:18-23

18 Now, go back to work! We will not give you any straw, but you must make just as many bricks as you did before."

19 The Israelite foremen knew they were in trouble, because the king had told them, "You must make just as many bricks each day as you did before."20 As they were leaving the meeting with the king, they met Moses and Aaron, who were waiting for them.21 So they said to Moses and Aaron, "May the Lord punish you. You caused the king and his officers to hate us. You have given them an excuse to kill us."
Moses Complains to God
22 Then Moses returned to the Lord and said, "Lord, why have you brought this trouble on your people? Is this why you sent me here?23 I went to the king and said what you told me to say, but ever since that time he has made the people suffer. And you have done nothing to save them."

The story of the Exodus is a story of miracles – yet in the beginning when Moses first appeared before Pharaoh to deliver the children of Israel from 400 years of slavery, the Israelites were severely tempted and became angry because of the initial hardships that were laid upon them.

They leveled their anger at Moses because suddenly they were told that they would have to gather their own straw for making bricks. They were concerned about offending their slave-masters, fearing that they would slay them.

The Israelites were so accustomed to their slavery that they didn’t want their lives disrupted despite the fact that freedom was at hand. Resigned to this miserable life, they utterly failed to apprehend or appreciate the freedom that was soon approaching. Yes, there was a temporary price: increased hardship and great pressure would set the stage for their final deliverance.

The same can happen to us. It has often been said “The darkest night is just before the dawn”…

Perhaps the enemy senses his impending defeat and pulls out all the stops to prevent it. Perhaps the Lord loves a good story with a really dramatic and climactic ending and great glory for His Name…in any case –

Don’t let yourself remain accustomed to any form of bondage – seek and believe for the freedom that God has given us through His Son. Expect a life of great victory over sin and demonic oppression – Why? Because that is His promise to us!

FRIENDS:

Father, Thy Kingdom Come. Let your kingdom live in the hearts of people, let your kingdom live in society, let the church be strong, and let your kingdom come eternally. In His Name, Amen.

FOOD:

Wouldn't one of these take good on a chilly evening......

Pumpkin Latte
--2 cups milk (I used 1%)
--2 T canned pumpkin
--2 T white sugar
--2 T vanilla (not a typo. it asks for tablespoons)
--1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
OR: 1/4 tsp cinnamon, 1/8 tsp cloves, 1/8 tsp nutmeg, and a teeny tiny pinch of ground ginger
--1/2 cup brewed espresso or 3/4 cup strong brewed coffee

--garnish with whipped cream (optional)

This will make enough for 2 people to have a big mug with a bit leftover. If you are having friends over, adjust the recipe accordingly. I used a 4-quart crockpot, but as small as a 1.5 quart will work with these amounts.
Add the coffee/espresso and milk to the crockpot. Whisk in the pumpkin, spices, sugar, and vanilla.
Cover and cook on high for 2 hours if everything is cold. Whisk again.
Ladle into mugs, and garnish with whipped cream and additional cinnamon. I added a cinnamon stick to be fancy

Gingerbread Latte
--4 cups milk (2% or lower is best to not worry about curdling)
--1/2 cup white sugar (I like Baker's sugar because it dissolves nicely)
--2 tsp ground ginger
--2 tsp vanilla extract
--1 tsp ground cinnamon
--1/4 tsp cloves
--1/4 tsp nutmeg
--cinnamon stick, whipped cream for garnish (optional)

--1/2 cup strong black coffee, or a freshly-brewed shot of espresso

The Directions.
This could serve 4, especially if you are adding the milk on top of coffee. Otherwise it serves 2 with a bit of milk left for kid cups.
I used a 4 quart crockpot, you could get away with going as small as a 1.5 to 2 quart.
Put the milk into your crockpot, and whisk in the dried spices. Don't add the coffee.
Cover and cook on low for 3 hours, or high for 1-2. The milk should be quite hot, but if your crockpot tends to get hot enough to boil, keep an eye on it. Don't let the milk boil.
Pour over hot coffee or espresso.
Garnish with whipped cream, a sprinkle of nutmeg, and a cinnamon stick.

Chai Latte
--4 cups milk
--4 black tea bags
--1/4 tsp ground cloves
--1/2 tsp ginger
--4 sticks cinnamon (or 2 tsp ground)
--4 cardamom pods
--1 tsp vanilla extract
--1 T sugar (I like the Baker's because it dissolves nicely)

The Directions.
This will serve 2-4 adults, dependent on how much they like tea.
Put everything into your crockpot. I used a 4 quart. Anything over a 2 quart will work just fine. Float the cinnamon sticks, cardamon pods, and tea bags on top.
Cover and cook on high for 2 hours, or until heated through. I cooked ours on low for 2 hours and another hour on high.


FUN:

God knows.....

FAITH:

Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

In her book, Let Me Be a Woman, Elizabeth Elliot records the story of a friend who had great difficulty accepting the looks God had given her. While everyone this girl knew had grown beautiful golden hair, hers was black. And while they were all still growing, she had stopped. She grew to be only about four feet ten inches tall.

Eventually, she reached the country to which God had called her to be a missionary. One day, she stood on the wharf in Shanghai and looked around at the people to whom He had called her. “Every single one of them” she said, “had black hair. And every one of them had stopped growing when I did.” She was able to look to God and exclaim, “Lord God, You know what You’re doing!”

Are you struggling with something specific today? Have you been asking, “Why Lord?!” Whether we realize it or not, God knows what He’s doing! We may not understand it today — but He has known these things from the very beginning. And He really is carrying out His great plan in us! Cheer up! God is preparing His vessels for GREAT things! There’s so much work to be done!

FRIENDS:

Father, You are in control and how often we need to be reminded of that. Your mercy towards us in unlimited. The only reason this world continues is because you have mercy upon us. Millions of people today are receiving food for which they'll never give thanks. We're breathing air that we take for granted. Somehow, though, you continue to bless us and we are grateful for that. In Jesus' name, Amen.

~JOB~

It's easy to thank God when he does what we want. But God doesn't always do what we want. Ask Job.

His empire collapsed, his children were killed, and what was a healthy body became a rage of boils. from whence came this torrent? From whence will come any help.

Not from his wife, You can't blame her for telling Job to curse God. but to curse God and die?

Then come his friends. They mean well, but they comfort poorly. They tell him he must have been pretty bad to get it so bad.

"With friends like you guys. . . ." Job says and ten tells them to take their theology back to the dime store where they bought it. Getting no comfort from family or friend, he goes straight to God and pleads his case. His head hurts. His body hurts. His heart hurts. And he can't tolerate anymore half-baked answers. "Why is this happening to me?" he demands.

And God answers. Not with answers but with questions. An ocean of questions. Space doesn't permit their listing, but one or two will convey the point. "Can you shout an order to the clouds and cover your self with a flood of water? Can you send lightning bolts on their way? do they come to you and say, 'Here we are'?" (38:34-35)

After several dozen of these, Job is left on the beach drenched and wide-eyed, knowing he will never argue with the ocean again. He lifts his hand and cries, "Enough." He has gotten the point. What is it.

God owes no one anything. No reasons. No explanations. Nothing. If he gave them, we couldn't understand them.

Which makes the conclusion of the book all the more moving. Even though God owed Job nothing, he have him everything. New health new business, new family. And most of all, new insight.

God is God. He knows what he is doing. When you can't trace his hand, trust his heart.


FOOD:
Two recipes today....one reduced fat and the other....not.

SOUTHWEST BURGERS....a great way to cut the fat content in hamburger.

These tasty, low fat burgers use extra-lean ground beef combined with mashed black beans to reduce fat content and make moist, flavorful patties. The jalapeno pepper, cumin and cilantro add a nice little kick. Use a hotter chile pepper if you prefer, or omit it altogether if you want a more subtle flavor. Serve burgers on a whole grain or sourdough bun with plenty of low fat condiments. Fresh salsa and low fat sour cream work perfectly.

* 1 cup reduced-sodium black beans, rinsed
* 1/4 cup minced red onion
* 1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and finely chopped
* 2 tsp ground cumin
* 3/4 pound extra-lean ground beef
* 1/4 cup tomato sauce
* 1 egg white
* 2 tbsp fresh chopped cilantro

Preparation:
In a small bowl, mash black beans with a fork. Add onion, jalapeño pepper and cumin. Mix well. Place ground beef in a large bowl, followed by the bean mixture. Add sauce, egg white and cilantro. Blend well with a fork.
Form into four 3/4-inch patties.
Broil or grill for 5-6 per side until internal temperature reaches 160 degrees.

Per Serving: Calories 145, Calories from Fat 40, Total Fat 4.4g (sat 2.2g

Old-School King Ranch Chicken Casserole
This is a dish you will find at all Texas church potlucks

1 cooked 2 1/2 pound fryer (cooked with cumin, onion, celery and garlic) shredded
10 corn tortillas
1 onion, chopped
1 bell pepper, seeds and stem removed, diced
2 cups of grated cheddar cheese
1 can of cream of mushroom soup
1 can of cream of chicken soup
1 cup of chicken broth
1 can of Ro-Tel tomatoes
1 tsp. of chile powder

Method:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Combine soups, broth, Ro-Tel tomatoes and chile powder; blend until smooth.
3. Place a layer of chicken in a greased casserole dish.
4. Add layers of tortillas, onion, bell peppers, cheese and sauce.
5. Repeat layers, ending with cheese.
6. Bake uncovered for half an hour or until brown and bubbling.

FUN:

Are you kind?

FAITH:

How kind are you? What is your kindness quotient? When was the last time you did something kind for someone in your family--e.g., got a blanket, cleaned off the table, prepared the coffee--without being asked?

Think about your school or workplace. Which person is the most overlooked or avoided? A shy student? A grumpy employee? Maybe he doesn't speak the language. Maybe she doesn't fit in. Are you kind to this person?

Kind hearts are quietly kind. They let the car cut into traffic and the young mom with three kids move up in the checkout line. They pick up the neighbor's trash can that rolled into the street. And they are especially kind at church. They understand that perhaps the neediest person they'll meet all week is the one standing in the foyer or sitting on the row behind them in worship. Paul writes: "When we have the opportunity to help anyone, we should do it. But we should give special attention to those who are in the family of believers" (Gal. 6:10).

And, here is a challenge--what about your enemies? With the boss who fired you or the wife who left you. Suppose you surprised them with kindness? Not easy? No, it's not. But mercy is the deepest gesture of kindness. Paul equates the two. "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you" (Eph. 4:32 ).

Jesus said:
Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you.... If you love only the people who love you, what praise should you get? ... [L]ove your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without hoping to get anything back. Then you will have a great reward, and you will be children of the Most High God, because he is kind even to people who are ungrateful and full of sin. Show mercy, just as your Father shows mercy. (Luke 6:27-28, 32, 35-36)

Kindness at home. Kindness in public. Kindness at church and kindness with your enemies. Pretty well covers the gamut, don't you think? Almost. Someone else needs your kindness. Who could that be? You.

Since he is so kind to us, can't we be a little kinder to ourselves? Oh, but you don't know me, Max. You don't know my faults and my thoughts. You don't know the gripes I grumble and the complaints I mumble. No, I don't, but he does. He knows everything about you, yet he doesn't hold back his kindness toward you. Has he, knowing all your secrets, retracted one promise or reclaimed one gift?

No, he is kind to you. Why don't you be kind to yourself? He forgives your faults. Why don't you do the same? He thinks tomorrow is worth living. Why don't you agree? He believes in you enough to call you his ambassador, his follower, even his child. Why not take his cue and believe in yourself?

Be kind to yourself. God thinks you're worth his kindness. And he's a good judge of character. by Max Lucado

FRIENDS:

Father, Help us to have the faith of a child. Help us to remember what it was like when we first believed. Help us to gain back the awesome feeling of love that swept over us when we first understood just how big You are and just how much You love us. Lord. Help us to love the hard-to-love and to be kind to them. Help us to encourage others to love You more and love people more. We praise you and thank you Father for your unconditional love that gave us saving grace through your Son Jesus. In His precious name, Amen.

DAILY BIBLE CHALLENGE
23. JOHN 7:1-13; I PETER 4:12-19; SONG OF S. 7; LAM. 2
24. JOHN 7:14-24; I PETER 5:1-7; SONG OF S. 8:1-7; LAM 3
25. JOHN 7:25-36; 1 PETER 5:8-14; SONG OF S. 8:8-14; LAM 4-5
Time to stop for this month. We will start up in November with three new books.

~ 2 PETER ~

If a friend warns you, it's one thing. If a doctor warns you, you listen. but if your friend is your doctor, you lean forward and take note.

My friend is my doctor. My doctor is my friend. Most of my physical exams are salted with friendly chatter and jokes. There have been occasions, however, when his tone gets solemn and his voice urgent.

"We're going to have to watch this."
"You haven't been exercising, have you..."
"With your family's history, you have to watch your diet."
When it's a warning from a friend, you listen.

The second letter from Peter is a warning from a friend. His first letter was a warning about trials from without (persecution). His second caution is a warning about trials from within (heresy).

In this the last letter we have from him, he urges Christians to be careful. Avoid shortsightedness (1:2-11). Be on guard for false teachers (2:1-22). And most importantly, be vigilant against personal complacency which will lead to a lazy faith.

The doctor's task is to detect concerns from within and urge you to take caution. Peter's task is the same. Heed his counsel.

FOOD:
Someone recently asked me for some healthy recipes and this one is about as healthy as you can get. I also included some comments that were made by some people that made it.

HEALTHY SOUP------Recipe is from Good Housekeeping.
* 5 medium carrots, cut into 1 inch slices
* 3 medium celery ribs, sliced
* 3 large onions, chopped or 3 medium leeks, each cut into 1 inch slices
* 1 garlic clove, minced
* 1 (28 ounce) can tomatoes (in juice)
* 1/2 medium cauliflower, cut into bite sized pieces
* 12 ounces green beans, each cut into thirds
* 3 medium zucchini, cut into 1 inch slices
* 2 (5 ounce) packages baby spinach leaves
* 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
* 2 chicken bouillon cubes
* 12 cups water
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground pepper

1. Coat pan with nonstick cooking spray.
2. Over medium high heat add carrots, celery, onions, and garlic.
3. Cook, stirring occasionally, 5 minutes.
4. Stir in tomatoes with their liquid, breaking up tomatoes with side of spoon.
5. Add cauliflower, remaining ingredients and 12 cups of water.
6. Heat to boiling over high heat, stirring occasionally.
7. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer, stirring occasionally, 15 minutes or until vegetables become tender.
8. Add more salt and pepper if desired.
Recipe makes 24 Cups
Calories 35, Dietary Fiber 2.5g

Some comments made by those who have made it:
--Made as directed and LOVED it! My teenage daughter and I have been eating this for five days and following a Med-Rim diet: olives, olive oil, hummus, almonds, avocados, healthy mono-unsaturated fats and lean proteins. We've lost 11 pounds in five days: she lost 7 and 4 for me! I can easily fit this into my eating and cooking routine.
--This actually works. I did it and lost 100 lbs. I did variations, though. I added tofu, soy sauce and Chinese veggies (bean sprouts, bamboo shoots, cabbage and the like) to vary the taste. A little cayenne pepper works too. I have used just cabbage instead of the spinach and added curry powder to give me some variety. The soup really has very little calories so I could "pig out" on all of the flavors.
--I'm a big fan of this soup. The version I make uses cabbage as well as chopped kale, collards or escarole. I don't like overcooked spinach and since I make this in a big batch for the week, the cabbage holds up well. My other standard ingredients are chopped baby carrots, chopped green beans, cauliflower, chopped parsley, sliced zucchini, and a can of diced tomato and I add a good handful of frozen edemame. Also I use "Better than Bullion" brand vegetable base. I use this soup as a foundation and I vary it every time I eat it. Some of things I might add to a portion before heating it up are: diced turkey bacon (adds a nice smoky flavor and good texture) or any leftover chicken, meat or fish. For a little more "heft" I add a small amount of cooked barley or brown rice or left over pasta or a bit of diced potato, and I change the seasonings sometimes adding Parmesan cheese and Italian spices, or hot sauce, or Thai fish sauce, or curry powder...etc. etc. I eat a big bowl of this soup for a meal and I stay full all the way through to the next meal - it is very satisfying.
--This soup was delicious and serves a guideline for all sorts of diet soups. It was my first time making it and I didn't have all the ingredients. Some things I added were cilantro, ground red pepper flakes for spice, cumin, mixed frozen veggies, and green onion. This red pepper and cilantro really made it easy for me to eat in addition to all the other ingredients. I guess we could call mine a Mexican diet soup. Thinking of adding black beans next time. This is definitely a soup I could eat 3-4 times a week as a dinner substitute or with dinner. It was so good I had two bowls just because it tasted so good, and imagine with no guilt about eating when you aren't hungry!

FUN:

Stewardship....

FAITH:

Matthew 25:14-30

14 "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who was going to another place for a visit. Before he left, he called for his servants and told them to take care of his things while he was gone. 15 He gave one servant five bags of gold, another servant two bags of gold, and a third servant one bag of gold, to each one as much as he could handle. Then he left.16 The servant who got five bags went quickly to invest the money and earned five more bags.17 In the same way, the servant who had two bags invested them and earned two more. 18 But the servant who got one bag went out and dug a hole in the ground and hid the master's money.

19 "After a long time the master came home and asked the servants what they did with his money. 20 The servant who was given five bags of gold brought five more bags to the master and said, 'Master, you trusted me to care for five bags of gold, so I used your five bags to earn five more.' 21 The master answered, 'You did well. You are a good and loyal servant. Because you were loyal with small things, I will let you care for much greater things. Come and share my joy with me.'

22 "Then the servant who had been given two bags of gold came to the master and said, 'Master, you gave me two bags of gold to care for, so I used your two bags to earn two more.' 23 The master answered, 'You did well. You are a good and loyal servant. Because you were loyal with small things, I will let you care for much greater things. Come and share my joy with me.'

24 "Then the servant who had been given one bag of gold came to the master and said, 'Master, I knew that you were a hard man. You harvest things you did not plant. You gather crops where you did not sow any seed. 25 So I was afraid and went and hid your money in the ground. Here is your bag of gold.'26 The master answered, 'You are a wicked and lazy servant! You say you knew that I harvest things I did not plant and that I gather crops where I did not sow any seed. 27 So you should have put my gold in the bank. Then, when I came home, I would have received my gold back with interest.'

28 "So the master told his other servants, 'Take the bag of gold from that servant and give it to the servant who has ten bags of gold. 29 Those who have much will get more, and they will have much more than they need. But those who do not have much will have everything taken away from them.' 30 Then the master said, 'Throw that useless servant outside, into the darkness where people will cry and grind their teeth with pain.'

Reading this parable, we are struck by the serious consequences of failing to produce Kingdom fruit. But there’s something I want to particularly point out. Many of the great heroes of the faith – people like Moses and David, were not given great responsibilities immediately. Each of these men first served as a lowly shepherd, tending sheep. Having tested them first in this humble vocation, God then felt confident to elevate them to positions of greatness – but it all started with a small step!

God is testing his saints in the little things – as we pass our early tests, the Lord will promote us to greater things. Don’t despise the day of small things – a single talent invested wisely can produce a bountiful harvest! And remember that it begins with faithful stewardship of whatever gift or talent that God has allocated to you.

Let’s be wise stewards in these last days, using our divinely given abilities for His glory and purposes so that we can produce an abundant return on the Lord’s investment in our lives. Let’s heed the warning and the encouragement that Jesus gives us in this parable, multiplying, rather than hiding our talent. Amen!

FRIENDS:

Generous God, I give thanks to you for the gifts you have given me. My life, my family, my friends, time, talents and material possessions. All that I have comes from you. Help me to remember this and rejoice in your goodness. Walk with me, and help me on my spiritual journey, so that I may constantly renew my relationship with you. Renew in me your Spirit and give me the strength and courage to become a better follower of Jesus. i will give glory to you. In Jesus' name, Amen.

DAILY BIBLE CHALLENGE
21. JOHN 6:41-59; JAMES 3:13-22; SONG OF S. 5; JEREMIAH 52
22. JOHN 6:60-71; JAMES 4:1-11; SONG OF S. 6; LAM. 1

FOOD:

Lower Fat Chicken Scaloppine With Lemon Glaze
This is a wonderful lower-fat restaurant-quality dish that is easy to make, I also like to add in a few tablespoons of capers and cook with the lemon glaze if you are a lover of capers then add them in as it really adds to the flavour of this dish --- this lemon sauce is not a heavy creamy sauce which is what makes this dish lower in fat, it is more like a glaze that soaks into the chicken, and I would strongly suggest to double or even triple the glaze I most always do, and please be certain to use only dry breadcrumbs as fresh will not stick to the chicken as well --- this is *very* good! ...makes enough for 4

* 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (pounded to about 1/3-inch thickness)
* 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
* 1 large egg (you may need two)
* 1 cup dry breadcrumbs
* 1/4 teaspoon poultry seasoning (or to taste)
* 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
* 1/4-1/2 teaspoon seasoning salt
* 1-2 tablespoon olive oil (for frying)
Lemon glaze
* 1/4 cup chicken broth
* 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
* 1/4 teaspoon salt (can use more to taste)
* 4-5 thin lemon slices
* fresh parsley, chopped (to taste)

1. In a small bowl or shallow dish whisk together mustard and eggs; set aside.
2. Combine the dry bread crumbs with poultry seasoning, garlic powder and seasoning salt; spread on a piece of waxed paper.
3. Dip the breasts firstly in egg/mustard mixture (shake off any excess egg) then coat well with the crumb mixture, pressing downs with hands to adhear the crumbs to the breast.
4. Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.
5. Add in the chicken and cook for about 5 minutes on each side, or until it is no longer pink inside; remove and transfer to a plate to keep warm.
6. For the glaze; in the same skillet add in the broth, lemon juice and 1/4 teaspoon salt (or to taste, if using capers add in now) bring to a boil scraping any brown bits from the pan.
7. Add in lemon slices and parsley; mix to combine for about 1 minute.
8. Spoon the glaze/sauce over chicken

FUN:

Fearless............Part 4

FAITH:

Make sure the hull of your convictions can withstand the stress of collisions. Builders of the Titanic should have been so wise. The luxury liner sank because contractors settled for cheap rivets and suffered from poor planning. Rivets are the glue that hold the steel plates together. Facing a shortage of quality bolts, the builders used substandard ones that popped their heads upon impact with the iceberg.

How sturdy are the bolts of your belief? Reinforce them with daily Bible readings, regular worship, and earnest communion with God. “Courage is fear that has said its prayers.”

And remember: “All these [challenging times] are the beginning of birth pains” (Matt. 24:8), and birth pangs aren’t all bad. (Easy for me to say.) Birth pains signal the onset of the final push. The pediatrician assures the mom-to-be, “It’s going to hurt for a time, but it’s going to get better.” Jesus assures us of the same. Global conflicts indicate our date on the maternity calendar. We are in the final hours, just a few pushes from delivery, a few brief ticks of eternity’s clock from the great crowning of creation. A whole new world is coming!

“These things must come to pass” (Matt. 24:6). Must is a welcome word that affirms that all events, even the most violent, are under a divine plan. Every trial and trouble has a place in God’s scheme. “The reason why we ought not be terrified is not because wars are not terrifying. Quite the contrary. It is because above all chaos reigns a divine plan.

All things, big and small, flow out of the purpose of God and serve his good will. When the world appears out of control, it isn’t. When warmongers appear to be in charge, they aren’t. When ecological catastrophes dominate the day, don’t let them dominate you.
Let’s trust our heavenly Father.
by Max Lucado from his book Fearless

FRIENDS:

Father, we want only to please you. We cherish your promise to take care of your children. And yet we often come to you with unreasonable fears because we forget that you are in charge, watching out for our best. We are unsure of what to do and instead of just trusting, we panic and frantically beat on Heaven's doors, crying out to you. We are uncertain of your will for our lives. Thank you Father for the assurance that our imperfect prayers cannot hinder your incredible power. In Jesus' name, Amen.

DAILY BIBLE CHALLENGE
19. JOHN 6: 16-24; 1 PETER 3:1-7; SONG OF S. 4:1-7; JEREMIAH 50
20. JOHN 6:25-40; 1 PETER 3:8-12; SONG OF S 4:8-16; JEREMIAH 51

FOOD:

There are a million recipes for GOULASH in the Naked City.

This can be done in the crock pot if you are sure yours will hold it. (Instructions at the end...with Bigos recipe [5*Variation.) Either way, it's nice centerpiece dish for a winter Holiday buffet. It's colorful & smells wonderful enough to get the guests to the table Serve a good sweet-rye bread & or Potato bread with this.
************
ZZA'S ZZA'S* GOULASH ~ 8 Servings.

4 Thick Slices Bacon. [1*]
3 Lb. Boneless Beef Shank. Trim & cut into 2" cubes. [2*]
3 T. Flour.
2 T. Olive Oil or Butter--Or 1 T. of each.
1/2 tsp Salt.
2 Med. Onions--Chopped.
3 Garlic Cloves--Crushed & Minced.
2 Roasted Red Bell Peppers--Peeled & Sliced (If too expensive, use green.)
1 or 2 Lb. bulk Sauerkraut. (In Market Refrigerated in bags.)
3 T. Hungarian SWEET Paprika.
0 Black Pepper. [3*]
2 tsp. caraway Seed--Toasted & ground.
2 T. Red Wine Vinegar.
1 - 15 Oz Can whole, peeled Tomatoes. Crush between your fingers.
6 C. beef broth--Reg or low sodium.
4 Lg Russet Potatoes [4*]-- Peeled & thickly sliced.
1/2 C. Sour Cream
Chopped Fresh Parsley.
Snip a corner from the sauerkraut bag(s), hold over a sieve and squeeze out the liquid. Fill the bag with water, swish it around & squeeze it out. Open the bag fully & scrape out the sauerkraut, press out as much liquid as possible & pick the kraut apart. Let it stand & drain while you proceed with the recipe.

In a Dutch oven, over medium heat, fry bacon about 5 mins. Remove & drain on a wire rack while proceeding with the recipe.

Add the beef to the bacon fat. Season with S & P. and sprinkle with flour.
Brown it evenly on all sides while you stir to keep flour from lumping--Add a little oil if necessary to keep it from sticking.

Add the garlic & onion & cook & stir about 2 or 3 minutes.
Add the peppers & sauerkraut & cook & stir about 6 or 7 minutes.
Add the vinegar, tomatoes & broth, mix, add the paprika & caraway, bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer for an hour, covered, stirring occasionally.

Add the potatoes [4*] & CRUMBLED bacon [1*] & continue to cook, partially covered, for about 30 min's: until potatoes are tender.

Correct the seasonings & Remove from the heat.

Just before serving, Stir in the sour cream & garnish with parsley. Some prefer not to add the sour cream but serve it separately. We like to put a little more sour cream on top.

NOTES AND VARIATIONS:

[1*] You can omit the bacon and use butter instead of the bacon fat.

[2*] In place of shank, you can use meaty neck bones or lean, boneless Chuck if shanks or neck bones are too hard to find. Personally, I think neck bones have the best flavor. Use pork if you prefer or (Bohemian) chicken pieces. Brown them in sweet butter first.

[3*] Do not use Black pepper with Paprika. It changes the flavor: makes it unpleasant.
CHECK Paprika, in the palm of your hand, for weevils before adding it to food. Do it every time you use it. If you buy a new can; do this as soon as you arrive home: if you put it rightin your cupboard, and the bugs were in it at the store, they will be in everything in no time. Always do the same with chili powder.
Zza Zza kept these spices separate from food, I pooh-poohed the idea and had to feed a whole pot of chili to the neighbors Alsatian.(Never feed your own dog beans.)

[4*] If you prefer, you can omit the potatoes & serve boiled or mashed potatoes on the side. Or serve this over egg noodles.

[5*] If you add 1 Lb. of sliced mushrooms,
1-or-2 Lb. of Kielbasa sausage, sliced on an angle. (In addition to the other meat(s).)
half-a-cup of red wine.
half-a-head of shredded red cabbage
you will have Bigos, a Polish version of Goulash.
This can be made in a crock pot (As can the above Goulash.)
Meats should be browned before being laid atop everything else, then cooked on low for 7-to-9 hours.
Fifteen minutes before serving, stir in half-a-pint of (real) sour cream.
I'd make mine in quantity & use a ceramic-clad cast-Iron Dutch Oven--And do the slow cooking over over low heat (Back burner) or @ 225 in the (Regular) oven.

FUN:

Autumn is officially here...

Fearless............Part 3

FAITH:

Jesus equipped his followers with farsighted courage. He listed the typhoons of life and then pointed them “to the end.” Trust in ultimate victory gives ultimate courage. Author Jim Collins makes reference to this outlook in his book Good to Great. Collins tells the story of Admiral James Stockdale, who was a prisoner of war for eight years during the Vietnam War.
After Stockdale’s release Collins asked him how in the world he survived eight years in a prisoner-of-war camp. He replied, “I never lost faith in the end of the story. I never doubted not only that I would get out, but also that I would prevail in the end and turn the experience into the defining event of my life, which, in retrospect, I would not trade.” Collins then asked, “Who didn’t make it out?” Admiral Stockdale replied, “Oh, that’s easy. The optimists. . . . they were the ones who said, ‘We’re going to be out by Christmas.’ And Christmas would come, and Christmas would go. Then they’d say, ‘We’re going to be out by Easter.’ And Easter would come, and Easter would go. And then Thanksgiving, and then it would be Christmas again. And they died of a broken heart.”

Real courage embraces the twin realities of current difficulty and ultimate triumph. Yes, life stinks. But it won’t forever. As one of my friends likes to say, “Everything will work out in the end. If it’s not working out, it’s not the end.” Though the church is winnowed down like Gideon’s army, though God’s earth is buffeted by climate changes and bloodied by misfortune, though creation itself seems stranded on the Arctic seas, don’t over react. “Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes” (Ps. 37:7).

Avoid Pollyanna optimism. We gain nothing by glossing over the brutality of human existence. This is a toxic world. But neither do we join the Chicken Little chorus of gloom and doom. “The sky is falling! The sky is falling!” Somewhere between Pollyanna and Chicken Little, between blind denial and blatant panic, stands the levelheaded, clear thinking, still-believing follower of Christ. Wide eyed, yet unafraid. Unterrified by the terrifying. The calmest kid on the block, not for lack of bullies, but for faith in his older Brother. The old people of God knew this peace: “Though a host encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident” (Ps. 27:3).

After the bombs of World War II ravaged downtown Warsaw, only one skeletal structure remained on the city’s main street. “The badly damaged structure was the Polish headquarters of the British and Foreign Bible Society, and the words on its only remaining wall were clearly legible from the street . . . ‘Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.’ ” This is the picture of the Christian hope. Though the world may collapse, the work of Christ will endure.

So, see to it that you are not alarmed (Matt. 24:6 niv).

“See to it . . . ” Bosses and teachers are known to use that phrase. “See to it that you fill out the reports.” Or “Your essay is due tomorrow. See to it that you finish your work.” The words call for additional attention, special focus, extra resolve. Isn’t this what Christ is asking of us? In this dangerous day, on this Fabergé-fragile globe, with financial collapse on the news and terrorists on the loose, we have every reason to retreat into bunkers of dread and woe. But Christ says to us, “See to it that you are not alarmed” . “Keep your head and don’t panic”. “See that you are not troubled”. “Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Rev. 2:10) .

FRIENDS:

Father in Heaven, you are the Father of comfort and the God of Peace. We pray that your kingdom would come into our hearts and that peace would rule. Teach us what it means to be peace makers. Help us cultivate peace between others and you. Teach us the art of building bridges and not walls. We glorify your name, the great God of peace. It is in Jesus' name we pray, Amen.

DAILY BIBLE CHALLENGE

17. JOHN 5:31-47; 1 PETER 2:9-17; SONG OF S. 2; JEREMIAH 47-48
18. JOHN 6:1-15; 1 PETER 2:18-25; SONG OF S. 3; JEREMIAH 49

FOOD:

Apple Pizza

1 loaf frozen bread dough
5 medium apples, pared, cored and sliced thin
2/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup flour
2 teaspoons cinnamon
4 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup chopped nuts

Let frozen dough set at room temperature until thawed. Roll dough into a circle for a 12 inch pizza pan. Cover dough with the sliced apples.
Combine remainder ingredients and sprinkle over the apples. Let rise. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes at 375F.
Makes 8 servings.

FUN:

There is a mama lion, a daddy lion & a baby lion. The mama lion & the daddy lion were having a lot of fights so they decided to get a divorce.

The lion family goes in front of a judge to decide custody of the baby lion.

The judge asks the baby lion "Do you wanna live with mama lion?" The baby lion nswers "No mama lion beats me."

The judge said "Alright, do you wanna live with daddy lion?"

The baby lion answers "No daddy lion beats me worse."

The judge asks "who do you wanna live with then?" The baby answers "The Detroit Lions, they don't beat anybody."

Fearless........... Part 2

FAITH:

Multitudes and miracles. Large audiences and spectacular deeds. Throngs of people. Displays of power. When you see them, be careful. High volume doesn’t equate with sound faith. Don’t be impressed by numbers or tricks. Satan can counterfeit both.
Filter all messages and messengers through these verses: “And who is a liar? Anyone who says that Jesus is not the Christ. Anyone who denies the Father and the Son is an antichrist. Anyone who denies the Son doesn’t have the Father, either” (1 John 2:22–23). False prophets always minimize the role of Christ and maximize the role of humanity. Be doctrinally diligent. Stick to one question—is this person directing listeners to Jesus? If the answer is yes, be grateful and pray for that individual. If the answer is no, get out while you still can.
Along with heresy we can expect calamity. “You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earth- quakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains”
(Matt. 24:6–8).
Nature is a pregnant creation, third-trimester heavy. When a tornado rips through a city in Kansas or an earthquake flattens a region in Pakistan, this is more thanbarometric changes or shifts of ancient fault lines. The universe is passing through the final hours before delivery. Painful contractions are in the forecast.
As are conflicts: “wars and rumors of wars.” One nation invading another. One superpower defying another. Borders will always need checkpoints. War correspondents will always have employment. The population of the world will never see peace this side of heaven.
Christians will suffer the most. “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold” (Matt. 24:9–12).
Paradise is populated with people whose deaths fulfilled this prophecy. Peter. Paul. Stephen. James. Ignatius of Antioch. Polycarp. Justin Martyr. Origen. The world hated these Christ-followers.
Hatred still abounds. Voice of the Martyrs, a Christian agency that defends religious liberties, contends that more Christ-followers have been killed for their faith in the last century than all previous centuries combined. The names of Paul, James, and Peter have been joined by Tsehay Tolessa of Ethiopia, Xu Yonghai of mainland China, Mehdi Dibaj of Iran. The Global Evangelization Movement reports an average of 165,000 martyrs per year, more than four times the number of a century past.
America, proud as she is of religious freedom, suffers from increasing anger toward Christians. Professors publicly mock Bible-believing students. Talk-show hosts denigrate people of faith. We can expect the persecution to increase. When it does, fragile convictions will collapse.
“The love of many will grow cold” (v. 12). Spiritual stowaways will jump ship. The halfhearted will become coldhearted. A great many church attenders will be disclosed as faith pretenders. They will not only leave the faith; they will make the lives of the faithful miserable.
Will this persecution come to us? For some of you it already has. For many of us it might. If we are thrown into jail for our faith or deposed for our convictions, may God help you and me to remember the counsel of Christ: “See to it that you are not alarmed” (v. 6). Don’t freak out at the heresy, calamity, and apostasy. Don’t give in or give up, for you’ll soon witness the victory. “But he who endures to the end shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come” (vv. 13–14).

FRIENDS:

Father, Some days I am afraid to go to those places or do those things that You are calling me to. It may be the same with some of my Brothers and Sisters who know they should be using their God-given gifts in some far away place or just to walk across the street to share with a neighbor or turn and talk to a co-worker. Whatever the case may be, it’s easier to stay inside our comfort zone with our fear and anxiety— but we have a choice. We can either give in to those fears or stand for the Lord and choose what you have called us to do. Please help us to stand up for what is right and good and share with others the wonderful news of Jesus and His Saving Grace. It's in His name we ask these things, Amen.

DAILY BIBLE CHALLENGE

15. JOHN 5:1-15; 1 PETER 1:17-25; ECCLES. 12; JEREMIAH 39-43
16. JOHN 5:16-30; 1 PETER 2:1-8; SONG OF S. 1; JEREMIAH 44-46

~ SONG OF SOLOMON~

Remember your love notes of young romance?

Come on, now. think about it.

Flip back through the scrapbook of your heart. You'll find one.

You thought he was the only one. You knew she was the reason for creation. and with youthful passion, you expressed your love.

"I'll love you forever."

"You are my one and only."

"Had I the pen of a poet, had I the stars to give you, even then I couldn't show it...."

Ahhh, the words of romance. (That last verse? That was mine, proving that even a crusty West Texan can be romantic.}

But the most daring Romeos will blush at what you are about to read_"The song of Solomon." A love poem that chronicles the passion between starstruck Solomon and his spellbound bride.

It's unlike anything in the Bible. For that reason, it should be read differently than any book in the Bible. Don't take it literally. Don't search for hidden codes or submerged messages. Love letters are to be appreciated, not analyzed.

Appreciate this one. Don't get hung up on the ancient terms of affection. Sure, they sound strange. My wife wouldn't appreciate being told her neck was like David's tower (4:4) or that her limbs were like pomegranates (4:13). Just remember that these words were not written for you.

You are opening someone else's shoe box of letters and reading the correspondence between two people madly in love.

I guess God knew we needed a reminder that romance was his idea.
by Max Lucado

FOOD:

Kielbasa Stew

From: Better Homes and Gardens
Makes 4 or 5 servings
Cook: Slow cooker for 7 to 9 hours (low), 3-1/2 to 4-1/2 hours (high)

4 cups coarsely chopped cabbage
3 cups peeled, cubed potato
1-1/2 cups sliced carrots
1 lb cooked kielbasa, sliced
1/2 tsp dried basil, crushed
1/2 tsp dried thyme, crushed
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
2 14-oz cans reduced-sodium chicken broth

In a 4- to 5-quart slow cooker combine cabbage, potato, and carrots. Top with kielbasa. Sprinkle basil, thyme, and pepper over kielbasa. Pour chicken broth over all.

Cover; cook on low-heat setting for 7 to 9 hours or on high-heat setting for 3-1/2 to 4-1/2 hours.

Makes 4 or 5 servings

FUN:


A play on words....(for some of my favorite preacher friends)

A bicycle can't stand alone because it is two-tired.
Whats the definition of a will? (it's a dead giveaway)
A backward poet writes inverse.
In democracy, it's your vote that counts; in feudalism it's your count that votes.
She had a boyfriend with a wooden leg, but broke it off.
A chicken crossing the road is poultry in motion.
If you don't pay your exorcist you get repossessed.
When a clock is hungry it goes four seconds.
You feel stuck with your debt if you can't budge it.
Local Area Network in Austrailia: the LAN down under.
He often broke into song because he couldn't find the key.
Every calendar's days are numbered.
A lot of money is tainted: "taint yours and 'taint mine.
A boiled egg in the morning is hard to beat.
He had a photographic memory which was never developed.
A plateau is a high form of flattery.
The short fortune teller who escaped from prison was a small medium at large.
Those who get too big for their britches will be exposed in the end.
When you've seen one shopping center you've seen a mall.
Those who jump off a Paris bridge are in Seine.
When an actress saw her first strands of gray hair she thought she'd dye.
Bakers trade bread recipes on a knead to know basis.
Santa's helpers are subordinate Clauses.
Acupuncture is a jab well done,

Fearless............ Part 1

FAITH:

Life is a dangerous endeavor. We pass our days in the shadows of ominous realities. The power to annihilate humanity has, it seems, been placed in the hands of people who are happy to do so. Discussions of global attack prompted one small boy to beg, “Please, Mother, can’t we go some place where there isn’t any sky?” If the global temperature rises a few more degrees . . . if classified information falls into sinister hands . . . if the wrong person pushes the wrong red button . . . What if things only get worse?

Christ tells us that they will. He predicts spiritual bailouts, ecological turmoil, and worldwide persecution. Yet in the midst of it all, he contends bravery is still an option.

“Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.

“Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” (Matt. 24:4–14 )

The disciples asked. “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” (v. 3).

Sitting on the Mount of Olives, in full view of the temple and the City of David, Jesus issued a “buckle your seat belt, no kidding, life can be fatal to your health” warning. He began with “Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many” (vv. 4–5 ). Note the twofold appearance of the word many. Many deceived and many deceivers. Churches are petri dishes for self-serving egomaniacs who masquerade as ministers of God. They will do so “in his name,” claiming a special status, a superior spirituality. They boast of insider information and adorn their teaching with phrases like “God told me . . . “God spoke to me . . . ,” “God led me . . . ” They present themselves as religious gurus, code breakers, members of an inner circle, implying that they have access to knowledge unavailable to the common person. Some even position themselves as Jesus himself, “saying, ‘I am the Christ’” (v. 5). by Max Lucado

FRIENDS:

Father, I submit all my fears to you today. We may be going through a storm right now. But help us to remember that we’re in Your hands, the hands of our loving Father. We know that You are right here with us and that You are going to get us through. There is nothing going on that You can not handle. In Jesus' name, Amen.

DAILY BIBLE CHALLENGE

13. JOHN 4:27-42; 1 PETER 1:1-9; ECCLES. 10; JEREMIAH 32-34
14. JOHN 4:43-54. 1 PETER 1:10-16; ECCLES. 11; JEREMIAH 35-38

~FIRST PETER~

The science teacher makes a derisive statement about God creating the world. You raise your hand and state your convictions. Your teacher rolls her eyes. The students behind you chuckle.

It's not easy being the only one in your family who goes to church. It' s bad enough that they don't go. It's worse that they make fun of you for going.

If you would pad your expense account, so could the other salesmen. But if you don't, they can't. "Come on," they urge you, "just hedge a little." You refuse. The next day someone has spilled paint on your car.

Persecution. Not by firing squad. Not by death threats. Not by the government. But it's persecution nonetheless. A more subtle persecution. Persecution from friends, family, and peers. They won't take your life....but they will take your peace....and they'd like to take your faith, if you'd let them.

How do you respond? Begin with Peter's survival manual. He understood persecution. Beaten and jailed. Threatened and punished. He knew the sting of the false word and the angry whip. No doubt he'd seen some Christians stand and others fall. He'd seen enough to know what it takes to stay strong in tough times.

His counsel may surprise you.
His counsel may sustain you. It may be just what you need so that "the purity of your faith will bring you praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is shown to you" (1:7).

FOOD:

Winter Stew

3/4 C Zesty Italian dressing
2 lbs. beef for stew (chuck), 1" cubes
6 slices bacon,chopped
3 C sliced mushrooms
1 C chopped onion
3 C sliced carrots
1-1/2 lbs potatoes, peeled, cut into large chunks
1 can (14-1/2oz) stewed tomatoes, undrained
1 can (14-1/2oz) beef broth

Pour dressing over meat, marinate in fridge 30 minutes or longer.
Cook bacon til crisp, drain.
Add mushrooms and onions to bacon pan, cook 10 minutes until tender.
Add drained meat, carrots, potatoes, tomatoes, broth & bacon to pan. Stir. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally.
Reduce to low, cover and simmer 1 hr. 15 minutes. Uncover; simmer additional 15 minutes til meat is cooked through and sauce is thickened. Stir occasionally.
8 servings

FUN:

Beauty or Hurt?

FAITH:

Luke 8:14
The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature.

My life has not been a bed of roses.

What an odd statement. It is supposed to mean that I haven't lived a life without snags and hurt. However, think of an actual bed of roses. Doesn't it have both thorns and flowers?

Let me say, if I was reading this devotion and I saw it was going to be about roses, I might be tempted to click "delete" while rolling my eyes and thinking the last thing the world needs is another cutesy Christian analogy. But stick with me here. There is something significant to be discovered about roses and thorns.

My aunt has grown roses for years. When I was in middle school and my family was falling apart, I went to live with my aunt for almost a year. I remember her telling me not to run through her rose garden. After all, she had what seemed like hundreds of other acres that unfolded in wide open fields. I could run there.

But I didn't want to.

I only wanted to run through the rose garden. I wanted to spread my arms wide open and run between the rows brushing my fingertips across all the velvety blooms. I wanted some of the blooms to burst and shower petals all around. Then I could gather the petals and spread them along my path.

As if I could carve a new place in this world lined with beauty and void of adult words like divorce, rejection, and hate ... I wanted my world to be soft, pink, and lovely. So, I took a running start with my arms outstretched only to be shocked with searing pain within the first few steps.

Thorns. Big, mean, vicious thorns. Thorns that ripped my flesh and opened up the flood of tears I'd been so determined to hold back. Suddenly, I hated that bush. I wanted to chop it down and beat it into the ground. But I couldn't do it. I couldn't bring myself to destroy something that produced such beauty.

I stood back from the source of my pain and wondered should I call it a bush of thorns or a bush of flowers. Really, it could go either way.

Suddenly I wasn't just staring at a bush. I was staring at my life. My life. Such a bed of roses. Would I see the hurt or would I see the beauty?

Luke 8:14 says, "The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature." The seed being referred to here is the Word of God. Isn't it interesting that people who are choked by life's circumstances and never mature are referred to as having thorns in the soil of their soul? Yes, life sometimes hands us thorns but we have the choice to park our mind on the thorn or on the beauty it can eventually produce in us if only we'll cling tightly to God's Word. For however a person thinks is how they will eventually become.

If we dwell on and think about the negative in life, we will become negative and God's Word will have a hard time taking root in our souls. If, however, we acknowledge the negative but choose instead to look for the good that can come from it, God's Word will take root in our souls and produce a lush crop of beauty.

It all comes down to choice. That day in my aunt's garden, I chose to be aware of the thorns but park my mind on the petals.

And I guess you could say, I've been making that choice every day since. by Lysa TerKeurst

FRIENDS:
Dear Lord, it can be really hard to focus on the petals rather than the thorns of life. Really hard. Will you help me? I want the soil of my soul to be healthy and ready to receive Your Word. I want to produce beauty in my life despite the thorns by which I've been so hurt. Will You show me how? In Jesus' Name, Amen.

DAILY BIBLE CHALLENGE
10. JOHN 3:22-36; JAMES 5:1-6; ECCLES. 7:15-29; JEREMIAH 23-25
11. JOHN 4:1-14; JAMES 5:7-12; ECCLES. 8; JEREMIAH 26-29
12. JOHN 4:15-26; JAMES 5:13-20; ECCLES 9; JEREMIAH 30-31


~JEREMIAH`

No church would hire Jeremiah. He wouldn't make it past the first interview. Better still, he wouldn't even make it to the interview.

He had little stomach for organized religion. One can hardly blame him. What he saw would nauseate the worst of us.

He saw raging immorality. He saw blatant idolatry. He saw unbridled hypocrisy. He saw priests who sold out to the highest bidder. He saw kings who lived out his worst nightmare.

Were his head a Niagara, it wouldn't generate enough tears for him to weep. Like Job, he cursed the day he was born, and again, you can hardly blame him. It was a rotten day in which to live.

He could see the writing on the Babylonian wall, but you'd think he was the only one who knew how to read.

In the end, the walls fell just like he said. The Temple was raided, just like he prophesied. And the people were bound like slaves and led into Babylon.

To his credit, he never said, "I told you so."

He remained behind and walked among the ruins and did what he did most of his life. He wept.

FOOD:

Trail Mix Popcorn
Makes about 10 cups

1 bag (2.9 oz.) microwave popcorn, cooked according to package directions
1 cup raisins
½ cup dried apricots, chopped
½ cup dried cranberries &/or cherries
1 cup sugar
½ cup light corn syrup
2 Tbsp. butter or butter soft spread
1 tsp. baking soda
¼ cup finely chopped pecans, walnuts &/or peanuts
¼ cup raw sunflower seeds
1 tsp ground cinnamon

In large bowl sprayed with nonstick cooking spray, combine popcorn with
all dried fruits, and set aside.

In medium saucepan over low heat, combine sugar with corn syrup, and once melted, stir in butter, baking soda, all nuts, cinnamon, and sunflower
seeds and stir until well combined.
Carefully drizzle mixture over popcorn and fruit, stirring constantly,
until popcorn and fruit are coated. Cool completely before serving.

FUN:

Here are some fun alternatives to liven up your out-of-the-office e-mails.

1. Thank you for your e-mail. Your credit card has been charged $5.99 for the first ten words and $1.99 for each additional word in your message.

2. Thank you for your message, which has been added to a queuing system. You are currently in 352nd place, and can expect to receive a reply in approximately 19 weeks.

3. Due to a transporter malfunction, I am now in the 24th century, and I don't know when I'll be back. But hey, leave a message. Someone might get to it.

4. In case of a business emergency, I may be reached 24 hours a day at (insert boss's cell phone number here).

5. The e-mail server is unable to deliver this message. Please restart your computer and try sending again.

6. Please reply to this e-mail so I will know that you got this message.

Grace - Greater Than All Our Sin!

FAITH:

Romans 5:12-21
"... where sin abounded, grace did much more abound ..." (v. 20, KJV)

How do we recover from the brokenness caused by the memory of some deeply grievous sin. By that we mean a sin which God has forgiven but which, for some reason, still burns in our memories. The first principle is this: realize that God can do more with sin than just forgive it. I heard an elderly minister make that statement many years ago, when I was a young Christian, and at first I resisted it. I said to myself: "How can God use sin? Surely it is His one intolerance?" Then, after pondering for a while, I saw what he meant. God uses our sin to motivate our will toward greater spiritual achievement, to quicken our compassion toward sinners and to show God's tender heart for the fallen. We must be careful, of course, that we do not fall into the error which Paul refers to in Romans 6:1-2: "Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid" (KJV). If we sin in order that God may use it, then our motives are all wrong and we fall foul of the eternal purposes. If, however, we commit sin, but then take it to God in confession - really take it to Him - then He will not only forgive it, but make something of it. Is this too difficult for you to conceive? Then I point you to the cross. The cross was the foulest deed mankind ever committed, yet God used it to become the fulcrum of His redemption. It was our lowest point - but it was God's zenith.

Remember 1 John 1:1-10 - "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (v. 9)
A second principle that enables us to recover from the brokenness caused by the memory of some grievous sin. is this: Understand the major reason why you tend to brood on the past. People who brood on the past, and keep the memory of their sin alive, do so for several reasons. Let's take them one by one: (1) They are not sure that God has forgiven them. If you have this kind of doubt, it is really a denial. It is taking a verse, like the one before us today, and flinging it back into God's face, saying "I don't believe it." If you don't accept God's forgiveness, you will try to make your own atonement in feelings of guilt. Once you confess your sin, then, as far as God is concerned, that's the end of it. Believe that - and act upon it. It's the gospel truth! (2) They are in the grip of spiritual pride. You should be asking yourself, at some deep level of your mental and emotional life: How could I have ever done a thing like that? What this really amounts to is that you have too high an opinion of yourself. And that's about as bad as too low an opinion of yourself. (3) They have not forgiven themselves. It might help to stand in front of a mirror with your Bible open at the verse at the top of this page, reassure yourself that God has forgiven you, and say to yourself, by name: "---------, God has forgiven you - now I forgive you too!" by Selwyn Hughes

EXPLORING IT FURTHER: Ps. 51:1-19; Eph. 4:32; Col. 3:13; Mark 12:33; Heb. 10:1-22; Isa. 43:25; 44:22; 55:7

FRIENDS:

Father, I am so relieved to know that You take even my sins and make them contribute to Your purposes. Grace turns all my bad into good, all my good into better and all my better into the best. Gracious Father, although I understand many things, I fail so often to understand myself. Teach me more of what goes on deep inside me, so that, being more self-aware, I may become more God-aware. For Your own dear Name's sake. Amen.

DAILY BIBLE CHALLENGE
7. JOHN 2:12-25; JAMES 3:13-18; ECCLES. 5; JEREMIAH 14-15
8. JOHN 3:1-15; JAMES 4:1-10; ECCLES. 6; JEREMIAH 16-18
9. JOHN 3:16-21; JAMES 4:11-17; ECCLES. 7:1-14; JEREMIAH 19-22

~ECCLESIASTES~

She didn't want to share her name, just her pain. So I cradled the phone against my shoulder and listened. Her husband had cheated. She was angry. Angry at him. Angry at God. Angry at herself for being angry. In two months she's gone through three bottles of anti-depressants. She didn't want to leave her room or see her friends. Weak and bitter she finally asked, "Max, will I ever be happy again?"

She's not the first to wonder.

As the drinker orders a double, he wonders.

As the achiever logs another eighteen-hour day, she wonders.

As the boss reaches for his secretary's hand, both wonder.

"Will I ever be happy again?"

There is a great dissatisfaction across the land. Hand after hand reaching out to quench thirsts and scratch itches. But the thirst lingers, the itch remains. As one man tole me, "I learned that once I had what I wanted, I found I didn't want what I had."

Solomon could have said those words. He was unlimited in what he could do. Unbridled in what he could win. Unharnessed in what he could experience. So he set out to do it all.

He tried knowledge (1:13), pleasure, possessions and projects (2:3-8). He was serious about each. He built a temple and a palace. He owned forty thousand horses and twelve thousand horseman. He married the daughter of Pharaoh and built her a house (which was good because he had six hundred and ninety-nine more wives so his place was crowded).

In spite of it all, or because of it all, he was restless. "I hated life, " he journaled. He was isolated (3:22), frustrated (5:17), and longed for the good old days when things were simler and wine was sweeter.

For some reason, Solomon kept a record of his longings. And somehow, they became public. Maybe he knew that he wasn't the only one to get to the top of the ladder only to find it against the wrong building.

If that's where you are, or might be, this book is for you.

FOOD:

BOOT TRACK COOKIES
made in the waffle iron

* 1/2 cup salted butter
* 2/3 cup granulated sugar
* 2 large eggs
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 1 cup whole-wheat pastry flour
* 6 tablespoons cocoa powder
* 2 tablespoons canola oil
* 1/2 teaspoon espresso powder, (optional)
* Confectioners' sugar, for dusting

Preparation

1. Preheat a nonstick (not Belgian) waffle iron.
2. Cream butter and sugar in a medium bowl. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Add flour, cocoa powder, oil and espresso powder (if using). Beat until thoroughly combined.
3. Drop the batter by rounded teaspoonfuls about 1 inch apart onto the preheated ungreased waffle iron. (To avoid burnt fingers, use two spoons, one to scoop and one to scrape dough onto the waffle iron.) Close and cook until the cookies are puffed and cooked through, 1 to 1 1/2 minutes. Waffle irons vary, so watch closely and don’t let the cookies get too dark. Transfer to a wire rack to cool until just warm. Dust the cookies with confectioners’ sugar while still slightly warm (see Variations). Variations: Instead of confectioners’ sugar, drizzle cooled cookies with melted bittersweet and/or white chocolate. Or make a peppermint drizzle: Mix 1 cup confectioners’ sugar, 4 teaspoons water and 1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract; add natural green food coloring, if desired.

FUN:

Weird Facts - Oldies but goodies

Did you know that Jimmy Carter was the first U.S. president to have been born in a hospital?

The sentence "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog." Uses every letter in the alphabet. (developed by Western Union to test telex/twx communications)

In every episode of Seinfeld there is a Superman somewhere.

Average life span of a major league baseball: 7 pitches.

A duck's quack doesn't echo, and no one knows why.

In the 1940s, the FCC assigned television's Channel 1 to mobile Services(two-way radios in taxicabs, for instance) but did not Pre-number the other channel assignments. That is why your TV set has channels 2
and up, but no channel 1.

The San Francisco Cable cars are the only mobile National Monuments.

The only 15 letter word that can be spelled without repeating a letter is uncopyrightable.

Hang On Sloopy is the official rock song of Ohio.

The reason firehouses have circular stairways is from the days of yore when the engines were pulled by horses. The horses were stabled on the ground floor and figured out how to walk up straight staircases.

The airplane Buddy Holly died in was the "American Pie." (Thus the name of the Don McLean song.)

When opossums are playing 'possum, they are not "playing." They actually pass out from sheer terror.

The Main Library at Indiana University sinks over an inch every year because when it was built, engineers failed to take into account the weight of all the books that would occupy the building.

Nutmeg is extremely poisonous if injected intravenously.

If you have three quarters, four dimes, and four pennies, you have $1.19.You also have the largest amount of money in coins without being able to make change for a dollar.

No NFL team, which plays its home games in a domed stadium, has ever won a Superbowl.

The first toilet ever seen on television was on "Leave It to Beaver".

The only two days of the year in which there are no professional sports games (MLB, NBA, NHL, or NFL) are the day before and the day after the Major League all-star Game.