FAITH:
Jeremiah 30:1-33:26
Jeremiah did not just preach doom and gloom. He told the people to hope in God, who would restore them.
Christians must never lose all hope. Our belief in Jesus Christ gives us hope for the future.
For thousands of years, using his wit and charm, man had tried to be friends with God. And for thousands of years he had let God down more than he had lifted him up. He's done the very thing he promised he'd never do. It was a fiasco. Even the holiest of heroes sometimes forgot who side they were on. Some of the scenarios in the Bible look more like the adventures of Sinbad the sailor than stories for vacation Bible school. Remember these characters?
Aaron. Right hand man to Moses. Witness of the plagues. Member of the "Red Sea Riverbed Expedition." Holy priest of God. But if he was so saintly, what is he doing leading the Israelites in fireside aerobics in front of the golden calf?
The sons of Jacob. The fathers of the tribes of Israel. Great-grandsons of Abraham. Yet, if they were so special, why were they gagging their younger brother and sending him to Egypt?
David. The man after God's own heart. The King's king. The giant-slayer and songwriter. He's also the guy whose glasses got steamy as a result of a bath on a roof. Unfortunately, the water wasn't his, not was the woman he was watching.
And Samson. Swooning on Delilah's couch, drunk on the wine, perfume, and soft lights. He's thinking. She's putting on something more comfortable. She's thinking, I know I put those shears in here somewhere.
Adam adorned in fig leaves and stains of forbidden fruit. Moses throwing both a staff and a temper tantrum. King Saul looking into a crystal ball for the will of God. Noah, drunk and naked in his own tent.
These are the chosen ones of God? This is the royal lineage of the King? These are the ones who were to carry out God's mission?
It's easy to see the absurdity.
Why didn't he give up? Why didn't he let the globe spin off it's axis.
Even after generations of people had spit in his face, he still loved them. After a nation of chosen ones had stripped him naked and ripped his incarnated flesh, he still dies for them And even today, after billions have chosen to prostitute them selves before the pimps of power, fame, and wealth, he still waits for the..
It is inexplicable. It doesn't have a drop of logic nor a thread of rationality.
And yet, it is that very irrationality that gives the gospel its greatest defense. For only God could love like that. by Max Lucado
Applying it: Do this project with someone close to you: spend an hour on your own making a list of all God has done for you. Then share together and rejoice in his goodness and faithfulness.
Exploring it: Hope--Proverbs 13:12; Isaiah 40:31; Jeremiah 29:11; Romans 15:13; Hebrews 11:1
FRIENDS:
Father, help us renew our commitment to you, to release everything and to be owned and possessed by you. We long to submit ourselves to you so that we might know the hold freedom available to us only through your grace. in Jesus' name, Amen.
DAILY BIBLE CHALLENGE
March 21
Matthew 27:27-44; Romans 13; Psalms 68; Deuteronomy 22-26
March 22
Matthew 27: 45-56; Romans 14; Psalms 69; Deuteronomy 27-28
10 Things To Be Thankful For
1. Going to the beach on a nice day
2. Handmade gifts
3. Good barbecue sauce
4. A lavender scented pillow
5. When you find a hat you look good in
6. A smile from a stranger
7. Chocolate cake slice
8. Music from an unexpected place
9. A deep male voice
10. Seeing your child master something
FOOD:
Crock-Pot Pizza
Taste of Home Magazine "Always a hit at our church dinners, this hearty casserole keeps folks coming back for more," reports field editor Julie Sterchi from Harrisburg, Illinois.
Ingredients:
1 package (16 ounces) wide egg noodles
1-1/2 pounds ground beef or turkey
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 jar (26 ounces) spaghetti sauce
1 jar (4-1/2 ounces) sliced mushrooms, drained
1-1/2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
1 package (3-1/2 ounces) sliced pepperoni, halved
3 cups (12 ounces) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
3 cups (12 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese
Directions:
Cook noodles according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Stir in the spaghetti sauce, mushrooms and Italian seasoning. Drain noodles.
In a 5-qt. slow cooker coated with cooking spray, spread a third of the meat sauce. Cover with a third of the noodles and pepperoni. Sprinkle with a third of the cheese. Repeat layers twice. Cover and cook on low for 3-4 hours or until heated through and cheese is melted. Yield: 6-8 servings.
FUN:
A BLONDE, wanting to earn some money, decided to hire herself out as a handyman-type and started canvassing a wealthy neighborhood. She went to the front door of the first house and asked the owner if he had any jobs for her to do.
"Well, you can paint my porch. How much will you charge?"
The blonde said "How about 50 dollars?"
The man agreed and told her that the paint and ladders that she might need were in the garage.
The man's wife, inside the house, heard the conversation and said to her husband, "Does she realize that the porch goes all the way around the house?"
The man replied, "She should. She was standing on the porch."
A short time later, the blonde came to the door to collect her money.
"You're finished already?" he asked.
"Yes," the blonde answered, "and I had paint left over, so I gave it two coats."
Impressed, the man reached in his pocket for the $50.
"And by the way," the blonde added, "that's not a Porch, it's a Ferrari."
Friday, March 20, 2009
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Here comes the tunnel
FAITH:
Luke 12:1-59
Thousands of people gathered around Jesus. Yet he spoke to his disciples, letting the crowed overhear.
Believers shouldn't worry about the basic necessities of life. If we keep God first in our lives, He will sustain us. He is in control.
Be honest. Are we glad He says no to what we want and yes to what we need. Not always. If we ask for a new marriage, and he says honor the one you've got, we aren't happy. If we ask for healing, and he says learn through the pain, we aren't happy. If we ask for more money, and he says treasure the unseen, we aren't always happy.
When God doesn't do what we want, it's not easy. Never has been. Never will be. But faith is the conviction that God knows more that we do about this life and He will get us through it.
Remember, disappointment is caused by unmet expectations. Disappointment is cured my revamped expectations.
I like that story about the fellow who went to the pet store in search of a singing parakeet. Seems he was a bachelor and his house was too quiet. The store owner had just the bird for him, so the man bought it. The next day the bachelor came home from work to a house full of music. He went to the cage to feed the bird and noticed for the first time that the parakeet had only one leg.
He felt cheated that he'd been sold a one-legged bird, so he called and complained.
"What do you want," the store owner responded, "a bird who can sing or a bird who can dance?".......
We need to hear that God is still in control. We need to hear that it's not over until He says so. We need to hear that life's mishaps and tragedies are not a reason to bail out. They are simply a reason to sit tight.
Corrie Ten Boom used to say, "When the train goes through a tunnel and the world gets dark do you jump out?" Of course not. You sit still and trust the engineer to get you through."...
Next time you're disappointed, don't panic. Don't jump out. Don't give up. Just be patient and let God remind you he's still in control. I ain't over til it's over. by Max Lucado
Applying it: What worries consume your thoughts. Turn them over to God... than breathe a sigh of relief and live for him. Let God carry your burdens.
Exploring it: Strong Faith---Proverbs 3:6; Matthew 6:33; Mark 8:14-21
FRIENDS:
Father, I know life is unfortunately full of disappointments, but you, Lord have given me a hope that never changes. You have given me a love that will never fade away. Speak to my heart and give me the ability to overcome the struggles that are a part of life. Help me to look beyond my own circumstance and see Your purpose for me. I thank You for the challenges of life that help me walk closer to You..In Jesus' name, Amen.
These are the thoughts of a reader of this blog and with her permission I want to share her heart what's on her heart with everyone:
Each day I read the paper and I find that more people have lost their savings, lives and their souls. I sit here typing wondering why I am so blessed. I have a great job, amazing kids, and I have no cause to complain. Yet , I complain. I am vowing to change that attitude.
I have been bestowed so many blessings I can't even begin to count. Life is what you make it. I could have been any statistic about urban poverty and teenage pregnancy, and yet as I type I am a married woman with two bachelors degree's, an amazing job/career, wonderful kids, the best friends that life could imagine and yet there is this niggle of doubt in my head.
Do I deserve my blessings? Am I living my life the way God has planned for me? Am I the best mother and wife that I could be? Probably not, but what I have come to realize that I do not have to be perfect, I do not even have to be half-way perfect.
What I have realized i that I am a child of GOD and while my actions do not always show it, I am blessed beyond belief and I have only my GOD to thank for it. In reflection I am grateful for my drug addicted parents, the abandonment of my biological father, and the subsequent bad choices that I made as a result. I am not a victim of circumstance, I am a child of the one true king and I have been given so many gifts that to count them would mean the that I would run out of breath before I could name them. I am grateful for this nagging feeling that I have somehow not lived up to the potential that has been bestowed upon me.
I am one of those people who need a reminder of what life is really about.
I will practice an attitude of gratitude because quite frankly what more do we have to believe in?
DAILY BIBLE CHALLENGE
March 18
Matthew 26:57-75; Romans 1:25-36; Psalms 65; Deuteronomy 9-12
March 19
Matthew 27:1-10; Romans 12:1-8 Psalms 66; Deuteronomy 13-17
FOOD:
This so decadent and sooooo good!!!
Breakfast Baklava French Toast (for 2)
4 slices of bread, crusts trimmed off
3 large eggs
splash of orange juice
1 tsp. lemon zest
splash of vanilla extract
1 Tbsp. of honey
splash of milk
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
butter
Maple Syrup
Baklava filling
1 handful of nuts (I used walnuts)
1 tsp. of ground clove
1 tsp. of honey
1. Using your food processor, add the nuts and ground cloves and pulse until you get a granular consistency (like that of coarse salt. Remove contents and add to a bowl and and mix in the honey with a spoon and reserve.
2. In a bowl large enough to hold your slices of bread, add the eggs, orange juice, honey, milk, vanilla and cinnamon and whisk until incorporated.
3. Pre-heat a large, non-stick skillet over medium-high heat.
4. Place some baklava filling in between two slices of bread to form a sandwich (reserve some filling for garnish).
5. Carefully dunk the both sides of your "sandwich" into the egg mixture and make sure enough liquid has penetrated the bread (this makes for a moister French toast).
6. Add some butter to your skillet and when it starts to sizzle, place your French toast in the skillet and fry each side for a couple of minutes or until golden-brown. Keep warm and fry off your remaining French toasts in batches.
7. Carefully cut your French toast diagonally in half (this emulates the usual diamond shape of a piece of baklava). Plate your French toast, finish with some reserved baklava filling, good Maple Syrup, a sprinkle of cinnamon and icing sugar and some lemon peel for garnish.
FUN:
A minister waited in line to have his car filled with gas just before a
long holiday weekend. The attendant worked quickly, but there were many
cars ahead of him. Finally, the attendant motioned him toward a vacant
pump. "Reverend," said the young man, "I'm so sorry about the delay. It
seems as if everyone waits until the last minute to get ready for a long
trip.." The minister chuckled, "I know what you mean. It's the same in my
business."
Luke 12:1-59
Thousands of people gathered around Jesus. Yet he spoke to his disciples, letting the crowed overhear.
Believers shouldn't worry about the basic necessities of life. If we keep God first in our lives, He will sustain us. He is in control.
Be honest. Are we glad He says no to what we want and yes to what we need. Not always. If we ask for a new marriage, and he says honor the one you've got, we aren't happy. If we ask for healing, and he says learn through the pain, we aren't happy. If we ask for more money, and he says treasure the unseen, we aren't always happy.
When God doesn't do what we want, it's not easy. Never has been. Never will be. But faith is the conviction that God knows more that we do about this life and He will get us through it.
Remember, disappointment is caused by unmet expectations. Disappointment is cured my revamped expectations.
I like that story about the fellow who went to the pet store in search of a singing parakeet. Seems he was a bachelor and his house was too quiet. The store owner had just the bird for him, so the man bought it. The next day the bachelor came home from work to a house full of music. He went to the cage to feed the bird and noticed for the first time that the parakeet had only one leg.
He felt cheated that he'd been sold a one-legged bird, so he called and complained.
"What do you want," the store owner responded, "a bird who can sing or a bird who can dance?".......
We need to hear that God is still in control. We need to hear that it's not over until He says so. We need to hear that life's mishaps and tragedies are not a reason to bail out. They are simply a reason to sit tight.
Corrie Ten Boom used to say, "When the train goes through a tunnel and the world gets dark do you jump out?" Of course not. You sit still and trust the engineer to get you through."...
Next time you're disappointed, don't panic. Don't jump out. Don't give up. Just be patient and let God remind you he's still in control. I ain't over til it's over. by Max Lucado
Applying it: What worries consume your thoughts. Turn them over to God... than breathe a sigh of relief and live for him. Let God carry your burdens.
Exploring it: Strong Faith---Proverbs 3:6; Matthew 6:33; Mark 8:14-21
FRIENDS:
Father, I know life is unfortunately full of disappointments, but you, Lord have given me a hope that never changes. You have given me a love that will never fade away. Speak to my heart and give me the ability to overcome the struggles that are a part of life. Help me to look beyond my own circumstance and see Your purpose for me. I thank You for the challenges of life that help me walk closer to You..In Jesus' name, Amen.
These are the thoughts of a reader of this blog and with her permission I want to share her heart what's on her heart with everyone:
Each day I read the paper and I find that more people have lost their savings, lives and their souls. I sit here typing wondering why I am so blessed. I have a great job, amazing kids, and I have no cause to complain. Yet , I complain. I am vowing to change that attitude.
I have been bestowed so many blessings I can't even begin to count. Life is what you make it. I could have been any statistic about urban poverty and teenage pregnancy, and yet as I type I am a married woman with two bachelors degree's, an amazing job/career, wonderful kids, the best friends that life could imagine and yet there is this niggle of doubt in my head.
Do I deserve my blessings? Am I living my life the way God has planned for me? Am I the best mother and wife that I could be? Probably not, but what I have come to realize that I do not have to be perfect, I do not even have to be half-way perfect.
What I have realized i that I am a child of GOD and while my actions do not always show it, I am blessed beyond belief and I have only my GOD to thank for it. In reflection I am grateful for my drug addicted parents, the abandonment of my biological father, and the subsequent bad choices that I made as a result. I am not a victim of circumstance, I am a child of the one true king and I have been given so many gifts that to count them would mean the that I would run out of breath before I could name them. I am grateful for this nagging feeling that I have somehow not lived up to the potential that has been bestowed upon me.
I am one of those people who need a reminder of what life is really about.
I will practice an attitude of gratitude because quite frankly what more do we have to believe in?
DAILY BIBLE CHALLENGE
March 18
Matthew 26:57-75; Romans 1:25-36; Psalms 65; Deuteronomy 9-12
March 19
Matthew 27:1-10; Romans 12:1-8 Psalms 66; Deuteronomy 13-17
FOOD:
This so decadent and sooooo good!!!
Breakfast Baklava French Toast (for 2)
4 slices of bread, crusts trimmed off
3 large eggs
splash of orange juice
1 tsp. lemon zest
splash of vanilla extract
1 Tbsp. of honey
splash of milk
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
butter
Maple Syrup
Baklava filling
1 handful of nuts (I used walnuts)
1 tsp. of ground clove
1 tsp. of honey
1. Using your food processor, add the nuts and ground cloves and pulse until you get a granular consistency (like that of coarse salt. Remove contents and add to a bowl and and mix in the honey with a spoon and reserve.
2. In a bowl large enough to hold your slices of bread, add the eggs, orange juice, honey, milk, vanilla and cinnamon and whisk until incorporated.
3. Pre-heat a large, non-stick skillet over medium-high heat.
4. Place some baklava filling in between two slices of bread to form a sandwich (reserve some filling for garnish).
5. Carefully dunk the both sides of your "sandwich" into the egg mixture and make sure enough liquid has penetrated the bread (this makes for a moister French toast).
6. Add some butter to your skillet and when it starts to sizzle, place your French toast in the skillet and fry each side for a couple of minutes or until golden-brown. Keep warm and fry off your remaining French toasts in batches.
7. Carefully cut your French toast diagonally in half (this emulates the usual diamond shape of a piece of baklava). Plate your French toast, finish with some reserved baklava filling, good Maple Syrup, a sprinkle of cinnamon and icing sugar and some lemon peel for garnish.
FUN:
A minister waited in line to have his car filled with gas just before a
long holiday weekend. The attendant worked quickly, but there were many
cars ahead of him. Finally, the attendant motioned him toward a vacant
pump. "Reverend," said the young man, "I'm so sorry about the delay. It
seems as if everyone waits until the last minute to get ready for a long
trip.." The minister chuckled, "I know what you mean. It's the same in my
business."
Monday, March 16, 2009
It does make a difference
FAITH:
Numbers 1:1-2:34
God directed Moses and others to take a census of the Israelites and to organize the tribes for specific duties.
Moses counted all of God's people and assigned certain people to lead in worship. Each role helped to shape the community.
Jonathan Edwards was one man who make a difference. Born in 1703, he was perhaps the most brilliant mind America ever produced. A pastor, writer, and later president of Princeton, he and his wife had eleven children. Of his known male descendants:
More than 300 became pastors, missionaries, or theological professors.;
120 were professors at various universities;
110 became lawyers;
60 were prominent authors;
30 were judges;
14 served as president of universities and colleges;
3 served in the U.S. Congress, and one became vice-president of the United States.
Johathan Edwards...was just one man, but he postitibely affected hundreds and even thousands of his descendants after his death. The destiny of those future generations is in your hands. The choices you make with your family today will determine the quality of life in your family tree for generations to come. That's why one man can make a difference. by Steve Farrar
Applying it: You can make a difference in the lives of your children and grandchildren by serving God and dedicating your children to His service. The next time your family comes together, share about the "point people" who have most affected your life for the Lord. Help instill a vision for service in the kingdom of God. Then share with your children how they can pass along that vision.
Exploring it: Influencing Future Generations----Genesis 17: Numbers 26; Joshua 24; 1 Kings 8.
FRIENDS: Lord, I want to live for You. You have blessed me with children and a special family. You go before me each day guiding and directing my life with gentleness and loving care. remove from me anything that does not honor You. Shower me, I pray with all the fruits of the Spirit. May my life be a blessing to those you have given me the opportunity to touch. Help me to radiate Your love with gentleness, self-control, kindness, and faithfulness, that I may not only live in the Spirit but also walk in he Spirit. In Jesus, name, Amen.
DAILY BIBLE CHALLENGE
MARCH 16
Matthew 26:17-35; Romans 10; Psalms 63; Deuteronomy 4-5
MARCH 17
Matthew 26: 36-56; Romans 11:1-24; Psalms 64; Deuteronomy 6-8
MARCH 18 Matthew 26:57-75; Romans 11:25-36; Psalms 65; Deuteronomy 9-12
10 Things To Be Thankful For
1. Suspenders for a fat guy
2.. Blue Cheese
3. A boxed cake
4. How music affects you
5. An unexpected refund
6. The sounds of neighbors in an apartment
7. A week at the beach
8. Stir fried Swiss Chard
9. A challenging crossword puzzle
10. Beautiful fabric
FOOD:
DON'T WANT TO COOK A WHOLE IRISH MEAL....TRY IRISH SODA BREAD Ingredients
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 1/2 tablespoons sugar
6 tablespoons solid shortening (recommended: Crisco)
2/3 cup raisins, brown or golden or mixed 2 teaspoons caraway seeds
1 cup buttermilk
Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
In a large bowl sift together the flour, baking soda, salt, nutmeg, and sugar. Using a pastry blender or fingertips, work the shortening into the flour until the consistency is the same as that of small peas. Stir in the raisins and caraway and mix to distribute evenly. Gradually stir in the buttermilk, 1/4 cup at a time, using only enough to allow the dough to come together.
Knead the dough for 1 to 2 minutes. Shape the dough into a round loaf and place on a greased baking sheet. Cut an X on the top and over the sides of the loaf.
Bake for 45 minutes or until the bread sounds hollow when tapped. Cool on a rack
FUN:
Flynn staggered home very late after another evening with his drinking buddy, Paddy. He took off his shoes to avoid waking his wife, Mary. He tiptoed as quietly as he could toward the stairs leading to their upstairs bedroom, but misjudged the bottom step. As he caught himself by grabbing the banister, his body swung around and he landed heavily on his rump. A whiskey bottle in each back pocket broke and made the landing especially painful. Managing not to yell, Flynn sprung up, pulled down his pants, and looked in the hall mirror to see that his butt cheeks were cut and bleeding.
He managed to quietly find a full box of Band-Aids and began putting a Band-Aid as best he could on each place he saw blood. He then hid the now almost empty Band-Aid box and shuffled and stumbled his way to bed. In the morning, Flynn woke up with searing pain in both his head and butt and Mary staring at him from across the room. She said, "You were drunk again last night weren't you?" Flynn said, "Why you say such a mean thing?" "Well," Mary said, "it could be the open front door, it could be the broken glass at the bottom of the stairs, it could be the drops of blood trailing through the house, it could be your bloodshot eyes, but mostly.....it's all those Band-Aids stuck on the hall mirror.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Our best for His Glory
FAITH:
Our battles are first won or lost in the secret places of our will in God’s presence, never in full view of the world. The Spirit of God seizes me and I am compelled to get alone with God and fight the battle before Him. Until I do this, I will lose every time. The battle may take one minute or one year, but that will depend on me, not God. However long it takes, I must wrestle with it alone before God, and I must resolve to go through the hell of renunciation or rejection before Him. Nothing has any power over someone who has fought the battle before God and won there.
I should never say, "I will wait until I get into difficult circumstances and then I’ll put God to the test." Trying to do that will not work. I must first get the issue settled between God and myself in the secret places of my soul, where no one else can interfere. Then I can go ahead, knowing with certainty that the battle is won. Lose it there, and calamity, disaster, and defeat before the world are as sure as the laws of God. The reason the battle is lost is that I fight it first in the external world. Get alone with God, do battle before Him, and settle the matter once and for all.
In dealing with other people, our stance should always be to drive them toward making a decision of their will. That is how surrendering to God begins. Not often, but every once in a while, God brings us to a major turning point— a great crossroads in our life. From that point we either go toward a more and more slow, lazy, and useless Christian life, or we become more and more on fire, giving our utmost for His highest— our best for His glory. by Oswald Chambers
I Timothy 4:7-9
7 But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness. 8 For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come. 9 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance.
FRIENDS:
Lord, purify my heart and remove from my lips anything that keeps me from loving You. May I always seek a life of godliness. You have promised to be with me in all of my challenges, so help me to live in such a way as to glorify your holy name in both word and deed. For You are the Alpha and Omega and without You I can do nothing. In Jesus' name, Amen
DAILY BIBLE CHALLENGE
March 15
Matthew 26:1-16; Romans 9:19-33; Psalms 62; Deuteronomy1-3
March 16
Matthew 26:17-35; Romans 10; Psalms 63; Deuteronomy 4-5
March 17
Matthew 26:36-56; Romans 11:1-24; Psalms 64; Deuteronomy 6-8
The Book of Deuteronomy
If you've ever been a part of the following scene, you know you'll never forget it.
Inside the house is a quiet bedroom. Last springs prom photo sits on the bedside table. A dried homecoming mum hangs from the bulletin board. Outside the house is a packed car. Both the trunk and seat are full of clothes, books, and stereo. What was in the room is now in the car. The one who used to live in the room is about to drive the car...to college.
Both parent and child are stunned by the moment. What happened to childhood? Who fast-forwarded the years? Why, just yesterday this child was filling the house with cartwheels and playdough--now look. He's so tall. She's such a beauty. The child is grown.
The grown child is equally stunned. The road ahead looks lonely and long. There is safety in these walls. Protection. Security. Those pleas for independence so recently voiced are unheard today. "Just say the word, Dad, I'll stay. Just ask me Mom, I won't leave."
But Mom and Dad know better. They know that love releases the loved. They know the training is over. The last bell has rung. The class is dismissed, and the application has begun.
And so the parent and the child hesitate at the side of the car. There's no time to teach new truths. There's no time to instill values or lay foundations. There is only one word that can be said,----remember. Remember who loves you. Remember what matters. Remember what is right and what is wrong.
Remember.
In Deuteronomy God tells his children to remember.
Israel is about to make a transition. For forty years they have wandered. Now they are about to settle down in a new land. It's a time of transition. From Moses to Joshua. From the wilderness to the promised land. From nomads to farmers. From people with no land to people of the land.
God wants them to stay faithful. Stay distinctive. For forty days Moses teaches the words you are about to read; God repeats what he has already taught. Deutero means second. Nomos means law. Deuteronomy is a second hearing of the law.
God didn't want them to forget.
FOOD:
The pictures at the link are so good you can almost smell the meat browning.
http://agoodappetite.blogspot.com/2007/03/braised-pork-steak.html
FUN:
Walking into the bar, Mike said to Charlie the bartender, "Pour me a stiff one - just had another fight with the little woman."
"Oh yeah?" said Charlie, "And how did this one end?"
"When it was over," Mike replied, "She came to me on her hands and knees.
"Really," said Charles, "Now that's a switch! What did she say?"
She said, "Come out from under the bed, you little chicken."
Our battles are first won or lost in the secret places of our will in God’s presence, never in full view of the world. The Spirit of God seizes me and I am compelled to get alone with God and fight the battle before Him. Until I do this, I will lose every time. The battle may take one minute or one year, but that will depend on me, not God. However long it takes, I must wrestle with it alone before God, and I must resolve to go through the hell of renunciation or rejection before Him. Nothing has any power over someone who has fought the battle before God and won there.
I should never say, "I will wait until I get into difficult circumstances and then I’ll put God to the test." Trying to do that will not work. I must first get the issue settled between God and myself in the secret places of my soul, where no one else can interfere. Then I can go ahead, knowing with certainty that the battle is won. Lose it there, and calamity, disaster, and defeat before the world are as sure as the laws of God. The reason the battle is lost is that I fight it first in the external world. Get alone with God, do battle before Him, and settle the matter once and for all.
In dealing with other people, our stance should always be to drive them toward making a decision of their will. That is how surrendering to God begins. Not often, but every once in a while, God brings us to a major turning point— a great crossroads in our life. From that point we either go toward a more and more slow, lazy, and useless Christian life, or we become more and more on fire, giving our utmost for His highest— our best for His glory. by Oswald Chambers
I Timothy 4:7-9
7 But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness. 8 For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come. 9 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance.
FRIENDS:
Lord, purify my heart and remove from my lips anything that keeps me from loving You. May I always seek a life of godliness. You have promised to be with me in all of my challenges, so help me to live in such a way as to glorify your holy name in both word and deed. For You are the Alpha and Omega and without You I can do nothing. In Jesus' name, Amen
DAILY BIBLE CHALLENGE
March 15
Matthew 26:1-16; Romans 9:19-33; Psalms 62; Deuteronomy1-3
March 16
Matthew 26:17-35; Romans 10; Psalms 63; Deuteronomy 4-5
March 17
Matthew 26:36-56; Romans 11:1-24; Psalms 64; Deuteronomy 6-8
The Book of Deuteronomy
If you've ever been a part of the following scene, you know you'll never forget it.
Inside the house is a quiet bedroom. Last springs prom photo sits on the bedside table. A dried homecoming mum hangs from the bulletin board. Outside the house is a packed car. Both the trunk and seat are full of clothes, books, and stereo. What was in the room is now in the car. The one who used to live in the room is about to drive the car...to college.
Both parent and child are stunned by the moment. What happened to childhood? Who fast-forwarded the years? Why, just yesterday this child was filling the house with cartwheels and playdough--now look. He's so tall. She's such a beauty. The child is grown.
The grown child is equally stunned. The road ahead looks lonely and long. There is safety in these walls. Protection. Security. Those pleas for independence so recently voiced are unheard today. "Just say the word, Dad, I'll stay. Just ask me Mom, I won't leave."
But Mom and Dad know better. They know that love releases the loved. They know the training is over. The last bell has rung. The class is dismissed, and the application has begun.
And so the parent and the child hesitate at the side of the car. There's no time to teach new truths. There's no time to instill values or lay foundations. There is only one word that can be said,----remember. Remember who loves you. Remember what matters. Remember what is right and what is wrong.
Remember.
In Deuteronomy God tells his children to remember.
Israel is about to make a transition. For forty years they have wandered. Now they are about to settle down in a new land. It's a time of transition. From Moses to Joshua. From the wilderness to the promised land. From nomads to farmers. From people with no land to people of the land.
God wants them to stay faithful. Stay distinctive. For forty days Moses teaches the words you are about to read; God repeats what he has already taught. Deutero means second. Nomos means law. Deuteronomy is a second hearing of the law.
God didn't want them to forget.
FOOD:
The pictures at the link are so good you can almost smell the meat browning.
http://agoodappetite.blogspot.com/2007/03/braised-pork-steak.html
FUN:
Walking into the bar, Mike said to Charlie the bartender, "Pour me a stiff one - just had another fight with the little woman."
"Oh yeah?" said Charlie, "And how did this one end?"
"When it was over," Mike replied, "She came to me on her hands and knees.
"Really," said Charles, "Now that's a switch! What did she say?"
She said, "Come out from under the bed, you little chicken."
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Isn't the Bible full of contradictions?
FAITH:
It is truly amazing how often this question is asked. This question contains the assumption that the Bible is filled with many obvious discrepancies which, if true, would make it impossible to believe that the Bible has a divine origin. It is a popular idea to maintain that the Bible disagrees with itself, which casts considerable doubt on its trustworthiness.
If, indeed, the Bible does contain demonstrable errors, it would show that at least those parts could not have come from a perfect, all-knowing God. We do not argue with this conclusion, but we do disagree with the initial premise that the Scriptures are full of mistakes. It is very easy to accuse the Bible of inaccuracies, but it is quite another matter to prove it.
Certain passages at first glance appear to be contradictory, but further investigation will show that this is not the case.
One of the things for which we appeal with regard to possible contradictions is fairness. We should not minimize or exaggerate the
problem, and we must always begin by giving the author the benefit of
the doubt. This is the rule in other literature, and we ask that it also be the rule here. We find so often that people want to employ a different set of rules when it comes to examining the Bible, and to this we immediately object.
What constitutes a contradiction? The law of non-contradiction, which is the basis of all logical thinking, states that a thing cannot be both a and non-a at the same time. In other words, it cannot be both raining and not raining at the same time.
If one can demonstrate a violation of this principle from Scripture, then and only then can he prove a contradiction. For example, if the Bible said—which it does not—that Jesus died by crucifixion both at Jerusalem and at Nazareth at the same time, this would be a provable error.
When facing possible contradictions, it is of the highest importance to remember that two statements may differ from each other without being contradictory. Some fail to make a distinction between contradiction and difference.
For example, the case of the blind men at Jericho. Matthew relates how
two blind men met Jesus, while both Mark and Luke mention only one.
However, neither of these statement denies the other, but rather they
are complementary.
Suppose you were talking to the mayor of your city and the chief of police at city hall. Later, you see your friend, Jim, and tell him you talked to the mayor today. An hour later, you see your friend, John, and tell him you talked to both the mayor and the chief of police.
When your friends compare notes, there is a seeming contradiction. But
there is no contradiction. If you had told Jim that you talked only to the mayor, you would have contradicted that statement by what you told John.
The statements you actually made to Jim and John are different, but not contradictory. Likewise, many biblical statements fall into this category. Many think they find errors in passages that they have not correctly read.
In the Book of Judges we have the account of the death of Sisera. Judges 5:25–27 is supposed to represent Jael as having slain him with her hammer and tent peg while he was drinking milk. Judges 4:21 says she did it while he was asleep. However, a closer reading of Judges 5:25–27 will reveal that it is not stated that he was drinking milk at the moment of impact. Thus, the discrepancy disappears.
Sometimes two passages appear to be contradictory because the translation is not as accurate as it could be. A knowledge of the original languages of the Bible can immediately solve these difficulties, for both Greek and Hebrew—as all languages—have their peculiarities that make them difficult to render into English or any other language.
A classic example concerns the accounts of Paul's conversion as recorded in the Book of Acts. Acts 9:7 (KJV) states, "The men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man." Acts 22:9 (KJV) reads, "And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me."
These statements seem contradictory, with one saying that Paul's
companions heard a voice, while the other account says that no voice was heard. However, a knowledge of Greek solves this difficulty. As the Greek scholar, W. F. Arndt, explains:
"The construction of the verb 'to hear' (akouo) is not the same in both accounts. In Acts 9:7 it is used with the genitive, in Acts 22:9 with the accusative. The construction with the genitive simply expresses that something is being heard or that certain sounds reach the ear; nothing is indicated as to whether a person understands what he hears or not.
"The construction with the accusative, however, describes a hearing
which includes mental apprehension of the message spoken. From this it
becomes evident that the two passages are not contradictory.
"Acts 22:9 does not deny that the associates of Paul heard certain sounds; it simply declares that they did not hear in such a way as to understand what was being said. Our English idiom in this case simply is not so expressive as the Greek" (Does the Bible Contradict Itself, pp. 13–14.)
It must also be stressed that when a possible explanation is given to a Bible difficulty, it is unreasonable to state that the passage contains a demonstrable error. Some difficulties in Scripture result from our inadequate knowledge about the circumstances, and do not necessarily involve an error. These only prove that we are ignorant of the background.
As historical and archaeological study proceed, new light is being shed on difficult portions of Scripture and many "errors" have disappeared with the new understanding. We need a wait-and-see attitude on some problems.
While all Bible difficulties and discrepancies have not yet been cleared up, it is our firm conviction that as more knowledge is gained of the Bible's past, these problems will fade away. The biblical conception of God is an all-knowing, all-powerful being who does not contradict Himself, and so we feel that His Word, when properly understood, will not contradict itself.
by Josh McDowell
John 14:1-3
1 Jesus said, "Don't let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust in me. 2 There are many rooms in my Father's house; I would not tell you this if it were not true. I am going there to prepare a place for you.3 After I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me so that you may be where I am.
FRIENDS:
Lord, help me believe that You are the way, the truth, and the life. My heart years for the power of Your presence. Never let me doubt Your love and mercy, but strengthen me to tell others of Your saving grace and neverending love. May your Spirit direct my path daily and strengthen my commitment to Your purpose for without You, I am nothing. But with You, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!" Praise God....In Jesus' name, Amen.
DAILY BIBLE CHALLENGE
March 12
Matthew 25:1-13; Romans 8:1-17 Psalms 59; Numbers 28-30
March 13
Matthew 25:14-30; Romans 8:18- 39 Psalms 60; Numbers 31-32
March 14
Matthew 25:31-46; Romans 9:1-18; Psalms 61; Numbers 33-36
10 Things to be Thankful For
1. Sitting in the sun drinking a cup of tea
2. The sound of grandchildren playing
3. The sound of great grandchildren playing
4. Easeful days
5. Dreamless nights
6. Laughing til you can't catch your breath and your cheeks hurt
7. Well worn cowboy hat
8. Learning a new trick for storage
9. Finding something to help make you feel better
10 Family
FOOD:
Hamburger Corn Bread Casserole
1 pound lean ground beef
1 small onion, chopped
1 can (15 ounces) ranch-style beans
1 can (14-1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
TOPPING:
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup cornmeal
2 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 egg, beaten
1/2 cup fat-free milk
1 tablespoon canola oil
In a large skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no
longer pink; drain. Add the beans, tomatoes, chili powder and Worcestershire
sauce; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes.
Transfer to an 11-in. x 7-in. baking dish coated with cooking spray. For
topping, in a small bowl, combine the flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder
and salt. Combine the egg, milk and oil; stir into dry ingredients just
until moistened. Spoon over filling; gently spread to cover the top. Bake,
uncovered, at 425° for 14-18 minutes or until filling is bubbly and a
toothpick inserted into topping comes out clean. Let stand for 5 minutes
before cutting. Yield: 6 servings.
FUN:
Great stuff about AZ
You notice your car overheating before you drive it.
You no longer associate bridges or rivers with water.
You can hear the weather forecast of 115 degrees without flinching.
You can be in the snow, then drive for an hour...and it will be over 100 degrees.
You discover, in July it only takes two fingers to drive your car, because your steering wheel is so hot.
You run your air conditioner in the middle of winter so you can use your fireplace.
The best parking is determined by shade.....not distance.
You can make sun tea instantly.
Hotter water comes from the cold water tap than the hot one.
It's noon in July, kids are on summer vacation and yet all the streets are totally empty of both cars and people.
You actually burn your hand opening the car door.
Sunscreen is sold year round and kept right at the checkout counter.
You put on fresh sunscreen just to go check the mail box.
Some fools will market mini-misters for joggers and some other fools will actually buy them. Worse.....some fools actually try to jog.
You can pronounce Saguaro, Tempe, San Xavier, Canyon de Chelly, Mogollon Rim, Cholla, Gila and Tucson.
You can understand the reason for a town named "Why"
You can fry an egg on the hood of a car in the morning.
You can say "Hohokam" and people don't think you're laughing funny.
You hear people say "but it's a dry heat!"
You buy salsa by the gallon.
Your Christmas decorations include sand and l00 paper bags.
You think a red light is merely a suggestion.
All of your out-of-state friends start to visit after October but clear out come the end of April.
You think someone driving wearing oven mitts is clever.
Most of the restaurants in town have the first name "El" or "Los."
You think 60 tons of crushed red rock makes a beautiful yard.
Vehicles with open windows have the right-of-way in the summer.
Most homes have more firearms than people.
Kids ask, "What's a mosquito?"
People who have black cars or black upholstery in their car are automatically assumed to be from out of-state or nuts.
You know better than to get into a car with leather seats if you're wearing shorts.
You can finish a Big Gulp in 10 minutes and go back for seconds.
A rainy day puts you in a good mood
You "hug" a cactus only once in your lifetime.
When you have to look up "mass transit" in the dictionary.
A hundred ten in the shade is sorta hot, but you don't have to shovel it off your driveway.
Petrified doesn't mean scared.
The temperature drops below 95, you feel a bit chilly.
You've lived in AZ your whole life and have never been to the Grand Canyon
You would give anything to be able to splash cold water on your face.
You can attend any function wearing shorts and a tank top.
You realize that asphalt has a liquid state.
You realize that snowbirds aren't really birds at all, but just really bad out of state drivers that you learn to hate
There are only two temperatures, hot and hotter
Even thinking about not having air conditioning makes you sweat
You travel out of state and any sort of humidity nearly kills you
*you have no idea why 48 other states (Hawaii doesn't do it either) insist on changing their clocks twice a year for this thing called "daylight savings time"
It is truly amazing how often this question is asked. This question contains the assumption that the Bible is filled with many obvious discrepancies which, if true, would make it impossible to believe that the Bible has a divine origin. It is a popular idea to maintain that the Bible disagrees with itself, which casts considerable doubt on its trustworthiness.
If, indeed, the Bible does contain demonstrable errors, it would show that at least those parts could not have come from a perfect, all-knowing God. We do not argue with this conclusion, but we do disagree with the initial premise that the Scriptures are full of mistakes. It is very easy to accuse the Bible of inaccuracies, but it is quite another matter to prove it.
Certain passages at first glance appear to be contradictory, but further investigation will show that this is not the case.
One of the things for which we appeal with regard to possible contradictions is fairness. We should not minimize or exaggerate the
problem, and we must always begin by giving the author the benefit of
the doubt. This is the rule in other literature, and we ask that it also be the rule here. We find so often that people want to employ a different set of rules when it comes to examining the Bible, and to this we immediately object.
What constitutes a contradiction? The law of non-contradiction, which is the basis of all logical thinking, states that a thing cannot be both a and non-a at the same time. In other words, it cannot be both raining and not raining at the same time.
If one can demonstrate a violation of this principle from Scripture, then and only then can he prove a contradiction. For example, if the Bible said—which it does not—that Jesus died by crucifixion both at Jerusalem and at Nazareth at the same time, this would be a provable error.
When facing possible contradictions, it is of the highest importance to remember that two statements may differ from each other without being contradictory. Some fail to make a distinction between contradiction and difference.
For example, the case of the blind men at Jericho. Matthew relates how
two blind men met Jesus, while both Mark and Luke mention only one.
However, neither of these statement denies the other, but rather they
are complementary.
Suppose you were talking to the mayor of your city and the chief of police at city hall. Later, you see your friend, Jim, and tell him you talked to the mayor today. An hour later, you see your friend, John, and tell him you talked to both the mayor and the chief of police.
When your friends compare notes, there is a seeming contradiction. But
there is no contradiction. If you had told Jim that you talked only to the mayor, you would have contradicted that statement by what you told John.
The statements you actually made to Jim and John are different, but not contradictory. Likewise, many biblical statements fall into this category. Many think they find errors in passages that they have not correctly read.
In the Book of Judges we have the account of the death of Sisera. Judges 5:25–27 is supposed to represent Jael as having slain him with her hammer and tent peg while he was drinking milk. Judges 4:21 says she did it while he was asleep. However, a closer reading of Judges 5:25–27 will reveal that it is not stated that he was drinking milk at the moment of impact. Thus, the discrepancy disappears.
Sometimes two passages appear to be contradictory because the translation is not as accurate as it could be. A knowledge of the original languages of the Bible can immediately solve these difficulties, for both Greek and Hebrew—as all languages—have their peculiarities that make them difficult to render into English or any other language.
A classic example concerns the accounts of Paul's conversion as recorded in the Book of Acts. Acts 9:7 (KJV) states, "The men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man." Acts 22:9 (KJV) reads, "And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me."
These statements seem contradictory, with one saying that Paul's
companions heard a voice, while the other account says that no voice was heard. However, a knowledge of Greek solves this difficulty. As the Greek scholar, W. F. Arndt, explains:
"The construction of the verb 'to hear' (akouo) is not the same in both accounts. In Acts 9:7 it is used with the genitive, in Acts 22:9 with the accusative. The construction with the genitive simply expresses that something is being heard or that certain sounds reach the ear; nothing is indicated as to whether a person understands what he hears or not.
"The construction with the accusative, however, describes a hearing
which includes mental apprehension of the message spoken. From this it
becomes evident that the two passages are not contradictory.
"Acts 22:9 does not deny that the associates of Paul heard certain sounds; it simply declares that they did not hear in such a way as to understand what was being said. Our English idiom in this case simply is not so expressive as the Greek" (Does the Bible Contradict Itself, pp. 13–14.)
It must also be stressed that when a possible explanation is given to a Bible difficulty, it is unreasonable to state that the passage contains a demonstrable error. Some difficulties in Scripture result from our inadequate knowledge about the circumstances, and do not necessarily involve an error. These only prove that we are ignorant of the background.
As historical and archaeological study proceed, new light is being shed on difficult portions of Scripture and many "errors" have disappeared with the new understanding. We need a wait-and-see attitude on some problems.
While all Bible difficulties and discrepancies have not yet been cleared up, it is our firm conviction that as more knowledge is gained of the Bible's past, these problems will fade away. The biblical conception of God is an all-knowing, all-powerful being who does not contradict Himself, and so we feel that His Word, when properly understood, will not contradict itself.
by Josh McDowell
John 14:1-3
1 Jesus said, "Don't let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust in me. 2 There are many rooms in my Father's house; I would not tell you this if it were not true. I am going there to prepare a place for you.3 After I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me so that you may be where I am.
FRIENDS:
Lord, help me believe that You are the way, the truth, and the life. My heart years for the power of Your presence. Never let me doubt Your love and mercy, but strengthen me to tell others of Your saving grace and neverending love. May your Spirit direct my path daily and strengthen my commitment to Your purpose for without You, I am nothing. But with You, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!" Praise God....In Jesus' name, Amen.
DAILY BIBLE CHALLENGE
March 12
Matthew 25:1-13; Romans 8:1-17 Psalms 59; Numbers 28-30
March 13
Matthew 25:14-30; Romans 8:18- 39 Psalms 60; Numbers 31-32
March 14
Matthew 25:31-46; Romans 9:1-18; Psalms 61; Numbers 33-36
10 Things to be Thankful For
1. Sitting in the sun drinking a cup of tea
2. The sound of grandchildren playing
3. The sound of great grandchildren playing
4. Easeful days
5. Dreamless nights
6. Laughing til you can't catch your breath and your cheeks hurt
7. Well worn cowboy hat
8. Learning a new trick for storage
9. Finding something to help make you feel better
10 Family
FOOD:
Hamburger Corn Bread Casserole
1 pound lean ground beef
1 small onion, chopped
1 can (15 ounces) ranch-style beans
1 can (14-1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
TOPPING:
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup cornmeal
2 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 egg, beaten
1/2 cup fat-free milk
1 tablespoon canola oil
In a large skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no
longer pink; drain. Add the beans, tomatoes, chili powder and Worcestershire
sauce; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes.
Transfer to an 11-in. x 7-in. baking dish coated with cooking spray. For
topping, in a small bowl, combine the flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder
and salt. Combine the egg, milk and oil; stir into dry ingredients just
until moistened. Spoon over filling; gently spread to cover the top. Bake,
uncovered, at 425° for 14-18 minutes or until filling is bubbly and a
toothpick inserted into topping comes out clean. Let stand for 5 minutes
before cutting. Yield: 6 servings.
FUN:
Great stuff about AZ
You notice your car overheating before you drive it.
You no longer associate bridges or rivers with water.
You can hear the weather forecast of 115 degrees without flinching.
You can be in the snow, then drive for an hour...and it will be over 100 degrees.
You discover, in July it only takes two fingers to drive your car, because your steering wheel is so hot.
You run your air conditioner in the middle of winter so you can use your fireplace.
The best parking is determined by shade.....not distance.
You can make sun tea instantly.
Hotter water comes from the cold water tap than the hot one.
It's noon in July, kids are on summer vacation and yet all the streets are totally empty of both cars and people.
You actually burn your hand opening the car door.
Sunscreen is sold year round and kept right at the checkout counter.
You put on fresh sunscreen just to go check the mail box.
Some fools will market mini-misters for joggers and some other fools will actually buy them. Worse.....some fools actually try to jog.
You can pronounce Saguaro, Tempe, San Xavier, Canyon de Chelly, Mogollon Rim, Cholla, Gila and Tucson.
You can understand the reason for a town named "Why"
You can fry an egg on the hood of a car in the morning.
You can say "Hohokam" and people don't think you're laughing funny.
You hear people say "but it's a dry heat!"
You buy salsa by the gallon.
Your Christmas decorations include sand and l00 paper bags.
You think a red light is merely a suggestion.
All of your out-of-state friends start to visit after October but clear out come the end of April.
You think someone driving wearing oven mitts is clever.
Most of the restaurants in town have the first name "El" or "Los."
You think 60 tons of crushed red rock makes a beautiful yard.
Vehicles with open windows have the right-of-way in the summer.
Most homes have more firearms than people.
Kids ask, "What's a mosquito?"
People who have black cars or black upholstery in their car are automatically assumed to be from out of-state or nuts.
You know better than to get into a car with leather seats if you're wearing shorts.
You can finish a Big Gulp in 10 minutes and go back for seconds.
A rainy day puts you in a good mood
You "hug" a cactus only once in your lifetime.
When you have to look up "mass transit" in the dictionary.
A hundred ten in the shade is sorta hot, but you don't have to shovel it off your driveway.
Petrified doesn't mean scared.
The temperature drops below 95, you feel a bit chilly.
You've lived in AZ your whole life and have never been to the Grand Canyon
You would give anything to be able to splash cold water on your face.
You can attend any function wearing shorts and a tank top.
You realize that asphalt has a liquid state.
You realize that snowbirds aren't really birds at all, but just really bad out of state drivers that you learn to hate
There are only two temperatures, hot and hotter
Even thinking about not having air conditioning makes you sweat
You travel out of state and any sort of humidity nearly kills you
*you have no idea why 48 other states (Hawaii doesn't do it either) insist on changing their clocks twice a year for this thing called "daylight savings time"
Sunday, March 8, 2009
IT'S CHRIST
FAITH:
In elementary school the teacher would pass out drawings with the question at the bottom “What’s wrong with this picture?” Remember them? We’d look closely for something that didn’t fit?
A farmyard scene with a piano near the water trough. A classroom with a pirate seated on the back row. An astronaut on the moon with a pay phone in the background. We’d ponder the picture and point to the piano or pirate or pay phone and say, “This doesn’t fit.” Something is out of place. Something is absurd. Pianos don’t belong in farmyards. Pirates don’t sit in classrooms. Pay phones aren’t found on the moon, And God doesn’t chum with the common folk or snooze in fishing boats.
But according to the Bible he did. “For in Christ there is all of God in a human body” (Col. 2:9 TLB). Jesus was not a godlike man, nor a manlike God. He was God-man.
Midwifed by a carpenter. Bathed by a peasant girl. The maker of the world with a bellybutton. The author of the Torah being taught the Torah. Heaven’s human. And because he was, we are left with scratch-your-head, double-blink, what’s wrong-with-this-picture? Moments like these: Bordeaux instead of H2O. A cripple sponsoring the town dance. A sack lunch satisfying five thousand tummies. And, most of all, a grave: guarded by soldiers, sealed by a rock, yet vacated by a three days- dead man.
What do we do with such moments?
What do we do with such a person? We applaud men for doing good things. We enshrine God for doing great things. But when a man does God things? One thing is certain, we can’t ignore him.
Why would we want to? If these moments are factual, if the claim of Christ is actual, then he was, at once, man and God.
There he was, the single most significant person who ever lived. Forget MVP; he is the entire league. The head of the parade? Hardly. No one else shares the street. Who comes close? Humanity’s best and brightest fade like dime-store rubies next to him.
Dismiss him? We can’t. Resist him? Equally difficult. Don’t we need a God-man Savior? A just-God Jesus could make us but not understand us. A just-man Jesus could love us but never save us. But a God-man Jesus? Near enough to touch. Strong enough to trust. A next door Savior. A Savior found by millions to be irresistible. Nothing compares to “the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” (Phil. 3:8 RSV). The reward of Christianity is Christ.
Do you journey to the Grand Canyon for the souvenir T-shirt or the snow globe with the snowflakes that fall when you shake it? No. The reward of the Grand Canyon is the Grand Canyon. The wide-eyed realization that you are part of something ancient, splendid, powerful, and greater than you. The cache of Christianity is Christ. Not money in the bank or a car in the garage or a healthy body or a better self-image. Secondary and tertiary fruits perhaps. But the Fort Knox of faith is Christ. Fellowship with him. Walking with him. Pondering him. Exploring him. The heart-stopping realization that in him you are part of something ancient, endless, unstoppable, and unfathomable. And that he, who can dig the Grand Canyon with his pinkie, thinks you’re worth his death on Roman timber. Christ is the reward of Christianity. Why else would Paul make him his supreme desire? “I want to know Christ” (Phil 3:10 NCV).
Do you desire the same? My idea is simple. Let’s look at some places he went and some people he touched. Join me on a quest for his “God-manness.” Your may be amazed. More important, you may be changed. “We all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being changed into his likeness from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit” (2Cor. 3:18 RSV).
As we behold him. We become like him. By Max Lucado
FRIENDS:
Dear Lord, please help me become a "5-Star" Christian. I want to follow the example Jesus gave to serve others with excellence. Please help me have the right attitude toward the people in my life and to show genuine concern for others. May you be glorified in all I think, say, and do. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
DAILY BIBLE CHALLENGE
March 9
Matthew 24:1-14; Romans 6:15-23; Psalms 56; Numbers 21-22
March 10
Matthew 24;15-25; Romans 7:1-12; Psalms 57; Numbers 23-25
March 11
Matthew 24:36-51; Romans 7:13-25; Psalms 58; Numbers 26-27
FOOD:
This is my aunt's recipe and is delicious. Since it makes a lot I usually make half the amount and it will feed 4-6 people. I hope you try it.
WARSAW SPAGHETTI
2 pounds spiral macaroni, cooked and drained, do not rinse.
2 quarts sauerkraut, drained
4 large onions, chopped
3 cans (10-3/4oz. each) Cream of Mushroom soup,undiluted
1/2 cup margarine or butter
2 (4oz.) can mushrooms, drained
2 pounds of Kielbasi or smoked sausage,sliced 1/2 inch thick
Directions: In large Dutch oven saute onions in margarine until soft. Add sauerkraut, soup and meat. Stir together until well combined. Add macaroni and mushrooms. Stir gently until well mixed. Cover and bake in preheated 350 degree oven for 1 hour or until heated through. NOTE: I use 2 cans of soup when I make half the recipe.:
FUN:
1. WILL THE REAL DUMMY PLEASE STAND UP? AT&T fired President John Walter after nine months, saying he lacked intellectual leadership. He received a $26 million severance package. Perhaps it's not Walter who's lacking intelligence.
2. WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM OUR FRIENDS. Police in Oakland , CA spent two hours attempting to subdue a gunman who had barricaded himself inside his home. After firing ten tear gas canisters, officers discovered that the man was standing beside them in the police line, shouting, 'Please come out and give yourself up.'
3. WHAT WAS PLAN B??? An Illinois man, pretending to have a gun, kidnapped a motorist and forced him to drive to two different automated teller machines, wherein the kidnapper proceeded to withdraw money from his own bank accounts. 4. THE GETAWAY! A man walked into a Topeka , Kansas Kwik Stop and asked for all the money in the cash drawer. Apparently, the take was too s mall, so he tied up the store clerk and worked the counter himself for three hours until police showed up and grabbed him.
5. DID I SAY THAT??? Police in Los Angeles had good luck with a robbery suspect who just couldn't control himself during a lineup. Detectives asked the man in the lineup to stand still and repeat the words: 'Give me all your money or I'll shoot'. Annoyed, the man shouted, 'That's not what I said!'
6. ARE WE COMMUNICATING??? A man spoke frantically into the phone: 'My wife is pregnant and her contractions are only two minutes apart'. 'Is this her first child?' the doctor asked. 'No!' the man shouted, 'This is her husband!'
7. NOT THE SHARPEST TOOL IN THE SHED! In Modesto , CA , Steven Richard King was arrested for trying to hold up a Bank of America branch without a weapon. King used a thumb and a finger to simulate a gun. Unfortunately, he failed to keep his hand in his pocket. (hel looooo oo)!
8. THE GRAND FINALE!!! Last summer, down on Lake Isabella, located in the high desert, an hour east of Bakersfield, CA, some folks, new to boating, were having a problem. No matter how hard they tried, they couldn't get their brand new 22 foot boat, going. It was very sluggish in almost every maneuver, no matter how much power they applied. After about an hour of trying to make it go, they putted into a nearby marina, thinking someone there may be able to tell them what was wrong. A thorough topside check revealed everything in perfect working condition The engine ran fine, the out-drive went up and down, and the propeller was the correct size and pitch. So, one of the marina guys jumped in the water to check underneath. He came up choking on water, he was laughing so hard. NOW REMEMBER...THIS IS TRUE. Under the boat, still strapped securely in place, was the trailer!
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Landings.....
FAITH:
I was on an early morning flight into Pittsburgh. It's the kind where most of the passengers are real veteran flyers, you know, like business people. And wouldn't you know, we got one of those two-for-the-price-of-one landings. Yeah, it's one of those bumpy, bouncy ones. You know? I mean, even with the seasoned flyers aboard, that landing got everyone's heads out of their papers and their briefcases - including mine. I couldn't wait to hear what the flight attendant was going to say. And, fortunately, we got one of the few that could show a sense of humor. He came on and said, "Ladies and gentlemen, now that I have your attention, I'd like to make a few announcements!" That's great! Believe me, after a landing like that, he had our attention!
You may have been experiencing a few bumpy landings lately yourself. It might be medical, or marital, economic, romantic, maybe it's parental issues or relationship issues. You're wondering why things have been so rocky. There could be many reasons, but we know that ultimately God is in charge of things. So, why has He sent or allowed these bumpy landings? Could it be He's trying to get your attention? Maybe if you could hear God's voice audibly right now, you'd hear Him saying, "Now that I have your attention, I'd like to make a few announcements."
One of King David's Psalms in the Old Testament is about how our bumpy landings can serve as spiritual wakeup calls. In our word for today from the Word of God in Psalm 32:1, he says, "Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered...When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer."
David says the best position you can be in in your life is to have all your sins forgiven, your moral mistakes forgiven and cleaned up and to know you're OK with God and that you have a new beginning. But he goes on to say that he wasn't really dealing with the junk that was between him and God until he hit some bumpy landings. Until he started hurting physically, emotionally, until he felt God's heavy hand on him...until he was shot. That's when God got his attention and showed him that he needed to face his sin problem which was the ultimate cause of all his other problems.
It could be God is trying to make the same kind of announcement to you right now. I hope that through your bumpy landings Jesus can finally get your attention. His announcements? Well, things you might otherwise not have listened to or considered. He's using the trouble to say to you things like, "You are not enough, you need something lasting, you've tried it long enough without Me, or I love you so much." And He stands ready to do for you what you have needed and maybe avoided for years - to remove what's between you and the God that you need so much.
Jesus can do that because He absorbed all the guilt and all the hell of all your sin when He paid for it on the cross. And your bumpy landings may be all to bring you to the place that you've missed all these years - that cross where He loved you enough to die for you. All the journey of your life has been to bring you to this moment where you could finally commit yourself to the Savior you were made by, the Savior you were made for, the Savior who loves you so very much. Then you will be able to say as King David did, "Lord, You forgave the guilt of my sin."
Your bumpy landings may have shaken up your life, but only so you would turn your attention to the Son of God so He could finally bring you safely home. by Ron Hutchcraft
FRIENDS:
Father, give us strength as we try to be more like Jesus in our homes. We ask you to keep the evil one away from us; keep us close. Let our homes be testimonies of your love for us, that when people see our homes, they would see how you have loved the world. In Jesus' name, Amen.
DAILY BIBLE CHALLENGE
March 6
Matthew 23:1-12; Romans 5:1-11; Psalms 53; Numbers 12-14
March 7
Matthew 23:13-24; Romans 5:12-21; Psalms 54; Numbers 15-17
March 8
Matthew 23:25-29; Romans 6:1-14; Psalms 55; Numbers 18-20
10 THINGS I AM THANKFUL FOR
1. That my son was not killed today when a chain broke as a huge pit was being lifted up over him and knocked him to the ground
2. The great day I had talking with the grandkids and going shopping with them
3. Being in a huge craft store I used to work in
4. Finding all the ingredients for a Thai dinner
5. Beautiful sunshiny day
6. Working in the kitchen preparing dinner with my grandkids
7. Riding in the car with the grand daughter driving
8. Spending time talking with my son this morning before he went to work
9. Teaching my grand daughter to crochet
10. God granting me a long enough life to see my grand kids growing up
FOOD:
Olive Garden Basil Butter and Shrimp on Pasta
BASIL BUTTER
2 oz Fresh basil leaves (about - 2 bunches
10 oz Butter, softened - (2-1/2 cubes)
1 t Minced garlic
1/4 ts Salt
1/8 ts Black pepper
3 tb Grated Parmesan cheese plus - additional for garnish
1 tb Grated Romano cheese
REST OF DISH
1 lb Fresh Linguine or angel - hair pasta
1 lb Medium shrimp, shelled
Remove any large stems from basil and wash leaves. Shake off
excess water and dry with paper towel.
Place in food processor; process until finely chopped.
Process in two batches if necessary to get a uniformly chopped
basil.
Remove from processor and reserve.
Place butter in small mixer bowl. Using an electric mixer, whip
butter until pliable. Add garlic, salt, pepper, Parmesan and Romano
cheeses, and basil; mix until well incorporated. Basil butter can be used
immediately or stored covered in refrigerator for 3 to 4 days.
Cook pasta according to directions, drain well and keep warm.
Melt basil butter in large skillet over medium heat. Add shrimp and saute'
just until done, about 2 to 3 minutes. Serve over hot cooked pasta. Pass
freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
Makes 4 to 6 servings.
FUN:
A mom was concerned about her kindergarten son walking to school. He didn't want his mother to walk with him. She wanted to give him the feeling that he had some independence but yet know that he was safe.
So she had an idea of how to handle it. She asked a neighbor if she would please follow him to school in the mornings, staying at a distance, so he probably wouldn't notice her.
She said that since she was up early with her toddler anyway, it would be a good way for them to get some exercise as well, so she agreed.
The next school day, the neighbor and her little girl set out following behind Timmy as he walked to school with another neighbor girl he knew. She did this for the whole week.
As the two walked and chatted, kicking stones and twigs, Timmy's little friend noticed the same lady was following them as she seemed to do every day all week. Finally she said to Timmy, 'Have you noticed that lady following us to school all week?
Do you know her?'
Timmy nonchalantly replied,
'Yeah, I know who she is.'
The little girl said, 'Well, who is she?'
'That's just Shirley Goodnest,' Timmy replied, 'and her daughter Marcy.'
'Shirley Goodnest? Who the heck is she and why is she following us? '
'Well,' Timmy explained, 'every night my Mom makes me say the 23rd Psalm with my prayers, 'cuz she worries about me so much.
And in the Psalm, it says, 'Shirley Goodnest and Marcy shall follow
me all the days of my life', so I guess I'll just have to get used to it!'
I was on an early morning flight into Pittsburgh. It's the kind where most of the passengers are real veteran flyers, you know, like business people. And wouldn't you know, we got one of those two-for-the-price-of-one landings. Yeah, it's one of those bumpy, bouncy ones. You know? I mean, even with the seasoned flyers aboard, that landing got everyone's heads out of their papers and their briefcases - including mine. I couldn't wait to hear what the flight attendant was going to say. And, fortunately, we got one of the few that could show a sense of humor. He came on and said, "Ladies and gentlemen, now that I have your attention, I'd like to make a few announcements!" That's great! Believe me, after a landing like that, he had our attention!
You may have been experiencing a few bumpy landings lately yourself. It might be medical, or marital, economic, romantic, maybe it's parental issues or relationship issues. You're wondering why things have been so rocky. There could be many reasons, but we know that ultimately God is in charge of things. So, why has He sent or allowed these bumpy landings? Could it be He's trying to get your attention? Maybe if you could hear God's voice audibly right now, you'd hear Him saying, "Now that I have your attention, I'd like to make a few announcements."
One of King David's Psalms in the Old Testament is about how our bumpy landings can serve as spiritual wakeup calls. In our word for today from the Word of God in Psalm 32:1, he says, "Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered...When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer."
David says the best position you can be in in your life is to have all your sins forgiven, your moral mistakes forgiven and cleaned up and to know you're OK with God and that you have a new beginning. But he goes on to say that he wasn't really dealing with the junk that was between him and God until he hit some bumpy landings. Until he started hurting physically, emotionally, until he felt God's heavy hand on him...until he was shot. That's when God got his attention and showed him that he needed to face his sin problem which was the ultimate cause of all his other problems.
It could be God is trying to make the same kind of announcement to you right now. I hope that through your bumpy landings Jesus can finally get your attention. His announcements? Well, things you might otherwise not have listened to or considered. He's using the trouble to say to you things like, "You are not enough, you need something lasting, you've tried it long enough without Me, or I love you so much." And He stands ready to do for you what you have needed and maybe avoided for years - to remove what's between you and the God that you need so much.
Jesus can do that because He absorbed all the guilt and all the hell of all your sin when He paid for it on the cross. And your bumpy landings may be all to bring you to the place that you've missed all these years - that cross where He loved you enough to die for you. All the journey of your life has been to bring you to this moment where you could finally commit yourself to the Savior you were made by, the Savior you were made for, the Savior who loves you so very much. Then you will be able to say as King David did, "Lord, You forgave the guilt of my sin."
Your bumpy landings may have shaken up your life, but only so you would turn your attention to the Son of God so He could finally bring you safely home. by Ron Hutchcraft
FRIENDS:
Father, give us strength as we try to be more like Jesus in our homes. We ask you to keep the evil one away from us; keep us close. Let our homes be testimonies of your love for us, that when people see our homes, they would see how you have loved the world. In Jesus' name, Amen.
DAILY BIBLE CHALLENGE
March 6
Matthew 23:1-12; Romans 5:1-11; Psalms 53; Numbers 12-14
March 7
Matthew 23:13-24; Romans 5:12-21; Psalms 54; Numbers 15-17
March 8
Matthew 23:25-29; Romans 6:1-14; Psalms 55; Numbers 18-20
10 THINGS I AM THANKFUL FOR
1. That my son was not killed today when a chain broke as a huge pit was being lifted up over him and knocked him to the ground
2. The great day I had talking with the grandkids and going shopping with them
3. Being in a huge craft store I used to work in
4. Finding all the ingredients for a Thai dinner
5. Beautiful sunshiny day
6. Working in the kitchen preparing dinner with my grandkids
7. Riding in the car with the grand daughter driving
8. Spending time talking with my son this morning before he went to work
9. Teaching my grand daughter to crochet
10. God granting me a long enough life to see my grand kids growing up
FOOD:
Olive Garden Basil Butter and Shrimp on Pasta
BASIL BUTTER
2 oz Fresh basil leaves (about - 2 bunches
10 oz Butter, softened - (2-1/2 cubes)
1 t Minced garlic
1/4 ts Salt
1/8 ts Black pepper
3 tb Grated Parmesan cheese plus - additional for garnish
1 tb Grated Romano cheese
REST OF DISH
1 lb Fresh Linguine or angel - hair pasta
1 lb Medium shrimp, shelled
Remove any large stems from basil and wash leaves. Shake off
excess water and dry with paper towel.
Place in food processor; process until finely chopped.
Process in two batches if necessary to get a uniformly chopped
basil.
Remove from processor and reserve.
Place butter in small mixer bowl. Using an electric mixer, whip
butter until pliable. Add garlic, salt, pepper, Parmesan and Romano
cheeses, and basil; mix until well incorporated. Basil butter can be used
immediately or stored covered in refrigerator for 3 to 4 days.
Cook pasta according to directions, drain well and keep warm.
Melt basil butter in large skillet over medium heat. Add shrimp and saute'
just until done, about 2 to 3 minutes. Serve over hot cooked pasta. Pass
freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
Makes 4 to 6 servings.
FUN:
A mom was concerned about her kindergarten son walking to school. He didn't want his mother to walk with him. She wanted to give him the feeling that he had some independence but yet know that he was safe.
So she had an idea of how to handle it. She asked a neighbor if she would please follow him to school in the mornings, staying at a distance, so he probably wouldn't notice her.
She said that since she was up early with her toddler anyway, it would be a good way for them to get some exercise as well, so she agreed.
The next school day, the neighbor and her little girl set out following behind Timmy as he walked to school with another neighbor girl he knew. She did this for the whole week.
As the two walked and chatted, kicking stones and twigs, Timmy's little friend noticed the same lady was following them as she seemed to do every day all week. Finally she said to Timmy, 'Have you noticed that lady following us to school all week?
Do you know her?'
Timmy nonchalantly replied,
'Yeah, I know who she is.'
The little girl said, 'Well, who is she?'
'That's just Shirley Goodnest,' Timmy replied, 'and her daughter Marcy.'
'Shirley Goodnest? Who the heck is she and why is she following us? '
'Well,' Timmy explained, 'every night my Mom makes me say the 23rd Psalm with my prayers, 'cuz she worries about me so much.
And in the Psalm, it says, 'Shirley Goodnest and Marcy shall follow
me all the days of my life', so I guess I'll just have to get used to it!'
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