FAITH:
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. John 14:1-3
**Barney has recently been a series of sermons about what Heaven will be like. I have asked several people to write their summation of the series for me. We have also used these sermons as the outline for Bible study time in our individual groups that meet weekly. Here is the first one.
*****************************************
There are still many unanswered questions as to what Heaven is and will be, as well as when we will actually get there.
I believe that God has given us just enough information to keep us curious. As humans we have an overwhelming desire to “know” what lies ahead for us and the loved ones around us. I am convinced that if it were clear to us in the Bible then there would be no need for faith. Humans also need to have “an idea” of what/where we’re going in order to achieve that faith. I believe that God continues to allow us to stay here on earth before taking us home to be with him so that we can grow in our faith and help others around us grow in Christ. This led me to believe that when we get to Heaven we will not all be exactly the same type of heavenly person. Our personal struggles here on earth are similar to other folks but different enough so that we are individuals on earth and also when we get Heaven. These struggles, I believe, are what God has us working on so that when we get to heaven we will all be doing different things, God created us in His own image but not identical.
Probably one of the biggest struggles that occur here is due to the people around us that are not living a Godly life. I believe this is one of the biggest reasons God doesn’t take us up to Heaven the second we accept Him into our hearts as Lord and Savior. I don’t know if I’m justifying this in my own mind but my wife and I have discussed this in great detail since finding out about my Mother to be terminal with cancer. She was supposed to leave this earth over a year ago, according to the doctors, but we believe that God has a plan for the people around her since she is a born again Christian woman.
This also helps me to understand why she has had to suffer so much here when a Godly woman, such as her, does not appear to deserve to suffer so much pain. When I pray for her I truly struggle with asking God to heal her so we can have her here longer or asking God to take her home to be with Him so she can enjoy His grace in person. My only resolve is that He has something or someone here he wants to use her for.
This is a difficult process for my sister to understand since she is not a Christian. She always wants to know why God would do this to our loving Mom. I have tried to explain it to her but she just pushes me away. I am convinced she will understand someday. I just hope it’s not on Judgment Day. All I can do is be a good witness to Christ’s grace and love my unsaved family and friends as God has commanded.
Someday I’ll get to Heaven and be able to have these things answered for me but until then I have to keep my faith in Him and hope that I get to see His hand working in and around me until such time as he takes me Home.
This has been a wonderful eye opening experience that helps us to have a deeper faith in our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus.
by Don Roberts Jr.- Deacon @ Sonoma Ave Church of Christ
FRIENDS:
Father, I need to stop for a moment and focus my eyes on what I can not see. Please help me to have the kind of life that allows me to stand before you with clean hands and a pure heart. I want to spend eternity with you as my glory and light forever. I praise you for your eternal glory that is to come. In Jesus' name, Amen.
DAILY BIBLE CHALLENGE
7. LUKE 15:1-10; 1 TIMOTHY 5:1-15; PROVERBS 7; EZRA 9
8. LUKE 15:11-32; 1 TIMOTHY 5:16-25; PROVERBS 8; EZRA 10
~Nehemiah~ (starts on Friday)
You are about to meet the Abraham Lincoln of the Old Testament. A respected leader with a tender heart. You will see his tears in the oval office as he weeps for people oppressed and vulnerable.
You are about to meet the General George Patton of the Old Testament. A rugged leader. Intolerant of compromise. Relentless in demanding perfection. He punished those who were soft by pushing them down and cursing their names.
You are about to meet the Winston Churchill of the Old Testament. A statesman. Tested and tried. Resisting the enemies who seek to lure him away from the task. Rising above the squabbling factions who could distract him.
The tenderness of Lincoln. The fire of Patton. The savvy of Churchill. All found in the same man. Nehemiah.
When we meet him he is wearing the robe of royalty. He is the king's cupbearer. But though he was in a position of power, his heart beat for people in Israel. He was a Hebrew in Persia. When word reached him that the Temple was being reconstructed, he grew anxious. He knew there was no wall to protect it.
Nehemiah invited God to use him to save the city. God answered his prayer by softening the heart of the Persian king. Artaxerxes gave not only his blessing, but also supplies to be used in the project.
Nehemiah exchanged the royal robe for coveralls and got to work. The project took twelve years and was uphill all the way. He was accused of everything from allowing faulty construction to being power hungry. In spite of grumpy workers and lurking enemies, he made it. With the wall built and the enemy silent, the people rejoiced and Nehemiah went back to Persia.
After twelve years he returned. The walls were strong, but the people had gone to pot. Faith was forgotten and discipline was a bad word. So Nehemiah got busy again.
He went to his closet, hung up his royal robe, bypassed his coveralls, and dusted of his frock and set about the task of teaching the people a few things about morality. He didn't mince words. "I argued with those people, put curses on them, hit some of them, and pulled out their hair" (13:25). Not what you'd call a typical Bible class.
But Nehemiah wasn't what you'd call a typical fellow.
FOOD:
Italian Noodle Medley
8 ounces medium wide egg noodles, uncooked
3 cups (about 28 ounces) spaghetti sauce
2 cups chopped cooked chicken
2 cups (8 ounces) shredded Mozzarella cheese, divided
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Heat oven to 375 degrees F.
Cook noodles according to package directions for 3 minutes;drain.
Meanwhile, in medium saucepan, heat spaghetti sauce and chicken until warm.
In 2 quart casserole, spoon enough sauce to cover bottom. Layer with one half noodles; 2 cups sauce and 1 cup Mozzarella cheese; repeat with remaining noodles, sauce and Mozzarella. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese; bake uncovered, 20 minutes or until hot and bubbly.
Makes 4 servings
FUN:
Very good idea from a reader:
My Mennonite ancestors had a Pickle Trick that kept us entertained as young people. When the cucumbers were growing they would slip them on the vine inside a variety of bottle. The old Ketchup bottles, pop bottles, anything with a thin neck. The cucumber would grow to fill the entire bottle. Then they would pickle it. You had a huge pickle inside a bottle with a skinny neck. To a 5 year old, that was magic. Dale from NV.....
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Monday, August 3, 2009
God In The Driver's Seat
FAITH:
"If you will only obey me and let me help you, then you will have plenty to eat. But if you keep turning away and refusing to listen, you will be destroyed by your enemies. I, the LORD, have spoken!" - Isaiah 1:19-20 (NLT)
Last week as I made my way to the office, I felt a familiar "thud" as the car approached a red light and the automatic transmission down-shifted. It was a symptom I knew all too well, since the same problem three years earlier had necessitated a long and costly rebuild of the transmission. Now with over two-hundred-thousand miles on the odometer and a whole host of other small mechanical problems, I knew it was time to retire this car and start shopping for a new one.
My wife and I discussed which manufacturers we would consider and which we would not. We solicited recommendations from friends and family and spent hours on the Internet reading reviews. Finally, we narrowed the list to two manufacturers. Since each had only two models in our price range, we essentially had two cars from which to choose. I test-drove each one and carefully priced them with the options we needed. We considered safety, reliability and fuel economy. We calculated the monthly payment based on the available interest rate and finally made our choice. I went in to the dealership knowing exactly what I wanted and what I was willing to pay, and gave the salesman one of the quickest and easiest commissions he would ever have. Four days after the first signs of transmission trouble, we had signed the paperwork on a new car.
As I lay in bed that night waiting to fall asleep, I considered how thorough and efficient I had been in choosing the right vehicle for our family's needs. I had not succumbed to emotion, nor had I impulsively purchased the first good deal I found. No, I had made a very well-educated and informed decision. "What a smart and responsible man I am", I thought.
Just then, I heard the small voice which I have come to recognize as the Holy Spirit. He whispered, "You never asked me what I wanted you to do."
I immediately felt convicted and ashamed. It was true! During the entire four days, I had not even once stopped to pray and ask God which car was right for us. I never asked for His guidance or assistance. I never even asked God if we should be buying a new car at all. Worse still, I never thanked Him for allowing us to have the ability to buy a new car at a time when so many others are suffering financially. For four days, I never once spoke to God about the situation even though it was the most important issue on my mind at the time. I simply forged ahead, relying on my own limited judgment to guide me.
I should know better. In the three years that I have been publishing devotionals, I have written frequently about the need for relying on God, surrendering to His will and allowing Him to be in control of everything we do. Yet, here I had a perfect opportunity to put these concepts into action and failed miserably. As a result, I may never know what God intended to give us or what consequences we might face as a result of not seeking His will. I don't believe that God punishes us each time we wrestle with Him for control over a situation. No, he does something much worse - He leaves us to our fate and permits us to bear the full brunt of all the consequences of our choice.
We must not make the mistake of thinking that surrendering to God is something we do once and never again. Total surrender to God is not a state of being which we can achieve and then ignore. It is a moment by moment way of living that we must practice every day of our lives. Some are better at it than others, though with practice, each of us can become more experienced at living this way. Yet, even those who have become very good at daily surrender still need to put it into action at every opportunity.
We should not think that surrender is an abstract, intangible concert with little practical application to our daily lives. Every choice you make, no matter how small, presents a real opportunity for you to surrender your desires to God and to seek His will. The practical application is this - before you contemplate the decision before you, pause for a moment and speak with God about the issue at hand. With every choice, there will be something you desire and something you do not. Tell God that what you want is not as important as His will and that you will accept and embrace His will, even if it is not what you desire for yourself. Next, ask God to reveal His will to you. Pray for the wisdom and discernment to know what direction He would have you take. Ask Him to reveal the paths you should follow, and hide those which you should not.
Once you have done all this, take some quiet time alone and carefully listen for God to speak to you about the issue. Be patient, and await the arrival of that sense of peace which informs us that we have understood the message which God is trying to convey. Do not act until you have that peace to guide you unless the matter is urgent and you need to move quickly. Even then, do not act until you have at least taken a few moments to call upon God and request His help.
All of these I failed to do as I considered my purchase. It would have taken mere moments for me to spend some time in prayer, but I was too wrapped up in my own cleverness and my own desires for a new car suited to my liking. Thankfully, today and tomorrow will present new opportunities for me to surrender, and hopefully I will have learned my lesson. I also hope that each of you can learn from my mistakes, and that you will be able to recognize your own opportunities to surrender to Him. by Michael Lane
FRIENDS:
Father, keep pressing us to trust you more. Keep pressing us to have faith in You and to keep looking to You during our struggles. Forgive us when we give up. Forgive us for thinking that You have given up on us. We know Lord that you are faithful to us. In Jesus' name, Amen.
DAILY BIBLE CHALLENGE
5. LUKE 14:15-24; 1 TIMOTHY 3:11-16; PROVERBS 5; EZRA 7
6. LUKE 14:25-35; 1 TIMOTHY 4; PROVERBS 6; EZRA 8
FOOD:
Pho in a Slow Cooker
This wonderful soup dish is from Vietnam and it is pronounced (Fu as in the beginning of the word Fun)
--6 cups beef broth or stock (purchased stock is just fine)
--2 inch chunk of ginger (I just read that author of the recipe said to use 1/4-1/2 inch of peeled ginger. oops. I didn't peel and just threw a hunk in)
--3/4 t anise (go easy on this one)
--1 cinnamon stick (I don't know if I would use this or not)
--2 sliced green onions
--1 lb thin sliced beef (I used stir-fry meat from the butcher)
--package of rice noodles (usually in the ethnic aisle in the grocery store)
--1 t fish sauce (anchovies, salt, water. ethnic aisle again. it is very important to the dish and cheap to buy)
--1/2 t kosher salt
--1/2 t black pepper
The Directions.
Put all of the broth into the crock pot. Add the meat, green onion, ginger, fish sauce, and spices. Cover and cook on high for 3-4 hours, or on low for 4-6. It's done when the meat is fully cooked. I used a 6qt Smart Pot for this recipe and it took a good 4 hours on high for the large amount of broth in my crock to get hot enough to cook the meat.
15 minutes before serving, add the entire package of rice noodles to the pot. Push them under the liquid with a wooden spoon, and cover.
By the time you set the table, the noodles will be tender and glass-like. Serve in bowls.Traditionally this is served with bean sprouts, fresh cilantro or basil, sliced jalapenos, and lime wedges.
The Verdict.
This has a very nice mellow flavor. I loved the hint of anise (tastes like black licorice) and the cinnamon. I needed to add more salt because I used the homemade stock as the base. My husband said it tasted the same as the restaurant's, but not as oily or as salty.
The next day the flavors were even more pronounced (but the noodles got weird. Next time I'm not going to add all the noodles at once) and made a lovely lunch.
**Penni's note - Being a great fan of Pho I would cook my noodles separately and add them to the soup as it was being served. I would not add to the crock pot at all.
Also I would go easy on the cinnamon and anise unless you are sure there are flavors you like. They will over power quickly.
FUN:
I was just saying the other day that the younger generations do not know how to make change without the aid of a register telling them how much change to give back. Well it seems the problem is worse than I thought:
My daughter and I went through the McDonald's take-out window and I gave the clerk a $5 bill. Our total was $4.25, so I also handed her a quarter. She said, 'You gave me too much money.' I said, 'Yes I know, but this way you can just give me a dollar bill back.' She sighed and went to get the manager who asked me to repeat my request.
I did so, and he handed me back the quarter, and said 'We're sorry but we cannot do that kind of thing.' The clerk then proceeded to give me back $1 and 75 cents in change..
Do not confuse the clerks at McD's.
"If you will only obey me and let me help you, then you will have plenty to eat. But if you keep turning away and refusing to listen, you will be destroyed by your enemies. I, the LORD, have spoken!" - Isaiah 1:19-20 (NLT)
Last week as I made my way to the office, I felt a familiar "thud" as the car approached a red light and the automatic transmission down-shifted. It was a symptom I knew all too well, since the same problem three years earlier had necessitated a long and costly rebuild of the transmission. Now with over two-hundred-thousand miles on the odometer and a whole host of other small mechanical problems, I knew it was time to retire this car and start shopping for a new one.
My wife and I discussed which manufacturers we would consider and which we would not. We solicited recommendations from friends and family and spent hours on the Internet reading reviews. Finally, we narrowed the list to two manufacturers. Since each had only two models in our price range, we essentially had two cars from which to choose. I test-drove each one and carefully priced them with the options we needed. We considered safety, reliability and fuel economy. We calculated the monthly payment based on the available interest rate and finally made our choice. I went in to the dealership knowing exactly what I wanted and what I was willing to pay, and gave the salesman one of the quickest and easiest commissions he would ever have. Four days after the first signs of transmission trouble, we had signed the paperwork on a new car.
As I lay in bed that night waiting to fall asleep, I considered how thorough and efficient I had been in choosing the right vehicle for our family's needs. I had not succumbed to emotion, nor had I impulsively purchased the first good deal I found. No, I had made a very well-educated and informed decision. "What a smart and responsible man I am", I thought.
Just then, I heard the small voice which I have come to recognize as the Holy Spirit. He whispered, "You never asked me what I wanted you to do."
I immediately felt convicted and ashamed. It was true! During the entire four days, I had not even once stopped to pray and ask God which car was right for us. I never asked for His guidance or assistance. I never even asked God if we should be buying a new car at all. Worse still, I never thanked Him for allowing us to have the ability to buy a new car at a time when so many others are suffering financially. For four days, I never once spoke to God about the situation even though it was the most important issue on my mind at the time. I simply forged ahead, relying on my own limited judgment to guide me.
I should know better. In the three years that I have been publishing devotionals, I have written frequently about the need for relying on God, surrendering to His will and allowing Him to be in control of everything we do. Yet, here I had a perfect opportunity to put these concepts into action and failed miserably. As a result, I may never know what God intended to give us or what consequences we might face as a result of not seeking His will. I don't believe that God punishes us each time we wrestle with Him for control over a situation. No, he does something much worse - He leaves us to our fate and permits us to bear the full brunt of all the consequences of our choice.
We must not make the mistake of thinking that surrendering to God is something we do once and never again. Total surrender to God is not a state of being which we can achieve and then ignore. It is a moment by moment way of living that we must practice every day of our lives. Some are better at it than others, though with practice, each of us can become more experienced at living this way. Yet, even those who have become very good at daily surrender still need to put it into action at every opportunity.
We should not think that surrender is an abstract, intangible concert with little practical application to our daily lives. Every choice you make, no matter how small, presents a real opportunity for you to surrender your desires to God and to seek His will. The practical application is this - before you contemplate the decision before you, pause for a moment and speak with God about the issue at hand. With every choice, there will be something you desire and something you do not. Tell God that what you want is not as important as His will and that you will accept and embrace His will, even if it is not what you desire for yourself. Next, ask God to reveal His will to you. Pray for the wisdom and discernment to know what direction He would have you take. Ask Him to reveal the paths you should follow, and hide those which you should not.
Once you have done all this, take some quiet time alone and carefully listen for God to speak to you about the issue. Be patient, and await the arrival of that sense of peace which informs us that we have understood the message which God is trying to convey. Do not act until you have that peace to guide you unless the matter is urgent and you need to move quickly. Even then, do not act until you have at least taken a few moments to call upon God and request His help.
All of these I failed to do as I considered my purchase. It would have taken mere moments for me to spend some time in prayer, but I was too wrapped up in my own cleverness and my own desires for a new car suited to my liking. Thankfully, today and tomorrow will present new opportunities for me to surrender, and hopefully I will have learned my lesson. I also hope that each of you can learn from my mistakes, and that you will be able to recognize your own opportunities to surrender to Him. by Michael Lane
FRIENDS:
Father, keep pressing us to trust you more. Keep pressing us to have faith in You and to keep looking to You during our struggles. Forgive us when we give up. Forgive us for thinking that You have given up on us. We know Lord that you are faithful to us. In Jesus' name, Amen.
DAILY BIBLE CHALLENGE
5. LUKE 14:15-24; 1 TIMOTHY 3:11-16; PROVERBS 5; EZRA 7
6. LUKE 14:25-35; 1 TIMOTHY 4; PROVERBS 6; EZRA 8
FOOD:
Pho in a Slow Cooker
This wonderful soup dish is from Vietnam and it is pronounced (Fu as in the beginning of the word Fun)
--6 cups beef broth or stock (purchased stock is just fine)
--2 inch chunk of ginger (I just read that author of the recipe said to use 1/4-1/2 inch of peeled ginger. oops. I didn't peel and just threw a hunk in)
--3/4 t anise (go easy on this one)
--1 cinnamon stick (I don't know if I would use this or not)
--2 sliced green onions
--1 lb thin sliced beef (I used stir-fry meat from the butcher)
--package of rice noodles (usually in the ethnic aisle in the grocery store)
--1 t fish sauce (anchovies, salt, water. ethnic aisle again. it is very important to the dish and cheap to buy)
--1/2 t kosher salt
--1/2 t black pepper
The Directions.
Put all of the broth into the crock pot. Add the meat, green onion, ginger, fish sauce, and spices. Cover and cook on high for 3-4 hours, or on low for 4-6. It's done when the meat is fully cooked. I used a 6qt Smart Pot for this recipe and it took a good 4 hours on high for the large amount of broth in my crock to get hot enough to cook the meat.
15 minutes before serving, add the entire package of rice noodles to the pot. Push them under the liquid with a wooden spoon, and cover.
By the time you set the table, the noodles will be tender and glass-like. Serve in bowls.Traditionally this is served with bean sprouts, fresh cilantro or basil, sliced jalapenos, and lime wedges.
The Verdict.
This has a very nice mellow flavor. I loved the hint of anise (tastes like black licorice) and the cinnamon. I needed to add more salt because I used the homemade stock as the base. My husband said it tasted the same as the restaurant's, but not as oily or as salty.
The next day the flavors were even more pronounced (but the noodles got weird. Next time I'm not going to add all the noodles at once) and made a lovely lunch.
**Penni's note - Being a great fan of Pho I would cook my noodles separately and add them to the soup as it was being served. I would not add to the crock pot at all.
Also I would go easy on the cinnamon and anise unless you are sure there are flavors you like. They will over power quickly.
FUN:
I was just saying the other day that the younger generations do not know how to make change without the aid of a register telling them how much change to give back. Well it seems the problem is worse than I thought:
My daughter and I went through the McDonald's take-out window and I gave the clerk a $5 bill. Our total was $4.25, so I also handed her a quarter. She said, 'You gave me too much money.' I said, 'Yes I know, but this way you can just give me a dollar bill back.' She sighed and went to get the manager who asked me to repeat my request.
I did so, and he handed me back the quarter, and said 'We're sorry but we cannot do that kind of thing.' The clerk then proceeded to give me back $1 and 75 cents in change..
Do not confuse the clerks at McD's.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
My Success is About Him
FAITH:
With success comes a problem. Just ask Nadab, Elah, and Omri. Or interview Ahab, Ahaziah, or Jehoram. Ask these men to describe the problem of success. I would, you might be thinking, if I knew who they were. My point, exactly. These are men we should know. They were kings of Israel. They ascended to the throne...but something about the throne brought them down. Their legacies are stained with blood spilling and idol worship. They failed at success. They forgot both the source and purpose of their success.
You won't be offered a throne, but you might be offered a corner office, a scholarship, an award, a new contract, a pay raise. You won't be given a kingdom to oversee, but you might be given a home or employees or students or money or resources. You will, to one degree or another, succeed.
And when you do, you might be tempted to forget who helped you do so. Success sabotages the memories of the successful. Kings of the mountain forget who carried them up the trail.
The man who begged for help in medical school ten years ago is too busy to worship today. Back when the family struggled to make ends meet, they leaned on God for daily bread. Now that there is an extra car in the garage and a jingle in the pocket, they haven't spoken to him in a while. In the early days of the church, the foundingmembers spent hours in prayer. Today the church is large, well attended, well funded. Who needs to pray?
Success begets amnesia. Doesn't have to, however. God offers spiritual ginseng to help your memory. His prescription is simply, "Know the purpose of success." Why did God help you succeed? So you can make him known.
Why are you good at what you do? For your comfort? For your retirement? For your self-esteem? No. Deem these as bonuses, not as the reason. Why are you good at what you do? For God's sake. Your success is not about what you do. It's all about him--his present and future glory.
by Max Lucado
FRIENDS:
Father, We give thanks to You and we trust you and we feed on the truth. We know when we ask you will meet our needs, not our desires and for this we are thankful as Your understanding of our needs may be different from ours. We know you will supply us according to Your riches. We trust in You, Lord, and we look upon your supply with gratitude. In Jesus' name, Amen.
DAILY BIBLE CHALLENGE
3. Luke 13:22-35; 1 Timothy 2; Proverbs 3; Ezra 4-5
4. Luke 14:1-14; 3:1-10; Proverbs 4; Ezra 6
!0 Things To Be Thankful For
1. Vacation pictures
2. A cool night breeze just as it gets dark
3. An evening playing bingo with friends
4. Friends who encourage you
5. Healing from asked and answered prayer
6. Friends that just drop by
7. Driving to the ocean for dinner
8. The smell of a meal cooked outdoors
9. Finding the right size at the right price
10. Loving your church
FOOD:
HINTS
Famed chef Julia Child preferred to call them “remains of the day.” To the rest of us, they’re just leftovers. It’s a term that can mean anything from half a pan of lasagna to a dab of mashed potatoes that sit in the ‘fridge until they turn green, at which time we feel a lot better about throwing them away. These days, that’s like throwing cash in the garbage.
The secret to stretching the food dollars is to find a delicious use for every last bit of what you buy. You need to see all leftovers as ingredients for new dishes, not just multiple go-rounds of the same thing in an effort to get rid of it. Here are some ideas that have helped me to see leftovers in a new way:
Coffee. Freeze leftover coffee in cubes to cool off hot coffee. Add black coffee to pot roast to create rich, brown gravy.
Halloween or Easter candy. Take all the chocolate candy and break it up into little pieces. Place the pieces into a zip-type bag. Many recipes call for a cup to a cup and a half of chocolate morsels. Use these to replace the morsels. Freeze until ready to use.
Cooked Ham. Brown the last bits of cooked ham in a small amount of butter or margarine in a skillet. Beat a few eggs with water or milk and grated cheese, if desired. Pour scrambled egg mixture into skillet with ham. Cook, as usual, over low heat.
Another option for ham is to thread chunks of it onto skewers, alternating with fresh pineapple chunks and squares of sweet red or green bell pepper. Brush kebabs with butter and grill until browned. Serve with rice and fresh asparagus.
Ground Ham. Mix together cooked ground ham, cold mashed potatoes and seasonings. Shape into oval cakes and roll in flour. Sauté in hot fat until brown on all sides.
Meatballs. Slice meatballs. Sauté bell pepper strips until crisp-tender. Add the meatball slices to skillet. Heat through. Use as a sandwich filling in French or Italian bread, adding warmed spaghetti sauce as desired.
Salmon. Combine chunks of salmon with chopped sweet pickles and diced onions for a great sandwich filling.
Spaghetti. Chop up cold pasta. Add diced raw vegetables and enough bottled Italian dressing to coat for a wonderful salad.
Biscuits. Split in half and spread each cut side with butter. Sprinkle with garlic powder, parsley, dill weed and shredded cheese. Bake at 400 F until the cheese is melted.
Cereal. Even if it has become stale, crush the cereal well. Dip chicken pieces into egg wash (one or two eggs beaten with a few teaspoons of water). Then, roll meat in crushed cereal. Bake according to your favorite oven-baked chicken recipe.
Chili. Reheat and spoon over cooked hamburger patties. Top with shredded Monterey jack cheese and sour cream. Or, warm leftover chili and spoon into taco shells. Add shredded cheese, shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes and sour cream.
Oatmeal. Add cooked oatmeal to pancake or muffin batter.
Pancakes. Sprinkle with a cinnamon-sugar mixture. Then roll up and eat.
Roast beef. Put into a crock-pot with some canned green chilies, cumin, garlic, and a little water. Cook until the beef is easily shredded. Then, use as a taco or burrito filling.
Taco meat. Put a layer of tater tots in a baking dish. Bake according to package instructions. Top with taco meat and mozzarella cheese. Bake until the meat is heated through and the cheese is melted.
Turkey. Combine turkey, gravy and dressing. Put into a greased baking dish and bake at 350 F until golden.
Wine. Freeze leftover wine into ice cubes for future use in casseroles and sauces.
So, are you getting the idea? Instead of trying to pawn off last night’s green beans or yesterday’s chicken, think of those things as ingredients in a new dish. No one will be the wiser while you become a kitchen magician.
FUN:
CURTAIN RODS----PRICELESS
She spent the first day packing her belongings into boxes, crates and suitcases.
On the second day, she had the movers come and collect her things.
On the third day, she sat down for the last time at their beautiful dining room table by candle-light, put on some soft background music, and feasted on a pound of shrimp, a jar of caviar, and a bottle of spring-water.
When she had finished, she went into each and every room and deposited a few half-eaten shrimp shells dipped in caviar into the hollow of the curtain rods.
She then cleaned up the kitchen and left. When the husband returned with his new girlfriend, all was bliss for the first few days. Then slowly, the house began to smell.
They tried everything; cleaning, mopping and airing the place out. Vents were checked for dead rodents and carpets were steam cleaned.
Air fresheners were hung everywhere. Exterminators were brought in to set off gas canisters, during which they had to move out for a few days and in the end they even paid to replace the expensive wool carpeting.
Nothing worked!!!
People stopped coming over to visit. Repairmen refused to work in the house.
The maid quit..
Finally, they could not take the stench any longer and decided to move.
A month later, even though they had cut their price in half, they could not find a buyer for their stinky house.
Word got out and eventually even the local realtors refused to return their calls.
Finally, they had to borrow a huge sum of money from the bank to purchase a new place.
The ex-wife called the man and asked how things were going. He told her the saga of the rotting house. She listened politely and said that she missed her old home terribly and would be willing to reduce her divorce settlement in exchange for getting the house back.
Knowing his ex-wife had no idea how bad the smell was, he agreed on a price that was about 1/10th of what the house had been worth, but only if she were to sign the papers that very day.
She agreed and within the hour his lawyers delivered the paperwork.
A week later the man and his girlfriend stood smiling as they watched the moving company pack everything to take to their new home..........
And to spite the ex-wife, they even took the curtain rods!!!!!!
I JUST LOVE A HAPPY ENDING, DON'T YOU ???
With success comes a problem. Just ask Nadab, Elah, and Omri. Or interview Ahab, Ahaziah, or Jehoram. Ask these men to describe the problem of success. I would, you might be thinking, if I knew who they were. My point, exactly. These are men we should know. They were kings of Israel. They ascended to the throne...but something about the throne brought them down. Their legacies are stained with blood spilling and idol worship. They failed at success. They forgot both the source and purpose of their success.
You won't be offered a throne, but you might be offered a corner office, a scholarship, an award, a new contract, a pay raise. You won't be given a kingdom to oversee, but you might be given a home or employees or students or money or resources. You will, to one degree or another, succeed.
And when you do, you might be tempted to forget who helped you do so. Success sabotages the memories of the successful. Kings of the mountain forget who carried them up the trail.
The man who begged for help in medical school ten years ago is too busy to worship today. Back when the family struggled to make ends meet, they leaned on God for daily bread. Now that there is an extra car in the garage and a jingle in the pocket, they haven't spoken to him in a while. In the early days of the church, the foundingmembers spent hours in prayer. Today the church is large, well attended, well funded. Who needs to pray?
Success begets amnesia. Doesn't have to, however. God offers spiritual ginseng to help your memory. His prescription is simply, "Know the purpose of success." Why did God help you succeed? So you can make him known.
Why are you good at what you do? For your comfort? For your retirement? For your self-esteem? No. Deem these as bonuses, not as the reason. Why are you good at what you do? For God's sake. Your success is not about what you do. It's all about him--his present and future glory.
by Max Lucado
FRIENDS:
Father, We give thanks to You and we trust you and we feed on the truth. We know when we ask you will meet our needs, not our desires and for this we are thankful as Your understanding of our needs may be different from ours. We know you will supply us according to Your riches. We trust in You, Lord, and we look upon your supply with gratitude. In Jesus' name, Amen.
DAILY BIBLE CHALLENGE
3. Luke 13:22-35; 1 Timothy 2; Proverbs 3; Ezra 4-5
4. Luke 14:1-14; 3:1-10; Proverbs 4; Ezra 6
!0 Things To Be Thankful For
1. Vacation pictures
2. A cool night breeze just as it gets dark
3. An evening playing bingo with friends
4. Friends who encourage you
5. Healing from asked and answered prayer
6. Friends that just drop by
7. Driving to the ocean for dinner
8. The smell of a meal cooked outdoors
9. Finding the right size at the right price
10. Loving your church
FOOD:
HINTS
Famed chef Julia Child preferred to call them “remains of the day.” To the rest of us, they’re just leftovers. It’s a term that can mean anything from half a pan of lasagna to a dab of mashed potatoes that sit in the ‘fridge until they turn green, at which time we feel a lot better about throwing them away. These days, that’s like throwing cash in the garbage.
The secret to stretching the food dollars is to find a delicious use for every last bit of what you buy. You need to see all leftovers as ingredients for new dishes, not just multiple go-rounds of the same thing in an effort to get rid of it. Here are some ideas that have helped me to see leftovers in a new way:
Coffee. Freeze leftover coffee in cubes to cool off hot coffee. Add black coffee to pot roast to create rich, brown gravy.
Halloween or Easter candy. Take all the chocolate candy and break it up into little pieces. Place the pieces into a zip-type bag. Many recipes call for a cup to a cup and a half of chocolate morsels. Use these to replace the morsels. Freeze until ready to use.
Cooked Ham. Brown the last bits of cooked ham in a small amount of butter or margarine in a skillet. Beat a few eggs with water or milk and grated cheese, if desired. Pour scrambled egg mixture into skillet with ham. Cook, as usual, over low heat.
Another option for ham is to thread chunks of it onto skewers, alternating with fresh pineapple chunks and squares of sweet red or green bell pepper. Brush kebabs with butter and grill until browned. Serve with rice and fresh asparagus.
Ground Ham. Mix together cooked ground ham, cold mashed potatoes and seasonings. Shape into oval cakes and roll in flour. Sauté in hot fat until brown on all sides.
Meatballs. Slice meatballs. Sauté bell pepper strips until crisp-tender. Add the meatball slices to skillet. Heat through. Use as a sandwich filling in French or Italian bread, adding warmed spaghetti sauce as desired.
Salmon. Combine chunks of salmon with chopped sweet pickles and diced onions for a great sandwich filling.
Spaghetti. Chop up cold pasta. Add diced raw vegetables and enough bottled Italian dressing to coat for a wonderful salad.
Biscuits. Split in half and spread each cut side with butter. Sprinkle with garlic powder, parsley, dill weed and shredded cheese. Bake at 400 F until the cheese is melted.
Cereal. Even if it has become stale, crush the cereal well. Dip chicken pieces into egg wash (one or two eggs beaten with a few teaspoons of water). Then, roll meat in crushed cereal. Bake according to your favorite oven-baked chicken recipe.
Chili. Reheat and spoon over cooked hamburger patties. Top with shredded Monterey jack cheese and sour cream. Or, warm leftover chili and spoon into taco shells. Add shredded cheese, shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes and sour cream.
Oatmeal. Add cooked oatmeal to pancake or muffin batter.
Pancakes. Sprinkle with a cinnamon-sugar mixture. Then roll up and eat.
Roast beef. Put into a crock-pot with some canned green chilies, cumin, garlic, and a little water. Cook until the beef is easily shredded. Then, use as a taco or burrito filling.
Taco meat. Put a layer of tater tots in a baking dish. Bake according to package instructions. Top with taco meat and mozzarella cheese. Bake until the meat is heated through and the cheese is melted.
Turkey. Combine turkey, gravy and dressing. Put into a greased baking dish and bake at 350 F until golden.
Wine. Freeze leftover wine into ice cubes for future use in casseroles and sauces.
So, are you getting the idea? Instead of trying to pawn off last night’s green beans or yesterday’s chicken, think of those things as ingredients in a new dish. No one will be the wiser while you become a kitchen magician.
FUN:
CURTAIN RODS----PRICELESS
She spent the first day packing her belongings into boxes, crates and suitcases.
On the second day, she had the movers come and collect her things.
On the third day, she sat down for the last time at their beautiful dining room table by candle-light, put on some soft background music, and feasted on a pound of shrimp, a jar of caviar, and a bottle of spring-water.
When she had finished, she went into each and every room and deposited a few half-eaten shrimp shells dipped in caviar into the hollow of the curtain rods.
She then cleaned up the kitchen and left. When the husband returned with his new girlfriend, all was bliss for the first few days. Then slowly, the house began to smell.
They tried everything; cleaning, mopping and airing the place out. Vents were checked for dead rodents and carpets were steam cleaned.
Air fresheners were hung everywhere. Exterminators were brought in to set off gas canisters, during which they had to move out for a few days and in the end they even paid to replace the expensive wool carpeting.
Nothing worked!!!
People stopped coming over to visit. Repairmen refused to work in the house.
The maid quit..
Finally, they could not take the stench any longer and decided to move.
A month later, even though they had cut their price in half, they could not find a buyer for their stinky house.
Word got out and eventually even the local realtors refused to return their calls.
Finally, they had to borrow a huge sum of money from the bank to purchase a new place.
The ex-wife called the man and asked how things were going. He told her the saga of the rotting house. She listened politely and said that she missed her old home terribly and would be willing to reduce her divorce settlement in exchange for getting the house back.
Knowing his ex-wife had no idea how bad the smell was, he agreed on a price that was about 1/10th of what the house had been worth, but only if she were to sign the papers that very day.
She agreed and within the hour his lawyers delivered the paperwork.
A week later the man and his girlfriend stood smiling as they watched the moving company pack everything to take to their new home..........
And to spite the ex-wife, they even took the curtain rods!!!!!!
I JUST LOVE A HAPPY ENDING, DON'T YOU ???
Thursday, July 30, 2009
What is your Time bandit?
FAITH:
Ecclesiastes 3:1-5:17
The author gives insights on values. He encourages the reader to use time wisely by making right choices.
God has planned a time for everything and every action. Our choices should reflect what we value.
The central principle of all personal organization of time is simple: time must be budgeted!
Most of us learned this about money a long time ago. When we discovered that we rarely had enough money to do all the things we wanted to do with it, we found it prudent to sit down and think through our financial priorities.
When money is limited, one budgets. And when time is in limited supply, the same principle holds. The disorganized person must have a budgeting perspective. And that means determining the difference between the fixed--what one must do and the discretionary---what one would like to do.
Years ago my father wisely shared with me that one of the great tests of human character is found in making critical choices of selection and rejection amidst all of the opportunities that lurk in life's path. "Your challenge," he told me, " will not be in separating out the good from the bad, but in grabbing the best out of all the possible good." He was absolutely correct. I did indeed have to learn, sometimes the hard way, that I had to say no to things I really wanted to do in order to say yes to the very best things.
Heeding that counsel has meant saying an occasional no to dinner parties and sporting events on Saturday night so that I could be fresh mentally and physically on Sunday morning. It has meant saying no to certain speaking dates when I really wanted to say yes.
Sometimes I find such choices hard to make, simply because I like people to approve of me. When a person learns to say no to good things, he runs the risk of making enemies and gaining critics; and who needs more of those? So I find it hard to say no.
I have discovered that most people whose lives are centered on forms of leadership have the same problem. But if we are to command our time, we will have to bite the bullet and say a firm but courteous no to opportunities that are good but not the best.
Once again that demands, as it did in the ministry of our Lord, a sense of our mission. What are we called to do? What do we do best with our time? What are the necessities without which we cannot get along? Everything else has to be considered negotiable: discretionary, not necessary.
by Gordon MacDonald
Applying it: Reflect on your use of time. What activities require more time than they are worth? What relationships could use a bigger time investment? How could you use time with your family better? After you evaluate your schedule, reorganize it so that it accurately reflects your priorities.
Exploring it: Decisions---Exodus 4:1; Ruth 2:20; Psalms 119:105,133
FRIENDS:
Father, could I be any more convicted than I am today about the use of my time? You have given each of us just so many days and at the end I want to turn to you and have you say "well done good and faithful Servant".
Help me to be a wise steward of my time as well as my finances. Help me to live in such a way as to glorify Your holy name in both word and deed. Without You I can do nothing. In Jesus' name, Amen.
DAILY BIBLE CHALLENGE ~AUGUST~
1. Luke 13:1-9; 1 Timothy 1:1-11; Proverbs 1; Ezra 1-2
2. Luke 13:10-21; 1 Timothy 1:12-20; Proverbs 2; Ezra 3
10 Things To Be Thankful For
1. The fragrance of a rose
2. The taste of fresh berries
3. Being able to forgive someone
4. Swimming on a hot day
5. Being content with what you have
6. Uproarious laughter with someone you love
7. Getting a "thinking of you" card for no reason
8. A quiet time to replenish your Spirit
9. Engagements
10. New babies
FOOD:
POCKETS OF LEMON CAKE
TOPPING
1 Can Pillsbury Lemon Frosting
1 8 oz. Carton Cool Whip, thawed
CAKE
1 Pkg Pilsbury white cake mix
1 ¼ C. water
1/3 C. oil
4 Egg whites
1 Can (15.75oz) lemon pie filling
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare 13"x9" cake pan, grease and flour or spray with Crisco No stick cooking spray. Prepare cake mix as directed on package, using water, oil and egg whites. Spread batter in prepared pan. Drop pie filling by heaping teaspoonfuls evenly over the batter. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes or until the edges pull away from pan and top is golden brown. Allow cake to cool in pan for 45 minutes or until completely cooled. In medium bowl, combine frosting and cool whip blend well. Spread over cooled cake. Best if served chilled. Store loosely covered in refrigerator. Yield: 16 servings
FUN:
Pilot: Control tower, what time is it?
Control tower: What airline is this?
Pilot: What difference does that make?
Control tower: Well if it is UA, it is 6:00p.m.; if it is TWA, it is 1800 hours; if it is Ozark, the big hand is on the…..”
Ecclesiastes 3:1-5:17
The author gives insights on values. He encourages the reader to use time wisely by making right choices.
God has planned a time for everything and every action. Our choices should reflect what we value.
The central principle of all personal organization of time is simple: time must be budgeted!
Most of us learned this about money a long time ago. When we discovered that we rarely had enough money to do all the things we wanted to do with it, we found it prudent to sit down and think through our financial priorities.
When money is limited, one budgets. And when time is in limited supply, the same principle holds. The disorganized person must have a budgeting perspective. And that means determining the difference between the fixed--what one must do and the discretionary---what one would like to do.
Years ago my father wisely shared with me that one of the great tests of human character is found in making critical choices of selection and rejection amidst all of the opportunities that lurk in life's path. "Your challenge," he told me, " will not be in separating out the good from the bad, but in grabbing the best out of all the possible good." He was absolutely correct. I did indeed have to learn, sometimes the hard way, that I had to say no to things I really wanted to do in order to say yes to the very best things.
Heeding that counsel has meant saying an occasional no to dinner parties and sporting events on Saturday night so that I could be fresh mentally and physically on Sunday morning. It has meant saying no to certain speaking dates when I really wanted to say yes.
Sometimes I find such choices hard to make, simply because I like people to approve of me. When a person learns to say no to good things, he runs the risk of making enemies and gaining critics; and who needs more of those? So I find it hard to say no.
I have discovered that most people whose lives are centered on forms of leadership have the same problem. But if we are to command our time, we will have to bite the bullet and say a firm but courteous no to opportunities that are good but not the best.
Once again that demands, as it did in the ministry of our Lord, a sense of our mission. What are we called to do? What do we do best with our time? What are the necessities without which we cannot get along? Everything else has to be considered negotiable: discretionary, not necessary.
by Gordon MacDonald
Applying it: Reflect on your use of time. What activities require more time than they are worth? What relationships could use a bigger time investment? How could you use time with your family better? After you evaluate your schedule, reorganize it so that it accurately reflects your priorities.
Exploring it: Decisions---Exodus 4:1; Ruth 2:20; Psalms 119:105,133
FRIENDS:
Father, could I be any more convicted than I am today about the use of my time? You have given each of us just so many days and at the end I want to turn to you and have you say "well done good and faithful Servant".
Help me to be a wise steward of my time as well as my finances. Help me to live in such a way as to glorify Your holy name in both word and deed. Without You I can do nothing. In Jesus' name, Amen.
DAILY BIBLE CHALLENGE ~AUGUST~
1. Luke 13:1-9; 1 Timothy 1:1-11; Proverbs 1; Ezra 1-2
2. Luke 13:10-21; 1 Timothy 1:12-20; Proverbs 2; Ezra 3
10 Things To Be Thankful For
1. The fragrance of a rose
2. The taste of fresh berries
3. Being able to forgive someone
4. Swimming on a hot day
5. Being content with what you have
6. Uproarious laughter with someone you love
7. Getting a "thinking of you" card for no reason
8. A quiet time to replenish your Spirit
9. Engagements
10. New babies
FOOD:
POCKETS OF LEMON CAKE
TOPPING
1 Can Pillsbury Lemon Frosting
1 8 oz. Carton Cool Whip, thawed
CAKE
1 Pkg Pilsbury white cake mix
1 ¼ C. water
1/3 C. oil
4 Egg whites
1 Can (15.75oz) lemon pie filling
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare 13"x9" cake pan, grease and flour or spray with Crisco No stick cooking spray. Prepare cake mix as directed on package, using water, oil and egg whites. Spread batter in prepared pan. Drop pie filling by heaping teaspoonfuls evenly over the batter. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes or until the edges pull away from pan and top is golden brown. Allow cake to cool in pan for 45 minutes or until completely cooled. In medium bowl, combine frosting and cool whip blend well. Spread over cooled cake. Best if served chilled. Store loosely covered in refrigerator. Yield: 16 servings
FUN:
Pilot: Control tower, what time is it?
Control tower: What airline is this?
Pilot: What difference does that make?
Control tower: Well if it is UA, it is 6:00p.m.; if it is TWA, it is 1800 hours; if it is Ozark, the big hand is on the…..”
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Christian Incivility-Kinda Sounds like FUN!
FAITH:
Last weekend the church parking lot was flooded by an oppressive sound. A “Baptist” group from Kansas traveled to Las Vegas, NV to give us a piece of their mind. Our church is supportive of our military and our need to protect our borders from Terrorist intrusions. Thus we, people at Central Christian, are godless people, killing innocents in the middle east by way of Collateral Damage. The death of our service persons is “GOD’S” judgment for our self righteous actions of killing others.
WHEW, it hurts inside to even type those hateful, judgmental words. It hurt to have police surrounding the parking lot at church. The sound was so loud that it almost knocked me down when I got out of the car. It frightened my teenaged daughters and my wife. I wanted to go “PULL THEIR PLUG!” They were scaring and judging me and my loved ones.
These “Christians” felt the need to get loud. I like LOUD, I can get loud. Maybe if I loudly reasoned with them, we could find some common ground and go have lunch together. Jesus got loud several times. I want to be like Jesus. Does that justify me getting loud? Maybe the world would be a better place if Christians raised their voice?
What did Jesus do when He encountered disagreeable situations?
When the interested, but immature, listened to His teaching and ate the miraculous meal, they wanted to force Jesus to be an earthly king. Jesus seems to have said thank you and then disappeared. John 6:1-15
When Jewish leaders were argumentative about the possibility of what Jesus said, Jesus made the teaching even more demanding. John 6:26-65
When “JUDGED” by the rulers and power brokers, Jesus called for “righteous judgment” not outward appearance judgment. John 7:1-24
When an adulterous woman was brought by religious zealots to force Jesus to make a harsh judgment, Jesus knelt and calmly dismissed the situation with a reminder to the offender to quit your sinning lifestyle. John 8:1-11
As I read on through John I see times where Jesus would knowingly do things that irritated the ruling religious leaders. He even got firm with them and did some name calling. (You are a liar, like your father the devil!) Then Jesus would duck out and disappear when people wanted to seize and kill Him.
I wish I knew when to just zip it and walk away. I always want to win
Just before the Last Passover Super, prior to Crucifixion, Jesus said, I don’t judge anyone, the words that Jesus spoke are the only judge for the final day of judgment. John 12:44-50
Jesus never organized a public protest against Roman injustices or oppression.
Jesus taught that His kingdom was not of this world. It is a kingdom built on ABSOLUTE TRUTH, truth that is not to be compromised. Truth to shape our hearts and give us solid convictions to live our lives by. Truth that will set us free from a lying world.
Truth worth getting loud over! In celebration YES, in condemning judgment of others, I can’t find it.
I am grateful to be part of a Men’s Group where I have seen grown men nearly go to blows over a few Bible versus. They are intensely committed to Jesus’ truth. Then moments later I have seen these same men literally weep over each other when talking about personal struggles.
The light flashes on for me. God doesn’t need his people to rent a loud sound system to create a public spectacle calling the hypocrites to our convictions.
God is interested in me learning the words, living the words and sharing the words in personal intensely honest, non judgmental ways. God wants me liberated from an inch deep legalism or liberalism that snares people in lies of the devil. My walk is to be a celebration of liberation by truth that shapes my inner most person. by Dale Yoder
FRIENDS:
Father in heaven, help me to know when to shut up, pack up and move on. Help me also have the courage to present the truth lovingly, not to sugar coat it, but to be honest and transparent. Give me the courage and compassion that motivated Jesus. In Jesus' name, Amen.
~Proverbs~
Proverbs is a collection of lamps.
Not spotlights that blind. Not bonfires that blaze. But lamps. Lamps that do for your heart what the lamps in your house do for your eyes. They chase away the darkness.
"These commands are like a lamp," wrote Solomon. "This teaching is like a light. And the correction that comes from them will help you have life" (6:23)
Reading Proverbs turns on the lamps in the dark corners of life.
Corners such as: Foolishness. Wisdom. Pride. Humility. Fear. Insecurity. Wealth. Mercy. Lust. Diligence. Laziness. Prudence. Anger. Flattery. Gossip. Violence.
And that's just a start.
Having trouble with an enemy? Turn on the lamp of patience:
A gentle answer will calm a person's anger, but an unkind answer will cause more anger (15:1).
Having trouble with greed? Flip the switch of prudence:
It is better to be poor and respect the Lord than to be wealthy and have much trouble (15:16).
Anxious about tomorrow? Sit under the light of trust:
Depend on the Lord in whatever you do, and your plans will succeed (16:3).
See what I mean? Time spent with Proverbs makes a heart wise. It's a practical guide for getting along with others. Whereas Psalms tell you how to get along with God, Proverbs tells you how to get along with people. Whereas Psalms is a book for Sunday, Proverbs is a book for Monday.
Why don't you flip on a few light and see for yourself? by Max Lucado
FOOD:
Faux Lasagna
More than easy....
1 pound ground beef
1 jar (28 ounces) spaghetti sauce
1 package (25 ounces) frozen sausage or cheese ravioli
1-1/2 cups (6 ounces) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
In a large skillet, cook beef over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. In a greased 2-1/2-qt. baking dish, layer a third of the spaghetti sauce, half of the ravioli and beef and 1/2 cup cheese; repeat layers. Top with remaining sauce and cheese. Cover and bake at 400° for 40-45 minutes or until heated through. Yield: 6-8 servings.
FUN:
An elderly man in Louisiana had owned a large farm for several years.. He had a large pond in the back.
It was properly shaped for swimming, so he fixed it up nice with picnic tables, horseshoe courts, and some apple, and peach trees.
One evening the old farmer decided to go down to the pond, as he hadn't been there for a while, and look it over.
He grabbed a five-gallon bucket to bring back some fruit.
As he neared the pond, he heard voices shouting and laughing with glee.
As he came closer, he saw it was a bunch of young women skinny-dipping in his pond.
He made the women aware of his presence and they all went to the deep end.
One of the women shouted to him, 'we're not coming out until you leave!'
The old man frowned, 'I didn't come down here to watch you ladies swim naked or make you get out of the pond naked.'
Holding the bucket up he said, 'I'm just here to feed the alligator.'
Some old guys can still think fast.
Last weekend the church parking lot was flooded by an oppressive sound. A “Baptist” group from Kansas traveled to Las Vegas, NV to give us a piece of their mind. Our church is supportive of our military and our need to protect our borders from Terrorist intrusions. Thus we, people at Central Christian, are godless people, killing innocents in the middle east by way of Collateral Damage. The death of our service persons is “GOD’S” judgment for our self righteous actions of killing others.
WHEW, it hurts inside to even type those hateful, judgmental words. It hurt to have police surrounding the parking lot at church. The sound was so loud that it almost knocked me down when I got out of the car. It frightened my teenaged daughters and my wife. I wanted to go “PULL THEIR PLUG!” They were scaring and judging me and my loved ones.
These “Christians” felt the need to get loud. I like LOUD, I can get loud. Maybe if I loudly reasoned with them, we could find some common ground and go have lunch together. Jesus got loud several times. I want to be like Jesus. Does that justify me getting loud? Maybe the world would be a better place if Christians raised their voice?
What did Jesus do when He encountered disagreeable situations?
When the interested, but immature, listened to His teaching and ate the miraculous meal, they wanted to force Jesus to be an earthly king. Jesus seems to have said thank you and then disappeared. John 6:1-15
When Jewish leaders were argumentative about the possibility of what Jesus said, Jesus made the teaching even more demanding. John 6:26-65
When “JUDGED” by the rulers and power brokers, Jesus called for “righteous judgment” not outward appearance judgment. John 7:1-24
When an adulterous woman was brought by religious zealots to force Jesus to make a harsh judgment, Jesus knelt and calmly dismissed the situation with a reminder to the offender to quit your sinning lifestyle. John 8:1-11
As I read on through John I see times where Jesus would knowingly do things that irritated the ruling religious leaders. He even got firm with them and did some name calling. (You are a liar, like your father the devil!) Then Jesus would duck out and disappear when people wanted to seize and kill Him.
I wish I knew when to just zip it and walk away. I always want to win
Just before the Last Passover Super, prior to Crucifixion, Jesus said, I don’t judge anyone, the words that Jesus spoke are the only judge for the final day of judgment. John 12:44-50
Jesus never organized a public protest against Roman injustices or oppression.
Jesus taught that His kingdom was not of this world. It is a kingdom built on ABSOLUTE TRUTH, truth that is not to be compromised. Truth to shape our hearts and give us solid convictions to live our lives by. Truth that will set us free from a lying world.
Truth worth getting loud over! In celebration YES, in condemning judgment of others, I can’t find it.
I am grateful to be part of a Men’s Group where I have seen grown men nearly go to blows over a few Bible versus. They are intensely committed to Jesus’ truth. Then moments later I have seen these same men literally weep over each other when talking about personal struggles.
The light flashes on for me. God doesn’t need his people to rent a loud sound system to create a public spectacle calling the hypocrites to our convictions.
God is interested in me learning the words, living the words and sharing the words in personal intensely honest, non judgmental ways. God wants me liberated from an inch deep legalism or liberalism that snares people in lies of the devil. My walk is to be a celebration of liberation by truth that shapes my inner most person. by Dale Yoder
FRIENDS:
Father in heaven, help me to know when to shut up, pack up and move on. Help me also have the courage to present the truth lovingly, not to sugar coat it, but to be honest and transparent. Give me the courage and compassion that motivated Jesus. In Jesus' name, Amen.
~Proverbs~
Proverbs is a collection of lamps.
Not spotlights that blind. Not bonfires that blaze. But lamps. Lamps that do for your heart what the lamps in your house do for your eyes. They chase away the darkness.
"These commands are like a lamp," wrote Solomon. "This teaching is like a light. And the correction that comes from them will help you have life" (6:23)
Reading Proverbs turns on the lamps in the dark corners of life.
Corners such as: Foolishness. Wisdom. Pride. Humility. Fear. Insecurity. Wealth. Mercy. Lust. Diligence. Laziness. Prudence. Anger. Flattery. Gossip. Violence.
And that's just a start.
Having trouble with an enemy? Turn on the lamp of patience:
A gentle answer will calm a person's anger, but an unkind answer will cause more anger (15:1).
Having trouble with greed? Flip the switch of prudence:
It is better to be poor and respect the Lord than to be wealthy and have much trouble (15:16).
Anxious about tomorrow? Sit under the light of trust:
Depend on the Lord in whatever you do, and your plans will succeed (16:3).
See what I mean? Time spent with Proverbs makes a heart wise. It's a practical guide for getting along with others. Whereas Psalms tell you how to get along with God, Proverbs tells you how to get along with people. Whereas Psalms is a book for Sunday, Proverbs is a book for Monday.
Why don't you flip on a few light and see for yourself? by Max Lucado
FOOD:
Faux Lasagna
More than easy....
1 pound ground beef
1 jar (28 ounces) spaghetti sauce
1 package (25 ounces) frozen sausage or cheese ravioli
1-1/2 cups (6 ounces) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
In a large skillet, cook beef over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. In a greased 2-1/2-qt. baking dish, layer a third of the spaghetti sauce, half of the ravioli and beef and 1/2 cup cheese; repeat layers. Top with remaining sauce and cheese. Cover and bake at 400° for 40-45 minutes or until heated through. Yield: 6-8 servings.
FUN:
An elderly man in Louisiana had owned a large farm for several years.. He had a large pond in the back.
It was properly shaped for swimming, so he fixed it up nice with picnic tables, horseshoe courts, and some apple, and peach trees.
One evening the old farmer decided to go down to the pond, as he hadn't been there for a while, and look it over.
He grabbed a five-gallon bucket to bring back some fruit.
As he neared the pond, he heard voices shouting and laughing with glee.
As he came closer, he saw it was a bunch of young women skinny-dipping in his pond.
He made the women aware of his presence and they all went to the deep end.
One of the women shouted to him, 'we're not coming out until you leave!'
The old man frowned, 'I didn't come down here to watch you ladies swim naked or make you get out of the pond naked.'
Holding the bucket up he said, 'I'm just here to feed the alligator.'
Some old guys can still think fast.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
In God We (Nearly) Trust
FAITH:
A few days before our wedding, Denalyn and I enjoyed and endured a sailing voyage. Milt, a Miami church friend, had invited Denalyn, her mom, and me to join him and a few others on a leisurely cruise along the Florida coast.
Initially it was just that. Leisure. We stretched out on cushions, hung feet over the side, caught some zzz's and rays. Nice.
But then came the storm. The sky darkened, the rain started, and the flat ocean humped like a dragon's neck. Sudden waves of water tilted the vessel up until we saw nothing but sky and then downward until we saw nothing but blue. I learned this about sailing: there is nothing swell about a swell. Tanning stopped. Napping ceased. Eyes turned first to the thunderclouds, then to the captain. We looked to Milt.
He was deliberate and decisive. He told some people where to sit, others what to do, and all of us to hang on. And we did what he said. Why? We knew he knew best. No one else knew the difference between starboard and stern. Only Milt did. We trusted him. We knew he knew.
And we knew we didn't. Prior to the winds, we might have boasted about Boy Scout merit badges in sailing or bass-boat excursions. But once the storm hit, we shut up. (Except for Denalyn, who threw up.) We had no choice but to trust Milt. He knew what we didn't--and he cared. The vessel was captained, not by a hireling or a stranger, but by a pal. Our safety mattered to him. So we trusted him.
Oh, that the choice were equally easy in life. Need I remind you about your westerly winds? With the speed of lightning and the force of a thunderclap, williwaws anger tranquil waters. Victims of sudden storms populate unemployment lines and ICU wards. You know the winds. You've felt the waves. Good-bye, smooth sailing. Hello, rough waters.
Such typhoons test our trust in the Captain. Does God know what he is doing? Can he get us out? Why did he allow the storm?
Can you say about God what I said about Milt?
I know God knows what's best.
I know I don't.
I know he cares.
Such words come easily when the water is calm. But when you're looking at a wrecked car or a suspicious-looking mole, when war breaks out or thieves break in, do you trust him?
To embrace God's sovereignty is to drink from the well of his lordship and make a sailboat-in-the-storm decision. Not in regard to Milt and the sea, but in regard to God and life. You look toward the Captain and resolve: he knows what's best. by Max Lucado
FRIENDS:
Father, You have asked us in Your Word to "be strong and of good courage," and sometimes we find this very hard. Things in life seem more that we can bear. Wrap Your arms around us and hold us close for we need the courage that only Your Spirit can Give. How comforting it is to know that You will always go before us and that we will never be left or forsaken. In Jesus name, Amen.
~Ezra~
Martin Luther you've heard of. Philipp Melanchthon, probably not. But Luther knew Melanchthon. And Luther was a better man as a result.
Melanchthon was the intellectual of the Reformation. He authored the Augsburg Confession. He was the first to put into writing an evangelical theology.
He was only eleven when his father died, only twelve when his grandfather presented him with a Bible and a Greek grammar. The next fifty years the three were inseparable. Melanchthon's one love was to teach the Word of God.
He didn't just read the Bible, he devoured it. By the age of seventeen he was a faculuty member at the University of Wittenberg. Though he was small of frame and frail of health, he was keen of mind.
And even more important, he was keen of purpose.
He lived to study and teach the Bible. He commanded the respect of Martin Luther. "I was born to fight," he said, "but Master Philipp, he comes along sowing with joy."
The prophet Ezra was the Philipp Melanchthon of his day.
Ezra was the second of three key leaders to leave Babylon for the reconstruction of Jerusalem. Zerubbabel was first. Then Ezra and then Nehemiah. Zerubbabel reconstructed the Temple, Nehemiah rebuilt the walls, and Ezra restored the worship.
Any person who has tackled the task of presenting the Bible to people will find a friend in Ezra. He was a student. He was an interpreter. In fact, the clearest Old Testament reference to exposition is attributed to Ezra. He was the head of the Levites who "read from the Book of the Teaching of God and explained what it meant so the people understood what was being read" (Nehemiah 8:8).
Don't you appreciate that last phrase, "and explained what it meant so the people understood...."? Don't you appreciate the person who can take the Word and reveal it for your life?"
Perhaps you can do that. If so, stay faithful. There is no higher task.
Perhaps you have a teacher like that. If so, be grateful. There is no greater friend.
FOOD:
Zucchini Lasagna
Ingredients:
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 Tbsp olive oil
4 cups chopped zucchini
1 tsp dried basil
1/2 tsp dried oregano
16 oz ricotta cheese
2 Tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
2 eggs whites
2 - 26 oz jars tomato or pasta sauce divided
1 – 16 oz package lasagna noodles (can use no boil ones)
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
Preparation
In a sauce pan sauté the garlic in oil. Add zucchini, basil, oregano. Add 2 cups of the tomato sauce. Simmer 5-10 minutes. Meanwhile combine ricotta cheese with parsley and egg whites. Set aside. To assemble lasagna, pour some of the tomato sauce onto the bottom of a 9 x 13 inch baking dish. Lay a flat layer of 4 lasagna noodles, then ½ of the zucchini mixture. Sprinkle with 1 cup of the mozzarella cheese. Repeat a layer of 4 lasagna noodles, then top with the ricotta mixture. Add the third layer of noodles, the remaining zucchini mixture, and the remaining mozzarella cheese. Top with more tomato sauce. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until sauce bubbles.
FUN:
A few days before our wedding, Denalyn and I enjoyed and endured a sailing voyage. Milt, a Miami church friend, had invited Denalyn, her mom, and me to join him and a few others on a leisurely cruise along the Florida coast.
Initially it was just that. Leisure. We stretched out on cushions, hung feet over the side, caught some zzz's and rays. Nice.
But then came the storm. The sky darkened, the rain started, and the flat ocean humped like a dragon's neck. Sudden waves of water tilted the vessel up until we saw nothing but sky and then downward until we saw nothing but blue. I learned this about sailing: there is nothing swell about a swell. Tanning stopped. Napping ceased. Eyes turned first to the thunderclouds, then to the captain. We looked to Milt.
He was deliberate and decisive. He told some people where to sit, others what to do, and all of us to hang on. And we did what he said. Why? We knew he knew best. No one else knew the difference between starboard and stern. Only Milt did. We trusted him. We knew he knew.
And we knew we didn't. Prior to the winds, we might have boasted about Boy Scout merit badges in sailing or bass-boat excursions. But once the storm hit, we shut up. (Except for Denalyn, who threw up.) We had no choice but to trust Milt. He knew what we didn't--and he cared. The vessel was captained, not by a hireling or a stranger, but by a pal. Our safety mattered to him. So we trusted him.
Oh, that the choice were equally easy in life. Need I remind you about your westerly winds? With the speed of lightning and the force of a thunderclap, williwaws anger tranquil waters. Victims of sudden storms populate unemployment lines and ICU wards. You know the winds. You've felt the waves. Good-bye, smooth sailing. Hello, rough waters.
Such typhoons test our trust in the Captain. Does God know what he is doing? Can he get us out? Why did he allow the storm?
Can you say about God what I said about Milt?
I know God knows what's best.
I know I don't.
I know he cares.
Such words come easily when the water is calm. But when you're looking at a wrecked car or a suspicious-looking mole, when war breaks out or thieves break in, do you trust him?
To embrace God's sovereignty is to drink from the well of his lordship and make a sailboat-in-the-storm decision. Not in regard to Milt and the sea, but in regard to God and life. You look toward the Captain and resolve: he knows what's best. by Max Lucado
FRIENDS:
Father, You have asked us in Your Word to "be strong and of good courage," and sometimes we find this very hard. Things in life seem more that we can bear. Wrap Your arms around us and hold us close for we need the courage that only Your Spirit can Give. How comforting it is to know that You will always go before us and that we will never be left or forsaken. In Jesus name, Amen.
~Ezra~
Martin Luther you've heard of. Philipp Melanchthon, probably not. But Luther knew Melanchthon. And Luther was a better man as a result.
Melanchthon was the intellectual of the Reformation. He authored the Augsburg Confession. He was the first to put into writing an evangelical theology.
He was only eleven when his father died, only twelve when his grandfather presented him with a Bible and a Greek grammar. The next fifty years the three were inseparable. Melanchthon's one love was to teach the Word of God.
He didn't just read the Bible, he devoured it. By the age of seventeen he was a faculuty member at the University of Wittenberg. Though he was small of frame and frail of health, he was keen of mind.
And even more important, he was keen of purpose.
He lived to study and teach the Bible. He commanded the respect of Martin Luther. "I was born to fight," he said, "but Master Philipp, he comes along sowing with joy."
The prophet Ezra was the Philipp Melanchthon of his day.
Ezra was the second of three key leaders to leave Babylon for the reconstruction of Jerusalem. Zerubbabel was first. Then Ezra and then Nehemiah. Zerubbabel reconstructed the Temple, Nehemiah rebuilt the walls, and Ezra restored the worship.
Any person who has tackled the task of presenting the Bible to people will find a friend in Ezra. He was a student. He was an interpreter. In fact, the clearest Old Testament reference to exposition is attributed to Ezra. He was the head of the Levites who "read from the Book of the Teaching of God and explained what it meant so the people understood what was being read" (Nehemiah 8:8).
Don't you appreciate that last phrase, "and explained what it meant so the people understood...."? Don't you appreciate the person who can take the Word and reveal it for your life?"
Perhaps you can do that. If so, stay faithful. There is no higher task.
Perhaps you have a teacher like that. If so, be grateful. There is no greater friend.
FOOD:
Zucchini Lasagna
Ingredients:
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 Tbsp olive oil
4 cups chopped zucchini
1 tsp dried basil
1/2 tsp dried oregano
16 oz ricotta cheese
2 Tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
2 eggs whites
2 - 26 oz jars tomato or pasta sauce divided
1 – 16 oz package lasagna noodles (can use no boil ones)
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
Preparation
In a sauce pan sauté the garlic in oil. Add zucchini, basil, oregano. Add 2 cups of the tomato sauce. Simmer 5-10 minutes. Meanwhile combine ricotta cheese with parsley and egg whites. Set aside. To assemble lasagna, pour some of the tomato sauce onto the bottom of a 9 x 13 inch baking dish. Lay a flat layer of 4 lasagna noodles, then ½ of the zucchini mixture. Sprinkle with 1 cup of the mozzarella cheese. Repeat a layer of 4 lasagna noodles, then top with the ricotta mixture. Add the third layer of noodles, the remaining zucchini mixture, and the remaining mozzarella cheese. Top with more tomato sauce. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until sauce bubbles.
FUN:
Friday, July 24, 2009
Jell-O Knees
FAITH:
“God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’ So we say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?’” Hebrews 13:5-6
Somewhere in the distance I heard a siren. Buildings loomed on either side of us and my pulse quickened each time we passed an unlit alley. I was a boy at the time and my family was attending a night service at a church located in one of the sketchier parts of New York City. We all know that as children, certain places and situations seemscarier than they might be for adults—so I felt a bit shaky—you know, like my knees were made of Jell-O. And, I wasn’t looking forward to going back to the car later that night.
After the church service, the pastor asked two of his deacons to escort us back to our car. These were two seriously big dudes. I felt no fear with a “church bouncer” on either side of us. I was sure they were larger and more intimidating than anything or anyone we would encounter.
Fear is a funny thing. It enlarges whatever we’re afraid of and shrinks our view of God. As Christians, we need to reclaim our view of God’s greatness by focusing on His presence, power, and protection when we are afraid.
I don’t know about you, but my fear tends to wither away when I remember that God is present everywhere, all the time. He has no boundaries. He is in New York City, east Mongolia, and the south of France, all at the same time! It’s clear that David had a great grasp of this reality when he said: “Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there” (Psalm 139:7-8). In the rest of that psalm, David affirms that whether it’s dark or light, morning or evening, or whether you are sleeping or awake, God is present.
It gets even better. Not only is God everywhere, but He is also all-powerful. He has unlimited power, and He delights in sharing it with you and me. If you are a follower of Jesus, you can access God’s power when you pray and ask Him to act on your behalf. You also draw on His power when you open the Word of God and discover how much He loves and cares for you, and how anxious He is to protect and help you. And you draw on the power when you allow the Holy Spirit to guide your thoughts, words, and actions. In 2 Timothy 1:7, we read, “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power.” Rest assured, God’s power can disarm any intimidating influence in your environment!
The combination of God’s presence and power make Him the greatest protector of all time. He alone has the power to keep you safe wherever you go, and He promises to never leave us or forsake us. If you’re walking in the light of that promise, you have the right to say, with confidence: “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”
As a kid on that dark street in New York City, I was imagining all sorts of things that man could do to me. But when those two guys walked us back to our car, all fear was gone! They weren’t God, but I’ve often thought that they did what God does for me every day of my life no matter where I am. Keeping God’s enduring presence, infinite power, and supernatural protection in mind will take the Jell-O right out of your knees—every time!
* When do you feel afraid? How can God’s presence, power, and protection calm your fears?
* Name some biblical responses to fear. Read Psalm 34:4; 1 John 4:18; for a hint. Practice using these responses when you are afraid. What do you think will happen over time if you use these responses consistently?
FRIENDS:
Father in heaven, our sight and our strength is so limited. And we are so often tempted to think that our well-being depends on what we can see or feel. Please help us in this day to look beyond this moment to the love of Your heart, to the suffering of Your Son, and to the promise of the home and future You are preparing for us. In Jesus' name, Amen.
In our Daily Bible Challenge the new books of the Bible for the month of August will be 1 Timothy, Proverbs and Ezra.
~1 TIMOTHY~
Watch a small boy follow his dad through the snow. He stretches to step where his dad stepped. Not an easy task. His small legs extend as far as they can so his feet can fall in his father's prints.
The father, seeing what the son is doing, smiles and begins taking shorter steps so the son can follow.
It's a picture of discipleship.
In our faith we follow in someone's steps. A parent, a teacher, a hero---none of us are the first to walk the trail. All of us have someone we follow.
In our faith we leave foot prints to guide others. A child, a friend, a recent convert. None should be left to walk the trail alone.
It's the principle of discipleship.
Timothy didn't walk the trail alone. He followed in the steps of Paul, his father in the faith. Paul knew he was following. He also knew the snow was getting deep. So he slowed his pace to help. He penned a letter to Timothy, giving him practical advice on how to lead a church.
As a young minister, Timothy was faced with all sorts of challenges. Step by step, Paul patiently instructs him, and in doing so, he instructs us.
A few questions to consider as you read. Who are you following? When you get where you are going, will it be where you intended? Also, what kink of trail are you leaving. If someone follows your steps, will they arrive at the right place?
The message of First Timothy urges you: Watch your step.
FOOD:
"And the Priest Fainted
ACCORDING TO TURKISH LEGEND, the Imam loved eggplant cooked with meat. But late one afternoon his wife discovered that she had no meat and the butcher was closed. So she collected her wits and created an eggplant dish substituting vegetables for the meat.
The Imam swooned over the heavenly aroma and ate portion after portion of the meal until he laid down in a stupor and could eat no more. When friends arrived and wanted to know what had happened to him his wife replied, "Imam Bayeldi," which means "the priest fainted," and so the dish was named.
Not all eggplants are bitter, and after salting, the slices still soak up large quantities of oil. I came more fully to understand the salting process after reading an article, "How to Cook Eggplant" by Stephen Schmidt in Cook's Illustrated, July 1993. After many experiments, the author's conclusion was that eggplant is extremely porous. When it is not salted and pressed it soaks up oil like a sponge.
2 egg plants, cut in half and the inside scooped out leaving only a little meat inside the peel
3-4 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium onion, diced
1 green pepper, diced
2 tomatoes, diced
4 cloves garlic, crushed
3 tablespoons parsley, minced
Salt and pepper to taste
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 cup chicken broth
1/2 c raisins or more to taste
Wash eggplants . Scoop out the insides chopping into small pieces about 1" square and leaving only a little with the peel to make a sturdy shell. Sprinkle salt and let stand in a colander for one hour. Rinse, squeeze as much moisture out as possible, pat dry.
Fry pieces over medium heat with a little oil for about two minutes.
In the same pan, saute onions, green peppers, one tomato and garlic until almost tender. Add additional oil if necessary. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Add raisins. Fill eggplants with the mixture. Top with lemon juice, sugar and remaining tomato. Drizzle with a little more olive oil. Pour chicken stock in the bottom of the dish.
Cover and bake at 350· for about 40 minutes. Serve hot or cold. Leftovers make an excellent sandwich filling.
*I started making this years ago when someone gave me some eggplant. I did it this way to disguise what eggplant really looked like. My children, especially my son Todd, really loved this.
FUN:
I hate it when this happens!!!
“God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’ So we say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?’” Hebrews 13:5-6
Somewhere in the distance I heard a siren. Buildings loomed on either side of us and my pulse quickened each time we passed an unlit alley. I was a boy at the time and my family was attending a night service at a church located in one of the sketchier parts of New York City. We all know that as children, certain places and situations seemscarier than they might be for adults—so I felt a bit shaky—you know, like my knees were made of Jell-O. And, I wasn’t looking forward to going back to the car later that night.
After the church service, the pastor asked two of his deacons to escort us back to our car. These were two seriously big dudes. I felt no fear with a “church bouncer” on either side of us. I was sure they were larger and more intimidating than anything or anyone we would encounter.
Fear is a funny thing. It enlarges whatever we’re afraid of and shrinks our view of God. As Christians, we need to reclaim our view of God’s greatness by focusing on His presence, power, and protection when we are afraid.
I don’t know about you, but my fear tends to wither away when I remember that God is present everywhere, all the time. He has no boundaries. He is in New York City, east Mongolia, and the south of France, all at the same time! It’s clear that David had a great grasp of this reality when he said: “Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there” (Psalm 139:7-8). In the rest of that psalm, David affirms that whether it’s dark or light, morning or evening, or whether you are sleeping or awake, God is present.
It gets even better. Not only is God everywhere, but He is also all-powerful. He has unlimited power, and He delights in sharing it with you and me. If you are a follower of Jesus, you can access God’s power when you pray and ask Him to act on your behalf. You also draw on His power when you open the Word of God and discover how much He loves and cares for you, and how anxious He is to protect and help you. And you draw on the power when you allow the Holy Spirit to guide your thoughts, words, and actions. In 2 Timothy 1:7, we read, “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power.” Rest assured, God’s power can disarm any intimidating influence in your environment!
The combination of God’s presence and power make Him the greatest protector of all time. He alone has the power to keep you safe wherever you go, and He promises to never leave us or forsake us. If you’re walking in the light of that promise, you have the right to say, with confidence: “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”
As a kid on that dark street in New York City, I was imagining all sorts of things that man could do to me. But when those two guys walked us back to our car, all fear was gone! They weren’t God, but I’ve often thought that they did what God does for me every day of my life no matter where I am. Keeping God’s enduring presence, infinite power, and supernatural protection in mind will take the Jell-O right out of your knees—every time!
* When do you feel afraid? How can God’s presence, power, and protection calm your fears?
* Name some biblical responses to fear. Read Psalm 34:4; 1 John 4:18; for a hint. Practice using these responses when you are afraid. What do you think will happen over time if you use these responses consistently?
FRIENDS:
Father in heaven, our sight and our strength is so limited. And we are so often tempted to think that our well-being depends on what we can see or feel. Please help us in this day to look beyond this moment to the love of Your heart, to the suffering of Your Son, and to the promise of the home and future You are preparing for us. In Jesus' name, Amen.
In our Daily Bible Challenge the new books of the Bible for the month of August will be 1 Timothy, Proverbs and Ezra.
~1 TIMOTHY~
Watch a small boy follow his dad through the snow. He stretches to step where his dad stepped. Not an easy task. His small legs extend as far as they can so his feet can fall in his father's prints.
The father, seeing what the son is doing, smiles and begins taking shorter steps so the son can follow.
It's a picture of discipleship.
In our faith we follow in someone's steps. A parent, a teacher, a hero---none of us are the first to walk the trail. All of us have someone we follow.
In our faith we leave foot prints to guide others. A child, a friend, a recent convert. None should be left to walk the trail alone.
It's the principle of discipleship.
Timothy didn't walk the trail alone. He followed in the steps of Paul, his father in the faith. Paul knew he was following. He also knew the snow was getting deep. So he slowed his pace to help. He penned a letter to Timothy, giving him practical advice on how to lead a church.
As a young minister, Timothy was faced with all sorts of challenges. Step by step, Paul patiently instructs him, and in doing so, he instructs us.
A few questions to consider as you read. Who are you following? When you get where you are going, will it be where you intended? Also, what kink of trail are you leaving. If someone follows your steps, will they arrive at the right place?
The message of First Timothy urges you: Watch your step.
FOOD:
"And the Priest Fainted
ACCORDING TO TURKISH LEGEND, the Imam loved eggplant cooked with meat. But late one afternoon his wife discovered that she had no meat and the butcher was closed. So she collected her wits and created an eggplant dish substituting vegetables for the meat.
The Imam swooned over the heavenly aroma and ate portion after portion of the meal until he laid down in a stupor and could eat no more. When friends arrived and wanted to know what had happened to him his wife replied, "Imam Bayeldi," which means "the priest fainted," and so the dish was named.
Not all eggplants are bitter, and after salting, the slices still soak up large quantities of oil. I came more fully to understand the salting process after reading an article, "How to Cook Eggplant" by Stephen Schmidt in Cook's Illustrated, July 1993. After many experiments, the author's conclusion was that eggplant is extremely porous. When it is not salted and pressed it soaks up oil like a sponge.
2 egg plants, cut in half and the inside scooped out leaving only a little meat inside the peel
3-4 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium onion, diced
1 green pepper, diced
2 tomatoes, diced
4 cloves garlic, crushed
3 tablespoons parsley, minced
Salt and pepper to taste
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 cup chicken broth
1/2 c raisins or more to taste
Wash eggplants . Scoop out the insides chopping into small pieces about 1" square and leaving only a little with the peel to make a sturdy shell. Sprinkle salt and let stand in a colander for one hour. Rinse, squeeze as much moisture out as possible, pat dry.
Fry pieces over medium heat with a little oil for about two minutes.
In the same pan, saute onions, green peppers, one tomato and garlic until almost tender. Add additional oil if necessary. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Add raisins. Fill eggplants with the mixture. Top with lemon juice, sugar and remaining tomato. Drizzle with a little more olive oil. Pour chicken stock in the bottom of the dish.
Cover and bake at 350· for about 40 minutes. Serve hot or cold. Leftovers make an excellent sandwich filling.
*I started making this years ago when someone gave me some eggplant. I did it this way to disguise what eggplant really looked like. My children, especially my son Todd, really loved this.
FUN:
I hate it when this happens!!!
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