It's not good enough we've already weakened our military by politicizing conflicts and allowing gays and undermining morale, now we have to trample the Christians under foot.  Check this out.

Another rainy day here in Oregon, and it's just pouring buckets outside. It's been a pretty dry during the summer months, and now with winter approaching, it all changes. Where I live is close to Portland; we don't see a whole lot of snow here, but in its place is plenty of rain. So I was talking to my daughter the other day about rain and water. She's really into astronomy, so I was telling her what scientists look for on other planets to determine if they hold any possible sign of life, is water. Whenever it rains here, many people complain and wish for the sun to break through, but I enjoy the rain myself. I'm reminded that water is life, without it there's only desolation. The grass and flowers grow to their maximum color tones with the proper amount of water, we stay hydrated and able to function bringing forth our maximum effort as well. Today the Lord has put in my heart to dig deeper on the subject of water, so I've started what is so far a very enjoyable bible study on the topic. It's going to be a fun topic in one of my bible studies with the kids when I'm done, and before I've even started, I found some great verses about rain that I'll close this post with:

Job 5:8-10  I would seek unto God, and unto God would I commit my cause: Which doeth great things and unsearchable; marvellous things without number: Who giveth rain upon the earth, and sendeth waters upon the fields:

 

Job 37:5&6  God thundereth marvellously with his voice; great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend. For he saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth; likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of his strength

Forgive me and my provocation O Lord; I am only a speck of dust on your mighty cheek. Remember I am only flesh; a wind which passes way and never comes again. My life is only vapor before your perfection and greatness; a little wisp overtaken upon the rise of the sun, never to appear again. How often did I provoke you my God; how often did I temp you until the final moment of my undoing. You are full of loving kindness and compassion for your name sake, and it is by your unlimited mercies that I have not been consumed.  I fail, but your love and compassion never fail, and your faithfulness is unchanging. Great is your love and mercy for those who stumble yet still call upon you Abba.

 

At the feet of Jesus my foundation I lay broken, as I wait faithfully for restoration and renewal of spirit. These things I remember and have hope: The longsuffering of the one God of love and perfection, and that every day is a new hope, because your mercies and compassions fail not; they are everlasting. On knees with bowed head and with a heart broken from shame, I quietly wait and hope in you. Strengthen me while I am imprisoned and surrounded by my enemy, to the honor and glory of your name alone. In Jesus' name... amen

 

 

Based on Psalms 78:38-41 and Lamentations 3:17-26

"You know what you did!"

Numbers 32:23  behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out.

Christianity: It's not a once a week emotion, it's a daily way of life and a light to the world.

My favorite chowder recipe...good stuff

 

New England Fish Chowder Recipe

 

 1 Tbsp olive oil

1 teaspoon butter

2 medium yellow onions, chopped (about 2 cups)

1/2 cup dry white wine (DO NOT USE COOKING WINE, IT’S BAD)

3 large Yukon Gold potatoes (about 1 1/4 pounds), peeled, cut into 3/4-inch cubes

2 cups clam juice

1 bay leaf

1 Tbsp fresh thyme, or 1 teaspoon dried thyme

1 1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 teaspoon Old Bay (optional, can use a little paprika and a dash of cayenne)

1 1/2 to 2 lbs cod*, or other firm white fish, pin bones removed, fillets cut into 2-inch pieces

1 1/2 cups heavy cream

2 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley

1 Tbs fresh chopped celery leaves

 

Directions:

1 Heat oil and butter in the bottom of a large pot (6-qt) on medium heat. Add the onions and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the wine, and turn up the heat, cook, uncovered until the wine reduces by half.

2 Add the potatoes, clam juice, bay leaf, thyme, salt and pepper, and Old Bay spice and celery leaves. (The potatoes should be just barely covered with the liquid in the pot. If not, add water so that they are.) Lower the heat to medium and cook, covered, until the potatoes are almost done, about 15 minutes.

3 In a separate pot, heat the cream until steamy (not boiling).

4 Add the fish to the pot of potatoes and add the heated cream. Return to the stove. Cook on low heat, uncovered, until the fish is just cooked through, about 10 minutes. Keep your eye on the heat! If you are using straight heavy cream you should be more easily able to avoid curdling, even if the soup starts to boil. But if you are substituting light cream, half and half, or milk, the mixture will likely curdle if it gets near boiling point. Keep the temperature so that it barely gets steamy, but not simmering. When the fish is just cooked through, remove from heat.

 

Mix in the parsley. The flavors will improve if the soup rests 30 minutes before serving.

This is a great article to read; something that opened my eyes a bit and educated me, and something that also pricked my conscience a bit...  forced me to go through that checklist on myself. Have a look at it and figure out which group you belong to.

http://www.raptureready.com/soap/taylor50.html

The other day, my daughter and I were talking about something I had planned to give her for her birthday. We have come upon some events which have forced me to put off buying what she wanted so bad, which for me is a bit depressing. As a father of three sons and two lovely daughters, I really want to be able to buy them whatever they want, but sometimes it's just not possible. She was a bit disheartened over the news that I will not be able to do what we had planned, and that she should think of other things she may want. Her reply became a great opportunity to teach a very important lesson. She said, "Dad we are so poor, I wish we could win the lottery". I chuckled for a minute and went through the usual routine I used to hear when I was young. "There are many people in the world that don't have a home to live in or food to eat". It's something as a young teen I used to roll my eyes at, but now I see the reality of it around me every day. My dad used to tell me, "You'll understand someday when you have kids" and you know, he still rubs that in once in a while.

I sat my daughter down and reminded her of the richness we find in our father's grace, in that through Christ Jesus, we have eternal life with God guaranteed and sealed by the promise of the holy spirit. It's a rich inheritance which is not a privilege to be revoked, but a right which is unchanging and everlasting. Ephesians 1:13&14 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation--having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God's own possession, to the praise of His glory. I reminded her that as Christians, our wealth is much different than the things we can stuff in our wallets or our house, our riches are found in the Word and in our hearts as God's children. I'm hoping that it sunk in with her, but it's definitely something that I need to remind my children of as well as myself from time to time. As for the lottery, I won't lie and say I never played it or thought of the things I could do or have if I won it. Honestly though, Having millions is a frightening thought to me. Not frightening in that I will have to deal with securing it, all the phone calls for donations, and people asking to borrow cash: frightening in the thought of exactly who or what would I become if I had all those riches? Would I protect it, build a wall around it so I could build my security from it? Would I become a changed person as I have seen happen to so many before? Would I slide and begin to choose it over the Lord? From my point of view, great riches are a great snare set up by Satan which anyone can fall into.

Look for a minute at the nature of riches. Paper becomes corrupted and deteriorates, coinage becomes tarnished and eventually deteriorates. Gold, although it does not tarnish is something the rich can hold in their hands and marvel at, but can they hold on to it when everyone is out to steal it? When it's all said and done, worldly riches is more of a curse than anything. Lives are manipulated and destroyed for it, and Satan uses it to corrupt, destroy, and enslave a person's spirit. The corruptibility on a worldly point of view and spiritual point of view makes riches something no one should ever desire. Many who are rich in the temporals of this world, are poor in the spiritual things which are eternal. Riches granted through the Lord's blessings, should be dealt with carefully, wisely, and without greed or ill thoughts toward our fellow creations. Matthew 6:19-21 "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. "But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

If a person is poor, but rich in spirituals, they are the ones truly rich beyond imagination - rich eternally. They may be poor in termporals, but rich spiritually - poor in spirit, but through our Lord Jesus, rich in grace. Poverty is so greatly offset by their spiritual riches. As we read through the gospels, we see Jesus and those he walked and talked with. He did not spend most of his time with the High Priest or governors of that time, he preached to the poor; not only from the point of worldly possessions, but the all important poor in spirit. I think it's easier to rebuild a man's heart that has been burned down and torn apart from the world, than it is to first break down the fortress and castle walls built by a rich man's faith in his wealth. Jesus has really turned the tables here, in that the poor now have become the example of true richness and a condemnation to those who place their faith in their fortress of wealth. James 2:5 Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?

Even with today's changing political and economic climate, we see a larger focus on the rich and how much money they are making. Some blame them for the condition of the poor and the despair throughout the world; others want a piece of the money pie themselves, so wealth needs to be distributed. I don't want to look on the rich with an envying eye; I do pity them who may be lost and locked behind their fortress gates, placing their love and faith in their worldly riches. It's something we Christians have to keep in mind; worldly riches and spiritual riches. Temporal things, or eternal things.

Colossians 3:1&2 Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.