Friday, October 31, 2008
And the winner is:
The winner of the cookbook drawing is Nanci. Congratulations Nanci. I will be emailing you to get your postal address. Thank you to everyone who entered.
United States Constitution- a transcript
www.archives.gov
October 31, 2008
The Declaration of Independence: A Transcription
IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.
He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only. He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures. He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent: For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offencesFor abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people. He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands. He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.
In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.
Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.
We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.
The 56 signatures on the Declaration appear in the positions indicated:
Column 1Georgia: Button Gwinnett Lyman Hall George Walton
Column 2North Carolina: William Hooper Joseph Hewes John PennSouth Carolina: Edward Rutledge Thomas Heyward, Jr. Thomas Lynch, Jr. Arthur Middleton
Column 3Massachusetts:John HancockMaryland:Samuel ChaseWilliam PacaThomas StoneCharles Carroll of CarrolltonVirginia:George WytheRichard Henry LeeThomas JeffersonBenjamin HarrisonThomas Nelson, Jr.Francis Lightfoot LeeCarter Braxton
Column 4Pennsylvania: Robert Morris Benjamin Rush Benjamin Franklin John Morton George Clymer James Smith George Taylor James Wilson George RossDelaware: Caesar Rodney George Read Thomas McKean
Column 5New York: William Floyd Philip Livingston Francis Lewis Lewis MorrisNew Jersey: Richard Stockton John Witherspoon Francis Hopkinson John Hart Abraham Clark
Column 6New Hampshire: Josiah Bartlett William WhippleMassachusetts: Samuel Adams John Adams Robert Treat Paine Elbridge GerryRhode Island: Stephen Hopkins William ElleryConnecticut: Roger Sherman Samuel Huntington William Williams Oliver WolcottNew Hampshire: Matthew Thornton
Page URL:
http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration_transcript.html
U.S. National Archives & Records Administration8601 Adelphi Road, College Park, MD, 20740-6001, • 1-86-NARA-NARA • 1-866-272-6272
Bill of rights- a transcript
www.archives.gov
October 31, 2008
The Declaration of Independence: A Transcription
IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.
He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only. He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures. He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent: For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offencesFor abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people. He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands. He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.
In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.
Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.
We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.
The 56 signatures on the Declaration appear in the positions indicated:
Column 1Georgia: Button Gwinnett Lyman Hall George Walton
Column 2North Carolina: William Hooper Joseph Hewes John PennSouth Carolina: Edward Rutledge Thomas Heyward, Jr. Thomas Lynch, Jr. Arthur Middleton
Column 3Massachusetts:John HancockMaryland:Samuel ChaseWilliam PacaThomas StoneCharles Carroll of CarrolltonVirginia:George WytheRichard Henry LeeThomas JeffersonBenjamin HarrisonThomas Nelson, Jr.Francis Lightfoot LeeCarter Braxton
Column 4Pennsylvania: Robert Morris Benjamin Rush Benjamin Franklin John Morton George Clymer James Smith George Taylor James Wilson George RossDelaware: Caesar Rodney George Read Thomas McKean
Column 5New York: William Floyd Philip Livingston Francis Lewis Lewis MorrisNew Jersey: Richard Stockton John Witherspoon Francis Hopkinson John Hart Abraham Clark
Column 6New Hampshire: Josiah Bartlett William WhippleMassachusetts: Samuel Adams John Adams Robert Treat Paine Elbridge GerryRhode Island: Stephen Hopkins William ElleryConnecticut: Roger Sherman Samuel Huntington William Williams Oliver WolcottNew Hampshire: Matthew Thornton
Page URL:
http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration_transcript.html
U.S. National Archives & Records Administration8601 Adelphi Road, College Park, MD, 20740-6001, • 1-86-NARA-NARA • 1-866-272-6272
Declaration of Independence-transcript
www.archives.gov
October 31, 2008
The Declaration of Independence: A Transcription
IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.
He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only. He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures. He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent: For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offencesFor abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people. He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands. He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.
In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.
Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.
We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.
The 56 signatures on the Declaration appear in the positions indicated:
Column 1Georgia: Button Gwinnett Lyman Hall George Walton
Column 2North Carolina: William Hooper Joseph Hewes John PennSouth Carolina: Edward Rutledge Thomas Heyward, Jr. Thomas Lynch, Jr. Arthur Middleton
Column 3Massachusetts:John HancockMaryland:Samuel ChaseWilliam PacaThomas StoneCharles Carroll of CarrolltonVirginia:George WytheRichard Henry LeeThomas JeffersonBenjamin HarrisonThomas Nelson, Jr.Francis Lightfoot LeeCarter Braxton
Column 4Pennsylvania: Robert Morris Benjamin Rush Benjamin Franklin John Morton George Clymer James Smith George Taylor James Wilson George RossDelaware: Caesar Rodney George Read Thomas McKean
Column 5New York: William Floyd Philip Livingston Francis Lewis Lewis MorrisNew Jersey: Richard Stockton John Witherspoon Francis Hopkinson John Hart Abraham Clark
Column 6New Hampshire: Josiah Bartlett William WhippleMassachusetts: Samuel Adams John Adams Robert Treat Paine Elbridge GerryRhode Island: Stephen Hopkins William ElleryConnecticut: Roger Sherman Samuel Huntington William Williams Oliver WolcottNew Hampshire: Matthew Thornton
Page URL:
http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration_transcript.html
U.S. National Archives & Records Administration8601 Adelphi Road, College Park, MD, 20740-6001, • 1-86-NARA-NARA • 1-866-272-6272
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Homemade Stain Spray
I saw this recipe for stain spray over at Blue Castle blog and I want to try it. She mixed 1/4 c. dish soap. 1/4 c. glycerin and 1 1/2 cups of water. She mixes this into a spray bottle. Here is here pix and a link to her blog.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Rice in a rice cooker
To make tasty rice in a rice cooker is easy. First measure how much rice you want to cook and place it in a wire colander. Then rinse until the water runs clear. Now the fun begins. Place the clean rice in your cooker with twice as much water. At this point you can add onions, bullion, seasonings finely chopped veggies or other yummies.
Cookbook giveaway
I am giving away a copy of Southern Living 1994 Annual Recipes book.
To enter the drawing leave a comment and I will draw a random name Friday
October 30th at noon. Be sure to leave a link to your site or email so I can
contact you if you win. Good luck.
A beautiful love story- I saw this on Stephanies blog
Hosea: The Story of a Love That Would Not Die
John W. Reed
Introduction: It is the year 725 BC. It is the Northern Kingdom of Israel. You are there.
Monologue
I have been called the prophet of the broken heart, but I would rather be remembered as the prophet of love and hope. I am Hosea, prophet of God to Israel, my homeland.
We are standing in front of my home on the outskirts of Samaria our beautiful capital city. There beneath the oak tree is Gomer, my wife; I love her as I love my own life. You will learn to love her too. Sitting beside her is our son, Jezreel. He is eighteen now, handsome and strong—a young man with a heart for God. At Gomer's feet and looking up at her is Ruhamah, our daughter. Do you see how her raven hair glistens? She is the image of her mother. She was sixteen just half a year ago. Beside her is Ammi, her brother. He is fifteen and as warm and bubbling as the flowing brook that you hear in the background.
We are happy and at peace. It has not always been so.
I began my ministry as a prophet almost thirty years ago during the reign of Jeroboam II. Those were years of great prosperity in Israel. The caravans that passed though Israel between Assyria and Egypt paid taxes into the treasury of Jeroboam II and sold their goods in our midst. They also left their sons and daughters and their gods. These gods of the Assyrians, the Egyptians, of the ancient Canaanites and of Jezebel have wooed the hearts of my people. Altars built for sin offerings have become places for sinning.
If you were to walk through my land today, you would see images and altars in all the green groves. My people have many sheep and cattle. Some think that Baal, the so-called fertility god, is the giver of lambs, of calves, and the fruit of the field. Every city has its high place for the worship of Baal.
There is a high place not far from here. At night, we hear the beat of the priest's music and the laughter of the sacred prostitutes. Just last week a man and woman who live three houses from us placed their infant son as a human sacrifice in the flaming hands of the god Baal.
You may ask how Jehovah's people could sink to such unholy ways. It is because the priests of God have departed from him. They delight in the sins of the people; they lap it up and lick their lips for more. Thus it is, "Like priests, like people." Because the priests are wicked, the people are wicked as well. God will surely judge. My beautiful land is just a few short years from being crushed under the iron heel of the Assyrian military might.
You did not come to hear a story of gloom and sin but love and hope.
Yes, thirty years ago God appointed me a prophet in Israel. My father, Beeri, and my honored mother taught me early to fear Jehovah, the one true God of Israel. They taught me to hate the calf deity of the first Jeroboam. Daily we prayed. Daily we longed to return to the temple in Jerusalem. Daily we sang the songs of David and hungered for the coming of Messiah.
My ministry has always been hard. The first ten years were the hot-blooded days of my twenties. My sermons were sermons of fire. My heart bled for my people. I was little heeded and generally scorned. In my thirty-second year, God stirred me. I spent many days in prayer and meditation. I felt lonely and in need of a companion.
The first frosts of fall had tinted the leaves when I traveled with my parents to visit the home of Diblaim. In the busy activity of ministry, I had not seen the family for several years. We were engaged in lively conversation when through the door swept a young woman, Gomer, the daughter of Diblaim. I remembered her as a pretty and somewhat spoiled child. Now she was a hauntingly beautiful woman. Her ivory face was framed in a wealth of raven black hair. Her striking beauty distracted me and I had great difficulty in turning my eyes from her.
As we returned to our home that day, my father and I talked of many things. In my mind lingered the image of a raven-haired Israelite. My father's friendship with Diblaim flourished and I often journeyed with him to visit. I was drawn to Gomer. Diblaim and my father talked incessantly. Then one day my father astounded me with the proposal, "Hosea, it is my desire that you should marry Gomer."
I did not question that I loved Gomer. But something about her troubled me. As most young women of her time, she had a love for expensive clothing, jewelry and cosmetics. That I accepted as part of her womanhood. She seemed experienced beyond her years in the ways of the world.
Yet, I loved her. It was my father's will that I should marry her. I knew that my burning love for Jehovah would win her from any wanton ways. God confirmed to me that indeed Gomer was his choice as well.
I wooed her with the passion of a prophet. God had given me the gift of poetry and I flooded Gomer with words of love.
She responded to my love. We stood together beneath the flower-strewn canopy of the Hebrew marriage altar and pledged eternal love to God and to each other. We listened together to the reading of God's laws of marriage. We heard the reminder that our marriage was a symbol of the marriage between Jehovah and Israel, his wife.
I took Gomer to my home. We read together the Song of Songs, which is Solomon's. We ate the sweet fruit of its garden of love. She was as refreshing to me as the first fig of the season. Gomer seemed content in the love of God and of Hosea. I looked forward to the future with hope.
Shortly after the anniversary of our first year of marriage, Gomer presented me with a son. I sought God's face and learned that his name was to be Jezreel—a name that would constantly remind Israel that God's judgment was surely coming. It was a stark reminder to me of the times in which we lived.
After the birth of Jezreel, Gomer changed. She became distant and a sensual look flashed in her eye. I thought it a reaction to the responsibility of caring for our son. Those were busy days. The message of God inflamed me and I cried out across the land.
Gomer was soon with child again. This time a daughter was born. I learned from God that her name was to be Lo-Ruhamah. It was a strange name and troubled me deeply for it meant, "Not loved." For God said, "I will no longer show my love to the nation of Israel, that I should forgive her."
Gomer began to drift from me after that. Often she would leave after putting the children to bed and not return until dawn. She grew worn, haggard, and rebellious. I sought every way possible to restore her to me, but to no avail. About eighteen months later a third child was born, a boy. God told me to call him, Lo-Ammi—meaning, "Not my people."
God said to Israel, "You are not my people, and I am not your God." In my heart a thorn was driven. I knew that he was not my son and that his sister was not the fruit of my love. Those were days of deep despair. I could not sing the songs of David. My heart broke within me.
After Lo-Ammi was weaned, Gomer went beyond my reach—and did not return. I became both father and mother to the three children.
I felt blight upon my soul. My ministry seemed paralyzed by the waywardness of my wife. My prayers seemed to sink downward. Then the Lord stirred me. I came to know that God was going to use my experience as an illustration of his love for Israel.
Love flamed again for Gomer and I knew that I could not give her up. I sought her throughout Samaria. I found her in the ramshackle house of a lustful, dissolute Israelite who lacked the means to support her. I begged her to return. She spurned all my pleadings.
Heavy-hearted, I returned to the children, mourned, and prayed. My mind warmed with a plan. I went to the market, bought food and clothing for Gomer. I bought the jewelry and the cosmetics she loved so dearly.
Then I sought out her lover in private. He was suspicious, thinking that I had come to do him harm. When I told him my plan, a sly smile crept over his face. He understood that if I could not take Gomer home, my love would not allow me to see her destitute. I would provide all her needs and she could think that they came from him.
We struck hands on the bargain. He struggled home under his load of provisions. I followed in the shadows.
Gomer met him with joy and showered him with love. She told him to wait outside the house while she replaced her dirty, worn apparel with the new. After what seemed hours, she reappeared dressed in radiant splendor.
Her lover approached to embrace her, but she held him off. I heard her say, "No, the clothes and food and cosmetics are not from your hand, for where would you get them? Surely, they are from the hand of Baal who gives all such things. I am resolved to express my gratitude to Baal by serving as a priestess at the high place."
I saw her walk away. She seemed like the rebellious heifer I had seen as a youth in my father's herd. She could not be helped but would go astray. The more I tried to restore her the further she went from me. Feeble with inner pain, I stumbled home to sleepless nights and days of confusion and grief.
Gomer gave herself with reckless abandonment to her role of priestess of Baal. She eagerly prostituted her body to the wanton will of the worshipers of the sordid deity.
My ministry became a pilgrimage of pain. I became an object of derision. It seemed that the penalty for the sin of Gomer—and of all my people—had settled on me.
I fell back upon Jehovah. My father and mother aided me in the care and instruction of the three children. They responded in love and obedience. They became the Balm of Gilead for my wounded heart. The years passed as I sounded the burden of God throughout the land.
Daily I prayed for Gomer and as I prayed, love for her sang in my soul. She was my nightly dream. A dream so real that on waking I often felt as if she had just left me again.
The years flowed on but the priests of Baal held her in their deadly clutch.
It was just over a year ago that it happened. The blush of spring was beginning to touch our land. In the midst of my morning hour of meditation, God seemed to move me to go among the people of Samaria. A sense of deep anticipation stirred me. I wandered through the streets.
Soon I was standing in the slave market. It was a place I loathed. Then I saw a priest of Baal lead a woman to the slave block. My heart stood still. It was Gomer. A terrible sight she was to be sure, but it was Gomer. Stark naked she stood on the block. But no man stared in lust. She was broken, haggard and thin as a wisp of smoke. Her ribs stood out beneath the skin. Her hair was matted and touched with streaks of gray and in her eye was the flash of madness. I wept.
Then softly the voice of God's love whispered to my heart. I paused, confused. The bidding reached thirteen shekels of silver before I fully understood God's purposes. I bid fifteen shekels of silver. There was a pause. A voice on the edge of the crowd shouted, "Fifteen shekels and a homer of barley."
"Fifteen shekels, a homer and half of barley," I cried. The bidding was done.
As I approached the slave block, a murmur of disbelief surged through the crowd. They knew me and they knew Gomer. As I mounted the block they leaned forward in anticipation. Surely, I would strike her dead on the spot for her waywardness. But my heart flowed with love.
I stood in front of Gomer and cried out to the people. "God says, 'Unless Israel remove her adulteries from her, I will strip her as naked as the day she was born. I will make her as a desert place and leave her like a parched land to die of thirst.'"
I spoke to a merchant at a nearby booth, "Bring that white robe on the end of the rack."
I paid him the price he asked. Then I tenderly drew the robe around Gomer's emaciated body and said to her, "Gomer, you are mine by the natural right of a husband. Now you are also mine because I have bought you for a price. You will no longer wander from me or play the harlot. You must be confined for a time and then I will restore you to the full joys of womanhood."
She sighed and fainting fell into my arms. I held her and spoke to my people, "Israel will remain many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or ephod. Afterward Israel will return and seek the Lord her God and David her king. She will come trembling to the Lord and to his benefits in the last days. And where it was said of Israel, 'Lo-Ru-hamah—you are not loved, it will be said, 'Ruhamah—you are loved.' For the love of God will not give you up, but pursue you down your days. And where Israel was called, 'Lo-Ammi, you are not my people,' it will be said, 'Ammi, you are the people of the living God,' for I will forgive you and restore you."
I returned home with my frail burden. I nursed Gomer back to health. Daily I read to her the writings of God. I taught her to sing the penitential songs of David and then together we sang the songs of David's joyful praise to God. In the midst of song, I restored her to God, to our home, to our children.
Do you not see how beautiful she is? I have loved her always, even in the depth of her waywardness because my God loved her. Gomer responded to God's love and to mine. She does not call me "my master" but "my husband." And the name of Baal has never again been on her lips.
Now my people listen to my message with new responsiveness for I am a prophet that has been thrilled with a great truth. I have come to know in the depth of my being how desperately God loves sinners. How deliberately he seeks them! With what devotion He woos them to himself!
John W. Reed
Introduction: It is the year 725 BC. It is the Northern Kingdom of Israel. You are there.
Monologue
I have been called the prophet of the broken heart, but I would rather be remembered as the prophet of love and hope. I am Hosea, prophet of God to Israel, my homeland.
We are standing in front of my home on the outskirts of Samaria our beautiful capital city. There beneath the oak tree is Gomer, my wife; I love her as I love my own life. You will learn to love her too. Sitting beside her is our son, Jezreel. He is eighteen now, handsome and strong—a young man with a heart for God. At Gomer's feet and looking up at her is Ruhamah, our daughter. Do you see how her raven hair glistens? She is the image of her mother. She was sixteen just half a year ago. Beside her is Ammi, her brother. He is fifteen and as warm and bubbling as the flowing brook that you hear in the background.
We are happy and at peace. It has not always been so.
I began my ministry as a prophet almost thirty years ago during the reign of Jeroboam II. Those were years of great prosperity in Israel. The caravans that passed though Israel between Assyria and Egypt paid taxes into the treasury of Jeroboam II and sold their goods in our midst. They also left their sons and daughters and their gods. These gods of the Assyrians, the Egyptians, of the ancient Canaanites and of Jezebel have wooed the hearts of my people. Altars built for sin offerings have become places for sinning.
If you were to walk through my land today, you would see images and altars in all the green groves. My people have many sheep and cattle. Some think that Baal, the so-called fertility god, is the giver of lambs, of calves, and the fruit of the field. Every city has its high place for the worship of Baal.
There is a high place not far from here. At night, we hear the beat of the priest's music and the laughter of the sacred prostitutes. Just last week a man and woman who live three houses from us placed their infant son as a human sacrifice in the flaming hands of the god Baal.
You may ask how Jehovah's people could sink to such unholy ways. It is because the priests of God have departed from him. They delight in the sins of the people; they lap it up and lick their lips for more. Thus it is, "Like priests, like people." Because the priests are wicked, the people are wicked as well. God will surely judge. My beautiful land is just a few short years from being crushed under the iron heel of the Assyrian military might.
You did not come to hear a story of gloom and sin but love and hope.
Yes, thirty years ago God appointed me a prophet in Israel. My father, Beeri, and my honored mother taught me early to fear Jehovah, the one true God of Israel. They taught me to hate the calf deity of the first Jeroboam. Daily we prayed. Daily we longed to return to the temple in Jerusalem. Daily we sang the songs of David and hungered for the coming of Messiah.
My ministry has always been hard. The first ten years were the hot-blooded days of my twenties. My sermons were sermons of fire. My heart bled for my people. I was little heeded and generally scorned. In my thirty-second year, God stirred me. I spent many days in prayer and meditation. I felt lonely and in need of a companion.
The first frosts of fall had tinted the leaves when I traveled with my parents to visit the home of Diblaim. In the busy activity of ministry, I had not seen the family for several years. We were engaged in lively conversation when through the door swept a young woman, Gomer, the daughter of Diblaim. I remembered her as a pretty and somewhat spoiled child. Now she was a hauntingly beautiful woman. Her ivory face was framed in a wealth of raven black hair. Her striking beauty distracted me and I had great difficulty in turning my eyes from her.
As we returned to our home that day, my father and I talked of many things. In my mind lingered the image of a raven-haired Israelite. My father's friendship with Diblaim flourished and I often journeyed with him to visit. I was drawn to Gomer. Diblaim and my father talked incessantly. Then one day my father astounded me with the proposal, "Hosea, it is my desire that you should marry Gomer."
I did not question that I loved Gomer. But something about her troubled me. As most young women of her time, she had a love for expensive clothing, jewelry and cosmetics. That I accepted as part of her womanhood. She seemed experienced beyond her years in the ways of the world.
Yet, I loved her. It was my father's will that I should marry her. I knew that my burning love for Jehovah would win her from any wanton ways. God confirmed to me that indeed Gomer was his choice as well.
I wooed her with the passion of a prophet. God had given me the gift of poetry and I flooded Gomer with words of love.
She responded to my love. We stood together beneath the flower-strewn canopy of the Hebrew marriage altar and pledged eternal love to God and to each other. We listened together to the reading of God's laws of marriage. We heard the reminder that our marriage was a symbol of the marriage between Jehovah and Israel, his wife.
I took Gomer to my home. We read together the Song of Songs, which is Solomon's. We ate the sweet fruit of its garden of love. She was as refreshing to me as the first fig of the season. Gomer seemed content in the love of God and of Hosea. I looked forward to the future with hope.
Shortly after the anniversary of our first year of marriage, Gomer presented me with a son. I sought God's face and learned that his name was to be Jezreel—a name that would constantly remind Israel that God's judgment was surely coming. It was a stark reminder to me of the times in which we lived.
After the birth of Jezreel, Gomer changed. She became distant and a sensual look flashed in her eye. I thought it a reaction to the responsibility of caring for our son. Those were busy days. The message of God inflamed me and I cried out across the land.
Gomer was soon with child again. This time a daughter was born. I learned from God that her name was to be Lo-Ruhamah. It was a strange name and troubled me deeply for it meant, "Not loved." For God said, "I will no longer show my love to the nation of Israel, that I should forgive her."
Gomer began to drift from me after that. Often she would leave after putting the children to bed and not return until dawn. She grew worn, haggard, and rebellious. I sought every way possible to restore her to me, but to no avail. About eighteen months later a third child was born, a boy. God told me to call him, Lo-Ammi—meaning, "Not my people."
God said to Israel, "You are not my people, and I am not your God." In my heart a thorn was driven. I knew that he was not my son and that his sister was not the fruit of my love. Those were days of deep despair. I could not sing the songs of David. My heart broke within me.
After Lo-Ammi was weaned, Gomer went beyond my reach—and did not return. I became both father and mother to the three children.
I felt blight upon my soul. My ministry seemed paralyzed by the waywardness of my wife. My prayers seemed to sink downward. Then the Lord stirred me. I came to know that God was going to use my experience as an illustration of his love for Israel.
Love flamed again for Gomer and I knew that I could not give her up. I sought her throughout Samaria. I found her in the ramshackle house of a lustful, dissolute Israelite who lacked the means to support her. I begged her to return. She spurned all my pleadings.
Heavy-hearted, I returned to the children, mourned, and prayed. My mind warmed with a plan. I went to the market, bought food and clothing for Gomer. I bought the jewelry and the cosmetics she loved so dearly.
Then I sought out her lover in private. He was suspicious, thinking that I had come to do him harm. When I told him my plan, a sly smile crept over his face. He understood that if I could not take Gomer home, my love would not allow me to see her destitute. I would provide all her needs and she could think that they came from him.
We struck hands on the bargain. He struggled home under his load of provisions. I followed in the shadows.
Gomer met him with joy and showered him with love. She told him to wait outside the house while she replaced her dirty, worn apparel with the new. After what seemed hours, she reappeared dressed in radiant splendor.
Her lover approached to embrace her, but she held him off. I heard her say, "No, the clothes and food and cosmetics are not from your hand, for where would you get them? Surely, they are from the hand of Baal who gives all such things. I am resolved to express my gratitude to Baal by serving as a priestess at the high place."
I saw her walk away. She seemed like the rebellious heifer I had seen as a youth in my father's herd. She could not be helped but would go astray. The more I tried to restore her the further she went from me. Feeble with inner pain, I stumbled home to sleepless nights and days of confusion and grief.
Gomer gave herself with reckless abandonment to her role of priestess of Baal. She eagerly prostituted her body to the wanton will of the worshipers of the sordid deity.
My ministry became a pilgrimage of pain. I became an object of derision. It seemed that the penalty for the sin of Gomer—and of all my people—had settled on me.
I fell back upon Jehovah. My father and mother aided me in the care and instruction of the three children. They responded in love and obedience. They became the Balm of Gilead for my wounded heart. The years passed as I sounded the burden of God throughout the land.
Daily I prayed for Gomer and as I prayed, love for her sang in my soul. She was my nightly dream. A dream so real that on waking I often felt as if she had just left me again.
The years flowed on but the priests of Baal held her in their deadly clutch.
It was just over a year ago that it happened. The blush of spring was beginning to touch our land. In the midst of my morning hour of meditation, God seemed to move me to go among the people of Samaria. A sense of deep anticipation stirred me. I wandered through the streets.
Soon I was standing in the slave market. It was a place I loathed. Then I saw a priest of Baal lead a woman to the slave block. My heart stood still. It was Gomer. A terrible sight she was to be sure, but it was Gomer. Stark naked she stood on the block. But no man stared in lust. She was broken, haggard and thin as a wisp of smoke. Her ribs stood out beneath the skin. Her hair was matted and touched with streaks of gray and in her eye was the flash of madness. I wept.
Then softly the voice of God's love whispered to my heart. I paused, confused. The bidding reached thirteen shekels of silver before I fully understood God's purposes. I bid fifteen shekels of silver. There was a pause. A voice on the edge of the crowd shouted, "Fifteen shekels and a homer of barley."
"Fifteen shekels, a homer and half of barley," I cried. The bidding was done.
As I approached the slave block, a murmur of disbelief surged through the crowd. They knew me and they knew Gomer. As I mounted the block they leaned forward in anticipation. Surely, I would strike her dead on the spot for her waywardness. But my heart flowed with love.
I stood in front of Gomer and cried out to the people. "God says, 'Unless Israel remove her adulteries from her, I will strip her as naked as the day she was born. I will make her as a desert place and leave her like a parched land to die of thirst.'"
I spoke to a merchant at a nearby booth, "Bring that white robe on the end of the rack."
I paid him the price he asked. Then I tenderly drew the robe around Gomer's emaciated body and said to her, "Gomer, you are mine by the natural right of a husband. Now you are also mine because I have bought you for a price. You will no longer wander from me or play the harlot. You must be confined for a time and then I will restore you to the full joys of womanhood."
She sighed and fainting fell into my arms. I held her and spoke to my people, "Israel will remain many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or ephod. Afterward Israel will return and seek the Lord her God and David her king. She will come trembling to the Lord and to his benefits in the last days. And where it was said of Israel, 'Lo-Ru-hamah—you are not loved, it will be said, 'Ruhamah—you are loved.' For the love of God will not give you up, but pursue you down your days. And where Israel was called, 'Lo-Ammi, you are not my people,' it will be said, 'Ammi, you are the people of the living God,' for I will forgive you and restore you."
I returned home with my frail burden. I nursed Gomer back to health. Daily I read to her the writings of God. I taught her to sing the penitential songs of David and then together we sang the songs of David's joyful praise to God. In the midst of song, I restored her to God, to our home, to our children.
Do you not see how beautiful she is? I have loved her always, even in the depth of her waywardness because my God loved her. Gomer responded to God's love and to mine. She does not call me "my master" but "my husband." And the name of Baal has never again been on her lips.
Now my people listen to my message with new responsiveness for I am a prophet that has been thrilled with a great truth. I have come to know in the depth of my being how desperately God loves sinners. How deliberately he seeks them! With what devotion He woos them to himself!
Monday, October 27, 2008
Doing away with HELL
Did you know that the new Bible translations are doing away with hell? Click this link to see a chart showing how many times hell is mentioned in each version. I remember learning from the KJV when I was young that you are not to add or subtract from God's word. Doesn't that scare any of these people who write new translations?
http://www.tentmaker.org/articles/Hell_is_Leaving_the_Bible_Forever.html
http://www.tentmaker.org/articles/Hell_is_Leaving_the_Bible_Forever.html
A paraphrased parable for todays women
A certain man had a wife and three children. The wife becoming dissatisfied with being a mother and doing housework and coveting the money and material belongings of her neighbors, said to her husband: "Secure for me the social security number that falleth to me, divide unto me thy wardrobe of trousers, and I will go out into the world and seek a man's job." With reluctant heart the husband granted her desire and divided his wardrobe.
Not many days later the wife donned slacks and with a tool box took her journey far across town and secured a man's job. She made big wages but she associated with the wicked and listened to the vulgar stories that they told. There was a mighty spiritual famine in the land, and she grew lean in her soul.
The children turned loose at the mercy of the neighbors, soon forgot they had a mother. But the husband fondly remembered how it was in the home when the wife had been there and wished that she would return. He dined on cold lunch meat while the wife tried in vain to fill her stomach with the husks of cheese crackers that fell from the vending machine. And no man gave unto her the respect due to a lady. One day at rest period as she sat engulfed in cigarette smoke and smutty stories, she came to herself. "Here I sit surrounded by vulgarity having sacrificed the respect due to a lady. At home is my deserted husband, and roaming the streets unrestrained are my children. The money I make seems so small when compared to the peace of mind aA paraphrase of a Bible parable for today's prodigal women.
A certain man had a wife and three children. The wife becoming dissatisfied with being a mother and doing housework and coveting the money and material belongings of her neighbors, said to her husband: "Secure for me the social security number that falleth to me, divide unto me thy wardrobe of trousers, and I will go out into the world and seek a man's job." With reluctant heart the husband granted her desire and divided his wardrobe.
Not many days later the wife donned slacks and with a tool box took her journey far across town and secured a man's job. She made big wages but she associated with the wicked and listened to the vulgar stories that they told. There was a mighty spiritual famine in the land, and she grew lean in her soul.
The children turned loose at the mercy of the neighbors, soon forgot they had a mother. But the husband fondly remembered how it was in the home when the wife had been there and wished that she would return. He dined on cold lunch meat while the wife tried in vain to fill her stomach with the husks of cheese crackers that fell from the vending machine. And no man gave unto her the respect due to a lady. One day at rest period as she sat engulfed in cigarette smoke and smutty stories, she came to herself. "Here I sit surrounded by vulgarity having sacrificed the respect due to a lady. At home is my deserted husband, and roaming the streets unrestrained are my children. The money I make seems so small when compared to the peace of mind and soul that was mine before I left home."
In vain she did try to smother her conscience with thoughts that she was contributing to the family's economic welfare. However, it was in vain. Therefore she said to herself, "I will arise and go to my husband and will say to him, 'Husband, I have sinned against heaven in neglecting you and the children in this way. I am no more worthy to be called thy wife nor mother to thy children; make me thy hired housekeeper.'" So, she gathered her tools and started home. While she was still a long way off, the husband saw her and ran and clasped her in his arms. And the wife said, "Husband, I am not more worthy to be called thy wife, nor the mother of they children." But the husband said to the children, "Run and bring hither a dress and the best apron. Rush to the market and get a steak off the fatted calf, and let us have a hot meal once more. For this thy mother was lost but is found, so rejoice and be merry." nd soul that was mine before I left home."
Not many days later the wife donned slacks and with a tool box took her journey far across town and secured a man's job. She made big wages but she associated with the wicked and listened to the vulgar stories that they told. There was a mighty spiritual famine in the land, and she grew lean in her soul.
The children turned loose at the mercy of the neighbors, soon forgot they had a mother. But the husband fondly remembered how it was in the home when the wife had been there and wished that she would return. He dined on cold lunch meat while the wife tried in vain to fill her stomach with the husks of cheese crackers that fell from the vending machine. And no man gave unto her the respect due to a lady. One day at rest period as she sat engulfed in cigarette smoke and smutty stories, she came to herself. "Here I sit surrounded by vulgarity having sacrificed the respect due to a lady. At home is my deserted husband, and roaming the streets unrestrained are my children. The money I make seems so small when compared to the peace of mind aA paraphrase of a Bible parable for today's prodigal women.
A certain man had a wife and three children. The wife becoming dissatisfied with being a mother and doing housework and coveting the money and material belongings of her neighbors, said to her husband: "Secure for me the social security number that falleth to me, divide unto me thy wardrobe of trousers, and I will go out into the world and seek a man's job." With reluctant heart the husband granted her desire and divided his wardrobe.
Not many days later the wife donned slacks and with a tool box took her journey far across town and secured a man's job. She made big wages but she associated with the wicked and listened to the vulgar stories that they told. There was a mighty spiritual famine in the land, and she grew lean in her soul.
The children turned loose at the mercy of the neighbors, soon forgot they had a mother. But the husband fondly remembered how it was in the home when the wife had been there and wished that she would return. He dined on cold lunch meat while the wife tried in vain to fill her stomach with the husks of cheese crackers that fell from the vending machine. And no man gave unto her the respect due to a lady. One day at rest period as she sat engulfed in cigarette smoke and smutty stories, she came to herself. "Here I sit surrounded by vulgarity having sacrificed the respect due to a lady. At home is my deserted husband, and roaming the streets unrestrained are my children. The money I make seems so small when compared to the peace of mind and soul that was mine before I left home."
In vain she did try to smother her conscience with thoughts that she was contributing to the family's economic welfare. However, it was in vain. Therefore she said to herself, "I will arise and go to my husband and will say to him, 'Husband, I have sinned against heaven in neglecting you and the children in this way. I am no more worthy to be called thy wife nor mother to thy children; make me thy hired housekeeper.'" So, she gathered her tools and started home. While she was still a long way off, the husband saw her and ran and clasped her in his arms. And the wife said, "Husband, I am not more worthy to be called thy wife, nor the mother of they children." But the husband said to the children, "Run and bring hither a dress and the best apron. Rush to the market and get a steak off the fatted calf, and let us have a hot meal once more. For this thy mother was lost but is found, so rejoice and be merry." nd soul that was mine before I left home."
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Woo Hoo another wags coupon
Click the link to get a $5.00 off $20.00 Walgreens coupon. Remember your purchase must be $20.00 after all other coupons are taken off. Good Friday the 24th and saturday the 25th only.
http://www.walgreens.com/hotbuys/default.jsp?ec=hn613_getcoupon
http://www.walgreens.com/hotbuys/default.jsp?ec=hn613_getcoupon
Monday, October 20, 2008
Litchen Tip Tuesday on Monday again.
Easy Salmon Patties
Open and drain salmon. Place salmon in a bowl. I use my clean hand and smash it all up, bones and all. Crack two eggs into bowl. I then sprinkle oat meal or crushed crackers into the bowl and mix it up. I never measure but I would guess we used 3/4 c. oatmeal. Mix this up with your hand and gently form into patties. Carefully place formed patties into a skillet that has a little bit of oil in the bottom. Cook over medium heat until nicely browned on both sides.
I like fried potatoes with this. Serve a nice vegetable and there you have a frugal meal.
Just for fun here is a cost breakdown.
Salmon on sale $1.00
2 eggs 13 each or .26 I have chickens so 0 for me
3/4 c. oatmeal .20 (guess)
3 lbs potatoes 1.50
oil .50
canned vegetable .34
total $3.80 or $3.54 for me.
Selling things
I think the goats, the small steer, and the chickens might be sold. The girls will be glad to quit milking. I will not be glad not to have good fresh milk anymore. I don't even know what milk costs any more. Plus the preacher's family will have to start buying milk too.
Saturday, October 18, 2008
House for Sale
The home shown in the header is our house and it is now for sale. Its a lovely Victorian with updated wiring and plumbing. It is situated on 16 acres 23 minutes east of Guymon, Oklahoma. This lovely home has many amenities. The beauty of this home is matchless. Close enough to the city but yet still a country home. This lovely home has 3 bedrooms, a family room, two living rooms, two full baths, a dinning room, pantry, kitchen, office, utility room, sitting room, and partial basement. The pretty wrap around porch makes this home an attractive place to sit and enjoy the breeze. Listing price is $175,000.00. Call Debbie today at 580-888-4239 to make an appointment to see this beautiful home.
Its official
Jeff took a job in Tulsa yesterday. He will start Nov. 3. The girls and I will stay here and get things sold and organized. We figure we will be here a minimum of 3-6 months. The girls and I are trying to learn to sell things on eBay.
We have so much stuff. Our goal is to down size drastically. When we moved here it took an entire semi truck plus more. We have since accumulated twice that much stuff. We have animals, farm implements etc. to get rid of. We have books galore.
Sell, sell, sell. Dave Ramsey would be proud. We are being ruthless and drastic. Our goal is to sell and downsize and become debt free.
We will then save up and buy a house or something with cash. My brother in law has been working out of town and living in his camper. He will be finished using it just three days before Jeff needs something to live in. We prayed that God would provide and indeed He did. How great is that, that Wayne will not need the camper just when Jeff needs it. I call it wonderful and God's provision.
Have you ever heard of the Port of Catoosa?
We have so much stuff. Our goal is to down size drastically. When we moved here it took an entire semi truck plus more. We have since accumulated twice that much stuff. We have animals, farm implements etc. to get rid of. We have books galore.
Sell, sell, sell. Dave Ramsey would be proud. We are being ruthless and drastic. Our goal is to sell and downsize and become debt free.
We will then save up and buy a house or something with cash. My brother in law has been working out of town and living in his camper. He will be finished using it just three days before Jeff needs something to live in. We prayed that God would provide and indeed He did. How great is that, that Wayne will not need the camper just when Jeff needs it. I call it wonderful and God's provision.
Have you ever heard of the Port of Catoosa?
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Another coupon you can print with no limit
Whoo, Hoo, I found another coupon you can print to your hearts content. Not that you need a million hair things but anyway. It expires 12/31/08
http://www.goodycomfort.com/res/pdf/ouchless_coupon.pdf
http://www.goodycomfort.com/res/pdf/ouchless_coupon.pdf
Do not print this coupon, go to the site and get the coupon. This one might not work. It wouldn't be clear.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Hannah
Hannah said "Mom, quick come look, before it falls down" and this is what I saw. She said "Yeah I reached my goal." She is funny.
Mini Bread loaves & Salisbury Steak
The bread was made using the recipe in my archives for the bread machine in a jar mix. The Salisbury steak is the Hillbilly Housewife recipe. The link is on my right sidebar. It smells really good cooking right now. If you look up the recipe you will notice I made individual steaks instead of the one big one the recipe calls for.Easy Baked Potatoes
An easy way to make baked potatoes is in your crock pot. Just scrub your potatoes really good and place them in the crock pot. It takes about 3 hours on high and probably 6 on low. I baked them on high. It keeps them moist and tender.
lunch
The girls made the tuna chowder for lunch today because we ended up switching a few meals. It was delish.
On Sunday we didn't have Salisbury steak we just ate the left overs from lunch. Today I scrubbed the potatoes and put them in the crock pot on high. I will decide later if we will just have them with toppings or have the Salisbury steak tonight.
I really like having at least a very good idea of what we are eating. I also made the rule that we all eat the same thing. We had gotten into the habit since the girls are older and can cook of everyone doing their own thing.
I know we will save money by everyone eating the same thing.
Its been raining cats and dogs for a few days. We sure needed it. It is coming really fast though. I hope it has a chance to soak in.
We had to light the furnace and turn it on today. It was 63 in here. The girls put on lots of clothes.
I am so warm blooded that I still am barefoot with Capri's and a long sleeve shirt and I am comfortable.
On Sunday we didn't have Salisbury steak we just ate the left overs from lunch. Today I scrubbed the potatoes and put them in the crock pot on high. I will decide later if we will just have them with toppings or have the Salisbury steak tonight.
I really like having at least a very good idea of what we are eating. I also made the rule that we all eat the same thing. We had gotten into the habit since the girls are older and can cook of everyone doing their own thing.
I know we will save money by everyone eating the same thing.
Its been raining cats and dogs for a few days. We sure needed it. It is coming really fast though. I hope it has a chance to soak in.
We had to light the furnace and turn it on today. It was 63 in here. The girls put on lots of clothes.
I am so warm blooded that I still am barefoot with Capri's and a long sleeve shirt and I am comfortable.
Monday, October 13, 2008
$8.00 perscription glasses
I keep hearing about these $8.00 prescription glasses. I looked briefly at their site today and I might try them when I get my eyes checked. I am a year or two over due for an appointment. Here is the site so you can see for yourself.
http://zennioptical.com/cart/home.php?cat=20
http://zennioptical.com/cart/home.php?cat=20
Kitchen tip Tuesday on Monday LOL
Easy,easy stuffed jalapenos. Wearing plastic gloves cut the top off of the jalapeno. Cut the pepper in half lengthwise. Scrape out all the seeds. When you get them all cleaned have someone else wash them. Every time I do this I start to cough. Isn't that silly? OK, now put some cream cheese in the empty pepper and wrap a half slice of bacon around it and secure it with a toothpick. Place in a pan. Bake at 350 until its done.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Tuna Chowder
My sister Carol asked for my recipe for tuna chowder. I use the one from the Tightwad Gazette. Here it is.
The Tightwad Gazette.
Tuna Cheddar Chowder
2 carrots, shredded
1 onion, chopped
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1/4 cup flour
2 cups chicken broth2 cups milk
1 6 1/2 oz can of tuna fish, drained and flaked
1/2 teaspoon celery seed (I often leave this out)
1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/4 t salt
1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
In a large saucepan, saute the carrots and onions in the butter until onion is transparent. Mix in the flour. Add the chicken broth and milk. Heat and stir constantly until thick and bubbling. Add the tuna, celery seed, Worcestershire sauce, and salt. Heat through. Add the cheese and stir until it melts. Serves four.
The Tightwad Gazette.
Tuna Cheddar Chowder
2 carrots, shredded
1 onion, chopped
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1/4 cup flour
2 cups chicken broth2 cups milk
1 6 1/2 oz can of tuna fish, drained and flaked
1/2 teaspoon celery seed (I often leave this out)
1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/4 t salt
1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
In a large saucepan, saute the carrots and onions in the butter until onion is transparent. Mix in the flour. Add the chicken broth and milk. Heat and stir constantly until thick and bubbling. Add the tuna, celery seed, Worcestershire sauce, and salt. Heat through. Add the cheese and stir until it melts. Serves four.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Homemade Tortillas
The girls and I made homemade tortillas this evening for tomorrows menu. That way we can put the rice on to cook in the am and when we get home from church, dinner will be ready. The recipe is from Hillbilly housewife. We didn't have any baking powder so we made them with out it. I read somewhere that as you take the tortillas off the stove to place them into a plastic bag to cool and they will be more pliable, so that's what we do. Its good for the girls to help with preparations to learn to think ahead.
Printable coupon
I love it when I come across a coupon that can be printed as many times as you want and even saved to your computer. Yippee.
Here is a link to a coupon for Healthy Choice Fresh Mixers. $1.00 off, its good until 01/31/09 I am excited to see how much they cost before the coupon. If anyone finds out please let me know.
Here is a link to a coupon for Healthy Choice Fresh Mixers. $1.00 off, its good until 01/31/09 I am excited to see how much they cost before the coupon. If anyone finds out please let me know.
Menu Planning
I finally got back into menu planning. I know it saves huge on groceries. I got the rest of this month and most of November planned. Its so great knowing what to fix and sticking to the plan unless something comes up. It helps me to prepare too. Such as soaking beans and such. I don't plan breakfasts, or lunches, there are certain things we eat then, its the evening and weekend meals that get me stumped. Here are the next two weeks of my plan.
Saturday eve- tuna melts on homemade bread
Sunday noon-pinto beans and rice with homemade tortillas
eve-Salisbury steak
Monday eve- tuna chowder
Tuesday eve- Baked potatoes with cheesy broccoli topping
Wednesday eve- Sloppy Joe's on homemade bread
Thursday eve- Omelets and toast
Friday eve- Spaghetti
Saturday noon- lentil, rice and hamburger burgers
eve-hash with lentils, rice, hamburger and potatoes
Sunday noon- Mexican meatballs
eve-chicken pot pie
Monday eve- salmon patties
Tuesday eve- sweet & sour chicken over rice
Wednesday eve-bread sticks and pizza sauce
Thursday eve- Meatloaf
Friday eve- grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup
Saturday noon-
eve-country pie
Sunday noon-
eve-hamburger, potato casserole
Monday eve-Potato, salmon Au gratin
Tuesday eve-porcupine meatballs
Wednesday eve- kielbasa, beans and cornbread
Thursday eve-lentil, rice casserole
Friday eve- meatball soup
That is three weeks instead of two and I see a couple of gaps. I'll figure out something or make leftovers.
Another thing I am doing is this. I have a large plastic container with a lid in the freezer. Its labeled soup pot. Anything left over that would make good soup goes into it and when its kinda full, I will take it out and make soup. Free food.
Saturday eve- tuna melts on homemade bread
Sunday noon-pinto beans and rice with homemade tortillas
eve-Salisbury steak
Monday eve- tuna chowder
Tuesday eve- Baked potatoes with cheesy broccoli topping
Wednesday eve- Sloppy Joe's on homemade bread
Thursday eve- Omelets and toast
Friday eve- Spaghetti
Saturday noon- lentil, rice and hamburger burgers
eve-hash with lentils, rice, hamburger and potatoes
Sunday noon- Mexican meatballs
eve-chicken pot pie
Monday eve- salmon patties
Tuesday eve- sweet & sour chicken over rice
Wednesday eve-bread sticks and pizza sauce
Thursday eve- Meatloaf
Friday eve- grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup
Saturday noon-
eve-country pie
Sunday noon-
eve-hamburger, potato casserole
Monday eve-Potato, salmon Au gratin
Tuesday eve-porcupine meatballs
Wednesday eve- kielbasa, beans and cornbread
Thursday eve-lentil, rice casserole
Friday eve- meatball soup
That is three weeks instead of two and I see a couple of gaps. I'll figure out something or make leftovers.
Another thing I am doing is this. I have a large plastic container with a lid in the freezer. Its labeled soup pot. Anything left over that would make good soup goes into it and when its kinda full, I will take it out and make soup. Free food.
Friday, October 10, 2008
Friday
Visit Barbara mom of 12's site and watch the video by the black man who is going to vote for McCain. Its great. If I could figure out how I would post it on my blog.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
The Lockwood Missionaries
I read a blog of a missionary family from Mexico named the Lockwoods. I read this on their blog and thought I would post it on my blog.
We always do the shoeboxes for kids, but it would be fun to send it to someone you kinda actually know.
Here is the info.
Christmas Boxes!
Many of you have written us at some time or another wanting to know if you could help our family and the ministry here as we share the gospel.
This Christmas, we would like to reach out to the families of our town by giving their children a shoebox full of special treats. We will include a gospel tract and portion of God’s Word with each box. Our hope is that these gifts will not only bring happiness to each one that receives them, but that they will give us an opportunity to share with them where true joy come from...knowing the Savior Jesus Christ!
We did this a couple of years ago and it was a tremendous blessing to the people as we gave out over 240 boxes. We would love to be able to hand out 200 boxes this year as well.
I remember, as a child, putting together a shoebox to send to children for Christmas in another country as it was a ministry through our local church. What fun we all had saving our pennies and then (with some help from dad and mom) going to the store to pick out the perfect treats. We always prayed for the child who would be receiving our box, and only eternity will tell how those small gifts may have been used to soften a child’s heart towards Christ.So this year, we would like to do this for the children of our town.
We will pass out whatever boxes we receive and the more the better! And we would love to have your help! If this is something in which you would like to have a part, here are some guidelines:
*Boxes should be shoebox size (you could either send a real shoebox or send a plastic container with a lid that is approximately the same size; the advantage of the plastic container is that the child/family can use it for something later)*
Boxes should be sent to Daniel and Jaynee Lockwood at the field address on the bottom right side bar of this blog; please write “Christmas Shoebox” on the box somewhere as well*
We would like to have all the boxes ready to give out by the beginning of December. Since it takes at least 2 weeks for mail to arrive here, we ask that all boxes be mailed no later than November 15th.*
To make it easier in the distribution, we ask that the boxes contain items that can be used by either a boy or a girl (for example, no pink hair ribbons as a boy would not use those :) )
.Now for the fun part!
Ideas of what to include in the boxes:*
Toys: a small stuffed animal, a ball, a yo-yo, whistle, picture book, a puzzle, a game, play dough, coloring book*
School Supplies: pencils, pencil box, crayons, felt markers, stickers, notebook, erasers, pencil sharpener*
Other: American Candy, scarf, a personal letter*
or picture drawn for the child, comb or brush, toothbrushHere are things to NOT include:
*Chocolate or any other food that could melt, make a mess or spoil*
Medicine*
items that could easily break*
Books or music (other than a note book or coloring book)*
Anything liquid that could spill (bubbles, shampoo, ect...)*
Anything that could be dangerous for a small child (marbles, sharp items ect...)*
Clothing other than maybe a scarf or hat as you don’t know what size the child is that will receive your box
If you have any further questions, feel free to email us Of course, we plan on taking lots of pictures of the children opening their boxes and will post some on the blog.
Wouldn’t it be fun to see a picture of a child opening the box that YOU sent? :
)*Spanish phrases that you could include in a personal note if you would like:
Dios le bendiga– God Bless you
Jesus te ama– Jesus loves you
Feliz Navidad– Merry Christmas
Dios te ama– God love you
Estoy orando por ti– I am praying for you
Con amor de - With love from
Contact Information
Field Address:
APDO #8
Col. Centro
Cd. Insurgentes,
BCSCP- 23700 MEXICO
Home Phone:To dial from the United States:011-52-613-131-1359
http://www.lockwoodsministry.com/lockwoods2mexico@juno.com
Their blog is listed on my right sidebar if you would like to visit their site.
Pray for their ministry and for them as they are in the path of a hurricane right now.
We always do the shoeboxes for kids, but it would be fun to send it to someone you kinda actually know.
Here is the info.
Christmas Boxes!
Many of you have written us at some time or another wanting to know if you could help our family and the ministry here as we share the gospel.
This Christmas, we would like to reach out to the families of our town by giving their children a shoebox full of special treats. We will include a gospel tract and portion of God’s Word with each box. Our hope is that these gifts will not only bring happiness to each one that receives them, but that they will give us an opportunity to share with them where true joy come from...knowing the Savior Jesus Christ!
We did this a couple of years ago and it was a tremendous blessing to the people as we gave out over 240 boxes. We would love to be able to hand out 200 boxes this year as well.
I remember, as a child, putting together a shoebox to send to children for Christmas in another country as it was a ministry through our local church. What fun we all had saving our pennies and then (with some help from dad and mom) going to the store to pick out the perfect treats. We always prayed for the child who would be receiving our box, and only eternity will tell how those small gifts may have been used to soften a child’s heart towards Christ.So this year, we would like to do this for the children of our town.
We will pass out whatever boxes we receive and the more the better! And we would love to have your help! If this is something in which you would like to have a part, here are some guidelines:
*Boxes should be shoebox size (you could either send a real shoebox or send a plastic container with a lid that is approximately the same size; the advantage of the plastic container is that the child/family can use it for something later)*
Boxes should be sent to Daniel and Jaynee Lockwood at the field address on the bottom right side bar of this blog; please write “Christmas Shoebox” on the box somewhere as well*
We would like to have all the boxes ready to give out by the beginning of December. Since it takes at least 2 weeks for mail to arrive here, we ask that all boxes be mailed no later than November 15th.*
To make it easier in the distribution, we ask that the boxes contain items that can be used by either a boy or a girl (for example, no pink hair ribbons as a boy would not use those :) )
.Now for the fun part!
Ideas of what to include in the boxes:*
Toys: a small stuffed animal, a ball, a yo-yo, whistle, picture book, a puzzle, a game, play dough, coloring book*
School Supplies: pencils, pencil box, crayons, felt markers, stickers, notebook, erasers, pencil sharpener*
Other: American Candy, scarf, a personal letter*
or picture drawn for the child, comb or brush, toothbrushHere are things to NOT include:
*Chocolate or any other food that could melt, make a mess or spoil*
Medicine*
items that could easily break*
Books or music (other than a note book or coloring book)*
Anything liquid that could spill (bubbles, shampoo, ect...)*
Anything that could be dangerous for a small child (marbles, sharp items ect...)*
Clothing other than maybe a scarf or hat as you don’t know what size the child is that will receive your box
If you have any further questions, feel free to email us Of course, we plan on taking lots of pictures of the children opening their boxes and will post some on the blog.
Wouldn’t it be fun to see a picture of a child opening the box that YOU sent? :
)*Spanish phrases that you could include in a personal note if you would like:
Dios le bendiga– God Bless you
Jesus te ama– Jesus loves you
Feliz Navidad– Merry Christmas
Dios te ama– God love you
Estoy orando por ti– I am praying for you
Con amor de - With love from
Contact Information
Field Address:
APDO #8
Col. Centro
Cd. Insurgentes,
BCSCP- 23700 MEXICO
Home Phone:To dial from the United States:011-52-613-131-1359
http://www.lockwoodsministry.com/lockwoods2mexico@juno.com
Their blog is listed on my right sidebar if you would like to visit their site.
Pray for their ministry and for them as they are in the path of a hurricane right now.
Correction
I just reread my bread in a jar recipe and found a mistake.
It says 1 Tbsp oil and it should read 3 Tbsp oil.
I have fixed it on the recipe but if you have printed it out or used it it will work much better with 3Tbsp oil. I hope nobody got bad bread because of me.
It says 1 Tbsp oil and it should read 3 Tbsp oil.
I have fixed it on the recipe but if you have printed it out or used it it will work much better with 3Tbsp oil. I hope nobody got bad bread because of me.
Thursday
We have been so busy. Tuesday the Bible school choir tour was in town. We fixed lunch for them the day they came, then supper after the concert.
The kids and adults were farmed out to families and to spend the night. We had two very nice girls. Lyndzi and Kathren. We only stayed up until 11:00 pm talking.
The next morning we took them back to the church where they had made breakfast for them. This was the first year in a while that I actually got to see the concert.
I always had kids spend the night but had to go somewhere else during their concert. I really enjoyed it. These kids go to the free Bible College I have listed in my right sidebar.
There were 30 people on the bus this year. They have a great tour planned. They are going to the Grand Canyon and then to California and Wyoming I think. What fun.
The kids and adults were farmed out to families and to spend the night. We had two very nice girls. Lyndzi and Kathren. We only stayed up until 11:00 pm talking.
The next morning we took them back to the church where they had made breakfast for them. This was the first year in a while that I actually got to see the concert.
I always had kids spend the night but had to go somewhere else during their concert. I really enjoyed it. These kids go to the free Bible College I have listed in my right sidebar.
There were 30 people on the bus this year. They have a great tour planned. They are going to the Grand Canyon and then to California and Wyoming I think. What fun.
Monday, October 6, 2008
art
I love Norman Rockwell. A good friend of mine gave me a coffee table book of his art for high school graduation. I still have it. I always wished I had written to him to tell him how much I like his art while he was still alive.
Seven Marks of False Teachers
Thomas Brooks (1608-1680) (Puritan writer)
The first character: False teachers are menpleasers. They preach more to please the ear than to profit the heart: “Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits” (Isa 30:10). “A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land; The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?” (Jer 5:30-31). They handle holy things with wit and dalliance(63) rather than with fear and reverence. False teachers are soul-undoers. They are like evil chirurgeons(64) that skin over the wound, but never heal it…False teachers are hell’s greatest enrichers…Such smooth teachers are sweet soul-poisoners (Jer 23:16-17).63 dalliance – light, irreverent action.64 chirurgeons – surgeons.
The second character: False teachers are notable in casting dirt, scorn, and reproach upon the persons, names, and credits of Christ’s most faithful ambassadors. Thus, Korah, Dathan, and Abiram charged Moses and Aaron that they took too much upon them, seeing all the congregation was holy (Num 16:3). “You take too much state, too much power, toomuch honor, too much holiness upon you; for what are you more than others that you take so much upon you?” And so Ahab’s false prophets fell foul on good Micaiah, paying of him with blows for want of better reasons (1Ki 22:10-26). Yea, Paul, that great Apostle of the Gentiles, had his ministry undermined and his reputation blasted by false teachers: “For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible” (2Co 10:10). They rather contemn him than admire him. They look upon him as a dunce ratherthan a doctor. And the same hard measure had our Lord Jesus from the Scribes and Pharisees, who labored as for life to build their own credit upon the ruins of His reputation. And never did the devil drive a more full trade this way than he does in these days (Mat 27:63). Oh! The dirt, the filth, the scorn that is thrown upon those of whom the world is not worthy…
The third character: False teachers are venters(65) of the devices and visions of their own heads and hearts. “Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart” (Jer 14:14). “Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of theLORD” (Jer 23:16). Are there not multitudes in this nation whose visions are but golden delusions, lying vanities, brainsick fantasies? These are Satan’s great benefactors and such as divine justice will hang up in hell as the greatest malefactors, if the Physician of souls does not prevent it.65 venters – those who utter or give vent to erroneous doctrines.
The fourth character: False teachers easily pass over the great and weighty things of both Law and Gospel and stand most upon those things that are of the least moment and concernment to the souls of men. “Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned: From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling; Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neitherwhat they say, nor whereof they affirm” (1Ti 1:5-7). “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone” (Mat 23:23). False teachers are nice(66) in the lesser things of the law and as negligent in the greater. “If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesomewords, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself” (1Tim.6:3-5)…The earth groans to bear them, and hell is fitted for them (Mat 24:32).66 nice – precise.
The fifth character: False teachers cover and color their dangerous principles and soul-impostures with very fair speeches and plausible pretences, with high notions and golden expressions. Many in these days are bewitched and deceived by the magnificent words, lofty strains, and stately terms of deceivers, viz., illumination, revelation, deification, fiery triplicity(67), etc. As strumpets paint their faces and deck and perfume their beds, the better to allure and deceive simple souls, so false teachers will put a great deal of paint and garnish upon their most dangerous principles and blasphemies that they may the better deceive and delude poor ignorant souls. They know sugared poison goes down sweetly. They wrap up their pernicious, soul-killing pills in gold. Weigh the Scriptures in the margin…67 triplicity – one of four groups of the zodiac where each group consists of three signs separated from each other by 120 degrees.
The sixth character: False teachers strive more to win over men to their opinions than to better them in their conversations. “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves” (Mat 24:17). They busy themselves most about men’s heads. Their work is not to better men’s hearts and mend their lives. In this, they are very much like their father the devil, who will spare no pains to gain proselytes.
The seventh character: False teachers make merchandise of their followers: “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and theirdamnation slumbereth not” (2Pe 2:1-3). They eye your goods more than your good and mind more the serving of themselves than the saving of your souls. So they may have your substance, they care not though Satan has your souls (Rev 18:11-13). That they may the better pick your purse, they will hold forth such principles as are very indulgent to the flesh. False teachers are the great worshippers of the golden calf (Jer 6:13). Now, by these characters you may know them, and so shun them, and deliver your souls out of their dangerous snares; which that you may, my prayers shall meet yours at the throne of grace.From “Precious Remedies against Satan’s Devices” in The Complete Works of Thomas Brooks, Vol. 1, reprinted by The Banner of Truth Trust._____________________
Thomas Brooks (1608-1680): Congregational preacher and author; buried in Bunhill Fields, London, UK.
The first character: False teachers are menpleasers. They preach more to please the ear than to profit the heart: “Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits” (Isa 30:10). “A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land; The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?” (Jer 5:30-31). They handle holy things with wit and dalliance(63) rather than with fear and reverence. False teachers are soul-undoers. They are like evil chirurgeons(64) that skin over the wound, but never heal it…False teachers are hell’s greatest enrichers…Such smooth teachers are sweet soul-poisoners (Jer 23:16-17).63 dalliance – light, irreverent action.64 chirurgeons – surgeons.
The second character: False teachers are notable in casting dirt, scorn, and reproach upon the persons, names, and credits of Christ’s most faithful ambassadors. Thus, Korah, Dathan, and Abiram charged Moses and Aaron that they took too much upon them, seeing all the congregation was holy (Num 16:3). “You take too much state, too much power, toomuch honor, too much holiness upon you; for what are you more than others that you take so much upon you?” And so Ahab’s false prophets fell foul on good Micaiah, paying of him with blows for want of better reasons (1Ki 22:10-26). Yea, Paul, that great Apostle of the Gentiles, had his ministry undermined and his reputation blasted by false teachers: “For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible” (2Co 10:10). They rather contemn him than admire him. They look upon him as a dunce ratherthan a doctor. And the same hard measure had our Lord Jesus from the Scribes and Pharisees, who labored as for life to build their own credit upon the ruins of His reputation. And never did the devil drive a more full trade this way than he does in these days (Mat 27:63). Oh! The dirt, the filth, the scorn that is thrown upon those of whom the world is not worthy…
The third character: False teachers are venters(65) of the devices and visions of their own heads and hearts. “Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart” (Jer 14:14). “Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of theLORD” (Jer 23:16). Are there not multitudes in this nation whose visions are but golden delusions, lying vanities, brainsick fantasies? These are Satan’s great benefactors and such as divine justice will hang up in hell as the greatest malefactors, if the Physician of souls does not prevent it.65 venters – those who utter or give vent to erroneous doctrines.
The fourth character: False teachers easily pass over the great and weighty things of both Law and Gospel and stand most upon those things that are of the least moment and concernment to the souls of men. “Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned: From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling; Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neitherwhat they say, nor whereof they affirm” (1Ti 1:5-7). “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone” (Mat 23:23). False teachers are nice(66) in the lesser things of the law and as negligent in the greater. “If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesomewords, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself” (1Tim.6:3-5)…The earth groans to bear them, and hell is fitted for them (Mat 24:32).66 nice – precise.
The fifth character: False teachers cover and color their dangerous principles and soul-impostures with very fair speeches and plausible pretences, with high notions and golden expressions. Many in these days are bewitched and deceived by the magnificent words, lofty strains, and stately terms of deceivers, viz., illumination, revelation, deification, fiery triplicity(67), etc. As strumpets paint their faces and deck and perfume their beds, the better to allure and deceive simple souls, so false teachers will put a great deal of paint and garnish upon their most dangerous principles and blasphemies that they may the better deceive and delude poor ignorant souls. They know sugared poison goes down sweetly. They wrap up their pernicious, soul-killing pills in gold. Weigh the Scriptures in the margin…67 triplicity – one of four groups of the zodiac where each group consists of three signs separated from each other by 120 degrees.
The sixth character: False teachers strive more to win over men to their opinions than to better them in their conversations. “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves” (Mat 24:17). They busy themselves most about men’s heads. Their work is not to better men’s hearts and mend their lives. In this, they are very much like their father the devil, who will spare no pains to gain proselytes.
The seventh character: False teachers make merchandise of their followers: “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and theirdamnation slumbereth not” (2Pe 2:1-3). They eye your goods more than your good and mind more the serving of themselves than the saving of your souls. So they may have your substance, they care not though Satan has your souls (Rev 18:11-13). That they may the better pick your purse, they will hold forth such principles as are very indulgent to the flesh. False teachers are the great worshippers of the golden calf (Jer 6:13). Now, by these characters you may know them, and so shun them, and deliver your souls out of their dangerous snares; which that you may, my prayers shall meet yours at the throne of grace.From “Precious Remedies against Satan’s Devices” in The Complete Works of Thomas Brooks, Vol. 1, reprinted by The Banner of Truth Trust._____________________
Thomas Brooks (1608-1680): Congregational preacher and author; buried in Bunhill Fields, London, UK.
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Halloween
How do you feel about Halloween? The older I get the less I like it. Everywhere, scary images. No more innocence.
Deu 18:9 When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations.
Deu 18:10 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch,
Deu 18:11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.
Deu 18:12 For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.
Deu 18:13 Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God.
Deu 18:14 For these nations, which thou shalt possess, hearkened unto observers of times, and unto diviners: but as for thee, the LORD thy God hath not suffered thee so to do.
Friday, October 3, 2008
Wheat bread mix in a jar (for bread machine)
I found the recipe for wheat bread mix in a jar at Jen's site. She has since closed her site so I am posting a similar recipe for bread mix in a jar for you all. I usually make up 5 or 6 of these and store them in the freezer to easily make bread. I have the machine do the mixing and then after it has risen once, I knead it about five or six times and shape it into a loaf and let rise and bake in the oven. I find that letting it rise twice gives it better texture.
Here is the recipe.
This excellent mix recipe will save you time and money.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Ingredients:
3 cups flour (I use 1c. whole wheat and 2c. white flour)(If you use whole wheat you will want to add 2tsp. vital wheat gluten)
2 Tbsp. sugar
1 Tbsp. nonfat dry milk powder
1-1/2 tsp. salt
2-1/2 tsp. active dry yeast
Preparation:In large bowl, mix flour, sugar, dry milk and salt until combined. I just use a canning funnel and put it right into the jar. Place inside a one quart jar with screw top lid. Put yeast in a very small ziplock plastic bag and place over flour mixture in jar before adding lid. Label and store in a cool place.
1-1/4 cups warm water (I use warm milk or kefir)
3 Tbsp. vegetable oil
When ready to bake bread, place warm water (I use warm milk or kefir) and vegetable oil into the bottom of the bread pan of your bread maker. Place dry ingredients from jar on top of wet ingredients, reserving yeast for last or follow directions of your bread maker manufacturer. Select White - Light Crust Color. Remove bread from pan after baking cycle and cool on wire rack for 1 hour before slicing. As I stated earlier I just use the dough cycle and then shape and let rise and bake in the oven.
Here is the recipe.
This excellent mix recipe will save you time and money.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Ingredients:
3 cups flour (I use 1c. whole wheat and 2c. white flour)(If you use whole wheat you will want to add 2tsp. vital wheat gluten)
2 Tbsp. sugar
1 Tbsp. nonfat dry milk powder
1-1/2 tsp. salt
2-1/2 tsp. active dry yeast
Preparation:In large bowl, mix flour, sugar, dry milk and salt until combined. I just use a canning funnel and put it right into the jar. Place inside a one quart jar with screw top lid. Put yeast in a very small ziplock plastic bag and place over flour mixture in jar before adding lid. Label and store in a cool place.
1-1/4 cups warm water (I use warm milk or kefir)
3 Tbsp. vegetable oil
When ready to bake bread, place warm water (I use warm milk or kefir) and vegetable oil into the bottom of the bread pan of your bread maker. Place dry ingredients from jar on top of wet ingredients, reserving yeast for last or follow directions of your bread maker manufacturer. Select White - Light Crust Color. Remove bread from pan after baking cycle and cool on wire rack for 1 hour before slicing. As I stated earlier I just use the dough cycle and then shape and let rise and bake in the oven.
More savings
Be sure to visit http://www.moneysavingmom.com/ She has new links for new Muir Glen coupons. Also other savings.
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