Sitting alone at a two-person table in Starbucks

I’m finding that busy schedules and long to-do lists are this generations new CRACK. How are you? “Stressed.” What’s new? “Same old, just super busy.” We’re type A people taking “busy” new a new level. We chug coffee and Red Bull. We stay-up late and get-up early. We don’t have time to talk, only to text. We know how to say “no” just as well as a drunken teenage girl does at 2am. We’re busier, more exhausted, sleeping less and more lonely and depressed running a race and climbing a ladder that we can’t find the end to.

And it’s not just nonbelievers doing it. Oh, we like to think so. Us Christians like to say that we don’t play the same games or run the same races. Or at least we don’t play by the same rules. But we’re buying in just as much and the stakes are HIGH. When Bible study becomes the next meeting and ministry becomes the next organization and when prayer gets tossed onto the to-do list we are going to find ourselves climbing the biblical ladder. Next, we’ll be electing the vice president of student body evangelism and the secretary of student council prayer.

However, our Biblical ladder looks a little different than typical student council elections or corporate ladders. We wear our cross pendants, WWJD bracelets, Jesus t-shirts, versus tattooed on our body in “appropriate” places, and we sport our ichthus car decals. We might not be passing out “vote for me” stickers, but we make sure others know we’re in the running for President of the Christian club. And just in case our efforts go unnoticed we stack-up on Steven Curtis Chapman, David Crowder Band, and Switchfoot CDs to play whenever our discipler is near. Our resume is our to-do list with special honors noted for leading multiple Bible studies or planning entire retreats. And most importantly, each disciplie that picks-up “(insert-name-here)-isms” provides a praise-worthy letter of recommendation.

As Election Day draws near we memorize our Bible verses and fill-out our Summer Project applications. While we ascend the ladder we’re tossing out KGPs with our left hand while straining upwards with our right. And when the votes are all in and we mount the top of the ladder we look around for the praise, for the glory… and for Jesus.

But you won’t find Jesus at the top. Jesus is back at the bottom of the ladder. “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45) Jesus wasn’t reaching for the next rung while tossing out tracks as he climbed. No, he was laying his life down, knowing that God would exalt His name above all other names when the time came. And Jesus wasn’t chosen to be exalted because he passed out the most “vote for me” stickers, owned the most Christian CDs, had the holiest resume or the most reformed letters of recommendation. Jesus was exalted because he was, is, and always will be the precious Son of God.

You can pass out your stickers, decorate your posters, fill your resume and collect your letters of recommendation. But at the end of the day, at the end of your life you are one of two things. You are an enemy of God, separated by sin and depravity or you are a child of God, justified through Jesus’ death of the cross. There is no ladder and there is no election, just the elect whom God selects. Your Creator and Father in Heaven is the only one whose vote counts, and it counts for eternity. So forget the Biblical ladder and turn to the cross. The cross will define who you were, who you are, and who you will be.

Dancing close to sinners, Not sin

These next 300-something words gave me new clarity and conviction about what it means to be a Christian dealing with sin in a broken world...


"Reformission is ultimately about being like Jesus, through his empowering grace. One of the underlying keys to reformission is knowing that neither the freedom of Christ nor our freedom in Christ is intended to permit us to dance as close to sin as possible without crossing the life. But both are intended to permit us to dance as close to sinners as possible by crossing the lines that unnecessarily separate the people God has found from those he is still seeking. To be a Christian, literally, is to be a "little Christ." It is imperative that Christians be like Jesus, by living freely within the culture as missionaries who are as faithful to the Father and his gospel as Jesus was in his own time and place.

I am advocating not sin but freedom. That freedom is denied by many traditions and theological systems because they fear that some people will use their freedom to sin against Christ. But rules, regulations, and the pursuit of outward morality are ultimately incapable of preventing sin. They can only, at best, rearrange the flesh and get people to stop drinking, smoking, and having sex, only to start being proud of their morality. Jesus' love for us and our love for him are, frankly, the only teachers that will keep us from abusing our freedom, yet they will enable us to venture as far into the culture and into relationships with lost people as Jesus did, because we go with him.

So reformission requires that God's people understand their mission with razor-sharp clarity. The mission is to be close to Jesus. This transforms our hearts to love what he loves, hate what he hates, and to pursue relationships with lost people in hopes of connecting with them and, subsequently, connecting them with him. This actually protects us from sin, because the way to avoid sin is not to avoid sinners but to stick close to Jesus."

-Mark Driscoll, The Radical Reformission (p 39-40)

Read it again, and then again - I know I will.

LOVE is the fulfilling of the law

"For the commandments, 'You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,' and any commandment are summed up in this word: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law." (Romans 13:9-10)


LOVE IS THE FULFILLING OF THE LAW


"So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits." (Matthew 7:17-20)


A tree will be recognized by its fruit, but you cannot bear good fruit unless you have a healthy tree. So if you focus on following all the laws, serving above-and-beyond, and answering all the right questions you will be the fool who fertilizes a dead and diseased tree hoping for it to flower. So why not take the focus off the fruits and pay attention to the health of the tree itself... nourish the tree and "every healthy tree bears good fruit". Stop trying to follow all the laws and hating the rules and restrictions it forces on your life and start loving others as yourself... and this will fulfill the law.


"Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires" (Romans 13:14)


Lord, thank you for your Word.

Progressive Sanctification

"God doesn't want you to 'Christianize' your life, but to crucify your dreams, desires, ambitions... and to seek His" - Todd Ahrend, International Director, the Traveling Team


Therefore, we do not need 'Christinization' but Sanctification.


"Sanctification is a progressive work of God and man that makes us more and more free from sin and like Christ in our actual lives." - Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology, p. 648

If our sanctification is progressive...

Progressive: (adj.) favoring or advocating progress, improvement, or reform; making progress toward better conditions; characterized by continuous improvement.

... Then why do we think we 'go backwards' or 'get in a rut' so often? Is it maybe that we just aren't patient enough to see God working in order to understand that we really are making progress towards better conditions. Or maybe our presuppositions about what 'progress' means are so muddled-up that we don't know up from down. Or maybe we're just so sinful we forget right from wrong.

Whichever it is, sanctification is a process... one that will not be completed within this life time so it's probably not something you should rush impatiently through.

Trust in the Lord's timing.

The Truth will set you free - an Absolute claim

My eyes have been opened to several realities of culture as I have been reading Romero & Stewart’s “Women’s Untold Stories.” The text is written by a strongly opinionated group of women who meet together as part of a feminist movement. It is a compilation of their personal narratives and their implications. As I reflected upon one such story, I was frustrated by the agenda being pushed through the story-tellers and editors. They make no efforts to hide their resentment towards men, their self-pity as victims of sexism and racism, and their hopes to convict others that horrible social injustices are being commitment against women. The women involved seem to contribute to the problem at hand, making it difficult to separate the bias from the truth. As I should have expected, this comment wrought on the response of “Is there an absolute truth?” from a liberal, lesbian feminist.

“Is there an absolute truth?”

The joy of that question is that you can not answer it without claiming an absolute truth. Anyone who has ever had a thought consciously (or unconsciously) run through their brain even once in their lives holds that there is an absolute truth. And for anyone who is of the opinion that there is no absolute truth – they just made their absolute claim (about absolutely nothing), but there is still no way around it.

So, what’s so terrible and narrow-minded about there being an absolute truth? If one has to exist, and everyone has to believe in one, than why does our culture scream for rel-a-ti-vism!?

I could live my life believing that this life is all there is. I could live my life as if it’s all about loving me… but of course, it’s all about loving people. Culture loves that, doesn’t it? Let’s love others and cry for peace and all just get along. What does every beauty pageant queen want? World peace. So we run out and serve others, we donate to charities, we volunteer, we make friends and we become consumed with otherness. Has anyone ever donated to a charity because it made them feel good about themselves? Has anyone ever volunteered so that others could see them volunteering. Has anyone ever befriended someone because they themselves want friends and hate being lonely? We need to look at the motivation and thinking behind our actions; we need to understand behavior more deeply. We live to fill our needs, and saying we live to love others is the most socially acceptable and morally correct way of presenting it.

Coming full-circle, we all have baggage and personal bias but an absolute truth remains even if it is seen through our personal lens. We can all choose what “truth” we will live for. We can create our own “truth” or we can take from the “truths” others have created. I lived 19 years of my life creating my own “truth” from my peers, family members, the media, my education and life experiences. Let me digress, as this reminds of me an article from Newsweek titled “Why I Am Leaving Guyland.” Guyland is the movement away from traditional markers of manhood – leaving home, getting an education, finding a partner, starting work and becoming a father – and towards a whole new stage of life filled with debauchery, singleness, kidding, and carousing. Men in their twenties are progressively viewing grown-up life as such a loss and they are perhaps the first downwardly mobile and endlessly adolescent generation of men in U.S. history.

Guyland has become a reality through the television, movies, beer commercials, frat-tastic magazines and the media at large. However, some reasons probably hit closer to home, such as: broken families, increased co-habitation, growing divorce rates, a falling economy or financial debt. All of these influences create a “truth” to live for – which in this case is exhibited as Guyland. Unfortunately, these influences which can justify Guyland for some, don’t make it any more of a truthful reality or fulfilling purpose. Guyland is a fabricated truth that men in the twenties are finding themselves living in, and they are ended up more alone, depressed, and confused than ever. (Men between the ages of 16 and 26 have the highest suicide rate for any group except men above 70, they are less likely to read a newspaper, attend church, vote for president, or believe that people are basically trustworthy, helpful and fair)

People live in their fabricated truths all the time. We don’t notice it because most people’s “truths” conform to the culture they live it and any nonconformists are either diagnosed or shunned. However, after living most of my life thus-far self-creating truth I realized that I knew far too little to be responsible for such a feat. My eyes were opened to the reality that only a Creator of the universe, an omnipresent and omnipotent God could be the source and definer of truth.

Part of the significance of there being one absolute truth is that other “truths” are relative to that one absolute. If we claim an absolute truth, but then hold onto ideas, beliefs, and behaviors counter to the absolute truth we are nullifying our absolute claim. It is to say that there is one way and there are many ways at the same time. Both statements cannot be true.

Explained on another level, “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money” (Matthew 6:24). To say you live for Jesus Christ and then to live for your lifestyle, your boyfriend, or your job is to live for nothing because each “absolute” becomes worthless once it shifts into a “relative”. Not only that, but this is a form of false worship and idolization, which is a sin against God. You cannot live for multiple truths because you will hate the one and love the others or be devoted to the one and despise the others.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6)

THE way

THE truth

THE life

An absolute cannot be treated as a relative, and a relative cannot be treated as an absolute. There IS one absolute truth and the purpose of my life will be for it, in pursuit of understanding it more beautifully, and taking more complete joy in it.

God loves you and created you to know Him personally.
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16)
“And this is eternal life, that they know the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent” (John 17:3)

Man is sinful and separated from God, so we cannot know Him personally or experience His love.
“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23)
“The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23)

Jesus Christ is God’s only provision for man’s sin. Through Him alone we can know God personally and experience God’s love.
“God demonstrated His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8)
“Christ died for our sins… He was buried… He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures…” (1 Corinthians 15:3-6)

We must individually receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord; then we can know God personally and experience His love.
“As many as receive Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name” (John 1:12)
“By grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works that no one should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9)

When we receive Christ, we experience a new birth (John 3:1-8)

T
R
U
T
H

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" (John 8:31-32)

A case study of what He does

I’ll never forget the nights the Lord changed my LIFE…

Almost two years ago I was overwhelmed as I walked into Campus Crusade for the FIRST time. My discipler practically had to hold my hand as I stood next to her and nervously smiled at all the new faces around me. My heart was racing the whole time – each worship song was REVOLUTIONARY to me! Like an enthralled little kiddie I wrote down the lyrics that had made my heart SKIP a beat.

“Your friendship, it is intimate.”

I danced the whole way home! I was so ELATED and I wanted EVERYONE to know!

"I want to serve you my Lord,
I want to give you everything"

I was crazily infatuated with Jesus and learning about His intimate friendship. It didn’t make any sense but I couldn’t keep the words in. I told my girl-friend that God had led me that night to meet with Him and worship Him in fellowship...

And her look was enough to
KILL.
It was like getting pummeled in the end zone in the middle of your victory dance.
I'd been totally deflated and I didn't know how to pick myself back up.

I WANTED to go back to Cru and keep singing those songs that made my heart race.
I WANTED to read my new Bible filled with endless scripture that I’d never heard before!
I WANTED to sing praises to Jesus…

But no one wanted to hear it. It was Halloween weekend - I had 5 minutes to change and I was hours behind on pregaming. I couldn’t stand shots and I shivered as they burned my throat. I tossed my Bible and grabbed my purse as I chased my friends down the hall and out the door. What a perfect night to be wearing a costume – little Dorthy and her glittery red heals. I tried to push morals and convictions from my mind.

Drinking and dancing… we took pictures… I smiled… and laughed…

I woke-up in my bed the next morning.
I don’t remember if I made it to my classes that day,
Or what I did the night before.

But I do remember reaching underneath my back, angry that something was lodged underneath me. I pulled out my slightly crumpled Bible and my heart HIT the floor. Ohh what a foolish hypocrite I had been!

“God made people good, but they have found all kinds of ways to be bad” (Ecc 7:14).

Remembering that night is enough to break my heart a thousand times and make me wish I had a thousand lives to surrender to Jesus. I learned from that night and I CONTINUE to learn how to surrender my life to honor God. I’m still learning to rejoice in the trials of dying to myself as I keep in mind: “When evil people are not punished right away, it makes others WANT to do evil, too. Though a sinner might do a hundred evil things and might live a long time, I know IT WILL BE better for those who honor God” (Ecc 8:11-12) Sanctification can feel like speeding down a highway blindfolded, crashing into things I never saw coming. But I’m far better-off blindfolded and trusting in Jesus than I am driving on my own.

“You yourself are a case study of what he does. At one time you all had your backs turned to God, thinking rebellious thoughts of him, giving him trouble every chance you got. But now, by giving himself completely at the Cross, actually dying for you, Christ brought you over to God’s side and put your lives together, whole and holy in his presence. You don’t walk away from a gift like that! You stay grounded and steady in that bond of trust, constantly tuned in to the Message, carefully not to be distracted or diverted. There is no other message – just this one. Every creature under heaven gets this same Message.” (Colossians 1:21-23, The Message)

bibles and feminism

I just finished ‘syllabus day’ and my head is spinning.

My Spanish professor announced that she will always, only, and without exception speak Spanish in the classroom from this day on. It was like a death sentence to gibberish and chronic headaches every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for the next 18 weeks of my life. My ‘Critical Studies of the Bible’ professor spent an hour explaining that ‘Old Testament’, ‘New Testament’, ‘BC’, ‘AD’ and so-on are all ‘Christian terms’ which we will specifically NOT make use of in class. My beloved and sacred Bible has now become “bibles” and my Savior Jesus Christ has now become “the historical Jesus”. Oh Lord, I will need Your strength to lovingly make it through this class.

While attending ‘Stigmatization and Victimization’ (yes, that is a class), we discussed OTHERS’ stereotypes of blacks, whites, homosexuals, deaf people, and people in wheal chairs. It’s funny how it’s so easy to verbalize the stereotypes that other people hold, but we are so ashamed and secretive in the stereotypes we have bought-into ourselves. I’m excited to experience how this class will bring uneasy topics into the light and force us to reevaluate stigmas, prejudices, and stereotypes that we ourselves consciously or unconsciously endorse and that our culture endorses. I won’t be at all surprised if this class shocks me along the way… ohh Miami and its lack of diversity.

In gerontology – ‘The study of Aging’ I listened to a 51 year old feminine-sort-of-man discuss the importance of aging and how our misconceptions of the old are dangerous and in great need of change. The most interesting part of class was the last question on the ‘Student Information Sheet’ he asked us to fill out. It read “provide some words – adjectives – to describe favorite teachers or courses you’ve had in the past”. This question brought two thoughts to mind. I automatically respected the professor’s concern for doing his job well and catering to his students as best as possible. However, I hold that teachers should demand respect, which this question does not do. For instance, if every student wrote down that their favorite teachers all wore red leather pants and smoked cigarettes would the professor go out and buy a pair of red leather pants and a pack of cigarettes? No; a professor with self-confidence and self-respect would not aim to become ‘the role of our favorite teacher’; he would aim to be true to his own knowledge and opinions. Or, what if your boyfriend on the first date asked you “What are some words – adjectives – to describe favorite boyfriends or dates you’ve had in the past?” I doubt that relationship would last too long!

And last, but certainly not least offensive, ‘Psychology of Women’ taught by the Feminist of Feminists. Could it be possible to turn even the Olympics into an opinionated debate about women’s rights and feminism? Surely, in this class it was, and it will be. Although, in sympathy of feminism I can understand this point of view IF you do not know your creator and God. I could imagine that IF we were all just people who evolved from apes something as crazy as feminism doesn’t sound so extreme in comparison to the whole evolving from apes thing. Haha, I’ll stop there.

I’m making an assumption -- most students probably don’t walk out of class on the first day knowing that they will passionately disagree with most of what they learn from their professors. This puts me in an interesting position, for I am convinced that I will spend most of this semester mentally debating several of my professors. I don’t think I’m getting a bad education. I fully trust that my professors are educated and well equipped for the jobs they hold. I respect the years and hard work they have put into studying and earning the degrees which have qualified them to teach these classes. I do not, for a second, fool myself into thinking I would be capable of teaching these classes. But that does not prevent me from being convicted in my heart, mind, and soul that I have different foundation beliefs that will strongly contradict some of these classes (excluding Spanish, which will just confuse and frustrate me).

I praise the Lord that He has given me a mind to think for myself. I thank Him that He has shown me discernment along with passion to learn and understand. He faithful taught me this summer what it means to work under an authority, even a Christian authority, which I disagree with upon theology and doctrine. This semester will be a continuation of fighting for truth, submitting with respect to the authority over me, killing my pride, and thanking Jesus ever day for being the solid rock I stand upon. I know that I am getting the best possible education because Jesus is my number one teacher, and He is in control of all the others… yes, that is most defiantly the best possible education. I will enjoy praying for my professors as they drive me to depend more deeply and earnestly upon God, which ultimately makes me extremely thankful for them.

Everything happens for a reason?

I could honestly spend a week studying Romans 8… and then do it all over-again.

I was eating dinner tonight with someone very dear to me, and we were talking about relationships which lead to marriage, and sadly but quite possibly divorce. He’s experienced divorce, and in a way so have I. But, the point is, we didn’t have answers to a lot of what we were talking about. He said to me, “well… everything happens for a reason,” and that was the end of our conversation.

“Everything happens for a reason – [Period].”

Everything… really?

What reason?

Who’s reason?

It’s like saying something really important while saying nothing at all.

It’s like making an absolute claim with no absolute – just ambiguity – absolute ambiguity.

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose” – Romans 8:28

Ohhh… funny how we truly are a Christian culture. Yet God is denied and pushed out of our county in so many ways… but we won’t go there now.

Anyways, I’m re-opening the conversation – the one that was ended so abruptly with the statement “everything happens for a reason”. Is that statement true? True – what’s truth? Scripture is true [period].

We don't know that everything happens for a reason. But we do know [as truth] that “For those who love God all things work together for good”. So if man wants all things to happen for a (good) reason he must love God. But that’s not all Romans says… verse 28 continues… “For those who are called according to his purpose”. So it’s not longer that man must love God, it’s that God must first call man according to his purpose.

When we think of loving God we are disposed to begin with ourselves. However, Paul reminds us that those, whom he has spoken of as loving God, had been previously chosen by God. The order of this is made clear.

More simply, “We love because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19). God has freely loved us. Therefore, we also ought to love him (not everyone does). God’s love came first, and while we were still sinners He demonstrated it to us through Jesus Christ on the cross. God’s love is the foundation that gives us the ability to love. “For God so loved the world” (John 3:16). However, we are not dealing with an if-then statement of love (IF God loves man THEN man loves God) because God loved all men (the world) yet not all men love God.

Before sin everyone loved God (granted there were only two people & it didn’t last long *insert laughter*). However, once sin entered the world not everyone loved God. God still loves all, but not all men love God. God is still glorified, but not all men partake in God’s glory. God is the Alpha and the Omega and His glory will reign (Revelations 1:8), but not all men recognize Him.

God’s glory

God loved us (100%)

[sin]

God called us (x %)

We love God (x %)

All things work together for good

God’s glory

So why do all these foundations/conditions/deductions have to be discussed to understand the flippant comment “everything happens for a reason”? Because of the first and last lines “God’s glory”. Everything must be seen in light of God’s glory. Every man is exposed to evils, yet there is a great difference for men who love God. God trains and refines the faithful by afflictions, and thereby promotes their salvation. However, if a man has not been granted salvation, he can not be trained and refined by afflictions for the promotion of his salvation because he has no salvation! Afflictions avail, not to advance the salvation of anyone and everyone, but of those whom love God, whom God has previously loved.

[Foundation]

“More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurances, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us” (Romans 5:3-5) *** note that the audience is limited to believers (those with the Holy Spirit)

[Condition]

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (James 1:2-4) ***note that the audience is limited to believers (my brothers)

[My Deduction]

Therefore, Brothers and Sisters in Christ (condition)…. YES, everything happens for a reason, a very good reason, GOD’S GLORY!

"I am what I am..."

“I am what I am about these matters because I see them in the Bible. If I see 10,000 brilliant PhD’s saying one thing and the Bible saying another thing, the Bible gets my vote. That’s the way I’m going to be. And there’s a simple way of saying the reason for it, mainly, the Bible has lasted for 2,000 years plus and has stood against attack after attack after attack, and has made it from generation to generation, so that its vote is superior to 10,000 brilliant people who will be here today and gone tomorrow."
– John Piper, TULIP Sermon

Piper's heart for the Word of God amazes me at every hour of the day... and, although I have in no way obtained the depth of study or sanctification that Piper preaches from, I understand it far better then I can understand the superficial level of a disengaged believer. God is the main reality of the universe and is treated as a non-reality by so many. It is shocking how easily we ignore God. The Bible teaches us of our Creator and Redeemer, and yet so many believers do not care to study the scriptures.

Without God we LOVE sin - "For this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light..." (John 3:19-20). That is our nature; we are dark. We can NOT overcome that on our own. How many times have we heard "but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8) - that verse makes us feel good, doesn't it?! I'm not going to say it shouldn't, but do we get the weight of it? It needs to make us tremble a little before we're able to fully rejoice in it. Jesus [the light] died for us while we LOVED the darkness and HATED the light because of our evil works. It is in our nature to hate the light, least it expose us.

How many times as Christians do we think that we wouldn't have eaten of the tree like Adam & Eve, wouldn't have abandoned Jesus like the disciples did, wouldn't have mocked Jesus like the crowds at his crucifixion... but ohhh how accurately we are represented in the Scriptures. How fallen me are; how weak our flesh is. "I am what I am about these matters because I see them in the Bible". God's Word is the one thing that is necessary, the good portion - what will fill us up. And it will never be taken from us (Luke 10:42). We should yearn for God's Word, we should feel it deep within our inner being.

We need to be shocked that God created a universe in which people are ignoring him - but we can't do that until we stop ignoring God ourselves. And if you're in the Word every day, and the Holy Spirit is inside of you, there is no way to ignore the Lord. If you let the Bible read you (not just you read the Bible, but the Bible read you) it will bring you into the light and show you that without it we will love only the dark. For "the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak" (Matt 26:41). Pick-up your Bible and walk in the spirit [light], not in your flesh [dark].

"The Bible gets my vote."

Let the FUN begin!

I. Breakfast
     Cheese Blintzes
     Banana Bread 

II. Appetizers

     Spinach and Artichoke Dip
 

III. Sides
     Sour Cream, Cheddar, and Green Onion Drop Biscuits

IV. Entrees
     Chicken with Pancetta and Figs

V. Desserts

     Easy Chocolate Truffles
     Peppermint Fudge  
     Espresso Crinkles
     Raspberry Chocolate Cake

VI. Drinks
      Mom's Egg Nog - HOLIDAY FAVE!

Chicken with Pancetta and Figs

As my mom says, "DELICIOUS!" 

Serves 4

Prep time: 20 minutes 

Total time: 1 hour 10 minutes 

3/4 teaspoon olive oil

cooking spray

1 cup vertically sliced onion

1 ounce pancetta, finely chopped *

1 pound button mushrooms

1 teaspoon brown sufar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

8 chicken thighs (about 2 1/4 pounds), skinned

1/4 cup tawny port

2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

1 cup fat-free chicken broth

12 dried Calimyrna figs, quartered **

3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme

Fresh thyme springs (optional)

1 package basmati wild-rice mixture, cooked, substitute fat-free chicken broth for water

Heat the old in a 12-inch nonstick skillet coating with cooking spray over medium-high heat.  Add onion, pancetta, and mushrooms, saute 3 minutes.  Remove from pan.

Combine sugar, salt, and pepper; sprinkle evenly over chicken.  Add chicken to pan; cook over medium-high heat 4 minutes on each side or until browned.  Add port and vinegar; cook 30 seconds, scraping pan to loosen browned bits.  Add onion mixture and broth; bring to a boil.  Cover, reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes.  Add figs; cover and simmer 5 minutes or until chicken is done (3 minutes without lid).  Stir in parsley and chopped thyme.  Reduce sauce by cooking on medium-high 2 minutes.

Calories 392 (26% from fat); Fat 11.5g (sat 3.2g); Protein 32.3g; Carb 42.3g; Fiber 8g

* If you can't find pancetta, substitute lean cooked bacon

** If fresh figs are available, stir them in just before serving, omitting the dried figs 

Modified based upon Cooking Light September 2003

Peppermint Fudge

This fudge is SUPER easy to make! (Errr..... as long as you have a food processor!) 

Makes: 36
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 15 min + chilling

nonstick spray, for the baking pan
2 1/4 cups (16 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup round peppermint candies, plus 18 for garnish
3/4 cup cream
3 1/2 cups mini marshmallows
5 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 1/4 cups sugar
1 teaspoon coarse salt

Lightly coat a 9-inch square baking plan with nonstick spray.  Place chocolate in a bowl.  In a food processor, pulse candies until finely chopped.  (If you don't have a food processor invite a friend over and get your hammer ready!  Thanks for helping out Amber!)  In a medium saucepan, combine candies, cream, marshmallows, butter, sugar, and salt over medium-high.  Whisk until smooth, 5 minutes.

Pour mixture into bowl with chocolate; let stand 1 minute, then stir until smooth.  Pour into baking pan and refrigerate until set, 3 hours.  Cut fridge into 1 1/2 inch squares.  (To store, cover and refrigerate, up to 1 week.)  With a SHARP knife, cut 18 candies in half; press a candy into each square before serving or packing.


per piece: 165 cal; 7.2 g fat (4.4 g sat fat); 0.7 g protein; 26.8 g carb; 0.8 g fiber 

Modified based upon The Food Network

Cheese Blintzes

This is a 5 Star breakfast!  It takes a little work, but it's worth it.   Make it with your favorite berries, and don't forget a fresh pot of coffee!  

Yield: 8 servings

Prep time:

Total time:

1 cup fat-free cottage cheese

4 ounces light cream cheese (about 1/2 cup)

1/4 cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice 
1 cup all-purpose flour

1 1/2 cups skim milk

1 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon salt

3 large eggs

cooking spray

2 cups blueberries or other fresh berries

2 teaspoons powdered sugar

Place cottage cheese in a blender or food processor, and process until smooth, scraping sides of processor bowl once.  Add cream cheese, sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla, lemon juice, and a few lemon peals; process until smooth.  Pour mixture into a bowl; cover and chill.

Place flour in a medium bowl.  Combine milk, oil, 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla, salt, and eggs, and add to flour, stirring with a whisk until almost smooth.  Cover and chill 2 hours.

Place a 10-inch crepe pan on nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray over medium-high heat until hot.  Remove skillet from heat.  Pour 3 tablespoons batter into pan; quickly tilt pan in all directions so batter covers skillet with a thin film.  Cook about 1 minute.

Carefully lift edge of crepe with a spatula to test for doneness.  The crepe is ready to turn when it can be shaken loose from the pan and the underside is lightly browned.  Turn crepe over; cook 30 seconds on other side.

Place crepe on a towel; cool.  Repeat procedure with remaining batter.  Stack crepe between single sheets of wax paper on paper towels to prevent sticking.

Spoon 3 tablespoons cottage cheese mixture in center of each crepe; fold sides and ends of crepe over filling to fold a rectangle.  Place filled crepes, seam sides down, on a baking sheet lined with plastic wrap.  (Blintzes may be covered and chilled at this point).

Place a large nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray over medium heat until hot.  Place 4 blintzes, seam side down, in skillet; cook 2 minutes or until lightly browned.  Turn blintzes over; cook for 2 minutes.  Repeat procedure with remaining blintzes.  Serve warm with blueberries, and sprinkle with powdered sugar. 

Modified from Cooking Light.

Spinach and Artichoke Dip

This is a GREAT dip to bring to a party or dinner!  It puts most restaurants' Spinach Dip to shame, coming from a girl who has ordered Spinach Dip a few times by now.  However, grab a friend for the kitchen because there's lot going on at once, and check your budget before your get your heart set on this one, the ingredients can add-up quickly. 

Prep time: 20 minutes

Total time: 1 hour

2 (10 ounce) packages fresh spinach

4 tablespoons unsalted butter

1 cup chopped yellow onions

1 tablespoon minced garlic

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

1/4 teaspoon cayenne

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1 cup milk

1 cup heavy cream

2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice

1 cup 1/2-inch cubes rindless Brie

1 cup grated Monterey Jack with Jalapeno

1 (6 1/2-ounce) jar marinated artichoke hearts, drained and chopped

4 strips apple-wood smoked bacon, fried crisp, drained and chopped

1/4 cup grated Romano (or Parmesan)

Assorted chips for dipping (pita chips, tortilla chips, bagel chips)

Preheat the oven to 350*F.  Lightly grease a 9-inch round chafing dish and set aside.

Bring a medium pot of water to a boil.  Add the spinach in batches and cook until wilted, 2 to 3 minutes.  Remove and refresh under cold running water.  Squeeze the remove all excess water and chop.  Set aside.  In a medium pot, melt the butter over medium-high heat.  Add the onions and cook, stirring, for 3 minutes.  Add the garlic, salt, pepper, and cayenne, and cook, stirring, for 1 minute.  Add the flour and cook, stirring constantly, to make a light roux, about 2 minutes.  Add the milk and heavy cream in a steady stream, and cook, stirring constantly, until think and creamy, 2 to 3 minutes.  Add the cooked spinach and lemon juice, and stir to incorporate.  Add the cubed and grated cheeses, artichoke hearts, and bacon, and stir well.  Remove from the heat and pour into prepared dish.  Top with the Parmesan and bake until bubbly, about 10 minutes.  Remove from the oven and serve hot with chips.

Modified based upon The Food Network. 

Mom's Egg Nog

For our family, Christmas time means Mom's Egg Nog!  It's the perfect drink to sip besides the glowing fireplace or Christmas tree.

It's always gone before you know it...

15-20 servings

Prep time: 20 minutes

Total time: 4-5 hours

12 eggs

1 lb confectioners' sugar

2 cups brandy or Maker's Mark (bourbon)

2 cups apricot brandy

2 quarts half-and-half

1/4 cup sugar

fresh nutmeg

Separate the eggs and beat the egg yokes until light in color.

Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar.

Very slowly add first two cups of liquor, beating constantly.
Let mixture stand covered for 1 hour.
Add remaining liquor and half-and-half, beating constantly.

Refrigerate covered for 3 hours. 

Beat the egg whites until stiff, but not dry.  Gradually add sugar while beating egg whites.

Fold egg whites lightly into the other ingredients.

To serve sprinkle with freshly grated nutmeg. 

Enjoy!  

Modified based upon The Joy of Cooking

About Me (with a sense of humor)

For fans of  'The 5 Love Languages': I am 'Quality Time' and 'Acts of Service'.

For the socializers: I am an extrovert.

For the punctual: I am fashionably late.

For supporters of the StrengthsFinder: I am Connectedness, Individualization, Relator, Learner, and Input.

For the athletes: I am a runner, biker, golfer, aspiring climber, & tennis player.

For the religious: I am a Gospel-centered avid reader of John Calvin.

For the currently confused: I am a Christian.

For the astrological: I am a Pisces. 

For the Chinese: I am the rabbit.  

For the Typology testers: I am ENFJ, an Idealist Teacher Personality (same as Oprah Winfrey).

For the Greeks: I am Alpha Xi Delta.
For the coffee drinkers: I'll take a caramel latte with skim milk, keep the whip.
For the church-goers: I'm a Capital Hill Baptist member.
For the gamers: I love Mario Cart & I'll always want to be Toad.
For the Chipotle fanatics: I'll stick with Qdoba and their queso.
For the Weather Man: 70's and sunny with a light breeze, please. 

AND I married my best friend, and man of my dreams on August 13th 2011!!!  I love you, J :) 

Easy Chocolate Truffles

My mom & I made these "to take to the neighbor's holiday party" but we kept most of them!  They are really are easy to make, and they are delicious... almost addictive.

Makes 60-70

Prep time: 30 min (but must chill over-night!)

Total time: 30 min + chilling

16 ounces Hershey's special dark chocolate, finely chopped

1 2/3 cups heavy cream

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon coarse salt

unsweetened cocoa powder, for rolling

Place chocolate in a medium bowl.  In a small saucepan, heat cream until it begins to simmer; pour over chocolate.  Cover bowl with plastic wrap and let stand 10 minutes.  Uncover and whisk chocolate mixture until smooth.  Mix in vanilla and salt.  (To make chocolate raspberry truffles substitute 2 tablespoons Framboise for the vanilla.) Pour into a 9-inch pie plate and let cool 15 minutes.  Cover with plastic and refrigerate over-night. (If your in a rush refrigerate until completely set, at least 3 hours.)

With a melon baller, a 1-inch scoop, or a teaspoon, scoop out chocolate mixture and place on parchment paper.  Coat hands with cocoa and roll truffles into balls; place on parchment-lining baking sheet.  Refrigerate until set, about 15 minutes.  (To store, cover with plastic and refrigerate, up to 2 weeks).

per piece: 51 cal; 4.1 g fat (2.4 g sat fat); 0.6 g protein; 4.2 g carb; 0.5 g fiber 

Modified based upon the Food Network Magazine

From My Library

18 Words by J.I. Packer
Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller - Reviewed 00/00/00
Chosen By God by R.C. Sproul - Reviewed 2/28/10
Confessions by Saint Augustine
Crazy Love by Francis Chan - Reviewed 5/28/10
CrossTalk by Michael. R. Emlet - Reviewed 1/16/10
Death By Love by Mark Driscoll - Reviewed 1/17/10
Depression by Edward T. Welch
Desiring God by John Piper
Dont Waste Your Life by John Piper - Reviewed 00/00/00
Doing Things Right in Matters of the Heart by John Ensor
Evangelism & The Sovereignty of God by J.I. Packer
Faithful Women and Their Extraordinary God by Noel Piper - Reviewed 1/2/10
Feminine Appeal by Carolyn Mahaney - Reviewed 1/17/10
Forgotten God by Francis Chan - Reviewed 6/13/10
Future Grace by John Piper - Reviewed 00/00/00
God's Passion for His Glory by John Piper - Reviewed 00/00/00
Holy Subversion by Trevin Wax - Reviewed 00/00/00
Humility by C.J. Mahaney
Instruments In The Redeemer's Hands by Paul David Tripp
Irresistible Revolution by Shane Caliborne 
Just Do Something by Kevin DeYoung - Reviewed 3/26/10
Keep In Step with The Spirit by J.I. Packer

Knowing God by J.I. Packer
Lord, Change My Attitude by James MacDonald
Martin Luther Selections From His Writings edited by John Dillenberger
Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
Morning & Evening by Charles Spurgeon
Nine Marks of a Healthy Church by Mark Dever
Nurturing The Nations by Darrow Miller
Overcoming Sin & Temptation by John Owen
Perfecting Ourselves to Death by Richard Winter - Reviewed 5/28/10
Prodigal God by Tim Keller
Practical Theology for Women by Wendy Alsup - Reviewed 1/2/10

Radical Reformission by Mark Driscoll - Reviewed 1/2/10
Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood by John Piper and Wayne Grudem
Religion Saves by Mark Driscoll 
Religious Affections by Jonathan Edwards - Reviewed 00/00/00
Respectable Sins by Jerry Bridges - Reviewed 00/00/00
Seeing with New Eyes by David Powlison - Reviewed 2/25/10 
Soul Cravings by Erin McManus
Spiritual Disciples for the Christian Life by Donald Whitney
Stop Dating The Church by Joshua Harris - Reviewed 3/2/10
Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem
The Cross Centered Life by C.J. Mahaney - Reviewed 00/00/00 
The Cross and Christian Ministry by D.A. Carson - Reviewed 3/1/10
The Gospel & Personal Evangelism by Mark Dever
The Heavenly Man by Paul Hattaway - Reviewed 2/6/10
The History and Character of Calvinism by John McNeill
The Knowledge of the Holy by A.W. Tozer
The Master Plan of Evangelism by Robert Coleman
The Reason for God by Tim Keller
Total Church by Tim Chester and Steve Timmis
True Spirituality by Francis Schaeffer
Vintage Church by Mark Driscoll
What is a Healthy Church Member? by Thabiti Anyabwile
What is Reformed Theology? by R.C. Sproul - Reviewed 00/00/00
When People are Big and God is Small by Edward T. Welch
Worldliness by C.J. Mahaney - Reviewed 1/2/10 
Young, Restless, and Reformed by Collin Hansen