Hate-Crime Bill

I came across this story today and wondered how such an absurd bill could even be thought up, but then again we have a demoncratic majority in the White House, so shouldn't be such a shock to anyone.  If you say or preach that homosexuals are bad, it might soon be a 'hate-crime' and you could be breaking the law.  You can read the full story here:

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/04/30/social-conservatives-blast-hate-crime-saying-limit-free-speech/

What's next?  A hate-crime law protecting murderers and pedophiles?  Sin is Sin - and it is wrong according to God and God ain't going to shut up for anyone!  His Word condemns sin such as homosexuality and it won't change no matter what the government decides.  It is the sin that God hates, not the people.  It is the sin we preach against.

I wonder how many preachers would compromise and not preach against it?  I guess God would really be sorting the chaff from the wheat - the test just may be ahead. Let the real Stephen's stand up!  I don't think Stephen was worried about who he offended and he sure wasn't like some preacher's today who don't want to preach against sin because they don't want to upset anyone.  Go ahead and try not to offend them right into hell.  Hell is going to be full of people that the preacher didn't want to offend by telling them they were wrong. A real Godly preacher will scream and tell you the road is out ahead!  He will warn you that if you go that way, you will die!  He shows his love for you by telling you the truth!  Read Acts 7 and after his sermon - you see the effect it had on the people because their deeds were evil, let's look at see:

Acts 7:54,57-58

When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.

Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, And cast him out of the city, and stoned him:

They couldn't stand the preacher man preaching against their sin. They wanted to shut him up!  Just like the homosexuals want people to shut up across our land because they don't want you calling them out in their sin. It reminds me of a recent sermon that Pastor Davis preached called "Stop the Sermon". It gets uncomfortable when God gets on your sin and its supposed to be that way - its called conviction! God hopes you will repent. You will either repent or get mad and keep on doing your sin.

Now we have these abusers of themselves with mankind getting mad at those who dare speak against their sin and evil hearts. God has something to say about it in His word:

Romans 1:26-28

God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 

They left the NATURAL USE of each other and BURNED IN THEIR LUST one toward another!  It is VILE......it is sickening!  They weren't born that way, they burned in their lust and CHOSE that way!  God gave us an example of what happens when a city is turned over homesexuality - we all know what happened to Sodom and Gomorrah and to this day, it is in ruins:




Secrets of the World's Oldest Living People

I've been doing some research lately on what the world's oldest living people throughout the years have in common.  One I have found in almost all is:  being active!  None of them running around their whole life scared to eat this or that for fears of what it may do or cause.  They just lived happily, stayed connected with family and stayed active!
I had developed an unhealthy fear of some things because of things I read, but God convicted me and basically told me what he has BLESSED, not to call unclean!  We pray over our food and I'm going to trust the Lord that he will protect us and keep us safe and that that food is blessed by God!  He is the maker of our bodies and my life is in his hands and NOTHING happens that he doesn't "allow". So from now on, when I pray over my food asking God to bless it - I'm going to start BELIEVING that he has! If you don't and have fears, then why even pray for the Lord to bless the food?? 

One of oldest living people was Gertrude Baines (118), she says she owes her longevity to the Lord.  She said she never did drink, smoke or fool around.  She eats lots of hot dogs and likes to indulge on extra crispy bacon and sweets!  That's my kind of diet hehe.  ; )  I saw another that said recently that Sakhan Dosova (130) was just found from census records to be the new oldest living person.  She credits her longevity to her love for cottage cheese lol.  She has also had a high spirit and sense of humour - she was happy!

2 Timothy 1:7

"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."

With Christ, you do not live in fear!  God will take care of us.  Enjoy where you are at on the way to where you are going!

Life Changing Christianity

Psalm 51: 9-13, 17 - “Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.” “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.”


     I was wondering recently at the prevailing thought of this present time and generation towards salvation in Jesus Christ. It seems that the majority of those that claim Christianity see it to be more of a choice of religion, rather than the saving of their soul from sin. They will say they are a Christian, yet their daily routine is void of prayer, Bible Study or right living. You can talk to them about anything at work, and they will never bring up the ‘topic’ of Christ. You can share with them the story of how you were led to pray for forgiveness of sins by the blood of Jesus, and they show no emotion or utter any words of kindred experience. You can tell that they would rather veer towards another conversation. Many churches today preach the message of hope and mercy, but not that you need God to cleanse you from sin in order to gain those things.
     The psalmist said he needed his iniquities blotted out. He didn’t even want there to be a record of the filth of the past in his life! He said, ‘Create in me a clean heart, and renew a right spirit within me.’ He wanted to be pure on the inside with the right attitude and way of life. The desire in the writing is to have the joy and happiness in his life to be caused by the salvation of God and nothing else; and he went further than that. He said, ‘THEN will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.’ Then, he could help others to know the love of God, and to CHANGE their lives!
     The apostle Peter understood verse 17. In his early experiences shortly after meeting Jesus got him to think about the condition of his life. He heard Jesus teach the masses from his own ship, and after witnessing the miraculous draught of fish that He caused;

“When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” (Luke 5: 1-11)

     Peter had the broken and contrite heart that God will never despise. Instead of leaving him, Jesus showed him how to live for God.
     Do you consider yourself a Christian? Did you pray for God to forgive you of your sins with a broken spirit and a repentant heart? If not, remember that a prayer for mercy with no intention of living above that which the mercy was asked for is really not seeking forgiveness or a Christ-like life. Christianity is not found in a church membership roll or an inscription at the front of your Bible or even in someone else’s prayer for you. It will only be found in your heart, mind, actions and words.

     Consider your life and the validity of your claim to Christ. Please read these passages:
2nd Corinthians 13: 5
Romans 3: 23; 10: 9-10
Galatians 5: 16-25
John 3: 1-21


- Written by my husband

Homemade Pie Crusts

I've made a lot of pies since Sister Davis taught the class a few years ago.  I'm going to share the pie crust recipe that I use.  I made an apple pie yesterday and then for the filling I used Tammy's recipe here.  Since I do the apple filling, I don't pre-bake my pie crust.  However, when I do other fruits and use the filling recipe below, I do bake the crusts first as the recipe indicates. I also am going to try out the whole wheat pie crusts one day.  I'm not the greatest pie maker just as long as it tastes good!



Pie crust:

1 c Crisco
2 c Flour
1/2 t salt
5 T ice water (keep nearby to add at the end)

Tips:

* Put plastic wrap in measuring cup before adding Crisco for easy cleanup
* When rolling out the pie crust roll it between 2 sheets of plastic wrap or wax paper for easy cleanup

Instructions:

In a bowl combine the Crisco, flour and salt and mix with a pastry cutter.  (I don't have one so I just use a fork and a whisk.)  Mix until it looks like small beads.  Then add the 5T of ice water and mix and form into a ball with your hands.  Now using a rolling pin, roll into a circular pie crust!  That's it, it is that easy!  You will need 2 of these if your pie is going to be covered.  (however, I like thin crust, so I just use this recipe and get the bottom and top out of it!)

Place the crust into a pie plate, then add your filling and cover with your second pie crust.  Press the edges firmly together and form them.  (I use a fork for the edges)  Cut slits in the top for venting.  If you have one, use pie shield so the edges will not burn. Or you can use tin-foil. (I don't use anything)

Bake at 425-450 (I think it is just for 15 minutes? - I have to find my old notes lol)



For filling: just mix in a bowl, 4-5 cups of fruit and add 1t cinnamon, 1 1/2 c sugar and enough cornstarch to make it slightly thick.  I was out of cornstarch so I used a few tablespoons of flour.  But I'm thinking 4t of cornstarch would work for the pie filling.  Heat this in the microwave until warm throughout and then pour into your pie crust that is in the pie plate......cover with the top pie crust and bake at 425-450. 

For cobbler: you will make the pie crust as shown above except use 2/3 c Crisco and 2c flour, 1/2 t salt and the 5T ice water.  Instead of rolling it into a circular shape, you will do a large square and then make 2 of these and bake them at 425-450.  Once baked, cut them up into several square pieces and let cool.  Then in a bowl put 5c fruit, 1 1/2 c sugar, 2t cornstarch and 1t cinnamon and heat in microwave until boiling.  In a casserole dish......place the cooled pie crust square pieces on the bottom and then pour the fruit mixture on the top, saving a little for the end (1/2 c-1c)........now put the rest of the square pie crust pieces on top and cover with the rest of the fruit mixture.  It's done!  No baking required......you have your cobbler.

No Makeup Issue

My friend Michelle sent this to me and I thought it was great! Elle France magazine had celebrities pictured with NO makeup. Basically they are as God made them without paint on their face. I think they look wonderful and wish more women would let go of the 'bondage' of makeup and feel confident in their own natural beauty! Some like to say that women who believe that God doesn't want us to paint our face, are in 'bondage' but I disagree! True bondage is actually the opposite as I have been on BOTH sides. I remember growing up, my Mom wouldn't even go to the mailbox without makeup on and then my Sister couldn't leave the house without it and still can't - now who is in bondage here?

I guess you can figure out that I don't wear makeup and haven't since 1999. I have left my house (and checked the mailbox hehe) for the past 10 years without makeup on! The only examples I read of in the Bible and in history from the past ages, is that women did this to entice and allure, it was never for good.

I could get into the whole Biblical issue of this but maybe another time, let's just enjoy that these celebrities can actually bear being without makeup for a change! Kudos to whoever thought this one up! WHODUTHUNKIT? Women look good without makeup *gasp*. May it inspire women everywhere. You do NOT have to wear makeup to feel pretty or whatever it is that your reason is! Start loving yourself the way God made you......enough of this worldly image! Break free! I dare you! Try showing the world your real face for a change instead of hiding behind the mask.

You can read an article done on the magazine here.


Update: Here are the results from the poll on my blog:

Q. Do you wear makeup?

Yes
26 (66%)
No
13 (33%)


Peanut Butter Fudge

I've always used my Mom's recipe through the years to make peanut butter fudge but I found one that I like better than my Mom's!  (Shhh, don't tell my Mom hehe)  I got it out of my 1989 Tennessee Mountain Home Cooking Cookbook and tried it for the first time tonight and its great. 

Peanut Butter Fudge
Makes 3 pounds
  • 3 cups sugar
  • 3/4 cup butter
  • 2/3 cup evaporated milk
  • 10 oz marshmallow creme
  • 1t vanilla
  • 1 cup crunchy peanut butter
 In large saucepan, combine sugar, butter and evaporated milk.  Bring to a full rolling boil, stirring constantly.  continue boiling over medium heat for 5 minutes, stirring constantly to prevent scorching.  Remove from heat.

Add peanut butter, stirring until melted.  Add marshmallow cream and vanilla and beat until well blended.  Spread in a buttered 13x9x2 pan.  Cool at room temperature, then refrigerate.  Cut into squares when firm.

Jealousy versus Envy

I was listening to a clip from Dave Ramsey today and it was awesome so had to share!  Here are 2 good definitions that describe the difference between jealousy and envy:

Jealousy - I want what you have

Envy - I want what you have but I don't think I can ever have it, so I don't want you to have it.

WOW!  That just about sums it up!  The mentality of envy goes something like this:

I don't think I can win, so I want you to lose.

He even talked about the "Spirit of Eeyore" that is so prevalent in our society today.  Listen to the mp3 clip here.

Bev's Frugal Tortilla Chip Dip

This isn't anything fancy but tastes so good and is frugal!  It is so simple to make and you can double it if you have a larger family.  This normally lasts us a week.
  • 1 can FF refried beans (or make your own)
  • 1/4c shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1/2c salsa
Combine all and heat to melt cheese; stir; serve with tortilla chips.

Homemade Dishwasher Detergent; Powdered and Liquid

I posted a recipe back in 2007 about homemade dishwasher detergent, but can't seem to find the post!  Either I accidentally deleted it or missed it while searching.  Anyway - I had shared the powdered version of dishwasher detergent that has been around for years:

Equal parts of Borax and Baking soda; Combine; Use 1-2 T per load

I used it for a while but I've never been a big fan of powdered detergent, so I just bought some cheap store-bought liquid dishwasher detergent and have been using that.  Until it dawned on me that I could easily make a paste by adding water to the borax/baking soda powder.  (yes, I know that should be common sense, but it seemed to have escaped me until recently lol). 

So, to get homemade liquid dishwasher detergent, simply add water until you get the consistency you want!  I use 2-3 T of the liquid per load.