The most exciting and delicious recipe you’ll ever encounter.
It was a rainy Monday, fallish, cool, and drizzly. My beautiful young wife and I returned from running some dreary errands and it was lunchtime. We were hungry and I wanted soup. Not just “heat-up-can-soup” but something, nourishing, exciting and therapeutic.
My sweet wife, knowing I’ve never made soup before in my life, wisely pulled out the soup cookbook…which I proceeded to ignore as I began banging cupboards and yanking things out of the refrigerator. I found some mushrooms, onions, peppers and bacon.
After a vigorous inspection of the recesses of the shelves I came up with a box of French onion soup broth. Before my skeptical wife’s eyes I dumped the whole box into a small pot and set it to simmer. Then I grabbed a cutting board and started chopping enthusiastically.
Soon a generous pile of mushrooms dwarfed the chopped peppers and onions. Getting into the spirit of things my wife found a clove of garlic which I added to the mix. She further advised the perhaps the peppers were not the perfect complement for onion soup, an idea which I complied with readily respecting her kitchen prowess.
Keeping an eye on the simmering broth I lightly fried some bacon, making sure to leave it soft and then cut it into bite sized pieces. Preparation complete, I dumped the whole cutting board of goodies into the broth. After about thirty seconds of stirring I announced that the soup was ready for consumption.
We dined sumptuously. I found it necessarily to voice my contentment with several appreciative mmm’s. The errands were finished, lunch was delicious, but there is only one thing that can be the perfect ending to a story like this, a nap.
It was a perfect rainy Monday.
Saturday, November 13
Saturday, October 23
The Line and Mine
I've called 5 upsets this week. Don't know how that will work out for me but I'm going with my gut. Most of them are knuckle ball games to me. Tough to call either way but since Sheridan gives me odds on them I put them in the upset category.
Safe Bets – If there is a such a thing in this league of parity…
BUF – BAL – The winless Buffalo Bills will not fare well this week.
CLE – NO – Superbowl champs versus the rebuilding Browns? ‘Nuff said.
JAC – KC – I like Kansas City and their offensive weapons.
Close Calls – I’ve got a feeling…
PIT – MIA – The Dolphins are good but the Pittsburgh Steelers are the best team in the NFL right now.
ARI – SEA – Marshawn Lynch was an excellent addition.
CIN – ATL – Can Cincy pull it together out of the bye? I think not. Atlanta is the better team and they will bounce back after a tough road loss in Philly.
Knuckle Balls – Who knows…
SF – CAR – Frank Gore is a warrior. This will be a battle on the ground all day. Carolina will remain winless.
OAK – DEN – A couple of 2-4 teams. Denver is better than their record.
Upsets – Embrace the underdog…
PHI – TEN – Andy Reid has the very good problem of two excellent QBs. Eagles looked good in win over Atlanta.
WAS – CHI – McNabb couldn’t beat Manning but I’ll bet he can beat Cutler.
STL – TB – Both teams are surprisingly good this year. I like St. Louis in a close one.
MIN – GB – Green Bay has just been battered with injuries. Brett is gonna pull it together for the Vikings.
NYG – DAL – Another must win for Dallas but the Big Blue Machine is riding a 3 soon to be 4 game win streak.
Danny Sheridan’s Line from USA Today:
Pittsburgh 3 MIAMI 40½
ATLANTA 3½ Cincinnati 42½
KANSAS CITY 9 Jacksonville 37½
TENNESSEE 3 Philadelphia 42½
CHICAGO 3 Washington 40
NEW ORLEANS 13½ Cleveland 43½
BALTIMORE 13 Buffalo 40
San Francisco 3 CAROLINA 35½
TAMPA BAY 3 ST Louis 38
SEATTLE 6 Arizona 40
SAN DIEGO 2½ New England 47
DENVER 8½ Oakland 41½
GREEN BAY 2½ Minnesota 44
DALLAS 3 NY Giants 44
Safe Bets – If there is a such a thing in this league of parity…
BUF – BAL – The winless Buffalo Bills will not fare well this week.
CLE – NO – Superbowl champs versus the rebuilding Browns? ‘Nuff said.
JAC – KC – I like Kansas City and their offensive weapons.
Close Calls – I’ve got a feeling…
PIT – MIA – The Dolphins are good but the Pittsburgh Steelers are the best team in the NFL right now.
ARI – SEA – Marshawn Lynch was an excellent addition.
CIN – ATL – Can Cincy pull it together out of the bye? I think not. Atlanta is the better team and they will bounce back after a tough road loss in Philly.
Knuckle Balls – Who knows…
SF – CAR – Frank Gore is a warrior. This will be a battle on the ground all day. Carolina will remain winless.
OAK – DEN – A couple of 2-4 teams. Denver is better than their record.
Upsets – Embrace the underdog…
PHI – TEN – Andy Reid has the very good problem of two excellent QBs. Eagles looked good in win over Atlanta.
WAS – CHI – McNabb couldn’t beat Manning but I’ll bet he can beat Cutler.
STL – TB – Both teams are surprisingly good this year. I like St. Louis in a close one.
MIN – GB – Green Bay has just been battered with injuries. Brett is gonna pull it together for the Vikings.
NYG – DAL – Another must win for Dallas but the Big Blue Machine is riding a 3 soon to be 4 game win streak.
Danny Sheridan’s Line from USA Today:
Pittsburgh 3 MIAMI 40½
ATLANTA 3½ Cincinnati 42½
KANSAS CITY 9 Jacksonville 37½
TENNESSEE 3 Philadelphia 42½
CHICAGO 3 Washington 40
NEW ORLEANS 13½ Cleveland 43½
BALTIMORE 13 Buffalo 40
San Francisco 3 CAROLINA 35½
TAMPA BAY 3 ST Louis 38
SEATTLE 6 Arizona 40
SAN DIEGO 2½ New England 47
DENVER 8½ Oakland 41½
GREEN BAY 2½ Minnesota 44
DALLAS 3 NY Giants 44
Monday, October 18
Perfect with the Lord
“Christ meant for us to be restored to the state from which we had fallen—the whole heart, the whole will, the whole life being given up to the glory and service of God.”
– Andrew Murray
Have you ever had second thoughts about your salvation? Thoughts like, “Maybe I wasn’t really genuine.” Or “maybe I just wanted a fire insurance policy against hell.”
How about this thought? “I want to serve God because that is the only way to be truly happy. I want a full life blessed by Him.”
Andrew Murray got to the root of both of these thoughts when he said, “the selfishness of the human heart looks on salvation as simply the escape from hell, with as much holiness as is needed to make our happiness secure.”
We all seek our own benefit, pleasure or well being, even to the extent of selfishly seeking salvation. We totally miss the point of the purpose for which we were made. Yes it is God’s will for us to be saved. Yes it is God’s will for us to be holy, to be set apart from the world but greater than this he wants us to be wholly and completed devoted to him. He wants our heart to be perfect towards him. His desire is for us to enthusiastically be totally His, without reserve, retreat, or regret.
In that way we can be perfect. Not perfect in reaching the destination, but perfect in direction. The results may not be there but the desire is. It is impossible to steer a ship that isn’t moving forward. Andrew Murray’s example of a small child helping his father makes this idea strikingly clear. “The work of the child is very defective, and yet it is a cause of joy and hope to the father. The father sees in it the proof of the child’s attachment and obedience as well as the pledge of what that spirit will do for the child when his intelligence and strength have been increased.”
All God needs to work is a willing heart, a perfect heart. To be perfect, simply turn your heart toward him and strive to please him. He will be pleased.
“I know also, my God, that thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness.”
- 1 Chronicles 29:17
– Andrew Murray
Have you ever had second thoughts about your salvation? Thoughts like, “Maybe I wasn’t really genuine.” Or “maybe I just wanted a fire insurance policy against hell.”
How about this thought? “I want to serve God because that is the only way to be truly happy. I want a full life blessed by Him.”
Andrew Murray got to the root of both of these thoughts when he said, “the selfishness of the human heart looks on salvation as simply the escape from hell, with as much holiness as is needed to make our happiness secure.”
We all seek our own benefit, pleasure or well being, even to the extent of selfishly seeking salvation. We totally miss the point of the purpose for which we were made. Yes it is God’s will for us to be saved. Yes it is God’s will for us to be holy, to be set apart from the world but greater than this he wants us to be wholly and completed devoted to him. He wants our heart to be perfect towards him. His desire is for us to enthusiastically be totally His, without reserve, retreat, or regret.
In that way we can be perfect. Not perfect in reaching the destination, but perfect in direction. The results may not be there but the desire is. It is impossible to steer a ship that isn’t moving forward. Andrew Murray’s example of a small child helping his father makes this idea strikingly clear. “The work of the child is very defective, and yet it is a cause of joy and hope to the father. The father sees in it the proof of the child’s attachment and obedience as well as the pledge of what that spirit will do for the child when his intelligence and strength have been increased.”
All God needs to work is a willing heart, a perfect heart. To be perfect, simply turn your heart toward him and strive to please him. He will be pleased.
“I know also, my God, that thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness.”
- 1 Chronicles 29:17
Monday, September 27
Be Perfect
I love reading Andrew Murray. It's great to read a chapter in your quiet time and take the thought with you for the rest of the day. Right now I am reading "How to be Perfect." It is a study on God's command in the scriptures to be perfect. What does God mean by that? What does he expect from us?
As I consider these questions I will post more thoughts here later.
As I consider these questions I will post more thoughts here later.
Friday, April 30
Psalm 27:4
BECAUSE (not in spite of) of all the other things going on in my life this has become my prayer recently. :)
"One thing I have desired of the LORD, that will I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in His temple."
"One thing I have desired of the LORD, that will I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in His temple."
Wednesday, April 28
How Can I Keep From Singing?
This song was perfect for me this morning. Thank you Mr. Tomlin. The past couple of weeks have been rough. I really am clinging to the rock, yet my heart is also crying out w/ his praise. How can I ever say enough? How amazing is your love Father! I will lift my eyes in the darkest night, For I know that YOU live and I will walk with You knowing You see me through, and SING the songs You give. Amen.
There is an endless song
Echoes in my soul
I hear the music ring
And though storms may come
I am holding on
To the rock I cling
How can I keep from singing Your praise?
How can I ever say enough?
How amazing is Your love?
How can I keep from shouting Your name?
I know I am loved by the King
And it makes my heart want to sing
I will lift my eyes
In the darkest night
For I know my Savior lives
And I will walk with You
Knowing You see me through
And sing the songs You give
How can I keep from singing Your praise?
How can I ever say enough?
How amazing is Your love?
How can I keep from shouting Your name?
I know I am loved by the King
And it makes my heart want to sing
I can sing in the troubled times
Sing when I win
I can sing when I lose my step
And I fall down again
I can sing 'cause You pick me up
Sing 'cause You're there
I can sing 'cause You hear me, Lord
When I call to You in prayer
I can sing with my last breath
Sing for I know
That I'll sing with the angels
And the saints around the throne
How can I keep from singing Your praise?
How can I ever say enough?
How amazing is Your love?
How can I keep from shouting Your name?
I know I am loved by the King
And it makes my heart
I am loved by the King
And it makes my heart
I am loved by the King
And it makes my heart want to sing
I can sing
Listen Here: http://popup.lala.com/popup/576742231817263439
There is an endless song
Echoes in my soul
I hear the music ring
And though storms may come
I am holding on
To the rock I cling
How can I keep from singing Your praise?
How can I ever say enough?
How amazing is Your love?
How can I keep from shouting Your name?
I know I am loved by the King
And it makes my heart want to sing
I will lift my eyes
In the darkest night
For I know my Savior lives
And I will walk with You
Knowing You see me through
And sing the songs You give
How can I keep from singing Your praise?
How can I ever say enough?
How amazing is Your love?
How can I keep from shouting Your name?
I know I am loved by the King
And it makes my heart want to sing
I can sing in the troubled times
Sing when I win
I can sing when I lose my step
And I fall down again
I can sing 'cause You pick me up
Sing 'cause You're there
I can sing 'cause You hear me, Lord
When I call to You in prayer
I can sing with my last breath
Sing for I know
That I'll sing with the angels
And the saints around the throne
How can I keep from singing Your praise?
How can I ever say enough?
How amazing is Your love?
How can I keep from shouting Your name?
I know I am loved by the King
And it makes my heart
I am loved by the King
And it makes my heart
I am loved by the King
And it makes my heart want to sing
I can sing
Listen Here: http://popup.lala.com/popup/576742231817263439
Tuesday, April 27
Jesus Shall Reign
Jesus shall reign where’er the sun
Does his successive journeys run;
His kingdom stretch from shore to shore,
Till moons shall wax and wane no more.
Behold the islands with their kings,
And Europe her best tribute brings;
From north to south the princes meet,
To pay their homage at His feet.
There Persia, glorious to behold,
There India shines in eastern gold;
And barb’rous nations at His word
Submit, and bow, and own their Lord.
To Him shall endless prayer be made,
And praises throng to crown His head;
His Name like sweet perfume shall rise
With every morning sacrifice.
People and realms of every tongue
Dwell on His love with sweetest song;
And infant voices shall proclaim
Their early blessings on His Name.
Blessings abound wherever He reigns;
The prisoner leaps to lose his chains;
The weary find eternal rest,
And all the sons of want are blessed.
Where He displays His healing power,
Death and the curse are known no more:
In Him the tribes of Adam boast
More blessings than their father lost.
Let every creature rise and bring
Peculiar honors to our King;
Angels descend with songs again,
And earth repeat the loud amen!
Great God, whose universal sway
The known and unknown worlds obey,
Now give the kingdom to Thy Son,
Extend His power, exalt His throne.
The scepter well becomes His hands;
All Heav’n submits to His commands;
His justice shall avenge the poor,
And pride and rage prevail no more.
With power He vindicates the just,
And treads th’oppressor in the dust:
His worship and His fear shall last
Till hours, and years, and time be past.
As rain on meadows newly mown,
So shall He send his influence down:
His grace on fainting souls distills,
Like heav’nly dew on thirsty hills.
The heathen lands, that lie beneath
The shades of overspreading death,
Revive at His first dawning light;
And deserts blossom at the sight.
The saints shall flourish in His days,
Dressed in the robes of joy and praise;
Peace, like a river, from His throne
Shall flow to nations yet unknown.
Does his successive journeys run;
His kingdom stretch from shore to shore,
Till moons shall wax and wane no more.
Behold the islands with their kings,
And Europe her best tribute brings;
From north to south the princes meet,
To pay their homage at His feet.
There Persia, glorious to behold,
There India shines in eastern gold;
And barb’rous nations at His word
Submit, and bow, and own their Lord.
To Him shall endless prayer be made,
And praises throng to crown His head;
His Name like sweet perfume shall rise
With every morning sacrifice.
People and realms of every tongue
Dwell on His love with sweetest song;
And infant voices shall proclaim
Their early blessings on His Name.
Blessings abound wherever He reigns;
The prisoner leaps to lose his chains;
The weary find eternal rest,
And all the sons of want are blessed.
Where He displays His healing power,
Death and the curse are known no more:
In Him the tribes of Adam boast
More blessings than their father lost.
Let every creature rise and bring
Peculiar honors to our King;
Angels descend with songs again,
And earth repeat the loud amen!
Great God, whose universal sway
The known and unknown worlds obey,
Now give the kingdom to Thy Son,
Extend His power, exalt His throne.
The scepter well becomes His hands;
All Heav’n submits to His commands;
His justice shall avenge the poor,
And pride and rage prevail no more.
With power He vindicates the just,
And treads th’oppressor in the dust:
His worship and His fear shall last
Till hours, and years, and time be past.
As rain on meadows newly mown,
So shall He send his influence down:
His grace on fainting souls distills,
Like heav’nly dew on thirsty hills.
The heathen lands, that lie beneath
The shades of overspreading death,
Revive at His first dawning light;
And deserts blossom at the sight.
The saints shall flourish in His days,
Dressed in the robes of joy and praise;
Peace, like a river, from His throne
Shall flow to nations yet unknown.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
