Fall-ing Into The Season

I am so ready for Fall! Today it's been cool, breezy, and definately hot tea weather. Now the sun's out and it's warmed up a bit, but still, the leaves are falling. Summer is losing her grip. Good-bye summer heat! Hello to long sleeves, hot cocoa with marshmellows, and those lovely Autumn colors.

Now that "the boys", as I'm now calling Jack and Sam, are getting settled in and acclimated to our sedate way of life, I set about decorating the homestead. These are not all of the decorations I'll use, but it's a start.

I always start down by the gate and work my way up to the house. I guess it's because it's the curb side appeal (not that we have a curb anymore!) one gets of our place.

Then the front door.

Then the carport door. This is just the start, mind you. We're hosting a Hallowe'en costume party this year for all our close friends, and I plan to add a black spider webbing with white skulls and other "spooky" faces here. It's gonna be cool. [I hope.]

Then, I move inside.

This is as far as I've got this afternoon. Now, I'm tired. Thinking is hard for a blonde, you know. [giggle] Hubby is making sausage tortellini with homemade tomatoe sauce. That should be the perfect ending to a perfectly wonderful day. I hope everyone reading this has had a wonderful day too.

"Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice." Philippians 4:4-8 KJV

~ Ride Safe ~

Sparky

And They Called It Puppy Love

Hallelujah, after searching high and low, we finally found two dogs that we could both agree on. What a trial this has been! It's been so hard for me since Maxie died. No dog will ever replace her but, doggone it, I was determined to move on. First we tried all the local pounds, even the big Pet Fair in Jacksonville, Florida, last weekend. No luck. I would venture to say that at least 95% of the dogs available for adoption in these places where big dogs. The where predominately Pit Bull or Lab / Pit mix. Too big for our home. And many of them where so badly scarred from fighting and neglect that they will have to be put down. Poor little things. I came away from those events in tears. It was so disheartening to see how people can be cruel to an animal that only wants to love you.

I was beginning to despair for finding a good terrier breed dog we could afford on our budget. But Sunday afternoon Hubby called a very nice lady that owns Callahan Kennels in Kingsland, Georgia, that was advertising a 12 week old litter of Jack Russell Terrier puppies in Craigslist. Yesterday, we made the one hour trip to view them and just fell in love. I was just going to buy one but when I learned there where two and they where so adorable and healthy, it was an easy choice. I'm glad I did that now because they never whine or feel homesick since they have each other.

So, meet brothers Jack (left) and Sam. They've been in our home since yesterday and to call them "hyper" is an understatement! [smile] Lordy! Now we Old Fogey's are really weary this evening. That's OK, though. They'll calm down and be housebroken. Soon. I hope. Today our wonderful Vet said they are very healthy, not a parasite to be found. Excellent news!

Lucy wonders about these

new fuzzy things in the house.

Lucy is taking it all in stride. She's such a good dog. Her left leg joint has been ailing her pretty badly too. I'm keeping her on doggie approved aspirin when necessary and an occasional partial beer. Bless her heart. With the join pain it helps her sleep and is safer than medicine.

Now you know why my posting and visiting blogs has slowed down.

But I think they're worth it. I like having warm fuzzies in the house again.

~ Ride Safe ~

Sparky

Two Minutes With The Bible ~ Paul's Three I Am's

Paul's Three I Am's

by Pastor Cornelius R. Stam

Berean Bible Society
Printer Friendly Version

Three times in Romans 1:14-16, the Apostle Paul uses the phrase “I am”, and each one carries an important message for every true believer in Christ.

First, he says in verse 14: “I am debtor” — debtor to all men, to tell them about the saving work of Christ. But why was he indebted to people he had never even seen? For several reasons:

First, he had in his hand what they needed to be saved from the penalty and power of sin. If I see a drunkard lying across the railroad track and I do nothing about it, am I not a murderer if he is killed by the train? If I see a man drowning and I have a life buoy in my hand but do not throw it to him, am I not a murderer if he goes down for the last time? If I see millions of lost souls about me and, knowing the message of salvation, do not tell them, am I not guilty if they die without Christ?

Further, Paul felt himself a debtor to others, because the Christ who had died for his sins had also died for the sins of others. As he says in II Corinthians 5:14,15: “Christ died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him who died for them and rose again.”

Finally, the Christ who had died for Paul’s sins, had commissioned him to tell others of His saving grace. Thus he says in I Corinthians 9:16,17:

“Woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel! For…a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me” (ICor.9:16,17).

Paul could say further what every true believer should be able to say: Not “I am debtor, but“, but rather, “I am debtor…SO, as much as in me is, I AM READY…” (Rom.1:15). He was ready to discharge his debt because he had that with which to discharge it — the wonderful “gospel of the grace of God”. And he did indeed make this the message known to others with all that was in him.

And now the third “I am”: “I am debtor…So I am ready… For I AM NOT ASHAMED of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth…” (Ver. 16). Paul was always proud to own Christ as the mighty Saviour from sin. Do you know Christ as your Saviour? Do you tell others of His saving grace?

---

To the Reader:
Some of our Two Minutes articles were written many years ago by Pastor C. R. Stam for publication in newspapers. When many of these articles were later compiled in book form, Pastor Stam wrote this word of explanation in the Preface:

"It should be borne in mind that the newspaper column, Two Minutes With the Bible, has now been published for many years, so that local, national and international events are discussed as if they occurred only recently. Rather than rewrite or date such articles, we have left them just as they were when first published. This, we felt, would add to the interest, especially since our readers understand that they first appeared as newspaper articles."

We hope that you'll agree that while some of the references in these articles are dated, the spiritual truths taught therein are timeless.

Gob·ble·dy·gook Presidency And Other Observations

gob·ble·dy·gook

Noun informal: gobbledegook; noun: gobbledygook
1. language that is meaningless or is made unintelligible by excessive use of abstruse technical terms; nonsense.
synonyms:    gibberish, claptrap, nonsense, rubbish, balderdash, blather, garbage;

I feel that way many times these days. You know, that the “noise” emanating from the TV is gobbledygook. I hear it from our alleged President. I hear it from some ‘news’ [government mouthpiece] organizations. I hear it from the Hollywood left. I even hear it from supposedly sane people who think that it’s a good thing to obey everything that issues from the government’s mouth.

Yadda, yadda, yadda.

Pardon me for growling but it’s been a bit of a long week. And not just because of the pretend shut down by our newly self-appointed Federal Overlords. This shut down is so bogus.

Imagine 1,000 spigots in a row, flowing unabated with water careening unchecked everywhere. It’s causing major chaos with the flow and we‘re all gonna drown if they‘re not curtailed [shut down]. Now imagine that you reach over and turn down two of those spigots by less than one percent. Only two. And only a fraction of an inch. Do you think there’s any less danger of an overflow or reducing that chaos? Also, these “shut downs” have been deliberately chosen to hurt the American people the most by satan‘s child Barry Hussein himself. He, however, will not give up his golfing this week. Heaven forbid the “King“ should be inconvenienced!! [scowl]

The “shut down” is important to our country because right now it’s the only thing between US and the full implementation of Obamacare. I pray that the Republicans do not cave.

The Dem’s want this for political reasons. “Screw the country!” Must be their motto since it certainly isn’t “In God We Trust” anymore. (Last Dem convention, remember?)

So excuse me while I YAWN! everytime Turdboy gets on the TV and lies. I’m not interested in the Barry-cade Drama Queen moments. I hope it stays shut down. In fact, shut down the IRS. The EPA. The FDA. All of them. Our lives will be a lot safer, calmer and happier.

Another stressful moment for me this week was dealing with a problem at the private school that our 9 year old niece is enrolled in. A little background: because we’re all poor, the family has collectively put her in this school to protect her from the negative culture in the government schools. I agree with John Stossel. I don’t call them “Public Schools” anymore. He stated recently for Fox News Opinion how his reporting on America’s public school systems changed his views - Let's call our public schools what they really are: ‘government’ schools: “People say public schools are ‘one of the best parts of America.’ I believed that. Then I started reporting on them.  Now I know that public school -- government school is a better name -- is one of the worst parts of America. It’s a stultified government monopoly. It never improves.”

Totally agree John! They’ll never improve. It’s the government for goodness sake! They’re indoctrinating the nation’s children to be good little drones and always do what they say to do. We said “Huh!” to that. So, to a private, we thought, Christian school she goes with the focus on a classical education. And this is at great financial sacrifice to us and her parents, I might add. What happened this week? The school went and hired a former Government School teacher who has a nasty attitude and is a racist to boot. (She’s a Jamaican.) She has bullied, belittled and picked on our niece and a few other white kids. Now, the school is scared to fire her. Our straight “A” student, who loved going to school, went from that to being afraid to go to school with nearly failing grades in a matter of a month! Plus, the bullying was causing health problems for the niece. Therefore, we called the Head Guy at the school to let him know that if this isn’t resolved quickly, we’re pulling niece and money from the school. Several meetings later, lots of phone calls, tit-for-tat, back and forth and I think as of this writing, the predatory teacher issue has been resolved. Niece is back at the school.

For now.

It’s just been a stay angry week. And I don’t like feeling upset, or frightened, or that I want to pound someone until they’re bloody spot into the earth. [smile] I’d much rather get along, be happy and be left alone. But sometimes, one must make a stand. This was definitely one of them.

Anyway, to cheer myself up today, Hubby and I have begun the process of looking for a new puppy or puppies. Get this, Hubby wants two puppies, if we can, which is what I had been secretly hoping for but did not mention to him because I didn’t want him to feel pressured! God works in mysterious ways, my friends.

Please pray that we will find two “perfect“ dogs to join our little household. Thanks.

~ Ride Safe ~
Sparky

Two Minutes With The Bible ~ What's Behind Our Moral Decline?

What's Behind Our Moral Decline?

by Pastor Cornelius R. Stam

Berean Bible Society
Printer Friendly Version

One does not have to be a prude to conclude that our country is suffering a serious moral decline. Our rulers and law enforcement agencies seem powerless to cope with it. Campaigns to check it seem vain. J. Edgar Hoover of the FBI warned us again and again that the alarming rate of this downward trend would spell ruin for America if not checked soon. But what most people fail to realize is that behind this moral decline there is a spiritual decline. America has departed from God and His Word.

Paul’s letter to the Romans tells us how the heathen got that way. Rom. 1:21,22 says: “When they knew God they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful, but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise they became fools,” and the verses that follow tell how God finally had to “give them up” to “uncleanness” and “vile affections”–all because “they did not like [wish] to retain God in their knowledge” (Ver. 28).

St. Paul further describes them in Eph. 4:17-19, as walking “in the vanity of their mind, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; who being past feeling [conscience] have given themselves over to lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.” This, sad to say, is an accurate description of increasing numbers in America today. They are throwing off restraint and going after uncleanness “with greediness.”
But this is not liberty, it is enslavement. It is not a sign of strength, but of weakness. It does not indicate superior intelligence, but grossest ignorance, and is the result of alienation from God.

How much better off are those who have come to know God through Christ! Of these the Apostle says:

“And you, who were once alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath He reconciled, in the body of His flesh, through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreprovable in His sight” (Col. 1:21,22).

---

To the Reader:

Some of our Two Minutes articles were written many years ago by Pastor C. R. Stam for publication in newspapers. When many of these articles were later compiled in book form, Pastor Stam wrote this word of explanation in the Preface:

"It should be borne in mind that the newspaper column, Two Minutes With the Bible, has now been published for many years, so that local, national and international events are discussed as if they occurred only recently. Rather than rewrite or date such articles, we have left them just as they were when first published. This, we felt, would add to the interest, especially since our readers understand that they first appeared as newspaper articles."

We hope that you'll agree that while some of the references in these articles are dated, the spiritual truths taught therein are timeless.

Recipe: Simple Lemon Chicken Piccata

We had this one-dish wonder tonight. Hubby served it with a side dish of fresh, cooked spinach in garlic. Oh my gosh, it was heavenly! And there's no vampires in our home! [ha ha]

Enjoy.

CHICKEN PICCATA
Recipe by Fabio Viviani
Yield: 2 servings
[link]

Ingredients:
2 medium boneless skinless chicken breasts
2 eggs
1 teaspoon salt
1/2-3/4 cup flour
2 tablespoons butter, divided
2 teaspoons plus 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil 2 tablespoons minced garlic
1/2 cup chicken stock
1/4 cup dry white wine
1 large lemon
2 tablespoons drained capers
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
Freshly ground black pepper to taste

Method:

Cut the chicken breasts in half horizontally: With the blade of the knife horizontal to the work surface and with your free hand pressing down slightly on a chicken breast, slice horizontally through the breast so that you have 2 same-size pieces. Repeat with the remaining breasts, so that you have 4 pieces.

Place the 4 pieces of chicken between 2 pieces of plastic wrap and pound them to about 1/3-inch thickness.

Beat the eggs and salt in a shallow bowl large enough to hold a piece of chicken. Place the flour in another bowl.

Coat the chicken first with the egg and then with the flour, tapping off the excess. Discard any unused egg and flour.

Over medium heat in a nonstick skillet large enough to hold all 4 pieces of chicken in a single layer, melt 1 tablespoon of the butter and add the 2 teaspoons of olive oil.

Add the chicken and saute until it is golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes on each side.

Remove the chicken from the skillet and set it aside.

Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter and the 1 tablespoon of olive oil to the skillet.

Add the garlic and capers; saute for 15 seconds.

Add the chicken stock, white wine, and the juice of the lemon.

Boil the sauce to reduce it, about 3 minutes.

Return the chicken to the sauce, and simmer over medium-low heat until the sauce thickens a little more, about 10 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a serving plate.

Add the parsley and pepper to the sauce. Bring it to a boil, and remove it from the heat.

Spoon the sauce over the chicken, and serve.

Two Minutes With The Bible ~ The Wonders Of His Grace

The Wonders Of His Grace

by Pastor Paul M. Sadler

Berean Bible Society
Printer Friendly Version

Scripture Reading:

“For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich.”
– II Corinthians 8:9

Whether the occasion is a holiday, a birthday celebration, or a graduation, it is customary to give a gift. While some gifts are given out of necessity, for the most part, a gift is an expression of our love. We normally bestow these tokens of our affection on those whom we feel deserve the honor. But God’s ways are not our ways. He gave the gift of His beloved Son to His enemies. That’s a true love story! Oh, the wonder of His grace that God sent His only begotten Son, the Son of His love, to save sinners like you and me while we were fleeing from the glory of His presence. Little wonder the Apostle Paul says, “Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift” (II Cor. 9:15).

The word “unspeakable” here has the idea of “indescribable.” The gifts I’ve received through the years were all describable. Some may have been a little harder to describe than others, but describable nonetheless! But the gift of God’s dear Son is indescribable. Who can explain the incarnation, how the eternal Son of God left heaven’s glory and took upon Himself the form of human flesh, yet was not tainted with our sin. Who can explain how Christ was wholly God and wholly human in one person? These wonders can only be received through the eye of faith.

The manger and the Cross stand at the two extremes of our Lord’s life, but they are connected by the tapestry of redemption. Hence, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” A love story that ends with a death is tragic; in contrast, the death of Christ is the greatest demonstration of love this world has ever seen. How much does God love you? He gave His only begotten Son to die on your behalf. You see, Christ wasn’t dying for His sin, He knew no sin; He was dying for your sins and my sins at Calvary. He was made sin for us that we might receive the righteousness of God in Him. Have you trusted Him?

Surely you would never think of paying for a gift; why, the giver would be highly offended — how much more so with God. The payment for your sins has already been furnished by the Giver; simply receive Him as a gift from God. If you have, then why not thank Him today for His unspeakable gift? After all, this is the Gift that includes all others!