2 8 oz tubes of crescent rols
2 sticks of butter
4 firm peaches peeled and quartered (frozen peaches will work)
1 1/4 c sugar (subsitute Splenda if desired)
1 tsp cinnamon
1 12 oz can of Mountain Dew

Melt butter, add sugar & cinnamon
unroll crescents and add peach quarters
Roll from large end to small
Place in 12×10x2″ pan
Pour butter mixture over them
Pour Mountain Dew on top
Bake @ 350 for 45 minutes

Eat and enjoy!

The battle to remain faithful to God is difficult. Satan wants to utterly destroy each one of us, and his schemes are extremely crafty. The only way to gain strength and competency for the fight is in personal devotional time each day. A disciple is a learning follower, thus Bible study is imperative.

Scripture reading should be incorporated into our daily routine to allow God’s word to equip us for all good works. Fervent prayer is also needed in our daily quiet time. There’s nothing we cannot accomplish through diligent, faithful prayer.

Personal devotional time in the form of Bible study and prayer will strengthen our relationship with God and allow us to be victorious in our struggles with Prince of Darkness.

2 Timothy 2:15 “Study to show thyself approved of the God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

Material goods and physical possessions are THE focal point of human thought. Our carnal minds tend to see only the superficial. Men are measured by their physical abilities and success is judged by material assets. There is seldom a day that passes without us wishing we had this or that, usually in abundance. We even misunderstand those things we count as necessities.

The Lord has promised to provide for our needs, even more than He does for the birds of the air and the flowers of the field Matthew (6:26-33).  Our priority needs to be seeking God and His righteousness. But even here, we will respond to the physical. Too often our prayers are filled with words of thanks for things. “Thank You for our home, our food, our clothing, and all the many blessings You have given us.”

These are good words, as are the words, “Thank You, most of all for Jesus, who died on the cross for us.” But are we seeing the true picture? Are we improperly regarding the gifts of Him, who loves us, and failing to properly recognize the Love of Him Who Gives?

Lord, may we not be guilty of placing more value and esteem on the gifts than on the Giver!

It appears to me that Deane has provided a little something for everyone, whether a new student of the Bible or someone familiar with the sacred writings but looking for a new approach. And all for a very affordable price of $13.99!

I don’t know the author of this little poem, or i would give credit to him or her. I plan to use it on Sunday on a lesson frm James 3:1-12, Bridling the Tongue. I thought you might enjoy it too.

I lost a very little word, only the other day;
It was a very naughty word I had not meant to say.
But then, it was not really lost—when from my lips it flew,
My little brother picked it up, and now he says it too!

The preacher had hardly entered the foyer when he was buttonholed by a man who was a bit agitated. He pointed out to the preacher that he disagreed with his message that morning. He had his Bible out and opened. He wanted the preacher to hear a passage that he believed justified his eating habits.  

The verse is Proverbs 28:25, and it was the King James Version that was being used. It says, “He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife, but he that trusteth in the Lord shall be made fat.”

I spent Monday visiting a friend of mine in a detention center run by a corporation, in conjunction with the Department of Homeland Security. His name is Angel, and I met him through an outreach program in our congregation that we call, Friend Speak. In the program we use simple texts from Scripture to help folks that want to improve their English speaking capabilities.

I met Angel seven or eight years ago. He is from La Paz, Bolivia. He was already fairly proficient in his English, so most of what I help him with was diction and working on his accent. We became close enough friends that he spent holidays in our home. And one night a couple of years ago when he awaked very ill in the middle of the night, he knocked on my door and asked me to take into the emergency room, which I did.

Angel has been trying to obtain asylum in the United States, ever since he arrived here more than 19 years ago. His lawyer only sought the path of asylum even though there are two or three other options that were available. Some people who apply for multiple paths find one works better than the other for them. I do not know all the details of the process, but I do know that a few months ago Angel was told that he had been denied asylum. His lawyer told him that there was an appeal that he could make, and Angel believed that the appeal had been initiated. But last week INS officials came to his workplace and took him into custody. They denied to let him even make a phone call to his lawyer before he was arrested and taken to the detention center.

His lawyer came to the place that Angel was being held and asked him for $2200 that would be used for a bond to allow him out of jail, pending his appeal. But early the next morning he was taken to the Bolivian consulate and was told that there was no appeal filed on his behalf. Apparently the lawyer was only trying to secure $2200 before Angel was taken back to Bolivia.

There is a very thin hope that an appeal can be filed and Angel allowed to stay in this country. But it is more likely that he will return to La Paz within the next day or two. He has a positive attitude, though he is saddened at the prospect of having to leave. He says he believes God has a plan and he wants to accept it like a man of faith.

God go with you Angel.

(first posted at qassia)

“Whatever is only almost true is quite false, and among the most dangerous of errors because being so near the truth, it is more likely to lead astray.”

                                                                                                Henry Ward Beecher

I used the quote above at the end of my sermon on Sunday night, and had a request about it, so I decided to use it as the basis of the article this week.
Beecher’s point is obviously accurate. If we someone uses elements of truth in making an assertion or proclaiming a position, it is much more likely to be accepted. The little step away from the whole truth is not really a big deal; we can still see the truth from where we now stand.

There are at least two dangers from that kind of thinking. One is that the place we are now standing is not level and leaves us in jeopardy of slipping or stumbling further from the security of truth. Perhaps more to the point but less easily seen is that when you leave the truth, you are standing on a lie. We see it as a rationalization, or socially desirable, or expedient. But the fact is that the ends never justify improper means in God’s eyes.

Untruth permeates our society these days, and most of it has an element of truth in it. That is why our politicians are so mistrusted these days. That is why the world’s view of the church is so negative these days. Christians have not stood solidly on the truth of God’s Word. They have given messages and used means that are rationalizations, or that are thought to be expedient.

Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, and no one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6) So, folks, when Christians take a step away from the Truth, they have stepped away from Jesus!

I still love the movie and think it is one of the best ever made!

Material goods and physical possessions are THE focal points of human thought. Our carnal minds tend to see only the superficial. Men are measured by their physical abilities and success is judged by material assets. There is seldom a day that passes without us wishing we had this or that, usually in abundance. We even misunderstand those things we count as necessities.

The Lord has promised to provide for our needs, even more than He does for the birds of the air and the flowers of the field (Matthew 6:26-33). Our priority needs to be seeking God and His righteousness.

But even here we will respond to the physical. Too often our prayers are filled with words of thanks for things. “Thank you for our home, our food, our clothing and all the many blessings you have given us.” These are good words, as are words like, “Thank you most of all for Jesus who died on the cross for us.”

But are we seeing the true picture? Are we improperly regarding the gifts of Him Who Loves and failing to recognize properly the Love of Him Who Gives? Let’s not be guilty of placing more esteem on the gifts than the Giver.