Hobe Sound Blogs

Andrew and Lisa Graham :: January 2014

2014-02-26T16:46:58+00:00

January 2013.

Justin's First Birthday!

Justin with Granpda Dave and Great-Grandpa Green.


Justin's First Birthday!

Justin's First Birthday!

Beautiful Winter Day on the Atlantic.

Local Science Museum.

Christy's Birthday!

Christy's Birthday Tea Party.

Great Grandpa Green's birthday!

Nathaniel and Great-Grandpa Green.

Richard Klein ::

2014-02-26T15:51:00+00:00

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. John 13:34-35.

Often people are put in our paths who we think we have no time to befriend. Like others, we tend to be drawn to the popular, good looking, exciting folks about us, rather than to those who like us, are more average and sometimes a bit below, who need to be befriended.

They walk into our churches and into our lives for various reasons and our job...our privilege… is to love them for Jesus.

So many churches we have visited over our travels are full of smiling faces but just not smiling our way. As Christian strangers, we are greeted and left to fend for ourselves. Rather than loving on a stranger like the long lost brother or sister in the Lord; we smile at them and quickly pass them by for more familiar faces.

Why is it so easy to love those we already love and so hard to love these who need to be loved? Perhaps it falls into the category of the church being not a hospital and that any problems should not be there or maybe it is the philosophy that I should only be cautiously friendly to strangers in the faith. The real question I should ask the Father is, “Who should I befriend today?”

Whether we are single, married, in a relationship, or not, today and every day we are called to love others, just as we are loved by God. In extending love to others at church, at work, or with family, we are being faithful to God’s plan to “Love one another.” Yes, this verse is referring to the church to love each other so start there (but not stop there) … love every Christian stranger, the less prominent, and the person in need that you can find in your church. (After this is accomplished, we will start on loving your enemies.)

We must remember His provision to carry out the tasks He calls us to, that is to Love one another. Who needs your love today? Who has the Father put into your life to love today? Are you expecting them today? Are you actively seeking the one who needs God’s love through you today?

Stephen Ley :: A conversation full of light, mercy and grace

2014-02-26T12:17:52+00:00

A while back I posted some thoughts on one of the most compelling books I've ever read: The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert by Rosaria Champagne Butterfield.

This week's White Horse Inn podcast is a conversation between the author and Michael Horton. I hope you check it out.

An Interview with Rosaria Champagne Butterfield

Stephen Ley :: What evolution can't explain (Chesterton)

2014-02-24T21:21:19+00:00

It is not contended here that these primitive men did wear clothes any more than they did weave rushes; but merely that we have not enough evidence to know whether they did or not. But it may be worthwhile to look back for a moment at some of the very few things that we do know and that they did do. . . . we do know that they did have pictures; and the pictures have remained. And there remains with them, as already suggested, the testimony to something that is absolute and unique; that belongs to man and to nothing else except man; that is a difference of kind and not a difference of degree. A monkey does not draw clumsily and a man cleverly; a monkey does not begin the art of representation and a man carry it to perfection. A monkey does not do it at all; he does not begin to do it at all; he does not begin to begin to do it at all. A line of some kind is crossed before the first faint line can begin.

Quote from the chapter called "Professors and Prehistoric Men" in The Everlasting Man

Robert Booth :: Happy birthday, W. B. Pope

2014-02-19T19:57:57+00:00

Today, February 19, 2014 is the 192^nd birthday of William Burton Pope (1822-1903). Dr. Pope was an English Methodist pastor and theologian and writer. He studied at Richmond College and became a Methodist minister in 1841. In 1867, he was appointed professor of systematic theology at Didsbury College in Manchester. Then in 1877, he became president of the British Wesleyan Conference.

His three volume systematic theology, called the “Compendium of Christian Theology” is considered a classic in the Wesleyan tradition. And it seems to be sadly neglected today. It was published in 1877–1879, and became the most important and influential Methodist systematic theology of its time. In these volumes, Pope addressed new developments in the church world including liberalism in theology, rationalism and gave a systematic approach to doctrine.

If you aren’t familiar with the systematic theology of Pope, you can access the electronic version at the Wesley Center Online [link].

Aimee (Stetler) Snyder :: When the Time Comes

2014-02-14T21:59:31+00:00

For every soul there is a midnight
When it's silent in the room but loud inside
You lie awake what seems like forever
And you wrestle with the big stuff that can
not be denied
All of life
Has led you to this moment

When the time comes
And the games are finally over
There's no more pretending
All charades are done
And the time comes
When the soul is finally ready
You know the truth and
This time you don't run
God is waiting there, you'll find
When the time comes

For every soul this is a dawning
When we see there's more it life than
we believed
Faith is that one road that's left to travel
But it means we have to start to trust
what we can't see
Then at last
We chose to take that first step

He'll rush
He'll reach
He'll run
He'll do
Anything to get to you

Writer: SAM MIZELL, TONY WOOD

Daryl Hausman :: Daryl Hausman, my Sweetheart!!

2014-02-11T07:51:24+00:00

Happy 45th Birthday, Sweetheart!

Dearest Gorgeous,
I love you sooooo much and am so thankful to God for bringing us together back in college, our 1st date in Oct of 1988! (Nope, I didn't inherit Daddy's abilities to write poetry, like you did Heather... but that was close!=) I'm so blessed to be called Mrs. Daryl Hausman for soon to be 24 years!
Thank you for being so close to God! It brings such a peace and security to my heart and life to know that you have always followed God's plan for our lives. I know that God has always led you in the past, never have we made a move out of God's will and that's saying something... for we've made a LOT of moves! Smile! Seriously, being the sensitive person that I am, I've not always understood each time you felt God leading us in a different direction, but I KNEW not to question God and I also knew that you would NEVER lead us astray! That brings a HUGE amount of comfort. Just recently, while I was struggling with yet another hurdle in our lives, you listened to me, and then so sweetly assured my heart that God knew just where we were and in His time He will lead and give you the peace to go on! But for now it the answer was to "wait"!

Over 10 years ago now, while still on the mission field, I turned the page on a year-by-year calendar given to us by a dear friend and this was the reading for that day... (which happened to be your birthday...) as I turned the same calendar over again today, I found it fitting and thought I would share it on our blog. I have no idea where this saying originated for there isn't an author quoted but am praying that maybe it would help someone who would happen to read it as it has helped us over the years!

When I cannot understand my
Father's leadings
And it seems to be but hard
and cruel fate
Still I hear that gentle whisper
ever pleading
God is working, God is faithful,
Only Wait!

Over the years, you have been my rock... (with a small r, but after Jesus my ROCK, you are forever 1st!)... nevertheless in the human my strong arm to lean on! Thank you for NEVER wavering and being so strong in Jesus that it brings tears to my eyes to write about it! You have always been a good listener. Even when YOU KNEW what to tell me to "fix" the whole problem... you would bite your tongue and just listen to my senseless babbling... smile and hug me, pray with me, hold me... and wait till I have spilled my ~~guts~~...heart (changed that just for you, my etiquette conscious Moma, so you wouldn't have to blush right now! =) then ever so quietly and gently reassure my heart that God was working, God was still in control and in His Time all things would work out according to His will!

Thank you for being SO approachable! Much to the shock of those of our friends who can't get beyond that serious, ever-so-studious face of yours... I know that you are SOOOOOO willing to listen, you aren't judgmental and have a grace to stand up where most men would cower... Man, I DO LOVE YOU!

Thank you for being such a hard worker! You never shy away from the duty that God has given you to provide for your family. Amazingly, I watch you give and give and give when I know what the numbers are and know that there is just NO WAY we can afford to give again... and yet you do and I watch as God makes up the numbers and pays our bills for us again and again! You have proved the saying, "You can never out-give God" to me again and again! I could never have done any better and I want the world to know it!

Thank you for being so constant! and Yes, I am saying that! You are so even keel, so consistent that it makes me smile at times, and want to "lovingly hit" you at other times! =) I love/dislike you for it... and thank God for that all at the same time!!!!! God knew I needed a steady man to hang on to, after all my bouncing!!! =) You never waver, you're always sure of God, and where we are in Christ.

I am continually amazed at the wisdom God gives you as you lead our Haus! ... (yeah, I probably shouldn't be, but I usually am!=) I wish I could sit and learn at your feet as often as your International students get to! =) But I would never want to be selfish and keep you from the calling God has given you. Thanks, Sweets, for being one amazing man!

Thanks for loving me unselfishly! I hope and pray that in God's time and in God's way all of our girls will find a man just like their daddy ... a man after God's own heart!

Lovingly your Wife, Laura

My Sweetheart for over 23 years now!

And as I end this post... I must also say, Happy Birthday, to you too, my dear Daddy. Yes, my dear husband and dear Daddy share a birthday... only 26 years apart! Sorry, Go here for a recent pic of you and Moma together... I wasn't sure how to copy and paste it... so just linked you to the Bryan Christmas post for that! Daddy...You are the man that 1st loved me and showed me what the LOVE OF GOD looked like in the flesh. I thank the Lord that I never have had to struggle with my "picture" of God! I have always feared God, yet Loved God for I knew from my relationship with you what the difference was! You showed me what I should look for in a husband some day, by loving my Moma openly. You never were afraid to back up and say you were sorry and make things right. You were my everything... and I always prayed for and wanted a man JUST LIKE YOU.... and God gave me one! =)
Recently I was talking to an older lady and she shared this truth with me... she said that there are only 2 things we can give our kids....1. Roots, when they are small... And thank you Daddy and Moma for the Heritage you gave we 4 Bryan's. Then she said... 2. We give them WINGS! Thanks so much Daddy and Moma for LETTING GO and for giving me WINGS enabling me to FLY into the arms of my husband! So go back and re-read this post inserting my Daddy's name, Edgar A. Bryan, and almost every time you read my Sweetheart's name (Obviously not every time cause I'm married, folks!=) but most of the time, it will be the same! I could never have found a man... in fact, two men like these men... they both are truly Men after God's Own Heart! I love you too, Daddy! =)

Aimee (Stetler) Snyder :: Just Because It's Fun

2014-02-05T07:10:31+00:00

As I Look Out My Window...
I see the first light of sunrise cracking through the dark. (And to think I never used to be an early riser, in the least!) Of course, there is snow on the ground....thus, the second snow day in a row. That's just fun!

Right Now I'm In...
Comfy and WARM PJ's. Feels soooo good to know I don't have to go out in the cold if I don't want to. I'm such a homebody. =)

Thinking and Pondering...
On whether it is reasonable to spend time on Valentine's Day cards for the school kids, or if they would be just as happy with a store-bought card and some candy.

On My Bedside Table...
My NEW Bible (which I may post about later), my journal, my phone (of course), and a basket that keeps the little things from looking cluttery.

On My Computer Screen...
Pinterest (naturally), Blogger, Amazon, and CNN.

On the Menu Tonight...
A new recipe involving ground beef and a pie crust.

On My To-Do List...
Well....it's a snow day, and my chores are caught up, so I will probably use the free time for some overdue project. Something fun like.....regrouting around the base of the shower. (ugh)

Plans for this Week...
I'm really hoping to surprise a friend, who has recently gotten some bad news, with something fun. Otherwise, the plan is to stay inside as much as possible. Oh, and I start my adventure into online classes on Saturday. (eek!)

Looking Around the House...
Makes me happy because I'm keeping up with the cleaning schedule that was my New Year's Resolution. We are all enjoying the benefits and the feeling of calmness it brings.

Lessons Learned This Past Week...
I've always heard that kids help you see your own selfishness. Um....yeah....

Stephen Ley :: Philip Seymour Hoffman (1967 - 2014)

2014-02-04T16:37:16+00:00

When I heard the news of Philip Seymour Hoffman's death on Sunday afternoon it hit me harder than I would have expected. The melancholy has lingered and I couldn't have said exactly why until reading Ross Douthat's tribute, where he captures why Hoffman meant so much to those of us of roughly the same generation of film buffs.

So his greatness was not the kind of greatness that we’re used to from our actors, and its full measure seems fully apparent only in hindsight, now that he’s been taken from us. Or at least that’s how it seems to me, and maybe this is mostly just a highly personal reaction … because Hoffman began to deliver great performances around the time I began to really appreciate the movies — during my late teenage years, so that “The Big Lebowski” and “Boogie Nights” and “Magnolia” and “The Talented Mr. Ripley” (“Tommy — how’s the peeping?”) are all clustered together in my memory, and he stands out as one of the first contemporary actors whose work I really, truly noticed. But in noticing it, I also came to take it for granted, as something that would always be there, something to be counted on, something as essential to the moviegoing experience as previews and popcorn, blockbusters in the summer and Oscar bait in the fall.

That's it. The last few days I've been recalling memorable Hoffman performances and it's funny how many of them came in films that were revelatory experiences during the time when I was morphing from casual moviegoer to devoted lover of motion pictures. The first Hoffman role I thought of when I saw the Breaking News headline on CNN was the hospice nurse Phil Parma in P.T. Anderson's Magnolia (I can remember exactly where I was sitting, stunned, in the movie theater as the closing credits rolled on that one). Happily someone has uploaded one of Phil/Philip's scenes to YouTube. I post it here as tribute.

Mary Alice (Skiles) Shaffer :: Anticipation: Part Two

2014-02-01T19:00:20+00:00

After waiting for almost a month to open gifts, the boys did not make me wait until the evening of my birthday to open them. We all sat around the table before Dean left for work and I started unwrapping.

Justin gave me a Newton’s cradle. I’ve always loved these little scientific machines and am glad to have one. I’ve already untangled the string multiple times as the boys seem to love it as much as I do.

Jeremy blessed me with a sand picture. This little thing can be as time consuming as any electronic toy. Each time I turn it over, the scene changes as the sand drips down through the water. Mountains rise and little volcanoes appear.

JJ’s gift was the only one I had guessed. I don’t know if it has a name, but we’ve all had fun with the images that hundreds of little pins make. And I don’t know either why he decided to wink when I snapped the picture.

My gift from Dean was the one that had us laughing before I opened it. It felt like a catnip mouse. Now why would I want a catnip mouse? We have a cat, but she wasn’t celebrating her birthday. When I opened it, I discovered a shiny silver dollar wrapped in bubble wrap. A new coin for my collection.

Dean and the boys have helped me to celebrate my birthday for almost a week now, We had a meal out before my birthday, gifts the day of my birthday and the birthday dessert is still to come. See, I have something else to anticipate.

Philip and Marianne Brown :: Six Weeks of Dinner Menu Ideas

2014-01-29T22:05:03+00:00

Several months ago my dad shared his frustration with that problem called, "What to have for dinner". (or supper as it's called where I grew up) He said he now understands why mom would come home from work and say, "What you would you like for supper?" That's half the battle right there! So I told him that I would sit down and hammer out some menus using a lot of mom's old standby's. So Dad, here's a series of six weeks worth of menus that I kept track of over the summer. Some of them aren't mom's but most of them are or are a spin-off. If there are any recipes that you'd like just let me know.

Week One

Monday - Spaghetti, Garlic Bread, Green Beans
Tuesday - Enchiladas, Tossed Salad
Wednesday - Chicken Nuggets, Macaroni and Cheese, Lima Beans
Thursday- Baked fish, Baked Sweet Potatoe with Cinnamon Butter, Peas, Applesauce
Friday - Pizza Night
Saturday - Philly Steak sandwiches, French Fries
Sunday - Baked Chicken (cornflakes/rice crispies), Sweet Potato Fries, Corn, Jello salad

Week Two

Monday - Meatloaf, Baked Potatoes, Green Beans

Tuesday - Marinated Grilled Chicken (Italian Dressing), Noodles, Squash, Applesauce

Wednesday - Tacos

Thursday - Grilled Salmon, Seasoned Rice, Salad with Mandarin Oranges, Gorgonzola Cheese and Raspberry Vinaigrette

Friday - Pizza Night

Saturday - BBQ Grilled Chicken, Stuffed Baked Potatoes, Broccoli

Sunday - Pork Loin, Mashed Potatoes, Corn, Green Bean Casserole, Deviled Eggs

Week Three

Monday - Sloppy Joes, Macaroni and Cheese, Green Beans and Kidney beans dressed with milk and butter

Tuesday - Chicken Fajitas, Spanish Rice

Wednesday - Hamburg Gravy and Mashed Potatoes, Cracker Barrel Green Beans

Thursday - Ziti, Garlic Bread, Peas

Friday- Pizza Night

Saturday - Grilled Fish, Parsley Potatoes, Roasted Asparagus, Applesauce

Sunday - Roast, Mashed Potatoes, Gravy, Carrots, Green Beans, Corn, Orange Jello Salad

Week Four

Monday - Chicken Broccoli Casserole, Baked Apples

Tuesday - BBQ Grilled Pork Chops, Mrs. Z's Rice, Stir Fried Green Beans

Wednesday - Beef Sandwiches, Potato Chips

Thursday - Salmon Cakes, Stewed Tomatoes, Baked Potatoes, Peas

Friday - Pizza Night

Saturday - Hamburgers

Sunday - Roasted Chicken, Mashed Potatoes, Gravy, Filling, Corn, Green Jello Salad

Week Five

Monday - Goulash, potato wedges, Lima Beans/Brussel Sprouts

Tuesday - Taco Salads

Wednesday - Chinese chicken, rice, eggs and mushrooms

Thursday - Hamburger, green bean, potato and carrot packets - baked corn

Friday - Pizza night

Saturday - Grilled Cheese and soup night

Sunday - Poor Man's Steak, Mashed Potatoes, Broccoli Casserole, Orange Jello Salad

Week Six

Monday - Stuffed peppers, Sweet Potato Fries, Applesauce

Tuesday - Creamed chipped beef gravy over biscuits, roasted asparagus

Wednesday - Reuben Sandwiches, Potato chips

Thursday - Salmon soup, oyster crackers, Salad

Friday - Pizza Night

Saturday - Breakfast for supper

Sunday - Ham, Hashbrown Casserole, Candied Carrots, Cauliflower, Seven Layer Salad

In the freezer I try to keep a batch of frozen Vegetable Soup, Broccoli Soup, Ham and Green Bean Soup, White Chili and Regular Chili in addition to some casseroles in case some of these fall through. It also gives me a stash to run to when someone else might have need.

Philip and Marianne Brown :: 10 Reasons to Love Snow and Cold Weather

2014-01-29T22:01:58+00:00

1. Snow covers the deadness of winter - all of the sudden everything that was brown, dirty, and muddy becomes a wonderland.
2. There's no pressure to be coordinated in your wardrobe choices - warm and serviceable becomes the rage.
3. It's nature's way of giving you an excuse to stay home and make memories.
4. Children have no complaints about spending hours getting exercise when there's snow on the ground.
5. It's a good way to slow down and not feel guilty about rushing to get to appointments. It's the one time that in the city it's safer to be slower.
6. You can get a full cardio workout with just 20 minutes of shoveling.
7. Winter tends to be overcast and can be dark and dreary. Snow makes everything bright even if it is overcast. And if the sun is shining is dazzlingly bright.
8. When you can't go anywhere you can tackle home projects that have been waiting for a block of uninterrupted time.
9. You get to act your inner age and no one looks at you strange.
10. When your refrigerator goes out, you can put all your frozen and fridge items outside and not lose a thing.
oh.....here's another one:
11. That cold weather (that stays below freezing for large periods of time) are what kill the bugs that can be so problematic the following summer. I have to do much less dusting and spraying during the summer if it's been preceded by a "hard" winter.

It's interesting (and disheartening) to read the comments on news media and FB about the weather. But I've also noticed a pattern - the same people who are fussing now will also be fussing about the exact opposite type of weather this summer.

I enjoy each season and the way they work together to create balance. They are a reassurance of God's promise in Genesis 8:22 "While the earth remains, Seedtime and harvest, And cold and heat, And summer and winter, And day and night Shall not cease." Winter doesn't last forever and while it's here, I'm thankful.

Oh....perhaps #12 could be - Hitting a patch of ice will give you an adrenaline rush better than any roller coaster and it's free (unless you forget [or someone else near you forgets] that you turn the direction you do not want to go and/or your speed is excessive for conditions - then it can get really expensive).

And my boys would say #13 - school snow days!

UPDATE: 1/29/2014 - the boys reminded me today - in cold weather you can get water right out of the tap that needs no ice at all!

Mary Alice (Skiles) Shaffer :: Anticipation

2014-01-29T18:09:12+00:00

More than 25 years ago I happened to overhear a conversation between a married couple. They were discussing whether they should let their parents know that they were planning a visit in a few months. (The parents lived on the opposite coast.) The wife spoke words that I saw as wisdom when she said, “Let’s tell them. Anticipation is half the joy.” Yes, there is joy in anticipating an event whether great or small.

For almost a month, a small pile of wrapped packages and cards has been sitting near my desk. Each of the boys wrapped a birthday gift for me so long ago he may have forgotten the contents. Each time I’ve looked at them, I’ve calculated how long it is until my birthday, but I haven’t picked them up – until today. I just had to give each one a gentle shake and feel the package. I have a faint idea what one of them might be, but I’m completely baffled by the others. I can’t think of anything that I may have told them I wanted except chocolate and I don’t think they contain sweet treats. I’ve waited long enough and I’m ready to see what they contain. There’s just one problem. Today’s not my birthday.

I’m still in anticipation mode. Even though the contents of the packages remain a mystery, the anticipation has been building. I don’t need a great birthday celebration, but Dean and the boys are extending the celebration by giving me a month of anticipation. The stack makes me smile. A little joy each day as I think of my family planning to bless me.

Aimee (Stetler) Snyder :: This Could Be Detrimental To My Health...

2014-01-28T18:20:45+00:00

I've been cooking much, much more since we have two little dudes at our house. I get tired quickly of the same old recipes so I try something new about every three recipes or so. This latest one is a winner, for sure. Quite a while back, I discovered Mel's Kitchen Cafe. Oh my goodness, she makes the best food. She posted a recipe called "Chicken Pillows with Creamy Parmesan Sauce" back in July of 2011. For some reason, I'm just now seeing this and I tried it tonight. Deeeeeeelicious. I would post her purdy picture of it but I don't know how she would feel about that so I'm just posting the link. Go! Try it! Super yummy!

The Recipe

Mary Alice (Skiles) Shaffer :: Age Did not Destroy the Joy

2014-01-27T14:24:52+00:00

When I was in the library before Christmas, I found a book that I had loved as a child. I checked it out and enjoyed it all over again. I enjoyed it so much that I purchased a copy to give to one of my great-neices.

As I enjoyed my way through the story of Ferdinand the Bull, I remembered watching an animated version of it when I was in elementary school. The black-line drawings were dredging up memories of another book I had loved as a child and I began to dig in my boxes of old books.

Sure enough, there it was – Simpson and Sampson The cover was less than exciting – no pictures and the title was only on the spine of the library-bound book.

Evidently I had been reading this book when I borrowed some sunflower seeds from my brother and he insisted that I write a promissory note. There is no record of payment, but I have given him bags of sunflower seeds over the years, so I think the debt has been paid.

The inside cover promises a story of chivalry and excitement.

The title page,

and the opening page of the story complete with old scotch tape and childish scribbles.

Another illustration and there’s that blue colored pencil again.

And this is one of my favorites from the book. Sometimes I fear I look like this when things haven’t gone well in the day. When I looked for other books by this author, I discovered that this title is something of a collector’s item. It’s listing for $99.00 on Amazon this morning.

In my searching I discovered another book by the same author and illustrator. I put a bug in Dean’s ear and one of the boys gave me a copy of Wee Gillis for Christmas. I also received a copy of Ferdinand. Even though these are old books, their age hasn’t diminished the charm of the story. I enjoyed them as much today as I did 45 years ago.

Richard Klein ::

2014-01-27T12:38:00+00:00

Whatever is separating you from the Love of God, is your choice.
In general, the world is run by people who care more about themselves than they care about you.
The sacrifice of popularity is too great a price for most leaders to pay, to just to do what is right.
Fear is the father of “political correctness.”
You always end up encouraging yourself when you encourage others.
Love strives to leave the loved one in better condition than itself.
Forgiveness purges hatred.
Good luck is most often watered by the sweat of your brow.

Richard Klein ::

2014-01-26T12:09:00+00:00

Faith cannot avoid criticism but neither can it be deterred by it.
Forgiveness is an anxiety killer.
Time is the currency of life, spend it or it spends itself.
Every moment is a potential memory.
There is birth and death and whatever lies in-between is yours to make a difference.
A good moment can flavor an entire lifetime.
The name of Jesus is divides people.

Richard Klein ::

2014-01-25T12:10:00+00:00

Love without compassion is like hunger without food.
In order to do more with less, I must tend to “the less” with great diligence.
Without prayer, everything I do is guesswork.
Step by step is as fast as I can go towards anywhere worth going.
If the Holy Spirit does not lead you; you are lost.
The Bread Of Life, (The Bible), is the comfort food for Christians.
Christians have a “take it or leave it” relationship with prayer; once they take the time for prayer, they don’t what to leave it.

Philip and Marianne Brown :: Baked Chicken

2014-01-24T20:39:00+00:00

This is our favorite baked chicken recipe. I loved it when my mom made it and my boys love it to.

Ingredients:
Chicken thighs or legs (you can remove the skin or leave it on)
1 stick of melted butter or margarine
several cups of Rice Crispies or Corn Flakes smashed fine (I put them in a Ziploc bag and run a rolling pin over them until they're finely ground)
salt and pepper

Dip the chicken in the melted butter and roll in the cereal crumbs. Place in a baking pan. Salt and pepper to taste. Bake on 350 for 50 - 70 minutes. It's done when well browned and when poked the juices are clear. If you use chicken breasts the time will need to be extended.

I'll add a final picture when I can remember to do so.

Richard Klein ::

2014-01-24T11:57:00+00:00

In order to embrace happiness, I must forgo bitterness.
Good memories are the bridges over the difficulties in my life, connecting my happiness with my joys.
Marriage has brought a richness to my life attainable in no other relationship.
Compassionate works come from a compassionate heart; a compassionate heart is a gift from God.
A companionate heart is a by-product of becoming a Christian; others may have one, but a Christian must.
You cannot recover what is lost; you can only use what is left, wisely.

Richard Klein ::

2014-01-23T12:17:00+00:00

It is one thing to be happy; it is quite another to spread happiness.
Peace provides its own prosperity.
Love eagerly aspires for the happiness for the one it loves.
Active Faith is all I know that can replace the drudgery of failure with the joy of success.
Without God, all that one may do, is to Him, a loss.
Progress is more than wanting to move in the right direction; it is doing so this moment.
In order to not see God one would have to look where He is not, but as He is everywhere, that is impossible; so I must choose, then, not to see Him anywhere, to not see him at all.
People become uncomfortable when you are certain of things they are not.
It is one thing to live cheaply; it is another thing to give cheaply.
Your “secrete sins” become landmines for your loved ones.
Blessed is he who does not consider who will get the credit.
To often we try to use God for a fire escape, from the fires that we started.

Philip and Marianne Brown :: Homeschooling this week

2014-01-23T10:48:20+00:00

Homeschooling has had it's moments this week -
Daniel is learning the concept of compound words. But my examples were not convincing to him. He understood "sunshine" and "rainbow" but then I gave him a list of words and he had to tell me if they were compound words or not.
Neighbor - "neigh" - sound a horse makes, "brrrrr" - sound you make when you're cold. Comfort - "come" and "fert" - what you yell when you throw a ball ..... ?????? Then he burst out laughing!

Stephen was sitting here in the school room repeatedly pressing his hand against his ear. I asked him what he was doing. His eyes got big and he said, "What's that squitchy sound in my ear?"

We made puffy paint snowmen (shaving cream mixed with glue and sprinkled with iridescent glitter) and even took a half day on Tuesday to play in the snow.

Mary Alice (Skiles) Shaffer :: Scraps from the Past

2014-01-23T00:52:28+00:00

After a couple of inches of snow last night, Justin showed up this morning wearing a pair of socks that my grandfather made. I have no idea how many pairs of socks he knitted, but every time we visited he encouraged us to pick out a couple of pairs. Some how I managed to hang onto three pairs without wearing them out and I put them away for the boys.

As I sat there and looked at his socks, I began thinking about other things that I had in the house that were a part of my growing up years and I went digging. The first thing I thought of was my miniature cast iron stove. I don’t know when I got it or where it came from, but I had great fun playing with it when I was young. The inside is soot covered because I thought I had to boil water in the little kettles. The chimney is long gone along with several other items.

When I pulled it out this morning, JJ was taken with it and the next thing I knew, he was cooking a tire from one of his trucks in a pot and the coal scuttle was jammed into the firebox.

While he played, I kept digging and found a tin box that always hid in one of my dresser drawers. At first sight, it’s nothing special – just a red tin with well-worn stickers adorning the lid.

But open it up, and memories come spilling out. Even though I found the expected assortment of hankies I was surprised to find an old plastic rain bonnet. What was I thinking when I put it in there? And why in the world did I put a picture of my great-great-great-great grandfather in there? My Grandma Skiles had written on the back of the picture or I would have never known who it was.

In my trip down memory lane, I also located my penny book. Grandpa Kintner started the book for me and filled it with hard-to-find pennies and let me add a few of my own. When he would visit, he would want to see my penny book and would add one or two to my collection.

It holds more than pennies though. I found my certificate of baptism and several postcards from both of my grandmothers. The squeaker on the dolphin postcard still squeaks even though it’s 35 years old.

And one more thing fell out of the penny book – a newspaper clipping announcing my mother and father’s engagement.

I think that one of these days, I need to go through everything and organize some things. It seems that my childhood filing system leaves something to be desired. And speaking of needing to file things. My mother recently sent me my polio vaccination record. I think the nurse got mixed up on the dates, but I have been immunized against polio.

And while I was dredging up memories, I had to get a picture of Lambie. I think I got him for my first birthday so he’ll soon be 52. He kinda has that velveteen rabbit look. His fur is pretty thin and his rubber nose is mostly gone, but he spends his days hanging out with other animals that are 13 years old at best.

Even though I didn’t even walk to the mailbox today, I had a pleasant stroll down memory lane. Little scraps from the past reminded me of people I loved and things I enjoyed.

Stephen Ley :: Eight lies, or maybe ten (depending on how you count)

2014-01-22T16:16:11+00:00

"President Obama issued a statement today to mark the forty-first anniversary of Roe v. Wade. A mere paragraph long, it contains enough euphemism, evasion, and outright falsehood to serve simultaneously as a model of dissimulation and concision." (Matthew Schmitz @ First Thoughts)

Richard Klein ::

2014-01-22T12:22:00+00:00

A Christian must be godly enough to be useful and useful enough
to point to godliness.
Your talent that is gathering dust is causing loss, somewhere.
Manners are best when they represent who you are, not just how you act in a moment.
Travail awaits, he who seeks what his heart must have; where it cannot be found.
Never allow what is, to replace what can be.
Prayer warriors are “God’s Geek Squad.”
A righteous prayer can fix anything…“Ask and you shall receive.”

Philip and Marianne Brown :: Happy First Day of Spring!

2014-01-21T16:14:54+00:00

Since we actually had winter this year it feels like a definite spring is coming! I love the snow and slowness of winter but I enjoy it largely because of the promise of springtime. Last week I bought some pansies, which are Philip's favorite, and got them planted near the entrance of the house. I forgot that the wreath on the front door that says, "Let It Snow" probably should come down.

Though I'm very thankful that none of my children had colds this year, (save Stephen who sniffles almost constantly from allergies and it's hard to know if it's cold sniffles or allergy sniffles) - we didn't miss the most recent Influenza A outbreak and so very high fevers and all sorts of other unpleasantness are happening in this household.

Once they recuperate, they're back in same old form!

This is Stephen's "T-Rex look" with the two claws on each arm.

Philip and Marianne Brown :: November 3, 2011

2014-01-21T16:13:43+00:00

Tomorrow will be the second anniversary of my mom's coronation day. No matter how much my heart hurts, I have to smile when I imagine what it must have been like for her.

"But just think of stepping on shore - and finding it heaven.

Of touching a hand - and finding it God's

Of breathing new air and finding is celestial

Of waking up in Glory and finding it home."

Philip and Marianne Brown :: Long winter evenings

2014-01-21T16:10:34+00:00

One of the things I love about long winter evenings is the opportunity to read good books, eat popcorn, and drink hot chocolate. I've always been thankful for the way God designed seasons - all working together to create balance. Winter is rest time for me and I love it.

Richard Klein ::

2014-01-21T13:17:00+00:00

It doesn’t matter if you are "good" sinner or a bad one, both will be losers in the end.
You cannot do enough “good “ to deserve keeping your pet sins.
Faith is an anchor; sin is a millstone around your neck.
Being surrounded by worse sinners, will never excuse yours.
A “Phariseeacle Church” has only saints, but every Christian Church has both saints and sinners.
Love causes you to do better than you want to do; and to want to do better than you are doing.

Philip and Marianne Brown :: Stromboli

2014-01-21T11:35:18+00:00

Growing up my mom would make Stromboli as a special treat. I've modified it to meet our needs and my family loves it. I've found that depending on what are of the country you're from you may have never heard of it. Stromboli is sort of like a pizza pocket.

Ingredients:
1 loaf of frozen bread dough thawed
1 jar of pizza sauce
1-2 cups of diced honey ham lunch meat
1-2 cups of diced cotto salami
1 1/2 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese
pepperoni
beaten egg white and Parmesan cheese (optional)

Roll out the bread dough into a roughly a 12x14 rectangle. Towards the "bottom" spoon 1/2 the jar of pizza sauce.

Add meats, cheese, and pepperoni on top of the pizza sauce. It will look something like this:

The easiest way to wrap it together is to fold the sides in first,

The roll up from the bottom - the filling will push towards the top but should not go the whole way or it won't form a tight seal.

You want to try and form a seal with the dough - but sometimes (as you'll see in the last picture) it still leaks. Some people leave the pizza sauce out and use it as a dipping sauce and that fixes the problem but my family likes it with the sauce and then the other half of the jar can be used for dipping. We like to brush ours with beaten egg white and Parmesan cheese.

Place the Stomboli on a greased cookie sheet.

Bake at 350 for 30-45 minutes. You want it to be browned well so that the dough is cooked the whole way through.

Note: Over the years I've discovered that cheap ham tastes nasty and have found that honey ham tastes the best (and I even use the off brand and it still tastes good). Do not use hard salami (unless you like the taste) - cotto tastes the best combined with the other flavors.

Also - my mom used to do individual ones and would pull the dough from the top and bottom, rolling it together and fastening it with toothpicks. Then the sides would be rolled and toothpicked to the top. This will also work on the non-individual strombolis and tend not to run out as much. The only reason I stopped doing it this way is because it takes longer and I could never remember how many toothpicks I used.

Enjoy!

Aimee (Stetler) Snyder :: Out of the Mouths of Babes

2014-01-20T23:26:29+00:00

Today I was feeling tense, worried and stressed. Suddenly, Little Man, who was sitting at the table eating his lunch, starting singing softly. He'd heard my sister sing online 3 Sundays ago and he liked the song then. We sang it a few times that week, and the next Sunday at church, and then we didn't sing it again. Now, here he was, in his adorable, little boy voice, singing...

Richard Klein ::

2014-01-20T13:04:00+00:00

Growing with weak faith is admirable; weakening your Faith is a tragedy in the making.
Saddest is a Christian’s face, with a heathen’s heart.
Children hear the Gospel in churches and homes and then believe it or leave it, often based on what they see of it.
People tend to believe what benefits them, rather than what chastises them.
Even evil wants to look good while doing wrong.
What you have made of yourself will soon pass away but what you have allowed God to make out of you, will last forever.
Backup your life with prayer and play your Faith forward.

Aimee (Stetler) Snyder :: You Know You Are In Foster Care When...

2014-01-20T00:14:43+00:00

Photo Source

You know you are involved in foster care if a new kid comes to your house, and after a day or two, says, "Um, do I live here now?" and you give the reply, "I have no clue! Maybe we will find out tomorrow." True story.

Richard Klein ::

2014-01-19T12:09:00+00:00

You leave a small scar on your Faith with every doubt.
People tend to feed on what satisfies their wants but choke at the work needed to meet their own needs.
Everyday you walk in darkness you see less and less of your Faith.
Evil is a choice; doing right is one too.
The secrets of your heart will be on billboards come Judgment Day.
Temptation always seeks to wear its best face.
People on earth hate the word “repent”; people in Hell hate the word “rejoice.”

Stephen Ley :: An average day

2014-01-16T10:52:02+00:00

Here's a sampling of the headlines from my local newspaper this morning.

TWO CARS EXCHANGE GUNFIRE IN BELLE GLADE NEAR SCHOOL

THREE DEAD IN SHOOTING AT N. INDIANA GROCERY STORE

DOLPHIN'S QB'S WIFE LEAVES RIFLE IN RENTAL CAR

FATHER OF TEENS KILLED BY WIFE ASKS PUBLIC TO DONATE MONEY TO DREYFOOS SCHOOL OF THE ARTS (the wife shot the teens to death before shooting herself)

I wish these stories were unusual, but in reality they're the new normal in a gun-crazy society where even modest attempts at regulation are met with howls of outrage (see the story I posted on Tuesday). Future generations will look back on us and ask "what were they thinking?!" in the same way we look back at previous eras and wonder how they could blithely accept social evils that seems so obviously wrong in the light of history.

In the meantime here's the body count from yesterday.

Aimee (Stetler) Snyder :: Minding My P's...and Q's...and B's...and D's....

2014-01-14T19:30:55+00:00

Someone in this household is learning to read. He has been having trouble remembering what sounds b, d, and p make. Somewhere in my cobwebby brain, I remembered this little trick! He just laughed and laughed when he figured it out. Guess it made him happy. =D

Make a bed.

The first sound in bed is "b." (He wiggles this finger) It looks like a b!

The last sound in bed is "d." (He wiggles this finger. It looks like a d!

Then he compares his fingers to what he's trying to figure out on the page. So far, he has gotten it right every time. Fun stuff! =)

Richard Klein ::

2014-01-14T12:48:00+00:00

Sadly, people tend to search their own weaknesses to find their strengths.
Your sacrifices will not make you godly; your love …Now that will help.
Love is the wrapping paper of every good gift.
Your heart’s intent is no secret to God.
Your willingness to work for something is an indication as to how much you actually want it, need it, or would just like it.
Success is sweaty sport.
If you are not doing good, you know it; if you are doing evil, others know it.

Stephen Ley :: A case study in pro-gun extremism

2014-01-14T10:43:14+00:00

@ PoliticoMagazine

Richard Klein ::

2014-01-13T13:00:00+00:00

Being treated unfairly and treating someone unfairly, brings differing consequences.
Happiness is a spontaneous choice.
It is better to be headed in the right direction with a few than in the wrong direction with a crowd.
The presence of God is a present from God to you.
My heart is not worth knowing until it is like God’s Heart.
A friend sees more in you, than of you.
Christians are not “brainwashed;” they are “soul-washed!”
A true Christian is stained red.

Richard Klein ::

2014-01-12T18:34:00+00:00

Resisting God is pro-active ignorance.
Remember that a Christian has a testimony to other believers, as well as, to the unbeliever.
Faith is the soup, prayer is the nourishment in it.
Marriage should make each other’s hard times softer, their good times richer and their lives better.
A missionary is someone who left everything they had, to gain something for others that they could have never had.
The difference between lust and love is the attitude of your heart.
There is no happiness in being the enemy of God

Richard Klein ::

2014-01-10T22:53:00+00:00

Love is the guardian of joy and joy produces happiness.
Attitude is the difference between drudgery and discovery.
The best impression you will ever leave on anyone is…Jesus!
Falling on love with your wallet is a great way to become unhappy.
The “app” for avoiding sin is Salvation.
Random acts of kindness are good and fun but it is the ever diligent heart of kindness that does the most.
It is never too late to admit that you were wrong about thinking you were right.

Philip and Marianne Brown :: Amit's Chicken Nuggets

2014-01-10T22:05:41+00:00

Two years ago a student came to GBS who had been a chef and over the years owned a number of eating establishments. Several times he has cooked for us but this is the the one the boys have requested over and over. At our house it's known as "Amit's Chicken Nuggets".

3 boneless, skinless breasts
1 1/2 cups hot water
6 chicken bullion cubes
2 tsp. Mrs. Dash seasoning
1 cup milk
1/2 cup flour
1 box of Panko bread crumbs
oil

Put water and bullion cubes in a large bowl and allow the bullion cubes to soften. Slice chicken breasts at an angle so that you have a fillet about 1/3 inch thick (this is most easily accomplished when the breast is partially frozen). After making sure the bullion cubes are dissolved, add the 2 tsps. of Mrs. Dash's seasoning and then place chicken in the mixture. Mix well and allow to sit while you gather your other ingredients and set up for the next step.

Place the flour, milk, and bread crumbs in separate shallow dishes. I line mine up so that I can go from one to the next like this:

Heat a 1/4 inch oil in the skillet on medium-high heat and when the oil is ready begin adding the chicken. Remove marinated chicken, dip in flour, quickly dip in milk, and then dip in Panko bread crumbs covering completely. Place in hot oil and brown on one side. When browned, turn to the other side. The time depends on the thickness of your cut and the heat of the oil. Drain on paper towels and keep warm in the oven until all the cutlets are fried.

You may need to add some more oil periodically. Oil can be a tricky thing - too hot and it burns the outside without cooking the inside - too cool and your food soaks up too much oil. It's best to start with the heat a little above the halfway point on your dial and experiment from there.

They take a little bit of cooking time but the prep time is minimal. Paired with a baked potato and a salad, it makes a full meal.

Richard Klein ::

2014-01-10T21:34:00+00:00

“Guard your tongue,” the Bible says; too many people say too much, about too little, too often.
The consistent work of a Christian is the diligent spreading of the Gospel to all and to any.
Love takes no vacations, nor any moments off.
The “forsaking, not the gathering together with believers” was not just a good idea; it is a necessity for your growth and the growth of others.
Hindered compassion is mercy unheeded.
“Conditional Love” is not love at all.
Love is the guardian of joy and joy produces happiness.
Attitude is the difference between drudgery and discovery.

Stephen Ley :: Love is a losing game

2014-01-10T16:01:34+00:00

Monday night while the rest of America was watching a thrilling BCS championship game I was up til the wee hours of the morning suffering through another kind of football match that took place earlier in the day in Rome. Thanks to the magic of DVR it was like watching live. On this night my beloved Inter Milan lost to rivals Lazio in the worst possible fashion on an 82nd minute goal from a German goal-scoring machine named Miroslav Klose. As I trudged off to bed in the foulest possible mood I had to ask myself: "Why do you put yourself through this?"

This was the second unhappy chapter in a depressing footballing weekend which began on Saturday with my other love, Tottenham (polygamy is allowed in football), losing to their north London rivals the "vile legion of scum" otherwise known as Arsenal. It's been a roller-coaster ride of emotions for Spurs supporters and we're only halfway through the season. Three days before we'd been on top of the world after a stirring New Year's Day win over Manchester United at their once-invincible fortress called Old Trafford.

So why do I invest so much emotional energy into supporting not one, but two clubs that play across the ocean, in time zones that make watching their games a logistical challenge? Again, thank God for DVR! Well, once I have the answer I'll write about it, but for now here's the beginning of a terrific piece by another American football fan, Aaron Wolfe of Brooklyn, reflecting on another day of ignominy involving the hated Arsenal, which paradoxically turned him into a "til I die" Spurs supporter.

This past Christmas and New Years I traveled with my family and a large group of friends to a cabin in Upstate New York. We drank, we ate, we were merry, there was hiking, singing, laughing, games, and good fun all around.

But there was one thing that was a steady topic of conversation: the bewilderment that all of them felt by my need to wake up at 8AM to watch the Football on TV.

Over and over again I was asked “why football?” and “why Tottenham.” It’s a nearly impossible question to answer when you are an American being asked by other Americans that, like you, have all been raised on Baseball and the ‘other’ Football. Never mind the ‘Tottenham Question’ which for me has to include a treatise on what it means to be a ‘Jewish Team’ and how I don’t care about that, but how there is this bar that used to be around the corner from my house which was the official New York Spurs supporters bar, and how I was dragged there against my will, and something about marauding style, and Modric, Bale, Adebayor, Redknapp, etc, etc...

Usually their eyes glaze over around the eighth minute of explanation and I get to go back to punching the couch in disgust as we give the ball away, or yet another attack fizzles out.

But in truth, there is a much simpler reason why I’m Tottenham: that horrible game at the Emirates a few years ago. You know the one: 2-2 at the half, and then 3-2, and then 4, and then 5-2 as the whistle blew.

At the half I had stumbled, shell-shocked, into the street to stand with the smokers (I’d long quit but I still feel some sort of solidarity with the rest of my lung-destroying comrades). Next door to the Spurs Bar is an Arsenal Pub, as though it was the perfect scale recreation of North London in sleepy Brooklyn.

A single lone gooner stood outside smoking, while dozens poured out of the Spurs bar. He grinned an evil grin, then mumbled something about “there’s only one team in London” and then nervously went back inside the minute he saw the hate and fury on our faces. I thought then, as I do now, about the passion we felt, all 300 of us, packed into that bar craning our necks to see the game on screens that were way too small and way too old to handle the number of us. I thought then, as I do now, how the Arsenal bar was practically empty despite the shiny new HD screens that lined the wall behind the booze. I pictured then, as I do now, that that is how it is in North London — a place I’ve never been but a place I spend my weekends dwelling in, living as though on GMT despite being so many miles away.

As I watched our team turn glory into pain at the end of that game, the crowd began to sing. An arm was thrown around my shoulder “I’m Tottenham til I die, I’m Tottenham til I die, I know I am, I’m sure I am...”

I’ll admit, now, that my eyes teared up. And when the song changed to “Tottenham when I’m dead...” I knew it was true. I had no choice in the matter, the baptism by fire had been performed and there was no turning back.

Richard Klein ::

2014-01-09T13:14:00+00:00

Jesus is here to help you overcome what you could never overcome without Him.
The Holy Spirit is the compassionate Judge within you.
The Holy Spirit provides the power, to your wiliness to succeed, so where you could never have succeeded before Him, you now can.
There is no addiction or temptation that through Jesus you cannot, have victory.
When you make the same mistake twice it becomes a choice.
Never become comfortable with your sins or anyone else’s sins.
Divine love is the internal saturation of God's Love,in your soul.

Richard Klein ::

2014-01-08T12:05:00+00:00

It is the passion of your heart that always guides whatever you do.
The Love of God can change you so significantly that neither your friends nor your enemies will recognize who you have become.
You get to choose how much the Love of God changes you.
The Love of God is unimaginably delicious.
Your love for others is the true determination of your love for yourself.
To whatever degree you will not love others, is selfishness.
Love cleanses your own soul before it reaches others.

Aimee (Stetler) Snyder :: Idol Lies

2014-01-07T21:57:18+00:00

Over the past year and a half or so, several resources have come into my notice that have been super helpful. One of the most valuable was a Bible study by Dee Brestin. I have often heard Dee speak on Midday Connection and I always value what she has to say, and it seems that quite a few other people appreciate her as well. When she began talking about Idol Lies, I was interested. Initially, it seemed to be a pretty safe endeavor, considering that I don't have any idols (at least, any statues) and I don't tell lies! Sounds like a good risk, right? I could feel good about studying the Bible and experience no discomfort. I shoulda known! =D I downloaded the book onto my Kindle app (the app is free, ya know, and you can read on your Kindle device, computer, or phone....free!) and began reading. Of course, it didn't take a long to realize that this was a book that I really, really need. Now, some people get all bungled up about doctrine....which is a legitimate concern. I don't generally feel that I have to agree with every point of doctrine before I can extract helpful information. (Neither do I want to suggest a resource that will lead someone into confusion. I'll leave all that to you.) Not only is a book offered, but an accompanying video set is available, which is not unusual. What IS unusual, is that Mrs. Brestin feels so strongly about the message she is sharing, that she made arrangements with the publisher that the videos be available at no cost. You can find them on Youtube or at her website.

I have posted the video of the first session below so that you can easily watch and see if you like it. Just be careful, it ain't got nothin' to do with statues. =)

Idol Lies ~ Lesson 1

Richard Klein ::

2014-01-07T12:38:00+00:00

It is a New Year that we step into today; and new start in the direction of your choosing. Be it good or bad you are the one, who charts your course here on earth. It will be your own mind and heart that sets your destinations this year.
God, however, will use your obedience or your disobedience to His glory regardless of the course you choose. He is divine and all powerful and though you flee from Him where can you hide?
Your answers to Him now will be by your own lips, your judgment, proclaimed on that final Judgment Day. It will be your testimony that sets you free in Christ or condemns to eternal loss.
It is only God who can give the right to choose and it is only God that can help you choose the right way this year, or any other.

Therefore, choose you today whom you will serve while you can and before you cannot. If God be God, serve Him. If He is not, serve whom you please but whomever you choose other than God, will never please you in the end.

Richard Klein ::

2014-01-06T13:05:00+00:00

Love heals; bitterness scars.
Compassion overcomes what revenge has tried to destroy.
A jester of love allows a contentment that revenge and anger know nothing about.
If Jesus forgave you, you have no choice but to forgive those who have offended you…none!
As a Christian, the value of your testimony is the purpose of your life.
If I believe what I say I do, I will live what I believe.
How I behave, on my worst day on earth, is the foundation of my testimony.

Richard Klein ::

2014-01-05T13:58:00+00:00

Forgiveness is an act of humility.
The fruit of revenge is bitterness.
Bitterness is a self-inflicted cancer that spreads first through you to those you love and then to others you influence.
What I will not forgive in others cannot be forgiven in me.
Forgiveness brings a peace that anger can never provide.
Love is either the beginning of forgiveness or it dies on the vine.
The command to “love your enemies, do good to those who despitefully use you.” was not a joke!

Richard Klein ::

2014-01-03T15:34:00+00:00

13 Things I have found in 2013:
1) As I grow older in Jesus, I have found I tend to fight for more important things.
2) I have found that there is a difference between what I think is important and what Jesus says is important.
3) I have found that churches, denominations, and standards are less important than love, compassion, and forgiveness.
4) I found the less I judge. the quicker the Kingdom of God multiplies around me, the faster the lost are found, and the more rapidly the church I attend, grows.
5) I have found that tithing is better than saving; that giving is better than hording.
6) I have found the lost are often easier to find; than the found are to disciple.
7) I have found that Grace is more than just sufficient; it actually abounds, about the Christian in every possible way.
8) I have found that, today, the Love of God is more rich, meaningful, and mysteriously wonderful, than I thought it could be yesterday.
9) I found good sermons are not enough: but good living is.
10) I have found that the Bible is more important to my spiritual growth than I thought it was.
11) I have found that improving myself was the best way to improve my testimony.
12) I have found when I did my best, it was often not enough; I still need the help of God, Himself.
13) I have found that there is much more to learn than I thought I needed to learn; and it is still waiting for me to grasp from the Compassionate Christ who leads me into 2014...

Stephen Ley :: Hope for the New Year

2014-01-02T20:43:03+00:00

Are you optimistic or pessimistic going into 2014? Is the glass half-full or half-empty? Earlier today I posed this question to the lady that cuts my hair. She didn't give a clear answer, but she did offer that "this country is going down the drain" (she's no fan of Obama) and that "all you can do is take care of your family." Her attitude tracks with a new poll that indicates most American are pessimistic about the ability of our leaders to solve the big problems facing America, but at the same time feel pretty good about how their own lives are going.

That's about where I am too. I see lots of reasons for gloom in Washington and the world at large, but I'm optimistic that the year ahead will be mostly positive for me and my family. I'm also optimistic that 2014 will see further growth and flourishing in my church family. Which brings me to my main question. How should followers of Jesus approach the New Year?

I once heard someone say (it might have been Tim Keller) that Christians are short-term pessimists and long-term optimists. From Abraham to the Apostle Paul the witness of Scripture shows us that the life of faith usually means things get worse before they get better, and the Bible is clear that following God as he's revealed to us in Christ means we will suffer. It's part of the deal. In fact -- as Pastor Dan reminded us last Sunday in a sermon on 2 Timothy 1 -- if we're not willing to suffer for the gospel we're in danger of abandoning the gospel.

While the "suffering piece" might be hard for the American church to accept, it's not hard for the persecuted church in Egypt or Syria or Iraq. Indeed, as the atheist-turned-believer A.N. Wilson wrote on Christmas Day: "the Arab Spring was the Christian winter." For our brothers and sisters whose churches are being bombed it's impossible to be anything but pessimistic about the near future, but if the gospel is true then their persecution "is preparing for us [believers in the gospel] an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:17-18)

Is the Christmas story true, or is it just a lot of sentimental claptrap? Is Christianity the stuff of a bygone age or does it still have the power to transform lives and bring genuine reason for hope and optimism? How one answers those questions changes everything (though one must admit that here in the West it's possible to conceive of a low-cost low-risk faith that goes about as far as the Jesus fish on the back of my SUV).

Here are the final paragraphs of Wilson's brilliant piece "It's the Gospel truth - so take it or leave it".

Huge numbers of people clapping in a square – even if they are clapping the Pope – do not tell you anything about whether Christianity is actually true. Nor does the dwindling congregation at the 8 o’clock Communion at Much-Binding-in-the-Marsh undermine the truth of the Word Made Flesh – if it is true.

The Gospel is hard, and it contains within it, not the fear but the absolute certainty, that persecution and misunderstanding will always follow in its wake. It is based on the idea of dying in order to live; of losing life in order to find it; of taking up the cross, that instrument of torture, and finding therein not merely life but glory.

Yes, the hype and sentimentality surrounding the funeral of Nelson Mandela’s funeral were embarrassing, but at the core of it all was the central idea, embodied by a figure such as Archbishop Tutu, that it is possible to ignore the poison of hatred bubbling in your heart and forgive your enemies. The ANC, for long – yes – a terrorist organisation, changed its mind, and behaved, not like Jihadists, but like Christians. South Africa, riven as it is with every kind of human problem, got that thing right largely because Mandela in his prison years decided to risk all on what was a fundamentally Christian idea.

Yes, the Arab Spring is the Christian Winter because there is no truth or reconciliation apparently at work in Israel-Palestine, nor in Iraq, nor in Syria… But the Christian writings, beginning as they do with a refugee mother and baby surrounded by invading armies, and ending with world conflict, the utter destruction of Jerusalem, and the coming of apocalyptic death and plague, are not comfortable.

The paradox is that growing or shrinking numbers do not tell you anything. The Gospel would still be true even if no one believed it. The hopeful thing is that, where it is tried – where it is imperfectly and hesitantly followed – as it was in Northern Ireland during the peace process, as it is in many a Salvation Army hostel this Christmas, as it flickers in countless unseen Christian lives, it works. And its palpable and remarkable power to transform human life takes us to the position of believing that something very wonderful indeed began with the birth of Christ into the world.

Richard Klein ::

2014-01-02T12:52:00+00:00

Complacency is self-imposed laziness.
Some people complain just to cover their shame.
Negativism is full of poisonous possibilities.
Few people complain about being blessed too much.
Making fun of normal makes you think you are normal.
Money is either a means of blessing or an obstacle to it.
Usually, when I think things are impossible, it means “I think it requires too much work.”

Philip and Marianne Brown :: Happy 2014!

2014-01-01T23:54:07+00:00

The Christmas programs and recitations are all over,

little boys no longer have to wonder what is in those packages under the tree,

the cookies are almost all gone,

the tree is beginning to shed,

cousins have left for their own homes,

Jesus' birthday celebration has come and gone,

and once again we find ourselves at the brand new beginning of a fresh year. Over the past few days as I have convalesced from a cold shared by said relatives (thank you Nathan), and contemplated the end of one chapter and the beginning of another, I've been struck by how meaningless it all would have been if He had not come and if I didn't know Him. My heart is thankful at the beginning of this New Year and full of hope because "He came that we might have Life, and have it more abundantly". I want to live in celebration of that abundance this year!

Andrew and Lisa Graham :: December 2013

2014-01-01T23:50:36+00:00

Hosting our first dinner.

Singing Christmas Tree 2013 at Hobe Sound Bible Church.

Josh's 12th birthday included flying a plane.

Josh's 12th birthday party.

Lisa with her mother at the Women of Worth meeting.

Our Christmas tree.

Sunday guests: Ruth Ann Bradshaw, Sara Graham, Lau Ghioc and his parents.

Christmas Eve with the Greens.

Christmas Dinner 2013.

Andrew and Lisa Graham :: November 2013

2014-01-01T23:39:22+00:00

November 2013.

Josh at the Hobe Sound Bible Church paintball retreat.

Hobe Sound Bible Church pastoral staff washing cars.

Lisa and Nathaniel in North Carolina.

The Andrew Graham family and the Daniel Chelbezan family.

The kids with Aunt Sara.

Mr. and Mrs. John Bradshaw.

Thanksgiving walk in Peck Lake Park.

Easton, Josh and Justin look out over the water to Jupiter Island.

Richard Klein ::

2014-01-01T14:22:00+00:00

It is the recognition of our weaknesses that is the impetus for our New Year’s resolutions”.

Resolutions by nature are the realizations that you actually need to change. It is when your resolution becomes your resolve that the situations in your life change for the better. We all have weaknesses but staying weak ends up being “our problem” that we should, and in most cases could, change.

So, I tend to avoid resolutions to do better, in exchange, for resolving I will change. This is the only way to benefit myself and those about my life who will benefit from my changing.

Learning to change because it is right, exceeds altering to please others or to placate my own feelings. Only God in His wisdom can teach us what is right but only you and I can make it right in our lives.

The problem with God giving us a “free will” is that it cannot be started by remote control; it only has a manual self-starter. This being the case, the blame game stops when your will-power, replaces your want-power. No one but you controls that button but you.

While it is best never to underestimate the power of laziness; it is also true you had best never underestimate the power of the “free will“. You can do much more than you want to do …so get busy this year…doing.

The New Year gives a platform to begin again, but only our heart can drive us to make the changes and it is only with God’s help that can make the changes, permanent!.

Happy resolving this New Year!!:):)

Aimee (Stetler) Snyder :: My 3 Favorite Buttons

2013-12-31T15:21:30+00:00

I'm a heavy computer-user. I use the computer for everything from lesson plans to our calendar to communication with friends and family. Along the way, I've picked up several handy tools and I thought I'd share.

Viewpure.com

I have this button on my toolbar at the top of my internet browser because I use it fairly often. As a school teacher and as a foster mom, often I will find videos on Youtube that I want to share with the children in my life. However, I always have that worry that something inappropriate will appear in the suggested videos portion, next to the intended video! The safest thing to do is to watch the video through Viewpure. It turns allll the clutter around the video to black or white or whatever color. The only thing you see is what you meant to see. Cool, right?

I also have the Printfriendly button on my toolbar. I have used it so often to turn something on a web page into a PDF for my files or to use at school. I have used it more often than I thought I would.

Of course, no toolbar would be complete without a button to "pin" whatever you want to save for later. It's quick and it's easy, and it keeps me organized. I use Pinterest a lot when planning my lessons at school, basically because there are a whole lot of people out there who are more creative than I am. When I see something I can use, I PIN IT! and then compile a lesson plan based on what I've pinned on my related board.

Ain't technology wonnerful? =D Now I'm wondering what other buttons are out there that others are using that I don't know about. Hmmm....

Richard Klein ::

2013-12-31T13:51:00+00:00

Whatever you allow to come between you and God is completely wrong.
Desire brings less happiness, than enjoying what you already have.
Our present world has a serious problem discerning between wants and needs.
Invest in tithing for the surest return.
Most of the time you will benefit more from putting effort into the relationship you have, instead of abandoning it for a different one.
Determined fools chase what they cannot have.
Anger is a violent “pity party”.
You can never earn what you truly need; it must be given to you by God.

Mary Alice (Skiles) Shaffer :: Packing in the Family Time

2013-12-31T01:33:26+00:00

When I was growing up in New Mexico, my paternal grandparents lived in California and my maternal grandparents lived in Indiana. I learned early that building and maintaining family ties can be a challenge and it takes a lot of effort. Both sets of grandparents faithfully wrote letters to my family and both of my parents faithfully wrote letters in return. We didn’t have a phone in our home until I was a teen so phone calls were very rare.

Both sets of grandparents made the trip to New Mexico when I was born and this was before the Interstate system was in place. From that point on, both sets made regular visits and we traveled as a family in both directions often alternating years. We were rarely together for birthdays and holidays, but they didn’t fail to remember us with cards and gifts. Even though I spent most of my life physically separated from my grandparents, we loved each other and built up a repository of memories. Aunts and uncles got in on the action by traveling many miles (even from Australia) to visit or by opening up their homes when we were in their state.

Half a century has come and gone and many miles now stand between my children and their grandparents. In the past twenty years, we have made at least 15 trips to New Mexico and I can’t even begin to count the number of trips we’ve made to Pennsylvania. Some may question the wisdom of putting so many miles on our vehicles, but family ties are worth the wear and tear on our van. We want our boys to love spending time not only with grandparents, but with cousins and aunts and uncles. They look forward to times together and soon after good-byes are said, they begin talking about the next time.

In the four weeks between November 29th and December 27th, we made five trips to Pennsylvania and opened our home to my sister and her family for three days. Our final trip was for a wedding when Dean’s oldest niece was married. Packing so much into four weeks, left us somewhat breathless after the last trip, but we had continued to strengthen family ties and added to memory banks. We are blessed.