On My Way Home to My Father's House

Have you ever wondered why...

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy) — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 12:13:00 +0000

...it takes such a long time walking with the Father before you can learn to filter out life's noise so that you can listen to Him and develop the patience to wait on Him?

I'm learning....

I'm praying for you today, as I'm on my way home to my Father's house,

Cindy <><

Thank you, Lady Rose!

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy) — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 04:49:00 +0000

Lady Rose has blessed me with a Sunshine Award, which I think is absolutely precious! Thank you, Lady Rose, for the pick-me-up I needed during some very busy days!

There is joy on this journey, on my way home to my Father's house,
Cindy <><

Just Let Me Be a Field Hand (Part 1)

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy) — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 22:01:00 +0000

One of the ladies in my Sunday School class attended a revival meeting last week during which the speaker emphasized the moral decline of our nation and suggested some ways for Christians to respond.

She spoke as if this was her first revelation regarding just how far we have fallen, although I think her true intent was really to convey that she has now been truly convicted in her spirit about the current state of affairs. This conviction has been arriving upon many of us, in varying degrees; in my view, the "Tea Party" movement is about more than just reducing the size of our government - it is also about returning our country to the morals and values that once made us great.

Over the last few years I have also felt a change in my outlook as a Christian. Back in the mid- to late-90's (while reading the Left Behind series with so many others), I was just another Christian looking for Christ's return as an event that is certain, but not necessarily eminent. After 9-11, I was convicted that perhaps my Savior might not tell me, "Well done, good and faithful servant," (Matthew 25:21, NIV) as I have always prayed that He will - that I could be a better worker in His harvest field.

I began to pray that I would be more sensitive to the opportunities presented to me to share God's love and be a witness. I am happy to say that I am doing much better now, but I continue to struggle with many things, and I fear that there are far too many times when my actions and attitudes lead others away from Christ rather than toward him. However, I have learned to seek His forgiveness and to be grateful for His grace. My highest sense of accomplishment would be met if someone else could only see Jesus in me.

Do you remember what Jesus said in Matthew 24:6-8? He says, "You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains." There has always been war and earthquakes and famines, but have you noticed how these major natural disasters are beginning to happen more and more frequently? Beginning with the terrible tsunami that struck on Christmas Day, 2004, through Hurricane Katrina, to deadly floods and wildfires and more earthquakes and other tsunami, they have become so commonplace that even the devastation and loss of life in Haiti last year was soon dropped from the news cycle and forgotten by most Americans. It's as if it's almost time to start pushing...

My sense of urgency increased exponentially with the elections of November, 2008, to the point that I began to feel a sense of despair. I began to pray, "Not yet, Lord, please give us more time." When you walk through a Wal-Mart on a Saturday afternoon and see all those people, does it ever strike you how many of those people are probably lost? When you sit in your church on a Sunday morning, have you ever considered that if the Rapture were to occur right then that there would still be many people sitting in those pews?

We have reached the point in our nation when Romans Chapter One describes us. And I fear that changing the course of our nation now may be like trying to stop the tides. There is no doubt that the labor pains are increasing in intensity and frequency, and it is as if the Earth itself is yearning to hasten Christ's coming. As the evil around us increases, I find myself praying more often, "Come quickly, Lord Jesus!" But the still, small voice of the Spirit tells me, "No, not yet." There is still work left for me to do.

There is joy on this journey, on my way home to my Father's house,

Cindy

Checking In...

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy) — Sat, 15 Jan 2011 17:49:00 +0000

...after my way-too-long absence! I have been remiss in the past week as we have dealt with snow and ice here in the Deep South (we haven't had snow/ice on the ground this long since the Blizzard of '93!) and as my children have been transitioning back into school after the holidays - not an easy task when that ever-elusive white stuff is hanging around!

Here's a couple of pics:

These first two were taken Monday, January 11, after the storm Sunday night. The roads were an absolute mess Monday; Tuesday they were passable, but by no means anywhere near completely safe. If you have ever traveled through the Birmingham area, you know that most of our interstates are elevated through the city, and the city proper is in a valley surrounded by the Appalachian foothills (where most everyone lives). This made travel extremely difficult, and there were icy patches on overpasses even yesterday.

I took this picture yesterday after we had been out at lunchtime. That icicle was over two feet long!

I am also sending my deepest apologies for my neglect to post the Daily Bible Readings this past Sunday. I am working a plan to post these where they are accessible even if I am not able to make a blog post. Please stay tuned...

Thank you for taking the time today to visit with me...I pray that I am not away so long before my next post.

There is joy on this journey, on my way home to my Father's house,
Cindy <><

Happy New Year, Everyone! & Daily Bible Readings

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy) — Sun, 02 Jan 2011 05:14:00 +0000

Well, the calendar has rolled over again to bring us to a new year...new beginnings, new resolutions, new chances. Plus, we start a new journey through the Word. Here are the Daily Bible Readings for the first days of January:

Bible Readings: January 1-9, 2011
	Family				Private
1	Genesis	1	Matthew	1	Ezra	1	Acts	1
2	Genesis	2	Matthew	2	Ezra	2	Acts	2
3	Genesis	3	Matthew	3	Ezra	3	Acts	3
4	Genesis	4	Matthew	4	Ezra	4	Acts	4
5	Genesis	5	Matthew	5	Ezra	5	Acts	5
6	Genesis	6	Matthew	6	Ezra	6	Acts	6
7	Genesis	7	Matthew	7	Ezra	7	Acts	7
8	Genesis	8	Matthew	8	Ezra	8	Acts	8
9	Genesis	9	Matthew	9	Ezra	9	Acts	9
from Robert Murray M'Cheyne's "Calendar for reading through the Word of God in a year"

"He who was seated on the throne said, 'I am making everything new!' Then he said, 'Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.'"

(Revelation 21:5, NIV)

May your new year be blessed...

There is joy on this journey, on my way home to my Father's house,

Cindy <><

We dreamt of a White Christmas...

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy) — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 15:07:00 +0000

...and although it was not a lot, it was the closest we have come in my lifetime.

Many areas just north of us had at least an inch on Christmas Day - some several inches! It snowed gently for the better part of the day, making this Christmas a real treat for those of us in the Deep South.

My son actually woke up about 3:30 AM (well, to be honest, I was awake by around 3:00 myself), but my husband kept telling him to go back to bed until he figured out that I was wide awake too, so we forced Sis to get up to open presents at around 4:00. That's why it's so dark outside in the picture below!

My favorite part of Christmas Day is seeing the excitement in my children's eyes as they unwrap their presents and receive the gifts that they have been hoping for. It never gets old, no matter how old they get.

I hope your Christmas was blessed, and that those blessings spill over into the New Year!

There is joy on this journey, on my way home to my Father's house,
Cindy <><

Daily Bible Readings, December 27-31, 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy) — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 05:17:00 +0000

This week finishes 2010's journey through the Bible. Please be sure to join me Saturday, January 1, 2011, as we begin the journey anew.
With God's grace I will be posting on a more regular basis beginning this week. With the holidays now fading into memory, it is time to start looking at the changes a new year brings.

Daily Bible Readings December 20-26, 2010
	Family				Private
27	2 Chronicles	32	Revelation	18	Zechariah	14	John	17
28	2 Chronicles	33	Revelation	19	Malachi	1	John	18
29	2 Chronicles	34	Revelation	20	Malachi	2	John	19
30	2 Chronicles	35	Revelation	21	Malachi	3	John	20
31	2 Chronicles	36	Revelation	2	Malachi	4	John	21

"On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise him, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he had been conceived."

(Luke 2:21, NIV)

Daily Bible Readings December 20-26, 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy) — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 10:21:00 +0000

Dear ladies, I beg your forgiveness for not posting our Bible readings last week. Dealing with the insurance claim and all the other details concerning the small disaster last week was much more involved than I had anticipated, in addition to all the preparations in progress for Christmas! Excuses...yes, but the apology is heartfelt. I thank you for your understanding.

If, by chance, you continued to read a chapter each day in each of the lists, you should not be very far behind. Besides, we get to start the whole plan "brand new" in just a couple of weeks!

Daily Bible Readings December 20-26, 2010
	Family				Private
20	2 Chronicles	24	Revelation	11	Zechariah	7	John	10
21	2 Chronicles	25	Revelation	12	Zechariah	8	John	11
22	2 Chronicles	26	Revelation	13	Zechariah	9	John	12
23	2 Chronicles	27-28	Revelation	14	Zechariah	10	John	13
24	2 Chronicles	29	Revelation	15	Zechariah	11	John	14
25	2 Chronicles	30	Revelation	16	Zechariah	12	John	15
26	2 Chronicles	31	Revelation	17	Zechariah	13	John	16

"So [the shepherds] hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them."

(Luke 2:16-18, NIV)

What a week...

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy) — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 12:17:00 +0000

...it's been! We have completed almost all of our projects on the house (except a couple that the cold weather is preventing), and Katie and I have just become Scentsy consultants! (So, if you are interested in adding some wonderful flameless candles to your home, please let me know!)

Most importantly, please accept my apologies for my delay in posting the Daily Bible Reading schedule for this week. We took Sunday as a literal day of rest, and I had intended to post this week's edition early yesterday morning. However, due to a front moving through over the past two days here, high winds brought down a dead tree in my neighbor's yard which took down power lines and crushed an out-building of ours at 2:30 yesterday morning. In addition, the force ripped our electric service off our house.

With our high at 32 degrees yesterday and high winds throughout the day (that's very cold in our neck of the woods) and no power (therefore, no heat), we had a very long day. Thankfully we have a small kerosene heater which was enough to keep one room fairly comfortable and keep the rest of the house from falling below 56 degrees. We had the electric service repaired and inspected and at about 8 PM last night the power company was able to reset our meter and get us back on the grid. By then, I didn't even want to turn the computer back on - we were all excited just to be able to have the heat going again!

Kenny left for work a little bit ago, and I am going to try to catch a few more winks before the tree service gets here to start cleaning the massive tree off what used to be our 10'x20' storage building. I will get the reading plan posted just as soon as I can.

There is joy on this journey, on my way home to my Father's house,

Cindy <><

Daily Bible Readings for December 6-12, 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy) — Sun, 05 Dec 2010 07:55:00 +0000

We're nearing the end of the year with Robert Murray M'Cheyne's Daily Bible Readings. If you haven't started with this plan, and you are interested in getting started, stay tuned at the beginning of the year - the plan starts all over in Genesis, Ezra, Matthew and Acts. I hope you are as blessed with this journey through the Bible as I have been (and am again!)

"Shout for joy to the LORD all the earth.

Worship the LORD with gladness;

come before him with joyful songs.

Know that the LORD is God.

It is he who made us, and we are his;

we are the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise;

give thanks to him and praise his name.

For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;

his faithfulness continues through all generations."

(Psalm 100, NIV)

Daily Bible Readings December 6-12, 2010
	Family				Private
6	2 Chronicles	6	1 John	5	Habakkuk	1	Luke	20
7	2 Chronicles	7	2 John	(all)	Habakkuk	2	Luke	21
8	2 Chronicles	8	3 John	(all)	Habakkuk	3	Luke	22
9	2 Chronicles	9	Jude	(all)	Zephaniah	1	Luke	23
10	2 Chronicles	10	Revelation	1	Zephaniah	2	Luke	24
11	2 Chronicles	11-12	Revelation	2	Zephaniah	3	John	1
12	2 Chronicles	13	Revelation	3	Haggai	1	John	2

from Robert Murray M'Cheyne's "Calendar for reading through the Word of God in a year"

NT in a Nutshell Part 7: Vitamins

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy) — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 07:42:00 +0000

It’s been a while since we left off our discussion on Nourishing Traditions. In previous posts we have covered Fats, Carbohydrates, Proteins, and Milk & Milk Products. Today we will discuss the importance of vitamins and their sources in our diets. This information is condensed from pages 36-39 of Nourishing Traditions, and is not intended as medical advice, but as an introduction to healthy eating practices.

The word “vitamin” was coined in the early 20^th century as chemists discovered the “vital minerals” that the human body requires for good health, such as “fat soluble vitamin D and water-soluble B vitamins [which are] necessary to prevent diseases like rickets, beriberi and pellagra; and…vitamin C, a factor present in many fresh foods, [prevents] scurvy” (page 36) – although vitamins are not technically minerals, which we will discuss in an upcoming post. Vitamins are carbon-based chemicals essential to body function; minerals, however, are inorganic chemical compounds (meaning they are not carbon-based).

At first, scientists believed that eventually all the vitamin needs of the body could be met by ingesting the individual, chemical compounds that we call vitamins in pill form. However, time and further research has shown that this is not the case, as most vitamins exist in multiple forms and in differing ratios, particularly the B vitamin complex (which contains about 17 different compounds) and approximately 12 different forms of vitamin D.

In nature, all these compounds are found synergistically with the trace minerals and enzymes needed for the body to effectively use the vitamins as our bodies need them. These vitamin/mineral/enzyme relationships are so complex (not to mention that scientists still don’t completely understand them) that it is quite impossible to supply the nutritional requirements of the human body with vitamin supplements in pill form. In fact, some vitamin supplements could actually prove detrimental to good health if the body is not also supplied with the associated minerals and enzymes that the body needs to utilize the vitamin.

However, it is my personal opinion that the real culprits here are a lack of crop rotation on commercial farms and a rather exclusive reliance on commercial fertilizers alone. I don’t think that commercial fertilizers should be demonized outright; after all, a plant that needs nitrogen, phosphorus or potassium doesn’t know or care if those nutrients come from natural or commercial fertilizers, as long as it can obtain what it needs from the soil it is in. However, it is necessary to add natural, organic (meaning carbon-based) material back to the soil to keep it healthy, in the form of compost and/or manure. It is this practice which is absent in most commercial farms. {In our garden, we supplement our raised beds each spring before we plant with 13-13-13 fertilizer. Also, my soil tends to be magnesium deficient, so I also supplement with Epsom salts before planting. These are tilled into our raised beds along with our homemade compost. I also use a liquid fertilizer once or twice in the growing season, either high in potassium or phosphorus, as the plants need at the time to support either growth or fruit production.}

The authors continue with a few words about the affects of processing on the vitamin content of foods. The best ways to preserve vitamin content is to freeze or dry foods, with canning being the least effective as some vitamins can be destroyed by the extended exposure to high heat. If cooking, “steaming and waterless methods of cooking preserve vitamins better than rapid boiling, and vegetables cooked in an acidic liquid [with a little lemon juice, vinegar or whey] preserve vitamins better than those cooked in an alkaline method [except for corn, which is more nutritious as hominy]…Some methods of food preservation and processing actually make nutrients more available – these include simmering bones in acidic liquid to make broth, culturing of dairy products, sprouting and traditional methods of pickling, fermenting and leavening.” (pages 36-37)

As we near the completion of our discussion, I feel that this information from page 37 is very important:

“The Diet Dictocrats have set minimum daily requirements for a few key vitamins and minerals, but many investigators feel that these standards are far too low. These critics contend that minimum daily requirements are sufficient to prevent acute deficiencies but not enough to support optimum health, especially as individual requirements for specific vitamins and minerals vary widely. In fact, a typical profile of nutrient requirements is one in which the individual has average needs with respect to most vitamins and minerals but requirements far in excess of average for a few specific nutrients. Consumption of sugar, refined flour and hydrogenated fats, and of alcohol, tobacco and many drugs, depletes the body of nutrients, resulting in higher vitamin and mineral requirements for users. Stress of any sort causes the body to use up available nutrients at a faster-than-normal rate.”

The authors complete their presentation on vitamins with a brief overview of several key vitamins, including dietary sources, ways the body uses each, and dangers associated with overconsumption of the vitamin (or of particular forms of it, such as B₁) or under-consumption of the vitamin (or of particular forms of it). This information is too specific to cover all of it here. However, if you would like to research this further but just can’t wait until you can get a copy of the book, check out the articles available online at The Weston A. Price Foundation.

Next time we will learn about the importance of minerals in our diets. Have a blessed day today!

As a result, it is best that vitamins be obtained from whole foods, preferably vegetables grown organically and from free-ranged, organic meats. The authors contend that the use of nitrogen-based (commercial) fertilizers leads to the depletion of vitamins and minerals available in the soil, causing a significant decline in the availability of vitamins and minerals in our foods.

Catching Up...

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy) — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 09:34:00 +0000

I hope y'all had a blessed Thanksgiving! I missed having time to be here last week. I have to tell you what I've been up to. It's been a very busy couple of weeks!

About 7 weeks ago I came across a house for sale near my parent's home. It's really a bit of a dream house for my husband and me as it has everything we have been praying for: roomy, acreage, a well on the property, a greenhouse, space for a garden...

Anyway, in order for us to be at a point where we feel comfortable making an offer, we have to get our house ready to put on the market. We don't want to tie the gentleman selling the house up with a contingency offer in this economy until we have some progress in selling ours. I know, I know...this is not a good time to try to sell a house...but if it is in the Lord's will for this to happen, He'll work out that detail. He hasn't said "No" yet, and if He does, then a lot of work we needed to get done on the house anyway will be taken care of. As I see it, it's a win-win situation.

So, after prayer and consideration, we have been working for the last 6 weeks toward getting our house ready to list. I have been working very hard! Because of the holiday, I had some extra time to spend on the house, and I was able to get a lot done.

In the last two weeks, I have finished stripping wallpaper in our front bath, priming, and hanging new wallpaper; I trimmed our other bath with cove and foot moulding (including miter cuts), I painted some existing moulding along the ceiling (would you still call it crown moulding? It's not very tall - nor huge or elaborate) and the trim work around the window; I sanded and re-installed ceramic baseboards in the same bath and sealed them; I assembled and "installed" an over-the-toilet-three-shelf storage unit; I installed a towel rod and ring and toilet paper holder in the same bath; I replaced 8 blinds in three rooms (that was easy though - I didn't have to hang new hardware); I washed curtains from throughout the house and rehung them and replaced the curtains in two rooms; I sealed around the counter top and back splash in our front bath and prepped for a plumber to come (we had issues with the flange on the toilet when my husband moved it for me so I could paper behind it). Plus, I sang a solo at our church's Thanksgiving service and attended two family Thanksgiving dinners in addition to helping my husband move our camper to his "winter hunting grounds" and taking Katie and a friend out very early Friday morning for some shopping for a couple of hours. (No, I didn't sleep much this past week. I was too worried about everything that had to be done, then by Sunday I was absolutely exhausted - but the back bath was finished!)

My parents came over for a couple of days and helped Cody to clean out our garden (we were still getting tomatoes and bell peppers) and to generally clean up the yard. They blew and mulched leaves and sowed winter rye grass, which is coming up nicely.

Now, the rest of the house is in chaos, as I haven't had the time or energy to dedicate to it, and I keep messing up the floors anyway dragging in and out with cutting all this trim work (we still have a LOT of leaves falling - raking or blowing or mulching are unfortunately exercises in futility - but at least my parents were able to do enough to get the grass to come up!). I just have a little more trim work to install into the front bathroom, in addition to sealing the ceramic baseboards and around the tub. We have been slowly moving things into storage all this time, and that's almost done too. I just have to finish going through the bedroom closets for things we can store or donate. Tomorrow we get to start a major cleaning overhaul to finally make the house show-ready.

I'm actually dreading putting up a Christmas tree - I kinda hate to drag all that stuff back out after just putting it into storage. But other than that, we're almost finished! Kenny should finish installing siding by the end of the week, and Katie will help with the cleaning while Cody helps manage the yard. With the kids and hubby's help, we should be able to list by the beginning of next week.

So, please pray with me that the Lord's will be done in all of this - if it is His will for us to move, that we will have a buyer quickly, or if it is not His will, that he will reveal it clearly to us. I am already experiencing His peace (although I am definitely having isolated moments of extreme doubt and fatigue, combined with a general undercurrent of feeling overwhelmed) but please pray for more peace for me, and for me to keep it all in the proper perspective, especially with the holidays approaching.

Anyway, I may be a little off-kilter until I get all this finished, but with God's help I'll be back on track within the next week or so.

There is joy on this journey, on my way home to my Father's house,

Cindy <><

Better late than never...Daily Bible Readings Nov. 29-Dec. 5, 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy) — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 08:34:00 +0000

Dear Ladies, I sincerely apologize for my delinquency in getting the daily Bible readings posted. I have been so busy over the holiday weekend! I'll tell you about it as soon as I can get a post composed. However, it's nearly 2:30 am where I am, and it's time to hit the hay! I pray for you to have a blessed day, and I hope I haven't made anyone fall behind too badly.

"O God, you are my God,

earnestly I seek you;

my soul thirsts for you,

my body longs for you,

in a dry and wearly land

where there is no water.

I have seen you in the sanctuary

and beheld your power and your glory.

Because your love is better than life,

my lips will glorify you.

I will praise you as long as I live,

and in your name I will lift up my hands."

(Psalm 63:1-4, NIV)

Daily Bible Readings November 29- December 5, 2010
	Family				Private
29	2 Chronicles	26-27	2 Peter	1	Micah	5	Luke	13
30	2 Chronicles	28	2 Peter	2	Micah	6	Luke	14
1	2 Chronicles	29	2 Peter	3	Micah	7	Luke	15
2	2 Chronicles	1	1 John	1	Nahum	1	Luke	16
3	2 Chronicles	2	1 John	2	Nahum	2	Luke	17
4	2 Chronicles	3-4	1 John	3	Nahum	3	Luke	18
5	2 Chronicles	5	1 John	4	Habakkuk	1	Luke	19

from Robert Murray M'Cheyne's "Calendar for reading through the Word of God in a year"

There is joy on this journey, on my way home to my Father's house,

Cindy <><

Thanksgiving Blessings

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy) — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 16:36:00 +0000

As the Thanksgiving holidays approach, I have been trying desperately to complete some much needed updates to our decor. I am reaching the drop-dead-line (I'm beginning to feel that literally, lol), and over the next few days I have to put in some concentrated effort in order to get all this done and the house back together. Isn't it strange how it seems you have to tear everything up in order to clean it all out??

Anyway, I will be somewhat absent over the next few days. I hope to have time to complete a few posts I have been working on, but in case I'm still tied up, I want to wish all of you a blessed and bountiful Thanksgiving, and hearts filled with sincere gratitude to our heavenly Father through his Son, Jesus Christ.

There is joy on this journey, on my way home to my Father's house,

Cindy ,.,

Daily Bible Readings November 22-28, 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy) — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 04:41:00 +0000

"The LORD is my strenght and my shield;

my heart trusts in him, and I am helped.

My heart leaps for joy

and I will giv thanks to him in song."

(Psalm 28:7, NIV)

Daily Bible Readings November 22-28, 2010
	Family				Private
22	1 Chronicles	17	James	4	Jonah	1	Luke	6
23	1 Chronicles	18	James	5	Jonah	2	Luke	7
24	1 Chronicles	19-20	1 Peter	1	Jonah	3	Luke	8
25	1 Chronicles	21	1 Peter	2	Micah	1	Luke	9
26	1 Chronicles	22	1 Peter	3	Micah	2	Luke	10
27	1 Chronicles	23	1 Peter	4	Micah	3	Luke	11
28	1 Chronicles	24-25	1 Peter	5	Micah	4	Luke	12

from Robert Murray M'Cheyne's "Calendar for reading through the Word of God in a year"

NT in a Nutshell Part 6: Milk and Milk Products

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy) — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 12:24:00 +0000

We left our series on Nourishing Traditions last week with a discussion on the importance of protein in the diet. We pick back up today with a summary of the information presented in the book on Milk and Milk Products. This information is condensed from pages 33-35 of Nourishing Traditions, and is not intended as medical advice, but as an introduction to healthy eating practices.

Before I begin my summary of this section of the book, I need to state up front that after researching this topic further I have decided that I disagree with much of the information the authors present in this section. Before I discuss the information that I disagree with, I will state up front that I do agree that cultured milk products are very beneficial to overall health, especially kefir, yogurt and buttermilk, and that processed cheeses should be avoided due to the excess of preservatives and other food additives in them.

As a matter of fact, I also avoid pre-shredded cheeses as well due to the anti-caking chemicals added to them. {If you like to keep shredded cheese in the house for the convenience factor – try my quick-tip solution instead: shred an entire block (lb) of cheese, toss with just enough corn starch to keep the shreds from sticking together, and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Works like a charm.}

After a brief discussion on the prevalence and possible causes of milk intolerance and milk allergies, the authors progress into a graphic description of the state of the modern dairy cow, held in confinement and selectively bred for over-active pituitary function which supposedly increases milk production by incredible proportions and which causes bovine growth hormones to spill over into the water fraction of our milk supply.

They go on to say, “The freak-pituitary cow is prone to many diseases. She almost always secretes pus into her milk and needs frequent doses of antibiotics.” (page 34) In addition, the authors also report that these cows are fed “high-protein soybean meal” (page 34) which “stimulates them to produce large quantities of milk but contributes to a high rate of mastitis and other problems…” (page 34) However, none of this information is footnoted.

They go on to discuss that modern milk production methods make pasteurization (heating at moderate temperatures for certain amounts of time in order to kill bacteria present in the milk) unnecessary and to detail how the nutrients and enzymes in milk are destroyed by the process, and to encourage the readers to use only raw (unpasteurized and not homogenized) milk and milk products from pasture-fed cows. While I do agree that milk from pasture-fed cows is preferable and healthier than that of feedlot cows, I have serious concerns over the consumption of unpasteurized milk, especially since the authors have just stated that pus (a sign of infection) is nearly always present in the modern dairy cow’s milk.

Now let’s discuss the additional research I did on this for my own benefit, and as I did not record where I found this scattered on the web, I encourage you to research this further for yourself also. First of all, let’s consider the reason why we began to pasteurize milk in the first place, and why the process was so revolutionary.

Cows are carriers of tuberculosis, which can be passed to humans through milk. As you may recall from your American history, tuberculosis was epidemic in the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries. This highly contagious disease ripped families apart as stricken members were isolated in sanitariums, where there was a very high death rate. The ability to kill the bacteria in contaminated milk was one of the ways in which the disease was finally controlled, and is one of the reasons why most of us have never known anyone with this disease.

Secondly, in many states, including my own, it is against the law to sell raw milk (except for pet consumption), specifically because of the risks to a public that has largely had no exposure to TB in modern times. Even if you live in a place where you can legally purchase raw milk, common sense would dictate that you only purchase from a farmer whose herd has been tested for TB and shown to be disease-free. In fact, this is recommended in the book on page 35:

“If you can find a farmer who will sell you raw milk from old-fashioned Jersey or Guernsey cows (or from goats), tested free of tuberculosis and brucellosis and allowed to feed on fresh pasturage, then by all means avail yourself of this source.”

I did not even research brucellosis, as I found the info on TB made me too uncomfortable to consider pursuing the dietary change to raw milk any further. Maybe it’s because I have never been around cattle, but I think that even if I had my own milk cow that I would test regularly just to make sure that she was disease free.

There are some dietary changes regarding our consumption of milk that are worth considering, however. The authors do not talk about the dangers of homogenization or of ultra-pasteurization in Nourishing Traditions, but they do go into further detail in Eat Fat, Lose Fat.

Milk is made of two fractions, a water fraction and a butterfat fraction. Normally, the butterfat (cream) portion rises and floats atop the water fraction. The cream could be skimmed for use as cream or to make butter, buttermilk or cheese. However, as it used to be done before the days of homogenization, the cream and milk could be shaken up for use as old-fashioned whole milk.

In the process of homogenization, the two fractions of the milk are subjected to extremely high pressures during which the milk is passed through screens which serve to break down the butterfat molecules into a form that will allow the fat to stay suspended in the milk instead of floating to the top (as is natural). If you remember your chemistry, you will remember that temperature increases with increasing pressure, so the milk is also subjected to another round of “cooking” in addition to the pasteurization. This significantly changes the taste of the milk, in addition to the unnatural changes to the fat in the milk.

I do believe that the process of ultra-pasteurization is detrimental to milk and its nutrients and enzymes. In this process, the milk is heated for a shorter period of time, but at a very high temperature. After this process, the milk is effectively “dead.” Nothing will grow in it, not even beneficial cultures. I can speak from personal experience on this one.

A couple of years ago I purchased some heavy whipping cream at the grocery store so I could try to make homemade butter. At that time I had never paid any attention to whether milk or cream was pasteurized or ultra-pasteurized, but I have since come to notice that in most stores one has no option except to purchase ultra-pasteurized cream or half-and-half. The butter turned out fine, and I saved the liquid left from when the cream broke to make homemade buttermilk. I placed it in a sealed mason jar, just like my recipe said to do, and placed the jar in a warm place and left it undisturbed until the next afternoon. I expected to have thick, creamy buttermilk, but all I had was watery, nasty-smelling liquid. I tried this again, this time inoculating the buttermilk-to-be with a tablespoon of store-bought cultured buttermilk, but I got the same results.

Last spring I purchased a quart of heavy whipping cream at Whole Foods that was not ultra-pasteurized; it was just plain pasteurized. I tried again. Viola! Buttermilk on the first try! Therefore, it is my belief that ultra-pasteurized dairy products are best avoided in favor of products that have only been exposed to a traditional pasteurization process.

In our area, there is a small family dairy farm that has changed its farming practices to offer consumers the alternative to purchase milk and milk products from pastured cows. Their milk is not homogenized and is only put through the traditional, lower temperature pasteurization process. The difference in taste is amazing. For the first time in my life I understand why older folks call whole milk “sweet milk.” It really does have a sweet taste!

With the increase in the popularity of “organic” foods, more farmers are realizing the benefits of meeting this demand, and it is increasingly possible that there is a farmer near you who will follow similar farming practices.

I hope this information sheds some light on the use of dairy products in your diet. We will pick up our series again the week after Thanksgiving with a discussion on the role vitamins play in our diets and the proper used of vitamin supplements.

Be careful, Little Ears, what you hear, what you hear…

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy) — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 08:17:00 +0000

“We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.”

(Hebrews 5:11-14, NIV)

Dear Ladies, I understand that I am very likely preaching to the choir with today’s post, but I’ve got a bee in my bonnet, and I just have to let it out.

I am continually appalled by the lack of discernment among our brothers and sisters in Christ these days. It troubles me greatly, and although I can speak with you frankly here, I am at quite a loss as to how to effectively communicate with one particular coworker and dear Christian brother about the undue influence he is allowing a non-believer to have – a very famous, influential FOXNews personality.

As you are aware, I am a Christian, and my faith influences everything about me: the way I think, to the decisions I make, to the way I interact with other people. The same goes for all of us, and the more deeply convicted we are in our belief system, the more it influences our every action.

We are admonished in 2 Corinthians 6:14-18:

“Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: ‘I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.’

“‘Therefore come out from them and be separate,’

says the Lord.

‘Touch no unclean thing,

And I will receive you.’

‘I will be a Father to you,

and you will be my sons and daughters,

says the Lord Almighty.’”

This means that, as Christians, although we are to reach out to a lost any dying world with the Good News of Christ, we should avoid close friendships and associations with non-believers, and we should also be wary of allowing non-believers to influence how we think.

“By the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you – I, Paul, who am ‘timid’ when face to face with you, but ‘bold’ when away! I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world. For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

(2 Corinthians 10:1-5, NIV)

With all this being said, I will get to the heart of the matter. My friend has become a rather fanatical follower of Glenn Beck. And although Mr. Beck has done some wonderful things in encouraging people to learn accurate American History, he is a Mormon. He has told his viewers that his faith is a great influence on what he says and does. On his programs he has also introduced some revisionist history from the Mormons, and he has been subtly injecting Mormon theology into many of his programs.

The problem with this is that the Mormon church uses words and phrases that are very familiar to us as Christians; however, to the Mormon, these same words and phrases have slightly different meanings. Upon study, the differences are usually fairly apparent to one who is well studied in the Word, but can be quite misleading to those who do not have a firm foundation in it.

If you are not familiar with the teachings of the Mormon church, I encourage you to take the time to educate yourself. The “god’ of the Mormon church is not the same God we serve; their Jesus – who in their theology is a literal brother to Lucifer and in fact to all of humanity – is not our Jesus, the only begotten Son of God. Their most holy book, the Book of Mormon, was delivered by an “angel” to their prophet, Joseph Smith, and is known as “ANOTHER TESTAMENT OF JESUS CHRIST” on their own publications, and they view the Holy Scriptures as flawed because of “errors in translation.”

“I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel – which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!”

(Galatians 1:6-9, NIV)

As a case in point, please consider Beck’s program from Tuesday, November 16, 2010:

Watch the video here.

Read the transcript here.

My friend was quite smitten with the program and printed out the transcript for me to read and discuss with him. Before the discussion could get very far, I reminded him simply that he should be careful of Beck’s teachings regarding the Bible, and he became offended. It was not my intention to offend him, and I let it go and did not press the issue. So I feel led to discuss the specifics of my problems with the teaching from this episode here:

I know I’m not a Jewish rabbi, and like Glenn Beck I don’t know how to read ancient Hebrew either; however, I do know how to use a Strong’s concordance. So can you. If you look up the word translated as “mortar” in Genesis 11:3, you will see that it is never translated as “matter” or “material,” nor is there any indication that the word could be used in such a manner. Similarly, the word translated as “brick” simply means a “brick.”
There is no indication that Nimrod influenced the creation of the Tower of Babel. He may have founded Babylon, but the text says that the people “said one to another, ‘come, let’s…’” – not that they were “socially engineered” into building the tower.
Although the Bible does say that Nimrod was a “mighty hunter” in Genesis 10:9, the word usage here (see Strong’s again) means literally a hunter of game animals. He is also referenced as a “mighty warrior” in Genesis 10:8 and in 1 Chronicles 1:10, but in this case if he is being referenced as a ‘hunter of men’, it is as a conqueror, not as a diplomat.
The people who lived at the time of the building of the Tower of Babel did not speak different languages which they gave up for a common language as they came together in the plain in Shinar. Genesis 11:1 says that they had “one language,” which would make sense as they were all descendants of the three sons of Noah. In addition, the Bible tells us back in Genesis 10:25 that the earth was divided in the time of Peleg. Adding up the time frames given to us in Genesis 11:10-17, we see that Peleg was born just 111 years after the flood. It would not make sense that totally different languages would have developed in that short time. God dealt with the sinfulness of mankind in this situation by scrambling the language of sinful men.
It is not reasonable to think that these people were acting out of what they viewed as ‘doing the right thing.’ God had told Noah and his sons when they left the ark to “be fruitful and increase in number; multiply on the earth and increase upon it” (Genesis 9:7). They were acting in rebellion to God by not parting company with each other to break into the clans God had assigned to the descendants of Shem, Ham and Japheth, “so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth,” (Genesis 11:4b), and in pride in regard to their intended accomplishments.
Lastly, Rabbi Lapin says that God didn’t punish the people because the name used for God in Genesis 11 is the name for the “Merciful God,” not the name for the “Judgment God.” Again, going back to the Strong’s reference, God is only referred to by his proper name, YHWH, in every instance (see Genesis 11:5-9). The punishment was found in the act of the separation of the people essentially by force due to the removal of their common language.

What I don’t know or understand is why a Jewish rabbi would portray the story of the Tower of Babel in this way…what motive is there? Why such a stretch? Is it simply a way for Glenn Beck to somehow make his message appear ‘biblical’?

“For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears wan to hear. They will turn aside to myths.”

(2 Timothy 4:3-4, NIV)

Ladies, we have to be ever vigilant, ever pouring over the Word, ever praying for a spirit of discernment. How many people – brothers and sisters in Christ perhaps – out there were deceived by this message? I left my friend a short note outlining a couple of the points I mentioned above, and I pray it will be received in the spirit in which it was offered... that being one of praying that my friend will not be led astray.

“For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect – if that were possible. See, I have told you ahead of time.”

(Matthew 24:24-25, NIV)

“I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.”

(Matthew 10:16, NIV)

There is joy on this journey, on my way home to my Father’s house,

Cindy <><

Endings…and Beginnings

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy) — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 13:07:00 +0000

In the late spring of 2007 I was introduced to the New Harvest Homestead newsletter as one of the free promo materials I received with my subscription to The Old Schoolhouse Magazine. My subscription to the magazine expired without renewal a year later, but I went on to purchase each and every back issue of the NHH newsletter as well as to continue my subscription faithfully: until now.

In late October of last year, the publisher of the NHH newsletter, Lisa Vitello, announced that she would be ending publication with the November/December 2010 issue. In a few short weeks the last issue of this newsletter will appear in my inbox…and I am left feeling like I am losing a friend.

Before I found this newsletter, I didn’t know that there were women out there who shared my values and opinions about homeschooling, wanting to be home, wanting to provide food for my family from a garden and homemade from my kitchen…certainly none of my suburban, mostly van-or-SUV-driving, epitome-of-the-southern-version-of-a-soccer-mom friends. I felt like I fit in with the ladies at the church we attended then like a dandelion fits in a bouquet of roses.

In the newsletter I learned what books and websites were good for the beginning gardener. I learned for the first time about making homemade bread. I was inspired to start line-drying nearly all of my laundry. I was blessed with many wonderful ideas for handmade, homemade Christmas presents. I learned that I really would like to have my own little flock of chickens! I learned the enough of the basics of canning to feel confident that I wouldn’t poison my family. J I became inspired to live the lifestyle that was in my heart even if no one else I knew understood – because now I knew that there were ladies out there like me, and that I really wasn’t alone.

The legacy of the newsletter will live on, however, in every heart of every woman who has been touched by Lisa’s candid and inspiring articles. The Lord has used her in a mighty way in my life – so many times her articles spoke truth to me that I desperately needed to hear. In addition, through her “Titus 2” mentoring advice and encouragement, many more ladies have been touched by those who have followed God’s directive to us in Titus 2: 3-5.

We are members of a different church now – a wonderful, vibrant, Spirit-filled church, where for the first time I have been able to join a ladies’ Sunday School class. At our Christmas party this year, about the time the last issue of the NHH is published, we will be discussing how we can implement a Titus 2 group for our young ladies (late teens and college-aged) and young wives and mothers. The influence of the newsletter will continue to reach further, even after it’s gone.

The newsletter was my inspiration for starting this blog, as I hoped that maybe I could be an influence on ladies like me who do have to work outside the home. So many ladies out there are blessed to be at home, and for those of us who are not, I want to be a voice that says, “You are not alone – you can work and still have a stay-at-home heart!” Now, through the beauty of the blog world, I have met so many more of you wonderful ladies out there! It is wonderful to have a place where you can share your heart with people who understand your spirit, even if you never meet face to face this side of heaven. How wonderful it will be when we can all get together at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb!

So, it’s time to say a sorrowful “adieu” to the New Harvest Homestead newsletter, and a sincere “THANK YOU” to Lisa for all her hard work and for baring her heart over the years. I know that the Lord has great things in store for her, and for us through her, and we will be watching the website with baited breath for updates.

There is joy on this journey, on my way home to my Father’s house,

Cindy <><

Simple Pleasures: "Who says you have to go to the mountains...

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy) — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 12:43:00 +0000

...to see the leaves?" my husband said when he showed me these pictures he took while in the woods with our son for the Youth Hunt on Sunday. Here in central Alabama, the fall foliage is just hitting its peak, and although it was a drizzly, foggy day, the colors are still gorgeous.

The artistry of our heavenly Father never ceases to amaze me.

There is joy on this journey, on my way home to my Father's house,
Cindy <><

A Handmade Christmas - From Your Computer!

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy) — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 08:45:00 +0000

Christmas Ideas with Digital Scrapbooking!

For my regular readers, perhaps you have noticed that I have added a new page called "FREE Digital Scrapbooking Sites" - all in preparation for today's post! I have always loved layout and design, and over the years I have overhauled our church newsletter and learned HTML to build a church website. I have designed our Christmas cards for years. However, as much as I enjoyed all this, I just never could bring myself to invest in scrapbooking materials. The whole concept seemed overwhelming - in the money required to buy all those supplies, the space for storing it all, and the time to actually put pages together.

Fortunately, all my scrapbooking dreams came true last year when I discovered digital scrapbooking. I can create at my leisure, and all I have to have is my computer and a good color printer for any projects that I decide to print. Plus, I have spent a total of less than $5.00 on digital supplies - and that only on a kit that contained baseball items as I couldn't find anything I just loved for free in the time I had before I needed to have my layouts completed to give as Christmas gifts.

I have been a faithful user of Printmaster Platinum for years. I have had at least 6 different versions and have upgraded several times with advances in operating systems and functionality of the program. However, I have found that the free Digital Scrapbook Artist Compact software from Daisy Trail to be much easier to use with more functionality for creating scrapbook pages. I hope to purchase the full version sometime - maybe with my Christmas money this year? ;)

For my sister, my two nieces, and my mom, I made and framed scrapbook pages from each of my nieces' weddings. I used the color schemes from the weddings, and I used pictures that I took while at the ceremonies and receptions. These were printed as 8x10's.

Also for my sister and my nieces, I made an "As for me and my house..." page personalized for each family. All three had moved into new houses in 2009, so I color-coordinated the pages with the decor in their new homes. These were printed as 5x7's.

For my mom and my mother-in-law, I made scrapbook pages featuring my children and their particular interests. Katie is a ballerina, and Cody is a baseball player. I included photos of the kids from years past as well as current. These were also printed as 8x10's.

Katie also had me make a page for her to give to her best friend, also as an 8x10.

There was a learning curve involved in navigating a new software program, but once I got the basics down, creating became just plain fun. The end products were well received, and I think truly appreciated, gifts that (I hope) will be cherished for years to come.

Now it's your turn! What can you create? If you are a digital scrapbooker, or if you decide to give this addictive hobby a try, please send me a link to your work! I'd love to see your creations!

Daily Bible Readings for November 14-20, 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy) — Sun, 14 Nov 2010 13:52:00 +0000

We are a few weeks into the Robert Murray M'Cheyne's Bible-reading program - how are you doing? I have gotten a little behind during last week, but I will be trying to catch up today. Remember, if all four readings are overwhelming, just pick at least one track; the point is to read your Bible daily. The whole program will take you through the entire Bible in one year along with two trips through Psalms and the Gospels.

November Bible Readings
	Family				Private
15	1 Chronicles	3-4	Hebrews	10	Amos	4	Psalm	149-150
16	1 Chronicles	5-6	Hebrews	11	Amos	5	Luke	1:1-38
17	1 Chronicles	7-8	Hebrews	12	Amos	6	Luke	1:39-end
18	1 Chronicles	9-10	Hebrews	13	Amos	7	Luke	2
19	1 Chronicles	11-12	James	1	Amos	8	Luke	3
20	1 Chronicles	13-14	James	2	Amos	9	Luke	4
21	1 Chronicles	15	James	3	Obadiah	(all)	Luke	5
from Robert Murray M'Cheyne's "Calendar for reading through the Word of God in a year"

"Get wisdom, get understanding;

do not forget my words or swerve from them."

(Psalm 4:5, NIV)

Evening Hymn

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy) — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 06:19:00 +0000

Glory to thee, my God, this night,

For all the blessings of the light;

Keep me, O, keep me, King of kings,

Beneath thy own almighty wings!

Forgive me, Lord, for thy dear Son,

The ill that I this day have done;

That with the world, myself, and thee

I, ere I sleep, at peace may be.

Teach me to live, that I may dread

The grave as little as my bed;

To die, that this vile body may

Rise glorious at the judgment day.

O, may my soul on thee repose,

And may sweet sleep mine eyelids close, -

Sleep, that may me more vigorous make

To serve my God when I awake!

When in the night I sleepless lie,

My soul with heavenly thoughts supply;

Let no ill dreams disturb my rest,

No powers of darkness me molest.

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;

Praise him, all creatures here below;

Praise him above, ye heavenly host;

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

-Bishop Thomas Ken

Thank You to All Our Veterans!

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy) — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 19:49:00 +0000

Just a little note to say a very big THANK YOU to all those who have served our country, in wartime and in peace. Our gratitude for your service, and your sacrifice, is beyond words. Thank you for your honor and valor, and for reminding us that these atttributes are not lost to the past...

There is joy on this journey,. on my way home to my Father's house,
Cindy <><

NT in a Nutshell Part 5: Proteins

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy) — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 08:17:00 +0000

Today’s discussion on Nourishing Traditions will cover the role of proteins, perhaps most important among the nutrients required by our bodies from our diets. This information is condensed from pages 26-32 of Nourishing Traditions, and is not intended as medical advice, but as an introduction to healthy eating practices.

You may remember learning in high school health or biology that amino acids are the building blocks of proteins. Well, “Proteins are the building blocks of the animal kingdom.” (page 26) Proteins are components of organs, nerves, muscles, and flesh. They are also important to our bodies as enzymes and antibodies.

The myriad of proteins in the human body – about 50,000 different forms – are each composed of only 22 different amino acids, linked together in different sequences. Like fatty acids, there are several amino acids that are “essential amino acids,” meaning again that these must be ingested through our diets– they cannot be produced by the body.

The best source we have for dietary protein is from the consumption of animal products, as meat, diary and eggs. From page 26:

“Just as animal fats are our only sources of vitamins A and D and other bodybuilding factors, so also animal protein is our only source of complete protein. All of the essential amino acids, and many considered ‘nonessential,’ are present in animal products. Sources of protein form the vegetable kingdom contain only incomplete protein; that is, they are low in one or more essential amino acids, even when overall protein content is high. The body must ingest all the essential amino acids in order to use any of them. The two best sources of protein in the vegetable kingdom are legumes and cereal grains, but all plant foods are low in tryptophan, cystine and threonine. Legumes, such as beans, peanuts and cashews are high in the amino acid lysine but low in methionine. Cereal grains have the opposite profile. In order to obtain the best possible protein combination from vegetable sources, pulses and grains should be eaten together and combined with at least a small amount of animal protein…

“Vegetarianism has recently achieved political correctness, and nutritionists advocating a restriction or complete elimination of animal products garner good reviews in the popular press. Their influence is reflected in the new Food Pyramid with its emphasis on grains; but the scientific evidence, honestly evaluated, argues against relying too heavily on grains and legumes as sources of protein or for severely reducing animal products in the diet.”

As we discussed briefly in the discussion about carbohydrates, nutrients can only be extracted effectively by the body from grains if they are prepared properly. Failure to prepare grains properly could actually lead to deficiencies, especially when animal products are not a part of the diet. From page 27-28:

“…a largely vegetarian diet lacks the fat-soluble catalysts needed for mineral absorption. Furthermore, phytates in grains block absorption of calcium, iron, zinc, copper and magnesium. Unless grains are properly prepared to neutralize phytates, the body may be unable to assimilate these minerals. Zinc, iron, calcium and other minerals from animal sources are more easily and readily absorbed. We should not underestimate the dangers of deficiencies in these minerals. The effects of calcium and iron deficiency are well known, those of zinc less so. Even a minor zinc deficiency in pregnant animals results in offspring with deformities, such as club feet, cleft palates, domed skulls and fused and missing ribs. In humans, zinc deficiency can cause learning disabilities and mental retardation. In men, zinc depletion decreases fertility. Man’s best source of zinc is animal products, particularly oysters and red meat.

“Usable vitamin B₁₂occurs only in animal products. The body stores a supply of vitamin B₁₂ that can last from two to five years. When this supply is depleted, B₁₂ deficiency diseases result. These include pernicious anemia, impaired eyesight, panic attacks, schizophrenia, hallucinations and nervous disorders, such as weakness, loss of balance and numbness in the hands and feet…Vitamin B₁₂ deficiency has been found in breast-fed infants of strict vegetarians…”

Just as refined sugars and grains should be avoided, so also should processed protein products such as protein powders made from soy, whey, casein and egg whites. The high temperature processing introduces possible carcinogens as well as “over-denatures the proteins to such an extent that they become essentially useless.” (page 29)

Now that you know how important consuming meat, dairy and eggs is to your diet, next you should consider where you get these. Beef and dairy products should be from pastured animals and should be certified “organic” and should not have been given hormones or antibiotics. Chicken and eggs should be free-ranged, certified “organic” and should not have been given hormones or antibiotics. Fish should be wild caught, and deep sea cold-water fish are best as they contain the most omega-3’s. The variety wild game adds is also beneficial. The authors recommend eating some animal products raw or rare on a regular basis.

The authors suggest that there may be “something other than a concern for parasite contamination” in the Bible’s prohibition against pork, and that some studies suggest that pork may best be avoided. (page 32)

Shellfish is recommended for its high vitamin content; however, it should be “very fresh and in season.” (page 32)

How have we incorporated this into our diet? The first step we made was not due to the information in Nourishing Traditions, but was instead a benefit of my husband’s hobby. He is an avid hunter, as is my son, and we seek to put at least 5 deer in the freezer every year. Venison is free-ranged and organic by nature! I only buy beef hamburger perhaps once or twice per year. I never buy beef cubed steaks anymore. We occasionally buy steaks, but that is a rare treat. I don’t have a source in my area to buy free-ranged beef unless I am willing to commit to purchasing at least a quarter of a cow, and as rarely as we eat steaks, I feel that we can just pray over it for the Father to use it to the nourishment of our bodies.

As for chicken, there is a family-owned butcher shop in our area that sells free-ranged chicken. I haven’t checked their prices, but the prices in local health food stores have been way out of my range. I hope that if we are able to move to a place we want in the country so that we can raise our own chickens, but as for now, I still get mine at Sam’s Club.

I buy wild caught fish as it goes on sale (BOGO), but most of it comes from China and I don’t know if I really believe that it is wild caught. That’s just another food we have to pray over. Fortunately, we live close enough to the Gulf to get shrimp, although even here it is best frozen. As for eating things raw and rare – I don’t see that happening. The thought is rather repulsive to me, although I can live with a medium rare steak. If it’s bleeding on the plate, I ain’t eatin’ it. And sushi is completely out of the question…raw fish is bait not dinner ‘round here!

The most important concept to take away from this discussion is that a vegetarian diet, although politically correct and popular, is not a good idea for longevity and good health. Red meat should definitely be a part of your diet, as should chicken, fish, dairy and eggs. In our next discussion (next week), we will discuss the role of dairy in our diets further. Please join me again then!

NT in a Nutshell Part 4: Carbohydrates

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy) — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 08:16:00 +0000

Welcome back to our discussion about Nourishing Traditions! So far we have talked about fats and cholesterol and their roles in our bodies. Today we will take up the topic of carbohydrates – an area of nutrition in which modern trends seem to be heading in the right direction. This information is condensed from pages 21-25 of Nourishing Traditions, and is not intended as medical advice, but as an introduction to healthy eating practices.

Carbohydrates are simply starches and sugars that we consume as we eat plant foods, including grains. All starches and sugars are broken down into glucose through the digestion process. Glucose is passed into the blood stream and is what is measured when we speak of “blood sugar.” Although glucose is the “food” of the cells in the body, one does not necessarily have to consume sugars or starches in order for the body to produce it; the body can convert other molecules, such as proteins or fats, into glucose as the body needs it.

Carbohydrates are not bad in themselves; however, highly processed, refined carbs are a problem. There are certain vitamins and minerals that the body needs to effectively use carbohydrates that are lost in the refining process. From page 21-22:

“Only in the last century has man’s diet included a high percentage of refined carbohydrates. Our ancestors ate fruits and grains in their whole, unrefined state. In nature, sugars and carbohydrates – the energy providers – are linked together with vitamins, minerals, enzymes, protein, fat and fiber – the bodybuilding and digestion-regulating components of the diet. In whole form, sugars and starches support life, but refined carbohydrates are inimical to life because they are devoid of bodybuilding elements. Digestion of refined carbohydrates calls on the body’s own store of vitamins, minerals and enzymes for proper metabolism. When B vitamins are absent, for example, the breakdown of carbohydrates cannot take place, yet most B vitamins are removed during the refining process.

“The refining process strips grains, vegetables and fruits of both their vitamin and mineral components. Refined carbohydrates have been called ‘empty’ calories. ‘Negative’ calories is a more appropriate term because consumption of refined calories depletes the body’s precious reserves. Consumption of sugar and white flour may be likened to drawing on a savings account. If continued withdrawals are made faster than new funds are put in, the account will eventually becomes depleted. Some people may go longer than others without overt suffering, but eventually all will feel the effects of this inexorable law.”

Diabetes and “pre-diabetes” have become epidemic in our country, largely in part to the addictive nature of refined carbohydrates. In addition, many people experience episodes of hypoglycemia from the quantities of insulin that are pumped into the bloodstream to handle the overload present due to overconsumption of refined carbs.

Quoting from pages 23-24:

“Our physical nature is such that we need foods that are whole, not refined and denatured, to grow, prosper and reproduce. As the consumption of sugar has increased, so have all the ‘civilized’ diseases…[Today] less than half the diet must provide all the nutrients to a body that is under constant stress from its intake of sugar, white flour and rancid and hydrogenated vegetable oils. Herein lies the root cause of the vast increase in degenerative diseases that plague modern America…

“Scientific evidence against sugar has been mounting for decades. As early as 1933, research showed that increased consumption of sugar caused an increase in various disease conditions in school children. Sugar, especially fructose, has been shown to shorten life in numerous animal experiments. Sugar consumption has recently been cited as the root cause of anorexia and eating disorders. In the 1950s, British researcher Yudkin published persuasive findings that excessive use of sugar was associated with the following conditions: release of free fatty acids at the aorta, rise in blood cholesterol, rise in triglycerides, increase in adhesiveness of the blood platelets, increase in blood insulin levels, increase in blood corticosteroid levels, increase in gastric acidity, shrinkage of the pancreas and enlargement of the liver and adrenal glands.

“Numerous subsequent studies have positively correlated sugar consumption with heart disease. These results are far more unequivocal than the presumed association of heart disease with saturated fats…

“More plagues than heart disease can be laid at sugar’s door. A survey of medical journals in the 1970s produced findings implicating sugar as a causative factor in kidney disease, liver disease, shortened life span, increased desire for coffee and tobacco, atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease. Sugar consumption is associated with hyperactivity, behavior problems, lack of concentration and violent tendencies…encourages the overgrowth of candida albicans, a systemic fungus in the digestive tract, causing it to spread to the respiratory system, tissues and internal organs…is positively associated with cancer in humans and test animals…Research indicates that it is the fructose, not the glucose, moiety of sugar that is the most harmful, especially for growing children. Yet the greatest increase in sugar consumption in the last two decades is from high fructose corn syrup used in soft drinks, ketchup and many other fabricated foods aimed at children…

“Last but not least, sugar consumption is the cause of bone loss and tooth decay…”

Wow! If I, too, weren’t addicted to sugar (and to some extent, white flour also), I’d never touch the stuff again! Unfortunately, however, in our family, this is an EXTREMELY hard habit to break. We did successfully switch to Splenda for a while, but after considering how it’s made (I understand that Splenda is made by chlorinating sucrose – further refining the refined sugar), I wonder if regular sugar isn’t better! So what is a person to do?

The authors recommend “natural sweeteners high in vitamins and minerals, such as raw honey, date sugar, dehydrated cane juice [here the author’s specifically recommend Rapadura brand, but I can’t find this in my area and it is very expensive on the internet] and maple syrup.” (page 25) I have largely switched to Demerra Cane Sugar, a dehydrated cane juice that I can purchase in my area at Wal-Mart stores (and at Whole Foods, but it’s twice as expensive there). Raw honey and maple syrup are expensive, but I also try to keep these around – but the raw honey is hard for me to find. I figure that honey is a better sweetener than sugar even if it has been pasteurized. However, I have found that pasteurized honey is bad to solidify if the temperature drops too low – opened containers do so in our house after nights when the temperature has dropped to 60 degrees (our night-time thermostat temperature).

Another step we have taken is to start using freshly milled and frozen whole wheat flour and masa (instead of corn meal) as much as possible. Whole grains and legumes need to be soaked with a little whey or cider vinegar to neutralize phytic acid; with planning this is possible, but I’ll admit, forgetting to start soaking the beans 12-24 hours ahead can really throw a monkey wrench into a meal plan. The biggest challenge for my family has been giving up cold cereals. They are loaded with sugar and highly refined grains, and unfortunately, they are extremely convenient for busy mornings; plus, the kids love them. But these are now off-limits at our house, no matter how much the kids complain.

Bottom line: start phasing refined sugars and grains out of your diet. It won’t happen overnight and takes commitment, but your health, and the health of your family, will greatly improve with the effort.

Please join me again tomorrow as we discuss the role of proteins in our diets from the NT perspective. Have a blessed day!

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