Friday Foodie

I tried a new "recipe" this week that turned out fabulous!  I use the word recipe loosely, because I didn't have one - this was a make it up as you go.  As I was preparing my grocery list, I tried to think of something that sounded good.  I hadn't made stuffed bell peppers in a while (you can find my recipes for those here, here, and here), but those sounded kind of heavy.  Then I decided to stuff them with chicken.  Hmmm.. what if I use Alfredo sauce instead of marinara?  And the rest is history!

Chicken Alfredo Stuffed Bell Peppers

Ingredients:
2 large red bell peppers (any color will do, we just prefer red!)
6 oz. cooked chicken, chopped
1 small onion, chopped
2 Tbsp. canola oil
1 cup mixed frozen vegetables such as squash and zucchini, chopped
1 cup chicken broth
1 cup Alfredo sauce

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Slice off and discard about half an inch from the top (stem end) of each bell pepper. Remove and discard seeds.  Cut in half, then place peppers in an 8" X 8" baking pan.

Chop meat, onions and veggies approximately the same size.

Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat. Add onions, season with salt and pepper, cook slowly until golden brown and carmelized, approximately 15 minutes.  Drain excess grease.

Add veggies and 1/2 cup chicken broth, cook another 5 minutes.  Add chicken, remaining broth, and 1/2 cup Alfredo sauce cook an additional 3-5 minutes, until the sauce is thick.

Evenly distribute chicken mixture among the peppers.  Pour remaining Alfredo sauce over peppers. Bake uncovered, 20 minutes, until bubbly. I had prepared this earlier in the day and refrigerated it, so it took about 30 minutes.

I really didn't know how these would turn out but they were outstanding!  Les said I set a new PR (personal record) with this meal!   I served it with Alfredo noodles, peas, and French bread.

Two Years

I am reading in 2 Samuel this week.  Oh the life of David!  So many ups and downs.  2 Samuel chapter 13 talks about one of the downs ~ Amnon, Tamar, and Absalom.  The deceit, the sexual assault, the love that turned to deep hatred.  Then we come to Absalom...

"And Absalom spake unto his brother Amnon neither good nor bad: for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar.   And it came to pass after two full years..." (verses 22 and 23)

For two years Absalom didn't speak to his brother.  Two years he plotted and planned. Two years he remembered his sister's shame.  Two years he may have wondered when their father would do something to punish Amnon (and that a whole 'nother post of its own.)  But for two years, he never spoke, while his hatred burned hotter.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible had this to say about the story:

Absalom's hatred of his brother's crime would have been commendable, and he might justly have prosecuted him for it by a due course of law, for example to others, and the making of some compensation to his injured sister; but to hate his person, and design his death by assassination, was to put a great affront upon God.

If Absalom had reasoned the matter with Amnon, he might have convinced him of his sin and brought him to repentance; but, saying nothing, Amnon's heart was hardened, and his own more and more embittered against him.

It may be, at first, he did not intend to kill his brother (for, if he had, he might have had as fair an opportunity to do it as he had at last), and only waited for an occasion to disgrace him or do him some other mischief; but in time his hatred ripened to this, that he would be no less than the death of him. If the sun going down once upon the wrath gives such place to the devil (as is intimated, Ephesians 4:26-27), what would the sunsets of two full years do?

We will all face times when anger is our natural response, but we cannot risk holding on to that anger.  Jesus tells us what to do in Matthew chapter 5, "Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift."   Forgiveness and reconciliation are not easy - they hurt and can be very difficult.  But it is worth it.  And if you are the one who has done the offending, please humble yourself, don't lose two years, don't even lose two days with those whom you have wronged.

The story of Absalom doesn't end here, in the following chapter David allows Absalom to return to Jerusalem, but "Absalom dwelt two full years in Jerusalem, and saw not the king's face."  Another two years of bitterness and unforgiveness.

What has happened to you and me in the past two years?  Are we still carrying hurts and bitterness?  What will we do with the next two years?  We can't erase the past, but we can forgive, go forward and "as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men."

Anniversary Celebration in Santa Barbara

We had a great day on Monday - super relaxing and mellow.  Just me and my love! 

We started at the Santa Barbara Zoo.

These beautiful lionesses are four years old and weigh about 300 pounds each!  I think they must sit and watch the giraffes about 80% of the day!  It seems a little cruel on the zoo's part...

The Indian elephants are 43 years old and over 8,000 pounds each!

Penguins... I don't know what they weigh!

The wingspan of the California Condor

Feeding time for the giraffes.

We took the trolley from the zoo to the wharf, then transferred to another one and went up State Street.  We were looking for lunch - our top three choices were all closed!  The first two were delis that cater to the people who work in Santa Barbara, the third was closing so they could transition from lunch to dinner. 

We finally settled at a bistro that was okay.  The food was nothing to write home about and the service was extremely slow!  We then went to the courthouse and climbed the clock tower.  The views are incredible!

 

We hopped back on the trolley for a stop on Stearns Wharf.

Then it was one more trolley ride back to our car.  If you're ever in Santa Barbara, I highly recommend riding the trolley.  There are actually two trolleys - Downtown and Waterfront.  You can ride for 50 cents and receive a free transfer to the other trolley.  We parked across the street from the zoo (free!) and spent $2.00 getting around.  You won't find parking that cheap anywhere in town!

I Do!

Twenty three years ago...

I pledged my love to you...

We've had sickness and health...

We've been richer and poorer...

We've also had more joy and adventure than I ever imagined...

And I'd say I Do, all over again...

As long as I'm with you!

I love you with all my heart!

Tammy Batson

 

It was with great sadness that we received word that our friend, Tammy Batson, passed from this life on Thursday. She celebrated her 44th birthday on Sunday and leaves behind her husband, Nathan, and 12 year old daughter, Leanna. We don't weep from Tammy, all her tears have now been wiped away.  But we weep for the family that is left behind.  My heart breaks for her daughter, losing her mother just before she enters her teenage years.

I didn't know Tammy well, we first met in 2009 and immediately felt like friends.  She was one of the friendliest and sweetest ladies I've ever met.  Tammy, Leanna, and Tammy's mom, Anne, came to California for a visit in April 2010.  We were able to meet them for breakfast and enjoyed our time together. Les has known Tammy most of her life.  Her dad, Bro. Ernie Johnson, was Les' third grade Sunday school teacher.

Her husband is the pastor of New Life Church of Nashville.  I know this loss leaves a big hole in many hearts and lives.  Please help us pray for her family, friends, and church family.

Encouragement

I love to be an encourager.  I'm really happy if I can say or write something that helps another.  If someone walks away from me feeling better than before, I feel good too.  I've had many encouragers in my life and I'm thankful for each one.

I read one of my favorite verses in the Bible yesterday morning:

"but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God."  1 Samuel 30:6

As much as we all need each other, there are times when we must encourage ourselves.  There are times when we need encouragement and no one else is around.  David knew, and we need to know where our help comes from.  When he stood alone, his men talked of stoning him, David encouraged himself in the Lord.

Tuesday night our evangelist, Bro. Disotel, preached from Jude verse 20:

"But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost"

If David's story had been found in the New Testament, we could have easily read, "David, prayed in the Holy Ghost and he was encouraged."  Our greatest victories come from praying in the Holy Ghost.  It's not enough to just show up for prayer ~ half-hearted prayers are going to get half-hearted results.  And that doesn't have anything to do with the volume of your prayers!  We can walk away from a prayer meeting still carrying the load of discouragement if we don't truly pray in the Holy Ghost. 

I encourage you to be an encourager and learn to encourage yourself in the Lord!

A Chapter or Two

I read the story of Lazarus' death and resurrection yesterday morning as found in John chapter 11.  I was reminded again of the other side of Martha.  She was a woman of faith.

We rejoice when we hear Matthew 16:16, "And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God."  Whew!  That Simon Peter, what a great revelation he had!  Martha used that very same phrase in John 11:27, "Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world."  These words are spoken in the New Testament by Peter, demons as they were being cast out, and Martha.  Give the girl the keys to the kingdom!

I know I blogged about Martha just a little over a month ago, but as I read the story again I felt a little sad for the reputation she has.  We only read about her in three chapters in the Bible, such a small piece of her life...

What if we were only known by a chapter or two of our lives?  The days we've been unkind and impatient would lead people to believe we were always that way.  What if the days we laughed and gave joyfully of our time were forgotten?  How many times did Martha serve Jesus in her home with joy, but we only read of the time she complained?  He wouldn't have kept coming back if He felt unwelcome.

At Mom's funeral, Elder Morton told several stories.  But the phrase he used that best described her was, "She was a saint, not an angel."  At the end of the day, that's what we all need to strive for.  There might be chapters that we'd like to forget or erase, but we can strive to have many more "saintly" chapters than not.

Book Review: Madman

I recently read "Madman" by Tracy Groot.  The book description says this:

If there is a way into madness, logic says there is a way out. Logic says.

Tallis, a philosopher's servant, is sent to a Greek academy in Palestine only to discover that it has silently, ominously disappeared. No one will tell him what happened, but he learns what has become of four of its scholars. One was murdered. One committed suicide. One worships in the temple of Dionysus. And one is a madman.

This is a fictionalized story of the demoniac of the Gadarenes found in Mark chapter 5 and Luke chapter 8.  I'm not always a fan of Biblical fiction.  The author will sometimes take a turn I don't care for, but that was not the case with this book. I felt I learned much about the worship of false gods, sacrificing children to them, and many of the philosophies which were common in that day. 

Even though I knew Who was going to come on the scene, it was still an excellent read.  The man, Kardus, sat with his back to the Sea of Galilee, voices screaming in his head, breaking chains and screaming in the night.  Those who tried to bind him with chains, his family members and friends who suffered because of him.  The scholars who were sure that if there is a way into madness, logic says there is a way out, not knowing that the madness was caused by evil spirits and no amount of logic could change it.  Then Jesus simply spoke and Kardus was set free, publishing in Decapolis, "how great things Jesus had done for him."

I have not blogged about the "Kardus" I met in Hawaii.  I had numerous encounters with him while out running in the morning or walking in the afternoon.  He would start yelling and cursing at me, spewing vileness.  Once it was across six lanes of very busy traffic, but when I softly said "Jesus" he stopped.  The last time I saw him he just stared at me and said, "Pentecostal."  Oh yes, the spirits that live in him know Who lives inside me.  He may have even been raised in this truth, but spirits now hold him bound. Satan may try to intimidate us, but he cannot stop the name.

There is power in the name of Jesus
There is power in the name of Jesus
There is power in the name of Jesus
To break every chain
Break every chain
Break every chain!

Heat Wave

You know it's hot in Southern California...

when it's hotter than Phoenix...

Multiple fires are burning - much too soon in the season for this.  Homes have been destroyed and thousands evactuated. We enjoyed mild temps while most of the country shoveled snow all winter.  Please help us pray for a break soon. 

Mother's Day

We had a wonderful Mother's Day service at Victory Tabernacle.  Pictured above is our Sunday school choir - the biggest we've ever had!   This was our final Sunday of a seven week contest and the response has been tremendous.  If I remember correctly, we had 124 visitors yesterday morning.  For the past nine Sundays we have averaged over 100 visitors each Sunday!!  Let me say that again:

For the past nine Sundays

 we have averaged over 100 visitors each Sunday!!

I have never seen anything like it.  They are not just coming for prizes, but children and young people have been praying in the altars. There were many mothers in attendance yesterday.  One of them, Cindy, told me that her two teenage boys love our church.  "I know I need to come with them," she told me.  It was a beautiful thing when we gathered at the altar to watch those sons pray for their mom.

The cherry on top of the Mother's Day cake?  Susan received the Holy Ghost!  God is doing great things at Victory Tabernacle!  Great things!!

Praying Mothers

Happy Mother's Day to all you wonderful moms!

As I was thinking about what to post this morning, a beautiful family memory came to mind.  It starts with my Great Grandmother, Maude Lancaster, born October 13, 1887.  She was the mother of eleven children.  She received the gift of the Holy Ghost and lived a holy life, but was not baptized according to the Bible.

Great Grandma Lancaster

One of her daughters was my grandma - Grandma Luella Pearson.  Born February 26, 1919 in Mayes, Oklahoma.  During the Dust Bowl of the 1930s, the family moved to California.  At some point, Grandma Luella saw her need to be baptized in the name of Jesus.  Grandma Lancaster told her, "That's okay for you, but I don't think I need it."

Grandma Luella

On January 1, 1940, Norma Pearson was born.  Mom grew up believing the gospel.  As a young mother, she started praying for her children, but she also started to praying for her grandmother.  She wrote letters and sent tracts explaining Jesus name baptism.  In the early 1970s, Great Grandma Lancaster then in her 80s, saw her need to be re-baptized according to the plan of salvation found in the book of Acts!  It was a beautiful Sunday morning when our family gathered in Visalia to witness this grand occasion.

Mom, when the twins were still in the hospital.  I know she prayed for them, too!

I saw Grandma Lancaster for the last time in 1984.  I was preparing to go to the Philippines.  She told me what a blessing we would be.  Then she wanted me to turn around so she could feel my hair.  At the age of 96, most of her hair had fallen out, but it had never been cut.  She died peacefully while I was in the Philippines, I'll always treasure that last visit.

Mothers, don't ever stop praying!

Friday Foodie

When we were in Hawaii, one of the many desserts we had was Strawberry Shortcake at Bubba Gumps.  It was out of this world and ridiculously huge!   Since this is one of Les' favorite desserts, it's also something we eat at home a lot during the summer.  I usually just buy angel food cake, but this week I decided to make shortcakes similar to Bubba's.

Shortcakes

2 1/3 cups All Purpose Baking Mix
2/3 cup milk (I used vanilla almond milk)
3 Tbps. sugar
3 Tbsp. butter, melted

1.  Heat oven to 425.
2.  Stir together baking mix, milk, sugar and butter until soft dough forms.  Drop by spoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet.
3.  Bake 12-15 minutes or until golden brown.  Split warm shortcakes; fill and top with fruit and ice cream.

These turned out really good.  The recipe said 6 shortcakes, as you can see I ended up making ten!  One split open (pictured above) was plenty for me, Les thought two was just right.

And a little comparison of nutritional info:

Kathy's Strawberry Shortcake - 1 shortcake with 1/2 cup slow churned vanilla ice cream - 247 calories / 8.9 g fat / 35 g carbs / 0.7 g fiber / 17.7 g protein / 6 PP per serving / 10 servings

Bubba Gump's Mama’s Best Strawberry Shortcake With Mama’s homemade Biscuits - 892 calories / 36 g fat / 129 g carbs / 3 g fiber / 11 g protein / 24 PP per serving / 3 servings (source)

Rejoice Together

My Bible reading yesterday included John chapter 4.  After Jesus talked to the Samaritan woman, he told his disciples:

35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.
36 And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.
37 And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth.
38 I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.

I have read this passage many times, but verse 36 really stood out to me yesterday.  Sowing and reaping are both part of harvest.  There is no reaping without sowing.

I have been involved in outreach of some form or another since I was a child.  My first attempt was with a Sunday school teacher.  He took our class and off we went.  It took me (the shyest in the group) several blocks before I actually spoke to someone, but I did.  I have been involved in bus ministry, taught Sunday school, participated in contests and Friend Days and dramas.  I think it would be safe to say I have knocked hundreds of doors and passed out just as many flyers.  Sowing, sowing, sowing.

30 years ago this summer I went to the Philippines with Western District Youth Corp.  Over the course of about 10 days we saw over 700 people receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.  A lot of reaping took place and it had very little to do with the young people who arrived from California.  Sowing was going on before we boarded an airplane.  But we rejoiced together.

I don't understand how it all works.  Forty years of sowing and one day an abundant harvest.  But here's what I know:

The Fields are Ready to Harvest - Jesus said in Luke chapter 10 that the "harvest truly is great."  The population of the world when Jesus spoke these words was approximately three hundred million.  Our current world population is over seven Billion.  The fields are ready and bursting at the seams!

It Takes a Lot of Sowing - The parable of the sower is recorded in Mark chapter 4 and Luke chapter 8.  Three fourths of the seed that was sown did not produce.  That's a lot of sowing without a harvest.  But the remaining seed brought forth great increase.

There Will Be Times of Reaping - We are still seeing an explosion of Sunday school children and young people from our contest in March. Our altars are full on Sunday mornings.  God is doing a great work.  They aren't coming from an area where we have labored for years - this is a new location, but God is giving the increase.

Rejoice Together - The devil would like to mess with us and make us think that past labors have been in vain.  Often new converts are the spark that fans the flames of revival.   Every seed that has been sown in the past has brought us to this place.  Rejoice together!

Change Your Clothes

I did a little shopping while we were in Hawaii last month.  I got a cute little dress from Ross.  It wasn't a steal, but it was a good deal.  The only problem was it was too short.  It fell just below my knee, but when I walked my knees were exposed.  I knew I could fix it with a little fabric.

After we got home, I was scrounging around in my closet and saw this old scarf...

"Hey!  This might be cute attached to my new dress," I said to myself.  And it was... except it wasn't nearly enough fabric.  But it was enough to give me an idea...

Saturday morning I headed to my local Jo-Ann Fabric store.  My dress was 88" at the hem - yes, it's very full!  I found fabric that was 45" and knew it was going to be a challenge, but for $3.50 for a half a yard, I thought it was worth a try.  I had the lady at Joann's cut the fabric in 2 pieces of 1/4 yard each.  After a quick pre-wash, I ironed the two pieces and pinned them together.  I made a 1/8" seam.  I then folded the piece in half (so I wouldn't have to hem it!)  Pin by pin, I added the fabric to the bottom of my dress...  shew!  It reached!

My original plan was to attach it by hand.  I wasn't sure my sewing machine (with my limited skills) would handle the silkier fabric.  After looking a little closer, I saw that my stitching would fall right on the black stripe.  I decided to at least try using my machine.  Of course my pins were all on the wrong side!

After a few inches, I felt confident enough to switch all my pins and continue.  And here it is!  I changed my clothes!

Thanks to the talented Kelley Dibble on Kelley Highway for inspiring me to change my clothes!

Freedom of Speech

This post might be a bit controversial ~ Please read all the way to the end!  I want to state for the record that I am not a racist.  I do my best to love everyone, no matter the color of their skin.  Each of us are created in the image of God and that makes us equal.  Jesus died for every one of us.

You may or may not be aware of the scandal swirling around the National Basketball Association and LA Clippers owner, Donald Sterling.  Recordings of Mr. Sterling making racist remarks were released and the entire NBA was outraged.  NBA Commissioner, Adam Silver, responded with this:

"Accordingly, effective immediately, I am banning Mr. Sterling for life from any association with the Clippers organization or the NBA. Mr. Sterling may not attend any NBA games or practices. He may not be present at any Clippers facility, and he may not participate in any business or player personnel decisions involving the team.
He will also be barred from attending NBA Board of Governors meetings or participating in any other league activity.
I am also fining Mr. Sterling $2.5 million, the maximum amount allowed under the NBA constitution. These funds will be donated to organizations dedicated to anti discrimination and tolerance efforts that will be jointly selected by the NBA and its Players Association.
As for Mr. Sterling's ownership interest in the Clippers, I will urge the Board of Governors to exercise its authority to force a sale of the team and will do everything in my power to ensure that that happens."  (Full transcript here.)

As I listened to the press conference on Tuesday, I was disturbed by the severity of this punishment.  I have not heard the recordings and don't know the complete history of Mr. Sterling, but banning a person from a public place such as an NBA game for something he said seems too harsh to me.  Are racist remarks okay?  Absolutely not. Does that mean there will be no racists attending NBA games in the future?  Highly unlikely!

I do find it interesting that the comments were recorded by a woman many are calling Mr. Sterling's girlfriend and no one blinked an eye about that.  Many professional athletes are fornicators, they get arrested for DUI, and the list goes on.  Because they can shoot a basket or throw a football or hit home runs, they get a free pass many times.

This is a country that believes and supports freedom of speech until you say something they don't like.

So why am I bothered by this?  I don't even like basketball!  But when will our pastors be banned from our churches for preaching that sin is sin?  When the man of God preaches from God's Word and tells it like it is, many call it hate speech.  Who will ban my pastor from his pulpit when he points his finger at sin?

As far back as the prophets in the old testament, men of God have been persecuted for speaking the truth.  Jesus said in Matthew 24:9, "Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake."  The disciples rejoiced "that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name."  And while we know Jesus came to give His life for us, the religious leaders of His day had Him arrested and crucified because of what He said.

Again, I want to say that racism has no place in this world.  But when preaching the truth of God's Word is considered hate speech, we need to be on our knees in prayer for our pastors.

So tell me what you think...
Have you been following this story?  Agree or disagree with the lifetime ban?
Have you noticed a trend toward intolerance of preaching truth?