Recipe #4

This is almost too simple to call it a real 'recipe' but I so thoroughly enjoyed this last night (and again to-day for lunch) that I'm actually typing it out...

I started with about 2 pounds of chicken breasts from my local market. I was on the way home from work last night and I knew we had a big salad that I could add some grilled chicken to. I didn't want to wait for a marinade to work on the meat so I seasoned them and just let them rest at room temp until the coals were ready. I used a generous dousing of Private Selections garlic/black pepper grinder that i bought from Kroger, and rosemary that i harvested about two weeks ago, let dry for about a week, then placed in my spice jars from the dollar store. I don't use a thermometer normally for chicken, but I cooked these six breasts over direct heat for about a half hour total. I moved to the second shelf (bun warmer) rack as the skin was getting browned sufficiently and these were still quite juicy.

If you're a 'list' person and don't need the commentary, here's the bare-bones recipe:

Bone-in chicken breasts
Fresh ground pepper and garlic
Dried rosemary

Grill for 15 minutes direct then flip once. Cook to 160 degrees. Let chicken rest under tented tin foil for a couple minutes. Eat.

{What follows is my narrative on seasoning meat and fish for grilling:}

For years, I would use salt, pepper, and seasoning salt (Lawrey's) and garlic salt to season everything. There was nothing else (unless I was making spaghetti, and I used 'Italian Seasoning').
Salt became a public enemy so I deleted it and changed the garlic salt to garlic powder. 
Then, as I matured as a cooker, I discovered herbs and fresh garlic, wonder of wonders!
Now, I grow and cook with sage, parsley, oregano, thyme, basil, rosemary, chives, and dill.
The dill and chives give that perfect flavor to my potato salad, and I use the basil for amazing bruschetta. The sage I use mostly at Thanksgiving time for the bird and also in my stuffing.
And, to my wife's dismay, I like to experiment alot!

Almighty Father~
Please forgive my hypocrisy, my Holy Joe attitude, my vain attempts at seeking glory, when You and You alone deserve all the glory. Touch my heart with your perfect hand, remove the sin-blackened self-stain there and infuse Your Spirit to rule and reign there. 
Melt me, mold me, fill me, use me.
Please melt me, LORD, no matter how much I scream or resist; HAVE YOUR WAY WITH ME!
I don't want to run my way any more.
I want Your way: Truth and Life.
I want YOU, more of YOU.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit - Amen

 

LVCCM #80

Midland, Michigan's Trinity Lutheran Church will host the upcoming cursillo weekends sponsored by the Lutheran Via de Cristo of Central Michigan (lvccm.org). The men's weekend is 1 - 4 August, 2013 and I am blessed to be sitting at the Table of Muchacho! An entire host of characters (and I mean characters!), including Mark, Chuck, George, Dave, and Murphy, will be joining me as we serve these candidates on their 3-day pilgrimage. Please pray for these brothers, that our LORD would speak to us in new and wonderful ways, while changing our hearts - all for His glory!!

'All in color, and so must all love be of every bright color to make my heart cry'

Monday Morning Offering

King of Creation,
We offer you all the joys, hardships, trials, and triumphs of this day. We seek Your guidance through every decision, we call upon Your good Spirit to live and love through us.
I pray this morning for my beautiful bride; that You would keep her safe, cool, and hydrated in this Michigan heat to-day.
I pray for all our family members in the various states they live in; that You would be with them in every circumstance. Protect them, keep them safe, bring them closer to You.
I pray for the candidates who will encounter You on LVCCM #80. Prepare their hearts for Your message, protect their families in their absence, and bring each one into a closer walk with You.
Father, so many of us can talk about spiritual things: Jesus, trust, Your will, Your plan, ... but sometimes we have a hard time actually living out our faith. In those times, Lord, grant us extra graces to over come our self-ishness, and the wiles of the enemy. 
Lord in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Amen
 

Even though I don't conciously do so,

I keep records of my moods, my temperamental tastes, my passing fancies - with 'bookmarks' and 'favorites'.

In the Firefox browser i am currently typing in, I am able to see a collection of snapshots from the various phases i've gone through for the last year at work. The prayer sites, the FHA sites, the music videos, the market indexes, the underwriting guidelines, ... each group sums up what I thought was so important at that particular time in my life.

And so it is with Mozilla at home: music, sports, movies, scripture, church calendar, hummingbird habits, the best soil for my basil, msu football, ...
Almost as revealing as a diary, it is.

http://www.catholicmatters.com/c251.htm

For this Sunday's readings, and  a wonderful expounding.

Family

Got to spend some time with niece and nephews, sister and brother-in-law, and mom and dad last night. I treasure these moments, and thank almighty God for family.

Sunny and hot to-day; i get to drive to Midland for our Team meeting at 1:30.

Hot n muggy

If you seek a pleasant motion picture, take in How Green Was My Valley, with Walter Pidgeon and Roddy McDowall.
If you seek a good meal, grill your pork tenderloin over Kingsford Mesquite charcoal.
If you seek a great venue for a ball game, visit Comerica Park, and enjoy the Lipari sausages from the concourse behind first base.
If you seek 90 degrees and muggy with a slight breeze,come to Whitmore Lake to-day.
If you seek the LORD with all your heart, you will find Him.

Beautiful Friday Morning!!

Oh my goodness the sun is rising and the breeze is cool and life is absolutely wonderful! The dumpsters have been emptied across the street and the coolers are being re-stocked by the Miller Lite man in blue. The boss is in his command centre taking care of business and the office dog Bentley is soundly rolled up on his little dog-bed. 

LORD, thank You for this new day, for every new day
Forgive me for taking so many days for granted.
Thank You for Love, and Peace, and Joy.

 
 

Youtube mix # 7

Elvis - Veronica
Devo - Freedom of Choice
Elvis - Accidents Will Happen
Devo - Whip It
Elvis - Alison
Vapors - Turning Japanese
Elvis - Everyday I Write the Book
Aha - Take On Me
Police - Every Breath You Take
The Summons; Team Song for LVCCM #80
Here I Am Lord
I Am The Bread of Live
Dead Milkmen - Punk Rock Girl
Violent Femmes - American Music
Peter Schilling - Major Tom
Ghoti Hook - Super Sumo
Thorin Oakenshield and the Dwarves - Far Over the Misty Mountains Cold

Oh how beautiful the sky

Just like one evening long ago in Middle Earth, when Peregrin Took looked to the West to see the last glimpse of the sun before it set on the eve of world war, so tonight here in Whitmore Lake, we looked one last time to the West and caught a bright farewell of Sun through the dark clouds.

The Ruby-throated Hummingbird has been enjoying our catmint (Nepeta x. Six Hills Giant), as have the bumble bees. And like Serena Williams dispatching Maria Sharapova in two quick sets this morning, so the catmint dispatched and overwhelmed all else who dared to share the planter box with it. It has grown huge, so huge, from one little gallon pot planted not quite one year ago.

Thank you LORD, for our jobs, and vehicles to get us there. Thank You for the dollar Haas avacodoes that made the best guacamole tonight. Thank You for the chicken breasts so wonderfully marinated in balsamic vinegar and oil, then cooked over Kingsford charcoal, then sliced to go on top of our Little Caesar's salad from last night. Thank You for the Kroger potatoes that have lasted so long in the dark Lazy Susan and went into the best batch of potato salad I've ever made. Thank You for the gasoline that went into the lawn mower so that we can keep the grass cut. Thank You for this computer that allows me access to the MLive Tiger Blog so I can comment along with Thirsty 2 and Aurelio Fan. Thank You for a nice television so I can entertain myself with movies like City Streets with Gary Cooper. Thank You for money to pay our bills and for our washer and dryer that work so well. Thank You for Otis - our Boy Kitty, and the cheap entertainment he so readily provides; and thank You for Sierra the Malamute, and her faithful companionship over these last 14 years.
Above all, thank you for Jesus, and for loving us so much.

In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 
Amen

 

Garden Roster

The perennial chives are showy right now with their lavender flowers in full bloom, complementing them are the still manageable vinca with similar color flowers.
Tomato plants are really just getting started, my deck herbs this year consist of Italian Parsley, Sage, Sweet Basil, Lemon Thyme, Creeping Thyme, Greek Oregano, and the woody Rosemary. I used just a little sage on my grilled boneless pork ribs last night, along with fresh ground pepper and nothing else. Oh, the flavour of the pork just radiated through, with the slightest of sage accent. I also grilled chicken for our salad and this time i marinated the two large boneless breasts in equal parts of balsamic vinegar and extra virgin olive oil with a little fresh garlic minced up in there. Direct heat for the breasts and indirect for the pork - we shared a wonderful meal last night after a Tiger victory.

To-day LORD we pray for those who are grieving, mourning, and missing loved ones recently taken. We pray for the candidates on the upcoming Lutheran Via de Cristo of Central Michigan weekend #80 - that You would prepare their hearts even now for what You will be working in them during and after those three days, and that You would comfort and guide their loved ones in their absence. We pray for all those traveling, that You would protect them. We pray for those who don't yet know You - that they would respond to Your call, drop their nets, and follow Jesus

You alone LORD are worth of our praise, You alone are full of majesty and glory forever and ever amen!

.

A prayer for us...

Dear LORD,

To-day I pray for those who work with people - give them patience and understanding one for another
I pray for those who work outside in the heat - keep them safe and cool
I pray for those who use their minds to solve problems - give them clarity and focus
I pray for those who use their hands to build things - keep them strong and sharp
I pray for those who are on their feet all day - keep them healthy, restore their strength daily
I pray for those who are enduring hardship to-day - comfort them, bring them Your peace
I pray for those who don't yet know You - do not cease to gently call them
I pray for Your Church - keep us strong and steadfast in You
I pray for those celebrating to-day - that they would rejoice in You
I pray for those questioning to-day - that they would inquire of You
I pray for those grieving to-day - that You would be the Source of their strength.

Thank you LORD...

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen

...and a muggy Wednesday

Inside with three fans blowing while I type and try to imagine a way to try and cook the meat for these tacos I'm a fixin to make tonight without it making more heat in the kitchen...
hmmmmm
Try not,
do.


You can check the record over the last five years yourself, but I am not going to spout on about the Red Wings game 7 tonight in Chicago. Everytime I do something of the sort, I jinx the team.
It's like when, oh, Sanchez, for instance, is cruising along with a no hitter and it gets to the eighth and i text my brother and say something as benign as 'hey bro, you watching the tigers?'
Next thing is BAM Joe Mauer rips a single up the middle and I curse a bit and try to imagine how Jim Leyland can not possibly believe in things like jinxes.

I'm really not even going to mention the fact that there is also a Tiger game tonight in Pittsburgh (the city of Brandonly Inge) and that Hot Rod Allen is apparently not going to be in the FSD TV booth. So, Marvelous Mario will be teamed with none other than Craig Monroe (@CMo_27) and I am hoping beyond hope that CMo talks more than Marvelous does. See Dan and Jim on the radio are only flowing through the AM spigot due to the aforementioned Wings game taking precedent on the FM side. You need an effin Venn Diagram to keep up with these guys. (What movie??)

God bless us, every one.

Rainy Tuesday....

Father, 
Thank You for the time of year filled with hope, anticipation, and sunshine
When the grass is green and the buds are opening into flowers, 
The birds sing from dark to dark
And lifes slows down just a bit...
for a visit on the sidewalk with a neighbor
a leisurely water of the herbs with the Tiger game on the radio
a lengthy mental assessment of the tools and capacities available to keep the ants out of the hummingbird feeder...
Thank You, oh Thank You my God, for what You've done
You gave the greatest Gift of all
Thank You for Your only Son.

What mood is he in?

Social D - Story of my life
Social D - Ring of Fire
Johnny Cash - Ring of Fire
The Clash -  White Man in Hammersmith Palais
The Clash - Clampdown live
Blink 182 All the Small Things
Cheap Trick - I want You  to Want Me
Guns n Roses - Sweet Child of Mine
Boston - More Than a Feeling
Mili Vanili - You Know its True
Journey - Don't Stop Believing
Kiss - Detroit Rock City
ZZ Top - Legs
Peter Schilling - Major Tom
Queen - Somebody to Love
MxPx - Take on Me (cover)
Rufus Wainwright - Hallelujah
The Roches - Hallelujah Chorus
The Stones - Angie
Indigo Girls - Kid Fears
Dixie Chicks - Traveling Soldier
Dave Baldner - I'm losing Interest...
Flogging Molly - Requiem For A Dying Song


:-)

Memorial Weekend

Sunday afternoon; I have cut the grass, trimmed, fed the birds, filled the hummer feeder, cleaned the shed, potted my herbs and tomatoes, hooked up the water (thank you Jesus!), did my Home Depot shopping, mulched the trapezoid, mailbox, and plum tree; and am listening to the Tigers with a big cheese-bread samich.
Watched The Grapes of Wrath yestreday. Wonderful picture, classic...
We're going to the Pirate game tomorrow (JV pitching) at 1:00.
Note to self: bring the hose nozzle inside for the winter next year.
Wings tomorrow night can get to the Western Conference Finals with a win at home over the Blackhawks.

MLIA

I have a favourite pair of shorts. When I get home from work, I like to find them, and put them on. They are long, cotton, and comfortable - with the elastic waist. They stay up on me and don't slide down where you don't want them to. I also like to slip into my Adidas 3-stripe comfortable foot things. I don't know what they're called (they're not thongs, yo). They're called slides; I just found it on the internet.

Just good and proper

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wRbo9FJ-yM


I like this one...

Picture perfect day

This is the kind of day you can get sunburnt real bad if you're not careful: not tremendously hot, partly cloudy much of the time, a nice breeze, and you haven't had a Sunday like this since ooooooooh... last August. Especially if you're out on a boat - just tootling along in your buddy's pontoon or zipping along in your jet boat with skiers and tubers following behind... don't forget the SPF 30!

A guy on a commercial just told me to lick the back of my hand and smell it. If it stunk, that meant I had bad breath.

Praying to-day for

> the LVCCM mens #80 team, meeting in Midland without me
> neighbor Scott with his hydrocele surgery coming up Tuesday.
> Moni and Kace E downtown for Eastern Market Flower Day
> little brother Gary who doesn't text or call any more
> big brother Stan who lost his son a week ago

LORD, in Your mercy, hear our prayer...

Are we going to scarborough fair?

Parsley and sage. Rosemary and thyme are in another pot. :-)

The warmth has returned...

We're getting the same weather, here in the middle of May, that we had last March. Just to-day, the wife reminded me that she was warm and would I put the air conditioner in our bedroom window?
Soitenly.

So, it's there, with the dog laying right under it, and I hope it blesses her when she gets home tonight and goes to bed.
Kitty continues to lay in front of our slider watching the birds and trying to claw the mosquitoes through the screen.
The little neighbor boy across the street is hopping up and down on his pogo stick - what a throwback?!?
Lots of new loans at work but no closings at all so far this month. Busy, busy though. I went to the greenhouse tonight after work for a couple hours. No customers there but i stickered alot of pots with price tags.

Thank you, Lord, for so many blessings each and every day: morning by morning new mercies I see!!

 

A Morning Prayer, from Mary Mullins

God of my life, I welcome this new day. It is Your gift to me, a new creation, a promise of resurrection.
I thank You for the Grace of being alive this morning; I thank You for the sleep that has refreshed me; I thank You for the chance to make a new beginning.

I give You my hands to do Your work
I give You my feet to go Your way
I give You my eyes to see as You see
I give You my tongue to speak Your words
I give You my mind that you may think in me
I give You my spirit that You may pray in me.
Above all, I give You my heart that You may love in me - love the Father and love all mankind. 
I give You my whole self, Lord, that You may grow in me, so that it is You who lives, works, and prays in me.
Amen


 

What is Adsense?
Why are there four flies in the house right now?

Recipe #17 Aunt Ginny's Applesauce

I found this online and Aunt Ginny was expecting someone older.

Made it this morning and I'm going to use it with one lonely banana to make some banana/apple bread with no eggs. Simple and quick:

4 apples, peeled and cored
1/4 c sugar
3/4 c water
tsp cinnamon

Chop up the apples and combine with other ingredients in a sauce pan. Medium heat until everything is mixed good then low heat for about 20 minutes, stirring often. The smell is refreshing and reminds me more of fall, which will be here at some point I hope.
As the apples soften, mash with a fork or potato masher.
Yum yum yes!

Every New Day

Another glorious morning here in Whitmore Lake and my sweetie is coming home tonight!! Tons to do on this fine day, but thanks be to God I am able to attack these tasks with a sane mind and a healthy body.

Forgive me Lord for failing so often
Forgive my failure to love, to listen;
Forgive me for the self-ishness that I so often revert to.
May I find strength in You this day
to resist that temptation and to stand strong.
Only in You is this possible
But it is in You that ALL THINGS are possible.
Thank you, and I love You, too.
Amen

The Chives Are Huge!!

Up early, got some shopping done, trimmed and cut the grass, shop vac'd the dog hair, shored up the sagging siding, did the dishes, watched The Caine Mutiny, and took a nap. Talked to my sweetie and got a photo from her of our beautiful Joslin Mia.

My Self-Reminders: More Humility, less pride. More Generosity, less selfishness. More Listening, less talk. More Compassion, less judgement.
— JaredNieman (@JaredNieman) May 3, 2013

Lord, this is my prayer to-day, for every day... Thank You

Beautiful Friday Morning

Thank You for giving me the morning
Thank You for every day that's new
Thank You that I can know my worries
Can be cast on You

I love this time of year when the days are a perfect mid-70s and it cools off at night so that you still need to get up under that comforter...
Our Tigers pulled it out in the 14th inning after I was asleep: Don Kelly knocked in the go-ahead rbi after Miggy and Prince got walked intentionally.... heh heh heh
Wings tied up the series out west and will be home for games 3 and 4 Saturday and Monday.
I miss my sweetie.
The dog didn't want to go outside this morning.
The cat wanted to play; he loves his new scratch post I created last night.

Warm and Sunny!!

Another glorious day in beautiful Whitmore Lake as the sun sinks low enough so that our home casts a shadow onto our neighbours to the east.
Worked a short day to-day and took my sweetie to the airport for an extended weekend with her son and his family at the Francis E Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne WY (where, by the way, the Winter storm warning expired at 6:00 this evening, while it's 80 here!)
Stopped at mom and dad's just up the road from Detroit Metropolitan Airport and enjoyed an afternoon chat on the deck with a beautiful breeze keeping us cool. Mom fed us and I was on my way west out 96 to 14 to 23 and if you add those, you get 133, which is no special number in particular.
So I am listening to the forecast for spring storm Achilles on The Weather Channel as I type in front of our high-powered fan, recently recovered from the storage shed from underneath the lawn mower, big brown tarp, and several 2 x 4s.

Holy God, we praise thy Name;
Lord of all, we bow before thee!
All on earth thy scepter claim,
all in heaven above adore thee;
infinite thy vast domain,
everlasting is thy reign.

Yes, amen, yes

UP!!

thumb's up:
Happy Farms sliced Munster cheese from Aldi's
Anibel Sanchez
Planting the sprouted garlic cloves in the pot in the deck
saturday afternoon naps

Sunny and warm

Glory be! The birds have been singing since long before dawn and I must say I have enjoyed the chorus!
Early out to Kroger for meals for the week and just now the dishes are all done up. Big Puppie is on the lead relaxing in the shade, my Sweetie has gone with little sister to get her hair 'done' (just what that entails will ever remain a mystery to me) and I expect it will be a quiet morning.

I have been asked to prayerfully consider being on the team for LVCCM Men's #80; I must call the rector with my decision to-day - i have put it off for too long. Pretty excited about this also I am.

Dear LORD, all praise and honor and glory to YOU! 
Infinitely wise
Ever loving
Mighty beyond measure
All Things beautiful come from YOU!
Guide me, direct me, empower me with Your wisdom, Your Spirit.
Be blessed by my thoughts and actions to-day.
All praise and honor and glory to YOU!

Payday weekends are always fun...

...both our vehicles have gas, we are well stocked with provisions - dry goods, meat, and fresh produce, and rent is paid.
God is good; all the time!
I watched The Hobbit last night and am re-watching again before the Tiger game to-day. Dishes are done, oven is warming up for a new banana bread recipe i'm going to try.
We went to breakfast early this morning (chilly and drippy) and then a brisk walk around Target looking for good clearance deals while also killing time until Aldi's (our new favourite spot) opened. Then Oh-Oh-O-Reilies Auto Parts for the 3157 bulb for the Bull.
Moni is out running errands with her sisters, thank God she's got two who live nearby (one with a grand-baby just six months old!). Oven is up to temp and I will put together this bread...

These are Gundabad Wargs, they will outrun you.
~These are Rhosgobel rabbits, I'd like to see them try.

Ok, bread in the oven and is there some way to mix batter with a little shitty mixer without sending it out like shrapnel all over the kitchen? Holy mackeral - do I need a good mixer with a big hook that doesn't have it's slowest setting as 6000 rpm?!?

65 minutes later and the kitchen smells pretty good. Galdalf and the 13 are just now escaping from the Misty Mountain orcs and Bilbo (with his new ring) is contemplating the beheading of Smeagol-Gollum in an effort to get out of the same mountains. But!!! Happy music plays and Bilbo simply jumps over the creature and runs out, barely hearing the cries of "Theif! Bagginses! We hates it forever!"

Bread is cooling and frozen Aldi's pizza covered with fresh produce and mozzarella is in the oven putzing along at 350 degrees. Bilbo has just stepped between the large orc on his white warg and the wounded Thorin Oakenshield, proving his toughness (really for the first time). It wasn't like that in the book, but Jackson can mix it up a little - i told him so.

Upped the temp in our Whirlpool gas range to 400 and put some more cheese on the pizza. MLB is showing the Rays at Fenway, which I am sure will take me to Tiger time. If I feel antsy, The Snake Pit from 1948 with Olivia De Haviland about a mental institution starts at 3:30.

I like home whites for baseball teams. The Red Sox look good with their red accessories accenting the white. The Tigers look darn good with their blue accessories accenting the home white, if i do say so myself.

I hate the whites
~Nobody likes the whites but we're going to Cuba.

 

Beautiful Risen Lord; Easter Sunday

O God, who on this day,
through your Only Begotten Son,
have conquered death
and unlocked for us the path to eternity,
grant, we pray, that we who keep
the solemnity of the Lord’s Resurrection
may, through the renewal brought by your Spirit,
rise up in the light of life.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. 
Amen

Good Friday

It's all for YOU

Behold, the Lamb of God

Holy Thursday

Day 43

Eternal Father, I offer You
The Body and the Blood
Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son
Our Lord Jesus Christ
In atonement for our sins, and those of the whole world.

For the sake of His sorrowful passion
~Have mercy on us and on the whole world

Holy God 
Holy Mighty One
Holy Immortal One
Have mercy on us and on the whole world

 






 

Day 42

Have mercy on me, God, in accord with your merciful love;
in Your abundant compassion blot out my transgressions.
Thoroughly wash away my guilt;
and from my sin cleanse me.
For I know my transgressions;
my sin is always before me.
Against You, You alone have I sinned;
I have done what is evil in Your eyes
So that You are just in Your word,
and without reproach in Your judgment.
Behold, I was born in guilt, 
in sin my mother conceived me.
Behold, You desire true sincerity;
and secretly You teach me wisdom.
Cleanse me with hyssop, that I may be pure;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
You will let me hear gladness and joy; 
the bones You have crushed will rejoice.
Turn away Your face from my sins;
blot out all my iniquities.
A clean heart create for me, God;
renew within me a steadfast spirit.
Do not drive me from before Your face,
nor take from me Your Holy Spirit.
Restore to me the gladness of Your salvation;
uphold me with a willing spirit.

Psalm 51:1-15

Day 41

Lord your summons echoes true when you but call my name.
Let me turn and follow you and never be the same.
In Your company I'll go where Your love and footsteps show.
Thus I'll move and live and grow in you and you in me.

Day 40

O loving and kind God, have mercy. Have pity upon me and take away the awful stain of my transgressions. Oh, wash me, cleanse me from this guilt. Let me be pure again. For I admit my shameful deed-it haunts me day and night. It is against you and you alone I sinned and did this terrible thing. You saw it all, and your sentence against me is just. Create in me a new, clean heart, O God, filled with clean thoughts and right desires. Don’t toss me aside, banished forever from your presence. Don’t take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me again the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you. 

(Psalm 51:1-12 TLB)

Day 39

Father, forgive me

Day 38

Glory, honor, and praise to You eternal God
Unshakable, immovable
Immortal invisible God only wise
Perfect and holy
Righteousness shines through in all You do
You are faithful, full of mercy
You are truth
All beautiful things come from You
You own the cattle on a thousand hills
God be praised
God be praised!
GOD BE PRAISED!

 

Day 37

Christ Jesus, you have called me to love my wife tenderly and sacrificially, even as you love the church, but too often I know myself to be a selfish man with a distracted heart. Please give me patience, gentleness, and kindness toward my wife, and the wisdom to value her for her gifts and ideas. Teach me to be vulnerable with her, openly sharing my own heart and thoughts, hopes and fears, even as I seek to better understand her.

Remind me to be ever mindful of her interests and needs with each decision I make and to structure my life in such a way that she receives the best of my energy and attention, rather than the leftovers. Give me courage to passionately pursue relationship with her even when I feel wronged or wounded. Let me become for her a man of tenderness, kindness, creativity, and integrity, protecting and cherishing her by vigilantly guarding my own eyes and heart.

Above all, teach me to lead as you led, Jesus, in humility and service. Only by your grace can I be a godly man and a good husband for my wife. Lead me Lord, I pray.

Day 36

Lord~
Forgive my offenses against You
forgive me for looking at people with selfishness and arrogance in my heart
forgive me for thinking some people this status and some people that status
forgive me for not loving my brother like You love him
forgive me for considering opportunities to engage in dialogue interruptions
forgive me for putting my needs ahead of others'
forgive me for thinking of myself before my wife
...
In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
Amen

Day 35

Dear Lord~
Please protect and bring peace to all our family, in whatever situation they are in, wherever they are. We pray especially for Jon and Jen and Joslin Mia - keep them in your care always, and continue to bring them closer to You.
In Christ's name, 
Amen

Into Your care we commit our beautiful grand baby, Lord

 

Day 34

God of love,
You know what I need to be made ready for Your kingdom.
Bless me with those graces.
I lay aside every self-ish thought, word, and deed this day
And may I consider You and my brother always before myself from this day forth.
In Christ's name
Amen

Day 33

Who is left here to condemn you?
No one, sir.
Then neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more.

Lord, you have that kind of compassion, that kind of mercy.
You are above the law, though You, on earth, fulfilled the law
You are more than rules and regualtions
You rule, but it is with compassion
You know our hearts, how filthy they are sometimes
Yet You tell each of us: Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more

Mercy
May we show each other
The same that You show us
Be pleased to help Your Church be more merciful, ever always seeking You first
Guide us always
Strengthen our convictions
Bless our efforts in Your name

But thanks be to God! Who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!!!!

Day 32

All who call upon the name of the Lord
All who sojourn in this land not our own
All who are pilgrims
All who thirst
All who hunger for righteousness
All who beat their breast in humility
All who sing the praise of our God 
All who love
All who seek
Every member of the Body
This hour we join together 
Hear our prayer, o Lord
Change our hearts o Lord

 

Day 31

If I raise my hands just lift the shade
Will I reveal a sky heavy and gray?
Will last night be a memory sweetly fading?
How I hate a morning starting out this way
On these lonely raging mornings I would whip you if I could
But Your on the mighty side of strong and the perfect side of good

If I raise my hands will you grab me by the wrists
And will you try to pull me from the fray?
And even if my fingers join together into fists
Will you hold me firmly anyway?
'Cause I would try to escape you but for everyday I'm sure
That You're on the huge side of big and the hly side of pure

Ok, hear what I say
As I raise my hands and surrender today
Ok, here I will stay
Hands in the air, singing have Thine own way

If I raise my hands so weak and thin and frail
Will you reveal the light of mercy in your eyes?
If I cry to you faintly will my feeble whispers fail
Or will it find its way to a reply?
'Cause now that I'm exhausted I think I'm ready to admit
That I've spent all my resistance on someone I can't resist

Ok, hear what I say
As I raise my hands, in surrender today
Ok, here I will stay
Hands in the air singing have Thine own way

Light from my window sill make my way to the door
I hang my head and still I know your wanting more
Over the threshold now I move across the yard
Although my will allows my every step is hard
Now in the garden I carve out six feet of space
There make my will comply lie down upon my face
Been toe to toe to long I'm tired of fighting You
I see You were to strong, 'cause I am black and blue
But now I understand that losers do to win
How every dying man is sure to rise again
So I rasie my left hand one I raise my right hand two
Under the morning sun, my spirit cries to You

Ok, hear what I say
As I raise my hands in surrender today
Right here under the sun
Hands in the air singing Thy will be done
I'm here under the sun
Hands in the air singing Thy will be done
Ok, here I will stay
Hands in the air, singing have Thine own way
Have thine own way  

 

By Brad and Todd Olsen

Day 30

As my bodily hunger increases, so does my spiritual thirst~
More of You LORD
As I learn how the former is temporal and the latter eternal~
More of You LORD
As my focus is less on the former and more on the latter~
More of You LORD
As I am encompassed by Your saving grace~
More of You LORD
As I am enlightened by Your holiness~
More of You LORD
Amen

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me
I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace, my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed

 Through many dangers, toils, and fears I have already come
'Twas grace that brought me save thus far, and grace will lead me home

The Lord has promised good to me, His word, my hope secures
He will my shield and portion be, as long as life endures

When we've been there ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun
We've no less days to sing God's praise, then when we've first begun

 
I love you Lord, and I lift my voice to worship You
Oh my soul, rejoice!!
Take joy, my King, in what You hear
May it be a sweet, sweet sound to Your ears.

Day 29

It is a marathon, this race we run
No sprint; tho I admit that I think I need to sprint sometimes
To make up for the times I've walked
Or crawled
Or even stopped.

In the state of hyper-awareness of my sin that this time of year brings me to
Help me never ever forget You,
Your love
Your kindness
Your mercy

 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

Day 28

Lord of Love~
Teach me to live and love as You live and love
show me the most excellent way
Be patient with Your servant, he is slow
but he wants more of You, more of You
Break through my shell of protection, indifference, apathy, self-preservation
Conquer me, in spite of me!

Lead me this day Lord

Day 27

Lord of Love~
Help me to-day to see Your Presence in every person I talk to, listen to, and interact with. Infuse me with Your grace and mercy so that these also see You in me.
In my life, Lord, be glorified, be glorified
In my life, Lord, be glorified to-day.

Day 26

Shepherd me O God
beyond my wants
beyond my fears
from death into life.

Day 25

Father, tonight I pray for our loved ones in different parts of the this great land: For mom and dad and mom and dad, for our aunts and uncles and cousins and cousins' kids, for brothers and sisters and nieces and nephews and nieces and nephews' kids, and especially for Jon and Jen and our beautiful grandbaby Joslin Mia.

 

Day 24

Father God, morning by morning new mercies I see!
As we express our thanks through self-denial and prayer, help us to master our sinfulness, and conquer our pride. Help us to show Your goodness to everyone we meet to-day.
Christ Jesus, by Your death, raise us to life. Teach us generosity, lead us to those who need You.
 

Day 23

If today you hear His voice, harden not your hearts.

Loving God,
I hear your invitation, "Come back to me"
and I am filled with such a longing to return to you.
Show me the way to return.
Lead me this day in good works I do in your name
and send your Spirit to guide me and strengthen my faith.
I ask only to feel your love in my life today.

Day 22

"Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth shall declare your praise."

Lord, this morning I pray for all men, that we would hold virtue in high esteem.
Give us a desire to do what is right, pure, lovely, true.
Heal our spirits, that we would be guided by our conscience and your good Spirit.
And let the glory and praise always be Yours and Yours alone.

 

Day 21

Our Father in heaven
Holy is Your name
Your kingdom, come
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those who trespass against us.
Lead us not into temptation
And deliver us from evil, Amen

Day 20

Thank You for the time I was able to spend with my sweetie tonight, Lord.

Day 19

Gracious and loving God~
We praise You for the sunshine to-day, and for the beauty that is Your creation.
We ask for peace for our loved ones, and direction for Your Church, and victory for Michigan State this afternoon.
LORD, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Amen

 

Day 18

College basketball, cooking and eating, spring training Tigers, light, fluffy snow, bagging dog deuces, fixing up our home, reading by the fire in the evening.... all these we partake of at this time of year, Lord, but You I desire. More of You, Christ, more of You, Jesus. 
Fill me, possess me, thoroughly inebriate me, make me into one worthy of hosting Your Spirit.
I seek You, I desire You, I am destined for hell without You. 
I cannot have Life without You, Your Life calls me...patiently tugging at my conscience...
I am Yours, LORD; forgive my tardiness and absences.

 

Day 17

For Your Church, that She would continue to be guided by Your Spirit, 
For believers in parts of the world where it is not so easy as here to believe,
For the cold, hungry, hopeless, poor,
For our parents, in their retirement years,
For our siblings: raising children, paying bills, dealing with disease,
For our nieces and nephews, and their formative years,
For Jon, Jen, and Joslin Mia - the apple of our eye,
For our friends, coworkers, acquaintences, 
We pray to the Lord, hear our prayer.
 

Day 16

Lord, help me...

Day 15

My head is full of lenten hymns from my childhood: good Lutheran hymns with three parts of harmoniy supporting the melody and perfectly-placed accidentals and picardy thirds... not like the camp-fire songs they call 'hymns' nowadays.

Lord, help me to be aware of my speech: what comes out of my mouth, that other of your children hear. 

Thank You

  

Day 14

Lord, strengthen Your Church, that we would be more determined to resist the devil and twice as determined to serve you wholly. Change our hearts of stone, that the world would see You in each of us, and wonder...
You are holy, holy, holy
You are holy, holy, holy
Your laws are right and perfect, Your love is undeniable.
We sing of Your glory, we rest in Your mercy, we fight the good fight in Your Name.
We lay ourselves aside, that You may shine.
Amen


And I am the moon with no light of my own
Still you have made me to shine
And as I glow in this cold dark night
I know I can?t be a light unless I turn my face to you

~ by Sara Groves 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqC3F2VGVHU

Day 13

Lord,
your commandment of love is so simple
and yet  so challenging.
Help me to let go of my pride,
to be humble in my penance.
I want only to live the way you ask me to love,
to love the way you ask me to live.
Please break through the thickness and dense-ness that is my protection; peel away my callous like an onion. Bare me, that all would see You.
Amen

Day 12

Loving God,
there is so much darkness in my life
and I hide from you.
Take my hand
and lead me out of the shadows of my fear.
Help me to change my heart.
Bring me to your truth
and help me to respond to your generous love.
Let me recognize the fullness of your love
which will fill my life.
Free me from the darkness in my heart.
Amen
 

Day 11

To-day's Gospel, from Matthew 5, tells me to love my enemy.

So easy to say, so hard to consistently do.

We also read from Deuteronomy: 'Moses spoke to the people, saying:
“This day the LORD, your God,
commands you to observe these statutes and decrees.
Be careful, then,
to observe them with all your heart and with all your soul.
Today you are making this agreement with the LORD:
he is to be your God and you are to walk in his ways
and observe his statutes, commandments and decrees,
and to hearken to his voice.'

And from Psalms 119: Blessed are they who follow the law of the LORD.

And now this law says to love my enemy.

If I asked Jesus what He means by 'enemy', I know what He'd say.


LORD, I believe You have given me the grace to do this, yet I ask for more, yes more.
I believe You have equipped me but I still fail and fall and choose not to love, so I ask for mercy in Your judgment.
I believe You lead me so that I have opportunities to love an enemy at different times in my day; give me a renewed portion of Your good Spirit, along with an enthusiastic desire to follow your decrees. Forgive my lack of trust, and my lack of faith.
Because love does not coexist with fear. They are mutually exclusive, like disjoint sets A and B.
More of You, Jesus, more of You.
Amen

 

Day 10

O Holy One, I call to You, naming You as eternal, ever-present, and boundless in love. And there are times when I fail to recognize You in the dailyness and busyness of my life. Sometimes shame clenches tightly around my heart, I and hide my true feelings. Sometimes fear makes me small, and I miss the chance to speak from my strength. Sometimes doubt invades my hopefulness, and I degrade my own wisdom. 
Holy God, in the daily round from sunrise to sunset, remind me again of Your holy presence always near me and in me. Free me from shame and self-doubt. Help me to see You in the moment-by-moment possibilities to live honestly, to act courageously, to speak from wisdom, and to temper all with love.
Amen

~from our Protestant evangelical friends

Day 9

~St Patrick's Breastplate~

I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the Threeness,
Through confession of the Oneness
of the Creator of creation.

I arise today
Through the strength of Christ's birth with His baptism,
Through the strength of His crucifixion with His burial,
Through the strength of His resurrection with His ascension,
Through the strength of His descent for the judgment of doom.

I arise today
Through the strength of the love of cherubim,
In the obedience of angels,
In the service of archangels,
In the hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
In the prayers of patriarchs,
In the predictions of prophets,
In the preaching of apostles,
In the faith of confessors,
In the innocence of holy virgins,
In the deeds of righteous men.

I arise today, through
The strength of heaven,
The light of the sun,
The radiance of the moon,
The splendor of fire,
The speed of lightning,
The swiftness of wind,
The depth of the sea,
The stability of the earth,
The firmness of rock.

I arise today, through
God's strength to pilot me,
God's might to uphold me,
God's wisdom to guide me,
God's eye to look before me,
God's ear to hear me,
God's word to speak for me,
God's hand to guard me,
God's shield to protect me,
God's host to save me
From snares of devils,
From temptation of vices,
From everyone who shall wish me ill,
afar and near.

I summon today
All these powers between me and those evils,
Against every cruel and merciless power
that may oppose my body and soul,
Against incantations of false prophets,
Against black laws of pagandom,
Against false laws of heretics,
Against craft of idolatry,
Against spells of witches and smiths and wizards,
Against every knowledge that corrupts man's body and soul;
Christ to shield me today
Against poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against wounding,
So that there may come to me an abundance of reward.

Christ with me,
Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ in me,
Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ on my right,
Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down,
Christ when I sit down,
Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.


I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the Threeness,
Through confession of the Oneness
of the Creator of creation.

Day 8

Prayer
Fasting
Giving

Traditional Lenten spiritual disciplines; good for me, good for my relationship with God and my neighbor...

LORD, forgive my selfishness. Strengthen me that I might seek You always first in all I endevour. 
Forgive my fearfulness. Strengthen me that I might boldly proclaim You as King of kings.
Forgive my apathy. Strengthen me that I might care, and then act upon this caring.

You are all good, all holy; the ONLY God.

 

Day 7

A quote from Mother Teresa:

The fullness of our heart is expressed in our eyes, in our touch, in what we write, in what we say, in the way we walk, the way we receive, the way we need.

Good and Loving God~
I confess my sin to you, the sin which i have done and that which i have left undone. I know pride and selfishness all too well, they have been my companions for far too long. Cleave that bond, Father, that i might think always of the eternal consequences of my thoughts, words, and deeds, rather than the temporal. I ask this through Jesus Christ Your Son, in the unity and fellowship of the Holy Spirit. Amen


 

Day 6

Into Your hands we commit our marriage, our finances, our families, our future.
We thank you for always providing and meeting our every need.
Please, a special blessing on beautiful Joslin Mia this day.
Thank you, LORD!

 

Day 5

Lord, As You were tempted after a forty day fast in the desert and still did not yield, so keep us, who are attempting to follow You in this lifetime, strong; that we might stay the course and finish the race. To You belong all glory and honor, power and majesty; You alone we praise!
Lord in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Amen 

Day 4

Praise God, because He sends the snow in due season!
His love endures forever
His mercy never ends

Praise Christ, for He endured temptation and suffering, and bore it patiently
His love endures forever
His mercy never ends

Praise the Holy Spirit, for He is the anointing of Christ, and of us!
His love endures forever
His mercy never ends

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end, Amen!


 

Day 3

There are times when I am reminded of some event that occurred in my life long ago; sometimes triggered by a recent event, often triggered by a smell, or a song, or even a dream.
I wonder if in Heaven we will have memories.

I think we will not need them, nor will we even know that we ever had them: God will outshine all!
So we will meet on the corner of Gold Street and Gold Avenue and our mouths will not cease praising Him, praising Him, praising Him.

When we've been there
Ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun
We've no less days 
To sing God's praise
Then when we'd first begun.


Come, Lord Jesus, come.
 

Day 2

Lord, i still fear doing without. But I remember past habits that are now long forgotten but were, at one time, strongholds. I remember thinking 'not without Your help can i do this'. 
And You, Your love, Your strength prevailed. I have the victory in Jesus!
So as I enter into this holy fast, I think again 'not without Your help', and I rejoice in Your goodness.
Please continue to bless our marriage, give us each an unselfishness that surpasses the other.
Be with our parents, our brothers and sisters and their families, our friends - meet their needs and draw them closer to you.
Be with the leaders in our Nation and those in authority, that the decisions they make that affect so many people would be pleasing to you.
Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Thank you for our fathers and for our Fathers.

And we love You, too.

Amen

Ash Wednesday

Day 1 of this contemplative journey I am undertaking.



I fear fasting, I confess.
I fear abstaining, I confess.
I fear almsgiving, I confess.

Lord Jesus, make these three so much a part of me that I begin to welcome such opportunities; and forgive me for my selfishness. Be my sufficiency during this 40 days of Lent and beyond.
I praise you for your goodness.
Also, Father - I pray
For the men of Livingston County, that we would all turn to You with our whole heart;
For Pope Benedict XVI, his healing, and his successor;
For the Church, that YOU would continue to lead Her, guide Her, protect Her;
For our Protestant brothers and sisters, that You would open their hearts and minds to Your truth, and take away their bitterness and anger;
For those hurting, lonely, afraid to-day, that You would protect and comfort, and bring hope.

Thank You for Your Love, thank You for Your Son, thank you for Your plan.
In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
 
Amen

So God Made a Farmer

Paul Harvey's voice brings shivers to my skin, his voice and cadence so distinct. I happened upon this while playing a Youtube Supertones song; it was the Ad that i can skip in 5-4-3... but after it began i didn't want to skip it. I even made my wife listen to it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xvm4zCsO0Jw

And on the 8th day, God looked down on his planned paradise and said, "I need a caretaker." So God made a farmer.
God said, "I need somebody willing to get up before dawn, milk cows, work all day in the fields, milk cows again, eat supper and then go to town and stay past midnight at a meeting of the school board." So God made a farmer.
"I need somebody with arms strong enough to rustle a calf and yet gentle enough to deliver his own grandchild. Somebody to call hogs, tame cantankerous machinery, come home hungry, have to wait lunch until his wife's done feeding visiting ladies and tell the ladies to be sure and come back real soon -- and mean it." So God made a farmer.
God said, "I need somebody willing to sit up all night with a newborn colt. And watch it die. Then dry his eyes and say, 'Maybe next year.' I need somebody who can shape an ax handle from a persimmon sprout, shoe a horse with a hunk of car tire, who can make harness out of haywire, feed sacks and shoe scraps. And who, planting time and harvest season, will finish his forty-hour week by Tuesday noon, then, pain'n from 'tractor back,' put in another seventy-two hours." So God made a farmer.
God had to have somebody willing to ride the ruts at double speed to get the hay in ahead of the rain clouds and yet stop in mid-field and race to help when he sees the first smoke from a neighbor's place. So God made a farmer.
God said, "I need somebody strong enough to clear trees and heave bails, yet gentle enough to tame lambs and wean pigs and tend the pink-combed pullets, who will stop his mower for an hour to splint the broken leg of a meadow lark. It had to be somebody who'd plow deep and straight and not cut corners. Somebody to seed, weed, feed, breed and rake and disc and plow and plant and tie the fleece and strain the milk and replenish the self-feeder and finish a hard week's work with a five-mile drive to church.
"Somebody who'd bale a family together with the soft strong bonds of sharing, who would laugh and then sigh, and then reply, with smiling eyes, when his son says he wants to spend his life 'doing what dad does.'" So God made a farmer.

Be well. God loves you and so do I.

Recipe #9

This is a guacamole dish I tried to-day for the first time and we both love it with Kroger 100% white corn restaurant style tortilla chips.

2 avocados
1 brick of cream cheese
2 large tablespoons of sour cream
about a cup of Kroger Private Selection Mellow Black Bean and Corn Mild Salsa
salt, pepper, garlic powder to taste

Let the cheese soften, then mix with other ingredients in a small bowl. Whip it real good. Try it with some chips then put it in a Pyrex for tomorrow; it's better the next day.

Glorious sunny Saturday morning! Chilly cold and lots of frost on the windows so we're going to get us some wood!

Well we didn't get any wood, but we did save $5 at Dollar General in Pinckney! Got dog food, cat litter, tp, 4 litres of diet dew, and something else that i can't remember...

Bo Ryan is now 10-0 against the University of Michigan basketball team, hehehe. Great ending in overtime. I'm a Trey Burke fan all out because of his sportsmanship and cool like the other side of the pillow.

The Word of the Lord; Thanks be to God!

Brothers and sisters:
Strive eagerly for the greatest spiritual gifts.
But I shall show you a still more excellent way.

If I speak in human and angelic tongues,
but do not have love,
I am a resounding gong or a clashing cymbal.
And if I have the gift of prophecy,
and comprehend all mysteries and all knowledge;
if I have all faith so as to move mountains,
but do not have love, I am nothing.
If I give away everything I own,
and if I hand my body over so that I may boast,
but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind.
It is not jealous, it is not pompous,
It is not inflated, it is not rude,
it does not seek its own interests,
it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury,
it does not rejoice over wrongdoing
but rejoices with the truth.
It bears all things, believes all things,
hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails.
If there are prophecies, they will be brought to nothing;
if tongues, they will cease;
if knowledge, it will be brought to nothing.
For we know partially and we prophesy partially,
but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.
When I was a child, I used to talk as a child,
think as a child, reason as a child;
when I became a man, I put aside childish things.
At present we see indistinctly, as in a mirror,
but then face to face.
At present I know partially;
then I shall know fully, as I am fully known.
So faith, hope, love remain, these three;
but the greatest of these is love.

Lord, let this passage hold special value to us as believers, let our hearts never forget St Paul's description of Love; let us always live out our calling: to love.

 

Thumpin' Thursday on the job

Got the payoff finally for Wilburforce, Hurray! still is waiting on the subordination request, conditions are being looked at right now for Bloom, the termite inspection has been waived for Calvary, Franken-furter is looking for a home in the 100k range, Sadie is long done (thank you, Jesus!), Coal changed their mind and ended up putting 10% down after all so I must revise the 1003 both in our LOS and also in the bank's web, Right is on hold until the tax returns come in, Loess is still with the Pending Police to decide whether because of my mistake as a rookie processor this loan will be denied due to withholding information or not (whatever), LO (may he live forever) has been conspicuously quiet this morning.
Boss keeps offering to buy me lunch but i am holding fast to my bigass burger king breakfast story (it's actually true).
Trojan Man finally made it here and is debating with the boss about credit. This rep is a very good guy, very helpful and available. He liked my mints and left with a handful.
LO (may he live forever) requested follow up on OBAma appraisal and it is in review even as we type. We also locked Stanley's loan at three and three quarters on a 30 day fixed.

MSU - Wisconsin

Wasn't Wisconsin in the top 20 this season earlier??? Anyways tie game with 4 left in the first half... (yes they were, just checked)
We have a fire going and water running from every spicket so the pipes don't freeze any worst. Shepherds Pie and a bigass salad.for dinner with fresh-baked Grands smothered in butter, followed by Lemon-Nasty cheesecake for dessert. I am full. Otis is sitting on the arm of the futon grooming/swatting his tail, Sierra is outside in the 4 degree cold loving every minute of it, sweetie is cleaning up my humungous kitchen mess bless her heart.

Thank You, LORD, for this evening; for the rest from work and time with family. Thank you for our warm home and the food and drink You provide. 
Comfort those who are hurting tonight, be their strength and salvation.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.
Amen

Tuesday Morning

The pipes froze so we have no hot water at home, if the insurance payment check gets deposited it will overdraw our account, i have no more time left on my monthly pre-paid cel phone, and payday is eleven days away....

BUT THAT'S OK, BECAUSE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JxCgo6iPrg

Oh, don't deceive me, oh never leave me...

Sometimes it's hard to just sit down and write. My nephew told me that Steven Spielberg said if you want to write, you need to put together at least 2000 words a day.
Sometimes it's hard.

36 so far, huh? ...

)-8

Friday Morning

Piety, Study, Action

This morning we look at the 2nd Chapter of Acts.

At the time this narrative takes place, there were many Jews gathered in Jerusalem for the festival of Pentecost - the Feast of Weeks or the Feast of Harvest, celebrated on the 50th day after Passover - the primary harvest celebration of the ancient Israelites.  On the day of the feast, there came the sound of a strong, driving wind that all could hear. There appeared tongues of fire which came to rest on every person there, and, in verse 4, 'All were filled with the Holy Spirit.' Folks began speaking in languages not their own about 'the marvels God has accomplished' (v. 11).
Many asked one another what this could possibly mean, wondering if these folks were drunk!

This was Saint Peter's cue. He stood up, along with the Eleven, raised his voice, and addressed the crowd. He begins by quoting the prophet Joel's prediction of this time, when God will pour out His spirit on mankind, with wonders and marvelous signs. He said that Jesus the Nazorean was the Man God sent with miracles, signs, and wonders, working in the midst of the Jews. He continued that this Jesus was delivered 'by the set purpose and plan of God' (v. 23), using pagans to crucify Him. But God emancipated Him from death; death could not hold the Son of God. Next Peter quotes Psalm 16 where David, who knew one of his descendents would rule Israel, predicted His resurrection.
Next Peter describes this Jesus as 'Exalted at God's right hand' (v. 33), Who 'received the promised Holy Spirit from the Father, then poured this Spirit out on us.' (v. 33). Then Peter again quotes ancient Scripture, this time the Messianic Psalm 110:

The LORD said to my Lord, sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool.

Saint Peter concluded his discourse in verse 36: 'Therefore let the whole house of Israel know beyond any doubt that God has made both Lord and Messiah this Jesus whom you crucified. (To which, to-day, in my kitchen, I add a hearty Amen!)

The people at this point were 'deeply shaken' (v.37). Many translations render this 'cut to the heart'. They wanted to know what to do! Peter instructed each one of them to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, that your sins may be forgiven.

That your sins may be forgiven. 

[This is huge for us, sitting comfortably in our warm homes with ESPN mindlessly droning in the background. But for God's people 2000 years ago, who didn't have the Bible, who didn't have 35,000 denominations advertising and soliciting, and who did not have centuries of church history tainting the person and mission of Christ Jesus, this was revolutionary!]

The text says Peter kept urging the people to repent. At the end of the day, 3000 of the gathered were baptized. Now flash back to the beginnings of  Hebrew History. Recently led out of slavery in Egypt by God and His Main Man Moses, the people were camped at Mt. Sinai, which Moses had climbed to talk to God.God tells Moses that there's no-good going on in the camp; Moses descends to find the people making rather merry and worshiping a gold idol they just made (which is what all the cool nations were doing at the time). Moses cried out, 'Whoever is for the LORD, come to me!!'. Those who chose God's side, we're told in Exodus 32, were then instructed to cut down with the sword those who did not. And 3000 people fell that day.


So much of our Old Testament reveals a great deal about what is to come in the New; the Jewish Feast of Pentecost is indeed a foreshadow of the coming of the Spirit, and the resulting harvest.

Come, Holy Spirit, and fill the hearts of the faithful
And kindle in us the fire of Your love
Send forth Your Spirit, and we shall be created,
And You shall renew the face of the earth.
Oh God, Who by the light of the Holy Spirit, instructs the hearts of the faithful,
Grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise
And ever rejoice in His consolations.
Through Christ our Lord,
Amen

 

Recipe # 6

Super Wednesday on BTN...

Tonight's dinner was a blessing from the LORD! I just happened to stumble upon the recipe to-day; we had a quarter of a bone-in pork tenderloin sliced into four chops and i wanted to do something different.

The recipe calls for a casserole pan covered with foil as it cooks. My benevolent wife has given all of the former away to family, so I broke out the big black roasting pan.

4-5 med potatoes sliced
1 med onion sliced
2 chicken boulion cubes
2 cups water
2 bay leaves
2 tbsp all purpose flour
4 pork chops
seasoning of your choice

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Begin by adding the bullion cubes and bay leaves to the 2 cups of water and just bring to boil, then remove from heat.
In your baking pan, layer potato slices (i seasoned with fresh ground rainbow peppercorns) then the sliced onions, then the pork chops. You can salt/pepper your meat but i would not recommend going too crazy. I did use some dried basil just for kicks.
Remove the bay leaves from the water/broth, then whisk the flour in until you have a smooth consistency. Then pour the gravy over all. My pan was big enough that the meat was sitting just above the liquid but the potatoes were all covered.
Cover with a lid or foil and bake for 90 minutes.

The meat just fell off the bone and the potatoes were some of the best we've done here in Whitmore Lake.
I warmed up some corn to mix in the with the potatoes - you could do some bread or rolls also if you wanted or even add some fresh green veggies.

No stirring, no checking, just throw it in, enjoy the smell, and watch basketball. Wunderbar!!

This is our grand-daughter Joslin Mia, who lives in Cheyenne, WY, and will be 2 next month!

Sunday night goodness

One of the best weekends i can remember is slowly coming to an end here in beautiful Whitmore Lake, Michigan. 1/4 Friday I went to bible study in the early am with the brothers from Saint Patrick Church and then to work. It was payday so i did some lunchtime banking and paid a couple bills, then met my sweetie down the road cuz she wanted me to look at a tv stand for our living room. The price was right so we paid for it and were gonna bring my truck back the next day to pick it up. We went down the road a little farther to look for a futon mattress for our poor futon which hasn't had a mattress since ... well a few years back when the dog peed on it. 200 bucks for a real nice thick one that was pretty darn comfortable to sit on meaning it was probably pretty darn comfortable to sleep on. We didn't decide on that right away because she had seen a sofa/chaise lounge combo set at a consignment shop in town. We drove home pretty excited for the weekend to be upon us and stopped at Roadies in Whitmore Lake for a cold two and some unbelievable mozzarella sticks. Watched something or other until bed time and slept welll
Slept in a bit saturday but we told the guy with the tv stand we'd be there at noon so we got up and out and split a Firehouse Sub on the way there. BTW, this was pretty darn good - the company is run by real firemen; the soda dispenser has over 120 flavor combinations and we got a good deal on a huge sub, bag of chips, TWO pickle spears, and a 32 oz diet doctor pepper. Way good. So we loaded the tv stand ("entertainment center" better describes this piece) into the Ranger and drove slowly home. I backed up through about 6 inches of snow right up to the deck so we could shimmy the piece in but without the weight in the bed i couldn't get back through the snow. SO, i loaded patio blocks until i was able to get the truck out to our approved parking spot. We then wanted to look at the clearance center at Art Van in Howell, so we decided the turn it into an afternoon trip with a stop at Wal-mart for insulin, a produce gathering at Aldi's (don't you love Aldi's?!?), and then the Art Van expedition. Found a sofa that would fit our decor at a comparable price so now we had the dilemma of choosing to get a mattress for the futon which we already own, purchase a slightly used chaise lounge and matching sofa, or purchasing a brand new comfy sofa.
We didn't choose right then but took our produce home and watched something or other and fell asleep early.
8:00 mass this morning started our day then to Li'l Chef (the actual name) to split a western omlette with wheat toast. Then out towards Howell for some firewood (just enough to fill up the back of the grape), then back toward Brighton for Aco's on sale boxed logs, toilet tissue, and paper towell. THEN to Kroger for some charcoal because I was determined to barbecue these Omaha Steaks burgers that we got from the kids for CHRISTmas.
So, i'm watching some college basketball and my sweetie says 'hey why don't you make some soup?!?' and i'm like...k...., find me a recipe. And the search began: slow cook, fast cook, meat, no meat, tomatoes, potatos, ... She found a good crock pot vegetable soup recipe and i looked up how to do stock from veggies and veggie part.
The soup recipe called for 6 cups chicken broth so i used about half broth and half the stock i just created. It's been cooking on high for almost 4 hours so we'll see how it turned out...

Thank You, Father, for Your Love
Thank You for Your plan to sacrifice Your Son for our redemption.
Thank You for the daily blessings...
        and we love You, too. Amen


 

A Prayer ....

 
Holy, Perfect, Loving, Eternal LORD and Saviour,
Please soften my heart toward the ignorant Protestors; that I might not immediately desire to show them where they're wrong and how wrong they really are...but that I would remember the words of Ernie Harwell: "If I have the choice of being right or being kind, I'd rather be kind."
Help me to remember this, LORD. Help me to always remember this - with all people, in all situations. Any by Your grace, it will be done.

Thank You and amen

Recipe #199 - Kitchen Sink Chili

I made this just before CHRISTmas and we just finished it last night...lots of veggies in this comfort food!

Ingredients:
1 and 1/2 turn of extra virgin olive oil
1 white onion diced
about one third of a green pepper diced
2 carrots sliced thin
4 oz mushrooms sliced thin
1 rib of celery diced into small pieces
3-4 cloves of garlic diced
1 pound ground beef
4-6 oz of pork loin sliced into bite-sized chunks
3 medium red potatos diced
2 cans Brooks chili mix with beans
3 cans seasoned diced tomatos
1 can 14 oz tomato sauce
1 can 6 oz tomato paste
12 oz beer
2 tbs Worcestershire sauce
tbs chili powder
tsp basil
tsp chives
tsp garlic powder
tsp onion powder
cumin to taste

Serve with:
shredded cheddar cheese
sour cream
corn chips


I like to start in my 4 quart Cook's Essentials non-stick pot on medium heat with the oil, garlic, and vegetables until they're soft, then add the beef. Add seasoning to beef while cooking and cook til almost entirely brown then drain excess grease.
Meanwhile in non-stick T-Fal fry pan, heat the pork and potatoes in oil until cooked through, about 15 minutes.You may season these also at this point...i like to use montreal chicken season on my fried potatoes!
In 6 quart stockpot, combine contents both cooked pans along with other ingredients and bring to boil for about 5 minutes. Reduce heat and simmer for as long as you need to. Lid if you don't want to lose moisture, keep uncovered if you want to reduce water content.
Serve over chips covered with a dollop of sour cream and some fresh shredded cheese...we enjoyed it for lunch and dinner for many days...

Merry Christmas, Mr. Scrooge, in keeping with the situation!!

The cheesecake is chilling, the meatballs are warming, the last batch of Magic Cookie Bars are in the oven, the cheese is cut, the spice coffee is warm, the fire is warmer, the dishes are done, A Christmas Story is ending (for the 14th time), Les Miserables opens at our local MJR theatre in two hours, the dog is lying at my feet, and kitty is watching it all unfold: It is a glorious Christmas morning on Lamb Street (and elsewhere I'm sure!)

Hark! The herald angels sing: Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth, and mercy mild; God and sinners reconciled.
Joyful all ye nations rise, join the triumph of the skies
With angelic host proclaim: CHRIST IS BORN in Bethlehem!
Hark! The herald angels sing: Glory to the newborn King!

Hail! The Heavenly Prince of Peace
Hail! The Son of Righteousness
Light and life to all He brings
Ris'n with healing in His wings.
Mild He lays his glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth!
Hark! the herald angels sing: Glory to the newborn King!

Sweetie and I took a quick trip to see little sister in Port Huron on Sunday. Yestreday she rang middle of the day and I worked a little Santa gig in Brighton. We got a few quick inches of snow that covered every little thing and caused havoc on the expressways. We spent a quiet Christmas Eve evening together amidst baking and packaging and I triple dog dare ya. Already out early for a Christmas cappuccino; the roads are still slick so be ye full of care.

 

MLIA

Saturday night in Whitmore Lake. It's cold and clear and the waxing gibbous moon is high in the sky. Miracle on 34th Street is on AMC yet again and my bride is on her way home from work. We are going out dancing tonight, because we feel like it. We have both worked long hard weeks and we will tonight enjoy each others company.
Tomorrow is Sunday and then Monday is Christmas Eve. Tuesday is Christmas Day and Les Miserables.

Our hearts are sad, blood has been shed...

Lord of Heaven and earth,

Great is Your Name and greatly to be praised; You are worthy of all praise. To You belong blessing, honour, power, and glory. Your righteousness shines like the sun, Your holiness like a thousand stars. You are before all and during all and after all...YOU ARE!
I confess my sin to you this hour LORD, and I confess the sin of the whole world. We are a selfish lot, we are short-sighted and unwise. 
Lord have mercy
Christ have mercy
Lord have mercy
Forgive us by the power of the blood that was shed for our good; forgive us, please forgive us.

You are all Good, all Mighty, all Wise; in You is our hope, our faith, our trust.

Amen

 

)-8

Our Aunt Sue, Susanne Marie Randall/Luckritz/Baldner, went home to be with the LORD at 11:16 this morning. I am sad...

God our Father,
Your power brings us to birth,
Your providence guides our lives,
and by Your command we return to dust.

Lord, those who die still live in Your presence,
their lives change but do not end.
I pray in hope for my family,
relatives and friends,
and for all the dead known to You alone.

In company with Christ,
Who died and now lives,
may they rejoice in Your kingdom,
where all our tears are wiped away.
Unite us together again in one family,
to sing Your praise forever and ever.

Amen

Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord,
and let perpetual light shine upon her.
May she rest in peace.

Amen

...and He shall reigh for ever and ever.

King of kings!
-forever and ever, hallelujah, hallelujah!
and Lord of lords!
-forever and ever, hallelujah, hallelujah!

Hal-le-lu-jah!!!

First Advent Post...

Bullets:

Rudolf on tonight
Chicken patty sandwiches and salad tonight, burgers last night
$2.99 lights on the deck from Target
Installed a valve for the outside water; still need to insulate and replace skirts
Server at the office just stopped working
Rooted for the Lions to lose on Sunday
Sister Nancy got her picture taken with Virginia Patton (Ruth Daiken Bailey from It's a Wonderful Life)
Saw A Christmas Carol - The Musical on Friday
Went to mass at Old St. Patrick in Ann Arbor on Sunday

I just don't like to make toys