Blessings

In 1979 Gabi Barkai in a salvage excavation in tombs outside Old Jerusalem found the oldest written documents of Biblical texts in existence. These tiny silver scrolls were worn as amulets or charms. They have been dated by NASA as over 2600 years old, proving the belief in Jehovah and the ancient accuracy of the books of Moses. At that time Solomon’s Temple was still standing. The invasions of Babylon, Greece, and Rome were still future. They were engraved 600 years, that’s almost three United States Histories before Jesus. Why did God see to it that these ancient texts were preserved? What portion of Scripture did He have engraved in silver for our generation? This is the text God had put in silver 2600 years ago, preserved in silver just as it is written in our Bibles today:

Numbers 2:24-27 - “May the LORD bless you and protect you. May the LORD smile on you and be gracious to you. May the LORD show you his favor and give you his peace.”(NLT)

This is our text for the month of October. We would like to know - What does it mean to “be blessed?” Does God still want to bless His people? Does He still want and expect us to say “blessings?” Should we wear amulets with verses in them to protect us today? This is the oldest written text of the Bible in existence.

Ah-ah-ah-Choo!

Bless You. Dan

The Greatest Grief You Can Give God

Who gets to pick out the new dog in your house? We had decided no more dogs, not that the kids and I didn’t want another one. But when mom says enough, well, it’s enough. Then she saw Max.

JoLynn was in a pet rescue shelter looking at a dog with a friend, when this beautiful, blue-eyed, beanie baby like ball of curly fur looked up at her. Her eyes picked him out of the litter. Her hands picked him up, and she caught that pet store smell of money – puppy dog breath. Later, her husband’s wallet dished out the cash. Six years ago Max came home just in time to destroy our house for Christmas. Why is he still here? Because she picked him out, and up, and for some unknown reason loves the mutt.

Colossians 3:12 says “God chose you to be the holy people He loves.” He picked you out of humanity. To be holy means to be “set apart” - His hands picked you up and He holds you close. God reached in His wallet and, Acts 20:28 says, “He purchased you with His own blood.” What is the greatest grief you can give God? Not to accept His grace. Accept. One day He will bring you home for Christmas.

Dan

Is This as Good as it Gets?

Do you remember the Old Milwaukee Beer commercials? They use to end with the line, “It just doesn’t get any better than this.” That’s sad, really.

Every once in a while you have that day that just seems perfect. That day at the beach, the mountains, in an AMC Gremlin with endless red licorice - you want to freeze time and save it forever. But time moves on. The day ends, and then – it’s sad, really.

Here’s my thought. For the world, this life is as good as it’s ever going to be. Your best day ever may be sitting on the beach with some friends with a beer. But…

For the believer in Christ, this life is as bad as it’s ever going to get. We aren’t promised perfect health, close parking spaces, or sinless kids. Anyone who preaches differently is selling something. But, as we suffer through this world’s problems, and enjoy this world’s perfect days with endless licorice, isn’t it great to know this is as bad as it gets?

When Paul’s life was a mess and not improving He went to God. God answered, “My grace is all you need.”(2 Cor 12:9) Why was God so short with Paul? Because his life was already as bad as it was ever going to get. Cool, eh?

Dan

Chocolate Chip Grace

My favorite definition of Grace is “Joy Giving.” It’s the closest definition yet to the Greek idea. When Scripture says to “grow in all grace,” (2 Peter 3:18) it means to grow in giving joy to others. God’s grace is His giving to us. For those who follow through in belief He gives freedom from sin and an inheritance and…

He gives us good when things seem bad. Romans 8:28 says, “We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” Some days are raw butter days. Others are chocolate chip days. God takes them all and mixes them together for something better than either can be alone. I can’t give you freedom from sin, but I’d like to give you some grace – if you follow through.

Below is my own, previously secret, mysterious, addictive, unparalleled, Chocolate Chip cookie recipe.

Cooley’s Chocolate Chip Cookies
High Altitude Directions

1. Heat oven to 375
2. Get out a small plate to put you messy stuff on
3. In a large bowl mix
a. 1 ½ c butter, softened (3 sticks)
b. 1 c sugar (use white sugar first, so then it’s clean for the…)
c. 1 c brown sugar
d. 1 ½ t vanilla (1t if using the awesome Haitian vanilla you bought at the last Haiti fund-raiser. Now put your 1c and 1t measuring spoons on the plate and keep the counter clean)
e. 3 eggs
4. I use our smasher/blaster mixer with the normal whirly blades and mix it until it starts looking a bit airy. Once done remove those normal blades, put them on the plate, stick in the curly mixer blades and add…
a. 3 ¾ c flour
b. 3 t water (which cleans out that dirty 1t spoon you were using. Now dry it off and add)
c. 1 t baking soda
d. 1 ½ t salt
e. 3 c chocolate chips (the bitter sweet 60% cacao Ghirardelli chips are excellent. But, if Dave Ramsey has forced you to go cheap, the Nestles semi-sweet will do in a pinch)
f. 2 ¼ c quick oats
5. Mix until you feel happy. Start spooning. Bake for 11-12 minutes. It makes about 1 ½ batch compared to normal recipes, or 3 cookie sheets worth if you cram them in close using that fancy pampered chef cookie scoop.

Low Altitude Directions:
Move up. I lost that recipe. If you can’t move, I remember you need to use more sugar, more baking soda, less flour, and no water. Try 1 ½ c of the sugars, 1 ½ t soda, and 3 c flour and let us know how it goes.