Has your heart grown cold?

It's early (never my favorite time of day) on a rainy morning in NE Oklahoma...the fields here are green, and the rain today is soft, and has a mantle of mist resting just above the verdant fields.  I have been scanning the news...I missed most of it yesterday due to a colossal headache, and would have been just as well to skip it this morning.

When you look at the headlines:  CIA in Libya, Possible Ground Troops to follow (another war with no moral justification, where our young will die in a land full of people who despise them....and before you say it's our duty to stop people from being butchered, I ask you this...where were we in Rwanda, or Sudan, or the Congo or a dozen other bloody fields of horror.  We're not there to help the people, we're there to secure the oil flows.  Kinda like the US is the Emperor in Dune, and we have to make sure the Spice flows.)...to gang shootings, a father on trial raping his two children under 6, flooding in Thailand, Christians butchered in Egypt, radiation levels rising.....I didn't see one good news story on the entire page.  I know there are good things happening, I also know news providers only have so much print space or video time alloted to give you the day's top stories...so they go with what seems like the most important, or what will get the most attention.  And that's usually the bad news.

I don't know about you, but it seems the bad news keeps getting worse.  Maybe, as some say, it's because we live in a more connected world, thus we hear news faster from further away.  I think it's more than that though...I think we are living in a society where we commit more atrocities against each other.  The way in which we treat our neighbors has, by and large, gotten shoddier, less connected.  When we lose our sense of being connected to one another, it's easier to view those around us as having less value, and from that point, as someone who can be used, exploited, killed.  The Bible says: 

"and because of the abounding of the lawlessness, the love of the many shall become cold;" (Matthew 24:12) 

I profess, I like my old Bible's translation better, it says "the hearts of men shall grow cold"...

Is that not what is happening?  As society is becoming more violent, as we treat each other with less care, as we demonize those who we do not agree with (politicians are great at this!)...we see the love in our hearts for our fellow human beings growing colder and colder.  I read once an interview where someone was asked what they would do if they saw a homeless person begging, and their response was "pass them by or go to the other side of the street.  Their problem is not mine."

Their problem is not mine. Hmm.  Kind of a modern day answer that echoes of Cain "What am I, my brother's keeper?"

I would say to the person interviewed, that yes, their problem is yours.  Because the homeless person on the street is of your family, and but for the Grace of God, there you could be.  Even if you have nothing to give that is of tangible value (i.e., money, food), you can give them the gift of dignity by looking them in the eye and smiling, or saying hello.  You can treat them as a person.  You don't have to let your heart grow cold, you can stoke it with the fire of kindness and compassion.

The verse quoted above was spoken by Christ, when He was giving a list of the signs that would foretell His second coming.  Now, I'm not saying Jesus is returning today (but that would be awesome!) or tomorrow, or ten years from now, or a 100 years, I don't know when that blessed day will be.  But He told us to watch for it, and He gave us signs.  The groaning of the earth (earthquakes, which Christ compared to a woman giving birth, her birthing pains getting stronger and coming closer and closer in time to one another), wars and rumors of wars....there are more signs (go read Matthew chap 24, it's a fascinating chapter)...and that the hearts of men, the love of mankind for one another, would grow cold.  

Now, I don't know when Christ will return, and don't believe any church or group who tells you when they would know, Christ said about His return " No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father". Matt 24:36.  So groups that tell you they know...are lying.  But I know I am supposed to be on watch for it, and to live as if it could happen at any time.  I think part of that then is to make sure the love in my heart for others does not grow cold, I am to keep the fire kindled.  To see the homeless man as someone who deserves dignity, to show kindness to the hurt, to forgive those I want to lash back at.  I cannot stop society at large from disconnecting to each other, from seeing people as commodities, but I can choose to be different.

The world today can be scary.  Headlines tell us that things are going from bad to worse, and that you can't trust the people who live next door.  That war is looming, food prices are soaring, gangs are out of control and a dozen other dire banners wait to catch our eyes.  And yes, it is a world we should walk in with some caution and keep our eyes open in.  But we who follow Christ need not live in fear and dread, for we've got the Book, and we know how the story ends.  What we need to worry about is if we live our role in the story the best we can....and did we live with love in our hearts?

I cannot watch

In this world today,
I cannot watch,
I cannot let myself delve into children throwing rocks at soldiers
and bullets forcing a jerky dance,
revolution of ideas and anger and hope torching what was the map,
and not knowing what will be left.

I cannot watch,
endless reports of bodies washed away
and men volunteering to stay near death
to stop death for others,
and video of cars like toys bobbing along.

I cannot watch,
the roll call of our dead,
answering a country's call to fight in places we'll never hold onto,
and then to know a nation does not even know their names-
those dead who return,
who cannot be buried quietly, with dignity,
because of hate protesting and smearing their names, duty
and sacrifice.

I cannot watch,
as the people we trust to take care of us,
to guide us,
they vote not to protect us but to
exploit us,
legislate us into cattle,
fit only for using and monitoring.
I cannot watch,
as our nation spirals into witch hunts
at rallies women scream and tell our own people to go home,
where is home if not here?

I cannot watch,
as our voice, our media
deign not to tell us truths and facts
but instead air pundits who scatter fear like seeds
and water with mistrust.

I cannot watch,
it makes me heartsick,
feeling the nation become dry as tinder
as we spark off each other.

There is too much,
I cannot watch,
but only glance quickly,
scanning, praying, hoping, knowing
that because we are human
turmoil will ever be,
need will ever be,
yet taking solace in unexpected bravery,
unspoken compassion,
charity quietly given.

Faith waters roots that sink down,
holding firm to family and hearth,
a shelter from all that I cannot watch.

Funny animal pics that make me laugh, and will hopefully make you smile :)

It all comes down to love

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,[a] that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. - John 3:16




This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. – 1 John 4:9-11




We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. – 1 John 4:19-20




This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother. - 1 John 3:10




Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' – Matthew 22:37-39




 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. . .And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. - excerpts from 1 Corinthians 13:4-13






When I was growing up, my family attended the Presbyterian Church, and one of my favorite aspects of Church was the singing.  A song that I liked particularly as a child was "And they'll know we are Christians by our love."  It was easy to memorize as a child, and even now I often find myself humming it under my breath.  


The lyrics are:  

We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord
And we pray that all unity may one day be restored
And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
They will know we are Christians by our love

We will work with each other, we will work side by side
We will work with each other, we will work side by side
And we'll guard each one's dignity and save each one's pride
And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
They will know we are Christians by our love

By our love, by our love

And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
They will know we are Christians by our love

We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand
We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand
And together we'll spread the news that God is in our land
And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
They will know we are Christians by our love

By our love, by our love

And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love 

I wish I could say that in our modern American society it was easy to spot a Christian by their love.  That you could watch someone, point a finger at them and say "See how they are behaving, see how they are helping that person, see how they donate their time, they must be a Christian!"

In America, it's just not so.  Oh, don't get me wrong, there are wonderful Christians out there who are helping the homeless, the battered, the needy, who visit prisons and staff food banks.  But there are many more who call themselves Christians who aren't interested in showing the world love and mercy, they'd far rather be on the Judgement seat.  They seem to forget that judgement belongs to God alone, it is He who will decide who is saved, and who is not.  They seem to forget our "job" as Christians is not to judge, but to love.

But Beth, you say, the Bible is clear there are sins out there, and we should point those sins out....at whatever cost.  Read your Bible, Beth, tell me there aren't sins that God hates.

News flash, friends...God hates all sin.  He hates pride, and unjust anger.  He hates haughtiness, and He hates it when we push people further away from Him.  You see, when we loudly and proudly tell the world they are sinners and that they're going to Hell...it's evident to the world we are not doing this out of love.  Some modern day Americans who say they are Christians are almost delighted to tell someone what their shortcomings are, how damned they are...it's told with an almost gleeful zest.

When we see our friends, family, co-workers and acquaintances who don't know Jesus as the only way to God, we should not rush to pass judgement (for that belongs to God alone) but rather we should be heartsick at knowing what they are missing.  We should want badly for them to have the same saving relationship with Christ as we do, and our love and concern for that person's eternal salvation should be where all our interactions with that person start.  We should share our faith in gentleness and love.  


The epistle of 1 Peter addresses this very subject:
But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect. (1 Peter, 3:15)


Paul addresses it in 2 Timothy:
2 Timothy 2:24
And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be GENTLE unto all men, apt to teach, patient.





 If we don't approach others from an aspect of love, of gentleness, but instead as a battering ram of judgment, we are not helping to bring people to Christ, but rather to push them away from Him.  How many of us ever wanted to do what school yard bully told us to do, how many of us respect the stance of someone who is telling us all that is wrong with us?  How much more apt are we to listen to someone who knows we care about them, that we love them?


We get so fixated on other people's sins, we forget to worry about our own first.


Jesus taught us, saying: "Do not judge so that you will not be judged. For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye."  (Matthew 7:1-5


Yes, we can discern if someone else is living in a life of sin, but then we are to use that discernment to make sure we are not doing that same thing.  We are not to look at someone else's sin so that we can feel better about ourselves, or to put them down.  In the verse above it says that by the standard we judge others, so we will be judged.  Now, I don't know about you, maybe you live a far better life than I do, but I know I am a sinner, and that I need God's grace and mercy.  There is no way I am anywhere near good enough to even approach the gates of Heaven, I need the shed blood of Christ to cover me.  So if I want God's grace and mercy, I better be willing to give that to others as best I can.  I don't want to be harshly judged by God, so I better not harshly judge anyone else.


There is a Christian comedian named Mark Lowry, he also sings and writes music and performs with the Gaither band.  He is a funny guy, but also weaves serious topics into his comedy.  On the nature of sin he said this:


"Love the sinner, hate the sin? How about: Love the sinner, hate your own sin! I don't have time to hate your sin. There are too many of you! Hating my sin is a full-time job. How about you hate your sin, I'll hate my sin and let's just love each other!"

That, to me, says it perfectly.  Worry about your own sin.


This is my stance on the matter:  When I can master the two greatest commandments ( Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.' Matthew 22:37-39)...when I have mastered those two commandments, then I will worry about someone else's sin.  Until then, I will just love them and share with them, from an aspect of mercy and gentleness, how much Christ loves them.


Can people tell from the way you treat other people that you are a follower of Jesus Christ?  If not, why not?  Please remember friends, that if we do not love, then God is not in us.  And if God is not in us, we are not saved.  So the next time you judge someone harshly for their lifestyle, their faith (or lack there of), their vices or family life...remember God the Father is watching, and will judge you by the same standard you are judging them.  I for one need God's grace and mercy, how about you?

Spring-ish Recipes....when will the fresh tomatoes be here?

Winter has passed....not that there was much of one down here.  I guess for Oklahoma it was quite a severe winter- we did have two fairly big blizzards within a couple of weeks of one another, and they did dump multiple feet of snow (our malamute was thankful)...but most of the winter was in the 50's and 60's, with occasional forays to the lower temps.  I read on facebook today that Red Lodge MT got 17 inches of snow yesterday...hee hee hee.  It was 74 here.


So warmer temps have me wanting spring foods, summer foods...but of course it's too early for any real gardens ...but a gal can long for fresh locally grown tomatoes, can't she?  The sun ripened ones, not those hot house monstrosities, or the ones that come from far off lands where we have no idea what conditions they're raised in, and what ..err...they are fertilized with.


I am wanting to put in a garden, but we have to wait until final things are done with the Church and we're where the Archbishop wants us to be.  So I might do some raised beds this year, or container gardening....I know I have to marshal my energies, so whatever I grow has to be easy to take care of.  That leaves me tomatoes, herbs, peppers, that sort of thing.  (And lots and lots and lots of flowers, I love flower gardens, especially since I plant in the English cottage style- i.e., throw everything together as close as possible, so no weeds can grow in between them, and give me lots of pretty flowers.)

This was one of my flower beds a few years ago, in late spring, as flowers were starting to grow into each other, but before all the cosmos really bloomed....

The above is the kind of garden I'd like to have (it's out of some English Cottage calender or some such thing) but don't know if I'll ever have the energy to do....it's lovely though, isn't it?

So back to cooking....I'm the cook in our home (my husband is great about taking me out to eat, or bringing home pizza, but he does not cook.  Twice in 11 years.  Just not his thing.) so I get to decide menus, shopping trips, etc. 

I try and do this with a couple of things in mind: 

               1- my husband's tastes- he loves good food, North American or European in cuisine mainly, though is open to trying new stuff as long as the recipe contains at least some flavors he enjoys. 

               2- I should be able to make most, if not all, the menu from scratch- it's healthier that way, and with my heart and other conditions, healthier is better.  That does not mean I leave out butter, or we don't eat red meat, we do....I just happen to believe eating the preservatives in pre-packaged dinners and other foods are far worse for you than butter.  And I love steak, and a good burger...so just back off there, friend.

               3- Things should be cost effective.  Clergy traditionally don't get paid a huge sum (unless you run a prosperity church, but that's a whole 'nother blog)...and I was raised by a Mother who taught me to watch where and how I spent money.  (Thanks Mom, that has come in handy!)  Most of our dinners cost around 5 to 7 dollars a night.  Some less, some more- as I do splurge at least once a week on expensive sea food or really good steak.  But I watch sales, buy in bulk (and if you can buy a half to whole steer from a butcher- what a way to save money...yes, it's a big chunk up front, but hey...rib eyes for $2.25 a lb? Ox tails...$2.25 a lb, roast $2.25 a lb....you've got the idea. ) and just shop carefully.  And even with shopping this way, we eat pretty well.  Smothered Italian Steak- $5 for both of us, with sides included.  BBQ chicken breasts, with sides came out to around $4.  That's not bad, friend.  Last night we had one of my very favorite things- good burgers.  And with sides, it probably came out to around $3, maybe $4 for both of us...I didn't really do the math.  I'm putting together a value cookbook, and I'll let you all know when the e-book is done.

One way to be really cost effective is to grow a garden.  Even if you just grow a couple of containers of veggies or herbs...you get really fresh produce (that you know how it was grown) at a great cost.  And if you have the space and time and energy to do more....plant a big garden.  Fresh melons, peppers, corn, potatoes, carrots....oh...makes me happy just thinking about it :)

So by now, I'm sure you're going...where are the blankey blank recipes already?  Here are some I love, and that I hope you will enjoy :)

Tomato Tart with Three Cheeses Recipe

ngredients

• 1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed
• 3/4 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
• 3/4 cup shredded provolone cheese
• 1/4 cup minced fresh basil
• 4 plum tomatoes, thinly sliced
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
• Additional minced fresh basil

Directions

• Unfold pastry sheet on a lightly floured surface. Roll into a 12-in. square; transfer to a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Prick with a fork.
• Combine the mozzarella, provolone and basil; sprinkle over the pastry to within 1 in. of edges. Arrange the tomato slices over the cheese. Season with salt and pepper; sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
• Bake at 400° for 15-20 minutes or until pastry is golden brown. Remove tart from baking sheet to a wire rack to cool for 5 minutes. Sprinkle with additional basil. Cut into slices. Serve hot or at room temperature. Yield: 4 servings.

Shaker Scalloped Tomatoes

4 tbsp. melted butter
1 small yellow onion, peeled and minced
1/4 cup fresh parsley leaves
1  28-oz. can whole peeled plum tomatoes
1 tsp. sugar
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 cup fresh bread crumbs

1. Preheat oven to 400°. Place 1 tbsp. of the butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add onions and parsley and cook until soft, about 10 minutes.

2. Meanwhile, lightly butter a baking dish. Drain tomatoes. Squeeze tomatoes very gently to release a little of their liquid, then arrange in prepared baking dish and sprinkle with sugar.

3. Scatter onions and parsley over tomatoes and season to taste with salt and pepper. Toss bread crumbs with remaining 3 tbsp. of butter in a small bowl and sprinkle over tomatoes. Bake until browned and bubbling, about 20 minutes.

Deconstructed Italian Potato Salad
Serves 2 [can be doubled or tripled or...]

For garlic-infused olive oil [makes 1/2 cup]:
1/2 cup good quality extra virgin olive oil [see Kitchen Notes]
1 large clove garlic
freshly ground black pepper

For potato salad:
4 tablespoons garlic-infused olive oil
1 large russet potato
1 cup chopped tomatoes [see Kitchen Notes]
2 tablespoons chopped red onions
4 teaspoons capers [chopped if large]
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil, divided
salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Make garlic-infused olive oil. Peel garlic clove and bash it with the side of a knife to break it up, but not pulverize it. You want big chunks. Combine with olive oil in a jar. Grind in several generous grinds of black pepper. Seal jar and shake to combine flavors. Make at least 2 hours to up to a day or more ahead. The longer you let it sit, the more garlicky it will become. If using the same day, leave it on the counter and give it an occasional shake. If making it a day or more in advance, refrigerate. Bring to room temperature before using.

Make potato salad. Bring a large pot of water to boil. Peel and slice the potato into generous 1/4-inch slices, discarding ends. When water is rapidly boiling, salt it generously and add potato slices. Cook until they just lose that raw potato taste, but are still firm, no more than 7 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, gently transfer potato slices to bowl of iced water to stop the cooking. After potatoes have cooled transfer to a paper towel-lined plate.

Combine tomatoes, onions, capers and half the basil in a bowl. When you’re ready to assemble the potato salad, dress the tomato mixture with 1 tablespoon of the garlic-infused olive oil [shake the jar first to get some of the ground pepper in the mix]. Spoon 3 tablespoons of the oil into the center of a serving plate. Arrange the potato slices in a single layer in the pool of oil. Scatter the tomato mix evenly over the potato slices. Sprinkle the remaining tablespoon of basil over everything and season the salad with salt and pepper. Serve.

After you finish the salad, there will still be olive oil on the plate. If you have some crusty bread to sop it up with, you will be really, really happy.

Notes from me now...I did not write these recipes....I found them on the net, or they were emailed to me, etc....so I am not claiming authorship.  They are all wonderful.  I play with the herbs in all of them, change them to our tastes...but they're each like spring placed on the table....and aren't we all ready for that?

So get ready for spring, get your plantings going and your mind geared up towards fresh recipes (and hey, plant some flowers too, they're good for the soul!)...

Take care of yourselves, friends....be good to you and those around you!

(I didn't take the above photo, but it screams Spring at me :)  and it always reminds me of a trip my parents and I took while I was in high school.  We had just found out at Shriners that I didn't have cancer in my foot, and spent the weekend at the coast to celebrate. On the way home, driving through the coastal foothills to the Valley, we saw hill sides like this...they were breathtaking...it was like another gift from God to us.  Anyway, just wanted to share that.)

It's been forever...

Since I blogged.  Looking at my old blog (now imported) I see it's been since September.  Wow, a lot has changed since then.

One...we're no longer living in the great white north, but in the almost South.  What, you say, when and how did this happen?

My husband (Charles) had been going to University to get his BA in Religion, and got a call to join the Anglican Church.  You know, the formal- kinda like Catholics but without all the same doctrine and dogma, Church.  A lot like Episcopalians, but not as liberal.  Charles was raised in the Anglican Church, and after much prayer and discussion, we packed up the crew of furkids and feather kids and headed to where the Church wanted him.  Oklahoma.  To work with Fr. David at St. Joseph's, and get his training in.

(First pic- entering the Big Horn Mountains in WY. Second Pic, Charles by a state sign in WY)

It was a long trip down, but the Big Horn Mountains, in Wyoming are beyond beautiful.  They're really out of the way (ask Charles, he was silly enough to let me read the map, and I said, hey- it's a more direct route this way, not realizing that path went over dozens of 10,000+ ft passes...oops) but some of the most gorgeous vistas I have ever seen are contained in that park.  It's well worth it.

 The rest of the trip turned into a blur for me....massive migraine, tons of fun.

Oklahoma is beautiful as well, at least where we are.  Northeast, near the Ozarks, lots of hills and rivers, lakes at almost every turn it seems.  The people are lovely as well.  We're about 40 minutes north of Tulsa- which for a big city, is very nice.

(Above pic, Rita, Charles, Archbishop Hartley, Fr.David and an acolyte)

Charles has settled in well with the Church.  He absolutely loves serving God, he becomes radiant talking about it.  He was fully ordained last month, by two Archbishops, and works directly for one of them now.  The Church found out they had a former marketing pro in their midst who actually likes technology, so they've appointed my guy Director of Communications, put him in charge of the Facebook page, and have lots of other stuff lined up for him to do.  I try and help as best I can.

So here is my dearest at his ordination.  He looks good in the robes and whatnot, doesn't he?

Facebook page for the Church

Above is the link for our Church webpage- please feel free to like, become a friend and stay updated.

As for me, I've been doing alright.  The winter was a lot milder down here, with the exception of two blizzards.  So I was able to get out and about a lot more than normal.  I had the wonderful opportunity to go spend a week in December with my parents, and that visit really meant a lot to me.  They want to come out and visit this summer or fall, and I can't wait to see them again.  My health has been ...there.  I've been ill for almost a month now, getting over the flu seems to take me a long time now.  Most days are pretty good days, heart wise...I am learning to measure out my finite daily energy and prioritize better.  Some days I can do more, some days little, but as long as the days are filled with love, they're good days.  I am a blessed woman, after 11 years my husband still tells me he loves me more than anyone but God, I have great parents who are also my friends, a sister I talk to regularly and laugh with and love, tremendous friends...and a bunch of useless but cute furkids.

Speaking of which...another change since September...we adopted this parrot- a patagonian conure...who was bald, and has a gimp leg.  Most of his feathers have grown in, but man can this bird SCREAM.  After looking it up on the net, I find out they are considered amongst the noisiest of all parrots.  Fun for us, laughing.  We also now have a rabbit named Mike, who loves to cuddle next to me in Charles' study when I let him run loose, safe from the dogs and cats for a while.  (Yes, he's litter box trained.)  He's such a sweetheart, and I love that he's quiet.  Chance the dove is still good, as are the rest.

Well, I guess this wraps up the update, I'll try and keep in better form from here on out.

God's blessings to each of you!