Wednesday, December 22, 2004

Snow Cream In Florida

I remember getting big bowls of snow and pouring milk, sugar and vanilla on it to make snow cream when I was growing up in Virginia and North Carolina. I never though I would ever have snow cream here in Florida. Mayfield Dairy has solved the problem, I found that they are now selling Mayfield Snow Cream at Wal-Mart. I bought some last night, and took it home, and while it may not be exactly like grandma used to make, it does bring back some good memories, and it taste great too!

If you are fortunate enough to live where there is snow this Winter, here is my old snow cream recipe, if you live where it never snows like I do, I can now recommend Mayfield Snow Cream.

Snow Cream Recipe

1 cup milk
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
large bowl of snow

mix milk, sugar and vanilla. Stir in enough snow to make snow cream to an ice cream like consistency.

Tuesday, December 14, 2004

Do families today really understand their core values?

Bringing families together builds values that are really important to the family and makes it strong. Family Table Time creates family "unity" by setting time aside each week for sharing, discussion, debate, laughter and best of all, communication. Creating a personal mission statement helps families focus on what's important to them.

Tuesday, December 07, 2004

The Traditional Church vs. The NT Church

There are some major differences between the traditional church of today and the New Testament church in the Bible. Brian Anderson has compiled a list of those differences on the Milpitas Bible Fellowship Web site. I encourage every Christian to read this list, and do a in depth Bible study using the verses included in the list. Maybe you should do as I have and re-evaluate what, or who, the "Church" is.

Monday, December 06, 2004

Does Your Child Have The Edison Trait?

by Lucy Jo Palladino

He was a boy who learned only by doing. At age six, he had to see how fire worked and accidentally burned his father's barn to the ground. The next fall he began school, where he alternated between letting his mind travel to distant places and keeping his body in perpetual motion in his seat. Because he was distractible and restless, he did not last long in a formal classroom. His teacher called him "addled." Eventually, his mother had to home-school him. As an adult he would recall: "My father thought I was stupid and I almost decided I must be a dunce."

The core of his learning was his passion for experiments. As his new teacher, his mother gave his talent free rein. At the same time she infused him with the disciplines of study. With time and determination, he mastered his runaway mind. He grew up to become a prolific inventor, bringing the magic of electricity and sound recording into the world. He either invented or improved hundreds of practical conveniences. It is said that Thomas Alva Edison succeeded where others failed or never tried, because it was his nature to dare.

There was once a man who drove a truck on a road through a town and got stuck under a bridge that had a low clearance. The men of the town gathered around the wedged truck to think of ways to dismantle the truck or the bridge. Finally, a young boy came up and asked, “Why don't you let some air out of the tires?" That is what they did, and the truck went on its way.

This was a child who had the Edison trait. He saw an element of the scene that no one else saw, because they were busily and systematically focused on what to them was relevant to the solution.

Today, a growing number of children have that nature to dare. Like young Edison, they are easily distracted and disorganized, but also wildly imaginative and inventive.

They have minds that are at home with meanderings and leaps of vast proportions. They make unexpected, sometimes startling, connections.

All children are imaginative and enjoy make-believe, but children who have the Edison trait live even closer to their imaginations. It is their lifeblood.

Children manifest the Edison trait in various ways. Some are quiet and reserved and live in their own worlds. Others are loud, interruptive, and bold.

Your child may be a Dreamer, a Discoverer, or a Dynamo. Or he may combine features of any or all of these patterns.

  • Dreamers drift from place to place, on a schedule of eternal time.

  • Discoverers have to find things out for themselves and do things their own way.

  • Dynamos are always in motion, with a flair forsurprises, power, and speed.


Source: The Elijah Company

Wednesday, November 24, 2004

Daily Family Worship Service

The Elements of Family Worship Service

A. Bible Reading

The head of the household takes a portion of scripture and reads it to the family and make comments on what was read.

B. Prayer Time

Take some time to pray about matters

C. Hymn singing

Sing some of your favorite hymns.

D. Close in Prayer

Source: The Christian Life

Saturday, November 20, 2004

Welcome Back Dave Black!!

David Black just got back from his trip to Ethiopia, where he and his wife have been working with the churches and the people in Ethiopia. It's good to see him back and to see his site updated once again. Be sure to visit both the front page and his blog to get all of us updates. I emailed Dave shortly before he returned, to let him know that he was in my families prayers ant that we had missed him while he was gone. While we have never met him personally, we do feel like we know him, I guess it's because we seem to think alike on so many issues.

Wednesday, November 17, 2004

Virgin Mary Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Take a look on e-bay, and you'll find some cheesy items up for sale. But probably none as "cheesy" as this one. The on-line auction website, e-bay, took a grilled cheese sandwich listing. It's half of a sandwich the owner claims is ten-years old and bears an image of the Virgin Mary.

Click here to see this eBay listing.

The funniest thing is all of the eBay listings that are taking advantage of the "Virgin Mary Grilled Cheese Sandwich" in their auction keywords.

http://search.ebay.com/virgin-mary-grilled-cheese

I was "rolling on the floor" after seeing some of these listings this morning!

Friday, November 12, 2004

Free Bible Study Software!

e-Sword is feature rich and user friendly with more capabilities than you would expect in a free software package. The fact that e-Sword is free is just one of the blessings and does not speak of the quality of the software.

Click here to download e-Sword today!

Tuesday, November 09, 2004

Nobody Said This Would be Easy



Copyright Sheepcomics.com Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission. If you would like to see more comics like this, please visit www.sheepcomics.com

Friday, November 05, 2004

KidRocket Web Browser for Kids

The KidRocket KidSafe Web Browser, is a simple & effective way for kids to safely surf the internet. It will only go to the hand picked web sites programmed into the Web Browser. The rest of the internet & WWW, along with its many safety concerns and hazards... are completely LOCKED OUT!

Its one of the simplest & most effective parental controls, internet filters available. Give it a try today...its free!

http://www.kidrocket.org/

What is Christian Fellowship?

I like what Jim Davis has written about Christian fellowship:

Church attendance is often substituted for fellowship. To some fellowship is like a jar full of marbles. The marbles are in the same jar but there is little togetherness. The marbles have little effect on each other as they roll around in a jar. They just bump into one another. But real fellowship is more like a jar of grapes that bleed on one another. Fellowship should allow our faith to rub off on one another. The first believers had real spiritual needs that led them into fellowship with others. As they came into this fellowship of other believers with the same needs, they naturally bled on one another.

Too often church attendance turns us into iceberg Christians where we just float around and bump into one another. One fellow visited a church and gave his description of those in attendance. He said, "I don't want to say that it was a cold church, but the ushers had on ice skates." The first fellowship meeting had little to do with church attendance and everything to do with togetherness.

Friday, October 29, 2004

Will They Ever Outlaw Christianity in America?

With the recent story on WorldNetDaily about the IRS trying to keep churches from praying for political candidates, and the news stories about the push for "hate crimes" to include any speech against homosexuality, one has to wonder if they will ever outlaw Christianity in America.

I have thought about this for years, and have come to the conclusion that Christianity will never be outlawed in America, it will simply become more and more regulated. The government will dictate to the churches and ministries what they can and can not say and do. The churches and ministries who have built million dollar empires will have to decide whether they want to keep their millions and follow the government regulations, or follow the Lord and risk losing their earthly treasures.

You have to admit, Christianity has become a very lucrative business in America in recent years. Most of the big name Christian recording artists are now on the "Christian label" of a secular record company. Many Christian authors are now being published by secular publishing companies, or with Christian publishing companies who have partnered with secular companies to "cross promote" the books.

Many Christian leaders have acquired so much wealth that it's hard to tell them apart from any other multi-millionaire; private jets, multiple million dollar vacation homes and more expensive clothing and jewelry than most will see in their lifetime.

Will they ever outlaw Christianity in America? I don't think they will, but I do believe there will be many churches and ministries who won't have a problem compromising biblical principles in order to comply with the coming government regulations, so they can keep their treasures on earth.

If the Antichrist were to come on the scene offering the latest "church growth" program, or promising millions in "properity", would he be able to attract and decieve even the elect?

Monday, October 04, 2004

Is the Church Radical Enough?

Dave Black wants to know, "Is the church of Jesus Christ radical enough?"

In his latest post to his Web site, Mr. Black explains that if "there has been a transformation taking place, it has been the work which the culture has had on transforming the church, not the other way around. The redemptive effect which the modern church – and here I am speaking of the modern 'evangelical,' Bible-believing church – has had on the culture has been practically nil."

He goes on to explain, "The point is simple. Politics will not bring the kingdom of God closer. Politics should lead men to despair and, ultimately, to the cross. The Christian responsibility is always more than politics, and rarely less. But even in the midst of our engaging the culture for Christ our plea is always for men to humble themselves under the mighty hand of God – whether they be presidents or princes or ploughboys."

Click here to read the rest of Dave Black's article, "Seizing the Root".

Tuesday, September 28, 2004

Incomplete View of the Cross

Take some time to ponder what Wayne Jacobsen has to say about our "incomplete view of the cross":

I am convinced we have such dysfunctional relationships in what we call 'the church' today because we have an incomplete view of the cross. Punishment illustrates only a small bit of the cross and only from our perspective. God did something so much greater there that if we understood it we would never doubt Jesus’ love for us again no matter how bad our circumstances got, and we’d never try to smash another brother or sister into a religious box again. The reason we have so many broken relationships around religious things is because we are still managing our shame and that of others around us, instead of living in the reality that Jesus has already answered for us in himself, everything God would ever require of us. If we knew that, we would know how to relate to each other in a way that edifies, serves and loves, without manipulating, comparing or abusing...

Click here to visit Wayne's Blog

Love the Lord With All Your Mind

According to Jesus, the first commandment is to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind (Matt. 22:37). Why, then, do so many Christians compartmentalize knowledge into sacred (theology) and secular (politics)? This is a false dichotomy. Politics, we say, is less important – more "worldly" – and therefore unsuited to the “spiritual” Christian. But the truth is that "secular" subjects such as politics and history are essential to understanding culture. There is no shortcut to the truth that eliminates the need for basic facts about some important "secular" areas of learning.

coverAlan Bloom, in The Closing of the American Mind, made this statement (p. 58): "People sup together, play together, travel together, but they do not think together. Hardly any homes have any intellectual life whatsoever, let alone one that informs the vital interests of life." How true! Many Christian parents fail to raise children who are grounded in Christian doctrine or have even the faintest level of intellectual curiosity.

Source: www.daveblackonline.com

Monday, September 27, 2004

We Survived Hurricane Jeanne!

We made it through yet another storm with no major damage to our condo. We do have some trees down in the neighborhood, but we are all safe. Our power flickered throughout the storm, but it never went out. Praise the Lord!

No state has faced four hurricanes in one season since 1886, when Texas was the target. This has been a crazy year for hurricanes, and we still have two months left till the end of hurricane season.

Friday, September 24, 2004

Jeanne Continues March Toward Florida

Hurricane Jeanne maintains its 100 mph winds as it marches toward Florida's coast, prompting a hurricane warning from Florida City northward to St. Augustine.

Tuesday, September 14, 2004

Pray for the People in New Orleans!

The latest strike probabilities have Hurricane Ivan heading right for New Orleans. A direct hit from a major storm like Ivan could mean disaster for the people of New Orleans. The following image is an example of possible water heights for a slow moving category 4 hurricane. This image is an approximation of how high the water could rise.



Source: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/HAW2/english/surge/new_orleans.shtml

Sunday, September 12, 2004

Redskins Sink Bucs, Win 16-10

By Gary Fitzgerald, Redskins.com

The Redskins got off to a fast start on Sunday--in more ways than one.

First, it was Clinton Portis who, on his first carry as a Redskin, burst for a 64-yard touchdown run, giving the Redskins an early 7-0 edge over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Redskins' defense got rolling early, recording four sacksm two turnovers and keeping the Bucs' offense out of the end zone.

It all added up to a 16-10 season-opening win for the now 1-0 Redskins.

More? It was head coach Joe Gibbs' first regular-season victory since returning to the Redskins last January.

It was the franchise's 500th regular-season win.

Thursday, September 09, 2004

Here Comes Hurricane Number Three!!!

Forecasters say Hurricane Ivan is still on track to hit Jamaica Friday as an extremely dangerous Category 5 storm. This, the third hurricane in less than a month, is expected to be in Central Florida sometime Tuesday morning.

Saturday, September 04, 2004

Waiting for Hurricane Frances!

Hurricane Frances keeps changing directions, the projected path and the time of landfall has changed quite a few times in the last 24 hours, and it still could change again. We have made all the necessary preparations and every thing is ready for the storm, we are simply waiting.

Sometimes the waiting can be a little stressful, but maybe with all the waiting, the storm will die down enough so that it won't do allot of damage.

Wednesday, September 01, 2004

Double Hurricanes: First Charley, Now Frances!

Hurricane Frances is heading our way! Please keep all of us in Central Florida in your prayers. This one looks like it's bigger than Charley was, and we are still cleaning up the mess that one left in it's path just three weeks ago.

Monday, August 16, 2004

We Survived Hurricane Charley

I had to work on Friday, but got off at 1:00PM, hurricane Charley took a turn to the east at 1:30PM and was on a direct path for us in Central Florida. When I got home, my wife had turned our walk-in closet into a hurricane shelter, and we started watching the storm on the news as it moved towards Central Florida.

The storm was upgraded to a category 3 hurricane shortly before it made landfall with sustained winds of 145 mph. It made land fall at Port Charlotte and move northeast towards the Orlando area. By the time the storm got to us it was downgraded to a category 2 hurricane with sustained winds of 75 to 80 mph and wind gusts up to 110 mph. We continued to watch the news till the power went out for the last time at 10:00PM.

We went out Saturday morning to survey the damage, there are many trees and power lines down we will be without power till at least August 19th. We are using candles and flashlights at night, and have a ice cooler for our food. Most of the gas stations are running out of gas, and the stores are getting low on ice, but at least we survived hurricane Charley and are alive to talk about it. The News-Press has a special report on their web site about hurricane Charley: click here

Monday, August 09, 2004

Welcome Back Joe Gibbs!!

The first preseason game of the 2004 season is here and gone, and the Redskins were happy about the outcome. After Denver tied the score late, Washington went right back down the field, led by QB Tim Hasselbeck, and took home a 20-17 victory in the Hall of Fame game.

Sunday, August 01, 2004

A Quiz!

Part 1
  • 1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.
  • 2. Name the last five Heismann trophy winners.
  • 3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America contest.
  • 4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer prize.
  • 5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor or actress.
  • 6. Name the last decade's worth of World Series winners.


How did you do? Now try Part 2

  • 1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.
  • 2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.
  • 3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.
  • 4. Think of four people who have made you feel appreciated and special.
  • 5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.
  • 6. Name half a dozen heroes whose stories have inspired you.


Did you do better? None of us remember the headliners of yesterday. The people you'll remember are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the biggest awards. They are the ones who care.

Monday, June 21, 2004

Why I Stopped Listening to Rush

David Alan Black's latest book, Why I Stopped Listening to Rush: Confessions of a Recovering Neocon, is now available. It’s his way of challenging all Americans to return to their biblical and constitutional foundations.

Here’s the Table of Contents:

Preface

1. Introduction: Not So Much a Book As a Way of Thinking
2. Republic or Empire? The Rise and Rise of American Power
3. When the Horse Dies, Dismount: The Demise of Conservatism in the Republican Party
4. Confederate Flags, American History, and Yankee Myths: How Lincoln’s War Changed America Forever
5. Not Guilty by Reason of Sanity: Why I Reject Government “Solutions” to Our Problems
6. Brand New American Schools? No Thanks!
7. Give Some People an Inch and They’ll Think They’re a Ruler: Neocon Foreign Policy and the Invasion of Iraq
8. The Issue of the Century: Roy Moore and the Ten Commandments
9. Cleanliness Is Next to Impossible: Why Christians Must Get Down and Dirty in the Culture Wars
10. What Easter Teaches Us
11. Conclusion: An Urgent Appeal to All Freedom-Loving Americans

Notes
The Declaration of Independence
The Constitution of the United States
The Bill of Rights
The Barmen Declaration

You can order Why I Stopped Listening to Rush at a discount price on the publisher’s Web site.