What does it really take to Glorify Christ?

 read this quote from Spurgeon:   

"Brethren and sisters in Christ, if we are really to glorify Christ on the earth, we must be willing to lose our reputation, our good name, our comfort, and indeed everything that we have, for Christ’s sake. This is the only way truly to live. If, for your own sake, you begin to keep back anything from Christ, that is the way to die. You would then be like the grain of wheat that is laid by, and preserved, and which, therefore, can never grow or multiply. Surrender yourself; be willing to be nothing; be willing to die if only the truth may live. Care nothing about honor and glory for yourself; care only about the honor and glory of your Master. Learn the meaning of the Master’s paradox. As you bury yourself, you will multiply yourself. As you are put out of sight, like a grain of wheat that is sown in the ground, you have your only opportunity of growth and increase; heavily-laden ears of corn shall spring up from the grain which has been buried in the earth."

Meatballs and Tomato Sauce

I was asked to share my recipe for meatballs and sauce, or more properly called gravy. (However, chefs and cooks alike should gasp at the mere thought that this would be called a recipe.)

Tomato Gravy (Tomato Sauce for non-Italians)

Two 28 ounce cans of whole tomatoes or diced. (I use Muir Glenn brand see link below)

One 6 ounce can of tomato paste.

1 tablespoon of Kosher salt

12 fresh basil leaves

3 cloves of garlic

1 tablespoon of Olive Oil

1 Tablespoon of Italian seasoning

1 Tablespoon of aged balsamic vinegar

1 teaspoon of sugar (Optional - I use three drops of liquid stevia) My wife doesn't' like this step.

Directions:

Place all ingredients in a tall sided bowl. Use an immersion blender and thoroughly blend all the ingredients.  Blend until smooth. Taste to see if it is right for your palate . 

Place is a 6-8 quart pot. Simmer for as many hours as you have available. You can place the meatballs in the gravy (Tomato Sauce for non-Italians). 

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The tomato gravy or sauce

Meatballs:

1.5 pounds of ground chuck

1 lb of ground veal

1 lb of ground sausage (Italian)

1.5 cups of ricotta cheese

3 tablespoons of Kosher Salt

3 tablespoons of parsley flakes

1 teaspoon of fresh ground pepper

1 tablespoon of garlic powder

2 tablespoons of dried italian seasoning

1/2 cup parmesan cheese

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350º

Take the three meats and gently but thoroughly mix the meat with your hands in a large mixing bowl. You don't want to overwork the meat.  

Add the ricotta mix in with a spoon. 

Now add the dry ingredients and mix again, thoroughly. Don't overwork meat

Now take 3-4 ounces of meat and gently form into the balls. You want loosely formed balls. Arrange them on the cookie sheet as pictured. Bake for 40 minutes. They will render a lot of fat. Be careful removing the cookie sheet. 

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Meatballs rolled and ready for baking

After baking before sauce is added I sprinkled parmesan cheese

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Covered with sauce and sprinkled with more cheese

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Leftovers

This posting is mainly for Jaimie Dillon (an Italian girl who asked an Irishman how to make sauce - somewhere a leprechaun is smiling and a pope is blushing.)

Have you left "...a little crumb of Jesus" today?

Give Us a Little Crumb.

"A missionary writing about an experience in South Africa tells the following: "I was traveling with a party of missionaries. All were anxious to get home as night was coming and we rushed on through one village without stopping. As we were about to canter away on our horses, an old woman came out of the village and shouted at us, 'You missionaries, why do you pass us by in this manner? Return and give us a little crumb of Jesus.’"" Matthew 15:27

Copied from: Foreign Missionary Workers' Manual - Pilgrim Publishing House

Kate Luther, wife of Martin Luther, announced "God is Dead." Read why:

Martin Luther was a very cheerful man, as a rule; but he had terrible fits of depression. He was at one time so depressed that his friends recommended him to go away for a change of air, to see if he could get relief. He went away; but he came home as miserable as ever; and when he went into the sitting-room, his wise wife Kate, Catherine von Bora, was sitting there, dressed in black, and her children round about her, all in black. “Oh, oh!” said Luther, “who is dead?” “Why,” said she, “doctor, have not you heard that God is dead? My husband, Martin Luther, would never be in such a state of mind if he had a living God to trust to.” Then he burst into a hearty laugh, and said, “Kate, thou art a wise woman. I have been acting as if God were dead, and I will do so no more. Go and take off thy black.”

If God be alive, why are we discouraged? If we have a God to look to, why are we cast down? Let us rejoice and be glad together; for God will do all that he has promised, for this reason!

Spurgeon's Expositions

It is National Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day

For me, this is an important day. It is National Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day. 

Therefore, I will declare how to craft the perfect grilled cheese sandwich.

First, you must have good bread. Go to Panera Bread, buy the French Country Miche. (YOLO)

Take out your cast iron pan. (if you don't have one, please don't confess that here - I will not judge you publicly) Put the pan on low. Leave it on the burner for 10 minutes. Don't panic. Don't oil it; just heat it. It will be hot enough after you construct this sandwich.

Now, you MUST, I repeat, MUST use Mascarpone Cheese against the bread on the inside. Butter is not worthy to touch the cheese when Mascarpone is involved. Use butter for the grilling side of the bread.

Now please don't whine, but, go get Boar's head cheese. Swiss, Cheddar, Colby Jack, and Havarti. (I didn't say this would be cheap, but, I did say this is the way to do it.) You can buy one slice of each from the deli. If you compromise on non boar's head cheese I am not responsible for the outcome. However, if you buy one slice of cheese from the deli and make this sandwich you will feel weird about going back to the store so you can make a second sandwich.

Now place the cheeses against the mascarpone swipes you made for the inside of the bread. Place them in order as stated above. Now, this should top the sandwich with the second slice of bread. Butter the top. Please do not skimp here. Now place the butter side down in your cast iron pan. (Please don't tell me you don't have one. It's inexcusable. Simply inexcusable. How on earth can you make corn bread without one?) The butter should sizzle, do not be nervous, we must make a crispy crunchy bite. Be patient grasshopper. Don't put the sandwich in the pan until its been heating for 10 minutes.

After about four minutes, use your fish spatula to peek and see if it is ready. It will probably take 44 more seconds. (given variance for altitude, heat source, ambient temperature, lunar position, and brand of the stove) Now, use this time to butter the side of the bread that is not buttered. I'm not responsible if you burn yourself. But, what kind of cook doesn't have scars?

Now, take the spatula and turn it over to the newly buttered side. Check on it in about 3.5 minutes. It will take about 4.5 but those variances can affect our work. We must have crunch on each bite.

Get your plate out. Do not use paper plates; it ruins everything if you do. Place this work of art on the plate, take a picture, tag me in it.

I can not participate in this day. I am not eating bread as part of my strict correction to Diabetic complication. Please enjoy this day.

"Do you think that the people in America will think that I love Jesus as much as they do?"

Onward Christian Soldiers

A fourteen-year-old Japanese girl who had only recently found the Lord came in to the missionary telling of her desire to take the message of salvation to her loved ones at home. On inquiry, the missionary found that her home was two hundred miles away over the mountains, and that the girl had no other way to cover the distance than to walk. She insisted, however, upon going and was anxious the missionary lady should accompany her. They started, and even after a steady tramp for a long distance, the Japanese girl did not care to stop. "We must hurry," she would say, "they might die before we get there."

Many more weary miles were placed behind them, and noticing that the girl's feet were bleeding and sore, the missionary insisted that the convert should go no further without rest. Resting but briefly, they continued the journey until finally both travelers fell exhausted on the mountainside. At the missionary's statement, "We cannot go any farther," the girl looked up and said, "Can't you sing 'Onward, Christian Soldiers' ?"

The song finished, the little girl asked, "Missionary do you think that the people in America will think that I love Jesus as much as they do?" At last the home was reached, the story was told, and the family joyfully found the Lord. Do you, an American, love Jesus as much as the Japanese girl? 

Copied from: Foreign Missionary Workers' Manual - Pilgrim Publishing House

What are people searching for around the world today on the Internet?

I embedded this not as endorsement of the Web site or organization. Merely, it's presentation is to show an aspect of the items people are searching for on the Internet.

I do endorse the Internet Bible Project of The Aletheia Project at Ambassador Baptist College.

Global Bible Searches - What Are They Searching For? God�s Word speaks to people very differently around the world. They find inspiration, encouragement and admonishment in a variety of passages depending on geography, circumstance, religious background and culture. With the Internet (and thanks to our friends at www.BibleGateway.org), we are now able to get a glimpse into the passages that people are seeking out most regularly. Take a moment to read through this infographic and consider how it might impact your outreach in these countries.