Just Andrea

Most Common Grilling Mistakes

2011-06-23T10:02:00.002-04:00

Most Common Grilling Mistakes

by Leanne Ely, C.N.C

Summer is here! Obviously, I'm a big fan of the grill and I feel as though I've spoken at length about it in that regard, so this isn't another article expressing my unwavering love for this cooking marvel, rather, it's a cautionary tale.

Though the grill may seem flawless and requiring hardly any maintenance at all, it isn't always the case. The grill is a remarkably low-maintenance piece of equipment, but it does need some looking after. So, I'm going to make a little list of common mistakes you can learn to avoid from the start:

Clean Your Grill. Just because everything technically burns off, doesn't mean you shouldn't scrape down the remains of the previous meal made. Think about it, would you want burnt scraps of last week's dinner sneaking into this week's? I didn't think so. All you need to do is take a metal brush and either brush it down after you use it or even wait until you use it again - either way make sure it happens before the next course of food touches the grate.

Put A Lid On It! (or not) Just because you have a lid doesn't mean you have to use it religiously. In fact, I suggest skipping the lid when grilling the essentials (steak, chicken, burgers, etc.). You'll notice that whenever you do that you lock in the smoke and your steak that had been marinating for two days prior will have the strong taste of smoke instead of the marinade.

Make It Right. First of all - don't just throw a steak on the grill straight from it's packaging. That flavorful first bite you've been looking forward to since you brought that luscious steak home in the first place is going to be severely lacking in any flavor. On the other hand I don't want you to submerge it in a sea of marinade for a week. Think simple. As far as steaks go, I recommend rubbing each side in with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and a bit of basic steak rub - taking a gallon size Ziploc and add just a bit of olive oil and apple cider vinegar, then add the steaks and allow them you soak in that for a few hours if not one or two days. Then write me a thank you note telling me how delightful your steak was!

Keep Your Eyes Peeled. When you're grilling, you won't have the same amount of prep time you do when you're in the kitchen. In fact, you really won't have any time at all because you'll always have to keep an eye on whatever you're grilling lest it becomes charred remains. So, before diving into the dinner you've plotted to be entirely cooked on the grill, make sure everything is seasoned, sliced, diced, and ready to go!

We have ways of making grilling SUPER simple, check out our Freezer Meals that go on the GRILL

Friday, July 8th is Cow Appreciation Day

2011-06-22T08:06:00.001-04:00

Friday, July 8th is Cow Appreciation day at participating Chick-fil-A locations. Dress up like a cow and you'll score a FREE Chick-fil-A meal!

Don't worry -- Chick-fil-A makes it easy for you by providing this cute downloadable costume kit, or you can always come up with your own creation. Bon appetit!

Building an eBook Library on the Cheap

2011-06-10T09:30:00.000-04:00

As a Kindle owner, I am always interested in good reading material for a small price. Here's an excellent article on building a Kindle library from Tim Challies at Challies.com.

Over the past week I’ve been linking to some ebook deals and have been surprised at how many people have apparently taken advantage of the deals. This got me thinking about the best way to build a library of Christian ebooks. I thought it would be worthwhile to combine forces here, to put together a list of the places you go to find ebook deals. So the purpose of this post is not so much to point to individual deals as much as to point to the places we go to find those deals.

Building an eBook Library on the Cheap | Challies Dot Com

$30 for $60 at BabyGourmet.com

2011-06-10T09:19:00.001-04:00

Check out this deal I found on FamilyFinds Raleigh Durham...

View >>

Creative Leftovers

2011-01-06T13:30:00.000-05:00

Creative Leftovers

by Leanne Ely, C.N.C

Holidays can leave us with lots of leftovers--I hope you stuck a bunch in your freezer!

When we remember to feed our freezer and have a plan for how we're going to use leftover food, we can recoup our losses and not waste a bit of it. If you find that you're feeding your garbage disposal, it's time to get creative with your leftovers. So take note!

1) Single Serving. Freeze your leftovers that night into individual single serving sized portions. Now you have a quick frozen dinner for someone later down the road.

2) Have a Plan. Before you cook your meal is the very best time to decide what exactly you will do with the leftovers. If you can prepare more now and freeze half for later, you'll save yourself time and money in the long run.

3) Write it Out. Make sure and write what it is on the freezer baggie with a Sharpie marker (it's the only one that won't run). Everything looks the same once it's frozen!

Here are a few more ideas --

Ham: Leftover ham can be used to cook a lot of different things -- pinto beans, corn chowder, potato soup and ham salad for example. You can also slice the ham and use it in sandwiches of course, and as a side to your breakfast eggs, or you can use it in a casserole. You can also use the leftover ham in your fried rice, your nightly veggie side dishes, as a baked potato topping, and into a quiche, too.
Chicken or Turkey: Poultry leftovers are very versatile. You can use them in the same types of dishes as the ham, soups and stews such as dumplings, vegetable soup, white chili, and turkey salad. You can use turkey anywhere you'd use chicken, in casseroles, and dishes such as with pasta like, chicken fettuccini carbona, and both birds make excellent pot pies.
Veggies: Any veggies left over can be frozen and then tossed into your soups or stews. You can use them up in stir fried dishes too. Remember that pureeing them into a soup isn't a sin; it's a virtue (and adds extra nutrition, too!).

The important thing with leftovers is to have a plan for them and they won't be a mere leftover anymore, but a made over!

Copyright (C) 2010 www.savingdinner.com Leanne Ely, CNC All rights reserved.

Marriage Takes Work | Blissfully Domestic

2009-10-15T06:41:00.001-04:00

Marriage Takes Work | Blissfully Domestic

http://blissfullydomestic.com/2009/marriage-takes-work

Essential Business Casual Wardrobe Pieces | Blissfully Domestic

2009-10-15T06:40:00.004-04:00

Essential Business Casual Wardrobe Pieces | Blissfully Domestic

http://blissfullydomestic.com/2009/essential-business-casual-wardrobe-pieces

Softer, Supple Skin Even In Winter | Blissfully Domestic

2009-10-15T06:40:00.003-04:00

http://blissfullydomestic.com/2009/softer-more-supple-skin-even-in-winter

Nature-Deficit Disorder - Have Our Children Forgotten How to Play Outdoors?

2009-10-15T06:40:00.001-04:00

Nature-Deficit Disorder — Have Our Children Forgotten How to Play Outdoors?

via AlbertMohler.com – Blog by Albert Mohler on 7/20/09

Author Richard Louv believes that America’s children are now suffering from a syndrome he identifies as “nature-deficit disorder.” In his new book, Last Child in the Woods, Louv suggests that the current generation of American children knows the Discovery Channel better than their own backyards–and that this loss of contact with nature leads to impoverished lives and stunted imagination.

Louv begins by recounting an anecdote involving his son, Matthew. When the boy was about ten years of age, he asked his father: “Dad, how come it was more fun when you were a kid?” The boy was honestly reflecting on his knowledge of his father’s boyhood. Richard Louv, like most of us who came of age in his generation, spent most of our playing time outdoors, building forts in the woods, exploring every nook and cranny of our yards, and participating in activities that centered in child-organized outdoor fun. Louv reflects, “Americans around my age, baby boomers or older, enjoyed a kind of free, natural play that seems, in the era of kid pagers, instant messaging, and Nintendo, like a quaint artifact.”

Louv argues that this represents nothing less than a sudden shift in the way Americans live, raise their children, and engage the natural world. “Within the space of a few decades, the way children understand and experience nature has changed radically. The polarity of the relationship has reversed. Today, kids are aware of the global threats to the environment–but their physical contact, their intimacy with nature, is fading. That’s exactly the opposite of how it was when I was a child.”

Looking back, Louv remembers holding to a rather simplistic view of his environment. “As a boy, I was unaware that my woods were ecologically connected with any other forest. No one in the 1950s talked about acid rain or holes in the ozone layer or global warming. But I knew my woods and my field; I knew every bend in the creek and dip in the beaten dirt path. I wandered those woods even in my dreams.” The situation is far different now. As Louv reflects, “A kid today can likely tell you about the Amazon rainforest–but not about the last time he or she explored the woods in solitude, or lay in a field listening to the wind and watching the clouds move.”

In this book, Richard Louv is articulating what many of us have been thinking. I recognize that my own boyhood is far removed from that of my son. It seems as if the world has been drastically changed. I grew up in neighborhoods that were typically suburban. Nevertheless, the woods were always nearby. For me, the “woods” included untamed tracts of land that were awaiting future suburban development. Nevertheless, this land was filled with trees, swamps, creeks, snakes, crawdads, and all the creeping and crawling things that used to call boys out into the woods.

Louv understands that this transformation of the way we encounter nature extends even to activities that are supposedly focused on nature itself. “Not that long ago, summer camp was a place where you camped, hiked in the woods, learned about plants and animals, or told firelight stories about ghosts or mountain lions,” Louv recalls. “As likely as not today, ’summer camp’ is a weight-loss camp, or a computer camp. For a new generation, nature is more abstraction than reality. Increasingly, nature is something to watch, to consume, to wear–to ignore.”

In reality, many children have almost no contact with nature. They play indoors, focusing on electronic screens that produce an artificial experience. They are surrounded by creature comforts and watched over by anxious parents who are afraid that violent criminals are lurking behind every green tree. “Our society is teaching young people to avoid direct experience in nature,” Louv observes. “That lesson is delivered in schools, families, even organizations devoted to the outdoors, and codified into the legal and regulatory structures of many of our communities.”

The larger cultural context is part of the problem. Louv notes that the academic world now seems far more interested in theoretical disciplines than in subjects like natural history and zoology. Beyond this, the biotechnology revolution threatens to blur the lines between humans and other animals–and the line between humans and machines.

Is contact with nature necessary for healthy childhood? Louv is absolutely confident that children have a deep need for contact with the natural world and its wonders. “Unlike television, nature does not steal time; it amplifies it,” Louv insists. In his view, “whatever shape nature takes, it offers each child an older, larger world separate from parents.” The natural world offers children an opportunity to think, dream, touch, and play out fantasies about how he or she imagines the world. Nature brings a capacity for wonder and a connection with something real that is endlessly fascinating and largely outside human control.

Louv tells of interviewing thousands of children in the course of previous research. At one point, he received this candid comment from a fourth-grade boy in San Diego: “I like to play indoors better, ’cause that’s where all the electrical outlets are.”

In the experience of all too many children, the electrical outlets are the determining reality. We have allowed our children to be so seduced by entertainment and information technologies that many believe that without electricity, experience is virtually impossible.

As one mom noted, children now spend much of their time watching. “We’ve become a more sedentary society,” she observes. “When I was a kid growing up in Detroit, we were always outdoors. The kids who stayed indoors were the odd ones. We didn’t have any huge wide-open spaces, but we were always outdoors on the streets–in the vacant lots, jumping rope, or playing baseball or hopscotch. We were out there playing even after we got older.”

Many of today’s children show little inclination to go outdoors at all. Louv describes the environment as experienced by many American children as the “third frontier”–an environment that is characterized by increasing distance from nature, an intellectualized understanding of the animal world, and a disconnection in the human consciousness between food and its origins.

That last point is of particular interest. Louv observes that many children have little knowledge of how food is produced. Lacking any experience with farming, livestock, and the food chain, these children simply assume that food is produced by something like a factory process. Young people may join animal rights groups without knowing anything about the actual animals involved. Louv argues that many college students become vegetarians without understanding that vegetables and vegetable byproducts are not manufactured indoors.

Richard Louv is a keen observer–watching our culture and taking careful note of how nature has become an abstraction for many of us. Why are so many Americans putting television and video screens in their vehicles? Louv observes: “The highway’s edges may not be postcard perfect. But for a century, children’s early understanding of how cities and nature fit together was gained from the backseat: the empty farmhouse at the edge of the subdivision; the variety of architecture, here and there; the woods and fields and water beyond the seamy edges–all that was and still is available to the eye. This was the landscape that we watched as children. It was our drive-by movie.”

These days, many parents allow kids to start the DVD player as soon as the car hits the interstate.

Interestingly, Louv also points to the epidemic of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder [ADHD], suggesting that a lack of contact with nature may be, at least in part, a cause for the attention deficit and disconnectedness experienced by many young children–especially young boys. He suggests that a “nature-deficit disorder” may be behind the phenomenon now routinely diagnosed as ADHD. Louv goes so far as to suggest that a dose of real contact with the natural world may be more powerful than Ritalin in helping children to overcome patterns of hyperactivity and distraction. The same prescription would likely help parents as well.

Richard Louv is a champion of nature, and Last Child in the Woods is a powerful call for human beings to reconnect with the natural world. It would do us all a world of good to take a walk in the woods, to play outdoors, and to remember that the world is filled with a variety of flora and fauna that defies the imagination and thrills the senses.

Last Child in the Woods is a fascinating book, though at times, Louv leans toward a form of nature mysticism. Nevertheless, Christians will read this book to great profit, remembering that the biblical worldview presents an affirmation of the goodness of creation. After all, Christians know that every atom and molecule of creation testifies of the glory of God.

This is our Father’s world, and we would do well to receive this world and enjoy it, while giving praise and glory to God for the beauty and bounty it contains. We understand that nature is not an end to itself, and we affirm that the creation exists as the theater of God’s glory for the drama of redemption. All this should help Christians to remember that we honor God most faithfully when we receive His good gifts most gratefully.

Christians should take the lead in reconnecting with nature and disconnecting from machines. Taking the kids for a long walk in the woods would be a great start.

____________________________

This article was first published August 25, 2005. During the month of July, I will be posting new articles and also featuring some articles from the archives I hope you will find helpful. This month requires a different schedule as I spend time with family and do groundwork on upcoming articles, messages, books, and projects. My normal schedule for new articles will resume as August begins.

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At the Well...In Pursuit of Titus 2: Introducing....

2009-01-21T13:46:00.000-05:00

At the Well...In Pursuit of Titus 2: Introducing....

Overheard in our Van. . .

2008-12-08T18:48:00.003-05:00

Little Man: Momma, I have decided that I want to be a Mousketeer, instead of a Policeman.

Momma: Really, sweetie?

Little Man: Yes, ma'am. 'Cause Mousketeers get to carry swords. . .

Momma: Don't you mean MUSKETEERS?

Little Man: Oh, yes ma'am. Just like on Tom and Jerry.

2008-12-02T17:02:00.000-05:00

Check out my friend Sherry's new blog: Joy for the Journey.

How to Make Starbucks Treats at Home

2008-11-24T16:41:00.001-05:00

From the Afflent Pauper:

I love the pumpkin loaf, gingerbread loaf and lemon pound cake at Starbucks. It used to be virtually impossible for me to step in to Starbucks for a tall drink and not walk away with a delicious slice of something. And I figured…. Hey, I deserve it. But at around $1.95 a slice, my bank account also deserves a break. I had to find an alternate way to satisfy my sweet tooth.

Pray, Prepare, and Participate in the Election

2008-11-04T10:27:00.000-05:00

Regardless of your party affiliation, please read this essay by Dr. Joe Haas, Jr. and vote the way God leads you. HE is in control, no matter what the outcome!

Andrea

I want to remind all of us that we have a Biblical mandate to be involved in public policy, to be heard in the public square, and to be involved in electing leaders who will govern according to Biblical principles – to be salt and light.

Proverbs 14:34 says, “Righteousness exalteth a nation; but sin is a reproach to any people.” There are many passages that affirm that a nation’s righteousness is determined by its public policies and how well they conform to God’s standards. Therefore, only God-honoring policies that lead to God-honoring actions can exalt a nation. How does this happen? God-honoring polices in a nation are the result of God-honoring public officials enacting those policies. If righteousness is going to exalt our country, then we have to elect leaders who honor God in how they will govern.

There is no Biblical basis for those in the church and in Christianity today who believe that Christians are NOT to be involved. This is something that is promoted by the liberal press that wants to mute our God-given right and responsibility to be involved.

Today we hear a lot about the litmus test that folks use to choice their candidates. Some use the litmus test of age, or race, or experience, or lack of experience, or prior associations, television ads, and even the opinions of others to chose their candidates.

I believe we must apply the greatest litmus test we have: the litmus test of the truths and principles of God’s Word – the Bible. We must view every candidate though the litmus test of the Word of God. That means that we have to FIRST look at the candidates to see if they will advance Biblical standards of righteousness AND oppose policies that encourage sinful or unrighteous behavior. To the Christian, Biblical principles must always take precedence over economic, environmental, health care, energy, and other issues.

Let me quickly give some Biblical issues that we must use to “test” where a candidate stands.

1. Judicial appointments

· Isa. 1:26 says, “I will restore your judges as at the first…then you will be called the city of righteousness..”
· Ezra 7:25 says, “..set (appoint) judges, which may judge all the people… all such as know the laws of God;
· II Chron. 19:6-7 says, “ Judges, take heed what ye do; for ye judge not for man, but for the Lord,….take heed and do it..”

Knowing what kind of judges a candidate will appoint is very vital when selecting a candidate.

2. Abortion & Inalienable Rights

· Psalm 139:13-16
· Isa. 44:2, 24
· Defending the life of the unborn child must always remain a priority for Biblical voters.

The right to life is our most precious inalienable right. IF a candidate is wrong on abortion, he will disregard other rights- protection of private property (5th Amendment), self-defense (the right to bear arms – 2nd Amendment), and sanctity of the home (3rd Amendment). IF a candidate refuses to recognize the role of God in the creation of life and does not promise to protect that first of all inalienable rights, then all other individual rights are also in danger.

We should test a candidate’s stand on moral issues like homosexuality.

· Today we are seeing a massive effort to make homosexuality moral or a right – i.e. legislation allowing same-sex marriages, etc.
· For the Christian, the Bible is very plain, calling homosexuality a sin in passages in Leviticus, Romans, Jeremiah, etc.
· Where a candidate stands on moral issues is one of the best indicators of whether that candidate embraces the moral absolutes found in God’s Word; this will show how he will govern and must be a priority when choosing a candidate.

We should test what a candidate believes about the separation of the church and state – remember that the intent was not the separation of the church FROM the state – somehow the press today has made this separation issue into a divorce. That is not the Biblical model, and neither was that the intent of the framers of our constitution.

I believe there are some non-negotiable principles that every Biblical voter should verify about a candidate before voting. I also believe that every Christian will give an account before God someday for whether we were involved in advancing the righteousness of our nation by voting and being involved (being salt and light), and whether we voted for the candidates that best stood for Biblical principles.

PRAY – Pray that God will give you wisdom to discern the best candidate.

PREPARE – Test each candidate by the “litmus test” of the principles found in God’s Word

PARTICIPATE – Go VOTE. This is your Biblical and civic responsibility. The duty is ours, and the results are up to God.

Pray, Prepare, and Participate – Be sure you continue to encourage everyone you can to go out and vote tomorrow.

Joe R. Haas, Ed.D.

Executive Director
North Carolina Christian School Association
P.O. Box 231
Goldsboro, NC 27533

Office: 919.731.4844
Fax: 919.731.4847
Email: joehaas@nccsa.org
Web: www.nccsa.org

I will be back. . .I promise!

2008-10-31T10:19:00.001-04:00

I am helping with our Ladies Retreat at the church (see the site here) and have been very busy with it! I am coming back "full force" in December!

Thanks for your patience!

Andrea

The American Frugal Housewife: Part 3

2008-09-06T20:09:00.003-04:00

Keeping the Kingdom First: Balancing Faith, Family & Frugality: The American Frugal Housewife: Part 3

The American Frugal Housewife: Part 2

2008-09-06T20:09:00.001-04:00

Keeping the Kingdom First: Balancing Faith, Family & Frugality: The American Frugal Housewife: Part 2

The American Frugal Housewife: Part 1

2008-09-06T20:08:00.001-04:00

Keeping the Kingdom First: Balancing Faith, Family & Frugality: The American Frugal Housewife: Part 1

Honest Couponing?

2008-09-06T19:40:00.001-04:00

This is an interesting article about a subject dear to my heart--COUPONING!

Keeping the Kingdom First: Balancing Faith, Family & Frugality: Honest Couponing?

It is hard to believe how amazing...

2008-08-17T23:35:00.001-04:00

It is hard to believe how amazing my husband is...my computer is working again.

I love you baby!

Do you Library?

2008-08-14T12:14:00.001-04:00

My family has recently started using the Library again. I had forgotten how fun it can be. We have rented movies and borrowed hundreds of dollars worth of books. To me, this is the best way to "try before you buy!" There are several libraries in our system and they are all connected online.

If you haven't been to your library lately, you may want to check it out!

Here's an article from Life as Mom about it!

Life as Mom: Toolin' Up Tuesday: The Back to School Edition

back-to-school to-do list

2008-08-13T14:13:00.001-04:00

Starting School Interactive Checklist

This back-to-school to-do list covers everything you need to get the kids (and yourself) ready to start the year off right.

15+ Ways to Boost School Success

2008-08-13T14:12:00.001-04:00

15+ Ways to Boost School Success

Whether your child is starting preschool or third grade, these little strategies can make a huge difference.

10 Telltale Signs of Low Blood Sugar

2008-08-12T11:02:00.001-04:00

10 Telltale Signs of Low Blood Sugar

Hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, is common among diabetics, and it can occur even when you're carefully managing your diabetes. Hypoglycemia occurs when the amount of blood glucose (sugar in the blood) drops too low to sustain normal functioning. This drop can cause both short- and long-term complications, so it's crucial to monitor your glucose levels and treat hypoglycemia as soon as you're aware of it. Pay attention to these telltale signs of low blood sugar and do your best to keep your glucose under control

Interactive Checklist -- Back to School

2008-08-07T10:32:00.001-04:00

Parents.com back-to-school to-do list covers everything you need to get the kids (and yourself) ready to start the year off right.

Interactive Checklist

Seven Myths About Low Carb Diets

2008-08-05T20:29:00.001-04:00

There are a lot of myths and misconceptions about low-carb diets. Anti-low carb information often draws an image of people eating very unhealthy diets, with no vegetables or fruits, guzzling cream and eating bacon dipped in butter all day. We are supposedly courting heart disease, and are on a dangerous road to poor health.

Read on. . .

Myths About Low Carb Diets - Low Carb Myths

Have you seen the new "Right @ Home" site?

2008-08-05T20:28:00.001-04:00

This was the Clean Home Journal.

Good coupons. Good recipes. Cool Tips.

Check it out!

Right@Home™

Starbucks - $2 Afternoon Grande Drinks

2008-08-05T20:25:00.001-04:00

Check this out! Wahoo!

Affluent Pauper: Starbucks - $2 Afternoon Grande Drinks

Holiday Ideas for Gifts In A Jar from Organized Christmas

2008-08-01T10:29:00.001-04:00

Gifts in a jar! These frugal consumable gifts feature bath salts, cookie ingredients, holiday beverage mixes, baking mixes or bean soup fixings layered in a glass canning jar.

Gifts in a jar are easy homemade Christmas gifts. Topped with a colorful fabric circle and a free printable gift tag, they're a welcome holiday treat.

We've got all you need to know to make gifts in a jar. Get started with our instructions, tips and recipes. Don't forget to visit the Gifts in a Jar forms library to print gift tags for a finishing touch!

Jar Gift Recipes: Holiday Ideas for Gifts In A Jar | Organized Christmas

Summer Money-Saving Tips From Dave Ramsey

2008-08-01T09:17:00.001-04:00

The summer season is notorious for being a time of great spending. Chances are you've experienced the effects of this! Family vacations, sending the kids to camp, updating the wardrobe...the list could go on and on. You know what? It's okay to spend money. Money's fun...if you got some.

So in an effort to help you save some money this summer, here are some ideas. They may not seem like huge changes in your daily life, but keep in mind that every little thing adds up and you could save a significant amount of money. A little research and minor alterations can create opportunities for a very fun summer.

Summer Money-Saving Tips

You Know You're Getting Older When ...Now this is funny!

2008-07-30T08:19:00.001-04:00

The Bayou Belles and Their Beau: You Know You're Getting Older When ...

Year to Date "Best Bargain Gone Wrong"--from About.com

2008-07-30T06:31:00.001-04:00

Year to Date "Best Bargain Gone Wrong"

"I enjoy watching ABC's "Extreme Makeover" and always end up shedding a tear when they "Move That Bus!" although I do not come close to the tears which predictably are shed by design team members, Paul DiMeo and Paige Hemmis. The program is successful at creating a lot of warm fuzzy moments while we watch a family living in some disastrous situation move to a new home which seemingly meets every personal need, no matter how challenging. It leaves most of us with a good feeling to see a family's life forever changed for the better.

At least that is how things are supposed to work, but one family that received an extreme makeover in 2005 is now facing the possibility of their lives once again changing, but not for the better. "

The View from my Back Porch Tonight!

2008-07-29T21:00:00.000-04:00

GORGEOUS!

We planted these from wee seeds. . .

2008-07-29T20:56:00.000-04:00

Aren't they pretty now?

Mexican Peppers - Salmonella Saintpaul Outbreak -

2008-07-28T18:37:00.001-04:00

Mexican Peppers - Salmonella Saintpaul Outbreak - The Emergency Email & Wireless Network .......... www. EmergencyEmail.ORG ........ NewsEmergency.com

PART 1 OF COUPONONOMY: Coupons and our Economy

2008-07-28T18:30:00.001-04:00

The U.S. Economy isn't GOOD and everyone knows it. They not only KNOW it they FEEL IT, SEE IT, HEAR IT AND READ IT everyday! The headlines discuss "fuel prices up" "stock market down" and everything else in between. Just today I went to the grocery store and saw 2 very disturbing things.......... a plastic jug of Folgers coffee for $10.XX at Food Lion and $2.99 for get this 1 ENGLISH Cucumber! I made a $30 a week feeds your family of 4 menu & shopping list in 2002 and posted this on my website. I bet that $30 would cost TRIPLE that amount right now using the same ingredients and items! I now have had to revise my budget to $40 a week but I am also feeding a family of 6 at the moment! (4 adults, 1 tween and 1 toddler). This does NOT include cleaning products or diapers but most everything else is included. I am focusing on "How to Find & Get Coupons" today but later I will revise the $30 menu to $40 to better suit the "Coupononomy" of today.

Coupononomy

Price Matching: How to Save Even More

2008-07-28T12:59:00.001-04:00

Price Matching: How to Save Even More - SavingAdvice.com Blog

It seems that many businesses and stores these days are willing to fight hard for your patronage. I’ve noticed a lot more stores lately that now offer price matching on equal items from a different store. You simply show the ad or online printout showing the item that is less expensive at the rival store, and they will give you the item for that price (or sometimes even for cheaper). The fact is that in today’s day and age, your money is in demand and you can use this to your advantage and save yourself even more cash. Here are a few of the biggest benefits to taking advantage of the price matching strategy.

NC Tax-Free Weekend List of items. . .

2008-07-28T09:32:00.001-04:00

About.com: http://www.dor.state.nc.us/taxes/sales/salestax_holiday.html

Repurposing Furniture: New Uses for Old Sideboards

2008-07-28T09:15:00.001-04:00

Bored with the same old products and ideas that look identical to what is in my neighbor's house? Imitation might be the greatest form of flattery, but it can also be kind of boring.

Blissfully Domestic

Another Coupon Binder Explained: Part 1

2008-07-26T21:33:00.001-04:00

Yet another way to keep coupons organized. . .

Keeping the Kingdom First: My Coupon Binder Explained: Part 1

A Basic Guide to Menu Planning--From Simple Mom

2008-07-25T17:52:00.002-04:00

how to menu plan: a guide simple mom

Menu planning saves hours of time, energy, money, and headaches, but it’s easy to overcomplicate the process. And when that happens, it becomes a burden instead of a blessing. So why do it at all?

My Not-To-Do List

2008-07-24T19:00:00.002-04:00

Good Article Below from MOMSense:

If you're like me, you have at least one to-do list, if not several, around your house. Maybe one written back in January when you decided this was the year to simplify your life. Hmm, it's already the middle of summer …

In the preschool years, the mountain of laundry, overstuffed toy boxes, schedules to coordinate, e-mails to return and stacks of baby pictures to categorize overwhelms me. Why do I feel so far behind?

My Not-To-Do List MOMSense

Go Red For Women--Free Cookbook Here!

2008-07-19T20:14:00.001-04:00

Go Red For Women

Triple Coupons is coming to your neighborhood Harris Teeter. . .Ceeck out this list.

2008-07-19T20:05:00.001-04:00

It matches coupons with the sale. . .

Let's Get Ready For Triples!! July 24-26th - A Full Cup - your coupon and refunding home!

Make Blue Jeans into a Jean Skirt. . .this is cool!

2008-07-19T13:35:00.001-04:00

SINGER® SEWING CO. | Projects

CVS 6 x 8 Photo Book July 13 - 19

2008-07-17T13:16:00.001-04:00

The New Frugal Mom: CVS 6 x 8 Photo Book MONEYMAKER, July 13 - 19

Before I break down how you can get (2) of the 6x8 Kodak Photo Books at CVS for $0.98 this week, AND earn back $15.98 in ECBs, let me show you a picture of the CVS coupon for $3/1 6 x 8 Photo Book:

Less than 200 Saving Days Until Christmas--Read on with an article from FrugalDad.

2008-07-17T13:12:00.001-04:00

With less than 200 days (185, to be exact) until Christmas it is comforting to know that our budget debacles of previous years will not repeat themselves.

Read on with an article from FrugalDad.

Mommy Snacks: Snack Time: Coupon Organization

2008-07-16T17:49:00.001-04:00
Mommy Snacks: Snack Time: Coupon Organization

Top 5 Tips to Coupon Effectively--From MommySnack

2008-07-16T17:46:00.001-04:00

After the question came from a reader on how to really do all this coupon saving, it got me thinking about creating this snack to discuss the most effective way to use coupons. And, of course, that prompted a Top 5 Tips list from me (anything in a list works for me). So, I thought I would share the with you - these are all things I've been doing since I've started couponing:

Click here for more on this Snack...

Know Your Store's Coupon Policies.

You have to start with the basic rules of playing this money-saving game! This is also a tip in my Top 5 Tips to Build Your Stockpile. Store coupon policies will tell you the true value of the coupon amount listed on that coupon! You may think that the value is just what the amount listed on the coupon, but if your store doubles or triples (you lucky dog, you) then that coupon is just like having extra money! I look at my coupons like money just waiting to be redeemed, and when you know your store's policies it really is like that! For some help, here is a list that share stores who double coupons - it's not all inclusive, but gives you a good idea.

Know what your family eats or uses the most of?

I touched on this briefly in my Top 5 Tips to Build Your Stockpile. This will tell you what coupons you really need to use. If you know you regularly eat Aunt Millie's bread and Meijer's Coupon Policy will double two of the same coupons, then will the sale for B1G1 FREE cycles around, those coupons will be SWEET to use! The same is true for Health and Beauty products, whatever products you may have a brand loyalty with and you find the manufacturer publishes coupons, try to get more coupons for that sales cycle. This is a great time to buy some coupons on Ebay (or pay for someone to clip/mail you coupons) to stock up on those items you'll need the most!

I also always shop with a list that includes these regularly used items. My list or store scenario includes the weekly shopping trip with prices on the left deducting the coupon values on the right so I have a good idea of what my total is going to be. If I ever learn how to upload an attachment here, I'll post my spreadsheet I do this with (or just shoot me an email and I'll send it to ya). It helps me to not forget any needs items, like milk or eggs, that may not have a coupon to use (gasp, I know) AND stick to my budget (which, again, I've been slackin' on lately). Also, I do hit the stores pretty much every week so I can really take full advantage of all the sales and continue to build my stockpile.
Carrie @ Carrie's Cooking has a Master Grocery List here. This is a good resource and great idea to inventory and monitor product levels for your own home (sounds so technical, doesn't it ?!). And, Carrie's Cooking focuses on meal planning too which is another great benefit in utilizing your coupons and your stockpile too!

Get some coupons!

You need some coupons in order to being this money-savin' journey, right?! I talked briefly about where I get coupons here and that also includes a link to find the lowest newspaper subscriptions in your area (it is national). I also compiled a list of several of my favorite internet printable coupon resources here - BTW, not all stores will accept internet printable coupons so be sure to have a good understanding of their policy before you shop.

It's really good to know your store's coupon policies and your family's product consumption habits (again, it sounds technical but it's necessary) at the same time you are getting your coupons! I say this because there may be coupons you need to purchase and remember the true value is dependent upon the store's policy. I discuss purchasing various coupons (or someone's time to clip coupons) here. One thing to remember while purchasing coupons is all of the coupon values available by region. Some regions get higher valued coupons, so it's good to reference Hotcouponworld's Coupon Database to see what value coupons are available in all regions. I discussed this in more detail at the bottom of the snack here.

And, you need to know what inserts and acronyms all bloggers are referring to when we abbreviate, so be sure to review this Coupon Lingo snack so we're on the same page (web page that is :-). Another good resource I utilize weekly is TaylortownPreview. I talked about the site here. Be sure to review my snack and see why this helps while you're getting your coupons!

Organize your coupons.

I shared my organization method here. There is no right/wrong way in organizing, but in order to stick with couponing, it's important to find a method that works for you! This is definitely not something you want to give up on because it can save you so much money with very little effort. This method is also dependent upon how you plan to shop. I never leave home without my list or scenario for each store (as mentioned in Tip #2). I know within pennies how much I'm going to spend because I try to stay organized. This also has the super great affect of being efficient! Yes, when you're trying to get a 14-month old's little mind occupied in order to get in/out as quickly as possible, efficiency is your best friend! My motto - time = money (and less headaches from the kiddos during the shopping trip)!

Keep track or follow store sales.

I mentioned this in Tip #2, this will tell you when to "play" or use your coupon when the sale is the lowest it will go. I learned this tip from The Grocery Game. While I'm not a member anymore, it was a great resource to help me understand store sale cycles and utilize my coupons strategically - yeap, there is some strategy to this sometimes. And, I've mentioned Hotcouponworld several times because it is another amazing resource in couponing. HCW has a post dedicated to sales cycles which you can find here.

Another tip I have on finding the sales pricing on products is to a general search at Hotcouponworld for the product name and store you'll be shopping at and see what results comes up. The ad details are almost always written in each post so you can probably find the price and date the product was priced at that amount.

Of course, there's always keeping a price book. I started one last year and didn't keep up with it. Honestly, you'll find that the longer you coupon, you'll just remember the prices and really good sales too - and wait impatiently for them to return :-) And, don't forget if the store if out of something, you can request a rain check! Carlie @ Why Ask Why discusses the lots of coupon tips in her Coupon Class here. Definitely check out Lesson #7 on rain checks - rain checks really are your friends :-)
If you're new to couponing, just read and re-read this snack and supporting links. You will get it, I promise! The main thing is allowing time and learning to coupon effectively. You wouldn't think that is necessary with simple coupons, huh? But, honestly, there is some strategy to using coupons and in order to be strategic we have to know what we're facing at the stores and how to play SMART! :-)

If you're a long time couponer, do you have other tips you've learned along the way? Please share too. The most valuable resource is sharing as you begin or continue this money-saving journey! I still learn stuff as I'm going and I'm so thankful for the resources and amazing blogs available that are willing and as excited as I am to share and help others save money too!

Printable Coupons--From Food to Shoes. . .find it here!

2008-07-16T17:45:00.001-04:00
Printable Coupons

Pool Pics

2008-06-28T12:24:00.000-04:00

My Kids and Me

2008-05-14T09:51:00.000-04:00

After Reilly's K4 Program!
Allison, Reilly and Momma

Marigold from my Garden

2008-04-26T15:11:00.000-04:00

5 Reasons to Eat More Chocolate

2008-04-23T13:50:00.001-04:00

It may be hard to believe that something as delicious as chocolate could actually be good for you. But according to a growing body of research, America’s favorite sweet treat comes with a host of surprising health benefits—from lowering cholesterol levels to boosting your brainpower. Read on for five guilt-free reasons to indulge in this decadent dessert (as if you needed any more convincing).
Healthier Cholesterol Levels. A recent study conducted at Penn State University found that people who ate a diet rich in cocoa powder and dark chocolate had lower oxidation levels of LDL “bad” cholesterol and higher levels of HDL “good” cholesterol.
Better Blood Pressure. According to a German study recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, a bite of dark chocolate a day may help regulate high blood pressure. The study’s authors suspect that the cocoa increases levels of nitric oxide, a compound that helps to relax and open the blood vessels.
Muscle Magic. It might seem like a strange choice for a sports drink, but chocolate milk may help boost athletic performance. In a recent Indiana University study, cyclists who drank chocolate milk between workouts scored better on fatigue and endurance tests than those who consumed standard sports beverages.
Brain Gains. According to the National Alzheimer’s Association, consuming dark chocolate can help reduce your chances of developing dementia later in life. In fact, a local chapter of the organization recently included dark chocolate in all the gift baskets it gave to attendees at the Maintain Your Brain program.
Disease-Fighting Power. Cornell University researchers recently found that cocoa contains nearly twice the disease-fighting antioxidants of red wine and up to three times more than green tea.
Check out this site.

Have you seen the new site?

2008-04-22T21:29:00.004-04:00
Busy Moms CAN Cook is set to launchy very soon.

Click here to see what all the fuss is about!

Andrea

Free Cheese--Go NOW!

2008-04-16T09:52:00.000-04:00

http://www.iheartgrilledcheese.com/

AWWW...How Sweet!

2008-04-16T09:44:00.000-04:00

From matching gems to the perfect match

Hacker proposes to girlfriend via casual puzzle game Bejeweled.

http://us.i1.yimg.com/videogames.yahoo..com/feature/from-matching-gems-to-the-perfect-match/1204743

Basic Grilled Chicken Breasts (a la Andrea)

2008-04-16T09:38:00.002-04:00

6 Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts
¾ cup Barbecue Sauce
Place chicken breasts on a well-oiled grill.
Cover and grill for 6-8 minutes per side or until cooked through.
Brush with barbecue sauce during last 5 minutes of grilling.

Makes 4-6 servings

Azalea

2008-04-14T15:50:00.001-04:00

The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.
--Isaiah 40:8

A New (to me) Cool Online Coupon Site

2008-04-14T13:52:00.003-04:00
BradsDeals, published by Brad Wilson, finds and writes about online shopping deals, online coupons and codes and in-store printable coupons.

http://www.bradsdeals.com/

See him on the Today Show here:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/24103730#24103730

Please avoid "The Letter C"

2008-04-13T21:26:00.003-04:00

As I was putting Reilly to bed tonight, he asked if I had ever heard of "The Letter C." I responded with "of course dear, the letter between b & d." He proceeded to tell me that in Bible class last week, he learned about "The Letter C." Apparently, when you contract "The Letter C," your nose falls off, your fingers fall off, and your toes, knees, ears, and legs also fall off.

If you haven't figured it out by now, he was referring to LEPROSY!

He continued that when Jesus healed people with leprosy, all the body parts that had previously fallen off would be replaced with new ones.

Excitedly, I said, "What is it called when Jesus heals someone Reilly. . .it starts with an 'M'." He thought for a second and said "MMMMMMMazing!"

That's my guy!

2008-04-12T16:04:00.003-04:00

Dogwoods in the Front of the house

2008-04-12T16:04:00.002-04:00

Flowering Cherry

2008-04-12T16:03:00.003-04:00

Magnolia

2008-04-12T16:03:00.002-04:00

Blueberry Bushes

2008-04-12T16:02:00.001-04:00

Crabapple (left) and Flowering Cherry (right)

2008-04-12T16:02:00.000-04:00

Corkscrew Willow

2008-04-12T16:00:00.000-04:00

Crabapple (left) and Flowering Cherry (right)

2008-04-12T15:59:00.000-04:00
This beautiful dogwood is now located in my front yard.

Some Great Stuff

2008-04-03T13:07:00.000-04:00

TODAY ONLY WOMANS DAY MAGAZINE 1 YEAR $3.99 -15% off $3.39
HERE
CODE: PXSS46

March 17th through July 17th, 2008, get 3 Weeks free at Curves when you bring in 3 Milk Caps to a participating Curves club.

Offer valid with 3 milk caps from any 3 fluid milk containers.

Three free weeks must be redeemed on first visit or exchanged for special membership discount.

Limit of one 3 week Curves membership per person.

Not valid with any other offer, no cash value and new members only.

Valid only at participating Curves locations.

Offer valid only in US.

Additionally, from March 17th through April 17th, got milk? is offering an online sweepstakes for consumers to enter for a chance to win 1 of 24 Two-year Curves memberships with any Milk UPC/barcode.

Plus, every entrant will receive a free trial membership to the new CurvesComplete.com!

Go to www.whymilk.com to enter.

$2.50 on BERTOLLI DINNER
HERE
print the coupon and take to store

DRESS LIKE A COW AND GET NO COST MEAL AT CHICK FIL A

You don't need a FULL COSTUME just get creative!

GO HERE and click on COW APPRECIATION DAY FOR FULL DETAILS

HERE is a link for you to print & color a COW MASK to get you started

Third Grade Project, Grow a Cabbage or Eight!

2008-04-01T18:51:00.000-04:00

Soon to be Planted in my Front Yard

2008-04-01T18:50:00.000-04:00

Reilly Guy

2008-04-01T18:48:00.000-04:00

The Scene from My Back Porch

2008-04-01T18:47:00.000-04:00

Your Age By Eating Out

2008-03-25T10:44:00.000-04:00

It takes less than a minute. Work it out as you read. Be sure you don't read the bottom until you've worked it out!

Pick the number of times per week that you would like to go out to eat. (more than once but less than 10).

Multiply this number by 2 (just to be bold).

Add 5.

Multiply by 50.

If you have already had your birthday this year add 1758. . . If you haven't, add 1757.

Now subtract the four digit year that you were born. (Ex. 1941, 1968 etc.) You should have a three digit number.

The first digit of this was your original number. (i.e. the number of times you want to go out to restaurants in a week.)

The next two numbers are:

YOUR AGE ! ------ (Oh YES, it is!)

$31 P&G Coupon Book

2008-03-11T14:11:00.000-04:00

Did you get your Home Made Simple $31 P&G Coupon Book in the mail this week?

If not, it appears you can still request it. It is full of coupons for P&G products (Swiffer, Cascade, Dawn, Febreze, Mr. Clean, Iams) that don't expire until 9/30/08.

The best coupon in there was for a FREE Cascade Crystal Clear Rinse Aid.

Get your request in for this great coupon book!

Please Vote for Allison & Reilly

2008-03-04T19:09:00.000-05:00

Our Annual cutest baby contest is underway. Check our blog and email us your vote. Make sure to read our entry, "Cutest Baby Contest" for the rules.  You can only vote once per category, but let your friends and family help your child win!

http://wynnls1.bigfolioblog.com/month/mar08

Allison is C3 & Reilly is C8. Email your vote to Lisa at info@rliphotography.com. Make sure your Subject line says: Cutest Baby Vote. The winner will be announced in this month's newsletter. The voting will be open until the 18th of March.

Don't forget to tell all your friends and family to vote.

Sincerely,

Andrea

HELPFUL HINTS!

2008-02-29T10:08:00.000-05:00

Peel a banana from the bottom and you won't have to pick the little "stringy things" off of it. That's how the primates do it.

Take your bananas apart when you get home from the store. If you Leave them connected at the stem, they ripen faster.

Store your opened chunks of cheese in aluminum foil. It will stay fresh much longer and not mold!

Peppers with 3 bumps on the bottom are sweeter and better for eating. Peppers with 4 bumps on the bottom are firmer and better for cooking.

Add a teaspoon of water when frying ground beef. It will help pull the grease away from the meat while cooking.

To really make scrambled eggs or omelets rich add a couple of spoonfuls of sour cream, cream cheese, or heavy cream in and then beat them up.

For a cool brownie treat, make brownies as directed. Melt Andes mints in double broiler and pour over warm brownies. Let set for a wonderful minty frosting.

Add garlic immediately to a recipe if you want a light taste of garlic and at the end of the recipe if your want a stronger taste of garlic.

Leftover snickers bars from Halloween make a delicious dessert. Simple chop them up with the food chopper. Peel, core and slice a few apples. Place them in a baking dish and sprinkle the chopped candy bars over the apples. Bake at 350 for 15 minutes!!! Serve alone or with vanilla ice cream.

=============================================

1. Reheat Pizza--Heat up leftover pizza in a nonstick skillet on top of the stove, set heat to med-low and heat till warm. This keeps the crust crispy. No soggy micro pizza.

2. Easy Deviled Eggs--Put cooked egg yolks in a zip lock bag. Seal, mash till they are all broken up. Add remainder of ingredients, reseal, keep mashing it up mixing thoroughly, cut the tip of the baggy, squeeze mixture into egg. Just throw bag away when done easy clean up.

3. Expanding Frosting--When you buy a container of cake frosting from the store, whip it with your mixer for a few minutes. You can double it in size. You get to frost more cake/cupcakes with the same amount. You also eat less sugar and calories per serving.

4. Reheating refrigerated bread--To warm biscuits, pancakes, or muffins that were refrigerated, place them in a microwave with a cup of water. The increased moisture will keep the food moist and help it reheat faster.

5. Newspaper weeds away--Start putting in your plants, work the nutrients in your soil. Wet newspapers put layers around the plants overlapping as you go cover with mulch and forget about weeds. Weeds will get through some gardening plastic they will not get through wet newspapers.

6 . Broken Glass--Use a wet cotton ball or Q-tip to pick up the small shards of glass you can't see easily.

7. No More Mosquitoes--Place a dryer sheet in your pocket. It will keep the mosquitoes away.

8. Squirrel Away!--To keep squirrels from eating your plants sprinkle your plants with cayenne pepper. The cayenne pepper doesn't hurt the plant and the squirrels won't come near it.

9. Flexible vacuum--To get something out of a heat register or under the fridge add an empty paper towel roll or empty gift wrap roll to your vacuum. It can be bent or flattened to get in narrow openings.

10. Reducing Static Cling--Pin a small safety pin to the seam of your slip and you will not have a clingy skirt or dress. Same thing works with slacks that cling when wearing panty hose. Place pin in seam of slacks and -- ta da! --static is gone.

11. Measuring Cups--Before you pour sticky substances into a measuring cup, fill with hot water. Dump out the hot water, but don't dry cup. Next, add your ingredient, such as peanut butter, and watch how easily it comes right out.

12. Foggy Windshield? Hate foggy windshields? Buy a chalkboard eraser and keep it in the glove box of your car. When the windows fog, rub with the eraser! Works better than a cloth!

13. Reopening envelope--If you seal an envelope and then realize you forgot to include something inside, just place your sealed envelope in the freezer for an hour or two. Viola! It unseals easily.

14. Conditioner--Use your hair conditioner to shave your legs. It's a lot cheaper than shaving cream and leaves your legs really smooth. It's also a great way to use up the conditioner you bought but didn't like when you tried it in your hair...

15. Goodbye Fruit Flies--To get rid of pesky fruit flies, take a small glass fill it 1/2" with Apple Cider Vinegar and 2 drops of dish washing liquid, mix well. You will find those flies drawn to the cup and gone forever!

16. Get Rid of Ants--Put small piles of cornmeal where you see ants. They eat it, take it "home," can't digest it so it kills them. It may take a week or so, especially if it rains, but it works & you don't have the worry about pets or small children being harmed!

FBI Issues Valentine's Day Email Warning

2008-02-13T10:09:00.000-05:00

Feb 12, 2008
Internet Alert: St. Valentine's Day E-Card Carries Storm Worm Virus

If you unexpectedly receive a Valentine's Day e-card, be careful. It may not be from a secret admirer, but instead might contain the Storm Worm virus.

With the holiday approaching, be on the lookout for spam e-mails spreading the Storm Worm malicious software (malware). The e-mail directs the recipient to click on a link to retrieve the electronic greeting card (e-card).

Once the user clicks on the link, malware is downloaded to the Internet-connected device and causes it to become infected and part of the Storm Worm botnet. A botnet is a network of compromised machines under the control of a single user. Botnets are typically set up to facilitate criminal activity such as spam e-mail, identity theft, denial of service attacks, and spreading malware to other machines on the Internet.

The Storm Worm virus has capitalized on various holidays in the last year by sending millions of e-mails advertising an e-card link within the text of the spam e-mail. Valentine's Day has been identified as the next target.

Be wary of any e-mail received from an unknown sender. Do not open any unsolicited e-mail and do not click on any links provided.

You may be from West Virginia if. . .

2008-02-13T09:10:00.000-05:00

**If your local Dairy Queen is closed from September through May, you May live in West Virginia .**

**If someone in a Home Depot store offers you assistance and they don't work there, you may live in West Virginia **

**If you've worn shorts and a parka at the same time, you may live in West Virginia ..**

**If you've had a lengthy telephone conversation with someone who dialed a wrong number, you may live in West Virginia .**

**If "Vacation" means going anywhere south of Charleston for the Weekend, you may live in West Virginia **

**If you measure distance in hours, you may live in West Virginia **

**If you know several people who have hit a deer more than once, you may live in West Virginia **

**If you have switched from "heat" to "A/C" in the same day and back again, you may live in west Virginia ..**

**If you can drive 75 mph through 2 feet of snow during a raging blizzard without flinching, you may live in West Virginia .**

**If you install security lights on your house and garage, but leave both unlocked, you may live in West Virginia .**

**If you carry jumper cables in your car and your wife knows how to use them, you may live in West Virginia .**

**If you design your kid's Halloween costume to fit over a snowsuit, you may live in West Virginia **

**If the speed limit on the highway is 55 mph -- you're going 80 and everybody is passing you, you may live in West Virginia **

**If driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled with snow, you may live in West Virginia . ****

**If you know all 4 seasons: almost winter, winter, almost spring and road construction, you may live in West Virginia ..****

**If you have more miles on your snow blower than your car, you may live in West Virginia .***

**If you find 10 degrees "a little chilly", you may live in West Virginia **

I'm so glad I have a Palm . . .

2008-02-11T21:41:00.000-05:00

Wide BlackBerry Outage Reported

By IAN AUSTEN

OTTAWA — For the second time in less than a year, a technical failure idled the thumbs of many BlackBerry users on Monday by severing their wireless link to e-mail and the Web.

Representatives of several North American carriers said they were told by Research in Motion, the BlackBerry maker, that a significant failure had occurred somewhere in the servers it operates to connect the popular hand-held devices with the Internet. The carriers were told that all operators in North America were affected but not all customers.

“R.I.M.’s having a big shutdown,” said Jim Johansson, a spokesman for Telus, a major Canadian telecommunications company based in Vancouver, British Columbia. “It’s potentially up to half their customers. It seems to be hit and miss.”

Stephanie Vinge-Walsh, a spokeswoman at Sprint Nextel, said that the company’s technical staff was told by R.I.M. that the trouble began at about 3:20 p.m. Eastern time.

But what happened after that point was unclear Monday evening.

Mark Siegel, a spokesman for AT&T, said R.I.M. advised his company that the problem had been fixed early in the evening.

But Mr. Siegel added, “It’s going to take some time with the backlog of messages that developed. As you might imagine, quite a number have built up.” R.I.M. did not give AT&T an estimate for how long it would take to clear the messages, but Mr. Siegel estimated that disruptions would continue for several hours.

But R.I.M., which is based in Waterloo, Ontario, sent a brief statement by e-mail at about the same time Mr. Siegel spoke indicating that the problem was still not fixed.

“Research in Motion is currently working towards a resolution and will provide an update as soon as possible,” the statement said. The company did not respond to requests for further comment.

There are about 12 million BlackBerry users, most of them in North America. While a temporary escape from e-mail may have been a welcome relief for some, the devices are used by many people to perform time-sensitive transactions, particularly in the financial community, and are popular communications tools for emergency personnel.

“This is not an issue with the AT&T network,” Mr. Siegel said. “This is an issue with the R.I.M. network.”

The second major outage of BlackBerry service is an embarrassment for a company which has long made reliability and high levels of security selling points for its premium-priced variety of wireless e-mail. It also comes when the R.I.M. is trying to expand beyond its traditional base of corporate and government users to the broader consumer market with less costly, multimedia models. That move has pitted the successful Canadian company against much larger consumer electronics companies, including Apple.

By coincidence, early on Monday R.I.M. announced a deal with the Vodafone Group, the world’s largest wireless carrier by revenues, to further expand BlackBerry sales to consumers.

Last April, e-mail stopped making its way to about five million BlackBerry users over a period of about 48 hours. As was the case on Monday, R.I.M. left its customers and carriers largely in the dark about the situation.

Once service was fully resumed, the company said the problem was centered in a network operations center near its head office in Ontario that processes every e-mail message produced by a BlackBerry or destined for one of the units.

In that case, the trouble began with the installation of a new piece of software that was supposed to accelerate the handling of e-mail by R.I.M.’s servers. But the company acknowledged that the software had not been adequately tested, and it set up a series of problems with a database that manages the e-mail traffic. An attempt by R.I.M. to switch to a backup system also failed and compounded the problem.

Since then, the company has repeatedly assured investors and customers that it had fully resolved the problem. Copyright 2008 The New York Times Company

Crockpot Blessings

2008-02-08T09:15:00.000-05:00

by Leanne Ely, C.N.C.

One of my pet peeves is hearing people say, "I don’t have time to make dinner." I took a survey once and to my astonishment found out that a lot of people fend for themselves for dinner on days they’re not going through the drive-thru. There is no set time to sit down and eat and there is no plan.

I think this is sad. To have "no time to make dinner" is the same as not having the time to invest in your family’s health and well-being. Taking the time to make dinner is an opportunity to just stop for a moment and connect. I’m not trying to guilt trip anyone here. Nor am I so out of touch that I think we need to go back to the girdle wearing days of June Cleaver and have pot roast every night and fresh baked pie.

This is about being able to turn your stressors ("Mom, what’s for dinner?") into blessers (dinner’s in the crockpot!). I think about this in my own life when there is "no time" to connect and I’m rushing the kids from one activity to another. Those days when I’m overbooked, the kids are snapping at each other, I’m cranky and that’s when those horrid words leave my mouth, "I don’t have time for (fill in the blank)."

The truth is what we truly don’t have time for is allowing our relationships within our families to go by the wayside. I am dead serious when I say dinner is ministry. Those faces across the dinner table from you are God ordained to be there—why not invest your time wisely in them, give them something good and nutritious to eat for their bodies, time to connect with each other which is food for the soul. Try spending a half hour at the table silently blessing them and thanking God for them as you remind them to close their mouths when they chew.

The way we get to the dinner table is not tough. We get there by using the tools we have available. One of the most wonderful tools is the crock-pot.

I use mine once a week at least. It’s a tool I wouldn’t be without.

Think of it this way: 5 to 15 minutes of prep time in the morning, and a gorgeous aroma to entice you when you walk in the door in the evening because dinner is READY. Toss together a salad (buy the ready to go stuff at the market if you "don’t have time"; just make sure it’s not Iceberg—no nutrition there), heat some whole grain rolls and you have a marvelous dinner to go. Soups, casseroles, braised meats and stews…you can’t beat a crock-pot!

We all have the same amount of time available to us. No one is given an extra hour—it’s the same 24 hours each day we all share. So the question isn’t if you have the time, the question is will you INVEST the time in the most important people of your life? You can do it when you use your TOOLS. A crock-pot is my very favorite dinner saving tool that no home should be without! Here is my daughter’s favorite crockpot soup:

Caroline’s Cheesy Cauliflower Soup

Serves 4

2 cups chicken broth

2 (8-ounce) packages frozen cauliflower

1 medium stalk celery -- cut into 1/2-inch pieces

1 medium carrot -- cut into 1/2-inch pieces

1 small onion -- cut into eighths

1/2 teaspoon thyme

salt and pepper -- to taste

1 cup low-fat milk

1 1/2 cups low-fat cheddar cheese -- shredded

Throw all ingredients except milk and cheese into a crockpot and cook on low until vegetables are very tender, about 4-6 hours.

Carefully pour mixture into work bowl of food processor fitting with steel blade or into blender container. Cover and process until smooth. OR, if you like it a little lumpy and bumpy like I do, use a potato masher and have at it in the crockpot itself--mash to your heart's delight.

Place your cauliflower mixture into a saucepan; stir in milk and cheese.

Heat over medium heat, stirring constantly, until cheese is melted and mixture is hot.

Per serving: 235 Calories; 14g Total Fat; 15g Protein; 8g Carbohydrate; 1g Dietary Fiber; 46mg Cholesterol; 701mg Sodium Food Exchanges: 0 Grain(Starch); 1 1/2 Lean Meat; 1 Vegetable; 0 Fruit; 2 Fat; 0 Other Carbohydrates

SERVING SUGGESTIONS: A big green salad and some whole grain rolls make for a nice supper.

Tips for Perimeter Perusing at Target

2008-02-07T15:58:00.000-05:00

Want a deal on a Dyson, a jogging stroller, or a jewelry armoire? What if I told you that it could be on sale at your local Target for 75% off, and there is little chance anyone else knows about it? In addition to the fantastic finds on the end caps of most aisles of your local Target store, there are fabulous hidden deals to be had for those of us who really want them.

Save Big Money - Target has a crazy system of marking down their merchandise. Those that are familiar can get some really great deals before anyone else even knows that they are on sale. Clearance items at Target are usually marked with a red sticker in the upper right-hand corner of the packaging. Sometimes, however, the stickers don’t display the full discount, or there may be no sticker at all.

Secret Deals - Regular Target deal hunters know that it can really be a hit or miss type of deal. Some parts of the country have fantastic deals on high-end items, with no hint of the discount from their sticker price. Other areas never mark these same items down. The only way to really know if an item is on “secret clearance” is to scan it, made handy by the self-scanning stations placed throughout most stores. In order to get an idea of what might be on secret clearance, it is often necessary to browse message boards and web forums of those shoppers that do this regularly. (For a great resource for getting awesome Target deals, do a search for “Target Perimeter Perusing” and see what you may find!)

Daily Markdowns – In addition to the odd lot items that may be lurking among the regular merchandise and could be haphazardly stashed at the end caps, Target has a system for marking down their merchandise weekly:

Monday - Electronics, Kids Clothing and Stationary (Cards, GiftWrap, etc.)
Tuesday - Domestics, Women's Clothing, Pets and Market (food items)
Wednesday - Men's Clothing, Toys, Lawn & Garden, Health and Beauty items
Thursday - House Wares, Lingerie, Sporting Goods, Shoes, Music / Movies, Books, Decor and Luggage
Friday - Auto, Cosmetics, Hardware, and Jewelry

By closely following the markdown schedule, and hitting the stores early in the morning, it is possible to get what you want before anyone else knows about it. (We often hit the food items on Tuesday morning and come home with armloads of canned goods, boxed dinner kits, and gourmet juices for pennies!)

Holiday Deals – Target participates in a generous markdown after major holidays, as well. Clothing is at a fabulous price during their after-holiday clearance, with many Valentines or Independence Day t-shirts for under a buck. (By picking some generic prints and designs, they can be worn year-round.) Their holiday markdown schedule is usually as follows (with the exception of Christmas, which can vary):

50% off the day after holiday for three days
75% off the fourth day after holiday for three days
90% off the seventh day after holiday for 1-2 days.

Some additional points to note about Target shopping:

If you find an item at 75% off, and you want it, don’t let it get away! They rarely mark down non-holiday items below this discount.
If it the price ends in the number 4, you may be looking at your last chance to buy.
Check to be sure that an item marked “As Is” is worth purchasing. I have been duped on a few occasions by unscrupulous customers who opened a package and swapped out the contents with a knock-off or broken merchandise. Target will not honor returns on “As Is” merchandise. That being said, I have also gotten some great deals on a Graco Pack N’ Play and a car seat simply because they were ordered online and returned to the store. There may not be anything wrong with the item at all!
Don’t buy just to buy. Unless you are planning on reselling merchandise, or need the item anyway, don’t get tempted into buying for the thrill of it. Every penny you spend is that much more work you will have to do to earn it back. Play the game, but don’t lose at it.

The Target shopping game can be very competitive, and there will be others out there trying to get the same deals as you. Get there early, get what you want, and get out. You’ll save a bundle, and maybe even have some fun!

Communication-The Key to Leaders' Success

2008-01-31T11:13:00.000-05:00

By Dr. John C. Maxwell

For my whole life, I have opened my car door by inserting a metal key into a physical lock. Now, I can unlock the doors and start the car at the push of a button. It seems like magic to me, but it’s actually a simple application of science.

Keyless entry and keyless ignition are made possible when a transmitter within your key fob communicates with a radio receiver inside the car. Two conditions are necessary for this communication to take place: 1) the transmitter must be set to the same frequency as the receiver, and 2) the transmitter must send a uniquely coded message which the receiver has been programmed in advance to recognize.

Communication acts as a leader’s “keyless entry” into relationships. It can open the mind of an employer, the wallet of investors, and the hearts of loved ones. Talented communicators seem magical when they weave their words together. However, much like the concept of keyless entry, great communication depends on two simple skills—context and delivery. Context attunes a leader to the same frequency as his or her audience. Delivery allows a leader to phrase messages in a language the audience can understand.

As we explore context and delivery, we’ll draw upon Steven K. Scott’s book, The Richest Man Who Ever Lived. In the book, Scott offers commentary on the words of King Solomon, the wealthiest man in history. Renowned for his wisdom, Solomon writings are filled with advice about effective communication.

CONTEXT

Listen before Speaking
“He that answers a matter before he hears it, it is folly and shame unto him.” ~ Proverbs 18:13

Earn the right to be heard by listening to others. Seek to understand a situation before making judgments about it. As the Greek philosopher, Epictetus, observed, “We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.”

Understand Human Nature
“Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” ~ Proverbs 12:18

Words are powerful, and they can build up or tear down those who hear them. Regardless of your audience or avenue of communication, the following principles enable you to communicate constructively.

People are insecure. Leaders can bestow confidence by demonstrating their trust and belief in a person’s abilities. People want to feel special. Leaders win a loyal following when they are generous with compliments and acts of appreciation. People are looking for a better future. Leaders inspire through an optimistic outlook and words of hope. People are selfish. Leaders learn to motivate when they begin speaking to the needs of their people.

Be Emotionally Aware
“Like one who takes away a garment on a cold day…is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.” ~ Proverbs 25:20

Communicating within context involves taking the emotional temperature of others. Pay attention to facial expressions, voice inflection, and posture. They give clues to a person’s mood and attitude.

DELIVERY

Adopt an Appropriate Tone
“A soft answer turns away wrath but grievous words stir up anger.” ~ Proverbs 15:1

When you’re emotionally aware, you’re halfway to effective communication, but you still have to deliver your words appropriately. Many times it’s not what you say, but how you say it. Adopt a fitting tone to address the emotional state of those around you, and your words will have their desired effect.

Speak Persuasively
“The heart of the wise teaches his mouth and adds persuasiveness to his lips.” ~ Proverbs 16:23

The National Storytelling Festival, held in Jonesborough, Tennessee features some of America’s most captivating communicators. Listen for awhile, and you’ll discover traits that allow them to persuade listeners to take interest in the stories they tell.

Enthusiasm. The storytellers obviously enjoy what they are doing, expressing themselves with joy and vitality. Animation. The presentations are marked by lively facial expressions and gestures. Audience Participation. Almost every storyteller involves the audience in some way, asking listeners to sing, clap, repeat phrases, or do sign language. Spontaneity. None of the storytellers have notes. The festival is truly an oral event. Storytellers didn’t read their stories; they tell them, which allowed for eye contact.

Be Honest
“He who conceals his hatred has lying lips, and whoever spreads slander is a fool.” ~ Proverbs 10:18

In an effort to persuade, leaders may be tempted to cross the line into manipulation. When doing so, facts may be fabricated or spun deceptively. Lies add complexity to life since the liar has to operate under the guise of falsehood. Eventually, lies are brought to light and undermine credibility. Leaders protect their character by using discretion in their language. They speak truthfully—even when honesty is costly.

SUMMARY

Poor communication is the number one culprit of failed relationships—in business and at home. Since relationships are the foundation of success, leaders would be wise to invest in the communication skills of context and delivery. Master them, and you’ll more easily gain favor, more readily make friends, and more effectively motivate others.

This article is used by permission from Dr. John C. Maxwell's free monthly e-newsletter 'Leadership Wired' available at www.injoy.com.

Leadership Wired is written by Dr. John C. Maxwell and is available via e-mail on a free subscription basis. You can subscribe by clicking here.

Work as Worship

2008-01-30T10:02:00.000-05:00

By Jeff Henderson

I managed the beverage and sports marketing efforts of Chick-fil-a, Inc., a quick-service restaurant company with 1,250 locations and $1.9 billion in annual sales. I've also held marketing positions with the Atlanta Braves, Callaway Gardens, and Lake Lanier Islands Resort.

Chick-fil-A instilled in me a passion for continuous improvement, both personally and professionally. I learned the two ways a person improves: through the books they read and the people with whom they interact. I now have a reading book least each year of at least 40 books and a team of people I meet with for learning, accountability, and personal improvement.

Modeled Leadership
I had the opportunity to observe and learn from Truett Cathy, Chick-fil-A's founder, and his sons (and company executives) Dan and Bubba Cathy. They modeled servant leadership in such a way that it became contagious. I also learned that if you succeed in your career but fail at home, you can't consider that a success. As Truett taught me, "You can be a success at both business and at home. In fact, you must be!"

I work a Sunday through Thursday schedule, so I have Fridays and Saturdays off. I'm also home by 6 p.m. during the week. This allows me to have quantity time with Wendy and the kids. What I have discovered is the beauty of quantity time. It's different from quality time. Quality time is great. However, quantity time is full of surprises because it is in those "routine" moments that some wonderful memories can happen.

To create this quantity time requires me to have a laser-like focus on what I want to accomplish each week. As a result, I spend 15-20 minutes every Sunday afternoon planning out the week ahead. I use a tool developed by the 1% Club called The Weekly Focus. It allows me to determine what is the most important and who is most important so that I can have the maximum impact in the week ahead. In addition, I have a planning day once a quarter with a team of people to determine our goals, progress, opportunities for improvement, and plan of action for the upcoming quarter.

Leadership Modeled
At Buckhead Church, one of my ultimate aims is to create an irresistible work environment. I want my staff to know that I care more about them as an individual that I do as an employee. Some employers believe "People are there to get the work done." That's flawed thinking. Instead, they should think, "Work is there to get the people done." In other words, the management of a company should ulitimately be concerned with the people first, and the work second. And one of the primary reasons is because it's a fantastic business strategy. Show me a company, church, or organization that has a passionate, loyal, talented, committed staff and I will show you a thriving organization.

Our work is part of our worship of God. How we approach our work, deal with staff members, follow through on action items, and strive for excellence is all a reflection of where we are spiritually. As believers in Christ, not only should our character and integrity be above reproach, but we should also set the pace for our industry and culture. Faith isn't an excuse not to work hard, diligently and with excellence. Instead, our faith should motivate us to even higher levels that those who don't believe.

Jeff Henderson is the Campus Pastor of Buckhead Church, a campus of North Point Ministries. After a 15-year career in marketing and advertising, Jeff moved into his fulltime ministry role in 2003. He and his wife Wendy have a daughter Jesse (7) and a son Cole (4).

7 Tips for Streamlining Your Shopping List

2008-01-23T10:59:00.000-05:00

by Thursday Bram (www.thursdaybram.com)

I have a long-standing dislike of grocery shopping.

Pushing a cart around a store is not one of the ways I amuse myself. I've found that because of my attempts to get in and out of the grocery store, I wind up forgetting things. The only way I can manage is to have a perfect grocery list — the type that includes even the little things that we need on every trip. There are some tricks to figuring out a grocery list, though, and I'm sharing them here and now.

Use a spreadsheet. I know that not everyone likes to use technology for stuff like their shopping lists, but being able to organize my list, especially by store, has saved my life. It also makes it easier to add information like whether I have a coupon or which store is holding a sale.

Add items immediately when you run out. The biggest danger to my grocery list is three little words: “Oh, I’ll remember.” Whenever I run out of something, I write it down immediately. If I see that someone else has used up the last crumbs, I write that down, too.

Buy in bulk, when you can. I live in an apartment, but I still managed to find a hiding place for a 25 pound bag of flour. Small spaces should just be an opportunity for creativity. Buying in bulk from Sam’s Club and its ilk can often get me just as good of a deal as clipping coupons and buying weekly from a grocery store.

Shop around, but not too much. I read the weekly sales paper, and pick one or two stores that seem to have the best overall prices for the week. For some families, it may come down to the price of just one item: I usually wind up going with the store with the cheapest price on our soda pop of choice.

Plan meals. The easiest way to get an idea of what needs to be on your shopping list is to plan out what you’ll be preparing for the next week or so. You can put together a list from your ingredients, and, if someone’s coming to dinner, you know which ingredients you’ll need more of.

Determine your staples. Every family has different staples: my boyfriend would mutiny if I didn’t keep cheddar cheese on hand at all times, while my mother’s household practically runs on tortillas. Whether or not your staples fit into your meal plan, they’re usually worth picking up. Running out may not be a pretty option.

Go green. The less you’re buying from the store means the less that has to go on your grocery list. Even as simple a step as purchasing cloth napkins to reuse, rather than buying paper towels or paper napkins, can reduce costs, as well as worry when you forget to buy something to wipe up messes.

© Wise Bread

My Favorite Weight Loss Tricks from LeAnne Ely--The Dinner Diva

2008-01-09T12:07:00.000-05:00

Since January seems to be the month to get things going in the weight loss department of life, I thought I would share some of my favorite weight loss tactics and products (tried and true; I’ve lost 65 pounds doing or using these). Believe me, I like things EASY, so true to form, this stuff is a cinch:

Egg Beaters. Love these things. I add veggies, low fat cheese, salsa, the works. Bottom line? I have a protein rich breakfast that is less than half of what it would be calorie-wise if I had used whole eggs. Egg substitutes used to taste icky; I found Egg Beaters to be nearly as good as the real thing—it’s mostly egg whites. No gross-out additives, either!

Fage Yogurt. This is the creamiest, most wonderful stuff on the planet. You can get the full fat, low fat or zero fat options. I get the zero fat option, add a little bit of vanilla extract and some honey (or Z Sweet, see #2) and enjoy an entire cup full for just 130 calories. Gotta love that!

Z Sweet. Just found this stuff and I am in love. This is a sugar substitute that is a natural sugar alcohol, erythritol. The cool thing is it has NO weirdo aftertaste, looks like real granulated sugar and comes in little packets like fake sugars do. This substitute has a zero glycemic carb load, making it perfect for diabetics and those watching their weight alike. Finally, a safe sugar substitute that doesn’t scare me!

Orville Redenbacher 100 Calorie Popcorn bags. I absolutely adore popcorn, but I always make too much and then I eat too much. Can’t do that with these pre-measured, ready to go, microwavable popcorn bags. Love, love, love it!

Walking my neighborhood. I make a deal with myself to just get to the other side of my neighborhood, then walk back. It’s great because it takes me 20 minutes to get to one side, then I have to get back, so that’s a 40 minute jaunt.

Run the downhills. While walking my neighborhood, to beef things up a bit, I’ll run the downhill sections and power walk the uphill ones. Pumps it up a notch.

Do Interval training. When I go to the gym on the days I do weight training, I warm up on the treadmill and do some additional cardio to get things going. I put the treadmill on a 3% incline and walk at a 4 mile an hour pace. I will add in a jog or run every 2 minutes for 30 seconds, bring it back down, walk some more, then start over with the run. I can do this for 20 minutes, but get 30 minutes worth of benefit…that’s how effective interval training is.

Tight Jeans. If I am home working, I will wear my jeans as opposed to sweat pants. Sweat pants tell you to pig out and do what you want food-wise. Tight jeans say otherwise! Helps me stay on the straight and narrow.

Watch those triggers. Chocolate is a problem food for me and will often lead me down the wrong path. My mantra is just say no to chocolate. It’s all a matter of knowing thyself. Some people can eat a “no no” food in moderation. Others of us can’t. No one has died abstaining from chocolate.

Add extra veggies. I have been putting frozen organic spinach into my morning smoothie and can’t even tell it’s there! Here’s my recipe:

Leanne’s New Smoothie
Makes 2 big smoothies

1 banana, frozen
A handful of frozen (organic if you can) berries, your choice (about 1/3 cup)
1/2 cup frozen organic spinach
2 scoops protein powder (I use a vanilla whey protein powder)
1/2 cup Fage yogurt (or your favorite nonfat plain Yogurt)
1/2 cup orange juice
*water, as needed
*if you like it sweeter, add one packet Z Sweet

Put everything in a blender (I have a 450 watt blender that works great!) and LET HER RIP!

Copyright © 2007 More Food For Thought, Inc. All rights reserved.
www.SavingDinner.com
PO Box 118, Waxhaw, NC 28173

Even at Christmas, too much is too much

2008-01-02T12:52:00.000-05:00

Great Article.

http://www.bpnews.net/printerfriendly.asp?ID=27092

MURPHY'S CHURCH LAW

2008-01-02T12:38:00.000-05:00

MURPHY’S CHURCH LAW

1. When the Deacons talk about improving the church’s spiritual life, they are never talking about their own.

2. In a committee meeting, the authority of a person is inversely proportional to the number of pens that person is carrying.

3. There will always be empty soft drink cans rolling on the floorboard of your car when your head deacon/elder asks for a ride home from church.

4. You can go anywhere you want if you look serious and carry a clipboard, a camera, or a Bible.

5. Everything can be filed under “miscellaneous.”

6. Never delay the ending of a meeting or the beginning of a fellowship activity involving food.

7. Any church employee can do any amount of work provided it isn’t the work he/she has been assigned to do.

8. Any great Sermon that contains no errors will develop errors when transmitted to your printer.

9. After any salary raise, you will have less money at the end of the month than you did before.

10. When you don’t know what to do, walk fast and look worried.

11. Following the rules will not get the job done.

12. Getting the job done is no excuse for not following the rules.

13. A Youth Pastor with a clean desk has way too much free time.

14. The last person that quit or was fired will be blamed for everything that goes wrong for at least a year.

From Sermon Fodder Christian Humor. To subscribe go to drop an email note to Sermon_Fodder-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.

Take Time to Be What? A classic hymn shows why holiness is scarce these days.

2008-01-02T12:36:00.000-05:00

by Gordon MacDonald

In the early 1880s, William D. Longstaff wrote a poem that later became a hymn called "Take Time to Be Holy." In my branch of church tradition, we often sang this hymn. As a kid I considered it uninspiring (sorry, Mr. Longstaff), and I groaned whenever the song leader announced it. Today, decades later, I have taken a fresh look at the song and reconsidered my earlier appraisal. There's substance here.
Take time to be holy,
Speak oft with thy Lord,
Abide in him always,
And feed on his word.
Make friends of God's children;
Help those who are weak,
Forgetting in nothing his blessing to seek.

There are three more verses to Longstaff's hymn, and the second verse is also worth quoting:

Take time to be holy,
The world rushes on;
Spend much time in secret
With Jesus alone;
By looking to Jesus
Like him thou shalt be;
Thy friends in thy conduct his likeness shall see.

Each line of that second verse prompts an objection from somewhere within and helps me to understand why holy people tend to be scarce.

Go down to the marketplace. Submit to the ordinary trials, skepticism, and irreligion. Let us see then if you remain holy.

"Take time …" But I don't have time.

"The world rushes on …" And I am busy rushing with it.

"Spend much time in secret …" Secret? I like to brag about anything I do with and for Jesus.

"With Jesus alone …" Huh? And turn off my iPod and text messaging?

"Like [Jesus] thou shalt be …" I'd rather imitate Bill or Rick or Andy.

"Thy friends in thy conduct his likeness shall see …" Don't expect me to be that kind of example.

Despite its Victorian English, Longstaff's hymn does a pretty good job of describing the essentials of what it takes to become holy.

Becoming a holy person is intentional; you have to work at it. When God says to Israel, "Consecrate yourselves," he is putting the ball in our court. In other words, pursue whatever it takes to be a holy man, a holy woman, a holy nation.

Holy, a volatile word
I've not seen myself as a holy man, although I have longed to be one. Sometimes I've reasoned that I don't have the temperament or the concentrative ability for that level of spiritual nobility. And there have been times when, despite my general intention to be holy, I have felt that I failed God so miserably that I was tempted, like someone else in the past, to settle for being a servant, not a son, in his household.

I am using the word as it was used in "be holy, because I am holy" (1 Peter 1:16), where the apostle challenges a fresh Christian generation to a unique lifestyle that will set it in contrast with the pagan culture. Those who received the challenge would know instantly that they were being called to something extraordinary.

Holy starts out as descriptive of the character of God. And Christians are urged to order their lives in accordance with what they know about the nature of God. Holy can also be equated with Christlikeness and the fruits of the Holy Spirit listed in the Galatian letter. This speaks to the quality of life to which Christians are to aspire.

Sadly, the word holy gets kicked around a bit these days. While some take it very seriously, others mistakenly connect the idea with pomposity, a contrived way of living that seems more designed to impress people (some people anyway) than God.

In my childhood, there was a version of faith that seemed unreal to me. It sported a special vocabulary, a way of praying, a list of prohibited behaviors, and a withdrawal from the larger world. It was a faith-style that, for me, seemed fraught with judgmentalism and arrogance even as it projected a gloss of humility. Whatever it was, I didn't want to be that kind of a "holy" person.

I raise the subject because I wonder if the idea of being holy is losing ground today, especially among those in a position to influence the church. Are we inadvertently losing interest in being holy (in the best sense of the word) and spending our energies on problem-solving, success, personal fulfillment, and avoiding anything that smacks of suffering?

As I read the blurbs on books about authors, as I listen to the introductions and read the brochures about speakers at various conferences, and as I tune in on the illustrative stories chosen to describe modern Christians, I hear little about anyone being holy. I just hear how successful they are.

For all I know, many of these luminaries are indeed holy and embody William Longstaff's four-verse poem. Perhaps they do take the time to be with God, and they do remind their personal friends of Jesus. But if this is true, I'd like to hear a bit more about it. It would encourage the rest of us.

Unfortunately, Christian leaders are usually accredited to us as great speakers, brilliant and creative thinkers, scintillating artists and entertainers, and powerful organizational developers. But holy people? Maybe that's an endangered species.

When was the last time you were invited to meet someone because he or she was a holy person with a word from God?

Ever met a holy person?
I did a dangerous thing as I worked through this essay. I asked myself who, in my own Christian tradition, have I known and observed that seems a genuinely holy person? The names—each well-known—that came to my mind first were John Stott, Billy Graham, Ruth Graham, and Joni Eareckson Tada.

I added George Verwer, Jill Briscoe, Robertson McQuilken, James Houston, and Dallas Willard. They, in my estimation, are holy people. My list grew to include many others, most of whom you would not know.

Many that I could have named have done something great for the kingdom. But as I built my list, I tried to go for what I call the Life underneath the life, the being beneath performance. I was looking for those who have consistently "walked with God" (remember Enoch?) throughout life's small and large routines.

C.S. Lewis writes: "Nothing could be more foreign to the tone of Scripture than the language of those who describe a saint as a 'moral genius' or a 'spiritual genius' thus insinuating that his virtue or spirituality is 'creative' or 'original.' If I have read the New Testament aright, it leaves no room for 'creativeness' even in a modified or metaphorical sense. Our whole destiny seems to lie in the opposite direction, in being as little as possible ourselves, in acquiring a fragrance that is not our own but borrowed, in becoming clean mirrors filled with the image of a face that is not ours."

There is a wonderful story of a young brilliant rabbinical scholar who went to his superior to ask if he qualified to be a holy person—in fact, the most holy person in the neighborhood. His mentor grew irritated at the question and, at first, refused to answer. Then, because he was prodded over and over again by the young man he answered:

"You are the most pious man of our age. You study night and day, retired from the world, surrounded by the rows of your books, the holy ark, the faces of devout scholars. You have reached high holiness. How have you reached it? Go down in the marketplace with the rest of the Jews. Endure their work, their strains, their distractions. Mingle in the world, hear the skepticism and irreligion they hear, take the blows they take. Submit to the ordinary trials of the ordinary Jew. Let us see then if you remain the holiest of all men."

The people I mentioned in the earlier paragraph have indeed (one way or another) gone to the "marketplace" and faced the ordinary trials. And I find them to be holy people because they have kept the faith in all circumstances and grown deeper as they kept it.

You know a holy person because when you are in their presence, there's something about them that makes you feel elevated toward God.

Often when I enter the kitchen where my wife, Gail, is preparing a meal, I feel my saliva glands spring into action involuntarily. It's the mark of a great cook that she can make this happen.

A similar thing happens when you come into the presence of a holy person. The glands of the heart spring into motion, and you experience a fresh attraction to the God this person knows.

The opposite may also happen. The presence of a holy person can cause a sudden burst of conviction. I'm thinking of a time when a celebrity known for her flagrantly immoral lifestyle came through a reception line to meet one of the people I listed above.

With a suddenness that probably surprised her as much as anyone, she burst into wrenching tears as she extended her hand. You had to believe that godless heart simply could not remain composed in the presence of someone who projected an authentic holiness.

Holy and human
An early 20th-century Salvation Army officer, Samuel Logan Brengle, embodies for me everything I could imagine a holy person to be. Brengle served God as an evangelist and revival speaker for approximately 40 years.

Clarence Hall's biography of Brengle records these words (in the context of the Salvation Army) from an anonymous source describing Brengle: "There are men to whose name rank and title add weight, prestige; whose position in the minds of their fellows is elevated by it. But not so with Brengle. Rank does not give increase to that name; neither would lack of rank diminish it. In the minds of people the world over, the name Brengle means holiness, sweetness, love, benediction, blessing, power; Commissioner Brengle means no more. Though the rank he has recently added is just recognition of his value to the Salvation Army, it is a superfluity in the evaluation of the man himself."

The writer here is pointing to the Life underneath the professional life, to the characteristics that point beyond the man toward the God to whom he had dedicated his life.

As a truly holy man, Brengle did not set himself above others, nor did he attempt to flaunt some kind of cheap piety.

Hall writes: "Looking him over at close range, men saw in Brengle these three: humanity, humility, and—humor … to them the most surprising of these was humor. Others (found) that this man's saintliness sparkled and bubbled with good nature, that his humor was gentle, whimsical, graceful. His smile was the kind that opened suddenly, like a bursting skyrocket; it would start in his eyes, twinkle there, then wreathe and wrinkle over his face, shake his body, and seem to run vitalizingly to his very toes."

People sought his presence. Again, Hall (quoting a Salvation Army associate): "I have seen the leading commissioners, engulfed with a thousand duties, set aside their papers, dismiss their stenographers, lock the door, and wait upon the American preacher. They wanted him near, they felt their need of this holy man, and all their actions seemed to say: 'It is holy ground, Brengle is here.'"

I have read the Brengle biography at least a dozen times. Few books in my library inspire me as much as this one does when I feel that my personal arrangements with God are slipping (or, to use Longstaff's words, when I am not spending time in secret with Jesus).

What I see is a man who knew lots about life in the streets but saw it from the perspective of knowing lots about life in the Lord's presence. After reading of Brengle, I'm pointed in a better direction: seeking deeper communion with the Father.

Common threads of holiness
When one reads the Scriptures and the church fathers on this theme of being holy, and when one reads appropriate biographies of the great spiritual champions, and when one observes the lives of less-than-prestigious people who seem to have gone deeper with Jesus than most, you see these commonalities:

They don't second guess their decision to intentionally follow Jesus. They possess a powerful (not necessarily spectacular) sense of personal conversion, and they readily invite others to share the same experience.

They conscientiously prioritize life so that they spend ample time in personal worship, reflection in Scripture, and prayer (listening to God and absorbing whatever God wishes for them to know and experience).

They make a steady effort to discipline their lives toward virtues that reflect Jesus. They cultivate a healthy hatred of sin and all that corrupts life.

They cultivate healthy relationships—both giving and taking—and add value to each human encounter. I might add that they usually understand that their connection with God is often in the context of "community" and not merely as solo-saints.

They engage the larger world with a humbled mind to serve and seek justice and mercy for those weaker than they.

I see these qualities in Commissioner Brengle, and I have no doubt that this man would have been a spiritual influence in any branch of the Christian movement. Not because of his giftedness as a preacher and evangelist, but because of this underlying holy life that compelled people to feel nearer to God when he was around.

Clarence Hall writes of a night when Brengle was introduced to a crowd as "the great Colonel Brengle." He was apparently disturbed by this excessive introduction and wrote in his journal: "If I appear great in their eyes, the Lord is most graciously helping me to see how absolutely nothing I am without Him, and helping to keep little in my own eyes. He does use me. But I am also conscious that He uses me, and that it is not of me that the work is done. The axe cannot boast of trees it has cut down. It could do nothing but for the woodsman. He made it, he sharpened it, he used it, and the moment he throws it aside, it becomes only old iron. Oh, that I may never lose sight of this."

This perspective made Brengle tender, not hard.

"There is nothing about holiness to make people hard and unsympathetic and difficult to approach," Brengle wrote. "It is an experience that makes a man pre-eminently human; it liberates his sympathies, it fills him with love to all mankind, with compassion for sinners, with kindness and pity for them that are ignorant and out of the way. And while it makes him stern with himself, it makes him gentle with others."

The soil of suffering
One of the elements of Brengle's life that many of us would like to avoid is the fact that the man knew suffering. During his assignment to the Boston Corps, he was accosted by a thug who threw a paving brick at him from a distance of just ten feet. The brick hit Brengle in the head with full force, and he almost died. He was forced to spend 18 months in rehabilitation. From then on, he suffered periodically from excruciating headaches and bouts of depression.

During his recovery, Brengle wrote what was probably his best book, Helps to Holiness, and would often quip, "Well, if there had been no little brick, there would have been no little book."

Hall writes that Brengle "never allowed himself to give in (to physical weakness) until completely overcome, but would laugh away all minor complaints as mere trifles, maintaining a happy buoyant spirit until some malady positively forced him to bed. His spirit drilled his body into an habitually erect and optimistic carriage, which could be forced to drop but could not be induced to droop."

Brengle said: "God does not make pets of His people, and especially of those whom He woos and wins into close fellowship with Himself, and fits and crowns for great and high service. His greatest servants have often been the greatest sufferers." I don't think the Commissioner would have had a lot of use for a prosperity gospel or for a faith that is devoid of struggle.

The Life beneath life
It may be time for all of us to rethink the meaning of being holy. To ask ourselves again: what is the Life beneath that life of technique, skill, and charisma to which we have recently given so much attention?

Peter is credited with the question, "What kind of people ought you to be?" He asked this while sensing that civilization as he knew it was unraveling.

With today's realities (climate change, terrorism, globalism, human-engineering, awesome human suffering), his question is just as relevant now. And the answer—if it's a good answer—is probably the latest description of what it means to be holy.

It's worth a vigorous discussion for every church leadership team, every covenant group. You don't arrive at a final definition of being holy. But you pursue it, talk about it over and over, pray for it, experiment with it, and each time you get a fresh rendition of what God wills the people called by his name to be.

A congregation, regardless of size, deserves a holy pastor whose life is on display and worthy of mimicking. Paul says as much to Timothy: be an example for the believers in speech (how you speak and what you speak about), in life (your personal life), in love (how you maintain healthy relationships—spouse and children first), in faith (how you visibly walk in alignment with God), and in purity (your morality and ethics in everyday life).

A small group deserves a holy facilitator. An organization deserves a holy president. A worship team deserves a holy worship leader. And the world of the arts deserves holy artists.

Few would disagree. But the fact remains that we are fearful of this subject, of being holy. It's much easier to explore the steps to better friendships or better Bible study or coping with anger and insecurity.

We sometimes fear that in the pursuit of being holy, we will fall into the trap of putting on an act, or being caught when we fall short. A reasonable concern. So let's be aware of it. Let's have friends close enough to call us to account when need be.

I go back to William Longstaff's hymn, which I once found so boring. Perhaps the music could be spiffed up, but leave the words as they are and sing them often. They open the doors to a recitation we all need to hear: how to pursue the way of being holy.

I bet Samuel Logan Brengle loved that song.

Gordon MacDonald is editor at large of Leadership and chair of World Relief and lives in Belmont, New Hampshire.
Copyright © 2007 by the author or Christianity Today International/Leadership Journal.
Fall 2007, Vol. XXVIII, No. 4, Page 96

It is done.

2008-01-01T09:27:00.000-05:00

Christmas has come and gone.

Reilly's birthday has come and gone.

It seems such a shame that you plan for months, worrying over the "perfect" gifts for everyone on your list--then it's all over in a few hours.

The important thing, of course is remembering the true meaning of the season, the coming of our Saviour, Jesus Christ. We have the opportunity to celebrate his life throughout the year.

How to Wipe Worry From Your Life

2007-11-21T09:07:00.000-05:00

Worry is one of the most damaging of all human emotions. But unlike anger or joy, it’s not right out there in the open. It lurks in the shadows. It’s stealth-like, insidious ... not unlike water torture.

Worry is not piercing, not crushing; it’s just that constant drip, drip, drip. Nagging, unrelenting. Worriers are forever forecasting the future in terms of doom and gloom and concentrating on what could happen.

Worry plays with your imagination, too. Like a magnifying glass, worry exaggerates the size and scope of the issue. Worry makes problems appear to be larger than they really are.

Worry is a learned behavior. We were not born worrying. We’ve learned to worry from past experiences and from watching others worry, probably our parents. Anxious parents raise anxious kids. But that’s good news, because if worry can be learned, then it can be unlearned, too.

The first thing you must do to unlearn this behavior is to realize that worry is a big waste because it doesn’t change anything. Worry cannot control the future or change the past. It can’t pay a bill, solve a problem or cure an ill. But it can throw you into a kind of emotional paralysis. Worry is like trying to carry around a very heavy load.

The good news is there are practical ways you can wipe worrying from your life:

1. Designate one 15-minute period of time in the day to worry. As worries come up during the day, jot them down but do not worry about them. You’ll have time to do that later.

2. Take control of your mind. You choose what you will think about. When negative thoughts crowd your mind, send them away. Find something to do with your hands that will break your train of thought. Refuse to allow those worries to enter your mind, except during your official worry time.

3. When it’s time for your Special Worry Time, drop everything you are doing. Find a quiet place where you can concentrate all of your efforts on your problems, and all the things you’re just sure could happen or will happen. Now pour your heart into it and worry, worry, worry, worry without ceasing for a full 15 minutes. Do not allow thoughts of peace, joy or happiness to invade this special worry time. Get it all out, and when the 15 minutes are up, stop! No more worrying until tomorrow during this time. Hint: I doubt if there will be a time tomorrow because you will learn quickly that it is exhausting and totally non-productive to worry.

4. Find a more productive alternative to worry. I suggest talking to God. Hand off your worries to him, then use your time working on things you can change. Clean out a closet, or wash the car. Come to my website, www.DebtProofLiving.com, where you will find thousands of people who are doing something proactive about their financial situations. Join our community of people who are getting their financial lives turned around. Spend some time in the archives reading and learning all you can about saving, giving and spending less than you earn without sacrificing the quality of your life.

Don’t worry. Be happy!

Leanne--the Dinner Diva: Food For Thought: Ponder this Quote

2007-11-20T11:24:00.000-05:00

Dear Friends,

Today a friend of mine forwarded one of "those" emailsyou know the ones, with something cute or witty on it with an additional instruction to pass it on to everyone you know so you'll be blessed in some fashion or another. I hate those emails, but this one was definitely an exception. This one made me stop and think about each little sentence and I wanted to share some personal reflections. This is also an opportunity for me to share some information about my personal life that I haven't, till now, felt the need to tell. This is the email I received:

"Life is short. Forgive quickly. Kiss slowly. Love truly. Laugh uncontrollably. And never regret anything that makes you smile."

I wanted to expound on each one of those sentences as the simplicity of this message hit me profoundly.

"Life is short." A few weeks ago, a woman that I didn't even know with the same name as me, died in an accident. A dear friend of mine knew this woman and her family and was grief struck over Lee Anne's passing. Her bike was hit by a van and she later died at the hospital. She was only 43 years old, full of life, dreams, had a good marriage, a child and lived in place she considered her own personal paradise. She lived her life from an intense position of gratitude; thankful for all God had given her, never doubting that she was His child and that He adored her! What an amazing woman. Here is an article about Lee Anne if you would like to know a little more: http://www.charlotte.com/112/story/330074.html

Life is short indeed.

"Forgive quickly." Ahthis is the hard one. Forgiveness needs to be equated somewhat with forgetting. If we forgive but hold a silent grudge, never again allowing vulnerability or softening of our hearts toward the one who hurt us, we merely give lip service to forgiveness. We don't truly forgive, but instead, give ourselves victim status and permission for more pain in our lives. There is a difference between blindly forgiving and forgetting and the process of forgiving, forgetting and eventually letting go.

For most hurtful things in life, we need to forgive, forget and start loving again, right away. We cannot afford to harbor resentment and anger over hurtful words and attitudes. We owe it to ourselves and our loved ones to gently tell them what's bothering us (using the words "I feel.." and not "you always"), why it bothers us and ask for help coming up with a resolution to the problem or issue. If you think about it, most things in life only require that much attention and time. The bigger things of course, require a more deliberate approach to forgiveness, allowing room to processtwo steps forward, one step back and a whole lot of grace and love heaped on top to keep this process alive.

For the most unforgivable things in life and where it is impossible to go through this process with the other person, it is important to do this for yourself, with God's help. Forgiveness heals broken hearts and wounded souls like nothing else. The act of granting forgiveness and the blessing of being forgiven is what makes us divinely human. It is both an act of humility and grace and it is what gives room for love to flourish and to grow.

"Kiss slowly." My favorite one! And this is the place where I need to tell you about my personal life. Believe it or not, it was two years ago that I married Dan thinking I had finally found the love of my lifeI shared my joy with y'all and showed him off at FlyFests and book signings in 2006. Over seven months ago, the whole façade came crashing down and the annulment was final the beginning of June. You don't need the gory details to know that it wasn't pretty and I was devastated.

So why am I saying that "kiss slowly" is my favorite reminder after enduring what I did? Because the past hurt has made me understand just how precious and wonderful the love between a man and woman can be. Being kissed, truly kissed is a beautiful expression of such a gift! I remember a scene in the movie That Thing You Do when the drummer asks
the girl who was dumped by the pompous lead singer, "When was the last time you were kissed, really and truly kissed?" That's close enough to the quote, but her answer had nothing to do with the guy she was with. Instead, she had to pull from the archives of her mind and think back and pull up an older memory. The drummer then kisses the girl, they fall in love, get married and live happily ever after. At least, that's how it was in the movie.

In real life, it starts the same waywith a kiss. Unfortunately, there are many of us who don't know we're kissing toads that will never become princesthey are perma-toads, LOL. But for some blessed women, they have kissed their princes and their stories are as sweet and wonderful as the stuff in movies. I remember on the FLY Show a few weeks ago, a lovely lady called in and asked for help getting her dining room table de-cluttered. She talked about her wonderful husband of over 30 years and her children and grandchildren. Inside, I had a twinge of jealousy thinking how much I wished my legacy looked like hers. But I can't be her and she can't be me. We've just been blessed differently is all! I did learn something from what I've gone through though. The way to find your prince is to not just kiss slowly; commit slowly, too!

"Love truly." I am a firm believer in boundaries. Every state in this great country has a boundary. Likewise, each nation on the planet has boundaries. Boundaries are there so you know where you stand, figuratively and literally. We all must have physical boundaries in our lives as well as emotional and life boundaries. This is what keeps us healthy and gives us in return, healthier relationships. But when it comes to "loving truly", this is one area where there are no boundaries. I've noticed that with my childrenI remember looking down at my infant daughter in her bassinette and thinking I could not love her any more than I do, but I found out almost 18 years later, yes, I do love her more than I ever dreamt possible. Same with my sonloving your children is a love than knows no bounds. To love truly, is to slip the boundaries of what you think and allow your heart to expand as you love more and more. There is no easy way to explain itthis is one of those things that must be lived.

"Laugh uncontrollably." Well, this is an easy one for me! Anyone who knows me knows I love to laugh and yuck it up with my friends and family. There is a Bible verse that says, "A merry heart is good medicine." I believe that with all my heart. In my opinion, being able to laugh at the world around you, enjoy a good belly laugh and laugh so hard you cry is an essential life skill. It also doesn't hurt to be able to laugh at yourself. There are times when you might be the only one laughing, but at least you're laughing, right?

And laughter literally is good medicine. Studies have shown that people who laugh often have a stronger immune system, so much so, that some oncologists have even prescribed Marx Brothers' movies to their patients! That's how powerful laughter can be. I believe that the ability to laugh and smile is born out of a sincere appreciation for ones own life and a heart filled with gratitude. It's easy to smile when you're thankful and can readily count your blessings!

You simply cannot survive this cruel world without a sense of humor in your holster and big smile ready to spread on your face. When you smile, the world smiles with you and even the hard stuff is a little easier. If you grimace more than you smile, make some smiley face post it notes and post them around your house to remind you, SMILE!

"And never regret anything that makes you smile." Truth be told, I've done dumb stuff that in the end, made me look foolish. But I did it with a smile on my face and an attitude that said, "oh well!" and it worked out fine. I have no regrets; I have fond memories and happy thoughts of those experiences. I've discovered that it's not all about methere is a bigger picture to consider and that's what I choose to look at.

I am a blessed woman. My life is full and wonderful. I have a mission that I am fulfilling everyday, two wonderful children and even a new man in my life (yes, he's a good one). I am profoundly thankful for all I have and wake up every morning with a heart filled with gratitude.

I invite you to ponder this quote and reflect on the wisdom of each sentence. Look for the application for your own lives and reach for the fullness that is there for the asking. It doesn't take money to have a full life; it takes a gracious attitude and an expectation that life will be good. It's up to you to find it.

Love,
Leanne--the Dinner Diva

.

__,_._,___

Almost a million cookie recipes...almost.

2007-11-15T08:07:00.000-05:00

This is remarkable! Even if you have no particular interest, please pass on to the bakers in your life. They'll appreciate it.
Just click on the name of the cookie and bam the recipe is there. Good to keep handy .

1-2-3 Cookies 7 Layer Cookies Allie Nelson's Famous Snickerdoodle Cookies Almond Crescent Shortbread Amish Sugar Cookies Andies Candies Cookies Angel Crisps Angenets Applesauce Cookies Apricot Fold-Overs Aunt Edy's Molasses Crinkles Auntie Linda's Ginger Gems Bakeless Dream Cookies Banana Drop Cookies Best Chocolate Chip Cookies in the World Biscotti Biscotti Blueberry Cookies Boiled Chocolate Oatmeal Drop Cookies Bronwnies Brown Sugar Shortbread Brownie Cookies Brownie Delight Brownies Buccaneer Snowballs Buried Cherry Cookies Butter Cookies Butter Nut Balls Butterballs Butterscotch Haystacks C.O.P. Cookies Candy Cane Cookies Candy Cookies Caramel Shortbread Cheesecake Brownies Cherry Buns Cherry Crowns Cherry Winks Chewies Chewy Noels Chinese Chews/Haystacks Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars Chocolate Chip Cookies Chocolate Chip Meltaways Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Cookies Chocolate Christmas Trees Chocolate Cream Cheese Squares Chocolate Crinkles Chocolate Mint Snow-Top Cookies Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies (no bake) Chocolate Snowball Cookies Chocolate Streusel Bars Chocolate Sundae Cookies Chocolate Walnut Crumb Bars Choco-Scotch Crunchies Choose A Cookie Dough Recipe Christmas Crackers Christmas Crunch Bars Christmas Ginger Snaps Christmas Macaroons Christmas Mice Cookies Christmas Shaped Cookies Church Window Cookies Coconut Cookies Congo Squares Cookie in a Jar Corn Flakes Cookies Cornflake Christmas Wreaths Cowboy Cookies (oatmeal) Cream Cheese Cookies with Apricot Filling Creme De Menthe Chocolate Squares Creme Wafers Crescent Cookies Crispy Crunchies Date Nut Balls Date-nut Pinwheel Cookies Diabetic Peanut Butter Cookies Disgustingly Rich Brownies Doodles Double chocolate chip cookies Double-Chocolate Crinkles Eatmore Cookies Eggnog Cookies Elizabeth's Sugar Cookies Elves Quick Fudge Brownies Emily Dickinson's Gingerbread Cookie Recipe Emily's Best Brownies Famous Oatmeal Cookies Firemen Cookies Fluffy Shortbread Cookies Forgotten Cookies Frosted Peanut Butter Brownies Fruit Cake Cookies Fruitcake Squares Fry Pan Cookies Gems Ginger Cookies Ginger Crinkles Gingerbread Baby Gingerbread Cookies with Butter Cream Icing Gingerbread Men Gingerbread Men Ginny's Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies Glory's Golden Graham Squares Glory's Sugar Cookies Gramma Chapman's chocolate coconut drops Grandma Elsie's Zimt (cinnamon) Cookies Grandma J's Butter Cookies Grandma Olson's Parkay Cookies Great Grandmothers Sugar Cookies Gum Drop Cookies Gumdrop Gems Haystack Cookies Ho-Ho Bars Holiday Cereal Snaps Holiday Chocolate Butter Cookies Holiday Raisin Walnut Bars Holly Cookies Hungarian Cookies (Little Nut Rolls) Ice Box Cookies Irresistible Peanut Butter Cookies Italian Cookies Jacob's Peppermint Snowballs Jam Bars Jessica's Famous Brownies Jessie's Chocolate Chip Cookies Jubilee Jumbles Juliet's Peanut Butter Blossoms Jumbo Chocolate Chip Cookies Kentucky Colonels Kiefle (cream cheese cookies with jam filling) Kifflings Kiss Cookies Lacy Swedish Almond Wafers Lemon Angel Bar Cookies Lemon Bars Lemon Cake Cookies Lemon Cream Cheese Cookies Lemon Squares Linzer Tarts Log Cabin Cookies Luscious Lemon Squares M&M Cookies Magic Cookie Bars Melt in Your Mouth Cutout Sugar Cookies Melting Shortbread Meme's Cream Cheese Cookies Milk Chocolate Florentine Cookies Mincemeat Cookies Mincemeat Goodies Molasses Cookies Molasses Forest Cookies Molasses Sugar Cookies Mom Mom's Crescent Cookies Mom-Mom's Ginger Cookies Mom's Nutmeg Sugar Cookies Mom's Old Fashion "Puffy" Sugar Cookies Monster Cookies Moravian Christmas Cookies Nana's Famous Soft Southern Cookies Nitey Nite Cookies No Bake Chocolate Cookies No Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies No Bake Cookies No Bake Cookies No Bake Peanut Butter Cookies No-Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies No-Bake Cookies Norwegian Sugar Cookies Nut Balls Oatmeal Bars Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Nut Cookies Oatmeal Coconut Crisps Oatmeal Cookies Oatmeal Scotchies Old Fashioned Sugar Cookies Ooey Gooey Caramel Chocolate Dunk Ooey Gooey Squares Orange Slice Cookies Parking Lot Cookies Peanut Blossoms Peanut Butter Bars Peanut Butter Blossoms Peanut Butter Cereal Cookies Peanut Butter Chewies Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars Peanut Butter Cookies Peanut Butter Cookies Peanut butter fingers Peanut Butter Reindeer Peanut Butter Surprises Peanut Marshmallow Cookies Pecan Puff Cookies Peppermint Snowballs Peppernuts Persimmon Cookies Persimmon Cookies Petey's Yummy Spicy Almond Thins Pfeffernuesse Pffefferneuse Cookies Pineapple Filled Cookies Pizzelles Potato Chip Cookies Potato Flake Cookies Praline Cookies Praline Strips Pterodactyl Nests Pumpkin Bars Pumpkin Bars Pumpkin Chip Cookies Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies Pumpkin Cookies Queen Biscuits Quick Cookies Raised Sugar Cookies Raisin Filled Oatmeal Bars Raspberry Meringue Bars Really Peanutty Butter Cookies Reese`s Brownies Reese's Peanut Butter Bars Rich Flavor Christmas Cookies Rich Lemon Bars Ricotta Cheese Cookies Royal Almond Christmas Bars Rudolph Cinnamon Cookies Russian Tea Cookies Russian Teacakes Samantha & Kelsey's Chocolate Chip Cookies Sand Art Brownies Santa Claus Cookie Pops Santa Claus Cookies Santa's Butterscotch Melts Santa's Shorts Santa's Special Squares Scotch Cakes Scotch Shortbread Scotcharoos Scotcheroos Seven Layer Cookies Short Bread Cookies Shortbread Skor Squares Snicker Doodle Cookies Snickerdoodles Snickerdoodles Snow Balls Sour Cream Apple Squares Sour Cream Christmas Cookies Special K Cookies Spice Cookies Spicy Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Spritz Cookies Stained Glass Window Cookies Stir & Drop Sugar Cookies Sugar Cookies Sugar Cookies Sugar Cookies Swedish Pepparkakor (Pepper Cake) Cookies Swedish Sugar Cookies Sweet Marie's Swiss Treats Taralle (Italian Cookies) Tea Time Tassies Texas Brownies The Best Shortbread in The World Thumbprint Cookies Thumbprint Cookies Toffee Squares Traditional Christmas Sugar Cookies Traditional Gingerbread Men Cookies Triple-Chocolate Chip Cookies Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookies Vanilla Wafer Balls Walnut Butter Cookies Walnut Crumb Bars White Chip Chocolate Cookies Wild Oatmeal Cookies Will's Famous Apple Jack Cookies Yummy Yummy Peanut Butter Blossoms


	Go down to the marketplace. Submit to the ordinary trials, skepticism, and irreligion. Let us see then if you remain holy.