Cell Phone Verses The Bible

VS Ever wonder what would happen if we treated our Bible like we treat our cell phone? What if we carried it around in our purses or pockets? What if we flipped through it several time a day? What if we turned back to go get it if we forgot it? What if we used it to receive messages from the text? What if we treated it like we couldn't live without it? What if we gave it to Kids as gifts? What if we used it when we traveled? What if we used it in case of emergency? This is something to make you go....hmm... .where is my Bible? Oh, and one more thing. Unlike our cell phone, we don't have to worry about our Bible being disconnected because Jesus already paid the bill. Makes you stop and think, where are my priorities? And no dropped calls!

APPLE PIE BAKED IN A PAPER BAG

Ingredients

Crust: 2 cups all-purpose flour 1/4 cup sugar Pinch salt 1 cup cold unsalted butter (2 sticks), cut into pieces 1/3 cup ice water Filling: 5 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and thickly sliced 1/2 cup sugar 1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/8 teaspoon salt 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1 1/2 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces Equipment: 9-inch aluminum pie pan, 1 medium-sized brown paper bag

Directions

Make the Crust: In a food processor combine the flour, sugar, and salt. Add the butter and pulse until pea-sized pieces appear. Add the water and pulse briefly—it will still look crumbly. Transfer the crumbs to 2 pieces of parchment paper or foil and form into 2 disks. Wrap the discs with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. On a work surface lightly dusted with flour, roll out 1 disk to a circle about 1/8-inch thick. Keep rolling until the circle is at least 2 inches larger than your pan. Line the pie pan with the dough, letting the edge hang over a bit. Roll the second disk, place it on a sheet pan and chill it until you're ready to build your pie. Arrange a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 375 degrees F. Make the Filling: In a medium bowl, toss the apple slices, sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice, vanilla, cinnamon, salt, and nutmeg together. Transfer to the pie shell and dot with the butter. Brush the overhanging edges of the dough with water. Carefully cover with the rolled-out top crust and pinch the edges together, turning them under all around to make a thick edge. To decorate the rim, press it all around with the back of a fork, or just pinch it to seal. With a scissors, cut a few V-vents in the center. Slide the pie into the brown paper bag and fold the top down. Staple bag shut and place it on a sheet pan. Bake for 1 hour. Remove the pie from the oven and cut a large circle in top of the bag. Return to the oven and bake until the crust is golden brown, about 15 minutes more. Let the pie cool at least 30 minutes before serving. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Such A Good Day

Well hello, the long holiday weekend is upon us, tomorrow is the 4th, and many are planning cookouts, and times with family. Making memories, I think back when I was growing up and my grandpa and grandma were still alive, we used to always have big family picnics, what ever happened to those times? Ever wonder why the families do not get together any more, seems like so much discord, and busy times going on we just do not have time for each other, this really makes me sad, we had planned a BBQ here tomorrow, and one by one of my children have been called to work, so we put it on hold, I have a daughter in Orlando that may come up, but that is not a sure thing. We had a very good day yesterday, we worked in the yard, swam in the pool, and I fixed a delicious Chef's Salad for supper, it was huge and we both enjoyed it very much, such as simple meal and yet it satisfied our appetites. I am not sure what is for supper today, I am thinking about Salmon grilled on the grill, with some taters and veggies grilled also, that will make a good and a very healthy meal. So my friends have a very safe, and happy weekend and happy Fourth of July, God bless you.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG, OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC, FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL! For All of our other military personnel, where ever they may Be Please Support all of the troops defending our Country. And God Bless our Military who are protecting our Country for our Freedom. Thanks To them, and their sacrifices we can celebrate the 4th of July We must never forget who Gets the credit for the freedoms we have, of which we should be Eternally grateful.. I watched the flag Pass by one day, It fluttered in the breeze. A young Marine Saluted it, And then he stood at ease.. I looked at Him in uniform So young, so tall, so proud, With hair cut square And eyes alert He'd stand out in any crowd. I thought how many men Like him Had fallen through the years. How many died on foreign Soil How many mothers' tears? How many pilots' planes Shot down? How many died at sea How many foxholes were soldiers' Graves? No, freedom isn't free I heard the sound of Taps One night, When everything was still, I listened to the bugler Play And felt a sudden chill. I wondered just how many times That Taps had meant 'Amen,' When a flag had draped a Coffin. Of a brother or a friend. I thought of all the Children, Of the mothers and the wives, Of fathers, sons and Husbands With interrupted lives. I Thought about a graveyardAt the bottom of the sea Of unmarked graves in Arlington. No, freedom isn't free. Enjoy Your Freedom &God Bless Our TroopsWhen You receive this, please stop for a moment And Say a Prayer for our servicemen. Of all the gifts you could give A US Soldier, Prayer is the very best One.

Cooking Out For The 4th of July

Oh I love Them Ribs

INGREDIENTS

3 pounds baby back pork ribs 3/4 cup maple syrup 2 tablespoons packed brown sugar 2 tablespoons ketchup 1 tablespoon cider vinegar 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon mustard powder

DIRECTIONS

Place ribs in a large pot, and cover with water. Cover, and simmer for 1 hour, or until meat is tender. Drain, and transfer ribs to a shallow dish. In a small saucepan, stir together the maple syrup, brown sugar, ketchup, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and mustard powder. Bring to a low boil, and cook for 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Cool slightly, then pour over ribs, and marinate in the refrigerator for 2 hours. Prepare grill for cooking with indirect heat. Remove ribs from marinade. Transfer marinade to a small saucepan, and boil for several minutes. Lightly oil grate. Cook for about 20 minutes, basting with the cooked marinade frequently, until nicely glazed.

Desserts For the 4th of July

STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE

Today, strawberry shortcakes are made from every recipe from biscuits to white cake and angel food cake but the original recipes always called for biscuits. This is an original biscuit-like shortcake made richer with dairy products and sugar. It is rich, tender, and flaky.

INGREDIENTS

2 cups all-purpose flour or more to make the right consistency of dough 1/4 cup sugar 1 tablespoon baking powder 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/3 cup cold butter cut into chunks 1 large egg 3/4 cup cream 1 tablespoon melted butter or cream for brushing 2 tablespoons large crystal sugar 2 pints ripe strawberries 1/4 cup sugar 1 cups heavy cream 1 teaspoon vanilla 2-4 tablespoons sugar

DIRECTIONS

For the shortcake:Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

1. Combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. 2. Cut the butter into the dry ingredients with a pastry blender. 3. Whisk the egg into the cream. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour the cream mixture into the well. Mix with a fork until the ingredients just stick together. Drop into biscuits on a greased cookie sheet and then pat with the back of a spoon to make to about 3/4-inch thick. To make cut-out biscuits, pat the dough into a sheet on a floured countertop and cut into three inch shapes with either a knife or a cookie cutter. 4. Brush the tops with the melted butter or cream. Sprinkle the tops with sugar. Bake for about fifteen minutes or until golden brown. Remove to a wire rack. Serve while still fresh and warm.Note: For the best results, always serve shortcake fresh. The dough can sit in the refrigerator for up to two hours while waiting to bake. For the strawberries: Wash and slice the strawberries. Sprinkle the strawberries with sugar and toss to coat.For the whipped cream:Combine the whipped cream, two tablespoons sugar, and the vanilla in a chilled bowl. Whip on medium speed until soft peaks form. Sweeten with the additional sugar if desired.To serve:Split the warm biscuits open. Fill with berries and whipped cream. Top with additional whipped cream and berries.

(CHOCOLATE CARMEL RASPBERRY SHORTCAKE)

INGREDIENTS

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

1/4 cup cocoa

1/3 cup sugar

1 tablespoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/3 cup cold butter cut into chunks

1 large egg

3/4 cup cream 1 tablespoon melted butter for brushing

2 tablespoons large crystal sugar such 1 1/2 pints ripe raspberries 1 cup heavy cream 1 teaspoon vanilla

2-4 tablespoons sugar Chocolate syrup

Caramel syrup

DIRECTIONS

For the shortcake: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. 1. Combine the flour, cocoa, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl.

2. Cut the butter into the dry ingredients with a pastry blender.

3. Whisk the egg into the cream. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour the cream mixture into the well. Mix with a fork until the ingredients just stick together. Drop into dough on a greased cookie sheet and then pat with the back of a spoon to make to about 3/4-inch thick. To make cut-out biscuits, pat the dough into a sheet on a floured countertop and cut into three inch shapes with either a knife or a cookie cutter.

4. Brush the tops with the melted butter. Sprinkle the tops with sugar. Bake for about fifteen minutes or until done. Remove to a wire rack. Serve while still fresh and warm.

Note: For the best results, always serve shortcake fresh. The dough can sit in the refrigerator for up to two hours while waiting to bake.

For the raspberries:

Wash the raspberries. Garnish the dessert with the raspberries. For the whipped cream: Combine the whipped cream, two tablespoons sugar, and the vanilla in a chilled bowl. Whip on medium speed until soft peaks form. Sweeten with the additional sugar if desired. To serve: Split the warm biscuits open. Fill with berries and whipped cream. Top with additional whipped cream and berries. Drizzle with chocolate and caramel syrup.

(BLUEBERRY CREAM CHEESE SHORTCAKE)

INGREDIENTS

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/4 cup sugar1 tablespoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/3 cup cold butter cut into chunks

1 large egg

3/4 cup cream 1 tablespoon melted butter or cream for brushing 1 1/2 pints ripe blueberries2 tablespoons sugar 2/3 cup heavy cream 1 eight-ounce package cream cheese

2/3 cup powdered sugar

1 teaspoon lemon zest

DIRECTIONS

For the shortcake: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. 1. Combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl.

2. Cut the butter into the dry ingredients with a pastry blender.

3. Whisk the egg into the cream. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour the cream mixture into the well. Mix with a fork until the ingredients just stick together. Drop into biscuits on a greased cookie sheet and then pat with the back of a spoon make to about 3/4-inch thick. To make cut-out biscuits, pat the dough into a sheet on a floured countertop and cut into three inch shapes with either a knife or a cookie cutter.

4. Brush the tops with the melted butter or cream. Sprinkle the tops with sugar. Bake for about fifteen minutes or until golden brown. Remove to a wire rack. Serve while still fresh and warm. Note: For the best results, always serve shortcake fresh. The dough can sit in the refrigerator for up to two hours while waiting to bake.

For the blueberries: Wash the blueberries. In a small bowl, smash the berries, add the sugar, and stir. Cover the bowl and heat it in the microwave until the berries are hot and starting to bubble. For the whipped cream: Pour the whipped cream into a chilled bowl. Whip on medium speed until soft peaks form. Add the cream cheese, powdered sugar, and lemon zest and beat until combined and fluffy. To serve: Split the warm biscuits open. Fill with whipped filling. Top with additional whipped filling and berries.

Friday's Fun Flair (ANSWERS) There are 30 books of the Bible in this paragraph. Can you find them? This is A MOSt reMARKable puzzle. It was found by a gentleman in an airplane seat pocket, on a flight from Los Angeles to HonoluLU, KEeping him occupied for hours. He enjoyed it so much, he passed it on to some friends. One friend from Illinois worked on this while fishing from his JOHN boat. Another friend studied it while playing his banJO. ELaine Taylor, a columnist friend, was so intrigued by it she mentioned it in her weekly newspaper column. Another friend JUDGES the JOB of solving this puzzle so involving, sHE BREWS a cup of tea to help her nervESTHERe will be some names that are really easy to spot. That's a fACT. Some people, however, will soon find themselves in a JAMESpecially since the book names are not necessarily capitalized. tRUTHfully, fROM ANSwers we get, we are forced to admiTITUSually takes a minister or a scholar to see some of theM AT THE Worst. Research has shown that something in our GENES IS responsible for the difficulty we have in seeing the books in this paragraph. During a recent fund raising event, which featured this puzzle, the Alpha Delta PHI LEMONade booth set a new record. The local paper, The CHONICLE, Surveyed over 200 patrons who reported that this puzzle was one of the most difficult they had ever seen. As DANIEL HumaNA HUMbly puts it, "The books are all right here in plain view hidden from sight." tHOSE Able to find all of them will hear great LAMENTATIONS from those who have to be shown. One REVELATION that may help is that books like TIMOTHY and SAMUEL may occur without their NUMBERS. Also, keep in mind, that punctuation and spaces in the middle are norMAL. A CHIpper attitude will help you comPETE Really well against those who claim to know the answers. Remember, there is no need for a mad EXODUS; there really are 30 books of the Bible lurKING Somewhere in this paragraph waiting to be found. Osee is a variant spelling of Hosea, and its in the paragraph.....takes a minister or a scholar to See some of them at the worst.

I Am a 'Kept ' Woman?

You see, there were a few times when I thought I would lose my mind, But GOD kept me sane. (Isa. 26:3) There were times when I thought I could go no longer, But the LORD kept me moving. (Gen 28:15) At times, I've wanted to lash out at those whom I felt had done me wrong, But the LORD kept my mouth shut.. (Psa. 13) Sometimes, I think the money just isn't enough, But GOD has helped me to keep the lights on, the water on, the car paid, the house paid, etc.., (Matt. 6:25 -34) When I thought I would fall, HE kept me up. When I thought I was weak, HE kept me strong! (I Pet. 5:7, Matt. 11:28-30) I could go on and on and on, but I'm sure you hear me! I'm blessed to be 'kept ' Do you know a 'kept ' woman? If so pass it on to her to let her know she is 'Kept ' I'm "Kept" by the Love and Grace of God

THE 5 MINUTE CHOCOLATE CAKE FOR ONE PERSON!

THE 5 MINUTE CHOCOLATE CAKE

4 tablespoons flour

4 tablespoons sugar

2 tablespoons cocoa

1 egg 3 tablespoons milk

3 tablespoons oil

3 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional)

Small splash of vanilla extract

1 large coffee mug (MicroSafe)

Add dry ingredients to mug, and mix well. Add the egg and mix thoroughly. Pour in the milk and oil and mix well.Add the chocolate chips (if using) and vanilla extract, and mix again. Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes at 1000 watts. The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed! Allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate if desired.EAT!

(This can serve 2 if you want to feel slightly more virtuous).

And why is this the most dangerous cake recipe in the world? Because now we are all only 5 minutes away from chocolate cake at any time of the day or night!