This book will challenge your faith

 
I had heard a lot of hype about this book and it was on the best seller list. I put it on hold at the library and it came available at the end of October.  I am torn over how I feel about it. In the first chapter, the author states that it is difficult to know much about Jesus apart from the gospels, but that he planned to portray Jesus from the standpoint of the historical times.  He then picks and chooses which parts of the gospels to believe as accurate and which parts to see as made up by the authors at a later date to match the theological case they are trying to make. The book has challenged me to think of Jesus in a new way. I have always taken it for granted that the Bible is true. There is still a lot of conflict over the dates of the gospels and authorship.  I have heard many sides including this book and this lecture (https://vimeo.com/58113932 19:39-25:00). One part that I still need to look into is the nativity story and the historical accuracy. I know there are scholars on both sides who want to be right (that Jesus is or isn't God), so I feel it is tricky to tease out the truth. At the library booksale, I got a book containing the extra biblical works written about Jesus long after his death. I plan to read these to supplement my knowledge on what different groups have believed about Jesus over time. I feel I need to research this stuff on my own as it's hard to simply trust someone else's research knowing their biases.

Birthday Celebrations

I celebrated my birthday at the beginning of the month. I decided that since in the past I've taken the day off of work and been disappointed with how it turns out, that I would work. I went to a PNSO event in the morning, chaired my Practice/Quality group in the evening and then worked night shift. I brought cookies to the meeting and I had friends who also brought cookies and cupcakes to celebrate.

The next day was beautiful and I went cider and wine tasting with my friend Meagan. We checked out Bold Rock cider (which is actually pretty good) and went to Pollock (my personal favorite).

 I was blessed in the gift department, as well. In October, I had been home and my mom got me a cake transporter and some other useful kitchen nick-knacks.  My sister sent me my favorite tea and a mug rack I had been wanting.

Michael sent a VT zip-up sweatshirt and my Secret Santa at work also got me a cute VT shirt!

I had borrowed Meagan's waffle iron a while ago and she got me one of my very own! It made great sourdough waffles I ate after our day of wine tasting.

Way behind

I am way behind with my posts! I have been busy!

On Sunday, I went up to the Blue Ridge Parkway to see the last of the trees. They really seemed to peak last week.  I found a parking spot for "Dripping Rock Overlook" that didn't look like there was much to see, but I could see a faint trail near the parking. Since I had Hokie with me, I decided to check it out. It ended up being about a 20 minute hike up to a rock viewing area. It looks like a great place to watch the sunset and catch the stars in the summer. I might have to go back.

Fasting

Request for protection
Ezra 8:21
Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from him a safe journey for ourselves, our children, and all our goods.

Return to God
Nehemiah 1:4
As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven.

Return to God
Daniel 9:3
Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes.

Return to God
Joel 2:12-13
“Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster.

Prepare for Missions
Acts 13:2-3
While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.

Gameday!

I had the privilege of going to the VT game a couple of weeks ago. It was so much fun to be back in the stadium and hear Enter Sandman and I even got to stand on the field during halftime (thanks to tickets from the band director!!)!  I had to leave for a wedding after the 3rd quarter, but I listened on the radio as the team pulled out the win!  Go Hokies!

Biblical Thoughts on Marriage

 

I saw this hanging in my life group leader's house.  The group is concerned about the current state of marriages in our country. They feel that people are unwilling to live according to the biblical guidelines for marriage, so I feel the need to look into it.


The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.” That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.
Genesis 2:23-24

Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.
Hebrews 13:4

“Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”
Matthew 19:4-6

1 Corinthians 7:3-5
 Ephesians 5:21-33

Sunsets at Carter Mountain

This event happens at Carter Mountain on Thursdays in the fall. My friend and coworker, Meagan, finally convinced me to skip my Life Group for the last one of the season. We couldn't have asked for a better night!

The return of the crafter

Another baby shower for a coworker prompted me to finish this project:

The pattern was from the back of a ball of Bernat Baby Sport yarn and it went quickly. 

Prayer

I was inspired at church one Sunday to begin studying prayer in the Bible.  Starting with the word search "pray" on BibleGateway, here are some old testament prayers:

Genesis 20:
Abraham prayed for Abimelek

Genesis 24:
Abraham's servant prayed for Isaac's wife, Rebekah

Genesis 25:
Isaac prayed for his wife to become pregnant

Genesis 32:
Jacob prayed for his brother, Esau, not to kill his family

Exodus 8-10:
Moses prays for the plagues of frogs and flies and thunder and hail and locusts to end

Numbers 11:
Moses prayed for God's fire to stop consuming the camp

Numbers 21:
Moses prayed for God to take the snakes away

Apple butter!

I searched pinterest for the recipe (of course). I used 4 apples (1/4 the recipe).  I was so very pleased that this worked and tasted so good! I feel so accomplished having successfully made a very fall item (and it was so easy left in the crockpot overnight!).

Recent meals

 I now get true enjoyment out of cooking! Over the past couple of weeks I made:

zucchini pancakes which I was able to freeze for multiple meals.  To eat them, I sprinkled them with a cinnamon and sugar mixture before drizzling on maple syrup.

pepperoni calzones (sauce, cheese and pepperoni) made from a compilation of recipes including this one and this bread dough. These also froze well for multiple easy meals.

bruchetta with tomatoes, red onion, olive oil, garlic and some seasonings.  I again used a couple recipes but mostly this one. I toasted the bread soaked in olive oil and rubbed with garlic and put shredded mozzarella on the bread before adding the bruchetta. Very tasty and it made a great lunch paired with a salad.

Stuffed bread. Made with my homemade sourdough. Great for lunch!

I stopped my produce delivery, but I still get the emails saying what everyone else is getting. This week was going to include broccoli, so I decided to try a broccoli lasagna.

Finally, I made zucchini chips with my last zucchini.  I used Italian bread crumbs rather than plain, and they turned out pretty tasty. I ate the whole zucchini in one sitting!

Kabul 24

I completed another fall read lent to me by the leader of my life group. We were talking about missions and fears and doubts and she offered me this book to read by Henry O. Arnold and Ben Pearson.  Apparently, it's also a film.








I was not super impressed with the writing, but the story was good and even more amazing that it is real. I very much admire those who love God and the Afghan people so much that even after being treated horribly and living through such a frightening situation, went back to help the people because they are confident that it is the right thing to do. I am continually amazed at how cruel people can be to other people. It is so frightening.  But I am equally amazed at the courage of some who are willing to follow God's call at any cost.

Still Combating Fear

Deuteronomy 1: 20-21
(from Moses) “You have reached the hill country of the Amorites, which the Lord our God is giving us. See, the Lord your God has given you the land. Go up and take possession of it as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, told you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

Deuteronomy 1: 29-31
(from Moses) “Do not be terrified; do not be afraid of them. The Lord your God, who is going before you, will fight for you, as he did for you in Egypt, before your very eyes, and in the wilderness. There you saw how the Lord your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place.”

Deuteronomy 3:22
(to Joshua) Do not be afraid of them; the Lord your God himself will fight for you.

Deuteronomy 7:17-19
You may say to yourselves, “These nations are stronger than we are. How can we drive them out?” But do not be afraid of them; remember well what the Lord your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt. You saw with your own eyes the great trials, the signs and wonders, the mighty hand and outstretched arm, with which the Lord your God brought you out. The Lord your God will do the same to all the peoples you now fear.

Deuteronomy 20:1
When you go to war against your enemies and see horses and chariots and an army greater than yours, do not be afraid of them, because the Lord your God, who brought you up out of Egypt, will be with you.  

Deuteronomy 20: 2-4
When you are about to go into battle, the priest shall come forward and address the army. He shall say: “Hear, Israel: Today you are going into battle against your enemies. Do not be fainthearted or afraid; do not panic or be terrified by them. For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.”

Deuteronomy 31:6
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.

Finished project

I finally finished another crafting project! My cousin is having her first baby and her baby shower was at the beginning of Sept. Of course I did not have this project completed by then, but I did finally finish it and send it to her.

The pattern and yarn are Bernat and I am fairly pleased with how this one turned out and how easy it was to complete.

Pear Tart

In Spring 2012, my mom sent me a photo copy of a recipe by Gail Simmons from an unknown magazine. I had not gotten around to making it until pears made it into my produce delivery the past couple of weeks. It turned out really well (although it's not at all healthy).  Gail suggests using peaches or plums instead of the pears when seasonally available. 

Ingredients:
1/2 cup (1 stick) softened, unsalted butter, plus more for greasing pan
juice of 1/2 lemon, divided
1 lb pears (Concorde or Anjou), cored and sliced 1/2 inch thick
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup plus 2 Tbsp sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp cinnamon
(I greased my pan with olive oil rather than butter and used Asian pears and refrigerated lemon juice because it's what I had)

Instructions:
1. Butter a 9-inch springform pan. Squeeze half the lemon juice over pears.
2. In a small mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
3.  With an electric mixer (I used my kitchenaid), cream1/2 cup butter and 1 cup sugar on medium until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in eggs one at a time, then vanilla.  Beat in flour mixture on low until batter just comes together. Spread in pan.  Wrap and chill for at least 20 minutes.
4. Preheat oven to 375F. Arrange pears in concentric circles on top of dough. Squeeze remaining lemon juice evenly over pears.
5. In a bowl, mix 2 Tbsp sugar with cinnamon.  Sprinkle over pears. Bake for 45 to 55 minutes or until edges are golden and center set.
6. Cool tart in pan for 10 minutes. Run a sharp knife around edge. Remove sides of pan.