The History of Ginger bread

Memories of Christmas involve the smell of ginger in baking in our house.  Ginger was always added to the pudding much to the dislike of one of my siblings, oh and the cake.  The other thing which I have come to like over time is the ginger bread men and women biscuits (I really can't bring myself to use the word cookie) that hang off the tree.  That's if you can make them small enough.

I have also come to love the Ginger Bread House.  A very tricky thing to make unless you have the patience of the saints and lots of solid royal icing.  I've taught student's this for a few years to finish the last few weeks of school off.  Haven't done it for awhile now.

So I thought why not look at the history of the Ginger Bread and especially the house.  Pouring over sites I came across the about.com site and here is some of the information they had.

What is Ginger Bread?

This is a baked sweet that contains ginger and sometimes the spices cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, cardamom and anise.  It is usually sweetened with a combination of brown sugar, molasses, light or dark corn syrup or honey.  Here in Australia the good old golden syrup is added.

In the 21st Century we use Ginger bread differently from past eras.  We use it in three ways.

1.  The shape of think, crisp biscuits like snaps.  Polish pierniczki, Czech pernik.  Also Dutch speculaas cut into heart or fanciful shapes.  The Germans like theirs a little softer and puffier known as lebkuchen.

2. Gingerbread can also be a dark spicy cake like the Polish pernik.  It is sometimes served in USA with a lemon glaze.

3. It can also be shaped into a house.

The Ginger Bread House

This became very popular in Germany as this was the spice trade centre of the European World.

It also become more popular after the publication of the story of "Hansel and Gretel"in the 19th Century by those famous brothers Grimm. 

On various sites I've read that some towns have competitions and everyone makes a replica of their house and after the New Year the houses are broken and eaten by the children.

Ginger Bread House Recipe

Hanging In There

I love this little story about the way we can all view life.
It's amazing how many people wallow in their situations and sometimes we are too afraid to get out of them.  We like our life and don't want to change it.

It is also all about our attitude to what life throws at us.  How do we handle the every day items and the really weighty matters in our life.

Two frogs fell into a deep cream bowl.
One was a wise an cheery soul;
The other one took a gloomy view
And bade his friend a sad adieu.

Said the other frog with a merry grin,
I can't get out, but I won't give in!
I'll swim around till my strength is spent,
Then I will die all the more content.

And as he swam, though ever it seemed,
His smuggling began to churn the cream
Until on top of pure butter he stopped
And out of the bowl he quickly hopped!

The moral you ask? Oh it's easily found:
If you can't get out; just keep swimming around.
Hang in There!

Rice, W. (1999). Still More Hot Illustrations for Youth Talks.  Youth Specialties.  Zondervan Publishing House. p.74

Why I Never Eat!

Everyone has a good excuse for not attending church.  If you take those excuses and apply them to other things we do (or don't do), like eating, they might look like this...

I don't eat any more because...

1. I was forced to eat as a child
2. People who eat all the time are hypocrites; they aren't really hungry
3. There are so many different kinds of food, I can't decided what to eat
4. I used to eat, but I got bored and stopped
5. I only eat on special occasions, like Easter and Christmas
6. None of my friends will eat with me
7. I'll start eating when I get older
8. I don't really have the time to eat
9. I don't believe that eating does anybody any good.  It's just a crutch
10. Restaurants and grocery stores are only after your money.

Giving a lame excuse for not attending church or for not getting involved in ministry is just as silly as giving up eating.  Church attendance for the Christian is as important as regular, balanced meals.  Without spiritual food, we will die (1 Peter 2:2)

Rice, W. (1999). Still More Hot Illustrations for Youth Talks.  Youth Specialties. Zondervan Publishing House Grand Rapids. Michigan. p.97

The Significance of a Marshmallow

"So I say, live by the spirit and you will not gratify 

the desires of the sinful nature." 

Gal. 5:16 NIV

Imagine you are a 4 yr. old.  Picture yourself in a strange room; a strange person gives you a marshmallow and promises you a second one if you don't eat the first one until he/ she returns from an short errand.  What do you do?  Do you gobble down the marshmallow, not thinking about the possibility of another?  Or, with nothing to do but stare at the marshmallow, do you muster all the self-control available to you as a 4 yr. old and wait until the giver returns?

That question has proved to be a classic in a research study conducted on a group of 4-year olds.  When researchers tracked down the children 14 years later they found that this test was an amazing predictor of how the children would do in school.  The ones- who had waited in the test scored significantly higher - 210 points higher - on their Scholastic Achievement Test.  In addition, the kids who patiently waited were, later more stable emotionally than the other group, better liked by their teachers and their peers, and were still able to delay gratification in pursuit of their goals.

The children, who had eaten the marshmallow immediately were, 14 years later, less emotionally stable, more irritable, more likely to pick fights, not as well liked, and fell apart under stress.

The bible talks about the importance of self-control. Gal 5: 22, 23 says "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  Against such things there is not law." (NIV)  While our society places great emphasis on scholastic  success - defined as how much knowledge you can pack into your brain in a given amount of time - God, as usual has an entirely different way of measuring success.

Now science has caught up with what the Bible has always presented to us.  God promises us success, not based on worldly standards, academic achievement, or measures of wealth, but upon His Spirit working in us.  When He develops the fruit of the Spirit in our characters will be healthier and happier, our relationships will be more satisfying, our academic pursuits more successful, and our jobs more fulfilling.  Better yet, we will be successful not only in the physical  world but in the spiritual world as well.  That's where it really counts.

Isn't it interesting that one character trait - self control - 

can have such a widespread effect on a person's success in life?  

How Healthy is your self control?

Brousson Anderson. C

Kuzma, K. (2005). Fit forever.  One a day devotionals for Body, Mind and Spirit.  Review and Herald Publishing Association Hagerstown MD. p.21

Practice Hospitality

Hospitality is the opening up of our homes and welcome others into our lives.  We are not to be self centred.  Rachael Crabb in her book "The Personal Touch" states that "Christian women just don't have a choice about whether or not they'll be hospitable.  It's a biblical command."(p.)

We find this being exhorted by Jesus in Luke 14: 12 - 14. The Apostle Paul adds hospitality as a requirement for office in the church (1 Timothy 3:2) and also encourages the early Christians in Romans 12:13 to practice hospitality.  Peter adds the following concept into the act of hospitality.

"Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling". 1 Peter 4:9


I have used this quote once before but it makes the point I think that Peter was trying to tell us.

My wife invited some people to dinner.  At the table she turned to our 5 year old daughter and said, "Would you like to say the blessing/?"  I wouldn't know what to say, she replied.  Just say what you hear Mummy say, my wife said.  Our daughter bowed her head and said "Dear Lord why on earth did I invite all these people for dinner."

There are some wonderful books out there that can help with ideas and how to do it graciously.  One is found in the book review section and the other one has been around for a while and the author's ideas and experiences are offered below.

Here are a few tips from Karen Main's book Open Heart - Open Home. (p.171 - 176).

1. Never clean before company - Instead, try to clean on schedule and clean up as you go, so you'll always be ready for unexpected guests. 
2. Keep the emphasis on welcome, not performance - The purpose of hospitality is to open your arms to others, not to impress.  It's better to keep things simple and warm than to go over board.
3. Do as much ahead of time as possible - Plan ahead for hospitality - even cook ahead.  Karen says, " Hard work indicates I'm not managing my time well, not planning ahead doing too much, not being dependant on the Lord's strength, but on my own."
4. Include little touches of Beauty - A few candles and a jar of daisies picked from the year can make grilled cheese a gourmet delight.  (And they help hide the grease stain on the table cloth as well.)
5. Use all the help that comes your way - When someone offers to help, say yes! Many hands make light work - and sharing the labour can be a great opportunity for fellowship.
6. Keep records - Karen has files of easy recipes and creative entertaining tips.  Other women keep records of the guests and what was served.  I've found that to-do lists organise my scattered thoughts and help me focus my energy more productively.

There are other great books like the Gentle art of Hospitality mentioned on the book review page and also Nancy Van Pelt's Creative Hospitality.

How to tell if Your a Kitchen or Living Room Person

Test me: O LORD and try me, 

examine my heart and my mind for your love is ever before me, 

and I will walk continually in your truth. Ps. 26:2-3

I found another tit bit today while reading Joanna Weaver's book "Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World".  I thought the concept was particularly neat...(p182,183).  In this book she talks about service as being in the kitchen, like Martha was and the Living Room where Mary was listening to her LORD filling up her spiritual side.

Listening to your soul a balance Checklist... (don't you just love checklist, it's easy to tick off and you don't have to think about where you are up to).

Because we were created for balance, we feel the difference in our souls when our lives tilt too far in one direction or another. The imbalance will show in our attitude, our energy level, and in the way we interact with people.  Any of the following could be an indication that you need to tilt more toward either service or devotion.

Signs that you may need more time in the Kitchen

• Slight depression - You feel a vague unhappiness, a sense of being down.
• Resentment of intrusion - Rather than welcome people into your life, you find yourself wishing they'd go away. 
• Frustration over direction of life - You feel a sense of purposelessness and sometimes wonder,"Is this all there is. "
• Increased self- indulgence - You feel and itch to treat yourself to your favourite food or shopping.
• Apathetic attitude - You find that very little moves you. You know your compassion level is low, put part of you doesn't care.
• Low energy Level - Like the Dead Sea, you have many inlets, but no outlets - and therefore you are growing stagnant.

Signs that you may need more time in the Living Room

• Irritability and frustration - You find yourself snapping at people, wound so tight your about to 'snap' yourself, and especially short tempered with those you perceive as lazy or unco-operative.
• Uncomfortable with quiet - silence makes you nervous, so you quickly turn on the TV or radio.
• Low joy threshold - It's been a long time since you've sensed that undercurrent of joy and abundance running through your heart.
• A sense of Isolation - You feel all alone - as if no one is there for you and no one understands.
• Increase drivenness - You're haunted by a sense that you must do more and more.  You keep volunteering for more projects and for more committees, even though you know your plate is full.
• Sense of dryness and emptiness -  No wonder! You have many outlets and demands, but no inlets or source of strength. 

The Recipe Song

For ages I have been looking for the lyrics to this song.  I finally found it.  I remember my sister having this one on a video that she used for worship with her kids at school.

I hope you have a blast from the past with this song and remember that it came from Vol. 9 of Psalty the Singing Song Book.




The Recipe


Gonna make a recipe
I just can't wait to start,
It's not the kind you serve at meals,
you make it in your heart.
If you've never tried it
you've got to have a taste,
so come into the kitchen and 
we'll make a batch of praise.

First you take a cup of faith
and stir it all around;
add some joy and laughter
till it makes a bubbly sound. 
Mix in some agape love
till it begins to ring
Pour into a willing heart
and serve it to the King!

Glass or Water

It's just amazing where you find information these days.  I read this quote on FB and just had to share it with you all.

‎" Is the glass half full or half empty? Neither; 

I just keep filling it up. Be happy. Think positive. 

Life is a great experience for all to enjoy. 

When the glass loses water, it's up to you to fill it up. 

Put some flavor in there and enjoy the taste. 

It's FANTASTIC!!"

-Allen Steble

Energised by Eating the Word

This week the book of readings I use as part of my devotional time had this reading in it.  It was too good to keep to myself, so here I am sharing this with all of you.

Your words were found, and I ate them, 

and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; 

for I am called by Your name, O Lord God of hosts. 

Jer. 15:16 NKJV

NOTHING COULD BE more mundane and universal than eating.  Yet everyone loves it!  If only we loved the eating of the Word as well.

Eating is a fine art in the Orient, where the proper balancing of the different kinds of foods is important: salty, sweet, spicy, sour, M-m-m, what might the Word look like as a sample Menu? Piquant Proverbs Appetisers; Fragrant Genesis Soup; Kings and Chronicles Fibre-rich salad; Isaiah Sweet-and-sour; Four-Gospel Casserole; Revelation Rhubarb Pie; Creme Brulee a la Galatians; Philippians Sparkling Beverage! Have you eaten a healthy balance today?

What it takes to enjoy the  Word is similar to what it takes to enjoy food.


"Your words were found." Real food preparation requires personal effort.  "Finding" entails seeking and seeking takes time.  Food preparations demands time with appropriate tools and strong flame.  You've got to put yourself into the cooking before you put the cooking into you!  Do you see the parallel to Bible study?

"I ate them."  To eat means to put food in your mouth, chew, and swallow.  Fibre-rich foods yields only to patient mastication.  Preparation remains unfulfilled purpose until the food touches your tongue, teeth, and stomach.  And just as physical digestion can be hindered by distractions, trying to do too many things at once also hinders the digestion of the Word.

"Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart." You can't taste how good a dish is until your nose, lips and tongue have done their work.  Only then can a deep savouring sigh and a smile emerge.  Real joy is a whole-body experience.

Ingest the Word; put the Word in you as you put yourself in the Word.  For example, put your name into Ps. 91:14 - 16 and experience the energising effect.

Because (Name) has set (his/ her) love upon Me,

therefore I will deliver (him/ her);

I will set (Name) on high, because he/she has known My name.

(Name) shall call upon me and I will answer (him/ her):

I will be with (Name) in trouble; 

I will deliver (him/ her), and honour (him/ her).

With long live will I satisfy (Name), and show (him/ her) my salvation

Did you feel energised after reading yourself into Scriptures?
That's what eating the Word is all about!

Ruth E Burke

(Kuzma. K. (2005). Fit for ever. One day devotionals for Body, Mind and spirit.  Review and Herald Publishing Association.Hagerstown USA. p.298).




Places to go and get ideas to study the bible.

Various methods of studying the bible

Getting started
How to Enjoy Bible Study
How to Bible Study clip.

Bible versions/ Commentaries

Bible study tools
Bible Gate way
Bible Keeper

If you are one of those who likes to study themes then there are some awesome sites that I know allow you to actually study deeper and find meaning in the Word.

Discovery Courses
Voice of Prophecy
Amazing Facts


Have a go and enjoy a change of pace and direction in your study.  May it be a delight to you, something that you look forward to every day.

Spiritual Snicker Bars

"Taste and See that the LORD is Good"  Psalm 34:7-9

Over the past week I have been reading a book called "Having a Mary heart in a Martha world", byJoanna Weaver.  In one of the chapters she was comparing her snacking on a Snicker bar to what we do with getting our spiritual dose with GOD.

I liked her idea so here is an extract from her book.  Her pastor's wife told the story of how one afternoon when preparing food for a big dinner she didn't eat lunch so felt hungry.  She couldn't eat her beautiful dinner as she was full from the snicker bar she had as a snack.

"The Lord spoke to me at that moment" Terri says."He showed me that we often fill our lives with spiritual Snicker bars - things like friends, books, and shopping.  They may be good things, completely innocent things - but when they take the edge off our hunger for God."

Terri's illustration has stayed with me for years because it applies so aptly to my own life.  I constantly fight the tendency to fill the God-shaped hole he created in me with fluffy stuff. I don't like loneliness, so I fill the space with phone calls and social events and trips to the mall - but loneliness as my friend Jeanne Mayo puts it, "God;s call to fellowship with him."  I don't  like quietness, so I fill it up the silence with sitcoms and talk shows, Christian music and CNN- but it was in the quiet of the night that Samuel heard God's voice.

We were designed to be close to God.  Just as our bodies hunger and thirst for food and drink, our spirits hunger and thirst for his presence.  But just as it's possible to bloat our bodies with empty calories we can find ways to pacify our spiritual cravings with out really getting the nourishment we need.  We can fill up with spiritual Snicker bars while all the time our spirits are withering for want of real food.

If you're having a little trouble feeling close to God - or even wanting to draw close - you might want to consider what activities you are using to fill the empty places of your life.  What's taking the edge off your hunger for him?.

Then again, it could be that you just need to starting "eating" the good things of the Lord to find out how spiritually hungary you really are.  You see, spiritual hunger and thrist don't work the same way as our physical needs.  When our physical body feels hunger we eat and our hunger is satisfied.  But spiritually speaking, it isn't until we "eat" that we realize how famished we are.  As we feast at God's table, something strange happens.  We get hungier. Thirstier.  We want more!  WE have to have more.... For even Snicker Bars taste flat in comparison to the sweetness of the Lord's presence.  When you sampled the best of the best, you'll be willing to skip the junk food this world offers in order to have a real sit-down meal with the Saviour.

(Having a Mary Heart in a Martha world. (2000). Waterbook press. pp.69,70)

Fruits of the Sun

It is coming up to summer time here in the Southern Hemisphere and a time when storms, fires come along with droughts and flooding rains (to quote a very well known poem about Australia) which all influence the farmer yield of produce on the land.  I would like to dedicate this prayer to them this year.

God bless a man who plants a tree

To feed his fellow man;

God bless those who bring to fruit

By toil and laboured plan,

The red and gold globes of the sun,

That others may be fed;

Bless all who make of this green earth

A fruiting fountainhead.

God bless the man who trust the earth

To give him back reward -

Who makes a garden grow, row on row -

Replenish him, O Lord!

And may he bring at market time

Heaped baskets to the town - 

His offerings for tables spread

Where tired folks sit down.

God bless the man who plows a field

And sows the yellow wheat -

Who plants the barley and the corn

Our hungry children eat

'God bless all those who bend beneath 

The weight of daily toil,

Whose fate is linked for good or ill

With sun and wind and soil.

We thank Thee, Lord, that men who strive

In lowly earthly ways

Receive from Thee rich measurings

And laden harvest days.

 Grant them the faith to plant again,

When harvest time is done -

The gold fruits of the open air,

The red fruits of the sun.

(Crowell., G.N., (1934). White fire.  Harper & Row Publishers Inc.)

Sweeten the Health Message

For my devotions this year I decided to read one on Health Topics and every so often I actually read one I want to share.  I've shared one before and now here is another.

Kay Kuzma talks about a person who came home from a Health Seminar and decided there and then that all the processed foods had to go.  She put the family on an exercise program and lectured to them about health reform.  The family revolted and did not take to the new lifestyle.  What went wrong?

At the time It was a great idea and most leaders and leadership teams know, unless everyone has the vision nothing will change.  To many times I've seen people get enthusiastic about health and cooking new ways with food (especially going totally vegetarian too fast).  Then a few months later they are back to their lifestyle again because the family rebelled.

Kay had some very good advice to remember.

1. Live what you believe. You can't expect others to live healthily if you don't.  Your actions will speak louder than words.  Do your children see you putting on your jogging shoes and heading out into the brisk morning air?  Do they see you choosing an apple instead of a piece of pie, or water instead of a soda? Pray that God will give you the will power to act on your belief.
2. Know why you're doing what you're doing. Living healthily should make sense.  Keep it simple.  If something depresses your immune system, clouds your thinking, or puts you at risk for heart disease, stroke or diabetes - it's bad.
3. Be flexible and balanced. Don't be so health - conscious that you make your family miserable.  Don't be so concerned about what you put in to your mouth that you forget to watch what comes out in terms of criticism and faultfinding.  (And if yo feel a sermon coming on, bite your tongue!)
4. Make changes slowly. Your body and especially the intestines can not take 24/7 vegetarian meals and sudden exercise after periods of neglect.  Build it up day by day and week by week.  It takes 21 days to make a new habit and longer to break old ones.  A good idea is to always replace old ones with a new one.
5. Be happy and praise God. A healthy grouch appeals to no one.

Food patterns for our body.

It's been awhile since I've been here and lots and lots of things, readings and experiences have passed into history for me or should I say herstory.

I  have been sent this link before and have enjoyed it.
I hope it brings to mind some reasons why we eat vegetables and fruit more than any other type of food.
It's amazing how our bodies are so wonderfully made.

Food patterns for our body.

I hope you enjoy the clip.

Learn Food names in Hebrew.

Just for something different like the scripture cake here is something you might like to have a go at when you are really bored.



I found this on God tube.
Learn Hebrew

I hope you can have some fun with this.

Part 4 ADG and Spiritual Growth

The third section is just as important as the first two. Care for your food –prepare and store it safely.

The NHMRC states in this area “care still needs to be taken to ensure food does not be contaminated with bacteria the effects of eating infected food very widely.”  They then go on to say Food may be contaminated if the raw ingredients are “off” to start with, if kitchen equipment is unclean, if food is poorly cooked or if food is kept warm for long periods and poor personal hygiene.”

So then how can a Christian prevent this occurring in their spiritual lives?  The writer of Proverbs 2 exhorts us to find wisdom and understanding.  We must also seek it like silver or a treasure. Paul in his writings instructs Christians to seek their own salvation with fear and trembling but at the same time remembering that both Jesus and God are Authors and Finishers of their faith (Romans ). Jesus instructs us in John 16 to test the spirits etc.  Mrs. White also explains this thought in Ministry of Healing p115 “ It is our work to obtain a knowledge of these principles and by obedience to cooperate with Him in restoring health to the body as well as to the soul.”

Peter in 1Peter1:13 “So prepare your minds for service and have self control.” In proverbs 2:9 – 13 “Then you will understand what is honest and fair and what is the good and right thing to do…Good sense will protect you; understanding will guard you.”

In working with clean equipment the Christian should:-

1. Test whatever we hear or read against what the bible teaches and to test the prophets teaching and their character also.

2. To seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness with a contrite heart and he will direct your path.

God is also very particular about cleanliness and in showing his concern Jesus warned in the New Testament about the yeast of the Pharisees corrupting others.  “He is even more interested in the cleanliness of the hearts and lives of those who serve and worship him”. (Currie, D., & G. (2006) p.210).  Jesus taught us that it’s important to give all of ourselves to God after confessing our sins as any dusty corner or locked door could let more demons in.  Thus for that reason God gave the children of Israel regulations on how to deal with mold in clothing and houses in Leviticus 13:47-59 and 14:33-53 also how to prepare for the Passover Ex 12:15-20.  The priests were also to wash before going into the temple. (Ex 30:17-21; 40:30-32).

After a closer inspection of the health prevention principles of the ADG a Christian can use them to build their faith and also their Christian character which will fit them for heaven.  To finish Colbert quote “God in turn will honour your heartfelt commitment by giving you more energy, better health and a greater sense of well being.”

Bibliography

Campolo, T. (200?).  You can tell a Story.

Colbert, D., (2002). What Would Jesus Eat? Thomas Nelson Publishers.  Nashville.

Currie, D., & G. (2006). Living with God. Sirivtana Interprint Public. Co., Ltd.  Chachoengsao

Thailand.

Sullivan, C., Meredith, S., Weihen, L. (2007).  Food Technology.  Stage 5.  Heinemann. 

Harcourt Education.  Port Melbourne.

Vamosh, M.F. (2002).  Food at the time of the Bible.  Palphot Ltd. Herzlia. Israel 

White, E.G. (1976).  Counsels on Diet and Foods.  Review and herald Publishing Association

Washington.

Bible verses are quoted from the New Century Version. 

The Youth Bible. (1991). Word Publishing. Texas.

Part 3 ADG and Spiritual Growth

The second section of the ADG deals with taking care to:-

1. Limit saturated fat and moderate total intake.

In the physical body fat is an essential nutrient.  The individual needs only a small amount every day around 20g.  It is important for insulation (keep warm) and protection of vital organs and a person’s cells has a lipid layer.  The function of Fat in food is to provide flavour and texture.

In the Christian’s life faith is what insulates and protects the individual.  Faith is important as it has the element of trust built into it.  The Christian only needs a mustard seed size, but with it they can move mountains.

In the spiritual sense we give God our worries and learn to trust him with our every day concerns and activities.  In Matt 6:25-34 Jesus told his followers to consider the birds and the flowers in the field and how they had no cares. The Israelites were to burn the fat at the altar and not consume it. Thus the Christian are to cast all their cares upon him as he cares for each and every one of his children. To cast our burdens at the foot of the Cross and take up his for his load is light.

2. Choose foods low in salt

Salt has two types of characteristics (jobs).  It can enhance the flavour of food or it can be used as an abrasive.  Christians are referred to by Jesus as the salt of earth (Mat 5:13).  They are to enhance and flavour those around them by being encouraging and also concerned about their community’s morals and value.  However, too often the other characteristic that salt has is seen.  Too often the words and actions of other Christians affect an individual’s point of view or turn them away from coming to church every week.  Therefore a mature Christian should carefully chose how and when to use words and actions. 

3. Limit your alcohol intake

The bible has many references to the effects of alcohol on an individual.  This is where Paul and Solomon expound the topic of self control.  Alcohol also can be compared to anger.  In the bible there are two types of anger.  Natural anger and righteous indignation this is what it means when. “Vengeance is mine saith the Lord.” (Romans 12:19).  

In the both the old and new testaments God has put in place guidelines to safe guard against this. Christians and Jews are told to turn the other check. Carry the load 2 miles instead of one. (Matt 5: 38-42). To work out their grievances with one another.  Do not let the sun go down on your anger.  We are also told not to judge others (Matt 7:1,2). At all times we must remember that “Man judges from the outside while God looks into the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). 

4. Consume only moderate amounts of sugar foods containing added sugar.

This one was a little tricky until I thought of the verse saying that we are to taste and see that the Lord is good.  However, if a Christian only attended the high times like Easter, Christmas times or the evangelistic campaigns this would limit the overall affect of faith development.  If a Christian chased only the high spiritual times all the time the effect of their experiences could be compared to a person with diabetes.  Thus we need a steady influx of spiritual growth (like meeting together regularly to study God’s word) and not sudden revivals or we become like the man in the story that Tony Campolo tells that turned up at all the revivals crying for the Lord to fill him because he was always empty.   This went on at every revival. Until some one called out from the back of the room “Don’t do it Lord he leaks”.

Prevent weight gain by being physically active and eat according to your energy needs

The Christian journey is not only about maintaining your own faith but it is about sharing the good news with world.  It involves using the gifts that the Holy Spirit has given each individual to carry out the task of taking the Great commission to the world.  Matt 28: 19-20 “so go and make followers of all people in the world.  Baptize them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.  Teach them to obey everything that I have taught you” and again in Rev 10.    These are to do the works that God has called us to do in the book of Mathew Jesus tells the parable of the talents and the servants and also again in the parable of the Sheep and the goats.  These parables also indicate the attitude we are to do these things to advance to the kingdom of heaven.

Part 2 ADG and Spiritual Growth

First section Daily requirements of food items for optimal health

1. Eat plenty of Vegetables and Fruit

For our physical bodies nutritionists recommend that we have 2 serves of fruit and 5 serves of vegetables per day to provide vitamins and minerals and photo nutrients to fight the free radicals that build up in our bodies.  Paul gives some insight into the fruits and vegetables that a Christian should eat.  “Brothers and sisters, think about the things that are good and worthy of praise.  Think about the things that are true and honorable and right and pure and beautiful and respected” (Philippians 4:8)

In Galatians 5:22, 23 Paul outlines further the fruit of the Spirit “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” as another important aspect of our desire to obtain and turn away from our selfish past.

Another important aspect of this is prayer.  Prayer can be likened to the vitamins and minerals that we need every day in small amounts, but all essential for the chemical reactions and development of an individual’s body.  Prayers are needed for all sorts of things in a Christian’s daily journey.

2. Eat plenty of Cereals

Cereals are the energy or power house and the staples in a person’s diet.  This food sustains the energy level of a person throughout the day.  In applying spiritual emphasis to this section the main source of energy and uplift in a Christian’s life is the study of the word.

Christians are encouraged to read it daily like the Bereans who studied it carefully.  The Jews studied the scriptures carefully as they thought had eternal life.  The Law and the Prophets also testified of Jesus.  Remember the bible study that the 2 disciples had on the road to Emmaus after Jesus had risen (Bible text _______). John also states “happy is the one who reads the words of God’s message, and happy are the people who hear this message and do what is written in it.”  (Rev 1:3)

3. Include lean Meat, Fish, Poultry and Protein alternatives

Protein is considered to be the building blocks of the body.  They provide the amino acids that the individual’s body uses to reproduce it’s self in the form of DNA.  In the spiritual sense these are the beliefs (the frame works) which a Christian bases their understanding of doctrine and behaviours on (the principles.)

Another way to view this is cited by Vamosh (2002). 

“The Roman-era Jewish philosopher Philo saw this as a symbolic meaning in the permission granted by God to eat certain foods and to refrain from eating other kinds.  People increased in wisdom only if they had to consider carefully all aspects of life that would lead them to be more moral by chewing them over.  A way of remembering to do these would be to only eat those animals that chew their cud” (p.11).

4. Include Milk, Yoghurts, Cheese and alternatives reduced fat varieties.

If you remember the Dairy corporations’ advertisement for this is all you need is a piece of cheese, a tub of yoghurt and a glass of milk a day to get your calcium requirement.  Calcium is required for healthy bones and body functions.  In this context Peter explains that “As new born babies want milk, you should want the pure and simple teaching.  By it you can grow up and be saved, because you have already examined and seen how good the Lord is.”  (1 Peter 2: 1-3)

5. Drink plenty of Water

A human being’s physical bodies are least at 70% water.  A person needs water to regulate  their body temperature and also cleanse the cells and maintain the chemical processes.  The main example of spiritual emphasis of how water is important to us is found in Jesus discussion with the woman at the well.  Right at the end of the Bible in Rev 22: 17 the Angel says to John “Let whoever is thirsty come; whoever wishes may have the water of life as a free gift.”

 How much water does a person need for their spiritual body?  The physical body needs around at least 2 litres of water to be kept in balanced and sometimes more depending on the individual’s exercise or activity levels. Thus the Christian needs to drink from the well of living water also so he or she won’t go spiritually thirsty.    

Following the ADG can improve your Spiritual Life Part 1.

I recently read a few devotional articles which have related Health Issues to Spiritual Decline.  This made me think that if other Christians could relate something like a health issue to their spiritual lives then couldn’t I relate some form of health prevention principles to a Christian’s spiritual life as well.  I decided to research this topic and found three authors who were able to provide direction. The first one is Colbert (2002) in his book “What Would Jesus Eat” he wrote. 

“If you truly want to follow Jesus in every area of your life you cannot ignore your eating habits…Following Jesus in your diet requires a commitment to change, a commitment to be all that God created you to be, a commitment to yield your desires to God’s instruction.” 

The second author that I read was Ellen White “God desires us to reach the standard of perfection made possible for us by the gift of Christ.  He calls upon us to make our choice on the right side to connect with heavenly agencies to adopt principles that will restore in us the divine image… (Ministry of Healing p.114, 115).

The third author Vamosh (2002) who sites in her book “Food at the time of the Bible” some modern and ancient thinkers and their thoughts about how the Jewish dietary restrictions related to the spiritual realm in our lives. These scholars see it

“as a means of "negotiating” between that which is spiritual and that which is physical… could not discipline of the physical appetite reduce the cravings for acquisitiveness and even increase spiritual hunger for justice and compassion (p.11)

For the basis of my devotional today let me explain that I will be using the health prevention principles that guide the eating habits of Australia “The Australian Dietary Guidelines” (ADG).  In 1977 the Commonwealth Department of Health announced the first series of ADG based on the directions of WHO and in 2003 herald the latest revision.  It is this set I will be using.  The NHMRC (2003) states that the new guidelines

Make it easier for families and individuals to understand the relationship between diet and disease, the nutrients available in Australia’s food supply and the contribution diet can make to improving our quality of life and reducing illness (Sullivan, 2007. p. 186).

So what is it about the ADG that has caught my attention and how I will use it in preventing spiritual diseases?  In reflecting upon this question let’s explore the ADG itself.  It can be broken into three parts.  The first section emphasizes positive aspects or amounts of food or nutrients that a person body needs regularly.  The second section covers the food or nutrients that a person body requires only in small amounts.  The third and final section of the ADG emphasizes how the food preparer can prepare good nutritious and safe food for those that will consume the meal. Let us then have a closer inspection of each of these sections and reflect upon the bible verses which enable us to develop spiritual concepts.

Recipe - correct ingredients and methods help.

Ray Marx had baked bread before.  Hundreds of times.
Well, two times anyway.
"It's a simple loaf of white bread.  How hard could that be?" Ray wondered aloud.  "A little yeast, a little oil, a little flour - nothing to it."
Ray put all the ingredients into the big bowl his mother always used, added more flour until the mixture was a big ball and dumped it onto the counter.
As Ray kneaded the dough he imagined how surprised and happy his parents would be when he presented his homemade bread for breakfast the next morning.  It was their 25th anniversary.
Ray cove red the big ball of dough with a light coating of butter, flipped it into the bowl, covered it with plastic wrap and set it aside in a warm corner of the room to rise.
"See nothing to it," he said smugly.  "Didn't even have to look at the recipe."
Now all he had to do was wait for it to rise.  30 mins. Nothing, an hour. Nothing.
"It just sat there in the bowl like..., like a big lump of dough.  Why wasn't it rising?" Ray asked himself.
He checked the expiration date on the yeast packet. No problem, it wouldn't expire for another 3 months. So what could it be?
Reluctantly he went to the cookbook.
"Let's see," he mused, "Flour, oil, yeast and sugar."
"Sugar! Of Course !"
Without sugar, the yeast couldn't do it's job.  No wonder the bread wasn't rising!  He had left out a small but vital ingredient.
Ray's bread couldn't rise without sugar.  The same way, Paul says that Christians can't reach a mature faith without having the right ingredients in his or her life.

The ingredients are found in Romans 16:25 -27 (NIV)

 ²⁵ Now to him who is able to establish you in accordance with my gospel,

the message I proclaim about Jesus Christ,

in keeping with the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past,

²⁶ but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings

by the command of the eternal God, so that all the Gentiles might

come to the obedience that comes from faith—

²⁷ to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.

In gaining ideas on how to study the bible it's always a good idea to ask someone or these days google or bing for them.  There are heaps of ways out there.  Each of us all have various means from reading chapter by chapter or using topics to read it.  Last time I looked there were at least 7 different ways but my last link actually talks about 12..

Here are just some places to start looking.

• http://christianity.about.com/od/biblestudyresources/bb/beforebiblestud.htm
• http://www.intothyword.org/pages.asp?pageid=56442
• http://www.purposedriven.com/article.html?c=113547&l=1

Isaiah's Fast

In my devotions last week I read the following verse which was entitled Isaiah's Fast. I was intrigued with this thought and wanted to find out more.  This blog is about what I found when researching this topic.

"Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen... Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter - when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?" Isa. 58:6,7 NIV

This chapter of Isaiah is both known by the Jewish and Christian community as the "Fasting Chapter."
In verse 6 there are listed the ways that man sees as ways to improve his spiritual status (which I did not write up) but God outlines his list of what he wants to see. 

Historically this chapter is always read by the Jews every year on Yom Kipper morning.  The Jews believe it was written about 6th century BCE.  Just after the destruction of the first temple.  In looking at this chapter in the cultural context we need to look at the context it was written in and understand some of the terms and conditions these people were going through.

"In the ancient world, public fasts were called as acts of repentance and prayer when some kind of calamity needed to be addressed—for example, when there was a drought. And as we all can attest from our experience today—fasting is not so easy. It demands something of us. It is a purifying practice, a practice which all spiritual traditions engage in in one form or another. So this, too, is a “fast,” Isaiah teaches us: turning our attention and will and dedication toward liberating all who suffer from oppression and degradation."  (http://www.dorsheitzedek.org/divrei/5764/5764-yk.htm)

For these people there were two important terms

1. tzedek- mishpat - the realm of Justice
2. hesed - acts of loving kindness

These terms announced how they were to personally have relationships with others to answer God's call and create a community where he could work.  The best known story of this at work is in the book of Ruth.

The webmaster or writer for the website IFCJ Isaiah 58 Fast makes these comments about this chapter.

"It is not simply to give up certain foods or other provisions for the body. According to Isaiah 58:7, this acceptable fast consists of:

• Dividing our bread with the hungry
• Providing shelter to the homeless
• Clothing the unclothed

Isaiah 58 is a vivid reminder that our commitment to people in need involves much more than just feeling sympathy for them." (http://www.ifcj.org/site/PageNavigator/eng/involved/isaiah_58_fast/)

Now where have we heard this type of thing before? Yes your quite right Jesus said these same type of things in Matt 25:34 - 39  (NIV)

   ³⁴ “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. ³⁵ For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, ³⁶ I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’    ³⁷ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? ³⁸ When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? ³⁹ When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’    
 
In this chapter God promises the joys with such height of emotions when we actually give or go out of our way to do some of these things. If you continue to read Chapter 58 he also promises to answer your prayers and heal you both physically and spiritually.
 
In looking closely at this chapter there is another dimension in it as well.  We are not only looking out for the physical well being of people we  are also asked to look after the spiritual well being of others.
This was emphasised in the following quote (http://celestedavis.wordpress.com/2010/01/26/the-fast-god-honors-isaiah-58/).

1. Extend your soul to the hungry.  This is mentioned twice.  Again, share food that you eat and spiritual food you have been given through this time of seeking God and being in the Word.
2. Satisfy the afflicted soul.  When you see a need, meet it, whether praying WITH someone, FOR someone or meeting a practical need.

 
 There is also another side to this joy in giving and helping others the last result of following  tzedek- mishpat and giving hezed  or not giving it, is found in Matt 25: 40,45,46.  
 
⁴⁰ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’" and ⁴⁵ “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’    ⁴⁶ “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” 
 
I first came across this theme in a skit produced by the Willow Creek church in the late 80's where a man and a lady were in a waiting room to be called to go to heaven.  Both had just recently died.  He had a duffel bag of his trophies and photo albums of what he had done.  She had nothing and was called shortly after their conversation.  It's our attitude or motivation behind what we do that is the most important thing to God.
 
Rabbi Toba Spitzer in a sermon comments "Isaiah calls upon us to be witnesses with our full selves--to not hide our eyes, as he says a few lines earlier, and to create a society—indeed, a world—where everyone can live as a whole person."

He goes on to say "This perspective, I think, both challenges and transcends the old dichotomy of “service” versus “social action” that we often get caught up in. Do we apply the band-aids, treat the immediate needs of those who are struggling, or do we address the deeper social causes of problems like poverty and hunger? Do we start a soup kitchen or an advocacy campaign?"

In answering these questions can only be for the Christian and Humanitarian YES to both.You might think that I have written about this before and you would be correct in this; but it seems it keeps hitting me in the face every so often. 
 
Why do you think God has to keep spelling this out to us?  Are we really that slow or dumb?  I think we get so busy in our lives that we forget others and look at things around us.  We are so insular and focused just on us that he needs to jolt us out of this and start looking some where else. In following these principles we actually heap coals on our enemies and also salt our community with Gods presence by giving hope to others.

  If you are interested in participating in this type of fast here are some links to other websites that follow this principle:  

• Abba Fund. http://abbafund.wordpress.com/2009/07/29/the-isaiah-58-fast/
• International Fellowship of Christian and Jews.   Isaiah Fast Program http://www.ifcj.org/site/PageNavigator/eng/involved/isaiah_58_fast/
• Project 358 http://www.impactnations.com/page/the-isaiah-58-fast

The other places you can assist in with not only giving financially are

• Adra Australia. www.adra.org.au
• Red Cross Australia http://www.redcross.org.au/default.asp
• Salvation Army http://salvos.org.au/donate/ways-to-donate/?furl=donate
• St Vincent De Pauls http://www.vinnies.org.au/home-sa
• World Vision www.worldvision.com.au
• Unicef http://www.unicef.org.au/
• Asian Aid http://www.asianaid.org.au/AU/Default.aspx
• Caristas Australia www.caritas.org.au
• Anglicare http://www.anglicare.org.au/

 If you wish to read more of Rabbi Toba Spitzersermon here is the link to the groups website that he worships with. http://www.dorsheitzedek.org/divrei/5764/5764-yk.htm

You Don't Eat Enough!

I recieved this message today from one of the devontional sites I get regular readings from and thought this was just to interesting not to pass on to the rest of you.  I hope you get something out of this reading as I did when I first read it.

When you stop and think about it, it’s amazing how often people need to eat. In a time and place where food is so readily available, we sometimes fail to notice how peculiar it is that people require so much food. Why would God design things this way? After all, God could have created us to need only one meal during the course of a week or month, but if I go much more than few hours without taking in some sustenance, my body lets me know it’s not happy. 

Perhaps our need for relatively consistent eating is meant by God to teach us of our continual need for spiritual sustenance. Jesus aluded to this principal when he said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). In other words, every day man needs both physical and spiritual meals. However, if we look at the amount of time and energy spent consuming the ‘bread of life’ (John 6:35), it doesn’t even compare to our devotion to merely physical bread. We eat all the time! On the other hand, most of us are just proud when we finally manage to incorporate morning devotionals into our daily routine. But is this enough? They say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but no one believes it should be our only meal of the day. In the same way, should we be content with morning devotions, and not concern ourselves with the other spiritual ‘meals’ of the day? Mightn’t we need the equivalent of a spiritual ‘lunch’ and ‘dinner’ as well?

When we purposefully skip a few meals we call that ‘fasting,’ yet we should learn one of the main lessons fasting is meant to teach us: fasting reminds us how quickly we become weak without regular intake. Unfortunately, the average Christian lives in what could best be described as a perpetual state of spiritual fasting. Is it any wonder then that we suffer from so much spiritual weakness?  There is a great need for our spiritual lives to begin to mirror our physical lives. The Old Testament prophet Daniel knew the danger of spiritual malnutrition so he, “got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God” (Daniel 6:10).

David also followed the physical pattern of ‘three meals-a-day’ in his spiritual life when he confessed, “Evening and morning and at noon I utter my complaint and moan, and he hears my voice” (Psalm 55:17).

Like these saints, we all have the opportunity to regularly nourish our spirits through prayer and the Word. The Word of God creates life (Genesis 1:3, John 11:43), but we must spend time consuming it to get the benefits. An unopened Bible and an unused prayer closet hold no more spiritual value than uneaten vegetables do for the body.

The Psalmist says, “I rise before dawn and cry for help; I hope in your words” (Psalm 119:47).

We must also rise in the morning and be nourished to hope and act on all the promises God has made through His Word. But we must not stop there! In the very next verse the Psalmist continues, “My eyes are awake before the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promise” (Psalm 119:148).

The cure for the plague of spiritual weakness that inflicts the Church today is to devote our energy to consuming Christ with at least the same energy with which we pursue food. We must join with the Old Testament saints in singing, “Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day” (Psalm 119:97).

Matt Erbaugh

Publication date

: April 8, 2011