What may we observe about deacons in Acts 6:1-7? 1. Their work was practical in nature. 2. Their name also denotes the practical nature of their work. They are servants. But practical work is spiritual work when done for Christ and the kingdom. 3. Their objective was to relieve the elders (originally the apostles) for the ministry of the Word, prayer, and oversight of the church. 4. They were to be accountable to the Elders (“whom we may put in charge”). 5. Their work was assigned and was not related to decision-making for the church as a whole. 6. Some deacons were also gifted in other areas of ministry and were at liberty to use their gifts. Stephen and Phillip, for instance, were deacons who also had other gifting. As deacons, however, they functioned in a practical way. Deacons are not limited to practical service, but must be engaged in practical service to be deacons.

Jim Elliff

CATEGORY	CUISINE	TAG	YIELD
Seafood	Dutch	Stews	10	Servings

INGREDIENTS

2		Large onions, chopped
3		Large tomatoes, chopped
4		Jalapenos, chopped
2	tb	Seasoning salt
1	ts	Cayenne pepper
1/4	lb	Margarine
1/3	c	Sunflower Oil
3	tb	Corn starch
2	cn	Tomato paste, small
		Salt to taste
5	lb	Fish, cut up

INSTRUCTIONS

Heat oil in dutch oven.  Grind vegetables and
seasonings until pulpy not liquified.  Add mixture to
heated oil.  Add tomato paste, mix thoroughly and
simmer.  Lightly salt fish and add to mixture.
Increase heat to medium and do not stir.  Mix corn
starch with 1/4 cup of water until smooth. Add to pot.
Cook 20-25 minutes.  Add butter in last 5 minutes of
cooking. Serve over rice or fufu.
From Gemini's MASSIVE MealMaster collection at www.synapse.com/~gemini

A Message from our Provider:

“I committed my life to Christ because I believed He was true and real and I had no idea what He was going to do with a mess like me.”

1. The Will of God for Marriage Was Expressed in Creation: Jesus confirmed God’s will in creation when He said in Matthew 19:4-6, “Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh’? So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.” That’s the Bible’s teaching and the Bible’s assumption from cover to cover. Marriage is one woman and one man becoming one flesh by covenant and sexual union. 2. There Is No Such Thing as Homosexual Marriage in the Eyes of God: The other biblical reason marriage cannot be between two men or two women is that, on the one hand, the Bible defines homosexual behavior as “dishonorable” and “shameless” and “contrary to nature” (Romans 1:26-27), but on the other hand the Bible says that marriage is to be “held in honor” (Hebrews 13:4). Marriage does not produce shame. And marriage is not contrary to nature. There is therefore no such thing as homosexual marriage in the eyes of God. And there should not be in the eyes of his people – no matter what the state says.

John Piper