Through no fault or choice of my own, I am unable to express my sexuality in the beauty and intimacy of Christian marriage, as God intended when He created me a sexual being in His own image. To seek to do this outside of marriage is, by the clear teaching of Scripture, to sin against God and against my own nature. As a committed Christian, then, I have no alternative but to live a life of voluntary celibacy. I must be chaste not only in body, but in mind and spirit as well. Since I am now in my 60’s I think that my experience of what this means is valid. I want to go on record as having proved that for those who are committed to do God’s will, His commands are his enablings... My whole being cries out continually for something I may not have. My whole life must be lived in the context of this never-ceasing tension. My professional life, my social life, my personal life, my Christian life - all are subject to its constant and powerful pull. As a Christian I have no choice but to obey God, cost what it may. I must trust Him to make it possible for me to honor Him in my singleness. That this is possible, a mighty cloud of witnesses will join me to attest. Multitudes of single Christians in every age and circumstance have proved God’s sufficiency in this matter. He has promised to meet our needs and He honors His word. If we seek fulfillment in Him, we shall find it. It may not be easy, but whoever said that Christian life was easy? The badge of Christ’s discipleship was a cross. Why must I live my life alone? I do not know. But Jesus Christ is Lord of my life. I believe in the sovereignty of God, and I accept my singleness from his hand. He could have ordered my life otherwise, but He has not chosen to do so. As his child, I must trust His love and wisdom.

Margaret Clarkson

CATEGORY	CUISINE	TAG	YIELD
			1	Servings

INGREDIENTS

1	lg	Plum tomato
3	tb	Black olive paste
1/4	c	Chopped fresh basil leaves
1	lb	Fresh mozzarella
4	c	Trimmed arugula
2	tb	Extra-virgin olive oil
1		Parmesan Focaccia
1/2	lb	Thinly sliced prosciutto

INSTRUCTIONS

Seed tomato and chop fine. In a bowl stir together tomato, olive paste, and
basil. Cut mozzarella into thin slices. Coarsely chop arugula and in a bowl
toss with oil and salt and pepper to taste.
Halve focaccia horizontally and spread bottom half with olive mixture. Top
olive mixture with mozzarella, prosciutto, arugula, and remaining focaccia
half. Press focaccia gently and cut lengthwise in half and crosswise into
thirds to make 6 sandwiches. Cut sandwiches diagonally in half and wrap
tightly in plastic wrap. Chill sandwiches at least 1 hour and up to 1 day.
Makes 6 sandwiches.
Gourmet July 1997
Posted to recipelu-digest by Sandy <sandysno@pctech.net> on Feb 24, 1998

A Message from our Provider:

“Jesus Christ: the name on everybody’s lips”

Throughout Scripture we see the Bible testifying of the generating power of God's Word. Beginning in Genesis 1 we read that God spoke this world into existence creating life out of darkness. In Ezekiel 37 we have the fabulous vision where the Prophet is called to preach to the dry bones and through the preaching of God's Word, God's Spirit would bring deadness to life. This is how God gives us spiritual life. This is how God takes spiritually dead corpses and regenerates them through the teaching of His Word. 1 Peter 1:23, 'For you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God' (cf. Jas. 1:18). In Romans 10 the familiar verse says 'faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ' (Rom. 10:17). That is why Paul told the Corinthians, 'God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe' (2 Cor. 1:21b; cf. 1 Cor. 1:17; 23; 9:16, 18; 15:11).

Randy Smith