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God: "I looked for someone to take a stand for me, and stand in the gap" (Ezekiel 22:30)

Here are some reasons it is okay to celebrate Christmas: 1. The day itself is not really the day Christ was born. Nobody actually has the exact day down, but most believe it was not during this time of year at all. Probably it took place in the spring, not on a “cold winter's night that was so deep.” 2. Diversity over the years has taken away much of the “Romish” flavor to the holiday. Our Catholic friends do as they wish on the night before and the day of Christmas, that is granted. But we do not have a state church. There are so many other ways Christmas is celebrated that no one really thinks about it the way the Puritans did so many years ago. The problem is not so acute because of so many years of varied expressions. At least this is true in our part of the world. 3. God can be honored in gift-giving and generosity as well as in singing carols and telling the story. They’re both important if done in the right spirit. We don't have to make something spiritual out of giving gifts. You may make a birthday cake to Jesus if you wish, but you don't have to. We do need to be Christian, however, about everything we do. Emphasizing the giving part of the day can heal lots of wounds, open calcified hearts, stir up gratefulness, and just be plain fun. God's not against fun is He? 4. There may be better things to be different about. In other words, we might show our radical difference better in the way we treat other shoppers, the kindness we show to retail clerks, the warmth of our hearts, the largeness of our generosity, the thankfulness we express and really feel. 5. There are admittedly some great opportunities to make Christ known during Christmas. With all that is bad about it, we can still make our point. And we will have some sympathy for our message. For years I've led Christmas Eve services, short ones of only 45 minutes, but packed with meaning. The building will be full and all kinds of our friends and family will hear the truth as clearly as we are willing to express it.
Jim Elliff

It was [Paul’s] mission as the “apostle to the Gentiles,” and it is the universal church’s mission as well, to promote that harmony of cultures in Christ that the cross brings them (or, we might say, forces upon them for their good). Imagine what it took for this former Jewish leader to accept that the Jews’ lofty position as God’s chosen people is not ultimately about ethnic Jews, but only Jewish Christians who share the position with “Gentile dogs” who have also become Christians. The promises made to the Jews are for all who are in Christ; the inheritance is both for Jews and Gentiles. We are all members of one body. The immensity of this new knowledge is not only enough to cause every God-fearing Jew to scream curses at Paul, but is the very reason Gentiles like me have any hope whatsoever. Paul carried this message everywhere.
Jim Elliff

White Bean Salad with Green Olives

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CATEGORY CUISINE TAG YIELD
Grains Niger Toohot09 4 servings

INGREDIENTS

1 1/2 c Dry white beans; soaked overnight
1 Yellow onion; peeled, halved,
; and stuck with
2 Whole cloves
1 Bay leaf
1 ts Salt
1/2 ts Freshly-ground black pepper
1/2 c Green Spanish olives; pitted and sliced
2 Red peppers; roasted, seeded,
; and diced
1 European seedless or 6 Kirby cucumbers; peeled, seeded,
; and diced
1 bn Scallions; washed, sliced thin
6 Italian Roma tomatoes; cored, seeded,
And diced
1 bn Fresh parsley leaves; cut chiffonade
3 tb Sherry vinegar
1/2 c Extra-virgin olive oil

INSTRUCTIONS

Drain, rinse and drain white beans. Place in a medium heavy saucepan and
add onion halves (with cloves), bay leaf, and enough water to cover by an
inch. Bring to the boil, reduce to barely a simmer, cover and cook 20
minutes. Add salt and pepper, and a little more water if none is visible
when you tilt the pan, and cook another 20 to 30 minutes until beans are
creamy inside but still intact. Drain and remove onions and bay leaf. Let
cool. Place white beans in a large bowl with olive, peppers, cucumbers,
scallions and tomatoes. Make vinaigrette by placing vinegar in a small bowl
and slowly drizzling in olive oil while whisking to form an emulsion. Pour
vinaigrette over beans and vegetables, add parsley, and stir well. Taste
and adjust seasoning if necessary. Serve at room temperature. This recipe
yields 4 servings.
Recipe Source: TOO HOT TAMALES with Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken
From the TV FOOD NETWORK - (Show # TH-6322 broadcast 01-21-1997) Downloaded
from their Web-Site - http://www.foodtv.com
Formatted for MasterCook by MR MAD, aka Joe Comiskey - jpmd44a@prodigy.com
01-28-1997
Recipe by: Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken
Converted by MM_Buster v2.0l.

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