We Love God!

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

Seven Important Facts concerning the Virgin Birth of Jesus: 1. The virgin birth was not a demonstrable event. I.e., it was not the sort of miracle that was subject to empirical investigation and proof (as were, for example, the resurrection and the healing of Acts 3-4). We either believe the virgin birth or not based upon our belief in the reality of the supernatural and the integrity of Scripture. 2. The virgin birth was not the beginning of the Son of God. The Son of God was eternally pre-existent (cf. John 1:1; 8:58). The virgin birth is only the beginning of the God-man, Jesus. 3. The virgin birth does not entail a reduction or denial of the deity of Christ. There was not in the virgin birth a transformation of deity into humanity, as if to suggest that the second person of the Trinity has been transmuted into a man. God the Son did not cease to be God when he became a man. 4. The virgin birth does not entail a reduction or denial of the humanity of Christ. There are three ways of coming into being: born of man and woman (us), born of man but not woman (Eve), and born of neither man nor woman (Adam). All admit that we, as well as Adam and Eve, are all human. So why not then a fourth way of coming into being: born of woman but not man (Jesus). The New Testament provides overwhelming evidence both for the reality of the virgin birth and the full humanity of Jesus. 5. The virgin birth does not require us to believe in the immaculate conception of Mary (as proclaimed by Pope Pius IX on Dec. 8, 1854). The doctrine of the “immaculate conception” is the idea that Mary herself was conceived without sin. The RCC also teaches that “in consequence of a Special Privilege of Grace from God, Mary was free from every personal sin during her whole life” (Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma, p. 203). But there is not one word in the New Testament that remotely suggests Mary was conceived in a way different from any other human being. Furthermore, Mary herself confessed she was a sinner in need of a savior (Luke 1:47). 6. The virgin birth does not require us to believe in the perpetual virginity of Mary (as proclaimed by the Council of Trent in 1545-63). a. See Matthew 1:25. b. See Luke 2:7 where Jesus is described as her “first-born” son. If she had remained a virgin, would not Luke have described Jesus as her “only” son? c. Jesus’ half-brothers and half-sisters are mentioned in the New Testament (Mk. 3:31-35; 6:3; Lk. 8:19-21; Jn. 2:12; 7:1-5, 10; Ac. 1:14; 1 Cor. 9:5; Gal. 1:19). These were not, as the RCC claims, his cousins. Even if Mary did not have other children, this does not prove she remained a virgin all her life. d. This doctrine would also require us to believe in the perpetual virginity of Joseph! e. This idea is based on an ascetic, un-biblical view of sex, according to which sexual relations are defiling or demeaning. 7. The virgin birth does not elevate Mary to a place of worship and veneration. Note these unbiblical declarations of the RCC: “As no man goes to the father but by the son, so no one goes to Christ except through his mother” (Pope Leo XIII, 1953). “It is the will of God that we should have nothing which is not passed through the hands of Mary” (Pope Pius XII, 1953).

Sam Storms

We Love God!

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

Asparagus And Mushrooms With Black Bean Sauce

January 27, 2023

CATEGORY	CUISINE	TAG	YIELD
Vegetables, Grains	Asian	Vegetables	1	Servings

INGREDIENTS

1	lb	Asparagus, stiff ends
		Peeled
1/4	lb	Brown button mushrooms, or
		Mixed mushrooms), Mixed mushrooms
2		Garlic cloves
1	T	Fermented black soybeans
1 1/2	T	Rice vinegar
1	T	Tamari, or soy sauce
1	t	Potato starch, or
		Cornstarch), Cornstarch
1	t	Brown sugar
1	T	Sake or other rice wine

INSTRUCTIONS

Cut asparagus on the diagonal into 1-2 inch pieces. Blanch for 5
minutes in boiling water.  Drain and set aside.  Wash and slice
mushrooms. Set aside.  Mince the garlic. Rinse the black beans well.
Mix garlic and beans  together. Set aside.  Mix together the rice
vinegar, tamari, starch, sugar, and sake. Set  aside.  Fill a glass
with water and set handy next to the stove. Put a  skillet over high
heat.  When the pan is hot, dump the garlic mixture  into the pan. Stir
fry for one minute, adding water as the mixture  begins to stick -- add
just a little at time.  Add the asparagus and  stir fry for 10 minutes
(or until asparagus is just shy of being  crisp-done), again adding
water just as needed.  Add mushrooms and  stir fry for 2-5 more
minutes. Add the vinegar mixture (giving it a  last stir to make sure
starch is well mixed), stir until evenly  coated and sauce thickens.
Serve immediately.  Comments  Fermented black soybeans are available in
Asian markets. Usually  labled "salted black beans".  I find them in
the preserved food  section in plastic bags.  Posted by Michelle Dick
<artemis> to the Fatfree Digest [Volume 13  Issue 8] Dec. 8, 1994.
FATFREE Recipe collections copyrighted by Michelle Dick 1994. Used
with permission. Formatted by Sue Smith, S.Smith34,
TXFT40A@Prodigy.com using MMCONV.  1.80Ã¡  From Gemini's MASSIVE
MealMaster collection at www.synapse.com/~gemini

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Nutrition (calculated from recipe ingredients) ---------------------------------------------- Calories: 265 Calories From Fat: 13 Total Fat: 1.6g Cholesterol: 0mg Sodium: 1033.3mg Potassium: 1593.3mg Carbohydrates: 62.5g Fiber: 5.7g Sugar: 15g Protein: 13.3g