We Love God!

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

These doctrines build upon one another. The doctrine of total depravity establishes what the Bible teaches about the spiritual condition of unregenerate man and leaves one with the question “Who can be saved?” The doctrine of unconditional election then answers the question by declaring God’s sovereign choice in choosing to save people despite their depravity and based solely on God’s sovereign choice to redeem for Himself people from every tribe, tongue and nation. Next, the doctrine of limited atonement explains how God can be perfectly just and yet redeem those sinful people and reconcile them to Himself. The only solution to the depravity of man was for God to provide a Redeemer who would act as their substitute and suffer the wrath of God for their sins. He did this in the death of Christ, who, having been crucified, completely and totally “canceled out the certificate of debt…having nailed it to the cross” (Colossians 2:13-14). That leads to another question: how can a spiritually dead sinner who is hostile to God have faith in the atoning work of Christ on the cross? That question is answered by the doctrine of grace that is known as irresistible grace, the “I” in the acronym TULIP.

Unknown Author

The same Greek word can be translated “temptation” and “test.” They are a world apart and context determines which translation to use. Satan is the one who tempts us to sin. God is the one who tests us to righteousness. Satan wants to destroy us. He wants to weaken our faith. He wants us to spiritually fail. On the other hand, our Lord is forever testing us. His goal though tests, often in the form of trials, is to make us spiritually stronger, refine our character and increase our faith. Part of the test at times is overcoming the temptation. It is the Lord in His sovereignty who sends test. “Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil” (Mt. 4:1). However, it is during these tests that Satan finds His greatest opportunity to tempt us. So when the heat in life is turned up, will we trust God and walk by faith in His commandments or will we listen to the “father of lies” and sin? The prayer here is that the Lord will help us pursue righteous actions as we emerge from the test spiritually victorious.

Randy Smith

We Love God!

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

Turtle Swirl Cheesecake

January 30, 2023

CATEGORY	CUISINE	TAG	YIELD
Dairy, Eggs		Desserts	12	Servings

INGREDIENTS

9	oz	Chocolate wafer cookies
6	T	Unsalted butter, melted
2	lb	Cream cheese, room
		temperature
5		Eggs
1 1/2	t	Vanilla extract
3	T	Whipping cream
4	oz	Semisweet chocolate, chopped
1	c	Butterscotch caramel
		topping purchased
1/2	c	Whole pecans, toasted

INSTRUCTIONS

For Crust: Preheat oven to 350Â°F. Finely grind cookies in processor.
Blend in butter. Press crumb mixture onto bottom and 1 inch up sides
of 9-inch-diameter springform pan with 2 3/4-inch-high sides. Wrap
outside of springform pan with foil. For Filling: Using electric
mixer, beat cream cheese in large bowl until fluffy. Gradually add
sugar and beat until smooth. Beat in eggs 1 at a time. Mix in vanilla
extract. Bring cream to simmer in heavy small saucepan. Reduce heat  to
low. Add chocolate and stir until mixture is melted and smooth.  Remove
from heat. Pour half of cream cheese mixture into crust. Spoon  half of
chocolate mixture over by tablespoons, spacing evenly. Using  tip of
knife, swirl chocolate mixture into filling. Spoon remaining  cream
cheese mixture over. Spoon remaining chocolate mixture over by
tablespoons. Swirl into filling. Bake until sides are set and center
moves slightly when pan is shaken, about 1 hour 5 minutes. (Cake may
crack.) Cool in pan on rack. Chill overnight. Using small knife, cut
around pan sides to loosen cake. Release pan sides. Drizzle 1/4 cup
caramel sauce over top of cake. Garnish with whole pecans. Pass
remaining sauce separately. Recipe By : Bon Appetit (April, 1996)
Posted to MC-Recipe Digest V1 #266  Date: Mon, 28 Oct 1996 17:36:34
-0800  From: Nina Lebowitz <ninaco@sprynet.com>

A Message from our Provider:

“Two great truths: 1. there is a God, 2. you’re not Him”

Nutrition (calculated from recipe ingredients) ---------------------------------------------- Calories: 522 Calories From Fat: 385 Total Fat: 44.1g Cholesterol: 181.5mg Sodium: 422.3mg Potassium: 201.6mg Carbohydrates: 25.4g Fiber: 1.7g Sugar: 9.1g Protein: 9.5g