The problem is that many people cling to the symbol but never understand the reality it is intended to represent. Most likely, tens of thousands of people have 'invited Christ into [their] hearts,' thinking that a mystical experience is what saves them. Then, they go on their merry way, living their lives as they did before. If you were to ask them, 'How do you know that you are going to heaven?' they would respond, 'Because I invited Christ into my heart.' But if you probe, there is nothing beneath the shallowness of that reply. They did what someone told them to do, but never really embraced the Savior.

Daniel Wallace

CATEGORY	CUISINE	TAG	YIELD
Grains, Meats		Grains, Ethnic	6	Servings

INGREDIENTS

2	c	Basmati rice (Carolina will
		Do)
2	md	Onions
	bn	Fresh basil leaves (about
		Half cup when chopped)
1	tb	Curry powder (mild or hot,
		According to preference)
1	ts	Salt
4	tb	Good grade cooking oil
500	g	(just over 1 lb) ground
		Chicken or lean pork

INSTRUCTIONS

Chop onions and fry in 2 tbsp oil until just starting to brown. Add meat
and curry powder, stir until brown. Scoop out onions and meat, leaving oil
in pan. Add dry rice and stir until transparent. Add 4 cups water and salt,
bring to boil, cover and cook over LOW flame for 15 mins or until all water
is absorbed. Add meat, onions, finely chopped basil and the rest of the
oil, stir and cook for another 3 mins.
(You could eat it now, but here comes the trick):
Put everything in shallow glass dish, cover with paper towel and microwave
on full power for another 10 to 15 mins. (YES, that long!)
The final ordeal in the microwave oven will turn the individual grains of
rice crispy on the outside, leaving their cores soft - a heavenly crunchy
sensation.
Posted to MM-Recipes Digest  by "Robert Ellis" <rpearson@snowcrest.net> on
Feb 25, 1998

A Message from our Provider:

“If God were an impersonal force we’d be superior to our Maker”

We must not observe any religious holiday. We should attach no spiritual, religious significance to any day. Yet, we do not need to act like super-pious religious idiots over a day that has absolutely no religious significance. I would never teach a child that such a thing as Santa Claus exist, or that Christ was born on Christmas day. But, as Paul said concerning idols, Santa Claus is nothing and Christmas is nothing. Did you know that every DAY of the week, every PLANET in the universe, and many of the CARS we drive are named after pagan gods? Yet, we still call Sunday Sunday, Mars Mars, and a Saturn a Saturn. No one would ever dream of calling us pagans for doing so. We worship our God on Sunday, and would laugh at anyone who suggested that we observe the pagan Roman holiday called “Sun’s Day” in doing so. If your car is a Saturn, use it for the glory of God; and laugh at anyone who thinks that you are worshipping the Roman god of agriculture by driving it. We must not, and I trust do not, worship Christmas trees and lights, or even attach spiritual significance to Christmas day. However, I do suggest that we seize this opportunity afforded us by Divine providence to tell people who Christ is, why he came into this world, what he did, and how they may obtain his salvation. It is no accident that once every year every human being in the world is confronted with the fact that the Son of God assumed human flesh and came into the world to save men. Certainly, no one can think that it is wrong for believers, during this season of the year, to express thanks and praise to God for his unspeakable gift, the Lord Jesus Christ. It is never wrong, but always right to think of him, speak of him, and sing his praise. Rather than not singing Watts’ grand old hymn, Joy To The World, we ought to sing it year round.

Don Fortner