God: "I looked for someone to take a stand for me, and stand in the gap" (Ezekiel 22:30)
It seems fair to ask, “God, do You really expect less of me – who has your Holy Spirit within and lives in the wealthiest society in human history – than You demanded of the poorest Israelite?”… The tithe is God's historical method to get us on the path of giving. In that sense, it can serve as a gateway to the joy of grace giving. It is unhealthy to view tithing as a place to stop, but it can be a good place to start… Tithing isn't the ceiling of giving; it's the floor. It's not the finish line of giving; it's just the starting blocks… True, some would be sacrificing more by giving 5% of their income than others would be by tithing or even giving 50 or 90%. Certainly the affluent should never “check off the box,” as if giving 10% automatically fulfills their obligation. The 90% belongs to God, too. He doesn't look at just what we give. He also looks at what we keep… When people tell me they can't afford to tithe, I ask them, “If your income was reduced by 10% would you die?” They say, “No.” And I say, “Then you've admitted that you can afford to tithe. It's just that you don't want to”… I have no problem with people who say “we're not under the tithe,” just as long as they're not using that as justification for giving less. But in my mind the current giving statistics among Christians clearly indicate most of us need a jump-start. If you find a gateway to giving that's better than the tithe, wonderful. But if not, why not start where God started His First Covenant children?
In trial and weakness and trouble, He seeks to bring us low, until we learn that His grace is all, and to take pleasure in the very thing that brings us and keeps us low. His strength is made perfect in our weakness. His presence filling and satisfying our emptiness, becomes the secret of humility that need never fail. The humble man has learned the secret of abiding gladness. The weaker he feels, the lower he sinks, and the greater his humiliations appear, the more power and the presence of Christ are his portion.
Cut duck in serving-size pieces & place in porcelain, stainless steel or
glass baking dish. Add onions, parsley, bay leaf, thyme, garlic, green
peppercorns, cognac & wine; stir to coat duck well. Let stand 4 hours at
room temperature, turning pieces frequently. Then lift out & pat dry;
reserving marinade. Heat oil in heavy skillet over high heat. Add duck &
cook until evenly browned on all sides, turn as needed (usually takes 10-15
minutes). Add reserved marinade & mushrooms. Reduce heat to low, cover &
simmer 1 hour or until duck is tender & leg joints wiggle easily. Season
with salt. Makes 4 to 6 servings.
TIME INCLUDES MARINATING 4 HOURS
From the <Hotter Than Hell!>, by Jane Butel, ISBN 0-89586-646-3
(0-89586-542-4 paperback). Downloaded from Glen's MM Recipe Archive,
http://www.erols.com/hosey.
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