We Love God!

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

So deeply planted are the roots of human corruption, that even after we are born again, renewed, “washed, sanctified, justified,” and made living members of Christ, these roots remain alive in the bottom of our hearts, and, like the leprosy in the walls of the house, we never get rid of them until the earthly house of this tabernacle is dissolved. Sin, no doubt, in the believer’s heart, has no longer dominion. It is checked, controlled, mortified, and crucified by the expulsive power of the new principle of grace. The life of a believer is a life of victory, and not of failure. But the very struggles which go on within his bosom, the fight that he finds it needful to fight daily, the watchful jealousy which he is obliged to exercise over his inner man, the contest between the flesh and the spirit, the inward “groanings” which no one knows but he who has experienced them - all, all testify to the same great truth, all show the enormous power and vitality of sin. Mighty indeed must that foe be who even when crucified is still alive!

J.C. Ryle

The biblical evidence : Matthew 1:18-25 1. Joseph and Mary were betrothed (1:18, 20, 24), a relationship regarded as the legal equivalent of marriage. In other words, betrothal could be broken only by a formal divorce. This is why Joseph is referred to as her “husband” (v. 19). 2. Although betrothed, the relationship had not yet been consummated sexually (see vv. 18, 25; also Luke 1:34). 3. Mary’s pregnancy is attributed to the Holy Spirit: a. Verse 20 – “of the Holy Spirit.” b. Verse 16 – “and to Jacob was born Joseph the husband of Mary, by/of whom [feminine] was born Jesus.” Matthew clearly excludes Joseph. c. Note that the repeated active verb (“was the father of” or “begot”) gives way to a divine passive in v. 16 (i.e., God is the active agent in the conception and birth of Jesus). 4. Joseph is instructed to take Mary into his house and to name the child (vv. 20-21) thereby establishing for Joseph legal paternity of the child. Hence the community came to believe that Joseph was Jesus’ father (Lk. 2:48; Mt. 13:55). Luke 1:26-38 1. Mary is explicitly identified as a “virgin” (parthenos, v. 27), a fact she confirms in v. 34. 2. Verse 35 clearly attributes the conception to the work of the Holy Spirit. 3. The terms translated “come upon” and “overshadow” (v. 35) are not euphemisms for sexual relations. They are simply figurative expressions for divine intervention by which God will supercede the natural order of things. 4. For the term “overshadow,” see Ex. 40:35; Psm. 91:4; 140:7; Mt. 17:5; Mk. 9:7; Lk. 9:34 (cf. also Gen. 1:2). The emphasis is on the powerful creative presence of the Spirit in bringing to pass the conception of the man Jesus.

Sam Storms

We Love God!

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

Chicken Marsala #1

January 22, 2023

CATEGORY	CUISINE	TAG	YIELD
Meats, Dairy		Poultry	4	Servings

INGREDIENTS

2		Boneless chicken breasts; split
1	c	Chicken broth
1	lb	Sliced fresh mushrooms (I've used Portabellas)
3/4	c	Marsala wine
1/3	c	Olive oil
1	tb	Capers
4		Cloves garlic; minced
		Salt & pepper to taste
1/4	c	Diced shallots
1/2	c	Heavy cream

INSTRUCTIONS

Date: Wed, 21 Feb 1996 10:28:55 -0500
From: "=Mark P. Stevens" <mstevens@exit109.com>
I made this on a first "Prepare a Meal" date and got rave reviews:
1.  Rinse chicken, pat dry.  mix chicken with minced garlic and let stand
10 to 15 min.
2.  Add oil to hot saute pan.  Brown chicken for 10 to 15 minutes until
done. (Don't overcook!) Remove from pan and cover.
3.  Add stock to pan to deglaze, be sure to scrape the pan-drippings loose.
Add mushrooms, bring to a slow boil, and cook for 10-15 minutes.
4.  Add marsala, capers and shallots, and cook another 10 minutes.  Add
cream, bring back to a boil, and reduce until thickened. Be sure to stir
often.
5.  Serve chicken with rice or pasta, top with sauce and mushrooms. This is
NOT diet food, and has the added benefit of lacking any trace of aspartame!
CHILE-HEADS DIGEST V2 #247
From the Chile-Heads recipe list.  Downloaded from Glen's MM Recipe
Archive, http://www.erols.com/hosey.

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