The One whose mercy flows freely to the undeserving is not a machine. He is not a mechanical Grace Dispenser. He is a Person. His smile is not an all-approving grin. He has moral sensitivities. We please Him, and we displease Him, moment by moment. Within the gospel framework of His grace, inside the relationship of His fatherly acceptance, He is fully capable of confronting us. Not rejecting us, not casting us off, but correcting us. Because He’s a good Father. I’ll take it further. The One who is for us (Romans 8:31) can also bluntly say, “I have something against you” (Revelation 2:4, 14, 20). The One who will never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5) is also quite capable of saying to us, “We need to have a serious talk. It’s time for you to make some changes. If you will listen and follow, I will continue to use you. If you turn away, I will set you aside”... If your theology includes the message of justification by faith alone, I hope you will never back off from that. I hope you will keep that message central. But I also hope your theology includes another message – the grace of obedience fully pleasing to the Father.

Ray Ortlund

CATEGORY	CUISINE	TAG	YIELD
Meats	Italian	October 199	1	servings

INGREDIENTS

3	tb	Olive oil
1 1/2	lb	Assorted fresh wild mushrooms; (such as crimini and
		; oyster), sliced
3/4	lb	Onions; chopped
2		Celery stalks; chopped
4	lg	Garlic cloves; chopped
3 1/2	lb	Center-cut beef shank slices; (about 3/4 to 1 inch
		; thick)
8	c	Canned beef broth
7	c	Water
1 1/4	lb	Red bell peppers; chopped
1	lb	Parsnips; peeled, cut into
		; 1/2-inch pieces
1/2	lb	Carrots; peeled, cut into
		; 1/2-inch pieces
1 3/4	c	Pearl barley; (about 9 ounces)
1 1/2	c	Canned crushed tomatoes with added puree
2	pk	Dried porcini mushrooms; (see note below),
		; brushed clean of
		; any grit, coarsely
		; chopped (3/4-ounce)
2	tb	Dried marjoram
1	tb	Dried thyme

INSTRUCTIONS

Heat oil in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms and
onions. Saute until mushrooms brown, about 18 minutes. Add celery and
garlic and stir 1 minute. Add beef shank slices and all remaining
ingredients. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low. Cover and
simmer until meat is tender, about 1 1/2 hours. Remove from heat.
Using tongs, remove meat from pot. Cool slightly. Remove meat from
bones; discard bones and any tough connective tissue. Cut meat into
bite-size pieces and return to soup. Season soup to taste with salt
and pepper. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Cool slightly at room
temperature. Chill uncovered until cold, then cover and keep chilled.
Rewarm over medium heat.)
Note: Porcini mushrooms are available at Italian markets, specialty
foods stores and many supermarkets.
Makes 8 servings.
Bon Appetit October 1999
Converted by MC_Buster.
Per serving: 2281 Calories (kcal); 48g Total Fat; (18% calories from
fat); 52g Protein; 435g Carbohydrate; 0mg Cholesterol; 287mg Sodium
Food Exchanges: 22 1/2 Grain(Starch); 0 Lean Meat; 15 1/2 Vegetable;
0 Fruit; 8 Fat; 0 Other Carbohydrates
Converted by MM_Buster v2.0n.

A Message from our Provider:

“Jesus: he understands”