You are the result of the attentive, careful, thoughtful, intimate, detailed, creative work of God. Your personality, your sex, your height, your features, are what they are because God made them precisely that way. He made you the way He did because that is the way he wants you to be... If God had wanted you to be basically and creatively different He would have made you differently. Your genes and chromosomes and creaturely distinctives - even the shape of your nose and ears - are what they are by God's design.

James Hufstetler

CATEGORY	CUISINE	TAG	YIELD
		Breads	1	Servings

INGREDIENTS

1/2	c	Cracked wheat
1 1/2	c	Boiling water
1	pk	Dry yeast
1/3	c	Warm water
1/4	c	Shortening
1 1/2	ts	Salt
2	tb	Molasses
2	tb	Honey
1	c	Warm water
1	c	Wholewheat flour
4	c	All-purpose flour

INSTRUCTIONS

Cook cracked wheat in the boiling water for 10 minutes, till all the water
is absorbed.  Dissolve yeast in 1/3 c of warm water & let proof. Stir
together shortening, salt, molasses, honey & the rest of the water & add to
cracked wheat.  Stir in the flours a little at a time. When the dough is
stiff, turn out onto a floured board & knead for 10 minutes, use extra
flour if necessary.  Shape into a ball, place in oiled bowl, cover & let
rise till doubled. Punch down & shape into 2 loaves. Let rise till doubled.
Bake at 375F for 30 to 35 minutes.  Cool on racks.
"Beard on Bread"
From Gemini's MASSIVE MealMaster collection at www.synapse.com/~gemini

A Message from our Provider:

“Hurting? No one understands like Jesus”

Seven Important Facts concerning the Virgin Birth of Jesus: 1. The virgin birth was not a demonstrable event. I.e., it was not the sort of miracle that was subject to empirical investigation and proof (as were, for example, the resurrection and the healing of Acts 3-4). We either believe the virgin birth or not based upon our belief in the reality of the supernatural and the integrity of Scripture. 2. The virgin birth was not the beginning of the Son of God. The Son of God was eternally pre-existent (cf. John 1:1; 8:58). The virgin birth is only the beginning of the God-man, Jesus. 3. The virgin birth does not entail a reduction or denial of the deity of Christ. There was not in the virgin birth a transformation of deity into humanity, as if to suggest that the second person of the Trinity has been transmuted into a man. God the Son did not cease to be God when he became a man. 4. The virgin birth does not entail a reduction or denial of the humanity of Christ. There are three ways of coming into being: born of man and woman (us), born of man but not woman (Eve), and born of neither man nor woman (Adam). All admit that we, as well as Adam and Eve, are all human. So why not then a fourth way of coming into being: born of woman but not man (Jesus). The New Testament provides overwhelming evidence both for the reality of the virgin birth and the full humanity of Jesus. 5. The virgin birth does not require us to believe in the immaculate conception of Mary (as proclaimed by Pope Pius IX on Dec. 8, 1854). The doctrine of the “immaculate conception” is the idea that Mary herself was conceived without sin. The RCC also teaches that “in consequence of a Special Privilege of Grace from God, Mary was free from every personal sin during her whole life” (Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma, p. 203). But there is not one word in the New Testament that remotely suggests Mary was conceived in a way different from any other human being. Furthermore, Mary herself confessed she was a sinner in need of a savior (Luke 1:47). 6. The virgin birth does not require us to believe in the perpetual virginity of Mary (as proclaimed by the Council of Trent in 1545-63). a. See Matthew 1:25. b. See Luke 2:7 where Jesus is described as her “first-born” son. If she had remained a virgin, would not Luke have described Jesus as her “only” son? c. Jesus’ half-brothers and half-sisters are mentioned in the New Testament (Mk. 3:31-35; 6:3; Lk. 8:19-21; Jn. 2:12; 7:1-5, 10; Ac. 1:14; 1 Cor. 9:5; Gal. 1:19). These were not, as the RCC claims, his cousins. Even if Mary did not have other children, this does not prove she remained a virgin all her life. d. This doctrine would also require us to believe in the perpetual virginity of Joseph! e. This idea is based on an ascetic, un-biblical view of sex, according to which sexual relations are defiling or demeaning. 7. The virgin birth does not elevate Mary to a place of worship and veneration. Note these unbiblical declarations of the RCC: “As no man goes to the father but by the son, so no one goes to Christ except through his mother” (Pope Leo XIII, 1953). “It is the will of God that we should have nothing which is not passed through the hands of Mary” (Pope Pius XII, 1953).

Sam Storms