We Love God!

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

1. While we will regret setting the bar below the standards of Scripture in recognizing men called to the eldership, we can also in our zeal set it artificially higher than the Scriptures, and fail to recognize that some of the best gifts grow in ministry. 2. Especially remember that “able to teach” (1 Tim. 3:3), with its corollary of being able to “rebuke” (Tit. 1:9, i.e. to use the Scriptures for the ends for which they were given [2 Tim. 3:15-16]) does not specify an arena. Some are “able to teach” who are not suited to regular public preaching. 3. Look for men whose lives exhibit the spirit of, as well as an intellectual grasp of, sound doctrine. Orthodoxy with approachability is a great desideratum in an elder (approachability being the very least that “hospitable” means; Tit. 1:8). 4. Pose the most neglected question—”Do outsiders think well of him?” (1 Tim. 3:7)—and ponder why that question is important. 5. Choose those who are already “among” the flock, and the flock “among” them (1 Pet. 5: 2). Moral, domestic, occupational, didactic qualifications being met, ask, “Does this man love the flock and is he beloved by them?” Commitment to corporate prayer is often a litmus test. 6. Avoid appointing those who would commit to loving the flock if they were asked to be elders. Better by far to have men who love the sheep than men who love being shepherds (the former will become the latter, but not vice-versa). 7. Seek men who are simultaneously gentle but prepared to be courageous, and prepared to suffer if need be—to get in front to protect as well as behind to follow! An elder must be capable of both biblical rebuke and gentle restoration (Gal. 6:2). Quieter men, with quiet hearts, are worth their weight in gold and may astonish us by their wisdom. 8. Ask the question, “Would our church be willing, if need be, to pay this man a stipend to labor among us as an elder?” The answer may tell a great deal about his ministry in the flock and his esteem in their eyes. 9. Consider how well a man’s life echoes the principles of the Lord’s shepherding in Psalm 23.

Sinclair Ferguson

We Love God!

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

Border Sugar Cookies

January 25, 2023

CATEGORY	CUISINE	TAG	YIELD
	Niger	Toohot01	24	servings

INGREDIENTS

8	oz	Unsalted butter – (2 sticks); softened
1/2	c	Sugar
3/4	ts	Salt
1 1/2	ts	Vanilla extract
1/2	c	Chopped pecans
1/2	c	Crushed potato chips
2	c	Unbleached all-purpose flour
		Sugar for dipping
		=== GARNISH ===
4	oz	Semisweet chocolate; optional

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with parchment
paper. Cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
Beat in the salt and vanilla. Then add the pecans and potato chips
and mix well. With a wooden spoon, stir in the flour just until it
disappears. Roll the batter into balls about the size of a large
walnut and place on the parchment-lined cookie sheet, allowing plenty
of room for spreading. Coat the bottom of a heavy glass with butter
and then dip in sugar. Press and twist to flatten each ball into a
3-inch circle. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until the edges turn lightly
golden brown. Transfer to racks to cool. For an optional garnish,
melt the chocolate in a bowl over a pot of simmering water. Let cool
slightly. When cool enough to handle, dip your fingertips, or the
tines of a fork, in the chocolate and drizzle over the cookies.
Refrigerate to set. This recipe yields about 24 cookies.
Recipe Source: TOO HOT TAMALES with Susan Feniger and Mary Sue
Milliken From the TV FOOD NETWORK - (Show # TH-6150 broadcast
09-17-1996) Downloaded from their Web-Site - http://www.foodtv.com
Formatted for MasterCook by MR MAD, aka Joe Comiskey -
jpmd44a@prodigy.com
09-21-1996
Recipe by: Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken
Converted by MM_Buster v2.0l.

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