We Love God!

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

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)

Butterfly Shrimp

January 22, 2023

CATEGORY	CUISINE	TAG	YIELD
Seafood, Eggs		Oriental, Appetizers, Seafood	4	Servings

INGREDIENTS

1	lb	Large Shrimp;aprox 24 pieces
1	tb	Shoyu; thin
1	ts	Garlic; minced
3	tb	Rice vinegar
3	tb	Sugar
3	tb	Ketchup
1/4	ts	Salt
1/2	c	Water
2	ts	Cornstarch; dissolved in
2	tb	Water; cold
8	sl	Bacon; cut into 24 pieces
2		Eggs; beaten
1	lg	Onion; sliced

INSTRUCTIONS

SAUCE
Shell shrimps except for tail part. Split front lengthwise into halves and
flatten them with a cleaver, pat dry. Put one slice of bacon onto each
shrimp. Set aside for later use. Set wok over high heat until hot. Put in 2
tablespoons cooking oil and the sliced onions. Stir fry for 2 minutes or
until the onions are soft. Add in 1 tablespoon thin soy. Mix well. Remove
onto serving platter and set aside for later use. Heat wok until hot. Add 4
tablespoons oil. Dip each shrimp into the beaten eggs and pan fry the side
with the bacon for 2 minutes over medium heat. Flip over and fry another 2
minutes or until golden. Remove and arrange on top of the onions. NOTE: Pan
frying may be done by rolling wok to coat the sides with oil and placing
the shrimp along the sides of the wok. Heat wok again. Use the same oil
left from frying the shrimp. Put in garlic and sauce mixture. Bring to a
boil and stir in cornstarch to thicken. Pour it over the butterfly shrimp.

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