We Love God!

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

Because we are in Christ, there are no longer any hostilities in us that will always exist between those in the world. Ephesians 2:14, “For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall.” We don’t employ the trite, superficial and flawed tactics of the world. Many of them are now championed more than ever in our day. We understand that the blood of Christ has cleansed us from our sin and has adopted us into His family. Thus, we see others different from us as part of the family of God, forgiven as we have been forgiven. We accept each other because God has accepted all of us. Our unity is not what we look like, but rather who we are in Christ. “[Christ] Himself [made] the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity” (Eph. 2:15b-16).

Randy Smith

There is no sin in cremation, that is for sure. And there is no inability on God’s part to raise a cremated body from the dead. But is cremation, a practice most often seen in Eastern religions, the best for the believer in Christ? 1. It is clarifying to note that burial was God’s preferred method of disposing of the body of Moses. God had the power to cremate Moses’ body on the spot, but rather, this gentle and loving phrase is found: '[God] buried him in the valley in the land of Moab' (Deut. 34:6). This fact alone is enough for me. If God chose this method Himself, then it certainly should be my preference also. 2. Burial underground (or in tombs) was the ordained method for the patriarchs, for God's chosen people, and for New Testament believers. There are numerous references to this, from Abraham's burial in the cave of Machpelah to Lazarus’ entombment in a crypt. The bodies of these saints were kept, as much as possible, in their original state, awaiting the resurrection of the body. 3. Consider the death of Christ Himself. He is our example in everything. Christ was in charge of His death. As He said, “No one has taken [my life] away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative” (John 10:18). Certainly His burial was no accident either. The dramatic events God ordained to take place included the tomb as an essential ingredient. It accentuated His resurrection. 4. Christianity is the most materialistic of the religions in this respect. That is, it gives an importance to the body and to all things tangible that other religions do not… Christianity sees the body as useful, rather than evil. It can do much good, if a believer is controlled by the Spirit. It is so valued by God that the very body we are living in will be raised up one day, made new for eternity. For this reason, we symbolize the importance of the body by burying it with love. 5. The burial of Christians was designed by God as the basis for our understanding of baptism. Though baptism does not save, it does picture our death, burial, and resurrection with Christ (cf. Rom. 6:3-4). Such a powerful picture as baptism is dependent for its meaning on the burial of Christ and of believers. 6. We should bury because the grave is such a potent reminder of the future (bodily) resurrection.

Jim Elliff

We Love God!

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

Chicken Braised With Marsala

January 27, 2023

CATEGORY	CUISINE	TAG	YIELD
Meats		Main dish, Poultry	4	Servings

INGREDIENTS

2	T	Olive oil
1		Fryer chicken, 3- 3 1/2 lbs.
		cut up
1	T	Finely minced onion
1/2	c	Marsala wine
1	t	Tomato paste
1/2	c	Low-sodium chicken broth
1/2	t	Salt
1/4	t	Freshly ground pepper
3	T	Unsalted butter

INSTRUCTIONS

This is one of those dishes that can be endlessly adapted. Substitute
different wines or even vinegars for the Marsala to wind up with very
different dishes. HEAT THE OIL in an oven-proof 12-inch skillet over
high heat. Add the chicken and brown well. Remove and reserve on a
plate. Preheat oven to 425F. Discard the cooking fat in the skillet,
add onions, Marsala, tomato paste, chicken stock, salt and pepper.
Bring to a boil. Replace the chicken thighs and transfer the skillet,
uncovered, to the oven. Cook for 20 minutes, add the breasts and
continue to cook another 12 to 15 minutes. Remove skillet from oven
and remove chicken to a plate. Replace skillet on the stove top over
high heat and reduce the cooking liquid until it becomes shiny and
somewhat thickened. Remove from the heat and swirl in the butter.
Arrange the chicken on a serving platter and strain the sauce over it.
From Gemini's MASSIVE MealMaster collection at www.synapse.com/~gemini

A Message from our Provider:

“Jesus: Amazing love”

Nutrition (calculated from recipe ingredients) ---------------------------------------------- Calories: 285 Calories From Fat: 165 Total Fat: 18.7g Cholesterol: 96mg Sodium: 375.5mg Potassium: 267.9mg Carbohydrates: <1g Fiber: <1g Sugar: <1g Protein: 27.5g