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

The punishment was meted out for such crimes as treason, desertion in the face of the enemy, robbery, piracy, assassination, sedition, etc. It continued in vogue in the Roman Empire till the day of Constantine, when it was abolished as an insult to Christianity. Among the Romans crucifixion was preceded by scourging, undoubtedly to hasten impending death. The victim then bore his own cross, or at least the upright beam, to the place of execution. This in itself proves that the structure was less ponderous than is commonly supposed. When he was tied to the cross nothing further was done and he was left to die from starvation. If he was nailed to the cross, at least in Judea, a stupefying drink was given him to deaden the agony. The number of nails used seems to have been indeterminate. A tablet, on which the feet rested or on which the body was partly supported, seems to have been a part of the cross to keep the wounds from tearing through the transfixed members (Iren., Adv. haer., ii.42). The suffering of death by crucifixion was intense, especially in hot climates. Severe local inflammation, coupled with an insignificant bleeding of the jagged wounds, produced traumatic fever, which was aggravated the exposure to the heat of the sun, the strained of the body and insufferable thirst. The swelled about the rough nails and the torn lacerated tendons and nerves caused excruciating agony. The arteries of the head and stomach were surcharged with blood and a terrific throbbing headache ensued. The mind was confused and filled with anxiety and dread foreboding. The victim of crucifixion literally died a thousand deaths. Tetanus not rarely supervened and the rigors of the attending convulsions would tear at the wounds and add to the burden of pain, till at last the bodily forces were exhausted and the victim sank to unconsciousness and death. The sufferings were so frightful that “even among the raging passions of war pity was sometimes excited” (BJ, V, xi, 1). The length of this agony was wholly determined by the constitution of the victim, but death rarely ensued before thirty-six hours had elapsed. Instances are on record of victims of the cross who survived their terrible injuries when taken down from the cross after many hours of suspension (Josephus, Vita, 75). Death was sometimes hastened by breaking the legs of the victims and by a hard blow delivered under the armpit before crucifixion. Crura fracta was a well-known Roman term (Cicero Phil. xiii.12). The sudden death of Christ evidently was a matter of astonishment (Mark 15:44). The peculiar symptoms mentioned by John (19:34) would seem to point to a rupture of the heart, of which the Savior died, independent of the cross itself, or perhaps hastened by its agony (Henry Dosker).

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Can it be, that the chief object of existence is to sing, and play, and dress and dance? Do not these things, when we reflect upon them, look more like the pursuits of butterflies and grasshoppers, and canary birds – than of rational creatures? Is it not melancholy to see beings with never-dying souls, sinking to the amusements of children; and employing time as if it were given them for nothing but mirth; and using the world as if it were created by God only to be a sort of playground for its inhabitants?

John Angell James

We Love God!

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

Creamy Polenta With Corn And Roasted Garlic

January 27, 2023

CATEGORY	CUISINE	TAG	YIELD
Dairy	Dutch	Stern1	1	Servings

INGREDIENTS

4		Cloves garlic, unpeeled 4
7	c	Water 1.75 L
3/4	t	Salt 4 mL
1	t	Pepper 5 mL
1 1/2	c	Cornmeal, regular or
		instant
		375 mL
1	c	Fresh or frozen corn niblets
		250 mL
1		Mild green chiles, rinsed
		drained and
		chopped 1 4-oz/114
		mL
2	T	Chopped fresh cilantro or
		parsley optional 25 mL
3/4	c	Milk 175 mL

INSTRUCTIONS

Place unpeeled garlic in heavy skillet. On very low heat, shaking pan
often, cook for about 40 minutes, or until soft and tender. You can
also place garlic on baking sheet and roast in preheated 325F/160C
oven for about 30 minutes. Cool, peel and mince.  Place water in Dutch
oven and bring to a boil. Add salt and pepper.  Whisk in cornmeal
slowly, stirring constantly. When mixture bubbles,  reduce heat and
cook on low heat for 5 minutes for instant cornmeal  and 20 to 30
minutes for regular cornmeal. Stir occasionally. If  mixture gets too
thick, add some boiling water.  Add garlic, corn and chiles and cook
for about 5 minutes. Stir in  cilantro and enough milk to reach the
consistency of very creamy  mashed potatoes. Taste and adjust
seasonings if necessary.  Converted by MC_Buster.  NOTES : This dish,
from Simply HeartSmart Cooking, can be made an hour  before serving.
Keep it warm over a double boiler. If you don't have  time to roast the
garlic, just add 1 minced clove garlic. Makes 8 to  10 servings
Converted by MM_Buster v2.0l.

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Nutrition (calculated from recipe ingredients) ---------------------------------------------- Calories: 780 Calories From Fat: 88 Total Fat: 10.4g Cholesterol: 14.6mg Sodium: 1952.2mg Potassium: 929.2mg Carbohydrates: 155.3g Fiber: 14.4g Sugar: 10.6g Protein: 22.1g