[Book Review] How to Hang Loose in an Uptight World by Elizabeth Baker

How to Hang Loose in an Uptight World by Elizabeth Baker
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

An excellent primer on the history of "stress," how it affects our bodies, and how to combat it naturally and scripturally. Also contains self-check tests for personal stress levels, and several different lists of "stress-busters," organized by time-required. A must-read for all who walk in modern times.

View all my reviews

To Love Mercy

He hath shewed thee, O man, what [is] good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? - - Micah 6:8, KJV

This afternoon, I had a unique opportunity to show mercy. About 3:30 pm, two of my neighbor ladies knocked on my door, informing me that they had just witnessed two young hispanic males stealing my husband's ten-speed bike. As the story goes, when they hollered after them about calling the police, the young men dropped the bike on the road and ran into the woods nearby.

One of the ladies' husbands is on the reserve with the police department, and he went home and got his badge, et al, and went after the two young men, along with a deputy who came from the county. Eventually, the young men were apprehended and put under arrest, and brought back to my property in a squad car, handcuffed.

I was presented with a decision. I had called Charlie earlier and asked his opinion on legal matters before the boys were caught, but I had not expected to need to make a final decision alone, while my husband was at work. After weighing all my available information, I decided to have the officer issue a citation, rather than booking them for a full arrest, jail, arraignment, and so forth.

One of the boys was 14; the other was 17. Because they were minors, they legally had to be released into the custody of their guardians. This gave me an opportunity to not only speak with the younger one's mother, but hug her. She was embarrassed, and rightly so. The young man came to me and apologized, looking genuinely sheepish; he had been left alone to do chores while his mother went to buy groceries. Imagine his mother's surprise when she received a call from the deputy! I gave him my forgiveness.

The older young man was released into the custody of his pregnant older sister, who was also his guardian. His sister expressed her gratitude towards my expression of mercy, and also her embarrassment regarding her brother's behavior. As for him, he also came to me and apologized for trespassing, for stealing, for everything. He expressed his gratitude, and this is what I told him:

"God shows his mercy to us, and so I am giving mercy to you. I forgive you."

He extended his hand to me, and I shook his hand. Yes, there were tears in my eyes, because I told him to be safe. As I told him, "if it had been anyone but me, he might not have been safe. So be safe." I also laid hands on his sister, expressing my forgiveness to her, telling her that it was going to be okay, when she apologized again.

There are some people who have expressed that I was too merciful. To this, I only say that I did not allow them to go unpunished. I upheld the law, insomuch as was appropriate to the situation. The stolen property had been returned, and was of little value when it was stolen. Yes, I could have prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, but instead, I chose to show mercy. They were issued a citation, which, if not addressed, would land them in jail just as if I had chosen to prosecute.

I can only pray that my few words and my act of kindness would affect the hardness of their hearts, and turn them towards a loving Savior whose forgiveness runs deeper than mine ever could. I genuinely ache for them. I pray for them.

So, instead of criticizing my actions, I ask that you do the same as I do tonight - pray. Because what is required of us, after all, but to do justly, love mercy, and to walk with humility in the path of our God?

Missionary Lizard Valentines!

Since Ethan has to pass out valentines this year for the homeschool party and for AWANAs, I thought I would create a special valentine just for my little dinosaur man to pass out.

I got the dinosaur part for free from a clip-art site, and added in the details.  Underneath, I put the dinosaur's (current) scientific name and his classification in the Creation order.  You could do something similar for your child.  In what way does his or her interests fit in with an evangelistic mindset?

Share God's grace with your neighbors!

Rosemary Chicken Cassoulet with Baby Bellos

I made this recipe last night for my family, as a change from my usual preparation method for beans.  You'll need:

3-4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

3-4 sprigs fresh rosemary

salt

oil - I usually prefer light olive oil

1 pound baby portobello or other mushrooms

2 cups of cooked navy beans; I used one-half pound of dried beans and cooked them until almost tender.

hot water

Heat a deep cast-iron skillet or dutch oven about medium-low, and coat the bottom of the skillet with oil.  When the oil is fragrant, snip the rosemary leaves into the hot oil.  Salt this liberally, and then fit the chicken breasts into a single layer in the skillet.  Cook on one side until a golden crust develops, then turn.  While this cooks, cut the mushrooms into quarters and put into the pan with the chicken.  Using a sharp spatula, cut the chicken breasts into bite-sized chunks.  Cook for about ten more minutes, stirring occasionally; be sure to scrape the bottom of the pan to distribute the crusty goodness and keep it from sticking.

When the chicken is cooked through and the mushrooms have softened, pour in the cooked beans.  Barely cover this with scalding water; I keep a teapot on the stove at all times for this purpose.  Stir well until all the ingredients are evenly distributed.  Reduce heat to a simmer, and cover.  Allow this to continue cooking until the broth has reduced to a thick gravy and the beans are cooked through.  I like this to be thick as a stew, but you could make it more like a soup; it will just be soup, not a cassoulet.

This serves 4-5 comfortably.  We also had parmesan griddle bread and buttered corn.

Book Review: The Gift of Forgiveness by Charles Stanley

The Gift of Forgiveness by Charles F. Stanley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is not just another book on why we ought to forgive one another. Rather, Dr. Stanley takes the time to first explain what forgiveness is, and what it is not, and then shows us our own position of forgiveness in Christ. Throughout the book are practical applications on how you can forgive not only others, but yourself, based on your own forgiveness in God through Christ.

This is the first time I've ever found a preacher who actually bothers to give valid biblical reasoning for the popular idea of the times, "forgiving yourself." Someone gave this book to me in hopes that I would learn forgiveness in regards to another person, but when I read it with an open mind, it allowed me to recognize an unforgiving spirit toward myself. I highly recommend it.

There is something here for everyone, not just the newly converted or the seasoned theologian.

View all my reviews