Calling on the Lord - What is the Secret the Third Generation of Mankind Found?

      I’ll never forget our friend Tony’s rendition of his salvation  as a college student.  One day while riding his motorcycle he hit a car, and he found himself sailing through the air.  With all the thoughts of sudden death flooding his mind, he called on the Lord’s name for the first time in his life.  Something happened to him—he knew he got saved.  The Bible  tells us  in Romans 10: 13  For whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

    I like the footnote on this verse in the Recovery Version of the New Testament (you can order this paperback version free by clicking on this link).  

Calling on the name of the Lord is the secret not only to our salvation but also to our enjoyment of the Lord's riches.  Beginning with Enosh, the third generation of mankind [Genesis 4:26], and continuing all the way down to the New Testament believers, God's chosen and redeemed ones enjoyed Christ's redemption and salvation and all His riches by means of this secret (see Note 21-1 in Acts 2).

This past Friday we were reading with some college students verses on calling on the Lord’s name. They came out of a chapter entitled "Calling on the Lord" from Volume 1 of the booklet Basic Elements of the Christian Life.The footnotes in the Recovery Version of the Old Testament indicate that the name Enosh means frail and mortal. In just three generations people realized they weren't that strong-- they needed to call on the name of God to get through the day.  

Things haven't changed much because centuries later we still need to call; I know I do.   One of the students shared his own experience of calling on the Lord's name, "Sometimes I do not know what to say or pray, and I just call and it calms me down."  We were all amazed because none of us had shared this with him.  The Lord had shown him this wonderful secret!

Blog update 5/8/13: Bibles for America has prepared a video segment that you can view called  Calling on the Name of the  Lord which is based on a booklet by that name published by Living Stream Ministry. 

Blog Update 5/22/13:   You can order your own free copy of this booklet from Bibles for America.


Other  College Student Dinner Fellowships on This Blog:

Do You Have the Assurance of Your Salvation? 

Getting Spiritual Food From God's Word

What are the Securities of Your Salvation?

Hearing God - Dinner Fellowship with College Students

Why Should a Believer Get Baptized?

Why Should We Read the Bible?

Coming to the Lord in His Word

Did You Know God Made You With Three Parts?

What is the Key to Experiencing Christ? - A Fellowship with College Students

Calling on the Lord Makes a Difference! 

What's the Secret the Third Generation of Mankind Found?

Why Are Just 2 Trees Mentioned in Genesis 2?

Discussion with College Students--What is the Church?

Why are There Two Trees in Genesis 2 Anyway?  Part 1

Why are There Two Trees in Genesis 2 Anyway?  Part 2

Gluten Free Banana Nutty Muffins

     Do they taste as good as they look?  That's the  question I ask when I'm checking out recipes now that I've been diagnosed with celiac.  This muffin recipe is so good you won't believe it's not made with wheat!   I adapted this recipe from my daughter in law's family cook book. 

Gluten Free Banana Nutty Muffins

1.  In a large bowl beat with a mixer:
(1)  Whisk 2 eggs.
(2)  Then add 1/3 cup oil.
(3)  Mix in 3/4 cup brown sugar and 1 tsp. vanilla. 

2.  Mix dry ingredients in a bowl:
(1)  Mix together 1 1/2 cups of gluten free four:  I like to use 1/4 cup of brown rice flour, 1/4 cup of white rice flour,  1/2 cup of sorghum flour,  and 1/2 cup of tapioca flour. 
(2)  Then stir in 1 t  baking powder, 1/2 t baking soda, and 1/2 t salt. 

3.  In a 1 cup measuring cup:  Mash together enough bananas to equal 1 cup (about 3  bananas).

4.  Combine:  Alternately add the sugar/egg mixture and the bananas to the dry ingredients mixing after each addition.  The batter will be soft.

5.  Put into muffin tins:  Spray 12 muffin tins and fill 2/3 full.  Sprinkle walnuts on top of muffins.  Bake at 350 for 12-15 minutes.  Check to make sure toothpick comes out clean.  Let them sit a few minutes before removing from the pan.  

Other Gluten Free Baking & Desserts on This Blog:

Breads: 
Gluten free & Low-fat Banana Bread  (From my daughter-in-law's family reunion cookbook)
Celebrate Fall With Gluten Free Pumpkin Bread   (A friend's recipe)
Delicious Gluten Free Zucchini Bread   (From my Heritage School Cookbook)
My Favorite Gluten Free Cranberry Nut Bread    (From my daughter-in-law's family cookbook)

Cakes:
Gluten Free German Apple Cake   (From my grandmother)
You Won't Believe It's Gluten Free Carrot Cake    (From my daughter's husband's grandma)
Judi's Super Moist Gluten Free Chocolate Cake   (From a church friend)
Judi's Gluten Free Orange Chiffon Cake       (From a church friend)
Marilyn's Spectacular Gluten Free Oatmeal Cake    (My mother-in-law's--she's a great cook!)
Delicious Gluten Free Rhubarb Cake     (From my daughter-in-law's family reunion cookbook)
Grandma's Gluten Free Applesauce Cake  (From my grandma)
Old Fashioned Gluten Free Banana Cake      (From my grandma)
Rosie's Gluten Free Pineapple Upside Down Cake    (From my daughter-in-law's family)

Cookies:
Gluten Free Cowboy Oatmeal Cookies  (From my Heritage School Cookbook)
Mom's Go To For Gluten Free Peanut Butter Cookies   (From my Heritage School Cookbook)
The Best Gluten Free Recipe for Snickerdoodles  (From my Heritage School Cookbook)
Gluten Free Rocky Road Brownies     (From a church friend)
Mark's Famous Chocolate Chip Cookies - Made Gluten Free!    (From my daughter-in-law's family reunion cookbook)
Judi's Gluten Free Oatmeal Craisin & Coconut Cookies       (From a church friend)

Cornbread & Rolls:
Beth's Amazing Gluten Free Cornbread   (From my Heritage School Cookbook)

Crisps & Pies:
Lena's Rhubarb Crunch (A crisp with a gluten free top and bottom crust!) (My daughter-in-law's mother.  She's an amazing cook, which I think most of us moms become after a few years!)
Delicious Gluten Free Apple Crisp  (From my Heritage School Cookbook)
Ginger's Outrageous Apple Pie  (From a church friend)
The BEST Lemon Meringue Pie with Mrs. Lauralicious Gluten Free Pie Crust  (Internet)

Desserts with Fruit:
Sensational Gluten Free Strawberry Shortcake   (From the back of Costco's organic sugar)

Terrific Gluten Free Strawberry & Peach Trifle  (Modified from an Internet search)
My Favorite Gluten Free Strawberry Cheesecake   (From my Heritage School Cookbook)
Just Like Grandma's (But Only Gluten Free) Blueberry Cobbler (My husband's grandma)

Holiday Cookies & Baking:
Old Fashioned Gluten Free Pumpkin Cookies  (Modified from back of the Libby's can)
Incredible Gluten Free Gingerbread Cookies  (From my Heritage School Cookbook)
My Grandkids Favorite Gluten Free Peppermint Sugar Cookies  (From Syre School Cookbook)
Our Favorite Pumpkin Pie   (Modified from back of Libby's pumpkin can)
Perfect Gluten Free Pumpkin Cheesecake  (From back of cream cheese box)
Gluten Free Polish Fruitcake   (Modified from Internet search)
Old Fashioned Gluten Free Gingerbread Cake  (From my Heritage School Cookbook)

 Ice Cream:
Dairy Free Strawberry Coconut Ice Cream (And other ice cream favorites!)  (From searches)

Muffins:

Banana Nutty Muffins   (From my daughter-in-law's family reunion cookbook)
Gluten Free Tremendous Pumpkin Muffins    (From my Heritage School Cookbook)
Bursting with Blueberries Gluten Free Muffins  (From my Heritage School Cookbook)
Toni's Outrageous Gluten Free Corn Muffins  (From back of a Bob's Red Mill package)
Sassy Gluten Free Apple Cinnamon Muffins   (From my Heritage School Cookbook)

Puddings:  
Baked Coconut Pudding  (Something I worked out from my Aunt Sue's rice pudding recipe)
Tangy Lemon Pudding   (From Internet search)

What is the Key to Experiencing Christ? - A Fellowship with College Students

   

 So how do you contact God?  Depending on what kind of person you are and what kind of experiences you've had, you might say-- 

by lighting a candle and praying, 

by meditating,

 by reading the Bible,

 by walking on a mountain trail 

or looking out at the ocean. 

  


But what does the Bible say? 
John 4:24  God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truthfulness.

Did you notice that there's a capital S for God's Spirit and a small s for man's human spirit?  You will see the same thing in John 3:6 and Romans 8:16.  These are some of the verses we read in  "The Key to Experiencing Christ" in the booklet Basic Elements of the Christian Life, (which you can order free by clicking on this link).  God's intention from even before He created man was for His Spirit to get into man's spirit. 

     I appreciate the way Witness Lee connected so many passages in this chapter. One of these is 1 Corinthians 15:45B ...the last Adam became a life-giving Spirit.  I don't think I would have ever gotten the significance of this verse on my own.  This last Adam refers to Jesus' dying on the cross for all mankind; so this shows us that through His death and resurrection the Lord became the very Spirit that He promised would come in John 7:39 and John 14:16-17.

      Something really unusual took place on the evening of the Lord's resurrection.   He came back after ascending to the Father,and met with His disciples with the purpose that He would impart His divine life into them.   I like showing John 20:22 to others:  And when He had said this, He breathed into them and said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit.  Think about it, for the first time in history, man received the life of God into him!!  It's mind boggling that whenever a person receives God's life, they fulfill God's purpose in creating them.

    If you look at this diagram closely it may remind you of a target, and the bulls eye is your spirit--the very place where God wants to come!  That is pretty cool.

Blog update 5-8-13:   Today I found out that Bibles for America has prepared a great 3-part video segment called The Key to Experiencing Christ--the Human Spirit which is based on a booklet by the same name published by Living Stream Ministry.

Blog Update 5/22/13:   You can order your own free copy of this booklet from Bibles for America.


Other  College Student Dinner Fellowships on This Blog:

Do You Have the Assurance of Your Salvation? 

Getting Spiritual Food From God's Word

What are the Securities of Your Salvation?

Hearing God - Dinner Fellowship with College Students

Why Should a Believer Get Baptized?

Why Should We Read the Bible?

Coming to the Lord in His Word

Did You Know God Made You With Three Parts?

What is the Key to Experiencing Christ? - A Fellowship with College Students

Calling on the Lord Makes a Difference! 

What's the Secret the Third Generation of Mankind Found?

Why Are Just 2 Trees Mentioned in Genesis 2?

Discussion with College Students--What is the Church?

Why are There Two Trees in Genesis 2 Anyway?  Part 1

Why are There Two Trees in Genesis 2 Anyway?  Part 2

Did You Know God Made You With Three Parts? - A Bible Study with College Students

   Have you ever heard that  God made you with three parts?  Way back in Genesis when God created man you can see that God made man in this way:

Jehovah God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life [this Hebrew word is translated spirit in Proverbs 20:27[, and man became a living soul.  Genesis 2:7

      I grew up hearing about the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (which was called the Holy Ghost, I never quite understood why it was called that).  But I never knew I had a spirit in me. Did you know there's  even a verse in the Bible that says that God made man with a human spirit?  It's in one of the oldest books in the Bible--Job 32:8  But there is a spirit in man....   Last Friday we all read the chapter "The Key to Experiencing Christ--The Human Spirit" in the booklet Basic Elements of the Christian Life.  Because of the clear presentation and supporting Scripture, all the college students got the connections that the body contacts the physical world, the soul the psychological world, but the spirit contacts God's Spirit.  

    Check out this verse that was on the first page of the chapter--1 Thessalonians 5:23 which says, And the God of peace Himself sanctify you wholly, and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Notice that an AND separates each one showing that they are distinct parts of your being.  In the next blog, which is called God's Spirit & Man's Spirit I'll explain about how our spirit is the key.

Blog update 5/8/13 -  Today I found on Youtube a 3 part video presentation put out by Bibles for America called The Key to Experiencing Christ - The human Spirit which is based on a booklet by the same title published by Living Stream Ministry.


Blog Update 5/22/13:   You can order your own free copy of this booklet from Bibles for America.


Other  College Student Dinner Fellowships on This Blog:

Do You Have the Assurance of Your Salvation? 

Getting Spiritual Food From God's Word

What are the Securities of Your Salvation?

Hearing God - Dinner Fellowship with College Students

Why Should a Believer Get Baptized?

Why Should We Read the Bible?

Coming to the Lord in His Word

Did You Know God Made You With Three Parts?

What is the Key to Experiencing Christ? - A Fellowship with College Students

Calling on the Lord Makes a Difference! 

What's the Secret the Third Generation of Mankind Found?

Why Are Just 2 Trees Mentioned in Genesis 2?

Discussion with College Students--What is the Church?

Why are There Two Trees in Genesis 2 Anyway?  Part 1

Why are There Two Trees in Genesis 2 Anyway?  Part 2

Making Jap-Chae with a Korean Student

       Food is a big part of culture.  We've learned that from hosting several international students--so far we've had students from Taiwan, Hong Kong, Thailand, Korea, and China. 

 

In the fall of 2010 we hosted J.K. a college student from Seoul.  We cooked together a few times when he lived with us, and even when he moved out later with a friend, he came to the Friday night dinner and Bible study. 

      Last fall he went to Virginia to study for a quarter, and when he returned in January, all the students had a welcome home dinner.  Jon another Korean student made two Korean dishes, and I was planning to make some jap-chae, which is a Korean noodle and vegetable dish. This is somewhat like chow mien, but the noodles are made from sweet potatoes!  Things were getting kind of hectic in the kitchen that night, so I asked J.K. to help me finish up this dish.  He gave me permission to take a picture of him cooking.  

Korean Jap-Chae– Serves 10

1.  Prepare meat:  Rinse and then slice 1 lb beef into 1/8” pieces. 

2.  Soak mushrooms:  Put 10 dried mushrooms into cold water for 1 hour.  Squeeze out and then thinly slice.  

3.  Prepare vegetables: 
(1)  Slice up 2 onions
(2)  Shred 2 carrots
(3)  Mince 2 cloves of garlic,
(4)  Slice 1 green pepper into thin strips. 

4.  Prepare noodles:  Cook up 1 pack of sweet potato noodles (about 1 pound)  in boiling water for 7 minutes.  Immediately drain and rinse in cold water.  You can also put in two 9 x 13 pans and pour boiling water over and soak them for 30 min.

5.  Stir-frying the beef: 
  Put 2 T oil in an electric skillet/wok and stir fry the mushrooms, garlic. Then add 1 T tamari, 1 tsp. sesame oil and the beef to the pa and stir-fry until the beef is done.  Place in a covered pan while stir-frying the veggies.

6. Stir-frying the veggies:  (Wipe the pan)
(1)  Put 2 T of oil into the pan and add the vegetables with 1 tsp, of salt and stir-fry for 3-4 minutes.  
(2)  Add the meat to the vegetables.  
(3) Then add the noodles.
(4)  Mix 1/2 cup tamari mixed with 3 T sesame oil and 1/8th cup of sugar and stir into the vegetables. Taste and then add extra sesame oil or tamari.

You may be wondering if the noodles break--these sweet potato noodles are very strong, and they hold their shape quite well.  This beef noodle dish is delicious!   

 

Other Korean Recipes on this blog:

Bibimbap
Korean BBQ Chicken
Jap-Chae
Bulgogi Rice Bowl  

Who did the Samaritan Find on His Journey in Luke 10:33-37?

     Who is the man laying on the side of the road in the story of the Samaritan in Luke 10?   Most of the time it seems people use this story to stress the importance of being compassionate to others. That is very necessary, but I enjoyed the insight that Witness Lee brought to this portion of the word in the Chapter 25 of the Life-Study of Luke: 

“The Savior intended to unveil to him [the lawyer He was speaking with] through this story that he was condemned to death under the law [signified by the Levite who passed by him v. 31], unable to take care of himself, … and that the Man Savior was the one who would love him and render him full salvation” (Lee, Witness. Life-Study of Luke. Anaheim: Living Stream Ministry, 1984, Print).

     In this Life-Study I was touched to see that the Savior is the journeying Samaritan seeking for beat up sinners like us.  It touched me to see from my reading that  it's not so much about what we can do for others but what the Lord can do for us. His compassion  is far reaching because it has found each one of us.  As such a compassionate Man-Savior, He continually binds up our wounds and encourages our fellow believers to take care of us. 

Other blogs on the Life Study of Luke:

You can listen to excerpts from the Life Study of Luke along with excellent commentary by tuning into the Life Study of the Bible with Witness Lee.

What Kind of Savior is Revealed in the Gospel of Luke?
Have You Seen Jesus the Friend of Sinners in Luke 5?
Who Did the Samaritan Find on His Journey in Luke 10:33-37?
Why is Persistent Prayer Important in Luke 18:1-8?
A Great Gospel Illustration - How is Man Like a Glove?
From the Life-Study of Luke - Not Reading the Bible Superficially

Make Your Own Gluten Free Chicken Pho!

 Two of my daughters finally persuaded me to enter a Vietnamese restaurant and have some pho.  And soon after that delicious bowl of pho my daughter Michelle found this recipe for pho in a local newspaper.  One Saturday we all got together to try to make it. Over the years we have tweaked it by adding more star of anise, etc. and this is our recipe.

Make Your Own Gluten Free Chicken Pho

1.  Preparing the chicken:  
(1)  Rinse and cut the skin off of a whole chicken.   Cut off the wings, legs, and thighs for another meal if you just want the breast meat.
(2)  Fill a saucepan with water enough to cover the chicken and bring to a boil.  When it boils for about 2 minutes, drain it.  You will add it to the stockpot. 

2.  Prepare veggies for stockpot:  
(1)  Cut up 2 medium onions in slivers.  
(2)  Mince up a 3" piece of ginger.
(3)  Wash 2-3 stalks of celery and scrub 1-2 carrots and stick them whole into the pot to add some flavor. You'll put these out later.
(4)  Rinse off about 4 basil leaves (this is my son's recommendation) and chop up for the pot. Plus add the stems.
(5)  Rinse off a small cluster of cilantro stems for the pot and cut.

3.  Sauté onions & prepare stock:   
(1)  Put 1 T of oil in the bottom of a stock pot and add the onions and sauté a few minutes then add the ginger.   
(2)  Add 15-18 cups of water (or enough to fill a stock pot about 3/4th full of water) and 1 T of rice mirin.   
(3)  Add a whole chicken and bring to a boil and skim off any foam.  Simmer for 10-15 minutes.
(4)  Then add:  2-3 sticks of cinnamon bark, 8-10 whole star of anise, 6 whole cloves,  4-5 T of coriander seed, 1 cardamom pod, 1/2 T of peppercorns, 1 T of salt and 2 T of Chicken Better Than Bouillon.  
 (5)  Let simmer for an hour. Take out the chicken and cut the meat in about 3" strips.    Put in refrigerator and add last half hour.  

4.  After 1 hour of simmering broth:  
(1)   The recipe says you can strain out the spices--I like to leave mine in a little bit longer--actually about 4 hours so you decide what you prefer.  When you're ready, pull out the carrots, celery, stems, and spices.
(2)  Mix  together:  1/4 cup of gluten free fish sauce,  1/4 cup of gluten free tamari, 3 t brown sugar, and 1 t pepper and stir into the broth.
(3)    Taste and make any adjustments.   When I made this yesterday, I just had to add a bit more water because I added too much fish sauce.

5.  While the chicken broth is simmering soak noodles:  Soak in boiling water 1 package of  bah pho rice stick noodles (or whatever you like) for about 45-50 minutes or you can boil them until they are just right.  Check halfway and add more hot water if necessary.  Then drain and let sit.  When ready, put noodles in the bottom of each bowl.

6.  Prepare condiment platter:   On a large platter arrange 1 sliced sweet onion, 3-4 green onions sliced in 1" pieces, 1 package of bean sprouts, sprigs of cilantro, whole basil, and 1 lime cut in wedges.

Assembling: I like to set up a serving table with the pot of chicken both, then the bowl of noodles, and then the condiment tray so people can individualize their bowls.  My son likes to add a bit of Sriracha to his bowl for extra heat.

List of My Favorite Soups, Chili & Stew Recipes: 

Beef 

Grandma's Favorite Beef Stew  (My mother-in-law's delicious recipe!)

Just Like Home Ukrainian Borscht   (A Polish student  said this tasted like his mom's!)

Poultry

This is the Best Gluten Free Minestrone Soup!   (A recipe my son modified)

Mouth Watering Italian  Sausage Soup   (This is  my friend Debbie's recipe)
Mexican Fiesta Chicken Soup   (A recipe I got years ago from a Mexican cookbook)
My Thanksgiving Turkey Soup  (My very own special concoction!)
Gary's Incredible Gluten Free Arkansas Gumbo  (Given to me by a Bible study friend from Arkansas)
Jeannie's French Market Soup  (A friend from when my kids were little)
Southwest Turkey Soup  (From my Syre School cookbook)

Fish
Northwest Salmon Chowder  (From my Heritage School cookbook)
Almost Like Ivar's Clam Chowder (From my Come & Dine Cookbook)

Bean & Legumes
Vi's Best Chili  (A  Bible study friend's great recipe)
Bethany's Crowd Pleasing Tortilla Soup  (One of my daughter's friends special soup)
Country-Style Lentil Soup   (From my Heritage School cookbook)
Kathy's Texas Chili & Chips (From my Come & Dine cookbook)
Spicy Cuban Black Bean Soup (From a store recipe card)

Vegetable

Creamy Pumpkin Soup  (from Food Network)
My Favorite Gluten Free Pumpkin Curry Soup  (Combo from Food & All Recipes)
Downright Delicious Potato & Kale Soup  (From my daughter-in-law's family cookbook)
A Great Fall Soup - Make it From Scratch Corn Potato Chowder  (From my Heritage School Cookbook)

Asian
Chinese Chicken Soups  - Bok choy chicken, chicken & spinach, and chicken & cabbage (Modified from Internet search by our Chinese students)
Make Your Own Gluten Free Chicken Pho!  (Modified from a newspaper article)
Gluten Free Chinese Hot Pot  (Modified by a Chinese student)
Chinese Egg Drop Soup  &  Chinese Egg & Tomato Soup  (Modified  from a student's recipe)

Vegetarian & Gluten Free Tom Yum Soup (A delicious Thai soup) 
Deluxe Miso Soup (Kenchinjiru)   (Adapted from Internet search)
A Thai Mom Teaches Me How to Make Tom Yum Kung  (A student's mom's recipe)
A Vietnamese Cooking Lesson - Lien's Vietnamese Sweet & Sour Soup  (An International student's aunt's recipe)
Cooking Beef Pho for Vietnamese Students  (Modified Recipe)
Asian Curried Chicken Soup  (From my Come & Dine church cookbook)