College Dinner Discussion: The Two Principles of Living Seen in the Two Trees in Genesis 2

     Why are just two trees mentioned in Genesis 2?  Have you ever wondered about that?  After God created Adam, He only gave him one commandment.  It's in Genesis 2:16-17:  

And Jehovah God commanded the man saying, Of every tree of the garden you may eat freely,  but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, of it you shall not eat;  ....

 What is the meaning of these two trees?  Well, last night we read Two Principles of Living---The Principle of Life or the Principle of Right and Wrong from Volume Three of the booklet Basic Elements of the Christian Life.   Most of the  students hadn't heard much about what happened in the garden of Eden, and so it was fun to share a bit of it with them.  The booklet said that these two trees are a parable of two kinds of food for man's living: 

        

"Christianity does not require that we ask whether something is right or wrong, good or evil.  On the contrary, whenever we do anything, there is a life within us which rises up to speak with us. ... Please remember, God's Word tells us that our Christian living is based on an inner life, not an outward standard of right and wrong... Today we have one question:  What does our inner life say? ... Right and wrong are not decided by an outward standard but by the inner life" (Basic Elements, P. 8).  

Unlike the Old Testament where the commandments were outside of God's people, in the New Testament the Lord is within the believers as the inner law of the Spirit of life (Romans 8:2).  We now have the Lord inside of us speaking to us all the time.   Right and wrong belong to the other tree--the tree of the knowledge of good and evil--the one in Genesis 3 that the serpent was hanging on.  Usually what happens to me is if I get caught in right and wrong, I can get mentally  hung up and miss LIFE--God's life and that's what the tree of life represents. In Romans 8:6b we have a great definition of what life feels like--"but the mind set on the spirit is life and peace"  Reading this chapter again just put a prayer in my heart--Lord help me pay more attention to what the inner life is saying!!

Blog update 5/8/13:  You can view a helpful 2-part video segment produced by Bibles for America entitled Two Principles of Living - Part 1  and Two Principles of Living - Part 2 that are 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

Delicious Gluten Free Beef Broccoli Stir-Fry

    After two years of tweaking this recipe, it finally got two thumbs up from the Chinese students who board with us!  I found this recipe on  www.recipelink.com and made the modifications indicated below.  I've learned that putting broccoli into a stir-fry is a great way to eat more of this valuable cancer fighting vegetable!

Delicious Gluten Free Beef Broccoli Stir-Fry

1.  Prepare beef:   Rinse 1 pound of beef and cut it into thin bite-sized strips.

2.  Make marinade:   Mix 2 T cornstarch with 2 T water and 1/2 tsp. of garlic powder and stir into the meat and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

3.  Prepare veggies:
(1)  Chop up 3 cups of broccoli into bite-sized pieces
(2)  Chop 1 red bell pepper into strips
(3)  Slice 6 green onions into 1" pieces (Slice the white part small and put in 2 separate bowls)
(4)  Mince  1/4" piece of ginger root.
(5)  Slice 2 carrots and 2 stalks of celery on the diagonal .
(6)  Optional:  Slice 2 cups nappa cabbage.

4.  Make stir-fry sauce - I made a lot of adjustments to the sauce:   Combine 2/3 cup (instead of 8 T)  of gluten free tamari (soy sauce), 1/2 cup of water, 5 T rice wine,  4 T sugar, 2 tsp. salt (increased from 1 tsp.),  1 1/2 tsp. black pepper (my modification)  2 tsp. sesame oil (my modification), and 1 T tapioca starch or cornstarch.

5.  Stir-fry beef:  Warm up wok or electric skillet and then put 2 T of coconut oil in and heat for 1 minute.  Add the beef and stir-fry until it browns. Remove and put in a dish and cover.

6.  Stir-fry veggies:
(1)  Add 1-2 T more of coconut oil and add ginger, green onions, red pepper, and broccoli  plus any of the optional vegetables you would like to add and stir-fry 2 minutes.
(2)  Add the stir-fry sauce and stir-fry 2-3 more minutes until the vegetables are crisp-tender.
(3) You can also add 1 can of drained baby corn.  
(4)  Adjust the seasonings--more salt, pepper, or another tablespoon of tamari. If you like a richer sauce, you can add 1T of gluten free oyster sauce.

Other Chinese recipes on this blog:

Note about Internet recipes:  For the past 6 years we've hosted international students. Whenever I've made something, they have tasted it, and given me recommendations to make it taste more authentic.  Most of these Internet recipes have been tweaked by their suggestions.

BEEF RECIPES:
Delicious Gluten Free Beef Broccoli Stir-Fry  (Modification of Internet recipe)
The Best Gluten Free Mongolian Beef Stir-Fry  (Modification of Internet recipe)
Gluten Free Ginger Beef Stir-Fry (Modification of Internet recipe)

CHICKEN RECIPES:
Gluten Free Chinese Almond Chicken Stir-Fry   (Modification of Internet recipe)
Amazing Gluten Free Chinese Cashew Chicken Stir-Fry   (Modification of Internet recipe)
Gluten Free Garlic Chicken Stir-Fry  (Modification of Internet recipe)
Gluten Free Chinese - Chicken Broccoli Stir-Fry  (Modification of Internet recipe)
Gluten Free Chinese - Spicy Kung Pao Chicken Stir Fry  (Modification of Internet recipe)
Gluten Free Chinese - Authentic Chinese BBQ Chicken  (From my Bible Study friend Rose)
Rose's Chinese Yellow Curry with Chicken & Vegetables  (From my Bible Study friend Rose)
Gluten Free Chinese - Fantastic Soy Sauce Chicken  (Modification of Internet recipe)
Rose's Authentic Stir-Fried Chicken & Vegetables (Made Gluten Free!)
Gluten Free Sweet & Sour Chicken (From my daughter-in-law's family cookbook)

TOFU RECIPES:
Tofu & Vegetable Stir-Fry  (Modification of Internet recipe)
Orange "Beef" Tofu Stir- Fry  (Modification of Internet recipe)

FISH RECIPES:
Steamed Scallion Ginger Fish with Stir-Fried Bok Choy  (Modification of Internet recipe)
Fantastic Mahi & Vegetable Stir-Fry   (Modification of Internet recipe)
Tasty Gluten Free Sweet & Sour Fish  (From my daughter-in-law's family reunion cookbook)

NOODLES & RICE:
Gluten Free Chinese Fried Rice    (From my Come & Dine Cookbook)
The Cheung's Gluten Free Chow Mien  (My Bible study friend Rose taught me this)

SOUP RECIPES:
Chinese Chicken Soups  - Bok choy chicken, chicken & spinach, and chicken & cabbage
Gluten Free Chinese Hot Pot  (Combination of Internet & Yingying a student from China)
Chinese Egg Drop Soup   (From my Syre School Cookbook)

SALAD RECIPES
Gluten Free Chinese Chicken Cabbage Salad  (From my Heritage School Cookbook)
Rose's Refreshing Cucumber Salad  (From a Bible study friend)
Chinese Mandarin Salad & Thai Peanut Dressing   (Dressing is from my friend Judi)

A Great Gospel Illustration - How is Man Like a Glove?

     Have you ever thought that man is a lot like a glove?  That may be a bit of a stretch for your imagination.  But you need to look at it this way--a glove is made in the image of a hand with the purpose of containing a hand.  Its very image declares that it has a purpose. Something has to fit it!

When I was talking to a college student in February this classic illustration was in the tract  that I was reading with her.  I told her, let’s say you saw a glove but you couldn't figure out its use so you put it on your ear or on your foot.  You’d think that was pretty silly, right?

    Of course, she got it.  It's a no brainer. The very design of a glove tells you something must match it. 

    Then I told  her  what Genesis 1:26 says     And God said, Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness….  Before we received the Lord, we probably didn’t get that we were made in the image of God to contain God; I know I didn't.  Sometimes I don’t know why we fight it so hard. 

    We try to fill our “glove” with a job, education, a relationship, a new sport, a better car—the list is endless.  The fact is we were made in the image of God, and nothing will satisfy us until we contain God!    I smiled when Chelsea told me that she had never heard it explained like that before.

      In Chapter 58 of the Life-Study of Luke that I read yesterday Witness Lee spoke about how the glove is such a good illustration because the glove is meaningless and empty without the hand: 

 “If a glove is not filled with the hand, the glove will be empty.  The hand is both the content and reality of the glove…We may say that we are a “glove” designed to contain God as our content and reality...Human love for example is a shell that should contain the divine love”  (Lee, Witness. Life-Study of Luke. Anaheim: Living Stream Ministry, 1984, Print).  

 When we receive the Lord, He is  finally able to express Himself through our human virtues.  God designed us this way--do you not find that amazing? 
  I have always loved this quote of Augustine's about God's creation of man-- 

You have made us, O Lord, for yourself, 

and our heart is restless until it rests in You. 

Blog Update 7/30/13:  As I was listening to this song called There's a Gospel of Today on Youtube, it made me think of how the Gospel of Luke shows the Savior God reaching man in love.

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

My Asian Students Favorite Gluten Free Tofu & Vegetable Stir Fry

     Tofu has a funny texture.  For years I avoided it.  For almost 3 years I've cooked for the Asian students that have lived with us, but I never made a dish with tofu in it.  Three weeks ago I took the plunge and made my first tofu stir fry from a recipe I got on  All Recipes. 

When you take your first bite, you will be surprised!  It's the best tasting tofu stir-fry I ever tried!   The sauce is a delicious blend of ingredients.  I've tweaked the sauce quite a bit--I've added more gluten free tamari and black pepper and decreased the amount of rice vinegar.   Over the years this has been a very popular recipe for our international students.

                       Gluten Free Tofu & Vegetable Stir-Fry - for 8-10

1.  Prepare veggies: 

(1)  Slice 2 carrots on the diagonal.

(2)  Slice 1 green or red bell pepper on diagonal.

(3)  Chop 1 bunch of  broccoli.

(4)  Slice 1 cup of fresh shitake mushrooms.

(5)  Thinly slice 1 onion.

(6)  Slice 2 stalks of celery on the diagonal.

(7)  Mince 2 cloves of garlic and mince 1 T of fresh ginger.

(8)  1 ¼ cups of bean sprouts (I put in the whole package and sometimes I omit)

(9)  Drain 1 cup of bamboo shoots and 1 can of baby corn. (I don't always put these in)

(10) 1 Zucchini sliced on the diagonal

2. Prepare tofu: 
(1)   Set 2 blocks of tofu on a plate and let sit for 20+ minutes.  Drain off any water. 
(2)   Slice  into 1" cubes.  Toss with 2-3 T of sesame oil. 
(3)   Put on a baking sheet and bake at 350 for 10 minutes. Drain off any water. 
(4)   Flip and bake 10  minutes.  Continue flipping and baking until browned.  Set aside until needed.

NOTE:  I've also cooked this in a pan with 2 T of coconut oil until browned. 

3. Prepare stir- fry sauce: In a small bowl bowl whisk together 1/2 cup of gluten free tamari, 1/2 cup water,  2 T rice vinegar, 1 T agave/honey,  1 tsp. salt, 1  tsp. black pepper,  and 2-3 tsp. tapioca starch.

4. Stir-fry vegetables & tofu:

(1)  In a large skillet put 2 T of coconut oil and saute the yellow onion for 1 minute.

(2)  Stir in the garlic and ginger and stir-fry for 30 seconds. 

(3)  Add the other vegetables and stir-fry for 2 minutes.

(4)  Then add 1/4 cup of water, cover and let steam for 2 minutes.

(5)  Add the tofu back.
(6) Then pour in the stir-fry sauce and stir until the sauce thickens about 1-2 minutes.

(7)  Garnish with the green onions.

Other Chinese recipes on this blog:

Note about Internet recipes:  For the past 6 years we've hosted international students. Whenever I've made something, they have tasted it, and given me recommendations to make it taste more authentic.  Most of these Internet recipes have been tweaked by their suggestions.

BEEF RECIPES:
Delicious Gluten Free Beef Broccoli Stir-Fry  (Modification of Internet recipe)
The Best Gluten Free Mongolian Beef Stir-Fry  (Modification of Internet recipe)
The Best Gluten Free Ginger Beef Stir-Fry (Modification of Internet recipe)

CHICKEN RECIPES:
Gluten Free Chinese Almond Chicken Stir-Fry   (Modification of Internet recipe)
Amazing Gluten Free Chinese Cashew Chicken Stir-Fry   (Modification of Internet recipe)
Gluten Free Garlic Chicken Stir-Fry  (Modification of Internet recipe)
Gluten Free Chinese - Chicken Broccoli Stir-Fry  (Modification of Internet recipe)
Gluten Free Chinese - Spicy Kung Pao Chicken Stir Fry  (Modification of Internet recipe)
Gluten Free Chinese - Authentic Chinese BBQ Chicken  (From my Bible Study friend Rose)
Rose's Chinese Yellow Curry with Chicken & Vegetables  (From my Bible Study friend Rose)
Gluten Free Chinese - Fantastic Soy Sauce Chicken  (Modification of Internet recipe)
Rose's Authentic Stir-Fried Chicken & Vegetables (Made Gluten Free!)
Gluten Free Sweet & Sour Chicken (From my daughter-in-law's family cookbook)
Authentic Chinese Chicken & Leek Stir Fry  (Shared with me by a Chinese student's mother)

TOFU RECIPES:
Tofu & Vegetable Stir-Fry  (Modification of Internet recipe)
Orange "Beef" Tofu Stir- Fry  (Modification of Internet recipe)

FISH RECIPES:
Steamed Scallion Ginger Fish with Stir-Fried Bok Choy  (Modification of Internet recipe)
Fantastic Mahi & Vegetable Stir Fry   (Modification of Internet recipe)
Tasty Gluten Free Sweet & Sour Fish  (From my daughter-in-law's family reunion cookbook)

NOODLES & RICE:
Gluten Free Chinese Fried Rice    (From my Come & Dine Cookbook)
The Cheung's Gluten Free Chow Mien  (My Bible study friend Rose taught me this)

SOUP RECIPES:
Chinese Chicken Soups  - Bok choy chicken, chicken & spinach, and chicken & cabbage
Gluten Free Chinese Hot Pot  (Combination of Internet & Yingying a student from China)
Making Congee with a Chinese Student  (Recipe from a Chinese friend & a student)
Chinese Egg Drop Soup   (From my Syre School Cookbook)

SALAD RECIPES
Gluten Free Chinese Chicken Cabbage Salad  (From my Heritage School Cookbook)
Rose's Refreshing Cucumber Salad  (From a Bible study friend)
Chinese Mandarin Salad & Thai Peanut Dressing   (Dressing is from my friend Judi)

Calling on the Lord Makes a Difference!

I like the way the light came out on this picture I took at a nearby lake!

     I heard this amazing story yesterday.  It was simply incredible, just like one of those true-life experiences that you’d read in a magazine.  This young mom told us about the first time she called on the Lord’s name. 

   She was driving on a New Mexico highway around 8:30 at night with her mother and two small children.  All of a sudden she saw a tire from the oncoming lane come careening towards her. She swerved to miss it, but didn’t make it in time.  The tire’s violent impact caused her car to roll three times and land it in the median.  As the car was rolling, she began to call, O Lord Jesus!  Although the car was completely totaled, it landed upright.  Despite her mother’s back surgery from a broken disc, they are all still full of thanks that they are all alive.  We were all so touched with God's care for them.

     She gave me permission to share this story on my blog because it ties into a chapter called A Simple Way to Touch the Lord that we had read with some students on Friday night.  We were touched that in the Psalms over 180 times the psalmist cried out, “O Lord.”  Here’s one of the verses that was quoted:  Then called I upon the name of the Lord; O Lord (Psalm 116:4). This part of the chapter shows that calling on the Lord’s name is the way we experience the Lord:

“How can we touch and experience Christ in a practical way as our very life moment by moment?  The Lord has given us a simple way.  All we have to do is call upon Him, and we will touch Him who is the life-giving supply. In Romans 10:12b-13 the Bible says, “For the same Lord is Lord of all and rich to all who call upon Him; for ‘whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’ “ (Basic Elements of the Christian Life, p. 15). 

     Today when I was asking her a little bit more about that experience she told me that this accident followed her hearing a message about calling on the Lord's name.  She knows firsthand that when we call out to the Lord, He hears us.  In the big things and the small things we can learn to call on Him for strength, help, and wisdom.

      In the day of my trouble I will call on You,  for You will answer me.  Psalm 86:7

Blog Update 8/7/12:  Today I was listening to www.lsmradio.org to a program on Acts 2 from the Life Study of the Bible program.  It is Program #9  on calling on the Lord.  There are message clips from this Acts Life Study conducted by Witness Lee and some radio commentary.  These brothers go through some of the history of calling, and how this is a truth revealed throughout the word but that it somehow got lost to Christians for several centuries.

Blog update 5/8/13:  Bibles for America has published a 3-part video segment entitled A Simple Way to Touch the Lord, which are based on a booklet by the same title published by Living Stream Ministry which touches this matter of praying to the Lord by calling on His name.

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

Korean Oven BBQ Chicken (Made Gluten Free!)

  Korean red pepper paste is the signature ingredient in many dishes including Korean Oven BBQ Chicken. A Korean student finally found some that was gluten free so I could make some Korean recipes for the Friday night Bible study. 

 

 Every Friday night when students come over for dinner, I rotate between Korean, Thai, and Chinese BBQ chicken.  And yes,  each recipe tastes different.  This recipe is absolutely delicious.  Below are some of the comments from the students who had this on Friday night; they have eaten this chicken several times over the past year or so.

 

Korean Oven BBQ Chicken

1.  Prepare chicken pieces:  Rinse 2 pounds of legs thighs, and wings.

2.  Make sauce in a bowl:  Put 6 T gluten free tamari, 3 T sugar, 3 T honey/agave, 6 cloves of minced garlic, 1/2 minced small onion, 1 T Korean red pepper paste.  Marinate chicken for at least 1 hour. 

 

3.  Cook chicken: 
(1)  Drain chicken and reserved marinade in a pan and bring to a boil.
(2)   Transfer chicken to a roasting pan.  Brush sauce over pieces and bake at 400 for 20 minutes.
(3) Turn over and baste again.  Cook for an additional 20 minutes. 

 

Other Asian recipes on this blog:

Note about Internet recipes:  For the past 5 years we've hosted international students. Whenever I've made something, they have tasted it, and given me recommendations to make it taste more authentic.  Most of these Internet recipes have been tweaked by their suggestions.

BEEF RECIPES:
Delicious Gluten Free Beef Broccoli Stir Fry  (Modification of Internet recipe)
The Best Gluten Free Mongolian Beef Stir Fry  (Modification of Internet recipe)


CHICKEN RECIPES:

Gluten Free Garlic Chicken Stir Fry  (Modification of Internet recipe)
Gluten Free Chinese - Chicken Broccoli Stir Fry  (Modification of Internet recipe)
Gluten Free Chinese - Authentic Chinese BBQ Chicken  (From my Bible Study friend Rose)
Rose's Chinese Yellow Curry with Chicken & Vegetables  (From my Bible Study friend Rose)
Gluten Free Chinese - Fantastic Soy Sauce Chicken  (Modification of Internet recipe)
Rose's Authentic Stir-Fried Chicken & Vegetables (Made Gluten Free!)
Gluten Free Sweet & Sour Chicken (From my daughter-in-law's family cookbook)

TOFU RECIPES:
Tofu & Vegetable Stir Fry  (Modification of Internet recipe)

FISH RECIPES:
Steamed Scallion Ginger Fish with Stir-Fried Bok Choy  (Modification of Internet recipe)
Fantastic Mahi & Vegetable Stir Fry   (Modification of Internet recipe)

NOODLES & RICE:
Gluten Free Chinese Fried Rice    (From my Come & Dine Cookbook)
The Cheung's Gluten Free Chow Mien  (My Bible study friend Rose taught me this)

SOUP RECIPES:
Chinese Chicken Soups  - Bok choy chicken, chicken & spinach, and chicken & cabbage
Gluten Free Chinese Hot Pot  (Combination of Internet & Yingying a student from China)
Chinese Egg Drop Soup   (From my Syre School Cookbook)

SALAD RECIPES
Gluten Free Chinese Chicken Cabbage Salad  (From my Heritage School Cookbook)
Rose's Refreshing Cucumber Salad  (From a Bible study friend)
Chinese Mandarin Salad & Thai Peanut Dressing   (Dressing is from my friend Judi)