FWD: Morning Manna (Mar. 31); BP: Is. 53; RBTTY: Lk. 6:1-26; Judg. 11-12

 
Samuel D. High
sdhigh@aristotle.net

 

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-----Original Message-----
From: "Apostle Tom" <pressingon@hotmail.com>
Sent: Fri, 30 Mar 2007 11:35:03 -0500
To: pressingon@hotmail.com
Subject: Morning Manna (Mar. 31); BP: Is. 53; RBTTY: Lk. 6:1-26; Judg. 11-12
 
 
March 31 “Despised and Rejected”  
 
“He is despised and rejected of men; a Man of sorrows and acquainted with  
grief. And we hid as it were our faces from Him. He was despised and we  
esteemed Him not. Surely, He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows;  
yet, we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God and afflicted.”  
Isaiah 53:3-4  
He certainly wouldn’t be voted “Most Likely to Succeed” by the world’s  
crowd.  
“Despised and rejected.”  
When you hear those words, what pictures come to mind? A tattooed drug  
addict stumbling down the street? A homeless ex-con with a rap sheet a mile  
long, who can’t find a job and causes “decent” folks to shudder when he  
passes by? A woman walking the streets. . .her face heavily made up. . .her  
dress a bit too short and her blouse a bit too revealing. . .and her perfume  
a bit too strong?  
 
Perhaps your pictures were a bit different and maybe included an  
ex-spouse who flew the coup for another lover. Or, maybe it was that  
two-bit shyster who pulled a quick one over on you, taking advantage of your  
trust and leaving you “high-and-dry”—or was that “down-and-out”?  
 
Regardless, you’re beginning to get the picture of how Jesus must have  
felt when those He came to love (both then and now) treated Him like dirt.  
Nothing hurts worse in life than being falsely accused of wrongdoing or  
having someone you trust betray you, treating you like the  
scum-of-the-earth.  
 
No wonder He was/is called “A Man of sorrows and acquainted with  
grief.” Oh how great the agony of soul and anguish of mind when we feel  
“despised and rejected.” And, how those feelings are amplified when we not  
only feel this “sting of sin,” but also see others turn their eyes away from  
ours when we look at them or quickly move to the other side of the room us  
when we walk in.  
 
Yes, “despised and rejected” are horrible words—at least to the one  
who’s experiencing them. So are the words “esteemed not” when applied to  
the attitude of others towards us. To them we’re little more than an  
interruption or trash lying on the side of the road. And, when they do  
“esteem us,” it’s in a derogatory and contemptible way—in Jesus’ case as One  
“cursed by God (‘stricken (Heb. ‘naga’—‘to touch, strike, violently punch,  
etc.’), smitten (Heb. ‘gakah’—‘to strike, beat, wound, cast forth,  
slaughter, etc.’) of God and afflicted (Heb. ‘anah’—‘browbeaten, abased,  
ravished, weakened, etc.’).”  
 
Yet, the Lord Jesus didn’t retaliate or retreat. He didn’t try to get  
even or give up. Instead, “He has borne our griefs and carried our  
sorrows.” Simply put, He is the Supreme “Burden-Bearer” in life, Who  
continues to pursue us like “the Hound of Heaven.” What kind of love is  
that? A “God-type love,” isn’t it? As someone once said, “He Who knows us  
best loves us most.” May the Holy Spirit help us today to never again be  
guilty of being ashamed of our Savior or grieving His holy heart.  
 
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As A Tender Plant In Dry Ground

“As A Tender Plant In Dry Ground”

“Who has believed our report? And, to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?
For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant and as a root out of a
dry ground. He has no form or comeliness—and when we see Him, there is no
beauty that we should desire Him.”
Isaiah 53:1-2
If you weren’t looking, you never would have noticed Him.
It’s interesting that Isaiah began this powerful Messianic prophecy by
asking “Who has believed our report? And, to whom is the arm of the Lord
revealed?” Yet, he knew like many preachers, Bible teachers and witnesses
today, that the majority of folks won’t believe our report or could care
less if God spoke to them or not.

Some of them sit in church pews every Sunday morning. Like the
recipients of the epistle to the Hebrews, their eyes are glazed over and
their ears “dull of hearing,” regardless of how “precious the pearls” of
God’s Word are that are laid before them (Heb. 5:11). They’re more into the
latest score in the ballgame. . .or latest, labeled fashion attire. . .or
the hottest stocks on Wall Street. . .or the fastest car at Indy.

But, let some snaggle-toothed, homeless-looking individual with bad
breath and b.o. walk into the sanctuary, tracking in mud on their plush
carpet, and they’re quick to sit up and whisper, “What’s he doing here?!?”
And, in some places, the ushers might even escort him out—IF he was ever let
in to begin with.

Jesus certainly didn’t fit the “mold of Messianic expectations” held by
the majority of His countrymen. They were more in tune with the commanding
general-type, sitting atop a prancing, frothing-at-the-mouth, white
stallion. . .with his sharp sword held high above his head. . .his
breastplate glistening in the sunshine. . .and his chiseled jaw jutting out
in a defiant and determined way.

Yet, such was not to be with this One sent from God.
Nope, He’d come into this world as a “tender plant” (a baby). He’d
grow up “as a root out of a dry ground” (Nazareth or the spiritual
conditions that existed after 400 years with no prophet or fresh word from
the Lord).

And, He’d certainly be lacking in the Hollywood-handsome category. You
know the kind: Tall. . .muscular and macho. . .that confident, “I’m better
than you are—don’t you know I’m somebody?!?” attitude that dares someone to
cross Him, etc.

Such was not the case with Jesus.
He was a pretty average-looking Joe of average height. No heads would
turn when He entered the room and no one would go out of their way to help
Him; but, they would be quick to condemn Him when He crossed them, treating
Him more like a despised, despicable, dime-a-dozen slave than they would
someone with royal blood in His veins. The same is true today: Only those
who are listening will hear His voice. And, only those who are seeking will
see Him. Are you one of them?

For Him and By Him

“For Him and By Him”

“For it became Him, for Whom are all things and by Whom are all things, in
bringing many sons unto glory, to make the Captain of their salvation
perfect through sufferings.”
Hebrews 2:10
In Him we’ll find all we’ll ever need—and more.
Anyone who’s ever pondered the great mysteries of the faith knows how
difficult this is. First of all, it’s impossible for our finite minds to
comprehend such infinite truths. Secondly, even when we’re able to catch a
glimpse of such glorious, eternal realities, words escape us, causing us to
catch our breath in hushed, reverent awe.

None of us can fathom the truth in today’s Manna about everything that
is being “for Him (God) and by Him.” We realize this means He is both the
“Recipient and the Reason. . .the Celebrant and the Cause. . .the
Beneficiary and the Benefactor, etc.” The Apostle Paul echoed this by
saying “Christ is all and in all” (Col. 3:11). He also showed Christ’s
deity and preeminence in creation by restating the author of Hebrews' words
in Col. 1:16. To them he added in v.17, “And He is before all things and by
Him all things consist (Grk. ‘sunistao’—‘to set together, join together,
constitute, etc.’).”

Most likely, all of the above has left a somewhat puzzled look on your
face, for such truths are pretty abstract at best. Likewise, after
pondering them a while longer, it almost seems like the Heavenly Father is
pretty narcissistic if all things are “by Him and for Him.” However, when
we meditate further on these rich truths we suddenly realize these are some
of the most precious, spiritual “gems” we’ll ever encounter.

Think of it, Pilgrim:
All things are “for” Him—i.e., they exist for His glory as evidences of
His majesty, creative ability, love, etc. It matters not whether it’s
flowers and trees. . .birds and bees… the sun, moon and stars. . .or you and
me. . .we all exist to glorify our Creator.

Likewise, all things are “by” Him. Nothing exists apart from Him—and
pity the person who labels himself “self-made.” THAT is the epitome of
self-centered narcissism or idolatry! It’s only when we realize, as the
Apostle said, that it’s “IN HIM that we live and move and have our being”
(Acts 17:28). Hallelujah!!

Watchman Nee, the great Chinese preacher of another generation, summed
it up this way: “Christ, the Sum of All Spiritual Things.” Amen and amen!
Thus, when we realize He’s the Hub and we’re the wheel. . .He’s the Vine and
we’re the branch. . .He’s the Living Water and we’re the container/conduit,
etc., we know that we’re nothing—yea, a “Big Fat Zero”—apart from Him (Jn.
15:5).

How wonderful to know that the Source, Sustainer and Savior of the
universe has seen fit to take up residence in the heart of those who receive
Him by faith. Only in Him do we find our reason for living and experience
“joy unspeakable and full of glory” (I Pet. 1:8). Only in Him.

Atomic Buffalo Turds ABT's

<Atomic Buffalo Turds (ABTs)

Here is another post I've been meaning to get up for a couple weeks.

I posted about atomic buffalo turds one other time, but I didn't really give them their due.

We had a pot-luck party a couple weeks ago and I offered to make the appetizer.

ABTs were the obvious choice.Start out by cutting the stem off and halving the peppers.
Then I like to use a grapefruit spoon to scoop out the membranes and seeds. Just use the teeth of the spoon to cut through the pulp up near the stem.
Then simply rake it down the length of the pepper to scoop everything out.
If you want them to be hotter, take out the white pulp and seeds, but leave the thin membrane on the inside wall of the pepper.

Give em a good rinse now to get extra seeds, pulp, etc. off of them.

Excellent appetizers!

Coring out the peppers is probably the biggest pain of doing ABTs. Once that is done I lay out the peppers.

Make sure your cream cheese is soft before you try to pipe it into the pepper. I let mine sit out for a while, but you can microwave it if you have to. Be careful, though....you want it soft, not melted. I like to add some cayenne pepper to the cream cheese. Just add the pepper to taste in a bowl and use the back of spoon or a spatula to mix it in. I use one of those fancy piping bags for the cream cheese. If you don't have any of those, just cut the corner out of a zip-lock bag

Then simply add the lil' smokies on top of the cream cheese. Give them a little push and they'll kind of stick into the cream cheese.

Use a half of a strip of bacon to wrap around the pepper. When I just do a few of these I use toothpicks to secure the bacon, but when i do this many I use bamboo skewers. I put the skewers through the lil' smoky and not the pepper. It's enough to hold the whole thing together, but it's easier getting the ABT's on and off. It also makes it easier handling that many ABTs at once.

You can cook these at whatever temp you want. If I do them by themselves I cook them at 275ish for about an hour and a half. They're done when the bacon is done to your liking, which is crispy for me.These things are as beautiful as they are delicious!!

It's important to note that this recipe is really just a sample. Use your imagination and come up with other stuff to do with these.

You can change the cheese, the spices, the kinds of peppers, etc. One of the best ones that I've done was to mince up some pork butt really fine and mix it in with the cream cheese. I believe I left out the smoky on that one.

Anyway, you can do anything with these and they'll turn out great.

One - I am it!

I am only one person. I am blogging. Will I make a difference in the world with what I have to say on this blog. NO! - I am only one. Maybe what I say might affect one other and then they might say something that has impact on one other.

Man this could be powerful. This exponential factor could really build.

Maybe one is the right number.

My thoughts for now.