ThanksLiving -- By Way of the Puritans. . .

"Thanksgiving begins with thanks Living. Life is God’s gift to you. What you do with your life is your gift to God.”
~ Anonymous

God’s Word tells us that one of the signs of the last days is the ingratitude of mankind. The Apostle Paul wrote about it in II Timothy 3:2:

"For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, UNTHANKFUL, unholy.”

Without knowing that these words come from God’s Word, you might credit them to a modern-day pundit observing the decline of society. The words rightly describe the hearts, minds and attitudes of many people in our world today.

Makes you wonder when Thanksgiving arrives each November, whether people understand what it even means to be thankful? It often does take an anonymous quote or reflection on somebody’s idea of true Thanksgiving to put THANKSGIVING in proper perspective.

This year in our family, we are going back in time nearly 300 years to understand what it takes to make our lives a reciprocal gift of gratitude to our Creator.

What do we really understand of Thanksgiving as observed and established by the First American Puritans in 1621?

It’s certain we’ve all committed to memory our elementary school version of the story of the Pilgrims. The simple narrative has served as the plot for millions of skits, plays, books, movies, and television shows.

If you’ve taken in enough of these rudimentary renditions of the “Thanksgiving Story” you may have a distorted perception of history. Rarely do these accounts address the appalling circumstances and untold human sufferings of the Massachusetts Colony. . . . Let alone the Christian values that sustained the Puritans through all their heartache!

Do public schools even teach that the Pilgrims were the first American Puritans? Even the famous Jean Louis Gerome Ferris painting (above-top of post) commemorating the first Thanksgiving is misleading. The idyllic scene belies the reality that the Pilgrims faced. Governor William Bradford’s words don’t exactly correspond either with the placid scenes of feasting and merriment that our children have come to identify as Thanksgiving.

The Governor’s own personal tragedy often goes unnoticed. His own wife drowned as they disembarked the Mayflower, leaving him a widower with a one-year-old little boy. What else was there in this New World to “sustain them but the Spirit of God and his grace?”

They had now no friends to welcome them nor inns to entertain or refresh their weather-beaten bodies; no houses or much less towns to retire to. . . . And for the season, it was winter.What could they see but a hideous and desolate wilderness?What could now sustain them but the Spirit of God and his grace?
~Governor William Bradford - December 1620

What was it about theses first American Puritans that caused them to endure such harsh and profound adversity and still establish and celebrate true Thanksgiving? And what can we borrow from the Puritans to sustain us in today’s world of ingratitude?

Without boring you with a lot of sixteenth-century European history, the Puritans were the breakaway group of Christians who sought to “purify” the Anglican Church – bringing it in line with the simple Gospel presented in Scripture.

As petitioners to King James I put it in 1603, the true church ought not to be "governed by Popish Canons, Courts, Classes, Customs, or any human invention, but by the laws and rules which Christ hath appointed in his Testament."

The Puritans -- by every account -- believed in the Sovereign Creator and the Gospel of Jesus Christ – in Salvation by Grace – and they were truly THANKFUL!

The foundation and source of true Thanksgiving may well be the Puritan values of the first Americans!

Sadly, Puritanism today has evolved into a satirical label for "what's wrong with America." Some think that too much Puritanism survives and that it hinders “free thought” and violates a “separation of church and state.”

There are others who sincerely believe that the breakdowns of our society are the direct consequence of the dilution of Puritan disciplines and ideals. Many Christians believe that in the name of “tolerance,” our Puritan heritage has been censored and effectively edited-out of the history we teach our children.

Regardless of your political view, it is an undisputed fact that no other philosophy or thought has had a more permanent effect upon our nation's government, education, literature, sense of mission, church governance, ethical responsibility, or religious vision than has Puritanism.

What happened specifically over the last nearly-four-hundred years to misshape our nation into a culture of ingratitude?

It’s simple. As a nation, we no longer rely on the significance, the implication, nor the worth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is our Heritage! Our nation is established upon it! There can be no real Thanksgiving unless there is a right relationship with God.

The more we know, accept and welcome his Son into our lives, the more real Thanksgiving there will be in our lives. The measure of one will be the measure of the other; and Thanksgiving will no longer be a holiday in November, but an everyday practice. What better way to make our lives a gift to God. . .

The last Thursday in November can then be devoted entirely to the recognition and appreciation of football. Or, in the case of all you non-football fans, devoted to the good-natured complaining about all the football!

~ Esthermay Bentley-Goossen

© 2008 The Heart of a Pastor's Wife

Find more "Day of Gratitude" Posts at the Internet Cafe

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TAG! You're It. . .

Both Michelle @Because I Love You and Mariposa @Mariposa's Tales tagged me within a day of each other with a game of "Six Random Things About Me!"

So. . . Here are the rules as I have chosen to play along:

1) Link to the person who tagged you.

2) Post the rules on your blog (copy and paste 1-6).

3) Write 6 random things about yourself.

4) Tag 6 people at the end of your post and link to them.

5) Let each person know they have been tagged and leave a comment on their blog.

6) Let the tagger know when you've posted your entry on your blog.

Here. . . are MY SIX RANDOM THINGS:

_________________________________

#1 My full name in Esthermay Victoria Elizabeth Bentley-Goossen and it fits on neither my drivers licence nor my social security card. If I ever have to prove my identity, I may need a lawyer.

#2 I am a law-school drop-out, and I’ve lost touch with most of the people from my past.

#2.5 My husband is my very best friend. He is not a lawyer.

#3 I have often thought I was born in the wrong generation. I would have assimilated better during the Victorian Era (1837 -1901) in continental Europe. My Husband Mark belongs in the Puritan Era (1564 – 1660).

#4 During the Clinton-years, I turned the television set OFF or changed the channel every time that man’s face appeared. (Clinton is a lawyer.)

#4.5 Animal Precinct (Animal Planet) makes me cry every time.

#5 I used to be a Days of Our Lives fan in college. Now I watch it once every six months for three minutes and still know exactly what’s going on. . . . Will Stefano ever die!?? And did he ever find those prisms?

#6 I've been coloring my hair to cover the gray since I was twenty-years-old. That's when I got hooked on Days . . . (I've always liked Mickey Horton. He's a lawyer.)

_________________________________

And it is a good thing that we now stop at six (?). . .

Here are my six tagged friends who also happen to be the six most recent "followers" of The Heart of a Pastor's Wife:

The Mom With Brownies
LauraLee
Betsy
Luke
Sweet Cop's Wife
Ohilda

If you don't want to do this silly random game. . . Don't!
I don't care. I won't call the blog police and I don't know any lawyers. :-)

~ Esthermay

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Childhood Memories & New Traditions. . .

Christmas traditions are mostly made up of the little things . . . vague memories that only emerge with the decades-old ornaments and tangled strings of lights. The best memories go back to our childhood. The memories aren't necessarily the Currier & Ive's moments that make for inviting prose. . . just sentimental reminiscing that warms our hearts. . . Like the smell of oranges and the taste of peanuts from that little brown-bag we all received as a child after the church Christmas pageant. Remember that? OH! How I enjoyed those peanuts - and sucking on the shells!

I remember the dozens of red apple-ornaments my mother decorated our tree with . . . and three small circa-1963 plastic reindeer with gold glitter . . . Which glitter -- by the time I was ten- or eleven-years-old -- had been completely rubbed off by little hands playing-out the "Rudolph" story. My mom still puts out these dear old reindeer every year.

My favorite Christmastime memory -- as shallow as this sounds -- was the total silence on Christmas Eve in my Grandpa & Grandma Wehlan's house in Blue Island, Illinois. After all the presents had been opened and Grandma finally turned off Moody Radio, I'd climb into bed with her and fall asleep in complete stillness. To this day, I cannot think of a time or place I've felt more secure and happy.

Fast forward several decades: Here's a few of the "little things" that make Christmas magic at the Goossen Home:

For each year of our marriage, my husband and I either make or purchase a new ornament that somehow reflects or symbolizes the past year for us. Sometimes it’s serious, like an open Bible representing Mark's call to a new church and the opportunity to share God’s Word -- Or a small carpenter’s tool-box to remind us of the year the church re-built after an arson fire. Sometimes it’s silly, like a fish to remind us of all the fish we (wished we’d) caught on our family fishing outings. Each year when we decorate the tree, we have a wonderful time of remembering the precious moments from our past together.

As a ministry family, we have taught our children the Scriptural principle of Acts 20:35. . .

“. . . remembering the words of the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

. . . Each year we do something special and unique for the shut-ins in our church and community. Last year, we became skilled weavers after making 74 homemade potholders! We delivered them with fresh homemade gingerbread boys complete with blue-icing mittens and "red-hot's" candy buttons.

And . . . this one’s especially contemporary since I grew up in Indiana where we rarely had a white Christmas. Ya' need SNOW for Snow Ice Cream:

Ingredients:
4 cups freshly fallen clean snow
½ cup milk
2 Tbsp sugar
1 tsp. vanilla

Instructions:
Mix milk, sugar and vanilla together as children collect the snow. Blend milk mixture with the snow and eat immediately with chocolate chips! We live in MINNESOTA now. . . Snow? Yea, we got that!

Sometimes as adults, Christmas loses the magic it once found in our hearts as children. Being the adult now charged with full control of the decorating and the shopping and the planning and the baking and the card sending and et.al. . . . sort of shrinks the magic and depletes the fun.

We have a tendency to get all philosophical about things and in a sense we figure we can overlook the joy that we should be experiencing and say we celebrate Christmas everyday, because we are continually grateful for JESUS CHRIST who came to deliver us from sorrow and sin and death. On that First Original Christmas Morning, Eternal LIFE was born in a stable! (And - DUH!) Of course. . .

BUT. . . As parent, it is our awesome responsibility to inaugurate the magic of traditions in our young families. For me -- having married late in life -- I’m just getting into the swing of this traditions-making-thing, and only in the last few years have we established some special Goossen Christmas traditions. To watch my own children admire and experience the "magic" brings it back to my own heart. . . .

After all . . . the best memories go back to our childhood. . . . [Excuse me.]

Kid: "Mom! I thought you were going to vacuum the carpet in my room!!"

Me: "Do I look like the housekeeper?
Kid: "You're wearing the apron."
{pause}

I gotta' go!

~ Esthermay Bentley-Goossen
© 2008 The Heart of a Pastor's Wife

Find more Christmas Traditions at the Internet Cafe

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In Other Words, "It's Good to be Afflicted. . ." (Ps. 119:71)

“And I don’t regret the rain,
And the nights I felt the pain,
And the tears I had to cry

some of those times along the way.

Every road I had to take,

Every time my heart would break

-It was just something that I had to get through

To get me to you…”

As sung by Lila McCann,

“To Get Me To You” [Hope Floats Soundtrack]

What a tragedy that the trials in our lives as women often become the occasion for complaining, mourning, depression, despair . . . a time of writing emotional poetry, posting our melancholy on our blog for all the world to see --- a time of basically seeking the attention and validation of others through it.

A bold, audacious, presumptuous statement?

Yes. Probably. . . . But it holds much more truth than most of us care to admit.

The world in which we live has become so obsessed with getting out from under the pressure of unhappiness and despair when we come to a season of melancholy that we fully overlook God’s Word rather than go through what His Word tells us should be a source of joy!

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."
~ James 1:2-4

The main reason that Biblical Christianity is so drastically distorted today in order to “sell” it is because people want to escape suffering and weakness.

While TRUE Christianity offers power to ENDURE weakness. And – in fact --encourages it!

"Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey Your Word. . . . It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees
~ Psalm 119:67, 71

Here’s the thinking of the Twenty First Century:

Nobody should have to endure suffering. It's not good to be afflicted; and if we're talking about deep psychological issues -- the deep pains of life, the deep profound disappointments and the multifaceted anxieties that come with it -- we certainly can’t give shallow answers. We need proven results to quickly address the issues.

Uhh. . . Maybe. . .

So. . . if we’re talking about deep psychological things, we’ve got to turn away from the Scripture because the Bible is only good for a sort-of historical and cursory look at things. If you really want to deal specifically with the deep hurts of life, you've got to turn to psychology, and psychiatry and therapy and counseling and even medication. Spiritual matters take time. We need to "fill-in" the lack of knowledge the Bible has on the issues of pain and suffering with human insight and wisdom because pain needs to be dealt with and eliminated. Quickly!

WRONG! I totally disagree. And so does God's Word.

As bizarre as this sounds, a great number of Christians have bought into it! And most evangelical churches do put across the idea that the majority of serious problems facing Christians today are beyond the realm of the spiritual and therefore the realm of God's Grace. AND that suffering is not part of God's will for our lives.

For whatever reason, we are told today that our problems are simply beyond the touch of the Great Physician/Wonderful Counsellor and require human technique. We're told that psychology is the source of a greater power and that is what we need for solving the deep problems. God's Grace is sufficient, yes . . . for the shallower "religious" problems -- you know, like praying for the sick and the dying and the missionaries. . . . Pain and suffering must be dealt with immediately and outside of God's Wisdom and Grace. It's never good to be afflicted. It's not God's Will.

In other words, God's did not take into account the suffering we would face in 2008 and therefore, we need human wisdom for these things that cause us pain. Pain is UNACCEPTABLE and we must avoid it at all cost. Ya' Think!??!

"Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey Your Word. . . . It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees
~ Psalm 119:67, 71

"That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
~ II Corinthians 12:10

*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*

. . . I don’t regret the rain,

And the nights I felt the pain,

And the tears I had to cry some of those times along the way.
Every road I had to take,
Every time my heart would break
-It was just something that I had to get through
To get me to . . ."

Why is it that music and lyrics seem to get it right when it comes to suffering?

We should never regret the rain -- or the pain -- or the tears -- or the broken heart. Never lament the melancholy seasons. Our weakness only brings us closer to HIM and HIS strength. Affliction is good.

Another song writer put it this way:

He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater.

He sendeth more strength when the labors increased.

. . . To add affliction He addeth His mercy, to multiply trials is multiplied peace. When we have exhausted our store of endurance, when our strength has failed as the day is half done, when we reach the end of our hoarded resources, our Father's full giving has only begun. His love has no limit, His grace has no measure. His power, no boundary known unto men for out of His infinite riches in Jesus He giveth and giveth and giveth again."

~ Esthermay Bentley-Goossen

© 2008 The Heart of a Pastor's Wife

In Other Words is hosted today by Michelle at Because I Love You.

12:00 AM | 25 comments | Read More

Phony ♥ vs. Real Love . . .

Let love be without dissimulation . . . .
~ Romans 12:9

If the current state of the world and our society and many of our churches is evidence of what love is. . . it is clear that we have only the foggiest of notions of what love really is.

And, in the case of the Church, if we do know, we’re certainly not doing it -- and indeed the lyrics “What the world needs now. . . is love, sweet love” are more than just an annoying commercial for Sandal’s® Resorts!

Galatians 5:22-23 tells us that ". . . the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance. . ." and it is by no mistake that Love is mentioned first in this list of spiritual character qualities. Any overview of the New Testament will very quickly show that Love in the Christian life is of utmost importance.

The word Love in 1 Corinthians 13, is the Greek word agape, meaning God-like love. And it is in this "Love Chapter" that Paul shows the absolute priority of Love, stating that all other gifts -- without love -- are utterly useless!

If agape is synonymous with God-like, then we have certainly and often abused the term.

Most Christians have equated the word love with caring, benevolent giving or -- in most cases -- nothing more than sheer emotionalism.

On more than just a few occasions, I catch myself using the term very casually and loosely. I express my “love” for physical things . . .

(e.g. "I love Ghirardelli® Dark Chocolate." "I love Downy® Wrinkle Releaser!")

I’ve notice quite a bit on the Internet lately, people substituting the word “heart” to convey their affinity for a certain object or concept:

“I heart the worship at my church,”

“I heart Diet Dr. Pepper®”

or how 'bout this: “I ♥ my Minnesota Vikings”

"I ♥ L.L. Bean"

People say they love an endless number of things. And these statements become ridiculous when we begin to understand what Scriptural love (agape) really is.

Our “love” of some physical thing is merely an opinion – a preference. A preference is not love. To use “love” in this way devalues it. . .

. . . and this is precisely why it is so easy to "fake" our love towards fellow Christians.

Go to Romans 12:9:

"Let love be without dissimulation . . . . "

The King James Version uses the old English word dissimulation, but the Greek word is anupokritos, and it describes something that is pretended, simulated, faked, feigned, or phony. It pictures a person who deliberately gives a certain impression, even though they know the impression is untrue. In other words, the person is phony.

If we have learned -- by virtue of living in this culture -- to abuse, misuse, misunderstand and fail to appreciate the word "love," how much more of a predicament are we in when we try to actually show it? It becomes apparent why we are admonished in God's Word to "Let love be without dissimulation . . . . "

Having been a pastor's wife, I can tell you with firsthand knowledge and experience that church members are perhaps and often the most guilty when it comes to being phony. There is a lot of hate out there masquerading as love; and I hesitate to put that on the blog for all the world to see because it is so, so sad.

The existence of phony Christians is a universal truth --evidenced by the hypocrisy in churches across the United States (and everywhere!) that becomes more and more widespread as time marches on. . . .

And I'm not sure why, but I receive e-mail from people asking how I personally deal with it. Well . . . I'm addressing it here by attacking the issue from it's big back-door entrance: Lack of true, Scriptural, Christlike love.

The Apostle Paul admonishes us — by instructing us -- "to put away childish things" (I Corinthians 13:11). In other words, our idea and practice of "love" is immature. And in his reference to a mirror (verse 12) -- he reminds us that love is something we grow in. He's telling us -- in so many words -- that love does not come easy. It must be perfected.

The love that we know and understand and practice now (in this lifetime) is partial. God does not give it to us in one huge portion to be used until we run out of it. In that sense, we must always see ourselves as immature -- lacking love. I'll go out on the proverbial limb here and say that I know very few Christians practicing genuine agape love. It's just not our nature!

A time is coming when love will be perfected, and we will have it in abundance like God. In the meantime -- while we are in the flesh -- we are to "pursue love" (I Corinthians 14:1).

Bottom line: Scriptural love is not something we have innately.

So how do you deal with phony love? Phony Christians?

Understand first that we're all in the same predicament. We are all flesh. We are all short of God's glory. We are all short of possessing true agape love.

Instead of getting bitter and hardhearted toward someone who has acted hypocritically in their relationship or friendship with you, learn from the experience. Make the decision that you will not be phony or hypocritical in your relationship the way this person was to you.

Make sure you forgive those who have wronged you. Let it go and do your best to overlook their inconsistencies. The Lord will deal them them about their actions against you, so if they come to you in repentance let them know they are forgiven.

You may never be given the opportunity to offer some people forgiveness. If someone is unwilling to allow the Holy Spirit to deal with them, they may not come to a point of repentance. . . . And it is not ours to judge that person's heart. It is ours to pray for them. God's timing is perfect . . . and

Someday, when you least expect it (and have altogether forgotten. . . ) someone who hurt in the past may come out of nowhere and ask for your forgiveness. FORGIVE THEM!

Jesus said this:

"You shall love your neighbor as yourself."

~Matthew 22:39

All by itself, this establishes a pretty high standard. But HE raises this a notch when HE says this:

"But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you."

~ Matthew 5:44

HE also says this:

"Greater love has no one that this, than to lay down one's life for his friends."

~ John 15:13

Will we ever live up to this?

~ Esthermay Bentley-Goossen
© 2008 The Heart of a Pastor's Wife

Inspiration for Fridays:

Fruit of the Spirit Friday at Heart of Wisdom
God Stop Friday at Girlfriends for God
Company Girl Coffee at Home Sanctuary

11:13 AM | 26 comments | Read More

Thankful Thursday. . .

Thankful Thursday is indeed short and sweet today. . .

This SAHM is especially thankful today for (1) the privilege to teach my own children and completely circumvent the public school agenda, (2) Sonlight® Curriculum, (3) a supportive husband, and (4) God's grace and patience to accomplish each day's lessons!

. . .and to save on any further swollen-with-pride expression from this unashamedly proud homeschooling mom, go HERE to see how homeschool works for the Goossens.

The reality of motherhood is this:

The job is ETERNAL.

Whether or not our children can read or write by age 4 or 5 or six will be irrelevant in thirty years.

In 100 years, the reality of their presence in Heaven is all that will matter. [As for me and my house. . . ] We've decided that homeschool gives us better odds!

Children are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him.

~ Psalm 127:2

Esthermay Bentley-Goossen

© 2008 The Heart of a Pastor's Wife

Visit The Excellent Homeschool Adventure HERE.

And find more Thankful Thursday Posts @ Grace Alone

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Integrity by Example. . .

In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In teaching show integrity, seriousness.

~ Titus 2:7

For More WordFilledWednesday, visit Amydeanne @ The 160 Acre Woods

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True Beauty Begins With Prayer . . .

“To possess true beauty, we must be willing to suffer. . . . if Christ Himself was perfected through His sufferings, why would I believe that God would not do the same with me? Women who are stunningly beautiful are women who have had their hearts enlarged by suffering.”
~ Captivating: Unveiling the Mystery of a Woman’s Soul by John and Stasi Eldredge

Have you ever noticed how some women have use their suffering as a way to attract attention to themselves? Have you noticed how some women are just desperate for the rest of us to know all the details of their distress and misery? Have you noticed how they seem to float from person to person -- friend to friend, repeating their story to anyone who will listen? Does it trouble you at all to watch them go habitually from person to person, telling each about all her personal problems and difficulties, relishing every new chance she finds to weigh down someone else with her problems?

Surely you know someone like this.

Maybe you are the one guilty of suffering all over everyone else’s life.

Would you say this woman possesses true beauty?

I'll be honest. I've known a few.
"True" and "Beauty" are not words I'd used to describe them.
"Annoying" and "Troubled:" Yes.

The woman who loads all her troubles onto others and then expects them to do all the praying for her is revealing her own spiritual immaturity -- and her own refusal to accept God's gift of healing and genuine inner beauty.

It’s when we endure and suffer in the presence of God alone – pleading for his patience and grace and mercy -- that we truly join Christ in suffering and see our hearts enlarged. Recall Christ's suffering on the Cross. . . There was no drama or showy expression of suffering. There was no plea for intercession by others. What did happen was that Jesus prayed.

There simply comes a time when talking to people needs to stop and prayer and spiritual maturity must begin:

"Is any among you afflicted? Let [her] pray. . ."
~ James 5:13

Now . . . Let's consider Peter’s words in I Peter 3:3-4:

“Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden [wo]man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of god of great price.”

It is just plain wrong – incorrect – erroneous – dishonest – and a misinterpreting of Scripture to believe that this passage tells us that wearing jewelry or cosmetics is a sin. If you look at this verse in context you will see that Peter was not bothered by women wearing jewelry or cosmetics. Not at all! Instead, he was telling women not to invest all their time in their outward appearance while forgetting to invest time in developing their hearts.

See, the women of the First Century – particularly the upper class Greek and Roman women – were obsessed with their outward appearance. They were flamboyant in their hairstyles, spent vast amounts of money on cosmetics, arrayed themselves in luxurious jewelry and wore extravagant clothes.

Peter was not condemning this. There was nothing wrong with the desire to look nice --

. . . And as a women who LOVES her cosmetics and jewelry, I take great comfort in this!

-- except that it consumed so much time that many women had forgotten completely to adorn their hearts.

Only God, our Creator, can adorn a heart. And only God can change a heart. And this only happens when it is requested in prayer.

In our grief and suffering, HE is with us and changes our heart.

In our anger and frustration, HE is with us and changes our heart.

In our pain and affliction, HE is with us and changes our heart.

In our doubt and uncertainty, HE is with us and changes our heart.

In our prayer and meditation, HE changes us into His likeness and it is only then that we possess true beauty

Do you possess true beauty?

Who do you know that possesses true beauty?

~ Esthermay Bentley-Goossen

© 2008 The Heart of a Pastor's Wife

In Other Words is hosted today by Nina at Mama’s Little Treasures.

12:22 AM | 15 comments | Read More

My Wacked Oven and The Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookie!

Do you want to know the secret of the *Perfect* Chocolate Chip Cookie? (There is one, you know.)

Answer: You never-ever (ever!) bake them as long as the recipe instructs. Yep. That's it. That's the secret. You try it and let me know.

. . . For those of you who follow the blog and are well aware that this is my first post since the Election, will now be asking, "What!? Nothing on the Election? No spiritual application to the Nation of Israel and the 'We-Want-King-Obamaman-not-the-LORD-GOD-to-lead-us?'" Answer: NOPE! It 's Fall Into Flavor Day and I'm stickin' with the agenda.

Now this underbake-the-cookies theory is not really that incredible of a revelation to me since I've never really followed recipes to the letter anyway. And to obstinately go against the sacred baking time of a recipe is everyday amusement in our kitchen since our "temperate" oven is just as wacked as I am. (See poll results HERE.)

"Ephraim mixes with other nations. Ephraim, you are
like a half-baked loaf of bread.

~Hosea 7:8 (God's Word® Translation)

Oh My!

. . . But, it was my personal adversity with a less than accurate oven that taught me the secret of underbaking cookies. So, in the spirit of REAL Butter, here is the recipe for the Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookie:

Ingredients:

2 Sticks REAL Butter

1 cup white sugar

1 cup brown sugar

1 egg

2 tsp vanilla

2 cups flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

12 - 14 oz. bag of chocolate chunks or chips OR M&M's

1 cup chopped walnuts

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream butter and sugars. Add egg and vanilla and blend well. Mix flour, baking soda and salt in separate bowl; then add gradually to other mixture and blend well. Add chunks (chips or M&M's) and chopped walnuts. Shape about 2 Tbsp of dough into a ball and place on ungreased cookie sheet. (x12 -- or x8 -- or however many fit on your cookie sheet.)Flatten each ball slightly with fingers to about 1/2" thickness. Reshape dough into circle if needed (sometimes with the chips/chunks/nuts, the cookies tend to loose the circle shape. Bake for 6-7 minutes.

Now. . . check the cookies - if they still have the appearance of gooey'ness or liquid centers, bake them for another 60 seconds and check again. You do not want to take them out while they are still gooey, but you do want to remover them from the oven while they look "underbaked." Allow the cookies to continue "baking" on top of the warm oven on the cookie sheet for several minutes. These cookies stay chewy for many days in an airtight container.

Oh, yea. . . As for those post-election musings. Here's one to think on:

President Bush -- who openly shared that his favorite philosopher was JESUS CHRIST -- was a "Divider."

Yet the man who openly defies the American Flag and believes that the CROSS of CHRIST is only one of many ways to God is considered a "Uniter."

-- See II Timothy 4:3-5

And while I still don't have the words . . . my friend Michelle at Because I Love You. . . a life lived out before the Lord does.

Please visit her and read her heart-felt and well-written posts which accurately depict my own heart -- and the hearts of True Christians everywhere:

A Call to Fast and Pray

A Letter to the Retiring President of the United States

A Letter to the President Elect - Barck Obama

~ Esthermay Bentley-Goossen

© 2008 The Heart of a Pastor's Wife

Now -- Go visit Linda at 2nd Cup of Coffee for more delicious ideas for sprouts and rutabagas REAL Butter.

9:29 AM | 16 comments | Read More

In Other Words. . . Acknowledge Sin - Gain Freedom!

“Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”
~ II Corinthians 3:17

. . . in its proper and accurate context, this verse is an explanation of the previous several verses.

In verse 13, Paul points out that back in the Old Testament when God spoke with Moses on Mount Sinai, Moses’ face shown with a reflection of the Glory of God, and Moses would put a veil on his face so that the people would not see the glory fade away. . . for whatever reason. I think theologian's debate over this. Nonetheless. . .

Paul interprets this as a picture of the hardness of the minds of the people: "Their minds were hardened" (v. 14). And he compares it to the fact that there is still a veil between the people’s minds and the true meaning of the law of God in Scripture. Verse 14b: "Until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains unlifted."

In other words. . . the true meaning of the law is veiled (i.e., hidden) to the minds of the Jewish people (and Gentiles!) -- until they turn to the Messiah. Verse 14c: "Because [the veil] is removed in Christ."

Verse 16 says: "Whenever a man turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away." In other words, in Christ the mind is freed to see the true meaning of the Old Testament law. The veil of hardness is removed.
. . . And verse 17 gives an explanation of why that is -- because

". . . the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty."

The apostle reminds the Corinthians that, though the veil is over their minds, the Lord is in their hearts and the hope of freedom comes from that great fact. He also brings out the fact that the Lord IS the Spirit.

He’s not confusing the Trinity here. He’s just saying that Jesus and the Holy Spirit are so identified in both purpose and function that they seem to be the same.

“Walking in fellowship with Christ,” and “Walking in the fullness of the Spirit” are not two separate experiences. They are the same.

When we walk in fellowship with Christ, the veil has been removed and we have liberty.

We have freedom!

We have nothing to hide!

What do you hide? Anything? I have often thought that the blog-world is a wonderful place to hide.

In fact, there have been many times over the last 3 years that I have regretted using my real name because I’d like to be more hidden.

This is exactly what Paul is talking about. When a person if free, they don’t have to defend their reputation. They don’t have to hide behind an image. They have nothing to preserve. They can be themselves. That is what freedom is.

Here’s the sad part of living in today's society: “Having freedom” is interpreted as “Being Yourself.” And we're told that the way to be achieve this is to think about “me" and "my" goodness and "my" needs and "my" advantage, "my" efforts, and then defend and demand them.

Good Grief! Does this sound remotely familiar? Does the word "entitlement" mean anything? Does the phrase "felt-needs" mean anything? How about "New Evangelicalism?"

I won't go here now. If you're interested in that, just visit the Index.

The Word of God teaches freedom as an entirely different process. . . . Altogether different from the world's way.

The way to be yourself . . . the way to have real freedom . . . is to NOT be afraid to look at -- acknowledge -- and accept all the evil that is possible in our hearts and in our lives.

To the world, "having freedom" often (way too often!) includes freedom from the condemnation of sin. That's just flat-out against Scripture. Romans 3:23 says, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." To reject sin is to reject God and His Glory and . . . Freedom!

Unless we acknowledge and look directly at the sin in our lives, we have no way to comprehend - appreciate - realize - and receive the acceptance and approval of God. And without Him, there is no freedom, because . . .

. . . the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”

~ II Corinthians 3:17

~ Esthermay Bentley-Goossen
© 2008 The Heart of a Pastor’s Wife

For More “In Other Words,” visit Karen at In Love W.I.T.H. Jesus

12:08 AM | 17 comments | Read More

Fudge Tunnel Pumpkin Cake. . . A Bi-Partisan Approach

In the spirit of bi-partisanship and extending the Christian hand of fellowship to both Barak Obama enthusiasts and McCain/Palin supporters this day before the 2008 Election, my submission for Fall into Flavor (over at 2nd Cup of Coffee) has two very unique, yet perfectly delectable versions: One for economically confused concerned Democrats and one for the rest of us hard-working, selfish Republican capitalists.

So... here we go. Lets all join in a moment of unity, shall we.

That's nice.

Fudge Tunnel Pumpkin Cake for Liberals

Ingredients

● 2 3/4 cups All-Purpose Flour
● 1 tablespoon Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
● 2 teaspoons Baking powder
● 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
● 1 teaspoon Salt
● 1 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
● 1/2 teaspoon Ground Ginger
● 2 sticks (1/2 pound) softened Unsalted REAL Butter
● 1 1/2 cups White Sugar
● 1/2 cup firmly packed Light Brown Sugar
● 2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract
● 4 Large eggs, at room temperature
● 1 can (15 ounces) Solid-Pack Pumpkin
● 2 ounces Semisweet Chocolate, melted.

Chocolate Glaze:
● 1 cup Heavy Whipping Cream
● 6 ounces Semisweet Chocolate, chopped
● 1 tablespoon REAL Butter

Directions

● Preheat the oven to 350F. Grease a 12-cup Bundt pan; dust with flour or cocoa.

● In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and ginger. Set aside.

● In a large bowl, cream the butter, both sugars and the vanilla with an electric mixer until fluffy. Add the eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each.

● At low speed, mix in the dry ingredients in 3 additions, alternating with the pumpkin.

● Transfer 1 cup of batter to a small bowl; stir in the chocolate.

● Spoon 3 cups of the pumpkin batter into the prepared pan; smooth the top. Using a small spoon, make a shallow ditch in the center of the batter, forming a ring.

● Drop the chocolate batter into the ditch. Cover with the remaining pumpkin batter, smoothing the top.

● Bake for 45–50 minutes, until a cake tester comes out clean.

● Let the cake cool in the pan on a rack for 15 minutes, then turn out to cool completely.

● Prepare Chocolate Glaze and drizzle over the cooled cake.

● Let stand until set.

Chocolate Glaze
● In a saucepan, bring the cream to a boil. Remove from heat. Add the chocolate and butter; stir until smooth. Let cool for 1 hour, until thickened but pourable.

Fudge Tunnel Pumpkin Cake for Hard-Working Republicans

Ingredients
● 2 3/4 cups local store-brand all-purpose flour

If redistribution of resources has affected your flour supply, sawdust works well.

● 1 tablespoon generic unsweetened cocoa powder

Again, if the new redistribution policies have your cocoa supply limited, dehydrated Halloween candy works well as a substitute.

● 2 teaspoons generic baking powder

Skip this if you have to. . .

● 1 teaspoon baking soda

Not necessary.

● 1 teaspoon salt

Look in your glove box. McDonald's sometimes throws 'em in with French fries. Check neighbor's car too.

● 1 teaspoon cinnamon

Kind of important. Borrow from neighbor if redistribution has left you wanting.

● 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

Skip it.

● 1/2 tub (1/2 pound) of the cheapest store-brand margarine you can afford

Essential. Skip the glaze (below) if you must to afford this.

● 1 1/2 cups store-brand granulated sugar

A must-have ingredient. Again -- borrow from a liberal neighbor who probably is now in possession of yours.

● 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar

Double-up on the white sugar if redistribution has affected this staple.

● 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

See substitution for ginger.

● 4 large eggs, at room temperature

Corn starch will work.

● 1 can (15 ounces) solid-pack pumpkin

Or any medium-size decomposing gourd will work. Puree it in a blender and run it through a sieve. The inside is still good.

● 2 ounces store-brand chocolate, melted

Halloween candy works. If redistribution has affected candy supply. Visit your liberal neighbor. In fact -- make friends with him/her. Fast.

Chocolate Glaze:

1 cup heavy cream

6 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped

1 tablespoon butter

Just skip the glaze if you make over $40,000.00/year. You don't deserve it.

Directions
● Preheat the oven to 350F.

Or -- as an alternative if your oven's been given to a homeless guy, put a space heater in your bathtub and pre-heat bathroom.

● Grease a 12-cup Bundt pan; dust with flour or cocoa.

Or -- as an alternative, use your kid's bike helmet.

● In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and ginger.

Or -- whatever ingredients you do have.

● Set aside.

Or -- at this point just give up and go buy a cake off the day-old bakery rack at WalMart.

● In a large bowl, cream the butter, both sugars and the vanilla with an electric mixer until fluffy.

-- Or - if you don't have an electric mixer, children are great at mixing things with their hands. Give 'em a couple of zip-lock bags and let 'em use their feet if you've used their Halloween candy (you know, as payment for the treats).

● Add the eggs (or corn starch) 1 at a time, beating well after each.

Or -- see zip-lock instructions above.

● At low speed, mix in the dry ingredients in 3 additions, alternating with the pumpkin (or pureed gourd).

● Transfer 1 cup (or whatever you've got) of batter to a small bowl; stir in the chocolate.

● Spoon 3 cups of the pumpkin (or pureed gourd) batter into the prepared pan; smooth the top.

● Using a small plastic spoon, make a shallow ditch in the center of the batter, forming a ring. Drop the chocolate batter into the ditch.

Consider at this point giving your house to charity and living in a ditch.

● Cover with the remaining pumpkin (or pureed gourd) batter, smoothing the top.

● Bake for 14 hours in warm bathtub or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let the cake cool anywhere in the house (we'll assume you've turned your thermostat down to 58° in order to pay utilities in anticipation of Obama's unbelievable new tax plan). Then turn the cake onto a paper plate or restaurant napkin. Or whatever you've got.

● If desired, prepare Chocolate Glaze and drizzle over the cooled cake. Let stand until set. Chocolate Glaze : In a saucepan, bring the cream to a boil. Remove from heat. Add the chocolate and butter; stir until smooth. Let cool for 1 hour, until thickened but pourable

Yeah . . . we skipped the glaze, remember? Good Grief! You can't have your cake and glaze too!

● Calculate the value of the cake. Subtract $3.00 for your labor. (Do not include cost to heat bathtub.)

● Deduct 60% Federal Government Redistribution Contribution.

● If value exceeds $2.50 $1.49 .69¢, give entire cake to nearest neighbor with an Obama yard sign.

● If you're lucky they might invite you in to share it while you watch the Election Results together in the SPIRIT OF BI-Partisanship! . . . You -- living in a tunnel of financial despair -- and your liberal neighbor -- living with economic-tunnel vision -- enjoying Fudge Tunnel Cake together. ENJOY!!

Now. . . go visit Linda at 2nd Cup of Coffee for more great Fall into Flavor recipes. And remember, "Spread the Wealth Recipes Around!"

~ Esthermay Bentley-Goossen

Wacko-Right-Wing-Christian-Conservative

© 2008 The Heart of a Pastor's Wife

12:01 AM | 19 comments | Read More

So. . . What is the Christian's Ultimate Role in This Election?

The way the story is typically told at this stage of the election game is this: One presidential candidate is a socialist and the other. . . a Nazi. It has -- in all honesty -- turned very ugly.

Christians -- i.e. True Believers who trust the Word of God as the absolute final authority on All things -- tend to exonerate this view when they take sides. And I am the first to admit that I have taken a side. It’s hard NOT to take a side when you rely on God’s Word to speak truth about the two candidates.

One candidate has unashamedly stood against God’s Word; and I will not apologize for pointing it out on my blog. Barak Obama -- by virtue of his very radical and liberal position on values issues -- has clearly energized values voters, and especially Bible-believing Christians. (If any of this is vague, please see Election Thoughts.)

This presidential election is not about two different political views, but two vastly opposing World Views.

And these two world views have been clashing since the beginning of time. The battle is a spiritual one:

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ”
~ 2 Corinthians 10:3-5

Christians can neither protect nor expand the cause of Christ by political activism, no matter how great or sincere the efforts. While a sound Scriptural argument can be made for involvement in civic government, this is not the Christian's ultimate purpose or goal as a follower of Jesus Christ. (I'm coming back to our ultimate purpose. . . keep reading.)

However. . . as Christians, we must reject all that is ungodly and false.

As Christians, we must grieve over -- and stand against arrogance, greed, dishonesty, indecency, vulgarity, deceitfulness, materialism, and violence.

As Christians, we must support what is good and wholesome and righteous and in agreement with God’s Word.

As Christians, we must choose between punishing the work ethic and rewarding laziness which leads to poverty. We must choose to either empower the financially weak and disenfranchised -- or pander to them. (See Proverbs 14:23, Proverbs 22:29, and Proverbs 12:24.)

As Christians, we must choose LIFE.

As Christians we are not called to wage a cultural war that seeks to change the course of history. God has already written the course of history. That’s not ours. To attempt this is to undermine God’s sovereignty and put a mask on truth. History will play out according to God's plan regardless of who wins the 2008 Presidential election in the United States of America.

When Christians take a stand that emphasizes political activism, it always diverts attention away from our ultimate goal which is to bring sinful people to salvation through Jesus Christ.

In looking back over the last many (many!) months of this election process, it is clear that both sides have become downright hateful. Here’s how John MacArthur sees it:

“Such an antagonistic position toward the established secular culture invariably leads believers to feel hostile not only to unsaved government leaders with whom they disagree, but also antagonistic toward the unsaved residents of that culture—neighbors and fellow citizens they ought to love, pray for, and share the gospel with. To me it is unthinkable that we become enemies of the very people we seek to win to Christ, our potential brothers and sisters in the Lord.”

~ John MacArthur

If Barak Obama wins this election, the only thing that will bring America back to its Christian heritage -- and allow this country to go into the next generation as a "Christian Nation" -- is prayer.

“Makes Jesus your Lord proud of you by being good citizens. Respect the authorities, whatever their level; they are God's emissaries for keeping order. It is God's will that by doing good, you might cure the ignorance of fools... Exercise your freedom by serving God, not by breaking the rules. Treat everyone you meet with dignity. Love your spiritual family. Revere God. Respect the government.”

~ 1 Peter 2:13-17 (The Message)

“Be a good citizen. All governments are under God. Insofar as there is peace and order, it's God's order. So live responsibly as a citizen.”
~ Romans 13:1 (The Message)

“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

~ 2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV)

If John McCain wins this election, he too will need prayer.

“Without wise leadership, a nation falls; with many counselors, there is safety.”

~ Proverbs 11:14 (NLT)

“A leader of good judgment gives stability.”

~ Proverbs 29:4 (The Message)

“Leadership gains authority and respect when the voiceless poor are treated fairly.”

~ Proverbs 29:14 (The Message)

“Good leaders abhor wrongdoing of all kinds; sound leadership has a moral foundation.”

~ Proverbs 16:12 (The Message)

And Finally. . .

What is our ultimate role as Christians? In Matthew 22, a lawyer asks Jesus what the greatest commandment is. In his famous response, Jesus states,

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself”
~ Matthew 22:37-39

Jesus said we are to love God and love people. Every action we take, every conversation or thought we have -- political or otherwise -- should tie back into loving God and loving people. Yes -- even those who vehemently oppose and attack our Christian values.

This is the heart of discipleship: Tying our life into these two commandments.

When Jesus later gives the Great Commission in Matt 28, he instructs us to go

“and make disciples of all the nations…teaching them to observe all that I commanded you”

~ Matthew 28:19-20

As we vote this week, we must remember to “go” in such a way that we love God and love people. . . . even those who oppose our personal views and God's Word.

This is the heart of evangelism and the heart of the Christian life: Spreading the gospel in love.

With that. . . Let's pray for Barak Obama and John McCain.

~ Esthermay Bentley-Goossen

© 2008 The Heart of a Pastor's Wife

11:23 AM | 6 comments | Read More