Exploring textures

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Bookmark Giveaway: Photo Challenge Winner

And the winner is. . . Pam, from a rustling of leaves!

The photo was taken a few weeks ago when we were up on Big Crooked Lake in Wisconsin.  It was taken early in the morning, with the sun shining across the lake toward the pier.  The pontoon boat was beached this year, due to a very dry summer.    I took the picture from the beach, looking through the space between the pontoons, toward the motor.

Here is Pam's description of the photo:   

Looks like you are looking under one of those sailboats with the two catamaran's with the rudder showing in the middle through the water as it is setting at the dock with the sun showing from the back of the boat. Since no waves it has to be setting still, sun in the background since the darker places are forward.

Substitute pontoon boat for catamaran and, by George!  she's got it!!   Pam, I'll be contacting you via email today!

Since we have vacationed at the same place every year, I have taken a million pictures of the same things over the years so I decided to do something different with the nature photos this summer.  I focused in on color and texture only.  I'm not a great photographer, but I was hoping to learn something new and explore a bit.  Over the next few days, I'll be posting up some of the pictures.

Cheque Book of the Bank of Faith

September 17
Like Palm And Cedar

The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon - Psalm 92:12

These trees are not trained and pruned by man: palms and cedars are "trees of the LORD," and it is by His care that they flourish. Even so it is with the saints of the LORD: they are His own care. These trees are evergreen and are beautiful objects at all seasons of the year. Believers are not sometimes holy and sometimes ungodly: they stand in the beauty of the LORD under all weathers. Everywhere these trees are noteworthy: no one can gaze upon a landscape in which there are either palms or cedars without his attention being fixed upon these royal growths. The followers of Jesus are the observed of all observers: like a city set on a hill, they cannot be hid.

The child of God flourishes like a palm tree, which pushes all its strength upward in one erect column without a single branch. It is a pillar with a glorious capital. It has no growth to the right or to the left but sends all its force heavenward and bears its fruit as near the sky as possible. LORD, fulfill this type in me.

The cedar braves all storms and grows near the eternal snows, the LORD Himself filling it with a sap which keeps its heart warm and its bough strong. LORD, so let it be with me, I pray Thee. Amen.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon 

Cheque Book of the Bank of Faith

September 16
Reward Is Certain

And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward - Matthew 10:42

Well, I can do as much as that. I can do a kind act toward the LORD's servant. The LORD knows l love them all and would count it an honor to wash their feet. For the sake of their Master, I love the disciples.

How gracious of the LORD to mention so insignificant an action -- "to give to drink a cup of cold water only"! This I can do, however poor: this I may do, however lowly: this I will do right cheerfully. This, which seems so little, the LORD notices -- notices when done to the least of His followers. Evidently it is not the cost, nor the skill, nor the quantity, that He looks at, but the motive: that which we do to a disciple, because he is a disciple, his LORD observes and recompenses. He does not reward us for the merit of what we do but according to His riches of His grace.

I give a cup of cold water, and He makes me to drink of living water. I give to one of His little ones, and He treats me as one of them. Jesus finds an apology for His liberality in that which His grace has led me to do, and He says, "He shall in no wise lose his reward."

Charles Haddon Spurgeon 

Cheque Book of the Bank of Faith

September 15
The Safest Shelter

And a Man shall be as an hiding-place from the wind and a covert from the tempest - Isaiah 32:2

Who this Man is we all know. Who could He be but the Second Man, the LORD from heaven, the man of sorrows, the Son of Man? What a hiding place He has been to His people! He bears the full force of the wind Himself, and so He shelters those who hide themselves in Him. We have thus escaped the wrath of God, and we shall thus escape the anger of men, the cares of this life, and the dread of death. Why do we stand in the wind when we may so readily and so surely get out of it by hiding behind our LORD? Let us this day run to Him and be at peace.

Often the common wind of trouble rises in its force and becomes a tempest, sweeping everything before it. Things which looked firm and stable rock in the blast, and many and great are the falls among our carnal confidences. Our LORD Jesus, the glorious man, is a covert which is never blown down. In Him we mark the tempest sweeping by, but we ourselves rest in delightful serenity.

This day let us just stow ourselves away in our hiding place and sit and sing under the protection of our Covert. Blessed Jesus! Blessed Jesus! How we love Thee! Well we may, for Thou art to us a shelter in the time of storm.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Bookmark Giveaway: Photo Challenge

We're off to a wedding this weekend, so I thought I'd leave something fun for you while I'm gone.

I'll be giving away a free custom bookmark from Bookworm Bookmarks to the first person who can correctly identify the subject of this photo.   There are three certain elements I am looking for in the description, so the first person who decribes it, mentioning the three elements, wins.  I will be the final judge of who is closest, but I do have a friend who has already seen the picture and knows what it is who will help me decide who describes it best should there be any question.

So, use your imagination and play along!   

Cheque Book of the Bank of Faith

September 14
Mark Of Divine Approval

Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the Crown Of Life, which the LORD hath promised to them that love Him - James 1:12

Yes, he is blessed while he is enduring the trial. No eye can see this till he has been anointed with heavenly eye salve. But he must endure it and neither rebel against God nor turn aside from his integrity. He is blessed who has gone through the fire and has not been consumed as a counterfeit.

When the test is over, then comes the hallmark of divine approval -- "the crown of life." As if the LORD said, "Let him live; he has been weighed in the balances, and he is not found wanting." Life is the reward: not mere being, but holy, happy, true existence, the realization of the divine purpose concerning us. Already a higher form of spiritual life and enjoyment crowns those who have safely passed through fiercest trials of faith and love.

The LORD hath promised the crown of life to those who love Him. Only lovers of the LORD will hold out in the hour of trial; the rest will either sink or sulk, or slink back to the world. Come, my heart, dost thou love thy LORD? Truly? Deeply? Wholly? Then that love will be tried; but many waters will not quench it, neither will the floods drown it, LORD, let Thy love nourish mine to the end.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon 

Cheque Book of the Bank of Faith

September 13
The Dew Of Heaven

His heavens shall drop down dew - Deuteronomy 33:28

What the dew in the East is to the world of nature, that is the influence of the Spirit in the realm of grace. How greatly do I need it! Without the Spirit of God I am a dry and withered thing. I droop, I fade, I die. How sweetly does this dew refresh me! When once favored with it I feel happy, lively, vigorous, elevated. I want nothing more. The Holy Spirit brings me life and all that life requires. All else without the dew of the Spirit is less than nothing to me: I hear, I read, I pray, I sing, I go to the table of Communion, and I find no blessing there until the Holy Ghost visits me. But when He bedews me, every means of grace is sweet and profitable.

What a promise is this for me! "His heavens shall drop down dew." I shall be visited with grace. I shall not be left to my natural drought, or to the world's burning heat, or to the sirocco of satanic temptation. Oh, that l may at this very hour feel the gentle, silent, saturating dew of the LORD! Why should I not! He who has made me to live as the grass lives in the meadow will treat me as He treats the grass; He will refresh me from above. Grass cannot call for dew as I do. Surely, the LORD who visits the unpraying plant will answer to His pleading child.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon 

Recipe Round-up: Soups and Stews

Oh, how we love soups and stews at our house!  I am really looking forward to discovering some new recipes in this month's Recipe Round up!

Italian White Bean Soup with Sausage & Spinach
12 oz. Italian sausage, sliced 1/2 inch thick
1/4 C. water
1 medium onion, chopped
1 tsp. minced garlic
1 T. olive oil
2 15 oz. cans white kidney (cannelloni) beans, rinsed and drained
2 14 oz. cans reduced sodium chicken broth
1 14 1/2 oz. can diced tomatoes with basil, oregano & garlic, undrained
4 cups coarsely chopped kale or spinach
Ground pepper
Combine sliced sausage and water in a large skillet. Bring to boil; reduce heat. Simmer, covered about 10 minutes or until sausage is no longer pink. Uncover and cook about 5 minutes more or until sausage is browned, stirring frequently. Remove sausage and set aside.

Meanwhile, cook onion and garlic over medium heat in a large saucepan about 5 minutes or until onion is tender. Stir in beans, broth and undrained tomatoes. Cover and bring to boil, reduce heat. Simmer covered for 5 minutes.

Stir in cooked sausage and spinach. Simmer, uncovered about 3 minutes more or until spinach is tender. Season to taste with pepper.  All this soup needs is a loaf of crusty bread and butter!
Serves 5

THAI CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP        

2 TB vegetable oil
1 med. Onion thinly sliced
3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
2 poblano or Anaheim peppers, seeded and julienned
1 or 2 cayenne peppers, whole (remove before serving)
Salt and pepper
1 c. shredded carrot
1 stalk celery, sliced thin
6 cups chicken broth
1 ½ pound chicken tenders—cut into bite sized pieces
Chinese noodles (one bundle)
3 TB fresh parsley, chopped
15 fresh basil leaves, rough chopped (I use less)
1 lime

Heat a large heavy bottomed soup pot with vegetable oil over high heat.  Sautee vegetables in oil 2 minutes.  Add carrot and chicken broth.  Cover with lid and bring to a simmer.  Add chicken, simmer 5 minutes, then add noodles and simmer 5 minutes more.  Remove soup from heat and add the herbs and the juice of 1 lime.  Remove cayenne peppers.

The taste of summer in a bowl.  Delicious, fragrant soup.

Steak Soup

This is the all time easiest soup to make!  It's very forgiving, too--short on onions?  It'll still turn out great.  Smaller piece of meat?  That's OK, it'll still taste wonderful.  Another soup that needs a loaf of crusty bread and butter.

In the morning, throw 1 large steak or a small beef roast in the bottom of the crock pot.  Top with thinly sliced rings of onion (any kind you have on hand; I usually use a large white onion) 8 to 16 ounces of fresh, sliced mushrooms (this is the only really strict part of the recipe--canned mushrooms just don't carry the day--use fresh, more or less to taste).  Add low salt beef broth--three or four cans.  Cook on low all day.

Before serving, fish out the meat and flake it and return to the pot.  Stir and serve. 

 Follow me over to Leslie's for more recipes!

A Rainy Morning

A Rainy Morning at Big Crooked Lake

August 2007 

Cheque Book of the Bank of Faith

September 12
What Of My House?

Believe on the LORD Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house - Acts 16:31

This gospel for a man with a sword at his throat is the gospel for me. This would suit me if I were dying, and it is all that I need while I am living. I look away from self, and sin, and all idea of personal merit, and I trust the LORD Jesus as the Savior whom God has given. I believe in Him, I rest on Him, I accept Him to be my all in all. LORD, I am saved, and I shall be saved to all eternity, for I believe in Jesus. Blessed be Thy name for this. May I daily prove by my life that I am saved from selfishness, and worldliness, and every form of evil.

But those last words about my "house": LORD, I would not run away with half a promise when Thou dost give a whole one. I beseech Thee, save all my family. Save the nearest and dearest. Convert the children and the grandchildren, if I have any. Be gracious to my servants and all who dwell under my roof or work for me. Thou makest this promise to me personally if I believe in the LORD Jesus; I beseech Thee to do as Thou hast said.

I would go over in my prayer every day the names of all my brothers and sisters, parents, children, friends, relatives, servants, and give Thee no rest till that word is fulfilled, "and thy house."

Charles Haddon Spurgeon 

Cheque Book of the Bank of Faith

September 11
Sufferers Make Strong Believers

It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth - Lamentations 3:27

This is as good as a promise. It has been good, it is good, and it will be good for me to bear the yoke.

Early in life I had to feel the weight of conviction, and ever since it has proved a soul-enriching burden. Should I have loved the gospel so well had I not learned by deep experience the need of salvation by grace? Jabez was more honorable than his brethren because his mother bare him with sorrow, and those who suffer much in being born unto God make strong believers in sovereign grace.

The yoke of censure is an irksome one, but it prepares a man for future honor. He is not fit to be a leader who has not run the gauntlet of contempt. Praise intoxicates if it be not preceded by abuse. Men who rise to eminence without struggle usually fall into dishonor.

The yoke of affliction, disappointment, and excessive labor is by no means to be sought for; but when the LORD lays it on us in our youth, it frequently develops a character which glorifies God and blesses the church.

Come, my soul, bow thy neck; take up thy cross. It was good for thee when young; it will not harm thee now. For Jesus' sake, shoulder it carefully.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon 

The Haircut

Before

 

After

All his idea. . . 

Summer exits

Fall blows in. . . 

Cheque Book of the Bank of Faith

September 10
Coming In; Going Out

Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out. (Deuteronomy 28:6)

The blessings of the law are not canceled. Jesus confirmed the promise when He bore the penalty. If I keep the commands of my Lord, I may appropriate this promise without question.

This day I will come in to my house without fear of evil tidings, and I will come in to my closet expecting to hear good news from my Lord. I will not be afraid to come in unto myself by self-examination, nor to come in to my affairs by a diligent inspection of my business. I have a good deal of work to do indoors, within my own soul; oh, for a blessing upon it all, the blessing of the Lord Jesus, who has promised to abide with me.

I must also go out. Timidity makes me wish that I could stay within doors and never go into the sinful world again. But I must go out in my calling, and I must go out that I may be helpful to my brethren and useful to the ungodly. I must be a defender of the faith and an assailant of evil. Oh, for a blessing upon my going out this day! Lord, let me go where Thou leadest, on Thy errands, under Thy command, and in the power of Thy Spirit.

Lord Jesus, turn in with me and be my guest; and then walk out with me and cause my heart to burn while You speak with me by the way.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon 

WCF Chapter by Chapter

 

My friend, Kyle, from Covenant in Blood, is doing a chapter by chapter series on the Westminster Confession  of Faith with scripture proofs and comments.  I will be updating the links to his posts each week.  You can come back to this page for updates by clicking on the sidebar image.

CHAPTER I
Of the Holy Scripture

 CHAPTER II
Of God, and of the Holy Trinity

CHAPTER III
Of God's Eternal Decree

CHAPTER IV
Of Creation

CHAPTER V
Of Providence

CHAPTER VI
Of the Fall of Man, of Sin, and of the Punishment thereof

CHAPTER VII
Of God's Covenant with Man

CHAPTER VIII
Of Christ the Mediator

CHAPTER IX
Of Free Will

 CHAPTER X
Of Effectual Calling

CHAPTER XI
Of Justification

CHAPTER XII
Of Adoption

CHAPTER XIV
Of Saving Faith

CHAPTER XV
Of Repentance unto Life

CHAPTER XVI
Of Good Works

CHAPTER XVII
Of the Perseverance of the Saints

CHAPTER XVIII
Of the Assurance of Grace and Salvation

CHAPTER XIX
Of the Law of God

CHAPTER XX
Of Christian Liberty, and Liberty of Conscience

CHAPTER XXI
Of Religious Worship, and the Sabbath Day

CHAPTER XXII
Of Lawful Oaths and Vows

CHAPTER XXIII
Of the Civil Magistrate

CHAPTER XXIV
Of Marriage and Divorce

CHAPTER XXV
Of the Church

CHAPTER XXVI
Of the Communion of Saints

CHAPTER XXVII
Of the Sacraments

CHAPTER XVIII
Of Baptism

CHAPTER XXIX
Of the Lord's Supper

CHAPTER XXX
Of Church Censures

CHAPTER XXXI
Of Synods and Councils

CHAPTER XXXII
Of the State of Men after Death, and of the Resurrection of the Dead

CHAPTER XXXIII
Of the Last Judgment

Quote of the Week:

One of my favorite things to do on vacation is to explore the local antique shops in the Minocqua area. I never spend much but I always manage to come home with a few small treasures.

The Mill is one of our favorite haunts not so much because of the dusty antiques, which are tucked away in a dusty old smelly basement room, but because of the barn crammed full of used books.  I don't think it would be an exaggeration to say that there are tens of thousands of books in that old barn.Exploring the "religion" section is always exciting.  This year--down on the bottom shelf, tucked away from the multiple copies of more popular books such as "Your Best Life Now" and "The Purpose Driven Life" and the usual assortment of colorful books by Joyce Myers and Robert Schuller--I  found a gem.

The Creed of Presbyterians by EgbertWatson Smith.   I paid all of $3 for it!

The first chapter of the book is titled The Creed Formulated and tells the  history of the Westminster Assembly.  Today's quote comes from the section, The Assembly's Task.

The work before the Assembly, therefore, was not the creation of a new system, but the formulation of doctrines already familiar, precious, and baptized in the blood of a hundred thousand martyrs.  Its task was to give to the accepted Bible system of truth a complete, impregnable statement, to serve as a bulwark against error, as a basis of ecclesiastical fellowship and cooperation, and as a safe and effective instrument for the religious training of the people of God and their children.

 Over a period of five and a half years, the Westminster Assembly produced three documents, The Westminster Confession of Faith, the Larger Catechism and the Shorter Catechism.  From time to time, I hope to share a little insight into these documents as I work my way through The Creed of Presbyterians. 

Sunday Hymn: Once for All

Once for All

 Philip P. Bliss

Free from the law, O happy condition,
Jesus has bled and there is remission,
Cursed by the law and bruised by the fall,
Grace hath redeemed us once for all.

Once for all, O sinner, receive it,
Once for all, O brother, believe it;
Cling to the cross, the burden will fall,
Christ hath redeemed us once for all.

Now we are free, there's no condemnation,
Jesus provides a perfect salvation.
"Come unto Me," O hear His sweet call,
Come, and He saves us once for all.

"Children of God," O glorious calling,
Surely His grace will keep us from falling;
Passing from death to life at His call;
Blessèd salvation once for all.

"Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes." Romans 10:4

Cheque Book of the Bank of Faith

September 9
Fear Has Its Place

Happy is the man that feareth alway - Proverbs 28:14

The fear of the LORD is the beginning and the foundation of all true religion. Without a solemn awe and reverence of God there is no foothold for the more brilliant virtues. He whose soul does not worship will never live in holiness.

He is happy who feels a jealous fear of doing wrong. Holy fear looks not only before it leaps, but even before it moves. It is afraid of error, afraid of neglecting duty, afraid of committing sin. It fears ill company, loose talk, and questionable policy, This does not make a man wretched, but it brings him happiness. The watchful sentinel is happier than the soldier who sleeps at his post. He who foreseeth evil and escapes it is happier than he who walks carelessly on and is destroyed.

Fear of God is a quiet grace which leads a man along a choice road, of which it is written, "No lion shall be there, neither shall any ravenous beast go up thereon." Fear of the very appearance of evil is a purifying principle, which enables a man, through the power of the Holy Spirit, to keep his garments unspotted from the world. Solomon had tried both worldliness and holy fear: in the one he found vanity, in the other happiness. Let us not repeat his trial but abide by his verdict.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon 

Cheque Book of the Bank of Faith

September 8
Broken and Smoking

A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench. (Isaiah 42:3)

Then I may reckon upon tender treatment from my Lord. Indeed, I feel myself to be at best as weak, as pliant, as worthless as a reed. Someone said, "I don't care a rush for you"; and the speech, though unkind, was not untrue. Alas! I am worse than a reed when it grows by the river, for that at least can hold up its head. I am bruised—sorely, sadly bruised. There is no music in me now; there is a rift which lets out all the melody. Ah, me! Yet Jesus will not break me; and if He will not, then I mind little what others try to do. O sweet and compassionate Lord, I nestle down beneath Thy protection and forget my bruises!

Truly I am also fit to be likened to "the smoking flax," whose light is gone, and only its smoke remains. I fear I am rather a nuisance than a benefit. My fears tell me that the devil has blown out my light and left me an obnoxious smoke, and that my Lord will soon put an extinguisher upon one. Yet I perceive that though there were snuffers under the law, there were no extinguishers, and Jesus will not quench me; therefore, I am hopeful. Lord, kindle me anew and cause me to shine forth to Thy glory and to the extolling of Thy tenderness.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon