Your Opinion Requested

So, I'm reading Dracula for the first time. I'm thinking: this is a classic tale, written in the 1800's. How evil can it be? It's the "story telling kind of evil," right? Look, Dracula even has his own stamp!

I have read Frankenstein and it has a Christian world view. Frankenstein is shown to be a man who would be God, and his monster is a sympathetic character; misunderstood, maligned, abandoned. Moral of the story: God is God, man is not God, when man tries to be God, wickedness prevails along with all manner of pain and anguish. There is no happy ending to that story. That is as it should be.

As I read the first three chapters of Dracula, I thought: Wow! This Bram Stoker guy can really write! I was drawn in immediately. And then I got to the end of chapter three and (even though I knew that vampire antics were coming) I was totally unnerved by the description and am uncertain now whether, regardless of the compelling nature of the writing, I should continue to read this book.

Has anyone read it? What do you know of it? What was your opinion? Is there anything redeeming about it in the end? Is this a classic struggle between good and evil or simply evil?

Inquiring minds want to know.

Related Tags: Dracula, Bram Stoker

God's Minute

October 26

They believed the scripture.--John 2:22

OUR Father Who art in Heaven, we praise Thee for the grace which permits us to look upon another day. Wondrous is Thy love. We frail children of earth bow for a moment to receive the benediction of Thy infinite, omnipotent Fatherhood. Forth we go to battle and to toil. We dare not go alone. Temptation will crouch beside our pathway. Some of us may come upon dangers suddenly. Do Thou befriend us. When the duties of the day are done, may it please Thee to gather us at eventide an unbroken, happy family, with no stain of sin upon our garments. The Church we love, do Thou bless it. May the Holy Spirit abide with the pastor and all the people. We love our native land. Do Thou save it. For the whole world we offer our humble prayer. Thy Kingdom come. Great Son of God, dear Prince of Peace, why dost Thou tarry? Humanity dies. Give us hearts to bleed and hands to bless. Pity the men who have no home, and protect the women who toil and are weak. Send us from this trysting place to laugh and love and labor in the strength of Him Who said, "Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of the least of these, ye did it unto me." Lord, we thank Thee for Thy promised strength.

Amen.

Rev. David Otis Cowles,
Jersey City, N.J.

Potato Fest 2006: Another recipe

This recipe comes from my sister in law, Susan. It's one of my favorite potato dishes.

Mock Pieroghis

1 box of jumbo shells, cooked and cooled
8-10 med.-lg. potaoes, peeled, cubed, and cooked as you would for mashed
1 jar Cheese Whiz
Mash potatoes with Cheese Whiz; chill mixture in frig.
Fill shells with cheese/potato mixture
Put in a buttered 13x9 pan.
Top with lg. onion, sliced and sauteed in butter Sprinkle lightly with bread crumbs

Cover and bake at 350 for 20-30 min., or till heated through. Remove the foil for the 5 or 10 minutes.

I have substituted instant mashed potatoes for the "real" potatoes and it works nearly as well and saves a lot of time. I've also tried to stuff the hot potatoes into warm shells. Not recommended.

Thanks, Rebecca, for coming up with Potato Fest 2006. I've had a lot of fun and added a bunch of new recipes to my collection, and one can never have enough potato recipes, right?

Related Tags: Potato Fest 2006, recipe, Mock Pieroghis

God's Minute

October 25

He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God.--Micah 6:8

ALMIGHTY GOD, Whom truly to know is everlasting life, we draw near to Thee at the beginning of this day, desiring to know Thee as the Father of our spirits, and to refresh our spirits in Thy eternal goodness. As we draw near to Thee in worship, we pray that Thou wilt draw near to us in blessing and in inspiration. Grant us, we beseech Thee, the things of which Thou seest our need. We ask for health, for opportunity, and for a willing mind that finds delight in fruitful labor. Grant us the consciousness of sin forgiven, that in our labors and undertakings there may be no sad friction of remorse and shame.

Grant us the blessing of friendship greatly widened. We would not think of ourselves as too good to mingle with the humblest. We would not live apart from others in hope and sympathy. Rather do we seek from Thee the gladness of the common life of all Thy children, and the sweetness of its universal hope. Thou Who hast made us of one blood, help us to toil and hope and suffer and rejoice as brethren, that in our common life Thy purpose may be glorified throught Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Rev. Howard Chandler Robbins
New York City, N. Y.

God's Minute

October 24

And make confession to Him.--Johsua 7:19

OUR Heavenly Father, we thank Thee for keeping guard over us during the night. We laid us down and slept; we awakened because Thou didst sustain us. Thou hast opened to us the gateway of this new day and set before us open doors of fresh opportunity and privilege. As we go forth to new duties and responsibilities, we pray for Thy presence to go with us. Strengthen us in our weakness, guide us in our ignorance, and inspire us both to will and to do according to Thy good pleasure. Enable us to present our bodies a living sacrifice, wholly acceptable unto Thee, which is our reasonable service. We commit to Thee all our loved ones, and beseech Thee that Thy Spirit may so control their hearts and guide their lives as to save them from forgetfulness of Thee, and from neglect of Thy claims. Remember those in authority over us. Put Thy fear in their hearts, that they may faithfully discharge their responsible duties. May Thy Spirit rest on all our people, causing us to lead peaceable, quiet and orderly lives. Hasten the triumphs of Thy Kingdom, until all hearts shall be brought under the rule of Christ, and the whole family of man shall constitute a brotherhood bound together by a bond of Christian love. These blessings we ask, with the forgiveness of our sins, in the name of Jesus Christ.

Amen.

R. C. Reed, D. D.,
Columbia, S.C.