Taste and See



that

the Lord

is

Good!



Psalm 34:8

Fed at church by a rich sermon based on David's poetry written when he was *insane*, we came home to enjoy tasty flavors and good conversation too. Physical and spiritual nourishment on both fronts.

The psalm (34) is well-known to me, but was revitalized by the sincere preaching of our minister. I loved the personifications of the Lord in verses 15 - 17, when David talks about God's eyes, ears, and face. Furthermore, I plucked this week's memory verse (Jer 9:23-24) from an association with verse 2 about boasting in the Lord.

In the same way, the ingredients for our dinner were a motley melange taking up room in the refrigerator for almost too long :) Over the weekend, I was challenged not to use any gasoline due to the shortages we're experiencing as a result of the Texas refineries being damaged by Hurricanes Gustav and Ike.

All that to say that I determined to prepare Sunday's dinner without going to the grocery store.

The menu below went through several modifications over Saturday as I hunted through cupboards, tossed out spoiled foods, and used *mad* cooking skills. Not exactly insane, but as creative as David before Abimelech?

Italian Baked Chicken
Steamed Broccoli
Sauteed Peppers & Onions
Orzo with Parmesan
Pesto Rolls

Breyers Vanilla Ice Cream with
Homemade Chocolate Sauce and
Roasted Georgia Pecans

Iced Tea and Coffee


How are you showing your *madness* for the Lord?

Boasting in the Lord

This is what the LORD says:

"Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom
or the strong man boast of his strength
or the rich man boast of his riches,
but let him who boasts boast about this:

that he understands and knows me,

that I am the Lord,

who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness

on the earth,

for in these I delight,"


declares the LORD.

Jeremiah 9:23-24

Fashion Find Friday


Purples & Gray

Mulberry

Aubergine

Grape

Charcoal



Fall is in the air and despite the tumbling prices on Wall Street, I'm looking forward to incorporating the latest fashion splash into my closet.

Purple has never been one of my favorite colors....but it is clearly taken the front seat in fashion. From overcoats to accessories, it's everywhere.

Here's a link to a scarf I wrote about last year. See the purple leaf?

Furthermore, there's a grape-colored wool skirt/jacket in the deep recesses of my closet. I think I bought it in 1993? Can you say packrat?

Time to revive that *old* outfit!

How are you updating your wardrobe for Fall?



Just tried on that grape skirt. Looks like I'm going to have to step up my exercise, if it's going to fit well :)

Writing the Government

Here's a copy of a letter I sent to my Congressman today. I think I was ten years old when I first started writing letters to members of Congress. When I was twenty years old, I worked on Capitol Hill for my Representative and kept track of letters and faxes like the one I mailed today.

Have you ever written to your Congressman or Senator?


From: (yours truly)


The Honorable Tom Price
424 Cannon HOB
Washington, DC 20515

VIA FAX 202 225 4656


Good Morning:

This letter is sent via fax in order to communicate my opinion on the upcoming legislation designed to save various financial institutions and prevent a crisis in the US economy.

I strongly oppose government intervention in this case.

It is time for Congress to put down its foot and reject the Administration’s proposal. Please just allow the bust to work itself out.

I am willing to suffer through this hangover to keep politicians from shielding CEOs and their companies from the consequences of their risky actions.

Feeling fleeced in GA, I am

Your constituent,

Women Civil Magistrates

Today's sermon was based on Isaiah 3 and used as a jumping off point to explain what the Bible has to say about Sarah Palin and her involvement in civil government.

Here's a link, if you want to listen to the full hour of preaching.

JCMIII carefully explains the importance of God's order in society: the family, the church, and the home. I understand and affirm those Scriptural positions as a Christian.

But since I was never planning to vote for Mr. McCain in the first place, I was not tempted to reconsider even after he selected his vice-presidential candidate. I will admit to paying more attention to the media coverage of the race because I thought adding Gov. Palin to the ticket was an ingenious idea. And I may even watch the debate scheduled for September 26th on the campus of Ole Miss.

Nevertheless I am dismayed at the way Christians are using Mrs. Palin. There are women involved in local, state, and federal governments everywhere we turn. I propose that if churchmen are truly concerned about reversing God's judgment on society that they challenge the legitimacy of the ones right in their own counties and churches.

In a recent Xanga post, I recorded how many women hold public office in my area. Not so many, because I live in a *conservative* state.

But wanting to end on a positive note, I leave you with my selections for Goethe's quotidien duty of *hearing a little song, reading a good poem, seeing a fine painting, and speaking, if possible, a few reasonable words*:


SONG

Over my morning coffee, I hear the songs of the birds who come to my feeders.

POEM
penned by John H. Gurney, 1838 and sung as our closing hymn (#621 Trinity)

Great King of nations, hear our prayer,
While at Thy feet we fall,
And humbly with united cry
To Thee for mercy call;
The guilt is ours, but grace is Thine,
O turn us not away;
But hear us from Thy lofty throne,
And help us when we pray.

Our fathers’ sins were manifold,
And ours no less we own,
Yet wondrously from age to age
Thy goodness has been shown;
When dangers, like a stormy sea,
Beset our country round,
To Thee we looked, to Thee we cried,
And help in Thee was found.

With one consent we meekly bow
Beneath Thy chastening hand,
And, pouring forth confession meet,
Mourn with our mourning land;
With pitying eye behold our need,
As thus we lift our prayer;
Correct us with Thy judgments, Lord,
Then let Thy mercy spare.

FINE PAINTING

See Tissot's above.

REASONABLE WORDS

After church I spoke a few reasonable words with a fellow member, who was present at a Palin/Schlafly meeting.

Fashion on Friday

September is a hot month in GA and so I have yet to put away this favorite summer outfit.

I got a lot of mileage out of this *old* skirt by updating it with a new french blue blouse.

Notice that my favorite yellow sandals made a perfect compliment.

By this time of the summer tho' I am ready for a change, even if the weather is not.

In anticipation of Autumn, I tend to wear the navy blue or olive green T-shirt with the summer suit instead of the white or pale-colored one.

Also, I've read that purple and gray are the fashionable colors for Fall. To date, all I have is some purplish lipstick and some gray pants in the closet.

Since I've actually spent more time looking at Presidential Fashion rather than shopping that's how I know that the lipstick is important. (giggle) Or maybe a brooch.

Check out the galleries at this link. In case it doesnt work, search for the Entertainment Section of the LA Times. Their photo galleries have some fun pictures of Cindy, Sarah, and Michelle's outfits.

Last, but not least, the wedding pictures are up.

Leave a comment with your email address and I will send you the password.



Fine Art Friday entries have been on Sabbatical, but I suppose this entry could qualify. In the background is a pencil drawing by DD#1. For a while she took lessons, one of the first of which was to copy this Harnett.

Where we you?

On this fateful day seven years ago, I was visiting my father-in-law in the hospital.

He'd had a stroke on August 25th, and was still on the ventilator.

I was talking to him and watching the image on the television at the same time.

When I saw the blackness and smoke, it was difficult to decipher what I was seeing and what was going on.

The newscaster's voice relayed the message: an airplane had flown into the World Trade Center.

I scurried on over to the office where I told the others of the news.

We were able to work *normally* that day, but only because we werent grasping the real issues.

Psalm 128

This *wedding psalm* was the basis of the sermon delivered by Reverend Joseph Morecraft, III at the marriage of our daughter,



Margaret, to Patrick McCarthy on Saturday, August, 30, 2008.

1)Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways.
2)For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.
3)Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table.
4)Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the LORD.
5)The LORD shall bless thee out of Zion: and thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life.
6)Yea, thou shalt see thy children's children, and peace upon Israel.




Complete audio version will be available soon at Sermonaudio.com

Here's the link.