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This page is dedicated to "links" and other
special items.
Thanks to Karen Gerken,
8/6/06
Subject: May You Sleep If The Wind
Blows !
Years
ago, a farmer owned land along the Atlantic
seacoast.
He
constantly advertised for hired hands. Most people
were
reluctant
to work on farms along the Atlantic.
They dreaded the
awful
storms that raged across the Atlantic, wreaking havoc on the
buildings and crops.
As the
farmer interviewed applicants for the job, he
received
A steady
stream of refusals.
Finally, a short, thin man, well past
middle age, approached
the
farmer. "Are you a good farm hand?" the farmer asked
him.
"Well, I
can sleep when the wind blows," answered the little
man
Although puzzled by this answer, the farmer, desperate
for help,
Hired
him. The little man worked well around the farm, busy
from
dawn to
dusk, and the farmer felt satisfied with the man's
work.
Then one
night the wind howled loudly in from
offshore.
Jumping
out of bed, the farmer grabbed a lantern and
rushed
next
door to the hired hand's sleeping quarters. He shook
the
little
man and yelled, "Get up! A storm is
coming!
Tie
things down before they blow away!"
The
little man rolled over in bed and said firmly, "No
sir. I told
you, I can sleep when the wind blows."
Enraged by the
response, the farmer was tempted to fire him
on
the
spot. Instead, he hurried outside to prepare for the
storm.
To his
amazement, he discovered that all of the haystacks
had
been
covered with tarpaulins. The cows were in the barn, the chickens
were in the coops, and the doors were
barred.
The
shutters were tightly secured. Everything was tied
down.
Nothing
could blow away. The farmer then understood what
his
hired
hand meant, so he returned to his bed to also sleep
while
the wind
blew.
When
you're prepared, spiritually, mentally, and
physically,
you
have little to fear. Can you sleep when
the
wind
blows through your life?
The
hired hand in the story was able to sleep because
he
had
secured the farm against the storm.
We
secure ourselves against the storms of life
by grounding
ourselves in God.
We don't
need to understand, we just need to
hold
His hand
and have peace in the middle of storms.
I hope
you enjoy your day and you sleep well, even if the wind
blows.
This isn't a link, but I think you'll
enjoy it!
Subject: Two
Horses
Just up the road from our home is a field, with two
horses in it. From a
distance, each looks like every other horse.
But if you stop the car, or are
walking by, you will notice
something quite amazing.
Looking into the eyes of one horse
you will see that he is blind. His owner
has chosen not to have
him put down, but has made a good home for him.
This alone
is amazing.
Listening, you will hear the sound of a bell.
Looking around for the source
of the sound, you will see that it
comes from the smaller horse
in the field. Attached to her bridle
is a small bell. It lets her blind
friend know where she is, so
he can follow her.
As you stand and watch these two friends,
you see how she is always checking
on him, and that he will
listen for her bell and then slowly walk to where
she is,
trusting that she will not lead him astray.
Like the owner of
these two horses, God does not throw us away just because
we are
not perfect or because we have problems or challenges. He
watches
over us and even brings others into our lives to help us
when we are in need.
Sometimes we are the blind horse
being guided by God and those whom he
places in our lives. Other
times we are the guide horse, helping others
see God.
Happiness keeps you Sweet
Trials keep you
Strong
Sorrows keep you Human
Failures keep you
Humble
Success keeps you Glowing
but only GOD keeps you
Going
Here are some SAFETY TIPS - we could of
used these at last month's meeting!
After reading these 9 crucial
tips, forward them to someone you care about. It never hurts to be
careful in this crazy world we live in.
1. Tip from Tae Kwon Do: The
elbow is the strongest point on your body if you are close enough to use it,
do!
2. Learned this from a tourist
guide in New Orleans. If a robber asks for your wallet and/or purse,
DO NOT HAND IT TO HIM. Toss it away from you....chances are that he
is more interested in your wallet and/or purse than you, and he will
go for the wallet/purse. RUN LIKE MAD IN THE OTHER DIRECTION!
3. If you are ever thrown into
the trunk of a car, kick out the back tail lights and stick your arm
out the hole and start waving like crazy. The driver won't see you,
but everybody else will. This has saved lives.
4. Women have a tendency to
get into their cars after shopping, eating, working, etc., and just
sit (doing their checkbook, or making a list, etc. DON'T DO THIS!)
The predator will be watching you, and this is the perfect
opportunity for him to get in on the passenger side, put a gun to
your head, and tell you where to go. AS SOON AS YOU GET INTO YOUR
CAR, LOCK THE DOORS AND LEAVE.
5. If someone is in the car
with a gun to your head DO NOT DRIVE OFF, repeat: DO NOT DRIVE
OFF! Instead gun the engine and
speed into anything, wrecking the car. Your Air Bag will save
you. If the person is in the back seat they will get the worst
of it. As soon as the car crashes bail out and run. It is
better than having them find your body in a remote
location
6. A few notes about getting into
your car in a parking lot, or parking garage:
A.) Be aware: look around you,
look into your car, at the passenger side floor, and in the back
seat.
B.) If you are parked next to
a big van, enter your car from the passenger door. Most serial
killers attack their victims by pulling them into their vans while
the women are attempting to get into their cars.
C.) Look at the car parked on
the driver's side of your vehicle, and the passenger side. If a male
is sitting alone in the seat nearest your car, you may want to walk
back into the mall, or work, and get a guard/policeman to walk you
back out.
It is ALWAYS BETTER to be SAFE than SORRY and better PARANOID than DEAD.
7. ALWAYS take the elevator instead
of the stairs. (Stairwells are horrible places to be alone and
the perfect crime spot. This is especially true at
NIGHT!)
8. If the predator has a gun and you
are not under his control, ALWAYS RUN! The predator will only hit
you (a running target) 4 in 100 times; And even then, it most likely
WILL NOT be a vital organ. RUN, preferably in a zig-zag pattern!
9. As women, we are always trying to
be sympathetic:
STOP!
It may get you raped, or
killed. Ted Bundy, the serial killer, was a good-looking, well
educated man, who ALWAYS played on the sympathies of unsuspecting
women. He walked with a cane, or a limp, and often asked "for help"
into his vehicle or with his vehicle, which is when he abducted his
next victim.
From Larry, 1/21/06
Looks like another winner - if you can
find zucchini at a good price this time of year!
But will satisfy a sweet tooth -
especially as a breakfast bread with low-fat/no-fat cream
cheese!!!
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Zucchini Bread
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Enjoy a slice with coffee, tea, or
milk.
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Makes: 12 servings
Preparation Time: 15 minutes
Bake Time: 40
minutes
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1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons
baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4
teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 large
eggs
1 1/4 cups SPLENDAŽ No Calorie Sweetener,
Granular
1/3 cup canola oil
1/2 cup unsweetened
applesauce
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup
shredded zucchini squash
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
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- PREHEAT oven to 350° F. Lightly spray an 8-
x 4-inch loaf pan with vegetable cooking spray.
- COMBINE flour, baking powder, soda, salt
and cinnamon; set aside.
- BEAT eggs and SPLENDAŽ No Calorie
Sweetener, Granular on medium speed with an electric
mixer for 5 minutes. Add oil, applesauce and vanilla;
beat at medium speed 1 minute or until blended. Add
flour mixture; beat at low speed just until blended.
Stir in zucchini and walnuts. Spoon batter into
prepared pan.
- BAKE 40 minutes or until cake tester
inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan on a
wire rack 10 minutes; remove from pan and cool on a
wire rack.
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Nutrition Information per
Serving |
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Serving Size |
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1 slice |
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Total Calories |
170 |
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Calories from fat |
90 |
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Total fat |
11 g |
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Saturated fat |
1 g |
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Cholesterol |
35 g |
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Sodium |
160 mg |
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Total Carbohydrate |
17 g |
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Dietary Fiber |
1 g |
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| Sugars |
1 g |
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Protein |
4 g |
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Exchanges per
serving: 1 Starch, 2
Fat
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This recipe, when compared to a
traditional recipe, has a 19% reduction in
calories, a 43% reduction in carbohydrates and a
91% reduction in
sugars! | |
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Sounded good to me - especially for the
play-off or Super Bowl game!
Larry
Picante Potato Skins
For a milder flavor, use Monterey Jack
cheese without jalapeņos. To increase the spice quotient, use
a hot salsa. The skins are mouthwateringly good at any time of
year, but they are especially delicious during the fall and
winter. Bake the potatoes any time within two days of serving,
then complete the final preparation while the oven is
preheating.
Number of Servings: 6
Serving Size: 2 potato skins
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| Ingredients
| Measure
| Weight |
| potatoes baking |
3 ea |
--- |
| salsa or picante sauce
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3 Tbsp |
--- |
| margarine, melted |
1 Tbsp |
--- |
| reduced-fat, shredded Monterey
Jack cheese with jalapenos |
3/4 cup |
--- | |
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Nutrition Information
Amount per serving |
| Calories |
99 |
| Calories From Fat |
30 |
| Total Fat |
3 g |
| Saturated Fat |
1 g |
| Cholestrol |
6 mg |
| Sodium |
115 mg |
| Total Carbohydrate |
14 g |
| Dietary Fiber |
1 g |
| Sugars |
1 g |
| Protein |
4 g | |
Preparation Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Do not
bake the potatoes in a microwave for this recipe, because the
skins will become too soft. Prepare a cookie sheet with nonstick
pan spray.
- Wash the potatoes and poke them with a
fork or the tip of a knife in several places. Bake the potatoes 1
hour, or until tender; cool.
- Cut the potatoes in half lengthwise.
Carefully scoop out the pulp, leaving 1/4-inch-thick shells.
(Reserve the pulp for another use). Cut each shell in half
lengthwise; place on a cookie sheet.
- Combine the salsa and margarine; brush
over the insides of shells. Bake until crisp, about 15 minutes.
- Sprinkle the skins with cheese; return to
the oven for 5 minutes or until the cheese is melted. Serve warm.
This is great:
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A
Father's Love
Michael
Powers
Jan
19, 2006 |
A Father's
Love
His name
was Brian, and he was a student at the small high school I attended.
Brian was a special education student who was constantly searching
for love and attention, but it usually came for the wrong reasons.
Students who wanted to have some "fun" would ask, "Brian, are
you the Incredible Hulk?" He would then run down the halls roaring
and flexing.
He was the
joke of the school and was "entertainment" for those who watched.
Brian, who was looking for acceptance, didn't realize that they were
laughing at him and not with him. One day I couldn't take it
anymore. I told the other students that I had had enough of their
game and to knock it off. "Aw, come on, Mike!" We are just having fun. Who do you
think you are anyway?"
The teasing
didn't stop for long, but Brian latched on to me that day. I had
stuck up for him, and now he was my buddy. Thoughts of: "What will
people think of you if you are friends with Brian," swirled in my
head, but I forced them out as I realized that God wanted me to
treat this young man as I would want to be treated.
Later that
week I invited Brian over to my house to play video games. We sat
there playing Intellivision (this was the 80's) and drinking Tang.
Pretty soon he started asking me questions like, "Hey
Mike. Where do you go to
church?" I would politely answer his questions, then turn my
concentration back to the video games. He kept asking me questions
about God, and why I was different from some of the kids at school.
Finally my future wife, Kristi, who was my high school sweetheart at
the time, pulled me aside and said, "Michael, he needs to talk. How
about you go down to your room where you can talk privately?" My
wonderfully perceptive girlfriend had picked up on the cues better
than I had.
As soon as
we arrived in my room, Brian asked again, "Hey, Mike. How come you're not like some of
the other kids at school?" I knew I needed to tell him about the
difference that God had made in my life. I got out my Bible and
shared John 3:16 and some verses in Romans with him. I explained
that God loved him just the way he was and that He had sent Jesus
down to earth to die on a cross, rise from the dead, and make it
possible for everyone, especially Brian, to spend eternity in heaven
if they believed. I didn't know if he was comprehending what I was
telling him, but when I finished explaining, I asked Brian if he
wanted to pray with me. He said he would like that.
We prayed
together: "God, I know I am a sinner, and that even if I were the
only person on earth, You still would have sent Your Son down to die
on the cross for me and take my place. I accept the gift of
salvation that You offer, and I ask that You come into my heart and
take control. Thank you, Lord. Amen."
I looked at
him and said, "Brian, if you meant those words you just prayed,
where is Jesus right now?"
He pointed
to his heart and said, "He's in here now."
Then he did
something I will never forget as long as I live. Brian hugged the
Bible to his chest, lay down on the bed and let the tears flow down
the side of his cheeks. When I cry, my sobbing is very loud, but
Brian's was unearthly silent as the emotions he'd held inside let
loose. Then he said to me, "Mike, do you know that the love that God
has for me must be like the love a husband has for his wife?" I was
floored.
Here was
someone who had trouble comprehending things in school, but had now
understood one of eternity's great truths. I knew now that he
understood what I had shared with him.
He lay
there for another five minutes or so as the salty drops continued to
flow. I still remember the incredible feeling I had at that moment:
a high higher than anything a substance could ever give - the high
of knowing that God still works miracles in everyday life. John
10:10 immediately came to mind: "...I have come that they may have
life, and have it to the full."
It was
about a week later that everything came into perspective for me. It
was then that Brian really opened up to me. He explained that his
dad had left him and his mom when he was five years old. As Brian
stood on the porch that day, his dad told him he was leaving because
he couldn't deal with having a son like him anymore. Then he walked
out of Brian's life and was never seen again... Brian told me that
he had been looking for his dad ever since. Now I knew why the tears
kept flowing that day in my bedroom. His search was over. He found
what he had been looking for since he was five years old...
A Father's Love...
Whole-Wheat Apple Cookies
Recipe for Tuesday, 11/15/2005
Whole-Wheat Apple Cookies
Number of Servings: 30
Serving Size: 2 cookies
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The Recipe of the Day page is
sponsored in part by:
&
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| Ingredients
| Measure
| Weight |
| whole-wheat flour |
1/2 cup |
--- |
| all-purpose flour |
1/2 cup |
--- |
| baking soda |
1/2 tsp |
--- |
| ground cinnamon |
1/2 tsp |
--- |
| ground cloves |
1/4 tsp |
--- |
| sugar |
1/4 cup |
--- |
| artificial sweetener |
1 pkg |
--- |
| oil |
2 Tbsp |
--- |
| egg white |
1 ea |
--- |
| apple, finely chopped |
1 cup |
--- |
| walnuts, finely chopped
|
1/3 cup |
--- | |
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Nutrition Information
Amount per serving |
| Calories |
92 |
| Calories From Fat |
36 |
| Total Fat |
4 g |
| Saturated Fat |
0 g |
| Cholestrol |
0 mg |
| Sodium |
33 mg |
| Total Carbohydrate |
12 g |
| Dietary Fiber |
1 g |
| Sugars |
0 g |
| Protein |
2 g | |
Preparation Instructions
- Sift flour, soda, and spices together.
- Stir in sugar, artificial sweetener, oil
and egg.
- Fold in apple and nuts.
- Drop the rounded teaspoonfuls onto a
cookie sheet sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. Bake at 375
degrees F for 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Or arrange 8
cookies in a circle on microwave safe pan. (You can turn a
casserole upside down.) Cook on High for 2 minutes. Serve warm.
Recipe from Larry, 11/9/05
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| The blend of spices and raisins
gives these bars a delectable flavor without a lot
of added sugar. Decreasing the sugar can leave
cookies less moist, so we've used baking raisins
to help make the bars moist and chewy; find them
in a box right next to the other raisins in the
grocery store. |
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Number of
Servings: 9
Serving
Size: 1 bar |
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| Name |
Measure |
Weight |
| all-purpose flour
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1/2 cup |
--- |
| quick-cooking or
old-fashioned rolled oats |
1/2 cup |
--- |
| baking soda |
1/2 tsp |
--- |
| nutmeg |
1/2 tsp |
--- |
| cinnamon |
1/2 tsp |
--- |
| ground allspice
|
1/2 tsp |
--- |
| ground cloves |
1/4 tsp |
--- |
| salt |
1/8 tsp |
--- |
| firmly packed light
brown sugar (use Splenda brown sugar
substitute) |
1/3 cup |
--- |
| stick margarine,
softened |
1/4 cup |
--- |
| egg |
1 ea |
--- |
| low-fat (1%) milk
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1 Tbsp |
--- |
| baking raisins
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1/3 cup |
--- |
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| 1 |
Preheat the oven to 350
degrees F. Spray an 8x8-inch pan with nonstick
cooking spray. |
| 2 |
In a medium bowl, whisk
together the flour, oats, baking soda, nutmeg,
cinnamon, allspice, cloves, and salt. Set aside.
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| 3 |
In a medium bowl, with
an electric mixer on medium speed, combine the
sugar and margarine. Blend in the egg and milk
until smooth. Add the flour mixture to the
margarine mixture in thirds, and blend until
smooth, 2 minutes. Stir in the raisins.
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| 4 |
Spread in the baking pan
and bake until the edges just start to pull away
from the sides of the pan, about 12 minutes. Cool
completely and cut into 9 bars.
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1-1/2
Carbohydrate
1/2 Fat
Amount per
serving
Calories
143
Calories From Fat 54
Total
Fat 6 g
Saturated Fat 1
g
Cholestrol 24 mg
Sodium
171 mg
Total Carbohydrate 20
g
Dietary Fiber 1
g
Sugars 12 g
Protein 2
g | |
Please click on the
site below, read and if you are so inclined pray for this
person. Thank you.
This is from Barbara - the images didn't transfer - but the
message is loud and clear without them:
Rules from God
1. Wake Up !!
Decide to have a good day.
"Today is the day the Lord
hath made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it."
Psalms 118:24
2. Dress Up !!
The best way to dress up is to put on a smile.
A smile is
an inexpensive way to improve your looks.
"The Lord does not
look at the things man looks at.
Man looks at outward
appearance;
but the Lord looks at the heart."
I Samuel 16:7
3. Shut Up!!
Say nice things and learn to listen.
God gave us two ears
and one mouth, so He must have meant
for us to do twice as much
listening as talking.
"He who guards his lips guards his soul."
Proverbs 13:3
4.
Stand Up!
For
what you believe in.
Stand for something or you will fall for
anything..
"Let us not be weary in doing good; for at the proper
time,
we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good..."
Galatians 6:9-10
5. Look Up !!...
To the Lord.
"I can do everything through Christ who
strengthens me."
Philippians 4:13
6. Reach Up !!..
For something higher.
"Trust in the Lord with all your
heart,
and lean not unto your own understanding.
In all your
ways, acknowledge Him,
and He will direct your path."
Proverbs 3:5-6
7. Lift Up !!...
Your Prayers.
"Do not worry about anything;
instead
PRAY ABOUT EVERYTHING."
Philippians 4:6
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Help Fund a FREE MAMOGRAM
Click on the link below to help fund a free
mamogram. You can click there once a day. If we all did
this, think of the difference we would make! Also, check out
the tabs across the top of this web site for other worthwhile, one
click a day, sites (for "The Hunger Site", "the Animal Rescue Site",
"Child Health Site", "Literacy Site", and "Rainforest
Site") Someone has made it VERY EASY for us to help fund
these worthy causes for FREE so get 'clicking"!!!
http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/cgi-bin/WebObjects/CTDSites
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Need a family history? Check
with Kathey Hunt (click on link below). Note from
Kathey: There is a SEARCH ENGINE on the page that will allow
you to search for Bios, photos & all types of genealogical &
historical info by SURNAME - and there is extensive info on many of
the College Mound early families.
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