by | August 5, 2012 · 12:23 am

Estonia

Hard Life

This week I want you to pray for one of the most prosperous and free countries in Europe, Estonia. If you are not familiar with this country, then go to a world map, find the Baltic Sea, and then look south of Finland and east of Sweden. There it will be, a small part of the former Soviet Union.

And speaking of former stuff, I was reading the history of Estonia on Wikipedia and found myself cringing and wincing. Those poor people went through some horrible, horrible years. Just in the last century, wars, occupations, and deportations killed off way over 25% of the population. In WWII Estonia suffered tremendously, first under the Soviets, then the Nazis. After the war things didn’t get much better.

Good Life

The great thing is that Estonia is now very prosperous. The national debt is only 6%. Estonia is considered a high-income economy by the World Bank. The country is ranked 16th in the 2012 Index of Economic Freedom, with the freest economy in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union (see Wikipedia – which is well-sourced).

Godless Life

But the sad thing is that the great majority of Estonians are unbelievers. According to studies quoted by the Wikipedia article, on 16% of Estonians believe an ANY god, much less the God of the Bible. The largest religious group is Evangelical Lutheranism (14.6%).

Pray for Estonia, and pray for this blog. Thanks to the internet there are some people coming to The Recovering Legalist and hopefully reading about a God that love them and wants to offer them hope.

A Prayer

Lord, I am sure you are aware of the people of Estonia. I am sure you have sheep of your pasture in that little country. But dear Father, please send workers into that field who can bring more sheep into your Fold. May the Estonians see that a new life in You is nothing like the cold, lifeless religion so many hate. May they see Jesus.

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by | August 3, 2012 · 3:39 pm

20,000 Milestone Reached

Today is a special day!

This afternoon I officially broke the 20,000 views mark!

Thanks, folks! Thanks to all the regular subscribers, the occasional readers, and even the ones who hate everything about me and all I believe.

I know that to some 20,000 is a drop in the bucket. But on the other hand, I appreciate every view, whether it is counted as a “hit,” or not (many are not).

Again, thank you very much for each time you take the time to read this blog.

To God be the glory, great things He hath done!

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by | August 2, 2012 · 10:25 pm

My Take on Chick-fil-A

The Story

If you haven’t heard about Chick-fil-A and what happened August 1, 2012, then you’re probably living under a rock. This privately-owned fast-food restuarant chain broke all sales records as people from all over the country showed up to support them by buying their food. It was called “Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day.”

Now, what got all this started was an outcry by the liberal and LGBT crowd. They were made aware of a statement made by Dan Cathy to the Baptist Press (a Southern Baptist news paper) regarding his views on same-sex marriage – he’s against it. When they heard this, a call was made to boycott Chick-fil-A. In response to the call for a boycott, millions did the opposite.

The Craziness

What is really crazy about all of this is the argument behind all the hate towards Chick-fil-A. Those protesting have made erroneous, unfounded accusations that the resturant chain discriminates toward homosexuals. What a load of, well, chicken poo!

The thing that is making people on the left angry is the simple fact that Dan Cathy expressed a belief that disagrees with the pluralistic, post-modern, hedonistic, amoral segment of society – and he is a wealthy, conservative Baptist. So, because of an individual’s personal beliefs, the left, including politicians, want to punish a legitimate, non-discriminatory business.

I have heard it said over and over, “Chick-fil-A hates gays!” How is that even defensible! In order for that to be true, we should be seeing gays turned away or offered poor service. In order for that to be true, we should be reading of multiple, nation-wide examples of discrimination in the work place. None of that can be found. The accusation is totally bogus.

Can’t Win for Losing

Then there are those who are griping and complaining over the response from communities nation-wide. Believe it or not, there are believers in Christ (who themselves disapprove of gay marriage and support Dan Cathy’s right to express his opinion) condemning all of those who showed up to support the unfounded condemnation of Chick-fil-A. What’s the deal?

How many times have we heard it preached that it is time for the Christians to stand up for what they believe? Then, when they do, what do we hear? We hear, “The Church has failed…We should stay out of politics…They’re just out to get free food.” Aside from the fact that it wasn’t just Christians showing up yesterday, it was people who were expressing their support for a business.

My Decision

This is what I am going to do. Tomorrow (Friday) I am going to drive our church van to a couple of different Chick-fil-A locations, look for any gays or lesbian kissing in public, and offer to buy their food. I am going to go with a $100 budget.

You see, the whole argument against Cathy and Chick-fil-A, and all Christians, is that we hate gays. Sure, there are some idiots who do, just like there are hateful people on all sides, but as a whole we don’t. What we hate is sin. What we hate is being forced to accept something we firmly believe to be wrong. What we hate is being unjustifiably attacked and maligned. We do not hate gays.

For the Record

God made man (generically speaking) in His image, which makes each individual precious in God’s eyes. Jesus even gave His life so that those who hated Him could be forgiven and offered eternal life. If I were to hate homosexuals, how could I claim to be a follower of Jesus? But does this mean I agree with the act of homosexuality? No. Do I believe that marriage, an institution ordained by God to be a covenant between a man and a woman, should be expanded to include the union of same sexes? No. What it does mean is that I will seek to love people like Jesus did.

So, if you want to show the love of Christ in a tangible way, do what I am going to do. Show those who have claimed we hate them that we actually do love them. If you see a couple of men kissing in a Chick-fil-A, go up to them and tell you that you want to show them that you do love them, and in the Name of the One who first showed you love, buy them the best chicken sandwich known to man.

Romans 5:8 – But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

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by | August 1, 2012 · 1:15 am

Interview Questions

A Great Idea

I was just reading the blog of a new subscriber, Jessie Clemence. One of her posts consisted of an interview conducted by herself. That gave me an idea – why not interview ME?

Yes, I think it would be fun to conduct an in-depth, newsworthy interview with myself. I could ask all the right questions, none of the wrong ones, and make myself look pretty darn impressive.

The only downside to interviewing myself is that if I am the only one asking the questions, then I might get mad at myself for prying too much. I would hate to make myself so angry that I never talk to myself again.

Your Questions

So, why don’t you help me interview myself by suggesting some questions myself could ask me?

Do you have questions about my past? My favorite things? Where I was on the night of June 18, 1994? My connection with MI6? What kind of man fights in Hawaiian shirts?

Keep the questions clean, of course, or myself will have to delete them.

If this interview goes well, I may have to do one with Mr. Monkey. Now that would be interesting.

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by | July 31, 2012 · 3:46 pm

Anthony’s Appetite #9 (Home Made Icing)

Store vs. Home

There are some things that are better bought from a store than made at home. I know saying that will make some people angry, but it’s true. I can think of a few things right off the bat…

  • Captain Crunch Cereal – I especially like Crunch Berries.
  • Peanut Butter – sure, you can make it at home, but it gets nasty after a while.
  • Crackers – has anyone ever made a cracker better than a Nabisco Saltine?
  • Nilla Wafers – another winner from Nabisco. Put peanut butter on these and it’s the closest thing to manna from heaven.
  • Instant Coffee – have you ever tried to freeze-dry your own?

Birthday Cake

Last week we celebrated the twelfth birthday of our little Kung Fu queen, Haley. For her party she wanted a cake to coincide with her selected “Ip Man” theme (Ip Man was famous for introducing Wing Chun to the world). We had her picture made on rice paper for decoration, but the best part was the icing.

Icing

When it comes to cake icing, my wife makes the best in the world. And so do I – ’cause I used her recipe. She baked the cake for the party, but I mixed the icing.

Included in the recipe is butter, shortening, cream cheese, powdered sugar, and flavoring. This time the flavoring consisted of a mixture of almond and vanilla extract.

Because the cake was fairly large, I had to make a large bowl of icing, part of which needed to be colored pink.

Home Made vs. Canned

You can buy decent cake icing from a store, but it doesn’t even come close to the flavor and quality of what can be made at home. My wife’s cream cheese icing is smoother, creamier, tastier, and moist-ier. As a matter of fact, her icing can even make a bad cake taste better, saving the baker from embarrassment.

If you’d like the recipe, just email me. I’d love to hear from you. Then, come back here to let everyone know how good it actually is.

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by | July 30, 2012 · 12:30 am

Monday Monkey “Olympic Hopeful” (Episode 26)

Olympic Connection

To start off this post, I just want to say how happy I am to see that my alma mater was represented to the world this week.

If you missed it, Amber Charles, a senior at Tennessee Temple University in Chattanooga, TN, was one of the torchbearers who lit the Olympic cauldron in London. Amber is the captain of the ladies basket ball team. Both she and the coach, incidentally, are from London.

Monkey Connection

One of the best over-the-counter teas is non other than PG Tips. According to their advertising, PG Tips is England’s #1 tea, and they have a puppet monkey to prove it.

Our family loves PG Tips, and we have a world-famous puppet monkey in our house. Coincidence?

Athlete Connection

London, Monkeys, Tea…and athletics. What many don’t know is that Mr. Monkey can pole vault. Give him a little duct tape and he can really impress with bamboo pole.

I don’t know when the next Olympic trial will be held, but someone should give us a call. Do they have three-legged racing?

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by | July 29, 2012 · 1:00 am

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Island Hopping

One day I would like to island hop through the Caribbean. There are so many beautiful places to see, including the tiny island nation of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. No surprise, in 2011 it was named one of the top 5 places to visit in the Caribbean by Travel and Leisure.

If I were Superman, all I would have to do would be to jump really hard from the coast of Florida, sneer down at Castro as I flew over Cuba, and land just short of Grenada and Venezuela. If I did that, I would probably land in Kingstown, the capital of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

However, if I were a pirate (or at least a man who played one on TV), I could head to SVG to film a movie with Jack Sparrow. Believe it or not, this is where The Pirates of the Caribbean was filmed.

More Views Wanted

I have had only one registered view from this little country, but I’d like to have more. Considering that I have a decent relationship with a few people in England, and since SVG’s head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, we should get along. For crying out loud, I even like one of their main exports, bananas.

Pray

Say a prayer for the people of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. They have been hit with a lot of tragedy over the last few years, much of which has hurt their fragile economy. Storms and volcanic eruptions have adversely affected their plantations. Right now unemployment is just short of 20%.

Remember, too, that even though much of this country is considered Protestant, many in the interior still need Christ. Pray that God will raise up indigenous pastors to lead in those areas.

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by | July 28, 2012 · 2:17 pm

Don’t Feel Like a Failure

Depressing Motivation

I have been reading a great, classic book on leadership by John C. Maxwell, Developing the Leader Within You. The book is excellent (click here for a summary), but one part really made me question the author’s intentions. Was he trying to depress me?

In the 10th chapter, “Staff Development,” Maxwell decided to share with us a time when he took stock of his life. He went on to list what he was doing by the time he’d reached the ripe old age of 40 (I guess that’s because life’s about over by then?).

“When I turned forty,” Maxwell said, “I began to review my life. I made a list of all the things I was doing at that time.” Get that! At “that” time! Not what he had accomplished in his whole life, but what he was doing “at that time.” His list included (and I quote):

  • senior pastor of a congregation of 3,500 attenders;
  • oversight and development of thirteen pastors;
  • president of Injoy, Inc., a company that develops resource materials for thousands of people;
  • a national and internaional speaking schedule with over four hundred engagements annually;
  • producing a monthly leadership tape for Injoy Life Club subscribers;
  • writing a book every eighteen months;
  • working on another education degree;
  • and most important – taking enough time for my wife, Margaret, and our two children, Elizabeth and Joel Porter. – Dr. John C. Maxwell, 179-180

Give me a break! Are you kidding me? I’m nearly 45 and I’ve never had an international speaking schedule or even written one book! Good grief, John!

Bigger and Better

Today’s culture is all about “bigger and better.” Many people even think about churches in that way, too – the bigger the better. But is that really the case? Is bigger always better?

It may be news to some of you, but pastors sometimes get discouraged when they compare the sizes of their ministries to those of people like Dr. Maxwell. Instead of 3,500 attendees, most pastors lead churches with only 35 in attendance (1/100th). Does that make them failures? Of course not.

Don’t misunderstand, if a congregation is small because it refuses to follow God’s will, then that’s one thing. However, most churches are not mega-churches with coffee shops and book stores. As a matter of fact, most congregations average 100 or less. And that’s OK.

Little Flocks

I am encouraged by a little-talked-about Greek word, poimnion(ποίμνιον). Jesus used it when he spoke to the disciples in Luke 12:32, “Fear not, little flock (poimnion); for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” Paul used it when he said to the elders of the church in Ephesus, “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock (poimnion), over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers…” (Acts 20:28). In both instances the idea was not that of a mega-church, but of small groups of believers.

Pastor, God knows where you are. He has you right where He wants you. Don’t get discouraged when you see larger congregations. The King has need of shepherds He can trust to watch over the “little flocks” in His fields.

Do you ever get discouraged? Do you ever feel life has passed you by? There’s still time to make a difference. You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you (Phil. 4:13).

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by | July 26, 2012 · 10:12 am

“What Must I Do…?”

The Philippian jailer (Acts 16:30) asked Paul and Silas a question that is still asked today, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” In response that question, I have written the following, simple post and included it in a permanent page, Eternal Life. Please, take the time to read it, then consider what you read. This is what I believe, and I’ve staked my eternity on it.

“Now is our chance to choose the right side. God is holding back to give us that chance. It won’t last forever. We must take it or leave it.” – C. S. Lewis

My Story

One day, when I was a boy, I took the chance. I placed all my eggs in one basket. The fate of my eternal soul, as much as I could grasp the idea, was place in the control of a Man I had never seen in person, nor had heard with my ear, but I believed loved me and died for me.

Today, as a man, I can use words I never knew back then, such as justification, atonement, and propitiation. But the simple truth that led me to surrender my heart and soul to this Man can still be explained with simple words…words written thousands of years ago… “For God so love the world, that He gave…”

What did God give?

Do you know what a gift is? Sure you do. It is something you give to another when you care. It is something you give with no expectation of payment in return. It is best when it is something that required some sacrifice, but it was a joy to purchase. It means even more when you know the gift was something needed, but unexpected.

A gift is something that is received. I have a friend that has no more family, so for Christmas he goes out and buys things for his self, wraps them, and places them under a Christmas tree. On Christmas morning, all alone, he opens them. How sad is that? Those are not real gifts – he bought them!

According to God, as written in His Word, the Bible, eternal life is a gift. That’s right, a gift. In the letter to the Romans we read that the “gift of God is eternal life…” (Romans 6:23). God is offering it to you for the taking. He is offering it to you for free! But it wasn’t cheep. It cost Him a whole lot – it cost him his Son.

“God loved the world so much, that He gave his only begotten Son…” (John 3:16). Why did God give his Son? Well, so that you and I could be rescued from the eternal penalty we owe for our sins – our breaking of God’s laws. Our lies, our lusts, our broken promises, you name it: all of these things are sins. Each one deserved separation from a holy God. But God “so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son (Jesus), that whosoever [puts his whole faith] in Him, would not perish (be separated from God), but have eternal life.”

Why did He give it?

All men and women have broken God’s laws. And even though you may have not actually committed murder, or robbed a bank, or abused a child, James 2:10 (RSV) says, “For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.” So, you see, we need a Savior. We need the Gift that God is offering. Won’t you accept it?

The whole verse in Romans (6:23) goes like this: “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord.” This is why C.S. Lewis said those words above. Eternal life is a gift, but it will not be offered indefinitely. You see, all of us will die, one day. Hebrews 9:27 says that it “is appointed unto man once to die; but after this, the judgment.” One day we must either give an account for our lawbreaking, or rest in the fact that our account has already been settled by putting our faith in Jesus.

“From death to life”

Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life” (John 5:24 NIV).

Jesus also said, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him” (John 3:36 NIV). And to those that put their faith in Jesus, he said, “I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any [man] pluck them out of my hand” (John 10:28 NIV).

The Apostle John wrote, “And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life” (1 John 5:11-12 NIV).

The Invitation

What can I say about the greatest gift ever, especially in a thousand words or less? I can’t cover all the bases, answer every question, or defend every point – but I can offer you Jesus.

Have you been searching for meaning, for hope, for unconditional love, for eternal life? Give your heart to Jesus. Make Him the Boss of your life. Confess your sins to Him, repent of the things that caused Him to have to die so that you could have life, and cross over “from death to life.” For “whosoever shall call upon the name [Jesus] of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13).

You could even pray a prayer, in your own words, similar to this: “Dear Jesus, I believe you are God’s Son, and that you died for me, and rose again, that I might have eternal life. I know I have sinned, and I confess. I also confess that I cannot earn heaven on my own. I need You! Please take my life. I give freely give it to you. Be my Lord, and my God. Amen.”

If you prayed this prayer, honestly, and from your heart, then I would love to hear about it! I am sure many others would love to hear about it, too! If you accepted God’s gift of eternal life, let the world know in the comment section below.

If you would like to talk with someone, there is a phone line open 24 hours a day. Call 1-800-NEED-HIM (1-800-633-3446). Someone will be happy to show you how to be sure you have eternal life. Don’t wait.

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by | July 24, 2012 · 10:10 am

Anthony’s Appetite #8 (Café on the Corner)

It has been over a year since I did a food or restaurant review. But after my wife and I went to lunch yesterday, I figured it was a good time to revive a favorite series…

Anthony’s Appetite! Woo Hoo!

Not long ago my wife started a new job (praise the Lord) on Lookout Mountain (where you go to See Rock City). At the suggestion of one of her co-workers, we visited a little place called Café on the Corner.

Hidden Treasures

It is amazing how there are so many places that we drive by everyday without ever taking notice. I had seen this little cafe many times, but never stopped to check it out. Let this be a lesson to be more attentive.

The front of Café on the Corner is not very audacious. It blends into the surrounding area pretty well. It is very classy, as a matter of fact, with a nice little sitting area outside.The outside, however, did not prepare me for the upscale atmosphere that welcomed us inside.

As Valerie and I walked in, we were greeted by Brittany, who not only seated us, but served us. The Café opens as 11 a.m., so when we got there we were about the first to be seated. That gave me a great opportunity to photograph the interior without offending any patrons.

Money and Time

We were on a budget, so Valerie and I passed on any appetizers. We ordered our usual drinks (Coke for her, coffee for me), placed our orders, and then took a few minutes to enjoy some conversation over white table cloths. Some of the conversation included, “Can we afford this today?…Should we split something?…How long is this going to take?…That lady’s dress looks expensive… I like bare brick…this is going to be a long lunch…etc.”

Café on the Corner is not the place to eat if you are on a McDonald’s budget. It is also not the place to eat if you are in a hurry and you arrive when the place is just opening. On the other hand, it IS the place to eat if you enjoy laid back fine dining with an aristocratic Southern flair.

For my main course I ordered the special of the day (which only cost around $8). It was a Philly Wrap with pasta salad. My wife got a hamburger (she’s not the adventurous type).

Oh, the Food!

Let me tell you, the Philly wrap was wonderful. Inside the wrap was extremely tender pork tenderloin, grilled onions, a few peppers and mushrooms, and the most delicious smoked Gouda cheese sauce. My first bite simultaneously brought chills and feelings of cuddly warmth. I nearly shed a tear of taste bud joy.

If you have read this blog for very long, you know I love my coffee and tea. When it comes to eating dessert, nothing compliments it better than a good cup of black coffee. In this case I was able to have the best of both worlds.

Valerie and I selected (to share) the Cafe’s signature caramel cake with vanilla ice cream. Oh my gosh it was good! But what’s more, Brittany told me that their coffee was especially blended to pair with their desserts. Amazing!

Overall, I highly recommend the Café on the Corner. My only suggestions would be don’t eat the cake if you are a diabetic; don’t dress like a Wal-Martian when you visit; and bring a little extra cash if you’re not used to sharing.

For further information, Click HERE to go to their website.

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