~
There's JOY in the Kitchen ~
~When we realize that ~
It's only through love that people will be drawn
to what we know.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * WHAT'S
IN THE KITCHEN?
By JoyfulArt
An abundance of tools, food, people and skill.
Sounds like something God himself cooked up,
doesn't it? He has given us many kinds of tools
to help us in preparing His Kingdom on this
Earth. He gives us an abundance of meat, milk and
fruit....(not to mention the occasional nut or
two) to enrich our lives with. Then there are His
kids. So many many kids!! Each one with a
different talent, skill, ability, personality,
look. His quiver is full - but not filled up. He
always has plenty of room for more!! Then there
is the skill. These are the pastors, evangelists,
teachers, prophets and apostles who are called to
stir things up. Whip things into place, and
determine when things have been done just right.
There are good cooks, and bad cooks. Ethnic
cooks, and domestic cooks. Some are good at
breakfast, some are good at lunch preparations,
and some are best in the evening meal.
Why am I mentioning this? Oh I don't know.
Perhaps it is to prepare the way for one of our
own skilled 'chefs' to share what God is cooking
up in her heart! When we meet in the 'Kitchen' (a
private chat to share with the wives of pastors),
we learn, laugh, cry, and pray, and never know
what will come up. It's so much fun to see God at
work. Take a gander at what God is bringing to
His family in these last days.....
* * * * * *
ONE BIG HAPPY FAMILY
By Karinlaine
As we gathered in the Kitchen this morning,
the topic was interdenominational differences. We
had a wonderful discussion. We focused on how we
should meet others where they are, not on how to
make others just like us. This is how we SHOULD
deal with this topic. It matters not how we
worship, the important thing is that we have all
accepted the gift of salvation. It is this gift
that makes us all a part of the same family.
My children are very different. My eldest
daughter loves to read quietly for hours. My son
could care less about reading, but will spend the
better part of the day building complicated
contraptions. My youngest loves music and to
dance, even though she is only two. Even though
they find joy in different ways, they are all
still my children. Their differences complement
each other and make our family complete.
In the same way, we are all God's children.
Some of us may find joy in quiet hymns and
reflective worship. Others my worship best when
raising the roof and lifting their hands. In my
view, that is why we have different
denominations. So everyone can find worship to
fit their own unique, God- given personality.
When we come together in places like Sarah's
Tent, we compliment each other and make God's
family. I like how Mark Lowery puts it when he
says, "It don't matter if you've been
sprinkled or you've been dunked, we're all a part
of the family of God!"
~ ~ ~ ~
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
for brethren to dwell together in unity! Ps
133:1-2
~ ~ ~ ~
When you reach beyond yourself, you touch the
heart of God. Reach out and touch someone. (Don't
worry about making the telephone company happy,
Make God smile!)
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
CHECK US OUT!
SAVE THESE NEW WEB SITES
You'll want to pass them along!
Sarah's
Tent
http://ionanet.com/sarah/sarahs.htm
Joy
in the Kitchen
http://ionanet.com/sarah/joy.htm
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Sarah's Tent Book Club
(Meeting the last Thursday of each
Month)
There is something wonderful and enriching
when we share a common interest. Even though we
may have differing views, God uses these precious
moments together to stretch us to new heights.
Expanding our horizons builds our faith.
If you are interested, contact WeesaS@aol.com
or SarahsTent@aol.com.
Don't let it be said of you that you are narrow
minded!! Be Christ minded, renewed and conformed
to His image. Stretch in more than one way.
~ ~ ~ ~
March for Jesus!
March for Jesus is a Global march taking place
this year May 30 Saturday. I am the local
organizer here in Vinita Oklahoma. It is a
wonderful Christian endeavor uniting the
churches, to get them to come out of their walls
into the streets to praise and worship Jesus.
Just thought I would bring it up. I have written
a lot of press releases about it. The national
headquarters is in Austin, Tom Pelton is the
director of the national and Graham Kendrick is
the global director and wrote the songs, "No
More Walls" cassette and CD offered by
Hosanna Music. I would love for everyone to
become involved and march this year. Hurray for
Jesus!!
Lavon A Lewis
lewis@junct.com
(Contact Lavon for more information on how YOU
can become more involved!!)
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Eph 4:11-13 "And He Himself gave
some to be apostles, some prophets, some
evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for
the equipping of the saints for the work of
ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,
till we all come to the unity of the faith. . .
"
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
We are still alive!
A word from JoyfulArt
Out of sight, out of mind. So many faithful
ambassadors in God's Kingdom know painfully what
that truly means. There are a few pastors wives
who have gone to other countries to spread the
Gospel of Jesus Christ. They come from many
different denominations, but all have something
in common - the Blood of Jesus Christ, and an ear
to hear the call to go into all the world and
spread the Gospel.
If you are one of those who has heard the call
to other lands, and feel a little forgotten,
there is a wonderful opportunity to keep your
heart and ministry before the eyes of people at
home. In this day and age - God has provided you
with electronic encouragement through e-mail.
Please take advantage of it. We would like to
hear what is going on with you, how we can help
and how we can pray. You never know when a letter
may arrive in your electronic mailbox carrying an
answer to prayer, or a much wanted and needed
word of encouragement, or even the first
introductory words to a life long friendship.
If you are not one who has gone over seas but
have a heart for our faithful ambassadors
(missionaries) and would like to be a part of
encouraging and praying for them, please contact
us at Sarah's Tent. We would very much like to
continue to 'strengthen our stakes and lengthen
our cords in receiving others into our family of
encouragement and support.
There is another ministry that I'm personally
aware of called WOMEN EMBRACING THE WORLD. This
ministry specializes in encouraging women
missionaries in many various ways. If you would
like to know more about this ministry, please
write Claudia Porter at: c-porter@pcisys.net.
(She doesn't know yet that I'm doing this, so
please tell her where you heard of W.E.W. and why
you are writing.) She can also connect you with
some of these ladies if you have a desire to
support and encourage another sister overseas.
Together, we can make a difference!
Please read on...the following letter is
written by one of our own Pastors Wives with
Sarah's Tent. Dacia and her husband minister to
the deaf in Ghana. She is wonderful about keeping
us in touch with her, and bringing us to where
they are at. (The headline to this article was
taken from the first line of her letter.)
FROM GHANA:
We are still alive! The past few weeks we have
been very busy with ministry and just living day
to day. First, living. We now have power from 4
to 12 hours every two days (or so). They tried a
schedule but there was an explosion at one of the
power plants that cut the supply by another 20%.
At this point we are not sure when we will have
power or for how long. That means we try to save
everything we need to do on the computer or with
electricity for the short time it is on. It is
amazing how we have adjusted to this.
For the most the Ghanaians are also adapting
well. The hardest part is for the businesses. It
is very hard to work when you don't know if the
power will be on. Some of the bigger businesses
have their own generators, but that is very
expensive. At the gas stations we have been
getting petrol out of 50-gallon drums. They pump
them full while the power is on, then siphon it
out with a hose. This is done the old fashion way
by sucking on the hose until the gas starts
coming, how would you like to do that all day?
The electricity has also affected how we do
classes. We worked with candles set up around the
room, not very bright, but it worked ok. Now that
the rains are supposed to start coming, it has
also become breezy in the evening. That means our
candles did not stay lit for very long. We
decided to invest in a glow lamp that fits into a
natural gas tank. This gives much better light
and does not blow out in the wind. Just like
camping.
We recently went to visit the Deaf Schools
close to Kumasi. The school in Jamasi is a
"smaller" school with only 200 deaf
students. It is the only deaf school in the
Ashanti region. The children were very excited to
see us. We set up to work with on of the dorm
parents to help teach classes to the children.
The Evangelists will go up every two weeks to
lead a class.
When we went to the deaf school in Bechem (300
students) they were having their alumni
gathering. When we arrived they all stood up to
great us. We then got a tour of the different
areas of the school, even the pond and pumping
station they are building for water supply. We
also were treated to Kenkey. This is made from
corn soaked in water, then cooked and mashed.
After cooling, it is shaped into balls and
wrapped in dry cornhusks. This is then baked for
about a half hour over a fire. It is served with
soup or broth. Tastes sweet.
It was interesting to visit the schools and
see the evidence of Bible knowledge. Several of
the buildings have Bible verses on them. The
teachers we talked with encourage the children in
their faith and used the Bible verses in their
lessons.
The dorms and classrooms are all built for
circulation. The buildings are shaped like a
one-story school in America, but instead of the
windows there is just open area between the
cement blocks. They do not have fans or anything
any electronic equipment. Most of the their
"text books" are notebooks in which
they have copied what the teacher wrote on the
board.
The kitchen would not pass the standards
people are used to in the states. It is several
rooms in back of the dining hall. One rooms has
the wood and "ovens" for baking the
bread. Another room has the corn and other
produce for the meals (sorry, no refrigerator).
Then the room where they wash the pots and pans.
And finally an hut with roof, open walls, where
they do most of the cooking. They use tire rims
dug half way into the ground, then build a fire
inside and set the pot on top to cook. All of the
rooms have dirt floors, no lights, etc.
The students also help with laundry and all of
the other work around the school. They even bring
cutlasses to school and each Saturday morning all
of the students help in the grounds work.
It was a very different setting than what we
see in American Deaf Schools. Keep praying for
the children that we will be able to continue
teaching them God's Word. They will be going on
break for the month of April and the Evangelists
have worked it out to have classes on Monday,
Wednesday, and Friday mornings from 9 to 12. This
will be a big challenge, but hopefully a new way
for them to be able to reach the children.
Please ask people to continue praying for God
to send workers, for the harvest is great and
ready!
I continue to meet with the Evangelists each
day. We are either having class together on Wed
and Fri, or we are meeting individually. During
class time we are working to finish the Lutheran
Confessions Course with the Book of Concord. It
is a challenge, but they are doing well. Our
individual meetings all depend when they have
time off from work, etc. This is time to work on
sermons, preparing their own Bible Studies,
questions, etc. We have been doing much
discussion on the Sacraments - What the Bible
says and how it fits into their lives.
Some prayers for the Evangelists: One
Evangelist is recovering from a broken ankle,
going very slowly. One Evangelist is planning to
get married, but having a hard time finding an
apartment where they can live. For all of them --
to pray for rain so the power can come back on.
It is affecting their work also.
The Evangelists are working to build up the
faith of the deaf in Adomrobe. They are going
down on Saturday to have classes in the village
for Catechism study, plus worship on Sunday. We
do not have books for the people, but would not
help, as they do not read English (most can't
read in their language either). We are working
out a system of drawings to use in explaining the
stories, and then they copy these onto their
papers to take home.
Problem was that they have no notebooks in the
village, and the people did not have money to buy
them from town. So we made an arrangement that
they bring us melons, eggs, fruit, vegetables,
corn, whatever they have that is worth 400 cedis
(half the cost of a notebook) and they trade with
us. Then the Evangelists use the food for
themselves at home. That is how much of the
offering is given. They bring the same food they
have grown to eat and share this with the
Evangelists as their gift to God and thanks for
the teaching.
Keep praying for us! There are many
challenges, but God has also been blessing us.
Joshua and I recently had malaria (that is what
the Doctor thinks) but many of you were praying
and we are doing better. Dacia and Joseph have
not had it, they had to take care of us! We use a
package of rehydration salts almost every day to
help with the heat. We take vitamins and also
garlic pills (helps keep mosquito's away).
Check out the Web site and send us a note. God
bless you and have a happy Easter.
The Reinke's
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mailto:djnoack@africaonline.com.gh
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* * * * * * *
CONGRATULATIONS !!
TO TCMAH96 and MULTIHAT on the birth of their
baby boy!!
Daniel Mark was born on Sunday, March 29, at
11:35 am and weighed in at 7 LBS 3 oz
(Trish is faithfully helps Sarah's Tent by
notifying you of chats, and special events that
are coming up)
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Sarah's Tent FIRST Annual PW Retreat
It's not too late!!
Vintage Resort Hotel in the Beautiful Mountains
of WinterPark, CO
April 30 - May 2 (Write SarahsTent@aol.com
for more information)
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Eph 4:1-7 "I, therefore, the
prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy
of the calling with which you were called, with
all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering,
bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to
keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of
peace. There is one body and one Spirit . .
."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
POT LUCK!
Recipes courtesy of DOFFYCOOKS Doffycook's
Nethome
HYPOCRITE PIE
(It pretends to be custard)
1 package (8 oz) dried apples or peaches
2 1/2 cups water
3 or 4 tablespoons sugar
1 unbaked pie shell
Custard:
2 eggs beaten
3/4 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
In medium saucepan cook dried fruit in water
until fruit is tender (about 15 minutes). During
last two minutes stir in sugar, taste, add more
sugar if desired, mash or puree the mixture.
Spread fruit in unbaked pie shell. Combine
custard custard ingredients and mix well. Pour
this over fruit and bake 10 minutes at 425
degrees, then reduce head to 350 degrees and bake
40 minutes or until custard is set, cool on wire
rack.
For even MORE recipes, click on these!!
More
Recipes and Once-a-Month
Cooking (OAMC)
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Nothing is more pitiful than seeing a
body flopping around on the ground with no arms
or legs. All parts are needed!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
~ PRAYER ~
Please send prayer request to
C.O.P.E. Ministries (Christians Online Praying by
Email) C.O.P.E.
Ministries Home Page http://members.aol.com/PrayWOCsng/COPE
Prayer requests can be sent to either Michelle
at LazarusArb@aol.com
or to Sherry at Jcjspj@aol.com.
DON'T FORGET TO LET THEM KNOW YOUR PRAISE
REPORTS!! ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ BAMPRAYER@aol.com
For special prayer JUST for marriages. This is
a ministry from Born Again Marriages. If you
would like to visit their web page. . . click
here: BAMWEB
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
FINAL THOUGHT
Submitted by Justaservn
How many times do we fail to recognize the
Lord because He comes to us in a form that we are
not used to? If we become comfortable with the
Pentecostal form, we will not recognize the Lord
if He tries to come to us through a Baptist. If
we become used to the charismatic form, we will
not recognize Him if He tries to come to us as a
Pentecostal. If we have grown up in the Third
Wave Movement, we will have a hard time receiving
the Lord if He tries to come to us in any other
form than the one we are accustomed to.
The reason for these prejudices is a subtle
form of racism. Racism is far more than a
black-white, Jew-Gentile issue. Racism is one of
the basest forms of pride. It is pride in the
flesh, or externals. Racism promotes the bondage
to the familiar, a bondage that can rob us of our
closest encounters with our Lord.
Usually we who believe that we are free of the
spirit of racism will only have tolerance and
acceptance if the "race" in question
becomes like us. The Baptists will gladly accept
the Presbyterians, just as soon as they immerse
their people! The Pentecostals will gladly accept
the Methodists, just as soon as they speak in
tongues. The list goes on.
The white church loves the blacks and wants
more of them in their church, but there are very
few whites who want to join a black church. Most
of what we believe to be a tearing down of the
dividing walls is still rotted in the arrogance
of having our own terms met and making everyone
else just like us.
When the enmity is put to death between the
black and white races, the black men aren't going
to turn white! For there to be unity of purpose
and peace between them, the Jews are not required
to become Gentiles any more than the Gentiles are
required to become citizens of Israel.
Just as a body needs many different parts to
live ( a heart, lungs, liver, and so on ),
Christ's body needs its many different parts.
Theses parts are supposed to remain different,
but function together. The Lutherans, Baptists,
Pentecostals, charismatics, and others have each
added truths to the church that are needed for us
to accomplish our end-times mandate.
The issue is our deliverance from the fears
that keep us bound to the tyranny of the
familiar. Without deliverance from this fear, we
will remain unable to receive change, and we will
continue to be unable to receive our awesome God
because He will not come in the petty little
forms that we have contrived for Him to come in,
and stay in. We must be delivered from the pride
that causes us to presume that God is just like
us. The Lord has made the focal point of this
issue the dividing wall between the natural and
spiritual seeds of Abraham because the basic
conflict is between that which is flesh and that
which is spirit, but all dividing walls must come
down.
Until we overcome our racism, our bondage to
the familiar, and the tendency to place our
security in our environment, we will continue on
the road to Emmaus. We will remain so caught up
in our own little worlds that even if the Lord
Himself draws near to us, we will not recognize
Him.
Rick Joyner
The Journey Begins
__________________________________________________________________
Joy In The Kitchen is an extension of Sarah's
Tent An online ministry devoted to gathering
together God's silent warriors, the wives of
pastors and ministers of all denominations and
cultural backgrounds, as well as their families,
for fellowship, support, laughter and prayer. Isa
51:1-2 / Isa 54:2-3 / Heb 10:24-25
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