For Such a Time As This

For Such a Time As This

Here are the sermon notes from the message given on 26 April 2014 by Elder Samuel Leer at Santa Barbara Seventh-day Adventist Christian church.

John F. Kennedy wrote Profiles in Courage in 1955 while he was recovering from battle injuries. The book is a 1957 Pulitzer Prize-winning volume of short biographies describing acts of bravery and integrity by eight United States Senators throughout the Senate’s history. The book profiles senators who crossed party lines and/or defied the opinion of their constituents to do what they felt was right and suffered severe criticism and losses in popularity because of their actions.

Other examples of courageous men are Abraham and Joseph. Why do bad things happen to good people?

Joseph was sold into slavery but seized the moment years later when he was in authority under the Egyptian Pharaoh and was able to save his entire family.

Moses was sent on a rescue mission by God. Turn to Deuteronomy 7:6-7

For you are a holy people to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth. 7 The Lord did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples.

Israel was chosen by God as a special people. Esther rescued the Jewish people by pleading with the King.

The Seventh-day Adventist church is sharing the original message of Christianity with people. Christianity in the first century consisted of the Word of God from the Scriptures and the New Covenant that Jesus revealed to the world to explain God’s character to the world.

Turn to Micah 6:8

He has shown you, O man, what is good;
And what does the Lord require of you
But to do justly,
To love mercy,
And to walk humbly with your God?

Jesus was at the right place at the right time. How did Jesus display compassion? There is the example of the woman who touched Jesus’ garment and was healed. Another example of the love that Jesus displayed was raising the sleeping child from death. The Centurion asked for healing for his servant. Jesus healed the 10 lepers.

How did Jesus display humility? Jesus washed the disciple feet.

How did Jesus display acceptance? Samaritan woman at the well was amazed at the conversation she had with a Jewish male. The woman received the Gospel message and went quickly back to her home and began sharing about the man called Jesus.

Life today has to many people running around broken hearted, marginalized and lost from running around without a clue as to where to go for help. 

As a human being, our greatest need is to be loved. Our neighbors need a kind word from us. We can then share Jesus with them. The principles that Jesus taught are needed more today than ever before.

If Jesus is our Master, we must do as He did. Give of our time and care for other people. This display of love shows our concern for other people. Turn to 1 John 4:8

He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

Lucifer ( the devil or Satan ) accused God of being unfair. Lucifer was created a perfect angel by God but Lucifer’s pride caused him to fall. Lucifer wanted to be like God.

How can we make sure we are following Jesus example of Christian living?

Bless those around you. Be other centered and not self-centered. People are best when we bless others. If you know someone in need, help them.

We need to be cognizant of opportunities to share the Good News of Salvation by faith in Jesus Christ. Our most powerful testimony is to allow other people to see Jesus in you and your life and actions. We should develop relationships with people as this unlocks our being able to share our faith with other believers.

Matthew 5

The Sermon on the Mount is a powerful philosophy to live by. Jesus followers are to be Light in this dark world.

Do you know the hymn titled: This Little Light of Mine ?

2 Corinthians is a good resource to have handy as the Love of Christ is revealed in those pages.

Praise Be to God our creator and redeemer. Be a walking church. People need the Lord so commit random acts of kindness. People are hurting today so reach out to them!

Spiritual Vertigo

Here are the sermon notes from 24 May 2014 in the message given by Pastor John Wesslen. He is the Pastor at Orchards Seventh-day Adventist Christian Church in Vancouver, Washington.
Have you ever experienced vertigo? Vertigo is having the sensation of moving around in space or of having objects move about the person. It is sometimes confused with dizziness, lightheadedness, or giddiness.
It is easy to see that there is much confusion in the world today. Turn to Proverbs 14:12
There is a way that seems right to a man,
But its end is the way of death.
Proverbs 12:15
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes,
But he who heeds counsel is wise.
Spiritual Vertigo is a common problem in the world. Turn to Jeremiah 17:9
The heart is deceitful above all things,
And desperately wicked;
Who can know it?
James 1:14 
But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.
There are many deceptions and half truths in the minds of man today. This spiritual confusion about the nature of God allows man to justify about anything. A common statement prevalent is: “I know what God says but it doesn’t work for me. I’ve got my own plans.”
We need to watch for spiritual vertigo in our lives. If we experience spiritual confusion, we should take the cure for spiritual vertigo found in the following verses.
Psalms 19:11-13
Moreover by them Your servant is warned,
And in keeping them there is great reward.
12 Who can understand his errors?
Cleanse me from secret faults.
13 Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins;
Let them not have dominion over me.
Then I shall be blameless,
And I shall be innocent of great transgression.
Isaiah 30:18-21
God Will Be Gracious
18 Therefore the Lord will wait, that He may be gracious to you;
And therefore He will be exalted, that He may have mercy on you.
For the Lord is a God of justice;
Blessed are all those who wait for Him.
19 For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem;
You shall weep no more.
He will be very gracious to you at the sound of your cry;
When He hears it, He will answer you.
20 And though the Lord gives you
The bread of adversity and the water of affliction,
Yet your teachers will not be moved into a corner anymore,
But your eyes shall see your teachers.
21 Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying,
“This is the way, walk in it,”
Whenever you turn to the right hand
Or whenever you turn to the left.
Jeremiah 6:16
Thus says the Lord:
“Stand in the ways and see,
And ask for the old paths, where the good way is,
And walk in it;
Then you will find rest for your souls.
But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’

Southern Biscuits and Gravy

Southern Style Biscuits
By Melody Prettyman

Ingredients
2 1/4 cups sifted unbleached flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 tablespoon baking powder, aluminum free
4 tablespoons Earth Balance margarine
1 cup soy milk, plain
1 tablespoon lemon juice, fresh

Directions

Preheat oven to 400°

In mixing bowl, sift together flour, baking powder and salt and mix well. In a separate bowl sift these ingredients together to mix well. Add the Earth Balance, using your fingertips, rub the margarine and flour together until mixture is crumbly, do this as fast as possible.
Combine the lemon juice and milk. Make a well in the flour mixture and pour the milk into it. Using your hands, carefully fold the milk and flour mixture together. This will be sticky.
Pour mixture onto floured surface. Pour 1/8 cup flour over top of mixture and gently folding to mix the remaining flour into the biscuits, (Keep the surface floured to keep from sticking). Gently roll to about 1 inch thick and cut with biscuit cutter. Place biscuits close together onto small sheet pan.
Bake for 12-15 minutes until lightly golden.

Chef’s Note…
Do not over work the mixture. I use a single action baking powder and have to make the biscuits as fast as possible. Make sure to have all ingredients out and ready to mix. Once you try this recipe you will be hooked! For gluten-free use an all purpose gluten-free flour blend. Add additional Tbsp. margarine, 1/4 cup less milk.

Vegan Country Gravy
By Mark Anthony

Ingredients
6 Tbsp olive oil
1/2 cup unbleached flour
1 quart soy milk
4 vegan breakfast sausage patties
2 Tbsp onion powder (optional)
pinch sea salt to taste
pinch of crushed red pepper flakes (optional heat)
1 tsp red pepper

Directions
In a large heavy bottomed sauce pan,  sauté your favorite vegan sausage until brown and then crumble into small pieces.  Remove the sausage from the pan and set aside.  Add the oil and stir in the flour to make a roux.  Cook this oil and flour mixture over low heat until the flour is a creamy brown, stirring often with a whisk to prevent burning.  Roux takes on a creamy brown color when cooked.
Preheat the plain soy milk over medium heat until hot, but not boiling.

Pour half of the soy milk into the bubbling browned flour and whisk quickly. Then add the remainder and whisk until smooth.  Add the crumbled sausage pieces and stir into the gravy.
Remember that the gravy will solidify as it cools. If you reheat the cold gravy leftovers after refrigeration, you may have to add a little soy milk to get it back to a serving consistency.

Apple Banana Zucchini Walnut Bread

Apple Banana Zucchini Nut Bread
Step 1
1 and 1/2 cups sugar or 1 and 1/2 teaspoons Stevia Sugar Substitute
2 teaspoons cinnamon
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/8 teaspoon sea salt
2 eggs or use Ener-G egg replacer
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Mix all above ingredients in a bowl
Step 2
1 cup olive oil
2 cups 100 % whole wheat flour
1 cup walnuts, chopped
3 cups green zucchini – banana – apple mixed together 
Mix Step 2 ingredients then add Step 1 mixture and stir. Spray baking dish with olive oil. Pour mixture in and bake at 350 degrees for one hour only.

Lentil Soup

Ingredients:
1 pound dry lentils
1 can ( 10 ounce ) diced tomatoes with green chiles
1 can ( 15 ounce ) whole kernel corn, drained or 2 cups frozen corn
sea salt to taste
Directions:
1. Cook lentils about 20 minutes or as directed on package
2. When lentils are tender, stir in corn and tomatoes with chiles

One Thing


One Thing


Women are excellent multi taskers. Men tend to focus in on one thing at a time.


Mark 10:17-22
Jesus Counsels the Rich Young Ruler


17 Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?”


18 So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. 19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’”[a]


20 And he answered and said to Him, “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.”


21 Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.”


22 But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.


Notice that the Rich Young Ruler came running to interact with Jesus. Religion to the Rich Young Ruler was all about doing God’s Law and treated it like a checklist. Rich Young Ruler was an expert in Religion based Law but was ignorant about Love and how to apply God’s Law with Grace shown to others.


Jesus instructed the Rich Young Ruler to give away your things and then said: “Come and Follow Me.”


Rich Young Ruler had followed the Law legally but not morally. Jesus knew possessions blocked Rich Young Ruler’s relationships with other people.


Jesus doesn’t condemn the wealthy but points out how we use our wealth. Do we use our wealth to help others? Jesus left everything, even His place in Heaven, to reach people.


When we give to others, God blesses us in several ways. An example is Abraham. He was very wealthy with many animals. Jesus asked Abraham for his son – that is where Abraham’s heart was as he did not have a son until late in life.


God expects to be the top priority in our life, and then family should be the next priority. Abraham passed the test.


Can God tell me that I am lacking something? We need to surrender our own soul and lives to Jesus so He can fully use us.


Luke 10:38-42
Mary and Martha Worship and Serve


38 Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.”


41 And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. 42 But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”


Martha is preparing lunch for many people. Mary is just sitting there relaxed as she listens to Jesus. Martha then put stress on Jesus: “You do not care?”


There are no barriers in this family. Jesus tells Martha that she is worried about putting on a good image but she is missing the fact that Jesus wants to be number 1 in Martha’s heart.


This message is so appropriate for all of us living in the 21st century. How do you spend your time? Invest some time each day at Jesus’ feet. Jesus will give you the strength you need for dealing with life.


Sermon notes from the message given by Pastor Velino Salazar on Sabbath, 05 April 2014 at the Santa Barbara Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Why Study the Bible

Bible Prophecy has been in existence for thousands of years. World History was foretold in the Book of Daniel over 500 years before events took place. The Dead Sea Scrolls discovery validated the authenticity of scriptures.
There are five main principles man should understand about the Bible and its prophetic nature.
1. God has used the Bible to Communicate to man through His Prophets for thousands of years.
2. The Bible Interprets itself.
Isaiah 28:9-11
New King James Version (NKJV)
9 “Whom will he teach knowledge?
And whom will he make to understand the message?
Those just weaned from milk?
Those just drawn from the breasts?
10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept,
Line upon line, line upon line,
Here a little, there a little.”
11 For with stammering lips and another tongue
He will speak to this people.
2 Timothy 3:16
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.
3. The Bible is Predictive.
4. The Bible Is Moral and Redemptive. God desires to save all mankind.
John 3:17:
For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
5. The Bible Strengthens Our Faith. The Bible is Life Changing.
My source for the above principles can be found on the website below:
Have You Swallowed the Hook

Homemade Applesauce

Begin with a variety of apples.  3 works well but 2-4 is okay.  Avoid Red Delicious, they don’t break down when cooked.  Fuji, Yellow Delicious, Macintosh and Gala are my favorites.

While it is great to leave the skin on for nutrition, by this time of year the apples have been in cold storage for several months and may be rubbery.  I like my apples peeled for a nice appearance. 

Directions:
Peel and quarter 6-8 pounds of apples.  Or just fill your pot to heaping.
Add 2-4 TBLS cinnamon to taste

You may use 1/2 C of brown sugar and 1 cup water or, 1 can of frozen apple juice concentrate and avoid the sugar. 

Bring the liquid to a boil, then cover and simmer on low heat until apples are soft. Stir often. Use a potato masher to stir and mash into the consistency that you like.  Eat warm or chilled and enjoy!
This is the best on pancakes or waffles!

Recipe is from Chef Mark Anthony.

Cherry Thumbprint Cookies

Most of us like to enjoy an occasional treat.  You can experiment with sweetener options for healthier versions.

Ingredients:

1 C. vegan butter
1/2 C. sugar
2 C. flour
1 tsp. vanilla
1 can cherry pie filling or your own thickened cherries (be creative using other fruits like blueberries, apricots etc.)
Glaze is optional

1 C. powered sugar
1-2 tsp. coconut milk
 
Preheat oven to 375f.

Cream together the vegan butter, sugar and vanilla.  Mix in flour until dough is crumbly then form into a ball.  Refrigerate until firm. 

Seperate dough into 1 inch balls and place on parchment lined cookie sheet.  Squash with a spoon to make the “thumbprint” and fill with your fruit filling.

Bake for 15 minutes or until edges begin to brown.

Make a thick glaze with coconut milk and powered sugar.  Drizzle over cookies after they have cooled for about 15 minutes.
Recipe is from Chef Mark Anthony

Evolution or Creation and Amoral or Moral

The Law & Love

From the very beginning of the great controversy in Heaven, it has been Satan’s purpose to overthrow the law of God.”
Why? Because the law, as the foundation of God’s government, expresses the moral integrity of the cosmos, and to overthrow that law would be to overthrow the moral order of the creation itself.
Think about it. If no god existed, and no life either, the universe would be amoral. Not immoral as in having bad morals, but amoral, as in having no morals, because nothing it it-such as lifeless rocks hurling through a godless cosmos-could manifest moral qualities.
However, God exists, and humans do as well, and we have been created as moral beings with the capacity to give and to receive love. For this love to exist, however, freedom, moral freedom, must exist, too, because love is a moral concept that couldn’t arise in an amoral universe ( such as one composed of only rocks and cold space ).
Morality, though, means the ability to choose right or wrong, good or evil—and the only way for the universe to be moral, to allow the potential for good or evil, for right or wrong, would be for it to have a law that defines them.
And, of course, it does have such a law.
“What shall we say, then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! Indeed I would not have known what sin was except through the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, ‘Do not covet,’ ” (Rom. 7:7).
Is it sinful to have red hair? Why not? Because God’s law doesn’t forbid red hair. If it did, as the law forbids covetousness, then having red hair would be a sin. But it cannot be sin if no divine law defines it as such.
Morality without law is as impossible as is thought without mind. Our universe is moral because God created free beings answerable to His law. If there were no law against coveting, there would be no sin of covetousness: if there were no law against red hair, there would be no sin of red headedness-no matter how many red-haired coveters populated the cosmos.
Indeed, God created humans as creatures who can love. Love, though, can’t exist without freedom, moral freedom. And moral freedom can’t exist without law, moral law. Love rests on freedom, and freedom rests on law. Hence, the core of God’s government, the foundation of that government-a government of love-has to be His law. That’s why Ellen G. White wrote what she did about Satan’s desire “to overthrow the law of God.” The attack on the law is an attack not just on Christ’s character but on the moral order of the creation itself.
Hence, the topic for our quarter: Christ and His law.  We will study the law, especially the question of why so many Christians—misunderstanding the relationship between law and grace—have fallen in the trap of denying the continued validity of the Ten Commandments and thus, unwittingly, helping the attempt to “overthrow” God’s law.
The Bible, though, is clear: “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments” (1 John 5:3). The link between our loving God and keeping His commandments is stronger than we realize, until we realize that we can love God because we live in a universe where love can exist.  And it can exist because the universe is moral, and that morality is based, at least for us as created beings, on God’s moral law—the subject we will now pursue.
Keith Burton Ph.D
Professor of Religion
Oakwood University
Author of Second Quarter 2014 Adult Sabbath School Bible Study Guide
 

Not a Cult

The Seventh-day Adventist church is active in 209 of the 232 recognized nations of the United Nations.



Some people think the church is just a mega church in California. There are more than 18 million baptized members of the church around the world. The church is growing rapidly in Africa, Asia, and South America. Over one million people are getting baptized each year as of 2012.

The church formed in 1863 as Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians and other protestants met to study the scriptures.

The fundamentals of the church can be found on the church website below:

Seventh-Day Adventist World Church

Vegan Cornbread


Cornbread Muffins
Author: Mary McDougall
Recipe type: Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner


Cuisine: McDougall Program


Cook time:  30 mins


Total time:  30 mins


Ingredients
•2 cups cornmeal
•2 cups oat bran
•4 teaspoons baking powder
•2 cups unsweetened apple juice


Instructions
1.Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
2.Sift the dry ingredients together. Add the optional ingredients if using. Add the wet ingredients and stir until just mixed. Spoon the batter into eighteen nonstick muffin cups and bake for 30 minutes, or until lightly browned.

Chicken-Less Salad

Chicken-less Salad

Ingredients:

1 brick tofu, extra firm
Soy sauce for marinating
3 ribs celery, diced
1 small red onion, diced
1 red pepper, diced
1/2 tsp. each basil, sage, rosemary, oregano (or to taste)
2 tsp. paprika
1 – 1 1/2 c. Simple Tofu Spread
Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Slice tofu 1/4-inch thick and brush both sides of each slice with soy sauce. Lay the slices in a single layer on a lightly oiled baking sheet.
Let marinate for 10 minutes and brush again. Bake for 30-35 minutes, turning once halfway through, until golden brown and crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.
Allow to cool, then shred the tofu slices with a knife, creating irregular pieces with the appearance of shredded chicken.
Mix with vegetables, spices and tofu spread until ingredients are well-incorporated. Chill thoroughly before serving.
* This is a great item for salads as well as sandwiches, or even served with crackers as an appetizer.

Simple Tofu Spread

1 – 12 oz. package silken tofu
3 Tbsp. stone ground mustard
3 Tbsp. brown rice syrup
1/4 tsp. sea salt to taste
1 lemon, juiced
Instructions:

Puree all ingredients in a food processor until smooth and creamy. You will love this tofu spread for many different applications.

Recipe is from Chef Mark Anthony

Mock Tuna Salad

Because the oceans are more toxic from pollution and the recent radiation issue from the nuclear plant in Japan, I am no longer eating seafood. I made this today and had it for lunch and it was tasty. Just steam some green vegetables and slice a tomato to go along with this healthy lunch.


Serves 4

1 fifteen ounce can chick peas, drained
1/4 cup vegan mayonnnaise
1/3 cup minced celery
2 1/2 Tablespoon minced dill pickle or ( 1 Tablespoon dill spice)
1/2 Tablespoon nutritional yeast flakes
1 green onion, chopped
1 teaspoon soy sauce or Braggs Aminos
1/2 teaspoon kelp powder ( optional )


In medium bowl, mash the chick peass coarsely with a fork or other utensil. Mix in the dry ingredients and then add the rest of the ingredients. Use on sandwiches or on a bed of salad greens.


Prep Time: 20 minutes


Recipe from Hope for Health USA

Southern Fruit Cobbler

Southern Fruit Cobbler

4 servings

1/2 Cup Earth Balance or Butter Alternative
1 Cup Sugar or ( 1/2 teaspoon Stevia Extract Powder )
1 Cup Flour ( Organic Whole Wheat )
1 and 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 Cup Almond Milk
2 Cups Fruit such as peaches, nectarines, blackberries or blueberries or a combination
1/2 Cup Sugar or ( 1/4 teaspoon Stevia Extract Powder )

Preheat over to 350 degrees. Melt butter alternative or Earth Balance in deep 8-inch baking dish in oven while it preheats.

Whisk together sugar, flour, baking powder, salt and milk until smooth. Remove dish from oven and pour batter over melted butter. It doesn’t have to be even. Do not stir.

Prepare fruit: Pick over berries to remove any moldy ones. Wash berries gently. If using stone fruit, wash well. Peel peaches and slice peaches or nectarines.

Pour prepared fruit over batter. Sprinkle 1/2 Cup Sugar or ( 1/4 teaspoon Stevia Extract Powder ) over fruit. Do not stir.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 40 minutes or until the top is golden brown and fruit juices are bubbling.

This cobbler is best served warm from the oven with some vegan vanilla ice cream.

Recipe can be doubled and baked in a 13 by 9 inch baking dish.

Recipe is from Melanie Munk, Features Editor of the Everett, Washington Herald and appeared in the Travel and Leisure section of the paper on Sunday, 3 August 2003.
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