Gracious Living

The Ultimate Test

2011-10-06T09:16:00.002-04:00

Here's a quiz for you that I bet you won't pass. Some questions do not have a right or wrong answer per se, but your answer does hold weight. Some answers (and I won't say which) may count against you if you know them. Have fun, but be honest and NO GOOGLING! lol Please send your answers to RuthieSisemore@gmail.com .... do NOT put your answers in the comment section

42

Man's chief end is to:
Hello, my name is:
What does T.U.L.I.P. stand for?
Name one book by Alexandre Dumas:
I'm a lumberjack, and I'm:
Always know where your ________ is.
PCA stands for:
Who was Fyodor Dostoyevsky?
Name the members of the Fellowship.
Name Santa's Reindeer.
Who bore the number 24601?
Complete this book title: Confessions of ......
Name three dead theologians who were part of the Reformation.
What's your favorite baseball team?
If there's a fire in an electrical oven, what's the one thing you should NOT throw in it?
Name one Jane Austen book.
Which gasoline is better for your car and why, ethanol or no ethanol?
How often should furnace filters be changed?
How many of the Ten Commandments apply to today?
Is age segregation in the Church a good or bad thing?
If you were a Muppet, who would you be?
Revenge is a dish best served:
What's your favorite color?
Question 23 makes me think of:
Do you see Christian Psychology as good, evil, either, or an oxymoron?
What is your life goal?
My favorite meal is:
Typically, a car's oil should be changed every:
If your car squeals when turning a corner, it probably needs:
My ideal vacation would be:
Do you smoke?
If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you:
What is the Proverbs 31 woman's chief purpose?
May the _____ be with you.
To go to a symphony concert would be _______ for me.
Do you like Niel Diamond?
Country must be________.
You went to the woods. Why?
What does baptism signify?
What is the date of Luther's 95 Theses?
Tell me your best joke.
What is the significance of the title of this Quiz (42)?

Unsolicited Advice and Criticism

2011-07-27T08:10:00.001-04:00

Sometimes, we Christian women can be the meanest creatures. Notice I said "we." I'm referring to something that I'm sure I've unknowingly done in the past....perhaps even the very recent past....hey, I'm middle-aged and my memory is fuzzy.

What I'm talking about is sharing unsolicited advice and/or criticism to younger (spiritual or chronological) sisters in Christ. I'm sure most of us are just trying to be "helpful" but many times we unknowingly devastate our sister's morale over silly things that burn up as wood, hay, and stubble in the grand scheme of things. Seriously, unless your sister in Christ is living in some sort of sin (and no, being tacky is not a moral sin) or gravely endangering their or their family's health, it may be best to be silent...in most cases. I know that I personally probably need to start keeping a better watch out for this in my own life.

Our daughter (21) will in the next few years be leaving the nest to perhaps start her own family. My ideas about how things should be done are not necessarily shared by her, just as my own mother and I differ in many ways. I have even told our daughter that when it comes right down to it, it doesn't matter if I think her kids are dressed tacky (though I will pipe up about modesty issues lol) or if her house is "dirty" by my standards or if she feeds her family processed vs. all organic food. What I care about is that she raise up her children in the Lord and that she loves and respects her husband. Yes, breast feeding is better than bottle feeding, but it's not our business to point that out to everyone with whom we come into contact. Yes, cloth diapers are better for the environment, the economy, etc., but it's not a "moral" issue to use disposable ones. Yes, it best to vacuum everyday or iron 3/4 of your clothes like my sister does :), but a little bit of dirt or a wrinkle here or there is not the end of the world.

Granted, there are times when it is necessary to speak up, particularly if the younger sister has come to us for guidance, but that instruction should come with a spirit of gentleness, remembering our own inadequacies. These little things mentioned above are just not as paramount as the deeper issues of Titus 2, such as be reverent, loving our husbands and children, being self-controlled and pure, etc.

If, however, you find yourself on the flip side and are subjected to statements like "You know, you really shouldn't ...." consider what you're being criticized for, ask yourself is it something that really matters to God or is it just a matter of preference? These are things that have to be weighed very carefully, as it is easy to become overly defensive when criticized. Whatever the issue is, great or small, take it before the Lord in prayer and search the Scriptures. Thank the person for their concern and make adjustments when necessary.

Mexican Archbishop Calls for Greater Modesty at Mass

2011-07-27T07:33:00.000-04:00

From the Catholic News Agency:

Mexico City, Mexico, Jul 26, 2011 / 06:03 pm (CNA).- The Archbishop of Leon, Mexico is calling on Catholics to dress modestly at Mass.
“If you have any respect for this place (a church), dress appropriately,” Archbishop Jose Guadalupe Martin Rabago told reporters after Mass on July 24.
Criticism of the archbishop’s comments came after local newspapers featured photos of posters at some parishes in Leon that said, “Respect God’s house. Don’t come dressed like this.” The posters said women should not come to church dressed in miniskirts, sleeveless shirts, or low-cut blouses.
According to the newspaper Correo, the archbishop said women ought to know what they should wear and when.
“They know that for a wedding or a quinceanera they should dress one way, and for a trip to the beach they should dress another.”
The archbishop also said men need to dress appropriately at Mass as well. “Some men show up at church dressed in way that is undignified, wearing shorts or sandals. The place they are in requires something else,” he said.
Archbishop Martin Rabago said the media should not focus exclusively on what the Catholic Church says about how people should dress, as many evangelical churches require their congregations to come to church in a suit and tie.
He dismissed charges that his comments were misogynistic.
“This is not a misogynist attitude of any sort. I am simply asking for the dignity and decorum that this place calls for, that is all.”

Try it Tuesday - Raspberry Chipotle Chicken

2011-07-26T12:01:00.000-04:00

This recipe is from Anna Ginsberg, a stay-at-home mom who won the Pillsbury Bake-Off in 2006.   Our daughter made this recipe for our family, and it was awesome!

1/3 cup pecan pieces
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, pounded to 1/2 inch thickness (okay...so we skipped the pounding)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 1/2 Tablespoon vegetable oil
1/2 cup diced onion
2/3 cup roasted raspberry chipotle sauce (found with bbq sauces)
1/3 cup white grape juice
1   Tablespoon lemon juice
2    packages whole-grain brown ready rice, cooked according to package directions
1 1/2 Tablespoons coarsely chopped cilantro (we forgot this step)

1. Place pecans on a paper towel and microwave on High for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes, tossing halfway through cooking; set aside to cool.
2. Sprinkle chicken evenly with salt and pepper.
3. In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add onion, and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, or until onion is tender. Add chicken to skillet and cook for 3 minutes per side, or until browned. Add mixed raspberry sauce, grape juice, and lemon juice to coat chicken. Stir and simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes or until chicken is cooked through.
4. Place rice on serving dish and top with prepared pecans. Top with chicken and sauce and sprinkle with cilantro.

Monomoy Theatre

2011-07-14T21:32:00.000-04:00

One of our favorite things to do while visiting Cape Cod is to attend one of the dozens of live theater venues. Chatham, Massachusetts has enjoyed the Monomoy Theatre and the Ohio University Players for 54 years. There is nothing like live theater, especially in an intimate setting. The Monomoy has 260 seats, and every seat is a great seat! The performances are generally comprised of talented graduates, undergraduates, and professionals. The small setting lends a greater connection with the performers and the characters they portray.

Our choice of play this year was Man of La Mancha. Steve French was the most amazing Don Quixote that I have seen since Ed Ames. We witnessed such an amazing metamorphosis of Mr. French from Miguel de Cervantes to Don Quixote that captivated each of us from the start. Mr. French truly stole the show.

2011-07-04T09:06:00.000-04:00

Cape Cod! I love everything about Cape Cod! For our entire married life, we have chosen Cape Cod as our vacation destination.....every single time. That sounds boring and dull to most people, but for us, it's a place to cloister and regroup. Everyone needs a place and time for just being quiet and still. That's harder for some people, especially people who are running, whether it be from their own thoughts or from God. I would encourage everyone to make time and space for quietness in their lives. It doesn't have to be a vacation spot (although that does help). I know it takes discipline and patience, but take time to just be. No music, no tv, no cell phones....just you & God....and just be still....and know that He is God.

On Being Cranky....

2011-06-05T19:07:00.000-04:00

I try to not be one of those people that others cringe when they see them coming, but sometimes I don't just fear that I am one of those people, I KNOW that I am one of those people. Honestly, I really do try to work on it. I am most often the person you would like to avoid when I am shopping. I don't start out my shopping trips that way, but give me a grocery basket and suddenly I morph into Maxine. Knowing and owning this about myself, I try to shop far enough away from my home that I won't run into unsuspecting victims, I mean friends. Just this last week, I went to Publix in Ooletewah (my favorite place to shop) and it was one of those times when I wasn't quite sure of everything I needed, what was on sale, or what coupons I had in my coupon file, so I was a little a foggy headed....never a good sign. It was also a Saturday, which meant the store was more crowded, but I had worked during the week and we needed food...or at least caffeine in the house. I didn't even get past the first food display when I found myself morphing into Maxine. I saw that Cheerios were on sale, and I remembered I had a coupon as well. I was so excited that I had been there that day because the coupon expired that day as well. But, as God would have it, there was a woman standing right in front of the Cheerios, blocking me from getting what I wanted. I waited "patiently"....not. I thought to myself, "I wish that woman would hurry up and move. How long does it take to grab a box of cereal and move on???" Then, I looked at the woman's frame....hmmm, she looks familiar....hmmm, her hair looks familiar too....hey! that's (insert the name of an elder's wife from church)! I felt so embarrassed that my Maxine persona had such impatient and cranky thoughts about someone I knew and liked. Every time I ran into her in the store yesterday, I felt convicted about my attitudes and thought patterns as I shopped. I think I'm a nice person, but I own up to being a bit of a control freak....especially when it comes to grocery shopping and my kitchen....and my work environment....and which way the toilet paper should hang...OKAY, I'M A CONTROL FREAK; I GET IT. I like to take my time in the store, check the unit price of grocery items, check for coupons, see which item is actually the best deal, check the ingredients to try to purchase food that's actually good for us. I put my groceries on the conveyor belt in the order that I want them bagged, so that when I get home, it's easier to put things away. I really prefer to bag my groceries myself because no one seems to get it right. Canned goods with produce??? Really???? I like to take my groceries to the car myself because I like to put my cold things in a cooler....remember I don't shop near my home because I know I'm a bit of a handful. I try to bite my tongue, and most of the time I do, but I know it shows on my face. I know this because I've shopped with my mom....enough said. But as my husband reminded me this morning impatience with others or situations is really impatience with God. OUCH!!!! This is so true. God is completely sovereign over every situation....over every molecule in the universe....or He isn't really God. God has a purpose and a plan for me and He uses all these little frustrations in my life to mold me into not only into one who glorifies Him better but also into someone who enjoys Him better. I need to be able to look at each and every person in the store as someone whom God created in His image, as someone to whom I can/should show God's love. So, if you see me out shopping, don't run....as I know that will be your first instinct after reading this. I really do want to be yielded to God and his plan for my life down to the minutest detail. I want God to be in control, not me.

Never Forget That I Love You

2011-05-31T21:39:00.000-04:00

Many of us are now at an age where roles are beginning to be reversed in regards to our aging parents. This is a difficult time no matter which side of the fence you live on. Years ago, my mom wrote a poem for her children in case she ever developed Alzheimer's in the future. She and her sister witnessed the slow and heart wrenching decline of their own mother as my grandmother gradually lost all faculties. Alzheimer's is one of my mother's greatest fears. This poem is not perfect in form or style, but it expressed her desire to love her children sacrificially until the end. Perhaps, it will be just what you or I need to hear.

Never forget that I love you.