Greetings All,
Here is the final recipe from the Christmas party. Enjoy!
Your brother in Christ,
Faron
Crawfish Bread
Ingredients:
3 to 3 1/2 c all-purpose flour
1 package active dry yeast
1 tsp granulated sugar
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp dried thyme leaves
1/4 tsp dried oregano leaves
1/4 tsp dried sweet basil leaves
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 Tbl granulated sugar
1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper, to taste
1 c warm water (120 to 130?F)
1 Tbl olive oil
1 lb. crawfish tail meat, coarsely chopped
1 (4 ounce) jar pimientos, drained and chopped
3/4 c chopped green onions
3/4 c grated Pepper Jack Cheese
1/4 c grated Sharp Cheddar cheese
1 egg, lightly beaten
Sesame seeds, optional
Preparation:
In a large mixing bowl, combine 1 1/2 c of the flour, yeast, sugar, salt, thyme, oregano, basil, onion and garlic powders and peppers. Gradually add the warm water and oil to the dry ingredients, then beat for 2 minutes at medium speed, stopping to scrape the bowl occasionally. Beat for 2 minutes at high speed.
Stir in enough of the remaining flour to make a soft dough. Knead dough on a floured surface until it's smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes. Place in a lightly oiled bowl, turning to oil the top. Cover and let rise in a warm, draft-free spot until doubled in volume, about 30 to 45 minutes.
Punch the dough down. Place on a floured surface and roll into a 10 x 14-inch rectangle. Scatter the crawfish lengthwise over the center third of the dough. Top with pimientos, green onions and shredded cheese. With a sharp knife, make cuts from the filling to the dough edges at one-inch intervals along the sides of the filling. Alternating sides, fold the strips at an angle across the filling for a braided effect. Place on a greased baking sheet; cover and let rise in a warm, draft-free spot until doubled in size, 30 to 45 minutes.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
Brush the loaf with egg wash and sprinkle with sesame seeds, if desired. Bake until done and golden brown, 30 to 35 minutes.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Recipe: Shrimp Cornbread with Creole Sauce
Greetings All,
Here is another recipe from the Christmas party. Enjoy!
Your brother in Christ,
Faron
Shrimp Cornbread with Creole Sauce
Ingredients:
Cornbread
2 eggs
1/4 c vegetable oil
8 ounces sour cream
1/2 c milk
1 1/2 c self-rising cornmeal mix
4 ounces shredded Monterey jack cheese
2 to 3 tsps dried Creole seasoning
2 tsps chopped fresh parsley
1 lb. shelled, deveined uncooked medium shrimp
Creole Sauce
2 Tbls butter or margarine
1/4 c chopped onion
1/3 c chopped celery
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 (14 1/2 ounce) cans diced tomatoes, undrained
1 bay leaf
2 tsps salt
1 Tbls granulated sugar
3 Tbls Worcestershire sauce
2 tsps Tabasco sauce
Preparation:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Grease a 10-inch cast iron skillet; place in oven to heat.
In a large bowl, beat eggs. Blend in oil, sour cream and milk. Add remaining cornbread ingredients; stir until blended. Pour batter into hot skillet. Bake at 400 degrees F for 30 to 35 minutes or until golden brown.
While cornbread is cooking, melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add onion, celery and garlic; saute' until vegetables are tender, stirring frequently. Add remaining sauce ingredients; mix well. Heat until bubbly; reduce heat and simmer 20 to 30 minutes. Remove and discard bay leaf.
To serve, cut cornbread into wedges and serve with sauce.
Makes 8 servings.
Here is another recipe from the Christmas party. Enjoy!
Your brother in Christ,
Faron
Shrimp Cornbread with Creole Sauce
Ingredients:
Cornbread
2 eggs
1/4 c vegetable oil
8 ounces sour cream
1/2 c milk
1 1/2 c self-rising cornmeal mix
4 ounces shredded Monterey jack cheese
2 to 3 tsps dried Creole seasoning
2 tsps chopped fresh parsley
1 lb. shelled, deveined uncooked medium shrimp
Creole Sauce
2 Tbls butter or margarine
1/4 c chopped onion
1/3 c chopped celery
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 (14 1/2 ounce) cans diced tomatoes, undrained
1 bay leaf
2 tsps salt
1 Tbls granulated sugar
3 Tbls Worcestershire sauce
2 tsps Tabasco sauce
Preparation:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Grease a 10-inch cast iron skillet; place in oven to heat.
In a large bowl, beat eggs. Blend in oil, sour cream and milk. Add remaining cornbread ingredients; stir until blended. Pour batter into hot skillet. Bake at 400 degrees F for 30 to 35 minutes or until golden brown.
While cornbread is cooking, melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add onion, celery and garlic; saute' until vegetables are tender, stirring frequently. Add remaining sauce ingredients; mix well. Heat until bubbly; reduce heat and simmer 20 to 30 minutes. Remove and discard bay leaf.
To serve, cut cornbread into wedges and serve with sauce.
Makes 8 servings.
Recipe: Cajun Spicy Shrimp
Greetings All,
Here is the recipe for the spicy shrimp we had at the Christmas party. I hope you enjoy them!
Your brother in Christ,
Faron
Cajun Spicy Shrimp
Ingredients:
1 c butter, melted
1 c margarine, melted
1/2 c Worcestershire sauce
1/4 c lemon juice
1/2 c ground pepper
2 tsps Tabasco sauce
2 tsns salt
4 cloves garlic, minced
5 pounds unpeeled medium-size shrimp (I prefer gulf shrimp)
2 lemons, thinly sliced
Preparation:
Combine first eight ingredients in the sauce pan that you melted the butter and margarine in. Layer the shrimp and lemon slices in a ceramic, glass or large aluminum pan; pour the sauce over shrimp and lemon. Stir up the mixture to make sure all shrimp and lemons are covered in sauce. Bake, uncovered, at 400 degrees F for 20 minutes, or until shrimp are pink, stirring twice. Place shrimp in a large serving bowl and serve with French bread or over a bed of rice.
Here is the recipe for the spicy shrimp we had at the Christmas party. I hope you enjoy them!
Your brother in Christ,
Faron
Cajun Spicy Shrimp
Ingredients:
1 c butter, melted
1 c margarine, melted
1/2 c Worcestershire sauce
1/4 c lemon juice
1/2 c ground pepper
2 tsps Tabasco sauce
2 tsns salt
4 cloves garlic, minced
5 pounds unpeeled medium-size shrimp (I prefer gulf shrimp)
2 lemons, thinly sliced
Preparation:
Combine first eight ingredients in the sauce pan that you melted the butter and margarine in. Layer the shrimp and lemon slices in a ceramic, glass or large aluminum pan; pour the sauce over shrimp and lemon. Stir up the mixture to make sure all shrimp and lemons are covered in sauce. Bake, uncovered, at 400 degrees F for 20 minutes, or until shrimp are pink, stirring twice. Place shrimp in a large serving bowl and serve with French bread or over a bed of rice.
Sermon: Sunday, December 26, 2010
Greetings All,
Here is the audio file from Sunday, December 26th's sermon. It is titled "It is Fitting!" and the texts are Psalm 148, Isaiah 63:7-9 and Hebrews 2:10-18. Simply click on the player below to listen.
Your brother in Christ,
Faron
Here is the audio file from Sunday, December 26th's sermon. It is titled "It is Fitting!" and the texts are Psalm 148, Isaiah 63:7-9 and Hebrews 2:10-18. Simply click on the player below to listen.
Your brother in Christ,
Faron
Recipe: Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya
Greetings All,
It is fitting that I would be posting Cajun recipes from Cafe Du Monde in Covinton, Louisiana. Here it is!
Your brother in Christ,
Faron
Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya
Ingredients:
4 Chicken breasts
2 tbl. of vegetable oil
2 Cups of onion, chopped
¾ Cup of bell pepper, chopped
¾ Cup of green onions, chopped
1 tbl. of minced garlic
3 tbls. Minced parsley
2 pkgs. Of hot sausage
2 bay leaves, crushed
¼ tsp. cayenne pepper
½ tsp. chili powder
¼ tsp. thyme and basil
1/8 tsp. of cloves and mace
Salt and pepper to taste
3 cups of uncooked rice
6 cups of water
Preparation:
Coat chicken breast in chili powder, paprika, garlic, and Tony’s seasoning; brown in oil in pot, both sides. Remove chicken; add onions, green pepper, green onions, garlic, parsley; sauté for 15 minutes. Add sausage and seasoning. Cook for 5 minutes. Dice chicken and add. Add rice; mix well; add water. Bring to boil; reduce heat and simmer, covered, for 35 to 45 minutes. Stirring occasionally. Increase heat to medium. Cook uncovered for 10 minutes, stirring frequently.
It is fitting that I would be posting Cajun recipes from Cafe Du Monde in Covinton, Louisiana. Here it is!
Your brother in Christ,
Faron
Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya
Ingredients:
4 Chicken breasts
2 tbl. of vegetable oil
2 Cups of onion, chopped
¾ Cup of bell pepper, chopped
¾ Cup of green onions, chopped
1 tbl. of minced garlic
3 tbls. Minced parsley
2 pkgs. Of hot sausage
2 bay leaves, crushed
¼ tsp. cayenne pepper
½ tsp. chili powder
¼ tsp. thyme and basil
1/8 tsp. of cloves and mace
Salt and pepper to taste
3 cups of uncooked rice
6 cups of water
Preparation:
Coat chicken breast in chili powder, paprika, garlic, and Tony’s seasoning; brown in oil in pot, both sides. Remove chicken; add onions, green pepper, green onions, garlic, parsley; sauté for 15 minutes. Add sausage and seasoning. Cook for 5 minutes. Dice chicken and add. Add rice; mix well; add water. Bring to boil; reduce heat and simmer, covered, for 35 to 45 minutes. Stirring occasionally. Increase heat to medium. Cook uncovered for 10 minutes, stirring frequently.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Recipe: Red Beans and Rice
Greetings All,
When I was putting the menu together for the Cajun Christmas party, I couldn't find my recipe for Red Beans and Rice, so I used this one off of the Tabasco.com website. Enjoy!
Your brother in Christ,
Faron
Red Beans and Rice
Ingredients:
1 pound dried red beans, sorted and rinsed
Water
1/2 pound lean salt pork, bacon, or ham, diced
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 cup chopped onion
1 garlic clove, minced
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons Original TABASCO® brand Pepper Sauce
Hot cooked rice
Preparation:
Place beans in a large saucepan or Dutch oven and add enough water to cover beans by 1 to 2 inches; cover and soak overnight. Drain beans and cover with fresh water. Add salt pork and bring to a low boil; reduce heat to simmer, cover, and cook 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, heat oil in a medium skillet over medium heat; add onion and garlic and cook 3 minutes or until golden. Add mixture to beans along with the parsley, salt, and TABASCO® Sauce. Cover and simmer 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 hours longer, or until beans are tender enough to mash easily with a fork. Add hot water as needed to keep beans covered, and stir occasionally. When the beans are done they will have soaked up most of the liquid. Check seasoning and serve over rice.
Makes 8 servings.
When I was putting the menu together for the Cajun Christmas party, I couldn't find my recipe for Red Beans and Rice, so I used this one off of the Tabasco.com website. Enjoy!
Your brother in Christ,
Faron
Red Beans and Rice
Ingredients:
1 pound dried red beans, sorted and rinsed
Water
1/2 pound lean salt pork, bacon, or ham, diced
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 cup chopped onion
1 garlic clove, minced
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons Original TABASCO® brand Pepper Sauce
Hot cooked rice
Preparation:
Place beans in a large saucepan or Dutch oven and add enough water to cover beans by 1 to 2 inches; cover and soak overnight. Drain beans and cover with fresh water. Add salt pork and bring to a low boil; reduce heat to simmer, cover, and cook 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, heat oil in a medium skillet over medium heat; add onion and garlic and cook 3 minutes or until golden. Add mixture to beans along with the parsley, salt, and TABASCO® Sauce. Cover and simmer 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 hours longer, or until beans are tender enough to mash easily with a fork. Add hot water as needed to keep beans covered, and stir occasionally. When the beans are done they will have soaked up most of the liquid. Check seasoning and serve over rice.
Makes 8 servings.
Recipe: Crawfish Etouffee
Greetings All,
There are a plethora of etouffee recipes out there but this is the one I have been making for years as it is simple and super yummy! Enjoy!
Your brother in Christ,
Faron
Crawfish Etouffee
Ingredients:
1 c yellow onion, finely chopped
1 c bell pepper, finely chopped
1/2 c celery, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 c butter or margarine
1 bag of crawfish tails
1 can Cream of Celery soup
1/2 c chicken broth
1/2 tsp Tabasco sauce
1/4 c fresh parsley, finely chopped
1 tsp salt
1/8 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
Preparation:
Saute' onions, bell pepper, celery and garlic in butter over medium heat until tender. Stir in remaining ingredients. Simmer, uncovered, 10 to 15 minutes. Serve over hot rice. Eat at least two helpings!
There are a plethora of etouffee recipes out there but this is the one I have been making for years as it is simple and super yummy! Enjoy!
Your brother in Christ,
Faron
Crawfish Etouffee
Ingredients:
1 c yellow onion, finely chopped
1 c bell pepper, finely chopped
1/2 c celery, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 c butter or margarine
1 bag of crawfish tails
1 can Cream of Celery soup
1/2 c chicken broth
1/2 tsp Tabasco sauce
1/4 c fresh parsley, finely chopped
1 tsp salt
1/8 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
Preparation:
Saute' onions, bell pepper, celery and garlic in butter over medium heat until tender. Stir in remaining ingredients. Simmer, uncovered, 10 to 15 minutes. Serve over hot rice. Eat at least two helpings!
Recipe: Crawfish Fettuccine
Greetings All,
Okay, we move from desserts on to entrees. This is perhaps one of my most favorite Cajun dishes! Enjoy!
Your brother in Christ,
Faron
Crawfish Fettuccine
Ingredients:
1 Stick of butter or margarine
1 can Cream of Mushroom soup
1 yellow onion chopped finely
1 bell pepper chopped finely
1 bundle of green onions chopped finely
1 box of fettuccine noodles
1 bag of crawfish tails ( you can buy these at Wal Mart in the seafood section)
1 pint of 1/2 and 1/2
1 8oz bag of shredded Velveeta cheese
Preparation:
First prepare the fettuccine as directed on the box. Next saute' the yellow onion and bell pepper in the butter until soft. Add cream of mushroom soup, 1/2 and 1/2, crawfish tails and 3/4 of the bag of cheese. Cook for ten minutes, then add the green onions and cook for an additional five minutes. Mix the noodles and the sauce together in a large baking dish (don't make it to dry, eliminate some noodles if you need) and top with remaining cheese. Bake in a 350 degree preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes. Enjoy!
Okay, we move from desserts on to entrees. This is perhaps one of my most favorite Cajun dishes! Enjoy!
Your brother in Christ,
Faron
Crawfish Fettuccine
Ingredients:
1 Stick of butter or margarine
1 can Cream of Mushroom soup
1 yellow onion chopped finely
1 bell pepper chopped finely
1 bundle of green onions chopped finely
1 box of fettuccine noodles
1 bag of crawfish tails ( you can buy these at Wal Mart in the seafood section)
1 pint of 1/2 and 1/2
1 8oz bag of shredded Velveeta cheese
Preparation:
First prepare the fettuccine as directed on the box. Next saute' the yellow onion and bell pepper in the butter until soft. Add cream of mushroom soup, 1/2 and 1/2, crawfish tails and 3/4 of the bag of cheese. Cook for ten minutes, then add the green onions and cook for an additional five minutes. Mix the noodles and the sauce together in a large baking dish (don't make it to dry, eliminate some noodles if you need) and top with remaining cheese. Bake in a 350 degree preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes. Enjoy!
Recipe: Creamy Pecan Pralines
Greetings All,
I though I would just start with the yummy desserts instead of the entrees. Christa's mother Bobbi subscribes to the philosophy that you should eat your dessert first that way you always have room for it. I whole heartily endorse that philosophy and in support of it I offer you this second Christmas party dessert recipe for Creamy Pecan Pralines. Enjoy!
Your brother in Christ,
Faron
Creamy Pecan Pralines
Ingredients:
Stick of butter
1 c granulated sugar
1 c firmly packed brown sugar
1 (14 oz.) can of sweetened condensed milk
3/4 c butter (or margarine)
1/2 c light corn syrup
1/8 tsp salt
3 cups chopped pecans
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 tsp almond extract
Preparation:
Using the stick of better, grease two sheets of wax paper 20 inches long each and set aside. In a large saucepan, preferably with a very thick bottom, combine the sugar, brown sugar, milk, butter, corn syrup and salt. Cook on a low/medium heat constantly stirring until your candy thermometer reads soft boil. This can take anywhere from 15 to 40 minutes, the important thing is to not get in a hurry. Once it has reached soft boil stage (238 degrees) remove from heat and immediately mix in the pecans and the flavorings. Stir until the mixture thickens and then drop by tablespoonfuls onto the prepared wax paper. Let them set until they have firmed and then dig in, but don't forget to lick the spoon as letting any of this yummy goodness go to waste is I think a mortal sin! Depending on size of spoonfuls, this recipe should make approximately 48 pralines.
I though I would just start with the yummy desserts instead of the entrees. Christa's mother Bobbi subscribes to the philosophy that you should eat your dessert first that way you always have room for it. I whole heartily endorse that philosophy and in support of it I offer you this second Christmas party dessert recipe for Creamy Pecan Pralines. Enjoy!
Your brother in Christ,
Faron
Creamy Pecan Pralines
Ingredients:
Stick of butter
1 c granulated sugar
1 c firmly packed brown sugar
1 (14 oz.) can of sweetened condensed milk
3/4 c butter (or margarine)
1/2 c light corn syrup
1/8 tsp salt
3 cups chopped pecans
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 tsp almond extract
Preparation:
Using the stick of better, grease two sheets of wax paper 20 inches long each and set aside. In a large saucepan, preferably with a very thick bottom, combine the sugar, brown sugar, milk, butter, corn syrup and salt. Cook on a low/medium heat constantly stirring until your candy thermometer reads soft boil. This can take anywhere from 15 to 40 minutes, the important thing is to not get in a hurry. Once it has reached soft boil stage (238 degrees) remove from heat and immediately mix in the pecans and the flavorings. Stir until the mixture thickens and then drop by tablespoonfuls onto the prepared wax paper. Let them set until they have firmed and then dig in, but don't forget to lick the spoon as letting any of this yummy goodness go to waste is I think a mortal sin! Depending on size of spoonfuls, this recipe should make approximately 48 pralines.
Recipe: King Cake
Greetings All,
While a number of recipes were requested from the Christmas party last night, by far the most requested was for the King Cake. Unfortunately some of you did not get any, as it appears I did not make enough. I will, as promised, post all of the recipes, but here is the one for the King Cake this morning. King Cakes have become associated in Louisiana with Mardi Gras and they are traditionally only served from the 12th night of Christmas, which is Epiphany on January 6th to Fat Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday and the start of the Lenten Season. You can Google the history of the King Cake to read many different articles, but the main tradition associated with them that we did not have last night is the hiding of a plastic baby, or pecan, or coffee bean in or under the cake. The person who gets the slice with the trinket is then either king or queen of the party or obligated to either host the next party or bring the King Cake to the next party. Here is the recipe, enjoy!
Mardi Gras King Cake
This recipe will make one large cake, serving aproximately 35 people with a one inch slice.
Ingredients:
Cake:
2 (1/4 ounce) packages active dry yeast
1/3 c warm water (about 110 degrees F)
6 T butter (or margarine)
1/2 c sugar
3/4 c milk
1 tsp salt
6 c flour (all purpose)
3 eggs
1 T vegetable oil, plus oil for mixing bowl
Filling:
1/2 c sugar
1/2 c brown sugar
3 T flour
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup chilled butter (or margarine)
Icing:
1/3 c evaporated milk
3 T brown sugar
1 1/4 c confectioner sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
Colored sugar (green, purple and yellow)
Preparation:
Cake: Begin with shifting the flour and salt together in a large mixing bowl. Make a well in the middle and set aside. Next lightly beat the three eggs and set them aside allowing them to warm to room temperature. Now dissolve the two packages of yeast in the warm water and let stand for ten minutes. Next melt the butter and the sugar in the milk over a low to medium heat. Once melted let cool to lukewarm, or at least a temperature that won't burn your hands as you knead the dough.
With all of this ready, now dump the eggs, the yeast mixture and the milk and butter mixture into the well in the flour. Using a wooden spoon or your hands mix the ingredients until they form a dough. You can add flour a little at at time if the mixture is sticky until it is the consistency of dough. Knead the dough for 8 to 10 minutes. Form it into a ball, grease the surface of it with the oil and then place it in a lightly oiled bowl, cover it, place it some place warm with no drafts and let it rise for about an hour. The goal is for the dough ball to double in size.
Once risen, punch dough down and roll it out on a lightly floured surface. Roll it into a rectangle aproximately 10 x 20 inches, this should leave your dough aproximately 1/2 inch thick. Take your filling, place half of it down on 20 inch side, one inch from the edge. The filling line should be 1 1/2 inches wide. Now do the same thing with the other half on the other 20 inch side. Now roll both 20 inch sides toward the middle of the dough and then using a sharp, not serrated, knife cut the dough down the middle of the two rolls. Next, pinch the edge of the dough where the two rolled sides meet to seal in the filling, leaving the two ends open. Repeat for the second roll. Next cover a cookie sheet with wax paper and then place the two rolls on it. Join the ends of the two dough rolls to form an oval. Cover and let the oval rise for aproximately one hour, again the goal is for it to double in size. Once risen bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 20 minutes.
Filling:
In a small mixing bowl, shift together the sugar, brown sugar, flour and cinnamon. Then using a pastry cutter, blend in the butter until the mixture is sort of like a paste. Set aside until dough has risen.
Icing:
In a small sauce pan, bring the milk and brown sugar to a boil. Remove from heat and sift in the confectioner sugar, keeping the mixture smooth and the sugar completely dissolved. Once the powdered sugar is added and the mixture is smooth, add the vanilla. The mixture should be thin enough that you can either pour it on the cake, or brush it on. You should only ice about 6 inches of cake at a time, so that as soon as you have iced it you can add the colored sugar before the icing hardens. Your colored sugar can be made by mixing sugar and food coloring, or you can simply by it at the grocery store. Once the cake is iced and the icing has hardened a little, place the cake on a board for a lovely presentation and place your baby or pecan under the cake. It is now ready to eat. Enjoy!
Your brother in Christ,
Faron
While a number of recipes were requested from the Christmas party last night, by far the most requested was for the King Cake. Unfortunately some of you did not get any, as it appears I did not make enough. I will, as promised, post all of the recipes, but here is the one for the King Cake this morning. King Cakes have become associated in Louisiana with Mardi Gras and they are traditionally only served from the 12th night of Christmas, which is Epiphany on January 6th to Fat Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday and the start of the Lenten Season. You can Google the history of the King Cake to read many different articles, but the main tradition associated with them that we did not have last night is the hiding of a plastic baby, or pecan, or coffee bean in or under the cake. The person who gets the slice with the trinket is then either king or queen of the party or obligated to either host the next party or bring the King Cake to the next party. Here is the recipe, enjoy!
Mardi Gras King Cake
This recipe will make one large cake, serving aproximately 35 people with a one inch slice.
Ingredients:
Cake:
2 (1/4 ounce) packages active dry yeast
1/3 c warm water (about 110 degrees F)
6 T butter (or margarine)
1/2 c sugar
3/4 c milk
1 tsp salt
6 c flour (all purpose)
3 eggs
1 T vegetable oil, plus oil for mixing bowl
Filling:
1/2 c sugar
1/2 c brown sugar
3 T flour
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup chilled butter (or margarine)
Icing:
1/3 c evaporated milk
3 T brown sugar
1 1/4 c confectioner sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
Colored sugar (green, purple and yellow)
Preparation:
Cake: Begin with shifting the flour and salt together in a large mixing bowl. Make a well in the middle and set aside. Next lightly beat the three eggs and set them aside allowing them to warm to room temperature. Now dissolve the two packages of yeast in the warm water and let stand for ten minutes. Next melt the butter and the sugar in the milk over a low to medium heat. Once melted let cool to lukewarm, or at least a temperature that won't burn your hands as you knead the dough.
With all of this ready, now dump the eggs, the yeast mixture and the milk and butter mixture into the well in the flour. Using a wooden spoon or your hands mix the ingredients until they form a dough. You can add flour a little at at time if the mixture is sticky until it is the consistency of dough. Knead the dough for 8 to 10 minutes. Form it into a ball, grease the surface of it with the oil and then place it in a lightly oiled bowl, cover it, place it some place warm with no drafts and let it rise for about an hour. The goal is for the dough ball to double in size.
Once risen, punch dough down and roll it out on a lightly floured surface. Roll it into a rectangle aproximately 10 x 20 inches, this should leave your dough aproximately 1/2 inch thick. Take your filling, place half of it down on 20 inch side, one inch from the edge. The filling line should be 1 1/2 inches wide. Now do the same thing with the other half on the other 20 inch side. Now roll both 20 inch sides toward the middle of the dough and then using a sharp, not serrated, knife cut the dough down the middle of the two rolls. Next, pinch the edge of the dough where the two rolled sides meet to seal in the filling, leaving the two ends open. Repeat for the second roll. Next cover a cookie sheet with wax paper and then place the two rolls on it. Join the ends of the two dough rolls to form an oval. Cover and let the oval rise for aproximately one hour, again the goal is for it to double in size. Once risen bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 20 minutes.
Filling:
In a small mixing bowl, shift together the sugar, brown sugar, flour and cinnamon. Then using a pastry cutter, blend in the butter until the mixture is sort of like a paste. Set aside until dough has risen.
Icing:
In a small sauce pan, bring the milk and brown sugar to a boil. Remove from heat and sift in the confectioner sugar, keeping the mixture smooth and the sugar completely dissolved. Once the powdered sugar is added and the mixture is smooth, add the vanilla. The mixture should be thin enough that you can either pour it on the cake, or brush it on. You should only ice about 6 inches of cake at a time, so that as soon as you have iced it you can add the colored sugar before the icing hardens. Your colored sugar can be made by mixing sugar and food coloring, or you can simply by it at the grocery store. Once the cake is iced and the icing has hardened a little, place the cake on a board for a lovely presentation and place your baby or pecan under the cake. It is now ready to eat. Enjoy!
Your brother in Christ,
Faron
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Sermon: Sunday, December 19, 2010
Greetings All,
Here is the audio file from Sunday, December 19th's sermon. It is titled A Contrast in Faithful Obedience and the texts are Matthew 1:18-25 and Isaiah 7:10-16.
Your brother in Christ,
Faron
Here is the audio file from Sunday, December 19th's sermon. It is titled A Contrast in Faithful Obedience and the texts are Matthew 1:18-25 and Isaiah 7:10-16.
Your brother in Christ,
Faron
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Sermon: Sunday, December 12, 2010
Greetings All,
Here is the audio file from Sunday, December 12th's sermon. It is titled Prison Doubts and the texts are Matthew 11:2-11 and Isaiah 35:3-6.
Your brother in Christ,
Faron
Here is the audio file from Sunday, December 12th's sermon. It is titled Prison Doubts and the texts are Matthew 11:2-11 and Isaiah 35:3-6.
Your brother in Christ,
Faron
Friday, December 10, 2010
Engagement Without Obstacles
Greetings All,
In quiet time this morning I was reading from the book The Lost World of Genesis One: Ancient Cosmology and the Origins Debate. It is an excellent book that tries to place Genesis One back into a context of the Ancient Near East rather than into our modern scientific debate. It looks at what Genesis One would have communicated in its ancient context when they would have absolutely no concept of our modern science or even our modern desire to understand material origins. The author John H. Walton does a great job of refocusing the discussion on what Genesis One is telling us about God rather than about the creation of the earth. When I finish I will post a review of it, but needless to say I am really enjoying it.
Today I was reading proposition seven, which is how he has organized his chapters, and it was covering day seven of creation and the meaning of Sabbath. He offered a description of the ancient understanding of rest which really struck me and I wanted to share it with y'all. He writes, "[rest results] when a crisis has been resolved or when stability has been achieved, when things have 'settled down.' This is more a matter of engagement without obstacles rather than disengagement without responsibilities." (pg. 73)
What a contrast to our modern understanding of rest. We or at least I tend to think in terms of a nap, or a vacation kicked back on the beach with no phones ringing or responsibilities calling out; rest as a concept is a sort of escape from the daily grind of life. Here it is described as an eliminating of the toil from the daily grind of life. Here we still work, but without the toil that was the curse of chapter three in Genesis. Here we are still fully engaged with life rather than escaping it; we are just experiencing it without obstacles and challenges. What a joy that would be! I can honestly say in my own life that it is never really the work I hate in life, it is the toil that is associated with it. The problems that present themselves each day and that exhaust us. As an example think of how much more tired we are after extreme emotional toil than we are after a really long day of physical labor. After a day of physical work that is straight forward and without obstacle, like splitting wood, our bodies are tired but internally we are sort of rejuvenated with a sense of accomplishment and we set down that evening with a sense of "today was very good." Now contrast that with a day that is marked by no real physical labor but where in the course of work we are wrestling with human drama, material problems with work, and a lack of time to accomplish what needs to be done. We walk in the door having perhaps spent the day seated behind a desk in a comfortable chair, but we are completely exhausted and thinking in our minds, "how can we endure another day like this?" Yes, we come in and "rest" by kicking back in our recliners or a hot bath, but our minds never stop wrestling with the obstacles.
The ancients I think had it right. Rest as engagement without obstacle. Rest as stability without drama. Rest as crisis being replaced by peace. How much different would our lives be if our rest looked like that instead of long nap or a beach vacation? Would we be willing to trade our vacation on the sand for everyday life without obstacle, drama and toil? How can we embrace this understanding of rest in our own lives? Just some thoughts.
Your brother in Christ,
Faron
In quiet time this morning I was reading from the book The Lost World of Genesis One: Ancient Cosmology and the Origins Debate. It is an excellent book that tries to place Genesis One back into a context of the Ancient Near East rather than into our modern scientific debate. It looks at what Genesis One would have communicated in its ancient context when they would have absolutely no concept of our modern science or even our modern desire to understand material origins. The author John H. Walton does a great job of refocusing the discussion on what Genesis One is telling us about God rather than about the creation of the earth. When I finish I will post a review of it, but needless to say I am really enjoying it.
Today I was reading proposition seven, which is how he has organized his chapters, and it was covering day seven of creation and the meaning of Sabbath. He offered a description of the ancient understanding of rest which really struck me and I wanted to share it with y'all. He writes, "[rest results] when a crisis has been resolved or when stability has been achieved, when things have 'settled down.' This is more a matter of engagement without obstacles rather than disengagement without responsibilities." (pg. 73)
What a contrast to our modern understanding of rest. We or at least I tend to think in terms of a nap, or a vacation kicked back on the beach with no phones ringing or responsibilities calling out; rest as a concept is a sort of escape from the daily grind of life. Here it is described as an eliminating of the toil from the daily grind of life. Here we still work, but without the toil that was the curse of chapter three in Genesis. Here we are still fully engaged with life rather than escaping it; we are just experiencing it without obstacles and challenges. What a joy that would be! I can honestly say in my own life that it is never really the work I hate in life, it is the toil that is associated with it. The problems that present themselves each day and that exhaust us. As an example think of how much more tired we are after extreme emotional toil than we are after a really long day of physical labor. After a day of physical work that is straight forward and without obstacle, like splitting wood, our bodies are tired but internally we are sort of rejuvenated with a sense of accomplishment and we set down that evening with a sense of "today was very good." Now contrast that with a day that is marked by no real physical labor but where in the course of work we are wrestling with human drama, material problems with work, and a lack of time to accomplish what needs to be done. We walk in the door having perhaps spent the day seated behind a desk in a comfortable chair, but we are completely exhausted and thinking in our minds, "how can we endure another day like this?" Yes, we come in and "rest" by kicking back in our recliners or a hot bath, but our minds never stop wrestling with the obstacles.
The ancients I think had it right. Rest as engagement without obstacle. Rest as stability without drama. Rest as crisis being replaced by peace. How much different would our lives be if our rest looked like that instead of long nap or a beach vacation? Would we be willing to trade our vacation on the sand for everyday life without obstacle, drama and toil? How can we embrace this understanding of rest in our own lives? Just some thoughts.
Your brother in Christ,
Faron
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Book Review: The Book of Pastoral Rule by St. Gregory the Great
by Saint Gregory the Great
Published by St. Vladimir's Seminary Press in 2007 as part of the Popular Patristic Series
Summary: This is a translation of the book Gregory sent in 590 A.D. to John the Archbishop of Revenna. The book is divided into four parts following a letter of introduction. Part one reflects on the issue of the qualifications of someone entering a position of spiritual leadership. Part two reflects directly upon the life of the pastor. Part three advises the pastor on 72 different conditions that influence the state of one's soul and gives him specific instruction on how to minister in each situation. The fourth part is a brief admonition for the pastor to guard against pride, especially pride centered around his preaching. This book was perhaps the most influential set of instructions on pastoral care in the Church at the time of Gregory and it still has great insight to offer pastors today.
Review: Another author I was reading quoted this book numerous times and I liked one of the quotes from the book so I ordered it to read for myself. In my quiet time I like to read one modern Church author and one ancient to keep my perspective fresh and rooted. Gregory became my ancient for the past few months and the book has been a real jewel to read. The translation employs modern language that is easy to follow and the subject matter is just as pertinent to pastors today as it was 1500 years ago. It is nice to learn once again that there really is nothing new under the sun. The first two parts are especially poignant today. For one, we don't really like to talk about qualifications for the pastorate or standards to meet because that might "question their calling" and we don't want to do that; but Gregory had no qualms about setting standards and expectations as he realized how important it was to have qualified and appropriate people in the business of caring for souls. Part three can be a little laborious after a while, but it still gives some appropriate advice and it forces us to think about the forces in opposition that can both lead to the same destruction. Over all a book all pastors should read for both inspiration from an ancient leader and for practical reasons as it will offer some very practical advice for ministry.
Reading Recommendation: YES, especially for pastors. This book gives the lay person a chance to better understand the pastoral role and the pastor practical ministry advice.
Book Review: Wisdom Chaser by Nathan Foster
by Nathan Foster
Published in 2010 by Intervarsity Press
Summary: Nathan Foster is the son of Richard J. Foster, author of Celebration of Discipline. His dad is perhaps one of the most recognizable modern Christian authors, but his lifestyle and belief system always kept Nathan at arms length. It was not until Nathan reached young adulthood that he started trying to rebuild a relationship with his father. They workshop was hiking trails up the sides of Colorado's fourteen thousand foot peaks. It is on this treks that Nathan begins to gain insight into his father and vice versa as they both pursue these goals of summiting together. This book is Nathan's recollections of those trips and his revelations after them regarding his father, himself and his future.
Review: This book was a surprise purchase for me. By surprise I mean it came in the mail from Intervarsity Press because I forgot to decline my monthly selection. It is a book I never would have purchased for myself, but my laziness about returning things through the mail gave me a sense of guilt that since I paid for it, I should read it. What a pleasant surprise. This book is a well written, engaging, passionate account of the rebuilding of this father/son relationship. It not only gives us a glimpse into Richard's and Nathan's souls, but it also causes us to reflect a little on the condition of ours. It is basically a memoir, but it clearly has spiritual implications as the reader becomes inspired to work on issues in his own life. Nathan is following well in his father's writing footsteps, making a first offering that is a superior read.
Reading Recommendation: Yes, read it to get inspired about your relationship with your parents or your relationship with your children.
Monday, December 6, 2010
Sermon: Sunday, December 5, 2010
Greetings All,
Here is the audio file from Sunday, December 5th's sermon. It is titled "The Clothes Make the Man" and the text is Matthew 3:1-12.
Your brother in Christ,
Faron
Here is the audio file from Sunday, December 5th's sermon. It is titled "The Clothes Make the Man" and the text is Matthew 3:1-12.
Your brother in Christ,
Faron
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Recipe: Cinnamon Roll French Toast
Greetings All,
This week after taking Faith to a Dr. appointment we stopped in for breakfast on our way back to school. Cracker Barrel was offering a special Christmas menu that included something they called Cinnamon French Toast. Needless to say I ordered it and sunk my teeth into sweet, yummy goodness. Oh my Lord, it was good! So amidst my esophageal ecstasy I started evaluating what all was involved so I could try to make it at home. My first attempt was making it for the kids for breakfast today amidst all of the snow and it is not an exact match, but it is my own version of total, yummy goodness. I hope you enjoy!
Your brother in Christ,
Faron
Cinnamon Roll French Toast
Ingredients:
Texas Toast (12 pieces)
5 large eggs
1 1/2 tsp. Vanilla
Syrup:
1/2 c. butter
1 c. brown sugar
2 tsp. cinnamon
Topping:
4 oz. cream cheese
1/4 c. butter
1 1/2 c. powdered sugar
3 Tbl. milk
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. lemon juice
1. First the topping. Using a mixer beat the softened cream cheese and butter. Once mixed add the vanilla and continue mixing. Add the powdered sugar 1/2 c. at a time while you continue to beat. Once all of the sugar has been mixed in add the milk and the lemon juice. Your goal is to have a thick, liquidy consistency that you can drizzle over the French Toast. Once this is made I put it in a Mason Jar that I can drizzle out of and simply pop the top on to save any left overs.
2. Next make the syrup. Melt the butter in a sauce pan on med. heat, add the brown sugar and cinnamon and mix until smooth. Remove from heat, I pour this into a separate Mason Jar as well for the very same reasons.
3. Now it is time to make the toast. Heat your griddle to 375. While it is heating mix your eggs and vanilla. Once it is hot you can fry your toast, spray the surface or melt some butter to keep things from sticking. Then soak your bread one piece at a time, leave it in the egg mix long enough on each side to not only cover but to soak into the bread like a sponge. Be careful when you take it out that it doesn't tear and put it on the griddle. Cook it on each side long enough for the egg wash to get a little crispy but the inside to still be soft.
4. Once you have two pieces cooked, place them on a plate and first drizzle the syrup over them followed by the topping. With that you are ready to serve. Sink your teeth into it while it is still warm and experience the yummy goodness of cinnamon roll French Toast.
5. Left over syrup and topping can be put in the refrigerator for next time. Once these are made it really is a simple variation on an old favorite. If you are wanting more the next morning, simply warm the two Mason Jars in the microwave, make your toast, drizzle the jars and you are eating this new favorite just as quickly as you can make regular French Toast.
This week after taking Faith to a Dr. appointment we stopped in for breakfast on our way back to school. Cracker Barrel was offering a special Christmas menu that included something they called Cinnamon French Toast. Needless to say I ordered it and sunk my teeth into sweet, yummy goodness. Oh my Lord, it was good! So amidst my esophageal ecstasy I started evaluating what all was involved so I could try to make it at home. My first attempt was making it for the kids for breakfast today amidst all of the snow and it is not an exact match, but it is my own version of total, yummy goodness. I hope you enjoy!
Your brother in Christ,
Faron
Cinnamon Roll French Toast
Ingredients:
Texas Toast (12 pieces)
5 large eggs
1 1/2 tsp. Vanilla
Syrup:
1/2 c. butter
1 c. brown sugar
2 tsp. cinnamon
Topping:
4 oz. cream cheese
1/4 c. butter
1 1/2 c. powdered sugar
3 Tbl. milk
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. lemon juice
1. First the topping. Using a mixer beat the softened cream cheese and butter. Once mixed add the vanilla and continue mixing. Add the powdered sugar 1/2 c. at a time while you continue to beat. Once all of the sugar has been mixed in add the milk and the lemon juice. Your goal is to have a thick, liquidy consistency that you can drizzle over the French Toast. Once this is made I put it in a Mason Jar that I can drizzle out of and simply pop the top on to save any left overs.
2. Next make the syrup. Melt the butter in a sauce pan on med. heat, add the brown sugar and cinnamon and mix until smooth. Remove from heat, I pour this into a separate Mason Jar as well for the very same reasons.
3. Now it is time to make the toast. Heat your griddle to 375. While it is heating mix your eggs and vanilla. Once it is hot you can fry your toast, spray the surface or melt some butter to keep things from sticking. Then soak your bread one piece at a time, leave it in the egg mix long enough on each side to not only cover but to soak into the bread like a sponge. Be careful when you take it out that it doesn't tear and put it on the griddle. Cook it on each side long enough for the egg wash to get a little crispy but the inside to still be soft.
4. Once you have two pieces cooked, place them on a plate and first drizzle the syrup over them followed by the topping. With that you are ready to serve. Sink your teeth into it while it is still warm and experience the yummy goodness of cinnamon roll French Toast.
5. Left over syrup and topping can be put in the refrigerator for next time. Once these are made it really is a simple variation on an old favorite. If you are wanting more the next morning, simply warm the two Mason Jars in the microwave, make your toast, drizzle the jars and you are eating this new favorite just as quickly as you can make regular French Toast.
Friday, December 3, 2010
Book Review: Dark Watch by Clive Cussler
by Clive Cussler with Jack Du Brul
published in 2005 by the Berkley Publishing Group
I am playing catch up on reviews as I have read six books since the last review was posted so please bear with me.
Summary: Three global political problems loom in this novel: 1) the stability of a gold backed economy when the gold reserves have been compromised, 2) piracy on the open seas, and 3) illegal immigration. Not to mention a quick excursion into the political dangers of North Korea to open the book. Juan and the Corporation crew are once again called upon from both deliberate channels and spontaneous encounter to combat the global evils that have flourish in a post-Cold War world. The book spends most of its time in Southeast Asia interacting with numerous cultures and some very controversial political issues. As they shadow floating docks around the ocean; rescue people from sinking ships and track illegal immigrants into a natural disaster riddled area the Corporation will cause you to think and inspire you to act as you flip page after page.
Review: In true Cussler fashion, Dark Watch (The Oregon Files)
leaps out of the gates with a pacing and intensity that keeps us readers on the edge of our seats as he weaves a story rooted in modern technology, current global political issues and an integrity of character that reveals ancient souls birthed in a system of honor and sacrifice. This is the third installment of the Oregon Files series, but the first with the new co-author Jack Du Brul. From the beginning of the book the reader can feel a difference from the first two. The characters are the same, but the cast has been greatly reduced and we are being given a much more intimate window into the hearts and minds of those who are left enabling us to better connect with and understand them. Where it was easier to discern Cussler material from Dirgo material in the first two. Du Brul's writing style is very similar to Cussler's and together they have woven a story stemming from a very plausible global problem that is solved in ways that are creative, inspirational and believable. The book is well paced, the intensity keeps you wanting to turn the next page, and the characterization is much more in line with what we are used to from Cussler's Pitt and Austin series.Reading Recommendation: Yes, this is the first book in the Oregon Files series that will have you really falling in love with the characters and hungering for the next installment in the series.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Book Review: Golden Buddha by Clive Cussler
by Clive Cussler with Craig Dirgo
published in 2003 by the Berkley Publishing Group
Summary: This is the first installment in the Oregon Files series which is the ongoing saga of Juan Cabrillo and The Corporation which were first introduced in the Dirk Pitt Novel Flood Tide (Dirk Pitt Adventures)
. The book begins in the past with Langston Overholt's father helping the Dali Lama escape out of Tibet as the Chinese take over the small country. The story continues in modern times with Juan and his bunch attempting to recover the golden Buddha statue that was lost in the escape so many years ago to use it in a ploy conducted by the CIA to return the Dali Lama to Tibet and reestablish it as an independent country. Intricate double crosses in the world of espionage and auctions; the greed of billionaires and the humility of a simple spiritual man have you sprinting from one side of the globe to the other anxious to see good prevail.Review: This is a first installment and it is very different than any of the other Cussler undertakings out at the time as it has nothing to do with NUMA and it is much more of a espionage thriller than a underwater thriller. The setting of the Oregon being the platform from which the Corporation operates keep the novel connected with the sea, but it is a much more shootem up style novel than you would find with Dirk Pitt or Kurt Austin. The list of characters reads much like a Tolstoy novel, basically too many to really keep track of but they are each interesting in their own way. When the series shifts to the co-authoring help of Du Brul one of the first changes you will notice is a shortening of the cast. While a good read, it lacks the pacing of a typical Cussler novel which is directly related to the issue of too many characters. Also Dirgo had been writing non-fiction with Cussler before undertaking this series and the laborious nature of non-fiction reading is present here not in an easily definable way, but it is a tangible presence none the less. While this is probably my least favorite of all Cussler novels, it is still worth a read so that you will always have the background of the characters because if you read the whole series, there is a good chance it will become your favorite Cussler series.
Reading Recommendation: Yes, not as good as the later installments in the Oregon Files series with Jack Du Brul co-authoring, but worth a read as the foundational novel of the series.
Monday, November 29, 2010
Sermon: Sunday, November 28, 2010
Greetings All,
Here is the audio file from Sunday, November 28, 2010's sermon. It is titled "Living Expectantly!" and the texts are Isaiah 2:1-5, Matthew 24:36-44, and Romans 13:11-14.
Your brother in Christ,
Faron
Here is the audio file from Sunday, November 28, 2010's sermon. It is titled "Living Expectantly!" and the texts are Isaiah 2:1-5, Matthew 24:36-44, and Romans 13:11-14.
Your brother in Christ,
Faron
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Unnatural Toil
Good morning all,
I have been decidedly absent from posting on this blog for quite a while now. Sure I have posted sermons, but the things that stir my heart and soul, the things of regular posts and even reviews of books and music and the recipes I love have been missing in action. This morning that absent ends if even for a brief moment because I had a rather intriguing thought chain this morning grown from reading Thomas Merton and having spent yesterday shopping amidst the hoards with Seth.
Thomas commenting on our lack of contemplation and pursuit of work writes, "He may permit that through no fault of our own we may have to work madly and distractedly, due to our sins, and the sins of the society in which we live. In that case we must tolerate it and make the best of what we cannot avoid. But let us not be blind to the distinction between sound, healthy work and unnatural toil."
Merton much like Wesley is a man of Scriptural immersion and so he writes with a certain echo throughout of the narrative of God. As I read this I could not help but think of the curse placed upon Adam by God after the fall. The curse that involved us toiling over the ground all of the days of our lives until we return to the very ground that we toil over. Today I am not a farmer and so I often fail to think of this "toiling" in relation to me, but Merton brought it into clear view this morning.
"Unnatural toil" is today best described as "life consuming work," work that prevents us from enjoying time with our God, time with our family, time with our friends, time for ourselves. The modern equivalent of "toiling over the ground" is the constant pursuit of jobs making more money to acquire the stuff we so desire. We slave away to be able to have that bigger, better car or house; to have nicer clothes or fancier vacations; to collect goofy things like beanie babies or Star Wars toys or Precious Moments which then gather dust on a shelf. We end up creating a lifestyle for ourselves that is dependent upon that "unnatural toil" and the curse continues.
Adam was toiling in the ground, we are toiling behind a desk, or a cash register, or in a vehicle, or with the tools of our trade in our hands. Adam's toil was simply to live, to produce the food he and his family needed, our toil is to sustain a lifestyle of material wants to which we have become a slave. As slaves we no longer have the ability to make good choices for our own lives. Our children ask, "Daddy, can you play with me; Mommy, can you come to my soccer game; Mom and Dad can we have a family night?" and we respond, "Not now, not tonight, not today, because I have to work, maybe tomorrow." The problem with being slaves to the toil is that it never ends, we think we will have time for the important things tomorrow, but tomorrow never comes and the time for the important things slips away.
There is a Christian discipline that truly combats this "unnatural toil" in our lives, it is one that we have long ago abandoned, but one which we should truly consider embracing. It is a discipline that is totally opposite of this weekend, that of "Black Friday." It is the discipline of simplicity. Of reducing all of the stuff and clutter of our lives, both material and functional. No longer do we need storage sheds to store the acquisitions of our "unnatural toil," because we realize those acquisitions are not the master we want to serve. No longer do we have to spend 60 hours a week working to acquire and suddenly we are free to respond to our children, "YES!" The master we want to serve is God and the simpler we keep our lives the easier it becomes to serve him.
Paul talks about how it is easier for a single person to serve God because they do not have conflicted priorities and they can always keep God first. He was acknowledging the reality that when we have spouses and children they demand to compete for our attention and that sometimes God is going to lose out. We all can understand the truth of this concern, just think how much more true this is when we add more and more conflicting priorities to our lives with our "unnatural toil." When we choose to simplify, to stop pursuing acquisitions and stuff, to start choosing God and family and friends, to choose having experiences over getting stuff, no longer are we slaves to our lifestyle; suddenly our "unnatural toil" becomes "healthy, fruitful work" that supports the lifestyle we live focused on God and others.
Let us choose this morning, this Advent season, this moment to transform our lifestyles to ones of work supporting our God and other focused lifestyle from ones that are enslaved by "unnatural toil."
Your brother in Christ,
Faron
I have been decidedly absent from posting on this blog for quite a while now. Sure I have posted sermons, but the things that stir my heart and soul, the things of regular posts and even reviews of books and music and the recipes I love have been missing in action. This morning that absent ends if even for a brief moment because I had a rather intriguing thought chain this morning grown from reading Thomas Merton and having spent yesterday shopping amidst the hoards with Seth.
Thomas commenting on our lack of contemplation and pursuit of work writes, "He may permit that through no fault of our own we may have to work madly and distractedly, due to our sins, and the sins of the society in which we live. In that case we must tolerate it and make the best of what we cannot avoid. But let us not be blind to the distinction between sound, healthy work and unnatural toil."
Merton much like Wesley is a man of Scriptural immersion and so he writes with a certain echo throughout of the narrative of God. As I read this I could not help but think of the curse placed upon Adam by God after the fall. The curse that involved us toiling over the ground all of the days of our lives until we return to the very ground that we toil over. Today I am not a farmer and so I often fail to think of this "toiling" in relation to me, but Merton brought it into clear view this morning.
"Unnatural toil" is today best described as "life consuming work," work that prevents us from enjoying time with our God, time with our family, time with our friends, time for ourselves. The modern equivalent of "toiling over the ground" is the constant pursuit of jobs making more money to acquire the stuff we so desire. We slave away to be able to have that bigger, better car or house; to have nicer clothes or fancier vacations; to collect goofy things like beanie babies or Star Wars toys or Precious Moments which then gather dust on a shelf. We end up creating a lifestyle for ourselves that is dependent upon that "unnatural toil" and the curse continues.
Adam was toiling in the ground, we are toiling behind a desk, or a cash register, or in a vehicle, or with the tools of our trade in our hands. Adam's toil was simply to live, to produce the food he and his family needed, our toil is to sustain a lifestyle of material wants to which we have become a slave. As slaves we no longer have the ability to make good choices for our own lives. Our children ask, "Daddy, can you play with me; Mommy, can you come to my soccer game; Mom and Dad can we have a family night?" and we respond, "Not now, not tonight, not today, because I have to work, maybe tomorrow." The problem with being slaves to the toil is that it never ends, we think we will have time for the important things tomorrow, but tomorrow never comes and the time for the important things slips away.
There is a Christian discipline that truly combats this "unnatural toil" in our lives, it is one that we have long ago abandoned, but one which we should truly consider embracing. It is a discipline that is totally opposite of this weekend, that of "Black Friday." It is the discipline of simplicity. Of reducing all of the stuff and clutter of our lives, both material and functional. No longer do we need storage sheds to store the acquisitions of our "unnatural toil," because we realize those acquisitions are not the master we want to serve. No longer do we have to spend 60 hours a week working to acquire and suddenly we are free to respond to our children, "YES!" The master we want to serve is God and the simpler we keep our lives the easier it becomes to serve him.
Paul talks about how it is easier for a single person to serve God because they do not have conflicted priorities and they can always keep God first. He was acknowledging the reality that when we have spouses and children they demand to compete for our attention and that sometimes God is going to lose out. We all can understand the truth of this concern, just think how much more true this is when we add more and more conflicting priorities to our lives with our "unnatural toil." When we choose to simplify, to stop pursuing acquisitions and stuff, to start choosing God and family and friends, to choose having experiences over getting stuff, no longer are we slaves to our lifestyle; suddenly our "unnatural toil" becomes "healthy, fruitful work" that supports the lifestyle we live focused on God and others.
Let us choose this morning, this Advent season, this moment to transform our lifestyles to ones of work supporting our God and other focused lifestyle from ones that are enslaved by "unnatural toil."
Your brother in Christ,
Faron
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Sermon: Sunday, November 21, 2010
Greetings All,
Here is the link to the audio file from November 21st's sermon. It is titled "Time Keeps on Ticking..." and the texts are Jeremiah 23:1-6 and Colossians 1:11-20.
Your brother in Christ,
Pastor Faron
Here is the link to the audio file from November 21st's sermon. It is titled "Time Keeps on Ticking..." and the texts are Jeremiah 23:1-6 and Colossians 1:11-20.
Your brother in Christ,
Pastor Faron
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Sermon: Audio File from Sunday, November 14, 2010
Greetings All,
Below is the audio file from November 14th's sermon. It is titled "In the Mean Time..." and the texts are Luke 21:5-19 and Isaiah 65: 17-25.
Your brother in Christ,
Faron
Below is the audio file from November 14th's sermon. It is titled "In the Mean Time..." and the texts are Luke 21:5-19 and Isaiah 65: 17-25.
Your brother in Christ,
Faron
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Sermon: Audio File from Sunday, November 7, 2010
Greetings All,
Below is the audio file from November 7th's sermon. It is titled "Fixing Theology and Focus!" and the texts are Luke 20:27-38 and 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17.
Your brother in Christ,
Faron
Below is the audio file from November 7th's sermon. It is titled "Fixing Theology and Focus!" and the texts are Luke 20:27-38 and 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17.
Your brother in Christ,
Faron
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Sermon: Audio File from Sunday, October 31, 2010
Greetings All,
Here is the audio file from Sunday, October 31, 2010. It is titled "A Haunting Phrase!" and the texts are Isaiah 1:10-18 and Luke 19:1-10.
Your brother in Christ,
Faron
Here is the audio file from Sunday, October 31, 2010. It is titled "A Haunting Phrase!" and the texts are Isaiah 1:10-18 and Luke 19:1-10.
Your brother in Christ,
Faron
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Sermon: Audio File from Sunday, October 24, 2010
Greetings All,
Here is the audio file from Sunday, October 24, 2010's sermon. It is titled Commitments! and the texts are 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18 and Psalm 84:1-7.
Your brother in Christ,
Faron
Here is the audio file from Sunday, October 24, 2010's sermon. It is titled Commitments! and the texts are 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18 and Psalm 84:1-7.
Your brother in Christ,
Faron
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Sermon: Audio File from Sunday, October 10, 2010
Greetings All,
Sorry for the delay, out of sight, out of mind. Here is the audio file from the Sunday, October 10, 2010's sermon. It is titled Spiritual Resources for the Long Haul! and the texts are Jeremiah 29:1-14, Luke 17:11-19, and 2 Timothy 2:8-15.
Your brother in Christ,
Faron
Sorry for the delay, out of sight, out of mind. Here is the audio file from the Sunday, October 10, 2010's sermon. It is titled Spiritual Resources for the Long Haul! and the texts are Jeremiah 29:1-14, Luke 17:11-19, and 2 Timothy 2:8-15.
Your brother in Christ,
Faron
Thursday, September 30, 2010
A Somewhat Structured Random Thought
Greetings All,
This morning over quiet time I have been reading a new book that I sort of acquired by accident. It is called Wisdom Chaser: Finding My Father at 14,000 Feet and it is written by the son of Richard Foster of Celebration of Discipline fame. It is a book I would never have intentionally purchased or for that matter intentionally read, but it came in the mail, I was too lazy to send it back so I figured I might as well read it and I must admit I am really enjoying it. There will be a book review to come, but the book is not my structured random thought for the morning. My structured random thought for the morning involves Richard's book.
I was nine years old when Celebration of Discipline was written and my prayer life consisted of "Now I lay me down to sleep" and "God is great, God is good, let us thank him for our food." The thought of silence or fasting or simplicity, never entered my mind. All nine year olds are loud, hungry and yearning for more stuff, especially of the GI Joe variety; so it was not until much later, in fact 25 years later that I discovered Mr. Foster's book. If you haven't read it, you need too because it is the most influential modern Christian book of probably the last 80 years. It is a book that explains the historic spiritual disciplines of Christianty and teaches us how to employ them in our lives to deepen our relationship with God. Foster is a Quaker so it is very much in that spirit of quietness and listening and humility and if you let allow it to seep in you will find the book changing your life.
In reading his son Nathan's book about reconnecting with his father I had one of those "a ha" moments. One of those moments where the sun shines just right and you discover a sparkly treasure hidden in the tall grass that a moment ago or a moment ahead would have never been found; and due to the elusive nature of thoughts like that I decided I better go ahead and write it down. It really isn't that original of a thought, it just struck me this morning in a really powerful way as a commentary on not only my life but the Christian world around us.
I would have to look up statistics, but I would venture to guess that Celebration of Discipline is the most consistent selling Christian book every year over the last 32 years. It probably hasn't exceeded sales of flash in the pan books like The Shack or The Purpose Driven Life, but I would venture to say that it continues to sell volumes at a slow and steady pace and will do so for decades to come. It is a book about slowing down, simplifying life, about restructuring our priorities to find more of God. In short it is a book about "being," and embraces timeless Christian values that many Christian's today have either forgotten or never knew they were values to start with. The random thought was in contrasting Celebration of Discipline with our modern Christian best sellers like The Purpose Driven Life, or Your Best Life Now.
No longer is it enough in the Christian life that God created me to be me and to discover that in an unfolding way over a lifetime; now we have to have been created for a specific purpose to accomplish something and we need it NOW! The values of the world have silently slipped into mainstream Christianity and we don't even realize the damage it is doing. Having been in the business I world I have spent years being "driven," of pursuing a "purpose," of setting goals and plans to get what I want if not now, pretty darn soon! You know what I discovered? There is little satisfaction in any of that. Once I attain my purpose or accomplish my goal, rather than reveling in the moment of success I am already looking for the next purpose, the next goal to accomplish, the next flash in the pan book to inspire me to be something new.
The only real satisfaction in life comes from recognizing that we were created to be children of God! Does He have stuff He wants us to accomplish? Yes, but that is secondary, even tertiary to us being His children. Life as a Christian is better than life without Christ, not because we won't have problems and we will have prosperity (those are both lies of material driven Christianity), but because God is with us when things are bad and when they are good. We are His children and He revels in us and likewise we should find the time to revel in Him. Foster was trying to remind us of that in 1978, but best lives and purposes have drowned out that voice at times. We need to find those moments in our life where it is enough to just be; to just be content with who we are as Children of God; to just be content with moments spent with our loved ones porchsitting or snuggling rather than "doing;" to just be content with what we have rather than take time away from God and our family pursuing more.
They say art and literature imitate life. I think that has become the case as we look at the more recent successful Christian books. No longer are we looking for those "disciplines" to draw us closer to God; rather now we are looking for those formulas for success that will give us satisfaction and fulfillment immediately so we can put the notch on our belt and begin to pursue the next level of satisfaction.
Lord, I pray today that you open our eyes to the truth that life in you should be traveled at a slow and steady pace. Constantly with our eyes on you, but at a pace where we can appreciate the beauty of the scenery, the refreshing of the conversation in the moment, the serendipity of the unexpected breeze or traveler on the same path. Lord help us to see that to simply be Your children is enough and then inspire us to share that truth with others that they might come to that place of contentment and joy that is being yours. In the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
Your brother in Christ,
Faron
This morning over quiet time I have been reading a new book that I sort of acquired by accident. It is called Wisdom Chaser: Finding My Father at 14,000 Feet and it is written by the son of Richard Foster of Celebration of Discipline fame. It is a book I would never have intentionally purchased or for that matter intentionally read, but it came in the mail, I was too lazy to send it back so I figured I might as well read it and I must admit I am really enjoying it. There will be a book review to come, but the book is not my structured random thought for the morning. My structured random thought for the morning involves Richard's book.
I was nine years old when Celebration of Discipline was written and my prayer life consisted of "Now I lay me down to sleep" and "God is great, God is good, let us thank him for our food." The thought of silence or fasting or simplicity, never entered my mind. All nine year olds are loud, hungry and yearning for more stuff, especially of the GI Joe variety; so it was not until much later, in fact 25 years later that I discovered Mr. Foster's book. If you haven't read it, you need too because it is the most influential modern Christian book of probably the last 80 years. It is a book that explains the historic spiritual disciplines of Christianty and teaches us how to employ them in our lives to deepen our relationship with God. Foster is a Quaker so it is very much in that spirit of quietness and listening and humility and if you let allow it to seep in you will find the book changing your life.
In reading his son Nathan's book about reconnecting with his father I had one of those "a ha" moments. One of those moments where the sun shines just right and you discover a sparkly treasure hidden in the tall grass that a moment ago or a moment ahead would have never been found; and due to the elusive nature of thoughts like that I decided I better go ahead and write it down. It really isn't that original of a thought, it just struck me this morning in a really powerful way as a commentary on not only my life but the Christian world around us.
I would have to look up statistics, but I would venture to guess that Celebration of Discipline is the most consistent selling Christian book every year over the last 32 years. It probably hasn't exceeded sales of flash in the pan books like The Shack or The Purpose Driven Life, but I would venture to say that it continues to sell volumes at a slow and steady pace and will do so for decades to come. It is a book about slowing down, simplifying life, about restructuring our priorities to find more of God. In short it is a book about "being," and embraces timeless Christian values that many Christian's today have either forgotten or never knew they were values to start with. The random thought was in contrasting Celebration of Discipline with our modern Christian best sellers like The Purpose Driven Life, or Your Best Life Now.
No longer is it enough in the Christian life that God created me to be me and to discover that in an unfolding way over a lifetime; now we have to have been created for a specific purpose to accomplish something and we need it NOW! The values of the world have silently slipped into mainstream Christianity and we don't even realize the damage it is doing. Having been in the business I world I have spent years being "driven," of pursuing a "purpose," of setting goals and plans to get what I want if not now, pretty darn soon! You know what I discovered? There is little satisfaction in any of that. Once I attain my purpose or accomplish my goal, rather than reveling in the moment of success I am already looking for the next purpose, the next goal to accomplish, the next flash in the pan book to inspire me to be something new.
The only real satisfaction in life comes from recognizing that we were created to be children of God! Does He have stuff He wants us to accomplish? Yes, but that is secondary, even tertiary to us being His children. Life as a Christian is better than life without Christ, not because we won't have problems and we will have prosperity (those are both lies of material driven Christianity), but because God is with us when things are bad and when they are good. We are His children and He revels in us and likewise we should find the time to revel in Him. Foster was trying to remind us of that in 1978, but best lives and purposes have drowned out that voice at times. We need to find those moments in our life where it is enough to just be; to just be content with who we are as Children of God; to just be content with moments spent with our loved ones porchsitting or snuggling rather than "doing;" to just be content with what we have rather than take time away from God and our family pursuing more.
They say art and literature imitate life. I think that has become the case as we look at the more recent successful Christian books. No longer are we looking for those "disciplines" to draw us closer to God; rather now we are looking for those formulas for success that will give us satisfaction and fulfillment immediately so we can put the notch on our belt and begin to pursue the next level of satisfaction.
Lord, I pray today that you open our eyes to the truth that life in you should be traveled at a slow and steady pace. Constantly with our eyes on you, but at a pace where we can appreciate the beauty of the scenery, the refreshing of the conversation in the moment, the serendipity of the unexpected breeze or traveler on the same path. Lord help us to see that to simply be Your children is enough and then inspire us to share that truth with others that they might come to that place of contentment and joy that is being yours. In the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
Your brother in Christ,
Faron
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Sermon: Audio file from Sunday, September 26, 2010
Greetings All,
Below is the audio file from the sermon on Sunday, September 26, 2010. It is titled Sharing Our Greatest Resource! and the texts are 1 Timothy 6:6-18; Luke 16:19-31 and Jeremiah 32:1-3, 6-15.
Your brother in Christ,
Faron
Below is the audio file from the sermon on Sunday, September 26, 2010. It is titled Sharing Our Greatest Resource! and the texts are 1 Timothy 6:6-18; Luke 16:19-31 and Jeremiah 32:1-3, 6-15.
Your brother in Christ,
Faron
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Book Review: Run with the Horses: The Quest for Life at Its Best
by Eugene Peterson
published in 1983 and in 2009 by Intervartisty Press
Summary: Eugene Peterson, the translator of The Message, has been writing books for decades and this is a reprint of a classic of his on its 25th anniversary. Peterson has a driving theme in many of his books, if not most, of how we need to slow down on all of frenetic doing to spend some time just being with God to give Him time to transform us. This book captures that very idea. Using the story of Jeremiah the prophet Eugene paints a picture of how we can live our life to the fullest for God. Long before The Purpose Driven Life or Your Best Life Now Peterson was deliberately using scripture to paint a picture for us of how we can live for God. The title is derived from God's chastisement of Jeremiah when he is complaining that he is tired of dealing with men. God tells him that if you can't run a footrace with men, how then do you expect to run with horses? If you get worn out by the little stuff, then how do you ever expect to do the big stuff for me? That is the drive of the book, how to live in a way to prepare ourselves to be able to run with the horses when God calls us to exactly that.
Review: This is classic Peterson. It richly and properly uses the narrative of scripture to inform us as to how we should live our lives. Using Jeremiah as our example he writes in a manner which makes theology practical. He makes strong observations from the text of both Jeremiah and Lamentations that he then communicates in a way that is not only eash for us to understand but also for us to apply to our lives. Peterson is a reader, a writer, an artist and a poet and all of those influences work together to create a book that is a wonderful, inspiring read.
Reading Reccomendation: YES, whether it is the orignal copy or the reprint. One thing to note with the reprint is that he has chosen to use The Message for all of his scripture quotations, which makes it even easier to read.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Sermon: Sunday, September 19, 2010
Greetings All,
Here is the audio file for the sermon from Sunday, September 19, 2010. It is titled Let's Talk About Money! and the text is Luke 16:1-13.
Your brother in Christ,
Faron
Here is the audio file for the sermon from Sunday, September 19, 2010. It is titled Let's Talk About Money! and the text is Luke 16:1-13.
Your brother in Christ,
Faron
Book Review: Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment
by James Patterson
published in 2007 by Little, Brown and Company
Summary: This is the first book in a series written for teens about genetically altered kids and teenagers who are out in the world with no one but each other to look out for them, but with an adult sized mission: To Save The World! The book is centered around six characters: Maximum Ride (the 14 year old leader), Fang, Iggy, Nudge, the Gassman and Angel. They have all had bird DNA grafted into theirs, so at a minimum they all have wings and can fly, but as the story unfolds many of them start to discover they have other abilities as well. Angel who is only six is captured by the Erasers, wolf men who work for the school that created the six and from which they escaped, and the other five set out to rescue her. In the process they decide to try and uncover some of the secrets of their past. The story moves from the west coast to the east at a pace that will leave you a bit breathless as you travel with this extraordinary young people.
Review: Declan wanted to read this book and asked me to read it with him like I read with Little Faron, so I agreed. The more he read, the more excited he got about it and as I started to read I can totally see why. I finished it in three days. It was a quick read with enjoyable characters, an intriguing plot line and plenty of action. I can especially see how a young person would really enjoy this book as it depicts really empowered folks just like them. Teenagers who aren't normal and constantly feel separated from everything, much like many teenagers and young people feel in the real world. This book would provide them an imaginative escape and characters they can relate to all the while being inspired to do something great. Previously I had only read some of Patterson's adult novels, in particular the Alex Cross stuff which I found to be pretty disturbing. I always enjoyed his writing style just not the graphic nature of his content. This book is very different, it has all of the joy of his writing style but none of the graphic imagery or disturbing subject matter. Assuming you don't consider genetically altering babies disturbing. This is an excellent start to what should be a good series. If you have a young person in the house, pick up two copies and enjoy a good read together.
Reading Recommendation: YES!
Friday, September 17, 2010
Book Review: The Mediterranean Caper
by Clive Cussler
originally published in 1977 by Bantam
Summary: This is the first installment published of the Dirk Pitt series of adventure novels which with the release of Crescent Dawn on November 16, 2010 will total twenty-one books. This is by far my favorite series of adventure books in all the world. Dirk Pitt is a hero that is larger than life and driven by a moral center rooted in honor, integrity and doing the right thing. He always gets his man, gets the girl and gets a cool antique car. This is the novel that started it all. Later Pitt novels begin with an incident that occurs in the past and then moves to Dirk and present day where that past event will have a dramatic effect in the present. The Mediterranean Caper (Dirk Pitt Adventure)
begins a little different, it begins in the present day but with an Air Force Base on the Mediterranean island of Thasos being attacked by a World War I biplane. The past comes to impact the present and had Dirk and his sidekick Al Giordino not arrived in time the biplane would have destroyed much more than it did. The attack is their introduction to a mystery that has been impacting the NUMA expedition off the coast which Dirk and Al must uncover. The adventure takes the reader from the skies to under the seas; from the cabins of oceangoing scientists to the elegantly set table of a rich German baron and his beautiful niece as Dirk sets to unraveling the diabolical plans of a villain who has been plaguing the world since the first world war.Review: It is rare that I go back and reread books, but Little Faron has wanted to read the Dirk Pitt series from the beginning so I have gone back with him. It is refreshing to return to the beginning of a series that I have been reading for more than twenty years. This is a younger, rawer, less refined Dirk Pitt than the one you encounter in the most recent novels. He is as much driven by rage and pride as he is by his moral compass. He is still larger than life, but he is for lack of a better word "mortal." He bleeds, he aches, he gets tired, but he still wins in the end. To reread the starting point is to see just how far Dirk has come as a character and Cussler has come as an author. His writing style is more refined and formulaic today than it is in Caper, but Caper reads with the pace and anticipatory excitement of all Dirk Pitt novels. It is a great read and a great start to an iconic series.
Reading Recommendation: YES, grab a copy, curl up in your recliner and spend a few hours getting lost in the Mediterranean with a hero who is always worth your time to read.
Book Review: The Lost Symbol
by Dan Brown
published in 2009 by Double Day
Summary: Well I continue to be behind in posting book reviews as I have read three or four more since I finished this one. It is amazing how much you can get read on a treadmill early in the morning. This is Dan Brown's fifth book, the third in the series of books involving Robert Langdon. The story opens with Langdon aboard a private jet descending upon the Washington D.C. landscape. He is being hosted by his friend and mentor Peter Solomon, a man of notable wealth and a 33rd level Mason, who has asked him to come in a speak at a Smithsonian function, so he thinks. The plot begins in earnest as soon as Langdon discovers that his host is not Solomon, but a calculatingly, patient and evil man who is determined to use Langdon to decipher ancient Mason symbology to reveal their most ancient, hidden secret. Working with Peter's sister Katherine, a beautiful and brilliant noetic scientist, the architect of the Capital Building and very "interesting" CIA director Langdon sets out to rescue Peter and protect both the Masons and the nation.
Review: I have read all of Brown's Robert Langdon books and found them to be quite enjoyable reads. They intertwine history, philosophy, religion and conspiracy theory and if one will always remember first and foremost that they are works of FICTION then you can enjoy all of them. The subject of The Lost Symbol (Robert Langdon, No. 3)
is the Masons. I am not sure there is a religious organization with public perception that is more one of secrecy and misunderstanding and Brown crafts a novel that makes use of all the mistrust that has been bread over the ages, while at the same time casting them in a very positive light. The story line is very tight and moves at such a pace that you don't want to put the book down. All of the events of the book take place in basically a twenty-four hour period. Langdon continues to be an engaging, likable, intelligent character but with great depth of personality. Katherine is a nice addition as the beautiful, yet brilliant side kick and one can't help but like Peter Solomon, wealthy, smart, dynastic yet humble and serving. The character kudos, however, goes to the villain of the novel. There is a depth of layers that unravel of this devious, manipulative, calculating sociopath that draws you deeper into the story truly hating him.Brown has once again done his homework and the book is full of rich descriptions of Washington D.C. and Masonic legends and history. Not being a knowledgeable scholar on Masonic history I cannot comment about the factuality of some of the material, but I can offer comment on how he used similar material in The Da Vinci Code
. This book like the Code, opens with a note about a factual historical document; what he does not tell you in the Code is that all of historical documents are products of the heretical factions within the church. They have never been considered authoritative and are nothing more than legend and bad theology that has been rejected by the Church from early on. The challenge of conspiracy theorists is that anything can be used to fuel their beliefs. One could even use the Bible to craft conspiracy theories, anything can be twisted to an alternate purpose. I share that to again reiterate that it is a great FICTION read, enjoy it as such and if you want to learn more about the Masons go get a scholarly history on the Masons.Reading Recommendation: Yes, a great FICTION read!
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