Author: Sarah Joy Albrecht

Ron Paul outlines his agenda and goals as he prepares to run for President.

This time of year, everyone is giving gifts. Someone posted this good question to the Moms of Grace list. My reply is below.

I exchange Christmas gifts every year with an old friend who has recently become Wiccan. (Yes, she still celebrates Christmas.) So here’s my question: would you purchase something that includes her religion, or, as a Christian, would you avoid it? Specifically, I found a book about gardening online that I think she’d love– my objection to the book is that it talks about “connecting with the garden goddess”, and it is listed on Amazon as a Wiccan book. I’m having a hard time deciding… I don’t support her Wiccan beliefs, yet, I feel like this book is totally “her” and would be a great gift.

What would you do?

First, I’m really proud of you for continuing to have a friend even though she has become a Wiccan. So many Christians run away when people make sinful decisions – everything from having a baby out of wedlock, getting involved with an addiction, having an affair, etc. It is in these times that we need to reach out even more to our friends. The way of the sinner is hard, and guess who has the light?

Second, I’m proud of you that you are not only still talking to her, but still loving her.. thinking of the things that she enjoys.

That being said, I’d avoid encouraging her in her worship of a false gods. It doesn’t mean that you necessarily have to purchase a Christian book on gardening with Bible verses all over it, but I would not intentionally give her a book that send mixed messages. It’s very hard not to compromise, but I would consider verses like

Revelations 3:15-16 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

Matthew 5: 9-20 “Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

We need to be careful not to send mixed signals. What does the fruit look like? Everything we do has “fruit” so to speak. What is the fruit of giving something that promotes Wicca? Be careful to only present her with Truth.

1 John 1:5 This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.

Also, I think that the fact that you are questioning whether or not it would be right to give your friend this gift is proof that your conscience is telling you something. Even if no one here could think of a reason why you shouldn’t give her the gift, if your conscience is causing you to have doubts, listen to it! Don’t sin against it.

Romans 14:13-14 Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this–not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother’s way. I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself; but to him who thinks anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean.

There have to be other great gifts out there for your friend! I’m a gardener and I can’t wait to do worm composting – in my basement! Here’s a book I’m looking forward to reading: Worms Eat My Garbage

I think Christians have misperceptions of Wicca and Wiccans have misperceptions of Christians. It may be good to study what she believes – even asking her to loan you a book or two that has influenced her, so you at least know where she is coming from.

Two common misperceptions I hear from Wiccans is that Christianity is degrading to women, and the second is that they do not care about the earth and the environment. It might be true that individual Christians error in these ways, but the Bible is very clear on these issues. Think of ways to talk with her instead of past her.

As you look for ways to dialog with your friend, knowing that she has a heart for caring for the earth – a gardener- you might consider studying what the Bible says about the earth and how we are to be stewards of the earth.

I will be praying for you as you reach out to your friend!

Much love,
Sarah Joy Albrecht

Let’s just say that there are some toddler-created poop messes that, when you see them, you just know that there is NO WAY to clean them up without getting said fecal matter on your hands… and maybe your favorite jeans.

Today I am thankful for sweet-smelling, deep cleaning hand soap, Arm & Hammer HE laundry soap, and my faithful GE Frontloading washing machine – which is certainly the best tool for the job.

Oh yes, and I’m thankful for my stinky little guy… but I sure hope that he tries a little harder to hit the potty next time! And, if the poor fellow doesn’t, that he’ll remember to call me from the bathroom instead of freaking out and tracking his mess across the oriental rug, down the steps, all the way to the dining room. This way, perhaps the other children won’t have to step in it as they try to be (read fight over) the first to inform me about the event.

I think it’s time to go back and read the “poop mess” referencing, “If You Give a Mom A Cookie”, which is, coincidentally, located in my links :)

By the way, I did find a remedy for ‘potty talk’ : Make the offending kid HELP with the cleaning the poop mess. They truly just don’t understand the meaning of the words coming out of their mouths without this experience. And, upon the threat of having to clean up the next poop mess – because there will always be a next time – it does cause them to think twice before joking about poop. Oh yeah, and if you’re lucky, they’ll tell the other kids about their horrible experience and suddenly the poop-jokes will disappear… for a little while at least. No worries, though. So long as there are little ones in the house, there will always be the looming threat of “next time”.

UPDATE:

This post was written during Ron Paul’s presidential campaign.

To my delight, I since still get a significant amount of blog traffic for the search terms “Ron Paul” and “Slim Jim”.

If you’re looking for issue-specific slimjims, go to the Campaign for Liberty website’s store. They are listed under “Campaign for Liberty Slim Jims” and you can select the set you’d like. Choices are : Sound Money/Economic Freedom, Foreign Policy, and Personal Freedom/Civil Liberties .

There are fliers to download available here: http://www.campaignforliberty.com/handouts.php

As of today, August 28, 2009, the Rand Paul store is not yet open. However, the link placeholder is here: http://www.randpaul2010.com/store/

Get connected:

-Become a member of Campaign for Liberty and be a C4L leader in your community: https://www.campaignforliberty.com/signup.php
-Join a Meet-Up group near you

Please be sure to check out the rest of my blog while you’re here! :) Thanks for visiting.

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ORIGINAL POST:

This is very, very cool.

Affordable:
$5.00 for one pack of 100 slim jims
2-4 packs for $4.00/each
5+ packs for $3.00/each

Four of the new slim jims are issue-specific and great for introducing your family, friends, and total strangers to Dr. Ron Paul’s consistent stands on the issues. The remaining two are student-oriented and perfect for spreading the liberty message on campuses all over the country.

The new slim jims are:

– Health Care and Health Freedom
– For Life and Liberty
– Gun Owners for Paul
– Secure Our Borders
– Ron Paul “Revolution” Student Slim Jim
– Ron Paul “Ronald Reagan” Student Slim Jim

Make sure to order yours today and pass them out wherever and whenever you can. Slim jims are one of the best ways to quickly spread the word on Dr. Paul.

A Foreign Policy of Freedom features speeches and writings beginning with Dr. Paul’s first term in Congress and continuing through the present day. This would be a great gift for friends and family during the holiday season.

You can find the new slim jims at the official Ron Paul 2008 Store

And you can also check out A Foreign Policy of Freedom while you’re there!

This recipe is inspired by the Georgia Pork and Peanut recipe in the Chili Nation cookbook by Jane and Michael Stern.

My Mods: I made some changes to the intensity of the heat and added a few ingredients (beef, cilantro) and changed the way the peanuts are added – I reserved some to be added whole for texture and also added the onions toward the end to keep them al dente.

Flavor: Before I tried this, I was scared it would taste like a Thai peanut sauce with meat chunks over rice! But, not so. In fact, I was pleasantly surprised by the delicateness of the peanut flavor. This chili is mildly sweet, like a curry dish, only spiced with cumin instead of curry paste. The heat is intentionally mild, as I tweaked it for my spice-sensitive picky eaters. Heat-lovin’ mommies and daddies might be compelled to add hot sauce to their bowl!

Texture: The ground peanuts make this chili very thick and hearty – more filling than other chili recipes I have tried.

Random fact:It might seem weird to add peanuts to chili, but peanuts are actually a legume… yeah, as in they’re in the “bean family” alongside beans you’d normally expect to see in a chili recipe.

Sarah Joy’s Nutty Chili Recipe

2 lb cubed London broil (1/2 in. cubes)
2 lb cubed pork (1/2 in. cubes)
4 dried chili peppers (about 4 in” in length)
2 14oz cans unseasoned tomato sauce
1 chopped onion (about 1 cup)
2 14oz cans diced tomatoes with juice
4 garlic cloves, minced
4 tbsp canola oil (can use other cooking oils)
2 tsp ground cumin
2 tsp salt
2 tbsp sugar
2 cups chicken broth (or 1 14 oz. can)
2 2/3 cups unsalted, roasted shelled peanuts (save out 2/3 cup)
1 tbsp minced fresh cilantro

steamed short-grained rice
hot sauce
sour cream / plain yogurt
cheddar cheese

Note: This recipe can be halved and frozen for later. This made enough chili for two hearty meals for our family of seven.

1. Place the chilies in a large, heat-proof bowl and cover with boiling water. Let stand for 30 minutes, until soft. Then, seed and stem them.
2. Place the prepared chilies, 2 cups peanuts, diced tomatoes and tomato sauce in a food processor. Puree thoroughly.
3. Sauté the onions and set aside
4. Sauté garlic
5. Add the meat to the garlic and sauté some more
6. Add the spices, puree, broth, onions and sugar, remaining 2/3 cup peanuts
7. Simmer on low heat for 20 minutes or until thickened and peanuts are softened
8. Add minced fresh cilantro just before serving

Serve over steamed rice.
Top with hot sauce, sour cream (or plain yogurt) and cheddar cheese as desired.

* * *

Chili Nation is my favorite chili cookbook. The recipes are easy to prepare, yet please the palate of a chili enthusiast. The authors chose recipes from each state, and the very interesting story behind each recipe is recorded in the book. A few years back, the men in my husband’s Bible study took turns making a different recipe every week and brought them to share. All were excellent! My staple weeknight chili recipe from Chili Nation is the Tigua Indian Definitive Bowl of Red. It’s a spicy beef chili without beans. It gets its deep reddish color from several tablespoons of chili powder.