Thanks, Please Pass the Turkey!

Why Do We Eat Turkey on Thanksgiving?

Whether your family goes with the standard holiday fare or you have that weird cousin who insists on trying odd new dishes on the last Thursday of November (just to be clear: we don’t need any odd foreign ingredients or new age vegetables inserted into our stuffing – please stop messing with a perfect formula), turkey remains the star of all Thanksgiving meals. But why? Why not chicken or ham or pork or even fish?

Unfortunately, the truth is rather anticlimactic. The real reason turkey was served among several other meats at the first Thanksgiving was merely because it was available.

Edward Winslow’s A Journal of the Pilgrims at Plymouth (dated 1621) references deer and some fowl being hunted for the feast and William Bradford’s “Of Plymouth Plantation” also carries a mention of hunting parties going in search of wild birds before the meal but neither document offers any hilarious “and the Gods decreed turkey to hold the cure for old age!” belief.

Colonists went after turkey in the late fall because they just needed additional food and the big gobbler was one of the few available sources of meat. However, there is some logic that explains why turkeys became and remained the centerpiece of choice for late fall feasts beyond “well, because they were there”:

1. unlike chickens with their eggs and cows with milk – both in the colonial era and at present – turkeys (whether wild or raised on a farm) do not provide anything substantial to humans other than meat and to slaughter them carries no real economic repercussions
2. turkeys were cheaper than chickens, larger than quail, and much easier to hunt than geese
3. turkeys born in the spring would usually grow to ideal eating size just in time for the fall holidays, meaning no time, money, or food was expended to keep turkeys around just to slaughter them later (once they were primed to be eaten, it was time to eat them)      - Article by Justin Brown

 

As we eat turkey, let’s be thankful!

…They did not honor Him as God or give thanks.(romans 1) Clearly, honoring God as God leads us naturally into thankfulness. To honor Him as God is to honor His limitless love, His benevolence and care, His provision and uncountable gifts. To fail in thankfulness is to fail to honor God — and this is the biblical description of fallen and sinful humanity. We are a thankless lot.

Sinners saved by the grace and mercy of God know a thankfulness that exceeds any merely human thankfulness. How do we express thankfulness for the provision the Father has made for us in Christ, the riches that are made ours in Him, and the unspeakable gift of the surpassing grace of God? As Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift” [2 Corinthians 9:15].

So, observe a wonderful Thanksgiving — but realize that a proper Christian Thanksgiving is a deeply theological act that requires an active mind as well as a thankful heart. We need to think deeply, widely, carefully, and faithfully about the countless reasons for our thankfulness to God.

It is humbling to see that Paul so explicitly links a lack of thankfulness to sin, foolishness, and idolatry. A lack of proper thankfulness to God is a clear sign of a basic godlessness. Millions of Americans will celebrate Thanksgiving with little consciousness of this truth. Their impulse to express gratitude is a sign of their spiritual need that can be met only in Christ.

So have a very Happy Thanksgiving — and remember that giving thanks is one of the most explicitly theological acts any human can contemplate. O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His lovingkindness is everlasting [1 Chronicles 16:34]. Give thanks.     - Article by Al Mohler

 

What if…?

Tomorrow is the day when we traditionally give thanks for God’s kindnesses to us.  We certainly have many reasons to be thankful.  But have you ever stopped to consider how differently your life could have turned out?  I can think of any number of ways that my life could be different:

What if I had gone somewhere else for college?

What if Lori had chosen not to go to Wisconsin with YWAM (where we met), but had chosen one of the 49 other states?

What if some of my near-miss driving accidents hadn’t missed?

What if my parents hadn’t divorced?

What if we could not have children?

These are just a small number of the millions of options to our lives.  What if I were born in 1874 instead of 1974?  What if I were born in India instead of Iowa?  What if I had never heard the gospel?  Even briefly considering these questions should help us to realize that our lives are not firmly under our control–there is very little over which we have any say.  God places us where he wills, when he wills.  He gifts us, he sustains us, and he ordains every moment of our days.  How are you thankful for the sovereign goodness of God in your life?

 

Hey Kids!

Crossway kids, here is another opportunity to win a free Sovereign Grace kids CD!  I have 2 copies of the album, “To be like Jesus“ that I’d love to give to the first 2 children (11 and under) who are attenders at Crossway Church and who can answer correctly the following questions:

1. What is the type of tree that Zacchaeus (the little man who wanted to see Jesus) climbed up into? 
   • You’ll need to search in the Gospel according to Luke to find this answer .
2. Complete this line from a song we sing often on Sunday mornings: “You give and take away, you give and take away, my heart will choose to say _____   ______  ______  _____  _____” (5 words!)
3. What kind of food does Mr. Privitera love best?
4. Why is it impossible for us to go to heaven by doing good things?

To answer these questions, click on THIS LINK and send an email to me.  Make sure you include also your full name and your parent’s email address, so that I can contact you if you win.

I will be announcing the 2 winners next Tuesday, so stay tuned!

 

Monday News

Willow Street CG scores!

First dollars in the $100 CG campaign goes to the Willow St. CG – It is all about marketing and transportation, my friends. The poor city slickers out here in Montgomery County (no offense, Peter and Doug) are hungry for authentic Lancaster County home baking. With a little money spent on ingredients, a little time baking shoo-fly pies, a little gasoline and hustling buyers and viola; money happens! Tom Bueche, selling Carol Landis’ shoo-fly pies at his school in Montgomery Co. has raised $110!

The Millers and The Dewalds

Michael Miller – “It takes a while to find the right person to work at a small-town funeral home. I’ve been looking for more than two years,’ said Joel Reynolds, owner of Dewald Funeral & Cremation Services in Quarryville. Last month, he found that person.       ‘On October 19, Michael C. Miller, joined the firm….”(read entire article)

The Plank home – Abby stopped sucking on her fingers yesterday.  That is HUGE news at the Plank home. (photo by Chris McGrigor)

Ovalle’s – We welcome Sam and Chrissy and the children back from their recent trip to Guatemala!

The Hanna’s – Quay and Shannon are expecting their third June 2010!!!

onemission update – On Sunday Peter announced that we received 3 bids this week from our contractors. All three bids came in at around $5 million. (with a spread of @ $75,000) This puts us in excellent position to accomplish the entire project for @ $7 million, our projected total. We are very thankful to God for this news.

Visitation Ministry – Crossway has a newly established Visitation Ministry whose goal it is to visit the sick and infirmed in a way that honors God and shows proper respect to those whom God has called us to share our lives with in this life. The following couples are part of the team:

• Sam and Martha Privitera
• Pat and Dana Parmer
• Don and Kim Garber
• Carl and Linda Driedger
• Dan and Carol Davis

When you get a chance ask them how it is going. Their stories will encourage you!

Kurt Weaver – This Saturday Kurt was seen trying out the new hair dryers that Ruby Tuesday’s offers.  It’s their “get your hair done while you wait” promotion.

Kurt spotted at a remote location LIVE!

 

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To view visiting the sick and infirmed as a ministry that honors God and shows proper respect to those whom God has called us to share our lives with in this life.

 

A Thankful Thanksgiving (and some yummy dessert, too)

The air is brisk, the leaves are radiant, the smell of autumn is in the air.  Fall is definitely here – and even more exciting, so is Thanksgiving.   I’m not sure if it’s the two vacation days from school, the celebrating with family, or the delicious turkey and mashed potatoes, but I just love Thanksgiving.  Sadly, the two-day vacation from school might just take the lead (kidding, kidding).   

Thanksgiving is a time when “giving thanks” is often highlighted.  In our family we go around the table and share what we are most grateful for.  I love this.  But recently, I have been struck with my lack of verbal thankfulness. I often think “thankful” thoughts about others, ask God to bless them, but often don’t take the time to express my thankfulness.   I receive encouragement when someone thanks me and identifies God’s grace in my life, why would I think my gratitude toward someone else any less important? 

I recently read a quote that says “to not express thankfulness to someone is like wrapping a present and not giving it to the person”.  I would never do that.  I love to see the expression on my children’s faces when they open a gift.  It truly is priceless.  How much more giving the gift of an apt word of thankfulness to encourage another’s heart? 

There are many reasons that I opt out of giving this gift.  I may be preoccupied and not notice that someone has served me or others. I do have five children!  It may be a lack of convenience. I have places to go and people to see. Time is money.  I may fear looking stupid. What if I don’t know the person well and my words get all jumbled up, how embarrassing! 

The bottom line is self and pride.  I am so focused on myself and my desires,  that I rob someone else the encouragement that thankfulness provides.  A heart that is acutely aware of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross and it’s implication for this life, will overflow with gratefulness, first to God, then, to others.  Colossians 2:6,7 says, “Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving”.

Now onto dessert!  Everyone loves a good dessert.  Well, here are 2 fail-proof recipes to wow all of your Thanksgiving guests.  Perhaps that is a bit overstated,  but these desserts are yummy.  I can say that only because neither originated with me.  These are others’ recipes that I have incorporated into my little repertoire, that have become “go to” recipes.  Enjoy!

Pumpkin Crumb Cake

Ingredients

• 1 (29 ounce) can pumpkin puree
• 1 (12 fluid ounce) can evaporated milk
• 3 eggs
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 4 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
• 1 (18.25 ounce) package yellow cake mix
• 3/4 cup butter
• 1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease one 9 x 13 inch pan (preferably metal).
2. In a large bowl, combine pumpkin, evaporated milk, eggs, sugar, salt, and pumpkin pie spice. Mix well. Pour batter into the prepared pan.
3. Sprinkle the dry cake mix evenly over the pumpkin mixture. Melt the butter or margarine, and drizzle it over the cake mix. Sprinkle walnuts over the top.
4. Bake for 55 to 60 minutes, or until done.

Crunchy Caramel Apple Pie

Ingredients

FOR THE CRUMBLE TOPPING

• 1 cup rolled oats
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup slivered almonds (optional)
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 cup butter, cubed

FOR THE PIE

• 1 (9 inch) single pie crust
• 6 apples – peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• dessert topping caramel sauce

Directions

1. Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. To make the topping, combine the oats, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1/4 cup flour, slivered almonds, and 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon. Cut in the butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs; set aside.
3. Roll out the pie dough into a circle and transfer it to a 9-inch pie plate. Trim the pastry and crimp the edge. Toss the apples with the lemon juice in a bowl to prevent browning. Combine the 1 tablespoon flour, 1/2 cup brown sugar, and 2 teaspoons cinnamon; toss with the apples to coat.  Add the spiced apple mixture. Sprinkle the crumble topping evenly over the apples. 
4. Bake the pie in the preheated oven for 50-60 minutes, or until the apples are tender and the crust is browned.
5. Drizzle with caramel sauce.

 

Why Do We Talk So Much About Sin?

I’ve heard this expressed from people over the years.  It’s a good question.  It does seem like a “downer” to consistently talk about the sinful heart or the depravity of man.  Why make such a fuss about sin?

But what if we change the question to this; “How do we make much of Christ?”  You see when we see the vileness and darkness of our sin we must grapple with the harsh reality of being bad to the core.  So when we see our sin for what it is then we see the Cross as much more glorious and gracious (a completely undeserved gift from God).  Acknowledging our sinful state shouldn’t spin us into condemnation but should drive us to an amazement that God, in his mercy, would save sinners like us.  If we don’t see how bad the bad news is (sinners deserving God’s wrath) we will never see how beautiful and incredible the good news is (salvation from wrath and life eternal). Martyn Lloyd-Jones writes, “We cannot understand the greatness of the power of God’s salvation until we have realized that man by nature is spiritually dead.”

Ephesians 2 starts off… “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins…”, later Paul writes, “Remember that at one time you…seperated from God…without hope….”  Each time after he shows us the depravity of man he goes on to highlight the sheer mercy of God through Christ.  Puritan Thomas Wilcox says this, “Whoever is afraid to see sin’s utmost vileness, and to confess the desperate wickedness of his own heart, suspects the merits of Christ.”

Please read this wonderful little booklet by Puritan Thomas Wilcox called “Honey Out of the Rock”. 

 

The Existence of God

One of my favorite scholars, Don Carson, addresses this important topic for an upcoming evangelistic effort in the UK.  Dr. Carson is brilliant, of course; but what he gets at so helpfully in the video below is that we can approach this issue from the wrong perspective.  We can assume that we are the judges and that we sit over the evidence for and against God’s existence, and weigh out whether or not it is convincing; but that is not the case.  You’ll have to watch the video to catch his point; but he has a great one-liner to that effect: “God will not be subject to being the conclusion of a mere syllogism and nothing else.”