Chapter 43

You're so right.  This is a baking blog, not necessarily a venting/writing blog.  True, but I'm not stopping myself.

I believe I have mentioned before that I am attracted to the Biblical book, Isaiah.  I opened up to it today and landed on Chapter 43.  It is so delicious that I would like to write the whole chapter out, but I don't think it would be the same.  The more I read the Bible, the more it fascinates me- I just wish I understood it better.  You know, the culture of the times and the symbolism and the literal language translations.  Sometimes I am shocked by what I read in the Bible because of how forward it is.   (Okay, Israel blatantly gets special attention- no secret in this, but why?  Just wondering...)
In verse 4 of chapter 43, the LORD comes right out and says, "Others died that you might live.  I traded their lives for yours because you are precious to me.  You are honored, and I love you."  God says straightforward that He loves them!

Now, what does love mean?  I have heard looked at the following websites to know more:

• http://www.agapebiblestudy.com/documents/Is%20Hesed%20the%20same%20as%20Agape.htm (really long)
• http://www.icr.org/article/love-old-testament/  (really neat)
• http://www.twopaths.com/faq_love.htm (the more I go, the more I'm confused)

There should be a class about love in the Bible...there really should.  There is so much talk of it and has various forms!!

The next chapter of 44 looks really cool, too.  The chapter states that there is no other God.  Now this is interesting because I've heard the suggestion that all religions praise the same God, but just call Him a different name or recognize Him in various ways; many different Gods of nature or actions (Hindu or Wicca or Greek/Roman Gods) or they might call Him, Allah.  Could it be that all of these religions and more recognize and see the same God, but call on Him in different ways?  (http://www.interfaith.org/forum/one-god-with-many-names-3078.html)

"Do not tremble; do not be afraid.  Have I not proclaimed from ages past what my purposes are for you?  You are my witnesses- is there any other God?  No!  There is not other Rock- not one!"  Isaiah 44:8

What do you think?  I don't want to get this wrong.
Miss Rae :*

Duathlon

I completed my first duathlon last Sunday, July 10th at a little before 2 hours.  The race officially began at 6:30am.  My results:

71   478 Kyla Kindle  Hoffman Estates  15  F 

51   24:53  8:02    1:20  103 1:03:22 14.2  1:14   52   27:16  8:48 

1:58:03

Ha, whatever that means, right?  ;-)  I signed up for this race, semi-impulsively, when I picked a young 

gentleman up at a tennis/recreation center and I saw a sign for a Duathlon/Triathlon.  "Well, I'm not a 

fast swimmer, but running and biking...I could try this." 

*hey, side note; ever hear of Shawn McDonald?  I don't remember how I came across him, but the Holy 

Spirit works through him to make some really great music.  And he shares his testimony on his site, 

which is always a good thing to hear. :-)

here: http://www.shawnmcdonaldmusic.com/journal#/bio

Moreover, I signed up for this race and also completed it for my "21 b4 21" list.  I should share 

that another time. ANYWAYS, I think I just want to say that I was very intimidated when I arrived 

on the scene.  My mom, who was so thoughtful and encouraging the whole time, came with me. 

She dropped me off at the site and I walked my bike and I to the event.  It turns out real race bikes

don'thave kickstands...my cool bike does.  :-)  My mother claims to have seen people like me, who 

were doing the race as a first-timer, and who were also clueless, but it seemed to me that I was the most

awkward one there.  Haha!  No, really, it's okay to laugh.  :-)  Anyways, I'm really glad I did this and it 

was because of the encouragement I received from my friends at work the night before the race when 

I questioned if I should just sleep-in that day (;]), my mama who is like a mother bear, and because of 

God and how He wasgracious enough to complete the race with me!  It was a really cool experience-

I recommend it! 

Here are some goofy pictures. 

 woooooo, only the last 5k to go!

 yes, I have padded spandex on.

 I'm kind of a fruit cake.

thanks mom, for the photo shoot of your sweaty kid  ;-) 

Signing-off with Pslam 34 (did you know that David, from the Bible, pretended to be insane?

  huh, I wonder what that looked like),

Miss Rae :* 

Cooking with Parsnips

Roughly a week and half ago, I made delicious cherry-filled cupcakes with some stinkin' good frosting.  Then, my parents and a sister of mine escaped to a cute lil' cabin in MI for a couple of days.  When we came home- there were the same amount of cupcakes in the fridge!  A sister who stayed home, DIDN'T EAT ONE!  That goof.  Or moreover, she has stinkin' good self-control.  So I had to eat pretty much all of the cupcakes.  I bring this up because I need to stop baking sweet stuff so much because my family thinks I'm plotting to make them obese.  Therefore yesterday I made (they turned out yummy and my family ate them!  haha) "Thai Chicken Balls" from the recipe book, "Low-fat", by Homestyle.  Well, without the coriander (which I found out is cilantro) and with a yellow, "sweet" onion and not spring onions, and with jalapeno peppers.  THUS, I made them with some differences, but the chicken balls turned out great.  I'm warning you, people- the name of this food may be harmful for some, because a sister of mine giggles at the sound of it...

From the same recipe book, I'm currently trying to make "Roast Vegetable Quiche".  And I've made a number of goof-ups.  I'm using a butternut squash instead of a pumpkin or a winter squash, but that's what they had at the grocery story I went to, I baked the vegetables for an hour at 180 degrees F, when that was the degree number in CELSIUS and the degrees in Fahrenheit were in parentheses (how embarrassing), I got flustered because I didn't know how to measure 1 oz of ricotta cheese...and then my sister showed me the symbol on a measuring cup...Anyways, I'm just living out the ultra-simple and ultra-true advice that practice makes perfect.

I have some pictures. :-)

 So this is the recipe I followed.  I loved that the book gave me picture instructions, even though my version didn't look quite like theirs.  :-)  That's okay!

 I thought this was cute.  This is one of the Sweet Potatoes I used!  Doesn't it look like an animal?...

 Over-flowing with chopped vegetables and garlic

 Oh- this is our cat, Caramel (alter-ego name: Staci)

I hope I "grated" cheese right.  Did you know that cheddar cheese is only yellow/orange because of COLOR ADDITIVES?!  Yeah- cheese is supposed to be WHITE!   My Mama told me.

 Everything is ready for the oven...

My big mess.  I left it for a lil bit and when I came home I found everything cleaned!  My FATHER cleaned it for me.  He's a nice guy!

 Eeeeep!  Thank God!  My first quiche was successful!!!  :-D

Signs, but not the movie, "Signs"

Please excuse my cheesy blog title.  I'm just trying to be witty!  And it doesn't come naturally, you see. ;-)

I have to write this down!  Today, Wednesday, I was buying ingredients for two recipes at the grocery store.  In the check-out line, I was reviewing my list of ingredients.  The following is important: On the back of the page, on the bottom, in the center was a quote from Donald Miller.  It reads:

"We get one story, you and I, and one story alone.  God has established the elements, the setting and the climax and resolution.  It would be a crime not to venture out, wouldn't it?"

Guys!  This is fascinating.  This quote relates to the message I have heard Donald Miller speak which is that of choosing to live life fully; God gave us freedom and specific interests and talents and He is praised when we go after them!  I read this quote, on my innocent, unintentional grocery-list piece of paper, and my mouth opened wide...God!!!  This is Your encouragement for me to go to the Honor Academy!  Isn't it?!  So now, God, we just need my parents on board because You've confirmed it, yeah?!  (Spoken still with question.  You know, I still don't know...is that lamo?  Is this a severe case of Honor Academy confirmation?)

Anyways, I wanted a documentation of this potential route-confirming moment.  Btw, Axis (iamaxis.org) had a really good speaker speak tonight.  His name is Josh Riebock.  His message will be on that site for anyone to listen to.  Seriously- I see Axis as a group of imperfect 18-20somethings who seek to be genuine and helpful in the pursuit of knowing Christ on Earth.  I recommend checking the place out:
               67 East Algonquin Rd, South Barrington, IL, 60010. Park in parking lot F and walk right in. The activity center is immediately on your left.

To God be the Glory!,
Miss Rae