SB Faith & Family by SB Faith & Family

November 2012

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iving hanks THANKSGIVING Intros and Endings

Greek Pastries for your Holiday Table

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contents

on the cover 8 12

Servant Leaders

Add a Little Greek to your Holiday Table

Wise Words

Our Hymn of Grateful Praise

Intros and

in every issue 4

From the Publisher

Pressing Upwards

Quips & Quotes

Faith Under Fire

Ad Directory

Marriage Matters God Desires Brokenness

10 Greatful for His Greatness

Giving Thanks

20 Thanksgiving Endings

columns

11 Through a Glass Darkly Chick Chat

15 Lifetime Warranty The Single Life

The Greater Reality of Singleness

Bits 16 Little A Glorious...UGH! Feet 17 Beautiful Get Involved Says 19 Dave Financial Straight

Talk with

Dave Ramsey

to Home 22 Close Thanksgiving Day Proclamation1789

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from the publisher

Cherish the Time

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

1 Thessalonians 5:18

s a child, I wondered what in the world my grandmothers meant when they used the phrase, “time ﬂies.” It certainty didn’t seem that way. At six years old everything I dreamed doing was decades away. It was taking a very long time!

Two decades later I had three children. The phrased changed to “enjoy these times, they go by fast.” Had they EVER had screaming kids, 20 diapers to change, writings on the wall that did not come from Jesus?! Time does not go by fast. Well, maybe when they are asleep or taking naps. But when they were awake I was praying for the day to end. We have since had three more children. This year I began to realize just what those phrases meant. These days I can’t slow time down. The kid that would never get out of the terrible twos, I now have to decide what high school she will be attending next fall. Those family members I thought were immortal, we lost this past year.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

1. For everything there is an appointed time, And an appointed time for every activity on earth: 2. A time to be born, and time to die; a time to plant, and a time to uproot what was planted. 3. A time to kill, and time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up. 4. A time to weep, and time to laugh; time to mourn, and a time to dance.

5. A time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing. 6. A time to search, and a time to give something up as lost; a time to keep, and a time to throw away. 7. A time to rip, and a time to sew; a time to keep silent, and a time to speak. 8. A time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.

The important thing to remember is God has ordained times for various events of life (opportunities, responsibilities, trials). Although, some times seem as though they were ordained by the evil one himself, you realize with age that tomorrow everything could change; those snotty nose children are now graduating or your most valued possessions gone. Each year, during Thanksgiving, we have a service called “Akathist of Thanksgiving”. This hymn came to be known through Archpriest Gregory Petroff, who died in a Soviet prison camp in the 1940’s. I leave you with a few verses to remember during this fall season. Glory to You, O God, unto ages of ages.

Ashley Foster Publisher

Glory to You for Your constant care of me, Glory to You in the stillness of evening, Glory to You for providential encounters with people, Glory to You Who has bestowed great peace to the Glory to You for the love of relatives, the devotion of world, friends, Glory to You for the last rays of sunlight, Glory to You for the gentleness of animals who serve me, Glory to You for rest and the gift of sleep, Glory to You for the luminous moments of my life, Glory to You for Your presence in darkness, when the world Glory to You for the bright joys of the heart, is so remote, Glory to You for prayer from the depth of a heart touched Glory to You for the happiness of living, of moving and by You, contemplating, Glory to You for the promise of awakening to the joy of Glory to You, O God, unto ages of ages. eternal, unending day, Glory to You, O God, unto ages of ages. * Read the Akathist in its entirety at www.stnickolasdc.org/ﬁles/prayers/Akathist-of-Thanksgiving.pdf

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Wise Words

This our hymn of grateful praise

Old hymns still resonate: For the Beauty of the Earth For the beauty of the earth, For the beauty of the skies, For the love which from our birth Over and around us lies, Lord of all, to thee we raise This our grateful hymn of praise. For the beauty of each hour Of the day and of the night, Hill and vale, and tree and flower, Sun and moon and stars of light, Lord of all, to thee we raise This our grateful hymn of praise. For the joy of human love, Brother, sister, parent, child, Friends on earth, and friends above, Pleasures pure and undefiled, Lord of all, to thee we raise This our grateful hymn of praise. For each perfect gift of thine, To our race so freely given, Graces human and divine, Flowers of earth and buds of heaven, Lord of all, to thee we raise This our grateful hymn of praise. For thy Church which evermore Lifteth holy hands above, Offering up on every shore Her pure sacrifice of love, Lord of all, to thee we raise This our grateful hymn of praise.

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M God Dir Brokenness

arriage

Matters

In our lives, some�mes things never seem to change. Have you ever wondered why? Have you ever been broken over your choices and your sin? Have you ever allowed yourself to look at what your sin has done to the hearts of those you love? We tend to want people to excuse our behavior and forgive it without any implica�ons for our own life. If we never experience brokenness, then we never truly change. The Bible says that God “will not reject a broken and repentant heart” (Psalms 51:17). He longs to see us desire brokenness, for it is in our brokenness and weakness that his strength is made perfect (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Here are the Benefits of Brokenness:

You lose your need to control. When we have a faulty trust in God, we don’t think he can control our lives as well as we can, so we manipulate. When we choose brokenness and surrender, we trust that God is in control, and we submit to what he desires and chooses. There’s freedom in knowing he’s in control.

You lose your need to impress. When we choose brokenness, we lose your need to impress others. We begin to live out of an iden�ty that isn’t based on others’ opinions, valida�ons, or acceptance. When we live only trying to impress God, we discover a conﬁdence and freedom that we’ve o�en tried to provide for ourselves but never could.

Barksdale Baptist Church

You lose your desire to pretend. When you embrace brokenness, you stop pretending! You stop pretending you’ve got it all together, you’ve got all the answers, you have the perfect marriage and have overcome all sins. You lose your desire to pretend to be a be�er friend, husband, or parent than you really are, and you desire to be more of who God calls you to be. You actually want to wake up and be the person you’ve been pretending to be, realizing that brokenness is the only way to get there.

You lose your need to hide. As you embrace it and ﬁnd brokenness, your need to hide fades away. And all you are le� with is freedom. Confession is necessary, but brokenness is available to anyone willing to pursue it. It’s a narrow path and many will not walk it, but if you do......real life and in�macy will begin!

Steve & Debbie Wilson

Many of these comments came from a book from our dear friends, Justin and Trisha Davis. Check out their book...”Beyond Ordinary” www.marriagemattersnow.com

www.barksdalebaptistchurch.org

November 2012 7

ADD A LITTLE GREEK TO YOUR HOLIDAY TABLE! The Ladies Philoptochos Society of St. George Greek Orthodox Church is now taking orders for its annual Greek Pastry Sale. Preordering is the only way to guarantee your selection and prepaid orders receive priority. Very limited quantities and types of pastries will be available the day of the sale so don’t risk waiting until the last minute – order by Nov. 13. They make a delicious addition to your holiday meal. This year’s offering includes a variety of pastries, sweet bread and frozen items. A gift box of 17 assorted pastries is also available so you can sample a variety and new to the sale this year is the “Festival of Greek Flavors” cookbook. Preorders are to be picked up Tues, Nov. 20 at the St. George Activities Center, (542 Wichita in Shreveport) between 10:00a.m. & 5:30p.m. For more information or to get an order form, call 318-747-4478, fax 318-861-3255, visit the church website at www.gosaintgeorge.org or email georgia.b@comcast.net. Proceeds from this sale fund the Philoptochos’ many charitable activities.

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Grateful for His Greatness L

et’s be honest, each of us has questioned God’s greatness at some point in our lives. Maybe it happened after losing a job you really loved or quickly followed devastating news delivered in a hospital. Whether it was an unfaithful spouse or a ﬁnancial disaster, we’ve all seen God as uncaring and untrustworthy at some point. Much like the wandering Israelites in the desert, our painful circumstances can cause us to question a sovereign God. One thing we need to understand is that God welcomes our questions. He invites us to bring our doubts, fears and hurts to Him. This is one of the qualities that makes God so great. He is a conﬁdent God that knows the answers to our questions and reminds us that He is trustworthy, He is good and His plans will prosper us and give us a future.

So, why would a good God allow us to go through difﬁcult seasons in life? He led the Israelites into the desert because He wanted their dependence on Him to grow. He knew what was awaiting them in the Promise Land. It was described as the land of “milk and honey.” God knew that once in the Promise Land, it would be easy for them to forget that He delivered them from slavery in Egypt. In the desert, He wanted to teach them to depend on Him and not on the provisions of this promising land. He wanted to remind them that He is the

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source of everything good, and they trustworthy? Maybe you have begun to needed Him more than they needed doubt God, your faith, and His calling “milk and honey.” on your life. May I encourage you to recognize the season you are in as One thing we need to understand is an incredible opportunity? You see, that God welcomes our questions. our responses to our situations in the What does God know about you that desert either bring life or they bring you don’t know about yourself? Could destruction. They can either grow our there be deficits in your life that will be dependence on God or they can lead us dangerous later if they are not corrected to doubt God and depend more on self. soon? Could the hardships you are I pray that you, “Will you trust me?” By going through right now actually be placing our trust in Him and not in our a gift from Him to grow you in these own understanding, He assures us that deficits? James 1:2-4 in the Message our path will be straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6) says, “Consider it a sheer gift, friends, If you find yourself journeying through when tests and challenges come at you the desert right now, may I encourage from all sides. You know that under you to remember His unfailing love and pressure, your faith life is forced into the his His greatness. What is it that He open and shows its true colors. So don’t wants you to learn before you enter into try to get out of anything prematurely. the next season? Press into Him, listen Let it do its work so you become mature for His voice and trust Him. I’m certain and well-developed, not deficient in any you will find yourself way.” God knows that the deserts in our Grateful for His greatness too. lives bring a tremendous opportunity, and what we do with the opportunity is our choice. In The Land Between, Jeff Manion writes, “The wilderness where Lee Smith has been married to Jenni for faith can thrive is the very desert where eleven years. They are the proud parents it can dry up and die if we are not of Ford (4) and Millie (17 mos.). The Smiths are eagerly awaiting their third watchful.” child whom they are adopting from As we enter into the Thanksgiving Ethiopia. Lee is a Marriage & Family season, I wonder if your heart is able to Therapist at Summit Counseling. He can celebrate the goodness and greatness of be reached by dialing 601.949.1949. our God. Are you thriving in the midst of hardship recognizing that God is

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Through a

What do you see? Take a moment to study the photo on this page. What do you see? Ice patterns on a window? Broken glass? And, what can you perceive through the mottled pattern? Earth, sky, sand or sea? Can you know with any certainty? Probably not, because seeing is all about perspective. The photo was taken from inside the 70th Street Post Ofﬁce looking out to the parking area through a “picture” window marred by a half-inch-diameter bullet hole. The outward (or inward – I never knew which) force of the bullet’s progress created an intricate “crackled” effect without actually shattering the glass. In the view, you can see the sky, a blooming crape myrtle, the yellow caution tape strung by police, and the sandy color of my car. I remember being struck by the pattern, running outside to get my camera, and thinking – all in a moment’s time – “Through a glass darkly” from I Corinthians 13:12. Last month, through the extreme generosity of a discerning friend in Christ, I had the privilege of taking a lovely vacation to a paradise destination where my eyes

– physical, mental and spiritual – were continually surprised by beauty. Click, click, click went the cameras, the images now safely stored on a smart card and forever in my heart. On the return trip, we were cruising above the clouds at more than 38,000 feet (7 miles high). Never having flown at night, I casually looked out of the window into the inky-black sky and was astounded that the constellations were so close! The Big Dipper was absolutely huge, taking up half of the panoramic view. I pressed my head against the window for a long time, mesmerized by the nearness of the stars, and sharing an intimate moment with their Creator. Of course, the Dipper was not really that big. It was the same size it has always been. Yet through the miracle of flight, I was transported to a proximity I had never before experienced. Although I could not extend my hand through the pressurized cabin window to grasp the handle of the Dipper, it felt as if I did – and God gave me a drink of Living Water that filled my weary soul. It was no accident that He showed me that particular constellation on that night when I needed it most. He reminded me that the closer we come to Him, the more we see. In the Episcopal Holy Eucharist service in the Book of Common Prayer, participants repenting of their sins are asked to “Draw

Darkly near with faith, and take this holy Sacrament to your comfort; and make your humble confession to Almighty God, devoutly kneeling.” What will we see if we dare to draw near? Jesus the Christ, the radiance of God’s glory, the expressed image of the Father’s nature, the very language of God, the One enthroned on High. Hebrews 1:13. I Corinthians 13:12 establishes this promise for believers: “For now [on this earth] we see in a glass [mirror] darkly, but then [in heaven] face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully, just as I also have been fully known.” What an immeasurable miracle! We are not required to fully know or see Him as a prerequisite to Grace. Instead, Mercy Himself knows us, see us, loves us, redeems us – ﬁrst and completely! In Christ. “Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now am found, was blind, but now I see!” Give Thanks.

Dianne B. Howell

Shreveport, LA

November 2012 11

t the heart of Christian worship is the act of thanksgiving. No matter what our church affiliation, at some point in time during the week, month or year we take the fruit of the earth (wheat and grapes) that represent the blessings of God that sustains our physical existence and offer them back up to God. Quite often we refer to this ritual act as the Lord’s Supper (1 Cor. 11:20), ‘the breaking of the bread’(Acts 20:7) or Communion. Unlike the common practice today, the earliest Christians shared an entire meal together known as an agape feast. It is similar to our common potlucks today. One of the major reasons for this communal meal was to provide food for the less fortunate. One of the reasons the celebration of the Lord’s Supper was separated from the agape meal was the wealthy were taking advantage of the poor. They would eat and drink before the needy arrived. In turn, the ‘love feast’ did not live up to its name. Unfortunate as the events in Corinth were, the church still gathered to participate in an effectual memorial of Christ’s broken body and spilt blood and give thanks for it. This act, as referenced by St. Paul before 100 AD, the Church referred to as Eucharist ‘And when he had given thanks (Greek: eucharistésas or “eucharisted”), he broke it, and said, “This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me” (1 Cor 11:24).’ Later, another late first or early second century document known as the Didache records similar language, ‘Now as regards the Eucharist, give thanks after this manner...’ Moreover, Christ Himself, at the Last Supper, following the Jewish meal tradition, gave thanks before the cup and the bread. Therefore, we see at the center of

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our spiritual existence is this meal we share together with our church families where we collectively give thanks unto God for the life, death, burial and resurrection of Christ. When we do this we preserve, protect and pass on what has been handed down to us from the previous generation. The act of giving thanks to God existed in the Old Testament before the advent of Christ. The Greek word eucharistia meaning “thanksgiving” corresponds perfectly to the Old Testament sacrifice known as the ‘todah’ offering. In Hebrew, the word todah also means “thanksgiving.” Accordingly, the New Testament authors use the word eucharistia as a Greek translation of the Hebrew todah meaning “thanksgiving sacrifice.”

Harvest time and giving thanks in Keithville.

In the Old Testament, we read that the todah thanksgiving sacrifices were offered with wheat flour and wine (Num 15:1-10). This sacrifice of wheat and wine evokes the sacrifice of bread and wine offered by Melchizedek who blessed the patriarch Abraham (Gen 14:18). We learn that Christ is a ‘priest according to the order of Melchizedek’ (Heb 7:1-17), and so Jews would expect the Messiah to offer a sacrifice of bread and wine. Moreoever, we read that King David offered the todah sacrifice with bread and wine (1 Chr 16:3). We also read about how the prophet Jonah, having been swallowed by the great fish, vowed to the Lord a todah sacrifice if

iving

he should be delivered from death after spending three days in darkness (Jon 2:3-10). The earliest Christians came to perceive that the Last Supper of Christ was in fact a todah sacrifice of bread and wine in union with the sacrifice of Christ. The Davidic todah—thanksgiving theme and the promised todah—thanksgiving of Jonah who also rose from the belly of the fish on the third day confirmed that the wheat and wine ritual of Christ hearkened back to the bread and wine “thanksgiving” offering of the Old Testament. In the Old Covenant, bread and wine were offered in sacrifice among the first fruits of the earth as a sign of grateful acknowledgment to the Creator. But they also received a new significance in the context of the Exodus: the unleavened bread that Israel eats every year at Passover commemorates the haste of the departure that liberated them from Egypt; the remembrance of the manna in the desert will always recall to Israel that it lives by the bread of the Word of God; their daily bread is the fruit of the promised land, the pledge of God’s faithfulness to his promises. The “cup of blessing” at the end of the Jewish Passover meal adds to the festive joy of wine an eschatological dimension: the messianic expectation of the rebuilding of Jerusalem. When Jesus instituted the Eucharist, he gave a new and definitive meaning to the blessing of the bread and the cup- a meaning that was passed down among the Christians by way of oral tradition and recorded by the Apostles (Paul, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) approximately 25 to 35 years later, respectively. It is important to note that the tradition

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hanks

of giving thanks continued after the death of the Apostles. We clearly see the Apostolic Fathers, those that followed the Apostles, emphasizing the need to gather for the Eucharist. One of the earliest accounts we have of Christians gathering together outside of the New Testament is found in the writings of St. Justin Martyr, 150 AD. The Roman oﬃcials were accusing Christians of being cannibals, along with other things, because they participated in the Body and Blood of Christ in a ritual meal. In his Apology (65-67 in particular )to the pagan Emperor Antonius Pius (138161 AD), St. Justin explains what Christians actually did when they gathered as church and celebrated the Eucharist:

Then someone brings bread and a cup of water and wine mixed together to him who presides over the brethren. He takes them and oﬀers praise and glory to the Father of the universe, through the name of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and for a considerable time he gives thanks “eucharists” that we have been judged worthy of these gifts. When he has concluded the prayers and thanksgivings, all present give voice to an acclamation by saying: “Amen!”

When he who presides has given thanks and the people have responded, those whom we call deacons give to On the day we call the day of the sun those present the eucharisted bread, [i.e. Sunday], all who dwell in the wine and water and take them to city or country gather in the same those who are absent. place. Here we find not only the use of Paul’s The memoirs of the apostles and the word eucharistia, but also the structure that he laid down in the Church at Corinth. writings of the prophets are read, Therefore, we see the act of thanksgiving as much as time permits. When the continuing in the Christian tradition. reader has finished, he who presides over those gathered admonishes and challenges them to imitate these beautiful things. Then we all rise together and offer prayers for ourselves...and for all others, wherever they may be, so that we may be found righteous by our life and actions, and faithful to the commandments, so as to obtain eternal salvation. When the prayers are concluded we exchange the kiss.

Stop by and visit the historic Keithville United Methodist Church or attend a service.

For almost 150 years Keithville Methodist has been gathering to celebrate the Lord’s Supper.

As our country prepares to collectively participate in a day of thanksgiving for the blessings of God upon our Land, let us make sure to keep that same spirit alive when we gather in our local churches to do this throughout the year. By doing so, we will realize being thankful is who we are as a people. Furthermore, the meal we share together with our Christian brothers and sisters in our local church connects us to the tradition of Christ and His apostles and to those that will come after us that will continue to gather in order to break bread and drink the cup of salvation.

Faith and Family

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Have you ever gotten something and you discovered it had a lifetime warranty? Did it really last? I once bought a razor with a lifetime warranty to shave my legs with and some 10 years later it was not working and I began to investigate why. It needed a new kind of razor blade...can I tell you that the company I bought it from was out of business! So – the ‘lifetime warranty’ was not for life! Instead the offer was to trade that in on a newer, different kind of model! The powerful lesson I learned through that and other things is that there is NOTHING in this life that lasts forever except the love of Jesus. All things fade away eventually or you can’t find parts or the company closes or wants you to upgrade to a newer model. God lasts for eternity – that is His Promise from the Bible in Isaiah 41:9-10 “I took you from

the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you. I said, ‘You are my servant; I have chosen you and have not rejected you. So do not fear, for I am with you, do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” God is never letting go of the child who believes Him and receives Him! That is good news for us girlfriends! When we have fear in this life – we have to believe God is with us. He is never going to wear out; get tired; let us go or trade us in on a newer model. No matter where you are in this life or what you are going through – you can hold fast to this Promise of God! If you have fear – He is there! If you feel rejected – He is there. If you are

overwhelmed in this life – He is there! He WILL strengthen you and hold onto you forever. Yes, our God comes with a LIFETIME WARRANTY when we accept Him! Live that out today and be encouraged that the God of the universe loves you and is holding you and will never let you go. If you are reading this today and do not know Him – and desire that ‘lifetime warranty’ send me an email or message on Facebook and I will show you the way.

-JoAnne Timothy

w w w . h e a r t s f i r e m i n i s t r y. c o m

The Greater Reality of Singleness Because sometimes we just need to be reminded that this time in our lives counts for so much more than a lesson in patience:

“Like Christian marriage, Christian singleness lived in its fullest expression is a powerful testimony to the gospel. In the unchanging commitment of love and submission expressed between husband and wife, Christian marriage testiﬁes to God’s faithful covenantal love toward his people and their submission and reception to his sovereign love. Christian singleness is a testimony to the supreme sufﬁciency of Christ for all things, testifying that through Christ life is fully blessed even without marriage and children. It prophetically points to a reality greater than the satisfactions of this present age by consciously anticipating the Christian’s eternal inheritance in the kingdom of God. Christian singleness lived as testimony of this gospel truth is a redeeming singleness.” - Barry Danylak

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A Glorious

ugh

’ve never really considered gleaning any sort of profundity from a toothpaste dispenser. But after this week, I’ve realized that the path of ﬂouride-laden destruction left by my children each morning reminds me of something really profound. It speaks to me. What I realized is that it reminded me of that list I made- the list of some of the things that make us yearn for Jesus.

Little Bits

colored mess itself that makes my heart afterwards, I’m starting to see my utter long for His return, but my own heart’s depravity and my sin as plain and ugly as it is. And that UGH of mine can be a response to that mess. discouraged UGH or it can be a glorious UGH Instead of being eternally grateful for full of repentance and hope. Maybe the the clean teeth and the healthy children Lord is just opening my eyes a bit. Maybe who obediently brush their teeth daily, it’s His great mercy. Maybe this repentant I scowl at the mess. Instead of being UGH can propel me to yearn, yearn, yearn thankful for a husband who works hard and for Jesus more and more and more. who loves me despite my foul moodiness, I complain. Instead of being very present It’s no Autumn wind or blazing ﬁre or with my boys who will only want me to astronomical wonder- it’s just the simple play Hot Wheels with them for a handful truth that I need Him- desperately- that of years, I’m thinking about all the other makes me yearn for more of Him. things I could do with my time. Who knew that Aquafresh could make I have been selﬁshly ungrateful. At that list? best. “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still Ugh. sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

In the moment, it’s hard to see and I Believe it or not- it’s not the pasty tri- can kind of rationalize my emotions, but

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Candace Chaney Shreveport, LA

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GET INVOLVED Project Mission Tree Project Mission Tree benefits the Shreveport Bossier Rescue Mission guests—homeless men, women, and children. Each guest can request up to three gifts. We ask that no more than $30 is spent on each gift. The tags are picked off our Mission Tree and the gift is returned, wrapped with the original tag attached to it. The gifts are then distributed at the Christmas party we have for our residents. A few Christmas trees are available to display the tags—first come, first served.

Providence House Help Feed a Homeless Family this Holiday Season Providence House is currently helping 85 families in our program everyday. Our goal is to grant all of our families the opportunity to enjoy the kind of meal that you or I will enjoy this Thanksgiving.

Tags can be picked up starting November 12, 2012 at the Rescue Mission at 901 McNeil Street. Gifts must be returned, wrapped with the original tag securely attached no later than December 6, 2012 to the Rescue Mission. This year, you can help Operation Christmas Child surpass 100 million This is an opportunity to give back and know that shoe box gifts packed and distributed your gift will impact someone’s life right here since 1993. in Shreveport-Bossier. Thank you for helping Visit www.samaritanspurse.org for to make sure that homeless men, women and more information on how you can help children have a wonderful, joyous Christmas ﬁll a shoe box. season. National Collection Week is November 12-19 Contact: Anna Adams, 318-227-2868, ext 104. aadams@sbrescuemission.com

We are asking that you help us provide turkey or ham with all the fixings. With your support, these families will have a brighter holiday season. Suggested Items TURKEY OR HAM, CRANBERRY SAUCE, STOVE TOP STUFFING MIX, CORN BREAD MIX, CHICKEN BROTH ,GREEN BEANS, CORN, CAKE/CAKE MIX, YAMS, PIE SHELLS, CANNED MILK, JELLO, DINNER ROLLS

Things to Remember 1. Drop off items from November 5-9 at the front lobby of Providence House, 814 Cotton Street - Monday-Friday between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. 2. Please place all items in a basket to help Drop off Location: First Baptist Church, make transporting the items easy for our families. Bossier City.

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Dave

Payoﬀ debt vs. down payment

Financial Straight Talk with Dave

Ramsey

Cut Eating Out

Dear Dave, When it comes to taking control of your money and living on a budget, what’s the biggest thing a family can live without? Will Dear Will, There are always the shiny things people can do without. Sometimes people sell a fancy car or boat and get rid of a $600-amonth payment right oﬀ the bat. But on a regular, day-to-day basis, I think maybe the biggest and best thing you can amputate from your life is eating out. I love a good restaurant, and I’ve got nothing against the industry. The problem, though, is that people are struggling to pay their bills or set aside something for retirement because they’re eating out all the time. Most folks simply don’t realize how much money they throw away by heading to the drive-through for lunch or going out to dinner “once in a while.” I want people to enjoy life, and a great part of that can be going out and having a meal with your family and friends. Just don’t do it when you’re broke. If you’re having ﬁnancial issues, the only time you should see the inside of a restaurant is if you’re working there! —Dave

Dear Dave, We’re expecting our second child next spring, and even though we have an extra bedroom, our place is pretty small for a growing family. We also have $40,000 in student loan debt hanging over our heads, but we can save up almost $50,000 by the time the baby’s here. Should we use this money to buy a bigger home or pay off debt? Chris Dear Chris, If it were me, I’d make sure to knock out the student loan before buying a house. Trust me, if you buy a home with a ton of debt hanging over your heads, Murphy will move into your spare bedroom and make your lives miserable. If it can happen, it will happen. And that’s especially true when it comes to buying a house when you don’t have much cash on hand. You’re telling me you can save nearly $50,000 by next year. That means you guys are making pretty good money. So there’s no reason you can’t turn around and do the same thing next year, right? I mean, this is only a one- or two-year program we’re talking about. In another year’s time, you could save up for a huge down payment with some extra savings on the side. If you waited and saved for two years, there’s a possibility you could pay cash for a bigger place outright. Imagine how cool it would be to have your own home with no mortgage payments! Just clean up the extra bedroom and fix it up as a nice nursery. Some new carpet or hardwood is always nice. Throw in a fresh coat of paint, and you’re in business. Then, a year or two after the new baby arrives, you’ll be ready to move from a financial and a family perspective. A baby can live just fine in a small bedroom. There’s nothing in the world wrong with that! —Dave

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Preparing for life beyond college Dear Dave, I’m in college with a full scholarship. I work part time and should be able to graduate with no debt. What can I do now to best utilize the money I make? Tyler Dear Tyler, You’re in a fantastic position right now. First, I think your main goal is to study hard and be 100 percent certain you’re graduating on time with no money issues. The next thing is to make sure you have plenty of cash on hand to make the transition to the real world. In a case like this, transition can mean anything from moving to a new city to simply finding a different place to live. You’re coming to a time in your life where you really can’t have too much cash saved. If it were me, I’d just save every penny I could and drop it in a savings account. You can worry about investing and growing your money later, after you’ve settled into your new life and have some stability. Just think how cool it would be to graduate with $20,000 in the bank. Then, when you change gears and move out into the real world, you can do some really cool things with the money that’s left. Set three to six months of expenses aside as your emergency fund, then you can even begin to think about buying a home and investing in Roth IRAs and other pre-tax retirement plans. But your biggest investment right now is making sure you finish school and have the cash on-hand to transition smoothly afterward. And you’re in a great position to make that happen! —Dave

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food for thought

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✴ THANKSGIVING ✴ Intros and Endings

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Make your Thanksgiving complete with these amazing appetizers and delicious desserts!

The Holidays are quickly approaching, and everyone is busy planning special meals for Thanksgiving Day. Begin the day with appetizers such as Mini Pumpkin Cheese Balls or keep it simple with sugar coated pecans. Dessert seems to be anticipated throughout the Thanksgiving meal. Try a few different desserts such as the Pumpkin Pie Cupcake. Children will delight in helping make Turkey Pop Treats.

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MINI “PUMPKIN” CHEESE BALLS recipe adapted from Kraft Canada

1 (250g/8oz) package cream cheese, softened 1/4 cup ﬁnely chopped roasted red peppers 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder pinch cayenne pepper 1 cup grated cheddar cheese 2 green onions paprika, or dusting 1. Beat cream cheese, red peppers, garlic and cayenne until well blended. Stir in cheddar cheese. Refrigerate 2 hours or until ﬁrm enough to handle. 2. Roll into 1 inch balls and then coat in paprika. Make indents in the side of each one with a knife to make a pumpkin shape (refrigerate longer if needed before shaping with knife). 3. Slice green onion into 1 inch pieces (green parts only). Slice each piece in half lengthwise. Roll each half back into a circular shape and stick into the top of the cheese ball. Refrigerate until serving.

20 Faith and Family

CREAMY PUMPKIN PIE DIP 1 (250g/8oz) package spreadable cream cheese, room temperature 1 cup pumpkin pie ﬁlling 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon ginger 1/2 teaspoon vanilla 1/4 cup sour cream 1. Cream together cream cheese and pie ﬁlling until smooth. Stir in cinnamon, ginger, vanilla and sour cream. Refrigerate 2 hours before serving. 2. Serve with graham crackers, ginger snaps, cinnamon cookies or fruit such as apples and pears.

Makes: 2 cups

* If using plain pumpkin puree ADD: 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger, 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves, 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg (or: 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice). PLUS: 3/4 cup icing sugar.

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“My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of Him that sent me, and to ﬁnish His work” - John 4:34 TURKEY POP TREATS 3tbs butter or margarine 1pkg (10oz, about 40) regular marshmallows OR 4c miniature marshmallows 6c Kellogg’s® Rice Krispies® cereal 24 lollipop sticks/wooden ice cream sticks 1pkg (12oz/2c) semi-sweet chocolate morsels 1 tbs vegetable oil 1 1/3 cups candy corn 48 small white candies

1. In large saucepan melt butter over low heat. Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove from heat. 2. Add Kellogg’s® Rice Krispies® cereal. Stir until well coated. 3. Using 1/4-cup measuring cup coated with cooking spray divide warm cereal mixture into 24 portions. Using buttered hands shape each portion into ball. Insert lollipop stick into each. Place on wax-paperlined baking sheet. Refrigerate about 10 minutes or until ﬁrm. 4. In microwave-safe bowl combine chocolate morsels and oil. Microwave on high for 1 to 1 1/2 minutes or until smooth, stirring every 30 seconds. Dip each ball into chocolate, allowing excess to drip off. Return to wax-paper-lined baking sheet. Refrigerate for 5 to 10 minutes more or until chocolate is almost set. Decorate with candy corn for tail feathers and beak, gently pressing candy into chocolate and cereal mixture. Press in white candies for eyes. Let stand until ﬁrm. MICROWAVE DIRECTIONS: In microwave-safe bowl heat butter and marshmallows on HIGH for 3 minutes, stirring after 2 minutes. Stir until smooth. Follow steps 2-4 above. Microwave cooking times may vary.

SUGAR COATED PECANS 1 egg white 1 Tbsp water 1 pound pecan halves 1 cup white sugar 3⁄4 teaspoon salt 1⁄2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1. Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Grease one baking sheet 2. In a mixing bowl, mix together the egg white and water until frothy. In a separate bowl, mix together sugar, salt, and cinnamon. 3. Add pecans to egg whites, stir to coat the nuts evenly. Remove the nuts, and toss them in the sugar mixture until coated. Spread the nuts out on the prepared baking sheet. 4. Bake at 250 degrees for 1 hours. Stir every 15 minutes.

PUMPKIN PIE CUPCAKES Don’t let the name of these fool you -- they aren’t your ordinary cupcakes. These mini cakes have the same ooey, gooey center as a slice of the famous pumpkin pie. The ﬂour and sugar in the mix form a crust around the center so you get the same texture as a piece of pie. Plus, the top becomes concave while cooling, forming a perfect spot for a dollop of whipped topping! Yields: 12 cupcakes

2/3 cup all-purpose flour 1/4 teaspoon baking powder 1/4 teaspoon baking soda 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice 1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree 1/2 cup white sugar 1/4 cup brown sugar 2 large eggs 1 teaspoon almond extract 3/4 cup skim milk Whipped topping and cinnamon for garnish 1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line cupcake wrappers in a muffin pan and coat wrappers with cooking spray. 2. In a medium bowl, mix together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and pumpkin pie spice. 3. In a larger bowl, combine pumpkin puree, sugar, brown sugar, eggs, almond and milk until fully combined. Add in dry ingredients and mix until no streaks of flour remain and batter is smooth. (Batter will be runny). 4. Fill liners about 3/4 of the way full and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until cupcakes are brown. Once cooled, add a dollop of whipped topping into the concave center and sprinkle with cinnamon!

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Quips and Quotes Thanksgiving Day Proclamation 1789 Date: October 3, 1789 By: George Washington

Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His beneﬁts, and humbly to implore His protection and favour; and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me “to recommend to the people of the United States a Day Of Public Thanksgiving and Prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:” Now Therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the Twenty-Sixth Day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneﬁcent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed;-- for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enable to establish Constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted;-- for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge;-- and, in general, for all the great and various favours which He has been pleased to confer upon us. And also, that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions: - to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shown kindness unto us); and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best. Given under my hand, at the city of New York, the third day of October, in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-nine.

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