MrsDrPoe: Our Summer Blessing

Happy Foto Friday!  So much has been going on this week, but the one thing I really wanted to share with you guys is our latest purchase:

a new-to-us Mazda 5!  We are so thankful to now have something that has a working transmission, emissions system, and AC (especially before the heat waves hit)!

MrsDrPoe: Acts 29, Part I

For this month's Theology Thursdays, I'd like to share with you a series of sermons on "Acts 29."  If you're familiar with the book of Acts, you probably recognize that there is no 29th chapter; however, this title was chosen to emphasize the fact that our lives today as disciples of Christ are actually a continuation of the church started in the book.

Please open your Bibles, and join me in studying Part 1 of Acts 29.

MrsDrPoe: Galette

What's for Dinner Wednesday is another dessert this week.  Today I'll be showing you how to create a Galette...so simple and elegant, I don't know that I'll ever make a pie again!

Ingredients: 1 pie crust, 2 tablespoons of butter, 2-3 cans of sliced fruit (I used pears), 1/4 cup brown sugar.

Place the dough on an lightly greased cookie sheet.  Slice the fruit and arrange on the crust in a spiral-like pattern, starting about 2 inches from the outer edge.  Fold the crust over the first layer of fruit, sprinkle with brown sugar, and dot with butter:

Bake at 350 until the crust is brown (approximately 35 minutes).  Enjoy with a nice scoop of ice cream!

MrsDrPoe: Gods and Kings

It's time for another Reading Review here on the blog.  Today I present to you another historical fiction work, "Gods and Kings" by Lynn Austin:

This book is loosely based on the Biblical accounts of Ahaz and Hezekiah.  I appreciated the horrifying detail that Austin put into the pagan practices of the surrounding nations that the kings of Israel adopted as their own; this helps me to better picture while reading my Bible of what actually went on.  The entire work was heart wrenching; even though I knew ultimately who would choose good and who would choose evil, it pained me to read about all these people did against God.  The book indirectly made me think about my own transgressions against our Lord (the author never breaks from her 3rd person narrative, don't worry).

One thing that bothered me about the book, however, is the behavior of several of the prophets.  While I understand adding their humanity and reactions is part of what makes this work fiction, the way in which they received their revelation from God by just "feeling" or "knowing" is in direct contradiction to anything we actually see in the Bible (the examples show God telling His prophets exactly what to say, when to say it, and where to go to say it).


All things considered, I enjoyed the book and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical fiction.  I look forward to reading the subsequent books in the series as well.

MrsDrPoe: Deals, 4/1

Twas the week before Easter here on the blog, but sadly there are no candy steals to log...

But this Money Monday there IS free contact solution and allergy meds at CVS!

CVS
Complete Multipurpose Solution ($8.99) - get $8.99 back in ECBs
Allegra Allergy, 5 ct. ($6.49) - use $7/1 SS 4/01

MrsDrPoe: A Week of Sickness, Codes, and Ants

It's finally Foto Friday here on the blog, and what a week it has been!  I have been dealing with some sinus thing (either sickness or allergies) all week, as well as a code that is giving me seemingly unexplainable but fabulous results, and ants at my bedroom window.

What have I accomplished this week?  An ant massacre.  I know the guy from "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" used Windex for everything, but I promise you it really does wonders to these creepy crawly invaders:

Here's to a better week next week!

MrsDrPoe: A Leper Meets The Teacher

This Theology Thursday I have a special treat for you.  Instead of sharing some of my thoughts from recent Bible studies, I'd like to point you to a lesson from Mark that Mr. Poe presented several weeks ago.  You can listen online to this lesson here; the sermon title is the same as that of this post.  Enjoy!

MrsDrPoe: Coconut Shrimp

What's for Dinner this Wednesday?  How about some coconut shrimp!

Ingredients: 1 bag of fresh shrimp (thawed, peeled, and deveined), 1/2 cup corn starch, 2-3 large eggs (beaten), 1/2 bag of sweetened, shredded coconut, and oil for frying.

Pat the shrimp dry, then lightly coat each one in corn starch:

Shake off any excess, and dip in the egg:

Coat in coconut, gently patting to ensure that it stays on the shrimp:

Carefully fry the shrimp till golden brown, flipping once if frying in a skillet.  Drain the friend shrimp and serve with orange sauce*.  YUM!


*To make an orange sauce, combine 1 cup of orange marmalade with 1-2 tablespoons of grated horseradish.

MrsDrPoe: Mr. Chinnis

It's time for another edition of Poes' Pals!  Please meet Mr. Chinnis*:

Mr. Chinnis is another of our new friends from Atlanta.  He got his chemical engineering degree at Georgia Tech, and he currently works in the paper business.  While he's definitely a very intelligent man, what impresses us the most about Mr. Chinnis is his love for the Lord.  He is a fantastic role model of serving God with everything you have.  He has helped numerous brethren who needed a place to stay, and he has privately funded his own mission trips to various places in Africa and South America...and those are just some of the things that we actually know about.  Mr. Poe and I find Mr. Chinnis to be such an encouragement to us, and we are so happy to know him! 

*photo credit

MrsDrPoe: Deals, 3/25

It's the beginning of another week with Money Monday on the blog!  There are a few freebies at CVS that you might want to venture out for, especially if you're stocking Easter baskets!

CVS
Gold Emblem Jelly Beans ($0.99) - get back $0.99 in ECBs
Mars Eggs ($0.50) - get back $1 WYB2, $1/2 RP 3/18
Colgate 360 Optic White Toothpaste ($2.99) - get back $2 in ECBs, $1/1 SS 3/11

MrsDrPoe: Retro Poe

Happy Foto Friday here on the blog!  I love when Mr. Poe has facial hair; however, he's not a big fan...except for last weekend when he had some fun "grooming" for his basketball tourney:

Kinda goofy, but still a cutie in my book! ;)

MrsDrPoe: Seeing God Where He Isn't

Happy Theology Thursday here on the blog!  As always, I invite you to open up your Bibles with me as we look at another portion of God's  word.

As I've shared with you in earlier months, I was a class on the Judges last segment.  Toward the end of the book are a couple of stories that show us just how bad things had gotten in the kingdom of God because of sin.  In chapter 17, we open up on a man named Micah who had stolen some silver from his mother.  As the story plays out, we see that this man is also an idolater who has a shrine and idols in his household.  In verse 7, we are introduced to a young Levite on his way to find a place to stay.  This Levite comes across Micah's house, and Micah invites him to be the priest for his shrine.  The Levite agrees, and in verse 13, Micah says:

"Now I know that the LORD will be good to me, since I have a Levite as a priest!"


The law of Moses clearly teaches that Jews should not be worshiping idols (or stealing for that matter), but that did not stop these men from doing so.  They were doing, as is said so often in the book of Judges, "what was right in their own eyes."  And Micah took it as a sign from God that he was doing right since a Levite had come to be his priest, as if God was pleased with his worship of idols.

While in this instance the error of their was seems obvious to us, we need to realize that often times we do the exact same thing in our own lives.  Too often we let our desires put words in God's mouth as if a bolt of lightning from heaven is the only way He would show His disapproval of something.  But "there is a way that seems right to a man, but it's end is the way of death." (Prov 14:12, 16:25)


We must remember that God speaks to us through His word, and only through study and prayer are we able to see what the will of the Lord is for us (keeping in mind that it's generally not as specific as "I should marry Bob Jones"). AND we must remember that Satan is out there too, stalking about like a lion, waiting to devour us.  Micah didn't blatantly forsake God- he thought he was serving Him!  We need to be careful not to make the same mistake or we'll be the people in Mat 7:22:


"Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?'  And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'"

MrsDrPoe: Turkey Chili

It's Wednesday night once again!  What's for Dinner this Wednesday is a healthy take on a cool-weather favorite...Turkey Chili.

Ingredients: 2 pounds ground turkey, 1/4 cup diced onion, 1/4 cup diced bell pepper, 1/2 cup chili seasoning, 1 tablespoon garlic powder, 2 teaspoons salt, and 2 teaspoons pepper, 1 can pinto beans (drained), 2 cans diced tomatoes.

In a large saucepan on med-high heat, cook the turkey, pepper and onion until the turkey is browned and the veggies are tender:

Add the seasonings, and stir to distribute.  Then add the beans and tomatoes, and allow the chili to simmer on med heat until the beans are warm and tender (about twenty minutes):

Serve with shredded cheddar, sour cream, and corn chips:

 

MrsDrPoe: A Tale of Three Kings

For the next Reading Review, I present to you "A Tale of Three Kings" by Gene Edwards.  This book is March's free download from Christian Audio.

Essentially, this work looks at the attitudes and actions of three Biblical kings, Saul, David, and Absalom and indirectly applies them to the church.  The author emphasizes the point that leaders of God's people should never be objected to because only God knows who is His anointed, and He "never tells."

Simply looking at the book for literary value, I think it was very well written (and very well read).  I enjoyed it very much.  Spiritually speaking, it also has value in causing the reader to reflect on his/her motivations behind his/her view of leaders.  I don't know, however, that everything the author tries to apply from these old king's lives to our own directly applies in light of the New Testament.  While we are commanded to submit to those in authority over us in general, we are also told that we should purge sin from the church...with no distinction between elders or 'regular' members.  At this point in my studies though, I would agree that division of the local church should be avoided (with the exception of the measures of disciple mentioned above), since this was not an option given to the few faithful members of the sinful churches addressed in Revelation 2-3.  

MrsDrPoe: Deals, 3/18

It's a slow Money Monday today!  Here a few things at Wags I'm considering making the trip out for:

Wags
Reach Toothbrush ($0.99 w/ in-add Q) - use $1/1 RP 3/04
Carefree Pantiliners, 20-22 pk ($0.99) - use $1/1 SS 3/18
Neosporin Essentials Trial Pack ($12.99) - $12.99 MIR in select Sunday papers