Hebrews 12:2 and what it means to me.

Getting ready to start Hebrews.  Everytime I read it I wonder who authored it.  Always I have figured it was Apollos.  But the Nelson Study Bible said while Martin Luther and many others believed the same, one scholar, Adolf Harnack suggested Priscilla.  That may make more sense as to why no one knows, although they did in the early church, just left us to wonder.  The commentary suggests that the masculine pronoun in 11:32 probably rules that out.  What if she felt, that it would be better received if it was thought to be penned by a man?  Thus leaving out the introductory greetings and using a male pronoun?  Stranger things have been known to happen.  The commentary's author suggests that it is unlikely to be Apollos as he was an Alexandrian, and the Alexandrian church would have known it.  Unless they, like the Nazarenes failed to accept Apollos in his own home.  Luke 4:24 NKJV Then He said, "Assuredly, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own country."

Not to say Apollos was or was not a prophet, but I think the saying could still apply.  I do not know the relationship Apollos had with the Alexandrian church, but it's all just supposition. 

Anyway, my favorite verse is Hebrew 12:2 NKJV.

2 Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Ladies and Gentlemen, we are the "joy that was set before Him."  We are the reason He "endured the cross" even while he "despised the shame".  He did it for us.  To have the joy of being in relationship with us.  Despising the shame of our sins, taking our curse. 

Deuteronomy 21:22, 23 NKJV

22 “If a man has committed a sin deserving of death, and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, 23 his body shall not remain overnight on the tree, but you shall surely bury him that day, so that you do not defile the land which the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance; for he who is hanged is accursed of God.

Do you think Christ didn't know what a death, hung on a tree meant?  He is "the author and finisher of our faith." He is the Word.

John 1:1-5 NKJV

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

Christ is the Word, so He knew what he was doing as He hang upon the tree.  He was cursed for our sake.  So that we, His joy, might never need be separated from Him, on Earth, or in Heaven. 

Romans 3:23 NKJV

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Romans 6:23 NKJV

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 5:8 NKJV

8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

He did, He died.  He took our burden of sin and shame.  He nailed them to a cross.  He who knew no sin became sin for us.

Matthew 11:28-30 NKJV

28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

So we could have freedom over death, Hell, and the grave.

So to accept this gift, we are all so unworthy of, what do we do?

Romans 10:8-13 NKJV

8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach):9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For“whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

I don't care who you are.  I don't care what you have done.  Christ loves you, died for you and wants to be with you forever.  He forgave me, and trust me, I have done so many things that broke His heart.  I repented, asked forgiveness, and He forgave, and forgot.

1 John 1:9 NKJV

9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Lamentations 3:22-24 NKJV

22 Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not.

23 They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.

24 “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
“Therefore I hope in Him!”

My hope is in You Lord, and You never disappoint.  I only intended to write that I was starting Hebrews and my favorite verse.  But You made this so much more.  Thank you Lord.

My new recipe, Jimmy Dean and Chicken Noodle Soup!

Hey all fellow cooks.  I made up a new recipe today.  With the snow, today is a soup day.  For some reason I was craving Jimmy Dean sausage, chicken, chicken broth and noodles or pasta.  I couldn't find a recipe so I made one up.  It's good, not the best thing I have ever made, but was still good and yummy enough I will have again for dinner.  A little more of the seasonings might do the trick.

Jimmy Dean & Chicken Noodle Soup
Approx. 1 hour to make. By Donna Robb 2/22/2015.

8 oz Jimmy Dean regular sausage (1/2 chub) the kind you use for breakfast.
12.5 oz can of cooked chicken breast.
2-32 oz low (or no sodium if you can find it) Chicken broth.
14.5 oz Hunts fire roasted diced tomatoes with garlic.
2 tsps Basil
1 tsp Cavenders Greek seasoning (or Tony Chachere's Creole Seasoning)
1 tsp Italian Seasoning
1 tsp Garlic Pepper
3-4 dashes of crushed red pepper flakes
1.5 tsp (5 or 6 grinds) of fresh ground black pepper.
A dash of sugar
8 splashes of Red Wine Vinegar
8 oz egg noodle or pasta
Shredded Mozarella cheese to top

In a soup pot crumble 8 ounces of Jimmy Dean regular (or spicy, but not maple) sausage.  Cook on medium heat until light brown on both sides.  Remove sausage and drain grease on a plate lined with paper towels, pat dry with other paper towels.  Wipe the grease from the pot, but don't rinse.  Deglaze the pan with about an inch of Chicken broth.  Be sure to scrape off the brown from the sausage on the bottom of the pan and get that into the broth.  Add 1 tsp each basil, Cavenders, Italian, Garlic Pepper.  3-4 dashes of crushed red pepper flakes. 1.5 tsp of fresh ground black pepper - or 5 or 6 turns of the pepper mill.  Stir well.  Let cook until fragrant, about 2-3 minutes.  Open the can of chicken saving the lid.  Squeeze out the fluid with the lid.  Add cold water and squeeze out again.  Add to pot, add just enough broth to cover chicken, stir .  Cover pot and cook on medium low for about three minutes.  Add cooked sausage, add just enough broth to cover.  Stir well.  Cover and let cook another 3 minutes.  Taste, add a pinch of sugar, another tsp of basil and three splashes red wine vinegar.  Add rest of broth, stir well. 

Add noodles/pasta, cover and cook for three minutes on medium-high.  While cooking open your can of Hunt's tomatoes.  When three minutes are up add 5 splashes red wine vinegar and tomatoes.  Stir well.  Cover and cook for seven minutes.  When the cooking time is up, note there will be a creamy colored foam on the surface from the starch of the noodles, it's okay, just stir it in.  Taste and adjust seasonings.  Serve with shredded mozarella as a topping.  Stir in to soup while hot to melt.  It also cools the soup somewhat.  Enjoy!

Gun Buying Pointers for Women

Some buying tips on guns for women, by a woman.

There's a newer gun model out that I will check into for my next gun purchase.  It's called Sccy pronounced Sky.  I haven't researched them thoroughly, but what I have heard and found, I like.  Especially the price, size, weight, and crazy awesome warranty.  They run about $250-$275.  They are supposed to be pretty indestructible. 

I like my gun too, it's a Glock 19 gen 3.  Both of these are 9mm.  In my opinion the 9 mm is the smallest caliber I would go.  If you have to use it in defense, you want to stop someone, not piss them off.  The Glock has a trigger safety only.  The Sccy has one version with safety, one without.  It may have a trigger safety on the one without, am not sure.  Both guns are supposed to shoot no matter what you do to them.  I know Glocks are easy to clean as Matthew said above.  I don't care for the gen 4 as my finger rests on the trigger itself, not safe.  Plus the grip is very uncomfortable in my hand.  It does have adjustable back straps to adjust for the size of your hand that the gen 3 doesn't and comes with a 3rd cartridge.  Then gen 3 has 2.  As far as how mine handles, I love it.  I only noticed recoil the first time I shot it.  I was so nervous, it may have just been me, not the gun. 

Also, gun guys a lot of times at the store will try to sell you a revolver instead of a semi-automatic.  My instructor said a lot of women had problems cocking them, or doing the longer trigger pull instead. 

Best thing to do is to go somewhere like Bullseye.  They have where you can rent a gun for about $10 an hour.  You have to buy their ammo at about $18/50 rounds.  They let you trade out guns.  You may want to decide what ones you want to try and make sure they are all the same caliber so you only have to buy one size ammo.  Again, I would suggest 9 mm.  Have them show you how to load them before you rent so you are not on the clock.  Shoot 10-15 rounds depending on how many guns you want to try.  Then change to the next gun and try it.  You may want to buy a separate target for each gun and write the name of the gun on it.  That way you can see how well you aim each of them.  Read up online about how to aim using your sites and proper stance.  If there's a woman there at the range store, ask her how she stands, accounting for the "girls" being in the way.  You either hold your arms over the top.  Or from the waist.  I go over for a better stance.  Have her show you how to hold it. 

When you are done shooting be sure to wash your hands in cold water immediately.  When you get home wash exposed skin in cold water.  Wash clothes in cold water too.  You want to get the lead off. 

When you know what gun you want, call around for prices.  Gun stores usually are the highest priced by a good margin.  Just like the mark up on ammo.  Get ammo at Wal-mart or Cabela's or some Ace Hardware stores have good prices.  Check they have it in stock and ask them to hold it for you to pick up right away.  Remember FMJ=full metal jacket is practice ammo.  It's not good to use for defense as it's not as safe for that use.  JHP=Jacketed Hollow Point is defensive ammo.  Hollow points expand upon impact and should stop.  FMJ's go through a person, wall, etc. and keep on going.  Very dangerous to your neighbors and others. 

Update: My Concealed Carry instructor told me that he's had multiple folks with Sccy on the range.  They had multiple malfunctions within only the 25 rounds needed to qualify. He said my Glock 19 was a much better gun. Which is why I bought it in the first place.  I did ALOT of research before I bought it.  My best friend and another friend from church did ALOT of research too and both ended up going with Glock 19, one has a Gen 4 and I think the other a Gen 3.  So you can't really go wrong with a Glock.  If you don't like the 19, there are other 9 mm model Glocks you can try.  I have huge hands, so mine is a good fit for me.  But there are more compact Glocks too.  I wouldn't get anything larger than a 19 though, as it's right at the maximum size you want to conceal.  Any larger, you will have a hard time with concealed carry purses and some holsters.