Leftover Bread Cookies

I have found a great way to use up old, dried-up bread.  You can use it for really good cookies.

1¼     cups flour

1¼     cups sugar

½     tsp. salt

½     tsp. baking powder

1/3     cup cocoa

½     cup milk

1     egg

1½     tsp. vanilla

2/3     cup melted shortening

2     cups bread crumbs

Stir together all the dry ingredients. Stir together the wet ingredients and then add to the dry.  Add melted shortening and bread crumbs. You may add a tablespoon of peanut butter, M&M’s, or pieces of a candy bar to give the cookies more flavor.  They are also good without anything added.   Drop by teaspoonful on an ungreased cookie sheet.  Bake at 350 degrees for about 13 minutes.

God wants us to live informed lives, aware of our adversary’s mannerisms and devices. Unfortunately, most of us easily recall times when we failed to acknowledge the personality and power behind some of our most painful experiences.  We make a common, yet very costly, mistake when we perceive our spiritual conflicts as “flesh and blood battles.”  In Dr. Joe Murray’s book, Exposing Satan’s m.o., he uncovers some of the most common and destructive wiles or methods of the enemy. He illuminates the devious schemes of the devil through practical and pointed clarity.

Every Christian will benefit from the content of Exposing Satan’s m.o., but pastors and church leaders will especially find the teaching helpful, and perhaps even timely. Without question, the enemy relentlessly attacks God’s churches today.  As a pastor of the same flock for more than twenty-four years, I have had the opportunity to see many of these scenarios lived out.  Most of those who minister in overseeing God’s New Testament churches share this same testimony.  Our minds, baffled by the power of false accusations, often underestimate the damage of these lies. As pastors, we know the heartbreak of seeing the people, whom we love and care for and, deceived and led astray.  Those who led these astray do not share the same goal for the well being of the Lord’s church.  We have been surprised then devastated by the betrayal of those we once considered friends.

We live in a spiritual battle. Exposing Satan’s m.o. explores and explains some of the ways to expect the Devil to operate.  M.O., an abbreviation for the Latin phrase modus operandi, appropriately translates as “mode of operation.”  Those working at law enforcement use this abbreviation describe a criminal’s character patterns and style of work. As you read Exposing Satan’s m.o., let it remind you that the Devil’s methods do not change. He still operates today in the same devices he used in the Word of God.  Often, when we sincerely investigate a spiritual crime scene, we clearly discover the Satan’s fingerprints. Though profitable to recognize devilish involvement after the damage is done, we would certainly benefit by discerning the enemy’s ploy before he deceives people and adversely affects God’s work.  The truths exposed in this book will help the serious Christian recognize the unseen spiritual reality behind the visible conflicts and struggles we all must face.

Many pertinent and practical questions are answered in these pages. How can negative reports appear so believable? Why do lies sometimes seem more believable than truths? Can we afford to ignore such things as slander in the body of Christ? Why do spiritual leaders remain the target of satanic attack? What should a church member do when their pastor faces criticism? The children of God need to take spiritual warfare more seriously. While families suffer and churches divide, many who claim to know Christ do not personally engage in this conflict. Be assured, the Devil does not take a passive stand about these matters. The proponents of wickedness and spiritual darkness actively pursue their agenda of death.

I am privileged to personally know many who have benefited from the principles and truths presented in this book. It is greatly needed, and I trust will be widely used. May this book serve to help stir God’s people to own the cause of victory through our Lord Jesus Christ..

To order your copy today Click Here

A couple of years ago, I accepted the invitation to speak at a three-day missions conference in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. The conference was dedicated to promoting missions on the foreign fields, as well as planting new churches in America.

On Monday night of the conference, the pastor did not call me up to speak. On Tuesday evening I was ready to go, yet the pastor did not call me up to speak. I thought they must have been planning on me closing the meeting out.

That afternoon before the conference, while brushing my teeth In my hotel room, a tooth broke off and went down the drain.  I might mention that I wear false teeth, which I made for myself after an accident in my teen years. The tooth went down the drain of the sink and I went into panic mode, pulling the drain trap off.  In doing so, I broke the drain trap into pieces and cut up my hand.   In the midst of the mess of the drain pieces and my bleeding hand, I discovered that my tooth had gone through the drain trap and could not be recovered.

The worst of it was, it was one of my front teeth. For me to get up and speak would leave me looking like a full-blown hillbilly.  I first entertained the idea of calling the church and informing them that I could not come to the meeting. When I called the office of the church, the pastor heard my dilemma and said, “Pastor Smith you have to come.” I said, “I can’t.” He replied, “Pastor Smith, tonight in the conference we are honoring you as the ‘Church Planter of the Decade,’ and we are giving you several gifts as well as a large financial gift to take your wife on a vacation.”

I could not believe my ears. How in the world could I get up with my front tooth missing? I turned and noticed that in my fruit basket, which the church had provided for me in my motel room, there sat a package of Chiclets gum. As you may know, this kind of gum resembles large white teeth.

That evening I climbed to the pulpit to receive my award, with a Chiclet stuck in the place of my tooth. My prayer, as I stood before the large crowd, was that my new tooth would not dissolve before I left the platform. I made it, and as soon as possible slipped out the door, with my new tooth melting and falling out of its socket.

The great Biblical truth discovered through this humorous story is, “God will always make a way of escape.”

Written by Pastor Marvin Smith

We all need help from time to time. There are no “maintenance-free” Christians. We all need assistance, comfort, instruction, reproof, encouragement, and acceptance. We must avoid, at all costs, the mind-set of the Laodiceans in Revelation 3:17, “I…have need of nothing.” In our text, the Lord uses Paul to remind us that we do not all need the same thing at the same time. Those who are “unruly” will need someone to warn them, as well as the rebellious and disobedient. The Bible tells us to “comfort the feebleminded.”  There will be those who are faint-hearted or discouraged; they are in need of encouragement and comfort. They do not need to be rebuked or warned.  Sometimes, the brethren will be “weak” and in need of someone to help carry their burdens or support them in their weakness. However, whatever the need, we must have patience with everyone in our spiritual family. The verse goes on to say, “be patient toward all men.” We are to be forbearing with all the brethren. One of the greatest mistakes we make, in our attempts to minister to God’s people, surfaces when we try to give the same medicine to every ill person. We do not want to correct and reprove someone who needs support, nor do we want to comfort those who need warning.

How reassuring to know that God knows the spiritual condition of every person, and He knows what we need. We can come to Him with our needs and know that He cares; he holds the perfect answer for our problems. We can also trust Him to give us direction and discernment, when we seek to help those who struggle. We must remember to “be patient toward all men.” None of us have arrived; we all have room to grow, much room.  People, like plants, do not all grow at the same pace. Although we may be further along in a particular area than another brother or sister, if we will be honest, we discover our own weaknesses of other areas.  If we keep this in mind, we will exhibit more patience towards others. Lastly, remembering how patient God has been, and continues to be, with us will grow our patience with others.

I recently adopted the title of stay-at-home housewife, with four girls, ages one through thirteen.  This opportunity arose, at the ripe old age of forty-two, when I delivered a bouncing baby girl. My prayers to God, to be able to stay at home with the baby, have been answered.

Just to let you know, things get tight; my husband is an artist. We sometimes use the term starving artist in our family. Really, he does a great job at working hard and providing for us.  In a two-income society, it remains a challenge to live on one income.

Not wanting to return to work right now, I assumed the job of trying to save money and found several ways that God has enabled me to do so. We all need to remember that it is not our money; it belongs to God and we should not waste what He gives to us.

I included some tips that I acquired from reading various books and articles. I hope that some of them will help you save.

One week we had almost nothing for groceries. I literally spent thirty-five dollars that week for our family of six.  Not an easy task! I needed whole milk for my one year old, while my thirteen year old easily downs four hot dogs at lunch, wolfs down a big dinner, and asks me what I made for dessert! My eleven year old does not lag far behind.

One of the things that helped me was to scan the ads in our town paper on Wednesday afternoons.  After checking to see which store advertised the best sales, I made a list of things I needed and where to buy particular items. I sometimes traveled to three different stores in one shopping day. I loaded up on the really good sale items, enough to last at least six weeks.  It takes about that long for them to go on sale again.

Certain items I need to buy every week. I purchase fifteen pounds of flour, five pounds of sugar and rice, a bag of popcorn, two pounds of margarine, one pound of butter, two pounds of dried pinto beans, six dozen eggs, and a jar of yeast. I also buy fruit, carrots, celery, and a jar of peanut butter if it is on sale. It is also good to keep corn meal and oatmeal on hand. With these items we can at least eat for a while.

Have you ever considered getting rid of your cable or satellite television?  Since we cut out watched regular television for so long, my kids do not even know what television shows play. We do not miss trying to censor the bad programs or commercials either. We do have a television that we use for parent-approved videos.  Try this money saving tip.  Instead of renting movies, the library lends them for free in our hometown and only charges if you fail to return them after a week! You wait a little longer for the new releases, but I remember waiting years to see a movie before they Invented videocassette recorders (VCR). Our kids do not suffer boredom, as you might think, even without the television.  Instead, they are   very creative and play outside more than most kids in our neighborhood. They love for me to read to them at night, which I think builds their imagination.

Remember, don’t cheat God; give your tithe and mission offerings. Those things are eternal and everything else remains temporary anyway.

Proverbs 19:17 “He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.”
You may need to plan a little and sacrifice some, but you can live on less. May God bless your finances and help you to live more frugally.

Proverbs 13:11 “Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.”

Written by Jeanie Hanson

May I ask you a question?

Has the Gospel been hid from your loved ones: your brother, sister, dad, mom, son, or daughter? Has it been hid from your grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, close friends, or even acquaintances? How could this possibly happen through the life of born again, blood cleansed, Heaven-bound believers? The answer is in II Corinthians 4:9-12, “Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. So then death worketh in us, but life in you.”

The Lord Jesus says, “And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” Luke 9:23  Beloved, when you carry a cross around, you will get nailed to it, either by people or by circumstances.

In verses ten and eleven of II Corinthians, the context tells us to continue in the action, meaning always, throughout the day and night.  The Devil’s strives to complete his number one goal of getting us to act natural.  When we act natural, we give him opportunity to hide our Gospel.  Now, how did the Lord Jesus die? Not His death, but how did He die? He was despised, rejected, criticized, laughed at, mocked, lied about, and misunderstood; this describes the normal Christian life.  On the other side of the cross, the natural man wants to be liked, looked up to, thought well of, and accepted. This describes the sin nature that dwells within every lost person and remains in every saved person until we go to heaven. Our enemy constantly shoots fiery darts into people’s minds, hoping they will shoot them out of their mouths.  By using their words of criticism or rejection, he will cause us to lay down our cross and to act natural. The cross that we carry, as we follow the Lord Jesus, is not to bear but to die on, allowing the Lord Jesus to live His resurrected life through us. Always, throughout the day, people or circumstances nail us to the cross; sadly, many times we react in the natural way instead of in our new nature of love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance.

No matter how much we confess that we are Christians, when we get in the flesh, that old sin nature hides our Gospel. We must immediately confess our sins to God, receive His forgiveness, and then ask those that saw us and heard us to forgive us.  Tell them that the Lord Jesus did not have anything to do with the way we acted. In doing this, our Gospel will not remain hid and folks can see and hear the real Lord Jesus Christ through us.

Written by Pastor Joe Murray

This is a story that needs to be told! It is a story of faith, sacrifice, and love. It began, over thirty years ago, when I picked up a cassette tape by Pastor Gardner Gentry of Victory Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky.  It contained a message called, “Compassion.” As a nineteen-year-old boy, this message lit a fire in my heart to do something great for my God with my life.

Over twenty years later, I heard about Gardner Gentry going to the mission field of Malawi, Africa.  In my mind, I first questioned “Why would an elderly man, with a successful ministry in America, go to one of the world’s poorest countries?” If he were young, I might understand it, but why leave, in what we might call our retirement years, to sacrifice his remaining years on the mission field: helping to feed the physically and spiritually hungered.

I invited Missionary Gardner Gentry to Harvest Baptist Church to present his work for Malawi, Africa, with the consideration of our ministry supporting their mission work financially and prayerfully. After hearing his burden for Malawi, there remained no doubt in our minds that this man of God would make an impact on that poor world of dying people.

Most people in America stay completely out of touch with the needs of our third-world countries. Malawi ranks in the top three of the poorest countries in the world.

Tens of thousands of children are left as abandoned orphans. They live without clean water, food, and medical care. They endure AIDS at an all-time high as an epidemic. Death resides everywhere, and hope cannot be found.

Gardner and Alice Gentry have brought the hope that this country needs. They have been working in Malawi, Africa, for over a decade. Today Bro. Gentry serves with a body filled with malaria and sickness. Throughout his weeks spent at the hospital, Bro. Gentry never lost his vision for Malawi. Could this be the will of God? Does this bring glory to God? Gardner Gentry, now in his seventies, established over 350 Bible-preaching churches with national pastors leading these ministries. In addition, they also began a Bible college that now serves over 900 students, while preparing them to serve their nation.

The Gentry’s birthed The Good Samaritan Orphanage, which now houses over 100 orphan children: supplying them with food, education, love, and the teaching of the Bible. One of our very own ladies, in our church, recently left to serve in the orphanage. A medical center has been established to help serve the sick and dying.

More importantly, thousands have come to receive Christ as their Saviour and will live in heaven because a man and woman by the name of Gardner and Alice Gentry decided, “It is never too late in life to give your life.”

If you are interested in supporting Gardner and Alice Gentry in Malawi, Africa, send your support to Harvest Baptist Missions and designate your offering to the “Gentry’s to Malawi.” Every dollar that comes in will be sent to their ministry to continue the work of changing lives for Christ.

Written by Marvin Smith

How exciting to see God at work, and what an honor when He includes us in accomplishing His plan!

During a snowstorm three and a half years ago, my husband, Troy, worked hard at plowing snow. He began at 1 a.m. on a Sunday morning with hopes of finishing, accompanied by his staff, before our church services began. He arrived before the others and parked his work truck near the maintenance garage.  Immediately, he began to clear the snow off parking lots and sidewalks. The rest of his staff arrived within the next two hours to complete the task.

At approximately 8 a.m., while finishing up the job, Troy noticed that someone had moved his truck. It was out of sight. He asked the other men where he could find it, but no one knew where to look.  His Initial thought of being the object of some kind of a joke quickly faded Into the reality of his stolen truck! Panic struck him! His tools, computer, important door lock equipment, keys, and important papers were gone!  Anger began to swell within him as he thought of the nerve of someone taking his truck! After calling the police, he contacted me at home and explained why he would not be able to attend church after all. He needed to file a police report and meet with an officer.

We hung up and I Immediately told our three sons the report of their dad’s stolen truck. Our oldest son Cal, a fifth grader at the time, suggested we pray for whoever took the truck. I agreed saying, “Whoever took it knows it is not theirs.” When we prayed for the thief, we even prayed for God to use this experience to bring this person to Him and change their life.

That morning, we asked others at church to pray for the situation. I heard myself saying, “Maybe someone just needed a ride and will bring it back.” I sensed the skepticism of the people concerning this possibility. More than likely, we would find the truck totaled in a ditch after a joy-riding expedition with all the valuables cleaned out and for sale on eBay! Even so, our little family continued to pray for “the person.”

When I spoke to Troy again on the phone, I told him of Cal’s suggestion to pray for whoever took it. He responded with aggravation to this thought. “Pray for that person? You should be praying for me,” he said.  “What will I do if all of that equipment and information is gone?” Eventually, the merciful heart of his son began to soften his own.

On Monday morning, a man pulled up to my husband’s work in the missing truck and parked it in the exact place it had been, previous to the robbery. He got out and began to walk away. One of Troy’s employees saw him and called to him; he told him that he needed to come and speak to my husband. After showing the man to my husband’s office, he told Troy “There is someone here you have to meet.” The man introduced himself as Leroy, told Troy his last name, and said, “I took your truck the other day, but I brought it back. It is parked outside. Nothing is missing.” My husband could not believe his ears! Still very upset, he said to the man, “You don’t understand. I have been worried sick about this. I had all of that valuable stuff inside.”  In response, Leroy continued, “Well I brought it back. Everything is still there. I did not touch anything. I just needed a ride home.”  He explained to Troy that during the snowstorm he drove his car into a ditch.  While walking to get help, he found no one, but stumbled across Leroy’s parked truck. He took it home and parked it in his driveway.

After the conversation ended, Leroy and my husband went outside to look at the truck. My husband realized everything inside remained untouched and in it’s previous condition. Relief swept over him, though he remained a bit irritated. He then thought of the answered prayer. He thought of this man’s explanation for taking the truck:  “I needed a ride.” Troy could not believe the words that came out of his mouth next. “So what are you going to do now?” He replied, “I’m going home. I will just call a taxi.” To his own disbelief my husband said, “I will give you a ride.” During this fifteen-minute ride, in the same “borrowed” truck, as our little family now describes it Leroy shared his heart with Troy.  He explained how he had been going through some tough times and felt like he could not get any lower. He later described feeling as though he hung onto the bottom rung of a ladder smothered In axle grease.

Troy told him that he should meet our pastor. He explained the genuine trouble we experienced In our marriage, before going to pastor for biblical counseling. He told him of the help we received that saved our marriage. He confided in him that we probably would not be together if not for the Biblical counseling we received. Leroy asked for the name of our pastor and church that we attended. Happily, Troy gave him the information.
Once at his driveway the two men parted ways. My husband called the police. He told them the missing truck and its contents were returned, and wanted the case closed. Troy called me and said, “You will not believe what I have been doing this morning!”  Together we praised God! I could not wait to tell the kids! They, too, praised God’s miracle! We thought that would be the last time we would see Leroy; however, we continued to pray for him.
Wednesday morning we received word that my husband’s best friend’s son, a senior In high school, had died in a car accident. Troy left to stay with Jim and his family. That same Wednesday, Leroy showed up at our church’s office and talked with the pastor’s wife and the school principal.  He explained that he was the guy that took Troy’s truck and how Troy had sent him to the church. He asked for help! I received the news when I picked our kids up from the school. The kids and I rejoiced and praised our Lord! When I called and told Troy, he shared how encouraging this was to Jim and his family during such a difficult time.

Leroy came to church Thursday night, and the school’s principal introduced him to me. We sat together in church and he told me, “I’m a God-fearing man, but He seems so far away right now.” He returned to church on Sunday morning and Sunday evening. The kids met him, and we all agreed that we liked him. We had, after all, been praying for him for a week now! At Sunday night’s services, Leroy got saved! What wonderful miraculous news to report to my husband, Jim, and his family!

Leroy remained faithful to our church ever since!  II Corinthians 5:17 promises that he is a new creation! Through biblical counseling with our pastor, he obtained freedom from various bondages. God truly performed a miraculous work in Leroy’s life! God slowly allowed him to rebuild a relationship with his children, while they watch God change his life. Two of his children and his parents visited our church; Leroy’s parents and sister thank God for the work He carried out in Leroy’s life. They had spent years praying for him! Leroy remains a very special friend to our little family, and even Jim still asks about him. Let us not forget the power of encouraging others in their walk with God by our own walk with God.

Recently, when Leroy, one of his sons, and our little family met together, we talked about when we all first met.  We told Leroy, for the first time, how Cal wanted to pray for whoever took the missing truck. That thought really touched him! He remembered on that Monday how he was “moved” to return the truck. Before that, he really cared nothing about what happened to him, the truck, or its contents.  In reflection on those dark days, Leroy stated, “It was right there where the good Lord could reach me and pull me up.  I was so low. I finally gave up trying in my own power. It was all Him. I thank God for what He has done for me. He has blessed me financially and in relationships and I never want to go back to where I was before.” Praise God He still answers prayer!

Written by the Brandt Family & Leroy Flowers