<<<<>>>>

Ruth went to her mailbox and there was only one letter. She picked it up and looked at it before opening, but then she looked at the envelope again. There was no stamp, no postmark, only her name and address. She read the letter:

Dear Ruth, I'm going to be in your neighborhood Saturday afternoon and I'd like to stopby for a visit Love Always, JESUS

Her hands were shaking as she placed the letter on the table, "Why would the Lord want to visit me? I'm nobody special. I don't have anything to offer." With that thought, Ruth remembered her empty kitchen cabinets. "Oh my goodness, I really don't have anything to offer I'll have run down to the store and buy something for dinner. "She reached for her purse and counted out its contents. Five dollars and forty cents. "Well, I can get some bread and cold cuts, at least." She threw on her coat and hurried out the door. A loaf of French bread, a half-pound of sliced turkey, and a carton of milk... leaving Ruth with grand total of twelve cents to last her until Monday. Nonetheless, she felt good as she headed home, her meager offerings tucked under her arm.

"Hey lady, can you help us, lady?"

Ruth had been so absorbed in her dinner plans, she hadn't even noticed two figures huddled in the alleyway. A man and a woman, both of them dressed in little more than rags,

"Look lady, I ain't got a job, ya know, and my wife and I have been living out here on the street, and, well, now it's getting cold and we're getting kinda hungry and, well, if you could help us, lady, we'd really appreciate it."

Ruth looked at them both. They were dirty, they smelled bad and frankly, she was certain that they could get some kind of work if they really wanted to. "Sir, I'd like to help you, but I'm a poor woman myself.

All I have is a few cold cuts and some bread, and I'm having an important guest for dinner tonight and I was planning on serving that to Him."

"Yeah, well, okay lady, I understand. Thanks anyway." The man put his arm around the woman's shoulders, turned and headed back into the alley. As she watched them leave, Ruth felt a familiar twinge in her heart.

"Sir, wait!"

The couple stopped and turned as she ran down the alley after them.

"Look, why don't you take this food. I'll figure out something else to serve my guest." She handed the man her grocery bag.

"Thank you lady. Thank you very much!" "Yes, thank you!"

It was the man's wife, and Ruth could see now that she was shivering. "You know, I've got another coat at home. Here, why don't you take this one." Ruth unbuttoned her jacket andslipped it over the woman's shoulders. Then smiling, she turned and walked back to the street...without her coat and with nothing to serve her guest.

"Thank you lady! Thank you very much!"

Ruth was chilled by the time she reached her front door, and worried too. The Lord was coming to visit and she didn't have anything to offer Him. She fumbled through her purse for the door key. But as she did, she noticed another envelope in her mailbox. "That's odd. The mailman doesn't usually come twice in one day." She took the envelope out of the box and opened it.

Dear Ruth, It was so good to see you again. Thank you for the lovely meal. And thank you, too, for the beautiful coat.

Love Always

JESUS

The air was still cold, but even without her coat, Ruth no longer noticed.

THIS IS A SIMPLE TEST....... If you love Jesus, send this to ten people and the person that sent it to you!!!!!!!!

-- Anonymous, April 02, 2000

Answers

Mark;

I liked that very much. When I first saw the heading of the thread, I thought: Boy, I sure don't want to serve 'Roast Pastor" for Sunday dinner!

But that is a great way to serve the Lamb of God.

In Him,

-- Anonymous, April 02, 2000

By the way, I serve leg o'lamb every Easter, because it seems more symbolic of the Savior than ham does. Lamb (NOT mutton) is delicious with gravy and button mushrooms ~ the only problem is that I have to get 10 cans of button mushrooms, because even the tiniest child loves them.

With the lamb, I make slashes over the leg and insert garlic slivers; then I sprinkle it (I'd 'baptizo' it, but I don't have enough sesaoning salt and parsley flakes to do so ~ '-) ;-) ~); then I bake it for the suggested time and ~ Voila! ~ a heavenly dish to commemorate our Savior's death and resurrection.

Fortunately, this year my son is giving us a leg of lamb for helping with his wedding; Lamb is expensive.

In His Memory,

-- Anonymous, April 02, 2000

this is a retelling of an old story, title "The Christmas Guest". Don't remember who wrote it. It was originally about, I think, a shoemaker, r some other tradesman of the general kind.

-- Anonymous, April 02, 2000

that may be the wrong title, but i think i remember it right. if anyone else remembers better, please . . .

-- Anonymous, April 03, 2000

I seem to recall seeing a Christmas cartoon about that story a few years ago (gasp! they showed something religious on TV!)

-- Anonymous, April 03, 2000

By the way, what would YOU have for dinner if Jesus were the guest of homor?

What would your conversations center on? How would you treat the other guests there?

Just wondering. We all vaguely know 'what Jesus would do'. What would WE do?

The reason for the Hope that is within me: Jesus' death, shed blood, and resurrection, with a promise to come again.

-- Anonymous, April 03, 2000

Typo: 'homor' Correction : 'honor'.

-- Anonymous, April 03, 2000

In the physical presence of Jesus, I think I would probably be eating a lot of "crow"...... :~)

-- Anonymous, April 03, 2000

And humble pie for dessert?

-- Anonymous, April 03, 2000

I'm really beginning to like you John.

It's always great to find someone who can pick up on my "warped" sense of humor...........Ha!

-- Anonymous, April 03, 2000

I LOVE John, but I don't want to embarrass him by saying so.

-- Anonymous, April 04, 2000

Aw shucks, guys =8)

-- Anonymous, April 04, 2000

There was a cartoon about this in Cornerstone magazine over 20 years ago. I wish I still had it. Jesus came to dinner, and the family had to dust off the family Bible, and they had to do a lot of cleaning up of other things too! Its an interesting twist on things.

-- Anonymous, April 04, 2000

Concerning what we will serve for dinner on Easter:

Our middle son's birthday is April 11th, so we always celebrate it with Easter. The cake we serve is a 'lamb cake'~ in the shape of a lamb, as you can guess. This has become a 'tradition'. [We confine our traditions to family get-togethers! ;-) ;-)]

I just thought of a couple of dishes whose recipes I want to share with you (cooking is my favorite household activity.) I won't have time to do it now, because we are going to the above son's home for dinner tonight, but I will do it later. They are for: Celery Casserole, Lemon Torte, and a wonderful, but simple way to serve asparagus.

Maybe you all would like to share some, too.

-- Anonymous, April 05, 2000

It is going to be some time before I can give you those recipes, because we are leaving early tomorrow morning for Chicago (a suburb) for a memorial service for the husband of my husband's cousin.

Today I have to get clothing and supplies ready to go.

-- Anonymous, April 06, 2000

Years back I was talking with the preacher about Easter dinner. His mouth was drolling over the idea of roasting a big greasy hunk of hog to celebrate the day??????

Just kinda did not fit the picture. Know what I mean?

Take care.

-- Anonymous, April 07, 2000

Mark,

I know exactly what you mean.

There is nothing finer than a roasted wild Florida Hog that was harvested during our annual Preacher/Elder or Father/Child Hog Hunts.

In fact, I think we're going to put a big 'ol ham on the smoker this year and enjoy that which God has blessed us with and said is good - as all foods have been declared clean.

Eat, drink, & be merry - for tomorrow, we hunt !

-- Anonymous, April 07, 2000

Mark W.,

Where is it that God made the unclean foods clean. The vision of the sheet coming down with unclean animals was used to open Peter up to the fact that God wanted the Gospel to go to the Gentile, and we are not to consider them unclean.(Acts 10:11 KJV) "And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:"

(Acts 10:12 KJV) "Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air."

(Acts 10:13 KJV) "And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat."

(Acts 10:14 KJV) "But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean."

(Acts 10:15 KJV) "And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common."

(Acts 10:16 KJV) "This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven."

(Acts 10:17 KJV) "Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate,"

Eat what you want but think before you celebrate Jesus Christ by eating a Hog for Easter.

Happy Hunting.

-- Anonymous, April 08, 2000

Yes, all things are allowable, and to be received with thanksgiving, but Lamb seems to be a more appropriate meal.

We eat ham at other times.

And I don't think we are to judge each other in these matters, though.

-- Anonymous, April 08, 2000

Dear All, Gourmets et Gourmands:

CELERY CASSEROLE:

1 young bunch Paschal (!) celery, washed, cleaned, and cut diagonally in 1/4 " slices, then boiled for 7 minutes and drained.

1 can (8 oz. + -) sliced water chestnuts, drained.

1 can Cream of Mushroom soup ~ Campbell's really is best.

1 section Ritz crackers, rolled or crushed by hand.

1/4 # butter or margarine.

1 pkg. slivered almonds, toasted in oven at 300* for 5 minutes. (Burns easily)

While the celery is boiling, in a separate pan, combine on low temp., the soup and the water chestnuts, stirring 'til mixed.

After combining the soup mixture with the cooked celery, use that pan to melt the butter/margarine and then lightly brown the crushed crackers and the almonds.

Layer 1/2 of the soup/celery mixture in a baking dish and top the first half with 1/2 of the butter/crackers/almonds mixture; then pour the 2nd half of the soup/celery mixture on top of that, and finally add the last 1/2 of the butter/crackers/almond mixture.

I add no salt to anything, because of the salt in the crackers and soup; you may want to.

HEAVENLY LEMON TORTE:

CRUST:

1 cup flour

1/2 cup chopped walnuts (or pecans)

1 stick margarine or butter, softened

Combine into a dough and press into a glass baking dish.

Bake at 350*, 10 or 15 minutes 'til golden brown (burns easily, especially if butter is used).

Cool in refrigerator while making fillings.

FIRST LAYER:

8 oz. Cream Cheese, softened

1 cup powdered sugar

Combine above; lightly fold in 8 oz. 'Cool Whip' (of a 16 oz. container);

Spread in cooled crust; refrigerate again.

SECOND LAYER:

2 pkg. Jell-O INSTANT (ONLY) Lemon pudding and pie filling.

Use 3 cups, (instead of the 4 cups of the recipe on the box) of cold milk and pie filling and beat for two minutes. Pour immediately on top of the first filling. Refrigerate again for 5 minutes.

FINAL TOPPING:

Spread other 1/2 of 'Cool Whip' on top of last layer of topping. (Lemon/milk layer)

Sprinkle (there's that word, again!) other 1/2 cup of crushed nuts on top. Refrigerate 'til serving. This will keep well if made the day ahead.

After baking the crust, the other stages go very quickly, so while it seems involved, is really very simple and quick.

Another simple and quick fruit salad is:

1 can Pineapple tidbits; 2 (sm)cans Mandarin oranges; 1 cup miniature pastel marshmallows and 1/2 cup shredded coconut. Combine with 1/2 cup sour cream or yogurt. We call it 'Ambrosia'.

The asparagus:

Wash thoroughly (it's sandy) lots of very thin asparagus (therefore young); cut off woody portion (2-3"); cook 'til barely done; (don't overcook); crush crackers (Waverly or Ritz) over the top and drizzle melted butter (amount of your choosing) over whole top of asparagus and crackers.

Even the little ones like this, but they are accustomed to eating their vegetables.

Blessed Easter! In remembrance of what he has done for all of us.

-- Anonymous, April 08, 2000

Mark H.

"Where did God declare unclean foods to be clean?"

The passage you quoted does, though it does apply to the idea of considering Gentiles "clean" and worthy of the Gospel in the first sense.

Read Mark 7:14-23 - there Jesus declares that it is what comes out of a man that defiles him, not what goes in (with the parenthetical statement made in verse 19 'thus He declared all foods clean').

Also read Romans 14:14 - " I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that NOTHING is unclean in itself; but to him who thinks anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean".

So you can eat what you want & I, what I want - as long as we do it in good conscience. Besides, I'm convinced that if God didn't want me eating that hog on Resurrection Sunday - He wouldn't have allowed it to walk into my sights in the first place. Which is why I always whisper "Thank you, Lord" before I pull the trigger.

-- Anonymous, April 08, 2000

The only time we are not to eat meats is if they have been offered to idols. The drinking of wine or eating of meats offered to idols should be avoided in the presence of a person with a weak conscience.

Of course, if we don't want ot eat them, we don't have to. A-h-h! Freedom in Christ.

-- Anonymous, April 09, 2000

I am not starting a food debate. I know of one church group that forbade their members in different lands from eating their customary meats and this was a hardship on them.

However I personally think that God gave the dietary laws in order to keep Israel healthy.

If I visit someone and they are serving this or that I eat it and thank them for it. However I usually stick to the list of foods that were designated as good food.

In the sacrifices God would have the priests burn the innards and the fat and leave the rest for the people. Today we are told to cut out fat from our diet and people that understand the innards of animals say it is not a good idea to eat them.

Happy hunting!

-- Anonymous, April 09, 2000

By the way, I am pretty sure that I was served cat food at one ladies home. Again, I wouldn't buy it for myself, but I didn't insult the woman.

-- Anonymous, April 09, 2000

Mark!

Your story brought back a memory from when i was in college many years ago.

A young man in our youth group told us he bought and was eating dog food! I thought he said it kind of proudly, but who knows? I wasn't a Christian at the time, so didn't think much more about it, even though my parents taught us to be concerned for others.

Also, several years ago, my mom was visiting from Illinois and during dinner a spider started dropping down to the table on its silk thread. My mom said: "Guess who's coming to dinner?" We all broke out laughing, and we all, (except my sons who collected them) hate spiders!

-- Anonymous, April 09, 2000

I also have a fail-proof way to make gravy:

Pour ALL fat off, leaving only the stock of the meat. Mix 8-12 ounces of water, stirring in 3 + tablespoons of flour, 'til the flour is completely dissolved, salt to taste and pepper to taste. Melt 1 each chicken bouillion and 1 beef bouillion cubes in 4 oz. water, in microwave; add to stock.

(This is for lamb or pork gravy); for chicken or turkey gravy, only chicken bouillion; for beef, use only beef. Adjust water as necessary, using button mushroom canned water if desired. Cook until thickened; add button mushrooms; heat, serve.

Another wonderful main course is Rock Cornish Hens a'l'Orange:

2 hens; cleaned;

Stuffing; 1 bag Seasoned Croutons;

1 apple, peeled and diced;

1/2 C celery, sliced very thin, diagonally;

1/2 C raisins;

2 T. brown sugar;

1 teaspoon poultry seasoning;

1 bay leaf, crushed;

Salt and pepper, if desired.

Combine all ingredients and stuff hens. (If there is extra, put it in foil and bake at same time as hens).

Mix 1/2 C. cooking sherry (regular sherry is cheaper and has no salt added) and 1/2 C. orange marmalade, and baste hens after stuffing, 2 or 3 times as they are roasting. (After sherry is heated, it is non- alcoholic).

Bake at 325* - 350* for whatever amount of time is on package. My oven is a little hot, so I cover it with foil until the last 10 minutes.

Another good dish: miniature carrots, washed, cooked; Orange sauce: IC. orange juice, 2 T. corn starch, dissolved in juice; 4 drops orange extract; 4T. scraped orange peel (scrape before juicing); combine and cook until thickened; add to cooked carrots. Yummy!

-- Anonymous, April 12, 2000

Oops!

In the 'carrots in orange sauce': be sure to cook 3 hpg T. brown sugar in with the sauce before adding the carrots to it.

-- Anonymous, April 13, 2000

Just thought I'd let you know, I've got my pork roast and a rack of pork ribs set aside and ready for smoking this weekend.

Oh, we're also allowing our 11 year old to have a REAL Easter egg Hunt this year - complete with confetti eggs and a BB gun!

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2000

Is "Wisniewski" Polish for "Wise Guy?" :-P

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2000

Not quite, John - but you're in the BallPark! :~)

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2000