[The Mayor]

January 19, 2005

Companions

Read: Psalm 119:57-64

I am a companion of all who fear You. —Psalm 119:63

Bible In One Year: Exodus 11-13

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Two men were neighbors—one had opened his heart to Christ and the other had not. The believer witnessed often; the other ignored him.

One day the Christian answered a knock at his door and his neighbor stood before him with a big smile. "I finally did what you said. This morning I opened my heart to Jesus!" The two embraced and cried. Over the years, they supported and prayed for each other, and they became the best of friends. They served together in an effective jail ministry for 25 years.

Fellowship is an essential part of what it means to be a Christian. The psalmist made this strong statement of identification with those who reverence God and keep His commands: "I am a companion of all who fear You" (Psalm 119:63). The Bible has numerous examples of companionship: David had Jonathan. Paul had Silas. Mark had Barnabas. Jesus had His disciples. The churches in Acts were made up of people who stood together in sometimes hostile and difficult circumstances.

The church is a fellowship, a community. Our circle of Christian friends helps us in many ways as we walk together along the path God has laid out for us. They offer just the kind of companionship we need. —Dave Egner

Lord, help us see how much we need each other
As we walk along the Christian way;
In fellowship with sister and with brother,
You will keep us growing day by day. —Hess

Christian fellowship promotes spiritual growth.

[Conspiracy Guy]

Morning Mayor

[PreviouslyA-Lurker]

I haven't made this, but it was sent to me with a comment that made me think the sender has made it...

COWBOY COFFEE CAKE

Oven 350 degrees
Baking time: 35 minutes

2 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 brown sugar
2/3 cups butter or margarine or shortning ( I use butter)
1/4 tsp salt
Cut butter into the above ingredients until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

Set aside 1/2 of this mixture to sprinkle for topping.

Stir the following into the crumb mixture
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg, mixing well
add
2 beaten eggs
1 1/3 cup buttermilk or sour milk

Mix well and pour into prepared pan 13x9x2- top with reserved crumb mixture (you can add 1/2 cups of chopped nuts.)
Bake at 350 for 35 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean

( to sour milk add 1 tbsp vinegar or lemon juice per cup of milk and let sit for five minutes)

[PreviouslyA-Lurker]

A dog had followed his owner to school. His owner was a fourth grader at a public elementary school. When the bell rang, the dog sidled inside the building and made it all the way to the child's classroom with him before a teacher noticed him and shoo'ed him back outside, and closing the door behind him. The dog sat down outside the door, whimpering and staring at the closed doors and not understanding in the least as to why he was refused entry. Then - God appeared beside the dog, patted him on the head to comfort him, and said, "Don't feel bad fella'.... they won't let ME in there either."