The Estill County Tribune, Wednesday, June 23, 2021 Page 15
America’sHeartland
Roger [email protected] .
Maybeyouheardaboutthemanwhowenttothedoctorcomplainingaboutbeingsoreallover. “Well,showmewhereyouhurt,”thedoctorsaid.
Thefellowtouchedhisfin-gertohisarm.“Thathurts,”hesaid.Hetouchedhisfingertohisleg.“Thathurts.”Hetouchedhis finger tohischest. “Thathurts.”Hetouchedhisfingertohishead.“Thathurts,too.” “Iknowwhattheproblemis,”thedoctorsaid. “Giveittomestraight,”thefellowsaid.“What’sthediag-nosis?” “Youhaveabrokenfinger,”thedoctorsaid. Didyoueverknowanyonewho is “sore” all the time? Imean“sore”intermsofalwaysbeing mad about one thingor another or always havingsomethingtocomplainabout.Those kinds of people surearen’tmuchfuntobearound.
Isuspectyou’venoticedthatlotsofpeopleacrossAmericaare“sore”thesedays.Weseethem on TV, fussing aboutanythingandeverything.WeseethemonFacebook,com-plaining constantly. We hearthemgripingaboutneighbors,spouses,retailers,governmentleaders,younameit. Notlongago,Iwaswalkingthrough the picnic area of abusyparkthatwasbeingusedby lots of immigrants who Iassumedhadonlyrecentlyar-rivedintheU.S.Idon’tknowwhen I had heard so muchlaughter.ThesefolksweretrulyenjoyingAmericaandallofitsbounty.Theywereabsolutelydelighted by simple thingsthatsomanypeoplewhogrew
upheretakeforgranted,likethe taste of a grilled hotdogsmeared with ketchup andmustard,afrostyPepsifishedoutofaStyrofoamcooler,chil-drengigglingastheysplashedin water along the shallowedge of a lake, proud moth-ersandfatherstakingitallin,seeingtheirfamiliesenjoytheblessingsofbeinginAmerica. Contrastthatwithsomanyof our neighbors who werebornhere,whospendsomuchoftheirtime“sore”aboutonethingoranother.Theyspendtheirdayslisteningtotalkingheads on TV and radio whogive them a fresh supply ofthingstobeangryabout. I’mconvincedtheLordisn’tpleasedwiththatkindofthing.
Infact,God’sWordadmonish-esusoverandoveragainnottobe“sore.” “Cease from anger andforsakewrath,”we’re told inPsalm37:8. Thetruthisit’shardtohaveaconvincingChristianwitnesswhenwe’reangry.That’swhyGod’swordtellsus, “Where-fore,mybelovedbrethren,letevery man be swift to hear,slowtospeak,slowtowrath,forthewrathofmanworkethnottherighteousnessofGod”(James1:19:20). Toomanypeoplearelikethefellowwiththebrokenfinger,“sore”allover. Reach Roger Alford at 502-514-6857 or [email protected].
Doctor easily diagnoses patient who hurts all over
Count Your BlessingsWednesday, June 23rd, 2021 Message
Bro. Warren Rogers, Retired Baptist Minister “And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. 12And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: 13And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. 14And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. 15And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, 16And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. 17And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?”Luke 17:11-17
Ifyouhavefoodintherefrigerator,clothesonyourback,aroofoverhead,andaplacetosleep,youarericherthan75%oftheworld.Ifyouhavemon-eyinthebank,sparechangeisadishsomewhere,youamongthetop8%oftheworld’swealthy.Ifyouwokeupthismorningwithmorehealththanillness,youaremoreblessedthan6millionwhowillnotsurvivetheweek. Ifyouhaveneverexperiencedthedangerofbattle,thelonelinessofprison,theagonyoftortureorthepangsofstarvation,youareaheadof500millionintheworld. Ifyoucanattendchurchwithoutfearofha-rassment,ofarrest,torture,ordeath,youaremoreblessedthan3millionintheworld.Andifyourparentsarestillaliveandstillmarriedyouareveryrare,evenintheUnitedStates. WhenwasthelasttimeyoutrulytoldtheLordyouwerethankful?WeoftenthankGodforourfoodandaskhimtoblessus,buthowoftendowethankhimfortheblessingshehasalreadybe-stoweduponus? Ifyoureadthescriptureatthetopofthisarticleyoumightaskyourselves,“Wonderwhathappenedtotheothernine?”OnlyonelepercamebacktothankJesus. Amissionarywassenttoaleprosycamp.Therehewitnessedsomeverydisturbingscenes.Hewasleadingtheminsomehymns,tryingtoraisetheirspiritsbysinginghappysongs,whenalady’shandwentup.Hesawthemostdisfiguredfacehehadeverseen.Sheraisedherarmthathadnohandandaskediftheycouldsing“CountYourBlessings.”Themissionarysaidhewasneverthesameafterthat. Someoneoncesaid,“Goddoesnotalwayscalmthestorm,butsometimescalmshischildinthemiddleofthestorm.” Imagineifyouwill,atelevisionreportertalkingtoNoah.“Noah,wasitmessyontheark?”Noahanswers,“Sureitwasmessy,butitwasstillthebestshipafloat.”Sometimeswecomplain,insteadofbeingthankful,becausewhateverconditionorwhereveryoufindyourselves,itcouldbeworse.Itseemsthereisalwayssomeoneinmoretroublethanweare.Asurewaytohelpyoucountyourblessingistovisitanursinghomeorhospitalandseeallthepeoplethathaveitworsethanyou.Iguar-anteeyou,youwillleavecountingyourblessings. ForaChristian,gratitudeshouldbealifelongattitude.Hebrews 5:9saysthatsalvationis“eter-nal.”1 Peter 1:3-5isaguaranteethatwehaveaninheritancethatcannotbelost.“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4To an inheritance incorruptible, and un-defiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” Lost Person, Christiswaitingforyoutocometohim.Christian,Christdeservesyourgratitude,deservesyourworship,deservesyourdevotion. Countyourblessings! Untilnextweek,mayGodblessandkeepyou.Untilthen,ifyouwouldliketogetintouchwithmecall606-481-0444.
Bro. Warren Rogers, Baptist preacher
Kitchen Diva by Angela Shelf Medearis
Three Cheers for the Red, White, and Green AFourthofJulypicnic,anice-coldwatermelon,patrioticsongsandlotsofloud,brilliantlyhuedfire-worksaremyideaofawonderfulholidaycelebra-tion.WatermelonsservetwopurposesonahotJulyday--they’reasweetfinishtoameal,andasourceofnutritioushydration.Watermel-onalso is lowin fatandcholesterol-free.It has a vast nutri-tionalprofileinclud-inghighlevelsoftheantioxidantlycopene,anexcellentsourceoftheimportantaminoacidcitrullineandisagoodsourceofvita-minsC,B-1,B-6,andasourceofvitaminA. Watermelonsareclassifiedasafruit,muchlikethepepper,pumpkinortomato.However,asamem-berofthecucurbitaceaeplantfamilyofgourds,wa-termelonalsoisrelatedtothecucumberandsquash.Watermelonsareplantedfromseedsorseedlings,harvestedandthenclearedfromafieldlikeavegeta-ble.Sincewatermelonisgrownasavegetablecropusingvegetableproductionsystems,italsocanbeconsideredavegetable.Somerefertowatermelonasa“fregetable”--acombinationofafruitandavegeta-ble. Watermelonsarenowavailableyear-roundinmini,seededandseedless,andyellow-andorange-fleshvarieties.Theyalsocomeinvarioussizes,aswellastwocolors:redandyellow.This“fregetable”isespeciallyplentifulfromAprilthroughOctober.About200to300varietiesaregrownintheU.S.andMexico,althoughonlyabout50areverypopular. There’sanarttopickingtheperfectwatermelon.Lookthewatermelonoverandpickitup.Theoneyouselectshouldbefirm,symmetricalandfreefrombruises,cutsordents,andheavyforitssize.Water-melonis92%waterweight.Tofindoutifawater-melonisripe,knockit,andifitsoundshollowthenitisripe.Theundersideofthewatermelonshouldhaveacreamyyellowspotfromwhereitsatonthegroundandripenedinthesun. Comparedtomostfruits,watermelonsneedamore“tropical”climate--athermometerreadingof55Fisideal.Maintainthepurchasetemperatureofwatermelons.Ifyouboughtitatroomtemperature,youcankeepitatroomtemperature.Ifyourefriger-ateitafterbuying,besuretokeepthewatermeloncool.Wholemelonswillkeepforsevento10daysatroomtemperature.Storethemtoolong,andthey’llloseflavorandtexture. AccordingtotheFDA,youshouldwashallfruitsandvegetables,includingallmelonswithrinds,inclean,runningwaterbeforeeating.Don’tforgettodrythem,too!Washyourhandsthoroughlywith
soapandwaterbeforecuttingthewatermelon.Washallfood-contactareasandequipmentsuchascuttingboards,countertops,peelersandkniveswithhotwa-terandsoaptoavoidcrosscontamination.Aftercuttingthewatermelon,storethewrappedpiecesinarefrigerator(32-40F)fornomorethanthreetofourdays.Aftertwodaysofrefrigeration,wa-termelonsstarttodevelopanoff-flavor,becomepit-tedandlosecolor.Freezingcausestherindtobreak
downandproducesamealy,mushytexture.Peeledand/orfresh-cutfruitshouldberefrig-eratedifnotconsumedwithintwohours,andleftoverfresh-cutfruitshouldbediscardedifleftatroomtemperatureformorethantwohours. Ifyoudidn’tbuyaseedlesswatermelon, here’s how re-moveseedsquicklyandeasily: 1.Washandquarterawholewatermelon. 2.Cuteachquarterintothree
orfourwedges. 3.Cutlengthwisealongtheseedlinewithapar-ingknife,andliftoffthepiece. 4.Usingafork,scrapeseedsbothfromthere-movedpieceandtheremainingfleshontherind. 5.Cutintodesiredsizes. Nowthatyouknowhowtoselectandprepareawatermelon,usethecubedpiecesinthisrecipeforSweetandSourWatermelonandCucumberSalad.It’stheperfectsaladforapicnicasitkeepswellandiseasytotransport.Enjoyasweet,delicioussliceofwatermelonatyourFourthofJulypicnicandallyear-long!Sweet & Sour Watermelon & Cucumber Salad3 cups seedless watermelon balls or small chunks2 cucumbers, peeled, seeded and sliced 1/2 cup cider vinegar1 cup water1/2 cup sugar1 tablespoon poppy seed1 teaspoon salt1 teaspoon pepper1 bunch green onions, trimmed and chopped Mixtogetherthevinegar,water,sugarandpoppyseedsinabowlandseasonwithsaltandpepper.Stirinthechoppedgreenonions.Placethewater-melonandcucumberinaservingbowlandpourthemarinadeoverthetop.Tossgentlybeforeserving.Serveimmediatelyorcoverandrefrigerateacoupleofhoursbeforeserving.(InformationandrecipecourtesyofTheNationalWatermelonPromotionBoard,www.watermelon.org.)
*** Angela Shelf Medearis is an award-winning children’s author, culinary historian and the author of seven cookbooks. Her new cookbook is “The Kitchen Diva’s Diabetic Cookbook.” Her website is www.divapro.com. To see how-to videos, reci-pes and much, much more, Like Angela Shelf Medearis, The Kitchen Diva! on Facebook. Recipes may not be reprinted without permission from Angela Shelf Medearis. (c) 2020 King Features Synd., Inc., and Angela Shelf Medearis
