StaddonFamily.com

posted by Donald on 04/4/12

Our family was thrilled with the instances of God at work during World Wars I and II recounted in the book War and Grace.

One of my favorite chapters was the account of Mitsuo Fuchida whose life was supernaturally spared time after time. Even after advancing to lead the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the Lord did a miraculous work on his heart. He became a born again believer and eventually toured the world to share Christ, along with–believe it or not, Jacob DeShazer–a pilot from among the Doolittle Raiders who swung the revenge attack for Pearl Harbor.

Paul Taylor, an associate of Fuchida during his time in Hamburg, 1961, described him in a letter to the author of the book, saying:

[Mitsuo Fuchida] was serenely without fear. Prisoners would pay careful attention when a man with Fuchida’s credentials stood to speak. He had a charming and friendly disposition . .. the grace of God had so obviously won his heart. . . .  I remember him above all for his passionate love for Christ. He was manifestly devoted to making Jesus Christ known as often as he could, and to whoever would listen.

However the Lord may have brought about our personal testimonies of salvation, may we be just as ready to share the power of the gospel today as the heroes of the past.

2 Comments » | posted in Book Reports, Historical Glimpses

posted by Donald on 03/21/12

Fragrant with herbs, this rich bread, along with salad and/or soup, makes a wonderful meal. By the way, the thinner variety makes delicious turkey sandwiches!

Normally, in the process of making six loaves of our regular bread, we use one loaf’s worth of dough (flavored optionally with 1/2 cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes) to make either:

• one 10 x 15 jellyroll pan, or
• two 8 in. round cake pans, or
• three cake pans for the thinner variety.

Alternatively, you can experiment with your own favorite bread recipe.

1.  Press dough evenly in well-oiled cake pans, sprinkled with cornmeal. (Cornmeal is optional.) Cover with damp cloth and let rise 20 or 30 min.

2.  If you opt for black olives, make an indentation for them in dough for every square inch with spoon handle or fingertip and insert an olive in each hole. Brush dough with olive oil. Sprinkle entire amount with:

• 2 tsp Rosemary Leaves crushed,
• 2 Tbsp Parmesan Cheese,
• 1/2 cup Mozzarella Cheese, and
• 1 clove Garlic, finely minced (or 1 t. Garlic Powder—not garlic salt!)

3.  Bake at 400 for 12 minutes or until nicely browned.

Serve warm and enjoy!

4 Comments » | posted in Recipes

posted by Donald on 03/19/12

One day last year, as I was working on the family business, one of my younger brothers came downstairs and asked if it would be a good time to check him out on the memory verses for the Bible Bee. I admit I had to consider it for a minute but I am glad now that I decided to say yes.

The minutes flew by as we went through Ruth 1:16, a part of Exodus 34 and Psalm 9:9. Proverbs 17:17 spoke of a friend loving at all times. Yes, any time is a good time to go over Scripture with your brother. At the end, I realized that I was full of joy. Listening to Scripture is like standing under a refreshing waterfall. God’s word is holy and the more I hear it the more it makes me clean.

By the way, remember not to get upset with someone who tells you that Scripture memory is a waste of time. They simply haven’t done it! I myself will readily admit that often times it is hard to take time out for Scripture memory but once that decision is made and becomes a part of our habits, the Scripture will come to stay, bringing its unique fruit and blessing in all of our other work.

As a doctor once observed, medical expenses are one thing that will diminish as Scripture is built into a person’s life. He found that he could help a patient to reduce their visits to his clinic from 8 or 9 to only two per year, simply by recommending training in Biblical principles.

Choose your investments wisely. Decide what the central support of your life will be. Consider this year’s Bible Bee.

2 Comments » | posted in Family News

posted by Donald on 03/15/12

Iran has been making headlines lately.

But under its political front, what is Iran like? Like any country it is a country of people! and the people make the country what it is.

What would you do if you lived in a country that does not know freedom of speech, press or religion, hasn’t for as long as you can remember, and has little or no hope of doing so—ever? Imagine that you are not allowed to study certain things for yourself or arrive at or express your own conclusions logically. (For instance, imagine that your schoolteacher merely refers to the United States as the “Big Satan” and to a nation like Israel as the “Little Satan”, to be hated even before they are understood.) Imagine that the army, police and justice system have agendas other than the defense of basic human rights? As Americans we truly can’t imagine what it is like . . . what it is like to live life in fear. Yet it is so for many. Multitudes are still covered by a curtain of personal oppression black as a chador.

It is against such blackness that the heart freedom that Christ can bring will shine the brightest. Here is a testimony from Voice of the Martyrs and three key prayer points from Operation World.

“As a Muslim, I loved God very much, but I could never reach him or find him. I moved the vacuum cleaner back an forth across the rug on the same spot. Then, frustrated and tired, I fell asleep.

“A few weeks later, one of our relatives from abroad came to visit us. We saw that he had changed. We asked him, ‘What happened to you? What has changed you?’ He began to tell us about Jesus and his miracles. The he said, ‘I had a dream. In my dream, Jesus told me to come to you and bring you the good news.’ He gave us a Bible.

“I began reading the Bible and gave my heart to Jesus. I became kinder, nicer. My husband became angry. He was a radical Muslim. He said, ‘Are you a Christian? I know what to do with you.”

“I remembered the scripture where Jesus said that if we deny him, then He will deny us before the Father. I thought, ‘Well, he is going to divorce me anyway. I will tell him the truth.’ After I told him, he said, ‘What a good thing that you are  a Christian. I want to read the Bible. I want to change, too.’ He took the Bible and left our house for a week. Then he called me and said, "’I believe in this God.’

“Now we have a ministry. We go to the streets and witness to people, anyone we can find. Some have believed. . . .”

.

1. Pray for courage, love and wisdom among our Christian brothers and sisters in the church of Iran
   They are in the middle of one of the most supernaturally-written stories of all time.
2. Pray for access to the Bible
   Some reckon that 10 million Bibles would be gladly received were there opportunity.
3. Pray for unreached people-groups
   Of seventy ethnic groups only eight include (known) groups of believers.

4 Comments » | posted in Tidbits

posted by Donald on 02/29/12

From “A Mother’s Parting Words to Her Soldier Boy”

Ah, my son, if you have no soul to save,—no sins to be forgiven, if Christ did not die for you,—if there is no Heaven, ho hell, no immortality,—then you may live without repentance and salvation. But you have a soul—you are a sinner—Christ shed His blood for you—you are immortal, and destined to the joys of Heaven or the woes of perdition, and therefore, religion is your supreme necessity. You have motives to piety, not only as a man, but as a soldier. Of  all men the soldier has the greater need of piety. . . .

Piety will not make you effeminate or cowardly. Some of the bravest soldiers of the world have been humble Christians. Cromwell, Gardiner and Havelock, thunderbolts of war, were as devout as they were heroic. Our own illustrious Washington maintained the claims of Christianity, amid the demoralizing influences of the Revolution, with a zeal corresponding with the heroism with which he fought the battles of our independence. Why should not the Christian be courageous? He has less cause to love life or dread death than other men. In the path of duty he has nothing to fear. Life and death may be equally pleasing to him. The apostle Paul, in the prospect of martyrdom, could say: “I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better,—nevertheless, to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.”

And now, my dear soldier boy, I must take leave of you. Remember that you have a large share in my love, my sympathies, and my prayers. By day and by night, you are in my thoughts: and often the unbidden tear flows down my cheek when I think of your sufferings and dangers. Let me have joy of you, my son, and I can have no greater joy than to hear that you are doing your duty—your whole duty—to your country and to God. . . .

3 Comments » | posted in Historical Glimpses, Tidbits