Why 2nd Timothy? - by Mr Jonathan Bowles - 12 Apr 2004(NB Headings are not part of original, but are added for clarity)
Why 2nd Timothy?
By Jon Bowles
12 April 2004
(Last Day of Unleavened Bread)
(PLAY FROM START)
So often, we can read scriptures and we can forget that there are real people behind these scriptures. They're not just a fictitious story that is in a book somewhere. They were real people back there. They're just the same as you and me. They had families. They had husbands and wives. They had friends. And they had fears. They had hopes. They had dreams. They had real lives. And sometimes we can read these various scriptures and we can forget that, if we're not careful. Turn over to II Timothy 3, because Paul mentions something here that we read purely from the perspective of our time in which we find ourselves. And undoubtedly it HAS been preserved all the way through to our time today, precisely for what Paul says here. He is discussing something which is general.
II Timothy 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
Now other translations mention this as times of stress. The word perilous literally means downers, as something being pushed down. You know, the word downers is a good description. It's a good description that people get the downers. It's "a time of downers [laughs] shall come." That's literally what the word means. And he then starts giving reasons; and he lists certain sins, quite frankly -- people going astray; leaven that is going to be out in the world at large; which is going to affect you and me. It was affecting Paul at that time. Paul probably didn't realize how much this would increase as it would go into the world at the end time. And he certainly didn't realize how long it would still be going on, and it would still be being fulfilled at our day today.
II Timothy 3:2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
It's all in-coming. The whole feeling from that verse is all in-coming and selfish.
II Timothy 3:3-4 Without natural affection, [We can see these things today.] trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent [That means sexually corrupt; incontinent in a sexual way.], fierce, despisers of those that are good, [We see that increasing today.] (4) Traitors, heady [or, headstrong], highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
And you've only got to turn on the news when there's any important football event to know whether we're lovers of pleasures rather than lovers of God. I mean, if there's an Archbishop's Conference and Manchester United was playing somebody or other, who do you think would get the headlines? You don't have to think about it to realize that! [laughs].
II Timothy 3:5 Having a form of godliness, [In other words, the trappings are there.]but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
Why would Paul point this out to Timothy? Now, okay. We know that in the last days, coming down to our time now, that we're looking forward to the greatest time of trial that will ever hit the world, or ever shall again -- that ever has or ever shall do. So, we realize that, that is coming. But it goes on even in this chapter:
II Timothy 3:13-17 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. (14) But continue you in the things which you have learned and have been assured of, knowing of whom you have learned them; (15) And that from a child you have known the holy scriptures, which are able to make you wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. (16) All scripture is given by inspiration of God, [or God-breathed] and is profitable for doctrine, [or, teaching] for reproof, [And that literal word means telling a fault.] for correction, [Which means straightening you up again. So it tells you the fault, and then it straightens you up again; and it tells you where you're wrong, and it pushes you in the right direction again.] for instruction in righteousness: [And then it leads you on into righteousness itself, which has got to come from God.] (17) That the man of God may be perfect, [totally mature] thoroughly furnished unto all good works [and ready for the very Kingdom of God as well ].
Now, here, on the last day of Unleavened Bread, the very symbolism of Unleavened Bread, when we eat it each day during these days, is that we're taking the word of God into our mouth. Now the symbolism of escape from Egypt which is also the symbolism of these days, is coming out of sin. So it's a two-fold thing. You can go and check these verses over in Exodus 13:7-9 [Unleavened bread shall be eaten seven days; and there shall no leavened bread be seen with you, neither shall there be leaven seen with you in all your quarters. (8) And you shall show your son in that day, saying, This is done because of that which the LORD did unto me when I came forth out of Egypt. (9) And it shall be for a sign unto you upon your hand, and for a memorial between your eyes, that the LORD'S law may be in your mouth: for with a strong hand has the LORD brought you out of Egypt.] show the symbolism of eating the Unleavened Bread being the law in our mouth.
So again, we find in this context, in this context within II Timothy 3, we find he is mentioning all these problems and times of stress coming. He's saying, "Look, here is a solution." You go back to the very word of God that we know, that we understand, that we've been assured of.
What I would like to do today, because you will find as we go on into the sermon there is a great deal more going on in II Timothy, an incredible amount more going on. II Timothy wasn't just written to us. In fact, it wasn't written to us originally. It was written to Timothy. There was no "second Timothy." There was just Timothy -- one Timothy, a single Timothy, an individual person who really lived and who had certain problems at this time, that Paul knew about and that Paul was writing to. And (having written this letter, and receiving the letter back from Timothy) he said, "No, this is worth including. This is worth preserving, going all the way down to the very end." And he put it into the canon, as part of the actual canonization process. And the effect of II Timothy is very much a part of the canonization process.
I want to give you some background to II Timothy. I want to help every one of us to grasp that this piece of the word of God is in our mouth -- that when we read these words, when we eat these words, that we really understand what we're talking about. So often we can't. So often we miss the background. Why the times of stress, the downers, when they come along? Why is he talking like that to Timothy? What kind of downers has Timothy got? There were certain downers that he had that he needed to rectify. And also, I want to go into the incredible encouragement that you find within this book.
As an aside, turn over to Matthew 16. We find Christ, who is totally unleavened (as was brought out in the sermonette). Christ is utterly unleavened, but you and I are not. You and I still have downers. We still have problems. We don't get a handle on everything that's going on. But here is Christ ...
Matthew 16:21 From that time forth began Jesus to show unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.
In other words, He said, "Look, I've got to go down to Jerusalem and get Myself killed." That's what He's telling His disciples. And remember, just before this section, it talked about Simon Peter and said, [Mat 16:17-18] "Blessed are you, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood has not revealed it unto you, but my Father which is in heaven. You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church" (upon this pebble). And then, using a play on words, "I'll build My very Church, and he can go ahead and bind and loosen in that regard."
Matthew 16:22-23 Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from you, Lord: this shall not be unto you. (23) But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get you behind me, Satan [The word Satan means enemy. You get behind Me, you enemy.]: you are an offense unto me: [Now this is the unleavened Christ speaking, the one who had the Spirit of God without measure, totally unleavened, the living word of God, speaking to Peter, saying, "Look, you're not going to go down and get killed. He says, "You get behind Me. You're an offense to Me."] for you savor not the things that be of God, but those that be of men. [You are looking at it in a human way.]
He could see He had to go through a real time of difficulty. He could see this problem rising. And when we come and have a look at II Timothy, we'll find there are some problems coming up that Paul knew about, that Paul knew was in Timothy's mind. And II Timothy shows there is a good deal of things to fear, a good deal of things to fear as far as Timothy was concerned with what Paul was asking Timothy to do. And he had to encourage him about that; and he had to say, "Look, there's going to be a time of downers at the end time. We're going to have all these problems. But you get your mind focused. Get your mind on the things that are important."
Now if you have markers, stick them in II Timothy somewhere. At the beginning of II Timothy, Paul opens up the book with the solution that he's giving.
II Timothy 1:1-6 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus, (2) To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: [that's spiritual]Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. (3) I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of you in my prayers night and day; (4) Greatly desiring to see you, being mindful of your tears, that I may be filled with joy; (5) When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith [That's faith that is not superficial, that is not put on; it is unfeigned. It is real genuine true faith that he could recognize within this man.] that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois, and your mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in you also. (6) Wherefore I put you in remembrance that you stir up the gift of God, which is in you by the putting on of my hands.
In other words, what I'm going to tell you to do. You get your mind in gear. Stir up that Spirit of God that is within you. I know it's there. I know the faith is there. You've got a task to do, and I want you to do it properly.
II Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
Now I've broken the sermon down into a number of points, as is my wont. And the points I have that I want to deal with initially is:
First: The word power -- What's he talking about, the power that is God
Secondly: I want to go into the love that is mentioned here
Thirdly: The sound mind
Fourthly: I want to then stress that it is not of fear, he's got to get over certain fears that he would naturally have with the things that were being requested of him.
Fifthly: It's the faith, the unfeigned faith that is being mentioned in verse 5.
Sixth: And then finally what I would like to do is I want to show you why Paul is writing this way to Timothy; what it is all about; Because I want to show you what it is asking him to do. You could read right over the top of it, and you wouldn't even imagine that it would be a problem. But you just look carefully at the actual book and the things coming out in this book, and when you look at II Timothy from now on, I hope that after this sermon you will look at it in a very different way -- a very different way.
THE POWER THAT IS GOD (PLAY FROM 12:45)
Now the word power being used here is dunamis. From this same word we get dynamo. Dynamo obviously makes power. And it's not just power to do mighty miracles, although that can be the case. But it's power over things. Turn over to Luke 10.
Luke 10:17-19 And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through your name. (18) And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. (19) Behold, I give unto you power [dunamis] to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
Now it's not just talking about literal serpents and scorpions, although that did happen in the case of Paul who picked up a snake on the island of Malta. Well, he didn't pick one up. He picked up a bunch of wood, and got bitten by it. But nothing happened to him. It wasn't just that.
Luke 10:20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.
But it's the power over the enemy, and it's the satanic forces as well. So we're looking at the satanic side. Now if we go back to II Timothy and we look at a few scriptures here, you notice that it says in II Timothy 3 and look at a few scriptures here.
II Timothy 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
And it goes on about evil men:
II Timothy 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
Denying that very power that is in the Spirit of God.
II Timothy 3:8-9 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. (9) But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.
Now if you know who Jannes and Jambres were, they were the two magicians that withstood Moses in Pharaoh's court. Tradition has it (I think it's probably from Josephus.) that these men were cannibals. You didn't get on the wrong side of them, otherwise you'd be on the inside of them. [Everyone laughs.] So they were astrologers. They were magicians. They were pretty evil, to say the least. They were evil men. And he's warning them about this. He's saying, "Look, you've got power." The Spirit of God being one of power -- that is true. We have power over this kind of thing. And these people were worshipping demons actively. He's warning Timothy, "Okay, you'll come across some of this; but there is power with us." And we'll make sure that is the case.
II Timothy 4:14 Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works:
So it's not just power over satanic forces outside the church, but it is also inside the church as well.
II Timothy 4:14-15 Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works: (15) Of whom be you ware also; for he has greatly withstood our words.
So he's warning him that he's going to have to be standing up and counted in areas, not just outside. But he's mentioning such as Jannes and Jambres; and he's talking about evil men and seducers becoming worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.
II Timothy 2:16-17 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. (17) And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;
Here were other people within the church. Again, he would have to make sure he used the power that he had to combat. These things weren't just coming from human beings. They were coming from satanic sides, inside and outside the church.
II Timothy 2:18 Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.
Now it is interesting, saying their word will eat as a canker or a cancer (or, as it says in my margin, gangrene). It is something that you get, and it is very difficult to get rid of. You can't get rid of it very easily. I remember, when my eldest brother was in the process of dying of cancer, I would say our best friend in the church was also dying of cancer; but it wasn't literal cancer. It wasn't physical cancer. It was spiritual cancer. I'd say they were the ones we were best friends with at that particular time; and they've still got their own wacky ideas about all kinds of things, and are about as far away as you can possibly get from the truth. How do you measure these things? They're way off, way off beam.
But it was interesting watching my brother die of cancer, and also this person die of cancer. One was physical, one was spiritual; and it was a very sobering thing to watch at that particular time.
II Timothy 2:18 Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.
What was the phrase used? The Kingdom of God is a present reality and a future hope? But that is the wrong way round. Basically, they were looking at a present reality and a future hope. That's what those who deceived us were talking about, so the future was pushed way off somewhere; but it's infact a a present hope, and it will be a future reality. {1} The focus should be forward. And here, they are saying ... the exact same thing is being mentioned there (that the resurrection is past already) and overthrow the faith of some -- because faith requires us to keep a vision firmly in the future, looking firmly toward the future. The belief in that resurrection is vital. It is absolutely vital for what Paul was about to ask Timothy to do. Utterly vital! Turn over to Acts 10. Talking about Christ and what He did:
Acts 10:38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
And so this power was to do good at that particular time, and certainly it was through the power of God that He was able to do that.
LOVE (PLAY FROM 20:44)
Now the second point that you can glean from the first few verses of II Timothy is not just power but also love. Now if you turn over to I John 4:
1 John 4:12-18 No man has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwells in us, and his love is perfected in us. (13) Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. [Remember, it is the Spirit of power and of love and of a sound mind.] (14) And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Savior [or, the Rescuer] of the world. (15) Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwells in him, and he in God. [In other words, confesses not just through the mouth but confesses in everything he does, with what he says, with what he does. A lot of it comes through the mouth, but it's having the same word.] (16) And we have known and believed the love that God has to us. God is love; and he that dwells in love dwells in God, and God in him [so that the right kind of love is there]. (17) Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the Day of Judgment: [Now, remember that we are looking at a power. We are looking at a freedom from fear. We're going to have boldness in the Day of Judgment. You can stand up and be counted at that time.] because as he is, so are we in this world. [We're the same as Christ. Remember what Christ said to Peter? He said, "You are an offense to me." And yet He was looking forward to something that anyone else would greatly fear.] (18) There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear ...
Can you look at what Christ did? Christ was going through what He was about to go through with the crucifixion out of concern for the rest of mankind. And that perfect love casts out fear. It was coming of the very Spirit of God. It cast out the fear. And it put Peter in his place, who tried to put fear back into Him. And it's saying here that's true with us as well, if we have an "out-going" attitude. Remember what we just read in II Timothy 3 where it says men shall be lovers of themselves? It's all "in-coming." It's all attracted to the self. Whereas, if you get it turned around and pushed out the other way, that'll push out the fear if we get our minds off ourself. Because, what is fear? It's fear of what's going to happen to the self. If the mind is off the self, then we will push out the fear. But it says here there's no fear in love. But perfect love -- if we've got that right, if it's perfect (mature) -- then it casts out fear.
I John 4:18 ... because fear has torment. He that fears is not made perfect in love.
We're not going to manage to do that if we're constantly concerned about ourselves, our families, our whatever's. Then there's going to be problems. Now if we go back to II Timothy, where your markers are; and if we notice what it says:
II Timothy 1:7-8 For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. (8) Be not you therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner:
Now, Paul was writing from prison. He was about to go before Caesar. Now we can start to see a little bit more of what was there, the fear that was in Timothy that Paul was trying to deal with. He was talking to him from prison, just before he was going to go into Caesar at a particular time in Roman history. But he says, "Don't you be ashamed."
II Timothy 1:8 ... but be you partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;
Get our minds turned round. Get our minds pushing out away from ourselves (not the other way round).
II Timothy 1:15 This you know, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.
So not only are we sharing sufferings there, but these people have actually turned away. They've left Paul by himself. There is some problem going on within Rome.
II Timothy 1:16-17 The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain: (17) But, when he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently, and found me.
Now here's someone else with a different approach, and we'll find out a little bit more about this individual as we go on a bit further.
II Timothy 1:18 The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day: and in how many things he ministered unto me at Ephesus, you know very well.
And we'll go back and we'll read how he administered to him at Ephesus. In chapter 4 we see, again, this love that Paul reminds Timothy about. This concern that Paul needed him to have -- for Paul, for him.
II Timothy 4:10-11 For Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens [is gone, he's gone] to Galatia, Titus [has gone] unto Dalmatia. [It's not necessarily that Titus has fallen away or anything, but he was being left alone.] (11) Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, [And somebody went and brought out this fact that Luke, the beloved physician, journeyed with Paul to put him back together again every time he got beaten. It does make you think. It does make you think. "Only Luke is with me. Take Mark ... "] and bring him with you: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.
But notice: There was only Luke, basically, with him. He was there by himself, as a prisoner. Luke was with him, and all the rest had gone.
II Timothy 4:16 At my first answer [at my first defense] no man stood with me, but all men forsook me [Everybody, even Luke. And, when we go on a little bit further, we'll find out why.]: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.
But nobody was there. Now, what he's saying to Timothy? He's saying, "Okay, this Spirit that you've got, this Spirit that is of faith, it is a Spirit of power! It is power over the enemy. It's power over those within the Church and outside the Church. And it's also of love as well." It is of love and concern for the brethren, of concern for one another -- even those who are in perilous positions, that need help, that need people to come to them (which is what he's about to ask Timothy to do). And yet, in the situation that he found himself in, everybody had gone. They had all forsaken him. Even Luke got away from him when he was actually brought before the authorities; and he had to stand there by himself and give an account of himself, whether he was going to live or he was not.
But there's more to it than that. Let's turn over to Proverbs 2. Much of this that I'm giving is flowing from the Spirit of God. The Spirit of God is what gave us the Word of God, and we're looking at the Word of God right now. So certainly the word that is within our mouth is coming from the same source. And as we move from the Days of Unleavened Bread, and we move out into the rest of the holy day season, we're moving into Pentecost. And this is the time of the Church Age that we're in right now. The two work together -- the Spirit of God and the Word of God.
Proverbs 2:1-7 My son, if you wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with you; [here's this word that's got to be in our mouth] (2) So that you incline your ear unto wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding; (3) Yea, if you cry after knowledge, and lift up your voice for understanding; (4) If you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hid treasures; (5) Then shall you understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. (6) For the LORD gives wisdom: out of his mouth comes knowledge and understanding. (7) He lays up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler [that is a small shield] to them that walk uprightly.
THE SOUND MIND (PLAY FROM 30:42)
He's a protector in that regard. But he lays up sound wisdom for the righteous: He is a buckler to those who walk uprightly. You know, the sound-mindedness that is in these verses (of which he is reminding us), the sound-mindedness comes from the mind of God. It comes from that Mind. And that is the type of mind we need to be in us. It is the Spirit of power, of love, and of a sound mind.
I remember giving a Y.O.U. Bible Study at one time, and there was a Y.O.U member there. We open it for questions every now and then, and the question came. It said, "Why are church members so weird?" [Everyone laughs.] Spoken as only a Y.O.U member could. But I thought, "I don't really know the answer to that, but I know exactly what you mean." [Everyone laughs.] Because looking back, looking even now [he laughs loudly!] ... But no, really, there have been -- we do seem to attract them. We do seem to attract them, if we're not careful. And I say "them"? How about them and us? We've got to make sure we're not. But it's of a sound mind. We shouldn't be standing out like that.
When Christ was on Earth, Judas had to go and point Him out. He had to go out and there's Judas' kiss. He was not weird. Christ wasn't weird. And what Paul was saying to Timothy, he wants someone to be able to come up and actually approach into his prison house who isn't weird, who doesn't look like he's come out of the local lunatic society or something like whatever. We've got to make sure that we aren't. We've got to make sure that we do reflect the mind of Christ, because Christ has balance and He was not that way. You can turn over to I John. I've read this a few times recently. There is a distinction, if you like, between the spirits.
1 John 3:23-4:3 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. (24) And he that keeps his commandments dwells in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abides in us [or, stays in us], by the Spirit which he has given us. [And this Spirit has a certain n effect.] (4:1) Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits [test them] whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world [false people speaking false things]. (2) Hereby know you the Spirit of God: Every spirit [As I've said before, this is badly translated; but it gives us the definition of how you tell the difference. "Every spirit ... "] that confesses [homologos: the same word as] that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh [In other words, you look at what is coming out of the mouth, you look at the actions; and it's as if Christ is there in the flesh doing whatever. That ... ] is of God: (3) And every spirit that confesses [that does not have that effect -- that is not as if Christ was there in the flesh] not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof you have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
You look at the individual and say, "Now look, is that reflecting the Living Word of God or not? If it is, it's the Spirit of Christ. If not, it's the spirit of the anti-Christ. So simple. So simple, and yet that is the acid test. And as I said to you, Christ had to have Judas come in and kiss Him on the cheek -- because nobody just had to have a look at Him and say, "Right, He is." or "He isn't." It was the case that He was not weird. He was not different, radically different. He was different once you got to know Him. Once you got to know Him, but you had to actually get to know Him. Even in II Timothy, go back to II Timothy again.
II Timothy 4:7-8 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: (8) Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
Now the ... Yes, you could love the fact that He is going to appear. That is definitely a correct way of looking at it. But the tense here is a present tense. They love His appearing also within the actual fellowship -- within each and every one of us in this room, where the Spirit of God is there working in us the same way as it was in Christ. Therefore, we love one another. It says he that loves Him that begat loves him that is begotten of Him. And this, also, is in that sense as well.
Romans 10. Again we're talking about Unleavened Bread. I mean: We're in the time of Unleavened Bread, the last day.
Romans 10:4-8 For Christ is the end [point, or focal point] of the law for righteousness to every one that believes. (5) For Moses describes the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which does those things shall live by them. (6) But the righteousness which is of faith speaks on this wise, Say not in your heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) [And you go back and check on how this was originally written. It is talking about the Word of God. It is to bring the Word down from above.] (7) Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ [the Word] again from the dead.) (8) But what said it? The word is nigh you, even in your mouth, [And again, you tie that back to Unleavened Bread; and the very picture of Unleavened Bread is that the Word of God is in your mouth. And, once you've eaten it, it goes inside.] and in your heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
Now it goes into that classic verse that people quote and misquote.
Romans 10:9-10 That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you shall be saved. [And that's where they stop, but it goes on.] (10) For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; [It is the action that comes out of that heart that is important.] and with the mouth confession is made unto [to rescue, to ... ] salvation.
It is what is coming out of that mouth. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. So you should be able to see this change. But it's not way off somewhere. This sound-mindedness should be in every single one of us within the Church. Every single one of us. And what Paul is reminding Timothy, he says, "Look, you've got a Spirit that has been given to you with the laying on of my hands; and it is the Spirit of power, the Spirit of love. It's also the Spirit of a sound mind because, when you come to me, I want you to be reflecting that sound-mindedness. Paul knew (He mentioned himself over in I Corinthians 1.) that it's not the wise, and the noble, and the mighty that are called. But if you're coming into the court of Caesar's household, you're going to have to be behaving yourself in a certain way. And if you're not, if you're not sound-minded, you'll likely end on the wrong side of the law that existed in that particular time.
FEAR (PLAY FROM 39:09)
And we then come into fear, because fear can so easily beset each and every one of us. And you just read that most of them forsook him. When he actually stood before Caesar, at the first hearing, they all left him because they were scared. They were scared. He had to stand up by himself and give account of himself. Even Luke had gone at that time.
Revelation 21. Don't forget this verse:
Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
It kicks off with the fearful and the unbelieving. We shouldn't be fearful and unbelieving if the attitude is away from self, off the self. But if we are constantly concerned and worried about ourselves... But if our attitude is one of faith and obedience to God, then we should be able to put that trust in God. Now it's easy for me to get up here and say that. But, you know, if I'm going before Caesar's household and some of the punishments they had at that time were looking me in the face, it wouldn't be so easy. It would not be so easy at that particular time.
If you go back to Romans 8:
Romans 8:14-15 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. [This context is to do with the Spirit of God.] (15) For you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; [In other words, we're not in bondage -- fearful all the time about what is going to happen to us -- because we know that God is going to give us salvation. That means rescue. He is going to rescue us. And it's not just a case of in the future He is going to rescue us, maybe, perhaps. That is absolutely certain. And it is also rescuing us now. That is, having rescued us from having our old lifestyle as well, in the past. In other words, we are living a different life.] but you have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
And what is it that we fear? In Hebrews 2, it's brought out exactly what is feared by most people.
Hebrews 2:14-15 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy [or, annul] him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; (15) And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
Now I always remember, I was chatting up a girl on a train before I was married. [Laughs] I was chatting up a girl on a train one time. (My wife smiles. Here's some story coming out.) But I was at college, and I was un-baptized; and I began talking to her about the meaning of life. And I've never seen anybody ... It's not a turn on. I mean, really, it is not. It's not a good line to start on, let me tell you. [Laughs] I've never seen anybody be turned off as fast as anything. I said, "What's the meaning of life?" And she waffled on about evolution. And I said, "Okay, but how did this all come?" And she kind of looked at me as if, "This weirdo! He looked all right on the surface; but, you know, it didn't last very long, did it?" But you know it does say:
Hebrews 2:15 And deliver them who through fear of death ...
People don't like to be reminded that they are human and that they will die. I remember going to my brother's funeral. I've talked about my brother. It was an atheist's funeral, because my brother was an atheist. The biggest load of cobblers you have heard in a month. I mean, what do you do? What are you gonna say at an atheist's funeral? "Oh, he was a wonderful bloke. He had a life (and all the rest of it). Remember his life and the memory of it will continue on with us now." That was it. That's all there is. Why? Because, if they really start thinking about it that they are going to die ... THEY are going to die. Well, they don't want to think about that. Oh, anything but that! Just concentrate on the life bit, and what happens thereafter we just push to one side; and this is it. People naturally, human beings, fear death. There is a fear of death; and, yet, we are told over in Matthew 10 something different.
Matthew 10:16-18 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: [not a very wise idea]be you therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. (17) But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; (18) And you shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.
Now here we are coming into II Timothy, it's the Gentiles. But note it's going to be a testimony against them. These people are all going to die. And they're all going to remember when they come into contact with somebody that is, indeed, one of the children of God -- because we will be different! On the surface, we shouldn't look weird, but we jolly well better be when we start opening our mouth. It will be different. There will be a difference there.
Matthew 10:19-20 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what you shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what you shall speak. (20) For it is not you that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaks in you.
That Spirit of power, of love, of a sound mind -- don't fear about it!
Matthew 10:26-31 Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known. (27) What I tell you in darkness, that speak you in light: and what you hear in the ear, that preach you upon the housetops. (28) And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. [in Gehenna. That's what we fear. It is God that we fear.] (29) Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. (30) But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. (31) Fear you not therefore, you are of more value than many sparrows.
There's a certain mindset there that we all need. That we all need, and we will need as time goes on. We will need it. Turn back again to II Timothy:
II Timothy 3:10 But you have fully known my doctrine.
My teaching. That's after this section that talks about, in the last days, times of stress will come -- perilous times, downers will come. And he talks about all these various attributes that are there.
II Timothy 3:10-11 But you have fully known my doctrine [teaching], manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, [Longsuffering is literally long suffering, long enduring.](11) Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.
UNFEIGNED FAITH (PLAY FROM 48:00)
He said look, "Take a look at that." All who will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecutions. But the inference is that, out of them all, God will actually deliver us. Again, here he is encouraging Timothy. Encouraging him about the things he is going to have to go ahead and do, things that he is going to take care of. It is certainly something that naturally we would run away from. But it is this unfeigned faith. Remember in chapter 1 where we read in verse 5:
II Timothy 1:5 When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith ...
It's without hypocrisy. It's faith that is not pretense. It is real. So this is what combats the fear. The love also combats the fear. It puts the fear into its context. It mentions about those that are fearful and unbelieving, and it wasn't a pretense.
II Timothy 1:5 When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith [That's non-pretended faith.]that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois, and your mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in you also.
He is reminding him of this fact. He is reminding him to remember that fact.
II Timothy 1:12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
WHAT DID PAUL REALLY WANT TIMOTHY TO DO? (PLAY FROM 49:56)
Now, this is the essence of faith. And here we're really going into what Paul wanted Timothy to do -- to understand the heart and core of this book, when it was originally written. And how we then understand what it was that Paul wanted Timothy to do. Here we see in verse 12, the essence of faith: That Paul entrusted God with everything. The way we just read over in Matthew where it says, "Don't fear those that can kill the body, and after that there's no more. They can't do anymore." You fear God, and you entrust God with the fact that He will see us through WHATEVER we happen to go through. All of us are going to die. Every single one of us is going to die. Whether it's sooner or later, that's really up to God and to the circumstances He allows us to go through.
II Timothy 1:12-13 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. (13) Hold fast the form of sound words, which you have heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
In other words, you hold fast and make sure the mind is made up and is going in the right direction. It's not deviated. The physical circumstances are not going to go ahead and make somebody swerve from one side or another. And if we go over to chapter 2 notice in verse 15:
II Timothy 2:15 Study [therefore, or be diligent] to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
And remember that faith comes by hearing, hearing the Word of God. And again, if we are studying (if we have the Words of God there), that also will help us in the area of faith. If we're not studying, then we'll find that faith is going to be a problem for us -- because 'the reality that is around us' is going to be more real that 'the reality that God is.' In fact, as Paul said that "He is able to keep that which I've committed to Him against that day." That's the reality that Paul is focusing on, and the reality that Paul focused on when he went before the authorities and had to give an account of himself.
II Timothy 3:14 But continue you in the things which you have learned and have been assured of, knowing of whom you have learned them;
Again, its not just these Old Testament scriptures. It is also the way in which these Old Testament scriptures are to be understood -- because Paul was Timothy's apostle. It goes on then:
II Timothy 3:15-17 And that from a child you have known the holy scriptures, which are able to make you wise unto salvation through faith [through faith, notice] which is in Christ Jesus. (16) All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, [As I said, it's for telling a fault, and for straightening out again after that fault is there -- and then instruction into righteousness, to actually lead on into righteousness as well.]for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (17) That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
And Timothy also had some good works that he was expected to do. The job about to be given to Timothy, he needed to have the right equipment. He needed to make sure that Word was alive in him; that he knew the promises of God; that he understood them; that he had studied them; that this reality that came from the Word of God was more real than the reality that he was going into. Therefore, it would chase away the fear; because the fear would be within there.
Now in II Timothy chapter 1, if we go back there, we'll just remind ourself a little bit:
II Timothy 1:18 The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy [That is Onesiphorus, that he may find mercy.] of the Lord in that day: and in how many things he ministered unto me at Ephesus, you know very well.
Now, Timothy knew Onesiphorus.
II Timothy 1:17 But, when he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently, and found me.
Now the evidence seems to be that he was very different from the other people that were in the Church. As it says, "all forsook him." Well, as it says, Onesiphorus obviously didn't forsake him. Well, we'll come onto that in a little way. But it does say "and in how many things he ministered unto me at Ephesus, you know very well." So he's going back to something that happened in Ephesus. If we turn over to II Corinthians 1, we can start seeing something that happened in Ephesus. In II Corinthians we start to see the state of mind that Paul was in, in Ephesus.
II Corinthians 1:8 For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, [in Asia. Ephesus is in Asia. It is a capitol in Asia.] that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:
So, whatever it was, they were on the point of dying. It was that serious.
II Corinthians 1:9 But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, [So it sounds as if they were sentenced to death, or to something very near to it.] that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raises the dead:
In other words, their entire trust had to be in God. The focus was not on what was going on physically, but the hope that was lying in front of them.
II Corinthians 1:10 Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;
So what was going on in Asia, in Ephesus, was pretty severe.
II Corinthians 1:11 You also [notice] helping together by prayer for us ...
Now, you remember what I mentioned in the announcement -- that we should be praying for each other? Part of the reason that Paul gives, part of the help that he had, was the Corinthian Church which was just across the water, if you like, from Asia. From Ephesus where he was, was praying (along with other brethren as well) about this particular situation.
II Corinthians 1:11 that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf.
In other words, they managed to get out of this particular problem. Now we see what the problem actually was. If you turn over to I Corinthians 15, he hints at it. And I think it is a very good chance that this was the problem at Ephesus. Remember, this is all to do with the resurrection -- the resurrection from the dead, and the hope that we have, and the looking forward into the future.
I Corinthians 15:29-32 Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, [Now that's not the way they do it in Mormon circles. It has to do with being baptized for the HOPE of the dead. That's a better way of translating it. It's the being baptized for the HOPE of the dead.]if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the [hope of the] dead? [In other words, looking to the future, looking to that resurrection, looking to the time when we will be resurrected.] (30) And why stand we in jeopardy every hour? (31) I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. (32) If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, [So it was to do with the arena. It appears he was actually put into the arena at Ephesus; and he had to fight for his life -- with beasts, with gladiatorial combat of some description, perhaps with a bear or lions or whatever. It was something along those lines. That seems to be the indication. Now people can say, "Okay, here he's talking about beasts figuratively. He's talking about just with people." It doesn't sound like that because it says, "If after the manner of men I've fought with beasts at Ephesus"]what advantages it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die.
But he went through that. He went and put up with it, because he was under some kind of a sentence. And the sentence seems to be that he was put into the arena. And he then would presumably be given a sword, and perhaps a shield, and had to go ahead and fight for his life. And how many others were with him, I'm not quite sure. But it is interesting that, when you go back to II Timothy (You can go get your markers again, and go back to II Timothy.), we see in chapter one that when we read about this man Onesiphorus:
II Timothy 1:16, 18 The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain: [And he was exhibiting a characteristic that] (18) he ministered unto me at Ephesus, you know very well.
So he was doing the same thing in Ephesus, under the very threat of his life; and yet he didn't qualm. He went ahead and visited him regardless. Now one thing you need to be aware of is that it says, "The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus." It doesn't say Onesiphorus himself. So it may have been, and it is very probable, that he actually died. He was the one that died in the process. It does say also, in verse 18, "that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day." The chances are he was dead. His going and actually giving Paul support in Rome resulted in his death. The chances are, if you read a little bit between the lines, it looks as if Onesiphorus met his end in Rome.
And then, you're looking at what is going on in Rome at that time. You see, the book was written in 64-66AD. That's 64-66AD. Now we know that Paul was finally beheaded in 67AD, about a year after this book was written (or the latest this book could be written). So we also know that in 64AD, which is the earliest this book could have been written, was the time that Nero burned Rome. So Nero had burned Rome when this book was written, or around the same time this book was written; and, in addition to that, he put the blame on the Christians. Now many of them weren't Christians. But he put the blame on the Christians that were there, and Paul was being bound up with all of this kind of stuff.
And here he is talking about Onesiphorus. And the word must have gotten back as well, because he says in verse 15, "You know, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes." These are ministers, presumably. These men turned away. WHY??? Heh. When he goes back and starts to talk about Onesiphorus, you can see why these men turned away. Before we start pointing the finger at these men, remember what was going on at the time -- what these people probably had to face. They probably had wives, and families, and so on. How would they react? As it says here: "The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus" because he was probably dead by that time.
Now if we go back into II Timothy 4:
II Timothy 4:6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.
He knew that this was it. He could see the writing was on the wall that he wasn't going to survive. Now it's all very well for Paul, who was a Roman citizen. He would have his head chopped off. But Jews wouldn't. They would probably get crucified. You know, it is not a pleasant thing to do; and yet that's what we're looking at. When you start understanding what was going on, you start seeing some of the problems that were there at that particular time. And the reason why it says "In the last days, times of stress will come," times of stress will come; and these were times of stress on the Church when this book was being written. And you say, well why on earth, would he ... ? Let's read on a bit further.
II Timothy 4:16-17 At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge. (17) Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.
Now they were being thrown to the lions, and probably without swords as they had been in Ephesus. He fought with beasts in Ephesus, but here they probably were put in without swords. "Let's see what happens?" And you wonder why they forsook him? It's no wonder, no wonder they forsook him (including Luke, it appears). It is no wonder, no wonder at all. If we'll notice verse 9:
II Timothy 4:9 Do your diligence to come shortly unto me:
[Scoffs] REALLY? Is that the kind of thing you really want to hear when you know what's going on? When you hear all these various stories that are coming out of Rome? And then Paul says, "Oh, you're my greatest mate. C'mon over. I've got some work for you." And you think: "Well, what is so important that would require this man to come?" You think: "Why on earth would this man have to come at this particular time?"
II Timothy 4:10-13 For Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia. (11) Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with you: for he is profitable to me for the ministry [or for a ministry, or for a service]. (12) And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus. (13) The cloak that I left at Troas with Carpus, when you come, bring with you, and the books, but especially the parchments.
"Especially the parchments." And these words really give the clue as to why Timothy had to come. What was the purpose of this? Why did he actually have to do this? You see, the parchments almost certainly contained Corinthians (I & II Corinthians), Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians. It was the actual Word that was going to be left so that you and I could actually read it. He also brought the letters that had been written to him. That was Timothy, and probably Titus as well. Titus was there as well, he had mentioned. Titus was departed to Dalmatia. Presumably Titus left the letter that was sent to him with Paul. Why? Because this was the first stage of the canonization process so that you and I could actually have this book. We could read these words and understand them. And the circumstances in which they were being given were in severe jeopardy, to say the least. They were in incredible jeopardy, and yet that's what they were prepared to do.
He was encouraging Timothy to come to him, to bring those parchments, to behave within a certain way, and not be afraid. And not be afraid of the situation he would find himself in -- visiting a prisoner who was on the sentence of death, who would probably get beheaded -- yes! But He was a Jew, half Jewish half Greek. Remember something else about Timothy: He had stomach trouble.
I Timothy 5:23 Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for your stomach's sake and your often infirmities.
What is the cause of stomach trouble? It is worry! One of the largest causes of stomach trouble these days, and undoubtedly at that time as well, was worry. He was probably of quite a nervous disposition. So when we're reading II Timothy, Paul is trying to encourage him. He is trying to get him to look forward, to study that Word of God, to get that Word of God into his mouth and his innermost being; so the situation that he would find himself in he could, therefore, behave correctly within -- having the right kind of faith. It was necessary that he did that.
It was vitally necessary for you and me. Without that we wouldn't have the epistles of Paul, because he then went through the epistles of Paul (presumably editing them to some degree on those parchments) and then passed them on to the apostle John. No, from Paul those parchments then went to Peter in Babylon; and he then put I and II Peter with them. And they then went to John, and that was the final canonization. These are the stages of the New Testament canonization. So we can see just how important these things were; and, really, how important this particular book was, and the reason why we've got it today.
II Timothy 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times [or times of stress, downers]shall come.
We are going into the greatest time of stress that's ever been. The biggest time of downers that there'll ever be. But this book has been preserved through a similar time, looking forward to that time. Now, we're not going to go ahead and be in the worst of it, because God says He will save us out of it if we are faithful to Him. Let's turn over to Matthew 20, because we've been around a while. You and I have been around a little while. We've watched the Church kind of rise and fall ... most of us anyway.
Matthew 20:1-15 For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard. (2) And when he had agreed with the laborers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. (3) And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace [Third hour is about 9:00 in the morning.],(4) And said unto them; Go you also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way. (5) Again he went out about the sixth [about midday] and ninth hour [about three o'clock in the afternoon],and did likewise. (6) And about the eleventh hour [5 o'clock in the evening] he went out, and found others standing idle, and said unto them, Why stand you here all the day idle? (7) They say unto him, Because no man has hired us. He said unto them, Go you also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall you receive. (8) So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard said unto his steward, Call the laborers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. [Evening would be about 6:00, because the sun sets around that time.] (9) And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour [That's 5:00 in the afternoon. They worked one hour.], they received every man a penny. (10) But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny. [They had Eternal Life and nothing else. They had a reward according to their works, but the Eternal Life was their reward.] (11) And when they had received it [Eternal life was given to all.],they murmured against the goodman of the house, (12) Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and you have made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day. (13) But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do you no wrong: did not you agree with me for a penny? (14) Take what is yours, and go your way: I will give unto this last, even as unto you. (15) Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own [money]? Is your eye evil, because I am good?
In other words, because I happened to give somebody an easier time? You know, all received a penny. Some are required to bear the heat of the day, and within the Church that is true as well. And we don't know what is exactly up ahead of us. I'm not just saying this to try and scare the living day lights out of us, but we are all given the same reward. And we look at II Timothy, and we can see somebody that had quite a severe job. And it wasn't just the job of what he had to do. It was the fear that was going along with it. The fact that he looked at the situation, he could see the potential within that situation could be; and Paul had to give him great encouragement during that time. The only way he was going to do it -- actually accomplish it -- as Paul said, "You're not given the spirit of fear. You are given the spirit of power, of love and of a sound mind. Remember the faith that you had that was in your mother and your grandmother. Get your mind off yourself. Make sure you get your mind on the very Words of God. All scripture is God-breathed."
All these things that he was saying to him was encouraging him to make sure he got his mind focused in the right way -- through prayer, through Bible Study, through meditation, obedience, through doing what was right. And the mindset that he needed Paul saw, because he had to have those parchments come; and it's not the kind of thing you put in an envelope and send off. It just doesn't work that way. Amtrak wasn't around at the time. Or they were on strike or something. Whatever it was, he wasn't able to do that; so he had to get Timothy to bring them to him in this kind of situation.
But it is also the mindset we need as well. It is the mindset we need to build the required faith that we're going to need in the future, and the faith that we need to always walk in God's way.
Transcribed by JF 12/2005 And edited at {1} for clarity by Jon Bowles.
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
THE ORIGIN OF HALLOWE'EN
The Plain TruthOctober 1967
THE ORIGIN OF HALLOWE'EN
What about this strange festival? What have goblins, witches and ghosts to do with this feast of All Hallows Eve? And why the demoniacal masks and gaudy decorations?
by Gerhard O. Marx
EACH YEAR millions around the world observe the strangest of all festivals, Hallowe'en -- All Hallows Evening. Especially so in Great Britain, Scandinavia and the United States. Every autumn, young and old alike anticipate its revels. It's a night of frolicking fun and frivolous foolishness. All kinds of nonsense and superstitions are associated with this festival.
But Why?
On the eve of this night children dress in outrageous costumes and put on witch-like masks. Then they are turned loose to frighten or otherwise induce people into giving them food items and other gifts. Millions are familiar with the "trick-or-treat"' threat associated with Hallowe'en. Buildings are desecrated, windows broken and other fooleries are resorted to.
WHY do so many keep Hallowe'en? What useful purpose does such a celebration fulfill in this "enlightened" scientific twentieth century? What purpose did it ever serve? Is it merely a harmless celebration to amuse our children?
It's about time we checked into this observance to see WHERE and WHEN it really originated and FOR WHAT PURPOSE it was established.
You may not have realized it, but the ancient pre-Christian Druids in Britain, the pagan Romans and Greeks, and even the Babylonians, among others, kept a Hallowe'en festival.
Not Christian
Yes, Hallowe'en long antedates Christianity! It was only later introduced into the professing Christian world -- centuries AFTER the death of the Apostles.
Notice! "The earliest Hallowe'en celebrations [in Britain] were held by the Druids in honour of Samhain, Lord of the Dead, whose festival fell on November 1" (see "Halloween Through Twenty Centuries", by Ralph Linton, p. 4). "It is clearly a RELIC OF PAGAN TIMES"! ("The Book of Days", Chambers, v. 2, p. 519.)
Further, "It was a Druidical belief that on the eve of this festival Saman, lord of death, called together the wicked spirits that within the past 12 months had been condemned to inhabit the bodies of animals" ("Enc. Brit.", 11th ed., v. 12, pp. 857-8).
Read what this November celebration was like! It was a pagan belief that on one night of the year the souls of the dead return to their original homes, there to be entertained with food. If food and shelter were not provided, these spirits, it was believed, would cast spells and cause havoc towards those failing to fulfill their requests.
"It was the night for the universal walking about of all sorts of spirits, fairies, and ghosts, all of whom had liberty on that night" ("Highland Superstitions", Alexander Macgregor, p. 44). Literal sacrifices were offered on this night to the spirits of the dead, when, so the belief went, they visited their earthly haunts and their friends.
There was a reason why November was chosen for that particular event. The Celts and other Northern people considered the beginning of November as their New Year. This was the time when the leaves were falling and a general seasonal decay was taking place everywhere. Thus it was a fitting time, so they reasoned, for the commemoration of the dead.
Since the Northern nations at that time began their day in the evening, the eve leading up to November 1st was the beginning of the festival. According to the Roman calendar it was the evening October 31 -- hence, Hallowe'en -- the evening of All Hallows.
Observed Everywhere
Hallowe'en, or "All Souls Eve," was kept throughout the ancient pagan world. The observance was widespread. "There was a prevailing belief AMONG ALL NATIONS that at death the souls of good men were taken possession of by good spirits and carried to paradise; but the souls of wicked men were left to wander in the space between the earth and moon, or consigned to the unseen world. These wandering spirits were in the habit of HAUNTING THE LIVING ... BUT THERE WERE MEANS BY WHICH THESE GHOSTS MIGHT BE EXORCISED" ("Folklore", James Napier, p. 11).
To exorcise these ghosts, that is, to free yourself from their supposed evil sway, you would have to set out food and provide shelter for them during the night. If they were satisfied with your offerings, it was believed they would leave you in peace. If not, they were believed to cast an evil spell on you.
"In Wales it was firmly believed that on All Hallows Eve the spirit of a departed person was to be seen at midnight on every crossroad and every stile" ("Folklore and Folk-Stories of Wales", Marie Trevelyan, p. 254).
In Cambodia people used to chant: "O all you our ancestors, who are departed, deign to come and eat what we have prepared for you, and to bless your posterity and to make it happy" ("Notice sur le Cambodge", Paris 1875, E. Aymonièr, p. 59).
This sort of Hallowe'en festival was strenuously observed throughout the non-Christian world. Pagans would pray to their false gods to prevent "DEMONS" and "witches" from molesting them. Notice! "The Miatecs of Mexico believed that the souls of the dead came back in the twelfth month of the year, WHICH CORRESPONDED TO OVER NOVEMBER. On this day of All Souls the houses were decked out to welcome the spirits. Jars of food and drink were set on a table in the principal room, and the family went out with the torches to meet the ghosts and invite them to enter. Then, returning to the house they knelt around the table, and with their eyes bent on the ground, prayed the souls to accept the offerings" ("Adonis", Frazer, p. 244).
This, then, is the way the heathen world celebrated their Hallowe'en, their "All Souls Day". Although some aspects of the Hallowe'en festival varied with each country, the overall pattern and purpose remained the same.
Hallowe'en "Christianized"
But how did the professing Christian world come to accept and keep such a day? Here is what you, probably, haven't been told.
In 607 A.D. the Roman Emperor Phocus defeated the Barbarians who were in control of Rome. The Pantheon in Rome, a pagan edifice which had been wrested from the barbarians, was given to pope Boniface IV.
Originally, Emperor Hadrian built the Pantheon -- around 100 A.D. He dedicated it to the pagan goddess Cybele and to the other Roman deities. This temple became the central place in Rome where the pagans honored and commemorated their gods. With this splendid edifice now falling into the hands of professing Christians, the question was, What should be done with it?
The pagans had dedicated it to Cybele and all their gods. But the Roman bishop now CONSECRATED IT TO THE VIRGIN MARY AND ALL THE SAINTS of both sexes (see "The Mysteries of All Nations", Grant, p. 120). Thus this pagan building became "holy." No more did the pagan Romans use this edifice to pray for their dead. It was now the professing Christians who employed the Pantheon in praying for their dead.
This re-dedication of the pagan temple to Mary and others occurred in 610 A.D. Now converted into a Christian shrine, an annual festival was instituted to commemorate the event. The day chosen was May 13. This May 13 commemoration of the dead saints was known by the name of "All Saints Day." It continued to be held in May for over two centuries -- until 834 A.D. In that year the NAME and the DATE WERE CHANGED.
Notice! "The time of celebration was altered to the FIRST OF NOVEMBER, and it was then called ALL HALLOW" -- from where we get the name Hallowe'en, ALL HALLOW merely meaning ALL HOLY, and the "een" is a contraction of evening ("Folklore", James Napier, p. 177).
Thus in 834 A.D. the Church in the Middle Ages began to celebrate Hallowe'en on the FIRST OF NOVEMBER for the first time. This was the very same day the Druids in Britain, the Norsemen in Scandinavia, and the pagan Germans among others were keeping their festival of ALL SOULS EVE, in commemoration of Saman, lord of death, and his demons.
Reason for Change
Why did the church change the date to November 1st, thus coinciding with the pagans' feast of ALL SOULS? There is a reason! It was a general practice of the restored Roman Empire, now professing Christianity, to "convert" the pagans within the empire as quickly and on as large a scale as possible. Changing dates of festivals often made it easier to influence newly conquered peoples.
Ever since the time of Constantine -- who made a state religion out of Christianity -- the Roman emperors realized how essential it was to have a UNIFIED empire, in which as many as possible would be of ONE MIND. The civil and religious leaders saw how important it was for the sake of unity to ALLOW ONLY ONE RELIGION within the restored Roman domain.
It became therefore a stringent state policy to force all non-Christians to accept the new state religion. Here is how the plan was carried out.
Conversion of Germans
When the German Frankish king Charlemagne invaded and conquered parts of Eastern Germany, he compelled the conquered German king, Wittekind, to be baptized and to accept Christianity. Having no choice and seeing his life was at stake, this heathen ruler who knew little or nothing about Christ -- was forced into this "conversion." And with him his entire people.
This policy brought complex problems. These pagans, who were usually baptized EN MASSE, were still pagans at heart. Even though they became nominal Christians, they still yearned for many of their heathen practices, which they were expected to discard.
With Wittekind's baptism, for example, a vast number of barbarians were suddenly added to the roll call of the church. Wittekind's Germans, now professing Christians, and other conquered pagans, had a profound influence on the ecclesiastical affairs of the church in the early 800's A. D. These barbaric and uncultured people brought with them many outright pagan practices and celebrations, Hallowe'en merely being one of many. They were fervent in clinging to their past ceremonies and observed them openly -- yet supposedly converted to Christianity.
What was the church to do? Excommunicate them and thus reduce her membership? This she would not do. Was she to force them into discarding their heathen practices and adopt Italian or Roman ones? This, as she had learned in past times, was not possible.
There remained only one other way. Let the recently converted pagans keep certain of their heathen festivals, such as Hallowe'en or All Souls Day -- but label it "Christian." Of course the Germans were asked not to pray to their ancient pagan gods on this day. They must now use this day to commemorate the death of the saints. To make it easy for them, the Roman Church even CHANGED HER DATE of All Saints Day from May 13 to November 1st to satisfy the growing numbers of Germanic adherents.
The Church understood the yearnings the Germans and others had for their old ways. Throughout history, the Christian-professing world has resorted to this action. We have the theological explanation of this given to us by Pope Innocent. He refers to a heathen festival the pagans kept in the early part of the Roman Empire and explained how the professing Christian world should treat this day:
"The heathen dedicated this month [2 Feb.] to the infernal gods ... In the beginning of this month the idolaters walked about the city with lighted candles, and as some of the holy fathers COULD NOT EXTIRPATE SUCH A CUSTOM, they ORDAINED that Christians should carry about candles IN HONOUR OF THE "VIRGIN MARY" ("Folklore", James Napier, p. 181).
If a pagan practice or festival could not be forbidden, it was reasoned, "let it be tamed." Thus many were persuaded to TRANSFER devotion from their former gods to the Christian God. So it was with the festival of ALL SOULS EVE. Notice this admission: "Thus, at the first promulgation of Christianity to the Gentile nations ... THEY COULD NOT BE PERSUADED TO RELINQUISH many of their superstitions, which, rather than forego altogether, they chose to blend and INCORPORATE with the new faith" ("Popular Antiquities of Great Britain", John Brand, p. xi).
What About Our Time?
Now come down to the twentieth century. You'll be surprised to what extent we have inherited pagan rites and ceremonies from our forefathers, so obvious in the celebration of Hallowe'en. Note this classic example. "In many Catholic countries the belief that the DEAD RETURN on this day is so strong, that food is left on the tables and people still decorate the graves of the dead [on this day]" ("Dictionary of Folklore", Funk and Wagnalls, v. 1, p. 38).
In Protestant countries many pagan superstitious beliefs and practices have become an integral part of each year's celebration.
-------------------
PHOTO CAPTION:
Hallowe'en perpetuates ancient pagan revelry and superstitions.Few youngsters ever question why a Christian-professing world continues to celebrate it.
-------------------
In many parts of Britain, BONFIRES are set alight on the eve of Hallowe'en. Of course fire has nothing to do with praying for dead saints. The original reason for the fire, however, was to frighten away witches and evil spirits on this night. Fire has always been an essential part of Hallowe'en in Great Britain.
You and Your Children
What about you and your children? What comes to your mind when thinking about Hallowe'en? The truth of the Bible? Not at all! Instead, weird and FRIGHTENING MASKS -- persons PORTRAYED AS WITCHES AND DEMONS. Pumpkins and turnips hollowed out in the shape of EERIE-LOOKING faces! Lighted candles are placed inside to help bring out the more frightful side of these carvings.
Dough is baked into small figurines RESEMBLING WITCHES AND SPIDER'S WEB CAKES are baked by the dozen for this occasion. Children, dressed up in the most revolting garments, are let loose on the neighbors, trying to scare the daylights out of them.
Let's be honest. I have before me the "Good Housekeeping's Book of Entertainment", which my wife picked up from the local library. On page 168 of this much-read book, there is a section on what to do on Hallowe'en. Notice the astonishing advice given! "Halloween decorations are quite as important as the food.
When planning them, remember that if the room is to be dimly lit (preferably by candle and FIRELIGHT) the decorations must be bold to be effective. Orange, black and red, THE DEVIL'S COLOURS, are the colours associated with Halloween and THIS SCHEME SHOULD BE CARRIED OUT as far as possible ... Have paper streamers and lanterns hanging from the ceiling, or, if you would like to have something less usual, you could make a giant SPIDER'S web with black and orange strings, or in narrow strips of crepe paper coming from the four corners of the room, complete with a LARGE SPIDER -- one of the DEVIL'S FAVOURITE FOLLOWERS."
Notice where the stress lies!
Read further of the black magic associated with this festival. "To decorate the walls, make large silhouettes of CATS, BATS, OWLS AND WITCHES ON BROOMSTICKS ... For the supper table small WITCHES WITH BROOMSTICKS can be made by using lollipops on 4-inch sticks."
Weird lanterns, witch-balls, and witches' cauldrons are some other objects, the book suggests, which must fit into the evening somehow.
How pagan can you get?
NOWHERE does the Bible command us to observe Hallowe'en. Hallowe'en and other common festivals which people observe in the Christian-professing world have NO BIBLICAL BASIS. They originated in paganism. The testimony of history stamps Hallowe'en as a HEATHEN festival. It's built on a PAGAN FOUNDATION. Your Bible warns:"For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ" (I Cor. 3:11).
Which is the BASIS of YOUR practice and belief? Turn to Deuteronomy 12:29-31 and read God's condemnation of Hallowe'en! And write for our free article on Hallowe'en which covers many other startling facts not included here!
. . .
THE ORIGIN OF HALLOWE'EN
What about this strange festival? What have goblins, witches and ghosts to do with this feast of All Hallows Eve? And why the demoniacal masks and gaudy decorations?
by Gerhard O. Marx
EACH YEAR millions around the world observe the strangest of all festivals, Hallowe'en -- All Hallows Evening. Especially so in Great Britain, Scandinavia and the United States. Every autumn, young and old alike anticipate its revels. It's a night of frolicking fun and frivolous foolishness. All kinds of nonsense and superstitions are associated with this festival.
But Why?
On the eve of this night children dress in outrageous costumes and put on witch-like masks. Then they are turned loose to frighten or otherwise induce people into giving them food items and other gifts. Millions are familiar with the "trick-or-treat"' threat associated with Hallowe'en. Buildings are desecrated, windows broken and other fooleries are resorted to.
WHY do so many keep Hallowe'en? What useful purpose does such a celebration fulfill in this "enlightened" scientific twentieth century? What purpose did it ever serve? Is it merely a harmless celebration to amuse our children?
It's about time we checked into this observance to see WHERE and WHEN it really originated and FOR WHAT PURPOSE it was established.
You may not have realized it, but the ancient pre-Christian Druids in Britain, the pagan Romans and Greeks, and even the Babylonians, among others, kept a Hallowe'en festival.
Not Christian
Yes, Hallowe'en long antedates Christianity! It was only later introduced into the professing Christian world -- centuries AFTER the death of the Apostles.
Notice! "The earliest Hallowe'en celebrations [in Britain] were held by the Druids in honour of Samhain, Lord of the Dead, whose festival fell on November 1" (see "Halloween Through Twenty Centuries", by Ralph Linton, p. 4). "It is clearly a RELIC OF PAGAN TIMES"! ("The Book of Days", Chambers, v. 2, p. 519.)
Further, "It was a Druidical belief that on the eve of this festival Saman, lord of death, called together the wicked spirits that within the past 12 months had been condemned to inhabit the bodies of animals" ("Enc. Brit.", 11th ed., v. 12, pp. 857-8).
Read what this November celebration was like! It was a pagan belief that on one night of the year the souls of the dead return to their original homes, there to be entertained with food. If food and shelter were not provided, these spirits, it was believed, would cast spells and cause havoc towards those failing to fulfill their requests.
"It was the night for the universal walking about of all sorts of spirits, fairies, and ghosts, all of whom had liberty on that night" ("Highland Superstitions", Alexander Macgregor, p. 44). Literal sacrifices were offered on this night to the spirits of the dead, when, so the belief went, they visited their earthly haunts and their friends.
There was a reason why November was chosen for that particular event. The Celts and other Northern people considered the beginning of November as their New Year. This was the time when the leaves were falling and a general seasonal decay was taking place everywhere. Thus it was a fitting time, so they reasoned, for the commemoration of the dead.
Since the Northern nations at that time began their day in the evening, the eve leading up to November 1st was the beginning of the festival. According to the Roman calendar it was the evening October 31 -- hence, Hallowe'en -- the evening of All Hallows.
Observed Everywhere
Hallowe'en, or "All Souls Eve," was kept throughout the ancient pagan world. The observance was widespread. "There was a prevailing belief AMONG ALL NATIONS that at death the souls of good men were taken possession of by good spirits and carried to paradise; but the souls of wicked men were left to wander in the space between the earth and moon, or consigned to the unseen world. These wandering spirits were in the habit of HAUNTING THE LIVING ... BUT THERE WERE MEANS BY WHICH THESE GHOSTS MIGHT BE EXORCISED" ("Folklore", James Napier, p. 11).
To exorcise these ghosts, that is, to free yourself from their supposed evil sway, you would have to set out food and provide shelter for them during the night. If they were satisfied with your offerings, it was believed they would leave you in peace. If not, they were believed to cast an evil spell on you.
"In Wales it was firmly believed that on All Hallows Eve the spirit of a departed person was to be seen at midnight on every crossroad and every stile" ("Folklore and Folk-Stories of Wales", Marie Trevelyan, p. 254).
In Cambodia people used to chant: "O all you our ancestors, who are departed, deign to come and eat what we have prepared for you, and to bless your posterity and to make it happy" ("Notice sur le Cambodge", Paris 1875, E. Aymonièr, p. 59).
This sort of Hallowe'en festival was strenuously observed throughout the non-Christian world. Pagans would pray to their false gods to prevent "DEMONS" and "witches" from molesting them. Notice! "The Miatecs of Mexico believed that the souls of the dead came back in the twelfth month of the year, WHICH CORRESPONDED TO OVER NOVEMBER. On this day of All Souls the houses were decked out to welcome the spirits. Jars of food and drink were set on a table in the principal room, and the family went out with the torches to meet the ghosts and invite them to enter. Then, returning to the house they knelt around the table, and with their eyes bent on the ground, prayed the souls to accept the offerings" ("Adonis", Frazer, p. 244).
This, then, is the way the heathen world celebrated their Hallowe'en, their "All Souls Day". Although some aspects of the Hallowe'en festival varied with each country, the overall pattern and purpose remained the same.
Hallowe'en "Christianized"
But how did the professing Christian world come to accept and keep such a day? Here is what you, probably, haven't been told.
In 607 A.D. the Roman Emperor Phocus defeated the Barbarians who were in control of Rome. The Pantheon in Rome, a pagan edifice which had been wrested from the barbarians, was given to pope Boniface IV.
Originally, Emperor Hadrian built the Pantheon -- around 100 A.D. He dedicated it to the pagan goddess Cybele and to the other Roman deities. This temple became the central place in Rome where the pagans honored and commemorated their gods. With this splendid edifice now falling into the hands of professing Christians, the question was, What should be done with it?
The pagans had dedicated it to Cybele and all their gods. But the Roman bishop now CONSECRATED IT TO THE VIRGIN MARY AND ALL THE SAINTS of both sexes (see "The Mysteries of All Nations", Grant, p. 120). Thus this pagan building became "holy." No more did the pagan Romans use this edifice to pray for their dead. It was now the professing Christians who employed the Pantheon in praying for their dead.
This re-dedication of the pagan temple to Mary and others occurred in 610 A.D. Now converted into a Christian shrine, an annual festival was instituted to commemorate the event. The day chosen was May 13. This May 13 commemoration of the dead saints was known by the name of "All Saints Day." It continued to be held in May for over two centuries -- until 834 A.D. In that year the NAME and the DATE WERE CHANGED.
Notice! "The time of celebration was altered to the FIRST OF NOVEMBER, and it was then called ALL HALLOW" -- from where we get the name Hallowe'en, ALL HALLOW merely meaning ALL HOLY, and the "een" is a contraction of evening ("Folklore", James Napier, p. 177).
Thus in 834 A.D. the Church in the Middle Ages began to celebrate Hallowe'en on the FIRST OF NOVEMBER for the first time. This was the very same day the Druids in Britain, the Norsemen in Scandinavia, and the pagan Germans among others were keeping their festival of ALL SOULS EVE, in commemoration of Saman, lord of death, and his demons.
Reason for Change
Why did the church change the date to November 1st, thus coinciding with the pagans' feast of ALL SOULS? There is a reason! It was a general practice of the restored Roman Empire, now professing Christianity, to "convert" the pagans within the empire as quickly and on as large a scale as possible. Changing dates of festivals often made it easier to influence newly conquered peoples.
Ever since the time of Constantine -- who made a state religion out of Christianity -- the Roman emperors realized how essential it was to have a UNIFIED empire, in which as many as possible would be of ONE MIND. The civil and religious leaders saw how important it was for the sake of unity to ALLOW ONLY ONE RELIGION within the restored Roman domain.
It became therefore a stringent state policy to force all non-Christians to accept the new state religion. Here is how the plan was carried out.
Conversion of Germans
When the German Frankish king Charlemagne invaded and conquered parts of Eastern Germany, he compelled the conquered German king, Wittekind, to be baptized and to accept Christianity. Having no choice and seeing his life was at stake, this heathen ruler who knew little or nothing about Christ -- was forced into this "conversion." And with him his entire people.
This policy brought complex problems. These pagans, who were usually baptized EN MASSE, were still pagans at heart. Even though they became nominal Christians, they still yearned for many of their heathen practices, which they were expected to discard.
With Wittekind's baptism, for example, a vast number of barbarians were suddenly added to the roll call of the church. Wittekind's Germans, now professing Christians, and other conquered pagans, had a profound influence on the ecclesiastical affairs of the church in the early 800's A. D. These barbaric and uncultured people brought with them many outright pagan practices and celebrations, Hallowe'en merely being one of many. They were fervent in clinging to their past ceremonies and observed them openly -- yet supposedly converted to Christianity.
What was the church to do? Excommunicate them and thus reduce her membership? This she would not do. Was she to force them into discarding their heathen practices and adopt Italian or Roman ones? This, as she had learned in past times, was not possible.
There remained only one other way. Let the recently converted pagans keep certain of their heathen festivals, such as Hallowe'en or All Souls Day -- but label it "Christian." Of course the Germans were asked not to pray to their ancient pagan gods on this day. They must now use this day to commemorate the death of the saints. To make it easy for them, the Roman Church even CHANGED HER DATE of All Saints Day from May 13 to November 1st to satisfy the growing numbers of Germanic adherents.
The Church understood the yearnings the Germans and others had for their old ways. Throughout history, the Christian-professing world has resorted to this action. We have the theological explanation of this given to us by Pope Innocent. He refers to a heathen festival the pagans kept in the early part of the Roman Empire and explained how the professing Christian world should treat this day:
"The heathen dedicated this month [2 Feb.] to the infernal gods ... In the beginning of this month the idolaters walked about the city with lighted candles, and as some of the holy fathers COULD NOT EXTIRPATE SUCH A CUSTOM, they ORDAINED that Christians should carry about candles IN HONOUR OF THE "VIRGIN MARY" ("Folklore", James Napier, p. 181).
If a pagan practice or festival could not be forbidden, it was reasoned, "let it be tamed." Thus many were persuaded to TRANSFER devotion from their former gods to the Christian God. So it was with the festival of ALL SOULS EVE. Notice this admission: "Thus, at the first promulgation of Christianity to the Gentile nations ... THEY COULD NOT BE PERSUADED TO RELINQUISH many of their superstitions, which, rather than forego altogether, they chose to blend and INCORPORATE with the new faith" ("Popular Antiquities of Great Britain", John Brand, p. xi).
What About Our Time?
Now come down to the twentieth century. You'll be surprised to what extent we have inherited pagan rites and ceremonies from our forefathers, so obvious in the celebration of Hallowe'en. Note this classic example. "In many Catholic countries the belief that the DEAD RETURN on this day is so strong, that food is left on the tables and people still decorate the graves of the dead [on this day]" ("Dictionary of Folklore", Funk and Wagnalls, v. 1, p. 38).
In Protestant countries many pagan superstitious beliefs and practices have become an integral part of each year's celebration.
-------------------
PHOTO CAPTION:
Hallowe'en perpetuates ancient pagan revelry and superstitions.Few youngsters ever question why a Christian-professing world continues to celebrate it.
-------------------
In many parts of Britain, BONFIRES are set alight on the eve of Hallowe'en. Of course fire has nothing to do with praying for dead saints. The original reason for the fire, however, was to frighten away witches and evil spirits on this night. Fire has always been an essential part of Hallowe'en in Great Britain.
You and Your Children
What about you and your children? What comes to your mind when thinking about Hallowe'en? The truth of the Bible? Not at all! Instead, weird and FRIGHTENING MASKS -- persons PORTRAYED AS WITCHES AND DEMONS. Pumpkins and turnips hollowed out in the shape of EERIE-LOOKING faces! Lighted candles are placed inside to help bring out the more frightful side of these carvings.
Dough is baked into small figurines RESEMBLING WITCHES AND SPIDER'S WEB CAKES are baked by the dozen for this occasion. Children, dressed up in the most revolting garments, are let loose on the neighbors, trying to scare the daylights out of them.
Let's be honest. I have before me the "Good Housekeeping's Book of Entertainment", which my wife picked up from the local library. On page 168 of this much-read book, there is a section on what to do on Hallowe'en. Notice the astonishing advice given! "Halloween decorations are quite as important as the food.
When planning them, remember that if the room is to be dimly lit (preferably by candle and FIRELIGHT) the decorations must be bold to be effective. Orange, black and red, THE DEVIL'S COLOURS, are the colours associated with Halloween and THIS SCHEME SHOULD BE CARRIED OUT as far as possible ... Have paper streamers and lanterns hanging from the ceiling, or, if you would like to have something less usual, you could make a giant SPIDER'S web with black and orange strings, or in narrow strips of crepe paper coming from the four corners of the room, complete with a LARGE SPIDER -- one of the DEVIL'S FAVOURITE FOLLOWERS."
Notice where the stress lies!
Read further of the black magic associated with this festival. "To decorate the walls, make large silhouettes of CATS, BATS, OWLS AND WITCHES ON BROOMSTICKS ... For the supper table small WITCHES WITH BROOMSTICKS can be made by using lollipops on 4-inch sticks."
Weird lanterns, witch-balls, and witches' cauldrons are some other objects, the book suggests, which must fit into the evening somehow.
How pagan can you get?
NOWHERE does the Bible command us to observe Hallowe'en. Hallowe'en and other common festivals which people observe in the Christian-professing world have NO BIBLICAL BASIS. They originated in paganism. The testimony of history stamps Hallowe'en as a HEATHEN festival. It's built on a PAGAN FOUNDATION. Your Bible warns:"For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ" (I Cor. 3:11).
Which is the BASIS of YOUR practice and belief? Turn to Deuteronomy 12:29-31 and read God's condemnation of Hallowe'en! And write for our free article on Hallowe'en which covers many other startling facts not included here!
. . .
How to Be an Overcomer
WHY are we not more successful in living up to God's standard? WHY do we slip and fall occasionally? Here is how YOU can overcome where you are weakest and hardest tempted!
By Herbert W. Armstrong Good News - August 1985
Do YOU have some "besetting sin" — some point of weakness, perhaps even secret, you have been unable to overcome? Have you ever met temptation, struggled with it, only to wake up a little later to the remorseful fact that you had slipped and fallen, and failed to overcome? Or perhaps you are struggling with some habit that holds you as its slave — struggling, wrestling, always fighting it, yet somehow never able to conquer it.
Only the overcomers
These things are serious. We must overcome these sins, these habits, these sudden temptations — be cleansed of them thoroughly — if we expect to get through to the Kingdom of God and inherit eternal life.
"To him who OVERCOMES," says Jesus, "I will grant to sit with Me on My throne" (Revelation 3:21).
"He who OVERCOMES, and keeps My works until the end, to HIM I will give power over the nations — 'He shall rule them with a rod of iron' " (Revelation 2:26-27).
Not all are even called, at this time. Many, though they may have heard the true message, have never received a conscious convicting KNOWLEDGE of the truth. This is not the time when God is calling them.
But God is now calling SOME to a life of separation — to a new and different and Spirit-filled and Spirit-led life — in order that they may be wholly CLEANSED of sin, and that they may GROW in grace and knowledge, thus being prepared, trained, fitted for a position of solemn responsibility — that of king or priest — in God's KINGDOM!
And it is only those who qualify by the training, the overcoming, the spiritual development and growth, DURING THIS PRESENT LIFE, who shall thus reign with Christ. Study the parable of the pounds in Luke 19:11-27.
So the Christian life is a new and a different life — an OVERCOMING life. Sin must be torn out, root and branch. We must be made righteous, holy.
Why we stumble and fall
Why, then, do so many of us continually stumble and fall? Yes, even those who do strive, struggle and even PRAY and PRAY for help, for victory, over some vicious habit?
WHY?
First, notice a portion of Paul's instruction to the Philippians: "And be found in him, not having mine OWN righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness WHICH is OF GOD by faith" (Philippians 3:9, Authorized Version).
Notice, it is not OUR righteousness, but GOD'S.
David was inspired to write, "All your commandments are righteousness" (Psalm 119:172). Yes, and LOVE is the fulfilling of the law (Romans 13:10).
The kind of love required
Right here is one trouble. Too many commandment-keepers are struggling along, trying to keep the commandments in their own power and strength — thinking it is THEIR own personal human love that fulfills the law! Too many commandment-keepers have only been converted to the ARGUMENT of keeping God's commandments, and have never really EXPERIENCED definite repentance — for a real conversion is a DEFINITE EXPERIENCE!
Such people need to go to a private place alone with God, and get to their knees, and pour out their hearts to God, and stay with it until they really KNOW they have really repented.
No wonder so many become discouraged, and feel like giving up! We do not even HAVE the kind of love that fulfills God's law and makes us righteous! LOVE is of God. for God IS love!
And it takes "the love of God. . . poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit" (Romans 5:5) to fulfill the law and give us GOD'S RIGHTEOUSNESS.
The law is SPIRITUAL (Romans 7:14). We are carnal. It takes a SPIRITUAL love to fulfill a spiritual law. The Holy Spirit within us is merely GOD'S LAW IN ACTION! And since God alone can supply the LOVE that makes us righteous, it becomes GOD'S righteousness, not ours.
How to get faith
But how do we receive the LOVE? Note again the scripture quoted above: "... the righteousness which is of God BY FAITH:"
It comes, then, by FAITH. Now most people seem to believe that the FAITH by which we must receive everything God gives us is something that we, ourselves, must work up and supply by some kind of hard effort.
And it does become such an effort, doesn't it, trying to strive to have FAITH?
Foolish babes in Christ! Can't we see that if WE were able to supply the faith that brings all else, that we, ourselves, would earn our own salvation by WORKS? It would be the kind of righteousness that is only FILTHY RAGS to God!
Stop trying to work up faith. You have no faith. The scripture above speaks only of "THE FAITH OF CHRIST"! Not your faith — CHRIST'S faith. Jesus had REAL FAITH! He performed miracles! And He rose from the dead — and HE LIVES.
Here is the secret! He gives — He imparts — His strong faith to you and to me! Yes, even FAITH is a gift of God — one of the spiritual GIFTS (Ephesians 2:8, I Corinthians 12:9).
Then how shall we go about getting more of it? By yielding, submitting our desires, our purposes, our wills, to HIM, by ASKING Him in real earnest persevering prayer, and by trusting Him to give it!
Why we have not been delivered
God's Word promises: "No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also MAKE THE WAY OF ESCAPE, that you may be able to bear it" (I Corinthians 10:13).
But has it not often seemed, in your experience, that God has failed to keep this promise?
Temptation has come. You have struggled, even prayed, yet you were overpowered, and you did not find the way of escape! What is wrong?
Jesus said, "I will NEVER leave you nor forsake you." "I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." God's Word promises, "Sin shall NOT have dominion over you."
Yet have you not found that sin has had DOMINION over you, holding you its slave? Have you not fought it desperately even with tears streaming down your face — only to fail?
How to apply and use faith
WHY? What is wrong? Simply that we have not known how to receive, apply and use the FAITH God promises to give!
First, there is something WE must do. Some go to one extreme and try to do it all. Others swing to the opposite extreme, plead with God, make little effort themselves and expect Him to do it all.
James says: "Submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you" (James 4:7).
Submit! Resist! This takes effort.
Peter says to humble ourselves, casting ALL our care upon the Lord, and to be sober and VIGILANT, because the devil is walking about, watching for the chance to tempt us when we are off our guard. We should "RESIST him, steadfast in the faith" (I Peter 5:6-9).
We are to resist Satan, and do it in the faith of Christ — but HOW?
The key to it all is "BE VIGILANT." Be on your guard! Be ever watchful! Be prepared! That's where we fall down! It takes constant, continuous, vigilant effort, never letting down!
Unless we, ourselves, had to put forth some effort we could not be OVERCOMERS! But if we had power to do it all, we should not need God!
So it requires our effort — our continuous, watchful, ever VIGILANT effort — empowered by GOD'S SPIRIT!
James continues, "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you" (James 4:8).
Now we are getting closer to our answer! When temptation comes, we ARE TOO FAR FROM GOD — and we are then unable, SUDDENLY, on the spur of the moment, to get close enough to Him to get the help and the deliverance we need!
It sometimes takes TIME to get CLOSE to God — into that intimate contact with Him so that we can draw on Him for the power we suddenly need!
In other words, when temptation unexpectedly has come, we have found ourselves caught off guard — out of prayer — out of contact with God — OUT OF SPIRITUAL TRAINING!
You were entering a CONTEST with Satan the devil. You tried to wrestle with him, but you were OUT OF TRAINING, out of spiritual condition.
Suppose a prizefighter would suddenly find himself, untrained and unprepared, in the ring in a contest with the world's heavyweight champion! Do you think any living man could win?
How much STRONGER is Satan, by comparison? No wonder we fail! Could such a fighter, who had been dissipating, carousing, weakening himself physically, SUDDENLY summon enough strength and skill to conquer the champion of the world? Could a mile runner run a successful race and win, unless he trained and prepared himself carefully for the race — unless he were IN CONDITION when it came?
We can no more win these SPIRITUAL battles when out of SPIRITUAL training. All spiritual power and strength must come from God. We can drink it in from Him only when we are IN CONTACT with Him — close to Him — in communion with Him!
Otherwise, when the temptations suddenly assail you, no matter how hard you then try, or cry out to God for help, you are simply TOO FAR AWAY FROM HIM to get help!
Spiritual training, to get and KEEP in constant vigilant condition to meet the foe of temptation and sin, requires continuous, earnest. persistent PRAYER! That is why we are commanded to PRAY WITHOUT CEASING! TO KEEP IT UP'.
Draw close to God
If we draw nigh to God, and then KEEP close to Him, our problem will be solved. We will then have the FAITH. We will then be FILLED with His Spirit — His power to overcome.
We can keep in spiritual training only if we keep our affections — our minds — our thoughts — on SPIRITUAL things.
Read Colossians 3:1-10. Most of us keep our minds filled with earthly, material cares, turning to the spiritual only occasionally! Seek FIRST the Kingdom of God and His RIGHTEOUSNESS!
Sometimes it takes a siege of FASTING AND PRAYER — earnest, determined, persevering prayer — seeking God with all our might — with weeping — staying with it, DETERMINED, until we get through. Then we must keep in CONTINUOUS prayer.
Cast ALL our cares upon HIM. We are not doing that. If we do, there will be many things each day to pray about! And it takes daily PRIVATE prayer, in real earnest, besides family prayer. Is eternal life WORTH IT?
By Herbert W. Armstrong Good News - August 1985
Do YOU have some "besetting sin" — some point of weakness, perhaps even secret, you have been unable to overcome? Have you ever met temptation, struggled with it, only to wake up a little later to the remorseful fact that you had slipped and fallen, and failed to overcome? Or perhaps you are struggling with some habit that holds you as its slave — struggling, wrestling, always fighting it, yet somehow never able to conquer it.
Only the overcomers
These things are serious. We must overcome these sins, these habits, these sudden temptations — be cleansed of them thoroughly — if we expect to get through to the Kingdom of God and inherit eternal life.
"To him who OVERCOMES," says Jesus, "I will grant to sit with Me on My throne" (Revelation 3:21).
"He who OVERCOMES, and keeps My works until the end, to HIM I will give power over the nations — 'He shall rule them with a rod of iron' " (Revelation 2:26-27).
Not all are even called, at this time. Many, though they may have heard the true message, have never received a conscious convicting KNOWLEDGE of the truth. This is not the time when God is calling them.
But God is now calling SOME to a life of separation — to a new and different and Spirit-filled and Spirit-led life — in order that they may be wholly CLEANSED of sin, and that they may GROW in grace and knowledge, thus being prepared, trained, fitted for a position of solemn responsibility — that of king or priest — in God's KINGDOM!
And it is only those who qualify by the training, the overcoming, the spiritual development and growth, DURING THIS PRESENT LIFE, who shall thus reign with Christ. Study the parable of the pounds in Luke 19:11-27.
So the Christian life is a new and a different life — an OVERCOMING life. Sin must be torn out, root and branch. We must be made righteous, holy.
Why we stumble and fall
Why, then, do so many of us continually stumble and fall? Yes, even those who do strive, struggle and even PRAY and PRAY for help, for victory, over some vicious habit?
WHY?
First, notice a portion of Paul's instruction to the Philippians: "And be found in him, not having mine OWN righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness WHICH is OF GOD by faith" (Philippians 3:9, Authorized Version).
Notice, it is not OUR righteousness, but GOD'S.
David was inspired to write, "All your commandments are righteousness" (Psalm 119:172). Yes, and LOVE is the fulfilling of the law (Romans 13:10).
The kind of love required
Right here is one trouble. Too many commandment-keepers are struggling along, trying to keep the commandments in their own power and strength — thinking it is THEIR own personal human love that fulfills the law! Too many commandment-keepers have only been converted to the ARGUMENT of keeping God's commandments, and have never really EXPERIENCED definite repentance — for a real conversion is a DEFINITE EXPERIENCE!
Such people need to go to a private place alone with God, and get to their knees, and pour out their hearts to God, and stay with it until they really KNOW they have really repented.
No wonder so many become discouraged, and feel like giving up! We do not even HAVE the kind of love that fulfills God's law and makes us righteous! LOVE is of God. for God IS love!
And it takes "the love of God. . . poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit" (Romans 5:5) to fulfill the law and give us GOD'S RIGHTEOUSNESS.
The law is SPIRITUAL (Romans 7:14). We are carnal. It takes a SPIRITUAL love to fulfill a spiritual law. The Holy Spirit within us is merely GOD'S LAW IN ACTION! And since God alone can supply the LOVE that makes us righteous, it becomes GOD'S righteousness, not ours.
How to get faith
But how do we receive the LOVE? Note again the scripture quoted above: "... the righteousness which is of God BY FAITH:"
It comes, then, by FAITH. Now most people seem to believe that the FAITH by which we must receive everything God gives us is something that we, ourselves, must work up and supply by some kind of hard effort.
And it does become such an effort, doesn't it, trying to strive to have FAITH?
Foolish babes in Christ! Can't we see that if WE were able to supply the faith that brings all else, that we, ourselves, would earn our own salvation by WORKS? It would be the kind of righteousness that is only FILTHY RAGS to God!
Stop trying to work up faith. You have no faith. The scripture above speaks only of "THE FAITH OF CHRIST"! Not your faith — CHRIST'S faith. Jesus had REAL FAITH! He performed miracles! And He rose from the dead — and HE LIVES.
Here is the secret! He gives — He imparts — His strong faith to you and to me! Yes, even FAITH is a gift of God — one of the spiritual GIFTS (Ephesians 2:8, I Corinthians 12:9).
Then how shall we go about getting more of it? By yielding, submitting our desires, our purposes, our wills, to HIM, by ASKING Him in real earnest persevering prayer, and by trusting Him to give it!
Why we have not been delivered
God's Word promises: "No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also MAKE THE WAY OF ESCAPE, that you may be able to bear it" (I Corinthians 10:13).
But has it not often seemed, in your experience, that God has failed to keep this promise?
Temptation has come. You have struggled, even prayed, yet you were overpowered, and you did not find the way of escape! What is wrong?
Jesus said, "I will NEVER leave you nor forsake you." "I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." God's Word promises, "Sin shall NOT have dominion over you."
Yet have you not found that sin has had DOMINION over you, holding you its slave? Have you not fought it desperately even with tears streaming down your face — only to fail?
How to apply and use faith
WHY? What is wrong? Simply that we have not known how to receive, apply and use the FAITH God promises to give!
First, there is something WE must do. Some go to one extreme and try to do it all. Others swing to the opposite extreme, plead with God, make little effort themselves and expect Him to do it all.
James says: "Submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you" (James 4:7).
Submit! Resist! This takes effort.
Peter says to humble ourselves, casting ALL our care upon the Lord, and to be sober and VIGILANT, because the devil is walking about, watching for the chance to tempt us when we are off our guard. We should "RESIST him, steadfast in the faith" (I Peter 5:6-9).
We are to resist Satan, and do it in the faith of Christ — but HOW?
The key to it all is "BE VIGILANT." Be on your guard! Be ever watchful! Be prepared! That's where we fall down! It takes constant, continuous, vigilant effort, never letting down!
Unless we, ourselves, had to put forth some effort we could not be OVERCOMERS! But if we had power to do it all, we should not need God!
So it requires our effort — our continuous, watchful, ever VIGILANT effort — empowered by GOD'S SPIRIT!
James continues, "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you" (James 4:8).
Now we are getting closer to our answer! When temptation comes, we ARE TOO FAR FROM GOD — and we are then unable, SUDDENLY, on the spur of the moment, to get close enough to Him to get the help and the deliverance we need!
It sometimes takes TIME to get CLOSE to God — into that intimate contact with Him so that we can draw on Him for the power we suddenly need!
In other words, when temptation unexpectedly has come, we have found ourselves caught off guard — out of prayer — out of contact with God — OUT OF SPIRITUAL TRAINING!
You were entering a CONTEST with Satan the devil. You tried to wrestle with him, but you were OUT OF TRAINING, out of spiritual condition.
Suppose a prizefighter would suddenly find himself, untrained and unprepared, in the ring in a contest with the world's heavyweight champion! Do you think any living man could win?
How much STRONGER is Satan, by comparison? No wonder we fail! Could such a fighter, who had been dissipating, carousing, weakening himself physically, SUDDENLY summon enough strength and skill to conquer the champion of the world? Could a mile runner run a successful race and win, unless he trained and prepared himself carefully for the race — unless he were IN CONDITION when it came?
We can no more win these SPIRITUAL battles when out of SPIRITUAL training. All spiritual power and strength must come from God. We can drink it in from Him only when we are IN CONTACT with Him — close to Him — in communion with Him!
Otherwise, when the temptations suddenly assail you, no matter how hard you then try, or cry out to God for help, you are simply TOO FAR AWAY FROM HIM to get help!
Spiritual training, to get and KEEP in constant vigilant condition to meet the foe of temptation and sin, requires continuous, earnest. persistent PRAYER! That is why we are commanded to PRAY WITHOUT CEASING! TO KEEP IT UP'.
Draw close to God
If we draw nigh to God, and then KEEP close to Him, our problem will be solved. We will then have the FAITH. We will then be FILLED with His Spirit — His power to overcome.
We can keep in spiritual training only if we keep our affections — our minds — our thoughts — on SPIRITUAL things.
Read Colossians 3:1-10. Most of us keep our minds filled with earthly, material cares, turning to the spiritual only occasionally! Seek FIRST the Kingdom of God and His RIGHTEOUSNESS!
Sometimes it takes a siege of FASTING AND PRAYER — earnest, determined, persevering prayer — seeking God with all our might — with weeping — staying with it, DETERMINED, until we get through. Then we must keep in CONTINUOUS prayer.
Cast ALL our cares upon HIM. We are not doing that. If we do, there will be many things each day to pray about! And it takes daily PRIVATE prayer, in real earnest, besides family prayer. Is eternal life WORTH IT?
Recipes - Suitable for the Days of Unleavened Bread
Recipes - Suitable for the Days of Unleavened Bread
Unleavened "Bread"Cheese/Herb Unleavened BreadBasic Wholemeal BreadTrish’s Crescent RollsLefseCottage Cheese Crescent RollsCottage Cheese RollsParathaUnleavened Crescent Rolls — with variationsGluten-Free Rice & Millet PancakesUnleavened Cheesey Crackers
Main DishesSpinach and Feta in Phyllo PastryThousand Island PastaCrazy Crust PizzaWine & Herb Cheese CrackersUnleavened Crepes
DessertsPistachio Butterball CookiesElderflower and Gooseberry CheesecakeLemon SquaresKahlua Buttercream Filled Cookie CupsUnleavened Apple-Oatmeal MuffinsFour Layer PieUnbelievable Coconut PieUnleavened Mini Pecan MuffinsApple CrispApplesauce CookiesSwedish PancakesCzechoslovakian Fruit/Nut PastriesDessert/Breakfast Bars: Oatmeal BarsSwiss Butterhorns
Unleavened “Bread”
Cheese/Herb Unleavened Bread
2 cups flour 1 cup grated cheese 1 tsp. salt 1/2 cup oil 1/4 cup milk (approx.)
also may add herbs to dough i.e. 1 tbsp. sun dried tomato 1 1/2 tsp. oregano
-mix, roll out, cut with biscuit cutter -bake at 375* for 10 minutes
LH
Basic Wholemeal Bread
8oz Wholemeal Flour, 1tblsp Olive Oil, 1tsp salt and water to mix
Rub oil into flour and salt and mix with enough water to make a stiff paste. Divide into 4 and roll out 'very' thinly. Place on baking sheets and prick well. Bake for about 12mins in a hot oven turning upside down half way through.
I use this one for Passover but it can be varied using different flours, butter or adding cheese, garlic or herbs for the other days. (It's even known to be a success with the unconverted!!!)
BH
Trish’s Crescent Rolls
2 C Flour (we mostly use unbleached flour but have used bean flour with very good results) 2 C Cottage Cheese 1 Cup Butter
Cut the butter into the flour then add the cottage cheese. Leave covered in the refrigerator overnight or at least for a few hours.
After thoroughly chilled, lightly flour working surface, and roll portions of about tablespoon size into balls, then roll these ‘balls’ into thin circles. The circles can be sectioned off and rolled into the familiar ‘crescent’ shapes, or left in a circle to be used more like a ‘wrap’.
If using as crescents, bake in oven at 350 degrees until golden brown.
If making flat wraps - - cook in a dry frying pan until done - - just a couple of minutes each side.
Cool them separately before stacking them to put away. Keep the cooked wraps or crescents in an air-tight container in the refrigerator - - or freeze for future use.
DE
Lefse
3 large potatoes – peeled 2 TBL butter ¼ C of milk 1 tsp onion powder 1 C flour
Cook, drain and mash potatoes.
Add Butter and milk, onion powder and flour and mix thoroughly.
Roll tablespoon amounts into balls.
Lightly flour working surface and roll out the balls till they are thin - - like small crepes.
These ‘crepes’ are cooked in a dry frying pan until brown - - doesn’t take very long for each side to brown, so watch carefully.
After they have been thoroughly cooled separately, they can be stacked and put in containers in the refrigerator – ready for use, or freeze them.
These little crepes/pancakes are great with peanut butter, almond butter, apple butter, jam- - as well as fillings made of tuna or salmon mixtures rolled up with lettuce and bits of cheese!!
DE
Cottage Cheese Crescent Rolls
2 cups whole wheat flour 2 cups cottage cheese 3/4 cup butter 1/2 tsp. salt
Divide into 4 equal balls Roll dough approximately 10 inch diameter Sprinkle heaping tbsp. of parmesan cheese and 1 tsp. garlic salt Cut into eighths (as you would a pizza) Roll toward the center Bake at 350 for approx. 20 minutes or until lightly brown on top.
For breakfast sweet rolls: Sprinkle 1 heaping tbsp. brown sugar Sprinkle 1 tsp. cinnamon You may add raisins and nuts if desired
PP
Cottage Cheese Rolls
1 cup butter 2 cups flour (can be white, wheat or mixed) 2 cups cottage cheese (small curd)
Mix ingredients together well. Refrigerate 8 hours or overnight. Divide dough into 3 balls. Roll out one at a time on a well floured surface.Thickness should be like a pie crust. Cut into wedges and roll each piece into a crescent roll shape, large end to small. Bake 30 minutes at 350 degrees on an ungreased baking sheet.
If desired, frost while warm with powdered sugar thinned with milk and sprinkled with cinnamon.
MW
Paratha
2 cups whole wheat flour 1 ½ tablespoons olive oil 1 heaping teaspoon of salt ¼ - ½ cup ghee
Put flour in a bowl. Add olive oil and salt. Slowly add enough water to create a malleable dough that can be rolled. Knead for 5 – 10 minutes. Let rest for a bit covered with a damp cloth.
Knead again for 1 minute, then divide into about 10 balls. Cover with damp cloth.
Heat up a cast-iron griddle to medium. On a well-floured work surface, take a ball, flatten and roll it into a circle (5” – 7” in diameter). Brush the top lightly with ghee. Fold in half and brush top again with ghee. Fold again. (Should be a triangle shape.) Roll it out on a well-floured work surface. Brush griddle with ghee and cook to a golden brown, flipping once and adding more ghee as needed.
Paratha can be stored and then reheated in a 300-degree oven for 8 - 10 minutes.
F & K A
Unleavened Crescent Rolls — with variations
Measure 2 1/3 cups flour and ¼ teaspoon salt into bowl. Cut in 1 stick (1/2 cup) of soft butter (at room temperature) until crumbly. Stir in 1 egg and 1 cup sour cream. Mix thoroughly.* Divide the dough into 3 parts. On a floured surface, roll each part out into a circle. Cut each circle of dough into 8 wedges (like a pie slice), and roll from the large end to the pointed end to form crescent. Place on cookie sheet; and bake at 375 degrees for 20-25 minutes, or until light brown.
* At this point, the original recipe says to refrigerate overnight or for 8 hours; but I am always in too much of a hurry, and it still turns out fine when I just continue on with the process.
Variations:
For pizza rolls: Follow directions above, but spread pizza sauce on the circle of dough before cutting and forming the wedges into crescents.
For herb or garlic bread: After rolling the dough into a circle, spread it with soft butter and sprinkle with herbs (I like dill) or garlic powder before cutting into wedges to form the crescents.
For sweet rolls: Roll the dough into rectangle shape (instead of circle). Spread with soft butter and then sprinkle with cinnamon & sugar. Roll the rectangle into a long ‘log’ and then slice (about every ¼ inch) so pinwheel rolls are formed.
PH
Gluten-Free Rice & Millet Pancakes
1 Cup Brown Rice Flour 1 Cup Millet Flour 1 tsp Xanthan Gum Salt to taste 1 Cup Yoghurt OR Buttermilk OR Milk 3 Cups Water ¼ Cup Olive Oil 4 Eggs Mix the above ingredients in the order listed. The batter should be fairly thin, or the middles will not cook thoroughly – if not thin enough, just add more water (it will depend upon the type of rice flour used). Drop by spoonfuls on a griddle at 325 degrees, or in a greased frying pan. Turn when sides of pancake begin to lift away from the pan and the top is no longer liquid. You can make these either small or large as they will hold together well. These can be used either as pancakes with syrup in the American fashion, or as “bread” to make sandwiches. They also make good melted-cheese sandwiches: when the pancakes are cooked, place cheese (and onions, if desired) on top of one and place another pancake on top and cook them until the cheese is melted, turning once – almost like quesadillas!
SD
Unleavened Cheesey Crackers
3 cups Whole Wheat Flour 1 cup Butter 1 cup Cottage Cheese ½ tsp Salt
Sift whole wheat flour and salt together. Add cottage cheese and butter and blend with pastry blender. Squeeze into a ball. Form into logs. Chill overnight. Slice and prick with fork. Bake 12 minutes at 400 degrees F.
TH
Main Dishes:
Spinach and Feta in Phyllo Pastry
1 small yellow onion, finely chopped 4 Tbsp plus 2 tsp of melted butter or margarine 1 pkg (10oz) frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry 1Tbsp shipped fresh dill or 1/4 tsp dried dill 1/2 cup (2oz) crumbled feta cheese 1 egg lightly beaten 6 sheets frozen phyllo pastry (from a 171/2-ounce package) thawed by package directions 1) Preheat the oven to 350F. In a 10 inch skillet over moderate heat, saute onion in the 2 tsp melted butter until translucent -3-5 minutes. Add spinach and cook 2 minutes more. Mix in dill. Transfer to a large bowl, mix in cheese, then egg.
2) Lay 1 sheet phyllo pastry on a work surface and brush lightly with some of the remaining melted butter. Top with second phyllo sheet, brush with butter, then top with third sheet and again brush.
3) Cut, fill, and fold the phyllo sheets as directed in box at left. When each triangle is complete, brush with butter (if you plan to freeze the triangles at this point, omit the last brushing with butter)
4) Repeat, using remaining phyllo sheets, butter, and spinach filling to make another 12 triangles.
5) Place triangles on a parchment lined baking sheet and bake until golden brown- about 25 min
Makes 24 triangles.
JS
Thousand Island Pasta
1 cold hard boiled egg 1/2 red or green pepper 2 spring onions 4 stuffed green olives or 1 small gherkin 4 tbsp natural yoghurt 250 ml/9 fl oz mayonnaise 1 tsp fresh chopped parsley 1 tsp tomato puree a few drops Tabasco sauce black pepper if desired 225g cold cooked pasta 1/2 cucumber diced small 200g/7oz drained canned tuna 1) Peel the egg and discard the shell. Using a sharp knife remove the pith and de-seed the red or green pepper. 2) Finely chop the egg, red/green pepper, spring onions, olive or gherkin. Transfer the pieces to a large mixing bowl and add the cucumber and tuna. 3) Add the pasta, natural yoghurt, mayonnaise, parsley, tomato puree, Tabasco sauce to the egg mixture. Stir together gently with a large metal spoon until evenly combined. 4) Season with a little pepper and serve.
PH
Crazy Crust Pizza
Brown 1 pound ground beef in a skillet. Season to taste. Drain well and set aside. In a small bowl combine 1 cup flour, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon oregano, 1/8 teaspoon pepper, 2 eggs, and 2/3 cup milk. Mix until smooth. Pour batter onto greased pizza pan, tipping to spread to all edges of pan. Top with cooked ground beef and your choice of toppings (mushroom, black olives, green peppers, etc.). Bake at 425 degrees for 25-30 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove from oven. Drizzle with pizza sauce and sprinkle with shredded cheese. Return to oven for 10-15 minutes, until cheese is melted.
Enjoy!
PH
Wine & Herb Cheese Crackers
1/4 cup softened butter 1/2 lb shredded sharp cheddar cheese 3 oz cream cheese 1 1/4 cups flour 1/4 teaspoon dried basil 1/4 teaspoon ground sage 1/4 teaspoon powdered thyme 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper 2 Tablespoons dry white wine
Method: Combine butter, cheddar chesse and cream cheese with electric mixer. Beat until thoroughly blended. Add other ingredients. Form into a long rool about 1 1/2" in diameter. Wrap in waxed paper and chill until firm. Slice 1/8" thick. Place on lightly greased dark coated cookie sheet. Bake at 400 degree F for 10 minutes. Store in airtight tin. Freezes very well for later use.
CH
Unleavened Crepes
Blend 1and 1-2 cups flour with 1-2 teaspoon salt. Add 2 and 1-2 cups milk. Stir until thick and free of lumps. Add another 2 and 1-2 cups milk. Wisk 4 eggs into mixture. Let mixture "rest" for 15 minutes. Fry thin crepes on a relatively hot griddle or pan. Turn them when they stiffen a little on top and get a nice golden color on the bottom.
Tips: Pour batter on well oiled/buttered pan and rotate the pan to spread the batter so it covers the bottom evenly. When ready to flip, scrape around the edges first to loosen the crepe, then gently roll it off the pan and flip it over.
IH
Desserts:
Pistachio Butterball Cookies
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened 1/4 cup sugar 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 tablespoons honey 1 cup all purpose flour 1/4 teaspoon salt 3/4 cup (4 ounces) unsalted pistachios, finely chopped
Preheat oven to 325*
In medium bowl, with an electric mixer on low speed, cream butter, sugar, vanilla, and honey together. Mix flour and salt together, add gradually to the butter mixture. Stir in pistachios.
Shape dough in to 1 1/2 -inch balls and place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake in the center of the oven for about 12 to 14 minutes, or until cookies are set but not brown. Let cookies cool on the sheet for a few minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Store in an airtight container. Well-wrapped cookies may be frozen.
(Makes about 1 1/2 dozen cookies.)
LH
Elderflower and Gooseberry Cheesecake
Use an uncooked cheesecake recipe.
Substitute shortbread for the digestive biscuit base and add about 4 tblsp Elderflower cordial to the filling.
Top with a well drained can of gooseberries just before serving.
BH
Lemon Squares
Oven Temp: 350 ° Time: 45 minutes Pie Filling: 1 cup sugar 1½ cups cold water ¼ cup corn starch 3 egg yolks, slightly beaten Grated peel of 1 lemon ¼ cup lemon juice 1 tbsp. butter
In medium saucepan combine 1 cup sugar and ¼ cup corn starch. Stir in water until smooth. Stir in egg yolks. Stirring constantly, bring to boil over medium heat; boil 1 minute. Remove from heat. Stir in lemon peel, juice and butter. Cake: ½ cup butter (one stick) 1 teaspoon lemon extract 1 cup sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla 4 eggs 2 cups flour Instructions: Cream butter, sugar and eggs. Stir in vanilla and lemon extract. Add flour and mix. Spread batter into greased 9" x 13" pan. Run knife through batter to make squares. Drop spoonfuls of filling into each square. (DO NOT MIX) Bake in a 350° oven for 45 minutes.
J & B D
Kahlua Buttercream Filled Cookie Cups
Cookie: 1/3 cup Sugar 1/2 cup Butter - softened 1 tsp. Vanilla1 Egg Yolk1 cup unbleached flour (I used whole wheat pastry flour)Dash SaltFilling: 2 TBS Unsweetened Cocoa powder1/2 cup softened Butter1 cup sifted Powdered Sugar2 TBS Kahlua or other coffee-flavored liqueurPreheat Oven to 350 degrees.Cookies: Grease 24 miniature muffin cups. In small bowl, beat sugar and butter until light and fluffy. Add vanilla and egg yolk; blend well. Stir in flour and salt; mix well. Chill dough about one hour. Place 2 teaspoons of dough into muffin cups. Press dough into bottom and up sides to form shells. Bake for 10-15 minutes or until golden brown. Carefully remove from muffin tins - cool completely before filling.
(When you first take out of oven, you may have to press centers down a bit with a wooden spoon) Filling: In bowl, beat cocoa and butter until light and fluffy. Add powdered sugar and liqueur; blend well.Spoon filling (or use pastry bag) into cookie cups. Sprinkle with grated chocolate if desired. Makes two dozen.
KO
Unleavened Apple-Oatmeal Muffins
1 cup shredded raw apple 1 1/2 Cusp rolled oats 1/4 cup oil pinch of salt 1/2 cup chopped dates (or raisins) 1/4 cup nuts (optional) Shred apples and pack into cup. Combine all ingredients, let stand few mins to absorb moisture. Mix together firmly with hands/fork. Spoon into oiled muffin pan, rounding nicely. Bake 375 for 25 mins.
EP
Four Layer Pie
First layer: 1 cup plain flour 1/2 cup butter (melted) 1 1/2 cups chopped pecans Mix well. Pat into 9x13 pan. Bake @ 350 degrees for 15 minutes. Let cool. Second layer: 8 oz. cream cheese at room temperature 1 cup powdered sugar 1 cup cool whip Mix together, spread over first layer. Third layer: 2 small instant pudding mix (Use chocolate or lemon pudding) 3 1/2 cups of milk 1 tsp. vanilla Mix. Let thicken, spread over second layer Fourth layer: Spread cool whip over third layer. Enjoy!
CE
Unbelievable Coconut Pie
4 eggs 1 ½ cups sugar ½ cup flour ¼ cup melted butter 2 cups milk 1 ½ cups coconut 1 teaspoon vanilla Combine all ingredients in the order given. Place into a greased 10-inch pie pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes, or until golden brown. (The middle will appear rather soft, but it will be solid enough to cut after it has cooled.) The results will be a pie that forms its own crust as it bakes.
PH
Unleavened Mini Pecan Muffins
Mix ½ cup melted butter, 2 eggs, and 1 cup brown sugar until well blended.
Add ½ cup flour, 1 teaspoon vanilla (or almond) extract, and 1 cup chopped pecans; and stir well.
Pour into greased mini-muffin tins, and bake at 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes.
PH
Apple Crisp
3 pared sliced apples 1/4 cup water 1/2 t. cinnamon 1/3 cup butter 1 1/2 t. lemon juice 1/2 cup rolled oats 1/2 cup flour 3/4 cup brown sugar 1/4 salt Put apples in 9" pan, sprinkle with salt and cinnamon. Pour in water. Drizzle with lemon juice.
In separate bowl, mix flour, sugar, and oatmeal. Cut in butter until pea-sized. Spread over apples and pat firmly.
Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.
JH
Applesauce Cookies
1 cup brown sugar 1/2 t. salt 3/4 cup oil 1 t. vanilla 1 cup thick applesauce 4 cup rolled oats 1/2 cup nuts 1/2 cup flour 1 egg Beat brown sugar and oil together, add remaining ingredients and mix well. Drop from spoon onto greased baking sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes until well browned.
JH
Swedish Pancakes
3 eggs 1/2 t. salt 1 1/2 cup milk and oil for frying 1 cup flour Mix all but oil with hand beater until well blended. Prepare large frying pan by heating to medium hot. Put about 1 teaspoon of oil in a skillet (enough to cover bottom). Pour 3/4 ladle of batter into pan and tilt pan immediately so it covers bottom completely. When it appears "dry on top," turn over. Remove and serve rolled or folded, spread with butter and maple syrup; or roll with strawberries. (very, very good and wonderful filled with blueberries like a crepe)
JH
Czechoslovakian Fruit/Nut Pastries
1 lb of butter 1 lb of cream cheese 5 cups of flour, Fruit filling OR Chopped Nuts, Honey & Raisins Powdered/Icing Sugar blend butter, cream cheese and flour well, Refrigerate at least two hours. Flour Board Divide Dough and roll out to 1/8 of an inch thick, Cut into 3 inch squares, Fill with Fruit filling, or ground nuts mixed with Honey and raisins, Then roll up and Bake at 350 for 12 mins, When cooled sprinkle with Powdered Sugar I think all will like this!
B & C H
Dessert/Breakfast Bars: Oatmeal Bars
1 cup butter 1/2 cup brown sugar 1/2 cup sugar 2 eggs 2 teaspoons vanilla 1 cup flour 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 cup old fashioned oats 1 cup chopped nuts (I added a few handfuls of chocolate chips-just because I like chocolate!)
Method: Cream butter and sugars. Add eggs and vanilla. Mix well. Add flour, salt, oats & nuts. Mix well. Turn into 9 x 13 x 2 inch pan. Bake in 350 degree F oven for 30 minutes (depending on how accurate your oven is). You can frost with butter cream frosting, if desired (I didn't). Cool and cut into bars.
CH
Swiss Butterhorns
2 cups sifted Flour 1/3 cup Butter 1 Egg yolk ½ cup finely chopped nuts ½ cup Sugar ¼ tsp Salt 1/3 cup Margarine ¾ cup Sour Cream (dairy) ¾ tsp Cinnamon
Measure flour and salt into bowls: cut in/rub in butter and margarine. Stir in egg yolk and sour cream. Mix well. Shape dough into ball: wrap in waxed paper. Chill overnight. Divide dough into 3 parts. On lightly floured board, roll each into 12 inch circle, then cut in 12 pie-shaped wedges. Blend sugar, nuts and cinnamon. Sprinkle each wedge with sugar mixture. Starting at wide edge, roll up. Place on greased baking sheet with point tucked underneath. Bake at 375 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from oven. Frost at once with 1 cup powdered/icing sugar blended with 2 tablespoons hot water and ¼ teaspoon vanilla, if desired. Makes 3 dozen.
TH
Unleavened "Bread"Cheese/Herb Unleavened BreadBasic Wholemeal BreadTrish’s Crescent RollsLefseCottage Cheese Crescent RollsCottage Cheese RollsParathaUnleavened Crescent Rolls — with variationsGluten-Free Rice & Millet PancakesUnleavened Cheesey Crackers
Main DishesSpinach and Feta in Phyllo PastryThousand Island PastaCrazy Crust PizzaWine & Herb Cheese CrackersUnleavened Crepes
DessertsPistachio Butterball CookiesElderflower and Gooseberry CheesecakeLemon SquaresKahlua Buttercream Filled Cookie CupsUnleavened Apple-Oatmeal MuffinsFour Layer PieUnbelievable Coconut PieUnleavened Mini Pecan MuffinsApple CrispApplesauce CookiesSwedish PancakesCzechoslovakian Fruit/Nut PastriesDessert/Breakfast Bars: Oatmeal BarsSwiss Butterhorns
Unleavened “Bread”
Cheese/Herb Unleavened Bread
2 cups flour 1 cup grated cheese 1 tsp. salt 1/2 cup oil 1/4 cup milk (approx.)
also may add herbs to dough i.e. 1 tbsp. sun dried tomato 1 1/2 tsp. oregano
-mix, roll out, cut with biscuit cutter -bake at 375* for 10 minutes
LH
Basic Wholemeal Bread
8oz Wholemeal Flour, 1tblsp Olive Oil, 1tsp salt and water to mix
Rub oil into flour and salt and mix with enough water to make a stiff paste. Divide into 4 and roll out 'very' thinly. Place on baking sheets and prick well. Bake for about 12mins in a hot oven turning upside down half way through.
I use this one for Passover but it can be varied using different flours, butter or adding cheese, garlic or herbs for the other days. (It's even known to be a success with the unconverted!!!)
BH
Trish’s Crescent Rolls
2 C Flour (we mostly use unbleached flour but have used bean flour with very good results) 2 C Cottage Cheese 1 Cup Butter
Cut the butter into the flour then add the cottage cheese. Leave covered in the refrigerator overnight or at least for a few hours.
After thoroughly chilled, lightly flour working surface, and roll portions of about tablespoon size into balls, then roll these ‘balls’ into thin circles. The circles can be sectioned off and rolled into the familiar ‘crescent’ shapes, or left in a circle to be used more like a ‘wrap’.
If using as crescents, bake in oven at 350 degrees until golden brown.
If making flat wraps - - cook in a dry frying pan until done - - just a couple of minutes each side.
Cool them separately before stacking them to put away. Keep the cooked wraps or crescents in an air-tight container in the refrigerator - - or freeze for future use.
DE
Lefse
3 large potatoes – peeled 2 TBL butter ¼ C of milk 1 tsp onion powder 1 C flour
Cook, drain and mash potatoes.
Add Butter and milk, onion powder and flour and mix thoroughly.
Roll tablespoon amounts into balls.
Lightly flour working surface and roll out the balls till they are thin - - like small crepes.
These ‘crepes’ are cooked in a dry frying pan until brown - - doesn’t take very long for each side to brown, so watch carefully.
After they have been thoroughly cooled separately, they can be stacked and put in containers in the refrigerator – ready for use, or freeze them.
These little crepes/pancakes are great with peanut butter, almond butter, apple butter, jam- - as well as fillings made of tuna or salmon mixtures rolled up with lettuce and bits of cheese!!
DE
Cottage Cheese Crescent Rolls
2 cups whole wheat flour 2 cups cottage cheese 3/4 cup butter 1/2 tsp. salt
Divide into 4 equal balls Roll dough approximately 10 inch diameter Sprinkle heaping tbsp. of parmesan cheese and 1 tsp. garlic salt Cut into eighths (as you would a pizza) Roll toward the center Bake at 350 for approx. 20 minutes or until lightly brown on top.
For breakfast sweet rolls: Sprinkle 1 heaping tbsp. brown sugar Sprinkle 1 tsp. cinnamon You may add raisins and nuts if desired
PP
Cottage Cheese Rolls
1 cup butter 2 cups flour (can be white, wheat or mixed) 2 cups cottage cheese (small curd)
Mix ingredients together well. Refrigerate 8 hours or overnight. Divide dough into 3 balls. Roll out one at a time on a well floured surface.Thickness should be like a pie crust. Cut into wedges and roll each piece into a crescent roll shape, large end to small. Bake 30 minutes at 350 degrees on an ungreased baking sheet.
If desired, frost while warm with powdered sugar thinned with milk and sprinkled with cinnamon.
MW
Paratha
2 cups whole wheat flour 1 ½ tablespoons olive oil 1 heaping teaspoon of salt ¼ - ½ cup ghee
Put flour in a bowl. Add olive oil and salt. Slowly add enough water to create a malleable dough that can be rolled. Knead for 5 – 10 minutes. Let rest for a bit covered with a damp cloth.
Knead again for 1 minute, then divide into about 10 balls. Cover with damp cloth.
Heat up a cast-iron griddle to medium. On a well-floured work surface, take a ball, flatten and roll it into a circle (5” – 7” in diameter). Brush the top lightly with ghee. Fold in half and brush top again with ghee. Fold again. (Should be a triangle shape.) Roll it out on a well-floured work surface. Brush griddle with ghee and cook to a golden brown, flipping once and adding more ghee as needed.
Paratha can be stored and then reheated in a 300-degree oven for 8 - 10 minutes.
F & K A
Unleavened Crescent Rolls — with variations
Measure 2 1/3 cups flour and ¼ teaspoon salt into bowl. Cut in 1 stick (1/2 cup) of soft butter (at room temperature) until crumbly. Stir in 1 egg and 1 cup sour cream. Mix thoroughly.* Divide the dough into 3 parts. On a floured surface, roll each part out into a circle. Cut each circle of dough into 8 wedges (like a pie slice), and roll from the large end to the pointed end to form crescent. Place on cookie sheet; and bake at 375 degrees for 20-25 minutes, or until light brown.
* At this point, the original recipe says to refrigerate overnight or for 8 hours; but I am always in too much of a hurry, and it still turns out fine when I just continue on with the process.
Variations:
For pizza rolls: Follow directions above, but spread pizza sauce on the circle of dough before cutting and forming the wedges into crescents.
For herb or garlic bread: After rolling the dough into a circle, spread it with soft butter and sprinkle with herbs (I like dill) or garlic powder before cutting into wedges to form the crescents.
For sweet rolls: Roll the dough into rectangle shape (instead of circle). Spread with soft butter and then sprinkle with cinnamon & sugar. Roll the rectangle into a long ‘log’ and then slice (about every ¼ inch) so pinwheel rolls are formed.
PH
Gluten-Free Rice & Millet Pancakes
1 Cup Brown Rice Flour 1 Cup Millet Flour 1 tsp Xanthan Gum Salt to taste 1 Cup Yoghurt OR Buttermilk OR Milk 3 Cups Water ¼ Cup Olive Oil 4 Eggs Mix the above ingredients in the order listed. The batter should be fairly thin, or the middles will not cook thoroughly – if not thin enough, just add more water (it will depend upon the type of rice flour used). Drop by spoonfuls on a griddle at 325 degrees, or in a greased frying pan. Turn when sides of pancake begin to lift away from the pan and the top is no longer liquid. You can make these either small or large as they will hold together well. These can be used either as pancakes with syrup in the American fashion, or as “bread” to make sandwiches. They also make good melted-cheese sandwiches: when the pancakes are cooked, place cheese (and onions, if desired) on top of one and place another pancake on top and cook them until the cheese is melted, turning once – almost like quesadillas!
SD
Unleavened Cheesey Crackers
3 cups Whole Wheat Flour 1 cup Butter 1 cup Cottage Cheese ½ tsp Salt
Sift whole wheat flour and salt together. Add cottage cheese and butter and blend with pastry blender. Squeeze into a ball. Form into logs. Chill overnight. Slice and prick with fork. Bake 12 minutes at 400 degrees F.
TH
Main Dishes:
Spinach and Feta in Phyllo Pastry
1 small yellow onion, finely chopped 4 Tbsp plus 2 tsp of melted butter or margarine 1 pkg (10oz) frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry 1Tbsp shipped fresh dill or 1/4 tsp dried dill 1/2 cup (2oz) crumbled feta cheese 1 egg lightly beaten 6 sheets frozen phyllo pastry (from a 171/2-ounce package) thawed by package directions 1) Preheat the oven to 350F. In a 10 inch skillet over moderate heat, saute onion in the 2 tsp melted butter until translucent -3-5 minutes. Add spinach and cook 2 minutes more. Mix in dill. Transfer to a large bowl, mix in cheese, then egg.
2) Lay 1 sheet phyllo pastry on a work surface and brush lightly with some of the remaining melted butter. Top with second phyllo sheet, brush with butter, then top with third sheet and again brush.
3) Cut, fill, and fold the phyllo sheets as directed in box at left. When each triangle is complete, brush with butter (if you plan to freeze the triangles at this point, omit the last brushing with butter)
4) Repeat, using remaining phyllo sheets, butter, and spinach filling to make another 12 triangles.
5) Place triangles on a parchment lined baking sheet and bake until golden brown- about 25 min
Makes 24 triangles.
JS
Thousand Island Pasta
1 cold hard boiled egg 1/2 red or green pepper 2 spring onions 4 stuffed green olives or 1 small gherkin 4 tbsp natural yoghurt 250 ml/9 fl oz mayonnaise 1 tsp fresh chopped parsley 1 tsp tomato puree a few drops Tabasco sauce black pepper if desired 225g cold cooked pasta 1/2 cucumber diced small 200g/7oz drained canned tuna 1) Peel the egg and discard the shell. Using a sharp knife remove the pith and de-seed the red or green pepper. 2) Finely chop the egg, red/green pepper, spring onions, olive or gherkin. Transfer the pieces to a large mixing bowl and add the cucumber and tuna. 3) Add the pasta, natural yoghurt, mayonnaise, parsley, tomato puree, Tabasco sauce to the egg mixture. Stir together gently with a large metal spoon until evenly combined. 4) Season with a little pepper and serve.
PH
Crazy Crust Pizza
Brown 1 pound ground beef in a skillet. Season to taste. Drain well and set aside. In a small bowl combine 1 cup flour, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon oregano, 1/8 teaspoon pepper, 2 eggs, and 2/3 cup milk. Mix until smooth. Pour batter onto greased pizza pan, tipping to spread to all edges of pan. Top with cooked ground beef and your choice of toppings (mushroom, black olives, green peppers, etc.). Bake at 425 degrees for 25-30 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove from oven. Drizzle with pizza sauce and sprinkle with shredded cheese. Return to oven for 10-15 minutes, until cheese is melted.
Enjoy!
PH
Wine & Herb Cheese Crackers
1/4 cup softened butter 1/2 lb shredded sharp cheddar cheese 3 oz cream cheese 1 1/4 cups flour 1/4 teaspoon dried basil 1/4 teaspoon ground sage 1/4 teaspoon powdered thyme 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper 2 Tablespoons dry white wine
Method: Combine butter, cheddar chesse and cream cheese with electric mixer. Beat until thoroughly blended. Add other ingredients. Form into a long rool about 1 1/2" in diameter. Wrap in waxed paper and chill until firm. Slice 1/8" thick. Place on lightly greased dark coated cookie sheet. Bake at 400 degree F for 10 minutes. Store in airtight tin. Freezes very well for later use.
CH
Unleavened Crepes
Blend 1and 1-2 cups flour with 1-2 teaspoon salt. Add 2 and 1-2 cups milk. Stir until thick and free of lumps. Add another 2 and 1-2 cups milk. Wisk 4 eggs into mixture. Let mixture "rest" for 15 minutes. Fry thin crepes on a relatively hot griddle or pan. Turn them when they stiffen a little on top and get a nice golden color on the bottom.
Tips: Pour batter on well oiled/buttered pan and rotate the pan to spread the batter so it covers the bottom evenly. When ready to flip, scrape around the edges first to loosen the crepe, then gently roll it off the pan and flip it over.
IH
Desserts:
Pistachio Butterball Cookies
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened 1/4 cup sugar 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 tablespoons honey 1 cup all purpose flour 1/4 teaspoon salt 3/4 cup (4 ounces) unsalted pistachios, finely chopped
Preheat oven to 325*
In medium bowl, with an electric mixer on low speed, cream butter, sugar, vanilla, and honey together. Mix flour and salt together, add gradually to the butter mixture. Stir in pistachios.
Shape dough in to 1 1/2 -inch balls and place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake in the center of the oven for about 12 to 14 minutes, or until cookies are set but not brown. Let cookies cool on the sheet for a few minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Store in an airtight container. Well-wrapped cookies may be frozen.
(Makes about 1 1/2 dozen cookies.)
LH
Elderflower and Gooseberry Cheesecake
Use an uncooked cheesecake recipe.
Substitute shortbread for the digestive biscuit base and add about 4 tblsp Elderflower cordial to the filling.
Top with a well drained can of gooseberries just before serving.
BH
Lemon Squares
Oven Temp: 350 ° Time: 45 minutes Pie Filling: 1 cup sugar 1½ cups cold water ¼ cup corn starch 3 egg yolks, slightly beaten Grated peel of 1 lemon ¼ cup lemon juice 1 tbsp. butter
In medium saucepan combine 1 cup sugar and ¼ cup corn starch. Stir in water until smooth. Stir in egg yolks. Stirring constantly, bring to boil over medium heat; boil 1 minute. Remove from heat. Stir in lemon peel, juice and butter. Cake: ½ cup butter (one stick) 1 teaspoon lemon extract 1 cup sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla 4 eggs 2 cups flour Instructions: Cream butter, sugar and eggs. Stir in vanilla and lemon extract. Add flour and mix. Spread batter into greased 9" x 13" pan. Run knife through batter to make squares. Drop spoonfuls of filling into each square. (DO NOT MIX) Bake in a 350° oven for 45 minutes.
J & B D
Kahlua Buttercream Filled Cookie Cups
Cookie: 1/3 cup Sugar 1/2 cup Butter - softened 1 tsp. Vanilla1 Egg Yolk1 cup unbleached flour (I used whole wheat pastry flour)Dash SaltFilling: 2 TBS Unsweetened Cocoa powder1/2 cup softened Butter1 cup sifted Powdered Sugar2 TBS Kahlua or other coffee-flavored liqueurPreheat Oven to 350 degrees.Cookies: Grease 24 miniature muffin cups. In small bowl, beat sugar and butter until light and fluffy. Add vanilla and egg yolk; blend well. Stir in flour and salt; mix well. Chill dough about one hour. Place 2 teaspoons of dough into muffin cups. Press dough into bottom and up sides to form shells. Bake for 10-15 minutes or until golden brown. Carefully remove from muffin tins - cool completely before filling.
(When you first take out of oven, you may have to press centers down a bit with a wooden spoon) Filling: In bowl, beat cocoa and butter until light and fluffy. Add powdered sugar and liqueur; blend well.Spoon filling (or use pastry bag) into cookie cups. Sprinkle with grated chocolate if desired. Makes two dozen.
KO
Unleavened Apple-Oatmeal Muffins
1 cup shredded raw apple 1 1/2 Cusp rolled oats 1/4 cup oil pinch of salt 1/2 cup chopped dates (or raisins) 1/4 cup nuts (optional) Shred apples and pack into cup. Combine all ingredients, let stand few mins to absorb moisture. Mix together firmly with hands/fork. Spoon into oiled muffin pan, rounding nicely. Bake 375 for 25 mins.
EP
Four Layer Pie
First layer: 1 cup plain flour 1/2 cup butter (melted) 1 1/2 cups chopped pecans Mix well. Pat into 9x13 pan. Bake @ 350 degrees for 15 minutes. Let cool. Second layer: 8 oz. cream cheese at room temperature 1 cup powdered sugar 1 cup cool whip Mix together, spread over first layer. Third layer: 2 small instant pudding mix (Use chocolate or lemon pudding) 3 1/2 cups of milk 1 tsp. vanilla Mix. Let thicken, spread over second layer Fourth layer: Spread cool whip over third layer. Enjoy!
CE
Unbelievable Coconut Pie
4 eggs 1 ½ cups sugar ½ cup flour ¼ cup melted butter 2 cups milk 1 ½ cups coconut 1 teaspoon vanilla Combine all ingredients in the order given. Place into a greased 10-inch pie pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes, or until golden brown. (The middle will appear rather soft, but it will be solid enough to cut after it has cooled.) The results will be a pie that forms its own crust as it bakes.
PH
Unleavened Mini Pecan Muffins
Mix ½ cup melted butter, 2 eggs, and 1 cup brown sugar until well blended.
Add ½ cup flour, 1 teaspoon vanilla (or almond) extract, and 1 cup chopped pecans; and stir well.
Pour into greased mini-muffin tins, and bake at 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes.
PH
Apple Crisp
3 pared sliced apples 1/4 cup water 1/2 t. cinnamon 1/3 cup butter 1 1/2 t. lemon juice 1/2 cup rolled oats 1/2 cup flour 3/4 cup brown sugar 1/4 salt Put apples in 9" pan, sprinkle with salt and cinnamon. Pour in water. Drizzle with lemon juice.
In separate bowl, mix flour, sugar, and oatmeal. Cut in butter until pea-sized. Spread over apples and pat firmly.
Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.
JH
Applesauce Cookies
1 cup brown sugar 1/2 t. salt 3/4 cup oil 1 t. vanilla 1 cup thick applesauce 4 cup rolled oats 1/2 cup nuts 1/2 cup flour 1 egg Beat brown sugar and oil together, add remaining ingredients and mix well. Drop from spoon onto greased baking sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes until well browned.
JH
Swedish Pancakes
3 eggs 1/2 t. salt 1 1/2 cup milk and oil for frying 1 cup flour Mix all but oil with hand beater until well blended. Prepare large frying pan by heating to medium hot. Put about 1 teaspoon of oil in a skillet (enough to cover bottom). Pour 3/4 ladle of batter into pan and tilt pan immediately so it covers bottom completely. When it appears "dry on top," turn over. Remove and serve rolled or folded, spread with butter and maple syrup; or roll with strawberries. (very, very good and wonderful filled with blueberries like a crepe)
JH
Czechoslovakian Fruit/Nut Pastries
1 lb of butter 1 lb of cream cheese 5 cups of flour, Fruit filling OR Chopped Nuts, Honey & Raisins Powdered/Icing Sugar blend butter, cream cheese and flour well, Refrigerate at least two hours. Flour Board Divide Dough and roll out to 1/8 of an inch thick, Cut into 3 inch squares, Fill with Fruit filling, or ground nuts mixed with Honey and raisins, Then roll up and Bake at 350 for 12 mins, When cooled sprinkle with Powdered Sugar I think all will like this!
B & C H
Dessert/Breakfast Bars: Oatmeal Bars
1 cup butter 1/2 cup brown sugar 1/2 cup sugar 2 eggs 2 teaspoons vanilla 1 cup flour 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 cup old fashioned oats 1 cup chopped nuts (I added a few handfuls of chocolate chips-just because I like chocolate!)
Method: Cream butter and sugars. Add eggs and vanilla. Mix well. Add flour, salt, oats & nuts. Mix well. Turn into 9 x 13 x 2 inch pan. Bake in 350 degree F oven for 30 minutes (depending on how accurate your oven is). You can frost with butter cream frosting, if desired (I didn't). Cool and cut into bars.
CH
Swiss Butterhorns
2 cups sifted Flour 1/3 cup Butter 1 Egg yolk ½ cup finely chopped nuts ½ cup Sugar ¼ tsp Salt 1/3 cup Margarine ¾ cup Sour Cream (dairy) ¾ tsp Cinnamon
Measure flour and salt into bowls: cut in/rub in butter and margarine. Stir in egg yolk and sour cream. Mix well. Shape dough into ball: wrap in waxed paper. Chill overnight. Divide dough into 3 parts. On lightly floured board, roll each into 12 inch circle, then cut in 12 pie-shaped wedges. Blend sugar, nuts and cinnamon. Sprinkle each wedge with sugar mixture. Starting at wide edge, roll up. Place on greased baking sheet with point tucked underneath. Bake at 375 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from oven. Frost at once with 1 cup powdered/icing sugar blended with 2 tablespoons hot water and ¼ teaspoon vanilla, if desired. Makes 3 dozen.
TH
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