~Date Night~

We decided to make this past Saturday a "Tony/Shayna day". :) We try to have those often. After breakfast we went hiking/running at the cliffs. Came home and gave Tony a hair cut. My parents stopped by for a little while and brought me a mint plant to add to my little herb garden. Yay! Once we were all dressed up, we headed to Kinston to try out the "Chef & the Farmer: Progressive Eatery". We knew that it was a fancy restaurant - but didn't realize the extent of the fanciness. We weren't too sure how we were supposed to eat the bruchetta or even drink our water. It made for lots of funny comments during the night. The food was very good, but we felt so ripped off after we left there. We had ordered a large entree' to split, thinking that it would be plenty of food for $19 (and that was one of the cheaper plates). Well, when they brought us our "Ricotta & Asparagus Ravioli" we were both shocked at the lack of food on our plates. It was such a small serving - it could have fit in the palm of my hand. Must I remind you that it cost us $19... and we didn't even get any meat. :O We just laughed at each other!! We savored our few bites and wondered how many other people had the same reaction on their first visit. After we paid, we walked off all our food downtown and at the mall. Haha. Then we came home and made a homemade cheese pizza - yes, we were still hungry. :) And we stayed up watching a sermon by Paul Washer. Although, I seriously doubt we'll be going back to the Chef & the Farmer, it sure did make for a fun date night!!

Peaches

Tony was kind enough to stop by the fruit stand on his way home from work and purchase some peaches. :) Thanks sweetie!! So tonight, I've fixed a very tasty peach cobbler (which Tony has been craving) and some freezer jam. Yummy!!!

Here's the recipe for the peach cobbler:

1/2 cup unsalted butter

1 cup sugar
1 cup all purpose flour

1 tsp cinnamon

1 Tbsp baking powder

3/4 cup milk

3 cups sliced peaches

1/2 cup brown sugar

Preheat oven to 350*.
Melt the butter in a medium sauté pan over medium-high heat until it bubbles and turns golden-brown.
Pour the butter into an 8-inch square baking dish.
In a medium bowl, stir together the sugar, flour, baking powder, cinnamon and milk.
Pour the batter on top of the melted butter. Do not stir.
Without mixing, arrange the peaches evenly on top of the batter.
Evenly sprinkle the brown sugar over the cobbler.
Bake the cobbler for 40 to 45 minutes, until the top turns golden brown. The batter will migrate from the bottom of the pan to cover the peach slices partially.

Serve warm or at room temperature. Yield 6 to 8 servings.

Seminary

Well, our pastor gave us the most recent copy of the "Ministry & Leadership Magazine" put out by Reformed Theological Seminary. In there was an article titled "The iTunesU Explosion: Growing numbers of people worldwide are listening to RTS lectures at the click of a downlaod". That is right, RTS has made it possible for anyone, anywhere to download and listen to nearly all their lecture files for absolutely FREE. Tony is super excited about this!! He called me into the computer room and told me the news. He said "Bebe, I'm going to seminary". :) Haha. Some things he said during the night while touring the online campus: "I'm excited about this. This is wonderful. Praise the Lord! This is like gold; diamonds on a platter... The Lord is good!"

"Cool Whip"

C.W. Smith

January 15, 1953 - May 30, 2008

When I worked at Mae's Restaurant in Seven Springs, I served breakfast to this gentle man a lot. He alway's had stories and jokes to tell. He will be greatly missed! When I was given the news of his death, my heart was torn. I just kept thinking of his sweet wife, who slept beside him the night before having no idea that it was going to be their last night side by side as husband and wife. I was thinking about his three daughters, three "sons", and 2 grandbabies. I was thinking about his parents who have now buried two of their three children. I received the news of his heart attack right before we left for the Center Street Jam. Mom called me. She had just served breakfast to him that morning and he was being his silly normal self. "Good morning Shortcake". "Good morning Cool Whip". Mom and Jackie didn't know that would be the last meal they would serve him. We were going to the Center Street Jam to share the gospel with strangers. Mom said through tears, "talk to lots of people, Shayna. Because you never know." That's right. We never know. And as we drove around Goldsboro that night I just kept thinking "what if this is my last night with Tony... my sweet husband, my bestest friend, my true love..." And we went into Wal-mart and saw my parents and talked to them for a little while. "That could be the last time I see them..." My mind just kept racing with these thoughts. And as I lay in bed that night, beside my Tony, tears still rolled down my face. Just knowing that we have no control over when we're going to die. And knowing that it is going to happen to everyone some day. And knowing that someone I love may die that very night. For it is appointed a man once to die... There were lots of tears shed that day and I prayed alot for this family!! My sweet, sweet husband comforted me with the Truths of scripture. I wish I could remember all he told me that night. All I know is that his words did comfort me and GOD did give me peace. I am so blessed to have Tony Denham as my husband!!!! I will be forever grateful! Yesterday, I went with mom to the funeral service. There were lots of people. There were lots of cars. C.W. Smith was greatly loved by many. And he will be greatly missed! But as the pastor said yesterday, his death should remind us to not take our time on this earth for granted and it also reminds us that we will all one day die. He preached the gospel and I am so glad that he did! A call to trust in Jesus Christ alone! We should live each day as if it were our last, because one day we will be right. I continue to pray for this dear family, that God will comfort them in a way that only HE can, and give them a peace that passes all understanding!!

A "Light" in Raleigh

Last night, Tony & I went to Raleigh Downtown Live (a free summer concert hosted by Bud Light). This was our first time at this event with Tony's sandwich board, and I must say it was definately a ray of light in a very dark place. We stationed ourselves near one of the entrances; I stood by the light pole and offered gospel tracts to people as they walked by. Tony just stood there with his sandwich board on... no open air preaching. It is amazing how many people will actually read the words out loud, "You must turn from your sins and place your trust in Jesus alone". And there were a few that even wanted to get their picture taken with us. We decided that we will not turn down a picture... because when they are flipping through their pictures at a later time, it will be a great reminder of the gospel and a witness to whomever they show the picture to. Then some of them even walk around to see what the back says, "The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom". Most of them are saying it in a mocking manner, and some make "smart" comments afterwards and hastily walk off; but then there are those that want to talk.

One guy had walked up to Tony, took hold of the sandwich board and read it out loud to himself a couple times. "I believe in Jesus", he said. He had obviously been drinking. His sober wife walked over to apologize. She took hold of her husband and told him to leave us alone. He still stood there. Tony began to talk with him and encouraged him to read the book of 1 John sometime soon. The Bible says that we are to examine ourselves to make sure that we're in the faith(2 Corinthians 13:5). It was pretty much left at that. His wife was so grateful and thanked us for being out there. We gave her a gospel tract written by J.C. Ryle, titled "Are You Born Again?".

A young guy could not give account for his moral standards with his atheistic worldview. If he truly believes that everything happened by random chance, then he has no reason to be nice to others. As a Christian, we believe that God created everything and he gave every person a conscience - that tells them right from wrong. When asked his name, he responded "Oh, funny you ask. I don't go by Christian anymore... my name is Chris."

We also spoke with a Muslim man, his Christian wife that went to Bible college, and a friend of theirs. Most of the conversation was with the husband, but the wife and friend stood there nearly the whole time listening. His name was Muhammad, he speaks fluent Arabic and pretty good English. He admitted that as a Muslim, no one can be assured that they will end up in Heaven when they die. Our friend, Fareid had given us some Arabic gospel tracts a while ago. At first I thought that I didn't have any with me, but when I began to look through my purse I found one. (Thank you Jesus!)