Glory To God
Ministry of Outreach, Education, and Music
NEWS
To Read Today's Readings click here
Reflection on Today's Readings
The end of the first reading is interesting as it talks about how God probes mind and heart and rewards everyone according to the merit of their deeds. We know that the 2 commandments which sum up all of Christ's teachings are the ones that say we are to love God above all else and to love others as we love ourselves. Then whether our deeds are good must be a measure of how much our actions reveal that we love God and others before ourselves. So this is a measure of how much our heart is filled with love. Since Jesus is love, then we need to be filled with him for us to be loving people. In these times, there seems to be a lot more interest in what we fill our heads with over whether what's in our heads has helped our hearts be kinder, less selfish, more aptient, etc. For example, oftentimes when a group meets in the name of Jesus, there is a lot more talking than praising or praying. There is a lot more teaching about Jesus, than spending time with him or getting into his words. For best spiritual heaoth, from which all other health comes, there needs to be a better balance between the 2. Let us strive to love at least as much as we strive to learn, spending time on loving in a deliberate way as much so as on learning. What plan of time and effort can you make and execute today to spend time loving Jesus and others?
BAKING TIP
If you are making anything with chocolate in it that also has sugar as another ingredient, try cutting at least a third of the sugar out and see what the consumers think of it. Having traveled abroad quite a bit, and having a terrible sweet tooth to manage constantly, I find that America puts way more sugar in their sweets than other countries, and it doesn't really add anything except the taste of sweet. And at the same time, the sweet overwhelms the other flavors, and it really isn't that healthy either. So give it a try and see what your crowd thinks. It may take some getting used to, but it is worth it.
Bringing Jesus to Others
We are hoping to have bibles to pass out in our Mexico ministry work. The word of God is powerful and effective. Spending time reading it each day is a great because the reader can fill up with truth, love, hope, and peace, since Jesus is all of that and more, and it is his story – actually his love story to you. If you would like to help us with this effort please click on our Ministry page to donate. Each bible is $7.00 to purchase and send to our missionaries. Thanks very much for your support in bringing Jesus to others.
Faith In Action
We got whoppers at Burger King recently and were saddened to see this picture on their holiday drink glasses. It appears that someone at this company is unclear about how this symbol is glorifying and disseminating Satan, and bringing more evil into the world. To give them friendly feedback about this problem, please go to: https://www.tellusaboutus.com/comments/commentform/burgerking.aspx
If enough people respond and we all pray, amazing things will happen!
God's Beautiful Creation
How do snowflakes form?
A snowflake begins when a tiny dust or pollen particle comes into contact with water vapor high in Earth's atmosphere. The water vapor coats the tiny particle and freezes into a tiny crystal of ice. This tiny crystal will be the "seed" from which a snowflake will grow.
Snowflake crystal structure: Photograph of a snowflake revealing its hexagonal (six-sided) crystalline structure. This crystalline structure makes ice a "mineral."
The molecules of water that form each tiny ice crystal naturally arrange themselves into a hexagonal (six-sided) structure. The result will be a snowflake with six sides or six arms. Ice crystals are "minerals" because they are naturally occurring solids with a definite chemical composition and an ordered internal structure.
The newly-formed ice crystal (snowflake) is heavier than the surrounding air and it begins falling. As it falls towards Earth through humid air, more water vapor freezes onto the surface of the tiny crystal. This freezing process is very systematic. The water molecules of the vapor arrange themselves so that the hexagonal crystal structure of ice is repeated. The snowflake grows larger and larger as it falls, enlarging the hexagonal pattern.
Although all snowflakes have a hexagonal shape, other details of their geometry can vary. These variations are produced by different temperature and humidity conditions through which the snowflake falls. Some temperature/humidity combinations produce flakes with long needle-like arms. Other conditions produce flakes with wide flat arms. Other conditions produce thin, branching arms.
These different shapes have an unlimited number of variations, each representing the conditions of temperature and humidity and water vapor the snowflake encountered during its fall. A collection of snowflakes is shown at the top of this page. Notice the wide variety of shapes.
Atmospheric conditions for snow: Snowflakes form high in the atmosphere. They will reach the ground if the air temperature is below freezing all the way down. he formation of snowflakes high in Earth's atmosphere does not guarantee snowfall on Earth's surface. That will only happen if air temperatures are below freezing all the way to the ground, as shown in the accompanying illustration.
Atmospheric conditions for sleet: Snowflakes form high in the atmosphere. If they partially melt on the way down, then refreeze before landing, the result will be sleet.
Atmospheric conditions for freezing rain: Snowflakes form high in the atmosphere. If they melt completely on the way down, then land on a cold Earth, the result will be freezing rain. If the snowflakes pass through a layer of warm air that is thick enough to melt them completely, then land on a cold Earth surface, the result could be freezing rain.
Meteorologists have a challenging job. If they forecast snow, they need to determine when a moisture-laden air mass will pass over an area and if the temperature high at the snowflake-forming elevation will be below freezing. They also need to determine if the temperatures at lower elevations will allow the snowflake to fall to the ground. Finally, they need to know the conditions one ground to determine if the snow will accumulate or melt.
If you think this is interesting and like to be challenged, then you might make a great meteorologist. :-)
Ref: www.geology.com
For the Animal Lovers: “O Howling Night” -petguide.com
Favorite New Recipe for Christmas or Anytime
We visited some relatives recently in their new house in southern Ohio. They had a delicious dip worth trying. The ingredients could be easily modified to be less or more spicy as you see fit.
Melt together in a crock pot or slowly in a pan:
2 - 8oz. Bars of cream cheese, 16 oz. Cheddar cheese, 1 cup of ranch dressing, and 1 cup of buffalo hot sauce, then add as much cooked chicken as you like to the mix. Stir it all together and serve with your favorite chip or cracker. Delicious!