Starting from Scratch

Last year I wrote a review of Patty Kirk's novel Amateur Believer, which was about her journey to faith. Several months later I was asked to review her new book Starting from Scratch:Memoirs of a Wandering Cook (publisher: Thomas Nelson) I assumed this book would have a similar theme of faith, but as you can tell by the title, it doesn't.

Unfortunately, I don't read through a book as quickly as I did when I was younger, and when I did finish reading it, the book kept disappearing under a mountain of "to do" projects. There is, however, no excuse to be so late.

Patty Kirk, like most of us, likes to eat -- freshly prepared, savory, sensuous, delectable food. And from childhood, she has enjoyed cooking.

This is a story of Kirk's memories from childhood and her travels around the world as she improves her culinary skills and reminisces of meals gone by. At the end of each chapter, she includes recipes from her collection. Some are simple, some are tempting. There is something for just about anyone.

Apricot or Plum Dumplings.
Fricassee of Fowl
Mamaw's Buttermilk Biscuits
Stir-fried Tomatoes with Ginger and Onions
Sauerkraut with Pineapple

You can read about the world through the eyes and taste buds of Patty Kirk before she married and settled down on a farm in Oklahoma. And then you can try a few of her favorite recipes.

Team Hoyt

Dick and Rick Hoyt are a father-and-son team from Massachusetts who together compete just about continuously in marathon races. And if they’re not in a marathon they are in a triathlon — that daunting, almost superhuman, combination of 26.2 miles of running, 112 miles of bicycling, and 2.4 miles of swimming. Together they have climbed mountains, and once trekked 3,735 miles across America.

It’s a remarkable record of exertion — all the more so when you consider that Rick can't walk or talk. Read the rest of the story here. From "Racing Towards Inclusion" by David Tereshchuk.)

And then watch the video of this amazing father and son team.

White Gloves, Black Light

This is a white gloves/black light performance. (UPC Conference Church 2006 De Bron, Who Am I - Casting Crowns/ Performed by the Oslo UPC Youth Group.)

Enjoy!

Russian Bar Acrobats

There are a number of short videos of bar acrobatics but I have not seen any as expertly performed as this one from the Circus Festival of Monte Carlo.

Ministry of Assault & Violence

This is the second time I have come across a video of this Todd Bentley, a popular faith healer. I have heard some strange tales of faith healers, but never did I imagine one could be so cruel and downright stupid! Yes, in my opinion, this was stupid! And he did it in public. The video is on YouTube.

I hope the man he "healed" comes to his senses and sues Bentley's socks off. Jesus did not inflict such pain on those He healed. Nor did His disciples.



And since this video is labeled Worst Assault at TB Raging Revival, I checked out part 1 and 2 and I'm still in shock. He is actually bragging about doing violent healings" such as kick-the-old-lady-in-the-face and leg-drop-the-pastor. And his audience is smiling and laughing.

Excuse me but this type of violence would get you or I arrested. Why are people flocking to his healing revivals to get abused? How low have Americans sunk, that such a rampage could be considered the work of the Holy Spirit?

I am including Parts 1 and 2 below in case you would like to view them. They're short. Feel free to not watch them. But do pray for those who are being deceived.




Part 2