Bethany's Recipe

Today I took a stab at Bethany's recipe for Cheesy Garlic Chicken 'n Spinach Twist! I must say, it was extremely successful and probably the best thing I have ever baked. I didn't really get the twisting method right, but it was still very tasty. I altered it a bit, using turkey bacon instead of bacon, half goat cheese instead of all cheddar, no onions, and substituting the dressing with garlic parmesan alfredo sauce. Hudson and Tara seemed to like it well enough, and I will certainly be feasting on it during lunch tomorrow.

Here is her recipe! You should try it. It's impossible to fail.

Cheesy Garlic Chicken ‘n Spinach Twist (I made that title up myself)

prep time: 25 minutes start to finish: 45 minutes

1 box frozen spinach

1 tablespoon olive oil

1/4 onion, finely chopped

3 cloves garlic (or less if you are a pansy)

3 slices bacon, crisply cooked, crumbled

1/3 cup chicken, finely chopped & cooked

3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1/4 cup Garlic Parmesan salad dressing

2 cans Pillsbury refrigerated crescent rolls

1 egg, beaten

1/4 cup sliced almonds (optional)

1. Heat oven to 375. Spray cookie sheet with cooking spray. cook spinach in microwave as directed on box. Drain spinach, cool 5 minutes. Carefully squeeze with paper towel to drain well.

2. In skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion and garlic; cook until crisp-tender. Remove from heat. Stir in spinach, bacon, chicken, cheese, and dressing.

3. Unroll dough on cookie sheet and pinch seams to seal. Following this method, spread mixture on rolls and add almonds on the top, seal, and twist. Brush with egg.

4. Bake for 15 minutes. Serve warm.

A New Houstonian

FIRSTS:

I had my first Kolachi, my first Whataburger, and my first Shrimp Poboy. I also had my first Bubble Tea, which isn't necessarily a Houston thing, but it happened here.

PHRASES LEARNED:

"Get'er done."
"Red on yellow, kill a fellow. Red on black, venom lack."

EXPERIENCES:

Houston has beautiful skies. You can see them best when you're driving on the elevated highways. Then it is just road and sky in your vision. I have a liking for large open spaces, they always calm me and give rest to my eyes and soul.

It's fun to see palm trees again. Houston reminds me a bit of California with the huge highways, large Mexican communities, and neighborhoods with one-story houses. I'm slowly becoming a more confident driver amongst these aggressive locals, and I'm sure I'll eventually understand the rhythm (or lack of rhythm) of Houston driving.

I work off of Nasa Parkway right by the Space Center. All the streets around here have space-like names: Nasa Road 1, Space Park Dr., Saturn Lane. Hopefully Hudson and I can take a trip to the Space Center soon. I hear it's pretty fantastic. A couple of people from my church work the Nasa shuttles, and I've heard we have a few astronauts in our congregation, but I have yet to meet one.

I've also never seen so many state flags flying before. Texas is mighty proud. I don't even know what the NC state flag looks like, but I can certainly spot Texas now.

Houston has been fun!

A First-Hand Witness

Today's Breakpoint commentary is celebrating the story of Abby Johnson. In fact many Christian organizations, including Focus on the Family are excited to share her story. Abby Johnson worked for Planned Parenthood as a director for nine years, and after a first-hand experience of assisting an abortion in the clinic, she has turned pro-life and quit her job.

This story is fascinating. Not only did Johnson feel convicted of her experience, she found that Planned Parenthood had financial priorities that seemed to put abortions above family planning and pregnancy preventions. There seems to be a money-agenda that overrides what should be priority, caring for expectant-mothers and their families as a whole.

About a week ago, Planned Parenthood opened one of the largest abortion clinics in America. Where? Here in Houston. The pro-life/pro-choice debate has always been a hot topic, and it will be interesting to see the debate continue so close to my new home. Churches in the area have already marked where they stand and have brought their concerns to their congregations.

Abby Johnson may not be bringing up a new debate, but she certainly brings a renewed strength to pro-lifers. With such a public decision, I hope that America will listen to the evidence Johnson brings forth.

"Lord, break my heart for the things that break your heart." - A Graham

Chuck Colson and Mark Early's commentary: Read

Abby Johnson shares her story in a two day broadcast that aired last week: Listen

The Minnow and The Trout

I like to lull my stress away with Alison Adul's intrancing voice. Her music is vibrant and reminds me of when I could waste time in the woods of Pennsylvania as a kid. It is hard not to think of nature when listening to A Fine Frenzy, because not only do her lyrics speak of the mysteries and beauty of nature, but her voice is backed by a composition of bubbling piano notes that play lightly to the heart, like a soft brook.

As the music eased my tension, I started to listen to the lyrics of her song "The Minnow And The Trout." Now, I was well aware that Alison comes from a evolutionist's viewpoint, as can be seen in her album title "one cell in the sea," but I was further intrigued by her pleads for nature to get along.

The story of the minnow and the trout begins: "Help me out said the minnow to the trout/I've lost and found myself swimming in your mouth." Here, the minnow is clearly in a food chain situation. Alison then draws picture of a interactions that are "not your everyday circumstance": Humming birds having a coffee date with the ants, elephants sharing food with the rats, and a dove helping a baby eaglet. It's a very idealistic view of the world.

That's when i was reminded of Pastor Loren Jone's sermon a few weeks ago at Ecclesia:
For love and fairness to even make sense in this world, it must be based on a loving God. If we look at nature there is no way we can come up with the idea that God is loving and personal. Nature does not reflect benevolence; when we look at nature, we see violence, death, and randomness. And if we look at other world religions, we cannot see a God of love either.

God has revealed himself through time, and this is how love can make sense in our fallen world:

Creation --> Fall --> Redemption

Only with that framework does a loving God make sense. It's kind of like irreducible complexity - all three pieces must exist to understand Him, nature, and our lives.

So, my dear Fine Frenzy, I applaud your pleas for perfection - for, may I dare say, redemption. But the mutations from one cell in the sea will never explain the complexity of earth, or where your desires come from. But, at least Alison feels the tension that God has planted in all of us - the discontent with this world - that something should be different.

Listen to "The Minnow and The Trout"