How to Kill a Chicken, an overview of skills I hope to never use

How to Kill a Chicken

Skills for Africa 101

Step 1: Catch chicken

Step 2: Chop head off

Step 3: Throw headless chicken into the air, allow time for muscles spasms to stop

Step 4: Retrieve chicken

Step 5: Submerge chicken into boiling water

Step 6: Retrieve chicken from boiling water

Step 7: Pluck feathers

 

Still plucking...

 

Step 8: Remove organs and intestines

 

Step 9: Separate meat and remove claws

Step 10: Smile proudly and display your fresh meat!

snow beautiful

Beth and I playing in the snow!

Last weekend this crazy East Coast weather did another another somersault. On Monday, the snow came in a flurry, mixed with a little rain, of course, and by Wednesday, the temps were on up into mid-sixties. And I thought the weather back home was temperamental.

Despite how quickly it may melt away, the beauty of a gentle snowfall is hard to encapsulate and package with mere characters and symbols formed into words. White and fluffy, falling from the sky or rocketing across the skyline, for this Southern girl, snow is always a delight. Rarely during my childhood did we see accumulating amounts of anything but rain and mud, but recently I've truly learned to relish the quiet and beauty of a good snow.

One of my favorite things about snow is how it covers everything. It rests on the tree branches, along the deck rail, patio furniture, car bumpers, eaves, and sidewalks; a legitimate snowfall covers everything. We know that for all practical purposes, rain does the same thing, yet isn't nearly as breathtaking.

What a physical picture of the work of Christ in our hearts! Not only does he wash away our sins and cleansing with the water of the word, but he covers all our iniquity. So, all of ourselves, the sin and the flesh, is hidden under the brilliant radiance, stunning whiteness and purity of the blood of Christ Jesus. Just as snow blankets and covers the earth. God's word promises that Jesus is faithful and just to forgive us of all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9) when we believe in him (Romans 10:9). We can even be whiter than a fresh snow - "Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow." Psalm 51:7

When we believe Jesus is who he says he is and put our faith in him, God is the one who accomplishes the transformation within us. None of our good deeds are good enough for God to pardon our wrongdoings, it is only through the blood of Jesus (John 14:6, Hebrews 9:22). It's a free gift to all but you must receive it for it to take effect (Romans 6:23). Let his love cover you and make you whole and right before the Father today!

 "Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins." 1 Peter 4:8