T.J.I.F.A.

THANK JESUS IT'S FRIDAY AGAIN!
PASS IT ON...& ON...& ON...& ON.
OCTOBER 24, 2003

TJIFA SALUTES ALL PASTORS,  MINISTERS, BISHOPS, RABBIS AND PRIESTS IN THIS MONTH OF RECOGNITION.  A BIG SALUTE FROM TJIFA, STAFF AND READERS...SALUTE!   MAY THE GRACE OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST SUSTAIN YOU AS YOU DO HIS WILL.     


SUBJECT: "THE PARAKEET'S STORY."  
THE PARAKEET WAS CONTENT TO SIT IN HIS CAGE AND SING, UNTIL, THE ENEMY CAUSED UNREST.  ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH ATTEMPTS TO UNSETTLE AND DISCOURAGE YOU FROM THE PEACE THAT GOD HAS PROMISED?  READ THIS STORY TO SOMEONE YOU LOVE.

NOTEWORTHY: A FEW TIPS TO KEEP YOU HEALTHY AND SAFE.  

FRIDAY'S WORD: PLAUDIT

IN THE MIRROR: LOOKS AT THE LIFE &DEATH OF A YOUNG PASTOR

O TASTE AND SEE!     MYRNA'S JAMAICAN CURRY CHICKEN FEISTY!  SPICY!  GOOD!  THIS IS A COLORFUL DISH FOR SOMETHING NEW ON THE  THANKSGIVING TABLE.  ADD ZEST!  AND ENJOY!  THANKS   MYRNA  FOR YOUR SPECIAL RECIPE.  

LOOKING FORWARD

SEE YA NEXT TIME!

TER



THE PARAKEET'S STORY
2 Corinthians 4:3,4
"But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost; In whom the god of this world  has blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God should shine unto them."

The little parakeet sat in his swing singing all day long.  His song was enviable to everyone who heard him.  His owner loved to listen to him sing, and would occasionally put  him outside on the porch so he could catch some fresh air.  

While he was out there, a sparrow and a crow saw him sitting there, swinging and singing.  The sparrow said to the crow, "Wonder why he's so happy?  He's all locked up."  The crow answered, "He doesn't know he should be free."  
"Well I think that we, as birds, should tell him, don't you?"  
"Yeah," agreed the crafty crow.  "We better tell him what he's missing."  So off they flew on a mission from hades, to tell the contented little Parakeet, how miserable he was.  And so they did.  

As they told the happy little Parakeet how terrible it was to be locked up in a cage, the little bird grew more and more disgruntled.  He watched the ‘show off crow' spread his wings and soar far above  the tree tops.  Oh what he wouldn't give to fly like that, he thought.  He started flapping his wings inside his small cage without results, and grew more and more frustrated.  The Crow stepped up to the cage and asked, "What are you doing?"  
"I'm flying." replied the frustrated little bird.  "I just can't seem to get anywhere."
The posing as helpful Crow then supplied the little Parakeet with solutions. Here's what he suggested.... eyeing the abundance of food in the little Parakeet's cage.  "Tell me how to get you out of there, and I'll take your place.  Then, you can fly and be free.  Your owner will never miss you, cause I'll take your place.  Deal?"  
Excitedly the little Parakeet fell for the imposter's suggestion, and hurriedly told him how to open the cage and get him out, while letting the large Crow in.  (If you don't know what you look like, or who you are,  you'll fall for a cheap imitation.)  

Once outside of the cage the little bird tried to sing as he flew, but it didn't work.  He took in too much air and his  song  was cut off.   (The first thing that the enemy takes from you is your song of Praise)   He flew straight up to the top of the tree and became instantly lightheaded and plummeted  to the ground, where he found the sparrow picking at the ground for food and worms.  The Sparrow sang as he picked up various insects, and examined every hole for a juicy worm.  The little Parakeet tried to imitate his behavior, but when the worm came up, he jumped back and fluttered his wings in unpretentious  fear.  The Sparrow quickly grabbed the worm and flew away.  He shouted "Thanks!"  As he flew home to have a wonderful worm steak meal.  

Now the little Parakeet found himself alone, hungry, and cold.  It was dark.  He was used to his owner covering him and singing to him then turning off the lights and going to sleep in his swing.  He knew that this wasn't the life for him.  The friends he thought he had weren't available now, and he was tired of this terrible, terrible life.  

He pecked at the ground a few more times, then he decided that he would go back to his cage and trade places with the Crow;  who had said that he would, ‘let him back into his own home.'  How could he have been so foolish?  This wasn't fun at all.  This was scary. Real scary!  

He couldn't find his way home that night, so he stayed on the limb of a tree awake, all night, looking at the strange things that frequented the darkness.  He never knew that these things existed.  He didn't know that the dark had sights and sounds that  were hardly seen or heard  in the day.  

When day light came, he saw that he was in the yard next to his own home, and there on the porch was his home.  But... the Crow was missing.  Oh No!  How could he ever get back?  He needed the Crow to help him get back into his cage.  For many hours he looked and looked for the Crow, but he was so hungry and tired that he just flew back to his cage.  Lo and behold the cage door was open.  Wide open.  It was NEVER EVER left like that while he was in it.  NEVER!  

He cautiously  jumped into the cage.  There was his water, his food, and his swing.   He drank a long drink of water, ate as much food as he wanted, and  then climbed up into his swing, contented.  As he sat there looking out, he just started singing and singing to the top of his little grateful  voice.  As he sang, he heard his owner come running out to the cage, and as soon as she saw him, she dropped the cage door and locked it.  She began telling him about the big ugly Crow, who tried to take his place.  She told the little Parakeet how he ate up all of his food and spilled his water, and constantly squawked  for ‘more, more more.'  

She seemed so glad to have the little Parakeet back in his cage.  This was the feeling that he had  missed while falling from the tree tops and digging on the ground.  He didn't have anyone who cared for him while he was experiencing what the other birds called ‘freedom.'  He thought about ‘real freedom.' He decided that, ‘Real Freedom' wasn't how far you could fly, nor was it how much you  could   have.  ‘Real Freedom wasn't measured by another's measuring tool.  ‘Real Freedom' was the measure of the feeling within.  The feeling that, without provocation made you full of Glory and Joy.  The feeling that feels you up, to brimming over with Praise, and makes you content in ANY situation.    

‘Real Freedom'  was LOVE!   

TER

This little Parakeet reminds me of a Christian, who seems too content to the outside world.  The first thing that the world will do is to convince  the Christian that his HOME is artificial.  He wants to sway you from your perch and put temptation in your immediate eyesight.  (Lead us not into temptation, Dear Lord.)  

Satan portrays evil as good. He is busy trying to convert as many as he can to his way of life (Death). )    He knows  how hard it is, but why should you have it so easy?  Why should you sit in the world and sing Praises to GOD, while he is digging for his food and shelter?  (Give us this day our daily bread.)  

The important thing to remember, Christian, is that you can always return HOME.  You'll find, when you come out of the dark, that HOME wasn't far.  You just had to walk in the LIGHT.  Your   place in heaven is set.  NO ONE CAN TAKE IT FROM YOU.  (Jesus said that His sheep know His voice, and a stranger they will not follow.)   

The owner of the little Parakeet knew who he was and what he looked like.  The Owner knew that the Crow was not the Parakeet.  Our Father knows His Children and He knows how they are dressed inside and outside.  The Praise of His Children brings them into His Presence.  Praise that is spontaneous, and without ambition or self aggrandizement.  The squawking of the Crow was not to be compared to the Praise of the Little Parakeet.  

As we turn this little parable into a test of self positional  awareness, let us evaluate our Praise.  Is it a constant squawk  for ‘more, more, more?'  Or have we submitted to actualizing Praise from our hearts.  Only you and your Owner would know.   

Looking Forward

See Ya Next Time

TER


NOTEWORTHY:

Just a few interesting notes...
When choosing supplements (such as vitamin), be sure to check the bottle for the letters "C L" which means, Consumer Laboratory; and or "USP," which means U.S. Pharmacopeia.  These   companies set qualilty  standards for supplements, and USP also sets standards for perscription medication.  And always let your doctor know if you are using supplements.

Falls and balance:
In the elderly population,  Between   10% and 25%  of all falls are related to balance.   
Balance can be off set by many things, some of the contributing factors are:  
Medications such as Diuretics; anti hypertensive agents; anti coagulants; anti histamines, and many others which affect the Central Nervous System.  
Disease can off set balance also -
Poor eyesight, and Inner ear problems.  
There are many inter relationships between the organs of the body which can also cause one to lose their sense of balance.   It is important to consult with your physician so that he can determine which factors, in your particular situation, are  causing this difficulty.  
****
Normal forgetfulness; vs. A.D.  

Many people over 50 years of age are easily upset, when they find themselves forgetting names of friends, standing infront of the refrigerator wondering what they were going into it for, or forgetting the names of good friends that you are about to introduce to another.   Peter V. Reagans of Psychiatrist and "Health After Fifty" Board member says that these times of forgetfulness   are not to be confused with AD.  When you forget what a friend is; what a refrigerator is used for, or that a book is to read...Then you have a problem.  

The hallmark of Dementia, or beginning signs of Altziemer's Disease, is "Interuption of The Abililty To Function."  
Things you can do to defer normal forgetfulness:
Treat High Blood Pressure.
Eat Right - A balanced diet.
Exercise - better fitness translates into better cognitive functions.
Drink in moderation.
Get enough sleep - Sleep deprivation stresses the brain.  
Stay mentally active.
PROTECT YOUR HEAD FROM FALLS!

From Health and Nutrition Newsletter- August 2003.
TER

FRIDAY'S WORD: plaudit; plau*dit (noun)-act of applause; enthusiastic approval.[usually plural in this sense] a public _expression of approval, or praise

IN THE MIRROR:  

I'm part of the fellowship of the unashamed.  
I have the Holy Spirit's Power.  
The die has been cast.  
I have stepped over the line.  
The decision has been made- I am a disciple of His.  
I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still.  
My past is redeemed, my present make sense, my future is secure.
I'm finish and done with low living, sight walking, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions,  worldly talking, cheap giving, and dwarfed goals.  
I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity.  
I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded.  
I now live by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience, am uplifted by prayer, and I labor with power.  
My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is Heaven, my road is narrow, my way rough, my companions are few, my Guide reliable, my mission clear.  
I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded, or delayed.  
I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of the enemy, pander at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.  
I won't give up, shut up, let up, until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, payed up, preached up, for the cause of Christ.  
I am a disciple of Jesus, I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till all know, and work till He stops me.  
And when He comes for His own, He will have no problem recognizing me...MY BANNER WILL BE CLEAR!

This was shared in this month's Turning Point Magazine, in an article written by Dr. David Jeremiah. Tho I've read similar writings, this one said to be written by, "A young Pastor in Zimbabwe, Africa," caused me to lend greater attention to the events that followed his dedication to the words that were written. These words were, "found  among his belongings after he had been taken out, and killed for his faith."

Have you ever heard it said, "Life is one big classroom, with God being the teacher?"
If so, what do you think would be his main priority when it comes down to teaching fragile, vulnerable, corn before the sickle, defenseless, exposed, helpless, wide- open unprotected, in-harm's-way, sin-sick,  MAN.

There's hardly a time  when I hear of, or perhaps have to read about an untimely death, that my mind races to the question of, "What did that person really believe about the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, before passing into an irrevocable, irreparable  area where all the truth in world will be of no avail?"

No, if you're anything like myself, I don't like the attributes of, ‘man' any more than you do, (I'd rather be the opposite of any of them) but because it's the way God made us while we're passing through, why not  see if we can't be sure we've embraced the "unadulterated gospel." That young Pastor in Zimbabwe gave us an experience we all can live by, and moreover even die by. [John 12:24,25] S.L.C.



O TASTE AND SEE!  

MYRNA'S JAMAICAN CURRIED CHICKEN
(A FEISTY - SPICY DISH)


WHOLE CHICKEN CUT UP INTO  PIECES AS SMALL AS YOU CAN GET IT..
1   MEDIUM SIZED ONION.
CURRY POWDER (JAMAICAN BLUE MOUNTAIN COUNTRY CURRY POWDER)
2 MEDIUM SIZED  TOMATOES(OPTIONAL).    
GARLIC POWDER
SEASON SALT AND PEPPER (OPTIONAL)  
4   MEDIUM SIZED POTATOES CUT UP IN QUARTERS


DIRECTIONS:

WASH CHICKEN AND SEASON WITH ALL SEASONINGS.  COAT ALL CHICKEN WITH THESE SEASONINGS.   
SLICE ONION AND MIX IN WITH CHICKEN
LET THIS MARINATE FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS.  (THIS IS OPTIONAL ALSO, YOU MAY WANT TO USE IT RIGHT AWAY.)
JUST BEFORE STARTING TO COOK CHICKEN, ADD CUT UP TOMATOES.
COOK ON TOP OF STOVE ON  MEDIUM IN L LARGE POT APPROXIMATELY 45 MINUTES.
PLACE POTATOES IN THE POT FOR THE  LAST 20 MINUTES. OF COOKING TIME.

NOTE: IF YOU WANT MORE GRAVY JUST ADD 1/4 CUP WATER TO CHICKEN.  
 
MYRNA'S MOTTO IS "STAY FOCUSED." HER FAVORITE SCRIPTURE IS:  WAIT ON THE LORD, BE OF GOOD COURAGE, AND HE SHALL STRENGTHEN  THINE HEART: WAIT, I SAY ON THE LORD. PSALMS 27:14    

ENJOY!