T.J.I.F.A.

 

THANK JESUS IT'S FRIDAY AGAIN!
PASS IT ON…& ON…& ON…& ON.
OCTOBER 29, 2004

 

VOTE!  VOTE!  VOTE!
READERS, YOU MUST CAST YOUR VOTE ON NOVEMBER 2, 2004. AMERICA IS FREE BECAUSE WE VOTE…VOTE…VOTE!

 

TJIFA WON'T BE HERE NEXT FRIDAY . . . BUT WE'LL BE BACK NOVEMBER 12, 2004 – SEE YA THEN.

 

SUBJECT:  BFF HALLOWEEN 2004

 

BFF'S FRIENDS ARE EXPERIMENTING WITH THEIR INWARD TEMPTATION AND THE LURE OF FREE SWEET TREATS.  (OR TRICKS) DO THEY LEARN A VALUABLE LESSON?  READ ON . . .
NOTEWORTHY:  DID YOU KNOW THAT THERE MANY AMERICAN ELECTIONS THAT BEEN WON BY A SINGLE VOTE?  AMERICAN PRESIDENTS; COLONIES BECOMING STATES; ETC. REFER TO: WWW.INTOUCH.ORG   T.V. MESSAGE FOR SUNDAY OCTOBER 24, 2004.

 

FRIDAY'S WORD:  SEE YA NEXT TIME

 

IN THE MIRROR:  SEE YA NEXT TIME

 

O TASTE AND SEE!  HOW ABOUT SOME BAKED CARAMEL CORN?  THANKS TO VB WE'LL HAVE IT AS A FALL TREAT.  THANKS VB…ENJOY!

 

LOOKING FORWARD

 

SEE YA NEXT TIME! . . .NOVEMBER 12, 2004

 

TER
B.F.F.  HALLOWEEN 2004

 

Frederick's father agreed to allow Frederick to use his Lap-Top computer with the stipulation that no one would use it and it would never get out of Frederick's sight.  Frederick readily agreed, because he knew just how he was going to secure this precious commodity. Frederick's family was having a small get together this Halloween, and Frederick was going out ‘Trick or Treating." 

 

The doorbell rang.  It was Frederick's friend, Justice.  Frederick grabbed his treat bag, and swiftly  snapped a hand cuff on Justice's wrist.  "Hey!  Man, what's this?"  Asked Justice.  Frederick quickly yelled goodbye to his parents and friends as he pushed Justice out the door.  "Sh-h.  It's only a pair of handcuffs.  I've got to keep this Lap-Top with me everywhere I go, and I don't want anyone to take it from me as I go "Trick or Treating." 
"Well looks like you could have thought of another plan, Frederick.  I feel like a prisoner. Where are we going?  I've only got a few minutes.  I told my Mom that we were just going to play video games."
Astonished, Frederick asked his friend.  "You lied?  Why didn't you just tell her that we were going out to get some free treats?" 
Embarrassed Justice answered.  "I don't know.  She told me not to go out this year because she has been going to Church with Frog and his family, and you know, they don't condone the antics of Halloween.  I shouldn't have lied, but, I just couldn't pass up the idea of all that candy, just one last time."

 

Frederick explained how he had to go to BFF's house because he was doing a project and wanted to show BFF his results.  Justice became visibly annoyed.  "Frederick, my mother is over there.  Get these handcuffs off, and get rid of that Halloween bag." 
"OK, OK, don't get so upset.  I…I…can't find the key.  It'll only take a minute, Justice, come on.  Just stick close to me and pull your hat down.  I'll tell BFF to come outside.  That'll work." 

 

Frederick decided to look into the living room, by peeping through the window,  to see if BFF was available.  He wasn't.  "Justice, maybe we'd better go Trick or Treating first; then when we get back BFF will probably be in the living room, and we can sneak in.  Not only that, but we can find that key, or ask BFF if he has one."  Justice had a forlorn appearance that could not be denied.  He went from house to house, wondering what made him act so out of character.  ‘What kind of Christian was he anyway, lying to his mother who truly trusted him.  He felt as though he should really be in those hand cuffs'. When people answered their doors, they saw Justice handcuffed to Frederick with a Trick or Treat bag and a Lap-Top computer between them.  Many asked the theme of their ensemble, and for everyone Frederick had a different explanation.  Justice was amazed at the many creative and wild stories Frederick blurted out as they collected their precious loot.   The bag that was between them was growing heavy, while Justice's bag had only a minor contribution.  Justice was miserable and kept talking about going home.  In fact, Justice became so incensed that he angrily dumped his few treats into the bag which was between them and told Frederick,  "This is not working for me.  Let's go!"    Frederick, on the other hand, was having the time of his life.  He told Justice how last year he lost his bag of treats, and he swore that this year he'd do better.  So far, Frederick had no regrets; but Justice was fed-up.  All he could think of is the look on his mother's face, when she finds  out that he has lied and been disobedient.  He began to plan how he would tell her what had happened.  She always said that the truth was better than a lie.  He'd do it!  He was going to just tell her the truth. 

 

They were back at BFF's house, and looking through the window, they could see Cindy and BFF in the kitchen, dipping caramel apples and laughing.  The adults were sitting in the living room, with their Bibles open…Now was the time.  They had to move with precision.  Frederick quickly ran around the house, dragging unwilling Justice,  to the kitchen, and knocked quietly.  He whispered.  "Hey Frog.  Hey Cindy.  It's me, Frederick, and Justice, can we come in?"  BFF and Cindy didn't seem to hear Frederick.  Justice stood up.  "Frederick, I've had enough of this craziness.  Let's just ring the door bell.  I'll tell my Mom, and take my punishment.  I was wrong.  Come on." 
"No, no, no.  You're my friend, and I don't want you to get into trouble for me.  Let's go around the back, maybe it's open."
It wasn't.  They clandestinely moved from door to door, being ever so cautious not to disturb the adults; but trying with great fervor to attract the attention of BFF and Cindy.  Wherever they'd  go inside of  the house, the covert duo followed them on the outside perimeter.  For a moment they stooped  to crawl along undetected, then became mesmerized with the appearance of the big delicious looking caramel apples and the large popcorn balls that BFF and Cindy were passing out to the adults.  They had tall  glasses of Apple Cider and fat beef hotdogs on buns covered with catsup, mustard and onions with relish.  Justice stood up and said.  "I'm going in!"

 

"Oh no you're not! Toss that bag and brief case over here." 
The duo looked up into the face of the tallest Police Officer and dog, they had ever seen.  He continued.  "I said, toss that…Are you guys cuffed together?  Whose the bad guy, you in the Sunday school gear or you with that skeleton suit?"

 

They both tried to talk at the same time.  The Officer yelled.  "Quiet!  You, Mr. Sunday School. You say that your mother is in that house?  That's a likely tale.  If your mother is in that house, which I doubt seriously, why would you be creeping around peeping at your own mother?  And you, Skeleton Man, let go of that briefcase!"
Frederick proclaimed.  "Sir, I'd rather die then release this Lap-Top computer" 
The Officer made a motion to his dog, and immediately the dog began sniffing the Lap-Top, Frederick, Justice and then the bag of treats.  When he came to the bag of treats, he began to bark and turn around in circles.  The Officer screamed.  "Step back!  Everyone give them room.  This may be a bomb!  And you two hit the dirt, face down."  All of the neighbors gasped and gave the area great distance. 

 

The Officer reached into his trunk and lifted out a small robot placed it on the ground and guided it with a remote control.  The robot moved slowly to the bag, and confirmed that it was suspicious, as it lifted it from its laying position and gingerly cut the handles.  The robot then opened up and inhaled the bag of Trick or Treats, then rolled off further down the street, where a clear space had been made by other Officers.  At the appointed time; the signal was given and a muffled blast was faintly heard.

 

Justice looked at Frederick.  "Oh no, Frederick, not a bomb.  This has been the worse Halloween that I've ever experienced.  This is so terrible.  This must be the "Trick" that everyone talks about."
Frederick, under his skeleton mask was clinching his teeth and quietly thinking himself…invisible.  He thought about his father's last words.  "Don't let anyone use or touch the computer, and that Officer and that dog might want to blow it up along with the treats.  He started screaming.  "Father?  Father!  It's me Frederick,  your only son." 

 

The Officer heard Frederick yelling for his father and commended him.  "You're right to pray, skeleton man. That bag of candy could have given you a great deal of trouble.  Those cupcakes were full of led shots, little bee bees.  If you had eaten that stuff, you'd have been in the memorial hospital by day break.   Where did you get those cupcakes ?"
Frederick volunteered the answer.  "From a witch.  I mean a person dressed like a witch.  She was passing out cupcakes to all of us, then she got into a car and rode away, laughing like a witch.  We didn't think anything about it, since everyone is dressed up tonight."
The Officer willingly, and sternly,  told them that they should never take anything from anyone they don't know or can't tell where they live."  He continued.  "Many people use  this holiday to harm unsuspecting victims.  I have seen some of the most hideous crimes committed on this very holiday.  It is the time of darkness.  Evil loves darkness."

 

    While the Officer was talking, Justice noticed that the door to BFF's house opened, and BFF's father and Cindy's father were  standing there looking out at the commotion.  Now, it was Justice's turn to pray.  "O Father, forgive me."  Peeking at the front door from under his arm Justice saw his mother, who immediately recognized him lying on the front lawn. 
"Justice!"  His mother's voice was filled with horror.  She ran out of the house, screaming, "Justice, my son.  Are you all right?"

 

The Officer took note immediately.  "Ma'am, is this your son?"
"Yes, Officer, what has happened to him?"  She asked, in unbelieving tones.
The Officer related a story that made both Frederick and Justice take notice and pay attention.  He said. "Your young man was evidently out Trick or Treating and met this fellow ‘Mr. Skeleton', who handcuffed him and was teaching him bad habits.  We haven't seen what's on that Lap-Top computer as yet, but I can imagine that it's worth about ten to twenty."
Mrs. Jones grabbed her son and along with him came Frederick, or ‘Mr. Skeleton', she quickly pushed the skeleton and of course with the shove, Justice went also. 
Frederick spoke up.  "Mrs. Jones, it's me Frederick."
"Frederick?"
"Yes Ma'am." Answered Frederick.

 

The Officer asked.  "Do you know Mr. Skeleton, Ma'am?"
"Yes.  He is my son's friend.  My son went to his house to play video games tonight.  Frederick, take off that mask!"  demanded Mrs. Jones.
Frederick complied quickly.

 

Taking off his mask he heard his father's voice.  "Frederick?  Is that you?  Hi Mrs. Jones."

 

The Officer mumbled. "So, we have one big happy family.  We'll have to put out a notice to this neighborhood that there is a witch giving out dangerous cupcakes.  I'll get the description from you two boys, and we'll roll up and down these streets telling everyone about the culprit.  I'll take those cuffs off of you also."

 

Meanwhile, BFF and Cindy had been told not to come out into the yard due to the uncertainty of the situation.  So, they had a ring side seat in the living room window, eating beef franks and scrumptious caramel apples.  BFF's father invited Frederick and his father along with Justice and his mother back into the house, until the commotion died down. 

 

As soon as Frederick reached the kitchen, he promptly took off the skeleton suit, and threw it into the trash.  "Who invented Halloween anyway?  I look forward to it every year, only to be disappointed.  I never get any treats, but always tricked." 

 

BFF and Cindy were trying hard not to laugh as they prepared plates for Frederick's father. 
Justice looked so troubled; then he heard his mother's voice from the living room.  "Justice, you may not have any of the carmel apples nor the popcorn.  You may have a small cupcake."  His mother sounded aggravated, as well she should be.

 

Frederick's father followed with the same admonition.  "Frederick, don't touch the caramel apples nor the popcorn balls.  As far as I'm concerned, you don't even need a cupcake, in fact, if it's alright with Mrs. Jones, you guys can share one."
"That's fine with me."  Mirrored Mrs. Jones.

 

Frederick and Justice stared at each other, with the cupcake divided in half in front of them.  Justice was the first one to speak.  "You can have my half."
Frederick declined. "I was going to give you mine." 
BFF and Cindy heard them and at the same time reached over their shoulders and relieved them both of their halves of the cupcakes, joyfully.  Justice looked at BFF with caramel all over his shirt, face, and hands.  Cindy always looked the same in her crisp pink clothes, and he asked them.  "Frog, if you had any Bible verse to give me in this time of trouble, what would it be?" 
BFF thought for a moment,  then replied.  "There is no temptation subject to man, that GOD has not given us a means of escape."

 

Cindy thought only a brief moment, and added.  "I'd say…‘Obedience is better than sacrifice', or, ‘Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil." They all sat musing Cindy's appropriate verses then…roared with laughter. 

 

Frederick said.  "I felt like death warmed over."  And Justice added.  "And I felt like the prisoner of death."
They all high five each other and promised  that "Trick or Treat" was OUT! No matter what!

 

BFF concluded.  "You can come to my house for Bible Study and Treats; No Tricks."  And they ended their night laughing, and . . . 

 

Looking Forward

 

See Ya Next Time…November 12, 2004

 

TER

 

 

 

O TASTE AND SEE!

 

BAKED CARAMEL CORN

 

  
INGREDIENTS:

 

3  QUARTS OF POPPED CORN
1  CUP BUTTER
¼  CUP DARK KARO SYRUP
1  CUP LIGHT BROWN SUGAR
½  TSP SALT
¼  TSP BAKING SODA
½  TSP VANILLA
 

 

DIRECTIONS:

 

MELT BUTTER  STIR IN SUGAR, SYRUP AND SALT.
BRING TO A BOIL;  SIMMER 5 MINUTES.

 

REMOVE FROM HEAT.
STIR IN BAKING SODA AND VANILLA.
POUR OVER POP CORN IN LARGE BOWL.

 

PUT COATED CORN INTO BUTTERED 9X13 INCH PAN;
BAKE UNCOVERED AT 300 DEGREES FOR 30 MINUTES.
 
STIR EVERY 10 MINUTES; WATCH CAREFULLY;
COOL IN PAN; THEN BREAK INTO PIECES.

 

THANKS VB FOR A GREAT TASTING TREAT, JUST IN TIME FOR THE BIBLE STUDY ON OCTOBER 31, 2004 . . . ENJOY!