I Pick Slavery.

Another Word for Freedom

By Skip Heitzig

There is a popular song by Kris Kristofferson called “Me and Bobby McGee.” In it, there’s a line, “Freedom’s just another word for nothing left to lose.” Some have said that means that when you’ve lost everything, that’s freedom.


We have a skewed view of freedom. People say they want freedom, but sometimes freedom is another word for enslavement. People say, “I want to be free from guilt in my life. I want to be free from God. I want freedom from any moral laws.” They call that freedom.
But the more of that kind of freedom you have, the more enslaved you will become. The more you do as you please, the less you will be pleased with what you do. That’s a law you can live by. If you live to please yourself, you will not be pleased with yourself. Your life will go nowhere.


In the ‘60s the slogans were “Do your own thing,” “If it feels good, do it,” “Different strokes for different folks.” All that moral relativism has seeped into the bloodstream of our culture and wreaked havoc. It sounds good and tolerant, but it has caused devastating effects. The “freedom” to experiment with sex has caused millions of unwanted pregnancies and an untold number of abortions. “Freedom” to experiment with drugs costs society $40 billion a year. All these things promise freedom but create bondage.


Romans 6:16 says, “Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?” If you live to please the Lord you will have joy, contentment and satisfaction that you can’t imagine, even in the worst of times. Freedom is being a slave of Jesus Christ. Those who are sold out to Jesus Christ become the freest people on the face of the earth.


You could say, “I don’t want to be anybody’s slave!” Well, too late; you already are! Bob Dylan put it this way years ago: “You’ve gotta serve somebody.” It’s true. And if you say “I’m not a slave to anyone else,” then you’re a slave to yourself and your own pleasure, and you’re in bondage. “But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life” (Romans 6:22).


So, as we celebrate our nation’s freedom, I want to remind you that true freedom is becoming a slave of Jesus Christ and that “Whoever the Son sets free is free indeed” (see John 8:36).

PROJECT PRETTY UPDATE!

So!  My furniture sale results are..........
Zilch.
Zipp.
Nada.
In lieu of said nothingness, I decided to see how this new idea might work out.  Hit me up people! I'm armed and ready to paint!

Project Pretty

Hello all!  I have some fun updates I have been working on this past week.  As we are coming closer and closer to our move, *sigh* I am getting more and more excited about fun DIY decorating on the cheap!  You remember my $25.00 garage sale occasional table?  Here she is now!  

I haven’t decided on hardware yet, hence her lack of jewelry, but I LOVE the outcome so far.  I'm still debating which pulls I’ll go with, but I do know they'll be from Anthropologie.

Never the less, they don't need to be functional since there isn't actually a drawer there - she just for looks you know, as a lot of pretty ones are.

Here’s my latest re-model.  I am so in love, but alas this thrift store investment was only made in lieu of me selling it to make more dough, in order to buy more furniture to refinish & resell, in order to buy more furniture for us to keep!  Did you get that tangled web I wove?  Without further ado, here’s her wretched before pictures: 

And her tiffany blue afters. (picture #1 is most true to her color in real life)

Is it just me or is this baby the epitome of perfection?  Not to mention her lovely legs, charming original antique hardware, and did you notice those vintage embellishments?  Again, I’m in lurrrrrve.  Her drawers are even lined, ready to nestle all your wonderfully fashionable clothes.  

Oh and I bet you’re wondering about the top and why I left it original.  I find that leaving a piece’s top with the original finish adds more character - no it’s not because I got lazy after the ump-teen sanding, priming and painting hours.  It was actually an intentional design decision.  Also, with painted pieces, the color can be a bit overwhelming when it covers every surface, so a little change in texture/color can be a nice resting place for the eyes.  Catch my drift?  My husband didn’t get it, but I think she’s perfectly gorge, original top and all.  

Sticker price $225.00 - if I didn’t already own her, I’d pounce at the chance.  

E-mail here for purchase info: kendralovestosign@gmail.com 

Buffalo Chicken Wraps

   This past week I did something a little daring, a little crazy, some may even go as far as flew off the handle.  Bum bum ba bum.... I tried out a new recipe for the first time, not just on my dearly beloved, but on two unknowing friends.  The result?  Pretty dang exciting... said in a Nacho Libre voice.  I was a little worried with the overwhelming smell of buffalo sauce enveloping the house, but luckily they were a hit!  What can I say?  I live life on the wild side.  AND they were a SINCH to make and super yummy - how's that for refined?  Oh, did I mention cheap?  I mean come. on.  Tortillas, ranch dressing, lettuce, and chicken breast?  Definitely won't break the bank.  So here she blows!  Or rolls.... for that lack of a better word.

Ingredients:

• 1 extra large flour tortilla per person
• 1 chicken breast per person (this seemed like a lot to me too, but it worked out with just a little leftover)
• 2 small heads of romaine, julienned
• Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
• Ranch Dressing (we used non-fat to be extra conscientious) 
• Buffalo Sauce Marinade (we used Ken's, it was on sale)

Prep:

1. Dice raw chicken into one-inch cubes
2. Place in marinating dish or glass baking dish.
3. Pour marinade over top and toss.
4. Let stand for at least one hour.
5. DO NOT marinade over night - the acidity will turn the meat into a buffalo ceviche = not good.
6. Add one cup of flour to marinade and stir well - this should thicken the sauce but not clump it.
7. Cook in greased skillet on high for 2 minutes.
8. Reduce heat to medium low, cover and allow to cook for another 10-12 minutes or until all pinkness is cooked out - taste check.
9. Remove from heat.
10. Build your wrap!
1. Open tortilla.
2. Fill with meat & lettuce.
3. Sprinkle cheese on top.
4. Add ranch dressing or pour on the side to dip.
5. Enjoy! 

*Optional: 

• add diced tomatoes for more color and flavor building (we're tomato haters)
• serve on spinach, tomato or whole wheat tortillas for a more healthy choice
• double batter and deep fry chicken for a more crunchy texture

Chartreuse + Concrete?

I'm IN LOVE! Content taken from YOUNGHOUSELOVE, and original kitchen from KELLYMOOREPHOTOGRAPHY.  Enjoy the juicy eye candy, I sure am.....wiping away the drool off my keyboard as we speak. (Blogpost originally written by Sherry of YHL)

This house just makes me smile, so of course I had to House Crash the heck out of it and share it with you guys. Behold- the eye candy that is Kelly Moore’s amazing casa. You might know her from her killer photography blog (all of her DIY-related posts can be found here) or her genius line of camera bags. But you don’t really know a person until you poke around their house, so let’s get to it. We’ll start in the kitchen, where Kelly and her husband whipped up some extra thick homemade concrete counters (and shared a tutorial right here). Everything from the happy painted cabinets to the apron sink and the sleek stainless appliances are so charming together:

The cabinets are painted Sherwin Williams Alchemy on top and Grandiose on bottom (she couldn’t decide on a color so she used both). And the island, sink, and shelves hail from Ikea while the rug is by Dash & Albert (from a shop in Ruston, Louisiana called Chartreuse Pear).

And that wall of smoky and sophisticated glass tile? Cue the breathy amorous sigh. She got that from Lincoln Flooring (also in Ruston, Louisiana).

Here’s the large and lovely living room with a come-hither sectional and cushy round ottoman (from Haverty’s and Overstock)…

… that faces a sweetly rustic brick fireplace with airy lofted ceilings.

Everything right down to the little details (like this showstopping mirror from Pier 1) seems to scream come on in and make yourself at home.

I can totally imagine myself curled up on that sofa reading a book. Is that creepy? Sorry.

And I can picture myself sitting here at the dining table scarfing some pita chips and hummus. Too much? Ok. I’ll try to keep it casual. Check out the great paneled ceiling and those sleek bulb lights (from West Elm) over the farmhouse-ish table (from Material Things in Monroe, LA). The chairs and picture ledges are from Ikea and that amazing folk art cow painting is by Erickson T. Wright.

Once again Kelly has managed to mix something rustic with something sleek for a gorgeous result (just like her stainless appliances & her charming apron sink or the clean-lined sectional & the weathered brick fireplace).

SUMMER AT THE B.R.C.

Summer Enrichment Programs @ The BRC

DEADLINES TO ENROLL RAPIDLY APPROACHING! SIGN UP QUICK!

SAT Prep Course:

This one on one tutoring course is designed to help students master skills required by the SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test).  Such skills/categories include but are not limited to: verbal, mathematical and reasoning abilities, etc... Other strategies such as essay writing, analogies, and comprehension tips will also be addressed. The goal of this course is to encourage high test performance, decrease testing anxiety, prepare and equip the mind for testing and to develop useful strategies. Students will meet with the instructor once a week for the entire summer. To contact the instructor directly, please forward e-mails to Elizabeth Slagg via: eslagg@hotmail.com

Tuition: see reading therapy tuition fee

Dates: Evening hours to be determined by student and instructor, as they will commit to coming once a week for the entire summer. 

Summer Reading Maintenance Course:

This small group class is designed to maintain the average student’s reading skills over the summer by practicing skills through the use of fun activities. The reading of novels will be encouraged and rewarded.  Students will meet once a week for 4 consecutive weeks.  As research has proven,  the "summer slides" of academic skills occurs in most students, therefore all ages need to maintain reading abilities over the summer to keep such skills sharp for the following school year.  To contact the instructor directly, please forward e-mails to Amanda Peterson via: afpgfp@hotmail.com

Tuition: $95.00

Dates: TBA for the month of July

Advanced Classic Literature Experience: Small Groups

In an effort to revive the realm of classic literature in the hearts of avid, young readers this fun and laid back course is designed to excite and excel students. Class discussions, higher level thinking, and other critical literary skills such as comprehension, inferencing, etc... will be encouraged. Students enrolled are to vote upon the novel they are most interested in reading.  Offered novels include:  

• Dickens, Charles. Oliver Twist (1839) 
• Farley, Walter. The Black Stallion (1941) 
• London, Jack. White Fang (1906) 
• Louis Stevenson, Robert. Treasure Island (1883) 
• Rawls, Wilson. Where the Red Fern Grows (1961)

Tuition: $95.00 per module

Dates: 

Module 1: (meeting weekly) Mondays from 4:30-5:30 beginning June 4 and continuing for 4 consecutive weeks, i.e. June 6, 13, 20, 27.

Module 2: (meeting four consecutive sessions) Monday through Thursday: June 20, 21, 22, 23 daily from 3:00-4:00p

American Sign Language Course(s)

This is a spiraling curriculum for students interested in learning American Sign Language.  Courses address both receptive and expressive skills needed to fully dialogue among the Deaf and hearing people who converse using ASL.  Each course’s focus (there are three options) will be tapered depending on the age range of students participating.  Students in the 4-Day Happy Hands course will acquire categorical vocabulary, the alphabet and numbers, and elementary conversational fluency.  Students in twice-a-week Serious Signers Course can be sure to acquire all that the previous course teaches, as well as higher conversational fluency, a more well-round vocabulary, and lessons in Deaf Culture.  Students involved in the twice a week Adult Course will acquire the skills taught in an entire year of Sign Language condensed into eight classes.  Quizzes, Tests, and other homework will be administered; this course is to be considered rigorous but worth the challenge.  *Note: ASL is now widely accepted as a foreign language in both high schools & colleges.  To contact the instructor directly, please forward emails to Kendra Randall via: randallphotography@hotmail.com

4-Day Happy Hands Class (four consecutive sessions)

• Tuition - $95.00 per module
• Class Times: Mon-Thur 9:00a - 10:00a
• Module #1: 6/13-6/16; 
• Module #2: 6/20-6/23; 
• Module #3: 7/11-7/14;
• Module #4: 7/18-7/2;
• Module #5: 8/8-8/11; 
• Module #6: 8/15-8/18

Twice-A-Week Serious Signers Class (eight sessions total)

• Tuition - $190.00 per module
• Class Times: Tuesdays & Thursdays 4:30p - 5:30p 
• Module #1: June 7, 9, 14, 16, 21, 23, 28, 30
• Module #2: July 5, 7, 12, 14, 19, 21, 26, 28

Twice-A-Week Adult Course (eight sessions total)

• Tuition - $190.00
• Class Times: Tuesdays & Thursdays 5:30p - 6:30p 
• Module #1: June 7, 9, 14, 16, 21, 23, 28, 30
• Module #2: July 5, 7, 12, 14, 19, 21, 26, 28

For More Information About Summer Enrichment Opportunities, Please Contact Us Soon!

phone: (813) 643-2559 

email: brandonreading@yahoo.com,

website: http://www.brandonreadingclinic.com/summer-classes.html

Tortilla Black Bean Pie

INGREDIENTS:
4 flour tortillas (10 inches)
2 tablespoons canola oil
1 large onion, diced
1 jalapeno chile, minced (remove seeds and ribs for less heat)
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
2 cans (15 ounces each) black beans, drained and rinsed
12 ounces beer, or 1 1/2 cups water
1 package (10 ounces) frozen corn
4 scallions, thinly sliced, plus more for garnish
8 ounces cheddar cheese, shredded (2 1/2 cups)

DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. With a paring knife, trim tortillas to fit a 9-inch springform pan. Use the bottom of the pan as a guide. Set aside.

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion, jalapeno, garlic, and cumin; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 5 to 7 minutes.

Add beans and beer, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium; simmer until liquid has almost evaporated, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in corn and scallions, and remove from heat. Taste and adjust for seasoning.

Fit a trimmed tortilla in bottom of springform pan; layer with 1/4 of the beans and 1/2 cup of cheese. Repeat three times, using 1 cup cheese on top layer. Bake until cheese melts, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove side of pan; sprinkle pie with scallions. To serve, slice into wedges.