Today in NOTL: Cold, with noonish temps a chilly 27F/-2C. It isn't snowing though...
Did the blogtalkradio show alone today as Deb is in Toronto making arrangements to trade in the van for a newer used vehicle. Here's hoping she gets a wonderful, reliable car that will be a joy for many years.
Doing the radio show alone is always terrifying. I am not a microphone kinda gal. But...we say we're doing a show, so it has to be something pretty major like illness before I can cancel the show with a good heart. I'd rather do the show than disappoint people.
Today's show was on the message of the Angels at Christmas. Actually, the last three shows focused on elements of the Angels' message. Today was the conclusion: Peace on Earth to men of goodwill. The old song says, though, 'good will to men,' which is a big difference....peace and goodwill to men vs. peace to men of goodwill. Research time!
I did a fair bit of reading in my search for the most accurate translation. One translation was coming out on top, and I found a Christian site offering an explanation of the translation. I'll post one paragraph of their explanation here:
Along with the glory that the angels of heaven give to God, there is to be peace on earth. But to whom? The Greek phrase is only three words, and is literally translated, “among men of goodwill.” The truth being communicated is there is peace from God to people with whom He has goodwill. Modern versions try to express this idea, with, in my opinion, varying degrees of success, but the point is that God’s peace is not to everyone; it is for those who have turned their hearts to Him. This fits perfectly with the Old Testament prophecies and predictions of the coming Messiah, who was foretold to be a warrior for God, delivering His people while destroying His enemies.
(from http://www.truthortradition.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=890_
I had to laugh. This paragraph is such a perfect representation of what is wrong with religion. First, they get the angels' message: Peace on earth 'among men of goodwill'. Seems clear enough, but no: 'men of goodwill' becomes people with whom God has goodwill - as though there are people with whom God does not have goodwill, this God who made and loves everyone?? Oh, no. By twisting the very words they hold as authentic, they end up with a message that effectively excludes everybody but the Christian folks who have turned their hearts to Creator/Him in the way that the writers of this site deem worthy - who are, I suppose in this site's worldview, God's enemies who will be destroyed. Good grief.
And there's the difference between God and people. I don't think some folks can tolerate the idea of God loving folks they don't. LOL Control, eh? Anyway, that was my morning adventure, and I think my brain needs a good long rest!
I'll be working on Christmas crafting today...as soon as I get a good cookie recipe up for you. And today's cookie is a five-star winner: Snickerdoodles! How could anyone not love a cookie called a snickerdoodle?
This is an old recipe, about 60 years or so as far as I can determine. There are tons of recipes for snickerdoodles with all kinds of flourishes and so on, but this one remains our favourite.
Snickerdoodles
1 cup shortening
1 1/2 cups white sugar
2 eggs
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons white sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
Directions
1 Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
2 In a medium bowl, cream together the shortening and 1 1/2 cups sugar. Stir in the eggs. Sift together the flour, baking soda, cream of tartar, and salt; stir into the creamed mixture until well blended. In a small bowl, stir together the 2 tablespoons of sugar, and the cinnamon. Roll dough into walnut sized balls, then roll the balls in the cinnamon-sugar. Place them onto an unprepared cookie sheet, two inches apart.
3 Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven. Edges should be slightly brown. Remove from sheets to cool on wire racks.
Yup, you can vary the daylights out of this cookie, but why would you want to? Once you taste its lusciousness, you will fall in cookie-love. Enjoy!
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