RITCHEY BIBLE HOLINESS CHURCH 2009

While Katrina was home we took a few pictures of our current congregation one Sunday night. I have posted two because in one, Katrina was taking the picture and left out and in the other Carell Day. The Lord has been very good to this little church. In the past year we have had a young couple get married - Faith and Colin - with Colin moving our way and being an addition to the Ritchey Church. Faith and Colin is the young couple in front on the left. We also have been very blessed in that my Brother-in-law, Gary Ankney, was saved a few months back. Gary has a great desire to serve God and is a wonderful encouragement to the congregation. His wife(and my sister) along with their two grandchildren also regularly attend on Sunday mornings but are not pictured here. For those who have yet to meet Gary, he is in the back row next to my dad, on the left, in a red shirt. In addition to having a young couple married, this same couple have had a welcome surprise. They and Ritchey church will have new little baby in attendance some time in February. As you can see in the photograph Ritchey is blessed to have a mixed congregation of all ages from the very young, to some of us that they have now labeled middle-aged, to our seasoned saints that have been a great example to us all. God has helped us to grow already. It is not unusual for us to now have 28 on a Sunday morning. We thank God for each one that comes. Pray for us here at Ritchey. We desire that God will have his complete way in our midst.

THAI PEANUT CHICKEN

INGRED-
IENTS:

1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts (cut
into 1" chunks)

3 tablespoons fresh garlic (minced)
1 1/2 tablespoons fresh ginger (minced)
2 tablespoons oil (for cooking)
3/4 cup green onions (chopped)
1 red bell pepper (sliced)
2 cups broccoli florets
1/3 cup dry roasted peanuts
Sauce-
3 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
2 teaspoons white wine vinegar
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1 teaspoon brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (or more to your taste)
1/4 cup water

INSTRUCTIONS:
1. To make the peanut sauce - In a bowl mix soy sauce, peanut butter. Add white wine vinegar, sesame oil, brown sugar and cayenne pepper. Mix well and set aside.

2. In a large skillet heat oil. Add garlic, ginger and chicken. Cook until chicken is no long pink on the inside (about 5 minutes). Remove from pan and set aside.

3. Add a tiny bit more oil to the pan and sir fry red bell peppers, broccoli florets, and green onions for about 2 minutes or until they have reached desired tenderness. Remove from pan and set aside.

4. Over medium heat add the peanut sauce mixture to the pan. Heat while stirring constantly. When sauce mixture starts to bubble add 1/4 cup of water and mix well to thin it out a bit.

5. In a large serving dish add chicken, green onions, red bell pepper , and roasted peanuts. Add sauce and mix well. Serve with white rice.

I slice up some jalapeno and/or habanero peppers in some chile oil and set to the side for those who want to kick it up a notch.

SPICY CHICKEN WITH PEPPERS AND BASIL

INGRED-
IENTS:
2 cups jasmine rice, prepared according to package directions.

1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast
1 tablespoon wok oil or light colored oil
1 tablespoon hot chili oil
1 tablespoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 medium onion, thinly sliced
2 red bell peppers, seeded and thinly sliced
4 cloves garlic, chopped
2 jalapenos
2 tablespoons fish sauce
1/4 cup oyster sauce
2 tablespoons sugar
20 leaves fresh sweet basil, torn in half

DIRECTIONS:
Prepare the jasmine rice according to instructions on package

Cut the chicken on an angle across the breast into thin strips. Cut strips across into bite-size pieces. Set chicken aside.

When the rice is 6-7 minutes away from being done, begin your stir fry. Heat a wok over high heat. When the pan smokes, add wok or light cooking oil and the hot chili oil. Sprinkle in the crushed red pepper flakes. Add the chicken and stir fry for 2 minutes or until mostly done. Add onion, red bell peppers, jalapenos and garlic and stir fry for 1-2 more minutes. Add the fish sauce, oyster sauce, and sugar, stirring in. Remove the pan from the heat and add the basil. Toss the chicken and vegetables until basil wilts.

Serve chicken and peppers with the prepared rice.

SERVES: 4

THAI GINGER CHICKEN (Gai Pad King)

INGREDIENTS:

1 1/2 cups uncooked jasmine rice

3 1/2 cups water

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cut into thin strips

1 tablespoon Asian fish sauce

1 tablespoon oyster sauce

1 tablespoon white sugar

1/2 cup fresh ginger, cut into matchsticks

1 large bell pepper, cut into strips

3/4 cup sliced fresh mushrooms

4 green onions cut into 2-inch pieces

1/2 teaspoon Thai red chile paste, or to taste

2 tablespoons chicken broth

salt and black pepper to taste

2 tablespoons fresh cilantro

DIRECTIONS:

1. Bring the rice and water to a boil in a saucepan. Reduce heat to medium-low; cover and simmer until the rice is tender and the liquid has been absorbed, 20 to 25 minutes.

2. Meanwhile, heat a wok or large skillet over medium-high heat. Stir in the garlic and chicken; cook for 2 minutes. Add the fish sauce, oyster sauce, sugar, ginger, red pepper, mushrooms, and onions. Cook and stir until the chicken is no longer pink and the vegetables are nearly tender, about 3 minutes. Dissolve the chile paste in the chicken broth, then add to the chicken mixture. Season to taste with salt and pepper; sprinkle with cilantro leaves to garnish. Serve with the hot rice.

PREP TIME: 30 Minutes

COOK TIME: 20 Minutes

READY IN: 50 Minutes

SERVING: 4

FALL 2009

Here it is fall again. I thought since it has almost been a whole year since I last posted anything that I would slide in something at this time and no one notice the difference. Chances are by now that no one is following the blog and for that reason no one will notice as well.

Temperatures are falling. The other morning when I got up it looked like the first frost was upon the grass coming down the hill in front of the house. Surely not! Too dark to really know. But when I climbed into the pickup I had to turn on the windshield wipers and defroster and wait a little while for it to melt away.

Fall. In the old days fall meant football weather. Now fall means Redwood Camp. Campmeeting usually brings visitors and lots of good times with old friends. This year we got a call from Bobby and Rachel Jones looking for a place to stay during camp. We were more than happy to have them come our way.

Bobby was hoping to do a little fishing while here but the with the recent rains the creeks have been muddy and swollen. Looks like the fishing is out for this trip.

Monday before they were to arrive here in the late afternoon I stirred up some Thai food. Spicy basil chicken has become a family favorite so that is usually a good starter. I tried out a new recipe as well on them - thai peanut chicken - and then stirred up a spicy cucumber salad for a side. I mentioned what we were having ahead of time so they saved their appetites for the spicy dishes. Things went well and the new recipe was good too. I think with them it was the favorite.

The reason I think it was the favorite was because we had just a little bowl of it left over. We put it in the refrigerator and about 10:30 that night it caught Bobby's attention as he made one of his frequent inspections of the fridge (I may be slightly embellishing the story). He took it out and looked it over. He then lifted the saran wrap and again smelled the aroma. He usually just gobbles stuff down so I don't know why he was taking so long with it other than he was supposed to be on a diet. I told him that I had cooked all night long, and he had eaten all night long and that he surely had enough. After all there was two big dishes and he had knocked out the one all except this tiny bowl. Whatever possessed him to listen to me and put the bowl back I will never know for he has never once listened before. He must have happened to think of his diet but soon forgot about it for as he turned around he spied the 7-Up bundt cake Tim had made. Up went the lid and there went the cake.

Things got real interesting about that time for Rachel really liked the Peanut Chicken too. While Bobby had his nose in the cake Rachel made a quick pass by the fridge and grabbed the leftovers and took no time looking or smelling it but just got a spoon and came back into the living room and dug in. Imagine the shock on our dear friend's face as he realized all future opportunities for that particular dish was fading fast. He quickly traded the kitchen for the living room, following his lovely wife, pleading his case all the time. Rachel is a smart one though. She made sure she kept the coffee table between her and her beloved. After a few rounds around the table with her always just on the other side, he traded his shocked looks for a pouting one and sat on the couch dejected. I thought Rachel might give him half but she worked it down to just a few bites remaining before she gave him opportunity. I think he kept his sanctification but no doubt it was tried.

Anyway, like I said it is fall and with fall comes camp meeting. Sure would be good time to get help. Especially after such a time of great trial and tribulation.

Visitor for Thanksgiving

The family was so glad to get to have Clinton over for a few days for the Thanksgiving holidays. I'm sure he wished he could be home with his own family for the big meal and family time. But since he couldn't be there, we were glad we got the privilege. The kids had a good time together seeing the small town stuff. Tammy was busily cooking, dad cutting up the vegetables, the kids put up the tree, and wrapped a few presents. With three Thanksgiving meals, one with Tammy's folks, later one with her extended family, and on Friday one with all of my family, there was no shortage on eats. They took time out for a little shopping and shared in our "first snow." Also appreciated being able to have Clinton in church at Ritchey for Sunday morning worship and hear him testify of being newly saved. So good to see young people going for God. Look forward to you coming again, Clinton.

First Snow

Sunday morning we awoke to snowflakes falling. Surely it wouldn't last long. But the flakes continued growing in size and rapidness. It was too warm for the snow to accumulate much but that didn't stop the children from scooping it and accosting one another with snowballs. Tammy and I were able to dodge most of them lodged our way. As the people gathered in for Sunday morning services noses were red and the children were abuzz. Thanksgiving now past and the flakes now falling, it was a good morning to start singing the Christmas Carols. It looks like winter has begun.

THANKSGIVING PRAYER

A Thanksgiving Day Prayer

Lord, so often times, as any other day,

When we sit down to our meal and pray,

We hurry along and make fast the blessing,

Thanks, amen. Now please pass the dressing.

We're slaves to the olfactory overload .

We must rush our prayer before the food gets cold .

But Lord, I'd like to take a few minute more

To really give thanks to what I'm thankful for.

For my family, my health, a nice soft bed,

My friends, my freedom, a roof over my head.

I'm thankful right now to be surrounded by those

Whose lives touch me more than they'll ever possibly know.

Thankful Lord, that You've blessed me beyond measure;

Thankful that in my heart lives life's greatest treasure.

That You, dear Jesus, reside in that place.

And I'm ever so grateful for Your unending grace.

So please, heavenly Father, bless this food You've provided

And bless each and every person invited. Amen!

We Gather Together

We gather together to ask the Lord's blessing;

He chastens and hastens his will to make known;

The wicked oppressing now cease from distressing,

Sing praises to his name: He forgets not his own.

Beside us to guide us, our God with us joining,

Ordaining, maintaining his kingdom divine;

So from the beginning the fight we were winning;

Thou, Lord, wast at our side, All glory be thine!

We all do extol thee, thou leader triumphant,

And pray that thou still our defender wilt be.

Let thy congregation escape tribulation;

Thy name be ever praised! O Lord, make us free! Amen

Psalm 100

"Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.

Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

Know ye that the LORD he is God:

it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves;

we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise:

be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting;

and his truth endureth to all generations."

"FALL'S HERE"

Well, it's that time of year. The temperatures have began to fall and the search is on for the sweater's and jackets. The wind begins to blow and the leaves come down in such abundance that it sometimes looks like a new kind of rain. This rain comes in all colors - red, yellow, orange, gold, and brown, along with all different shapes and sizes. The evenings are great for grilling and sitting around the campfire. When you look ahead you know that soon it is going to be cold but for now . . . we'll be enjoying one of my favorite times of the year - fall.

Saturday the family was up early and off to Carthage's Maple Leaf Parade. Being new to the area again and our blood still thin, the children were donning gloves to keep off the early morning chill. We set up our camping chairs in the midst of the crowd and alongside the street anticipating 27 bands, numerous floats, antique cars, and, yes, even a host of old tractors. We knew for sure that we were no longer in Phoenix but back in the Midwest again. But it was a lot of fun seeing the area schools represented again by bands, flags, and pom-poms showing their school spirit. The towns may be small but it was over two hours later that the end of the parade began to march by.

Tim's Birthday

Here are some of the pictures from

Tim's Birthday party.

Jolly Mill

We went to Jolly Mill today with Chris and

Clinton. It is a really pretty park. Here

are some pictures from it.

Ashley's Friends From Independence

Hannah, Ashley, & Brooke
We went to Independence Camp and

Ashley made some friends. We left

Monday afternoon and Ashley stayed

until today. So here is some pictures

that they took.