COME AS A CHILD - LESSON 131 - HOW THE BITTER BECOMES SWEET

^{WALKING THROUGH EXODUS - HOW THE BITTER BECOMES SWEET
(Written by Sheila Gail Landgraf)}

^{While studying the Exodus it has become very clear that the Wilderness of Shur is a most important location for determining the exodus route.  The scriptures in Exodus tell us; “after crossing the Red Sea Moses led the people to the Desert of Shur.”} 

<sup>That one simple little statement has stood the world’s scholars and translators on their heads.  It has caused great confusion among the wise and educated masses.  It has turned over some apple carts and made some people rethink the whole original route of the Exodus as it is traditionally told.  Some have determined a new location for Mt. Sinai because of this.   So many scholars have  endlessly debated this subject, yet if you look at the scriptures recorded you will probably conclude along with everyone else that it all comes down to starting out by knowing precisely where the Wilderness of Shur is located.  This location is one of only a few KNOWN places on the list of 50 Exodus stops mentioned in the scriptures.  The places named that we can KNOW are Goshen/Ramses, Wilderness of Shur, Ezion Geber and Mt. Nemo.

Shur is the location mentioned several times in past studies of this blog; such as when we studied the flight of Hagar from Sarai where the Angel of The LORD found her by the fountain in the desert.  If you want to go back to review that lesson here is the link: http://dancinginseason.blogspot.com/2015_02_10_archive.html.</sup>

In years after our current story took place, the location of Shur is also mentioned as the place where Saul slaughtered the Amalekites from Havilah.  

^{Marah is located in the "Wilderness of Shur."}

 Looking back into the pages of history before the crossing of The Red Sea, it seems that the Wilderness of Shur was the place where Ishmael had settled in the transjordan and modern Saudi Arabia.  

Shur which was known as Ishmael's home turf, was near Midian of old, which is also in modern day Saudi Arabia.

I’m not ready to go into the debate about whether the old traditional locations are correct or the new supposed locations are more accurate.  I’ll let you do your own research and study on that subject; though I do have many of my own thoughts and opinions. 

<sup>We are only here to unfold the story, where ever it happened; so excuse me if anything seems slightly not accurate with geography in any of these lessons, because it all depends on who you listen to and follow and what they think is accurate.   

For the purpose of this study, I am simply recording the events that happened from the scriptures I have read in Exodus, and stating what I think it all means to us today.  It is not my intention to do any archaeological discovery.  I will use what seems most accurate to me, but I encourage you to do your homework too.   For the moment, it is my simple intention to stay with the scriptures whenever I can and not move apart from them.</sup>   

^{Just keep in mind that The Children of Israel traveled through the desert of Shur for three days and three nights.  Does anything about that time frame sound familiar?  That was exactly how long it took for Jesus Christ to resurrect from the grave.  It really puts your mind to thinking about how the people of God were being resurrected into a new life.  Right before they walked to Shur they had been singing a victory song and dancing in celebration of the physical freedom that they had received.} 

<sup>They were physically free, yet; were they spiritually free?  

How long can a person who still has the mentality of a slave in their heart enjoy their freedom?

God still had some work to do with these people as He was forming them into a nation.  He had some spiritual work to do now that the physical work had been accomplished.  They had moved into freedom with their bodies; but could they make the journey with their minds and hearts?

We can build huge buildings and go to them and sit in praise and worship.  We have the freedom to do this, and our bodies are able to be there; but are we always present with our minds, our hearts and our souls?  Are we looking for God or just wanting something "different" to do?  God inhabits the praises of His people.  When you go to a place of public worship; do not go just to see what is there.  Do not go just to be with your friends and neighbors or to meet new people.  It is not a social function; it is a time of worship.   Do not go to hear what a man will tell you.  Men will always disappoint you.  Go simply to listen to what GOD has to say.   Do not go to be entertained.  Go to worship God with your whole heart.  That is the only true worship.  Whether you are in a public place that is considered sacred by many, or in your own closet with the door closed inside your own home; worship can only happen when you truly want to approach God with your whole heart.   That is healthy, healed worship.  The people of Israel needed for their worship to be healthy and to be healed.  They were sick and needy in spirit.  Jesus called this "poor in spirit."   They no longer knew how to approach God.  What a sad state for the ancestors of Abraham.</sup>

^{At the end of the three days they came to Marah and they were very thirsty and they were hoping to find fresh water there.}  

<sup>Here again is some sketchy geography. The exact location of Marah is not certain.   The places they traveled after Marah, Etham, Shur and Elim are not certain either.  Where these places are located is heavily dependent on the correct location of Mount Sinai, and there are two, if not more, suggestions as to where that location exists.  

Traditionally Sinai was equated with one of the mountains at the south of the Sinai Peninsula which would lead you to conclude that Marah was at Ain Hawarah (where it is thought that Hagar stopped in her flight from Sarai</sup>   http://dancinginseason.blogspot.com/2014/12/come-as-child-lesson-46-who-can-know.html)   at a salty spring about 47 miles southeast of Suez.  

^{However; as I mentioned earlier, this place can be debated.  It seems a majority of scholars and religious leaders believe that the traditional location of Sinai is inaccurate.  They suggest an alternative with Sinai being in the north and center of the Sinai Peninsula in the Hejaz, in north eastern Arabah.  This would make the location of Marah far to the southeast of Suez, and that would be a substantial detour from the route the Israelites had taken so far.  This fact has led some scholars to propose Ain Naba as Marah, which is a brackish fountain located 10 miles southeast of Suez.} 

Others have proposed that Marah is located at a place called The Small Bitter Lake, about 20 miles north of Suez.  

^{Whatever the location; we ARE sure about the name of the place!}.  ^{Marah earned its name from its reputation.  Marah means “bitter.”  The water of Marah was so bitter the thirsty people could not drink it.} 

^{They had been in the desert for a long time, traveling in the hot sun.  They desperately needed water to survive.  They finally came to some water (they must have been worried they would not find water in time before their death) and when they did find it; the water taste so bad that they could not drink it!} 

^{Some people think the water of Marah contained salt.  Salt would only make very thirsty people more thirsty!  The people were very thirsty by now and so they grumbled against Moses. They kept asking “What are we to drink?”}

^{I can’t help but feel sorry for Moses in these circumstances.   He must have felt like a glorified babysitter!   By following God’s orders, he had led them out of slavery!  He led them through the Red Sea under a miracle from God!  He had conveniently placed them under the cloud and the pillar of fire by asking the LORD to go with them so that they would always know where God wanted them to be; but every time some little thing went wrong; instead of being thankful for Moses and his excellent leadership; they complained!  Now they are complaining about not being able to drink the water at Marah because it was bitter and it taste bad to them.  These people were physically liberated; but they had a long way to go spiritually!}

<sup>Moses seemed to be spiritually in tune to God however, so Moses cries out to God and God shows him a piece of wood.  Again, I am reminded of the cross and Jesus saying "I Thirst!"  He was given vinegar to drink, there was no sweet water at the cross either.  God never asks more of us than He has done Himself.

  

Before I thought about this incident of the cross, this piece of wood laying beside the water  (or possibly even a tree growing within the water) struck me as an odd thing for Moses to be needing.    

How on earth could Moses use a simple piece of wood? 

 Well, it was just the same as the time when he used that wooden staff that he held in his hands to bring the plagues of Egypt and also when he stretched  that staff of wood across the sea and it opened up and provided a way where there was no way.  Each time something made of wood containing the power of God paved the way to freedom and provided the needs of the people.  Of course, it was only because God put the power in the wood.    It was just the same with Noah's ark.  It was just the same with The Ark of The Covenant.  It was just the same with a wooden cross on the hills of Calvary.  God was and still is the power!

Moses knew the wood for either purpose was nothing but wood unless God was the power behind the wood!  God had shown and supplied Moses with the wood.  Moses mustered up all the faith he had and took that piece of wood provided by God and used it to obtain water when it seemed that there was no water. 

This word "wood" as it is translated in many passages is called "a tree."  Moses threw the "tree" into the water and it became sweet instead of bitter.  Many believe that tree might have been a mangrove tree.  The mangrove tree has the capacity to extract salt from sea water.  Even if this were true though, the process of extraction usually takes days or at least hours.  It seems that the water was instantly changed.  God provided the change; even if the tree had the capacity to do so in the long run.  God interjected Himself into the power of the tree, and the water was turned from bitter to sweet.  It was said that the adding in of the mangrove tree healed the waters at Marah.  This healing perfectly mirrored God's words of healing  to the people as they stood by the water at Marah; God said to them:  "I AM the LORD who heals you."</sup>  

<sup>So how did God make the bitter water become sweet? 

 It matters here that we remember the fact that God used a tree.  The scriptures do not elaborate on this point.  A lot is left to your imagination.  God often does that to us.  He wants to see if we will pursue the things which He has done.  When we do; we are deeply rewarded; we find great hidden treasures!  

When you look at the Hebraic translations of the scriptures, and when you read the verses given in Exodus 15; you are simply told that God showed Moses a tree.  

A tree!  

The only other thing we can notice about the tree, was that it provided healing.   

What does this mean?</sup> 

^{Many others, like me, have instantly thought of the cross that was formed from a tree, and that IS the final symbolic tree that resulted at the end of the story.  It is true and a very worthy thing to conclude; but first we must go back to the beginning of the story and think of Torah, because the scriptures as well as the One that gave his life on that very tree, say; that Torah is The Tree of Life.}

<sup>It was as if God was shouting out "THROW IN THE TORAH MOSES!"

The Torah was the tree that brought healing to the people!  

By looking at how the tree healed the waters at Marah, the people were getting their first glimpse at Torah.  

Most of you already know that the Torah is the record of the words of the law written down in the first five books of the bible that were dictated by God to Moses at Mount Sinai.  

Few actually think about the fact that other men had been given pieces of this message in the past too.  That is often forgotten and overlooked.  Noah, for example; knew God's laws.  Abraham knew God's laws.  Isaac knew God's laws.  Joseph knew God's laws.  They had all kept them and honored them in their lives; because in their childhood they had memorized the words of the unwritten Torah.   

There is a written form of Torah, and an oral form of Torah.  Long before Moses came to live in this world, the important mysteries contained in the Torah had been memorized by God's people and the ancestors of Abraham.  Remember Isaac being sent to school at Mt. Moriah?  This was the school formed by Seth (Son of Noah) who taught the mysteries of God.  These words were much LATER written down by Moses into the five books that we now call Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.  Mostly they contain the laws of God given to Moses on Mt. Sinai.  This is part of the story which we have yet to study; but Moses wrote what God instructed, and what God instructed had already been studied and passed down through generations before the people went into slavery.</sup>       

<sup>Why is it that God shows them this now?  Moses hasn’t yet climbed up to Mount Sinai to receive the Torah from God; but perhaps here at Marah, Moses and the people begin to get a glimpse of it!

Do you remember another person who got a very good glimpse?  I must refer you back to another lesson in an earlier blog:    Remember how Jacob limped out of Peniel?  It was because he had seen the face of God and lived!  Jacob got a glimpse!  http://dancinginseason.blogspot.com/2015_09_03_archive.html</sup>  

^{Why would this be happening here and now in this scene at Marah?}   Why would this moment at Marah become the first glimpse that the people have of the Torah, and just how is the Torah known as The Tree of Life anyway?

<sup>We must stop a moment and look back.  

Remember how Joseph was sold into slavery to the descendents of Ishmael?  Remember that is how he came to be Potipher’s slave and how he eventually became powerful as a leader in Egypt?  Remember that is how the ancestors of Abraham, Jacob/Israel and all of his sons came to live in Egypt?  They were following Joseph.   For so long the ancestors of Abraham had been blessed because God had protected Joseph, and through him God had helped all of them to thrive.  400 years had passed since that time; and these things had been forgotten!  They had become slaves in a foreign land who worshiped foreign and false gods.  The teachings of the God of Abraham had been pushed aside, except by a few who had memorized the old ways and passed them on, but had no opportunity to actually live them out, since they were bound in slavery.   Even these few had no power or way of carrying out the things of God in a pagan land.  

The ancestors of Abraham had been overcome by others who did not know or care for their God. Long after the death of Joseph, the ways of God handed down from Noah had become less and less significant in the lives of these Israelites as they lived out their hard-working,tortured lives, serving day-in and day-out, a pagan culture of totally different people who did not believe in their God.  

Most of these Hebraic people still had the concept of The God of Abraham; but they had lost the teachings to another culture's teachings.  Their day-to-day lives had been rearranged and planned out for them by others for so long that they did not  know where or how to start to honor God in their freedom.</sup> 

^{Way back in history, God had warned them to always guard and keep His words and His ways.  They had not done this.  Even though faithful Abraham had been so careful to do this, and to teach his sons to do this; by now enough generations had passed and enough pressure from a pagan culture has happened; that they had forgotten a lot of the basics.  God had to teach them all over again!}

 

<sup>Many think God started this teaching of the people again at Sinai; but actually, He started at Marah.   The ways of God are layered and cumulative.  The basic concepts of living a Godly life are built up one step at a time. It is a long process.  A simple man’s heart cannot absorb the concepts of a godly life all at once; no matter how much he intends to do so.  It is a long, often slow process; a time period of transformation that is always going forward.   

God created us in this way so that we can learn through our experiences.  He shows us only what we can handle and only when He knows we can absorb it.  He lets that sink into our hearts, our minds and souls; then He shows us a little more of the whole picture until we begin to get it all.  Even then; we can’t get it all!  

We will never know all of the mysteries and marvelous things of God until we see Him face-to-face in eternity.  It is too much!  God is too big!  He is way beyond our human understanding!  Yet  He loves us and tries to make us a very important part of His world.  He desires that we keep and guard what we CAN learn now.  It is very important to God that we learn and know His ways so that we may one day dwell face-to-face with Him.  He started teaching us about the same time that He started teaching those Israelites way back at Marah!  He teaches through a constant process of life.  He used others to teach them!   He has used these ancient Israelites over and over to teach us how to live.  We learn how to live by the way He was re-teaching them how to live.</sup>

^{Right there at Marah God began to give His people a glimpse of all the things He would show them later (in more and greater detail) at Sinai.} 

<sup>God started this lesson by telling Moses to throw the wood into the water.  When Moses was obedient to God; when he threw in the wood (symbolically The Torah) the water became fit to drink.  It was yet another miracle!  Unfortunately, it often takes a miracle to get people’s attention.  

This is yet another time when God took what was bitter and made it sweet!  The people suddenly quit murmuring and began to pay closer attention to their blessed state.   God had their full focus now.   It wasn’t just what was happening with the water folks!  God was actually doing something spiritual with the people.  He was going to change them from their bitter pagan ways to the sweet ways of The Kingdom of God. Sometimes it takes a little bitterness in the wilderness to help us get to the spiritual healing and the sweet of God’s Presence in our days.   Sometimes you have to throw in a little wood (Torah) in order for this to happen!  The people need instruction!  Torah is perfect instruction.  Just like a tree, Torah is layered in its being.  We must learn precept upon precept in order to fully understand Torah.  At Morah God was placing the very first layer back in place of an old, old tree that needed healing.</sup>

^{At Sinai, God would heal more layers.  He would keep on healing until a nation of healed people came forth!}

We can always count on God to take a very bad situation and to use it for good.  He is just that kind of God!  This trait is one of His holy attributes; He is always transforming and changing things from what they were to the better thing that they can become.   He does this by adding Torah (His Holy Word) into our living.  

It is Torah, God's written word, that heals us and changes our lives from bitter to sweet.   We stand before Him in dirty earthen rags; but He only sees the blood of Christ that covers us.  God never sees us for who we have made ourselves to be.  He is always looking to see the person that He created us to be.  

Our life on this earth is a journey through time from the point of our birth to the point of our eternity.   Our life on earth is much like this three day walk to Shur that was taken first by Hagar, then by Isreal.  We humans get thirsty and we look within ourselves to solve the problem, and we begin to feel hopeless.  Then God shows up!  He shows us how to drink good, clean water.  He throws in the wood of Torah, and we find His word sweet and easy to drink.  Suddenly everything is changed!  His presence among us changes and transforms us from bitter to sweet, just like the water at Marah.    

<sup>All through this journey of the Israelites, when they were still slaves, during the time they were being set free, and all the way into the wilderness; God has been showing the people who He really is.  He is showing them that He is powerful.  He is showing them that he is trustworthy.  

Sometimes, just like what happened at Marah; we too encounter situations and circumstances that are unbearable and we don’t know what to do.  We feel frustrated like those Israelites who traveled three days into the hot desert until they knew they were about to die of thirst.  Then after they found water their relief turns to grief and disappointment when the water is too biter to drink. We, very similar to them, find ourselves in dire circumstances from time to time and we feel hopeless and alone and think there is no solution to our problems.  But God can step into a situation and change it in an instant.  What seems unbearable will become easier.  He will make the bitter water of life taste sweeter, if you simply remember to call on him in your distress.  The words of Torah are a tree of life for those seeking the help of God.</sup>

<sup>Remember to seek God for all spiritual healing.  Moses had already done that!  Moses was on a whole different spiritual level than the people.  Moses actually trusted God and cried out to Him.  The people were like the water; they had become bitter with anger against Moses.  They could have cried out to God too; but instead they complained against Moses.  It seemed the people needed deliverance from more than just Pharaoh and his army.  They needed deliverance from themselves!  Their hearts were bitter and not fit for use.  God was the only One who could change this.  They did not have it within them to change on their own.

Because of Moses and his heart toward God; God looked down on them and had mercy.  It is the same with us; only it is the heart of Jesus toward God that saves us.  We cannot take any of the credit; we can only reach up our hands and plead for mercy; and like the water that lost it’s bitterness; God changes our hearts too.  Because One heart was pure; God brought redemption to many hearts.</sup> 

So Moses throws the tree into the water and things begin to change!

So;exactly why do I think God was giving the Israelites a preview of part of the Torah at Marah?  

Why would He let them have a partial glimpse before He gave it all to them on Sinai? 

Exodus 15:25 – 26 says:  Then Moses cried out to the LORD and the LORD showed him a piece of wood.  He threw it into the water, and the water became fit to drink.  There the LORD issued a ruling and instruction for them and put them to the test.  He said, “If you listen carefully to the LORD your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all of his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the LORD, who heals you.

The Israelites needed spiritual healing!  They needed it right away!  The ripples in the water needed to begin!

They had been living too long without knowing God’s way of life.  God began very slowly and patiently instructing them right there at Marah.  As he healed the water, He healed them.  He also began to test their faithfulness.  Moses had passed the test of faithfulness by remembering to call on God in his hour of distress.  He had done this in Egypt, at the Red Sea and now at Marah; but the people needed more instruction and more testing. They were far behind Moses in making progress toward a godly life.

It is interesting to note that the very first thing God said was “If you listen carefully to me……and if you do what is right in my eyes….”  The first step in healing is to listen to and follow God’s instructions.   God's instructions are given in Torah.   Next God said; “if you pay attention to my commands and follow my drecrees….”  There are a lot of “ifs” in those statements.  

God knew how the people could be stubborn and selfish and how they often forgot to listen and remember His ways.  He began to re-teach them just the same.  That is just how much God loves those that He has called.  He loves them enough to wait 400 years.  He loves them enough to defeat strong nations before them.  He loves them enough to look the other way and be patient until they get it right.  He loves them enough to be merciful and forgiving even when they are stubborn and headstrong.  God IS love.

Right now in America, we are like these Israelites who have picked up pagan ways.  We have let our culture influence us to the point that we need to be hit by that tree called Torah.  We need to refresh our minds and hearts and souls with the goodness of the ways of God.  He makes us the same promise; the one filled with Ifs; IF you do what is right in MY eyes; IF you listen carefully to ME.....When will we heed this warning?  It could be the very thing that turns the bitter mess of our country's state right now into the sweetness that we desire; what some of us still remember from a land filled with milk and honey.  We are right now standing by the waters of Marah; will we throw in the tree?  Will we turn back to the ways and instructions of Torah?  We need to go sit under God's Tree of Life for a very, very long time and re-evaluate our lives.  Like those Israelites of the Exodus; we need to learn to follow God again.

Because the Egyptians were rebellious and would not believe or follow The One True God; God removed His protection from their land.  He let them suffer from diseases and they reaped the miserable consequences of the seeds they had sown.   Here at Marah God promises His people, (those who have been faithful to Him) that He will protect them and deliver them from all of these diseases that fell on the Egyptians; if they simply listen and obey His word and keep His ways.  

It sounds like a good deal to me!  

God certainly had the attention of the Israelites at Marah, and I think it was there that many of the ones who were the most faithful and true decided to turn and change and re-learn the instructions of God, which meant giving up the pagan ways of Egypt and beginning to live life based upon God's commands.   

When people decide to be faithful and they turn and repent and trust God for everything; even though there are severe consequences sometimes when they find themselves right in the middle of life's journeies; wonderful things result in the end.  The passage of scripture that speaks of the people after the visit to Marah tells us that the Children of Israel went on traveling to a very interesting and exciting new place.  It was called Elim.  

Elim consisted of a lush lands with twelve springs and 70 palm trees!  

Can you imagine what a change it was from Shur?  There was ample fresh water and wonderful cool shade in Elim; so they camped there near the water.  

AN APPLE A DAY - THE JOY OF BOK CHOY

DAY 109 OF 365 DAYS TO A HEALTHIER LIFESTYLE

THE JOY OF BOK CHOY

(Written by Sheila Gail Landgraf)

Did you know that bok choy, or what is sometimes called “Chinese Cabbage,” is the second most nutritious vegetable on earth? 

Well!  That is great news!  I’ll just confess right here; I’ve never even tasted it.  I’ve never once used it in cooking…..and I absolutely don’t understand a thing about it! 

Where have I been?   Have I had my head buried in the sand?  I honestly thought I knew a little bit about good nutrition, and now I’m finding out that the two most nutritious vegetables in the land have never graced my table!  

Last week I solved the watercress disaster by using my new recipe to everyone’s delight.  I will be incorporating watercress into my sandwiches and salads too.  No problem, the stuff tastes great!  But; bok choy?  Now that is a different story.  What on earth will I do with that stuff? 

My guess was that I should start by learning all that it can do to help me; health wise.  So I began to research bok choy.  I found out it is a member of the cabbage family.  It contains 21 nutrients!  Those nutrients include omega-3 and the antioxidant mineral called zinc.  (I’m already impressed!) 

Cancer has been the culprit for most of my loved ones; so you know I’m all about cancer preventative measures.  It turns out that recent studies identified over 70 antioxidant phenolic substances in bok choy.  They include hydroxycinnamic acids, which have been referred to as “chain-breaking” antioxidants because they have a method of scavenging free radicals.  This information has sparked many large-scale human studies about dietary antioxidants and cancer prevention. 

Bok Choy is loaded with beta-carotene and it is ranked the 11^th richest food for vitamin A.  It is also an excellent source for vitamin C and manganese.  The diverse array of antioxidants found in the flavonoids of bok choy brings unique benefits. 

These flavonoids; quercetin, kaempferol and isorhamnetin and other phenolic acids (including significant amounts of hydroxycinnamic acids) are all helpful and work together to prevent unwanted oxygen damage to cells.  The particular combinations of the antioxidants in bok choy are very valuable in terms of antioxidant support.  This whole, natural food can provide you with benefits that antioxidant supplements cannot provide. 

Bok Choy has been found to help in lowering your risk for chronic inflammation.  About 70 milligrams of alpha-linolenic acid are found in one cup of cooked bok choy.  It is one of the top 15 Vitamin K foods.  Vitamin K protects your bone health and gives your blood good clotting abilities.  It regulates your inflammatory responses, especially in relation to the cardiovascular system. 

Due to recent discoveries from the research I’ve been doing; I would recommend you alternate eating one cup of watercress a day and one cup of bok choy a day.  This could only lead you down a path to great health!

For the previously ignorant (like me) here is how you can recognize bok choy in the grocery store:  it looks like non-headed cabbage with distinct individual leaves that cluster together in a way that is similar to celery stalks.  It may be called “white cabbage” or “Chinese cabbage.”  It may or may not have white stems, sometimes they are yellow or purple stems, as there are many types of bok choy.  Just look for smooth, glossy, spoon-shaped leaf blades that cluster together without forming an actual head.  You will probably sometimes also see baby bok choy for sale.  This has a more tender texture and milder flavor. 

Bok Choy can be spelled a million different ways too, so don’t let the rearranging of the spelling throw you off at the market.  Sometimes “choy” is “choi,” and sometimes “bok” is spelled “pak” or “pok.”  Go figure – don’t ask me why; I can’t know EVERYTHING!  It is hard enough just realizing that I didn’t know what bok choy was!  You will probably find it grouped with the Asian vegetables.  Look for firm bright green leaves and moist hardy stems.  It should not be wilted, and do not buy it if the color is brown or yellow.  Green means fresh!  Also, skip the purchase if there are holes in the leaves.  Not a good thing!

Bok Choy can be stored in an air-free plastic storage bag and kept in your refrigerator for about a week.  If you let it get warm before eating; much of the vitamins and nutrients will be lost.  Keep it cold until you are ready to eat or cook.

So how do you make it taste delicious?  Here is one of my NEW favorite recipes.  I think you will like it.  It got top ratings at our house.  Most people want to sauté bok choy, and that is fine; but I prefer to roast it.  Just fill a small shallow bowl with extra virgin olive oil, a little sea salt and a little fresh ground pepper.  Add about one tablespoon of ginger and stir well.   Preheat your oven to 450 degrees.  Dredge the bok choy (cut lengthwise) through the oil mixture and roast cut side down on a baking sheet for 10 minutes, then turn for 5 minutes more roasting. If you want to get a bit more creative, add a little honey or soy sauce, or both to the oil mix.  You can cut mushrooms and onions to roast with this too.  Any of these make the bok choy very tasty.  It is surprisingly delicious!  I especially enjoy this recipe with fish cooked in olive oil and lemon juice.  They are both healthy and the mix makes a great combination of flavors.

So go and cook this green leafy vegetable; and share it with someone you love.  Proverbs 15:17 says; it is better to eat a dish of vegetables where love is than a fattened ox served with hatred.  I think we can all agree on this logic!  Peace, love and bok choy.....perfect combination for a healthy lifestyle. 

COME AS A CHILD LESSON 130 – THE MEANING OF A SPECIAL NEW SONG

WHAT IT MEANS TO CROSS THE RED SEA

(Written by Sheila Gail Landgraf)

God had told Abraham his people would be oppressed in Egypt 400 years. (Genesis 15:13-15) And he said unto Abram, “Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years; and also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance.  And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age.”

It all happened just as God had said it would.  It was exactly 400 years to the day when they began to cross the Red Sea and walk through walls of water to the other shore.  A new song is recorded in Exodus Chapter 15 that speaks of their deliverance from Egypt.  This is not the Song of Moses; but it is often called the Song of The Sea.  Moses must have been quite a song writer; much like David perhaps, because we know of at least three songs that he is given credit for writing.  This song is a triumphant description of the power of God as the defender of Israel.  Verses 1-21 sing about the things of the sea.  It speaks in this first half about what God has done.  The second half of the song is prophetic in nature and it speaks of the things that God will do in the future.

It is always the same; every ending is a new beginning!  The redemption from slavery ended their bondage.  The free life that now belonged to them began a whole new adventure for the people of God.  What better start to a whole new way of life than a victory song sung in joy and celebrated in dance?

These moments are the moments I love about how our Heavenly Father lives!  He celebrates all of the markers and places in life that are significant.  I think we all could do with much more celebration of the good things that have happened and much less grumbling of the things that we think have gone wrong.  Why dwell on what we consider impossible when we serve a mighty God who can do the impossible? 

The people’s hope turned to sheer joy as they paused on the other side and realized the miracle they had just lived through.  Both the men and the women were given parts of this song and they all sang in harmony.  Miriam was 90 years old, but she was singing and dancing with the timbrel – leading the music for all the other women.  Moses and Aaron were not “spring chickens” either!  They were leading the men in making a joyful noise unto God who had led them to cross over the sea.  They had all “passed over” the sea!   Again, death had been defeated and new life had been given!

I wonder how many of them thought of the miracle as it was happening?  I wonder how many picked up a seashell from the bed of the ocean and put it in their pocket to remind them of this day?  Long after the day of joy and celebration they all would be telling the story of this day to the next generation!  What an amazing time it was!  They would forever speak of God’s miracles to their children and grandchildren.  They would always remember and proclaim the prototype they were shown of the final redemption of men’s souls!   Now all of the many, many years have passed and we still hear the story fresh, as if it happened yesterday.  That within itself is a major miracle of God.  

In the days ahead; when the tribulations come; those who overcome the world will also experience a similar deliverance (Revelation 15: 1-4.)  I saw in heaven another great and marvelous sign:  seven angels with the seven last plagues – last, because with them God’s wrath is completed.  And I saw what looked like a sea of glass glowing with fire and, standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious over the beast and its image and over the number of its name.  They held harps given them by God and sang the song of God’s servant Moses and the Lamb:  “Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty.  Just and true are your ways, King of the nations, Who will not fear you, Lord, and bring glory to your name?  For you alone are holy.  All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.” 

My friends, we too have a sea to cross!  Let us cross it singing the praises of God.

Our future and hope is based upon these actions of God from the past.  We can be assured of the things God WILL DO based upon the things that we already know HE HAS DONE.  

So get ready!  We will cross the sea!

God’s faithfulness never changes.  

He is the same, yesterday, today and forever.

  

 

OH THE PLACES WE SHOULD GO - MCWANE SCIENCE CENTER

DISCOVERING THE JOYS OF MCWANE CENTER
BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA
(Writing and photography by Sheila Gail Landgraf)

Have you taken a child to McWane Center recently?  If not; you are missing out on one of the finer things in life!  

This children’s museum was designed to inspire a life-long love for learning.  There is so MUCH for a child to do, learn and explore here.  I would highly recommend that every parent consider this a MUST-DO summer outing.  We took our grandson last summer.  He loved everything about it. 

This awesome place of science and wonder has been open in The Magic City of Birmingham, Alabama since 1998.  It is a magical place where you can see, hear and touch all of the wonders of science.  Adults will enjoy the exhibits just as much as kids!  I caught myself feeling like a child again.   

The focus is on science, technology, engineering and mathematics; but you will just think you are exploring and having fun.  No lectures!  Everything you learn will be through the experience of “doing.”  You can try everything out by trial and error and come up with all of your own answers.  You will be engaged and inspired.  You can create along with everyone else.  One of the best parts of this fun hands-on learning; absolutely NO HOMEWORK!

So how did this special place come about?  Back in 1998 Birmingham’s Discovery Place and The Red Mountain Museum merged to create a new stimulating and interactive science museum.   The merger has been very successful in every way.  The McWane Science Center came to be a state-of-the-art museum housed in the historic and refurbished old Loveman’s Department Store Building. 

How many of you old-timers like me remember going to Loveman’s in Downtown Birmingham as a young child with your parents?  I remember being in such a first-grader’s awe of its magnificent splendor!  To visit the candy department there was to die and go to heaven; only better.  To ride the elevators and to take lunch with your Mother on the Mezzanine level cafe was a very special treat.  We always dressed up in our best clothes just to go shopping there.  It held an atmosphere of luxury and finery, and I still remember my little red wool coat that my Mother bought me at Loveman’s.  I was the envy of every first-grade girl in my little town.    

Those childhood memories of Loveman’s Department Store were good; but they are nothing at all compared to the new memories you will make with your own child or grandchild at the McWane Center.  The magic lives on, and it just gets better!   

McWane Center became a brilliant focal point for Birmingham's redevelopment.  Looking back from where we stand now; the McWane Science Center could truly be called the “cornerstone of Birmingham, Alabama’s downtown revitalization.”  Once it was completed many other doors were opened for the growth and revitalization of this historic area of The Magic City.  What better way than to start with something to inspire the children of this city toward a brighter and more beautiful future by teaching them the science they will need to know to make their mark on the world?  It all begins with learning the basics of science; and teaching children the wonders of science, even beyond the basics, and all of this is where the McWane Science Center excels.

ESSENTIAL DETAILS:

The McWane Science Center is located at 200 19^th Street North, Birmingham, Alabama  35203.  The phone number for the center is:  205-714-8300.  Admission prices for the Adventure Hall and the IMAX may be obtained separate or combined.  Adventure Hall tickets are $13 for Adults, $12 for Seniors and $9 for Children aged 2 – 12.  IMAX only tickets are $9 for Adults, $8 for Seniors, and $8 for Children aged 2 – 12.  Combined tickets for both experiences cost $18 for Adults, $16 for Seniors and $14 for Children aged 2 – 12.  Special membership packages are available in several different combinations, according to your specific needs.  If you are going to come more than once in the year; the membership would probably be to your advantage, especially if you are a grandparent or a large family.  

The doors of the center are open on Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. till 6 p.m., and on Saturdays from 10 a.m. till 6 p.m., and on Sundays from 12 noon till 6 p.m.  They are only closed on major holidays.  Covered parking is available on 2^nd Avenue North.  Parking will cost you $5 when you exit.  There is also metered parking available on the street.  Street parking is free on the weekends. 

SPECIAL EXHIBITS: Some of the exhibits are traveling exhibits or temporarily designed educational exhibits laid out for special subjects, occasions and reasons.  For instance; the day we took our grandson there was an old classic toy exhibit that was truly wonderful.  It was unbelievable to me how many classic old toys and games could be gathered together in one place with their history and details recorded and with interactive stations.  You could look back on all of your old favorite toys and games.  You could explain to your children and grandchildren how they were used and why you loved them so much.  Just check the website or call ahead to see if any extra traveling exhibits are in town on the day you decide to go.  If so; icing on the cake!  If not; I promise you will have PLENTY of fun things to do anyway.

HANDS-0N EXHIBITS

LEVEL 1 - SCIENCE QUEST EXHIBITS:  
What a great way to learn all about science!  In this section you can experience the effects of the anti-gravity mirror.  Here you will see some pretty cool stuff pertaining to the symmetry in mirror reflections.  

You can progress to the basket ball goals next and learn the mysteries of the “swish.”  Did you know there is a science behind shooting hoops?  

Have you ever laid on a bed of nails?  You can do it here without even noticing – is that odd or what? 

 Be sure to check out the Caternary Arch exhibit.  Pretty amazing. 

When you come to the Chaotic Pendulum, I’ll give you a hint.  DO NOT DEPEND ON YOUR OWN INTUITIONS!  They simply will not work.  You will see the Combination Safes that can only be opened by certain sequences of numbers.  Can you guess which ones?  

You can also enjoy the Giant Lever, the Height Checker and the Light and Lazar Exhibit in this venue.  You can play MindBall.  You might learn a lot about how electrical signals of the brain work; especially while you are sleeping.  Did you know your brain never stops working?  It is busy even while you sleep.  

LEVEL 1 - JUST MICE SIZED 
Designed for pre-schoolers from one to five.  Can't wait to take my little granddaughter to this.  She has already been with her other grandparents; so I will let her forget it for a few months and then take her back.  It is one of those experiences that a child can enjoy over and over again! Everything here is larger than life.   Little ones can climb in the Mouse House or splash around at a water table.  There is a place for costume play or sitting to read a book.  Everything is displayed at eye-level for smaller children.  

LEVEL 1 - BUBBLE ROOM  
The Science of Suds!  You can make all kinds of bubbles, even odd shaped ones, like squares!

LEVEL 1 - RUSHTON THEATRE
This room is full of lightning and fire!  You will learn about physical science and life science. It is a huge theatre that explores such things.  You will be amazed.  There is a telsa coil and a Van De Graaff generator on display here.  

LEVEL 2 - ITTY BITTY MAGIC CITY  
An exhibit designed for kindergarten and younger aged children. This is the newest feature of McWane Center and it has been very popular.  The exhibits are adorable and very interactive on a toddler's level.  Another one I want to experience with my younger granddaughter one day.  Here your child can experience physical play, exploratory play, constructive play and imaginary play.  On main street you will get the look and feel of an imaginary town.  Toddlers can explore and play at the "Tot Spot."  There is an awesome water play area with your toddler will begin to learn the basics of H2O.  There is a climb station where toddlers can engage in their favorite activity - climbing to their heart's content.  Everything is safe, carefully thought out and imaginative.   

LEVEL 2 - EXPLORE!  MUSEUM'S COLLECTION CENTER 

On the day we were there our grandson announced that he was going to be a butterfly catcher when he grew up!   A lofty goal for any child to aspire too.  

This section is all about geology, paleontology, anthropology,and zoology.  Is your child a collector of rocks, bugs, butterflies or shells?  They will be in heaven here.  The collections are extensive and amazing and artfully displayed.  Learn about the scientific methods and develop your microscope skills here.  You can actually touch and see fossils, skeletons and rare minerals.

LEVEL 2 - ALABAMA DINOSAURS:

Were you aware of the fact that Alabama is the best place east of the Mississippi to find the remains of dinosaurs?  It is true!  Lots of them are here at McWane for you to see and touch.  Find out their names and where they lived and what they did in Alabama so many years ago.

LEVEL 2 - SCIENCE ON A SPHERE (SOS):
NOAA's exhibit of planetary data.  The use of projectors and computers here make for amazing discoveries.  It allows you to explore a giant animated globe of the earth and see the earth science that goes on all the time when we are not noticing it taking place.   You will experience a few atmospheric storms and some climate changes.  You will learn how ocean temperatures effect our environment.  You will learn a lot about Earth Science, Space Science and Environmental Science; but it will all simply just be a fun exploration.  

LEVEL 2 - SEA MONSTERS:
See what creatures swam in Alabama's waters 80 million years ago!  Come face to face with a 15 foot sea turtle and a 17 foot fish!  Peer into the jaws of the Mosasaur, the most dangerous sea monster of its time.  This exhibit is loaded with facts about life science and earth science and it is great fun to explore them up close and personal.

LEVEL 2 - NATURE SCOPE:   

At Nature Scope you can explore the great outdoors while you are actually inside a building.  Cool; huh?  Nothing seems to be impossible here at McWane Center.  They have brought the wonderful world of outdoor nature inside the center for you to enjoy.  You won't have to worry about the weather!  Go to the Audubon Cabin and find out about birds.  Find out which birds live in Alabama.  You can watch for them later when you are on a hiking trip or simply playing in your back yard.  Your child will be delighted to know which birds are which.   Watch a nature show or see a demonstration of the way nature works.   Explore Wildlife Alabama programs on a virtual tour with Alabama's own  Doug Philips.  Learn what noises different animals make and record yourself imitating their sounds!  So funny!  Go into the decompression chamber and find out how insets affect our ecosystem.  Meet every type of bug you ever wanted to see.  Some of them are pretty scary though.  Watch out for that tarantula!  

LEVEL 2 - HIGH CYCLE:    

You can take a high cycle ride across the expanse of the museum's lobby.  Fun and exciting.  In this section of the museum you can experience different stations that teach you all about the forces of gravity.

LEVEL 3 - ART SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

This is a great way to learn how science and technology can merge to create art!  Experience surrealism with the crazy weird mirror technology available.  Merge your face with a friends and see what the two of you look like combined!  Stand in front of an interactive screen covered with digital butterflies and merge them into creative art patterns.  This is such a fun part of the exhibit.

It allows your creativity to mix with your intellect.  Art and science shake hands here and introduce themselves to each other.

LOWER LEVEL - WORLD OF WATER AQUARIUM:



What do you know about the ocean?  You will learn so many fascinating facts at this part of the museum.  There is a section to teach about ocean water, a section to teach about river water, and a section that teaches about lake water.  One whole section teaches about our local habitat in the Cahaba River.  After you leave McWane Center you can take you child to the river and enforce their learning by having a conversation about the same things all over again in the actual spot where the information came about.  A coral tank features corals from the Indo-Pacific region.    You get the best of locations of water; both here and there, fresh and salt.

LOWER LEVEL-SHARK AND RAY TOUCH TANK:  

This exhibit has large tanks and aquariums that will teach you all about the ocean creatures.  These waters are full of sharks and rays (all different types.)  Some of them you can see; some of them you can touch!   Your child will be fascinated with the interaction.  All of it is very interesting.

JOHN W. WOODS IMAX DOME THEATER
The IMAX experience alone is worth the trip to McWane.  A 5 story 79 foot tilted domed screen theatre makes you feel like you are actually a part of the scenery around you.  It has 15,000 watts of digital surround sound and you won't be able to tell you are not actually under the bright blue sky hearing the call of the birds as they fly across the roaring waves of the ocean.  Each show is different and unique; but you will love them all.  If you have already been to the exhibits several times this year; why not just take an outing to the IMAX?  There is always something new and exciting to grab your attention and give you another thrilling adventure.  

THE SMART CAFE
After a fun morning at McWane; you may need a lunch break.  No problem.  The Smart Cafe offers a wide variety of food options and even displays the food options nutritional values for you so you can make all the wisest of choices.  

What are you waiting on?  The McWane Center is open and available for summer fun and memory making.  Grab a car load of kids and get over there!  Who would have ever thought spending a whole day learning science could be so much fun!