by Kimberly | Apr 25, 2010 | Uncategorized
What kind of BBQ fan are you? Is it a noun or a verb? Do you like Memphis, TX, Sonny’s, Eastern, Western, TN, KY – so many people out there and everyone with an opinion on BBQ. Well…
Here is mine…
It is definitely a fave of my sister-in-laws and a gas station in Mooresville has it for sale on Sundays.
The homemade chips are great and not too salty – fun to eat when dipped in ranch dressing. They also come seasoned if you want them – cajun style – that is how Alan chose to eat his – dipped in their vinegar sauce.
So good – go now.
by Kimberly | Apr 23, 2010 | Uncategorized
This is a busy week – much eating out, hanging out with people. Looking forward to ALL of it! Gotta make wise decisions though about what I get!
Monday: oats and fruit for breakfast (good start to the week). Homemade chicken quinoa soup for lunch and veggies. Dinner is at Champas (the thai part of it) with bonnie over reading.
Tuesday: Breakfast at one of my fave places: Cafe Carolina (not that they have anything healthy there). Lunch with a new friend. Coffee at Bux later with a mission-minded college girl at State.
Wednesday: Publix bread, pb, and fruit. Lunch is with my co-workers at Crabtree Valley Mall (so many options). Dinner with some fave people at the Summit to meet their new(ish) little boy. Can’t wait for that meal and hang out time!
Thursday: Publix bread. Salad. Dinner while babysitting for some wild and crazy kids who love Jesus!
Friday: Egg white omelette with veggies, soup and pbj, dinner is something random because we have Joy Prom that night!
Saturday: Flying Biscuit with Rach, then off to the Farmers Market. Can’t wait to see what I find – and that will be lunch and dinner.
The recipe of the week this week will be something I can bake for the Joy Prom Volunteer room on Friday night – I’m thinking bars or brownies of some sort!
by Kimberly | Apr 23, 2010 | Uncategorized
Sojourn Community Church in Louisville, KY is graced to have many talented people in her body. There are artists, writers, singers, players, cookers, – so many.
What I really like about this one is it a simple reminder (complete with rhyming syntax, fun type, and creative characters) of what “worship-at-home” could look like.
Often, in this discussion of family worship, people ask “How do I do that?’ There isn’t anything you MUST do to have family worship or have to incorporate for it to be right. If you aren’t singers, you don’t have to sing. If you aren’t into poetry, you don’t have to have a reading time. Family Worship can start simply by just reading 10 verses, talking about it, and praying together as a family. Maybe that will take 10 minutes. Maybe you will do that once a month. Maybe you’ll do it once a week. The simple equation: just do something. Maybe you are gifted at the guitar or piano or writing songs or creative motions – incorporate those. There is so much freedom in this concept of family worship. Maybe your children love to draw – show them how their drawings can be an act of worship – as they share with the family what God taught them through that practice.
Sojourn tries to remind parents that they should be taking the lead in family worship, that the Dad should be shepherding his family in this way (just as the Pastor would do at the church). An underlying theological truth that is hinted at is that male leadership is a right Biblical concept. This is stated in their goal of this book: “was written to teach preschool children the Christian truth evident…that the home is a little church where the father teaches his family God’s commands and leads them to worship the one true God.”
And in accomplishing this goal very well, Sojourn also puts forth the co-championing model of Family Worship: “God intended the home to be the front line of ministry to children – not the Sunday School or public church gathering ALONE.” This is even intentional throughout the book as on one side of the page there is what we do in church and on the adjacent side if what we do at home.
One critique: this is more of a cultural one. Unfortunately, many marriages/families even within evangelical churches are lead by a single mother. Whether that is by divorce/separation/never present father/unwed teen moms/death – the reality is clear and present. The book is designed to appeal to “cookie cutter” Christian families. How does this work when given to a single Mom who is at her rope’s end because her kids are driving her crazy with all the other demands of being a single parent? One way to use this would be to give it to her, but then do a couple things:
1. Pray (with her) that God would give her strength and grace to accomplish this task of raising her children and discipling them in the fear and admonition of the Lord.
2. Pair her up with another Mom (single or married) who is leading well in this area.
3. Don’t just send her on her way – make sure she is being cared for, loved on, and nurtured.
This book would be an excellent, inexpensive tool to share with new parents, or new parents in your preschool ministry at your church – about what you expect of them as parents and leading the way in Family Worship.
by Kimberly | Apr 23, 2010 | Uncategorized
I love cookies. Bad, bad cookies! 🙂
But, when you are making them for 8th grade girls to go along with pizza and get them full of sugar for a sleepover – they are perfect. These are so good – especially right out of the oven. Perfectly chewy!
1 cup unsalted butter, room temp
1 cup light brown sugar
3/4 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
2 eggs (room temp)
2 1/2 cup flour
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 SCANT tsp salt
5 oz butterscotch chips
4 oz semi sweet chocolate chips
4 oz milk chocolate chips
3/4 cup chopped walnuts
Cream wet ingredients. Add in dry. Fold in chips and nuts.
Larger cookies – 11 minutes – slightly sprayed cookie sheets. 350 degrees.
Cool and eat!
Question: Do have a favorite cookie sheet that looks like this one? And what are your fave chips to use in cookies?
by Kimberly | Apr 22, 2010 | Uncategorized
There is more to this book than just a cool title.
My friend Janel had this book at her apt when I went to visit in January. I had just started reading through the Bible doing B90x (which I’m still doing by the way) and this aided in my understanding of some of the Jewish laws. With all the fun that we had that wknd, I only got about halfway through it before I left (I’m not a fast reader). But, I was so intrigued by it that I had to pick it up later and finish it. I just did.
This book was helpful in learning more about the laws and customs of Judaism, modern and ancient. This was helpful in seeing a Christian Jew live out her faith but not be under the obligations of the law. Helped to see how community and the law are so important to folks who are devout Jews.
Winner covers many different aspects: food, the sabbath, hospitality, death, doorposts, weddings, candles, etc. All offered insight into what was practiced, what is still being practiced, and how a Christian can incorporate these practices into her life.
On Fasting: “People who have fasted for years tell me there will come a time when I look forward to fasting.” (88). Man – this is hard. I remember in recent churches I have been in when the pastors would call the church to a corporate fast. I would try to do it. Most of the tie, I did it out of trying to please certain pastors. Not in an effort to pray and seek the face of God as part of the beautiful Bride of Christ. So, I did it more out of pride, man-pleasing, and legalism and I always failed at it.
On Fasting: “When I am sated, it is easy to feel independent. When I am hungry, it is possible to remember where my dependence lies.” (91) This applies to more than just food. Yes, food is the way Lauren talks about it here – but more recently I come to recognize this in finances and material goods. God has been more than gracious to me in so many ways and there is nothing for which I want. But, even toward the end of the month where I have to be more careful and rely on him for guidance on spending and scheduling – I realize that I need to do that all through the month and not just the last week. God is good.
On Aging: “Christianity and Judaism both offer narratives that make sense of death.” (101). A few months ago I thought about this paragraph (yes, before I read it). There were a coupld of deaths in my life that occurred all in a short span of time. And I was also helping others through greiving, etc. I started to think that we would never understand death. I came to the conclusion that we were never meant to understand death because we weren’t created with death in mind. Adam and Eve were created to live with God in the garden in perfect harmony forever. Then…SIN. Sin is what brought death. God made a way to conquer death – but He never said he would explain it to us.
On Candles: “Even when I am lighiting two thin tapers over dinner, I like to think about the light of Christ rectifying the sin by which came death to the world. The Light of Christ, I sometimes say to myself, Thanks be to God.” (119) Most of the time when we have lit candles in our homes they are to create ambience or help eliminate odor. I wonder what would happen if Glade or Yankee Candle Co started marketing to Christians as way a remember this Light of the World. Probably what would be the result is some cheezy fish candle or cross candle just like Testamints or other silly things like that. But, what would happen if we lit candles in our home and made it an intential part of that lighting to thank God for sending the Light of the World to use so that we could behold his glory and truth?
by Kimberly | Apr 22, 2010 | Uncategorized
Alright – we’ll I’ve been in Raleigh almost a month now – not quite – but I wanted to give an update.
This month has been hard. I eat out a lot, I am busy so I don’t have as much time to exercise, and I’m just not pleasing my Lord as much in the area of food and taking care of my body. I’ve been tired and my back has been hurting more (probably because I’m not exercising as much so my abs are getting weak). Living with a roommate has in some ways been different than I thought in the area of food – eating with people is more of a detriment to my diet than eating alone. Trying to make wise but cheap decisions when eating out but also not getting a salad every time is always a challenge. Like this week: all three burrito places in 3 days.
The weather has been great, but since my nights are getting busier I’ve not been getting home till late so I just pop in a Jillian video. Days off (like today) I’ll do a lake a couple of times then walk it tonight with my roommate for our first roommate night (followed by 25 cent DQ). Best laid plans don’t always work – but you can at least have a plan.
Last weekend I was supposed to the do Spring Saunter in Durham – but I was not prepared for it physically, spiritually, or mentally. I was probably most ready for it physically – but that doesnt’ always help.
I need to keep working – I’m always a work in progress. I think the beginning of my weeks will be harder to have outdoor exercise, and the end of the week will be full of it. Kinda opposite the food intake. So, we shall see.
