by Kimberly | Nov 3, 2012 | Arkansas, Festivals, food
You know you are still in the South when on a Saturday in November you head out to a cornbread festival. It was my first outing in Little Rock.
There was a diverse crowd there and almost as many ways people cook cornbread.
Scattered on Main Street were individuals and professionals (like the Capitol Hotel and Boulevard Bread) who had entered their authentic recipe for cornbread to be chosen the winner of this year’s festival. But, along with the cornbread there was live music, arts and crafts, and even someone’s pet pig.
One of the vendors I stopped at was BVann Originals – bags, gifts, and pretty things that all had a touch of uniqueness. B.Vann and his other workers at his table were very nice to talk with and let me take their picture.
I tasted two good ones today – most were rather dry and served with good sides (meaning the sides were better than the star of the show, the cornbread). They served authentic southern sides as chili, red beans, chicken and dumplings, and of course a variety of greens. The best savory one I thought was more of a spoon bread sitting on top of some well-seasoned collards. delicious. Hint of jalapeno and sweetness. Perfect combination. The other one was sweet – like desssert sweet. Pumpkin Spice Cornbread, topped with homemade local coffee ice cream and drizzled with caramel sauce. Definitely a winner – and definitely non-traditional.
My only disappointment was there was no cornbread you could buy to take home – and no “secret” recipes to be given out.
I look forward to exploring more of the new state we live in.
by Kimberly | Aug 22, 2012 | marriage
A hot cup of morning coffee? 20 minutes alone when he comes home from work in the evenings? His favorite dessert for his birthday? A night out with the boys? A Saturday alone to watch all the college football games and finish it up with all the recaps on SportsCenter?
Do you know what makes your husband happy? Happiest?
E and I have a lot of good conversations on the couch. I love talking with him, very softly most of time (will be harder to do that when we get older if he starts to lose his hearing), just living life with him. In a recent conversation, he said this to me: “Don’t make my happiness and idol. Search for your own joy in your pursuit of God.”
That was a receptive rebuke.
Look here for all the times joy is used in the Psalms alone. What a rebuke by the words of the Spirit. So many times wives (or girlfriends) find their joy or happiness in their significant other. This can’t be the case. If so, that person or relationship has become an idol to us. Yes, we are supposed to do what we can do make our husbands happy, live with him in harmony, pursue peace and Christ together. But, in no way should we feel the blame for when we are doing our part and other situations in life are difficult – for a season. We can’t be mainly responsible for our husband’s happiness. He has to find his ultimate happiness in God and God alone – just like we do.
Why do you think that you can be your husband’s happiness? I’m not saying he should be miserable when he is around you – and I hope the wedded bliss of the honeymoon lasts forever in your marriage (and mine)…but if we aren’t happy in Christ – with or without our husbands – then we have made something else God in our life and are leaving out the most important LIFEsource.
Photo: This was taken on our honeymoon in Philadelphia at a place called Bonte’ Waffles. A breakfast that made both E and me happy!
by Kimberly | Jun 23, 2012 | Uncategorized
Panel Members:
Jenny Salt:
Carrie Sandom:
Colleen Gallagher:
Deb Lorentsen:
Kathleen Nielsen:
Opening Thoughts:
Charles Simeon Trust… Chicago. Training Bible Teachers.
Proclamation Trust… UK.
Reading the Bible out loud, long portions every day.
Local churches that preached and taught expositionally.
We are not good readers of anything today, and we need to learn how to read the Bible well.
We need to become equipped to help others become able to lead and teach.
Defining Terms:
Expository Bible Teaching: Kind of preaching that works through systematic and consecutive passages of the Bible, to see it within the context of the entire scope of the Bible. Studying a book within the context of the wider whole.
The story of the is a story about Christ. The OT is pointing forward to Him and the NT proclaims Him. It’s not about us, it’s about God and His revelation to the world.
We read the Bible wrongly when we think we are at the center and it’s written to me and my life.
Allows God to set the agenda. Prevents us from trying to answer the question, “What do people need to hear?” We just proclaim the Word and God speaks.
Teaching, moving sequentially through a book of the Bible, seeking to discover the main point of the text and making that the main point of the message. We don’t start with our point and try to make the Word fit it.
The Storyline of the Bible: Tracing the promises of the OT through the fulfillment in the NT. Shows how each book fits in to the whole Bible. Shows the reader how God has been working throughout history.
Two Types of “Big Picture” Training:
1. Unfolding Mystery: Finding Christ in the OT.
2. How to Read and Study the Bible: Asking the Right Questions of a Text
Main idea and application
How does this passage connect to what’s before and after?
What are the surprises?
How does this point to Christ?
Makes study hands-on.
Why is this important for women? Don’t we have pastors and elders to do this?
God calls us to the hard work of learning sound doctrine. Sound doctrine produces good work. “Teach what is good.”
Titus 2 ministries cannot be just mentoring and good works, there must be sound doctrine.
Does this mean we all need to go to seminary?
No and Yes.
Mostly No. But if you have the opportunity, it is a wonderful place to grow.
There is no two-tiered maturity in the Christian walk. But there are great advantages in going to seminary. Wonderful time for concentrated study of God’s Word. Alongside like-minded people, who are committed, and who are delighted to spend intense time in God’s Word.
Exposes you to all parts of the Bible. Grapple with thinking on the Bible from different perspectives.
What are other options besides seminary?
Online training. Websites. Sermons and Journals and Commentaries and Courses.
Eph. 4. Training takes place within the church context. God-given, natural place for training in the Scriptures to take place. These must have either the direction or the authority of the church leadership in order to grow.
We should be trained in all types of places and areas, from seminary to one-on-one training. Have an accountability partner and train together. Mary Wilson on TGC. Not everyone needs to be trained in how to teach formally. We need to teach our children well and our neighbors and our friends. We must train the next generation to be equipped.
Never underestimate the power of modeling the truth. Are you going to just get coffee and pray together? Or are you going to pick a book of the Bible, read through it and discuss it together. The young believer is not thinking, “Hmm, this is expository Bible learning.” She’s thinking, “This is what it means to be a Christian.”
We must actually practice what we preach. It is not enough to just soak in and learn. We must actually DO what we teach others to do.
The Proclamation Trust in the UK.
Study with an eye toward teaching.
Practice– two presentations to others to help one another improve.
Model– Leaders showing others.
SimeonTrust.org
What should we look for in ourselves and others in order to assess the potential of one being a teacher?
Under the authority of pastors and elders.
Based upon the Pastoral Epistles. The list of qualifications there is actually godliness. There is an aptitude to teach, yes, but more godliness.
Christian ministry is not a way to escape the world. It is not the limelight. Who will live out the Gospel in their own lives and not just teach others to do it?
Current Trends in Bible Study:
1. Video-Based:
Positives: Modeling expository preaching and teaching.
Negatives: More people quoting those teacher more than they are quoting God. The high profile teachers become infallible.
It’s not just someone’s ability to teach, but it’s their lives and how they model the Gospel. On video, we just have teaching and not their lives. We don’t see how they relate to the world. We need to see real life, there with us.
- Experienced based and put us at the center. Women are particularly prone to this. Scripture reveals the purposes for Christ, not for us as individuals.
Example: Ruth is not about God providing husbands or children or grandchildren to the women in your church. It is about God using Israel to bring salvation to the Gentiles. Ruth was a Moabitess, not SINGLE…
- Bible discussion with no training.
- Leave it to the professionals.
- Personal Shopper approach.
- Jack Sprat approach– picky eating…
The Bible is just ONE STORY. There is a beautiful continuity to it and it is exciting to read the Bible when you see that.
Ways we’ve been encouraged in the work God is doing in the hearts of women.
To see women equipped and then go out to do the work of the Gospel.
Serving overseas.
This is not a theoretical or academic endeavor, but a vibrant, transforming love of the Word of God passed along to the next generation.
by Kimberly | Jun 13, 2012 | Uncategorized
James is such a little book, only 3 pages in the ESV Journaling Bible I use, but it is rich and full of practical wisdom and full theology. As E and I have been studying/memorizing/praying through it in 2012, it has become something that just comes out of our mouths anytime we need a wise word or an answer to a problem we are having. I now see the benefit of meditating on a certain passage of Scripture for what – 6+ months now.
This week I had the opportunity to give a lunchtime devotion to a group of senior ladies at my church. I chose to go through the book of James and pull out all the descriptors of God – or what James tells us God does for us in this tiny epistle. I got more than I thought. I just gave them a bulleted point overview, but I have determined to turn this list into a women’s Bible study that can be used individually or in small groups in local churches or coffee shops! Here is the list with a brief synopsis of how God is those in the book of James.
James: God For Us
1. He is our Sanctification (1:4; 1:12; 1:21) – pair these with Philippians 1:6 and the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
2. He is a gracious Giver (1:16) of both wisdom (1:5) and more grace (4:6)
3. He is NOT our tempter (1:13)
4. He is the Father of Lights (1:17)
5. He is eternal and unchanging (1:17) by looking at men of old such as Job (ch 5) and Elijah the Prophet (ch 5)
6. He is the Giver of the Perfect Law (4.12)
7. Our Friend (2:23) – I randomly sing “I am a friend of God” in my head each time I come to this verse in chapter 2
8. He is the Creator (1:18) and we bear His image (3:9)
9. He desires us! (4:5)
10. He is the Opposer of the Proud (4:6)
11. He is near to the humble (4:8) (I think of the psalms that says the nearness of God is my good)
12. He is our Righteous Judge (4:12)
13. He is our Compass – He is our Personal Sovereign (4:13-15)
14. He is our Coming King (5:7-8)
15. He is merciful and compassionate (5:11)
16. He is our Healer (5:15)
17. He is our Justification, our forgiveness (5:15)
18. He is our prayer answerer (5:17-18)
19. To close the book and study – how we see all of this lined in the person and gift of Jesus – the greatest of all of His gracious gifts to us, His “indescribable gift”.
What would you like to have in a group or personal Bible study that I could include? How has God ministered to you in these ways? I look forward to interacting with you all on this!
by Kimberly | Jun 12, 2012 | Books, food, Uncategorized
Savannah is known for several things: shrimp, moss, SCAD, Lady & Sons, being one of my favorite towns in the US, Eden Village, and now…Back in the Day Bakery. This sweet Mom mailed me this cookbook – what a treasure!
When I was recently in Savannah I wanted to stop by here, but as we passed the bakery, baby Campbell wasn’t making me feel very good (you know, first trimester) and I had no energy to even allow E to find a parking spot, walk in, taste something, and take pictures. Jenna (happy birthday) at Eat Live Run introduced THE WORLD to this bakery from her blog and I’ve been intrigued ever since.
The blueberry muffins are a winner. I also want to try (one from each chapter, just so I don’t start out with wanting to make the whole book):
Breakfast: Since I’ve already made the blueberry muffins, my next choice would be the Carrot-Golden Raisin Muffins
Coffee Cakes, etc: Brown Sugar Banana Bread
Cupcakes and Cakes: Hummingbird Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting (a southern classic)
Pies, etc: Smore Pie
Puddings and Custards: Chocolate Pudding (not the instand kind)
Cookies: Oatmeal Coconut Cookies
Brownies and Bars: Lemon Pie Bars
Confections: Butter Mints (not the Brach’s 99 cent kind)
Savories: White Bean Soup with Bacon
This cookbook is a winner to me because of the:
1. Stories they tell with each recipe
2. The extras they include in it: pantry basic, background of their beginnings, etc
3. The beautiful pictures
4. It has traditional recipes with some new additions and just a few surprises!
(Picture taken by me on Boyce College grounds in Louisville, KY January 4, 2010 when they came to visit!)
