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Join me as I journey through life. At least once a year, this a literal journey as I blog my travels.
Tuesday, August 30, 2016
Saturday, July 30, 2016
Pasta Making Take Two
In July, I retook the pasta making class with Diane at Eat Local. To make a long story short, the original class was intended to be took with her. It was really fun, and I think my dough turned out better this time around.
I recommend the class. I think pasta making would be a great group activity.
I recommend the class. I think pasta making would be a great group activity.
The location |
The assignment |
The recipe |
The ingredients |
Our dough |
Stretching the dough |
Di stretching her dough |
I made fettuccine this time. Last time, I made angel hair. |
With our pasta |
Tuesday, July 19, 2016
Men of the Bible - Nehemiah
This is an article I wrote for the Men of the Bible section of the newsletter.
Name:
Nehemiah
Meaning:
Jehovah has comforted
His
Character: Nehemiah was a leader who had the courage to see out his
vision. He was a planner who was able to organize and motivate the people to
accomplish what seemed impossible. Nehemiah also understood the importance of
prayer.
His
Sorrow: Nehemiah was deeply troubled by the state of Jerusalem.
Although he never had previously been there, Nehemiah longed for where he knew
was home.
His
Triumph: Nehemiah accomplished what seemed impossible. He
accomplished what he felt was his call, which was to rebuild the wall surrounding
Jerusalem.
Key
Scriptures: Book of Nehemiah
Nehemiah was a Jew living in exile
in Babylon. The Jewish people had been defeated by the Assyrians and taken as
slaves to the foreign land. The Assyrians were conquered by the Persians.
Nehemiah was the cup bearer, adviser, and escort to Artaxerxes, who was the
king of Persia. In his position, Nehemiah was the food taster for Artaxerxes
and had the trust of the king and with that came influence.
As a Jew exiled in Babylon, Nehemiah was
concerned about the present and future of Jerusalem. Nehemiah’s story picks up
70 years after Zerubbabel rebuilt God’s Temple and 13 years after Ezra had
returned to Jerusalem to deal with the spiritual needs of the people. Nehemiah
learned of the poor conditions of Jerusalem from his brother, Hanani. Hanani
told of walls that had been torn down and gates that had been destroyed by
fire. Nehemiah mourned this information and fasted and prayed.
Nehemiah saw a problem, and he sought God’s
help in being part of the solution. Nehemiah’s prayer, found in verses 4 – 11
of chapter one, was a sincere plea asking for God’s guidance. His prayer
thanked God for who He was, confessed his shortcomings, reminded God of His
promises to His people, and asked for God’s favor and power to make a
difference.
Nehemiah was able to use his position with
King Artaxerxes to gain clearance and the material he would need for his
assignment. Rebuilding the wall seemed like an impossible task, but like
Nehemiah, we serve a God who can do the impossible. And remember Nehemiah
started his task with prayer.
Nehemiah started with prayer, and he prayed
throughout his assignment. He understood the power of prayer. Nehemiah was a
leader who rebuilt the wall quickly and efficiently despite opposition and
resistance. Nehemiah faced the opposition and resistance calmly with faith.
Even the enemies of Israel recognized God’s favor over His people.
Nehemiah’s accomplishment also caused a spiritual
awakening in the people of God who had been living in sin. The success was
another reminder of God’s favor over them and His never-failing mercy toward
Israel. After the wall was rebuilt, Nehemiah focused on social and economic
issues. Nehemiah worked with Ezra to lead the people in worship and Bible
study. Nehemiah also helped form a needed sense of community.
Nehemiah is an example of how God works
through us. He places us in strategic positions. Through these positions, we
develop relationships with people whose resources and/or influence help us to
accomplish what seems impossible. God uses our gifts, talents, personalities,
experiences, and backgrounds to serve His purpose, with each seemingly random
twist preparing us to fulfill His purpose.
Nehemiah is also an example of the
importance and power of prayer and walking with God. Interestingly enough I had
shared with Sister Crystal how I needed to focus on my prayer life. Reading and
writing about Nehemiah has inspired me and is another example of God’s perfect
timing in all things.
We must begin all things with prayer. In your prayers, talk to God and
also share your concerns, fears, questions, dreams, and feelings with Him. He
knows already. Our prayer lives will lead to us walking closer with God as we
live out our lives and fulfill our purposes, even those that are seemingly
impossible, through Him.
Editor's Corner
This is an article I wrote for the Editor's Corner section of the summer issue of the newsletter.
As I was thinking about this issue’s
theme of “Equipping Others,” I began to think about examples from the Bible of
people being equipped and mentored to walk out their purpose (or walk in their
destiny) through the instruction and counsel they received from people they had
close relationship with. The mentors walked with their “mentees” and spoke
words that helped destinies be fulfilled.
In the example of Naomi and Ruth, Naomi was
able to equip Ruth through instruction and guidance. Naomi was able to help
Ruth determine the way that she should go and the manner in which she should
conduct herself. This insight led to a major blessing and change in Ruth’s
life, which in turn had a positive impact on Naomi’s life.
In the example of Eli and Samuel, Eli
trained Samuel up from a child to be a priest. Eli helped Samuel recognize
God’s voice, and Samuel was able to hear God’s voice and direction. The result
was Samuel served as the last judge of Israel.
In the example of Elijah and Elisha, Elijah
anointed Elisha to be a prophet, and they walked together. During their time
together, Elisha was able to follow Elijah and learn from him. When Elijah was
being taken up to heaven, Elisha was a witness. Elisha took up Elijah’s mantle
and received the double portion that he had requested from Elijah.
In the example of Mordecai and Esther,
Mordecai instructed Esther on how she should conduct herself around the king.
He gave her instruction and counsel. The result was that Esther was able to
save her people. She became a much referenced example of the importance of
timing in the lives of those who are walking out their God-given destinies.
In the example of Paul and Timothy, Paul
instructed Timothy on the way he should conduct himself. Paul continually spoke
into Timothy’s life and the result was that Timothy in turn spoke into the
lives of others. Their relationship reminds me of a mentorship where someone
older and wiser counsels someone younger who is heading down a similar path.
And, of course, we have the example of
Jesus equipping His disciples to become more like Him. The disciplines, in
turn, equipped others and Christianity grew. The disciples and apostles
accomplished more together than they could have apart. And although trying to
reach a similar goal, each one worked out of his personality and gifting to
accomplish his call. Paul and Peter spoke to crowds, while Andrew preferred to
do his ministry one on one.
What strikes me about the examples given
above is that they all involved intimate relationships and accessibility. These
are examples of people who spent time together and had the intimacy that only
walking together with someone brings. They were not strangers. They were
counselors and advisors who acted as mentors and spoke into lives. They
understood God’s purpose and call in their own lives and were able to speak
into the lives of others.
Now we have the opportunity to walk with someone and help equip them to
fulfill their destinies. I encourage you to find your path and walk it.
Word of the Quarter - Equipping Others
This is an article I wrote for the Word of the Quarter section of the summer newsletter.
In this issue of the PCC Scroll, we
wrap up the overarching theme of “Walking out Your Purpose.” The overarching
theme began in the fall issue with the theme of “Discover Your Purpose.” In the
winter issue, we continued on with the theme of “Using Your Gifts/Talents.” In
the spring issue, we continued on with the theme of “Being a Good Steward.” In
this summer issue, we conclude the overarching theme with the theme of
“Equipping Others.”
The word equip has two meanings. One
meaning is, “To supply with necessities such as tools or provisions.”
The other meaning is, “To furnish (someone) with the qualities necessary for
performance; prepare.”
As we have mentioned in past issues, our
gifts and talents are not for us. They are to help edify and equip other
members of the body of Christ. For example, if you are a teacher, you would
equip the body with your teaching ministry by teaching the Word of God. If you
are a writer, you would equip the people through your writing by writing pieces
that inspire, encourage, and teach.
The Scroll is an example of a
ministry that is meant to equip. In fact, if you look at issues of the Scroll,
you will see our mission statement on the first page. Our mission is, “Spreading
the Gospel of Jesus Christ and equipping the People of God through the
written word.”
Ephesians 4:11-16 tells us, “And
he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and
teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the
body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the
knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature
of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and
fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning,
by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are
to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ.”
Of course in order to be in a position to
equip others, preparation is needed on our parts. God is constantly equipping
us through our backgrounds and
experiences. God also uses His Word to equip us. This is why Bible study and
church attendance are so important. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 tells us that, “All
Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for
correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be
competent, equipped for every good work.”
In the Bible, we see many examples of
people equipping others. The biggest example comes from Jesus. Jesus equipped
His disciples by spending time with them and imparting knowledge and wisdom
into them. And look at what they did. We can also see examples of equipping
through the examples of Paul and Timothy and Naomi and Ruth. In some ways,
equipping can also look like mentorship.
We can equip in natural ways as well. For
example, if you are a financial advisor, you could equip the people of God in
the area of finances. If you are into fitness, you could equip the saints into
leading healthier lives.
We encourage you to
know and understand what your role is in equipping others. It is important to
know what God has given you to do. You have an important role in equipping the
Body of Christ. Use your gifts and talents to equip those around you!
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