Every Day Life: Renaissance Festival

By Lara

As many of our faithful readers know, Beth and I have put a lot of thought and effort (and flexibility) into our new list. With that flexibility comes the sad truth that we do not get to see each other as often as we would like to. Therefore, we will not be able to write about an item from the list every week because we haven't necessarily accomplished an item from the list every week. That brings me to this week's article. It was suggested that I write about "every day life." I think I can handle that.

This weekend, I managed to wrangle two of my co-workers into attending the Maryland Renaissance Festival with me. I have been to the fair before (usually tied tightly into a time-period costume), but my co-workers had not. I tried to prepare them for the experience without scaring them away. If you have never been the the Ren Fest before, please understand that it tends to attract some very eccentric people.

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Compassion Sunday

By Chuck (Sharing Compassion)

We are speaking about love!  As I mentioned in my previous post my church is doing a church-wide study called the "40 Days of Love." Basically we are examining the relationship principles that Jesus calls us to. Week two is about loving others as Jesus did. Jesus calls us to love the unloved, the widows and orphans and the poor. This is a perfect lead in for my ministry with Compassion.

Just a little background- Every advocate and sponsor that is involved with Compassion would love to have a Compassion Sunday at their church. This is a global event in which churches speak of Compassion's ministry and encourage child sponsorships. I have presented at several churches and have always be thankful for the opportunity. I guess the "Holy Grail" is being able to present at your own church. It is an opportunity to bring the ministry home. Over a year and half ago my pastor approached me about having a Compassion Sunday at our church. Needless to say I was thrilled but it took awhile to nail things down. Last spring we discussed doing it during the summer or as part of this study. God's timing is perfect! The message for week two would be the ideal tie-in. Loving others as Jesus loved us. Even better they wanted to tape an interview with me and then follow up "live" on stage with some final thoughts.

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God Is At Work!

By Pat

I am one of the many people in the world who has to watch their weight. Ever since I was young, I have seen my weight creep up, knowing all too well that it will soon be diet time, which I dread! Eventually, I get myself on a diet, hoping that after two hours or so, the extra pounds will have magically dropped off like a snake shedding it's skin. I want it to happen overnight!

But of course, that's not the case, so I steadfastly diet. It seems like it takes forever...weeks go by sometimes with very little change, until suddenly I can see and feel the difference. It was happening all the time, but the progress was slow. Sometimes I want to give up, thinking it's just not working. It's taking too long. But of course, only fortitude, determination and patience will get the desired results.

I have come to realize that my faith walk is very like my dieting. I do my devotions, pray, go to church, plant seeds, and serve as best I can. I try to live for the Lord. But it's not until I am in a situation requiring God's mighty power that I am able to see the results of my efforts to be more Godly.

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Praying To Have a Servant's Heart

By Jason, M.Ed., M.A.R., Headmaster

Loving Others in a Age of Self-Indulgence

"...not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers,
but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart,
rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man." (Ephesians 6:6-7)

Sometimes I get frustrated with how much my children complain.  At times, it seems like no matter what we are doing or have done, they will find some problem or shortcoming and will launch into complaining and whining.  Then, this morning, I woke up, healthy and surrounded by my family, and I got out of bed, irritated at my sore back and the fact that it was Monday morning.  I was blessed to wake up in a nice home, and I walked downstairs grumbling in my mind because the kitchen wasn't perfectly clean.  Where do my children get this self-pitying, self-indulgent whining?  I guess I don't have to go very far to find that answer.

The problem with self-pitying complaining is that it focuses all of our attention on ourselves and keeps us from looking at and serving the real needs of others.  It is pretty tough to love God and love others when my focus is so strongly pulled toward my own "problems."  Growing up in the 70's, I remember well the old children's television theme song- "The most important person in the whole wide world is you and you hardly even know you."

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Tasty Bites: Bonnie's Santa Fe Soup

By Beth V

Today’s sky was grey and there was a nip in the air… a great day for soup. This recipe came from my sister, Bonnie, and it is so delicious and easy to throw together at the spur of the moment. It is one of those meals made almost exclusively from pantry ingredients. This recipe catches on like wildfire…everyone who tastes it wants the recipe. It really could not be easier to prepare.

Brown two pounds of ground beef or turkey together with a large onion that has been chopped. Here is a great video that demonstrates the onion-chopping technique that I use. It is really easy and quick once you get the hang of it. It is almost easier than using a chopper or food processor.

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