A Night With A Niece/Cookie Baking Night Planning 04/18/11

Tonight Emily came over to spend some time and help me with a cooking project. She thought while she was here it might be a good idea if she planned the menu and events for the next Cookie Baking Night. I told her she could make three plans, and I would choose which one we would do first. She was very organized with her planning. She insisted we needed a meeting to discuss the plans, which also involved a pre-meeting (that was a first for me), and she had a written agenda for the meeting. After the meeting, she spent her time typing up the final plan. She did a great job on it.

It was a nice evening together. She's a hoot.

Cookie Baking Night 04/11/11

Tonight was Cookie Baking Night. In attendance this evening were Ethan and Carissa. We made spring bird nests. We also went on our first walk of the season (it was a beautiful Minnesota evening). We read from Leading Little Ones to God: A Child's Book of Bible Teachings. Tonight we read lesson 44 titled "The Holy Spirit Has a Special Work". Ethan read Acts 2:1-8 for us.

Here's the recipe for Spring Bird Nests:

1 cup butterscotch chips

1 cup chocolate chips

1/4 cup peanut butter

1 bag chow mien noodles

Colored candy eggs

Melt the butterscotch chips, choc chips, and p-nut butter in the microwave until smooth. Add chow mien noodles. Mix until well coated. Drop by rounded tablespoons onto waxed paper. Decorate with candy eggs. Chill to set. Enjoy!

HAPPY SPRING EVERYONE FROM OUR HOME TO YOURS!

Cookie Baking Night side note:

At supper time, Ethan asked how many fluid ounces were in the cups from which we were drinking. I guessed 8 ounces. Soon after this question, Greg produced a digital scale (much to Ethan's delight). I believe Ethan's cup contained 8.6 ounces of fluid. Greg challenged him to get it down to 4 ounces, which he managed to do sip by sip weighing the cup along the way. It was good uncle-nephew bonding time. I do believe I see some "Uncle Greg" in young Ethan, as he loves to know how things work and seems to enjoy "all things digital".

Psalm 119 Conference

This weekend, Greg and I were able to attend the Psalm 119 conference organized by Wretched radio program. We won tickets through a giveaway contest offered by The Christian Worldview radio program. The Psalm 119 conference is traveling around the country to different sites (6 conferences this year), each offering different speakers. This past weekend, they were in Minnesota. The speakers were: Todd Friel (Wretched Radio), RW Glenn (pastor of Redeemer Bible Church), Milton Vincent (author of A Gospel Primer for Christians: Learning to See the Glories of God's Love and pastor of Cornerstone Fellowship Bible Church), Phil Johnson (Grace to You ministry), and James White (Alpha and Omega ministries). The theme for the conference this year is Discernment. It was a wonderful conference.

We also had opportunity on Saturday morning to sit in on a live recording of The Christian Worldview radio program. That was very fun for us. Click here to listen to the broadcast.

There was a point in our lives, not that long ago, when we (Greg and I) were in a church that wasn't preaching the gospel regularly and wasn't preaching from God's Word that often either. When we wanted deeper teaching, we found that on radio programs and through attending conferences such as the one we attended this weekend. We commented to each other several times this weekend that the teaching we received at this conference was simply a reinforcement of that which we receive as a steady diet at the church where we are now members. That sentiment was echoed back to us as the conference closed with these words, "We've heard some great preaching this weekend, but if you're in a Bible-preaching church, then the best sermon you will hear all weekend is going to be the one you hear tomorrow that was prepared by your pastor with his congregation in mind." And to that I say, Amen!

Be Back Soon

Lately, life's schedule has been such that a decision had to be made between blogging and spending time in God's Word and prayer. The second takes priority. This week you can expect two more blog posts, and then I'll return to the regular blog schedule on Monday, April 11.

Cookie Baking Night 03/28/11

Tonight was Cookie Baking Night. In attendance this evening: Emily, Ethan, and Carissa. Today is Diana's birthday. Diana is Ethan and Carissa's mom. Friday is Rob's birthday. Rob is Emily's dad. In honor of them, we decided to make birthday cupcakes.

First we mixed up the batter and poured it into the cupcake pan. Then we made some frosting to go on the cupcakes.

While the cupcakes were baking and then cooling, we made birthday signs to stick in the cupcakes.

Then we frosted the cupcakes. We decorated a few of them with the birthday signs we made. The rest we decorated with sprinkles.

And there you have it---birthday cupcakes. Happy Birthday Diana and Rob!

As usual, a fun time was had by all!

Preparation for Easter

The past several years, I've spent at least the preceding month before Easter focusing on Christ in my daily Bible reading time or in other focused activities around that time (i.e., memorizing Scripture, a specific devotional book).

A couple ideas for you:

1. This year, a friend and I are memorizing Isaiah 53 during this month leading up to Resurrection Day. John 1 (or a section of it) would be another excellent passage to memorize for this occasion.
2. Ladies, Nancy Leigh DeMoss (from Revive Our Hearts ministry) is focusing her teaching on the book The Incomparable Christ by J Oswald Sanders over the next month. She recommends getting the book and reading a chapter each day while following along with her teachings on her daily radio broadcast.

What will you do to focus on Christ during this time?

Psalm 131

I'm going to memorize this little gem:

Psalm 131

O LORD, my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised too high

I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me.

But I have calmed and quieted my soul like a weaned child with its mother,

Like a weaned child is my soul within me.

O Israel, hope in the LORD from this time forth and forevermore.