For those of you who know me well, you know that rap music, with the exception of a couple songs from the 80's, is just not my thing. My heart may have a changed a bit about it last night, though.
Last night, I witnessed a group of young men perform an original rap song. It you did not have audio you would have assumed it was a typical rap party with kids jumping around and hollering. This was different, though, because they were doing it all in the name of Jesus! I had tears in my eyes. Here were these young men, living in a rather tough part of town where drugs and gang-life are often the safer place for them on the streets; and they have become part of the best gang ever...one lead by Christ!
Can you imagine the impact these young men will have on the other kids in their community?!?! The other kids in the audience could not get enough of their performance. Even this white girl with little beat wanted to get up on that stage with them. It was powerful!
From there, some kids put on dramatic performances; recited original poetry, put on a fashion show of their original designs, sang more songs...all for the praise and glory of their new-found friend, Jesus.
They did this in front of a rather large audience filled with volunteers, neighbors and parents. I have mentioned before that just walking through the doors at Common Ground will find you feeling God's presence...well, last night that feeling was tenfold! It's safe to say the devil was not pleased at all that some of his easy targets have made a choice for Jesus.
Oh, and that annoyance I had earlier this week about folks not stepping up to help with the food needs for the post-program dinner...silly sinner I am. God provided! In fact, He provided so much that there was ample food for people to go back for seconds! How weak my faith becomes when I think it's all about me getting the help.
Friday, July 22, 2011
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Ten Bucks and some baked beans.
I am trying not to be annoyed this morning. I am trying very hard to accept that what the Lord puts on my heart is not necessarily what the Lord puts on others hearts. I am trying to figure out why others do not have the heart to provide when it is needed in any way they can. Quite bluntly, I am disappointed that people I know do not have the same heart as I do right now. know that what I am about to write is going to strike a nerve in some folks. I hope it does to the point of stirring them to action.
I have a heart for people without and I have an even greater heart for people and the organizations they run when they are making a God-changing impact on children. I have a heart for Common Ground Montgomery. There are few out there that do not see the need for change within our youth. A change from a cycle of poverty and racism to one of prosperity and love for all. Yet, often we just comment on it and move on with our daily, self-focused lives. The folks at Common Ground have not just kept going, they have up-rooted rather comfortable, worldly lives to live where God wants them...right in the heart of poverty, violence, drugs and a great need for Jesus.
Not only are they running programs at the Common Ground buildings, they minister nearly 24 hours a day to the kids in their homes by being part of the community. They are not like me...I go and serve and retreat to my comfortable surroundings within my safe neighborhood. Our family has not felt the calling to live in that community, but we can certainly do all that we can to support those who are there.
God is so present at Common Ground! When you meet a person who works or volunteers there you just feel Him. When you walk through the front doors you know He is there. He is working over there! Kids are learning about Christ and what it means to walk in His ways, not the tough street's ways where they live. Young ladies are learning that to be pure is honorable in His eyes. Youth are learning that learning and working to earn their way is how He wants them to live. Jesus is working through the staff and volunteers to turn one child at a time towards Him and away from poverty and the world's evils that lurk on those streets.
Because the staff lives there and is part of the community, that impact is going beyond the children into whole families.
So, why am I so annoyed? I am annoyed because tomorrow night Common Ground is hosting an end of summer camp program. The program is an opportunity for the campers to show their parents and neighbors what they learned this summer. It is a chance for the community to enjoy some fellowship and feel God...just by being there. It is an opportunity for children who are not part of the program to learn more and sign up for the fall programs. I have taken on coordinating the food for tomorrow night. It's a simple but welcoming meal that will hopefully put everyone at ease and allow them to enjoy the evening.
Thankfully, another Common Ground volunteer has been quite successful in getting others to donate either food or money. I, on the other hand,am striking out. A couple of friends have stepped up to generously provide. But out of a rather lengthy list, and two Facebook requests, three friends offering support is pretty lame.
So, this is why I am so annoyed. I know these people, be it not all of them very well. The ones I know the best are the very ones providing. But, I know the others well enough to know that at the very least they can donate ten bucks to the cause. And yet, none have.
We can all talk about wanting to be God-honoring, thanking Him for our blessings, asking Him for more, but when we cannot even take five minutes to scribble out a check for $10 to feed a community not just hungry for food but for Jesus Himself, we have lost focus on what is truly important.
I have a heart for people without and I have an even greater heart for people and the organizations they run when they are making a God-changing impact on children. I have a heart for Common Ground Montgomery. There are few out there that do not see the need for change within our youth. A change from a cycle of poverty and racism to one of prosperity and love for all. Yet, often we just comment on it and move on with our daily, self-focused lives. The folks at Common Ground have not just kept going, they have up-rooted rather comfortable, worldly lives to live where God wants them...right in the heart of poverty, violence, drugs and a great need for Jesus.
Not only are they running programs at the Common Ground buildings, they minister nearly 24 hours a day to the kids in their homes by being part of the community. They are not like me...I go and serve and retreat to my comfortable surroundings within my safe neighborhood. Our family has not felt the calling to live in that community, but we can certainly do all that we can to support those who are there.
God is so present at Common Ground! When you meet a person who works or volunteers there you just feel Him. When you walk through the front doors you know He is there. He is working over there! Kids are learning about Christ and what it means to walk in His ways, not the tough street's ways where they live. Young ladies are learning that to be pure is honorable in His eyes. Youth are learning that learning and working to earn their way is how He wants them to live. Jesus is working through the staff and volunteers to turn one child at a time towards Him and away from poverty and the world's evils that lurk on those streets.
Because the staff lives there and is part of the community, that impact is going beyond the children into whole families.
So, why am I so annoyed? I am annoyed because tomorrow night Common Ground is hosting an end of summer camp program. The program is an opportunity for the campers to show their parents and neighbors what they learned this summer. It is a chance for the community to enjoy some fellowship and feel God...just by being there. It is an opportunity for children who are not part of the program to learn more and sign up for the fall programs. I have taken on coordinating the food for tomorrow night. It's a simple but welcoming meal that will hopefully put everyone at ease and allow them to enjoy the evening.
Thankfully, another Common Ground volunteer has been quite successful in getting others to donate either food or money. I, on the other hand,am striking out. A couple of friends have stepped up to generously provide. But out of a rather lengthy list, and two Facebook requests, three friends offering support is pretty lame.
So, this is why I am so annoyed. I know these people, be it not all of them very well. The ones I know the best are the very ones providing. But, I know the others well enough to know that at the very least they can donate ten bucks to the cause. And yet, none have.
We can all talk about wanting to be God-honoring, thanking Him for our blessings, asking Him for more, but when we cannot even take five minutes to scribble out a check for $10 to feed a community not just hungry for food but for Jesus Himself, we have lost focus on what is truly important.
Friday, July 15, 2011
I was not a VBS kid...
As I grew up, VBS was "vacation...beach...sun", not "Vacation Bible School". As Cate attended VBS this week I was just not sure what to expect. She was nervous, I was nervous. WOW! What a week she had! Each day for a few hours Jesus, crafts, worship and play were all woven together.
Today, I had the opportunity to stay for a bit of the daily "Worship Rally". It was a fun time with God-honoring music; a presentation from now-grown former orphans from Maldovia, and pledges to not only our USA, but to our Christian Faith and the Word of the Lord. It was really impressive given more than 700 kids were part of it all!
And there, I sat with tears just swelling. I did not have such an opportunity as a kid. I grew up pretty much a-religious. Our best exposure was to Judaism through my dad's side of the family. My dad had little interest in his faith, so we did not attend services and only really learned about that faith while at my aunts' home for Friday Shabot dinner and holidays. A girl with a non-Jewish mom is not wholly recognized as being Jewish. Our only Christian influence was celebrating Easter and Christmas, but pretty much as secular as you can get. I did not meet Christ until I was an adult.
I can certainly look back and see times when He was clearly with me, I just did not know Him to see Him. I can look back and see the friends who simply planted little seeds of faith in me without me even knowing it.
I have always had a pretty good moral compass. I was a good kid. I have a heart for others. In college, I got in some trouble with my parents because while home during a particularly cold winter break I packed up just about every warm thing in the house and took them to a park downtown where the homeless gathered. In hindsight, it was not the safest thing for me to do, but I was more concerned about these folks being warm than me being safe.
I am thankful for the path the Lord had me on. I can relate to non-believers very well because in my life I had some well-meaning Christians try to tell me about Christ, but did it in such a way that it was a turn-off (note to any Christians out there, never tell a non-believing teenager that she might as well have horns coming from her head if she does not accept Jesus on the spot.) I had life-experiences that clearly shaped who I am. Without such experiences, I would not have as much a witness to the life I let die to become alive in Jesus.
It is hard for me not to compare Cate to myself. We look alike. We act alike. She really is a mini-version of me. Today, watching her respond to the name of Jesus with such excitement made me weep for joy. The Lord makes it clear that our children are not ours. They are His. He asks us to raise them up to be His arrows to this world. Today, I realized we are doing that. And, I realized in doing so, we may well be raising a little arrow who goes far from us to do His work. How that makes me sad and happy all at once. I look at her and think, "if I did so many things with others needs first not knowing Christ, how much more will she knowing Him?". I cannot wait to see.
Today, I had the opportunity to stay for a bit of the daily "Worship Rally". It was a fun time with God-honoring music; a presentation from now-grown former orphans from Maldovia, and pledges to not only our USA, but to our Christian Faith and the Word of the Lord. It was really impressive given more than 700 kids were part of it all!
And there, I sat with tears just swelling. I did not have such an opportunity as a kid. I grew up pretty much a-religious. Our best exposure was to Judaism through my dad's side of the family. My dad had little interest in his faith, so we did not attend services and only really learned about that faith while at my aunts' home for Friday Shabot dinner and holidays. A girl with a non-Jewish mom is not wholly recognized as being Jewish. Our only Christian influence was celebrating Easter and Christmas, but pretty much as secular as you can get. I did not meet Christ until I was an adult.
I can certainly look back and see times when He was clearly with me, I just did not know Him to see Him. I can look back and see the friends who simply planted little seeds of faith in me without me even knowing it.
I have always had a pretty good moral compass. I was a good kid. I have a heart for others. In college, I got in some trouble with my parents because while home during a particularly cold winter break I packed up just about every warm thing in the house and took them to a park downtown where the homeless gathered. In hindsight, it was not the safest thing for me to do, but I was more concerned about these folks being warm than me being safe.
I am thankful for the path the Lord had me on. I can relate to non-believers very well because in my life I had some well-meaning Christians try to tell me about Christ, but did it in such a way that it was a turn-off (note to any Christians out there, never tell a non-believing teenager that she might as well have horns coming from her head if she does not accept Jesus on the spot.) I had life-experiences that clearly shaped who I am. Without such experiences, I would not have as much a witness to the life I let die to become alive in Jesus.
It is hard for me not to compare Cate to myself. We look alike. We act alike. She really is a mini-version of me. Today, watching her respond to the name of Jesus with such excitement made me weep for joy. The Lord makes it clear that our children are not ours. They are His. He asks us to raise them up to be His arrows to this world. Today, I realized we are doing that. And, I realized in doing so, we may well be raising a little arrow who goes far from us to do His work. How that makes me sad and happy all at once. I look at her and think, "if I did so many things with others needs first not knowing Christ, how much more will she knowing Him?". I cannot wait to see.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Fresh Tomato Sauce Recipe
Am I the only one having the post-July 4th Weekend let-down?! It was such a fun-filled few days with our family and friends. I love the most that we get an extra day with Grant home on holiday weekends. Sigh. I would only want to win the lottery so that my husband could spend his days home with us.
Anyway...I came home from a visit with family with a good amount of home-grown tomatoes. We can only eat so many, so I decided to make a simple sauce to freeze. I kept it basic so it can be used as a good base for tomato recipes but also wanted it yummy as it is.
Here is what I did with guesstimated quantities (I really should pay more attention as I go...).
Fresh Tomato Sauce
5 - 6 large red tomatoes, cut into large chunks
pint of grape tomatoes
1/4 Vidallia onion
3 -4 whole garlic cloves
big pinch of kosher salt
few grinds of black pepper
olive oil
1 cup fresh basil leaves
In a large sauce pan, cover bottom with olive oil. Add all ingredients except basil and one tomato to pan. Allow to come up to a boil and then place in a 325 degree oven. Allow to roast for 90 minutes. The sauce will be very watery at this point.
Place pan on the stove uncovered and bring to a boil and then simmer for 20 minutes until much of the water is gone.
Place the fresh tomato and basil in the blender. Add the cooked tomato mixture. Blend until desired consistency. I personally like it with a little texture to it and not all the way smooth. Taste and adjust the salt and pepper as you like it. I keep this slightly less seasoned so I can add to it when I use it from the freezer.
From here you can use it just as it is. I like to freeze it in one cup quantities so I have easy access to sauce when I need it. You may also jar it like you would any preserves (I would if I had enough lids on hand today).
Enjoy!
Anyway...I came home from a visit with family with a good amount of home-grown tomatoes. We can only eat so many, so I decided to make a simple sauce to freeze. I kept it basic so it can be used as a good base for tomato recipes but also wanted it yummy as it is.
Here is what I did with guesstimated quantities (I really should pay more attention as I go...).
Fresh Tomato Sauce
5 - 6 large red tomatoes, cut into large chunks
pint of grape tomatoes
1/4 Vidallia onion
3 -4 whole garlic cloves
big pinch of kosher salt
few grinds of black pepper
olive oil
1 cup fresh basil leaves
In a large sauce pan, cover bottom with olive oil. Add all ingredients except basil and one tomato to pan. Allow to come up to a boil and then place in a 325 degree oven. Allow to roast for 90 minutes. The sauce will be very watery at this point.
Place pan on the stove uncovered and bring to a boil and then simmer for 20 minutes until much of the water is gone.
Place the fresh tomato and basil in the blender. Add the cooked tomato mixture. Blend until desired consistency. I personally like it with a little texture to it and not all the way smooth. Taste and adjust the salt and pepper as you like it. I keep this slightly less seasoned so I can add to it when I use it from the freezer.
From here you can use it just as it is. I like to freeze it in one cup quantities so I have easy access to sauce when I need it. You may also jar it like you would any preserves (I would if I had enough lids on hand today).
Enjoy!
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