If you can't go...

Missions....that was our focus for years. We did not understand why God called us to "go"...but we were faithful to His leading. We understood even less when He called us away....but as we have waited and been led by Him we are in a position that only He would place us.

At City Impact, I am blessed to be working with a group of students that are seeking out His will for their lives, that are finding ways to serve the community and each other. Just this week a project the students have been working on for a long time was completed. They have been working to raise money and renovate the back yard of a shelter for battered women and children. This is the work that God calls all of us to - the widow and the orphan, the least of these!

In our new home we have extra space, God has put it on our hearts to move and now we are making room in our home for more people. We started with Renee's parents staying with us as her father recovered from surgery. They recently moved out, but during the time they were with us Renee and I went through the process of becoming licensed foster care parents. We don't know the outcome of this, only that God has given us enough love in our hearts for more children and a passion for those who are hurting.

Finally we are still called to be the church Globally, and if we can not "go" we can be senders ( and we are by supporting missionaries around the world), but we can also share the Gospel with those who come. One of our extra rooms now has the name of an Asian student on it. In his country one can not openly worship God.  He is coming to study at LCS and what better way to share the love of Christ with someone than by opening your home to them? We wont force our beliefs on him but we will allow him to see how God has penetrated every part of our family life! It is my prayer that Christ will be so present in our home that he wants to be a part of His family. 

God calls His whole church to make disciples. If you can't go- send....if you can't send find a way to serve the least of these where you are. Everything you have belongs to Him, so use everything for His Glory! 

ILA Field Trip = Music Monday!

Our first night of ministry at ILA last night and we were excited to make the announcement that we are going on a field trip to Omaha in November to see the Unashamed Tour http://unashamedtour.com/

 This of course, got me thinking about a Music Monday Post! Here are some of the things I am looking forward too!


Our Unofficial ILA song...or at least one I really want the kids to enjoy this year Andy Mineo and KB - Young

KB is my favorite artist on Reach Records...I really enjoyed seeing him in Omaha last June and I can't wait to Zone Out with him!

Pesto Mayonnaise

I wanted to try to make my own mayonnaise...but I wanted to come up with a fairly healthy version and something with a bit more flavor than regular, store-bought types.

Here is what I came up with!

1 Cup of Olive Oil
2 Egg yolks
1 Tablespoon of Dijon Mustard
Sea Salt
Lime Juice to taste about 1/2 Tablespoon
1 Tablespoon of Chopped Onion
2 Cloves of Chopped Garlic
1 Tablespoon of Pealed and Chopped Ginger

1/4 Cup of Chopped Cilantro
1 teaspoon of Crushed Red Pepper

Put Egg yolks in large mixing bowl - whisk by hand adding just a bit of the Olive Oil. Whisk until it starts to emulsify, slowly add the rest of the oil while continuing to whisk.

Add all of the other ingredients to you blender, puree to break down even more. Then add egg and oil mixture. Blend on low speed until it thickens and looks like mayonnaise, it will not separate.


Add this to your favorite sandwich or I used this in place of tartar sauce on baked fish! Also makes for a great binder in chicken or tuna fish salad sandwiches!

Finally, here are some vegan alternatives for the egg yolks.
http://www.yogavive.com/?p=1128

Comfort in Chaos

We just had to respond! How could we not? I know most would not even consider some of the life choices we make....but when the call there...obvious...and discernibly clear what choice do we have!

Renee's comment is striking in it's truth - We thrive in chaos!

Our lives have been in constant flux for the past three years...three years ago? Is that all it was? During that time we have-

Left our Church home of 12 years!
Sold our house with nowhere to move to!
Interned in ministry at church in Crete... while living in Lincoln!
Switched to LCS instead of LPS!
Prepared for overseas missions!
Left my job and security for full dependence on God through supporters!
Ended ministry with missions!
Called to stay in Lincoln!
Moved into ministry with inner-city youths in Lincoln!
Left our church in Crete to connect with students in Lincoln!
Moved houses again!
Spent a good portion of the year living with Renee's parents,they stayed with us while Dad healed!
Prepared for Foster Parenting/ Adoption!
Accepted PT job as drama teacher at LCS to help with tuition costs!

Any combination of three of these are exhausting, in fact there were some days during the past three years that I seriously could not take anymore; I was spent, over, and too hard pressed! While you might look at this list and think...no way, I look and am excited. God has consistently called us to things bigger than ourselves... He is not content to leave us comfortable, but is challenging us to go, serve more, reach more; not for our fame or glory but for HIS! Our growth is the through the outflow of His love and faithfulness in situations where that is all have to hold on to...and when we respond He calls us to take another step...move farther out of that comfort zone....in to the "chaos". But it only looks like "chaos" to us, to Him who sees all things, and works all things for good according to His will, it looks like, I hope, our faithful response to His faithfulness! Then another call...another chance to answer the bell to step out of comfort.

A student from China at LCS needs a place to stay for the school year!
Fostering completed, calls to place children in the house to come soon!
Other challenges soon to come!

Lord give us your strength, because without You, I can not stand!

Country Music Monday?

I am not a big fan of country music. Most people who know me best, like my daughter who loves country, would say that I down right hate country music. But really I admire many things about country music, depressing lyrics, great musicianship, strange instruments....pretty much the only thing I really don't care for is the "twang" in all good country music, I find it very unsettling to the ears.

But let's take the elements I do enjoy and put them with a soulful sounding vocalist...and now we have something I can enjoy!!!!!

So for today's Music Monday - Mumford and Sons!

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

No...I am not blogging about Christmas in early September....that would be strange! I am blogging about the beginning of FALL!!!!!!!! I love this time of the year - for so very many reasons and I would like to share some of the tops of my fall charts with you!  These are in an order that makes sense for one leading to another...not order of importance.

1- College Football, I love watching College football with family and friends. This past weekend my son and I were able to go to watch the Cornhuskers first home game, thanks to my brother-in-law for getting his hands on some tickets! Tailgating, great food, Husker beat down...awesome times.  Had I not been at the game I would have enjoyed watching it on TV with family and friends while eating Chili!

2- Chili - I make the world's greatest Chili...(in my mind) ... Lots of Beans!

1-lb. of Ground beef - Get some thing a little fatty 80/20
1 - medium onion - diced
3-6 cloves of garlic - chopped
1- red bell pepper - diced
15 oz can of Bush's Chili Beans in sauce
16 oz can of Bush's Chili Magic - chili starter
15 oz can of Black Beans - drained
15 oz can of Dark Red Kidney beans  -drained
1 - Habanero pepper finely chopped (optional- only if you like hot chili)
46 oz can of Campbell's Tomato Juice
2 T - Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Spices to use to your taste -
Salt
Black Pepper
Chili Powder
Cayenne Pepper

Put olive oil in large stock pot over medium heat. Add onion, peppers, and ground beef. Add a dash of salt and pepper. Continue to cook until onion and peppers become soft and hamburger is 80% done, then add chopped garlic. Cook until the rest of the meat is browned out. Drain fat and oil. Add all of the beans, hamburger mix, and tomato juice to stock pot. Season to taste...bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat and let simmer until half time, stirring occasionally!
You can make a vegan alternative by not using hamburger ... Just add an extra can of beans, I used navy beans!

Garnishes -
Sour Cream
Sharp Cheddar Cheese
Frito's orignal corn chips

3 - Pro Football- Nothing better than coming home from church on Sunday crawling back into bed with Renee and watching afternoon games before going to ILA on Sunday nights. Following favorite players (and even some I don't like) for fantasy football stats.

4 - High School Football - I enjoy going to games for our kid's school. Caleb plays in the band, Faith sits with her friends. I get to talk about football with friends and parents. My co-worker is the head coach for the cheerleaders - (most of them I have worked in drama with) so I like to root for them and use my big drama voice to cheer with them.

5 - Drama - It is time for One Act competition! I love working with young students, encouraging them in their gifts and seeing how far they can grow and be pushed to put on a wonderful show!

6- Weather/ bonfires - The cooler weather is fantastic.... especially when enjoying a bonfires/ fire-pit with friends and family. S'mores and conversations around a the dancing flames, smelling like a fire when you go back inside....love it!

7- Sweet treats! This is the best time of the year for certain types of sweets/ treats!
        * Candy Corn and Dry Roasted Peanuts

        * Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte

        * Caramel Apple Suckers
 

    * Pumpkin- anything!!!!! Bread, cookies, muffins, bagels , Eisenstein Bagel Bros. smear!

8- Relief for Caleb and Renee- one other thing the weather allows (when the first freeze comes) is relief for Renee and Caleb from the onslaught of allergies and pollen they have been dealing with the past months!

I LOVE FALL!