I participated in a 46-hour retreat on September 17-19 with two great friends. Our purpose was to discern God's will for the future of Acorn Ministries (www.AcornMinistries.com). It was an awesome experience!
We ate well during the retreat, too! I've had a request for my family's pancake recipe and thought it'd be fun to share it here:
Grampa's Pancake Recipe
* Note: makes "thin and rubbery" pancakes
Dry ingredients
1 cup flour
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
Wet ingredients
1 cup buttermilk
3/4 cup milk
1 egg
2 tablespoon sugar (I realize it's a dry ingredient, but this is where you mix it)
1 tablespoon melted butter (or vegetable oil)
Instructions
- mix "dry" and "wet" ingredients separately
- then mix dry ingredients into the wet ingredients
- heat griddle until a sprinkle of water "dances" on the surface
- place desired amount of batter on griddle and gently swirl each pancake with laddle - flip when bubbles start to form
- when cooked, place pancakes on a plate and cover with a bowl to maintain heat/moisture
Enjoy!
Lon
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Ask, and You Will Receive
A strange pairing of the kid's show "Handy Manny" and an Oswald Chambers piece inspired this post.
While waking my children this morning a scene from "Handy Manny" caught my eye. Mr. Lopart had (once again) gotten himself in trouble. You see, he never asks for, or accepts, help from others. This causes him to get in lots of trouble. Today he had gotten his arm stuck in a door he'd installed for his cat.
Oswald Chambers teaches that the purpose of prayer is to allow Christ to grow in us. The more we look to Jesus for help, the more Christ grows in us. When we try to do life on our own, we stifle Christ's growth in us.
God wants to be a part of every aspect of our life. It follows that He wants to support us in our difficulties, too! Don't be a Mr. Lopart! Turn over to Jesus all your troubles and God will engage in them. In the meantime, our willingness to seek Christ's help will allow Jesus to grow in us.
"Ask, and you will receive..." John 16:24
Don't be a Mr. Lopart!
Lon
While waking my children this morning a scene from "Handy Manny" caught my eye. Mr. Lopart had (once again) gotten himself in trouble. You see, he never asks for, or accepts, help from others. This causes him to get in lots of trouble. Today he had gotten his arm stuck in a door he'd installed for his cat.
Oswald Chambers teaches that the purpose of prayer is to allow Christ to grow in us. The more we look to Jesus for help, the more Christ grows in us. When we try to do life on our own, we stifle Christ's growth in us.
God wants to be a part of every aspect of our life. It follows that He wants to support us in our difficulties, too! Don't be a Mr. Lopart! Turn over to Jesus all your troubles and God will engage in them. In the meantime, our willingness to seek Christ's help will allow Jesus to grow in us.
"Ask, and you will receive..." John 16:24
Don't be a Mr. Lopart!
Lon
Tuesday, September 01, 2009
Encouragement to Ask, by Grant Armstrong
I received this post as a comment on my earlier post about fundraising for ministry, called "To Ask, Or Not". It is so encouraging I thought I should share it as today's blog. Thanks, Grant!
1 Corinthians 9:3-14
It seems fairly clear. "In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel."
I also notice that in James 4:2 it says, "You do not have because you do not ask God." In Matthew 5:32 Christ says the omniscient Father knows we need those things, and we are still called to ask Him.
I suppose it's similar to the reason we are called to invite people into the kingdom of God according to Romans 10:14-15. How can people respond unless they are informed? Could it be that the Gospel that turns miserly hearts into generous hearts is by nature relational and invitational - like our Triune God? Could it be that inviting people into a relationship with Jesus Christ AND joyful giving for the sake of His kingdom are part and parcel of the Christian calling?
God uses us, earthen vessels though we may be, as instruments of His priceless grace so that He might be glorified. Perhaps God can do everything without our participation. A sovereign God can. In God's grace, we are invited to participate in God's works.
I also found this interesting:
http://fundraisingcoach.com/articles/fundraising-in-the-bible
This source runs across similar challenges, but lists several examples of people raising funds for God's glory. Typically those funds are used for something like the temple. In your case, Lon, it allows you to build up leaders...people...temples of the Holy Spirit...so that God's redeeming work in this world might multiply. Scripture doesn't say whether the temple or God's people are more valuable to Him, but I know for which of the two Christ offered His very life.
Thanks for building up the Body of Christ, Lon.
Your brother in Christ, Grant
The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, "Do not muzzle the ox while it is treading out the grain," and "The worker deserves his wages. - 1 Timothy 5:17-18
1 Corinthians 9:3-14
It seems fairly clear. "In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel."
I also notice that in James 4:2 it says, "You do not have because you do not ask God." In Matthew 5:32 Christ says the omniscient Father knows we need those things, and we are still called to ask Him.
I suppose it's similar to the reason we are called to invite people into the kingdom of God according to Romans 10:14-15. How can people respond unless they are informed? Could it be that the Gospel that turns miserly hearts into generous hearts is by nature relational and invitational - like our Triune God? Could it be that inviting people into a relationship with Jesus Christ AND joyful giving for the sake of His kingdom are part and parcel of the Christian calling?
God uses us, earthen vessels though we may be, as instruments of His priceless grace so that He might be glorified. Perhaps God can do everything without our participation. A sovereign God can. In God's grace, we are invited to participate in God's works.
I also found this interesting:
http://fundraisingcoach.com/articles/fundraising-in-the-bible
This source runs across similar challenges, but lists several examples of people raising funds for God's glory. Typically those funds are used for something like the temple. In your case, Lon, it allows you to build up leaders...people...temples of the Holy Spirit...so that God's redeeming work in this world might multiply. Scripture doesn't say whether the temple or God's people are more valuable to Him, but I know for which of the two Christ offered His very life.
Thanks for building up the Body of Christ, Lon.
Your brother in Christ, Grant
The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, "Do not muzzle the ox while it is treading out the grain," and "The worker deserves his wages. - 1 Timothy 5:17-18
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