Pay Day!

My wife has posted an interesting idea for all parents to consider regarding allowance and our children...

On this journey with you,

Pastor Beau

Family Dinner Friday

Here's the first of a new series of easy to make, throw down meals that anybody can make.  Throughout this series Kiera will be talking with different families who will be sharing their favorite throw down meals with us.  The idea here is to learn how other families do 'family dinner' while possibly learning some new favorite recipes.

First Family Dinner Friday Meal:  The Chambers Family :)
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We all know it...sitting down at the dinner table eating dinner together as a family is important!
We know there are statistics about how eating diner together is good for our families...we've heard them numerous times

• gives our children better grades
• they're less likely to try drugs and alcohol
• less likely to have an eating disorder
• their more likely to abstain from sexual behaviors
• have lower cases of depression and ADD or ADHD
• higher levels of self esteem
• kids eat healthier foods
• families save money on grocery/food bills
• and countless other positives

If we know these facts then why do an overwhelming percent of American households still not eat dinner together?
And by together I mean TOGETHER...
in the same room,
at the same table,
no TV,
no cell phones,

An Amazing Recipe for an Amazing Story!

The following  recipe was taken word for word from my wife's blog chambersmade.blogspot.com.

 Even though our family does this every year, the visual impact and reinforcement of the Easter story always hits home with every single one of us!

Read the whole recipe before beginning...

and you have to do together Saturday night before Easter Sunday. Or a different day before Easter, sort of missing the point if you do it on Easter Sunday

Resurrection Cookies

Preheat oven to 300 degrees

Ingredients:                     You need:

1 cup whole pecans             Mixing bowl

3 egg whites                           Wooden spoon

1 cup sugar                             Bible

1 tsp. vinegar                        Zipper baggy

1 pinch of salt                       Wax paper

                                                    Cookie sheet

                                                    Tape

Place pecans in the baggy and let the children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces.

Explain that after Jesus was arrested, He was beaten by the Roman soldiers.
For younger children you may want to that the Roman soldiers were mean to him.

• Read - John 19:1-3

Let child smell the vinegar. Put 1 tsp. into mixing bowl.

Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross, He was given vinegar to drink.

• Read - John 19:28-30

Add egg whites to the vinegar.

Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life for our life.

• Read - John 10:10-11

Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand let them taste it then brush the rest into the bowl.

Explain that represents the salty tears shed by Jesus followers, and the bitterness of our own sin...

• Read - Luke 23:27

So far the ingredients are not very appetizing :)

Add 1 cup sugar.

Explain that the sweetest part of this story is that Jesus died because He loves us.

He wants us to know and belong to Him.

• Read - Psalm 34:8 and John 3:16

Beat with mixer on high speed for 11-15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed.

Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus.

• Read - Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3

Fold in broken nuts.

Drop by tsp. onto waxed paper-covered cookie sheet.

Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus body was laid. 

• Read - Matt. 27:65-66

Put cookies sheet in the oven.

Close door and turn oven OFF.

Give each child a piece of tape and seal the door.

Explain that Jesus tomb was sealed.

• Read - Matt. 27:65-66

Go to bed !

Jesus followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed.

Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight.

• Read - John 16:20 and 22

On Resurrection Morning open the oven and give everyone a cookie !

Notice the cracked surface and take a bite.

The cookies are hollow !

On the first Resurrection Day Jesus followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty.

• Read - Matt. 28:1-9

He Has Risen! Hallelujah! ! ! ! !

Enjoy!  I hope your Easter is full of great family traditions and maybe some new ones too!

On the journey with you,

Pastor Beau

Where Around Town Is This?

Not only is it Friday... it's Fun Friday!  So why not get out and enjoy Redding with your family!

Today I'm starting a new, semi-regular series called Where Around Town Is This: a family scavenger hunt.

Here are the rules:

• I will periodically post a picture taken somewhere within the Redding city limits.
• The picture will always be of a place that is easily accessible and will never cost money to gain access.
• When you discover the place in question, take a picture of your family next to it and send it to me.
• The first family to send me a picture of themselves and the location will get their picture posted here for the world to see!
• Have fun and happy hunting!

Here's the first picture... Where around town is this?

Good luck!

I'm looking forward to your pictures!

On the journey with you,

Pastor Beau

Fun Friday + Rhett and Link = Awesome

Most of you have heard of VeggieTales... those lovable cucumber and tomato purveyors of God's Word.  But I'd be willing to bet that you've never heard of What's In The Bible?...  If you haven't... check it out!

It was watching What's In The Bible that I discovered The Bently

How could I have missed this?

So there I was, drying my hands with one of those crazy blow dryer thingys, all the while thinking why they don't just hang up a pair of pants instead because that's what we all end up using anyway... when I discovered something that in all my hand-drying years have never known...

This may be the single, most important discovery I have made in at least 16 months... Something so amazing it has the potential to be life altering, world shattering, yes, maybe even world-peace attaining...