Worship

Last Thursday Jason helped us to lead each other into worship. I took the liberty of writing down what everyone said. I was trying to capture themes and see how God is and has been moving in our community. They spoke to me about who God is. Here are some of the things that God has done, is doing, and is going to do...

Has built and continues to build friendships: Ones that we may or may not be looking for
Works through conflict and challenges us to change, helps us let go of our stubbornness and control
Provides jobs with purpose
Teaches us through times without jobs with purpose
Creates Nature, mountains, opportunities to see and experience this creation
Provides Health
Provides Patience
Brings peace in uncertainty
Calls us outward in new ways and provides strength when we do so
Brings Hope to situations where Hope is hard to find

God is Love, God is Just, God is Peace

It was hard for a lot of us to dream about the future and we hope for God to do. I am challenged by this. Its scary to "predict" what God is going to do, because what if he doesn't? How can we Hope in His steps as move forward as a community?

Valentines Day Pics

Thank you to everyone who contributed to our Valentines Day celebration. Check out my blog for pictures and commentary.

Trade

I just got an email annoucement from Redbox that the movie, Trade, is now available to rent. If you're unfamiliar with Redbox, it's a DVD rental vending machine located at some Harris Teeters in town. You pay by credit card and DVDs are $1 a night. I think Traci had a plug about this movie a few months ago, but I don't think it ever came to theaters in Raleigh.

I'm probably going to try and rent it soon and wanted to pass along the info for all of you! :)

See ya on Thursday.

"Sermon on the Mount"

Hello All,
Last Thursday and continuing to this Thursday we will be discussing things in parallel with the teachings on Sundays on the "sermon on the mount." This will be a theme for homegroup teaching during Jeff's series. Basically, we'll spend time talking about concepts that are brought up during Sunday teachings. If you have questions or want to discuss something from the Sunday teachings, we can do that. This will give us a chance to think further and "wrestle" with the concepts from the "sermon on the mount."

Jeff may even let you wrestle him.

Listening to the podcasts from Sunday and reading the text might add even more thought to this process. But, all can contribute without doing so.

See you tomorrow !!

Home Group Follow-Up - Christmas

Most of us are probably presented with this story of Christmas every year, but that doesn't make it any less real or powerful.

I have come to enjoy the time spent with family during Christmas, the excitement in the air, the community of humans putting down their guard a bit for a season, the coolness in the air (normally), the giving spirit.

Most of us love this time of year, and most of us realize the true meaning behind Christmas. Do we stop and celebrate that? Do we still wonder? Do we still marvel at the vulnerability of Christ as a child? Do we still see the miracle? Do we still relate the birth of Christ to our own lives?

The short video Ashley played for us had a part that made me really think. It spoke of the many different names that God has, and it's true: The Prince of Peace, I am, Emmanuel, Father (there are many more). I think he has more names than Puff Daddy, or Diddy, or P. Diddy, or whatever. It amazed me to think about how God could be all these things. That all these names are not just another way to call him something, that they are there for a reason.

So, three things:

1. What are other "names" given to God/Christ ?
2. Which name is most comforting/relevant to your life right now ?
3. And maybe this is a rhetorical question, which do you need to experience right now?

Weekend Fun

There is a great walk, shop, and art adventure this Sunday afternoon in Boylan Heights:

Art Walk

Thanksgiving Favorite

Here's a recipe for everyone's favorite, sweet potato casserole! :)

Casserole Ingredients:
3 cups cooked mashed sweet potatoes (1 good sized sweet potato is about 1 cup)
1 cup sugar
2 beaten eggs
1/3 stick butter, melted
1/2 cup milk
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla

Topping Ingredients:
2 cups brown sugar
1/2 cup self-rising flour
1 cup chopped pecans
1 stick melted butter

Preparation:
1. Cook the sweet potatoes in the microwave for about 15-20 minutes (if you're cooking all 3 at once). You can boil these to cook them, but if you're pressed for cooking space for a big family dinner, using the microwave can be handy. :)
2. When cooked through, scrape out the inside of the potatoes and put in a mixing bowl. You can peel these before you cook them, but it's easier for me to scrape....use whichever method you prefer most.
3. Mash potatoes together until mostly smooth.
4. Mix in remaining ingredients for the casserole.
5. Spread into a buttered casserole dish.
6. Mix the topping ingredients together in a mixing bowl.
7. Spread the topping over the potato mixture.
8. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes.
9. Enjoy! :)