Organic God Week 4

From Holly.

Week one was on getting to know God: pure, essential and natural. Week 2-challenged our preconceived ideas about God and how we view him, Week 3-encouraged to think about who we go to for wisdom. Often it's the internet, books and people-not the Word of God. This week we looked at a continuum of God's Love. Because he loves us so much he allows us to go through pain. We then desire to live a life of gratitude because of his faithfulness, which brings us back to Love-for God and for others.

If you missed class we would encourage you to watch the Rob Bell video titled "Rain." You can watch it online or check it out from the church office.

Our challenge this week is to reflect on our lives and name out loud the ways that we saw or felt God during our times of pain and suffering.

Organic God Part Two

This past Sunday we focused on the idea of stripping away our misconceptions about God and what our relationship with Him might be. He is a mystery that we will never fully understand while we are here on earth but working toward knowing Him better is a goal we all share.

This week you have two spiritual challenges.
1) Take a moment and prayerfully reflect on your relationship with your earthly father. Are there any ideas about your dad or experiences form childhood that you unintentionally project on God. Spend some time in preayer and ask God to reveal any of these to you. Then, spend some time in the scripture asking God to replace any false beliefs with a haelthy, Biblically-based understanding of your Heavenly Father.
2) Ask at least three people, " What do you love about Jesus?" and see where the conversation goes.

I would love to have a conversation in the comments with your own answers to question number two.

Yummy Fall Snack

This recipe came from the October issue of KIWI Magazine.

1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 cup ground flaxseed or wheat germ
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup canned pure pumpkin
2 large eggs
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup 1% lowfat milk
1/3 cup canola oil
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly coat 24 mini-muffin wrappers with oil or nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the two flours, ground flaxseed, baking powder, cinnamon and salt.
3. In a medium bowl, combine pumpkin, eggs, brown sugar, milk, oil and vanilla and stir until well mixed.
4. Pour liquid ingredients over dry ingredients and stir until moistened. Mix in the chocolate chips.
5. Spoon batter into the prepared muffin cups. Bake 15 to 18 minutes (if you're making 12 full-size muffins, bake for 20-23 minutes), until a toothpick inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean. Transfer the pan to a wire rack and cool 5 minutes before removing the muffins.

Organic God

Today we started a 6 week study called The Organic God. There is a blog that I'll get over on the links at a different time but here is a quick link. This study focuses on having a natural, pure and essential relationship with God. I think it will be really good for us to do this and so to keep everyone part of things over the next six weeks, I'll try to post some of the questions that we discuss in class and the weekly challenge (that will also be emailed).

-Have you ever thought of "organic" in relation to God? What prallels do you see between the word "organic"and "God"?

-Why Should our relationship with God be Natural, Pure and Essential?

Read Psalm 105:4

-How often do you seek God? What does your personal time with God look like?

-Is there anything about seeking God that makes you uncomfortable?

CHALLENGE:

Challenge yourself this week by reading Psalms 24:4,5 then write a personal prayer to God inviting Him to reveal Himself in new ways to you and draw you closer to Himself.

Basketball Tournament for Lia

Hello Everyone,

Please take a look at this flyer and website. As many of you know our dear friends Corey & Lisa Stone recently gave birth to their precious daughter, Lia. A few months into the pregnancy the family found out Little Lia would be in for a long road after birth. Lia was diagnosed with two major heart defects, known as Tricuspid Atresia and Transposition of the Great Vessels.

Lia would need to undergo emergency surgery days after she was born in order to correct the issues with her heart. In attempt to finalize the medical attention that she will need, the surgery will be followed months later by another surgery and then another when she is two to three years old.

Though the news took the family by shock, the Stones have done their best to count their blessings, knowing that the doctors and surgeons have given them every reason to be hopeful.

Lia is home with her mommy, daddy, and two older brothers. She is doing very well.

In an attempt to help the family cover the cost of the surgeries, and medical attention needed, Richland College will play host to the "Hoops for the Heart" 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament. The family has asked for my assistance in getting the word out for this event. Please feel free to visit the website: www.liakatestone.com, or print out the attached flyer and give to anyone you think may be interested. This 3 on 3 tournament is strictly for fund-raising purposes and all proceeds will go to the Stone Family and the medical attention of Little Lia Stone. HURRY as the deadline is nearing for registration of the event!! There are lots of ways you can choose to participate in the event: sponsor a team, make a donation or volunteer your time!

Thank you for your time and support. As many of you personally know the Stones, you can understand the blessing they have received in Little Lia.

Thank You,
Stacey Losher

Lia Kate Stone

Our class has been praying for baby Lia and her family for the past few months. She is here now and will continue to need prayers. Here is a website that you can go to to keep up with what is going on and to donate.

Thank you Ellers for the update.

April's Secret Ingredient is...

Shrimp!

Please leave any delicious shrimp recipes in the comments below.