I am Free!

Hi Friends, I am writing today after an awesome, wonderful time that I shared with my small group bible study on Friday night. We went to the Newsboys concert at DTE. There were three groups that sang... Sevenglory, Superchick and Newsboys. What an amazing concert and great, fun fellowship with friends. I was moved by the "I am Free" song. I have heard it many times and it usually touches me, but this night standing and singing it with many other Christians was indescribable. I could feel the freedom. You might be saying yeah sure, what are you talking about. Well, it was as if I had no skin or skeleton. My insides wanted to break free. I felt like I was outside of myself. It was joyful and peaceful. It is what I imagine true worship is suppose to be... a freeing experience... no holds bar. Our God is awesome and He deserves our worship. Let go, lift up and let God!

Here are some photo's of the event that was so much fun for me at least...

Karie, Dani, Dave, Jenna, Mirjam, Allison & Patrick
Allison, Dani & Karie

Dave, Jenna, Mirjam, Allison & Dani

Jeff, Michael, Jody & Duncan

Jenna, Dave, Patrick, Dani, Mijam, Karie & Allison

5 Minute Chocolate Mug Cake

Dung Cake / Mug Cake

You might think 5 minute cake sounds wonderful. If you are thinking it now, let me just tell you that if you are aiming to use the Mug Cake for any type of Science Experiment than this is the recipe and the idea for you... Sarah, Karie and I decided it would be fun to test out this fun little recipe. What we ended up with was several marketing ideas. Things like inserts for your shoes, a 5th phase of matter, or wacky ideas of how to freak people out with the substance.

The taste was tricky to decipher. It had a trace of cocoa taste, but perhaps the massive amount of oil lead to its ickiness. The texture was not something common to chewing. I cannot relate that to a substance unless you have ever tried Ethiopian Sponge bread. It had some what of the same consistency, although the cake was quite dense and solid. The smell was likened to play-dough with a hint of Cocoa.

I bet you really want that recipe now so you can go out and try your own fun 5 minute experiment...

Here it is:

5 MINUTE CHOCOLATE MUG CAKE
4 tablespoons flour
4 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons cocoa
1 egg
3 tablespoons milk
3 tablespoons oil
3 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional)
a small splash of vanilla extract
1 large coffee mug
Add dry ingredients to mug, and mix well. Add the egg and mix
thoroughly.
Pour in the milk and oil and mix well. Add the chocolate chips (if
using) and vanilla extract, and mix again.
Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes at 1000 watts
(high).
The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed!

Sarah was the most adventurous of us taste testers. She almost had us convinced that it was not horrible... Almost, but not quite!

For those who think Karie refuses to try new things... She actually tried and attempted to eat several bites of this "Mug" Cake. Affectionately renamed Dung Cake.

Lions and Tornadoe's: a lesson in life

I hope and pray this story touches you the same as it touched me this last weekend. It is a great reminder to touch lives no matter who or when. Sometimes we all need a little love and encouragment. Some of us need it more than we know...

Music Legends

I often think about media and the effects it has on our culture. This morning I heard a song I haven't heard in a very long time. It was Everyday by Buddy Holly. It made me smile and remember how much fun it was when we were kids to sing along with the oldies. Granted media of every generation has its ups and downs and by no stretch am I saying that the music of the 5o's and 60's was perfect or without its own flaws. I am saying though that the deeper we get into the freedom to be you and me movement, where we can say and do whatever we want, the more immoral and repulsive our lyrics are becoming.

Today fifty years ago we lost 3 major rock legends / icons. On February 3rd, 1959, Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valen's and the Big Bopper were killed in a plane crash. In honor of these men and the music that still inspires me today I am posting the following song...



I hope the music of this generation holds fond memories for you too. In memory of two other great legends that have passed away I am adding a less serious song for your listening pleasure...




I hope you enjoyed a little Johnny Cash humor. Impersonating of course Elvis Presley. Let's all listen to some "oldies" tonight and remember these legends.