Thursday, June 16, 2011

Can I share something really cool with you?

A few weeks ago our Pastor, Andy, spoke about the familiar Bible story of the little boy with 5 loaves and 2 fishes.

Jesus and the disciples found themselves depleted and famished after non-stop ministry, and ever the Good Shepherd, Jesus invited his friends to come away with him by themselves to a quiet place where they could rest. Together they boarded a boat, destination relaxation within sight. But the crowd was famished for another taste of the divine; they pressed in, ran ahead, beating Jesus and his disciples to the shore where they would dock.

Our God, oh He is full of compassion, and our Jesus, the embodiment of the fullness of God, saw the crowd, these sherpherdless sheep of a chosen people, and begin teaching. Hanging on the words and the ways of this healer-man from Nazareth, the crowds pressed in until the sun hung low in the sky. The disciples suggested Jesus send the crowd away; hours in heat and no nourishment cause even the strongest to grow faint. Jesus told them (I LOVE this part), "You give them something to eat." One estimated it would take half a year's wages to buy enough bread for all to have a share. "How many loaves do you have?" Jesus asked them. Or as Andy paraphrased, "What's in your hand?"

The disciples stood before a seemingly impossible need with no where near the resources to touch the hunger of the thousands in the crowd. Often you and I stand before a world of brokenness, and the sheer volume of need can become utterly paralyzing. Millions of orphans, billions starving, 7000 contracting HIV today, the lonely, the sick, the forgotten, the imprisoned. Where. Do. I. begin?

One really cannot know the way God will bless our humble contribution offered in love.

Shortly after this sermon, Aron submitted a video he had made telling the story of our church's Seed Planter Street Ministry into a contest on Do Something World. He came home that night telling me that he didn't expect to win. Shot with a humble little Flip camera, produced on the barest of video editing equipment, his 5 loaves and two fishes didn't stand a chance against the professional quality videos he'd seen already submitted.

But God took notice of a man named Guy Alexander and his warrior ways in the gang ridden streets of Mount Clemens. And God, in his miracle making ways, saw fit to allocate the first prize award of $5000.00 to the Seed Planter's Street Ministry. Do you know how many Bibles will be distributed, how many bellies will be fed with these baskets full and overflowing?

Jesus took the measly lunch of a small boy and fed a multitude.
And he took a humble video of a small ministry serving the ex-cons and the gang bangers of a broken city and is providing a way to feed, both physically and spiritually, a people so very hungry for the Bread of Life.

To Our Great God Be the Glory!

As we each look to the needs in our families, communities, and sphere's of influence, I suppose the question begs to be answered, "What's in your hand?" and "What are you going to do with it?"
Only God knows what He could do with your humble little lunch.
ejk

Thursday, June 9, 2011

6.8.11

Our water baby.
Judah hasn't quite warmed up to the pool yet this year.
Aron taking Judah in against his wishes. And I quote, "NOOOOOOOOO!"
ejk

when little brother meets destiny


watch out innocent bystanders. he cannot be held accountable for his superhuman strength.
ejk

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

a tropical escape

I am ever looking for calorie dense, nutrient rich, kid friendly deliciousness that my children will eat without me having to jump through fiery hoops in order to coax the food into their mouths.
I know I'm not the only mother to babies that eat like birds.
So here's a recipe I'll share with you. One suited for our 96 degree sweltering heat!

Frozen Fruit Bar - Pina Colada

Puree:
2 banana's (very ripe)
1 can (5 oz) of pineapple in its own juice
Coconut milk (10 oz)
1 teaspoon vanilla
(shhh...i did add a tablespoon of sugar...did I mention I don't like jumping through fiery hoops?)

Pour into popsicle molds, freeze, and

enjoy!
They turned out quite yummy, and my littles are eating them up...sans the circus tricks.
Tonight I'm going to try a mango, banana, pinapple mix. I'll let you know how they turn out!

Beat the heat, people...and enjoy it while you do so!
ejk

Wild About You

We spent a few HOT but lovely hours Memorial Day at the zoo. Monday was just about as hot as they come up here in Michiland.
The animals looked how we felt.
Nevertheless, we got to see and do all kinds of cool things...like feel real camel hair as we watched the camel's graze. I do not know how John the Baptist wore those kind of garments in the desert heat.








Judah and his 'MUM' watching the gorillas...

Monkey see,

monkey do.

Judah wanted to pet the peacock; papaw kept a watchful eye.

Belle and daddy scoping out the baboons.






Judah playing with the meerkats

Perhaps the most refreshing ice cream we've ever tasted!




Walking through the outback adventure to see the Kangaroos.




Aron & Judah in their matching chucks.

Stealing kisses in the butterfly house...





Thanks to Dad & Mom Kirk for a wonderful weekend of moments together!
ejk

Monday, June 6, 2011

6.5.11

belle, child of God. she's the little one:)
*The close observer might note that Aron is leading worship with a rather large guitar. Yes, you are seeing it correctly; he is leading with a bass guitar. No bass musicians were available to play this week, so what's a worship leader to do?! Proud of my man of hidden talents!

Sunday, June 5, 2011

"this is the best day of my life!"

And all it took was a few water balloons and some time with 'mum' (as Judah calls his Grandma Jackie) and 'poppy' (as Aunt Kara would say of her daddy).






















ejk