What Makes Your Work Most Valuable in the Church, by Zeke Lam

 
One day when I was explaining to my daughter why the Third Day song, Surrender, made me cry, she asked me what the word meant. I had to explain it’s origin and how it is used in terms of battles—it’s usually a bad thing … unless the One you are surrendering too is greater, more powerful than yourself, and loves you more than you can imagine. Then, surrender is a good thing. The same is true for the word "submission." 


Zeke Lam is the author of the book, subMISSION: heeding only His voice. He has graciously agreed to visit LBOC today to tell us how obedience to God’s call for you and working in unity with the body of Christ will make your work most valuable.


… And don’t forget to check out the information below about his new book. It promises to be a most inspiring read!

 
The Body of Christ

The body of Christ, also known as the Church, is the common expression given to those who have been transformed by the redeeming blood of Jesus Christ. It represents power, authority, love, and a measure of unity that can only exist through Christ. In terms of importance, there is not an institution on the face of this earth that can be considered its equal. Why? It is an expression of the very character of our Savior, and He gave His life for her!

Paul spoke frequently about the body of Christ. He emphasized the importance of the Church operating as a true body. In other words, each member understanding that he/she is essential although possessing differing gifts, talents, and roles. I Corinthians 12: 12-26 paints a beautiful picture of the importance of a properly functioning body. Similar to the human body, it is made of many different members, all of which play a critical role in its overall success.

The human body is set up in such a way that each part, regardless of how glorious it is, remains essential to the overall unity of the whole. Unity is not a struggle when each member’s focus is not on themselves. Consider verse 25 of I Corinthians 12 in light of this statement. Paul writes: “so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.”

Division in the body of Christ is perhaps one of the most devastating plagues infecting the Church today. God creates each individual with a specific purpose and function through which He can be glorified. For some it is pastoring. For some it is missions. For some it is parenting. For some it is business. For some it is volunteering. While some callings and gifts appear from the eye of man as more glorious than others, God only sees one thing. Will we be obedient to the calling and purpose He has for our lives? Whether on a big stage or in a mountain jungle, what makes you and I an effective member of the body of Christ is our willingness to assume the role He ordained for us.

When we take our eyes off ourselves and place them on Christ, we can remain in a condition as a member of His body to do our part to see Him glorified. If you have received Him as your Savior, you are His beloved bride. He will cherish and love you like none other.

Consider this question as you and I think about the parts we play in His Kingdom work, and our faithfulness to it. “If you ceased to exist today, would the body miss you?”

Never forget how valuable you are to the advancement of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Rank or title does not apply. The only thing that counts is obedience! If He created you to be an “ear”, and you spend your life as a “head”, then despite being one of the more crucial members, you have failed. An effective, Kingdom minded member is one who steadfastly obeys God’s purpose for his/her life.

LBOC Would love for readers to leave a comment about how God called you to do something you once thought was crazy, but were blessed enough to see its fruit ...
 
Prepare to be stirred by this authentic calling to return to Scriptural obedience.
—Pastor Gabe Turner, The Point Church of Charlottesville, Virginia

In my opinion Zeke has laid his finger on the defining message for our time. This message is essential for believers everywhere…
—Eric Stephens, Pastor of Life Changing Ministries and Fellowship in Sugarland, Texas
______________________________________________________
What is the greatest challenge that the Church is facing today? Zeke Lam suggests that one word is the greatest challenge:  submission, or the lack thereof. It is not external forces that nullify the testimony of a Christ-centered believer, but rather the failure to humbly submit to the voice of the Lord. This book will help you to live a surrendered life abiding in Christ.
Ø  Is the approval of God more important to you than the approval of man?
Ø  Is the presence of God evident in your life?
Ø  Do you fiercely protect your intimacy with Christ?
Ø  Do you desire to live a life of truth, free from the lies of the devil?
Ø  Is God’s divine character visible to those around you?
Learn how to submit your life wholeheartedly to the Lord so that you can dwell continually in the secret place—a place of intimacy, surrender and joy.
______________________________________________________
ZEKE LAM is the founder of SUBMISSION Ministries—a ministry devoted to seeing lost souls encounter God and live lives fully surrendered to the risen Christ. A graduate of Liberty University, Zeke’s deep passion for following Christ’s will has led him through many years of youth ministry and itinerant evangelism. Both of these experiences have enriched and fueled his desire to hand others the keys to a Christ-centered life. Zeke resides in Virginia with his beautiful wife, Kathleen, and a growing family of future world-changers.
3.  ISBN-13                  978-1-9374-8100-1
4.  ISBN-10                  1-9374-8100-X
5. Author website
http://submissionministries.org/

If you'd like to see a great interview with Zeke and learn more about the writing of his book, visit the blog Peering Through Life's Window.

The Great and the Small, Part 4—How One Small Girl Inspired A Ministry of Access

A few weeks ago, I recounted the story of how Lon Solomon, pastor of the Mega-Church, McLean Bible, came to Christ through his contact with one man who he’d once called the weirdest man in the universe. Today, I want to tell you about the little girl who encouraged him to start a ministry that would impact hurting families across the country—his daughter Jill.

Jill was born to Lon and his wife, almost twenty years ago, with a seizure disorder that left her severely disabled. And though God used this little girl (now a young woman) to stretch and strengthen the faith of a man who is pastor to thousands, she may be most credited for her inspiration to create Access Ministry, the special needs ministry at McLean. What is Access Ministry? It is a multidimensional program for families which includes small groups for Mom’s with special needs children, day programs for adults with disabilities, Bible classes for SN children, lecture series for families, friendship clubs, support groups, signing groups, summer camp and family events. <deep breath here> But if that weren’t enough, McLean Bible Church goes the step further to “spread the love.” Once a year they hold a national conference designed to help churches, communities and families to provide for members with special needs. It’s called Accessibility Summit. I highly recommend this summit to anyone who would like to discover new ways to help this community, especially since it is a hurting community within the Body and is too often neglected by it.

Often, families with special needs forego the blessing of church attendance because they have a child who will not “behave” in the sanctuary and the children’s program cannot accommodate them. These families need Christ as much as anyone else, but are sometimes forgotten as we strive to reach families solely through Christian sports ministries which only alienate the disabled further.

Having visited McLean, I can tell you, they do not alienate the disabled in any way. I have written on blogs about how I rarely see an accurate microcosm of the special needs community among church attenders. The percentage of disabled in most churches on a given Sunday seems much smaller than that which is among us in the public sphere. Not so at McLean. As I walked the corridors of the complex, I encountered groups of individuals signing to one another, scads of members in wheelchairs, parents gripping the hands of their autistic children and members leading the blind into elevators. I was in awe! This is the fruit of Jill’s inspiration.

My prayer today is that you, the reader, will visit the Accessibility Summit site and beg your church to send someone to the conference April 20-21 this year so YOUR church can be part of this great ministry.

God Bless!

Other posts in this series:

The Great and the Small--God

The Great and the Small--The Man Who Inspired a Congregation ... Sorta

The Great and the Small--The Button Lady

The Story Behind Diamond Estates--by Nicole O'Dell

As promised last Friday, Nicole is back to tell us what inspired her to write The Diamond Estate Series. It's a great reminder of the call God has on all of us to help the hurting, as well as an example of how God can even take our sorrows and use them to bring something special to others.

Sixteen-year-old Olivia Mansfield can’t wait to escape the confines of her home, where she endures nothing but perpetual torment and abuse from her stepfather while her mother turns a blind eye. She dreams of being accepted into a prestigious music school far, far away . . .but until she graduates from high school, Olivia must make the best of her dire situation. When poor choices lead her to the brink of a complete breakdown and she finds herself dealing with the unexpected death of her best friend, Olivia comes to a crossroads. Will she find the path to ultimate hope and healing that her heart longs for? Or will the demons from Olivia’s past prove too much to bear?

Join sixteen-year-old Olivia Mansfield on her journey to hope and healing, as she struggles to pick up the pieces of her life—and faith—at Diamond Estates. October 1, 2011, Barbour Publishing. . .available in the Choose NOW Store or anywhere books are sold. 

The story behind The Diamond Estates series is a good way for me to segue’ into talking about why I started reaching out to teens. The Wishing Pearl is my story in many ways--not all, but many. When I was a young teen, like Olivia Mansfield, I started making some really bad choices in response to some things that happened to me. My life spiraled out of control, and I hit rock bottom. I got to the point where I didn’t think I’d even have a chance at getting it together unless I got out of my circumstances, so I went to live at a residential home for girls called Teen C hallenge. I lived there for about eight months, and so much of what you read about Diamond Estates is how it was for me at Teen Challenge.

Olivia’s story is not completely my own, but her life and the lives of the girls she meets at Diamond Estates (and the ones in books two, The Embittered Ruby, and three, The Shadowed Onyx) are all sort of a conglomeration of all I saw and experienced during my months of prayer, counseling, introspection, and solitude at Teen challenge. Without that opportunity, I don’t know where I’d be today, because it was during that time the Holy Spirit got ahold of my heart and set me free from many strongholds.

Our enemy is so good at telling us the lies we’re programmed to believe. He’s not going to come at every teenager the same way because that wouldn’t be effective. It’s hard to recognize his darts as lies because they’re often the things we’re most afraid we’ll see in ourselves, so when they crop up, we’re not taken by surprise.

I often get criticized, or at least questioned, about why I tackle such tough issues in The Wishing Pearl and my other books. Things like drug/alcohol use, teen sex, sexual abuse, eating disorders and even abortion. Readers and their parents wonder why I want to cover those things and whether it’s even appropriate in Christian fiction for teens. The thing is, though, that list sounds about like a normal week at an average high school. Those things all exist in the lives of our teens and/or those around them.

My passion is to help teens face the tough issues well in advance of those things actually popping up in their lives. I believe it’s far easier for teenagers to make a commitment to good decisions and prepare a response to temptation before peer pressure is staring them in the face.

In order to keep balance, I spend a lot of time in prayer and really searching my heart to make sure I’m not going there just for a sensationalistic reaction from readers. I believe that if I feel right about putting a subject or storyline in my book, and if I can defend it when asked about it, then it’s my responsibility to go there. I think that’s part of my calling. I mean, it’s tough to address the topic of making good choices if we can’t talk about what those choices will be.

It’s all about choices!

Nicole O’Dell, founder of Choose NOW Ministries is a youth culture expert, who writes and speaks to preteens, teenagers, and parents about how to prepare for life’s tough choices. She is the author of a bunch of YA books, including the popular Scenarios for Girls interactive fiction series and the upcoming Diamond Estates Series, 2011-2012. Non-fiction for teens includes Girl Talk, 2/1/12, which she wrote with her two daughters based on their popular blog column by the same name, and O’Dell’s desire to bridge the gap between parents and teens is evident in her adult non-fiction like the upcoming Hot Buttons series.

The host of Teen Talk Radio where “It’s all about choices!”, Nicole dives in on topics like peer pressure, dating, purity, drugs, alcohol, modesty, popularity, decisions about the future, and many other things that might come up along the way. Over the years, Nicole has worked as a youth director, a Bible study leader for women and teens, and a counselor at a crisis pregnancy center. She lives in Illinois with her husband, Wil and her six wonderful kids–including a set of toddler triplets.

Nicole O’Dell, Choose NOW Ministries

…battling peer pressure by tackling the tough issues

The Great and the Small, Part 3—God

Recently, I viewed a Youtube video of a preacher sounding off about how some ministers of the Gospel want to make God into a people-needing wuss, which of course He is NOT. I only saw a portion of the sermon (that which was on Youtube) and can’t speak to the whole of the text, but I think the man had a problem with the way God was portrayed in the novel, The Shack. This brought to mind reviews I’d seen of the book that also disliked it, feeling it made God look small.

Okay, I admit, I haven’t read the Shack, so I can’t respond to the criticism of whether or not the picture of God is accurate. However, given that my series this month is entitled “The Great and the Small,” and it IS Christmas season, I just wanted to speak to the idea of God being “small.”
I can see you now, hackles up. “Don’t call the Creator of the Universe small,” you cry, and threaten to navigate away from my blog. So I won’t do that. But—think about this now—He can be small …

If.

He.

Wants.

He’s that powerful!

God is the alpha, the omega, the beginning and the end. The Creator of All Things. Not just you and me, folks. I said All Things. And yet, He chose to become God With Us, Emmanuel. He chose to be born of a virgin in a stable, which by the way, was really a dung-filled cave. He chose to be laid in a manger--aka. a feeding trough—by a lowly carpenter and his wife.

A man once suggested to me that what Jesus did on the cross was really not that big of a deal, because, after all, he was God. I submit to you the reverse. That’s what made it so extraordinary! Think about it. Who would be most troubled by sudden poverty? One who has lived it all his life, or one who has had everything he’s ever needed and suddenly is bereft of these. God could have chosen to leave it, and yet He did not. God did not NEED to be a poor carpenter. God did not NEED to be mocked, harassed, beaten and put to death. WE needed Him to be those things. And so He did them. He became small. Not because He needed us, but because we needed Him. His occasional “smallness” is not about His lack of power. It is about the depth and intimacy of His love.

So yes, God is great … and small. He is all in all. He is sculptor of the walls of water that allowed the Hebrews to escape Pharaoh. And He is the still, small voice that speaks to us every day. He is Wonderful, Counselor, Teacher and Father. The alpha, omega, beginning and end!

He is God!

Other posts in this series:

The Great and the Small--How One Small Girl Inspired a Ministry of Access

The Great and the Small--The Man Who Inspired a Congregation

The Great and the Small--The Button Lady  

How I Stumbled Into Radio--by Nicole O'Dell

Why am I so thrilled to have YA author, Nicole O'dell on my blog today? Because I just read her newest novel, The Wishing Pearl, and wanted to help her share her great ministry to teens. She has a heart to help youth find their way in God's world so they can see Him unfold His Love and Joy through the gifts He gave each and every one of us.

Read, and see what I mean ...

  Big or small, major or minor, there's a moment before every decision when you can alter the course of your life. On Teen Talk Radio, where “It's all about choices!” I dive into topics like peer pressure, dating, purity, drugs, alcohol, modesty, popularity, decisions about the future, and many other things that might come up along the way. This show is for teens, about teens and with teens.

They tell me I'm a youth culture expert because I write books and speak to pre-teens, teens, and parents about how to prepare for life's tough choices. But, it's the memory of my own teen years (yes, I can  remember that far back) that has created a passion within me to reach out to teens and help them muddle through the confusion and pressure that life throws at them…at you!

I kind of stumbled into the radio thing when I was looking for more platforms and avenues to be able to communicate with teens on a regular basis. I never set out to work in radio--never really thought about it. But over the past year and a half, I’ve really loved every minute of it. It’s been an amazing experience and clearly something the Lord led me to do.

How do I know what God wants me to do?

That’s a question I get asked quite often. It’s interesting to consider the questions surrounding God’s calling. How do we know? What if we mess up? What if we go the wrong direction?

The best advice I have for discovering what it is that God has for you to do is to move forward with the things you like and the things that interest you. He created you the way He did--with interests and passions unique only to you--for a reason. Explore them and let Him steer you as you put one foot in front of the other.

In my opinion, it’s better to make a mistake when you’re erring on the side of serving God, than to sit still and do nothing. The Holy Spirit will guide you when necessary if you remain open to Him.

There are a couple of Teen Talk Radio podcasts I’d like to recommend on the topic of teenagers finding their callings and working in their giftings:

Making your Faith your Own, with Alison Strobel, daughter of Lee Strobel

Teens Recoginzing God’s Call in their Lives, with Cara Putman

Teens Pursuing Big Dreams, with Lezlie Evans

 And remember...It’s all about choices!

Do you have any questions about this topic? Feel free to leave them in the comments!

... And come back next week to see more about Nicole's newest release, The Wishing Pearl. She shares how her own experience with Teen Challenge led her to write a series about a Christian home for girls. Very inspirational!

Nicole O’Dell, founder of Choose NOW Ministries is a youth culture expert, who writes and speaks to preteens, teenagers, and parents about how to prepare for life’s tough choices. She is the author of a bunch of YA books, including the popular Scenarios for Girls interactive fiction series and the upcoming Diamond Estates Series, 2011-2012. Non-fiction for teens includes Girl Talk, 2/1/12, which she wrote with her two daughters based on their popular blog column by the same name, and O’Dell’s desire to bridge the gap between parents and teens is eviden t in her adult non-fiction like the upcoming Hot Buttons series.

The host of Teen Talk Radio where “It’s all about choices!”, Nicole dives in on topics like peer pressure, dating, purity, drugs, alcohol, modesty, popularity, decisions about the future, and many other things that might come up along the way. Over the years, Nicole has worked as a youth director, a Bible study leader for women and teens, and a counselor at a crisis pregnancy center. She lives in Illinois with her husband, Wil and her six wonderful kids–including a set of toddler triplets.

Nicole O’Dell, Choose NOW Ministries

…battling peer pressure by tackling the tough issues

The Great and the Small, Part 2—The Man Who Inspired a Congregation … Sorta

            So often, when we praise others, it’s because of the great things they do and the numbers of people they impact. However, rarely do we praise the one man who inspired only one. I’m going to do that today.

            Recently, I re-listened to the story of how Lon Solomon, of McLean Bible Church, came to Christ. The piece of the story that intrigued me the most is the part where he mentions the man who first showed him the gospel, Bob Eckhart. This man spent many hours on the Chapel Hill Campus of the University of North Carolina driving around in a white, Econoline van, playing hymns, in the hopes of spreading the Good News to non-believers. Lon, at that time, called him the weirdest man in the universe. Many people spit on this man, cursed him and threw his Bible tracks back in his face. And yet Bob continued relentlessly, eventually winning over a young man whose life had been sinking into an abyss—Lon Solomon.

            Mr. Solomon, many years after his conversion, asked Bob how many people he thinks he’d brought to Christ. Bob told Lon he was the only one he’d known about.

            Why is this story so great? Well, for me, there are two scenarios. One, that this man had worked all that time for a single lost soul, who would then feed potentially millions. Or, that there were countless souls affected in which he knew nothing about. If the former is true, then take a look. Lon Solomon is the very effective pastor of an ever-increasing mega-church. His sermons reach thousands, maybe more, every week, with the message of Jesus Christ. And without Bob that messenger may not have ever known it himself. So, in other words, Bob indirectly impacted many lives.

            Now, what if the latter is true? I know there were many people, strangers and acquaintances, I recall today, who through their words and the actions to back them up, impacted my faith greatly, though I never had the opportunity to tell them. I believe this too is the case with Bob Eckhart. Though some may have thought him weird, there were others inspired by his dedication in the face of mockery.

            So if you labor for Christ and don’t always see its fruits, go to the One you labor for. He will give you rest and send you back into the world to do His will. And having done that, His glory will be revealed whether you see it or not.

Check out the other posts from this series:

The Great and the Small--God

The Great and the Small--How One Small Girl Inspired a Ministry of Access

The Great and the Small--The Button Lady

The Great and the Small, Part 1—The Button Lady

          After reading the story of Traci Hilton’s mom using her cooking gift for God’s glory, I was inspired. Not to cook, mind you. That would be no inspiration. It made me think of those people around me who bring new life to the drudgery of living. And those small things which can have a great impact.
            First, on my list is the “Button Lady.” She is a checker at my local Giant whose uniform used to be adorned in decorative pins and buttons. Thus, the moniker. And though she no longer wears the “buttons,” her inner beauty, thank goodness, has not changed. What makes her so great? Well, I don’t know about you, but grocery shopping is not high on my list of things I love to do. I trudge to the store, after I order my list by isles (which they keep mixing up on me—Argh!), pull out one of those carts (with the defective wheels that only goes left), fill it with food and junk that becomes increasingly unaffordable, and schlep into the line where some curmudgeon, who’s not happy to be in the middle of his or her eight-hour shift, grumbles questions about paper or plastic. Not so with the “Button Lady!” She not only greets me with a cheerful smile, she asks me about my life. Really! And you know what? She remembers what I said the next time I come in. Like she’s interested or somethin’.

            Why’s that important? I don’t know, but at a store that has more and more self-checkout lines and opportunities to avoid human contact all together, I find myself drawn to her line. You know how you usually pan the check-out options and calculate the time each patron will take to get through so you can figure which line will go fastest? I don’t do that when “Button Lady” is on the job. I go right to hers. One time the manager opened a new line and offered for me to be first in it. I refused. Really! Just want to chat with the “Button Lady” thank you very much! Why? Because somehow when I leave, I feel more important in the world than I did when I came in. And that’s a good thing! It gives me that little glimpse of how my Creator sees me.

             Thank you Button Lady … whose name I now know is really Jen.

Check out the other posts in this series:

The Great and the Small--The Man Who Inspired a Congregation ... Sorta

The Great and the Small--How One Small Girl Inspired a Ministry of Access

The Great and the Small--God

The Way To God's Heart Can Be Through His Children's Stomachs--by Traci Hilton

Wait til you read this story. I LOVE how God uses us uniquely. Don't ever discount your gifts and assume they cannot be used for His Glory.

Traci surprised me with an added bonus at the bottom. Read and find out what that is ... even if it is missing something ;o).

The Way to God's Heart Can Be Through His Children's Stomachs

I bet that when you were growing up your teacher never said, “Dream big and work hard and someday you just might get to be the school kitchen lady!”

And yet that is the dream job of one of the most talented ladies I know, my Mom.

Vicky Rothery is the kitchen lady extraordinaire of Alice Ott Middle School. Do you find yourself doubting that kitchen lady could be God’s plan for her talents? Then imagine yourself at the helm of an institution that feeds 600 haywire Junior Highers  breakfast, lunch, and dinner all while adhering to rigorous federal standards. From food ordering to surprise health inspections, to organizing volunteer rotations, the Kitchen Lady does it all. And she does it for Junior High kids.

Junior Highers can be crazy. They attempt everything from coming to school with no shirts under their coats to sneaking food out of the kitchen unseen. Junior Highers are trouble and they are hurting. Every single one of them. Even the happy ones with good stable homes are hurting, because, as we can all remember, that is what hormones do to your brain.

From the first day Vicky (how weird to call my mom that! But it’s weirder to keep writing “my mom.” She’s Vicky to everyone else) hit the kitchen as a dishwasher, she made it her job to see every single shy, scared, hurting kid that passed her way, smile. Now that she’s in charge of the whole kit-and-caboodle loving the kids is one of the most important kitchen rules.

Since school menu’s are prepared by bureaucrats and nutrition information is published at the beginning of the year there is a national Zero Creativity Policy for school food. So if all you ever tasted was the school menu you might never know that Vicky is a great cook.

She’s fond of saying “if you can read you can cook,” meaning you can follow the recipe, but anyone who faces their stove day in and day out knows that cooking is more than just food math. Some people have a real talent for creating spectacular food.

My sister-in-law, was over for her first holiday meal at my parents house. After tasting everything, she put her fork down and said, “this isn’t just food—it’s magic!” It took almost forty years of faithfully preparing family meals to be able to turn food into magic. (That being the case,  I have a feeling my talents aren’t at their peak yet.)

Since Vicky isn’t allowed to display her culinary talent in her professional kitchen she has found other ways to use the gift God has given her. And that brings us back to the point of the blog. We all have talents. If we faithfully develop those talents throughout our lives someday they will be a blessing to others. 

As you’ve just read, Vicky’s love of the kitchen led her to a job where she could bless Junior High students with her affirmations and smiles.

Her love of creating amazing food led her to the $35 caramel apple pie.

Vicky’s pies are the best. She makes them for pot-lucks. She makes them for functions. She sends them to friends when they are sick. So word has gotten around about her pies. She made a passel of pies for a fundraiser at her church just this year. Vicky’s famous caramel apple pie went for $35.

One pie.

$35.

She made 10 pies for the event. Talk about blessing others!

She also feeds the kids and volunteers in her church’s Vacation Bible School every year. Her school kitchen work has refined her natural knack for planning affordable, healthy, and delicious meals for things like that. Icing on the cake? She comes in under budget.

That knack for planning led to this last story of blessing others with her talent. Every year her church, Mt. Scott Church of God, hosts a retreat for Pastor’s wives. Vicky has volunteered to cater it for the last two years.

After a weekend of deliciousness, one of the women attending the event stopped her and said that she had been looking forward to Vicky’s meals all year! When was the last time you looked forward to retreat food? The ladies who came to be blessed took a love offering for her to show their appreciation for the love and care she put into feeding them.

I recently spoke about talents at a women’s group (wish my mom had catered it!) and I asked the ladies to answer these two questions: When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? And in your daily life now, what task gives you the most satisfaction?

God given talent is found where your dreams and abilities meet.

The $35 Caramel Apple Pie Recipe

8 apples doesn't matter what kind peeled and cut up. I have a peeler so it works really fast.

1.5cups sugar

1/4cup corn starch

Cinnamon to taste

About 12 caramels cut up, (just old fashioned Kraft or brocks)

Roll out pie crust dough. Put into pie pan then sprinkle sugar on the bottom, just a light coating. This helps protect the crust from the juices so the crust is really flaky.

Toss apples with dry ingredients and caramels.

Fill the pie with the apple mixture.

Put a couple of table spoons of flour on top of apples and several teaspoons of real butter.

Top the pie with a crust, sprinkle with sugar. Cut decorative air vents on top crust.

and bake the same as any pie.

*Note: As with all famous secret recipes, this seems to be missing a few key parts. I assume she uses the pie crust recipe from the Better Homes and Gardens cookbook. And “bake the same as any pie?” I’m guessing that means the apple pie recipe from the same book.

Enjoy!

Traci Tyne Hilton is an award winning playwright from Portland, Oregon, and author of the Christian fiction series, The Mitzy Neuhaus Mysteries, available in paperback at Amazon and Barnes and Noble and at all ebook retailers..

Traci earned a degree in History from Portland State University and still lives in the rainiest part of the Pacific Northwest.

She has written grant proposals, blogs, essays on etymology, Bible studies, Sunday School curriculum, novels, short stories, history essays, and plays. She hopes to do many more of the above, God willing and the creek don't rise.

More of Traci's work can be found at http://tracihilton.com

An Empty Vessel

            Yesterday, I received an email blessing from my friend, Monika. She told me of the far-reaching impact one of my blog entries had—the one by Staci Stallings on how she used vision training to treat her son’s dyslexia. After this story was published, several moms from my homeschooling group had their struggling reader's vision evaluated and began vision therapy. Monika told me not only of her son’s new successes (which will be published here in January) but of others. And that because of their success, they passed the word to even more mothers of struggling readers. Kinda like the old Breck commercial: "And they told two friends, and so on and so on ..."

            How awesome is that?

            Monika praised me for the blog and I was grateful to be part of the chain of events that led to these families finding help. But after I emailed Staci, the author who had written this article, I realized something extraordinary. I got to truly be an empty vessel of the Lord.

            You see, having not even written the article that brought clarity to many, I only provided the space and invited the audience. It was Staci’s experience that enlightened us. And wow! I got to sit back and watch it unfold.

            Oh, don’t get me wrong, I’m not trying to engage in false humility, praising everyone but myself. I’m trying to point to the One who brought it all together. He connected me to Staci. He gave me the homeschooling audience and He inspired me to create this blog. And let's not forget, He allowed the message to be read by Monika in order to spread the word further. All I did was empty myself to allow Him to fill me for my task. And there is nothing more wonderful in the history of creation than to be used by your Creator and filled with His purposes.

            Leave a comment and tell us how God has used Your empty vessel.

He Enters Our Pain

            There is a formula I’ve often taught clients to help them communicate with loved ones in times of need. When someone is telling them about their horrible day, I teach to say, “You feel _______, because …” Of course, you need to fill in the blanks accurately. This “formula” is actually one counselors are trained to use in the beginning stages of therapy. It communicates and confirms the client is being heard and understood, before any problem solving can take place. You’d be surprised how this communication technique, alone, can impact the client to the point they need nothing else. Sometimes a person just wants to be heard. And sometimes they just want confirmation that what they are feeling is normal and they are not crazy.

            And in some ways, you have entered into their pain. It’s almost like jumping into the chasm with a person who has fallen in, to keep them company until the ladder comes to get them out.

            That’s what Jesus did.

            He entered into our chasm, felt the pain, isolation, and ridicule of this world, all before giving us the means to be extracted from it. Even now he sits with us daily as we wait for Jacob’s ladder, and helps us feel safe in the cold, dark hole.

            So, as we consider how to help someone in pain and want to be like Jesus, I suggest, before we fall to platitudes and what-to-dos, we step back, listen, understand, communicate that understanding, and sometimes just be there for them. Then we will model the life of our Savior.

Jake The Encourager--by H.L. Wegley

Welcome back to LBOC. As promised last Friday, today we have a story about a boy, who just happens to have autism, and the special gift his church and school were given when they allowed it to unfold amongst them.

We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage... (Romans 12:6-8 NIV)

Jake's Gift

Jake was born in far less than ideal circumstances. But from the beginning, he was loved dearly by his mother and grandparents. By the time he was two, it became obvious that Jake was different. Was his hearing impaired? Did he have learning disabilities? What did the future hold for him?

One day the verdict came in ... Jake was autistic. He began to display some annoying behaviors, especially when he got excited. But through his formative years, the love of those closest to him became the one constant in his life that gave him peace and security.

From the time he was a toddler, his grandparents took Jake to church and Sunday school without fail. Through the music at church and his fascination with the Gaither Homecoming videos, it became apparent to everyone that Jake loved music. He can imitate all of the regulars who sing with the Gaithers. While he can't read or write, he remembers everything he sees and hears. He can imitate anyone, but he limits this ability to people he admires. If Jake imitates you, he has paid you the highest compliment he can give.

Jake's grandparents bring him to every family reunion. I noticed he would approach every person present, one at a time, and ask how people were doing. He wants to know that every one is doing well physically, relationally, and spiritually. A typical conversation with Jake goes something like this:

Jake steps close and makes eye contact. "How is Julie? Is she going okay?"

"Julie is doing pretty good, Jake. But she's been sick lately. That's why she's not at the reunion this year."

A look of concern appears in Jake's eyes. "We need to pray for her. Does she love Jesus?"

"Yes, Julie loves Jesus."

"I do too. I love my church. Have you heard our choir? They sing so beautifully ..."

As Jake became a teenager, he was allowed into a special education program at the local high school. It's a large school having a student body of about 2,000. Word about Jake's love of music spread, and the band director allowed him to sit in on band classes. He can’t play an instrument, but he listened to the music, watched the director, and began to blossom.

At school, Jake circulated among the students with his one-on-one encouragement. Over his years at the high school, most of the students came to know him. At the conclusion of his senior year, the student body and faculty assembled for an awards ceremony. Jake prefers one-on-one interaction, so when his name was called to receive the Most Inspirational Student award, no one knew for sure what to expect.

Jake stood when they called his name. He walked the aisle to the front of the assembly, but he didn't go directly to receive his reward. Instead, he positioned himself in front of the band and turned to face the audience. He raised his hands for them to rise. After the entire student body stood, he turned to the band and directed them flawlessly through a rousing rendition of the school fight song. When the song ended and Jake received his reward, the applause was long and loud.

Before a church service, Jake greets everyone, and he knows them by name. He sits in the front row during services. When he is moved by a hymn or praise song, he turns, brings the congregation to their feet, and then turns to direct the praise band and choir. He does it flawlessly. The pastor understands. The people love it. The worship time is never boring with Jake in attendance.

Jake will always have the heart, mind, and innocence of a five or six year old, though he is now in his early twenties. Some hear about his autism and are saddened. They don't know Jake. But when God allowed him to be born with autism, He gave Jake a compensation for his disability, the gift of encouragement. I don't think Jake is even conscious of his gift. It's just who he is.

By the way, do you love Jesus?

H L Wegley

Author Bio

H. L. Wegley published in the scientific community for several years before turning his attention to fiction. If you Google H L Wegley, you will see some of his publications floating around in cyber space. He has a BS in Meteorology from Texas A&M University, an MS in Computer Science from Washington State University and is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, Northwest Christian Writers, and Oregon Christian Writers.

In the military he served as an Intelligence Analyst and a Weather Officer. After transitioning to civilian life, he served as a Research Scientist in Atmospheric Physics at a national lab for many years. After getting an advanced degree in Computer Science, he developed computing systems for Boeing until he retired in 2008.

He published his childhood adventure stories, Colby and Me, in 2009. But his work experience provided an abundance of material for writing romantic-suspense novels and thrillers. He is currently finishing the third book of a romantic-suspense series and is planning the first book in a new series.

He and his wife live in the Seattle area where he writes, leads a Bible-study group, spends time with grand kids, and tries to snorkel in Maui at least once a year.

Where Have All the Flowers Gone?--by Monika Holt

The following is what my very dear friend, Monika Holt, and I lovingly refer to as “Monika’s Rant.” I must say she rants beautifully. The passage below is an outpouring of her very large heart after she and I had discussed concerns we saw in a large number of churches today. For some reason, many churches seem to have a much smaller percentage of special needs families than the population at large. We asked the question, why is that? I ask you, if your church is deficient in this particular population, what are you going to do about it???

Read and enjoy …

I see it clearly. I see how busy we are. Running from one appointment to another.  Aren’t homeschoolers supposed to spend at least a little time at home? The laundry we made last week is still not folded and the dishes are piling up in our sink.  The dog threw up again, the phone will not stop ringing and our heads will not stop spinning.  Life is busy, too busy; and we can’t stop moving.  The whole world “went and got itself in a hurry.” 

Now, let’s imagine the life of a mom whose kid is sick. One who, on top of all our choirs, has to take her daughter to two doctor appointments a week.  Another, who must carry her paraplegic child into the bathtub. Or one who must watch her precious daughter fall asleep in pain each night.  Imagine a mom, whose heart beats wildly  in her throat when she sees a boy walk by with a peanut butter cracker in his hand, hoping beyond hope that one cell of that offending food will not enter her child’s system, sending him into anaphylaxic oblivian.  Imagine, the mom who always carries an epi-pen in her purse, and checks her little boy’s face for hives every time his cheek flashes.  Or the mom who sees all the other kids doing normal things, realizing her child never will.  Imagine living in constant anxiety, in the world where danger lurks around each corner.  A simple field trip to a museum could cause a seizure, and a special event, like a Cookie Exchange, can end up in anaphylaxis, even death.  Now let’s imagine having to make a phone call, or send an email every time we want to go somewhere, just to verify that it is safe for your baby to be there.  Would we have the energy to do it, on top of everything else that is on our plate?  Or would we be much more likely to withdraw from participation, into the safety of our homes, where things are predictable?  How isolating it must feel to move through ones tired days, friendless.

Why are we not seeing more children with special needs around us?  Why are churches and church groups not filled with them?  After all, didn’t Jesus say, “Come to me all you who are weary?” Given this, shouldn’t the churches have more, not less than that of the public schools? The reason is, not that they are not plentiful, but because they are hiding.  Hiding from the world, which sometimes does not welcome them.  Hiding from people who are too inconvenienced by their presence.  We do not see all of them because their parents are tired of constantly striving and  explaining. So they quit in disappointment.

How incredibly devastating it is for the rest of us “normal” folks to be separated from these families of kids with special needs. It is in the hectic homes of tired parents that real perseverance is born. It is there that we find true peace and communion with the Lord. Beyond each painful trial there is joy overflowing. Beneath each bitter tear there is God’s perfect mercy. And under the heavy folds of deepest depression, born in monotone days without sunshine, are refreshing springs of His everlasting love. It is a great privilege for us to share in the lives of those who have kids with special needs.  There, we truly encounter God’s love, which if only we lend a hand, perfectly overflows to our lives.  Sometimes unaware of our ignorance we miss out on reaping the benefits and the blessings of honor, of being witnesses to the purity of this merit.  How I wait to serve them one day in heaven; because when all is said and done, the least will inherit the kingdom of God. 

Now, do the difficult thing and honestly ask yourself a question, is it easier just to look away?  Is it easier to just walk by and preach empty platitudes; that these parents should be diligent to look out for their own?  But where is the Body of Christ in that???  Why should we wait to get to heaven, to serve those in need?  Our precious Jesus washed the feet of his disciples; He led us by being a perfect servant first.  He humbled Himself to the point of the cross, not only so that our tomorrows would be in paradise, but also so that our todays would be filled with His Spirit.  Hence, What Would Jesus Do?  Often I find myself too busy to lift up my eyes and see the needs of others around me.   If I stop to help a stranger on the street, my plan for the day will crumble into pieces.   In it, I am Unfaithful!  I forget that the maker of this Universe, the One who crafted my soul is able to stretch my hours and organize my days.  As long as I am busy doing my Father’s work, he will replenish me, because His burdens are light and His yoke is easy.  The work I do for my Maker reaps rewards beyond human understanding; for the more I do for His kingdom and for His glory, the more He fills me and strengthens my spirit.   I should lift up my eyes and sift through my hours searching for tasks, which only He can assign to my destiny.  Combing for ways I can be used, to humbly serve his children the way He serves me.

We forget that our life is the greatest treasure hunt in the history of the universe.  We should dig deeply beneath our fleshly surfaces. We should look patiently beyond our material realm, and search passionately under the moods which sway us, hungry to discover the treasures, which await us from our loving Abba. 

We know utopia is not promised to us on this side of heaven.  Physical pain will always continue leaving us with countless emotional wounds to nurse.  However, by extending ourselves for the sake of others, a piece of paradise could enter in to our hearts and brighten our very existence.  Why not relieve the mom whose autistic child screams when she sings at home, so she in turn could bless her church with angelic tones of her soprano?  Why not surprise the tired parents of a paraplegic child with a babysitting offer, so they could go out for a date, maybe the first one in ten years?  Why not, pray with the sick, the hurt and the weary, right there on the spot?  Why not let the Spirit flow and take the risk of being laughed at, rejected and ridiculed, for a chance to bless others and be blessed in return?  Don’t miss out on the gifts of those who are tragically stuck in their homes.   Become not only a passive witness of their Spiritual growth, but a catalyst to the revealing of their hidden strengths.

The hardest lessons that the Lord teaches us are the ones, which bring pain into our lives.  Like a flood they sweep through our days altering the paths of each decision.  Aches, unanticipated and unwelcomed, like wild fire test our character and build our strength.  We like our cozy homes, where tomorrows are planned and we get to complain how busy we are, giving excuses for why we cannot pour more out of our souls for the sake of our sisters and brothers.  In it we forgo on the true fellowship with the real irons of this earth, which could truly sharpen our hearts.

Thanks for reading. Next Friday, LBOC will be featuring a guest blog on how one autistic boy’s gifts were given full-reign at his church and school. One example of what we are missing when we don’t reach out to all.

Born and raised in Poland, Monika Holt is a homeschooling mom of three, with a passion for Christ. She has two special needs children, one with a peanut allergy and one with reading disability, on the mend. In her BC (before children) days she was a professional ballroom dancer with an unlikely degree in English Literature and Political Science from Rider University in Lawrenceville, NJ. She now chairs the Special Needs Committee in her local homeschool group.