5 Jul 2011

Roasted Summer Vegetable Salad with Feta, Tuna, and Balsamic

by | posted in: food, Vegetables | 0

I love this thing of getting to cook more (now that I have a future husband to cook for).  It is so much more fun to cook for others rather than to just cook for yourself.  He is really good at bearing with this whole “vegetarian for a year” thing, and I am grateful.

I found this recipe on Whole Foods Twitter feed and then tweaked it to make it ours.  So good!

1 zucchini – sliced and quartered

2 squash – sliced and quartered

1 red pepper, seeded and thickly chopped (bigger pieces)

3 medium tomatoes, chopped

1 small red onion, chopped

olive oil / salt / pepper

16 oz pasta (whatever shape you like, we used penne)

4 cups spinach leaves

basil leaves chopped to taste

2 cups balsamic vinaigrette

2 small containers feta cheese

3 cans tuna in water (not packed in oil)

 

Prepare all (but basil and spinach) vegetables and roast about 30 minutes on 425 (with evoo, s, p).  Take out and let cool a little.  Cook and drain pasta.  Drain tuna.

All the veggies to the pasta and then add spinach, basil, tuna, and feta.  Add balsamic to the taste.

Serve warm or cold.

Very yummy and healthy!

5 Jul 2011

Psalm Thirty-One

by | posted in: Bible | 0

One of the pleasures of being on staff at a church is hearing from different men who are gifted at sharing the Word.  This verse was shared in our weekly staff meeting this morning and I thought I would dig in a little more and then decided to share it with y’all here.

And side note: sorry I missed Much and Link Love yesterday – it was a holiday – hope you enjoyed yours)!

Psalm 31:19

“Oh, how abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you and worked for those who take refuge in you, in the sight of the children of mankind.”

1.  God is abundantly good.  I also was reminded of Ephesians 3:20 this morning as well.  God is just not good – He is abundantly good!  He loves showing His children His abundant goodness.

2.  God has stored up His goodness.  He has stored it up – ready to pour it all out upon our heads.  Are you ready to receive the blessings and goodness of the Lord?  I am.  Bring it.  God has been so wonderfully gracious to me in the last 15 months of my life – I can’t imagine what good He still has in store for me.

3.  God will work.  His Word and activity are one.  He isn’t like some people and say “do as I say not as I do”.  No – there is no hint of change in Him.  He always keeps His Word.  Will you trust Him to do it?  If you won’t – confess that sin.  Trust in Him that He will work according to His perfect plan.  Keep praying and seeking His work and His face!

4.  Our job: take refuge: REST.  I see this often in single women who search so hard for the right man.  Why?  Because we want the good of being married.  Marriage is a good thing to those whom God has it is in store.  But, we are to take refuge: not plot, scheme, search, lead.  Let’s rest, be obedient, and not be anxious about it.  Most of our anxiousness comes from doing what we are not supposed to be doing: running ahead of God, not trusting, sinning, etc.

5.  Why does He do all this?  Supremely for His GLORY!  Not ours.  I’m not getting married to the most incredible man I know just because God wants me to be happy.  He has not given me a great job that I love to do just so I can say I have my dream job.  He has done wonderfully amazing things in my life like giving me incredible friends and people who pour into my life – FOR HIS GLORY.  He wants to see His renown known to all the children of mankind!  Throughout all the earth!

Thoughts?

27 Jun 2011

Much and Link Love: June 27 Edition

by | posted in: Uncategorized | 2

1.  I had an amazing weekend.  Tubing, water skiing, boating, eating amazing fresh food (that I didn’t cook), resting, talking with my soon to be husband, shopping with 2 of the greatest friends and funnest friends in the world, photog walking, watching Flight of the Navigator (one of my favorite 80s movies), loving on a sweet baby girl (see above picture), praying for missionaries, talking the gospel, eating at Madhatters.  Weekends don’t get much better than this!

2.  I love to hear what God is doing in other countries through the power of the Gospel!

3.  This week is Impact Camp for our students here at pray dot org.  Troy Temple is our camp speaker and this is Bryan Nelson’s first camp as our new youth pastor.  Please pray for both of them!

4.  Tonight I’m singing with the FBC Durham choir at the Durham Bulls game.  We are presenting the National Anthem.  Fun times!  I love summer AAA baseball!  Maybe drugs, egos, salary caps aren’t as prevelant!  Just playing for the love of the game (No, I’m not naive enough to believe that).

5.  New book picking up on Wednesday to read: What Did You Expect – Paul Tripp.  Can’t wait!

6.  Looking forward to an amazing 4 day weekend: wedding planning, friends, fireworks.  LOVE.

Link Love

1.  CJ talks on biblical manhood and womanhood.

2.  I think I wanna try this pizza.  Hmmmm….dinner sometime over the long weekend?

3.  I’m actually seldom in MY kitchen now, but would love to apply these in my new kitchen (come October 8).

4.  Oh my goodness – fabulous summer dessert!  May need to make this for the weekend too!

23 Jun 2011

Romans and Relationships

by | posted in: Bible | 0

I love being able to apply Scripture, God’s infallible, eternal breath of truth, to my life – every day, right where I am.  It is always applicable and sufficient.

As I was sitting at Panera this morning, I read this: “May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the god and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Therefore, welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.” – Romans 15:5-7

Here is what I learned:

Strategies that work for relationships: Holy Spirit (via the Apostle Paul)

1.  God strengths us to endure.  We can’t endure in relationships on our own.  We are sinners.  We live in a broken-down house (pulling that analogy from Paul Tripp).  We will get tired.  We will want to give up.  But, God never changes.  He is eternal.  And you know what, the Holy Spirit (who is God, therefore is eternal and enduring) lives in us – and allows us to endure.

2.  God encourages us.  We don’t need pep talks, or Oprah, or Dr. Phil, or self-motivational tapes (or CDs or podcasts).  We have the Word, we have the very breath of the eternal God to encourages us as we face despair and discouragement from relationships.

3.  Through God (being our endurance and encouragement) we can live in harmony with one another.  Your dinner table does not have to be a war zone.  Your marriage does not have to be difficult.  Your relationship with friends, your children, your boss – does not have to look like those who do not have Christ.  We can live in harmony because we have been brought into harmony with God the Father through the blood of Christ.

4.  The reason we are to live in harmony with one another is to glorify God.  It is not so that the world sees how great our marriage (and/or) relationships are or that we don’t have any troubles in this life: but the main outcome of this is that Christ will be glorified.  How we do marriage and relationships different from non-believers should be such a LIGHT to the world that they would run to us because of the attraction of the Gospel (if God opens their eyes).  Let us live our relationships in such a way that they would glorify Christ!

5.  We only do all of this because of the Gospel.  Reproach doesn’t work.  I learned this in a relationship with a friend – and I’m applying that to my marriage.  You can’t do it.  You fail miserably.  Christ didn’t reproach us.  He bore our reproach.  While we were still enemies with God – Christ came near.  He came down to us.  He became incarnate.  He died on the cross for us.  He wanted a relationships with us.  Don’t let reproach, sin, unforgiveness, and bitterness, and unmet expectations affect and kill your relationships.

See…I am learning.

 

21 Jun 2011

Book Review: Bringing the Gospel Home: Randy Newman

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remember first being introduced to Randy Newman when I worked in the college ministry at the Summit Church.  We read his book Questioning Evangelism together as a team.  It was great.  Very practical.

His new book, Bringing the Gospel Home, was similar in that it was practical and had conversations built in – so it didn’t just seem like another “how-to” evangelism plan.  I’ve learned in life that evangelism plans are maybe helpful to know, but for me, personal relationships, sharing life with non-believers (like you would for family members who aren’t believers) is the best, and hardest, way to go.

This book is engaging with Newman’s stories and illustrations.  It is helpful in just admitting the fact that living in a family with non-believers is hard.  Two personal notes: my brother was not a believer until my senior year of high school (he graduated two years ahead of me).  And through those teenage years I learned some things from him in how I lived out (or failed to live out) my Christian walk in front of him.  Also, my grandfather is not a believer.  Trying to share the gospel with someone who is not saved but who knows all your failures is tough.  Should be easy – because you get to highlight the fact that salvation is nothing you can do – but only something Christ can do.  Unfortunately, most don’t buy that.  It is TOUGH.  But, so worth it.

A great Newman sentence that brings concreteness to that last sentence: “Until our rebellion against our Creator is seen as horrific as it really is, God’s rescue out of that mess won’t seem all that great..  But, if we can find ways to drive home the audacity of our sin, the sheer gall of creatures telling their creator to buss ozz, or worse, w could set our listeners up to marvel that this same Creator chose to be our Redeemer as well.” – pg 65

20 Jun 2011

Much and Link Love: June 20 Edition

by | posted in: Uncategorized | 1

1.  Planning a wedding is fun: and time consuming!

2.  Delegation in all of life (well, most) is needed and helpful and humbling.

3.  I love the people who are around me that I get to do life with!

4.  And at times, I wish I could do everything myself, but it would not be near as good.

5.  How do you bless others?  how do you make it a priority in your family to bless others?

6.  My Dad is a great Dad – he’s taken good care of me for 34.5 years and loves me more than anything (and he’s a fabulous genealogist, and he didn’t pay me to say this)!

7.  The Connecting Conference is where you need to be in August!

 

Link Love:

1.  Love this new resurgence post on being a wife.

2.  Thank you Denny Burk for posting this: one of the songs in our wedding.

3.  A pastor in Louisville about how to teach your children about God.  Excellent.  So glad he is one of Eric’s best friends.

4.  See what my friend (who is a wonderful teacher and Mom) is developing to teach her daughter.

5.  Wonderful tastes of summer!  Thanks nick.

6.  Love CCEF, Ed Welch, and sexual purity.

 

13 Jun 2011

Much & Link Love: June 13 Edition

by | posted in: Uncategorized | 3

1.  Wow – its been a long time.  Alaska was in the middle of it, then Memorial Day, then a half marathon, then… I GOT ENGAGED!!!

2.  Yes, folks, you heard me right!  I’m getting married to Mr. Eric Campbell – you should go check out his music.

3.  God is amazingly gracious in my life.  I really think the last 15 months of my life have the been the hardest and the best.  And I think the next 4 will be the most hectic!  But, bring it! 🙂

4.  The Curriculum launch went so well and we’ve had overwhelming response to it by several people: Thank you Dr. Moore, Dr. Reid, and Jared Kennedy!

5.  June is going to be a busy month: complete with wedding planning, writing, a hiking wknd with a friend, and a lake visit!  Have I mentioned I love water?

6.  One of my sweet couple friends welcomed a new baby in the world over the weekend and one is about to bring another sweet baby girl into the world tonight or tomorrow.  I love babies!

Anyway, these are some great links I’ve been saving to share!

1.  My former boss taught a class then wrote a book with fellow VP, Dan Dumas, all on Biblical Manhood.  SO GOOD!

2.  I had this on the big boat – need to make it.  Healthy and yummy and perfect for summer!

3.  Love this post by Matt Chandler!

4.  I really love a natural food way of looking at health (instead of medicine).  God gave us so much.  here is a great read if you suffer from headaches!

5.  Love this video talk by Piper, Keller, and Carson – three amazing men of God.

6.  My friend David posted a great post for preparing for peace in relationships.  So vital, especially in light of upcoming nuptials!

20 May 2011

Book Review: Give Them Grace: Elyse Fitzpatrick

by | posted in: Books | 2

Top 3 parenting books: EVER.  Give Them Grace.

You don’t even need to be a parent to sit and just drink in the focus on grace in this book by Elyse and her daughter.  I finished it being encouraged in my personal life and also more to want to be a parent one day and how hard that task is going to be!

Elyse focuses on grace: that undeserved richness that God has given to us through Christ by His life, death, resurrection, and glorification.  All He has we have: His righteousness and holiness.  How important it is that we live in this reality – in our daily lives and men and women, and also in how we parent. 

Elyse is doctrinal and theological in this book: but she also gives you very practical conversations, prayers you can pray for your children.  One of the conversations I heard recently while attending a parenting seminar was “who really thinks of these things in the heat of disciplining your child – when they are throwing a temper tantrum?”  That is true – but that is where grace first needs to be applied to your life as a parent – to my life.  Then to our kids’ lives!  Even in the heat of the moment when they are screaming because they didn’t get to play the last game on the Wii.

I underlined so much in this book: but I’ll just pick out the good ones.

“Every way we try to make our kids good that isn’t rooted in the good news of the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ is damnable, crushing, despair-breeding, Pharisee-producing law.” – pg 36

“Every responsible parent wants obedient children.  But if we’re confused about their ability to be good, we’ll end up lying to them about their desperate lostness outside of Christ.  We’ll tell tehm they are good and that they can obey God’s law.” – pg 47

“Yes, God commands us to train our children, but care needs to be taken that this training doesn’t morph into something more important to us than God Himself.” – pg 56

“The humility that acquiesces to being led, managed, and trained flows out of an understanding of one’s own lostness and a growing understanding of and trust in God’s great offer of life.  Only the good news of the gospel produces a truly submissive humility of heart.” – pg 86 – I thought this also applied to work relationships and marriage relationships.  Really any relationship: if we choose to live our Philippians 2.

“Management charts may help you run the home more smoothly.  They may also become your god.  Management is simply your effort to control outward behavior.  It is not meant to get to the heart, although a child’s obedience to the outward rules may be evidences of faith.  Every parent has to manage her child’s behavior.” – pg 89 – What is your end goal in your home management?

Anyway…you get the drift.  Elyse does a great job at engaging her readers and pointing them to the Son. 

So, for every parent, person in ministry who works with parents, people who might be parents one day, people who just like kids – or anyone who knows parents or kids.  I think that is everyone! 🙂  Go buy this book when it comes out! 

Thanks Elyse and Crossway!

18 May 2011

Maturity = Lack of Wisdom

by | posted in: Women | 0

I know, odd post title.  Hear me out.

A few weekends ago I got a chance to sit in my favorite coffee shop (EVER. – well, at least so far) with a friend.  Just sitting there, enjoying life.  Journaling, sipping, talking, reading.  I was doing some people watching (ok, I was eavesdropping on a conversation).  This is what is so fabulous about coffee shops (and the Red Vanilla Chai Latte that was I sipping on that can only be found in Quills in Louisville).

So…I desire and digress…back to the conversation at hand.

The conversation was between two twenty-something women.  Both cool Louisvillians who seemed like everyone else in Louisville.  You know the cool Sojourn-esque artist, type look I’m talking about.  Anyway…

One of them said to the other: “I used to think that wanting a man to lead in a relationship was great.  Then I grew up.  Then I matured.  Now I don’t mind taking the lead and asserting myself.  Why did I ever think that was wrong?”

BECAUSE IT IS!  I really contained myself, grabbed my moleskin, and jotted it down.  But, seriously, my heart broke for this young lady.

That is what our world trains women to think: that submission (to our husbands) is demeaning, immature, uncreative, death, borderline abuse, etc).  When in reality – submission to Christ is the safest place we can be.  And if God has supplied us with a husband – then that should be a joy to serve and submit joyfully and respectfully to them.

Instead, what I heard from this young lady is that the more mature I’ve gotten the more I want to be independent, free from constraint, in charge of my whole world, not wanting to submit to anyone but me.  Well, that my friend, is a lie straight from Satan himself and one that is so harmful to a generation of ladies.  But, seriously, it can affect all ladies at one time or another if we are unfamiliar to the truths of God’s Word or unwilling to live by those Words of Life.

Ephesians 5:20-24: “Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.  Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.  For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior.  Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything.”

And ultimately, if women are not willing to be lead and submit to their own husbands: then their problem isn’t with their husbands: it is usually more of a problem with their relationship with Christ.  He has all authority (Matthew 28, Colossians 1).

So, dear Quills’ ladies: I pray that you will find rest and wisdom and trust and submission and ease of command in Christ.  That He would be your all.  That you would seek life and fulfillment and security there.  That you would not feel the need to assert and lead.  That Christ would be the head of your life, your soul, your mind, and your body.  Your eternity depends on how Christ took the low place, served, and gave Himself a ransom for many.

Sincerely, Quill’s Red Vanilla Chai Latter Drinker, kim

16 May 2011

Treasuring Christ Curriculum

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For the Church. For the Nations.  For the Glory of God.

Some of you who are long time readers of this blog know that I moved back to Raleigh in March of 2010 to begin a job as a curriculum writer for Providence Baptist Church.  This is technically my dream job.  I never thought my dream job would be so hard, so big, or so rewarding.  Honestly.

You can check out the website here, but I wanted to give an insiders view to the Curriculum.

I didn’t realize how time consuming and exhausting creativity could be.  I love to write Bible studies and encourage others to be in the Word.  But, teachers – I’ll hand it to you – making lesson plans day after day – you are my heroes!

This curriculum has been on my mind a lot.  I’ll be listening to a sermon, a devotional, a song, or see a game or a craft – and think “what lesson could I use that in?”.  I love it when a job is free enough to let me do that and have it not be a burden.

I could never do this on my own:

Steve Wright: Boss!  Thank you for giving me this opportunity.  Thank you for your encouragement and for pushing me in this direction almost daily.  Thank you for grace.  Thank you for your wisdom in the Connecting Church and Home Piece.  Maybe one day I’ll get to write one because I’ll be a parent – but most of it will be what I learned from you!

Blake/Nick/Joel/Bryan/Tana/Laurie/Shannon/Neal and Heather/Mike: Guys – you are a pleasure to serve with in many different ways and for different amount of times.  Thank you for your editing, your ideas, your crazy intro ideas, your hours of planning with me, book borrowing, etc.

Amy/Michele/Jennifer/Todd : These are the people behind the scenes – but you see their beautiful work.  Amy: you make me laugh and grin with your artwork.  Jennifer – no one would read this curriculum if you weren’t such a gracious editor.  Michele: your design ability blows my mind.  It is beautiful because of your work.  Todd: your diligence into the website design was great – thank you for your patience and hard work.

Jared K/Randy S/TPJ/Michael/Jesse/Dr. Ware/Ken Coley and countless others: Your impact on my life in ministry has been so profound and believe me – much of what you have taught me over the years is in this curriculum.  Thank you.

So, needless to say, this effort and resource that is still being made to help the next generation to Treasure Christ – it is for God’s glory – was not the result of me: but by an amazing team that I serve with here at Providence (including the pastors and elders that are such an encouragement to me in every step of this journey).

So…is your church needing a nw curriculum for everyone under the age of 18?  Do you want a tool your parents can use to help teach their children to worship Christ and treasure Him above all else?  Do you have a heart for the nations and want to see the Gospel taken to all peoples?  Do you serve at a church where you don’t have a large budget for SS curriculum?

If you answered yes to any of the above questions – this curriculum is worth your look.

I certainly think so – and hopefully I’m not too biased!

I’ll be happy to answer any questions you might have too: kim@pray.org