Thanksgiving

I remember Thanksgiving Day of years gone by. Our crowded house was even more crowded than usual. My mom and sisters worked in the kitchen. The smell of turkey filled the house. My dad and older brother went pheasant hunting. I snacked on scraps. Uncle Bud was always the first to arrive. He was a farmer. Never late to anything. Both sets of grandparents would come a little later with all sorts of food. Grandpa Pete brought a relish tray and some sort of orange slush the kids weren’t allowed to drink. Grandpa Adolf brought various smelly fish and sweet Norwegian pastries.


Around one o’clock the food started coming and it didn’t stop coming for hours. Turkey, potatoes of various varieties, oysters, boiled eggs with a whipped yellow filling, cranberry sauce, stuffing, and of course pumpkin pie and apple pie.

The women always cleaned up. (Don’t blame me for that. I’m the baby in the family.) The men went to the family room and watched the Cowboys or the Lions play football. Most of the men would fall asleep. Maybe hibernate is a better word. I would go look for leftovers with great success, as there were always plenty around. The rest of the day was spent outside enjoying walks rustling through the leaves in the cool and crisp air, playing fiercely competitive board games, and exchanging ideas for Christmas gifts.

Today, Thanksgiving is usually still celebrated by a feast and with family. It is a welcomed few days off for most workers. Often Christmas decorations are put out. And then there is planning for shopping the morning after Thanksgiving—a strategic plot on how to get one member of each family to Walmart, Best Buy, and Nebraska Furniture Mart before five o’clock the next morning. We have come a long way since the first Thanksgiving.

We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures. –Thorton Wilder


Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. -1 Thessalonians 5:18

It is easy to forget that contentment in life usually does not come by achieving or acquiring something we do not currently have, but instead by recognizing and appreciating what we have been blessed with. It is a whole lot better to embrace thanksgiving as a life-long attitude than it is to occasionally remember to feel or be thankful. The feast doesn’t have to be a day. The feast can be daily. It is God’s plan for our life that we be thankful to Him and thankful to others. Not so much for God or even for others. But for us. Thanksgiving is a simple attitude adjustment that can simply change our lives.

Each day, be intentionally thankful. Write down a few things you are thankful for. From the common to the complex. Be grateful. Tell, give, and show God thank you. Tell, give, and show others thank you. Your life won’t ever quite be the same again.

The best is yet to come…

Craig

Margin: Scheduling Margin

The series Margin is a series from Craig Groeschel.

Margin: Scheduling Margin - The Weekly Challenge

Talking through the message during the week helps you turn what God is saying to you into action steps. These talking points, questions, and scriptures are designed to help you take the next step. Use these questions for individual or group study.

Monday, November 8th – Read Ephesians 5:15-17

15 So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. 16 Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. 17 Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.

Paul encourages us in these verses to be wise in how we use our time so that we can make the most every opportunity.

In order to make the most of our limited time, we should ask the question “In light of _____, is it wise?” before making decisions about your schedule. What would you put in the blank when asking that question? Is it your goals, your family’s needs, your marriage, you relationship with God or something else? Explain.

Tuesday, November 9th – Read Romans 12:1-8

1 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. 2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.3 Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. 4 Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, 5 so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.

6 In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. 7 If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. 8 If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.

Paul instructs us in this passage to follow God’s plan for our lives in using the gifts He gave us instead of falling to the patterns of this world.

The “normal” pattern of today’s society is busyness, meaning that if we are not busy we are not productive.

• What things in your life are keeping you too busy? How is that busyness affecting all areas of your life?
• Describe a time when you said “no” to something good that ultimately allowed you to say “yes” to God’s best.
• What are the things in your life that you value most? Does the way you use your time reflect those values? Why or why not?

Wednesday, November 10th – Read Psalm 127:2

It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones.

When we are weary from the busyness of life, God encourages us in these passages to focus on what matters most—spending intimate time with God and finding rest in Him.

• How important is your intimate time with God?
• How does that time impact your daily life?
• How is the rest you find in God different and more satisfying than other kinds of rest or comfort?

Thursday, November 11th – Read Hosea 6:1-6

1 “Come, let us return to the Lord. He has torn us to pieces; now he will heal us. He has injured us; now he will bandage our wounds.
2 In just a short time he will restore us, so that we may live in his presence.
3 Oh, that we might know the Lord! Let us press on to know him. He will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn or the coming of rains in early spring.”
4 “O Israel and Judah, what should I do with you?” asks the Lord. “For your love vanishes like the morning mist and disappears like dew in the sunlight.
5 I sent my prophets to cut you to pieces—to slaughter you with my words, with judgments as inescapable as light.
6 I want you to show love, not offer sacrifices. I want you to know me more than I want burnt offerings.

What major changes will you make starting now that will allow you to create margin for things you value most in life?

Friday, November 12th – Prayer Day

Use these prayer tips to guide your time with God this week

• Confess those areas of your life in prayer that are causing too much busyness. Ask for God’s help.
• Ask God in prayer to give you the strength to say no to good things so that you can say yes to His best.
• Commit to God the things you will do immediately that will allow you to create more margin in your schedule.

Saturday, November 13th – The Next Steps

1. Make a simple plan that will help you create and schedule more margin in your life.
2. Share this plan with another person so that they can help you succeed.

A Little Bit About a Lot of Things

Here is Sunday's column...

Bluegrass and BBQ

We have a different kind of music today. We are having pulled pork, cole slaw, baked beans, chips, and dessert for lunch after our 10:30 worship service. I hope you will stay for lunch.

Thanksgiving

I encourage you to take one of the grocery sacks that will be distributed after worship today. Many in Omaha are not able to have a feast at Thanksgiving. Together, we can help provide food for hungry people.

We will be having a Thanksgiving Eve worship service again this year at Faith-Westwood on Wednesday evening, November 24^th at 6:30. I will be sharing a message about having an attitude of gratefulness for God’s provision in our lives and we will all be sharing in the Lord’s Supper together.

I want to challenge you to make November your month of Thanksgiving this year. If you are thankful for somebody: tell them. Write your child’s teacher a note. Surprise a child, co-worker, or friend with an unexpected gift of love. Make a phone call to somebody in your past who you are grateful for. You will be used as a blessing (who doesn’t like to be told thank you?) and you will be blessed!

9:00 Service Update

Our 9:00 worship service is up and running. I’m so thankful for the volunteers who are making this happen. We see new faces each week and a community is being built. If you are unable to attend the 10:30 service because of schedule conflicts in the late morning or early afternoon, I encourage you to worship with us at 9:00. In a few weeks we will be offering more options for children at 9:00 as well. If you are not currently on a Sunday morning serving team, consider serving on one of our 9:00 serving teams. Finally, invite people to this service.

Team World Vision

We have 80 runners signed up so far. This response is incredible and has put us a little behind schedule as far as administrative details go, but we are getting caught up. If you have been thinking about doing this and are still unsure, I would love to talk to you. Just visit with me after worship!

DVDs and Watching Sermons Online

For the past couple months we have been video broadcasting our sermons on the Internet. Visit our website, www.watersedgeomaha.com, to watch the sermons. The video is usually up on Monday or Tuesday. We are now distributing DVDs as well as the audio CDs at the Connection’s Table. These resources are great if you miss a worship service or if you want to see or hear something again.

Invite

One of the areas of discipleship we have stressed from our worship launch is inviting guests to our worship services. November and December are an optimal time to invite guests to worship with us. Pray about who God leads you to invite and then make that invitation. God can use a simple invitation to change a life!

The best is yet to come…

Craig

Apple Pie Recipe

I am surprised at the increase in quality of apple pies that are now available in stores. I think places like Wal-Mart and Hy-Vee make wonderful apple pies. I even bought a really good frozen one a few weeks ago and baked it at home. Mass produced apple pies 20 years ago just weren't that good. Today many of them are very good. With that being said, there is no substitute for homemade apple pie. It is a great activity to do with family and friends: the making, the smell, and the eating.

This apple pie recipe was taken off a bottle of Heinz Tomato Ketchup decades ago. I made this apple pie for Amber on the night I proposed to her. Fifteen years later, it's still her favorite. I have probably made about 100 of these pie over the years.



First things first. An apple corer / peeler / slicer is a wonderful invention. Twenty bucks will save your fingers, save you a lot of time, and allow you to be the proud owner of one of the coolest gadgets ever. With one swipe, the corer / peeler / slicer gives you perfectly cut apples. Buy one here.

Speaking of apples, the quality of your pie will be directly correlated to the quality of your apples. Apples for apple pie need to be at least a little tart or they will deteriorate during the baking process. Granny Smith and McIntosh are traditionally the apples used for apple pie. Other apples that work well are Jonathan, Fuji, and Golden Delicious. I generally use about two-thirds Granny Smith and mix in a little Fuji or Golden Delicious. Do not use Red Delicious apples. They just don't work well in pies.

Now about the pie shell. Pie shells can be anything from simple to complex to make. I usually make a graham cracker crust. Often I'll go buy a graham cracker crust in the grocery section or a traditional crust in the frozen section. I always make or buy the over sized crust. Life is too short for small pie. Don't worry about the top part of the pie...I'll get to that in a little bit.

The Pie Filling

• 1/3 cup Ketchup. I use Heinz out of respect for the origins of the recipe.
• 2.5 teaspoons of lemon juice

Mix these two ingredients together and put them in a large bowl. The acid in the lemons and tomatoes will keep the cut apples nice and crisp. The sugar in the ketchup will add some needed sweetness to the tart apples. Don't be grossed out by the ketchup. You won't taste it.

• 5 cups sliced apples - 7 cups for a lager shell
• Sugar - to taste (Probably about one Tablespoon)

You are probably wondering what five cups of apples looks like. This is generally five pretty good sized apples. If you still have questions: look at your pie shell. You will need to fill the pie shell up with apples. The more the better. I usually pile them an inch and a half to two inches above the top of the pie shell. They will reduce a little bit and I just love lots of apple in my pie.

Put the apples in the ketchup / lemon juice mixture immediately after peeling / coring / slicing them. If you don't have access to a core / peeler / slicer then you will want to take the the skin off, remove the core, and cut the apple into slices. The slices shouldn't be too thin (they will fall apart) or too thick (they won't cook all the way through). They should look like the picture below. (In the picture the apples are halved. You can also cut the apples into thirds or quarters if you like your pie a little less chunky.)

Depending on the tartness of the apples and your personal taste, you may want to add a little sugar. You won't need to add too much though. I usually just sprinkle the apple / ketchup / lemon juice mixture with about a Tablespoon of sugar and let the flavors blend when I am making the top crust.

Top Crust

This part is essential. Regardless of the pie shell, this top crust is part of why this pie is so unique.

• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup flour
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• Just under a full stick (about 7 Tablespoons) of butter or margarine (softened)

Combine sugar, flour, and cinnamon. Cut in the butter (or margarine, if you must) until thoroughly mixed. I really work the dough. It should almost have the consistency of sugar cookie dough when you are done.

Almost There

Fill the pie shell with apples. Cover with the dough mixture. You may want to roll the dough out so it is fairly thin or you can just make the dough thin with your hands and cover the pie one section at a time. Just make sure the entire pie is covered and that no gaps in the dough exist.

Bake in a preheated 375 degree oven for about 40 to 45 minutes.

Let it cool for a little bit if you like it warm or overnight if you like it cold. And enjoy! It is a wonderful pie. Best served with friends, family, and vanilla ice cream.

I'll put my recipe for Pumpkin Chiffon Pie up in the next week or so. It is incredible.

Margin: The One Thing - Weekly Challenge

Monday, November 1st - Read Luke 10:38-42

As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.” But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”

In this passage, Martha gives us the perfect illustration of what living without margin looks like. Martha was so distracted preparing for Jesus’ visit that she forgot the most important thing—simply spending time with Jesus.

• When margin decreases, stress increases. What are some of the things that currently cause you the most stress? How is that stress affecting your life?
• What are some specific ways you can begin the process of reducing stress in your life?
• When margin decreases, your relational intimacy decreases. How have you seen your intimacy with God and others decrease as a result of not having margin in your life?
• A lack of margin is a reflection of a lack of faith. In what areas of your life do you need to place more faith in God?
• A lack of margin is also a reflection of idolatry. What are some of things you are placing before God? How will you go about putting God first?

Tuesday, November 2nd – Read Psalm 46:10

Be still, and know that I am God!
I will be honored by every nation.
I will be honored throughout the world.

Wednesday, November 3rd – Read Isaiah 58:11

The Lord will guide you continually,
giving you water when you are dry
and restoring your strength.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
like an ever-flowing spring.

Thursday, November 4th – Read Matthew 11:28-29

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls."

These verses tell us that if we come to Jesus and be still and rest before Him, our souls will be satisfied.

• How have you found rest and comfort through Christ? How did that rest ultimately lead to satisfaction?
• While it sounds simple, why do you think it is so difficult for many of us to rest and be still before Christ?

Friday, November 5th – Next Steps – Read Joshua 24:14-15

So fear the Lord and serve him wholeheartedly. Put away forever the idols your ancestors worshiped when they lived beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord alone. But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.

Here are some specific things you can do to take a step toward living life with the margin God intends for your life.

Take time to rest and be with Christ. This time could consist of praying, reading the Bible, or just enjoying some quiet time alone. Be creative. Remove the distractions for just a little while and allow Him an opportunity to renew your soul and your mind.

Begin the process of reducing some of the stress in your life. Identify one or more things that are creating too much stress and create a plan to reduce that stress. Not only write down your plan of action, but have someone hold you accountable as you carry out your plan.

Saturday, November 6th – Prayer Focus – Read Matthew 6:33

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

Use these prayer tips to guide your time with God:

1. Bring to God those areas of your life that are causing stress. Ask God to help you in removing that stress.
2. Seek God’s guidance through prayer of ways He wants to create more margin in your life.
3. Confess to God in prayer those things that you are placing ahead of Him. Commit to God that you will put Him first.
4. Be still and rest before God during your prayer time. Allow Him to comfort you and renew your mind and soul.
5. Lay your burdens down before God in prayer. Tell Him what is weighing you down and trust Him to carry them for you. Seek His comfort and love.

Credit: We used, revised, and added to material from Life Church.

Margin: The One Thing

The series Margin is a series from Craig Groeschel.

The book Purity of the Heart is to Will One Thing by Sören Kierkegaard is one of the great books ever written on theology, life, and Christianity. He uses parables, irony, and discourse to make the subject matter more accessible than many of his other works. It can be purchased here.

The book Margin: Restoring Emotional, Physical, Financial, and Time Reserves to Overloaded Lives by Richard Swenson is an excellent resource. It can be purchased here.

The study guide for the week will be published in tomorrow's blog post.