Flying Solo

Saturday Dinner and a Movie

One of my favorite desserts is chocolate pie. My mother makes the most wonderful pie and all these years I thought it was her mom’s recipe, until I found out over Christmas it is my Aunt Doris’ recipe. So, Aunt Doris here’s to you! Thank you for this wonderful gift to our family heritage…

Chocolate Pie

Pie Crust

2 cups sifted all purpose flour
1 tsp. of salt
2/3 cup shortening
5-6- tbsp. cold water

mix together and roll out- fold over pie bakeware and snip off the ends.
Bend each fold into the form of the pie plate
put some fork holes into the bottom of the pie so it can breathe.
Bake at 425 degrees until cooked and slightly golden.
Remove and let cool.

Pie Filling

1 1/2 cups of granulated sugar
3 egg yolks (separate whites and keep aside for meringue)
1 can cream (evaporated milk)
1 tsp. vanilla
2 tbsp. cocoa
3 tbsp. flour (self rising)
2/3 stick butter

Cook until thickened
pour in baked pie shell.

Meringue

Take 3 egg whites that were set aside
Beat until stiff peaks
adding in 1 tsp. of cream of tartar
3 tbsp. sugar – (adding one at a time)
cap full  of vanilla

Beat until you can pull your beaters out and creates peaks stand up.

Cover pie with meringue and put in oven on broil and broil until lightly golden on peaks of meringue.

Final- February movie about love:

My new favorite – Dan in Real Life   

We want your recipes! We want your favorite movie! And we want your pictures of dinner with freinds! Email them to [email protected]
 

Fridays with Ken

Ken, it’s been interesting to me since we’ve started this blog as I’ve asked people to share with me moments when they felt like God was in the “detailed” moments of their life, many of them can’t think of one moment. But since we know God is always moving how can we speak to the heart that doesn’t see Him?

Alexander Schmemann said in his book, For the Life on the World, “All that exists is God’s gift to man, and it all exists to make God known to man, to make man’s life communion with God.”  God is calling us to see evidence of him in everything that surrounds us and in that evidence is an invitation to draw close to him or to enjoy communion with him.  With our western mindset we tend to struggle with this because we come to God with a set of expectations.  These expectations create in us a limited ability to encounter him.  So we often approach God with stock ways that God moves or speaks…and He will not be limited.  Another problem that I see frequently is that we simple don’t create an enough space to move the way he desires.  My encouragement is to slow down, become still internally and get outside in the beauty that he has provided.  This is a spiritual discipline so it may take some practice.

Someone asked me the other day about my “list” of what I want in a life partner. I’ve noticed that a lot of people have a “list”. Would love to know your thoughts on “The list.”

“The List” amuses me.  I believe it’s good to have a list of desires…like wanting to be married to a Christian or sharing a similar set of values.  But what I think of as “The List” can cause you to miss out on some great relationships.  Sit down with God and make two brief lists.  The first are non-negotiable…the things that God would not want you to compromise on and second are your desires.  Then ask him what he wants to give you.

Next- month we are focusing on money- many have allowed the stress of this economic climate to overwhelm them. If you have questions for Ken please e-mail them to [email protected]

Ken Edwards is a graduate of the University ofArkansas and has earned a Master of Divinity, Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Counseling and a Master of Arts in Religious Education of Southwestern Seminary. But his discernment matches his education and for me often the greater gift. He lives with his wife Janet and three children in Franklin, Tennessee. And this is him enjoying what he loves, the mountains in Wyoming. Except he's usually behind the camera. And he has been kind enough to spend Friday’s with us. What he is offering us regarding his time is a gift. I hope we will take advantage of it.

Got Question's for Ken? Email your questions to [email protected]

Thursday Thumbprint

This weeks Thumbprint is provided by Teresa, one of our readers from South Carolina.

Several years ago as I stood on a nearby hillside waiting for the fire
department to put out the fire that was consuming my home, I quietly whispered to God, "What am I going to do?" Later that night as I sat alone in my mother's family room, looking at a beautiful handmade quilt given to me by a local church, the Holy Spirit whispered to me to carefully examine the quilt. What I saw was a quilt full of detail. Every piece of cloth woven into its perfect place. Every stitch, though not perfectly lined gave the quilt its personality. It was at that moment that I knew, no matter the circumstances I faced, God, my Father, had every detail of my life worked out and even the not so perfect stitches had a purpose in my life. All I needed to do was trust him as He worked it all out for my good.

In the days and weeks that followed I watched in utter astonishment as God worked. One thing I remember so vividly was that before I left the property that day - a call came in that provided me with a place to live. It was a beautiful renovated apartment, directly across the street from my church! The day before the official move I received a brand new washer/dryer set. The day of the official move I had nothing to take to my new home. But, on moving day, as one person came in the door another went out with everything from a living room set, a dinning set, and television, to the simple necessities of life. Some who came were family, friends, church family, and co-workers, others were complete strangers. I recall a local power company sending a representative to visit me with a check to pay for all my
"small kitchen appliances" and I wasn't even one of their customers! I watched as God rebuilt my life and made the latter better than the former.

I am a very independent person. I like to control what is going on around me, but during those days I had very little control, yet I had incredible peace from the largest to the smallest of details. God was in control. I do not think it was by accident that one of my dear friends was home visiting her family and was able to lend much needed emotional and spiritual support and to go bed shopping with me. I do not believe it was by accident that a local furniture
store received an unexpected shipment that included a beautiful mahogany dresser to match that bed. They sold it to me at cost because they did not have anywhere to put it! I do not think it was by accident that the week before the fire my former manager and his wife bought a new living room suite and was contemplating what to do with the nice set they were replacing. The answer came that Thursday morning when they received the call about the fire.

Everywhere I went someone was strategically placed to help me. Every need, be it financial, spiritual, emotional, or physical was meet. When I share my story of God's amazing rescue I am reminded
that everything God gave me during that season of my life was better than what I had. All my life I have known the favor of God. In saying that, I do not mean every stitch has been perfectly lined --- some have had to be taken out and done over --- but He has carried me through some tough storms, and has been so incredibly patient with me. I admit I do not always understand His plans but I am learning more and more to quit holding so tight and trust Him. What a privilege to be called a child of God!

Wednesday 1 on 1

 How have you seen God use this season in your life to open up new vision to you? What do you hear Him speaking to your heart for this New Year?

I'm writing my third fiction novel, which will be out in early 2010, and speaking at conferences and retreats.  I'm also praying about becoming a pastor.  This year I finished a masters degree at seminary, and I'm praying about whether ministering to people through a full time on staff position is where God will best use me.  I'm thinking about visiting China and India to meet with students and pastors there, and I'm writing a non-fiction book about life change.

Chris, I know that you are very active in your church as a deacon and Sunday school teacher. You also orchestrate the singles ministry "Gathering Point" at your church. What do you find is the churches role in ministry to the heart of the single?

Churches care very deeply about the lives of the people who walk
through their doors each week.  Living as a single adult poses
challenges to our emotions, our relationships, finances, and to many
other aspects of who we are.  Leaders in many churches are more
sensitive than ever to the unique struggles of single adults.  One of
the resources they're providing for singles is a place where we can
connect and find community which may not exist inside the four walls of our home.   Most single men and women still hope God will provide a life partner.  Church is not only the best place to connect with people who share your core beliefs, it's the only place where the spiritual training required for successful relationships takes place.  Many other singles who choose to refrain from a relationship, still desire to take part in an authentic community.  Gathering Point at The People's Church exists for this reason.  Each month about 80-100 singles take part in our ministry.  They may join us on a Sunday morning, or on Wednesday nights for discussion and coffee, or come to one of our social events like a New Year's Eve bash or the Super Bowl party.  We want men and women to feel comfortable joining us for casual social times, and to explore God's calling on our lives.  No organization anywhere is reaching out to singles more comprehensively than the local church.  Gathering Point has its own Facebook page for any singles who'd like to learn more.

Tuesday Tips

Travel tips for singles

By Lesley Mason

If you're newly single, or have never traveled, or are just out of practice, the thought of traveling solo can be tremendously daunting. Don't let that thought make you stay home. There are ways and means, strategies and tactics for the singles not just to survive their travels but also to revel in them.

You can: Take a friend or an acquaintance.

I'd never advise traveling with a couple, a family, or your best buddy.

The couple will want to do their own thing occasionally, which could leave you feeling that you're imposing, or that you're being left out.

A family could leave you in a similar situation, or may take advantage of your baby-sitting skills, or may just have you re-discovering why you never wanted children.

Your best buddy? Well, I'll assume you want to keep them as your best buddy and believe me after about 10 days of 24hours you will never want to see them again all of the things you have in common will pale into the depths of insignificance against all of your clashes you’ll want to eat at different times/restaurants/cities; you'll want to sleep/party at different hours; you'll want to sit in the park, while they must just cram in one more art gallery (or vice versa); they'll find a soul-mate and you won't (or worse, you will and they won't!). After half of a planned four-week jaunt, my travel-mate headed off to the then Yugoslavia while I headed back westwards. We stayed friends.

And finally, if you do travel with a chum: set the ground rules before you go. Decide how choices of what to do will be made. Have alternate days each, or specify what you must' do before you leave and ad hoc the rest, accept that you will want days, or at least hours apart to chill, read, wander alone. After all you're not going to meet new people if you're tied to each other, and you're not going to be attractive and fun to be with if you're frazzled and feeling put upon.

Or you can: Join a group. Unless you're in the market for multiple blind-dates (and why not, if that's your thing?) I'd say avoid the "Solo's" holiday market. But that still leaves you the world on a plate. Whatever your interest, art, history, architecture, wildlife, walking, white-water rafting, skiing, trekking, bird watching or if you want to learn a language, learn to cook, to paint, to take photographs, to write and no doubt 1001 other possible frivolous and professional occupations, there is bound to be some one somewhere running a trip to allow you to do just that.

Joining a specialist group gives you the best of all possible worlds. You know before you leave that you have at least one thing in common with everyone else on this trip. You are likely to meet a mix of people: couples, singles, young, old, experts, novices. So you are under no pressure to like all of them, and there's bound to be someone you click with. If it's a well-run small-group trip, you'll never be left out, but you'll always have time for yourself.

STILL NOT SURE? Start local.

If you've not traveled alone for a long time, suddenly heading off to the Outback or the Himalaya is probably not the thing to do. Pick somewhere close to home, and go for a weekend or a week. Just take a step or two outside the comfort zone. Push the boundaries slowly. Just knowing that you can occupy yourself (with pleasure) in an unfamiliar place is a great confidence boost. Then work your way up to the 'big one'...and beyond.

SO NOW YOU'RE GOING: what do you need to do next?

As always, check out where you're going. Being aware of local customs avoids embarrassing moments. Greetings in particular are a minefield ranging from zero bodily contact to multiple hugs & kisses (not something you want to get wrong)...if in doubt, stay shy.

Having a smattering of phrases in the local lingo (Hello, Thank You, Can you help me? Does anyone speak English?) at least shows willing, and I've found most people are only too delighted to teach you a few more in exchange for practicing their own language skills.

If meeting people is your aim, check out the local scene' (whatever your particular scene is: clubbing, art galleries, theater if you're a member of conservation or art organizations check out if they have any local contacts or reciprocal arrangements if there's somewhere specific you'd really like to see that's not generally open to the public: write & ask ~ as a solo you stand a reasonable chance of being granted a private tour if you can convince the owners of your genuine interest).

Do the danger checklist: places to avoid, diseases to protect against, laws to keep within. Get a good guidebook and then read it. Also check out consumer reviews from people who have actually been.

Accommodation: there are as many variables as there are tastes to go with them. If you're not using a tour group or travel agent, hit the web, but also check out

Specialist travel magazines, which will have small ads from individual businesses as well as from the big boys. If you have contacts in the area: use them. Seek out personal recommendations. (Then come back & share them with us!)

If you're braving it totally solo, it's worth joining the International Youth Hostelling Federation. You don't have to be a youth! Take a look at their website http://www.iyhf.org/
 

Hostels are a brilliant, relatively cheap, generally safe option for the lone traveler. Room sizes vary from the traditional barn from hostelling's early days to rooms of two to six bunks. Whatever option you find, you can either pre-plan your entire trip on line, or you can phone ahead one day at a time or anything in between. You will be guaranteed to meet people from all walks of life and from all around the planet. And don't think all of these places are barns out in the sticks either; most major cities will have a Hostelling International accredited abode though city beds are popular and you may need to book ahead. If you're doing the Grande tour' a few nights hostelling will save you enough to splash out on a little more luxury.

You do have to be sociable though...and able to put up with the occasional snorer, late bedder, early riser, etc...Know yourself! It's not worth wrecking a trip to save a few bob.

Food: if you're traveling totally solo then eating in restaurants can be a challenge. Again, you could always practice at home to get comfortable with it. Personally, when I'm totally solo, I just avoid the issue. I try to eat early in the evening when you can still sit outside the restaurant always have a book (to read or to write in) or even just a magazine Sitting outside you don't need to use these things, they're just crutches for if you get uncomfortable sitting at pavement cafÈs should mean that you get to see the street-life passing you by or the view of the landscape across the way, entertainment enough. Plus, you're visible so you may attract the welcome kind of attention, and if the attention is unwelcome it's easy to dissuade. Or if you're in a part of the world where street food is what the locals eat go with the flow...

I also picnic a lot. You need a balanced diet...no one says you have to sit at a table to get it.

SO THERE'S NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT THEN? Well, no more than usual so take the usual precautions. Look after your cash & cards, know where your passport is at all times, and a have a photocopy of the importance pages in case you need to request a duplicate, be insured.

 

Got some of your favorite tips you want to share? Email [email protected]

Monday Musings

In our final celebration of Valentine’s month I thought I’d share something I don’t tell very often. I actually have had three marriage proposals. Well, okay, the first proposal was actually delivered by me. On the back of a bus. I know, I’m a total romantic aren’t I. But it was a church bus, so Jesus was involved!
 Joey Brooks had stole my heart at the ripe old age of four. And right there on that bus I said, “Joey Brooks, you’re going to marry me.”  Well, Joey didn’t, but he did come to my wedding and told my husband, “She asked me first.” 
 My third proposal came almost two years ago. But this one was the proposal of a different kind. This came one day sitting in church watching a painter paint a picture of a man slipping a wedding ring on a woman’s finger. And the Creator of my soul, knowing the devastation of my heart having lost my own marriage said, “This is what I want to be to you. I will be everything you need.” That is one proposal I am so grateful I accepted. Because He has been everything I’ve ever needed.
 I’ve served the Lord ever since I gave my heart to him at four years old at that old tabernacle in Indiana. But what happened to the soul of me after accepting this proposal has changed me forever. I don’t know how many proposals you’ve received, or how many you’ve given. But there is one you don’t want to refuse. Jesus is a companion like no other. Faithful. Available. Conversational. Funny. Kind. Love’s everything you cook. And gives you His full attention. If you’ve allowed your heart to be closed to this proposal try it again. You won’t be disappointed. You will discover this is the best proposal you could ever have.

Sunday Reflections

This is your time. Reflect with us about your week. Tell us what Gos has done for you. Today is about you.

Saturday Dinner and a Movie

I’m not a big dessert eater, but when I do eat dessert Chocolate Cake is my favorite. My mother makes the best you’d ever want to eat. But since I can’t get that much here in Nashville, I’ve found one I love at a restaurant here called Dalts. It is a Chocolate Malt Cake. So, we’re sharing a recipe with you. Try it! You’ll love it! 

Chocolate Malt Cake

1 cup plus 3 tablespoons oil
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons milk
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons plain yogurt
2 large eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
3 cups sugar
3 cups flour
3/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
1-1/2 tablespoons baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1-1/4 cups boiling water
Malt Frosting (recipe below)

Make Malt Frosting before the cake so that it can chill for at least 2 hours.

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Prepare 3 round 9-inch cake pans with butter and flour and line with parchment or wax paper. Set aside.

Beat oil, milk, yogurt, eggs and vanilla with electric mixer until well blended, about 2 minutes. Sift together sugar, flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt in separate bowl. Slowly add 1/3 of dry ingredients to milk mixture and beat until well blended. Beat in 1/3 of boiling water. Add another 1/3 of dry ingredients and beat until well mixed; then beat in another 1/3 of water. Add remaining dry ingredients, beating well, then add remaining water and beat until well mixed. Scrape mixing bowl often.

Pour equal amounts of batter into prepared pans. Bake until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 45 to 55 minutes. Do not open oven while cake is baking. Cool pans on rack for 15 minutes, the remove from pan, take off paper, and continue to cool completely. Frost top of one layer with Malt Frosting, then place second layer on top and frost; top with third layer and frost tops and sides. Refrigerate 2 hours before cutting.

Chocolate Malt Frosting:
12-ounce semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 pint whipping cream
1-1/4 cups malted milk powder
1/3 cup sugar
4 ounces softened cream cheese
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Melt chocolate chips in a saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly. Set aside to cool. Beat whipping cream and malted milk powder in electric mixer on high until stiff but not dry, about 2 minutes; refrigerate about 30 minutes. Whip sugar, cream cheese and vanilla extract in a separate bowl until creamy, about 2 minutes, scraping bowl often. Add melted chocolate chips and beat 1 more minute. Add half of malt-cream mixture and beat until uniform in color. Fold in remaining malt-cream mixture by hand until frosting is uniform in color. Refrigerate at least 2 hours before icing cake.

 

It’s February- we’ll still doing movies about love.

Great Movie- Two Weeks Notice

We want your receipes! We want your favorite movies! And we want your pictures of dinner with freinds! Email then to [email protected]

Fridays with Ken

Ken, thank you so much for faithfully meeting with us here every week. Okay, here goes. I sat across from a friend last week over dinner. They had recently gone through a divorce and have a young child. They said, “I just want to be held.” You know we talk so much on here about what God can be, but it doesn’t remove that desire from our soul. How do we put that in it’s proper perspective without trying to make it feel like it doesn’t exist?


I don’t think it’s possible for us to remove the desire to be held from our souls, although I have met many who have tried.  One of the questions we need to ask is, “why did God place this desire in us?”  We need to move away from the management of the desire to a position of curiosity.  There is far more to our longings than evaluating whether they’re met or not.  It’s more important to consider what He is offering us in the feeling and expression of our various longings.

The danger I’ve seen in this is that often times out of that place of loneliness the enemy can set us up. I’ve personally prayed diligently for God’s protection over my own heart. What are other safeguards we can put up so we don’t place our heart in a dangerous situations?

We need community.  Whether we’re single or not Satan is actively seeking to set us up.  We need to create healthy community where grace is freely offered so we have the freedom to own our humanity and the struggles that come with it.  When we make it a practice to bring dark places into the light Satan loses ground.  So don’t isolate yourselves, take a risk and become a builder of community.

Next- month we are focusing on money- many have allowed the stress of this economic climate to overwhelm them. If you have questions for Ken please e-mail them to [email protected]

Ken Edwards is a graduate of the University ofArkansas and has earned a Master of Divinity, Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Counseling and a Master of Arts in Religious Education of Southwestern Seminary. But his discernment matches his education and for me often the greater gift. He lives with his wife Janet and three children in Franklin, Tennessee. And this is him enjoying what he loves, the mountains in Wyoming. Except he's usually behind the camera. And he has been kind enough to spend Friday’s with us. What he is offering us regarding his time is a gift. I hope we will take advantage of it.

Thursday Thumbprint

Today's Thumbprint is provided from a reader in Tennessee

When I think of the amazing blessings God has given to me I am overwhelmed. I recently experienced his wonders in a small detail of my life with a secret desire that only God would know about and revealing a powerful lesson to me. I had seen on the news that the circus was coming to town for a weekend which peaked my interest. I decided to ask my boyfriend if he had an evening open for us to have some laughter and fun, not sharing with him what my desire was. He happen to have a prior commitment and so I put the childish secret of attending the circus out of my mind, reminding myself of all the tasks I needed to focus on, and at this season in my life there happen to be many.
The following night I was enjoying a Seinfeld show not knowing what it was about, toward the end of the show Jerry and Kramer were headed to the circus and Kramer explained his fear of clowns. In watching the end of the show I laughed to myself at how the circus kept coming to my attention and how nice it would be to have fun with a childhood desire for one night. The following day I was blessed to have one of my best girlfriends ask if I wanted to go to the circus, that she had gotten some tickets, I didn’t hesitate, the answer was yes! Later in the week I shared with my dear friend of how Gods love for me was revealed through Him answering this secret desire, during a time when I was pondered if he had hit the pause button on my prayer requests. I also shared the peace I felt in my heart that God had given me a day off from all my concerns telling me to simply  go have some fun. . The night of the circus I will always remember, 4 mature adults showing their childish hearts running around having our picture’s made with the Ring Master, wearing our clown noses and eating funnel cake. The event was so spectacular with singing, trapeze artists, elephants who danced, and lions that were so beautiful it made you want to reach out and touchthem .

God has shown me that He not only hears my prayers, but He even knows the desires of my heart to the smallest detail even if it was not put before him in prayer. He showed me that He loves me so much He wanted to remind me that each and every moment He walks with me and that He didn’t hit the pause button, but that He knows when its time for me to put down any burdens and concerns that tend to weigh me down, be with amazing people and have some fun !

We'd love your Thumbprint. Next month is all about MONEY! If you have a financial moment where God has done something so detailed and special in your life we want to hear about it. E-mail us at [email protected]