Eve's Temptation

"La Roca", which means "The Rock", is the name of our Thursday night Bible study. It was started last spring as an in depth Bible study for people who really wanted to go deep in the Word. The guys in the group have definitely been learning a lot and starting to ask a lot of Biblical questions. Last week we decided as a group that we wanted to read through the whole Bible together as a group, to really know what it says and see what's truly in there. So we read through Genesis chapters 1-3. It seems every time I read a familiar passage from the Bible I still learn something new. Have you ever had that experience? I think that's the part where in Hebrews 4:12 the word of God is described as living and active...So here's what I caught this time.

So God creates the heavens and earth and everything in it. He creates man and woman in his image. Then he designs a garden just for them and puts them there. It's beautiful. It's refreshing. It's like a fully stocked kitchen. I can imagine fruits and vegetables like we've never seen before hanging from every branch and flowers blooming from every vine, stem, and bush. But there's one rule... 

¹⁵ Then the LORD God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it. ¹⁶ The LORD God commanded the man, saying, “From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; ¹⁷ but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not ^[n]eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die.” (Genesis 2)

 Ok. I think man can handle that. Eat from everything for free? No problem. Avoid that one tree? No problem. What's "die"? Hmmm...Never heard of it before. Never seen it before. Whatever... Then God makes a helper for Adam. Niiiiiiiice. Enter Eve. She's beautiful. She's perfect. She's Adam's soul mate. Literally. Then along comes the snake...

¹ Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from ^[a]any tree of the garden’?” ² The woman said to the serpent, “From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; ³ but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.’”  (Genesis 3, emphasis mine).

Now isn't that interesting. Huh. God told Adam not to eat from the tree. Eve was told she couldn't eat or touch the fruit. Now did God tell Eve she couldn't touch it or was Adam in charge of telling Eve what God had instructed? She implies God specifically told her not to touch the fruit. Doesn't that point out even from the beginning of time of the the unique differences in identity between men and women? Man was told not to eat. Woman was told not to eat or even touch. This is so true. As we know men are much more visual creatures while women crave touch. Men can go into a store to look, but many women need to touch and feel things as they go through a store. My impression from reading the story is that God knew this, too, and warned Eve differently than he warned Adam. He warned her that touching the fruit would cause her to die. Why? Because I think God knew that is she got close enough to touch it, the temptation of touching the fruit would be too much for her and she would be more likely to eat it. This was God's way of protecting her by design.

I think this is a good reminder for us today. While there is no new temptation or new sin, what tempts women is often different than what tempts men...that is to say they struggle with the same temptations and the same sins, but how they approach the same sin is different. For example, a man and a woman may both struggle with over eating. The man may be able to have chocolate in the house and not be tempted to eat it because he can forget about it. But a woman with chocolate in the house cannot forget where that chocolate is and exactly how much is left. It may be in the middle of the pantry which is full of good things to eat, healthy options. But at the first moment of stress, when she thinks she lacks something or needs comfort, that chocolate will be gone. That chocolate is close enough to touch it...and once a woman touches chocolate, it takes strength to resist not putting it in the mouth.

What else are struggles for us today? Can you see the garden God has put you in? All the blessings and things He has told you that you can have, touch, eat, do, be in charge of? Can you see the one thing in the middle of that garden that God has asked you specifically not to eat...not to even touch...because He knows how you are designed and how you work? Because He wants to protect you from the consequences of those action? Stand firm. God will provide a way out from that temptation. Be obedient to his warning.

Of course I also have to end with a bit of humor...Adam blamed Eve, Eve blamed the snake, and the snake didn't have a leg to stand on ;)

The Bestest Gluten Free Pumpkin Bars, EVER!!!

I found a pumpkin bar recipe at Elana's Pantry (http://www.elanaspantry.com) and adapted it a bit for what I had here at the house. This is a great website with lots of resources for people who can't have gluten or who are trying to make more organic or healthier foods. This first one is my version...and it was YUMMY!!! The second recipe is from Elana's website. Enjoy!!

Pumpkin Bars
1 can of puree pumpkin
½ cup agave nectar

½ cup sugar (or if you don't want to use sugar, just double the agave)
4 eggs (or 4 tablespoons of ground flaxseeds + 8 tablespoons of milk)
1 recipe almond pulp left over from making almond milk (Julie's Almond Milk Recipe)

1 cup rice flour (or you could use 2 recipes of almond pulp)
½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon nutmeg
½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

1. In a food processor, combine pumpkin, agave, sugar and eggs and pulse for 2 minutes
2. Pulse dry ingredients into wet for a full minute, until well combined
3. Pour batter into a greased 9x13inch baking dish
4. Bake at 350° for 30-35 minutes
5. Serve naked or with whipped cream

Elana's Pantry Pumpkin Bar
½ cup pumpkin (acorn, butternut or other squash) puree
½ cup agave nectar
2 eggs
1 cup blanched almond flour
¼ teaspoon celtic sea salt
½ teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon cinnamon
¼ teaspoon nutmeg
¼ teaspoon cloves

1. In a food processor, combine pumpkin, agave and eggs and pulse for 2 minutes
2. Pulse dry ingredients into wet for a full minute, until well combined
3. Pour batter into a greased 8x8 inch Pyrex baking dish
4. Bake at 350° for 30-35 minutes
5. Serve naked or with whipped cream

Kid's Day

Every country has it's set of holidays. Here in Costa Rica they celebrate Kid's Day. Supernova, the group for 18-30 year-olds at the other Vineyard church in Escazú, helped our kids of Viña Anonos celebrate by throwing a big party. The following video was taken at our church here in the community.

These are the little munchkins I know and love. Enjoy!!

Click here to watch video

One man can make a difference.

Did you ever wonder what kind of a difference one man can make? 

What kind of an impact can your actions have on the world? 

This video pretty much says it all. 

If you are willing to step out and take a risk, regardless of how you think others will perceive you, 

you may just change the actions and attitudes of every one around you.

Now think about what kind of an impact we as Christians can have on the world if we are willing to step out and do the same for Christ? 

How many more people would experience joy, peace, love, healing, freedom, and blessing 

if we were not afraid of what other people think and took the time to pray.

We all want to receive a touch from God, right? 

What if as image bearers of the Almighty God, He is calling us to do that to a hurting world? 

To reach out as ambassadors of His kingdom and

spread joy, carry peace, pray for healing, speak truth, bring freedom through Christ, 

love our neighbors, 

to be like Christ?

Missing Identity

One of the themes I’ve noticed a lot lately, with many of my friends and even random people I interact with, is a sense of missing identity. I cannot tell you how many conversations I had while I was home that reflected some, part, or all of the following:

I’m just not myself lately. I feel like I’m not doing what I should be doing. I feel as if there is something bigger out there for me. I feel like I’m missing something. I try and try, but I just can’t get ahead. I can’t stop thinking about when I did X, Y, or Z. I feel guilty about what I've done in the past. I know God has forgiven me, but I still feel the weight of what I did in my life. I feel as if the decisions I’m making are not right. I have no satisfaction in my job. I just wish God would talk to me and tell me what I’m supposed to do. I am so passionate about X, but I’m working in Y. I feel like God is angry at me. I feel like I can’t talk to God right now. I feel like a great, big disappointment. I feel sad. I feel disconnected. I feel like I’m losing myself. I used to be so passionate about life, but now I’m just trudging along in the day to day. I used to know what I love to do, but I have bills to pay. Same old same old. So unfulfilled.

So many women that I’ve met have this same story. They feel like they knew who they were when they were younger, but as they have aged, they’re not living and working in any of their passions. They feel disconnected to themselves, the church community, and to God. They feel like great, big disappointments. It’s as if they have a case of stolen or lost identity.

It was the same with Eve. When Adam and Eve were in the garden, God came to them and told them their identity. He said “You are made in my image and that is VERY good.” He created them to do exactly what he had done, create! He made them a perfect match, soul mates, taken from the same substance. He told them to be fruitful and multiply. To subdue the earth. Being fruitful and multiplying was a job and an identity. Something to be and something to do. And it was specifically designed for them! THEN God created a garden just for the happy couple. He knew exactly what they would need to do and be what he made them to do and be. He gave them security and provision. He provided a place and a home. He provided communication and fellowship with Himself (and provided the animals as well).

Fast-forward a few days. Enter the serpent. The craftiest of all creatures. And what did he do? He lied to Eve. But not just any lie. He took the very identity that God gave and questioned it. He made Eve feel like she was missing something. Missing out on something bigger and better. That God was some how withholding a piece of Himself from her. He told her that if she ate the fruit she would be like God… But wait a minute! Didn’t God just tell her that? Didn’t He just get done saying “I made you in my image and it’s very good”? Didn’t He give Eve her identity by saying you are like me in every way?

This is the oldest lie and it continues to be the easiest for Satan to tell. He knows what God speaks over us. He can see our giftings and he knows our identity, as image bearers of the Almighty God. Satan loves, just like with Eve, to come in and take whatever God has spoken over our lives and lie to us about it. That’s what I see is being taken from women today. I can see the gifts and passions they had from their younger years and how they used to walk in their identity but the cares and worries and lies of this life have come in and snatched their joy. There is an enemy that is happy to lie to us about our identity. And it’s really easy for him. All he has to do is see our potential and say, “did God really give that to you as a passion? Would God really let you have fun at your job and do something you love? Would He really design a job for you that you would enjoy doing?” Or “Would God really love you enough to talk to you and tell you exactly why He made you the way He did? Would God really make your personality that way?” Or “Did God really say He gave you an extroverted personality so you could share the gospel with your neighbors?” “Did God really say He made you love cooking so you could be hospitable to strangers?” “Did God really give you a gift of teaching so you could teach preschoolers to love nature because it reflects God?”

People, the enemy is so sneaky! He takes truth and twists it ever so slightly. In such a small way that if we’re not paying attention we get sucked into it hook, line, and sinker! I look back on my own life and can see so many times where the enemy has told me little lies about myself…you’re too tall, you stick out so bad. You’re too outspoken, you don’t know when to talk and when to shut up. You’re not politically correct when you talk, you may offend someone. But wait! God made me tall. My family is tall. Maybe I stick out for a reason. So when I’m leading teams in crowded downtown San Jose they can all see me without getting lost. Maybe I’m tall to help short people reach things from tall shelves. Maybe I’m tall because God loves tall. So I’m outspoken. Maybe God wants to use that to speak for justice. Maybe I need to use my voice and not be afraid of what other people think to make impact for justice. To stick up for the little people, the poor, the broken. Maybe I’m not politically correct like Jesus or Paul or Peter were not "politically" correct. What if I was meant to share the truth as the Lord tells me and not try to change it because I am afraid of what another person may or may not think?

I challenge each of you reading this to look at your life. To ask the Holy Spirit to show you the lies you are holding on to and ask Him to speak truth over you again. To help you see what the devil is lying to you about. Don't let the devil steal what is rightfully yours, an identity and a purpose. God refresh our minds to hear your truth again. God thank you for speaking truth to us. Reveal your heart for us again. Show us your love and your truth and your plan. Remind us again of who we are and what you’ve destined us to be. Open our eyes to see you and our ears to hear you. Remind us that you do have a perfect plan for each of us. An identity. A role. A mission. A calling. A community and fellowship.

Home in a nutshell.

What an amazing trip home! I have had such a wonderful time enjoying my friends and family the last few weeks. It was definitely a whirlwind tour. I started off at home in Ohio. I saw my Aunt Cindy and Uncle Rick as well as my cousins Mark and Brian with their wives and babies. It was my first time to see Brian and Maria's baby, Erica since she was born in the winter. SOOO cute! I have a delightfully crazy, wonderfully playful family. Many pranks and jokes have taken place over the years. They made my heart happy.

Here is my blog tribute to the teacher that started it all. Let me introduce those who don't know this lady to the amazing Patti Spiegel, AKA Spiegs, Espejo, and Spej. Spiegs was my high school Spanish teacher. We got into a lot of trouble in her class. We, you say? Not just "I"? Nope...We. She let me play pranks on other teachers (she usually thought them up). She let me explode marshmallow peeps in a microwave during Comida y Conversacion Friday's. She let me decorate her classroom door as a manger at Christmas time. She also may have let me hold a live baby crocodile during my first trip to Costa Rica in 1999...after a death defying trip down white water rapids. But aside from the fun, she also let me have a Bible study in her classroom before school. I remember doing Bible devotions with her in the morning in front of the volcano, Arenal, in Costa Rica as a teen. She even encouraged me to do medical missions, and we traveled to the Dominican Republic in 2007. We had a mini-reunion of that trip while I was home. Two of the other teens, Anna and Jameson, who are no longer teens but in college (oh, my, I'm getting old) that came on that missions trip came to my house. Jameson and Anna have also gone on to do other missions trips and overseas travels. Spiegs, you inspire us!!



Of course what trip home would be complete without a trip to visit my BFF?!? I left Findlay and traveled down to Cincinnati for the night to stay at my bestie's place. Obviously we had to take ANOTHER picture in our standard pose. I think in 10 years this makes 1,298,485 pictures in this exact pose. The hair has changed, our ages have changed, but our smiles and my height remains the same!!

As you all know, there is a new man in my life. All pint-sized, droolie-faced, running-machine that is my nephew, Will. And his name is accurate, he DEFINITELY has a will. I had a delightful weekend spoiling my nephew and playing the crazy aunt. We created new words in the English language, danced to "Shoo, Fly, Don't Bother Me" like it was going out of style, and snuggled with more fuzzy, cuddly animals than I care to recount.  I also have to give kudos to Skype. I have been watching my nephew grow up via video...AND HE RECOGNIZED ME!!!! He knew exactly who I was by name! Amazing. He is starting to understand the concept of the video calling. The other day my brother said he ran over to the computer, wiggled the mouse, and kept saying "Papa" (the name he calls my dad). He wanted to talk to my dad! So my brother called my parents. So funny. I think kids are way smarter than we give them credit for...

 After I finished playing auntie, I headed up to Michigan. Enter the tales that are the stuff of legends! I had to make a visit to my Alma Mater, Calvin College...and sit in the Cheese. Oh, you Calvin College students know exactly what I'm talking about. You non-Calvin College students, I'm sorry, you're not privileged to that information ;)

 Shout out to Britt and Rhiannon!! Thanks for an awesome night out on the town!

The town is now red. With a splash of hot pink.

Maybe some neon orange, too ;)

 Abby, Terri, and I reenacted a scene from their January Costa Rica missions trip.

Some how this same pose on a beach at sunset is so much cooler than in a bathroom at the B.O.B...

 No trip home would be complete without a good game of poker. 

These are my poker buddies, Dan, Dave, and Nikka.

 A huge thank you also goes out to my church, Vineyard North in Grand Rapids. With the help of Tanya DeYoung, Dan and Mama Bethel, as well as many others, the church put on an Ice Cream Social Hot Dog Fundraiser to help me raise support for my next year in Costa Rica. Through the generous donations of people from my church community, I was able to raise a little over $1300!!! Thank you guys, soooo much! What a blessing! I can't wait to share all of what God will and is doing in Costa Rica from now until Christmas!!!

 An extra special shout out to my dearest Tanya. Without her, the fundraiser would not have been possible. She poured out her blood, sweat and tears...okay, mostly just sweat...the tears came later when we had to say goodbye until December...into making the day possible. Tanya-girl, keep high kicking!!

 Oh, Yeah, did I mention that there was even a bouncy house!!! All us ladies waited until the party was over, everyone had left, and just a few of us were cleaning up...and then we had our turn in the bouncy house. Woot woot!! There was some pretty amazing high-kick-flips!!

 

   

Another big thank you to everyone for making my trip home so special. I really miss you all!!

Many, many blessings on all of you and I look forward to being with you again at Christmas.

PS Just in case you were wondering...I did check in on the tupperware. 

Still all there.

Still packed away.

I'll visit that at Christmas, too ;)

In an increasingly globalized world, it’s still sometimes shocking to see just how disparate our lives are compared with other human beings around the world. A book of photographs by Peter Menzel called "Hungry Planet: What the World Eats" ("©Peter Menzel www.menzelphoto.com. Ten Speed Press, published in 2005) makes a relevant point with great irony: at a time when hundreds of millions of people don't have enough to eat, hundreds of millions more are eating too much and are overweight or obese. In observing what six billion eat for dinner the authors note, 

"Today, more people are overweight than underweight."  

It is these cultural differences, emphasized and reinforced by the author, which exemplifies the lifestyles and dietary habits of people around the world. In the United States, processed foods are par for course. In the Philippines, fresh fruit and vegetables play a far more significant role. In the  harsh Chad sun, a family of six exists on a measly $1.23 per week.

If you look closely at the types of food being purchased you can see the difference between "eating to live" and "living to eat."

Meet the The Manzo family of Sicily. Their weekly expenditure is 214.36 Euros or $260.11. Note the copious amount of bread.

Germany: The Melander family of Bargteheide
Food expenditure for one week: 375.39 Euros or $500.07.

United States: The Revis family of North Carolina (I hope most American families eat more fresh fruits and vegetables and less junk food than this family.)Food expenditure for one week $341.98

Mexico: The Casales family of Cuernavaca
Food expenditure for one week: 1,862.78 Mexican Pesos or $189.09. Note the profusion of fruits & vegetables.

Poland: The Sobczynscy family of Konstancin-Jeziorna
Food expenditure for one week: 582.48 Zlotys or $151.27

Egypt: The Ahmed family of Cairo
Food expenditure for one week: 387.85 Egyptian Pounds or $68.53

Ecuador: The Ayme family of Tingo
Food expenditure for one week: $31.55

Bhutan: The Namgay family of Shingkhey Village
Food expenditure for one week: 224.93 ngultrum or $5.03. This feeds a family of 11! Remarkable.

Chad: The Aboubakar family of Breidjing Camp
Food expenditure for one week: 685 CFA Francs or $1.23. No comment.

Kuwait: The Al Haggan family of Kuwait City
Food expenditure for one week: 63.63 dinar or $221.45. Most foodstuffs in this State is subsidized.

Mongolia: The Batsuuri family of Ulaanbaatar
Food expenditure for one week: 41,985.85 togrogs or $40.06

China: The Dong family of Beijing
Food expenditure for one week: 1,233.76 Yuan or $175

Japan: The Ukita family of Kodaira City
Food expenditure for one week: 37,699 Yen or $317.25
 

A Re-post from online. What do you think?

'10 Second Rule' urges Christians to help others instantly when prompted (column)

Published: Saturday, September 03, 2011, 5:06 AM

By Charley Honey | The Grand Rapids Press

 

Matt Gade | The Grand Rapids Press 

 

Clare De Graaf with his book, "The 10 Second Rule." De Graaf encourages readers to do the next thing they think Jesus would want them to do when faced with someone else's need — without waiting longer than 10 seconds to act.

 

So this guy was in Panera Bread doing some work when he overheard a young adult telling his dad he was low on funds. The guy was annoyed at this intrusion on his work space — and with the voice that told him to give the son all the money in his wallet.

Fortunately, son and father soon left. Relieved, the annoyed guy soon left, too, only to find them near his car. He heard the voice again. So he reluctantly emptied his wallet and wished them a blessed day, leaving them “stunned and thankful.”

This story of a God who bugs you into doing something really inconvenient is from a reader of claredegraaf.com, whose author urges you to do the inconvenient thing within 10 seconds. Otherwise you may talk yourself out of it like this guy almost did.

Inconvenience hinders us
It’s called “The 10 Second Rule,” a new book by Clare De Graaf available on the website, on Amazon and soon at local bookstores. De Graaf, of Grand Rapids, is a former business owner whose business now is mentoring men and doing inconvenient things for God. The slim tome’s subtitle sums up the rule neatly: “Just do the next thing you’re reasonably certain Jesus wants you to do.”

It’s easy to over-think things when you’re suddenly presented with a person in need. I did that recently when I walked right by a woman with car trouble in a parking lot. She was on her cellphone, so I rationalized help was on its way. It wasn’t until another guy said, “Does she need a jump?” that I listened to the inner voice crying, “Stop and help, you dope!”

Caution is in order, but if you have a reasonably sure feeling in your gut, trust it, De Graaf says.
“We tend to overlook those little nudges, because we’re waiting for the big signs (from God),” De Graaf says. “The truth is, it’s just inconvenient to follow Jesus. We subconsciously wait for the big sign, and hope God doesn’t give it.”

That way leads to what he calls “the beige plan”: faithful church attender, Sunday school teacher, box seats in heaven. Comfortable, but not what Jesus had in mind when he said, “Take up (your) cross and follow me.”

Be a hearer and a doer
Thus the 10-second rule. You say you love Jesus? OK then. When you sense his voice, do what he says.
Pretty simple. In fact, De Graaf admits you don’t need to buy his book to do it.
“The point wasn’t to sell books. The point was to get people to obey Jesus.”

Simple sometimes sings. It’s gotten endorsements from Bill Hybels, Ed Dobson and Dick DeVos, plus orders from Family Christian Stores and a home-school curriculum. Not bad for a self-published work 14 publishers turned down. He’ll sign copies at 7:30 p.m. next Friday at Baker Book House.

But simple doesn’t mean easy. For De Graaf, the 10-second rule means taking risks to do the stuff Jesus says to do for the hungry, thirsty and sick. Don’t just agree with it; do it.

Take the Good Samaritan who came upon a guy who had been robbed and beaten. He bandaged his wounds, put him on his donkey and took him to an inn. Put him on his donkey! Why, that’s like picking up a hitchhiker today. Isn’t that dangerous?

De Graaf once picked up a hitchhiker and ended up hearing his life story over coffee. The guy said, “You made my day, because I wasn’t sure God or anybody else cared about me at all.”

Some would call this foolish. I no longer pick up hitchhikers, unwilling to take an admittedly small risk. De Graaf does, seeing the risk as part of his obedience.

Then, there are panhandlers who ask for bus fare or meal money. What if Jesus tells you to shell out, then they spend it on booze?

De Graaf doesn’t give out cash, but he does take people to lunch. His book cites a man who took a woman shopping after she knocked on his car window asking for help, then he drove her home.

Clearly this kind of thing could end badly, in a weird place with a needy or threatening person. De Graaf says it’s important to set boundaries and make “pre-decisions” about what you’re willing to do when suddenly confronted with need.

But face it, he says, “It’s going to happen. You’re going to get ripped off. If you’re going to run away from everyone because this could get messy, you’re never going to invest in anyone.”

As far as that goes, investing isn’t always about money. A lot of people would like to buy someone groceries but can barely afford it themselves. How about visiting someone who is lonely, or sending a thank-you note? That’s obeying a voice of caring, too.

I would like to hear your stories about obeying God’s voice, or your conscience if you will, to spontaneously help someone else. I have a feeling it happens far more than we know.