I've made this egg bread recipe at our church before and had good comments about it. I recently made some to freeze for our celebration of the coming ruler and thought I would share it. I think it's tops, and have been working with it for a while now. All credit goes to my father who taught me how to make it (who in turn would thank someone who taught him of course). Having been working on bread a lot in recent months I am realizing how bread recipes are something that need perfecting and personalizing to get right. I'm not there with any of mine yet, but a fresh load of bread that isn't quite right is always better than anything you'd buy at the store.
Egg Bread
Prepare the following:
#1 - Pot on low heat (melt butter, dissolve sugar/salt, add milk and warm)
½ Cup Butter
4 Tbsp Sugar
2 tsp Salt
½ Cup Milk
#2 - Large Warm Bowl (dissolve sugar, add yeast and let sit 10 minutes)
1 Cup Warm Water
2 tsp Sugar
2 Tbsp Yeast
#3 - Small Bowl
4 Eggs whisked
#4 - Medium Bowl
6 Cups of Flour
Add #1 to #2, then add #3, then mix in the flour in two stages
Knead to perfection
Put in greased, covered bowl to rise until doubled (1 hour)
Punch down, divide into six equal parts and let rest 10 minutes
Roll each part until it is a little longer than the bread pan
Braid three together and place in buttered load pans
Place buttered paper towel over to avoid drying out
Let rise 30 minutes
Brush with beaten egg
Bake 25-30 minutes at 350 degrees
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Do we celebrate suffering?
Christmas is the daddy of all celebrations. Only at a wedding can I think of a greater celebration. Gift-giving, feasting, family travel, etc are only common this time of year. If your celebration is closely tied to Christmas as a faith holiday, then why all this celebrating? Do we feast because of the nativity story? The meaning of the story is God coming into our sin-filled earth to suffer a life and death he did not deserve. Is this something to bake special cookies for? I actually don't think so.
Matthew 17:12
But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they pleased. So also the Son of Man will certainly suffer at their hands.
Acts 17:3
explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.
While it is certainly good for us, and shows the kindness of God, the suffering messiah doesn't cause me to plan a party. The suffering messiah is the only way our salvation has been earned for us. It is also a important story that we must tell each other. But it doesn't cause me celebrate. What does cause me to feast is the broader message of Advent, which should focus more on Jesus' coming as ruler.
Luke 1:31-33
And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
Jesus is coming - he is coming to topple the rulers of the earth and set up his own authority so God can live with us in a life without sin. No more crying, no more sickness, no more sadness, no more pain, no more death. This is something to celebrate. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee O Israel.
Matthew 17:12
But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they pleased. So also the Son of Man will certainly suffer at their hands.
Acts 17:3
explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.
While it is certainly good for us, and shows the kindness of God, the suffering messiah doesn't cause me to plan a party. The suffering messiah is the only way our salvation has been earned for us. It is also a important story that we must tell each other. But it doesn't cause me celebrate. What does cause me to feast is the broader message of Advent, which should focus more on Jesus' coming as ruler.
Luke 1:31-33
And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
Jesus is coming - he is coming to topple the rulers of the earth and set up his own authority so God can live with us in a life without sin. No more crying, no more sickness, no more sadness, no more pain, no more death. This is something to celebrate. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee O Israel.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Birthdays
We don't all celebrate birthdays with the same fervor. Whether you expect cake, presents and surprises, or, if you are all too familiar with the concept of belated birthday cards, it is helpful to know that not all cultures are as excited about celebrating the anniversary of birth. We celebrate Jesus' birthday at Christmas, but in the New Testament there is no hint of such commemoration. (For this reason we are not sure of the actual date of Jesus' birth). Instead of celebrating birthdays, the people of Jesus' culture commemorated someone's 'death day'. In the case of Jesus, they celebrated neither, but made it their practice to celebrate the day of his resurrection. And they did this not annually, but weekly by commemorating Sundays.
Before you throw out your manger scene though, it is helpful to remember that it is not the holiday surrounding his birth that is important in scripture, but the meaning of his birth. It is like his death day which is understood as the culminating act of God earning our salvation for us. His birth also has great meaning as it is the beginning of the acts of God that earned our salvation for us. Colossians 1:15-23 speaks of Jesus' existence as God before he came to earth. Philippians 2:1-11 speaks of Jesus' humility coming to earth. And John's gospel speaks many times of eternal quality and humble birth of Jesus though he suffers greatly for us (see 1:1-18, 6:14, 7:25-31, 8:12-20, 8:58, 12:46, 16:28, 18:37).
There is no command from God to commemorate Jesus' birthday, but to know the meaning of his birth. This is the purpose of our advent focus this year. We take time to hear each other read scripture and consider what this means to us. God coming into the world is our only hope of salvation, a future with him, dominion over sin in our lives, the life of the Spirit, and belonging in his church.
Before you throw out your manger scene though, it is helpful to remember that it is not the holiday surrounding his birth that is important in scripture, but the meaning of his birth. It is like his death day which is understood as the culminating act of God earning our salvation for us. His birth also has great meaning as it is the beginning of the acts of God that earned our salvation for us. Colossians 1:15-23 speaks of Jesus' existence as God before he came to earth. Philippians 2:1-11 speaks of Jesus' humility coming to earth. And John's gospel speaks many times of eternal quality and humble birth of Jesus though he suffers greatly for us (see 1:1-18, 6:14, 7:25-31, 8:12-20, 8:58, 12:46, 16:28, 18:37).
There is no command from God to commemorate Jesus' birthday, but to know the meaning of his birth. This is the purpose of our advent focus this year. We take time to hear each other read scripture and consider what this means to us. God coming into the world is our only hope of salvation, a future with him, dominion over sin in our lives, the life of the Spirit, and belonging in his church.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Marriage Questions - Part Six
Session #6 – Finances
Who will handle the monthly budget/finances?
Have you both agreed on how much money you will need each month?
What do you think about giving money to your church or other not-for-profit organizations?
How will you decide what to do with extra funds?
Besides necessities, what have each of you spent money on in the last month?
How do you feel about credit?
Have you planned a monthly budget? Will? Life insurance?
When do you expect to own your own home?
Who will handle the monthly budget/finances?
Have you both agreed on how much money you will need each month?
What do you think about giving money to your church or other not-for-profit organizations?
How will you decide what to do with extra funds?
Besides necessities, what have each of you spent money on in the last month?
How do you feel about credit?
Have you planned a monthly budget? Will? Life insurance?
When do you expect to own your own home?
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Marriage Questions - Part Five
Part Five - Social and Spiritual
What two activities (recreation, social, etc) do you have in common?
How many evenings a week do you see yourselves doing activities apart?
How important are holidays, birthdays and anniversaries to you?
Do you dislike any of your future spouse’s friends? If so, why?
Do you have any mutual friends?
How much education has each of you had? Do you plan to continue?
What are your views on alcohol and drug use?
Describe your experience with God and what you believe about Jesus Christ.
What are your family’s religious backgrounds?
Does your mate believe the same things that you believe? Is it important that you believe the same things about God?
What role do you see God having in your marriage?
How do you see your new family being involved in church life?
What two activities (recreation, social, etc) do you have in common?
How many evenings a week do you see yourselves doing activities apart?
How important are holidays, birthdays and anniversaries to you?
Do you dislike any of your future spouse’s friends? If so, why?
Do you have any mutual friends?
How much education has each of you had? Do you plan to continue?
What are your views on alcohol and drug use?
Describe your experience with God and what you believe about Jesus Christ.
What are your family’s religious backgrounds?
Does your mate believe the same things that you believe? Is it important that you believe the same things about God?
What role do you see God having in your marriage?
How do you see your new family being involved in church life?
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Christmas
Christmas is coming. In fact, what we consider the 'Advent Season' begins next Sunday, November 30th. This is the four Sundays before Christmas Eve. One of the things I am working on this week is how we will celebrate Christmas as a church this year. Harry is doing a great job of giving oversight to Christmas Eve, but what about Advent? So far I have a theme - 'Christmas in Babylon'. Not too festive? Well, that's because we live in a culture that is foreign to God's message to us at Christmas. Celebrating the hope we have in the coming of Christ is a minority holiday. It reminds me of the story of Daniel who worshipped the true God in the midst of a Babylonian culture that didn't believe what he did.
So if it's important that we worship and celebrate the advent of Christ this year, how should we do this? What is meaningful to you? Are there songs that you want to sing, things you want to share, verses you want read, candles you want to light? And beyond our Sunday mornings together, how can you take time feel the excitement and joy that comes when you really stop and think how wonderful it will be when Jesus comes, defeats sin and lives with us forever? For me, it is when I share the Christmas story with my kids, usually when we read and talk before bedtime. The truth seems to real and important when I share with them the most important story I will ever tell them.
So if it's important that we worship and celebrate the advent of Christ this year, how should we do this? What is meaningful to you? Are there songs that you want to sing, things you want to share, verses you want read, candles you want to light? And beyond our Sunday mornings together, how can you take time feel the excitement and joy that comes when you really stop and think how wonderful it will be when Jesus comes, defeats sin and lives with us forever? For me, it is when I share the Christmas story with my kids, usually when we read and talk before bedtime. The truth seems to real and important when I share with them the most important story I will ever tell them.
Marriage Questions - Part Four
Session #4 – Conflict and Communication
Complete the personality profile if you have not considered basic personality types before. Or, discuss your personality type as you understand it.
Based on your personalities what problems might you have in resolving conflict?
How did your parents handle conflict in the home?
How do you plan on handling conflict?
Are there any areas of your relationship that you find too difficult to talk about with your future spouse?
How does your future spouse best communicate their love for you?
Have you discussed being purposeful in having quality couple time (e.g. date nights, weekends together, meaningful conversation)?
Complete the personality profile if you have not considered basic personality types before. Or, discuss your personality type as you understand it.
Based on your personalities what problems might you have in resolving conflict?
How did your parents handle conflict in the home?
How do you plan on handling conflict?
Are there any areas of your relationship that you find too difficult to talk about with your future spouse?
How does your future spouse best communicate their love for you?
Have you discussed being purposeful in having quality couple time (e.g. date nights, weekends together, meaningful conversation)?
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