Christopher Laurie

Today Christopher Laurie was killed in a car crash. His father is Greg Laurie, pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, CA (a Calvary Chapel affiliate). He was only 33, and left behind a young daughter and a wife who is expecting another baby girl in the fall. I never met Christopher, but I have a connection with Calvary Chapel. My family starting attending a Calvary Chapel affiliate church in OR when I was 17. After high school, I went to Calvary Chapel Bible College in southern CA, where I heard Pastor Greg speak on several occasions, and visited his church a number of times as well. My husband and I were married at the Calvary Chapel we attended in OR. When we go to OR to visit, we always make a point to visit friends and attend church there.

Every year Greg shares the gospel message with thousands of people at the Harvest Crusades. This year, there are 3 - CA, PA, and NY. The CA event is in just a few weeks, August 15-17, at Angel Stadium.

I am grieving for the Laurie family, and praying the God of all comfort will comfort them and pour His healing balm on their souls.

Easter Cookies

I got this cute recipe for Easter Cookies at church.  It sounds like a fun activity to do with kids.  Although mine is too young to quite understand, I'm going to make them anyway. 

Easter Cookies

Read the whole recipe before starting.  Try to do together Saturday night before Easter Sunday.  Preheat oven to 300 degrees. 

Ingredients:

1 cup whole pecans

1 tsp vinegar

3 egg whites

1 pinch salt

1 cup sugar

You need:

Bible

zipper baggie

wooden spoon

mixing bowl

cookie sheet

wax paper

tape

Place pecans in zipper baggie and let your child(ren) beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces.  Explain that after Jesus was arrested, He was beaten by the Roman soldiers.  Read John 19:1-3. 

Let your child smell the vinegar.  Put 1 tsp into mixing bowl.  Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross, He was given vinegar to drink.  Read John 19:28-30. 

Add the egg whites to the vinegar.  Eggs represent life.  Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life.  Read John 10:10-11. 

Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl.  Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers and the bitterness of our own sin.  Read Luke 23:27. 

Add one cup sugar.  Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us.  He wants us to know and belong to Him.  Read Psalm 34:8 and John 3:16. 

Fold in the broken nuts. Put wax paper on the cookie sheet.  Drop cookie dough by tsp onto wax paper.  Explain that the mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid.  Read Matthew 27:65-66. 

Put cookie sheet in the oven.  Close the door and turn the oven OFF.  Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door.  Explain that Jesus tomb was sealed.  Read Matthew 27:65-66.  

Go to bed! Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight.  Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed.  Read John 16:20 and 22.  

On Resurrection morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie.  Notice the cracked surface and take a bite.  The cookies are hollow! On that first Resurrection Day Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty.  Read Matthew 28:1-9.  

He has risen! HALLELUJAH!

*If you make these, please post comments and tell me about it! 

Jamie's story

Last year, Jamie Gillentine, one of the pastors at our church (the Anaheim Vineyard Christian Fellowship), had a severe diving accident.

Listen to (or download) the talk about his journey and how God brings healing and uses the compassion of the church. (You can also get this talk through the "Vineyard Anaheim" channel in iTunes; search for the "Beautiful News" track).

You may also be encouraged by this video that illustrates the process of his recovery.