Gotham's finest

When it came time to select Halloween costumes this year, the decision was simple.  Second to his father, Batman (as in the 1960s, Adam West...boom...ka-pow Caped Crusader) is the little man's go-to figure for all things cool, powerful and manly.  And, so it was with great enthusiasm that the little lady dubbed herself "the villain" opting to go as Cat Woman, and the littlest became Batman's trusty sidekick, Robin (a fitting representation of their relationship if there ever was one).  

 

In spite of dreary weather, our crew enjoyed the company of friends, and the excitement of going door to door in our new neighborhood. 

 



The whole gang's here - villains vs. superheroes



Alter egos, Bruce Wayne and Batman

 

A mighty and enthusiastic crew.

 

 



Love Thy Neighbor

Compassion for others - the desire to serve and sacrifice - flows out of the honest recognition of who we are and God's love for us in the midst of that.

 - Tullian Tchividjian

 

 

"All Christians want to bless the church, witness to the world, and grow in assurance of faith. But did you know that there’s one thing you can do that accomplishes all three of these aims at once?"

 

10 Love Challenge

 

 

Masks off...

 

If you are what you should be, then you will set the world on fire.

~St. Catherine of Siena

YOU are a Wonder.



A face that is hospitable

 

We focus so often on making our homes hospitable. But what about ourselves?

 

It started as a gentle nudge, the thoughtful study of those things that make me tick...or not tick, naming that which I crave, the things that consume my thought life, a reflection of the many choices I make each day.  And now, this nudge, no longer gentle, no longer a mere suggestion, but more of a command, a kick in the pants, has set my mind and heart whirling as I consider how I live out my life in word and deed (Colossians 3:17).   Each morning as I rise, the Lord graciously provides me with new material to feed on, a paragraph here, a link there, a familiar passage of Scripture previously underlined in pencil, but now read with fresh eyes. 

Yesterday, I landed here. 

And, so continues my pursuit of true and genuine hospitality.  Hospitality that is rooted in the transforming love of Christ and the power of His gospel. 

"Grow me up in the gospel, Jesus.  Expand the chambers of my heart to take in more of your grace.  Free me to be genuinely intrigued with other people."

from Everyday Prayers by Scotty Smith



On Keeping Company

Company-keeping says come in here where the door swings wide. It’s a welcome gathering, no matter your space. It’s humble, and it’s real.

 

practicing the art of hospitality

 



On (Biblical) hospitality

True hospitality is sacrificial, uncomfortable, and does not seek to impress others.

Trisha Wilkerson

 



One of the reasons we chose a home in Fitchburg, WI was because we had committed ourselves to being part of a church plant in the city.  Having been raised in the church, we were excited about the idea of being a part of something from the ground up, witnessing first hand the very detailed and thoughtful process involved in church planting and watching the Lord's faithful hand at work in both our lives and the lives of others.  Honestly, I do not think that either of us were fully prepared for the many ways church planting would shake up our lives, our routines, our family life, our expectations, our understanding of the body of Christ and of what living a life of intentionality truly looks like.  When you decide to become part of a core, a humble core of eleven (eighteen if you include our motely crew of children), you cannot be a casual observer.  You must show up, be available, become vulnerable, and open up the doors of your home. 

 

This idea of welcoming others into our home was something that we always anticipated as the Lord moved us from our Shaker Heights apartment to our first single family home in Fitchburg.  I envisioned hosting dinners around our new kitchen table, intentionally leaving the leaf in, so that we could always seat eight comfortably, and positioning our furniture in such a way that would create a comfortable atmosphere to gather and converse.  It came as a bit of a surprise then, when I found myself suddenly feeling a bit overwhelmed at the prospect of weekly gatherings, bodies crowding around our table, shoes piled up at our front door, children exploring every corner of our home.  Just when we were being called to open up, invite in, and share our lives with others, I found myself craving quiet evenings on the couch, less conversation, a tidy, organized and peaceful sanctuary. 

 

 

It is no wonder I'm a jeans and t-shirt kind of gal, I crave comfort.  I thrive in controlled settings, I enjoy predictable, and I welcome routine. I turned to the Lord, completely aware of what He was asking of me, of what He would continue to ask of me.  I needed to set aside my personal comforts for the greater good of our new community.  I needed to identify and name the specific temptations that challenged my desire to use our home for His glory.  As Jeff and I began to lay our requests before the Lord, He began to stir within us a new and honest desire to welcome others into our home.  Today, I received an email from my husband, directing me here.  In her post on biblical hospitality, Trisha Wilkerson, identifies the difference between entertaining and hospitality.  I found her words to be both convicting and thought provoking, and I look forward to practicing the art of true hospitality within our home, community and new city. 

 

Biblical hospitality is the outpouring of mercy and grace to others without expectation for reciprocation.

Trisha Wilkerson

 

Pioneer Woman's Comfort Meatballs

My husband will eat anything I set in front of him.  He is considerate like that.  He is both quick to compliment a meal or suffer in silence if the meal is less than stellar.  Thankfully, I'm a more confident cook than I once was as a new and blushing bride.  When he becomes particularly chatty about a dish, I take notice.   This was such a dish, the perfect pairing for a chilly autumn evening.

 

Meatballs:

1 1/2 pounds ground beef/chuck or sirloin

3/4 cup quick oats

1 cup milk

3 tablespoons very finely minced onion

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

freshly ground pepper

 

4 tablespoons canola oil

1/2 cup flour

 

Sauce:

1 cup ketchup

2 tablespoons sugar (I used one as I don't love sweet sauces.)

3 tablespoons distilled white vinegar

2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

4-6 tablespoons minced onion

Dash of Tabasco or Frank's Hot Sauce

 

1. In a bowl, combine the ground beef and oats.

2. Pour in the milk, then add the diced onion and salt.

3. Add the black pepper, then stir to combine.

4.  Roll the mixture into tablespoon-size balls and refrigerate for 45 minutes to firm.

5.  Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and heat the canola oil in a large skillet over medium heat.

6. Dredge the meatballs in the flour.

7.  Brown the meatballs in batches until light brown.

8.  As they brown, place the meatballs into a rectangular baking dish.

9.  Stir together the sauce ingredients and drizzle evenly on the meatballs.

10.  Bake for about 45 minutes until bubbly and hot.

 

As a side, I whipped up a batch of Yukon Gold mashed potatoes.  I like to add a bit of heavy cream, a dollop (or two) of sour cream (cream cheese is also a tasty alternative), and plenty of butter to our mashed potatoes, but that's just me.  My husband has never complained.