Kaylea Hutson's Blog, page 61

Makin' Dog Biscuits

One of the service/fun projects at last week's M&M Day involved making dog biscuits.

The plan is to bag up the biscuits and have them available during the Soup Sampler - asking people to make a donation towards the 2011 Destination: Mission trips.

I wish I had pics of the kids rolling them out. I guess I forgot to pick up the camera - we got busy making them, and well, I only have a picture of the finished product.

The biscuits turned out GREAT! The kids loved making them (the dough was a bit "tough" because it was like bread dough), and according to the moms who "test drove" the finished product, it is definitely puppy approved!

So, here's the recipe we used, if you want to try and make it yourself!
Economy Cookies
From MacPherson's K-9 Cookbook: Dog Biscuit Recipes
by Mary MacPherson1/3 C. Margarine (butter) softened
3 C. Whole wheat flour
1/2 C. Powdered skim milk
1/4 tsp. Garlic powder
3/4 C. Water, room temp.
1 Egg, beaten
Baking spray

Directions
1) In a large mixing bowl, cream margarine (or butter) with flour with a pastry cutter. Set aside.

2) In a small bowl, dissolve powdered skim milk and garlic powder in water and wisk in beaten egg.

3) Make a well in the flour mixture and gradually stir in egg mixture until well blended.

4) Knead dough on a floured surface, about 3 to 4 minutes, until dough sticks together and is easy to work with. Then with a rolling pin, roll dough to between 1/4 and 1/2 inch thickness.

5) Cut with a cookie cutter and place on a lightly greased baking sheet. Bake 50 minutes at 325 degrees.

6) Cool on a rack until hard and store, at room temperature, in a container with a loose-fitting lid.

Want to try a couple of other recipes? Here's some "tried and true" treats
made by my friend Mariesa!

Dog Biscuits
2 C. Wheat flour
1 Egg
1 Box of Jiffy Corn Meal
1/3 C. Oil
1 tbsp. Salt,
1 C. Water.

Directions
Mix together and roll teaspoon full of dough into balls and place on the greased cookie sheet. Flatten slightly. Bake for 20-25 minutes @ 350 degrees until browned. Mariesa said a batch makes approx. 80 small (pecan ball) sized biscuits.

Liver Biscuits
1 lb. Liver, pureed.
1 C. Flour,
1 Box of Jiffy Corn Meal
1 tbsp. Oil
1 Egg

Directions
Mix ingredients together, and spread in a 13 x 9-inch pan lined with foil. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 mintues.
Mariesa said that she likes to cut them into 1-1/2-inch squares, kind of like brownies.

Makin' Cupcakes - budget style!

When I first saw Amanda's recipe for Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cupcakes, I was planning the snacks for last week's M&M Day.
Amanda's yummy cupcakesI thought – yum, the best of all worlds – cupcakes with icing AND cookie dough – I mean, how can you go wrong.

While Amanda's recipe sounded, well, amazing, We (my partner in crime – Lan and I) decided that a recipe that called for EIGHT (yes, eight) sticks of butter (between the cookie dough, cupcakes and icing) might get a bit pricey for a kid-treat.

So, we decided to make the cupcakes using a kid-friendly budget.

So this is the "Budget"
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cupcake Recipe!Instead of homemade cookie dough, I purchased frozen dough from Sams Club, and made frozen cookie dough balls the night before.
Dough Balls Modeled by BizThen we sacrificed the "homemade" cupcake mix for good old Betty Crocker cake mix, Halloween Funfetti icing and mini chocolate chips.

After mixing the cake mix as directed, we poured them into "plain jane" cupcake holders.
Isn't Lincoln doing a good job filling the holders.Next we put the frozen balls of dough into the cupcakes
Lane helps Jonathan put the dough into the cupcakes.Ready for the oven.After the cupcakes baked we let the kids ice them – yes they liked the sprinkles. (We forgot to put the mini chocolate chips on them.)
Finished CupcakesHere's a look at how our cupcakes looked when it was broken open….
Not as pretty as Amanda's, but still yummy!But the kids definitely loved them
Hannah eating her treat.Amanda's ultimate recipeChocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cupcakes with Cookie Dough Buttercream FrostingFor the cookie dough:
2 sticks softened butter
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
4 tbsp milk
1 tbsp vanilla
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/4 tsp. salt
1 cup mini chocolate chips

For the cupcakes:
3 sticks softened butter
1 1/2 cups light brown sugar, packed
4 large eggs
2 2/3 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1 cup milk
2 tsp. vanilla extract

For the frosting:
3 sticks softened butter
3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
3 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
2 tbsp. milk
1 tsp. vanilla extract

Directions:
To make the cookie dough, combine the butter and sugars in a mixing bowl and cream on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 mins.

Beat in milk and vanilla until incorporated and smooth. Beat in the flour and salt until just combined. Stir in the chocolate chips. Using a 1.5 tbsp scoop, shape the dough into balls or tubes. Freeze on a parchment lined baking sheet overnight.

To make the cupcakes, preheat the oven to 350° F.  Line two cupcake pans with paper liners (24 total).  In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the butter and brown sugar.  Beat together on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.  Mix in the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition and scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.

Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl.  Stir together to blend.  Add the dry ingredients to the mixer bowl on low speed, alternating with the milk, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients, mixing each addition just until incorporated.  Blend in the vanilla.

Using a 3 tbsp scoop, fill the prepared cupcake liners 2/3 full with the cupcake batter. Place a frozen cookie dough ball on the top center of each cupcake.
Bake at 350 for 16-18 mins.

To make the frosting, combine the butter and brown sugar in a mixing bowl and cream on medium-high speed until light and fluffy.  Beat in the powdered sugar until smooth.  Beat in the salt, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth and combined.

Frost the cupcakes and sprinkle with mini chocolate chips!
Makes 24 cupcakes.

Cookie dough adapted from Picky Palate. Cupcake and frosting adapted from Annie's Eats.

Want to check out the original post that started this all? Complete with her awesome pictures.
Click here!

Happy 10-10-10 Day

It's 10-10-10 (also known as Sept. 10, 2010)!

Today's date is one of those fun quirks of the calendar that causes me to smile!

So, in honor of 10-10-10, what are 10 things that make you smile?

(Here are a few of mine, in no particular order)
 
1) Jessica Sprague @  http://www.jessicasprague.com
Jessica is hosting a sale in honor of 10-10-10 on her website on her Photoshop Friday mini-tutorials. If you've been wanting to try to increase your photoshop knowledge or if you've wanted to try doing digital scrapbooking, then check out these tutorials. (You can get 10 of the 21 available for just $10 today only!)

2) Amanda @ http://kevinandamanda.com/fonts/fontsforpeas/
Amanda has the most lovely fonts, that always make me smile. I even used two to create my happy graphic.

3) Kate Hadfield @ http://www.katehadfielddesigns.com/
Kate's happy designs, always make me smile. I use her stuff to design my children's ministry blog. The link above is her "new" digi home (she sells exclusively at the Lily Pad).

4) The Designers @ Oscraps.com 
My digi home on the internet. I love all of the designers at this store. I use a TON of their creations in my stuff.

5) Friends
Friends always make me smile - especially a few that I'm blessed to live by. I'm very thankful for all of my friends.

6) Family
Family always make me smile (OK, some more than others - but isn't that just life?). I'm grateful for the family who put up with my antics on a regular basis!

7) DevoZine @ http://www.upperroom.org/devozine
I'm very grateful and thrilled to be writing for this wonderful teen devo mag on a somewhat regular basis again. They gave me my first "foot" in the publishing world door oh so many years ago, and it's almost like coming home. Looking for something for your teen? Why not check out DevoZine.

8) Facebook
Yes, it sounds silly, but Facebook makes me happy. I'm able to connect with friends literally all around the world. It helps me stay in contact with people I care about.

9) Yellow Flowers, Fat Red Robins & Frog Rings.
Ok, I confess. I love yellow flowers (especially Gerber daises) for two reasons. I love the simplicity of the flower and yellow makes me think of my friend Nicole, who now lives in England. (We also had a running joke about fat red robins - a sure sign of spring!)

I also love looking at my finger and seeing my frog ring - which reminds me of my friend Betsy in Texas. Both were extremely important to me in Seminary, and these small reminders often encourage me to pray for them.

10) My Blog
Yes, sounds self-promoting, but I love how this blog is giving me a creative writing outlet. I've had it since 2006, and it's changed and grown with my interests. I love how I can use it to ramble, review books and more.

So what are you happy about today?

Blog Tour: The House on Malcom Street (Review)

When tragedy steals her future, can Leah learn to trust again?

It is the autumn of 1920, and Leah Breckenridge is desperate to find a way to provide for her young daughter. After losing her husband and infant son, she is angry at God and fearful about the days ahead. Finding refuge in a boardinghouse run by her late husband's aunt, Leah begins the slow process of mending her heart.

Is it the people who surround her--or perhaps this very house--that reach into her heart with healing? As Leah finds peace tending to an abandoned garden, can she find a way to trust God with her future?

What I Thought
 I liked about the book - I think the author, Leisha Kelly, is very skilled at creating novels set during the early 1900s. She uses words to draw you into a simpler time, when families (those by blood and by friendship) pull together to help others.

I thought she created a novel that shows how redemption can come in the midst of tragic grief. She also created a novel with strong characters, who struggle with issues that people can relate to in today's world.

What I didn't like - but it's common for several novels - is that the point of view "jumps" between Leah and the main male character. I really dislike books that do this, because it breaks up the flow, and my train of thought.

However, if you do not mind all of the transitions, then you'll probably like how Kelly weaves together the two characters thoughts into one novel. It's crafted quite similarly to her previous three novels.


On a scale of one to five, with five being the highest I give it at least a three. While it's not my favorite read this fall, it's good enough to pass along to a friend.

About The Author
Leisha Kelly is the author of several bestselling historical fiction books, including Emma's Gift, Julia's Hope, and Katie's Dream.

She has served many years on her local library board, continuing to bring good reads and educational opportunities to her community.

Once a waitress, cafe manager, tutor, and EMT, Kelly is now a busy novelist and speaker who is active in the ministries of her church. She lives with her family in Illinois. Read more about her at http://www.leishakelly.com/

Online Resources
Amazon
Christianbook.com
Barnes & Noble
and local bookstores
An online excerpt - House on Malcom Street

About Revell, The Publisher
Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, offers practical books that bring the Christian faith to everyday life. They publish resources from a variety of well-known brands and authors, including their partnership with MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) and Hungry Planet. For more information, visit www.RevellBooks.com.

Note: As a freelance journalist, I was provided a copy of this book by Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. This review was not influenced by a free book - just in case you (or the FTC) were worried about this detail.

Bring On The Pets!

Last night, a friend invited me to a pet blessing, organized by the pastoral staff at First UMC – Springdale.

The event, which coincides with the anniversary of St. Francis of Assisi's death on Oct. 3 (his feast day is celebrated on Oct. 4), brought together a variety of pet owners and animals alike for an outdoor worship service & ice cream social.

It was fun to see how a United Methodist church conducted the blessing event (the last one I saw took place at an Episcopal church when I was covering lifestyle stories for the Carthage Press.)

The pet blessing was a great community-building activity, that gave pet owners and an eclectic assortment of animals - mostly cats and dogs, with a couple of horses tossed in - a place to unite their faith and love of animals.

It was a bit noisy, and even smelly at times – and there were a few "rough and tumble" moments as a few dogs tried to stake out some territory, but overall it was a great way to minister to a variety of people, regardless of age. 

I took a variety of pictures, and well, "hit a home run" on at least one picture. In my previous life, working for a community newspaper, I'd call this pic a "front page" worthy pic – definitely an "above the fold" picture.  I mean, how many times do you see a dog, petting a horse?  This photo just makes me smile.


Here's a few other pictures I snapped at the event.
I love this one, because it's almost a "double blessing" (Steven Coburn blessing a pet in the foreground, with David Freeman in the back of the picture.)


I also liked these pictures of David Freeman, blessing two little girls' puppy, and Judy Van Hoose, posing for a photo, as she blessed a friend's puppy.


We'll have more on this event, along with a ton of pictures (my other pics and some taken by Karen Swales) as a Pulpit Stories feature later this month (they appear on Wednesdays) on www.nwdist.com.

Deep Thoughts: Attitude of Gratitude

"Do everything readily and cheerfully—no bickering, no second-guessing allowed! Go out into the world uncorrupted, a breath of fresh air in this squalid and polluted society. Provide people with a glimpse of good living and of the living God. Carry the light-giving Message into the night so I'll have good cause to be proud of you on the day that Christ returns. You'll be living proof that I didn't go to all this work for nothing." – Philippians 2:14-16 (The Message)

A week ago, as I returned to "reality" after a multi-day retreat, I started a "gratitude" journal on the advice of a friend.

My friend told me how she has kept a  journal for the past year, to help her focus on the good things taking place in her life - even when the "blecky" stuff came crashing down around her.

Since I've been trying to SEE life HALF-FULL this year, I decided keeping a gratitude journal might help me, well, adjust my attitude.

I'll admit, it's been an interesting first week. Some days, it was much easier to find something to be grateful about, than others.

Monday, my gratitude revolved around finding my "circle of children" ring, I lost the night before in Denni's back yard.

I was tremendously grateful for a friend who helped me search (for more than an hour) in the grass, for a priceless (because of sentimental reasons) ring.

- My aunt gave it to me when I finished my master's degree. It's been since discontinued by James Avery. -

I was also grateful for a friend who loaned me a metal detector, to help jumpstart the search, and Denni's kidlets, who helped search for the ring – in between playing on the swing set.

The first day helped set the tone for my week. Other days I found myself grateful for a great brainstorming session revolving around the spring mission trip, a long phone conversation with my cousin, and a four-hour nap (yes, apparently I was tired) on Saturday.

I know I've only been journaling my gratitude for a week, but I think it's already helping me "adjust" my attitude, and see life differently – half-full, rather than empty. I know it's helped me go to bed each night focusing on something positive, rather than the usual worries.

My friend said looking back over her gratitude journal helped paint an interesting picture of her life over the course of the last year. I know she's still processing the impact of this effort.

I'm not sure what God is teaching me, by keeping a gratitude journal, but I'm open to the lesson. I guess you could say I'm grateful for the chance to have this life lesson.

So what are you grateful for today?

Book Review: Bonhoeffer - Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy

Several months ago, because of "small world" connections, I was given the opportunity to review Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy , by Eric Metaxes.

I was intrigued by the book after discovering Metaxes' previous biography - Amazing Grace: William Wilberforce and the Heroic Campaign to End Slavery. This book, and subsequent movie, moved rapidly up my "keep and read (watch) multiple times."

A chance to listen to a podcast presentation Metaxas made at Asbury Theological Seminary (my alma mater), helped confirm that I wanted to read his newest work.

I'll admit. This biography of Bonhoeffer is no mind-candy offering. Instead of plowing through it within a few days, it took me more than a month to absorb Metaxes' story of Bonhoeffer's as a pastor, and later as a spy and martyr. 

In fact, several months later, I still find myself thinking about the book and Bonhoeffer's story. A recent news story that former President George W. Bush is currently reading this biography reminded me that this review/post is long overdue.

If you compare books to food (I often find the analogy helps put things into context for the students I  work with), this book is not "cotton candy" for your brain. It is premium "steak and potatoes," and it definitely will take some time to digest.

Reading Bonhoeffer's story of struggle - and his desire to serve God no matter what - left me convicted. It made me question what I would do if found in his situation. It also left me struggling to view current issues within his framework of social justice and personal holiness.

I am struck how scarily similar some of our current political situations mirror pre-WWII Germany - especially the polarizing and anger-filled political arena. In fact, Metaxes has written a few posts on his website, including this one, that might indicate American politics are sliding down a slippery slope once traveled by the German people. (Click here to read more.)

In the end, as I finished reading this biography, I was left with several questions. (I originally hoped to include an interview with Metaxes with this post, but scheduling changes - his book is a hit on the national scene - made that impossible.)

So, what can we learn from Bonhoeffer? I think we can learn that sometimes "black and white" answers don't work. Sometimes a person must rely on their faith, rather than what the world says is right. I think sometimes we have to go against popular opinion to do the right thing. I also think that we have a moral and social obligation to take stands on issues, regardless of popular/cultural opinions.

I also think we need to remember that even as Bonhoeffer worked to overthrow Hitler, he steeped his life deeply in prayer and personal devotions. He never turned his eyes off of the "main" thing - God - and because of that, he never lost focus on what was most important.

He also asked tough questions related to who/what was the church and what was the church's response to the blatant abuse of minorities (his neighbors) by a government.

I also think, just like Bonhoeffer asked the "Jewish" question (what should a Christian church/pastor's response be to how Hitler's government treated Jews), we, as Christians need to look at how minorities - specifically illegal and legal immigrants, alike - are treated.

I think ultimately, Bonhoeffer's tale, published on the 65th anniversary of his death, is a timeless tale of how one man (among many) stood up for his believes, regardless of the consequences.

I'm still learning a lot from Bonhoeffer. I hope his words continue to resonate in my mind. He definitely reminds me that one person can make a difference.

More About The Author
In a decidedly eclectic career, Eric Metaxas has written for VeggieTales, Chuck Colson, and the New York Times, three things not ordinarily in the same sentence. He is a best-selling author whose biographies, children's books, and works of popular apologetics have been translated into Albanian, Portuguese, Spanish, Korean, and Macedonian.

Metaxas has been frequently featured as a cultural commentator on CNN and the Fox News Channel; and has discussed his own books on C-Span's Book TV and Hannity & Colmes. He has been featured on many radio programs, including NPR's Morning Edition and Talk of the Nation, Hugh Hewitt, the Bob Grant Show, Janet Parshall's America, Monica Crowley, and The Alan Colmes Show.

He is the founder and host of Socrates in the City: Conversations on the Examined Life, a monthly event of"entertaining and thought-provoking discussions on 'life, God, and other small topics'" that features such speakers as Dr. Francis Collins, Sir John Polkinghorne, Baroness Caroline Cox, Dana Gioia, Os Guinness and Peter Kreeft, and which was mentioned in a front-page story in the New York Times. The New Canaan Society, of which Eric is a founding and current member, was also mentioned in the article.

His acclaimed biography, Amazing Grace: William Wilberforce and the Heroic Campaign to End Slavery was published by HarperSanFrancisco, and is the "official companion book" to the feature film, also titled Amazing Grace. The book was #23 on the New York Times Bestseller list, and has been lauded by Stanley Crouch ("…a superb history of the British fight against slavery"; Former NYC Congressman Floyd Flake ("magnificent… will stand as a living landmark…"); John Wilson ("a crackling bonfire of clarity and truth."); Rudy Giuliani ("better than the movie!"), and many others.

Metaxes' Everything You Always Wanted to Know About God (but were afraid to ask), came out in 2005, and was praised by Ann B. Davis, Alice on The Brady Bunch ("I am absolutely smitten with this book!"), Tim Keller of Redeemer Presbyterian Church ("The difficulty is not to gush."). The sequel, titled Everything ELSE You Always Wanted to Know About God (but were afraid to ask) was published in 2007.  A new book in the series titled Everything You Always Wanted to Know About God (The Jesus Edition) was published in hardcover by Regal in January 2010.

Metaxes attends Calvary/St. George's Episcopal Church, and lives in Manhattan, New York, with his wife and daughter.  Read more about him at: http://www.ericmetaxas.com.

Note: As a freelance journalist, I was provided a copy of this book by Eric Metaxes. This review was not influenced by a free book - just in case you (or the FTC) were worried about this detail.

Blog Tour: A Memory Between Us (Review)

Can they overcome the past to find a brighter future together?

Major Jack Novak has never failed to meet a challenge--until he meets army nurse Lieutenant Ruth Doherty. When Jack lands in the army hospital after a plane crash, he makes winning Ruth's heart a top-priority mission. But he has his work cut out for him. Not only is Ruth focused on her work in order to support her orphaned siblings back home, she also is determined not to give her heart to any man.

As the danger and tension of World War II rise to a fever pitch, Jack and Ruth will need each other more than ever. Can Jack break down her defenses? Or are they destined to go their separate ways?

From the English countryside to the perilous skies over France, A Memory Between Us takes you on a journey through love, forgiveness, and sacrifice.

A Memory Between Us is the second book in Sarah Sundin's Wings of Glory series, which follows the three Novak brothers, B-17 bomber pilots with the US Eighth Air Force stationed in England during World War II.

What I Thought
World War II books seem to abound right now, and Sundin has created an offering worthy to be found on your shelf. Well researched, with interesting plot lines, this novel is one that touches on a "tough" subject (Ruth's abusive, painful past as a young woman living in desperate poverty), along with themes of God's grace and redemption.

It also looks at Jack's desire to serve God - and how that desire might not mirror what is expected of him by his minister father.

On a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest, I give it a 3.5 to 4. Sundin's novel has strong, well developed characters and a solid story line. While it's the second in a series, I think it will stand alone - there's enough "back story" provide to help you know how Jack's story weaves into Walter's tale - the first book.

More About the Author
Sarah Sundin is an on-call hospital pharmacist and holds a BS in chemistry from UCLA and a doctorate in pharmacy from UC San Francisco.

Her great-uncle flew with the US Eighth Air Force in England during WWII. Sundin lives in California with her husband and three children. This is her first novel.

Want to learn more about Sundin?
Visit her website at www.sarahsundin.com
Find her on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/SarahSundinAuthor

Book One In The Series: A Distant Melody
Never pretty enough to please her gorgeous mother, Allie will do anything to gain her approval--even marry a man she doesn't love.

Lt. Walter Novak--fearless in the cockpit but hopeless with women--takes his last furlough at home in California before being shipped overseas. Walt and Allie meet at a wedding and their love of music draws them together, prompting them to begin a correspondence that will change their lives.

As letters fly between Walt's muddy bomber base in England and Allie's mansion in an orange grove, their friendship binds them together. But can they untangle the secrets, commitments, and expectations that keep them apart?

Want to read more about book one? Read my review here.

It's A Contest!
It's The Movies and Memories Giveaway in honor of book two in the Wings of Glory series.
From the English countryside to the perilous skies over France, A Memory Between Us takes you on a journey through love, forgiveness, and sacrifice.

To celebrate Sundin is giving one lucky winner A Movie and Memory Prize Package!
One grand prize winner will receive:
    * Make-your-own-photo book from Mypublisher.com (Capture your own Memories)
    * Netflix Subscription (New or Nostalgic Movies delivered right to your house)
    * Starbucks gift card (To keep your engine revvin')
    * Gourmet chocolate (A favorite in the 1940's and now)
    * British specialty teas in carved wooden box (Timeless tradition)
    * Miniature model of a B-17 Flying Fortress bomber & C-47 cargo plane (Everyone needs a few toy planes)
    * Big Band music CD (Break out your dancing shoes)
    * WWII authentic poster playing cards (Cards – a perfect game for two)
    * Keep Calm and Carry On (Uplifting sayings WWII, a boost for troubled times)

Prize Eligibility:
Only persons residing in New Zealand, United Kingdom, South Africa, United States, Canada and Australia who are at least 18 years of age can enter.
Sweepstakes Starts: September 27, 2010 @ 12:00 am (PDT)
Sweepstakes Ends: October 17, 2010 @ 11:59 pm (PDT)
Need more Details? Want to Enter?

About Revell, The Publisher
Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, offers practical books that bring the Christian faith to everyday life. They publish resources from a variety of well-known brands and authors, including their partnership with MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) and Hungry Planet. For more information, visit www.RevellBooks.com.

Note: As a freelance journalist, I was provided a copy of this book by Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. This review was not influenced by a free book - just in case you (or the FTC) were worried about this detail.

Feature Article: N2N Helps People in Siloam Springs

Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the Wednesday, Sept. 22, issue of the Siloam Springs Herald Leader.

By Kaylea Hutson
For the Herald-Leader
For a few hours, on a Saturday afternoon, volunteers of all ages came together in Siloam Springs to simply be a neighbor to those in need.

Clearing brush, trimming trees, planting bushes, spreading ground cover for a playground and even cleaning toilets — were but a few of the jobs people completed during the second Neighbor2Neighbor day of service.

Hosted on Sept. 18 by First United Methodist Church, the N2N event brought together more than 60 people, ranging in age from preschool to adults.

Working in small teams, volunteers spread out to a variety of sites including: Hunger & Thirst Ministries and Friendship Community Care in Siloam Springs, and All 'Bout Chalk, a Western Arkansas Child Development Center in Gentry.

Others stayed at the church to help install a safety groundcover under the church playground and to complete a landscaping project in front of the remodeled sanctuary.

"Our goal is to provide a service to people in our community, that may not otherwise be able to do it," explained Madlyn Taylor, event organizer.

Taylor said she was amazed at how many things the teams were able to accomplish, in a short amount of time.

Jim Huggins, a N2N volunteer, said he took part in the project, because it is important for the church to serve the community.

"We need to quit talking about God and show people what he wants us to do," Huggins said. "Hopefully they start to wonder if there's something to all of that Christianity."

Ultimately, said Randy Rowlan, the church's senior pastor, the project shows people how to live out the mandate found in Micah 6:8: how to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly.

Rowlan said he hoped people of all ages, including several younger students, learned that there is something more to life than just what the world normally expects.

"Maybe life is more than just me," Rowlan said. "Maybe there's more to life than what I receive.

"It's not all about us, and that feels good."

Reaching Into The Community
One recipient said she was excited to have the volunteers.

"It's hard to find people in any community who are willing to just help out — with no expectations in return," explained Carla Sikes, director of the ABC center. "I think this is just wonderful."

Sikes asked volunteers to complete landscaping projects — something the nonprofit center would normally have to pay to have completed.

Other projects included painting a playhouse and clearing debris and leaves from the playground.

"It's just nice to have the extra hands," Sikes said.

Serving Students
Jason Lanker, assistant professor of youth ministries at John Brown University, asked more than 35 upperclassmen students in his "Capstone" classes to roll up their sleeves and join in the event — as a way to put practical knowledge of the Christian faith into action.

In the next few weeks, Lanker's classes will discuss serving and becoming a servant of Christ.

He liked how the N2N project not only connected his students with people in need, but also showed them how they can be part of the larger Christian community.

"The Christian life isn't best lived just by one person going out to serve," Lanker said, adding that good things happen when Christians pull together to serve together.

Jake Meinzer, a JBU student, said it was nice to be able to do something for the local community.

"I grew up in a small community, about the only way you can make a small community run is to help people out," Meinzer said. "We [Christians] are called to do it, but it's nice to do it too."

Bridging the Generations
For Jennifer Haught, the day not only provided her with chance to volunteer, but also teach her sons about serving others.

The boys, Logan, 10, Luke, 9, Lawson, 7, and Layton, 6, worked alongside both parents, helping to lay ground cover under the church's playground.

Luke Haught said he liked volunteering because it showed how he can use his gifts to help others in need, despite his age.

"It's fun and I'm happy to actually help out the church and the community," Haught said. "We did something."

Olivia Myers, 11, agreed.

Myers spent her first N2N project helping at Hunger & Thirst Ministries — which included volunteering to clean the facilities bathrooms.

"I like helping people," Myers said. "I think it makes people feel good to know that there is somebody out there [they] can depend on.

"And you can't have a dirty bathroom."

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Thoughts from Thomas Merton

I found this on a friend's Facebook page, it totally fits where I'm at right now in life, AND I love Thomas Merton. I'm not sure which book this appears in, but I thought it was worth sharing.

MY LORD GOD: I have no idea where I am going.

I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so.

But I believe that my desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope that I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.

And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it.

Therefore will I trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.

 - Thomas Merton