Butterscotch Cookies

Baking for college students is one of the sweetest things - they are always hungry for something homemade and so easy to please! I often just make a quick go-to recipe that I have on hand because I'm usually pressed for time. . .but this week I made something new and it was quite the hit with my freshmen girls' small group. It requires "browning butter" which I had never done before. It looked like I kinda burnt it instead. . .but the cookies still tasted great so it must not have been that bad. A couple more tries and hopefully I'll have that new skill perfected. Also, my philosophy on baked goods is usually: if it doesn't have chocolate it's not a dessert BUT this cookie might have caused me to change my mind. That's a big sign that you should make these super soon! Ok, here's the link: Butterscotch Cookies

What's the last thing you baked? Also, if you've got a link to one of your favorite recipes I'd love to have it!

Blooper

One of the sweetest things in life is laugher. . .well, I hope this will make you laugh, though I am still slightly horrified at my tiny mistake -

I write a monthly newsletter updating ministry partners on what God has been up to. Many of these partners give financially to my ministry so that I am able to do this work. Well, I thought I would include this great quote that I came across in my latest newsletter. It's by AW Tozer and goes like this, "As base a thing as money is, it can be transmuted into everlasting treasure. . .whatever is given to Christ is immediately touched with immorality."

Did you catch the mistake that I did not?! It's definitely supposed to say "immorTality", not "immorality" - and wow, who would have thought that one letter could change the meaning soooo much. Embarrassing! So, if you're one of the 150 people who will be getting this newsletter in the coming days, I hope this mistake brings some laughter to your day. Thanks for dealing with my imperfections graciously!

Ok, back to work on my talk for the Weekly Meeting tomorrow night (1 John 2:12-17) and then a couple of meetings with students. My carpet is being steam-cleaned as I speak/write, excited to come home to it's cleanliness. . .but not excited to put everything back in its place again.

Happy Wednesday!

the college scene

"The college scene" - an expression used to describe the craziness that's about to begin this Friday night, and even most nights of the week. I meet students who get pulled into the college scene by roommates, classmates, and, often their own selves. We're all looking for something to satisfy, or something to numb the pain of living in a broken world, a broken body. My favorite radio station on Pandora.com right now is "Need to Breath", I love that band, as well as Matt Kearney's music. I was wondering what Matt Kearney's story is so I googled his name and found this great blurp that resonates with the college scene -

"Looking back, Kearney first left Eugene, Oregon to play soccer at Chico State University, the notorious school that was once dubbed the No. 1 party school in the nation. Kearney, who occasionally sold weed in high school, fit right into university's wild ways before eventually hitting rock bottom. "I guess I lived it up and did what everyone said you should do in college," he recalls. "I discovered the depth of depravity, the bleakness of that lifestyle. It just wasn't working. I finally started understanding there must be more to life." It was at this point where Kearney had a life-changing encounter with Christ. "God found me when I was at my lowest point. That was the first time in my life when I really felt like I understood who Jesus was-it was more than just knowing about Him, I felt like He met me in that time and place."

Don't get me wrong, I don't think we all have to go to these depths to see our need for something more, something (someone!) that will actually satisfy. But, I do think Matt's story is powerful and connects with so many of the students I meet. I'm so thankful Christ has come to make a way for us to know Him and experience abundant life, even while we're still living in a broken world, a broken body. He really is the sweetest thing. . .