Follow-up on Fat Flush Soup

Here is additional information about the Fat Flush Soup recipe I posted yesterday.


This soup can slash your cholesterol!  Australian researches discovered that eating just 2 oz. of cooked tomatoes daily -- the amount found in every serving of  Fat Flush Soup -- can help reduce bad cholesterol by about 10%!  Credit goes to the antioxidant lycopene, which has been found to also guard against heart disease.

Ingredients:  Here's how Fat Flush Soup helps you get skinny:
Lean ground beef, turkey or chicken - Protein not only boosts post-meal metabolism by 25% and stimulates production of fat-burning hormones, it has also been shown to dramatically reduce appetite!
Onions:  Onions are loaded with the mineral chromium, which helps improve levels of fat-storage hormones.
BEANS:  Beans are loaded with fiber so they help to fill you up, plus they stabilize blood sugar which reduces the amount of fat-storage hormones our bodies make.
CAYENNE:  Studies have shown that the antioxidants that vie cayenne its heat can boost metabolism up to 20% for up to 30 minutes!
PARSLEY AND CILANTRO:  "These herbs help relieve bloating by flushing toxins out of the body," says Gittleman.  They're also loaded with antioxidants, a type of nutrient that researchers have linked to low body fat.
GARLIC:  Preliminary studies show that a compound in garlic called allicin may prevent pre-fat cells from turning into full-blown fat cells.
TOMATOES:  Tomatoes are rich in vitamin C; Arizona State University tests also show they help burn fat 25% faster!

Recipe - Fat Flush Soup

I made a pot of this on Saturday and have been eating on it for lunch.  If you like dishes made with tomato's, and I do, then this is a very tasty, rich soup.

2 tsp. olive oil

1 1/4 lbs. lean ground beef, turkey or shredded chicken (I made it with ground beef)

1 onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, chopped

1 bell pepper, seeded and chopped

8 oz. mushrooms, chopped

1 (14 oz.) can crushed tomatoes

1 (32 oz.) bottle reduced-sodium tomato or vegetable cocktail juice

1 Tbs. fresh lemon juice ( I used bottled)

1 (14 oz.) can beans, rinsed and drained

1 Tbs. ground cumin

1/8 tsp. cayenne, or to taste

1/4 cup each fresh cilantro and parsley, chopped.

In a stockpot, heat olive oil over medium-high setting.  Saute meat/poultry until cooked through, about 5 minutes.  Drain and set aside.  

Saute onion, garlic, peppers and mushrooms until soft, about 5 minutes.

Stir in remaining ingredients, except cilantro and parsley.  Cover and simmer 20 minutes.  Stir in cilantro and parsley.  Cover, simmer 10 minutes longer.  

Store soup in refrigerator up to 5 days.  Freezes well.

Makes 16 cups. 1 serving = 3 cups

Servings: 5  Calories: 315  Fat: 9g.(2 g. saturated) Chol: 65,8 mg.  Protein: 31 g Carbs: 30 g.  Sodium: 1,185 mg.  Fiber: 8 g.

I actually only eat 1 cup, which is plenty enough for me.

Cooking with Pumpkin

Back in November I cooked and processed pumpkin to put in the freezer. 


I spent part of my Memorial Day fixing 2 different pumpkin desserts from one container of the frozen pumpkin.

Pumpkin Nut Cookies

70 cookies later

Recipe:  Pumpkin Nut Cookies

1/2 cup butter or shortening (I used shorting)

1 cup sugar

2 eggs, beaten

1 cup pumpkin

2 cups sifted all-purpose flour

4 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

2 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon ginger

1 cup raisins

1 cup chopped nuts

Cream shortening; add sugar gradually.  Cream until light and fluffy.  Add eggs and pumpkin; mix well.  Sift flour, baking powder, salt and spices together.  Stir in dry ingredients and mix until blended.  Add raisins and nuts.  Drop by teaspoonfuls on greased cookie sheets.

Bake in preheated 350 degreeF oven for approximately 15 minutes or until cookies are golden on edges and set in center.  Be careful not to overbake! -----------Make 4 dozen cookies  (I got 70 smaller ones)

NEXT I made 6 of these

Pumpkin Custard

1 cup canned or fresh pumpkin (I used my frozen pumpkin)

1 egg, slightly beaten

1/2 cup dark brown sugar, packed (I used regular brown sugar)

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon ginger

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1 tablespoon dark rum or 1 teaspoon vanilla (I used vanilla)

1 regular can evaporated milk (about 1 cup)

Beat the egg until foamy. - Combine all ingredients in a blender, food processor or Vitamix.  (I used my blender)  Pour into heatproof custard cups.  Set the custard cups into a shallow pan of hot water and bake in a preheated 325 degreeF over for about 40 minutes, or until custard tests done.

Note:  To test custard for doneness, insert a sharply pointed knife about 1 inch from the side of the cup.  Knife should come out clean, but center may still be unset and will continue to cook after removed from the oven.  

Mickey really loved the cookies.  Not so much the custard.  I'm trying very hard to leave the cookies alone, although I did taste them and they are very, VERY good.  I'll serve them to the WOW Woman tonight.

HAPPY PUMPKIN IN MAY !!!!

Both of these recipes were from Cooks.com

MARBLES

Now, what is this all about???!!!

I am quoting here from Connie's blog His Will And Not My Will  because this is there I got this great idea several weeks ago:  "I found an idea that I think might help encourage me and hopefully you also. Something that I can see from day to day. I put some colored Marbles in a glass. I put one for each pound that I still have to lose. I chose one color for these. "


Thank you Connie for posting this!  The minute I read it I thought: "Now that will work for me!"  I'm such a visual person and I just instantly connected with this idea.  You can just imagine the look on Mickey's face when I told him I wanted to buy some marbles!!  What??!!  So I explained the above.  For your information, finding marbles today is not that easy.  I did find some, not very pretty ones, at Dollar General but they'll work.


So I decided to set my goal at losing 20 lbs.  I need to lose more, but wanted to set a realistic goal that I truly believe I can reach.  So I got these two little canning jars.  Marked one: "To lose" and the other one: "Victory!".  I weighed on Saturday, May 12th, which was my starting weight and day.

One of the "rules" is you can only weigh once a week.  This has almost been as hard for me as watching what I'm eating!!!  My first week, Saturday the 19th I had lost 2 lbs.  YEAH!!!!  This past Saturday, the 26th, another 2 lbs.  YEAH!!!!!  So here are my two little jars, with my 16 lbs to go and my 4 lbs VICTORY!!  I think this will really work for me, because if I can'ts move a marble one week it'll jar me to "get with the program" and I am determined NOT to have to move a marble from my "Victory!" jar to my "To lose" jar.  That would be awful :o(

I am not actually doing any kind of "diet" just watching what I eat, eating more salads, cutting down on my breads, and mostly eating hardly ANY sweets, although I do allow myself a bit once in awhile!!  My biggest weight problem is snacking on cookies, sweets, chips, etc. during the day.  NO MORE on this losing this 20 lbs. 

I'm excited about this, because I know for me it is doable - One of the ladies in my Monday Bible Study I attend has lost 50 lbs the past year.  Seeing her has been a BIG encouragement to me.    

I got a great recipe for a Fat Loss Soup which I'll post the recipe later.

Accountability:  I not only have made myself accountable first of all to Mickey, but also to my WOW woman Tuesday night Bible Study at my house.  Even my son yesterday came in and looked to see how many marbles were in my Victory! jar.

Anyone want to join me????  If you do let me know and we'll keep each other accountable!! 

HAPPY WEIGHT LOSS~~~~~~~

Another Adventure

Here I am, getting set to head out to one of these exciting adventures of meeting a blog friend!

They had arrived here the previous evening.  

 This motel is new and I had never been in it before.  The entry area was lovely, as I'm sure the entire motel is.

NOW, for the good part:  

This is Sharon-she is from Nebraska and blogs under New Country Girl.  She is the 14th blogger I have been blessed to meet in real life.  As always I was not disappointed.  Even after 5 years and 4 months of blogging, it still amazes me the connections that we make via blogging.  

Sharon, and her son, DIL, and 2 grandsons made the trip to Tulsa as her granddaughter was graduating from Daniel Webster High School that evening.  That was interesting, as both Suzette & Jacque graduated from DWH many years ago!!.  This was Sharon's first time to visit Tulsa.  She had posted about the upcoming trip and I immediately contacted her and told her I'd love for us to meet if she could work it into their busy schedule.  Fortunately she did.

 We met at 9:30 and talked, and talked, and TALKED until almost noon.  I teased the waiter and asked him if they were going to charge us rent!  One thing I learned from talking with Sharon is how my referring to Coweta, where we live, as a small town needs to be put into a better reference.  Sharon lives in a small town, I think she said about 300.  I looked it up, after I got home, Sharon, and Coweta had a population of 9,943 in 2010.  A fact I now know, which I didn't !!, thanks to our visit. So compared to where Sharon lives, Coweta is not a little town.  The other things I learned is that Sharon has the prettiest pure blue eyes!!! and that she is very short!!

Sharon came bearing gifts!!!  I did not  :o( -  She gave me a lovely ribbon book mark that reads "A friend loves at all times. Proverbs 17:17 and a refrigerator magnet that reads "Do not be afraid of tomorrow, for God is already there."  Thank you again, Sharon.

Sharon and I had already "connected" via the blog and now, thanks to actually getting to meet, that connection will be even deeper.

Thank you Father God for blessing me with these wonderful friends I would never have had except for Penless Writer.  I am grateful!!!

Joel Rosenberg Article Copied

This is such an important time in history and exciting things are happening!!! I wanted to share this Joel Rosenberg blog with you in case you missed it.

NETANYAHU HOSTS TWO-HOUR BIBLE STUDY IN THE BOOK OF RUTH: Says “the Bible is the foundation of our existence.”

Posted: May 25, 2012 in Uncategorized

You may recall that in December 2011, I posted a story from theJerusalem Post that gave me fresh hope about the future of Israel. “Taking a page out of David Ben-Gurion and Menachem Begin’s playbook, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu will begin hosting a regular Bible study group in his official residence for researchers, public officials and invited  guests,” reported thePost. “Netanyahu announced the establishment of the study circle on Friday at a ceremony marking 30 days since the passing of his father-in-law, Shmuel Ben-Artzi. The study group will be named after Ben-Artzi, a noted poet  and Bible teacher. Both Ben-Gurion and Begin, when they each served as  prime minister, hosted regular Bible study groups. Netanyahu said he was establishing the class to perpetuate love of the Bible.”

Apparently, it took awhile to make it all happen, and since then Mr. Netanyahu also experienced the death of his own father. But on Wednesday, Mr. Netanyahu, his wife, his sons, and several close friends and Jewish scholars kicked off their first home Bible study. It was scheduled to last for an hour, but went on for two — and focused on the Book of Ruth.

Today, the Post updated the story — here are some excerpts:

• “On Wednesday afternoon in Baghdad, a few thousand kilometers away from  the Prime Minister’s Jerusalem Residence, the world powers known as the  P5+1 – the US, China, Russia, France, Britain and Germany – sat down for much anticipated talks with the Iranians about their nuclear program. At the same time, just a few hundred meters away from the Prime Minister’s Residence, 100 or so people loudly demonstrated for the rights of Ethiopian immigrants and against discrimination. And all the while, for two hours on a mild afternoon, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu – with a small black kippa on his head – sat in the covered courtyard of his home with 16 rabbis, academics, Bible scholars, archeologists and linguists, and discussed the meaning of the Book of Ruth, which will be read on Shavuot on Sunday in synagogues around the world. His wife, Sara, sat next to him, and his two sons sat on a bank of chairs set to the side.
• “There was something at once heartening and slightly humorous about Netanyahu setting aside precious time in  the late afternoon to talk about Biblical figures Tamar and Yehuda, Naomi and Boaz, Ruth and David, while Iran loomed so large, and domestic issues beckoned so seriously. It was heartening in that it is uniquely elevating seeing the prime minister of the Jewish state taking time out to study the Bible, the heart of Jewish existence. One cannot talk about Jewish historic rights to this place, which the prime  minister does constantly, without appreciating and understanding the Bible….
• “[The Rabbi] wanted to read only a few verses from the Book of Ruth, but the prime minister urged him on to read more. This is better then the usual matters he has to deal with, Netanyahu quipped as the session – originally scheduled for an hour – went 60 minutes longer than planned….
• “Wednesday’s meeting, the first of a number of study sessions that are to take place throughout the year, was more symbol than substance, more message than  meat. And Netanyahu made clear what the message was: ‘Ben-Gurion  and Begin believed that the Bible should be the heritage of the entire nation – secular and religious, young and old, men and women. The Bible is the foundation of our existence. It unites the Jewish people, as it  has throughout the generations. It also serves not only as a foundation  but also as a map and compass,’ he said. ‘The Bible is always  relevant vis-à-vis today’s problems and challenges. It inspires, it is a source of life for our people and I think that it is important to  expand Bible study and love of the Bible among all parts of the nation. This is also the goal of this circle.”
• To read the full article, please click here.

I am so encouraged by these reports. Lynn and I have been praying for Mr. Netanyahu and his family since he first invited me to work with him in 2000. Would you join me in praying for the entire Netanyahu family, as well as in reading the Book of Ruth as a family this weekend?

• Let’s pray that the study of the Word of God has a powerful, personal impact on the Prime Minister and his family and each of his colleagues and guests.
• Let’s pray that many Israelis would follow the Prime Minister’s lead and begin reading the Holy Scriptures again.
• Let’s pray that Bible studies in people’s homes would spring up all over the Land of Israel.
• Let’s pray that pray that more and more Israelis would develop a new and deeper curiosity about Bible prophecy, both the dramatic prophecies in the Scriptures that have already been fulfilled, and those that will come to pass soon, including the all-important prophecies about the Messiah.

May the Lord do a great work in drawing the nation of Israel back to His Holy Word.

 PRAISE GOD!!!!

It is the Lord who has begun the good work within us; it is He who has carried it on; and if he does not finish it, it never will be complete. If there be one stitch in the celestial garment of our righteousness which we are to insert ourselves, then we are lost; but this is our confidence, the Lord who began will perfect. He has done it all, must do it all, and will do it all. Our confidence must not be in what we have done, nor in what we have resolved to do, but entirely in what the Lord will do.  Charles Spurgeon

My life verse is Philippians 1:6 - "Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ".  I am ever so thankful that God planted this verse into my life, mind and spirit soon after finding Him as Lord and Savior at the age of 18.


Over these ensuing 56 years I have always been sure and comforted that it truly was the Lords work and my part was to remain in His hands as soft, pliable clay, and He would accomplish His plans and purposes for Susan. 


As I read these words from Charles Spurgeon this morning it brings me great comfort.  I just wanted to share them here, on Penless Writer, for any of you that might be struggling with trying to do it in your own power, might or will.  We cannot!!!  Plain and simple.  Quit trying!!!  Put yourselves totally in His hands and then watch and be amazed as you see your life unfold.   

HE IS SUCH A GOOD GOD 

&

HE LOVES US SO MUCH.

Beautiful Flowers In Remembrance

These beautiful flowers arrived  May 19, 2012 from #1 Son David, from San Francisco in remembrance of his sister, Suzette.

Card Reads: 

Love you Mom,

David & Karin

REMEMBERING SUZETTE

Enjoy every precious moment and time together.

I am SOOO thankful that Suzette & I had so many just she and I. I'm so thankful that we've always been so close as a family and have always truly loved each other and shared all the special occasions together.  

Those memories are precious treasurers to cherish.

**********

My life is but a weaving between my God and me,

I do not choose the colors, He works so steadily,

Oft' times He weaves in sorrow, and I in foolish pride,

Forget He sees the upper,

and I the underside.  Corrie Ten Boom

I can honestly say I never forgot for one minute, since her diagnosis and her going to heaven, that we were seeing only the underside and I trust HIM and HIS plans & purposes for now & beyond into eternity.

I was given not only one but two beautiful, lovely daughters,

Jeri Suzette & Jacqueline Renee 1 year and 9 days apart.

Suzette - December 13, 1954 - May 19, 2011

Suzette you are so loved and so sorely missed 

but I will see you again and spend eternity with you.

The Saga of the Carpet

This Saga began quite a few months ago when Mickey & I decided that our living room carpet needed to be replaced due to foot traffic areas.  We were in a dilemma as to whether 1) re-carpet - 2) hardwood - 3) finish the concrete floors.  I asked everyone I saw & talked to their opinion of what they had and what they liked or disliked about it.  I asked my fb friends the same thing in a post.  I got a LOT of feed-back, and as you might expect a variety of suggestions.  We had first thought we wanted hardwood but then due to the cost, decided that was not a good option for us.  We immediately ruled out the concrete floor refinishing.  So that left us with carpet.  Then it was a discussion between Berber or a commercial style carpet..  We decided to look at commercial samples and brought home probably 12-15 samples.  After several days we narrow it down to 1.  We called the carpet people back with our selection and they came out to measure.  The man walked into our home, knelt down at the end of the couch and said, "Why in the world do you want to re-carpet?  There is nothing wrong with this carpet."  We explained, "Because of the foot path across the LR & down the hallway.  He felt we could get it out with cleaning it.  A couple of years ago we had it professionally cleaned and were not happy with it.  About a year ago I borrow a friends shampooer and we cleaned it ourselves.  Still not happy with the track area.  At the family Easter dinner we discussed all this with the kids and they agreed it might be best to try shampooing again. 

After MUCH discussion, thought and prayer we decided to buy a Bissel carpet shampooer.  Marc went in 1/2 with us on the purchase.  We purchased this on April 8.  We have been so very busy that we did not even find a free day to do the job until last Wednesday, May 9th.  The carpets over all turned out really well, BUT we still had a slight foot traffic path.    On Friday I said, "We were going to put down an area run, if we had done the hardwood floors so what about getting an area rug??!!!"  So off we go to look at area rug.

 Here is the 8 x 10 we selected.  The photo shows more color variation from the top to the bottom than is actual.  We both REALLY like the rug.

We saved so much money with not re-carpeting we decided to buy ourselves a new couch, which was sorely needed at the one we had was 14 years old and getting very worn.

 Our new vynal  couch.  It looks almost black in this picture, but it is a dark brown mahogany. 

 The new rug, and couch with the coffee table in place.

This is Mickey & my Mother & Father Days present to each other and we are so very please & happy.

The 14 year old plaid couch that you have seen as a backdrop in so many of my pictures.. We gave it to a wonderful lady from our church who had told me some time ago that if I got a new sofa would I give her first option of purchasing it.  I told her, "NO!  If we buy a new one I'll give it to you."  So God has blessed us both.

Mother's Day - May 13, 2012

Jacque & Benny hosted Mother's Day at their home.  They catered Rib Crib Bar-be-que: chicken, pulled pork and beef, cold slaw, baked beans, Texas toast, pickles, onions, & peppers.  Benny made a big batch of his own delicious potato salad.  Chocolate & apple pie.  Marc paid for 1/2 of the catering.

(Sorry the pictures are so dark)

 Dave - Aric - Benny

Get a load of Aric's new tennis shoes!!

 Mickey - Marc

 Jacque - Susan

You can tell this was NOT a posed picture!!!  That's the real us.

 Reading Jacque & Benny's sweet card with these words:

Mom, I want you to know that you're as great at being a friend as you've always been at being a mom.

The same warmth that was there for me when I was little is there for me now when I need a little encouragement or ego boost.   The same cheerleading and belief in me when I was in school is there for me now, just as needed and just as appreciated.  We're so close that I consider you not only my mom but my lifelong friend-that one who's always in my corner and on my side..the one I'm always going to need and love.  Happy Mother's Day

Signed:   I Love You with all my heart!  Jacque

Love, Bennie

You all know how much I treasure cards and words.  These blessed me so!!

(picture of their gift below)

Reading my Gift Certificate from Marc & Aric

Certificate of Appreciation for the BEST Mother

This certificate is awarded to

Susan Joyce

in recognition of valuable contributions to raising the Joyce Family which we all know was not an easy task.

Also redeemable with this certificate is one week day lunch and afternoon shopping trip to chose the white sandals of your choice

all compliments of your forever loving son.

Signature:  Marc   5/13/12

Signature:  Aric 5/13/12

(My scanner just went on the fritz when I tried to scan the card & certificate - bummer!)

My lovely new top & pant outfit from Jacque & Benny.

I always liked it when my girls brought me clothes because they have such good taste.

Of course, we had that empty chair at the table which was a sad reminder but it was still a lovely

Mother's Day 2012!

An Act of Kindness

Just have to share this.........A few days ago Mickey & I were driving down one of the very busy, car jampacked main streets in Tulsa.  All of a sudden the traffic up ahead began to slow and then came to a complete stop.  I could see a couple of woman standing in the center  between the 4 lanes, and then begin to head toward the other side of the street and I said to Mickey, "An accident must have just happened".


Then we saw what was really happening.  These two woman had seen a mother duck with her 6 to 8 little ducklings starting to cross the street, stopped their car, jumped out and stopped 4 lanes of traffic, 2 going each direction, to let this little Momma get her babies across the road and up the curb onto the green grass.  


Thought I'd share this in saying to all my friends who happen by:

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!!!!

More Grandparents Bragging - Aric

Monday, May 7th, we left our house at 6:45 a.m. to head to Owasso so we could attend the 7th grade award ceremony for Aric's 7th grade classes.

Fixing to leave the house - backpack on back and lunch in his plastic bag.  He sometimes opts to make a lunch for himself and save his lunch money :o)

This is 1/4 of the 7th grade student body - 742 of them!!!! There are as many on the other side of the entry door on the left of the picture + that many sitting behind us on our side!!  The parents and grandparents, who came, are seated in a row of chairs in front of where the students are seated.  Let  me tell you......the noise level when these 742 kids were in here was TREMENDOUS.  I thought of what it must be like to be in the midst of one of those huge crowds of people demonstrating in the Arab countries.  I pray I never have to be a part of such a huge mob.

The empty chairs in the middle are for the 200, out of the 742 students, who have earned MERIT AWARDS.  I am thankful for a school who only honors awards to those who EARN them.  What a concept!!!

The principal, the award tables and a few of the teachers.

Aric, as he has just picked up his FIRST of TWO Merit Awards.  This one is for MATH.  He also received another one, and I didn't get a picture, for GEOGRAPHY.

Walking to his seat, at the end of the row as we just "happened" to be sitting just at the end of the row.  How good our God is to us in even the smallest, most unexpected ways!!!

Smiling, with joy and pride, after receiving the Math Merit Award.

Proud Grandpa Mickey & Dad Marc looking on.

Dad Marc, Grandson Aric, and Grandma Susan holding up those 2 Awards.

3 Generations of this JOYCE heritage:

Marc - Aric - Mickey

These are 3 of my most favorite people on this earth.

Mickey & I are so blessed that they live near us and we are privileged to be part of their lives .

GOD IS GOOD

&

WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU ARIC.

Wednesday Hodge Podge #7

Go here for other Hodge Podge posts.

1. What is a pet peeve you have when vacationing?  The traffic and road construction every where you go.

2. Would you describe yourself as a light packer or do you need everything in your closet plus the kitchen sink? Very light packer, on a recent 3 day trip to Branson, MO my husband and I shared a medium size suitcase.

3. What's the best lesson a child ever taught you? To let them know how very important they are to you.

4. Share one piece of advice you'd give a recent graduate as they attempt to enter the job market?  If you have prepared yourself well with high grades and and good references;  remember that the employer interviewing you is just as concerned about making a good impression on you, so you'll want to join their organization, as you are on making a good impression on them. A person at an employment agency way back in 1956 gave me this advise.  I always had that thought throughout the years, when I moved to a new location or decided to go back to work after staying home with a child, and was very successful at getting hired. 

5. What's your favorite lemon something?  Lemon meringue pie hands down!

6. Flat sandal, wedge, heel...your favorite footwear?  Use to wear 3" heels all the time, but now that I'm in my 60's its definitely always flats. 

7. What do you like best about a beach holiday? If you're not a beach lover (GASP!!) what do you dislike the least?  I am NOT a beach lover at all!!  Give me the mountains or a beautiful lake in Canada or Alaska any day.  Can't think of anything I dislike least about a beach holiday because I just do not take them.

8. Insert your own random thought here.  What activity takes up the majority of your time, both mentally and physically, and why? 

Our Above & Beyond God

On April 22nd I wrote about Real Christianity and told you I would follow up after we held our opening class.  Well, May 6th, was that day.


This is part of what I wrote in that blog (the book I am referring to is The 10 Second Rule by Clare De Graff):
As we were reading  this book I kept saying to Mickey, "I wish someone would teach this at our church.  I just know that if 10 to 20 people really DO what this book teaches it would revolutionize not only our church but our community."  The more I prayed about this the more Christ was saying to me:  "YOU do it!"  


Kent & I were assigned Room #418 which is on the second floor of the ORC (Outreach Center) Building.  When we went to look it had 25 chairs.  BUT GOD BROUGHT IN 30!!!!  Mickey had to pull in 5 more chairs.  The chairs are placed in a large circle and not in rows.


 I began by sharing how the class had come about and a brief overview of what I feel God is going to do. I told everyone that I had been praying, for the past 8 weeks, that God would place whom He wanted to be in this class and that I knew they were there because God answers our prayers. Kent asked for prayer requests and then  lead in prayer. We pointed out that Kent & I are not "teachers" but facilitators who are going on this journey with the class.  I gave a brief presentation with a flashlight, based on Psalm 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.  Which I had been blessed to hear, in person,  from Bill Cloud the Sunday evening before!!!  I love the way God gives us things to use and learn just as HE knows we need them.  Kent gave a brief presentation, which he had gotten from watching Frances Chan, using a long white rope with a short area of red on the end,  The long rope represents eternity, and the short area of red our lives here on earth.


Then we went around the room and everyone gave their name and told a little bit about themselves.  It was really interesting and a good way for everyone to start becoming more familiar with each other.  Next, Kent talked about us wanting a 13 week commitment from each of them and how this was not a game or a competition and tied it in with my earlier presentation about OUR path that The Word is lighting for us individually.  


When Kent asked how many were willing to commit to the 13 weeks EVERY hand in the room went up!!!!  Then we passed out the books and gave out the first assignment: read "About the Author", "Preface" and "Chapter 1" and come prepared next week to discuss what God has shown and spoken to them. I closed in prayer.  


One young woman said, "I've taken a part-time job so I may have to miss a few Sundays, but I've already decided I will type out what  God has shown and spoken to me that week, e-mail it to Mrs. Susan and she can read it to you."  Now that is the spirit - thank you Tanzy!!!!


We have had many wonderful comments about the class, but I want to share a special one that Jeanne posted on my fb wall: Just a note to let you know, Susan Errett Joyce and Kent Rife, you did a wonderful job giving the overview for the Real Christianity class. I told Kent you have eliminated the things that I don't like about small groups...ie, classroom is too hot, the chairs are uncomfortable and one person controls the entire class time. You didn't even use the stinky white board markers! ;) Thank you thank you thank you! I'm excited to see what God does in this class! Your door greeter did a good job (Mickey) and Kathy Robinson was doing a great job keeping up the paper work. 
You guys are awesome!


Mickey, Kent & I are excited about what OUR ABOVE & BEYOND GOD has already done and what HE has in store for ALL of us. We covet your prayers!!!