a new addition to the fruit group

This all started because Katie and Steph are doing a 'no sweet eating' journey until December 8th. They are allowed one piece of pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving.

Steph is proud because she is keeping away from the pastries at work and staying away from all Halloween candy. She even had to thumb through milk duds, snickers, reeses, milky way and more, but passed right through them and took only the sugary bubble gum. Katie even refrains from eating the candy on her desk and didn't even eat a crumble of the pumpkin donut holes her sister gave her. They also both passed by the candy bars given to each of us by Sarah's parents.

Well, tonight we were talking about what they do eat rather than sweets. Katie brought home banana bread and Steph was chewing on some fruit snacks. She also admitted to eating a s'more pop tart earlier today. They also enjoy the Starbuck's drinks, such as apple cider and raspberry soy lattes.

Now comes the question. Do these items they have been eating align with their 'no sweet diet?' The other item of discussion was whether or not fruit snacks are considered a sweet or a member of the fruit family? To many this would seem to be a no brainer, but one of the girls (KH) strongly considers fruit snacks to be a fruit source. In fact her childhood lunch-box consisted of four items (always eaten in the same order): 1. sandwich 2. chips/crackers 3. fruit snacks (a.k.a. fruit) and 4. dessert. So, it is no wonder that she does not view these as a sweet.

If they do end up labeling something as a 'sweet,' and eat it, they are obligated to pay the other one $1. This hasn't happened yet in the 2 days they have been on the diet.

They asked me if I wanted to join in this endeavour and I originally declined, but I'm thinking maybe it wouldn't be so bad...

Disclaimer: Katie and Steph were completely fine with this post.

$0.00

It's that time of the year again. Time for a free Chipotle burrito. All you have to do is dress up like a burrito and go to any Chipotle restaurant on 31.Oct.2007 and Voilà, a totally free burrito! How great is that? Does anyone think there is anything ethically or morally wrong with going for both lunch and dinner? If anyone wants to come with us, let us know!!

SOME PICTURES FROM LAST YEAR:

Steph, Andrea, Katie, Ellie & Gabby

phillips theory

These pictures give a pretty accurate description of our street on any given day. The Chevy Corsica is usually parked quite far from the curb :) but more importantly, most days you will find people outside "working on their cars." Not all agree, but the theory is that this is a cover up for something else...i.e. selling drugs. Yeah, it doesn't really make any sense. However, since living in the Phillips, I've seen so many open car hoods. More than ever before. Trent, even though you strongly disagree, we value your opinion. Please comment.

???????

It's Tuesday evening and we are sitting in our living room trying to work on our respective homework, French and Theological Foundations. Somehow we got into a conversation about theology (most likely because of TF) and also about the unsaved people we love so much and how we can share the gospel with them. We wanted to post a question that we are thinking about and ask for feedback and answers :)


How can we be perfectly joyful when we are in heaven if there are people that we love who are spending eternity separated from God?

In Revelation 21:4 it says "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away." Will we not realize or think about our unsaved friends and family?

P.S. Funny moment. In the midst of talking about these questions, Steph looks at me in all seriousness and says, "Your face looks good."

pumpkin recipe!

We've made this before and it tastes great. We can't make it this year because there is no room in the freezer.

2 cups pumpkin from a can
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 cup chopped pecans toasted (optional)
36 ginger snaps
1 cup sugar
1 tsp. ginger
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 gallon vanilla ice cream softened

Combine pumpkin, sugar, salt, ginger, cinnamon & nutmeg. Add chopped pecans. In a chilled bowl fold pumpkin mixture into ice cream mixture. Line bottom of 13x9x2 pan with half of ginger snaps. Top with half ice cream mixture. Cover with remaining ginger snaps. Add remaining ice cream mixture. Freeze until firm (about 5 hours). Cut in squares, garnish with whipped cream and pecans.

weekend

Abraham and Molly sitting at the table. This was before the toast.

Andy, Phil, Katie, Serena, and Sarah eating Chipotle in their formal wear.

Michael, Gabby, and Jeff serving at Joe and Sarah's Wedding. Notice the white shirts. Nice.

Eric, Jess, and Pete bowling in their formal attire. Notice their hats.

Ellie, Katie, Gabby, Steph and Andrea.

we love o!!

a good encouragement

"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us ALL things? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died-more than that who was raised -who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, 'For your sake we are being killed all the day long, we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.' No, in all these things we are MORE than conquerors through HIM who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:28-39

some retreat pictures...

Sin

At the conference, Jerry Bridges encouraged us to pick up his book entitled, "Respectable Sins", and of course I went down and bought it. I really love Jerry Bridges because I feel that it's readable to even me, Stephanie, the non-theologian. So, anything that Jerry Bridges writes, I love. I think.

I went home and started to page through the book. I was super excited about reading it because it talks about sins that we tend to tolerate and accept in our daily Christian walk. He addresses sins that aren't the "big" sins--but really are serious offenses to our God. Some of the sins that Jerry talks about are; Ungodliness, Anxiety and Frustration, Discontentment, Unthankfulness, Pride, Selfishness, Anger, Worldliness, etc...

Sin is horrible. Sin is ugly. Sin is gross. Our sin is huge. This is nothing new. We should be so grieved by our sin. Jerry writes, "All of our sin is done openly in the very presence of God. It's as if we are acting out all of our sin before Him as He sits on His royal throne." Wow.

Jerry also encourages readers to deal effectively with their sin. He says, "As we struggle to put to death our subtle sins, we must always keep in mind this twofold truth: Our sins are forgiven and we are accepted as righteous by God because of both the sinless life and sin-bearing death of our Lord Jesus Christ. There is no greater motivation for dealing with sin in our lives than the realization of these two glorious truths of the gospel."

I love this verse:

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." -Hebrews 12:1-2

And, ohhh...go get the book. It's good!

high school fall retreat

First, let me just say that it was an AWESOME time! The new youth pastor spoke on Isaiah 6:1-8. He emphasized the disparity between God's holiness and our sinfulness and what Isaiah's response to that was and our response should be. Isaiah fell on his face and said "Woe is me! For I am lost...for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!" Once we see the King we should be so destroyed by the realization of our sin. Isaiah goes on to describe how the seraphim flew to him and touched his lips with a burning coal saying: "your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for." Praise God for the atonement for our sins that is ours through Christ Jesus. It was an amazing time of God convicting people of sin and of showing Himself to us all! Praise the Lord for His working in the hearts of all who attended, both students and mentors!

Second, here are some great quotes from the weekend...
-during a game of Taboo: "What is the continent below Japan?" "Oooh, ooh...BRAZIL!" (the answer was "down under")
-before the game of Taboo-- Greta: "Let's count off: A-B. A", Josh: "B", Andrea: "C"
-during a game of Catch Phrase: "What is the country above Florida?" (the answer was Georgia!)
-Kempton describing the significance of the seraphim saying "Holy" three times: "Back in those times saying something one time didn't really mean alot, but if you wanted to emphasize something you'd say it twice...like if I wanted to tell you how pretty my wife was, I'd say 'she's pretty-pretty!' you'd be like 'whoa!' But if I wanted to really be bold I'd say 'my wife is pretty-pretty--pretty!' you'd just say 'WOW!! she must be REALLY pretty!''