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Almond Vegetable Dip

(tastes cheesy)

1 C raw almonds

2/3 C water

1/2 t tamari

1 T fresh lemon juice

1/2 t garlic powder

1/2 C red bell pepper

1/4 C nutritional yeast

Put all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Store in a glass container in the refrigerator.

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Ten Talents

By Elizabeth Lugmayer

Six weeks ago, while finishing up a sermon, my  pastor, pastor Thomas Powell (Calvary Chapel of VA. Beach) threw out one of those cute, 'Oh by the ways' that only pastors can do; to the parents of children aged 4-13.  It sounded something like this: " Oh by the way, just so you know if your child is between the ages of 4 and 13 they are coming home with ten dollars that they received in Sunday  school today."   He went on to explain that Bo Whittington, the Family Ministry Director,  thought it would be a good way to drive home the meaning of the ten talents parable on good stewardship and its rewards (Lk. 19:11-27). The ten dollars were theirs to do anything they wanted with- but in 30 days, their 'ten talents' and what they did with them would be counted up. And any proceeds would be given to an orphanage in Hungary that pastor Thomas and Assoc. Pastor John Andrews would be visiting on their missions trip.

30-children-$300-30 days. The churning minds of the children and their parents were literally visible as they left church that day. And the deep thinking paid off. By the next Sunday churchgoers were surrounded by a mob of eager to sell unique hand made items. Who could resist a 'button cute' four year old selling hand woven book marks? Or the sisters that spent their ten dollars to buy supplies to make butterfly magnets? Or how about the three friends that pooled their 'talents' to buy enough supplies to make 50 pairs of Gorgeous, hand beaded earrings; only some of the many amazing things that were beautiful and useful and highly sought after. The earrings sold out in the first week at $2 a pair! Or the dark chocolate covered pretzels that when a grandmother took to work; she came back with a dozen orders for more!

For three weeks we the congregation, had the  pleasure of being a part of the children's own 'ten talents' parable. On the Sunday of the fourth week, the 30th day, we all held our breath when the grand total of $927.00 was  announced. Wait a minute, $927.00!!! WOW- that is a 230% increase!! They children were beaming, and not just because they had succeeded in being GREAT stewards, but because they knew that every penny would help kids their own age who needed somebody to care.

Because of the care of our 'talent seekers' and our pastors on their recent missions trip (they left for a ten day missions trip to Hungary the night of the 30th day), the director of the orphanage has  invited anyone in our church who is willing, to come to Hungary in the fall when we hope to begin construction on a new gym for the orphanage! I don't think anyone foresaw how big of an impact this 'children's lesson' would have on the rest of the world. Except God.