"Courageous" Update

For those of you who don't receive the Provident Films updates on the Sherwood/Kendrick Brother's Productions, I thought I would share with you the update that I recieved today.

The first update was about the "Courageous" Script:

"Script Getting Close!

As we highlighted in the last eBlast, the Courageous script has been written and now is being revised. Soon, we will be ready for shooting. We look forward to sharing the storyline and some of the characters with you in the coming weeks. For now, please join in praying that God's hand continues to be on the writing and editing process and that the final script will touch hearts and impact lives. As Shelly Fitzsimmons Chang posted on Facebook:
"We are praying for God's hand upon your team and those involved—peace, understanding, and wisdom for all."

Visit CourageoustheMovie.com"

And in other news...

Jim McBride plays a number of roles - he is the executive pastor at Sherwood Baptist Church. He is one of the executive producers of "Courageous". He is a husband and father. Yet he is best known as Bobby Lee Duke, the coach of the Giants in Sherwood's breakout film, "Facing the Giants". While it's not yet known if Jim will have a role in Courageous, he will definitely have a new role later this year. Jim will become a grandfather for the first time! Buddy and Mallory McBride are expecting their first child this fall. Congratulations all!

Blessings!

Today, I joined the Rebelution...

Today, I joined the online Rebelution group! I am SO excited about getting to know more teens who are fighting against low expectations, like myself!! How many of my followers are members on there too? Don't you just LOVE it? I'm still getting pretty used to the whole "new" online website. You know how, when you join a new website, everything seems just kind of weird to you...you don't know exactly what to do on it, etc. Well, hopefully I'll get used to it quickly!! :) Let me know what your experience has been with it so far! Or if you're even on it. :)

www.TheRebelution.com

Why Did Jesus Fold the Napkin?

Something that was passed to me as a forward in an e-mail. I just had to share it!!

Why Did Jesus Fold the Napkin?

Why did Jesus fold the linen burial cloth after His resurrection?

I never noticed this....

The Gospel of John (20:7) tells us that the napkin, which was placed over the face of Jesus, was not just thrown aside like the grave clothes.

The Bible takes an entire verse to tell us that the napkin was neatly folded, and was placed at the head of that stony coffin.

Early Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance.

She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved.

She said, 'They have taken the Lord's body out of the tomb, and I don't know where they have put him!'

Peter and the other disciple ran to the tomb to see. The other disciple outran Peter and got there first. He stopped and looked in and saw the linen cloth lying there, but he didn't go in.

Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside. He also noticed the linen wrappings lying there, while the cloth that had covered Jesus' head was folded up and lying to the side.

Was that important? Absolutely!

Is it really significant? Yes!

In order to understand the significance of the folded napkin, you have to understand a little bit about Hebrew tradition of that day.
The folded napkin had to do with the Master and Servant, and every Jewish boy knew this tradition.

When the servant set the dinner table for the master, he made sure that it was exactly the way the master wanted it.

The table was furnished perfectly, and then the servant would wait, just out of sight, until the master had finished eating, and the servant would not dare touch that table, until the master was finished.

Now if the master were done eating, he would rise from the table, wipe his fingers, his mouth, and clean his beard, and would wad up that napkin and toss it onto the table.

The servant would then know to clear the table. For in those days, the wadded napkin meant, "I'm finished."

But if the master got up from the table, and folded his napkin, and laid it beside his plate, the servant would not dare touch the table, because..........

The folded napkin meant,
"I'm coming back!"

"Start Here: Doing Hard Things Right Where You Are"

Hello all!

I am not sure how many of you know about this, but I just found out that The Rebelution is starting their Book Bomb for Alex and Brett's new book "Start Here: Doing Hard Things Right Where You Are". I am so excited!! I am not sure if I will be able to do the Book Bomb, but I will definitely try - and spread the word!!
You can read more about "Start Here" and the Book Bomb right at www.therebelution.com. Let me know if you're able to look it up!

Blessings!

Cake Bake Day!

Today, I baked "The Most Wanted Coffee Cake in the World"!! :) The recipe is in one of my Amish cookbooks (I *love* making recipes out of those!) and right now, the yummy smell of the cake is wafting itself through the house. :) *sigh* I *just* took it out of the oven, so haven't tasted it - yet! - but I'm going to have a nice warm slice (it's supposed to cool for 15 minutes :) with a glass of milk. Anyone want to join me? Well, if you can't make it in 15 minutes, you can make it at home and enjoy it with your family. (Although I must admit, I wish you could have it with me! :( Oh well.) :) Below, I am copying the recipe...

The Most Wanted Coffee Cake in the World

1 C. butter

2 C. sugar

2 eggs

1 C. sour cream

2 C. sifted flour

1 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. salt

1 1/2 tsp. vanilla

Topping:

1/2 C. chopped nuts (I used oatmeal instead :)

1/4 C. brown sugar

1 1/2 tsp. vanilla

Cream butter and sugar together. Add eggs, sour cream, and vanilla. Continue beating. Add flour, baking powder, and salt. Grease and flour a bundt cake pan. Put a third of the batter in pan. Sprinkle half of the topping over top. Add more batter, then remaining topping. Add last of batter. Bake at 350 degrees (Fahrenheit) for 50-60 minutes. Let cool for 15 minutes, then turn onto plate. Enjoy!

Now, I'm off to work on my novel - with a nice warm slice of The Most Wanted Coffee Cake in the World and a glass of cold milk. :)

Blessings,

Random ♥ Love ♥ quote...

"In Persian, the verb 'to love' is translated 'to have a friend'.

The phrase 'I love you' is translated 'I have you as a friend'."

~Unknown.

Teens for Orphans

I've been tagged in this post by Collin at Collin's Blog. The post is about a wonderful new ministry called Teen's For Orphans. In the post we're asked to post about the new ministry, and tag 6 of our blogging friends in it. Here's some info on TFO.

• There is an estimated 143 million orphans in the world, with 70,000 in Myanmar alone.
• Teen's For Orphans goal is to build an Orphanage in Myanmar. "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them." -Eph. 2:10.

Try stopping by the Teen's For Orphans website and read all about the great things they're doing, and see how you could help them.

To get the word out as far as we can about Teens for Orphans, here's something quick and easy you can do.

1) Do a blog post about Teens For Orphans. Feel free to cut and paste my post if that helps! (Let me know if you do! :)

2) Tag at least 6 other blogs to do the same thing!

3) Post about it on social websites too! Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, etc.

This way everyone get's an opportunity to get the word about this new website!

I tag:

~Marissa and Andrea

~Lucia M.

~Lindsay

~Paulina

~Andrea

~and Josh

Let's see how far we can spread the news of Teens for Orphans!!

You know you belong to a large family when...

1. You take up more than one pew at church.


2. Your family's Coscto receipt can wrap around your arm three times.


3. You can't always make those gourmet/chef style meals that you would like to because by the time everyone's seated around the table, the food is already cold.


4. There are benches at the table - no chairs. Chairs don't fit as many people on one as benches do.


5. You have to stay up late (or get up *really* early!) to get any quiet time on the computer - or doing anything else for that matter!


6. You do not have an hour to get ready. You have 15 minutes to get ready, and the other 45 will be spent finding shoes and combing little heads of hair.


7. You buy 4 family sized pizzas when you have company over. 2=for your family, 1=for the guests, 1= for leftovers.


8. You are prepared to explain everything you are doing to one little sibling or another.


9. Your family goes through 1 gallon of ice cream per dessert night.


10. Your eat-out/restaurant bill is over $50.


11. You can have your own soccer team - or better yet, English Country Dance! :)


12. You have more bunkbeds in your house than single beds.


13. You don't wake up to just one alarm clock in the morning. When it hits 7:30AM, there are about 5 going off.


14. Road trips can be...stressful. :)


15. You love all your siblings - uniquely and individually - but you wouldn't trade them for anything. :)


A friend of mine did this on her blog and I just *had* to do one of my own! :) A couple of them are originally hers. (numbers:6 and 8).

Enjoy God's Creation Today...

Enjoy God's Creation Today...

"Let the heaven and earth praise Him; the seas and everything that moves in them."

~Psalm 69:31

FIREPROOF anniversary!

Yesterday was my 1st year anniversary of having seen "FIREPROOF" for the first time. Since then, (as most of you know), I have loved "FIREPROOF", have considered it my all-time favorite movie, and have collected things related to it (the Sherwood Productions movies as a whole).

Well, the other day, my brother commented, "So, Raquel, you have just about everything from 'FIREPROOF' don't you?"

I stopped and ticked off the things that I have regarding the movie. Yup! He's just about right! :)

Of course, the first thing I got was

the movie! :)

For my birthday (two months after seeing the movie), my family gave me salt and pepper shakers - probably one of the best presents they could've given me! :) And it's a set that I've told my Mother that I've been wanting to add to my hope chest. :)

A little later, I bought the soundtrack (at the most expensive price that I've ever paid for a CD: $14.99! :) at Target.

Not too long after, I was able to receive autographed photos from three Sherwood actors: Alex Kendrick (also a director), Tracy Goode (who plays in "Flywheel" and "Facing the Giants"...I think he's most known for his part as "Brady" - in "Facing the Giants"), and Jason McLeod ("Brock" - in "Facing the Giants", and "Eric" (the rookie :) - in "FIREPROOF"). Those photos are now pasted into my autorgraphed photo scrapbook. :)
The last thing that I added to my "FIREPROOF" collection was the book, that I got at Goodwill for $1.99! :)

The only thing that I am missing from my collection IS...Yup, "The Love Dare". :) My Mother and I were thinking of purchasing a whole bunch of them and just having them on hand for couples who we know. I think that would be a good idea...

When I "announced" :) to my family that it was 1 year ago that I watched "FIREPROOF" yesterday, they all kind of just looked at me. "Okay, Raquel," they all said, kinda with that "whatever!" tone of voice. :)

Some people may think I'm a little overboard with how much I love this movie, but to tell you the truth, this movie impacted my life in a very large way. No, I'm not married, thus, I don't have any marriage problems. But, I watched this movie a little after I rededicated my life to God and they made the movie so real - the *story* so real - that to see the hand of God in all of it, just made me bawl. Yes, seriously, every time I watch it, I cry. I even cried while reading the book! Now I don't know if you've seen this movie yet (most of you probably have) or don't like it all that much or whatever, but today, I'd like to ask you to take a moment and just pray for all the couples out there who are struggling in their marriage. Just right now, set aside whatever you're doing (obvisouly you're reading this post :), and just close your eyes and ask God to heal all those marriages that are failing. Ask Him to save the couples who aren't believers. Ask Him to be with the spouse who is doing The Love Dare on his/her spouse.

I once read the testimony of a man who said that he did The Love Dare THREE times before his wife began to realize that he wanted to make their relationship better. Pray that God will continue to encourage spouses to keep on striving with The Love Dare...trying to make their marriages better.

The Love Dare isn't the key, though.

The key to a good marriage is to know what *true love* is all about. To love one another, unconcditionally. Be willing to lay your life down for another. For husbands to love their wives as Christ loved the church. For wives to love and respect their husbands. To know that love - that *true* love - that Christ had for us, when He came - willingly! - and died for us on the cross.

I'm praying for those couples right now. I hope you take a moment to do so, too.

Blessings,

My own blog award!! :)

For some time now, I have been wanting to create my own award! I've finally done just that! :) Below, I am listing five "Feminine Bloggers" who I award my "Feminine Blogger" award to. God bless you all, dear ladies! You have blessed me by your blogs...

Miss Jen at Blessed Femina: Jen's blog was one of the first blogs that I started following when I got my blogger account. Our friendship (through letters and e-mails) has grown miraculously fast in less than a year. Jen, you are a dear, sweet friend! Your Godliness and femininity have encouraged and blessed me beyond words. Your face radiates the love you have for our Father.

Paulina at A Set Apart Life: Paulina is a dear, sweet friend of mine. Her blog is filled with posts of her opinions on many different things in life...all from a Godly perspective. She has blessed and encouraged me in more ways than I could count! Paulina, you will never know how much the LORD has used you in my life. Keep serving Him! You are a true light.

Andrea at God is Writing My Love Story: I had the honor of being able to re-design Andrea's blog for her, and felt so privileged to do so! :) Andrea's Prince Charming has come and they will be "tying the knot" on March 19th of this year! Andrea has given me even greated honor of letting me help her with wedding preparations and being a sweet, kind, and dear friend. Andrea, I am so happy for you and Billy! What a beautiful testimony that you have and can continue to give and encourage other young ladies out there who are still waiting for their Prince Charming! God has worked amazingly through your life!

The Hahner Sisters at Living At Home: My sweet friends, the Hahner sisters. You girls won't ever know how much I love each of you and treasure you all as friends and sisters.

Marissa and Andrea at Servants of the King: Two sweet sisters who are on fire for the LORD!! Keep your lights shining brightly - He will reward you richly for doing so. Your blog is so nicely put together and very God-centered...always keep it that way. :)

Now, if you've received this award, post about it and post five of your favorite bloggers who you consider "feminine bloggers". Let's keep this blog award going!

Blessings to you all!

Please pray...

In my last post, I mentioned two girls (sisters) Rachael and Sarah C. Well, if you would please remember to keep them in your prayers. They left on a missions-type trip to India, where they will be volunteering work at an orphanage. I don't know many details, but I do know that they won't be staying in one place the whole time (10 days). They'll be going to different cities/towns and will be working at each one. Please pray that God will just protect them from any harm - diseases, especially - and that He would bless them for their willingness to go and try to spread His Word. Rachael turned 18 this week and Sarah is 15.

Thank you for your prayers!

Blessings,