Bake cookies, learn about the Resurrection

Since Easter is just around the corner, I thought that I would share a recipe I found in an old church cookbook, “The Fruit of Our Labor” from Fair Haven Primitive Baptist Church in the Tifton area. Hope you take time to enjoy for Easter and I’ll be seeing you around … Agnes.

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Resurrection Cookies

(from Karen Baldree of Ocilla)

1 cup whole pecan halves

1 teaspoon vinegar

Pinch of salt

3 egg whites

1 cup sugar

Read John 10: 10 – 11. Since cookies need to stay in a closed oven overnight, make them in the afternoon. Preheat oven to 300 degrees.

Place pecans in zip lock baggie and let your children beat them with a wooden spoon to break into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested, He was beaten by the Roman soldiers. Read John 19: 1–3.

Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 teaspoon into a mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was on the Cross and became thirsty he was given vinegar to drink. Read John 19:28–30.

Add egg whites to the vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life.

Sprinkle a little salt in each child’s hand and let them taste it. Brush the remainder in the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus’ followers and the bitterness of our own sin. Read Luke 23:27.

So far the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1 cup sugar. Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants to know Him. Read Psalm 34:8 and John 3:16.

Beat egg whites with a mixer at high speed for 11 to 15 minutes … until stiff peaks form. Explain that the color white represents the purity in God’s eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Read Isaiah 1:18 and John 3: 1–3.

Fold in the broken pecans. Drop by teaspoon onto a waxed paper lined cookie sheet. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus was laid. Put cookie sheet in the preheated oven. Close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus’ tomb was sealed. Read Matthew 27:65–66.

GO TO BED! Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus’ followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed. Read John 16: 20–22.

On Resurrection morning, open the oven door and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! On the first Resurrection Day, Jesus’ followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty. Read Matthew 28: 1–9. He has risen! Hallelujah!

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Recipe for Laughter

One-Liners for Election Year

If God wanted us to vote, he would have given us candidates. Jay Leno

The problem with political jokes is they get elected. Henry Cate VII

We hang the petty thieves and appoint the great ones to public office. Aesop

If we got one-tenth of what was promised to us in these State of the Union speeches, there wouldn’t be any inducement to go to heaven. Will Rogers

Politicians are the same all over. They promise to build a bridge even where there is no river. Nikita Khrushchev

When I was a boy I was told that anybody could become President; I’m beginning to believe it. Clarence Darrow

Politicians are people who, when they see light at the end of the tunnel, go out and buy some more tunnel. John Quinton

Why pay money to have your family tree traced; go into politics and your opponents will do it for you. Author unknown

Politics is the gentle art of getting votes from the poor and campaign funds from the rich, by promising to protect each from the other. Oscar Ameringer

I offer my opponents a bargain: if they will stop telling lies about us, I will stop telling the truth about them. Adlai Stevenson, 1952

A politician is a fellow who will lay down your life for his country. Tex Guinan

I have come to the conclusion that politics is too serious a matter to be left to the politicians. Charles de Gaulle

Instead of giving a politician the keys to the city, it might be better to change the locks. Doug Larson

There ought to be one day – just one – when there is open season on Congressmen. Will Rogers

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