~
There's JOY in the Kitchen ~
~When we realize that ~
The secret of success is to start from scratch
and keep on scratching.
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A weekly newsletter from Sarah's Tent, an
online ministry tailored towards Pastor's Wives.
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Isa 51:1-2 / Isa 54:2-3 / Heb 10:24 ,25
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Looking Forward, and Looking Back
By JoyfulArt
Below this opening note you will read a letter
that was sent to me by a gentleman named Russ who
was curious about what Sarah's Tent was. Since
others have asked me similar questions, I thought
it excellent timing to share these responses with
you as well.
My prayer is that you will see your pastors
wife, or yourself in a new light, and give thanks
to God for this gift. My prayers are also that
you will begin to envision the scope of what God
has created for us online, and magnify HIM for
His wondrous ways. Then spread it to your own
cities. We hope that you will support Sarah's
Tent through your prayers and encouragement as
well as financially. (I do not receive any money
from Sarah's Tent, all money received is set
aside to be used strictly for ministry purposes.)
Read on..
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Put others before yourself, and you can
become a leader among men.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
>From ISME0013
1) What does a pastor's wife do? This question
may sound a little silly but a question none the
less.
She's often a mommy, for sure she's a wife,
she's a sounding board, a lover, and a friend to
her husband (hopefully). She may play the piano,
or even the drums, or she may work in the
nursery, or clean the bathrooms. Sometimes you
can find her in the pulpit preaching, and at
other times in the office answering phones. Where
ever there is a need, often it is the pastors
wife who fills in. You name it, she does it, and
very rarely gets paid.
2) Is the pastor's wife the first to hear a
sermon?
That depends on her husband, and the mood he
is in when he is preparing the sermon. Often
times, yes, she hears it many many times - not
always in sermon form, but while he works out his
thoughts and revelations. She sees her husband
struggle with the preparation, and struggle with
it after he has given it, wondering if it made
any difference in anyone's life. She reassures
her husband too when a thoughtless congregational
member criticizes her man's tie, grammar or the
fact that he preached that sermon three years
ago.
3) How did "Sarah's Tent" come
about?
After experiencing the ravages of pastoring a
wounded congregation, then the resulting after
shocks which culminated in a split church, I as a
pastors wife was left literally physically ill,
heartbroken, confused, depressed (so unlike me!),
exhausted and stripped of hope or courage not
caring whether I saw another day or not.
I had just logged on with America Online and
was searching the net for a pastor to please
explain to me why something like this could
happen, however, none could respond. What I found
was that this type of church trauma was happening
all over the United States, and was not something
unique to us. No wonder the pastors didn't have
an answer!
Knowing no other pastors wives, and realizing
that mentors along this line were rare, I
searched the web in vain for some kind of site
for pastors wives. Eventually I visited one of
the Christianity online chat rooms. There I met
another PW who was also looking for answers. We
began to talk, and as the evening turned to early
morning, I learned that she was just entering
into what we had just come out of. With God's
blessing and insight, I was able to share with
her all that we had learned. As a result of our
talking it out that night, she shared with her
husband the insights we gained and the two of
them together were able to head off their trouble
before it became full blown.
One thing led to another and before we knew it
we had become twenty pastors wives. After a few
gatherings in a private chat room and the birth
of a weekly newsletter, we got tired of calling
ourselves, "this online support group for
pastors wives" . After praying, one of the
wives suggested calling this ministry
"Sarah's Tent" referring to Abraham's
submitted wife who was the 'mother of all living'
and the tent referred to in Isaiah 54 where the
admonition is to lengthen your cords and
strengthen your stakes (meaning, make more room
baby!! There's a lot more coming!!)
Before we knew it, God had multiplied us to
over 400 pastors wives ...all in just a little
over a year. We have had a retreat in the
Colorado mountains and been able to meet in
person some of the first wives who began Sarah's
Tent, and another retreat is scheduled for the
end of July.
Sarah's Tent is a para-church ministry of
Living Stones Church in Denver, Co, thereby
making it a non-profit entity. So anyone who
donates to this ministry will be able to receive
a tax receipt as well as sow into the lives of
many other pastors and churches. On another note,
we are now in four other countries as well as the
US. Not all are on America Online either, many
have reached us through our web site, or mostly
by word of mouth.
There are several other ladies who work with
me, all of us being volunteer. Pretty amazing
since you consider that many of us have been
working online ministering to others often at an
average of 40+ hours a week for over a year now.
God has truly provided a loyal, faithful, loving
staff of gifted ladies! The mind boggling thing
is that we are crossing denominational barriers,
as staff and in online fellowship. Glory to God!!
Our desire is to eventually host a cruise for
pastors and their wives for the purpose of
refreshing and ministering healing to their
marriages. We also desire to and have been
networking with many other ministries who can
help the pastor with resources to help hurting
people as well as themselves. Our desire is also
to eventually be seen as a worthy ministry to be
supported to the point that we will be able to
help fund crisis counseling for the pastor and
his wife, or fly crisis teams to devastated
churches and do crisis intervention. . . .There
is so much more, but that is the top of the ice
berg for you on that issue.
4) How long have you ladies been meeting and
what is the growth with-in the group?
I believe I answered that question in the
paragraph above. To recap that - at last count we
are over 400 couples and were a year old this
past March.
5) Is there a web site that others may visit?
Ministry Site: Sarah's
Tent ( http://ionanet.com/sarah/sarahs.htm
)
My personal web page and testimony: JoyfulArt
( http://ionanet.com/ppl/Shannon/shannon.htm
)
Our newsletter archives all the way from issue
one to the current week. Joy in
the Kitchen ( http://ionanet.com/sarah/joy.htm
)
6) What is the goal of the group?
To network and bring unity to the Body of
Christ, beginning with the silent warrior, the
Pastors Wife. To bring her hope, laughter,
fellowship, answers and a mentor or two in times
of need, as well as provide a place for her to
grow and mentor others.
To provide financial aid to pastors and their
wives in crisis, whether it be for personal help,
or crisis counseling. And to provide and stir up
an attitude of unconditional love, fellowship and
restoration between leaders in the church.
7) Are there any particular praise reports
with-in the group, which you would like to share?
Oh My!! Where in the world would I begin? We
have not only already been able to sow
financially into several pastors, we've been able
to connect several couples to ministries who were
able to provide crisis counseling on several
levels, be it church related or marriage related.
For the first retreat that we had in Winterpark,
CO, we had nine wives fly in from all over the
United States (from every corner, actually) and
spend several days and nights fellowshipping,
playing, praying, crying, singing, worshipping,
venting and knitting hearts. It was one of the
most moving moments in all of our lives, and none
of us will ever be the same. We made some dear
friends and were able to share things that we
were not free to share with another soul, except
our own husbands. This time though, it was with
women who know and understand where we were
coming from. Again, there will be another retreat
in Alabama the last weekend of July. This too
will prove an intimate and restorative time with
the Lord and other pastors wives.
8) What are some of the hardships of being a
pastor's wife?
The analogy of living in a fish bowl is an
understatement!! Not only are you put on a
pedestal, your children are expected to be
perfect as well. (An impossible and suffocating
thing for a child to be!) For each PW, the story
is different, depending on her personality. For
instance, if she is quiet and more of a listener,
she struggles with people expecting her to be up
front teaching and leading praise and worship. If
she is an outgoing and bold teacher, she is
expected to be a listener, quiet and subdued. If
a pastors wife falls for this kind of thinking,
she will put herself in a very depressed and
impossible state of mind.
She, like all any other human being, is
working out her salvation, learning to live a
life time with another human being...her husband.
Only her husband is expected to be perfect and
have all the answers as well. Who does SHE go to
in order to vent? Where does HE go? To his wife!
The agony and the ecstasy are extremes that will
forever take me by surprise. Who better to be a
constant target of gossip than the pastors wife?
Who better to try to become? One extreme to
another, either they worship you or crucify
you...gee, who does that sound like? That is
where we learn what it means to take part in the
fellowship of His sufferings.
The downs are impossibly low, and the highs
are incredibly high. To balance them and not take
credit for them is character building and where
you learn to crucify the flesh, struggling to
trust God in all things. If you are lucky, you
will have another one who has been there, walk
through these moments with you. Unfortunately,
that is very rare. Hence for the need of
ministries like Sarah's Tent.
9) If any among you are mothers, what are some
of the hardships involved does this create
dichotomy?
The greatest is the pressure to have 'perfect'
kids. The thing is, who is to define 'perfect'?
Is it the person who thinks that perfect kids are
quiet? Or bold? Musical? Or studious? Funny? Or
serious?
Another thing that many don't think of is that
the Pastors Wife is very much the 'Mother' of the
church. Just as her husband is the Shepherd, or
Father over the sheep entrusted to him, so is she
the mother. It's a great responsibility! If she
is smart, she will learn that it is best to just
be who SHE is, and NEVER try to be someone else.
That would be phony, and people can spot a phony
a mile away. The pressure is too great to be
'perfect' . If we will just think about it,
'perfect' is usually defined by the example of
another that we've seen. The Bible says it is
foolishness to compare yourself with another.
What freedom to know that God qualifies the
called, and doesn't call the qualified!! Praise
God that He likes to take the foolish things in
this world to confound the wise! How freeing for
the pastors wife who is wise enough to embrace
this.
10) Any general information would also help.
The thing that comes to mind in this question
is my first picture of a pastors wife. As a young
girl I noticed that our pastors wife never had
any friends. The old ladies in the church seemed
to always be angry at her, and she was a favorite
target for gossip. She was lovely, and loved us
as children. Her boys were absolute angels, and
they behaved like little gentleman. They never
joined in our play, as they were to be
'examples'.
My precious pastors wife was sitting beside me
in a bus, on the way back from a special youth
event when I turned to her and said that when I
grew up, I wanted to be a pastors wife. She
whipped her head around to me and said in a
panicked tone, "Oh! You don't know what you
are asking!! It's the loneliest place there is.
You can't have any friends, and your husband does
not belong to you or your children. He belongs to
the church and you can never have time with
him." She was surprised at her outburst and
as the tears rolled down her face, she turned to
look out the window.
I sat there with my heart pounding, puzzled
and confused. No matter what I tried to say, my
words fell flat and she could not respond. Later
the next month, our pastor came to the pulpit and
said to the congregation that he had sent his
wife away to another state in shame as she had
had an affair with one of the men in the church.
He then resigned, and they moved, never to be
heard from again.
How my heart broke for her!! What a burden the
enemy and the church had placed upon her!! She
was a prime target. Forgotten, forbidden, and set
up above all others. She cracked under the
pressure and fell into sin. Their lives were
destroyed. In this position of pastors wife, she
is a prime target. She will either be devoured by
the enemy, or will be tempted to be a vessel of
the enemy as she struggles to validate herself
and grasp for identity. What a shame!! This does
not have to be that way.
At conferences, you hear speakers mention
pastors and ask the congregations to pray for
their pastors, but how often do you hear the
pastors wife mentioned? How often does someone
stand and say, "Let's praise God for the
faithful warrior who stands beside her husband
behind the scenes? She gets no pay for what she
does, and she does it all. She gets no credit and
no notice for what she does."
While she stays at home with her children, or
at the church holding down the fort, her husband
often is able to attend prayer meetings with
other pastors or conferences. The congregations
will think of sending their pastor to a
conference or retreat, but for the wife to ask
for assistance would cause many to say, "For
what? You aren't the pastor!! What do YOU
do?" The sad thing is, she probably won't be
able to tell them...because she just about does
EVERYTHING! If congregations would realize that a
happy pastors wife, makes a very happy pastor,
and a happy pastor makes an excellent shepherd,
which makes a healthy congregation doing mighty
things for the Kingdom of God, then they would
pray for her, encourage her, tell her thank you,
and see to it that she too is refreshed and
blessed.
11) as I like to try to create "Mind
Pictures," describe yourselves young old
etc.
We are tall, we are short, we are overweight,
and underweight, some of us play the piano, but
most do not. Some sing, and some are prayer
warriors, some laugh, and some listen. There are
those of us who are physically challenged with
blindness, deafness, paralysis, or diseases like
diabetes, leukemia, etc. Some of us are terribly
healthy, and love to camp and participate in
sports. Some are artists, and poets, some are a
whiz at math or are teachers. Some have exquisite
tastes in clothing and some don't have a clue,
but they make a mean meatloaf! God is not limited
in His expression of creation, beauty, and
motherhood when it comes to His beloved Pastors
Wives. We don't fit into any molds, and for sure,
none of us are perfect. Some of us are terribly
funny and witty, while others of us are terrific
problem solvers and organizers, some are made of
steel and will give you strength and back bone
whether you like it or not. Some of us are your
best audience and have the most incredible ear to
listen and empathize with you. We are people,
just like you with the same doubts, fears, and
struggles with our flesh as you. Don't be afraid
of pressure. Remember that pressure is what turns
a lump of coal into a diamond.
~ ~ ~ ~
But godliness with contentment is great
gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and
it is certain we can carry nothing out.
1 Timothy 6:6,7
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
POT LUCK!
Copy Cat Recipe Web Site: Copykat
Recipes http://www.copykat.com/recipes.html
Contributor: Tastebds
Copy Cat Recipes
Cinnabons Contributor: JKLK1
Dough:
2 packages of yeast
1 cup warm water
2/3 cup plus 1 teaspoon granulated sugar, divided
1 cup warm milk
2/3 cup butter
2 teaspoons salt
2 eggs, slightly beaten
7- 8 cups all-purpose flour, more if needed
Filling:
1 cup melted butter, divided
1-3/4 cups granulated sugar, divided
3 tablespoons ground cinnamon
1-1/2 cups chopped walnuts, optional
Glaze:
2/3 cup melted butter
4 cups powdered sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla
4 to 8 tablespoons hot water
To prepare dough: Combine yeast, warm water
and 1 teaspoon sugar; stir and set aside. In
large bowl mix milk, remaining 2/3 cup sugar,
melted butter, salt and eggs; stir well and add
yeast mixture. Add half the flour and beat until
smooth. Stir in enough of the remaining flour
until dough is slightly stiff (dough will be
sticky). Turn out onto a well-floured board;
knead 5 -10 minutes. Place in well-buttered glass
or plastic bowl, cover and let rise in warm place
until doubled in bulk, about 1 to 1-1/2 hours.
When doubled, punch down and let rest 5 minutes.
Roll out on floured surface into a 15 x 20 inch
rectangle.
To prepare filling: Spread dough with 1/2 cup
melted butter. Mix together 1 1/2 cups sugar and
cinnamon; sprinkle over buttered dough. Sprinkle
with walnuts if desired. Roll up jellyroll
fashion and pinch edges together to seal. Cut
into 12 to 15 slices. Coat bottom of a
13-by-9-inch baking pan and an 8-inch square pan
with remaining 1/2 cup melted butter, then
sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup sugar. Place
cinnamon roll slices close together in pans. Let
rise in warm place until doubled in bulk, about
45 minutes. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Fahrenheit. Bake 25 to 30 minutes, or until rolls
are nicely browned. Cool rolls slightly. To
prepare glaze: In medium bowl, mix melted butter,
powdered sugar and vanilla; add hot water 1 tbls.
at a time until glaze reaches desired spreading
consistency. Spread over slightly cooled rolls.
Makes 12 - 15 large rolls.
Other Recipe Sites: Doffycook's
Nethome
For even MORE recipes, click on these!! More
Recipes
aol://4344:610.whatmore.3417613.498419280 and Once-a-Month
Cooking (OAMC) http://members.aol.com/oamcloop/index.html
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The secret of contentment is the
realization that life is a gift not a right.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
NEEDING PRAYER?
Contact Sarah's Tent at SarahsTent@aol.com
, and not only will we pray, but your request
will be sent to the proper prayer chains as well.
Just be sure to send your praise report when God
moves on your behalf!!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Pattie's Picks
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CT
6/15/98: NEWS: Southern Baptists Take Up t...
( aol://4344:122.HT8T7.1277385.581978594 ) Have
you wondered about Mormon doctrine and beliefs?
Have you heard about the Southern Baptist
Convention in Salt Lake City? This article in
Christianity Today (a nondenominational magazine,
by the way) helps to clarify some issues about
Mormonism. I thought the article was thought
provoking and informative.
TCW
J/A98 ( http://www.christianity.net/tcw/current/
) - The current issue of Today's Christian Woman,
also their 20th anniversary issue, is online, and
the cover interview with Amy Grant is great.
Also, there are "then and now" with
women who have been on TCW's covers for the past
20 years. I found this online issue to be
wonderful.
VIRTUE
June/July ( http://www.christianity.net/virtue/current/
) - Virtue magazine is new to Christianity
Online, and I enjoyed looking through it. I think
it will fare well with the CO online community.
If you have any web sites you would like to
recommend, please send them to PattieRWR (Pattie)
We'll be happy to write reviews for the
newsletter!
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Joy In The Kitchen is an extension of Sarah's
Tent An online ministry devoted to gathering
together God's silent warriors, the wives of
pastors and ministers of all denominations and
cultural backgrounds, as well as their families,
for fellowship, support, laughter and prayer. Isa
51:1-2 / Isa 54:2-3 / Heb 10:24-25
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