GroshLink

February Prayer Calendar available here.

1 (plus a little extra) t. yeast
1 1/2 c. warm water
2 T. sugar
1 1/2 t. salt
1 1/2 T. solid shortening
3 3/4 c. flour (I usually use 1 c. whole wheat and the rest bread flour)
1/2 t. pepper

Put all ingredients into breach machine pan and set to dough setting. After 5 min. check to see if it needs more flour or water. This makes enough for 2 pizzas.

Note: originally posted by Theresa as a note on Facebook.

Ever have a course which keeps coming back, one which you wonder whether you should have taken? After 15 or so years of such a dilemma in which I've seen Perspectives in the World Christian Movement offered in a number of formats in a variety of venues, I'm hoping to take a 1 week intensive at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.  This version is sponsored by my friends at the World Mission Initiative program in connection with the Continuing Education Office at PTS and it's a perfect format for my schedule.  I'll be taking it for graduate credit, but other options include undegraduate credit and certificate.  Note:  it's also required as part of my developing relationship with Brethren in Christ World Missions

So, anyone from Central PA interested in a roadtrip? Any friends from 'da Burgh signing up? Hoping to see lots of friends when I'm in town.

1 c. plus 2 T. water (70-80 degrees)
3 c. all-purpose flour
3 T. brown sugar
1 1/2 t. active dry yeast
2 qts. water
1/2 c. baking soda
coarse salt

In bread machine pan, place the first four ingredients in order suggested by manufacturer. Select dough setting (check dough after 5 min. of mixing; add 1-2 T. water or flour if needed).

When cycle is completed, turn dough onto lightly floured surface. Divide dough into eight balls. Roll each into a 20 in. rope; form into pretzel shape. In a saucepan, bring water and baking soda to a boil. Drop pretzels into boiling water, two at a time; boil for 10-15 seconds. Remove with a slotted spoon; drain in paper towels.

Place pretzels on greased baking sheets. Bake at 425 for 8-10 min. or until golden brown. Spritz or lightly brush with water. Sprinkle with salt. Yield: 8 pretzels. 

Note: I think these taste comparable to Auntie Anne's. For extra richness, brush with melted butter instead of water and then sprinkle with salt. You can also make these much smaller than the recipe directs.

Note: originally posted by Theresa as a note on Facebook.

Dear Brothers & Sisters in Christ,

A quick note to

1. pass along a link to a piece, with pictures, which Tom wrote on the joys of serving with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship's Graduate & Faculty Ministry/Emerging Scholars Network at Urbana 2009, http://blog.emergingscholars.org/2010/01/more-on-esn-at-urbana-09/.   Note:  If you're interested in video of the main Urbana sessions, visit http://www.vimeo.com/urbana09. 
2. highlight a few prayer requests. 
   • Praise:  Theresa's feeling much better.  The lump on her thyroid was benign and her neck is nearly healed.  The prayers and gifts of food/childcare provided by many have been a great blessing and expression of the people of God in shared life/ministry.  What a testimony to our family, friends, and acquaintances.  To God be the glory!  On Monday, Tom picked up ministry responsibilities beyond limited emailing, posting, and teleconferencing.  
   • Praise/Request:  God provides.  In December, over half of our $10,000 shortfall was addressed  and several partners have stepped up to the increased giving match as we enter 2010.  If you or a ministry with which you are connected desire learn how to partner with us in our pioneering work, please contact us by phone/email.  Note:  On-line giving available here.
   • Praise/Request:  Pray for the over 100 participants in this weekend's Christian Medical & Dental Association (CMDA) Northeast Regional Retreat to be challenged by material based upon Luke 9:23-25.  Pray for the retreat to provide insight regarding my developing relationship with CMDA, particularly PSU-Hershey Medical Center's Christian Medical Society (CMS). Pray for safe travel as Theresa and Tom carpool with three students (two from PSU-Hershey and a pre-med student from Messiah College). Pray for us to find some time of rest, even though we're in a ministry setting.  Pray for our families as they care for our four girls.

Following and Walking in the Light of Christ,

Tom & Theresa Grosh

InterVarsity Christian Fellowship
Graduate & Faculty Ministry
http://www.groshlink.net/
http://blog.emergingscholars.org/

Our Mission: "To establish and advance at colleges and universities witnessing communities that follow Jesus"

Our Vision: "To see students and faculty transformed. Campuses renewed. World changers developed."

In case you haven't already heard. ...

"Zonderkidz, the children’s division of Zondervan, is interested in talking to people who have used The Jesus Storybook Bible. Please complete this very short questionnaire to indicate your interest in participating in a one-hour phone and web-based focus group about The Jesus Storybook Bible. Participants will receive an honorarium. We have a limited number of spots available for the focus group so please reply by Thursday, January 14 if you would like to be considered for participation. We look forward to hearing from you." -- Survey.

Note: The focus is on parents of kids from 7-12 years old. I'll be participating. Can't wait to share our family's appreciation for The Jesus Storybook Bible and how its resources might be developed/shared even more :-)

PS.  I have several posts which touch upon or focus upon The Jesus Storybook Bible:

• Advent/Christmas Resource: He's Here - Jesus Storybook Bible
• Come quickly, Jesus!
• Heaven breaks through
• It's amazing, so amazing, it's amazing how one man gets around
• Praise for time of rest and prayer for more
• Passing on the faith

Theresa's feeling much better.  Her neck is still a little stiff, but better each day.  The prayers and gifts of food/childcare provided by many have been a great blessing and expression of the people of God in shared life/ministry.  What a blessing and testimony to our family, friends, and acquaintances.  To God be the glory! 

Continue to pray for full healing.  On Monday, Tom will begin picking up ministry responsibilities beyond limited emailing, posting, and teleconferencing.  If you've been wondering whether or not to contact him, feel the green light to do such on Monday.

I received word from a brother in Christ that the student highlighted in "Harvard's Hoops Star Is Asian. Why's That a Problem?" (Sean Gregory, Time, 12/31/2009) is being discipled/mentored by InterVarsity's Asian-American Fellowship's Staff. Great story.  Maybe I'll be shouting Go Harvard! during the NCAA Tournament.  Below's an excerpt from the end of the article.  

Lin's maturity could lead him to ministry. A devout Christian, Lin, who is an economics major, is considering becoming a pastor in a church near his Palo Alto home. "I've never really preached before," Lin says. "But I'm really passionate about Christianity and helping others. There's a beauty in seeing people change their lifestyles for the better."

Before settling on a career, however, Lin has some on-court business to attend to. Harvard has racked up some impressive wins early in the season. The team upset Boston College in early December, and knocked off a 9-2 George Washington team this week, 66-53. The Crimson, who play next at Seattle University on Jan. 2, should challenge two-time defending champion Cornell for the Ivy title; a league championship would give Harvard that elusive trip to the NCAA Tournament. And Lin wants to give pro basketball shot, most likely overseas or, who knows, maybe the NBA.

"I can definitely see him being in ministry," says Steve Chen, Lin's mentor and the pastor of the Mountain View, Calif. church the Lin family attends. "But right now, God has gifted him in a specific way, and he's going to go after it hard." If Lin leads Harvard to the tournament, he'd be off to a pretty holy start. Consider it his first miracle.

A brother in Christ shared The Wexford Carol (Yo-Yo Ma and Alison Krauss) as an encouragement and expression of his thankfulness for our relationship.  I pass it along to my beautiful wife Theresa on our 14th Anniversary. 

Let it snow like it did in 1996 so we can be snowed in to celebrate the 12 days of Christmas.  Note:  I like the light covering for this year, let's go for being snowed in next year when we take time away to celebrate our 15th Anniversary ;-)

Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always. -- I Chronicles 16:11

Thomas has been faithfully posting updates on my progress but here's the whole story in one place, straight from the "horse's mouth."

A few weeks ago my sister-in-law, Amanda, discovered a lump on my neck while practicing a health assessment for her nursing class.  That sent me to the doctor the next day where I had blood work done to check my thyroid function and an ultrasound on the thyroid the next day.  The bloodwork came back normal but the ultrasound showed a significant sized lump on the right side of the thyroid.  I met with a surgeon a few days later and after he presented the options to me I felt most comfortable deciding to have surgery to remove the lump.  Which is what he did yesterday (1/4).  The pathologist in the Operating Room examined the tissue and declared it benign which also meant that I was able to keep the entire left half of my thyroid.  I'll have blood work done in a few weeks to check thyroid function but the surgeon feels pretty confident that I won't need medication.

I'm feeling pretty good, one day post-op.  It's certainly an easier surgery/recovery than a c-section.  I have some swelling which makes swallowing painful and I'm moving slowly.  I didn't sleep well in the hospital so I've been trying to catch up on sleep since I arrived home today.  The kids seem to be doing very well.  They came to visit me in the hospital Monday night and Eden was quite unsure about entering my room.  She stayed in the hallway with daddy until she was confident enough to venture into my room to play with the buttons on my bed.  My mom took off work yesterday and today to watch Eden and Lily and others are helping us out the rest of the week.  Tom has been mom, dad, and nurse and will surely need a break too soon :)  But he's been great.

Thanks for all the prayers and offers to help.  We've been well-cared for and are much relieved to have a good report.  Praise God!

Theresa is home.  And she is not only feeling quite good, but also looking quite good.  How much can one ask for?  Praise God! 

The girls are going to be so excited when they see her.  Thank-you to all the extended family and friends who are helping our family stay up and running through prayer, time, gifts, meals, encouragment, watching/transporting the girls, and more.  You are a great blessing and witness to the reality of the love of God.

Theresa returns to see the physician in 3 - 4 weeks.

A brother in Christ passed along these thoughts regarding Colossians 1:24 and I share them with you for our mutual edification:

still thinking about the colossians 1 statement about our "filling up the afflictions lacking in christ"...and it's not just the normal persecution of believers by those who hate God...it's something much more significant...Christ's suffering was for payment for our sins, ours is in the spreading of the gospel...God has ordained that believers' suffering is essential to drawing many to Christ...a great mystery...

ps...we know of the great physical suffering of christians in other countries...we seem so comfortable by comparison...but even you and i go through emotional suffering as we attempt to reach out to others..that is very difficult to handle..."He was despised and rejected, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief"

By God's grace and the gifts of the people of God, our house is in order and ready to run through this week as Theresa recovers (Note: we're starting to give attention to next week). 

Lord willing, I'll pick up Theresa from the hospital without complications late morning/early afternoon. She looked really good when the whole family visited last night & the kids played w/the bed controls. Pray for Theresa's continued rest/refreshment/rejuvenation/healing at home.

I'm back in the room w/Theresa. She's doing well and resting a lot after the thyroid surgery. 

The lump on/in the right side of the thyroid was not cancerous, as such she was able to retain part of the thyroid and may not require supplements/medications.  Praise God for the able hands of those who are caring for her, the favorable pathology report, the gift of recovery, family/friends who are providing for a number of basic needs.  Pray for Theresa to receive her much needed rest/refreshment during her stay.

    -- Posted in Theresa's room w/free WiFi Access (a beautiful tool to communicate updates which cost $ when I was stuck in airports a little over a week ago). What a joy to wait upon the Father w/the Word, Spirit & the people of God in a quiet place with my beautiful wife.  Time to turn back to giving Theresa, my beautiful wife of 14 years (1/6/1996), my full attention.

Note:  Modified form of our partner team email.  If you'd like to be added to the e-list, please let us know.

Dear Brothers & Sisters in Christ,

A quick note to

1. pass along our January Prayer Calendar
2. highlight a few prayer requests. 
   • Praise:  On Friday, Tom returned from Urbana Student Missions Convention 2009.  As part of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship's Graduate & Faculty Ministry/Emerging Scholars Network team, Tom's days were rich with conversations exploring the call for academics to follow Jesus through the whole university journey. And by God's grace the family was well cared for as he served. God is good! If you're interested in video of the main Urbana sessions, then click here.  If you're on Facebook, swing by Tom's page for more pictures than those included in the prayer calendar.
   • Request: Pray for Theresa. A lump was recently discovered on her thyroid and we've decided to have it surgically removed on Monday, January 4. Pray for the kids to be well cared for as Theresa heals and for a favorable pathology report.
   • Praise/Request: God has been gracious through the people of God in many ways as we've sought his direction in addressing our funding concerns. Pray for continued discernment. An update will come in mid-January.