Resurrection Cookies

RESURRECTION COOKIES

• 1 cup pecan halves
• 1 tsp vinegar
• 3 egg whites
• Pinch of salt
• 1 cup sugar
• Zipper baggie
• Wooden spoon
• Tape
• Bible

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 300 F. Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them with the 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.
2. Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 tsp. vinegar into mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross he was given vinegar to drink. Read John 19:28-30.
3. Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life. Read John 10:10-11. Sprinkle a little salt into each child’s hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus’ followers, and the bitterness of our own sin. Read Luke 23:27.
4. So far, the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1 c. sugar. Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him. Read PS. 34:8 and John 3:16. (C’mon, you know this verse, right? —AW)
5. Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that the color white represents the purity in God’s eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Read Isa.1:18 and John 3:1-3.
6. Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheet. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus’ body was laid. Read Matt. 27:57-60.
7. Put the cookie sheet in the 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 Matt. 27:65-66.
8. 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 and 22.
9. On Resurrection morning, open the oven 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 Matt. 28:1-9.

Since I am gluten intolerant, I do appreciate that this cookie doesn’t have any flour in it. But honestly, it sounds pretty gross, doesn’t it? I am by no means a baker, but what is the vinegar accomplishing besides showing that Jesus was given it to drink?

Anyway, I’d be very interested in hearing if anyone has ever had this demonstrated to them as a child.

This brings me to my next announcement — a contest! Announcing:

THE GREAT ATHEIST COOKIE RECIPE SEARCH!

We want to see your ideas for atheist or freethought baked goods! Send in your original recipe via the contact form, or leave a comment on this blog post. Here are some general guidelines:

• Submissions will be judged on taste, quality of recipe instructions, and quality of lessons learned by the recipe.
• The lessons can be tongue-in-cheek (example: bake at 350°. Explain this represent that atheists are the devil’s children), or serious demonstrations of issues important to atheists or freethinkers (example: Separate the egg yolks from the egg whites. Explain this represents the separation of church and state).
• The contest will close October 31, just in time for Halloween! Get your submissions in by then.
• The top three recipes will be be highlighted on this blog, and the cookies will be served at the November 11 meeting.
• Unfortunately, there is no grand prize, but your reward is definitely in heaven. *UPDATE* Our favorite Friendly Atheist, Hemant Mehta, is very generous and has agreed to provide an autographed copy of his book, I Sold My Soul on Ebay: Viewing faith through an atheist’s eyes to the winner. Thank you, Hemant! I’ll make sure to send you some of the winning cookies.

Good Without God Essay Contest

The deadline is June 23, and first prize is $1,000.00, which would buy a lot of Firefly coffee.  Good luck!

There was only one entry (not including mine) in our last contest here at FFW. I think I’ll extend it through this next weekend just to not make it so easy for agnohumanist. If no one bites, I’ll duel him in a one on one haiku death match seen live via satellite pay-per-view around the world! Or we’ll post corny haiku at each other until one of us gives up. Whichever comes first. Remember:

Complete your Haiku

Before the NFL draft

Eats up your weekend!

I got this idea from the evangelicalatheist, so he deserves some of the credit. I think he deleted the original contest, but luckily I write down most everything. This is a Haiku contest. The following are some of my entries in his contest. The only rule is that it needs to revolve around religion, atheism, science or philosophy. That leaves it pretty wide open. I will be the final judge (bribes accepted), but I want you guys and gals to tell me which ones you think are the best. I will announce the winner next weekend so get crackin’ and have fun!

My examples:

Bush chokes on pretzel

Atheists briefly wonder:

Might there be a God?

Critical of cults?

Not critical of your faith?

Hypocritical!

Creationism

The Spanish Inquisition

Ignorance is bliss?

Yawning brings demon

Sneezes exorcise demon

Bless you! Body cleansed.

The root of evil?

Money given to churches

to uproot evil

The Old Testament

was just called The Testament

before the new one

Apologist in

missionary position

uses bible belt

From Adam and Eve

to a virgin that conceives

why should I believe?

Hitler had one nut.

Testicular fortitude

was not his strong suit