I had some creme fraiche and maple syrup cobbling around the fridge, so I decided to do an ice-cream experiment.
I thought that something else in the mix would be nice, so I experimented with various combinations, and settled on added chopped up walnuts.
My approach was simplicity itself. I’ve guessed the quantities, as I didn’t bother measuring them.
Ingredients (makes about 500 ml ice cream)
~300 ml creme fraiche
~100 ml milk
50-100g sugar
4 tbsp maple syrup
75g-100g chopped walnuts
Method
If using a ice-cream maker, do the freezy bowl thing plenty in advance.
Put the creme fraiche in a mixing bowl, and beat in the milk until it has the consistency of single cream.
Now beat in the sugar and maple syrup.
Do a taste test – the mixture should be very sweet, and maple flavour should be very strong (both get suppressed by the cold). If not, add some more syrup.
Pour the mixture into the ice-cream maker.
A couple of minutes before it’s ready – when the mixture has thickened – pour in the walnuts.
If you’re not using an ice-cream maker, add the walnuts, and transfer the whole lot to the freezer. After 3-4 hours, whizz it up with an electric whisk to break up all the ice, and return for a further 3-4 hrs until it’s fully frozen.
Enjoy (or transfer to the freezer).
This melts pretty quickly – probably because it’s a fairly light base. If you like richer/heavier ice-cream you could hold back on the milk, or use a creme fraiche custard base. No idea who that person is – first hit on Google for creme fraiche ice cream at time of writing!
Couple of quotes from yesterday that caught my eye.
Of poor leaders they say We did it despite them
Of good leaders they say We did it with them.”
Of great leaders they say We did it ourselves.
And (at the risk of doing a Bernie), the difference between charismatic and inspirational leaders:
They say after an audience with Hilter, you came out saying He can do anything.
They say after an audience with Churchill, you can out saying I can do anything.
The point of both is that you seldom hear of truly great and inspirational leaders, because what they do is enable others to achieve amazing things.
While I have no pretensions of being a great or inspirational leader, I would rather see someone that I have walked alongside do extraordinary things than to do extraordinary things myself. I don’t want to be great, and don’t imagine I ever will be – but I do want to try and help others be!
I spent today in Leeds, at a Growing Leaders training day (“training the trainers”), and I’m really excited.
I’ve been reading the book of the course, and there’s a lot of it that excites me because of what I believe to be my overall calling in life, but also that resonates with stuff that I think God has specifically been saying to me over the last few years.
Two of the verses in the bible that excite me the most are Ephesians 4:11-13 (NKJV)
And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.
And Jeremiah 3:15 (NIV)
Then I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will lead you with knowledge and understanding.
That phrase equipping the saints just sums up perfectly where my passion lies. The Jeremiah passage I find hugely encouraging – it’s kind of a two-way promise. To the people, it’s a promise of good shepherds, but to the shepherds, it’s a promise that they will be made into good shepherd’s for God’s purpose.
In terms of stuff I think God has been saying. Well, I’ve discovered contemplative spirituality over the last few years in a whole new way. Exercises the like Awareness Examen and Lectio Divino, and experiential bible meditation. I have to give a huge nod here to Mark Yaconelli, in particular his book Contemplative Youth Ministry: Practicing the Presence of Jesus with Young People (link is to Amazon), which I think should be required reading for anyone in any form of Christian leadership. The title is misleading in a way, as I believe the principles apply across the board, and it’s a hugely accessible way into a more contemplative and reflective (as opposed to anxious) way of life.
The other stuff has been about shape and direction (in particular, Rick Warren’s S.H.A.P.E acrostic). I find it very easy to strive for balance, and being able to do everything. If there’s a particular ministry or activity I struggle to do, I easily see that as a failing, and try to rectify it. I’m slowly becoming more accepting of who I am and how God’s made me. That means I’m good at some things, and rubbish at others. It means that my character traits are not inherently good or bad (they just have associated strengths and weaknesses).
Two examples.
First – youth work. Broadly speaking, I am academic. I think, ponder, reflect, pontificate, and review. I try to give a considered response to questions, that I can back up with a solid argument. (It drives my wife mad!). I often s.p.e.a.k ….. q…u…i…t…e … … … … s….l…..o……w…..l…y. (not always, but often). My co-leaders are not wired up this way. They are dynamic, exciting, enthused and responsive, and most of time are bouncing off the ceiling.
I find it very easy to think they are “better” than me, because they connect very easily with the youth, and find it much easier to joke and laugh with them then I do.
But I think the reality is both are important. The youth need to connect, for sure, but I think I bring a depth that might not otherwise be present. I spent the first couple of years as a youth leader trying to be hip and exciting like the others. Now I accept that God called me into that role, as I am, and me being me is far more valuable and real than me trying to be a 21 year old. In addition, I have come to see that some of the (particularly older) young people actually find it easier to connect with someone who’s a bit more quiet and reflective in their approach…
The irony here is that one of the key aims of ministry to teenagers is helping them to feel comfortable in their own skin, and accepting of who they are!
Second example – DIY. In direct contradiction to what I just said, I also tend to rush in. I get excited by new things, and by getting things done, and tend to charge on in, without always taking the preparation steps that really the job requires.
This is not always a good thing where DIY is involved. In fact, it is rarely a good thing.
On the other hand, jobs gets done. I actually get on and do stuff. I know of people with a more measured approach, who actually never end up getting anything done, either because they never get around to it, or because the preparation takes so long there doesn’t end up being enough time.
I am coming to see that neither approach is in and off itself better or worse. There are strengths and weaknesses to both. I get the job done, but with rather more mess or with less than ideal results. Others may do it perfectly, but take a lot longer to do it, if indeed they get round to it at all.
They key for me is self-awareness. If you know who you are, and what your character is, then you can get help in areas which don’t come naturally.
Ermm, forgotten my point now.
Oh yes, Growing Leaders. I’m very excited because it is all about equipping the saints. I’m so excited about learning more about my own calling and leading in a sustainable way, and then having the privilege of helping others do the same thing (and even better, helping them to then pass that on to others in turn).
Pete Broadbent (Bishop of Willesdon) said on Twitter:
It works right across the church spectrum. Much recommended. Growing Leaders is a gift to the Church.
(which is a pretty good recommendation)
Anyway, it looks like I’ve got a year to work through the course, and try to get a leadership strategy in place (there may be one already that I’m not aware of), and then we’ll kick it off Sept ’10 – Insha’Allah.
I’ve been jotting down some of favourite games that we play at youthgroup. Most of these are good for all ages, and have passed the test of time (several times a term for 2 or 3 years). There are some newer ones we’ve done once or twice, but which seemed good.
Games with no equipment or preparation
(except possibly tables, chairs and a large room)
Splat – An all time favourite game of quick reactions.
I’ve not mentioned any ball games – there are millions!
Also, any sort of relay race – particular if it involves candles, water, pancakes, or balloons. Popping a balloon with a candle is particularly satisfying.
Good explanation of this one on Uk Family and Wikipedia. The aim of the game is to make 4-of-a-kind, and pick up a spoon, OR to not be the slowest to pick up a spoon.
Start with a deck of cards, between 3 and 8 players, and one less spoon than you have players. You need to play this at a table so that everyone can reach the spoons.
The dealer deals 4 cards to each player, and then puts the rest of the deck on the table. He takes the top card, and adds it to his hand. He then chooses a card, which he passes on to the player on his right, by sliding it face down along the table.
The player on the right picks up this card, and then chooses one of her (now) 5 cards to pass on to the player on her right. In the meantime, the dealer has taken another card from the top of the deck, ready to pass one on.
In this way, the cards are ‘fed’ all the way around and back to the person to the left of the dealer, who places one card into the discard pile. No player may have more than 5 cards or less than 4 cards in their hand at any point.
Should the deck run out, the discard pile is shuffled, and re-used.
When someone manages to get 4-of-a-kind (4 cards of the same value), they pick up one of the spoons. At this point, everyone else has to pick up a spoon as quickly as possible. The person who is left without a spoon is “out”. One spoon is taken away, all the cards are returned, and the next round is played with one player less.
The player who first picks up a spoon should do so as subtly as possible – gameplay may continue for several seconds before other people realise a spoon as been picked up.
A spoon may only be touched when either the player has 4-of-a-kind, or another player has picked up the first spoon, although feints are quite allowed, as long as the spoon isn’t touched.
Requires a pack of playing cards. The aim is to lose all the cards in your hand.
All the players sit around a table, so that they can all reach the centre. The cards are dealt out to all the players as normal.
The person to the dealer’s left then puts his card into the centre, face-up, saying “One”. The player on his left then puts her card face-up on top of his, while saying “Two”. Play continues in this way (going “One”, “Two”, … “Nine”, “Ten”, “Jack”, “Queen”, “King”, “One”, “Two”, etc) until one (or more!) of the following happens:
The card just laid matches the card underneath (same as normal snap).
The card just laid matches the card number spoken by the player (e.g. they put down an Ace while saying “One”).
The card just laid is a Queen.
At this point, all the players must SLAM their hands on top of the pile of cards in the centre, and the last player to do so takes the entire pile, and puts them on the bottom of the pile in his/her hand. He/she then starts off the next round.
In addition.
If any player slams, or even starts to but jerks it back (“flinches”) they forfeit the round and pick up all the cards in the centre.
The game has two major variants:
When a player has used all their cards, they continue to say numbers in turn, and still have to SLAM when a “snap” occurs”. This variant never ends.
When a player has used all their cards, they cease play. The first player to do so is the winner, and the player left with all the cards at the end is the loser.
And there are several minor variations:
Numbers aren’t spoken – the players must keep track in their head!
When a player has no cards, their number still “counts” – i.e. if a 6 is laid, and a non-card holding player says “six”, that’s still a snap.
When certain numbers are spoken (e.g. “Jack”), play changes direction. Alternatively, keep the jokers in, and use them to change direction.
Have special words for certain numbers. So “cat” instead of “ten”, or “monkey” instead of “three”.
I feel like I need to make some comment on the passing of a pop icon.
Unfinished Christian likens his death to that of Elvis or Lennon. I don’t think there’s very much doubt he was one of the world’s biggest pop-stars, certainly at his peak.
I suppose I would sum up my feelings as “Flawed Genius.” His achievements and failings will no doubt be covered in great depth in the Sunday papers, and I’m not even going to attempt it. But he clearly went off the rails at some point (in the 90s?), and I find it hard to shake the nagging feeling that we are all, somehow, a bit responsible.
His music more than speaks for himself, and the fact sold out the O2 shows his ongoing support and fanbase.
I will steal shamelessly from Unfinished, because they put it so well:
His music and legend will live of so let us today not focus on his eccentricities but let the genius of his music do the talking. Michael wanted his music to evoke these images and get us to change and understand how child-like qualities could really heal the world.
Sit everyone present around a table so that there are no gaps.
Each person puts their hands on the table so that their arms cross over/under the people either side, so if we have five players, A=B=C=D=E, the order of hands will be:
Now decide who is going to start, and which way you will go (clockwise or anti-clockwise). Assuming clockwise for a moment, the starting person taps one of their hands on the table, and then the hand to the left of that hand has to tap, followed by the hand to the left of that, etc. In the above example, this means that if we start with C, and he taps his right hand, the order of tapping must be C-RH, D-LH, B-RH, C-LH, A-RH, B-LH, etc. The tapping must be done as quickly as possible.
If a ‘hand’ hesitates or taps at the wrong time, it is “out”, and the game continues without it.
Finally, a player can decide to tap twice, in which case the direction reverses, and the tap starts travelling around the circle in the opposite direction.
These are quite a good “getting to know you” games. There are many other variations.
2 true, 1 false
Give each person a sheet of paper. They must write their name on the top, then they must write three things about themselves, two of which are true, and one of which is made up.
Gather in all the sheets of paper, then for each person in turn, the group has to try and guess which of the three “facts” is not true. Feel free to get the story behind any particularly peculiar or interesting facts.
3 Facts
As a variation, ask each person to write down either 3 random facts about themselves, or alternatively the answers to three pre-canned questions (e.g. “favourite food”, “favourite music”).
Gather in all the sheets, and then go through each sheet reading out the answers/facts. The group then has to try and guess which person is being described by this sheet of paper.
Me in a nutshell
As a final variation, give every person in the group a piece of paper with the list of everyone’s name who’s present down the side. Each person then has 1 minute to think up a question (e.g. “When did you last brush your teeth”, “what is the bravest thing you’ve ever done”, “what colour are your socks”), and they then have 5 minutes to ask that question to everyone else in the group, writing the response down against that person’s name.
After 5 minutes, everyone comes back to the table. Then each person in turn has to stand up, while all the others should out the answers that person gave. So, for instance, Fred might stand up, and then various people would call out “Fred last brushed his teeth on Sunday”, “The bravest thing that Fred has ever done is pick up a spider” and “Fred is wearing green and pink socks”).
