• 2 cups cooked/canned garbanzo beans, rinsed, and drained
• 1 cup canned pumpkin 
• 4 tbsp tahini 
• 1 bulb of garlic, roasted. (I cut off the top of the garlic bulb pour some olive oil on top and then roast it in the oven wrapped in foil for 20 or so minutes. Let cool and then remove garlic cloves from skin (they should be really soft))
• Juice of one lemon (approximately 1-2 tbsp)
• 2 tsp ground cumin
• 2 tsp Hungarian paprika
• Salt, to taste

A few years ago I was at a men's retreat with my church. Luckily, they brought in a women to cook us some really good food. I love breakfast foods and I have to say that the deep dish french toast was hands down the best french toast I've had outside of a restaurant (Gravy always wins). Naturally, I had to ask for the directions:

1. 1 loaf white bread (the only time I relent and use white bread because it works better)
2. Spray 13x9 pan with no-stick spray
3. First layer - Line pan with bread (about 6 slices, cut 7th slice in half to fit the pan)
4. Spread Shedd Spread on each slice of bread, sprinkle w/nutmeg, cinnamon and granulated sugar
5. Second Layer – repeat First Layer
6. Spread on top of Second Layer Philadelphia Cream Cheese Cheesecake Filling – spreads better at room temperature (to desired thickness)
7. I used one tub of the Philadelphia Cream Cheese Cheesecake Filling for 2 dishes of 13x9
8. Follow Cream Cheese Layer with Fruit Filling of choice (I used Apricot from Food 4 Less) – you can create your own fruit ideas, i.e. raisins, cranberries
9. Third Layer of Bread – on top of Fruit Filling layer – same as the other two Bread Layers – Shedd Spread, Nutmeg, Cinnamon

Mix together 3 eggs, dash of nutmeg, dash of cinnamon, about 1 ½ C soy milk (whisk until eggs, milk well blended) then pour mixture over layers in pan, watching that it does not overflow (I have done that before)—try pouring from the center first, using your hands to pat the mixture into the layers, making sure your top layer is very moist.  Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerator overnight.  Bake at 350 degrees for about an hour—check for doneness by using sharp knife in middle—you want the knife to be clean when removed just like custard pies.

Typically, I let it sit on the counter top right from refrigerator in the morning about 30 minutes before baking.  Also, let it sit after removing from oven when done.  Top with powdered sugar, maple syrup, or syrup of choice.

****Substitute Raisin Cinnamon Bread, use apple filling with cream cheese layer—that's yummy, too.

It is causing co-motion, the wrong kind of talk, and skepticism. The Bible is clear that we won't know when Jesus is going to return, not even the angels will know, and not even Jesus himself.

So real point remains: Shouldn't we just be ready if He comes today?

You know those times when someone calls you as you are walking out they door and they ask, "Do you have a moment?" The moment they ask the question I think, "is a 'moment' really just a 'moment' or more like 5-10 minutes?"

Yesterday, just as my wife and I were headed out the door (my wife was already in the car) to go to dinner, a good friend (hi, Adam!) called me and asked if "now was a good time to talk."

Thinking, "is now a good time to talk" kind of like "do you have a moment?" I wrestled in my mind how to politely let him know that we are on our way out the door, while at the same time not wanting to be rude and cut him off.

So I responded with, "Well, my wife and I are about to leave for dinner, but.....um, what do you want?"

Sheesh. Could I have responded any more rudely?

It got me thinking about ways to sound less rude, but also have boundaries in situations like this to help prepare me for the next time this happens. I came up with:

My wife and I are just headed out the door to go to dinner, so if it's a quick question, go for it. If not, can I give you a call later?

Never say, “I didn’t have time to do it.” It’s a lazy excuse. You always have time. It’s much better to say, “I chose not to do it” or “I decided to do something different with my time instead.”

Dear Foursquare…if I’m ever framed for murder, will you act as my alibi in court so long as I’ve checked in somewhere other than the murder scene?

Because if so, that’s the only reason I can think of why I’d want to tell the world where I’m at every hour of every day.

I had now idea that a guy like Adam, who’s face looks as smooth as a baby’s bottom (I wouldn’t know actually because I’ve never touched it) could grow something so woolly. Truly amazing!

I can’t say I have ever watched an advertisement that has delighted my senses to the point where, after watching it, I walked away wanting to buy the product. That is until I watched Old Spice’s The Man Your Man Could Smell Like YouTube commercial.

So for my birthday, my wife gifted me a bottle of Old Spice High Endurance Body Wash (yes, the 3X clean version) so that I can stop smelling like lady scented body wash and start smelling like a “man.”

Update: This is my second favorite Old Spice commercial.