Passion Perspective Interview-Julie Caldwell
We asked Julie to take us on the journey of her experiences with CEI and her publishing projects
“Real Life is Like Sports”, “Competition and the Christ-Follower” and “Sports as Worship”.
We asked Julie about her original passion?
- “For as long as I can remember, I’ve been passionate about God, His Word and encouraging others in their pursuit of experiencing Life with God. Since sports has played a big part of my life, spiritually motivating and influencing those around me in the world of sports has been a natural overflow.
- Romans 12:1 says,
“So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life–your eating, sleeping, going-to-work and walking-around life and place it before God as an offering” (Message)
Because I interact with many whose everyday, ordinary life includes sports, I like to supplement this verse with:“Take your…coaching or playing-sports life, and place it before God as an offering”
- So it is with an intent of encouraging and challenging coaches and athletes in their faith journey that I’ve written sports Bible studies and devotionals such as, “Sports As Worship,” “Is Your Game Secular or Sacred,” “Moving Beyond An Error,” and “Competition and the Christ-Follower.”
So how and when did the passion to write a book begin?
“Several years ago, my missions pastors asked me if I had any “dreams” of which the church could help make a reality. So I shared something that had been on my heart for years: I desired to write a booklet, have it translated into another language, and give it away to the coaches and athletes we reach out to overseas through CEI. The content was to include Biblical illustrations and parables with an athletic twist. Real Life Is Like Sports” is this “dream” becoming reality.”
And what steps …
Read MorePassion Perspective-Getting to Know Julie Caldwell
We have know Julie Caldwell since 2006. Our friendship started on an international softball mission trip to Asia as we served together with Competitive Edge International. 
Julie has had an amazing privilege of living her life pursuing three of her greatest passions: God, people, and sports. We asked Julie to give us a little synopsis of her life and she shared a short biographical sketch with us, “Born and raised in Modesto, California, I began following Jesus as a child and discovered in my youth that God had wired me with passion and skills in sports. I was blown away to have received All-American honors as a shortstop at San Joaquin Delta Community College and humbled to have and accept God’s provision of a full-ride softball scholarship to San Diego State University. Several years after graduating with my Bachelor of Science Degree in Physical Education/Kinesiology, I served for more than three years on Athletes in Action softball staff before God called me to step out in faith by co-founding Competitive Edge International (CEI) in 1997. Through CEI, I continue to enjoy impacting and influencing the lives of coaches, athletes and those involved in sports, as I reach the world’s unreached with the good news of Jesus through sports. To Him be all the glory…Psalm 115:1.”
Here are some fun things we learned about Julie……
Life motto – “Your Word is Life to me!”
Favorite food – Almost anything authentic Mexican
Favorite dessert – Boysenberry Cream Cheese Coffee Cake
One thing you can’t live without – (she chose to share a few of her favorite things)…Coffee, College football. DIY Network. Deep friendships. Joy. A heart of worship and thanksgiving. God’s love.
Favorite books – Fiction: anything by Joel C. Rosenberg, The Ezekiel Option, The Copper Scroll, Dead Heat, …
Happy Halloween
Happy Halloween! Go enjoy some fun activities with your family…a Pumpkin Farm, a Harvest Festival or just dress up and spend time with family and friends. Stay safe and have a blessed holiday.
Happy Halloween!!!!!
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Love Does Repost
LOVE… such an enormous word. We can all relate to it. But what does it really mean?
What is your definition of love? How do you express your love? How do you feel loved? Do you just think about love, or do you act in love? Love is action. Love is words. Love is irreplaceable. Love is impacting. Love is powerful. Love can build up. Love reaches inyo the depths. Love is simple. Love is worth it. Love is trust. Love is a force. Love changes things. “Love does”……
Pumpkin Spice Latte and Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies
I absolutely love the changing colors of the leaves on the trees in our town. The crisp evenings and cool mornings are ushering in the feelings of Fall-even though we had such a LOOONG Indian Summer. Brewing up a cup of coffee or tea for sipping along with a warm Pumpkin Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie makes a chilly afternoon or a cold night so much warmer. (Click the link to get the recipe and try the gluten free style or the original recipe) I absolutely LOVE pumpkin spice lattes but the ones you buy at the coffee shops are full of sugar and other ingredients that are not very healthy. So I decided to experiment with making one at home.
Homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte
My first try I used
1 cup of my normal delicious House Blend Peet’s coffee
1/3 cup of hot and frothy almond milk
1/4 teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice
1/2 teaspoon of honey
I brew my coffee in a French Press and froth my almond milk with a battery operated whip. Combine all ingredients and enjoy.
My next try I bought some Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Spiced coffee grounds and brewed up a cup and added ⅓ cup of hot and frothy almond milk and a dash of cinnamon.
My third try was an idea inspired by Bekah who was brewing up a cup of Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Spice Rooibos herbal blend tea. I took one Starbucks Via instant coffee and poured 8 ounces of boiling hot water into my cup and placed one tea bag in my cup as well. After about 5 minutes, I removed the tea bag, added 1/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice and 1/3 cup hot almond milk. Yummy, the best by far.
Today was the ultimate….
Take 1 cup of your …
Last Minute Halloween
Are you a Last Minute Mom? Well, if you are or maybe these last few weeks have just been really busy, Rachel reminded and encouraged us before that what you do is ENOUGH! And, today’s post has some helpful tips and solutions if you may be a “last minute mom” when it comes to Halloween! Don’t have your candy and don’t want to brave the crazy crowds? We have a solution for you! Haven’t been able to find that perfect costume and don’t feel like getting the leftovers at the costume stores? Look no further! AMAZON has everything and now you can even have them send you your candy for Halloween! Do you have Amazon Prime?? Your orders will get to you in 2 days! Make your order TODAY and you will get it in time for your Halloween party, trick-or-treat time, or church harvest festival! Check out what they have below- candy, costumes for everyone, and more!
Halloween Candy Shop Amazon – Trick or Treat Favorites in Grocery
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Creative Gift Giving
Creative Gift Giving
Our family LOVES to celebrate! Holidays, birthdays, every chance we get to gather and rejoice together. Gift giving is one of my passions. I love to make homemade presents and I like to bless my children and grand children with gifts that are special and personal to each of them. But I am committed to being a good steward of our family’s resources and I must remember that I need to honor my adult children by NOT continually smothering their children (my grand children) with gifts. As our family grows I am also realizing that it is impractical to jump on the consumerism band wagon and BUY, BUY, BUY every new toy or gadget or fashion item that hits the racks or shelves. Plus, kids actually DO spell LOVE…..T..I..M..E.. So, I have been thinking about CREATIVE gift giving ideas.
Gifts that create memories and keep on giving….
Classes or lessons-music, dance, gymnastics, cooking, sewing, knitting, science, sports of any kind.
Tickets (to attend an event with the gift giver)- a sports game, a musical, a play, an art exhibit, a science exhibition
Memberships-to local zoo, Children’s museum, kid specific places like Pretend City, Aquarium
Books-the love of reading is the greatest gift you can give a child. You can start at local used book store or garage sales, investing in time tested treasures like Richard Scary books and fill in with other classics from your local bookstore
Personalized Items like sleeping bag, backpacks, purses for little girls, gym bags
Dress up clothes-go to thrift store or party stores after Halloween and stock up on great costumes
Cookbook and real cooking utensils, an apron and hat plus a coupon to cook with the gift giver
Pretend Play items– store, groceries, receipt book …
Alive
With the focus of Halloween everywhere being on death, ghosts, frights, and darkness, my heart feels heavy. Its just too much darkness. So much of life this month is focused on evil and fear. No wonder our world struggles so much with depression, sadness, anger, and fear. I think this mentality and perspective seeps into how people interact with each other, holiday seasons, and peoples joy. It takes away from the hope we can have in a more purposeful and fulfilling life. Ironically, I have been studying Ephesians 2 lately which talks all about how we were once dead in our sin, and the opportunity and gift of being alive in Christ. It gives a great picture of what we once were: stuck, blind, lost, and dead. But Christ, out of his love for us, saved us in his grace so we could fully live. But we only fully live when we surrender to his purpose, his truth, and his way, but in that we receive riches, blessings, and immeasurably more than we can ever imagine. So why stay stuck? Why not take a step of faith? Wouldn’t you rather feel alive and free than lost and dead?
Ephesians 2:1-10 reads “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made …
Read MoreCarrot Cake with a Healthy Fall Twist
It has only been a few months since I realized how delicious carrot cake is! It is quite an interesting concept- carrots in a cake?? Who ever thought of that!? Now, you may be wondering how carrot cake can have a “healthy” twist- “just because there are carrots in it doesn’t make it healthy.” Well, you would be absolutely right! But, what would you say if I told you this recipe takes out 75% of the oil amount- decreasing the calories by 1,560 and the fat amount by 126 grams- and replacing the oil with PUMPKIN! Yes, pumpkin! Not only does substituting the pumpkin for the oil make this cake a lot healthier, it also makes it so moist that I don’t think you will ever go back to using the full oil amount. Feeling a little iffy about this pumpkin switch…I guess you will just have to bake it (and eat it, of course) to believe it 🙂 But, this has become my husband’s favorite dessert, even with knowing the healthy substitute!!
What You Need:
3/4 Cup Brown Sugar
3/4 Cup Sugar
4 Eggs
2 Cups Flour
2 tsp Baking Soda
1 TBS Cinnamon
3/4 tsp Salt
1/4 cup Oil
1 cup + 1/4 cup Pumpkin
2 cups Grated Carrots
FROSTING
1/4 cup Butter
1/2 stick (1/2 cup) Cream Cheese
Scant 2 cups Powdered Sugar
1/2 tsp Vanilla
1 TBS Milk (Add more as needed)
The How-To:
1. Add all the ingredients except for the carrots into a kitchen aid bowl and mix. [Take out your butter and cream cheese to soften for the frosting]
2. Grate carrots. [If you have a newer Kitchen Aid, I would highly recommend this grater attachment! We received it as a wedding gift and have loved using it for grating cheese, carrots and …
Read MoreGluten Free Pumpkin Scones
Pumpkins are everywhere! Pumpkin yummy treats are everywhere as well. Since I absolutely LOVE everything FALL including everything that tastes or smells of pumpkin, I decided to write about a few of my new pumpkin obsessions. I started by baking a batch of Pumpkin Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies this week. I love to bake pumpkin scones and this season I am working on a Gluten Free Pumpkin Scone recipe. I made this one a few days ago and delivered a batch to a precious friend who is recovering from surgery. I will post the recipe I tried and modify it in the near future. (The first batch was a bit too crumbly)
Gluten Free Pumpkin Scones
Ingredients
¾ cup gluten free oat flour
¾ cup almond meal flour
¼ cup coconut flour
2 cups oats
4 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
1 Tablespoons pumpkin pie spice ( my favorite is from Trader Joe’s)
(you can use 2 teaspoons cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon ginger, 1/4 teaspoon cloves and 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg)
1 Tablespoon butter softened
⅓ cup coconut oil melted
⅓ cup pure maple syrup
1 teaspoon fresh grated ginger
1 Tablespoon fresh grated orange rind
¾ cup pumpkin puree
1 egg
1 tablespoon cinnamon sugar (to sprinkle on top of scones before you bake them)
Mix oat flour, almond meal, coconut flour, oats, baking soda, salt and pumpkin pie spice in a large bowl. Combine butter and coconut oil and add to dry ingredients. Cut in until mixture is crumbly. Mix maple syrup, pumpkin, grated ginger, grated orange peel and egg together and fold into mixture in large bowl. Do not handle dough very much so scones will be light and not tough. Form into circles about 3 inch biscuit shape. Makes 8 or 9 scones. (You can also shape …
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