One of my favorite mental images is inspired by reading the description of the 1st Century believers as recorded in Acts 2:

They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved (NIV).

Believers united in spirit and purpose, gathering together each day to enjoy food and fellowship, and praising God with glad and sincere hearts. What an attractive thought. It is no wonder that Christianity was so contagious and that the Lord added daily to their number.

Life in Jerusalem was not a cakewalk back in those days. Quite the opposite – those were unstable times throughout the known world of their day. Political tensions, economic crisis, social injustice, random violence, religious intolerance, government corruption, random violence and deep-seated prejudice were a part of everyday life. Those were difficult times. But these early Christians found solace and security in fellowship and in worship. We could learn a thing or two from their example …

Last Sunday our church, Calvary Baptist, joined with a neighboring congregation, Enon Baptist Church, for the Fifth Sunday Night Sing. It was an enjoyable worship experience with each choir performing from their repertoire of anthems and praise songs. For the most part, we were singing to each other, but we also had opportunity to join voices and make a joyful noise together. As is our custom, we all gathered for food and fellowship afterward, it was a fulfilling event.

Our Baptist Men’s group decided to spice things up a bit with a pie baking promotion – “The Guys Make the Pies.”  While it wasn’t a contest, per se, my competitive spirit compelled me to sample all of the entries. I didn't mind doing my part (for the good of the cause). Although everyone made a respectable contribution, it is my qualified opinion that this entry stood head and shoulders above the rest:

Nutty Buddy Pies

8 oz. cream cheese
2 c powdered sugar
1 c milk
2/3 c crunchy peanut butter
16 oz. Cool Whip
chopped salted peanuts
3 chocolate pie crusts
Hershey’s chocolate syrup

Combine cream cheese, powdered sugar, milk and peanut butter together in a mixing bowl. Mix well. Fold in Cool Whip. Pour into chocolate pie crusts. Drizzle chocolate syrup on top of pies. Sprinkle with salted peanuts. Freeze. This recipe makes three pies.


Note: In the interest of full disclosure, I must add that (1) the Nutty Buddy Pie was my contribution to the pie baking promotion, (2) that this recipe was taken adapted from another source, that Nancy supervised my pie-making venture, and (3) that some bias may exist in my evaluation. These exceptions noted, let me state that I enjoyed both making and eating this pie. I hope that you do too.