User Posts : The Southwest Voice

St. John's Lutheran Church is Proud to Present SonWorld Adventure Park VBS

Kids already saying "I'm bored"? Need a morning break from the kids? Are your co-workers wishing they knew what to do with their kids to keep them busy? Do the neighborhood kids think your house is entertainment central? Planning a family "togetherness trip" for the Fourth of July and need solitude and peace when you return? Look no further: Come to VBS!

Vacation Bible School is a faith-filled, fun week-long adventure with friends, old and new! This year St. John's Lutheran Church Children’s Ministry is proud to present Gospel Light’s SonWorld Adventure Park VBS.

At SonWorld Adventure Park children will:

Learn to make good choices and how to choose Jesus!
Play action games!
Make cool crafts!
Eat yummy snacks!
Watch hilarious skits!
Ride a virtual roller coaster!
Get a FREE SonWorld Adventure Park t-shirt!
Session one –July 14-July 18, 8:30 a.m.-noon
Session two –July 21-July 25, 8:30 a.m. –noon
VBS is free of charge

Hold on to your hats – it is going to be an exciting ride!!!

This amazing VBS is taking place at St. John's Lutheran Church, 4500 Buena Vista Road, for two identical sessions. Choose either session to attend.

Children age 4 (pre-K) through those entering the sixth grade are eligible to attend. As an added bonus, children can download a free sing-along CD from our church website. To enroll your children, please call the church office at
661-665-7815, or visit the Web site at: www.sjlchurch.org

We hope to see you there!

Children’s Ministry Team

Help fight e-mail spam!

I don't know if you are anything like me, but I hate spam emails!

It also doesn't seem to matter how good of a spam blocker you have. Fact is some of those annoying spam emails sometimes still show up in your inbox no matter what. I used to just delete them and go about my day, but they are still an annoying nuisance and it got me to thinking about what I could do to fight back.

I did a little research and found out the Federal Trade Commission has an e-mail address where you can forward them your spam e-mails. The e-mail address is: spam@uce.gov. I found out from the FTC Web site that it receives about 300,000 samples of deceptive spam forwarded by computer users each day and stores it in a database. The FTC and its law enforcement partners use the database to generate cases against people who use spam to spread false or misleading information about their products or services. The FTC’s spam database has served as the basis for FTC cases involving pyramid schemes, money-making chain letters, credit card scams, credit repair scams, bogus weight-loss plans, fraudulent business opportunities, and other scams that were promoted via e-mail.

They say that whenever you complain about spam, it's important to include the full e-mail header, but only forward spam that you think is fraudulent or deceptive. I also checked out the United States Department of Justice Web site about Internet fraud and spam. Their Web site lists specific types of spam e-mails and lists Web sites where you can go to report the spam.

Some examples on their website include:
• Medical products and devices - to report e-mail that involves possibly fraudulent claims about medical devices or products please e-mail the Food and Drug Administration at webcomplaints@ora.fda.gov
• Financial investments - forward investment-related spam e-mails to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission at enforcement@sec.gov

There is a lot of good information on their Web site, you should go check it out. Another great Web site that explains Internet fraud and gives tips on how to avoid becoming a victim is www.onguardonline.gov/spam.html. The Web site explains that they "provide practical tips from the federal government and the technology industry to help you be on guard against Internet fraud, secure your computer, and protect your personal information."

I get spam e-mail all the time. So now whenever I get spam I just forward it on and delete it and feel like I am actually helping do my part in putting these scam artists out of business!

Support our troops by adopting a soldier

If you have been meaning to do something nice to help our deployed or wounded United States servicemen and women, but were not sure what you wanted to do let me tell you about this great organization called Soldiers Angels. They have a lot of different things you can do to help.

You can adopt a soldier and send them care packages and cards and letters. If you choose to adopt a soldier you must commit to sending one card or letter each week and at least one or two care packages a month for one year. Care packages do not have to be expensive and they have a list on their website of items that are needed.

If you are unable to adopt a soldier (time constraints, finances, etc.), but would still like to join Soldiers' Angels and help out, you can join one of the many programs they have listed on their Web site.

If you love to sew, they have a blanket program called "Blankets of Hope" where members sew blankets for the wounded. They also have a "Scarves Team" which sews cool scarves and sand scarves. They have another team that makes "Mittens and Booties" or hand and foot coverings made for wounded soldiers on Medivac flights back to the United States, and simple fleece coverings used to help keep patients' extremities warm.

If you have a friend, relative, or significant other who is in the military you can submit them to this great organization, but you have to have their permission first and they have to be military members that are either deployed or wounded heroes.

There are many different programs and options available to help that I did not list. Go check it out at their Web site, www.soldiersangels.org.

Restaurant Review: The Crest Bar and Grill

Bakersfield’s new RV Resort has a great restaurant called The Crest Bar and Grill.

If you have not had a chance to check it out yet, you really should. They serve lunch and dinner only and the food is great!

They have a lot of different menu choices from appetizers, sandwiches and burgers, steaks, chicken, fish, pasta and more, they offer a light menu and a kids menu. They serve domestic beers iced tea and regular fountain sodas and have Hanks Gourmet root beer. I have been there twice so far and have fallen in love with the root beer.

The first time we went I had the Eggplant Parmesan which comes with a side of Fettuccine Alfredo and my husband had the Chicken and Broccoli Fettuccine They were both really good. The price of the Eggplant Parmesan was $12.95 and the Chicken Broccoli Fettuccine was $9.95.

The second time we went I had the East Coast Prevost- which is slowly roasted angus certified tri-tip sliced thin and topped with freshly grilled mushrooms, bell peppers, onions, and melted swiss cheese on a warm baguette. My husband had the Wild West Cheeseburger which is a half pound charbroiled burger with apple wood bacon, cheddar and jack cheese, with homemade beer battered onion ring and homemade hickory bbq sauce on top and he said it was the best burger he has ever had. The price of the East Coast Prevost was $7.95 and the Wild West Cheeseburger was $8.95, the food at The Crest Bar and Grill is very reasonably priced. All sandwiches and burgers come with your choice of side dish of french fries, beer battered onion rings, house salad, soup of the day, fresh fruit or cottage cheese. They also have a desert menu but both times we ate there we were so full we haven’t had a chance to try any thing yet. But I heard the Peach Cobbler is to die for! The food is really good and the service was great, with a very friendly atmosphere we had a really great dining experience both times we were there. I highly recommend The Crest Bar and Grill you should try it some time you won’t be sorry. The Crest Bar and Grill is located @ 5025 Wible Road across from the Auto mall where the old Crest Drive In used to be.

Dog Days of Summer Photo Contest: Sadie and Sampson

Sadie and Sampson like to play dress up! Here is a picture of them from last Halloween.

Kimberley's Homemade Banana Pudding Pie

PIE CRUST:

Approx 50 vanilla wafer cookies
1/4 cup butter melted
2 tablespoon sugar

PREHEAT oven to 325'F finely crush 45 of the wafers place in a medium bowl. (5 of the wafers you will save for another use) Add 1/4 cup of butter and 2 tbsp sugar and mix until well blended. Press firmly onto bottom of 9.5 inch pie plate. Bake in oven approx 10 minutes (watch the crust, food still cooks after being out of the oven so if it looks like it is cooking too much take out of oven early, and it will finish cooking on the stove that way you do not burn the crust) wait for crust to cool completely then make pie filling.

PIE FILLING:

1 large pkg instant vanilla pudding (6 ounces)
2 1/2 cups cold milk
1 can sweetened condensed milk (14 ounces)
1 container whipped topping (16 ounces)
Approx 3 bananas sliced
Magic shell chocolate sauce
5 Vanilla Wafers

PREPARATION:

Mix pudding and milk; add condensed milk. Blend well; fold in half the whipped topping.

Alternate layers of pudding and bananas; top with remaining whipped topping and a few banana slices, crush the remaining wafers and place on top of the pie then shake the magic shell chocolate sauce really well then drizzle on top of the pie.

Refrigerate approx 4 hours before serving.