Book Review: YADA YADA Prayer Group...

*The Yada Yada Prayer Group Gets Real* by Neta Jackson

I don't want to share spoilers and realize that several of you are reading this series so I'll be very careful what I say. Jodi prays that 2003 will be "dull and boring" - a prayer that God doesn't seem to answer.

This book centers on the wonderful theme of redemption! Great stuff. Lots of surprises.

I think I enjoy this series because it provides such a diverse look into Protestantism....AND it shows how Christians from various backgrounds CAN worship together, share together and support one another. We've seen the same in the Air Force chaplaincy. It's been fun to read Neta's descriptions of the various forms of worship services. I think she does a great job with accurate descriptions. I've been in most the types of services mentioned and found her descriptions to be accurate....even down to the "phrases" that are common to hear in various churches. ::snort::

I was greatly encouraged last night while reading about Yada Yada's visit to the Paul and Silas Apostolic Baptist church....the hymn she mentions is one we sung every week in our gospel service at Elmendorf. I've been singing it all night and a.m. Great memories of Rev. Harvey and a timeless message.

"We've come this far by faith
Leaning on the Lord
Trusting in His holy word
He's NEVER FAILED US YET... we're singing
ohoooooooo oho oooooo
Can't turn around
We've come this far by faith"

The INCREDIBLES! and the FANTASTIC FOUR

Ah - the fun of having BIG brothers! I always stock up on costumes after Halloween because the children really like to play lots of imaginative games. There most recent have centered around super-heroes......

"Mom, come see baby Jack Jack! Come see!"

STORMS

Last night was to be our last study of the year. I began getting calls an hour before the study and we ended up cancelling. We had some amazing storms again last night. We didn't get hail this time (lots on Sunday) but we did have wind, rain, and lots of thunder. I was looking forward to concluding our Bible Study season last night....not that I don't love the group....but I am in a "closure" stage right now....school ending, graduation, Bible Study....seems the thing to do.

I let the younger ones go out and play in the rain. We used to do the sames in the dorms in the Philippines. BTW, she has a rubber snake...not a real one! ::snort::

The storm blew several eggs out of our tree. The kids called me to take photos, I took one and then cried. The little bird was perfectly formed and I'm sure it was a great homeschool science lesson but it made me very sad.

We ended the night reading some hilarious stories from a compilation of outdoor writers. We read one Patrick McManus, our all time favorite, and I can't remember who the other guy was but it was a great story. We laughed, prayed, and went to bed. A great night - but I still wish we could have finished up Bible Study. LOL

GRADUATION PREPARATION

I've been working on announcements. I need to get address labels to print tonight or give up and finish writing them all by hand. LOL

We need to decorate a table for the reception. Ideas anyone? We're pretty average around here. We've not done book "things". I figure I can turn his slide show into a photo album for the table. We have a few little league plaques type things. I could display his Chick Fil A uniform. LOL Hmmm....I could blow up a photo of last summer's mission trip. What else should I do? I do have some of his old tonka trucks...wonder if the littles would be upset if "their" toys end up at the reception????

Ideas?????

SCHOOL

WooHOO - we are making progress! Lots of it. The goal of Jared, Arielle and Nolan is to finish TOG this week.

We'll do math and reading all summer.

Josiah's plugging away on his last couple of week's work too. We need to get his portfolio mailed to NARHS.

Jamin is taking a ton of credits and hasn't been able to make up for our poor work ethic as easily as the others. He IS doubling up some work and will be able to really speed ahead as he finishes other subjects....but the poor boy will have work to do into June/July.....THIS is what happens when you don't begin until mid-Sept.....LOL

VANDALIZED!

It seems the ALF has discovered our little W. TX town. Several restaurants and the local high school were vandalized with graffiti. The Chick Fil A trailer was painted with "Eat more Veggies" and "Go Vegan" and "Meat is Murder". Black spray paint, destroying private property....go Animal Liberation Federation (yes they DID sign their art work). You know, I don't care if folks have these sentiments (I tend to think eating more veggies is a great idea myself), but in America we do have legal avenues of protest that don't involve cowardly lurking and destroying and defacing of private property.

In a strange twist, several have gone and purchased BIG buckets of KFC, taken their bucket and lawn chairs, and sat eating at the vandalized sites.  Gotta' love Texas...

Book Review: The Ministry of Motherhood

Ministry of Motherhood Book Discussion

This is the book we will begin discussing on Monday, 14 May. You can buy it at Family Bookstores, or order it from amazon.com, Whole Heart Ministries, or several other spots online.

Barring "unforeseen complications" here is my plan!

This book is written to be a 6 week study. I'm hoping we can discuss it in 5 - 6 weeks. I will be leaving for a month long vacation at the end of that time. I will post thoughts on the introduction AND the study questions on Monday. We'll try to do the first section that first week as well (page 21 - 57).

In future weeks I will simply post quotes and thoughts from each chapter M - Th. Friday I will post the study/discussion questions. That gives us three days to discuss the study questions and begin a new section the following Monday.

I will NOT be summarizing each chapter. I'm trusting that you will read the book. I'll post highlights that speak to me. You will be able to comment on any post and share quotes that spoke loudly to you that are different than the ones I comment on.

A few comments about comments....I know that on blogs most often everyone interacts with the blog author/owner. For our discussion, I'd like to see more of the give and take that you would expect to find in a small group meeting in a living room, or on an email list. Feel free to interact with the ideas I share, with me, AND with each other. I'll only ask that we are polite with each other...speaking truth in grace and love! Every book discussion post will be clearly labeled and put into that category so you can ignore them or find them whenever you have the time to read and comment.

I've read the first section to see how much time it will take and I think we are going to be BLESSED by this discussion.

Some have asked for more info on the book. From the back cover:
"....But in the dailyness of providing for a child's physical, emotional, and social needs, vital opportunities for spiritual nurture and training can be overlooked.

This doesn't have to be the case. You CAN focus your energy on what matters most. Learn how you can:
~Make life's mundane and nitty-gritty moments work for you and not against you
~Incorporate character building as a natural part of life
~Teach your child in the same way Jesus taught the disciples
~Pass on Crucial gifts that will serve your family for a lifetime

Using biblical wisdom and practical teachings, Sally Clarkson shows how you can make a lasting difference in your child's life by following the pattern Christ set with his own disciples - a model that will inspire and equip you to intentionally embrace the rewarding, desperately needed, and immeasurably valuable Ministry of Motherhood."

I've had the pleasure of attending conventions where Sally spoke. She never fails to challenge and encourage. Sally and Clay served on the staff of Campus Crusade for many years.