Joanne Heim

Read+Chat+Live: Spiritual Mothering, chapter 12

I owe all of you who started this Spiritual Mothering discussion a HUGE apology. Somehow my plan to post the questions for the last chapter of the book over Christmas break never happened. Obviously! Why is it that so often we quit when the finish line is in sight?

Can I just tell you how this has been hanging over me? Things that are undone take so much more energy than just finishing them, don't they?

All that to say, thank you for your patience and I apologize for not doing what I said I would do.

So, let's finish this discussion...finally!

1. Spiritual mothering requires energy..."enormous energy." Hunt talks about three levels of motivation: love for the other person, love for Jesus, and Christ's love compelling us.

Read the paragraphs at the top of page 175. What does this kind of renewal look like in this season of your life? Does it change?

2. It takes confidence to separate. "Being a spiritual mother means instilling Christ-confidence in a young woman so that she can leave me and face the world." 

Beginning with the end in mind often changes the direction we take. How does view of separation toward the end of a mentoring relationship influence how you would approach the beginning of such a relationship?

3. Read "A Change in Relationship" beginning on page 178. What stands out to you in this section? If you have biological daughters, how does this section challenge you, encourage you, or scare you?

4. As you come to the end of this book, how would you summarize your "one thing"--what you are taking away from this book and putting into practice?

Spiritual Mothering: Chapter 11

 "Our pain has purpose."

Part of the hope of the gospel that we hold out to the world is that our pain has purpose. We don't go through hurt and trials and sorrow for nothing. God, in his infinite goodness, doesn't just erase our heartaches so they never happened, but turns them into something used for our good and for his glory.

Our deepest pain becomes something beautiful. That's redemption.

1. "Women have told me that they seek out support groups away from their churches because they can't bear to risk exposing their pain inside their churches" (page 159).

If anything, the church should be a place where we feel safe to share our hurts, knowing that we will find comfort and encouragement among God's people. Each one of us can help make our churches a safe place as we are courageous to go first.

In a small group, the first person to answer a question often sets the tone for the conversation that follows. If we respond glibly, at a surface level, others will most likely follow the example we've set.

It can be scary to go first. To answer honestly when someone asks, "How are you?" To not say we're fine when the truth is that we're anything but fine.

We need wisdom to do this well. Because it's not always the time or place to dive deep. But in those situations where it is the time and place, how can you commit to being honest and real in your relationships with other women at church? How can you foster vulnerability and safety to hurting women around you?

2. The women at the cross give us a good example of the power of presence. They didn't have the right words, didn't have a handy solution. "But they were there...[they] stayed to the end" (page 162).

Do you have an example in your own life about the power of presence?

3. Hunt offers practical steps to developing comforting skills beginning on page 163. Study. Speak. Stick. 

How can you begin to develop these skills even this next week? Is there someone in your life who needs comfort? How can these steps help guide you in comforting her?

4. Anything else to add?

Spiritual Mothering: Chapter 10

"A woman who has not dealt with the hurts in her life and forgiven those who have offended her will have roots of bitterness and anger that will render her ineffective in entering into a nurturing relationship with a younger woman to encourage and equip her to live for God's glory."

Anyone else challenged by this chapter? There were many things I underlined, lots of helpful information, and gobs of truth in this chapter. Some of which made me nod my head in agreement, some of which made me wince a little as it struck home.

One thought that came to mind was this: We forgive others, knowing we have also been forgiven. And part of being aware of our own need for forgiveness involves the practice of confession and asking for forgiveness.

It's not comfortable, but as Jesus said of the woman who washed his feet with her tears and dried them with her hair, "She who has been forgiven much loves much." 

It can be a hard prayer to pray, but asking God to make us more aware of our sin prompts us to confess and seek forgiveness. And the result is loving God more. Which frees us to love others more.

1. What stood out to you in the story of Abigail? Why?

2. Abigail "had to live a life of daily forgiveness to maintain her sanity and her faith" (page 147). How is this true in your own life?

3. In your own words, describe why forgiveness is essential in spiritual mothering.

4. Anything else you want to add?

I am still here!

Hmm... 

I feel a little bit behind on the blogging thing. 

1. I know I said I'd post Spiritual Mothering stuff on Sundays and then I just didn't the other day. Without a word. Sorry!

I have my book sitting right here, ready to post for the next chapter. But I've decided that I should probably go ahead and post my responses to last week's questions first. So, it's coming. Stay tuned.

2. Yep, it's a numbered list. I'll try not to get carried away.

3. Emma's having a ball in New York with her Gran. She called me on Sunday night from the top of the Empire State Building, taught her Gran how to send photo text messages, and told me today that her favorite part of the Rockette's Christmas show was the manger scene.

Also, she had a Caesar salad with chicken today at the Bryant Park Grill (one of my fave NYC restaurants) and I quote, "My chicken was so tender and delicious." 

4. I love talking on the phone with Emma. She's been so very chatty while on this trip and I love hearing the favorite part of her day and what has stood out to her. Yesterday she was very impressed to see Smurfs at FAO Schwarz. (Anyone else have a big collection? I have oodles of them. In storage. But still.)

5. Audrey and I window shopped at the mall today. She held my hand and it was delightful. I loved every minute of it.

6. I'm going to stop on six, though part of me really wants to get all the way to 10. Instead, I'm going to go post my answers to last week's Spiritual Mothering questions. And maybe, just maybe, post the questions for the next chapter. But it's 8:57, so don't hold your breath!

Spiritual Mothering: Chapter 9

My Spiritual Mothering group at church finished up on Saturday morning, but with some plans to get together again after the holidays. Which is good, because I'm not ready for it to end! How I wish we could all sit face to face too!

Especially when I've typed up my answers to the discussion questions, hit a button, and Safari locks up and loses all of my answers. Ugh. I'll do my best to go back and re-answer the questions from chapter 8, but somehow it's never as good as what I said the first time. :)

Also, I emailed Susan Hunt the other day just to say hello and thank you for the book--and she emailed me back. I would love to attend a retreat with her. Wouldn't that be great?

Okay, on to chapter 9 and the story of Dorcas!

 

As always, there's no expiration date on these posts, so if you're catching up, don't feel pressured. Take your time to read and absorb what you're reading, to think about it, pray about it, ponder it. The goal is not just to get it done, but to be changed by what we're learning together.

Chapter 9: The Power of Acceptance

"How do we show acceptance of women in such a way as to encourage them? What qualities should a spiritual mother embody and teach to a younger woman?"

1. Do you battle the "super-woman syndrome"? In what ways? Be as specific as you can.

2. Dorcas "shows us that it is possible to be an intelligent, organized woman who is deeply involved in ministry without making others feel guilty or pressured" (page 131). 

Do you know any women like this? What are some of the things they do that prove this statement true?

3. Dorcas was careful "not to place demands on the woman but to communicate a belief in the woman's potential" (page 131).

If there were a scale for this, would you fall closer to placing demands or communicating belief in potential? Can you give an example?

4. Beginning on page 131, Hunt describes a series of "I can imagine" paragraphs about Dorcas. Is there one that stands out to you? One that you could take steps toward putting into practice this week?

5. Respond to the quote from Dobson on page 136 about the breakdown between women and women. Do you see this being true?

6. How can you help create a supportive network for women in your own sphere of influence? How can you connect with women around you and encourage them to connect with one another?

Could you start a prayer group, a book group, a play group? What about simply having women over for coffee or tea and giving them opportunity to connect? As you've talked about this book study, are there women who would like to go through this book? Could you host a group in your home?

Spiritual Mothering: Chapter 8

Chapter 8 already! I have loved doing this with you and reading your responses. A couple of quick thoughts.

Life is busy. It can be overwhelming. Especially this time of year. And though we get excited about starting something, sometimes it's hard to finish. I so get that. Please don't feel pressured to answer questions, to post something every week. 

What's most important is what happens between you and the Lord. What he's teaching you about this topic of spiritual mothering. If you can respond, great. If not, that's okay too. Believe me that I understand when computer time is the thing that has to give from time to time.

That said, I will say if you got the book, keep reading. Finish it...sometime! You'll be blessed and taught and so glad you did. But you pay attention to God's timing and teaching--not mine.

Yes, I am jealous for you to read and love this book as much as I do, but God uses different things in different times in our lives. We may be in the same season, or in a different season. The important thing is that we listen to God's voice in our lives and pursue what he's teaching us in that season.

Okay. Just needed to get that off my chest, to clear that up, to offer some grace, and remove any pressure.

I loved reading your responses to chapter 7. And am always tickled when I see that I underlined the same thing you did. I just want to grab your hands and look you in the eye, and say, "Me too! Me too!"

(And Ashley--I'm just giddy with you. And you can't know how your words about resentment hit me. God's timing is so perfect. Resentment and bitterness were part of the chapter I just did with the group of women at church and it's like God was saying, "I have something to say to you here, Joanne." And then I saw your comment and gulped. In a good way. Just another way God is using you all and other women to teach me. I so appreciate all of you!)

"The Ministry of Encouragement"

1. "As I learned to trust him, I learned to trust others" (page 113). How does growing in trust in God help you trust others? How have you seen the two linked in your own life?

2. "Encouragement is not just an exercise in fluff. The ministry of encouragement is hard work" (page 114). Did this chapter change your definition of encouragement? How are you thinking differently about encouragement after reading this chapter?

3. "Being with a spiritual mother who reflects Christ will encourage and equip a young woman to be like Him" (page 117). We are not mothering other women so they end up like us, but like Jesus. The goal is not a Mini Me! I think of praying that others will not see us, but see Jesus in us.

This means that we can mentor women who are nothing like us; we can ask a woman to be a spiritual mother who is nothing like us. The possibilities just expanded in a huge way! What is important is that we are like Jesus. 

Does that change your perception about your ability to be a spiritual mother or a spiritual daughter?

4. Different women reflect Jesus in different ways and have different strengths (and weaknesses!). No one of us will reflect him perfectly--we benefit from multiple spiritual mothers. As you think about the women you know, what are some of the ways you see them reflect Jesus that you want to learn?

5. We've talked a lot about our becoming spiritual mothers in the past chapters. But this chapter has made me realize my own longing for a spiritual mother or two in my everyday, face-to-face life. 

How might we benefit from being a spiritual daughter? As we pray to be open to mother a younger woman, let's also pray that God would guide us toward a spiritual mother of our own. If you do not have a mentor/spiritual mother, is there someone you'd like to ask?

6. Anything else you'd like to add?

Spiritual Mothering: Chapter 7

Let's make this week's discussion a simple one. Share one or two things that you underlined and explain why.

Was it something you wholeheartedly agree with? Something that challenges you to grow? Something you want to know more about or study more in depth?

If we were sitting around in a circle at a coffee shop (picture your favorite one and maybe even tell us which one it is so we can picture it too!), how would you finish this sentence: "I underlined the quote that says ________________ because ________________."

Spiritual Mothering: Chapter 6

Let's get to it! And if you're still feeling behind, no worries. Blog posts don't ever expire!

In this chapter, we get to take a close look at Luke 1:42-45. Go ahead and read it again (also on page 87 in the book) before we get going. "Those verses contain volumes about how older women can encourage and equip younger women to live for God's glory."

This is it--the HOW!

1. Verbal affirmation. "We must express approval...it is not impossible, and to be a spiritual mother, it is essential" (page 88).

On a scale of 1 to 5 (1 being not at all, 5 being very), how comfortable are you expressing verbal affirmation to others?

2. Approachable spirit. Are you approachable? Or do you hold women at arm's length? How can you work to be approachable to other women? Think about what you find approachable in other women. How can you emulate those things?

3. Challenge to be obedient. "When obedience is affirmed it usually produces more obedience" (page 90). I don't know about you, but I appreciate someone who challenges me to obedience, to greatness. How can you challenge women around you to obey the Word of God? 

4. Brevity of expression. As women, we are perfectly capable of talking things to death. Yet it is often the clear, concise truths we remember the best. Are you good at "cutting to the chase"? Or do you tend to hide truth that can sometimes be hard in layers of words to soften the blow?

5. Anything else that was an "a-ha" for you in this chapter? Any question you want to ask?

Spiritual Mothering, chapter 6

Hey all,

My day has been full--I'll get questions put up on Monday morning!

Joanne

Read+Chat+Live: A week to catch up

I saw Aurora's comment about a busy schedule this past week and thought it might be a good idea to take a week to catch up. It's that time of year for fall break, for the flu, for colds and sore throats.

Anyone feeling like you need a week to catch up? This book is filled with such treasure--I don't want it to feel like an obligation or be rushed. Take this week to savor, to ponder, to mull it over, and catch up.

I'll post questions for chapter 6 next Sunday!

Spiritual Mothering: Chapter 5

With chapter 5, we get to start examining the model of spiritual mothering, looking at Elizabeth and Mary. So let's get going!

 

1. Take a minute to read Karen's story, beginning on page 71. If you were to describe the kind of "charm school" you'd want to attend with a mentor, how might you describe it?

2. This kind of spiritual mothering relationship is all about "nurturing." After reading this chapter, how would you define nurturing?

3. This chapter includes some valuable information on who does what. Who asks who when it comes to this kind of relationship? That's an important question! Read the paragraph at the top of page 76. Do you agree? Disagree? Explain your response.

4. Are you cultivating younger women around you? How?

5. "A nurturing relationship serves." I don't know about you, but I tend to think of a mentor as being someone who is exalted rather than one who is a servant. As you think about mothering someone by serving her, does that change your perception about your ability to be a spiritual mother?

6. Hunt walks us through what Jesus knew to be true about himself that allowed him to serve freely on pages 79-82. The fact that we know these same things about ourselves frees us to serve.

"The knowledge of our eternal destiny gives a calmness and confidence regardless of present circumstances" (page 82). 

Was there anything in this section you needed to be reminded of today?

7. Anything else?

***

Leave your responses in the comments or link to your own blog post if you prefer. And don't forget to keep coming back to see what everyone is saying. There are some new comments on the previous chapters!

Spiritual Mothering: Chapter 4

So far, we've talked about the WHY of spiritual mothering, with this chapter we'll discuss the WHAT. What do we talk about in a spiritual mothering relationship?

Let's get started...

 

1. Hunt identifies the elements of curriculum for this relationship as love, relationships, and conduct. "There seems to be a direct correlation between the characteristics discussed in the last chapter that qualify women to train younger women, and the elements of training" (page 56).

As you look at the list below, which elements are you most excited about? Which elements make you think, I'm not sure about that one?

• Reverence (love)
• Not slanderers (relationships)
• Not addicted (conduct)

Now think about the flip question. Is there an area in which you feel God has especially gifted you--either through natural ability or even huge failures and so knowing what NOT to do?

2. "Biblical love does not come naturally" (page 57). What's your response to that statement? 

What particularly stood out to you in the section on "Love" beginning on page 56?

3. Here comes that speech thing again! "Until a woman has submitted her speech to the Lord, she surely cannot influence a younger woman to build right relationships." 

Note that it does NOT say, "Until a woman has her speech perfectly under control."

What does "submitting" your speech to the Lord look like? How might you make that a daily (hourly?!) practice?

4. Prayer AND practical advice are part of what an older woman offers a younger one. How have both prayer and practical advice been helpful to you? Which do you tend to give more easily? How could you work on developing the other?

5. "Only a passion for God's glory can overpower our self-interest" (page 63). We're back to knowing our purpose and identity again. How is identifying yourself as "the Lord's servant" and living with a purpose of glorifying God going? Is it starting to come more naturally?

It's a process to change how we think! What's helping you keep these things in the forefront of your mind? How are you "setting your mind" on these truths each day?

6. "Overindulgence in anything eventually enslaves" (page 63). How did this reminder hit you? Is there anything that immediately came to your mind as something you're in danger of overindulging with? Again, how can we pray for one another in this?

7. So you've seen what stood out to me from the questions and quotations. What's one question you would ask everyone from this chapter?

8. Anything else?

Any questions about what we're doing here? If you're new, click on the button in the sidebar to find out what's going on. Anything else? Send me an email or leave a comment.

And, yes, I'm noticing too that I asked more questions this week again. There's just so much good stuff to cover!

I'm heading out the door for a couple of days at a cabin with a friend and our kids. Not sure if I'll be checking in or not. If not, I'll see you mid-week!

Spiritual Mothering: Chapter 3

Chapter 3: The Command

I love, love, love reading all your comments. And seeing that you are commenting on one another's posts and comments. So fun! How I wish you could all come sit around my living room in your jammies and we could chat in person.

It will be heaven...quite literally!

So...chapter 3.

Now that we've established that God is the reference point for all of life and God's glory is the over-arching goal for all of life, we get to look at the command itself as found in Titus 2:3-4. What does the Bible say about this kind of nurturing and equipping relationship?

I have to say that this is the kind of in-depth study I love--picking a verse or a passage and exploring its meaning. It's like digging for treasure, and because it's God's Word, there is always treasure to find.

Here are this week's questions:

1. So far, what's your favorite thing about this book? What's been your biggest "a-ha" moment? What are you telling others about this book?

2. From page 40: "Paul did not expect or want the women in the Cretan church to change their conduct without changing their thinking. He wanted them to think Christianly so that they would act Christianly. And sound doctrine is essential for right thinking."

The truth is that for change to last, for it to be effective, our thinking must change--not just our behavior. How have you found this to be true in your life? Is there an area in your life where you are asking God to transform your thinking? Feel free to be specific so we can pray for you as we visit with each other this week.

3. Hunt talks about the urgency of this call to invest in the lives of younger women (page 42), stating that it is a "pivotal issue" in our culture. How do you respond to this? Do you agree that the way "to combat the decadence of [your] culture" is to focus on energies on these kinds of mentoring relationships? Why, or why not?

Look too at the quote from John Adams on the bottom of page 42. If this is true, what do you think it says about the country in which you live? Does how you respond to this affect how you view mentoring as both "urgent" and "pivotal"?

4. Review the characteristics of the command on pages 43-44. As you read this (and remembering that God equips women to do what he has called us to do), what stands out to you? Is there an area where you need some additional discipline or help? How could you make that area a focus of prayer in the next week?

5. "Older women are to encourage and equip younger women to live for God's glory...The older women in the congregation were to be taught how to live in accordance with sound doctrine so that they could train the younger women--no exceptions" (page 46). 

All of us are older than someone else. So none of us can use the excuse of being too young to adhere to this command. Read through the section "Who Are the Older Women?" once more. Here's what it comes down to: "No theological expert. No super saint. Just a woman willing to be obedient to the command to mother."

Take a look at the reasons you've thought you might not be qualified to mother another. What kinds of things have held you back? Do your reasons still stand in light of what you've just read? 

6. This is getting long...so let's end with the usual "Anything else?" In some ways this is my favorite because I'm always so curious to know what jumped off the page at you!

I'll end with just a few last thoughts...

"Christian women are good at doing what is commanded here."

"Obedience to [this command] brings out the very best in us."

Finally, let's remember to keep on praying and asking God to reveal to us who we could ask to be our own mentor, and also to keep us open and available to a woman he would have us to mentor.

***

As always, click on the button in the sidebar on the right for all the pertinent information on this book discussion. And no, it's not too late to join. We'd love to have you!

Spiritual Mothering: Chapter 2 and a little video

Chapter 2 is titled "A Life-Purpose." I have to say that this is what so much of this book is about. Are we living for God's glory in all we do? Chances are that the more we focus on that purpose, the more nurturing we will be to those around us--other women, our own children, other people's children, you name it.

Here are this week's questions:

1. In the first short section of chapter 2, Hunt talks about the second-pivotal principle of spiritual mothering: that our life-purpose is to glorify God. The driving force of any spiritual mothering relationship is not the relationship, but God's glory.

How does this alter/change/influence/affect what you've thought so far about this topic? Does it change how you perceive this kind of mentoring? If so, how?

2. Much of the chapter examines Mary. "I fear that too often we do not hold Mary up as an example, because we are overcompensating for some who have elevated her above humanity. This robs us of one of the most beautiful examples of faith found in Scripture...In Mary we do see a woman who embraced God's glory as her reason for being and translated that into her experience" (page 26).

What struck you fresh about Mary's story after reading this chapter? 

3. Hunt made a couple of statements about Mary's response to the angel:

"This young woman handled the situation without her brain or her emotions being scrambled" (page 27).

"This was no emotional reaction but rather a deliberate and logical response based upon the character and promises of God" (page 28).

How do these statements compare to how you typically respond to something? Are you more on the side of being scrambled, or more deliberate and logical?

How does/should having a life-purpose of glorifying God and an identity of being the Lord's servant affect our response any kind of situation?

4. On page 32, Hunt distinguishes between confidence based on our identity in Christ and self-confidence. How do you see these as being different?

5. If you had to pick a sentence or a phrase from this chapter to write on your bathroom mirror to see each and every day, what would you pick? Why?

6. Anything else you want to add, highlight, or ask everyone else to answer? Have at it!

Feel free to write your own blog post and leave a link in the comments or to write your answers directly in the comments here. Be sure to check back on this post (and last week's here) as there's some back-and-forth conversation going on. Which totally thrills me. I love seeing my friends become friends!

Don't forget that you have to hang on after you type your comment and preview it to type in the word verification thing-y. I know it's a pain, but it prevents spam. I didn't used to use it, but after getting TONS of spam comments on some older posts, I turned it on.

And if ever you get totally frustrated, send me an email and I'll put your comments up in a comment from my computer.

I put up a couple more questions than we had for the last chapter. Too many, not enough, just right?

Any other housekeeping stuff I should be aware of? Let me know!

Spiritual Mothering: A quick reminder

Hey gals!

So many of you have responded to chapter 1 and I'm having so much fun reading your comments. This is why I love a group study--you open my eyes to things I would've missed otherwise. So thank you--for being so thoughtful and for making me think!

Don't forget to go visit someone else if you have a few minutes. You can find the links for chapter 1 on this post. (And leave another comment to respond to a gal without a blog of her own.)

For those of you who haven't posted about chapter 1 yet, don't worry! Do you need more time? Has your book not arrived? I'm not nagging you and no pressure, but I so want to hear what you have to say! So get busy. Okay, maybe I am nagging...just a little bit. But it's nagging in love. :)

I am planning to post questions for chapter 2 on Sunday. If you haven't done chapter 1, don't worry. Just go back anytime and do your response and leave a link on the chapter 1 post--or a comment with your answers. Then link to the chapter 2 post for your chapter 2 answers. Make sense?

And if you want to join in, please go here and leave your information for everyone else so we can visit you and get to know you. I think I'm going to compile that information and list everyone on my links page so we can quickly find everyone.

I think that's about it. Any questions? Comments? Lemme know!

Spiritual Mothering: Chapter 1

Hooray! We finally get to begin and I couldn't be more excited. 

I have loved reading from all of you about where you're from and why you're interested in talking about this book. If you want a refresher on the meet and greet, check out this post and scroll down to the comments. If you're new here and have no idea what this Read+Chat+Live thing is, check out this post here.

If you want to join in, welcome! Go get a book here and catch up by reading the foreword, introduction, and first chapter.

A quick review: You can answer the questions on this post in the comments (especially if you don't have a blog) or you can leave a link to your blog post. Over the course of the week, answer the questions/do a post and visit a couple of other people. 

If you want to respond to someone who doesn't have a blog, go ahead and do it in the comments here too. That way no one has to leave an email address out in the open for all the world to see.

And if there's a question you have and want others to answer, ask away.

Questions? Leave me a comment, or go ahead and send me an email at thesimplewife [at] aol [dot] com.

Okay, let's get started!

1. Susan Hunt defines spiritual mothering as this: "When a woman possessing faith and spiritual maturity enters into a nurturing relationship with a younger woman in order to encourage and equip her to live for God's glory." What stands out to you in this definition? Why? Does this seem different from a typical mentoring definition? Why, or why not?

2. Beginning on page 18, Hunt talks about our need for mothering. How do you see this need among women you know? In your own life?

3. What's something that you underlined, highlighted, circled, starred, or drew arrows to in this chapter? Why did it stand out to you?

Each chapter ends with a Spiritual Mothering Challenge--an opportunity for each one of us to think a little deeper about some of the ideas in the chapter. 

As we go through this book together, let's each start praying for God to bring someone to us to mentor and for wisdom about who we could ask to be a mentor.

Read+Chat+Live: Spiritual Mothering

Okay, gals, thanks for being so patient with me this week! With my mom only here for about a day and a half, I really wanted to hang out with her instead of hanging out on my laptop. So thank you. 

But, y'all have totally been on my mind in the midst of wandering around IKEA (mmm...meatballs!), Trader Joes (mmm...everything!), and floating around the pool (ahhhh...). Mom and I talked a lot about this book, about spiritual mothering, about the group she did the book with, about how mentoring works or could work or might work, and lots else.

So!

I sat down and compiled a list of everyone who said they wanted to join in--there are about 35 of us so far. And that seems like a pretty big group of women who are interested in the topic and willing to spend some time learning more about it. I'm so thrilled!

It's not too late to join if you're interested. Just let me know you want in and you're in! If you are new around here, you might want to click here to see how this whole thing got started.

And if you're thinking you want to join in but you don't have a blog, don't let that stop you. I've been thinking about how this can work for everyone and think I may have a plan.

First, I made a button! Because if we're going to do this, we have to have a button, right? :) You can take a peek at it over there on the right in the sidebar. (And you'll find the code for it down below if you want one too!)

I was thinking about what to call this venture and decided that "an online book reading/study/discussion/club thing" wouldn't fit on a button very well. And as I thought about what we're doing I came up with the Read+Chat+Live thing. 

We're reading it together, chatting about it, and then living it out wherever we are. Yes, we can READ and LIVE on our own, but the CHAT part is often just as helpful and challenging as what we read on the page on our own. (Which is why I love group Bible study so much, but that's a whole other thing.)

(Plus, the words each have four letters and fit nicely in the space I had.)

So, LET'S GET STARTED!

1. If you haven't ordered the book, you need to do that. Here's a link to get a copy from Amazon if you want to go that route.

2. When you get the book, if you're like me you'll put your name in the front as well as "Fall 2009" so you'll remember in the future when you first read it. And you'll need a pen handy when you start reading, because you're going to want to underline. A lot.

3. Read the foreword, introduction, and chapter 1.

There are 12 chapters and I think each one merits a discussion by itself, so I'm thinking that it'll be best to do this once a week--otherwise we'll still be going six months from now. (Not that that's bad, but the book is so good I don't think you'll want to wait that long to finish it!)

I'll do a post on Sunday afternoon with some specific questions and you can respond to them and do your own post anytime during the week that works best for you. If you have a blog, you can link to your blog post in the comments. If not, you can respond directly in the comments. And if you have a blog, but want to just use the comments, you can do that too.

I'd love for us to take the time to read what the others have to say--at the same time I recognize that 35 extra posts a week to read is a lot. So maybe pick a few a day or a handful a week to read, switching it up until you visit everyone at least once or twice. Given that we can't sit together in a room and chat for a few hours each week, it's going to be in commenting to/with each other that the chatting will take place.

To give everyone time to get a book in hand and read the first chapter, I'll do my first post on Sunday, September 20.

How's that sound?

For now, here's what I want to know in the comments (that way they'll be easy for all of us to find fast this one time) that will help us get to know each other a bit better. 

Your name
Your age-ISH
Location
Blog, if you have one
What is it about this topic that excites you? Why are you interested in it?

I'll even go first:

Joanne Heim
37
Phoenix, AZ
The Simple Wife (www.thesimplewife.typepad.com)

I want a mentor! And I feel challenged to be mentoring someone else too--especially after LPL in Laramie in May. And I will need a mentor when I return to seminary--it's part of the degree program. But how do you go about getting one? What do you do together? I'm looking for some concrete answers, some input, some wisdom, some challenge, some direction. That's why I'm excited about reading this book!

Your turn! Happy Saturday everyone,

Joanne
  

P.S. If you want a sidebar button, here's the code you need:

<a href="http://thesimplewife.typepad.com/the_simple_wife/2009/09/spiritual-mothering.html/"><img border="0" src="https://thesimplewife.typepad.com/bookclubbutton.jpg"></a>

It looks like this and links anyone who clicks on it (does that make them a clicker?!) to this post in case they want to join in too.