Activate

bittersweet ...

2012-05-19T00:08:00.000+01:00

Hi there,

Ever wondered about the meaning of the word bittersweet? A definition taken from the oxford dictionary is: - …

“Arousing pleasure tinged with sadness or pain” …:

Based on this definition, won’t you agree that life is or can be bittersweet … when in a split second; all the joy and happiness we feel can suddenly be tinged with sadness for a reason and for a season? But guess what? God uses these bittersweet seasons of change to refine our character for the better.

This brings me to the introduction of the book we just finished reading …. "bittersweet" by Shauna Niequist.

I found bittersweet relatively easy to read primarily because of the various short chapters and was able to pick it up and put it down effortlessly. Although every topic did not appeal and apply to me, I still enjoyed reading bittersweet. The chapter on grace was very refreshing and one quote in particular caught my attention:

….… "Grace isn't about having a second chance; grace is having so many chances that you could use them through all eternity and never come up empty......

There are other interesting and wise quotes scattered throughout the book. A couple I found thought-provoking are:

On page 90 –

..... "Now is your time. Become, believe, and try. Walk closely with people you love, and with other people who believe that God is very good and life is a grand adventure. Don't spend time with people who make you feel like less than you are. Don't get stuck in the past, and don't try to fast-forward yourself into a future you haven't yet earned. Give today all the love and intensity and courage you can, and keep travelling honestly along life's path."

and on page 240 -

……“My life is a story about who God is and what He does in a human heart.”

I give Shauna credit for her honesty and vulnerability which I find quite inspiring. I am really looking forward to meeting her at the Kerith Community Church – Unique - REAL2012 women’s conference taking place on the 22nd and 23rd of June.

I will recommend bittersweet to both Christians and non-Christians to read.

If you have already read this book, please post your comments and thoughts.

Enjoy!

Love and blessings,
Ope

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Synopsis

In her follow-up book to Cold Tangerines, author Shauna Niequist shifts her gaze to the challenges and blessings of change in Bittersweet. Drawing from her own experiences in a recent season of pain and chaos, she explores the bits of wisdom and growth we earn the hard way, through change, loss, and transition, and offers her own reflections on what brought her hope along the way.

'The idea of bittersweet is changing the way I live, unraveling and re-weaving the way I understand life. Bittersweet is the idea that in all things there is both something broken and something beautiful, that there is a moment of lightness on even the darkest of nights, a shadow of hope in every heartbreak, and that rejoicing is no less rich even when it contains a splinter of sadness. 'It's the practice of believing that we really do need both the bitter and the sweet, and that a life of nothing but sweetness rots both your teeth and your soul. Bitter is what makes us strong, what forces us to push through, what helps us earn the lines on our faces and the calluses on our hands. Sweet is nice enough, but bittersweet is beautiful, nuanced, full of depth and complexity. Bittersweet is courageous, gutsy, audacious, earthy.........

Niequist, a keen observer of life with a lyrical voice, writes with the characteristic warmth and honesty of a dear friend: always engaging, sometimes challenging, but always with a kind heart. You will find Bittersweet savory reading, indeed. 'This is the work I'm doing now, and the work I invite you into: when life is sweet, say thank you, and celebrate. And when life is bitter, say thank you, and grow.'

LIGHT FORCE

2012-04-19T18:43:00.004+01:00

Hi there,

Don’t you just love the idea of reading variety of books? Well, in Activate we certainly do. Just after we finished reading “Seriously funny” which was indeed seriously funny, we moved on to something a lot more serious and not in the slightest bit funny!

Have you ever wondered about the Christians caught up in the Middle East conflicts? Some of you might think to yourselves, what Christians? Well, there are Palestinian Christians as well as the Messianic Jews who have for years endured great sufferings because of the crisis in the Middle East. As Christians, it is significant that we seek understanding of the crisis and persecution the churches in the Middle East are facing.

As a group, we just read Brother Andrew’s “Light Force: The only hope for the Middle East”.

This book details on some of the earlier conflicts in Lebanon during its civil war as well as the religious and ethnic boundaries situation in the West Bank and Gaza. Some parts of this book will move you to tears when you read about how people’s lives were torn apart and the pain and suffering endured. Brother Andrew also wrote about the power of forgiveness, reconciliation, faith and hope …

A very enlightening read.

Why not grab yourself a copy of Light Force and read all about the only hope for the Middle East?

If you have already read this book, please share your comments and thoughts with us.

Enjoy!

Love and blessings,

Ope

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Synopsis

In the midst of never-ending debates, protests, riots, suicide bombings, and broken peace initiatives in the Middle East, one man came to make a difference.

He sought out church leaders and urged them not to flee the violence but to stay and strengthen their congregations to become a force for change. He faced the fiery rhetoric of Muslim fundamentalists head on and told them that the only hope for peace would come through Jesus, the Prince of Peace.

His message is that there is a radical Christian approach to the stalemate of Middle East conflict. Only the gospel of love has the answer, and Christians are called to allow God to use them to demonstrate the example of Jesus.

Previously known for his determination to deliver Bibles behind the Iron Curtain, Brother Andrew has spent the last thirty-five years in the Middle East serving the Christian Church as well as witnessing to Jews and Muslims. His mission: to bring hope to the believers caught in the crossfire of the most volatile region on earth.

Light Force brings Brother Andrew's story right up to date. It explains and illustrates the conflict – political and spiritual and its devastating effect on human lives.

Seriously Funny ... Life, Love and God ...

2012-02-07T18:08:00.003Z

I am sure we all have some funny or /and embarrassing stories to tell. I certainly do. These are often stories about things that happen in my everyday life. Some of our stories may not seem funny to us at that point in time, but if we cast our minds back at them now we could find a humorous moment to laugh about.

Over Christmas 2011, the group read “Seriously Funny” by Adrian Plass and Jeff Lucas. It consists of letters between the two friends. The letters were sometimes funny, embarrassing, sad, controversial and above all honest. Although light hearted reading, it touches on many thought-provoking discussions such as:- how Christians are perceived , church life, spiritual growth, God’s grace, kindness, hearing from God, doubt, Christian conferences etc..

Adrian and Jeff were open and honest in their correspondence. They did not pretend to be “super spiritual Christians”, but shared their love for Jesus and showed that they are just ordinary people like the rest of us who also have some bad times as well as good times.

A thoroughly good read that has a combination of humour and seriousness.

Happy 2012!

Ope

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Synopsis:

A little while ago, concerned that the next time they got together, one of them would be in a coffin, Jeff Lucas and Adrian Plass decided to start exchanging letters - and this book is the result.

It was created spontaneously and uniquely; It isn't fictional nor is it predictable but what "Seriously Funny" does is combine thoughts, real life situations and express living moments of two honest Christians. It talks about serious issues, which also have funny endings and stories, hence the title "Seriously Funny". Breathtakingly honest, "Seriously Funny" is a celebration of 21st century Christianity - as well as a no-holds barred expose of its sillier side. And they are equally hard on themselves - their most embarrassing moments are a joy to read.

Amazing Grace

2012-01-14T18:20:00.006Z

Hi everyone,

In November, we finished reading the biography of John Newton the man who wrote the hymn - Amazing Grace. In this book you will learn more about his colourful life, his journey through slave trading, his conversion, his Christian life and his contribution to the abolition of slave trade. This book is worth reading.

Enjoy!

Love and blessings,

Ope

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John Newton: From Disgrace to Amazing Grace by Jonathan Aitken

Synopsis

In this book, Jonathan Aitken (a former MP and cabinet minister) discovers John Newton the man, his motivation and beliefs.

JOHN NEWTON is best known as the author of "Amazing Grace" but this brilliant new biography shows how he led one of the most colourful and influential lives of the 18th century.

Using a wealth of unpublished material, Jonathan Aitken charts Newton's journey through slave trading, best selling authorship, ordination, church leadership, abolitionist campaigning and the spiritual mentoring of William Wilberforce and William Cowper.

From Newton's rip-roaring adventures on the high seas to his emergence as a pivotal figure in the abolitionist and evangelical movements this is a life of amazing achievement as well as of Amazing Grace.

Just Wondering .......

2011-11-19T16:29:00.005Z

Over the summer, we read "Just wondering” by Philip Yancey. This is a thought provoking book of many questions set out in short chapters, which challenge us personally on various issues in life. Some of these issues are quite diverse and touch on topics such as religion, humans, ethics, church, Christian gospel, life with God etc.

This is a great book that leaves you feeling challenged.

It's worth reading.

Enjoy!

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"Just Wondering: A Book of Many Questions "
by Philip Yancey

Synopsis:

Best-selling author Philip Yancey writes on a diverse range of topics that touch on the fields of history, science, religion, ethics, and more in this new edition
of Just Wondering….

"Human beings, including myself, seem odd to me. Half ainimal, half angel, we keep surprising and disappointing ourselves and each other". As Yancey seeks to pin down this sense of oddness, he asks: why did God stay silent during the Holocaust; where did racial hatred come from; why do people show great interest in near-death experiences, but very little interest in Heaven; why is sex fun; and why is almost all religious art realistic, whereas much of God's creation excels at abstract design? Here are 44 "ruminations" chosen from Yancey's own awe at the world God made.
First published in 1989 as I Was Just Wondering. This revised and updated edition offers a level-headed, honest journey into questions that are just as important and challenging to readers today.

TOO SMALL TO IGNORE

2011-09-14T20:59:00.005+01:00

Hi all,

In July, we finished reading "Too small to ignore" by Wess Stafford, the leader of Compassion international.

In this book, not only does Wess share with us his incredible boyhood experiences when growing up in an African village, he also draws our attention to the suffering and tragic deprivation that children in the world today face. He calls us to open the eyes of our heart to see the strategic importance of the children around us and why they must be protected and cared for.

One thing we need to remember is that a small pebble in the pond of one child's life may send out ripples that eventually transform many others.

On a final note, the bible tells us that Jesus entrusted the little children to our care and we should not cause them to sin (Mat 18:6). We are called to provide safe, nurturing environments for them. It is our job to train a child in the way he should go (prov22:6).

… A must read

Kind regards,

Ope

Synopsis

The time has come, argues Dr. Wess Stafford, for a major paradigm shift: Children are too important and too intensely loved by God to be left behind or left to chance. Children belong to all of us and we are compelled to intervene on their behalf. We must invest in children–all across the world.
There are strategic, persuasive reasons–beyond love and kindness–to invest in children. Today they may snuggle into your lap, if you let them. But tomorrow you may not have access to them in the corridors of power they might occupy. Now is the time to shape the future.
Dr. Stafford issues an urgent call for change. His adventures as a boy raised in a West African village provide an often-humorous and always-captivating backdrop to his profound and inspiring challenges. Wess lived the reality of “it takes a village to raise a child” and calls us to “be that loving village for children everywhere.”
This book will encourage you to turn your good, loving intentions into strategic actions and empower you to help change the world–and the future–forever: one child at a time.

Redeeming Love

2011-06-03T12:08:00.003+01:00

Another truly amazing book by Francine Rivers….

California's gold country, 1850. Angel expects nothing from men but betrayal. Sold into prostitution as a child, she survives by keeping her hatred alive. What she hates most are the men who use her, leaving her empty and dead inside. Then she meets Michael Hosea. A man who seeks his Father's heart in everything, Michael obeys God's call to marry Angel and to love her unconditionally. Slowly, day by day, he defies Angel's every bitter expectation until, despite her resistance, her heart begins to thaw. But with her unexpected softening come overwhelming feelings of unworthiness and fear. So Angel runs. Back to the darkness...A powerful retelling of the book of Hosea, Redeeming Love is a life-changing story of God's unconditional, redemptive, all-consuming love. A page-turner…

Battlefield of the mind ...

2011-04-08T22:00:00.001+01:00

I absolutely enjoyed reading “The battlefield of the mind”. I found this book fruitful and thought provoking. The sections of the book that applied to me spoke volumes to me….indeed an eye opener. I found some of her comments and analogy enlightening, refreshing as well as challenging. I pray I will be able to apply what I have read and learnt to my daily walk with God with the help of the Holy Spirit. It was valuable listening to the thoughts and views of the other members of the book club during our meeting. It is amazing how the same book can speak to a group of people in different ways. On a closing note, I want to encourage every one of us to try and hold on to the truth and use the words of God as a weapon against the attacks from the enemy.

Stay blessed,

Ope

….And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free. ….Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. (John 8:32, 36)

Battlefield of the Mind

2011-04-08T20:24:00.008+01:00

Hi there,

We have just read "Battlefield of the Mind" by Joyce Meyer. Please share your comments and thoughts with us if you have read this book.

Kind regards,

Ope

Synopsis

A WAR IS RAGING.

Your Mind is the Battlefield.

Worry, doubt, confusion, depression, anger and feelings of condemnation... all these are attacks on the mind. If you suffer from negative thoughts, take heart! Joyce Meyer has helped millions win these all-important battles – and she can help you, too. In this popular bestseller, Joyce Meyer shows you how to change your life by changing your mind. She teaches you how to deal with thousands of thoughts you have every day and focus your mind to think the way God thinks. She shares the trials, tragedies and ultimate victories from her own marriage, family and ministry that led her to a wondrous, life-transforming truth, and reveals her thoughts and feelings every step of the way.

Now it’s your turn to:

• Gain control over your mind and find freedom and peace

• Recognize damaging thoughts and stop them from influencing your life

• Be patient with yourself even when you make mistakes

• Arm yourself with the word of God, praise, prayer, and other powerful spiritual weapons

• Follow the light out of your mental “wilderness” – the bad attitudes and excuses people use that keep them from God – and find undreamed of happiness and fulfillment. Don’t surrender to misery another day.

Find out today how to guarantee your victory in your BATTLEFIELD OF THE MIND!

The five people you meet in Heaven

2011-01-31T20:32:00.003Z

Hi there,

Our first meeting of 2011 was held on Saturday January 22 where we discussed "The five people you meet in heaven" by Mitch Albom.

I quite enjoyed this fiction and found it easy to read. I liked the way Mitch Albom switched the setting back and forth as well as the subtle suspense of wanting to find out if the main character saved the little girl’s life. This made the story more appealing and interesting to read.
Regardless of the fact that I found spiritual depth lacking, the book gave me a lot to think about life and how our actions – deliberate or accidental, can have an altering effect on others and vice versa.

I certainly recommend this book for reading!

Please share your comments and thoughts with us if you have read this book.

Regards,

Ope

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Synopsis

This is an enchanting and beautifully written novel that explores a mystery only heaven can unfold. Eddie is a grizzled war veteran who feels trapped in the toil of his father before him, fixing rides at a seaside amusement park. Then he dies in a tragic accident, trying to save a little girl from a falling cart. He awakens in the afterlife, where he learns that heaven is not a lush Garden of Eden, but a place where your earthly life is explained to you by five people who were in it. The author gives us an astoundingly original story that will change everything you've ever thought about the afterlife -- and the meaning of our lives here on earth.

Happy New Year!

2011-01-31T19:23:00.000Z

Sorry for the belated post here, ladies!

Happy 2011! It’s amazing how fast the days have gone by… it's already the end of January! I pray that 2011 will be a year of blessings and fulfilment for each of us.

Don’t you just love the variety of books we get to read in Activate? Well, I do and I have you ladies to thank for that.

Love,

Ope

What is God's Language?

2010-12-04T16:11:00.004Z

Hi there,

At our last meeting on November 20, 2010, we discussed “The Language of God” by Francis Collins.

In this interesting and well written book, Francis Collins puts forward his views on how science and belief in God are compatible. In it, he shares his personal conversion from agnosticism to theism and raises some arguments for the idea of God as well as responds to several objections to belief in God. He examines various issues such as moral law, the big bang, the origins of life, evolution and DNA, and concludes that DNA sequencing only shows us something of how God operates but doesn’t explain the source of things that make humanity special and the universe itself.
He finally considers theistic evolution, which he believes is ‘science and faith in harmony’ and encourages believers that science and faith are compatible and that faith makes sense.

I enjoyed reading "The Language of God" and found it packed with lots of information geared towards finding harmony between the existence of God and science, especially in our current world, where science and the existence of God are at war. In addition, I found parts of the main text and appendix to be a good resource of information in knowing more about the human genome and the science of embryonic and adult stem cell research and cloning. I therefore feel more equipped and comfortable in holding “the unavoidable” discussion of God vs. science which usually crops up during conversations with non-believers.

I think it is a good book to be read by all – Christians, theist, agnostics, atheist, creationists etc.

If you have read “The Language of God”, please share your comments with us.

Stay blessed,

Ope

The language of God
by Francis S. Collins

Synopsis

Dr. Francis Collins, head of the Human Genome Project, is one of the world's leading scientists. He works at the cutting edge of the study of DNA, the code of life. Yet he is also a man of unshakable faith in God and scripture.
Dr. Collins believes that faith in God and faith in science can coexist within a person and be harmonious.
In The Language of God he makes his case for God and for science. He has heard every argument against faith from scientists, and he can refute them. He has also heard the needless rejection of scientific truths by some people of faith, and he can counter that, too. He explains his own journey from atheism to faith, and then takes readers for a stunning tour of modern science to show that physics, chemistry, and biology can all fit together with belief in God and the Bible.
The Language of God is essential reading for anyone who wonders about the deepest questions of faith: Why are we here? How did we get here? What does life mean?

Comments on "Gladys Aylward:The Little Woman"

2010-08-02T16:19:00.002+01:00

I was moved by Gladys’s level of faith, humility, obedience and determination to serve God at any cost. She was convinced that God had called her to go to China to preach the Gospel and was undeterred by the criticism and contrary advice of others.

Believing that it was her calling from God, she was determined to make it to China by all means, trusting that God will meet all her needs. Her journey was filled with every kind of obstacle you can imagine, but these did not deter her. It was a testimony of God making a way where there seems to be no way.

She was humble and obedient and never once doubted that God was not there with her all the way. Her Life truly shined as an amazing example of being willing to submit and give it all for her Saviour. How amazing!

Kind regards,

Ope

"Gladys Aylward"

2010-08-02T15:32:00.005+01:00

Hi there,

I just love the fact that we get to read a variety of inspirational books in Activate. This has given me the opportunity to read books I would not readily pick up to read and broaden my horizon. Having said that, we have just finished reading yet another fantastic book, “Gladys Aylward: The Little Woman”. What an amazing woman!

Please share your comments and thoughts with us if you have read this book.

Thanks.

Kind regards,

Ope

Synopsis:

A solitary woman. A foreign country. An unknown language. An impossible dream? No, God's call on the life of Gladys Aylward. With no mission board to support or guide her and less than ten dollars in her pocket, Gladys Aylward left her home in England to answer God's call to take the message of the gospel to China. With the Sino-Japanese War waging around her, she struggled to bring the basics of life and the fullness of God to orphaned children.
Time after time, God triumphed over impossible situations, and drew people to Himself.
The Little Woman tells the story of one woman's determination to serve God at any cost. With God all things are possible!

The Prodigal God

2010-05-08T16:55:00.003+01:00

Hello,

We have just finished reading "The Prodigal God". This is a short book structured around Jesus' parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15 and explains how to adapt ourselves to live in relationship with the Father.

If you have read “The Prodigal God”, you are welcome to share your thoughts. Please leave a comment.

Kind regards,

Ope

Synopsis

In THE PRODIGAL GOD, New York pastor Timothy Keller uses the story of the prodigal son to shine a light on the central, beautiful message of Jesus: the gospel of grace, hope and salvation.

Keller argues that the parable of the prodigal son, while Jesus’ best-known parable, is also his least understood. He introduces the reader to all the characters in this timeless story, showing that it concerns not just a wayward son, but also a judgemental older brother and, most importantly, a loving father.

This short but powerful book is a reminder to the faithful, an explanation to the seeker, and finally an invitation to all – both older and younger brothers – to enter in to the ‘unique, radical nature of the gospel’: the reckless, spendthrift love of God.

The Shack

2010-03-25T05:55:00.005Z

Hello,

There was a lot of hype about “The Shack” when it was first published that it caught my attention. I didn’t get round to reading it then and therefore was quite glad when it was chosen as our reading title. A very thought provoking book. Please share your comments and thoughts with us if you have read "The Shack".

Kind regards,

Ope

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Synopsis.

The Shack is a fictional story that seeks to provide answers to the age-old question, “Where is God in a world so filled with unspeakable pain?” Mack, the main character, has lived under the burden of The Great Sadness since the abduction and murder of his daughter four years previous. He then receives a note from God (”Papa”), inviting him to return to the shack — the scene of his daughter’s murder — for a time together. When he returns to the scene, Mack is treated to a weekend encounter with the Godhead. Each member of the Trinity is present: “Papa” – a large African-American woman (representing the Father); ”Sarayu” – an ethereal woman of Asian descent (representing the Holy Spirit); and “Jesus” – a Middle Eastern man with carpentry skills. Most of the book is Mack’s dialogue with these characters from this point on. They discuss many topics, but ultimately help Mack to deal with The Great Sadness. By the time the weekend is over, Mack is a changed man.

Left Behind?

2010-01-27T22:32:00.002Z

Hello!

Happy New Year to you all.

We have just finished reading “Left Behind” by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins.
This is a novel of the earth’s last days. The story is built around the “end times” in a fictional context around the theme of the “Rapture”.

I need to stress that Left Behind is a “Fiction Story”. However, the subject of this book really makes you stop and ask yourself where you are in your walk with God.

A must read for all Christians or for anyone who has any questions concerning Christianity.

Love and blessings,

Ope

Totally Forgiving Ourselves

2009-11-24T06:02:00.004Z

Hello,

So sorry it's been a while, just lots of "life and doings" happening all at once. However, that did not mean that we haven't been reading. We recently finished reading "Totally Forgiving Ourselves" by R T Kendall.

What a book!

Initially, I struggled to break into this book, and found the first couple of chapters a bit dry. However, I focused and pressed on and I sure am glad I did. I started enjoying the book and there was a lot of advice and information to take in page after page.

Totally Forgiving Ourselves (TFO) gave me a fresh insight about forgiveness, guilt (false and real), self pity, self righteousness and judging others and myself. God spoke to me through this book and now, when I think about some of the challenges I am currently going through, I feel I might be able to make decisions without feeling guilty. It made me reflect on past trials and tribulations and how I handled them.
TFO made me reflect on past trials and tribulations and how I handled them. As I cannot do much about the past but to ask God for forgiveness, I certainly will be applying what I learnt from reading it to certain areas of my life.

If you have read “Totally Forgiving Ourselves”, you are welcome to share your views. Leave a comment.

God bless.

Ope

and the Shofar Blew by Francine Rivers

2009-08-20T00:48:00.003+01:00

Hello,

It's summer time and lots of you are on holiday or plan on having a holiday.
A "must have" for the holiday is a good book to read. Look no further as our next read is guaranteed to stir your heart and make you remember the need to put God first in every moment of your life...

Happy reading

Ope

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Synopsis

When Paul Hudson eagerly accepted the call to pastor the struggling church, he had no idea what to expect. He only hoped he could please the Lord with his plans and hard work. Together, Paul, his wife Eunice, and their son Tim packed up and moved halfway across the country to do the Lord’s work.
It didn’t take long for Paul to turn Centerville Christian Church around. Attendance was up–way up. People came to hear the charismatic Paul Hudson preach. The choir added members, and the children’s program was at an all-time high. A building program was in the works. Everything was going so well. If only his wife could see it his way. Still, he tried not to let her quiet presence disturb him.

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..... So what is a Shofar?

Shofar, the Hebrew word for trumpet is mentioned over 70 times in the bible. It is an ancient musical instrument made from the horn of a Ram.

The shofar was used in biblical times for various occasions ranging from calling the armies together, calling people to Worship and spiritual awakening. It is specially used for the call to repentance.

The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis

2009-07-20T00:10:00.000+01:00

Hi there,

Hope you are all well and in good health. I should have posted this a while back.

I am sure you have all heard the saying........."Variety, is the spice of life"!

In Activate, the idea of members choosing the reading books gives us all the opportunity to read a “variety” of books and hence broaden our horizons. Our next read is interesting and challenging in lots of ways.

So enjoy!

Yours,

Ope

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Synopsis

"The Screwtape Letters" is fiction. But only fiction in the sense that the characters and the dialogue sprang from the imagination of one of the greatest modern Christian writers. Yet in our terrestrial reality the issues confronted in this book play out in our lives every day.
The book contains thirty-one letters from Screwtape (an experienced devil) to his nephew, Wormwood, just beginning his demonic career and has been assigned to secure the damnation of a young man who has just become a Christian.
We get the letters only from one side of the correspondence (Screwtape's), yet the story of the meanderings of the Christian "patient's" soul is clearly read between the lines. The letters begin with Wormwood's failure to keep his subject from becoming a Christian. The urbane Screwtape informs him that, although this is an alarming development, his patient is by no means lost to the dark forces of evil.
Each letter addresses various aspects of the travails of the human soul and how the devil tempts that soul away from goodness and toward evil - not evil on a grand scale, but evil on a petty scale. They show how evil can seep into a Christian's relationships with friends and family, in his views on the church, even in his practice of prayer.
Through this wonderful tale, the reader emerges with a better understanding of what it means to live a faithful life.
"The Screwtape Letters" is a book that entertains while it instructs. It is a book to be treasured and studied.

Velvet Elvis - Share your thoughts.....

2009-07-08T00:50:00.008+01:00

I found Velvet Elvis very thought provoking. It’s given me the boldness to ask questions and dig deeper into certain areas of Christianity that I do not understand.

I commend Rob on some areas of Velvet Elvis, his honesty and the research he carried out to back up his views. I liked how he brought abstract to life in the early chapters of the book.

However, there are some areas where I do question and challenge his views and opinion, especially where he doesn't have a scripture or fact to back up his views. One thing for sure is that everyone’s opinion of the bible is essentially his or her own opinion. The Holy Spirit brings about revelation and understanding of the scriptures we read in the bible.

I think we would all agree that Christianity is a journey, not a destination and the bible is not just about historical events but is true of how we live our lives today. The stories in the bible are our stories, as we can identify with them to date.

One thing Rob said is 'As a Christian--we are free to claim the good, true and holy whenever we find it...because the world is God's and everything in it.’
I found this comment full of meaning. It applies to everything but can also be easily misinterpreted. For guidance, in 1 peter 2 vs. 16, we are told to "live as free men BUT we should not use our freedom as a cover up for evil; we should live as servants of the living God."
We must be careful at what we claim as good, true and holy.

On a closing note, I felt there were some words of wisdom and discernment in Rob’s Velvet Elvis. However, there were parts of the book that I didn’t quite agree with.

God bless.

Ope

Activates BBM and VE

2009-06-16T00:36:00.002+01:00

Activates’ BBM was the place to be on Saturday night (13/06/09) . We gathered together to discuss Velvet Elvis (VE); we shared our views on how it ministered to us and what we gained from reading it.

As we did not get the opportunity to celebrate our one year anniversary in February 2009, we shared a big celebration cake together and had a great time socializing.

So far we have read a variety of inspirational and uplifting books in Activate. These books have certainly broadened my knowledge and horizon. They have helped to increase my level of faith, increase my spiritual growth and expanded my knowledge of God. We can never know too much about God. Knowledge is power, so get reading.....

Activate is open to all women.

Stay blessed!

Ope

"VELVET ELVIS"

2009-05-07T23:24:00.007+01:00

Our current read, chosen by one of Activates member is:

"VELVET ELVIS" by ROB BELL.

I bet you are thinking, what a title! Well, rest assured, the book is not about Elvis.

Velvet Elvis is a thought provoking book on Christianity. What is Christianity really about? What do YOU think Christianity is about? Be warned, you will either like this book or dislike it. It has had lots of mixed reviews. I will let you decide for yourself.

Book Description:

"God never changes, nor do the central truths of Christianity. But our understanding of those truths is in constant flux. Christians will always be exploring and discovering what it means to live in harmony with God and each other. Velvet Elvis offers original and refreshingly personal perspectives on what Christianity is really about."

If you haven't yet got your copy, please do so and get reading. The book is available at kerith bookshop.

Happy reading!

Ope

Get Out Of That Pit - My Review...

2009-05-05T04:03:00.003+01:00

Hello there,

I should have posted this a while back.

I was a little bit disappointed with "Get out of that pit".
The title sounded so WOW! and the synopsis was quite impressive. I was expecting a great deal out of the book but instead I found it just ok. I was hoping to get more out of it than I actually did.
I felt Beth Moore “beat around the bush” a lot before getting to the point she was trying to make. Some of the points she made were basically known things, but having said that, there were some encouraging and uplifting words to reflect on. There were a couple of situations she mentioned that I could identify with.
One thing though I admired about this book was the fact that Beth Moore had done her homework well and had all the helpful scriptures to back up her points.

Psalm 40 was brought to life in this book, which has given me a deeper insight to this psalm.

We must therefore be responsible for our own life, but also help other people to carry their burdens.
In a nutshell, there are several ways of getting into a pit, but ultimately it is God that can totally and completely get us out.

Regards,

Ope

Blood and Fire Revisited

2009-02-11T12:51:00.003Z

Hello everyone. Well I have to hold my hand up and say that I chose the last book, and I had not read it so sorry to give you all a very long and slightly academic read-but then a reading group does expand our horizons and enable us to travel together along new pathways.

I chose this book because I wanted to read about the Booth family who started the Salvation Army. I feel that they were one of the first modern church movements that demonstrated the need to be inclusive in an age where there was a huge divide between rich and poor, educated and uneducated, men and women. We can watch Dickens' adaptation on the TV and see what a work house may have been like and read of a rags to riches story but I found that a new light was shed on the conditions of the working and lower classes of Victorian England and also the prejudice and values of those who were Christians or even slightly more privileged.

William Booth was painted warts and all, and although I felt he accomplished so much-I could also see his foibles and limitations on every page. Catherine Booth also came through strongly as a woman of great courage, determination and one who ruled her family with a little kindness but mostly with a great need for discipline and devotion to the cause.

They were a whirlwind and raised a movement that is still active today-if you go to Oxford Street in London there are Salvation Army people serving-they run the biggest agency in the world for finding missing persons, and are an example of how evangelism and social action can be combined to change lives from the inside out.

I was very encouraged too by their work of raising public awareness to the slum conditions, the terrible abuses of cheap labour and the everyday lives of those caught in poverty without the means to escape it. This family changed the face of Christian service a hundred years ago without much money, by using the printing press, by mobilising believers to live a life of devotion and worship and by giving people the opportunity to find dignity and spiritual, economic and social well being.

That inspires me that if God could use them at that time and place then he can use you and me to also help people to encounter Jesus in a way that will make an impact on their own lives and our communities that may well be remarked upon in a hundred years time. Let's believe that this could be true as perhaps one of the biggest challenges for us in the UK and developed world is the crisis in the banking world, and how debt is making slaves again of free people. I see those who are working in CAP as modern day examples of how practical and spiritual help can make a difference to families and restoration can begin.