Activate

Choosing extraordinary ...

2014-08-18T21:42:00.000+01:00

Synopsis

I wonder if you are a little like me?
I wonder if there are moments when you dream about the life you would love to live, about the things deep in your heart that you would love to do?

I wonder if you have the same desire to make a difference in the world and live a life that matters?

Since realising that I was created by a God who loves me and has plans for my life which are beyond anything I could hope for or imagine, I have started to slowly chip away at the blanket of ordinary which has shrouded and restricted my life.

Learning about a God of unlimited potential and never ending boundaries has helped me to shake off some of the fear of failure in order to search for those sparkles of extraordinary which are glimmering in each of us.

We only get one life, let’s choose to make it an extraordinary one.

Sun Stand Still ...

2014-08-18T21:26:00.001+01:00

Synopsis

If you're not daring to believe god for the impossible, you may be sleeping through some of the best parts of your Christian Life.

"This book is not a Snuggie. The words on these pages will not go down like Ambien. I’m not writing to calm or coddle you. With God’s help, I intend to incite a riot in your mind. Trip your breakers and turn out the lights in your favourite hiding places of insecurity and fear. Then flip the switch back on so that God’s truth can illuminate the divine destiny that may have been lying dormant inside you for years.

"In short, I’m out to activate your audacious faith. To inspire you to ask God for the impossible. And in the process, to reconnect you with your God-sized purpose and potential."

—Steven Furtick, from Sun Stand Still

Hello...

2014-08-18T21:25:00.000+01:00

Hello,

I know it’s been a while I blogged. Nevertheless, we have been on top of our reading schedule.

Since reading “So you don’t want to go to church anymore: An unexpected journey…”, the group read “Sun Stand Still” by Steven Furtick followed by “Choosing Extraordinary: Living out the God given dreams you’ve always wanted to…” by Helen Cottee. Both books are very different but good.

I found “Sun Stand Still” very challenging and inspiring. Steven writes about faith and audacious prayers. He reminds us of God’s faithfulness, love and the power of prayer. He takes his inspiration from Joshua 10:1-15; there Joshua commands the sun to stand still so the Israelites can finish off their enemies, and God causes the sun to stand still. This book encourages us to increase our faith and trust in God.

I found “Choosing extraordinary” interesting, encouraging and very easy to read. Some sections of the book spoke volumes to me. Helen writes about various aspects of life and puts God in the centre of it all. She encourages us to have faith in God, trust Him and step out of our comfort zone and use our God given talents as we journey through life.

I enjoyed reading both books and found both authors writing styles easy to follow.

If you have read either “Sun stand still” or “Choosing extraordinary”, you are welcome to share your thoughts and views with us. Please leave a comment.

God bless.

Ope

So You Don't Want to Go to Church Anymore: An Unexpected Journey ...

2014-03-28T21:54:00.000+00:00

Hi there,

The group recently read - ”So You Don't Want to Go to Church Anymore: An Unexpected Journey” by Wayne Jacobsen and Dave Coleman.

Although not an ecstatic read, it was quite easy to engage. In this book, the authors made some thought provoking points about the “institution of the church” and how this can stifle our spiritual growth and relationship with Jesus – especially if we lose focus. We must always remember that Christ is the head of the church.

Personally, I found some of the conversations between the main two characters in the book very helpful and this has challenged me to take a closer look at my relationship with God and learn to trust Him in every circumstance.

I would recommend this book for reading, but with caution to new Christians!

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

Kind regards,

Ope

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Synopsis

What would you do if you met someone you thought just might be one of Jesus’ original disciples still living in the 21st Century? That’s Jake’s dilemma as he meets a man who talks of Jesus as if he had known him, and whose way of living challenges everything Jake had previously known.

So You Don’t Want to Go To Church Anymore is Jake’s compelling journal that chronicles thirteen conversations with his newfound friend over a four-year period and how those exchanges turn Jake’s world upside-down. With his help, Jake faces his darkest fears, struggles through brutal circumstances and comes out on the other side in the joy and freedom he always dreamed was possible.

If you’re tired of just going through the motions of Christianity and want to mine the depths of what it really means to live deeply in Christ, you’ll find Jake’s story will give you hope for your own. This book probes the difficult questions and offers some far-reaching answers. It just might turn your world upside-down as well!

The joy of reading ..... Happy 2014!!

2014-01-27T17:46:00.001+00:00

Hi there,

Happy New Year!!!

Below are Activate's selected reading titles for 2014.

Please feel free and read along with us.

Enjoy ... happy reading!

So You Don't Want to Go to Church Anymore: An Unexpected journey by Wayne Jacobsen and Dave Coleman

Jan 2014 – Mar 2014

Sun Stand Still by Steven Furtick

Mar 2014 – May 2014

Choosing Extraordinary: Living out the God given dreams you've always wanted to... by Helen Cottee

May 2014 – July 2014

God on Mute by Pete Greig

July 2014 – Sept 2014

Voice in the Night: The True Story of a Man and the Miracles That Are Changing Africa by Pastor Surprise (with David Wimbish)

Sept 2014 – Nov 2014

The Divine Conspiracy: "Rediscovering Our Hidden Life in God" by Dallas Willard

Nov 2014 – Jan 2015

Love and blessings,

Ope

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

2014-01-27T15:56:00.000+00:00

Synopsis

Mariam is only fifteen when she is sent to Kabul to marry Rasheed. Nearly two decades later, a friendship grows between Mariam and a local teenager, Laila, as strong as the ties between mother and daughter. When the Taliban take over, life becomes a desperate struggle against starvation, brutality and fear. Yet love can move a person to act in unexpected ways, and lead them to overcome the most daunting obstacles with a startling heroism.

Choose Joy - Because Happiness Isn't Enough by Kay Warren

2014-01-27T15:39:00.000+00:00

Synopsis

EVERYONE KNOWS HOW TO BE JOYFUL IN THE PEAKS OF LIFE ..........

When all your fondest hopes and wildest dreams come true, and your heart nearly explodes with happiness, it’s easy to feel joyful.

But what about the valleys? When nothing seems to go your way? When everything is falling apart? When God is silent, and you feel alone?

Where does joy fit into those moments?

In “Choose Joy”, acclaimed author and Christian leader Kay Warren shares the path to experiencing soul-satisfying joy no matter what you’re going through. Joy is deeper than happiness, lasts longer than excitement, and is more satisfying than pleasure and thrills. Joy is richer…Fuller…And it’s far more accessible than you’ve thought.

Joy comes from God … and it can be yours! Today.

Two great reads ..........

2014-01-27T15:34:00.001+00:00

Hello,

I’m so sorry it's been a while. Just lots of "life and doings" happening all at once, however, it doesn’t mean we haven't been reading. We read “Choose Joy – Because Happiness Isn’t Enough” by Kay Warren between September and November 2013, and read “A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini over Christmas.

Two very different and great books; I enjoyed reading both of them!

“Choose Joy” was very popular with every member of the group. In it, Kay teaches women the difference between Joy and happiness, what joy really is, where to find it, and how to choose it in the good times. Choose Joy is a brilliant book about choosing to trust God in all the circumstances and situations of life. It is definitely worth reading.

“A Thousand Splendid Suns” is novel (fiction). A gripping and thought-provoking read, but unfortunately not to everyone’s liking in the group. I found it both challenging and interesting.

The consensus within the group was that it had increased our understanding of the Afghan culture, if not the religion itself, as they are so intertwined and confusing, and all its tragic history and differences within the country, but mainly it really increased our empathy for Afghan women and what life is like for them, even today.

If you have read either “Choose Joy” or “A Thousand Splendid Suns”, you are welcome to share your views with us. Please leave a comment.

God bless.

Ope

The Two Hearts of Kwasi Boachi

2013-10-25T21:56:00.000+01:00

The two hearts of Kwasi Boachi by Arthur Japin was chosen for the group to read over summer (2013).

This is a novel based on a true story of two African princes, cousins who are uprooted from their Gold Coast Ashanti village and sent to Amsterdam in 1837 to be educated.

It is a very moving and somewhat sad story that exposes the ethnic injustice, narrow-mindedness, exploitation and betrayal of the Dutch government during the Dutch colonial empire into West-Africa;

A well written book that gives a captivating insight into the journey of the lives of the two African princes.

Definitely worth reading!

Kind regards,

Ope

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Synopsis

“The first ten years of my life I was not black.” Thus begins this startlingly eloquent and beautiful tale based on the true story of Kwasi Boachi, a 19th- century African prince who was sent with his cousin, Kwame, to be raised in Holland as a guest of the royal family. Narrated by Kwasi himself, the story movingly portrays the perplexing dichotomy of the cousins' situation: black men of royal ancestry, they are subject to insidious bigotry even as they enjoy status among Europe’s highest echelons. As their lives wind down different paths–Kwame back to Africa where he enlists in the Dutch army, Kwasi to an Indonesian coffee plantation where success remains mysteriously elusive–they become aware of a terrible truth that lies at the heart of their experiences. Vivid, subtle, poignant and profound, The Two Hearts of Kwasi Boachi is an exquisite masterpiece of story and craft, a heartrending work that places Arthur Japin on a shelf that includes Joseph Conrad, J.M. Coetzee, Kazuo Ishiguro and Nadine Gordimer.

Chasing the Dragon ...

2013-07-17T13:28:00.000+01:00

Hi there,

The group just finished reading “Chasing the Dragon” by Jackie Pullinger. This book tells the true story of the author’s missionary work in Hong Kong and its infamous Walled City as a response to God’s calling.

Jackie, who was truly led by the Holy Spirit to minister to triad gangsters, drug addicts and prostitutes, made a real difference in the transformation of many people’s lives in the slums of the Walled City.

Jackie’s trust in God and love for Jesus was evident in the way she loved people. She had great compassion for the people of the Walled City and never gave up on them. Her complete faith in God's provision and protection was very outstanding. Although a very inspiring and challenging story, I felt the book got repetitive after a while. Nevertheless, I was amazed by how the name of “Jesus” and the power of the Holy Spirit simply delivered addicts from drug addiction.

Very highly recommended!

Love and blessings,

Ope

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Synopsis

Until it was pulled down, the Walled City was Hong Kong's most foreboding territory. It was a lawless place, dominated by the Triads, and which the police hesitated to enter. Strangers were unwelcome. Drug smuggling and heroin addiction flourished, as did prostitution and pornography, extortion and fear.

When Jackie Pullinger set sail from England in 1966 she had no idea that God was calling her to the Walled City. Yet, as she spoke of Jesus Christ, brutal Triad gangsters were converted, prostitutes quit, and Jackie discovered a new treatment for drug addiction: baptism in the Holy Spirit.

The Grace Outpouring ....

2013-05-21T22:34:00.001+01:00

.....Once again, the group finished reading yet another fantastic book - "The Grace Outpouring" by Roy Godwin. In this detailed account of God's grace at work, Roy paints a powerful picture of the presence of God at FFald-y-Brenin Retreat Centre in Wales.

The general consensus within the group was that “The Grace Outpouring” is a good reading and discussion book worth recommending to others.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and was moved by both the presence of God at Ffald-y-Brenin and the encounter with God those who visited experienced.

It really inspired and challenged me prayerfully. Without a doubt, God is using Roy and Daphne to bless people.

Definitely worth reading!

Love and blessings,

Ope

Synopsis

This captivating account of the spiritually unexpected unfolding on a Welsh hillside will challenge and encourage you.

In keeping with God's pattern of using marginal people from obscure places - fishermen, tax collectors, children, women and Galileans - this story sees God intrude into the mundane rhythms of life in a Christian retreat centre, run by a couple who would have been forgiven for opting for a quiet life when they arrive in this quiet Welsh hamlet.

God's intrusion has not only sparked the growth of a House of Prayer but also touched many lives with healing, repentance and encouragement. The tangible presence of God has released visions of Jesus, angelic messengers and a steady stream of non-believers seeking to understand the encounter with God that they experience as they venture near this converted farmhouse.

A fresh perspective on evangelism emerges from this inspiring insight into how God might work in your community.

Braving the Storm

2013-03-28T18:31:00.000+00:00

Hi there,

Our group read "Braving The Storm" by Eric Gaudion over Christmas 2012 and had the opportunity to discuss it's contents a couple of weeks ago. This book is about a pastor's daily struggle with pain caused by long term ill-health.

In his book, Eric wrote about trusting God and not losing hope when healing doesn't come. He gave some helpful advice on coping with chronic pain and highlighted the importance of the support the church and church community can give those suffering from chronic pain.

The general consensus within the group was that “Braving the Storm” is a good reading and discussion book worth recommending to others.

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

Kind regards,

Ope

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Synopsis

Eric Gaudion has known ill-health for many years. Acute haemorrhagic pancreatitis almost killed him, and his life is a daily struggle with pain.

Once the pastor in a thriving church, he saw the ministry he dreamed of slip away. During all his trials, he learned a number of important lessons he shares here -- things that hinder and things that help those suffering as well as biblical lessons. He also has wise and compassionate advice to the church on those who are sick and have not healed.

The fall of Lucifer ...

2013-01-18T20:37:00.001+00:00

Hello all,

Happy New Year!

First and foremost, I apologize for this late post. I got caught up in the pre-Christmas busyness.

The group read and discussed "The fall of Lucifer" by Wendy Alec in November 2012.

Wendy writes about Lucifer's fall from Heaven and how he became satan (the devil). Although purely fiction, I quite enjoyed her intriguing imagination of what might have happened in heaven during the initial time of Lucifer's fall. Despite her rather disappointing writing style, I enjoyed the story's plot and was able to focus on the messages within:

• pride and how it impacts our relationship with God.

• God's unconditional and redeeming love for all His creation.

Overall, I thought it was an interesting story however not every member of the group agreed on that. This is a book you will either like or dislike.

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

Kind regards,

Ope

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Synopsis

In the hallowed corridors of heaven itself, the love between three angelic brothers fills the ages before time began. Lucifer, the beloved of heaven, first and greatest of the three. Worship leader of heaven. His throne second only to the Most High's. Ever has he been the Lord God's prince and favourite subject.

Michael, commander of the host of heaven, strong and wise and steadfast. And Gabriel, youngest and most idealistic, loyal and loving for eternity past. Brothers for eternity.

The shining halls of glory buzz with the news of God's new creation: a physical universe. Stars and planets and seas and creatures, all to be made not to spirit but of matter. All to provide the home for the Almighty's crowning creation, a mortal man, bearing in physical form the DNA of God Himself.

Lucifer sees his replacement as God's favourite in mankind. His envy of the race of men becomes obsessive and his unrelenting decline and subsequent rebellion gets him banished from the first heaven with a third of his renegade angelic host. He is determined to wreak revenge against the race of men by all means……

The Bible Jesus Read

2012-12-18T21:12:00.001+00:00

Hello,

This summer, the group read Philip Yancey's "The Bible Jesus Read". In this book,Yancey looks at the Hebrew Scripture–what Christians call the Old Testament, which served as the "Bible Jesus read" and focuses on the books of Job, Deuteronomy, the Psalms, Ecclesiastes, and the books of the Prophets. He writes about different aspects of these Old Testament books and stories of God's compassionate encounters with people.

Philip Yanceygives readers a better understanding of God and His relationship with us and also encouragesus to consider how the Old Testament is relevant to their own lives.

As I read this book, it gave me a fresh understanding and appreciation of God's love for His people. Although I found some of Yancey's analysis interesting and challenging, I felt the title of the book was somewhat misleading as the book was actually an analysis of selected books of the Old Testament.

Nevertheless, this is a great book for everyone looking for an understanding of how the Old Testament is relevant to his or her own personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

I highly recommend this book for reading.

Kind regards,

Ope

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Synopsis

The Old Testament is God's biography, the story of his passionate encounters with people and also a prequel to the story of Jesus. This book explores the sometimes shocking and cryptic writings in an effort to know God better.

In The Bible Jesus Read, Philip Yancey challenges the perception that the New Testament is all that matters and the Old Testament isn’t worth taking the time to read and understand. As he began to explore how the Old Testament related to his life today, he discovered that those seemingly irrelevant Hebrew Scriptures took on a startling immediacy, portraying a passionate relationship between God and people against the broad backdrop of human experience.

Like nothing else, the Old Testament depicts the cries, the complaints, the deep, insistent questionings of the heart, the stuff of life we all must contend with. With his candid, signature style, Yancey interacts with the Old Testament from the perspective of his own deeply personal journey.

From Moses, the amazing prince of Egypt, to the psalmists’ turbulent emotions and the prophets’ oddball rantings, Yancey paints a picture of Israel’s God--and ours--that fills in the blanks of a solely New Testament vision of the Almighty. Probing some carefully selected Old Testament books--Job, Deuteronomy, Psalms, Ecclesiastes, and the Prophets--Yancey reveals how the Old Testament deals in astonishing depth and detail with the issues that trouble us most.

The Old Testament in fact tackles what the New Testament often only skirts. But that shouldn’t surprise us. It is, after all, the Bible Jesus read. The Bible Jesus Read will give you abundant new insights into the heart of God the Father. And as you read with a fresh eye the prayers, poems, songs, and bedtime stories that Jesus so revered, you will gain a profound new understanding of Christ. 'The more we comprehend the Old Testament,' Yancey writes, 'the more we comprehend Jesus.'

Faith under Fire

2012-07-13T19:19:00.003+01:00

Hi all,

We just finished reading Andrew White’s “Faith under Fire” which is his account of trusting God amidst a lifestyle of daily encounters with danger, death and tragedy in Baghdad. This is the second book we have read this year on the crisis and sufferings of the Christians caught up in the Middle East conflicts!

I enjoyed reading “Faith under Fire” and found some of the contents of the book inspiring and challenging. Andrew’s openness on faith and trust in God made me ponder on my faith and trust in God during my personal trials and my obedience to Him on a daily basis.

I would recommend this book for reading!

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

Kind regards,

Ope

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Synopsis

Andrew White's perspective on faith and hope. How does he keep going, and what does he say to God ……?

"The 'Vicar of Baghdad' encounters daily tragedy. What happened to his faith when a young girl in his congregation died, after much hope and prayer? He has met the best and worst: articulate, agreeable imams and rabbis; Christian venality and dishonesty. What has kept him willing to see the best? Every time he returns to Iraq he may be saying goodbye to his family for the last time. What do they think? He suffers from MS. How does he remain cheerful despite his physical weakness, and its progression? What does he say to God, alone in his study, late at night? He has been caught up in momentous events. Can he see the hand of God? Looking ahead, can he be optimistic about the future? Where are his sources of spiritual energy? He solicits prayer: why?"

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 ...

2012-02-07T18:08:00.003+00:00

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

2012-01-14T18:20:00.006+00:00

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 .......

2011-11-19T16:29:00.005+00:00

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

2011-01-31T20:32:00.003+00:00

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.