We Finally Picked a Book for April,... and May!

The book we choose for April is called "The Oath" by Frank Peretti.

A wildlife biologist named Steve Benson has come to the remote mountain town of Hyde River to investigate the gruesome death of his brother. Benson tracks down and kills a grizzly, but then more people are killed and the bears are exonerated. Benson begins to listen with seriousness to the ravings of an old hermit who says that there's a dragon who lives in Saddlehorse Mountain and who lives on sin. It seems that in the 1880s, when Hyde River was a booming mining town, a fire-and-brimstone preacher was hanged, and the perpetrators then signed an oath embracing Reason as their god. In more than 100 years, their sins have grown into a monster. Steve tracks the chimerical dragon, which toys with him and lets him go. Steve is the embodiment of reason but feels the weight of sin when he begins an affair with a married woman, a local deputy named Tracy. A red mark appears over his heart, and gradually it begins to ooze black slime. Judgment Day arrives, and the dragon comes to claim its own. Steve, at last a believer, stands alone to do battle, rather like Bilbo Baggins of The Hobbit, except that Peretti writes with a grim fervor rather than playfulness.

Buy it at Amazon.com

The Book selected for May is Pilgrim's Progress in Modern English. I'll give more details closer to May. Have a great month!

April 3rd Meeting Recap

Well, it was a rainy night last Thursday, but I must admit, God rained his blessing on us by reading the book, "Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World." I must say we got such a heart warming discussion out of everyone there! And the best part was this book touched everyone in a completely different way! There was a 12 week bible study in the back of the book to go with each chapter which would have been nice to go through but I suggest that be another task in another club.

A few key points taken away from this book:

-God only wants us to do the simple one (maybe more) things he asks of us and leave the other many tasks you take on to someone else. By trying to do all the church, school or work activities ourselves, we are taking away from letting someone else shine for God's glory.

-Our daily (should be daily) quite times with God should be regular and God has promised us that He will always be there for that meeting request! Picture Him in the chair in the living room waiting for you to come join him like you said you'd "try" to do every day. God keeps ALL of his promises, do you?
-In the bible story of Mary and Martha, when God invites Martha to slow down and not worry about the household chores but to come at his feet and learn, there is no ending to it! We don't know if Martha choose to listen and put aside the early work and focus on the spiritual work God had in store for her. The book said, that it is our chance to decide for ourselves how we would react to Jesus rebuking us for all the household worries of this world and come enjoy the peace and spiritual fruit he has to offer us.

-The classic verse, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." - John 15:5 Doing tons of volunteer work in this world to help others is good, but if it is so much that you are no longer joyful in your tasks, most likely you've left God behind in the first and only task he even requested of you! You will bare much fruit "tons and tons of zucchini!" (from the book) if you remain on the path He has chosen for you. Not the path you think He would like. Everything that is of God will give you peace and joy within your heart. Seek First the Kingdom of God, then set your table for the 7 course meal you've prepared for the whole church!

There are many more, but as of now those are what has been on my heart! If you are just joining this blog I recommend you read this book and may it grow and challenge you as it has me and this group.

THANK YOU, LESLIE for your delicious Raspberry Lime Bites! Here is the recipe if anyone missed it.