The Women's Christian Book Club

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2011-01-09T20:09:00.002-05:00

Hope your holidays were good ones!
Please join us at our next meeting on February 8th at 7pm at Bay Area CC.
We will be discussing the book "The Faith Club" and enjoy some multi-cultural discussion and home-made desserts!

Please continue with us in the coming months on the second Tuesday of each month. Here are the books coming up:

March Meeting - Life Support by Robert Maxwell
April Meeting - The Pearl by Angela Hunt
May Meeting - Contemplating the Cross by Tricia Rhodes

Hope you can join us for some great discussion and fellowship!

Book Picks for the Fall 2010

2010-08-11T09:43:00.003-04:00

Great discussion last night on True Devotion!

We have selected our book picks for the Fall:

Discuss on September14 -

Love is a Verb - Gary Chapman

Discuss on October 12 -

Gods and Kings (Chronicles of the Kings #1) - Lynn Austin

Discuss on November 9 -

Angels in the ER - Robert D. Leslie,MD

Discuss on February 8, 2011 -

So What's the Difference - Fritz Ridenour

The Faith Club: A Muslim, A Christian, A Jew- Three Women Search for Understanding - Ranya Idiby, Suzannne Oliver, Priscilla Warner

(we chose 2 books that seem to compliment each other since we will have a 3 month break over the holidays)

July Reading

2010-08-11T09:10:00.003-04:00

Our reading for July is Dee Henerson's True Devotion. We will meet on Tuesday, August 10 at 7pm at BACC! Hope you can join us!

In True Devotion, which kicks off bestselling author Dee Henderson's Uncommon Heroes series, lifeguard Kelly Jacobs mechanically goes through the motions of living while seeking to alleviate her grief over the death of her beloved spouse. When Kelly saves the life of young teen Ryan Raines in a daring rescue at sea, his father Charles showers her with attention--and draws Kelly into a sinister plot that may endanger her best friend and new romantic interest, Navy SEAL lieutenant Joe "Bear" Baker. Henderson's strong women characters have an appealing combination of toughness and vulnerability, and she's not afraid of exploring their spiritual side as well as spotlighting their heroics. The sprinkling of military terminology throughout the book might initially seem daunting, but a glossary at the beginning of the novel will help readers who are unfamiliar with the lingo. Henderson excels in concocting just the right blend of romance and edge-of-your-seat action to keep the pages turning.

June Meeting: Tuesday, June 8th at 7pm

2010-05-12T08:01:00.004-04:00

Great discussion and so many newcomers at our meeting last night! I hope you all can be blessed by the Christian Literature that we read and fellowship together!

Our next meeting is on Tuesday, June 8th at 7pm at Bay Area Community Church. Is anyone interested in bringing a snack to go along with our new discussion book for the month, Vienna Prelude??

Have a wonderful month, Ladies!

Opening in 1936, the Zion Covenant series tells the courageous and compelling stories of those who risk everything to stand against the growing tide of Nazi terrorism that is sweeping through central Europe under the dangerous and deceitful guise of Hitler's Third Reich.

May Meeting: May 11th at 7pm

2010-04-29T07:07:00.003-04:00

Please join us as we discuss the next book "In the Presence of My Enemies" By Gracia Burnham. She recently a few months back, came to speak at Bay Area Community Church and we thought it would be a treat to really learn her story and how God worked through her.

Join us at 7pm for a snack, discussion and of course some women fellowship! Tuesday, May 11th!

In this remarkably honest and unaffected memoir, Burnham tells the story of her captivity at the hands of Abu Sayyaf, a Muslim extremist group in the Philippines. For just over a year, she and her husband Martin, a missionary pilot, lived with their captors and a variety of other hostages in the Philippine jungle. In a botched rescue attempt, the Philippine army shot and killed Martin Burnham and Ediborah Yap, a nurse who was the other remaining hostage. Gracia Burnham was also shot, but rescued and treated for a leg wound. Burnham hauntingly depicts the alchemical reaction of deep Christian faith, Stockholm Syndrome and the unremitting terror of hostage life. The odd intimacy among the hostages and captors comes across in surprisingly frank conversations. At one point, Martin boldly refers to all the bad things the captors have done to the hostages, only to have one of them look at him quizzically and claim he has never done any harm to the hostages. The captors, in fact, do unspeakable things, such as beheading hostages or taking them as unwilling "wives." Impressively, Burnham makes no attempt to dramatize these events for shock value, nor does she use this book as an occasion for Christian triumphalism. Instead, she chronicles both her high and low moments as a Christian during that year, and shows tremendous respect and love for members of other faiths with whom she lived. While some of the book is written for a Christian audience, a much wider audience will appreciate Burnham's brave, artless account of these horrific events.

Next Meeting - April 13

2010-03-11T09:39:00.002-05:00

We will be discussing "The Voice in the Wind" by Francine Rivers.

We'll be in the Fire Side Room at BACC at 7pm and we'll have a little Italian Treat to go with the Roman theme of this book!

Please join us and bring a friend!

Rome comes alive in this tale of Jewish Christian slave girl Hadassah. Her story encourages readers to represent Christ in their world.

BOOKS Selected for the Next 6 Months

2010-02-17T09:14:00.001-05:00

Hi Ladies,Great discussion last night on 3 Cups of Tea.

Here are the books we decided on for the following months, so order them now and get discounted shipping to purchase in bulk.

March 9th – The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch
April 13th – The Voice in the Wind by Francine Rivers
May 11th – In the Presence of My enemies by Gracia Burnham
June 8th – Vienna Prelude by Bodie Thoene
July 13th – Captivating by John and Stacie Eldridge
August 10th – Secrets of Harmony Grove – Mindy Starns Clark

The Last Lecture is a short book and The Voice in the Wind is a looong book, so you might want to start A Voice in the Wind as soon as you finish The Last Lecture.

Happy Reading!

Snow Delayed Meeting

2010-02-15T12:09:00.002-05:00

I hope everyone ejoyed the snow last week and was blessed with the peace at home that family togetherness can bring!

We are rescheduled for Tuesday, February 15, 2010 at 7pm in the Fireside Room.

We're going to enjoy a mini Tea Party while we discuss our book, "Three Cups of Tea." Also, we plan on selecting about 6 months of books that evening as well. So please come and bring a book idea and a smile, we'd love to include you and a friend in our woman's fellowship time!

God Bless!

February Book Selection

2010-01-13T11:49:00.002-05:00

It seems we have a majority consensus for the 2nd Tuesday of each month. Our first meeting will be February 9th at Bay Area (room to be determined) at 7pm.

We will discuss "Three Cups of Tea" By Greg Mortenson with a tea party theme! So make sure you buy the book soon!

Look for an announcement in the connections on Sundays and bring a friend to share the fun!

Have a Blessed week!

Starred Review. Some failures lead to phenomenal successes, and this American nurse's unsuccessful attempt to climb K2, the world's second tallest mountain, is one of them. Dangerously ill when he finished his climb in 1993, Mortenson was sheltered for seven weeks by the small Pakistani village of Korphe; in return, he promised to build the impoverished town's first school, a project that grew into the Central Asia Institute, which has since constructed more than 50 schools across rural Pakistan and Afghanistan. Coauthor Relin recounts Mortenson's efforts in fascinating detail, presenting compelling portraits of the village elders, con artists, philanthropists, mujahideen, Taliban officials, ambitious school girls and upright Muslims Mortenson met along the way. As the book moves into the post-9/11 world, Mortenson and Relin argue that the United States must fight Islamic extremism in the region through collaborative efforts to alleviate poverty and improve access to education, especially for girls. Captivating and suspenseful, with engrossing accounts of both hostilities and unlikely friendships, this book will win many readers' hearts.

Happy New Year Book Club!

2010-01-03T18:14:00.002-05:00

Blessings to ALL of you out there in 2010!

As you start organizing and picking out your goals for this year, I hope you include reading more Christian literature and getting more female fellowship time!

We have some great suggestions for new books this year already! I can't wait to share the moments again with you this year.

I pray that all of you who are interested, make an effort to strengthen your faith by reading the words of many Christian writers. Also, I hope you have the courage to invite a friend who also loves to read and you can share Christ's love with as well!

Don't forget our reputation for some great recipes we'll be sharing as well!

See you all soon!

2009-11-07T21:50:00.000-05:00

My goodness, I can't believe so much time has passed! I was out on travel during the week for 3 out of the 4 weeks in October and weekends were my own time to rush around doing normal home chores! My apologies to everyone for being "missing" from book club duties.

Now that I'm settled this week I remembered that we had one more meeting planned before the end of the year. I know it's kind of late, but is anyone interested in having a final, "pre-Thanksgiving," end of year dinner?? I'd be willing to host and anyone is welcome. Either November 17,18, or 19 would be available. We can discuss plans for next year to make it bigger and better, how to reach out to more women readers alike, how we should run our discussions (possibly more structured than just open thoughts), and of course, what books we should consider trying.

Let me know if anyone is interested. If not, then I pray that all of you would be blessed, and that you would honor the Lord with all of your heart, soul, strength, and mind as the holidays arrive. Stay tuned either way for updates in January about starting the book club back up for 2010, revamped and full of ideas!

With Joy & Hope,
~Christina

September Reading

2009-09-02T12:34:00.003-04:00

For September, we'll be reading Whispers of the Bayou, By Mindy S. Clarke. Our next meeting will be Tuesday, October 6, 2009 at 7pm at Bay Area Community Church. I hope you enjoy it!

From the author of the popular Million Dollar Mysteries and Smart Chick Mysteries comes a new stand–alone novel full of hidden staircases, buried secrets, and the promise of hope found in knowing God.
Miranda Miller wasn’t looking for the news the day the letter came. But, trying to survive in troubled circumstances, she welcomes the chance to change her location for a period of time. The letter informs her that her grandparents’ estate is finally about to become hers. She immediately heads down to Louisiana and the old house by the bayou. There Miranda finds secrets that lead to life–changing revelations.
This suspenseful story reminiscent of old Gothic tales has a complex mystery and a vivid sense of the Deep South. It shows how God can take the darkest circumstances and use them to light a bright path leading to the future.

September Meeting

2009-08-10T08:02:00.003-04:00

Our next meeting will be TUESDAY, September 1, 2009, at Bay Area Community Church at 7pm in room 236. The book we'll be discussing is non-fiction, entitled The Road to The UnAfraid, by Jeff Struecker. I hope you can join us and bring a snack to share!

Jeff Struecker, a "Black Hawk Down" hero, the Army's Top Ranger, now an Army Chaplain, relates his own tales from the frontlines of every U.S. initiative since Panama, and tells how God taught him faith from the front in fear-soaked times. As readers go on-mission with Struecker through his harrowing tales, they will learn how to face their own fears with faith in a mighty God. Just as he told one of his charges in Mogadishu: "The difference between being a coward and a hero is not whether you're scared, it's what you do while you're scared."

July Book Reading

2009-07-15T10:20:00.003-04:00

Wow! What a great inspirational book from "The Heavenly Man!" I hope everyone was blessed through his relationship with God as something to learn and grow to aspire to, truely a man after God's own heart!

Our book for July is called "The Red Tent" by Anita Diamant. Our next meeting will be at my house on TUESDAY, August 4th at 7pm. It is a potluck dinner, so bring something to share!

The red tent is the place where women gathered during their cycles of birthing, menses, and even illness. Like the conversations and mysteries held within this feminine tent, this sweeping piece of fiction offers an insider's look at the daily life of a biblical sorority of mothers and wives and their one and only daughter, Dinah. Told in the voice of Jacob's daughter Dinah (who only received a glimpse of recognition in the Book of Genesis), we are privy to the fascinating feminine characters who bled within the red tent. In a confiding and poetic voice, Dinah whispers stories of her four mothers, Rachel, Leah, Zilpah, and Bilhah--all wives to Jacob, and each one embodying unique feminine traits. As she reveals these sensual and emotionally charged stories we learn of birthing miracles, slaves, artisans, household gods, and sisterhood secrets. Eventually Dinah delves into her own saga of betrayals, grief, and a call to midwifery.

June Book

2009-06-04T09:07:00.003-04:00

Ok, here is our book for June, sorry it's a little late. We will be discussing May's book (The Note, by Angela Hunt) and June's book stated below. We'll have a potluck dinner like usual at Bay Area Community church at 7pm. NEXT MEETING, Thursday, July 2nd at 7pm.

A dramatic autobiography of one of China's dedicated, courageous, and intensely persecuted house church leaders.

May Book

2009-04-29T10:06:00.002-04:00

Description:

En route from New York's LaGuardia Airport to Tampa International, Flight 848 bursts into flames and crashes into Tampa Bay. For one week, Peyton MacGruder and her fellow reporters cover one of the nation's worst air disasters in years with overwhelming and numbed emotions. Then a woman Peyton's never met gives her a plastic bag that washed up behind her house. The bag contains a note, almost certainly from the doomed flight, with a simple yet wrenching message: “T- I love you. All is forgiven. –Dad.” Combing through the passenger list, Peyton is determined to deliver the note to its proper owner. It's a quest that will prove as important to Peyton's own life as to the mysterious T. Women of Faith has shared the message of hope and grace with millions of women across the country through conferences and resources. When you see the words "Women of Faith Fiction" on a novel, you're guaranteed a reading experience that will capture your imagination and inspire your faith.

NEXT MEETING:

We will be meeting on Thursday, May 14th, 2009 at 7pm at Bay Area Community Church in room 234. Come for some dinner, discussion and fellowship!

April Book

2009-03-31T09:37:00.003-04:00

THANK YOU Leslie, Mary, Maredith, and Joyce for the great meal they helped out with for our March meeting! It was great fellowship time on a very good book.

For April, our Non-Fiction book is

"The Same Kind of Different As Me," by Ron Hall and Denver Moore.

Denver Moore grew up in Louisiana in the 1960's, working on a plantation as a modern-day slave. Ron Hall is an international arts dealer who moves between upscale New York galleries and celebrities. It seems unlikely that these two men would meet under normal circumstances. Until Deborah Hall, Ron's wife meets Denver and sees him through God's eyes of compassion. When Deborah is diagnosed with cancer she charges Ron with the mission of saving Denver. From this request, an extraordinary friendship forms between Denver and Ron, changing them both forever. A remarkable true story of friendship and unconditional love!

OUR APRIL MEETING WILL BE ON THURSDAY, April 23, 2009 at 7pm.

COME for a potluck dinner, book discussion, and great fellowship!

Book for March Meeting

2009-03-05T13:59:00.004-05:00

The book we've selected to read for March is "Piercing the Darkness," by Frank Peretti.

Sleepy little Bacon's Corner seems like a picture-perfect farming community. But appearances can be deceiving. An attempted murder, a case of mistaken identity, and a ruthless lawsuit against a Christian school are tearing the town apart as angels and demons battle for victory---and the soul of young loner Sally Beth Roe. 544 pages.

We're meeting on Thursday, March 26th at 7pm in room 234 at Bay Area Community Church. Come join us for a potluck dinner, dessert and some great fellowship time!

Happy New Year!!

2009-01-14T12:05:00.003-05:00

Happy 2009 Ladies! I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and is holding up with their New Years Resolutions!! I'm writing because as we're embarking on a new year to make changes and start new traditions, I'd like to get some feedback from those of you who have been in book club for all of 2008 and those of you who have interest but little (or no) time.

Here is what I'd like you to email back to me (if possible):
- Your name
- Do you plan on participating in book club this year
- What types of genres are you interested in (non-fiction, fiction, romance, historical, self help, etc.)
- The best weekday to meet that is convenient for you
- Any book titles that you'd like to add to our list to cover this year
- Any ideas or comments you have to spice up and encourage others to join book club

My thoughts:
I think this Christian book club idea is a really great one but I understand how difficult it is to find time for reading. I also LOVE to have a place to try new recipes for every ones kitchen (my own twist on the club). I want a friendly, non-threatening fellowship place for new church goers and old church goers to enjoy literature, make new women connections in the church, and of course try out some new food!

You DO NOT need to be a believer to come to book club but we will cover only Christian Literature to get discussions going so bringing your non-believing friend or neighbor isn't a stretch. I would like to incorporate more structure to our discussions, even though it is nice to just say whatever is on your mind. At the end of last year I tried some discussion guides and silly question games. I would like to build on that more and take any suggestions you have to do so.

If I have a lack of interest for Book club, which is very understandable during the busy new year, then I will discontinue the monthly meetings. God has a calling for all of us and maybe serving and reaching out to His people through literature is not my calling right now. Please get back to me when ASAP so I can make arrangements for a meeting place (maybe not at the church...) and select books for the upcoming months!

Have a great week everyone!
God Bless!

October Meeting

2008-09-11T15:52:00.004-04:00

So, I really enjoyed our last book we read, Love & Respect by Dr. Emerson. SO good! And I hope everyone at the meeting enjoyed the little game we played to help impliment some of the lessons we learned on how to unconditionally respect our husbands... always a task requiring God's patience! :o)

OUR NEXT MEETING:
Thursday, October 9th at 7pm in Room 235 at Bay Area Community Church
EMAIL ME if you want to join us!

Onward, to our next book, Oceans Apart, By Karen Kingsbury. Just so you know, this book is on audio CD so you can read/listen to it on your ipod everywhere you go for those busy women out there.... i.e. ME!

Ocean's Apart, by Karen KingsburyIt's not easy being a single mom, but Kiahna has a wonderful 7-year-old son named Max, a good job as a flight attendant, and a relationship with Christ. When the plane she's on crashes into the ocean, she prays that the Lord will bring Max and his dad together. Will God grant her this one miracle? 352 pages, softcover from Zondervan.

The recipe we had last month was a dessert called a Chocolate Chip Cream Cheese Ball.

God Bless!

Book Selections for the Fall

2008-08-20T09:51:00.005-04:00

We had a wonderful dinner on the 12th and enjoyed a wide selection of Salads as well. Here are some of the recipes if you missed them:
Next meeting is to discuss Love & Respect on Thursday, September 4th, at Bay Area Community Church at 7pm.

We have also picked the books to read! Please invite friends and family to join and enjoy a good read, discuss it with a Godly mindset and of course, sample a new recipe!

September Book: Ocean's Apart, by Karen Kingsbury
It's not easy being a single mom, but Kiahna has a wonderful 7-year-old son named Max, a good job as a flight attendant, and a relationship with Christ. When the plane she's on crashes into the ocean, she prays that the Lord will bring Max and his dad together. Will God grant her this one miracle? 352 pages, softcover from Zondervan.

October Book:

In A Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day, by Mark Batterson

Ever been in the wrong place at the wrong time...several times? These memories leave you with an ill taste in your mouth, and nothing good seems to come from them. But what if the seemingly messy pieces of your life were actually strategically positioned by God? What if you've actually been in the right place at the right time every time? In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day will help you make sense of your past. You'll begin to connect the dots to see clearly how God has been preparing you for future opportunities. With a God's-eye perspective, you'll soon be thanking Him - even for lions, pits, and snowy days.

November Book:

Screwtape Letters, by CS Lewis

Wormwood, a demon apprentice, has been given his first earthly assignment---secure the damnation of a young man who's just become a Christian. He seeks the advice of an experienced devil---his uncle Screwtape. Their correspondence discloses the psychology of temptation from the other side. Invaluable insights on temptation, pride, the power of prayer, and the ultimate victory of faith over the forces evil.

December: OFF

Fall Here We Come!

2008-08-11T14:23:00.005-04:00

As we're finishing up the interesting account of Jesus's Life in "The Fisherman's Testament," by Cesar Vidal, I'm looking forward to our themed party evening on August 12th. If you are just joining us, we are meeting at my house (please email me if you need directions) for a pot luck dinner!

For the summer months we have decided to expand from the "one recipe to share" method we have been doing since March and done a potluck dinner where everyone gets to bring a dish to share for a meal! June was a general themed dinner where we got to try all sorts of recipes from all different types of kitchens! July's potluck dinner theme was a Mexican meal! For our last month of potlucks (maybe), the dinner theme is "Salads!"

Our book for next month, August reading, will be "Love and Respect," by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs

Discover the secret that cracks the communication code between husbands and wives and reap the benefits of marriage as God intended. Citing extensive biblical and psychological research, Eggerichs shows that harmony and happiness in relationships is not achieved by love alone, but by building on both parts of the Ephesians 5:33 equation: love and respect.

I'm looking forward to growing in faith and love with all of you on Tuesday, August 12th. Not to mention indulging in some new salad recipes! Joy & Blessings to All!

May Book Meeting

2008-05-21T15:49:00.002-04:00

After a great, but short dicussion of "The Oath," we began the next book adventure for May which was Pilgrim's Progress in Modern English. I hope everyone was as enlightened and challenged as much as I was. I kept thinking,... which of the characters that Christian runs into, am I?? Who are you most like in the book?

The next order of business is to select the books for the summer. I choose to select 3 months in advance so everyone can order 3 books at once and get a shipping discount! So here are the picks:

June - Prisoners of Hope (non-fiction)
July - The Fisherman's Testament (fiction)
August - Love & Respect (non-fiction)
September - One more Sunrise (fiction)

The two fiction books for July and September are still being finalized but I will update this blog next week when the final say is in!

Also, stay tuned for some great study guide questions to go along with your non-fiction and fiction reading that we'll discuss in our meetings. I hope to deepen our spiritual growth through reading and digging into more meaning is a great way to do it! I'll post those discussion questions as soon as I'm finished with them.

The next meeting will be at my house for a pot luck dinner! We'll be starting at 6:30pm and everyone is bringing a dish! We'll have a full meal! I'll email out directions and get a list of the menu too! I can't wait to celebrate a little bit of summer with everyone!

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

2008-04-09T08:22:00.003-04:00

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

2008-04-09T07:56:00.003-04:00

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.

April Showers brings May Flowers!

2008-03-31T09:18:00.002-04:00

I hope everyone has been enjoying the March book selection "Having a Mary Heart in a Martha's World" by Joanne Weaver. I must say it has challenged me in my growth just this past week!

The one story, in chapter 4 I believe, talks about God giving a man a task to do for him. He must take 3 little stones in the cart up to the top of the mountain and leave it there. The load was light and the man gladly took the job with a cheerful heart to bless God. But along the way, he ran into people who also wanted him to take their rocks to the top of the mountain as well some were small and some were big but his cart kept filling up. He thought God would be proud of him for doing a "Christian neighborly" thing for these other people. But before he got to the top, he broke down and starting resenting God for giving him such an impossible task. The cart load was too heavy and he couldn't pull it at all. God came to his side and slowly unloaded all of the extra burdens he had taken on thinking it was the "good" thing to do for others. But God removed his burden that God did NOT intend on this man to carry. Although he was being kind to others, it took away from his focus to excel with a happy heart with the small task God had intended just for him.

Boy, I thought about the bible studies and the child care and the favors I do for others and when we do that, I feel a lot of the time that that peace and joy of serving God I once had,... is gone. Serving God and doing the things he intended us to do with the gifts he gave us is what brings so much joy to his heart and we grow spiritually and can help others with a fresh and joyful spirit but not feel like we need to help the world. That IS, unquestionably, God's job, to help and save the world.

So think about how you can best serve cheerfully what God has already put in your life before you start saying "yes" to everyone who requests something of you. Be that Godly, happy mom who spends lots of time with her children, be the career women who does her work with honesty and integrity because she is refreshed with God's spirit daily and not bogged down but life outside of work. God wants you to feel His peace and joy when you live every aspect of your life... do you feel it in every activity of your day?

I can't wait to hear some of your thoughts on Thursday! I hope to see you then!

April Book Selection

2008-03-31T09:16:00.002-04:00

For the month of April the book genre will be FICTION. There have been 4 book suggestions from women in the group. Please send me an email with your pick and I will let you know the final book selection on Wednesday (4/2).

Women’s Christian Book Club
Meeting: Thursday, April 3rd, 2008 at 7pm
April’s Book Genre is FICTION

1. The Oath, Frank Peretti
www.christianbook.com - $11.99
www.amazon.com -$8.50+
Something sinister is at work in Hyde River, an isolated old mining town in the mountains of the Pacific Northwest. Something evil. Under the cover of darkness, it strikes without warning, taking life in the most chilling and savage fashion. The latest victim, nature photographer Cliff Benson, was brutally killed while camping in the mountains. The harder townsfolk are pressed for information, the more they close ranks, as if sworn to secrecy. The discovery of the old letters and diaries of the town's forefathers begin to peel away the layers of mystery surrounding Hyde River. What is discovered is a predator more terrifying than anything they had imagined and a town in the grip of unspeakable evil.

2. The Pilgrim's Progress in Modern English, John Bunyan
www.christianbook.com - $10.99
www.amazon.com -$10.39
At last---an unabridged contemporary English translation of Bunyan's enduring classic! Children will be swept away by Pilgrim's adventures, while mature believers can savor the gems of wisdom hidden in every chapter---from Christian's flight from the City of Destruction to his homecoming in the Celestial City. Features a helpful index and over 50 illustrations. 450 pages, soft cover from Bridge.

3. Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt, Anne Rice
www.christianbook.com - $18.99
www.amazon.com -$10.20
Based on a thorough familiarity with New Testament scholarship, the noted novelist gives us a stunning fictional re-creation of the life of Jesus. She vividly paints in the first-century milieu, showing how Christ's unique presence affected all around him. Causes one to furiously rethink one's assumptions.

4. Blue Heart Blessed, Susan Meissner
www.christianbook.com - $9.99
www.amazon.com -$10.39
In this sweet contemporary romance, Meissner (A Window to the World) explores one woman’s response to rejection and hurt. When a man she’d trusted jilts Daisy Murien almost at the altar, bitterness colors every aspect of her world. Admirably, she parlays her betrayal into opening a secondhand bridal gown store, Something Blue, where each gown has a story and a tiny blue heart is sewn into the seams and blessed by Daisy’s friend and mentor, the elderly Father Laurent. When the kindly priest is felled by a heart attack, a new romantic interest (predictably) enters Daisy’s life. Lurking on the sidelines is a high school friend who may have feelings for Daisy, and a wealthy single Christian man who can’t seem to make the sparks fly. Meissner tells her story well, and her Christian themes are interwoven throughout with a deft touch. Readers will appreciate some fresh elements: an Ecuadorian couple that cooks for the apartment dwellers every Sunday, and the one gown in Daisy’s inventory she does not want to sell. The ending is well told if conventional, with all the loose ends neatly tied up, which should please fans of “happily ever after” romance novels. (Feb.)

March Book Selection

2008-02-27T07:45:00.004-05:00

February is almost over and our next meeting will be on March 6th at 7pm in the Fireside room at BACC. The book selection for March was sent out last week. There were 3 book choices that were sent out to everyone:

1. He Choose Nails, Max Lucado
2. Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World, Joanne Weaver
3. A Beautiful Fight, Gary Thomas

The vote was almost annyonomous for "Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World," by Joanne Weaver. This book can be purchased at any Christian book store and most likely in Wal-mart or Target too. Amazon.com has the best price for you internet savey individuals out there. Here is a breif description for the up coming March book selection.

The life of a woman today isn't really all that different from that of Mary and Martha in the New Testament. Like Mary, you long to sit at the Lord's feet...but the daily demands of a busy world just won't leave you alone. Like Martha, you love Jesus and really want to serve him...yet you struggle with weariness, resentment, and feelings of inadequacy. Then comes Jesus, right into the midst of your busy Mary/Martha life---and he extends the same invitation he issued long ago to the two sisters of Bethany. Tenderly he invites you to choose "the better part"---a joyful life of "living-room" intimacy with him that flows naturally into "kitchen service" for him.

So I hope you can grab a copy and join us for a breif discussion of our February book (yes, it was a beast of a book,...) and some fellowship time to kick off our next book and enjoy a new recipe!

Februrary's Meeting Recap

2008-02-18T12:00:00.002-05:00

Our first meeting went well! We had about 7 women show up and enjoy some new recipes and we selected our first book.

Recipes were:
-Bacon Wrapped Shrimp dipped in Chutney
-Triple Chocolate Cake

You can get recipes for these at our next meeting if you missed it the first time.

For our March meeting we will have a new recipe to sample so please come to find out!

The book selected is called "When Heaven Weeps," by Ted Dekker.
Synopsis:
In a small Balkan village near the end of World War II, a band of soldiers play a cruel game of ultimate stakes with a priest and his flock. Jan Jovic reluctantly participates. But he's prepared for neither the incredible demonstration of love nor the terrible events that follow. Now, many years later, that same game will spring to life in Jan's own heart. He will fall madly in love with the wrong woman. Her name is Helen, Now it's Jan's turn to play the game. But there is a price. Dive into a romantic thriller like none you've ever read. Drink deeply of a love that will bring a tremor to your bones. Go ahead, it's your turn to play the game. But remember...there is a price. And no one could possibly prepare you for that price.

I will be posting the book selection for March's book in the next week so please check back! I look forward to seeing you on March 6th for our second meeting at Bay Area Church in the Fireside room!

God Bless!

First Meeting

2008-02-04T09:29:00.000-05:00

Our first meeting will be:

Time: This Thursday at at 7pm.
Where: Bay Area Community Church in the Fireside Room
Please come in the side door by all the offices (not through the bay cafe side).
What: I will have some info on two book selections and we will decide which book to begin reading for next month. I will also be bringing two recipes to try and sample with recipe cards for you to take home.

Our first meeting should not take longer then an hour since we're not discussing any book this time. I look forward to meeting everyone and spending some fellowship time as well!

See you then!

Welcome!!

2007-11-16T12:53:00.000-05:00

WELCOME!!

If you’re interested in building relationships with other women, trying some new recipes, and really enjoy reading a book, then you’ve found the place! This is something new to our area but there are so many women out there who love to read and there are so many different Christian books out there! I hope to enjoy all types of written content in the form of novels, fiction, non-fiction, historical, etc. It will bring women together to grow and encourage each other in faith. No matter how busy you are, I’d like to make this as flexible and fun as possible!

Here is how it will work. Starting Thursday, February 7th, we will have our first meeting to select our first book. I will give two book choices at the beginning of each month to vote on. There will also be 2-3 dishes/desserts/snacks to try with their recipes beside them. We will try and rotate women and their recipes to try every month and everyone gets to take home a print out copy of the recipes they tried that evening.

TIME: 7pm-9pm and it is open to women of all ages and stages in life!

PLACE: Bay Area Community Church (room still to be decided).

During the course of the month I will post questions to keep in mind while you’re reading, I will also post discussion questions in a forum on the website so if you have time or enjoy doing so, you can comment and get a discussion going to interact with others about the book. Obviously, only meeting once a month we can’t cover or go over the entire book in detail, but having the forum opens up the time and opportunity for women to share more about the book and to grow in learning about what Christian principals we can take away from the book.

It is your responsibility to get your own copy of the book we’ve selected to read. I will personally recommend a good website or book store that gives a discount that you can take advantage of. I will post that information soon for details on each book we’re reading that month.

NOTE: This is NOT a bible study. So please bring friends who like to eat and read! This is a very informal club and we’re just creating a place where women can share thoughts and explore all the amazing Christian authors that are out there! Not to mention, getting a little social time for those of us who don’t get to fellowship or bond with many Christian women out there. I also intended this to be an outreach tool to bring other women or your neighbors or mother’s of your children’s friends, to a neutral place to enjoy a book and fun new recipies. It’s not a bible study where we are pushing God on them, so to speak. But a place where they can get a deeper meaning and guidance out of what God-inspired authors have to teach us about every day life; authors with morals and values to share. Whether you’re a strong, Godly woman, or just a “good person,” we will help give you encouragement and faith to go about your life.

Please feel free to contact me, Christina Bachmann, by phone or email at cw.bachmann@gmail.com about your thoughts, book suggestions, or even club ideas on how we can better suit the book loving, busy women out there! To join the club so we can get a head count, please give me your name and email by sending me an email or leaving me a message on my voicemail 410-874-7062.