Leaving a church can feel like a divorce; a heart rending rip that remains sensitive years later; scar tissue toughness masking an inner vulnerability.
The old community divides into 'his' friends and 'her' friends; a few brave souls spanning the gap; grocery store encounters full of cheery chatter that rings tinnily over the echoes of things not said.
And through it all the nagging fear that the children suffer the most; basic certitude's shattered; years passing too quickly by--too many moments bereft of the particular graces of community.
"Where are you going now?" people ask.
"Forward," I answer steadily. "I'm going forward."
***
What happens when a pastor gathers one hundred volunteers, gives each of them $100, and instructs them to invest it in God's Kingdom? THE KINGDOM ASSIGNMENT by Denny and Leesa Bellesi tells the stories of financial multiplication and lives touched through this experiment. A $12.99 easy read, this little book will inspire you to look deeper into using the talents God has given you.
Isn't it wonderful that nobody need wait a single moment before starting
to improve the world? -Anne Frank, Holocaust diarist (1929-1945)
We now have a few audio books available for rent: THE SACRED ROMANCE by Curtis and Eldridge is one of my favorite books. What is our relationship with God but a sacred dance of love? Richard Foster's STREAMS OF LIVING WATER, which we're using to inform the Wednesday prayer hour, is also great treat. Dividing Christianity into six streams, each chapter focuses on a particular tradition within Christianity and highlights a few folk who have contributed to that stream. Foster makes some surprising choices. Would you have considered Frank Laubach a Contemplative, or St. Francis a Charismatic?
Members can rent audio tapes for $3, which is lots cheaper than buying the book or tape, although in the case of STREAMS, the timelines of people and movements at the beginning of each chapter is well worth the $15 price of the book.
How do you become a Word Shop member? Let me count the ways:
1) Be on staff with a regular shift. This gives you all sorts of little perks like using pennies in the till on the jelly bean machine. (Although the neighborhood kids often get that particular perk as well, just for the asking.)
2) Join a writers group. The suggested donation of $20 for 6 months grants you free membership. (Or is it that a $20 membership gives you 6 months free classes?)
3) Join as an audio member. For $20 you can request a particular addition to our library and have a free rental.
4) Donate a few stellar books to our Audio library.
5) Give us $20. Someone did last year. Someone else did this year. $100% growth.
Speaking of Writing classes, we've decided to double the Journaling class meetings. Instead of monthly, we'll meet every other week. The sad thing is that we can no longer be called the Final Friday Folk. We need a new name. Send suggestions. Next class is May 10 at noon.
We got in a used hardback of BLOOD BROTHERS by Elias Chacour. Given the current state of affairs, I've decided to read this Christian Palestinian's story of the Jews arriving in Israel. $5.50 if you want to snatch it up. First after me.
Reading about Phoebe Palmer (mid to late 1800s) in the Holiness chapter of STREAMS OF LIVING WATERS rang a few bells: First a high tinkling of a long ago memory: I'd read about her years ago and tried unsuccessfully to find one of her books. Then a louder, deeper gong: I'd held a copy of her THE PROMISE OF THE FATHER in my hand within the last month. "Palmer," I had thought, "Palmer. That sounds familiar."
A third bell tolled mournfully. The book had sold almost immediately. For $4.50. "A nice title," I'd said chattily to the man who brought it.
"It's old," he'd responded.
Right. Old. (This is a "fish that got away" story.) Sigh.
Did I mention that we have a great stack of used Lucado books? Hardbacks and paper. Also we've received a lovely stash of used children's books: Laura Ingels Wilder, Boxcar Children, Seuss...come and see.
Not all those that wander are lost. -J.R.R. Tolkien, novelist and
philologist (1892-1973)
Blessings,
Alliee +