I'm Away Teaching at a Conference

Hey, all,

I'll be away until August 3rd and won't have Internet access while I'm gone. FYI, I'm teaching at the Montrose Christian Writers' Conference until July 29th, and then I'm spending time with my family.

I'll start blogging regularly again after my return.

Have a great week-and-a-half! :o)

'Til next time,
Joan

Daily Necessities

A few weeks ago my doctor told me (based on blood work) that I'm now officially "pre-diabetic." What it means is that I'm insulin-resistant, and that if I do nothing, I'll definately develop full-blown diabetes (type 2) within ten years.

BUT...

If I change my diet, exercise regularly, and avoid certain foods all together, I can keep Type 2 at bay indefinately. I may even be able to avoid this horrid disease completely. But only if I do what I need to do...everyday...for the rest of my life.

Since my diagnosis, I've exercised an hour a day, six days per week. I've cut white sugar, white flour, white rice, white potatoes (basically anything "white" or anything made with anything white), and highly-processed foods from my diet completely. I'm eating only whole grains, loads of veggies and fruits, and low-fat proteins and dairy products. The only sweet things I eat are sweetened with artificial sweeteners (Splenda or Equal).

And I'm doing this everyday.

And I feel better than I've felt in years.

I've gone on a number of healthy eating kicks and exercise regimines in the past, but they never lasted. I knew when I started them, whatever the latest kick was, it wouldn't last.

But this time it's different. It even feels different. If I want to live, and live healthfully, I have to do what I'm doing now. It's non-negotiable. Period. I don't want to end up blind or toe-less. And I want to grow old with my husband.

I want to stay healthy. So I'm doing what the doctor told me I have to do. Sure, it takes time, discipline, and effort; and it's keeping me from doing other things. But it's a must. I never realized how time-consuming all this could be until now. But it's worth it.

The same could be said for my spiritual life. My long-term spiritual health depends on the little things I do daily. If I want to grow wise and muture and old in the faith, little things like daily devotions and regular prayer and feeding my soul with healthy things make a huge difference.

Again, it takes time. But regular disciplines and spiritual habits will keep my soul healthy. And I'll be a better teacher for it.

My recent diagnosis has been a wake-up call for me, physically and spiritually. For too long I'd been lulled into an illusion of health.

Now I'm faced with reality in both my body and my soul.

So it's back to regular disciplines for me for my physical and spiritual health.

How about you? How's your spritual health these days--especially now, during the summer, when we tend to relax and play more?

I pray this summer will be a time of health for you, and growth, and soul-nurture. Even in the little things.

'Til next time,
Joan

Hey all,

I won't be posting again until July 5th; we're taking a much-needed weekend away up at my family's cottage in Northeastern PA.

Enjoy the weekend; remember to give thanks for our freedoms; and take time to rest and recreate!

Oh, and remember to smell the roses (or petunias as it may be).

'Til next time,
Joan

Take Time for Fun

For those of us who maintain heavy teaching or ministry schedules from September to June, summer provides the opportunity to "catch up" on all those things we set aside during the academic year. House projects, filing, crafts, gardens, reading, letter writing, and other tasks eat up our discretionary time, and before we know it September is here again.

This summer, don't forget to guard time for relaxation and play. God did, after all, create a weekly day of rest and recreation; he also provided a year of Jubilee. We weren't created to carry continual, on-going stressors or demands without reprieve; and when we do, our health and functioning suffer.

What one thing can you do for "play" this summer? What one thing can you participate in just for fun?

Take time to giggle and laugh and enjoy the life you've been given, no matter what your circumstances. Your soul will thank you for it; you'll be glad you did.

'Til next time,
Joan

Hymns On-Line

Another way to encourage your soul this summer might be to reflect on the words (or listen to) various hymns, both classic and contemporary. Here are a few web sites that provide lyrics (and in some cases the ability to hear) hymns from various ages. Enjoy!

(When found in quotations, the descriptions of these sites are taken right from their websites. Otherwise the descriptions are my summaries.):

The Cyber Hymnal:. "Thou­sands of Christ­ian hymns & Gos­pel songs from ma­ny de­nom­in­a­tions—lyr­ics, MI­DI files, scores, pic­tures, his­to­ry & more. Search­a­ble, ad­vanced Au­to­play fea­ture, free down­loads. New en­tries ev­ery week. Us­er friend­ly. Big­gest site of its kind on the In­ternet."

HymnSite.com: "The hymns and psalm tunes posted at this site are in the public domain. You are encouraged to download, use, and enjoy any of the music that you find. Other than what you see in The United Methodist Hymnal or in The Standard Psalm Tune Book, none of it is arranged or voiced."

The Lutheran Hymnal: "These are the traditional songs of worship and praise from Lutheran Hymnals presented in midi, in mp3, in lyrics and in sheet music."

New Song On-Line: "The mission of NewSong OnLine.org is to make people aware that there is Christian music with a good beat. MIDI, MP3, Video, Music Comparisons, Articles, Awards, and Family Safe stuff."

John Wesley's Methodist Hymnal: Found at Christian Classics Ethereal Library entitled A Collection of Hymns, for Use of the People called Methodists.

A private list of hymns to enjoy provided by Lassen Technologies

Name That Hymn: A great place to search out hymn lyrics.

HymnLyrics.Org: a completely searchable data base of over 11,000 hymns (printed lyrics and audio provided)

That's enough to get you started.

Happy hymn hunting!

'Til next time,
Joan

The Task of Christian Scholarship

Something to think about from John Piper:

"The task of all Christian scholarship—not just biblical studies—is to study reality as a manifestation of God's glory, to speak and write about it with accuracy, and to savor the beauty of God in it. It is a massive abdication of scholarship that so many Christians do academic work with so little reference to God." (John Piper, The Pleasures of God, p. 298)

Either Christ in all, through all, and Lord of all, or He isn't. Hmmm...a challenging thought.

'Til next time,
Joan

Five Ways to Nurture Your Soul This Summer

By now, most of us who were leading spring Bible studies or classes have wrapped up our semesters and are looking forward to a few weeks or months off from regular lesson preparation.

Downtime, recreation, junk reads, lazy beach days--these are some of the things we equate with our summers off. But don't forget to feed your soul.

Here are five things you can do this summer to foster some soul time:

1. Take a personal mini-retreat. By that I mean, take a day, or a block of six hours, or a two-hour chunk of time, and set it aside for prayer, reflection, stillness, and meditation on God's word. You don't have to have a big agenda, nor do you have to go away, to experience an effective mini-retreat. Try going to your local library or coffee shop. Or, better yet, go to the home of a vacationing friend or to a local park where you can find alone time. Then commit to spending the time you alotted in prayer and in God's word.

2. Try recording your thoughts on faith, God, the Bible, prayer--just some aspect of your spiritual life (in a journal or notebook or on tape). Set aside an hour each Sunday for processing your thoughts.

3. Read a short, classic Christian work. Try Brother Lawrence's The Practice of the Presence of God, or A.W. Tozer's The Knowledge of the Holy, or Ole Hallesby's Prayer, or Andrew Murray's The Deeper Christian Life. Try journaling about what you read. (For free classics, check out the Christian Classics Ethereal Library on-line.)

4. Write a psalm or hymn.

5. Watch a sunrise from a hilltop and worship our Creator God.

Summers can be busy times filled with fun, travel, and activity, but if plan for it we can include "still" time for our souls.

'Til next time,
Joan

How Big is Your God?

I stumbled upon this quote by A. W. Tozer this morning. It's something to think about.

"History will probably show that no people has ever risen above its religion, and man's spiritual history positively demonstrates that no religion has ever been greater than its idea of God. For this reason the most portentous fact about any person is not what he at a given time may say or do, but what he in his deep heart conceives God to be like...." (from The Knowledge of the Holy)

I suppose this would be especially true for those of us who teach.

Just how big is our God?

'Til next time,
Joan

Motivational Quote

From Henri Nouwen's Mornings with Henri J.M. Nouwen:

"Listen to the book. By that I mean read the Bible; read books about the Bible, about the spiritual life, and the lives of "great" saints. I know you read a good deal, but a lot of what you read distracts you from the way that Jesus is showing you...

Your thirst for knowledge and information often makes you desire to own the word, instead of letting the word own you. Even so, you will learn the most by listening carefully to the Word that seeks admission to your heart."

So, fellow teachers and leaders, does the Word own us?

'Til next time,
Joan

Optical Illusions

If you liked yesterday's tip about using puzzles to engage your learners, you'll enjoy using optical illusions. They're particularly handy for lessons about perspective, world view, convictions, bias, subjectivity, seeing things that aren't there, missing things that are--you get the idea.

To find free downloadable (or copy-paste-able) optical illusions you can try Cool Optical Illusions (when you get there, just click on any illusion listed in the sidebar on the left), The Optical Illusion Archive, Optillusion, or Eye Tricks.

I find the "Cool Optical Illusions" site easiest to navigate, but I've used illusions from the other sites, too.

Fair warning: in addition to illustions, these sites contain crass humor links, magic links, and tons of advertising, most of which I would not endorse. If you stick to the illusions, you'll be fine.

Enjoy!

Joan

Puzzles: They Work for Grown-Ups, Too!

I'm always on the look-out for creative ways to engage my adult students. Puzzles, believe it or not, are one way I've found to foster fun, thinking, and discussion in my adult Bible study classes.

I've used brainteasers, optical illusions, word art, and jigsaw puzzles for group projects and discussion starters (much to my students groaning delight). :o)

I used to spend hours putting these things together or hunting for them on-line. Now I've found a great tool for creating these things in a snap.

Sponsored by the Discovery Channel's DiscoverySchool.com, the site is called Puzzle Maker, and it allows you to create (in almost an instant) several different types of puzzles on any subject.

These services are free and printable for your teaching/leading use.

I suspect I'll return to this site often!

Blessings,
Joan

The Spurgeon Archive

Here's another great resource, especially for you Charles Haddon Spurgeon fans:

The Spurgeon Archive

Quotes, writings, The Treasury of David (his commentary on the Psalms), sermons (indexed by chronology, title, or Bible passage), devotionals, and other helps, this all-things-Spurgeon site contains just about anything you want to read by this classic author. And is completely searchable.

Cool!

'Til next time,
Joan

Blue Letter Bible - Check it Out!

If you're looking for free, solid, on-line learning opportunities, check out the Blue Letter Bible Institute (BLBI). Their introduction is self-explanatory and worth reading. You also can find a general "about" section on the BLBI here.

Home of the Blue Letter Bible, a superb on-line Bible study tool (searchable Bible, concordance, articles, maps, images, commentaries, audio teaching, other Bible tools), the Blue Letter Bible Institute provides FREE courses on basic Bible doctrine. As of this writing, the courses available to take free on-line (for grade or audit) are these:

Christology
God's Sufficiency for Godly Living
Growing in the Grace of God
An Exposition of Matthew
Bible Survey 1 (Genesis to Song of Solomon)
Bible Survey 2 (Isaiah to Malachi)

There is no time limit within which you must complete the course work (it's entirely self-paced) and you can take as many classes at a time as you wish. Course materials are free and downloadable as PDF or MP3 files.

The BLBI faculty is solid (from the little I know about them). The BLBI's statement of faith is true to historic Christianity.

Summer may be a great time to take a course if you've been thinking about brushing up on your theology, doctrine, or exposition.

I'm taking the two survey courses in preparation for teaching next year. So far, they're very good.

The BLBI seems almost too good to be true, but it's not. For FAQs, click here.

Enjoy!

'Til next time,
Joan

Bible Study Helps

Here's another 0n-line resource that provides a ton of links for Bible Study Helps. Provided by Ark Web Ministries, the resources listed seem solid, but use your judgment. Rather than duplicate their list here, just click on link in the first sentence of this paragraph and it will take you to sources for on-line Bibles, commentaries, apologetics, Q&A, study aids, and downloadable Bible software.

Enjoy!

'Til next time,
Joan

Bible Verses for Teachers

For those of you writing thank-you notes to teachers, here are a few passages from Scripture that might encourage those who teach (at least they've encouraged me over the years). Feel free to use these in cards or notes as you pray for or encourage your teachers!

Psalm 1:2-3 (NIV)
But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers.

Psalm 37:31 (NIV)
The law of his God is in his heart;
his feet do not slip.

Jeremiah 17:8 (NIV)
He will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
and never fails to bear fruit."

Matthew 25:21 (NIV)
"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'

1 Corinthians 15:58 (NIV)
Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV)
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Ephesians 1:16 (NIV)
I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.

Ephesians 3:16-19 (NIV)
I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, [17] so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, [18] may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, [19] and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

1 Thessalonians 1:2 (NIV)
We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers.

1 Thessalonians 5:24 (NIV)
The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.

2 Thessalonians 1:3 (NIV)
We ought always to thank God for you, brothers, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing.

1 Timothy 4:11 (NIV)
Command and teach these things.

2 Timothy 2:2 (NIV)
And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.

1 Peter 4:10 (NIV)
Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.

3 John 1:3 (NIV)
It gave me great joy to have some brothers come and tell about your faithfulness to the truth and how you continue to walk in the truth.


Whatever you end up saying (or writing), you can be certain your teachers will appreciate your affirmation, perhaps in ways you can't even begin to imagine. Thanks for taking the time to offer a pat on the back and a humble "thank you" to those who teach!

Blessings to you,
Joan

Tools for the Teacher's Soul

If your Bible study classes or groups break for the summer, now is a good time to be thinking about your personal devleopment as a teacher or leader. Summer breaks provide a great opportunity to foster your own growth and development apart from preparing for next fall.

Here are some ideas to get you thinking about what you might work on over the summer. I've used most of these in trainings with Bible study teachers or have used them for my own study and can recommend them all. I've grouped these suggested resources by type or subject area. Enjoy!


RESOURCES FOR SKILL TRAINING:

• Speaking with Bold Assurance by Bert Decker (book or audio tape series)
• A Pebble in the Pond: The Ripple Effect; Leadership Skills Every Woman Can Achieve by Julie Baker (book)
• Communicating with Bold Assurance (Video training series) by Bert Decker
• The Seven Laws of the Learner by Bruce Wilkinson (book or video training)
• Teaching to Change Lives by Howard Hendricks (book)
• Speak Up with Confidence by Carol Kent (book)

BOOK RESOURCES FOR BIBLE SURVEY AND OVERALL BIBLE UNDERSTANDING:

• Understanding the Bible by John Stott
• 30 Days to Understanding the Bible in 15 Minutes a Day! by Max Anders
• 30 Days to Understanding the Bible by Max Anders
• What's in the Bible: A One-Volume Guide to God's Word by R.C. Sproul and Robert Wolgemuth
• Learn the Bible in 24 Hours by Dr. Chuck Missler

BOOK RESOURCES FOR BIBLE STUDY METHODS:

• Living by the Book by Howard Hendricks
• Personal Bible Study Methods by Rick Warren
• The Navigators Bible Studies Handbook
• Discipleship Journal's Best Bible Study Methods
• How to Study Your Bible by Kay Arthur

BOOK RESOURCES FOR RENEWAL:

• The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer
• The Knowledge of the Holy by A.W. Tozer
• Be Still My Soul: Resting in The Greatness of God and His Love for You by D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
• The Call: Finding and Fulfilling the Central Purpose of Your Life by Os Guinness
• Don't Waste Your Life by John Piper
• Humilty by Andrew Murray
• Trusting God by Jerry Bridges
• Prayer by Ole Hallesby
• Christ's Call to Discipleship by James Montgomery Boice

I suspect that's enough to get you started. In later posts I'll list resources for doctrinal development, personal devotions, and other topics of interest.

I hope you'll take time this summer to allow God to renew your soul and to increase your knowledge and understanding.

'Til next time,

Joan

Rhythms of Life

Os Guiness, in his book The Call: Finding and Fulfilling the Central Purpose of Your Life, encourages the reader to follow Jesus' model of living out the faith in a secular world. He states,

"For Jesus, spirituality is plainly not a life of contemplation divorced from a life of action. There is nothing in Jesus' life of either the super-spiritual...or the the all-too-secular.... There is only a rhythm of engagement and withdrawal, work and rest, dispensing and recharging, crowds and solitude, in the midst of one of the shortest, busiest public lives ever lived."

As leaders, if we're to stay refreshed, recharged, and relevent, we would do well to listen to Guiness and follow Jesus' example. And this year, I plan to model his rhythms of engagement and withdrawel; work and rest. I will allow for rhythms of life.

As I write this, our Bible studies have come to the end of our academic year. I no longer have to teach weekly. This summer, instead of filling my time off full of travel, additional work deadlines, and vacations-from-which-I-need-a-vacation-upon-my-return, I'm planning for rest. Real rest (not just escapist recreation).

My soul needs a cycle of rest just about now. I can sense my weariness. I need to withdraw from engagement for a time so God can restore my soul.

And so I will. I'll do what Jesus did in Mark 6:45-47; I'll dismiss the crowds, I'll pause from my ministry, and make time for solitude.

How about you? In what part of the life rhythm do you find yourself these days. Don't forget about cycles of rest. Jesus needed them; we do, too.

'Til next time,
Joan

Away Again

I'm away speaking this weekend, so I won't be able to post until Monday, May 16th.

In the meantime, enjoy the weekend, stay faithful, and rest in God's mercies. :o)

Blessings to you all,
Joan

Ideas for Expressing Appreciation

In yesterday's post, I challenged us all to say "thanks" to those who have supported our ministries this year (in any capacity).

Lest you feel overwhelmed, here's a list of ideas that offers various levels of "thanks": some cost no money and taking only a moment of time, and others require a bit more investment. Enjoy!

Money-Free Ways to Say "Thanks" (these only cost time and things you have):

• Make a phone call whose sole purpose it is to say thank you (no other agenda allowed).
• Make a public statement of thanks (in front of class, group, or congregation).
• Write a thank-you note and hand-deliver it.
• Make a small bouquet from cuttings from your garden or yard (Iris and Lilac blooms are plentiful this time of year), then give the bouquet as an appreciation gift.
• Bake cookies and place two or three in a Baggie tied with ribbon (one batch makes lots of thank-yous).
• Bake mini-loaves of bread and give them as appreciation gifts.
• Roast your own coffee beans and give small bags of them away as thank-you gifts.
• Write out Paul's prayer in Ephesians 3:14-21 on stationary or an index card, then give it to the person and commit to praying Paul's prayer for him over the summer.
• Write a poem about the person for whom you're thankful, then give it to her.
• Using your computer, create a personalized appreciation bookmark (using Publisher, Print Shop, or Adobe, for example) for those you want to thank, print them, laminate them (if you have a limanator), and give them to those who've helped you.
• Create a list: The Five Things I Most Appreciate About You and Why. Give it to the person about whom you've created the list.
• Offer to do a service for someone you want to thank (babysit, cut the grass, weed their garden).

Ways to Say Thanks that Cost a Bit More:

• Give gift certificates to local restaurants or bookstores.
• Give gift certificates to CBD (Christian Book Distributors).
• Host an appreciation day recognizing all helping hands.
• Put on a "thank-you" brunch.
• Treat your whole team to a catered lunch (or even take-out).
• Treat them to a one-on-one-with-you thank-you lunch at a restaurant.
• Give chocolate, coffee, or tea as gifts.
• Order a gift basket, fruit basket, or treat tower from your local florist (great for church staffs to share).
• Give mugs with appropriate messages printed on them.
• Give a personalized gift (monogramed or inscribed).
• Create personalized appreciation certificates (using pre-printed certificate paper).
• Give a token appreciation gift: pens, journals, medals, gift Bibles, Bible-study helps, single-stem flowers, potted plants, stress balls, bookmarks, picture frames, trophies, paper weights, framed prints, Scripture Keepers.

There are countless ways to say thank you. The point isn't how much we spend or how big a gift we give; the point is simply to communicate our appreciation.

This year I gave each woman on my class leadership team a box containing two books marks and a few pieces of chocolate nicely dressed up in tissue paper. With each gift I included a personalized note from me expressing what I valued about that person. The total cost for these four appreciation gifts was less than $5 (for all four total) and little bit of my time. And my leaders know I'm grateful for them.

Next week I'll give my program teachers different appreciation gifts, just to say thanks for their faithfulness in teaching this year. And each will receive a personal note from me with their gift.

The personal touch counts.

So, yes, indeed, express your thanks, but include a personal touch no matter what you choose to do. It will mean more to those receiving your appreciation.

'Til next time,

Joan

Remember to Say "Thank You"

It's May now, and many of us are or will be wrapping up our classes or studies for this semester. I'm not sure why, but in American culture we tend to take the summer off from Bible studies and small groups.

Before you dismiss for the next few months, remember to express your appreciation for those who have supported you or from whom you've received any kind of assistance this year. That could be those who:

provided the home or room in which you met
made home-made goodies for refreshments
brought store-bought munchies to nibble on
offered suggestions for next year's improvements
made coffee
set up the room
participated in classes or meetings
reached out to someone in your class or group
prayed for you, your attendees, or your ministry
cleaned up after your meetings
provided transportation
watched children so that others could attend
loaned you study helps or resources to aid in your preparation
gave you counsel
spoke a kind word
ran copies of handouts for you
shared your teaching/leading load
encouraged you in any way

Certainly there are other roles for which we can give thanks, but you get the idea.

Expressed thanks goes a long way toward encouraging others; it helps those you are thanking to feel valued and to feel like needed members of the body of Christ.

Won't you take time to thank someone before you dismiss for the coming summer season? It will be good for them, and for your heart, too!

'Til next time,
Joan