Wanna sharpen some tools with me?

I would like to invite you to join me for a virtual discussion/ reading group so we can sharpen our minds, learn from some interesting writers, learn from each other and have fun in the process.

I know, I know… if you’re like me, before motherhood or even career-life kicked in, you read much more than you do now. And now, your reading (again, if you’re like me) mostly consists of how-to’s for whatever you need to know right now and whatever else you can digest in one sitting (unless on true vacation).

Stay with me for minute while I explain this crazy idea:

Early this summer I was talking with a friend of mine and told her I was yearning for a deeper journey in my walk with Jesus. I felt like something was missing. Missy suggested I read Love Your God with all Your Mind by J.P. Moreland.

Among the many things Moreland shares in this book is the responsibility we have as Christians to keep our minds sharp, reading and exploring many topics, not just Christianity or the easy reads.

This caused me to want to sharpen my mind, but I knew, especially once school started, it would be too easy to fall back into survival mode and old routine. So I enlisted an accountability group.

I called together a group of girlfriends with whom I have had a very loose prayer/ discussion/ dinner group this summer and invited them to join me on a new venture. I explained my new idea and warned them that our discussion would likely be fodder for blog posts. And now I’m inviting you to be a part of our circle.

Like I said, we are forming a book club of sorts.

Each month our group will select a topic for reading and then meet twice during the month to report back on what we have read. Each month’s topic can be stretched as far as anyone would like for it to be: I don’t want this group to be big on rules, but instead big on discussion.

At my home, we will meet for dinner, share prayer requests, pray and then delve into the subject at hand, comparing notes on what we have learned.

I would like to encourage you to join us, as well.

Won’t you also select a book along the lines of our topic and contribute to the discussion?

If you are also a blogger, please come and read what we have discussed and post your own discoveries on your own blog, linking to your post from the Mr. Linky, linking your post to mine. Then check out what others are reading (and learning) as well.

If you are not a blogger, please stop by, read and comment on anything you may be reading on your own… and then check out what everyone else is reading.

The group in my home will mostly meet on the 1st and 3rd weeks of the month, but I will do my best to post some new discoveries every Tuesday, and I encourage you to do the same… this way we can keep each other reading, learning and expanding our minds.

In September we will explore Healthy Eating. Feel free to stretch it any way you like: nutrition, bread-making, healthy desserts, cooking technique, gardening, farming… whatever. Just pick up a book and dive in. And let us all know what you plan to read with a link. (Put the name of your book in parenthesis.) Then report back next Tuesday if you can.

Now, get those ‘chores’ done, head to the library, your friend’s house, your own bookshelves or the bookstore and curl up for some exercise of the brain. Let’s sharpen our tools together!

 Oh– My book for September will be What to Eat by Marion Nestle (and I keep finding other ones that intrigue me, as well!)


Comments

3 responses to “Wanna sharpen some tools with me?”

  1. This is an awesome idea — intertwining talking about the Christian life, and reading books. I actually lead a church small group of writers, and we do writing exercises, writer’s bible studies, and I’m introducing a mini book club of sorts. We’re going to do it one Sunday in a month. I really was thinking about what books to read. I found this book lovers reading journal — it’s called “Read, Remember, and Recommend” by Rachelle Knight, and I wanted to recommend it to you if you’re looking for book lists for your book club. It has lists like the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, BBC’s top 100, etcetera. You can find it at http://www.bibliopages.com. I really do recommend that you check it out, it’s an awesome journal that will organize your book club’s reading.

  2. Somebody's Mimi Avatar
    Somebody’s Mimi

    This is a great idea… I thought of a cyber book club 3 days ago, but you are the doer! I’ll be watching…

  3. This is awesome! I am so glad you are doing this!

    You need a cute button to post on the sidebar advertising this.

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