Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Traveling Light in the New Year 2009


Hooray! Our book has been chosen for our very first meeting in January. We will read fiction and non-fiction Christian books throughout the year but our first will be a non-fiction work to start off the New Year. With so many wonderful books and authors to choose from it was a difficult choice but it is fitting to choose something that will help us as we start a new year.

Traveling Light by Max Lucado
Releasing the burdens we were Never Intended to Bear: The Promise of Psalm 23.

Odds are, you did this morning. Somewhere between the first step on the floor and the last step out the door, you grabbed some luggage. You stepped over to the baggage carousel and loaded up. Don’t remember doing so? That’s because you did it without thinking. Don’t remember seeing a baggage terminal? That’s because the carousel is not the one in the airport; it’s the one in the mind. And the bags we grab are not made of leather; they’re made of burdens. The suitcase of guilt. A sack of discontent. You drape a duffel bag of weariness on one shoulder and a hanging bag of grief on the other. Add on a backpack of doubt, an overnight bag of loneliness, and a trunk of fear. Pretty soon you’re pulling more stuff than a skycap. No wonder you’re so tired at the end of the day. Where do we turn for help? How about looking to an old friend, the twenty-third Psalm....The Lord is my shepherd... Using the verses of the 23rd Psalm as a guide, Max Lucado walks us through a helpful inventory of our burdens. (The above is from the back of the book cover.)
To refresh your memory here is Psalm 23: 1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 3 he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. Psalm 23 (NIV)

I am very excited about this choice and hope you will be too. This book came across my path this summer. I decided to give it a shot, checked it out from the library and couldn’t put it down. I eventually purchased it later to have for myself to be read again. I will give more on my comments of this book another day so I hope you will come back for more!
Our first meeting will be Saturday, January 31, 2009 at 8:30 in the morning. The place of our meeting will be announced at a later date. Please comment or e-mail me (abookjunkie@gmail.com) and let me know if you are interested and plan on participating so we can have an idea of how many to expect. The local libraries have copies of this book and if you need help in obtaining one, let me know! Please comment as you read the book as this blog was provided so that we can all discuss the book throughout the month! I would love to know your thoughts good and bad!
-Amber
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3 comments:

Anonymous said...

WOW Amber! This Blog is so impressive! Thank you! I, too have already read Traveling Light (being that you recommended it and loaned it to me! LOL!), and think it is a great choice.

Christy said...

Hey there Swift girls! Can I be a member via blog? I love to read as well and I've really been wanting to find books that I will enjoy and that will belp me grow closer in my relationship with Christ. This is great!

Anonymous said...

Wow! You did a great job with this site. I love it!!! I knew when thinking of this "book club" idea you would be a perfect fit for it! Book junkie fits you well!!! I am so excited to see you take off and run with this!! Also excited to read the first book - it sounds great!