july discussion preview.

Here are some questions to ponder before next Tuesday's chat, scheduled for 4:00 p.m. EST.  Feel free to add your own thoughts in the comments!

-Acts 4: 32-35: The passage about the believers being together and having everything in common, being of one heart and soul. What do you think that means?

-Where did the idea of community come from? Is that word even mentioned in Scripture? Is it the same as Christian brotherhood? Fellowship?

-In living in community with other Christians, we must be mindful of things that might cause our brothers to stumble (1 Co. 8:13, Romans 14). How was this played out in your lives?

-We are all a part of the body of Christ, each of us with a part that is a "manifestation of the Spirit for the common good," acc. to 1 Co. 12. Have you ever struggled to feel a part of the body? Do you feel confident in what role you play?

- Monastic/convent life versus what Bonhoeffer calls a "life not in the seclusion of a cloistered life, but in the thick of foes."

- Do you think often about how visible fellowship is a grace not enjoyed by believers everywhere? Does that change the way you think of it?

-Have you ever lived apart from Christian community? What was it like? Did you long for other believers the way that Paul did in his letters from prison (1 Thess. 3:10)?

- What do you think about Bonhoeffer's statement that "God has put His Word into the mouths of men in order that it may be communicated to other men"? Or the Rob Bell idea that worship is simply a place to gather and remind each other of the truth?

-What's the difference between Christian brotherhood and the extraordinary social experience that some perceive as being it?

- Despite the fact that “fellowship” has long been a mantra sung by churches across the country, the concept of “community” seems to be a fairly recent phenomenon touted in Christian circles. Why the recent increase in attention?

- How do our ideas of Christian community mesh with the ideas in Scripture of living in the world, yet not of the world?

- Does modern Christian community look anything like the Acts church? Can it?

- In what way does where we attend church impact our definitions of community? For example, is a “home church” a more accurate representation of the first century model, or can a mega church promote ideas of community as well?

- Is the blessing of community attractive to nonbelievers? Why or why not?

may discussion preview.

Here are some questions to think about/ponder before next Tuesday's discussion. How does 7:00 EST work for everyone?

-How do you define (and view) domesticity? How does it differ from domestication?

-Going back to our discussion on simple intentional living, how do we balance that with hard work and productivity?

-How do we reconcile the Proverbs 31 woman with the fact that all women may not be cut out for the same tasks?

-What does feminism (particularly the most recent wave) have to say about homemaking?

-What (if any) delight do you take in cooking, crafting, sewing, knitting, gardening, and/or any combination of the "gentle domestic arts"? Why/why not?

-The discussion of these things often leads to feelings of comparison and inadequacy, as women naturally tend towards measuring themselves up to the successes/failures of other women. How can we give ourselves and others more grace in that?

- A question from a precious book, The Gentle Art of Domesticity, by Jane Brockett: What do we lose if we no longer value these skills and arts? What is their true value beyond their usefulness and visual pleasure of the end product?

-What do you think of finding community in these things through blogs and books?

- Is domesticity strictly a calling of the women of God, or is it something we're all called to do (in one form or another) as Christians? Could men benefit from some domesticity?

- What role does food play in the gospel message and in Scripture? Are we missing something when we fail to find the joy in cooking and eating together? Does God care about fast food vs. the slow food movement?

- When did attitudes about domesticity change? Is there a difference in how you see domesticity, how your mother views it, and how your grandmother views it? What direction is domesticity headed?

- If single, how do you balance caring for your community and also figure out how to live in the gospel while living alone? For example, what if a woman cannot seem to keep her house clean or cook for herself every meal, but her job includes caring for the poor and making sure they have enough food. Even though that is not in her own home, is it still "domestic"? When what God has given you is simple and lonely, how do you make it beautiful and life-giving to others?

Also consider these books: Let Me Be a Woman by Elisabeth Elliot and The Hidden Art of Homemaking by Edith Schaeffer.

If you have any other thoughts/questions to offer up for discussion, feel free to post here!

may chew* preview: domesticity & the gospel

Hello friends!

It's been a while since our last chat, but with everyone back stateside, we're shooting for a May conversation. The topic? Domesticity and the gospel.

We plan to discuss the role that cooking, gardening, cleaning, and creating play in our position as God's children. We'll be posting our own questions and thoughts here in the coming weeks, but we'd love to hear what you have to say.

Post your thoughts in the comments below, and we'll tackle some of your ideas in our discussion.

May's conversation will be recorded on May 18, so have your comments in before then!

Interested in joining the conversation? We're looking for a fifth chew* contributor.

Find out more here.

march preview, part ii.

Here are some thought-provoking questions to get the conversation started. Stay-tuned for our recorded chat!

1. Don says, "Somehow we realize that great stories are told in conflict, but we are unwilling to embrace the potential greatness of the story we are actually in. We think God is unjust, rather than a master storyteller" (31-32). Has this book changed your perspective when looking at conflict in your life or the lives of others? How can we embrace & engage conflict?

2. "A story is a character who wants something and overcomes conflict to get it" (48). When I heard Don speak, he emphasized the point that we should want more and it should be clearly defined. (See also Chapter 21.) What do you want? What conflicts have you had to overcome/ are you overcoming?

3. The story of the family in chapter 9 was so powerful to me. Have you ever found yourself in the midst of a story that you didn't want to be in? How did you find your way back to the role you were intended to play? Can you think of people in your life that need to be living better stories? How can we help to provide better roles for these individuals?

4. "The point of life is the same as the point of a story, the point of life is character transformation" (68). Don also says that if the character doesn't change, the story hasn't happened. Has story been taking place in your life? How have you changed? Are you in the middle of some transformation right now?

5. In chapter 22, Don writes about his hiking trip in Peru. It is said that "the more painful the journey to Machu Picchu, the more the traveler would appreciated the city, once he got there" (140). What do you think about this concept? Has pain made some of your stories more beautiful? Would you change anything? Why or why not?

6. "He said to me I was a tree in a story about a forest, and that it was arrogant of me to believe any differently. And he told me the story of the forest is better than the story of the tree" (198). How does this provide hope?

7. Chapter 34 is titled "To Speak Something into Nothing" and chapter 36 is "Where Once There Was Nothing". What can this look like in our stories? Do we take advantage of this gift that our Creator has given us to "speak something into nothingness" as He did?

8. Individually, how are you each living out a good story? Did Miller's book and thoughts change the story you were writing? Are there other ways you'd like to change to redirect your story?

9. A Million Miles -- along with Francis Chan's book Crazy Love -- got me thinking a lot about risk-taking (specifically, the family Don meets who bought a house on a lake to host diplomats and Don's last-minute cross-country bike trip). What does spiritual risk-taking look like? For those of us financially strapped, what's the difference between taking leaps of faith and being stupid?

10. Along the lines of the above question (and spurred in part by Kari's comments I mention below), how are those of us who live in less-than-Oscar-worthy scenarios still capable of writing a good story?

11. Before actually reading the book, I read Miller's blog post about surrounding our new year's resolutions with the elements of a story (for example, instead of "exercise more," sign-up for a 5k race with friends). His examples resemble a lot of the memoirs I've read lately, like 29 Gifts, The Happiness Project, Julie & Julia. These women all took rather mundane resolutions for themselves and turned them into pretty remarkable stories. My question is: What do you do when that part of your story is over? How do you continue writing a great story after it feels like the climax has passed?

12. This one was posted in a blog comment today by a blogger named Kari. I have to say, I agree with her thoughts, so I'd love for us to tackle her question: But I do have a complaint. Don is a writer and a lot of his professional life is under his control as far as what he pursues and his time and such. I, however, don't have the same luxury. It's easier for me to see how he is going to write a good story than how I am going to write a good story. I have experienced some profound professional disappointment in the past two weeks, and there's really nothing I can do about it. I am completely powerless to change the situation. What do you think the concept of "telling a good story" could do for me in this situation?

march preview.

Just a heads-up that our next chew* chat will take place on Tuesday, March 23. I'll try to put the audio up on Wednesday.

We'll be discussing Donald Miller's latest, A Million Miles in a Thousand Years. Jenna will be facilitating our conversation, so send any topics of discussion her way, either via email or on the blog.

If you haven't had a chance to finish the book, Donald Miller's blog should provide interesting food for thought as well.

Looking forward to next week!

february preview.

Stay tuned for our next chat about Lent. Here's what we're chewing on:

- Are you giving anything up for Lent? Are you “taking anything on” for Lent?
- How does your church prepare for Easter and/or recognize Lent? What is your church’s stance on these spiritual traditions?
- What does Lent mean to you personally as a Christ follower?
- How do we keep our minds sober and reflective leading up to Easter, especially while maintaining our regular schedules and commitments? Is this even necessary or important?
- Why is celebrating the Passover or sharing a Seder meal something many Christians have chosen, perhaps in light of the New Testament, to give up or ignore?
- Have we let Christian tradition (Advent, the daily hours, Passover, Lent) fall by the wayside in an effort to recognize that Christ’s death overcame the old law?
- Why is the church calendar still important and viable today?
- How do you practice the church calendar?
- How do our celebrations of this season deepen our understanding of the Good News?
- What does it mean to rend your heart and not your garments? (Joel 2:13)
- What does running from sin/repentance look like in our lives?

Small Bites

I just wanted to let each of you know that I am greatly anticipating our chat this Thursday afternoon/evening/night. I've recently really been struggling with my pace of life, my inability to get a handle on all of my commitments, relationships and projects. I have a million things racing through my head, and while I think there is great worth to the going and doing and thinking....I also know there to be a need for the slowing, the sitting, the seeking.

I'm all too tempted to ask and ask and ask, but never to look for answers.

While I don't expect us to arrive at any great solutions this Thursday (although, who knows, maybe we will!), I am just grateful to have this week to prepare thoughtfully, prayerfully, academically and spiritually for a discussion that has already forced me to look deeper into something that has flashed through my brain before.

Here's to letting truth take root as we take a bite, chew and digest!

january preview.

Stay tuned for our first video chat about living simply and intentionally. Here's what we'll be covering:

- How does God define living simply? Does He at all?
- Is being too busy a sin?
- Are Christians called to live simple lives of intention?
- What does a simple, intentional life look like?
- How do we each achieve simpicity in our lives?
- How can a simpler way of life please God?
- Consider the implications of simplicity in light of the messiness and complications of human relationships.
- How do we simplify in the midst of a world that is filled with brokenness?
- How does all of this fit into Jesus' invitation to take on his light yoke?

See you on January 21!