Thoughts from Mary

I wanted to add my thoughts about the book since I will be away. I liked the description of Heaven as it kind of jived with my brief glimpse, but I wondered how influenced it was in his mind with how much he knew about visions in the Bible. When I was a child I had a very limited knowledge of what heaven should look like. Interesting. Also I thought the man was insufferably self- centered. You never really get any sense of what the people around him were like. Maybe that could be the result of hurting so badly???

Cookie guidelines

So, I haven't been in church for 2 weeks... I am hoping that someone can tell me if there is consensus on the cookie swap... how many? Are we swapping among ourselves or helping out the youth group? Katie made her required 3 dozen today. YAY! Now - how many more?

Also - have you all finished 90 Minutes in Heaven yet? There's little chatter on the real reason for this blog! I like it so much better than the last book. I found that I have wanted to go back twice to read over the description of heaven.

I also picked up a book while home in PA for Thanksgiving. I think it is called I still believe... and, though it is not yet opened up, from the cover I gather that it's a kind of come back book for Christians to respond to naysayers. Any help I can get you know? Those of you who know me well, know how inarticulate I can be. :)

Cookie Swap Suggestions?

Hi Everyone,

Do we have any rules/suggestions for the cookie swap--as in how many to bake, etc.

Karen

90 Minutes

I have really been enjoying this book. I am not yet finished, but am getting to the various anecdotes of people who were touched by his story and needed to hear the reassurance of heaven. Very calming to read about! Especially as I am one of those doubting Thomas... always fighting myself!!!

So, is there a decision for the next meeting?
Hope that you all had a great Thanksgiving!

Thanks for the invite

Finally, an invitation that actually reached me and now I'm registered as a user. Thanks, Nicole! I'm just wondering if others had the same problem as I did (not getting the invitation) and that's why there's not a lot of activity here.

Cookie Swap

Karen asked if we want to make the cookie swap a way to help the youth group make up more plates in order to sell more cookies to buy more gift cards to feed more families.... I like the idea - but let me know. russellscience305@gmail.com

Pearly Gates and Such...

Found this post on Yahoo! Answers re: Pearly Gates
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20071106230146AAs7OYf

"See this verse:
The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. Revelation 21:21"

Finished the book. Stunning. Grateful for my life and blessings this Thanksgiving week.

Questions from Vivian

Ok I have two questions maybe someone can answer for me. Where in the Bible does it mention that heaven has pearly gates? Can someone explain how you can LOOSE a femur bone?

Halfway through!

Well, once again - a book that I can't put down. It is so much more real too - I don't know, more believable to me maybe? I sadly find that both books are having the (possibly unwanted) effect of making me feel like my guilt, and doubt are ok. Of course, I imagine that Don Piper is oging to come through this and teach me on the way, so I guess that I'll wait and see.

Did anybody notice that I seem to be the only one who posts? :)

Don't forget to let me know if you're doing the cookie swap!

Invitations

Hi for last time today - I promise!!! I just sent invitations to England, Hawaii, PA and MD to join so that maybe I can share all this reading with my family. If any of you would like to do that too, let me know and I'll email them an invitation from the blog so that they can join easily!

Ok, that's really it for today!

December's book choice

Ninety Minutes in Heaven is the title of our next month's book. We will be meeting at Mary Day's house to discuss - 10:30 on December 13th. If you are interested in the cookie swap, please email me russellscience305@gmail.com with which kinds you want to make, and we'll be able to see if we need to make parcels of dozens or 1/2 dozens to share. I'll organize that based on how many people would like to participate.

Picture from first book meeting

Well, here we are - the first Calvary Book Cafe members. Maddie is holding our first book - The Shack. And here is what took us so long to start discussing. Homemade breads and quiche and refreshing drinks!

First book discussion!

Hi all!
Just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed discussing the book today. It is really funny how differently we come at some of it. For example, after a split millisecond of consideration, I never really gave it any thought again that Mack's entrie experience could have happened while he was recovering from the car accident. I just went on the assumption that it happened while he lay in the shack.

And Beth, thinking of googling up the heresies of the book! I wouldn't think to go that far either! I guess that I have a lot to learn... as always. Thank you all for including me! I really felt blessed to be with you all today!

As an aside:
I saw that two of you posted comments on the blog prior to today. I was hoping that we could write by using the "New Post" button at the top right of the page. That way, the posts will be readily visible to anyone who clicks on the page. The comments are only visible if you click on "comments".

Shall we begin?

Well, I've created the blog. Now we can come together and discuss the book. We are starting with The Shack as you all know anyway.