Thanks for joining me for another Sunday Night Check-In, and especially to the seven new subscribers - welcome! We are approaching 450 subscribers, but who’s counting? Don’t answer that. I’m especially appreciative of Richard Myerscough for recommending this newsletter via Bubbles That Squeak. If you are already a subscriber of his excellent newsletter The Waiting Country, you’ll get notices of the Bubbles there. But I like everything Richard writes and happily subscribed to the new effort.
Jesus Likes You has increased in sales a bit this week, and I’m grateful to everyone who has read it or shared it with others. I finally got my own box of copies to have available. So, if you’re local and want a copy without waiting on Amazon’s Print on Demand, I’ve got you covered! I sold a dozen or so at church this morning. I’m new to all of this. I’m sure I turn three shades of red when someone asks me to sign their book - but I am also thankful that someone found it of value. I’m hearing of some who bought multiple copies to give away. Thank you! I’m thinking of graduation gifts… but I’ll leave that to you!
That means that you are loved, right now, where you are, as you are. To me, that means that God always holds the door open just for you … if you want to come in … He welcomes you. Today. Don’t wait until you get it all together. - John E. Dobbs, Jesus Likes You
Is it vain to present a quote from your own book? I hope not. If I do not believe in it, then who will? I’ve joined some groups on Facebook that deal with self-publishing and I’m happy to know that there are many people in my shoes who have the same kinds of self-doubts, fears, and uncertainties, but who carry on publishing their book anyway.
I did get out to Black Bayou this past Tuesday afternoon. Other than that it’s been an overcast and rainy week here in North Louisiana. Saturday afternoon it was a delightful 59 degrees. I think that will be short-lived, but I’ll take it. Here are a few of my photos this week.
The water was so high that it was washing over the wildlife pier and the trails were inaccessible. I did meet a nice family from Indiana, here visiting a sister who was with them. It’s always enjoyable to meet fellow nature enthusiasts.
Forsythe Church had Meals on Wheels Saturday - something that comes around about every 8 weeks. It’s a big undertaking but the volunteers are enthusiastic. The sermon today was focused on two examples of living the Jesus Life, one positive and one negative. Acts 4 and 5 tell us of the exceptional generosity of Barnabas as well as the hypocritical false life of co-conspirators Ananias and Sapphira (Notes HERE). This afternoon I taught a Baptism Class for any interested in knowing more about making the decision to be baptized.
Reading
I finished reading Bury Your Dead, the 6th Chief Inspector Gamache book. I found this one to explore more of the personality and experiences of Gamache, and it was a haunting read in many ways. Penny built a structure of sorrow in the book while resolving some ongoing storylines from previous books. I confess I’ve already started the first chapter of A Trick of the Light, book #7. I am seeing a novella called The Hangman that may have come out between the two books I’ve just mentioned. Has anyone read it? It doesn’t show up in every list of Gamache books. I have a few other books I think I’ll be finishing this week, but will relate those next week. Mignon Riley’s Tuesday Ladies Class is beginning a study of John Mark Comer’s Practicing the Way. I felt like I was missing out so I have a copy now. I look forward to reading it. In our Bible reading program, we are finishing Matthew and heading into Judges. Judges is a traumatically sad book, but instructive. Romans follows that, which will be a highlight of the year for me.
Watching
We finished seasons one through four of Shetland, and also season 8 (for some reason we watched the most recent season first!). I think the stories are getting better and better, but season four was sadder than the others. Of course, murder mysteries aren’t meant to be chipper! The singing shows are starting to whittle down contestants. As usual, many of our favorites are being sent home. I try not to invest too much enthusiasm in any of them.
Listening
You may have heard of the passing of Mandisa, an alumnus of American Idol (Season Five, she didn’t win the show) who went on to be a Grammy award-winning vocalist in the gospel music industry. She was only 47 years old, and I understand her death is being investigated. I loved to hear her sing. One of her songs is a great happy pick-me-up on my walking playlist (Good Morning ft Toby Mac). Another of her songs was a comfort to me during a time of grief, called God Speaking. I’ve listened to it several times since I heard of her death. If you are a Mandisa fan, do you have a favorite song? Tell us in the comments.
On The Holy Lens this week we will be praying through Psalms 67-73. I’d love for you to join us.
Check out these posts….
Suzanna Peters’ heart-touching post Unfruitful Work.
Chris Anselmo reminds us that Doing Everything = Doing Nothing.
Pamela’s Chicken and Black Bean Chili looks awesome!
Friday I will be teaching two classes of Seventh Graders at Ouachita Christian School on the three minor prophets Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi. Terry Davis is the teacher who issued the invitation. I’m the dummy who said ‘yes’. I may run that lesson by my adult class Wednesday night to give it a first run. I don’t know if you should pray for me or them or both of us. I’m actually looking forward to it. Whenever I have spoken at OCS I have found a respectful group. A few years ago Micah Harper had me come and speak about how to deal with grief / help a friend who is grieving. Every once in a while I bump into a student who was in that class and mentions it. Anyway, back to school for me this Friday.
Looking ahead, I hope you have an excellent week. If you read this far, thank you very much. Your likes, shares and comments are always welcomed. Take care, my friend. Work hard, rest well, and stay connected. The world needs you.
Good morning was one of my favorite Mandisa songs as well. It always made me chuckle because I was with TobyMac on not being a morning person. May light eternal shine on her.
I'm glad to hear your book is having an impact! It hits a spiritual need for sure.
If you're willing to detour sometime, I'd love to learn more about your self-publishing process. Out of curiosity.