16 to 18 May (Jenny)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Finished this. Enjoyed it much more than the first time. JKR is really good.

Emily's Quest: LM Montgomery. An Anne of Green Gables type of book. My head was too sore to do anything constructive yesterday afternoon. Unexpectedly struck a chord with loneliness as a prominant theme.

Sticky Church: by Larry Osborne. Almost the opposite to Total Church - how to do community in a busy world (and more). I bought this book because I wanted to call my Masters dissertation 'How to Make Sticky Christian Communities'. I thought that he and I must be on a wavelength. And we are.

The Serenity Prayer: Live one day at a time. I was a little overwhelmed by the list of things that are expected of your 'one day'. But I gather you are supposed to choose one thing from the list. Something to remember - if you live all of your todays carefully, all of your yesterdays will be good.

2 Samuel 7 & 8: David gets stuck in with establishing his kingdom. For years David was a hero because of his conquests. Now this pacifist generation cannot understand how God allowed it. How we love to judge the past that we never knew!

15 to 16 May (Jenny)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Harry needs to decide whether to trust that Dumbledore really had his best interests at heart or not. I don't know if JK Rowling would like it or not, but the themes in Harry Potter relate well to Christian themes. We also need to decide whether we can trust our apparently absent God. Does he really have our best interests at heart?

The Serenity Prayer: The wisdom to know the difference. How to decide whether to accept or change. Ask God, look for an inner conviction, pursue the choice that seems to bring peace to your heart.

Rick Warren: I read an article from his Toolbox that says pastors should 'come clean with God'. It gives six steps that lead to confession and a closer walk with God.

Lance Witt: The dangers of ambition and self-promotion. How to avoid overdoing it.

2 Samuel 7: David becomes angry with God.

13 to 15 May (Jenny)

I have to concede that I'm not managing to note everything I read. And maybe that's good - except sometimes the stuff I read just because I pick it up and it interests me is what I want to note. But I only realise it later.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: (JK Rowling) Another reread. This is the first time I am rereading it and I think I am enjoying it more than the first. The plot was at such a pitch last time that all that really mattered was finding out what was going to happen!
The Serenity Prayer: (Trevor Hudson). The courage to change the things that you can. This being yourself. Myself.
2 Samuel 4 & 5: Are we a twisted people? In that the most studied part of David's life seems to be his relationship with Bathsheba? In 2 Samuel the love and respect that he gives Saul and Saul's family, in spite of their persecution of him, is phenomenal. We see David being a 'man after God's heart'.

12 to 13 May (Jenny)

TEE College Course Notes: This is not my favourite course and I don't find the notes well-written. Academic material should not be written with a bias, unless that is stated or obviously expected (a Christian bias is expected in Christian studies).

Total Church: I need to get a basic understanding of this model if I want to include it in my Masters - which I do. But I don't think the book explains it enough. I will look up Crowded House on the internet. The chapter I read was about church planting. I think they like small congregations, like households, and I gather they grow by dividing the plants.

The Serenity Prayer:I forgot to record this yesterday. Accept what we cannot change - amongst others, the past Aad other people. Good point, that last one.

2 Samuel 3: Treachery and heartache. God lives in our world. How does he stay sane? I hope he has. Would I know? Yes, I think so!

10 to 11 May (Jenny)

Chocky: by John Wyndham. Another reread. So far, Matthew seems to have an imaginary friend.

The Serenity Prayer: What actually is serenity? Even after reading the chapter, I'm not sure.

Total Church: I'm not letting myself read any more, until I've gone back and made proper notes!

2 Samuel 1: Ah, this is where the verse is that makes some people say that David and Jonathan were homosexual lovers. At the risk of offending, I would say that this is not even a proof text -more like a proof subtext. But it is part of a puzzle. Part of the journey to finding the truth.

6 to 7 May (Jenny)

The Serenity Prayer: by Trevor Hudson. I try to keep a 'spiritual' or motivational book on the go. I was given this as a gift at the end of last year. I read only the introduction last night. Trevor Hudson says that we are all looking for peace, however we express that. I am supposed to write out the full version of the Serenity Prayer and memorise it. I ought to. Maybe I will.
Hebrews 6 & 7: I do not want you to become lazy! That fits with something I was thinking about - so maybe a word from God to me, just there.