So What - Exactly - IS CCC?

I think when the four of us (Addie, Claire, Claire Joy [a.k.a. "CJ"] and I) originally started this bookclub/blog we wanted to have a place to come and share our thoughts about God and His Word. I had read the New Testament once through but still didn't really "get" most of it and so Addie offered to help me make sense of it by reading "Memories of the Savior" along with me. I announced that we were going to be reading the book on my blog and Claire jumped on board because Claire LOVES the Bible and can't get enough of it (well, it's true!) and then, out of nowhere, CJ chimed in and asked to be included. I think at first we (okay, maybe just me...) was terrified to have a real live NUN in the group but I figured God invited just the right people so let's give this thing a shot and see what He makes of it!

We started reading the chapters together, which consisted of a piece of scripture from the book of Luke, followed by a few pages where the author, Ken Gire, attempted to put the scripture into perspective by moving it to story form and then, finally, each chapter closed with a prayer. At first, we all followed a certain format by talking about what we had been taught the scripture meant and then which part of the chapter God had laid on our hearts, and why. We all stayed pretty reserved towards each other until close to the middle of the book when we got to a chapter that reminded me of how much I missed a friend I had lost to AIDS shortly after High School and CJ chimed in that she had lost a close friend to AIDS, too and boom...all the veils we had up between us all came crashing down. Claire shared with us how hard it was to lose her brother and father and Addie explained to us what it is like to live with mild OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder). One by one, we went from being names on a sidebar to being real, live people and we became 'church' to each other.

The deeper we got into the book the less and less this club became about the book and the more it became about why God had pulled the four of us into this little circle together. We began to be unafraid to say how we truly felt and we each began to express ourselves and our walk with God with no holds barred. Down came the curtains and off came the gloves. Information passed from one hand to the others and feelings and emotions about why we believe what we believe began to surface. With it came some incredible blessings...

We began to be accountable to each other. We began to step out in our faith and try to understand someone else's side of things. We began to trust this place as a place where we could admit our faults, show our strengths, lean on each other and speak truth to each other. It's been several weeks since we finished that first book and all of us have deeply missed being here with each other. Deeply, deeply missed it.

But what I think is so incredible is that if you had put the four of us in a room together we never probably would have become friends. We're very different people with very different lifepaths and we all see God in very different ways - but that's all been part of this whole learning experience. We've shared so much more than what was in that last book selection here. We each found something in each reading that we connected to and we spoke from our hearts about it and, in doing so, we connected with each other in some very profound ways. We found out we are all just four women all on the same journey but all coming from four different directions so we have very different perspectives. We've learned to tell what we know, explain how we feel, take feedback from others, and finding out in the process what makes each of us so special in God's eyes.

As you read this next selection with us, remember this: It's not really about the book. It's about the journey and the friendship and the wisdom and the passing down of knowledge. It's about how God speaks to you as you read what the author wrote and then telling others why it moved you or why you thought it was a load of crap. If the scripture of the chapter grabs you, then tell us that. If the author's words moved you, tell us why. If the poetry made you cry or pissed you off, say that, too. But in all things, share your heart. Be considerate of the feelings of others and feel free to ask them more questions about what they post but always do so in a non-threatening format. God didn't bring us here to show who knows the most or to prove who's right. He brought us all here to share the next step of our journey together.

We've all come from different roads and now, for a brief time, we'll be walking this leg of the road together. Some days you'll be a disciple - learning from another. Some day you'll be the one with the answers - guiding the others. Some days you'll be wanting to quit and you'll find encouragement waiting for you. Other days, you'll find yourself saying something so profound that you'll know only the spirit of God could have put those words in your mouth.

Be unafraid to be whoever it is that you are. Point out whatever it is that you see. Listen to your heart and speak what God tells you to tell the group. Some times it won't seem to make sense to you - until you get that private email from another group member thanking you for what you said that day. Then you'll know...

Have fun. Grow a little. Bring honesty and humor and insight to the table and you'll be met with so much love you won't know what to do most days.

Welcome Kim, Dave, Chris, Gayla, Pat and Andrea to "Christian Chapter Chat". Strap yourselves in. It's going to be quite a ride.

God bless!