Deep Breathing for the Soul

If you have a small group that is looking for a new book to read together in 2010, I’d like to humbly suggest you read Simple Compassion together. But don’t take my word for it. all this week you can read what other bloggers are saying about this book, as the Simple Compassion blog tour starts today. I hope you’ll visit these blogs and read their reviews, get in on the discussion. Some bloggers are giving away a copy of the book. Feel free to stop back here at my blog and leave a comment or question as well!

Here are a couple of blogs that have already put up posts. Please stop by these blogs, leave a comment. This is a fun way to discover some great new blogs to read. I’ll post the entire list later today. If you are a blogger and want to join the tour, please contact me and let me know!

http://bookbargainsreadingroom.blogspot.com/2010/01/simple-compassion.html

http://the160acrewoods.com/?p=3579

A few readers have written to me, asking about tips for reading my new book Simple Compassion with a group or book club. I really designed this book to be experienced in community, so I’m glad to offer some help, especially if you are leading a group. I spent years at Willow Creek coaching small group leaders, so if you need a coach as you go through this book with a group, I’m glad to help.

Because Simple Compassion is a 52-week devotional, it is great for a weekly discussion group. So what I will do is to have a “virtual book club” right here on my blog. Each Friday, I’ll post a question about the chapter, and we can chat about it here at Deep Breathing for the Soul (and on Facebook, as these posts show up there as well.

We’ll start today with the introduction, and do “Week 1: Position” next week. You can read the introduction for free by clicking here. (there’s also a link to an audio book sample on that page if you want to listen to the book). The book also contains a leader’s guide, with verses and information to help you. That guide also has a suggested structure for group time.

Every Friday, I’ll post something about the chapter, and ask for your comments. If you are reading the book with a group in your neighborhood or church, you can share your insights, questions or comments here on the blog. I hope it will be very interactive.

So let’s dive in. Read the introduction, then let’s talk about a few simple questions:

When you were growing up, how did you view God? What did you think he wanted from you?

What do you think our lives should be about if we are following God?

Where have you noticed God at work in your life lately?

After we have some comments (on Facebook or the blog) I’ll jump in with comments of my own. And feel free to respond with questions.

My friend and fellow author Mary DeMuth is on the blog tour today. You’ll want to read her post–she sent me original questions that were very thought-provoking.

Mary is a wonderful writer and her books are just terrific. I urge you to check them out.

Rest is also being reviewed on Trisha Novotny’s 24/7 Moms blog. This is a great blog, and they have a daily newsletter with great tips on saving money, plus giveaways, coupons and so on, which I’ve found to be really helpful!

And don’t forget–if you leave a comment on either blog, you’ll automatically be entered in a drawing for a free book. (If you’ve already won a book, please let someone else have a chance!)

I hope you’ll check out one of my favorite blogs, Everyday Simple Abundance. Today, it happens to have a review of my book Rest on it. It will also be the first blog on the Rest blog tour starting January 5.

This is your last week to sign up for the blog tour. If you have a blog, and would like to be a part of the tour (and offer your readers a chance to win a copy of the book) then leave a comment on this post.

A number of you are now reading my forth-coming book, REST: LIVING IN SABBATH SIMPLICITY. Don’t forget, if you’re someone who got a copy of the galleys, that you agreed to read and review the book on-line.

 Apparently, you can’t post reviews on amazon.com until the book actually releases. But seven readers have already posted reviews on www.christianbook.com, and a few more have posted on www.BarnesandNoble.com. To post your review on Christianbook, just click on this link, which will take you to the page for REST. Scroll down to the bottom and click on the link that says “Write a review of Rest: Living in Sabbath Simplicity.”

Jan O’Daniel, freelance writer and blogger, posted her review, and she’s also running a review on her blog today. She’s got a great blog, called Elevate the Everyday. Like me, she writes about connecting faith and real life. Please stop by and leave a comment on her blog. I think it’s one you’ll want to read regularly. You can check it out at by clicking here.

If you are reading REST, please post your review by December 30. Be sure to let me know when it’s there, because those who post reviews will receive a free copy of the book!

Also, my free e-mail newsletter, Connecting, will be out next week, and I’m going to be giving away several books this month! If you’re not yet a subscriber, just click on the “subscribe” link on the right hand side of this page.

Tuesday is the best night, because neither of my kids has practice. No driving, no working in dinner around sports and carpools.

So after dinner, Aaron and I lay on the two couches in the living room, reading. Sweet silence, punctuated by the occasional sound of turning pages (truly one of my favorite sounds in the world).

And Aaron says, “Mom, want to hear a great literary device?” He’s reading To Kill A Mockingbird. “Of course,” I say. He reads this great line: “bacon frying, crisp as the twilight air.” Thank you, Harper Lee. What a sentence. Even better: that my 12-year-old recognizes a good sentence when he reads one,  and that he knew I would love to hear it.

No matter that he is counting the pages until he is done with his reading assignment for the night.  To share a literary moment with my pre-teen boy is a gift, and I try to savor the gratitude that rushes into my heart.

So, do you like our new digs? Welcome to the new home for Deep Breathing for the Soul. It’s still Keri’s blog, and it’s still a place where we can talk about connecting faith and real life. It just has a new address and a new look, to match the new website.

So make sure you change the address if you had the old blog bookmarked. And be sure to visit often. We’re going to be giving away some books this month!