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.

I just finished reading “Jesus Wants to Save Christians” by Rob Bell and Don Golden. I must admit that I am a bit of a Rob Bell fan–I really enjoyed Velvet Elvis, and his Nooma video series rocks. I really enjoyed this new book, and I’m giving away three copies today! Read on to find out more…

His newest project takes a look at the Old Testament, and points out how eerily relevant it is to our modern-day world. He provides a fresh look at the book of Exodus, and the journeys of God’s people into and out of exile. His premise is that the church today is in exile, which he says is “what happens when you still have the power and the wealth and the influence, and yet in some way you’ve blown it because youu’ve forgotten why you were given it in the first place. … Exile is when you forget your story.”

A few months back I read Brian McLaren’s “Everything Must Change” and this book makes many of the same points, but in a much clearer and more concise way.

Bell and Golden write: “America is an empire. And the Bible has alot to say about empires. Most of the Bible is a history told by people living in lands occupied by conquering superpowers. It’s a book written from the underside of power. It’s an oppression narrative. the majority of the Bible was written by a minority people living under the rule and reigh of massive, mighter empires…This can make the Bible a very difficult book to understand if you are reading it as a citzen of the most powerful empire the world has ever seen. Without careful study and reflection, and humility, it may even be possible to  miss the central themes of the Scriptures.”

More and more, I’m convinced that if God has blessed our country, it is so that we can bless others. Not so that we can be smug or clueless about the suffering of others. As Bell writes, “Jesus wants to save our church from the exile of irrelevance. If we have any resources, any power, any voice, any influence, any energy, we must convert them into blessing for those who have no power, no voice, no influence.”

In light of all that’s going on in the world, even if you don’t agree with this book, I think it is important to read it. It challenged my assumptions and changed my perspective on Scripture and on world events.

I’ll send a free copy of Jesus Wants to Save Christians to the first three people to comment on this post.  I’d love to have you read it and tell me what you think!