Peace Christian Reformed Church

Rubber Meets the Road

Read a great book lately? You have, but did several other people read that book at the same time so you could talk about it? Rubber Meets the Road is an Adult Education opportunity at Peace, beginning its fourth year. You can join us for one book or several, you can delight in exploring a fascinating book or topic with others in your Christian community. This group will be meeting on Sunday mornings during the education hour at Peace. To get you excited about signing up for one or more sessions, here’s a preview of our topics and materials. If you would rather not spend a lot of money, you will have the opportunity to borrow the books for each session. Sign-up sheets are nearby on the welcome desk.

Discussion Facilitator: Jessica Groen

March, 2008
Finding God in Popular Culture

Our next book will be Eyes Wide Open by Bill Romanowski, who is a professor of Communication Arts and Sciences at Calvin College. This book is a tool for Christians who enjoy partaking of popular culture (emphasizing the box office), but want to improve their skill at perceiving the underlying cultural values that are being communicated through various popular movies. He wrote this book several years ago, but it has been recently republished with more up to date examples.

I will be assigning this book in 2-chapter increments, so that the reading load is not prohibitive.

November - December 2007
“A Christian Way to Eat?”

In this season of holidays and feasting, we will read a selection of readings that challenge Christians to reflect on the way their consumption of food is connected to Christian living. The text will be: Food & Faith: Justice, Joy and Daily Bread edited by Michael Schut

September – October 2007
“Spiritual Discipline: A Life-Time Project”

We’ll be reading two books that cover the topic of discipline and remind us that growing in Christ-likeness takes consistent, purposeful habits over many years. Donald Whitney’s Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life helps us identify ten different disciplines and gives practical advice for incorporating them into our lives. Richard Foster takes us through three significant arenas that every Christian must approach with intentional self-discipline: The Challenge of the Disciplined Life: Christian Reflections on Money, Sex, and Power.

Books and Media We've Previously Discussed....

April, May 2007:
"Recognizing White Privilege"

Those of us who are white have the privilege of rarely having to be reminded we are white. This and many other privileges belong to us whether we choose them or not. We who are white are responsible for recognizing our privileges and understanding how the social structure of white racism in America benefits us. This will help fuel our compassion for those who do not receive these privileges, as well as our hope that the structures of injustice will collapse.

	Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry We will start this session by reading a children's novel called Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. A young girl's story gives us her perspective on the unfairness of segregation and the damage it does in her family and community.
	A Raisin in the Sun We will view and discuss a filmed version of the play A Raisin in the Sun, the story of a south-side Chicago family's attempts to purchase their first house.
	Uprooting Racism: How White People Can Work for Racial Justice - Paul Kivel We will read a challenging book by Paul Kivel called Uprooting Racism: How White People Can Work for Racial Justice. This book is very forthright, and full of details and practical suggestions about how we can recognize racism, speak up about it, and participate hopefully and courageously in pursuing justice for all people.

February, March 2007
"Living as People, Together"

Truly the Community: Romans 12 and How to Be the Church - Marva Dawn

The book in this session really gets into Romans 12. The book is called Truly the Community: Romans 12 and How to Be the Church. Each chapter digs more into a phrase or sentence in Romans 12, and the whole book is set up as a "Therefore": the living sacrifice we become once we understand our salvation by grace alone through faith alone. We read a book on Sabbath-keeping by this same author, Marva Dawn, in the fall of 2005.

December 2006 - January 2007
"Prophetic Words from a Rock Star and a Radical"

BONO in conversation with Michka Assayas

Bono, the lead vocalist from the band U2, is famous for using his celebrity status to get through to politicians and their pocketbooks so that they'll raise money for the poor and the sick in underdeveloped countries. Whether you're a fan of his music or asking if he's a former husband of Cher, you'll find it interesting to learn more about Bono's life and commitments. While U2 may not get interested on CCM charts, Bono and a few other members of the band are Christians who address themes of justice and grace in their music and activism. We'll be reading a publication of interviews called Bono in Conversation with Mischka Assayas.

The Irresistable Revolution: Living As An Ordinary Radical - Claiborne

Shane Claiborne would rather that we Christians not stamp the name of Jesus on a life that pursues wealth as first priority. His book Irresistible Revolution: Living as an Ordinary Radical explains some of the ways he and his friends have been trying to return to the "roots" of living the Christian way.

Starts Sunday, January 14 at 9am.

More Books and media we've previously discussed:

Telling the Truth - Buechner