Esther Study 6 week plan

Esther 6 Week Study
Outline and Bible Verses

Week One, April 15
    Chapters 1 and 2
    Bible Verse:  Psalm 4:5
        5 Offer right sacrifices, and put your trust in the Lord.

Week Two, April 22
    Chapters 3 and 4
    Bible Verse:  Esther 4:14
14 For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

Week Three, April 29
    Chapter 5
    Bible Verse:  Psalm 94:21-22
21 They band together against the life of the righteous and condemn the innocent to death. 22 But the Lord has become my stronghold, and my God the rock of my refuge.

Week Four, May 6
    Chapter 6 and 7
    Bible Verse:  Proverbs 2:10-12
10 for wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; 11 discretion will watch over you, understanding will guard you,12 delivering you from the way of evil, from men of perverted speech,

Week Five, May 13
    Chapter 8-9:15
    Bible Verse:  Esther 8:17
17 And in every province and in every city, wherever the king's command and his edict reached, there was gladness and joy among the Jews, a feast and a holiday. And many from the peoples of the country declared themselves Jews, for fear of the Jews had fallen on them.

Week Six, May 20
    Chapter 9:16 and Chapter Ten
    No Bible verse

These lessons were written for elementary aged students.  You can find all of the Lessons in Esther here.

ESG Chapter Three, Conclusion

Matthew 9:36 Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd.

This afternoon, we will be finishing up the first section of Chapter 3 and discussing “Evangelism in a Post Modern Age” by Don Matzat.

Chapter 3, pgs. 53-57:

“Such was evangelism according to Paul: going out in love, as Christ’s agents in the world, to teach sinners the truth of the gospel with a view to converting and saving them. If, therefore, we are engaging in this activity, in this spirit, and with this aim, we are evangelizing, irrespective of the particular means by which we are doing it.”

How can evangelism be defined too narrowly?

Section 1 pg. 54

What are some of the ways in which evangelism takes place?

What should be the foundation –the basis—of all evangelistic efforts?

To whom should the gospel presentation be directed?

Section 2 pg. 56

The organized meeting: Packer says there is no trace of such a meeting (of “special sort”) in the NT.

What does the “special meeting” suggest about the effectual nature of the Word of God and its preaching?

Section 3 pg 56-57

“The way to find out whether a particular service was evangelistic is to ask, not whether an appeal for decision was made, but what truth was taught at it.”

We will discuss gospel presentation in light of the Chan video, whether a call for a decision is necessarily desirable, (is a call for a decision the same as a call to Christ?) and postmodernism vs. the truth. That’s a tall order, isn’t it?

Evangelism in a Postmodern Age

Modern Age vs. Postmodern—some definitions.

The Relativity of Truth

"Unlike the modern rationalist, the postmodernist will not challeng the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He will merely say, “Yes, but it is your truth.”

We’ll discuss the concept of truth; what it is and what it is not.

“For the postmodern thinker, truth is relative and emerges out of a specific community or culture.”

How does this impact the truth about truth?

What has been the church’s response to this new way of thinking?

Rationalism to Irrationalism:

Is there any such thing as private truth? Let’s talk about the nature of truth. When objective truth is jettisoned for private truth, what is the result?

Dostoevsky said, “Where there is no God, all things are permissible.” How do the tenets of postmodernism prove this statement?

Some questions for discussion:

How do you go about evangelizing someone who thinks they are a Christian?? Many people think they are a Christian because they walked the aisle, signed the card, got baptized and joined the church. They can tell you a date, but can’t show you fruit.

How do you go about evangelizing someone who thinks that Jesus is just one of several options or a convenient “add-on” to their self-styled religion?

How do you reach them? What is the remedy?

Finally:

“Wherever, and by whatever means, the gospel is communicated with a view to conversion, there you have evangelism. Evangelism is to be defined, not institutionally, in terms of the kind of meeting held, but theologically, in terms of what is taught, and for what purpose.”

ESG Chapter Three, Continued

Next time we will pick up on page 42.  Let’s prepare to discuss through page 53.  We’ll be looking at our responsibility in evangelism through the life of the Apostle Paul in three points; his authority, his method and his aim/goal:

His authority:

Pg 42-45:          

He identified himself as Christ’s representative:

As steward

As herald

As ambassador

At the end of pg. 45, Packer brings this home to us:

“Every Christian who declares the gospel message to any fellow-man does so as Christ’s ambassador and representative, according to the terms of his God-given commission.  Such is the authority, and such is the responsibility, of the church and the Christian in evangelism.

His methodology:

Pg 46-top of pg. 49:
 
His methodology was that of a preacher/teacher. Note that Packer includes a clear, concise summary of the Gospel on page 47.  Packer makes the point that the gospel is “a message of some complexity, needing to be learned before it could be lived by, and understood before it could be applied.  Hence, as a preacher, he had to become a teacher.”  Remember our discussion of indicatives (doctrine) before imperatives(application)? We will spend some time going over this.

His aim (including his motivation):

Pg 49-top of 53  His aim was conversion—that men would come to Christ.  Packer not only develops this idea of exhorting the hearer to turn and come to Christ, but he also shows us Paul’s (and what should be our) heart toward those he was reaching with the gospel.

ESG Chapter Three

As usual, it is much easier to do something than to sit down and write about it.  In the weeks since I last posted on ESG, our group has worked our way through Chapter Two.  Tomorrow we begin our discussion of Chapter Three:

 Chapter Three deals directly with the subject of Evangelism and Packer is asking (and addressing) four questions:  What is it?  What is its message?  What is the motive?  And what are the means and methods we should use?  We’ll be discussing pages 37-41 this week.  

We’ll discuss the difference between defining evangelism as an effect produced vs. a message delivered and then we’ll walk through the Archbishop’s Committee definition re: Evangelism

“To evangelize is so to present Christ Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit, that men shall come to put their trust in God through Him, to accept Him as their Saviour, and serve Him as their King in the fellowship of His Church.”

Evangelism is the declaration of a specific message—What is that message?

Evangelism is a specific message with a specific application—What is that application?

What is the problem with the italicized statement above?

What is the Biblical definition of evangelism?

How comfortable are we with its message and its application?  In other words, how can we know for sure if we are evangelizing?

One more thing; it’s really not enough to parse definitions until we “have it right,” is it?  We must be about the task of sharing the Gospel.  Is there someone in your life with whom you are currently sharing the Gospel?  Is there someone with whom you desire to open up a Gospel conversation?  Is there anything holding you back?

Resources:  JI Packer's article on Puritan Evangelism 

What is Evangelism by Mark Dever 

Redemption Accomplished and Applied

For this year's Lenten reading, I have chosen Redemption Accomplished and Applied by John Murray. As I work my way through it, I'll be posting up outlines and notes on Hiraeth.  From time to time I may reflect on what I am reading and learning.  Normally such posts would reside here at the Warehouse, but since I'm cutting back on blogging during Lent to keep a more narrow focus, I decided to move my reading to the "front page."

2 Peter x20

It took me much longer than I hoped to get through 2nd Peter.  This is going to be harder than I thought, but worth it.

Since I am going to begin teaching my class of 4th and 5th graders the book of Esther in a few weeks, I am going to move to Esther next. 

ESG Study Questions

Chapter Two

I probably shouldn't title this ESG Study questions. Study Focus might be more accurate.

We’re going to finish the end of chapter one and then dip into Chapter Two and see how far we get.  I think we all decided that we weren’t in a hurry to rush through it and it’s deep enough to sustain conversation for several weeks per chapter.

 We’ll begin by discussing antinomies and paradoxes; how they are related and how they differ. (pg 18-19)

 We’ll look at the examples of paradoxes on pg 19-20 and discuss other examples in Scripture.

 Genesis 50:20

Acts 2:22-23

 Can you think of any other antinomies in Scripture?

 Top of pg 21:

“By contrast, however, and antinomy is neither dispensable nor comprehensible.  It is not a figure of speech, but an observed relation between two statements of fact.  It is not deliberately manufactured; it is forced upon us by the facts themselves.”

We’ll talk about how to handle antinomies (pg 21) “What should one do, then with an antinomy?” Take the rest of page 21 after the statement above and find all the verbs.  We’ll touch on each one of them.

 Pg 22:

“God’s Sovereignty and Man’s responsibility are taught us side by side in the same Bible; sometimes, indeed in the same text.  Both are guaranteed to us by the same divine authority; both, therefore, are true.  It follows that they must be held together, and not played off against each other.”

We’ll discuss the pitfalls of playing the two truths against each other.

We’ll look at Paul’s response in Romans 9. (pg 23).

 If we have any time left, we’ll start looking at our relationship to God as between the Creator and us—His creatures--and how that relates to the question.  I suspect that will be next week.

 Let's concentrate our energies on the materials up to pg. 23.

Reading as a Christian Discipline Survey

Reading is an important Christian discipline. Further, growth as a Christian disciple is closely tied to the reading of the Bible, as well as worthy Christian books. This is why the Christian church has championed the cause of literacy. It is why the Reformers fought for the translation of the Scriptures into vernacular languages.

A loss of literacy and respect for the book amounts to grave danger for the Christian church.

Dr. Al Mohler

I'd like to open a discussion on the virtues of reading as a Christian Discipline as it relates to blogging and reading blogs.  To begin the discussion, I'd like to ask you a few questions:

Has reading Christian blogs increased your desire to tackle weighty Christian tomes?

Have you learned of Christian authors and theologians that you might not have otherwise known or read?

Have you purchased or borrowed books that were recommended by bloggers?

Have you read fewer "real" books as your blog reading has increased?

Has the availability/searchability of great Christian works caused you to rely upon them merely as resources?

Do you think reading the great Christian authors and theologians is important and/or profitable?

Do you read them?

If so, who do you recommend?

For this little survey, I'd like anyone interested to answer on their own blogs and leave me a link in the comments.  If you don't have a blog and you want to join in, just copy the questions into the comments and answer them there.

I'll give you my answers--eventually.

(Cross posted on Hiraeth.  You may answer at either blog.  Compilation of links will be on Hiraeth.)

ESG Study questions

Chapter One

Well, I tried to write out questions.  Really I did. But for some reason, I really had a hard time writing discussion questions for this chapter.  I think it may be because of the question and answer format that Packer used when he wrote the chapter; either that or my lack of sleep has so scrambled my brain that I just can’t think straight!

Regardless, there is a lot to discuss in this chapter and since I can’t seem to pull together questions per se, I figured I’d highlight the areas I’d like to bring forth for discussion so we all know where we’re going to focus our attention.

PG 11

“if you are a Christian, you pray; and the recognition of God’s sovereignty is the basis of your prayers.”

“The prayer of a Christian is not an attempt to force God’s hand, but a humble acknowledgement of helplessness and dependence.”

PG 12

“Your thanksgiving is itself and acknowledgement that your conversion was not your own work, but His work.”

"Perhaps, in the days when you were seeking Christ, you labored and strove hard, read and pondered much, but all that outlay of effort did not make your conversion your own work.  Your act of faith when you closed with Christ was yours in the sense that it was you who performed it; but that does not mean that you saved yourself.”

PG 14

Too much to type out.  Let’s discuss the whole middle section beginning with “You have never for one moment supposed that the decisive contribution to your salvation was yours and not God’s” down to “And every Christian in the world does the same.”

PG 15

Re: prayer for the conversion of others:

“I think that what you do is to pray in categorical terms that God will, quite simply and decisively, save them:  that He will open the eyes of their understanding, soften their hearts, renew their natures, and move their wills to receive the Saviour.”

“When you pray for unconverted people, you do so on the assumption that it is in God’s power to bring them to faith.”

Down near the bottom of the page, he continues this thought by saying, “the content of your prayers is determined by this knowledge.”

PG 16

“For it is not true that some Christians believe in divine sovereignty while others whole an opposite view. What is true is that all Christians believe in divine sovereignty, but some are not aware that they do, and mistakenly imagine and insist that they reject it.”  (he alluded to this idea on pg. 11)

Packer ends the chapter with a challenging paragraph about prayer.  He asks some pointed questions about our prayers and what they say about our condition.  Jonathan Edwards addresses this same topic in a very challenging and sobering sermon, “Hypocrites Deficient in the Duty of Prayer.”  

If we have time, we’ll discuss the video.  If not, we’ll save that for later. 

General, yet Particular

"General and Yet Particular," originally delivered on Sunday morning, April 24th, 1864, at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, London. Spurgeon's text that morning was John 17:2 : "Thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him."

I've been following the flap over the Francis Chan Video and came across this sermon at Team Pyro. It fit perfectly with my reading this week as I prepared for our first lesson in "Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God."
In ESG, Packer deals with an antinomy: God's Sovereignty and Man's Responsibility. In Spurgeon's sermon, he deals with something related: God's Command to preach the Gospel to every creature and His calling out a particular, elect people through the preaching of the Gospel. Notice I did not write God's Sovereignty vs. Man's Responsibility or God's Command to preach the Gospel vs. His calling out a particular, elect people through the preaching of the Gospel. In the case of both of these antinomies, the two truths seem to be mutually exclusive, but both are clearly taught in Scripture.

So, what do we do with antinomies? Rather than try to explain it myself in stumbling, bumbling words I'll just say that with regard to the general and yet particular call of the gospel, Spurgeon explains it perfectly:

I have aimed in my ministry constantly to preach, as far as I can, the whole of the gospel rather than a fragment of it. Hence those brethren who are sounder than the Bible abhor me as much as if I were an Arminian; and on the other side, the enemies of the doctrines of grace often represent me as an Ultra-Calvinist. I am rejoiced to receive the censure of both sides; I am not ambitious to be numbered in the muster-roll of either party.

I have never cultivated the acquaintance nor desired the approbation of those men who shut their eyes to truths which they do not wish to see. I never desired to be reputed so excessively Calvinistic as to neglect one part of Scripture in order to maintain another. If I am thought to be inconsistent with myself, I am very glad to be so, so long as I am not inconsistent with holy Scripture. Sure I am that all truth is really consistent, but equally certain am I that it is not apparently so to our poor, finite minds. In nine cases out of ten, he who is nervously anxious to be manifestly consistent with himself in his theological system, if he gains his end, is merely consistent with a fool; he who is consistent with Scripture is consistent with perfect wisdom; he who is consistent with himself is at best consistent with imperfection, folly, and insignificance.

To keep to Scripture, even though it should involve a charge of personal inconsistency, is to be faithful to God and men's souls. My text seems to me to present that double aspect which so many people either cannot or will not see. Here is the great atonement by which the Mediator has the whole world put under his dominion; but still here is a special object for this atonement, the ingathering, or rather outgathering of a chosen and peculiar people unto eternal life.

Judex20

Finished twenty times through Jude today. 

Because of the similarity in focus, I am going to tackle 2 Peter next.

ESG Study questions

Here are the questions for the first section we will be covering in the new Packer book, Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God (ESG)

From the Forward:

On page 7 we’ll be discussing what I am calling “the three what it is not" 's and the three “though it does" 's.

On pages 7-8 Packer lays out what this book IS or is meant to address. This is his thesis statement. Can you find it?

Packer takes great pains in the foreword to frame his purpose, or thesis. Why do you think this is?

From the Intro:

In the introduction, he further refines his thesis by setting forth its intended scope and limitations.

Pg. 10 What is his specific aim?

What is the presupposition he hopes to dispel?

What truth does he hope to establish?

Why is it important for us as lay people to be able to respond to the false presupposition and to be able to present a true picture of God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility?

What are the three great truths that Packer will be addressing?

We will be spending some time going over the Socratic Method  since Packer makes ample use of it throughout the book, but especially in the first chapter. 

We will also discuss the content of the Gospel.  To that end, I will be reading some articles and sermons this week in preparation for our discussion:

God's Sovereignty in the Salvation of Men  by Jonathan Edwards 

A Gospel Summary by Jeffrey C. Nesbitt

The Sum and Substance of the Gospel by Dr. C. Matthew McMahon 

From the Second Head of Doctrine, Synod of Dordt 1619 

God's Part and Man's Part in Salvation by John G. Reisinger 

The Well Educated Mind

My book, The Educated Mind by Susan Wise Bauer, came yesterday! Last night, I read the first four chapters, which explain the tenents of Classical education, the process of self-education, and some historical examples of the keeping of "commonbooks."

 A commonbook is basically a journal--a written record of one's thoughts, observations and impressions noted during the process of reading and learning. 

Occasionally, though, commonplace books took on a more personalized form.  Their authors carried them around and jotted in them at odd moments during the day.  The commonplace books gathered reflections, scraps of original verse and other creative writing, and summaries of books read, as well as the de rigeur bits of copied information.  They became artificial memories. 

Susan Wise Bauer, The Well Trained Mind, pg.36 

 When I read that phrase, artificial memories,I sat up and took notice.  I immediately began to think of all the little techniques and tricks that I use to help me remember and learn.  From my Palm Pilot to the calendar on my computer, I set reminders for myself.  These are the "to do" reminders.  Appointments, obligations, commitments, birthdays, anniversaries, heartworm pills, you name it.  Without (and sometimes even WITH) these helps, I would be lost.  I do not have a great memory. 

 Then I thought of the system I have devised over the years to help me read and study.  Mostly it is a book marking system (which is why I usually buy every book I read; I need to be able to scribble down my thoughts and make note of the things that puzzle or interest me or that I need to think through again.  It's a very efficient system, at least for me.  I will not give it up entirely to follow the system outlined in the Well Educated Mind--I will incorporate it somehow.

And then there is this blog--really these three blogs.  They serve as artificial memory, too.  The blogs, especially this blog, Hiraeth Warehouse, function a lot like a commonbook.  It's like a placeholder for ones thoughts.

A commonplace book.  I like thinking of blogging in those terms, don't you?

3 John x20

I finished my first read-through-a-book-of-the-Bible-twenty-times today.

 As suggested in the article, I took Joe's advice and started with the shortest book, 3 John, so that I could ease into the discipline.  I have a habit of getting excited and biting off more than I can chew.  I'm glad I did it this way.  I learned a great deal more than I expected by the repeated readings.

 I can see that this will take time, concentration, reflection, determination, and a great deal of commitment to finish all 66 books of the Bible.  To that end, I have realized already that this is not the kind of undertaking for which you set time goals.  My only goal is to keep doing it.

 I'm going on to Jude next.  Unlike 3 John, I have studied that book in depth more than once, and have taught through it twice, so I'm interested in seeing how the repeated readings enrich my understanding.

Making Careful Choice

Richard Baxter (1615-1691):

"Make careful choice of the books which you read: let the holy scriptures ever have the pre-eminence, and, next to them, those solid, lively, heavenly treatises which best expound and apply the scriptures, and next, credible histories, especially of the Church . . . but take heed of false teachers who would corrupt your understandings."

1. As there is a more excellent appearance of the Spirit of God in the holy scripture, than in any other book whatever, so it has more power and fitness to convey the Spirit, and make us spiritual, by imprinting itself upon our hearts. As there is more of God in it, so it will acquaint us more with God, and bring us nearer Him, and make the reader more reverent, serious and divine. Let scripture be first and most in your hearts and hands and other books be used as subservient to it. The endeavors of the devil and papists to keep it from you, doth shew that it is most necessary and desirable to you.

2. The writings of divines are nothing else but a preaching of the gospel to the eye, as the voice preaches it to the ear. Vocal preaching has the pre-eminence in moving the affections, and being diversified according to the state of the congregation which attend it: this way the milk comes warmest from the breast. But books have the advantage in many other respects: you may read an able preacher when you have but a average one to hear. Every congregation cannot hear the most judicious or powerful preachers: but every single person may read the books of the most powerful and judicious; preachers may be silenced or banished, when books may be at hand: books may be kept at a smaller charge than preachers: we may choose books which treat of that, very subject which we desire to hear of; but we cannot choose what subject the preacher shall treat of. Books we may have at hand every day. and hour; when we can have sermons but seldom, and at set times. If sermons be forgotten, they are gone; but a book we may read over and over, till we remember it: and if we forget it, may again peruse it at our pleasure, or at our leisure. So that good books are a very great mercy to the world: the Holy Ghost chose the way of writing, to preserve His doctrine and laws to the 'Church, as knowing how easy and sure a way it is of keeping it safe to all generations, in comparison of mere verbal traditions.

3. You have need of a judicious teacher at hand, to direct you what books to use or to refuse: for among good books there are some very good that are sound and lively; and some good, but mediocre, and weak and somewhat dull; and some are very good in part, but have mixtures of error, or else of incautious, injudicious expressions, fitter to puzzle than edify the weak.

Baxter's Guide To The Value Of A Book

While reading ask oneself:

1. Could I spend this time no better?

2. Are there better books that would edify me more?

3. Are the lovers of such a book as this the greatest lovers of the Book of God and of a holy life?

4. Does this book increase my love to the Word of God, kill my sin, and prepare me for the life to come?

 

As I think about the year of reading to come, I am reminded again of Richard Baxter's good advice.  With each title I consider, I will ask myself again the questions that he poses.

 My reading goals for this year have less to do with number of books to be read and more to do with content.  I am reading through the New Testament three times using an email Daily Bible reading plan.  I am going to continue to read through the Book of Ephesians each week until our small group finishes the study that we began this fall.  After that, I will chose another book in the New Testament and read it 20 times.  (HT: Carol--I plan on being part of the tiny minority) I am leaning towards Hebrews.

I am almost finished with Marsden's biography of Jonathan Edwards titled, A Life.  I can recommend it without reservation.  Jonathan Edwards is my favorite theologian.  I have read his works extensively and am reasonably familiar with not only his works, but his life in general.  A Life does a wonderful job of bringing his works into context with his life.  I'm glad I'm reading it.

I haven't read as many bios as I would like, so this year I plan on reading several more.  Already waiting on the shelf are Robert Murray M'Cheyne, (a birthday gift from my dear friend, Carol) Martin Luther, William Tyndale, and Richard Baxter's autobiography.

This year I'm also going to start what will likely be a rest-of-my-life reading project.  I'll start systematically  "educating my mind" by following Susan Wise Bauer's "The Well Educated Mind."  I don't know all the books in the series yet (USPS is due to deliver it on or around January 4th--I can't wait!) so I don't know how many I've already read, but I do know that the first book is Don Quixote.  Sadly, that book is NOT "waiting on the shelf" so I'll have to get it from the library.  That's right; you heard me.  I'll be getting it from the library.  I've bought more books than I read this year, so I have resolved not to order a new book until I have read one I already have.  Use the library when I can.  Read one "old" one for the priviledge of ordering one new one.  That should free up quite a bit of money in our budget!

I will continue to read at least one sermon per week. 

Sounds like a plan, doesn't it?

 I looked back over last year's list on Hiraeth Warehouse, such as it is.  It was fun remembering some of the books and articles I read-some of which I had forgotten!  I'm glad to have my reading blog so readily accessable here on Squarespace.  I hope I do a better job of recording my reading in the coming year.

 I'd love to talk to you about the books you are reading or discuss some of the books we've read in common.

 Happy New Year!  Happy Reading!

November/December Books on Tape

The Hobbit

The Fellowship of the Ring

The Two Towers

The Return of the King by J. R. R. Tolkien

All Recorded Books, read by Rob Inglis 

December Sermons

The Instances, the Evil Nature, and the Dangerous Tendency of Delay, in the Concerns of Religion

A sermon preached by Andrew Fuller at a Ministers' Meeting, held at Clipstone, April 27, 1791

 A Divine and Supernatural Light Immediately Imparted to the Soul by the Spirit of God, shown to be both a Scriptural and Rational Doctrine  By Jonathan Edwards

The Preciousness of Time and the Importance of Redeeming it by Jonathan Edwards

Procrastination or the Sin and Folly of Depending On Future Time by Jonathan Edwards

The Christian Pilgrim or The True Christian's Life a Journey Towards Heaven by Jonathan Edwards 

Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God

Evangelism and The Sovereignty of God is a classic written by J.I. Packer that answers the questions:  If God is Sovereign and ordains everything, including salvation, then why evangelize?  What about human responsibility?

 Our women's small group book study will begin to go through this book together on January 18th.  I have already read this book more several times, but this time I am preparing supplemental materials and discussion questions.  If anyone is interested, and wants to study along with us, let me know in the comments and I will post up the discussion questions and links to resources that I am sharing with the group.

Hana's Suitcase

Hana's Suitcase, by Karen Levine, is a children's book that tells the story of Fumiko Ishioka, the director of the Tokyo Holocaust Center and also tells the story of Hana Brady, a young girl who lost her life in Auschwitz just because she was Jewish.  The suitcase is the only connection Fumiko has to Hana, but with determination and help, she discovers the truth of what happened to Hana.  Karen Levine tells the story in a grave, yet compelling manner.  Both Fumiko and Hana come to life for the reader.  Highly recommended.

Royal Bounty

Royal Bounty by Frances R. Havergal

This short, devotional book has thirty-one daily readings.  The author is best known for writing many hymns, "Take My Life and Let it Be," being the best known. 

 I will be reading this devotional until the end of 2006.