In my house, there's an ongoing debate. After finishing an audiobook, should you say you have "read" the book or "listened" to it (or both)? Regardless of where you come out on the question (I'm a fan of "read"), audiobooks are a terrific way to pass the time, learn something new, and have fun while you drive, exercise, or work around the house. I almost never leave the house without at least one audiobook on my phone and/or iPod, and I frequently have one checked out on CD from the library as well. Here are some great sources for audiobooks, including several that charge little or nothing, plus a peek at the last two audiobooks I listened to (and loved!)

The odds are good that your youth room is probably the coolest space in your congregation, filled with all sorts of technical gadgets, games, photos, and the like. But what about books? Have you considered having several books in the room that can be used for conversation starters, shared browsing, and time-fillers? Books are great for those youth that are visual or verbal/linguistic learners, and they can give the more shy kids in your youth group a way to interact with one or two others. Scatter them around the room, especially near where youth like to sit and hang out. Here are some suggestions...

Many years ago, I had the opportunity to take a group of college students to the United Methodist Seminar Program on National and International Affairs in Washington, D.C. (I highly encourage you to consider the program, which is NOT just for United Methodists!) One of the activities we did was called a "Trust Walk," and the experience I had in that activity was so profound that I've since led a similar activity dozens of times for groups over the years. It is, without a doubt, my favorite activity to lead with groups. The Trust Walk involves having a group of people silently respond to statements of action or belief through movement, and it does not (unlike another popular activity that involves one youth guiding another) require any blindfolds. Here's a basic description of how to create and lead this activity yourself.

A friend of mine is a missionary in Cambodia. She indicated that a church-affiliated Bible school there is moving toward becoming an accredited institution. One of the things they would need to do is to increase the number of volumes in the library there, and she thought it would be wonderful for someone to develop a way for them to get shipments of donated good, new (or nearly new) books that have a more progressive theological and biblical viewpoint. Some day, I hope to be able to offer Different Voice readers the opportunity to send books to a central location for eventual delivery to that country. But you don't need to wait until such an opportunity is in place on this website, of course. 

This article by Tim Gossett was originally posted on March 25, 2009.

The "Huh?/Yeah!" Bible Study

Palm Sunday is a fun day for children and adults alike. As we celebrate Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem, we wave palm branches and shout Hosanna! Excitement is in the air. Many children (and adults) leave church on Palm Sunday on that wave of excitement, and return a week later. Easter! He is risen! This is the best news of all. It is another joyous morning of worship and Sunday School.

In parts 1 and 2 of this series, I introduced the idea of beginning a writing group at your church. If you have a writing group already at your church, or if you are planning on starting one, I’d be interesting in hearing about your experience and sharing it with our readers. You can post a comment below, or send us an email. As promised, I have four more writing activities that would be appropriate for use in a writing group. If you have other ideas for writing activities, send me those as well, and I will share them in a future article (giving you credit, of course).

When I lead a women’s retreat, I congratulate the participants for being there – for taking the time and spending the money to give themselves the gift of retreat time. (My experience is with women’s retreats, but I believe that everyone benefits from retreat time, regardless of gender.) Although we may long for time away, either alone or with a group, for renewing our spirit, it is difficult for us to make it a priority. And yet, Jesus himself modeled for us the importance of retreat.

There is something about putting words onto paper… In response to my previous article, The Write Idea (Part 1), a reader shared a thought about writing she had heard on an NPR program. The idea is that writing can be a place to express emotions that are so big that they need to be let out, yet are too painful to be expressed out loud. In such situations, writing can serve as a liminal space, a safe place to explore our thoughts and feelings. I believe this is true and it is yet another good reason for starting a writing club!

Ash Wednesday seems like an especially appropriate time to talk about prayer. When I talk with children (and sometimes youth and adults) about prayer, I always tell them, “You can pray anywhere, anytime and about anything.” God is accessible to all of us. We do not need eloquent words or a seminary degree to pray. If asked, most Christians would agree with these statements. And yet…