| Volume 2, No. 5 |
August 1, 2002 |
CrossTies To Publish - Last Saturday our Board of Directors decided to begin the process of making our materials available in published book format. We plan to utilize the latest on-demand print technology offered by several online publishing companies. With this technology books are downloaded into the company's computer and printed only when ordered. This eliminates the need to have large unsold inventories. We are currently exploring the costs of utilizing the services of four publishing companies and will make a decision within a week or two. The process of formatting and preparing a book for publication can take two or more months to complete. Our goal is to have two books published and available before the end of November. Check back with us from time to time.
Initially we plan to make our core study of the Beatitudes available in written format. The working title is
The First Words of Jesus - Meditations on the Eight Beatitudes
This book will be about sixty-five pages in length and will be available for distribution among congregation members and friends.
The First Words will be followed by a First Words Workbook that will lead readers in a detailed study of Biblical passages related to Jesus' teachings in the Beatitudes and the Sermon on the Mount. The workbook was developed during our Spring seminar at Resurrection Lutheran Church, Spring, Texas.
Books Available on our Website - Please note that a wide variety of books are already available on the CrossTies website. Check in at our Recommended Reading link (http://www.crosstiesministries.org/reading.asp). There you will find listings of books in the following categories:
- Foundational Reading - Essentials of Lutheran Doctrine
- Exploring Martin Luther's Theology and Work
- Recommended Reading for Elders and Church Leaders. These books are recommended to any Lutheran, but particularly lay leaders, as they seek to expand their understanding of Lutheran doctrine and Christianity.
- Further Reading Selections for students in our Sabbath Leadership classes. Caution: Some of these books contain non-Lutheran elements, but are recommended for particular areas of relevance.
By clicking on any one of the recommended books you will be taken automatically to Logia Online Shopping (http://www.logia.org/store01/shop.html) or to Amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com/). Be sure to order by clicking on the books from our website, because when you do a small portion of the cost automatically returns as a donation to the CrossTies ministry. That, in turn, helps us to continue our work. And for that we thank you.
A Further Word About Reclaiming The Sabbath (see our May,2002 newsletter - http://www.crosstiesministries.org/newsletter/May72002.htm). You may recall that CrossTies was invited to prepare materials for the members of Resurrection Lutheran Church, Spring, TX. last Spring. This was to assist congregation members to prepare themselves spiritually as they send their pastor, Rev. Steve Sohns, on a four-months sabbatical next year. So in ten sessions CrossTies presented extensive Bible studies and other suggested reading materials to some thirty-five Resurrection members.
Phase two of the process began immediately following those initial training sessions. Under the leadership of Pastor Ric McMillian participants spent six weeks processing and discussing the materials received. In this process they began to formulate what and how they would proceed.
Phase three was developed by a core group over another four weeks. They developed a vision for the process and a time-line. They also decided to develop four four-week Bible studies.
Several participants are now writing the first of those four Bible studies as the fourth phase in the process. The pilot Bible study class will be presented to congregation leaders during this coming Fall. Other studies will be developed by the same leaders. We at CrossTies will explore the possibility of making these Bible studies available through our website.
During this summer the pastors of Resurrection (Rev. Steve Sohns - pastor.steve@churchthatcares.org and Rev. Ric McMillian - pastor.ric@churchthatcares.org) are preaching from the Psalms a sermon series that focuses upon Sabbath Rest.
In phase six, after the pilot leadership Bible study class, the first of the four Bible studies will be presented to the general membership in the Spring of 2003.
If you would like to learn more about the process of Reclaiming the Sabbath, feel free to contact the pastors. If you would like to learn more about how CrossTies can help your congregation in this area please write to me directly (Dr. Al Franzmeier - alandsyl@airmail.net)
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