The QLC Book Club meets approximately every month to discuss the plots, dilemmas, themes and ideas brought to life in a selected series of the current novels by some of today’s top Christian authors. We usually meet in one of the group member's home who also prepares dinner for that evening. This is a great way to make new friends and a wonderful first touch event for your neighbor, friend or co-worker to experience life at Athens First United Methodist as a college student or young professional! Due to the number of people interested in the program, we will be reading two books at a time, so feel free to read either one or both.

Our January/February 2006 Selections

Book to read for Friday, February 17, 2006
"Mere Christianity" by C.S. Lewis

Mere Christianity is C. S. Lewis's forceful and accessible doctrine of Christian belief. First heard as informal radio broadcasts and then published as three separate books -- The Case for Christianity, Christian Behavior, and Beyond Personality -- Mere Christianity brings together what Lewis sees as the fundamental truths of the religion. Rejecting the boundaries that divide Christianity's many denominations, C. S. Lewis finds a common ground on which all those who have Christian faith can stand together, proving that "at the centre of each there is something, or a Someone, who against all divergences of belief, all differences of temperament, all memories of mutual persecution, speaks with the same voice." Come join us as we discuss this book together and share dinner at Melissa's house!

Book to read for Thursday, February 23, 2006
"Blue Like Jazz" by Donald Miller

I never liked jazz music because jazz music doesn't resolve. . . . I used to not like God because God didn't resolve. But that was before any of this happened." In Donald Miller's early years, he was vaguely familiar with a distant God. But when he came to know Jesus Christ, he pursued the Christian life with great zeal. Within a few years he had a successful ministry that ultimately left him feeling empty, burned out, and, once again, far away from God. In this intimate, soul-searching account, Miller describes his remarkable journey back to a culturally relevant, infinitely loving God. Come join us as we discuss this book together and share dinner at Jon's house!

(Don't forget, you can read either book or both if you so decide!)

Our February/March 2006 Selections

At this time, we are considering the following books for the next session and would appreciate it if you could suggest any books you would like to read:

"Case For Christ" by Lee Strouble

Seasoned Journalist Chases Down the Biggest Story in History The Project: Determine if there’s credible evidence that Jesus of Nazareth really is the Son of God. The Reporter: Lee Strobel, educated at Yale Law School, award-winning former legal editor of the Chicago Tribune—with a background of atheism. The Experts: A dozen scholars, with doctorates from Cambridge, Princeton, Brandeis, and other top-flight institutions, who are recognized authorities on Jesus. The Story: Retracing his own spiritual journey, Strobel cross-examines the experts with tough, point-blank questions: How reliable is the New Testament? Does evidence exist for Jesus outside the Bible? Is there any reason to believe the resurrection was an actual historical event? . . . This remarkable book reads like a captivating, fast-paced novel. But it’s not fiction. It’s a riveting quest for the truth about history’s most compelling figure. What will your verdict be in The Case for Christ?

"The Screwtape Letters" by C.S. Lewis

This adaptation of C.S. Lewis's biting satire received a 1999 Grammy nomination for best spoken-word performance, and it's easy to see why--the story fits the format perfectly. It's relatively brief (the unabridged reading takes a mere four hours), and contains only one character--the demon Screwtape, who writes letters to his novice nephew Wormwood, instructing him on how to best tempt his "patient" (a wayward soul on earth) into the bosom of "our Lord below." Obviously, the book wasn't written with former Monty Python John Cleese in mind, but it's hard to imagine a better Screwtape. Cleese's voice provides the perfect vehicle for Lewis's dry, razor-edged wit. His uncanny comic timing and ability to milk each phrase for maximum effect betray an infectious enthusiasm for the story. It's clear that he's having a great time reading, and it's impossible not to laugh along with him. This inspired pairing of two of the 20th century's greatest wits makes for a meditation on the dark side of spiritual guidance that's as relevant and funny today as it was in Lewis's war-torn England.

"Case For Faith" by Lee Strouble

This Miniature Edition™ of Strobel's bestseller (more than 1 million copies sold) is a strong addition to our Inspirio line. Written by an investigative reporter and former atheist, THE CASE FOR FAITH challenges both skeptics and believers to examine the arguments for Christianity in greater depth through interviews with top religious scholars.

For more information, please contact Justin Ingels.