Open Access

That's right, ladies. LifeWay Women insists on helping get your 2009 off to a great start!

Now, here's what we're going to do next.

Comment to this post if you'd like to be included in the giveaway of Beth Moore's "Loving Well" Retreat Kit in a Box. Check it out!

If you've been looking for a great way to get your best girlfriends together for some fun, fellowship and some bigtime focus in God's Word - THIS retreat is your answer. It's chocked full of terrific bible teaching by Beth, with some downright funny stuff from Living Proof Praise & Worship guy, Travis Cottrell. There are even some suggestions for games and goodtimes to help retreat leaders "fill in the gaps" between teaching sessions.

And of course, there WILL be some discussion on hair products!

So, comment on girls. We'll hold the random drawing and announce the winner at the end of the week!

Jerry and Priscilla welcomed their third son, Jude Maddox, to the world on Thursday. Congratulations!! He is precious. Go to goingbeyond.com and click on "news" for a sweet picture.

I hope to provide Jude with a little friend shortly--I am due on Sunday! AAHHH!

Love,
Jessie

Dawn Cornelius is part of the marketing team here at LifeWay, working with the Women's team. In this video conversation, we talk about the importance of marketing in any product's release, so that churches are sure to buy the right materials that fit their needs.

Enjoy!

Here's a fun picture from Priscilla's shower in Nashville a few weeks ago when she was here for Going Beyond. Thought y'all might enjoy it! I have a picture of me and Priscilla and our pregnant bellies, but next to her I look like a hippo, so we'll refrain from letting you see that one!!

Love,
Jessie

Pam Case is the director of LifeWay's Women's Ministry team, so you know that she's going to have a lot of great things to say!

When we sat down for the video I had to forewarn Pam that we did have a limited recording time... and we made it in at just under 20 minutes. ;-)

If you have ever wondered how the Open Access project would be effecting not just the Going Beyond Bible Study, but our Women's resources as a whole, check out this video conversation

Greetings faithful Open Access users! We currently have over 140 people 'Going Beyond' in Priscilla's study. Your comments have been immensely helpful. I am amazed at your honesty and willingness to invest so much into studying God's word. Some of you just started (welcome new members) while others are further along. Be sure to check out the conversations happening in the community.

For example, In Chapter 1, Ms Mel writes:

"Recently, I became my own worst enemy when I became short-sighted. God has let me know that He wants me to take the next step in my journey of service for Him...God's Word still says that He has a plan for me and that He is still working on me - completing me. It seemed that every time someone opened their mouth to speak at church, in chapel services at work, at "Deeper Still" in Atlanta, personal Bible study, even verses written in a journal told me that God has a perfect plan to bring to completion in my life. Whatever it is, I am now fully committed to following God's plan & allowing Him to do His complete work in me."

Many other ladies actively participate and encourage each other every day. I also enjoy reading your e-mail feedback. I can't wait to see how your collaboration will enrich this study.

This weekend, a few open access team members will attend Deeper Still in Las Vegas. Please pray for Beth, Priscilla, and Kay as they share God's word to thousands of ladies. We also hope to see a few new names in the open access community.

Thank you for 'Going Beyond' with us!

Jennifer

I've been extremely blessed this afternoon by reading over at the message board. Some quick friendships have been formed by studying God's Word together. D'Arcy, Carmen, Splendor, we are so glad to have you as part of this journey together! I hope you will encourage your friends to join Open Access and be part of the same process.

I'm also feeling blessed right now that I am nearly 33 weeks pregnant and everything has been normal to date with me and baby Libbie. I would appreciate your prayers as I start to panic a little over having everything done by the time she gets here, and for a quick and safe delivery!

Jessie

(I've copied this from my regular blog, so there may be things you already know in here...but go with it! I am working on a HUGE deadline and needed to just copy and paste today!)

I had the great privilege of attending the Going Beyond conference this weekend. It is Priscilla Shirer's conference for LifeWay, a Friday night and Saturday morning deal. Your typical LifeWay conference--worship music and a fantastic speaker. Only I had never BEEN to a LifeWay women's conference before. I am not sure how this has happened, since I not only work there, I work on many of the authors' products who speak at these conferences! But I suppose they like to see me strapped in front of my computer, editing until my eyes glaze over.

Anyway, Priscilla's message about Going Beyond was about the Israelites traveling to the promised land (which is--amazingly--what her next product, Going Beyond, is about!). Saturday morning she talked about Joshua taking over from Moses as the leader of the Israelites, and their different styles. And man...I want to be Joshua. Here are her points from the Saturday morning session:

1. Act immediately in obedience to God. While Moses questioned whether God was really sure He wanted him, Moses, not say, Aaron, Joshua did exactly as he was told--both when Moses asked him to lead the army against the Amalekites and when God told him to cross the Jordan River, even though it was raging and they had to step in before the current would calm. Like Abraham when he was ordered to sacrifice Isaac, Joshua performed his duties "early the next morning." Even in the face of something scary, Joshua took action right away.

2. Joshua acted fearlessly in spite of insurmountable odds. He wasn't bogged down by fear. It's not that we won't be afraid, but we can't be claimed by a spirit of fear. Since God tells us that He doesn't give us a spirit of fear, if we have one we know it's from Satan. Priscilla shared that she usually knows when she is supposed to do something because she will be overwhelmed with fear about it!

3. Acknowledge God's presence before making a move. God commanded that the Israelites not move until they saw the Ark of the Covenant moving. They had to stay back an appropriate distance so they could see where it was going.

4. Anticipate God's miracles all around you. Joshua had confidence that God would do what He said He would do!!

I've been really feeling for a long time that I needed to be leading Bible study in my home. I've been a part of a home Bible study for a couple years and I love it. The teacher is amazing. So I've been incredibly hesitant to consider not being part of the study. But God's kept laying it on my heart that I need to do this. I do not feel like I am a gifted teacher, and that is my major issue. But I've been trying to act in obedience, and so tomorrow I start the study. I will have two girls here with me unless someone else shows up unexpectedly! I was hoping for more, but I really believe it will be what God wants it to be. Please pray for me, that I won't be held back with fear and that I will be a decent host and not hold back anyone from learning and growing.

This week I was able to sit down with Gary Hauk, the director of publishing for LifeWay's Church Resources Division. Gary and I talked about why we're doing the Open Access project, how it came about, and what he hopes we're able to learn from it.

As Jessie alluded to, this week I filmed a brief conversation with her about what a copy editor does during the production process. We talk a bit about the work she's done on the Going Beyond study already (as well as what wasn't done for the Open Access manuscript). Check it out, and get to know a bit about Jessie and what she does!