Open Access
Sophie - August 4, 2008
I think it would be safe to say that I'm a people person.
And what I mean by that is that when I meet people, if I have time, I love to look for common denominators: shared friends, shared backgrounds, shared interests, shared favorite colors, shared favorite song in the summer of 1989, etc. and so forth and so on amen.
Not too long after I started blogging, I joined an online group study of Beth Moore's Living Beyond Yourself: Exploring the Fruit of The Spirit with about fifteen other women. Every week, after we completed our homework, we'd post about what we'd learned. And while the Word was always, always central, I thought that one of the neatest things about walking through that particular study was the opportunity to read about each participant's life experiences in relation to each week's lesson.
You might say that I'm a smidge relational. And I mention that to (hopefully) explain why I think what I'm about to tell you about is OH-SO-COOL, MY WORD.
Priscilla Shirer is working on a new Bible study called Going Beyond, and there's something called Open Access that enables you to be a part of the study throughout the writing and editing process. Participants won't just go through the study before its made available to the general public; they'll also influence the content by contributing their own illustrations, examples, feedback, and more.
Open Access is a whole new way of writing and publishing a Bible study - and if you'd like to hear more about why Lifeway is taking this approach, you can click over to the Open Access blog and watch a mighty informative video. And get this: you can even follow the development of this project on Twitter. It's Lifeway 2.0, y'all.
Back when I did the LBY study online, we thought we were pretty tech-savvy with our chart-o-participants in our respective blog sidebars. This Open Access deal is a whole new level technology-wise - it's Scripture-centered, forward-thinking and community-driven. Love that.
If you decide to join the study, leave us a comment and let us know. We'd love for you to keep us posted about the Open Access experience.
Oh, it warms me to the core of my overly relational heart.
You know, the part of my heart that cannot resist the temptation to tell you that my favorite song of 1989 was "Love Shack."
Please don't judge me.
Melanie
Melanie
Sophie
Sophie
Pam
Pam
Paige
Paige
Kris
Kris
Dawn 
Dawn
Comments (6)
I’m so going to join this study! I’ve done two of Priscilla’s studies and this sounds just to good to wait for the book.
And Love Shack was my favorite too! In fact, I still like it…
Posted on August 5, 2008 9:37 AM
Hey, how cool is this! Thanks for the heads up on it Sophie. I think I’ll join - I’m a joiner you know! Sanguines what to do with them?
Oh and about the song… (I was singing the words as I read the title BTW… :o)…) My friend God’s Word even tells us Love covers a multitude of sins… so let’s just say I’m sure we all have a song or two that looks like a skeleton in the closet! God is love… Let’s just focus on that for a while! Love it and you!
Posted on August 5, 2008 2:57 PM
I don’t judge you - I’m just so happy that I’m not the only one still singing Love Shack!!
And who knew Twitter could be so ministerial?
This sounds so awesome - I can’t wait to check it out.
Posted on August 5, 2008 3:38 PM
I’m in — this sounds awesome!
Posted on August 5, 2008 4:00 PM
I’m in. (Finally.)
I also posted a link to this post and the study on my blog today. I’m really looking forward to this.
Posted on August 13, 2008 11:31 PM
Hey - trying to join online, but I’m not getting the option to “Add to Cart.” I can read all about it, but can’t “purchase” it. Any help, oh techy Lifeway peeps? Yeah, I’d be ever so grateful.
NOTE from Lifeway Techie Once you click the ‘Open Access’ link in this post, you will be taken to a page where you can click the “Join Open Access” button in the upper right, or go directly to this page in the online store: http://www.lifeway.com/e2/shop/?R=821229
Posted on August 14, 2008 7:16 PM