Getting Started!

(please click above to watch the welcome video first)

Don’t you just love new beginnings?  Is there anything better than baby's first birthday or more exciting than a ‘first date’?  Does it get much sweeter than sliding into a pair of spanking-new shoes and don’t you just love that new car smell? (new car smell toxicity notwithstanding)

Personally, I thrive on change...I'm invigorated by it and can't help but feel the warmth of limitless possibilities and dreams that come with it. As we enter into this new season of study, I hope that you'll be open to this "new" format, I pray that you would find it to be a place of contemplation and peace in the midst of a demanding schedule, and an opportunity to experience Christ in a new and refreshing way. Ready to get going?

How does this work?

• Each Monday at noon (starting October 3) we will post a video message and some introductory comments to get you started. These weekly posts will serve as an introduction to the lesson and will include the scripture text as well as discussion and personal application questions.

• As a participant, you can access the weekly studies by going to the homepage (http://jewelstudy.blogspot.com/) or by accessing the archives on the toolbar to the right.  Please watch the video, read the introduction, and post your comments concerning that week’s lesson! (see below for instructions on posting comments) We will post our responses to your comments too!

• Each week’s video will remain on the blog indefinitely. This means each video can be accessed at any time by scrolling down through the blog posts on the main page or by accessing each post individually by visiting the archives (on the toolbar to the right hand side of the screen). Blog posts on the main page will be ordered by date, with the most current blog post first.

How do I participate?

There are a couple easy ways for you to get involved! First, if you have a Google, twitter, or Yahoo! account, you can join up by clicking the "follow" link on the right side of the screen.

You will be able to watch the video and read the text/comments as a visitor. To post a comment, double click the green "comments" link at the bottom of each blog post (if the comments link does not appear, you should see a "comments" box).  Type your comment or response, then click on the "Select profile" box to proceed. If you have a Google, LiveJournal, WordPress, TypePad, or AIM account, you can post via that profile. If you do not have one of those accounts, please select "Name/URL" and type your FIRST NAME ONLY. If you have a website you'd like to link, type the address in the "URL" box, otherwise leave it blank. Hit "continue". Now you're ready to post that comment or question! Please note that you can preview your post before you submit it. Before you submit your post, you may see a "Word Verification" box...please retype the word into the box and hit "post comment." (Word verification helps us keep spammers off the blog)

Three things that will help you get the most out of J.E.W.E.L.s;

Openness - more than likely, this is your first attempt at a blogstudy...it's new for us too and will take some time to adapt. It is a near-certainty that we'll need to make some adjustments mid-course, and we welcome your input. It may feel a little awkward at first, but give it time and be open to God using this course to foster personal and spiritual growth.

Intentionality - I'm not sure if that's a word, but if it's not it should be! Our schedules can be so demanding that it seems like we have little time for reading, studying, or unwinding. And it's true; between the expectations and responsibilities our work, family, church, and culture place upon us, we just don't have time. How often do we find ourselves making emotional and spiritual "withdrawals" to keep our families/relationships going without ever taking the time to make a deposit? The result, far too often, is an overextension - or overdraft - of our souls. Friends, this is not God's plan, there is a better way! This study is designed to help you "plug in" and receive the spiritual nourishment you need to face life's demands. It will be a place that you can come to as your schedule permits to read, connect, converse, and participate - but a program (or blog in this case) is only as effective as the end-user allows it to be. Be intentional; know that your learning and growing is only limited by the time and effort you spend to nurture it. Carve out a sliver of time each day or a block of time each week to watch, read, reflect, and respond...you'll be glad you did!

Interaction - J.E.W.E.L.s differs from traditional Bible studies in medium only. We have built into it an interactive component so that you can be an active participant rather than a casual observer. Each week, we'll post a series of discussion questions to get the conversation started...it's up to you to keep it going. We encourage you to read, reflect, and respond...tell us how God spoke to you through the passage you studied, share your experiences in living out those precepts, and feel free to ask that burning question!

We hope that your study will be fulfilling and we welcome your feedback. Please direct any questions, suggestions, or help-related issues to us at jewelstudy@gmail.com