Thin Within Book Study Venues and Details

by Heidi Bylsma | Jun 10, 2010 | Blog

Hi, Everyone.

DRUM ROLL PLEASE!!!

The excitement is building across the internet (aren’t I dramatic? :-)) as the Thin Within study commences Monday, June 14th,  at a variety of venues! I am thrilled to see so many people participating and raring to go.

If you want to get a jump start, please feel free to read the following before Monday (You may want to be sure you have a journal at the ready…and your Bible, too!):

• Title page  – If you are new to Thin Within, why do you suppose the authors chose the title/name they did? What does it say to you? Note the subtitle. Why do you think the authors chose that sub-title? Note the authors’ names. You will be getting to know them in the days ahead! And lookee! 🙂 My name is there, too! 🙂 Sally Rackets, the illustrator, has done a masterful job in creating illustrations that help make this book what it is. Be sure, before you leave this page, to  note the publisher…Thomas Nelson is a great publisher of reliable Christian material for walking with God. You can get to know the CEO of Thomas Nelson by visiting Michael Hyatt at his blog.

• Read the Table of Contents pages to get a feel for how the book is divided and the theme the authors chose to use throughout. There are three parts. Note what each part is called and consider why this might be the case. These will be important! 

• Read the acknowledgments and, as you do, note what seems to be important to the authors. I know this is the part of a book we usually skip, but you can learn a lot about an author by having a look at what they say in this part of the book. Underline each time the Hallidays mention anything having to do with the Lord. What does this lead you to conclude?

• Read the About the Authors section. Highlight anything with which you can identify in your  journey. Again, note to whom the Hallidays give credit. How does this make you feel as you begin this journey?

This study is going on at a number of venues across the internet. The Lord  reaches out to each of us where we are! He sees us in our need and bridges any gap. So whether you are a Facebooker or a TW forum participant or a SparkPeople person…whatever it might be, God is wooing YOU! 🙂

Right now, these are the “places” on the web where the study may be experienced at some level–if you have friends who tend to prefer any of these venues over another, please let them know! They can join us at any of these options! What the study becomes at each venue will be up to the Lord and how he uses those who “show up” at each!

Once each week, I will post assignments, supplementary content, questions for discussion and the like. I will do this at each venue, basically copying and pasting so that each venue gets the same material. The responses will be varied because the participants will be varied. If one venue doesn’t seem rich enough or deep enough for you, try another!

These are the locations:

My blog (right here). While it is a bit difficult to discuss the material at the blog like we can on a forum or in a Yahoo or Facebook group, we can nevertheless try to do so in the comments. Feel free to subscribe to the blog to have updates e-mailed to you as well as be sure to subscribe to the comments so you get follow up comments to anything *you* post! The drawback to subscribing in the RSS feed, of course, is that if I post additional content not specifically related to the study of the book, you will get that content as well. Another drawback, perhaps, to the blog is that there isn’t much privacy. Anyone can see comments made during our discussion.

Truly TW Yahoo Group provides opportunities for people to have discussion comments go directly to their email if they like. When discussions are lively, however, this can mean a larger volume of email. If you choose this venue, you can set your email “message rules” for the discussion emails to land in a folder of their own to help keep things sorted for you. Or, you can just visit the Yahoo site to see the messages posted and never receive an email. The limitations of using our TrulyTW Yahoo group require that videos that I might use will be dependent on an external link. I think that is the primary drawback. The Yahoo group does offer an opportunity to make something more private as only those who sign up for the group will see the posts and you can send a comment to a person’s private email if that is necessary. Be sure to register for the group ahead of time. 🙂

Thin Within Facebook Page – This is a great option for those who like Facebook. It includes the option to embed videos, share photos, discussion, etc. I find it best for short conversations, though, not for interactions at length. It is a “semi-private” option. Less private than the Yahoo Group, but not as public as the blog.  Be sure to get an account ahead of time.

Official Thin Within Forum – This is a great opportunity to interact with people in a larger community. When you visit the forums to participate in the book study, you may also see many many other discussions you can benefit from–all about Thin Within, the programs, books, and process! You have to register with the forum administrator (I am one!) and comments in the book discussion are viewable by *anyone*…not just forum members. So it is as “non-private” as any of the options. A big benefit to this location is this venue offers the most comprehensive resources for this journey! 🙂

Spark People Thin Within Spark Team – Those of us who have a history of misusing graphs and charts–of being obsessed–may feel best when we guard ourselves from a site like SparkPeople. It is a diet-fanatic’s dream with graphs, charts galore… I have established a Spark Team for Thin Within so that if anyone wants to break free from the dieting treadmill, there is an option there. I will post my comments and discussion questions at this site. This is the most limited, I think, of all the venues. Any videos or supplementary content will have to be clicked on and taken to an external site. You have to be a member of SparkPeople to become a part of the team.

I would like to encourage anyone who really believes that God is doing a new thing (and we KNOW he is!) to set up a blog and start blogging! Once you do that, please share the link with us here! I would love to see what God is up to in your life! Each day you blog, just post in the comments section if you like giving us the link! That would be awesome!

To summarize, I will post once each week (and possibly some other content during the week) at all of these venues. However, if there is a video to embed that will happen here and at the Facebook page. Links will be provided at the other locations. Go with caution to the sites. It is always tricky to visit YouTube directly. I much prefer embedding the links to avoid stumbling upon inappropriate content often found at YouTube.

Comments are welcome at any of the venues, of course! I hope this isn’t too confusing. Just pick your favorite venue and dive in on Monday June 14th. Show up whenever you can. Post questions, comments, responses.

Additionally, I will offer at least 6 opportunities for anyone who is able to gather at the Thin Within website chat area for a one hour chat to ask questions, get and offer support. I will post days, times, and details about how to do that in the days ahead,

I Am Second

by Heidi Bylsma | Jun 9, 2010 | Blog

This little girl is wise beyond her years. What she shares in this video is really at the root of so much. I hope you enjoy!

How would having faith like Bailee change you, your eating, your living, your view of yourself, your view of God? What can you do today to allow God to renew your mind and transform your thinking?

Preparation for Change: Observation and Correction Chart (repost)

by Heidi Bylsma | Jun 8, 2010 | Blog

Are there practical tools that you use to help you be focused, to really put into action your intentions to change your eating, thinking, and living?

The Thin Within “Observations and Corrections” chart is one of the tools that many Thin Within participants use.

If any of you would like to, you can download this pdf file of an Observation and Correction chart and print it out any day you choose to use it. Since we will take longer to go through the Thin Within book than the 30 days intended, it might be helpful to have copies of this page to record the Keys to Conscious Eating that you apply. (This chart is in the book at the end of each chapter, too.)

Something that is important before we get rolling though…I want to be sure to say now and I will say it again and again…charts and graphs are NOT things you NEED to do unless GOD says! Some of us find ourselves getting caught back in a legalistic dieting mentality when we try things like this…If that is the case for you, this might be a season that you don’t want to use these charts…it is ok!

But for those of you who want to get a jump start or have them ready, here they are! 🙂

I recommend praying about what God would have you to do.

As we prepare for this study together, what are you willing to do to make new discoveries and to make changes in your thinking and in your living? How far are you willing to go? What typically holds you back? How can you be sure that nothing holds you back this time from learning all that the Lord has for you in the weeks ahead? 🙂

Busyness – My Refusal to Rest in the Lord

by Heidi Bylsma | Jun 7, 2010 | Blog

 “I don’t know how you do all you do!” 

 Compliments like these cause me to evaluate if I unwittingly parade “all I do” around specifically so I can get accolades from others. I hope not!

The truth is, I don’t do *any* of the many things I do well. (Even now, a part of me wants to list them all for you, so you can know what I mean. The other part of me–the suspicious part of me–thinks this would merely be a perverse attempt to win yet more accolades and encouragement…so I will restrain myself!)

What if my busyness (something that is celebrated and respected in our culture) is just another way to keep from being in the present moment?

What if God wants me to be still and know that he is God?

Be still and know that I am not?

What if he wants me to be still to tell me the truth about a few things?

Gosh, even the thought makes me squeamish. For some reason, I don’t want to hear that he wants me to…well…to change. To sacrifice. To be.

Instead, I have become comfortable in…

            …in what? In whatever place this is?

” Those that will not hear the comfortable voice of God’s word shall be made to hear the dreadful voice of his rod.” *
I am caught in a conundrum. I run from the very rest to which he calls, and in my running, I churn inside, yet I continue to run from the rest to which he calls…it is a cycle. My busyness is just a ruse to avoid the

He wants to quiet me with his love. Zephaniah 3:17 breathes encouragement to me. This agitated state I am in sends off red flares. I am about ready to jump out of my skin.

Even in my “quiet” times, I am far from quiet. I run around from one bible verse to another, marking this passage and that, studying, acquiring knowledge. “Do and do. Do and do. Rule on rule. Rule on rule. Here a little, there a little.”

And, yet, I “massage” my conscience: “Wow! Look at all I have learned in Leviticus. Who would have thought that Leviticus would so richly enhance my understanding of the gospel!”

It sounds really good, ya know? Doesn’t that make me sound super-spiritual to you? :-/

Hold everything.

Stop.

What am I running from? I have some ideas. I keep pointing to all the things that I do that prove I am a “good” girl…and, again, God says:

“I don’t want you to be ‘good,” I want you to be mine.”

This is about so much more than weight and food. God just uses food and weight to grab my attention. He uses my struggle as my thorn in my flesh to keep me clinging to him.

Perhaps if I would cease using busyness as a “drug of choice” and got still with Him…really still, there might be some healing. Some deep cleansing to the depths of my being.

How about you? Is busyness a way of avoiding a true encounter with the Living God? What are you running from? What can you do to stop and rest in his arms?

Oh, Lord, I confess my tendency to get caught up in “here a little, there a little, do and do, rule and rule…” It is so exhausting. I confess that I am running from you. Lord, I don’t even know why, really. You have said “Let the weary rest.” Oh! How I long for that rest, Lord. I pray that you will help me respond to your voice, to forsake the worldly rewards of busyness–and the accompanying agitation–and really rest in your presence. Lord, I want to hear what you have to say to me…Word of God speak…I choose to listen. Make it so, Lord. In the precious Name of Jesus, Amen.
—

Week Three Winner of Thin Within Book

by Heidi Bylsma | Jun 7, 2010 | Blog

Ann Kroeker is our winner! Ann, please send me your snail mail address and I will send you the book, priority mail! Send your address to heidi [at] heidi bylsma [dot] com.

Thanks.

One more chance to win! Comment this week to be entered in the final drawing!

Thanks everyone for the great dialog. I am enjoying getting to know you all better.

God’s Power Flows Through the Broken Places

by Heidi Bylsma | Jun 5, 2010 | Blog

This is a short video, just over three minutes long. I hope it will encourage you, as it has me.

What weakness is God calling you to turn over to him? What is as a “staff” in your life, instead of a “scepter?”