Coffee Cup Interview

Cami Tang, author of Sushi for One, interviewed me over on her blog about two of my new books. Here's an excerpt:

It's another Coffee Cup Bible study! How did you decide on Colossians and Ruth?

Colossians--because the identity of Jesus is under attack more than ever. Was he God? A man? Both? What does the Bible say? Colossians answers that question. So at a time when people constantly question the identity of the historical Jesus, I wanted to help readers get a good grasp on what the Bible says about the deity and humanity of Jesus Christ.

Ruth--because her story helps readers recognize that in an unjust world God is still in control and calls them to self-sacrifice for others needing justice and mercy. Particularly in America we need this reminder. We may not consider ourselves rich, but the Bible describes the wealthy as having a change of clothing (having something to wear when we wash our clothes) and food for the next meal without having to earn it first. That description is still true if we consider poverty and wealth worldwide. Ruth's story is also a story about migration/immigration, a topic in the headlines. God has a special place in his heart for the resident alien and he has something to say on the issue.

I love how these Bible studies can be done by busy women on the go, whether single career women or overworked moms. How did you come up with this neat concept?

Thanks.

Do you ever feel like you spend much of your life in waiting rooms? Double that time for each child if you're a mom. Dentist appointments, eye appointments, back-to-school check-ups, getting the oil changed... Often as I'd sit reading People, I'd think, "I could do my Bible study right now if only I didn't have to carry a Bible and a commentary and my workbook!" So I wanted to give women something that contained the biblical text being referenced and was small enough to fit in a purse (or diaper bag). And I chose to do weekday studies (active) and weekend devotionals (passive) because my experience teaching women's Bible studies told me women's schedules get disrupted more frequently on the weekend, so it's tougher to carve out that time in the word.

Any other Coffee Cup Bible studies on the horizon?

We're at the "toss around ideas stage." I'm sort of partial to Kona with Jonah. The concept of a guy not wanting to share the gospel with murderous Iraqis who might repent (and thus get spared) seems timely, eh?

You know (or you might not know) that my husband is a coffee geek--er, coffee connoisseur, and by osmosis, I've absorbed info on all kinds of coffee trivia and coffee drinks. If you were a coffee drink, what would you be and why?

That's easy. Mocha. There's nothing in the universe that a little chocolate can't improve.

What is your favorite dessert/snack to have with your coffee?

Three-layer chocolate cake with chocolate frosting. Seeing a theme here?

Any favorite coffee shops you like to frequent, and how many times have they threatened to toss you out for staying too long? (or does that only happen to me?)

Now that I'm a mom, I try to get home in time to kiss our girl goodnight. But I did stay until near-closing at a local Starbucks with two grad-school girlfriends last month. My fave, though, is Main Street Coffee in Mesquite, Texas. I always prefer a privately owned place to a chain. They have stuff like games and books on the shelves, which pretty much screams, "Feel free to hang out."

You're off the hotseat! Any parting words?

Fall's coming. For many of us that means the kids go back to school and the routine recovers a bit. So even if you don't get one of these Bible studies, now's a great time to choose a Bible study. If it's with a group, all the better. It's easier to make soul-time a priority when we've planned ahead.

Camy here: Good reminder! Thanks for being here with me.

Me here: Follow the link to Camy's blog and enter to win copies of these two studies.

P. S. ACFW member Cathy Carlton Willis has won a copy of Informed Consent.