"Christian 101" is in the printworks

I'm so excited! It seems I say that a lot here, but hey, this is where I share the exciting stuff, right? So...I'm so excited! No official date for release yet for this project that has been burning in my heart for some time now, but within the next month or so. Christian 101 is a 10-week daily devotional/ instructional book for new believers and youth that provides solid answers and a strong foundation for the Christian faith.

Here's the Table of Contents:
Week 1: How Do We Know the Bible is True?
Week 2: What Makes Up a Person?
Week 3: Who is God?
Week 4: God's Character Revealed in Old Testament Names
Week 5: The Name of God Revealed in the New Testament
Week 6: Repentance, Baptism and the Gift of the Holy Ghost
Week 7: Understanding the Role of the Church
Week 8: Growing in God
Week 9: Lighting Your World
Week 10: Where God Stands on Social Issues

Every week has a memory verse to learn. Each day begins by reviewing the memory verse, a short Scripture reading to look up in your own Bible, a brief informational piece and a prayer.

For example, the memory verse for the first week is
All scripture is given by inspiration of God,
and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof,
for correction, for instruction in righteousness.
2 Timothy 3:16

And the subjects covered are:
Day 1: What Makes Up a Bible?
Day 2: The Bible Proves Itself
Day 3: The Bible Has One Unified Theme
Day 4: Archaeology Confirms the Bible
Day 5: Ancient Written Confirmations
Day 6: Science Confirms the Bible
Day 7: Life Application Proves the Bible

It's a spiral-bound workbook that includes space for journaling and prayers. We need to know what we believe and why we believe it.

Delinquent

Yes...I've been delinquent in keeping the blog updated this summer, but I'm glad to report the kids have started back to school, the Lord blessed my hubby with a job, and I should have a bit more quiet time to get things like this done.

Check back. I'll be posting stuff from this summer. For now [click here] if you would like to read an article I wrote for Reflections, a Christian women's magazine.

For now, I'm preparing for General Conference in St. Louis the end of September, a community prayer gathering in Troy, October 3, "Praying for the Heart of Troy," and then to speak at the National Day of Prayer Conference in Colorado Springs October 15-17.

Speaking at the Annual NDP Summit

The two times I’ve attended the National Day of Prayer Summit have ranked among the spiritual highlights of the last few years. Gathering with Christians of all denominations from across the country is an event in itself, but when those people are committed to prayer and seeing God’s will accomplished in our communities and nation, it ignites a synergistic explosion of hope and enthusiasm that carries beyond the borders of the event and inspires its participants in the months that follow.

Every aspect of the Summit is bathed in prayer. The organizers obviously attend to every detail with meticulous care. Attendees begin the event as honored guests of the monthly Focus on the Family chapel service. From there, we participate in joint sessions with special guest speakers and break-out workshops where we select the topics that particularly appeal to our areas of interest or concern.

The fellowship alone, sharing meals and worship and hearing Mrs. Dobson are reason enough to go, but the icing on the cake, the communion and commissioning service on Sunday morning, creates an indelible spiritual mark on all those who participate.

The summit is absolutely worth every penny and every bit of effort you spend to get there. This year Jon Egan of the Desperation Band will be leading worship and Tony Perkins and Will Graham join Mrs. Dobson as featured speakers.

I'm excited about the workshop I'll be presenting, "You Have a Field to Defend." Those able to join us will leave encouraged and equipped, entertained and educated, ready to face their tomorrows with a fresh anointing and empowerment of the Holy Spirit. Register today [click here], while you’re thinking about it, and I’ll see you there!

If you're interested, here's a write-up and pictures from the 2007 conference [click here]. And in case you didn't know, the National Day of Prayer Task Force prays in Jesus' Name!

The Bare Necessities of Life: Friends & Chocolate

I was just surfing the internet and found a link to my article published in the January/February edition of Reflections. [Click here] to read.

And [click here] to read an article about Quilting Patches of Life on page 5.

And [click here] to read A Blessing for Bachik in the Armenian Reporter on page 5.

Jury Pool Reflections

For the first time in my 44 years, I was called to jury duty. Before the official selction process began, Judge Michael Warren spoke to those assembled and gave an inspiring talk about what makes America great--the opportunity for a fair trial before a jury of peers. After orientation, my number was called first, but of the 20 in the group, I was not seated, so I returned to the big waiting room, asked for some paper and began writing my musings:

Jury Pool Reflections
Lori Wagner

Humanity assembles from all walks of life
Student, professional, salesman, housewife
Strangers connect to serve fellow man
Impartial, peer jury, law of our land

Numbers on badges fill the blank room
Gestating, waiting in liberty’s womb
Corralled, greeted, orientation
Civics, history, hope of a nation

Twenty rise, numbers scanned, line the hall
Proceed to the courtroom, answer the call
Fate, cause or preference: excused or seated
Amalgamate panel to find the mistreated

Number first called, not chosen, retreats
Through brown marble corridors, back to a seat
Hours pass amidst sleepers and readers
Knitters and sitters and solitaire players

Amplified words break the low drone
Some must stay, others go home
Past security, through doors, across parking lot
Free from the trial, captured in thought

It's official . . . the release of Bachik!

What a wonderful time at the official book release event for Bachik, the Birthday Kiss. Thank you so much, Edgar Hagopian and Pam, for making the event such a success. And to Bob and Gayaneh Kachadourian for connecting all the dots to bring everyone together.

It was a delight to share a bit of the history and purpose of Bachik, as well as read the book for the children and adults present. We had a raffle and gave away a Bachik t-shirt and magnets, enjoyed some great refreshments and, as my family calls it, hopla music!

Fr. Diran Papazian of St. John's Armenian Church, assisted by David Terzibashian, performed a traditional Armenian blessing. Stacks of autographed copies left in the hands of smiling people, and that made me very happy, too. Pictured with me are Edgar Hagopian and Dr. Robert Kachadourian.

I'm looking forward to speaking at the annual National Day of Prayer Summit in Colorado Springs this October 16-18. I've been asked to present two 45-minute sessions on You Have a Field to Defend. More info is available at their website: www.ndptf.org


And a sincere, big THANK YOU to Betty Apigian-Kessel for her wonderful article in The Armenian Weekly. [Click here] to read her column featuring my newest book, Bachik, the Birthday Kiss, being officially released this Friday, June 19 at Hagopian's Birmingham location at 7:00 p.m. The public is invited to attend this book release, signing and reading. 850 South Old Woodward. Refreshments provided.