A Book Club Chose My 2017 Novel!

A Book Club is reading my third novel in the CHURCH DOORS series, Behind and Beyond Church Doors: Promises next week.  I wrote and sent the group leader discussion questions for all three of the novels in this series. I hope the questions spark conversation and encourage readers to think about the themes and characters in the novel. The Book Club members are going to give me feedback. I'm excited to hear back from them. I hope they enjoy the novel and tell me why. I'll let you know.

Smiles,
Sylvia
website: www.sylviabrownroberts.com
My other blog: nikolisthoughts.blogspot.com

Child Play 2017

Recently I spoke with a teacher colleague. I'll call her Ann. She hasn't yet retired from our urban school system. Although I retired some years ago, I still keep up with many of the students and their siblings. Ann and I live in the community near our elementary school and our children. We and many other teachers from our era use the term our children because that's the way we relate to them. We show them that we care for them like they're our own. This allows us to reach them so we can teach them.
 After a few minutes, our conversation turned to the latest popular game the 5 year-old male children play during outdoor recess.
"Sylvia, you'd be shocked at the aggression the male children show in this one game."
"Really? Is it as bad as when they'd  throw the dodge ball so hard it would knock down the children inside the circle and they'd laugh when children fell to the ground?"
"Worse, and I believe it's because of what they see in their neighborhoods and on television and video games. They try to play this game when they think I'm not looking because I've told them not to play like this. They call the game The Po Po Gone Lock You Up."
"What? How do they play this game, Ann?"
"They chase each other around the school yard. The first one who gets caught becomes the bad guy. The one who catches the bad guy becomes the police (Po Po) and slams him up against the wall of the school building. When he falls, the police rolls him on his stomach, cuffs him with make-believe cuffs, and drags this bad guy off to the make-believe jail under the school building's overhang. After a minute, he's released from jail and the game starts again."
What's the first thought that comes to your mind?
 Lord God, please help us help our babies.
Sylvia
www.sylviabrownroberts.com

Dr.M.L. King Day 2017

On this Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day 2017:

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God." Matthew 5:9 (New International Version)

"... Love your neighbor as yourself...  Mark 12:31 (New International Version)

Best wishes,
Sylvia
www.sylviabrownroberts.com