Walk Worthy Press: Good To Me by LaTonya Mason

Reading Group Questions

The following list of questions is designed to enhance a group or individual's thinking about or discussing some of the issues we hope you will consider after reading this book. This is designed as a starting point only and is not meant to limit the discussion.

Prologue

"I'm ready..." Joseph declared impatiently to the chaplain-and to God. When have you experienced that sense of I'm-ready-what's-the-hold-up during your waiting times with God? What kind of emotions rush through you? What Scriptures encourage, restrain, or challenge you? Why do you think God gives prophecies and visions-only to make us wait for the fulfillment of them?

Chapter 1

Charity was told that an all-black counseling center wasn't necessary-that the world has enough separation and segregation. What do you think-pros and cons? What are the values of racially (or ethnically) specialized services? What are the risks?

Chapter 2

"Where in the Bible does it say we can't buy bootleg tapes?" In response, Iesha quotes "Thou shalt not steal." How would you respond? How do you reconcile decisions such as Mama Lorraine's with your faith?

Chapter 3

Does Emmitt sound like an abusive husband? What kind of behavior do you characterize as abusive between spouses? Does your definition encompass physical, emotional, and psychological abuse? Why or why not? What faithful response should the Christian church (and/or believing spouse) have to an abusive marriage?

Chapter 4

Charity's pastor talked about times of transition and change. In terms of women in leadership and the privilege of age versus youth in leadership, how does your church handle change? Why? How do you handle differences of opinion on such issues with your church leadership?

Chapter 5

Mama Lorraine called a sort of family meeting to discuss issues raised by her earlier conversation with Iesha. How does your family handle conflict-or issues with the potential for sparking conflict? Was the Brown family discussion an example of healthy and effective conflict resolution? Why or why not?

Chapter 6

Loneliness is a burden for all of us at some time or another. Brother Lee found some comfort in his work; Joseph recommends fellowship with the believers-but admits to himself that the fellowship was hardly a cure-all in his own lonely life. How do you deal with loneliness in your own journey? What comforts you? What chases away at least part of the lonely feeling?

Chapter 7

"Thy maker is thy husband..." What does that text in Isaiah 54 mean to you as a woman? How has the meaning changed if you have made the transition(s) from single woman to parent and/or spouse?

Chapter 8

"I don't want to talk Bible right now," Charity told her friend. "I just want to be straight up." Can you empathize with that feeling? Why or why not? In what ways do church, Scripture, and religion prevent us from being real-in good ways and in not-so-good ways?

Chapter 9

How were you disciplined as a child? How do you (or would you) discipline children of your own? How does Scripture guide you? How do social and cultural values influence you? How do you distinguish between effective discipline and abuse (neither of which is always physical)?

Chapter 10

Iesha is awed by the sense of being given a second chance. When has God given you one? What does it mean to you to serve a Lord who has been called the God of second chances?

Chapter 11

Joseph reads Charity's article and sees her photo-and senses that God has chosen her for his wife. His friends think he's crazy. What about you? The author clearly affirms such divine methods. (Charity's pastor had a similar experience with his wife.) Do you think God really works that way? Why or why not? How would you feel about identifying your life partner in that way-and why?

Chapter 12

Harmony's particular flavor of faith is a bit unorthodox. Terrence particularly challenges the appropriateness of Christians consulting horoscopes. How do you feel about such issues and why? How do you relate to others whose views differ from yours?

Chapter 13

Emmitt's relationship with his mother is unhealthy, agreed? How have the relationships between mothers and sons been particularly significant in the black family? What is your experience with mother-son relationships, whether as a mother, as a sibling, or as an in-law? What mother-son models does Scripture offer us, and what insights can we gain from them?

Chapter 14

If you received a letter from an inmate such as Charity's from Joseph, what would be your reaction? How would you respond, if at all? Why?

Chapter 15

What do you do when your past comes knocking on your door? How does your faith or Scripture guide you?

Chapter 16

"Even when you didn't get what you wanted, you're satisfied with what you got," the mailroom employee marveled to Joseph. Could the same be said of you? Why or why not? What spiritual quality or character trait is required to reach that level of satisfaction?

Chapter 17

This chapter might be titled, "Adventures in Dating" ... Iesha and Wallace, Iesha and Terrence, Charity and Michael, and then Mr. Wright. What kind of adventures have you had? How has faith in God affected those adventures?

Chapter 18

Charity struggles with decisions concerning dancing, especially to secular or worldly music. More than once in the novel, the question of "balance" arises. How do you achieve the balance of being "in the world but not of it"? How do you test your own spirit's vulnerability to the spirits around you?

Chapter 19

"The weapon forged against you is the instrument formed for you," the minister declares. How have you experienced that scriptural (and spiritual) dynamic in your life? In other words, what weapons forged by your enemies have become (or might still become) tools or instruments used for good-your own or others'?

Chapter 20

Has a guy ever said to you, in one way or another, "God told me you're the one"? How did you (or would you) react? Consider Iesha's cautious response, "What do you do when God hasn't told the other one? " In general, how cautious are you about accepting other people's pronouncement of God's will or vision for your life? Why?

Chapter 21

How important do you think the respective families are to a couple's relationship? How do you balance the scriptural "leave and cleave" principle (see Genesis 2:24) with the truism that you don't just marry each other; you marry each other's family?

Chapter 22

Scripture does say that God will never tempt us beyond what we can handle. It seems reasonable to extend that principle to the concept of-God won't burden us beyond what we can bear. However, don't we all have days when, like Charity, we feel like-this is too much? How do you handle days like that? How do you minister to others who are having such days?

Chapter 23

Suicide. Has it ever touched you? In what way(s)? What motivates people to attempt it? How do family and friends respond? How do you think God responds? How can we minister to one another in the church-when suicide is contemplated, threatened, attempted, or accomplished?

Chapter 24

Iesha raises the issues of needing more time with Terrence-time to explore other aspects of who they are in terms of children, background, careers. He responds, in effect, by saying, "None of those things are relevant when God is involved." Do you agree or disagree-why and to what extent?

Chapter 25

Funerals are occasions that evoke complex emotions and a range of reactions. How does your experience of a funeral differ depending on how the relationship you, the family, or the deceased have had with God? How does your faith help you navigate the complicated maze of grief-publicly and privately?

Chapter 26

When God observed in Genesis 2 that it wasn't good for the first human being to be alone-that the man needed a suitable helper (in KJV, "help meet")-God wasn't only thinking about a marriage partner. We all need help from other human beings sometimes (see Ecclesiastes 4:9-12). What kind of support system do you have? How willing are you to admit that you need their help? Why?

Chapter 27

"She did not want to act like this but she didn't know how to act otherwise." Iesha's inner struggle is reminiscent of Paul's (see Romans 7:15-25). When have you experienced that same wrestling? How do you achieve victory in the struggle?

Chapter 28

Charity prayed long and hard for a restored marriage. Now it seems her prayer has been answered. What do you think? What would you say-and why?

Chapter 29

"I don't have to be no more than who I am made to be." "We're Christians learning to live as humans." What do you make of those statements? What do you think they mean? What might one or both mean to you?

Chapter 30

How have you experienced the difference between claiming a thing in faith-and actually receiving it? What does that difference say about the nature of our faith claims? To put it another way, if there weren't a difference, does that suggest that we are taking God's answer to our prayers for granted? Why or why not?

Chapter 31

In just one week, Charity received one proposal, one semi-proposal, and met a man she thinks she could fall in love with. How would you discern which apparently open door to walk through? Is there only one right door-or might God's hand be present in each of those situations? Why or why not?

Chapter 32

"Keep praying," Joseph exhorted the congregation. What are you praying on? How is God answering that prayer? What encourages you to keep on praying?