Challenge Accepted

In a moment of spiritual curiousity I pulled a book from my shelf that I have been itching to read for ages: "I Challenge You...I Promise You..." by Paul H. Dunn or "I Promise You...I Chanllenge You..." by Paul H. Dunn. As a little girl I was fascinated with reversable clothing. My reversable jacket was magical; there was no wrong way to wear it because both sides were pretty and Mom would let me walk out the door with it on either way. This book is similar to my magical jacket. It does not matter which end of the book I begin to read-- the message is the same from either end. Dunn interviewed a group of young couples about their formative years and mapped out a series of accompanying challenges and promises for youth in the church. Whether a challenge or promise is written on a page I can access the other simply by flipping the page upside-down.
In the introduction, Dunn encourages the reader to veiw this book as "a process wherein you think more than you read." Therefore, I decided to record my thoughts and experiences as I read, starting with the introductory chapter: "I Challenge You to Prove the Lord."
Also in the introduction, Dunn suggests that the reader "read a line, then look up and think a page," so after reading the title of the chapter I looked up and immediately thought of my Especially For Youth company from 2011. We were called Prove Me Now. The title originates from Malachi 3: 10 (thank goodness for scripture mastery otherwise I would not have remembered that :D). The Lord challenges: "prove me now herewith...if I will not open the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to recieve it." I know this was said in reference to tithing and not this book, but the idea applies to everything. Countless times in church I have been told: "The Lord wants to bless you." I can just picture a room in heaven, stocked full of bleassings of every kind fastened with a door that is bulging so it does not look like it will hold another second, with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ standing by waiting to pronounce all those blssings upon the faithful of the world. (So it is not a page but one line produced a lot of thought!) Dunn continues, "He has invited us to prove Him by accepting the challenges and expecting the promises. The connection between the two are of His design; and you can know that for yourself if you will engage in the proving process." This last sentence brought to mind another scritpure mastery, Doctrine and Covenants 58: 27 (for those of you who do not know, the Doctrine and Covenants is a record of Jesus' relationship with the memebers of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the 1800s-- their struggles, faith, dilligence, and blessings. A lot like the bible but a different time in history.) The verse reads: "Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness." This book-- the improving of my relationship with Christ-- is definitely a good cause, I accept these challenges of my own free will, and I hope to "bring to pass much righteousness."
Challenge: Prove the Lord by accepting the challenges in this book and expecting the promises.
Promise: The rewards in this book will be yours.
Dunn guarantees "that the number of promises you recieve will be the number of challenges you accept." As long as I "accept the challenges and expect the promises" there is no way to fail. Now that is an encouraging thought. :D
Dunn further challenges in the introduction: "Read a chapter and live it for a week; then read another chapter." That means this is a 20 week book; this is a 20 week proccess; this is a 20 week opportuinty to "prove the Lord;" this is a 20 week challenge....Challenge accepted.
I invinte any and every one who wishes to take the challenge with me to do so. On the Sunday of each week I will post the challenge, promise, and my thoughts. I will continue to update the post throughout the week as I see the promise unfold in my life. Should you desire to participate with me, accept the challenge and share your own ideas and experiences by commenting on the week's post.
You do not have to be a member of my church or any church. You do not even have to beleive in God. "It does not matter, He believes in you," (The Count of Monte Cristo, movie).
 Though I have never read this book or met Paul Dunn, I know Jesus Christ and that He is honest. I add my guaranty to Dunn's. Accept these challenges, and you will see the promises unfold.
Please join me, even if you do not comment on anything. This is a personal process and if you do not want to share that is ok, I love you and thank you for accepting the challenge.
The first challenge will be issued on July 22.
The 20 challenge will conclude on December 8.
Please join me! :D

If you want to purchase the book I believe it is available online.