Jack and Jean spent the last twenty-plus years resurrecting books, classic literature for kids.
Jack Sharpe and his beautiful wife, Jean, spent Texas’s worst snowstorm in a hundred years in our cabin near our home in East Texas. I believe in divine appointments like Bill Bright used to call them.
So, was it really an accident we met? Heck, no! (Jack is in Texas for a couple more weeks. Now is a great time to invite him to your Sunday school class, book club, curriculum summit, or homeschooling event.)
Resurrecting Books
You know what a nut I am for books of any kind, but books that teach good old common sense values to kids? Along with accurate history. Appreciation for all the multitude of cultures mankind imagined over the centuries. Add to that respect for God. Oh my!
Naturally, I couldn’t wait to catch Jack and Jean’s story in an interview. Who are these people and how did they know children’s books needed rescuing back in the 80s?
Ironically, the Sharpes traveled to Texas to escape North Dakota’s frigid winter months. They are part of Bethlehem Books. Many homeschoolers will recognize Bethlehem’s name.
Bethlehem Books
“For those of you who don’t know us—Bethlehem Books is a small, home-grown publishing company dedicated to restoring to children and families a treasury of wholesome, character-building literature. We are more than just a business. Our work springs from the heart of the Bethlehem Community of Benedictine Oblates, a lay group of families and single people which began in 1971,” reads Bethlehem’s opening statement.
With the Sharps close by, Dave and I took the opportunity to ask Jack lots of questions. Especially about creating community, while overcoming division. Almost instantly, we grew to respect the scholarly, yet practical way he thinks about faith. Plus, in a real boon to us, Jack showed David how to fix busted pipes.
All the while, Jean devotes herself to the many behind-the-scenes tasks necessary when rescuing classic children’s literature. With Easter around the corner, I like to think of her work as resurrecting books. (Find more on peaceful celebrations of Easter with DIY Stations of the Cross.)
Creating Community
“Actually, in the late 60s and early 70s when we began community was a buzzword at that time,” explains Jack. “There were all kinds of intentional Christian communities all over America. Dozens and dozens of them. We just happened to be one.”
The Sharpes live in a community of believers in North Dakota similar to L’Abri. (If you’re familiar with the work of Francis Schaeffer, you’ll know what I mean. The Sharpes even spent some time with the Schaffers early in their community experience.)
In the early days, Jean’s parents were simply hosting young people who stayed in their home. Originally, they came together to “try to live the Christian life 24/7.” For us, Jack explained why the idea seemed novel at the time.
Christian Beyond Sunday
“You know, for our church upbringing, you went to church on Sunday, you went to prayer meeting on Wednesday nights, and what did you do with the rest of the week to serve the Lord? That’s what we were up against.” As the ministry grew, they had up to 80 young people spread out among the homes of their members at any given time.
“Young people could come in, kind of try to live together, work together, sharing income,” reports Jack. “We were sharing our incomes, which was very radical, frankly, at that time.” (Find more on teaching kiddos the value of sacrifice.) After a decade, some of their members felt it was time to rethink their six months at a time commitment.
“We thought, why don’t we just go complete Acts 2 and share everything. Become common purse, common everything as far as our possessions go.” They incorporated as Bethlehem Community.
“It was a specific calling for some of us adults who felt the Lord wanted us to kind of live a deeper life with one another,” Jack says. Some of the original group passed away, others drifted away. But some stuck together for fifty years now.
Harmony and Unity
Just getting two people to live together harmoniously in marriage is challenging. (Find my latest book, Marriage Conversations: from Coexisting to cherished.)
Imagine pulling together a core family group of thirty adults. It’s like adopting a family and sticking together through thick and thin. Working together to reach the potential in each individual and the potential of the groups as you foster strengths and compensate for frailties. (Find my book on creating life-changing conversations.)
When people ask how they do it, the folks at Bethlehem ask some penetrating questions, seasoned with a little whimsey.
“The only reason for community is out of desperation. Are you really desperate enough? Or do you just have a good idea?” asks Jack. “We’ve lasted simply because of the Biblical principles we’ve had the grace to live out.”
Weaknesses That Unite
“One of the things that unites us is this very strong faith thing. We tried to stay together in faith that the weaknesses we have, each one of us, are actually a gift to one other,” he says. Weaknesses a gift? Whoever heard of such a thing!
When Jack mentions Paul’s teaching about weakness in the Corinthians for one of their core uniting principles, I immediately think of I Corinthians 2:3-5.
“For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.”
“If we’re willing to give those (our weaknesses) to each other without condemnation and without trying to fix each other up,” he explains, adding, “See, think about it. Think about a group of people trying to live together and trying to fix each other up. Our community would have lasted about 25 minutes maybe a month, not 50 years if we actually tried to fix each other up.”
Commitment to Change
But how in the world could that look in my home or yours? In our communities? Jack explains that they try “to give God the room and the space so that He can work with people until they’re someplace different.”
Further, Jack explains one of their fundamental principles is a commitment to change. Especially in their book business, commitment to change serves as a guiding principle and a blessing.
Who’da Thunk?
The Sharpes began homeschooling their oldest son back in the 80s when it was still illegal. Crazy, huh? Who’da thunk all American kids would be at home and online for their learning this past year?
2020 did give me a whole new appreciation for publishers, like Bethlehem, who are fostering kids’ imagination and faith through excellent literature. (Find more inspiring literature from my amazing publishers, CrossRiver Media and Elk Lake Publishing.)
“We’ve always been bibliophiles,” laughs Jack. “We’ve been collecting them (books) for a long time. Now at this point, I think our library at home, amongst all the different houses is up to about 25,000 children’s books. That’s got to be one of the biggest children’s libraries in North Dakota.”
Books, Books, More Books
25,000 books. Oh. My. Goodness. Book heaven!
From their massive library and her own recollection, Jean and others choose children’s classics no longer in print. They pursue the authors or the author’s heirs and request the rights to publish the book for a new generation of readers.
I recently read Downright Dencey and recommend it. When I finished it, I passed it on to my granddaughter. How awesome is it when a 10-year-old granddaughter and a 60+ grandmother can enjoy the same book! I can’t wait to put my order in for my Christmas 2021 books for my grandkids.
Jack tells me Texans are a big customers for Bethlehem Books. Certainly, Texans tend to be independent thinkers who value some of America’s founding principles extolled in classic literature, like self-learning, sacrifice, generosity, and fortitude, to name a few. But Texans are not the only ones who crave great books. I bet you do, too.
A Big Thanks
With the help of teachers creating online classroom experiences, homeschooling morphed into a mainstay this year. Did you feel crushed this past year as you worked from home and helped your kids with hybrid forms of schooling? You owe yourself the treat of checking out Bethlehem’s website.
It makes me so happy to meet really positive people who are making sacrifices so the next generation grows up to be self-learning citizens. I am proud of YOU for all you are doing on behalf of your kid and grandkids. Thank you! Plus, I want to thank Bethlehem for putting great literature out into our culture by resurrecting books.
I’m like a kid in a candy store for the books Bethlehem offers. Nobody paid me to say so. I just want to share as many blessings as I can with YOU!
Serving Behind the Scenes
Additionally, since I know Jack and Jean and their fellow oblates prefer to serve in the background, not the spotlight, I particularly want to thank Jack for the interviews. Here’s a shout out to their beloved Bethlehem community–Thank you for all you are doing behind the scenes to supply us with literature that inspires the imagination and faith of our kiddos.
When I asked Jack for an overarching principle to unite people, no matter how diverse their perspectives, he answered with this: “Well, I think probably the main overarching principle is being able to trust the Lord and believe that He is in the midst of any situation, marriage situation or anything. And he is actually the One who is in charge of it. That’s probably where our people have had to trust the Lord at so many points, so many times.”
🙂
cathy
Truth with a Texas Twang
P.S. I’d LOVE to meet YOU!
It would be my joy to join your group in person or through a special zoom link. Our first book, The Well: The Art of Drawing Out Authentic Conversations, is perfect for a group Bible study or book club. (Find more about Jesus’ communication strategies. Or contact me to join you.)
For those daring enough to get couples together, my latest book, Marriage Conversations: from coexisting to cherished, is the perfect conversation starter. Men tell us they think the book is hilarious. But I cry every time I read it. So apparently, I’m an accidental comedienne. Who knew? Anyway, I can show up and bring my own brand of fun. Get your copy here.
I want to welcome Valerosa Designs and Gallery to the team! You can find my books with my dear friend Neita Fran Ward in her beautiful store. (Find more about how one woman can change a culture here.)
Join the TEAM!
When you join our BOOK LAUNCH TEAM, you’ll receive discounts on books, group discounts, special offers, and options to have signed copies for your friends. You’ll be up-to-the-minute on insider news. Plus, you’ll help us push amazing stories out there into a universe in desperate need of good stuff. THANK YOU!!!
More Adventures to Come!
Native Tylerite Paula Quinn, author of The Questions God Asks Us, joins me on Fireside Talk Radio just in time for Easter. A long-time advocate in the court system, you will love what this amazing Bible scholar teaches about how God still reaches out today! (Thanks, sweet Eugenia, for connecting us.) And yep, Paula is from Texas, too.
Additionally, in the coming weeks one of my favorite speakers, Nancy Kay Grace shares some powerful stuff about what she’s learned in her battle with tongue cancer.
Plus, the fabulous Susan Cox is on tap to wow us with her thoughts on marriage. I can not wait to share Susan’s wisdom with YOU! Fabulous stuff!!
In other wonderful news, Gina Butler and I are fixin’ to pick a date for our Spring 2021 Book Bananza. Oh, yeah! Let us know if you or an author you love would like to sign books with us.
The Uncut Conversation
My friend Brooke Frick, author of Hands Full arrived here with her wonderful hubby and their five adorable children in their RV. What a joy-filled moment! We created a quick video for YOU. Plus, Brooke sent me a yummy recipe from her own momma. So watch for that here soon. And when they left, yep, the old folks needed a nap.
Contact her here to join you as she travels the country. Brooke’s book cover, like my latest one, was also created by our mutual friend, Carrie Dennis. Aren’t those the cutest kiddos? They are the BEST! The other two pretended to be miffed about only making the back cover. For once a back cover is every bit as cute as the front cover.
May we pray together?
Dear good heavenly Father, You amaze me with Your goodness. As we pray for our nation, for those who spread good news, we seem to have them “accidentally” showing up at our house. How can You love me so much? Thank You for the privilege of sharing so many good people with each other. Thank You once again for my listening and reading friends who partner with David and me, often behind the scenes, unheralded, but beloved.
For our new friends in North Dakota, we thank You and ask You to bless them. For publishers, like CrossRiver, Elk Lake, and Bethlehem, all around this nation who are making sacrifices to stay relevant in a changing culture, protect and prosper them, O Lord. Please protect Brooke and Darrell, granting traveling mercies for their family. Teach us, O Lord, to draw near to You and bring the next generations with us into Your presence. Bless us now because that is Your heart’s desire. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
We LOVE to hear from YOU!
How do you put the unity in your community? When have you given God enough room to work instead of trying to fix another person? Which ones are your favorite children’s classics?
Cathy Krafve, Speaker, Blogger, Podcaster, and author of The Well: The Art of Drawing Out Authentic Conversations and Marriage Conversation: From Coexisting to Cherished. We invite you to join the Fireside Tribe. Truth with a Texas Twang.
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