Discussion Questions for the book “Providing Promise”

The following questions can be used for a small group, Bible study, book club or for an individual reader.

Chapter 1: Growing Up

Julie Voudrie talks of wreckage in the introduction. Has there been a time in your life now or in the past that you were unexpectedly handed “wreckage”?
Was there a time in your life that you felt like you were living the “perfect life”
- Read Matthew 6:19-21. Discuss what these verses say about achieving possessions of this world.
Have you ever felt that because of your faith in God, life’s calamities could not touch you?
Have you ever experienced being bullied by your peers, family members or co-workers?
- What effect did that have on you?

Chapter 2: The Next Steps

Has there been a time in your life that you questioned your career path? Or that you felt like you were stuck in a dead-end job? What steps did you take to make your situation different?
Have you ever felt that no matter what awards you earned, achievements you accomplished, or compliments you received, it was never enough? Read Joshua 1:9 and John 16:33.

Chapter 3: The Hawkeye

Explain a time in your life that your hard work and determination to reach your goals helped you succeed? Read Colossians 3:23 and Proverbs 13:4. Was there a time that no matter how hard you worked, your life seemed to be filled with disappointments and failures?
How does Psalm 121:8 compare to the Hawkeye’s mission? How does this verse make you feel?

Chapter 4: Freedom’s Flagship

Have you or someone you know ever struggled with an eating disorder? Or have you ever been stuck in an addiction or struggle that consumed your thoughts andeveryday activities?
- Read I Corinthians 6:19-20 and I Samuel 16:7. How do these scriptures help define howwe are to look at our appearance?
What steps did you take to help yourself or your friend overcome this struggle?

Chapter 5: Single and Searching

Has there been a time in your life when you had specific plans and goals for your life, but circumstances did not work out right? Explain. Read Romans 15:13.
Jon went through the heartbreak of a divorce. Have you had to struggle through a heartbreak of your own? What emotions did you feel? What areas of your life helped you get through those times? What advice would you give someone who is suffering with rejection, betrayal, or abandonment?
Have you ever used work to be a substitute for personal fulfillment? Read Psalm 127:2. What does this verse say about work?

Chapter 6: Green-Eyed Lady

What part of the personal ad story and meeting made you smile? Have you ever been on a blind date that turned into something special? Read 1I Corinthians 13:7.
How important is the approval of your family with your dating choices? Why do you think that is?

Chapter 7: Welcome to the Navy, Mrs. Rystrom

Have you or someone you know been engaged and married in less than a year of meeting one another? What are some of the challenges with a short courtship?
Have you ever attended a military wedding? The military tradition of the arch of swords demonstrates a pledge of fidelity from the military to the new couple. What is the symbolism between this tradition and the marriage covenant to God? Read Ephesians 5:25. Does this scripture have a personal meaning for you?
What is the irony of Jon’s statement at the wedding of spending the next 40 to 50 years with Kris? When looking back on your past, is there a memory, phrase or gesture that foreshadows something in your future?

Chapter 8: Highway to the Danger Zone

Have you ever had to make a huge move to another state or country? What are the challenges you had to face? Would this be harder or easier as a newlywed?
Has there ever been a time in your life that the only form of communication was letter writing? Did this make your relationship closer? How?

Chapter 9: Love Letters Across the Sea

Jon and I made a promise to each other that we would write to each other every day. Why is this promise significant in the story?
The apostle Paul wrote 13 letters in scripture. Our letters became an important part of our relationship. How are the New Testament letters an important part of our relationship with God?”
Have you ever had a long-distance relationship? In what ways has the distance hurt or helped the relationship?
Assignment: Choose one person in your family or a close friend and make a promise that you will write a letter (not an email or a simple card) to that person every day for a week. After you do this, share how this exercise has changed how you feel toward this person. Has it made a difference in their life?

Chapter 10: The Hormel Hawgs

Why was July Fourth so meaningful to me? What does America’s freedom mean to you?

Chapter 11: Hong Kong Homecoming

“When I looked at the image of the young widow holding the folded American flag on the front page of the local paper, I had the strange feeling that one day that would be me .”Have you ever
- Had foreboding feeling or image that became true? Explain.
Read Daniel 7:1, Matthew 2:19-20 and Genesis 28:12. What is the common theme in these passages? Do you believe that God can speak to you in dreams?

Chapter 12: Go Big Red

1. Since most naval personnel are stationed on bases along coastlines, why was the move to an airforce base in Nebraska significant to Jon and our family?

2. Has the birth of a child ever changed your career path/choices? How?

Chapter 13: Seagrass Reach

“With every move we made, I was checking off the boxes in my life to see where I was at.What kind of boxes do you check off in your life?”
I was scared as a mom when my infant daughter, Taylor went into the hospital. Jon could not get home and for the first time I had the fear of single parenting. Have you been a single parent? What are your fears and challenges?

Chapter 14: Iron Grip

Do you find yourself dismissing the horrific news regarding conflicts in other parts of the world? After reading this chapter, how has your opinion changed toward the plight of refugees from war torn countries?
There is much controversy over refugees in the United States. If you were the Bosniak mother trying to keep her children alive, how would your opinion change or not change?
Read Matthew 25: 35-40. Discuss how this relates to helping others in your community, in your country, around the world.

Chapter 15: Rosebushes and Goodbyes

The last few days leading up to Jon’s deployment were filled with more “box checking”. These were the types of boxes of a “honey-do list.”. If you knew that you were spending the last two weeks with your spouse or family member before they were leaving for six months, what “boxes” would you check?
What is the significance of Jon describing his survival gear in detail at the preschool presentation at Jordyn’s career day?
Jordyn and I created the paperchain to countdown the days until Jon came home. Have you ever created a countdown chart for something special?

Chapter 16: Paperchain Prayers

Jon forgot to sign his new life insurance policy, but someone discovered that detail and was able to take care of it. Have you ever experienced times where you see God taking care of you in details that you almost missed?”
What is the significance of the Storm of the Century and the no-fly days? Do you believe there any correlations between the lack of flight hours and the accident?

Chapter 17: Operation Provide Promise

What was Operation Provide Promise and why is the mission significant to the story?
When Jon found out he had an extra hour to spare before his helo left for the JFK, what were the 2 things he did that are important?

Chapter 18: No Horizon

Why is this chapter titled “No Horizon”? Pilots must fly with only their instruments when there is limited or no visibility. How does this relate to walking by faith when we cannot see the path in front of us?
The initial approach of 603 to the flight deck was perfect but due to the unexplained malfunction of an arresting wire, the ship had a foul flight deck and 603 was waved off. This resulted in the plane crashing into the water. Have there been times in your life that with your effort and work, life was going as planned but then a situation out of your control took you to an unexpected place of harm?
The recount of what the girls and I were doing at the time of the crash is accurate due to the preservation of the handwritten letters. Do you find a correlation between the peaceful evening the girls and I were spending and the horrific scene taking place at the same time in the Ionian Sea? Do you find that at times God keeps us immune to being aware of tragic events happening around us for our own emotional protection?

Chapter 19: Bear Ace 603

Jordyn and I prayed every night for God to protect Daddy while he was flying his plane. The night Jon’s plane crashed was almost exactly the very same time we were praying that prayer. How do you feel when your prayers are not answered?
What do you think my first reaction was when I saw the men in stripes go by my dining room window? After my initial shock, I went into survival mode and started on the necessary tasks. Has there ever been a time when you kept going through tasks after learning of a shock or trauma? Do you find that these are coping skills that you learn or are they from God to get you through the shock?
Have you ever experienced deep loss? Have you ever had a time in your life that your life completely shattered, and you felt like you could never breathe again? Share your experience. What are some verses that helped you? What is God’s response to us when we ask why? How does He comfort us and meet us in those places?
How do you explain to someone who has lost their faith as a result of loss and death?
In spite of the tragedy, the men on the ship had to continue their mission. Has there ever been a time when you had to continue on with something even though you were deeply hurting inside? Have you ever been in situations where you had to compartmentalize your feelings just to survive? When and how did you eventually process?

Chapter 22: Is My Daddy Happy?

Jon’s letters are so special to me and our daughters. Do you have an item or items that mean a lot to you from someone special in your life?
How would you explain to a child about God’s love when are prayers are not answered?
Read John 3:16-17. Why does this verse come to mean so much more after we lose someone? Read John 14:1-6. How are these verses comforting?

Chapter 23: My Folded Flag

The tradition of giving a serviceman/woman’s family member a folded American flag at the time of their death means that this flag will no longer wave. It stands for honor, service and sacrifice. What are some words that would describe what my folded flag means to me?
When the missing man formation flew overhead the church, why do you think I had a complete meltdown in front of everyone? Has there ever been a time where you thought you were holding yourself together and then something specific happened that caused you to lose it?”
What was the meaning of the last line in my dad’s poem about Jon? Read Galatians 6: 9-10 and Colossians 3:23. How do these verses correlate to this last line of the poem?

Chapter 24: The Last Letter

Why was Jon’s last letter to me so comforting? Jon always wrote to me at night before he went to bed. Do you find the significance of him writing to me the morning of his accident?
If you could write a letter to someone knowing that this would be the last day of your life, who would you write and what would you say? Take time now to write that letter and mail it to that person.
Why was the crumpled box of Jon’s ship belongings so impactful? Have you ever had an item bring you a painful memory? How did it make an impact on you and does it still today?

Chapter 25: How Do You Get Through?

Have you ever felt like God was “punishing” you with hurts or disappointments in your life? Explain.
Have you ever dealt with “pound cake people”? What strategies did you find most effective? Who are the True Blue’s in your life?
What part of this chapter was most helpful? Read Psalm 23. Write out verse 4. As you write it out, think about its meaning for you personally.

Chapter 26: From Triggers to Moving On

What are some triggers in your life?
What are some sprinkles of sunshine that have helped you get through a bad day or season in your life? Read Romans 15:13 and James 1:16.
These scriptures speak of hope and joy. Do you find comfort from theses verses?
The Wids were a huge support system for me. Has there been a time in your life when you have looked for a support group? Discuss the benefits or the problems you encountered.

Chapter 27: Wreckage in My Hands

In this chapter I was faced with the reality of Jon not returning with the squadron when I saw the fly-over come by my hotel balcony. Was there ever a time you felt like God put you into a situation you were trying to avoid, but you realized it was for your own good?
Has there ever been a time in your life, or even now that you have tricked yourself into thinking that you are emotionally doing fine when you are not? Was there a defining moment when you faced reality?
Read Job 14:1-5 and Psalm 56:8. These scriptures describe grief and despair. What do these scriptures mean to you personally?

Chapter 28: Hello Mr. President

In the book by Dr. Dobson, When God Doesn’t Make Sense, he states- “In your hour of crisis, do not demand explanation. Do not lean on your ability to understand. Do not turn loose of your faith. But do choose to trust Him… The only other alternative is despair.” What does this statement mean to you?
Dr. Dobson also states- “Pain and suffering do not cause the greatest damage. Confusion is the factor that shreds one’s faith.” Do you believe this statement? Why or why not? Read 1 Timothy 5:5.
- What does this scripture tell us about the widow and how does it relate to my journey?
Has there been a time in your life, when someone reached out to you when you least expected and it was a sprinkle of sunshine just when you needed it? How can you be a sprinkle of sunshine in someone’s life today? Make a commitment to act on it.

Chapter 29: Balloons to Heaven

Have you or someone you know kept a tradition to remember someone who has died?
Dr. Reccord told me to “Remember my legacy”. What did he mean by that? What is your legacy and why is it important? Read Psalm 78:4 and Psalm 145:4. What do these scriptures tell you about teaching our children about God?
Has there been a time in your life that you cried out to God in despair, and you felt as if He didn’t hear your prayers? Explain. Read Psalm 18:6. How does this scripture reassure you that God hears our prayers?

Chapter 30: My Letter From Heaven

When I found the balloon at my feet, I was in disbelief. Has there ever been a time in your life that God answered your prayers in an unexpected way?
My balloon said, “You’re So Special!” Take time to meditate on how special you are in God’s eyes. You are His masterpiece.
If you could write a love letter to God, what would it say? Take time to write Him a letter. Be honest. After you have written it, pray it out loud. Make this a daily prayer for 30 days
How is the Bible God’s letter to His children?

Chapter 31: HOPE

Hold onto the Truth: What steps can you take to hold onto the truth?
Open your heart to others: How can you reach out to others or allow others to help you in any way?
Position yourself for obedience: What areas of obedience do you struggle with? How can you take steps to obey what God is calling you to?
Embrace the past-Face the future: Are you holding onto the past? How can you move forward in facing your future?
How has Providing Promise ministered to you? What three aspects of this book were helpful to you?

Contact Us To find out more about our Providing Promise book or to talk to someone about booking Kris or Joe to speak at your next event, please fill out the form below. Alternatively, you can email us directly. Kris@providingpromise.com

Providing Promise Ministries is a 501c-3 non-profit organization.