Christian News Feed

The Center for Bible Engagement offers free resource to help pastors minister during the COVID-19 pandemic

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 02 Apr 2020 13:47:00 +0000

The Center for Bible Engagement’s (CBE) recent survey of frequent church attenders reveals the impact the Covid-19 pandemic is having on faith. To support pastors and churches navigating this crisis, the CBE is offering churches a free well-being survey for their own congregations. CBE’s research director, Dr. Arnie Cole, notes that effective ministry starts by discovering where people are spiritually.

“With churches experiencing physical disconnection, pastors desperately need solid data on how their congregants are doing,” says Cole. “This survey can be easily embedded into any existing website or they can share it via email or social media. It provides pastors key information about their church members such as how they are holding up physically and emotionally during the crisis, what they are struggling with most, what the church can do to help them, and so on. Because we know many churches are being hurt by the financial downturn this pandemic is causing, this survey is 100% free for them to use.”

This free resource is available at: www.centerforbibleengagement.org/churches.

About the Center for Bible Engagement:

The Center for Bible Engagement (CBE) began in 2003 as a research division of Back to the Bible and has become a major resource center addressing Bible engagement and spiritual growth. CBE researchers have studied the spiritual lives of more than 400,000 people around the world including hundreds of individual churches. Back to the Bible’s Center for Bible Engagement has used research initiatives and peer-reviewed studies to develop discipleship tools such as goTandem and the BttB.App. In six months, 83% of users of the goTandem app move from zero interaction with the Bible to engaging the Bible four or more times per week. For further information visit www.centerforbibleengagement.org.

Back to the Bible offers free digital app for churches to keep them connected during COVID-19 pandemic

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 27 Mar 2020 13:54:00 +0000

For Immediate Release (Lincoln, NE) — To help churches stay connected and minister to their members during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, Back to the Bible is offering a free digital service. The BttB.App platform offers churches the ability to integrate their existing websites with various functions such as coordination of online groups and classes, live streaming as well as taped sermons, direct email correspondence with congregants, social engagement between members, among other uses. Arnie Cole, CEO of Back to the Bible, says this app meets the needs of churches of any size.

“This is a good time to remember that the New Testament meaning of ‘church’ never referenced a building,” says Cole. “Rather, it referred to the believers themselves—people who often met every day. We have the same need to connect daily now, and the BttB.App platform meets that need. It’s a timely offering designed to quickly and easily fill a variety of digital gathering needs during this time of social distancing. Because we know many churches are being hurt by the financial crisis this pandemic is causing, this app is 100% free for them to use.”

Releasing this week, the BttB app provides multiple ways for congregations to connect digitally, drawing congregants together for worship, teaching, and fellowship. The livestream feature integrates with twelve existing services including Facebook Live, YouTube Live, Zoom, Join.Me, Vimeo, TikTok, Twitch, SurveyMonkey, among others. Kevin Barron, Pastor of a church outside St. Louis, Missouri, says the BttB app has allowed him to not only continue to serve people during this time of quarantine, but to do so without further burdening the church’s limited budget.

"Back to the Bible should be commended for supporting local churches in practical ways and offering these services at no charge,” says Barron. “Financial shortfalls are hitting churches hard as giving declines during this stressful time. This app has given me viable ways to reach out and encourage the people I serve.”

About Back to the Bible:Founded in 1939 as a radio ministry, Back to the Bible is now a global leader in digital discipleship. Their efforts have led people to engage with the Bible in over 180 countries, and their resources have been used by over 156,000 congregants in the U.S. Back to the Bible’s Center for Bible Engagement has used research initiatives and peer-reviewed studies to develop discipleship tools such as goTandem and the BttB.App. In six months, 83% of users of the goTandem app move from zero interaction with the Bible to engaging the Bible four or more times per week. For further information visit www.backtothebible.org.

After the worst week on Wall Street since the 2008 crisis, financial expert offers two words of advice: "Don't Panic"

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 03 Mar 2020 14:26:00 +0000

Financial expert and #1 Amazon best-selling author John Madison has watched the sudden drop in the stock market with great interest over the past week. Although the tumble is reminiscent of the 2008 downturn, he says there is no reason to panic.

“There are several issues going on right now,” says Madison. “Fears of a spreading coronavirus disrupting the supply chain for goods traded around the world have raised concerns that company profits will suffer. This concern for lost 2020 profits is driving down the price of shares. Standing sell orders have been triggered, leading to more selling and even lower prices. Investors whose portfolio didn’t match their risk tolerance often sell from fear in these times, locking in losses, because the losses are too large for them to accept. This is why it is so important for people to build a portfolio suitable for their own personal needs, not follow the investing advice of a television analyst.”

Madison offers many investing tips in his new book, “The Steward Plan: Understanding God’s Design for your Finances.” Madison combines three decades of experience in financial planning with what he considers the most comprehensive workbook on money-management—the Bible. He says the current financial crisis should be handled prudently.

“More volatility, both up and down, may be coming over the next several days and trying to predict what will happen is impossible,” says Madison. “The best advice I can give is don’t trade from fear. Take a deep breath and turn off the news if you must. Review your holdings and consider selling some bond funds to purchase stock funds that are on sale. This will also re-balance your portfolio to the proper mix for your risk tolerance and time frame. Have future 401k contributions allocated 100% to stock funds to dollar cost average into the market at lower prices. View this moment as a buying opportunity, not a time to panic. Keep your focus on the long-term, which is what you should be doing if you’re investing in the stock market. Even the 2008 financial crisis was overcome in a few short years and there is no reason to think (at this point) that this drop will be anything near that bad.”

Madison retired from his work as a CPA at the age of 49, and now offers personal financial counseling as well as free workshops to churches and charities. He says the new tax laws may negatively affect a lot of churches, and he wants to be sure church leaders, as well as their congregations, are aware of the ramifications of their stewardship.

“In my counseling ministry, I have yet to meet anyone who regretted tithing or feels they would have been better off financially or spiritually if they hadn’t done so,” says Madison. “Our stewardship is laid out clearly in the Bible. Jesus Himself addressed the principle of developing a spending plan, a budget, in Luke 14. We can’t expect to maximize the value of the wealth He has blessed us with by managing it without a plan. And though being in debt is not a sin, there are no verses in the Bible praising it either. In fact, the borrower is called a slave to the lender (Proverbs 22:7). We are set free through Christ. Let’s not return chains to ourselves by being in debt. For most families, their greatest long-term wealth-building tool is their income. Whatever portion is committed to debt payments (even at 0% interest rates) cannot be used to honor God, help others, or build wealth.”

About John Madison:

John Madison is a Certified Public Accountant and the founder of Dayspring Financial Ministry. He earned a Master’s Degree in Personal Financial Planning (MSPFP), as well as the Master Planner Advanced Studies (MPAS), CRPC (Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor) and AWMA (Accredited Wealth Management Advisor) designations. He has been featured in the New York Post, Forbes, Chicago Tribune, U.S. News and World Report, Bankrate.com, CNBC.com, among many other media outlets. For more information, visit http://www.dayspringfm.com.

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Youth ministry experts say churches need to change their habits or the next generation will be lost

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 04 Feb 2020 16:06:00 +0000

A recent Barna Research study showed that 33% of churches say youth ministry is either a secondary priority among church leadership or not a priority at all. Gary and Laurie Pecuch (pronounced “puh-cooch”) have dedicated over four decades of their lives to youth ministry, and after a lot of trial and error, they believe the key to youth ministry is through what they call “Faith Webbing.” To date, they have helped over 600 congregations expand their ministries to young people which helps reduce the number of youth who leave the faith as they get older.

“The two most important numbers when you talk about youth ministry is 85 and 95,” says Gary. “85% of adults who say they are Christians made that commitment by the age of eighteen. Of those adults, 90% said they did so before the age of twelve. As students get past the age of twelve, the statistics bottom out and it becomes more difficult to engage students with church and almost impossible to retain them once they leave high school. We learned early on in our work with young people that we had to find a way to reverse this trend. We developed the Faith Webbing technique which, at its core, intentionally identifies relationship voids in young peoples’ lives and then fill those voids from within the congregation.”

The FaithWebbing.com website features over 300 video clips related to youth and family ministry. It also contains over 40 administrative forms and templates. In addition, the couple is currently adding monthly excerpts from their “Trot through the Bible” lesson series for adult leaders to use with young people. Ultimately, their goal is to make sure the next generation of youth becomes a greater priority for churches.

“The church is one of the only institutions that is organically inter-generational,” says Gary. “Most activities in a young person’s life term out. They may get involved in sports, community activities, or music programs for a season of their lives; however, most of those activities are age-specific. Once they term out, much of their support system disappears. People that catch the vision for Faith Webbing become what we call ‘relationship architects.’ That is, they intentionally seek out those in the congregation their children need to know. In essence, the church becomes an extended family of folks all going in the same direction. No longer are children and youth separated from the congregation and expected to meet with just their age group. We now have a healthy balance of age-based programming and interest-based ministry. Young people learn that the journey of faith is not meant to be walked alone and it is advantageous to be in relationship with older, wiser members of the faith community.”

About Gary and Laurie Pecuch:
Gary and Laurie Pecuch have over four decades of experience in youth ministry. For ten years, the couple operated a licensed treatment therapeutic foster care home for teenage boys. Gary has a Bachelor's degree in Administration of Justice and Master's degree in Not-for-profit Administration and Management and Laurie has a Bachelor's degree in Social Work. They currently serve on the children and youth ministry staff at St. John's Lutheran Church in Grove City, Ohio. Visit http://www.faithwebbing.com for more information.

Less than 90 days away from a record-breaking journey

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 28 Jan 2020 16:32:00 +0000

Dr. Jeff Brodsky has proven over the years that he will do just about anything to bring awareness to important causes. For the past nine and a half years, he has gone barefoot—all over the world, in any weather—to bring awareness to child sex trafficking. He has led ten, 101 mile walks across Death Valley, performed as Snuggles the Love Clown, and in 1983 rode a bicycle from California to New York City. In less than 90 days, at 67 years of age and after two heart attacks, Brodsky will embark on another cross-country bike ride from Disneyland in California to Disneyworld in Orlando, Florida on April 1, 2020. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, there is no one on record who has attempted to bicycle that far in bare feet.

Brodsky’s organization, JOY International, had another successful year in 2019, rescuing human trafficking victims and training police around the world in anti-trafficking techniques. Brodsky and his team reported several hundred rescues this past year including a 21-month-old baby who was kidnapped, as well as 8 and 10 year-old girls who were being sexually abused. The years spent rescuing children from the horrors of human trafficking are chronicled in Brodsky’s memoir, “The Least of These: One Man’s Remarkable Journey in the Fight Against Child Trafficking.” He also recently released a new children’s book “Why Are You Barefoot?” which is written specifically to elementary-age kids in a language that helps them learn to be safe in a world that Brodsky says is increasingly more dangerous for children every day.

“My motivation for bicycling barefoot nearly 3,000 miles is simple,” says Brodsky. “If I can motivate one person to action to help rescue just one more child from the most heinous crime ever perpetrated on a human being, then every mile will be worth it. I specifically chose the route from Disneyland to Disneyworld because they are known as the happiest places on earth, and the children that are trafficked are in the most evil, unhappiest places on earth. They may never see a Disneyworld park in their lives or anything like it because so many of them will die young or commit suicide.”

The efforts of JOY International, along with their partners, have helped to move Cambodia from a Tier 3 country (no efforts against trafficking) to a Tier 2. The U.S. is considered Tier 1 due to its aggressive laws and enforcement against trafficking. JOY International employs a Director of Global Police Training and Tactical Operations who has trained Special Forces Anti-Human Trafficking Police and SWAT teams. Their training techniques for airport personnel to spot potential human traffickers recently resulted in the rescue of a 9-year-old in the parking lot of an Alaskan airport.

“On the one year anniversary of my decision to go barefoot nearly 10 years ago, I was in my living room about to put on socks for the first time in twelve months,” says Brodsky. “But God wouldn’t let me do it. I mean, the sock would, literally, not go on my foot! I cried out to God and asked Him what He wanted from me after I went barefoot for an entire year. I heard Him speak these words to me— ‘Keep going, those children are still out there.’ I knew in that moment that until the last child is rescued and sex trafficking comes to a complete stop, I’ll be walking around the world in bare feet the rest of my life.”

About Dr. Jeff Brodsky:

Dr. Jeff Brodsky is the Founder and President of JOY International, a non-profit organization which exists to be involved in, or help to coordinate, the rescue, restoration, reintegration, and prevention of the commercial sexual exploitation of children, teens, and young women, both domestically and internationally. For over 38 years, to raise funds and awareness, he has performed as (the now retired) Snuggles the Love Clown, ridden a bicycle solo from California to New York City, led ten 101-mile walks across Death Valley, and traveled to over 70 nations. He and his wife, Gail, live in the foothills above Denver, Colorado and have three children and eight grandchildren. For more information, visit http://www.joy.org/ride or http://www.thebarefootmile.org.
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New book details how an unexpected tragedy sparked an international ministry

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 28 Jan 2020 16:29:00 +0000

A Pew Research study showed that 71% of adults believe it is very important for a man to be able to support a family financially in order to be a good husband. However, being “caring and compassionate” ranked as the top answer with 86% of people saying this was the most important trait. In his new book, “Become a Provider: Discover the Joy of Blessing and Protecting Others,” author and entrepreneur Justin Thomas broadens the definition of providing for others. His book details the tragic circumstances that led to his own personal journey of learning what it means to be a Biblical provider.

“My dad died suddenly a couple of years ago and it shook me to my core,” says Thomas. “As a young father, I wanted to be sure to carry on his legacy and try to do things the correct way. I began to dig deep into what being a provider truly meant through prayer, self-experimentation, reflecting on my dad’s life and studying scripture.”

Thomas details in his book what he discovered to be eight habits of a provider that require “intentional and regular exercise.” He began to start teaching and training other men to form these habits which he details on “The Provider Wheel.” He co-founded the CL Thomas Fellowship, named after his father, which now organizes and oversees regular groups meetings—for both men and women— near his hometown of Durham, North Carolina and even in Dublin, Ireland.

“Fellowship groups are led by a mentor,” says Thomas. “The mentor facilitates monthly meetings with assigned readings, scripture memorization, and ‘provider challenges’ to encourage new and positive behavior changes for the participants. In addition, the fellowship offers a growing library of recorded interviews from experts in different areas of the Provider Wheel. We are building a community of people from all walks of life who strive to help one another become better providers. One of the most exciting new additions is that my wife, Amy Thomas, is now leading a women’s CL Thomas Fellowship group. The women’s group takes the same Provider Wheel and calling to bless and protect others through the unique perspective and gifts that God has placed on their lives as women.”

“Become a Provider” also introduces the Bless and Protect 2x2 matrix to help readers identify where they are today and what traits to work on in order to become a better provider. The four quadrants are Selfish, Santa, Soldier, and Shepherd (Provider).

“At the beginning of my provider journey I evaluated my own life and realized I was low in both Blessing and Protecting and in the ‘Selfish quadrant.’ I would then overcompensate, moving into the Santa and then the Soldier quadrant before finding the balance point of demonstrating both a generous hand of blessing and the guiding hand of a protector.”

Thomas hopes the book becomes a resource for individuals, churches and organizations who want to create an atmosphere where people can mature into lifestyles that are focused on serving those around them.

“Shortly before my dad died, he took my brother and me to a weekend getaway and told us things about his life we never knew,” says Thomas. “I was stunned about some of the things he shared, but it made me appreciate my father on a whole new level. Pop took responsibility for his biggest mistakes in a way that hardly any man would. He didn’t do it perfectly, but he gave it all he had. The heart of being a provider is serving others, and not just yourself. It’s not only a high bar, it’s a pull up bar that you have to reach for again and again. And I have an unrelenting belief that Jesus, the great Shepherd, holds each of us up to get over that bar when we need a spotter.”

About the author:

Justin Thomas is the co-founder of the C.L. Thomas Fellowship, a nonprofit that coaches men and women to become providers based on a biblical worldview. He is a National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach and is COO of EHOP Health, a chronic disease reversal company. He previously served as CEO of CrossComm, a nationally-recognized app development studio, and was named “MBA Student of the Year” at Ireland’s leading business school. He lives in Hillsborough, North Carolina with his wife and family. Visit www.clthomasfellowship.org.

New book intersects Old Testament, fiction, and the author’s real-life struggle to reveal the most difficult challenge of motherhood

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 15 Jan 2020 17:17:00 +0000

“We are Mother Abraham” claims #1 spot in three categories on Amazon

For Immediate Release (Tucson, AZ) — In her tenth book, author, speaker and film producer Dr. Deb Waterbury has created what she calls a “book within a book” with her new release, “We are Mother Abraham,” which quickly became an Amazon #1 best-seller in three different categories, including Biblical Fiction. But Waterbury admits the essence of the book comes from a very personal place in her own life.

“My youngest son is a recovering alcoholic,” says Waterbury. “As his mother, I believed that it was my responsibility to not only care for him, but to save him. What this meant for the times he relapsed was that I moved quickly to do whatever was necessary to either alleviate his pain or keep him out of trouble as much as I could. It wasn’t until he disappeared for six weeks that I really came to the end of myself in terms of what I could and should do. One morning during another tearful prayer session in my home office, I kept hearing the words, ‘Mother Abraham, Mother Abraham,’ over and over in my head. I felt urged to read Genesis 22, but I was still confused since this was about Abraham and not Sarah, but then I felt as if God was saying, ‘As difficult as it was for Abraham to sacrifice his only son, it was even more difficult for Sarah to let him go. If I choose to let your son die, you must be okay with that.’ I fell headlong on the floor, sobbing almost uncontrollably. This began my journey for truth as it pertains to mothers, their children, and God’s unique call on mothers’ lives as they must give those same children back to God.”

“We are Mother Abraham” is a fictional account of a mother whose daughter is a drug addict. In the story, the mother is invited to a Bible study at church called “Mother Abraham.” The book includes passages from the real-life Bible study about Sarah which Waterbury also wrote, and is now available to individuals and churches as a free download from her website. Though there are no biblical passages that specifically talk about Sarah’s reaction to Abraham taking Isaac to be sacrificed, Waterbury says there are plenty of scriptures that offer insight into Sarah’s overall personality and character.

“The Bible tells us quite a bit about Sarah from various stories,” says Waterbury. “Sarah was long-suffering, curious, opinionated, strong-willed, and most definitely a ‘she-bear’ when it came to her son. Using everything the Bible does say about Abraham, Sarah, and the history of their marriage and parenthood, along with the across-the-board reaction of mothers to letting their children go, the book’s story and Bible study was not hard to surmise.”

Waterbury is the founder of the "Reap What You Sew School for Women” in Malawi, Africa which is the subject of a documentary that has garnered eight film festival awards since its release last year. Waterbury says mothers everywhere face the same issues regardless of race, country, or background.

“Our ferociously-protective natures over our children can make us sometimes go to serious extremes when our children stray or are in pain,” says Waterbury. “We may wonder why it is so hard for us to let go of our children in the first place. That pain can make us question our spouses, ourselves, and even God when we question things like 'Why doesn’t my husband struggle like I do? Why would God let my child hurt or fail or go? Why am I having such a hard time with this?' I believe that the only way we can find answers to these questions when it comes to the daunting task of letting our children go is to explore the truth of God’s Word, the reality of God’s mission, and the beauty of God’s love.”

About Dr. Deb Waterbury:

Dr. Deb Waterbury is the founder of Love Everlasting Ministries, a ministry dedicated to educating and empowering women all over the world. She founded the Reap What You Sew School for Women and Project Malonda to train and educate impoverished women in Malawi, Africa. Over 80% of the graduates of the Reap What You Sew school have started their own businesses and are lifting their families out of poverty. The “Reap What You Sew” documentary has aired on five television networks and won eight film festival awards. Dr. Deb hosts two weekly podcasts, “Real Life with Deb Waterbury” and “Get Real with Deb Waterbury.” She acquired her Doctorate of Ministry in Biblical Expository Studies from Pillsbury Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri. She currently resides in Tucson, Arizona, with her husband, Jeff, a Lt. Colonel in the Air Force National Guard. For more information, visit http://www.DebWaterbury.com.

New novel merges fact with fiction by telling the stories of real-life abuse victims

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 10 Jan 2020 20:45:00 +0000

Former award-winning educator turned novelist, Sylvia Hornback felt the story of her latest book, “Jeanne,” was a necessary, albiet, painful one to tell. Based on numerous stories told to her by abused women, Hornback created a character to embody the strength of these women she had known personally, as well as using anecdotes from her own life.

“I lived with my own grandmother for five years while the rest of my family lived next door,” says Hornback. “It seemed normal at the time, but the rejection had a long-term effect. In the book, Jeanne has two brothers and her younger brother Robby is a special needs child. This character is based on my own younger brother, Cary, who was an angel here on earth for twenty-three years. In my years as an educator, I observed children and their families being torn apart by abuse in many forms. As president of our local Woman’s club, I became involved in the Wise Hope House, a shelter for battered women where I talked to countless women who dealt with all types of abuse and neglect, most beginning in their childhoods. I wrote Jeanne to help women who come from similar backgrounds learn to come to grips with their feelings, and hopefully, find some healing.”

Hornback says the theme of “Jeanne” is ultimately a simple one—forgiveness.

“The story of Jeanne focuses on neglect and physical and verbal abuse,” says Hornback. “As a child, there are few opportunities to get away from this treatment and forgiveness becomes harder and harder as the abuse is repeated. Forgiveness in this case comes knowing the abuser does not change, but the abused person learns ways to protects herself from future abuse. Jeanne manages this as she becomes an adult and is able to take care of herself and not be around her mother. Her forgiveness of her mother took away her bitterness, resentment, and anger.”

Hornback says she observed one common theme among abuse victims.

“I remember one woman came for help to escape abuse with her three children wearing only underwear and a hospital gown,” says Hornback. “For several years I interviewed women of abuse and talked to them about their beliefs and how their faith helped them. Most women suffered into adulthood with the pain and hurt of believing that a parent didn’t love them. In fact, some believed they were hated. They tried to figure out what they had done wrong. Many voiced wanting to know the truth and felt they lived in secrets. They had to develop ways to cope with their roller coaster emotions. Some tried to be the opposite of their abusive parent, while others withdrew. Jeanne chose to seek solace in prayer and believing in God. While the women are kept anonymous in the book, their stories must be told. Their voices must be heard.”

About the author:

Sylvia Hornback received her Doctorate of Education Administration from Texas A&M University. She is the current Chair of the Board of Directors for ENERGY Worldnet, Inc., and served as an educator, principal and school superintendent for over two decades. Among her many accolades, she was recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School Principal by the U.S. Secretary of Education. For the past ten years, she has served as a Bible study teacher at First United Methodist Church near her home in Decatur, Texas. Her first novel, “The Mallard Conspiracy,” was published last year. For more information visit www.SylviaHornback.com.

Painting that was flagged by Facebook as "violent" last Christmas featured in new book

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 13 Nov 2019 15:14:00 +0000

Artist shares what inspired the controversial painting and why she
believes its message is misunderstood

Artist and author Gaye Willard hopes this Christmas is much different than last year. Her painting of Santa kneeling before the baby Jesus was blocked as “violent” on Facebook, and numerous mainstream news outlets including The Blaze, Newsbusters, and Fox News radio picked up the story. Due to the massive media coverage and consumer outcry, Facebook rescinded the blocked content, and Willard was left wondering why the painting became such a target. In response to that event, which she says brought criticisms from both non-Christians as well as Christians, she decided to write a book detailing what inspired that particular painting, along with several other of her works in the new hardcover book, “Every Knee Shall Bow—A Christmas Collection.”

“My initial reaction to Facebook calling the painting ‘violent’ was disbelief,” says Willard. “What could possibly be construed as violent in an image of Santa kneeling at the manger? But what I realized was that it was not the actual image that carried a message of ‘violence,’ but the conversations that were the result of viewing it. It had provoked anger from two camps: those who opposed the person of Jesus Christ and those who opposed the depiction of Santa Claus and Jesus in the same space.”

Willard’s painting of “Every Knee Shall Bow” was the basis for a product line carried by Hobby Lobby and other retailers. Willard says it was not surprising that some were offended by the image, but she has been surprised at the level of emotional response it has received.

“Even if I didn’t believe in Jesus, I’m certain that I would still love Christmas,” says Willard. “I love the artistry of Christmas; the beauty of the lights, the bright colors of packages and bows, the sparkle and the festive mood. But there is an element to Christmas that cannot be realized without knowing Jesus. It is a quietness—a sense of awe and wonder. It is reverence. It is worship. And worship of the King is the simple inspiration and message I wanted to convey in that painting.”

Willard says the new book reveals details of a particular image in the painting that she didn't actually draw, but once she discovered it, she was moved to tears.

“I purposefully drew a cross in the form of star over the baby Jesus,” says Willard. “I felt that was more appropriate for the birth of Christ. But God had other plans. When I took a break and returned to my easel, there was a shadow image of the cross that I had not painted! It was perfectly positioned at the feet of Jesus. I got chills and started crying.”

Willard says the on-going arguments over saying “Merry Christmas” versus “Happy Holidays” or taking Christ out of Christmas should not deter Christians from living out their beliefs.

“Every day we face increasing pressure to keep our Christian beliefs and values to ourselves. I, for one, refuse to confine the Good News of His birth and life inside the four walls of a church. He came to offer peace to the entire world, and we are called to testify to that fact. I hope this book challenges every reader to take advantage of the designated time on our calendar called Christmas. But we don’t need to spend our energy trying to make a secular society hold Jesus up as ‘the reason for the season.’ They cannot share what they do not know. If every disciple of Jesus makes it their personal mission to tell His story within this space of time so openly granted to us, it just might change people’s lives for the better. And that is my hope.”

About the author:
Gaye Frances Willard is an award-winning artist with commissioned portraits in both private and public collections worldwide. Her painting, “Every Knee Shall Bow," was represented in an exclusive line bearing her name, and carried nationwide by Hobby Lobby and other retail outlets. In addition to her latest release, she is the author/illustrator of four children’s books as well as the book, “Common Sense Christianity for an Uncommon People.” She is a member of the Portrait Society of America and makes her home in Trinity, North Carolina. She and her husband, Eddie, have five children and fourteen grandchildren. For more information, visit www.portraitartistnc.com.

Award-winning comedian Jeff Allen becomes advocate for pro-life organization Save the Storks

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 30 Oct 2019 17:23:00 +0000

Viral sensation and award-winning comedian Jeff Allen has become an advocate for the Save the Storks organization. Save the Storks offers free pregnancy tests and ultrasounds via “Stork Buses” which partner with pregnancy resource centers across the country. Allen says he saw one of the buses while performing at a festival a few years ago and it made an impression.

“What this organization does is non-political,” says Allen. “They park these buses across from abortion centers and offer women a free ultrasound so they can make a true choice. Four out of five women who visit a Stork Bus decide to keep the baby. That is astounding.”

Allen says the mission of Save the Storks hits him on a very personal level.

“My wife Tami was in her early 20s, single and pregnant,” says Allen. “She contemplated ending the pregnancy, but the doctor she visited allowed her to hear the heartbeat and she made the decision to keep the baby. When we married, I adopted her son and became his dad. Today, he is 36 years old and has given us two incredible grandchildren. I am so grateful Tami made the choice she did.”

Victoria Robinson, Media Relations and Artist Program Director, says they appreciate Allen’s heart for their mission.

“We are thrilled at Save the Storks to have the incredibly talented comedian and all around great guy, Jeff Allen, joining us in our efforts to revolutionize the pro-life movement,” say Robinson. “He’s just the kind of artist we want to work with and we are humbled and honored he chose to work with us as well. We look forward to this partnership with Jeff and his entire team.”

Allen is currently headlining The America I Grew Up In comedy tour across the U.S. For more information, visit www.JeffAllenComedy.com.

About Jeff Allen:
With over 130 million views on social media and counting, comedian Jeff Allen has garnered international acclaim for his rapid-fire comedy routines, honed during his five-decade-long career. He is one of the most requested comedians on Sirius XM radio, and has been seen on every cable comedy show in America. Allen has performed at the most prestigious venues in the world—from Presidential Inaugurations to the Sundance Film Festival to the Grand Ole Opry. His extensive television appearances include Showtime, Comedy Central's Premium Blend, VH1's Standup Spotlight, among many others. His recent Dry Bar Comedy video special has gone viral, and re-introduced his comedy to a whole new generation of fans. He starred in the critically-acclaimed film, Apostles of Comedy, the syndicated comedy series, Bananas, and his own one-hour comedy special, Happy Wife, Happy Life.

About Save the Storks:Save the Storks’ stated mission is to “revolutionize the meaning of pro-life.” The organization partners with pregnancy resource centers in the United States to empower women with choice during pregnancy. Save the Storks has created a fleet of Mercedes-Benz Mobile Medical Units, known as the Stork Bus. To date, Save the Storks has built 50 buses, with three additional Stork Buses in production and nine in fundraising. For more information visit www.SavetheStorks.com, Facebook: @SaveTheStorks, Instagram: @SaveTheStorks.

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For National Bullying Prevention Month, author offers free resource to help students deal with bullies

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 18 Oct 2019 18:01:00 +0000

The death of a 13-year-old boy in Moreno Valley, California from a bullying incident has sparked further outcry by parents across the country who are demanding schools offer better protection for their children. A recent study showed that 49% of children in grades 4-12 reported being bullied by other students at least once during the past month. Only 20-30% of students who have been bullied notify adults. During October’s National Bullying Prevention Month, author, speaker and counselor Shannon Perry is offering a free resource for parents and children from her award-winning book “Stand.” Perry, who created an anti-bullying programs for one of the largest public school systems in the U.S. during her time as an educator, wrote a chapter in the book specifically on bullying and how to keep from becoming a victim. She also tackles the subject of adult bullying in her new book, “Grace and Guts: Strategies for Living a Knock-out Life.”

“Bullying is something I have fought against for many years,” says Perry. “I have personally experienced bullying as a child and as an adult so it is something that I know first-hand. Bullying has become an epidemic, not only among students, but in the workplace as well. A bully is someone who thrives on power and control. Parents and students need to know specific counter measures that can dissuade bullies from acting out. That’s what this chapter in ‘Stand’ outlines.”

Perry offers some practical suggestions for standing up to a bully, whether at school or in the workplace.

“We teach people how to treat us,” says Perry. “When you confront a bully, we need to do so with confidence, assurance and in a calm way. If we lose our composure or get angry or cry, they will view that as weakness, which just feeds their behavior. One particular trick I learned was just to agree with a bully; it totally throws them off! For example, if a bully calls you fat just say, ‘You know, I have gained a few pounds lately, thanks for your concern.’ They don’t know how to respond to agreement.”

Perry says there are typically three parts to any bullying situation.

“There are three roles that play out in every circumstance: the bully, the bullied, and the bystander,” says Perry. “If you see someone being bullied, you have the power to bring that situation to an end. We need to drop the excuses that we make for not getting involved and be brave enough and loving enough to take a stand. And if parents are made aware that their child is being bullied, they need to go to the highest authority in the school until something is done about it.”

Though it has been nearly five years since releasing her last award-winning book for teen girls, “Stand: Staying Balanced with Answers for Real Teen Life,” Perry never meant to take a hiatus from writing. During the past few years, Perry saw her mother diagnosed with cancer, which she subsequently passed away from in 2017. While her mother was fighting for her life, her father was also diagnosed with cancer, requiring immediate surgery. In the midst of her caretaker role as an only child, Perry continued to speak at conferences and events across the country where she asked women of all ages to describe the most difficult challenges they face on a daily basis. She identified twelve issues that were consistent: overcoming fear, people-pleasing, facing uncertainty, mastering anger, exhaustion, betrayal, insecurity, depression, loneliness, finding purpose, addiction, and dealing with difficult people. Perry says writing “Grace and Guts” was cathartic in many ways as she faced her own challenges over the past five years.

“The book cover of me wearing boxing gloves says it all,” says Perry. “Life can often feel like a boxing ring and, in the last few years, I have felt as if I was often fighting for my sanity, my peace and my own sense of purpose. We all have had personal battles with one of these twelve core issues. I hope that this book offers people tools that will help them gain victory over the things that hold them back from living life to its fullest.”

To download the free "Dealing with Bullies" chapter, visit www.ShannonPerry.com.

About Shannon Perry:

Shannon Perry hosts a weekly TV show, Grace in High Heels, which airs on five television networks into over 100 million homes. She is the author of four books, earned a Master’s degree in Education and Counseling, and is a Certified Instructor in Parenting Classes and Crisis Counseling. Her articles have appeared in Focus on the Family magazine, Brio magazine, Crosswalk.com, iBelieve.com, Beliefnet.com, among many others. As a singer and songwriter, Perry has teamed with Lifeway's Songwriter of the Year, Paul Marino, to write and record songs for one full-length CD as well as the song, “Overlooked,” featured on Perry’s latest CD, In Her Shoes. The music video for "Overlooked" was directed by Telly Award-winning filmmaker Jeff Kubach whose credits include the hit television shows Survivor and Burn Notice. Perry has performed with the Houston Symphony, at Carnegie Hall, and sang the National Anthem at a Houston Astros game and Houston Texans NFL game before 70,000 fans.

Author and former NFL chaplain says the #MeToo movement has its place, but women will benefit more from a “man manual”

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 02 Oct 2019 15:00:00 +0000

New book offers women insights into the inner thoughts and feelings of men

Author, pastor, and long-time NFL chaplain, Rod Hairston, was hesitant to write his newly-released book, “Cover Him: Caring for the Hidden Needs, Thoughts and Feelings of the Man You Love,” because he felt it might be misconstrued by the #MeToo movement as chauvinistic, even though he is a full supporter of the movement. But, as he states in the book’s introductory chapter, he is convinced it will be offensive to certain people.

“Watching the #MeToo movement begin to take shape around the country was actually very encouraging for me,” says Hairston. “Finally, the painful stigmas that many women have carried for so long, having suffered sexual abuses of every kind, were being broken. Women were, and are, gaining the courage to tell their #MeToo stories and casting off the shame with which they were so unjustly saddled. I wrote my first book, ‘Cover Her,’ as a call to men to change our aggressive, consuming postures toward women. Rather than consume women, we were made to cover them.”

His first book “Cover Her” was written directly to men, but in “Cover Him” Hairston turns his attention to women, dealing with complicated, yet very real issues of marriage and commitment. Hairston doesn’t shy away from any subject, discussing the scriptural principle of respect women should offer men, how much sex a married couple should be having, and even talking about the importance of food to a man’s physical and emotional well-being. He describes at length what he says is God’s “wise design of marriage,” but he also says that women should have appropriate boundaries in place.

“A woman has to tell a man how to treat her,” says Hairston. “If she allows cheating, abuse, or other demeaning behavior, she will suffer more pain than the offenses themselves might inflict. In the effort to cover the man she loves, a woman must be careful never to attempt to rescue a man from his own irresponsible behavior. She cannot take responsibility for things she’s not responsible for in an effort to relieve him. In other words, she needs healthy boundaries. She has to be clear where she ends and where he begins, because God made her to partner with him, but not to lose her own distinctions, dreams, and desires.”

Hairston spent fourteen years as the Team Chaplain for the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens which he says was a like a “live lab experience” of learning about men and their relationships in the midst of intense pressure and competition.

“I saw men who cared deeply for those who suffered the ravages of poverty, serving weekly to make other peoples’ lives a little better,” says Hairston. “But I also witnessed men who were absorbed in their work to the detriment of their marriages and families. I saw men mask their pain with sex, drugs, and other addictions. I saw men who enjoyed lots of resources, but who were uncertain and sometimes undiscerning about whom they could trust. I saw men swimming in insecurities that professional football and all its acclaim could not remedy. And I saw men transformed by the power of Christ to become humble servants, great dads, committed husbands, and fierce competitors. I wanted to do all I could to build up, encourage, and challenge the men to be their best, so I had to be a learner.”

Ultimately, Hairston hopes that both “Cover Him,” as well as his previous book “Cover Her,” will both become resources for those who seek to build long-lasting relationships.

“When men and women honor the biblical model of marriage, it consistently promotes unconditional love, respect, and emotional healing. God has even built into it the power to create life,” says Hairston. “The uniqueness of the marriage covenant was intended to serve the great purpose of showing people what the love of God looks like in action. It brings two different individuals together, enabling them to experience a taste of God’s pleasure toward us, His love for us, and His commitment to us. The marriage covenant was designed by God to bring Him glory through the people He made and to extend His glory through the family unit."

About Rod Hairston:
For fourteen seasons, Rod Hairston served as chaplain and life coach to the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens, earning two Super Bowl rings during his tenure. A graduate of Virginia Tech, he now serves as Senior Pastor at Messiah Community Church just outside of Baltimore. He has been married for more than 28 years to Sheri, and they have four adult children. He is author of two books, “Cover Him: Caring for the Hidden Needs, Thoughts and Feelings of the Man You Love” and “Cover Her: How to Create a Safe Place for the Ladies in your Life…Physically, Financially, Emotionally, and Spiritually.” For more information, visit www.RodHairston.com.

Miracles in Austin, Texas stem from 11 year Prayer Movement

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 17 Sep 2019 16:44:00 +0000

New book details how churches unify for 24/7 prayer

After the last mass shooting, CNN posted a story on their website that quoted Pope Francis as saying “Prayer that doesn't lead to concrete action toward our brothers is a fruitless and incomplete prayer," to which the article concluded, “When even religious leaders appear to be questioning the real value of #ThoughtsAndPrayers, it can be hard to place your faith in it.” Dr. Kie Bowman and Pastor Trey Kent could not disagree more. In their new book, “City of Prayer: Transform your Community through Praying Churches,” the two have seen, first-hand, how prayer can change a plethora of issues.

“I can understand the frustration people feel if they believe the phrase ‘thoughts and prayers’ is used as an innocuous reply to tragedy,” says Bowman. “I often see those kinds of things expressed on social media and I can’t help but wonder if everyone using those expressions really believes in the power of prayer. Obviously, millions of people in America do believe in the power of prayer, and for them prayer is a genuine response to every kind of heartbreak and tragedy. Those of us who believe prayer works miracles cannot be dissuaded by those who do not believe, but neither should we defend meaningless statements when we know the real power of true prayer.”

In “City of Prayer,” the two pastors describe in detail how over 100 churches in their town of Austin, Texas have banded together to pray for 24 hours, seven days a week for the past eleven years. They cite various changes in the city because of what they call an “Unceasing Prayer Movement,” including racial reconciliation and out-right miracles.

“During one of the worst droughts in our city’s history, over 1000 believers gathered from churches of all denominations to pray and worship for two hours,” says Bowman. “We needed Lake Travis to fill up with rain. The next weekend, it began to rain and it kept raining for months, despite all the weather predictions. It was so overwhelming that the prayer movement that sparked the rain received national news attention. And that’s just one example.”

Bowman says churches across the country need to start focusing on both the importance and power of prayer.

“Prayer is often relegated to a few sentences before and after a meeting or a church service,” says Bowman. “It’s often a combination of lack of knowledge about how to pray and a lack of trust in God’s promises regarding prayer that leads churches to be negligent in prayer. We know from Scripture and history that prayer movements precede revivals, and this book offers a blueprint to church leaders on how to organize and lead city-wide prayer movements wherever they serve.”

Kent concurs. “It takes time, patience, and lots of perseverance—but in time I truly believe every city can be a city of prayer. The key to success is local church pastors mobilizing their churches to pray. Praying together is a visible sign of the John 17 unity for which Jesus prayed. Monthly prayer for the city moves a church’s focus outward to a bigger view of what God is doing beyond the church walls. Pastors and churches must understand that the work that God does in and through local congregations should ultimately translate to their cities.”

For more information, visit www.prayershop.org.

About the authors:

Trey Kent:
A full-time minister since 1986, Pastor Trey Kent planted Northwest Fellowship in Austin, Texas in 1993. He has a Master’s of Divinity from Oral Roberts University and did Doctor of Ministry work at Fuller Seminary. He also authored the book, “Revival Cry: Contending for Transformation in this Generation.”

Dr. J. Kie Bowman:

Since 1997, Dr. Bowman has served as Senior Pastor of Hyde Park Baptist Church in Austin, Texas. He holds a Doctorate of Ministry from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary where he also serves as a trustee. He is the president of the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention, and has authored five books and contributed to over a dozen others. He is an international speaker, recently preaching keynote sermons at the Southern Baptist Convention and at the National Day of Prayer Leadership Summit.

Former model and Miss Texas USA Pageant contestant shares her journey as a 9/11 widow in new memoir

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 20 Aug 2019 18:58:00 +0000

Former model and Miss Texas USA pageant contestant, Shelly Genovese Calhoun, has authored the new book “Twice Blessed: A Journey of Hope through 9/11.” Her husband, Steve Genovese, was killed in the North Tower of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, leaving Shelly a young widow and single mother to their sixteen-month-old daughter. Her book chronicles their love story as well as the dark days after his death.

“My spiritual gift has always been faith,” says Genovese Calhoun. “So even though it seemed humanly impossible for anyone to survive the towers crumbling to the ground, my faith kicked in. I knew that my God was bigger than what I could see. I hid myself in the Lord and I refused to lose faith. But eventually, I had to come to terms with the fact that I would never see my husband again.”

Genovese Calhoun describes how her faith kept her going through the worst days.

“It was very difficult for me to watch life go on as normal, when nothing in my life was normal,” says Genovese Calhoun. “I thought I would never be happy again. The body of Christ was so unbelievable to me, and prayed me through my darkest days. More than I ever realized, God was always there. He is there to offer comfort in times of trouble and to give us hope when we feel hopeless. I hid myself in the Lord and I refused to lose faith. In return, my faith grew stronger.”

Genovese Calhoun, who is now remarried, talks candidly in the book about the emotional turmoil of allowing herself to date other men years after her husband’s death. It is something that is difficult for many widows to contemplate.

“I believed Steve was the love of my life,” says Genovese Calhoun. “I just knew we would spend the rest of our lives together. I think if you’ve ever truly loved someone, you want that love back in your life. I was so afraid to allow myself to love again that I almost lost my chance at finding true love and happiness. But loving someone again doesn’t mean that you ever have to stop loving the other person. God will give you a big enough heart to love both.”

About the Author:

Shelly Genovese Calhoun is an author, speaker, wife and mother. A former fashion model, she represented East Texas in the Miss Texas USA pageant. During her modeling career, she worked for Anne Klein, Neiman Marcus, JCPenney, Panhandle Slim, Dillard and many other notable companies. She resides in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and is married to her best friend, Heath, and their two children. Daughter, Jacqueline, is a sophomore at Texas A&M University, and son, Cash, is in middle school and is heavily involved in baseball, soccer and golf. For more information, visit www.TwiceBlessed911.com

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Plans for a 2600 mile barefoot bicycle ride from Disneyland to Disneyworld announced

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 30 Jul 2019 15:03:00 +0000

After living totally barefoot for over nine years, humanitarian, author and speaker Dr. Jeff Brodsky will be embarking on a journey no one has ever taken, for the sole purpose of bringing awareness to child trafficking

Dr. Jeff Brodsky has proven over the years that he will do just about anything to bring awareness to important causes. For the past nine years, he has gone barefoot—all over the world, in any weather—to bring awareness to child sex trafficking. He has led ten, 101 mile walks across Death Valley, performed as Snuggles the Love Clown, and in 1983 rode a bicycle from California to New York City. Today, at 67 years of age and after two heart attacks, Brodsky has decided to take another bike ride. This time, he will be riding a bicycle barefoot from Disneyland in California to Disneyworld in Orlando, Florida. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, there is no record of anyone attempting this before, and Brodsky says he had to get permission from four people to even consider it.

“First, my wife Gail had to approve,” says Brodsky, “then my family doctor, my cardiologist and my chiropractor. After being given several tests and seeing the entire plan of working with a Physical Trainer, they all gave the go-ahead. So, on April 1, 2020, I will be bicycling from Disneyland to Disneyworld barefoot. It will be over 2,600 miles and probably take me about two months. I chose Disneyland to Disneyworld because they are the happiest places on earth, and the children that are trafficked are in the most evil places on earth. They may never see a Disneyworld park in their lives or anything like it because so many of them will die young or commit suicide.”

Human trafficking has overtaken arms trafficking to become the second-largest black-market industry behind drug-running. It is also the fastest-growing global industry. According to a recent study funded by the Department of Justice, the average age of young girls forced into the sex trade in America is approximately sixteen years old. According to the FBI, girls that are trafficked for sex have an average lifespan of 5-7 years, typically dying of disease, suicide or murder. It was these facts, along with an encounter at a garbage dump in Cambodia, that first motivated Brodsky to begin his barefoot journey which is chronicled both in his memoir, “The Least of These: One Man’s Remarkable Journey in the Fight Against Child Trafficking,” and in his new children’s book “Why Are You Barefoot?”

Brodsky and his team at JOY International have rescued thousands of children from sex trafficking—some as young as four-years-old— as well as conducted various undercover operations to aid law enforcement. The efforts of JOY International, along with their partners have helped to move Cambodia from a Tier 3 country (no efforts against trafficking) to a Tier 2. The U.S. is considered Tier 1 due to its aggressive laws and enforcement against trafficking. JOY International employs a Director of Global Police Training and Tactical Operations who has trained Special Forces Anti-Human Trafficking Police and SWAT teams. Their training techniques for airport personnel to spot potential human traffickers recently resulted in the rescue of a 9-year-old in the parking lot of an Alaskan airport.

“On the one year anniversary of my decision to go barefoot, I was in my living room about to put on socks for the first time in twelve months,” says Brodsky. “But God wouldn’t let me do it. I mean, the sock would, literally, not go on my foot! I cried out to God and asked Him what He wanted from me after I went barefoot for an entire year. I heard Him speak these words to me— ‘Keep going, those children are still out there.’ I knew in that moment that as long as my going barefoot could motivate just one person a year to take action in a way that will help us rescue even one more child each year, I’ll go barefoot the rest of my life.”

About Dr. Jeff Brodsky:

Dr. Jeff Brodsky is the founder of Joy International, a non-profit organization which exists to be involved in, or help to coordinate, the rescue, restoration, reintegration, and prevention of the commercial sexual exploitation of children, teens, and young women, both domestically and internationally. For over 37 years, to raise funds and awareness, he has performed as Snuggles the Clown, ridden a bicycle solo from California to New York City, led ten, 101-mile walks across Death Valley, and spoken in 50 nations. He and his wife, Gail, live in the foothills above Denver, Colorado and have three children and eight grandchildren. For more information, visit www.joy.org or www.thebarefootmile.org.

Award-winning film producer releases new Bible study series

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 25 Jul 2019 15:44:00 +0000

Author, speaker, and film producer, Dr. Deb Waterbury has just released a new five-week bible study to coincide with her popular book, “The Lies that Bind.” The book is also now available in Spanish. After writing nine books, including bible studies and fictional novels, Dr. Waterbury offers a raw and realistic account of her person childhood trauma and her subsequent life of promiscuous sex and alcohol abuse in “The Lies that Bind.”

“When my world came crashing down around my feet because of my own life of sin,” says Dr. Waterbury, “Jesus met me right in the middle of that sin and heartache, and His only words to me were words of love and forgiveness. When I began to write out my testimony in its entirety, starting with the rape when I was twelve, and saw the lies I began to believe about who I was as opposed to who I know I actually am, exposing those lies became the only thing I could think to do. This endeavor became a book and Bible study about deliverance. It is about breaking the chains that bind us, discovering who we are, and living beautifully in the truth. But there is a lot of heartache in the pages. I had to stop writing many times because I was sobbing so hard.”

In “The Lies That Bind,” Waterbury identifies five distinct lies that she believes are the most common stumbling blocks for people who have experienced traumatic events early in life. Waterbury says that total transparency is the only way to ultimately begin the process of healing.

“When I counsel someone who is caught in a terrible web of lies, my advice is always to expose the lies," says Dr. Waterbury. "Exposing lies is a difficult thing. There will be backlash. There will be people who aren’t gracious, and there will be repercussions to the sins we commit. God never said that when we sin we wouldn’t have to live in the realities that come about in this life because of those sins. However, if a person wants freedom from the bondage of lies and deceit, then the only path to that is honesty and truth. Jesus never promised us a rose garden in this lifetime, and that’s if we do things correctly. It’s certainly not going to come up roses when we pour acid on the flowers.”

In addition to writing books and speaking, Waterbury is the founder of the “Reap What You Sew” tailoring school in Malawi, Africa which is the subject of a multi-award-winning documentary that has aired on five television networks to date. The school teaches destitute and widowed women to sew as well as gives them business training. Over 80% of the women who have graduated have started their own businesses; some getting bank accounts for the first time in their lives. Though their culture is very different, Waterbury says the emotional and spiritual needs of people are universally the same.

“God is in the business of restoring all that the locusts have eaten and making glorious beauty from ashes. The greatest ministries and the most glorious of lives have been built on the charred remains of people that some would think had nothing left to offer. I should know. I am one of them.”

About Dr. Deb Waterbury:

Dr. Deborah Waterbury is the founder of the non-profit organization Love Everlasting Ministries. She hosts the weekly podcasts “Real Life with Deb Waterbury” and “Get Real with Deb Waterbury” as well as the one-minute radio feature, "Daily Dose with Dr. Deb". Dr. Waterbury holds a Masters in the Art of Teaching from Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona, and acquired her Doctorate of Ministry in Biblical Expository Studies from Pillsbury Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri. Waterbury co-produced and stars in the film, “Reap What You Sew” which was given the Award of Recognition at the 2019 IndieFEST Film Festival, joining the ranks of Academy Award winner Jeff Bridges, “Little House on the Prairie” star Melissa Gilbert, movie and TV star Danny Glover, and Emmy winner Jeff Daniels, among others. Most recently, the film garnered honors at the Spotlight Documentary Awards, the Communicator Awards, the Global Shorts festival, and the Best Shorts festival, all of which are mainstream film competitions. Waterbury currently resides in Tucson, Arizona, with her husband, Jeff, a Lt. Colonel in the Air Force National Guard. For more information, visit http://www.DebWaterbury.com.

Counselor and theologian says the connection between our thoughts and physical disease is very real

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 02 Jul 2019 14:16:00 +0000

Over six million people suffer from panic attacks each year, with women being twice as likely as men to develop them. Nearly two million people have an advanced condition known as agoraphobia, a type of anxiety disorder in which people fear and avoid places or situations that might cause panic and make them feel trapped, helpless or embarrassed. In her new book, “Soul Mend: Discover Spiritual and Emotional Health,” Dr. Luann Dunnuck shares her own personal story of suffering with panic attacks for over two decades, as well as being agoraphobic for over a year, which kept her a prisoner in her own home.

“I would have severe panic attacks just to go to the grocery store or church,” says Dunnuck. “Fear and panic consumed my days and nights. I would spend the next several years seeking God on the different areas of my life that were causing these issues. My life has been like an onion with God pulling away layers of negativity a little at a time. Years later, my physical body began to wear out due to years of intense fear. I was diagnosed with severe adrenal fatigue and for a year I was too weak to leave my home, I did not even have the energy to yawn. God revealed to me the connection between toxic emotions and a toxic body. I did recover from that sickness, and God exchanged a physical malady with a treasure chest of His wisdom of how the body responds to toxic emotions. My journey has consistently been one of reliance on God’s never-ending love to restore me.”

The Center for Disease Control says that over 80% of sicknesses have a “stressor” at their core, and Dunnuck agrees. She says there are three sources of negative thoughts and there is a principal of agreement that keeps most people stuck in stress and toxic thinking.

“Negative thoughts typically come from traumatic or abusive experiences, inherited thinking patterns, or demonically-inspired thoughts," says Dunnuck. "In my own personal journey, my fear and anxiety was a result of all three. I began to see that what I was agreeing with—such as negative thoughts and feelings—was coming to pass in my life. Part of my healing process was learning to renew my mind through God’s Word and apply scripture to my circumstances.”

Dunnuck says a little known scripture in Hosea has helped her appreciate the end result of all of the difficulties she has faced in her lifetime.

“In Hosea 2, God says ‘And I will speak tenderly and to her heart. There I will give her, her vineyards and make the Valley of Achor [troubling] to be for her a door of hope and expectation.’ It’s important to know that because of the challenges we have faced, new doors can open for us. It is because of the hardships that we have faced that we are better equipped to move forward. The Bible teaches us that we go from trouble to hope and expectation. It is the very troubles that we have experienced that can open the door to a new beginning.”

About the author:
Dr. Luann Dunnuck is a conference speaker, author and counselor. She holds a Master’s degree in Christian Counseling and earned a Doctorate in Theology. She is also a licensed minister with the Assemblies of God. She and her husband, Robert, have three grown children. Visit www.LuannDunnuck.com for further information.

New children's book based on a real-life story that made national headlines helps kids deal with bullies

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 14 May 2019 13:56:00 +0000

The Gagnon family never thought they would be writing a children’s book. But then again, they never thought they would foster over 30 children, adopting five with special needs in addition to their two biological kids. The family found themselves in the national spotlight after a Facebook post by Stacey Gagnon went viral about her son, Joel, who was born with Goldenhar syndrome which caused an incomplete development of his ear, soft palate, and facial bone structures. It only affects one side of his face and requires a plethora of doctor appointments and reconstructive surgeries. Stacey’s post detailed an encounter at a new church they visited where other kids just stared and pointed at Joel, causing him to run and hide. That incident sparked social media responses from around the world, and the Gagnons were featured on NBC and Fox, among other media outlets. But it was one response in particular which initially angered Gagnon that ultimately birthed the idea of the new children’s book entitled “Cowboy Joel and the Wild Wild West.”

“The reader told me that my son would be stared at and pointed at and he needed to get used to it,” recalls Gagnon. “At first, this comment made me angry, but then I started to see the kernel of truth in this statement. As hard as it is for me as his mother, this was going to be his reality. And as I thought deeper, I realized that on some level, we all have 'differences' or things about ourselves that we do not like. When we are seeking acceptance and worth from others, it would always fall short. I understand that Joel must find his worth in who he is and how he was created. There will always be bullies, there will always be stares, there will always be those who seek to make him feel less than worthy; but Joel is exactly who he is supposed to be.”

Joel is not the only real-life character that is depicted in the new book. The family’s pet dragon, Blackbeard, is also a central figure in “Cowboy Joel and the Wild Wild West.” And Blackbeard has his own back story.

“Blackbeard was adopted from the Phoenix Herpetological Society, which is like an orphanage for reptiles,” says Gagnon. “While on a field trip, the reptile keeper asked my husband if he knew of a family that would adopt a special needs bearded dragon. This bearded dragon had a limb difference and he was being bullied and injured by the other bearded dragons. He needed a family that could keep him safe and would accept him for his differences. My husband knew right away that our family would be perfect for this lizard.”

A former teacher and now nurse, Gagnon says “Cowboy Joel and the Wild Wild West” was written to help elementary students deal with bullying.

“My husband and I are both educators and we believe most children can relate to being bullied or picked on by someone. Our hope is that children learn that the biggest ‘El Maton’ (bully, thug) in their lives is the voice that whispers incorrectly in their head ‘you are not special, you are not worthy, you are not valuable.’”

Gagnon says their journey of being foster and adoptive parents has taught them that every child has a “special need.”

“Kids who come into our home all come with hurts and pains that require special care,” says Gagnon. “These emotional wounds can be far more disabling that any physical special need with which they may be labeled. At the end of the day, we have adopted children who come with a variety of backgrounds that meld beautifully in our family. Where one child might struggle, we find a brother or sister stepping in to lend a hand, or a leg, or an ear. The differences are not so apparent when you have family. We all seem to help fill the voids in each other.”

About The Gagnon Family:

The Gagnon family is an atypical, hodgepodge mix of humanity. The entire family enjoyed writing this book, with each one contributing their own input. Every child in the family has their own special story, and every one faces their own unique challenges. Stacey, the mom of this bunch, also has a blog called Ransom for Israel. She presents an honest assessment of the orphan crisis and the desperate need for families willing to adopt. After the adoption of their youngest daughter, the Gagnons started a non-profit called Lost Sparrows, dedicated to improving the lives of orphans and those with special needs through education, proper medical care, and adoption. Their current focus is in areas of Eastern Europe and Bulgaria. For more information on the new book, visithttp://www.joelsfriends.com.

Despite a devastating cyclone last month, the Reap What You Sew school in Malawi celebrates its third graduating class while the documentary about the school wins third honor

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 07 May 2019 01:06:00 +0000

The Reap What You Sew tailoring school in Malawi sustained substantial floor damage after Cyclone Idai swept through Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe in March. Additionally, several of the school’s graduates who were highlighted in the award-winning documentary, “Reap What You Sew,” lost their homes and businesses. But founder Dr. Deb Waterbury says, thankfully, no lives were lost.

“We were saddened to learn that both Rose and Linda who were featured in the film lost their homes and Rose lost her business as well,” says Waterbury. “We have estimates now that $5000 will cover the cost to fix the school’s floors as well as rebuild these students’ homes and businesses. That doesn’t sound like a lot of money to people here in the U.S., but that will literally rebuild three homes, two businesses, and repair our school’s foundation. Someone can write a check today and change the lives of dozens of families.”

The third Reap What You Sew graduation took place earlier this year, and the fourth graduation is slated for September. Since the school began a little over two years ago, over 80% of the graduates have started their own businesses. The women enrolled at the Reap What You Sew school attend a six-month program and receive a sewing machine and supplies free of charge, as well as accounting and bookkeeping training. Students are required to pay 500 kwacha (about .70 cents per month) so they are personally invested, and they must maintain an 85% attendance record to stay in the program. Most of the school’s expenses— tuition, teacher salaries, sewing machines, fabric, and other necessities— are covered by tax-deductible donations from individuals and companies.

“We choose women who are economically in dire straits, and a large percentage of women in Malawi fall into that category,” says Waterbury. “This recent storm only heightened the poverty in these countries, and they will need this school more than ever since much of the crops have been flooded. Our plan is to open branches of this school in other needy countries in Africa, and my ultimate goal is to offer additional training for culinary arts, aesthetics, and other necessary skills in addition to tailoring.”

Dr. Waterbury says this project is a free market solution that offers women a hand-up, not a hand-out.

“We do a lot of talking in our country about empowering women, but this is the real deal. The people and companies who support our efforts are being the hands and feet of Jesus in a very real way as they give these women the opportunity to learn a skill that will sustain themselves and their families for a lifetime. Many of these women are left widowed by AIDS or are left by their husbands for a myriad of reasons. Since graduating from our school, these women are getting bank accounts for the first time in their lives, and are now able to pay school fees for their children. We are literally changing the culture in one of the poorest countries in the world, one woman, one business at a time.”

The Reap What You Sew school is the subject of an award-winning documentary that has been broadcast on NRB TV and GEB America networks, among others. The film was given the Award of Recognition at the 2019 IndieFEST Film Festival, joining the ranks of Academy Award winner Jeff Bridges, “Little House on the Prairie” star Melissa Gilbert, movie and TV star Danny Glover, and Emmy winner Jeff Daniels, among others. Most recently, the film garnered honors at the Global Shorts festival as well as the Best Shorts competition, all of which are mainstream film festivals.

For more information visit www.RWYS.org.

About Dr. Deb Waterbury:

Pastor with a rare form of cancer finds joy in the journey

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 17 Apr 2019 14:17:00 +0000

Over seven years ago, Pastor Matt Miklasz (pronounced MIC-LOZ) was diagnosed with a rare form of Leukemia which was followed by colorectal cancer and metastasis to the lung. In the new book, “Joy for the Journey: How to Walk through Life’s Trials in a Healthy Way,” Miklasz, along with his wife, Cyndy, get open and honest about their various struggles that have also included a heart condition suffered by one of their children. Miklasz readily admits his faith has, at times, been tested.

“I am learning that getting to the place where I live with a deep peace often involves wrestling in prayer with the questions,” says Pastor Miklasz. “A gut-level ‘How long, Lord?’ prayer can sound anything but spiritual. I know Jesus will find me in those confusing, uneasy places, but I don’t want to be there. The days I face the challenges created by the cancers and surgeries, I am finding it easier to talk the frustration through. God may choose to heal the outer afflictions or calm the inner me. Either is fine, as long as I am near to Him.”

The couple chronicles their lowest points of despair and anguish, but have found that honest dialogues with each other and God are necessary.

“My prayers are honest,” Pastor Miklasz continues. “I don’t want a prayer life that is equivalent to texting God. I fear that is happening more often in this current generation. A deep spirituality and resolve are forfeited when we approach God glibly.”

For Cyndy, the process of reliving intense and emotional moments was often difficult.

“I began thinking back to what I was feeling during some of worst moments,” she says, “and sometimes it was overwhelming. But was also valuable to be able to look back and realize all that God has brought us through.”

As he continues to battle cancer, Miklasz has learned first-hand that even pastors have doubts and fears.

“Christians tend to feel ashamed when we have questions or doubts,” he says. “We erroneously think that doubts denote a lack of faith. To ignore our questions is to choose to live with only casual brushes with God. God designed us for intimacy with Him, and questions can take us there. Indeed, questions draw us there.”

About the authors:Matthew Miklasz is a pastor and author of the book, "A Normal Guy." He studied theology through Trinity College of the Bible, and was ordained with the EFCA in 2003. He served on the District Board of Ministerial Standing, and coached other pastors through the Center of Excellence in Congregational Leadership. His wife of 27 years, Cyndy, has devoted her time and energy to raising their four children on their hobby farm in Minnesota. Visit www.mattnormalguy.com for more information.

To coincide with the 15th anniversary of The Passion of the Christ movie, The Passion Oratorio: A Live Concert Event releases to DVD and On demand

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 16 Apr 2019 14:28:00 +0000

Featuring original music from John Debney, the Oscar-nominated composer for the film

Debney Productions and Costa Communications, in cooperation with Icon Productions, announce the DVD/On-demand release of “The Passion Oratorio: A Live Concert Event.”The concert was filmed before an audience of over 6000 people at the world-renowned Mosque-Cathedral in Cordoba, Spain. It was the first orchestral concert performed in the mosque in over 40 years.

“The Passion Oratorio” features the original concert work by the Oscar-nominated composer John Debney, the film’s lyricist/vocalist/soloist Lisbeth Scott, the film’s worldwind flute soloist Pedro Eustache, the Ziryab Choir, and the Cordoba Orchestra under the direction of Kevin Kaska. Other solo performers included tenor Juan Luque and soprano Maria Alonso. “The Passion Oratorio” will be available April 15 on-demand on iTunes, Amazon and Vudu, and available for purchase on Amazon. The release coincides with the 15^th anniversary of “The Passion of the Christ” movie release.

“I was so honored to have the Passion Oratorio performed in the Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba where people of all faiths visit the mosque that was constructed over 1000 years ago,” explains Debney.

Director Mel Gibson praised the composer’s concert work. “John Debney’s musical score for ‘The Passion of the Christ’ enhanced the film’s images to an otherworldly realm,” said Gibson. “In his Oratorio, John has gone a step further and expanded his inspiration to a work that transcends its orchestrations to speak straight to the heart and soul, like a prayer.”

John Debney has conducted several performances of “The Passion Oratorio” throughout the world, including the first concert in Rome, Italy. Following the performance, Archbishop Foley of the Vatican, who was in attendance, blessed Debney and the work. “As a composer, it was an experience that comes along once in a lifetime to be associated with a film that touched so many people's lives,” said Debney. To date, “The Passion of the Christ” movie has made over $611 million worldwide.

“The Passion of the Christ” movie score was nominated for an Oscar, and became a gold-selling album in 2004. The score was also honored with a Dove Award for Instrumental Album of the Year at the 36th Annual Gospel Music Awards. “The Passion of the Christ” score was composed by John Debney and produced by John Debney & Mel Gibson. “The Passion Oratorio: A Live Concert Event” is directed by Ray Costa, executive producers are John Debney & Ray Costa, and co-producers are Lola Debney and John Debney Jr.

For more information go to www.thepassionoratorio.com to view the trailer: https://youtu.be/aLtZUEooyvU.

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New children's book details why author and humanitarian has been going barefoot for over eight years

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 28 Mar 2019 19:25:00 +0000

Recent headlines have brought awareness to human trafficking, but Dr. Jeff Brodsky, founder of Joy International, has been living totally barefoot since July 2010 to do the same. Both domestically and internationally, Brodsky has gone barefoot in solidarity with impoverished and trafficked children. Most of the time, he speaks to adults about the staggering statistics of child sex trafficking, but in his first children's book entitled "Why Are You Barefoot?," Brodsky seeks to educate elementary children about the human trafficking epidemic. The book is based on an actual presentation Brodsky gave in person to a school full of children.

“I was asked to speak at an elementary school and I had to find a way to explain to these children why I was barefoot,” says Brodsky. “Of course, I couldn’t tell them what I would normally share with a group of adults about the child sex trade, so I had to find a way to make them aware of child trafficking by telling them a story in a way they would understand. When I finished speaking the school Principal came up to me and said, ‘That was fascinating. What you just showed these students would make a great children’s book.’ That’s what this new book details.”

Human trafficking has overtaken arms trafficking to become the second-largest black-market industry behind drug-running. It is also the fastest-growing global industry. According to a recent study funded by the Department of Justice, the average age of young girls forced into the sex trade in America is approximately sixteen years old. Though estimates vary, as many as 21,000 child sex slaves, or children who are trafficked, may exist in the United States alone. According to the FBI, girls that are trafficked for sex have an average lifespan of 5-7 years, typically dying of disease, suicide or murder. It was these facts, along with an encounter at a garbage dump in Cambodia, that first motivated Brodsky to begin his barefoot journey which is chronicled in his memoir, “The Least of These: One Man’s Remarkable Journey in the Fight against Child Trafficking.”

“I was with a co-worker who had a program feeding impoverished children who lived in the dump. These children are at high risk of being snatched by predators and sold into brothels.” says Brodsky. “The smell was nauseating. The children live there because that’s where the freshest food is for them. As the group of a dozen or so children were eating a bowl of rice with chicken, I noticed they were all barefoot. I could not imagine walking barefoot among the trash and sludge. I even had a difficult time walking in there with shoes, tip-toeing across the garbage. When I got back to my hotel room that night, I could not get the picture of those bare feet out of my mind. I was also aware that brothel owners would take shoes away from children brought to the brothels to make it more difficult for them to run. I had a talk with God and felt He was impressing on me to go barefoot for one year in solidarity with those children, and with trafficked children around the world.”

Brodsky and his team have rescued thousands of children from sex trafficking—some as young as four-years-old— as well as conducted various undercover operations to aid law enforcement. The efforts of Joy International have helped to move Cambodia from a Tier 3 country (no efforts against trafficking) to a Tier 2. The U.S. is considered Tier 1 due to its aggressive laws and enforcement against trafficking. Joy International employs a Director of Global Police Training and Tactical Operations who was trained Special Forces Anti-Human Trafficking Police and SWAT teams. Their training techniques for airport personnel to spot potential human traffickers recently resulted in the rescue of a 9-year-old in the parking lot of an Alaskan airport.

“People often turn a blind eye to human trafficking —similar to the three monkeys,” says Brodsky. “They don’t want to see it, hear about it or speak about it. It’s easier to look the other way. When any society becomes permissive instead of protective, that society is in the throes of moral decay. That is unfortunately America and our world today. Awareness is good, but awareness without action is apathy.”

A few years ago, a youth group in Ohio where Brodsky spoke organized a fundraiser called The Barefoot Mile which has since been embraced by groups, churches and organizations around the globe. Brodsky says these events have offered communities a chance to stand with him in solidarity with victims of human trafficking.

“On the one year anniversary of my decision to go barefoot, I was in my bedroom about to put on some socks for the first time in twelve months,” says Brodsky. “But God wouldn’t let me do it. I mean, the sock would, literally, not go on my foot! I cried out to God and asked Him what He wanted from me after I went barefoot for an entire year. I heard Him speak these words to me— ‘Keep going, those children are still out there.’ I knew in that moment that as long as my going barefoot could motivate just one person a year to take action in a way that will help us rescue even one more child each year, I’ll go barefoot the rest of my life.”

About Dr. Jeff Brodsky:

Documentary about a tailoring school in Malawi wins honor at IndieFEST Film Festival

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 21 Feb 2019 21:06:00 +0000

The documentary entitled “Reap What You Sew” was given the Award of Recognition at the 2019 IndieFEST Film Festival last week. In the past year, IndieFEST award winners have included Academy Award winner Jeff Bridges, “Little House on the Prairie” star Melissa Gilbert, movie and TV star Danny Glover, and Emmy winner Jeff Daniels, among others.

Filmed exclusively on location in Malawi and Mozambique last year, “Reap What You Sew” chronicles the lives of several former graduates of a tailoring school founded by author and speaker, Dr. Deb Waterbury. In the two years since the school began, over 90% of the graduates have started their own businesses, some opening bank accounts for the first time in their lives. Dr. Waterbury says the documentary is an accurate portrayal of the impoverishment in these countries.

“Malawi is one of the poorest nations in the world, and the women there are often destitute,” says Waterbury. “These women receive no education and are often widowed due to AIDS. There are no department stores in the country so you have to buy clothes from tailors, making this the perfect skill for women to learn and pass on to their children. Elizabeth, one of our students from last semester opened up her own storefront in her village and called it ‘Thank You Jesus Tailoring Shop’. The transformation in her life has been remarkable and is one of the highlights of the film.”

The students at the Reap What You Sew school attend a six-month program and receive a sewing machine and supplies free of charge, as well as accounting and bookkeeping training. Students are required to pay 500 kwacha (about .70 cents per month) so they are personally invested, and they must maintain an 85% attendance record to stay in the program. Most of the school’s expenses— tuition, teacher salaries, sewing machines, fabric, and other necessities— are covered by tax-deductible donations from individuals and companies. Dr. Waterbury says that they have a long waiting list of women.

“We try to choose women who are economically in dire straits, and a large percentage of women in Malawi fall into that category. Our plan is to open branches of this school in other needy countries in Africa, and my ultimate goal is to offer additional training for culinary arts, aesthetics, and other necessary skills in addition to tailoring.”

Dr. Waterbury hopes the documentary will shed light on the plight of these women, and will encourage enough donations to fund several schools in the neediest parts of Africa.

“The people of Africa have such a precious love for God,” says Waterbury. “A revival has been going on throughout the continent for some time now. I want these schools to be a beacon of hope for these women who are praying for a better life for themselves and their children. The people and companies who support our efforts are being the hands and feet of Jesus in a real way. My prayer is that this film will help more people catch the vision we have of offering these women a hand-up, not a hand-out.”

“Reap What You Sew” was directed by Tyler Adams and produced by Love Everlasting Ministries and Sora Entertainment. Screenings of "Reap What You Sew" are currently scheduled in several individual markets including Tucson, AZ, Atlanta, GA, Nashville, TN, among others. The documentary has also been featured on NRB TV Network and is scheduled to air on GEB America in the coming weeks.

About Dr. Deb Waterbury:

Dr. Deborah Waterbury is the founder of the non-profit organization Love Everlasting Ministries. She hosts the podcasts “Real Life with Deb Waterbury” and “Get Real with Deb Waterbury” as well as the one-minute radio feature, "Daily Dose with Dr. Deb". She has authored nine books, including her latest, “The Lies that Bind: And the Truth that Sets You Free.” Dr. Waterbury holds a Masters in the Art of Teaching from Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona, and acquired her Doctorate of Ministry in Biblical Expository Studies from Pillsbury Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri. She currently resides in Tucson, Arizona, with her husband, Jeff. For more information, visit http://www.DebWaterbury.com.

About the IndieFEST Film Awards:
Established in 2008, The IndieFEST Film Awards is a worldwide competition which honors the achievements of filmmakers who produce high quality films and new media. The IndieFEST Film Awards have granted awards to producers in over 41 countries. Each year IndieFEST Film Awards receives thousands of entries. Quality and creativity are celebrated in four levels of awards: Best of Show, Award of Excellence, Award of Merit and Award of Recognition. The judging takes place by in-house staff and a committee of industry professionals including Emmy, Telly, and Communicator award recipients. For more information visit http://www.theindiefest.com.

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Author addresses adult bullying in new book

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 10 Jan 2019 20:26:00 +0000

The 2017 Workplace Bullying Institute survey showed that over 60 million American workers are affected by bullying at their jobs. The survey showed that males bully females 65% of the time while females bully other females 67% of the time. Moreover, less than 30% of employers actively punish bullying or deal with it directly. Author, speaker and counselor Shannon Perry created an anti-bullying programs in one of the largest public school systems in the U.S. during her time as an educator. She tackles the subject of adult bullying directly in her new book, “Grace and Guts: Strategies for Living a Knock-out Life,” set to release January 22, 2019 from Morgan James Publishing.

“Bullying is something I have fought against for many years,” says Perry. “I have personally experienced bullying as a child and as an adult so it is something that I know first-hand. Bullying has become an epidemic, not only among students, but in the workplace as well. A bully is someone who thrives on power and control. In ‘Grace and Guts,’ I felt it necessary to not only identify bullies, but also list eight additional types of difficult people, their traits, and how to counteract them.”

Drawing from her counseling background, Perry includes a specific checklist of do’s and don’ts for those who deal with difficult people at work, at home or even at church.

“We do not have to allow other people’s misery to infect our lives, nor are we responsible for fixing them,” says Perry. “While all of us can be demanding and selfish at times, difficult people maintain a pattern of bad behavior. Jesus was always associating with difficult people, but He always affected them, they never infected Him. We need to learn to do the same.”

About Shannon Perry:

Described by one conference attendee as “a cross between comedian Chonda Pierce and Bible teacher Beth Moore,” Shannon Perry has been named the favorite speaker by numerous women’s conferences and groups. She hosts a weekly TV show, Grace in High Heels, which airs on five television networks into over 100 million homes. She is the author of three books, "Grace in High Heels: Real Life Reflections of Humor, Hope and Healing," "The Overlooked Generation: Parenting Teens and Tweens in a Complicated Culture", and the Reader’s Favorite Award-winning book, "Stand: Staying Balanced with Answers for Real Teen Life." She holds a Master’s degree in Education and Counseling and is a Certified Instructor in Parenting Classes and Crisis Counseling. Her articles have appeared in several magazines and websites including Focus on the Family magazine, Brio magazine, Charisma, Crosswalk.com, iBelieve.com, Beliefnet.com, among many others. As a singer and songwriter, Shannon has teamed with Lifeway's Songwriter of the Year, Paul Marino, to write and record songs for one full-length CD as well as the song, “Overlooked,” featured on Shannon's latest CD, In Her Shoes. The music video for "Overlooked" was directed by Telly Award-winning filmmaker Jeff Kubach whose credits include the hit television shows Survivor and Burn Notice. Shannon has performed with the Houston Symphony, at Carnegie Hall, and sang the National Anthem at a Houston Astros game and Houston Texans NFL game before 70,000 fans. Visit www.ShannonPerry.com for more information.

Author says a divided, polarized Congress can be fixed by an Article already present in the U.S. Constitution

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 10 Jan 2019 20:22:00 +0000

In her new book, "Restoring America’s Soul: Advancing Timeless Conservative Principles in a Wayward Culture," attorney, author and radio personality Rita Dunaway says that when Congress becomes out-of-control, and no longer represents what the American people stand for, there is a solution. And, she says, now may be the time for it, as politics become seemingly more important than legislation with a divided Congress.

“Article V of the Constitution contains a powerful way for the states to ‘check and balance’ the power of the federal government by proposing constitutional amendments,” says Dunaway. “But this process has never been used before. So it's really no wonder that the balance of power is so out of whack. We see the federal government, which is supposed to be a government of limited, specific, enumerated powers, regulating almost every area of our lives. And we know this is not how it was meant to be. The Article V convention for proposing amendments provides a positive, proactive, constitutional way for us to restore Washington D.C. to its proper, limited role in America.”

With "Restoring America’s Soul," Dunaway offers those who consider themselves conservatives a way forward that involves better articulating their views on a host of issues including abortion, caring for the poor, traditional marriage and other cultural issues. But she also makes a solid case that a Convention of States is a necessity, and that people should become educated about what it entails.

“The biggest misconception about the Convention of States is that it is some kind of a re-write of the Constitution, where delegates can just go and do whatever they want,” Dunaway explains. “That is absolutely incorrect. America actually has a very rich history of interstate conventions, and this is the history our Founders drew upon when they provided this Article V convention process in the Constitution as a way for the states to bypass Congress to propose needed amendments. The convention delegates are legally bound to the instructions they are given by the state legislatures that send them to the convention, and even then, the only power the state delegations have at this meeting is to 'propose' constitutional amendments that comply with the agenda for the convention and with their state's instructions. Proposals must then be ratified by 38 states in order to be added to the Constitution.”

Dunaway says the biggest obstacle preventing a Convention of States from happening is ignorance or fear of the process.

“People hear rumors of ‘runaway conventions’ and rogue delegates, and they go cower in fear. If they would just look at the actual history that is readily available, if they would just read the cases in which the Supreme Court has interpreted and applied aspects of Article V, they would see that there is nothing to be afraid of. It's a meeting. A meeting where state delegations make proposals on a defined topic. Opponents to the Convention of States have absolutely nothing but rumor and unsupported allegations to offer. We need people to operate on the basis of facts, logic, and evidence.”

In “Restoring America’s Soul,” Dunaway says that placing value on the rule of law should not be a Republican or Democrat issue. It should be something all Americans embrace.

“America exists because our forefathers pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor to secure for us the blessings of liberty and the right of self-governance. They left us Article V’s convention process to ensure that we would have a final defense against federal tyranny. If our generation is so frozen in fear that we lack the modicum of courage required to hold a meeting, then we are simply unworthy of our heritage. I am not ready to believe that.”

About Rita Dunaway:

Rita Dunaway is a constitutional attorney and serves as the National Legislative Strategist for the Convention of States Project. She co-hosts the radio show “Crossroads: Where Faith and Culture Meet” which airs in over a dozen counties in Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland. She is a syndicated columnist whose weekly commentaries appear both online and in print publications. She has also contributed to TheBlaze.com as well as other news websites. She encourages state legislators to use their constitutional authority to restore the robust federal system designed by the Constitution. Visit www.RitaMDunaway.com.

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