A Heart for Lebanon

This morning I had on my show Camille Milke of Heart for Lebanon.  He shared on the issues that have come about due to the over 4,000 refugees flowing into the country (and you thought the US had an immigration problem).  Click here to listen and visit their website here to learn more on how you can help this wonderful ministry.

Confessons of a Scholarship Winner

It's that time of year again! A chapter in life is about to be concluded and a new one to begin! GRADUATION!  High school students around the country will be anxiously waiting to hear their name called, walk across the platform and receive their diploma! I remember my high school graduation like it was yesterday (in reality it was a few decades ago) and the excitement of moving ahead to a new life.  What I didn't realize was how much money it was going to take to make that move.

College education is becoming more and more expensive and yet there are over 1.5 million scholarships available that total over $3 billion just waiting to be awarded.  What does it take to qualify for those scholarships?  What kind of grades are needed?  What about test scores?  Are the applications difficult?  Where can I find help to apply?  All these questions and more are answered in Kristina's book, Confessions of Scholarship Winner.  Kristina shares, on her first day of high school, how she was told by her single mom that if she wanted to go college she would need to find the money because they didn't have it.  That put Kristina on the quest to find the money needed to realize her dream.  Not only did she find money for college but also money for graduate and post-graduate work.

I had the chance to talk with Kristina and ask her some of the questions I, as a parent of a soon-to-be college student, had and what I needed to do help my son achieve his goals.  She gave me a lot of advice and encouragement from explaining the ins and outs of college financing and how to find niche scholarship offerings to sound advice on nailing a scholarship application and seeking out letters of recommendation.  Kristina's desire is to make sure that money is not the reason a student is unable to go to college.

To listen to me and Kristina's conversation click here.  To learn more about Kristina's book check our her web site, The College Ninja.

Iscariot

New York Times best-selling author Tosca Lee has released a new novel on the life of Judas entitled Iscariot: A Novel of Judas.  She builds the story line on extensive research on the life and times of Judas and has created a fantastic story that leaves the reader asking, "Would I have done the same thing?"

Judas, the only disciple that Jesus called, "friend", is most known for his betrayal of Christ and has been the personification of evil.  However, Tosca's fictional account of Judas shows that we all err in ways that make sense to us and we never intend to commit evil acts.  Her years of research brings the times of Christ to life that I have never seen.

Tosca gives the reader another view of Judas' life and asks the questions, "Was Judas' part in Jesus life pre-planned or outright betrayal?"  She says, "As I wrestled with these questions and the ideas of religious agenda, legalism, personal stymie, and spiritual failure, I could not help but see myself in Judas - at times, too well."  She also said, "One of the things I looked forward to the most in the writing of this book was the opportunity to slip into the skin of one of those closest to Jesus. To sit, even virtually, at his side. Ultimately, this novel became as much about the person of Jesus as Judas."

In her unique and creative style that you find in her other books (Havah: The Story of Eve and Demon: A Memoir) you will be transported into a story line that will grip your heart and force you to ask yourself, "Am I any different?"

To listen to my conversation with one of my favorite authors click here.

What Will You Do Today?

Every February some look at a groundhog to let them know if we are going to have an early spring or another few weeks of winter.  In Pennsylvania they make it a huge event that rivals most high school football games.

This is such a phenomenon that there’s even a pretty popular movie entitled “Groundhog Day.” The movie goes beyond the holiday to ask a poignant question, “What would you do if you could repeat today?”  Recently, I got to thinking about that very question. What if God were to allow me to repeat this day over and over again? What would I do with those 24 hours?

What would you do?  There are so many things that I feel we all would like to do over again.  There are probably words we would want to say – or not say.  There would be places where we would want to go.  Unfortunately, we are only given these 24 hours to do the things God would have us do.  According to Scripture we are not even guaranteed tomorrow.  God has given us today to share with others; to give of ourselves; to minister and encourage.  

Red Letter Christians

In their new book, Red Letter Revolution, Tony Campolo and Shane Claiborne talk openly about the teaching's of Jesys and how they give Christians a map for living out their faith in a broken world.  Imagine living in this broken world in a way that Jesus described in His Sermon on the Mount.

I had the opportunity to talk with Tony about this compelling new book and the challenges that I felt while reading it.  I was surprised to learn that he was challenged in the same way.  I've had the pleasure of talking with Tony a number of times over the years and have found myself challenged and encouraged.  You might not agree with everything he says, but you will come away with fresh ideas and will be compelled to go back to the red letters in your Bible.

To listen to our conversation click here. If you would like to learn more about the Red Letter Revolution and to stay informed check out their web site here.