Audra Jennings

From MTV to Popular Hip Hop Stations, Groundwire Interrupts Teens with Answers to Life Teens today can be overwhelmed searching for meaning amidst depressing hopelessness, negative self-image, and the pressure to be perfect. To meet the needs of hurting teenagers across the country, Groundwire , a current and innovative outreach, has become a ministry where teens find comfort, guidance, and answers delivered through multi-media communication. Using a multi-pronged strategy, Groundwire leverages media and technology to meet teens exactly where they are — viewing, listening, texting, or chatting — and to invite them to voice their questions and struggles so they can find answers in the message of the Gospel. With a raw and real approach, the ministry builds its burgeoning impact through broadcasting that strategically places television and radio spots on secular stations. Teens listening to popular radio broadcasts or viewing favorite shows on networks like MTV, VH1, Cartoon Networ...

I think that as much as anything, my latest pursuit onto the singles site is to have conversation. For one thing, you have to start somewhere. And it's nice to have male/female friends of all ages in a chat room. Things do get interesting at times. If you read yesterday's entry, I'll pick back up where I left off. So, a week or so after the "I have a brother" came up, the sister sent me a message that she had told her brother about me and that I sounded "interesting" so she could send me his email address. Where does one start an email to someone you have never met to begin a conversation? Anything you say is going to be random. Besides, I'm not really sure what was said about me that was deemed "interesting." I had seen a picture of him on Facebook in front of a panda at the zoo, so I told him a story about not getting to see a panda at the National Zoo. (It was a vacation story with my parents, so you know it has to have had at le...

I really did mean to have this part of the story post a couple of days ago. Tomorrow's entry will explain more as to why it got delayed. So, I'm on the CoC singles site for the third time. I really don't expect more this time than the previous two experiences. Not that I really expected much of anything. It's ridiculous really when you think about it. Sort of pathetic. Women combing over profiles of men. Men combing over profiles of women. Ignoring one another. Though it's a lot easier to ignore someone while staring at a computer screen than in person. You find someone interesting, and you are outside their age bracket because they want a woman younger than them. Or, they actually put a height or weight range on their profile. They may describe themselves as "heavy", but want someone "slim, slim-average, or athletic". Or, you click on someone to see what they are all about and under what they are looking for in a woman starts off as, ...

Thanks to everyone who took part in today's tour! It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book! You never know when I might play a wild card on you! Today's Wild Card author is: Dr. Scott Morris and the book: Health Care You Can Live With Barbour Books (January 1, 2011) ***Special thanks to Audra Jennings, Senior Media Specialist, The B&B Media Group for sending me a review copy.*** ABOUT THE AUTHOR: From the time Scott Morris was just a teenager, he knew he would do two things with his future—serve God and work with people. Growing up in Atla...

The next installment in the story is going to have to wait a little while actually. Part of the reason why actually has to do with part of the story. Confused yet? I'm on the phone right now and can't type and talk at the same time. :)

So, online dating. Or let's even get down to simply meeting people online because in my case there is not online dating going on. There are a couple of things I cringe at. The first is every Sunday night when our preacher asks the children the third of his three most important questions you will ever answer. "When you grow up, who are you going to marry?" "A Christian!" While I completely agree with this, especially in theory, sometimes the answer is, "NO ONE!!!" Jenny has cringed with me at hearing this as well. It's not just me. The other thing that makes me cringe is eHarmony commercials. Actually, they wreak havoc on my gag reflex if I am completely honest. Once upon a time... actually, twice upon a time, Audra went to eHarmony and spent two plus hours taking her free 40 point personality profile. This time and effort to get a message, "I'm sorry, but you are not compatible with anyone on our site. This result does happen to a ce...

I know that I've lost some of my one time "faithful" blog followers because I have just not been able to post stories like I used to. In all honesty, I just have to tell you that life has just not been all that interesting for me. Even less so than ever before, and it was pretty boring before. But I have a new train of thought and direction to bring a little life here. About a month ago, I shared with you the story of the guy that called me while I was drugged up on Novocaine to ask if I was dating anyone. Although it does not make for interesting blogging, I am pleased to say that I have been able to avoid contact and conversation with him, even though we have been in close proximity to one another, for several weeks now. However, and this could be my imagination, I do think that some stares have been directed my way. I think this because I make sure that I am always on guard, knowing where he might be at any given time. Giving him the benefit of the doubt, let's...

Thanks to everyone who participated in today's tour! It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book! You never know when I might play a wild card on you! Today's Wild Card author is: Warren Wiersbe and the book: Jesus in the Present Tense:The I AM Statements of Christ David C. Cook (January 1, 2011) ***Special thanks to Karen Davis, Assistant Media Specialist, The B&B Media Group for sending me a review copy.*** ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Dr. Warren Wiersbe is an internationally known Bible teacher and the former pastor of The Moody Church in Chicago. Fo...

Are you familiar with the song "Online" by Brad Paisley? It came out a few years ago and tells the story of a guy's alter ego - his online persona. Are you cooler online? Since I know I have a post coming up in the morning, I doubt too many people are going to to see this post to make much comment, but want to start a discussion on meeting people online. Have you done it? Would you do it? There are several factors that go into me starting this discussion. Anyone willing to participate in a discussion or will it be a rambling monologue?  Let me know!

Thanks to everyone who took part in today's tour! It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book! You never know when I might play a wild card on you! Today's Wild Card author is: Kimberly Smith and the book: Passport Through Darkness David C. Cook (January 1, 2011) ***Special thanks to Audra Jennings, Senior Media Specialist, The B&B Media Group for sending me a review copy.*** ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Kimberly L. Smith is the president and cofounder of Make Way Partners, a mission organization committed to ending human trafficking. She is currently l...

Is it just me, or.. Is Steven Tyler a little creepy when complimenting 16 year old girls on their clothes? Does sitting next to Randy Jackson make women seem high on something? The "good singers" seem under par? I didn't catch the first hour, but I am underwhelmed with American Idol so far. and this is the most entertaining part of the year to me usually.

I brought up something regarding fangs on Facebook last night and was asked if there was a blog coming on this subject,  so here it is. Is it just me - often it is just me - or are the women on the Bachelor especially needy and psycho this season? I was quite pleased with last week's eliminations because the high kicking Rockette that was simply nutty left along with the two women bickering over basically nothing. one of the bickerers was just plain a psycho, jealous, delusional drama queen (Melissa). The other was a manscaper that tried to wax the Bachelor upon their first meeting.That alone may constitute crazy. To go on a show such as this screams a need for attention and a level of desperation in and of itself. The cast of characters this season seem more so than ever before. A train wreck I just have to watch for some reason, perhaps to find the sanity of my own existence. If I just thought Melissa was plain psycho, jealous and delusional, she was just plain in comparison...

Yeah, the weekend didn't get any more exciting as it went along. I finally went to the grocery store about dark last night since it rained all day long. So help me, I thought I heard ducks last night when I went to bed. My backyard was a pond, and I almost had to swim my way out for church this morning. Oh, but Jenny and I have something to look forward to on June 26. You might be able to figure out what that is. At least it's something!

This is pathetic. This is my Friday night. I left work after 5:30 because I was trying to finish something that I just remembered that I meant to really finish when I got home, but didn't. Shoot. I ate fajitas with my parents. I came home. I sat on the couch to watch TV. I slept for probably two hours while Say Yes to the Dress played on the TV. I dreamed my mother quit my job for me. That was really bizarre. I woke from my fog and checked a couple of things online. I tried IMing a guy on a singles site and got ignored. Any chance he went offline? Yeah, he and the guy I tried to message a couple of nights ago both. Yeah, we won't even go there. I'm going to go finish that first task mentioned above and go to sleep. One thing is for sure. As hard as it was to get up the last couple of mornings, I am sleeping late tomorrow. I need plans for next Friday night.

It Is Possible for Older Adults to Find Their Purpose Again Missy Buchanan encourages older adults to continue growing in faith and relationships Even when age creeps up on the body and mind, and life changes from what it once was, is it still possible to have a purpose in life? When it is no longer possible to venture out and do the things you once loved, can you still find a reason to look forward to each day? Missy Buchanan, a leading expert and advocate for senior adults, believes that you can. Buchanan wants to encourage older adults to find their purpose, share their stories, and make an impact on those around them. “Here’s the truth. I never set out to write a book for or about older adults. It’s not like I woke up one day with a clear vision that I should pen thoughts about what it’s like to grow old,” explains Buchanan. “I was just a middle-aged woman caring for my own aging parents and trying to encourage other seniors who were also struggling with faltering eyesight and a ...

Tired of regret and fear? God wants you to know Him in the present tense. Do you find yourself living in memories, imaginations, and fears more than in the current moment? As Warren Wiersbe writes, “My past may discourage me and my future may frighten me, but ‘the life I now live’ today can be enriching and encouraging because ‘Christ lives in me.’” In Jesus in the Present Tense, Dr. Warren W. Wiersbe explores the “I AM” statements of God—from His burning bush conversation with Moses, to His powerful reassurances to the Israelites, to Jesus’ startling claim to be the Light of the World. Jesus in the Present Tense offers a fresh exploration of God—the I AM. God doesn’t want us to ignore the past, but the past should be a rudder to guide us and not an anchor to hold us back. Nor does He want us to neglect planning for the future, so long as we say, “If it is the Lord’s will” (James 4:13-17). The better we understand our Lord’s I AM statements, and by faith apply them, the more our ...

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book! You never know when I might play a wild card on you! Today's Wild Card author is: Lee Burns and Braxton Brady and the book: Flight Plan PDS Publishing (2010) ***Special thanks to Audra Jennings, Senior Media Specialist, The B&B Media Group for sending me a review copy.*** ABOUT THE AUTHORS: Lee Burns is the headmaster at Presbyterian Day School, an independent school serving over 630 boys in grades PK-6 in Memphis. In addition, Burns is vice-president and on the executive committee of the Eleme...