Audra Jennings

Rhonda Stoppe reveals the truth about marriage and helps wives live with no regrets Do you know a couple who has been married for a long time and are still deeply in love? You might find yourself wondering what their secret is or how that woman was lucky enough to find such a perfectly wonderful man. However, in If My Husband Would Change, I’d Be Happy & Other Myths Wives Believe (Harvest House, August 1, 2015, ISBN 978-0-7369-6286-5), Rhonda Stoppe shows readers the secret to a happy marriage isn’t related to how “ideal” a spouse is, but rather having a relationship grounded in a love deeper than their own. “Dating, courtship and planning the wedding are all glorious experiences for most women,” Stoppe writes. “But after the honeymoon, when the wedding gifts are in their proper place and life begins to happen, often the glorious experiences fade into the endless routines of to-do lists, juggling finances and learning to serve one another.” It’s not long before

Part 1 of an interview with Steve Brown, Author of Hidden Agendas: Dropping the Masks that Keep Us Apart It’s easy to imagine high-powered executives and egotistical politicians having hidden agendas. What may not be so simple to accept is that deep down, all have a secret plan for getting themselves from where they are to where they want to be. As author and radio host Steve Brown has written in Hidden Agendas: Dropping the Masks that Keep Us Apart (New Growth Press/May 16, 2016) , people, especially Christians, wear disguises to make it easier to accomplish these concealed plans. These masks might be religion, appearance or power, and the pressure of keeping it all together can be overwhelming. For most, though, it will be a cold day in a hot place before they are fully honest with anyone else about their fears, struggles and sins. Q: You open Hidden Agendas by saying you have “lived long enough and sinned big enough” to be able to write this book. Explain what you

Part 2 of an interview with Andrew J. Schmutzer Co-Author of  Naming Our Abuse: God's Pathways to Healing for Male Sexual Abuse Survivors (Click here for part 1) Male sexual abuse is increasingly in the news, from scandals in the Catholic Church to exploitations at Penn State. Yet books and programs about healing are still overwhelmingly oriented toward the female survivor of abuse. As men who experienced childhood abuse, Andrew J. Schmutzer, Daniel A. Gorski and David Carlson, authors of  Naming Our Abuse: God's Pathways to Healing for Male Sexual Abuse Survivors  (Kregel Publications) are uniquely qualified to address the healing process of male survivors. In the book, each author shares his story, modeling for men how telling — and writing — their stories can play a significant role in recovery. “Writing helps the brain process the significance of what happened, not just the fact that it happened,” Schmutzer explains. “Dignity is recaptured by remembering

This week, instead of live blogging on  The Bachelorette from my hotel room in Cincinnati , I went watch the Cubs beat the Reds. So, this post for Monday is now actually being written on Thursday night. It's 9 PM, and I'm tired, but hoping I can get through the two hours to make my post. If I can stick it out, I think there will be some significant cuts. I already want a nap, and I just started. It has nothing to do with the show though. We open up in Buenos Aires, Argentina. JoJo feels that traveling together brings you closer together. JoJo has a sit down conversation with Chris Harrison about how it's going. Robby saying that he loved her was a big deal for her. She is worried about falling in love with two people like Ben did. There are now 8 guys left, and Luke can't think of a better place to fall in love than Buenos Aires, of course. Harrison breaks the week down for the men as they stand out in a public square, complete with a fountain. There will be three

Hippopotamus Song In the beginning, God made the sea And the forest filled with trees He made the mountains up so high And on the top he placed the sky God’s fingerprints are everywhere Just to show how much He cares But in between He had loads of fun He made a hippo who weighs a ton. Chorus Hip-hip-hip-hippopotamus! Hip-hip-hooray! God made all of us. Hip-hip-hip-hippopotamus! Hip-hip-hooray! God made all of us. Creation sings of His praise, The sparrow and the tiny babe. We can sing and say, “well done.” But some things He just made for fun! Chorus In the end He had lots of fun. He made a kangaroo that jumps and runs. Kanga-kanga-kangaroo. Hip-hip-hurray God made me and you. Kanga-kanga-kangaroo. Hip-hip-hurray God made me and you. In the end He had lots of fun. He made a manatee just for fun. Mana-mana-manatee. Hip-hip-hurray God made you and me. Mana-mana-manatee. Hip-hip-hurray God made you and me.

  Try 3 issues of the Adventures in Odyssey Clubhouse ® (ages 8-12) OR Clubhouse Jr. ® (ages 3-7) magazine for free! Created with kids in mind, Focus on the Family offers a world of fun and imagination through short stories, jokes, puzzles, and games as well as recipes and activities to do as a family. Plus, what child doesn’t like mail? Your child will enjoy getting this entertaining magazine each month in the mail. Click here to sign up for the free Clubhouse ® magazine trial. Click here to sign up for the free Clubhouse Jr. ® magazine trial. Grow Your Child's Faith This Summer! Now is the time to make sure your kids have the greatest adventure this summer with more than 800 Adventures in Odyssey episodes and non-stop listening fun! Sign up for the Odyssey Adventure Club today for just $9.99 per month at OACLUB.org .

Jump into the center ring, with its bright lights, exotic animals, and a dazzling performance that can only be described as the greatest show on earth in Kristy Cambron’s new book,  The Ringmaster’s Wife .  The Jazz Age has arrived, and with it, the golden era of the American circus, whose queen is none other than the enigmatic Mable Ringling. When Rosamund’s path crosses with Mable’s and the Ringlings’ glittering world, she makes the life-altering decision to leave behind a comfortable future of estates and propriety, instead choosing the nomadic life of a trick rider in the Ringling Brothers’ circus. {MORE ABOUT  THE RINGMASTER’S WIFE } (Thomas Nelson, June 2016) An ounce of courage. A split-second leap of faith. Together, they propel two young women to chase a new life—one that’s reimagined from what they might have become. In turn-of-the-century America, a young girl dreams of a world that stretches beyond the confines of a quiet life on the family farm. With litt

Part 2 of an interview with Crystal M. Sutherland, Author of Journey to Heal (Click here for part 1)   Survivors of childhood sexual abuse often feel like the walking wounded. They feel alone and afraid, unsure of where to start in their search for lasting healing. It becomes far too easy to believe lies that say they’re worthless and true recovery is impossible. Crystal Sutherland—a survivor herself—knows that a simple formula for healing from such a painful past doesn’t exist. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t possible. For adult female survivors who want to progress from simply coping to living abundantly, Journey to Heal (Kregel Publications) guides readers through essential steps to recovery found in Scripture. Though candid and open about her personal journey, Sutherland avoids triggering descriptions. Instead, she offers stories of hope form other survivors and practical wisdom to lead you down a new path toward discovering the life of wholeness God desires for you

Drown out the busyness and noise of everyday life and find a deeper faith with something as simple as a single word in Lucinda Secrest McDowell's new book, Dwelling Places .  Through short and inspiring readings, McDowell unpacks a single word—such as mercy, beauty, gratitude, or grace—to reveal a biblical blessing or challenge relevant to where you are. Full of stories and illustrations to empower you to live the word you have just read, each devotional ends with a benediction, written as if God were speaking directly to you. Join Lucinda in celebrating the release of  Dwelling Places by entering to win her Season of Refreshment giveaway.   One grand prize winner will receive: A copy of  Dwelling Places A  Dwelling Places necklace handmade by Lucinda A kit full of goodies you'll need to make refreshing lemonade this summer One second place winner will receive: A copy of  Dwelling Places A  Dwelling Places necklace handmade by Lucinda   Enter today by