Audra Jennings

Part 1 of an interview with Champ Thornton, Author of The Radical Book for Kids: Exploring the Roots and Shoots of Faith What images does the term “radical faith” conjure? The Latin origin of the word “radical” literally means “roots.” Today the word also means extreme or revolutionary — even excellent or cool. With The Radical Book for Kids: Exploring the Roots and Shoots of Faith (New Growth Press) , author Champ Thornton takes children deep into the ancient roots and origins of the Christian faith in both exciting and innovative ways. Brilliantly illustrated and extremely kid-friendly, The Radical Book for Kids is an explorer’s guide to the Bible, church history and life, mixing practical and theological elements with fun activities such as a 3,000-year-old board game and a tutorial on how to make a (kid-safe) David-style slingshot. The hands-on approach will help kids grasp the Bible’s relevance for daily life and leave them with a curiosity driving them to learn mo

How a simple day away can recharge your soul and transform your life Our spiritual lives can often resemble our cell phones at the end of the day. The battery is run down and in need of a charge. Sometimes we are down to 2% before we even realize it. It’s important we reconnect to our power source. Even a single day set aside to recharge fully with God can do wonders for the soul. In Getaway with God: The Everywoman’s Guide to Personal Retreat (Kregel Publications/ November 27, 2016/ISBN 978-0825444159/$14.99) , Letitia Suk offers women a step-by-step, no-excuses guide to getting back in sync with God. Many women are desperate for more time with God, but with the demands of modern life, simply getting up earlier in the day to fit in a longer devotion is no longer a viable — or fulfilling — option. Every now and then, concentrated time alone with the Father is just what the soul needs to reconnect with Him and refresh for the journey ahead. Getaway with God provides st

I wasn't a watcher of Gilmore Girls when it first aired, but I heard so much about it, a couple of years ago I started watching it on Netflix. Since then, I've watched it through four or five times. I'm not even sure anymore. Like many others, I was excited to hear of the revival. I tried to not read spoilers as everyone started watching on Friday while I was on my way home. My normally busy life picked back up as soon as I got home, so I started the first episode on Saturday and finished about midnight Sunday while assembling my Christmas tree. I WILL, at some point as soon as I have time (at this rate March), share my thoughts on the whole thing. I have lots of thoughts to share. I know you can't wait!  

Lord’s Army I may never march in the infantry, Ride in the cavalry, Shoot the artillery. I may never fly o’er the enemy, But I’m in the Lord’s Army!  Yes, sir! I’m in the Lord’s Army! Yes, sir! I’m in the Lord’s Army! Yes, sir! I may never march in the infantry, Ride in the cavalry, Shoot the artillery. I may never fly o’er the enemy, But I’m in the Lord’s Army!  Yes, sir!

I'm not sure if it's a good thing or a bad thing, but this is the last of my vacation recaps. It wasn't just real exciting. This is the tree at a hotel in Springdale, Arkansas my mom is kind of obsessed with. She had taken a picture of it a couple of years prior when she stayed at the same place. Monday night, we went through Shepherd of the Hills to see their light display. They have lots of animatronics set in plastic boxes. It's really rather odd, and some of them are really old. This is from the farm animal section. There was even a frog section with really loud croaking noises. An island themed section with a waterfall and volcano.  And a trip up the observation tower. It was freezing up there. It reminded me of being on the winter youth retreat with no heaters. On our shopping day, I did want a picture with the polar bear. I made mom sit in Santa's lap. The tree at the Sight and Sound Thea

My posts of my time away aren't in chronological order. (Of course, I'm also days behind on posting and back posting dates because my time of relaxing is over! I rested up while I was gone, but I've been running in circles again since I got back.) On Monday and Tuesday we shopped. On Wednesday afternoon we went to Silver Dollar City with the plans of going back on Thanksgiving afternoon when it opened back. The two day passes were just a little bit more.  The park was so packed that we only got into one of the shows, and the line to one of the rides I wanted to go on was super long. No one would ride one of the other rides I wanted to go on, and I don't go on the big rides.  However, we did get a taste of what I believe is holiday weather. "Baby, It's Cold Outside" just doesn't resonate when it's 75 degrees outside and people are wearing shorts and flip flops.  Because it was packed as it was on Wednesday, walking the hills and

This year for Thanksgiving, we fled north. Opposite migration you might say.  It was the only the second time in the memory of my entire life that I didn't have Thanksgiving at my parents' house. Normally, I spend most of Wednesday cooking. There were most definitely positives of being gone for the week. It didn't really feel like Thanksgiving though.  It's never my first choice to spend any time in Branson. As a side note to anything of relevance, the town has taken a swing down except when it comes to shopping. I'm not sure if the tornado of a couple of years ago wiped everything out or everyone took to the same opinion of the town that I've had. So many things were closed. Churches have taken over a number of theaters. Some of the hotels torn down needed to be torn down anyway. So, back to Branson. On the way to some show one weekend, Mom mentioned how Stillwaters had been sending condo deals via email. Mom and Dad are always game to go t

Part 2 of an interview with Wendy Speake and Kelli Stuart, authors of Life Creative: Inspiration for Today’s Renaissance Mom (Read part 1 here.) In our social media age of handcrafted children’s parties, artistic Instagram photos, tutorials for renovating old furniture into new treasures and blogs filled with poetry, prose and other expression, clearly a brand-new generation of inspired women is rising up. It is a renaissance born not in Italian cathedrals or Harlem jazz clubs, but in kitchens, nurseries and living rooms around the world. However, when Christian women become mothers, they often feel expected to give up their creative pursuits to parent properly. In Life Creative: Inspiration for Today’s Renaissance Mom (Kregel Publications) authors Wendy Speake and Kelli Stuart show that “a mother’s natural bent toward imagination doesn’t just wither and die with the 
 birth of a child. This core component remains part of her intricate design.” Q: Why do you think

Part 2 of an interview with Linda Znachko, Author of He Knows Your Name (read part 1 here) Linda Znachko has found herself in places she never dreamed she would be: at the graveside of the child of an abused mother; by the side of a mother fighting for her lost child; and at the funeral of a Texas stripper who died two days before her baptism but left a legacy of love behind. When Linda stepped out of her comfort zone and into these implausible places with people she was unlikely to otherwise encounter, she discovered the life she never knew she wanted—a life of saying yes to God whenever He asks. In her book He Knows Your Name: How One Abandoned Baby Inspired Me to Say Yes to God (Kregel Publications) , Znachko tells her story of saying, “Yes,” to nudges from God. Today, she has a ministry that gives children a name in life, and dignity and honor in death. When she shares her stories of broken lives redeemed, other broken people respond, and so the ripple effects of that

What if there were an Apocalypse and Jesus didn’t return? Take a physical and spiritual expedition through a dystopian world in the inspiring and satirical new book,  The Remnant , by Monte Wolverton. A cataclysmic war, natural disasters and pandemics eradicated 90 percent of earth’s population. Now, in 2131, a totalitarian government rules the world. Grant Cochrin leads his family and friends to escape and embark on a long, dangerous quest for a Christian community. Their resource in this journey? A cherished page torn from the now banished Bible. {MORE ABOUT  THE REMNANT } (Plain Truth Ministries, August 2016) In the year 2069 the Apocalypse came and went, but Jesus didn’t show up, as some expected. Instead, a cataclysmic war, natural disasters and pandemics eradicated 90 percent of earth’s population. Now, in 2131, a totalitarian government rules the world from the majestic, opulent capitol of Carthage, Tunisia. Blamed for igniting the war, religion and religious boo