Harry R. Jackson Jr.
Chosen Books 

Bishop Harry R. Jackson Jr. urges readers to tear through the hindrances that hold them back from reaching their fullest potential in his newest release, You Were Born for More: Six Steps to Breaking Through to Your Destiny.

Through personal anecdotes and biblical illustrations, Jackson, who pastors Hope Christian Church just outside the nation’s capital and founded the High Impact Leadership Coalition, determines that a humble and willing spirit, coupled with trusting God and being trustworthy, allows God’s love to overflow in difficult times. He also emphazises that faithfulness and a commitment to personal purity pave the pathway to godly success.

For those who long to embrace change in their lives and in their relationships and to live out their purpose, these six guaranteed principles assist you on a journey to restoration and transformation. Born out of God’s promise of mercy and grace, new life awaits those willing to cooperate with Him.

Jackson’s raw experience with this same grace faithfully drives the message in his latest book. Divine purpose brims with expectancy as it waits to be discovered.

With a clear vision and a refusal to settle for anything less than God’s best propelling us forward, our future selves are within reach.

I had just finished my little speech at the women’s banquet and was trying to catch my breath before manning the book table at the back of the room. A well-dressed lady whose lips were smiling but whose eyes were not approached me, gushed a bit about how much she’d enjoyed the presentation, and then grabbed my arm like you would an old friend.

“Oh, Debbie,” she said in an everybody-listen-to-me-now voice, “I thought what you said about losing 40 pounds was amazing. What do you plan to do to make the skin shrink back up?”

Gulp.

There’s always one in every crowd. Someone who just can’t find it within themselves to encourage rather than discourage. Someone who thinks their candle will shine brighter by blowing out yours.

I hope graciousness isn’t becoming a relic. I value good manners and sincerely hope that a genteel countenance isn’t just a cultural trait. Having been raised in the South, I have wonderful memories of two lovely white-haired ladies in floral dresses sipping mint iced tea while gracing me with their undivided attention in a room full of adults—a true gift when one feels invisible and unworthy. They were blessed with the talent of making a person feel good about herself—even a shy, chubby 10-year-old with nothing much yet to offer.

Since I’ve circulated more among strangers as a speaker during the last two years, I’ve been insulted intentionally and unintentionally many times. Thankfully, early on I learned the value of Proverbs 10:19: “Where there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise.”

A simple smile in response goes a long way toward learning not to take yourself so seriously. It really doesn’t hurt a bit, and nobody’s the better when bitterness is exchanged. Surprisingly enough, I’ve actually made inroads into lasting friendships when a foot-in-mouth comment or two were overlooked.

So, next time someone decides to point out that I’m a human river of wrinkles, I think I’ll throw my arms up in the air and let my underarm Dumbo flaps speak for themselves.

Debora M. Coty is the author of 10 books and is a newspaper columnist, orthopedic occupational therapist and tennis addict. Follow Debora on Twitter @deboracoty.

I recently read one theologian’s viewpoint on why women should not teach, preach or pastor. Turns out, it all goes back to that crazy apple (1 Tim. 2:8-15). Eve was deceived and ate the apple and disqualified every other woman from ever having significant insight to impart to a man, henceforth and forever. Amen. So be it. Selah.

It’s interesting to note how many other Scriptures have to be eliminated or reinvented in order to build a whole philosophy on 1 Timothy 2:14. These include Galatians 3:28, Ephesians 4:12 (“the” and “saint” are gender-inclusive words, so Paul is saying, “Equip men and women for the work of the ministry”), as well as all the biblical accounts of women who did amazing things, like Deborah, Jael, Miriam, Huldah, Esther, Phoebe  and Priscilla. (This particular pastor mentioned these women but said they’re too rare to establish a pattern. Sigh. Don’t even get me started, Mr. Theologian.)

Anyway, I’m not here to duke this one out, just interested in how we arrive at our opinions. Most people I know who have disqualified women from leadership would not really be able to tell you why. They usually have picked a comfortable viewpoint without applying much muscle to analysis, and you’ll generally discover a wide-load philosophy teetering on the tiny shoulders of 1 Timothy 2. (If you wonder how I know this, you’re welcome to stand next to me on a Sunday after I speak and listen to the conversations that ensue.)

It’s taken a long time for me to build a philosophy as well. I’m blessed to be married to a man who loves what God is doing in my life as much as he loves it in his own. I’m also grateful to have a pastor who frees me to speak without fear of reprisal or rebuke. If these human men in a fallen world want that much for me, wouldn’t my Father in heaven want even more? Or am I—2000 years after the greatest act of redemption and release in all of history—still silenced by an apple?

What do you think? Tell us on Facebook.

Bo Stern is a blogger and the author of the newly released Beautiful Battliefields (NavPress). She knows the most beautiful things can come out of the hardest times. Her Goliath came in the form of her husband’s terminal illness, a battle they are still fighting with the help of their four children, a veritable army of friends and our extraordinary God. Bo is a teaching pastor at Westside Church in Bend, Ore.

There are a lot of articles and blogs out there giving you tips on how to better communicate with your spouse. Today, I’d like to share with you these 5 Ways Not to Communicate With Your Husband.

1.    With bad timing.

All of us can have tough days. And all of us have issues we need to address with our spouses. But there are certain times that your husband does not want you to unload problems on him or give him a list of things he needs to do. When he walks in the door after work, when he’s eating dinner, when he’s out on a date with you…all of these are examples of times that should be off limits.

2.    With disrespect.

Not many things will anger a man more than someone being disrespectful to him. So, wives, respect his judgment. Don’t constantly question his decisions. Respect his abilities.  Give him a chance to fix the sink before you tell him you’re going to call the plumber.

3.    With abstract feelings, not concrete facts.

Of course, we all know that men and women aren’t wired the same way. We also know that women communicate more with feelings and men with facts. Do you want your husband to “get it?” You can start by sharing your feelings, but then tell him exactly what you need him to do. For example, don’t just say, “Sometimes you just don’t get it” or, “I wish you would just be more understanding.” Give him specific marching orders of what you want him to do that will help change those feelings. Men can’t decipher feelings very well, but we are good at taking clear orders.

4.    With multiple issues.

Most men have a fairly good ability to process things you tell them, as long as it’s one thing at a time and as long as they aren’t doing anything else when you make the request. When you throw too many things at them at one time, they may not hear anything. So that you know he hears you and understands you, have him stop what he is doing and look at you. Then, tell him one thing and have him repeat it back to you. Then you’ll know he got it.

5.    With assumption.

Your husband really does want to please you. He wants to be your hero. But, he cannot read your mind. When you make assumptions and he does not come through, you’ll probably get frustrated and say things like, “You should have remembered that I don’t like pickles on my sandwich” or “Why did you buy that? You should have known that I wouldn’t like it.” Don’t assume; be clear and tell him what’s on your mind.

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Why does one woman suffer with diabetes her entire life while another is healthy?

Why does one woman lose her house in a fire while another woman’s house stands?

Why does one woman wait longingly to see one positive pregnancy strip while another woman drives a van full of kids?

I made a discovery in the Bible recently that helped to answer this question for me.
David says to Solomon, “My son, I had it in my heart to build a house for the Name of the Lord my God. But this word of the Lord came to me: ‘You have shed much blood and have fought many wars. You are not to build a house for my Name, because you have shed much blood on the earth in my sight. But you will have a son who will be a man of peace and rest, and I will give him rest from all his enemies on every side. His name will be Solomon, and I will grant Israel peace and quiet during his reign’” (1 Chron. 22:7-9, NIV).

David always had to fight for everything—for his sheep, his life, his kingdom—but through David, God poured out for all men the great songs of comfort.

Solomon was rich and lived in complete peace, and through Solomon God poured out for all men His great wisdom.

Two very different lives. Two flavors of rich contribution to the world.

God grants to some conflict and difficulty.

God grants to some peace and ease.

Of course, often life is hard because of our sinful choices, and we must own this if we know it’s true.

But circumstance is not always by our choice. Sometimes it’s a granting. To grant means to put upon, to entrust.

Solomon did not ask to be rich or to build a magnificent temple or to have no enemies. His wealth and construction assignment and peace were entrusted to him with a great purpose.

David did not ask for the lion and the bear and Goliath and crazy Saul and enemies on every side, but it seems those circumstances were entrusted to him with a great purpose.

We need to change our question. Instead of asking, “Why am I in this situation instead of in her situation?” we need to ask, “For what purpose has God entrusted me with this particular life?”

Christy Fitzwater is a blogger, pastor’s wife and mom of two teenagers. She resides in Montana. Visit  for more information about her ministry.

When Hurricane Charley hit southwest Florida in 2004, Zach Bonner was 7 years old. After hearing the news that those affected by the storm needed food and water, Bonner went door to door with his little red wagon asking for help. That little red wagon, combined with assistance from friends and family, eventually filled 27 semitrucks with food and supplies.

After raising awareness for Hurricane Charley victims, Bonner formed the Little Red Wagon Foundation in 2005. Since then, he has dramatically expanded the reach of his nonprofit to help kids in the U.S. and abroad in distressed situations.

“I’ve walked over 4,000 miles so far in four [cross-country] walks and have distributed over 6,000 backpacks with food and supplies to homeless,” Bonner, now 15, says. “I believe God has a purpose for everyone, and this is the purpose for my life.”

The work of the Little Red Wagon Foundation isn’t just for those affected by poverty in the U.S., either. The organization has also reached out to the homeless overseas.

“I went to Uganda to distribute bars of soap to kids,” Bonner says. “A long line formed, and I had never seen kids line up for a bar of soap. Homelessness is a universal issue.”

The foundation is now in the process of building a youth center in Valrico, a suburb of Tampa, Fla. “[Homeless youth] can come off the street and will have a caseworker to help them,” he says. “We’ll also have other resources in the community for them.”

In addition, Bonner has hosted 23 parties for homeless youth at Build-a-Bear and Chuck E. Cheese’s stores, and he has distributed more than 2,000 books to Title I programs serving students of migrant farmers. 

The young philanthropist—whose story was turned into a movie last year (Little Red Wagon, directed by David Anspaugh of Rudy and Hoosiers fame)—offers practical advice to kids with dreams that seem too big: Just focus on a smaller goal. 

“Don’t think you’re not qualified or doubt yourself,” he says. “Anything is possible. Choose one homeless shelter and have a canned-food drive. No matter how big or how small your project is, everything you do can affect the world and change it.”

Those facing troubled times half a world away can teach us much about our own faith

The chaos facing Christians in Egypt underscores the common ground of all Christ’s followers, says Fazil Khalil, assistant pastor of Kasr El Dobara Church in Cairo—that there is one Lord, one faith and one baptism that unites Christians worldwide. “I think the body of Christ needs one another so much,” Khalil says. “When we see what’s been going on and how Egyptian believers are now working with one another, it shows how we can work together as one, from different backgrounds and different languages.”

Father Joseph Boules, presbyter of St. Mary & St. Verena Coptic Orthodox Church in Anaheim, Calif., thinks the church in Egypt has much to teach other believers, including how to cross the divide between Christians and Muslims. In fact, the attacks on the church in Egypt have prompted unprecedented cooperation between the two groups, with the latter guarding the gates of churches so Christians can pray in peace. Sometimes they scatter sentries around a church to ensure no bad elements are lurking there or planning despicable acts.

“The lesson that can be learned is how difficult it can be to be a Christian in some parts of the world, and how people struggle and fight for a simple thing,” he says.

Shaddy Soliman, pastor of Every Nation Church in Lake Mary, Fla., says Egyptian Christians can teach others the truth that hard times produce revival and that tough political times help break down idols and humanistic mind-sets.

“If we could learn one thing from the Christians in Egypt right now, it’s to seek God, cry out to Him and live according to His Word,” Soliman says. “Our hope needs to be in the kingdom of God, not political systems or loyalty to the nation. God’s kingdom needs to become the driving force of our hope.”