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This interview is also available on Patricia’s YouTube channel: Click HERE.

My guest today is the president of Summit Ministries, Dr. Jeff Myers Myers. Dr. Myers has become one of America’s most respected youth development and apologetics authorities.

In his new book, Truth Changes Everything, Dr. Myers challenges the idea that all hope to find Truth is lost in our culture. The book is filled with fascinating stories about Jesus’ followers who lived for truth and transformed the world in times of crisis.

Don’t miss this challenging conversation and read the column below – Will you stand for Truth (Capital “T”)?

What Is Truth? The Rise of Relativism {The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Column}

“What might a person write if they knew it might be the last thing they could say this side of eternity?”

That was the question in Dr. Jeff Myers’ mind during a recent battle with an aggressive type of cancer. While going through the harsh treatment and its devastating effects, Myers battled the natural hopelessness and despair that only those who have gone through such valleys can fully understand.

During that time, Myers could do little except read and write. To keep his heart grounded and nurture his faith, he studied the stories of brave heroes in the Old Testament who persevered through trials and delayed promises, as well as the stories of men and women of the Christian faith who rose to change the world during some of history’s darkest moments.

The result of his findings during that pivotal point in Myers’ life is his new book, “Truth Changes Everything – How People of Faith Can Transform the World in Times of Crisis.”

Myers is president of Summit Ministries, a renowned authority in apologetics, and a prolific author of 14 books, some of which were used as Bible curriculum at my children’s high school.

An eye-opening research

While writing his new book, Myers came across research by Dr. George Barna about millennials that shed light on the spiritual/religious makeup of this generation of growing influence, their social-economic priorities and mental health, among other topics.

Myers writes, “Seventy-five percent of young adults say they are unsure of their purpose in life. Nearly half are counted as having one or more types of mental illness (such as anxiety or depression). Fully half of young adults say that there is ‘no absolute value associated with human life.”

What Is Truth? The Rise of Relativism – Don't miss this great book by Dr. Jeff Myers @drjeffmyers @summitmn @ajc @MatthewFaraci #truthchangeseverything #truth
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Myers proposes that these issues are the tip of the iceberg, the real foundation being the loss of absolute Truth (capital “T”).

A different poll from Summit Ministries/McLaughlin and Associates supports the claim. According to this poll, 55% of young American voters between 18-29 believe that there is no absolute truth; rather, “it is up to each individual to define their own truth.”

The results also expose that many American voters embrace moral relativism – 40% of the polled individuals believe “each person determines their own version of truth.”

Quid est veritas?

In the 18th chapter of the Gospel of John, we find Jesus before Pilate, the Roman governor of Judah. He had been arrested and taken to Caiaphas, Israel’s High Priest, who, seeking the approval of Rome to crucify Jesus, deferred the questioning to Rome’s high official.

Pilate questioned Jesus, who said: “(…) the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the Truth. Everyone on the side of Truth listens to me.”

Pilate quickly ended his conversation with Jesus with the infamous words “Qui est Veritas?” – What is truth?

Jesus did not reply, perhaps because, according to Scriptures, Pilate “went out again” before giving Him a chance to.

But Jesus answered Pilate’s question numerous times throughout His time on earth. As He did in Gethsemane when he asked the Father to protect His disciples: “Sanctify them by the Truth; Your word is Truth.”

“The” Truth

As we dig into the original New Testament Greek text, we can translate Jesus’ prayer as follows: Lord, consecrate (set apart) my followers by the knowledge of Your Word – because Your Word (Your principles, teachings, guidance) is the Truth.

Lord, consecrate (set apart) my followers by the knowledge of Your Word – because Your Word (Your principles, teachings, guidance) is the Truth. @drjeffmyers @summitmn @ajc @MatthewFaraci truthchangeseverything #truth
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This (absolute) truth has guided believers throughout the centuries to change society during times of great darkness and despair. This truth has speared believers to live out their faith by following Christ’s example of righteousness and unconditional love.

It’s not a popular belief, and I certainly respect differing points of view. Still, as I think about the mental and emotional state of our young adults and teenagers as presented by numerous recent research data and polls, it seems like if we ever needed this Truth to guide us; we need it now.

For more about Myers and his new book, visit www.summit.org/. Listen to Patricia’s interview with Myers in God-Sized Stories with Patricia Holbrook on YouTube and via Podcast.

This article was originally published in Patricia’s column for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Saturday, May 6th, 2023. Click HERE to find it on the AJC’s website.

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I glanced down at my then-10-year-old’s church notebook and smiled. There were a couple of small pictures in the margins, but unlike many other church notebooks of children her age, the page was full of notes.

She copied them fiercely from the television screens above the row where we sat for many years in the back area of First Baptist Atlanta’s sanctuary, reserved for choir members. Our baby girl copied big sister, writing and doodling in her notebook, as a children’s Bible sat on her lap.

Their eyes were glued on the screen as our pastor spoke in his gentle, deep voice, conviction and love for the gospel piercing through each Sunday message.

This was the beginning of each week in our household for 20 years.

Dr. Charles F. Stanley, the celebrated author of more than 70 books and pastor who counseled and prayed with presidents and dignitaries worldwide, was “Dr. Stanley” to us — our family’s beloved pastor and spiritual mentor.

Dr. Charles F. Stanley, the celebrated author of more than 70 books and pastor who counseled and prayed with presidents and dignitaries worldwide, was “Dr. Stanley” to us — our family’s beloved pastor and spiritual mentor. @AJC…
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A mix of joy and sorrow filled the airwaves and social media early Tuesday morning, April 18, as the news of Stanley’s passing came out. As I read through the countless articles and posts on social media, I thought about the impact of one simple man’s obedience to God’s calling and how it shaped the lives and eternity of millions of people around the globe.

By all accounts, Charles F. Stanley was a success story. He grew up in Dry-Fork, Virginia, during the Great Depression and experienced poverty during his childhood and teenage years. His mom, “Becca,” raised him by herself after his father’s passing when Stanley was a baby. From humble beginnings, he built a ministry that expanded to countries all over the world; his messages were translated into over 127 languages. His is indeed a God-sized story.

His sermons often contained stories from childhood and adolescence, when his mother’s simple faith shaped his understanding of God and his word. But it wasn’t until Stanley was 17 that God’s calling became evident, and a visit to his grandfather changed the course of his life.

I do not know how often I heard the story from the pulpit, but it never grew old:

Stanley had felt God’s calling to become a pastor and decided to visit his grandfather, who was a preacher himself. Stanley felt inadequate, and the thought of carrying out the calling to preach the gospel was daunting.

He recalled his granddad’s words that shaped one of his 30 life principles based on scriptures that he lived by and preached for decades:

“Charles, if God tells you to put your head through that brick wall, you run for it. It is his responsibility to open a hole.”

“Obey God and leave all the consequences to him.” This principle, born from this conversation with his grandfather, shaped Stanley’s life and became one of the cornerstones of his life-long commitment to following God’s ways, no matter the cost. That is one of 30 life principles, beautifully weaved amidst biblical accounts in Charles Stanley’s Life Application Bible.

Obey God and leave all the consequences to Him. ~ Dr. Charles F. Stanley @ajc @intouchmin #CharlesStanley
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Following the practical teachings based on these biblical principles gave me guidance and courage to start my ministry. Thanks to the truths preached every Sunday from Stanley’s pulpit, my husband and I found the strength to press on through life’s challenging valleys. Through the principles taught by this man of God, we found the guidance to raise our girls.

His Impact

“Dr. Stanley’s” impact was evident as my husband and I traveled down I-75 in the back of our 20-year-old’s car on Easter morning, as she and her sister took us to visit Passion City, their church. They shared about growing up and their gratitude for the home we built.

During worship, they stood beside us, hands lifted in praise as they sang. As Pastor Louis Giglio delivered the sermon, I looked down to see the same scene from years ago:

Notebooks filled with notes, highlighted and well-worn Bibles, and eyes glued to the screen, where a man whose ministry was also highly influenced by Stanley’s teachings delivered a message filled with the uncompromised truth of God’s Word.

Our world has indeed lost one of the modern-day giants of faith. But his influence, like ripples from a pebble thrown in a lake, will undoubtedly live on.

Thank you, dear pastor. Well done.

This article was originally published in Patricia’s column for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Saturday, April 22, 2023. Click HERE to find it on the AJC’s website

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LINKUP is open. This week, I share my column for the @AJC, where I talked about the eternal impact of Dr. Charles Stanley on my family. This story is undoubtedly repeated in the lives of countless people throughout the world. Join us…
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From the rearview mirror, I saw my then-9-year-old praying again. After mouthing “Amen,” she picked up my phone and dialed her best friend’s number. After the initial greeting, she lit up:

“OK, so I received my letter from the camp and have not opened it yet. Go get yours. As we decided, let’s open them together.”

“Please let me be in the same club, please let me be in the same club,” I heard my baby girl whisper.

She opened the letter and screamed: “Oh my goodness! I made it; I made it! I’m gonna cry!!”

I could hear the squealing on the other side of the line as her friend could not believe the news.

It’s no wonder they were surprised.

Thousands of kids register for this sought-after summer camp every year. After registration, campers are randomly assigned to one of four different clubs. Once placed in a club, children stay in the same house together and do most of the activities within the group. Naturally, our daughter wanted to stay in the same club as her best friend.

We received instructions not to request any particular club for our child, and we knew the likelihood of the girls staying in the same group was small. Therefore, for several weeks, the two girls agreed to pray that God would place them together. And so, he did.

After the conversation ended and my daughter returned my phone, I said:

“Well, it looks like you need to say a prayer of thanks, baby.”

She smiled: “I already have, Mom. What are the odds that we would be in the same club? God answered our prayers, no doubt!”

I knew this was an optimal opportunity to teach my child an important lesson on prayer:

“I believe God is showing you that there is no silly or small request that his children can ever make,” I told her. “As long as we obey and love Him, He delights in giving us the desires of our hearts. Nothing is too big or too small to ask.”

God delights in giving us the desires of our hearts. Nothing is too big or too small to ask. @AJC #faith #rechargewednesday #linkup
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My daughter’s faith experience reminded me of a passage of Scriptures I read recently: The odd story of the floating ax head. We find the account in the sixth chapter of 2 Kings.

The prophet Elisha had taken a group of Israel’s prophets to the Jordan River, where they started to build a place to meet. During the construction, one of the prophets accidentally plunged an ax into the water. The tool was borrowed and valuable; therefore, the prophet became distressed by the incident.

When Elisha realized his friend’s anguish, he was moved and performed a simple miracle to help him: He cut a stick, threw it in the water, and made the iron float so his friend could retrieve it.

We find the account oddly placed as a standalone story between two great miracles performed by the prophet Elisha: Naaman’s healing and Israel’s miraculous victory over the Arameans. As one reads the story, it may seem strange that God would place such as minor incident between a couple of outstanding accounts.

But I believe it is not without reason.

The ax story is strategically positioned between two exceptional miracles as a reminder that the God who does the extraordinary also cares about the tiniest details in his children’s lives.

The God who does the extraordinary also cares about the tiniest details in his children’s lives. #faith #rechargewednesday #linkup
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Indeed, the One who has the power to raise Jesus from the dead also cares about our seemingly insignificant desires or concerns.

This Easter may find you celebrating the magnitude of an empty tomb with grave concerns that plague your heart. But to some, there may be a small desire that remains unfulfilled or an issue that you think is too small to bring before Heaven’s throne.

Remember, God does not see our problems or desires that way. He cares for details as small as a young girl’s summer camp club assignment as He does for the serious issues we face and the valleys we must cross.

Like in Jesus’ parable of the mustard seed, as we trust God with our seemingly insignificant prayers, we grow the faith to believe Him for the power displayed in the empty tomb.

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LINKUP is open! My Easter post is a reminder that as we trust God with our seemingly insignificant prayers, we grow the faith to believe Him for the power displayed in the empty tomb. Join us?
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Niccolò Paganini was a virtuoso violinist and composer who lived in Europe in the early 1800s and was thought to be the greatest violinist of all time. His technique while playing was unparalleled. His compositions, unique and of vanguard style. His playing of gentle passages was so beautiful that his audiences often burst into tears, and yet, he would perform some pieces with such vigor and velocity that one listener at a concert in Vienna became half-crazed and declared for days that he had seen Satan himself helping the violinist on stage.

Paganini was known to have owned some of the most prestigious violins of his day and collected a myriad of interesting stories about how he won and lost some of his precious violins.

One particular story stands out.

The musician had just stepped on stage to start a particular concert. As the audience greeted the virtuoso with fierce applause, he noticed that there was something wrong with the violin in his hand. He looked at the instrument and realized that he wasn’t holding his best violin.

He excused himself to go backstage and fetch the right instrument and was shocked to find out that his precious Stradivari had been stolen.

After remaining backstage for a while, he stepped onstage again to address the audience. With resolute confidence, Paganini declared: “Ladies and gentlemen, I will now demonstrate to you that the music is not in the instrument but in the soul.” He then rendered a most dramatic piece, bringing the audience to a euphoric standing ovation at the end.

Some Trust in Chariots…

As I read this particular story in the life of the composer, I thought about Psalm 20, written by King David, where he attributed all his successes in battle to God’s strength, not his own. In verse 7, he wrote: “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.”

Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God – Psalm 20:7
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Victory. There’s nothing sweeter than being able to fulfill a dream, win a hard battle, or simply attain success by exercising a God-given gift. There’s nothing quite like it. But I believe that as exciting as some victories can be, they also hold a serious danger.

We may fool ourselves into believing that our success was obtained solely by our own merit and strength, often forgetting that we are recipients of God’s matchless favor and grace. Although we can rightfully say that our hard work, skills, and diligence help us fulfill our goals and dreams, we must never forget that our trust should not rest solely on our resources.

Rather, we must remember to put our trust in something that diseases cannot destroy and circumstantial lack of resources cannot detain – the unchangeable power of a limitless God.

We must remember to put our trust in something that diseases cannot destroy and circumstantial lack of resources cannot detain – the unchangeable power of a limitless God.
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God’s Power and your circumstances

Just as Paganini’s majestic music did not change with an inferior instrument, I’m challenged to remember daily that God’s purposes and His power to fulfill them do not change with life’s circumstances. And just as David acknowledged that his victories were not won by his tangible resources and the strength of his army alone, we must remember to recognize God’s hand and favor in each victory we win.

It’s a personal, deliberate choice, really. And I personally choose not to put my trust in instruments that may get lost or stolen or in horses and chariots to win the battles I face. I choose to trust in the Name of my God, whose character never changes, whose plans for me are perfect, and whose strength in battle is matchless.

Whether I am in the valley or standing on the mountaintop, that truth is always the song of my heart and the strength of my soul.

I personally choose not to put my trust in instruments that may get lost or stolen or in horses and chariots to win the battles I face. I choose to trust in the Name of my God, whose character never changes, whose plans for me are…
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The post My Victories, My Battles – Not Really Mine {Recharge Wednesday LINKUP} appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.

“If you don’t hit pause long enough to consider the direction in which you are parenting, you may wake up one day to the realization that you parented in the wrong direction.” — Andy Stanley

Am I getting parenting right?

There’s no question that every parent has wondered about the answer to this question at some point while raising their children.

You may still be holding your first baby, wondering if your approach to meeting and caring for their needs is the best.

Or perhaps you have a toddler pushing all boundaries (and your buttons), and you are unsure whether your discipline method is working.

It could be that your teenager entered that stage when the loving child you had a year ago is now closed off, shutting you out of their life.

And you wonder. “What am I doing?” or, worse yet, “What am I doing wrong?”

This insecurity invariably grabs hold of every well-meaning parent.

When my children were young, and we were trying to teach them discipline and respect, I often wondered how to be effective while preserving a healthy relationship.

Unfortunately, the fear of becoming over-lenient would sometimes translate into some “because I said so” moments, which, looking in retrospect, I am not proud of.

But I know I am not alone. Most well-meaning parents err in their quest to do it right. That happens because we often and inadvertently repeat patterns seen or experienced in our home environment. However, some of us intentionally change certain things we experienced growing up. I know I did.

Most well-meaning parents err in their quest to do it right. That happens because we often and inadvertently repeat patterns seen or experienced in our home environment. @AndyStanley@sandrawstanley #andystanley #sandrastanley…
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The story is not different for Atlanta-based author and pastor Andy Stanley, who, together with his wife Sandra, decided early on in their parenting years to establish goals and raise their kids with their future relationship with them in mind. For years, they have compiled information gathered from counseling families, learning from mentors, and raising their three children. The result is a must-read book for every parent: “Parenting: Getting It Right,” released in January by Zondervan.

The Stanleys are the parents of three adult children who, as Andy says “still enjoy being around us.”

Isn’t that our ultimate goal?

As a mother of a teenager and an adult, that is undoubtedly my biggest desire for my relationship with our daughters.

Indeed, nothing fills my heart with joy better than when I get a text from our adult daughter saying: “Mom, guess what? I gotta tell you something.”

She still wants to be around mom and dad and loves hanging out with her “little” sister. I believe that happens because, even though we have certainly made many mistakes, like the Stanleys, we prioritized preserving a healthy relationship above everything else. The result is lingering discipline taught through life lessons instead of harsh punishment and, better yet, children who still like us.

The Stanleys call the concept their “North Star” — the one thing that kept their minds and hearts anchored when parenting their children through what they call “The Four Stages of Parenting”: discipline (0-5 years old), Training (5-12), Coaching (12-18), and Friendship (18-plus years old).

In our interview, we discussed the challenges and rewards of parenting with the relationship in mind.

Among other things, it takes understanding each child’s unique personality to improve communication and changing how to approach discipline to help a child develop character rather than simply following rules.

This idea of parenting reminds me of how Jesus guided his flock while walking on earth. He was all about building and restoring relationships. He taught while bridging the gap between rules and heart. He saw each person and loved them uniquely. He disciplined to guide, not to judge. And thus, he showed the love of a Father who wants us to remain close to His heart, even when the world tries to pull us away.

He was all about building and restoring relationships. He taught while bridging the gap between rules and heart. He saw each person and loved them uniquely. He disciplined to guide, not to judge. He showed the love of a Father who…
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Are you parenting in the right direction? Will your children still want to hang out, even when they don’t have to be around? These are questions worth asking. With God’s help and sound resources, it’s never too late to change the course.

Find out more about the Stanleys’ book at andystanley.com/. For the full interview, visit God-Sized Stories with Patricia Holbrook on YouTube and via Podcast.

Patricia Holbrook is a columnist, author, podcaster and international speaker. This article was originally published in her column for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Saturday – March 25, 2023. Click HERE to find it on the AJC’s website.

The post Andy & Sandra Stanley – Interview & Column about their new book on Parenting appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.

{Interview & Column for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution}

Listen to this interview with podcaster, entrepreneur, and author Misty Phillip, where she talks about her bible study, The Struggle Is Real, but so Is God, a study focused on how to keep strong faith through life’s hard circumstances. If you are reading this in your email, click HERE to listen. Read the column about this conversation below.

“Blessed be your name when the sun’s shining down on me; when the world’s all as it should be, blessed be your name. Blessed be your name on the road marked with suffering; though there’s pain in the offering, blessed be your name.” — Matt Redman’s song “Blessed Be Your Name”

Job is the first of the poetic books in the Hebrew Bible and is believed to be the first written book of Scriptures. It tells the astounding story of a righteous man who was tested extensively and did not lose faith in God. It is a gripping story of loss and prosperity and offers a vast theological treatise about enduring faith and God’s sovereignty.

Even though some believe the book’s story to be an allegory, the prophet Ezekiel and the apostle James in the New Testament mention Job as a historical figure.

The very first chapter of the book sets the stage.

Job is a rich and blessed man who loves God with all his heart and obeys his commandments. The scene changes to a conversation between God and Satan, where the fallen angel claims that Job only trusted God because he was wealthy and prosperous.

And thus, Job’s trials began. For the following 42 chapters, we witness Job tested in every way. He lost all his children and all his possessions. His friends accused him. Painful sores covered his body, and his wife told him to curse God and die.

Through it all, Job’s response tells the reader that he was convinced of two absolutes: his innocence and God’s sovereignty. Even though he felt overwhelmingly depressed, he remained faithful.

While many tried to convince Job that God had abandoned him, his humility and trust in God’s unchanging faithfulness and limitless might paved the way to God’s final response: God rebuked his friends, and the drama ended with Job’s wealth, health, and happiness restored.

Is God still good, even when the worse happens?

The question has inevitably pierced the hearts of believers tested by prolonged trials through the ages, and the answer, I believe, paves the way to measure the steadfastness of one’s faith.

Earlier in February, I talked to podcaster and Bible teacher Misty Phillip about her Bible study “The Struggle is Real, but So is God.”

During our conversation, Phillip recounted her family’s many trials, including losing her baby boy, stillborn after years of infertility and miscarriages. There were years of overwhelming loss and hardships as Phillip and her husband cared for his parents with terminal brain tumors and the ongoing care of a special needs son.

As Phillip described the funeral of their stillborn baby, a solemn moment gripped my heart: The family held hands to say goodbye to their son while singing Matt Redman’s song, “Blessed Be Your Name.” Friends and family who had come to minister to the grieving family left the funeral encouraged by their steadfast courage and faith.

Trials brought them closer to God

This trial and many others brought the Phillips closer to God. Instead of cursing their maker, they chose to believe in his faithfulness and purpose in the valleys. And today, as she looks back, Phillip can testify how her response to life’s tragedies paved the way to minister to others through her growing ministry and Bible study.

I can relate. Misty and I have talked about how upside-down biblical faith can be. But when one understands that God does not allow anything to happen to his children that cannot work together for their eternal good and his glory, faith has lingering effects in one’s heart.

Like Job, we can only become overcomers if we press on. And like him, we cannot claim to have strong faith until it’s tested and tried by fire, and the measured heat purifies our hearts as God purposefully designed.

Find out more about Misty’s ministry and book at mistyphillip.com/. For the interview with Misty Phillip, visit bit.ly/3YuiIBh

Patricia Holbrook is a columnist, author, podcaster and international speaker. Website: www.soaringwithHim.com. For speaking engagements and comments, email pholbrook@soaringwithHim.com

This article was originally published in Patricia’s column for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Saturday, March 11, 2023. Click HERE to find it on the AJC’s website.

The post  appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.

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Even though the U.S. government knew that the homelessness crisis grew exponentially during the pandemic, it became difficult to accurately register the numbers of those without shelter until late last year.

After two years with limited data, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recently released its first comprehensive Annual Homelessness Assessment Report (AHAR).

According to its findings, 582,462 individuals were registered as experiencing homelessness in America in December 2022.

According to the latest Annual Homelessness Assessment Report (AHAR) findings, 582,462 individuals were registered as experiencing homelessness in America in December 2022. @ajc #homelessness
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Even though the data reveals a slight increase from the 2020 census (by about 2,000 people), some demographics and data changed significantly.

For instance, 30% of the people without a home have experienced homelessness for more than 12 months, indicating “chronic patterns of homelessness.”In another finding, the report indicates that homelessness among women and children has increased by 5%. Likewise, the pandemic shifted the data concerning families, as a quarter of homeless individuals were families with children. Fortunately, the data also revealed that those in family groups had greater access to assistance. Nearly nine in 10 unhoused people with children found shelter, a one-third decrease since 2012.

God has put a burden in my heart for the homeless for several years, and our ministry had planned to start a women’s shelter program before the pandemic hit. Naturally, we had to postpone it, but we are now excited to have identified two facilities to partner with for what we have named the “Agape Shelter Program” starting this February.“

Agape” is one of several Greek words that translate as “love.”

The English language is very generic regarding the word. We use the same verb to denote our love for ice cream as we do for romantic or brotherly love, and therefore the depth of one “love” compared to another is naturally not carried out in the words we use to express it.

In contrast, the Greek language is very particular concerning words denoting feelings. Every time “Agape” appears in the original text of the New Testament, it refers to pure, selfless and sacrificial love that intentionally works toward another’s good.

Every time “Agape” appears in the original text of the New Testament, it refers to pure, selfless and sacrificial love that intentionally works toward another’s good.
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As the highest form of love, “agape” is given as a choice, not out of attraction or duty. This type of love is beautifully described in the well-known words found in the thirteenth chapter of the first letter of the Apostle Paul to the Corinthian church:

“Love is patient; love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”

Agape Love and steadfast faith are the themes of a movie called “No Vacancy” released in May 2022 by Kingstone Studios and based on the true story of First Baptist Church Leesburg, in Florida. Led by senior pastor Cliff Lea, the church took extraordinary steps of faith during the 2008 recession to purchase a motel and turn it into a homeless shelter.

The recession had deeply impacted the church’s budget, creating a $200,000 deficit; therefore, the church committee suggested layoffs. Instead, the pastor believed God was calling them to spend close to a million dollars to buy and fix a broken-down motel to serve the community. The idea met significant opposition and challenges.

The Impact

Watching the movie and talking to the producer, Art Ayris, has challenged me deeply, deepening my desire to serve the homeless in our city. Ayris is also on staff as one of the pastors at the church, so the story is personal and close to his heart.

There is undoubtedly great significance in serving and giving to the poorest people in the world in developing countries. But our churches should be challenged by First Baptist Leesburg’s example of sacrificial love to our neighboring communities.

There is undoubtedly great significance in serving and giving to the poorest people in the world in developing countries. But our churches should be challenged by First Baptist Leesburg’s example of sacrificial love to our neighboring…
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The numbers do not lie. We do not have to fly overseas to extend God’s love to those who need it most. Showing this movie to your church may just be what propels its members to start a wave of Agape Love to sweep over your community.

Find out more at novacancymovie.com/. To get involved in the Agape Homeless Ministry of Soaring with Him Ministries in Atlanta, visit: soaringwithhim.com/agape/

This article was originally published in Patricia’s column for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Saturday, February 25th, 2023. Click HERE to find it on the AJC’s website.

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LINKUP is open! This week, I share about the homelessness crisis in America and how you can get involved. Share your blog!
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The post LINKUP! Offering Agape Love to the Homeless {The Atlanta Journal-Constitution} appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.

Compassion is a powerful emotion that carries the potential to change the world around us. While empathy is a feeling that involves a caring, emotional response to the suffering of others, compassion adds to that a strong desire to ease our neighbor’s pain. It turns our concerns for others into action and is a critical emotion that moves us to bring hands and feet to the commandment: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

In the 24th and 25th chapters of the book of Matthew, Jesus began his teaching concerning the signs of the End Times. The text contains warnings and distressing words surrounding the end of the church age. At the end of his sermon, Jesus talked about separating the “sheep” from the “goats” in reference to how God will judge the world and men’s deeds. He then offered an allegory:

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited me in; naked, and you clothed me; I was sick, and you visited me; I was in prison, and you came to me.’”

In the parable, the men did not understand the king’s words since they had not done anything to help him. The king then clarified:

“Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of mine, even the least of them, you did it to me.’”

“Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of mine, even the least of them, you did it to me.’” @AJC #Freewheelchairmission #freewheelchairs #compassion
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Regardless of one’s belief concerning Christ and his teachings, this passage should give us pause.

True Religion

It does not matter how many times we grace the doors of our sanctuaries, how many religious titles we hold, how often we read Scriptures, or how many hours we spend in prayer. Jesus’ warning is clear: If our religion does not translate into compassion toward the needy, we should undoubtedly search our hearts.

If our religion does not translate into compassion toward the needy, we should undoubtedly search our hearts. @AJC #Freewheelchairmission #freewheelchairs #compassion
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Indeed, later on in the New Testament, the apostle James beautifully summarized Jesus’ teachings in the Gospels concerning religion:

“Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.”

In December 2022, I interviewed Dr. Don Schoendorfer, a bioengineer and founder of the Free Wheelchair Mission. In our conversation, I asked about the moment the idea for his organization was born.

Schoendorfer was in Morocco on vacation in 1979 when he witnessed a woman without legs crawling across a street while numerous people walked past the dirty, breathless figure struggling to make it to the other side of the road.

The scene never left his heart. Years later, God used the compassion Schoendorfer felt in Morocco to challenge him to use his decades working as a bio-engineer for the medical device industry to start the foundation that has provided free wheelchairs for 1.4 million people worldwide since 2001. His new book, “Miracle Wheels,” tells the story in a compelling way that has challenged me to think about how I am using my God-given talents to help others in need.

For me, it is sharing the Gospel’s life-changing message with women in shelters while providing for their needs, as well as teaching believers struggling with hardships to find the abundant life that Christ has promised through the unchanging truths of Scriptures.

What about you?

What is your niche? How can your experiences and gifts compassionately change the world around you?

Regardless of our financial status or feelings of inadequacy, genuine compassion finds a way to do something with the gifts and talents God has bestowed upon us to help others.

May we be challenged to find a way to turn our empathy toward the hurting and needy into compassion, lest our religion becomes empty and, worst of all, unnoticed by the King.

May we be challenged to find a way to turn our empathy toward the hurting and needy into compassion, lest our religion becomes empty and, worst of all, unnoticed by the King. @AJC #Freewheelchairmission #freewheelchairs #compassion
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Find out more about Free Wheelchair Mission and the book at www.freewheelchairmission.org/. Listen to Patricia’s interview with Dr. Schoendorfer on her podcast below.

This article was originally published in Patricia’s column for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Saturday, February 11, 2023. Click HERE to find it on the AJC’s website.

Listen to the podcast episode below. If you are reading this in your email, please CLICK HERE to listen to the podcast. This interview is also available on YouTube. CLICK HERE to watch it.

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The post Compassion Turns your Talents into Gifts {The Atlanta Journal-Constitution} appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.

I remember the day as if it were yesterday.

I was 9 years old when my parents called my brother and me to our living room and asked us to sit down. By the look on their faces, I knew we were in trouble or something terrible had happened.

Their voices were low, their words measured. Carefully, they told us a long story about my mom’s love for a baby abandoned at her aunt’s house. Mom was only 15 years old when she met the 9-month-old baby girl. Over the next several years, she fell in love with the petit blond, blue-eyed little toddler, and a strong bond began.

In her early 20s, my mom promised the young girl that when she got married, she would adopt her. And so, when my dad proposed, her only condition was that he agreed to adopt my sister.

And so it happened. After a short honeymoon in Rio de Janeiro, Mom and Dad returned home to their beloved 8-year-old new daughter.

That is the beautiful adoption story of my oldest sister.

My little brother and I were surprised to find out that Ana was adopted, but my parents’ concerns about our reaction were unwarranted. Our oldest sister was, well, our beloved sister. Period. Nothing would ever change that.

Through the years, God has put people with incredible adoption stories in my life. Not only have I witnessed my sister’s life flourish, but several of my friends have adopted children, and it has been a blessing to witness their stories unfold.

For people of the Christian faith, we also understand adoption from a spiritual perspective. The Bible contains many passages portraying our relationship to God as adopted children. Perhaps the most known is found in the eighth chapter of the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Roman church:

“For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.”

Indeed, adoption started in God’s heart. And just as it changed our eternal condition as believers, earthly adoptions change the lives of millions of children who would otherwise remain in orphanages without hope for a secure future.

Adoption started in God’s heart. And just as it changed our eternal condition as believers, earthly adoptions change the lives of millions of children who would otherwise remain in orphanages without hope for a secure future. @AJC…
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I recently talked to Alex and Stephen Kendrick of Kendrick Productions about “Lifemark,” their first movie based on a true story. The film, produced in partnership with actor and evangelist Kirk Cameron and Phantom events, tells the story of David, an 18-year-old whose life turns upside down when his birth mother unexpectedly contacts him. To David’s surprise, she expresses the desire to meet the son she gave up for adoption when she was a teenager.

The Journey

With the encouragement and support of his adoptive parents, David chooses to meet his birth mother, and a journey starts, leading him to discover the astounding truth about his past.

During our interview, the Kendrick brothers described the incredible impact the movie has caused, including testimonies of young women who were contemplating abortion and chose to give birth to their babies after watching David’s true story.

But “Lifemark” goes beyond a “pro-birth” message. Rather, it highlights the preciousness of life in general, as the birth mother’s choice shaped many people’s lives. The young teenager’s decision to give birth to David gave him a chance to have an incredible life and a loving family. It also blessed countless people touched by the young man’s outstanding and caring character, including, eventually, his birth mother.

The movie Lifemark goes beyond a “pro-birth” message. Rather, it highlights the preciousness of life in general, as the birth mother’s choice shaped many people’s lives. @AJC @KendrickBros @LookItsJustEPIC
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As a person whose life was also forever impacted by my sister’s adoption and her birth mother’s choice, I am deeply grateful for the beautiful message in “Lifemark” and the producers who bravely decided to feature this remarkable story.

Find out more about “Lifemark” at lifemarkmovie.com/. Listen to Patricia’s interview with Alex and Stephen Kendrick on her podcast God-Sized Stories with Patricia Holbrook (links below).

Patricia Holbrook is a columnist, author, podcaster and international speaker. Visit her website www.soaringwithHim.com. Subscribe to her podcast and YouTube channel for all interviews. For speaking engagements and comments, email pholbrook@soaringwithhim.com

This article was originally published in Patricia’s column for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Saturday, January 28, 2023. Click HERE to find it on the AJC’s website.

Listen to the podcast episode below. If you are reading this in your email, please CLICK HERE to listen to the podcast. This interview is also available on YouTube. CLICK HERE to watch it.

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The post Adoption – Choosing to Change Lives {The Atlanta Journal-Constitution} appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.

Experiencing a Fresh Encounter with God

As believers start their faith walk, perhaps one of the most common questions in their hearts is, “How do I know that God is speaking to me?”

Because one of Christianity’s core beliefs is that through our relationship with the Messiah, we gain access to God’s throne and, therefore, can hear directly from him through the Holy Spirit, learning to listen to God is undoubtedly every faithful believer’s desire.

But hearing God speak is only the first step to receiving his guidance and promises. We also need insight into how he operates and where he is at work.

Hearing God speak is only the first step to receiving his guidance and promises. We also need insight into how he operates and where he is at work. @AJC @ExperiencingGod @richardblackaby
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God is always at work

What if we start with the premise that God is always at work around us and wants to invite us to participate in what is already happening in the world?

That is the premise of one of the most popular Bible studies ever written: “Experiencing God: Knowing and Doing the Will of God” by Dr. Henry Blackaby. The study was published over three decades ago and quickly became a global phenomenon, selling over 8 million copies and being translated into over 75 languages.

Blackaby wrote the original book, “Experiencing God,” from the lessons he learned from a lifetime of blind obedience to God’s voice.

God prompted him to leave a comfortable situation pastoring a church in Los Angeles to lead a tiny, dying congregation in Saskatoon, Canada. The small church had collected only $90 in offerings the entire month before the Blackabys’ arrival. Against all earthly advice, they knew they had reached a crossroads in their spiritual lives: The Blackabys’ were certain God had called them to Canada and chose to trust that he would provide and guide them in this seemingly unlikely venture.

From this step of obedience, God opened incredible doors to expand Blackaby’s ministry. In the next 12 years, the Blackaby family saw God work miraculously, expanding their ministry to 38 missions and mission posts and a Bible college.

Experiencing God, the book.

The original book, “Experiencing God,” was born after numerous people asked Blackaby to share the steps he followed to hear, understand, obey and experience God in supernatural ways.

I participated in the “Experiencing God” Bible study over a decade ago at my church. The lessons and experiences I gathered from the study still impact my spiritual life today. In the book and Bible study, Blackaby shares “Seven Realities” in what he calls the “love relationship” between God and his children.

I recently interviewed Henry and Marilyn Blackaby’s oldest son, Dr. Richard Blackaby, president of Blackaby Ministries International and general editor of the newly revised Experiencing God Bible, released in August 2022.

This new study Bible was compiled using the content of the “Experiencing God” book and Bible Study and the full Bible text. It contains elements common among study Bibles, such as book introductions, cross references, and concordances. But it also offers readers other fresh, unique features, such as “Prepare to meet God” boxes, which highlight the “God Focus” theme in the context of each chapter, challenging the reader to find out what God is saying to them, personally, as they meditate upon the Bible’s passages.

I have been an advocate of study Bibles for many years, as I have experienced firsthand their usefulness in better understanding the historical, social and spiritual context of books that otherwise may be hard to comprehend. These Bibles also offer insightful applications of biblical texts for everyday issues and life questions.

An intimate perspective on how God operates

The “Experiencing God” Bible offers a more intimate perspective on hearing God speak and learning how he operates. It is an excellent resource for those who want a fresh encounter with God this year.

The “Experiencing God” Bible offers a more intimate perspective on hearing God speak and learning how he operates. It is an excellent resource for those who want a fresh encounter with God this year. @AJC @ExperiencingGod…
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It never ceases to amaze me how the Creator of the universe poured his glory and wisdom into the hearts of flawed men to pen his love letter to humanity and invite us to take part in his glorious plan.

“When we hear his call and respond accordingly, there will be no limit to what God can and will do through his people. But if we do not even recognize when he is speaking, we are in trouble at the very heart of our relationship with him.” — Henry Blackaby

Find out more about the “Experiencing God” Bible at csbexperiencinggodbible.com/.

This article was originally published in Patricia’s column for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Saturday, January 14, 2023. Click HERE to find it on the AJC’s website.

Dr. Blackaby is giving away a copy of the Experiencing God Study Bible to one of Patricia’s followers!!!

Just share this post or podcast on social media and tag Patricia for a chance to win. The winner will be announced on social media.

Listen to the podcast episode below. If you are reading this in your email, please CLICK HERE to listen to the podcast. This interview is also available on YouTube. CLICK HERE to watch it.

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LINKUP PARTY opens on January 18 at 6 am!

Christian Bloggers, come share your Blog with our audience below:

1. Add your Link.

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Linkup is open! Join us and read about Blackaby's incredible faith journey. Share this post for a chance to win a copy of @Richardblackaby 's new Experiencing God Study Bible. Join us and share your blog!
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The post Column & Interview with Dr. Richard Blackaby {Experiencing God Bible} appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.