Christian Devotions SPEAK UP!

Join us this week on Christian Devotions SPEAK UP! as host Scott McCausey shares Tammy Blackburn’s children book.

Tammy Blackburn is a children’s pastor, writer, speaker, and counselor. She has degrees in Early Childhood Development and Psychology. Her passions are writing, reading, teaching, and spending time with family, especially her grandchildren. Having raised three children of her own and teaching for nearly thirty years, Tammy has been asked questions of all kinds. She feels it is important to take the time to answer some of the most important ones through her writing. She has also experienced great loss and brokenness. She shares her journey to wholeness and victory through her writing and speaking. It is Tammy’s desire to make known to the next generation the mighty love and deeds of her heavenly Father.

Her latest book is called How Do I know? It can be purchased here: http://www.amazon.com/How-Do-Know-Tammy-Blackburn/dp/1938092783

Join us this week on Christian Devotions SPEAK UP! as host Scott McCausey shares Tammy Blackburn’s children book.

Tammy Blackburn is a children’s pastor, writer, speaker, and counselor. She has degrees in Early Childhood Development and Psychology. Her passions are writing, reading, teaching, and spending time with family, especially her grandchildren. Having raised three children of her own and teaching for nearly thirty years, Tammy has been asked questions of all kinds. She feels it is important to take the time to answer some of the most important ones through her writing. She has also experienced great loss and brokenness. She shares her journey to wholeness and victory through her writing and speaking. It is Tammy’s desire to make known to the next generation the mighty love and deeds of her heavenly Father.

Her latest book is called How Do I know? It can be purchased here: http://www.amazon.com/How-Do-Know-Tammy-Blackburn/dp/1938092783

Join us this week on Christian Devotions SPEAK UP! when host Scott McCausey talks to Natasha Owens about how God helped her during the tragic loss of her father.

Natasha Owens strives to perform songs of restoration that can help each listener through whatever trial they are facing, to let them know they are not alone—that there is a God who loves them and will never leave them. Her prayer is that when people listen to her songs, they feel God’s perfect peace, love, and comfort through the words, knowing with God’s help, they can make it through.

Just four years ago, Natasha’s father died tragically and unexpectedly, sending Natasha into a dark world of grief. An invitation to serve as a music minister in her church was the beginning of her healing and led to the genesis of her first album, I Made it Through. Primarily an album of restoration songs, it soon caught the attention of music industry heavyweights, leading to performance opportunities with Michael W. Smith, Jason Crabb, Sanctus Real, plus multiple award-winning producer, Ed Cash, who decided to jump on board for Natasha’s sophomore record, releasing Spring 2015. Aptly titled We Will Rise, it is a continuation of a journey of healing—from surviving to thriving. “The project took on a very clear direction,” she says. “I knew I had made it through, but it was time for more. It was just a stepping-stone."

Learn more about Natasha and her music during her interview on Speak UP, but also at her website: http://natashaowensmusic.com.

Join us this week on Christian Devotions SPEAK UP! when host Scott McCausey talks to Natasha Owens about how God helped her during the tragic loss of her father.

Natasha Owens strives to perform songs of restoration that can help each listener through whatever trial they are facing, to let them know they are not alone—that there is a God who loves them and will never leave them. Her prayer is that when people listen to her songs, they feel God’s perfect peace, love, and comfort through the words, knowing with God’s help, they can make it through.

Just four years ago, Natasha’s father died tragically and unexpectedly, sending Natasha into a dark world of grief. An invitation to serve as a music minister in her church was the beginning of her healing and led to the genesis of her first album, I Made it Through. Primarily an album of restoration songs, it soon caught the attention of music industry heavyweights, leading to performance opportunities with Michael W. Smith, Jason Crabb, Sanctus Real, plus multiple award-winning producer, Ed Cash, who decided to jump on board for Natasha’s sophomore record, releasing Spring 2015. Aptly titled We Will Rise, it is a continuation of a journey of healing—from surviving to thriving. “The project took on a very clear direction,” she says. “I knew I had made it through, but it was time for more. It was just a stepping-stone. Rising above is the true message.”

Learn more about Natasha and her music during her interview on Speak UP, but also at her website: http://natashaowensmusic.com.

Join us this week on Christian Devotions SPEAK UP! as Scott discusses overcoming trials with former NFL running back Samkon Gado.

Samkon Gado was born in Kufai, Taraba State, Nigeria. He moved to the United States with his family when he was nine years old. Samkon overcame many obstacles in his life—family turmoil, school bullying, and injuries—before football became the outlet in which he excelled.

The “Nigerian Nightmare” set high school records for rushing yards, prompting scholarship offers to attend Liberty College. He found his place on the team, amassing touchdowns which caught the eye of NFL scouts. Gado signed with the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2005. Hampered by injuries and a full roster of players at his position, he was cut and quickly picked up by the Green Bay Packers. Samkon made the most of this opportunity and posted impressive statistics in his rookie campaign. But once again, the injury bug struck and he spent the next five years bouncing from team to team before retiring after the 2010 season.

Samkon went back to school at the Medical University of South Carolina where he works toward becoming an ENT (ear/nose/throat) specialist.

Join us this week on Christian Devotions SPEAK UP! as Scott chats about choosing life in Christ as well as post-abortion healing with Sydna Masse of Ramah International.

Ramah International, Inc. was founded by Sydna A. Masse, a post-abortive woman who experienced God’s healing touch eleven years after her abortion through a crisis pregnancy center’s ministry program. Upon hearing a recent statistic from the research arm of Planned Parenthood, the largest abortion provider in the world that “… 43% of women will experience abortion at least once by the age of 45 years,” she began efforts to minister directly to these hearts.

Previous to her work through Ramah, Sydna served Dr. James C. Dobson as the Manager of Focus on the Family’s Crisis Pregnancy Ministry. Through her seven years directing that ministry, she saw first-hand the limited resources available to mothers, fathers, grandparents, and siblings touched by an abortion decision. Her first effort to reach these hearts is available through her book — Her Choice to Heal: Finding Spiritual and Emotional Peace After Abortion, which is currently available from the resources area of this website and in most Christian bookstores.

If you have suffered from a past abortion decision, or know someone dealing with this pain, help is available. Contact Ramah International for more information at 479-445-6070.

Join us this week on Christian Devotions SPEAK UP! as Scott chats about choosing life in Christ as well as post-abortion healing with Sydna Masse of Ramah International.

Ramah International, Inc. was founded by Sydna A. Masse, a post-abortive woman who experienced God’s healing touch eleven years after her abortion through a crisis pregnancy center’s ministry program. Upon hearing a recent statistic from the research arm of Planned Parenthood, the largest abortion provider in the world that “… 43% of women will experience abortion at least once by the age of 45 years,” she began efforts to minister directly to these hearts.

Previous to her work through Ramah, Sydna served Dr. James C. Dobson as the Manager of Focus on the Family’s Crisis Pregnancy Ministry. Through her seven years directing that ministry, she saw first-hand the limited resources available to mothers, fathers, grandparents, and siblings touched by an abortion decision. Her first effort to reach these hearts is available through her book — Her Choice to Heal: Finding Spiritual and Emotional Peace After Abortion, which is currently available from the resources area of this website and in most Christian bookstores.

If you have suffered from a past abortion decision, or know someone dealing with this pain, help is available. Contact Ramah International for more information at 479-445-6070.

Join us this week on Christian Devotions SPEAK UP!  as laughter and an encouraging testimony take center stage as Scott interviews Torry Martin.

Although Martin has a long list of accomplishments as an actor, author, storyteller, and a stand-up comedian, he prefers to use his gifts for laughter, writing, and entertaining to bring serious messages to audiences through the softening blows of humor. After telling a typical “Torry Story” revolving around his own blundering and misfortune, Martin pulls in the spiritual lesson in a sometimes subtle way. “If I can keep them laughing while they’re learning, it doesn’t hurt their brains as much.”

Martin was a stand-up comic and actor in Los Angeles before he became a Christian. After finding the Lord, Martin moved to Alaska and lived in a remote cabin with a friend who was studying for ministry. He gave up acting and comedy for two years and studied the Bible while becoming grounded in his faith. After being encouraged by some friends at his church, Torry began writing comedy sketches which he entered into the national competition sponsored by the Gospel Music Association called Christian Artists, now called Seminar in the Rockies. He won the grand prize two years in a row and now returns annually as an instructor. Martin has written for Adventures in Odyssey, a children’s radio series produced by Focus on the Family. For this self-proclaimed “hippie-for-the-Holy-One,” the melding of talent and faith has also resulted in the release of several books, including Under the Circumstances, and What a Character. Both are collections of comedy sketches about Christian life.

Bob Hostetler is an award-winning writer, editor, pastor, and speaker from southwestern Ohio. His thirty books, which include The Bone Box and American Idols (The Worship of the American Dream), have sold millions of copies. He has co-authored eleven books with Josh McDowell, including the best-selling Right from Wrong (What You Need to Know to Help Youth Make Right Choices), and the award-winning Don't Check Your Brains at the Door. He has won two Gold Medallion Awards, four Ohio Associated Press awards, and an Amy Foundation Award, among others. Bob is a frequent speaker at churches, conferences, and retreats.

Bob was ordained to the ministry in 1980 by The Salvation Army. He and his wife, the lovely Robin, served in The Salvation Army from 1980-1992. In addition to his training for ministry with The Salvation Army, he earned degrees in English Bible from Cincinnati Christian University and English Communications from Bloomfield College.

In 2000, Bob (with his wife) helped to co-found Cobblestone Community Church in Oxford, Ohio. He has served that church in leadership and teaching pastor roles. He has been a disc jockey, pastor, magazine editor, freelance book editor, and (with his wife Robin) a foster parent to ten boys (though not all at once). Bob and Robin have two adult children, Aubrey and Aaron, son-in-law Kevin and daughter-in-law Nina, and grandchildren Miles, Mia, Calleigh, and Ryder. They live in Hamilton, Ohio.

Bob Hostetler is an award-winning writer, editor, pastor, and speaker from southwestern Ohio. His thirty books, which include The Bone Box and American Idols (The Worship of the American Dream), have sold millions of copies. He has co-authored eleven books with Josh McDowell, including the best-selling Right from Wrong (What You Need to Know to Help Youth Make Right Choices), and the award-winning Don't Check Your Brains at the Door. He has won two Gold Medallion Awards, four Ohio Associated Press awards, and an Amy Foundation Award, among others. Bob is a frequent speaker at churches, conferences, and retreats.

Bob was ordained to the ministry in 1980 by The Salvation Army. He and his wife, the lovely Robin, served in The Salvation Army from 1980-1992. In addition to his training for ministry with The Salvation Army, he earned degrees in English Bible from Cincinnati Christian University and English Communications from Bloomfield College.

In 2000, Bob (with his wife) helped to co-found Cobblestone Community Church in Oxford, Ohio. He has served that church in leadership and teaching pastor roles. He has been a disc jockey, pastor, magazine editor, freelance book editor, and (with his wife Robin) a foster parent to ten boys (though not all at once). Bob and Robin have two adult children, Aubrey and Aaron, son-in-law Kevin and daughter-in-law Nina, and grandchildren Miles, Mia, Calleigh, and Ryder. They live in Hamilton, Ohio.