Christian Devotions SPEAK UP!

Join us this week on Christian Devotions SPEAK UP! when Scott McCausey interviews a gal who’s sold over a million books.

Joanna Weaver is known the world over for her transparent and life-changing books, Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World and Having a Mary Spirit. These two books have sold over a million copies and have been translated into several languages including Spanish, French, Dutch, Chinese, German, Korean and more. Joanna has appeared on a wide variety of nationally syndicated radio and television broadcasts. Past appearances include: Focus on the Family, The Harvest Show, Moody's Midday Connection, HomeWord, and Janet Parschall's America. She is also a highly sought-after speaker and shares her message at intimate gatherings and several high profile events each year. But of all her roles, including serving beside her pastor husband, Joanna loves being a wife and mother most of all.

Joanna’s latest book, At the Feet of Jesus, will be a focal point of this insightful interview. For more information about Joanna and her books, please visit www.joannaweaverbooks.com.

Jason Lovin's mother was raped at the age of fifteen and her Christian mother (Jason’s grandmother) said abortion was not an option. Since it was rape, Jason doesn’t know his father and his earliest childhood memory was his third birthday, which was also his mom’s high school graduation. Jason’s family made it very clear to him that he doesn’t have an earthly father, but he has a heavenly Father who loves him more than he'll ever know.

Jason is a very successful worship artist who shares his powerful story from the stage, but has never really told his story publicly through the press. He started playing music in college and now is the head of the Jason Lovins Band that plays forty weeks out of the year and has shared the stage with such high-profile artists as Michael W. Smith, Mercy Me, Kari Jobe, and Big Daddy Weave, as well as many others. 

The Jason Lovins Band based out of Ashland, KY, stems from the Appalachian Mountains and a culture traditionally dominated by country and Southern gospel music. Jason embraces this idea and incorporates it into the contemporary sound of the band, creating a unique blend of old and new. The band includes four other members: Ryan Werner, Jose Mendoza, Rodney Mora, and Jake Dorsey. All of them come from various musical backgrounds, giving rise to a diverse sound that remains unique within the industry. Jason and the band travel all year long across the country spreading their message at numerous events including state conferences, revivals, student camps, and various other venues. They continue to build a fan base that keeps people wanting more of what they offer. Their mission is simple: take the focus off self and point it to the One they sing about.

Victoria Griffith has a story to tell, one she's wanted to share since she was eight and first knew she wanted to sing. As Victoria sang in church and local talent shows, a dream developed to share her music and a message of God's blessing.

While studying at Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee, Victoria sang with the Campus Choir and the Praise Team, and also played trumpet in the Symphonic Band. She seriously considered a career in music. But although Victoria's parents were always supportive, they were wary of a music career and cautioned her about taking that direction. They trusted her to make good decisions and wanted her to get an education first, and Victoria respected their concerns.

Victoria met her manager, Jerry Clifton, a well-known businessman, music manager, and talent scout from Rainsville, Alabama, in her teens when she sang at his church. Jerry's colorful personality, formal suit, and Mickey Mouse T-shirt made an impression. She saw him from time to time at her concerts, but he never seemed to be interested in working with her. Once, when he was telling Victoria about working with a singer he thought was promising, she spoke up and asked for his help. That was all Jerry needed. He had been a fan of Victoria's music for years but thought she didn't want to pursue music as a career because of her parents' concerns. But by this time, her parents had given their full blessing to Victoria's dream of singing.

Today, Victoria has her first CD, Wellspring in the Wilderness and a powerful testimony to share about this adventure. Don’t miss this inspiring episode and be sure to check out Victoria at http://www.victoriagriffithmusic.com.

Join us this week on Christian Devotions SPEAK UP! when Scott McCausey interviews speaker and author RaShad Bristo.

RaShad's childhood dream was to become a police officer. He decided to pursue that dream after graduating from Grambling State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice. Hired and deputized by DeSoto Parish Sheriff's Office, RaShad was sent to the police academy. 

Opposition and discrimination met RaShad head-on as having one arm seemed to become a crime in itself. After going through weeks of vigorous training, he was denied certification to become an officer. Emotionally wounded and with a dream almost shattered, he recalled the words his grandfather told him as a boy: "Son, your disability does not define you, your determination does." 

After several years, RaShad became the only person in the State of Louisiana and the first person in the country with one arm to successfully graduate from a police academy and work in law enforcement as a deputy sheriff, D.A.R.E. officer, juvenile probation officer, and correctional officer.

You will be encouraged as RaShad Bristo recounts his story and tells us we all have choices to be bitter or better. Discover more about him at his web site: http://www.rashadbristo.net/.

If you know someone who would be a great guest on Christian Devotions SPEAK UP! contact [email protected].

Adriana Vermillion is a POTTY Trainer—Passionate Optimal Thinker Training the "Y" ("why me") Generation. She is a graduate of the International Baccalaureate Program of Mehadia, Romania with a degree in math and science and a minor in business management.

As a student, Adriana had a passion for writing. She wrote her first manuscript at the age of twelve and started writing articles while working as the main editor for the literary journal in high school and college. Working as an editor, she had the opportunity to tutor students in both writing and editing.

Moving to America in the nineties, along with learning a new language and culture while starting a family, took away the dream of publishing her writings. As her speaking career expanded, she began to think more and more about writing.

Adriana finally became published and is now the author of over 100 articles, as well as ten blogs on various subjects. She is working on a few children's books while finishing a memoir, the novel she wrote in high school, some parenting books, and also small children's books along with her son, Nate Vermillion.

Adriana is pursuing her PhD in psychology, heading more and more in the direction of working with children, parents, and teaching the "Y" Generation. She is an avid traveler, parenting teacher, life coach, and gourmet food aficionado who loves writing restaurant reviews, cutting-edge articles about culinary culture, parenting, self-healing, and self-help. If you find her at a coffee shop, she may very well be telling you why she likes her coffee black, or may entertain you with a tale about her family. In so many words, Adriana is a motivational speaker and she speaks to crowds of two or 2000.

In a career that spans thirty years, Michael Card has recorded over thirty-one albums, authored or co-authored over twenty-four books, hosted a radio program, and written for a wide range of magazines. While he has penned such favorites as “El Shaddai,” “Love Crucified Arose,” and “Emmanuel,” He never imagined selling more than four million albums or writing over nineteen #1 hits. The popularity of his work seemed a stark contrast to his goal in life, to simply and quietly teach the Bible.

Although music provided him the opportunity to share insight gained through extensive research, writing songs alone limited what he felt called to share. Card would frequently agonize over having to condense the vast depth and richness of scripture into a three-minute song. And so he fell, quite naturally, into the field of book writing where he has garnered numerous awards.

Never one to compartmentalize his spiritual life, Card’s quest for community slowly seeped into his professional life as he began to write articles and books on topics that captured his imagination through conversations with Bible teachers, friends, and contemporaries in both Christian music and the academic community.

Michael is a graduate of Western Kentucky University, where he earned his bachelors and master degrees in biblical studies. Michael has also received honorary PhDs in music and Christian education from Whitfield Seminary and Philadelphia Biblical University.

Michael lives in Franklin, Tennessee where, with a group of close friends, he pursues racial reconciliation and neighborhood renewal. He and his wife, Susan, have four children.

Join us this week on Christian Devotions SPEAK UP! when Scott McCausey chats with Jenny Cote.

Award-winning author Jenny L. Cote developed an early passion for God, history, and young people, and beautifully blends these passions together in her two fantasy fiction series, The Amazing Tales of Max and Liz and Epic Order of the Seven. Likened to C.S. Lewis by book reviewers and bloggers, Jenny provides creative writing workshops at schools and universities around the country and abroad.

A native of Norfolk, Virginia, Jenny holds two marketing degrees from the University of Georgia and Georgia State University. Prior to writing, her career focused on strategic planning and marketing, specifically in healthcare at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. She now writes and speaks full time and lives in Roswell, Georgia, with her husband Casey and son Alex. Jenny is active in the student ministry at Dunwoody Baptist Church, and enjoys reading, research, museums, music, travel, meeting people, fitness, and finding any excuse she can to get to the beach.

Kevin Sorbo has enjoyed success on television for over twenty consecutive years, a feat rarely accomplished by an actor. Sorbo quickly rose to stardom in the title role of the hit series, Hercules, the Legendary Journeys. The immense popularity of the five initial 2-hour telefilms in 1993 resulted in the launch of a weekly series by 1994. The series not only became a breakout hit by becoming the number one first-run program in syndication, it also passed Baywatch as the most watched TV show in the world.

Following the success of Hercules, Sorbo went on to star in the lead role of Captain Dylan Hunt in Gene Roddenberry’s, Andromeda. The series, based upon writings from the late StarTrek creator’s archives, debuted as the number one show in first run syndication and held that spot throughout it’s five year run from 2000-2005.

In 1997, Sorbo made his feature film debut in Universal Studio's Kull, the Conqueror, a prequel to Conan, the Barbarian. Other films include, Walking Tall, The Payback, Lone Justice, Last Chance Café, Something Beneath, Clipping Adam, Never Cry Werewolf, An American Carol with David Zucker, Meet the Spartans, Lightning Strikes, Tommy and the Cool Mule, Prairie Fever, and Avenging Angel, which aired the summer of 2007 and was the third highest rated movie in the history of the Hallmark Channel. Sorbo also starred in the movie being highlighting during the program Abel's Field, which releases to DVD the day of this interview.

Join us this week on Christian Devotions SPEAK UP! when Scott McCausey talks art with Matt Tommey.

Matt has been engaged in creative ministry for over twenty years in both the US and internationally as a worship leader, songwriter, and visual artisan. He is the author of Unlocking the Heart of the Artist, Worship Arts Leader at King of Glory Church in Asheville, NC, and founder of The Worship Studio. From his own journey of brokenness, Matt has a deep passion to see artists and creative people walk in wholeness and reveal the glory of God through their creative expression in ways that facilitate cultural transformation and revival. Through mentoring, teaching, and his own creative expression, Matt pursues a life that reflects the glory of God.

Matt is also a graphic artist and Appalachian basket maker. As a professional contemporary basket artist, Matt is a leader in the basketry movement, serving on the board of directors of the National Basketry Organization and as an instructor at schools, guilds, and conventions around the country, including Arrowmont, the John C. Campbell Folk School, and the North Carolina Basketmakers Association Convention.

Married to Tanya, his family lives in Asheville, North Carolina. They have one son, Cameron. Matt regularly blogs on all things creative at: http://unlockingtheheart.wordpress.com/.

Join us this week on Christian Devotions SPEAK UP! when Scott McCausey uncovers medical tips from Dr. Rita Hancock about stress management using a biblical approach.

As a board-certified physician in both Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Pain Management, Dr. Rita Hancock specializes in helping her patients achieve optimal function in spite of their arthritic, painful joints. One way she does this is by helping them lose weight. Dr. Rita has not only Ivy League training in nutrition and the psychology of obesity, she also speaks from personal experience. She personally overcame a compulsive eating disorder, lost seventy-five pounds, and has kept it off for over twenty-seven years.

Dr. Rita's books include The Eden Diet (Zondervan 2008) and The Eden Diet Workbook, which are about learning to eat in response to physical rather than emotional hunger. Her latest book is called Radical Well-being: A Biblical Guide to Overcoming Pain, Illness, and Addictions (Siloam, January 8, 2013). Radical Well-being offers a road map for finding relief if you suffer with conditions such as fibromyalgia, migraine headaches, neck or back pain, irritable bowels, depression, anxiety, or compulsive behaviors like overeating, consuming drugs or alcohol, over-spending, etc.—especially if you desire a biblical approach to the management of those conditions.

Dr. Rita writes from the Christian perspective and lives in Oklahoma City with her husband and children.