Christian Devotions SPEAK UP!

Join us this week on Christian Devotions SPEAK UP! when Scott McCausey interviews two bloggers, Aimee Lynch & Dalyn Weller.

Aimee Lynch is an eighteen-year-old author who is passionate about the ministry God has called her to. At her blog, www.allfilledup.wordpress.com, she uses her experience with divorce to help other teen girls work through the issues that come with fatherlessness and divorce. She is currently exploring publishing options for her first book – an interactive devotional which uses real-life stories and biblical encouragement to talk with girls about how God can fill their hearts with His fatherhood.

Dalyn Weller carries a ton of titles through life. She’s the Dirt Road Diva, The Queen of Quite A lot, Wife, and Mom who lives on a small ranch (Milk 'n Honey Ranch) on a dirt road where the horses are keeping company with dairy goats, chickens, turkeys, a goose, honey bees, cats and dogs, kids, and the occasional un-invited coyote. The uniform is jeans, T-shirt, and flip flops; and if she means business it's muckboots and apron time! You can read her blog and discover more of her adventures at www.muckbootsnaprons.blogspot.com.

Join us this week on Christian Devotions SPEAK UP! when Scott McCausey talks to award winning performer Nathan Tasker.

Nathan Tasker is a prominent Christian singer/songwriter from Australia. He was named 2006 Artist of the Year and awarded Song of The Year by the Australian Christian Music Charts. He has written, recorded, and produced several gospel albums. His song Like You Love Me reached #1 on the TRAA weekly Contemporary Top 30. He has also been named Artist of the Year for 2011 by the TRAA, with his singles claiming 5th and 6th top songs of the year.

Nathan made his first public performance in 1993, and has since been involved in Christian ministry through writing, singing, and speaking. Over this period he has completed approximately 1200 performances. His work is wide reaching, and incorporates visits to schools, churches, conventions, prisons, and the media. Previously working from a Sydney base, he would annually visit the United States, Western Europe, the United Kingdom and South Africa. Nathan currently lives in Nashville with his wife Cassie.

As a contemporary Christian musician, his songs are not only focused on the Christian message of God’s love for mankind, but also cover many aspects of the human condition.

The group Erin Elizabeth is comprised of sisters Erin Nicole Bailey and Meagan Elizabeth Brown, who began writing songs at ages sixteen and thirteen. The two girls grew up in the little town of Bogue Chitto, Mississippi, which will always be considered home to them. However, eight years ago, the girls and their parents (Mark and Angie Brown) moved to Greenville, SC where Mark took the Associate Minister of Music position at Taylors First Baptist Church. This move opened the door to many musical opportunities for the whole family.

During the family’s six-year ministry at Taylors First, Mark, Erin and Meagan grew together as musicians. They began to use music as a tool to connect with people outside the church walls, playing styles that range across classic rock, country, contemporary Christian and Top 40 hits. God gave them opportunities to use this music to reach people through local community block parties and even had a part in church planting in Calgary, Alberta in Canada.

As Erin Elizabeth, these two young women, along with their family, are completely open to whatever God has in store and are willing to go wherever He asks them to go. Walking by faith has become their standard for living, and God has proven Himself faithful to provide many times. They are taking what God has given them and are choosing to give it right back so that He can use the gifts for His glory.

Join us this week on Christian Devotions SPEAK UP! when Scott McCausey speaks to Lisa Troyer, encourager of women everywhere.

Recording artist, author, conference leader, radio personality, worship leader, songwriter and ministry visionary, Lisa Troyer is involved in so many ministry endeavors, it could leave a person out of breath. For those who are willing to keep the pace, Lisa’s ministries are changing lives.

Lisa is a talk show host for Moody Radio as well as the lead host with Circle of Friends Radio, www.circleoffriends.fm, airing on more and more stations nationwide, including the pilot WEEC, Springfield, Ohio. This smooth and understated voice conveys friendship, inclusion, compassion, and care. It's no wonder many call her the “Christian radio Delilah.” And her ratings agree! Women everywhere are discovering Circle of Friends, not just as a radio program, but as a life-changing ministry. Through the avenues found on-line, at national conferences, social gatherings, local Bible studies, and on the iPod, Lisa Troyer and Circle of Friends are everywhere women find themselves in need of friends, and in need of a Savior. 

For more information, visit http://www.lisatroyer.com.

Join us this week on Christian Devotions SPEAK UP! when Scott McCausey speaks to author Cheryl Ricker.

Cheryl Ricker is a prize-winning poet who resides in southeast Minnesota with her husband and sons. Born and raised in Canada, Cheryl graduated from York University in Toronto with a degree in creative writing. Her passion to draw people closer to God led her to Christ For The Nations Institute, Dallas, where she ministered on the streets, on stage, and in prisons.

Cheryl is passionate about helping hurting adults find hope and healing by experiencing Christ in a fresh, personal way. While visiting a young mother with terminal cancer, Cheryl started writing comfort poetry that was turned into the life-changing gift book, A Friend in the Storm, recently published by Zondervan. A Friend in the Storm is a healing treasury of quotes, scripture, and poetry that leads to lasting hope. For more information on Cheryl, check out her website at www.cherylricker.com.

TROT & KATHRYN NIXON

 

Trot Nixon played twelve years in the Major Leagues for three different teams but is best known for his play with the Boston Red Sox, where he was a fixture in right field for ten seasons. He was among the most popular players in Boston due to his hustle and intensity.

Trot’s first full season with the Red Sox came in 1999 after being called-up sporadically the previous two seasons. He had a career-best year in 2003 when he batted .306 with twenty-four doubles and twenty-eight home runs. In the deciding game of the 2004 World Series, Trot hit a two-out, two-run double off the right field wall at Busch Stadium in St. Louis in the top of the third inning to give Boston a 3–0 lead. Those runs proved to be the difference as the Red Sox swept the Cardinals for the team’s first World Series title in eighty-six years. For the series, Trot batted .357 with three RBI’s.

Trot’s wife Kathryn was a guest on Speak UP last year and shared her heart through her book, The Spirit in Baseball. She and Trot have two children

Eric Thompson spent twenty-five years teaching high school math at Solon High School. During the first eight years of his time there he coached freshman football and basketball and served as the varsity assistant in baseball. His love of statistics and Jesus will shine during our interview as we discover more about his books and ministry.

Join us this week on Christian Devotions SPEAK UP! when Scott McCausey unveils what Blimey Cow is all about.

Jordan and Josh Taylor began shooting videos at a young age. Once they discovered how to integrate these videos onto the Internet, home school and youth group parodies began.

Jordan Taylor is currently a sophomore in college. He rode for the Cumberland Cycling Team from 2010 to 2011. Cycling is now just a hobby while he focuses on his English degree. Jordan enjoys being outdoors, camping, writing, playing Infection on Halo, and spending quality time with his best friends. (Twitter: @messyjordan)

Josh Taylor has a B.S. in mass communications with an emphasis on television and radio. He hosted a nightly radio show called The Evening Blend on the now defunct 89.1 FM WNAZ from 2009 to 2010 while in college. After graduating, Josh worked for WHTN as a master control operator for a year before becoming self-employed as a patent drawer for local attorneys. He enjoys board and card games, writing, audio production, economic lectures, and hanging out with his family. (Twitter: @joshtaylor388)

Kelli is Josh’s wife and best friend. She keeps Blimey Cow running efficiently . . . answering emails, writing videos, acting in said videos, etc. She enjoys writing, photography, cooking, planning, good movies, good friends, and good food. You can follow her adventures on her blog: www.SheLearnsasSheGoes.com.  (Twitter: @keenertaylor)

Join us this week on Christian Devotions SPEAK UP! when Scott McCausey interviews author, Marlene Banks.

Marlene Banks resides in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In addition to being a prolific writer, she has an associate degree in Theology from Rhema Bible Institute in Keysville, Virginia and is currently pursuing studies to initiate a Christian counseling ministry. Marlene is a member of Bethel Deliverance International Church in Wyncote, Pennsylvania. Her work resume includes forty years in nursing and business.

A divine gift of storytelling with her unique voice and love of Christ creates engaging and inspirational novels. She considers her fiction writing an avenue to communicate the gospel and Christian principles. It is also Marlene’s goal to bridge the gap between faith-based and secular literature. Ruth’s Redemption is her first release and Son of a Preacherman is her second. Discover more about Marlene at her website, www.marlenebanks.com.

Join us this week on Christian Devotions SPEAK UP! when Scott McCausey interviews a veteran radio host from Moody Radio, Chris Fabry.

Chris Fabry is an award-winning author and radio personality who hosts the daily program Chris Fabry Live! on Moody Radio. He is also heard on Love Worth Finding, Building Relationships with Dr. Gary Chapman, and other radio programs. A 1982 graduate of the W. Page Pitt School of Journalism at Marshall University and a native of West Virginia, Chris and his wife, Andrea, now live in Arizona and are the parents of nine children.

Chris' novels, which include Dogwood, June Bug, Almost Heaven, and Not in the Heart, have won two Christy Awards and an ECPA Christian Book Award, but it's his lyrical prose and tales of redemption that keep readers returning for more.

He has also published more than sixty-five other books, including nonfiction and novels for children and young adults. He coauthored Left Behind: The Kids Series with Jerry B. Jenkins and Tim LaHaye, as well as the Red Rock Mysteries and The Wormling Series with Jerry B. Jenkins. RPM is his latest series for kids and explores the exciting world of NASCAR. Hear Chris’s testimony on Speak UP and discover more about his ministry at www.chrisfabry.com.

A severe experience has a way of driving the lesson learned even deeper than your mind; it penetrates it into your very soul. The impact of such an unforgettable lesson can be life changing, especially if the lesson involves the faithfulness and wisdom of the Almighty God of the universe. During the month of June 2004, Frank and his wife Sue were enrolled in one of the most difficult courses that the school of “Hard Knocks” has to offer. Its title was “Dealing with the Loss of a Loved One.”  They were unwillingly subjected to two semesters of that disheartening course. 

The first semester involved the unexpected death of Frank’s father on Father’s Day, 2004.  The next semester took place only nine short days later, and was much more difficult than the first. It involved the tragic death of their precious son in a horrific motorcycle accident.  “Troy-boy was the youngest of our four children, and the last one at home. Words can’t begin to describe the excruciating pain I felt that day,” says Zitzman. Had it not been for the ONE who had enrolled them in this course, Frank and Sue would have never passed the test of overwhelming grief that flooded them. The same sovereign, omnipotent, awesome creator who initially allowed this elective; that same Almighty God lovingly came to their side and tutored them when needed most. 

In the years since this loss, the Zitman’s have formed a ministry called, Troy’s Creation Ministry. Discover more about their ministry at www.troyscreationhouse.com and listen to this powerful testimony on Speak UP!