Austin Faith & Family- Helping Hands Edition (June 2010)

2010

HELPING

SPECIAL EDITION

Hands

A Yearly Guide for Your Time, Your Talent & Your Treasures

Capital Area Food Bank Ending hunger

Faith in Action Rescuing our Seniors

Caring Family Network Providing safe homes

MS150 Ride An awesome experience

A yearly source from the Austin Faith & Family

Think Outside the Pew

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

HELPING

2010

Faith Family

Hands

Publisher: Lee Eddins, H.O.T. Publishing, LLC Lee@AustinFaithandFamily.com (512) 689-2717

A Yearly Guide for Your Time, Your Talent & Your Treasures

In This Issue 4 Helping Hands: A Yearly Guide for Your Time, Your Talent & Your Treasures 25 The Granny Gap: “Nursing our Babies: Then and Now” 28 Along the Way: Beyond Self-Toward Service 34 Don’t Miss 35 Students of the Month: Zach & Michael Young 38 Head to Heart: The Health Benefits of Giving 40 Mommy Time With Miranda: Children at Heart Ministries: Hope Served Here 41 20 Words: The Power of 2: Collaborating on Campus 42 Travel: Giving Back While You Travel 44 A View from the Blue Roof: The Texas Ramp Project: Folks Who Simply Care 45 Catching The Light: My Cup Overflows: He Who Has Much, Has Much to Give 45 Just A Good Cook Focus: 23 Focus Non Profit: Texas Fine Arts Academy 23 Focus Kids: Lakeway Church 27 Focus Non Profit: Young Women and Young

Editor: Marcy Lytle Marcy@AustinFaithandFamily.com

Contributing Writers: Lee Eddins, Marcy Lytle, Lauren Lacey, Joe Elliott, Lauren Turner, Miranda Bradley, Debbie Stevens, Laurie Loew, Dave Ramsey, Melissa Critz, Kamrin Wolfe, Jo Ann Armstrong, Mariah Wilde, Richard Landry, Trent Peng, Keith Gravesmill, Sandra Alton, Kie Bowman, Sam Maniscalco, Pieper Stewart, Lorie Goggin, Lucy Howard, Kie Bowman, Nancy Keetch, Efrem McKnight, Susan Stern, Glen Huschka, Mark Trice, Sean Doles and Al Jones

Photos: Lee Eddins Graphic Design: Beth Rountree Advertising Sales: Susan Stern | (512) 773-3240 Susan@AustinFaithandFamily.com Lee Eddins | (512) 689-2717 Lee@AustinFaithandFamily.com

Men of Destiny

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Focus Church: Angels Healing and Recovery Church 20 Words p.41

LifeStyle: 20 Health Matters: YMCA: The Heart of Community Life 20 Diet & Nutrition: Blood Donation and Anemia 36 Moms Who Save: by Giving 37 Spend Life Well: Don’t Believe Everything You Hear: Retirement May Be Closer Than You Think

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Top 10: Why Not?

Special Features: 24 YMCA of Austin 25 2nd Annual Golf Tournament: Ryan Jason Blackmon 26 Christian Women’s Job Corps:

Special Feature: Ryan Jason Blackmon p.25

Austin Faith and Family is committed to encouraging individuals in their daily lives by presenting the faith stories of others and providing information that will point every person, at every stage of life, to a deeper, authentic, personal and life-changing encounter with Jesus Christ. Views expressed in Austin Faith & Family do not necessarily represent those of the publisher.

Every effort has been made by the Austin Faith & Family staff to ensure accuracy of the publication contents. However, we do not guarantee the accuracy of all information, nor the absences of errors and omissions; hence, no responsibility can be, or is assumed. All Rights Reserved. Copyright 2010 by H.O.T. Publishing, LLC.

Building Authentic Christian Community

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MS150: An Awesome Ride

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of International Bible Society.

Taking a Mulligan: One Father’s Perspective

In Every Issue: 18 Letters 19 City Scene 22 Spiritual Coffee 22 News of the Weird 32 Moments of Obedience: Find Your Story 34 The Christian Brothers Automotive Calendar 36 Dave Says 39 The Source Church Directory 46 The Back Pew 46 Rave Reviews www.AustinFaithandFamily.com

Just A Good Cook p.45 Austin Faith & Family is published monthly and is available at high traffic locations throughout the metropolitan area. Copies are also available by subscription, $25 for one year. Single issues available for $3 an issue.

Volume 1, Number 13 Mommy Time With Miranda p.40

Available at all HEB, Randalls & Central Market stores in the Greater Austin Area

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Hands

A Yearly Guide for Your Time, Your Talent & Your Treasures Time, Talent and Treasure…….maybe it’s just me, but it seems I never have enough of any of these, and certainly not all at the same time. The nonprofits featured in this month’s issue are all worthy to be recipients of any and all of the blessings we can give to them.

With summer at our doorsteps, we all need to figure out ways to help the less fortunate in our community. How do we do this with not enough hours in the day and not enough money in our bank account? Just like your family, your friendships, or your 401K, you make it a priority, and the rewards you receive for doing so will be directly related to the efforts you put forth.

“A man reaps what he sows.” – Galatians 6:7 Time is the great equalizer. Everyone has the same amount of minutes in their day and a minute is one of the few things you can’t buy more of. Carving out the time to volunteer is an extremely rewarding experience. Now that the children will be out of school, or your college-aged kids have returned home, find a cause you feel passionate about and make it a family event. Maybe your teenage children have the time, and you have a bit of talent or a little treasure that can be shared. Not only will you learn a lot about the needs in your community, you will learn a lot about yourself and your children. Whether it is delivering meals to the homebound, helping clean up a park, volunteering at an animal shelter, teaching someone to read, or sorting food at the food bank, there is some type of volunteer work you can do that will fit into the family schedule.

“Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. – 1 Peter 4:10 Talent is something that is best shared. So many nonprofits are in need of talented board members to help them. Are you good with numbers? Enjoy planning events? Great at fundraising? With over 6600 nonprofits in the Austin metro area, there is a nonprofit aligned with your passion. If you’re not interested in being on a board, you can volunteer to be on a committee. Have an artistic talent? You can teach an art class, play your guitar, share your love of dancing, read poetry, help create a garden, paint a mural, make a soup bowl - the list goes on and on.

“He who gives to the poor will lack nothing, but he who closes his eyes to them receives many curses.” – Proverbs 28:27 With growing families, aging parents, and job insecurities, for many, our treasures may be limited. Sharing your treasure doesn’t mean there must be a lot of zeros behind the number. Start small - put 25 cents aside each day. Start today, and by the end of the year the quarters you have accumulated will provide one of the following – 370 pounds of apples for the food bank; 20 meals for an elderly person who is homebound; transportation to help someone get to school, to work or to job interviews for 5 months with an unlimited bus pass, or a spay/neuter surgery preventing (and ultimately saving) the lives of more than 1000 dogs or cats over 5 years.

Where to start.

Go to www.ilivehereigivehere.org or www.greenlights.org to learn more. Just start. That might just be the hardest part. But once you do, the rewards are endless. Not only will you learn more about the community in which you live, you’ll discover something or someone that will transform your life forever!

Laurie Loew

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Personnatlee G u a ra What's Your Priority?

Now that I am in business for myself, I have experienced something called a Personal Guarantee. When I was first trying to decide how to set up our business, the one thing that everyone told me from whom I asked advice was that the way to set up a business was a Limited Liability Corporation. This was in case the business failed, I would not be held responsible for our personal money and assets. Well, wouldn’t you know, everyone I have done business with, "business" being the key word, wants what is called a Personal Guarantee, as well. This means that if I were to default or go out of business, they want me to give a personal guarantee that I will pay out of my own personal money. I have no problem with this, but it seems a little silly to me in some respects…if I go out of business, I won’t have any personal money with which to guarantee a business account. Last time I looked (and I did right before I wrote this, in hopes that I was wrong), I did not have a “personal money tree" in the backyard that only worked if my business failed. So guess what? If the business goes, we are all probably out of luck! And keeping four kids from going hungry, and keeping my family covered, would take priority…sorry Beth.

I want to challenge each reader to give a Personal Guarantee to one of the worthy organizations in the Helping Hands 2010 edition. Personally guarantee their success as they truly provide helping hands to those who need them. After each organization, we provide you with a spot to “Personally Guarantee” either your Time, Your Talent or Your Treasure to them at some point throughout the year. There is no greater gift, or more rewarding gift, than the one that allows us all to be helping hands.

Lee Eddins

Available at all HEB, Randalls & Central Market stores in the Greater Austin Area

www.AustinFaithandFamily.com

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Neighbor Helping Senior Neighbor

It’s hard to think about life without driving in the big sprawling hill country in which we live, but many seniors in our area are very capable of doing everything else but drive. Is that really the time for them to move into a nursing home or assisted living facility and give up their independent lifestyle? Faith in Action Caregivers is able to step in and provide this needed service so our senior neighbors can continue to live independently and maintain their quality of life. Our volunteers provide rides to medical appointments, grocery stores, personal and business errands, etc. for the senior adults over the age of 60 we serve, who live independently and are mobile. Faith in Action Caregivers is a non-profit organization funded by local church congregations, community groups and individual donations.

There are ten branches of FIAC in the greater Austin area, each branch serving a geographical area of clients and volunteers, so that the distance between the two for services can be kept at a minimum. As the senior adult population grows at an astounding rate in Central Texas, the need for volunteers for our programs is even greater. Volunteers with Caregivers can serve as drivers (the biggest need), office helpers/schedulers, friendly visitors, etc. Limited transportation options for our senior neighbors are why the biggest request for service (about 95% of the calls) is for transportation. With the ability to choose your geographical area to drive and to drive when it fits your schedule – once a month or more often – driving for Caregivers Northwest is one of the easiest ways to serve your community and your neighbors. Caregiver drivers are providing a much-needed free service to our seniors, and we need your help to be able to fill the ride requests each week.

Faith in Action volunteers provided over 32,000 point to point rides in 2009 and this number will grow for 2010. Over 2400 seniors were served last year, and we continue to add new clients daily. With only a couple of paid staff members at each office, almost everything we do for our clients is possible because of our

www.AustinFaithandFamily.com

Available at all HEB, Randalls & Central Market stores in the Greater Austin Area

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n addition to greater wisdom among other things, aging comes with some interesting challenges. Many seniors need to begin to rely on friends and family when they have to relinquish driving themselves to their medical appointments and to run errands. When a senior doesn’t have family or friends nearby available to drive them, Faith in Action Caregivers comes to the rescue to provide a free ride!

awesome volunteers- we would love to grow our volunteer teams!

Volunteer drivers range from young college students to retired executives and everyone in between. Some working folks drive on their lunch hour every now and then. Many young parents include their children in driving a very appreciative senior neighbor – what a great way to show your kids the importance of giving back to your community! Teachers are sharing some of their short time off during the summer by driving a few times. FIAC provides so many rides to so many clients in different areas, that we will have a ride to fit your schedule. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer driver for Faith in Action Caregivers, please call one of our offices or visit our website to find the location closest to you. The ten caregiver groups share a website at www.faithinactioncaregivers.org. Should you have a little time to give, or know someone who might need our services, we would love to hear from you!

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Down Home Ranch kayak on the pond, go on scavenger hunts, perform at karaoke sessions, and make friends for a lifetime. There are sessions for young adults, teenagers, and older adults-even up to age 65!

After all, you're never too old to have fun, and that's what camp is all about.

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udy and Jerry Horton began Ranch Camp at Down Home Ranch for teenagers and adults with mental and physical disabilities. They knew firsthand, as parents of a young daughter with Down syndrome, that there were all too few recreational opportunities for older students and adults once the high school years were over.

In 1995, the first year of camp, everyone slept on cots in tents, but Ranch Camp was an immediate hit. On the rolling prairie east of Austin, campers found community, caring, and adventure for a whole wonderful week. Singing, putting on plays, hiking, caring for the farm animals - every day brought something new to learn and do. Over the years, modern facilities were built, and Ranch Camp grew from 13 campers for a week to 50 per week for 10 weeks, but the spirit of camp remained the same. Campers now live in airconditioned bunkhouses and eat in a large dining hall. They come from all over the United States and a few foreign countries. Campers train donkeys, swim in the beautiful pool, hike in the woods,

Austin-Based Non-Profit Celebrates the Heroism of Motherhood

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n 2008, Texas recorded more than 81,500 abortions. That’s more than Texas Stadium can seat. But, an Austin-based non-profit aims to reduce those numbers by helping women facing crisis pregnancies learn more about hopeful alternatives.

Heroic Media, a Majella Cares Outreach, is a faithbased organization which connects women with pregnancy centers, adoption agencies, and other resources through mass media advertisements.

Since entering the Austin market, where they’ve consistently placed their messages, the abortion ratio has dropped 24 percent. (The abortion ratio is the number of abortions for every 1,000 births.)

When a woman is facing an unwanted pregnancy, she often feels trapped and scared. Heroic Media’s messages don’t judge her or tell her what to do.

Instead, they educate her about all of her options … and provide HOPE. Regardless of where they stand on the issue, most Americans agree that women should have the opportunity to learn as much as possible before making a decision about their pregnancy. That’s what Heroic Media’s messages do.

Heroic Media uses the same media women in crisis use: television, billboard, Internet and more. The campaigns run twice a year – once in the spring and once in the fall. All of their messages are heavily researched and focus on the issue from a woman’s perspective. They air two types of television commercials: “call for help” and “attitude change.” “Call for help” commercials focus on women who are in crisis pregnancies and

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need immediate help. They look at the issue from a woman’s perspective and feature African American and Hispanic women, since they constitute the majority of abortions. “Attitude change” commercials encourage viewers to learn more about and rethink the issue of abortion.

These spots address issues like the number of repeat abortions, and when life begins.

Billboards are placed along highly trafficked roads and interstates, near abortion facilities, and near university campuses. Those locations are selected so that Heroic Media can effectively reach women where they are. Heroic Media uses Internet since that’s where most young women go to conduct research. Their partner Web site provides education about abortion, adoption, how to tell parents, and more. Like television, Heroic Media’s radio commercials provide hopeful alternatives and encourage women to call for help. In addition to traditional media, Heroic Media reaches young women in places they may frequent daily, such as buses or trains.

Why media? Because mass media permeates the American culture on so many levels. Heroic Media aims to do with the abortion issue what the nonsmoking campaign did with tobacco use. Because of a well-researched, targeted campaign, American attitudes toward smoking changed significantly within a decade. Heroic Media hopes their television, radio, billboard, and Internet messages will change American attitudes to favor Life.

For more information, visit www.heroicmedia.org.

Under the capable direction of Don and Denise Churchill, Ranch Camp offers the unique opportunity of sharing life in a caring community on a real working Texas ranch. The camp is a member of the American Camp Association and is currently undergoing accreditation surveys. It was voted Best Special Needs Camp of 2009 by Austin Family Magazine. Ranch Camp offers excellent opportunities for high school students to volunteer as Counselors in Training; students 18 and over can apply for positions as Counselors for an excellent summer job. Ranch Camp touches everyone who comes with an open heart, ready to live the gospel in daily life. http://www.downhomeranch.org/

CELEBRATING CELEBRA TING THE HER HEROISM OISM OF MO MOTHERHOOD! THERHOOD! Women W omen deserv deservee to to learn about all o off ttheir heir options. o ptions. H Heroic eroic Media Media is is a faith-based faith-based Ǧ ϐ Ǧ ϐ messages messages to to educate educate women women about about Ǧ ϐ Ǥ Ǧ ϐ Ǥ If you you could help women women learn about hopeful solutions solutions and and reduce reduce abortion, abortion, would would y you? ou?

Heroic Heroic Media already already is. The The abortion abortion ratio ratio dropped dropped 24 24 percent percent in in Austin, Austin, where where we’ve we’ve consistently consistently run our campaigns.

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Join us in creating creating a Culture off L Life!

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www.heroicmedia.org www.heroicmedia.org www.her 512-340-0999 www.AustinFaithandFamily.com

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Camp Sunshine

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amp Sunshine, at Sebago Lake (Casco, Maine), supports children with life-threatening illnesses, and their families. The camp has the distinction of being the only program in the nation whose mission is to address the impact of a lifethreatening illness on every member of the immediate family—the ill child, the parents, and the siblings. Since its inception, Camp Sunshine has provided a haven for over 32,000 individuals from 47 states and 17 different countries.

Families of children with cancer, kidney disease, lupus, solid organ transplants, and other life-threatening illnesses attend one of the week-long camps. Our focus is on alleviating the strain that a life-threatening illness takes, not only on the sick child, but also on other family members. Families have an opportunity to rebuild their relationships together and meet other families facing similar challenges.

Free quality services are provided at the camp including accommodations and meals, onsite medical services, counseling services, and recreational facilities. While the camp is in session, each family stays in their own family suite. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served each day.

www.AustinFaithandFamily.com

Volunteers, except for those who live nearby, also stay on the property. Camp Sunshine is staffed almost entirely by volunteers, many of whom return year after year. The volunteers reflect the diversity of the families and help with recreational leadership, childcare, food service and whatever else needs to be done.

Another distinctive component of the program is the medical facilities and professional staff that are available to address the taxing physical needs of children with intrusive diseases. A physician is located at the camp for the entire session so that families can be secure in the knowledge that the camp offers 24-hour onsite medical support. In addition, a hospital with full-time emergency room physicians and pediatricians is only 25 minutes from the camp.

Each family is sponsored by an individual, civic group, corporation, or foundation, which enables a family to spend a week at Camp Sunshine free of charge. The sponsorship for one family to participate in the week-long program is $1,500. The Family Sponsorship Program provides a way for donors to sponsor a family or families from their geographical area.

Recreational hours allow children to relax and enjoy the simple pleasures of childhood while their parents find quiet moments to walk by the lake and reaffirm their support for one another. In addition, games and events are designed to foster family involvement, encouraging families to laugh and play as a unit. This approach builds a new foundation the family can take with them when the camp is over, to unite them during the uncertain times they will face.

For more information about Camp Sunshine, please visit www.campsunshine.org. For more information about Tropical Smoothie CafĂŠ and National Flip-Flop Day, please visit www.nationalflipflopday.com.

For the past two years, Tropical Smoothie CafĂŠ has been sponsoring families from around the country to attend Camp Sunshine, raising money through its National Flip-Flop Day campaign.

Through this campaign, over $400,000 has been raised to sponsor more than 260 sick children and their families at Camp Sunshine.

Available at all HEB, Randalls & Central Market stores in the Greater Austin Area

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Investing In Your Children our younger students can play safely under a canopy of stately oaks. Students young and old can explore God’s creation, hold art class outdoors, and continually be reminded of His handiwork. The land and campus God has provided are an investment in hundreds of lives for years to come.

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n this annual issue about time, talents and treasures, we were led to think through the concept of investment and what that implies for a K-12, classical, Christian school.

The parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-28) illustrates that we are to honorably and actively invest the treasures God has entrusted to us. The most important earthly treasure God has given us is our children and He clearly instructs us to train our children in His precepts.

As a faith-based institution, we acknowledge that ALL we have is from the Lord and because of the Lord. We pray as if everything depends upon the Lord, and our staff and our parents know that our efforts are useless without God’s gracious aid. He has blessed us with 35 magnificent acres where student athletes host football and soccer games, while

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It is our joy to invest in the minds and hearts of children of Christian families, teaching them in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. We embrace Deuteronomy 6:6-9, which provides a sound principle regarding the instruction of our children. The New King James translation puts it this way: “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.

You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”

Within the scope of this investment, we hope to graduate young men and women who think clearly and listen carefully with discernment and understanding; who reason persuasively and articulate precisely; who are

capable of evaluating their entire range of experience in the light of the Scriptures; and who do so with eagerness in joyful submission to God. We desire them to recognize cultural influences as distinct from biblical, and to be un-swayed by the culture towards evil. We aspire to find them well prepared in all situations, possessing both information and the knowledge of how to use it. We desire that they be socially graceful and spiritually gracious; equipped with and understanding the tools of learning; desiring to grow in understanding, yet fully realizing the limitations and foolishness of the wisdom of this world. We desire that they have a heart for the lost and the courage to seek to dissuade those who are stumbling towards destruction; that they distinguish real faith from religion in form only; and that they possess the former, knowing and loving the Lord Jesus Christ. And all these we desire them to possess with humility and gratitude to God.

Their spontaneous classroom prayers, for both thief and teacher, reflected a genuine understanding of all things being received by God’s grace. They spoke of restoration, healing, forgiveness and of all outcomes ultimately bringing honor to the Lord. While their prayers reflected their deep understanding of the Scriptures, they also spoke volumes of the Biblical worldview being implanted in the hearts of our students.

Truly, Grace Academy is a kingdom ministry in which students are trained in knowledge and wisdom that they “may be thoroughly equipped for every good work,” (II Timothy 3:17) to which the Lord has called them. In whatever season of life the Lord has you, as parent, prayer warrior, or friend; we invite you to explore the ministry of Grace Academy.

Soli Deo Gloria.

By God’s grace, we have numerous stories in which we can see an amazing harvest produced after ten years of sowing and nurturing. Recently, some of our older students were asked to pray for their teacher who lost multiple electronic devices in a theft.

Available at all HEB, Randalls & Central Market stores in the Greater Austin Area

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A Helping Hand for Neighbors, Food for the Hungry.

Round Rock Area Serving Center – A Helping Hand for Neighbors, Food for the Hungry

“ Treasures”

at the Round Rock Area Serving Center Thrift Stores

support from churches. St. David’s Community Health Foundation, The United Way of Williamson County, and the City of Round Rock offer grants to the center. Treasures; a thrift store operated by the RRASC, provides sales revenue for operations and programs.

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he Round Rock Serving Center exists to meet the needs in the Round Rock area and surrounding communities.

Included in their services are a food pantry, vouchers for clothing and furniture, training for computers and financial assistance, as well as transportation for those who need it. Coats for Kids and Computers for Kids are two more of the services they provide.

Hours of Operation:

Monday–Friday 10 am–4 pm

Prayer, volunteers, and donations are needed for the service center to operate and function well.

Be one of the Thankful Thousand by pledging $10 or more per month, a program that benefits both the “giver” and the “receiver.”

You can also host a food drive at your office or with your organization.

The RRASC was established in 1986 and collaborates with many area churches to serve people in need. Director Lori Scott says that the RRASC assists “families in crisis.” With the current state of the economy, many families who’ve never needed help before are now seeking assistance with food and are in need of money to pay for utilities. The center also reaches out to senior citizens who are now on fixed incomes, and have trouble paying for their medications, or helps the elderly maintain much-needed air-conditioning in the long, summer months ahead.

Saturday 9 am–12 pm Donations 12 pm–4 pm

Donations of clothing, books, furniture and appliances are needed.

Treasure's is a clothing and furniture thrift store that is open to the public. Revenue from sales support the food pantry and social service programs.

Donations of money, food, clothing, books, furniture and appliances are welcome. Call 244-2431 to donate, or better yet – visit the center at 1099 E. Main St. in Round Rock, Texas. http://www.servingcenter.org/

Services provided include a food pantry, clothing & furniture vouchers, Computers for Kids, Round Rock Coats for Kids, The Volunteer Center, community gardens, computer skills training, and financial assistance for utilities, rent, prescriptions, transportation, and temporary lodging.

Funding for the Round Rock Serving Center comes from various places, including financial

Closed Sunday 1099 E. Main Street Round Rock, TX 78664 info@servingcenter.org www.servingcenter.org

For furniture pickup call (512) 244-2431 For more information, check out our website at

www.colinshope.org

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Increasing Incr easing water water safety safet safet ety ya awareness wareness and standar standards ds FACTS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT DROWNING DROWNING WILL AFFECT YOU DROWNING YOU OR SOMEONE YOU YOU KNOW KNOW

Drowning is the leading Drowning cause unintentional c ause of unin tentional injury-related death injur y-related dea th children in childr en ages 1-4

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Drowning is the 2nd leading cause of unintentional injury-related death ages 1-14.

DROWNING DR O WNING IS QUICK AND SILENT 2min

Drowning o Drowning occurs ccurs in as little as 2 minutes. minut es.

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Most children Most children ar are e out of sigh sightt or missing ffor or less than 5 minutes minut es and usually in the pr esence of 1 or b oth par ents. presence both parents.

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Irreversible Irreversible brain brain damage occurs occurs in as little as 4 minutes. minutes.

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Most Most children children die who are are submer submerged ged ffor or as little as 6-10 minut minutes. es.

Children who drown do not scream, splash, or struggle.

They silently slip beneath the water, even with adults & lifeguards present. www.AustinFaithandFamily.com

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Colin's Hope t was a beautiful summer day. The birds were chirping, the sun was shining and the kids were laughing. Everything about that day just seemed normal. Colin and other children were in the shallow end of a pool splashing and playing around, surrounded by many adults who loved them dearly. No one there could have imagined what would happen next. As the kids moved around the pool splashing and ducking in and out of the water, time stood still as eyes swept the pool looking for Colin. He never did come up from the water, and on that beautiful summer day four year-old Colin drowned.

The number one cause for unintentional death in children under the age of five is drowning. Not learning this statistic until after Colin's death is what consumed the thoughts of Jeff and Jana Holst, day and night. Fueled by their desire to prevent such a tragedy from happening time and time again to other children, they founded Colin's Hope to promote water safety in their community and to educate children, parents and lifeguards on drowning prevention. With help from The Texas Department of State Health Services and Safe Kids, a national nonprofit, they

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found out that in the Greater Austin area, the areas of the highest reported cases of children drowning were Pflugerville and Lakeway.

Following the lead set forth in Mesa, Arizona where over the course of three years, drownings were reduce by half; they organized the inaugural Colin's Hope Water Safety Walk. Nearly 200 volunteers helped distribute 5,000 water safety packets, targeting the most high risk areas in Austin.

These kits included drowning prevention literature and most importantly a water guardian badge to be worn by an adult, who pledges not to take his/her eyes off the children while they are swimming and around water.

Learn more about Colin's Hope and how you can help in their mission to increase water safety awareness and help prevent children from drowning by visiting their website at www.colinshope.org.

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Yes, this is the face of hunger in Central Texas.

And so is this.

You might not immediately recognize some of the most innocent faces as hungry. The fact is that 1 in 3 people nourished by our Capital Area Food Bank is a child. And the need for food assistance among our neighbors has increased more than 60% in the past year. Hunger is unacceptable. Especially in our own backyard. But we can solve hunger. With your help.

Advocate. Donate. Volunteer. hungerisUNacceptable.com Faith Family

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Capital Area Food Bank – Leading the Community in Ending Hunger

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UNGER. We all know what the pain of hunger feels like, but most of us have the resources to stop the pain at any given moment. Imagine having prolonged hunger pains mixed with an uncertainty of where your next meal is going to come from.

That’s called “food insecurity,” and according to the Capital Area Food Bank (CAFB), hunger and food insecurity are both much more common in Central Texas than many of us realize.

In an interview with David Davenport, President/CEO of the Capital Area Food Bank, Mr. Davenport told Austin Faith & Family, “The face of hunger here in Austin is the face of Austin.” When asked for stories about some of the people recently blessed by the food bank’s services, he told of a man he met recently at a Pflugerville food pantry who had lost his job at Dell a few months before. “He was an engineer, but without a job he couldn’t make ends meet, so he did what he had to do to provide for his family.

For that man providing meant standing in line at the local food pantry.”

Mr. Davenport also remembers one particularly hot July day when 250-300 families waited in a long line in 103-degree heat to receive free groceries from one of the food bank’s mobile food pantries that was visiting their neighborhood. “There’s a story for every person in that line, and believe me, if they could have, they would have been at the HEB down the street in air-conditioning buying their own groceries.” But it’s not just the parents that feel the effects of food insecurity. He adds, “It’s hard to see some of these kids clutch and hold on to food the same way other kids do when they get the newest iPod or video game.”

The face of Central Texas hunger is a little boy living in a small apartment with his mom and two siblings. Dad is long gone; and so oftentimes on her limited budget, mom has to choose between keeping the electricity on, or buying food. The boy is keenly aware of the shortage, so he stashes food in his room for days when there’s none in the house. One day he curiously asks the food bank volunteer at the Kids Cafe program at his school, “What’s a food bank?” When he learns that it’s a place that provides food for lots of people in need, his eyes light up like it’s Christmas morning and he asks, “Then can I get some food for my mommy?”

The face of hunger is also an elderly woman who is mainly confined to her home due to a disability. She receives social security disability benefits and a small amount of food stamps, but not enough to get her through the whole month, and she as no relatives nearby to help fill in the gaps. A nearby community organization has a food delivery outreach program, and each month when the volunteers come to deliver food they find that the woman has been living on mere scraps for days, after her food stamps have run out.

fall of 2009 they launched their first-ever paid advertising campaign to educate people about the true hunger crisis in Central Texas.

Austin Faith & Family asked Mr. Davenport how our readers can best get involved, giving of their time, talents, and treasures. He said the best thing we can each do is to first internalize and embrace that, in a city as vibrant and resourced as Austin, hunger (especially in the life of a child) is completely unacceptable. This starts when we examine our hearts and even our faith, looking at the parable of the Good Samaritan who went out of his way to help a person in need. “When an individual truly internalizes the fact that hunger is unacceptable and gives voice to that belief, hunger becomes a solvable issue.

But it requires acting on that belief and it requires getting the community involved.

When you act, there is an amazing impact for both the receiver and the giver.” Mr. Davenport also said that families are encouraged to get involved together, and that kids especially can effect change.

“There’s something really powerful that happens when a child organizes a food drive.

It nourishes the kids on both sides.”

(Note: These statistics are current as of October 2009)

About Capital Area Food Bank Clients • 41% are children.

• 1 in 5 families experience the physical pain of hunger.

• Almost half have at least one working adult in the home.

• 82% are not homeless.

(Source: Hunger in America 2010: Central Texas Report)

Ways You and Your Family Can Help Advocate–Help educate elected officials about hunger in Central Texas and support hunger-ending legislation. Sign up to advocate for hungry Central Texans with Action Alerts on the CAFB website.

Mr. Davenport said that the growing number of Central Texans in need surprises many people. In fact, the Capital Area Food Bank serves an average 48,000 people each week and over 300,000 individual non-duplicated clients on an annual basis.

But the food bank hasn’t always been so large and capable of meeting so many needs. It started as a grass roots effort in 1981, when a small group of concerned Austinites and individuals from several community organizations formed the Capital Area Food Bank of Texas, Inc. They recognized the need for emergency food assistance, as well as the availability of surplus food from various food companies and grocery stores that might otherwise go to waste. They also felt that the faith-based and social service agencies serving the needy in our city shouldn’t have to pay retail prices for the most basic necessity of life - food.

About the Capital Area Food Bank • Territory served: 21 counties; 19,000 sq. mi.

• Food and grocery products provided in 2009: 23,000,000 lbs.

• Number of meals provided in 2009: 18,400,000 • Total amount paid by the food recipients: $0 • Age range of Food Bank volunteers: 8 to 90!

• Fastest growing product area: Fresh produce • Food items most requested by agencies' clients: Canned tuna, cereal, dried pasta & pasta sauce • Most requested non-food item: Diapers

Mr. Davenport also explained that while the need for hunger advocacy, food and funding donations, and volunteerism is year-round, now is an especially important time to get involved. This is because in the summertime there are much greater needs in families with kids. 61% of Austin ISD is on the free and reduced lunch program, and in some areas that number is closer to 90%. In many cases the only meals a child will receive on schooldays are the two they receive at school and the one in an after school program. The increased food bills with kids being at home, coupled with higher electric bills in the summer, make it really hard for some families to make it.

Unfortunately, these stories are not uncommon. But what you may or may not realize is that the local face of hunger has changed in the past two years. With the economic downturn hitting home for many Central Texans, it’s also not uncommon for the face of hunger to look like your next door neighbor. It may even look like your family.

Today the Capital Area Food Bank serves as a conduit to provide affordable nourishing food to over 350 partner agencies (such as soup kitchens, children's programs, homebound delivery, food pantries, etc.) who distribute food directly to the people in need, by way of meals served on-site or groceries brought to the homes of those in need. The food bank also serves as a leader and public advocate for hungry Central Texans. CAFB supports anti-hunger local, state and federal legislation, and provides leadership to mobilize community action.

The folks at the Capital Area Food Bank truly believe that hunger is unacceptable, so in the

www.AustinFaithandFamily.com

Available at all HEB, Randalls & Central Market stores in the Greater Austin Area

If you agree that hunger is unacceptable, then the Capital Area Food Bank is ready to equip you to make a difference in your community by providing volunteer training, resources, and ideas on their website at www.austinfoodbank.org. They invite you to make their mission statement your own: To nourish hungry people and lead the community in ending hunger.

Donate–Your donation goes a long way! Every $5 donation provides $25 worth of nutritious food for hungry Central Texans. See if your employer has a matching gifts program, which could double or even triple your contribution!

All financial contributions are tax-deductible.

Volunteer–Here are just a few of the many ways you and your family to volunteer: • Distribute food directly to people in need by volunteering at a “partner agency” (contact the food bank to find one near you).

• Organize a food & fund drive at your church, school, office, or neighborhood center.

• Start a “teaching garden” at your church or school and donate the produce that is harvested to the food bank.

• Sort donations at the food bank ("Youth and Family Night" is 5:30-7:30 p.m. on the first Tuesday of every month).

• Pass on the message of what you learn during your volunteer experience to others!

Remember, it takes a whole community being involved to end hunger!

For more info visit www.austinfoodbank.org

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Welcome to Hope Street Austin…

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ur vision is for Austin to be transformed by connecting individuals, churches, and organizations who express the power of God’s love through practical, lifechanging ministries.

We do this by first assessing the needs of the community we feel the Lord calling us to serve.

We listen and learn from what is already happening in the community and form partnerships and networks with folks who are already doing good work there. From there we focus our resources on meeting practical needs of individuals and families through adult basic education and GED tutoring, work readiness skills training, life skills training, a food pantry and clothing closet ministry, and a general focus on restoring peace through the building of healthy relationships. This also includes organizing family-friendly social gatherings and seasonal celebrations in the community. Rebuilding the infrastructure of broken families is done one family and one neighborhood at a time.

We believe that the true change agent in a transformed life is God’s love encountered daily through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, so we put a lot of effort into meeting the spiritual needs of the communities we serve. We do this through Bible studies, discipleship, children’s ministry and activities, and organizing simple church services in apartment complexes. Weekly simple churches are led by ordinary Christians who are willing to provide spiritual truth to

people who aren’t comfortable in a traditional church setting.

About Us… Hope Street Austin is a non-profit charitable organization funded by donations from individuals, churches, and organizations. We work with people from all Christian denominations building bridges uniting believers in Christ to serve in the city together.

Hope Street Austin developed out of the Christian Women’s Job Corps of Austin (CWJC) which has served in the city since 1998. As CWJC matured, the Lord added additional ministry opportunities and gave the expanded vision for community development and restoration in low income areas of Austin. In 2009 Hope Street Austin was established as an umbrella organization to support the different ministry areas: Christian Women’s Job Corps, Christian Men’s Job Corps, Escuela de Superacion Personal (Spanish CWJC site), His Storehouse (food, furniture), Career Closet, and simple churches in apartment complexes.

For more information or to get involved, contact Chris Rowley, Hope Street Austin Executive Director, at (512) 964-1898, chrisrowley@sbcglobal.net.

HOPE STREET AUSTIN Connecting for Transformation!

Caring Family Network

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aring Family Network calls Austin “home,” but they reach out all over Texas, supporting 150 foster and adoptive families. They serve children and families around Austin, Brownwood, Bryan, Killeen, Kerrville, and San Antonio, including children from newborn to 22 years old, all who need a safe, loving home.

Most of the children are in the custody of CPS (Child Protective Services.) Caring Family Network is a licensed foster care agency, through the Texas Department of Family & Protective Services (DFPS).

The mission of CFN is to connect children, families and communities so that their kids will gain the knowledge, self-confidence, and skills necessary to create healthy relationships and productive lives. Caring Family Network accomplishes this goal by carefully recruiting support of their treatment facilities and children, offering individualized, clinical, and evidencebased treatment programs for each child. They also develop performance measures to ensure that families are prepared to handle their roles, collaborating with resources from the community to enhance their lives. Finally, CFN provides impeccable stewardship of funds provided by all agencies, donors and stakeholders.

There are numerous success stories from the Caring Family Network, one of which reads like this: “Peggy was a very defiant teenager with a negative attitude and behavior. She skipped school and ran away, often to be retrieved from

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adult men’s houses. Her foster mom never gave up when many were frustrated and fed up with Peggy’s risky behavior. This past May, Peggy graduated form high school and began college.

She has remained in the same city as her foster mom, rather than returning to her biological family. Her foster mom continues to provide support for Peggy.”

Every year, CFN hosts Christmas parties for over 300 children and 180 families. They decorate, provide an array of holiday food, and offer gifts to the children and the amazing foster parents. Caring Family Network is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and all donations are tax deductible.

CFN is seeking experienced foster families, as well as families who have never fostered before, to help serve this special group of children.

To learn more about giving and providing a safe home to children in need, please contact CFN Central Texas Family Services Division at http://www.cfntexas.com/6405826_66733.htm using their online request form, or call (512) 719-3222, toll free 1-877-719-3222.

As stated on their website, “The investment you make today will have far reaching consequences for the future.”

www.AustinFaithandFamily.com

www.concordia.edu Undergraduate Graduate Accelerated Degree Program

. .

11400 Concordia University Drive | Austin, TX 78726 | 512 313 3000

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Communities for Recovery

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f you or someone you know has struggled with chemical addiction, please be aware that recovery is possible, and you have a community in Austin that is ready and willing to help.

Communities for Recovery is a group of 100+ dedicated Peer Support Volunteers who offer support to others, with whom we share similar life experiences, while embracing a life of recovery and service. Our motto is “Give to Keep”™ and it is something that we live every day. Our volunteers give their recovery experience and knowledge to others in an effort to keep sober.

Our volunteers help bridge the gap between treatment facilities and long-term sobriety for

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individuals in recovery from chemical addiction and dual disorders, a diagnosis of both chemical addiction and a psychiatric illness. Founded in April of 2003, Communities for Recovery began simply as a group of 20 volunteers assisting patients at Seton Shoal Creek Hospital. Dr. William Loving, then Medical Director of Seton Shoal Creek, asked J. Scott Thornton, the founder of Communities for Recovery, to start a volunteer organization that would connect diagnosed patients with local community support groups in an effort to better understand the 12 Step model. Communities for Recovery has since grown and developed a variety of specialized programs which work to connect the theory of recovery to its practice. These specialized programs are now being offered at our collaborating treatment centers in Austin, which include the Austin State Hospital, Austin Recovery, Seton Shoal Creek Hospital, and Texas Star Recovery.

Today, Communities for Recovery has 112 active Peer Support Volunteers whose passion is to give back to people in our community who are seeking a life of recovery.

In April, Communities for Recovery presented The Presidential Volunteer Service Awards to sixteen Peer Support Volunteers who gave over 100 hours of service to our organization in 2009. Each of the volunteers received a signed letter from President Obama congratulating them for their outstanding community involvement through volunteering with Communities for Recovery. A Lifetime Achievement Award was given to J. Scott Thornton who has committed over 4,000 hours of service since 1996.

In March of 2010, Communities for Recovery partnered with the Austin State Hospital to open the CforR Peer

Through our Peer Recovery Coaching initiative, we are matching individuals from similar circumstances as mentors to those newly in recovery. Our Recovery Coaches not only use proven tools and resources, but also lead by example - exhibiting

Recovery Support Center at 41st and Guadalupe in central Austin. This new facility houses our Telephone Outreach Support program, Peer Recovery Coaching program; and serves as a hub of activity for all our Peer Support Volunteers. The Peer Recovery Support Center also has a Recovery Library, a serene meditation room, and two large program rooms, in addition to housing the Communities for Recovery staff.

Peer Support Volunteers facilitate a variety of programming initiatives, including our flagship programs, Back to Basics and Cross Talk. Back to Basics educates newcomers about the 12 Steps in an accelerated fashion, connecting them with the experience of our Peer Support Volunteers. Cross Talk follows a more informal format, allowing individuals to raise questions and discuss their recovery process in a safe and open environment.

Available at all HEB, Randalls & Central Market stores in the Greater Austin Area

their own success stories by living life in recovery every day.

Starting June 1st, Communities for Recovery will partner with Texas Star Recovery to begin a Telephone Outreach Support program. Our volunteers are reaching individuals in rural communities and those who may lack the resources to access recovery services.

Why support Communities for Recovery? Simply stated, our programs work. We have a proven record of success in helping individuals build healthy lives in recovery. For more information about Communities for Recovery, please visit www.CforR.org or call us for a tour of our new Peer Recovery Support Center (512-758-7686).

Communities for Recovery is excited to offer a diverse array of opportunities for our Peer Support Volunteers. We are all living examples of the power of recovery and we recognize the important role that faith plays in the recovery process. Join us today and help save lives. http://www.quoteland.com/tellafriend/ index.asp?QUOTE_ID=27588

www.AustinFaithandFamily.com

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Head to Heart Restoration Ministry – Nonprofit Pastoral Counseling and Training Serving Central Texas

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ne of the biggest road blocks for Christians is the inability to transfer what they know about God, or “head knowledge,” to liferestoring truth or “heart knowledge.” Isaiah 43:18 and 19 reads, “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”

The area of counseling can be very complex.

Sometimes the local pastor does not feel equipped to provide effective counseling. Other times, a person may have too much fear and shame to discuss personal problems with their pastor. Plus, the cost of professional counseling, for many people, can be prohibitive. Head to Heart Restoration Ministry was founded by Dr. Al H. Jones and his Board of Directors in 2004 to help restore the wounded places in hearts, lives, and emotions, and to serve as a counseling resource for local churches. Pastoral counseling, unlike secular counseling, allows the counselor and client to work together to seek God and the Bible for emotional healing. The main goal of pastoral counseling, like the goal of Christian living, is to enable clients to move toward greater emotional and spiritual health by becoming more like Jesus Christ.

In 2007 the ministry received 501C3 nonprofit organization status with a focus on providing pastoral counseling at a reduced and sliding scale fee averaging 50% below the standard fees for counseling in the central Texas area.

Areas of counseling include all aspects of the individual, couples and family issues, marital problems, poor communication, extra-marital affairs, emotional crisis, childhood trauma and abuse, addictions, spiritual and religious abuse, child and adolescent therapy, Temperament Therapy and Christian Life Coaching.

The Head to Heart School of Pastoral Counseling was founded in 2007 to provide a training program for people who feel called to the ministry of Christian counseling. Students are able to complete course work and counseling practicums, and earn certification or license through the National Christian Counselors Association (NCCA).

The NCCA is the largest Pastoral Counseling program in the United States. There are also programs available to transfer course work to accredited colleges and seminaries to earn advanced college degrees.

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During this time of increased stress in the lives of people, there is a greater need for pastoral counseling and pastoral counselors. Wounds from the past, present day problems, and lack of direction prevent people from experiencing the fullness of life through Jesus Christ. Through pastoral counseling, people can find forgiveness for the past, strength and comfort for the present, and hope for the future. Head to Heart Restoration Ministry is one avenue God is using in the Central Texas area to bring healing and hope for others.

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Available at all HEB, Randalls & Central Market stores in the Greater Austin Area

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Children in Need – What You Can Do About It

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was 14, when I asked my parents, "Do you know there are children who don't have a family? Why can't they live with us? What are we going to do about it?" My dad was working and in law school; and my mom was homeschooling four children. This is certainly not what most would consider an "ideal time” to become foster parents. But when is it a good time to bring hurting children into our homes? If people wait for the "perfect" time, most will never do it; and where does that leave these precious children? My parents became foster parents, and we all loved it. I couldn't wait until I was 21 and could be a foster parent. It has been an amazing journey ever since.

As foster and adoptive parents, God placed in us a deep compassion for abused and neglected children. The number of children needing emergency foster care as well as adoptive families seemed staggering, but I told Him I would give my all, for these hurting children. That is why FamilyLink exists today! We became a licensed, nonprofit, Christian foster care and adoption agency 4 ½ years ago, and since then have found homes for over 600 children. It has been very challenging, but the children are oh so worth it! When they become part of a family and are greatly loved, it will impact generations!

Can you imagine being a child with nowhere to live, hurting and feeling worthless, rejected, and abandoned? These children are as important as the children in your family, and they need us to be there for them in this crisis time in their life. Day and night we receive emergency calls such as, "Do you have a home for a newborn; 1, 5, 10, 13-yrold, pregnant teen...?” Some days we have requests to find 20+ children a family! We need many more families that are willing to open their hearts and homes, especially for sibling groups, because otherwise they may be separated! The pain is so much greater if they are taken from their siblings who are their best friends, and/or baby brothers and sisters. They wonder where their siblings are, and often cry more for them, than for adult relatives. Our goal is to help replace the heritage of abandonment, abuse and neglect with the legacy of hope, love and destiny. Children’s tears will be wiped, they will be held and comforted, and God will heal their broken hearts!

There are thousands of children waiting to be adopted and they often feel unwanted and unloved. A 12 year-old boy waiting four years on the Texas Adoption List said, "Nobody wants to adopt me. I'm trying not to give up hope that someone will pick me but it's so hard." Another waiting girl said,

"When I grow up I want to be a veterinarian, but first I have to find parents!" Sixteen year old Chris shared, "I am funny and nice, and if my adopted parents will just take care of me for a few years, I will take care of them when they are older."

I have amazing news. Adoption is FREE and there is free college, insurance and subsidy for waiting children! I believe that there is a family for all children, and we just haven't found them yet! Many foster children “age out” of the system and end up on the street because they are 18 and alone in the world.

They wonder, "Who will walk me down the aisle? Who will help me plan my wedding?

Who will be grandparents to my children?

Will I be by myself for Thanksgiving and Christmas?”

FamilyLink Foster/Adopt Family Camp, a special weekend and summer retreat for families to come together for training and support, additional bonding time with their children, as well as good old fashioned fun.

Will you partner with us? Foster/adoptive parents are needed, as well as donors, mentors, volunteers, and child advocates! It could be because of your efforts that the prayers of children are answered. To hear inspiring stories and find out how to get involved listen to LIFE MATTERS! with Mariah on www.klgo.net or 98.5/99.3 FM Mon-Fri. 7:30-8:30 pm, and e-mail us through www.familylinkkids.com. Together we can change lives!

We are establishing Legacy Ranch for those children and teens for which we cannot find a family. Legacy Ranch will include Together Homes, to avoid separation of siblings; New Life Home For Pregnant Teens; Legacy Community Center and School, which includes a gym, library, arts, workshops; Grandparent Homes for Intergenerational Support, and Bridges Home for young adults, to give them the love, guidance and training they need. They will know they have a forever family! Legacy Ranch will include

These kids are waiting for a family!

EMERGENCY! CHILDREN NEED FOSTER AND ADOPTIVE HOMES! There are many children waiting to be adopted and siblings will be separated if we don’t find a family soon. These children want their own family for Christmas!

Reimbursement for care is provided. Adoption is free and children receive free insurance and college tuition!

FamilyLinkKids.com 512-947-7306 Get G et involved involved and make a difference! difference! differ “No nos abandones abandones”” or “Don’t “Don’t abandon us” us” is the heart’s heart’s cry cry of these children children who are are in need of a family family..

Will W ill you you answer answer their call for for help?

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www.AustinFaithandFamily.com

Editor’s

EDITOR’S NOTE

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Reaching Out

must say that when I read some of the articles submitted to Austin Faith & Family this month, my heart was stirred. I’ve always considered myself as someone with “helping hands,” but I’m pretty sure that a lot of times my hands are selective in when and to whom they are open. Fear, prejudice, and selfishness often tend to keep our hands closed. However, I know from experience that when our hands are open to receive blessings, they must also stay open to let those blessings pour out on others around us.

We hope that you will keep this month’s special edition on your coffee table, at the top of your bookcase, or somewhere out in the open, to remind of you opportunities and places to give.

The nonprofits listed are just a few of the many, many places available to offer an open hand.

Through one article from FamilyLinks in a past issue, a family became interested in fostering a child. In the article on MS150, you will read of a man who selflessly rode to raise funds for a disease that doesn’t even affect anyone he knows, but he wanted to give back what he had received for his family in other areas, from other places. That’s real giving. I had no idea there were so many ways to get involved at the Texas Baptist Children’s Home, where planning a party for a kid’s birthday can be a whole family event, with mom and dad, brother and sister giving of their talents and treasures. And donating blood to the local blood bank can actually save a person’s life! We just don’t realize the awesome task at “hand,” and the abilities we all have to complete that task.

You will notice that our cover does not include the face of just one person this month. Instead, we have a collage of hands of all shapes, sizes and color, reaching out to our city, supporting those in need, cheering those on who are out there giving of their time, and reaching out to the One above for blessings to share. We hope this issue inspires all of us to open our hands.

Two hands can lift a few pounds and carry a light load, but many hands can lift multitudes to their feet and carry them to a higher place…

LETTERS

of the month New World Deli

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ew World Deli is a restaurant in

the heart of Hyde Park. From

their vegetarian Cream Cheese

and Cucumber, to their piled-high-with-

meat specialty Rueben sandwich, there is something

for

everyone

who

is

hungry…and needs wifi! They are located at 4101 Guadalupe, Austin, TX 78751.

Marcy Lytle | Austin Faith & Family Marcy@AustinFaithandFamily.com

Dearest Lee Marcy and Staff of AFF,

Lee,

Hello Marcy!

I am really very impressed with the quality of this month’s magazine. Articles written by Marcy Lytle, Joe Elliott, Mariah Wilde, Kie Bowman, Dr Jones and many more that I have not read YET are simply wonderful and inspirational! Each month's issue of AFF continues to outperform the prior month.

Remain forever blessed,

Thanks for adding all the HEB’s to your distribution list! Now I have a place I can pick them up every month. I especially enjoy Mom’s Who Save and the new Diet & Nutrition column. Thanks for putting out a family magazine with purpose.

We have a business in Steiner Ranch in NW Austin and we’d love to carry the Austin Faith and Family magazine. We host a number of Bible studies and love to promote other Christian organizations and/or publications.

Bless you for putting this out and we look forward to hearing from you.

–Joleen K. –Kristi N.

–Lora D.

Greetings Marcy,

Dear AFF,

Great NEW Austin Faith & Family magazine look!!!

I looked through the entire magazine and one page I really like is the City Scene. It just kind of “pops!” I really like the layout and the variety of very interesting topics you offer…

Dear AFF, I am a former Korn fan who is now a follower of Christ. I had heard about Heads radical salvation from meth addiction but did not know the actual story until I read about it in the Austin Faith & Family. I think it is truly awesome that your magazine is in the Austin area.

–Bianca N. Hi Marcy,

–Jon L.

Spiritual Coffee is awesome! I have my cup everyday now! I even tear it out and keep it at my desk to read every morning.

I picked up the most recent issue of Austin Faith & Family at the Hoppin' House in Lakeway. I had not heard of your magazine until then, and I read almost cover to cover while my husband took my toddler to play (as I sat with my sleeping 5-month-old). I loved the articles, content and features and am so grateful that there is a quality Christian faithbased magazine here in Austin.

When I saw the cover of the AFF I was taken aback! I saw the person on the cover and then saw “faith” and I had to pick it up and see what AFF was all about. I had never read AFF before and now that I have discovered it, I will never miss an issue!

–Lee J.

–Niki T.

–Erica B.

–Jason M. Dear AFF,

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Lee,

Available at all HEB, Randalls & Central Market stores in the Greater Austin Area

www.AustinFaithandFamily.com

Literacy Coalition of Central Texas – 7th Annual Great Grown-Up Spelling Bee

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he Annual Great Grown-Up Spelling Bee is quickly becoming known as the most fun fundraiser in Austin, packing the room with teams of competitive grownups in wacky costumes, cheering supporters, and celebrity officials. This year over 75,000 dollars has been raised, which will assist over 150,000 people who cannot read.

The Bee Arthurs

Christian Brothers in Hutto – Ribbon Cutting

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he newest Christian Brothers Automotive has opened in Hutto.

Christian Brothers Automotive brings honesty and integrity to Hutto, in a business that is quite often known as a “shady business." Since Christian Brothers opened their first location, they have built their business on honoring God.

Jonathan Carr Cuts the Ribbon outside the Hutto Christian Brothers

An Evening With Sarah Palin

O Robin LeTourneau and Laurie Loew with Give Realty and Kelly Stubblefield

n April 29th 2009 Sarah Palin was in Austin for "An Evening With Sarah Palin" hosted by Heroic Media. The event was held at the Austin Convention Center. In attendance was Bonnie Glasgow, Former U.S. National & Master World Swimming Champion.

Golf Tournaments Receptions Rehearsal Dinners Bridal Showers & Luncheons Groom’s Golf Outings Sports Banquets

Forgive Me

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he movie Forgive Me, winner of the Attic Film Festival, was shown at Alamo Drafthouse, on Saturday May 15, 2010.

Be among the first in the area to utilize this enchanting location.

Bonnie Glasgow with Todd and Sarah Palin and Governor Rick Perry

The professional staff at The Ranch House at Teravista is ready to assist you!

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(512) 651-9850 Courtney Bean | Sales Director cbean@eaglegolf.com Travis Ammons (left) was nominated for Best Actor

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Diet & Nutrition Blood Donation and Anemia YMCA – The Heart of Community Life he non profit organization I am most proud of and most familiar with is the YMCA. YMCA is the largest not-forprofit community service organization in America, working to meet the health and human service needs of 20.2 million men, women and children in over 10,000 communities in the United States. YMCA is at the heart of community life across the country: 42 million families and 72 million households are located within three miles of a YMCA.

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Many Americans have a great Y story. Some grew up going to summer camp while others first learned how to swim at a YMCA. But there are still those who may not be familiar with this organization, what it stands for and what it does. The Young Men's Christian Association was founded in London, England, on June 6, 1844, in response to unhealthy social conditions arising in the big cities at the end of the Industrial Revolution.

The first YMCA was organized to substitute Bible study and prayer for those with a tough life on the streets. The YMCA idea, which began among evangelicals, was unusual because it crossed the rigid lines that separated all the different churches and social classes in England in those days. This openness was a trait that would lead YMCA to eventually include all men, women and children, regardless of race, religion or nationality. In 1866, the influential New York YMCA adopted a fourfold purpose: "The improvement of the spiritual, mental, social and physical condition of young men.”

What sets the YMCA apart from other gyms in town? At the YMCA you are not turned away due to your inability to pay. Every year, thousands of children and adults receive financial assistance so they can participate in character-building YMCA programs. The Strong Kids Campaign provides the funding necessary to ensure that our community has access to the gym and programs it needs and deserves.

Here are some fun facts about the YMCA. It was at the International YMCA Training School in December 1891 that James Naismith invented the game of basketball, at the request of Luther Gulick, the director of the school. Gulick needed a game to occupy a "class of incorrigibles.” Volleyball was invented at the Holyoke YMCA (Mass.) in 1895 by William Morgan, a Y instructor who felt that basketball was too strenuous for businessmen. Morgan blended elements of basketball, tennis and handball into the game and called it "volleyball.” Racquetball was invented in 1950 at the Greenwich YMCA (Conn.) by Joe Sobeck, a member who couldn't find other squash players of his caliber and who did not care for handball. He tried paddleball and platform tennis and came up with the idea of using a strung racquet similar to a platform tennis paddle to allow a greater variety of shots.

I am proud to be an employee as well as a volunteer at the CHASCO Family YMCA in Round Rock. Our Mission: To put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all. Our Vision: We build strong kids, strong families and strong communities.

Our Values: Caring, Faith, Honesty, Respect and Responsibility.

As you can see, the YMCA is a wonderful organization that helps children, families and the community. Chances are, there’s a Y close to you. If you haven’t been by, take few minutes to check it out, and you will be amazed at what you see!

Lauren Lacy Fitness Coordinator/Personal Trainer CHASCO Family YMCA

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Faith Family

While it is obvious that the blood of Jesus is the most precious and effective commodity cleansing us from every sin, it is also undeniable that the blood in our bodies is essential. Without a healthy circulation and transport of vital oxygen, nutrients, and removal of wastes, we die!

imbalance in copper, which serves many functions, including red blood cell production and assisting iron absorption! Therefore, the best strategy is to consume mineral-rich foods, such as dark leafy greens, and to take multi-mineral supplements that include iron and copper.

Another very beneficial nutritional support for people with low red blood cell count is sesame seed oil. Sesame seed oil can stimulate bone marrow activity, inducing more blood cell production. Since bone marrow produces all three types of blood cells (red, white, and platelet), sesame seed oil serves as an immune booster as well.

Finally, I want to mention Chlorophyll.

Chlorophyll is the energy producing part for the plant (photosynthesis), and also what makes the plant green. It can also be considered as the “blood” of plants, because its molecular structure is very similar to hemoglobin. Taking this blood of plants helps improve the quality of our own blood. Also, as a bonus, chlorophyll is effective in repairing and improving the gut lining.

There are many benefits of blood donation.

Reduced red blood cells after donation stimulate the bone marrow to produce new blood cells. Therefore, you will be getting fresh, new blood of better quality. You also get screened for diseases such as HIV and Hepatitis, and your hemoglobin level will be checked for anemia. Of course, helping others is mood-enhancing and can add years to your life. There are free cookies and orange juice too - but we shouldn’t talk about that in a nutrition column.

A great topic for this month, since we are talking about blood, is anemia. Anemia is characterized by insufficient red blood cells (quantity), unhealthy red blood cells (quality), or both. There are many types of anemia, from iron-deficiency anemia (iron is an essential part of hemoglobin, the oxygencarrying molecule in red blood cells), megaloblastic anemia (change in blood cell size due to lack of Vitamin B12), pernicious anemia (the stomach cannot effectively absorb B12), anemia due to secondary factors (ulcer, menses, pregnancy, hypothyroidism), and hereditary anemia (red blood cells are malformed and dysfunctional, i.e.

Thalassemia, sickle cell anemia). A simple blood test can often differentiate the different types of anemia.

I hope these tips can help in your quest to protect and improve your own precious blood. And if you don’t have anemia, please don’t wait. Call the local blood center today.

Dr. Trent Peng Dr. Trent Peng is a practicing Clinical Nutritionist and Chiropractor in North Austin.

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W

hen I think back to my past involvement with non-profit organizations, there were many. I was a member of the medical crew for the Susan Komen Foundation 3-day walk; worked as a volunteer with Kiwanis international, and of course, served in our church. What I had the most involvement with; however, were the blood banks. Back in Chiropractic school in Chicago, I was president of the academic fraternity, Delta Delta Phi, and I organized a couple of school-wide blood donations with the local blood center. After arriving in Texas, I organized another blood donation event with the local Scott & White hospital, and many bags of precious blood were collected.

It was a wonderful feeling to know that my efforts were helpful to someone’s health or even life-saving.

In terms of iron-deficient anemia, the most common type, an iron supplement is usually recommended. I would caution about this simplistic approach. The best iron supplement, once again, comes from your food. Iron in food rarely exists by itself. In fact, iron is usually paired with copper, and longterm intake of iron by itself can cause

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21

Spiritual Coffee:

Need a morning boost? How about a drink from the Word that's full of powerful energy for your day?

Take a daily sip with these short devotionals that you can read and swallow, as quick as you drink your morning coffee.

1needed - 1 Corinthians 12:14 "Now the body is not

13difference - Psalm 34:14 "Turn from evil and

We all have a part to play for God...each part is

made up of one part but of many."

Had My Cup!

2"Being confident of this, that he who began a good

3Psalm 119:11 "I have stored up your word in my 4light so shine before men, that they may see your good

5Romans 15:7 "So accept each other just as Christ has

am here!"

Had My Cup!

632:8 "I will guide you along the best pathway for your

everyday life - whether you have enough..."

Had My Cup!

7moment - Psalm 90:12 "Teach us to realize the

can do good things he planned for us long ago."

Had My Cup!

thanks to you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made..."

deny himself and take up his cross and follow me."

Had My Cup!

Focus on God and His Word...it matters -

Had My Cup!

Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.�

Had My Cup!

Notes:________________________________________________________________ 7.

Enjoy life...God wants us to appreciate every

1moment - Psalm 90:12 "Teach us to realize the brevity

God doesn't make mistakes...we all have a

Had My Cup!

Had My Cup!

30Psalm 1:2 "But his delight is in the law of the

19purpose for Him - Psalm 139:14 "I will give

Enjoy life...God wants us to appreciate every

only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him."

It is all about Him and it is worth it - Mark

We have good work to do - Ephesians 2:10

Had My Cup!

Had My Cup!

298:34 "If anyone would come after me, he must

18"...He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we

God wants to be our guide...let Him - Psalm

Thank God for Mondays...give thanks - 1 5:18 "Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

Do it all for Him - Philippians 1:29 "For it

Be fearless today...God is in control -

Had My Cup!

Had My Cup!

28has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not

17Matthew 6:25 "I tell you not to worry about

Be a light. Talk to people who aren't like you -

Lord God, that I may declare all Your works."

27Thessalonians

We are never alone...God is with us - Matthew

Had My Cup!

brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom."

Had My Cup!

1614:27 "Don't be afraid, he said. Take courage. I

Practice what you preach - Matthew 5:16 "Let your

life. I will advise you and watch over you."

we hope for and certain of what we do not see."

Had My Cup!

Trust God - Psalm 73:28 "But it is good for me

Have faith...it will ALL be okay because God is

Had My Cup!

accepted you; then God will be glorified."

heart, because I have overcome the world."

"As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

26to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the

15real - Hebrews 11:1 "Faith is being sure of what

Don't forget the word...it has saving power -

works and glorify your Father in heaven."

Had My Cup!

Stay close to God to overcome - John 16:33

Had My Cup!

heart, that I might not sin against you."

do good; seek peace and pursue it."

Put your back to a Christian Brother/Sister

14"...you will have many trials and sorrows. But take

God has something for you - Philippians 1:6

work in you will carry it on to completion..."

25...make each other better - Proverbs 27:17

Start the week off focused on God...it makes a

________________________________________________________________________

Had My Cup!

of________________________________________________________________________ life, so that we may grow in wisdom."

Awesome!

I did it!

________________________________________________________________________

8

Spread some happiness today...Jesus loves you Matthew 14:27 "Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid."

________________________________________________________________________

20 Had My Cup!

Have a peaceful week...seek unity with other believers - Psalm 133:1 "How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity."

1

8.

Spread some happiness today...Jesus loves you

________________________________________________________________________ - Matthew 14:27 "Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be

Had My Cup!

________________________________________________________________________ afraid."

Awesome!

I did it!

________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________

9

Never give up on good - Galatians 6:9 "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."

21 Had My Cup!

Jesus gave us the map to life...use the map today - John 13:15 "I have laid down a pattern for you. What I have done, you do."

1not become weary in doing good, for at the proper 9.

Never give up on good - Galatians 6:9 "Let us

________________________________________________________________________

Had My Cup!

________________________________________________________________________ time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."

Awesome!

I did it!

________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________

10

God cares and knows our struggles...let Him have them - John 14:1 "Don't let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me."

22 Had My Cup!

11focus on what is seen, but what is unseen, for what

________________________________________________________________________

Had My Cup!

Had My Cup!

it Kind? James 4:11 "Do not speak evil..."

11.

Had My Cup!

24Romans14:1 "Accept him whose faith is weak,

We are not alone with our troubles...God is

without passing judgment on disputable matters."

Awesome!

I did it!

Focusing? - 2 Corinthians 4:15 "We do not

seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."

Awesome!

I did it!

1always there - Psalm 68:19 "Praise be to the Lord, to

Show God's love...accept, don't judge -

Had My Cup!

troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me."

1focus on what is seen, but what is unseen, for what is

T.H.I.N.K.: T - is it True? H - is it Helpful?

12always there - Psalm 68:19 "Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens."

1have them - John 14:1 "Don't let your hearts be

10. God cares and knows our struggles...let Him ________________________________________________________________________

23I - is it Inspiring? N - is it Necessary? K - is

Focusing? - 2 Corinthians 4:15 "We do not

is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."

Jesus loves us so much...show others that love - John 15:13 "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends."

12.

Had My Cup!

We are not alone with our troubles...God is

God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens."

Awesome!

I did it!

Richard Landry To get this text by phone or email, follow "CaptainEscape" on twitter or view information at www.CaptainEscape.com

22

Faith Family

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Texas Fine Arts Academy – Enriching the Quality of Life in Our Community labor of love, love for the arts, and most importantly, a love for the Lord. Psalm 33:3 "Sing to Him a new song; play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts." It is indeed the skillful part that the Academy attempts to accomplish.

Lakeway Church Launches New Archery Program

R

emember watching the great Cowboys and Indians shows on television? Or in today’s world, how about the Na’vi, the blue aliens in Avatar, shooting their bows and arrows? Archery is actually a skill dating from the late Paleolithic era, about 10,000-9,000 BC. It is now considered a sport, and is something which is familiar to all of us. Have you ever considered trying it yourself?

TxFAA Believes:

T

he Texas Fine Arts Academy provides educational and performance opportunities in the areas of art, dance, music, and theatre; focusing on quality, professional instruction. This includes beginners and accomplished artisans of all ages, in an effort to enrich the quality of life of the surrounding community through the arts.

Their desire is for students to discover the satisfaction that comes from playing an instrument, painting, dancing, or performing skits and sketches.

Mary Ann Hetrick started the Academy in 2003 as the Leander School of Music. It had always been her dream to provide one location that offers teaching, instruction and performance opportunities in all of the arts.

That dream became a reality three years ago with the formation of the Leander/Cedar Park Fine Arts Academy in its current location.

Since that time, the name has been changed to the Texas Fine Arts Academy in order to encompass the long term goal of spreading to other cities throughout Texas. The Academy is now a 501(c)(3) organization with an ever growing curriculum, along with a Home School program customized to the homeschoolers’ needs. The Academy relies heavily on volunteer help and is always grateful for those who assist in any way possible. All of the instructors at the Texas Fine Arts Academy are independently contracted and have training & degrees in their field of expertise. (Instructors are listed on the web site @ txfaa.org) Mary Ann has based the entire organization on the fact that “God gives us abilities in the Arts, and it is at the Academy where these abilities can be developed.” The entire idea started with violin classes being taught at the church she was attending, and from there God opened other doors. It is definitely a

• The arts are integral to every person's daily life and every person's spiritual life.

• The arts offer unique sources of enjoyment and refreshment for the imagination.

• They explore relationships between ideas and objects and serve as links between thought and action.

• The arts help students develop the attitudes, characteristics, and intellectual skills required to participate effectively in today's society and economy.

• The arts teach self-discipline, reinforce self-esteem, and foster the thinking skills and creativity so valued in the workplace.

• They teach the importance of teamwork and cooperation.

• They demonstrate the direct connection between study, hard work, and high levels of achievement.

The Lakeway Church has a new program entitled “Centershot” which teaches the life skills and expertise of archery (including focus, concentration, goal setting, discipline and practice) to a wide range of age groups. Held in the gymnasium of the Fellowship Center, these classes are open to all area residents from 3rd grade through adults. Each series consists of eight 1½-hour sessions, meeting on Thursday evenings from 6:00 – 7:30 pm.

The first eight-week series of “Centershot” kicked off on April 15 and has the students raving about what fun it is! “I’m lovin’ this!” says Deb Russo-Blakeman. All classes are limited to 20 in order to maintain a small group Bible study and a low instructor-to-student ratio.

While archery is a major part of “Centershot,” it’s just one aspect of the whole program. Each session also includes a time of Bible study and a

time for snacks and socializing. It’s a great activity for all ages to enjoy together, and families are encouraged to sign up for this lifechanging experience. Centershot Ministries is an interdenominational outreach ministry which was created several years ago in Minnesota.

They have spread mainly throughout the central states, and are expanding rapidly. Our instructors have been thoroughly trained by Centershot personnel.

The next series begins June 15. Registration is already in progress. All equipment is provided; there is a $12 per participant enrollment fee. Please contact Sean Reece at 512-261-6331 ext 18 or sean@lakewaychurch.net for more information, or visit the church website at www.lakewaychurch.org.

The Lakeway Church is located at 2203 Lakeway Blvd., Lakeway, TX 78734.

Nancy Keetch

One parent states, “My son has been taking piano lessons from the TxFAA for the past three years and he loves it! The teachers who have taught him have all been professional and personable. Because of TxFAA, my son loves playing the piano and also playing for other people in our home. We are really proud of him and thankful for the TxFAA!” Another parent is quoted as saying, “The recital was a huge success! I must confess, it was a proud momma moment for me! [My daughter] had a blast and the decorations were amazing as always! We are very blessed and honored to be able to have you and the Fine Arts Academy in our lives. Thank you for spending time with my children.”

Texas Fine Arts Academy is located at 200 Buttercup Creek Blvd. #104 in Cedar Park, TX 78613. Phone (512) 401-8863. Email txfaa@msn.com.

Scott Hetrick

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23

SPECIAL FEATURE YMCA of Austin

V

olunteer-founded and volunteer-led, the YMCA is the largest not-for-profit community service organization in the United States, with more than 2,500 YMCAs in 10,000 communities. YMCA programs serve 18.9 million people each year, including 9.5 million children.

Internationally, the YMCA is established in 120 countries, serving more than 45 million people.

The YMCA is for people of all faiths, races, ages, abilities and incomes.

The YMCA of Austin was founded in 1953 and today, serves over 40,000 members and provides youth, adult and family programs for nearly 40,000 additional individuals through eight branches in Travis and Hays Counties. The scope of YMCA of Austin programs extends beyond each branch to include Afterschool Child Care at 15 elementary schools in four districts and operation of Learning Centers at four affordable housing complexes.

turned away from YMCA memberships or programs due to financial circumstance.

In keeping with our Mission, we are committed to making our programs and facilities available for all. We work hard to make membership and program fees affordable. Even so, we know that during difficult times many families need financial assistance.

Our annual Partner of Youth Campaign raises the necessary funds so that we may continue our good work in the community every day throughout the year. Every dollar we raise is used to cover a portion of membership and program costs to keep YMCA programs available to the kids and families who need them most.

In 2009, we provided more than $1.7 million in financial assistance to more than 30,000 individuals so they could participate in Y programs, regardless of their ability to afford the fee. In 2010, we’re on pace to exceed that amount by 20%.

Our work is not always the most visible in the community because much of it focuses on prevention: • Helping adults maintain an active, healthy lifestyle to prevent the onset of obesity and disease;

Without a doubt, YMCAs are the nation’s largest providers of health and wellness programs. We’re the largest provider of aquatics instruction, and we’re the largest provider of child care. But for thousands of people in the Austin community, the Y is more than that: • It’s a hub for youth sports, dance and gymnastics, for music and arts classes and for adult education. • Many adults are coming to the Y for ESL and technology classes. • Families continually look to the Y for parentchild programs like Adventure Guides. • Parents rely on our Mother’s Day Out and Parents’ Night Out programs when they’re looking for a couple of hours to recharge or reconnect. • Disabled persons find a welcoming environment in which to engage in guided physical activity.

• Teaching children to swim to prevent yet another tragic drowning; • Offering fun, safe, and healthy childcare options to parents to prevent juvenile delinquency; • Helping parents instill core values in kids to prevent problems as they reach adolescence.

Faith Family

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Thankfully, thousands of contributors offer financial support each year to help us meet the growing needs in our community. If you would like to join our efforts, either as a volunteer Partner of Youth campaigner or as a donor, please feel free to contact our Financial Development Department at (512) 322-9622 ext. 34, or visit www.austinymca.org.

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This type of work may not make the 5 oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;clock news, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s real, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s needed, and it touches thousands of lives every day. Different people have different needs. And for some, having affordable childcare or a place to perform rehabilitative exercise can be just as urgent as the local food bank for their daily well-being.

â&#x20AC;˘ Active older adults thrive in our array of senior programs.

But perhaps this is the most important thing to know about the YMCA: No one is

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SPECIAL FEATURE

“Nursing our Babies: Then and Now”

B

etty and Faye are my two grandmothers. I know them as “BeBe“ and “MamaFaye.” BeBe is 85 and MamaFaye 75. Since I am now a mother myself, I’ve had an especially strong yearning to learn all I can about their experiences raising children. Our times are drastically different from theirs and we have so much more now than they had then. Much of what we have are conveniences that maybe we don’t necessarily need, but only enjoy the ease they have to offer to our everyday lives.

What did they do different when they had kids? What things have remained constant? Many questions like these go through my mind as I am in the midst of my parenting journey.

All moms want what is best for their children, and now in 2010 we are faced with an overwhelming array of choices on how we plan to nourish our little ones, both emotionally and physically. One of those choices is breast-feeding, and while it remains a very controversial subject to a majority of our population, it comes down to what is best for the mom, the baby and the particular situation.

Recently, I asked both of my grandmothers about their personal experiences nursing their children, and it was amazing to me how the past 60-70 years have changed, yet how much remains the same. Bebe had her children in the mid 1940’s all the way through 1960. MamaFaye had hers in 1958-1962.

MamaFaye reminisced about her family doctor prescribing PET milk diluted with water for one of her babies when her body was unable to produce enough milk. And similarly, they both acknowledged that even in the 1940s, pumping breast milk was something mothers did often for their babies, just like women do now. BeBe spoke a lot about her

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memories of “wet nurses” or another nursing mother who would nurse a child who was not their own in the absence of their mother, or if the mother herself couldn’t provide milk for her baby. She stated that back then it wasn’t viewed as anything other than helping each other out. Coming out of the depression, people depended on each other because they literally couldn’t live without the assistance of others. It speaks volumes of how still so many years ago the same things went on as they do now, in regards to nursing babies! The fact that God has given us an amazingly powerful way to feed our babies, for free, is remarkable! In the same way, He has also provided wonderful advances in technology for when we physically aren’t able to give them our milk.

Although wet nurses are not all that prevalent today, nursing women do have the capability of giving, in a way many don’t know is available. The Mother’s Milk Bank here in Austin is a milk bank that collects donor breast milk that is then processed and prescribed by doctors to ill and preterm babies. After I had my first child, I was unsure if I was gong back to work, and just in case, I pumped a nice supply of milk for my daughter. Later, the decision was made to stay at home with her full time, and there was a lot of milk I wouldn’t need. I researched options that were available so that the milk wouldn’t go to waste. That’s when I found the Milk Bank and was approved to donate. Knowing I could give that milk to babies, who need the optimal nutrition that only breast milk can provide, was a feeling I won’t soon forget. http://www.milkbank.org/

Pieper Stewart

R

yan Jason Blackmon struggled with learning delays, which physicians and therapists attributed to his premature birth. At 15 months he was hospitalized due to an illness and experienced complete muscle breakdown. He went from a walking toddler back to an infant that could not even feed himself. Medical providers attributed the muscle breakdown to his body's reaction to a virus.

Ryan was diagnosed with VCFS-Velo Cardio Facial Syndrome. This is the second most common chromosome disorder. Downs Syndrome is number one. Ryan’s muscle breakdown continued to worsen, and just two days before his fourth birthday he was admitted to the hospital because his muscle breakdown was so dangerously high that it could affect his major organs. He then seemed to improve and was discharged, although unable to walk on his own.

Each day, Ryan seemed to be gaining his strength, and blood tests confirmed that his muscle breakdown was recovering. For this reason, February 7, 2009 came as a huge shock to his family. They woke up that Saturday morning, ate breakfast together as a family, but Ryan was clearly not feeling good and wanted to lie down. Ryan’s father laid him down with his pillow and blanket, and he soon fell asleep. Ryan passed away in his sleep on the sofa.

created to use Ryan's legacy to help other children that struggle with learning disabilities. The foundation was organized to provide secondary education scholarships (currently just in Williamson County until the foundation grows) for individuals with learning disabilities.

The 2nd Annual Ryan Jason Blackmon Golf Tournament is scheduled for June 5th, 2010.

The tournament will be held at Teravista Golf Club in Round Rock, TX. It is an 8:00 am shotgun. There will be food, a live auction, silent auction and raffle, shopping and pampering, as well as activities for the children. Contact Clark Blackmon at Teravista for more information (512) 651-9851 or check out the Facebook page. It is hoped that through The Ryan Jason Blackmon Foundation, Ryan’s life will touch the lives of others in need.

Marcy Lytle

Ryan touched so many lives during his short time here, and it is evidenced by the support and outpouring of love from friends. Brandy Jones and the staff at Teravista Golf Club organized an inaugural golf tournament to help with the medical and unexpected cost of losing a child. Built upon their generosity, the Ryan Jason Blackmon Foundation was

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661 Louis Henna Blvd. Ste. 450 Round Rock, TX 78664

26

Faith Family

classes,” said Chris Rowley, Executive Director of CWJC of Austin.

O

n April 1, 2010, ten women graduated from Christian Women’s Job Corps (CWJC) of Austin, each with their own story of personal struggle and triumph. The graduation celebration was held at Booker T. Washington, the largest government housing project in Austin. Some of the graduates currently receive government assistance and dream of someday becoming self-supporting, while others have found themselves in personal crisis due to job loss, spousal loss, addiction, abuse, disability, or illness. The diverse group, ranging in age from 17 to 66, attended daily classes for eight weeks straight, learning job skills and life skills from volunteer teachers from churches all over Austin. Seeking more than just jobs and career advancement, the participants came, seeking hope, which is what CWJC offers - the hope of Christ shared in a very practical way.

Chris Rowley, CWJC Executive Director (left) with Amelia, 66, CWJC participant who passed her GED test after a year of CWJC tutoring

Kim, 17, CWJC participant, after being baptized at CWJC graduation ceremony, with son Isaiah

and my aunt. My dad was never there; he just got out of prison two years ago. I was that poor girl that went to the rich school. In middle school one of my teachers made sure I had food and clothes. When I was 15 I got pregnant.”

Kim doesn’t blame all of her decisions on her tough childhood. She admits to making poor choices and being overwhelmed by the sudden responsibilities of motherhood. “I was the type of girl who didn’t care about being a mother. I didn’t go to school and got in trouble for truancy, so I eventually just dropped out. I’d go out partying, being bad, cussing all the time. My mom took care of my baby. I wanted to run and go have my childhood. I used to never be able to handle him. He would just cry and cry and I wouldn’t know why. I wanted to shake him but I didn’t, then my mom would take him. I’d leave and go to a friend’s house and be gone for weeks at a time. That changed when I started coming to CWJC a few months ago. Now I take care of my son as much as I can.”

Foundational to CWJC’s ministry is Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” As such, each lesson, regardless of the subject matter, is taught within the greater context of God’s loving plan and purpose for each participant’s life, and is geared towards increasing their understanding of God’s promises as they prepare for vocational education or long-term employment. Each participant has a unique story and latent talents just waiting to be discovered, nurtured, and given the opportunity to grow. CWJC, an auxiliary ministry of Women’s Missionary Union (WMU), does just that by offering women in need a helping hand up, not just a hand out. In addition to job readiness training, CWJC provides daily Bible study, one-on-one mentoring, GED tutoring, and clothing closet and food pantry access to its participants.

When asked how else her life has changed since coming to CWJC, Kim said, “Coming here has changed me a lot. Now I know God can help me. It’s made me think about life and responsibility as a mother. It’s made me want to step up. It’s not my mom’s responsibility to take care of my son. I’m a lot more positive now and I believe in God. I started praying and have even started praying more for others, not just myself. I used to pray for money and stuff I wanted, but now I pray for my family and my friends.” When asked about the future, Kim said she wants to go to college to become a nurse and wants to continue going to church. When she turns 18 she wants to get an apartment and raise her son on her own.

Kim, who at 17 is one of the youngest women to graduate from CWJC, is a single mother of 18month-old Isaiah and is currently living with her mom and son. In an interview with Kim on the day of her CWJC graduation, she admits to having a rough childhood herself. “My childhood wasn’t the greatest. Growing up, my mom wasn’t around a lot. She took care of me some, but it was mostly my grandma

Kim’s extended family, including her mom and dad, celebrated her accomplishment at the CWJC graduation ceremony. A week before graduation, Kim had extended forgiveness to her father because she had come to accept that God had first extended His loving forgiveness to her. “Over and over again we see God faithfully restoring whole families as he transforms the lives of the women in our

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Ms. Rowley, who founded CWJC of Austin (an auxiliary ministry of Women’s Missionary Union) in 1999, has connected hundreds, if not thousands, of volunteers to serve over 500 women in need through CWJC and Hope Street Austin, a multi-family housing ministry she pioneered. Through the years of working in lowincome urban apartment communities, God gave her an expanded vision to bring the gospel to more people in high density communities through “simple church” services, also led by volunteers from area churches. In the same way that a person can feel lonely in a crowd, apartment living can feel terribly isolating for residents, many of whom are in transition due to divorce, job loss, college graduation, or relocation from other cities. “Just as Jesus came to earth in physical form to demonstrate His great love for us on the cross, believers must get out of their church buildings and go to where hurting people live, and serve them there. You don’t need a church building to build authentic Christian communities that are built on the foundational love of Christ,” Rowley said.

Currently, Hope Street Austin coordinates and leads “simple church” services at the Northgate Apartment Community at the N. Lamar & Rundberg area on Tuesday evenings and at Booker T. Washington Terraces in central east Austin on Thursday evenings. CWJC classes are held at Booker T. Washington in east Austin, Great Hills Baptist Church in NW Austin, and Iglesia El Shaddai in east Austin. In the near future “Hope Street Austin” will replace the “Christian Women’s Job Corps of Austin” as the name of the umbrella organization under which several urban outreach ministries, including CWJC, will operate. The vision for Hope Street Austin is to equip servant leaders to start their own satellite sites all over Austin in order to serve more individuals and families in need, and to offer them the hope and love of Jesus Christ.

For more information, contact Chris at chrisrowley@sbcglobal.net.

Susan Stern CWJC volunteer

CWJC Spring 2010 graduates from the Booker T. Washington site

www.AustinFaithandFamily.com

FOCUS : NONPROFIT nonprofit

Young Women and Young Men of Destiny – Changing Destiny, One Life at a Time

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“

or Their Tomorrow, We Gave Our Today” inscription, Kohima War Memorial, Kohima, Burma

Young Men of Destiny (YMOD) and Young Women of Destiny (YWOD) are companion leadership and debutante programs, currently open to high school students in the central Texas area. The programs place emphasis on offering Christ-centered education, training and preparation to young men and women as they transition from high school to college. YWOD was founded in December of 2004 as a not for profit personal and professional mentoring program for high school students in grades 9–12. The pilot program, in Jan of 2005, had just five (5) young women and four (4) mentors. YMOD began in August of 2006.

Since the program’s inception, its founders have felt especially blessed to witness exponential growth in the numbers of participants enrolling each year.

The central focus of this remarkable program is to formally present balanced, well-rounded young people into society, who are both analytical and articulate, who understand that they have a God-given purpose and destiny to fulfill, and who are focused on doing just that. When asked to explain what prompted her to found a program like this, Estelle Brooks responded, “It is our desire to leave a legacy; to make a difference; to have a lasting impact on this generation! Our ultimate goal is to raise up a generation of young people who know who they are and whose they are. With this goal in mind, we seek to assist our participants in understanding the biblical worldview by offering a comprehensive leadership experience which brings them closer to Jesus Christ and makes them better leaders.”

The program is based on a classic mentormentee model and pairs each student with a personal mentor. That mentor offers guidance and support to assist the participant throughout the duration of the program year.

Mentors also act as accountability partners to help ensure that the student attends scheduled meetings and events and completes the required reading, writing and scripture memorization assignments. Most importantly, the mentor is tasked with developing a relationship with the student which offers him/her a safe space within which to grow and learn.

www.AustinFaithandFamily.com

Working with the mentors/life coaches, most of whom are professionals working in their central Texas communities, participants make new friends, develop life long bonds and gain an understanding of their God-given purpose, destiny, gifts, and talents. During the nine-month program, participants attend workshops covering such topics as personal development, college and career counseling, spiritual development and countering culture. In addition, participants visit several Texas colleges and university campuses, participate in community service and quarterly issues awareness projects, and attend an annual retreat which focuses on purity as a lifestyle choice.

YWOD/YMOD closes out each season by honoring the young men and women who complete the program requirements at its Debutante and Gentlemen’s Gala and Scholarship Benefit held annually in June.

This year, the Gala will be held at the beautiful Sheraton Hotel on June 26, 2010.

The theme for the event is “Young Leaders Taking the World by Storm”. Gala sponsorships as well as event tickets are available now. For information on how you can become a gala or program sponsor or to purchase gala tickets or program advertising, email Mrs. Brooks at ebrooks@ywodymod.com or call (512)775-4753.

Participant enrollment begins June 15, 2010.

Prospective Mentor applications will be available June 15th, as well. For information on how to enroll your student or how you can become a program mentor or volunteer, email ebrooks@ywod-ymod.com or call (512)775-4753. Visit them on the web at www.ywod-ymod.com.

Estelle Brooks

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Faith Family

27

Along the Way:

SPECIAL FEATURE

Beyond Self-Toward Service

MS150…An Awesome Ride MS. However, he states, “I have several family members that suffer from breast cancer and leukemia, and I have seen the outpouring of support for events that provide funds for research for these diseases. I wanted to be able to give something back to others, in return for all of those people that have given selflessly to help my family.”

A

nthony Lucero pictured above (center) recently rode in the MS150 Ride, a twoday bike ride covering 180 miles from Houston to Austin. MS150 is the largest charity bike ride in the country, with 13,000 riders that participate. Anthony got involved with the MS150 Ride because a friend of his, Jordan Mechor, rode the MS150 for the first time in 2008 and encouraged Anthony to train with him, and ride in the 2009 MS150. They ride with Team NOV which is based out of Houston.

MS stands for Multiple Sclerosis, which is a chronic, often disabling disease that attacks the central nervous system. Symptoms can be mild, such as numbness in the limbs, or they can be severe, such as paralysis or loss of vision. The progress, severity, and specific symptoms of MS are “unpredictable and vary from one person to another,” says Anthony.

Anthony is the Office Manager for Smokey Mo’s BBQ. He states he does not have a personal connection to MS, nor does he know anyone with

Mr. Lucero states that the MS150 route winds through the Central Texas Hill Country and through several small towns. In every town, there are people lined up, yelling and blowing horns, etc…all to show their support and appreciation.

The ride is difficult, “especially when the wind is blowing,” comments Anthony. However, he states, “It is extremely inspiring to see that many people involved and cheering, and it keeps you going, no matter what.” The end of the ride takes the biker right in front of DKR Texas Memorial Stadium, with the finish line being at the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum. “There are thousands of people lined up along the completion of the route and along the finish line, and it is truly an awesome thing to experience.”

Where does the money go? Check out: http://www.nationalmssociety.org/ chapters/bp-ms-150/fundraisinginformation/download.aspx?id=18966.

To become involved, visit www.ms150.org and read about upcoming events.

Marcy Lytle

N

ew! Improved! Sale! For Americans, the presence of advertising is omnipresent. On our computers and televisions, and on every third page in our magazines, are the promises of glamour, weight loss, great abs, entertainment, luxury, and happiness at a reasonable price.

Americans are bombarded by the overt message that we can buy happiness and fulfillment. Do we believe it?

Increasingly our neighbors, just like us, are looking for a new way to live and define happiness. John Zogby, one of the nation’s most respected and accurate political and social pollsters, has discovered a trend away from materialism. It appears a growing number of us are looking for a new definition of the American dream. In his 2008 book, The Way We’ll Be, Zogby examines how trends already present, but largely unnoticed, are reshaping America’s future. In it he writes, “People are hungry to address the nonmaterial side of their lives. They are worn out with getting and spending, and in some cases, they are broken by it.” This trend toward non-materialism is evident, for example, in spending habits during the holiday season. Zogby points out that in spite of the rise of personal income, the rise of the stock market, and the rise in discretionary wealth; Americans spent, according to the Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics, $200 billion dollars less on Christmas gifts between 1996 and 2003 alone. Zogby comments, “Numbers like that can’t be ignored. They speak to a larger movement in society.”

Where is the movement of non-materialism taking us? What do we now value over luxurious personal purchases? The answer seems clear. We want to develop our spiritual lives and we want to help others. We want to give back, practice “random acts of kindness,” go on mission trips and “pay it forward.”

solution to the problem of poverty and they are the group most likely to see it as a problem for churches to address. In the last 12 months, according to Barna, the individual within the American population most likely to have had some intentional and significant personal interaction with a poor person is the evangelical Christian. 83% of evangelicals and 84% of those who regularly attend church have helped the poor in a personal way, which is a significantly higher number than the general population.

It appears that while a majority of Americans are looking for ways to give back to society and their communities, the born-again Christians of the community are the most likely to actually help in a personal way, and even more likely than others to give money to organizations addressing global poverty.

Faith does in fact make a difference in how we live. It seems that Christians have, for the most part, adopted the philosophy of our founder who said, “…the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve…” (Matthew 20:28 NIV)

Kie Bowman For instance, nearly half of all Americans have personally helped a poor or homeless person in their community in the past month, according to Christian researcher, George Barna. In addition, more than 25% of all Americans have given their free time to help a church in the past week, and an equal number have donated time to some other non-profit organization in the last seven days.

In the matter of serving others, evangelical Christians see the issue differently than their non-evangelical neighbors. Non-evangelicals, for example, view the problem of poverty as the government’s concern, with very few seeing the church or individuals playing a significant role. Evangelical Christians are measurably different. They are the least likely group in America to see government as the

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Faith Family

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Faith Family

29

FOCUS : CHURCH church Angels Healing and Recovery Church “You brought me to Jesus with a pair of shoes!”

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he above is a true testimony written in a card to Angels Healing and Recovery Church, Pastor George Crisp and his wife, Paula. This card and statement sums up the focus and commitment of this church that was started February 16, 2002. Pastor George Crisp has a special place in his heart for this ministry, which is committed to helping men and women struggling with drug and alcohol addiction, in getting them off the streets into godly, productive lives. Pastor George decided at age 41, with much help from others, to sober up and join Alcoholics Anonymous. After 10 years in this program, he accepted Jesus Christ to be his Lord and Saviour. He has now celebrated his 17th year of sobriety.

Eight years ago, Pastor George dedicated his life to teaching and ministering to those suffering with the chains of addiction and started Angels Healing and Recovery Church in Austin, Texas. His mission is, “To Win Souls for the Kingdom.” He started on the streets of Austin handing out sack lunches and offering a message of hope and salvation.

What started as 25 sack lunches has now turned into 200-250 hot meals, clothing, a praise and worship team, ministering the Word, sharing of testimonies, minor first aid care, prayer, and handing out of bibles. This ministry is sponsored by Angels Healing and Recovery Church and now includes several other local churches that participate and assist them every Saturday under the freeway bridge on 7th street and I-35 where they have been going strong for five years. There are 20-25 faithful servants that show up weekly for this amazing experience called “Bridge of Angels.

“Bridge of Angels” has just recently started a new program called “Drive thru Prayer” that gives people who are driving by a chance to

stop and request prayer. It is proving to be a refreshing and restorative ministry for those who stop and receive. Through “Bridge of Angels” the church offers the “next” level program called “PowerHouse Ministry.” This ministry teaches and provides the tools required for people to regain their independence and dignity. In conjunction with these programs, the church runs the “McCabe Bible Study” which is a weekly Sunday study lead by Pastor George, ministering to and teaching the men and women in this prison halfway house.

Every three months, a group of Angels Healing and Recovery Church members drives to Hidalgo, Texas with a van full of food and clothing for the homeless and poor at the Border Mission. Pastor George and his team minister the Word of God and give hope to those who are filled with despair.

Details of Angels Healing and Recovery Church and the ministries can be found on the website: www.angelshealingandrecoverychurch.org.

All ministry and programs are funded solely by the donations of faithful and giving servants of God. After reading this testimony of ministry, if you feel led by the Spirit to share some of your gifts to help in the ministry or to donate, please go to the website: www.angelshealingandrecoverychurch.org, or contact them at mightyservantsofgod@yahoo.com.

Efrem McKnight

Jason Bratcher LMT, brings fifteen years of experience in therapeutic touch and healing bodywork to the Susan Hart Day Spa where he is the lead therapist and spa director. He’s a graduate of the respected LautersteinConway School of Massage, where he trained in Swedish, Deep Tissue/Myo-fascial Release, and Sports massage. He has gone on to acquire training in Sacred Lomi-Lomi, or Hawaiian Temple Bodywork, which is a beautiful form of massage that is nurturing and facilitates relaxation on an emotional as well as physical level. Jason integrates all of the above modalities, and supports them with carefully edited music tracks that he mixes himself as a means to send clients into a deeper, more relaxed state from which to receive the full benefits of their massage. Jason developed this combination of touch and sound to create a unique healing environment that he calls “Therapeutic Immersions.” Jason was also voted most requested therapist of 2009 at Massage Envy Southpark Meadows.

Jason Bratcher Bio

"Here at the Susan Hart Salon and Day Spa we are about health and wellness.Whether you are suffering from chronic pain due to past or recent injury or you are an athlete that needs to replenish and recover or you just want to relax and escape, this spa provides that supportive and nurturing environment for you."

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Faith Family

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www.AustinFaithandFamily.com

www.AustinFaithandFamily.com

Available at all HEB, Randalls & Central Market stores in the Greater Austin Area

Faith Family

31

Moments of Obedience | Find Your Story It Was Time to Let Go A Resounding “Yes!”

C

an you count it an obedient moment if it was spread out over years? That will be up to you to decide; but in my mind the answer is a resounding, “Yes!” You see, it was in my small acts of obedience that God was able to lead me to a choice that changed my life. Several years ago, God lead me to read certain passages in the bible and I saw them in a way that I had never seen them before. Then without effort on my part, a story formed around the passage in a way that was easily read and understood by teens. For a year I got these downloads, and knew that they could one day be formed into a book.

The book sat on shelf for a year while my own insecurities and self doubts overruled my desire to be obedient.

However, God is patient and He is good.

Knowing that my obedience in this area would lead to lives being changed, he continued to speak to me through people and sermons until I finally stepped out and submitted my manuscript, and began the process of becoming a published author. You may think the story would end there; that would be a good ending, and before last November I couldn’t imagine a better one.

Then God whispered to my heart once again, ‘I am going to use your book to help incarcerated teens. My immediate reaction was disbelief. Surely I had misheard. With a laugh, I let the creator of the universe know that he probably had the wrong girl. After all, I had never been an incarcerated teen, I didn’t know any incarcerated teens, and I sure didn’t know how to get my book into the facilities where this group of teens would be. The next

day, I was approached by a fellow church member who told me they needed someone to teach to incarcerated teens in the Academy program in Georgetown; and God gave her my name. Another person came to me, to tell me about a program she was starting with incarcerated girls in Travis County, and felt God telling her I would be a good person to speak to these teens.

So with full obedience in mind, I set out to attend the classes and get the background checks that would allow me to enter into the world of these teens and tell them about the Jesus I love so much. The moment I stepped into that room full of teens and started talking about my Jesus, I was hooked. The first time I prayed over these hardened teens, and saw God move in their hearts, I felt a joy that few other things have ever brought me. Each time another one accepts Jesus as their Savior, I find myself in my car crying out to God in disbelief, because He chooses to use me, flawed, insecure me, to reach into these lives and make an eternal difference. God didn’t just call me to obedience to bring Jesus to a group of His lost and hurting children; he called me to obedience to give me a blessing that I can barely contain. Now I approach every day trying my best to hear God and obey His voice; for I know that in that obedience I am blessed beyond measure.

Lorie Goggin

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Faith Family

Next came the weekend of decision. I didn’t realize it would be such a profound weekend when it began. I had been talking to someone about my concerns with my dating situation and they brought up the recent writing called, Tough Love for Singles. I didn’t really want to go there, but while I ate breakfast, I turned on the radio and heard a short minute program that was discussing Tough Love for Singles.

Turning it off, I headed up to my room and began to pull boxes out from under my bed.

One of the boxes held papers, and as I sorted through them, I came across a pamphlet entitled; you guessed it, Tough Love for Singles. “Okay, Lord,” I thought, “I’m ready

to listen.” I read through the list of situations where tough love might be needed and recognized that John was not the man God had for me. It was so hard, because he was everything I thought I needed in a husband.

But God had made it clear - it was time to let go of my relationship.

When John and I talked, he took it well. It was a calm parting, but sad as well. I was 28, and the relationship I had been in for a year was over. But here is the kicker - God had already put my future husband in my life. He was a guy who was steady and stable and a good friend; qualities that had were lacking in my relationship with John. Before three months had passed from the time I broke up with John, I began dating my future husband Jonathan. We will be celebrating our 17th anniversary this June, and we now enjoy our wonderful family of three children, three cats, and one dog. God is good, and He does reward our obedience!

Lucy Howard

Do you have a story, or are you still looking? Please share your moment of obedience with us. Include events that led up to your moment, what happened in that moment, and the outcome of that moment. If you have not found your story yet, keep reading and maybe there will be something right here in these pages that will help you find it.

Please submit articles to Marcy@AustinFaithandFamily.com

(Read about Lorie’s book in the Rave Reviews section)

Clients of Give Realty made donations totaling $4657.25 to the following nonprofits in May:

Making a Difference

J

ohn walked into the room and my heart started pounding. It was one of those “love at first sight” times that I had read about, the only one in my 28-year old life. I had a plan to meet and marry my husband in college, but the Lord had other plans. Now I was much older and began to wonder if I would ever get married. It took John a while to notice me, but we finally began dating and it was fun. We dated off and on for eight months, but our relationship never went too deep. He had some wounds in his past that kept him from really opening up.

Emancipet: $1383.75 Samaritan Counseling Center: $1132.50 Austin Humane Society: $701.00 CASA of Travis County: $1440.00

(*by submitting an article you are authorizing Family & Faith Publications to use your article in future printed materials.)

Funny Church Bulletin Bloopers 1. A bean supper will be held on Tuesday evening in the church hall. Music will follow.

2. Remember in prayer the many who are sick of our community. Smile at someone who is hard to love. Say “Hell” to someone who doesn’t care much about you.

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News of the Weird Inexplicable In January, Aretha Brown, 66, who has lived in the same house in Callahan, Fla., (pop. 962) for 30 years, suddenly became unable to leave her yard unless she crawled between CSX railroad cars blocking her access to the road. Tracks had always been in place, but the railway only began storing train cars on them this year. CSX told The Florida Times-Union that it would soon build Brown an access road to the street. [Florida Times-Union, 2-6-10] Sub-"Zero Tolerance" Seventh-grader Rachael Greer was suspended from River Valley Middle School in Jefferson, Ind., in February, even though she apparently did exactly what her parents and the school want kids to do ("just say 'no'" to drugs).

When a classmate handed her a prescription pill in gym class, she immediately handed it right back. Nonetheless, an assistant principal, after investigating the incident, suspended her for five days because she had touched the pill. (He expressed regret but said it is school policy.) [WAVE-TV (Louisville, Ky.), 2-25-10]

businessman Karl Rabeder, 47, to be depressed about his wealth, and by February, he was in the process of giving away an estate worth the equivalent of about $5 million. Two luxury properties are for sale, with proceeds going to charities he established in Central and South America, and he plans to move into a small hut in Innsbruck. "Money is counterproductive," he told a reporter. "I had the feeling I was working as a slave for things that I did not wish or need." (According to London's Daily Telegraph, Rabeder's wife was with him at the time of the epiphany, but the story curiously is silent about her view of his decision.) [Daily Telegraph (London), 2-8-10] Least Competent Police Embarrassing: In March, on duty on opening day of the jail at the new Adair County judicial center in Columbia, Ky., sheriff's deputy Charles Wright accidentally locked himself in a cell and was fired after he tried to shoot open the lock. [WKYT-TV (Lexington), 3-3-10]

Questionable Judgments A recent epiphany caused millionaire Austrian

A Collier County, Fla., sheriff's deputy suffered a broken ankle when he and a colleague accidentally locked wheels while patrolling in Naples on their Segways. [Naples Daily News, 2-23-10]

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Faith Family

33

June calendar brought to you by Christian Brothers Automotive

JUNE CALENDAR Caring for the Family– Caring for the Family Car

!

DON’T MISS

THURSDAY

03

Harvest Time Conference:

Household of Faith Christian Fellowship Church at 7:30pm. Bishop Victor Uzosike from Port Harcourt, Nigeria ministering and praying for healing and deliverance.

FRIDAY

04

Household of Faith Christian Fellowship Church at 7:30pm. Bishop Victor Uzosike from Port Harcourt, Nigeria ministering and praying for healing and deliverance.

A

“This will be one of the most exciting disaster training events ever offered to the church body in Greater Austin! I believe we are called to prepare and be available to assist and serve our city in times of need,” says Daniel Geraci, Executive Director.

Fulton Sheen, former Michigan State Representative, and National Disaster Relief Trainer, will be the Keynote Speaker. Other nationally known speakers include Melissa Slagle, presenting Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) Training, Maureen Wilson doing Business Preparedness Training, and Dr Paul R. Williams talking about his book When All Plans Fail.

General and Break-Out sessions are free. Certified Training Sessions have varying costs. For Conference information, and to register, visit the ADRN website at www.adrntx.org. Advanced registration is required.

National Disaster Trainer, Fulton Sheen, will be presenting Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training on June 7-10th from 6PM-10PM and June 13th from 2PM-6PM. This course will be held at Promiseland Church’s Raymond Light Bldg, 1504 E 51st St, Austin, TX 78723. The course costs $40 per person. Online registration is required at www.adrntx.org.

W

INE TASTING benefiting Faith in Action Caregivers–Round Rock–Thursday, June 24th 4:30-6:30pm at Water 2 Wine, Sky Ridge Plaza in Round Rock. Tickets $10 – all proceeds directly benefiting transportation services for older adults. Raffle, Silent Auction & Jewelry Sale. Wine, Cheese & Chocolate!

Sponsored by Accord Home Care, Central Texas EMS, Practical Care Continuum and ResponseLINK. For more info (512) 310-1060 or rr@fiacaregivers.org

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Live From the Plaza: Austin City Hall at 12 pm. Free lunchtime concerts on the plaza at City Hall!

Movies in the Park: Old Settlers Park at 7:30pm.

Admission is free. Parking is available by the Lakeview Pavillion. Bring your lawn chairs or picnic blankets.

SATURDAY

Incredible Creature Features: Austin Childrens Museum. Explore the amazing world of animal adaptations!

Uncover intriguing feats of camouflage, see spectacular predator defenses and investigate mass extinctions all while learning abut your favorite animals.

Vacation Bible School: The Lakeway Church from

Harvest Time Conference:

ustin Disaster Relief Network (ADRN) is hosting their 1st Annual citywide Disaster Relief Training Conference on June 11th & 12th, 2010 in Austin at Bannockburn Baptist Church, 7100 Brodie Lane, Austin, TX 78745. The conference will be open to the entire Austin area Body of Christ.

ADRN’s goal is to train, equip and certify participants.

At the event, participants will have a variety of disaster readiness workshops from which to choose.

Learn from experts as they give advice and train in the areas of Evacuee Care, Disaster Shelter Preparation, Family Preparedness, Biblical Readiness and 1st Responder Training.

The Austin Symphony Orchestra Presents Pink Martini: Palmer Events Center from 8pm – 10pm.

TUESDAY 08

05

2nd Annual Ryan Jason Blackmon Golf Tournament : Teravista Golf Club 8am shotgun. We will have food, a live auction, silent auction and raffle.

Beginner’s Bird Walk: Northwest Park from 8am – 10am. Join Virginia Rose and Shirley LaVergne for this month’s beginner bird walk.

9am – 12pm. VBS is open to children ages 4 through 5th grade. There is no charge.

Vacation Bible School: Tree of Life Church. Each day kids participate in small groups, called crews, and dive into the Bible!

WEDNESDAY

09

Incredible Creature Features: Austin Childrens Museum. Explore the amazing world of animal adaptations!

Uncover intriguing feats of camouflage, see spectacular predator defenses and investigate mass extinctions all while learning abut your favorite animals.

Vacation Bible School: The Lakeway Church from 9am – 12pm. VBS is open to children ages 4 through 5th grade. There is no charge.

Vacation Bible School: Tree of Life Church. Each day kids participate in small groups, called crews, and dive into the Bible!

10

Stone Canyon Annual Spring Arts and Crafts Show: Fern Bluff Community Center from

THURSDAY

10am – 3pm. The show features local talent, family activities, handcrafted items such a s pottery, glass, jewelry, t-shirts and more.

Incredible Creature Features: Austin Childrens

SUNDAY

06

Star Wars: In Concert:

Frank Erwin Center 2pm

and 7pm.

MONDAY

07

Family Fun Day at the Park: The Bluff Memorial Park

Museum. Explore the amazing world of animal adaptations!

Uncover intriguing feats of camouflage, see spectacular predator defenses and investigate mass extinctions all while learning abut your favorite animals.

Vacation Bible School: The Lakeway Church from 9am – 12pm. VBS is open to children ages 4 through 5th grade. There is no charge.

Vacation Bible School: Tree of Life Church. Each day kids participate in small groups, called crews, and dive into the Bible!

from 9am – 11:30am. Join First Kids at the Bluff. We’ll be playing dodgeball. Parents come and enjoy fellowship while the kids play.

FRIDAY

Incredible Creature Features: Austin Childrens

2010 Disaster Relief Training Conference:

Museum. Explore the amazing world of animal adaptations!

Uncover intriguing feats of camouflage, see spectacular predator defenses and investigate mass extinctions all while learning abut your favorite animals.

Bannockburn Baptist Church. Hurricane season is upon us and as Christians, it is time to be prepared!

Vacation Bible School: The Lakeway Church from 9am – 12pm. VBS is open to children ages 4 through 5th grade. There is no charge.

Vacation Bible School: Tree of Life Church. Each day kids participate in small groups, called crews, and dive into the Bible!

11

Ernest Pugh Live! Gospel Concert: Household of Faith Christian Fellowship Church at 7:30pm with special musical guests, Double Portion.

Incredible Creature Features: Austin Childrens Museum. Explore the amazing world of animal adaptations!

Uncover intriguing feats of camouflage, see spectacular predator defenses and investigate mass extinctions all while learning abut your favorite animals.

Available at all HEB, Randalls & Central Market stores in the Greater Austin Area

Somewhere between a 30’s Cuban dance orchestra, a classical and chamber music ensemble a Brazilian marching street bank, and a Japanese film noir soundtrack is the 12 piece, Oregon-based, “little orchestra” known the world over as Pink Martini.

Vacation Bible School: The Lakeway Church from 9am – 12pm. VBS is open to children ages 4 through 5th grade. There is no charge.

Vacation Bible School: Tree of Life Church. Each day kids participate in small groups, called crews, and dive into the Bible!

Zilker Park Summer Pops Concerts: Hillside Theater at 8pm. Bring a blanket and picnic supper and enjoy the music under the stars. Free.

SATURDAY

12

2010 Disaster Relief Training Conference: Bannockburn Baptist Church. Hurricane season is upon us and as Christians, it is time to be prepared!

2010 Seton Ignite 5k: Seton Medical Center from 7:30am – 12pm. Open to runners, walkers, joggers, men, women and kids.

Second Saturdays are for Families: Trash Fashion: AMOA – Downtown from 12pm -4pm. Re-use, recycle, re-create! Construct wearable designs using recycled materials with Angsty Teenage Eco Warriors.

Spaghetti Dinner: New Hope Community Church at 6:30pm. All proceeds go to support Souled Out Youth’s mission trip and camp this summer to Blood-n-Fire.

Zilker Park Summer Pops Concerts: Hillside Theater at 8pm. Bring a blanket and picnic supper and enjoy the music under the stars. Free.

SUNDAY

13

Savvy Kids Conference: St. Edwards University from 9am – 5pm. A family event with fun educational activities for kids. Kid-friendly information focuses on four main educational fitness “pillars” including: environmental, financial, physical health and socio-economic topics.

Snout by Snoutwest Dog Festival: Dell Jewish Community Center at 10am. Contests for dogs with the ugliest mug, best trick, and owner look-alike.

MONDAY 14 Children’s Summer Musical Camp: The Lakeway Church from 9am – 2pm. A summer camp for children who have completed first through fifth grade. The cost is $55.

High Seas Expedition: Anderson Mill Baptist Church from 9am – 12:30pm. Join us on a High Seas Expedition VBS for kids that have completed K – 5th grade. This VBS is free.

www.cba-austin.com

2010

Students of the Month

Submit calendar entries to amanda@AustinFaithandFamily.com by the 15th of the preceeding month.

11th Annual Senior High School All Star Baseball Game: Dell Diamond at 6pm featuring top players from the Central Texas area. All tickets are general admission and available at the gate on game night. The cost is $5.

TUESDAY

15

Round Rock Express Kids Day: Dell Diamond at 7pm. Kids enjoy pre-game inflatables, face-painting, and pony rides outside the gates. Those 12 and under receive a FREE kids baseball glove.

MONDAY

21

Chamber Music Festival of Marble Falls: Children’s Summer Musical Camp: The Lakeway Church from 9am – 2pm. A summer camp for children who have completed first through fifth grade. The cost is $55.

Uptown Marble Theater. Free nightly concerts at the Uptown Marble Theater.

Elgin Western Days: Historic Downtown Elgin. The High Seas Expedition: Anderson Mill Baptist Church from 9am – 12:30pm. Join us on a High Seas Expedition VBS for kids that have completed K – 5th grade. This VBS is free.

WEDNESDAY

16

Children’s Summer Musical Camp: The Lakeway Church from 9am – 2pm. A summer camp for children who have completed first through fifth grade. The cost is $55.

High Seas Expedition: Anderson Mill Baptist Church from 9am – 12:30pm. Join us on a High Seas Expedition VBS for kids that have completed K – 5th grade. This VBS is free.

THURSDAY

17

Children’s Summer Musical Camp: The Lakeway Church from 9am – 2pm. A summer camp for children who have completed first through fifth grade. The cost is $55.

High Seas Expedition: Anderson Mill Baptist Church from 9am – 12:30pm. Join us on a High Seas Expedition VBS for kids that have completed K – 5th grade. This VBS is free.

FRIDAY

18

Children’s Summer Musical Camp: The Lakeway Church from 9am – 2pm. A summer camp for children who have completed first through fifth grade. The cost is $55.

High Seas Expedition: Anderson Mill Baptist Church from 9am – 12:30pm. Join us on a High Seas Expedition VBS for kids that have completed K – 5th grade. This VBS is free.

Live From the Plaza: Austin City Hall at 12pm. Free lunchtime concerts on the plaza at City Hall!

SATURDAY

19

City-Wide Garage Sale: Palmer Events Center.

Vintage clothing, Americana, memorabilia, antiques, coins, books, estate jewelry, china, fishing lures, vintage toys.

41st Annual Western Days Festival hits historic Elgin, TX .

Week long carnival; longest parade in Texas on the 26th; vendors; great music, food and fun for all ages.

Get A Clue!: Austin Children’s Museum. Growing gumshoes will love discovering the mystery behind science, and the science behind mystery! We’ll sharpen our logic and detective skills by starting each day with a riddle.

TUESDAY

22

Chamber Music Festival of Marble Falls: Uptown Marble Theater. Free nightly concerts at the Uptown Marble Theater.

Elgin Western Days: Historic Downtown Elgin. The 41st Annual Western Days Festival hits historic Elgin, TX .

Week long carnival; longest parade in Texas on the 26th; vendors; great music, food and fun for all ages.

Get A Clue!: Austin Children’s Museum. Growing gumshoes will love discovering the mystery behind science, and the science behind mystery! We’ll sharpen our logic and detective skills by starting each day with a riddle.

The Legendary Pepe Romeo in Concert!: Long Center for the Performing Arts at 8 pm.

WEDNESDAY

23

Chamber Music Festival of Marble Falls: Uptown Marble Theater. Free nightly concerts at the Uptown Marble Theater.

Elgin Western Days: Historic Downtown Elgin. The 41st Annual Western Days Festival hits historic Elgin, TX .

Week long carnival; longest parade in Texas on the 26th; vendors; great music, food and fun for all ages.

Get A Clue!:

City-Wide Garage Sale: Palmer Events Center.

Vintage clothing, Americana, memorabilia, antiques, coins, books, estate jewelry, china, fishing lures, vintage toys.

Get A Clue!: Austin Children’s Museum. Growing gumshoes will love discovering the mystery behind science, and the science behind mystery! We’ll sharpen our logic and detective skills by starting each day with a riddle.

FRIDAY

25 Michael, Wynter & Zachary

Austin Kingdom Academy Free “Taste and See” Nights: Church of the Hills. The Austin Kingdom

Chamber Music Festival of Marble Falls: Uptown Marble Theater. Free nightly concerts at the Uptown Marble Theater.

CHEACT’S 23rd Annual Home Educators Conference and Book Fair: Palmer Events Center.

HomeSchool Conference and book fair featuring curriculum exhibitors, book sellers, and many workshop speakers.

Elgin Western Days: Historic Downtown Elgin. The 41st Annual Western Days Festival hits historic Elgin, TX. Week long carnival; longest parade in Texas on the 26th vendors; great music, food and fun for all ages.

Get A Clue!: Austin Children’s Museum. Growing gumshoes will love discovering the mystery behind science, and the science behind mystery! We’ll sharpen our logic and detective skills by starting each day with a riddle.

SATURDAY 26

T

hey’ve only been brothers for a short while, but Zachary and Michael are enjoying their life as family. Zachary is in Pre-K at Round Rock Christian Academy, and Michael is in Kindergarten at Frost Elementary. Zach enjoys his friends and states his favorite thing is art! Michael also enjoys his friends, and likes reading, math and computer class.

These brothers stay busy, with swimming and AWANA, and they both emphatically state, “I want to do Karate!” At school, Zach says “Jesus talks to my heart: I love Jesus so much, and he made me and helps me make good choices.” Michael states, “Jesus helps me stay on ‘green’ and be good.” Both boys declare that Jesus is their hero.

Chamber Music Festival of Marble Falls: Uptown Marble Theater. Free nightly concerts at the Uptown Marble Theater.

CHEACT’S 23rd Annual Home Educators Conference and Book Fair: Palmer Events Center.

HomeSchool Conference and book fair featuring curriculum exhibitors, book sellers, and many workshop speakers.

Elgin Western Days: Historic Downtown Elgin. The 41st Annual Western Days Festival hits historic Elgin, TX. Week long carnival; longest parade in Texas on the 26th vendors; great music, food and fun for all ages.

Keep Austin Weird Festival presented by HEB: South First Street Bridge from 2pm – 10pm.

LA Guitar Quartet in Concert: Long Center for

The Biscuit Brothers Joined by the LA Guitar Quartet: Long Center for the Performing Arts

THURSDAY

Zach & Michael Young

Academy is a school that honors the presence of God for adults.

Austin Children’s Museum. Growing gumshoes will love discovering the mystery behind science, and the science behind mystery! We’ll sharpen our logic and detective skills by starting each day with a riddle.

the Performing Arts at 8pm.

SUNDAY 20

Elgin Western Days: Historic Downtown Elgin. The 41st Annual Western Days Festival hits historic Elgin, TX .

Week long carnival; longest parade in Texas on the 26th; vendors; great music, food and fun for all ages.

Zach has ambitions of being a “karate man”, an ice cream man, or a doctor, when he grows up. A fireman is what Michaels hopes to become.

When asked if there was anything else “interesting” these boys wanted our readers to know, they both included the fact that they are happy to be brothers now. Michael was recently adopted by the Young family. He states they are “family forever.” Michael and Zach also have a little sister named Wynter, who has Down Syndrome. Oh – and one more thing – Zach is sometimes a secret superhero called “Super Zachary.”

at 1:30.

Marcy Lytle

24

Chamber Music Festival of Marble Falls: Uptown Marble Theater. Free nightly concerts at the Uptown Marble Theater.

Enjoying family life

www.cba-austin.com

35

DOLLARS &

­

Financial Straight Talk with Dave Ramsey

Here’s something else to think about. Some of these “counseling” companies withhold credit card payments until the account is three to six months past due. Then, they contact the lender and negotiate to settle the bad debt.

See where I’m going? That’s how they get negotiated discounts on credit card debt.

Card companies don’t settle on your debts when your payments are on time.

These services are always a bad idea, and sometimes they’re a complete scam. Some of them will go as far as to request power of attorney. Believe it or not, many people who are in debt are either naïve or desperate enough to sign this control over to them!

DAVE SAYS Dear Dave, I have a friend with $30,000 in credit card debt, an $80,000 second mortgage, and a car loan. She makes about $70,000 a year, and is considering using a credit counseling service to help. They say they can negotiate her credit card debt down to almost half of what it is now, but there’s an 18 percent fee attached for their services. What are your feelings about this?

Your friend needs to handle this herself, and the best way to do that is by making her money behave, and creating and living on a monthly budget. Tell her to sell some stuff, or pick up an extra job on weekends. It would probably be a good idea to sell that car she’s financing, and find a cheap, little beater to drive around, too. Regardless, she’s got some tough decisions and hard work ahead if she wants to free up her cash flow, and clean up this mess the right way!

–Dave

For more financial help please visit www.daveramsey.com

–Frank Dear Frank, This is a bad idea for several reasons. For one thing, it will virtually destroy her credit with regard to buying a home. Almost every lending institution will look at using a credit counseling service as if she had filed Chapter 13 bankruptcy.

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ENSE

Moms Who Save

by Giving…

T

his is a monthly column full of tips for saving money. This month's focus is on ways to save by giving.

Melissa C. (married, mother of four) • We always give our clothes away - mainly to The Caring Place on Railroad Street in Georgetown.

• We also know of a family that has three boys younger than our son, so we take all his clothes and all the outgrown boy toys to them (just look for needs among the people in our circle).

• The best way we have found to give is to just pay attention to the people around you and look for needs.

• The biggest way we save is by giving of our time to our youth group kids and to the Down Syndrome Association of Central Texas. Giving time to minister to kids and pour out God’s love on those around us is our favorite way to give, because His love for us is perfected in us when we pour out His love to others.

• There doesn’t need to be a special occasion to give a gift to someone. God has blessed us, so we want to pour out and bless others.

Jo Ann A. (single “mature” mom, living alone) • This one is dear to my heart. I give monthly to World Vision. My donation helps a 16 year-old young man from Bangladesh.

• We give our daughter’s leotards to a girl at gymnastics whose mom is divorced - she is raising three kids on her own. This is what I instill in my children - look around you and see what you can give to someone that truly can use what you have to share.

• On a regular basis I give gently worn clothing to the Texas Paralyzed Veterans for their resale shop. These sales of clothing and other items help the veterans with whom they deal.

Kamrin W. – newlywed (temporarily substituting for Patricia J.):

• I give to the American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, and other similar charities.

• My husband and I give monthly to Compassion International. We sponsor a 6-year old little boy from Kenya. Our money helps provide him with food & clean water, medical care, education, and most of all funds an organization that focuses on “releasing children from poverty in Jesus’ name.”

• We are youth leaders at our church, so we give to the youth fund in order to provide scholarships for kids who cannot pay their own way to events, mission trips, and camp.

• From time to time, there are requests for special donations at church and I give as much as I can.

• God has never let me lack for any of my needs. Since I have been so blessed, even in rough financial times, I always want to give back. I can truly say I am more blessed to give than to receive.

FROM THE AUTHOR OF CATCHING FIREFLIES, COMES…

Life is Fluid A women’s devotional from the book of Ecclesiastes

By Marcy Lytle

www.marcylytle.com

36

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Spend Life Well Don’t Believe Everything You Hear – Retirement May Be Closer Than You Think

W

orried about retirement? If you are like many contemplating retirement, it’s hard not to worry. In a recent survey conducted by Aon Consulting, 87 percent of employees reported they are holding off on retirement as a result of current economic conditionsi. Are you part of this 87%?

When we hear news of doom and gloom, it is all too easy to think the worst about our own retirement dreams. The reality is that you most likely can retire but you need to take action now. Here are some things you can do to get ready for retirement.

Decide what you want most from your retirement lifestyle. It seems like a simple thing right? We just stop working. But if you are like most people, lounging around in your pajamas all day will get old in about a week.

For many, this is their time to dream about doing the things they always wanted to do but would never give themselves time to pursue…is it volunteering, or taking on a completely new career...some travel or writing that book? This decision is especially important and complex with couples and may require some help to work through these issues.

Set your target date for retirement. I know this is an obvious one but don’t forget to do it. Every conversation you have with your family and/or financial advisor should consider the timing of your goals. A mistake in timing could cause you to take unnecessary risks with your investments. For example, purchasing a lifecycle fund with a 2025 target date when you plan to retire and begin accessing your money in 2010 may not be a wise decision. You may be surprised at how often mistakes like this happen to those who don’t determine a reasonable retirement target date.

Track your spending. If you have never lived on a budget for the first 55 or 60 years of your life, you are most likely not going to start now.

However, you will learn invaluable information about your household spending that will help you determine your real retirement income needs. Having trouble living within your means? Then you may need a spending plan.

Oh yeah, if you carry a credit card balance or owe money on your automobiles, it is time to consider getting rid of all consumer debt.

income during their retirement yearsii. This rate comes from some long established academic research funded by the insurance industry.

In my opinion, the research is out of touch with the average American household. The common replacement rate assumes that you still have children at home or are paying for their college, you still have a mortgage and general expenses wrapped around raising kids and working. The reality is that some discover they only need 1/2 to 3/4 of the income they thought they would need. Seek the advice of a financial planner that uses an economics approach to planning, to help you determine your specific retirement income needs.

Think that paying off the mortgage is impossible? Consider downsizing to a smaller house. You have to consider if you really need that large of a home. (Don’t use the excuse of the grandchildren visiting twice a year to justify needing excess space.) The reality is that having a smaller home could mean less maintenance, upkeep and potentially lower taxes.

Learn about Social Security and Medicare.

Please seek the counsel of a financial planner or check out www.ssa.gov to learn more about Social Security. For some households, waiting to collect Social Security benefits to age 70 may create the best scenario for longterm financial planning. Ask a financial advisor when might be the optimal time for you to start collecting those benefits.

The same is true when it comes to Medicare and planning for future medical expenses.

You would need a PhD in government legalese to understand all the rules surrounding Medicare and Medicaid.

Reexamine your current medical insurance to determine if you will have enough coverage if you plan to retire before the age of 65.

Don’t forget about the costs of Medicare Part B and Part D (Prescription Drugs), as those seem to be increasing at a rate higher than inflationiii.

Reassess your tolerance for risk; examine asset allocation and diversification. The stock market lessons of 2008 and 2009 are many but will hopefully reshape how you manage your investments. We learned that some investors might likely be taking on too much risk in their portfolios. You should remain actively involved in your investments.

You can do this yourself but unless you would like financial planning as a second career, a professional advisor with a more active or tactical approach to investing may be for you.

The lesson from these past few years is that the buy and hold mentality may not be the step to take when you are in or near retirement. Take charge of your financial life.

Evaluate your Legal Documents. No one likes to consider the prospect of dying but all of us will die one day. And, unless you enjoy the thought of having your estate divided up in court by a stranger, who has no idea that you never intended to leave your most precious possessions to Cousin Fred, you may want to consider a Will.

Also, you may want to consider two other important documents to add: A Durable Power of Attorney—granting your designee authority to conduct personal business on your behalf. You decide how and when the power can be used; an Advanced Medical

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Directive—giving explicit instructions to your doctors and loved ones on how you are to be given medical care in the event you are unable to communicate with doctors.

Spend Life Well. Is life worth living unless we are able to enjoy the fruits of our labor? With all of these things, don’t gamble with the enjoyment or the peace of financial security.

Seek the counsel of skilled advisors to help your plan succeed.

Preparing for retirement provides us the peace of knowing that we will be able to sustain our lifestyle while we pursue the dreams of the next chapter in life. What will your book read like?

Mark Trice is a financial planner in the Austin area

Citations i Aon Consulting, available at <http://insight.aon.com/?elqPURLPage=4552>. ii “Spend Til The End”: Kotlikoff & Burns: 2008 iii AARP Bulletin Today May 7, 2009 available at: http://bulletin.aarp.org/yourhealth/medicare/articles/part_b_ premiums_in_2010_frozen_for_many_higher_for_some_.html iv Genworth Cost of Care Survey 2009 available at: http://www.genworth.com/content/genworth/us/en/ products/long_term_care/long_term_care/cost_of_care.html

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Determine your post retirement income needs. This is one of the most misunderstood issues in retirement planning. Many popular sources claim that most households will need between 75% and 85% of their pre-retirement

Learn about Long-term Care. A common assumption among many is that Medicaid is there for their long-term care needs. The rules for Medicaid vary from state to state, but the common criteria are that you have to be dirt poor to receive assistance. Care in a nursing home facility can cost upwards of $60,000 a year or higheriv. Long-term care insurance is not for everyone; however, many states are adopting new programs to help more families afford this coverage.

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Dr. Christopher Hoppe 2000 Sun Chase Blvd. | Cedar Park, TX 78613 | www.drhoppeccfd.com

Faith Family

37

TOP Why Not?

10

G

iving is usually associated with Christmas, birthdays, or other “special” occasions.

However, giving is a lifestyle that in return offers the giver better health, satisfaction with life, and great joy. The summer months can be a perfect time to give to others, and listed below are ten ways you and your family can serve together by blessing others:

1

Visit the elderly. There are nursing homes all over our city, full of citizens who gave to our community and to their families, but now are in need of - not your money – but your time. If you have a relative in a nursing home, make time to visit regularly. If you don’t have a relative in a nursing home, why not adopt a grandpa or grandma for you and your family to bless?

2

Take a single mom or dad and their kids on a picnic with you and your family. Inviting a single parent and his/her kids for an outing with you and your family at the lake, in a park, or in your backyard will generate new friendships, and create summertime memories. Why not take photos, put in an album, and make the memories last?

3

Plant a garden and share. One tomato plant will generate many tomatoes, and two plants will generate lots, to share. There are easygrowing vegetables that can be planted in pots, if yard space is limited, and once they produce – why not share them with your neighbors?

4

Clean out the closets and donate. While the kids are out of school, have a “clean your closet” day, where all gently-used clothing, shoes, and toys are boxed up for donation at your nearest Salvation Army, Storehouse or Goodwill. Why not make another child happy?

Set up a lemonade stand, and donate your proceeds to your local animal shelter. Take a Friday night, bake cookies together, stir up batches of lemonade, and make a colorful poster. It gets hot early here in Central Texas, so by 9am set up your stand, ice chest alongside, “ and cups for serving. Why not refresh others?

6

Bless your church. The places we worship are often in need of a makeover. This could include nice potted plants being placed on the porch by the front door (remember to water them!), fresh flowers in a vase in the entry, or even just volunteering your time to help clean out old storage rooms and sheds. Why not give back to the place where you receive?

7

Help out a teacher. Teachers have summers off, right? NOT! Teachers spend a good part of their summer organizing, cutting, decorating their rooms, planning activities, etc. Find out from your kids’ school if any teacher needs help moving desks, putting up bulletin boards, or preparing their activities for next year. Why not make a teacher’s job easier?

8

Surprise a neighbor. Next time you grill outdoors, invite a neighbor whom you’ve not visited before. Throw on a few extra burgers, and invite them to bring the drinks. Eat late, when it’s cooled down to at least 90 degrees (!) and end the evening with some good conversation over dessert. Why not make a new friend?

9

Take some time off. Vacations are a great way to give to your family. Take time completely away from the normal routine of work, cleaning, and bills. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to take a vacation. There are parks all over town, great eateries with fun food, small towns nearby to stroll through on a lazy Saturday, and watering holes for a good cool down, both physically and emotionally. Why not bless your own family?

10

Give a smile. This is the easiest, least inexpensive way to brighten up someone’s day. Instead of texting, talking on the phone, thinking of your to-do list, or looking down at your feet, look up…and out. Smile at the lady in the grocery store in line in front of you, or at the little child who’s crying. Smiling is good for your own countenance, and it just might make a huge difference in someone’s day.

Why not turn your own frown upside down?

Marcy Lytle

38

Faith Family

Head to Heart

5

The Health Benefits of Giving

T

here” is no better exercise for your heart than reaching down and helping to lift someone up.” Bernard Meltzer

As far back as Aristotle in ancient Greece, people have realized that giving to others positively impacts emotional and physical heath. Countless scientific studies have examined the effects of giving and the common conclusion is giving is healthy and increases happiness. Giving makes people happy and happy people give more.

There are many forms of giving to others. Money, time, volunteer activities, donations of items or services can all increase physical and emotional health.

Researcher Alan Luks coined the phrase “helper’s high” to describe the effects of giving on a person’s physical body. The act of giving or volunteering can reduce stress, depression and physical pain by releasing endorphins in the body. People who give generally have a longer life expectancy, improved immune system, relief from insomnia and speedier recovery from surgery.

One of the most positive benefits of volunteering is the shifting of mental and emotional energy off of ourselves to others. Persons experiencing grief over the loss of a loved one may find that volunteering is a way to work through the grief.

If the loss is due to a specific disease, involvement with organizations that focus on education and awareness of that disease can be very healing. Research has found that when people with chronic pain perform volunteer work they often experience a decrease in pain because it takes their mind and focus off of the symptoms.

Teaching your children about giving has a positive impact on their emotional health and development. By teaching and modeling giving as a family, children develop into caring, wellrounded adults. Teenagers that are involved in helping others learn valuable skills in appreciating their own family, develop on-thejob skills training, and increased awareness of the value of a positive work ethic. Teenagers that give have a more positive outlook and hope for their future. Parents should teach children to give money as well as time and acts of service for others.

Available at all HEB, Randalls & Central Market stores in the Greater Austin Area

As a family, find an agency, organization or charity that everyone can give to. Talk and explore the many ways of giving and serving that fit each person, age, talents and resources. There are numerous choices.

How about sponsoring a child in a third world country? Each family member can find ways to contribute by earning money, writing letters and learning more about a sponsored child. The local animal shelter is often looking for volunteers to play with the animals. Hospitals and nursing homes need volunteers to help interact with patients and residents. This is a great way to link children and teenagers with different generations. Families that give together tend to live healthier lifestyles, have higher integrity and find more meaning and happiness in life. Giving naturally encourages everyone to be less selfish.

Jesus was the ultimate giver and volunteer. In the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus taught us to serve others. Jesus modeled giving by always looking at the needs of others and reaching out to help and serve. He demonstrated compassion for the poor, the sick, the oppressed and the wounded.

As we follow the example of Jesus and obey his command to give and serve others we not only reap the spiritual benefits but also gain the physical and emotional health that is a product of giving.

Al H. Jones, Ph.D. Head to Heart Restoration Ministry www.headtoheart.org

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www.AustinFaithandFamily.com

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C

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D

Solid Rock Baptist Church 608 Ralph Ablanedo Dr., 78748 512.410.7458 pastorsrbc@gmail.com A Church for the Deaf and Hearing

To have your church listed call:

(512) 689-2717

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Children at Heart Ministries: Hope Served Here

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hortly after college, I was blessed with the opportunity to come on staff at Texas Baptist Children’s Home, which is now on the cusp of celebrating 60 years of service to Central Texas families. Like many Texans, I didn’t know what an astounding organization this ministry was until I saw the guts of it. The sheer dedication of its staff and supporters to provide the utmost in care for hurting children is truly inspiring. For those who still don’t know about TBCH, let me fill you in. In 1950, the ministry began as an orphanage to displaced children.

Unlike most “orphanages” of the time, TBCH provided cottages for children instead of an institutional atmosphere. There were no fences, no locked doors, and no “headmasters.”

Perched on the corner of Highway 79 and Mays Street in Round Rock, sits over 230 acres of plush ranch land with several homey cottages and house parents to keep watch over the children in care.

Today, TBCH is one of four related ministries under the Children at Heart Ministries’ umbrella.

While it still serves displaced children in those very same cottages build in 1950, they have continued to add programs. Its Family Care Program is a residential program for mothers and children fleeing abuse, financial strain and homelessness. Miracle Farm, located in Brenham, is a working ranch dedicated to the rehabilitation of teen boys on the brink of incarceration. STARRY, also located in Round Rock, houses an Emergency Shelter for children removed from their homes due to abuse or neglect; a Foster Care Program; and a Counseling Program, which provides no-cost family and individual counseling, as well as behavior modification workshops and parenting classes. Gracewood, an offshoot of TBCH’s Family Care Program, serves motivated single mothers and their children, in two locations.

I spent seven years working as the Communications Manager for Children at Heart, where I developed a deep and abiding love for each and every one of its ministries. However, few people know this ministry exists and that it relies heavily on the support of the general public. I don’t mean just those willing to provide financial gifts, either, although those are helpful.

If you and your family are seeking out ways to

become involved in a volunteer project, I urge you to look no further than your own backyard.

Here are a few ideas to get you started: Clean Out Your Closets TBCH has a Commissary that provides food, clothing and furniture to families in need.

Mothers in the Family Care Program are encouraged to utilize this service to supplement food items even after they are on their own.

Families fleeing an abusive situation sometimes have only the clothes on their backs. At TBCH’s Commissary, they can find clothing and even comfort items like teddy bears to ease them into their new life. Before giving to a national nonprofit, consider these hurting families right at home who need your help. Have your children purge their clothes and toys to give to these wounded individuals.

Make a Meal A new trend has emerged among the volunteers at TBCH and related ministries - the good old fashioned tradition of providing meals to people in need. Some people offer to buy pizza once a month while others bring a casserole or fruit baskets. House parents and tired moms truly appreciate the gift of a night off from cooking, and it can create a deeper bond than dropping off a few unwanted items.

Have a Party Since Children at Heart is still one of my clients, I was recently honored with the task of writing an article about a little boy who, instead of receiving birthday presents, asked people to

wrap sporting goods for boys at TBCH. So inspired was his mother, she threw a party for her friends to purchase shoes for moms in the Family Care Program. Talk to your kids about this and see if they too would be interested in giving up their gifts for others who may never have known what it is like to receive birthday presents.

Maybe sponsor a school-supply party for your neighborhood to collect needed backpacks, notebooks and pencils. If you really like the idea of partying down for others, consider sponsoring a child’s birthday party at one of the cottages.

Some children at TBCH have never experienced a birthday party in their lives. Imagine how loved a child will feel, knowing a total stranger is providing that joy for them.

These are just a few of the many opportunities to give back to a ministry right here in Central Texas. For more information on how you and your family can pitch in, contact Brenda Gilbert, TBCH Volunteer Coordinator at: (512) 246-4244, or visit www.childrenatheartministries.org.

You’ll be very glad you did.

Miranda N. Bradley

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The Power of 2 – Collaborating on Campus

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’m reading a perspective altering book this month written by a couple of teenagers called Do Hard Things. There is a chapter on collaboration, in which they share an analogy of two horses, which captures the power of working with others.

‘A study of horses revealed that a single horse could pull an average of 2,500 pounds.

The test was repeated with two horses. You’d expect the weight pulled to double – to about 5,000 pounds. Not so. Two horses working together pulled 12,500 pounds!

That’s five times the amount one could pull alone. There’s something inside a living being that rises to accomplish exponentially greater things when part of a team.’

Wow! What an amazing picture expressing what it means to partner with those around us to make a greater impact on our campuses.

In 2007, when God began to stir my heart to action for college students at Austin Community College I immediately began to pray for kingdom minded, co-laborers. Not only was this biblical (Matthew 9), I knew that I needed like-minded partners in this ministry to accomplish the tasks God was leading me toward. My prayers were answered as others began to partner with me on this vision and today, eight churches and ministries have been involved in serving the 40,000+ students at ACC around Austin. We prayerfully expect the number of ministries involved to double by 2011.

Big vision requires big collaboration, but we are never to despise small beginnings. The power of 2 can also make some pretty huge waves.

Consider UT’s Campus Renewal Ministries which is the hub for prayer and partnership for 70+ Christian clubs and organizations.

CRM’s roots are traced back to a couple of guys who, in 1991, committed to praying daily for revival on campus. God increased their numbers each year and now, almost 20 years later, CRM is the launching pad for over 200 missional communities of students intentionally bringing the message of Christ to groups all over UT!

This journey begins when we take our focus off our own desires for our lives long enough to focus on God’s purpose for our lives. We are led by the Holy Spirit inside us which speaks to our hearts, conscience and through our life circumstances, directing us on how to spend our time and what to give our lives away to. The ultimate collaboration is with God the Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

When we put our true faith in Christ, the Holy Spirit moves into us, and we get adopted into the trio. This cord can never be broken and always has a good return on their work!

Pray over your campus this month and write down what you think God sees as he looks around it. Then picture this – behind the scenes God is already partnering with dozens of ministries to work the harvest, and he is beckoning YOU to join him in his work. Did you know that most non-profit ministries in Austin are run by less than five committed volunteers?

That’s it! Whether your heart is hurting for homeless youth (www.streetyouthministry.org), unborn children and young, single moms (www.austinprc.org ), or any other injustice you are exposed to, remember, you could be that second horse that comes along, exponentially increasing the reach and effectiveness of these ministries.

Know that your labor matters to God. With every life you touch and every heart you minister to, your labor here on earth is building up an eternal kingdom in heaven. We will never have more time than we do right now to start giving our lives away, so why not start right now?

For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. -Jesus

Joe Elliott

20 Words has a dual meaning: It speaks to the 20-something crowd and highlights 20 words that send a message.

King Solomon wrote that two are better than one because they have a good return for their work. Likewise, a cord of three strands is not easily broken. (Ecclesiastes 4) I believe God has placed in all students a desire to take risks and make a mark on the world around us. www.AustinFaithandFamily.com

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As Iron Sharpens Iron, Let Us Sharpen You Financially!

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Giving Back While You Travel

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ith this edition of Austin Faith and Family dedicating itself to nonprofit organizations, I wanted to share various ways you can incorporate your travels with giving back. Many consider this concept the ultimate win-win as you get to give while you learn, or give while simply taking a vacation. This article will touch upon Volunteer Travel, Fundraising Cruises and share where 3D Cruise and Travel gives back.

If you have had a successful experience with Volunteer Travel or a Fundraising Cruise, I would love to hear about it.

Volunteer Travel is an amazing way to see a place, get to know a culture, and leave a positive footprint. This can be done locally or abroad. You don’t have to travel far to find a place to volunteer. The trick is finding a place you want to visit that also has a volunteer opportunity. Generally, there are two ways to search for a volunteer travel program: by place or by opportunity. Locally, farms, food pantries and a host of non-profits need help.

Volunteer a day and spend another day exploring that part of the Austin metro area that you have never experienced. If there is a particular area you have always wanted to venture to abroad, online searches for volunteer opportunities will prove very helpful. Above all, your reasons should be: *Help Others *Get Up Close and Personal With a Culture *Have Fun While planning your summer vacation, see if you can find a volunteer opportunity as part of your travel. If you have a heart to serve, you will be hooked.

Fundraising Cruises are a unique opportunity for nonprofit organizations. Many major cruise lines support nonprofit organizations locally and nationally. Because they understand the importance and challenges of fundraising, they have developed a program that allows the organization to raise much-needed funds, and at the same time give supporters all the fun of a cruise vacation. Ideal groups that have benefited from the program are: Civic, Medical Research, Arts, and Churches/Ministries. Basically, the organization marks up the cost of the cruise and that amount becomes a donation. The cruise line matches a particular amount to donate, as well. In addition, free staterooms can be earned and the cash value can either be given to the organization OR it can be used to raise additional funds through raffles, and the winners will sail free. 3D Cruise and Travel assists with all the details, as well as donates.

Please call or email for more information.

Lastly, 3D Cruise and Travel is over-the-top excited to give back to organizations in the community, both in volunteering and donations. 10%+ of all earnings goes back into the community, and here are just a few we have been blessed to bless: Faith in Action Caregivers, Summit Christian Academy, Red Cross, Hospice, Round Rock Area Serving Center, Celebration Church, Hope Alliance, Upside of Down, Texas Baptist Children’s Home, Mobile Loaves and Fishes, Angel Food Ministries, Habitat for Humanity, Round Rock Sertoma, and Young Women/Men of Destiny.

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SPECIAL FEATURE Taking a Mulligan – One Father’s Perspective

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“mulligan” is a term used in golf to describe a do-over, another shot, a chance to make up for a bad shot or club selection. Mulligans are usually reserved for a round of golf involving friends, unless one of the friends is too competitive to grant his counterpart’s request for a mulligan. There was group of guys that I used to play golf with, and one of them, Donny, would never ask if he could take a mulligan. Immediately after hitting a bad shot, while the ball was still in the air, he would shout “I’m takin’ a mulligan!” And he would do exactly that.

During one round of golf in Florida, Donny took FIVE mulligans…on the same hole!

Now before some of you make a decision to take up the sport of golf because you can take mulligans until you learn how to swing a club, I have to warn you that mulligans are not a part of the professional game! Believe me, Tiger Woods has never followed a bad shot in the Masters Golf Tournament with “I’m sorry, but I didn’t particularly like that last shot. Can I get a mulligan on that one?” Just doesn’t work that way.

In Life Looking back at your life, have you wished that at some point you could’ve taken a mulligan on one bad choice that you made?

One questionable decision? How about the whole thing? Do you just wish that you could just start over? There was a time when all I did was look back. Growing up, I had always dreamed of being an attorney. I don’t think that I was even aware that there were different types of attorneys, i.e. Corporate, Criminal, Defense, Civil, etc. I just knew that I wanted to be a lawyer, just like my older cousin Gerald Topazi (who would later become a judge). A lawyer. Yep, that’s what I was going to be. To use the old cliché, “A funny thing happened along the way.”

Life When I graduated from John Carroll High School in 1970, I enrolled at The University of Alabama (in Tuscaloosa) to pursue my dream.

The problem was that I was more prepared to party than I was to study. I joined a fraternity, www.AustinFaithandFamily.com

became a weekend alcoholic, and skipped far too many classes. I moved back to Birmingham at the end of my freshman year and enrolled at the University of Alabama in Birmingham (UAB) for the Fall Semester of 1971. The next few years were a blur…dropped out of college, got a job selling women’s shoes, went to work in my parent’s grocery store, got married in 1974, became a father in 1976, and again in 1979.

On my twenty-seventh birthday I was married, with two children (Brian and Christian), a house note, a car note, and a stay-at-home wife. By the way, I was bringing home the whopping total of $200 per week. It all happened so fast that I wasn’t sure just how it happened…I woke up one morning and I was old, or at least I felt like it! The idea of being an attorney was nothing more than a fleeting memory.

Fast forward to my 37th birthday; I was divorced and remarried (to Jackie, my wife and best friend), with two children (the same ones!), a house note, a car note, and a wife that worked as hard as I did. I was the coowner of a beauty shop (that I didn’t want to own), and for the first couple of years bringing home $200 per week would have seemed like a lot of money! Thank God that Jackie was making money behind the chair, or we would have starved. The idea of being an attorney wasn’t even a memory.

Throughout all of those years, I blamed everyone else for the fact that I was where I was, doing what I was doing. But deep down inside, I knew that I was to blame for my shortcomings. No one was holding a gun to my head, making me party too much, drop out of school, and get married at the tender age of 21. I was the reason that I wasn’t an attorney or a corporate exec, wearing a suit, driving a fancy car, making the big bucks.

Quite honestly, I wasn’t envious of the suits, or the cars, or the money.

What was it?

These people, the execs, attorneys, doctors, and white-collar professionals of the world had done something that I had failed to do…they had used what God had given them to get a college degree and chase their dreams. I had settled for less. What really chapped my behind was that while I may not have been the brightest light bulb in a room, I certainly wasn’t the dimmest. I knew that I was wasting my most precious gift; my mind.

As I was approaching the intersection of college and the rest of my life, I had taken the short cut to the rest of my life - wrong choice.

I never beat myself up over it, but I did wish that I had been a bit wiser. And while I never asked for a mulligan, never even wished for one, I often wondered what my life would have been like if I had stayed the course and

finished law school. I didn’t spend too much time dwelling on it, though. What good what it do to keep looking back?

Today there’s no looking back.

As I anticipate celebrating my 57th birthday in September, things have certainly changed.

I never look back; I’m too busy looking forward. I’m happily married. The boys are now men. Jackie and I still owe for a couple of things, but that’s the American way, right?

And, I still don’t have that law degree. That’s okay. I’m happy, and I’m proud of who I am.

What happened? On November 5, 2006, the anniversary of my personal epiphany, I made a commitment to be the best person I could be, never again settling for less, using all the gifts and talents that God had given me.

The result? I have been blessed with a period of personal growth and enlightenment beyond my comprehension. Our salon has soared to heights that have amazed industry experts. And perhaps most importantly, my relationship with God has become the driving force in my life.

And that mulligan? Today I wouldn’t take a mulligan on any decision that I’ve made in life.

You see, every decision that I’ve ever made, every choice that I’ve opted for, and every step I’ve taken has made me the person that I am today. It was all part of God’s perfect plan for me. If I had done one thing differently, just one thing, Jackie may not be my wife, and I may not have two great sons. I may not be in a business that allows me to grow the careers of others, and offers me a platform to share my faith with those who will listen. I may not be sitting at this laptop at this very moment, writing The Seed of Hope (www.theseedofhope.com) and telling you how blessed and fortunate I am.

How about you?

Are you looking at the past, instead of the future? Still regretting a decision that you made years ago? Wishing that you had turned left instead of right? Do you spend a lot of time wondering what you might have been and what you may have been doing? Are you wishing for a mulligan, a chance to do things over? Please, please, don’t make the same mistake that I did; let go of the past. I spent so many years looking over my shoulder that I couldn’t see the fulfilling life that waited just ahead. We can’t undo the past, but we can make the most of each day that we are given.

Make a commitment to yourself to be all that you can be. Make a commitment to God to take advantage of every talent that He has blessed you with. Plant the seed in your mind that you have everything in life to do whatever you want to do.

Sam Maniscalco

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A View from the Blue Roof

The Texas Ramp Project â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Folks Who Simply Care

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ne of the area ministries that our congregation has been involved with is called the Texas Ramp Project. In 1985, the Kiwanis Club in Richardson began building access ramps for residents in need in the Dallas area. Since then, this effort has grown to include thousands of volunteers building ramps all over the state. Many volunteers say it is one of the most satisfying forms of charity work they have ever done.

Our congregation became involved in this ministry a little over two years ago when our Director of Christian Education connected with the folks at the Texas Ramp Project and recruited some of our members to help other groups with some of their builds. Since then, we have been asked to go off and do some builds on our own. One couple in our church took over the leadership of this project and continues to organize builds in the community and encourages our members to come out and help with their time and effort.

The projects are geared towards the needs of the individual, with the idea of helping those who feel imprisoned in their homes because of their inability to get up and down steps.

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We also assist with safety and other mobility needs of our clients who are unable to provide for these needs on their own. After speaking to one of our leaders, she informed me that it was, in fact, the most meaningful form of charity work in which she and her husband had ever participated. She pointed out that the resources and equipment are usually supplied along with a building plan.

You do not have to have building knowledge; simply a desire to work and a willingness to give, up around three to four hours one Saturday a month. The length of the ramps varies, and there are other possible projects such as steps and/or rails for safety and support. Children can participate, so long as a parent is there to help supervise, making it a great family opportunity for community ministry.

According to their website, volunteers for the Texas Ramp Project have built 1087 ramps (approximately 5.24 miles of ramp!) involving some 33,335 hours of volunteer time. In Austin alone, some 362 ramps have been built by nearly 800 volunteers and close to 8000 hours of volunteerism. Organizations

such as St. Davidâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Foundation, American Airlines, Harold Simmons Foundation, The Hillcrest Foundation, King of Glory, and Ryder have all helped donate to this important ministry.

The leaders of our congregation strive to build every second Saturday of the month. If you are looking for a way to give back to your community, then please consider getting involved in this wonderful ministry. This effort did not grow out of a particular Christian denomination, but rather from a group of folks who simply care. If you care, then consider getting involved.

Go to www.texasramps.com or email them at austin.texasramps@gmail.com and sign up to help!

Pastor Keith Gravesmill

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Compassionate Christian marriage and individual counseling that restores hope or life coaching that provides direction in the Round Rock and Austin area.

For more information visit www.headtoheart.org or call Al H. Jones, PhD 512.496.8938.

Has God called you to the ministry of Christian Counseling?

Head to Heart School of Pastoral Counseling provides training and licensure through the National Christian Counselors Association.

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Catching the Light. ..

My Cup Overflows – He Who Has Much, Has Much to Give

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ou will need two cups, each sitting in a cookie sheet with sides (to allow overflow), placed at opposite ends of a table. Place a pitcher of water in the center.

Have a third cup available, set to the side.

Let one person play the part of “Chris,” another “Sam,” and a third person be the one who pours water. One more person will play the part of an old lady. Finally, have someone read the following story, while the actors perform…

Chris and Sam were growing in their walk with God, experiencing God’s blessings in their lives. Their cups were full. (Pour in water to fill both cups). They both sat at God’s table of provision for their lives, drinking in his goodness and mercy. One day a friend stopped by who was lonely and sad, because her grandmother had just passed away. Chris didn’t even notice the friend was crying, because he was so full and lazy, and he was asleep! Sam, however, divided his cup of water into two cups, and sat and sipped together with the friend (using the third cup, pour half the water from Sam’s cup.)

He shared how he too had lost his grandmother last year, and he said he would pray for his friend.

wandered around. Sam kept hoping for another opportunity to share his water with anyone who was thirsty.

Chris came back to the table and watched Sam. Sam filled cup after cup with water and passing it out to people as they went by (Have Sam take his cup, sip, and pretend to offer to others.) It looked like hard work, and yet Sam had a huge smile on his face. An old lady tapped Chris on the shoulder and asked him for a drink. Chris offered his full cup of water to the little old lady and watched her (lady gulps down the cup of water.) She just wanted a drink, and it was so easy! He even got up and offered her his seat, letting her stay a while and drink from his cup (lady sits down in Chris’ chair.) Sam and Chris continued all day pouring and sharing, pouring and sharing.

Somehow the pitcher of water never ran dry, and everyone who asked, received.

Just a Good Cook

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appy Father’s Day! We all know someone who is a wonderful father. It can be grandfather, husband, uncle, son, pastor, even a friend. Best of all - our Father in heaven. Take this opportunity to honor Him. This month’s issue has a unique flare. Not only will I be giving you a recipe that requires frying meat, for the special man in your life; I’ll also share a time very dear to my heart, when a ministry reached out to me.

Chicken Fried Steak with gravy 2 large sirloin steaks, (have the butcher run them through the tenderizer) Yes, they can do it for you, it’s their job, believe or not. The butchers at Randalls are wonderful.

3 eggs + ¼ cup of milk 1-cup flour ½ tsp garlic salt ½ tsp onion salt ½ tsp black pepper ¼ tsp parsley just for giggles and color

1-2 cups of vegetable shortening, (LARD, if you don’t love the person you’ll be serving) Use a cast iron skillet if available, placing one cup of shortening in skillet, and heat on low.

Place eggs and milk in medium-size mixing bowl, beat and set aside. Using a large plate or platter, mix flour and all the spices; set aside. Cut the steaks to 4”-5” each. Take 1 - 2 steaks at time; place them in the egg mixture, Talk with your kids about how blessed until well coated. Take egg-coated steaks and we are, how much we have to give, and how dredge through seasoned flour. STOP. Make much pleasure comes when we give. sure the grease is hot, very hot, not smoking, and then place the steaks in the grease, Matthew 10:42. cooking 2-3 at a time. (Avoid having any small children near the stove anytime you’re cooking with grease.)

Families that pray together and play together, grow together.

Both cups were filled again, with so many blessings day after day (pour water again into Chris’ now overflowing cup, and fill Sam’s cup back to the brim). Chris was becoming bored with all of this drinking from the “river of life.”

He got up and left his chair, left his cup, and

Above is a small sample of the type of family devotions you

Mashed Potatoes

will find in Catching Fireflies, written by Marcy Lytle. Take one evening, gather the family together, and catch the light from God’s word as you have fun doing it! (www.marcylytle.com)

1- 5 lb bag of Russet potatoes 1 tsp salt to taste ½ stick of butter (I use Land O Lakes low fat butter, it has less fat than most margarine) Cool huh?

1-1/2 cups warm milk

Mix together until flour is completely dissolved; set aside. In the same skillet you fried the steaks, drain off 90% of the grease but try to leave the “crunchies.” Make sure your skillet is hot. Once it's hot, add the flour mixture and start stirring with a whisk until you get the consistency you want. If too thick, add a little milk. Salt & pepper to taste.

For the kids: Here is a recipe my son brought home when he was in 8th grade.

Mathew 1990 Rocky Road Fudge 1 can condensed milk 12 oz chocolate chip 2 Tbsp butter 1 cup of chopped nuts 1 bag mini marshmallows Melt chocolate chips with butter and condensed milk. Once melted, add marshmallows and nuts. Place on parchment or waxed paper on a cookie sheet; refrigerate until cooled. As Mathew noted in his original recipe, “then cut and eat, remember the eat part.”

Getting back to my statement at the beginning of the article - Food is the universal way to minister to most everyone. They don’t have to know Jesus to appreciate a simple meal delivered to their home. I experienced this firsthand after my son’s death. Our church has a ministry headed up by my friend, Alice Spelce. The pastor and staff at New Hope Community Church know Alice will handle the meals when the need arises. She then sends out emails and makes a few calls to let us all know of the need. My family had meals brought to our home for a week after the funeral; and in addition, the church body provided food for the gathering after the service. Mathew did not even attend New Hope. He was an apprentice ironworker in Las Vegas when he fell to his death. He was only 30, and left behind a wife and his four 4 year old son, Dylan. He was good father, so I say “Happy Father’s Day to you, son.” I also want to thank everyone who has ever helped by making a simple meal that nourishes the spirit. Jesus too wants to thank you.

Peel and cut potatoes in quarters. Fill a large pot with water, add salt, bring to a boil, then add potatoes, and cook until tender. Leave the potatoes in the pot with the water until you’re ready to drain and mash. When you’re ready to drain and mash them, microwave the milk and butter about 1-2 minutes, then add to mashed potatoes and season to taste.

The gravy 1/2 cup cold milk 1 cup of cold water 3 tbsp of flour

In memory of Mathew 4/15/1977-11/27/07 Sandra Alton

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RAVE REVIEWS

THE BACK

PEW

MUSIC

Michael and Lisa Gungor – Beautiful Things

Quips and Quotes

45.6 Billion charitable dollars given by foundations in 2007

When I chased after money, I never had enough.

When I got my life on purpose and focused on giving of myself and everything that arrived into my life, then I was prosperous.

–Wayne Dyer Since you get more joy out of giving joy to others, you should put a good deal of thought into the happiness that you are able to give.

–Eleanor Roosevelt

Jokes –Little Girl to her friend: "I'm never having kids. I hear they take nine months to download."

72 Percent given by private foundations

–A couple was going out for the evening. The last thing they did was to put the cat out.

The taxi arrived, and as the couple walked out of the house, the cat shoots back in. So the husband goes back inside to chase it out.

The wife, not wanting it known that the house would be empty, explained to the taxi driver "He's just going upstairs to say goodbye to my mother."

A few minutes later, the husband got into the taxi and said, "Sorry I took so long, the stupid thing was hiding under the bed and I had to poke her with a coat hanger to get her to come out!"

Worship leaders and married couple Michael and Lisa Gungor released Beautiful Things technically as a debut under the name of Gungor, but their previous work is found under the name of the Michael Gungor Band. Beautiful Things provides a musically diverse yet cohesive testament to God's beauty and how it is seen on Earth and through His people. One particularly bright spot includes guest and friend Israel Houghton on vocals for "Heaven"- a funky groove backed by a gospel choir about God's kingdom coming on Earth.. This album truly captures the essence of what it means to seek and worship God on Earth.

Lauren Turner

MUSIC TaylorWise – Restore Us J.R. Taylor and Jerry Wise are worship leaders based in Austin, Texas and have blended their love for songwriting and their passion for Jesus on their debut album, Restore Us. The 11 original songs on the album are “meant to carry the listener to a place of authentic worship in times of celebration and in times of trial.” Lead me to the Rock is a special favorite of mine, with powerful lyrics that take the listener on a journey that lifts the spirit. The songs are fresh, the music has a rock feel at times, and the voices of the singing duo are well-balanced and inspirational. I found that the more I listened, the more I wanted to listen again…and that’s always a good sign of a great CD. www.TaylorWiseMusic.com Marcy Lytle

BOOK Relevant – Lorie Goggin Relevant, by Lorie Goggin, is a book of practical lessons from the bible that are relevant to teens and young adults today. At age nine, Lori was shuffled between family members, and at age 13 she was sent to her first “children’s home,” where she stayed a year. After that, she was in eight different halfway homes, institutions and shelters. One day, while reading the bible, God revealed his word to her, and it changed her life. Lori originally wrote Relevant for teens and college-aged girls, but last November the audience grew to include incarcerated girls, letting them know their “past mistakes don’t dictate their worth,” states Lorie. Check out Lorie’s book at http://relevant.tatepublishing.net. Look for upcoming book signings in the Austin/Georgetown area.

Marcy Lytle

BOOK Life is Fluid – Marcy Lytle Life moves fast. Just when you’ve found a spot along the river of life where the sun is shining, there’s still, smooth water to enjoy, and a cove for retreat…along comes the rain and washes you right out into the rapids; and all of a sudden you’re hanging on for dear life. Life is fluid. When you’re knocked up against a rock and realize you’re quite bruised from the hit, thankfully there’s a low spot ahead, a dry area where you can get out of the water to heal. But wait! The dry area is cracked, and you soon become thirsty for a drink of something other than river water…thus, Fluid is life. Ecclesiastes is full of analogies and truths that speak to women, no matter where in the river we are at the moment. Included in this devotional are recipes of refreshing drinks (fluids) to enjoy while you study. To order your copy of Life is Fluid for yourself, or copies for your women’s group, visit www.marcylytle.com.

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Faith Family

Available at all HEB, Randalls & Central Market stores in the Greater Austin Area

www.AustinFaithandFamily.com