Austin Faith and Family- July 2010 by Lee Eddins

Faith Family

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Spend Life Well

Health Matters

Juggling Financial Priorities

How does Resistance Training Work?

Along the Way

Travel

Disney WorldWorth the Experience

How Important is a Happy Marriage?

d Reid an an y R e s e Re Colinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hope Water Safety Tip Inside p.15

Think Outside the Pew July 2010

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A Helping Hand for Neighbors, Food for the Hungry.

“ Treasures”

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Monday–Friday 10 am–4 pm 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. 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.

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

For furniture pickup call (512) 244-2431

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TABLE OF CONTENTS In This Issue 9 Head to Heart: The Power of Forgiveness 13 The Home Front: A Unique Business Model – Real Estate Philanthropy 14 Don’t Miss 16 Feature Story: Reid and Reese Ryan: Loving What They Do – Bringing Baseball to Central Texas

20 21 26 28

Travel: Destination – Walt Disney World Resort, Florida Along the Way: Two Essential Qualities for a Happy Marriage – Part 2 20 Words: Can Facebook Save the World? Just A Good Cook

Focus: 25 Focus Family: Different Parenting Creates Different Results! 25 Focus School: Grace Academy – Michele Logan 29 Focus Music: TaylorWise

Publisher: Lee Eddins, H.O.T. Publishing, LLC Lee@AustinFaithandFamily.com (512) 689-2717 Editor: Marcy Lytle Marcy@AustinFaithandFamily.com Contributing Writers: Lee Eddins, Marcy Lytle, Lauren Lacey, Joe Elliott, Debbie Stevens, Laurie Loew, Lauren Turner, Dave Ramsey, Melissa Critz, Patricia Jacobson, Jo Ann Armstrong, Mariah Wilde, Richard Landry, Trent Peng, Sandra Alton, Kie Bowman, Glen Huschka, Mark Trice, Amanda May, Rob Hill, Bianca Neal, Kathy Glover, and Al Jones Cover Photo: Lisa O'Brien Photos: Lee Eddins Graphic Design: Beth Rountree Advertising Sales:

LifeStyle: 8 Health Matters: Me, Lift Weights? 8 Diet & Nutrition: Nutritional Considerations for Gout 12 Top 10: Get Packing! 23 Moms Who Save: Summer Savings 23 Spend Life Well: Are You Ready To Spend Life Well?

Susan Stern | (512) 773-3240 Susan@AustinFaithandFamily.com Lee Eddins | (512) 689-2717 Lee@AustinFaithandFamily.com

20 Words p.26

Special Features: 26 Who Da Kang? He Da Kang! SaulPaul to Impact Thousands this Summer on a Mission Trip

A Window of Opportunity…to Prevent Strokes

In Every Issue: 6 Letters 7 City Scene 10 Spiritual Coffee 14 The Christian Brothers Automotive Calendar 15 Colin’s Hope: Water Safety Tip 18 Moments of Obedience: Find Your Story 22 Dave Says 24 The Source Church Directory 25 Helping Hands Directory 30 The Back Pew 30 Rave Reviews

Moms Who Save p.23

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. Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of International Bible Society. 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 2, Issue 2 Just a Good Cook p.28

Funny Church Bulletin Bloopers 1. 8 new choir robes are currently needed, due to the addition of several new members and to the deterioration of some of the older ones. 2. Please join us as we show our support for Amy and Alan in preparing for the girth of their first child. 3. The Pastor would appreciate it if the ladies of the congregation would lend him their electric girdles for the pancake breakfast next Sunday morning. 4. The audience is asked to remain seated until the end of the recession.

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Editor’s

EDITOR’S NOTE

Hot in the City

t’s now been a year since I became Editor of Austin Faith & Family, and I can truly say that many articles in this magazine have been some of the best reading, best stories I’ve ever enjoyed. I feel blessed to be a part of such a wonderful publication, working with Publisher Lee Eddins and the staff of Austin Faith & Family. Summer is here once again, in full swing, and I’m looking forward to my second year of bringing more great stories to readers like you.

There’s just one word to describe the month of July in Central Texas, and that’s “HOT.” I’d like to think that this same word applies to this month’s issue of Austin Faith & Family – hot off the press, hot articles. We now have a list of writers who are faithful each month to send us informative, interesting, and helpful insight into all sorts of topics. Our now two-page financial spread includes hot and current questions/answers from the infamous Dave Ramsey, along with an article from a financial counselor, as well as tips from our “moms who save.” If you seek a marriage that’s still on fire and hot, check out “Along the Way,” written by the pastor of Hyde Park Baptist Church, who even quotes Aretha Franklin in his article this month! One of our readers submitted a “moment of obedience” experienced while jogging on a hot beach. This is an incredible story of how one simple act of saying “yes” to that still small voice had a lasting impact on the life of one person. Also included this month are some great recipes that will taste wonderful “hot” off the grill, in our “Just a Good Cook” column. What’s the 4th of July without a good burger? Finally, our cover story this month is about a couple of brothers who enjoy nothing more than giving everyone in Central Texas an experience to remember at the Round Rock Express games on a hot summer night, enjoying the greatest pastime in America – baseball. Load up the family, take along a copy of Austin Faith & Family to read between innings, and enjoy the best our town has to offer…

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LETTERS Marcy & Austin Faith & Family, Thank you so much for Mimi’s article on Page 21 (April issue). It has been a good opener when going to companies. We wanted to write and say thank you very much for embracing us. May God bless you and always be with your company to help spread the word of good and compassion. –Mimi & Shannen R. Hi Lee, The June issue is AWESOME!! It really looks great and I love your personal guarantee! Very smart :) –Laurie L. Marcy, I got that Austin Faith and Family magazine. Marcy, it is really well written. I really do enjoy reading that magazine. –Alice S.

Written to the Blackmon Family (in response to story in Austin Faith & Family) I was reading through the article in the Helping Hands publication you provided with the participant bags and your story is very touching to me. –Brandy M. Hi Marcy, One thing I noted when I went to HEB on Palm Valley Blvd. was that your publication was on the bottom of the shelf covered over with the Greensheet and other complimentary publications. I was so bummed, as I noted by looking at this month's publication that it was a *special edition. I took the liberty of pulling out 8-10 of them and handed them to people I came in contact with over the weekend. I’m very mission minded myself but limited with energy b/c of some health challenges but am not shy when it comes to spreading the “good news" - as the adage goes “Bloom where you are planted.” –Sue C.

Clients of Give Realty made donations totaling $12,934.25 to the following nonprofits in June:

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Faith Family

Making a Difference

Temple Beth Shalom: $11,903.75 Daughters of the Republic of Texas Library: $1030.50

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Ryan Jason Blackmon 2nd Annual Golf Tournament

n June 5th, The Ryan Jason Blackmon Foundation held their 2nd annual golf tournament. Friends, family and local businesses all met at Teravista Golf Course in Round Rock. Food was provided by the legendary 620 CafĂŠ and Bakery and Z Tejas. This year, over $15,000 was raised for scholarships to benefit special needs children.

Taylor Thiel, Stuart Osantowski

Clark & Lisa Blackmon, founders of Ryan Jason Blackmon Foundation

Richard Kate, Steve Jones, Jr., Chris Dikeman, Steve Jones, Sr.

Pedro Rivera, Heath Martin, Allen Mills, Brandon Griffin

Diet & Nutrition Nutritional Considerations for Gout Me, Lift Weights? hat comes to your mind when you think of lifting weights? Body builders, bulky muscles, “I’m going to pump you up”? There are many forms of training when it comes to weights; weight lifting, weight training, body building, and resistance training. Resistance training is so vital to our health and preventative care, and has such great benefits both now and as we age. When done properly, it is effective and won’t bulk you up.

How does resistance training work? When lifting weights muscle fibers get microscopic tears. When these tears heal, the muscles get bigger and stronger. Resistance training should be done two to three times a week with at least 24 hours healing time in between workouts. Proper nutrition is key in this process. If our body does not receive enough nutrition, it will pull nutrients from our muscles. Taking multivitamins is a great aid in getting all of the nutrients you need. Let’s talk about our bones. Bones react similarly to muscles when lifting weights. When the muscles pull on the bones compressed by weights, they get very small cracks in the bone structure on a microscopic level. This process stimulates bone formation. As the cracks heal, the bones become stronger with more bone formation. This bone formation benefit accumulates over time. The longer a person lifts weights, the stronger their bones will get. When done in moderation it is both harmless and painless.

bones. So if you do fall, your bones are better protected and less likely to fracture. Another great benefit is getting rid of pain. Most of us have some ailment that bothers us periodically or consistently. This can range from a bad knee or shoulder, to a sore neck or limited range of motion in your joints. Safe and proper strength training promotes strength in your joints, which can help you with ease of movement. After suffering a bad knee injury, I noticed the increase of pain in my knee as I became less active in strength training my leg. What I found was that as my leg muscles weakened, my knee was less supported; therefore, leading to knee pain and discomfort. As I worked to strengthen my leg muscles, I noticed quickly the reduction of pain and increase in range of motion. Be sure to check with your doctor before strengthening muscles in an area that has given you some pain. As you can see, there are many reasons why resistance training should be a part of our lives. We shouldn’t wait until we are older or until we are diagnosed with low bone density or osteoporosis. In this society we are all busy. Let’s take the time to fit weights into our lives and into our workout routine. As listed above, the benefits are definitely worth it.

Lauren Lacy Fitness Coordinator/Personal Trainer CHASCO Family YMCA

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As you age, resistance training can also help you improve your balance and prevent injury if you fall. A stronger muscle around your joints and bones means better balance. The more you improve your balance, the less likely you are to fall. Stronger muscles protect your

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out is a form of arthritis commonly found in men. It is directly linked to high uric acid levels in the blood. Failure to excrete the uric acid results in it being deposited as needle-like crystals in the joint. From this foreign deposit, the joint is irritated, causing inflammation (redness, swelling, and severe pain). The most common location of crystal deposit is in the big toe, but it can occur in other joints as well. Sufferers of gout can experience severe pain from several hours to even weeks per episode. The discomfort can obviously affect daily functioning and quality of life. Medical options for gout include pain relievers and anti-inflammatory drugs to control the symptoms. While there is no doubt that medical treatment is very helpful, nutritional support can be added to help further reduce symptoms and decrease gout’s recurrence. In fact, gout is very much associated with diet and nutrition. There are many research studies linking diet to gout. The following presents some reported findings that affect the condition of gout: • Purine-rich foods: uric acid is the by-product from the breakdown of purines, substances that are contained in most foods and most concentrated in meats and organ meats. Naturally, purine-containing foods, are highly suspect in gout, since increased intake leads to increased uric acid levels. However, purine is in virtually all foods and elimination from the diet just seems implausible. The best strategy in this case is to reduce excessive intake of meats. • Beer: the yeast used to make beer can increase uric acid levels, since it contains high amounts of purines. Clinically, I have seen patients suffer from painful gouty arthritis after consuming beer. Avoid it completely. • Fructose: the most recent research on gout reveals that high fructose intake increases uric acid level. Fructose is a form of sugar found in fruit and honey; but most recently, it is found in most commercial food products in the form

of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS). This might be the most overlooked dietary contribution to gout. HFCS is present in everything: sodas, iced tea, ketchup, barbeque sauce, canned fruits, baked goods, yogurt, and other processed foods. Also, since fruit is a source of fructose, excessive intake of fruit or fruit juice can also cause gout flare-ups. Therefore, it is important to read the labels and eliminate foods that contain HFCS. Fruit juices are concentrated sources of fructose and should be eliminated. Experts recommend reducing fruit intake to less than 15 grams/day. You can get the chart of fructose content in fruit form Dr. Joseph Mercola’s website (http://www.mercola.com). Also, the book entitled The Sugar Fix by Dr. Richard Johnson is a must-read on this issue. • Obesity: research has pointed out a link between obesity (measured by hip-to-waist ratio and body mass index) and gout. To me, the high-fructose diet mentioned above is contributing to both obesity and gout. In fact, if the patient follows the above dietary advice, weight loss is highly likely. • Black cherry juice: this is a well-known remedy in the gout community that helps relieve the symptoms of gout. The exact mechanism is still unclear. Some experts relate this remedy to its high potassium content, which helps reduce acidity and decrease inflammation. Others mention its high antioxidant content, which helps ‘neutralize’ uric acid. From a functional standpoint, it seems that the body’s ability to remove uric acid is compromised in people with gout. Improving the ability of the liver and kidney to detoxify and remove waste, by means of a good liver/kidney detoxification program, can also be beneficial, but is beyond the scope of this article. Just following the above dietary suggestions can help reduce or prevent the painful symptoms associated with gout. Dr. Trent Peng Dr. Trent Peng is a practicing Clinical Nutritionist and Chiropractor in North Austin.

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Head to Heart

The Power of Forgiveness

o forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover the prisoner was you. -Corrie Ten Boom.

There are few things as misunderstood and yet as powerful as forgiveness. When we are hurt by others, our natural instinct is to pull away, become angry, resentful, bitter and even vengeful. We normally do not respond with mercy, grace, understanding and forgiveness. Forgiveness goes against our nature, yet God commands us to forgive.

Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Colossians 3:13. There can be no middle ground with forgiveness: either we decide to forgive the person who hurt us, or we hold on to the anger and resentment. Forgiveness is a choice. It is a gift that you give to yourself. Forgiveness has little to do with the person who has hurt you. It is an act of faith out of obedience to God and is not dependent upon your feelings. The biggest road block is that we often confuse forgiveness with condoning the action or saying the wrong that committed was okay. Forgiveness does not deny the other person’s responsibility for the hurt you have experienced, nor does it justify the wrongs committed. You can forgive the person without excusing the act. The person responsible for the hurt may still have to deal with the consequences of their actions. Releasing forgiveness is not dependent upon the apology or repentance of the offender. Forgiveness can open the door for reconciliation, but is not given based on the expectation that the relationship be restored. The choice to forgive means that you let go of the resentment, anger and revenge. It allows you to overlook the wrong committed against you so that you can move forward with your life. To hold on to the hurt keeps you bound in the negative emotions and prevents you from fully engaging in other relationships. You keep others at an arm’s length in order to isolate yourself from future hurts. Unforgiveness keeps you captive in your own judgments. You remain victimized.

hope and joy. We make the choice to forgive and God gives us the gift of grace to release the hurt. There is a direct connection between our ability to receive God’s forgiveness for us and our willingness to forgive others. Forgiveness has been linked to the lessening of chronic back pain, depression, reduced levels of stress and other illnesses.

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Forgiveness begins with a choice but is often a process and life journey. The reality is that we do not “forgive and forget.” Forgiveness is about choosing to remember a hurtful event in a new way. It allows us the ability to remember the event without the severe sting of pain and loss. At times, we have to repeatedly mentally and spiritually forgive, always taking steps to move forward into emotional wellness. It is God’s love and grace that allows us to walk in forgiveness. Because forgiveness is an action and not an emotion, the practical steps to forgiveness can feel contrived; yet they can lead to inner peace. A simple exercise in forgiving someone who has hurt you first involves remembering an incident in which you were hurt. Next, take ownership of your own actions and feelings. When you reflect on the person or incident do you feel anger, hatred, judgment, etc.? Are you blaming them for your negative feelings? Lastly, pray and release forgiveness. Ask God to forgive you for your judgments and any part you might have had in the incident that may have hurt others. Sometimes forgiveness is very difficult and you find yourself struggling with releasing the person that hurt you. Rather than condemning yourself, in prayer acknowledge the struggle you are having to God. Try to look at the offense through God’s perspective. Reflect on the abundance of forgiveness that God has given you. If needed, seek out a Pastoral Counselor to help walk you through the process.

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Forgiveness is one of the greatest gifts we can give to ourselves and each other. Remember…

I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. Philippians 1:6.

Forgiveness leads to emotional healing and often has physical benefits. When we forgive, we exchange the hurt, anger and resentment for peace,

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Faith Family

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.

1am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes

13"You created everything, and it is for your pleasure

Jesus is the only way-John 14:6 "Jesus said to him, I

to the Father except through me."

Had My Cup!

2- Matthew 5:44 "But I say to you, Love your enemies

Had My Cup!

3forgetting those things which are behind and reaching

he who is slow to anger allays contention."

Had My Cup!

boast in the Lord."

Had My Cup!

16normally not - Proverbs 19:17 "If you help

Had My Cup!

5Proverbs 14:30 "A peaceful heart leads to a healthy

6place - Proverbs 11:2 "When pride comes, then

Had My Cup!

everything in me, praise His holy name."

Had My Cup!

No Fear - Psalm 27:1 "The LORD is my light

Had My Cup!

is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid."

Had My Cup!

31handle anything - Genesis 18:14 "Is anything

Let go of your fears...we serve a God who can

Had My Cup!

too hard for the Lord?"

Had My Cup!

Notes:________________________________________________________________ 8. Spread some happiness today...Jesus loves you

20 Had My Cup!

What we treasure tells us what we love...treasure Godly things - Matthew 6:21 "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

46:10 "Be still, and know that I am God..."

30and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD

We are built to praise God...praise Him today -

Had My Cup!

Take a few moments this morning and focus

19Psalm 103:1 "All that I am, praise the Lord;

Be wise - Ephesians 5:15-16 "See then that you walk

Don't let anger control you - Ephesians 4:26-27 "Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold."

am fearfully and wonderfully made..."

serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."

29solely on God...thank Him for life - Psalm

Praise God...He made each of us for a special

7circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil."

Had My Cup!

18purpose - Psalm 139:14 "I will praise thee; for I

Be an example for all to see...keep pride in its

comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom."

avoids evil; he who guards his way guards his life."

Had My Cup!

We are built to serve - Mark 10:45 "For even the

Temptation doesn't make you stronger...avoid

Had My Cup!

shall bring it to pass."

28Son of Man did not come to be served, but to

17it - Proverbs 16:17 "The highway of the upright

Seek peace, avoid envy...it makes for a smile -

body; jealousy is like cancer in the bones."

the poor, you are lending to the Lord-and He will repay you."

Had My Cup!

Make every day God's day. - Psalm 37:5 "Commit

Help someone today...someone you might

Love God not money - Ecclesiastes 5:10 "Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income..."

this day whom you will serve..."

27your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He

Give God all the credit and glory...we exist for

Had My Cup!

Everyday is full of choices. Choose to serve God

15Him - 1 Corinthians 1:31 "Let him who boasts,

Go forward - Philippians 3:13 "But one thing I do,

has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.'"

26today - Joshua 24:15 "...choose for yourselves

Stop the Anger flu...get the Bible vaccine -

Had My Cup!

forward to those things which are ahead..."

that they exist and were created."

With God you are never alone, just pray and He

14Proverbs 15:18 "A wrathful man stirs up strife, but

Jesus said love your enemy not to gossip about them

and pray for those who persecute you."

25will be there - Hebrews 13:5b "For He Himself

It is all about Him...not us - Revelation 4:11

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

Had My Cup!

afraid." ________________________________________________________________________ Had My Cup!

________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________

Trust in God...He will always be there - Luke 24:38 "And He said to them "Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts?"

21 Had My Cup!

Let God carry you...He cares - 1 Peter 5:7 "Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you."

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

________________________________________________________________________ not become weary in doing good, for at the proper

Had My Cup!

________________________________________________________________________ time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." Had My Cup! ________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

Never give up hope...it is a gift from God to be passed on - Psalm 31:24 "Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord."

22 Had My Cup!

11one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one

10.

Had My Cup!

add one cubit to his stature?"

Had My Cup!

circumstances, for this is God's will for you..."

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

Thank God. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 "Always

Had My Cup!

________________________________________________________________________ troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me." Awesome!

11.

24be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all

Dream...God has something in you that is for

God cares and knows our struggles...let Him

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

Don't worry, be happy...God is still in control

12His glory - Proverbs 14:23 "All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty."

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

________________________________________________________________________

23- Matthew 6:27 "Which of you by worrying can

Always forgive - Ephesians 4:32 "And be kind to

another, even as God in Christ forgave you."

God forgave you...forgive yourself and others Romans 4:8 "Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him."

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

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TOP

Get Packing!

go through the ever-tiring process of having the “inspectors” look inside your bags, pack everything in your large suitcase and check it in on the plane. Make sure you use sealed bags and non-aerosol cans, and place all toiletries in a zipped-up bag, inside a pocket in your suitcase.

ummertime means vacation time. Whether you’re going on a weekend trip, or a weeklong vacation, packing can always present its challenges. Arriving with wrinkled clothes, cranky kids, or a suitcase that’s packed so full it bursts open, is no fun at all. Here are our top ten packing suggestions to make vacation the pleasant experience it’s intended to be:

Shoes – Save the plastic bags in which your newspaper arrives, and use these for your shoes. This way, the dirty soles won’t soil your clothes.

To prevent wrinkles – Lay out your pants, with

shirt on top, then roll the outfit, instead of folding. This prevents creases and allows you a quicker time getting dressed in the morning, without having to iron out the wrinkles!

Necklaces – If your chains arrive in knots and

twists, try unhooking the necklace and inserting the chain through a straw, and then hooking it back together. This keeps the necklace from wrapping around itself and choking out your fun.

Children’s clothing – Use large Ziplock bags and place entire outfits inside, including shorts, top, and socks. This way, the children just select a bag, take out the clean clothes and get dressed, insert the dirty outfit, and hand to you for repacking.

Dirty clothes – For the adults, be sure to pack a drawstring laundry bag for dirty clothes. As outfits are worn, fill the bag, and eventually it will take up an entire suitcase, so you can transfer all the clean clothes to only one bag to bring into the hotel at night.

Those airline rules – To prevent having to place all your liquids in the right-size bottles and

Road trips with kids – Make a trip to the dollar store before leaving, and purchase several small items for the kids – crayons, coloring books, cards, games, books, crafts, etc. Wrap each one individually and make a basket or sack for each kid. Divide up the time on the road by the number of toys, and let the kids open them accordingly. For example, a five hour road trip, with five gifts each – that’s one per hour. It gives the kids excitement and anticipation, awaiting their next surprise.

What to wear – Think of your destination, the weather, and the activities you will be doing. Pick out your outfits, try them all on (with jewelry and shoes), and then pack. This way, you won’t arrive with a cute outfit and no shoes to wear, or prepare for that special evening out – only to realize you’ve forgotten your earrings.

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To plan, or not to plan? Sure, spontaneity is

fun, if it’s just you, and no one else is around to give you grief. However, simple planning ahead, using the internet to search the top things to do in each city, great accommodations, and coupons for activities, makes the vacation affordable and fun for all.

Eating out – Once you’ve arrived at your

destination, purchase a small Styrofoam cooler and fill it with ice and drinks, and a few snacks. This saves you dollars when you hear “I’m thirsty” for the ninth time. Make it a rule for your entire family to order water to drink, at the restaurants where you dine. This too saves up to $10 a meal for a family of four.

• Individual and Corporate Tax Compliance, Planning, & Audit Assistance • Help Finding the Financial Advisor Who Best Meets Your Needs • Small and Large Corporation Accounting Assistance • Temporary CEO, Controller, and Accounting Staff Services • Design & Implementation of Accounting Controls & Processes

We have over 40 years of combined experience meeting the financial needs of people just like you.

One final suggestion (if time allows) - Create a travel folder for each kid. Include an itinerary, a map, a pocket for postcards, paper for writing and drawing, and any brochures you’ve ordered ahead of time. The Chamber of Commerce or the Tourist Information facility will gladly send free brochures to your house, before you ever leave the driveway. Enjoy your summer on the road, in the air, or at home in your own backyard. Use this time to converse with your kids, get to know your spouse again, and actually look at the beautiful world in front of you…Bon Voyage! Marcy Lytle

The need to create has always been important to me, through oil painting, teaching esthetics, or implementing business strategies. Being an artist has given me a unique perspective on business in the beauty industry.

Susan Hart Bio

I started my journey 25 years ago as a model, but quickly realized my true love for enhancing beauty as a make-up artist. I dropped my contract with Elite Modeling Agency to start a family, but maintained my passion for the beauty industry. While raising three children, I continued my education and obtained an Esthetician’s license. I flew around the country to wherever the latest techniques and products were being developed, to expand my knowledge of the industry. One of the highlights of my career was working for a cosmetics company based out of Beverly Hills called Visage Beauté. I learned how to launch and manage a new company from the ground up. Shortly after, I designed and developed Medical Day Spas along the West Coast. I moved to Round Rock in 2005 and immediately fell in love with the historic downtown. Here I combined my passion and experience to create a business that combines the luxuries of Austin with the local charm of Round Rock.

Faith Family

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

www.AustinFaithandFamily.com

since you are giving 25% of your commission away,” to “I’d use you no matter what, because you’re doing something good for the community,” and everything in between.

A Unique Business Model – Real Estate Philanthropy

he idea of combining real estate and philanthropy may seem somewhat surprising. To many it’s an oxymoron. Realtors® tend to all be painted with the same brush strokes, and the general public tends to think they make “easy money.” Maybe that’s why there are over 8000 licensed Realtors® in the Austin MSA and that’s the reason so many are working part-time. Almost everyone knows at least one Realtor® or is related to one. Differentiating ourselves in this marketplace is not easy. Having people understand what we do is even more challenging. The reaction to the business model has been extreme, from “You won’t work as hard for me

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The truth is, we are great Realtors® and we take pride in our commitment to our clients and in listening to their needs; helping them in the buying or selling process is our full time job. Donating a portion of our commissions is very rewarding and has impacted our lives significantly. It’s an awesome feeling to know that we are making a positive difference in our community. We have created a business model where literally everyone benefits, and it’s great to wake up every morning knowing that if we stopped doing what we are doing, it WOULD make a difference. We are making personal choices in the process. We choose to live conservatively and give greatly, and our checking accounts are impacted by it. It’s not easy, but we feel the rewards are greater than the cost. That's our choice. To date, our $73,000+ in donations is just the tip of the iceberg. Yet it’s pretty amazing when you realize just two people have done this in less than two years. The impact we can have on the nonprofit community is phenomenal, but we need more clients to reach our goal. Over $1.99 BILLION dollars worth of single family homes have been sold in the Austin Area since the first of this year and over $29 MILLION dollars could have been

donated back to the nonprofit community this year alone.* Of course, there is no way we could sell 100% of the real estate in the Austin Area, nor do we want too. We realize we aren’t the right fit for all home sellers or buyers, not everyone wants to give back, and not everyone is philanthropic. But how would our world change if we could, or if every Realtor® did the same thing? We are finding that not only are we profoundly impacted, but our clients are also affected. Many of our clients have never given a monetary donation before, or at least not in such a large amount. They are engaging with a cause they are passionate about, and many times get further involved with volunteering and continue to give long after the Give Realty donation takes place. Pretty amazing stuff! Every day we are reminded of how fortunate we are to have worked with and helped these clients. A big “Thank You” to all of our believers! By continuing to educate the community about our unique services, our giving can grow. If you don’t already know someone in the business, engaging Give Realty for your home needs is kind of a “no-brainer”, since everyone wins. We take 25% of our earnings, and give it to the charity you choose in your name – you don’t incur any additional costs when you work with us. We want you to enjoy the process of buying or selling your home.

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We’ll work hard, and give you our personal guarantee - if we aren’t doing a good job – then fire us! We’ll impress you with our level of customer service and dedication to our profession. With decades of technical sales experience between us, we have also dedicated ourselves to staying abreast of current real estate trends. We have the love of the business and the knowledge of real estate. Please let others know about what we do, and receive not only satisfaction from your buying and selling experience, but the joy that comes from giving to others. Laurie and Robin *sales data based on Austin Board of Realtors and TAMU Real Estate Center Statistics. Commission based on a 6% combined selling cost and buyer’s agent fee.

Robin LeTourneau, Realtor®, SRES®, GRI Laurie Loew, Broker GRI, ABR, GREEN® Give Realty Inc. 3420 Executive Center Drive Ste 300, Austin 78731 Phone: (512) 338.4483 Give Realty is a local Real Estate brokerage who is committed to giving back and investing in our community! When you sell or purchase a home using our brokerage, we donate 25% of our commission to the nonprofit of your choice in your name. Go to www.giverealty.com to find out more or call us at 512-338-4483. Do you have a real estate question? E-mail it to info@giverealtyaustin.com and it may be featured in a future column!

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July calendar brought to you by Christian Brothers Automotive

JULY CALENDAR Caring for the Family– Caring for the Family Car THURSDAY

July 4th Concerts and Fireworks at Auditorium Shores: 8:30pm – 10pm.

Story Time Tour: The Blanton Museum of Art from 10:30am – 11:30am. Drop in with your art enthusiasts and discover the basics of art and the magic of children’s literature by examining well-loved stories in relationship to artwork from the Blanton collection. Summer Dance Informance: ACC Rio Grande Campus at 7pm. Informance is an informal showing of work faculty and students.

FRIDAY

Firecracker Golf Tournament: Lions Municipal Golf Course from 7:15am – 5pm. Participate in the historic golf tournament. First Friday, A Celebration of the Arts: Downtown Historic Square in Georgetown from 6pm – 8pm. Shops will be open until 8pm around the historic downtown square for an evening of strolling, gallery-hopping, and dining. Enjoy live music and a festive evening atmosphere.

SATURDAY

Firecracker Golf Tournament: Lions Municipal Golf Course from 7:15am – 5pm. Participate in the historic golf tournament.

SUNDAY

Firecracker Golf Tournament: Lions Municipal Golf Course from 7:15am – 5pm. Participate in the historic golf tournament.

July 4th Celebration: Believers Fellowship starting at 12 pm. Celebration of July 4th! Please join us as we enjoy games, food, music, etc. There will be fun and games for all!

! DON’T MISS

ovies in the Park presents Planet 51:

Old Settlers Park starting at 7:30pm. Admission to the Movies in the Park is

free, courtesy of Time Warner Cable. Bring a lawn

chair or a blanket and enjoy the movie. You can

July 4th Family Festival: Shenandoah Baptist Church starting at 5:30pm. Join us for a great time of food and fun for the family! Waterslides, obstacle course, trike and bike decorating contest, dunking booth, door prizes, balloons, cotton candy, hot dogs, popcorn, baked goods contest, and many more games for the whole family.

July 4th Frontier Days Celebration: Old Settlers Park from 10am – 10pm. Enjoy pony rides, inflatables and children’s games, arts and crafts vendors, Ballet Folkorico dancers and a reenactment of the historical Sam Bass Shootout, all leading up to the annual fireworks celebration with music from the Austin Symphonic Band.

Selah: Hill country Fellowship in Burnet, TX starting at 7pm. Featuring hits such as “Bless the Broken Road,” “You Raise Me Up,” and many more. Sertomas 4th of July in the Park: San Gabriel Park from 11am – 10pm. Enjoy one of the largest family events in Central Texas that attracts over 50,000 visitors, with more than 80 booths, a petting zoo, parade, live entertainment, train rides, fireworks and more.

MONDAY

Austin Kingdom Academy “Taste and See” nights: Church of the Hills starting at 6:30pm. The Austin Kingdom Academy is a school that honors the presence of God for adults. The Academy exists to incite a reproductive movement of those who are passionate for God and able to display His love with power. The event is so people passionate for the presence of the Lord can come “Taste and See” what the Austin Kingdom Academy is all about.

Inventioneers: Austin Children’s Museum – Cultivate your natural creative problem-solving talents in this fun camp! We’ll take on bridge and tower building challenges, use levers to design moveable puppets, and construct fantastic paper structures.

Round Rock Express Fireworks Night: Dell Diamond starting at 7:05pm. Bring the family for a fun night of Minor League Baseball between the Round Rock Express and the Oklahoma RedHawks, then stick around for the incredible post-game fireworks show!

Women of Fire Empowerment Conference: Austin Marriott North. Women on Fire serves to reach, teach, and build up women. Enjoy praise, worship, the Word, exhibitions and workshops designed to empower and enrich your life.

SATURDAY

Annie: Beverly S. Sheffield Zilker Hillside Theater starting at

8:30pm. The popular comic strip heroine takes center stage in one of the world’s best-loved musicals that’s guaranteed fun for your entire family!

TUESDAY 06

beginning at dusk. This family oriented program brings people of all ages together. Come join our staff, enjoy family movies and take a dip in the pool on a hot summer night.

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

bring your own move snacks, but concessions will

FRIDAY

be available for guests.

Splash Party Movie Night at Deep Eddy Pool:

SUNDAY

Dallas Holm Concert: Crestview Baptist Church starting at 6:30pm. Dallas Holm will be singing in the morning worship services of Crestview Baptist Church.

Pajama Program PJ & Book Drive: 7pm – Round Rock Baseball game. Get a group together or have a fun family night. Bring a pair of new pajamas for the kids, or a new book, and you will receive a future pass for a FREE game. You can pre-pay for a special discounted price of $6.00 per person. For more information visit www.PAJAMAPROGRAM.org. Call Linda at 301-1195 or Susan at 563-8931.

MONDAY 12 Crazy for Critters: Austin Children’s Museum – Explore

defy gravity! We’ll dance and sing, hear stories, meet some live animals, make snacks, puzzles and do science and math activities while we investigate what makes these critters so amazing.

On the Move: Austin Children’s Museum – Discover all the commotion behind motion! Learn all about how things move, and where they get their energy. We’ll play with pulleys to make a table top elevator, try to slow down a marble with friction and learn about animation by making our own zoetropes!

TUESDAY

Crazy for Critters: Austin Children’s Museum – Explore the extraordinary world of animals as you learn about fearsome predators, crafty, camouflages, and mammals that defy gravity! We’ll dance and sing, hear stories, meet some live animals, make snacks, puzzles and do science and math activities while we investigate what makes these critters so amazing.

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

the extraordinary world of animals as you learn about fearsome predators, crafty, camouflages, and mammals that

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2010

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

FRIDAY

predator defenses and investigate mass extinctions all while learning about your favorite animals, past and present.

Movies in the Park presents Planet 51: Old Settlers Park starting at 7:30pm. Admission to the Movies in the Park is free, courtesy of Time Warner Cable. Bring a lawn chair or a blanket and enjoy the movie. You can bring your own move snacks, but concessions will be available for guests. On the Move: Austin Children’s Museum – Discover all the commotion behind motion! Learn all about how things move, and where they get their energy. We’ll play with pulleys to make a table top elevator, try to slow down a marble with friction and learn about animation by making our own zoetropes!

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

Incredible Creature Features: Austin Children’s Summerfest: Robin Bledsoe Park starting at 6pm. Community wide party and celebration at Robin Bledsoe Park. Invite your neighbors to a terrific time of food, games and friendship.

SATURDAY

Caleb 5K Run/Walk: Shoreline Church starting at 8am. The purpose of the race is to honor the life of Caleb Koke, an amazing young man whose life was tragically cut short on July 14th, 2009 in an automobile accident, as well as to remember the lives of others cut short by providing an opportunity for loved ones to participate in their memory.

Museum. Explore the amazing world of animal adaptations! Uncover intriguing feats of camouflage, see spectacular predator defenses and investigate mass extinctions all while learning about your favorite animals, past and present.

FRIDAY

Austin Kingdom Academy “Taste and See” nights: Splash Party Movie Night at Deep Eddy Pool: beginning at dusk. This family oriented program brings people of all ages together. Come join our staff, enjoy family movies and take a dip in the pool on a hot summer night.

SUNDAY 18 2010 Annual Woman’s Day: Corinth Missionary Baptist Church starting at 11am. “Women of Worship: Called According to God’s Purpose” 4-week Bible Study leading up to worship service. Beverly S. Sheffield Zilker Hillside Theater: starting at 8:30pm. The popular comic strip heroine takes center stage in one of the world’s best-loved musicals that’s guaranteed fun for your entire family!

MONDAY

Incredible Creature Features: Austin Children’s Museum. Explore the amazing world of animal adaptations! Uncover intriguing feats of camouflage, see spectacular

Church of the Hills starting at 6:30pm. The Austin Kingdom Academy is a school that honors the presence of God for adults. The Academy exists to incite a reproductive movement of those who are passionate for God and able to display His love with power. The event is so people passionate for the presence of the Lord can come “Taste and See” what the Austin Kingdom Academy is all about.

Incredible Creature Features: Austin Children’s Museum. Explore the amazing world of animal adaptations! Uncover intriguing feats of camouflage, see spectacular predator defenses and investigate mass extinctions all while learning about your favorite animals, past and present. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe: Sam Bass Theater at various times. This Youth Guild dramatization of C.S. Lewis classic novel, set in the land of Narnia, faithfully recreates the magic and mystery of Aslan, the great lion, his struggle with the White Witch, and the adventures of four children who inadvertently wander from an old wardrobe into the exciting Narnia.

SATURDAY 24 Annie: Beverly S. Sheffield Zilker Hillside Theater starting at 8:30pm. The popular comic strip heroine takes center stage in one of the world’s best-loved musicals that’s guaranteed fun for your entire family! Splash Party Movie Night at Deep Eddy Pool: beginning at dusk. This family oriented program brings people of all ages together. Come join our staff, enjoy family movies and take a dip in the pool on a hot summer night.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe: Sam Bass Theater at various times. This Youth Guild dramatization of C.S. Lewis classic novel, set in the land of Narnia, faithfully recreates the magic and mystery of Aslan, the great lion, his struggle with the White Witch, and the adventures of four children who inadvertently wander from an old wardrobe into the exciting Narnia.

Third Annual Worldwide Photo Walk: Downtown Square in Georgetown from 7:30am – 1pm. The City of Georgetown is hosting contest, open to all participants in the Photo Walk.

in one of the world’s best-loved musicals that’s guaranteed fun for your entire family!

SonQuest Rainforest VBS: Shield of Faith Assembly of God. Come and join us for Vacation Bible School, a fun-filled event for children 3 to 11. The Bible theme is: John 3:16. Each day your child will be guided through the Word of God to discover the amazing truths the Lord has promised us.

FRIDAY 30 Annie: Beverly S. Sheffield Zilker Hillside Theater starting at 8:30pm. The popular comic strip heroine takes center stage in one of the world’s best-loved musicals that’s guaranteed fun for your entire family! The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe: Sam Bass

SUNDAY

Annie: Beverly S. Sheffield Zilker Hillside Theater starting at 8:30pm. The popular comic strip heroine takes center stage in one of the world’s best-loved musicals that’s guaranteed fun for your entire family! The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe: Sam Bass Theater at various times. This Youth Guild dramatization of C.S. Lewis classic novel, set in the land of Narnia, faithfully recreates the magic and mystery of Aslan, the great lion, his struggle with the White Witch, and the adventures of four children who inadvertently wander from an old wardrobe into the exciting Narnia.

Theater at various times. This Youth Guild dramatization of C.S. Lewis classic novel, set in the land of Narnia, faithfully recreates the magic and mystery of Aslan, the great lion, his struggle with the White Witch, and the adventures of four children who inadvertently wander from an old wardrobe into the exciting Narnia.

SATURDAY

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe: Sam Bass

MONDAY

TUESDAY

Splash Party Movie Night at Deep Eddy Pool: beginning at dusk. This family oriented program brings people of all ages together. Come join our staff, enjoy family movies and take a dip in the pool on a hot summer night.

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

Annie: Beverly S. Sheffield Zilker Hillside Theater starting at 8:30pm. The popular comic strip heroine takes center stage

Colin’s Hope Water Safety Tip The ABC's of Water Safety: A)dult supervision B)arriers to pools C)lasses, enroll young children in swim lessons

www.cba-austin.com

FEATURE STORY: Loving What They Do – Bringing Baseball to Central Texas eid Ryan is the President and CEO of Ryan Sanders Baseball (owners of the Round Rock Express & Corpus Christi Hooks). Reese Ryan is the Chief Financial Officer for Ryan Sanders Baseball. Reid and Reese are the sons of the infamous Nolan Ryan, and both agree that growing up under the “shadow” of one of the greatest baseball players of all time was one of the greatest blessings in their lives.

At eight years old, I bought and sold baseball cards. While in high school, I went door to door, and sold firewood derived from broken bats.

AFF: What was it like being the son of Nolan Ryan?

Reid: My girls both play softball, and my son Jackson plays baseball.

Reese: Great. I was given lots of opportunities, including being a bat boy at a young age with my brother. Road trips to attend the games were a neat, neat family experience.

AFF: What challenges have you faced in your career?

Reid: Sometimes it was hard, being compared to my dad when I played. If I played well, it was “Of course he’s good, he’s Nolan’s son.” But if I was bad, it was “He’s no Nolan Ryan.” At the same time, it was great to have a dad that was familiar with baseball and could look after my best interests and give me advice. Even as a child though, I appreciated all the special things we got to do, and was thankful for the money our dad made, and what it afforded our family. AFF: Did you both play baseball? Reese: We both played for TCU. Reid: Yes, and I got my degree from TCU in Radio, TV and Film. AFF: Share a couple of cool stories from your childhood or baseball career.

AFF: Are your own kids interested in baseball? Reese: I have two girls, and they play softball.

Reese: There’s been a lot. The biggest has been balancing family and career. Both Reid and I set our schedule around our children and coaching. It is a blessing to have the opportunity to raise children and have a fulfilling career. I love what I do. Reid: One of the challenges I faced early on in my career was trying to figure out what it was that I wanted to do. I think the key to happiness in your work life is finding what it is you love to do, and then finding a way to do it for a living. That’s why I chose a career in baseball. AFF: How has your faith helped you through these challenges?

Reid: Taking batting practice at Fenway, jumping on the roof of the MetroDome in Minnesota, going to the White House, being in the locker room when champagne was sprayed, or sitting on the bench for the All Star game were all fun experiences I remember. My favorite memories are all about the relationships created at the ballpark. Whether it was friends I used to play with, people I worked with, or the fans – that was the fun part.

Reid: At the end of the day, I always know God has a plan for my life. I don’t always know what it is, but when I have challenges come up in my life, I don’t have to worry; because I trust God is in charge.

Reese: Even when I was a kid, my two favorite things were baseball and business.

AFF: How is your dad, and what is he doing now? Reid: Dad is currently the President of the Texas Rangers. When not working at the ballpark, he’s usually working on one of his ranches around Texas. AFF: How has your dad been an influence in your life?

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Reese: I’d like to keep the experience at the Dell Diamond fresh and exciting, to improve every aspect of it for our fans.

AFF: What else are you involved with?

Reese: Their dream can come true. It’s not easy, but if it’s important enough, then do it. As I always say when coaching young teams, “Work hard, have fun, and get better!”

d Reid an yan R e s e e R

Reese: Faith helps me stay focused on what’s important and helps me set goals as a person, a professional and a parent. It’s the rock that keeps me grounded and headed in the right direction.

Reid & Reese Ryan with comedian Will Ferrell

Reid: He always put family first, and never took the opportunities he had in life for granted. He made it clear that it was up to each one of us (me, my brother, and my sister Wendy) to maximize our abilities and make good use of our God-given potential – whatever these were.

Reese: He taught us a major work ethic as a business man, and was a role model as a father.

Reese: We work with the Big Brothers Big Sisters, to affect kids in a positive way, as well as the Boy Scouts of America and Relay for Life.

Reid: We work a lot with the Miracle League organization, which is a nonprofit, dedicated to creating special baseball fields for the mentally and physically challenged youth. Their motto is “Every child deserves a chance to play baseball.” We helped raise funds and opened the Miracle League field in Austin. In April of this year, they broke ground on another field we supported in Corpus Christi.

AFF: What would you tell/advise aspiring young athletes?

Reid: I agree. First and foremost, have fun. Sports should always be fun. You have to enjoy yourself and not be too serious. However, there’s a balance. If you want to be a pro athlete, you have to work hard, put in the time, and try to improve. You can do this all while having fun, but you must set goals, monitor your success along the way, look at failures, and learn from them. Both Reid and Reese Ryan state their passion in life is their kids and their family. Their father Nolan Ryan had the same passion, with the baseball field being the place where the Ryan family made memories, had fun together, and still continue to live out the American dream… Marcy Lytle

AFF: How did you get involved with the Round Rock Express and why? Reese: This was my brother’s vision, and I wanted to join him in the venture. Reid: I started the RR Express at age 26, because I wanted to work for myself, bring pro baseball to Central Texas and make it my career. AFF: What are your plans/dreams for the future? Reid: Right now, I’m just enjoying living here in Central Texas, raising my kids, and bringing joy to the lives of people, through baseball.

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Moments of Obedience | Find Your Story A Jog on the Beach

bedience is hard. It is hard to instill as a parent, and hard to walk out as an adult. Here’s an example from an experience I had a few weeks ago, an experience that still seems to be changing my perspective.

My extended family and I took a long weekend to go to Port Aransas, and I was able to sneak away from the crowd one morning and take a jog on the beach. When you know God, it is easy to have a “good talk” with Him when you are jogging down the beach, with the sound of the waves crashing in motion that seems to will you to keep putting one foot in front of the other. I was in the midst of thinking just how amazing it is to know that I serve a God who actually created all of this, when for some reason I noticed a car parked alongside the edge of the beach. Through a brief glance, I could tell that there was a woman staring rather intently out towards the ocean. Still thinking of the waves, a thought quickly surfaced. All I heard was, “Tell her I am in it and that I love her.” I don’t know what your experience is when you think you hear God, but for me, I know it has to be God when I think or hear something that could not possibly be my own thoughts. Being the “perfect” Christian that I am, I quickly tried to dismiss the thought, telling myself that it could not possibly be God. After taking a few more strides; however, I was reminded of a statement my pastor made at church not too long ago. He asked us how much shame we were willing to endure to see the Kingdom of God come to earth. Of course I nodded my head and said “Amen” to such a profound and intriguing statement, agreeing completely while I sat comfortably in my seat at church, but for some reason it was having a different effect and posed a whole new meaning when jogging on the beach. I would not consider myself to be one to leap before looking, but I was not willing to let this be the last time that I received a word from the Lord, so I stopped jogging and turned around. At least I lived in a different city, right? What did I have to lose? As I jogged back, the car started to pull off and drive away, so much so that I had to sprint and bang on the back of the car to get the driver’s attention. Maybe God does have a sense of humor. How many times have I told my kids “If you just would have been obedient the first time!” The banging definitely caught her attention. The car stopped and I was just standing there a bit winded and I’m sure looking more than a bit ridiculous. Given the circumstances, she was understandably taken aback, but politely looked at me as I blurted out, “I am sure this sounds crazy, but I’m supposed to tell you that God is in it and that He loves you.” The response I got was “Excuse me?” So, dumbfounded, I repeated myself. And

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then something happened. Her expression changed. The intense concern I had briefly seen while jogging past her car had been replaced by a look of giddy joy. It was then that she then told me that she was just looking out in the ocean asking God to give her an answer, to whether or not she was supposed to continue in a relationship. After a few laughs, a hug and a smile for her camera, she was off - and so was I. Is obedience hard? Yes, but would you believe me if I told you this was one of the easiest things I have ever done? I think that obedience out of duty or command is difficult to choose at times. However, when you know the one you are obeying and that His heart for me and you is to experience a kind of freedom that is beyond our understanding, it no longer feels like obedience, but more like loving someone back. I learned something that morning on the beach…there is no shame in obedience, especially when being obedient is nothing less than an illustration of God working out His Kingdom on earth. So bring it on God, because I don’t want to teach my children to obey me because “I told them so,” but because they love me and because they love Him. Amanda May

Fear Transformed into Faith

y family and I moved to Austin for the biggest promotion of my career. But what I ultimately received was an encounter with the risen Lord.

I seemed to have it all. I was a successful executive with a large house, a BMW convertible, and was able to take expensive vacations when I wanted. I had all the trappings of success the world could offer a young man of my status. Born to a family of modest means, when career success came early for me, I had no perspective to draw from. Fear of financial insecurity drove me deep into my career and farther from my family. Guilt from overworking created a need to compensate with more stuff, requiring more money and longer hours. It was a trap indeed.

my life! It led to a renewal of my faith in God and a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. After a five month transition period, I found himself unemployed in February 2008 amidst the worst jobless figures so far, and I became very concerned about finding a job in Austin. I could no longer continue to support our lifestyle. Of all the angels who entered my life then, a former colleague, Todd Newberry, revealed more and more of how the Bible and Jesus Christ figured in Todd’s life. The Bible I read today was a gift from Todd, and it has traveled more than 100,000 miles with me since. That April, I attended a men’s renewal weekend at my church and came away with my “hair on fire for the faith.” A subset of these retreat attendees and I went through a six month faith formation, culminating in presenting Christ to a new group of men in October. Meanwhile, the job search (to keep us in Austin) continued in vain and I sold my home, my BMW, and cut our spending by two-thirds. On October 26, I woke up on the couch to a TV preacher on screen, pointing directly at me saying “You need a plan,” and quoting Proverbs (a book I read daily). What happened next was nothing short of a miracle. I never tithed before, but Todd spoke of it often. Not out of obedience, but out of an attitude of gratitude, in December 2008 I gave away $200 I had no worldly reason to give. Todd always said, “You can’t outspend God,” and by February 2009, I had four job opportunities. Seeking guidance, I prayerfully discerned the solution and accepted a CFO position back in New Jersey. Knowing that moving my family was “not of God,” I began

to commute by plane from Austin to Jersey City. Continuing to tithe, the weekly routine of planes, trains, and taxicabs wore on me, and I came to another discerning moment in July. Move the family, as expected, or approach my employer about commuting throughout the next school year. Rather than firing me as I feared, they agreed to an arrangement that enabled me to commute for another year! By Christmas, I had logged over 100,000 miles and over 30 trips, landing Friday nights and flying back Sunday afternoons. A man of fear had become a man of God. I then did the unthinkable. In the middle of the worst recession since the Great Depression, I took a leap of faith and resigned from that CFO position. No paycheck could replace what was most important to me and my family; being together. Instead of adverse action, my employer actually asked me to work part-time from Austin after I completed their year-end accounting in January! During 2009, as a client, I collaborated with my financial advisor/turned friend, Erik Antener, managing my investments successfully. Seeing this whole experience as a blessing, I paid off past debts, and still had my nest egg. This enabled me to take our collaboration one step further. Erik and I now partner to serve the financial needs of families and small businesses, much as I served corporations over 20 years. Developing financial strategies to protect and grow the financial resources of families, I feel I have truly answered my calling.

Robert D. Hill

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

I jumped at the opportunity to take a big position inside a joint venture owned by my company and a Texas firm. My family and I had lived in New Jersey our whole lives; nonetheless, I chose to uproot my family. They hated it at first and blamed me for the scorpions, the heat, and having to start over-one more reason I thought I had to make it up to them with materialism. Two years later I had the worst day of my career. The joint venture dissolved and after 18 years of service, I was out of a job. However, God had a plan for me. In hindsight, that day in early August was the best day of

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TRAVEL

ikipedia states that Walt Disney World Resort is the world’s largest and most visited recreational resort, covering 25,000 acres (39 sq mi). It encompasses four theme parks (Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom), two water parks, 24 on-site hotels, over 200 eating venues, and more. There are perhaps over 100 guide books on “How to do Disney” and if you ask anyone who has gone, they have their own opinions. The magic of Walt Disney World is real and SO WELL worth experiencing. Let me break it down to When, Where, How and I’m Hungry:

Destination – Walt Disney World Resort, Florida

• Water Park Fun & More allows admission to water parks and other entertainment venues like ESPN Wide World of Sports. Also $52 extra. I’M HUNGRY: Food can be very expensive at the parks, but Disney began offering Dining Plans a few years back, and these save 20%40% off your total food costs. You must be staying at a Disney Resort and have Theme Park Tickets. Options are:

• Quick Service–selection at over 50 Quickservice venues. For each night, you get: 2 meals, 2 snacks and a refillable mug. • Plus Dining–selection from over 100 venues (including Character Meals) and for each night, you get 1 Table Service meal, 1 Quick-service meal and 1 snack. • Plus Deluxe Dining–same selection as Plus, but each night, you get 3 meals (choice of Table or Quick service), 2 snacks and a refillable mug.

As you can see, Disney offers lots of options and we’ve not even discussed tips on solo travel, senior travel, groups, weddings/honeymoons, cruises or more. If Walt Disney World Resort is on your list, allow a travel expert to assist in navigating through the complexity of your decisions so you can enjoy a Magical Disney Experience. Debby Stevens Debby@3DCruiseAndTravel.com 512-218-0291

WHEN: Christmas, Spring Break and summer are always when people consider Disney, and if those are your ONLY options, you will face tremendous crowds, and you will pay the most money. If you can avoid those times, here are the least crowded, least expensive times to go: • Mid-January to early February • Week before Labor Day to early October • After Thanksgiving to before Christmas If you cannot avoid “peak” season, there are some great tips that can be given to make the best out of the time you are there. (Debby’s tip - It’s SO WORTH taking the kids out of school for a non-stressed vacation).

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WHERE: Accommodation options in the Orlando vicinity range from rental homes, motels, resorts, and Disney on-site resorts. The perks at staying on-site are worth the few (and I mean few) extra dollars. Walt Disney World offers accommodations in three categories: Value, Moderate and Deluxe. Here are some of the perks: • Free roundtrip airport transfers on the Disney Magical Express • 20+ various, and really cool themed resorts to select from • Extra Magic Hours - One park opens its doors an hour early or stays open three hours late on any given day for guests staying on-site. • Ease of Disney transit options: bus, train, tram, in and around the 25K acres

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HOW: Four parks, each with rides, shows, parades, shopping and more. How do you do it all? A minimum 7-day stay at Walt Disney World will allow you to see most everything that interests you. Any less, you’ll have to miss a few. Park Tickets are necessary, but can be confusing. Here are the basics: • Magic Your Way Base Tickets allows you to see one park per day. A 1-day ticket is $68 (ages 3-9) $79 (10+). A 10-day ticket is $210/$243, so you can see the value increase. • Park Hopper Add-On allows you to “hop” from one park to another in any given day. This works well when you want to spend a day at one park and see a night parade at another. These are $52 extra over Base price.

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Along the Way: Two Essential Qualities for a Happy Marriage – Part 2 ow important is a happy marriage? According to a 2007 Associated Press article, a happy marriage may be the difference between good and bad health. The report, based on a University of Utah study, found that wives who buried their anger while disagreeing with their husbands were more likely to succumb to heart disease. On the other hand, wives who became domineering and controlling were more likely to have husbands who succumb to heart disease. I guess the cynic could conclude from the evidence that marriage will kill you one way or another – but that isn’t the point! The real issue may be that a happy marriage, with the right balance of healthy communication and conflict resolution skills, is a factor in good health. Or maybe it just proves the old adage, “If Mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy.”

two - but they had a beautiful daughter and a lot of years together. They were both willing to give it one last try. But it was ugly! They had such disgust for one another. One session, in desperation, I asked what they saw in each other in the first place. When I asked that, there was a sudden moment of peace in the room (of course, most of us know that peace is described as the brief time enjoyed while everybody stops to reload at once!) Seizing on the opportunity of the moment, the couple was coaxed into admitting what they saw in each other years ago. They were asked if they treated one another differently then. Did they once “try harder” to show love and respect? Their “homework” was to try it again. Tell her again that she looks great. Tell him she admires his work around the house – anything to inject respect back into the marriage!

So what will it take for wives to be happy? Is it as simple as finding someone new? Clearly some wives meet an ideal, who becomes an ordeal, and then they crave a new deal. If that isn’t the answer - what is? What can wives contribute to a happy marriage?

This is not positive thinking at work; it is human nature at work. Leading experts in marriage relationships insist that a man’s number one emotional need is to be encouraged by his wife. Therefore, perpetual respect means finding ways to encourage the behavior we admire. If wives cannot find anything else to encourage, they should say they have never seen anyone back out of the driveway so smoothly! He will be so excited to back out of the driveway smoothly tomorrow morning that he will walk to the car twirling his keys around his finger for the neighbors to see, as if he were headed to the winner’s circle at the Indianapolis 500! Why? Husbands thrive on the encouragement of their wives!

Aretha Franklin came close when she said “R-E-S-P-E-C-T.” The Queen of Soul was only half right; however, because happy wives not only need to receive respect, in happy marriages, happy wives need to respect their husbands. A wife recently commenting on her failed first marriage said this when she lost respect for him, “The marriage was over.” It may have lasted on paper for a few more years, but in her heart the fire had turned to ice. We all know that not every marriage succeeds. – nearly half fail. Sometimes a wife cannot respect her husband due to his actions. Even Jesus allowed for divorce in the case of adultery, and the Apostle Paul included abandonment as a second justification. While not specifically mentioned in Scripture, no loving Christian would advocate a woman staying in a physically abusive home. While divorce does not have to occur in these cases, surely few would advocate the wife would have to respect an adulterer, one who abandons her, or an abuser. Having made those obvious concessions, in the vast majority of marriages, where these three things are not present, wives still must choose to respect their husbands if happiness in their home is the goal.

for strong, capable, loving husbands who are willing to take responsibility and provide leadership in the home. This spring, the Today Show aired a segment discussing the results of a 40-year study of women’s issues. In every category, American women are less satisfied than they were 40 years ago. This news comes in spite of women at high levels in government, the corporate world, and having put major cracks in the glass ceiling since the 1960’s. Why are women dissatisfied? Is it possible that great careers and more educational opportunities (while we want those things for everyone in America) are not enough without the one thing we all want the most – a happy marriage? Some people are happiest while single, but the majority of us are looking for that one other person who seems to make our life complete. When we find them, the two qualities we cannot lose are love and respect. These are the pillars of a happy marriage.

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Next, there is the potential of respect. Respect is conditioned on one important factor. The Bible says in Ephesians 5:33 “…each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself and the wife must respect her husband.” That sounds like a command in the English text but the grammar tells a different story. The verse is a conditional clause, obvious in the original language of the New Testament. It could be translated “Each one of you also must love his wife… so that the wife can respect her husband.” In other words, respect cannot be demanded, but it can be developed. It is an exceptional woman who can respect a man who doesn’t love her, but almost any woman can respect a man who does love her.

How can wives today respect their husbands? Let me suggest three ways: First she can show perpetual respect. Respect, in other words, is not an occasional gift; it is the ongoing gift wives give their husbands. Years ago I was counseling a couple involved in a disintegrated marriage. There was adultery, lies, verbal abuse, and no love between the

Finally, there is the partiality of respect. Respect means “encourage” but it also implies deference to leadership. Many women are most secure in a marriage in which they can respect the leadership of their husbands. Often wives are looking for strength of character in their mates that in turn allows the wife freedom to build a home on the security of his promises, assurances and consistency. Even in the partnership of marriage, strong, capable wives often look

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DOLLARS &

Dear Dave, You recommend investing 15 percent of your income into Roth IRAs and other pre-tax retirement plans. Should you count your employer’s company match as part of that percentage? –Ben

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Dear Ben, You can, but I’d prefer that you didn’t. Employers and employment situations can change at the drop of a hat. I’d rather see you put in 15 percent. That way, you don’t have to rely on someone else to complete your retirement savings plan. It’s not your employer’s responsibility—or any one else’s—to make sure you have money to live on in your old age. Stick 15 percent in there yourself, Ben. Then, if your employer does match workplace contributions, it’ll be that much sweeter! –Dave

Dear Dave, I’m a college student in Utah, and I compete with lots of other students for summer jobs. Do you have any suggestions for debt-killing work? –Anonymous

DAVE SAYS Dear Dave, My wife wants to go back to school to complete her degree. Right now, we’re on Baby Step 2 of your plan, and we’re about 12 months away from being debt-free, except for our house. Should we work the budget to cash flow her going back to school now, or wait until we’re out of debt and have our emergency fund in place? –Scott Dear Scott, If you can find room in your budget to pay for it, and all it does is slow down the getting-outof-debt process a little bit, then I think it’s a great idea. The main thing is that I don’t want you taking on any more debt to make it happen. You guys can see light at the end of the tunnel right now, so I don’t want you taking a big leap backward by piling on a bunch of student loans! Education with a purpose is a fabulous thing. I’m all about school and learning, but the idea of going to college just to collect degrees is a little silly. Knowledge—not degrees—is the currency of the new millennium. The more you know, the more tools you have in your belt. That’s why I still read like a maniac. It helps me stay up to speed with things I need to know to do my job better! –Dave

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Dear Anonymous, My best suggestion for debt-killing work in that kind of situation has always been selfemployment. You’ll make a lot more money cutting grass, walking dogs, or detailing cars. You can control your time, too. Plus, you’ll make a lot more per hour than you will at any mall job. By the time they take taxes and everything out of that, you’ll almost wish you hadn’t bothered! A few years ago, I knew a couple of college guys who pooled their money and bought a pressure washer and some other equipment to start a business. They came to the house, washed and re-sealed our driveway, and I paid them a few hundred dollars apiece for the job. It took all day, but they walked away with their pockets full of money. You’d have to flip a lot of burgers to match that! You can make some serious summer cash if you’ll look at yourself as a small-business owner and not someone’s employee. I’m not going to lie to you. If you take this route, you’re probably going to be involved in some pretty hard work. But the truth is, you’ll never make really good money without doing some pretty hard work! –Dave Dear Dave, What are the advantages of using a real estate agent versus going the for-sale-by-owner route when it comes to selling a home? –Seth Dear Seth, I’ve had a real estate license for 30 years. If I were to put my personal residence on the market today, I’d use an active real estate agent who really knows his or her stuff in the

ENSE

marketplace. I’d gladly pay them their commission, too. Now, why would I do that if I could just sell it myself and save the commission cost? For starters, if I do a for-sale-by-owner, or FSBO, I’m only getting my place in front of buyers I can attract from seeing a newspaper ad, Craigslist, and anyone who happens to drive by the house. If you go with a high-octane real estate agent, you’ll have the advantage of being exposed to their entire pool of buyers. More importantly, you’ll be in the MLS, or Multiple Listing Service, database. There, you’ll immediately have thousands of potential buyers. So, who do you think will have the best chance of selling your house? Market exposure is everything in the real estate game! And think about this: Even if you went the FSBO route every time you moved, you might do three or four of these transactions in a lifetime. A good agent closed three or four deals last week! They’ll know all the ins and outs of buying and selling a home, and they’ll walk you through every step of the process. Research has shown that between basic mistakes, pricing errors, and lack of negotiation skills, you’ll cost yourself more than the agent’s commission by trying to sell it yourself. Trust me, you’ll get a much better deal—with a lot less hassle—by using a top-flight real estate agent! –Dave Dear Dave, How much do you put into your old car for maintenance and repairs before it makes sense to buy a new vehicle? –Christy Dear Christy, I know a lot of people don’t believe this, but it’s almost never mathematically justifiable to go out and buy a new car, or even a newer one. Let’s say you’re driving a $1,000 car, and you keep having problems and putting $250 worth of repairs or maintenance into it each month. Do you realize how long you can keep putting that $250 into the car before you reach the point of it making sense to buy a new $10,000 car? I mean, we’re literally talking about years! Really, it all boils down to a couple of things. One, do you have the money sitting around to pay cash for a new car? If you’ve worked hard and can go to the dealership and write a check for a new car, then go for it. The second thing is the hassle factor. Is the car absolutely unsafe, or is it driving you nuts in terms of inconvenience and repair costs? If so, then you might need to look into getting a newer vehicle. You’ll notice I didn’t say a new car, right? And you still pay cash. You don’t want five or six years’ worth of car payments hanging around your neck.

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I’m not against you having a nice car, Christy. What I’m against is your nice car having you! –Dave Dear Dave, I’m following your plan and trying to get out of debt. Should you have a “blow money” category in your budget before your debt is paid off? –Luke Dear Luke, You bet! The key is to make that category very, very small. You shouldn’t run around spending money on all kinds of fun stuff when you’re trying to get out of debt. I want you to be really focused—gazelle intense—when it comes to getting out of debt. If you reach this level of intensity, there’s naturally going to be less wiggle room in your budget, because you’ll be squeezing out every dime you can find to kill the debt! Keep in mind that I’m not saying you can’t have any fun at all when you’re getting out of debt. But keep that category very small. We’re talking about extreme sacrifice for a short period of time. I know it can be tough, but trust me—it’s worth it! –Dave Dear Dave, We got a big income tax refund earlier this year, but I heard you tell someone to adjust their tax withholding so they don’t get a refund. Why should you do this? –Justin Dear Justin, Let’s say you get a $3,000 refund. Do you know why you got that refund? It’s because you had $250 too much taken out of your paycheck every single month during the past year. Basically, you loaned the government $3,000 of your own money interest-free for 12 months. A refund isn’t free money, Justin. It’s your own cash that you get back because you paid in too much during the previous year. Believe it or not, Santa Claus doesn’t live in Washington, D.C. There’s no free ride! So rather than loan the government money that you earned and worked hard for, how about bringing it home and using it to get out of debt and get control of your finances? –Dave

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Spend Life Well

Moms Who Save

Are You Ready To Spend Life Well?

pend Life Well…We all want to do it. Our dreams, goals and desires revolve around making the most of our lives and enjoying the blessings we have been given. But when you factor in juggling the day-today financial priorities, some days spending life well seems much easier said than done.

As a financial professional, I often see this struggle. So what’s the secret to getting the most out of your resources today while preparing for retirement? It starts with rethinking what you may have learned in the past about managing money and investing. You may have a decent 401(k) savings but a mountain of consumer debt. You may be house rich with a big mortgage but cash poor and unable to make necessary repairs for the upkeep of your property. You may make a decent wage but are continually baffled about where all your money goes by the end of the month. Are you ready to Spend Life Well? Let's begin the 9-step process, in order, to help you gain financial balance. Step 1: Your Financial Snapshot. You cannot begin to work toward financial wellness without knowing where you stand. Pull out your bank statements and tax returns. Your credit card statements will also provide insight into your financial snapshot. Gather statements of every kind. Go to the ATM a few times during the month? Begin to write down your expenses when you use cash. Keep a small notebook in your car and write it down. You will be amazed at what you discover. Step 2: Create a Spending Plan. Think of this as controlling where your money goes as opposed to being restricted by a budget. I hate budgets. Budgets are impossible. And besides, who likes to be told what to do with their money? When you have a spending plan, you determine each month where every dollar of your income will go. Want to spend your money on cable versus going to the movies? Great! It’s your choice. Spend your money however you like, on the things that are important to you and are within the income you earn. Step 3: Save $1,000 for Emergencies. Life happens. Accidents and emergencies are all too often the one thing that derails our efforts to get out of debt. A thousand dollar buffer helps in those unforeseen situations that can throw your saving plan off the tracks. Having this $1000 set aside will help eliminate the need to pull out those credit cards. Step 4: Eliminate Debt. Pay down those credit cards. Pay off that www.AustinFaithandFamily.com

Summer Savings

credit card and you just paid yourself 22% on your money. That is a great return on investment. Imagine you had just $7,500 of credit card debt. Paying just the minimums at 22% APR would take you nearly five years and more than $4,500 in interest. Would you go into an electronics store and offer to pay 60% more for a new TV? No way! But that is what you are doing when you finance everyday purchases with a credit card.

Step 5: Save 6 to 9 months of Essential Living Expenses. Know anyone who has lost a job lately? This is the real emergency fund. Once you get those credit cards paid off, use the money you were using to pay debt to fund 6-9 months of your essential living expenses.

• We use ceiling fans all the time to save on our electric bill.

Step 6: Begin to Save for Retirement. Work with a financial advisor who has an economics approach to financial planning, to determine the optimal saving goal for you. No matter what your age, you can create a plan that is feasible. Your employer’s 401(k) plan may be a great place to start. Step 7: Prepare for College Education Expenses. Believe it or not, this step is not out of order. Your retirement takes priority over Junior’s college education. Do you really want to financially burden your children with the care and support of their parents? Or worse yet, gamble that they could actually afford to help? Step 8: Pay Off Your Home Mortgage. Pay off your mortgage if you plan to stay in your home for a long period of time. Don’t hold a mortgage for the perceived tax advantage. Would you give $100 to the bank just to avoid giving the IRS $30? You probably don’t want to view the home you live in as an investment but wouldn’t it be great to live there rent-free without having to pay income tax?

his is a monthly column full of tips for saving money. This month's focus is on summer savings.

Melissa C. (married, mother of four) • We built a pool, which helps us save for paying the summer pool fee for six people! We use it for pool parties regularly, so we save that way too.

• We have to follow city's watering schedule, but keep it to lower minutes and hand water ALL plants - kids have that chore. • We set aside money at the beginning of the year and search out where we can stay for what we can afford. We are staying in a condo that isn't right on the beach, as the price was cut in half. • We don't eat out but once a week, and grill lots in the summer so we don’t heat up the kitchen. It’s a mini vacation in our own backyard! Patricia J. (single mom of two teenagers) • Check out Central Market’s online event calendar for tons of free summer activities, including movies, concerts, book signings and art shows! http://www.centralmarket.com/ Stores/Austin-Central.aspx • To help offset your utility consumption, reduce your lighting. If you have light fixtures in your home that utilize multiple bulbs, like chandeliers and ceiling fans, reduce your

bulbs by half. After a few days of this, you won't even notice the lighting difference, and you're saving electricity. • Looking for something different for your K-5 kiddos? The City of Austin has a free educational (but fun!) summer parks program in neighborhoods all over the city. Leaders create safe, supervised, and fun-filled environments with activities including sports, games, arts and crafts, nature activities and cook-outs. Locations and more info can be found at: http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/parks/ playgrounds.htm Jo Ann A. (single “mature” mom, living alone) • Water Bills – Take quick showers, water plants and grass as little as possible, and make sure dishwasher is full before using it (did you know hand washing uses more water than the dishwasher?) • Vacation Travel – Purchase airline tickets when you find the “best deals.” Take day trips around the area, using the bookstore to find places to go. • Air Conditioning Bills – Use a programmable thermostat, and keep shades down when not home in order to block sun’s rays. • Entertainment – Enjoy free concerts, movies in the park, or a movie night at home. Join friends for picnics (share the expense of food) – keep it simple – your own backyard will do. • Gas for Car – Carpool with friends and coworkers, walk if possible – and lose weight!

Step 9: Give Back. Give back to the causes that matter most to you. But why wait? There are lots of ways to donate either your time, talent or treasure. The amount or time does not matter. The important thing is that you are giving back. You may very well discover that your financial situation improves with generosity. Spend Life Well.

Mark Trice is a financial planner in the Austin area

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New Hope Community Church 2330 Dry Creek Dr., 78681 512.255.0064 info@newhope-roundrock.com www.newhope-roundrock.com

A B

LUTHERAN Our Savior Lutheran 1513 E. Yager Lane, 78753.....................512.836.9600

King of Kings Lutheran 17000 Smyers Lane, 78681.....................512.255.0829

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

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ADOPTION SERVICES Caring Family Network 877.719.3222 www.cfntexas.org Connecting children, families & communities

Family Link Kids 512.947.7306 www.FamilyLinkKids.org Get involved & make a difference

COMMUNITY SERVICES Capital Area Food Bank of Texas www.AustinFoodBank.org Hunger is Unacceptable

A neighbor’s independence depends on YOU! Round Rock.............................................512.310.1060 Pflugerville..............................................512.538.1152 West Austin.............................................512.472.6339 South Austin............................................512.445.5552 NW/Cedar Park/Leander.........................512.250.5021

interviewed one of our amazing foster moms, Leah Saiz, on Life Matters, and she shared an experience of bickering among her five children: "He did this to me. She won't give me back my toy," as well as complaining or forgetting to do chores. Does that sound familiar to you? She and her husband came up with a creative parenting plan that reinforces kindness and diligence in a fun way! Instead of normal parent talk, "Sam, don't hit Ben. Mary, stop arguing with Kim," along with typical consequences, they have retrained themselves to recognize and encourage the great in their children, which is teaching their children to do the same! This family completely changed, and it prepared them to be foster/adopt parents to five more children! Yes, it may seem like a dream to have happy, peaceful children who get along, do their chores (and more) without complaining, but these parents are proof it can happen! Here are some highlights. They have a Candy Land type chart, and pictures of the kids that move forward as the kids earn points. An important piece is that it is not punitive, and kids don't ever get points taken away. The parents have a list of items that the kids get points for, such as cleaning their room, being ready for school on time, doing their daily chore, being a peacemaker, doing homework without complaining, etc. There are extra points available for certain items, like cleaning out the van. Instead of grumbling and arguing, David and Leah have children happy to do their chores.

Head to Heart Restoration Ministry 512.496.8938 www.HeadtoHeart.org

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SCHOOLS Grace Academy 512.864.9500 www.GraceAcademy-GT.org

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To hear more parenting ideas and inspiring stories listen to LIFE MATTERS! with Mariah on www.klgo.net or 98.5/99.3 FM Mon-Fri. 7:30-8:30 pm. www.familylinkkids.com. Mariah Wilde Executive Director/Founder FamilyLink Foster Care and Adoption mariah@familylinkkids.com

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Round Rock Area Serving Center

COUNSELING

Our children will have attitudes and habits instilled in them while growing up. If we focus on the negative, they will too. This system teaches the parents to focus on what their children are doing right, bless their children, and ultimately create a happier home. I'm using a version of it myself with my children, who range from ages 1-18!

FOCUS : SCHOOL school

Hope Street 512.236.1718 Transforming our city one life at a time...

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There is a separate I Love My Family chart, which means they say and do something nice that day for every person in their household and earn extra points. The points can be used for an item from the treasure chest, getting to pick the family movie, choosing a family fun time, etc. This has turned their family into an extraordinary family with 10 children! Another neat aspect is that siblings that are having a hard time getting along get double points for saying and doing something nice for each other. Initially the motivation may be the points; however, hearts are changed in the process, and good habits are formed.

ichele Logan has found her calling with Grace Academy’s youngest students. Whether teaching the fundamentals of the three-year phonics program or introducing new concepts in math, Michele feels privileged to witness her students’ “A-ha!” moments. She says, “I can literally see it on their faces when they comprehend what we are learning and I cherish those moments. However, teaching our children to honor God, honor each other, and honor God’s property is just as important as everything else we teach.” According to Headmaster Randy Adair, “Michele has become a rich resource for parents and teachers because she brought her own children

through this method of learning and she continues to lead other children through as well. She has a superb history and experience along with a superior teaching style. Michele’s spirit and demeanor brings out the best in all of us! ” Michele and her husband discovered Douglas Wilson’s book Recovering the Lost Tools of Learning. This classical method of conveying a Christian education seemed the most effective and time-tested pedagogy to be found. This method produces students who can take in a vast amount of information, decipher it within the context of a Biblical framework, and understand where the author is coming from. Grace Academy graduates must be able to discuss and defend ideas in a manner that uses methods from the Greek and Roman cultures. Michele has a cadre of fans among Grace Academy students, parents, faculty and staff who sense her joy in learning and her love for the students. Most of all, they see and hear of Michele’s own relationship with Christ. Mr. Adair summarizes his thoughts on Michele with, “Michele is like watching honey on the honeycomb—it just drips from her fingertips: her love for God, love for her students, and her love of learning.” Grace Academy | 512.864.9500

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SPECIAL FEATURE Who Da Kang? He Da Kang! SaulPaul to Impact Thousands This Summer on a Mission Trip

Can Facebook Save the World?

read an article recently that said 95% of Christians have never brought one person to Christ. Yikes! Not sure how accurate that is, but let’s just say it’s sort of true. Even the sort of-trueness of it makes my heart sink. Perhaps it’s time we learn some lessons from the folks at Facebook who have officially converted more than 400 million new believers in the past six years alone. According to recent stats, over half of these converts log on every day with the average user being on for 55 minutes.

WHAT!!??! An hour a day??!?! Pastors around this city have a difficult time convincing us to spend an hour a week with God much less an hour a day on Facebook. Perhaps when the next version of The Message comes out it will read something like this: “You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love and have spent way too much time Facebook stalking.” Revelation 2:3-4 Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a Facebook hater (most of the time). As a youth and college pastor I have to admit that I love the social networking craze for primarily one reason – it gives me a creative way to peer into the heart of everyone I minister to. Sure, some of us do a better job than others at hiding our true colors, but eventually what is in our hearts always seems to spill out into our status updates. It’s inevitable. Let’s be brutally honest. If we are spending more time online than we are with our creator, it’s because we feel Facebook meets our needs better than Jesus does. Social networking is our modern day anesthetic for symptoms such as loneliness, boredom, low self-esteem and lack of significance, while simultaneously stimulating our addiction to gossip, winning the praises of men and being loved by others. For many it’s simply an escape distracting us from the realities of life, or more importantly, the realities of the spiritual battle going on over the souls of everyone on our friends list. Like most tools in this world however, God gives us the choice to use stuff for his glory or our own. There is a huge upside to using Facebook for the believer who has self discipline, so let’s focus on the positive.

Faith Family

Facebook enables us to: Exhort the Church – Often I will log on after a youth service on Wednesday night and ask God to show me who he wants me to encourage and love on. I send messages of praise to teens that really shined that night and tell others I didn’t see that I missed them. Short messages just to let folks know that Jesus loves them can be very powerful. Effectively minister to the needs of others – Sometimes weeks will go by and I haven’t connected with some friends, but Facebook gives me the window into their lives. Knowing what they have been up to or struggling with makes me a more effective minister who can help meet their felt needs more efficiently. Be transparent to a mixed audience – This is a perfect place to share what God is doing in us through testimonies, praise reports, prayer requests and more. It continues to send the message to everyone in contact with me, regardless of their religious stance, that Jesus is the center of my world and is actively involved in my life! Share our convictions without singling anyone out – A few months ago I posted some heavy stuff about abortion on my page in order to educate others on the issue and it sparked some great talks with family members and those who held a different viewpoint. Remember, Facebook is a magnifier exposing the innermost parts of who we really are. If used correctly, tools like this can advance the kingdom and impact lives in need. Summertime is a great season to connect with friends that we normally just see during the semester, so why not use our Facebook time wisely? Exhort, minister, share and do not be afraid to let your world know how awesome your God is. Who knows, maybe Jesus intended to save the world in the end times through Facebook. It could be that we are misusing one of the greatest evangelistic tools in the modern era, so let’s make our time online count!

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

magine being born into poverty…without a mother or father. Picture growing up in the ghetto, surrounded by drugs and murder. Visualize being locked in the Texas state penitentiary but then…See yourself going against all odds and graduating from one of the nation’s top universities. This was SaulPaul’s life.

This summer, Texas native SaulPaul, a “musician with a message,” will be embarking on a mission trip. No, he won’t be going to Africa or a third world country; he’ll be going to Golden, Missouri! “What’s in Golden?” you ask. Kids Across America, or as many know it…KAA. Kids Across America is a sports camp ministry whose vision is to revolutionize inner city America through evangelism and to equip urban youth and their leaders.

If you would like to learn more about SaulPaul, please visit www.SaulPaul.com. Tower to Tower

SaulPaul was introduced to KAA last year, when he was requested to come and minister hands-on for a week. By the time the week was up, SaulPaul was ready to return and do it again! Lucky for him, they were looking forward to his return, as well. Not only did KAA want SaulPaul to return, but they requested he write the 2010 camp theme song. They knew he could do it, as he is featured weekly on ESPN Radio providing sports recaps in the form of rap. SaulPaul wrote the song, they loved it and now it will be featured throughout the summer as KAA’s theme song. http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=9jZLGnQ9cO0 Better still, SaulPaul, will be moving from his hometown of Austin, TX and relocating to Missouri for the summer to be able to personally interact with and impact the thousands and thousands of inner city youth across America that will visit KAA this summer. SaulPaul’s goal for this musical mission trip is to give away 10,000 Tower to Tower CDs and DVDs. His non-profit organization ReRoute Outreach has undertaken the goal of raising $30,000 in 30 days to accomplish this feat. For every $3 donation, 1 CD or DVD will be sown into the life of a camper at KAA. If you would like to assist in this Kingdom sized task, visit: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/ webscr?cmd=_s-xclick& hosted_button_id=Y8W5J6MVNUCPE

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SaulPaul went from sleeping in a jail cell with a view of the prison watch guard tower to graduation from the prestigious University of Texas at Austin. And as fate would have it, his college graduation was held at the campus’ famous clock tower. So SaulPaul literally went from Tower to Tower. Since college graduation, SaulPaul has been sharing his testimony of how Christ changed him from Saul to Paul and has allowed him to walk in his purpose. He’s impacted hundreds of thousands of people through his music, movie, book, and motivational speeches. Tower to Tower is now the name of SaulPaul’s hip hop/rap CD, documentary and book. His national speaking tours and magazine also bear the name as well. From California to New York, night club to the church, foster home to state prison, juvenile detention center to community rec center, from at-risk youth in public schools to students attending illustrious private colleges, SaulPaul has been telling the story of Tower to Tower...One man's journey from a Texas prison cell with a view of the watch guard tower to graduation at the famous clock tower at the prestigious University of Texas at Austin. The audiences vary but the mission remains the same...Change the World. One life at a time. Bianca Neal

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Just a Good Cook

appy Independence Day! I plan on either being in the water or under the airconditioning this year. Last year, I made the mistake of trying to enjoy the 4th of July during the drought, and without my husband, but it was no fun at all! By the time I got the car unloaded at our destination, the grandkids and my mom were ready to go back home. It was so HOT! This month I’m going to share my gourmet recipe for Canadian bacon burgers, and my daughter’s delicious potato salad. Please know, I had to ask her a dozen times before she broke her silence and gave up the recipe.

I hope you’re not a vegetarian. As you can read, we eat meat, almost every night. Trust me. I would not mind only eating veggies, starches, and sweets. However, I have a man - not a goat. Canadian Bacon Burgers 2 lbs of 93/7 % hamburger meat, I strive to make each burger ¼ lb each 4 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce ¼ tsp garlic salt ¼ tsp onion salt ¼ tsp black pepper ½ white onion finely chopped, or dried minced onion (optional) Mix well, divide into 8 balls, and then shape into hamburger patties. Cheddar cheese Slices (I use 2% sharp cheddar) 8 Slices of Canadian bacon (can be bought at the deli)

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8 Kaiser rolls & hot dog rolls Toppings; Leaf lettuce, red onion, Dijon mustard. Whatever else you prefer. I always add ketchup to my burgers - yuck, right? TIP***You will not need to add an egg or breadcrumbs when you use super lean hamburger meat. In addition, your burger will not flame up like fattier meats. That’s good news for your heart and the grill master! Always make good use of the grill by adding hot dogs and vegetables.

Heather’s Potato Salad (her dad’s favorite recipe) One 5-pound bag of GOLD potatoes (don't have to peel them) 2 (maybe three) cups of full-fat mayo (leave some mayo on side) 1 cup of dill pickles diced (not relish) ½ cup of sweet relish 4 teaspoons of white vinegar 1 celery stalk diced 1 teaspoon of mustard (only one, Mom) Several dashes of garlic salt Cook potatoes, whole. Some peel will slip off discard. While they are cooking, mix ingredients in large Tupperware bowl, and let chill in fridge. When potatoes are done, cool with cold water and cut. They will be a bit mushy. Add to mix, add remaining mayo, and taste. Add salt as desired, or more dill or sweet relish! Add paprika for a festive decoration on top. Chill for at least one hour before serving.

melons? Be sure you buy a seedless watermelon, honeydew melon, and a cantaloupe a day or two in advance, and they need to be well chilled. When you’re ready to eat, have the kids use a small ice cream scooper, and put them to work making melon balls. Once all the meat is out of the watermelon, keep both halves to use for the melon balls. You can certainly add grapes and berries to add beauty and flavor. Hint, if the fruit is not sweet enough, take along a bottle of honey to squeeze over the top before eating. I know it can seem like a complete waste when we buy fruit and it is not sweet. However, please don’t be afraid of sugar, USE it. Besides, you’ll be with your friends or family, and they won’t mind over-active children… We're not done yet! YOU HAVE TO HAVE an apple pie on the 4th of July, store-bought, frozen, borrowed, or even baked by your own hands. It’s the American way. Finally, be sure you have lots of water, iced tea, and lemonade for the entire family. Sandra Alton

I do not condone full-fat mayonnaise, unless I’m using it in my hair.

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.

Melon Ball Salad For the kids, what is the 4th of July without

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FOCUS : MUSICmusic

SPECIAL FEATURE

TaylorWise – Inspiring Real Worship

A Window of Opportunity…To Prevent Strokes or proof that there is power within each of us, look no further than community leaders like Ashton Cumberbatch, Jr. The Austinbased Cumberbatch, an executive with the Seton Family of Hospitals, is on a personal campaign to lower the risk of stroke within Austin’s African-American community. Cumberbatch was at the Apollo Theater in New York City in early May to receive the Power to End Stroke award from the American Stroke Association, a division of the American Heart Association.

as part of the leadership team of the ministry Austin Bridge Builders Alliance, and as a Pastor with Agape Christian Ministries, giving him a unique position of influence within both Austin’s business and faith-based communities. With his help, the AHA successfully promoted Franklin’s August 2009 “Fight of Our Life Health Tour.” In addition, Cumberbatch helped establish an Executive Ambassador Committee, more than a dozen community leaders who signed up to help promote the concert and the Power to End Stroke movement.

Each year, more than 100,000 African Americans experience stroke, the No. 3 killer and a leading cause of disability in the United States. The program’s ambassadors “share the power” by helping to spread Power to End Stroke messages within communities across the country. “At Seton, a faith-based health care organization, it’s part of our DNA to forge strategic collaborations to improve health in our communities,” Cumberbatch said. “And as an individual and a Christian, it’s also consistent with the biblical mandate to “seek and pursue the peace” or completeness and wholeness—the physical, emotional, intellectual, financial, and social wellbeing—of this region.”

“I think God has created a great window of opportunity right now in healthcare, what I’d call a ‘positive perfect storm.’ There is sufficient information available to help us reduce our risk of disease, and a hunger for that information. People are beginning to understand that diseases like heart disease and stroke are largely preventable,” states Cumberbatch.

In addition to his role with Seton, Cumberbatch serves on a number of business-oriented boards,

For this year, the AHA/ASA will continue to take an aggressive role in providing stroke education to the Central Texas community, including outreach to faith-based youth groups in an effort to take the Power to End Stroke message to an ever-younger audience. For more information about Power to End Stroke, visit www.powertoendstroke.org. Glen Huschka

.R. Taylor and Jerry Wise, worship leaders based in Austin, Texas, love songwriting and love Jesus. This passion shows up in their debut album Restore Us, which is meant to “carry the listener to a place of authentic worship in times of celebration and in times of trial.” This new album is great for listening at home, or in the car, by the individual listener. However, the songs on the album are also perfect for corporate worship, leading an entire group of worshipers into the presence of God.

J.R. Taylor leads worship at Austin Christian Fellowship in Austin, and has recently been chosen to tour the U.S. and Canada as guitarist with awardwinning singer/songwriter Geoff Moore. Taylor has also been involved in engineering for many great musicians, including Styx and Allan Holdsworth, with his own company, TaylorAudio. J.R. is married to Niki, and they have two sons. Jerry Wise comes from a family of musicians and singers. At the age of 13, Jerry and his family moved to Nashville, Tennessee where Jerry became more involved in music. He has worked on various studio projects, including two children’s albums that were nominated for Dove Awards. Jerry earned a degree in Music Management at the University of Evansville, Indiana and released his first solo album Grain of Sand in 2004. After touring with this record, Jerry returned to where he calls home – Austin. He met J.R. at Austin Christian

Fellowship where they joined their passions together in music. Jerry is currently leading worship at Austin Baptist Church.

Feedback from Restore Us has been extremely favorable. Wiley Koepp with Coyote Music states, “TaylorWise has assembled a truly passionate album…For fans of Christian praise music, this album is a no-brainer purchase.” Gary Powell, a composer and producer, writes, “This album is not just beautiful musically, but it is also immaculately recorded and mixed…I hope everyone will enjoy this album as much as I have.” To book a concert, email booking@TaylorWiseMusic.com. For general inquiries, contact info@TaylorWise.com. Visit their website at www.TaylorWiseMusic.com. Marcy Lytle

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RAVE REVIEWS

THE BACK

PEW

BOOK The Purpose of Man – AW Tozer

Quips and Quotes

18 Percent of income the average American spends on transportation.

13 Percent of income the average American spends on food.

Patriotism is easy to understand in America. It means looking out for yourself by looking out for your country. –Calvin Coolidge Patriotism is not short, frenzied outbursts of emotion, but the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime. –Adlai E. Stevenson A man's country is not a certain area of land, of mountains, rivers, and woods, but it is a principle and patriotism is loyalty to that principle. –George William Curtis Our country is not the only thing to which we owe our allegiance. It is also owed to justice and to humanity. Patriotism consists not in waving the flag, but in striving that our country shall be righteous as well as strong. –James Bryce

Jokes A man walks into a church and tells the pastor he’d like to arrange a funeral for his dearly beloved dog that just passed away. The pastor thinks for a second and then says that they do not perform funerals for dogs, but there was a church down the street that may be able to help him. The guy thanks him and is about to be on his way and asks one more question to the pastor. “Pastor, do you think they would also accept the 25,000 endowment I want to give in my dog’s name?” The pastor quickly responds with ”Hold on a minute, you did not tell me that dog was a Christian!”

A.W. Tozer (1897-1963) was a well- known and beloved pastor, author, and disciple of the Christian faith in the fifties and sixties. This novel entitled The Purpose of Man has been around for awhile, but if you have not read it and would like to learn more about man's purpose according to the Bible, I highly recommend it. I have learned so much about what worship is and how it manifests itself. The following is a quote from the book which portrays Tozer's heart and vision for worship: "Worship is to feel in your heart and express in some appropriate manner a humbling but delightful sense of admiring awe and astonished wonder and overpowering love in the presence of that most ancient Mystery, the Majesty which philosophers call the First Cause but which we call Our Father in Heaven." -A.W. Tozer Lauren Turner

MUSIC

Shane & Shane – Pages

These two similarly named companions have released beautifully crafted music since 1998. Their latest release is a special edition of Pages, their acclaimed 2007 album which includes acoustic versions and other special additions. Their signature close, soaring harmonies, and intricate acoustic guitar playing are showcased at their prime here and coupled with prophetic lyrics. "Over The Sun", inspired by Solomon and the book of Ecclesiastes from the Bible, is filled with warm strings and hopeful lyrics of reaching over the depravity of Earth and into God's purpose. The strategic placement of "Wounded" next to instrumental "Healed" leading into well-known chorus "When I Think About the Lord", coincide and complete one another not only in order but in lyrical content beautifully. Shane and Shane stick to making acoustic, soft, and sincere music to suit their Biblically-based lyrics and honest, hopeful poetry. Other highlights include the acoustic versions of popular hit "We Love You Jesus" and the hymn, "Before the Throne." Lauren Turner

BOOK Destined for a Mission: The Life Journey of Herman Neusch An 85-year old gentleman from the Texas Hill Country is the subject of a recently released memoir Destined for a Mission: The Life Journey of Herman Neusch. Neusch (Nash) is the founder of a non-profit organization in Haiti, home of the poorest people in the western hemisphere. “I began working on this book in 2008. I wanted to show how the Lord watched over me all of my life and how He directed my path,” says Herman. Herman’s mission began back in the year 2000 with a phone call from a neighbor to say he wanted to show Herman a wonderful new invention a solar cooker. It is a small satellite-style dish, lined in reflective material that can cook a meal without another energy source. A Haitian pastor, visiting Herman, was ecstatic. “This could save my country!” He went on to explain how the majority of trees are harvested for cooking purposes and further decimates the land. The pastor’s enthusiasm sparked something in Herman, who was recovering from serious injuries from a car wreck that had taken his second wife. Despite his own condition, Herman set out to raise support for sending cookers. “I was determined to do something,” said Herman. That first trip to Haiti was followed by 15 more. Herman made connections of all sorts: from a dried food company sending thousands of meals to orphans, to a host of medical teams, and a number of missionaries and Bible school leaders. In turn, this lead to connections with organizations that supply water wells and agricultural training. The work there flourished. Herman and his new wife Janet founded Hope for Haiti, Inc. in 2005. For more on the book or to order, see www.DestinedForaMission.com. Profits from the sale go directly to Hope for Haiti, which receives no portion of the funds for running the non-profit. Kathy Glover

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