Your True Colours March 2016

Your True Colours March 2016

Laughter Lawyer: Is Meditation a Cure or Hype?

Zika Virus and Your Vacation

iSHARE Expert: Marybeth Conley

Air Force Veteran, Justin Cook, Nothing Compares

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Your True Colours

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Your True Colours

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Your True Colours

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Your True Colours In this Issue:

All contents of this magazine are the opinions of the individual authors.

February 2016 Your True Colours Media, LLCŠ No part of this magazine may be reprinted without written permission from the editor. cbendall@fashionacademy.biz

table of contents YTC Life Image – Reading 5 Boomerang Escapes gives the tips for avoiding the Zita Virus while traveling.

Laughter Lawyer: Meditation: Miracle Cure of Modern Day Hype by Debra Norwood 11 Stay Healthy and Well on Your Vacation by Lisa Rossmeissl 23 Ten 14 Ministries Updates by Qamar Titus 29 iSHARE Spotlight: Marybeth Conley by Sherri Henley 33 Justin Cook: Independent in Every Way by Carolyn Bendall 47 Credits for Cover Photos: J Cook by Seth Evans

Come Into Your Own Conference, see the highlights of the conference that made you look inward.

Royal Rose Hydrating Serum Valentia http://www.valentia.com

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Your True Colours

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True Glow Eye Cream Say goodbye to tired eyes. This nourishing formula works fast to repair and refresh the eye area while protecting skin from the usual suspects of aging. Our natural and organic ingredients work to calm and reduce puffiness in the eye area revealing softer, more refreshed looking eyes. With continued use of this antioxidant treatment, you will start noticing a more rejuvenated, radiant, and brighter under eye area. http://www.valentia.com

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Life Image--Reading

By Carolyn Bendall

"Seek ye out of the book of the Lord, and read" —Isaiah 34:16, KJV WHETHER YOU HAVE A BOOK OF SCRIPTURE THAT YOUR RELGION TEACHES FROM, OR IF YOU JUST WANT TO ENLIGHTEN YOUR MIND BY READING FROM SOME OF THE BEST BOOKS SOCIETY HAS TO OFFER; IT’S TIME TO PUT DOWN THE ELECTRONIC DEVICES AND TURN OFF THE TELELVISION AND READ. Reading is good for your brain, it is good for conversation, and it enhances your

imagination.

Trying to set into place a regimen of reading during the day requires commitment and discipline. Both of those traits are good traits to develop, while you are on your way to meeting this new goal. Set aside a time of day that is good for you. Morning, or early afternoon, or evening. You need to decide, and set it in stone. Yes, set it in stone. When you choose a time make sure it is a time that is not going to be infringed on by other activities.

If you choose to read scriptures early in the morning and need to arise earlier than normal, no worries…we have been promised that the time that we give to the Lord, He will give back to us ten fold. Now, that may not mean that you are going to get 10 more hours in your day, but it will mean that you will be able to manage your day better, and that you will see a change in how your day goes. I know. I’ve have put the Lord to the test on this one.

It does work.

Viktor Frankl was an Austrian psychiatrist who spent the years 1942-45 in four different Nazi concentration camps, including Auschwitz. Man’s Search for Meaning is one of the most read and studied books of all time.

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Once you have mastered reading through the scriptures, you will want to keep reading. Whether you choose to start over again or look for some other good books, it is important that you keep reading within your schedule. I recommend setting a time frame for scripture reading and then in leisure time have other reading.

Here is a brief list of some of the best books that are available: Your True Colours

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First Things First, Spiritual Roots of Human Relations, both by Stephen Covey The Canterbury Tales by Geoffery Chaucer The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail

by Bill Bryson

Before there were the '7 Habits', there was this amazing book by Covey, ‘Spiritual Roots of Human Relations', read it with a pen and highlighter.

Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl Standing for Something: 10 Neglected Virtues That Will Heal Our Hearts and Homes by Gordon B. Hinckley

As a Man Thinketh by James Allen The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom (A Toltec Wisdom Book),

by Don Miguel Ruiz Lectures on Faith by Joseph Smith, Jr. The Screwtape Letters and Paved with Good Intentions by C. S. Lewis Stories Behind the Best-Loved Songs of Christmas by Ace Collins Just As I Am: Autobiography of Billy Graham

by Billy Graham Farenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe Silent Night: The Story of the World War I Christmas Truce by Stanley Weintraub

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Ephesians 6

Galatians 5

2 Corinthians 11

2 Corinthians 4

1 Corinthians 13

1 Corinthians 6

Romans 15

Romans 8

Romans 1

Philippians 1

Galatians 6

2 Corinthians 12

2 Corinthians 5

1 Corinthians 14

1 Corinthians 7

Romans 16

Romans 9

Romans 2

Philippians 2

Ephesians 1

2 Corinthians 13

2 Corinthians 6

1 Corinthians 15

1 Corinthians 8

1 Corinthians 1

Romans 10

Romans 3

Philippians 3

Ephesians 2

Galatians 1

2 Corinthians 7

1 Corinthians 16

1 Corinthians 9

1 Corinthians 2

Romans 11

Romans 4

Philippians 4

Ephesians 3

Galatians 2

2 Corinthians 8

2 Corinthians 1

1 Corinthians 10

1 Corinthians 3

Romans 12

Romans 5

Colossians 1

Ephesians 4

Galatians 3

2 Corinthians 9

2 Corinthians 2

1 Corinthians 11

1 Corinthians 4

Romans 13

Romans 6

Colossians 2

Ephesians 5

Galatians 4

2 Corinthians 10

2 Corinthians 3

1 Corinthians 12

1 Corinthians 5

Romans 14

Romans 7

1 John 2

1 Peter 2

Hebrews 13

Hebrews 6

Titus 3

1 Timothy 6

2 Thessalonians 2

Colossians 3

1 John 3

1 Peter 3

James 1

Hebrews 7

Philemon 1

2 Timothy 1

2 Thessalonians 3

Colossians 4

1 John 4

1 Peter 4

James 2

Hebrews 8

Hebrews 1

2 Timothy 2

1 Timothy 1

1 Thessalonians 1

1 John 5

2 Peter 1

James 3

Hebrews 9

Hebrews 2

2 Timothy 3

1 Timothy 2

1 Thessalonians 2

2 John 1

2 Peter 2

James 4

Hebrews 10

Hebrews 3

2 Timothy 4

1 Timothy 3

1 Thessalonians 3

3 John 1

2 Peter 3

James 5

Hebrews 11

Hebrews 4

Titus 1

1 Timothy 4

1 Thessalonians 4

Jude 1

1 John 1

1 Peter 1

Hebrews 12

Hebrews 5

Titus 2

1 Timothy 5

2 Thessalonians 1

Mark off each day, and write one or two words about each chapter, you might want to have a scripture journal that you write a longer thought process on each chapter.

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Do not overload yourself. Make yourself accountable. Present yourself in your best light, and then move forward toward that life definition.

Select two goals a month, one from two different subjects. After you have completed one goal in each subject; start over again. Sometimes you may be able to choose more than two goals a month, however, realize that to change a behavior one must do a goal for at least 21 days.

Do not give up. If you stop for a few days, just pick up where you left off. It if is a goal that would change behavior, then your 21 days would start over.

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MEDITATION: MIRACLE CURE OR MODERN DAY MARKETING HYPE?

By Debra Norwood

EVER HAVE A HARD TIME JUST WINDING DOWN? I DO! ONE OF THE MANY HABITS I YEARN TO EMULATE FROM MY FATHER WAS HIS ABILITY TO SAVOR LIFE'S EVERY MOMENT. THAT INCLUDED WORKING HARD, AND THEN ENJOYING LIFE FULLY-- EITHER BY INTENTLY WATCHING WORLD NEWS ON TELEVISION OR READING THE NEWSPAPER. Nature was his best friend, he would have the family sit on our porch to watch magnificent storms and was known for taking an odd break in the craziest places just for sunbathing, i.e. rooftops, sidewalks...lol! One occasion I remember he startled some colleagues who insisted on going late on their agenda by deliberately leaving the business meeting to simply contemplate the violent crashing of waves upon the rocks of the Atlantic Ocean. As these incidents show, my father had an innate ability to be “present” in every situation he was in, another word that is trending, yet misunderstood as well. He was not M a r c h 2 0 1 6 | 11

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a perfect person, by any means, but he just knew to be happy in the moment, mostly because he had lived through a bloody revolution in his youth, had experienced poverty and deprivation, and also knew great success and social adulation. His 97 years of meditation practice (which he would may not known to have characterized as such) was born of the experience that life is short, and filled with the unexpected, so he savored each day.

I understand now that each experience I mentioned was an exercise in awareness of my father regarding his energy levels and a sense of timing of “when” to stop overdoing and find a means to reconstitute his brain to avoid burnout. This awareness was something he sought to teach others in his own way. Truly one of the greatest gifts he ever gave me was his "mini dissertation" on the "rules" of resting in a chinchorro--an ornate Guajiro Indian hammock built for exclusively for pure pleasure! His advice? Rock gently. Bask in silence and be filled with love and gratitude for peace and life . True principles for mindfulness long before the word became trendy! Thanks, Dad. I miss you and will endeavor to savor each blessing of peace and rest from this day and from now on!

I realize now that my father was actively engaged in what neuroscientists have now touted as a “modern” miracle to stabilize the brain: meditation. I place the word modern in quotes because meditation is most certainly not new, it is an ancient practice which modern science has just recently caught up to validate as a healing practice. These current trending studies are confirm that meditation is a practical vehicle for changing the brain. And as a result, a plethora of books, studies and articles have emerged in every media claiming that meditation will

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Meditation (Continued)

improve law practice, sales, and marketing, weight loss and heart health-- even one’s love life if practiced effectively.

Is this hype or hope? In my opinion, the trend leans clearly leans towards hope. Mindfulness, according to a recent article published in The Harvard Business Review, can “Literally Change the Brain”. Quoting recent studies of data reviewed by a team of scientists from the University of British Columbia and the Chemnitz University of technology, the article points out that meditation affects eight different regions of the brain and its ability to show activity and affect both the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) as well as the hippocampus, gives the practice of meditation a big empirical “thumbs up” in helping with developing resilience to stress. 1 If that weren’t enough, the article emphasized that: Neuroscientists have also shown that practicing mindfulness affects brain areas related to perception, body awareness, pain tolerance, emotion regulation, complex thinking, and sense of self. 2 Meditation and the practice of living in the now and not obsessing about the future was penned in timeless poem which was a favorite of mine in 8th grade where I first memorized it for school: From the Sanskrit Look to this day, for it is life, the very life of life.

In its brief course lie all the realities and truths of existence, the joy of growth, the splendor of action, the glory of power.

For yesterday is but a memory and tomorrow is only a vision.

But today well-lived makes yesterday a memory of happiness Christina Congleton, Britta K. Holzel, and Sara W.Lazar, “Mindfulness Can Literally Change Your Brain”, Harvard Business Review, Jan. 08, 2015 2 https:hbr.org/2015/01midefulness-can-literally-change-your-brain 1

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Your True Colours and every tomorrow a vision of hope.

Look well, therefore, to this day! 3

This poem was a variation of an ancient Sanskrit proverb, and many attribute it to the colorful Kalidasa, a great Sanskrit dramatist and one of the great names in literature after Ashvaghoshha, a mentor of his. In the poem, the emphasis on making every day a good day is part the blessing of the dawn, which symbolically allows for a new beginning in all things. Some have named this poem, “The Salutation of the Dawn.”

Jesus Christ, in his famed Sermon on the Mount, makes a similar statement of comfort in focusing on what is important and current when asks his followers, in Matthew 6:28 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit to his stature?

The answer in Matthew 6:33 and throughout the Sermon on the Mount is that of righteousness, kindness, mindfulness and clean living for the present and not in over focusing an anxious mind on the future: But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you. Take no thought for the morrow: For the morrow shall take thought for the thing of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. 4 The idea of not dwelling on the past or obsessing upon the uncertain future is comforting and helps to pare down life’s vicissitudes into manageable chunks so that Sermon on the Mount by Carl Bloch we may deal with one issue at a time. A concerted practice of prayer and or meditation can help to establish one’s center and help one

3 4

http://www.journeyofhearts.org/kirstimd/sanskrit.htm Matt: 6:28-34; King James Edition

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Meditation (Continued)

to relax enough to where problems can dissipate and allow us time to get away from the problem long enough to find fresh vigor to address the problem or find solutions to it.

Meditation plus purpose is the foundation to true resilience and possibly a definition of enlightenment, and some find it purely through religion, others have through practice, study, or a combination of both.

A dedicated practice of Meditation may be an invaluable tool to slow the anxious mind, but not all meditation practices are the same nor do all guarantee to hit the mark in self-actualization.

Furthermore, some people, like my father, have the gift of meditation, and it is inextricably tied to their sense of purpose, and I would contend further, the health of their brains.

Unfortunately, for others, however, however, prayer, study and focus can be synonymous to an almost painful torture, making the subject feel inadequate or incompetent and lead to selfcondemnation or the even the declaration by ecclesiastical authorities to consider such behavior as “sin”. 5It is to those whom find no comfort in stillness, no hope in silence, and who cannot stop the ruminations of the brain that I most fear for in the current media hype about the miracle of meditation. It is very possible that those people may require not only training in meditation, which is invaluable, but also a change in habits, diets, exercise, nutritional supplements and medication in order to prepare their brains for the blessings of meditation and prayer, scripture reading, or study, and the joys being present!

As a strong advocate for meditation I applaud the efforts of magazines, coaches and medical professionals who have joined the bandwagon and are advocating meditation as an answer to life’s problems. I am disturbed, however, is with the curious feeling that meditation must then require a change in our religions, our clothing and all of our cultural values and mores. My second concern is for the amazing outpouring of hybrid practices that are emerging which aren’t part of the ancient healing practice of meditation and prayer, but modern marketing and advertising devices to include hip and trending fashions which clearly contradict the cleansing and renewing practice of meditation for emotional clearing and healing. There are a world of cocktail and yoga parties, compulsory meditation sessions for stress reduction during business meetings, mindfulness and gourmet eateries, and a muddled mix of required music for meditation, yoga, mindfulness and even raves. Lastly, I am also concerned about the undue emphasis on the conflict between medication and meditation, and the “black and white”

Sin Problem or a Brain Problem? This Is Your Brain on Joy, A Revolutionary Program for balancing Mood, Restoring Brain Health and Nurturing Spiritual Growth, 2008 Dr. Earl Henslin, with Becky Johnson

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thinking that emerges from such fanaticism.

Those who promote meditation today and are making a big business of it may be preying on fears and providing a disservice to the true meaning of mindfulness, non- judgment and presence. Neuroscience has become an accomplice, a validating tool to help the “unbeliever” come on board and learn how to meditate because science, not faith has allowed them to do so, with the implication being that the practical, rational thing to do is embrace meditation and to flee from a life which focuses on finding one’s purpose or any meaningful interaction with a higher self, God, universal mind, or love. Stepping away from the hype and learning some basic truths about meditation that can provide guidance to discern among the barrage of choices emerging. Here are some guiding principles which I have learned from my fledgling, yet fruitful practice of meditation From the movie, "War Room" and prayer, many of which I have picked up from my own search for purpose and meaning in my life.

MEDITATION AND PRAYER ARE NOT ENEMIES

Meditation and Prayer are kissing cousins, so religion is not at issue, and many who fear that the trending rise in the practice of mindfulness, meditation and/or yoga, and other Eastern practices and are an erosion of traditional Judeo-Christian values. Those in the West who are being threatened should recognize that the trend shows a rising need for self-regulating and self-comforting strategies to overcome the maladies that come from materialism and self-aggrandizement. If I were a spiritual leader I would evaluate the trend and decide what is needed to provide such a need and comfort, and how can such people’s needs be met within one’s own dogma, religious principles or code of conduct?

MEDITATION COMES IN HUNDREDS OF FORMS A wonderful mentor in the world of meditation practice comes in the shape of a softspoken woman, Pragito Dove, who has written a masterful book entitled Laughter, Tears

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Meditation (Continued)

and Silence 6 Pragito, who is an author who often writes for Huffington Post, and is on many respected media and radio shows emphasizes how meditation is a valuable vehicle for emotional cleansing. As a motivational speaker and one of the last living disciples of Osho, a highly respected meditation master, Pragito also explains that there are as many forms of meditation as there are days of the year, and much, much more.

Pragito’s system allows for different faiths, and different personality types to discover the soothing and rewarding effects of meditation, which is precisely why her mission name reflects that, at http//www.discovermeditation.com From hugging a tree, or praying in silence, or shaking and jumping and dancing, laughing and crying-- meditation can help a person look objectively at one’s behavior from a distance and learn from that impartial observation.

TRUE MEDITATION INCLUDES THE PRACTICE OF BEING PRESENT Trending parties and policies that include multi-tasking and profiteering may have some social and economic value, so I cannot fully judge their therapeutic content, but I can comment! My strong personal opinion is that true self-discovery comes with guided practice and training, and that mixing narcotics, caffeine and/or alcohol to enhance mindfulness or the use of any other commercial commodity in conjunction with meditation may simply be that—the commercialization of mind-body medicine, rather than therapeutic practice. As an addiction recovery facilitator I would especially caution against alcohol, caffeine and unhealthy eating, or engaging in any habit forming indulgences simultaneously with mindfulness to be very counter-productive to the value of meditation for impulse control and focus.

NON JUDGEMENT IS THE HEART OF MEDITATION Any practice that claims to be a meditation practice that then claims that you are doing things “wrong” and need to buy or sell items to be a better practitioner is not in the true spirit of self-actualization and healing. Likewise, any practice that claims that you “must” breathe a certain way, eat a certain way or think a certain way can only be done so in a manner which requires conscious consent and not mental bashing or brain beating. The danger of science now validating the benefits of this spiritually renewing practice is that it can be bastardized for control and profit. A case in point is a program I signed up for to learn more about focusing on prosperity and brain health. Touted as a latest discovery in neuroscience, I innocently signed up for “free” information and then was bombarded with

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http//www.discovermeditation.com

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hundreds of emails which I probably could have lived with, as I’ve grown accustomed to in this modern age of social media blitzing, but it was the tone of the emails which was so very disturbing. I began to receive comments that implied that I must not be ready for wealth and success, nor want happiness and healing. At the heart of the media campaign was SHAMING and BLAMING me for not being the person I should be to improve myself. This is NOT healing meditation and I would exhort anyone who feels they are under attack to retreat and report such practices to the Better Business Bureau or risk losing thousands of dollars and a lot of self-esteem!

MEDITATION HELPS THE BRAIN--BUT SOMETIMES THE BRAIN NEEDS HELP TO MEDITATE People suffering with cognitive disorders such as memory loss, Alzheimers, anger management issues, anxiety, depression, ADD, PTSD and other neurologically based conditions including diabetes, substance abuse, infections, cancer, and brain trauma may find that meditation, although highly desirable and useful, may be nearly impossible to do effectively. The advice is to use a holistic approach to continue working on your meditation practice while healing the brain with other helpers as well. For those experiencing these conditions and are resistant to traditional treatment and/or medication, I’d recommend them to consider an Amen Clinics brain SPECT analysis7 to “peek under the hood” and find out what is going on in the brain before judging

For more info email debra@debranorwood.com and see www.amenclinics.com for images of the brain.

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Meditation (Continued)

meditation as a failure in their lives. Amen Clinics have conducted well over a hundred thousand scans and uncovered many secrets that can, through the marvel of neuroplasticity of the brain help people change their brains and change their lives. 8

A HOPEFUL MESSAGE FOR ALL BRAINS: All of us are wired somewhat differently from one another, and the condition of our brains are due to genetics, life’s circumstances, our diet, upbringing, socio-economic factors, place of birth and even our customs and mores.

As a certified brain health coach for Amen Clinics, I feel comfortable that I can promote practices in neuropsychiatry which include brain health by actually looking at the individual’s brain though brain SPECT analysis and by deciding what approach in diet, mind/body medicine and psychiatric or medical intervention is appropriate for one’s individual needs. If someone comes to me with memory issues, depression, anxiety, anger, antsy behaviors, and /or an inability to concentrate, focus, or sit still, I will not rush to say that meditation is all they need to feel better! How do I know? I am a victim of such behavior! I have learned to focus on Good Hearted Living Attitudes9, especially forgiveness and gratitude, therapeutic humor, mind/body medicine, therapeutic laughter, tears and silence 10, psychoneuroimmunology, and positive psychology. I learned how to breathe and practice non-judgment because I have sought answers beyond my comfort zone and because I have had wonderful mentors, a strong Change Your Brain Change Your Life, by Dr. Daniel Amen, at amazon.com Steve Wilson, w.w.w.worldlaughtertour.com 10 w.w.w.discovermeditation.com 8 9

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religious foundation, and some clear medical guidance. As a child who at age 8 fell off a horse, and experienced an undiagnosed trauma to my own brain, I know that my relationship with focus and concentration required all the energy I had and that a great portion of my life was spent wondering why I was not like everyone else. My sense of purpose and wellbeing was also tied up with a strong sense of sin and guilt, and even though I was a good person, and a devout Christian, it took me a long time to find my spiritual strength and a faith that brought me to an alignment of meaning, purpose and accomplishment. I am who I am now, because of years of searching for answers, and prayer and meditation are an integral part of the fabric on my life. I believe in meditation as a practice so much, that I believe it can be used not only for personal progress, but also in transformational institutional change,11 and am dedicating my life to the dissemination of any useful tool for brain health and the promotion of healthy happiness

11

MITx: 15.S23x U.Lab: Transforming Business, Society, and Self

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Meditation (Continued) principles.

It is my hope that this cautionary commentary on the commercialization of modern meditation will allow the reader an informed view to judge what means is best to find a practice that will truly bring inner peace, but in no way dissuade them from searching out for ANY practice that will encourage them to be present, love themselves and others unconditionally and give them the ability to flourish. We are living in a wonderful age where science is confirming to us that which ancient wisdom has always told us, and that is that LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL and we are a marvelous creation that can enjoy how to live and thrive fully in its flow!

Debra Chaves Norwood, Laughter Lawyer USA, is a principal at Creative Competitive Solutions Inc. mailto:debra@debranorwood.com

Coaching: Spiritual Laughter Workshop: It’s My Life, What Do I Do With It? Programs: Conflict Resolution

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Stay Healthy & Well On Your Vacation

By Lisa Rossmeissl

Photos Courtesy of Boomerang Escapes

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CURRENTLY IN NEWS HEADLINES THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT THE MOST RECENT MOSQUITO BORN VIRUS. THE ZIKA VIRUS HAS CURRENT TRAVELERS QUESTIONING THEIR TRAVEL PLANS PARTICULARLY TO THE CARIBBEAN AS OF LATE . Mosquito Born Viruses like the zika virus are nothing new and just one of the things you should be concerned with when staying healthy and well on your vacation.

Practicing precautionary methods before and during your travels will prevent your trip from being spoiled by illness. Like in the winter months, when we prepare for flu season, you can prepare for your vacation. The same simple things that we remind adults and children alike each year to do such as wash hands, cover your mouth, and get your shot can be applied to your vacation preparation.

In the case of mosquito born viruses, one of the first things you should do is consult with your local travel agent or the CDC (http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/ )to determine if the country you want to visit is indeed on a high risk alert. Travel consultants receive regular updates during any type of travel danger. It is important to know if any country you are visiting requires any type of vaccination as well. Again, you can check with your agent or see your regular medical provider regarding necessary shot requirements for travel.

Obviously, option one is to avoid traveling to areas deemed unsafe by the CDC. However, that doesn’t mean when something like the Zika Virus appears that you have to ward off all travel outside the US. Simple preventative measures such as wearing bug spray, proper clothing, and avoiding being out during peak mosquito times are key in keeping you from being bitten in the first place. Small travel size bug sprays are available at most local chains such as Target, Walmart, or Walgreens. Remember when packing, if it is more than 3 ounces it needs to go in your checked luggage. If you don’t buy it ahead of time, then pick it up in the destination once

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Stay Healthy (Continued)

you have cleared customs. Very rarely am I unable to find bug spray in the resort gift shop or local grocery.

Mosquitos and their viruses are only one of the health risks that can ruin a good vacation. Eating the wrong food and/or drinking bad water can land you in bed during or after your trip.

Again, a little common sense goes a long way. First, if you are not an adventurous eater at home, vacation is not the time to become one. Second, avoid foods on buffets that may have been out a long time, like sweaty dairy products. Third, if you want to be very careful, avoid the skins of food or foods such as lettuces that may have been washed with local water. Peel the apple. Of course, there are plenty of resorts where you don’t have to worry at all about the food that is served. Trust the guidance of your travel advisor. When it comes to drinks, stick with bottled water, avoid ice, and wipe the rim of your glass or drink from a straw. Oddly enough, it is not usually the water you are drinking that is contaminated, but the glass. It doesn’t hurt to include items such as Tums, Imodium, or Pepto Bismol in your personal kit. This goes for other simple normal medications that you might need as well, since items abroad are not always the same as those in the states or readily available.

One more warning for a safe and happy trip, watch your time in the sun. I can’t tell you how many wonderful vacations have been ruined by travelers spending too much time the first day in the sun or by not wearing some type of sun protection. I am as guilty as any of my clients for doing this one. I suggest a minimum lotion with a SPF of 15. My personal favorite brand is Australian Gold.

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Next, gradually build your time in the sun those first couple of days. There’s nothing worse than looking and feeling like a lobster. No one wants to hide inside the resort the remainder of the trip. Having a hat, coverup and sun glasses in your luggage repertoire are key.

Like with anything in life, simple preventative cautionary measures applied in advance of your travel can go a long way in ensuring your trip is not interrupted by illness. Be Fit To Travel!

Lisa Rossmeissl is the owner of Boomerang Escapes, a home-based agency located in Memphis, Tennessee. She has been a professional travel consultant since 2008 and specializes in Australia and the South Pacific. Australia, Tahiti, Fiji, and Cook Islands are among the specialist certificates she holds. Her agency’s focus is on creating itineraries with their client’s wants, desires and budgets in mind. She and her planners believe in getting to know the traveler to ensure they have a vacation to remember. With each planner specializing in a different market area, Boomerang Escapes can offer a wide ride of leisure vacation planning. Call 901-386-3600, Email info@boomerangescapes.com or visit the web www.boomerangescapes.com for more information.

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How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

Our goal at Ten14 Ministries is to increase the ministry workforce, provide reliable transportation for the ministers in Pakistan, stimulate the local Pakistani economy, provide ambulatory care to the “Untouchable�, and help provide an opportunity for quality education for those who would not have it otherwise Join Qamar Titus on Your True Colours Image Radio on Thursdays at 11:00am Central Time. She will be broadcasting starting January 7th! http://www.blogtalkradio.com/bendall

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Students playing and having coloring activity outside on a nice sunny day at Daniel's School in Pakistan.

We now have 24 students at the school. We ask that you pray for more students to come.

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Helping Bheel Families

Through the years we have provided Bheel families with by providing goats. Goats are easy to raise as they eat all kinds of shrubbery etc...Not much grows in the desert to feed the goats. Many goats have 2-3 babies, so they can keep a couple for milk and sell some for income.

We are praying for the Lord to provide so we can establish a farm, so we can bless many more families.

Special Christmas Day service was held in Chak 52...pastor Henry Hurrya led the service as he shared the gospel message.

A cake was cut and shared with all who attended.

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Your True Colours Using Flannelgraph to Teach Bible Stories

Flannelgraph set that Samson took back to Pakistan last year is being used to teach Bible stories. Rahul teaches Bheel Children Bible stories and songs to introduce them to the Lord. Children are excited as they have never seen any pictures. Thanks to Jacob and Holly Schimmel for donating, so we could purchase this set.

http://ten14.org/

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http://www.katerinamusetti.com

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iSHARE Spotlight: Marybeth Conley

By Sherri Henley

Photos by Courtney Cardona-Simpson and Marybeth Conley

WE AT ISHARE AGENCY TAKE GREAT PLEASURE IN SPOTLIGHTING OUR EXPERTS, AS WE EACH MAINTAIN AUTONOMY WHILE CREATING A WHOLE. BY BRINGING EXPERTS TOGETHER WE ARE ABLE TO DELIVER TO OUR CLIENTS FAR AND ABOVE WHAT WE COULD POSSIBLY MANAGE ALONE BECAUSE, “TOGETHER WE ARE STRONGER.” Join me as I interview iShare Expert and Speaker, Marybeth Conley, Award winning CBS Anchor and Radio Personality.

Q - Sherri: Marybeth...You are known as a CBS anchor and radio talk show host in the MidSouth. However, you have worked in other markets during your media career. Tell us more about how you became a media personality...

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A - Marybeth: My career happened completely by accident; I graduated with an Advertising Degree just as recession was killing the advertising world, so without a job in my field, I accepted a position as Sales Secretary at the CBS Affiliate in Knoxville, Tennessee. I liked the creative, fast-paced environment of TV, but hated being a secretary (nor was I skilled at that, at all) so I kept volunteering for projects in other departments that no one wanted. That's how I learned to produce TV programs. I still don't watch TV much, but I like the process of putting stories together, and somehow managed to be good at it.

Q - Sherri: During your 30+ year media experience - who have been the most interesting people you have interviewed?

A - Marybeth: People always expect the answer to that question to be a Celebrity, and I have interviewed plenty of them, from Dolly Parton to Martin Short, but my favorite guests are Personal Development or Leadership Experts like Jack Canfield, Shad Helmstetter, Bob Burg or Jim Cathcart. I also love interviewing Authors, and some of my favorites there have been Jeffery Deaver, Lee Child, Ace Atkins and Stuart Woods - I'm a voracious reader and I consider Authors to be the Ultimate Entrepreneurs, who devote their time to creating something tangible from nothing but imagination, with no assurance that anyone else will think their creation has value.

That takes real courage, and that's what I find interesting about a person.

Q - Sherri: Tell us the most inspiring story you have heard during an interview and why?

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iSHARE Spotlight: Marybeth Conley (Continued) A - Marybeth: There are too many to pick just one, but one that comes to mind was that of Yannik McKie, whose Memoir 'Living In The Shadows' chronicles his life journey from pampered middle class child of two loving parents, to a child who lost both parents to AIDS -- but first had to live through the breakup of his happy home when his mother discovered his dad had cheated, contracted HIV, and given it to her. She died when Yannik was entering his teens, and shortly thereafter he learned that his dad had not only cheated, but had lived a double life and had contracted AIDS through homosexual activities. Without guidance, Yannik began a life of crime, but turned things around by forming a relationship with God, and now runs a Foundation aimed at helping young people to stay on the right path even in the most challenging times.

Those are my favorite interviews; you can keep most of your Celebrities!

Q - Sherri: While working as a TV Mom, you have maintained balance with your family life...and even made time for your one and only husband (and that's something to brag about!). What are your best practices to inspire working mothers and spouses in today's hectic 24/7/365 cycle?

A - Marybeth: Simply don't buy into the 24/7/365 cycle. I believe we can change it by refusing to participate.

Being a child of a 50s Mom who had a lot to offer and would have loved to have had a career in addition to raising children, it never occurred to me that one couldn't 'have it all', so before children, my husband and I did what many do: We bought a house that required two salaries.

Working full time worked ok with one child, but only because my husband and I worked opposite shifts and were willing to make that 'couple' sacrifice for the good of our son. But when I went back to work after my second child, I knew it would no longer work and we cut our budget down to bare bones to find a way to bring me home. Fortunately for me, my TV station asked me to consider working part-time, but what I learned was that we have to be clear on where our focus is going to be, and then just do what needs to be done to keep it there. I definitely sacrificed money and prominence by giving up the primary news anchor position to move to the early morning anchor seat, but no matter how many people in my industry told me I was crazy, I knew I had to make a choice, and I knew what was most important to me.

We can let the world tell us what's important, whether it's the big house or the new car or the career acclaim or we can remind ourselves what's most important to us. Everything has a season.

For those who just don't have a choice to work part time or full time, I'd advise letting everything else go: Don't compete over the cleanest house or whatever other benchmark society tells us is important. Cut out everything except what is most important to your job

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iSHARE Spotlight: Marybeth Conley (Continued) (don't say 'yes' to every project; pick the most important) to your family, and to your sanity! Force yourself to edit and learn to say 'no'.

Q - Sherri: You recently embraced the position of a keynote speaker as a part of your journey. When you speak...we hear an authentic story of your Christian walk, along with your struggle to find purpose while generating a massive amount of passive income...yet you were still faced with the question, "Why?� Explain how media and passive income became your message?

A - Marybeth: In 2006 I began a business with a direct sales company specifically to create enough income to leave media. I had gone back to work full time as my children got older, but the birth of a fourth child had me hoping to get back to part-time work, but at that point in my life, with college looming, I couldn't go back to part-time income. I was quickly successful, financially, and promoted to the top 2% of the company in a year, but at that point I began to feel a confusing, underlying sense that something was wrong. It made no sense because I genuinely loved the company, the products, and the work involved. The struggle to understand how I could be so successful and feel so passionate about something while simultaneously feeling a vague lack of peace eventually broke my spirit and led me to the Lord - seeking an answer to whether He really wanted me to build the business. That began a six-year faith journey that was simultaneously the most wonderful and most emotionally difficult time of my life, because I felt exhilarated by the supernatural communication we had - events that absolutely cannot be explained in the natural, and told me very clearly that my business was His calling for me, while at the same time, plagued with guilt over asking Him to help me with what seemed such a trivial concern, while so many others go without the basics of life.

About four years into this journey, I looked back on my media career and realized His hand was also on it, and so despite my basic lack of interest in a media career in general, I have promised God I will stop trying to leave the media, and instead surrender it to Him, letting Him show me

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iSHARE Spotlight: Marybeth Conley (Continued) how He intends me to use it. As for my other business, I finally surrendered it to Him as well, and He showed me how to use it to fund Kingdom Organizations; Organizations founded by individuals working in various ways to address problems in the World. I launched Kingdom Collaboration in January, 2016, on my 10th Anniversary in the Arbonne business. My goal is to personally seed back $100,000 in 2016 to Kingdom Organizations, and to help 5 individuals create a $10,000-$12,000 monthly passive income stream that they can use to address the burden the Lord has laid on their heart. Surrendering my idea of what success in Arbonne meant is what enabled Him to show me what He had in mind, and I finally found the utter peace I've spent the last nine years searching for.

Q - Sherri: Media. Marketplace. Ministry are three words that describe the holistic side of your discovery of purpose...would you agree? If so...how does that look to the public eye?

A - Marybeth: I have finally fully embraced the gifts the Lord gave me. After 30+ years discounting my media career, I have acknowledged that I do have a strong desire to spread stories of people working for the good of the world, against all odds. Of people persisting over huge hurdles to reach their goals. Of people who could have been shattered by circumstance, but instead had the faith to believe that beauty can come from ashes, and to come back stronger than ever. Whether I personally love the media or not, this is where He placed me, kept me, despite multiple attempts to get out, and gifted me so when He tells me the time is now, I intend to launch several programs designed to give back to the world, instead of simply reflecting the worst of society. God also placed me in the M a r c h 2 0 1 6 | 39

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Marketplace, and gave me success despite a lack of natural talent there, so through Kingdom Collaboration, I intend to use my Marketplace skills, the company He gave me in 2006 (Arbonne) and the credibility and platform the media gives me, to create passive streams of income for multiple Kingdom Organizations. In 2014, Arbonne paid its product users $219 million dollars. I intend to make sure at least that much gets into the hands of Kingdom-Oriented individuals, because I know they won't spend it on yachts and furs - they'll use it to change the world.

Q - Sherri: In 2015 the two of us began collaborating through The Marybeth Conley Show as co-hosts on Thursday of each week for Together Strong. Our experience has been nothing short of enlightening as we have grown from that initial point of sharing your radio platform once per week, to multiple collaborative areas of focus including Together Strong Day, Come Into Your OWN Conference, Business Over Coffee International Radio, Sherri Henley Intelligence, Kingdom Collaboration and iShare Agency. Describe how this came about...

A - Marybeth: Truthfully, you're the organizational force behind all that we have collaborated on: I can't organize a lunch date! I love our work together because everything we collaborate on is geared toward improving the World.

When we met, I remember thinking how strange it was that we had not met previously, because we know and have worked with so many of the same people. I felt instantly drawn to you, and didn't really understand why, but I believe it was God's prompting that brought us into tight collaboration on so many things - He knew I needed the sounding board of someone without his/her own agenda, in order to begin to work out the final pieces of Kingdom Collaboration, and you were it!

Q - Sherri: What is your ultimate goal for 2016?

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iSHARE Spotlight: Marybeth Conley (Continued) A - Marybeth: To help lift at least five individuals with a specific Kingdom purpose - they don't have to have a 501C3, but they do have to have a desire to help the Kingdom that burns inside and is God-Led - Create a 5figure passive monthly income stream, using a very simple system God led me to. This will enable me to personally seed back $100,000 into the Kingdom work of many others.

Some of that $100,000 may go to the production of two TV Shows He's put on my heart, but we will have to see if He's ready for me to undertake those in 2016. I'm done trying to steer the course: I am focusing on walking solely in the exact direction He points me!

Q - Sherri: Leave us with the three most important learning experiences turned wisdom shared...

A - Marybeth: Be true to yourself and your mission, and stop taking a poll on whether you should follow your path or not. There is only one opinion that counts, and that's the God who made you.

Be prepared for resistance and for plenty of people to give you support in name only: Expect many to pat you on the back, but never provide any real support. So make sure your vision is tied to a cause much bigger than you!

Never stop learning and growing and testing your limits. But at the same time, seek His guidance in all things.

And here's a bonus, from my mother: be more committed to your marriage as its own entity, than you are to your spouse or the love you feel for him/her. Your commitment to the marriage will sustain you when the spouse has one of 'those' moments. Doesn't apply in cases of abuse, adultery or addiction!

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Business Column by iShare Agency Founder, Sherri Henley iShare Agency is bringing experts together for project management, brand development and speakers bureau. iShare Agency was established as a global agency in 2014 growing to over 30 experts. iShare Agency is the pinnacle of expertise for your project, brand, speaking career or speaker selection, start to finish.

Contact iShare Agency at 5865 Ridgeway Center Pkwy, Ste 300, Memphis, Tennessee, 38120 – 901.820.4469 – info@ishareagency.com

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Echoes of Shannon Street IT IS, TO THIS DAY, THE

LARGEST NUMBER OF SUSPECTS TO DIE IN A NONRIOTOUS, LOCAL POLICE ACTION IN THIS COUNTRY.

Echoes Of Shannon Street is a true crime police procedural that tells the story of the abduction of two white police officers by black cult members in the racially divided city of Memphis in January, 1983 The event began a highly publicized and sharply criticized stand-off between hundreds of police officers and the seven suspects barricaded inside a small house in a predominantly black area of north Memphis.

For the next day and a half, negotiators attempted in vain to communicate with the leader of the cult, a mentally ill man named Sanders. Inside a local school, top police officials discussed their options. Outside, police officers stood in the cold, anxiously awaiting orders to go inside and rescue their fellow officer.

The wait was long and hard, made even more horrific by the fact that for five hours, the officer’s beating and his cries for help were heard through bullet-riddled windows and broadcasted through the officer’s own radio.

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Thirty hours later, one of the abducted officers lies in a hospital, a bullet wound through his hand and face. The other is found dead in the living room of the house, cuffed with his own handcuffs, his bloody flashlight nearby. All seven suspects are dead, shot by the department’s all-white TACTICAL Unit.

In addition to actual crime scene photos, the interviews with patrolmen, negotiators, tactical officers, command personnel, dispatchers, along with over 1,000 pages of documents from the case file, including crime scene photographs, witness statements, and transcribed radio transmissions will give the reader an authentic recreation of the deadliest event in Memphis police history. http://www.amazon.com/Echoes-Shannon-Street-Kidnapping-Officer/dp/1470094819

Now in production for the Documentary and Movie of the same name, starring Alfonso Freeman. MVP3 Productions.

James Howell, Author of "Echoes of Shannon Street."

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it’s not for sissies A MEMOIR BY MARIE PIZANO According to Marie Pizano, the word “no” is not in her vocabulary. She simply says, “I Can” and “I Will”. Her memoir, From Barefoot to Stilettos tells the story of her life thus far, from her childhood days of living on food stamps, gangs and double-dutching on the streets of south-side Chicago to surviving a life changing accident, moving to Memphis and living a trophy-wife life, dealing with the mean girls, the monster-in-law, panic attacks, becoming a mother, to her postdivorce years and defeating the odds of building an entertainment powerhouse, all while rediscovering herself, her life, and her power. Through explorations of her own past and present tense, Marie reflects on how the sum of her trials and triumphs shaped her into the empowered woman she became during her incessant quest to find her “yes.” ... http://frombarefoottostilettos.com/

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Justin Cook, Independent in Every Way

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By Carolyn Bendall Photos Courtesy of Justin Cook Professional Photos by Seth Evans

JUSTIN COOK STARTED PERFORMING AS MANY ENTERTAINERS DO, IN CHURCH IN THE CHOIR. WELL, NOT REALLY A CHOIR, THE CHURCH WAS SO SMALL THAT THEY DIDN’T HAVE A CHOIR; ONLY SPECIAL MUSICAL NUMBERS. And, Cook’s family provided most of those special musical numbers.

Cook’s family talents reached beyond the small church in middle Mississippi. They traveled from Jackson north to Grenada (almost to Memphis TN) and east to Alabama. As a teen-ager traveling with your family singing in churches keeps one sheltered to a degree. Cook began writing his own songs during this talent shaping time, around the age of fifteen. Though that particular song has long been lost, the talent and the drive to perform is still strong.

As will all teen-agers, Cook grew up and wanted to experience more than small towns in the South. The Air Force was calling with travel, freedom, and a paycheck all to himself. The focus in his life no longer was the singing and song writing. He drifted for several years.

Life in the military took him to Afghanistan, where he received a military ending injury. Returning to the states in Virginia with the military (last duty station).

As his new life outside of the military began, he ventured into

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Justin Cook (Continued)

his second love, cooking. Culinary school filled a dream. After graduating second in his class, he was offered a job teaching high school students at the culinary school. During this time he also met the woman who would become his wife. The music bug began to bite, and Cook was now happy he had decided to go to culinary school. This would be his profession while he worked on making his first album.

By 2014 he was out of the Air Force, had embarked on a new career path, and had dreams of getting back into music; it was at this time that he realized he needed to re-dedicate his life to Christ. Writing music had begun to be therapy for trauma while in Afghanistan. Around this time a job offer took him back to Mississippi. Closer to home sounded good to him, and so, he returned to his roots.

Doors started opening for Cook as he began the independent steps to creating an album.

Through friends he was able to have a music video produced for the first single to come from the album, ‘Nothing Compares.’ By October 2015 he was married, and a few months later he became a youth pastor. Doors continued to be opened to him.

He has begun performing again, in churches through Friday night concerts or special music on Sundays. His formats allow time for him to tell his story through song, and before he sings the song, he shares his testimony of the process that created the song.

With the songs being so close to his heart, some of them touch him personally while performing than others. ‘You Never Waiver’ will not be a single from the album, but it is the one that brings Cook to tears while singing. The song is the story of Cook, himself; and his grandmother. Cook’s struggle with PTSD and being injured, he goes back to the summer of 2010 in his emotions, and many times he can’t stop the tears. The second verse takes him to his Grandmother, after severe Alzheimer’s left her with the inconsistency of knowing Cook when he came to visit to knowing him; yet, he noticed that whether she knew her own grandson or not, she knew Christ. She would talk to Cook about the love of Christ. He marveled that one day she could know family members and the next day she wouldn’t know anyone, but all days, she knew Christ’s love. The second verse makes him weep, too, as he sings of his grandmother, and her love of her Savior.

The actual first single from the album is ‘Nothing Compares’. It is all independent in all ways, the single is being played on internet radio sites. He has produced it completely on his own, with help from friends, and some Divine intervention. His website is http://www.jcookmusic.net and ‘Like’ him of Facebook to stay up on the album and performances.

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J Cook

In early 2014 I hit the lowest point in my life. All I had was a car and a job. For the first time in my life I had no home to call my own. I had a buddy offer to let me ride his couch for a couple of weeks, and it was this same friend that facilitated my return to Christ. You see, I grew up in church. I grew up believing whole heartedly that there was definitely a great big God that had a plan and a purpose for my life. Well, somewhere down the line, I not only gave in to a life of sin, but I completely turned my back on God. I even, silently, tampered with the idea of atheism. So here I am in 2014 with my entire life in shambles. I had nowhere else to turn, but to our Heavenly Father. There I was, at rock bottom. When I finally let go of trying to control my own life, God picked up. He dusted me off and started moving my feet forward again. The road to redemption has been long and hard. But now I stand stronger in faith than I ever have, and out of the ashes of the trials and hurt, I found triumph and hope in the form of a song. The name of that song is "Nothing Compares" it is the first single on the upcoming album: Triumph Over Trials/ Hope Through the Hurt.

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Nothing Compares by J. Cook I'm feeling lonely now, I'm losing hope, The lowest of the gallows Got no place to go.

This rock sure feels hard Here at the bottom The darkest of the dark And no light to follow.

But wait what's that? The tiniest spark in the distance.

No, I won't turn back. It's getting bigger with every instant.

Your love covers me Like an all-consuming fire, The warmth of your embrace. Nothing in this world compares, Lord, I go where you want cause you're there.

Nothing in this world compares to you, To you…To you Jesus.

I'm standing in fear now, Waves crashing down, People crying all around, No light to be found.

They're calling my name, Saying we need your voice.

So hard to praise. So hard to rejoice.

But wait what's that? The tiniest spark of courage.

No, I won't hold back. Singing louder with the passing moments.

Your love covers me Like an all-consuming fire, The warmth of your embrace. Nothing in this world compares, Lord, I go where you want cause you're there.

Nothing in this world compares to you, To you…To you, Jesus.

But wait what's that? The tiniest spark in the distance No, I won't turn back. It's getting bigger with every instant.

But wait what's that? The tiniest spark of courage.

No, I won't hold back. Singing louder with the passing moments.

Your love covers me Like an all-consuming fire The warmth of your embrace. Nothing in this world compares, Lord I go where you want cause you're there Nothing in this world compares to you To you…To you, Jesus.

Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIzfxulKgNI Website: www.jcookmusic.net Hello everyone! My name is Justin Cook. I am a veteran of the US Air Force, and I'm an aspiring Christian Recording Artist. I am well underway in creating my first solo album: Triumph Over Trials/ Hope Through The Hurt. I am almost there, but I lack the funds necessary to finish the project. My goal to reach completion is $2000.00. The album will consist of 8 tracks: 4 ballads, 2 spoken words, and 2 prayers. I am hoping to release the first single, Nothing Compares, within the next couple of months. Please help out any way you can, and know that my family and I truly appreciate all of your support. If you would like to look me up, you can find me at https://soundcloud.com/justin-cook-18/nothin-compares-j-cook You can also find me www.facebook.com/SenseiJCook Please keep the project in your prayers! Thank you and God Bless www.gofundme.com/Triumphovertrials