Christian Devotions SPEAK UP!

Join us this week on Christian Devotions SPEAK UP! as Podcast Guru Kevin Swanson shares an important topic: people ditching Christ. Homeschooled himself in the 1960s and 70s, Kevin Swanson and his wife, Brenda, are now homeschooling their five children. Since graduating from his homeschool and then serving as student body president of a large west coast university, he has gone on to other leadership positions in corporate management, church, and other non-profits. Kevin has forty-three years of experience in the homeschooling movement and serves as the Director of Generations with Vision – a ministry he founded to strengthen homeschool families around the country. As a father who wants to leave a godly heritage for his own five children, Kevin’s passion is to strengthen and encourage the homeschooling movement all over the world, and to cast a vision for generations to come. For the last four years, Kevin has hosted a daily radio program – Generations Radio – the world’s largest homeschooling and Biblical worldview program that reaches families across the US and in over 100 countries. Kevin has also served as the Executive Director of Christian Home Educators of Colorado for the last nine years. He has authored several popular books for homeschoolers, including Apostate, Upgrade-10 Secrets to the Best Education for Your Child, The Second Mayflower, the Family Bible Study Guide Series, and others. Kevin serves as a teaching elder in a historical Christian church in the South Denver Metro area (www.reformationchurch.com). He may be contacted via email at kevin@generationswithvision.com.

Join us this week on Christian Devotions SPEAK UP! as Podcast Guru Kevin Swanson shares an important topic: people ditching Christ. Homeschooled himself in the 1960s and 70s, Kevin Swanson and his wife, Brenda, are now homeschooling their five children. Since graduating from his homeschool and then serving as student body president of a large west coast university, he has gone on to other leadership positions in corporate management, church, and other non-profits. Kevin has forty-three years of experience in the homeschooling movement and serves as the Director of Generations with Vision – a ministry he founded to strengthen homeschool families around the country. As a father who wants to leave a godly heritage for his own five children, Kevin’s passion is to strengthen and encourage the homeschooling movement all over the world, and to cast a vision for generations to come. For the last four years, Kevin has hosted a daily radio program – Generations Radio – the world’s largest homeschooling and Biblical worldview program that reaches families across the US and in over 100 countries. Kevin has also served as the Executive Director of Christian Home Educators of Colorado for the last nine years. He has authored several popular books for homeschoolers, including Apostate, Upgrade-10 Secrets to the Best Education for Your Child, The Second Mayflower, the Family Bible Study Guide Series, and others.

Join us this week on Christian Devotions SPEAK UP! for the best clips of this past year. You won’t want to miss the Best of 2013 as we highlight clips from the world-class guests that graced our air waves. You will hear folks like Aaron Shust, gymnastic champion Kim Anthony, Duck Dynasty’s Mountain Man, county music and gospel singer LaDonna Gatlin, baseball star Tony Graffanino, quarterback Kirk Cousins of the Washington Redskins, musician Michael Card, and many more. You’ll also be treated to some excellent renditions of Happy Birthday, and, as usually is the case, much of the focus will be on family and the testimonies we’ve shared throughout the year.  Join Scott, Eddie Jones, and Cindy Sproles as they discuss the highs and lows of 2013 and what is in store for an exciting 2014. All the folks at Christian Devotions Ministries wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!    

Judy Ducharme was a teacher for twenty-two years. Coming from a family of teachers, it seemed a natural fit. She retired in June of 2012. She grew up in the small lakeside town of Harrisville in the northern part of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, the youngest of four children. Following college, Michigan State University, Judy worked as an announcer at a Christian radio station near Lansing. She married Lee in 1975 and they lived in the Detroit suburbs of Berkley and Royal Oak until moving to Wisconsin’s beautiful Door Peninsula in early 1984. At her first writers’ conference, Judy met Eddie Jones of Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas. He was the one who suggested The Cheesehead Devotional. Anyone who knows Judy knows what a crazy Packer fan she is. So, combining two great loves—first and foremost her love for the Lord, and, secondly, her love for the Packers—seemed a perfect match. Several months later, The Cheesehead Devotional became a reality. 

Join us this week on Christian Devotions SPEAK UP! as Scott weaves together the topic of youth staying in the church with the Green Bay Packers. Crazy? Tune in to find out. Caleb Breakey is a former journalist and author of the new book, Called to Stay (Harvest House). He is a frequent conference speaker with a sincere passion to lead, challenge, and inspire others in discussions about relationships, the church, and radically following Jesus. Ever since earning a degree in journalism at the age of twenty from Western Washington University, Caleb has published hundreds of articles in various publications (such as Chicken Soup, The Seattle Times, MLB.com, Christian Broadcast Network), been named a finalist for Sportswriter of the Year by the WNPA, and has interviewed numerous professional athletes and musicians, including Rogers Clemens, Derek Jeter, Jake Locker, Casting Crowns, and Emerson Drive. Caleb and his wife Brittney live in Washington State. More information about Caleb can be found online at www.calebbreakey.com.

Caleb Breakey is a former journalist and author of the new book, Called to Stay (Harvest House). He is a frequent conference speaker with a sincere passion to lead, challenge, and inspire others in discussions about relationships, the church, and radically following Jesus. Ever since earning a degree in journalism at the age of twenty from Western Washington University, Caleb has published hundreds of articles in various publications (such as Chicken Soup, The Seattle Times, MLB.com, Christian Broadcast Network), been named a finalist for Sportswriter of the Year by the WNPA, and has interviewed numerous professional athletes and musicians, including Rogers Clemens, Derek Jeter, Jake Locker, Casting Crowns, and Emerson Drive. Caleb and his wife Brittney live in Washington State.  Judy Ducharme was a teacher for twenty-two years. Coming from a family of teachers, it seemed a natural fit. She retired in June of 2012. She grew up in the small lakeside town of Harrisville in the northern part of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, the youngest of four children. Following college, Michigan State University, Judy worked as an announcer at a Christian radio station near Lansing. She married Lee in 1975 and they lived in the Detroit suburbs of Berkley and Royal Oak until moving to Wisconsin’s beautiful Door Peninsula in early 1984. At her first writers’ conference, Judy met Eddie Jones of Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas. He was the one who suggested The Cheesehead Devotional. Anyone who knows Judy knows what a crazy Packer fan she is. So, combining two great loves—first and foremost her love for the Lord, and, secondly, her love for the Packers—seemed a perfect match. Several months later, The Cheesehead Devotional became a reality. 

Join us this week on Christian Devotions SPEAK UP! where the topic of marriage steps to the stage. How do we know when the “time is right”? Nate Stevens has studied Scripture for answers and has written a book on how we can know when God is drawing two people together. As a missionary kid who grew up in a Christian home and church, Stevens provides a refreshingly different approach to dating and romantic relationships. His own relational misunderstandings and avoidable mistakes prompted the research and discovery for this book. It is his sincere hope that this book will inspire his children and all audiences to fully consider and strategically pursue true compatibility—in all four aspects. Stevens raises the reader's awareness to the four relational aspects of life: spiritual, intellectual, emotional, and physical. He explains the importance of fully developing the spirit, mind, soul, and body and then describes how they each affect our relational pursuits. He encourages an interdependent relationship as the healthy alternative to dependence or independence. Also identified are the enduring behaviors involved in a successful and enjoyable marriage. Stevens' goal is to lead the reader to a balanced, abundant life and a rewarding journey toward a compatible, fulfilling, and lifelong marriage. Nate currently lives near Charlotte, North Carolina, and is an active dad with his two awesome kids, Melissa and Mitchell. 

Join us this week on Christian Devotions SPEAK UP! where the topic of marriage steps to the stage. How do we know when the “time is right”? Nate Stevens has studied Scripture for answers and has written a book on how we can know when God is drawing two people together. As a missionary kid who grew up in a Christian home and church, Stevens provides a refreshingly different approach to dating and romantic relationships. His own relational misunderstandings and avoidable mistakes prompted the research and discovery for this book. It is his sincere hope that this book will inspire his children and all audiences to fully consider and strategically pursue true compatibility—in all four aspects. Stevens raises the reader's awareness to the four relational aspects of life: spiritual, intellectual, emotional, and physical. He explains the importance of fully developing the spirit, mind, soul, and body and then describes how they each affect our relational pursuits. He encourages an interdependent relationship as the healthy alternative to dependence or independence. Also identified are the enduring behaviors involved in a successful and enjoyable marriage. Stevens' goal is to lead the reader to a balanced, abundant life and a rewarding journey toward a compatible, fulfilling, and lifelong marriage. Nate currently lives near Charlotte, North Carolina, and is an active dad with his two awesome kids, Melissa and Mitchell. 

Join us this week on Christian Devotions SPEAK UP! as host Scott McCausey chats with Matt Papa about the words contained in the songs we sing to worship Christ. Matt Papa is a minister and recording artist based out of Raleigh, North Carolina where he lives with his wife Lauren and their three daughters, Paisley, Stella, & So?. He serves as an Artist-In-Residence and Worship Leader at The Summit Church in Durham. For over a decade, Matt has been writing and recording songs that are saturated with God's Truth. To Papa, a song is more than just lyrics and melody—it's a sermon people remember. His latest studio release, Look & Live, is a loud & liberating call to people everywhere to break the chains of boredom, addiction, and idolatry...not ultimately by trying harder but by experiencing a greater thrill—the beauty and glory of God. At the heart of Papa's ministry is a vision to see the nations worship the One True God; and to that end, Matt radically leverages his life, his ministry, and his music.

Join us this week on Christian Devotions SPEAK UP! as host Scott McCausey chats with Matt Papa about the words contained in the songs we sing to worship Christ. Matt Papa is a minister and recording artist based out of Raleigh, North Carolina where he lives with his wife Lauren and their three daughters, Paisley, Stella, & So?. He serves as an Artist-In-Residence and Worship Leader at The Summit Church in Durham. For over a decade, Matt has been writing and recording songs that are saturated with God's Truth. To Papa, a song is more than just lyrics and melody—it's a sermon people remember. His latest studio release, Look & Live, is a loud & liberating call to people everywhere to break the chains of boredom, addiction, and idolatry...not ultimately by trying harder but by experiencing a greater thrill—the beauty and glory of God. At the heart of Papa's ministry is a vision to see the nations worship the One True God; and to that end, Matt radically leverages his life, his ministry, and his music.

Duck Dynasty star Tim Guraedy is best known to the show’s millions of hard-core fans as “Mountain Man,” the slow-talking air-conditioning repairman/radio host who is a neighbor to the Robertsons, the Louisiana family that made a fortune from its best-selling duck calls, around which the show is based. Mountain Man is the only semi-regular cast member who is not a Robertson family member or employee of Duck Commander. Now in its fourth season, Duck Dynasty has become A&E’s most-watched series in the network’s history. The February 27, 2013 two-episode Season 3 premier tallied 8.6 million viewers, making it the most-watched telecast in network history. While he was born in Louisiana, Guraedy moved around a bit in his youth, spending time in Minnesota, Tennessee, and Indiana. But the lure of the Bayou State was too strong, and Guraedy returned to Louisiana, which has been his home for the past twenty-five years. He lives in Monroe, LA, the small town made famous by Duck Dynasty and Duck Commander.  Guraedy’s weekly radio show on local station Z107.5, Big Z Country, has become popular all over the globe, with people tuning in via the Internet to hear Mountain Man’s delightful mix of common sense, sports, music—and usually a Bible verse or two. To know Mountain Man is to know a man whose Christian faith is a big part of who he is. “Life’s not easy, but I have God in my life and it’s so much better. So much better,” he has said. “I love being able to actually go to schools and give speeches about bullying, drugs, and abstinence. It makes my soul feel good.” Guraedy is also an avid outdoorsman who enjoys both fresh and salt water fishing, as well as hunting everything from wild boar to, well, ducks, of course.

Duck Dynasty star Tim Guraedy is best known to the show’s millions of hard-core fans as “Mountain Man,” the slow-talking air-conditioning repairman/radio host who is a neighbor to the Robertsons, the Louisiana family that made a fortune from its best-selling duck calls, around which the show is based. Mountain Man is the only semi-regular cast member who is not a Robertson family member or employee of Duck Commander. Now in its fourth season, Duck Dynasty has become A&E’s most-watched series in the network’s history. The February 27, 2013 two-episode Season 3 premier tallied 8.6 million viewers, making it the most-watched telecast in network history. While he was born in Louisiana, Guraedy moved around a bit in his youth, spending time in Minnesota, Tennessee, and Indiana. But the lure of the Bayou State was too strong, and Guraedy returned to Louisiana, which has been his home for the past twenty-five years. He lives in Monroe, LA, the small town made famous by Duck Dynasty and Duck Commander.  Guraedy’s weekly radio show on local station Z107.5, Big Z Country, has become popular all over the globe, with people tuning in via the Internet to hear Mountain Man’s delightful mix of common sense, sports, music—and usually a Bible verse or two. To know Mountain Man is to know a man whose Christian faith is a big part of who he is. “Life’s not easy, but I have God in my life and it’s so much better. So much better,” he has said. “I love being able to actually go to schools and give speeches about bullying, drugs, and abstinence. It makes my soul feel good.” Guraedy is also an avid outdoorsman who enjoys both fresh and salt water fishing, as well as hunting everything from wild boar to, well, ducks, of course.

Join us this week on Christian Devotions SPEAK UP! as Scott McCausey continues music month with one of the most prolific modern-day hymn composers, Keith Getty. Keith and Kristyn Getty met in Belfast, Ireland when they began songwriting together. They were married in 2004, and two years later they recorded their first project as a couple in the United Kingdom and Nashville, TN. In 2007, they made the journey overseas to America and lived in Ohio for three years as they began their professional career. They found their permanent home in Nashville in July of 2010. In 2011, the Gettys welcomed a new addition to their family when their daughter, Eliza Joy, was born. The Gettys have released four albums and have garnered incredible success in six short years that include an acclaimed repertoire of 21st century hymns and one of their most impactful live performances. The couple has toured extensively, including with Joy – an Irish Christmas concert tour, which has played many of the nation’s major concert halls, reaching over 60,000 people in two years. They have also appeared at Franklin Graham crusades, the GMA Dove Awards, The Third Lausanne Conference on World Evangelization, as well as feature performances at London’s Royal Albert Hall, the legendary Grand Ole Opry, and with many other noted platforms.   One of Keith’s most popular compositions, In Christ Alone, was co-written with Stuart Townend and released in 2001. The song was well received that year but continues to grow in popularity, remaining the #1 most-sung-hymn in the UK since 2006 (CCLI) and finding position among the top 20 songs in the United States, Canada, and Australia.

Join us this week on Christian Devotions SPEAK UP! as Scott McCausey discusses a story which led John Schlitt from drugs and rock ‘n’ roll to Christ and Christian music. John began singing when he was just five years old, performing the leads in recitals and plays in his school. By the time he was thirteen he was in the unforgettably titled band Vinegar Hills Hometown Band Something Different – being paid twenty-five bucks as lead singer. It soon became clear that a career in music was in John’s future. He finished college with a degree in civil engineering and promptly set about making a name for himself in the world of rock ‘n’ roll. His unique, fiery tenor and unbridled passion for singing landed him a gig fronting the secular rock outfit Head East. John’s eight-year stint with Head East put him on the map in terms of his career. The band was celebrated for its raw energy and swagger. Described by one newspaper as a "brash…cocky, (and) hard-fisted rock band,” the five-piece group enjoyed a loyal following and a string of hits throughout the 70s that helped solidify their fan base. John’s career seemed set, but it all came to a distressing end in 1980 when he was let go by the band. The reason? John had an out-of-control drug and alcohol addiction. Fast forward six years where John Schlitt officially joined Petra in 1986, bringing with him his amazing vocal range and abilities that made him a legend with Head East. Except this time, his mind was no longer blown on drugs and alcohol. He was clean, focused, and armed with a powerful message: God made us to be winners – Jesus Christ is alive and through Him we are to be victorious in His perfect plan for each of us.

Join us this week on Christian Devotions SPEAK UP! as Scott McCausey discusses a story which led John Schlitt from drugs and rock ‘n’ roll to Christ and Christian music. John began singing when he was just five years old, performing the leads in recitals and plays in his school. By the time he was thirteen he was in the unforgettably titled band Vinegar Hills Hometown Band Something Different – being paid twenty-five bucks as lead singer. It soon became clear that a career in music was in John’s future. He finished college with a degree in civil engineering and promptly set about making a name for himself in the world of rock ‘n’ roll. His unique, fiery tenor and unbridled passion for singing landed him a gig fronting the secular rock outfit Head East. John’s eight-year stint with Head East put him on the map in terms of his career. The band was celebrated for its raw energy and swagger. Described by one newspaper as a "brash…cocky, (and) hard-fisted rock band,” the five-piece group enjoyed a loyal following and a string of hits throughout the 70s that helped solidify their fan base. John’s career seemed set, but it all came to a distressing end in 1980 when he was let go by the band. The reason? John had an out-of-control drug and alcohol addiction. Fast forward six years where John Schlitt officially joined Petra in 1986, bringing with him his amazing vocal range and abilities that made him a legend with Head East. Except this time, his mind was no longer blown on drugs and alcohol. He was clean, focused, and armed with a powerful message: God made us to be winners – Jesus Christ is alive and through Him we are to be victorious in His perfect plan for each of us.