Counseling Worksheet Free Giveaway!

We are excited to partner with www.SavvyGoose.com for a free Anger Management Worksheet giveaway!  Make sure you check out their site and sign up to win our worksheets!  You can also purchase them at an outrageous discount!

Book Review – Your Money Map by Howard Dayton

One of my New Years resolutions was to start reading more. . . so I did.  I started reading “Your Money Map – A Proven 7-Step Guide to True Financial Freedom” by Howard Dayton. I thought it looked interesting and ‘Who couldn’t use some financial tips’.

I finished it today and really wanted to tell you about it.  I really enjoyed it.  Howard Dayton is a master at explaining money and has laid out a easy 7-Step way to become financially free!

I think the chapter on credit card use should be read by everyone!  “If you can’t pay it off every month. . . don’t use credit cards!”  He talks about simple steps to set your financial affairs in order and how to stay debt free.

His book is loaded with tips, websites, and more. . . It is a great resource.

I don’t agree with all areas of the book, but feel it is a good start to getting out of debt.  I also enjoyed the easy reader friendly style.  I often find myself reading a page or two and having to put my book down.  Mr. Dayton’s book lends itself to this style of reader well.  Overall I have to give it two thumbs up!  I hope you pick up a copy for yourself, of just ask to borrow my copy (if you can read through all my scribbles).

Visit Dayton’s website at www.crownmoneymap.org

Lady Gaga Was NOT Born This Way! ~ Re-Post from Jim Daly’s Blog

She was born Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta. A city kid, she lived in a duplex on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Both parents were professionals. Her father was a corporate executive and her mother a vice president at Verizon.

Raised a Roman Catholic, Stefani was enrolled in Covenant of the Sacred Heart, a private all-girls school that dates back to 1881. (Enrollment is exclusive and expensive; tuition is $35,000 per year.)

Former classmates report that as she grew older she also grew more eccentric, but still maintained a semblance of normalcy. In high school, she was reportedly the only one in her class with a job, waiting on tables at a local diner.

 

So how does one go from being a high school waitress named Stefani to assuming the outlandish identity of Lady Gaga, a singer whose hit song, Born This Way, was downloaded 286,000 times last week?

Not surprisingly, Stefani was drawn to music as a young girl. She loved the Beatles and Pink Floyd and even started her own classic rock cover band. But she found both classic and modern artists too tame and boring. So when it came to developing her own image, she became determined to stand out by sticking out. She studied the stars, from Prince to Madonna, and slowly carved out her niche. A friend began to regularly critique her habit and style and once lectured her on always maintaining a consistent celebrity persona. When she showed up to the studio wearing sweatpants, the friend was blunt:

“Prince doesn’t pick up ice cream at the 7-Eleven looking like Chris Rock,” she was told. “You’re an artist now. You can’t turn this on and off.”

Stefani Germanotta has taken those words to heart, and reportedly wants even long-time friends to call her by her stage name, Lady Gaga. Her acts have become increasingly bizarre and disturbing, which is exactly her intention. Each generation seems to try and push the envelope further than the last.

 

I am not inclined toward celebrity psycho-analysis, and, candidly, find it strange to even write the word “Gaga.” But when millions of young people download her music and watch her videos, parents are wise to take note of what the hype and hoopla is all about.

In Born This Way, the claim is made that you’re born either heterosexual or homosexual.  Don’t fight it – simply accept and embrace it.

The problem is, researchers are not sure about what causes homosexuality.  Many are concluding it is a complex combination of things, but it is not as clear cut as simply genetic material.

The pulse and pace of modern culture can usually be determined from its music and movies, not faith and reason. That a song advocating for a genetic determinative for homosexuality sits atop the charts is disconcerting, but not entirely shocking. From the outside looking in, two things strike me.

First, by Stefani Germanotta’s own admission, she’s built her entire persona and celebrity on a platform that’s anything but typical. She is playing a part, a role, and not living as she would outside the bright lights. Put another way, Lady Gaga was clearly not born this way.

Second, and more importantly, the message found within the lyrics of Born This Way is in stark contrast to the message of the Gospel. All of us are born into sin, the Bible tells us, with desires and resulting actions that separate us from God and put us at odds with His blueprint for our lives. But the Good News is we’re not hopelessly trapped in our sin and failure. Despite the fact that we were “born this way,” each of us can be set free – from homosexuality, or heterosexual sex outside of marriage, or pornography, or greed, or gossip, or any other human shortcoming – to be the men and women God intended us to be.

So why does Lady Gaga continue to try and shock and rattle the establishment? Why does any celebrity?

Deep down, Stefani Germanotta wants to know what we all want to know. She wants to know that she matters. And you know what?  She does matter – to the God of the universe, the Creator of heaven and earth.

As Christians we know that our significance is not found in stardom, but in becoming a part of God’s family through Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. He was born in Bethlehem and died on Calvary that way – so that we might live  His way, redeemed and healed by His wounds (Isaiah 53:5).

 

Blog re-posted from JIM DALY at Focus On The Family.

Another Free Worksheet!

Another free worksheet just posted on our facebook page:

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Add us as a fan for your free monthly worksheets!

Repentance = Mercy and Grace

In honor of the 40 Days for life campaign that is currently running, I have re-posted this article.  Life is truly precious.  Visit their site at:   http://www.40daysforlife.com/

June was a senior on the debate team when she presented a pro-life argument. She did her research and displayed amazing pictures of the development of a child in his mother’s womb. She won the debate and received the highest grade possible.

It was six months later when she had her first abortion.

See, simply knowing the truth does not assure that we will walk in the truth. June knew the truth in her head, but did not have the courage to apply it to her own life. “I could not speak what I supposedly believed any longer,” June lamented. “I was a defeated failure.” June went on to have two more abortions while attending college and eventually dropped out of school. Pregnant for the fourth time, she packed her bags and went home to her parents. As far as they knew, this was her first pregnancy. This time, June knew she would have her baby…and she did.

Peter, the disciple, and June walked a similar path. While June denied her children the right to live, Peter denied his Savior’s Lordship. During the last meal that Jesus celebrated with his disciples before he faced the cross, Jesus warned them that he would be leaving soon. “Lord, where are you going?” Peter asked. Jesus replied, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later.” Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you. Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will” (John 13:37, Matthew 26:33). Then Jesus answered, “Will you really lay down your life for me? I tell you the truth (He always does), before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!” (John 13:36-38). “But Peter declared, ‘Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you” (Mark 13:41). I imagine Jesus simply looked at Peter with a knowing eye and a wounded heart. Sure you will, buddy, he must have mused. You will die for me, but not today. Peter was so sure of himself as he stood before the debate team and presented the facts. And yet, before the sun rose over the horizon he did the very opposite of what his self-assured, overconfident words proclaimed. “You are not one of disciples, are you?” a girl asked at the door to the High Priest’s courtyard. “I am not,” Peter replied. “You are not one of his disciples, are you?” someone asked as Peter stood warming his hands by the fire. “I am not,” Peter denied. “Didn’t I see you with Jesus in the olive grove, and aren’t you the fellow who cut off my relative’s ear?” challenged another. “I am not!” Peter declared for a third time. The moment the third denial escaped Peter’s determined lips, a rooster crowed. As the new day broke over the horizon, Peter’s heart broke over his sin. Peter wept bitterly over his cowardly actions. This brash, boisterous, demonstrative fisherman had cowered under the accusing gaze of a mere servant girl. I am fearful that we have put this story on a shelf for safe keeping.

We, as believers tend to follow the baseball rule book rather than God’s Word when it comes to the failure of our brothers and sisters – three strikes and you’re out. But the Umpire of the Universe calls it differently. He puts on the cloak of mercy and grace, calls us to repentance, and invites us to get back in the game.

Reprinted from www.crosswalk.com on August 18, 2009.   Article by Sharon James.

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Free Counseling Worksheets!

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Urine Screens – New test for Synthetic Marijuana!

http://www.redwoodtoxicology.com/services/synthetic_cannabinoid_testing.html

Synthetic Cannabinoid Drug Testing

RTL now offers lab-based testing for the detection of JWH-018 and JWH-073 metabolites in urine. JWH-018 and JWH-073 are the primary synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists responsible for the euphoric and psychoactive effects that imitate marijuana and are among the numerous compounds found in “herbal” incense or smoke blends.

JWH-compounds are now being sprayed on herbal material and sold as “fake weed” or “synthetic marijuana.” Users looking for a “legal high” often turn to popular herbal smoking products marketed under brand names such as K2, K3, Spice, Genie, Smoke, Pot-pourri, Buzz, Pulse, Hush, Mystery, Earthquake, Ocean Blue, Stinger, Serenity and many others.

2010 Lapper Cancer Walk!

Help Me fight cancer and support me in the 2010 Lapper Cancer walk.

I am walking in Lapper 2010. The walk is scheduled for Saturday, June 5th at Foster Park. If you can, I’d love for you to join me and help me raise funds to benefit those who have been diagnosed with cancer in Northeast Indiana. If you can’t join me, please consider making a donation to help me reach my goal.

Follow This Link to visit my personal web page and help me in my efforts to support Cancer Services of Northeast Indiana

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Some email systems do not support the use of links and therefore this link may not appear to work. If so, copy and paste the following into your browser:
http://Lapper2010.kintera.org/faf/r.asp?t=4&i=343221&u=343221-289138219&e=3294120548
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Thanks for your support!

Brandon Bower

Anger Myths ~ A lesson in self control

Anger was created by God as a defense mechanism.  It is designed to protect us, but it often causes more harm than good.  “Anyone can become angry.  That is easy.  But to be angry with the right person, to the right degree, at the right time, for the right purpose and in the right way – that is not easy”.  -   Aristotle (384-322 BC) – Greek philosopher.  When we start to feel angry, we need to step back and process (think and figure out) what is making us angry.  Doing this will save us a lot of trouble.  The following are a list of Anger Myths followed by a list of thought provoking questions designed to help you think closer about your anger.

Myth #1: I have inherited my anger. Often a myth about anger is that my anger tendencies are inherited and cannot be changed. Research evidence indicates that people are not born with their angry tendencies rather that their anger is a learned behavior.  We learn by watching others (our parents, teachers, and friends) and with some effort, our learned anger tendencies can be re-programmed.

Myth #2: All anger is aggressive. This anger myth is a misconception.  This belief holds the only way to express anger is by being aggressive. There are many different positive and assertive ways to express your anger. Controlling your anger involves practice in assertiveness training, changing your negative self talk, challenging your faulty beliefs, and using a thought stopping process to control your immediate angry impulse.

Myth #3: To get what you deserve in life, you have to be aggressive. Don’t confuse assertiveness with aggression. The purpose of aggression is always to cause harm, dominate, intimidate, or to win at any cost.  On the other hand, the purpose of assertiveness is to express your anger in a positive and healthy way that is respectful of other people and yourself. When you express yourself in an assertive manner that does not blame or threaten other people and minimizes the chance of emotional harm you will learn that you gain respect.

Myth #4: Venting is the best way to deal with anger. For many years, therapists taught that the aggressive expression of anger, such as beating on pillows, or punching walls was therapeutic and healthy. We have found that people who vent their anger aggressively simply get better at being angry. In other words, venting anger in an aggressive manner reinforces aggressive behavior.

Please answer the following questions about your anger:

1.  Have you ever believed any of these myths about anger?

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2.  Who have you learned your negative patterns of behavior from? ________________________________________________________

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3.  Define what it means to be assertive.

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4.  What are some coping skills that you can rely on to curb your angry outbursts? ________________________________________________________

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5.  I also learned this about my anger . . .

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An Anger Myths Worksheet can be found at www.counselingworksheets.com

When Palin Met Graham

I really enjoyed this interview!  Thought I would share it with you. . .

When Palin Met Graham.