...where laughter lives: The Riggs Family

If The Bible Interests You...

2012-05-16T09:30:00.000-05:00

From Brent

My wife is writing an adoption update... after months of delays, it seems we might be getting close. And an Abby update this week too...

For those of you who find the Bible interesting (or WISH it was interesting), you might check out my latest post on my Christian blog:

http://www.seriousfaith.com/2012/05/change-your-cherry-pickin-ways/

Just Do It

2012-04-03T11:32:00.001-05:00

I just posted some thoughts over on my other blog called "Just Do It".

Thought I would let you know about it in case it could bless you today.

http://www.seriousfaith.com/2012/04/just-do-it/

Brent

Laughter Lives At Our Friends House Too

2012-03-13T19:04:00.000-05:00

From Brent

Our friend Susan sent us the following story which is just too funny not to share:

A few years ago I went to visit my dad and step mom in Tulsa, Ok. It was one of those trips where I came home with more than I took, so my stepmom sent me back with an old suitcase of hers that she no longer wanted.

I got home and unpacked it, then put it in the attic where it has been for a few years. I have no use for it. It's an old style with tiny wheels. It is large and taking up too much space, but I have a terrible time getting rid of anything that has useful life left.

So a few weeks ago a person posted on Google groups that she was looking for an old suitcase to take on a mission trip. She wanted one that didn't have to be returned if it were ruined or lost. Perfect! I responded right away. When she got to my house I got out the suitcase, and it was then that I realized it had a 3-digit combination lock on it. I tried all the obvious possibilities (my dad's area code, part of the zip, address, etc.) with no luck. I even called them but they didn't remember it. The woman took the suitcase anyway, thinking perhaps she could get the lock off the suitcase.

A couple of weeks later the suitcase was on my front porch when I got home, still locked. I can only assume she found a different one to take. I didn't even bother to take it back up to the attic. It has been by the front door for a while waiting for me to get rid of it! So today, fed up, I decided that there were only 1000 possible combinations and how long could it possibly take to flip through them? I started with 001. 002. 003... I got pretty fast and was flipping through them at a rate of two or three per second. It wasn't taking that long.

Finally, on my 473rd try, *click*. I opened the suitcase wondering if there was anything in it. Sure enough, there was.

Joy & Strength No Matter What

2012-03-13T06:41:00.002-05:00

I wrote a blog post over on my other blog about having joy and strength no matter what life throws at you.

If you are interested, you can read it here:

http://www.seriousfaith.com/2012/03/joy-strength-no-matter-what/

Adoption Update and Birthday Pics...

2012-02-09T09:26:00.001-06:00

From Michelle

Here's an adoption update and we are working on birthday party pics that will go up shortly... try to see if you can continue life anyway despite the anxiety and expectation of seeing some of our family photos. :)

Adoption Update

Our adoption agency feels we are getting very close to completing this adoption. The last steps they have been all about making sure that the child/children’s birth family is choosing adoption for their child. I love that they are being so careful.

This process has been slowed down a little because of -20 Celsius temps and a lot of snow. Europe is having a ridiculous winter. Yikes! When it is 50 degrees outside, I wear a coat that is marketed as “perfect for 0 degrees F”. I got cold just reading our lawyers email. I am glad God called us to adopt when weather.com clocked Montenegro’s temperatures at 70 degrees F... I doubt we would have chosen Montenegro if the temps were 50 below at the time. J

I have begun freezing meals for my kids to eat when we travel and talking to my family about thing the kids will need help with while we are gone. As silly as it may sound, I am enjoying doing the little things to get ready. It helps pass the time as we continue to learn PATIENCE which is a necessity for international adoption.

A Joyful Noise Movie Review: Some Things to Be Joyful About & Some Not

2012-01-15T16:52:00.000-06:00

From Brent

I took my wife to see Joyful Noise last night, the reportedly "Christian" movie with Dolly Parton and Queen Latifah. Given how easily fads sweep through American Christianity with little discernment, I thought I would give you a review of the movie. I'm not going to try and decide for you whether or not to see it, or promote it as a "Christian" movie. I'll just give you my observations, positive and negative and leave you to consider it.

FYI, I'm not trying to review like a movie critic. I'm not addressing whether the story, acting or production was good. I'm commenting on it for the sake of Christians being able to discern the CHRISTIAN merits of the movie since it's 1) set in a church/Christianity environment and 2) it's already being discussed as a "Christian movie" by Christians.

Summary:

The movie is about a church choir competition. The plot involves a mother with two kids, a father who left them, the mom's struggle to raise the kids, and the kids struggle with growing up and the ever popular Hollywood premise of "finding out who they really are" (which is most often code language for "don't be like your parents"... this movie is no exception but with a twist that makes it somewhat tolerable).

Some Joyful Noise About Joyful Noise

Here are my positive observations about the movie:

It's cleaner and more "wholesome" than 99% of what Hollywood and TV produces. That's not a huge endorsement given current entertainment standards but it is true relatively speaking.
The movie contains no real violence, overtly vulgar language (again, compared to what Hollywood typically produces, more on the language below because there is cursing in the movie), or graphic sex, immodesty or nudity (a negative about that below too)
For most of the movie it appears the typical Hollywood message that "conservative (and especially) Christian parents are intolerant, out of touch, close minded and need to be enlightened by the liberal, worldly and in particular the youthful characters" is going to be played out to the end... but in a refreshing twist, the mother confidently and accurately puts the smart-mouthed rebellious daughter in her place and the movie doesn't use that as "proof" the mom is a jerk. Wow! What a concept!

The mom gets to say what every parents wants to say to their ungrateful, spoiled, self-pitying teen and it leaves the crowd applauding. Normally, Hollywood only puts in that kind of scene when it makes the parent look even more controlling and close-minded. Not this time. The mom looks like the wise, strong, parent deserving of respect. Amazing that a movie actually (FINALLY) portrays a Christian, authoritative parent in that kind of positive light. (Caveat: but even still, the subtle final message is still that the mom loosened up and let her 16 year old daughter "grow up" even though she was allowed to put her foot down against the blatant rebelliousness and self pity.)
The music is clean and entertaining though hardly "Christian" in any substantive way. It's pop music sang in the best tradition of black gospel.
The story ends up with family reconciliation, portrays faithfulness to marriage vows, and implies the strength of traditional family.
The movie shows whites, blacks and Asians all getting along and living together just fine in a small, southern town. That drives liberals CRAZY who sincerely believe that all southern states are really just closeted KKK hotbeds. While there is no doubt racism is alive and well (from ALL COLORS) in American MOSTLY IN BIG CITIES NOT RURAL TOWNS, it has been my experience in 40 years of small southern towns that the '60's Lyndon Johnson idea of racism is rarely seen today. Whites and blacks and browns and reds and yellows in conservative small town America live and work and worship and play together without a whole lot of thought of "race". You'll never convince Washington or Hollywood of that though because it would erode the power of people who live and prosper by fanning the flames of racism.

Some Not So Joyful Noise

If I were to stop at merely comparing this to the normal trash that is shown on flat screens today, I would give this film a double thumbs up and tell you to take the family to see it. However, it's not quite that simple from a Christian standpoint. Compared to Godly standards, there are several concerns, and given the impression it leaves about Christianity in general, I'm not all that joyful about it. My observations:

Casual fornication (no sex scene but the deed is obvious) between two choir members is played off mostly as a joke and it's never seriously implied (or stated) that fornication is a sin to be repented of. Even the Pastor makes a joke about it at a funeral (the man died from a heart attack while having sex). It's also implied several times that if you haven't had sex for several years, you can't help but want to jump in bed with someone.
Cursing: there are a couple of scenes when unbelievers or the rebellious say a "mild" curse word and that could have been livable as demonstrating "real life". But the movie goes much further with a couple of dozen or more curse words used casually and without concern even from the Christian characters in the movie.

There is one scene where the mom comes down on the daughter about cursing, the mom spouting some curse words then saying "see I can cuss too. It's easy and it proves your stupid" (I'm paraphrasing). That kind of message I can live with. The gratuitous cursing for a laugh or simply because no one, even the Christians, think it is any big deal is not something I can pass over as no big deal. The movie in total leaves you with the impression that "mild" cursing is not a concern. I guess that's a good selling point in light of some of today's Christian writers like Doug Giles (whose thoughts I agree with but I'm concerned about his growing use of crass verbiage and cursing).
The typical Hollywood message (particularly to the youth) that no one who is a serious student and Christian can possibly be living life to the fullest is present and never completely debunked. The rebellious daughter, the wayward grandson and the worldly grandmother are sympathetically portrayed as compassionate, thoughtful, earthy, feeling and really embracing life. The uptight mother and pastor are close minded, controlling and stifled. A couple of other Christians are buffoonish rednecks and simpletons. Yawn.... typical Hollywood. It's not NEARLY as blatant in this movie as most but the message is clear. At the end of the movie the mom's strictness is shown to be somewhat positive AFTER she softens towards her daughter and the rebel boyfriend. Three steps forward, one step back.
In one scene, the black gospel music presentation is almost clownish (specifically their "competition" from a Detroit black church)... on a positive note, the primary choir the story revolves around is entertaining and dignified even though the music is not Christian, it's pop music.
Other than some casual contemporary Christian stanzas, no serious Christian music (doctrinally speaking) is used in the movie; the choir sings pop music from the likes of Michael Jackson. The church service is where the performances are rehearsed. It adds to the overall subtle message (in my opinion) that Christianity is more social than anything, and not something to be taken very seriously. Unbelievers are invited to be in the choir because of their music talent and the Sunday church gathering is trivialized. The rebellious unbelievers come to accept the Christians because they like the music but it's never portrayed or implied that they accepted the Christian Gospel.
The Christians in the movie are wholesome for the most part but apologetically worldly and no serious Christianity or Gospel message is portrayed in any substantial way. Even though the entire movie is about Christianity, "Jesus" and supposedly faith, not one single serious message about Christ, the Bible, prayer or any Christian doctrine is expressed; not even a hint about the Gospel.
The Pastor declares the church can only remain "open" because of rich a member and her support (any real Pastor would recoil at referring to the Church as a business that depends on rich donors). In the end, the Pastor sends that same member packing because she tries to demand his obedience for her support. But... she then pulls another (weird, not very creative) trick out of her bag and ends up with the Pastor in her pocket again at the end of the movie. Of course, typically, the uptight Pastor eventually comes around and loosens up like everyone else.

--------------

Overall, the movie is fairly enjoyable and certainly "wholesome" when measured by Hollywood standards. Christianity is not openly attacked or mocked (as is typical on TV or movies today almost without exception) but the way morality, holiness and "church" is trivialized throughout the show, it leaves Christians with concerns. What's worse? Outright mockery of Christianity, or the subtle trivializing of it?

(Something to think about: the movie "Soul Surfer" portrays a faithful Christian family without mockery but the whole movie is filled with teenage girls in bikinis [the real life girls looked more like prepubescent children, but the movie girls were post-puberty]; is that better or worse than a movie like "Joyful Noise" that's not start-to-end-teen-girls-in-bikini's but trivializes morality, faith and Christianity for the most part? Just something to think about...)

The usual message that authoritative parents and/or serious Christians are uptight and close-minded is loud and proud for most of the movie... then knocked down momentarily towards the end... then left as implied truth when the movie ends. The flipside is also clear: the worldly, the youthful, and the rebellious are the enlightened, happy and compassionate people who really know how to enjoy life. The movie knocks down (appropriately) the worst of the rebellious behavior from the teens but still leaves the final underlying message that they were mostly right about everything, they just needed to be a little more respectful about it.

About the best I can say is this: it's downright clean and wholesome compared to most movies. However, if you do choose to see it, you should not be undiscerning about it and promote it without concern. I would also be careful labeling it a "Christian movie" when it's more accurately "a movie whose characters go to church and sing in a choir". Maybe that's enough to call it "Christian" but it's nowhere close to a movie that clearly communicates the Christian message (no one says that was the purpose; but if they aren't calling it a "Christian" movie, should Christians?).

A good clean family movie compared by Hollywood standards? Yes.
A "Christian" movie that portrays morality, holiness and faith seriously and accurately? No.
A movie devoid of liberal Hollywood messages about enlightened youth and close minded authoritarians? No.

I just want Christians to be discerning. We are so used to the garbage and filth in most movies or books, that we jump on any "Christian" scrap media throws us with very little scrutiny or discernment. I would not take my children under 12 to see it unless I could edit out the cursing and the fornication jokes. I would only see it with my teens or older if I was ready to explain to them where the movie falls short of true Christian messaging.

Contemplation: isn't it amazing that we are at a point in Christianity where we consider a movie with a dozen or more curse words, unrepentant fornication, church favoritism, a manipulated Pastor and a trivialized Christian experience something we would even CONSIDER seeing because it's a wholesome family movie compared to the rest of Hollywood trash?

It's A Dogs Life

2012-01-13T22:58:00.000-06:00

From Brent

The kids got a puppy for Christmas. Let's just say that the dog had no problem getting comfortable in our family. Ya think?

That dog is sound asleep... never even blinked when the kids
thought it would be funny to put underwear on her.. and it was!
I don't have high standards... I just want to be treated as well as a dog.
I guess we could all learn a lesson about being carefree, huh?

Put Your 2011 Blog into a Book!

2011-12-28T12:31:00.002-06:00

From Brent

It's the end of the year and perfect time to have your 2011 blog posts immortalized in a book.

For a couple of years now, I've offered THE most flexible and inexpensive "blogger to book" option available. Check it out at: www.bloggertobook.com

Thanks!

Note: for blogs hosted on blogger.com only

You'll Be Glad You Watched This... Merry Christmas

2011-12-19T17:27:00.000-06:00

From Brent

Here's a couple of heartwarming and inspirational Christmas videos I thought you would enjoy. The first one put a big smile on my face. Thanks to my friend Bob for sending it. Check out his weekly column here... you'll enjoy his latest about Christmas.

The 2nd video is from my all time favorite singer. I've watched this dozens of times for years and it still gives me goosebumps and tears.

Enjoy! Leave a comment and let me know what you think of them.

Spend Time With Your Family During the Holidays

2011-12-12T09:29:00.001-06:00

From Brent

Continuing a series that is very timely for the holidays, here's are some more ideas for spending time together as a family. The holidays can be so BUSY, it's easy to neglect intimate family time. Hope you enjoy it over on my personal blog.

Read the entire post here...

Guest Post - Some Myths About Diabetes

2011-12-11T08:46:00.000-06:00

Note: Our blog is not about "health" but obviously good medical information is helpful to all especially on such a common topic as Diabetes. So I thought I'd run this guest post from Wendy for whoever it may help... Brent

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On July 25, 2005, I took our 24 month old daughter to her pediatrician, because I was concerned about symptoms she had been displaying intermittently for a few weeks. Shortly after our arrival, an ambulance was summoned for transport to the Emergency Room; followed by a helicopter flight, and admission to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.

The diagnosis: Diabetic Ketoacidosis, a complication of Type 1 Diabetes.

November is National Diabetes Awareness Month, and the global symbol for diabetes awareness is the blue circle. Raising diabetes awareness is very important to me

Over the past 6 years, I’ve discovered some common misconceptions about Type 1 Diabetes, and I appreciate the opportunity to debunk a few myths. . .

MYTH #1: Diabetes is Diabetes, and it’s all the same.

TRUTH: There are several types of Diabetes, the most common being Type 2. Type 1 Diabetes is an autoimmune condition, in which the insulin producing cells of the pancreas stop producing insulin. Type 2 Diabetes is a metabolic condition which does not completely inhibit the body’s ability to produce insulin, but instead limits the body’s ability to effectively use the insulin it produces. Type 1 Diabetes was formerly known as “Juvenile Diabetes”, but it cannot be outgrown. Children with Type 1 Diabetes grow up to become adults with Type 1 Diabetes.

MYTH #2: Type 1 Diabetes is caused by eating too much junk food, and other poor lifestyle choices. Besides, since we don’t have diabetes in our family, I don’t have to worry about it happening to my child.

TRUTH: No one knows what causes Type 1 Diabetes, but the research is very clear that it is NOT caused by poor diet or lack of exercise. A common theory is that a virus, such as a stomach bug or a simple cold, causes the autoimmune reaction that results in Type 1 Diabetes. Type 1 Diabetes rarely has a genetic link, and no child is immune to the risk of developing it. Adults (usually under the age of 40) can also be diagnosed, regardless of medical or genetic history.

Symptoms can occur suddenly, and include: extreme thirst, frequent urination, sudden vision changes, fruity, sweet, or wine-like odor on breath, increased appetite, weight loss, drowsiness/lethargy, labored breathing, unconsciousness.

MYTH #3: People with Type 1 Diabetes cannot eat sugar.

TRUTH: People with Type 1 Diabetes CAN eat sugar. It is necessary that insulin be given when a person with Type 1 Diabetes consumes carbohydrates in any form. It doesn’t matter if those carbs come from a piece of fruit, a drink, or a sugary treat. Insulin can only be given via injection, either through a syringe or an insulin pump. Insulin is the only treatment available for managing Type 1 Diabetes, but it is not a cure. Without insulin, people with Type 1 Diabetes will die.

My daughter is 8 years old now. Since her diagnosis, she has endured nearly 20,000 finger pricks, 3000 shots, and 500 insulin pump sites. We test her blood sugar 8-10 times a day, including at least twice every night.

She is my hero.

Wendy Rose has been a Registered Nurse since 1995. After spending most of her career at the bedside in the Emergency Room, the Post Anesthesia Care Unit, and Labor & Delivery, she currently works from home as a Pediatric Telephone Triage Nurse.

Wendy’s oldest daughter was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes in 2005, at the age of 24 months and Celiac Disease in 2008, at the age of 5 years. Wendy herself was diagnosed with Celiac Disease in 2009.

Balancing the demands of her daughter’s blood sugar management while maintaining a gluten free lifestyle; on top of her role as wife and mother; in addition to maintaining her nursing career can be a challenge at times. She documents her family’s journey at www.CandyHeartsBlog.com.

Wendy and her husband, Jason, have been married since November, 2000. Together, they have three daughters, and Wendy also has a step-daughter who lives out of state. The family resides in the Sonoran Desert with their rescue dog, Ivy.

How to Get More People To Visit Your Blog and Increase Your Traffic

2011-11-21T09:54:00.002-06:00

From Brent

Most of you folks know I own Linky Tools (which is ranked in something like the top 1% of U.S. sites on Alexa who measures traffic and site popularity).

On the Linky Tools Blog, I teach people about building a successful blog and how to do things like increase their traffic.

Since most of you are bloggers as well as readers, I thought I would share a post with you I just wrote about building traffic and getting new readers. This is for both new bloggers and experienced.

Find it on the Linky Tools Blog here: http://www.linkytoolsblog.com

Spend Time With Your Family

2011-11-14T08:40:00.002-06:00

From Brent

In a couple of previous posts, we discussed an unfortunate reality of modern life: a lack of time to spend with the family. Obviously this is a problem that affects everybody to different degrees. One family might lament the fact that it only gets a few nights per week to spend together as one cohesive unit, and another might be lucky to get even a few minutes together.

Read the entire post here...

2011-11-08T09:40:00.003-06:00

From Michelle:

We knew going into this adoption that we were signing up to be in a pilot program. We knew that being one of the first families adopting from a newly opened country, there would likely be a few extra bumps in the road. There have been.

Currently our agency is resubmitting paperwork that has to do with the agency, not our family. Basically the government wanted a few simple changes that are easy to fix but take time to send the changes through the proper channels. This is great news for the families that will come after us because they will be able to complete their adoptions much quicker.

We are using a wonderful agency, http://www.adoptionsforever.org/. They are diligently working to find a way to speed things up for our children.

Unlike our previous adoptions, we won't be matched with our children until we travel. We have a heart to adopt children who are seen as unadoptable in some cultures. Since some see them as unadoptable, many don't have the paperwork completed that is necessary for them to be adopted. My hope is that the delays in our adoption have given some of these children time to become "paper ready".

Would you pray that:

1. The meeting tonight with the deputy minister would be very productive.
2. ALL of the children in the orphanage would have their needs met and feel loved. People sometimes wonder how large families care for all of their children. Can you imagine being responsible for an orphanage full of kids?
3. We would receive permission to travel soon.

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Wonderful friends of ours are in the process of adopting 2 older boys from the Ukraine. The Patterson's worked hard to raise money for Abby's Wish and were so sweet to our family when Abby was sick.

The shirts they are selling to raise money for their adoptions a at the very top of our whole families Christmas list. You won't believe how cute they are.

Take a minute and visit their site: http://allarepreciousinhissight.blogspot.com/2011/11/awesome-adoption-gear-giveaway-so.html

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During a rain downpour, the kids played in the water coming off the roof.

My Journey

2011-11-07T13:35:00.000-06:00

Another entry in the book of prayers I’m writing… for however it may bless you today:

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My Journey

Lord of the Journey,

Help me to be a stranger in this world,
Holding the things of this life lightly.

Let me be on a journey to Heaven,
Focusing my gaze on the return of my Savior.

May my life be for You, holding nothing back.
You created me;
You saved me;
You give me purpose;
You own me.

I pray for Your protection from every foe;
I pray you’ll crush every rebellious thought;
I pray you’ll burn away every ungodly passion;
I pray you’ll destroy every fleshly desire in my life.

May every fiber of my being be ignited by Your touch.
Help me to love You with

My whole mind, body and soul;
My spirit, affection and intellect;
My desire, understanding and will.

My God, You are perfection among perfection,
All knowledge and intellect is a gift from You.
May my tiny drops of expression flow from Your unfathomable fountain of ceaseless inspiration.

Compared to Your glory, the sun is a dark nothingness;
Compared to Your beauty, the most beautiful in this universe is a deformed ugliness;
Compared to Your wisdom, the wisest of this world is silly foolishness;
Compared to Your goodness, the most noble of us are counted as weak and evil.

You are worthy of an adoration that I’m incapable of producing; the greatest praise I can offer is dull and vain compared to what You deserve.

I pray You will refresh and energize my love for You,
That in some small way my worship
may be worthy to You,
Rising up to Your dwelling place
and being accepted by You.

Only then will my journey be to Your glory.

In Jesus name, Amen.

Abby Update

2011-10-24T17:29:00.004-05:00

It is hard to believe Abby is getting close to being one year off of chemo. This year has flown by. While the chemo has left Abby with some challenges that she continues to deal with, no one meeting Abby for the first time today would ever guess that she was a cancer survivor (a barely survivor 2-3 times...). In school, among her friends, she is just seen as a normal little girl. I love that.

We were told that because her brain was still developing when she was on chemo, learning might be more challenging for her. Unfortunately, that has proven to be true. She has wonderful teachers at school, who are patient and encouraging. At home we work with all of our children, so she doesn't feel like she is being singled out.

Even with as much as we are working with her, she continues to ask us read "one" more book and to play "one" more educational game. Sweet little Abby was dubbed the Guatemalan Pistol when she was six months old. Little did we know then how that stubborn, tenacious spirit would help to save her life and then help her to meet life's challenges head on.

Even though it is taking her more effort to learn than some of the other children, she IS LEARNING to read. She is making consistent progress and for that we are truly grateful. She loves school, has a great attitude about homework and is determined to learn.

Next week Abby will see her oncologist again, to make sure she is still in remission. We have received great news ten months in a row and fully anticipate seeing perfect labs again next week. God is blessing Abby and we are truly thankful.

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We know another family who adopted a 6 month old little girl who just got diagnosed with Leukemia... sound familiar? Our heart really goes out to them.

Why don't you stop by their blog and offer them a word of encouragement? It meant the WORLD to us when our blog friends were praying and responsive. I know you would be a big blessing to this special family too. Cancer is a drag....

http://kimchingocha.blogspot.com/

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Your Kid, A Pill and a Funeral

2011-10-05T13:02:00.002-05:00

From Brent

I've written before (read here) about the trend among kids to raid the parents/grandparents drug cabinet and get high on prescription medicine. It's a HUGE issue now. Don't pretend like you are immune.

Sadly, even innocent taking of medication can kill kids. Read this story about a young man who had everything going for him. He took a "normal" dose of his Grandmothers "pain pill" and died from it. For his bodyweight, he took 4x too much.

He wasn't partying, getting high or experimenting. His shoulder hurt and he took some pain medicine... and died.

Read the story. Then go lock up your pills, and call your parents and tell them to do the same.

Spending Time With Your Family - Part 2

2011-10-04T14:53:00.003-05:00

From Brent

The 2nd installment of spending time with your family is online over on my blog. This time Philip talks about how to spend time as a family even when time seems very short.

Read it here: http://www.brentriggsblog.com/2011/10/ways-to-spend-time-with-your-family-even-when-time-is-short-part-2/

Okay, I’m On My Knees Begging…

2011-09-21T12:54:00.003-05:00

When I publish a new book, I let people know it's available and that's pretty much it. I've never begged, coerced, urged or pleaded with folks to buy one of my books.

Purchase: Paper | Audio | eBook

This time I am. My book "Terrorist to Evangelist" is now out through a national publisher and has a real chance to get on the map... but SALES are what drives it up on selling lists and gets it noticed by the various book powers that be.

So for the first time ever, I'm begging every one I know to buy a copy - any format (paperback, audio or ebook). Purchase: Paper | Audio | eBook

I write a lot of material for a limited audience (the serious Christian market). This book has a legitimate MASS MARKET appeal. It is a fascinating and riveting story (read the first chapter below). Every person who has read this book says the same thing: "incredible story" and most of the time they've read it more than once. I wrote the darn thing, and I've read it several times just because I wanted to. Purchase: Paper | Audio | eBook

Gift Idea: Christmas Is Around the Corner

Christmas will be here before you know it, and this book would be a WONDERFUL gift. It's almost 300 pages and its genuinely a "hard to put down" read. Buying a copy is not just doing me a favor... it's a great book you'll read more than once, and give to someone else too. Purchase: Paper | Audio | eBook

Here is chapter one... the entire book is just as gripping:

This Is It

March 24, 1983: McClinton, I thought to myself, this is it. You’re about to die.

I had known for quite some time that it was coming. I was keenly sensitive to the inevitable conclusion of being a man marked for death.

Walking into the break room of the prison, all of my senses went on red alert, sounding the alarm that things were not right. The first thing I noticed was the steam floating across the ceiling. The inmate in charge of boiling water had heated gallons and gallons of water to an angry, rolling boil—far more and far hotter than necessary for making tea.

The two prison guards who had been assigned to protect me were nowhere to be found. I was now alone and unprotected in a room of convicted murderers and terrorists. I felt strangely calm in the face of such imminent danger. Having become a Christian four years earlier while in solitary confinement, it was not my nature now to be the initiator of violence, even though I knew it was coming. I simply took my mug of tea and sat down like usual at the table.

Four convicted IRA terrorists slowly moved to block any escape through the entrance or exit. Each of them was carrying a large redwood plank that looked like a square baseball bat. The ashen color of their faces betrayed their fear and nervousness.

I reached for the little Gideon’s New Testament that I carried in my shirt pocket, but my hand never made it. I felt the heat before the boiling water actually touched my skin. In an instant, gallons of scalding liquid were being poured on my head and back. My first sensation was of the soft skin behind and around my left ear instantly bubbling up and disintegrating. Within a couple of seconds, a large portion of my body had been scalded and burned severely.

It seems strange now, but at the time, I felt no immediate pain. With calm resolve, I stood up and removed the reading glasses from my eyes. I couldn’t see well, because the boiling water had run over my face, but I sensed the danger coming in front of me.

Thud! A hammer from the workshop, wielded in cowardly fashion, struck me on the high right-hand side of my face between my temple and jawbone, quickly opening a profusely bleeding wound.

My natural survival instincts kicked in as I backed into a corner, shaking my head and wiping the water and blood from my eyes. I had not uttered a sound up to this point but knew that I was very badly injured by the boiling water and the blow to my head. The first thing I saw after clearing my eyes was a terrorist-prisoner I knew by the name of Becker. He was making his way toward me, holding one of the three-by-three, baseball bat-like sticks, his eyes already focused on where he was going to deliver the coup de grâce. In my heightened state of shock and adrenaline, I took the initiative and lunged straight for him, taking the first swing of the bat into the outside of my left bicep. Whack! He really nailed me, and the pain was excruciating, but I had successfully fended off an otherwise fatal blow. I ducked the next swing, grabbed the surprised Becker by the ankles, and with strength that was beyond normal circumstances, I picked him up and tossed him over onto my badly burned back.

With Becker flopped over my shoulders and my head actually between his legs, I was somewhat protected from the next round of hammer blows, baseball bat swings, and punches that were now coming from the other attackers. Like a movie scene, everything seemed to happen in slow motion, and twenty-two years later, I still remember it all in half speed.

One of the terrorists, a young guy whom I didn’t know, had slipped on the water that spilled on the floor and was now attempting to get a grip around my ankles to hold me for the others who would finish me off. Four others, armed with the bats, were still blocking the door and any attempt to escape. I charged them, holding Becker upside down on my back, and threw him off me and on top of them. The combined force of our two bodies sent the door guards stumbling backward against the wall and into the corner, like bowling pins being scattered.

That bought me an instant of opportunity to dive through the doorway and onto the steps toward the safety of being out in the open where others could see me. Landing facedown on the stairs, I thought I had succeeded in escaping when suddenly the door was slammed shut on my foot, trapping me. I felt the hands of the terrorists grabbing my ankle and holding me fast so that I could not get free. The door opened, and to my horror, another bucket full of boiling water was dumped on my already-blistered and burned body. Almost my entire upper torso now bubbled and broiled in the intense heat. The skin just simply melted away in a matter of seconds.

I kicked my free foot with all the strength I could summon, and suddenly my other foot was unexpectedly released. The door slammed shut. I was left there as good as dead. The pain rushed over me in waves and consumed every nerve in my body with intense fire.

I was still alive. In the coming days, I would wish that I wasn’t.

Purchase: Paper | Audio | eBook

My Newest Book - FREE - Immediate Download

2011-09-12T17:34:00.004-05:00

From Brent

This weekend I finished my latest book, and maybe one of the most important I'll ever write. You can have the eBook for FREE, and distribute it for free. You can email use, use it, print, make it available on your blog for free... with my blessing.

This is knowledge that every Christian absolutely should know and understand, so I don't want a "purchase" to stand in the way of everyone having it.

These are the ESSENTIALS. I don't get into or attempt to persuade on any topic where long standing denominational differences have existed (such as the "end times" or Calvinism). Nothing controversial, nothing specific to a particular church or denomination. I think all Biblical Christian groups and families will find this book highly useful on a personal level, and to teach (family, groups, friends, churches).

If you've been a Christian for a while, you should download it and test your knowledge... make sure you really know the basics of your faith.

A description and the table of contents are below.

FREE eBook

Essentials of Christianity - Vol. 1
FREE eBook | Paperback

INTRODUCTION

A friend called me and told me that a friend of his had just been saved. He asked: "Have you written a book for new Christians, or Christians who have not yet learned some basics?" I had not.

I had often thought about writing something like this and I grabbed on to his request for some motivation. For a couple of decades, I have noticed to my dismay that most Christians, new or not, cannot define the basics of Christianity. They know their job, their sports, their hobbies, and pop culture, but these Christians shrivel when confronted with explaining or defining the most basic of concepts and principles of the very faith they believe saved them from eternal condemnation.

I decided that the best way to teach the essentials of Christianity to new, spiritually immature, or Biblically uneducated Christians would be to:

• Provide some basic education about the basics;
• Explain, define, and illustrate a list of the foundational Christian concepts; and...
• Give a "starter list" of some behavior, attitudes, and practices you should be developing as part of the basic Christian life.

This book is intended to be a STARTING POINT for new Christians, or Christians who have never learned the basics. However incomplete this little guide may be, it certainly can provide a good foundation to begin with; and, regrettably, it contains more than the average professing Christian knows today.

Table of Contents

First Things First.................... 3

A Starting Point........................ 5

A Starter List of Christian Living... 6

Love............................... 6

Discipline.......................... 7

Service............................. 7

Integrity........................... 7

Seriousness........................ 8

Kindness........................... 8

Humility........................... 8

Generosity......................... 9

Study............................... 9

Prayer............................ 10

Worship.......................... 10

Discernment..................... 10

Knowing the Basics................... 11

Some Basics About the Basics.... 12

God............................... 13

Jesus Christ...................... 14

Holy Spirit........................ 15

The Bible........................ 16

Man............................... 17

Heaven........................... 18

Hell.............................. 19

The Church...................... 20

Angels, Demons, & Satan...... 21

Fundamental Truths................. 23

Defining the Fundamental Concepts of Christianity 24

Repentance...................... 25

Faith.............................. 26

Substitution...................... 26

Reconciliation................... 27

Propitiation...................... 27

Remission........................ 27

Regeneration.................... 27

Redemption...................... 28

Imputation....................... 28

Adoption......................... 28

Supplication...................... 29

Justification...................... 29

Sanctification.................... 30

Glorification..................... 30

Election.......................... 30

Foreknowledge................. 30

Predestination................... 30

Sharing Your Faith................... 31

How You Can Explain Salvation to Any Person Who Is Not a Christian 32

Assurance of Salvation............... 35

The Evidence of True Salvation.. 36

Will Jesus Know You?........... 36

Obedience & Morality........... 38

Good Moral Behavior........... 39

Obedience to God............... 40

Religious Knowledge........... 42

Selflessness & Serving.......... 43

Conviction About Sin............ 44

True Repentance................ 46

Religious Acts.................... 48

Separation from the World (Sanctification) 49

Self vs. Others................... 50

Practical Lessons About the Christian Life 54

A Few Basics About Christian Behavior 55

God’s View of Wealth And Status 55

Let the Lowly Glory............. 56

Wealth Is Fleeting............... 57

How to Love God When Life Stinks 58

The Question of Divorce........ 60

God Hates Divorce.............. 61

Divorce on the Grounds of Adultery 61

Divorce on the Grounds of Abandonment 62

The Christian and Remarriage. 63

Divorce and Remarriage Before Becoming a Christian 63

A Word about Biblical Divorce. 64

About Un-Biblical Divorce...... 64

In a Nutshell..................... 65

Ears and Hands.................. 67

Mouth Shut, Ears Open......... 67

Ignoring Your Pimples.......... 68

Rein In That Tongue............ 69

What Is Godliness?.............. 69

In a Nutshell..................... 70

Evil Favoritism................... 70

Dead Faith....................... 74

That Little Thing That Controls Your Entire Life 77

Don’t Get in a Hurry to Teach. 78

The Key to Perfection.......... 78

The Power of the Tongue...... 79

Preach It Brother!............... 79

Squeezing Lemons.............. 80

Two Types of Wisdom.......... 81

There Are Only Two Choices.. 83

Strife and Turmoil.............. 85

How to Cure Your Worldliness. 88

The REAL “Don’t Judge”....... 91

The Bible Says Judge!.......... 91

The Bible Says Do NOT Judge.. 92

Today Not Tomorrow........... 94

Special Instructions About Money (Yeah, I’m Talking To YOU) 95

The Misery Is On The Way...... 96

Who’s Your Real God........... 97

Treasure Heaping............... 97

And Then You Flaunt It......... 99

Patience & Overcoming....... 100

Be Patient Like the Farmer... 100

Establish Your Hearts.......... 101

Remember Job................ 102

Above All....................... 103

Bible Abbreviations............... 105

Hard Questions Kids Ask Parents

2011-09-08T08:19:00.002-05:00

From Brent

A new book I'm working on is "Hard Questions Kids Ask Parents". It is a book for the parent to use as help to answer those questions.

I've got a list of questions but hoping I can compile many more from the group creativity and experience that all you folks have.

If you submit a question (that I don't already have) that gets used in the book, you get a free eBook when it comes out. I don't want to post my list because I don't want to bias or influence the questions you submit. I'm hoping you'll come up with all sorts of good stuff I haven't thought of.

What is a question that your kids have asked or could ask, that you would love to have simple, clear and accurate help with answering? Enter your question in this Linky Tools Questions list:

Spending Time with Your Family & Thoughts on Money

2011-08-31T08:09:00.001-05:00

From Brent

A couple of posts on my other blogs I thought you might be interested in:

Spending Time with Your Family

Godly Attitudes about Money

I hope you'll take time to read them and let me know your questions and thoughts.

Job Opening!!! I know of an immediate job opening...

2011-08-19T13:49:00.002-05:00

From Brent

I know of a very good job opportunity related to a programming, website development skill set.

Even if this is not a job YOU are interested in, could you forward this information to people you know who might be?

You have to be located near the Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Louisville area in order to be available to travel to a central location in North Vernon, IN on occasion for development meetings. Otherwise you could work from home or your own office (or if you live close enough, you could work full time in the NV office).

The specific work activity is UI development on a web application. The application is ASP.NET built on a SQL DB database. Skills needed/preferred for this work are:

ASP.NET web development experience
VB.NET server side (though C# is easily converted, so if you are C# developer, that will work)
Client side:

Javascript
AJAX
CSS
Web Services

Other: the application relies heavily on the DevExpress suite (www.devexpress.com); it is not required that you have experience with DevExpress but is a definite plus. These tools are enhancements to .NET controls. DevExpress can be quickly learned by an experienced ASP.NET developer.

"UI" normally implies graphic design but that is not a requirement here as they have graphic design professionals. It would be a plus but not required.

You would work on a growing team of developers that currently includes a UI expert who is being moved to another project (this is the job opening); a SQL guru and 3 others involved in management, sales and production.

They are ready to hire immediately and this is a very good job opportunity with a growing company.

Email me and include your resume if interested and I'll follow up. brent@brentriggs.com

Are You Worrying About Anything?

2011-08-17T22:51:00.003-05:00

Brent

If you are having trouble with worry, I wrote some encouragement for you over on my other blog...

Canvas Prints

2011-08-12T16:23:00.003-05:00

From Brent

See that logo over there to the left for Easy Canvas Prints? They contacted me asked me to do a review in exchange for a print. I told them "sure, but I won't be less than honest. If the print you send me is not dazzling, I won't say so publicly."

It was. It is remarkable. Now, having said that, trying to take a photo of a photo is never flattering. So I'll have ask you trust me (as a professional level photographer) that the print is marvelous. It is vibrant and the canvas is perfect. It could be a painting.

Take a minute and go visit them. Get a photo of your kids or wedding or baby stretched over canvas. It truly is really beautiful hanging on the wall. I will definitely be getting several more from Easy Canvas Prints but I have a feeling they are going to make me pay for it. :)