Female Hosts Discuss Motherhood Realities on Financial Issues Stewardship Ministries TV show

24. May 2020 · Write a comment · Categories: National, Pew Business, Pew Talk · Tags: , , , ,
“Outspoken: A Sisterhood of Faith,” hosted by Jeanne Hester, Ann Barrovecchio, Lauren Smack and Brittany Hollis

A new program on Financial Issues Stewardship Ministries (FISM)

“Outspoken: A Sisterhood of Faith,” hosted by Jeanne Hester, Ann Barrovecchio, Lauren Smack and Brittany Hollis

The four-woman cast of “Outspoken” on Financial Issues Stewardship Ministries TV.

television helps women realize they are not going through the challenges of motherhood and sisterhood alone.

“Outspoken: A Sisterhood of Faith” airs Mondays at 8 p.m. EST on FISM.TV. The May 25 program will address the topic of “New Motherhood Realities.” The four female hosts discuss what came as a surprise to them during their first year of motherhood and what they wish someone would have told them when they became moms for the first time.

Hosted by Jeanne Hester, Ann Barrovecchio, Lauren Smack and Brittany Hollis, the women discuss what came as a surprise to them during their first year of motherhood and what they wish someone would have told them when they became moms for the first time.

The “Outspoken” television show and podcast was established out of a desire to speak godly truth in love to unite mothers into a sisterhood of faith. “Outspoken” was also created to help women encourage and support each other through the immense joys and difficulties of motherhood.

Helping to lead the FISM.TV team is Senior Producer Krunti Hester and “Outspoken” producer Aubrey Sloan. Nationally syndicated host and biblical investing authority Dan Celia leads Financial Issues Stewardship Ministries.

FISM.TV is available 24/7 on avenues such as Roku, Amazon Fire TV, and Android TV. Viewers can also watch from any device online.

The station, headquartered in Philadelphia, is a post-cable television network of new, edgy, and informative Christian television programming. includes programs such as the daily, three-hour nationally syndicated radio and TV program “Financial Issues with Dan Celia,” airing 9 a.m. to noon ET, as well as “MXTV,” “New Life Live,” “Pathway to Victory,” “The 700 Club,” “Stand in the Gap TV,” “Way of the Master,” “Wretched” and “Good Guys Doing Good!” (coming soon).

Connect with “Outspoken” group of women through Instagram.

How To Live Out Your Calling During COVID-19

30. April 2020 · Write a comment · Categories: Pew Business, Pew Talk · Tags: , , , , , , ,
pierce brantley author or calling

By Pierce Brantley
Special to Inside The Pew

“Jesus, have pity on us!” they cried. Ten lepers, forced to distance themselves from the social settings of Samaria and Galilee, called out to Jesus as he traveled along the region’s outer border (Luke 17:11-14). They were quarantined. But Jesus still heard their voices echo through the Samarian Hills.

He healed each of them. But only one of the sick, when he saw he was healed, came back and praised God. The Bible pierce brantley author or callingsays the man threw himself at the feet of Jesus and thanked him.

As our world and workplaces bunker down, this story of Jesus’ kindness hits me hard.

Jesus had places to go

Jesus had things to do.

Jesus likely didn’t have time to stop his business trip and talk to these unwell men.

HEAVEN’S PRIORITIES

Jesus, like us, also had priorities. He was called, first and foremost, to the chosen people of Israel. But for Jesus, his daily priorities and his eternal calling co-existed. For him, there wasn’t a mental separation between his daily, called work and the turmoil that people experienced around him.

We see evidence of this in the fourth chapter of Luke:

…and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me,

because he has anointed me

to proclaim good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners

and recovery of sight for the blind,

to set the oppressed free,

to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down.

The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him.

He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

Luke 4:17-21

Jesus took as his main job the same job God has always had:

  1. Proclaim good news to the poor.
  2. Proclaim liberty to the captives.
  3. Bring recovery of sight to the blind.
  4. Liberate those who are oppressed.
  5. Proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.

WORK IN WORRYING TIMES

God is doing a big work in the world. He is accomplishing a great task. The work that Jesus did, God’s Spirit is still Calling: Awaken to the Purpose of Your Work by pierce brantleydoing—only now he does them through a calling: a specific partnership with willing Christians (see John 14:12). This special calling-led work is unending, so long as the earth persists. And it’s beautifully applicable to every situation and age; especially for times when life feels uncertain.

Which is important. Calling gives us focus in fearful times. Calling helps orient our hearts when storms feel certain. Calling, through our work with Christ, is an anchor. Moreover, the call of God on our lives doesn’t change when COVID-19 spreads, working from home becomes the new norm, or our job situations evolve.

THE FIVE FRUITS OF CALLING

Partnering with Christ can also be a point of witness — if you know the work to which you are called as a Christian. The question then is, what is the specific work God has for you when times are tumultuous? To start, we model the same mission Jesus had in Luke 4:16–21.

Proclaim good news to the poor

The good news of the gospel doesn’t go grey during hard times. In fact, it may be the only good news available right now. Don’t let the cries of the disenfranchised — either the literal sick or the homebound, stop you from sharing the light and life of Jesus. If you’re working from home, begin to engage your mind and spirit to think about how you can show the love of Jesus when you’re not directly in the room.

Proclaim liberty to the captives

Many of us may feel like captives, right? But our freedom in Christ has little to do with where we can go. Demonstrate faith and inner freedom — even when the world doesn’t want to leave their house. Spend time with God so that the joy of the spirit will be evident in everything you do.

Bring recovery of sight to the blind

Fear can blind us. It can debilitate us to the point where we only see a dark outcome. But much of this has to do with what we dwell on and what we do with our time. Through your actions, help people see the truth of God’s word when other sources may be creating a fearful atmosphere. Demonstrate the reality of heaven by speaking loving truth over the people you know.

Liberate those who are oppressed

The sick man who came back to Jesus was a Samaritan. He was not only sick, but also a societal outcast. Forget gathering with no more than fifty people, he wasn’t even allowed within the city walls. During times like these, those who feel marginalized are moved to even farther edges of the social sphere. Make a point to encourage those you know who may struggle with mental health. Where you’re able, take on some of their load at work or help buffer difficult situations for them.

Proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor

In the story of the lepers, only one of the sick came back to thank Jesus. I can’t help but wonder if he were the first to call out to him as well. Right now, in the midst of crazy news and on-edge people, the Lord’s favor is ready and available to any who want to receive it. We can kick-start that process by being present to those around us. When we do this, and we stay in a prayerful posture, we are positioned to show God’s loving kindness to those who are hurting.

A HIGHER CALLING

As I wrote about in Calling: Awaken to the Purpose of Your Work, these are the five fruits of calling. If these five things are happening in and around you, then the fire and passion of God are working through you and you’re building the kingdom — even when other “kingdoms” seem to be in disarray.

So get excited. Christ has come. His work is finished. The veil between labor and love is torn. Now there is no separation between the presence of God and the indwelling of his power within you. You are set in the saddle. The reins of righteous living are in your hands. Through resurrection your work is made new in his life.

 

Pierce Brantley is an author, speaker, entrepreneur and businessman. He has successfully launched, run, and sold his own company, served as an executive for a top-ten PR firm in Dallas, and consulted with numerous Fortune 500 companies. Today he puts that same intense motivation into teaching men how to lead themselves and their families well. On May 1, he releases Calling: Awaken to the Purpose of Your Work from David C Cook. In his book, Brantley shares a transformative guide with actionable steps to inspire men to redefine the unique purpose of their work and discover what it means to have a fulfilling, “called” career. Pierce and his wife, Kristie, live in Dallas, TX.

Toxic masculinity belies complimentary unique strengths of men, women

17. January 2019 · Write a comment · Categories: Pew Talk · Tags: , , ,

By Peter Rosenberger
Special to Inside The Pew

According to studies, the last 10 years reveals an increasing number of men serving as family caregivers.  Up from 35% a decade ago, studies show men now make up more than 45% of those caring for an aging, disabled, or chronically-ill loved one—a number reflecting more masculinity inserted into what traditionally appeared to be a role overwhelming dominated by females.

Yet our country, and now even razor blade companies, seem to assert our society is replete with “toxic masculinity.” Whether a direct or indirect swipe at the President, the debate appears burrowed into the regular discourse of American life.

As a caregiver for three decades for my wife, I need my masculinity, and I reject the notion of any part of it being toxic.

Simply relegating responsibility of poor behavior to mere gender ignores the ravages of our oft selfish natures when we put our personal desires ahead of love and respect. Such selfishness is hardly limited to one gender.

Masculinity as a caregiver brings its own approach to the age-old problem of carrying for a loved one with an impairment.  While the stress of caregiving challenges respect neither gender, our makeup as men and women color our response. Some men will try to do a checklist and logically try “get it done,” and some women approach the caregiving journey as nurturers. Yet, at other times men and women respond with similar behaviors from both genders.

I’ve encountered incredibly tender men who gently care for a loved one, and I’ve encountered women who viciously excoriate their loved ones. The choice and responses of dealing with the stress remain up to the individual.  Yet, rather than berate one group as possessing a leaning towards toxicity, we can bore in past the “Political Correctness” and just see the human heart plagued by self-centered behavior.

We don’t see any national discourse on the toxic behaviors of women—who, just like men, possess unique ways to behave poorly. While one can argue that society also pays for the poor choices some women make, making either entire genders pay the price for the behavior of some seems not only inappropriate but destructively prejudicial.

Rather than berate or even try to alter us as men, we better serve ourselves as a culture when we learn from each other and incorporate our strengths together. I celebrate my masculinity as a caregiver and admire the femininity that women bring to the role. As a caregiver, I’ve learned tips, tools, and great wisdom from many women who understand the journey.  I’ve also offered insights from my own journey to women feeling crushed by theirs. My approach as a man helps me in ways that many women can’t see.  Yet, women bring insights to help them—and men—in ways that we can’t often see. While I rue the many mistakes I’ve made as a man, I extend the grace I depend upon—to women who’ve made mistakes as women.

There is nothing like caring for someone with a disability a for a couple of decades to illuminate the toxicity in one’s heart. Attaching that or any other kind of toxicity as gender defect is a shallow approach to a deeper problem. Character issues reflect a heart condition, not a gender problem. When it comes to caregiving, we’re all in this together—we’ll either be one or need one. Rather than divide us by politically correct stereotypes, we serve ourselves better by blending our unique strengths as men and women.

Peter Rosenberger hosts a radio program for family caregivers broadcast weekly from Nashville on more than 200 stations. He has served as a caregiver for his wife Gracie, who has lived with severe disabilities for more than 30 years. Follow him on Twitter @hope4caregiver.

Round: Don’t be a part of the blame game

26. February 2018 · Write a comment · Categories: National, Pew Talk · Tags: , , , ,
fl-florida-school-shooting-peter-wang-obit-20180215

By Carol Round
Special to Inside The Pew

“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ”—Galatians 6:2 (NIV).

Anger.  Disbelief.  Grief.  Finger pointing. All responses to the Feb. 14 shooting rampage at a Florida high school. Some reports say it’s the 18thfl-florida-school-shooting-peter-wang-obit-20180215 incident of gunfire at a school campus since the beginning of 2018. Regardless of the numbers, this week’s column is meant to convict our hearts, including mine.

At this writing, 17 were killed in the rampage and another 13 were injured. Questions abound. Responses reported in and by the media, both traditional and socially, call for more gun control, more assistance for the mentally disturbed, and higher levels of school security.

For 30 years, I was a public educator. Beginning my career in 1975, I was naïve enough to believe I could make a difference in all of my students’ lives. Years later, I had a reality check. I couldn’t save everyone; I couldn’t meet every need. Still, I knew I should and could do what I could.

A 19-year-old has confessed to the most recent shooting rampage. News reports paint a picture of a disturbed young man. One of his former teachers said he was a quiet student, a loner. The students familiar with Nikolas Cruz were not surprised by his actions. His attorney has called him a “broken human being.”

Christian author and speaker Elisabeth Elliot said, “We want to avoid suffering, death, sin, ashes. But we live in a world crushed and broken and torn, a world God Himself visited to redeem. We receive his poured-out life, and being allowed the high privilege of suffering with Him, may then pour ourselves out for others.”

In an article by Sam Harris, written after the Newtown, Conn., shootings, he says, “There’s a way to stop mass shootings, and you won’t like it. That’s right. You’re not going to like it because it’s going to require you to do something personally, as opposed to shouting for the government, or anyone to ‘do something.’”

Harris’ solution? “Notice those around you who seem isolated and engage them.”

He adds, “If every one of us did this we’d have a culture that was deeply committed to ensuring no one was left lonely. And make no mistake, as I’ve written before, loneliness is what causes these shooters to lash out. People with solid connections to other people don’t indiscriminately fire guns at strangers.”

But that requires effort on our part. Notice the strange kid sitting by himself at lunch. Invite him to eat with you. What about the awkward guy at work who doesn’t fit in? Ask him about his weekend.

As parents, we also have a responsibility to teach our children to do the same, to make sure no one feels isolated. As Harris says, “That’s the breeding ground. That’s where the seeds are planted.”

We can all plant seeds—seeds of kindness. We may take for granted our own circle of connections—family, healthy friendships—but we must not assume everyone has that connection.

Don’t be part of the blame game. Be a part of the solution.

Check out www.carolaround.com for more inspiration and information about Carol’s books and speaking ministry.

Photo: Peter Wang, one of 17 victims killed during the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting on Feb. 14. According to the Sun-Sentinel, Wang was seen holding door open for others during shooting. (Sun-Sentinel).

Commit to seek your reward in 2018

29. December 2017 · Write a comment · Categories: National, Pew Talk · Tags: , ,
committ-in-2018-proverbs

By Tonya Whitaker
Inside The Pew

Weeks ago, I began my search for a new home. In the midst of the dreadful task came a message worthy of personal reflection.

I found a home on Zillow that fit my family’s needs – close to work, quiet neighborhood, and in a good school committ-in-2018-proverbsdistrict. I scheduled a tour with the real estate agent who is handling the rental process. After the tour was complete, the agent and I talked a bit more about the owner’s and my desired date for rental.

As we closed our conversation, she asked about my current career. I volunteered that although I currently work as a technical writer, my ultimate goal is to teach English composition at the college or university level. After all, I told her, this was the only reason why, in 2013, I began my pursuit toward a graduate degree in English (I graduated in May 2015).

The agent told me I was a smart woman, but I needed to stay dedicated to my original goal. I thought to myself, “Well, I have been dedicated. I’ve applied for several positions but have been passed up.” I assessed my situation: I diverged from my intended path, allowing setbacks to take control of my centeredness.

She said, “God rewards those who stay committed. “ Furthermore, she noted that the road may not be simple, but, in the end, He knows your heart and desires.

Since our meeting weeks ago, I have replayed her comment over and over again in my head: “God rewards those who stay committed to theirtonya-andris-whitaker-2017 desires.”

Instead of commitment, I had become a wayward soldier. I now shamefully admitted that I have become discouraged because I didn’t immediately secure a lectureship. And, although it is not the blessing God has for me, technical writing provides financial safety. Commitment with God’s assurance, not comfort, will drive away the doubt and mismanagement in my life. Goodness, the first sentence of my master’s thesis acknowledgments was a thank you to Him. How has it become that my reliance on Him during the writing process is no longer needed as I press forward?

As we prepare to enter 2018, what goals have you set for yourself? If it includes work and education goals, remember to keep in prayer, stay focused, and count it all joy. As God used this real estate agent to deliver His message, dedication and commitment are essential. Know that God has our best interests at heart; He promised this to us (Psalm 37:5, KJV). In the end, the victory will be ours, as solemnly presented in 2 Timothy 4:7 (NIV): “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

Food for thought: Remember your words. Stand stronger behind His.

Photos: Main: “Proverbs 16:3” courtesy of Womanista Wellness, formerly known as Skinny Mom. Secondary: Tonya Whitaker

Tonya Whitaker is managing editor of Inside The Pew.

© 2017 Inside The Pew

 

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