Change Today by Starting With a Half Hour

Tommy Barnett has proven himself as a leader, he is Senior Pastor of one of the largest churches in Phoenix, his son is directing the Dream Center in Los Angeles, and he has spoken to thousands of pastors on being a pastor, leadership and church growth. He has written a book that isn't systematic but rather inspirational, practical and definitive. He encourages the reader to set a half hour each day for thought provoking inspection, prayer and dreaming and he fills the book with moving testimonies of how thirty minute segments has filled his life and turned these moments of time into a faith filled life.

The Power of a Half Hour is just the book needed for young pastors looking for a solid foundation and for middle aged pastors trying to discover hope and change. Get ready for his homespun stories of faith, challenges and prayers as he devotes half hour to meetings, prayer and reflection. You may not have a mountain, like Pastor Barnett does behind his church, but you have thirty minutes to begin your life and ministry in a new direction.

Blogging for Books provided this book to me for free in exchange for an honest review.

Making the Most of Marriage

Marriage is the ability to live within various circumstances and both parties come out a champion. Raising kids, finding extra money, scheduling time and keeping house is sometimes stressful and many times disastrous. Two people going hurriedly in no particular direction and exhausted by the weekend find their love life frazzled and their marriage on the rocks. Many women have fled the stressful scene to a fantasy of living alone (with my own time) and many guys have looked for a secret lover as a way to "get out" of the frenzied lifestyle.

We can make the most of a marriage by following a few life changing steps.

1. First and foremost, quit living reactive and start living proactive. Simply put, develop a schedule that works for both husband and wife. Don't put anything more on the list than can possibly be done in a week and learn to say, "NO!" Overextended families don't have fun - learn to live for the little things in life that bring your family happiness.
2. Schedule time for your and your spouse. This may be a quick sandwich at dinner, a date, shopping together, or simply a walk around the neighborhood but whatever you do, schedule it and do it!
3. Never go to bed without saying, "I Love You!" The most powerful words, when expressed with meaning and passion, can calm the most hectic of days. To know someone loves you, at the end of a chaotic day, can relax the most tense of muscles and cause you to rest better.
4. Take time to enjoy life. I borrowed the phrase, "vacation of the mind"from a lady who owned an art shop. But I personalized the meaning, sometimes when out on business, I would stop at a coffee shop and read a book, this fifteen minute vacation (vacation of the mind) has caused me to reexamine my day and think more clearly. One time when having a stressful and hectic day I stopped by a mini golf course, played a few holes, then being refreshed, went home to my family.
5. Enjoy dessert. Merely after the evening meal, express how thankful you are for your family. This is what I call "enjoying dessert." You don't have to have a piece of chocolate cake after dinner but expressing thanks for meal, thanks for a faithful wife or husband, or expressing thanks to a child who did his chores without being asked is the best dessert after a filling meal.
6. Pray. Prayer is the ability to express my doubts, fears and stress to God, draw strength from Him, and be renewed in my spirit. Praying together as husband and wife can be the strength you need to weather many storms.