Many of you have asked for an update on our son. On October 25, 2010, Jason will mark his 11th year of incarceration. We have exhausted all of our appeals at both the state and federal levels. Last summer Jason’s paperwork requesting a clemency hearing made it to the top of the pile (a three year process). After reviewing the case, the Florida Parole Commission recommended that Jason’s case receive a waiver hearing before the clemency aides. A waiver is needed before a case can be heard before the governor and his cabinet at a clemency hearing. Clemency does not usually mean that an inmate will immediately walk in freedom. In our case, we were asking for a review of the case, with the hope that Jason would be given an eventual end-of-sentence date, instead of life without the possibility of parole. In the State of Florida, a life sentence means the rest of your natural life will be spent in prison. Our son did a terrible thing, believing he was protecting his two stepdaughters from the potential of abuse, and we know there must be a punishment. Read more »

Okay, I was curious.  I’m an author and when a book sells over seven million copies, and a film company produces a movie on the subject of the book and it stars Julia Roberts, I simply couldn’t resist exploring why there was so much buzz about this project.  

The subtitle reads:  One Woman’s Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia.  If you haven’t read the book, here’s a brief summary.  Elizabeth Gilbert leaves an unhappy marriage in search of meaning.  She spends four months in each of three different places.  The first third of her trip was fun and entertaining.  I found myself vicariously “tasting” the pizza, spaghetti, and other tantalizing Italian dishes.   

By the time Elizabeth gets to India, we see a woman who is learning to meditate and repeat prayers from a book as she sits cross-legged on a mat.  I sensed her desire to find her “center” and a purpose beyond mere existence.  However, her distractions were major and it didn’t take long for me to realize she was looking for meaning in the wrong place.  She finally makes it to Bali and learns to love again.  In the end we view Elizabeth on a boat, sailing off with her soul-mate, and that’s the end of the movie version of the story. Read more »

What would happen if you decided to influence lives on purpose? One of the reasons I wrote the book, Becoming a Woman of Influence, was to challenge women to become more intentional about how we influence others.  Not because we have to, but because we want to.  Not because it’s our Christian obligation, but because it brings great meaning and joy to our lives.  Not because of duty, but because of love. Let’s be like Jesus. Let’s be women of conviction and passion.  Let’s intentionally influence other women because it’s a high calling and a part of our pre-designed purpose.

The new DVD teaching series on the book, Becoming a Woman of Influence, has just been released by NavPress.  It’s a nine-week study for women who want to touch lives like Jesus did—women who want to pass on a lasting legacy to their families and to their culture.  Following the introductory chapters, you’ll be able to walk your small group through the seven ways Jesus impacted his disciples that reveal to us how we can make a difference that will have eternal impact.

The seven principles in the study are: Read more »

Last month one of my mentors left his earth-shackles and went to heaven. Ray Clendenan was the first adult outside of my family who told me I had potential to do something great for God.  He was the state director of Youth for Christ.  My parents moved when I was in my first year of university studies out-of-state, and I was not looking forward to spending the summer in an unfamiliar place.

Within a week of returning home, Ray asked if I would join a Teen Team for the summer with five other university students, and I accepted. All of the other team members were skilled musicians, but I was out of their league musically and felt miserable.

Ray sensed my uneasiness and pulled me aside.  I told him I loved being on the team, but I didn’t want to hurt the group’s musical reputation. Ray looked me in the eyes, and said:  “Carol, our main purpose is introduce teenagers to personal faith in Christ, and your contribution to the group is outstanding.  You concisely introduce the songs and tell humorous stories that keep people laughing and listening.  And when you mingle in the crowd afterwards, it’s awesome to see how people relate to you.  They actually cluster around while you are telling them how to establish a meaningful relationship with Christ.  You have a remarkable gift of evangelism.  Young lady, you have personality!” Read more »