Have you ever tried really hard to remember events from your childhood? For most that is normal, but for Barbara Farris, that’s the last thing she wants to do. Memories equal pain and pain equals a long struggle to find peace.

Though a successful and strong-minded business woman today; it came through work and perseverance, not through strong family support. This book is one woman’s account of a life of uphill battles and the ongoing process of learning to let go, while continuing to push forward. Barbara details her childhood as the daughter of a Minister who was married to another Minister. She recalls dreams of becoming a lawyer so she could put away criminals. She shares her decision to walk away from abuse, forcing her to drop out of school and leave home at 17. She shares many experiences where she allowed others to take advantage of her along life’s road, because she wanted so desperately to trust again.

Through her book Barbara attempts to reach out to parents who might opt to turn their head to abuse of their children, for the sake of pride or reputation.  She reminds parents that child abuse or the condoning of child abuse is unacceptable, unjustifiable and more likely than not - unforgivable.

As each day comes and goes, we are affected by four very important facets. They are family, life, marriage, and spirituality. One of the greatest gifts the Lord can bless us with is a loving family. Unfortunately, in today’s society, families are being torn apart by many things. We must continue to pray and fight for what is has been given to us by God.

Every day that we wake up in the morning, we should give thanks to God for letting us live another day. We must not forget, tomorrow is not promised, therefore; we must live each day as if it were our last and should live it for HIM. I can’t begin to say how much better my days have gone since I started each and every day with prayer.

My wife and I have been happily married for fifteen years. I would say “happily married,” but just like with many marriages, we have had our ups and downs. But, with the Lord’s help, we have been able to persevere over all.

Unfortunately, some marriages have been torn apart. The devil’s been hard at work breaking up what God united. For this very reason, we must arm ourselves with God’s suit of armor.

In conclusion, I hope and pray that we open our eyes and our hearts and listen to the messages of the Holy Spirit. We must remember “we belong to God, anyone who knows God listens to us, while anyone who does not belong to God refuses to hear us.” (1stJohn 4:6)

     Life happens while making plans.  When life suddenly turns tragic and nothing makes sense, how is one able to move forward?  The dreams and ambitions once hoped for have now faded away.  How is one to cope?  What can one do?  This is the story of Brian Webb, a recent college graduate, whose world is suddenly thrown into the storms of life…..and survives.  Suffering an intracranial hemorrhage, one week after graduation, Brian discovered a new lease for life.  Recovering from the injury, Brian found a new appreciation and passion for what he lost and the strength to search for what is yet to come that will inspire the reader. 

     The book Don’t Give Up, Don’t Ever Give Up, readers will find out what it may take to live life to the fullest.  Once not putting any importance on anything, readers will see that Brian has a new appreciation for everything where at one point was taken for granted.  Bills, unemployment, keeping up with the Jones' does not really matter.  Love is the answer.  Love is all that matters.

     Live life.  Live strong. Live your dreams.  Everyone can be someone, just believe in yourself and the answers will come.  Don’t Give Up, Don’t Ever Give Up, shows that everyone has the power to live life to their fullest no matter what obstacle, no matter what difficulty.  Be strong, don’t quit and never give up!

On skid row you can find yourself face down in the street with strangers going through your pockets.

It’s possible to get mugged, raped, and even killed the same day and no one will care.

If you can imagine running back and forth through a swarm of angry bees with your pants down without getting stung you may have some idea what it’s like trying to survive on skid row.

As long as you have breath you have a chance and a choice. You can choose to stay in the deep dark hole you find yourself standing in or you can choose to climb out of it.

When you climb out and begin to remove the tarnish you may find something underneath that still shine.

Don’t ever be ashamed to look into the mirror. The person looking back at you just may become a “Hero”.

   & n b s p ; & n b s p ; & n b s p ; & n b s p ; & n b s p ; & n b s p ; & n b s p ; & n b s p ; & n b s p ; & n b s p ; & n b s p ; & n b s p ; & n b s p ; & n b s p ; & n b s p ; & nbsp;            DOWN, BUT NOT OUT! 

Reflections of a Hurricane Katrina Survivor

It is amazing how your life can change in an instant, proving the old saying “here today and gone tomorrow” as true. This is exactly what happened on August 29, 2005, my oldest son’s birthday will now go on record as the day Hurricane Katrina changed our lives forever.

The floodwaters of Katrina violently rushed into New Orleans causing me to lose my home, job, and city. My family and friends are scattered about the country. It affected every aspect of my entire life from the way I worship to the way I conduct personal business nothing was spared. No one unless experiencing it first hand will ever imagine or understand the pain, depression, stress, and sorrow Katrina left behind.

 If you look beyond the French Quarter and the beautiful Garden District, you will find on a street less than fifteen minutes away, my home. The home I plan to raise my family and build a lifetime of memories now awaits my decision on whether to rebuild or not. 

Today the cameras and focus is off New Orleans, and our faces are no longer coming across your television sets; however, we are still here feeling the effects. We the hurricane survivors are still struggling to pick up the pieces of our lives; we are facing very difficult times and having to make extremely difficult decisions while many of us are still unable to return home.

“DOWN, BUT NOT OUT! Reflections of a Hurricane Katrina Survivor” expresses the pain, anguish, and stress of my experience. My deepest personal thoughts come to life through short stories, prose, and poetry. Through my eyes you will see, and through may spirit you will feel events as they unfold in my life then and now. The cameras may be off, but with each day, my story continues to unfold.

When bad things happen to bad people no one is surprised. When very bad things, undeserved and indefensible things, happen to very good people everyone wonders why.

After more than two decades of faithful service, with every measure of success in hand, Rev. R. M. Runyon watches helplessly as the course of his life takes a dramatic turn. He appeals fervently to the God he has loved and served with such devotion, only to find that this time there is no intervention, no band of angels driving back the forces of darkness. As his steps continue down a path he finds difficult to accept, he is faced with loss and mind numbing pain  Losses he didn’t personally know a human could experience. Can the man who has spent his life providing answers and giving guidance to others find answers for himself when everything is gone?

The lowest point comes at Christmas time, and new insight into the familiar Christmas story brings renewed hope and opportunity where he would have least expected it. He learns from Mary that God can birth something meaningful and important in a life even when no one else understands. In the midst of what appears to be utter chaos and pain, he gains a new life, greater insight and unparalleled personal growth. He finds that God reigns in dark unfamiliar places too.

A “must read” for all women! It identifies potential Abusers and tells you what you can do about them, and at the same time, this book takes a humorous look at marital and relationship complaints. It ends with a true life experience.

With two divorces behind her, Gabby had decided to sit down and give it to you straight…the COLD HARD TRUTH about having been involved with the wrong man.

It is not your Grandma’s Recipe Book!

From time to time our lives get low, weak or drained and need to be "jump-started" in order for us to change.

Sometimes specific areas of our lives may be doing well, however we may be weak and need more power in another area. We may just need an extra "boost of encouragement," an "extra jolt of hope," or an "extra surge of how to" in order to get our engine of life started and moving in the right direction again.

If you are ready for a life-changing jump-start, the information in this book will give you the extra boost, jolt and surge you need in order to jump-start and change your life.

The valuable information in this book will show you how you can jump-start your life by: renewing your mind, controlling your attitude, setting goals, dreaming big, taking action and never giving up when you are faced with challenges.

This book has real life-touching stories by the author and it is full of simple life-changing ideas and philosophies that you can apply now to help you live a more powerful, peaceful, significant and God-filled life.