Podcast appearances and mentions of heber springs

  Get the book, Cultivate and Activate: Building Teacher Capacity for Instructional Leadership Guest Host: Barbara Blackburn Barbara Blackburn, PhD is the author of more than 40 books and a full-time consultant who works with schools around the world to help raise the level of rigor and motivation for professional educators and students alike. Dr. Blackburn has been repeatedly named to the Top 30 Education Gurus and Top 10 Professional Development Programs by Global Gurus. See all of Dr. Blackburn's guest appearances on Principal Center Radio About The Guests: Keith Fickel & Justin Baeder Keith Fickel is a retired middle school and high school principal in the southwest Houston, Texas, area. His focus during his decade as principal was to ensure that high levels of student learning, achievement, and personal development occurred in every classroom, every day. He accomplished these aims through the intentional empowerment of teachers and staff to effectively lead not only their classrooms but the school as a whole. Keith prioritized building and maintaining a strong bond with the school community through trust during his principalship. He began his career in education in 1991, serving first as a classroom teacher and a band director for seventeen years, then as an assistant principal, associate principal, and campus principal during the second half of his career. His entire educational career was at the secondary level in both private and public school settings. Keith has facilitated or cofacilitated professional learning sessions at the district, regional, and state levels on a variety of topics. He is a member of the Texas Association of Secondary School Principals and ASCD. In 2008, he was a campus Teacher of the Year, as well as a finalist for the Fort Bend ISD Secondary Teacher of the Year. In 2022, he was named the Fort Bend ISD Secondary Principal of the Year, and he had the honor of serving as the founding principal of the district's newest high school in 2023, prior to his retirement. Keith earned both a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in music education from Texas Tech University, and he completed his principal certification through the University of Houston. He resides in Sugar Land, Texas, with his wife, Anne, who was also a music teacher. Together, they have an adult daughter who is also in education.   Justin Baeder, PhD, is director of the Principal Center, where he helps school and district administrators build capacity for instructional leadership. Driven by the belief that leaders belong in classrooms, he created the Instructional Leadership Association to help school leaders confidently get into classrooms every day, have feedback conversations that change teachers' practice, and discover their best opportunities for school improvement. The Instructional Leadership Association now has thousands of members in more than forty countries. Prior to starting the Principal Center, Justin served as a teacher, head teacher, and principal in Seattle Public Schools, finishing his ten-year career in Seattle as principal of Olympic View Elementary. He has contributed to School Administrator, Principal, Principal News, Principal Navigator, and Education Week. Justin presents regularly at state and national conferences, including ASCD, Learning Forward, and the National Association of Elementary School Principals, and has spoken at numerous in-person professional learning events in the United States, Canada, and El Salvador, as well as at countless virtual events. Justin holds a PhD in educational leadership and policy from the University of Washington, where he is a graduate of the Danforth Educational Leadership Program. He holds a master of education degree in curriculum and instruction from Seattle University and a bachelor's degree in science education from Harding University. He resides in Heber Springs, Arkansas, with his wife, Amy, and two daughters, Vivienne and Genevieve. To learn more about Justin's work, or to contact Justin, visit PrincipalCenter.com or follow @eduleadership on X. Episode Sponsor This episode of Principal Center Radio is sponsored by IXL, the most widely used online learning and teaching platform for K-12. Discover the power of data-driven instruction in your school with IXL—it gives you everything you need to maximize learning, from a comprehensive curriculum to meaningful school-wide data. Visit IXL.com/center to lead your school towards data-driven excellence today.   

What a great ending for Morrilton softball in this 4A-3 Regional Semifinal!

UACCM Ranked 4th out of 22 community colleges in Arkansas; Leadership Conway County graduates this year's class; Childcare Aware to hold family fun event Saturday; Morrilton Car-Mart among 42 stores closed; Governor touts LEARNS act in State of State address; area fire departments busy with response efforts; cleanup continues; water conservation request reminders; large number of weekend activities in the area; Morrilton gets conference win over Heber Springs; we visit with Jerry Smith of the Conway County History Museum.

Fourche River Outdoors Fest set for this weekend; Rain chances are slight for this weekend, water conservation effort underway; Communities Unlimited to hold event Saturday at Morrilton Pocket Park; Governor declares disaster for drought; Morrilton Police warn of text messaging scam; Morrilton wins two run-rule games at Heber Springs; more high school baseball and softball profiled; we visit with Mary Clark of UACCM.

Cahill donates bronze moose statue to honor Moose family, installed on Moose Street; Petit Jean State Park has lots of free activities for spring break; Rep. Beck says expenses and reimbursements tied to busy work in energy; Hendrix College the latest to join AG's 'One Pill Can Kill' initiative; Morrilton softball uses 17-run sixth inning to beat Heber Springs; Sacred Heart and Nemo Vista split in baseball and softball games; we visit with Spencer Kilgore of CT Church in Morrilton.

Official report: fatal blaze caused by space heater, victims named; we preview tonight's Morrilton City Council, South Conway County School Board meetings; scholarship established in honor of Poole; Leadership Conway County class working toward new mural for downtown; several MHS students earn honors; Templeton pours in 35 in MHS boys' win over Heber Springs; Nemo Vista sweeps Guy-Perkins; we visit with Shane Boen with the Motown Players.

Landowners in the Brewer Lake watershed invited to meeting Thursday; application period opens for Giving Tree grants; South Conway County School District reports on cybersecurity, reading; demand for EFA funds outstrips supply; Widner family recognized by diabetes research organization; Morrilton splits with Heber Springs; Sacred Heart varsity teams fall to Bradford; Wonderview sweeps Guy-Perkins; we visit with Mary Clark of the University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton.

South Conway County School Board approves academic calendar; 'Men at Rest' mural unveiled; Morrilton City Council holds first meeting of 2026; Morrilton to host Heber Springs for Title IX Night; we visit with Jay Carter of the Conway County Library.

THE LEADERSHIP OF THE CHURCH“The Messenger is the Message” (Titus 1:1-16) For the bulletin in PDF form, click here.Message SlidesTitus - F.F. BruceTitus - Robert YarbrouchTitus: The Man and the Letter - Gordon FeeCrete - Baker Illustrated Bible DictionaryCrete - Reobert YarbroughProclaiming the Gospel in a Pluralistic Society - Walter LiefeldIntroduction: Mount Vesuvius, Pompey, and HerculaneumSalutation and Greeting (1:1-4)EXPOSITIONFor this reason I left you in Crete,that you would set in order what remainsand appoint elders in every city as I directed you (1:5 ) NASBPastoral: Appointing Elders in the Church (1:5-16) • Charge: Set things in order (1:5). • Character: Qualifications for Elders (1:6-9). • Need: False Teachers must be rebuked (1:10-16). - Influence: They Lead Whole Families Astray (1:11). - Character: They Reject the Truth (1:12-14a). - Errors: Their Deeds do not Match their Doctrine (1:4b-16).APPLICATIONThey claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him.They are detestable, disobedient, and unfit for doing anything good. (1:16 ) NIVRelevance: Practical Points in Reverse Order (1:5-16) • Problem: Rebellious people in the world and in the church (1:11-16). • Solution: Rebellious people must be taught the gospel truth (1:6-9). • Method: The Message is often in the Messenger (1:5-9).God designed the church to be led by qualified spiritual leaders who are able to refute false teaching with sound doctrine and limit its impact in the lives of the community.Home Church QuestionsPaul sets a very high standard for Church Leadership (1:5-9). • Why is an elder's character tied so closely to his teaching (vv. 6–9)? • How might this principle apply to every believer who represents Christ in daily life?Paul warns that false teachers were “upsetting whole families” (v. 11). • What examples can you think of where unhealthy teaching has divided your family or churches where you have been involved? • How should we respond in both truth and love?Paul emphasizes that often the “messenger is the message” (vv. 5–9). • When were you inEluenced more by someone's life than by their words? • Tell a story about someone who had impact on your spiritual journey.False teachers “profess to know God, but deny Him by their works”. • What are some subtle ways this danger might creep into our own lives? • How can we help one another stay authentic and live our lives as a “winsome witness before a watching world.”Pray for the Unreached: The Wolof of SenegalThey are the largest people group in Senegal, known for their rich culture, Islamic heritage, and historic resistance to French colonial rule. Many now live in cities and work in education or trade. Most still farm peanuts as a key cash crop. Despite access to Christian resources, few follow Christ. Pray for culturally sensitive believers to share the gospel and for Wolof hearts to be open to Jesus.FinancesWeekly Budget 34,615Giving For 09/07 38,110Giving For 09/14 23,974YTD Budget 380,769Giving 326,633 OVER/(UNDER) (54,136)Women's RetreatJoin us for a powerful weekend of rest, renewal, and connection at the beautiful Red Apple Inn in Heber Springs. Step away from the noise, spend time with the Lord, and cultivate meaningful friendships—both new and old. We're already praying for you! Early Bird Registration is open through September 28• Double occupancy: $195 (early) | $215 (after) • Single occupancy: $375 (early only) • College students: $100 (4-person room)Registration includes 2 nights, all Saturday meals, and Sunday breakfast. Sign-ups close October 12. Register at fellowshipconway.org/womenNew to Fellowship?We are so glad that you chose to worship with our Fellowship Family this morning. If you are joining us for the first time or have been checking us out for a few weeks, we are excited you are here and would love to meet you. Please fill out the “Connect Card” and bring it to the Connection Center in the Atrium, we would love to say “hi” and give you a gift. Join a Home ChurchHome Church small groups are about building a deep community where we are transformed into the image of Christ and serve a broken world for the sake of the gospel. If you are not in a Home Church, we encourage you to talk with Michael at the Home church kiosk after service or go to fellowshipconway.org/homechurch. Fellowship College Are you a college student or between the ages of 18–22? You're invited to be part of the College Ministry at Fellowship Bible Church! We gather Thursday evenings (6:30 pm) for worship and Wednesday afternoons (1-5pm) for coffee. Contact Andrew at astauffer@fellowshipconway.orgEquipping OpportunitiesFellowship's Equipping Ministry exists to equip and release our church body to deepen their understanding and experience of God & His word, develop genuine, Spirit-led living, and consistently invest in making disciples. Check out this Fall's opportunities at Fellowshipconway.org/equipping. Fellowship Kids at Schaefer's Pumpkin Patch | October 4 | 10 AM - 12 PMJoin us for a morning of fall fun! Enjoy games, a petting zoo, hay rides, and food trucks. Grab your hay ride tickets at the booth and meet us by the tractor at 11:00 AM for a ride with other Fellowship families. Don't miss out—it's going to be a blast!Special Pack OCC | Pack • Pray • Send — Be Part of the Mission!On Monday, October 6, join us at Fellowship for a powerful Operation Christmas Child Packing Event! Together, we'll pack 2,800 shoeboxes to share the love of Jesus with kids in hard-to-reach places. Sessions: 11 AM–1 PM or 6–9 PM (childcare available in the evening for 6 years and under) Let's fill every box, pray over every child, and send the Good News across the globe!Fellowship Kids Father/Son Camp out (Kindergarten-6th Grade)Calling all dads and sons! Get ready for an awesome weekend just for you. We're planning a fun father and son camp out on October 10-11, at 53 Wasson Road in Conway. We'll have games, a campfire, and plenty of time to hang out. If camping isn't your thing, you can still join us for all the activities on Friday night. Saturday breakfast is included. Register at fellowshipconway.org/register.

We're posting this on Thursday, July 17, 2025, and it's the fourth in a series of six episodes designed to help you get ready for the new school year. We'll also have new episodes in this back to school series next Monday and Thursday, July 21st and 24th. This week we're discussing placing beginner band students with the right instrument as Nick Averwater continues his conversation with Sloane Feeley from Woodland Middle School in Brentwood, TN, Spencer Nesvick from Houston Middle School in Germantown, TN, and David Burkhalter from Heber Springs Middle School in Heber Springs, AR.Our conversation was recorded June 30, 2025. We've broken it up into two episodes, and this is part two.

We're posting this on Monday, July 14, 2025. It's the third in a series of six episodes designed to help you get ready for the new school year. We'll have new episodes in this back to school series this Thursday, July 17th, as well as next Monday and Thursday, July 21st and 24th. This week we're discussing placing beginner students with the right instrument as Nick Averwater talks with Sloane Feeley from Woodland Middle School in Brentwood, TN, a city of 45,000 located just south of Nashville, Spencer Nesvick from Houston Middle School in Germantown, TN, a city of 41,000 just east of Memphis, and David Burkhalter from Heber Springs Middle School in Heber Springs, AR, a town of 7,000 located 50 miles north of Little Rock.Our conversation was recorded June 30, 2025. We've broken it up into two episodes, and this is part one.

UACCM Foundation Gala approaching; Conway County Community Foundation 'Giving Tree' grant program to accept requests; Morrilton City Council, South Conway County School Board to meet tonight; Morrilton basketball team sweep Heber Springs; we check other area high school results.

Groups rally around surviving brother of family killed in auto accident; Yell County man wins over $5 million in LOTTO; Governor introduces maternal health bill; Morrilton to host Heber Springs tonight as team copes with loss of teammate; we visit with Alicia Hugen of the Conway County Extension Service.

1 John: Confidence at His Coming Survey of the Bible For the bulletin in PDF form, click here.Message SlidesThe Apostle JohnOccasion of 1 JohnAudience of 1 JohnPurpose of 1 JohnChristologyContext: Who, Where, When, and Why?• Who composed 1 John?• Who was John's original audience?• When was 1 John written? • Where were the author and his readers?• Why was 1 John written? Content: How and What?• Prologue: Incarnation and Fellowship Introduced (1:1-4)Fellowship - God is Light - Walk in the Light (1:5-2:27) - Basic Principles: (1:5-2:11) • Basic Principles of Fellowship (1:5-2:2) • Basic Principles of Knowing God (2:3-11) - The Purpose of the Epistles (2:1-27) • In Light of Their Varied Spiritual Condition 2:12-14) • In Light of the Allurement of the World (2:15-17) • In Light of the Deceptions of the Last Hour z92:18-23) • In Light of the Responsibility to Abide (2:24-27)Big Idea: Abide to have Confidence (παρρησίαν) at His Coming (παρουσία) (2:28)Sonship - God is Love - Walk in the Love (2:29-5:17 - Discerning the True Children of God (2:29-3:10a - Discerning True Love for the Brethren (3:10b-23) - Discerning the Indwelling God (3:24-4:16) - Theme Realized; Abide in Christ and Have Confidence at His Coming (4:17-19) - The Expression of Love (4:20-5:17)• Epilogue: Sonship and Incarnation Culminated (5:18-21)• What is the message of 1 John? Conviction: So What?• Where does 1 John fit? - John is correcting an “overinterpretation” of his Gospel by false teachers who have left the congregation. - The doctrinal correction has to do with a correct understanding of the incarnation. - The practical implication has to do with living in fellowship with God as His children.• What should we believe? - God is light and we should walk in light. - God is love and we should walk in love. - When we abide in Christ we can have confidence, not shame, when He returns.• How should we behave? - Confessing sin to maintain fellowship. - Abiding in Christ through obedience and love. - Loving God and His children empowered by the Holy Spirit.Next Steps • Be honest about your sin and confess quickly. Experience God's gracious forgiveness. • Abide in Christ through obedience to His word and love of others. • Find assurance of your salvation through solid faith in Christ. • Anticipate confidence at Christ's return by living a life of obedience and love.This Week's Growth GuideGod's Word is both central and critical to your spiritual growth. We invite you to utilize the Growth Guide during the week to further your application of the Truth from the message.•. Monday - 1 John 1•. Tuesday - 1 John 2•. Wednesday - 1 John 3•. Thursday - 1 John 4•. Friday - 1 John 5FinancesWeekly Budget 35,297Giving For 09/22 30,235Giving For 09/29 19,563YTD Budget 458,863 Giving 394,253 OVER/(UNDER) (64,610) Operation Christmas Child Special PackThis Tuesday, October 8, you and your family are invited to participate in an Operation Christmas Child Special Access Pack at Fellowship! Together, we will be packing 2800 shoeboxes that will be sent to children in hard-to-reach areas worldwide. Join us on October 8 from 11:00 am - 2:00 pm or 6:00 - 9:00 pm. Child care is provided for ages six years and younger.New to Fellowship?We are so glad that you chose to worship with our Fellowship Family this morning. If you are joining us for the first time or have been checking us out for a few weeks, we are excited you are here and would love to meet you. Please fill out the “Connect Card” and bring it to the Connection Center in the Atrium, we would love to say “hi” and give you a gift. Fellowship Women's Fall Retreat - BreatheRest, eat, worship, and make new friends in beautiful Heber Springs. We would love for you to join us at our October 25-27 fall retreat. To learn more and to register go to fellowshipconway.org/women. Men's Fellowship Breakfast Men, join us for a great breakfast and fellowship on Wednesday, October 9, at 6:00 a.m. here in the Fellowship atrium. No sign-up is needed. Come with your Bible ready to eat, fellowship with other men, and start your day off right through prayer and Biblical insight. Questions? Contact Michael at mharrison@fellowshipconway.org.Father/Son Campout - October 18-19Join us for an unforgettable Father-Son Camp Out this Fall, where adventure and bonding await boys ages 5 and up! This is a fantastic opportunity for fathers to connect with their sons in a unique setting. Don't miss out on this special chance to strengthen your bond and enjoy nature's beauty. Register at fellowshipconway.org/register. Fellowship 101We invite you to join us on Sunday, November 10, at 9:00 a.m. to learn more about Fellowship. This is a great opportunity to hear about our mission, values, and our ministries. If you're new to Fellowship, join us in the conference room (first floor) to hear what God is doing and where He is taking us. During this time, you will meet some of our ministry leaders and get to ask questions. Register at fellowshipconway.org/register. Feed the Need - Sunday, November 3, 10-2:00 p.m.Multiple ways to serve! First, we need 24 volunteers to serve the day of the event at the Walmart Neighborhood Market. Volunteers will sort, box, load, and help spread the word! Register at fellowshipconway.org/register. Second, you can go to one of the participating grocery stores, shop for items on the list, and drop them with the volunteers in the parking lot! Let's help this year's event be a great success! Fellowship Equipping ClassesEquipping classes have started and there's still to time to sign up. To find out more information and register go to fellowshipconway.org/equipping.

Usually, by the time we at the Three Links Odd Cast hear about a new lodge being chartered, it's already meeting regularly.  However, in this instance, we got to talk to Brother Garrett Hite of Oklahoma as he's in the process of re-chartering Durant Lodge #57.  Brother Garrett shares his story of how he first came to join the Odd Fellows, his time away from his home lodge, and the eventual need to form a new lodge in his new home town in Oklahoma.  He gives a great amount of insight into the process of chartering a lodge, from finding a meeting space to rounding up new members.  The Shoutout goes to a new lodge in Arkansas, Heber Springs #17, which was recently re-chartered.  In the Odd Podge, Ainslie talks about his lodge's visit to the drive-in movie theater, Garrett promotes the upcoming car show his home lodge in Texas is working on, and Toby reveals a major life change in the works.SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Auditions are now open for the Christmas Episode of the Three Links Odd Cast, entitled "It's A Wonderful Lodge."  Anyone interested in auditioning can request a script excerpt and record an audition.  Excerpts can be requested at our email address, 3linksoddcast@gmail.com.  All auditions are due by October 28th so be sure to get the script and record your audition!

Kingdom Stories: 11th Hour Workers Matthew 20:1-16 For the bulletin in PDF form, click here. The Parable Why It's Difficult What It Means What We Learn from the 1st Hour Workers What We Learn from the 11th Hour Workers This Week's Growth GuideGod's Word is both central and critical to your spiritual growth. We invite you to utilize the Growth Guide during the week to further your application of the Truth from the message. •. Monday - Romans 3•. Tuesday - Romans 4•. Wednesday - Romans 5•. Thursday - Romans 6•. Friday - Romans 7•. Saturday - 1 John (Sermon text for Sunday)Home Church Questions1. Have someone read Matthew 20:1-16. How would you summarize this parable? 2. Why is this parable difficult? How might someone apply this parable in a way that is not healthy? How would you respond to someone who says they will live like an 11th hour worker and come to Christ toward the end of their life? 3. What is the main point of the parable? How does the context (the passages before and after this parable) help explain the point of the parable?4. God graciously allows us to be a part of His Kingdom and work for Him. What are some ways we can tell if we are working for His kingdom because of His grace or if we are working with an unhealthy motive? What are some motives for working for God's Kingdom that are not healthy?5. Why does it sometimes frustrate us when other people experience grace and mercy? What does this reveal about us if we are frustrated with this? What should we do if we experience this resentment?6. What are some ways we are like the 11th hours workers? How should this impact how we think about other 11th hour workers who experience God's grace?7. What does this parable teach us about God? How should this truth impact us?Mission Highlight - Pray for the Unreached: The Rajput People of India (0.1% Christian) The name Rajput means "son of a ruler," and signifies the noble status of these people. Many Rajputs are landowners, forming a dominant community in northern and western India. The Rajputs are mobile, with many migrating to new areas over time. Ministry obstacles include fear that Christianity may alienate individuals from their families and traditions, making them hesitant to embrace the Gospel. Prayer is needed for Rajput believers to effectively engage their families, and for a family-based Bible study movement that leads entire communities to experience God's blessings.FinancesWeekly Budget 35,297Giving For 09/15 21,163Giving For 09/22 30,235YTD Budget 423,566 Giving 374,690 OVER/(UNDER) (48,876)Equipping ClassesThe Equipping Ministry exists to equip and release our church body to deepen their understanding and experience of God & His word, develop genuine, Spirit-led living, and consistently invest in making disciples. We are providing a variety of courses this Fall and our hope is that you would prayerfully consider signing up for one that would help you grow in your faith or gain some skills for furthering your personal ministry. Please check out fellowshipconway.org/equipping to learn about all the other options and register today. New to Fellowship?We are so glad that you chose to worship with our Fellowship Family this morning. If you are joining us for the first time or have been checking us out for a few weeks, we are excited you are here and would love to meet you. Please fill out the “Connect Card” and bring it to the Connection Center in the Atrium, we would love to say “hi” and give you a gift. Fellowship Women's Fall Retreat - BreatheRest, eat, worship, and make new friends in beautiful Heber Springs. We would love for you to join us at our October 25-27 fall retreat. To learn more and to register go to fellowshipconway.org/women. Fellowship Kids at Schaefer's Pumpkin PatchFellowship families, join us Saturday, October 5, from 10 to 12 at Schaefer's Pumpkin Patch for some great outdoor fun with friends and family. There will be hayrides, animals to pet, pumpkins to pick, and food trucks to buy your lunch. There is no need to register. Hope to see you there! Father/Son Campout - October 18-19Join us for an unforgettable Father-Son Camp Out this Fall, where adventure and bonding await boys ages 5 and up! Experience the great outdoors together as you share stories around the campfire and create lifelong memories under the stars. This is a fantastic opportunity for fathers to connect with their sons in a unique setting. Don't miss out on this special chance to strengthen your bond and enjoy nature's beauty. Register at fellowshipconway.org/register. Operation Christmas Child Special PackOn Tuesday, October 8, you and your family are invited to participate in an Operation Christmas Child Special Access Pack at Fellowship! Together, we will be packing 2600 shoeboxes that will be sent to children in hard-to-reach areas worldwide. Join us on October 8 from 11:00 am - 2:00 pm or 6:00 - 9:00 pm. Child care is provided for ages six years and younger.Men's Fellowship Breakfast Men, join us for a great breakfast and fellowship on Wednesday, October 9, at 6:00 a.m. here in the Fellowship atrium. No sign-up is needed. Come with your Bible ready to eat, fellowship with other men, and start your day off right through prayer and Biblical insight. Questions? Contact Michael at mharrison@fellowshipconway.org.

Kingdom Stories: The Four Soils Matthew 13:1-23 For the bulletin in PDF form, click here. Hard Soil Rocky Soil Unfruitful Soil Fruitful Soil This Week's Growth GuideGod's Word is both central and critical to your spiritual growth. We invite you to utilize the Growth Guide during the week to further your application of the Truth from the message.•. Monday - Matthew 13•. Tuesday - Matthew 18•. Wednesday - Matthew 21•. Thursday - Matthew 22•. Friday - Matthew 25•. Saturday - Matthew 20:1-16 (Sermon text for Sunday) Home Church Questions 1. The first type of soil is the hard soil (Matt 13:4). According to Matt 13:19, explain who this type of soil represents. Who were the people who responded to Jesus' teaching in this way (see Matt 12)? 2. Have you ever been like the hard soil or do you know someone who is like this (unwilling to listen)? How should we respond to someone who is like the hard soil?3. The second type of soil is the rocky soil (13:5). According to Matt 13:20-21, explain who this type of soil represents. Some people see the phrase “fall away” in v.21 and assume this means someone can lose his/her salvation. What are other passages in the Bible that help us know we should not interpret this parable in this way?4. When a person trusts in Christ, we want to encourage that person and talk about security in Christ. We also learn from this parable we should not encourage a superficial decision. What does a healthy approach look like with these two concerns in mind?5. The third type of soil is the unfruitful soil (13:7). According to Matt 13:22, explain who this type of soil represents. What are some ways we can be confident we are not like this type of soil?6. The fourth type of soil is the fruitful soil (13:8). According to Matt 13:23, explain who this type of soil represents. What are some ways we should be producing? What is the fruit in our lives we should expect if we are like the good soil?7. The main point of the parable is not merely that we should produce and bear fruit (though this is a truth we see). The main emphasis is on hearing (we see the word “hear” 15 times in Matt 13:1-23). Why is it important that we emphasize hearing as we consider this parable? Mission Highlight - Pray for the Unreached: The Rajput People of India (0.1% Christian) The name Rajput means "son of a ruler," and signifies the noble status of these people. Many Rajputs are landowners, forming a dominant community in northern and western India. The Rajputs are mobile, with many migrating to new areas over time. Ministry obstacles include fear that Christianity may alienate individuals from their families and traditions, making them hesitant to embrace the Gospel. Prayer is needed for Rajput believers to effectively engage their families, and for a family-based Bible study movement that leads entire communities to experience God's blessings.FinancesWeekly Budget 35,297Giving For 09/08 39,043Giving For 09/15 21,163YTD Budget 388,269Giving 344,455 OVER/(UNDER) (43,814) Equipping classesThe Equipping Ministry exists to equip and release our church body to deepen their understanding and experience of God & His word, develop genuine, Spirit-led living, and consistently invest in making disciples. We are providing a variety of courses this Fall and our hope is that you would prayerfully consider signing up for one that would help you grow in your faith or gain some skills for furthering your personal ministry. Please check out fellowshipconway.org/equipping to learn about all the other options and register today. New to Fellowship?We are so glad that you chose to worship with our Fellowship Family this morning. If you are joining us for the first time or have been checking us out for a few weeks, we are excited you are here and would love to meet you. Please fill out the “Connect Card” and bring it to the Connection Center in the Atrium, we would love to say “hi” and give you a gift. Fellowship Women's Fall Retreat - BreatheRest, eat, worship, and make new friends in beautiful Heber Springs. We would love for you to join us at our October 25-27 fall retreat. To learn more and to register go to fellowshipconway.org/women. Fellowship Kids at Schaefer's Pumpkin PatchFellowship families, join us Saturday, October 5, from 10 to 12 at Schaefer's Pumpkin Patch for some great outdoor fun with friends and family. There will be hayrides, animals to pet, pumpkins to pick, and food trucks to buy your lunch. There is no need to register. Hope to see you there! Father/Son CampoutJoin us for an unforgettable Father-Son Camp Out this Fall, where adventure and bonding await boys ages 5 and up! Experience the great outdoors together as you share stories around the campfire and create lifelong memories under the stars. This is a fantastic opportunity for fathers to connect with their sons in a unique setting. Don't miss out on this special chance to strengthen your bond and enjoy nature's beauty. Register at fellowshipconway.org/register. Operation Christmas Child Special Pack - Save the DateFellowship, we hope you are able to join us with you family, friends, and Home Church for the annual OCC Special Pack on October 8. More details to come! Men's Fellowship Breakfast Men, join us for a great breakfast and fellowship on Wednesday, October 9, at 6:00 a.m. here in the Fellowship atrium. No sign-up is needed. Come with your Bible ready to eat, fellowship with other men, and start your day off right through prayer and Biblical insight. Questions? Contact Michael at mharrison@fellowshipconway.org.

2 Peter: Ethics, Error, and EschatologyA Survey of the BibleFor the bulletin in PDF form, click here.Message Slides2 Peter Chart - WilsonIntroduction to 2 Peter - Jim SamraThe Message of 2 Peter - SwindollSalvation Issues in 2 P{Peter 2 - Tom Schreiner Context: Who, Where, When, and Why?• Who composed 2 Peter?• Who was Peter's original audience?• When was 2 Peter written? • Where were the author and his readers?• Why was 2 Peter written? Content: How and What? Prologue (1:1-2) SPIRITUAL MATURITY - A Call to Maturity in Light of Our Salvation (1:3-21). - Salvation by God's Power and Promises (1:3-4). - Sanctification by Ascending Virtues (1:5-11). - Big Idea: Remain Established in the Truth (1:12-15). - The Authority of the Apostolic Message (1:16-21). FALSE TEACHERS - A Call to Beware in Light of False Teachers (2:1-22). - The Current Rise of False Teachers and Their Judgment (2:1-3). - Past Examples of False Teachers and Their Judgment (2:4-10a). - The Character of False Teachers and Their Judgment (2:10b-22). CHRIST'S RETURN - A Call to Holiness in Light of The Lord's Return (3:1-16) - A Reminder of Past Prophetic and Apostolic Teaching (3:1-2). - Accusation: In the last days scoffers will deny the coming of the Lord (3:3-4). - Refutation: The coming of the Lord is delayed but certain (3:5-10). - Application: Live in light of the Second Coming (3:11-16). Epilogue (3:17-18)• What is the message of 2 Peter? Conviction: So What?• Where does 2 Peter fit? - 2 Peter is clearly Peter's last words to the church (1:12-15). - In 2 Peter the message is that, as always, false teachers are coming; while in Jude the message is that false teachers are already here. - The antidote to false teachers and their teaching is continual spiritual growth (1:3-11) and a focus on the return of Christ to judge false teachers and reward righteous living.• What should we believe? - Spiritual growth takes intentional investment of energy and focus (1:3-11). - False teachers are both theologically in error—denying the Lordship of Christ (3:1-10) and morally bankrupt—insatiable, greedy, and full of sexual lust (3:12-16). - The return of Christ is certain (3:8-13). • How should we behave? - Growing in grace and truth. - Live in light of the Lord's return.Next Steps • Grow in Grace. • Stand in Truth. • Rest in Hope.This Week's Growth GuideGod's Word is both central and critical to your spiritual growth. We invite you to utilize the Growth Guide during the week to further your application of the Truth from the message.• Monday - 2 Peter 1:1-11•. Tuesday - 2 Peter 1:12-21•. Wednesday - 2 Peter 2:1-10•. Thursday - 2 Peter 2:11-22•. Friday - 2 Peter 3:1-10•. Saturday - 2 Peter 3:11-18Home Church Questions• Peter addresses his letter to the “elect exiles” (NAS Read 2 Peter 1:3-11.• What insight or challenge did you gain from Ken's presentation of 2 Peter?• Peter declared that we have everything we need for godly living because of his power (1:3) and his promises (verse 4). What in your life threatens your confidence in God's work in your life, and how can his power and promises quieten your spiritual timidity?• Read 1:5-7. What area or areas do you need to “make every effort?” What is the motivator for that effort in verses 8, 10, and 11?• Read Peter's description of false prophets in chapter 2. Pick out the moral and theological characteristics of false prophets. Does this description identify speakers or writers in our world today?• How does Peter direct that we respond to the presence of these individuals (verses 4-10)?• Describe what “waiting for and hastening” the coming day of the Lord looks like in practical terms of your everyday life (3:10-13)?• Peter closes his letter with the encouragement to be on your guard and grow (verses 17-18). What are some signs in your life that you are becoming spiritually lazy? MISSION HIGHLIGHTPray for our Partners: Justin and Angela Montgomery and children Zeke and Taos - For fruitful relationships with teammates as they work together to further the gospel. - For God's guidance in organizing their schedule and finding a regular rhythm of Sabbath rest amidst increasing responsibilities. - For deeper connections with parents at Taos's preschool. FinancesWeekly Budget 35,297Giving For 09/01 25,132Giving For 09/08 39,043YTD Budget 352,972 Giving 323,292 OVER/(UNDER) (29,680) Equipping classesThe Equipping Ministry exists to equip and release our church body to deepen their understanding and experience of God & His word, develop genuine, Spirit-led living, and consistently invest in making disciples. We are providing a variety of courses this Fall and our hope is that you would prayerfully consider signing up for one that would help you grow in your faith or gain some skills for furthering your personal ministry. Please check out fellowshipconway.org/equipping to learn about all the other options and register today. New to Fellowship?We are so glad that you chose to worship with our Fellowship Family this morning. If you are joining us for the first time or have been checking us out for a few weeks, we are excited you are here and would love to meet you. Please fill out the “Connect Card” and bring it to the Connection Center in the Atrium, we would love to say “hi” and give you a gift. Fellowship Women's Fall Retreat - BreatheRest, eat, worship, and make new friends in beautiful Heber Springs. We would love for you to join us at our October 25-27 fall retreat. To learn more and to register go to fellowshipconway.org/women. Fellowship Kids at Schaefer's Pumpkin PatchFellowship families, join us Saturday, October 5, from 10 to 12 at Schaefer's Pumpkin Patch for some great outdoor fun with friends and family. There will be hay rides, animals to pet, pumpkins to pick, and food trucks to buy your lunch. There is no need to register. Hope to see you there! Father/Son CampoutJoin us for an unforgettable Father-Son Camp Out this Fall, where adventure and bonding await boys ages 5 and up! Experience the great outdoors together as you share stories around the campfire and create lifelong memories under the stars. This is a fantastic opportunity for fathers to connect with their sons in a unique setting. Don't miss out on this special chance to strengthen your bond and enjoy nature's beauty. Register at fellowshipconway.org/register. Men's Bible Study - Systematic Theology Thursdays 6-7:00 a.m. - Ken will pick up the continued study of Systematic Theology with a focus on Soteriology: The Doctrine of Salvation, including Election, Grace, Justification, Assurance, Eternal Security, and other related topics. Prayer During ServiceWe love to pray for one another. Our prayer team will have people at the front of the Auditorium under the signs Hope and Love to pray for you after the message. Please feel free to walk up to them for prayer or encouragement during the first worship song after the message.

1 Peter: Grace and Glory for Suffering Exiles A Survey of the Bible For the bulletin in PDF form, click here. Message SlidesPeter - Illustrated Bible DictionaryPeter - The Baker Illustrated Bible DictionaryPeter's Ministry - Chuck SwindollIntroduction to 1 Peter - Jim SamraThe Message of 1 Peter - Chuck SwindollContext: Who, Where, When, and Why?• Who composed 1 Peter?• Who was Peter's original audience?• When was 1 Peter written? • Where were the author and his readers?• Why was 1 Peter written? Content: How and What? Prologue (1:1-2) Remember - The Glory of Salvation (1:3-16) - The believer has been born again. (1:3-5) - The believer is being grieved by trials. (1:6-12) - Suffer with steadfast hope. (1:13-16) Embrace - The Glory of Suffering (1:17-4:19) - Salvation of the soul is worked out in relation to God. (1:17-21) - Salvation of the soul is worked out in relation to the brethren. (1:22–2:10) - Salvation of the soul is worked out in relation to the world. (2:11–3:7) - Salvation of the soul is worked out in relation to suffering. (3:8–4:19) Submit - The Glory of Humility (5:1-9) - Humbly lead the church as those who will give an account. (5:1-4) - Humbly submit to those in authority to experience God's grace. (5:5) - Humble yourself as a part of submitting to God. (5:6-7) - Be on guard against the devil and resist him by standing firm. (5:8-9) Epilogue (5:10-14)• What is the message of 1 Peter? Conviction: So What?• Where does 1 Peter fit? - In Peter's first letter he includes one of the all-time great summaries of our salvation and then goes on to make application of that to our experience in suffering. - 1 Peter is both theologically substantial and practically helpful.• What should we believe? - God is sovereign and gracious. - Suffering is real and difficult. - The glory of our salvation is a motivation for endurance. • How should we behave? - Reflect on the riches of divine grace and the glory of our salvation. - Endure hardship and suffering as an exercise in Christ-likeness. - Hope for the final redemption and be humble as you wait for vindication.Next steps • Remember the glory of salvation by grace. • Embrace the opportunities found in suffering well for Christ. • Submit to God and the authorities He has established. This Week's Growth GuideGod's Word is both central and critical to your spiritual growth. We invite you to utilize the Growth Guide during the week to further your application of the Truth from the message.•. Monday - 1 Peter 1:1-16•. Tuesday - 1 Peter 1:17-2:10•. Wednesday - 1 Peter 2:11-3:7•. Thursday - 1 Peter 3:8-4:19•. Friday - 1 Peter 5:1-7•. Saturday - 1 Peter 5:8-14 Home Church Questions • Peter addresses his letter to the “elect exiles” (NAS “strangers”) in his introduction (cf. 1:17; 2:11). As believers, how does this change the way we view the circumstances of life? How does the way we live our lives change when we forget this truth?• Read 1:6-7. Describe a time in your life when you were distressed by a trial you encountered. How was your faith tested?• Are you now facing a trial? Why do you think God is testing you? What does Peter say is the result for faithfully enduring that testing (v.7)? • Verse 1 of chapter 2 lists five things we are to rid ourselves of. Which of these tends to sneak into your heart and actions?• On a scale of 1 to 5, 5 being the strongest, how would you characterize your longing for the spiritual milk of the Word in 2:2? In what way has Ken's journey through the books of the Bible fueled that hunger?• What are some things that keep us from desiring the Word as we should?• Read 2:13-17. How does this instruction apply to us in our current political environment?• It is clear that God's will for our lives includes suffering (4:19). What response would show that you are entrusting yourself to God when you encounter suffering? What would show that you are not entrusting yourself to God?• After answering this, read 3:9-12. What are the “do not's” and the “do's” that Peter lists for us?• Read 5:6-7. How would you characterize your ability to “cast your anxiety on him?” How does this relate to humbling yourself under God's mighty hand?• What particular strategy does your adversary the devil use toward you to devour your faith and hope? How do you resist him? [ref. 5:8-9] MISSION HIGHLIGHTOf the 8 billion people in the world, 3.4 billion live in areas that have not been reached with the gospel. These regions remain largely unreached due to persecution, cultural barriers, governmental restrictions, and other challenges that prevent the gospel from spreading. As we consider the vast number of people who have yet to hear the good news, let us pray that God will raise up individuals who are willing to go into these difficult places, regardless of the cost, to share the message of Christ. Pray also that those living in these regions will embrace the gospel, find hope in Jesus, and stand firm in their faith, even in the face of persecution.FinancesWeekly Budget 35,297Giving For 08/25 23,927Giving For 09/01 25,132YTD Budget 317,674 Giving 284,249 OVER/(UNDER) (33,425) Equipping ClassesThe Equipping Ministry exists to equip and release our church body to deepen their understanding and experience of God & His word, develop genuine, Spirit-led living, and consistently invest in making disciples. We are providing a variety of courses this Fall and our hope is that you would prayerfully consider signing up for one that would help you grow in your faith or gain some skills for furthering your personal ministry. Please check out fellowshipconway.org/equipping to learn about all the other options and register today. New to Fellowship?We are so glad that you chose to worship with our Fellowship Family this morning. If you are joining us for the first time or have been checking us out for a few weeks, we are excited you are here and would love to meet you. Please fill out the “Connect Card” and bring it to the Connection Center in the Atrium, we would love to say “hi” and give you a gift. Couple's Night OutCouples, wear your dancing shoes and join us for a delightful evening at our Ol' Southern Social on Saturday, September 14, from 6-8:00 p.m. at Renewal Ranch (75 Lake Dr. Houston, AR). The night will be filled with fun games, lively folk music, folk dancing, and refreshments—child care will be provided at Fellowship by texting Shanna at 501-336-0332. Fellowship Women's Fall Retreat - BreatheRest, eat, worship, and make new friends in beautiful Heber Springs. We would love for you to join us at our October 25-27 fall retreat. To learn more and to register go to fellowshipconway.org/women. Men's Fellowship Breakfast Men, join us for a great breakfast and fellowship on Wednesday, September 11, at 6:00 a.m. here in the Fellowship atrium. No sign-up is needed. Come with your Bible, ready to eat, fellowship with other men, and start your day off right through prayer and Biblical insight. Questions? Contact Michael at mharrison@fellowshipconway.org. Men's Bible Study - Systematic Theology Thursdays 6-7:00 a.m. - Ken will pick up the continued study of Systematic Theology with a focus on Soteriology: The Doctrine of Salvation including Election, Grace, Justification, Assurance, Eternal Security and other related topics. Fellowship 201Join us on September 15th and 22nd as we launch Fellowship 201. This class is designed for anyone who has gone through Fellowship 101 in the last year and those who simply want to have a deeper understanding of our beliefs. Together, we will go through core Christian teachings of the faith and how they apply to our daily lives. Register at fellowshipconway.org/register.

Down and Out Psalm 42 For the bulletin in PDF form, click here. The Cry The Complaint - with himself - with God - with enemies The Confidence This Week's Growth GuideGod's Word is both central and critical to your spiritual growth. We invite you to utilize the Growth Guide during the week to further your application of the Truth from the message.•. Monday - Psalm 42•. Tuesday - Psalm 43•. Wednesday - Psalm 6•. Thursday - Psalm 13•. Friday - Psalm 130Home Church Questions 1. Have someone read Psalm 42. Was there anything from the text or sermon that was especially helpful or interesting?2. The first characteristic of a lament psalm is the cry for help. Where do we see the cry for help in Psalm 42? Why do you think God wants us to learn to cry out to him? What does it look like to cry out to God? 3. Another characteristic of a lament psalm is the complaint. In Psalm 42 the psalmist has three complaints. The first one is with himself. Where do we see this in Psalm 42? Why is it important that we recognize we are often a part of the problem?4. Martyn Lloyd-Jones said, “Have you realized that most of your unhappiness in life is due to the fact that you are listening to yourself instead of talking to yourself?” What does this mean? Do you agree with him?5. The psalmist also has a complaint with God. Where do we see this in Psalm 42? What does it look like to complain to God about God? Have you ever done this? Why would using lament psalms to express our complaint be helpful? Do you have a lament psalm you like to use?6. The psalmist also expresses a complaint against his enemies. We discover that the problem is complex as there is a complaint with himself, with God, and with enemies. What lessons can we learn since the Bible portrays life and our problems as complex?7. The third characteristic of a lament psalm is the expression of confidence or hope. Where do we see this in Psalm 42? Why should it encourage us that every lament psalm includes an expression of hope? What does it look like for us to express confidence and hope even when we are lamenting? Pray for the Unreached: The Baghban in Pakistan The Baghban people of Pakistan are primarily gardeners and fruit sellers, deeply rooted in Muslim traditions. They speak various languages and are spread across rural and urban areas in India and Pakistan. Despite access to Christian resources, there are no known Christian adherents among them. Pray for openness to the gospel and the establishment of a Disciple Making Movement among the Baghban. Learn more: https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/16284/PK FinancesWeekly Budget 35,297Giving For 08/18 26,674Giving For 08/25 23,927YTD Budget 282,377 Giving 259,117 OVER/(UNDER) (23,260) Fellowship 101We invite you to join us on Sunday, September 8, at 9:00 a.m. to learn more about Fellowship. This is a great pportunity to hear about our mission, values, and our ministries. If you're new to Fellowship, join us in the conference room (first floor) to hear what God is doing and where He is taking us. During this time, you will meet some of our ministry leaders and get to ask questions. Register at fellowshipconway.org/register. ​New to Fellowship?We are so glad that you chose to worship with our Fellowship Family this morning. If you are joining us for the first time or have been checking us out for a few weeks, we are excited you are here and would love to meet you. Please fill out the “Connect Card” and bring it to the Connection Center in the Atrium, we would love to say “hi” and give you a gift. Equipping classesFellowship provides a variety of classes covering numerous topics, all designed to equip and release you for ministry. One of the classes offered is Discover You, which begins on Sept. 8 at 9:00 AM and has a few more spots available. Please check out fellowshipconway.org/equipping to learn about all the other options and register today. Fellowship Kids BaptismIs your child asking questions, or have they made a decision of faith? Join us for our baptism class, where we will discuss the character of God, sin, salvation, baptism, and what comes next. We will meet September 8, 15, 22, and 29, during the second service in Room 2110. Contact Heather McKinney at hmckinney@fellowshipconway.org with any questions. Register at fellowshipconway.org/register. Couple's Night OutCouples, wear your dancing shoes and join us for a delightful evening at our Ol' Southern Social on Saturday, September 14, from 6-8:00 p.m. at Renewal Ranch (75 Lake Dr. Houston, AR). The night will be filled with fun games, lively folk music, folk dancing, and refreshments—child care will be provided at Fellowship by texting Shanna at 501-336-0332. Fellowship Women's Revelation StudyJoin us Tuesdays, starting September 3, from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. or Wednesdays starting September 4, from 12-2:00 p.m. Please purchase your own book, Revelation: Eternal King, Everlasting Kingdom, by Jen Wilkin. For details and to register go to fellowshipconway.org/register. Childcare is available for both sessions by texting Shanna Franklin at 501- 336-0332.Fellowship WOmen's Fall Retreat - BreatheRest, eat, worship, and make new friends in beautiful Heber Springs. We would love for you to join us at our October 25-27 fall retreat. To learn more and to register go to fellowshipconway.org/women. Men's Bible Study - Systematic Theology Thursdays 6-7:00 a.m. beginning September 5, Ken will pick up the continued study of Systematic Theology with a focus on Soteriology: The Doctrine of Salvation including Election, Grace, Justification, Assurance, Eternal Security and other related topics.

Majestic and MindfulPsalm 8 For the bulletin in PDF form, click here. He is Majestic and Mindful He Crowned Us With Glory Jesus Has Been Made Like His BrothersThis Week's Growth GuideGod's Word is both central and critical to your spiritual growth. We invite you to utilize the Growth Guide during the week to further your application of the Truth from the message.•. Monday - Psalm 146•. Tuesday - Psalm 147•. Wednesday - Psalm 148•. Thursday - Psalm 149•. Friday - Psalm 150Home Church Questions 1. Have someone read Psalm 8. Did you find anything in the text or the sermon interesting or helpful? 2. We discover God is both majestic and mindful. The theological terms for this are transcendent and immanent. He is big and powerful and yet He is near and cares. Which of these two do you tend to emphasize when you think about God. Why is it important that we affirm both? 3. Psalm 8 emphasizes that God's glory is often seen in what is small and weak and even unlikely. Where do we see this in this psalm? Where do we see other examples of this idea in the Bible?4. Why do you think God often chooses to work in ways and use people we wouldn't expect? How should this truth that God uses unlikely people impact us?5. We tend to either have too high or too low a view of ourselves. It was mentioned in the sermon that the solution to both of these is to focus less on ourselves. What does it look like to focus less on ourselves? Why would this be a healthy solution?6. If we have a correct view of God and of ourselves, we will experience both humility and confidence. Explain why. What are some ways you can have a healthier view of yourself in light of this biblical teaching?7. Hebrews 2 lets us know Jesus fulfills Psalm 8 in a way that we cannot. What are some examples of ways we don't meet the standard of Psalm 8? What are some ways Jesus succeeds for us?Pray for our Partners: David & Eliška Živor, and children Linda, Dominik, and Daniela. -For the church plant in Řepy, and for strong leaders as they work to reach the community -For Eliška to have gospel opportunities as she works with the new preschool in Řepy -For additional funding, so that David can focus more time and effort on ministry FinancesWeekly Budget 35,297Giving For 08/11 27,541Giving For 08/18 26,674YTD Budget 247,080Giving 235,191, OVER/(UNDER) (11,889) Fellowship 101We invite you to join us on Sunday, September 8, at 9:00 a.m. to learn more about Fellowship. This is a great opportunity to hear about our mission, values, and our ministries. If you're new to Fellowship, join us in the conference room (first floor) to hear what God is doing and where He is taking us. During this time, you will meet some of our ministry leaders and get to ask questions. New to Fellowship?We are so glad that you chose to worship with our Fellowship Family this morning. If you are joining us for the first time or have been checking us out for a few weeks, we are excited you are here and would love to meet you. Please fill out the “Connect Card” and bring it to the Connection Center in the Atrium, we would love to say “hi” and give you a gift. FELLOWSHIP KIDS BAPTISMIs your child asking questions, or have they made a decision of faith? Join us for our baptism class, where we will discuss the character of God, sin, salvation, baptism, and what comes next. We will meet September 8, 15, 22, and 29, during the second service in Room 2110. Contact Heather McKinney at hmckinney@fellowshipconway.org with any questions. Register at fellowshipconway.org/register. Couple's Night OutCouples, wear your dancing shoes and join us for a delightful evening at our Ol' Southern Social on Saturday, September 14, from 6-8:00 p.m. at Renewal Ranch (75 Lake Dr. Houston, AR). The night will be filled with fun games, lively folk music, folk dancing, and refreshments—child care will be provided at Fellowship by texting Shanna at 501-336-0332. Fellowship Women's Revelation StudyYou can understand every book of the Bible—even this one. Join us Tuesdays, starting September 3, from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. or Wednesdays starting September 4, from 12-2:00 p.m. Please purchase your own book, Revelation: Eternal King, Everlasting Kingdom, by Jen Wilkin. For details and to register go to fellowshipconway.org/register. Childcare is available for both sessions by texting Shanna Franklin at 501- 336-0332.Fellowship Women's Fall Retreat - BreatheRest, eat, worship, and make new friends in beautiful Heber Springs. We would love for you to join us at our October 25-27 fall retreat. Save the date! Men's Bible Study - Systematic Theology Thursdays 6-7:00 a.m. beginning September 5, Ken will pick up the continued study of Systematic Theology with a focus on Soteriology: The Doctrine of Salvation including Election, Grace, Justification, Assurance, Eternal Security and other related topics. International Friendship Outreach (IFO) is looking for families who can be friends with international students. We would also like to invite FBC members to The IFO Welcome Party on August 31st, 4:30pm at the Second Baptist Church Student Center. If you can provide side or main dish, it would be appreciated. Contact Miseon at 501-205-9207 or mseong11@gmail.com.

James: Making Trials Work for YouA Survey of the BibleFor the bulletin in PDf form, click here. Message SlidesJames ChartIntroduction to James - Don SunukjianIntroduction to James - Jim SamraWhen Life Deals You a Lemon - Mike CocorisContext: Who, Where, When, and Why?• Who composed James?• Who was James original audience?• When was James written? • Where were the author and his readers?• Why was James written? Content: How and What?• How is James organized?• Double Introduction: - Trials produce character. (1:1-11) - Trials produce life or death. (1:12-18) Quick to Hear - Active in Obedience (1:21-2:24) - True hearing is doing. (1:21-27) - Doers of the Word demonstrate mercy. (2:1-13) - Doing delivers and demonstrates faith. (2:14-24) Slow to Speak - Quiet and Controlled in Response (3:1-18) - Much talking is dangerous. (3:1-12) - Gentle conduct is wiser than words. (2:13-18) Slow to Anger - Humble in Relationships (4:1-5:6) - Angry conflicts are the result of worldliness. (4:1-10) - Angry conflicts are the result of playing god. (4:11-5:6)• Double Conclusion: - Motivations for endurance (5:7-11) - Enduring trials in community (5:12-20)• What is the message of James? Conviction: So What?• Where does James fit? - James is the first letter in the New Testament written (before Paul's Epistles) - James is about trials from beginning to end. James is a pastor writing to former members of the Jerusalem church who are going through very difficult times. - The outline of the book is found in 1:19.• What should we believe? - Trials can be beneficial when handled well. - Trials give us a choice between life and death. • How should we behave? - Quick to Hear! - Slow to Speak! - Slow to Anger! Next Steps • Obey quickly. • Hold your tongue. • Calm downThis Week's Growth GuideGod's Word is both central and critical to your spiritual growth. We invite you to utilize the Growth Guide during the week to further your application of the Truth from the message. •. Monday - James 1:1-18 •. Tuesday - James 1:19-27 •. Wednesday - James 2:1-13 •. Thursday - James 2:14-26 •. Friday - James 3:1-18 •. Saturday - James 4:1-16 •. Sunday - James 5:1-20FinancesWeekly Budget 35,297Giving For 08/04 35,587Giving For 08/11 27,541YTD Budget 211,783 Giving 208,517 OVER/(UNDER) (3,266) Fellowship 101We invite you to join us on Sunday, September 8, at 9:00 a.m. to learn more about Fellowship. This is a great opportunity to hear about our mission, values, and our ministries. If you're new to Fellowship, join us in the conference room (first floor) to hear what God is doing and where He is taking us. During this time, you will meet some of our ministry leaders and get to ask questions. Register at fellowshipconway.org/register. ​New to Fellowship?We are so glad that you chose to worship with our Fellowship Family this morning. If you are joining us for the first time or have been checking us out for a few weeks, we are excited you are here and would love to meet you. Please fill out the “Connect Card” and bring it to the Connection Center in the Atrium, we would love to say “hi” and give you a gift. FELLOWSHIP KIDS BAPTISMIs your child asking questions, or have they made a decision of faith? Join us for our baptism class, where we will discuss the character of God, sin, salvation, baptism, and what comes next. We will meet September 8, 15, 22, and 29, during the second service in Room 2110. Contact Heather McKinney at hmckinney@fellowshipconway.org with any questions. Register at fellowshipconway.org/register. Couple's Night OutCouples, wear your dancing shoes and join us for a delightful evening at our Ol' Southern Social on Saturday, September 14, from 6-8:00 p.m. at Renewal Ranch (75 Lake Dr. Houston, AR). The night will be filled with fun games, lively folk music, folk dancing (no experience needed), and refreshments—child care will be provided at Fellowship by texting Shanna at 501-336-0332. Fellowship Women's Revelation StudyYou can understand every book of the Bible—even this one. In this 10-week study on Revelation, discover how the last book of the Bible - the culmination of God's great story - speaks both a steadying word of assurance and a strong call to endure to the church in every age. Choose the time & day that is best for you - Tuesdays, starting September 3, from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. or Wednesdays starting September 4, from 12-2:00 p.m. Please purchase your own book, Revelation: Eternal King, Everlasting Kingdom, by Jen Wilkin. Register at fellowshipconway.org/register. Childcare is available for both sessions by texting Shanna Franklin at 501- 336-0332.Prayer During ServiceWe love to pray for one another. Our prayer team will have people at the front of the Auditorium under the Hope and Love signs to pray for you after the message. Please feel free to walk up to them for prayer or encouragement during the first worship song after the message. Fellowship Women's Fall Retreat - BreatheRest, eat, worship, and make new friends in beautiful Heber Springs. We would love for you to join us at our October 25-27 fall retreat. Save the date!

Hank Kelley grew up in Heber Springs, AR. He received his Bachelors of Business Administration from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville where he graduated with honors. In the late 1970s he went to work in the northwest Arkansas real estate market and during that time met and married former Little Rock Mayor Jim Dailey's sister, Stephanie Dailey. In 1980 they moved to central Arkansas and Kelley got his MBA in Finance and a Commercial Real Estate Brokerage License. He has instructed Real Estate courses at University of Arkansas at Little Rock and created the Endowed Scholarship to enable students to attend the U of A. Kelley is the CEO of Flake and Kelley Commercial Real Estate firm and over the past 35 years has represented clients that include AT&T, Panera Bread, McDonald's, Starbucks, Acxiom, City of Little Rock Parks & Recreation and the Pulaski County School District.

Tis the season … to spread cheer across the airwaves! From holiday movie traditions to December baking tips that totally sleigh, Kirby, Chris and Bo brought the merriment to the Walmart and Sam's Club Radio studio. Bo challenged callers with this week's Impossible Question (7% of people say they do this on Christmas Day) while Chris kept it jolly with an unforgettable round of Guess the Movie (hint: Chris watches this 90s Christmas classic every December!). Meanwhile, Kirby kept Dave waiting on pins and pine needles with a big calendar confession. In between the radio team's holiday hijinks were a profusion of festive shoutouts from associates: Laura from Store 281 in Heber Springs, Arkansas, called to toast Mark's 30th work anniversary. Noah from Store 4333 in Fairhope, Alabama, called to celebrate his team for keeping the store running throughout the holidays and beyond. And Steve from Store 575 in Woodstock, Georgia, had a very special shoutout: to the entire team at Walmart and Sam's Club Radio. The music and entertainment they provide “makes for a quick day,” said Steve. Tune in for more heart-brightening moments – and a lot of merry magic! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join Life Coach BFF Show host, Heather and her husband David, as they embark on an exciting discussion with a twist—this time, it's a husband's perspective! Discover the delightful dynamics of future empty nesters as they weigh the pros and cons of beach and lake destinations, and get a sneak peek into their retirement dreams. Plus, dive into their recent adventure in the picturesque Heber Springs, Arkansas, where they unravel the beauty and serenity of this charming locale. Don't miss this episode packed with insights and inspiration for your own future getaways!   Mentioned in this episode:   Red Apple In and Country Club https://www.redappleinn.com   Peggy Sue's Place Facebook El Rey Mexican Restaurant Facebook Eden Isle Marina Contact Host, Heather Pettey: Heather@HeatherPettey.com Website: www.HeatherPettey.com Purchase Keep It Simple Sarah   Heather's Bio: Heather is a perfectly imperfect wife of 28 years to David, mom to 4 amazing humans ages 11 to 26, and lover of Jesus. She's a closet peanut M&M and Goldfish cracker consumer. Heather is passionate about encouraging women to find joy and remain sane while parenting teens. The laughter and support happens weekly on her podcast, Life Coach BFF Show. When not podcasting or curating for CLUB BFF Mastermind (a membership for Christian moms of teens), she's coaching moms to live confidently, set clear boundaries, and learn to build their fire in the rain. Heather is also the author of Keep It Simple, Sarah: Powerful Words and Encouragement for Christian Teen Girls. Heather has made appearances on CNN Headline News and other media. She believes life is a long line of lessons, and in her opinion, it's all about faith and good ol' common sense. She happily resides with her family in Memphis, TN. *Quick Disclaimer- I'm a coach and not a therapist. Always seek the support of a therapist for clinical mental health issues.        

This week the Levelheads welcome Joe Julian of Julian and Sons fine custom woodworking in Heber Springs, Arkansas AND Russell Moccasin Boots in Berlin, Wisconsin. Joe talks about how he became the owner of a historic boot company, how his woodworking company began, the work they do all over the world and more! Check it out! You can find Joe at www.julianandsons.com and at www.russellmoccasin.com. You can find him on Instagram at @julian_and_sons and @russellmoccasin Find us on Instagram! @levelheads_pod @verduraconstruction @greenside_design_build @collectivebuildco

Today, we're going to turn the tables a bit and I'm going to be interviewed about my experience as a Workamper. I was living in Arizona in 2014 when I was working as the editor of a now-defunct online news platform called RV Daily Report. When attending the Quartzsite RV show in January that year, I bumped into two big-time advocates for Workamping and the RV lifestyle. John and Kathy Huggins, founders of Living the RV Dream, were also attending the Quartzsite show the same day I was there. I had arranged to interview them about their platform and how they got involved in RVing. After the interview was completed, they asked me two questions: Why didn't I have a podcast of my own? Why wasn't I living and working out of an RV? Two months later, I had both. I was living full-time in a Winnebago motorhome and I had launched a podcast called RV Industry News, for which I was traveling around the nation interviewing RV dealers, manufacturers, suppliers, campground owners and RVers themselves. In doing so, I had become a Workamper. For this special episode of The Workamper Show, the owners of Workamper.com, Jody and Luke Duquette, interview me about my own experiences and how I became connected to their organization. Here's the interview recorded a few weeks ago when I was visiting the Workamper office in Heber Springs, Ark. It seems rather silly to thank myself for being a guest on a show I have hosted for almost four years. So I'll say I was thankful of the opportunity to share my story with other Workampers. There are a few takeaways from my own experience. First, despite the Workamper movement being 36 years old, many people still don't understand what Workamping is all about. I was an influential editor of a major RV industry news publication and I still wasn't sure until I encountered John and Kathy Huggins at an RV rally. In fact, although I had published press releases from Workamper News for 14 years, I didn't meet anyone from the organization until I was Workamping myself. When Workampers describe their experiences with others who are involved in or interested in learning about the RV lifestyle, that's how Workamping continues to grow. The second takeaway is that people think Workamping only involves working at campgrounds in exchange for a free RV site. While that may have been the case when Workamper News started in 1987, the advancement of laptop computers and, more importantly, cellular internet service, has opened the door to many, many more Workamping opportunities. We define Workamping as doing any type of work while living in an RV. That includes paid jobs as well as volunteer gigs. Many people today operate businesses of their own from an RV while experiencing a variety of cultures, historic places and scenic areas. Personally, I think Workamper News has done more than any other company or RV industry advertising campaign to drive down the average age of RV ownership. For generations, many people have dreamed of owning an RV and traveling around the country “someday” when they retire. When I started working in the RV industry as a journalist, the average age of first ownership experience was 65. Thanks to making short-term jobs available to thousands of RVers, more people than ever are opting to embrace the RV lifestyle while they are still young enough to truly enjoy everything the experience has to offer. It was fun being interviewed about my own experiences on a podcast I typically host. I appreciate Jody and Luke Duquette for coming up with the idea. Today's episode is brought to you by Workamper News. Since 1987, they've been helping businesses of all types find and recruit Workampers, who serve in a variety of positions around the country to help further the mission of great businesses like yours. When you become an employer member at Workamper.com, you'll have access to resources and support to help you develop and implement your Workamper-recruiting strategy. In today's market, it is more challenging than ever to keep a flow of applicants coming in. Workamper News recommends advertising your current and future Workamper job openings frequently throughout the year, as well as scheduling some time to regularly search the Workamper Resume Database because new Workampers are joining daily. Workampers like to plan many months ahead, so now is the time to take action to begin developing your Workamper team. You can earn more and download a quick-start guide for employers at www.workamper.com/employer. That's all for this week's show. Next week, we will be talking about the features and benefits of Workamper membership. If you'd like to share your own experiences as a Workamper, I'd be happy to interview you. Just send me a message at podcast@workamper.com to get it set up. I hope you're enjoying a great start to your summer RVing experiences. Thanks for listening!

Today I will be speaking with a woman who has been traveling with her husband and two daughters since 2020. She wants to talk about what it is like to be RVing and Workamping with younger children. Beckie Martin is originally from Maryland. She and her husband, Randy, started talking about full-time RVing in 2018. Once they discovered the Fulltime Families organization, their discussion changed from “Can we do this?” to “How can we get started?” The couple sold their home in 2019 and attended the Workamper Rendezvous event in Heber Springs, Ark., that fall where they made some helpful connections. Despite COVID lockdowns throwing a wrench into their plans to leave in May 2020, they opted to launch in October of that year in what Beckie calls a now or never decision. Traveling across America had been a family dream for many years. Beckie's daughters are 16 and 11 years old, which are ideal ages to explore the country. Although the family had been looking at travel trailers, they settled on a fifth wheel to have a bit more room. They are accompanied on their journey by a 15-year-old dog. One of the first lessons they learned was to apply for jobs a season in advance. They had traveled to Florida the first winter, but could not find a Workamping job. Fortunately, Randy found work with a temporary agency, which is an alternative I had not heard of Workampers pursuing. While dad was working, Beckie and the girls did some volunteer work. Since then, the family has had several jobs where everyone could participate in one capacity or another, even if it meant picking up trash around a lake or working in a campground cafeteria. One campground hired the teenager as a regular worker, while the 11-year-old was able to get a job working one hour a week helping to create tie-dye shirts. I enjoyed hearing about Beckie's Workamping and family travel experiences. Although they had to come off the road for a while, she admitted to experiencing wanderlust to continue the adventure. Beckie had always homeschooled her kids, but RVing to historic sites and natural wonders added an entirely different dimension to the girls' education. The kids did find connecting with other children to be a challenge some days, but thanks to the internet, they were able to maintain connections with lifelong friends and others they met on their journey. Joining Thousand Trails was a good investment for them because most of those campgrounds have plenty of children staying there. Being around other families who were also full-time RVing enhanced the experience for the Martins. They were able to get together for potlucks or worship nights. The family has made several connections to other families who enjoy meeting up with each other in different states. The most frequent challenge the family faced was trying to figure out where various smells were coming from and how to control them. Beckie also encouraged people to be diligent in travel planning to make sure they look at maps rather than rely entirely on GPS, which may not take into consideration the difficulty of navigating switchback roads or avoiding low bridges. Beckie enjoyed it when Workamping jobs would try to give everyone two days off together, one of which was used for rest and the other for exploring. She said the greatest treasures were often out-of-the-way places they encountered by accident. The most important advice Beckie provided to other Workampers was to ask lots of questions, and don't be afraid about doing so. She said most people are willing to help and asking questions is often the best way to learn new things. To connect with Beckie, look for her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/randybeckie.martin. Today’s episode is sponsored by The Dreamer's Journey, it is an online course and community produced by Workamper News. Life is way too short to keep your dreams on hold, so don't be held back by fear because you were designed for more!  Get started in the RV lifestyle the right way with this comprehensive guide. For just $29.95 for one year of access, Dreamers have unlimited viewing of 50-plus videos to learn things like what type of RV to buy, goal setting, how to budget for the adventure, developing a positive mindset, setting up a domicile and operating a small business on the road, plus everything about Workamping and how to find the right job for you. Each video is 30-90 minutes long to give in-depth coverage on each topic. There's no wrong time to get started.  For more information, visit www.rvdreamersjourney.com. That's all we have for this week's show. I'm not certain who will be featured on next week's podcast. We have one employer and two Workampers waiting to go. To see who was selected, tune in next week for the next episode of The Workamper Show. Thank you for listening!

Excessive heat warning issued for much of Arkansas; SCCSD to provide free school supplies and meals to all students in 2022-2023 school year; COVID cases tick up after 4th holiday; Hector man up for parole; Heber Springs man sentenced in January 6th Capitol riot; we talk with Kevin Van Pelt of the Conway County Extension Service about the effect of heat on cattle.

In the early 2000s Alan Pflieger, a photographer in Huntington, Indiana (and my dad), acquired a huge archive of negatives from the Rickert Studio, which had been in operation from 1912 to 1986. He saved the negatives from being destroyed. My parents stored these negatives in their house for years until, through a funny series of events, they ended up making their way to the Huntington County Historical Society. A few years before and several states south, Mike Disfarmer was documenting the rural community of Heber Springs, Arkansas. When he died, his negatives were in danger of being lost forever.

We look at the shifting landscape of NWA (the W stands for "Walton"). Reaction and commentary on Olivia Paschal's article in Dwell, "We're Off to See the Waltons.". "We're Off to See the Waltons" @oliviacpaschal in Dwell. June '22. https://www.dwell.com/article/waltons-walmart-bentonville-arkansas-format-festival-806faff1-e1790679-e8e9baaf-0f9d3178 Now More Than Ever, Support Your Local Abortion Fund: Arkansas Abortion Support Network www.arabortionsupport.org/ Missouri Abortion Fund www.mofund.org/ The Roe Fund (Oklahoma) www.roefund.org Find an abortion fund or services near you: National Network of Abortion Funds abortionfunds.org www.hootnhollerpod.com www.patreon.com/hootnhollerpod @hootnhollerpod on Twitter and Instagram facebook.com/hootnhollerpod hootnhollerpod@gmail.com Theme: "When the Moon Comes Down in Blood" As sung by Reba Dearmore, Mountain Home, Arkansas on January 7, 1969. Cat. #0647 (MFH #709) in the Max Hunter Folk Song Collection at Missouri State University. maxhunter.missouristate.edu/songinforma…aspx?ID=647 Outro: Outro: "Sweet Bunch of Daisies and Way Down Yonder" As played by Gus Mahon, Heber Springs, AR. In the Wolf Folklore Collection at Lyon College. https://home.lyon.edu/wolfcollection/songs/mahonsweet1265.html

WE'RE back, from a long extended break, to the Podcast here in Episode 8!  Willy couldn't make this one so we reached out to the Mayor of Heber Springs to join us on the Podcast!  Mayor Kasey Griffin shares her thoughts on all of the topics Randy, Pat, and Capn could come up with.  We know you're asking yourself, while reading this description, "Did they talk about hair?", well you're in LUCK here on episode 8 the conversation and laughs just keep rolling on here on LIVE FROM THE 501! 

Harvey takes us on a deep dive into a Christian Nationalist policy initiative flooding state legislatures with pre-written bills. Support your Local Abortion Fund: Arkansas Abortion Support Network www.arabortionsupport.org/ Missouri Abortion Fund www.mofund.org/ Find an abortion fund or services near you: National Network of Abortion Funds abortionfunds.org www.hootnhollerpod.com www.patreon.com/hootnhollerpod @hootnhollerpod on Twitter and Instagram facebook.com/hootnhollerpod hootnhollerpod@gmail.com Theme: "When the Moon Comes Down in Blood" As sung by Reba Dearmore, Mountain Home, Arkansas on January 7, 1969. Cat. #0647 (MFH #709) in the Max Hunter Folk Song Collection at Missouri State University. maxhunter.missouristate.edu/songinforma…aspx?ID=647 Outro: "Cotton-Eye Joe" As performed by Gus Mahone in Heber Springs, Arkansas. A part of the John Quincy Wolf Folklore Collection at Lyon College. https://home.lyon.edu/wolfcollection/songs/mahoncotton1265.html

Trey Schaap traveled to Heber Springs, Arkansas, to sit down with the 2007 US Senior Amateur Champion and chat with him about golf in his life and why he didn't dream about winning The Masters or a US Open.

February 17, 2013… Country Music singer Mindy McCready shoots herself to death on the porch of her house in Heber Springs, Arkansas. Her boyfriend had killed himself on the same spot five weeks earlier. What caused the singer behind “Ten Thousand Angels” to take her life? Could the tragedy have been prevented? World-renowned Forensic Pathologist Dr. Michael Hunter puts Mindy's complex personal life under the microscope to reveal how her unhealthy relationship with prescription drugs may have aggravated an un-diagnosed mental condition that led Mindy to suicide. Like what you hear and want more true crime and mystery? Go to https://www.reelz.com/podcasts/

February 17, 2013… Country Music singer Mindy McCready shoots herself to death on the porch of her house in Heber Springs, Arkansas. Her boyfriend had killed himself on the same spot five weeks earlier. What caused the singer behind “Ten Thousand Angels” to take her life? Could the tragedy have been prevented? World-renowned Forensic Pathologist Dr. Michael Hunter puts Mindy's complex personal life under the microscope to reveal how her unhealthy relationship with prescription drugs may have aggravated an un-diagnosed mental condition that led Mindy to suicide. Like what you hear and want more true crime and mystery? Go to https://www.reelz.com/podcasts/

This week's show is rather special. In honor of our 100th podcast, Workamper News Executive Director Jody Anderson Duquette and her husband, Luke, Workamper News Technical Director, opted to record a special show to commemorate the milestone. Jody and Luke recall the key historical highlights of Workamper News that took place during the past 33 years since its founding in 1987 by Greg and Debbie Robus in the tiny town of Heber Springs, AR. Back in the late 1980s, Greg and Debbie were familiar with the Workamping concept and trademarked the name. They would compile a variety of job announcements and informational articles into a publication that was typeset and printed locally before being stapled, folded and mailed to subscribers who paid $15 per year to receive the newsletter. Within eight years, the newsletter grew from eight to 24 pages. That was when the stapled publication was reformatted into a magazine. But, employers wanted a way to reach prospective Workampers between magazine issues, so the concept of a hotline was developed. All the new ads were read into an answering machine message that people could hear by calling a special telephone number. All of this was pre-internet. Then the Internet arrived and everything started transitioning online. Email was used to deliver daily job listings and Workamper News developed its first website. One of the major advertisers at the time was Adventureland amusement park in Iowa. Steve Anderson, Jody's father, was the human resources director for the park and the man responsible for hiring lots of Workampers. Because he had purchased so much advertising, Steve developed a close relationship with the Robus family. At some point around 2005, Steve and his wife, Kathy Jo, along with Greg and Debbie were all at a point where they each wanted to do something new. So, the Andersons wound up acquiring Workamper News. Jody joined the team in 2006 and, through a happy coincidence, connected with Luke in 2010. It's a fascinating story about how the planets just seemed to align to get everyone to this point. I really appreciate them taking time to outline the company's history and provide the back story regarding how some very popular features came into existence. It really is incredible how the Workamping concept came to be and how the right people came along at just the right time to move the venture forward. It's also pretty amazing how the magazine played a role in the development of what is now the largest RV training facility in America that teaches people how to fix their own RVs and work as professional technicians, too. What I truly admire about all the activity surrounding the development of Workamper News and its expansion over the years is that it was all done to help two sets of people. The first was to help employers address a need to hire quality people to fill short-term jobs. That's not often easy because local people generally don't want to work a few months and then start looking for another job. But, RVers love those type of opportunities. The second group Workamper News seeks to help is RVers themselves. Back when the publication was first produced, generally, people were about 60 years old before they bought their first RV and were often retired before they could ever consider traveling in an RV full time. Workamper News changed all that by making younger people aware of ways they could finance their travel dreams long before they were old enough to retire. The advent of the internet was like putting pouring gasoline on a brush fire. People were truly no longer dependent upon a specific location. They could work from anywhere as long as they had electricity and an internet connection. COVID-19, as bad as it has been for the world, was a boom for Workamper News because more and more people embraced the concept of working remotely from their RVs. The Workamper organization has responded to the flood of working RVers by developing a number of resources to help people find jobs, run businesses and enjoy the RV lifestyle. I strongly encourage people to check out all the features and benefits mentioned by Jody and Luke by visiting www.workamper.com. There are several copycat websites that post job announcements, but nobody – and I mean nobody – has the professionalism and level of content from videos to feature articles to tools that Workamper News offers to help anyone realize their travel dreams at any age. Be sure to check out the membership options offered by the 33-year-old Workamper organization by visiting www.workamper.com. This episode is sponsored by the National RV Training Academy in Athens, Texas. The academy's one-week live training or home study course will teach you everything you need to know to fix about 80 percent of the problems people experience with their RVs. You can also sign up for additional training to become an RV inspector, campground technician or to provide mobile RV service. For more information, visit www.nrvta.com.

Today we are going to talk with a couple who literally wrote the book on the Workamping lifestyle. Levi and Natalie Henley met in a very unique way. She was from south Texas and he was from California, but they met each other in Las Vegas. Levi was working in a magic store, and Natalie was showing some family members around the strip when they popped into the store. He tricked her into swapping phone numbers and it worked. The couple started RVing about six years ago and accepted their first Workamping position in 2015. They travel in a Class A motorhome, which gives them plenty of room for two cats, and the pets are always in a climate-controlled environment. When I talked to them, they were working at a new job in Virginia as camp hosts at a campground with 1,000 RV sites. They talk about their favorite Workamping jobs. Natalie's was working at the sugar beet harvest in the Midwest and Levi enjoyed working at a winery in the Black Hills of South Dakota. They describe some of the perks they have enjoyed as Workampers at the nearly 20 different jobs they have worked over the past five years. Their experiences led them to write a book about their time on the road titled Seasonal Workamping for a Living. In it, they talk about how to find and apply for jobs, and what to expect when they arrive. They offer some tips on how to get started in the mobile lifestyle as well as how to make the most of Workamping and travel experiences. Levi and Natalie Henley know they won't get rich by Workamping; however, they really do get to experience America. Not only do they get to explore the country and immerse themselves into the cultures of various regions they visit, but they get paid for the opportunity. To ensure they get fun and interesting jobs, they plan their trips about six months to a year in advance. Despite working on the road for more than five years, Levi and Natalie still have places they would like to visit, especially New England and the east coast. But, they've already done enough to write a book about their experiences. Seasonal Workamping for a Living is available for sale now on Amazon.com. A Kindle version is also available. The book is divided into four sections. The first describes how to get started as full-time RVers. The second looks at the various jobs the Henleys have held. The third section describes how to find and apply for jobs and the last section explores details like planning and budgeting. It is full of fascinating examples and written in a journal format so that people can understand what typical Workamping days are like. Levi and Natalie will be presenters at this year's Workamper Rendezvous scheduled for Oct. 17 to 23 in Heber Springs, Ar., where they will be answering questions and providing advice to new RVers and experienced Workampers. Registration for that event just opened, and you can find more information by visiting www.workamperevent.com. People who are new to the Workamping experience or still dreaming about full-time RVing can find even more help right now through The Dreamer's Journey, a new online course and community produced by Workamper News. The comprehensive guide helps people get started with the RV lifestyle the right way with all kinds of valuable online material that can be accessed anytime from anywhere all for an affordable monthly subscription fee. For more information, visit www.rvdreamersjourney.com.

Jim and Naomi Coleman are from Idaho and have been RVing pretty much their entire married life, but doing so full time for the past five years. Prior to that, they worked for a faith-based publishing house by operating a bookmobile that traveled from church to church for three months at a time. The bookmobile had sleeping quarters in it, and that's how the Colemans realized they could enjoy the travel lifestyle full time. The couple had nine children and they would go camping on weekends in a conversion van. The kids were staggered in age, so not everyone went camping at once, but the family were active campers. They stumbled upon Workamping while visiting friends in Branson, Mo. They had known the couple for 40 years. One day, while their friends were giving them a tour of the Branson area, they asked Jim and Naomi if they'd like to see their RV and where they work. The Colemans wound up visiting Treasure Lake RV Resort and learning what types of things their friends did as Workampers. The more Jim and Naomi learned about Workamping, the more they desired the same type of lifestyle. They applied for a job, were hired on the spot and wound up staying for four months. They enjoyed the lifestyle so much, they returned to Idaho, sold the house and haven't looked back. They've been at the same RV resort each year since then. Jim picked up a second job working at Silver Dollar City as a tram driver. The couple also enjoys a bunch of perks by living and working in Branson. Don't think they work all the time. They do take time off to travel and even bought a new 38-foot motorhome with three slideouts so they could live in style. They've been to Maine, along the Appalachian Trail and even into Canada. It's funny how some people learn about the Workamping lifestyle. I have spoken to several people who just sort of stumbled upon it like Jim and Naomi Coleman did by speaking with people who were already serving as Workampers. Just look at all the things the Colemans have been able to do since becoming Workampers. They work in one of the biggest vacation destinations in the United States – while living there for free. They get free access to some pretty incredible shows and free admission to amusement parks, too. And, after working for a while, they take time to travel all over to visit places they've dreamed of seeing. Having an RV also allows them to maintain relationships with their nine children who are scattered all over the country. Jim and Naomi Coleman love the RVing and Workamping lifestyle so much, they've become ambassadors for both by visiting the Workamper Rendezvous in Heber Springs, Ar. They attended that event in October to recruit other people to work for Treasure Lake RV Resort to help serve guests as well as maintain the 577 RV sites and 60 cabins. So, if you're wondering whether the Workamping lifestyle is for you, you can probably get a job at the Treasure Lake RV Resort this summer – or one of the other tourist attractions in Branson. Who knows, it might be a life-changing experience for you and one that you'll want to continue for many years. In fact, there are hundreds of employers looking to hire Workampers to perform a variety of jobs throughout North America and Canada. Workamper News is a magazine and online publication that connects RVers to full- and part-time jobs around the country. Whether it is running a business from your RV or working short-term jobs for a variety of employers, Workamper News can give you information to help plan a course to live your own dream and get you on the road faster than you thought possible. For more information about opportunities to live, work and play in your RV, visit www.workampernews.com.  And don't forget to check out the new Dreamers Journey online course that Workamper News has developed.

Today we are going to talk to some experienced RVers who are about to embrace the full-time RVing lifestyle. Julia and Carey Bryant are Texas residents and experienced RVers as weekend warriors in a 22-year-old motorhome without slideouts. Carey grew up in the RV and outdoor hospitality industry. His parents operated an RV dealership and campground in Abilene, Texas. Julia grew up tent camping, which is something she didn't enjoy as a child. They really got the travel bug a few years ago when Julia and Carey traveled through Montana and the Dakotas with his parents for three weeks. But, they still had jobs to do and that ended their wandering adventure. As they inch toward retirement, they are looking forward to full-time RVing and really want to visit Alaska. The Bryants plan to finance their adventure through investments and income from real estate they own. However, Carey is also a certified RV technician and he's planning to make some extra money doing that as they travel. They first learned about Workamping a few years ago when the camp host at the campground they were staying at described the experience and lifestyle. After getting involved with the Workamper organization, they stumbled upon a great job for Workampers and that involves traveling through a region of the country grading campgrounds and selling advertising in the Good Sam directories. So, they'll be heading back to the Plains states this summer. Julia noted one of the big advantages of RV living, and that is to be able to visit an area for an extended period of time without really making a big commitment to get there. She likes the beach and always wanted to live by the beach. With an RV, they can park the rig close to the waves for a few weeks and then move on to try something else. She also likes the mountains, but doesn't really want to live in cold winters. Once again, an RV can let them enjoy the best of both worlds. Carey already knows that he can pick up a few extra dollars by fixing things in RVs at campgrounds he is visiting, and he recommends people to take training to learn how to provide that kind of service. Workamper News played a big role in preparing Julia and Carey for their new life, and they encourage others to tap into the wealth of information available on the Workamper News website. They also encouraged people to check out how other RVers have set up their rigs for full-time life to maximize storage. By touring other RVs, people can ask folks currently living in travel trailers, fifth wheels or motorhomes to describe the pros and cons of each type of rig in order to make an informed decision about the type of RV to use when enjoying the lifestyle full time. People will have several opportunities to do that this fall at the Workamper Rendezvous scheduled for Oct. 17 to 23 in Heber Springs, Ar. There are usually two open houses planned each year for people to tour RVs used by experienced Workampers. Workamper News is a magazine and online publication that connects RVers to full- and part-time jobs around the country. Whether it is running a business from your RV or working short-term jobs for a variety of employers, Workamper News can give you information to help plan a course to live your own dream and get you on the road faster than you thought possible. For more information about opportunities to live, work and play in your RV, visit www.workampernews.com.

We have interviews today with two couples, both of whom are gathering information before they launch into the RV and Workamping lifestyle. My first guests are Tom and Mickey Ryerson. They are from San Antonio, Texas, where Tom works in building maintenance and Mickey works as a nurse. They are planning to retire in 2021 and are already preparing for that day. They recently ordered a 38-foot diesel motorhome and plan to pick it up this spring and then put their home on the market. This interview was recorded last October, so things may have changed a bit since then. The Ryersons want a motorhome because they intend to be more mobile when they travel. They've visited a number of places overseas, so now they want to explore America with the extra time they'll have in retirement. They plan to Workamp about 20 hours a week to offset some expenses and give them a place to park their rig. Tom is also contemplating becoming an RV inspector to do work wherever he travels. The first place they want to visit is Maine and upstate New York during fall foliage. They'd also like to visit friends up in Canada. Tom and Mickey Ryerson have been working in jobs that keep them pretty tied to San Antonio, Texas. When they've had an opportunity to take vacations, they've often flown to faraway places. But, as they approach retirement, they really want to see America. They've been looking at options for a while by listening to podcasts and even attending a seminar put on by the Escapee's Club in Texas to learn more about RVs and how they work. Then, they added to that foundation by attending the Workamper Rendezvous in Heber Springs, AR, where they learned even more about Workamping and ways to financially support their travel dreams. Each seminar they attend has filled in more gaps by providing additional helpful details. But, they also keep picking up tidbits of information or gave them even more options to consider. That's the best way to approach the RV and Workamping lifestyle so that you are well prepared before you even get started. My next guests are Melody & Keith Paluch, who are dreamers from Canton, Texas. They attended the 2019 Workamper Rendezvous to learn more about the RV and Workamping lifestyle. They were on a fact-finding mission to investigate what type of RV to buy for full-time use. They are anxious to get a fifth wheel and visit places like Montana, Wyoming, Arizona and Tennessee. They adopt a more relaxed view of travel where they prefer to use state and county roads rather than interstates because they can just stop and check out things that look interesting as they pass through an area. Melody runs an embroidery business, but they are also looking at various Workamping opportunities, too. Melody and Keith Paluch found the Workamper Rendezvous to be a valuable investment of time not just because of the classes they were able to sit in on, but because of the people they were able to interact with throughout the week. Just being around hundreds of other dreamers or experienced RVers really cranked them up for jumping into the lifestyle. After caring for her mom and dad in the end stages of their lives, Melody has come to realize that life is way too short. That's why she and Keith want to get out and visit some of the places they've been dreaming about before something happens that makes it impossible for them to enjoy those kinds of adventures. Keith wants to take additional training to learn how to maintain his own RV, rather than relying upon other people. That's a sound decision, too, because people who can maintain their own units have greater flexibility – and more money – to enjoy the finer aspects of the RV lifestyle. If you'd like to hang around with some dreamers and experienced RVers and learn more about the lifestyle, plan to attend this year's Workamper Rendezvous Oct. 19 to 23 in Heber Spring, AR. More details will be available soon at www.workamperevent.com. Workamper News is a magazine and online publication that connects RVers to full- and part-time jobs around the country. Whether it is running a business from your RV or working short-term jobs for a variety of employers, Workamper News can give you information to help plan a course to live your own dream and get you on the road faster than you thought possible. For more information about opportunities to live, work and play in your RV, visit www.workampernews.com.

Today, I'll speak with two couples who are exploring the RV and Workamping lifestyle. My first guests are Ronnie and Marci Stacy, who are from Dayton, Ohio. They have been weekend warriors for quite a while, but plan to embrace full-time RVing this spring. Ronnie is a garage door installer and Marci oversees the transcription staff at a children's hospital. They attended the 2019 Workamper Rendezvous in October to gather more information to develop a three-year plan for hitting the road. One of their primary concerns was getting health insurance on the road, and they share what they discovered about that at the event. Although they will have pensions to help support their lifestyle, they are also exploring ideas for starting a mobile business. For example, Ronnie is contemplating setting up clinics for youth sports coaches around the country. One thing they enjoyed about the event was the ability to participate in an open house at the campground where they were staying. The couple had an opportunity to tour the RVs of people who are already full-timing to see how they organized their living space and what type of modifications they made. The Stacys already have their RV, and after Rendezvous, Ronnie and Marci have a plan. They are just counting down until they are both semi-retired so they could hit the road. My second guests are Olen and Jeanette Criswell, who are from Peoria, Illinois. Olin is a night dispatcher at a transportation company. He, too, is going to retire in 2020. However, neither of them wants to spend retirement sitting in a rocking chair on the front porch. They are highly motivated to travel and plan to start by touring the southwestern states of Arizona and New Mexico. Olen and Jeanette actually want to visit all four corners of the United States, but are really looking forward to touring west of the Mississippi. They appreciated Workamper Rendezvous for the opportunity to meet people who have been full-time RVing. They also learned how to set up their RVs and what types of jobs they could find as Workampers. Olen is intrigued by the idea of becoming an RV service technician to help his neighbors at campgrounds they visit. He is also exploring the possibility of becoming a certified RV inspector. They really appreciated sitting in on the session with Mark Kohler, who is both an attorney and a certified public accountant, and share some of the information they picked up in Mark's seminar. Olen and Jeanette Criswell were ideal candidates for the Workamper Rendezvous because they were exploring the RV lifestyle, had some questions and needed a little direction. They discovered that they could make money working part-time jobs wherever they go, or pursue owning an RV-based business as a technician or inspector. They have spent several summers working in Alaska to support the cruise industry, but now they want to get behind the wheel of their land cruiser and discover America. Whatever questions Olen and Jeanette may have had were answered at Rendezvous, including trying to decide whether they should sell their home and live full time in their RV. If you're exploring the RV lifestyle and trying to decide if this would be a good move for you, then plan to attend the 2020 Workamper Rendezvous Oct. 19 to 23 in Heber Springs, Ark. More information will be posted soon at www.workamperevent.com. Workamper News is a magazine and online publication that connects RVers to full- and part-time jobs around the country. Whether it is running a business from your RV or working short-term jobs for a variety of employers, Workamper News can give you information to help plan a course to live your own dream and get you on the road faster than you thought possible. For more information about opportunities to live, work and play in your RV, visit www.workampernews.com.

In today's episode, we will feature several women who are embracing the RV and Workamping lifestyle with their husbands. When I interviewed her, Deborah Cole was already retired and waiting for her husband to follow her lead. They have been camping for years; first in a tent, and then in a popup before upgrading to a 27-foot travel trailer. Her husband is an international flight attendant based out of Memphis. While they do get to travel all over the world, when it comes to RVing, they have been limiting their excursions to 200 to 300 miles from home. I met Deborah at the Workamper Rendezvous in Heber Springs, AR, last October. She was participating in the event as a fact-finding mission to gather information about running a bookkeeping business from the road and to learn what they needed to do to launch into RVing full-time as soon as her husband is retired. She is also interested in getting training to become a certified sommelier and find work at a winery. Deborah describes some of the steps the couple have already taken to get ready, such as to get out of debt. She also talks about some of the golden nuggets of information she uncovered at the Rendezvous. I could really tell Deborah was excited about hitting the road and exploring the United States with her husband. If anyone is ever on the fence about jumping in to the RV lifestyle, the Workamper Rendezvous usually eliminates any hesitation by giving people, like Deborah, the information they need to hit the road the right way. She mentioned having an ah-ha moment when attorney and accountant Mark Kohler addressed the group. He had a unique way of explaining how to set up a mobile business in order to take advantage of some tax deductions. It was such a helpful experience that Deborah will attend again this fall – with her husband this time – and actually talk to prospective employers to find that first Workamping job. By now, I am sure Deborah and her husband have been doing some dreaming about where to go first on their post-retirement journey. She mentioned Montana and New England. I'd like to thank Deborah Cole for sharing her story and I wish her and her husband the best of luck as they count down the days until they are both retired. The next guest is Dee Kettleson. She has been married 44 years and has two grown sons and seven grandchildren. The family started tent camping when their youngest son was just six months old. They experimented with boats and motorcycles for a while before returning to RV life. In fact, her sons both love to camp and they often get to take adventures together. Dee is still working, but her husband is retired. They own a 44-foot toy hauler and travel with two Harley Davidson motorcycles. She also attended last year's Workamper Rendezvous to learn more about supporting a travel lifestyle. She talks about some of the places they'd like to visit as a couple and look forward to bringing their puppy with them. She and her husband are also investigating what it would take to become RV inspectors so they could work together on a job. Dee and her husband seem ideally-suited for the RV lifestyle. They want to travel with a pet, and RVs make that possible. They like to bring motorcycles with them which allows them to really explore the areas they are visiting. They both want to become RV inspectors, which is a business with growing demand, and something they can do wherever they travel. Their youngest son already took the training and is conducting inspections. Right now, the Kettlesons are putting the final touches on a three-year plan regarding where they want to go and what types of jobs they'll be looking for. Both Deborah and Dee were singing praises of the Workamper Rendezvous. If you'd like to attend this year's event in October, registration will open soon. More information will be available at www.workamperevent.com. Whether it is running a business from your RV or working short-term jobs for a variety of employers, Workamper News can give you information to help plan a course to live your own dream and get you on the road faster than you thought possible. For more information about opportunities to live, work and play in your RV, visit www.workampernews.com.

Today, we will talk to a couple who was in the late stages of planning to launch their RV adventure when they attended the Workamper Rendezvous in October to solidify that plan. Chris and Bill Latimer are from California and have been camping much of their lives. Last year, they bought a 40-foot fifth wheel and started living in it as they downsized from a much bigger home. They were taking weekend trips to familiarize themselves with the RV and make sure everything was working as expected. Bill called it them shakedown cruises. The Rendezvous showed them how to find and apply for Workamping jobs. Ideally, they are looking for jobs that would allow them to work three days and fish for four. As ham radio operators, the Latimers are looking forward to taking their six grandchildren out in the field as they practice serving as emergency communications operators. They do own a specialty contracting business where they do home inspections, install wood or gas stoves, and work on chimneys. Bill is also considering becoming a certified RV inspector. The Latimers talk about places on their travel list, and which areas they'd like to visit first. Freedom is what motivates couples like Chris and Bill Latimer to explore the RV and Workamping lifestyle. They are financially set, but see Workamping as a way to extend the retirement dollars by helping to cover their housing costs as they seek out streams and lakes to fish in whatever areas they would like to visit. I've never interviewed any ham radio operators, and it sounds like a very interesting and important hobby. Communication is essential in an emergency, and by installing solar power on their RV they can become a self-sufficient island assisting in coordinating official emergency response to some sort of problem. I have talked to several people like the Latimers who are looking forward to enjoying a road trip adventure with their grandchildren. But all that takes a plan, and that's what the Workamper Rendezvous helped them finalize by filling in the missing gaps of information they need to know to do it the right way, like how to find and apply for Workamping jobs. The 10th annual Workamper Rendezvous is scheduled for Oct. 19 to 23 in Heber Springs, Ar. Registration will open soon, but be sure to save those dates, which are Oct. 19 to 23. Workamper News, a magazine and online publication that connects RVers to full- and part-time jobs around the country, can help you realize your dream of living and working on the road. Whether it is running a business from your RV or working short-term jobs for a variety of employers, Workamper News can give you information to help plan a course to live your own dream and get you on the road faster than you thought possible. For more information about opportunities to live, work and play in your RV, visit www.workampernews.com.

Thank you, Steve. Today we will talk with two couples – one of which are experienced Workampers and the other which is still in the dreaming stage. Johnny & Tracy Bercegeay are from Louisiana and they have been full-time RVing for a little more than two years. They are nowhere near retirement age, and their only source of income is their ability to do seasonal jobs as they crisscross the country. Their first job was managing a restaurant at an RV resort in the Black Hills of South Dakota, which was the No. 1 area on Tracy's bucket list. Viewing Mt. Rushmore and traveling the county road leading into the park was a very emotional experience for her. They have also worked the annual sugar beet harvest, spent some time boxing orders at an Amazon fulfillment center, and guarded gates in the Texas oil fields. For them, one of the best aspects of the Workamping and RV lifestyle is the ability to enjoy a wide variety of food. Coming from Louisiana, they are very familiar with the benefits of enjoying regional cuisines. They love food so much that they teach others how to cook from their own RVs on their own YouTube channel called RV SWAT, which stands for RV Seasonal Work and Travel. When I interviewed them in October, they were planning to spend the winter in Arizona before heading to either Oregon or Yellowstone National Park this summer. They have had their challenges along the way, which they describe for us. But all that just makes for better material for their YouTube channel. I love how Johnny & Tracy Bercegeay truly believe that their worst day in an RV is better than their best day in a traditional sticks-and-bricks home. They certainly are having the time of their lives as their YouTube Channel – RV SWAT – reveals to their nearly 2,000 subscribers who follow them on their journeys. The couple is not like a traditional Workamping couple which investigates the lifestyle for months and even years before turning the key to their adventure. Once they got the bug, they spent one month getting ready before they hit the road. In fact, now that their children are grown, they firmly wish they could have a do-over and start the RV lifestyle with their kids like so many other RVers are doing today. One of their biggest fears that caused some hesitation was the ability to find enough work to sustain them and their lifestyle. However, after completing several years of Workamping, they get so many offers now that they can simply pick and choose the opportunity that sounds most exciting to them. If you'd like to follow along with their adventures or even ask them about their experiences, look for RV SWAT on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram. Our second guests are Tommy and Martha Payne, from Tyler, Texas. They are just getting started in the RV lifestyle now that Martha retired and Tommy sold one of his businesses. They attended the Workamper Rendezvous last October, which is an annual week-long training event in Heber Springs, AR, to give people a rapid introduction into the RV and Workamping lifestyle. They describe their journey to find an RV, and why they settled on a motorhome. While at that event, they discovered several businesses they could do from the road, such as RV inspections or being sales representatives for other companies. At the moment, they are considering working as a camp host or in an amusement park. Tommy has already figured out that men who retire can either sit around and do nothing before they die, or they spend all their time in doctor's offices. He doesn't want either of those options, so he's anxious to launch a new adventure while he and Martha are still young enough to enjoy it. They learned a lot at the Workamper Rendezvous, not only from the speakers, but also from the other participants who were sharing their own experiences to alert Tommy and Martha to fun and interesting places to work and travel. The freedom to travel anywhere and to stay as long or as short a time as they'd like holds a great deal of appeal to the Paynes, and I wish them the best of luck as they launch their adventure soon. Workamper News has launched a new training course for people just like Tommy and Martha. The RV Dreamers Journey is a 12-week online training course to give people considering the RV and Workamping lifestyle the tools and information they need to get off to a good start. For $99 per month, people can participate in two online events every week to learn things like what type of RV to buy, how to budget for the adventure, where to call home, and how to find a job or start a mobile business. Participants can also join an open question-and-answer session each month. For more information, visit www.rvdreamersjourney.com. For more information about Workamping in general and links to hundreds of full- and part-time seasonal jobs, visit www.workampernews.com.

God is Good (Part 1) - John & Donna BishopGod is Good (Part 2) - John & Donna BishopGod is Good (Part 3) - John & Donna BishopToday® Radio Transcript  References to conferences, resources, or other special promotions may be obsolete. Forgetting What Lies Behind  Guest:                        John and Donna BishopFrom the series:       God is So Good  Bob: There are moments that come along unexpectedly – moments where the foundation of our life or our marriage is rattled.  John and Donna Bishop experienced one of those moments 15 years ago. Donna: Everything was just great, we were just having a great time serving the Lord.  Our boys and our families and then, all of a sudden, that night he got sick, and the pain in the back of his head just got severe, and he said, "You're going to have to take me to the hospital," and so I took him to the hospital and … John: When I woke up from meningitis, I did not know her.  I really didn't know anything.  I had a very unusual case of amnesia that I didn't just forget names and people, I forgot everything. Bob: This is FamilyLife Today for Monday, August 4th.  Our host is the president of FamilyLife, Dennis Rainey, and I'm Bob Lepine.  What happens to a marriage when, all of a sudden, all the memories, all of the past, is gone.  Stay tuned. And welcome to FamilyLife Today, thanks for joining us on the Monday edition.  This is going to be a powerful week for our listeners. Dennis: It is.  In fact, Bob, you and I both talked about this interview that our listeners are about to hear.  It's a top five broadcast – you and I have been doing interviews for – well, coming up on 16 years – that's a few people.  I'm kind of looking across at you, and I'm kind of going, "That's a long time." Bob: You're an old-looking guy. Dennis: We're kind of getting to be codgers in here.  But, I'm going to tell you, pull up a chair, get you a cup of coffee or a Coke or a glass of water.  This week you are going to hear an incredible compelling story of the goodness of God and the love of God.  This is another one of those love stories, Bob, that Hollywood just knows very little about.  This is a love story right from the pages of Scripture. Bob: Yes, you're going to meet John and Donna Bishop today.  They were married back in 1974.  John is a pastor and an evangelist.  They live in Rosebud, Arkansas, which is in north central Arkansas. Dennis: It's just near Hopewell, which is a suburb of Heber Springs. Bob: Oh, now folks have got it perfectly in mind.  They know exactly where that … Dennis: They know exactly where that is. Bob: John and Donna have three sons, and, as you are about to find out, their story is a remarkable one. John: All I remember is from 1995 to this day.  I remember nothing before that, so everything about my life that happened beforehand is what I've been told.  And my wife, her name, Donna, but I called her "my Donna."  When I woke up from meningitis, I did not know her.  I didn't know me, my name, I didn't know – I really didn't know anything.  I had a very unusual case of amnesia that I didn't just forget names and people, I forgot everything.  I didn't know how to eat, I'd forgotten how to chew food, and I had to eat baby food, and I don't blame babies being grouchy, if you had to eat that long. Dennis: So, okay, I'm going to stop you right there. John: Okay. Dennis: Since Donna does know what was taking place in your life up to 1995, I'm going to turn to her.  Describe your lives in the 1990s, Donna.  What was John doing and what were you up to? Donna: Okay.  We were pastoring a church there in Heber Springs, and we had a good church.  We enjoyed everything was going great.  We had three sons, and they were growing up. We also worked on our youth camp there, lived on the campgrounds and started the youth camp, and were just – I would say it was a perfect life.  You know, everything was just great, we were just having a great time serving the Lord, our boys, and our families, and then, all of a sudden that night he got sick, and the pain in the back of his head just got severe, and he said, "You're going to have to take me to the hospital."  So I took him to the hospital and … Bob: So it came on in an instant like that.  One night? Donna: No, he had been a little sick, just having headaches and so forth, and then it just started getting severe that night, and we just took him to the hospital. Bob: Were you scared? Donna: In a way, you know, because the pain just kept getting worse, you know, so – but, you know, you always think, "Oh, we can take him to the hospital and they'll be fine," you know, "be home tomorrow." Dennis: Right. Donna: But he was there about five days, six days, and he got to feeling better and, of course, once men start feeling better, they want to get out of that hospital, and so he got out of the hospital and came home, and it was almost one month to the day, he got out of the hospital is really when I believe the damage was done, or that's when something happened that he was sitting in his rocking chair, had his devotions over in a rocking chair, and he just kept sitting there and sitting there, and I thought, "Okay," you know, "let's get on with things," and he just kept sitting there.  And so I went over and shook him, and he couldn't wake up, he couldn't – he was just kind of staring off. And I said, "John, what's the matter John?"  And I was talking to him, and he just couldn't answer me, and then, of course, we took him back to the doctor, and it was just from there on it's been slow go. Bob: Now, the diagnosis was aseptic meningitis? Donna: Yes, sir. Bob: And this response, a month after the initial diagnosis, this is not what usually happens to people who have meningitis, is it? Donna:  No, sir.  You know, I don't know, I'm not a doctor, but I don't know if we didn't give him the medicine long enough or exactly what it is, but I know the Lord has a reason for it, and so – because that was when everything started going down hill, you might say, to us, you know, because he couldn't walk, and we had to help him around, and his eyes were distorted, so he couldn't drive, and he couldn't – well, he didn't know how to read, he forgot how to read. Dennis: And, ultimately, he lost all of his memory prior to 1995? Donna:  Yes, sir.  And I kept thinking, "Okay, now, he'll get it back," so he didn't remember marriage or wedding, and so I get our photo album out, and I said, "Don't you remember" you know, and I'd try to trick him to say, "Okay, now, I know he can remember something," and I just kept trying to go back and – but he just doesn't have anything. Dennis: In 1995, you'd been married how long? Donna: Twenty-four years. Dennis: Twenty-four years, had three children, you were pastoring a church, and you'd started a ranch? Donna: Yes, sir.  It's a youth camp, a church youth camp for boys and girls that come there. Dennis: All right, John, back to you.  How do you develop a relationship with a wife that you don't remember marrying? Bob: Well, you didn't even know what marriage was, did you? John: No, I didn't.  When she began to teach me, she said, "You're John, I, Donna, we're married."  And the way I learned to talk, Bob, in those early days, I'd watch people's lips move.  I wasn't blind then.  I've only been blind about eight months, but I would watch people's lips move and put the sound with it.  I said, "Marry?  Marry?" and she said, "Oh, okay, you forgot that.  That means you belong to me, and I belong to you."  I looked at her, I'd say, "You my Donna?"  She said, "Yes."  That's what I call her ever since – "My Donna." It was so easy to love her.  She loved me so good.  I'd tell people she taught me everything I know – every woman dream come true.  Her husband forget it all and she get to teach him. [laughter] Everything I know is what my wife taught me.  But I tell everybody she taught me reading, writing, and kissing, and my favorite subject kissing, that's my favorite one. Dennis: So that didn't change? John: No, that didn't.  I didn't – I had a hard time finding her lips, but I kissed until I find them, that's what I do. [laughter]  Dennis: Donna, what kind of student was he? Donna: He worked hard, he really did.  He's a pretty good student.  Sometimes when he's done, he's done, you know?  Sometimes he'd tell me, he said, "Remember, I'm the husband." Dennis: Oh, so he did find out what that meant? Donna: Oh, yes, it didn't take him long to have that man thing, I guess. Bob: It's one thing to take your husband to the hospital and maybe he comes home with a physical disability, and now life is going to have to change because he has to use a walker, or he's got to be in a wheelchair, or he's got something physically that's an issue, but to have a husband come home – I had a friend describe your husband's condition by saying, "It's like a computer that had the hard disk completely erased.  There is no data left there."  To have that be the situation and to be a wife and go, "This is the man I went to Bible school with and raised my kids, and he can't remember any of it.  Our shared history is gone." That had to be – I can't even imagine the discouragement that you must have felt. Donna: It was very discouraging, and that's why I kept trying to do those tricks, trying to think, "Okay, he's got to remember something," you know?  It was hard.  It was almost like I had four boys instead of three. Dennis: Was there anything to prepare you for the kind of commitment this was going to take?  I mean, marriage is a covenant, but your commitment was challenged to the core, wasn't it? Donna: Yes, sir, it sure was.  I thank the Lord.  I think the main reason was because I had a good home church when I grew up, and I went to church faithfully, my parents loved each other, and I was always taught that when you're married, you're married for life.  And when you say "For better for worse, in sickness and health," you're in for the long haul, you know?  And so I never even thought about divorce – that never even crossed my mind.  In a way, I guess I just busied myself into fixing the problem, you know?  Okay, we've got a problem here.  We need to start working on it, and, Lord, you've just got to help give me wisdom to know – because, also, all the decisions that he made as the husband now were put on me as far as my children and how many doctors to go to and who to go to and who not to go to, and I always tell ladies now, I say, "Listen, you need to thank the Lord for your husband's leadership." I mean, I was always thankful for my husband to make the decisions and so forth, but when I had to take that role, it was just something that made me appreciate the position that God has given me to be under my husband so that he could make those decisions for me.  And so I'm just very thankful that I was taught those things, and God's just really helped me through these things. Dennis: How old were those children at the time? Donna: My youngest was 10, the next one was, like, 17, and my other one was, like, 22, I think. Dennis: Wow, there was a lot going on in your life just raising them. Donna: Yes, sir. Dennis: Now, John, I want you to know we haven't forgotten you. John: Okay. Dennis: We know you're here, but we have to get a little bit of the drama that's taking place. John: Yes. Dennis: You came out of the hospital and arrived back home, and you were in a state of – was it almost like paralysis?  Or were you just – you couldn't walk, you couldn't talk.  You could see – you had eyesight, right? John: Yes, uh-huh. Dennis: You could hear. John: Yes. Dennis: But you didn't know how to eat? John: No, and I didn't know what words were.  That's why I couldn't read or write, and my Donna taught me phonics, finally, and my 10-year-old son would come home from school, sit on the couch and help Daddy learn to read.  And my oldest son was in college, the other just finishing high school, been going college, but my family just so good to me, people were just so good.  My church was so – I remember, even, when she brought me home from hospital that one time, and they opened the door of car, my dog, golden retriever, came over put head in lap, and I said, "Even my dog loved me."  It wasn't really a bad world to wake up to, because everybody in it loved me.  And, you know, my first memories of anything about life was my Donna rubbing my hand, telling me, "I love you, it will be all right, everything will be all right," and … Dennis: You knew what those words meant? John: In some way I did.  She would have to been sort of point out to me what, like, words "good" and "bad" meant and it's hard to really explain.  It was just a blank, and so she would begin to do – teach me these different things, and then as I began to pick up concepts is what it was, and the way I picked up on reading, I couldn't figure out what letters on books – how are they reading.  Until one day she got me dressed for church and set me in the living room and on the coffee table was a kindergarten book she going to teach that morning Sunday school and big pictures, Bible story, and what I did, Dennis, I would listen to the Bible every day on tape, because I couldn't read, and I would listen to two tapes a day, three hours, and I remember when she told me what the Bible was – see, I didn't know what I was, either?  I said, "What am I?"  She said, "You a preacher."  I said, "What a preacher is?"  And she said, "Well, that's somebody tell others what God what them know."  I said, "Wow, I couldn't be thing better that.  You reckon Lord let me keep doing it?"  And I began to learn concepts, and when I saw those pictures and the big words underneath it, "Moses" and "Red Sea," then I knew that was what I'd been listening to in Bible, and I hollered, "Donna, I can read, I can read."  Then I knew what words were, and so that's how I began learning. Dennis: Yeah, how did you know who God was? John: You know, I knew I knew God but I didn't know how I knew God and, matter of fact, in the hospital, one of my doctors said this – I would mumble things, because I knew I supposed to say things, but I didn't know how to.  So my doctor said the only word we could make out was the word "God," and it was, like, Dennis, I forgot everybody and everything but God. But I didn't know how I knew Him until through the Bible listening.  Of course, my family telling me, "You're a Christian," but I didn't know what that was, and, you know, my church told me, and they loved me, and so forth, but it was a process of me learning and listening to the Bible and what gave me the great assurance was Romans, chapter 8, where he says, "His spirit bear witness with our spirit that we're children of God."  And I'd gotten a little worried.  You know, it was – when I'd listen to the Bible, Judas Iscariot scared me, because I thought, "Here a preacher that didn't really know or love the Lord."  So I thought "Just because I preacher doesn't mean I really know the Lord and just because people tell me," but when I listened to that verse, it was like God said, "John, it my job tell you you're my child.  That's my spirit witnessing and after that I never had doubt after that I had that assurance in my heart from this word.  That's how I know you, God, but I can't remember praying a prayer. I wrote it in my Bible as a teenage boy, and I've still got that, and some people, Dennis, just put a date.  I wrote a whole page, and I treasure that.  God knew I'd lose it all one day, and I had a whole page.  I was brought up in a lost home.  My dad and stepdad had died before my illness, so I don't have any memory of them, but my mother was still alive.  She with the Lord now, and Mama told me that I from an alcoholic home.  She said, "John, I'm glad you forgot your childhood, it was real rough," but she said I led my dad to the Lord before he had died, my stepdad, and I led her to the Lord.  You know, I told my family, "Don't tell me everything, just what I need to know," because you don't really want to know everything sometime," so when I went to Mama's funeral, my aunt came up and said, "John, you used to send your mom a rose every year for she was sober after she got saved."  And I said, "Stella, what would this be?"  She said, "It would be 12."  And so I bought 12 roses and put there, and my aunt and I knew what it was.  And so the Lord has been good to help me, and I so glad Mama got to – she'd one day telling me about childhood.  I said, "Boy, Mama, I didn't know I was such a good boy."  She said, "Remember, I just tell the half of it." [laughter]  Bob: Well, we've been listening today to part 1 of an incredible story as we have talked to John and Donna Bishop about what the Lord took them through.  This is more than a decade ago, now, Dennis, and, you know, all of us, as we shared our vows with one another getting married, we pledged for better, for worse, in sickness and in health, and we may have stopped to think, "Well, how bad can it be?" or "How sick can somebody get?"  Who could imagine a scenario like this, like what Donna faced?  It's remarkable. Dennis: It really is, Bob, and I just want to let our listeners in on a little secret – don't miss the rest of the story – just the love story that we've heard of Donna Bishop hanging in there with her husband.  I know we're talking to some spouses right now who are hanging in there with the person they pledged through sickness and in health, for better, for worse, and right now it's sickness, and it's worse. You needed to hear the story to give you courage, and I just want to read you Paul's great writings about what love is, because the world cheapens what love is, and the Bible speaks so clearly.  I'm not going to read all of it, but 1 Corinthians 13, verse 4, "Love is patient, love is kind.  It's not jealous, does not brag, and is not arrogant."  Verse 7 – "It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things" – now, listen to these last three words – "endures all things."   The only way you get that kind of love is by knowing the God – the God who redeemed John and Donna Bishop and who put that kind of love in their hearts for one another. Bob: And that's the – as they used to say, "That's the genuine article."  Dennis, right after we had finished talking with the Bishops, I asked if I could get a couple of copies of the CD of the interview, because I meet with a group of guys on Wednesday night, and I wanted them to hear the conversation, and those guys came back the following Wednesday, and they said, "Can we get more copies of that CD?  We've got friends we want to send it to.  There are people who need to hear this powerful story." And we do have CDs of our conversation with John and Donna available in our FamilyLife Resource Center.  If you are interested in getting a copy or multiple copies to share with friends, go to our website, FamilyLife.com.  You can click on where it says, "Today's Broadcast," on the right side of the home page, and that will take you to a part of the site where there is more information about how to order the CD of this conversation and how you can get multiple copies, if you'd like. Again, the website if FamilyLife.com, and you click on the right side of the home page where you see "Today's Broadcast," or just call us at 1-800-FLTODAY, 1-800-358-6329, and someone on our team will let you know how you can get a copy of the CD sent to you. You know, when you pull back a story like this, and you hear from a couple like John and Donna, you know that the storm that they faced, they endured, and they stayed strong, because they had spent years building a foundation in their relationship that kept them pressed close to God and close to one another. Dennis: That's right. Bob: I know when you and Barbara sat down and began working on the devotional book for couples, "Moments With You," your hope was that couples all across the country would establish a regular discipline of building their relationship with God and with one another by spending time together looking at His Word, considering the dynamics of a marriage relationship and then praying together each day for their marriage and for their family. And there have been thousands of folks who have contacted us and asked for a copy of this devotional book, "Moments With You."  This week we're making it available to our listeners who contact us to make a donation of any amount for the ministry of FamilyLife Today.  If you go online at FamilyLife.com, or if you call 1-800-FLTODAY, and you make a donation of any amount, we want you to feel free to request a copy of the hardback book, the 365-day devotional for couples called "Moments With You." Now, if you're making your donation online, when you come to the keycode box on the donation form, just type the word "You" – y-o-u.  And we'll know to send a copy of the book your way.  Or call 1-800-FLTODAY, that's 1-800-358-6329, make a donation of any amount over the phone and just request a copy of the devotional guide for couples, "Moments With You."  We're happy to send it to you.  We trust that you can use it to begin a regular habit in your marriage of coming together each day, taking a few minutes to read the Scriptures and to pray together, and we trust that God will use this tool in your life. And we appreciate your financial support for the ministry of FamilyLife Today as well.  Thanks for partnering with us. Now, we want to invite you back tomorrow.  We're going to begin to look carefully at what it took for John and Donna Bishop to rebuild their life and their marriage together after John's memory had been completely erased.  I hope you can join us for that. I want to thank our engineer today, Keith Lynch, and our entire broadcast production team.  On behalf of our host, Dennis Rainey, I'm Bob Lepine.  We'll see you back next time for another edition of FamilyLife Today.  FamilyLife Today is a production of FamilyLife of Little Rock, Arkansas – help for today; hope for tomorrow.   ________________________________________________________________We are so happy to provide these transcripts for you. However, there is a cost to transcribe, create, and produce them for our website. If you've benefited from the broadcast transcripts, would you consider donating today to help defray the costs?Copyright © FamilyLife. All rights reserved. www.FamilyLife.com                 

The Fall 2019 season of the program will commemorate the 60th anniversary of the so-called "Southern Journey" field-recording trip and explore various regions, traditions, and performers Lomax and Collins visited and recorded. This first episode is a (highly cursory) survey.1. Hobart Smith: Railroad Bill. Bluefield, Virginia, August 25.2. Texas Gladden: Whole Heap of Little Horses. Salem, Virginia, August 26.3. Charlie Higgins, Wade Ward, and Bob Carpenter: Did You Ever Seen the Devil, Uncle Joe? Galax, Virginia, August 31.4. Fred McDowell with Fanny Davis and Miles Pratcher: Gravel Road Blues. Como, Mississippi, September 22.5. Ed Young, Lonnie Young, Sr., and Lonnie Young, Jr.: Church I Know We Got Another Building. Como, Mississippi, September 21.6. Ed Lewis and group (consisting of, at least, Wesley Lee Brown, Oscar Crosby, Robert Lewis, Willie Matthews, John Edmonds, Willie P. Roberts, and Henry Mason): I'll Be So Glad When the Sun Goes Down. Camp B, Parchman Farm (Mississippi State Penitentiary), September 19 or 20.7. Vera Ward Hall: Wild Ox Moan. Livingston, Alabama, October 10.8. Almeda Riddle: Rainbow Mid Life's Willows. Heber Springs, Arkansas, October 6 or 7.9. Big John Davis and the Spiritual Singers of Coastal Georgia (soon to be renamed the Georgia Sea Island Singers): Moses, Don't Get Lost. St. Simons Island, Georgia, October 12.

...in which Rex and Paul chew the fat about Sam Houston's brother's grave, Calico Rock, the River View Hotel there, Angler's Resort near Mountain View, jam sessions in Mountain View, folk festivals in the area, the JFK Overlook at Heber Springs, Wilbur Mills, Fordyce and its great sports history, the Smithsonian's Hometown Teams traveling exhibition Paul and the Arkansas Humanities Council are working on, how auctioneers always seem to be called "Colonel," how Rex became a Kentucky Colonel, Paul's odd affection for the game of cricket, Rex's love of the old Iron Bowl games, his book Southern Fried, the Southern Foodways Alliance, how Paul fought the perception that he might be a food snob by making Sloppy Joes and eating a whole box of Little Debbie cakes, stopping at the Bulldog in Bald Knob for strawberry shortcake, how the boys need to get to some food festivals to replenish their supplies of various sauces, RIP: the footbridge at Oark that got washed away in the flood about the same time they talked about it on the last Chewing the Fat with Rex and Paul, the peach-picking paradise at Clarksville, Rex's suspicions about Paul's commitment to Rex's Burger Challenge, Mennonites selling jelly, wondering if Rex and Paul might get asked to be grand marshals at the PurpleHull Pea Festival, the passing of Congressman Jay Dickey—a true Arkansas character, and RIP: Bryce's Cafeteria, which died recently at 86.

...in which Rex and Paul talk about Girl Scout and Boy Scout camps, Cedar Valley, Camp Tula, Camp Orr, the Buffalo River, Viola, the Baptist camp at Ravenden Springs, Siloam Springs, Methodist camp meetings, the Methodist camp at Davidson, kids and camp jokes about food - "This is Sue; she makes our stew" - the Cedar Glade camp, Baptist Royal Ambassadors, getting poison ivy and poison oak and chigger bites at the same time, hauling hay, BLTs, Vienna sausage, homemade chocolate rolls, the "rock crusher" near Imboden and the perils of working at a gravel pit, Bauxite, "alum teeth," the Alum Fork of the Saline River, Black Rock, Herschel Bryant, Paul's friend who rode his bike into a flooded gravel pit for a dollar, the Devil's Bathtub, the Needle's Eye, Watauga Springs, Cave City, people who get gallons of water at the public fountains in Hot Springs, the believed medicinal properties of the water at Heber Springs, eating Vicks VapoRub, Rex's grandfather's obsession with Alka-Seltzer, Paul's run-in with a lady who got him to take turpentine and sugar for a stomach malady, and using aspirin and Coca-Cola as a cure-all.

...in which Rex and Paul talk about Cherokee Village, the sales force at the Village and their sometimes-shady techniques involving Elvis and Jesus, an outstanding collection of shag carpet, the emergence of retirement communities, Paul's viewing of the moon landing in July 1969, John Cooper and his other developments at Bella Vista and Hot Springs Village, messing with salesmen, Horseshoe Bend, Holiday Island, the ferry at Norfork, the beginnings of tourism in North Arkansas, Imboden (a new record: Paul took seven minutes to mention his hometown), the great rivers and streams of Arkansas, fishing for smallmouth bass, the Eleven Point River, the Spring, the Strawberry, the Current, trout fishing in the cold water from Mammoth Spring to Hardy, Black Rock, the South Fork of the Spring, drum, perch, catfish, spring break on the Spring River, jon boats, the Many Islands, the use of hammers and electricity in catching and preparing fish, W.O. Prince's place on the Cache River, Murray's at De Valls Bluff, the Caddo River, Caddo Gap, how a longnose gar frightened a fellow from Virginia who thought it was a dinosaur, the Little Red River, and Lindsey's trout resort near Heber Springs.