Chasing the Wind

Kathy Strongin sat at her desk, in her lavish Southern California home, reviewing her accomplished life goals by age 24. A successful realtor owning three homes with a Mercedes parked outside , Strongin hung her head questioning why, even after all her achievements, emptiness still filled her soul.  Raised by an alcoholic father who walked out on the family when she was seven years old, Strongin vividly recalls her mom’s dependency on welfare to support the family. “It was hard,” she said. “I thought as I got older, I never wanted to be in this position of being without.” Determined […]

-Read More


Surrendering to the Call

If you found yourself on the verge of success and financial freedom with your long-term goals, could you walk away from your accomplishments to obey God’s calling? Over a year ago, Andrew Cornell did just that. In 2006, his senior year in college, Cornell intensely focused his efforts to secure his dream job of owning and operating a Chick-fil-A franchise. By 2007, Cornell was selected to run the Treasure Coast Mall store–quite an accomplishment for someone so young. But his motivation didn’t stop there. Passionate about attaining that next goal, he envisioned owning a freestanding (or street store) Chick-fil-A, a […]

-Read More


From Celebrity Insider to God Inside Her

The name Toni Frallicciardi may not sound familiar to everyone, but one conversation with this former celebrity-insider and any concert junkie or up-and-coming skater would give their left pinky to relive a single hour in her shoes some twenty years ago. Okay, maybe their right pinky, too.  Surfing, skateboarding and shooting photos for Eastern Surf Magazine is how Toni described her upbringing in South Florida. Through the years she has traveled with the surf and skate industry to places like Hawaii, New Zealand, Australia, New York, California and Vegas, living that much coveted lifestyle. Currently, Toni oversees the skate Life […]

-Read More


Are You Ready for the Battle?

I recently hit one of those downward spirals. From kitchen renovation trials, to needing major plumbing repairs, add in multiple misunderstandings with the hubby, the kids acting like kids and the pressure to keep it altogether with a smile – I was finally pushed too far.  One afternoon, I walked to my neighbor’s house and crumbled into her arms. After blubbering out a few sentences, this sage woman of God quietly repeated Jesus’ name, praying for Him to calm my soul. In less than a minute, peace traveled the course of my body and my breathing returned to normal. I […]

-Read More


2011 Summer Reading List

A bad book is a time thief, and with four kids to chase (a form of exercise, I assure you) choosing material wisely is a must. Sifting through book reviews and excerpts allows me to locate my preferred writing style – one I know will hold my attention until the last page. A good find is much like a beloved friend; you laugh, cry and struggle at times, but in the end, you’re better off knowing each other. Here is a list of personal favorites for your summer beach – reading excursions. Enjoy! Redeeming Love By Francine Rivers I’m not […]

-Read More


To Glee or Not To Glee…That is the Question!

Glee raked in 19 Emmy and 11 Golden Globe nominations (the most nominated series of the year), taking home four Emmy and two Grammy Awards in 2010. Parents, be afraid. Be very afraid… This mesmerizing, toe-tapping musical comedy-drama advertised to teens, focuses on inclusion for the high school glee club members as they sort out their relationships, sexuality and awkward social quandaries.  Being a former theatre major, I tuned in week after week, excited to escape with the vocally-talented characters as they spun innovative twists on popular show tunes. However, I found myself emotionally connecting with the misfortunes of the […]

-Read More


PARENTS BEWARE: Your Child May Be Next

If a prostitute shared her story, the preconceived notion may change from an addict choosing the lifestyle to a vulnerable child tricked into the industry. And it’s happening in your backyard. “Florida is in the top three states for human trafficking in America where the average age of prostitution is twelve years old,” said Bonnie Jo Daniels, Project Coordinator for Hope for Freedom at Christ Fellowship. With the over – sexualization of our culture and its blatant attack on our men, you maybe surprised how sexual addiction begins. Here is one example: A young boy gets a glimpse of pornography; […]

-Read More


Lady Gaga Needs Our Prayers

Known for her idiosyncratic costumes splayed across magazine covers and on stage, Pop Icon Lady Gaga rose to worldwide fame with chart-topping hits like “Just Dance” and “Poker Face”. Recently, however, Gaga made headlines for a different reason. Her current “Judas” track (from the Born This Way album) has critics claiming she’s gone too far. In it, she sings: “I’m just a Holy fool, oh baby he’s so cruel, but I’m still in love with Judas, baby … I wanna love you, but something’s pulling me away from you, Jesus is my virtue, and Judas is the demon I cling […]

-Read More


Epic Family-friendly Summer Destinations

With summer right around the corner, sometimes a quick trip with the family is the best way to recharge our batteries from our overscheduled lives. Thankfully, with a little creative effort, a mini-escape can easily fit within the family budget.  The Florida Keys  $$ Key Largo, the northern most Key, is known as the dive capital of the world and features the United States’ only living coral barrier reef. Dive enthusiasts can explore century old shipwrecks, underwater cities of coral and the sunken, 4,000 pound bronze Christ of the Abyss statue (located at John Pennekamp State park – the oldest […]

-Read More


Changing Lives of Inner-City Kids for Christ

Fleeing police at age nineteen, Terryon was shot twice; once in the chest and another in the arm during an attempted armed robbery. He spent a month in the hospital, then three years in prison. Although an unfortunate story, Terryon’s situation is not uncommon in the area he’s from: the inner-city. However, there is hope for kids and teens in downtown West Palm Beach. Urban Youth Impact (UYI) is an organization founded by Bill Hobbs (known as Mr. Bill on campus), whose mission is to love, equip and empower inner-city youth and their parents to fulfill their God-given purpose. Terryon’s […]

-Read More