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Isaacs, SusanSusan E. Isaacs is a writer and performer with credits in TV, film, stage, and radio. She has appeared in films such as Planes, Trains, and Automobiles and Scrooged and on TV shows such as Seinfeld, The Drew Carey Show, My Name is Earl, and many others.

Despite all those accomplishments, Susan managed to screw up every lucky break she ever had, and by age forty was jobless, loveless and living over a garage. Her rocky relationship with God needed professional help, so she took Him to couples counseling.  She chronicles her “middle class white girl’s dark night of the soul” in Angry Conversations with God:  A Snarky but Authentic Spiritual Memoir. Originally staged as a solo show in New York and Los Angeles, it’s a cheeky account that even at its rawest is a heartfelt affirmation of faith.  Join us on GOD UNPLUGGED as she shares her story.

You can hear the interview three ways:

- Listen to the live broadcast Thursday at 12 p.m. CST on by going to www.blogtalkradio.com/godunplugged.

- Listen to the live broadcast by calling (347) 324-5425

- Listen to the archived broadcast anytime it is convenient for you by visiting www.blogtalkradio.com/godunplugged or by going to my website, www.amyhagberg.com or finding the player on my Myspace or Facebook profiles.

I hope you can join us!

Jontez HeadshotThough a new face to many, Jontez has spent over a decade in the business. A child prodigy at 12, he received regional acclaim through a ministry-focused Tejano band before finding himself in a worship leadership position at Bishop T.D. Jakes’ Potter’s House. In addition to his time with God’s Property, where he had the opportunity to share the stage with the likes of Amy Grant, Jaci Velasquez and Point of Grace, Jontez spent time in the hip-hop group Mankynd. Jontez has wide appeal from Black Gospel to pop audiences, thanks to his own personal blend of pop, R&B, hip-hop and Latin influences. Jontez has made numerous television appearances on TBN’s Praise the Lord, At Home Live!, The Jim Bakker Show, The Harvest Show, G-TV, Spin180 and others. He has also performed on the same stage with groups like Jump5, ZOEgirl, Skillet, KJ-52, Disciple, Krystal Meyers and others. He has also co-headlined tours with artist such as Rachael Lampa, Bryan Duncan, Martha Munizzi, the Kurt Carr Singers and Heather Powers. Jontez’s astounding testimony is featured in my book, “How Do You Know He’s Real: God Unplugged.” But sure to listen in… you are going to be amazed!

You can hear the interview three ways:

- Listen to the live broadcast Thursday at 12 p.m. CST on by going to www.blogtalkradio.com/godunplugged.

- Listen to the live broadcast by calling (347) 324-5425

- Listen to the archived broadcast anytime it is convenient for you by visiting www.blogtalkradio.com/godunplugged or by going to my website, www.amyhagberg.com or finding the player on my Myspace or Facebook profiles.

I hope you can join us!

josh and victoria

The members of Decyfer Down have come across some life threatening battles in the last month. On April 21, guitarist Chris Clonts and his wife Meghan welcomed Christopher Hayden Clonts into the world. Shortly after their son’s birth, Meghan became extremely ill and the doctors found she had a severe infection that caused her to be away from her newborn for days at a time. After three weeks in quarantine, Meghan was treated and released from the hospital and is now happy and healthy with her husband and son.

The day after Meghan was released from the hospital, Josh Oliver, drummer of Decyfer Down, and his wife Victoria received some devastating news. Victoria was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma cancer. Thankfully, the doctors caught it early enough so that it didn’t spread to any other parts of her body. The tumor is located between her lungs and heart and is the size of a softball. Due to the fragile location of the tumor, the doctors are unable to operate, so Victoria has started chemotherapy treatments for a period of 18 weeks. Making matters even more difficult they were denied health insurance coverage.

Throughout this time, the band has received an outpouring of letters and emails from fans who have expressed their sympathies and prayers for the band and their families.

“I am graciously thankful and humbled by the outpouring of love and support for my family and for the Decyfer Down family,” says Josh Oliver. “Please continue to keep us in prayer and we will keep you updated via the band’s myspace and website.”

We ask that you please keep Josh and Victoria in your prayers, and if you, or your readers would like to know about how to donate or send gifts, you may do so by visiting www.victoriasvictory.org where you an also check on her progress.

Author David Kinnaman - "unChristian"

Author David Kinnaman - "unChristian"

A generation of young Americans is rejecting a Christianity they perceive to be antihomosexual, too political, and hypocritical, according to a new study from the Barna Group. The findings, presented in a new book, reveal what Christianity looks like to people ages 16-29 outside the church. unChristian: What a New Generation Really Thinks about Christianity…and Why It Matters is a portrait of a faith and its followers perceived to be anything but Christlike. A huge chunk of a new generation has concluded they want nothing to do with Christianity. The title of the book, unChristian, reflects their most common reaction to the faith: they think Christians are no longer what Jesus had in mind.  Join me as author David Kinnaman, president of the Barna Research Group shares practical ideas on how the church can move from an unChristian faith to an authentic expression of the message of Jesus.  Be ready with your questions!

You can hear the interview three ways:

- Listen to the live broadcast Thursday at 12 p.m. CST on by going to www.blogtalkradio.com/godunplugged.
- Listen to the live broadcast by calling (347) 324-5425
- Listen to the archived broadcast anytime it is convenient for you by visiting www.blogtalkradio.com/godunplugged or by going to my website, www.amyhagberg.com or finding the player on my Myspace or Facebook profiles.

This is a very important topic – even though it might be uncomfortable to discuss our shortcomings, we need the tools to reach out to younger generations.

I hope you can join us!

The True Meaning of Memorial Day

If you ask most Americans, few have any idea why we celebrate Memorial Day.  A recent Gallup Poll revealed that only 28 percent of Americans know the true meaning behind this national holiday. To far too many, the last Monday in May is little more than a much-deserved day off, an opportunity to buy a car at a rock-bottom price, grill a burger in the backyard, or catch a few rays at the beach.  Memorial Day is a big opportunity for racing enthusiasts too; the Indianapolis 500 has been held on the holiday since 1911.

Clearly, our modern-day Memorial Day celebration is miles away from the original intent of its founders.  Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on 5 May 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic as a day to remember those who had fallen as a result of the Civil War. Flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. The Civil War produced more than 1,030,000 casualties (3% of the population), including approximately 620,000 soldier deaths—two-thirds by disease.  The war accounted for more casualties than all other U.S. wars combined.

Here are some other equally horrifying casualty statistics:

  • World War I:  116,516
  • World War II:  418,000
  • Korea:  36,516
  • Vietnam:  47,413
  • Iraq:  4,300 (as of May 24, 2009)

Most of us take the freedoms we enjoy for granted, but those freedoms were paid for at a very high cost —brave men and women made the ultimate sacrifice so we would have the honor of living in the greatest nation on earth. One need only visit a veteran’s cemetery, and see row after row of white crosses, to grasp the gravity of that sacrifice.  Those souls gave their all so we could have the right, and the freedom, to enjoy the American way of life.

So today, before you bring out the lawn chairs and light the barbecue, take a moment to contemplate the gift of freedom you have been so unselfishly given.  Those who have sacrificed their lives have earned it.

Blessid Union of SoulsWhat do you call a platinum-selling pop/rock band from the ’90s with eight Top 40 hits, one of them reaching #1 in the U.S., Southeast Asia and England while becoming the 4th most played song of 1995; who’s performed in Europe and the 50 states with The Goo Goo Dolls, Bon Jovi, Sean Kingston, Third Eye Blind, Sister Hazel, Huey Lewis and the News, Shania Twain, Vertical Horizon, Edwin McCain and with Mike and The Mechanics at two sell-out shows at Royal Albert Hall; had their songs performed in movies with Jodie Foster, Jim Carrey and Penny Marshall as well as TV shows like “Cold Case,” “All My Children,” “Dancing With The Stars” and “American Idol?” ANSWER: BLESSID UNION OF SOULS. Join me as front man Eliot Sloan talks about his musical adventure and the faith that keeps him grounded.

You can hear the interview three ways:

- Listen to the live broadcast Thursday at 12 p.m. CST on by going to www.blogtalkradio.com/godunplugged.

- Listen to the live broadcast by calling (347) 324-5425

- Listen to the archived broadcast anytime it is convenient for you by visiting www.blogtalkradio.com/godunplugged or by going to my website, www.amyhagberg.com.

In these tough times, we can all use a little bit of inspiration.  So if you can’t listen to the show live, be sure to check out the recorded broadcast.  I’ll post the link after the show airs

I hope you can join us!

susy_flory_headshot_2_smaller_op_400x600

Author Susy Flory’s life was a lot like her couch – comfortable, inviting, and safe. Then she discovered the fascinating stories of nine extraordinary women who willingly sacrificed personal comfort and convenience for a cause greater than themselves. Fueled by the desire to shape her life with passion, service, and significance, she ventured into unusual and even dangerous places and found herself working alongside local immigrant farm workers, serving needy children on a secret humanitarian mission to Cuba, feeding the homeless at midnight, and selling her jewelry to fund freshwater wells in Darfur, Sudan. These fascinating accounts will challenge you to examine your own life and inspire you to ask, “What can I do to get God’s work done in the world?”

You can hear the interview three ways:

- Listen to the live broadcast Thursday at 12 p.m. CST on by going to www.blogtalkradio.com/godunplugged.

- Listen to the live broadcast by calling (347) 324-5425

- Listen to the archived broadcast anytime it is convenient for you by visiting www.blogtalkradio.com/godunplugged or by going to my website, www.amyhagberg.com.

In these tough times, we can all use a little bit of inspiration. So if you can’t listen to the show live, be sure to check out the recorded broadcast. I’ll post the link after the show airs

I hope you can join us!

A Time for Worship

kevin4_1271

Gospel music’s newest singer/songwriter Kevin LeVar, is truly a man after God’s own heart. He brings a new sound of worship to the gospel music industry produced by his commitment to prayer. A man on a mission, Kevin LeVar is determined to reach the world through his debut project entitled, “Let’s Come Together.”

His musical style crosses all genres with a multicultural appeal embracing past, present, and future generations. Over the years Kevin has written Praise, Worship, Latino, and Caribbean style songs, as well as Calypso, Gospel Love, Big Band, Rock, Ballads, and more. The message and sound of Kevin’s music will usher the listener into an unforgettable worship experience that inspires, encourages and uplifts them.

2008 stellar award winning program director Cheryl Jackson states that The ministry of Kevin LeVar is more than music. It is the prophetic voice of God. Kevin has a way to write right from the heart of God and then execute what he hears in worship.

You can hear the interview three ways:
- Listen to the live broadcast Thursday at 12 p.m. CST on by going to www.blogtalkradio.com/godunplugged.
- Listen to the live broadcast by calling (347) 324-5425
- Listen to the archived broadcast anytime it is convenient for you by visiting www.blogtalkradio.com/godunplugged or by going to my website, www.amyhagberg.com.

In these tough times, we can all use a little bit of inspiration. So if you can’t listen to the show live, be sure to check out the recorded broadcast. I’ll post the link after the show airs

I hope you can join us!

ndp09_144x320Please join together with other prayer warriors for the West Metro National Day of Prayer Breakfast to pray for our nation and its leaders. National NDOP Chair, Shirley Dobson, says, “It has never been more crucial that we redouble our efforts to lead our fellow Americans in humble and repentant intercession on behalf of our land.”

The 2009 theme is “Prayer…America’s Hope!” based on Psalm 33:22 which says, “May your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in you.”

The emcee for the event is author and speaker Amy Hammond Hagberg and the keynote speaker is former Minnesota Viking Joe Senser. Tickets are $16 per person ($20 after May 1). Mail names and checks payable to Vision of Glory Lutheran Church – NDOP
13200 Hwy 55, Plymouth, MN 55441. You can also purchase tickets the day at the door the day of the event.

Questions? email Helen at mhgdoslund@comcast.net

Be sure to find an event in your community and help us pray for out country!

Being a Christian recording artist is a tough gig.

I can’t even count how many of the high-profile Christian musicians I’ve interviewed over the last few years have told me they are struggling … struggling to find their voice, struggling to break through the clutter, and struggling to keep the faith. Far too many of them, even those with big names and Dove awards on the mantle, are struggling to make ends meet.

Because most of them are more concerned with ministry than money, they gladly trade the glitz and glam of the secular music business to share an eternal message. Unfortunately, they still pay the same price for gas to fuel their tour buses (usually several years old), they have mortgages, salaries, health insurance, and the same big-ticket fees to produce an album – but they don’t have the upside of big-ticket concert prices like the groups you see on MTV.

It shocked me yesterday when Mark Mohr, the lead vocalist for the award-winning Christian reggae group Christafari, admitted on my radio show, “God Unplugged” (www.blogtalkradio.com/god
..unplugged), that the band is at the end of its financial rope. That’s just wrong.

Mark Mohr and Christafari

When you think of Gospel music, reggae probably doesn’t jump to the top your mind. But for the last 20-plus years, trailblazer Mark Mohr’s band, Christafari, has been traversing the globe sharing the Gospel with their unique island-influenced music.

Raised in a Christian household, Mohr strayed from his faith…far away. He found himself in a world of drugs, alcohol, and a compromised moral lifestyle. He was put through chemical dependency treatment countless times, ran away and was picked up by the cops. Nothing worked… nothing that is, until he stopped fighting and relinquished control of his life to God.

He felt God impressing on his heart to start the first gospel reggae band in America. It would be a counter-cult, drug aversion ministry that used the conscious sounds of reggae to bring the lost into the Light. Now an ordained pastor, Mohr has brought Christafari’s unique brand of Gospel reggae to nearly every state and some 50 countries around the world. Mohr has been spotlighted on numerous television shows, including CNN Headline News, MTV News, TBN, BET, and The 700 Club. He’s also been featured in Billboard, CCM Magazine and The Beat. Christafari has performed at two Olympic Games and even played for the president of the United States.

Most Christian artists face challenges performing for mainstream audiences, but the pushback Christafari faces is often extreme… even deadly. Reggae fans are often Rastafarians. Rastafarianism is a religious movement, particularly among black Jamaicans, that employs the ritualistic use of marijuana, forbids the cutting of hair, and deifies Haile Selassie, who was the Emperor of Ethiopia from 1930 to
1974, as a god.

On yesterday’s show, Mark shared several examples of how the band has been targeted on their worldwide travels, but one incident was especially disturbing. “On the Reggae Sunsplash tour, the Rastafarians took issue with what I was preaching … I took a stand against their god, Haile Selassie, and stated bluntly that he was a godly man, but not the returned Christ.

One Rastafarian artist didn’t like that too much and tried to stab me. As he lunged forward with the knife three times, I moved away with a clearly supernatural power. I know I can’t move like that! It was definitely God; there were probably angels grabbing me by the belt and physically pulling me away from my assailant.”

That just sounds like too much danger for this small-town girl, but it is a risk Mark and his band willing take to share the Gospel. “God chose me to have a ministry platform because I am not worthy to. In my own strength, I am the last person in the world that should be singing, much less pioneering the genre of Gospel reggae music. But that’s how God works – He chooses the most unlikely and undeserving messengers to proclaim His simple message…by no means do I deserve to be a voice in the reggae industry. You could find more raw talent in any 10-year-old Jamaican boy than in me. But I believe God chose me so He could receive all of the glory. And I pray that my life gives Him the glory He
deserves.”

Bottom line, friends, if you want to enjoy well-produced, high-quality inspirational music you need to support your favorite artists. Buy their albums (don’t pirate them from friends) and go to their concerts. More importantly, pray for them. It’s a battlefield out there.

~


If you’d like to hear my interview with Mark Mohr, visit my Internet radio show
GOD UNPLUGGED. There are dozens of amazing interviews with recording artists, athletes, actors, and authors in the archives.

If you’d like to read Mark’s complete testimony, pick up a copy of my book, How Do You Know He’s Real: God Unplugged at your favorite store or online retailer, or order an autographed copy on my WEBSITE.

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