Tag: public speaking

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Wisdom Prayer

Speak Up Without Fear!

Speak Up Without Fear!

Dear Lord, I pray for wisdom for those who want to be bold and to speak the word without fear. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Many cower when it comes to speaking in public. Yet, many have a powerful interpersonal witness. Whatever the circumstances, God uses his followers. For example, Apostle Paul shared the Gospel even though he was in chains.

He became well known, and God used his notoriety to spread the Gospel.

Paul, writing in Philippians 1:12-14 (ESV) tells us,

“I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.”

You have heard about Paul. Now be emboldened like those brothers who heard about him.

Speak the word of God without fear!

Tell me what you think in the comments below.

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From The Author

September 11, 2001 – September 11, 2021

September 11, 2001 – September 11, 2021

Where were you on the day of the attack on the World Trade Center?
What changed for you the days and weeks that followed?

Here is my answer:
Forty miles outside of Barstow, California, in the Mojave Desert, the phone rang…

– My wife said, “Turn on your TV.”
– I did…

The first tower was on fire. After a quick conversation, we hung up.

Within a few minutes a second plane crashed into the other tower.
I called my wife…

We were both horrified…

Five weeks before the attack, I started working for Barstow College’s satellite campus at Fort Irwin, the National Training Center for the United States Army. Hired to teach public speaking and English to the soldiers and their dependents, I would describe pre-9/11 Fort Irwin as a quiet town. My students took a casual approach to learning. Often, they came to class exhausted after taking part in military training exercises in the summer heat.

Post-9/11

When classes finally resumed, my students were still tired, but they arrived for class early. Many leaned forward during lectures and student speeches. Members of small groups interacted with greater enthusiasm. A sense of urgency filled the air. After 9/11 my students realized they were part of something bigger. America had been attacked, and they were the defenders of freedom.

It didn’t take long for me to realize my responsibility. I became serious about teaching the up-and-coming generation of military leaders. I did my best to help them improve their oral and written communication skills. My students would tell me that something I taught on a given day proved helpful to them in their jobs the next.

At Fort Irwin, everyone’s attitude and demeanor changed after the attacks on the World Trade Center. I am humbled to have taught at the satellite campus until May 2008. I continued teaching for the college at the Barstow campus until June 2017.

What is your story?

Tell me what you think below and please join me every day as we pray for wisdom by taking part in the Wisdom Prayer Challenge.

Categories
Giving Back

Giving Back

Diamond Valley Writers’ Guild Presentation
“Writing for the Children’s Market” – Giving Back

 

I have spent a career helping others learn to speak and write well. From personal experience, I like to say, “There is nothing more exciting for a teacher than to watch students’ preverbal light bulbs go on.” 

I remember being at writers’ conferences as speakers shared what they knew. I became a better writer as a result of listening to and learning from their lessons.

Have a story worth telling? Consider a children’s book. I will introduce the audience to the world of writing for children. Learn about appropriate language for different levels of children’s books. Open the poet’s treasure chest to discover found poetry and how to avoid rhyme crimes. Write more. Find out where to publish. Explore the resources available for continuing education.

Join me this Saturday! It is my turn to give back. 

My hope is the bulbs will light up this coming weekend. Join me and the members of the Diamond Valley Writers’ Guild as I speak to the group.

When: This Saturday, June 26, 2021

Time: 9:30 a.m.

Where: On Zoom

What: “Writing for the Children’s Market

 

To participate in this motivating discussion NON-MEMBERS please request a Zoom invitation. Please contact [email protected] 

 

Categories
Wisdom Prayer

Speak Up Without Fear?

Speak Up Without Fear?

Dear Lord, I pray for wisdom for those who want to be bold and to speak the word without fear. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Many cower when it comes to speaking in public.

Yet, many have a powerful interpersonal witness.

Whatever the circumstances, God uses his followers. For example, Apostle Paul shared the Gospel even though he was in chains. He became well known, and God used his notoriety to spread the Gospel.

Paul, writing in Philippians 1:12-14 (ESV) tells us, “I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.”

You have heard about Paul. Now be emboldened like those brothers who heard about him. Speak the word without fear!

Let me know what you think below.