An Interview w/Amy Hammond Hagberg, Part 1
Amy is an author and host of a radio talk show called God Unplugged. I recently read her new book with the same title in a series titled,“How Do You Know He’s Real?. Amy interviewed musical artists, Olympic athletes, and others who say that knowing Jesus transformed their lives. Thanks for joining me and Amy as we talk about her new book, writing, and living faith in a real world.
Suzie: Hi Amy, thanks for joining me today. Your radio show and your book is called “God Unplugged”. What does that mean to you?
Amy: You know, Suzie, as Christians we too often put God in a box. We have a tendency to keep Him at arms length and only focus on that relationship at church on Sunday mornings. The idea behind “God Unplugged” is to take Christ out from behind the pulpit and to allow Him to be an integral part of every aspect of our lives… because Jesus is not just for Sundays!
That means bringing God to work with us, into the classroom, and into our homes on a full-time basis. If you are having trouble with your family, God wants to be part of that. If you are struggling in school, God wants to walk right beside you there as well. God wants to be there for you in the big things and the small… he’ll help you manage a crisis or addiction, but He’ll also help you find your car keys! (more…)
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4:03 am |
That little “check”, what’s that about?
I received a great opportunity the other day. I wish I could tell you about it, but it’s in the works. When it’s public knowledge, we’ll chat, okay? I promise!
But there was something inside of me — a hesitancy, that I couldn’t ignore. When that “check” is there, I need to wait. Maybe I need to say no, or maybe I need more information so that I can say yes.
One night I couldn’t sleep, and as I lay there I thought about the opportunity, and I realized that it was bigger than I first imagined. Not in the sense that it would promote me or my books, but bigger spiritually.
I started to pray, and all the outside issues fell away and I saw the opportunity clearly–through spiritual eyes instead of my own.
When morning broke, I knew the answer would be yes. (more…)
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11:34 am |
Just a thought
Heard this week:
The best things in life are rarely things.
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11:37 am |
Denver News
I’ve been in Denver and what a week it was. It ended with a nice surprise–a gift, actually–that I didn’t expect.
I arrived at the Denver Intl. airport and found out that most shuttles don’t go to Arvada, where I needed to be for an interview on Denver Celebration, a Daystar program. I “shuttled” between three or four transportation services who all said, “check out the next guy”.
I decided to rent a car and was surprised that I could rent a beautiful 2008 silver Toyota 4runner SUV for less than the shuttles would have cost. I hit I70 West, and found Wheat Ridge/Arvada 30 minutes later.
I was on ”Denver Celebration” to talk about The Mom I Want to Be and The Woman I am Becoming with host Linda Evans Shepherd. If you tuned in and wondered why my hair was so flyaway, it was because of the fire alarm and evacuation at the hotel while I was getting ready. Nothing like running downstairs and outside with wet hair. (more…)
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4:15 am |
Susie Larson - Along the Way
If you’d like to listen to my interview with Susie Larson on Kim Ketola’s Along the Way LIVE show, please click here!
We talk about The Mom I Want to Be, and I get to visit with listeners of KTIX.
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4:36 am |
My mom is an alcoholic
Question: Thanks for your post yesterday, but what about those of us whose parents are still alcoholics?
I was raised with an alcoholic mom. When she drinks she says terrible things. She’s out of control, and sappy and stupid.
I WILL NOT allow her to influence my children. If I forgive her, then she will think she can be in my life again, and that of my children. I won’t let that happen.
(more…)
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4:33 am |
Questions from KTIX listeners
Question: I heard you on KTIX yesterday. You said that forgiveness is the foundation of healing, but what if the person doesn’t deserve forgiveness? I can’t forgive someone who isn’t sorry, who continues to hurt people, and who is a miserable excuse for a parent. I want to give my child everything I didn’t have. If forgiving is part of that, then I don’t know what to do.
(more…)
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4:07 am |
The power of touch
I just want to say a quick hello to the listeners of Along the Way, KTIS radio in Minnesota. Thank you for dropping by. If you have questions about the topic “The Mom I Want to Be: Rising Above the Past to Give Your Kids a Great Future”, please e-mail me and I’ll post them anonymously along with an answer next week. Blessings! Suzie
When I was a teen I went to my first nursing home with a group from my church. Mr. Lollis loaded up a group of 20 or so every Sunday. We went to Braum’s first, then to the nursing home where we sang or visited with the elderly.
Often, I felt strange. When you’re 16, old people really are old. They reached for me, hugged me, and held my hand in their soft, veiny hands.
Now that I’m on my way to being an old person, I see those visits differently.
If I were to count the number of times I’m touched each day, the number would be high. The first thing that Richard does when he comes home from work is to walk through the house whistling until he finds me (sounds like he’s looking for a dog, doesn’t it?, but it’s just his way). When he finds me I am crushed in a hug. We hold hands when we walk. I brush my hand across his head gently when I walk past him and he’s watching TV. (more…)
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4:51 am |
Berry Mauve or Muted Wine
I received a cool e-mail yesterday from a blog reader. Coworkers were passing around my story, Berry Mauve and Muted Wine. She is a cancer survivor and wanted me to know that she loved the story.
It’s one of my favorites, and always will be. So, here it is. A rerun. Same ole girl. Same ole guy. Seventeen years as a cancer survivor celebration coming up in September.
My story shared in Chicken Soup for the Couple’s Soul:
Berry Mauve or Muted Wine
by T. Suzanne Eller
He found me weeping bitterly in the hospital room.
“What’s wrong?” Richard asked, knowing that we both had reason to cry.
In the past forty-eight hours, I learned that I had a cancerous lump in my breast that had spread to my lymph nodes, and there was a possible spot on my brain. We were both thirty-two with three young children. (more…)
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4:36 am |
