CLASSeminars Home

You’ve Got to Get Out of the Boat

6/26/2017

By Gerry Wakeland

When was the last time you took a risk?

As a melancholy personality, I am not by nature a risk taker. I like safe, secure and structured. I’m pretty sure that’s not what God wants for us.

A few years ago, my good friend and mentor, Betty Southard, suggested I read a book. The book, by John Ortberg, was titled If You Want to Walk on Water You’ve Got to Get Out of the Boat. I was familiar with Ortberg who at the time was a teaching pastor at Willow Creek Community Church outside of Chicago.

Today Ortberg is most known for his writing in the area of spiritual formation, but 16 years ago when this book was written John Ortberg was known for his experience in leadership. This peaked my interest and I was eager to read what he had to say.

It was safe to assume Ortberg’s book addressed the topic of risk. At least the title made me think so, but it was about a great deal more. It was about experiencing the power of God in my life allowing me to accomplish things I never thought I could. It was about tapping into my God given potential.

About the time I read Ortberg’s book, I was embarking on a journey of spiritual formation. I desperately wanted a deeper relationship with my Savior. Reading this book helped me take those first few hesitant steps into an unknown world. You might say I stepped out of the boat.

Recently, faced with a decision, God nudged me to once again pick up If You Want to Walk on Water You Have to Get Out of the Boat. I knew my copy was in a box somewhere so I headed to the public library. There it was sitting on a shelf waiting for someone to retrieve it and that someone was me.

I’ve read the book again but with new eyes, older more experienced eyes, and what I realized was that while the book was about risk taking and developing a deeper relationship with God it was about much more. Maybe this time I got it.

God has big plans for His children. Did you catch that? BIG plans for you and for me. Sadly we miss out on so many of these plans. Why? Because we are afraid. And what are we afraid of? Failure? Humiliation? Bankruptcy?

Life is filled with risks. When speakers and writers come to CLASS events they have dreams. They want us to help them achieve those dreams. We want to help them. We encourage them to take risks. To get out of their boat.

Gratefully over the years we have heard story after story from CLASS alumni that proves getting out of the boat was worth it. Books have been published, stories have been shared, ministries have been birthed, lives have been transformed.

And now it is time to practice what we preach. It’s time for us to climb out of the boat.

On Saturday, November 11 CLASSeminars will launch the Southwest Christian Book Fair. This event will be held at the Sheraton Uptown in Albuquerque, NM. The book fair will be held from 1:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. It will be part of our annual CLASS Writers Contreat. You do not have to participate in the contreat to have vendor space at the book fair.

This is a new venture for us. We are stepping out of the boat. We are keeping our eyes focused on Jesus and following in His steps. We want to walk on water and we want you to join us.

Watch our website for more information on the Southwest Christian Book Fair.

1 Comment

Glimpses from the Writer’s Glossary

6/19/2017

2 Comments

By Linda Gilden

When I first began writing there were times I felt like I was in foreign language class! What did these new words mean? Wasn’t a clip something you put in your hair when you were going out? And felt needs? Aren’t all needs felt? What about a slush pile? Things that are slushy aren’t easy to pile up. And then there was the genre thing. I couldn’t even say that word. Surely, that really was in a foreign language!

True, there is a specific language of the publishing world. But it is not a secret and it is not foreign. You just have to do a little studying. Some of the words are obvious – like simultaneous submission. I could figure out that meant to send things at the same time. But did it mean send the same thing to multiple places or did it mean that I sent multiple submissions on the same day?

Here are a few terms that helped me to navigate a little better in the publishing world.

BYLINE – Your name as you wish it to appear on your work, usually placed under the title.

CLIP – Copies of an author’s published works. Also called tearsheets. The truth is that these days no one really tears anything out of anywhere. You will probably copy and paste your previous work into an electronic file. But you may still hear these words used.

FELT NEEDS – Many editors say what they are looking for is a book or article that address felt needs. So, simply put, your work must touch your reader at a point of need.

SIMULTANEOUS SUBMISSION – This is usually applied to books. Some people say they use this with magazine articles but I, personally, don’t recommend it. Book publishers usually take several months to reply to your submission. Rightly so, since they must have a number of committees comment. They know that if you wait months for an answer every time you submit a book manuscript, you may take years to find a home for your work. So the publishers are fine with your submitting your book manuscript to more than one publisher as long as you let them know in your query or cover letter that you are sending to more publishing houses than just one. Add a line to your letter such as “this is a simultaneous submission.”

SLUSH PILE – The pile on the editor’s desk that has all the submitted manuscripts. Usually this pile is very high so you need to make sure anything you submit is your best writing and well-edited. (I know you thought that’s what editors were for but today’s editorial staffs are very small if not a solo position. So make sure you have done their editing for them (even if you have to hire a freelance editor) so your manuscript will rise to the top of the pile!

Hope this helps. Happy writing!

Linda Gilden is a wife, mother, and grandmother. She finds great joy (and excellent writing material) in time spent with her family. Her favorite activity is floating in a pool with a good book surrounded by splashing children!

To find out more about Linda, her writing, and her ministry, visit www.lindagilden.com. You can also connect with her on Twitter @LindaGilden and Facebook at Author Linda Gilden

2 Comments

Daddy’s Little Girl

6/15/2017

0 Comments

Daddy’s Little Girl
Karissa Culbreath
Self-Published
$9.00 34 Pages
ISBN 9781523792313

Father’s Day is fast approaching and with it comes the recognition of the importance of a father in a child’s life, especially for a little girl. Fathers speak wisdom into the life of their children. They speak faith, hope and love. And often they speak possibility.

“What do you want to be when you grow up?” At some point in our childhood we are all asked this question. Growing up in the sixties the customary answers for girls were teachers, nurses, or mothers. We did not always recognize the potential placed within us nor the possibility of realizing that potential.

Certainly, we had heard stories of Marie Curie, Amelia Earhart, and Clara Barton. These women were role models for their strength and courage but it would not be until the early 80’s that we saw Astronaut Sally Ride become the first woman in space. Or Sandra Day O’Connor take her place as the first woman on the U.S. Supreme Court.

The world is different today and little girls can grow up to be anything and do anything and there are thousands out there that have proven it. Having the encouragement and affirmation of a father and his words can make all the difference in the world.

Daddy’s Little Girl highlights the role of the encouragement and affirmations of a father in building dreams in a young girl. From doctor to architect, teacher to firefighter, scientist to soldier, girls CAN be anything they want to be. Reinforcement of those dreams by the words of her father has the power to positively influence a girl’s ability to achieve those goals. This book is filled with words of affirmation and concludes with conversation starters to help fortify the relationship between a father and a daughter.

Daddy’s Little Girl makes the perfect gift for that little girl in your life, whether daughter, granddaughter, or a child who needs some encouragement.

- Gerry Wakeland

You can be anything you desire to be. You can be anything because you are special to me. When you feel like there’s nothing, and you start to feel bad. Don’t forget, you can do anything, because I’m your Dad.

These words appear on the first page of Karissa Culbreath’s book, Daddy’s Little Girl. I imagine that Culbreath penned these words as if they came from an earthly father to his daughter, however when I read them I took pause. It was as if God Himself could be sending this very message to every daughter that reads this book.

Karissa Culbreath grew up to be a scientist, author, and speaker. When she’s not juggling her busy schedule, she enjoys creating memories with her husband and two children.

To find out more about Karissa and her ministry visit www.karissaculbreath.com

0 Comments

The Art of Procrastination

6/12/2017

2 Comments

By Gerry Wakeland

I woke up early this morning and my first thought was, “I have to write an article for the blog, first thing.” It’s now 11:30 a.m. and I still haven’t written the blog post.

Instead, I have changed the sheets on my bed. I fixed a cheese omelet with rye toast and I sat down and ate. I’ve done three loads of laundry, taken out the trash, answered my e-mail, checked FaceBook and updated some documents on my computer. Still no blog post.

Needing to write a blog post did not come as a surprise. It was not an assignment that was dropped into my lap unexpectedly. I write a post every Monday morning. I could write the post before Monday, but every week I find myself putting it off until the last minute. I have no excuse other than procrastination.

It has been said that, “Procrastination is the art of keeping up with yesterday.” I find this to be true in my own life, especially when it comes to writing.

I could say to you that I’m just waiting for God to give me a topic to write about and the words to write. That makes me sound so spiritual, but it would be a falsehood. Not that God does not give me an occasional nudge about what to write but I find myself more often writing about topics that are thorns in my side. Or subjects that I think the reader needs to think about.

It’s hard to contemplate procrastination without thinking about deadlines. The two seem to be joined at the hip. After all, isn’t procrastination our way to avoid deadlines. Our lives are filled with deadlines, the most ominous deadline being April 15, Tax Day.

Writers and editors, publishers and marketing experts, all work with deadlines. Some of my writer colleagues are excellent in maintaining deadlines. Others are excellent at asking for extensions. Still others, just ignore the deadline altogether. What about you? Where do you stand on the timeline of the deadline?

With today’s deadline fast approaching, I continued to ponder my issue with procrastination I realized it was tied to motivation. When we enjoy something, and look forward to it, there is no procrastination. If we know that a reward is waiting at the end of our work, we jump on it and get the job done.

Procrastination is not unique to any one personality. In Personality Training we look at procrastination as a weakness and discuss ways to overcome the weakness. For example, a sanguine usually procrastinates because a job is not fun, so we talk about ways to make work fun. A choleric will procrastinate if they don’t have control of the project. Melancholies are often waiting on perfect timing or perfect conditions. And the phlegmatic gets bogged down with the effort it takes to get the job done. However, we find all will respond to positive motivation.

I encourage you to take a serious look at your life, whether it’s your writing or some other area where you struggle with procrastination. Think about what motivates you and how using the right form of motivation will help you accomplish your task.

As for me, I have spent the last sixty minutes putting these words on paper and now that I’ve finished this blog post, I’m pretty sure that I hear the Haagen Dazs in the freezer calling my name. Now that’s what I call positive motivation.

2 Comments

So You’ve Had a Spiritual High…What Now?

6/8/2017

0 Comments

So You’ve Had a Spiritual High…What Now?
Cynthia Hopkins
Bold Vision Books
$9.95 152 Pages
ISBN 9781946708014

The last school bell has rung and summer is here. The kids can hardly wait… summer camp is right around the corner.

There are more than 800 Christian summer camps in the United States, and thousands of teenagers make decisions to follow Christ at those camps every summer. Then they go back home. Home is nothing like camp. How do they sustain the spiritual high they found at camp?

Youth ministers have planned camps and retreats for decades because something special takes place when you get away from the distractions of the world to focus on Jesus. But what happens when you go back to your everyday, ordinary life?

Cynthia Hopkins’ new book, So You’ve Had a Spiritual High…What Now? addresses that very question. Broken into four one-week segments, the 30 days of devotions are designed to engage students into a mental dialogue using scripture as a basis for conversations with God. Hopkins’ carefully crafted questions take students deeper in their thinking, all intended to aid in laying the groundwork for a long-term relationship with Jesus.

Hopkins knows that what happened at camp is only the beginning. She has spent much of her adult life writing for and leading students. From that experience comes a passion to help students carry the camp experience over into real life, to make that brief mountain-top high the start of something that will last a lifetime.

What Now? is a 30-day devotional to help the reader experience what it means to be a Christ-follower, moving from a place of decision about faith to a place of living it out in everyday life. If you have a student heading off for camp this summer, or if you work with students in your church or community , this is a book that will make a difference in their lives.

- Gerry Wakeland

Cynthia Hopkins writes with a delightful mixture of humor and truth. She and her husband, Clay, serve in vocational ministry and worked specifically with teenagers for many years. Cynthia is a speaker and a writer of many articles, devotions, and Bible study curriculum for students, published by LifeWay. She contributes regularly to Parenting Teens magazine. Check out her blog at cynthiahopkins.org

To purchase copies of So You’ve Had a Spiritual High…What Now? contact Bold Vision Books, www.boldvisionbooks.com

0 Comments

Plan Now

6/5/2017

0 Comments

By Gerry Wakeland

I tore the page off the calendar. Just a few days ago it was May and now here it is June. The days seem to fly by faster and faster. Do we ever have enough time to do everything we need to do, or even some of what we want to do? Life must be intentional. That means we must plan. Robert H. Schuller once said, “Fail to plan; plan to fail.” Those words have stuck with me over the years.

For some personalities, it is easy to plan. The cholerics and melancholies excel at planning and strategizing. They are experts at preparing. For the sanguines and phlegmatics, it’s not as easy, but it’s a key step in being a successful and effective speaker.

I was raised in a church where a great deal of emphasis was placed on foreign missions. Every summer we would hold an event called, Christmas in July. During this event we would raise money, make items and collect goods to be sent overseas for Christmas. It was necessary to plan ahead.

Today, most people wait until just a short time before the holidays to start planning and preparing. Even Operation Christmas Child, does not collect their shoeboxes until mid-November.

Speakers, take note! Don’t wait. Start now to develop a plan for your holiday speaking. Here are a few suggestions.

Start your marketing now. Do you have a marketing plan? If not, maybe it’s time to sit down and develop one. Kathi Lipp and Karen Porter, two of our CLASS staff members, took a survey that revealed the most effective way to promote your ministry was with a postcard. Now is the time to update your postcards, or design new ones. Have a new batch printed and get them off in the mail. Then schedule a time to follow up.

Create new material. Are you still using the same old holiday presentations you’ve used for years? It’s time to create something fresh. The world changes at a rapid pace. Your material needs to be relevant. With new material, you have a better chance to return to churches where you have spoken before with a new message.

Refresh old material. Everyone needs a make-over now and then, even our messages. Maybe you have a message that is spot on and needed in our world today. Look at it. Can you change some of the examples? Add some new props? Does it need a different opening or closing? Don’t get stuck in a rut with the same old words. Spruce those great messages up and give them new life and fresh energy.

Revitalize your time with the Lord. It may seem like summer just started, but fall is just around the corner and then the holidays will be fast approaching. You need to be ready spiritually. Prepare now by spending extra time with the Lord. Seek His wisdom and guidance in your planning and preparation. Do something different to add spark to your quiet time. Change the format. Change the time and/or place. Do something wild and crazy with Jesus.

Whatever your personality is, it’s time to start planning. God has given you a message to share and He expects you to take the necessary steps to get it heard. Don’t wait. Plan now.

CLASSeminars will be offering our one-day Marketing with the Personalities seminar on Saturday July 15 in Albuquerque, NM. The cost for the one-day seminar is $125. Karen Porter will teach you how to develop an effective marketing strategy based on your personality and the personality of event planners. This is a great tool for all speakers. For more info contact CLASS at classeminars@gmail.com

0 Comments

A Gift of Mourning Glories

6/1/2017

0 Comments

A Gift of Mourning Glories
Georgia Shaffer
Bold Vision Books
$12.95 243 Pages
ISBN 9781946708021

As I walked to my car last week I noticed a patch of small blue flowers near the parking area. “Weeds,” I thought to myself. The next day in the mail I received a copy of A Gift of Mourning Glories. After reading it, I had a change of heart about those small blue flowers. They were no longer weeds in my eyes, but a glimmer of hope, a badge of courage.

Georgia Shaffer’s newly revised book, A Gift of Mourning Glories, is the product of many years facing challenges and learning, sometimes the hard way, how to move on. She understands first-hand how difficult it is to progress from hurt to healing. In her book she shows us how we can do the same.

The subtitle of Shaffer’s book is Restoring Your Life After Loss. Unwanted change is a constant in life. Divorce, death, debilitating illness, the reasons we face loss are different. However, the result is always the same. Life as we know it is gone. How do we rebuild after loss? Most of us do not even know where to begin.

A Gift of Mourning Glories outlines Shaffer’s five-step approach for beginning again, rebuilding after loss. It is filled with personal experiences that resonate with courage, strength and redemption. At times, you will see grit and determination. These are all characteristics required of moving through change.

At the end of each chapter is a section called, “Still Growing.” These are designed to challenge the reader to take action. We can’t change unless we take that first step. Change comes so much easier if we are willing to take ownership of it. Georgia shows us how to do this.

If you have experienced loss in your life, if you are asking, “what do I do now?”, if you can’t seem to get up and get going, then this book is for you. Maybe the loss was years ago like mine was, this book was like a comforting balm as I read it. I encourage you to get a copy of A Gift of Mourning Glories and sit down and read it. It will be like a breath of fresh air, a respite in a beautiful garden. It will fill you with hope and courage and assure you that you can recover a full life after loss.

- Gerry Wakeland

With honesty, humor, and grace, Georgia draws lessons from the losses of life. I loved her candor and was moved by her courage. I believe you will be too.
Patsy Clairmont, best-selling author and international speaker

Georgia Shaffer, founder of Mourning Glory Ministries, is a licensed Pennsylvania psychologist, professional certified coach(PCC), and author of five books, including Taking Out Your Emotional Trash. She is a popular speaker at conference’s and women’s retreats. When she isn’t coaching, speaking, or writing, she loves to work in her garden and spend time with her family.

For free resources, garden pictures, and to sign up for Georgia’s newsletter, visit www.georgiashaffer.com. A Gift of Mourning Glories can be purchased at Amazon.com, Bold Vision Books, or on Georgia’s website.

0 Comments

A Time to Remember

5/29/2017

0 Comments

May 29, 2017 marks the 149th observance of Memorial Day, a day our nation sets aside to remember the men and women of the military who gave their lives for their country.

Since the Civil War more than one million lives have been lost on the battle fields, at home and abroad. But we know that as horrendous as that number sounds it is nowhere near correct. Since the beginning of time somewhere in our world a battle has raged, blood has flowed, and lives have been lost.

Have we forgotten the sacrifices that have been made throughout the years? As time marches forward it is far too easy to lose track of what lies behind us.

Perhaps that is why the Old Testament is filled with examples of memorials. Perhaps God did not want us to forget.

One of the most familiar is from Joshua 4 where the Lord instructs there to be 12 stones taken from the river bed and set up as a memorial. These stones were to be a reminder of God’s faithfulness.

Christian singer/songwriter Tommy Walker penned these words,

We will remember we will remember
We will remember the works of Your hands
We will stop and give You praise
For great is Thy faithfulness

As Christian communicators, we have a responsibility to pass the legacy of faith on to others. We have been given the passion and the skill to share the stories of those who have gone before. We weren’t there when God parted the Red Sea for the children of Israel, but we all know that story. Hopefully we still share it with our children and our children’s children. And hopefully we have added chapters of God’s faithfulness in our own lives, stories that will be passed from generation to generation.

I have never lost a loved one to the battlefield, but anyone that has suffered loss knows the pain that accompanies it. Perhaps on this day of memorial, we can look back with pride, knowing that the sacrifices made were not in vain. We can share their stories woven together with God’s story and we can say, “We will remember.”

Today as we pause to remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice let us not forget the One who paid it all and the sacrifice He made for us. Let’s not forget to share the greatest story ever told.

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. John 15:13

0 Comments

I’ve Never Loved Him More

5/25/2017

0 Comments

I’ve Never Loved Him More
Candy Abbott
Fruitbearer Publishing LLC
$16.95 250 Pages
ISBN 9781938796081

Today one in nine older Americans has Alzheimer’s disease. This was an eye-opening statistic to me. As a result, many spouses and family members are thrust into roles they never expected. The natural response would be one of anger or frustration.

Candy Abbott’s new book, I’ve Never Loved Him More, demonstrates what caregiving looks like from a unique perspective, a perspective of gratitude.

This book gives a captivating account of how a four-decade marriage suddenly beset by dementia and Alzheimer’s can still exude romance and purpose. Candy shares with her readers her candid journey and how this disease has changed their lives.

Throughout the book, Abbott uses a diary style of writing. This might be considered journaling. It gives the reader a better understanding of the progression of her husband’s disease. For me this was helpful and insightful.

The book is filled with loving stories that remind us of the wedding vows we take saying, “in sickness and in health, till death do us part.” Candy writes from the heart allowing us to see through her eyes the stark reality of what she lives through each day. She writes with such warmth and gentleness that you are immediately drawn into their story.

There are many helpful tools within the pages of Candy’s book. I found the Appendix material to be an excellent resource.

I’ve Never Loved Him More will serve as an excellent companion to a caregiver in the often-overwhelming moments of care. I recommend this book to all who are walking through this journey with a loved one.

- Gerry Wakeland

“Candy Abbott writes not only from her experience and her heart but from her connection with God. What ends up on the page is amazing in its honesty, astonishing in its wisdom, and authentic in its wit – even in the midst of tears. If you love someone suffering from dementia, sit down with this book. You will stand up at the end, ready to apply Candy’s soul knowledge to your own journey.”
Nancy Rue, Best Selling Author

Candy Abbott is a wife, grandmom, author, publisher, and inspirational speaker. Most of all she considers herself a “fruitbearer” because it is her life’s goal to exhibit the fruit of the Spirit as described in Galatians 5:22-23. Candy lives with her husband, Drew, in Georgetown, DE.

I’ve Never Loved Him More is available from Amazon or you can visit www.fruitbearer.com. You can contact Candy at info@fruitbearer.com.

0 Comments

Knowing Your Audience

5/22/2017

0 Comments

By Gerry Wakeland

When you speak, or write, how often do you think about your audience? I have gotten into the habit of trying to picture my audience as I prepare my message. It helps guide me as I choose examples and illustrations, even references.

Last week I had the opportunity to coach one of our recent CLASS grads with a speech she was preparing for a women’s conference this fall. She had worked hard to follow our PIER principle. However, the one thing I noticed in her examples were how they did not really fit.

Think about it. If our goal is for our audience to identify in some way with our personal stories and examples they need to match the people group we are talking to.

In the CLASSeminar we teach a session on “Knowing Your Audience.” If you have attended the seminar, you may remember that this is the session when we teach on the personalities. “Personality types matter when you speak. What you present and what the audience understands depends on personality types. If you know your own personality and how to engage each personality type, your presentation will be stronger.”

This is one of the reasons that we encourage speakers and writers to take Personality Training. It gives them a clear understanding of the four personalities: Sanguine, Choleric, Melancholy, and Phlegmatic. This equips them to address each one in a way that will be most accepted.

A sanguine presenter is likely to speak loud and fast, telling story after story. This is apt to drive a melancholy listener crazy to the point of tuning the sanguine out. If the sanguine presenter understands the needs of the melancholy they will learn to slow down, offer more concrete information and fewer stories.

Florence Littauer trained the CLASS staff to pick up the USA Today and scan it before every morning session so that we are aware of the latest news. Often, Florence would change her opening remarks based on a current event or some hot topic in the community we were working in. Karen Porter teaches the importance of following trends and knowing what is going on in the world. She demonstrates how to do this using internet resources.

It is also helpful to know the age, socio-economic, gender, and general information about the group you are addressing. Do your homework. Talk to the event planner and ask questions. Your presentation will be more meaningful if it is filled with information pertinent to your audience.

If you are speaking for a religious group you should also gather information about the denomination of the group you are speaking to. A colleague of mine tells this story. He was invited to speak to a group of pastors. Being a pastor himself, he was not concerned about the topic they had asked him to address. He was to make two presentations, one before lunch and one following. In the middle of his first session he watched as the expressions of the entire room of pastors changed drastically. The temperature in the room went from warm to icy. He finished his presentation and took his seat. At the lunch break the meeting planner took him aside and explained that some of his comments were contrary to their doctrine. He was not allowed to speak in the afternoon. This was a hard lesson for my friend.

I was grateful that the young woman I was coaching was open to my comments. She was willing to be pruned. And right away she could see how some changes I suggested would make her presentation more dynamic. She saw the importance of knowing your audience so you could speak to their needs.

The next time you are preparing your speech or writing that next blog or article, think about your audience It may make a difference in how your material is received.

To find out more about The CLASSeminar or Personality Training visit www.classeminars.org

0 Comments

<<Previous

Expand Your Platform

You’ve Got to Get Out of the Boat

Glimpses from the Writer’s Glossary

Daddy’s Little Girl

The Art of Procrastination

So You’ve Had a Spiritual High…What Now?

Plan Now

A Gift of Mourning Glories

A Time to Remember

I’ve Never Loved Him More

Knowing Your Audience

Archives

Categories