ICRS - Staying home

July 8, 2008 | books, community, media interviews, mentoring, writing

It’s been interesting this week. I’m on several writing and speaking loops and the buzz is all about ICRS (International Christian Retail Show). They are talking about flights and shuttles and hotels, and interviews and book signings, and get-togethers.

And for the first time in eight years, I won’t be a part.

But it’s okay. I’m not supposed to be there this year, and I’m at peace with that. Other things are taking precedence and financially it just doesn’t make sense. I expected to nose dive when the buzz started. I love ICRS.

Last year I had two books coming out, one with Kregel and one with Harvest House. I had TV interviews, radio interviews, dinners and brunches and late night hang-out time with some of my favorite authors and speakers. I changed clothes at least twice a day, sometimes more as I jetted from one event to the next in the Hotlanta sun. I got to meet musical artists and hear their new songs and CD’s. I listened to speakers like Rob Bell. I perused the massive ICRS floor where publishers presented their new titles. I spent time sitting with good friends who LOVE the same things I do, like ministry and writing, and talked shop. I was one of the authors at the Personality party, an event where I got to meet some of my favorite writers.

But there was one moment that was better than all of those. A transforming moment.

I was in line holding a plate filled with delicious breakfast. It was a Harvest House Publishers brunch. Stormie O’Martien and her daughter sat nearby. Emilie Barnes and her sweet husband, George, were at the table behind me. Reps and media filled the room, waiting to visit with these A-list authors. Suddenly an arm slipped through mine.

“Sit with me,” the woman said, standing near me.

I turned. Kay Arthur.

“Yes, mam,” I replied. (more…)

Making It Real: Whose Faith is it Anyway?

May 21, 2008 | books, media interviews

One of my favorite people (and author and speaker) is Lysa TerKeurst. I met her at a Hearts at Home event and then at another women’s conference. She’s honest and open and cares deeply for the women who she meets through P31 Ministries.

Lysa knows my heart for teens. I’ve worked with for nearly two decades, am a youth culture and parenting columnist, and write and speak to teens and parents of teens, and connect with teens through Real Teen Faith.

Lysa asked me to share my four faithbusters (things that can trip up a teen in their faith walk) from my book, Making It Real: Whose Faith Is It Anyway?, on her site this week.

This is an excerpt of Day One: Is your teen asking tough questions, like: Why can’t I feel God? What do I really believe? Where is God when things fall apart? If they are asking these questions, they are not alone.

Even the disciples—guys called to hard core ministry—wrestled with these uncertainties. They saw miracles happen right in front of them. They encountered religious people acting anything but godly. They were persecuted for their beliefs. The longer they spent time with Jesus the more they grasped real-life answers and also stumbled onto more questions.

It’s no different today for a believing teen. What your teen hears from his pastor may be vastly different than what they hear from unbelieving friends. They live out their convictions in a world that does not always understand them. In the midst of this complexity, they have to sort out what is truth and what is hype. (more…)

Crosswalk.com: The Mom I Want to Be

April 25, 2008 | media interviews

I found this great in-depth article on Crosswalk.com over the practical steps in my book, The Mom I Want to Be

Become the Mom You Want to Be
Whitney Hopler
Crosswalk.com Contributing Writer

Editor’s Note: The following is a report on the practical applications of T. Suzanne Eller’s book, The Mom I Want to Be: Rising Above Your Past to Give Your Kids a Great Future, (Harvest House Publishers, 2006).

You want to give your very best to your children. But if your own parents were inconsistent while you were growing up – or if they neglected or even abused you – you may never have learned how to be the kind of mom you want to be.

No matter what problems you experienced growing up, though, you don’t have to repeat your parents’ mistakes. God will help you become a healthy mom who can rise above the past to leave a legacy of love for your children.

Here’s how you can become the mom you want to be:

(more…)

WRJZ

April 10, 2008 | family, media interviews

It was a pleasure to have another early morning radio interview, this time with Bob Bell of Joy 620 WRJZ, Knoxville, Tennessee.

Maybe you are visiting DTB today because you heard something in that interview, and want to know more.

Being a mom is both a wonderful, and yet sometimes challenging role. It’s life changing. It’s beautiful. It’s also demanding, difficult, and overwhelming at times, especially if you are carrying hurt or anger or unhealthy parenting patterns from the past.

What can you do? (more…)

Family Net: Mornings with Lorri and Larry

April 8, 2008 | media interviews

It was a pleasure to visit with Lorri and Larry on Family Net at Sirius 161! If you have questions about The Mom I Want to Be: Rising Above Your Past to Give Your Kids a Great Future, please feel free to comment or e-mail me.

Thanks Lorri and Larry. It was 5:08 a.m. my time which is caveman time, but I loved hanging out with you and your listeners!

I also had a chance to connect with WNIV out of Atlanta, GA! This was a fun interview, and I was more awake. Thanks for listening!

Kim Ketola Show

March 20, 2008 | media interviews

Tuesday I got to hang out with Kim Jeffries Ketola to discuss mentoring twentysomething women and my book, The Woman I Am Becoming. I loved this show! Thank you, Kim, for allowing me to be a small part of your radio program, Along the Way.

You can find out more about Kim at KimsCafe.org.

Parenting w/o the baggage

March 19, 2008 | family, media interviews

I visited with Jeff and Lee KKMS live at AM980 KKMS radio in Minneapolis/St. Paul at 5 CT. If you are visiting after that interview, I’m glad you stopped by.

Jeff and Lee asked some great questions about parenting without the baggage of the past.

Let’s look at one of those. . . (more…)

One of my favorite radio hosts, Erin Campbell

January 24, 2008 | media interviews

Because…EVERY Woman has a story! From Water Through the Word with Erin Campbell, Host

“Dare to Believe!”
Sunday, January 27th at 7:30am
Radio Dial AM 700 WLW Cincinnatti

“Growing up, I never knew what to expect. One day it all came to a head. My mom pulled us around her in her bedroom. She put a gun to her head and threatened to shoot herself. I was scared, but not because I thought she would die, but because under my breath I whispered, “just do it!”

For women (and men) who experienced a painful past and want to not only find healing, but unpack harmful parenting baggage to give their kids a greater legacy.

Click: To order The Mom I Want to Be: Rising Above the Past to Give Your Kids a Great Future.

(more…)

Focus on the Family Broadcast

January 23, 2008 | calendar, media interviews

I will be interviewed by LuAnne Crane of Focus on the Family each weekend in February. I hope you tune in as I talk about issues such as letting go of the past, forgiveness, shaping our children’s memories, gaining new perspective, unpacking unhealthy parenting baggage, helpful and practical tools to give your children stability, love, and a safe and loving home.

You can learn more about this program when you visit the website at http://listen.family.org/weekend. If you hit the “Listen Now” link, you’ll be able (eventually) to hear the program online; or if you hit the “Find a Station” link you’ll be directed to a series of pull-down menus that will reveal where you can listen to the broadcast in your local area.

I will be in Escondido, California this weekend teaching a workshop for moms on The Mom I Want to Be at Hearts at Home Mom’s Day Out conference. It’s not too late to register if you are in the San Diego area.

Suz

The TCW Article

September 26, 2007 | articles, media interviews

I just finished a wonderful radio interview with Bennett and Joyce Luke of America’s Wake Up Call, a nationally syndicated program that reaches many. I want to thank them for the opportunity to share my heart on the issues of teens and also mentoring.

To listen to this interview, go to their download site and click on T. Suzanne Eller, The Woman I Am Becoming.

 They contacted me after Joyce read the TCW article. You can read it here.