June 3 and 5 – Marilyn Vancil on Self to Lose – Self to Find
Marilyn’s take on the Enneagram’s spiritual wisdom is destined to change many lives, as it has mine, and I can’t wait for my family, friends and fellow Christians to read and apply it. Neither the Myer-Briggs Sorter nor Gallup’s Strengths Finder can match the spiritual, psychological, and emotional treasure in this book — it’s that good!
Mick Silva, Editor and Blogger MickSilva.com
Most people wonder:
- Who am I really and why am I here?
- What drives my thoughts and actions?
- Why do feelings like anger, fear, and shame keep surfacing?
- How can I make sense of myself and others?
The insights in this book illuminate answers to these perplexing questions through a unique approach to the personality system known as the Enneagram, or “nine-drawing.” Marilyn Vancil presents this spiritual discernment tool within a biblical framework and explores how it can assist us on the journey of experiencing and expressing our divine destiny as a reflection of God’s image.
This ancient personality model taps into our deeper story and the underlying motivations and filters that influence the way we live. It’s like a microscope on our inner life, clarifying ways we are held captive by habitual patterns of thoughts, feelings, and actions we aren’t aware of or can’t seem to change. Most importantly, it reveals our true essence and how our distorted beliefs and ingrained strategies hinder the full expression of who God designed us to become.
Self to Lose–Self to Find examines the invitation of Jesus to lose yourself in order to find your true self, and offers the Enneagram within this context. It guides you toward liberating self-awareness by detailing nine distinct personality patterns, each with particular gifts and challenges. By learning about your type, you will:
- Embrace the truth about your God-given identity.
- Uncover your deeper motivations, longings, and ways of suffering.
- Discern between the self to lose and the self Jesus invites you to find.
- Enhance your relationships by appreciating others more.
- Own-up to what keeps you from possessing the abundant life Jesus offers.
Since our inner life is where true transformation takes place, daring to take a closer look at yourself through the wisdom of the scriptures and the Enneagram will have immeasurable benefits in your life with God and others.
Marilyn Vancil is a trained spiritual director, life coach, and Certified Enneagram Professional in the Narrative Tradition through Enneagram Worldwide. She facilitates Biblically-based introductory and advanced workshops on the Enneagram for individuals and couples. She practices in Seattle where she enjoys life with her husband, Jeff. Find out more about Marilyn and her offerings at www.marilynvancil.com.
June 10 and 12 – Kathi Lipp on 101 Simple Ways to Show Your Husband You Love Him
“As women, we have no idea the power God has given us to encourage or discourage our husbands. We can change the way they walk through the world.”–Kathi Lipp
In 101 Simple Ways to Show Your Husband You Love Him, author and wife Kathi Lipp offers a wealth of creative ideas for how to love and encourage your husband to be the man God has called him to be.
With each short, doable plan, you’ll not only bless your husband–you’ll bless the relationship God created when He brought the two of you together.
“Sometimes the way to show your husband you love him isn’t an action, it’s a statement,” says Kathi. “Just as we need to hear we are loved, so do our husbands. I hope these simple offerings will help you show your husband you really love him and affirm him.”
Here are just a few of the fun ideas Kathi (along with some of her most encouraging friends) suggests to show love to your man:
- Give him a break: Take something off his “to do” list especially during a busy time.
- Study up on his favorite team and then watch a game with him: Surprise him with your interest and that you understand what the commentators are talking about.
- Pray him up: As he goes to work, pray for his day and how he will go through it.
- Learn to listen: Become an active listener. Ask open-ended questions. Do a two-day follow up. Don’t fix, just listen.
- Spoil your husband, not your kids: Make sure that your husband knows he comes before the kids.
From leaving him hand written love notes, to bragging on him on social media to making his favorite meal, Kathi contributes ideas that help women express their love for their man, and many she has used in her own marriage of over ten years.
101 Ways to Show Your Husband You Love Him also features a husband personality test so wives can better understand their husband and meet his needs.
Kathi believes that women should not forget to take care of themselves in the process. That a wife who is emotionally, physically and spiritually healthy can be the best for her and her family…and that is another blessing she can give to her husband and her family.
Kathi Lipp is a busy conference and retreat speaker and the author of se
veral books, including The Husband Project, Clutter Free, The Cure for the “Perfect” Life, 21 Ways to Connect with Your Kids, and The Get Yourself Organized Project.
She has had articles published in several national magazines, and has been a featured guest on countless radio and television programs including Focus on the Family. Kathi and her husband, Roger, live in San Jose, California and are the parents of four young adults. Her official web site is www.KathiLipp.com.
June 17 and 19 – Patti Foster on Coping with Traumatic Brain Injury
In the split second it took for a semi to slam into the back of the SUV Patti Foster was riding in, her world changed. Her life, in fact, almost ended that night. Miraculously, she survived, but her ordeal had just begun. After weeks in a coma, she woke up to an existence she couldn’t comprehend or even begin to understand. Patti had to re-learn 
everything, from how to eat to once again being able to recognize and remember the people she loved.
Today, as a traumatic brain injury survivor, Patti knows what this kind of excessive damage can do to a person. So she shares her story in the hope it can help and encourage other TBI victims, their friends and families.
Patti has traveled abroad extensively providing music and teaching conversational English through music. She has served with a fine arts team to Australia, toured with the University Choir to the British Isles and spent a week in the heart of Mexico with a mission group. Performances with the Fort Worth Chamber Orchestra and the Sam Houston State University Orchestra further broadened her scope of music and expression. In 1989 after she had graduated from college, Patti spent time in Eastern Europe providing music for crusades and helping people of all ages learn conversational English through music.
Since 1990, Patti’s focus has been radio. She was the morning show host at WFRN, an 
inspirational Christian radio station broadcasting in Indiana/Michigan. Before then, she was the afternoon show host at KVNE/KGLY covering Texas/Louisiana. Throughout it all, she continued to be a voice talent in the USA and abroad.
On June 18, 2002, Patti was severely injured in a horrific traffic wreck. She suffered traumatic brain injury and was in a coma for six weeks…her life hung in the balance. From how to eat to once again being able to recognize and remember the people she loved, Patti had to re-learn everything.
And now, as her restoration process continues, Patti’s heartbeat is still to inspire and bring hope to others through her speaking, writing, and living her life moment by moment.
June 24 and 26 – Rebecca Hagelin on 30 Ways in 30 Days to Strengthen Your Family
Media and cultural expert Rebecca Hagelin offers practical strategies for raising children of character in today’s morally toxic environment in her new parenting guidebook, 30 Ways in 
30 Days to Strengthen Your Family, (David C Cook, May 1, 2016). Expanding on a previous best seller, Hagelin offers parents 30 doable ways they can restore peace in their home and connect with their children even in the midst of a media-saturated culture.
Every parent asks: How can I empower my children to uphold timeless values in a world that undermines what we believe? Hagelin encourages parents to be consistent in the battle. “Consistency is probably the toughest skill to master as a parent-and one of the most important. We can’t disregard our own values and standards just because we are tired, aren’t in the mood to fight, or lose our courage.”
Hagelin’s grown daughter, Kristin offers her own reflections after each chapter, “her words offer moms and dads an added bit of encouragement from a responsible young adult who lived through the processes outlined in the book. She also often presents a humorous reality check and gives a unique perspective on how she translated what me and her
father were trying to do in raising children of character.”
For 25 years, Rebecca Hagelin has educated parents, schools, and civic organizations on the damaging messages of our culture. She has appeared on thousands of television and radio interviews as a media and culture analyst, and she is the president of a marketing company, a columnist for several news sites and papers, and author of the book, Home Invasion: Protecting Your Family in a Culture That’s Gone Stark-Raving Mad. Hagelin and her husband have three grown children and live in Florida.
Always Faithful 