MaxwellFamilyChristmas2011

Here are pictures and stories from the Maxwell Family in 2011. Download the file and take a look. Thanks for your friendship. Merry Christmas to each of you.

Another Day Along the Way: Can Married Couples Work Together?

Another Day Along the Way

Monday, December 5, 2011

 Another day,

Do you work for the same company as your spouse? If you are single and plan to one day marry, do you hope to share a workplace with your partner? My recent Another Day blog was about WinShape Marriage Retreat. In the large topic of marriage, I could write a follow up under many specific topics. But I decided to interview some of the couples who work together. Yes, work together. Not just live in the same house. Not just carry the same last name. But work together for the same company: Emmanuel College.

Working together might not “work” for everyone – but for some, it can cause the marital relationship to become even stronger. Here are some stories:

Sean and Lisa Williamson. Sean married his wife, Lisa, on November 30^th, 1991.

“I met Sean our sophomore year in high school,” says Lisa. “He invited me to help build our class float in his parent’s garage. We became great friends.” The couple dated on and off until Sean proposed.

“She said no!” Sean admitted. “It wasn’t until we met up again about 5 years later while both of us were living in Atlanta that I asked her the second time, and she finally came to her senses.”

What is it like for both of you to work at Emmanuel College? “It is a privilege,” says Sean. “It is a wonderful opportunity for us to serve God together, in the same place, under the same mission. Now, as our oldest daughter has started Emmanuel this year, it gives us a new perspective as not only members of this college family, but as parents to a student here.”

“It is a dream come true,” Lisa explains. “The college has been a part of our lives for 15 years and we feel very privileged to be a part of what God is doing here.”

Sean is currently the Director of Counseling Services, Career Services and Disability Services. Lisa is a Financial Aid Counselor.

Erin and TJ Rosen. Erin and TJ have been married for seven years. They met at Reinhardt

College. TJ is currently the men’s basketball coach, and Erin is the Director of Athletic Fundraising and an adjunct professor.

How do you spend time with God and time with each other in your busy schedules? “Meals, games, cheering for other teams, chapel, convocation,” says TJ. “We don’t just talk about our days – we get to live them together.”

Erin comments: “There’s nothing more important than for us to make sure that we are right with God. Not saying it makes marriage easy, but it sure helps! Without God, we would not have made it this far.”

Erin and TJ have 2 children, Boston (4) and Bella (3).

Kyle and Stephanie Garrett. Kyle and Stephanie are newlyweds. They married a little over three months ago.

“We met in graduate school at UGA,” Kyle says. “We had a teaching practicum class together. I made her laugh so hard that milk literally came out of her nose (surely she doesn’t mind my sharing that).”

What advice do you have for couples who recently married or will soon get married?

“My advice is to put God first in everything, pray together, read Scripture together, and be spiritual partners in a real way. Trust God’s timing and don’t rush anything. Only God could have given me a wife so perfect for me. Stephanie is beyond a shadow of a doubt a blessing from God. And He holds all things together. It starts with prioritizing God first. Then everything else falls into place.”

Kyle and Stephanie are both professors in the English department.

Angie and Brian Peek. Brian and Angie recently celebrated their 24th anniversary. Angie is the Lab Assistant for the Natural Sciences Department. Brian is Chair-Natural Sciences and Chemistry Professor.

What personal spiritual disciplines have helped you grow spiritually together? “It is easy to say praying and Bible study,” Angie says. “But tithing has been a constant discipline that I feel has helped us also to grow. There have been times I have thought if I just didn’t tithe my money – then there would be other things I could afford. But I chose to tithe – after all, it’s God’s money anyway. When Brian lost his job once, we didn’t know how long we would go without a paycheck, but we remained faithful in our tithe. Because of our obedience to God, even when it is hard, He blesses us and takes care of us all the time.”

Brian and Angie have a son named Nikolai who is a freshman in college.

Tim and Deborah Stark. The Starks have been married for 27+ years. They met at Ozark Christian College in their freshman year. They were a self-described “choir tour” romance.

“Working together is a life-simplifier in many ways,” says Tim. “We like being in the same place and on basically the same schedule. I like being available to help if there’s something Deb needs, and we like being able to directly support and encourage each other.” Tim is an English instructor and club leader, Deborah is an Assistant Professor of Music and the Director of the EC Arts Academy.

How do you choose to spend time with God and time with each other in your busy schedules? Deb and I have both worked multiple jobs for most of our married lives, so buddy time has always been a challenge,” Tim says. “Our way of prioritizing it has always been unconventional, but that’s been okay for us.”

“We regularly share with each other passages of scripture, art & music that touches us spiritually, and daily events where we see the handiwork of God or where He has revealed His nature to us,” Deborah says.

What advice do you have for couples who recently married or will soon get married?

“Too many couples give up too soon,” Deborah notes. “We were married at ages 19 (me) and 21 (Tim). As we formed fully as adults during our marriage, we matured in different areas at different times. Even our interests and goals changed over time. Ours is a work of constantly pulling back together and refocusing, remembering that we are charged by God to break the cycle of divorce that was prevalent with both of our parents.”

Claude and Alice Black. Claude, Professor of History, and Alice, Administrative Assistant in the School of Education, are starting their eighteenth year at Emmanuel College. They met on a blind double date in February 1958 arranged by a friend who knew them both. After dating all through high school, they were married following graduation on June 17, 1961. They have spent this year celebrating their 50^th anniversary.

How do you choose to spend time with God and time with each other in your busy schedules? Claude and Alice say: “Friday night has always been ‘date night’ for us. When the children were young, it was ‘family night.’ Everything else is put aside and the Blacks bug out. It can be elegant or simple—the secret is purposeful together time. We’ve always been involved with young people whether as Sunday School teachers, youth leaders, ministers, or college employees. Being with the young men and women at Emmanuel College and watching as God shapes their lives is a great privilege for which we are thankful.” 

Along the way,
Chris Maxwell & Meredith Legg-Grady

Powerful Statement: Love means giving up a part of yourself for the sake of the other, and them doing the same for you. (Sean Williamson)

Another Thanks Giving

Another Day Along the Way
Thursday, November 24, 2011

Another day,
We can glance back and remember our Thanksgivings of yesterday.
Recall seasons of laughter, meals of feasts, conversations of authenticity.
Ball games watched and ball games played.
Moments in time to remember:
Those family members and friends who are no longer nearby.
Those family members and friends who are here.
Remembering. Rejoicing. Reflecting.
Forgiving.
Giving thanks.

We can pause and notice our Thanksgiving of now.
Realizing the wonder, the often ignored, the familiar.
Watching the lives nearby and living a life of reality.
This moment in time to embrace.
A segment of life we will never visit again.
Now. Only now do we experience now.
The noise and silence are in the moment.
The crowds and aloneness are in the moment.
Giving thanks in the moment
Is the choice to make
As we eat and experience the now,
As we give thanks.

We can gaze forward and hope of our Thanksgivings of tomorrow.
Tomorrows of promise, of possibilities, of purpose.
Tomorrows of prayer.
Waiting for miracles. Hoping for accomplishments.
Unknowing what stands in a distance.
Unfamiliar with the land, the world, the days, the minutes.
What and who will be at the table?
Where will the table be sitting?
Each instance – though different and familiar –
Brings us back to yesterday and today.
How can we prepare for then?
How can we taste a joy in each moment
And arrange ourselves for unknown
Thanksgiving days on years awaiting?
By living with thankful hearts in today.

Along the way,
Chris Maxwell

Prayer Surrendered: Often, while rushing to get ahead, we get behind. The wrapping and the eating and the singing and the meeting pack calendars, leaving no room in our inns. We hide hurt; we deny truth; we lose that loving feeling. Events of temporary worth rob time to invest in permanent value.
(Chris Maxwell: Unwrapping His Presence)

How can you get involved during Epilepsy Awareness Month? How can you learn more?

Purchase copies of Chris Maxwell’s books Changing My Mind or Unwrapping His Presence. If you tell Chris your desire to partner with epilepsy groups, he will donate a portion of his funds to an area epilepsy support group. Email Chris at CMaxMan@aol.com

Watch the four YouTube interviews to learn from Chris Maxwell’s story:

http://ec.edu/news/campus-pastor-interviewed

Listen to the Epilepsy Advocate Radio show, hosted by Chris Maxwell:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/epilepsyadvocateradio

Epilepsy Awareness at Thanksgiving

Another Day Along the Way
Monday, November 21, 2011

Another day,
Like most months these days, November arrived quickly for a brief visit. Soon she’ll be gone. But, unlike other months, November highlights two realities we should remember all year long:

- Become more aware of epilepsy
- Choose to give thanks whatever our situations

Those two themes – often forgotten and ignored; often distant from each other – live together in my life. One chose to be a part of my life. And I must never let the other one leave my life. As a man living with epilepsy, I can also live as a man who is thankful.

Today I am very thankful that more people are becoming aware of this historically misunderstood word: epilepsy.

Adrian Egli has been living with Epilepsy since childhood but has been able to grasp the deeper processes going on in his brain. Adrian says, “When things don’t work our way with epilepsy, too often we let ourselves be driven into a ‘cold thought mode’ – the ‘Why bother?’ or ‘It’s not worth it’ thoughts. But we should never forget to remind ourselves that each moment is just that – a moment. What might be cold one moment can turn over and become warm the next.”

Epilepsy groups around the world have worked to bring warmth to an area often seen as a bitter cold reality. The warmth of updated information, authentic conversations, healthy stories, medical options, and community partnership has encouraged many of us living with epilepsy.

My friend Dr. Liow agrees. Kore Liow, MD, FACP, FAAN is the Director of Hawaii Pacific Neuroscience, Hawaii’s Leader in Neuroscience Care and Clinical Professor of Neurology at the University of Hawaii John Burns School of Medicine. Dr. Liow has been involved in the care of epilepsy patients for over 15 years – having cared for on the average of over 1000 epilepsy patients a year, with the majority of them difficult to control. He understands the struggle and the burden placed on these patients. Prior to Hawaii, he has established and directed one of the busiest epilepsy centers and epilepsy drug trial sites in US and has been involved in the development and clinical trials of most of the new epilepsy drugs and treatments currently in the market. His advice is healthy medicine for us all: “The best thing someone with epilepsy could do is to never give up hope. Never stop searching for what works best to get the seizures under control or finding the right doctor and the right treatment. There are always new developments and new treatment options. Never give up.”

Cathy Conley, from Standish Maine, works in a research lab. She is an example of patients who choose to never give up. She asks, “Ever get tired of where you are with your health? Are you still sitting on the couch wanting to give up? I personally found that if you’re not happy in the situation you’re in that you can’t rely on anyone but yourself to change it. If you’re not happy then get up off the couch. Take control. Make a change. It’s all up to you. I would still be where I was five years ago if I didn’t take control of my own destiny and do something. Now I have been seizure free for over five years because of that. Just remember: There is life beyond epilepsy!”

Her words remind me how we often pursue either of two mistakes: avoidance or obsession. We ignore our conditions, do little research, refuse to talk to others, and fight the battle alone. That, my friends, is not fighting at all. Or, if we go to the other extreme, we live as if epilepsy is all there is to life. Our moods, our medications, our memory, and our seizures control everything. That, my friends, is not healthy either. We can find a balance of facing our condition, finding the best medication possible with minimal side effects, talking about it, learning about it, and living life unhindered by the word epilepsy.

I’ve learned so much through my own journey. And, like many people with epilepsy, we can learn even more from those who know us best. Debbie, my wife of 30 years, says, “Although epilepsy is a very difficult thing to cope with as an individual, I don’t believe it should define who a person is or limit what they can do. There are certain precautions that should be taken, as with any medical situation, but that should not be an excuse to not take part in life. It should not be the focus of one’s life either. Epilepsy is something to be dealt with, but people with it can go as far in life as they want to. My husband has epilepsy because of injury to his brain from a bout with encephalitis. He has been an inspiration to me and many other people because of his tenacity to overcome it and do the things in life that he wanted to do. I believe you set your own limitations in life, and epilepsy does not have to be one of them.”

Our family learned how that is more possible when others are there to help. Taylor, our oldest son, believes that “epilepsy is something that makes everyone involved aware of a weakness, not only the individual diagnosed. And it can also make everyone unify to conquer it.”

That is what we want and need to see happen. Teamwork works. Partnerships bring support, information, inspiration, and new medications. People who often feel alone realize others can relate to their mood swings, their struggle to get enough sleep, their battle to remember what happened a few minutes before. Together, we can seize the moments awaiting us.

Patricia A. Gibson is a dear friend who is helping make major changes in our culture’s view of epilepsy. Ms. Gibson is Director of the Epilepsy Information Service at Wake Forest University School of Medicine and Acting Director of the Epilepsy Foundation of North Carolina. Read her words from a recent dinner celebration of Epilepsy Month in Chapel Hill, NC: “When I look back over the years when I first entered the field of epilepsy I am amazed at the progress we have made. In the 70s there were only a handful of neurologists in North Carolina, like most states. We basically had two medications – phenobarbital and Dilantin. We had no blood levels, and when seizures continued, the dosages were simply increased. Many people with epilepsy lived their lives in a drug induced stupor. We also didn’t know that too much Dilantin could cause seizures as well as too little. We had no way of looking inside the brain; we had only skull x-rays. In just a few decades, there has been a major leap in technology and understanding of the brain. Access to information now is immediate. There is some incredibly exciting new research going on in the field of epilepsy and I believe we are close to another big leap of technology and understanding that will make a tremendous difference for those with epilepsy in our lifetimes.”

Just as technology continues improving, our personal attitudes and involvement can continue improving. Yes, I have epilepsy. But I have so much more. And there is so much more we all can do to make a difference.

If you live with epilepsy, do not travel through your life journey alone. Seek teammates. Ask questions. Pursue friends who can relate, friends who can listen, friends who care.

If you don’t live with epilepsy, find someone who does. Ask them questions. Learn how you can help. Offer support. Ask others to offer support. Give money. Give time. Give prayers. Together, let’s partner to see a bright future of awareness about epilepsy and the continuing improvement of treatment.

And, together, let us believe we can give thanks even when living with epilepsy. As Taylor said, “We can unify to conquer it.”

Along the way,
Chris Maxwell

Powerful Statement: Inner beings can dare the mind to mind us, refusing to let disabilities destroy our true abilities to adjust, adapt, and rejoice amid our mental power outages. (Chris Maxwell: Changing My Mind)

How can you help? How can you learn more?

Purchase copies of Chris Maxwell’s books Changing My Mind or Unwrapping His Presence. If you tell Chris your desire to partner with epilepsy groups, he will donate a portion of his funds to an area epilepsy support group. Email Chris at CMaxMan@aol.com

Watch the four YouTube interviews to learn from Chris Maxwell’s story:

http://ec.edu/news/campus-pastor-interviewed

Listen to the Epilepsy Advocate Radio show, hosted by Chris Maxwell:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/epilepsyadvocateradio

Another Note to Anthem

Another Day Along the Way
Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Another day,
Well, Anthem, you’ve left Georgia and traveled home with your parents. Thanks for the time we spent together during your visit. Thanks for the laughter, the words, the dancing, the conversations.

You look happy. Especially when eating, when around people you know, when entertaining others, when feeling safe, when listening to your dad’s music. You look happy.

I know your grandmother and I were happy during your visit. But now you left to return home.

Events, though, do not need to have a limited life span. I remember my time with you – even though my memory is not the best (to word it nicely to myself). Pictures taken by devices and images embedded on our minds reveal the realities of our week together.

We watched basketball games. We played basketball.

We listened to songs. We sang songs.

We heard prayers prayed. We prayed prayers.

We saw people walking. We walked.

I could type more words explaining our time together. But, I’ll end with this. Your name came from a key person in Calvin Miller’s book, The Song.

Like that Anthem, you make a difference. A positive difference.

Like that Anthem, things change when you arrive. Good and great changes.

Since you and your parents traveled home, we miss you. We will also remember the time together and choose to find ways of communicating from a distance.

I pray more people communicate more often with those they love. I pray more people refuse to allow distance to divide them.

We love you, Anthem. Enjoy the dance of life.

Along the way,
Chris Maxwell

Powerful Statement: And Anthem answered, “Admit your emptiness. Open to the wind. Receive the Stigmon of the Singer.” (Calvin Miller: The Song)

Another Day Along the Way
Friday, November 11, 2011

Another day,
We all have suggestions. We all need suggestions. We all need to apply the suggestions we’ve learned.

Today I’ll offer a few more. Actually, 11 more. Let me know which ones you like. Let me know which ones you decide to put into practice.

Personally, I would love to highlight Epilepsy Awareness Month. I would want to inspire you to support a local epilepsy group, purchase a few copies of my books, listen to Epilepsy Advocate Radio, and learn more about epilepsy. But that will be next week.

I also want to blog an article about married couples who work together. That will be later this month.

For 11/11/11 I offer this. Eleven suggestions for making a positive difference. Here they are:

1. Send 11 “thank you notes” to friends who do not expect it. Text, email, cards, Facebook, Twitter – whatever method works.

2. Make a list of 11 things for which you are thankful. Take time giving thanks for each one.

3. Make a list of 11 ways you can live a better life. Prayer? Eating habits? Conversations? Forgiveness? Those are just ideas. Come up with your own. Put this list together. Take actions. Live all eleven.

4. Write 11 words about yourself. Your talent, your gifts, your fears, your mistakes, your hopes. Pray as you read those words. Be thankful for them. Apologize for them. Believe in a brighter future as you read those eleven words.

5. Think of your favorite songs through various stages in your life. Put together an “album” – a collection of the top 11. Ask yourself: Why did I choose these songs? What do they mean to me?

6. Think of the many books you’ve read through various stages in your life. Put together a “library” – a collection of the top 11. Ask yourself: Why did I choose these books? What do they mean to me?

7. Glance into your past. Write down 11 times you remember laughing.

8. Glance into your past. Write down 11 times you remember crying.

9. Glance into your future. Write down 11 dreams you hope to see fulfilled.

10. Take 11 minutes of silence. No noise, no music, no words, no sounds. Silence. Let those silent minutes become a common practice in your spiritual formation.

11. Think about 11 people you need to get to know better. Structure a plan to make it a reality.

Those are Eleven Suggestions for 11/11/11. I wonder how we can bring change and how we can be changed if we apply them.

Along the way,
Chris Maxwell

Powerful Statement: Often, while rushing to get ahead, we get behind. The wrapping and the eating and the singing and the meeting pack calendars, leaving no room in our inns. We hide hurt; we deny truth; we lose that loving feeling.
Events of temporary worth rob time to invest in permanent value.
(Chris Maxwell: Unwrapping His Presence)

Courageous Hearts

Another Day Along the Way
Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Another day,
Recently, Debbie and I finally followed through on a gift we had been given. We visited WinShape Retreat – in Rome, GA, near Berry College.

I liked the food. And the facilities. And the conversations. And the weather. I liked the music and the teaching. And I loved a weekend with my wife.

WinShape Retreat titled the weekend Courageous Hearts. It was a time of pausing long enough to remember the truth of love, while choosing to release wounds from the past.

WinShape provides various weekend experiences. Courageous Hearts is one helping couples to take time away from their routine. It is “designed to restore communication and rekindle affection.” WinShape believes, “The pace and pressures of life place enormous strains on a marriage. Couples often find themselves just coexisting. They share the same house and split the bills, but that’s about it. Courageous Hearts helps couples rebuild vital connections in their marriage through clear communication and healthy ways of resolving conflicts.”

WinShape also offers retreats for marriages in crisis and for newlyweds. In addition to Marriage Retreats, they host Ministry and Corporate Retreats.

Franz and Cynthia Mascarenhas attended Courageous Hearts. Debbie and I have known Franz and Cynthia for 16 years. We didn’t know they were driving from Orlando for the weekend. They didn’t know we would be enjoying three days together.

Franz, self-employed, and Cynthia, a legal nurse consultant, have been married 23 years. With their busy lives of work and church, and the joy of raising two daughters (19 and 17 years old), they rarely took time just for themselves. Cynthia says, “We had not been away – just the two of us – for over 15 years. We could not pass up the opportunity.”

Courageous Hearts was a refreshing, relaxing and restorative time for them. Franz says, “After so many years of being married and understanding that marriage – like anything else – needs to be worked at, it was encouraging to learn ways to resolve conflict.” Cynthia agrees: “It was really good to know that we were not alone in some of our challenges. Seeing a visual and scientific presentation of how and why we get into some conversational ruts really helped me understand how to get out of them. And stay out of them. I feel challenged to pay attention to dialogue and anticipate where it is leading.”

The retreat center included popcorn and hiking trails, bricks made by students in the 1930s, no televisions, great music, and an afternoon of outdoor adventures. The sessions consisted of quality conversations with the retreat speakers Shawn and Christina Stoever.

For Cynthia, it wasn’t just their teaching. She says, “More than their words, just their willingness to honestly share personal situations. Their transparency inspired me to not fear our struggles as a couple, but rather to conquer them and use them as a testimony to God’s faithful guidance.” Franz appreciated Shawn and Christina being “so real and transparent.”

Like me, Franz enjoyed “the facilities and the food.” Like Debbie, Cynthia enjoyed “not having to cook.” Like us, they loved the surprise of seeing each other after so many years apart. And, like us, Franz and Cynthia hope to live with Courageous Hearts.

How do they seek to apply the principles they learned at WinShape? Cynthia says, “Navigating around the ‘fear cycle’ is much easier than struggling to break out of it.” Franz agrees: “Understanding how the fear cycle operates in each marriage and how to overcome it. There is a promised land; you do not have to be stuck in Egypt.”

Others who attended Courageous Hearts agree. Here are some of their thoughts:
- We needed to get away from our pressure packed schedule. The retreat healed us.
- Most of what they said was what we already knew. But we were not living what we knew. This weekend challenged us – in a loving way – to live how we know to live.
- This was a different type of date for us. We are going back.
- Our marriage has been in trouble. A counselor suggested we come to this retreat. We are actually attending a different retreat here at WinShape soon. We are finally moving in a healthy direction.

Franz and Cynthia learned how it’s possible for couples to move in healthy directions: “Communication is so much more than speaking up and listening. It involves the effort of learning who you are and who you have married; then, using that understanding to bring out the very best in yourself and your spouse. You can have a great marriage by keeping your focus on finding ways to resolve conflict.”

Debbie and I didn’t know what conflict awaited us in the week after Courageous Hearts ended. We returned home on a Sunday. The next day we both received phone calls: Debbie’s cousin passed away; my Dad’s wife passed away.

Debbie and her cousin were almost the same age. She remembered their times together. My mother died when I was 19. Now, my father is going through this again. He was married to both women for similar lengths of time and he was near each one when she died.

Those two people had their lives on earth end. Debbie and I realized again that we have time left. We shouldn’t waste it. We should enjoy it – we should enjoy it together.

Along the way,
Chris Maxwell

Powerful Statement: One person can make a difference. If one element in a system changes it changes the whole system. (Shawn and Christina Stoever)

For more information about WinShape Retreat, check out their website:

www.winshaperetreat.org

Living This Life

Another Day Along the Way
Friday, September 09, 2011

Another day,
The summer arrived and departed. Quickly.

August? Her rapid pace never seemed to pause.

Today is another Friday. During Thursday I thought again of time’s speed. I thought of years ago, of decades rushing by, of a future rushing this way. When minds visit such thoughts, questions arrive. Yesterday they did for me.

What choices did I make during summer’s brief visit – choices which can bring long term change? How am I adjusting my own schedule to accomplish goals, pursue dreams, forgive hurts, and enter healthy conversations with friends? Am I providing a positive influence in this world of questions and pain and fear? What simple or grand ambitions can I set, pursue, and achieve?

What new books will I read before 2011 shuts her door? What new stories or books will I begin to write before January says hello? What new friends will I meet? What old friends will I see again? Who will see kindness through my actions and hear hope through my words?

No, this isn’t a midlife crisis. It is just a hope to make a difference. Not a vision of large numbers or impressive accomplishments. Not goals with self at the center.

It’s a sense of remembering there is more. Time’s not over, yet. Dreams aren’t dead, yet. Life is living, still.

What about you? Have your disappointments diminished your dreams? Have your previous mistakes caused you to doubt future success?

Let’s silence those thoughts of defeat. Let’s greet a new day with new hope. Let’s believe we can make a difference.

As fall and winter arrive and depart in their hurry, let’s believe. And let us live this life.

Along the way,
Chris Maxwell

Powerful Statement: As we limp, let us dance. It will, in internal and eternal ways, make each of us better. (Chris Maxwell: Changing My Mind)

Loving Life: An Interview with Sherry Story

Another Day Along the Way
Thursday, August 25, 2011

Another day,
Sherry Story brings smiles to many faces. Read our conversation – be ready to smile.

Chris: You are a very talented lady. Professor, photographer, writer, mother: What am I missing? Tell us a little bit about the many things you do.

Sherry: Chris, God has blessed me with several talents. I am not only a science professor at Emmanuel, but I am a wife and a mother as well. I have been married for 18 years to Micah Story. I have two children, Kayla (15 year old daughter) and Jordan (11 year old son). In addition, I am a professional photographer. I started my photography business 11 years ago and God has really blessed me through this business. I’ve met celebrities such as actress Cicely Tyson, Dr. Ben Carson, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s children, and actress Victoria Rowell. I photographed President Obama while he was campaigning for the presidency.

I am a fictional Christian writer and a seamstress and designer. I like to make my clothes as well as certain things for my daughter. I love being creative.

I also love to cook. A friend and I started a catering business as personal chefs in November last year. I enjoy good, healthy food and that was the inspiration for our business.

Chris: You and I have talked before about your writing. What have you written in the past and what are your future plans?

Sherry: My stories cater to young girls and women who have been abused. I find that some people find it easier to read a novel and connect to characters who deal with real-life situations. It is my hope that my stories of faith will inspire those who have been abused and let them know that their lives can be joyous and fulfilling in spite of what they have been through.

I have published one book entitled “Severed Heart.” I am currently working on my second novel. Hopefully it will be completed within a year.

Chris: And, you have a wonderful sense of humor. I appreciate you laughing at my attempts at being funny.

Sherry: I love to laugh because I am loving life! Not to say that every day is splendid, but because of God’s presence through the Holy Spirit I persevere.

I like to make others laugh as well. It just makes you feel better.

Chris: What are some of your biggest thrills working with students at Emmanuel?

Sherry: Each student is different and has different needs and learning styles. One of the biggest thrills for me is to watch the spiritual and academic growth of students from the time they arrive at Emmanuel until they graduate. My students are like my own children. I nurture them as freshmen and each year I raise the bar of learning so that they may become more responsible and more independent academically.

Another thrill is that the students make my job of teaching enjoyable. They are a blessing to me. There are days when I may not be feeling well or just not my usual jovial self (it happens) and a student will say something or do something that will make me laugh. It brightens my day.

Chris: Tell us more details about your spiritual beliefs and development.

Sherry: I am a Christian. I accepted Christ at the age of 5. I believe wholeheartedly that He is God’s Son and very real. This is in part due to the faith and testimonies of my grandparents. Growing up I didn’t know why it was so important to know Him that young, but once I became an adult I understood.

At the age of thirteen, I was sexually molested by my mother’s boyfriend. For the next three years my life was miserable because my relationship with my mom grew worse. She didn’t protect me or support me and basically told me that the abuse was my fault.

Needless to say, at sixteen I wanted to die. I wanted to commit suicide and was going to try to do so. The night that I was going to do it changed my life and began a deeper development of my spiritual walk with God. As I was reaching for the pills I heard a voice say no and instead I reached for the Bible. As I began to read the tears began to flow and I decided that I was going to live and God would bring me through.

I laugh so much today, because there was a time in my life that I didn’t. I was angry and withdrawn for many years. Today, my relationship with God is stronger than it has ever been.

Chris: As we emphasized in ALPHA Week, how can learning in the classroom and in various life experiences help us spiritually?

Sherry: I tell students that the information learned in the classroom reveals more about God as the Creator. From the music that is studied to scientific experimentation, all of it opens our eyes to know and appreciate the wondrous works of God.

Psalm 19:1-2 (NIV) states, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”

Every subject that is studied declares His glory. If we can grasp that we must love Him with our whole heart and mind, then we will be able to grow in knowledge as well as spiritually. Why? Knowledge allows us to know and appreciate God. It gives us a desire to know Him more. Therefore, we begin to seek Him and develop a deeper relationship with Him.

Chris: What are some of your concerns about the American church?

Sherry: I have several concerns about the American church.
a) We are conforming to the things of the world.
b) We are not being empowered to walk in spiritual authority. As a result, our faith and dependence on God is not what it is supposed to be.
c) The Word of God should be preached without dilution. Many churches are “tweaking” God’s Word to appeal to the congregation or to attract large membership rather than teaching the Word to change lives and draw people closer to God.

Chris: How can we bring positive changes?

Sherry: I think we can bring positive changes by teaching the truth and being living examples of our faith.

Chris: I enjoy seeing your children when I speak in Athens. It’s been fun talking about their mother when she’s not around. Offer advice to our readers about the importance of showing God’s love through parenting.

Sherry: Grace and mercy become major attributes as a parent. As a parent, you learn the true meaning of God’s unconditional love for us, because you have to show it as a parent.

It’s important that we as parents live and exemplify God’s love because it builds the faith of our children. Kids are smart and very observant. They watch to see if you live your life as the Christian that you claim to be. If parents exemplify God’s love, then it allows children to want to know and trust Him.

Chris: We are seeing many exciting changes at Emmanuel. What are your prayers for students, faculty, and staff as we run this rapid race into the future?

Sherry: My prayer is that God’s blessings will continue to be poured out on Emmanuel and its students, faculty, and staff. I pray that God will continue to send workers to this vineyard that are diligent in their tasks and have a love for God and a desire to do His will.

I pray that students, who come here and don’t know God, will find Him at Emmanuel. I pray that we as faculty and staff will treat our students in a way that pleases and honors God.

Chris: How can readers learn more about your writing, artwork, and photography?

Sherry: To learn more about my photography, readers can visit my website at www.svstory.com

To learn more about my writing and artwork, they can email me at svstory@svstory.com

Along the way,
Chris Maxwell

Powerful Truth: If we sustain our commitment to modeling grace-filled community, the Christian university just might be the place where world change begins. (Philip W. Eaton – Engaging the Culture, Changing the World: The Christian University in a Post-Christian World)

A New Week of Learning

Another Day Along the Way
Sunday, August 21, 2011

Another day,
Week One of school has waved goodbye.

A week of classes and meetings. A week of conversations and experiences. A week of getting to know new friends and seeing old friends again. A week of thoughts and feelings. A week of college life. Day One arrived quickly after a brief summer. And now Week One is gone.

Students open their books and read. They write and type and remember. Nouns and verbs guide the journey into new territory, new land, new regions of reality.

Students open their eyes and ears to see and hear stories. Stories of information and calculation, of history and industry, of stats and policies, of facts and theories.

Students open their hearts to receive stories of faith, living, and learning. To receive invitations from a Father who welcomes them home again – no matter where they’ve been or what they’ve done. To receive invitations into a life of being transformed by minds renewed. To receive invitations to serve and seek and forgive and be forgiven.

A week has waved goodbye as another week walked our way.

No matter our age, let us all experience a new week. Let us all learn. Let us all live like students. Let us see jobs and relationships as classrooms of life. Let us not just hear about books; let us read.

Review Week One. What have you learned? How have you changed?

Preview Week Two. How do you seek to be transformed? What do you hope to learn?

Along the way,
Chris Maxwell

Powerful Statement: Your life was never intended to be muted and dulled by weak pleasures. Your life was intended to burn with a dazzling light. (Joe Coffey – Red Like Blood: Confrontations with Grace)