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Recently I had the privilage of interviewing Ken and Joni Eareckson Tada. It's a privilege not because Joni is more gifted than any other person who ministers the gospel. Rather Joni is so inspirational because she follows Paul's exhortation in 2 Corinthians 12:9 so well: "He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities"

Eareckson Tada has gloried in her quadriplegia for 46 years - using her disability as an opportunity to minister to those with similar struggles through multimedia ministry Joni and Friends, film and books.

In her lastest book with her husband Ken Tada, Joni & Ken: An Untold Love Story, she glories in another weakness, marriage. While marriage is a blessing --a sacrament even-- it can be tough when two people become one. It is a relationship that calls for daily sacrifice and a deeper death to self that mirrors our relationship to with God. At times, this relationship reveals a lot of weakness -- so much that our instict maybe to flinch, to move away from the thing and one that exposes so much pain, disappointment and sorrow.

Yet Paul tells us that as we glory in our weaknesses, the power of Christ will come to rest upon us, enabling us to endure to the end. FULL POST

People young and old have pondered at some point in time, what should I do with my life? What is this life about? What is my life's purpose?

Is my job? Or, perhaps some natural talent buried deep inside of me, waiting to be revealed to the world?

In junior high, my classmates and I were instructed to seek out a future career path or goal. We took personality tests to uncover this sacred calling, one that was completely tailored to suit my natural strengths, likes and dislikes. To my glee the test affirmed a career that I was already gravitating towards, journalism.

The promise of this career, seemingly hand-picked for me, became my singular focus throughout high school and college. When I exited college, I had all the energy and vigor of a person scaling a mountain. I had a career goal and it gave my life a tremendous sense of purpose and passion.

Three years into my first reporter job - the one in my coveted career - I found myself burnt out, depressed and wondering once again what is my purpose in life? If it is my job, why does every day feel so mundane and joyless? Maybe I was wrong about my career, I thought. Maybe my life lacked the passion of purpose because I had yet to discover my natural gifts. Bothered, I decided to search for my hidden talent. But the more I searched the less I found. I had no athletic ability, no special poet's pen, no gift for oration, no tremendous musical ability. FULL POST

Anyone who watched the Baltimore Ravens 38-35 win over the Denver Broncos like my husband and I witnessed one of the most miraculous games ever.

The Ravens had no chance according to the sportscastors' accounts, and we believed them. My husband conceded Ravens defeat by the beginning of the 4th quarter. I held out hope but by the last three minutes of the fourth quarter, I was over the game. The Broncos seemed set to win the game 35-28, and I was OK with it. After all the Ravens had played hard in the cold. They kept up with the Broncos almost point-for-point so it would be OK if the team lost.

The Ravens' Quarterback Joe Flacco threw a stunning 70-yard pass to Jacoby Jones helping the Ravens to tie the game in the last minute. Overtime also looked less then promising until the Ravens scored an interception and kicker Justin Tucker landed the game-winning field goal in double-overtime.

David and I were stunned beyond belief. How did this happen? Ravens Linebacker Ray Lewis' answer is faith in God. Lewis, a Christian, made it clear at the end of last week's game that he puts his team's performance in the hands of The Almighty. Throughout the game, we've seen Ravens players giving God the glory after amazing plays by pointing up. After the Saturday win, Lewis told the media that team had declared they had the victory during halftime and no weapon formed against them, I.E. Tom Brady, could prosper. FULL POST

Two years ago my cousin took me out on my first Black Friday shopping spree. Now every year, I scheme about what stores I could go to. My scheming have escalated to a new level with all the Thanksgiving Day, Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales and perks this year!

Here is a list to for all those super shoppers out there!

THANKSGIVING DAY SALES

Best Buy - Online deals are available all day Thursday.

Dick's Sporting Good - Online deals are available all day beginning 12:01

Dollar General - Store deals are from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Jcpenney - Online deals are available all day Thursday through Saturday.

Kmart - Store deals are from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. to 3 a.m.; online deals are from 5 a.m. to 5 a.m. Central Time (CT)

Kohl's - Store deals are from midnight to 1 p.m. Friday, online deals are from Wednesday to Friday, 3 p.m. CT.

Macy's - Online deals are from Thursday to Saturday.

Sears - Store deals begin 8 p.m. and continue until midnight.

Target - Store deals begin at 9 p.m.

Toys R Us - Store deals are from 8 p.m. to close of business Friday.

Walmart - Store deals begin at 8 p.m., 10 p.m. for electronics sale.

BLACK FRIDAY SALES

A C Moore - Store deals begin at 5 a.m. FULL POST

The CP Blog Team is committed to maintaining the CP Blog section as a resource for our readers and the Christian community to share ideas, trade information, engage in discussion and thereby build up the body of Christ. To protect this space, the CP Blog Team has updated the FAQ to provide up-to-the-minute advice about the blog page.

Changes included the answers to the questions,

-Can I blog about topics other than religion?

-I just registered for an account with CP blogs. Why can’t I access my Blog Admin page?

-Are there terms and conditions to using CP Blog?

The changes were made in accordance to the newly amended CP Blog, iPost Terms and Conditions of Use largely.

Please note - bloggers who want to level criticism against a particular public figure, pastor, leader and/or ministry to post such criticisms as an op-ed or letter to the editor rather than a blog. Bloggers seeking to publish an op-ed or letter to the editor must email cpsupport@christianpost.com. Please put “Letters to the Editor” in your email’s subject line. If approved the letter will be posted within 48 hours.

CP reserves the right, but not the obligation, to delete, move, or edit any content on CP, CP Blog and iPost, including terminating user accounts that violate this agreement or which are otherwise objectionable as determined by ChristianPost.com in its sole discretion and without notice. FULL POST

The CP Blog Team is committed to maintaining the CP Blog section as a resource for our readers and the Christian community to share ideas, trade information, engage in discussion and thereby build up the body of Christ. To protect this space, the CP Blog Team has developed a revamped CP Blog Terms and Conditions of Use largely based on Christian Post's Terms and Conditions of Use. These Terms and Conditions will also apply to iPost users.

The CP Blog, iPost Terms and Conditions of Use are as follows:

Welcome to CP Blog and iPost! As used in these Terms and Conditions, the term "Web site" refers to the Web site located at http://Blogs.ChristianPost.com/ as well as online content featured on iPost (http://ipost.christianpost.com/).

As a CP Blog and/or iPost account holder, your use and/or access on either Web site constitutes an automatic acceptance and agreement with the following Terms and Conditions. Please read these Terms and Conditions prior to becoming a CP Blogger and/or iPoster. Additionally these Terms and Conditions may be modified at any time. Continued use/ access to the Web site by you will constitute your acceptance of any changes or revisions to the Agreement. If you do not agree with the Terms and Conditions, please do not use this Web site.

FULL POST

The 2012 Golden Globes really shined the spotlight on Showtime's hit thriller "Homeland." The show centers around a CIA agent named Carrie Mathison (actress Claire Danes). Mathison believes a former POW now national war hero Nicholas Brody (actor Damian Lewis) has been turned ino a domestic terrorist. No one in the agency believes her because she is bi-polar. But as the viewers find out at the end of Season 1, Mathison's right.

The truth is hard to believe: Brody is a caring husband, father and friend. He is a dedicated marine who now in Season 2 is a congressman. And yet it is also true that Brody befriended a wanted Islamic terrorist and his son Issa while in captivity.

Brody struggles with these two realities: Brody attempted to become a suicide bomber out of loyalty to Issa, Abu Naziir, and his new faith. However, his love for his wife and children kept him from flipping the switch.

Self-sacrifice versus living sacrifice.

Extremism calls Brody to lie to his family, if not die, to show his love to Issa and Naziir. However he has a family that really needs him to live - openly and honestly. Is there another alternative?

Jumping back into reality there is: Jesus called for his followers to be living sacrifices. FULL POST

Today Rick Warren tweeted, "One more hospital test today and I get out permanently. " Yesterday Warren tweeted, "Hospitalized for past 2 days for #heart and #brain evaluation. Tests confirm that contrary to skeptics, I do have both."

Here's a Storify post providing a roundup of comments from pastors responding to Warren's hospitalization.

As both political parties wrap up their conventions, I feel incredibly blessed when I think of the role strong women played in both summits.

Watching the Republican National Convention, I was mesmerized by Mia Love. This Utah mother, wife and would-be congressional member embodies balance.

The daughter of Haitian immigrants, Love is an energetic public servant who is seeking to bring change to her home district. Her passion was ignited by her parents who worked hard to ensure that she could have a good life in this country. Their work ethic and fiscal restraint is why Love believes she can make a change in Washington.

It is not easy being a black woman in the Republican Party. However Love overcomes the racial tension with such ease and class.

Love may also surprises many with her ability to balance her campaign with her home life as a wife and mother of three.

She built this kind of balance long before running for her district's congressional seat. As mayor of Saratoga Springs, Love carved out time in the mornings to run and even teach a fitness class during the week.

Passionate, energetic, and balanced, Love is definitely a person of interest this election year. FULL POST

Last night's Dateline special about the ever shrinking middle class entitled "Lost in Suburbia" truly shows that hard times does not discriminate. Young or old, rich or poor, Christian or non-Christian, we all experience trouble, loss and/or crises.

1. Draw Closer to Friends and Family- One of the striking things about the special was how many of the couples struggling with lost income were hiding their situations from their friends, parents and even their children and spouses. While it is instinctual to hide struggles, embarrassments and sins from your peers, that instinct often leads to unnecessary suffering, pain and isolation.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 says it best: "Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up. Again if two lie together they keep warm but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him -- a threefold cord is not easily broken."

God wants you to share your burdens with one another. How else can His children show others His love? When you hide the true extent of your circumstances, struggles and personal pains, you miss out on prayers, encouragement, advice and true acts of kindness. FULL POST