CLASSEMINARS NAMES NEW PRESIDENT

CLASSEMINARS is the premiere training of Christian communicators! I am proud to be a part of the team leading into the future. Check out this new press release about the changes at CLASS.

PRESS RELEASE

CLASSEMINARS, INC. NAMES NEW PRESIDENT
New Corporation Board of Directors Meet, Name Officers, Plan

Houston Texas. The Board of Directors of CLASSEMINARS, INC. named Gerry Wakeland of Albuquerque, New Mexico, President of the corporation at its first annual board meeting.

CLASSEMINARS, INC is a 501c3 corporation which presents training seminars for authors, speakers, and leaders throughout the United States and internationally. The flagship seminar is The CLASSeminar which has trained more than 30,000 men and women in the past twenty-eight years. CLASSEMINARS, INC. acquired The CLASSeminar from CLASServices in a contract ratified by the Board of Directors.

Wakeland brings a wealth of diverse expertise to her leadership role including corporate and non-profit management experience for organizations such as Sheraton, PacTel Cellular, and the Master Chorale of Orange County, California. Wakeland has wide experience in ministry positions including Women’s Ministry Director at the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, California.

The CLASSeminar is the creation of Florence Littauer, international speaker, master teacher, and author of over 40 books. Littauer was designated Founder of the new corporation and will name a Founder’s Board of Advisors within the next few months.

Other seminars provided by the new corporation will include personality workshops, writer’s conferences, book proposal workshops, and a number of new seminars to be piloted this year. New seminars will cover writing, marketing, marriage, leadership, women’s ministry, and technology, as well as a future Express CLASSeminar which will be an intensive short-course presentation of the original seminar.

In addition to Wakeland, the Board named officers: Betty Southard, Newport Beach, California, as Executive Vice President, Robin Stanley of Orlando, Florida as Secretary, and Linda Jewell of Albuquerque, New Mexico, as Treasurer, and Karen Porter of Friendswood, Texas, as Vice President of Marketing. In addition to the officers, Tama Westman of Minneapolis, Minnesota, was named Director of Communications, Steve and Julie Ferwerda of Lander, Wyoming, were named Directors of Internet Services.

The Board consists of Wakeland, Southard, Jewell, Stanley, Porter, and Fred Southard of Newport Beach, California, and John Thurman of Albuquerque New Mexico.

CLASSEMINARS INC. is a 501c3 corporation and is not affiliated with CLASServices, Inc.

The Dog Hugs --- Yes She Does!

By now you've seen the photo of ISABELLE which I've captioned "Our Hugging Great Pyrennes". You may be wondering about that caption.



We got this Great Pyrenees from a rescue vet and brought her home on a rainy stormy day. What we didn't know is that she is terrified of thunder. So the first time we took her into the back yard, a big clap of thunder startled her and she jumped into the pool! From that auspicious start, we began to try to build her confidence (after we dried her off and begged her to come in the house)


Now months later, she's still afraid but now she stays close to us and she hugs.

The Dog Hugs --- Yes she does!

She's too big to sit in your lap. She's too overpowering for picking up. But she doesn't let it stop her. She gets up next to you and hugs. If you are standing, she leans on your legs and if you are sitting, she lays her head against your knee. She lays in the hall (its safe there :) and every once in a while she gets up and comes wherever we are and hugs us a while.

There's something wonderful about the unconditional love of a big 'ol white ball of fur. Excitement when we get home and hugs when things are slow.

Who have you loved in your home today?

You can only remember if....

When Peter went to Cornelius' house in Caesarea Maritima (read the whole story in Acts 10-11), he witnessed the salvation of Gentiles. "Repentance that leads to life" was bigger than any of the disciples imagined.

When Peter described the phenomenon, he said, "Then I remembered the word of the Lord, 'John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.'" (Acts 11:16). Peter remembered the words of the Lord because those words were burned into his memory.

You can't remember something unless you’ve heard or learned it. You can’t recall information, feelings, or truths unless you have those facts and emotions stored in your mind. You can’t recall scripture unless you’ve read and memorized it.

Memorizing scripture gets the words of God into you.

If you put scripture in your mind, it sits ready for recall when you need it. And you will need it! To answer questions. To comfort when troubled. To turn on the light of understanding when life takes a downward tumble.

I love to memorize long passages but most people don’t want to hear me say these verses. I started memorizing the book of Acts and after I had memorized chapters 1-9, I couldn’t get anyone, not even my own mother, to sit still long enough to listen to it.

But it was good for me.

One day I was teaching a lesson on JOY from Philippians 4:4-5. Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.

One of my points was your joy will help you in troubled times. As I was speaking to my class and giving this point, it seemed that my examples were kind of weak and preachy. (I was thinking – this isn’t working) Then, all of a sudden a verse from Acts 5 popped into my mind.

The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ. Acts 5:41-42

I quoted it to the class showing when joy overcomes suffering and shows in your behavior. The disciples could have been sad, mad, or depressed, but instead they rejoiced and never stopped proclaiming the good news.

I had not planned to use the verse but it was in my mind from memorizing and it came to me when I needed it.

If you memorize Scripture, it will enhance and enrich your life and your presentations.

So if you haven’t started memorizing, start now.

Today I am starting to memorize Psalm 30. Will you join me? It will be an adventure. And as the title of the Psalm says there will be JOY IN THE MORNING when we do it.

If you will take this challenge, email me at kaeporter@gmail.com or add your comment here.

Thanksgiving Preparation

This morning began with reading from the Acts. Scattered by fear and persecution, the New Testament Christians moved throughout Asia and Europe. As they moved, they took with them the good news and the truth that they couldn't deny: Jesus is alive!

Difficulties, troubles, and problems often lead us to new opportunities. As Mark Batterson capably proves in his book In a Pit With A Lion On a Snowy Day, our scariest lions may be our greatest opportunities.

I am certainly a living picture of this truth. Loss of an executive job, including the prestigue, salary, security, position, and perks scared me. But God intended it for good. Today I am pursuing my dreams and discovering how reliable God is as provider.

I'm reminded of friends who turned their adversity to ministry:
Teresa Griggs - lost her young daughter now ministers to women in distress
Carmen Leal - whose husband suffered with Huntingtons disease now heads a national caregivers conference.
Tricia Goyer - whose dsyfunctional teenage life now encourages and ministers to young moms
Lisa Copen - ravaged daily by agressive RA ministers to all those who live with silent diseases
Pamela Sonnenmose - whose dramatic weight loss led her to help women become healthy

How many more can I name?

God works when lions show up. Now that truth gets me prepared for Thanksgiving!

Through the words 

Karen Porter

Happy New Year!

It is early morning in the words at Mt Porter. The skies are grey but there is hope for sunshine later.

This weekend will be a clean-up-pack-up-put-away blur. Trees must come down and all the bright gaudy decorations removed. I really don't want to start but I want the serenity of clean house to return so I will do it!

Reflecting on the holidays I rejoice over the days that all the kids were home. Four grownup kids and five grandbabies - all under five. What a wonderful, exhilirating, active, lovely time together. I loved every single tiring second of it.

As I reflect, I thank God for the family and the sweet friendship and love we share.

Blessings to all for a January morning.
karen