Saturday Preview: 12 Days of Cookies

12 Days of Cookies!
Tomorrow is December 1st, so I'll be bringing back the 12 Days of Cookies Recipe Posts.  I'll be trying to find some unique and yummy recipes for your celebrations this Christmas.  Since I'm really excited to share some more Christmas Cookie Recipes I'm going to sneak you a teaser recipe.  Be sure to come back tomorrow!  If you would like to share one of your recipes, click [here].

12 Days of Cookies Teaser Recipe {Click Here}

Blueberry Tuesday: Spiced Blueberry Syrup

Looking for a easy way to make an extra special breakfast this Christmas season?  Try out this Spiced Blueberry Syrup recipe.

Spiced Blueberry Syrup

How Being Thankful is Good for your Health

How Being Thankful is Good for your Health: 
Motivation for your Monday Fitness

We hope that everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and was able to really reflect on all they have to be thankful for.  Bob and Caroline Scott of the Louisville Athletic Club continued to think about thankfulness this morning as they shared how being thankful is also good for our health.

"While we need to be thankful all the time, this is definitely the time of year that we focus a little more on all the things we have to be grateful to our amazing God for.  As so many of us gave thanks this Thanksgiving, we were actually doing more than our spirits good.  Research has shown that the act of gratitude offers a wide range of benefits to our physical and mental health.  Being grateful can give us a sense of well-being and more hope for the future, but there's more. In a number of studies, regularly giving thanks can actually enhance your mental and physical energy, and guarantee better sleep quality and duration." - Caroline Scott

"Thankfulness can be a key motivator for our personal lives, and has been proven to boost an individual's likelihood to engage in exercise.  It can also ecrease physical ailments such as the common cold, and increase our overall vitality.  Thanksgiving can serve as a reminder to focus on the great things God has done for us, and it also offers each person more appreciation for family members and friends.  Gratitude starts with personal reflection but ultimately includes something better - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  So, aim to be thankful always.  It can clearly have a deep and lasting impact on your life - and health." - Bob Scott

For more great health and fitness tips from Bob and Caroline, visit Caroline's Blog!

Mark Schultz Interview Recap

On this morning's show, Jim interviewed Mark Schultz who will be joining us for the "What do you give a King Tour."  Last year, Mark joined us for our annual 88.5 WJIE Sweetheart Dinner just a few hours after his wife gave birth to their son.  Mark joked that his wife approves of this concert.

Mark's latest album is called All Things Possible.  Mark explained that the idea for the title track came from  a bike ride across country (from California to Maine) which took about 62 days.  They were able to raise $250,000 for widows and orphans.  When looking back on that trip, he realized that when you follow after God and His plan if you begin working out of his strength instead of your own you will find that all things are possible.

Mark shared that the inspiration for this Christmas tour actually came from his new album All Things Possible which also features a song titled "What do you give a King?"  Mark reminisced about some of his favorite memories going to Christmas shows with his family as a boy.  So he wanted to craft a Christmas experience similar to the ones he enjoyed growing up and make it a family atmosphere that all ages would enjoy.  He said that this on this tour you will still hear familiar favorites in addition to some Christmas songs you know and love.  Please consider joining us for the What do you give a King Tour on Friday, December 14th.  Tickets are still available for a limited time.  Details are at wjie.org

What do you give a King Tour:
Join 88.5 WJIE for the What do you give a King Tour Friday, December 14th at 7:00 pm!  The concert features performances by Mark Schultz, Luminate, Kerrie Roberts, and Karyn Williams.

Admission: ONLY $10

Location:
Evangel World Prayer Conference Ctr.
6900 Billtown Rd
Louisville, KY 40229

Tickets available: at Lifeway Christian Stores in Louisville & Elizabethtown, itickets.com, and wjie.org

Blueberry Cardamom Cheesecakes: Blueberry Tuesday

Today's Blueberry Tuesday recipe is a healthy one.  I haven't tried this recipe, but these little guys look so cute I couldn't resist sharing anyway.  I like that it is entirely made with all natural ingredients.  I'll be trying this one soon.  Let me know what you think.

Blueberry Cardamom Cheesecake

Tips for a Healthy Thanksgiving & 10 Most Addictive Foods

Tips for Keeping Thanksgiving Dinner Healthy: Motivation for Monday Fitness
Philippians 4:6 - "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God."

This morning Bob and Caroline Scott of the Louisville Athletic Club shared some tips for keeping your family's Thanksgiving Dinner a little more on the healthy side.  Here's a recap.

"I want to start off by saying that the holidays are a time to enjoy ourselves, so it's my feeling that it's ok to splurge at Thanksgiving Dinner.  It's one of the few times during the year that you get to enjoy a lot of comfort foods all at once.  However, if you want to keep your Thanksgiving dinner a little more on the healthy side, it is possible.  In fact, these are tips that Bob and I have used in years past.  So, the good news is that the main dish, the turkey has little fat in the white meat and is full of protein.  As far as the stuffing, use a fat-free, low sodium chicken broth to prepare it and add some celery or other veggies.  Another good thing about Thanksgiving is all the wonderful vegetables that you can prepare for your meal.  Obviously, you have to have mashed potatoes.  So if you want to keep them light, avoid using heavy cream and substitute it with some reduced fat milk and sour cream."  -Caroline Scott

"Another thing Caroline and I do that's a little change up from the traditional sugary and buttery sweet potato casserole, is to server whole sweet potatoes with a little cinnamon on them which is so good for you!  As far as the gravy, you can reduce the fat and calories by substituting in lighter ingredients, like Caroline mentioned, such as reduced fat or skim milk.  Finally, the dessert.  Everybody's favorite part.  If you want to make it light, again, substitute some of the ingredients with healthier ones.  Opt for desserts that include more fruit.  And like Caroline said, the holidays are to be enjoyed, so don't stress yourself out.  The key is moderation.  Put smaller portions on your plate and eat a little slower.  Bottom line: enjoy yourself, give thanks for all your blessings, and if you overdo it don't beat yourself up.  Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

For more great tips, check out Caroline's Blog

Top 10 Most Addictive Foods:
This morning Jim and I also shared the top 10 most addictive foods out there.  For the most part, I agree that these are addictive, but I think my list would be ordered just a bit different.  Chocolate would rank higher, and I would have to add popcorn in there some where.  Jim's list would probably have donuts ranked a bit higher.

Top 10 Most Addictive Foods:
1. Ice Cream
2. Candy
3. French Fries
4. Chocolate
5. Cookies
6. Chips
7. Cake
8. Pasta
9. Donuts
10.White Bread

Let us know if you agree with these.  What's foods are most addictive for you?   If you want to read the entire article, you can check it out [here]

Healthy Secrets of Thanksgiving Foods

Thanksgiving is just a few days away, and I truly believe that we should be focused on enjoying our family, friends, and all of the yummy food traditions that we love.  So please enjoy yourself Thursday, but I did find some little secrets on Real Simple that will add extra nutrition to your family's meal without leaving you feeling that you are depriving yourselves during the holidays.

Think of it as a great opportunity to sneak in nutrients along with the decadence. “Thanksgiving is about traditions, so don’t think it’s appropriate to turn it into a big diet fest,” says Frances Largeman-Roth, RD, coauthor of The Carb-Lover's Diet. “But it’s also about seasonal food, and many seasonal foods are very healthy and don’t need a lot of dressing up.” 

Fresh Cranberry Sauce vs Canned Cranberry Sauce
Winner: Fresh Cranberry Sauce
Here's why.  Cranberries are an excellent source of Vitamin C plus they have infection fighting properties which help ward off urinary track infections, ulcers, and gum disease.  Canned Cranberry sauce offers some health benefits, but it's usually made with high fructose corn syrup so you are getting more sugar than cranberry.  With homemade cranberry sauce you control the sugar, and it's richer in vitamin C.  Frances Largeman-Roth, coauthor of the Carb-Lover's Diet, recommends keeping the dish simple by boiling cranberries on the stove with a small amount of orange juice or sugar.  You can also try adding in antioxidant-rich seasonings like cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and citrus zest.

Bread-crumb Stuffing or Corn Bread Stuffing
Winner: Corn Bread Stuffing
Some people forget that whole cornmeal is a whole grain and all whole grains no matter which type are linked to a lower risk of chronic diseases like heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.  Plus whole grains have more fiber which helps control blood sugar and insulin levels.  Just make sure that the cornmeal is nondegerminated.  This means the germ part of the grain, where a lot of nutrients are (ie Wheat Germ), is still attached.

Squash or Turnips
Winner: Squash
Turnips are slightly lower in calories, but they really aren't a high source of any one nutrient.  Squash and turnips are both naturally fat-free.  However, the pigments that give winter squash (ie Butternut and Acorn Squash) their characteristic bright color are associated with antioxidants that have been shown to protect vision and boost the immune system.  Winter Squash also contains betacarotene which not only helps support the immune cell function, but it also helps form the mucous linings of your nasal passages which makes a stronger barrier making it harder for any germs you breathe in to breach it and make you sick. 

Mashed Potatoes or Sweet Potatoes
Winner: It's a Tie
Sweet Potatoes have the same betacarotene that you will find in squash, but white potatoes are a good source of potassium and also are a richer source of "resistant starch" which is a carbohydrate that is not digested so it acts more like a fiber in your body which helps you feel fuller faster.  Here's the catch, depending on the preparation both sweet potatoes and white potatoes can be either healthy choices or calorie-bombs.  Try recipes that call for minimal fat and/or sugar and leave the skins on for extra fiber.

Turkey or Ham
Winner: Turkey
Both are pretty lean meats, but turkey is much lower in sodium which causes you to retain more water which puts pressure on your heart and raises your blood pressure.  Since the holidays tend to be stressful for a lot of people, you don't want to put any unneccessary stress on your heart by having too much sodium.  Try to stay away from the trendy turkey cooking methods like deep frying or brining because they add unnecessary amounts of fat and salt.

Pumpkin Pie or Pecan Pie
Winner: Pumpkin Pie
Pecans are heart-healthy, a good source of fiber, antioxidants, minerals, and vitamin E.  Yet the typical pecan pie is made with a lot of sugar because of the corn syrup most recipes call for.  All that sugar raises your blood sugar levels which makes it more likely you will store calories from the pie as fat and your stomach will empty faster and lead to a energy crash.  Pumpkin Pie, however, is made with pumpkin puree which also contains beta-carotene and fiber.  If you make it yourself, you can also lower the calories by switching from condensed milk to low-fat milk; this will also add a bit of protein to help you feel fuller longer and keep your blood sugar levels from spiking.

Diabetes Awareness: Motivation for Monday Fitness

Acts 5:16 - "And the people gathered also from the towns and hamlets around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those troubled with foul spirits and they were all cured."

Millions of Americans, including some of my family members, have diabetes.  This morning Bob and Caroline Scott of the Louisville Athletic Club shared some facts and tips that we need to be aware of concerning this condition.

"This is a great verse that reminds us that God absolutely heals.  Diabetes is a condition that affects about 20.8 million Americans, so I just want to encourage those with diabetes that God can heal you if you ask Him.  November is actually American Diabetes Month, and it is important to be aware of the facts because there is such a large number of Americans with Diabetes.  It is actually a disorder of metabolism that affects the body's ability to produce insulin.  We are seeing a huge increase in the number of children and young people being diagnosed with it.  There are different types of diabetes, but the most common is Type 2.  Between 90-95% of those diagnosed with diabetes have Type 2.  This form is more of a lifestyle condition, and is associated with such things as obesity, family history, and physical inactivity.  So, it's important to point out the important rold that a healthy lifestyle plays in controlling, preventing, and in some cases, reversing the affects of diabetes." Caroline Scott

"Exercise, for those who have diabetes, can improve your blood sugar levels.  Combined with healthy eating, can even help reduce or eliminate the need for glucose lowering medication.  Exercise, as we all known, also keeps our heart healthy.  For those with diabetes this is very important, because you have an increased risk of high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases.  Also, exercise helps you control your weight.  As Caroline mentioned before, Type 2 diabetes is directly associated with obesity.  So just a few things to remember if you are diabetic and decide to start exercising: 1) Always consult a physician, 2) Monitor your blood sugar before, during, and after a workout; 3) It is very important to stay hydrated, 4) Don't overdo it.

For more health and fitness tips from Bob and Caroline, check out Caroline's Blog

More Diabetes Resources:
American Diabetes Association Website

Previous Blog Posts:
Simple Diabetes Prevention Tips:

Voter Information & Interview w/ Third Day

Election Day:  
We would like to encourage everyone to vote.  Here are a few resources to help you decide which candidates to vote for, including an online Voter Guides and Poll Information. 

Online Voter Guide:
Voter Guide: Online Voter Guide



Voter Registration & Poll Information:
Voter Info Center: Kentucky Voter (All Counties)
Jefferson Co. Voter Info: Jefferson Co. Clerks Office
Bullitt Co. Voter Info: Bullitt County Clerks Office
Other Voting/Poll Info for KY: KY.gov

Visit Third Day's Website

Interview with Tai Anderson of Third Day:
Third Day's latest album Miracle releases today.  This morning Jim Galipeau interviewed Tai  shared the story behind the title track, "I Need a Miracle."  At a concert they guys of Third Day were approached by an older couple whose son had lost his job and became deeply depressed.  He had decided to end life, but while he was sitting in his car the radio came on and was playing Third Day's song "Cry out to Jesus." He began to do just that, and God miraculously saved his life.  Third Day was able to play the first song off their album "Hit me Like a Bomb" on the Tonight Show, which Tai said speaks about the moment when we know we need to give our lives to the Lord but we are holding back even though we know that God is going to revolutionize our lives in the most wonderful way possible.  This is Third Day's 20th year as a band, they wanted to do something different with this album while keeping their authentic sound intact.  For a limited time, you can listen the entire album for free at wjie.org.  For more information on Third Day's latest album, visit their website. 

Ways to Avoid Sickness: Motivation for Monday Fitness

From colds to stomach viruses, Bob and Caroline Scott of the Louisville Athletic Club shared some ways to prevent sickness.

"This is the time of year we tend to catch things such as colds and viruses a little easier.  So it's important to try to prevent that from happening.  The holiday season can bring a little more stress into our lives and our immune systems will naturally weaken when we are under more stress. Another reason is that we are spending more time indoors in close contact with others and their germs.  So many times when one person in the house gets sick it gets passed around and before you know it the whole family is sick.  Bob's going to share some simple tips that can help prevent all those nasty germs from spreading around more than they have to." - Caroline Scott

"Obviously, avoid close contact with anyone who is sick.  If you have kids, this is almost impossible; but if you are in contact with someone who is sick make sure you are washing your hands a lot.  This is the single best thing you can do to prevent spreading an illness.  Avoid touching your mouth, eyes, and nose.  If you have touched something that is contaminated and then rub your eyes.. chances are you are going to get sick.  If you are sick, stay home...you need rest to get better.  Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you are coughing or sneezing.  Also, it's important to get plenty of rest, exercise, and nutritious foods.  Finally just pray and walk in the faith that God is healing you." Bob Scott

For more great health and fitness tips, visit Caroline's Blog

Related Blog Posts:
Here's some more tips on cold prevention from a previous blog post, Renewal.  Click here to view it in it's entirety.


Renewed Wellness: Here are a couple of key things to make sure you keep yourself and your family well all winter long.  Keep in mind germs from coughing with uncovered mouths travel 6 to 8 feet!

• Eat Bright Colors: Eat the brightest and most colorful fruits and veggies.  They are packed with the most vitamins and nutrients that boost your immune system.  Add as much color and variety to your meals as you can.
• Sleep Deep: Research suggests that only about a third of Americans get the seven to nine hours of shut-eye required to help keep their immune systems operating at full throttle.  Those who averaged fewer than seven hours a night were three times more likely to catch a cold than those who clocked eight or more regularly. We produce the hormone melatonin during nighttime sleep, which prompts a key type of immune cells to destroy infected ones. Over time, less sleep leads to  a sub par immune system.
• Eliminate Stress: Our immune systems are highly sensitive to stress. A study in Health Psychology suggests that chronic stress, or intense pressure lasting a month or longer, can make you more than two times as likely to get sick when you’re exposed to a cold virus compared with someone who isn’t over-stressed.
• Scrub and Sanitize: Common knowledge, but the CDC says that in order to kill germs, you’ve got to be thorough. Lather up and scrub every crevice, including between your fingers and under your nails. Take your time, at least 20 seconds before you rinse and dry.  Wash your hands, door knobs, phones, counters, and anything else that could be contaminated by cold germs. 
• Travel Wisely: Confined space, lots of people, and dry air.  Cold viruses thrive in this environment.  According to a study from the University of Nottingham in England, those who took public transportation were six times more likely to suffer from respiratory infections than those who didn't.
• Turn off the Heat: Finishing a warm shower with a blast of chilly water may create a reflex action that supports immunity by stimulating lymphatic circulation.     Article Referenced

Living an Extraordinary Life of Love

On this morning's show we spoke about an article I found in Relevant Magazine called 10 Ways to Live an Extraordinary Life.  It's an interview of a man named Bob Goff who is the author of Love Does, his best-selling collection of stories about a few ways he’s managed to turn each day into a “hilarious, whimsical, meaningful change to make faith simple and real.” He is also a lawyer in Washington, a Ugandan consulate, a professor at Pepperdine Law School and Point Loma Nazarene University, and the founder of Restore International which serves underpriveleged kids in Uganda and India.  Yet, with that kind of a to-do list Bob has found a way to live an extraordinary life of loving people.  He shared some of his secrets, and I passed a few along this morning.  Here is their full list.  Click the link above to read the full article.  I found it to be beautifully challenging to my own life.  What would our world look like if we made a conscious effort to make ourselves more available to people and showed them love with our presence and full attention?

1. Don't Let Anyone Go to Voicemail: Obviously there are limits to this (plane flights, on the other line, etc), but if he can help it Bob Goff does not let anyone go to voicemail regardless of whether or not he knows the person.  Bob says, “We get really busy,” Goff says. “But the less time Jesus had on earth, the more available He became to people.. Jesus wouldn’t have ignored many phone calls.  If I get a call, I answer it, and it’s been terrific! There’s a God we can talk to anytime, anywhere, about anything, and I’m so glad He doesn’t screen my calls—because I don’t have anything that’s particularly interesting to say. And I’m understanding that better because I’m available to people.”

2. Don't Make Appointments:  Yep, inspite of an insanely busy schedule Bob refuses to set appointments.  Goff says, “When someone calls me and says, ‘Can we meet two Tuesdays from now at 3 p.m.?’ I say, ‘How about now?’.”  Goff insists when your life is appointment-free, your time is at the service of others instead of your personal demands. Plus, you become a different person when you structure your life around others’ needs. 

3. Be Incredibly Inefficient at Love:  This one felt the most challenging to me.  It's easy to streamline everything when our schedules become hectic, but Bob says “Don’t do an efficient brand of love." Then he shared this beautiful story, “The woman who lives across the street from us has cancer. She called me up and told me the bad news, and I told her, ‘I’m not going to call you ever again.’ She’s like, ‘What?’  I went to Radio Shack and got us two walkie-talkies, and it was terrific. For the last year, we’ve been talking on walkie-talkies every night. It’s like we’re both 14-year-olds and we’re both in tree forts.  She took a turn for the worse about four days ago, so this morning, I woke up about 5, and I went to the hospital. I sent the nurse in with a walkie-talkie, and I sat in the next room and called her up. I heard her just start crying—because there’s something inefficient and beautiful about it. We were sitting in a hospital, separated by a room, talking on walkie-talkies.”  Then he continues. “Be inefficient with your love. The more in-efficient, the better. It would have been a lot more efficient for God to not send Jesus to die for us. That was very inefficient love. But so sweet and so tender.”

4. Don't Have a Bible Study:  Before you stop reading, Bob Goff still studies the Bible.  He takes scripture and applies it to his daily life and serving people.  “I’ve met with the same guys every Friday who I’ve been meeting with for a decade,” he says. “And we have a Bible Doing.”  The idea, Goff says, is basically that memorization is only effective if it motivates you to action.

5. Quit Stuff:  “Every Thursday, I quit something,” Goff says.  "The idea is  to give yourself room to grow and to give God room to work. Quitting things forces you forward to explore new opportunities, to try things you wouldn’t have time for otherwise and to fill your life with things that are fresh, different
and dangerous."

6. Do What You're Made to Do:  Bob believes that we are too busy asking ourselves, “What am I able to do? People take tests to determine skill sets and aptitude and then march off to pursue a career based on the results."  But Goff says the better question is, “What am I made to do?” He goes on to say, “It’s as simple as asking, ‘What are the things you think are beautiful? And you want in your life?’ He feels we should focus on doing more of those things and less of the stuff we aren't talented in or that cause us stress. 

7. Get More Unschooled, Ordinary Friends:  "For most people, friendship is accidental. You see someone often enough, find a few common interests, hang out and strike up an easy friendship. New friends probably come from the people you work with or go to church with. The childhood idea of 'making friends,' a proactive pursuit, has been replaced with the idea of 'letting friends happen'."  Goff suggests "making friendship intentional and, moreover, risky. Because sometimes you can learn more from friends who stand just left of center than those with whom you share everything in common."

8. Jump the Tracks:  Bob feels life is more interesting of you travel off the beaten path. "Goff spends most Wednesday mornings at Disneyland, prepping to teach his courses at Pepperdine University. From his vantage point on Tom Sawyer Island, he watches hundreds of park visitors board the monorail, content to be whisked wherever the train takes them.  And their park experience, says Goff, suffers because of it. The real adventure, both in Disneyland and in life, is when you venture outside the fixed loop."  Bob thinks the beauty you will find in living a life off the beaten path will be filld with more adventure and good company.  He says, “I’ll know more about my character, and I’ll know more about Jesus. I’ll meet a lot of cool people.”

9. Crowd-Surf Each Other:  The article shared a beautiful story in which an entire crowd was able to touch and pray for a  man who had just received word that his 8-year-old son had been diagnosed with leukemia by crowd serving him through the room.  Goff is big on physical touch and doesn’t shake hands.  He says, “If we say we’re the body of Christ, let’s act like it.  Let’s stop treating this faith thing like it’s a business trip. I want us to treat it like it’s a family. Family picks up the phone. Family surfs each other. Family hugs each other.”  Goff’s personal policy is to hug whoever he meets. "It doesn’t suit everyone’s comfort zone, but he says it’s part of his identity as a believer. And the benefit of breaking through these bubbles of security is being opened up to a deeper understanding of community."

This was just a recap of some of the points I highlighted this morning, and quotes from the article.  Read the full article at RelevantMagazine.com.  I believe it will challenge your life as it has mine.

National Men Make Dinner Day

Today is National Men Make Dinner Day.  Jim Galipeau is on-board.  He already has his dinner planned out for his family.  I thought I'd help you out a bit.  So guys, if you want to surprise your family with a great homemade dinner, here's some great recipe sites that will give you some good ideas.  Most of the recipes on these sites are fairly easy to prepare, only require a few ingredients, and some even have instructional videos.

Kraft Foods: One of my favs.  Lots of easy but tasty recipes and typically has helpful photos/videos.

Betty Crocker: This website has a ton of great suggestions to help you prepare your own tasty and super easy meals and desserts.

Pillsbury:  Who doesn't love Pillsbury?  I love their ingredients, and their website is packed with great recipes that are super easy to prepare.

Ps... The National Men Make Dinner site has some recipes for you too.  Have fun guys!