 By Lavern Nissley
Dave King, a friend and colleague from 30 years ago in Cincinnati, died at age 55 last week. The text notification from another friend hit me hard. "No, no, no!" I had just been thinking of calling him and getting together. But he had collapsed while working out and couldn't be revived. Several of us who worked together with Dave in the 1980's at New Beginnings Fellowship, a small suburban church in Finneytown/Cincinnati, attended his funeral Saturday. What a surreal experience to see such a close friend laying in a casket! But there was unexpected inspiration in this funeral from Dave's two children, Matthew and Erin.
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 By Lavern Nissley
I've never been a fan of the saying, "If mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy". Ronda and I have talked about it, and we both have found it somewhat derogatory and sexist. A 14 year research study in the UK took a look at this hypothesis and came up with some pretty interesting results. And some compelling implications.  By Lavern Nissley
(Photo: Cara Owsley/The Enquirer) Ronda and I have followed the heartbreaking story of Brooke Skylar Richardson, the young teen from Warren County who secretly gave birth to her baby in the middle of the night, then allegedly killed it (she claims it was stillborn) and buried the newborn in the back yard. Last week she was acquitted on 3 counts of aggravated murder, involuntary manslaughter and child endangering. She was convicted of abuse of a corpse and sentenced to three years of community control and seven days in jail. Did any good come out of this horrendous story? Or was it pretty much all terrible?  By Lavern Nissley
If you have children, or are planning to have children, what would you say is your one word job description as a parent? It could fit into the blank in this sentence: "I believe my parenting job description is to __________."  By Lavern Nissley
Have you ever seen the TV commercials with pets that are skinny, shaking and looking forsaken? My heart always goes out to these neglected creatures with the wish that such lack of care and concern could be totally eradicated. The blue pinwheels you are seeing all over the nation this week are a reminder to pay attention to incidents of abuse. But not of pets. Of children.  By Lavern Nissley
Most people, myself included until last year, have never heard of ACE. No, it's not the standardized test for applying to colleges; that's ACT. A person's ACE score (Adverse Childhood Experiences) has been correlated with a host of physical and psychological maladies. Continue reading to understand why ACEs are so important and relevant.  By Lavern Nissley
A precious 60 year marriage transitioned suddenly on Monday, January 7, 2019. Gary and Dottie Wade were married June 13, 1958, having met each other in junior high school. But on this fateful Monday morning Gary found the love of his life slumped over in a chair.  By Lavern Nissley
As we head into the holidays and spend time with families and friends, many will experience fond memories and heartfelt joy. Others will experience the opposite, becoming acutely reminded of relationship dysfunctions. Many of us experience some of each. So, how do you cope effectively in the middle of this seasonal insanity? Those emotional allergies and buttons have a physiological affect, don't they? Increased heart rate and breathing. Blood pressure pounding away at your skull. Stomach churning and knots forming. Help!!! What to do?  By Lavern Nissley
Everyone has a personality. Some are outgoing; others are reserved. Some take risks easily; others are cautious. Some hate change and prefer routine; others love change and prefer variety. If your personality could be represented by colors, what would you be? Red? Orange? Yellow? Green? Blue? Purple? A combination of colors? If you're curious and really want to be certain, well . . . you're probably a blue.  By Lavern Nissley
How we talk to our children when they've gone off the rails makes all the difference in the world. A simple piece of advice from a police officer turned author of books on parenting strong willed children: Just write the ticket! Want to know what Cynthia Tobias meant by that? |
HostsLavern & Ronda Nissley are co-directors of Encompass. Married since 1978, both enjoy coffee, riding their tandem bicycle and working together to build strong relationships. 
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