A debilitating case of black mold engulfed his house and threatened his family's health. A famous football coach falls from grace -- after he's written a book with him about winning. These would test the devotion of many a religious man, but not that of nationally recognized author and broadcaster Chris Fabry.
Fabry credits that faith to a moment as a college student when he said to himself, "If God is really who He says He is, maybe I need to do more than just show up in a tie on Sundays."
The Marshall University journalism school and Moody Bible Institute graduate now can be heard daily on the nationally syndicated radio show "Love Worth Finding." He received the 2008 "Talk Personality of the Year" Award from the National Religious Broadcasters. He has published more than 60 books since 1995, many of them fiction for younger readers.
"My parents took us to a little country church in Culloden," Fabry said of his early years. He went to Milton High School through 1979, working at WNST radio. In his senior year at Marshall, Fabry interned for then-news director Bos Johnson at WSAZ-TV. He married his wife, Andrea Kessell, in 1982, and then he realized he felt called to do something more than just report on city council for the 6 o'clock news.
The couple packed up and headed to Moody Bible Institute in Chicago.
"I spoke to my advisor at Moody, and I told him I didn't know my calling. He looked at my resume, and said, 'I see you've done radio, TV, writing -- don't you think God can use that?'
"Radio played a big part in my family's understanding of the Gospel. We were going to a church (from when I was born until I was 8 or 9) that taught that you could never know if you were really a Christian. You had to be baptized in order to become a believer, but after that, you didn't know whether or not you were OK because your actions could separate you from God. Curse at a driver ahead of you and you had lost your salvation. That kind of thing."
But it was listening to Theodore Epp on "Back to the Bible" (at that time aired on WCHS out of Charleston) that convinced his mother that "God's love was given to us in Jesus Christ," Fabry said.
Fabry started working in radio at Moody, and within a year was hosting "Open Line," a national call-in show, which he did for 12 years. Six years in radio in Chicago followed. Along the way, the couple had Erin, Megan, Shannon, Ryan, Kristen, Reagan, Kaitlyn, Colin, and Brandon. Five girls, four boys. They now range in age from 10 to 26.
He met author Jerry Jenkins at Moody, who became a mentor for his writing career.
"He said, 'If you really want to do this, I can help you, but it will be painful.' I didn't mind the hard work -- I had spent a series of years of reading everything in the 808 section of the library, so I was ready."
Jenkins wanted Chris to help with a series he was writing. Together with Dr. Tim LaHaye, Jenkins wrote the first five of the children's series "Left Behind: The Kids." Fabry went on to write the last 35.
In May 2008, he began "Chris Fabry Live!" and won the 2008 "Talk Personality of the Year" Award from the National Religious Broadcasters.
The biggest test of his faith also started in 2008. The family had moved to Colorado in 2000 so he could concentrate on writing. The home that was to be a haven became infected with black mold, and a series of botched repairs and clean-up jobs made the home unlivable and made the family sick.
"You're not supposed to have one Stachybotrys spore in your house," Fabry said. "In our bedroom, there was something like 260,000 airborne spores collected in the air sample."
It affected everyone's immune system, leaving the children chemically sensitive to perfumes, cleaning solutions and more. They were unable to go back to school. The family vacated the house and left everything behind, and euthanized their two beloved dogs, Pippen and Frodo, who could not recover from the mold issues.
2011年9月27日星期二
2011年9月18日星期日
Humanscale products earn Green Good Design Awards
HUMANSCALE’S PERSONAL zone air purifier and Horizon LED task light received awards at the recent 2011 Green Good Design Awards. Judges selected the products as outstanding examples of green design from among hundreds of submissions from more than twenty countries.
The personal zone air purifier is two and a half times more efficient than Energy Star requirements, produces zero ozone and is also the only air purifier to offer recyclable filters. The personal zone air purifier silently and unobtrusively filters out more than 99% of airborne contaminants including dust, smoke, bacteria, allergens, smog, viruses, and volatile organic compounds.
Engineered for incredible efficiency and hassle-free operation over its life span, the striking Horizon task light, featuring Thin Film LED Technology, consumes only nine watts of power and is rated for up to 50,000 hours of use. Its advanced design dramatically minimizes the number of components and simplifies disassembly. Horizon is made from 28% recycled and 99% recyclable material.
The Green Good Design Awards are organized by The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design, and the European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies.
The personal zone air purifier is two and a half times more efficient than Energy Star requirements, produces zero ozone and is also the only air purifier to offer recyclable filters. The personal zone air purifier silently and unobtrusively filters out more than 99% of airborne contaminants including dust, smoke, bacteria, allergens, smog, viruses, and volatile organic compounds.
Engineered for incredible efficiency and hassle-free operation over its life span, the striking Horizon task light, featuring Thin Film LED Technology, consumes only nine watts of power and is rated for up to 50,000 hours of use. Its advanced design dramatically minimizes the number of components and simplifies disassembly. Horizon is made from 28% recycled and 99% recyclable material.
The Green Good Design Awards are organized by The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design, and the European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies.
2011年5月18日星期三
Garage sales can promote neighborhood camaraderie
Homes are being de-cluttered, neighbors are visiting with neighbors again and bargain-seekers are flushed with delight over their garage sale treasures.
Neighborhood garage sales have been bringing crowds out in droves during the month of May and will continue during the warm months of summer and fall. Individual garage sales are also common.
Don Brightman, of Riverwoods Drive in Rockford, held his garage sale for three full days last week. The first day was the busiest and the last day the most quiet, he said.
With a garage and driveway full of antiques and collectibles, he said it was hard to predict what people would buy.
"The things I thought would sell didn't and the things I didn't think much about sold right away," Brightman said.
He sold many tools and pieces of antique china, even an old slide projector. But he was surprised his antique wicker planters were overlooked.
"With technology changing the way it does, I never expected that slide projector to sell," he said. "But someone who collects them for display came right up and bought it."
Rockford resident Vicki Howe shopped the Riverwoods development sale on the last day just as things were getting packed up for Goodwill.
"Would you take a dollar for this?" she politely asked a homeowner.
It was a deal that pleased both the buyer and seller. Often the last day of sales are the most ideal for bartering and dickering on price.
The Evergreen Meadows subdivision also ran a three-day garage sale last week for all who wished to participate. There, homeowner Chandra Stevens was pleased to be clearing items out of her house for spring cleaning.
"I have lots of Tupperware I am getting rid of," said Stevens, who used to sell Tupperware and host Tupperware parties. "I've also sold lots of toys, boys clothes and household items. It's great to see it go."
Sandy Brugel, who was shopping at Stevens' sale, said she has had a successful spring season so far with her garage sale finds.
"I found an air purifier, old flannel sheets to cut up into rags for my husband's spray-painting business and a baby cradle for my doll collection," Brugel said.
She added her husband was able to find a few pairs of shoes in his size and since he only wears them once or twice before throwing them away, it is best to find them used.
Neighbors agree garage sales are good for connecting with people in their neighborhood. Friends, old and new, can meet up with one another after the long winter divide, strike up conversations and catch up on life. Garage sales also are a way to meet new people.
Not only do they build camaraderie, clean out old treasures and put extra cash in homeowners' pockets, but they presumably promote security.
Neighborhood watch associations throughout the country advocate getting to know ones neighbors as an important piece of the puzzle in building safer communities. This concept is not specific to the U.S. but appears to be universal.
According to a Canadian neighborhood watch program called Eyewatch, "Neighbors look out for each other, especially if they know each other. Active participation of neighborhood residents is a crucial element in community safety."
The Canadian group also suggests other ideas for getting to know ones neighbors and building safer developments by throwing block parties and having annual perennial flower exchanges.
Neighborhood garage sales have been bringing crowds out in droves during the month of May and will continue during the warm months of summer and fall. Individual garage sales are also common.
Don Brightman, of Riverwoods Drive in Rockford, held his garage sale for three full days last week. The first day was the busiest and the last day the most quiet, he said.
With a garage and driveway full of antiques and collectibles, he said it was hard to predict what people would buy.
"The things I thought would sell didn't and the things I didn't think much about sold right away," Brightman said.
He sold many tools and pieces of antique china, even an old slide projector. But he was surprised his antique wicker planters were overlooked.
"With technology changing the way it does, I never expected that slide projector to sell," he said. "But someone who collects them for display came right up and bought it."
Rockford resident Vicki Howe shopped the Riverwoods development sale on the last day just as things were getting packed up for Goodwill.
"Would you take a dollar for this?" she politely asked a homeowner.
It was a deal that pleased both the buyer and seller. Often the last day of sales are the most ideal for bartering and dickering on price.
The Evergreen Meadows subdivision also ran a three-day garage sale last week for all who wished to participate. There, homeowner Chandra Stevens was pleased to be clearing items out of her house for spring cleaning.
"I have lots of Tupperware I am getting rid of," said Stevens, who used to sell Tupperware and host Tupperware parties. "I've also sold lots of toys, boys clothes and household items. It's great to see it go."
Sandy Brugel, who was shopping at Stevens' sale, said she has had a successful spring season so far with her garage sale finds.
"I found an air purifier, old flannel sheets to cut up into rags for my husband's spray-painting business and a baby cradle for my doll collection," Brugel said.
She added her husband was able to find a few pairs of shoes in his size and since he only wears them once or twice before throwing them away, it is best to find them used.
Neighbors agree garage sales are good for connecting with people in their neighborhood. Friends, old and new, can meet up with one another after the long winter divide, strike up conversations and catch up on life. Garage sales also are a way to meet new people.
Not only do they build camaraderie, clean out old treasures and put extra cash in homeowners' pockets, but they presumably promote security.
Neighborhood watch associations throughout the country advocate getting to know ones neighbors as an important piece of the puzzle in building safer communities. This concept is not specific to the U.S. but appears to be universal.
According to a Canadian neighborhood watch program called Eyewatch, "Neighbors look out for each other, especially if they know each other. Active participation of neighborhood residents is a crucial element in community safety."
The Canadian group also suggests other ideas for getting to know ones neighbors and building safer developments by throwing block parties and having annual perennial flower exchanges.
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