ICN 2022 World Civility Educator of the Year Awards

I Change Nations™ (ICN) ---Professors Chris and Carol Green each received an ICN 2022 World Civility Educator of the Year Award. This Icon award is presented to candidates that have contributed to the advancement of humanity through their ideologies, inventions, and leadership. They have impacted communities with trust and dignity, having improved the quality of life for those they serve.

"They are so very deserving, and now the world will see it," stated Dr. Clyde Rivers who is also known as HRH, Nana Okogyeman Obremponnsu Kobina Amissah I - Development King at Large Ghana Africa, and is the founder and visionary of ICN. "This year we had four top Civility Educators: Prof. Patrick Businge, founder of Greatness University (London, UK), Prof. Chris Green, founder of STEP Forward Life Institute (Pennsylvania, USA), Prof. Julian Businge, Royal Civility Institute (London, UK), and Prof. Carol Green, Administrative Leadership at UGCSI. These four individuals have been impacting education for a post-Covid generation."

I Change Nations™ is an organization designed to build Cultures of Honor by acknowledging those who have displayed exemplary leadership in empowering humanity. Their mission is to bring back the lost art of honor by recognizing outstanding individuals and organizations throughout the world.

Chris and Carol Green are the founders of the STEP Forward Life Institute, providing a life education and ministry preparation platform. The Greens assert that in Life Education, God is your source; Experience is your study; faith is your evidence; and Success is your credential. 

They also provide Administrative Leadership and are known as Professors of Process at United Graduate College and Seminary International (UGCSI), where they engage in the professional development for its global consortium of Searcher Professors. 

The Greens, who define themselves simply as Servants of Christ, are life educators, certified professional master life coaches, leadership consultants, international statesmen, ordained ministers, songwriters, poets, international best-selling authors, students of life and Biblical text, and people who are passionate about prayer. They are also traditional marriage and family advisors, holistic wellness promoters, human value advocates, and they're trained in lay-counseling and compassionate listening.

Professors Chris and Carol each hold a Life Achievement Doctorate in Searcherdemics, having successfully created, implemented, taught, duplicated and defended their two Life Skill Philosophies: You Are Success in Process and CARE-Readiness. They have also been the recipients of honorary doctorates (conferred in 2016 and 2018) in Christian Leadership (Chris), Humanities (Carol), and in Society & Human Rights (both) to acknowledge their years of service and significant contributions to society and the field of life coaching for under-served populations.

With over 30 years of urban community outreach experience, today they focus most of their energy and efforts providing education and training for local and international leaders who desire to make a meaningful impact in the 21st century. 

Chris and Carol Green have been married over 40 years and have raised three sons. They have two daughters-in-law, two grandchildren, and a host of people throughout the world who call them 'mom and dad'. They are a husband-wife team, based in south central Pennsylvania, USA that was commissioned to rebuild, restore and renew hearts and homes.

Also see EIN Presswire article at 2022 World Civility Icons

Historical First: Life-Evidence, Life-Achievement Doctorates in Searcherdemics

Chris and Carol Green, (D.Se)

United Graduate College and Seminary Int'l:  In a historical first, Chris and Carol Green were each conferred an exclusive UGCSI, life-evidence and life-achievement, non-governmental, competency-based ministry degree:   Doctorate in Searcherdemics (DSe), in a virtual ceremony that was conducted during a UGCSI Searcher Education Summit with its Chancellors and Professors.

"Thank you for giving voice to Holy Spirit experience," expressed Carol Green, the newly credentialed professor to UGCSI's Chief Chancellor, HRH, Sir Clyde Rivers and its Chancellor, Dr. Michal P. Pitzl, who officially bestowed the degrees. "And thank you for allowing us the opportunity to change and enrich the world by passing on the knowledge of God and His viewpoint that changes lives in practical and profound ways."

Chancellor Pitzl is the founder and creator of the Searcherdemic Education model which has the potential to acknowledge and credential millions of people around the world, whose ideas and visions are lost simply because they don't have the finances or opportunities to navigate through the traditional educational matriculation process. 

"Your life, and the work that you have done, is the most tangible education that I have ever seen," Chancellor Pitzl told the Greens. "And if it is not worthy of a doctorate, I don't know what is." 

Searcherdemics is an education discipline and model in which students do much more than academically study, research, write papers and pass exams. They become their own case studies and real-world research through the implementation of God-inspired philosophies, innovations and ideas. This education ideology is founded on the principle that the Holy Spirit of God is the originator of solutions for the world. Therefore, students must search out the Godly knowledge and wisdom that will help them produce successful, evidence-based answers and results that positively impact families, communities and the world. 

This competency-based ministry degree is awarded upon the candidate's demonstrated ability to successfully implement and document their progression and success; and then implement, teach, duplicate, and defend their philosophy before the Chancellor and Chief Chancellor of UGCSI.

This fresh instructional and teaching paradigm provides a new educational opportunity for innovative minds; the people who often don't score well in standardized educational systems because they don't have standardized minds.

Searcherdemics has become a new avenue for the masterful innovators who, most likely, would never have earned college degrees, even though they completely change the world by impacting the industries, disciplines, and communities in which they serve. Traditionally, the most they could ever hope for was an honorary degree, or a certificate or plaque for their revolutionary ideas. Searcherdemics says they should receive actual earned credentials for their society-impacting life achievements that were accomplished due to their dedication, hard work, perseverance, and proven, evidence-based success.

Before conferring this credential upon the three Professors, Chancellor Michal P. Pitzl assured the online audience that the UGCSI academic standards require its Searcherdemic Doctoral Program to be:

1.) Bible based,

2.) Rigorous enough for the degree, and

3.) Practical

"Our students are required to do the work of their philosophy (not just reading books, doing research, and writing papers). They actually have gone out into the world, worked with people, and they’ve tested their philosophy in the real world, in real time; and they have documented their evidence and results.”

Chief Chancellor Rivers recalled when he first met the Greens and how they built their God-given ideas into something that government leaders have acknowledged and supported in their community. He called them the poster children for Searcherdemics because we now live in a world that can't wait for 20-years of research before a new idea or methodology can be embraced. The pandemic exposed many of the fundamental, philosophical flaws in nearly every industry and normally it would take decades to respond. However, solutions can come forth NOW, from the Searcherdemicians who are already the embodiment of decades of research, case studies, and success.

"Thank you for encouraging, equipping and empowering us to move forward in our Searcher journey," Professor Chris Green stated, "We are eternally grateful and honored to receive such a prestigious credential. All glory and praise goes to God alone."

He added, "We love the fact that UGCSI is empowering people who can produce real answers for our world's problems, and this educational method provides an actual, measurable standard of success that can be recognized with comparable credentials that say, 'This Searcherdemician has the expertise and wisdom to successfully implement, teach, duplicate, and defend their philosophy.'"

The first Doctor of Searcherdemics recipient was Professor Shakuntala Reddy, from Richards Bay, Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa, who initiated a Philosophy of KINDNESS in the education curriculum of the primary school in her community. 

"Congratulations to our three excellent UGCSI leaders who have been building and spreading their Searcherdemic Philosophies for over a decade," stated Chancellor Pitzl, "It was determined that they should be the first recipients in the world to ever be bestowed this newly established doctorate from our institution."

Watch their key Ceremony Moment Replay 

Simply Community Servants

 

Recently, the topic came up about the way titles are being thrown around in church and religious circles. For most of our ministry life we have been called “pastors” Chris and Carol Green, and we have accepted that because we have understood the cultural and societal perceptions of those roles in a local church or faith community. That title reflects a responsibility, but we don't wear it as badge to set ourselves above others.

Sometimes you will hear us refer to our work and assignments in our community as apostolic or prophetic, but we have absolutely refused to refer to ourselves as Apostles Chris and Carol, or Prophet Chris and Prophetess Carol.

Just to set the record straight, the only title we see for ourselves is Community Servants. Beyond that, we’re totally fine with being referred to as brother or sister, uncle or aunt, grand pa or grand ma, dad or mom, Mr. or Mrs., or just simply calling us by our given names.

Of course, in some settings, people may feel obliged to refer to us according to our life, educational, ministerial or professional roles, accomplishments, job titles, or other forms of distinction. It's their way of showing respect and honor. We get that. However, for the most part, we echo the words of Paul when he wrote:

“So look at Apollos and me as mere servants of Christ who have been put in charge of explaining God’s mysteries. Now, a person who is put in charge as a manager must be faithful.  As for me, it matters very little how I might be evaluated by you or by any human authority. I don’t even trust my own judgment on this point. My conscience is clear, but that doesn’t prove I’m right. It is the Lord himself who will examine me and decide.” ---1 Corinthians 4: 1-4

No matter what we accomplish or attain in this life, we want to be known by one description. Chris and Carol are mere Servants of Christ, ministering to their community. We pray the same for you.

Advancing from Inspiration to Manifestation of the Dream

Chris Green

You have a world-changing idea, business, initiative or vision, but where do you begin? How do you move from inspiration to manifestation? How do you launch a big dream?

We certainly had a big dream when we first arrived in the capitol city of Pennsylvania. We tried most of the popular  and highly-endorsed methods that the so-called gurus had suggested and none of them worked for us. 

We quickly learned that what works in one city doesn't work in another. What works in one region of the country or the world, doesn't work in another.

I offer what we learned in our journey.

 1. Invest in your own community. Your community has to know and believe that you really do care for them. Think globally and work locally. Begin by investing on your home front. Make a genuine effort to help strengthen what others are building.  

For us that meant collaborating with others; joining our ideas with their strategies. This was also where we discovered the validity of our ideas and vision. Please know that an idea might work in your head, but not work in the real world, with real people, in real situations. So this became our way of finding out if we had something that was legitimate and effective in real time. 

Your vision should boost their mission. We didn't actualize success through random marketing campaigns. presentations, seminars and workshops that promoted our vision, alone. We had to test our dream in the real world. 'Buy-in' to your vision will be built on tested and proven evidence within your community. 

2. Engage key community leaders. Get to know the leaders in the community, and get to know as many of them personally as possible.  You must step outside of the four walls of your world (organization, church, ministry, or familiar circles). We began attending monthly community meetings, as well as government-sponsored luncheons and non-profit fundraisers, and made great connections. 

3. Listen to your community’s concerns. This is a statement that we posted on our business website: "Build a successful business, not only by selling a dynamic product and providing great customer service, but by connecting with your local community to help solve problems."  Listen to learn what is most important to them. For instance, if youth suicide or homelessness are your community's biggest concerns, but you don't feel called to these areas, then find a way to connect what you do with the solutions. You may not work directly with youth or homeless people, but you might work with those who do.

4. Lift what's already working – Instead of making your initial focus all about the solutions you have to offer, find out about the positives in your community and celebrate those successes. Become a voice of encouragement for those who are already doing good work. 

5. Learn your community. Do you know your community’s demographics? Do you know its historical significance? Do you know its recent history? Do you know the under-served populations within your community. Study what has already been attempted to bring about change. Learn about what was successful and why. Learn about what failed and why. 

6. Less is more.  Instead of trying to set up large events, conferences and campaigns, scale back and focus on 1:1 encounters, smaller groups and high-impact invitational gatherings. It's far better to meet with 4 highly influential people in your community in a private meeting, than to host a 500-people event in a hotel that produces no momentum for you. The best way to reach the masses is not by mass media or massive events. The best way will always be by connecting with one key person at a time. Let your good reputation create a word-of-mouth buzz. 

7. Serve somewhere in your community. Build Goodwill through volunteerism. For example, we volunteer in the local high school’s annual poetry writing contest. At that time, we’re not representing our company. We’re just citizens, helping out. We don’t talk about our business or solicit for clients. Through this, we have built goodwill within the education community. 

We also volunteered our services in an employment agency for 9 months and in a women's shelter for about 10 months. If your community has to pay for your time and (untested) services, you run the risk of being viewed as just another predator. By the time they learn about your business, ideas, solutions or outreach, they should already feel and know that you care about them.

8. Prioritize. One of the mistakes we made was to spread ourselves thin by saying yes to too many people, organizations, initiatives and activities. Eventually we had to prioritize our time and efforts, and focus on the development of our team and their growth. We had to drop the weight of good ideas and run with a clear, clean and lean vision.

You probably read all of this and thought: This is going to take a very long time; and you're right. It will take a long time. The speed by which the dream will come into fruition is based on the speed by which relationships develop. You can't make it grow faster than the relationships that you build in your community. It simply won't work any other way. Remember that as ambassadors of God's Kingdom, we bring HIS ideas to the table in our communities.  However, we must embrace the Godly wisdom and steps that will get us to that table.

You are Success in Process,

Chris Green

Fruitful Life Educator and Community Servant

*Intellectual Property of Professor Christopher G. Green
Modified, and adapted from a 2017 article by Rod Edmonson

Going Back Home!

Chris and Carol Green

Opinion-Editorial repeat from Thursday, May 4, 2017  

A couple of days ago, Carol and I had the most profound conversation in our relationship, since the time we made a pact that saved our 6-month old marriage. It was all about going back to just being ourselves and getting out of the maddening quest for significance. 

When you know that you have a purpose in life, it’s very easy to start down the path where you try to build a platform from which you can successfully reach out to help people. But after several failures and finding ourselves facing, yet, another critical moment of decision, we needed another one of our heart to heart moments to talk through what must happen in order for us to continue working and serving in this region.

I had just wrestled all night in prayer and my plea went something like this: 

“God, I ‘m still struggling with all the Charismatic, Evangelical and Faith teaching that has reduced You to a formula. I’m supposed to speak certain words, take a certain position, quote the right scriptures, face the right direction, tilt my head the right way, block the wrong thoughts, allow the right thoughts, loose this, bind that, and follow a laundry list of steps, decrees and declarations. To be honest, I can’t do it any more!  In fact, I don’t get it!  Since You’re my dad, why am I going through all these steps?  I’m an earthly father and I don’t require my sons to jump through hoops to get me to help them.  The truth is, they barely have to ask because I’m their dad and I want to be there for them.  I want to bless them.  I want to do all I can for them.  And it’s all because of my unique relationship with each one of them.  I thought this was how it was supposed to be in my relationship with You. It’s not supposed to be about pushing the right buttons and quoting the right phrases. You’re my Father, not a formula!”

This prayer was still in my heart the next morning when Carol and I sat down together to talk about what we needed to do next in Harrisburg, PA.  Imagine my surprise when my wife revealed that she had had a dream the same night I was crying out to God.  She said:

“I dreamed that we (including all of our sons) were caught in  a major snowstorm while driving in our SUV.   We got stuck. We could not move. It was snowing so heavily that I got out to clear off the front windshield. I realized the snow was up to my knees and started to get back in the SUV, but decided to clear the back window off as well. When I finished, I got back in the SUV, but Chris, instead of moving forward, started backing up. I asked him what was he doing?  When he backed up to the adjacent street, suddenly it was spring. He had backed up into a beautiful sunny day with all the trees blooming and green.”

Of course we were wondering what was the significance of going backwards into a spring season. Did it mean going back to work on regular jobs? Did it mean going back to Missouri? Did it mean going back to our roles as pastors? As we talked about what I had prayed about, we realized Carol’s dream was about US going back to that which was our foundation when we first moved to Pennsylvania in 2004. Everything we did and said was always about our relationship with one another and our relationship with God.  So we stopped in that moment, held hands, and prayed. We pledged to God that we would GO BACK home.

Shortly after that conversation, I came across a photo from our home city of St. Louis, MO. That photo was a reminder of who WE are as well as, where we come from.  It was a reminder that our value and worth is not in any titles or accomplishments. We have received many awards, honors and acknowledgements, and over the years, it became easier to identify ourselves with those things. We fell into a trap. It was the trap where you lose your identity in your effort to fulfill a destiny.

We have had a fresh revelation that we are simply a couple from St. Louis, MO that moved to Harrisburg, PA to rebuild, restore and renew hearts and homes. We were not sent to build a platform based on personal successes, religious qualifications, impressive titles, or jaw-dropping academic accomplishments.  Our only platform is our relationship with each other, our family, and with God.  If that is not enough, then nothing else will be.......

All that matters is that we have a genuine relationship with God; that we have a solid relationship with each other; that we have strong relationships with our children; and that we have loving relationship with our family and dearest friends. From all of these relationships, we were given an assignment.

We are simply a husband and wife, dad and mom, son and daughter, uncle and aunt, nephew and niece, brother and sister, cousins, and now grand parents.... who are out in the community trying to share with others, out of the bounty and beauty, from which we have lived.

This photo reminded us of where we come from; who we come from; and why we are here in south central, Pennsylvania.

So when we say that we're going back home, we don't mean we're physically moving back to St. Louis, MO.  We mean, we're going back to who we were, before and beyond the "Calling", the "Ministry", the titles, and the accolades.

No more fighting and struggling to prove ourselves. No more striving to get God to bless what we’re doing. No more struggling to convince anyone or even ourselves, that we are legit. 

We're going back home to Chris and Carol.

Chris: "Hi Carol! I'm your husband Chris. I've been gone for a few years, searching for the stuff that is supposed to give me significance and qualify me to speak or bring a healing message to a city or community. But I realize, all I really needed was God, YOU, our children, and all the relationships that are part of who I am today. I'm back, and it's good to be home."

Carol: "Hi Chris! I'm glad to have my husband back. I also realize that all I needed to take on this family-healing assignment was God, YOU, our children, and all the relationships that are part of who I am today. I'm here with you, and it's good to be home, together."

Contributing Authors to Global Icon's International Best-Seller

Ghana, West Africa: Professors Chris and Carol Green are contributing authors, along with 30 others, in the new international best-selling book, ROYALTY THAT VALUES ALL : A FORCE FOR CIVILITY. 

This book and it's primary author, Dr. Psalm Ebube, presents THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF HRH KING, DR. Clyde Rivers, King of Development for the African Country of Ghana.

Each contributing author and leader, from around the world, shared their thoughts and imprints in this book that also describes Clyde River's life journey with people, his mentorship, leadership, and royal influence in over 125 nations.

Already the book has hit #49 in the category of International Best Sellers: Best Biographies of Educators; 

It's #3 in the Best Selling New & Future Releases in Biographies of Educators;

It's #10  in the Best Selling New & Future Releases in Biographies of Royalty; and it's #10 in Educator Biographies.

HRH King Dr. Clyde Rivers is one of the world's most revered and popular civility leaders and public figures. He is a man synonymous with the golden rule of philosophy. Today, he is seen and highly celebrated as a symbol of world civility, an ambassador for civil rights, and a heroic mentor whose influence and image of moral integrity and leadership values extend far beyond his country of residence. 

This iconic man has influenced thousands of high-profile personnel, and his impact on the global system is what the system cannot forget. He is the pioneer of  Honor for Africa. He is unique. His humility is almost unbelievable. His wisdom and intellect has made him stand out. There is none other like King Dr. Clyde Rivers. 

His journey led to his enthronement as the 'Development King at Large' for the Ekumfi Kuotukwa Kingdom in Ghana, Africa, a kingdom that was established in the year 1348. His official throne name is King Okogyeman Kobina Amissah I. 

This has truly been a life-changing experience, as Psalm and all the contributing authors who have had personal encounters with Clyde Rivers, bring a fresh and first-hand perspective to this landmark publication. They vividly convey both the pains and the inspiration that have characterized the life of this legendary and remarkable world civility leader.

This book gives the reader an overview of the global reach of I Change Nations™ and the influence of its Founder and President, King Dr. Clyde Rivers, who's reaching the world with the message of the Golden Rule, Civility for All , People Treatment, Honor, and Civil Discourse.

Chris and Carol Green Release New Book: Responding with CARE

How do you hold a conversation with people who have a political, social or religious view that is different from your own?  How do you build so much inner capacity for CARE, that you find it hard to cancel people?

In this powerfully relevant book for our times, the creators of the CARE-Ready Life Coaching® model and its mindset-changing initiatives and education, reveal their highly recommended, tested, and proven people-connecting strategies. 

The Greens build a strong case for adopting the principles of CARE (Civility and Compassion, Awareness and Accountability with Respect and Empathy) in our personal and professional lives.

Their innovative "Listen, Lift, Launch" approach was built from years of successfully empowering those who live and work in diverse and under-served communities.

Coaches, mentors, counselors, pastors, community leaders and neighborhood helpers have been elevated higher than the “assess and treat” approach to helping or confronting people.  Instead of trying to fix, reconstruct or debate with people, one can engage the principles of CARE: listening for understanding, lifting through skilled spiritual guidance, and launching people into new possibilities. 

With its Foreword written by La-Verna J. Fountain, a highly sought after communications and conflict resolution specialist who works with large scale organizations, this book has been over 30 years in the making. 

The Greens encourage you to add the CARE-Ready Handbook to your library by ordering your copy from Amazon Books at https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09LB2MXX4

Milestone: 95 CARE-Ready Life Coaches in 30 Organizations Across Nine States

Pennsylvania, USA --- Professors Chris and Carol Green, in collaboration with The STEP Forward Life Institute, United Graduate College and Seminary International (UGCSI), I Change Nations, and Fruitful Life Network, Inc, hosted the graduation of the CARE-Ready Life Coach™  Certification Fall Class of 2021, in an event that took place on a live video conference.

“Congratulations to our new CARE-Ready Life Coaches," commented Chris and Carol Green, whose coaching and consulting business, C and C Connections, LLC, serves as the organizer and facilitator of the training. "These powerful women and men were an absolute delight to work with over the past 10 weeks."

The newest CARE-Ready Life Coaches™  worked through 10 weeks (15 hours) of instruction,  successfully passed an online exam, submitted their personalized life coaching field manuals, and made class presentations to express how they were each going to meet the challenges of implementing their coaching models in their communities.

The newest CARE-Ready Life Coaches are: Jasmaa Grant, Christopher Green, Amethyst Roberson and Hosea Roberson.

The online ceremony featured congratulations from Ronald Parsons (graduate of Spring 2021) and Dr. Latinia Shell (graduate of Summer 2021). 

Parsons sent a personal message that was read: "I would like to congratulate everyone graduating today. You are now CARE-Ready Life Coaches. Becoming a life coach, I'm sure, has been very rewarding; and being a life coach comes with a lot of rewards. But it also comes with a lot of responsibilities. I wear a lot of hats - I'm a certified peer specialist and instructor, a mentor, and a suicide prevention gatekeeper. I'm an assistant counselor, training to be a counselor. I work in the schools as a prevention intervention specialist, and I hold group sessions at the county jail.

But it's the hat of CARE Ready Life Coach that ties all the others together for me. Being a life coach is not about giving others the answers, but helping and allowing them to find it for themselves. It's about listening. I didn't know or have that before.You now have more tools in your toolbox to help others in the workplace, with your family, and in your everyday life! Keep your head up and utilize the gift that God has given you. And again, congratulations!"

Dr. Shell speaking virtually to the new coaches shared: "I had the good fortune of not only being a student in the program and receiving my coaching credential, but also a client, and that's really what brought me back to get my certification. I was actually a client and it changed my life in ways I can't even put words to it.  I am a professional counselor, so this is what I do, but this program transformed my life in such a major way. So I said I have to go back and get this training. I implemented it in my work immediately and my clients started making major changes in ways I had not seen previously."

Dr. Shell went on to share a powerful message, reading an excerpt from Parker Palmer's, Let Your Life Speak, and imparted words of wisdom and encouragement to the class and the online audience.

With the successful graduation of this class, Chris and Carol Green have now trained and launched 95 CARE-Ready™ Life Coaches and 25 CARE-Ready™  Responders, who are disbursed and embedded in 30+ organizations, businesses, agencies or ministries across nine states: California, Delaware, Georgia, Maryland, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and Tennessee. 

As the founders of the STEP Forward Life Institute and affiliate members of, and International Statesmen with iChange Nations™, Chris and Carol Green have partnered with UGCSI to offer an accelerated, ministry-accredited life coaching certification program. Their collaborative purpose and mission has been, to equip leaders, working in under-served communities, with high-quality tools that empower them to be more effective in their humanitarian efforts.

Editor's Note:

Watch the Entire Graduation Video HERE

Learn more about the CARE Ready Life Coach Certification Program at  https://www.fruitfullifelearningcommunity.org/care-ready-certification 

STEP Forward Life Institute Highlighted in Global Magazine

Chris and Carol Green, along with ten other leaders and organizations from all over the world, were featured in a global magazine.

"We continue to make connections with leaders around the world through a new and powerful philosophy and methodolgy that seeks to change the way we approach education in the 21st century," the Green's stated.

Their STEP Forward Life Institute, which administers their exclusive  CARE-Ready Life Coach Certification program, was included in an internationally released online publication.

Productive Business Magazine highlights and shares productive business stories worldwide. This issue focused on "Searcherdemics"  highlighting the journey of a "New Global Education System.”

Click the link below to read. (We're on page 6)

Productive Business Magazine Link

Fruitful in Every Season

We think about the different seasons that we went through in our life, and how we had seasons of prosperity and seasons of leanness; and now we describe them like the natural four seasons. 

We have been through seasons of autumn, when the leaves were falling and then there were seasons of winter, when everything just seemed to be dead. There were seasons of spring when life was returning. And then the seasons of summer when it was hot and things were happening. 

After we go through a summer season, then fall (autumn) returns, and many of us start to think that we failed. We feel like we've done something wrong, and we're out of God's will, because the same trees (ideas) that were bearing fruit, and flourishing, now we're watching the leaves turn brown and yellow, and they're falling off. And we’re like, “God, what happened?" 

Many people struggle when it comes to understanding seasons, but the reality is that it is not always spring and summer time.  It may be difficult to precisely define the season that you’re in, but that’s okay.  As you are reading through this book, you will gain discernment for where you are, and the determination to keep moving forward in God's purpose for your life.

Chris and Carol Green offer wisdom from their 30-year personal and pastoral journey, providing hope, faith and insight on how to be fruitful in every season.

Get in the flow at https://www.amazon.com/dp/1514327066

 

The Honor Role (Heartfelt Words from One Concerned Father)

"Many young men are understandably focused on the pursuit of the woman who will eventually become his wife," author Chris Green comments in his latest publication. "I just want to encourage some young man to change his focus from the mere pursuit of the woman who will eventually become his wife, to the wise preparations for becoming honorable as a husband and father." 

In this, his third solo authorship project, The Honor Role, Green challenges men to restore honor to the role of husband and father. 

Here's a powerful and poignant excerpt:

"In our world today, we honor and display what should be covered in modesty, and we ignore, shame and cover what should be Honored. The Role of Men should be honored and encouraged, not covered or shamed.  However, it is covered and even despised due the influence of evil in the heart of mankind, which has distorted and perverted what God ordained to be an honorable role in the family, community, and all of society."

"I think this book may surprise you because it does not take men through an outline of topical chapters and studies," Green explains. "As we moved into the empty nest time of life and then became grandparents, we also transitioned to a responsibility to leave a legacy by passing on our knowledge and experience to the next generation." 

The Honor Role is a marvelous compilation of thoughts, stories and lessons that were assembled, not only for men in general, but as a wisdom-ladened overflow from raising three African American young men, together with his wife Carol.

"I always felt that the best thing I could ever give to my sons was a father who loved their mother. And that's all I have to offer the world today," Green concludes. "I'm just one example of a traditional Black father who loves his wife and family. I’m simply ONE CONCERNED FATHER for the future of our sons."

This book is a very special collection of Green's most significant messages to men; published with the intent to fortify those who are genuinely striving for excellence in spite living in an era in which terminology like Toxic Masculinity, along with negative stereotypes, spousal abuse, and horrible histories are constantly aired and rehearsed, while male bashing is popularized, applauded and rewarded.

Order a copy for you or your son(s) at   https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09GTNL8ZP

  

Our Hearts Were Broken: 9/11 Anniversary Tribute

 

Our Hearts Were Broken

9/11 Anniversary Tribute (Written 9/11/2011)

Ten years ago today our hearts were broken.

In horror we watched, no word could be spoken.

Time stopped, Could this be really happening?

My eyes can’t believe what I’m seeing.

Did the news flash really say what I'm hearing?

Sirens and screams in the background searing.

I cannot imagine what people are feeling.

As loved ones perish while thousands are fleeing.

Overwhelmed with grief, sickened by sorrow.

It’ll just be a nightmare when I wake up tomorrow.

How could something so evil be unleashed on the world?

Snatching the innocence of every boy and girl.

We’ll never forget the moment the second plane flew in.

The exclamation of the commentator,

"O my God, It happened again!"

And panic begin to set in as we learned

The terror plot wasn’t done,

Another plane had crashed into the Pentagon.

We’ll never forget the thoughts as we watched events unfold.

Is this the fulfillment of Biblical prophecies, foretold?

Is it just the random deed of some religious maniac?

Is it the start of world war three, is our nation under attack?

We’ll never forget the moment

When those towers came crashing down.

Our hearts were crumbling with it,

Knowing lives were being snuffed out.

I wanted to scream, I wanted to cry,

But I could only kneel down.

I prayed to God, 

In whom peace and solace could be found.

God alone can avenge the taking of innocent lives.

For the first responders who left behind

Grieving children, husbands and wives.

For the mothers, fathers, sons and daughters

Who faded away with no warning;

For the brothers and sisters

Who did not see the next day’s dawning.

It’s taken me ten years,

To put words on these thoughts.

Ten years of processing feelings

Of profound sadness and loss.

I don’t think I’ll ever be able to fully express

What happened to us that day,

Except that I know we came to understand

The tears on God’s face!

For ions of time

He has watched mankind destroy one another.

He stepped in from the beginning

After one brother killed the other.

What religious view is so important

That so many lives need to be shattered?

What political agenda means so much

That nothing else matters?

America, America, 

God poured out His grace on Thee

As crying and wailing rang out 

From sea to shining sea.

Ten years ago our hearts were broken,

But I have to wonder somehow.

Where will we be within our hearts

Another ten years from now?

Chris Green, 9/11/2011

Chris Green wrote this song three days after the tragic events of 9/11. The lyrics are based upon the prophetic words of Jeremiah Chapter 5 (Will I not avenge myself on a nation such as this?). 

This song intends no disrespect to those who died and have suffered since that day.  However, it is a sobering message to people of Faith, that still resonates to this day.

This song is addressing the American Church and its responsibility to follow the life and mission of Jesus Christ in ministering to a nation in crisis.