Maureen Pratt, Author and Speaker

I just received word that the first episodes of 'Peace in the Storm' will begin airing on LLBN TV Sunday, February 7. The following is further information about when the episodes will air, and how to find them:

EPISODES BEGIN AIRING SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7!!!


PEACE IN THE STORM BROADCAST SCHEDULE
DAY PST MST CST EST
Sunday New 2:00 PM 3:00 PM 4:00 PM 5:00 PM
Monday 10:00 AM 11:00 AM 12:00 PM 1:00 PM
Tuesday 8:00 PM 9:00 PM 10:00 PM 11:00 PM
Wednesday 3:00 PM 4:00 PM 5:00 PM 6:00 PM
Thursday 11:00 AM 12:00 PM 1:00 PM 2:00 PM
Friday 1:00 AM 2:00 AM 3:00 AM 4:00 AM


A new episode will air each week and will repeat several times during that week. Should we run out of new programs, we typically repeat the cycle from the beginning until we have new ones available.

In North America, LLBN can currently be seen via Glorystar Christian Satellite Channel 105, cable/​low and high power TV stations in select areas (Channel 17 on Loma Linda Time-Warner Cable), MOIPTV, and at www.llbn.tv.

Tough going, already?

By this time in the New Year, I'm hearing from people who have encountered major obstacles in carrying out their New Year's Resolutions. It can be so easy to set goals for a new year when holiday festivities abound and workloads ease up a bit. It's also easier to envision the "end of the line," when a goal is reached, rather than the sometimes painful steps required between resolve and resolution.

In much the same way, it can be hard to convince ourselves that doing what is good is, in the long run, more healthful for us. For example, on the surface we might think that exercise is counter-intuitive to alleviating pain. But, really, well-crafted (and medically approved) exercise can be a terrific way to ease pain, as well as gain strength.

Much of making our resolutions realities comes from reworking the habits we've established over months and even years. I truly believe that we're never too old to develop good habits and jettison unhealthful ones - as long as we're mindful of what we're doing all along the way. And, that's where our faith comes in.

We often hear the phrase, "With God, all things are possible." This is so true in the world around us and within ourselves. Mindful of God's presence and power in our lives, we can turn over our actions each day to Him and rely on wisdom, guidance, and self-discipline stemming from faith to take us through step after laborious step to affect the changes we have resolved to make.

The farther we get from the glow of New Year's Day and our loud-spoken resolutions made then, the more difficult it is to remake our intentions and actions to fit what we said we were going to do. But, with God, all things are possible!

As we move through this month, and as the pace of life revs up even more, I'm going to pray for greater strength, more patience, and deeper wisdom - for myself and for you, too. In Our Lord, we are sure to succeed, no matter how tough the going gets!

Joys and peace,
Maureen


Maureen

Yes, I finally took the plunge and established myself on Facebook and Twitter. On both, you'll find me as Maureen Pratt. In the coming days, I hope to post more frequently - and make full use of these venues. Stop by and say hello!

I'm thrilled to announce that Twenty-Third Publications will publish my next book in 2010! "Beyond Pain: Job, Jesus, and Joy" will be available sometime in the fall/​early winter - and I have lots of plans for the launch! I'll post these as time moves forward. Meantime, please keep this project in your prayers. Thank you!

The episode of The Word in the World, on which I was interviewed, is now available for viewing online at www.wordnet.tv. In this almost half-hour show, I talk about life with lupus and other chronic illnesses and pain, and how our faith can help us overcome isolation, sadness, and hopelessness -- and how we can help others, too.

I'm honored and delighted to say that "Peace in the Storm" has been picked up again by Global Ministries (www.new.gbgm-umc.org) and is on the UMW Reading Program list for 2010, too. What a wonderful way to bring "Peace" to more places where, I pray, it can be of service!

I'm thrilled to announce that the second edition of my book, "THE FIRST YEAR: HYPOTHYROIDISM" will be available any day now!!! Advance orders may be placed with Amazon.com and Barnesandnoble.com. I'll post updates on interviews and other book promos on this site as the info becomes available.

The interview I did on blogtalkradio at the end of June 2007 is archived on: http:/​/​www.blogtalkradio.com/​hostpage.aspx?show_id=29936
It was a wonderful experience, and the questions were some of the most enjoyable to answer that I've had. Hope you can check it out!

The segment featuring me on the Hallmark Channel's show "New Morning" was repeated in March. Both airings are now posted for viewing at www.newmorningtv.tv. When you go to that site, click on "Past Shows," then go to "February 2007" or "March 2007." Specific air dates are February 5, 2007, and March 1, 2007.

In my column, "Living Well," I explore topics related to spirituality and health -- all designed to encourage readers to take charge of as much of their health as they can and deepen their spiritual lives, too. Columns are posted on Catholic News Service's subscriber page and have so far been picked up by newspapers in Brooklyn, St. Paul/​Minneapolis, Nashville, Baton Rouge, Los Angeles, Texas, Florida, and Australia (to name a few). If your diocesan publication doesn't run "Living Well," encourage them to do so -- and let me know what you think!

The folks at beliefnet.com have asked to excerpt some of the prayers from PEACE IN THE STORM for their section on prayer. Beliefnet.com is a very interesting site devoted to introducing people to all faiths, as well as providing spiritual support to the faiths' followers.

The first few prayers are posted now at:

http:/​/​www.beliefnet.com/​prayeroftheday/​prayer_one.asp?pid=3405
http:/​/​www.beliefnet.com/​prayeroftheday/​prayer_one.asp?pid=3407
http:/​/​www.beliefnet.com/​prayeroftheday/​prayer_one.asp?pid=3408
http:/​/​www.beliefnet.com/​prayeroftheday/​prayer_one.asp?pid=3409
http:/​/​www.beliefnet.com/​prayeroftheday/​prayer_one.asp?pid=3410
http:/​/​www.beliefnet.com/​prayeroftheday/​prayer_one.asp?pid=3411
http:/​/​www.beliefnet.com/​prayeroftheday/​prayer_one.asp?pid=3412
http:/​/​www.beliefnet.com/​prayeroftheday/​prayer_one.asp?pid=3413
http:/​/​www.beliefnet.com/​prayeroftheday/​prayer_one.asp?pid=3414
http:/​/​www.beliefnet.com/​prayeroftheday/​prayer_one.asp?pid=3415
http:/​/​www.beliefnet.com/​prayeroftheday/​prayer_one.asp?pid=3416
http:/​/​www.beliefnet.com/​prayeroftheday/​prayer_one.asp?pid=3417

Other prayers will follow!

Tu companero catolico, a nationally syndicated Catholic radio program, did an interview with me in Spanish a few months ago -- and it aired in late October! The link to the program is on my website; you can listen on the web. (I apologize for the lack of accents in my Spanish here -- I'm just figuring out a new keyboard and hope to add them soon!)

Let me know what you think! Gracias.

Lupus (systemic lupus erythematosus) is an autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system turns on its own organs and tissues. It is much like being allergic to oneself.

The diagnosis of lupus is complicated, and involves a comprehensive physical and hemotological examination of the patient, as well as an extensive look at a patient's past medical history. The American College of Rheumatology has established a list of criterion, and a patient needs to fulfill several of the criterion in order to be diagnosed with lupus.

Because there is no one "lupus test," or easy way to diagnose the disease, patients often go years between flares and before they are diagnosed. Lupus patients with internal manifestations of the disease often look very healthy, and can be subject to discrimination on that basis.

There are no definitive numbers of how many people in the United States actually have lupus, but recent studies indicate that there might be as many as 1.5 to 2 million women, men and children with the disease in the U.S. Lupus can strike at any age, but most of the diagnoses are made to women in their childbearing years.

Lupus symptoms can vary from fevers, joint pain, extreme fatigue, brain fog, and photosensitivity to kidney, lung, heart, and central nervous system involvement. There is not cure for lupus; doctors try to treat the symptoms with various medications, some of which have short- and long-term side effects that can also be debilitating. Disease progression and severity are different in each patient; approximately 50 percent of lupus patients will have major organ involvement. Each year, lupus patients die from the disease or from complications such as infection or cardiovascular involvement.

The psychological toll of life with lupus is immense. Because of its unpredictability, the hopes and dreams of many lupus patients are shattered, and their personal relationships, career aspirations, and spiritual wellbeing can be severely eroded, if not destroyed. The divorce rate among lupus patients is above the national average, and many lupus patients are, at one time or another during the course of the disease, treated for depression and anxiety. Lupus patients must avoid exposure to sunlight, so even normal daily activities can be impacted and in some cases done away with completely. Outdoor sports, trips to the beach, hikes, and even shopping expeditions are all questionable at best. We sometimes feel like moles!

But although lupus patients must live with lifelong, daunting physical and emotional challenges, many are very resilient and develop coping skills within the parameters of their disease involvement. Lupus patients can be everyone's heroines and heroes!

There is a great need for more research into the causes of and treatments for lupus. There is also a huge need for more public awareness of the disease, both because it will enable people to be diagnosed more rapidly and because it will help others understand what lupus patients struggle with on a daily basis.

For further information, please see my book, TAKING CHARGE OF LUPUS: HOW TO MANAGE THE DISEASE AND MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR LIFE, and Dr. Daniel Wallace's book THE LUPUS BOOK. Also, contact the Lupus Foundation of America: www.lupus.org

Thank you!