Special Guests

• Charlene Oliver — International Recording Artist

  Charlene’s life has been an extraordinary one. From being the first white female singer ever to be signed to Berry Gordy’s Motown label to landing a hit song in 26 countries around the world in 1982 with the song, I’ve Never Been To Me! (Featured on VH1's 100 Greatest One-hit Wonders show, hosted by William Shatner in 2002) Her life story is both harrowing and uplifting. Blessed with a simply beautiful voice, she was determined from an early age to make it as a singer. Her early success with Motown came after very hard personal times: an early-unexpected pregnancy, abused by her husband, forced to give away her child. With incredible strength of character she overcame her demons, found success all over the world, only to have it snatched away from her once more after a notorious duet with Stevie Wonder failed to achieve chart success. Charlene continued to tour and perform, and began to establish a loyal following amongst the gay community which was hugely reinforced by the revival of her song in the film, and then stage musical, Priscilla Queen of the Desert.
  
  

• Rev. Yvette Shank — President of Canada’s Church Of Scientology

  As a previous guest on our show, Yvette and Drew have kept in touch over the last few years. Today, Yvette will share about their plans to locate the Canadian national office of Scientology into a state of the art retreat centre, located near Drew’s home.
  www.scientology.org

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• Kim Gatlin — Author of Good Christian Bitches

  You may not like the term, but it’s real. If you’re offended—good. It means you’ve never experienced a GCB—you’ve never experienced the malicious backbiting, the idle gossip or the cold-hearted betrayal of a friend. How could you possibly know anyone that wretched? But if you have experienced a GCB, especially in your church…Heaven help you. From first-time author Kim Gatlin, comes the devilishly fun, yet painfully honest Good Christian Bitches, a story of newly divorced Amanda Vaughn who moves back home to Dallas to rebuild her life. What she encounters is a cast of old friends, neighbours and fellow church members who are as high and mighty as they come. “The good news is - it’s a relatable topic,” says Kim. “The bad news is - it’s a relatable topic.” Join Amanda in Hillside Park where gossip is the local pastime, you can get the latest scoop at Bible study and loyalties can shift in an instant. The ladies here love a good secret…as long as it’s not their own. In an Alfred Hitchcock Presents-Desperate Housewives on steroids style, her old friends are already out to destroy her reputation. In the whirling midst of salacious rumours, Botox, and fraud, Amanda turns to those who love her and the faith she’s always known. Will the Good Christian Bitches get the best of her, or will everyone see that these GCBs are as counterfeit as their travel jewellery? (Former TDMS guest, Kristen Chenoweth, has just joined the cast of the ABC drama pilot Good Christian Bitches! The show, still in development, has already drawn some pretty harsh criticisms from Conservative and Christian alliances.)
  www.goodchristianbitches.com
  
  

• Tony Jones — Author, Theologian, Post-modern / Emergent Guru

  A couple of weeks ago, Tony publicly asked our guest from last week, Peter Rollins, to give up atheism for Lent! According to Tony, “Peter Rollins is the most famous Christian Atheist that I know. Actually, Pete isn’t technically an “atheist.” He’s an (a)theist. Or an a(theist). Or an a/theist, a|theist, or atheist. He explained this a bit when I called in live to the Homebrewed Christianity Podcast and challenged Pete to do the only natural thing for someone who de-evangelizes people and runs the Omega Course: I challenge Peter Rollins to give up atheism for Lent. That means I’d like to see video of Pete singing praise and worship songs, preferably while swaying with his hands in the air. If he can conjure up a few tears, that would be even better. I’d like Pete to post some beautiful, flowery prayers on his blog. I’d like Pete to make some conclusive claims about the characteristics of God. I’d like Pete to answer some questions. I mean actually answer them, without telling a parable.” Today, we’ll get to the bottom of this (Un) Holy Dual!
  www.blog.tonyj.net
  www.peterrollins.net
  
  

Journey

• Alanna Jacobs

  In the summer of 2007, Alanna had just finished her third year of University studying International Development. She was hoping to go oversees and work for an NGO after completing her degree. However, life took a drastic detour. Alanna’s mother, who had been sick with breast cancer for nine years, was now dying. Within months of the family realizing just how bad the Cancer had really gotten, she was gone. Then, within months of her mother’s death, her father was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and passed away. Unexpectedly, in a six month period, seven children had become orphaned. Suddenly, Alanna was left with many questions and concerns: "How are they going to live? Will they be able to stay together? Who will come along side them and make sure they get through this? Where was God in this?" But Alanna’s main question, as the eldest of the seven and the one now responsible for her family became… "why should I trust you and love you now God?"
  
  

Talkback, etc.

• The Counsel Of Many!

  Brought to you by family lawyer Dawn Bennett. With a reputation built on Trust, Respect and Integrity, protecting your family's interests is Dawn's primary concern. Visit bennettlaw.ca today.
  
  Need Help or Advice On An Issue In Your Life?
  Tell us your situation and Drew will ask the listeners of TDMS!
  
  This week on the Counsel of Many: a woman wants to know if she should give her ex-first husband a shot at re-marriage before she marries another man.
  
  "I married my first husband, my high school sweetheart, when I was 22. We had been dating for six years at the time and had just got out of college/university when we decided to get married. Within a few months we both started our careers which we were excited about. Within a year we had our first child. After two years we had our second child. Our marriage suffered due to our parental focus and working on our careers so we disconnected emotionally. We were too young, too immature, too selfish and career-centric to make our marriage a priority. I ended up having an affair with a co-worker who I eventually left my husband for. My husband and I were divorced a year after the affair became known He was obviously very upset, and has begged me on many occasions to return and give the marriage another chance. In my romantic love fog, I refused to stay with my husband and pursued the other man instead. FAST FORWARD 3 YEARS: Me and my, now fiancé, are engaged to be married. The summer of 2010 saw my fiancé and I come to the lord during an evangelistic crusade at a church in my town. Since then we have both become passionate followers of Christ, even to the point of moving into separate apartments and becoming born again virgins. We have been attending marriage preparation courses and I am starting to have my doubts about whether I should go through with this marriage. I love my fiancé and he is a wonderful man. However, considering the way my first marriage ended (divorce due to adultery and my husband still wanting me back) I've been wondering: If I get married to my fiancé, can God ever be pleased with our marriage? Am I obligated, now that I am following Jesus, to go back to my first husband, who is now following Christ as well, has not re-married and still hopes for us to remarry? My fiancé says that he would be sad if I did this, but that he would understand if that is where God and my conscience is leading me. My pastor has suggested that I am obligated to (at the very least) to give a relationship with my first husband another chance. I feel torn between doing what I think & feel is the right thing to do (go back to my first husband) and marrying the man I now love. Sure our relationship started in very bad circumstances that were wrong at the time, but are they wrong now? Any advice, insight or wisdom would be appreciated and badly needed."
  
  

• TDMS Banter

  The beginning and the end of the show is like any good sandwich. The stuff in the middle is what it's all about - The rest is just crust! Sometimes it's worth listening to. Sometimes - not so much.
  
  

• Would it bother you if the Scientology Headquarters landed in your neighbourhood?

  A Toronto Star article this week revealed that the new national head office of The Church of Scientology will be located just north of Toronto, virtually in Drew’s backyard. The article also mentioned how, “the faith, which boasts celebrity followers like Tom Cruise and John Travolta, is often accused of exploiting its followers for financial gain and is criticized for its controversial beliefs, including its public rejection of psychiatry.” Oscar-winning screenwriter and fellow Canadian, Paul Haggis, was also interviewed recently by The New Yorker about his high-profile split from Scientology, and his many and long standing concerns about the organization. So, if you found out that the Scientology headquarters was being built in your neighbourhood, would that bother you enough to complain or protest? Or would you feel similar to a local Councillor who said, that as long as they obey the law and pay their taxes, there shouldn’t be a problem?

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