Retailers attending CPE International were treated to two very different types of speakers, from a teaching pastor to a Hollywood comedian, Sunday night.

Robert J. Morgan revealed his mastery of God’s Word as he took CPE attendees on a tour of the Scriptures from the start of creation to the end of time. The author of Always Near and the upcoming 100 Bible Verses That Made America (both Thomas Nelson), as well as many other books, spoke at the dinner event sponsored by HarperCollins Christian Publishing.

“I don’t know what it is about our God, but He wants to be near us,” Morgan said.

Launching into his examination of verses in books from Genesis to Revelation, he reflected on what it might be like to read the whole Bible every day and why we need it.

Morgan said his wife couldn’t attend because of her illness, multiple sclerosis. Someone asked him how they endure such difficulty. Reflecting on the value of a cheerful heart in Proverbs 15:30, he said, “We just make up our minds to be cheerful every day.”

He observed that the Word of God must be a priority in our lives.

“If you can’t read all of the Bible every single day, at least you can read a book. If you can’t read a book, at least you can read a chapter. If you can’t read a chapter, at least you can read a verse. And if you can’t read a verse, then rearrange your schedule!”

He encouraged retailers to look for their reward in heaven.

“He will use you in ways we will never know until we get to heaven,” Morgan said as he closed with a blessing over all.

The evening’s activities ended with the vivacious author, speaker and comedian Kerri Pomarolli. Harvest House Publishers will release in November her two books, Confessions of a Proverbs 32 Women, and a devotional, She Rises Late and Her Kids Make Her Breakfast.

Pomarolli said she went through spiritual warfare to come to the show, having endured the passing of a large kidney stone after becoming ill 13 days ago. But apparently, kidney stones didn’t do her in; after all, she said, “Women are not allowed to be sick.”

She told stories of family life, hers growing up and hers now with two daughters. Her mom was a “disciple of Dancing With the Stars,” and her dad, an Italian Catholic, raised her with guilt and intimidation. Somehow she finds humor in it all but feels she can’t quite relate to the Proverbs 31 woman. As for finding a husband, she said she just wants “a man with good credit who doesn’t snore,” which got quite the laugh from the Sunday evening crowd, and explains why she is the ultimate Proverbs 32 woman.

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