PUBLISHER 4 SEPTEMBER 2020 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition South Florida Edition • Good News • September 2020 • Volume 22, Issue 6 On The Cover Palm Beach Atlantic University President Dr. Debra A. Schwinn joined the Christian institution in May. An accomplished educator, re- searcher and physician, she brings a track record for collaboration and innovation. Read more on pages 20-22. PERSPECTIVE . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 First Steps – by Stephan N. Tchividjian INSIGHT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Empowering Laity – by Rob Hoskins HEART AND SOUL . . . . . . .10 Searching Our Hearts And Our Institutions About Racism – by Dr. Debra A. Schwinn CHURCH UNITED . . . . . . . .12 SURVIVING OR THRIVING – by Edwin Copeland VILLAGE HYMNS . . . . . . . . .14 For Ours Is The Kingdom – by Julie Anne Vargas PARENTING . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 Establish A Routine To Help Kids Thrive – by Dr. Bob Barnes & Torrey Roberts LIVE THE LIFE . . . . . . . . . . . .18 What’s Your EQ? – by Lisa May COVER STORY . . . . . . . .20-22 Palm Beach Atlantic community sees God’s hand in presidential selection YOU ASKWHY? . . . . . . . . . .24 Surprised By Jesus – by Tommy Boland GOOD NEWS WANTS TO KNOW . .25 - 27 If time travel was really possible, would you prefer to travel forward in time or back? MARKED BY THEWORD . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 Gospel Hope in Days of Darkness – by Dr. Warren A. Gage CALENDAR . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35 CLASSIFIEDS . . . . . . . . .36 – 39 FLATTEN THE CURVE? Flatten the curve, flatten our spirit? Get back to normal was a feeling and hope we all had, week after week. Then it was suggested this was the new normal? What's so normal about this? A lot of question marks. A lot of self-reflection. How fortunate we are to live in America. In a time of reflection we spend missing our former lifestyle, we hear, read and watch levels of dissatisfaction. The pain is real, and the disappointment is not just about a pandemic of health but of heart, of humanity, of humility. It seems we've hit the pause button, waiting for a restart. Every aspect of our life seems like slow motion in slow motion. I seek the wisdom, not yet in a biblical sense because I want to play a little mind challenge before I seek the answers. God knows, of course HE knows, but I have a little extra time on my hands these days... Why? Is the forever challenge of life. So what are the lessons we can learn from this challenge seemingly just beyond our collective grasp? I think of myself as a problem solver, and this is no problem; this is a challenge. I think back in memory using a parable of sorts, and into my head pops the venerable motivator Pat Riley, the Miami Heat icon. In 2011 the sports world was in its own form of suspended animation, waiting on what theMiami Heat basketball teamwas doing having seemingly assembled the impossible trio. Never before accomplished in perhaps all of sports: the top three players at their positions all in their prime ; Le- Bron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh. The media called them sports version of The Beatles, so naturally they were called The Heatles. This was going to be great. This would be monumental. PT Barnum could never top what Pat Riley orchestrated. The sporting world was giddy with expectation, life was good if you lived in South Florida. The Season started and after 17 games they were a pitiful 9-8, losing the last 5 games in a row. Sports fans, the media and the players on the teamwere humiliated and destroyed emotionally. From the high- est high to the lowest low with no hope in sight. What could you say? What could be done? Those six words The Heat coach pounded the table in defiance and scolded: Don't. Let. Go. Of. The. Rope. Those six words. Right there they had to make a collective decision, pack it in, in total humiliation and self-defeat, or grab the rope and don't let go – each member had to grab that proverbial rope and not let go otherwise they all go down, and that was the only way of keeping the whole team out of the fire pit of hell. Not quite catastrophic enough for street riots, but certainly a turning point. The Heat went on and had amagnificent stretch winning 21 out of 22 games. Life seems unfair when hopes are dashed and mental pain is every bit as painful as a physical wound, but physical wounds generally are cleaned out, stitched and bandaged and in time heal. Mental anguish we likely bandage but never really clean out at least not completely, and the internal festering finally becomes debilitating, and that operation requires great and profound therapy. Recognizing the symptoms is the challenge. I'm often reminded when I go on mission trips with my friends and brothers that conditions are not exactly what we are used to, the sleeping accommodations, food selections, transportation. We only have a small level of discomfort for a week or so, but the locals we serve live that way forever... Now we must turn to Him for ultimate wisdom, all I can suggest is solemn prayer and Don't. Let. Go. Of. The. Rope. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV). - Les - Leslie J. Feldman - CONTENTS Publisher: Leslie J. Feldman
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