Largest Christian Newspaper in America • goodnewsfl.org • August 2023 • Volume 25, Issue 5 Board Members pictured from left to right FRONT: Lori Wheeler, Vice President, Marine Industries Association of South Florida; Nancy L. Robin, CEO and Executive Director, Habitat for Humanity of Broward; Lily Pardo, Board Chair, Director of Public Relations & Community Affairs, WSVNChannel 7; MIDDLE: Maria Menendez, Chief Financial Officer, GL Homes of Florida Holding Corp.; Romney Rogers, Managing Partner, Rogers Morris Ziegler, LLP; Julie Medley, Executive Director, ULI Southeast Florida/Caribbean; Robert Taylor, 1st Vice Chair, President, Burdette Beckmann, Inc.; Michael Bessette, Vice President Market Rep, Fleet Sales & Strategy at Southeast Toyota Distributors; Kelly Koenig, Executive Director, City Furniture; George Barbar, Senior Managing Director, Head of Regional Development and Strategy, Mesirow; Robyn Hankerson-Printemps, Community Relations Manager, Publix Super Markets, Inc. BACK: Kelly Kolb, Past Board Chair, Shareholder, Buchanan Ingersoll Rooney; Robert W. Barron, Secretary, Partner, Berger Singerman; John Romandetti, Independent Director, JR Consulting
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PUBLISHER 6 AUGUST 2023 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition I’m the first to admit that I’m a little off-center. Odd to me that I’ve rarely if ever had to defend that selfadmitted point of view from anyone who may have foolishly thought otherwise by cutting me grace. I ponder, for only a brief moment, how my views stack up against conventional thoughts and find that my thoughts generally have a lot of question marks, but my spoken views tend to end with exclamation points, and why is that? I challenge conventional wisdom in search, perhaps, of a better or more complete way but often find that more incomplete with seemingly dark hallways and corridors, which can be exhausting. I have few idle thoughts if any at all; my most harmless idle thought is perhaps why is that the song title of that song? So, my curiosity demands that I ask: what are the most asked biblical questions people seek fulfillment in knowing more about? Aside from pestering people like Dr. Warren Gage, who makes my tiny brain hurt because of his incisive responses, I seek less deleterious effects and settle for a more mundane google search, landing on Got Questions Ministries. There are many important questions, but my off-center approach as you can now surmise would seek out the popular version at local bookstores of the “how-to-for-Idiots” if they have a Bible version? Hmmm…. Where was Jesus for the three days between His death and resurrection? After Jesus said, “It is finished,” on the cross, “he bowed his head and gave up his spirit” (John 19:30). His dead body remained on the cross until it was taken down and placed in a nearby tomb (John 19:40–42). His spirit, however, was elsewhere. Three days later, His body and spirit were reunited, and He rose from the dead (John 20). There is some speculation about where Jesus was — that is, where His spirit was — for the three days between His death and resurrection. The clearest indication we have in Scripture of where Jesus was between His death and resurrection comes in His conversation on the cross with one of the thieves crucified next to Him. The believing thief asks to be remembered when Jesus comes into His kingdom (Luke 23:42), and Jesus replies, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise” (verse 43). So, after His death, Jesus went to the place of blessing where God is — heaven. And that’s where the believing thief went, too. Do pets go to Heaven? The Bible does not give any explicit teaching on whether pets/animals have “souls” or whether pets/animals will be in heaven. However, we can use general biblical principles to develop some clarity on the subject. The Bible states that both man (Genesis 2:7) and animals (Genesis 1:30; 6:17; 7:15, 22) have the “breath of life”; that is, both man and animals are living beings. The primary difference between human beings and animals is that humanity is made in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26-27), while animals are not. Being made in the image and likeness of God means that human beings are like God in some ways; they are capable of spirituality; they have a mind, emotion, and will; and part of their being continues after death. If pets/animals do have a “soul” or immaterial aspect, it must therefore be of a different and lesser “quality.” This difference possibly means that pet/animal “souls” do not continue in existence after death. What does the Bible say about dinosaurs? The topic of dinosaurs in the Bible is part of a larger ongoing debate within the Christian community over the age of the earth, the proper interpretation of Genesis, and how to interpret the physical evidence we find all around us. Those who believe in an older age for the earth tend to agree that the Bible does not mention dinosaurs, because, according to the old-earth paradigm, dinosaurs died out millions of years before the first man ever walked the earth, so the men who wrote the Bible could not have seen living dinosaurs. What does the Bible say about tattoos? The New Testament does not say anything about whether or not a believer in Jesus Christ should get a tattoo. Therefore, we cannot say that getting a tattoo is a sin. Because of Scripture’s silence, getting inked falls under the category of a “gray area,” and believers should follow their convictions in the matter, respecting those who may have different convictions. Here are some general biblical principles that may apply to getting a tattoo: Children are to honor and obey their parents (Ephesians 6:1–2). For a minor to get a tattoo in violation of his or her parents’ wishes is biblically unsupportable. Tattoos born of rebellion are sinful. “Outward adornment” is not as important as the development of the “inner self” and should not be the focus of a Christian (1 Peter 3:3–4). A person who desires a tattoo to garner attention or draw admiration has a vain, sinful focus on self. God sees the heart, and our motivation for anything we do should be to glorify God (1 Corinthians 10:31). Motivations for getting a tattoo such as “to fit in,” “to stand out,” etc., fall short of the glory of God. The tattoo itself may not be a sin, but the motivation in getting it might be. Our bodies, as well as our souls, have been redeemed and belong to God. The believer’s body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19–20). How much modification of that temple is appropriate? Is there a line that should not be crossed? Is there a point at which the proliferation of tattoos on one body ceases to be art and starts becoming sinful mutilation? This should be a matter of individual reflection and honest prayer. This has been a hot summer. I hope you found a way to stay cool and stay in the word. Les South Florida Edition • Good News • August 2023 • Volume 25, Issue 5 Advertising: We reach over 110,000 readers each month. 80,000 in print and 30,000 via our online digital edition. Placing an ad in our publication is affordable and effective to help grow your business. Call us today! Distribution: Available in more than 800 locations throughout South Florida. To become a free distribution point for the newspaper, please contact Shelly. The Good News is published by Good News Media Group, LLC, Reproduction in whole or part strictly forbidden without the consent of the publisher. Copyright 2023. All rights reserved. Good News Media Group, LLC. PO Box 670368, Coral Springs, FL 33067 954-564-5378 • www.goodnewsfl.org Publisher: Leslie J. Feldman [email protected] Editor: Shelly Pond [email protected] Advertising & Marketing: Robert “Buddy” Helland Jr. V.P. Sr. Marketing Manager [email protected] Art Director: Milton McPherson [email protected] Associate Art Director: Joseph Sammaritano [email protected] Social Media Manager: Ariel Feldman [email protected] Editorial Assistant: Eric Solomon [email protected] Cover Photography: Justus Martin [email protected] Leslie J. Feldman PERSPECTIVE . . . . . . . . . .8 Ice Cream and Golf - by Stephan N. Tchividjian IN THE WORD . . . . . . . .10 Franklin Graham: Standing on God’s Truth – by Franklin Graham FOSTER CARE . . . . . . . . 12 Investing in Young Adults – by Kevin Enders PARENTING . . . . . . . . . .14 Seasons – by Dr. Bob Barnes & Torrey Roberts FROM THE PULPIT . . . .16 Covid and Christianity, What Happens Now? – by Mark Van Dorn HEART AND SOUL . . . .18 PBA Equips Believers to Faithfully Defend the Gospel through Apologetics – by Dr. Debra A. Schwinn THE CODE . . . . . . . . . . . .20 The Promise of a Brighter Tomorrow – by Dr. O.S. Hawkins YOU ASK WHY? . . . . . . 22 Prayer Changes Almost Everything – by Dr. Tommy Boland GOOD NEWS WANTS TO KNOW .24 - 26 What is your favorite simple pleasure? MARRIAGE . . . . . . . . . . .28 Multiple Marriages with the Same Person – by Lisa May COVER ARTICLE . .30 – 31 Habitat for Humanity of Broward Celebrates 40 Years Providing Affordable Housing – by Shelly Pond FAITH AND VOCATION . .32 Make Time to Grieve – by Kevin Stowe INSIGHT . . . . . . . . . . . . .34 The Church in a Digital Revolution: Navigating Digital Missions – by Rob Hoskins ENCOURAGEMENT . . .36 All’s Well That Ends Well– by Omar Aleman WE GET LETTERS . . . . .38 CALENDAR . . . . . .42 – 43 CLASSIFIEDS . . . . .44 – 47 I’m the first to admit… FOR FRONT COVER CREDITS, SEE PAGE 12. CONTENTS Good News • August • Volume 25 Issue 5
MASTER OF DIVIN BIBLI TRY | MA TOR OF MINIS NITY | DOC C ICALANDTHEOLOGICALSTUDIES | MA ALSTUDIES | CER HRISTIAN AND CLASSIC RTIFICATES Le Re eade evita ershi alize p You ur es Pi e Y L ’s possible to equip em ade peli it mpowe and educate Ch ne r aders in your hristian le t th while day, comp your curre Yes, i h t i hi t l t d i rounde e remaining g aders study emerging le y seminar pletely online line by leadership pipe ent ministry context! Kn its possible to equip, em t tt n their current calling a h lical and t with our Bib h your ex education wit orld-clas integrating a w emin nox Theological S mpower, and educate Ch cted and staying conne holars heological sc xisting programs. Every edited, and ss, fully accr lp strengthen ary can he n to th hat mat he relationships t . tter most KNOXSEMINA D FORTH ARY.EDU/ Discover how at HECHURCH
PERSPECTIVE 8 AUGUST 2023 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition One of my daughters, when growing up, had a difficult time making decisions. I can remember distinctly the challenge we had as a family going to get ice cream. We quickly learned to order first because if we waited for her to decide, the chances of the ice cream shop closing its doors before we ordered became a real possibility. The ice cream choices when I was a child were simple… chocolate, vanilla and strawberry. However, then some old chap named Baskin and his wife named Robin (I may have made that up) decided to add many, many, many, many flavors… including Bubble Gum (my favorite because you got ice cream and gum for the same price). Can you imagine a child looking at an array of ice cream, in every imaginable color and flavor and being asked, “sweetie, pick one”? Our poor daughter was in overload. I think her concern was wanting to make the right choice… hence the hesitancy. Sometimes we are like that… so many choices that we actually make none. Today the average person living in the United States is faced with more choices than ever before; they estimate that we actually make about 35,000 decisions per day. Imagine how many choices we have to filter through to make those thousands of decisions. I now better understand my daughter’s hesitancy. The tee shot I have often thought of making decisions much like a hole of golf. A par five hole is set up in such a way that an average golfer ought to be able to get the ball from the tee shot (1st shot) into the hole on the green with five well-placed shots. The golfer, upon reaching the tee shot, is given a small map that illustrates approximately where the green and hole are located since many times you cannot see the green or the hole from the tee shot. Therefore, you know generally where you are going but not much more. I liken this to decisions in life. You often have very little information as you are faced with a decision except for the general direction of where you are to go. The golfer takes the driver and hits it hard in the general direction of the green. That’s it. BTW, the golfer will never make a hole-in-one from the tee shot on a long hole. This is important to understand in making decisions… manage your expectations; decisions are a series of processes and are never made in one shot. Once the shot is hit you progress to the next one. A good golfer is proficient in knowing the conditions that may affect his/her next shot. Where is the ball laying (sand, tall grass, short grass, water etc.)? Is there wind that may affect the trajectory of the ball? What does my caddy (advisor, counselor and friend) say? What club should the golfer use based on the information that they have? These are consistent with making decisions… knowing where you are, what resources you have and who is advising you. The process continues this way with each swing providing a little more information and a little less margin for error until you eventually find yourself on the green with the flag and hole visible. The golfer now has no margin for error, and all the information they need to make a successful putt. Decisions are like this. The onset of a choice provides me a sense of direction as I evaluate the tools at my disposal and the conditions I find myself in. I take the shot… its directional remember. Clarity is missing regardless of how determined I am to make it to the “green”. Each stage of the decision brings more information, a renewed evaluation of the resources available to me and a realistic understanding of my situation until I now have all I need and can execute on that decision. Today, we have more information available to us than we have ever had in the history of mankind (except for probably Adam and Eve) and, therefore, more choices. We are all becoming familiar with the concept of AI (Artificial Intelligence) and its capacity to “know everything.” The information creates choices which then can cause a level of anxiety in us as we desire to make the right decision, and all of this information confuses us, just like the ice cream store. I read an article that stated that though we are living in the Information Age, the real focus is on influence, not the information. Finding a restaurant Let me illustrate this. We live in communities where the choices of places to eat are plentiful. We can choose our restaurant based on location, price, type of food, occasion, dog friendly, romantic and outdoor seating. Therefore, let’s say that you want to celebrate your friend’s birthday by taking him/her out to a nice dinner. You search, “best restaurant for a birthday dinner” and you immediately get dozens of possibilities within a few miles of your house. Too many choices, what is a good friend to do? Perhaps you start reading reviews; you filter the selection based on familiarity, type of food or availability. The selection is still massive. You now call your foodie friend (we all have at least one foodie friend). Our foodie friend then makes a recommendation based on our criteria, and we promptly make a reservation and have the time of our life. The foodie friend influenced my choice. Information was not the problem, discerning the information was the problem. Discernment The older I get the more I value discernment. I find that many times we can pride ourselves in our ability to process a lot of information. We have learned how to manage our lives through various techniques and tools. However, what is woefully missing is discernment. Discernment is the ability to value the information based upon certain core truths and values. We see this lived out when Daniel “purposed in his heart,” Joseph asked, “how can I do this great sin against God,” and Jesus says, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” We live in a world where decisions must be made with a variety of choices that are given to us, and sometimes our level of anxiety and stress increases because of the enormity of the decision and the endless choices and possibilities. We sometimes rush our decisions to rid ourselves of the stress of the choices, or we analyze so much that we never make the decision. Where is the discernment? Where are you? I ask, “where are you in the process?” Are you at the tee shot of a new relationship or career choice? If so, swing hard and in the right direction… that’s it. Perhaps you are farther along, and you are on the fairway ready for the next shot. Perhaps you have made a couple of poor shots, and you are in the “rough” or “sand trap” and are getting frustrated. Remember, you have resources available that can guide you to getting back in play (the right club, the advice from a caddy, the past experience). However, wherever you are its important to be honest with your situation, evaluate your resources and then swing. Where are you in your walk with Jesus? Are you just beginning? Don’t get frustrated if you don’t have all the answers? Perhaps you have been walking with Jesus for a while but made some mistakes and find yourself feeling lost or frustrate. Again, perhaps you know exactly what to do (you are on the green) and its simply time to execute (we call it obedience). Therefore, life can sometimes look like an ice cream store with so many colors, aromas, promises and expectations that we can’t actually enjoy the moment. However, God has uniquely equipped and provided each of us with discernment and resources that allow us to move forward and enjoy the place we are in. “Godliness with contentment is a great gain” (1 Timothy 6:6). Stephan N. Tchividjian is the president and founder of the National Christian Foundation South Florida. Visit southflorida.ncfgiving.com to learn more. - Stephan N. Tchividjian - National Christian Foundation President Ice Cream and Golf
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Just a few weeks ago, I had the privilege of proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ in Seoul, Korea, at the 50th anniversary of my father’s historic 1973 Crusade, where he preached to more than 3 million people. That year, on June 3 alone, a crowd of 1.1 million gathered at Yoido Plaza — a runway used during the Korean war — to hear my father’s message from God’s Word. At the anniversary event, an overflow crowd of 70,000 came to hear the Gospel at Seoul’s World Cup Stadium. I was joined in Seoul by my sons Will and Roy and our good friend Dr. Billy Kim, who served as my father’s interpreter in 1973. We celebrated God’s faithfulness and the saving power of God’s Gospel. The last time my father spoke with Dr. Kim, he told him, “Let’s have one more Crusade in Korea,” so I’m sure my father would have been very excited and thankful about what just happened. I preached the same Gospel message that my father preached then, and just like 50 years ago, God’s Spirit worked to bring many to repentance and saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Even though five decades have passed since that wonderful Crusade, the needs of the human heart haven’t changed. There is a new generation of people who need to know that God loves them and cares for them, and that they can have a personal relationship with God when they repent of their sins and call on the Name of Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. They need the sure and eternal hope that only God can give. By God’s grace and through His power, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association has been proclaiming the same, simple Gospel message around the world for more than seven decades now. We know the Gospel itself is the “power of God to salvation” (Romans 1:16). In all we do, we always seek to come alongside the church, as well as other ministries that share the same passion for evangelism that we have. Just a few weeks before I was in Seoul, I spoke at the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) Convention in Florida, the world’s largest association of Christian communicators. NRB member organizations represent millions of listeners, viewers and readers. I touched on how my father used television and radio from the early days of his ministry, and today at BGEA, we work to proclaim the Gospel by every effective means available to us. I also shared how my father used his platform to help others in ministry. As large corporate tech companies are increasingly hostile to the Christian faith, we at BGEA are taking proactive steps to help ensure we can keep on proclaiming the Gospel regardless of “progressive” policies that seek to silence us. These moves make it possible to offer strategic help to like-minded ministries that face the same dangers. Make no mistake, the cancel culture from woke businesses, schools and corporations is coming hard after Christians who are faithful to the Gospel of Jesus Christ in matters involving mankind’s sin, God’s holiness, and Jesus as “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). As Jesus advised His disciples on His last night with them: “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you” (John 15:18). I warned the thousands at the NRB convention that a storm is coming, and we’d better be ready because it appears as if all the demons in hell have been turned loose. Never before in America have we seen such open contempt for the Word of God. And when I say demons, I mean just that. We know that Satan and his rebellious, unholy allies were cast down out of Heaven at one point. “And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him” (Revelation 12:7-9). Behind the disdain and hatred for Christ and His followers is the evil one, plus his minions who for a season have been allowed by God to work evil on Earth. Remember that the devil is a deceiver, a murderer, a destroyer by his own sinister, wicked nature. He and his demonic hordes — who knows how many — are especially adept at lying. The devil lied to Eve in the Garden, telling her “you will not surely die” (Genesis 3:4). But of course both Eve and Adam believed the lie and the fall of mankind into sin began for all. Speaking to the Pharisees about the devil, Jesus said, he “does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it” (John 8:44). One of the big lies in our culture today is that persons are free to change their gender, biological identity or their sexual preferences. That is a demonic lie. The Bible says, “So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them” (Genesis 1:27). This is the authoritative, unchanging truth of the Word of God. Another demonic lie in our culture today is that a baby in the womb is simply a mass of tissue — without value, soul or meaning — that can be aborted. The Bible says, “For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:1314). The Apostle Paul said that he had been set apart for the Gospel “from my mother’s womb” (Galatians 1:15). Perhaps the greatest demonic lie in our culture is that we are all basically good, with no responsibility toward anyone except ourselves. The Bible says that “there is none righteous, no, not one; there is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God … there is none who does good, no, not one” (Romans 3:10-12). The Bible says, “each of us shall give account of himself to God” (Romans 14:12). The good news is that Satan has already been decisively defeated on the cross by the Lord Jesus Christ (Colossians 2:15). He works his woe, but he knows that his time on Earth as the deceiver and destroyer will soon be over (Revelation 12:12), and he and his rebellious demons will be forever cast into the burning lake of fire (Revelation 20:10). Until that time, we stand on the all-powerful, never-changing truth of God’s Word, and we refuse to buy into any of the enemy’s wicked tactics. In Christ Jesus, we are always more than conquerors, whatever the culture may futilely say. Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, New King James Version. Decision magazine, July 2023; ©2023 Billy Graham Evangelistic Association; used by permission, all rights reserved. Make no mistake, the cancel culture from woke businesses, schools and corporations is coming hard after Christians who are faithful to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 10 AUGUST 2023 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition IN THE WORD - Franklin Graham - President and CEO Samaritan’s Purse and Billy Graham Evangelistic Association Franklin Graham: Standing on God’s Truth ” “
FOSTER CARE 12 AUGUST 2023 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition I had a blast bowling with some of our young adults recently! Taking an evening to talk with them, laugh, teach, encourage, and enjoy their company was such a poignant reminder to slow down and really listen to these young adults. About TIL 4KIDS serves young adults in the community who have aged out of foster care with nowhere to go. At 18, many of these young men and women are simply not equipped or well supported enough to really thrive on their own. 4KIDS Transitional Independent Living (TIL2:25) provides a home and a community to teach, train up, challenge and invest into these young adults. Youth Voices But it’s not just about us speaking into their lives. It’s also vital for us to be listening to them. These young adults hold a unique and powerful perspective on foster care and families in crisis; understanding their stories and really hearing their voices is critical in this work. “There is a great deal of momentum on the state and national level to rightly position those with lived experience and expertise within the child and family well-being community of practice alongside system professionals,” says Patricia Nellius, Florida Coalition for Children EVP. Youth Voices isn’t just about telling stories. It’s also helping to inform organizations like 4KIDS, encouraging us to implement new ideas and approaches. Youth Voices has been incredible for child welfare because the things we are designing and the programs we are administering need to be informed by the voices that are being impacted by them directly. Redefining a child’s identity A great example of this is a child’s case file. In the foster care system, a “file” follows a child from home to home. It is filled with records, details of what happened in their biological family, and often with past behavioral challenges. The young adults participating in Youth Voices have shared the pain that their “file” brought them during their formative years. They don't want to be defined by their case file. They want to use their voice. They want you to know them by their voice. They want to tell you who they are, what they dream of. And as believers, we know this is their true identity, who God designed them to be and not merely a file that gives them their identity. Finding space to listen As I am writing this, I am in upstate New York for part of the summer and the quiet here allows me to slow down and listen in a unique way. There are so many different species of birds singing; some of them I know, but some I do not. My sister suggested that I download an app on my phone that will identify a bird from its song or call. This makes me think about whose voice am I listening to? To God, and the kids, young adults and families we serve? The way most of us live we can just pack our days with so many things, often great things, Kingdom building things! But in the midst of that, we can get out of practice with the art of truly slowing down and listening. I find that when I am really taking time to listen to God and prioritizing that time in my day, it makes listening to others flow out of me so much more naturally. Psalm 46:10 compels us, “Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” We know that God is working in and through the ministry of 4KIDS and the lives of these young adults, and He has a plan for their lives. Look for opportunities to see that plan unfold, be open to how you may be a part of it and be ready to listen to the stories God is writing in their lives. Investing in Young Adults - Kevin Enders - 4KIDS President & CEO 4KIDS Director of Transitional Independent Living (TIL), Ken Lacy graduates with his Master's in Mental Health Counseling alongside TIL alumni Genesis, who earned her Bachelor's in Psychology. On The Cover Habitat for Humanity of Broward Board Members pause for a picture at their offices in Fort Lauderdale in honor of the organization’s 40th Anniversary. Board Members pictured from left to right Front: Lori Wheeler, Vice President, Marine Industries Association of South Florida; Nancy L. Robin, CEO and Executive Director, Habitat for Humanity of Broward; Lily Pardo, Board Chair, Director of Public Relations & Community Affairs, WSVN-Channel 7; Middle: Maria Menendez, Chief Financial Officer, GL Homes of Florida Holding Corp.; Romney Rogers, Managing Partner, Rogers Morris Ziegler, LLP; Julie Medley, Executive Director, ULI Southeast Florida/Caribbean; Robert Taylor, 1st Vice Chair, President, Burdette Beckmann, Inc.; Michael Bessette, Vice President Market Rep, Fleet Sales & Strategy at Southeast Toyota Distributors; Kelly Koenig, Executive Director, City Furniture; George Barbar, Senior Managing Director, Head of Regional Development and Strategy, Mesirow; Robyn Hankerson-Printemps, Community Relations Manager, Publix Super Markets, Inc. Back: Kelly Kolb, Past Board Chair, Shareholder, Buchanan Ingersoll Rooney; Robert W. Barron, Secretary, Partner, Berger Singerman; John Romandetti, Independent Director, JR Consulting Not Pictured: Raquel Case, General Manager, Rick Case Automotive Group; Stephen R. Palmer, Treasurer, Chief Operating Officer, Stiles Corporation (retired); Melanie Dickinson, President & Publisher, South Florida Business Journal; Kelley Jackson, Scientific Studies Manager, UnitedHealth Group/Optum Serve; Burnadette Norris-Weeks, P.A., Partner, Austin Pamies Norris Weeks, Powell PLLC; Susan Renneisen, VP of Community Affairs/Special Events, Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino; Gordon Weekes, Jr., Broward County Public Defender; Gail Daley, Vice President of Operations, Sunshine Health; Carlos Iafigliola, Senior Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer (COO) Amerant Bank. Photo credit: Taylor A. Smith, Blue Eye Images blueeyeimages.us
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14 AUGUST 2023 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition PARENTING I love that life comes in seasons, even in South Florida, where the weather doesn’t change much. There is always excitement for change, for fresh beginnings. God reminds us of this every morning with a beautiful, new sunrise. We live our lives in rhythms. When I look at the month of August — especially for parents — a fresh, new, shiny school year is coming. There is excitement (hopefully) over all the new things: new clothes, new supplies, new classrooms, new classes. This fresh start is such a great opportunity to work on new habits, new rhythms in our homes. Take the temperature We have the chance, as we look toward the new school year, to take the temperature of the family. What worked last year, what could be improved upon and where there any outright fails? Reflecting then processing together as spouses is a great way to stay on the same page in goal setting. Set goals If you have elementary-aged kids and older, you can include them in a family meeting to set goals. This exercise can be as fun as you make it! You can throw a pizza party or cover your wall in multicolored sticky notes. Think bigger than, “It would be great if I didn’t have to fight my kids over getting up every morning.” Is this the year you set the goal to eat breakfast every morning as a family? What about the year that you reign screen time in and implement family game night? This could be the year where you all focus on saving for a certain vacation. Family goals can be as unique as your family is! Tackle problems After coming up with family goals, you and your spouse can talk about what didn’t go smoothly last year. Now is the time to come up with a fall game plan to tackle problems as you head into the school season. If the kids had a hard time getting up in the morning, do bedtimes need to be adjusted? If homework was a battle, does a different homework time need to be implemented? Consider adding snacks to make the time more enjoyable. Did the school year feel frantic and out of control? Maybe a new schedule would help. Think about these things now and you can be ready to launch the new year with a plan! Remember, each year we have with our children is such a blessing. We get 18 fall seasons with our kids. One of the sayings at Sheridan House is “It’s never too late to start.” Even if our children are in high school, it is never too late to start setting the example of goal setting. It’s important for all ages to take stock of where we were, are and want to be. Make good use of this fresh new beginning. Visit parentingonpurpose.org for more advice from Dr. Bob Barnes and Torrey Roberts. - Dr. Bob Barnes and Torrey Roberts - Sheridan House Family Ministries Seasons
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FROM THE PULPIT 16 AUGUST 2023 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition The church in the words of C.S. Lewis, “… exists for nothing else but to draw men into Christ, to make them little Christs. If they are not doing that, all the cathedrals, clergy, missions, sermons, even the Bible itself, are simply a waste of time.” There is absolutely no doubt that the Church in our post-pandemic world has changed. Just ask any Christian how their faith has been impacted since the “pandemic” and you are likely to get an ear full. If you ask your local pastor the same question, they are apt to take you down a path of biblical Scripture, growing your faith, and then talk about worship format (technology), attendance and challenges about getting people engaged and returning to a physical church location. I find myself frequently looking at the online congregation and saying “One Christian is no Christian. God created us to be together in fellowship. It's time to get back to church. Come on, we have free donuts!” To be impactful in this new chapter of ministry, churches must learn to navigate cultural changes, rethink and innovate. Good news, God sent us the perfect teacher for these challenging times, Jesus Christ. We are now three years since COVID-19 became common vernacular. We are still discerning the impact of the pandemic on our bodies and the health of the church in the short and long term. An Axios poll found that sixty-two percent of Americans believe the pandemic is over — many weeks after that, the World Health Organization announced that COVID-19 is no longer a “public health emergency of international concern.” Now we continue our search for best practices and hopefully can scale the imaginative worship methods that were successful during the pandemic. Pandemic or blessing? “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). Once the seriousness of Covid-19 hit, we all had to leave our comfort zones. I remember walking down Ft. Lauderdale beach during the height of spring break and seeing helicopters trying to get the college students to socially distance (good luck!). Finally, the beaches were closed, and the impact became real. Churches were told to stop gathering in person and find unique ways to worship. We were all forced to rethink and move out of our predictable, comfortable worship zones and innovate. Was this a blessing in disguise? It is a good thing that God blessed us with the most radical, revolutionary, out of the box evangelist of all time, Jesus Christ. As C.S. Lewis mentions in Mere Christianity, we were obligated to become “little Christs.” The church suddenly was forced to isolate and embrace creative methods to deliver the message of Jesus’ hope and love. Some of us hosted drive-up communion, drive through nativity scenes, and even held social distant worship services on the beach, using battery powered karaoke machines. Committed church members made meals and left Bibles and packages of food on doorsteps. New groups sprung up that offered video conferencing venues. People that were called to reflect on their mortality and reach out to the church finally had a comfortable, online venue that enabled them to connect with a church. Many churches were forced to invest heavily in technology and started offering two livestreaming services per week. Our church even augmented our “waterfront worship” and started kayak devotions. New faces began to appear. The traditional barriers of brick-and-mortar worship services were reduced, which brought people back to church after many years. We heard comments like “I’m not intimidated to go to church in this setting.” Believers and non-believers alike were reassessing their walk with Christ. As we fully transition into a post-pandemic era, what if the Church continued to engage our communities this way? This would indeed be implementing the missional teaching of Jesus Christ by leveraging twenty-first century technology and a Christ centered, Kingdom focused mindset. Churches would be transformed if they continue to focus on how they changed in order to fulfill the great commission and make disciples. Post-Covid revival “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” Matthew 28:19-20. We are now called to make disciples in the post Covid-19 Church. This is exciting! Our mission is the same and has been updated. As believers, we are called to engage the Body of Christ to connect with a culture never more in need of the Gospel and of the hands and feet of Jesus in action. A physical location for our communities to meet is an excellent tool needed to continue to grow the church and our relationships with God and each other, but it is not always the best means to reach our communities. If we are to impact the trends of those leaving the Church, those who have not stepped through its doors, and those who are finally reaching out to Christ, we must move beyond the walls of the Church. Jesus was a revolutionary and an innovative evangelist. Our post-Covid-19 world requires this approach too. It’s time for revival and it is happening across the country. Let’s continue together, in our own families of faith and in our local communities. Let’s move ahead through creative, out of the box ministering and find fresh expressions and means to be “sent” as Jesus has called us to be. The Rev. Dr. Mark George Van Dorn is Chaplain of The International Swimming Hall of Fame and Founding Pastor of Florida Faith Church. Visit floridafaithchurch.com FROM THE PULPIT is a new monthly column that will feature the writings of a different pastor serving in South Florida each month. - Dr. Mark George Van Dorn - Chaplain, The International Swimming Hall of Fame and Founding Pastor, Florida Faith Church Covid and Christianity, What Happens Now?
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HEART AND SOUL 18 AUGUST 2023 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition Dr. Paul Gould was confronted with the truth of the gospel when he was just 18 years old, a freshman in college. “Someone shared the gospel with me, and I realized that if what that person was saying was actually true, then I had missed the boat,” said Gould. “I had grown up in church, but I just didn’t have an understanding of the gospel, and I didn’t know Jesus personally.” A faith journey This evangelistic encounter sent Gould on a journey as a freshman in college, and he began going to an apologetics class with a friend. “I know that going to an apologetics class as a non-believer is not normal,” Gould explained, “but I was just impressed with the evidence that was presented week after week... The class ultimately removed all of my intellectual obstacles or objections to the faith. I was able to see that it was really a moral issue, and I did not want to bend my knee to God. I realized, though, that I needed to bend my knee to God. The class played a huge role in my conversion to Christ.” Gould’s passion for apologetics and philosophy stemmed from his time in college, and he and his wife, Ethel, began working for CRU, a national college ministry where they were campus ministers at Purdue University (PU) for 16 years. Gould quickly realized that he was drawn toward intellectuals, and he loved having conversations about the gospel within the context of ideas. His passion for learning and defending his faith led to the pursuit of a Ph.D. in philosophy, which he earned from Purdue University. In 2020, Gould started working at Palm Beach Atlantic (PBA) University, where he still resides as an Associate Professor of Philosophy of Religion and is the Director of the M.A. in Philosophy of Religion program. Cultural Apologetics Coinciding with its mission to equip students to grow in wisdom, lead with conviction and serve God boldly, PBA will now offer a new certificate program in Cultural Apologetics. There is a great need to equip Christians to faithfully defend the brilliance and beauty of Jesus and the gospel through apologetics and Christian philosophy, and this six-class certificate is structured to do just that. Additionally, due to a generous donor, PBA is able to offer the Paul Copan Scholarship to qualifying leaders in the church and culture. Designed to raise up thoughtful Christians and future Christian apologists to serve the church and bear witness to Jesus, this program is an opportunity to learn from PBA’s three philosophy of religion professors in the School of Ministry: Dr. Gould, Dr. Paul Copan and Dr. Brandon Rickabaugh. Faithful Witness Conference PBA is also hosting their second annual “Faithful Witness” apologetics conference on October 27-28. The Christian story is true — and we want to be able to defend and articulate that truth to those in culture. But, it is also good and beautiful. In Jesus, all the deep longings of the human heart for meaning, purpose and identity are satisfied. PBA is assembling leading scientists, philosophers, theologians, pastors and public intellectuals to discuss a variety of topics, ranging from the existence of God to the relationship between faith and science, and more. “I really believe PBA is positioned strategically to make a huge impact in the culture, in South Florida, in our country and in the world at large,” Gould said. “I love that it is a Christ-first university – they have planted their flag on Jesus and on the gospel for life. On top of that, the fact that PBA is located in South Florida, which is becoming such a strategic hub financially, makes it a place where a lot of influence is congregating. I believe that PBA is poised to have a voice in that.” You can learn more about the Faithful Witness Conference and the Certificate in Cultural Apologetics program at pbaapologetics.com Dr. Debra A. Schwinn, a physician, researcher and innovator, is president of Palm Beach Atlantic University. (www.pba.edu) - Dr. Debra A. Schwinn - Palm Beach Atlantic University President PBA Equips Believers to Faithfully Defend the Gospel through Apologetics Dr. Sharon Dirckx speaking at PBA’s 2022 Apologetics Conference. She is a speaker and author, and an adjunct lecturer at the Oxford Center for Christian Apologetics (OCCA). Dr. Paul Gould
THE CODE 20 AUGUST 2023 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition “We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). Perhaps no Scripture has brought more hope to believers, sustaining our faith as we have attempted to navigate our way through various difficult seasons of life, than these words of Paul to the Romans. This is the one verse on which I have personally climbed atop and taken my stand, finding refuge and hope in times of confusion and need. The promise is constructive in its appeal As we dissect the elements of this powerful and very personal promise, we immediately note that it is constructive in its appeal. Paul assured us that “things work together.” This is one of the most comforting thoughts in all Scripture; things that come our way in life have a supernatural way of working together for our good. They can be constructive in nature. As you look back over your own faith journey, consider the events that, in the moment, seemed disastrous yet had a way of actually working out for good. This verse is a reminder that God Himself is behind the scenes in our lives, and things have their own way — not by accident or by blind chance — of working together for our good. In the language of the New Testament, one Greek word translates this entire phrase, “things work together.” The word is synergia, and we derive our English word synergy from it. A constructive and synergistic principle is at work in our lives. This certainly does not mean that everything that comes our way is good. In fact, many of us are confronted with issues that are downright bad and painful. You may be faced with financial setbacks, sickness, disappointment and so on. However, this verse assures us that God can take our mistakes, messes and misfortunes and work them together for our good and His glory. King David captured this truth and recorded these poignant words for posterity: “It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes” (Psalm 119:71). The promise is comprehensive in its approach Not only is this promise constructive in its appeal, it is comprehensive in its approach. The promise says, “All things work together for good.” When I meditate on this promise, I am prone to ask myself if I can really believe it. Had Paul said “some things,” or “many things,” or even “most things,” it would be a bit more palatable. But “all things”? All things can include unfair things. This was certainly true for Joseph, who was sold into slavery, taken to a foreign land, falsely accused of a crime and thrown into an Egyptian dungeon. Also, consider the one from whom these words flowed. Paul was shipwrecked at Malta, stoned at Lystra and left for dead, and repeatedly beaten and berated during the years of his missionary journeys. For Paul, these words were not simply trite platitudes but were issued out of his own personal experience as the Holy Spirit led him to record this promise. Yes, all things are what? Working together. For what? Our good. All things — not in isolation, not necessarily in and of themselves, but when worked together in the tapestry of the cross — have a way of coming out on the other end for our good. This promise is comprehensive, not just constructive. The promise is conditional in its application However, before you claim it as your own, look closer. This promise is conditional in its application. It is given exclusively to “those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” It is not for everyone. This is not a blanket, unconditional promise. It is for those who “love God.” Only those who love Him and sense that there is a purpose in their lives can understand the deep truth of Romans 8:28. And when they do, they can say with Job, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb and naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21). Love is something you do. In the Bible, love is always equated with action. “For God so loved the world… that He gave” (John 3:16). He did something. Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15). John framed it thus: “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments” (1 John 5:3). Loving God and abiding in His will “according to His purpose” is the condition by which the truth of this promise comes home to our hearts. There is one final thought. Don’t leave out the first phrase of this promise. It begins with “We know….” Note carefully the plural pronoun at play: “we.” Yes, we know. This promise was never intended to be understood by the world. It is a foreign language to those outside Christ. It is, in its essence, a family secret for those of us in the family of God. The promise found in Romans 8:28 is something that we know that those who are not part of God’s forever family cannot comprehend. But we can. Yes, “We know that… all things… work together for good — to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” The next time you feel overwhelmed by situations or circumstances swirling around you that seem beyond your control, climb up on this Bible promise. Stand there. Believe it. Claim it as your very own. A promise and a prayer “The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever” (Psalm 138:8). Lord, in the midst of the storm, help me to hold fast to Your promise that “all things are working together” for my good and, most importantly, for Your glory. In Jesus’ name, amen. Taken from The Promise Code by O.S. Hawkins. Copyright © 2022 by Dr. O.S. Hawkins. Used by permission of Thomas Nelson. O. S. Hawkins is the chancellor of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He has served pastorates, including the First Baptist Church in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and the First Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas, for more than 25 years. A native of Fort Worth, Texas, he has a BBA from Texas Christian University and his MDiv and Ph.D. from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. For almost a quarter of a century, he served as president of GuideStone Financial Resources, with assets under management of $20 billion, serving 250,000 pastors, church staff members, missionaries, doctors, university professors, and other workers in various Christian organizations with their investment, retirement and benefit service needs. He is the author of more than 40 books and regularly speaks to business groups and churches nationwide. All of the author’s royalties and proceeds from the Code series support Mission:Dignity. You can learn more about Mission:Dignity by visiting MissionDignity.org. - Dr. O.S. Hawkins - Chancellor, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary The Promise of a Brighter Tomorrow
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