PUBLISHER 6 December 2023 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida edition I think back with great reverence and a bit of childish mischief thinking what the fabled Andy Rooney would have to say about things like Christmas. “One of the most glorious messes in the world is the mess created in the living room on Christmas day. Don't clean it up too quickly.” And “The Christmas tree is a symbol of love, not money. There's a kind of glory to them when they're all lit up that exceeds anything all the money in the world could buy.” - Andy Rooney. Kind of bland for a curmudgeon like Andy Rooney, so I’m thinking he only wanted to sideswipe the subject. If Rooney only had wistful reverence, let’s take a deeper dive here. So, let’s go to the tape as they say in the sports world when reviewing something of significance to be discussed and debated. What Is the Meaning of Christmas? Christmas is one of the most important Christian and cultural holidays of the year, but what is the true meaning of Christmas? For Christians, the true meaning of Christmas is the celebration of the Savior, Jesus Christ. The Christmas season, especially in the West, is a mix of pre-Christian, Christian and secular traditions. What’s interesting is the etymology of the word Christmas. It literally means Christian Mass. It’s a shortened form of Christ’s Mass. Christmas is a time of spiritual reflection on the important foundations of the Christian faith. It’s also a celebration. It’s when Christians celebrate God’s love for the world through the birth of the Christ child: Jesus. The Bible tells of his birth hundreds of years before, fulfilling prophecies. The Christmas story in the Bible The Christmas story is recorded in Luke 2:4-19. "So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn. “And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’ “Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.’ “When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.’ So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart." (Luke 2:4-19) So the everlasting messaging of Hope from our Savior is particularly meaningful with a world seemingly intent on mindless hatred of ideology. We must bend a knee and pray that a Christlike spirit dwells deeply in the souls of those with such hatred not yet redeemed. Merry Christmas everyone and don’t forget; Don't clean up that mess of Christmas wrappings too quickly, savor the moment and true meaning. Les South Florida Edition • Good News • December 2023 • Volume 25, Issue 9 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 ChristMISS - by Stephan N. Tchividjian IN THE WORD . . . . . . . . .10 Franklin Graham: The Absolute Authority of God’s Word – by Franklin Graham PARENTING . . . . . . . . . . .12 All I Want for Christmas Is… – by Dr. Bob and Torrey Roberts MARRIAGE . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Our Christmas Family Trees – by Lisa May CHURCH UNITED . . . . . .16 Unity for the Sake of Mission: Local Churches Embrace Unprecedented Evangelistic Opportunity – by Edwin Copeland FOSTER CARE . . . . . . . . . .18 The Warmth of A Home – by Kevin Enders HEART AND SOUL . . . . .20 Anchored in Faith and Guided by Hope – by Dr. Debra Schwinn YOU ASK WHY? . . . . . . . 22 The Hope of Christmas – by Dr. Tommy Boland THE CODE . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 The Promise of Christ’s Return – by Dr. O.S. Hawkins GOOD NEWS WANTS TO KNOW . . . . . . . . . .26 28 If you could live one of the days of someone else's life, who would it be and why? GOOD NEWS SALUTES CELEBRATES 2023 – 2024 FAITH LEADERS . . .29 – 44 FAITH AND VOCATION 46 Holi-DAZE: Trepidations and Transformations of the Holi-Day Season by – Alison Kennedy-Davis LEGAL Q&A . . . . . . . . . . . .48 AI and You: Let’s Be Careful Out There – by William “Bill” C. Davell and Paul Lopez ENCOURAGEMENT . . . .50 Out With The Old, In With The New – by Omar Aleman WE GET LETTERS . . . . . .54 CALENDAR . . . . . . . .66 – 67 CLASSIFIEDS . . . . . . .68 – 71 Merry Christmas On The Cover Good News Celebrates 2023 – 2024 Faith Leaders in the cover photo shoot graciously hosted by Pastor David Hughes and the talented team at Church by the Glades. Front Row (L to R): Ezra Tillman, First Baptist Church of Piney Grove; Stephan Tchividjian, National Christian Foundation South Florida; Dr. O’Neal Dozier, The Worldwide Christian Center; David Hughes, Church by the Glades and First Baptist Fort Lauderdale; Doug Sauder, Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale; Virgil Sierra, Vertical Church; 2nd Row: Rick Weber, Sheridan House Family Ministries; Anthony Scibelli, Calvary Chapel West Boca; Eddie Bevill, Parkridge Church; Dr. Thomas Manning, Christian Life Center Fort Lauderdale; Myron Rhodes, Grace Wesleyan Church; Daryl Jones, The Rock Fellowship; 3rd Row: Casey Cleveland, The Avenue Church; Arthur Connor Jr., Metropolitan Baptist Church; Justin Beam, New Presbyterian Church; Ken Kerrigan, Calvary Chapel Cornerstone Church; Dr. Preston Williams II, Gateway Church; Josiah Graves, The Exchange Church; 4th Row: Newton Fairweather, Faith and Joy Church; Chad Czischke, Shepherd of the Coast Church and School; David Rosa, Church United and Cruciform: Our NBHD Church; Dr. Jason Jackson, The Lion’s Den Mission Based; Rabbi Joe Vitkus, Temple Aron HaKodesh; Dr. Mark Van Dorn, Florida Faith Church and The International Swimming Hall of Fame; 5th Row: Rob Taylor, CrossBridge Church; Dr. Alex Umole, Christian Life Center Sunrise; Trevor Wallace, Jesus Team Ministries; Darren Davis, Harbour Church; Bob DiScipio, Hope For All Nations; Steven Chapman, Christian Life Center Coral Springs; 6th Row: Sean Thomas, Abundant Life Church; Steve Daigle, Calvary Chapel Parkland; Mark Hattabaugh, The Pentecostals of Cooper City; Raymond Mas, The Bridge Church; Shawn O’Neill, Christian Life Center West Boca; Tracy Lewis, The Pentecostals of Coral Springs. Photography by Justus Martin www.justusmartinphoto.com CONTENTS Good News • December • Volume 25 Issue 9
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