Largest Christian Newspaper in America • goodnewsfl.org • March 2023 • Volume 24, Issue 12
but we’re al We’re ways in not on YOU every c R corn orner, er! “Comm our act it y ions to the Lord, Presid Ging ent and CEO er Martin and ~ Proverbs our plans y 16:3 NLT will succeed.” 4301 N h F d l Hi h www.americannationalb Oakla (954) ank.com ort e era nd Park, Florid 491-7788 g way a 33308
Be the one whose beat goes on. When Doug began having chest pains, he listened to his body and drove himself to the emergency department at (oly Cross Health, where he was quickly treated by their expert heart care team. Doug was surprised to learn that at only 72 he had major blockages in three of his arteries, which led to triple bypass surgery. “I noticed a difference immediately after surgery. I was feeling a lot better and that feeling continued as I participated in cardiac rehab,” Doug said. “I didn’t realize how bad ) was feeling until my heart was fixed.” Today, Doug is active and enjoying life. He quit smoking, watches his sodium and he and his wife work out regularly at the Holy Cross Zachariah Family Wellness Pavilion, where one of Doug’s favorite activities is cycling. The Jim Moran Heart and Vascular Center provides coordinated care for preventing, diagnosing and treating heart and vascular disease. Learn more at Holy-Cross.com/BeRemarkable A Member of Trinity Health Be always seeking, bravely fighting, forever hoping...
This is not a topic I’m entirely comfortable with. Providing it’s an invitation and as such being invited always seems conditional. In this case I understand the conditions; it’s written in the Book and my hope is I keep my end of the bargain and the invitation is not withdrawn due to me being an idiot. So, my earthly body goes into the dirt and my spirit travels up to heaven. Good so far, but do I stay an old geezer for eternity? Do I have a vote in that matter? A tragic accident and a toddler dies or a youngster in their prime befalls tragedy, do they spend eternity as a toddler or a youngster frozen as if a clock breaks and time is frozen at that second? It is said, “we will spend a glorious eternity together up in heaven.” My mom and dad and my sister have been long gone for over twenty years; will they recognize me? My fabulous grandfather left earth over fifty years ago; what about him? If it’s all the same God, I’d like to go in as a twentythree-year-old. I did really well at 23. So my search begins with theologians like Michael Martin, at Truth Quest, that seem to grasp this curiosity of mine and others…. Some have argued that we will enter heaven at the age we reached when we died here on earth. Some will be children, some will be middle-aged, and some will be elderly. There is no Scripture to either support or discount this idea. Others believe that we will all be about 33 years old, because that’s how old Jesus’ body on earth was when He was crucified. Here’s the Bible passage where that idea comes from: 1 John 3:2 Since, Jesus’s body was 33 years old when He went back into heaven, they say, our bodies will also be 33 years old, because we will be like Jesus. Thirtythree years old is also thought to be the optimal age for our bodies here on earth, and so, some people believe that we will all be about 33 years old in heaven. It is important to point out that the Biblical argument for this is very thin at best. Here’s what we do know. In heaven, our bodies will all be made new! Take a look at some exciting Scripture passages that tell us this wonderful truth: Philippians 3:20-21, “Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.” And also: 2 Corinthians 5:1-10, “For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. For we live by faith, not by sight.” The way in which the Bible describes our new bodies is as a transformation of our current bodies. That is, our new bodies will be a resurrected, renewed, perfected version of our current bodies. (I like that.) The same God who originally created Adam from the dust of the earth will effortlessly resurrect our earthly bodies. Not only will our bodies be transformed, but they will also be immortal. Our current perishable bodies will be transformed, in glory, to immortal bodies, as these passages remind us: 1 Corinthians 15:35-56, “…But God gives it a body as he has determined, and to each kind of seed he gives its own body. Not all flesh is the same: There are also heavenly bodies and there are earthly bodies; but the splendor of the heavenly bodies is one kind, and the splendor of the earthly bodies is another. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body…” So, our bodies will be made new, and since we know that we will have eternal life in heaven, we know that our bodies in heaven will not die. No more decay. No aging. Ultimately, it will not matter what age our minds or our bodies appear to be when we are in heaven. Our bodies will never weaken, decay, break down, or die. Our minds will be full of wonder, continuously learning and discovering new things with childlike wonder. Age will be irrelevant. Special Thanks We are very thankful for key people at Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale for helping us with the cover photo shoot. Special shout out to Rod Pearcy, director of service production, and the expert work of Casey Schock, worship leader and audio and lighting engineer. Special thanks to Gigi Graham for allowing us a glimpse into her life and family in South Florida to continue our annual series on families that leave a legacy. On The Cover Gigi Graham Tchividjian, daughter of the late Rev. Billy Graham, is seated on stage in the sanctuary at Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale, where her eldest son Stephan N. Tchividjian, president of the National Christian Foundation, serves on the board of directors, and her youngest son Anthony Tcvhividjian is assistant director of the Calvary House addiction recovery program. The matriarch of the Graham Tchividjian Legacy Family, Gigi reflects on her life as a Graham and raising her seven children in South Florida. Read the cover article on pages 24 and 25. Photo Credit: Justus Martin www.justusmartinphoto.com PUBLISHER 6 MARCH 2023 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition South Florida Edition • Good News • March 2023 • Volume 24, Issue 12 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 inmore 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] Social Media Manager: Ariel Feldman [email protected] Editorial Assistant: Eric Solomon [email protected] Cover Photography: Justus Martin [email protected] How old will I be in Heaven? Leslie J. Feldman PERSPECTIVE . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Hopelossnot - by Stephan N. Tchividjian IN THEWORD . . . . . . . . . .10 This Present Darkness – by Franklin Graham YOU ASKWHY? . . . . . . . . 12 Let Us Pray – by Dr. Tommy Boland PARENTING . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Lose the Bunny; Use the Eggs – by Dr. Bob Barnes & Torrey Roberts MARRIAGE . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 The Known and Unknown Sower – by Lisa May FROM THE PULPIT . . . . . .18 We Could All Use Some Good News – Trevor R. Wallace FOSTER CARE . . . . . . . . . .20 From Faith the Size of a Mustard Seed – by Kevin Enders HEART AND SOUL . . . . . .22 Students Pouring into Others Can Impact Whole Families – by Dr. Debra A. Schwinn COVER ARTICLE . . . . .24-25 Gigi Graham Tchividjian on God’s Faithfulness to Their Legacy Family – by Shelly Pond THE CODE . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26 The Model Prayer – by Dr. O.S. Hawkins GOOD NEWS WANTSTOKNOW . . 28 - 30 What is a fun fact about you that others may be surprised to learn? FAITH AND VOCATION .32 Psychology, Counseling and the Forgotten – by Reggie Thayil VILLAGE HYMNS . . . . . . . .34 Contentment’s Hiding Place – by Josh Bramos LEGAL Q & A . . . . . . . . . . . .36 Why Should My Company “Outsource” AGeneral Counsel? – byWillam“Bill” C. Davell andMatthewZifrony ENCOURAGEMENT . . . . .38 Last Rights – by Omar Aleman NEWS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40 Global Weekend Story on Bahamas Church Rebuild and Castle – by Shelly Pond CALENDAR . . . . . . . .42 - 43 CLASSIFIEDS . . . . . . . .44 – 47 C O N T E N T S Good News • March • Volume 24 Issue 12
PERSPECTIVE 8 MARCH 2023 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition One of the most uncomfortable, disruptive and fearful experiences we may have is when we experience loss. One can experience loss in a variety of ways. For example, you may experience a sense of loss when you actually lose something that you need, your car keys, wallet or purse. However, these usually are temporary losses and solutions do exist, though they are often time consuming and expensive. Perhaps you have experienced loss in a more egregious manner, such as the loss of a friendship, a job you loved, an opportunity you nurtured, the death of a loved one or a setback in your health. These types of losses are often permanent. and we may find ourselves forever saddened by them. Losing hope I imagine that the greatest loss, that could be triggered by a lessor loss, is the loss of hope. There has been much written and studied about hope, and it’s interesting how much strength we often derive from hope. The sense of purpose, for example, is connected to hope. We will hear survivor stories where the survivor never lost hope of the pending rescue or the deep desire to be free. NelsonMandela is an example of someone who never lost hope despite overwhelming odds. When is hope genuine and when is it not? I sense that the gift of true hope is one of the most precious gifts God gives us. The gift is given to us, often, as an antidote to the overwhelming sense of dread and despair. For example, the idea of birth, life and death can be somewhat overwhelming. I have often said to Lisa, my wife, that life appears to be a roller coaster that only ends in death; there is no option of disembarking from the ride of life. The mere thought of this can be a bit overwhelming and depressing as we find ourselves quoting King Solomon in saying… “everything is meaningless” (though you must read to the end). However, when you drip some God given hope into the narrative, it gives birth to a newfound purpose, and suddenly life has a vigor about it that is not humanly defined. Therefore, hope is not a luxury it’s a necessity. First we find the father Recently I heard a line from a story that caught my attention. The context was that a young vulnerable teenage woman was fleeing a very abusive situation. She had violently escaped her captors and in so doing was on the run, knowing that if she was caught, she would suffer and die. The young woman is discovered by a good Samaritan who hears her story of dread and is willing to help her get to a place of safety. The rescuer happened to know the father of this young woman, and as she was pleading to be taken to a safe place, he responded by simply saying, “first we find the father then we find the place.” The comment resonated with me immediately. I have pondered on it for quite some time. I could not help but believe that often when we have found ourselves in a place of hopelessness, it is brought on by some experience of significant loss coupled with all-consuming fear. Many times, in these situations that are fueled by the unexpected loss and fear, our action is to run for safety, however we may define it. The running is identified by our busy and frantic decisions. Perhaps the running is masking poor decisions such as jumping into shallow and often toxic relationships, habits, purchasing things we don’t need or can’t afford, preoccupying ourselves with unhealthy activities and attitudes, etc. We will often do whatever we can to flee the situation that has captured and entangled us. We are looking for that safe place, and yet the place that we think is safe may not actually be very safe. Then we find the place Reflecting on the notion that we must “first find the father then we will find the place,” has a profound godly truth embedded in it. The notion is that the father knows the place and only the father can take us there. Is this not true of our Heavenly Father?My human nature is vulnerable to loss, which we all experience, and I will often default to finding my “place” first. My sense is that the place that I find will protect me from loss and perhaps even restore the loss that I have experienced. For example, we may have a dream that has fueled us for years and suddenly we experience a setback that closes that door permanently. The temptation may occur to revive the dream, ignore its demise or simply drift slowly to a life that is void of dreams… just to simply exist, the early stages of hopelessness. The three options can be toxic because we usually are not at our best immediately following a loss. We have all seen it, someone jumping into an unhealthy relationship, making a poor career choice, adopting poor habits etc., all in an effort to mask the loss and find that new place of safety, the place of purpose. Perhaps God allows us to experience this loss because it can act as a catalyst for us to find Him, the Father. Perhaps as we run from the experience, frantically looking for the next “place,” God beckons us to Him. A dear friend of mine, Jason Upton, penned a worship song entitled, “God Finds Us,” and he has a line in the song that says, “We don’t find God, God finds Us, that’s the good news, that’s the good news.” Indeed, it is good news when God finds us…even when we are running. I am drawn to think of many before me that experienced a loss coupled with fear and started running to a place they thought would be safe only to be interrupted by a “good Samaritan” who suggested that the solution was to first find the Father. Perhaps think of Jonah running, Joseph reunited with his father, Jacob, Ruth following Naomi, and Jesus confessing in the Garden of Gethsemane, “not my will (to run) but Father, your will be done.” We all experience loss, beyond our keys and wallet/purse. Loss is inevitable. The loss invokes fear that can grow into something that forever defines us, and we may ultimately experience a sense of hopelessness. However, if we find the Father then we will find the place, the place where there is peace, purpose, and all tears are wiped away. Today, I am compelled to utter a simple prayer, “Father, find me.” 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 Hopelossnot
OR M GANIZA ASTER O TIONAL F ARTS BEHAV IN ETH IOR ICS AND equipped for careers in execut y ns fo innovative solutio r toda s tically, think analy to abilities thur S MacAr . The Catherine T policy b urces, public , human reso ive leadership, Graduates of the MA in Ethics an ’s challenges. and individual of the good for the truth out eek is on y niversit tlantic U ach A alm Be chool at P cs comp hics and ethi ioet onal d Organizati Behav and p organization the a mission to develop stu and, at pportive iance, l ior are ropose dents’ A, we are ready to equip an PB p you who faculty will hel tailor e offer a rigorous program wi W humanitarian and nonprofit iss purpose d inspire you toward your . e believe this life ests W o you this degree t r inter . th online and in-person classes, options for full-ti ues and research-based consulting. purp comes with a ose t-time and su me or par OR CALL LEARN M 561.803.2100 PBA.ED T ORE A U
10 MARCH 2023 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition IN THE WORD Darkness is spreading across the land.As the New Year got underway, I posted this on social media amid the flood of New Year’s resolutions: “As we begin 2023, the world we live in seems to be imploding. A brutal war is bringing suffering and death in Ukraine with every day that passes. Senseless violence is rampant across the United States. Anti-God agendas that once hid in the darkness are now proudly out in the open, demanding acceptance. Developed nations are being overtaken by socialism, removing God from anything and everything in the public square. And if you think things are bad, just wait — they’ll get worse. As followers of Jesus Christ, what do we do?We tell a dying world that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life — no one comes to the Father except through Him (see John 14:6). We urge lost souls to repent of their sins and believe on the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, before it’s too late.” That’s not being pessimistic, it’s just a realistic grasp of the increasingly sinful, wicked and lawless state in which we find ourselves. For decades now, America has been gradually abandoning the moral and spiritual precepts that have long informed our nation with God’s objective truth. Now apparently we can no longer discern the difference between men and women, and have come up with a category called transgender to describe something that doesn’t even exist. We have allowed the LGBTQ lobby to forcefully cram their ungodly agenda down the throats of the most innocent — young school children. And an entire political party has staked their claim on the right of women to murder their own children in the womb. Child sacrifice? I recently heard Pastor JohnMacArthur say that he believes we have been turned over to a reprobate mind as described in the first chapter of Romans: “And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done” (Romans 1:28, ESV).Adebased or reprobatemind is essentially the point of no return. As MacArthur explained, “A reprobate mind means you don’t even function. There’s no way back because you aren’t rational. You start making laws to protect people who are insane. Why do I say that? Because they don’t know whether they are male or female. How insane can you be?” Thus the unrepentant heart flaunts its wickedness and holds up its fist to defy God and His Word. God then eventually lets the defiant have their way to eternal destruction. It all begins with a spiritually darkened mind, heart and understanding. “Although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened” (Romans 1:21). It then becomes a matter of living in the dangerous, deadly realm of spiritual darkness. “You should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart” (Ephesians 4:17-18). In other words, the unsaved, whether they realize it or not, live in spiritual darkness and deadness. And the Scripture is quite clear that those who continue in such a deceived state are at great peril for eternity. In His midnight conversation with Nicodemus, Jesus warned, “And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil” (John 3:19). As rebellion against God and His Word grows in the hearts of men, so darkness spreads across the land. That’s why the only hope for a people or a nation is to turn to the Light of the World, the Lord Jesus Christ, who opens the hearts of blind and dead men and women to repent of sin and receive the gift of salvation. Jesus focused on that one truth as He talked to Nicodemus: “You must be born again” (John 3:7). Worldly solutions won’t work. The darkness won’t retreat with more education. The darkness won’t retreat with more financial programs. The darkness won’t retreat with more political power. The darkness won’t retreat with scientific advancement. It is only overcome by those whose hearts have been cleansed by the blood of the Lamb and whose eyes have been opened “to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God” (Acts 26:18). Notice how the spiritual darkness and the dominion of Satan go hand in hand. Themore the devil has an anchor in the souls of men, the greater themoral darkness. In themountains near my home, there is a little country church that built windows into the corners of the sanctuary, so that the devil has nowhere to hide. That’s a good reminder of how we should live. Never give the devil a corner of your life! Believers are called to “let your light so shine beforemen, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). We know we have been called to “proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9). I will be proclaiming the savingGospel of Jesus Christ around the world this year, calling on all who hear to repent of their sins and turn in saving faith to the Lord. And I would encourage you to bring the light of Jesus Christ into every dark corner of your towns, schools and communities. Every soul that is saved becomes yet another living testimony to the Light of the World. Remember, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5, ESV). ©2023 BGEAUnless otherwise specified, Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, New King James Version. The Scripture quotations marked ESV are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Decision magazine, February 2023; ©2023 Billy Graham Evangelistic Association; used by permission, all rights reserved. - Franklin Graham - President and CEO Samaritan’s Purse and Billy Graham Evangelistic Association Franklin Graham: This Present Darkness The only hope for a people or a nation is to turn to the Light of the World, the Lord Jesus Christ, who opens the hearts of blind and dead men and women to repent of sin and receive the gift of salvation. ” “
12 MARCH 2023 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition YOU ASK WHY Let Us Pray “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:16). The Bible makes it clear that prayer is to be one of the distinguishing marks of those who are disciples of Christ; the people of God are a people of prayer. And what is prayer? Prayer is both a privilege and a command. In essence, prayer is simply a conversation with God . . . a running conversation with God that should continue throughout the day, talking about anything and everything. That’s right — anything and everything! Clement of Alexandria once described prayer as “happy company with God.” The Creator of the universe wants us to talk to Him about anything and everything; nothing is too big or too small. To be sure, there are some things in life that matter more than others, but there is nothing going on in our lives that doesn’t matter to God. A way to connect Prayer is the primary way for us to connect with God, whether we are in private or in public, whether we speak to Him silently or audibly. And all our prayers are offered in the Name above all names, the name of our Lord Jesus Christ (John 16:23) and in the power of His Holy Spirit (Romans 8:26). One of the most important things to remember about prayer is that it is so much more than merely presenting our petitions before the throne of grace, reducing God to the size of some kind of glorious genie who is ready, willing, and able to grant us our three wishes. Yes, we are invited — even commanded — to present our petitions to Jesus; we are told to come boldly into His presence, persistently asking, seeking, and knocking. Prayer at the deepest level demonstrates that we believe with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, that Someone exists in the universe who is infinitely greater, more glorious, and more powerful than we are . . . His name is Jesus Christ. Reorient our focus Prayer reorients us in a Godward direction. When we look up at God, we stop looking in at ourselves and out at our circumstances. Shifting our focus upward helps us see that our God is at work in every set of circumstances, whether the sky is blue, the clouds are fleecy, and the sun is brightly shining . . . or storm winds are blowing hard against us and waves of challenge are washing over us. We begin to see a glory vastly greater than our own, the glory of the One who created us to play a role in His incredible story of goodness and grace. One of the most powerful promises in prayer is found in the fact that there is something beyond the limits of our own little lives, our own little plans, our own little goals, our own little dreams, and our own little desires. If we reduce our prayers down to a self-centered and self-absorbed wish-list, we miss out on experiencing the blessing of this promise. “Wish-list praying” proclaims to the God of the universe, who holds all things together according to the counsel of His will, that I know what is best for my life right now, and I would appreciate it if You would get with my program, Lord, and make that happen . . . and sooner than later, please! Citizens of His Kingdom We are image-bearers of God, and we have been called to live in a way that expands the cause of His Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven; our prayers are to reflect our heartfelt desire to live as citizens of His Kingdom . . . not as citizens of the kingdom of this sinful world system. Prayers that please God are prayers that surrender to God’s wisdom, submit to His will, and support His work in this world. When we look at life from God’s perspective, we are gripped by the fact that God does not need us, but He actually wants us to be part of His unfolding plan of redemption is this world. God has given each of us gifts, talents, and abilities to utilize in faithful service that points others in His direction. We are never left to the inadequate and insufficient resources of our own strength, knowledge, and righteousness; He infuses all of it with His grace. Our prayers are to acknowledge and celebrate this truth as we strive to connect others to God’s rescuing, transforming, enabling, forgiving, and supernaturally life-changing grace, which is available to all those who call on His mighty name moment by moment throughout each day. Focused on the King When we are focused on the Kingdom of God, we are focused on the King. Keeping our focus on Jesus keeps us from shrinking the size of our salvation down to the size of our individual lives. Our salvation is not about us; it is about Jesus Christ, the King of kings and Lord of lords, and every aspect of our redeemed lives is to be used to expand His Kingdom. Our prayers should reflect the fact that we are instruments of both salvation and sanctification in God’s mighty right hand, and we are to gladly and humbly submit to His will for our lives. How would you describe your prayer life lately? Hot? Cold? Lukewarm? When we keep the grandeur and glory of God’s story in view, we will spend more and more time in the presence of our Lord, praying in dependence on God, devotion to God, and delight in God. No one modeled this better than Jesus, who prayed early in the morning, late in the evening, and at all points throughout the day. May this be the confession of our lives as we spend our days in happy company with our God, who gave His beloved Son so that we can be in communion with Him for all eternity. This is theGospel. This is grace for your race. NEVERFORGETTHAT . . .AMEN! Dr. Tommy Boland is senior pastor of Cross Community Church in Deerfield Beach (www.thecrosscc.org). He blogs regularly at tommyboland.com. - Tommy Boland - Cross Community Church Pastor
14 MARCH 2023 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition PARENTING The most significant holiday on the Christian calendar is once again upon us. This special day, however, is so clouded by cultural tradition, that many church attendees have forgotten what they are to celebrate. One woman went so far as to say to me, “I can’t possibly imagine getting up at the crack of dawn and coming to a sunrise service at a stadium, park or beach for an Easter service. I would not be able to get dressed up!” Generations of wearing the right clothes have worn down the meaning of Easter in the hearts of many. It is time for parents to re-think the way they handle this most holy celebration. The bunny Let’s start with the bunny. What does the bunny do to point anyone to the empty tomb? Some parents say, “Oh, I don’t want to deny my children the fun of the Easter Bunny.” “What harm can the Easter Bunny do anyway?” First, let’s admit to ourselves that any child living in this great country is not being denied, when compared to the rest of the world. Secondly, Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday are the focal points of all we believe about our only hope. It is not about a myth; it is about a wonderful miracle wrought by God. The bunny is a distraction! The eggs But we can use the eggs! Eggs can help parents give a visual aid in explaining the Gospel to little children. To start, begin by boiling the eggs. While the eggs are boiling, prepare the colors for coloring the eggs ready in individual cups. Talk to the children about what an egg represents. Then, gently guide them toward the thought of “new life” in Christ. Help your children imagine the chick breaking out of the shell, just as a person confined to a life of sin, or even religion, finally breaks free and receives new life in Jesus Christ. Talk to them about the fact that the chick gets out of the shell by itself, but we cannot possibly get out of the penalty of sin through our own effort. Only Jesus can crack open the unbreakable shell of death, and free us from the restraints of sin (Romans 6:23). This is a great discussion while waiting on the eggs to boil! While coloring the eggs, talk to the children about what each color represents. But don’t do all the work for them. Let them come up with their own thoughts. The goal is to make them “think” and “find” the Gospel in God’s creation (Psalm 19), rather than give them words to repeat. It will help children to understand if you tell them the words you are looking to link with various colors. For example, “Let’s pick out colors for each part of the Easter story. We need a dark color for sin and a color for the blood of Christ.” Talk about what happens after a person receives Jesus Christ as their Savior… as the payment for their sins. Continue with, “We need to choose a color that shows the new life a person receives after he/she accepts Christ (yellow). Then choose a color for purity (white) to help them see what Christ has done.” Open up the door and let them become creative! Allow the children to assign colors for anything they can think of that represents Jesus. On Easter morning, line up the colored eggs in the order that tells the Gospel story — the sin of man, the blood of Christ, the resurrection of Christ, and the new life one receives in Christ because of what God has done for us through Christ. What are your traditions? Easter is all about Christ, not new clothes and a bunny. For children, Easter must be a time for parents to come into the world of a child and use whatever tools are available to tell the greatest story ever told. But everything must be focused on Christ. Look at your family’s Easter traditions. Do your traditions point to the real Easter Story, or are they just nice events that distract the eyes of the child from the greatest event in history? It is time for parents to become focused on the true meaning of Easter. It is time for us to do our homework, become creative and get rid of whatever distracts from Jesus Christ. By doing this in our own homes, each of us will prepare our children to do the same in their homes. Remember, the old thought-provoking joke, “Which came first, the chicken or the egg?” In this case we have the answer. The Creator of the chicken and the egg came first, then He humbled Himself and became a man, and willingly died a criminal’s death on the cross (Phil 2:5-9). That is what we must choose to teach this Easter. Our LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST cracked open the way to eternal life for us. Unfortunately, there are so many still living confined in that old shell called “religion”. - Dr. Bob Barnes and Torrey Roberts - Sheridan House Family Ministries Lose the Bunny; Use the Eggs
MARRIAGE 16 MARCH 2023 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition As many of you know, I don't consider myself a writer, so every month I ask God to show me what He wants me to write about. I always need Him to show me because I don't have chapters of quality thoughts rolling around in my head. This was particularly true for me this month. He responded with the same message, the Sower of Seeds. A simple invitation Live the Life South Florida hosted our Happy & Together Hoedown this past weekend, and at the end of the evening, someone spoke up about the number of people the ministry had impacted. A friend spoke up and said, none of us would be here tonight had Vikki Langer did not gather a group of couples to experience the Hope Weekend. Another spoke up and said, Vikki Langer wouldn't be here if someone else hadn't called her and said, you need to meet with the executive director of this ministry. So, one woman scattered seeds and called Vikki. She spread seeds by inviting eight couples to their home for a HOPE Weekend. Those seeds grew into a tree with more than 40,000 impacted by biblically based relationship education in seven years. Sounds like the parable of the Sower. The following afternoon I attended the Honda Classic, and another golfing couple commented on the recent accomplishment of Bernhard Langers' 45th victory for the PGA Tour Champions, tying with World Golf Hall of Famer, Hale Irwin. They had attended the same Bible study where the Langers accepted Christ. Today, Bernhard and Vikki are among the most authentic and disciplined couples of faith I know. Both are open and bold about a relationship with Jesus Christ to the point that following the Chubb Classic victory, Golf Digest wrote, "Langer, a Christian, took comfort from a Bible verse from Proverbs 3, one he wrote down and carried with him all day Sunday, "to encourage me," he said. "It says, 'I will trust in the Lord with all my heart and not lean on my own understanding. In all my ways I will acknowledge him, and he will make my path straight,' and my path was pretty straight today and this whole week." The Bible study leader and the woman who reached out to Vikki about Live the Life South Florida would be Unknown Sowers, that seeded spiritual family trees. A voice over the airways What about Ann and Dr. D. James Kennedy? Kennedy, the founder of Evangelism Explosion (EE), a lay-witnessing method, became a Christian in 1953 after hearing a radio preacher present the gospel, which Kennedy later said he had never heard up to that point. Kennedy shared that his radio alarm woke him to the voice of a preacher saying, "Suppose you were to die today and stand before God and He was to ask you, 'What right do you have to enter into My heaven?' — what would you say?" Kennedy subsequently accepted Christ. In 2021, 14 million accepted Christ using the EE method of evangelism. The Kennedys would be Known Sowers. The radio preacher would be an Unknown Sower that seeded spiritual family trees. A Sunday school volunteer What about Ruth and the Rev. Billy Graham? Billy Graham proclaimed the gospel to more than 2.2 billion people. Again, a Known Sower. Who was the unknown in this story? A Sunday school teacher named Edward Kimball. Edward Kimball intentionally ensured the boys in his Sunday school class understood the offer of salvation through Jesus. He was particularly concerned about one young man and went to the shoe store where he worked on a Saturday afternoon. He shared the message of Jesus in the stockroom, and the young man accepted Christ. That was Dwight L. Moody. The story doesn't end there. That's where it begins. Moody converted Wilbur Chapman, Chapman converted Billy Sunday, followed by Mordecai Ham, who was preaching in Charlotte, N.C., where Billy Graham accepted Christ, the evangelist who preached to more people than any other person, including theApostle Paul. Billy Graham's spiritual family tree is traced to an Unknown Sower, Edward Kimball, an Unknown Sunday school teacher. Bernhard and Vikki Langer's spiritual family tree is traced to an unknown Bible study leader. James Kennedy's spiritual family tree is traced to an unknown radio preacher. Bearing fruit All have born eternal fruit beyond our comprehension on this side of heaven. The seed represents the gospel, the sower represents anyone who proclaims it, and the various soils represent people's responses to it. The Grahams, Langers, and Kennedys are all known Sowers who responded to a message from Unknown Sowers. What does one have to do with the other? God sees all. The Unknown and Known Sower is equally significant to Jesus. The known wouldn’t be known without the unknown. Craig Denison from First 15 wrote: “God's grace is meant to be our catalyst to living passionate lives that bear fruit of eternal value. You aren't meant to go through the motions. You weren't created to live a normal life whose impact only lasts for this life. God, in his grace and love has called you to more. You were made for a life of deep and lasting impact. You were made to share God’s heart with the world.” Kennedy said that he earned the Ph.D. degree "to dispel the idea there is an inconsistency between evangelism and education... evangelical ministers [need] to be thoroughly educated and equipped to meet on equal terms anyone they come into contact with.” Live the Life exists to strengthen marriages and families through healthy relationship education. We are committed to teaching others where education and theology intersect with the "how" of living out the first and second commandments. What will you do to sow into the lives of those God has entrusted to you? "Faithmakes all things possible... Lovemakes all things easy." - Dwight L. Moody - Lisa May - Executive Director, Live the Life South Florida The Known and Unknown Sower Dr. D. James Kenney andAnne Kennedy Vikki and Bernard Langer Rev. Billy Graham and Ruth Graham
FROM THE PULPIT 18 MARCH 2023 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition News travels fast, especially bad news. When we watch the news on television, listen to it on the radio or read it in the papers, we can easily get caught up emotionally. I remember February 14th, 2018, when 17 people got killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. I watched my wife cry for hours on the couch watching TV. We can talk about 911, natural sicknesses, loss of loved ones, earthquakes in Haiti, Italy, Japan and most recently Turkey and Syria; all these incidents are bad news and make us sad. This confirms the fact that we could all use some good news. When I hear we have dinner reservations for some fine dining, that’s good news. When the doctor gives us a clean bill of health, that’s good news. When a woman gives birth to a healthy baby, that’s good news. When you pay off your car, house or boat, that’s good news. There are many more instances of good news, but let’s take it higher. The best news When we repent of our sins and accept Jesus as Lord and savior, now that’s the best news. The Bible gives us many references about Heaven, His grace, mercy and a whole lot of blessings. Let’s start with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which is “The Good News.” Jesus left Heaven and came down to Earth where He ministered to many and taught us how to live. Jesus not only taught us, but He performed numerous miracles and healed all sicknesses and diseases that came in His presence. Jesus also took our place on the cross so we could have a chance to repent and get eternal life. The Bible says this in Romans 5:8 NLT, “But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” Now the ordinary person living in this world would say, “I am not dying for no one unless its someone close to me maybe.” This is not the case with Jesus, He laid down His life for our sins although He had not sinned. He knew the joy He would get in the future although it was painful while going through it. The Good News is, Jesus didn’t stay dead or in the tomb. He rose from the dead on the third day and appeared to more than 500 witnesses. He later ascended to Heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice. The good fight Now my question to you is this: What are you willing to sacrifice to be found faithful in His sight? Some people sacrifice their drug addiction while someone else might sacrifice their fornication or wild living. Any sacrifice resulting in a right relationship with God the Father and The Lord Jesus Christ is definitely a good choice. Like Christ, it is often painful to make the sacrifice and deny our flesh from indulging in all the worldly pleasures. We must fight on daily, knowing that the God of the universe will strengthen us along this journey. He will never leave us nor forsake us, always around to hear our prayers, never too busy for us, loving us with an everlasting love. This should motivate those on the outside to repent of their sins and come on the inside. This should also encourage us who are on the inside to fight the good fight and keep the faith. Remember the race is not for the swift and the battle is not for the strong but for those who can endure. So, let’s endure to the end and enjoy Heaven. Don’t keep it to yourself We should all get excited when we think about Heaven. This is what the Bible says in Revelation 21:3-5 NLT. “I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, ‘look, God’s home is now among His people! He will live with them and they will be His people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.’ And the one sitting on the throne said, ‘look I am making everything new!!’ And then he said to me, ‘write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.’” That is the ultimate good news my friend. Use it to propel your daily motivation to seek The Lord and develop a closer walk with Jesus. One more thing: don’t keep this good news to yourself, share on social media, telephone, text, email etc. Go into all the world and preach this good news to everyone everywhere. Trevor R. Wallace is pastor of Jesus TeamMinistries. www.jesusteamtv.com FROM THE PULPIT is a new monthly column that will feature the writings of a different pastor serving in South Florida each month. We Could All Use Some Good News - Trevor R. Wallace - Pastor, Jesus Team Ministries
Readers Saving Coupons
FOSTER CARE 20 MARCH 2023 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition In my office I like to keep this small jar on display filled with mustard seeds. There are so many moments throughout the day where I catch myself looking over at that jar to see these tiny mustard seeds and I am instantly reminded, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” That verse, Matthew 17:20, is one we’ve all likely heard countless times, but when we keep it at the forefront of our minds and our hearts, we can begin to see opportunities all around us where we can call mountains to move. Faith for resources A few years ago, I remember seeing Rob Hoskins from OneHope preach a message at my church and learning even more about the incredible resources they are able to offer to connect kids to the gospel. Back then we met and wondered how we could possibly create something together that would impact kids in crisis here in our local community, state and nation. HopeConnect was born out of that meeting and our desire to equip more parents with connection-filled therapeutic activities that bring the Hope of God’s Word. In the last few months since its launch, hundreds of parents and ministry workers have been trained on how to use HopeConnect from across the country. Ministries are all working together to spread this hope – there’s Faithbridge in Georgia, Buckner in Texas, Olive Crest in California, and many others, all coming together to resource parents caring for kids with trauma like never before. What appeared as a mountain before us – the question of how we could spread a hope-centered resource – has been moved through the faith and obedience of so many in our midst. Faith for connection 4KIDS has made connections with hundreds of churches across more than a dozen Florida counties over the years, but after 25 years of ministry history, in February 4KIDS was welcomed to join Christ Fellowship for the very first time. Seeing our team spread out amongst the campuses and experience the incredible hospitality and spirited responses in the Christ Fellowship church body was a move of God. In one weekend across 10 campuses, we received nearly 200 “interests” in getting connected to 4KIDS to volunteer or to become foster parents. We haven’t seen a response quite like this in years and to see it at a church we visited for the very first time was a testament to the ways God is working in this community to call and encourage the Body of Christ to serve the most vulnerable. Faith for healing 4KIDS’ EPIC Therapeutic Approach has been impacting kids and families in Florida for several years. Now it is growing beyond. As we train families and partner with ministries in the USA, the Lord is also opening doors internationally. When we imagine the trauma and the pain kids are experiencing across the world, it can feel like an impossible task to equip those parents and caregivers with the kinds of tools they need to facilitate healing. So far missionaries from Romania, Peru and South Africa have been taking EPIC Training and principles to the kids and families they serve, spreading healing across the world. And after speaking at the Global Briefing at Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale, we have been approached by missionaries from Mexico, India, Saudi Arabia, Albania, France, Cuba and Haiti. Mountains moved I could go on and on about the mountains I see moved every day here at 4KIDS, and every mountain matters. We talk a lot about Ephesians 3:20-21 at 4KIDS, “Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory…” Exceedingly and abundantly more! This is the work of our God and this is the faith He calls us to every day. Getting to see it in action inspires us all to keep believing every mountain can be moved. And these stories are not just the faith of one in action but the faith of many. The unity that God is orchestrating in the body has the power to touch an untold number of lives across the Earth. So keep pressing into faith and don’t do it alone. Look for opportunities to unite in this work. Look for ways to come together with great belief that we will experience exceedingly and abundantly more. Learn More About HopeConnect at HopeConnect.us Learn More About EPIC at EPICHealing.org From Faith the Size of a Mustard Seed - Kevin Enders - 4KIDS President & CEO Brown Mustard Seeds Spilled from a Spice Jar
HEART AND SOUL 22 MARCH 2023 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition Imagine yourself in the evening setting pictured here. The moonlight paints a glowing stream across the Intracoastal Waterway; you feel a gentle breeze, but more than that, you sense the touch of God’s Spirit. As the praise music fades, you join your friends in silent prayer. Master of Divinity student Isaac Sherry expressed it this way: “Worshiping God in an environment that’s so beautiful, you look up and see the stars. You think, ‘Wow, God! You really are so good. You made all this, and you still love us. Like, that’s wild.’” Believers of all kinds enjoy that precious service of worship, but in this recent evening, the worshiping group rejoiced with an extrapowerful sense of community. They are Palm Beach Atlantic University student workers. They are discipleship leaders, upperlevel students we call DLs, drawn together in the incomparable bond of a ministry team serving others in Jesus’ name. “We have an incredible group this year,” said Isaac, discipleship coordinator with Campus Ministries. He leads a team of 10 discipleship leaders, male and female students who lead Bible studies for students in their residence halls. You’ve probably heard of RAs (resident assistants). We have those too, and they’re invaluable, building community and leading students through the nuts and bolts of living on campus. Discipleship leaders, serving under our Campus Ministries department, have a more specific, spiritual role. “The idea is to build personal relationships with people in your residence hall, helping take people from the point they were with God to the next point in their spiritual journey,” said Mark Kaprive, director of Campus Ministries. “It’s inviting this generation of students to worship and to become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ, sharing His love in our community and throughout the world.” Looking out for those not yet ‘connected’ To that end, each week the discipleship leaders spend several hours preparing and leading Bible studies. They also meet together to plan and gel as a team. And Mark encourages them to “roam,” making connections with students and especially looking out for those who are not yet connected to community. “We want people to connect in a way that you can have a significant spiritual conversation,” said Mark. “A lot of students don’t have a friend who knows what life is really like for them on the inside.” To reach students in this way requires being attentive to the “still, small voice” of God, Mark said. Of course, we all need to develop that attitude and practice. Otherwise, in the busyness of our daily lives, we might walk right past someone who’s quietly carrying a heavy load and desperately needing a friend. In university life, naturally those needs are especially important for new students. Anna Kate Vernon, a discipleship leader and nursing major, recalls how freshman year was a “super vulnerable” time for her. Now she loves serving the students in her residence hall. And as she grows in ministering to them, she sees this fitting in with her major. “I’m learning how to care for people emotionally and spiritually,” she said. “That’s definitely going to help me when I become a nurse.” Meanwhile, she’s having a lot of fun getting together with her fellow discipleship leaders. “Everyone has such a love and a passion for Christ and for spreading the Gospel,” she said. Discipleship coordinator Isaac has felt a call to ministry since he was in eighth grade. “It’s what I was created for,” he said. But as Anna Kate demonstrates, you don’t have to be a ministry major to reach out effectively as a discipleship leader. Committed leaders overflow with Spirit’s fruit It takes someone “who knows the Bible and can share Scripture with others in a way that’s truthful and impactful,” Isaac said. It takes “a committed follower of Jesus whose life bears the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; so full of these things that it overflows to those around them.” I love that image and concept of the Holy Spirit’s fruit overflowing from our lives. The result, Isaac said, reaches forward for generations. “Getting to be a part of something that’s so much bigger than yourself has an impact that literally can change entire families,” Isaac said. Imagine when one student at this critical time in his or her life gets reached for Jesus. “Then that student ends up having a godly marriage and a godly family,” said Isaac. “That’s a whole family being affected by someone stepping up and being a discipleship leader and pouring into others. You just never know the impact.” Isaac is right. We never know the total impact of our investing in the lives of others. But as I consider these discipleship leaders and other service-minded young people at Palm Beach Atlantic, I’m convinced their impact is powerful and lasting. And for those students, I am truly thankful. 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 Students 'Pouring into Others' Can Impact Whole Families Student workers worshiping atop a residence hall at Palm Beach Atlantic University.
www.goodnewsfl.orgRkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjE2MjU=