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We are in uncharted territory, then I am reminded we’ve been here a few times before. “I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10 NIV). Fear can overtake us, but God is all-powerful and will offer us all the strength we need. It seems to me we are being betrayed by the people whose job it is to protect us and bring about balance. The media, which is often called the fourth estate, refers to the press and news media both in explicit capacity of advocacy and implicit ability to frame political issues. To get a better idea of what the media is doing at this point there needs to be an understanding that in generations past there was a term that was used in the media in reporting the news; it was called “rip-and-read,” where you had two machines side-by-side, one was the United Press International (UPI) and the other was Associated Press (AP). It was that clack, clack, clack, clack, clack, from the machines in most newsrooms throughout the land that moderately paid reporters were filing their stories as they were happening and reporting the NEWS for news editors to edit the copy and publish it in the newspapers or read it on the radio or television broadcast. That’s it. It was just that simple. They reported the news. Things changed a while back when new editors and reporters started to become stars and instead of reporting the news they started inventing it. They were entertainers. They were no longer newspaper people or media people. I find it interesting at this point that the accepted term “social media” has the name Media in it because now the media is so generalized it no longer is a profession; it is an avocation. “As he taught, he said, 'Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and to be greeted with respect in the market-places, and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honour at banquets!” (Mark 12:38-44 NRSV). So I mentioned they started inventing the news; they became celebrities. All you have to do is look at the money that they now command to provide their opinions, strictly their opinions and not News. Top CNN earners include Anderson Cooper, $20 million a year Wolf Blitzer, $15 million Jake Tapper, $8.5 million MSNBC: Rachel Maddow $30 Million ABC: George Stephanopoulos Robin Roberts Both $10-18 million FOX: Sean Hannity earns $45 million combined income. Bret Baier - $20 million. Laura Ingraham - $15 million Neil Cavuto - $7 million Greg Gutfeld - $7 million When people are paid these humongous sums of money it’s not for them to read off a teletype. They’re being paid because they follow either the company line or they’re paid for their opinion that coincides with the company line. Caveat Emptor; let the buyer beware. And source information that you believe to be news from more than one or two sources. ⁃ Les PUBLISHER 6 AUGUST 2024 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition South Florida Edition • Good News • August 2024 • Volume 26, 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 2024. 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] PERSPECTIVE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 The Messy Middle – by Stephan N. Tchividjian YOU ASK WHY? . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 On Earth as it is in Heaven – by Dr. Tommy Boland PARENTING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 A Smorgasbord of Activities Requires a Plan – by Dr. Bob Barnes and Torrey Roberts HEART AND SOUL . . . . . . . . . 14 Creation Care Project Spearheads Environmental and Theological Education – by Dr. Debra Schwinn FOSTER CARE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Give a Child a Home for Christmas – by Tom Lukasik THE CODE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 He is Our Blessed Hope – by Dr. O.S. Hawkins ENCOURAGEMENT . . . . . . . . 20 Win Win Situation – by Omar Aleman LEGAL Q&A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 What Should I Consider When Choosing a Contractor? – by William “Bill” C. Davell and Robert Meacham GOOD NEWS WANTS TO KNOW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 - 26 What is the best concert you have ever attended? COVER ARTICLE . . . . . . . .28 - 29 New Team Brings Hope for the Homeless – by Shelly Pond INSIGHT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30 Why Hasn’t the Great Commission Been Fulfilled? –by Rob Hoskins MOVIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32 WE GET LETTERS . . . . . . . . . . .34 COMMUNITY NEWS . . . .36 – 40 CALENDAR . . . . . . . . . . . . .42 - 43 CLASSIFIEDS . . . . . . . . . . .44 - 47 Caveat Emptor On The Cover A new team at HOPE South Florida takes to the field with a vision to end homelessness by building HOPE-filled communities that empower families to become resilient and independent. Pictured from left to right: Front Row: Royale McCloud, Destiny Loiselle, Karen Martin, Cynthia Burke, Jasmine Davis; 2nd Row: Tajai Samuels, Carmen Jones, Sonia McKenzie, Afiesha Payne, Denise Trio, Mildred Garcia; 3rd Row: George Rich, Paula DeWitt, Haley Weniger, Catty Nelson, Anthony Pica, Sally Wells, Michael Herrera; 4th Row: Anthony Rouse, Tre'vant Richardson, Jason Mann, Ken McKenzie, William Willis, Lucia Polidoro. Read the cover article on pages 28 - 29. A special thanks to Westminster Academy for use of their beautiful Athletic Complex and to Blake Matthews, director of marketing & communications at Westminster Academy, for his gracious assistance. Photo Credit: Ariel Feldman Leslie J. Feldman CONTENTS Good News • August • Volume 26 Issue 5
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PERSPECTIVE 8 AUGUST 2024 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition I recently was listening to a lively discussion and noticed that those speaking (mostly all at once) were so very sure of their points and perspectives that nothing was being learned. There was no room for curiosity. The observation made me think about how often I am the same, very sure of my ideas, opinions and perspectives. The thought process made me ponder on the idea of surety. Surety Surety is a word that is usually associated with an agreement or transaction. For example, someone may provide “surety” for another individual or entity, in essence guaranteeing the validity of the transaction such as co-signing on a car loan for one of your children (which I have done). However, you can also associate the word to a person who is very “assured” or confident of themselves and their viewpoint. This is not a standard way to use the word, but why not use it anyway, I am quite sure of it! Life is full of surety and that’s a good thing. Science can provide a lot of it. We know more now than we did decades ago about the universe, biology, technology, our planet, the weather, people’s behavior, and the list goes on and on. However, we also know that the more we know the more we realize we don’t know. I can attest to this in my own life…. parenting helps remind us. I have found myself desiring more surety in life. I want to know, for example, that I will live a long healthy life. I would also like to know that I will be able to financially provide for my family and myself. I would love some surety on the future of our country and might as well add the world to that. I crave more surety. I think it’s one of the reasons I am quick to move away from mystery and the uncomfortable “I don’t know.” I call that the messy middle. I prefer the sense of knowing vs not knowing. I find that when I can label and identify something that is unknown, as known, then the mystery is not as threatening. For example, when I can identify something and be sure of it, the “what do I do with” this person, this question, or this idea” is easier to process, and I can place it in a neat little labeled box. I can more easily manage my life when I eliminate the mystery. I do this often when I am quick to label one thing as bad and the other as good or something is right and the other is wrong, this is healthy and that is not, this is safe and that is dangerous, and this is beautiful and that is not. However, what if I am wrong? A life of mystery My journey in life has involved a lot of mystery, in fact, as I reflect on the various seasons of it, I can’t help but chuckle. My marriage has been a wonderful journey of mystery that has matured me to realize that it was not me making that promise, but God, in me. My walk with God has been filled with mystery too. I remember speaking to my grandfather (the late Billy Graham a world-famous preacher) regarding a question I had about “end times” and a particular Bible verse talking about it. End times is such a mystery to me, and I thought that if my grandfather could help me understand what the Bible was saying I would be more at ease, a bit more “sure.” However, when I asked him, he simply responded with a “I don’t know.” Seriously, IDK was all he had? God is in the messy middle I am realizing more and more that God invites me into that messy middle. The messy middle is a place where the answers are not always clear, and the landscape can change a lot. The messy middle invites me into conversations and relationships with people that may have very different worldviews then mine. The messy middle suggests that I talk less and listen more. The messy middle requires me to talk to God a lot… and therein lies the reason I think He invites me into that space... He loves my company, and He is confident that His company makes me a much better person, more like Him. Therefore, the tension of the messy middle requires me to be less sure of my perspective and much more dependent on His perspective, that I am sure about. I am sure of God’s love for me. I am sure that He wants me to reflect that love too. I am sure that my relationship with a loving and personal God is forever. I am not sure why God loves certain people, is so generous with His grace and appears to allow behavior that I find evil. I am not sure why God allows, mockery, violence, natural disasters, hatred, poverty etc. However, I am sure that He has a plan. I guess that is faith, isn’t it? I need to be a bit more patient, ask better questions, listen more, resist being so abrasive and opinionated and talk and listen to God a lot more. Before, I jump on some rant about something I am so sure of, perhaps, take a moment and try and reflect on the situation or person from God’s perspective and ask Him what my response ought to be. I believe often His advice will surprise me. I pray regularly that the Lord will help me be “suspicious of myself.” James speaks about this in his letter, where he instructs me, follower of Christ, to be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to anger. Wow, I think today I live the opposite of that. I am quick to speak, quick to get angry and very slow to listen. So, what am I sure of (and it takes faith), God is a true know it all. He is my God and His fingerprints are on my heart and mind… I am sure of that. Stephan N. Tchividjian is the CEO and co-founder of the National Christian Foundation South Florida. Visit southflorida.ncfgiving.com to learn more. The Messy Middle - Stephan Tchividjian - CEO and Co-Founder, National Christian Foundation South Florida
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10 AUGUST 2024 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition YOU ASK WHY On Earth as it is in Heaven Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. (Revelation 4:4) There are many ways in which Christians are to be living on earth as it is in heaven. I pray that today’s verse will communicate the idea of your nearness to your Savior and that it will be a great encouragement and a challenge to you. The twenty-four elders surrounding the throne in Revelation 4:4 represent all the saints in heaven. This glorious verse presents us with a few biblical truths: The elders’ vision is clear, their access is constant and their fellowship is close. Inasmuch as we will not all be equal in the rewards we receive for faithful and fruitful service rendered during our time on earth, each saint has an equal share of their Savior – resting in His unwavering love, unending mercy and unrelenting grace. All the saints in heaven will equally enjoy the marriage supper of the Lamb. As disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ, should we not imitate on earth what is in heaven? Should we not joyfully embrace our proximity to the Prince of Peace? Close and constant communion is to occupy both the center and the circumference of our lives. Let us not allow anything to come between us and our Savior – not the temptation to sin nor the trials of this life. We are more than conquerors through Jesus Christ (Romans 8:37), who loved us so much that He took our place on a cross so that we might take our place at His banqueting table . . . and His banner over us is love (Song of Solomon 2:4). Take a look at Psalm 148, which exults – “[God] has raised up for his people a horn, the praise of all his saints, of Israel, the people close to his heart” (Psalm 148:14). Commentators disagree on who or what the “horn” may be – The Messiah? The people of God? – but the language in the last part of the verse is unambiguous: The people of God are close to the Lord’s heart. “Surely I am with you always,” Jesus has assured us, “to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). What an extraordinary privilege! How near are you? Let me ask you: How near have you been to your Savior lately? Are you spending time in His Word? Are you in daily communion through prayer? Has anything come between you and your Savior? If your answer to that last question is “Yes,” I urge you to take the necessary steps to remove it as far as the east is from the west. And if that thing is something from the past – some mistake, some failure, even some flagrant act of willful sin – remember this glorious truth: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Keep close communion with Jesus on earth as it in heaven, and you will experience the promise of John 15:5 and 11 -- “If you remain in me and I in you,” Jesus said, “you will bear much fruit. . . . so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” Christian, this is what the unbelieving world should see when it encounters the people of God: joy . . . a joy that comes from knowing that the Lord delights in having us close to Him. We spend precious dollars to build websites and other forms of advertisement to invite unbelievers to join us for worship; what do they see when they arrive? A people filled with joy? A people who are rejoicing in their proximity to the King of kings and Lord of lords? Consider these promises from God: • “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast” (Psalm 139:7-10). • “The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth” (Psalm 145:18). • “Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near” (Philippians 4:4-5). Perhaps “rejoicing” is the furthest thing from your mind right now. A child is mired in rebellion . . . You’ve lost your job . . . Your business is collapsing . . . Your marriage is in trouble . . . A loved one has passed away. You are hurting so badly that you can’t sleep at night. Where is God? you wonder. • “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18). • “God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you’” (Hebrews 13:5). If you have placed your trust in Jesus Christ, God is with you always, just as Jesus promised: • “Righteous Father, . . . I have made you known to [those you have given me], and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them” (John 17:25-26). In good times and bad, sunshine and storm, hilarity and heartbreak, God is with us. • “The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing” (Zephaniah 3:17). Our lives on earth should reflect the joy that is in heaven—the joy that God takes in His people, and the joy that the people of God should take in His love for us . . . for the joy of the Lord is our strength. (Nehemiah 8:10) This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN! Dr. Tommy Boland is senior pastor of Cross Community Church in Deerfield Beach (www.thecrosscc.org). He blogs regularly at tommyboland.com. - Dr. Tommy Boland - Pastor, Cross Community Church
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12 AUGUST 2024 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition PARENTING Do you remember the old potluck dinners? Or have you ever been to an amazing food festival? There is usually an astounding amount of food or an overwhelming variety of delicacies. People who have attended these amazing food festivals will tell you to decide ahead of time to prioritize what you want to eat and carefully chose how much to eat. Plan ahead. I have made the mistake of trying my best to eat as much as I possibly could of everything. There was just too much to choose from, and I wanted to taste everything. If you do what I did, be prepared to be walking around, or sitting because you can’t walk around the theme park anymore, reaping the consequence of not planning ahead. From a parenting perspective that is exactly what is about to happen in the next months. We are about to enter a “parental training food festival” time. However, have no fear; this month is the start of a brand-new school year! Strategic planning Happy New Year! That is right. If you are a parent, this is the beginning of your new year. With this in mind, August is the time to think through the beginning of your family’s brand-new school year. This does not just usher in the start of a new school year; however, it is a profound turning point for your child. It is the beginning of another year of educating and training, not just the beginning of a Sign-Them-Up Season. This month is the beginning of one-eighteenth of your child’s training for life. With this in mind, August becomes a strategic planning month. To fail to plan means that the family calendar will be filled with things which the school and community throw at the family. This means the community and school become the lead trainers in the life of your child. August is the month to decide what areas of training your child needs during the next twelve months. Self-centeredness For example, are you noticing a self-centered attitude developing in your twelve-year-old? The question to ask yourself in the August parenting staff meeting is whether this is something you think important enough to deal with this upcoming new year (Philippians 2:4, Matthew 22:39). Loving your neighbor is a command, but certainly not a natural inclination. Hence, loving your neighbor must be taught. Once you have established that this is important enough to spend your precious time training, look at the potential activities for this coming year. Will any of them help to train this Biblical mandate? Sports programs are wonderful, but they teach a child to excel physically while being at the center of the performance arena. Rosemary and I signed our children up for one sport a year and then moved on to other areas of training. Find a place where your child can serve others. Serving others could be for the family to volunteer a couple hours a week visiting an elderly member of the church who is in a nursing home or homebound. It could be visiting the home of a widow and helping her with her lawn or dusting her house. Is self-centeredness something worth dealing with? Certainly, it is. Working on self-centeredness will not happen unless the parent gets out front of the “Family Year” and creates a plan to teach this lesson. Spiritual leadership What about teaching the child to take spiritual leadership? If spiritual leadership is important, how about using your home as a place for a weekly Bible study for some of the kids from church or school. Ask the youth pastor for curriculum and encourage your child to invite friends. It is not a matter of eliminating the sports and activities that your child is traditionally involved in each school year. It is a matter, however, of deciding that the school and community will not dictate what your child will be doing each waking hour. It is time for discerning parents to take control of what they will train their children this coming year. Extra-curricular programs such as sports and music have their place, but these activities just cannot be permitted to take up every extra minute of your child’s time. As parents, use August to get ready for this year’s “Parental Food Festival.” Decide and plan ahead of time what you will be training your child before the temptation to say “yes” to every opportunity overtakes you. What do you need to train each of your children this coming year? For your children’s sake, make their training a priority! Visit parentingonpurpose.org for more advice from Dr. Bob Barnes and Torrey Roberts. A Smorgasbord of Activities Requires a Plan - Dr. Bob Barnes and Torrey Roberts - Sheridan House Family Ministries
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HEART AND SOUL 14 AUGUST 2024 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition As we near the start of another exciting academic year at Palm Beach Atlantic University (PBA), I am filled with renewed gratitude for our outstanding faculty members. Our faculty are committed to investigating God’s creation, making our world a better place and equipping students to do the same. Such is the case with two professors in the School of Ministry and the biology department, who are collaborating on a new environmental stewardship project. Here in West Palm Beach, we see God’s handiwork on display every day — and we recognize that Christians have a unique responsibility as caretakers of Creation. That’s why the Creation Care Project, originally published in our 2023 Enlightening Minds research publication, is so important. It will ignite a critical dialogue on how scriptural teachings can inform practical action. It will give students the chance to apply complex scientific and theological concepts to our community’s needs. Finally, we hope it will inspire other Christians to join the conversation — and be the good neighbors our world desperately needs. A collaborative project PBA is leading a first-of-its-kind initiative to bridge the gap between faith communities and environmental stewardship. Supported by a $15,000 grant from the Climate Science in Theological Education (CSTE) Initiative, the Creation Care Project is an interdisciplinary project to create awareness for and protect South Florida’s precious ecosystems. Leading this visionary project is Dr. Paul M. Gould, associate professor of philosophy of religion and director of the philosophy of religion master’s program, and Dr. Thomas Chesnes, professor of biology and associate dean of sciences. Both bring a wealth of philosophical and biological expertise to foster interdepartmental collaboration and ensure students receive holistic training in their respective fields. The Creation Care Project is a timely catalyst to ignite a dialogue on how scriptural teachings can inform practical action — especially since marginalized or underserved communities are often the first to be impacted by issues like pollution or climate-based events. “If the [problems] don’t affect you directly, it feels like a problem for someone else,” says Dr. Chesnes. “If there’s a drought here, we can get bottled water. In other parts of the world, people perish. So, we feel insulated from consequences.” Cultivating a community of stewards Grounded in a biblical worldview where “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good” (Genesis 1:31), the project will harmoniously blend science, ethics and religion through three key enrichment activities. The first is the Creation Care Cohort, a one-year program for 10 faculty and graduate students from PBA’s Graduate School of Ministry. The cohort will meet bi-weekly during the 2024-2025 academic year to discuss the theology and science of stewardship. They’ll explore themes including the biblical justification for creation care, the connection between creation care and neighborly love, using science to inform creation care and practical steps for advancing creation care in ministries. Another activity is the Faith and Cultural Symposium in February 2025. Open to the public, the event will feature lectures by prominent evangelical speakers, provide valuable insights for change and connect participants with faith-based organizations involved in creation care. The School of Ministry will also participate in PBA’s annual Earth Week events in April 2025, engaging the broader community through an informative booth at the Earth Day fair and delivering a chapel sermon about creation care. Finally, the cohort will travel to the Florida Keys for Experiential Studies during the spring 2025 semester. The experiential trip aligns with the teachings of Jesus, who often used nature in his parables to impart wisdom — like in Matthew 6:2830, where he refers to the lilies of the field to teach trust in God’s provision. Participants will also engage with experts working to monitor and remediate ecological challenges. As the Creation Care curriculum is finalized, Dr. Gould and Dr. Chesnes are hopeful the project can serve as a model for other institutions and lead stewardship for South Florida’s unique ecosystems. What will be critical, Dr. Gould says, is getting Christians to lift their voices and act to alleviate the solutions. “If the Church is to be salt to a decaying culture, we need to be engaged,” says Dr. Gould. “This topic has been painted with a political veneer, but the Church has to sidestep that and exert its prophetic voice.” Dr. Debra A. Schwinn, a physician, researcher and innovator, is president of Palm Beach Atlantic University. (www.pba.edu) Creation Care Project Spearheads Environmental and Theological Education - Dr. Debra A. Schwinn - Palm Beach Atlantic University President Palm Beach Atlantic University students Alexis Anaya, Joel Garton and Drew Anderson explore marine life across the street from the West Palm Beach campus.
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FOSTER CARE 16 AUGUST 2024 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition It’s summertime, but we’re thinking about Christmas. I was in my office the other day, looking toward a whiteboard our team had filled with numbers. These numbers represented the number of homes available to kids in foster care, the number of kids who still need homes, the number of families who don’t go on to get licensed and more. But what I found myself thinking about besides all those big numbers was how if just one family started the process to become a 4KIDS Foster Family right now, they’d be giving a child a home and a family this Christmas. The call There is a sign in my office that reads, “Sometimes we need to turn our lives upside down to turn the life of a child right side up.” After fostering more than 50 different children over the years, I am well acquainted with how life does indeed get turned upside down when we welcome a child in crisis into our homes. For many, this fear of the unknown stops them from experiencing one of the greatest callings God puts on our lives – to care for the widow and the orphan in their time of distress. But I completely understand the hesitancy; I see families all the time who are wrestling with the desire to do more but unsure how to possibly make it happen. Of course, we want to see families who are prepared and ready to open their hearts and their homes to kids in need, but I also know you’ll probably never feel fully ready. The foster care landscape The reality for kids as we weigh the pros and cons and keep waiting to feel “ready” is something we often shy away from. The reality today is that there are not enough homes for kids coming into foster care. In fact, there are fewer and fewer homes in the years following COVID. It has been alarming for me to see, after decades in this work, that homes for kids in crisis are becoming more and more scarce. When there are not enough foster homes, that means kids will go to shelters, group homes or be sent to different parts of the state. We know that this institutional care simply cannot compare to the love, stability and belonging that kids experience in a foster home. Remember, these kids were removed from their own homes by no fault of their own due to abuse, neglect or abandonment. And in the midst of the pain and trauma of that removal, too many kids are then separated from their siblings and placed into institutional care. As the church, this is something we cannot look away from; it should be moving us to action! A forever Impact It amazes me when I look around and I get to see the young adults thriving who were once little kids coming into a 4KIDS Foster Family years ago. I have countless stories of Marines, college football players, thriving parents, college graduates and so many more. These are all young adults whose lives could have been so different if a family hadn’t said “yes” to them so many years ago. The children facing shelters today are tomorrow’s adults. No matter how long a child is with a foster family, a short time, years or perhaps forever through adoption, the impact on their hearts, lives and eternities is precious. Sometimes I wonder if I’ve asked this same, local Christian community too many times if they’d consider fostering. But even writing this, I know that if just one person reading begins the process to foster today, then even just one life will be forever changed. Every one of these children are so deeply loved by God, to get to share His love with them in our homes isn’t just a blessing for that child but a blessing for us as parents. If you’re reading this and thinking you don’t feel “ready” to open your home, but you feel that stirring in your heart, I’d encourage you to visit us online and simply fill out an interest form. A conversation with our team can be incredibly helpful as you consider how you might make a difference in the life of a child in need. Please, join me in praying for the kids who are already waiting, for the kids who will need a home this Christmas, and for the families God is calling to step in and bring them home. Watch how one life can be Reversed in this 4KIDS video. Learn more about becoming a 4KIDS Foster Family. Give a Child a Home this Christmas - Tom Lukasik - 4KIDS VP of Engagement
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THE CODE 18 AUGUST 2024 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:11–13). It is one thing to get ready for someone who is coming to visit and quite another to eagerly anticipate their arrival. As a boy, I remember when my great-aunt would come to our home for a visit. We spent a day getting ready for her arrival. We made sure the house was clean and in proper order. We went grocery shopping to make sure we had the foods she enjoyed eating. But I never really eagerly anticipated her visits. I always had to be on my best behavior. She was quite boring, and as I type these words, I can still smell the mustiness of her dresses. We got ready for her arrival, all right, but without much eager anticipation on my part. But things changed during my college years when Susie, now my wife, would come on those visits from Austin to Fort Worth to spend weekends in my parents’ home. We spent considerable time getting ready for her. But words are useless for describing the anticipation, the eagerness that preceded those visits on my part. The hands on the clock never seemed to move slower than they did as I anxiously and eagerly awaited her arrival. The hope held deep in the hearts of the New Testament believers was similar to this. It carried with it not just a sense of the importance of being ready for Christ’s return but an eager anticipation of that moment. They lived with a constant longing, looking for the glorious appearing of their “blessed hope.” A providential people As days have turned into months, months into years, years into decades, and decades into centuries, believers today have lost much of this anticipation. Little do those who see no signs of His return today realize that they have become signs themselves. I have witnessed several of these signs of Jesus’ return with my own eyes. One Bible sign is to watch for a providential people, the Jews. Moses predicted that the Lord would “scatter [the Jews] among the peoples” and that they would have no “resting place” (Deuteronomy 4:27; 28:65). But Ezekiel saw the day when God would “gather [His people] out of all countries, and bring [them] back into [their] own land” (Ezekiel 36:24). We are watching this miracle happen in our own lifetimes. A particular place We are also called to keep our eyes on a particular place. Before Christ returns, the Bible says the little nation of Israel will once again become a major player on the world stage. After centuries of expulsion from their land, God has kept His promise to “bring back the captives of My people Israel” into their homeland once again (Amos 9:14). My own generation has witnessed the rebuilding of the state of Israel on the heels of the Holocaust when one out of every three Jews in the world were annihilated in Hitler’s gas chambers. For the first time in 2,500 years, since the days of Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonian captivity, the children of Israel are ruling their own country from their own capital of Jerusalem. A polluted pulpit We are also to watch for a polluted pulpit. One of the signs that our “blessed hope” is near is that “the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine… and they will turn their ears away from the truth” (2 Timothy 4:3–4). We live in such a day. Denominations are dying. Many pulpits no longer preach that Jesus is “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). These are but three of the many signs that Christ’s coming may be imminent. These signs should cause us, like our Christian forefathers of old, to be eagerly and earnestly anticipating His coming again. All people are in need of hope, and Jesus is the personification of that hope. We find Him here in Titus. He is our “blessed hope.” And He is coming again to receive us unto Himself. Taken from The Bible Code by O.S. Hawkins. Copyright © 2020 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. - Dr. O.S. Hawkins - Chancellor, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary He is Our Blessed Hope Westminster Academy is a Christ-centered, biblically-based college preparatory school dedicated to equipping covenant students to excel by using their gifts and talents for God’s glory. Limited Space Available For The 2024–25 School Year '&%$#"!%$& &# % %$ ! $ "$" ! # &$"$" & $ &$" % "!!"! !& $% ! "%$" ! % % " "! "! "%$ &!$& & ## !"$ & & & %$ &!$ "% ! ! ! & $ "% "$ "! $ "% ## !"$ $ $ &%% !% & & !& " & "% " & "&! % " % & & ! "& % & #& $ "% #&% $ &$ & $ & $& !" & $ !"$ ! $ ! ! & & & %& "! $ " $ & '&%$#"!%$& &# & & "&! & "! % # % $ $ ! $ $ "% %" ! "$ ! "!$& & $ $ " $% # & $& !" & & & "&! & $ $ " "# $ " " &$"#& & ! # & $ " & % & ! !& $ %$& % & %& "%"$ wa.edu/admissions or call 954.815.0131 # & "! # $" !
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ENCOURAGEMENT 20 AUGUST 2024 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition "You can be safe or you can be brave, but you can't be both." Little did I know at the time that this pithy phrase would become synonymous with major change in my chaotic existence. Having returned to the mainland after six years of serving at American embassies overseas, I found myself in a "desert purgatory" far from the international limelight. El Paso, Texas in the mid-80's was definitely an exile destination, albeit my request to Headquarters to be transferred to a "warm dry place" due to my son's chronic asthma condition. But the location could not extinguish the fire to continue delving in covert operations; all that was needed was adapting to my surroundings while maintaining my informant cache in order to infiltrate drug organizations elsewhere. Nonetheless, my boss had other plans, given he realized the time had come to transition back to the "real world." Twelve years of "being someone else" had taken its toll and he felt responsible to bring me back. Thus, he asked me to address a group of Army officers at Fort Bliss on a Monday morning regarding the international drug scene. I was completely horrified at his request; going public, despite the controlled environment, was hazardous at best. Begrudgingly, to say the least, I met with about 20 military leaders and addressed them for about 30 minutes, my first venture into public speaking, which in turn became a lifetime adventure. I was somewhat surprised at their reaction to my presentation. They commented that similar lectures were scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday with additional officers, and they urged me to return and address the remaining two groups myself for they felt my message was extremely impactful. To this day I do not understand the seismic shift that occurred that afternoon, except to say I returned the next two days and never looked back; a complete pendulum swing occurred as my life went from deeply covert to quite overt in a matter of months. And the introductory phrase to those first three speeches continues to be my favorite headliner to this day...."You can be safe or you can be brave, but you can't be both." Exposure and reward Was I being brave, intrepid, fearless or just plain stupid? What my superior meant as a very gradual transition quickly went astray. Weeks later he learned that I eventually spoke to the Rotary, the Lions Club and a PTA group without his knowledge, which concerned him greatly. But the Pandora's box was now open; and with it the realization that "coming out" so quickly was as menacing, or more, than staying in a little longer. Due only to God's grace was I spared dreadful consequences for my actions, and in return I learned lots about risk management. If there was inherent peril in undercover work, there was more in surfacing without a proper plan. Today I find myself surrounded by risk takers. Many of my Christian brothers have become successful businessmen and entrepreneurs and their stories of success and failure, high and lows, exuberance and anguish are of great interest to me. In fact, it is their times of adversity that most interest me, for it is during the harshest moments that a man's mettle shines brightest. What fascinates me about these brothers is how they continue to "ride the waves" while most settle for flatlining. Considered "guarded risk taking" by some, they continue to thrive despite the consequences and understand the "price of doing business." Exposure and reward go hand in hand; no pain/no gain; in essence, risk seems much more hazardous to us who seek tranquility, while occasional hazards is business as usual to them. Are you playing it safe or being brave? When it comes to our Christian walk, are we playing it safe or are we being brave? Can we withstand the turbulent waves of a secular world, or do we search for stability? In my estimation, the real Christian walk is an uplifting but treacherous journey not apt for the weak of heart. Those choosing it must have a clear understanding of its unsafe environment. And the Lord, in his infinite mercy, provides us specific guidelines to traverse it as illustrated both in Scripture and in literature. In "The Pilgrim's Progress," a religious allegory written by Paul Bunyan in the latter 1600's, an everyday figure aptly named Christian travels from his home in the City of Destruction to the Celestial City. Along the way he encounters numerous obstacles such as Hill Difficulty and the Valley of Humiliation, passes the Valley of the Shadow of Death, battles the monster Apollyon, is arrested by Lord Hategood, stumbles onto the grounds of Doubting Castle, and makes the mistake of following the flatterer until the Shining One rescues him and leads him to the Celestial City. Sound familiar? This imaginary journey began with our ancestors being evicted from Eden and will end with eternal life in The New Jerusalem; what lies in between this very day are our present lives, where we routinely have to "strap our boots" to battle the evil one, and where courage and faith are a necessary staple. And our marching orders are those given to Joshua by Jehovah; "Haven't I commanded you: be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." It seems to me that the church today (me and you) is very active in gauging risk tolerance rather than to tolerate and embrace the "risk" of truly following Jesus Christ. Tolerance was at the heart of the lukewarm church of Laodicea that Christ spat out of his mouth, the kind of church that today preaches varied roads to salvation, refuses to instruct about the existence and condition of hell and that concentrates on the wellbeing of the body over the soul. Many Christians who feel comfortable doing commerce in perilous environments are unwilling to take a step of faith in carrying out God's business. So, could it be possible to merge compromise and accommodation by amending our initial premise? What about if we can be both brave and safe? Psalm 27:1 reminds us that the Lord is the stronghold of our lives and that he dissipates our fears while Psalm 4:8 prompts us to sleep in peace for the Lord alone can make us dwell in safety. Yes, we are more than capable of doing both; being brave knowing He has our back while safely resting in His loving arms, for in the end He works out all things for those that love Him. That, our brothers and sisters, is complete coverage... our spiritual safety net. Win Win Situation - Omar Aleman - Aleman and Associates
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LEGAL Q&A 22 AUGUST 2024 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition Scratch a Floridian and you’ll uncover a story of a contractor relationship gone wrong. Let’s look at common contractor problems along that “gamut” and key steps to take to prevent them. Bill Davell: What are contractor problems to anticipate and head off? Robert Meacham: Most obvious: the contractor doesn’t do what he or she promised (or advertised) – not completing the work expected, getting it done on time, engaging in shoddy workmanship and shortcuts, or leaving unrepaired damage and work not up to code. You could also get overcharged, or stuck with a bill for subcontractors, workers or material suppliers the general contractor didn’t pay. The state attorney general’s office also warns about contractors who “advertise cheap services who then try to ‘up-sell’ new systems or pricey repairs.” But the question puts it right: “anticipate and head off.” The right preparation can avoid many common issues. BD: Where do I start? RM: Perhaps most important: proper selection. Avoid the proverbial family member or friend of a friend who does remodeling on the side. Along with fewer protections in an informal agreement, it’s ironically often harder to set and enforce terms where there’s no “arms-length” relationship. Also, be wary of contractors showing up on your doorstep – especially after a natural disaster or other damage. As with all other steps, do your own homework and in particular, do everything above-board. Meaning: seek a professional contractor licensed by the state, properly bonded and insured, and able to provide proof of workers compensation insurance. That way, failure to perform to expectations – or outright fraud – will subject the contractor to sanctions including, potentially, license revocation. It’s ok, and even a good idea, to select that licensed contractor based on recommendations from friends and family members. Obtain multiple bids. And check out potential complaints with the state or the Better Business Bureau. BD: OK. I have my contractor. Now what? RM: The next priority is right there in the individual’s title: a written, detailed, fully vetted and agreed-upon contract. Even as you collect bids, do walk-throughs on-site with potential contractors, ideally working from a pre-written checklist of desired work, so nothing is forgotten, and the contractor has a document to take notes on and take along. Discussions will usually involve back-and-forth with the contractor, who may offer his or her own suggestions, as well as reality checks on cost, scope and timing. Once a contract is presented, sit down again and go through it to ensure it (and any associated renderings) accurately reflect what you have described. Ensure a clear and realistic timetable and provide for progress payments as work is completed. Ask for a full explanation of any terms you don’t understand. In particular, never agree to pay the full amount up front or until all work is completed according to the contract terms and to your satisfaction. A contract should provide for a “punch list” of items to be brought up to snuff after the essential completion before final payments are made. Don’t be shy about insisting that all items are carried out before writing that final check. If you are not confident your contract fully protects you and reflects your expectations, it’s probably worth investing in an attorney to review it to avoid more expensive headaches down the road. BD: My contractor and contract are in place. Anything else? RM: Just as important as choosing a licensed contractor is conducting the rest of your project by the book. Specifically, Florida law requires a contractor to apply for a permit within 30 days. Beware of contractors offering to do work less expensively if you skip this step: saving money on a permit (and inspections) could cost you big-time later in the form of fines, liability for property damage or injuries, or required “do-overs” of non-code-compliant work. Also, inform any homeowners or condo association and obtain its approval, which will not only reflect any association requirements but also usually requirements for licensing, bonding and worker’s comp. The best way to protect yourself is to make sure you have dotted all these “I”s and crossed all the “T”s. BD: I got all that right – selection, contract and permit/approvals – but still have a dispute with the contractor. RM: You have several avenues of recourse including filing complaints with the state at: • the Department of Business & Professional Regulation (www.myfloridalicense.com or (850) 487-1395 • the Attorney General’s Office (www.myfloridalegal.com or 1-866-9-NO-SCAM) • the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (www.floridaconsumerhelp.com). In Broward, you can also file a complaint with the county. You can send a demand letter, insisting that the contractor complete your contract’s requirements. And if all else fails, file a lawsuit – starting in small claims court if the amount in question is $8000 or less. Many contracts, however, require the homeowner first to submit to mediation or arbitration. Tripp Scott’s attorneys have decades of experience in all aspects of contract and construction law and can help with everything from writing a contract to ensuring compliance with its terms to obtaining damages for contract breaches. Contact us at 954-525-7500 or [email protected]. If you have any topics you think my be of interest to our readers, we encourage you to email us at [email protected]. The Good News provides a monthly column with important content having to do with topics from the legal community. This month features a conversation with Robert Meacham, a director at Tripp Scott. ASK BILL: William “Bill” C. Davell, Esq. What Should I Consider When Choosing a Contractor? William “Bill” C. Davell Esq.
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