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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