I often ponder; where do I start? That’s how I start most days, setting priorities. My reflex response when asked “how am I today?” or “what’s new?” You know, greetings people exchange with one another. My response is generally, “Another day of opportunity!” I’ve been saying that for decades. Why is that? Is it honest, or is it boastful some may think? Should I care? Each day is another opportunity. God allowed me another day of rest and another day to begin again. I feel accountable. This is how I approach life. We start off life learning how to walk and learning how to talk, how to count, how to read, and we progress to do more and better each day. That’s life. We are measured. How much did we grow? How much did we learn? It’s exciting, and we feel accomplishment. Children get excited when we talk of their daily accomplishments. We enter formalized school and again we are measured by our age. We get report cards; we then learn excitement or something new: fear. Life should be exciting, filled with opportunities and challenges. We can embrace or reject. Early learned reflexes of excitement and accomplishment are opportunities accepted, and fears generally reject opportunity as too risky and unrewarding. Why? Being judged? The Church can be like that. Do people grow in faith or stay away out of fear of commitment or is it rejection? I submit people flourish by being challenged to be better, to do more and to feel the joy of accomplishment. Young children who learn to give up or to be content to say “I can’t do that” sometimes lack the encouragement to just make progress. The Good News has Media platforms: The Monthly printed edition has 710 locations, providing stacks of free copies; about half of the locations are within churches with approximately 80,000 monthly readers. The Good News Social media platforms: The Good News digital edition at GoodNewsFl.org with the entire monthly copy is available free on-line to approximately Thirty to Fifty-Thousand readers monthly who access us on-line. The Good News weekly newsletter is sent out to more than 11,254 “requested” subscribers via email. It features upcoming events, presents a selection of articles from the print edition, and adds additional news events that may have missed deadline or features that did not make the print edition due to lack of space. The Good News Facebook Page shares multiple daily posts to over 17,700 Good News followers, and growing daily. The Good News connects to over 1444 business followers on LinkedIn and 3,370 followers on Instagram. We endeavor to do more and do it better, each day. Why do I mention this? In review and analysis of 2023, we looked at the analytics of the Good News social media instant responses. On July 19, 2023, we posted one of our daily posts, which generally features something mildly thought provoking or words of encouragement such as “Bible scripture” or similar passages. The post pictured here in blue and white (our logo brand colors) went viral with over 8,500 people who reshared it to their friends list and a whopping 621,331 people engaged in some manner, so said the detailed analytics; and it was our top 2023 engagement. For the record, I will mention we had over 255 daily posts and 17 had over 45,000 people reached with a few in the 100,000 range. What is the actual significance? Read the words in the post, please. This is what the Good News “followers” resonated with: The Church. This post is resonating; If you Google search this post and statement it’s now being used in church sermons throughout the country since we posted in July, 2023. We can do more. We can be more inclusive. We can be more encouraging. We can provide more opportunities for engagement. “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every Opportunity” (Colossians 4:5 NIV). Let’s get started with 2024. I’m excited for the opportunity that lies ahead. -Les PUBLISHER 6 JANUARY 2024 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition South Florida Edition • Good News • January 2024 • Volume 25, Issue 10 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] Leslie J. Feldman PERSPECTIVE . . . . . . . . . . .8 Prutention - by Stephan N. Tchividjian IN THE WORD . . . . . . . . .10 Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem – by Franklin Graham PARENTING . . . . . . . . . . .12 Teaching the Discipline of Self Improvement - by Dr. Bob Barnes and Torrey Roberts HEART AND SOUL . . . . .14 Palm Beach Atlantic University Students Serve Those Impacted by Crisis in Israel – by Dr. Debra Schwinn FOSTER CARE . . . . . . . . . .16 A Paradigm for Redemption – by Kevin Enders FROM THE PULPIT . . . . .18 AI and You - by Alex Umole THE CODE . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 Finding Jesus in Jonah – by Dr. O.S. Hawkins ENCOURAGEMENT . . . .22 New Year’s Solution – by Omar Aleman COVER STORY . . . . .24 – 26 How Christians Are Helping Israel – by Karen Engle Rising Antisemitism in America – by Susan Michael GOOD NEWS WANTS TO KNOW . . 27 - 29 Now that 2023 has come to a close, Good News Wants to Know... What are three things that have brought you joy this year? YOU ASK WHY? . . . . . . . 30 Don’t Be Afraid – by Dr. Tommy Boland FAITH AND VOCATION 32 The Great Faithfulness of Our God – Susie Cohen, PhD COMMUNITY NEWS .34 - 40 CALENDAR . . . . . . . . . . 42 - 43 CLASSIFIEDS . . . . . . . . . 44 - 47 We Can Do More And Better On The Cover Jews and Christians standing together in solidarity during the November 14, 2023, Rally for Israel in Washington, D.C. Pictured from left to right: Dr. Linda Smith, Executive Vice President, National Religious Broadcasters; Shelley Neese, President, Jerusalem Connection; Jordanna McMillan, US Director, Israel Allies Foundation, and Dr. Susan Michael, USA Director, International Christian Embassy Jerusalem. Read the cover article on pages 24-26. (Photos courtesy, International Christian Embassy Jerusalem) 4.5K 191 8.5K 621,331 Likes Comments Shares People reached CONTENTS Good News • January • Volume 25 Issue 10
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