Prayer is an issue I’ve often wrestled with. It makes me uncomfortable. When I’m uncomfortable, I hesitate. When I hesitate, I become introspective. When I become introspective, I question myself. I can’t seem to fall into a comfort groove. I don’t seem to have an issue when I pray privately; however, I’m very self-conscious in public prayer. I know it stems from being grateful, grateful for all that I have: my family, my health, business and social. I see so many people in need. I think of the selfish nature of daring to pray for more goodness? I’ve also learned that prayer shouldn’t necessarily be about ourselves; in large part we pray for others, their needs, their desires, their fulfillments. I try to focus on that, but once again, I find it uncomfortable to do it in public. It stems from a long term can do attitude that my nature and background suggest, just get up and get it done. Don’t wait on others. I’m learning humility and grace, but it’s a heavy haul to someone who spent the majority of his life living not to rely on excuses. I live. I learn. I appreciate, and now I emulate those friends I admire, and how they come to grips with the ease of praying to our Father to admit our sins and ask forgiveness. Below is a much more articulate understanding of prayer, why you do it and why we do it. For me and my generation, we’ve lived our lifetime without Google search. We’ve had to rely on much of our own wisdom and hope that we’re good guessers. Since I like to learn, Google search has provided me with fingertip wisdom for which I’m thankful and anticipate fewer scars from daily scrapes, persistent trial and error. Of course, as men, we don’t read the directions that come in the box with advice on how to build things; it slows us down too much… Thank God for emoji’s. ...................................................................... Jesus Prayed Regularly Why did Jesus pray? One reason he prayed was as an example so that we could learn from him. The Gospels are full of references to the prayers of Christ, including these examples: • “After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray” (Matthew 14:23). • “Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, ‘Sit here while I go over there and pray'” (Matthew 26:36). • “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed” (Mark 1:35). • “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed” (Luke 5:16). • “One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God” (Luke 6:12). • “Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up” (Luke 18:1). Prayer is How We Communicate with God Prayer allows us to worship and praise the Lord. It also allows us to offer confession of our sins, which should lead to our genuine repentance. Moreover, prayer grants us the opportunity to present our requests to God. All of these aspects of prayer involve communication with our Creator. He is personal, cares for us, and wants to commune with us through prayer. • ” …if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14). • Isaiah wrote, “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint” (Isaiah 40:29-31). • Hebrews 4:15-16 reads, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Prayer is not just about asking for God’s blessings – though we are welcome to do so – but it is about communication with the living God. Without communication, relationships fall apart. So, too, our relationship with God suffers when we do not communicate with Him. The above source material by Robert Velarde was excerpted from Focus on the Family. PUBLISHER 6 JULY 2024 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition South Florida Edition • Good News • July 2024 • Volume 26, Issue 4 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 Nests In Your Hair – by Stephan N. Tchividjian IN THE WORD . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Franklin Graham: Don’t Hate God’s Chosen People – by Franklin Graham PARENTING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 No Longer a Crisis Parent by – Dr. Bob Barnes and Torrey Roberts HEART AND SOUL . . . . . . . . . .14 Using Servant Leadership as an Antidote to the Campus Culture of Protests – by Dr. Debra Schwinn YOU ASK WHY? . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Opposites Attract– by Dr. Tommy Boland FOSTER CARE . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Make Summer Memories – by Tom Lukasik THE CODE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 Three Verses for Youth… And the Rest of Us! – by Dr. O.S. Hawkins LEGAL Q&A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 Seven Steps Toward Staying Out of Court – by William “Bill” C. Davell and Paul Lopez GOOD NEWS WANTS TO KNOW . . . . . .24 - 25 Have you ever won a trophy, and would the activity surprise your friends? ENCOURAGEMENT . . . . . . . . .26 Hope Springs Eternal – by Omar Aleman COVER ARTICLE . . . . . . . .28 - 29 Dr. O.S. Hawkins: A Continuing Legacy of Faith in Fort Lauderdale – by Shelly Pond MARRIAGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Change - by Lisa May WE GET LETTERS . . . . . . . . . . .32 COMMUNITY NEWS . . . .34 – 40 CALENDAR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42 Prayer On The Cover Dr. O.S. Hawkins addresses students at MacGorman Chapel on the campus of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. A Spiritual father to many, Dr. O.S. Hawkins helped lay the foundations of faith in Fort Lauderdale, leading First Baptist Fort Lauderdale, as pastor, for 15 years through a period of revival and growth in the 1980’s. Read the cover article on page 28. Photo Courtesy of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary Leslie J. Feldman CONTENTS Good News • July • Volume 26 Issue 4
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