Largest Christian Newspaper in America • goodnewsfl.org • February 2025 • Volume 26, Issue 11
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PUBLISHER 6 February 2025 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida edition The Right Rev Mariann Edgar Budde made headlines after she used her sermon during the national prayer service at Washington National Cathedral on January 21, 2025, to implore President Donald J. Trump to “have mercy upon” immigrants and LGBTQ+ individuals. Budde, 65, is the first woman to serve as the spiritual leader of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington. She has been leading the diocese since her election to the role in 2011. Before that, she served as the rector of St John’s Episcopal church in Minneapolis for 18 years. The Good News acknowledges Dr. Robert J. Pacienza the Senior Pastor of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church (Fort Lauderdale, FL), for speaking out in a pivotal moment of outstanding leadership. Pastor “Rob” is the CEO/President of Coral Ridge Ministries and the Founder of the Institute for Faith and Culture. He serves on the General Council of the Gospel Reformation Network, serves as Board Member for National Religious Broadcasters, and is a contributor to WORLD Opinions and The Washington Times. Pastor Pacienza had this to say on social media: “Ironically, the bishop (Episcopal Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde) used the pulpit and the service to not only lecture the president but to promote a secular worldview and her woke ideology. Unity can only be achieved through a commitment to biblical truth, not cultural assimilation. Her sermon was indicative of the heresy being taught by mainline denominations. Our nation was founded upon the truth that there is God, and he alone defines good and evil.” This month, The Good News cover follows our continuing commitment to shed light on South Florida “LEGACY FAMILIES”. We are proud to feature the Barnes family, who have been spiritual leaders in our region for decades. Please read the cover feature on Pages 28 – 29. South Florida Edition • Good News • February 2025 • Volume 26, Issue 11 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 2025. 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 4 And Hoping for More – by Stephan N. Tchividjian IN THE WORD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Franklin Graham: Pray for Donald J. Trump – by Franklin Graham PARENTING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Teaching Children to Love – by Dr. Bob and Torrey Roberts MARRIAGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Love Well – by Lisa May CHURCH UNITED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 I Pledge Allegiance to the Christian Flag – by Edwin Copeland FOSTER CARE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Commanded to LOVE! – by Andrew Holmes THE CODE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 Burying the Hatchet – by Dr. O.S. Hawkins YOU ASK WHY? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Our Fascination with Procrastination – by Dr. Tommy Boland GOODNEWSWANTSTOKNOW24–26 What has been your greatest disappointment and how have you dealt with it? COVER STORY . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 – 29 50 Years of Grace and Growth: How the Barnes Family Helped Transform South Florida Families and Churches – by Shelly Pond HEART AND SOUL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30 Reaching Gen Z with the Gospel – by Gregory J. Rummo LEGAL Q & A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32 How Do We Avoid Surprise Partners in Our Family Business? – by William “Bill” C. Davell ENCOURAGEMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . .34 God Whisperer – by Omar Aleman WE GET LETTERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36 COMMUNITY NEWS . . . . . . . . .38 - 40 CALENDAR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42 - 43 CLASSIFIEDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44 - 47 Well Done Pastor Rob On The Cover Our 2025 Good News Legacy Family Feature. The Barnes family appears on the set of the City Rev Life Podcast at City Rev Church in West Pembroke Pines. Pictured from left to right: Dr. Robey Barnes, Lead Pastor, City Rev Church, Rebekah Barnes, Rosemary Barnes, and Dr. Bob Barnes, CEO, Sheridan House Family Ministries. By God’s grace, the Barnes family has woven their faith into the fabric of South Florida for 50 years, strengthening families and uniting the Church. Read the cover feature on pages 28-29. Photo credit: Justus Martin www.justusmartinphoto.com - Leslie J. Feldman - Good News Publisher The Right Rev Mariann Edgar Budde and President Donald Trump C O N T E N T S Good News • February • Volume 26 Issue 11
SOUTH FLORIDA BIBLE COLLEGE & THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY AFFORDABILITY EXCELLENCE DIVERSITY COME EXPERIENCE ASSOCIATE BACHELOR MASTER DOCTORATE EXPLORE A RANGE OF DEGREES AND PROGRAMS: BUSINESS COUNSELING MINISTRY THEOLOGY Scan for Info SFBC.EDU/ GoodNews
PERSPECTIVE 8 February 2025 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida edition I mentioned recently that every year I identify a word to serve as my theme. The process is simple. The fourth quarter of each year, I start listening intently to words and when one catches my attention, I note it. As the year winds down, I ponder and pray, to see which word(s) float to the surface, identifying the one that will be my word of the year. There is no science, a little art, and a lot of listening to the process. I have shared that my word for this year is remnant. The word has a sobering tone to it, and I am a little curious and confused by it. However, I do believe its aspirational in nature. The mysterious nature of the word leads me on a particular path, that in itself reinforces the mystery, since it has many emotional twists and turns. Remnant’s biblical application refers to times when God distances Himself from (or often punishes) His children due to their lack of obedience, seduction to worldliness and its pleasures and/or pursuit of pride found in power and people. I am haunted by Jesus’s words found in the book of Matthew where He describes people who claim to adhere to God’s will, are considered followers of Jesus, and have convinced themselves and others that they are indeed surrendered to God; yet Jesus claims that He is unknown to them. Sobering as I asked myself, “Do I know Him, or do I think I know Him”? A biblical worldview The Barna Group, if you are unfamiliar, is an organization that is similar to Gallop in that they are a constant and reliable source of data and information regarding the Christian community. They have been measuring Christian trends, behavior and impact for more than 30 years. Their focus is particularly on the behavior and beliefs of the Church, including the crossways between the Church and culture. I think of them as a scale and mirror combined, both don’t lie, regardless of what you may perceive. I recently read an interesting excerpt from a study that they did on the “evangelical Christian” in the USA with a particular focus on their beliefs. In short, they were measuring what it is that Christians actually believe, and does it align with what many theologians (people who study God) outline as a Biblical worldview. A Biblical worldview, according to this study, was outlined as follows: • That absolute moral truth exists, • That the Bible is totally accurate in all of the principles it teaches, • That Satan is a real being or force, • That a person cannot earn their way into Heaven by trying to be good or do good works, • That Jesus Christ lived a sinless life, • And that God is the all-knowing, all-powerful creator of the world who still rules the universe today. The most fascinating aspect of this study (and there are many more details about the study if you wish to do your own analysis), was that only 4% of Americans hold to a biblical worldview (the one described above). This was down from 6% from a similar report three years prior (during Covid). Additionally, the research showed that only 1% of adults under 30 holds onto the above-described Biblical worldview. All stand I have pondered on this information for a while, starting with my own scale and mirror, the best place to start. The thought process is sobering. My mind wanders to an imaginary room where a crowd of 100 cheering Christians are gathered, excited about their freedoms, their worship, their success, etc., and then when asked to all stand and remain standing as the basic principles of a Biblical worldview are read outload. Clear instructions are provided to sit if one does not adhere to one or more of these beliefs, when finished, only 4 people remain? Is that possible? How can that be? Am I standing or sitting? Are members of my family standing or sitting? Are those I work with and do life with standing or sitting? Are you standing? Perhaps what is sobering about the word remnant is the aspirational quality of it. I can’t avoid the thought of my own beliefs and behavior. I desire to be one of the four standing. However, my determination, strength, culture, political viewpoints, heritage etc., won’t give me the strength to stand; in fact, it will probably force me to sit. I stand because I am surrendered; it’s counterintuitive. Strength is seductive, power is appealing, machismo appeals to many, swagger looks cool. Jesus remains the primary focus of what it means to stand with the 4, we read about it in His manifesto, the Sermon on the Mount, and we see it in his short-lived life. He is constantly surrendered, though He had options. The more I draw closer to Him, the more I understand His worldview. I am not satisfied with simply desiring to be one of the 4, I must deeply desire, through tears and repentance, to look around that imaginary room and plead with those around me to surrender and stand as well. 4 ought to be more. Stephan N. Tchividjian is the CEO and co-founder of the National Christian Foundation South Florida. Visit southflorida.ncfgiving.com to learn more. 4 And Hoping for More - Stephan Tchividjian - CEO and Co-Founder, National Christian Foundation South Florida
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10 February 2025 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida edition IN THE WORD On Jan. 20, Donald J. Trump was inaugurated as the 47th president of the United States. Trump became only the second president in history to win non-consecutive terms. He received more than 77 million votes — the most ever by a Republican candidate — as voters expressed concern that our nation is in trouble. Voters rejected the far-left liberal political agenda of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris that championed abortion rights, same-sex marriage and transgender advocacy, and created a legal and political atmosphere that was hostile to Biblical principles and Christian values. The incoming administration has promised to weed out bloated bureaucracies across the government and throttle reckless spending that has plunged our country into $36 trillion of debt. That’s just hard to comprehend, isn’t it? Certainly, the Scriptures cast an unfavorable light when a person or entity spends well beyond their means. This is a critical time for America to right itself on so many fronts, or else we may find our global leadership greatly diminished in the face of immense peril. I do believe, though, that in His providence, God has placed President Trump in the Oval Office. I don’t have any doubt that the Lord’s sovereign hand of mercy was on him during the assassination attempt in Pennsylvania. The bullet that cut his ear and just missed his brain by centimeters could have been deadly, if God had not turned his head at that precise moment. I believe God spared his life and brought him to this position as our next president. I think God saved him for a very special job. In the coming months, there will continue to be enemies that threaten our nation around the world and even here at home, and challenges will confront the Trump administration. That’s why more than ever, the president needs the prayers of God’s people on his behalf. The Bible clearly says prayer is vital to the success of leadership. “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior” (1 Timothy 2:1-3). Paul says “first of all” when he refers to prayer. Prayer should be a priority, not an afterthought. It means that God esteems our prayers as crucial in our relationship with Him. He hears and answers them according to His perfect will. The prayers of His people are instrumental in the way He has chosen to govern the world. Also take note that “kings and all who are in authority” are particularly called out due to their influence and power. Repetition of the words “supplications, prayers, and intercession” emphasizes the earnestness and fervency our petitions should have. Pray every day, throughout the day. So when you pray, and I trust you will, pray that President Trump will look to God each and every day for wisdom, guidance and discernment. Since the Bible says God’s purposes will prevail, our leaders need to seek God’s counsel for wise, lasting progress. “The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect. The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of His heart to all generations. Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people He has chosen as His own inheritance” (Psalm 33:10-12). And how should we pray in particular for our president? First and foremost, pray that President Trump and his advisers will bend their hearts toward God and humbly seek His will. The Bible says: “The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes” (Proverbs 21:1). Almighty God, the King of Kings, rules over all presidents, prime ministers, chancellors, kings and queens. This also implies that a “king” should be ever humbling himself before the Lord and asking for His will to be done. Pray that President Trump will surround himself with men and women who will give him godly counsel. No one person has enough wisdom to always make the right decisions. A president receives an abundance of information from dozens of different sources, but what he especially needs is the wisdom and discernment that comes from people who know God and His ways. Pray the Lord will protect Him from harm. There are plenty of adversaries around the world who would love nothing more than to see President Trump fail, not to mention our adversary the devil, who especially targets those in leadership. Never underestimate the wiles of Satan, but don’t overestimate him either. Christ defeated him on the cross and one day soon will cast him into Hades. As we pray, remember above all that our hope is in the Lord, not men. Only God can save souls, and only God can bring revival to the nation — a moral and spiritual transformation that brings stability, true peace and God’s blessings. “Indeed, let no one who waits on You be ashamed” (Psalm 25:3). God never fails. His purposes are always fulfilled, His plans always accomplished, even when His people are surrounded with evil and chaos. So pray. Pray fervently. Pray diligently. Put all your hope in God, who sent His Son to die for our sins and on the third day was raised from the dead! He alone is worthy, and He alone rules over all the kings of the earth. ©2024 BGEA Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, New King James Version. Decision magazine, January 2025; ©2025 Billy Graham Evangelistic Association; used by permission, all rights reserved. Franklin Graham: Pray for Donald J. Trump Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority. —1 Timothy 2:13 ” “ - Franklin Graham - President and CEO Samaritan’s Purse and Billy Graham Evangelistic Association
12 February 2025 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida edition PARENTING This being the “Love Month” the topic of love is worthy of discussion …even in a parenting article. In fact, teaching children the proper understanding of love might be one of the most neglected areas of parenting. And, that neglect might be very damaging for a child’s future success in life. At first glance it sounds very worldly to challenge a parent to raise a child to “be a great lover.” But should we let our children gain this expertise by encouraging them to watch television shows like “The Bachelor” or “The Bachelorette”? This is what the world around us thinks love is all about. In our culture to love something is to want it so badly that you are willing to do what it takes to get it. This current society believes that love refers to a great want. But that sounds like lust! Certainly, God’s plan for love is significantly more intricate than the act of desiring. At first glance, it sounds very worldly to challenge a parent to raise a child to "be a great lover". Where does it rank when it comes to thinking through soccer schedules, learning times tables and getting science projects done? Jesus actually said that a proper understanding of love is the most significant thing we can do (Matthew 22:37-40). Wow! If it is the most important thing we are to do, shouldn’t it follow that it should be the most important thing we are to train our children? What is love? After deciding that training a child to be a great lover is important, the next step is to decide what love is. It is not a just matter of finding a definition; it is a matter of choosing the correct place to find the definition. Our culture defines love as a very conditional interaction with the focal point of that love. You love someone as long as you are getting the things you want in return. You love something for what it does for you. When this arrangement is no longer meeting your needs, you consider finding someone else. The attempt by our culture to define love is more want than a love. It sounds like each individual is driving down the highway called life, pulling into a stop area to get his or her needs met. When their needs tank is full, the person pulls out looking for more opportunities to fill their tank. That kind of “love” leaves this culture strewn with broken people. These are people who are devastated with pain and loss, all because we have lost the understanding of what it means to love another person. It is obvious that we need to turn this around and teach our children what love really is all about. Our culture teaches children that life is all about taking care of self. In other words, love thyself. The culture teaches that the more you get out of life, the more fulfilled you will be. In our heart of hearts, we all know this is not true. Often the wisdom of God is foolishness to the world. Love is not something you get or something you use to get what you want. The opposite is true love; it is something you give. A parent’s love In God’s creative design and incredible wisdom, He gives us an opportunity to learn to love when we have children. Having a baby enter your life is one of life’s most amazing experiences. Let’s face it, looking at the cold hard facts, a baby does nothing for your life. It smells up the house, radically changes its mom’s body, uses up your money and leaves you without sleep. What kind of deal is that? There are moments that you might not like being a parent, but you would do anything for the baby. You love that baby. A parent doesn’t love that baby because he or she is beautiful. Actually, the baby is beautiful to the parent because he/she loves the baby. God’s love God has taught us what it means to love through his plan for our offspring. He has also taught us in His word. When asked the question about priorities and relationships, Jesus answered in Matthew 22, that the most important thing we can do is love God first and then love the people around us second. That leaves me, the great and incredibly needy me, in third place. I’m third. The meeting of my personal needs is third. If this kind of definition of love is the most important thing we are to do, the questions begs to be asked: Who’s teaching that today? The answer should be parents! Children must grow up in a home where they see their parents sacrifice for each other. America’s next generation needs to be able to see that love means putting yourself aside for the sake of love. How else will they ever be able to understand a God who put His deity aside for over thirty years only to die in our place? There is no greater love! Visit parentingonpurpose.org for more advice from Dr. Bob Barnes and Torrey Roberts. - Dr. Bob Barnes and Torrey Roberts - Sheridan House Family Ministries Teaching Children to Love
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MARRIAGE 14 February 2025 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida edition God created us for an intimate relationship with Him and others. We are born with biological needs for bonding and closeness. We're physically needy. We need food, clothing, water and shelter to survive. We're spiritually needy. Man needs communion with God and freedom from guilt and shame; we need forgiveness, mercy and grace. We're also emotionally and relationally needy. We need a relationship with God and others. We’re intellectually needy; we’re born with intellectual capacity, but we need instruction and information. Unaware, many of our deepest and most potent desires are wrapped up in our desire to have our needs met through relationships. We want to feel safe and content. We want to experience passion and excitement. We long for acceptance and being appreciated for simply being who we are. WE WANT TO FEEL LOVED! Some will say that they should meet their own needs or only God can meet all of our needs. Still, if we explore the Scriptures, we'll discover that He often instructs and chooses to involve others in fulfilling our physical, intellectual, emotional and spiritual needs. Philippians 4:19 says, "And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus," but, in verse 14, Paul says, '"Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles." We need to be intentional about guarding our heart, the heart of our spouse, and the hearts of our family. How? Meet their emotional needs. Ten emotional needs Renowned psychologist David Ferguson has outlined and defined ten primary emotional needs noted in the Scriptures. • Acceptance - Receiving another person willingly and unconditionally, especially when the other's behavior has been imperfect; being willing to continue loving another despite offenses. “Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, to bring praise to God" (Romans 15:7). • Affection - Expressing care and closeness through physical touch, carefully respecting the other person's boundaries; saying "I love you." “Greet one another with a holy kiss” (Romans 16:16). “And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them” (Mark 10:16). • Appreciation - Expressing thanks, praise or commendation. Recognizing accomplishment or effort. “I praise you for remembering me in everything and holding to the traditions just as I passed them on to you" (I Corinthians 11:2). • Approval - (Blessing) Building up or affirming another; affirming both the fact of and the importance of a relationship. “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what helps build others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen" (Ephesians 4:29). • Attention - Conveying appropriate interest, concern, and care; taking thought of another; entering another's world. “There should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other" (I Corinthians 12:2). • Comfort - Responding to a hurting person with words, feelings and touch; to hurt with and for another's grief or pain. “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn” (Romans 12:15). “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles to comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we receive from God" (II Corinthians 1:3-4). • Encouragement - Urging another to persist and persevere toward a goal, stimulating toward love and good deeds. “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as you are doing" (I Thessalonians 5:11). • Respect - Valuing and regarding another highly; treating another as important; honoring another. “For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile— the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him” (Romans 12:10). • Security - (Peace) Harmony in relationships; freedom from fear or threat of harm. “Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited” (Romans 12:16). • Support - Coming alongside and gently helping with a problem or struggle; providing appropriate assistance. “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2). We all experience all of the above needs at some point, but generally, we have two to three needs that are priority needs. I encourage you to evaluate and assess your top three needs and then ask your spouse to do the same. Share your priority needs and then share how you'd like those needs to be met. For example, a need for support might be fulfilled by asking for help with the dishes. A need for affection might be: hold my hand when we're in public. Remember, when our needs are met, we feel loved. This Valentines Day love your spouse and family well by meeting their emotional needs. Relate Well Live Well (formerly Live the Life South Florida) exists to strengthen marriages and families through skills-based relationship education beginning in middle school through senior adults. We provide workshops for marriage enrichment and HOPE Weekends for marriages needing a deeper work. RWLW.org - Lisa May - Executive Director, Relate Well Live Well Love Well
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16 february 2025 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South florida edition CHURCH UNITED I grew up reciting the pledge of allegiance to the Christian flag every morning at Immanuel Christian School outside of Washington, DC. “I pledge allegiance to the Christian flag, and to the Savior for whose Kingdom it stands...” Those words got in me. They shaped me. They formed me. And yet, over time, I and many of my peers in ministry have wrestled with the growing tension between the ideals embedded in that pledge and the reality of how much of the Christian community speaks and acts today. That tension has become impossible to ignore - especially in light of the statistics regarding the next generations rapid decline in church attendance and faith identity. The pledge I recited as a child was simple. It declared allegiance not to a nation, not to a political movement, but to Jesus Christ and His Kingdom. A Kingdom that is not of this world but seeks to redeem it. A Kingdom of love, joy, peace, kindness, goodness, patience, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. A Kingdom of justice, mercy and humility. A Kingdom filled with the poor, the powerless, the broken and the outcast. Yet today, that Kingdom often feels obscured. The words of Christ have been entangled with political agendas, cultural battles and material pursuits. The gospel has, at times, been reduced to a tool for power rather than a call to lay power down. Love has been replaced with outrage, joy with fear and peace with division. And for many, the result has been a faith that feels more like an institution to be defended than a life-transforming relationship with the living God. But even in the midst of this dissonance, I still pledge my allegiance to the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom stands apart The Kingdom of God is unlike any earthly kingdom. It is not built on conquest or self-interest. It does not seek to dominate or manipulate. It does not belong to any single nation, party or ideology. Rather, it is a Kingdom defined by a crucified Savior who calls His followers to take up their own crosses and follow Him. This Kingdom is one of radical love — love for our neighbors, love for our enemies, love that does not ask, “what’s in it for me?” but instead seeks to serve and uplift others. This is the love that drove Jesus to eat with sinners, to heal the broken, to welcome the refugee and the marginalized, to challenge the powerful and to give His life so that others might live. It is a love that cannot be co-opted by any movement that prioritizes power over service, wealth over generosity or exclusion over grace. A Kingdom unlike any other Jesus declared that His Kingdom belongs to the poor in spirit, to those who mourn, to the meek, to those who hunger and thirst for righteousness (Matthew 5:3-6). He said that the last would be first and the first would be last (Matthew 20:16). He warned against hoarding wealth, exploiting the vulnerable and seeking positions of honor (Luke 12:15, Matthew 23:6-12). Yet, how often do we see a version of Christianity that seems more concerned with securing influence and preserving comfort than with seeking justice and lifting up the oppressed? How often do we trade the self-sacrificing way of Christ for a faith that promises prosperity, control or social dominance? If I pledge allegiance to the Christian flag, then I must pledge allegiance to the Savior of which this upside-down Kingdom represents —a Kingdom where the marginalized are seen, where the weak are valued and where true power is found by giving it away. A Call to True Allegiance Allegiance to Christ’s Kingdom means more than reciting words. It requires action. It requires humility. It requires repentance. It means choosing faith over fear, hope over cynicism and love over division. It means speaking truth even when it’s unpopular, standing for justice even when it’s costly and extending mercy even when it’s undeserved. It means seeking Christ above all else—not as a means to an end, but as the very foundation of our identity. Allegiance to Christ’s Kingdom comes with the risk of being labeled “woke” one day and “a conservative bigot” the next. For those who have felt the weight of disillusionment, for the children of many committed Christ followers who have wrestled with the ways Christianity has been misrepresented or manipulated, the answer is not to abandon faith but to return to its source. To reclaim the radical, countercultural, life-giving truth of Jesus Christ and His Kingdom. Not a kingdom of men, but the Kingdom of God. Not a kingdom of division, but a Kingdom of reconciliation. Not a kingdom of fear, but a Kingdom of love. A Kingdom that calls us, compels us and transforms us. A Kingdom that is worth our entire life. So today, as I reflect on the pledge I daily recited as a child, I pray that we would say it again with renewed conviction and humility: “I pledge allegiance to the Christian flag, and to the Savior for whose Kingdom it stands. One savior, crucified, risen, and coming again with life and liberty to all who believe.” Learn more about Church United by visiting churchunitedfl.com. I Pledge Allegiance to the Christian Flag - Edwin Copeland - Executive Director Church United
FOSTER CARE 18 February 2025 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida edition February is known for a lot of wonderful things – one of the things that comes to mind the most is love. In fact, for me, not only does the month of February hold Valentine's Day, but it's also my wife Rochelle and daughter Olivia’s birthday on the same day! February holds a lot of love! So when February starts, I start thinking a lot about love. The scripture that stands out for me is in Matthew 22:36-40 where Jesus shares the great commandment. And isn’t it interesting that the great commandment is quite literally commanding us to love? This major pillar of our faith, this great action being asked of us, this direction we receive straight from Jesus, it’s about the action of love. The word “command” brings up other memories for me in my early work as a Child Protective Investigator; I often received subpoenas that read, "You are commanded to appear." I remember having trouble with that language, thinking, “You can’t command me to do this.” It felt so forceful in a way, and because this was a law, it carried so much formality, weightiness and, of course, consequences. But the courts needed this kind of heavy handedness to get compliance. What’s interesting about that to me is that Jesus didn’t need any of that to make this bold commandment. When Jesus commands us to action, He needs no grand declaration from a court or penalties from a government because what He asks of us is to love. Where love starts In this great commandment we see Jesus start with loving God, which tells us it’s the foundation of all of our other love. Our love for Him should possess every part of our soul, every part of our heart, and every part of our mind. So in everything we feel and do, the centerpiece of our life, the center and seat of who we are, this should be based in our love for God. It's powerful if we can orient ourselves to involving Him in every second of every day, not as something that's burdensome or cumbersome, but actually as the presence He desires to be in our everyday lives. Love that goes out The second part of the great commandment is huge, not only are we to love God, but also love our neighbors. Our neighbors are not only those who live next door but it’s everyone in your sphere of influence. Everyone that you can encounter day to day, your coworker, the business you visit, the people you see at the grocery store, the people at your gym, parents from your kid's school, the teachers who teach your kids, and so many more, all of these people! Especially when you live in a place like South Florida where we see such population, our neighbors are everywhere. This can be exhaustive, but our command, our compulsion should be to show them and give them great love. Jesus is asking us to let our love be seen and experienced because in that love, there's the fingerprints of God because God is love. We pray and we often wonder, how do we share who we are with the world? As Christians, there's always an evangelistic push and a commission to share the gospel. But what if we started with letting people experience us? Because when we do that, and we reflect God’s love, then others are encountering Him through the love we carry. Love that turns in The great commandment says to love your neighbor as you love yourself. And you’ve likely heard messages before about this scripture highlighting that we learn to love ourselves before we love other people – and it's true. I'm in a new position as the president of 4KIDS, and I've encountered the busyness and demands of having missional work at this new level. But no matter what you do, I believe everyone who is called to their job is in missional work, whether that’s caring for vulnerable kids and families or being a CPA. There's a sense of God-given mission to your work and you can get lost in it. What I'm realizing, in this season of life, there is a requirement for me to understand what's going on in my own soul. There's a requirement for me to love myself, to be acquainted with what's going on inside me, so I can show love to other people. We are commanded to understand how to love ourselves and that comes by taking time with the Lord and yourself. Asking, “God, what's going on in my soul, my mind and my heart?” As I prioritize those things, then the priority of loving others follows. A foundation of love And finally, the great commandment ends saying, “All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Isn’t it interesting that upon these commandments hang all the law and prophets? There were so many prophets and so many laws and it all comes down to this command of love. When we see that word “hang” it makes me think of what Jesus summed up on the cross, that vertical beam, pointing up, to loving God and that horizontal beam, with arms stretched wide, to loving other people. As I reflect on this month of February, as I reflect on loving my wife and loving my children, as I reflect on my oldest daughter’s birthday and giving her the love she deserves – I’m really reflecting on this great commandment, right? This month gives me and you the chance to remember to orient to love so people see the source of the love we have to share. I don't feel pressured. I don't feel like someone is forcing me to show up – this is so far from a subpoena. I feel a healthy compulsion through His command to love and I hope you do too. Commanded to LOVE! - Andrew Holmes - 4KIDS President
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THE CODE 20 February 2025 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida edition “I am sending him back. You therefore receive him, that is, my own heart, whom I wished to keep with me, that on your behalf he might minister to me in my chains for the gospel But without your consent I wanted to do nothing, that your good deed might not be by compulsion, as it were, but voluntary. For perhaps he departed for a while for this purpose, that you might receive him forever, no longer as a slave but more than a slave-a beloved brother, especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord” (Philemon 1:12–16). “Let’s just bury the hatchet.” How many times have we heard this well-worn phrase, and how few times have we genuinely put it into practice? It carries with it all the connotations of mending broken relationships, forgetting old scores, and beginning again, afresh and anew. The phrase finds its origin in American Indian culture. When making peace with each other, they would ceremoniously bury a hatchet in the ground to signify those hostilities were over and done with. The capacity to forgive is one of the most vital, and often one of the most overlooked concepts in ongoing interpersonal relationships. The ability to forgive others, and sometimes even ourselves, is essential in the maintenance of positive and mutually beneficial relationships. Forgiveness: The foundation of lasting relationships The single most important factor in ongoing relationships is the ability to forgive, to bury the hatchet, when we have been wronged. Paul's letter to Philemon teaches us that positive relationships are not simply built on affirmation and accommodation, but their fabric must be woven with strands of forgiveness for them to endure. Any relationship that is lasting and worthwhile will have its moments of stress and disappointment, even brokenness, at times. The ability to forgive a wrong is always found in the most lasting relationships. In fact, the most secure ones are usually those in which people have weathered the storms and buried the hatchets. My wife, Susie, and I have now been married over half a century. There have been times when I have been insensitive to her needs or spoken harshly. But she has always forgiven me and moved on. In raising our daughters, there were times we made mistakes and our patience ran thin. But our girls have always forgiven us. There were times when they did not always obey and later came to ask for forgiveness, and we always buried the hatchet with lessons learned and applied. Unfortunately, many interpersonal relationships with so much potential are destroyed by a lack of forgiveness. When some cannot swallow their pride and bury the hatchet with another, they are building barriers in place of bridges to better relationships. Forgiveness, accompanied by the desire to move forward, is key to successful marriages, productive business ventures, continued local church health and growth, and lasting friendships. The two sides of reconciliation In order to bury the hatchet in relationships, it is imperative to remember that there are two sides of a coin. As the old adage says, "It takes two to tango." There is an offending party and an offended party in broken relationships. And if we are honest, each of us has been both the offender and the offended. Onesimus was the offending party in this drama before us. He was a bond servant to Philemon and under contractual obligations. Under the cover of night, Onesimus robbed Philemon and ran away. There is also an offended party in broken relationships. That is, there is one who has been wronged or wounded. The Bible makes plain that Philemon was the offended party. And the truth is, in most broken relationships, we need a "Paul," someone who can stand in the middle and help each party see the part they must play to make wrongs right again. Two things must happen, one on the part of the offending party and the other on the part of the offended party, to genuinely mend a broken relationship. The offending party must come to the table with a repentant heart. If not, there can be no genuine reconciliation. If Onesimus had simply said he was sorry and returned with no recourse or change of heart or attitude, the wound would never have healed and the relationship would never have mended. How many tunes have we seen this scenario play out when the offending party is not truly sorry but simply sorry they got caught? There must be a truly repentant heart on the part of the offending party. However, it takes two to bury the hatchet. There must be a receptive heart on the part of the offended party that is void of a spirit of resentment or retaliation. Most often the biggest burden falls on those who have been deeply wronged in a relationship. As a pastor for decades, I have noticed that most relationships are destroyed not because the offending party lacked a repentant heart but because the offended party would not receive the other, forgive, and move on. Both parties have a major role in seeing true reconciliation become a reality. Lessons from Onesimus and Philemon Most broken relationships can be salvaged. If I were speaking now, I would raise my voice a little here for emphasis. "Most broken relationships can be salvaged!” I am a firm believer in reconciliation. I have seen it take place in so many beautiful ways. But everyone must do their part. We live in a culture where more and more are going from one relationship to another, repeating a process that leaves broken hearts and battered dreams in their wake. Too many, when seeing a breakdown in a relationship, simply cut what they could not untie, like an old shoelace. No matter how much may have been invested in someone, it seems easier for some to junk the relationship and move on to the next. We do not do that with our automobiles. We make a major investment in a car, and if it doesn’t start one morning, what do we do? Junk it? If we can’t fix it, we call for help. We pinpoint the problem and get it fixed. If that is good sense for an auto repair, why isn’t it good sense for relationships that have years of investment behind them? There are too many deposits of love and time invested in a relationship to just junk it when it sputters or has a flat tire. When relationships are broken, our general tendency is to see ourselves only as the offended party. And this is exactly at the heart of why some of us live a lifetime with broken relationships discarded along our path of life. Few of us really want to admit that we are the offending party. It is usually someone else's fault in our minds. Few of us are keen on taking personal responsibility. We have been programmed since our childhood to point the finger of accusation at someone else. But isn't there a little of Onesimus in all of us? Could it be that as we continue reading his story, we have something to learn from him? Onesimus went back! And he did so with sincere remorse and regret that led to genuine repentance. Philemon had no choice but to receive him and let the party begin. Perhaps you are Onesimus. It might be that, like him, you need to go back and admit a wrong when before you insisted that you were always right. Are you Philemon? Do you need to forgive someone who hurt or wronged you? Is here an experience from your own life in which you need to bury the hatchet? Taken from The Connection Code by O.S. Hawkins. Copyright © 2023 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. A native of Fort Worth, Texas, he has a BBA from Texas Christian University and his MDiv and Ph.D. from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. For almost a quarter of a century, he served as president of GuideStone Financial Resources, with assets under management of $20 billion, serving 250,000 pastors, church staff members, missionaries, doctors, university professors, and other workers in various Christian organizations with their investment, retirement and benefit service needs. He is the author of more than 40 books and regularly speaks to business groups and churches nationwide. All of the author’s royalties and proceeds from the Code series support Mission:Dignity. You can learn more about Mission:Dignity by visiting MissionDignity.org. - Dr. O.S. Hawkins - Chancellor, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary Burying the Hatchet
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22 February 2025 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida edition YOU ASK WHY Our Fascination with Procrastination There are countless ways we can waste the little and precious time our Lord has given to us. But there is one way that trumps them all – PROCRASTINATION – putting off until tomorrow what we should and must do today. And if the truth be known, one day soon, tomorrow will not come. “As Paul talked about righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, ‘That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you’” (Acts 24:25). The apostle Paul is speaking before Governor Felix at Caesarea about the truth claims of the gospel. Startled and afraid of what Paul was saying, Felix invokes the #1-time waster in the world . . . PROCRASTINATION! And procrastinating in this one area can mean the difference between eternal life and eternal death. Procrastinate about mowing the lawn or doing your laundry and your life will not be altered too greatly. But procrastinate in responding to the Good News of the Gospel, and your life here and on the other side of the grave will be greatly altered. What procrastination really means The word procrastinate comes from two Latin words that, when combined, mean “toward tomorrow.” Procrastination is simply putting off “toward tomorrow” what should be done today. The primary problem with putting off till tomorrow what we should be doing today is our presumption. We presume tomorrow will come. Well, it will come. But it may not come for you or for me. Only God knows how much time we have on this earth, and we should be focused on doing the things God has called us to do in a timely manner. It was Mark Twain who once said, “Never put off till tomorrow what you can do the day after tomorrow.” Breaking free from procrastination So, how are you doing in the area of procrastination? Are you doing ok in some areas, but less than ok in others? That is generally the case for all of us. We have a tendency to do what we want to do or feel most comfortable doing and put off things that are uncomfortable. Perhaps you are facing a major project in your life right now and you have not been able to overcome inertia and get going. One of the first steps to take is to break it down into smaller more manageable portions of work. Perhaps you have heard the phrase, “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step!” Prayerfully consider in which areas of your life right now where procrastination has a strangle hold on you. Take it in prayer to the throne of grace. Share it with someone close to you who can encourage you and help hold you accountable. Satan’s strategy: no hurry In The Screwtape Letters, the apologetic novel by C. S. Lewis, addressing issues of temptation and resistance to it, the senior demon Screwtape is mentoring his nephew Wormwood. In the story we read about three apprentice demons who are getting ready for their first assignment to mess with God’s people. When they meet with Satan, they are asked what strategy they planned to follow: The first demon apprentice said, “I will tell the people that there is no God.” Satan said, “That will not work, because in their heart of hearts they know there is a God.” The second demon apprentice said, “I will tell people there is no hell.” Satan said, “That will not work because there is so much evil in the world, they know there must be a hell.” The third demon apprentice said, “I will tell people there is no hurry.” “GO,” Satan said, “tell them that and you will ruin them by the millions!” By saying there is “no hurry” the goal is to lull the human race into a false sense of security, making them less to look to Jesus and actively resist temptation. I believe procrastination is one of Satan’s sharpest darts. He whispers, “Do it tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow.” Eventually, tomorrow will not come for all of us. May we be found doing today, the work God has set before us for one reason only – the glory of Almighty God. And the first and most important work is to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved. 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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