Baton Rouge Christian Life Magazine - February 2018

Baton Rouge

Christian

February 2018

F REE

Magazine

Chaplain Alonzo Young Music and Mentoring for the Mentally Ill ALSO INSIDE:

Intimacy with God and Others The Power of Words

Join us for the One Book One Community

LAUNCH PARTY celebrating the selection

HIDDEN FIGURES

by Margot Lee Shetterly

6 p.m. Saturday, February 24 Main Library at Goodwood 7711 Goodwood Blvd.

FREE family fun|In partnership with Forum 35 Special guest astronaut trainee Alyssa Carson|NASA STEM Team on site Food, music, games, prizes, Moon Walk

Check us out at www.ebrpl.com

THIS MONTH AT BREC P L A Y. D I S C O V E R . G R O W .

FA L L FOR

February

Valentine’s Movie Mixer Jefferson Hwy. Park

Feb. 2 | 6-9:30 p.m.

Make it a Movie Night: The Princess Bride Independence Park Theatre

.

Feb. 9 | 7 p.m.

Sweet Tart Art Feb. 10 | 9-11 a.m.

Milton J. Womack Park Adult Leisure Weekend Tea Dance: Valentine’s Day Dance Feb. 10 | 1-3 p.m.

Milton J. Womack Park

Flashlight Night at the Swamp

Feb. 16 | 5-9 p.m.

Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center

Inclusive Sunshine Social: Mardi Gras Masquerade Ball Milton J. Womack Park

Feb. 16 | 6-9 p.m.

Movie in the Park Feb. 16 | 6:30-9:30 p.m.

Jackson Community Park Evening Sky Viewing Plus

Feb. 17 | 7-10 p.m.

Highland Road Park Observatory

Swamp Volunteer Day Feb. 19 | 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center Black History Event

Feb. 22 | 6:30-8 p.m.

Independence Park Theatre

NanoDays

Feb. 24 | 2-6 p.m.

Highland Road Park Observatory

brec.org/thismonth To volunteer at these or other events, email VOLUNTEER@BREC.ORG

contents

February 2018

columns

Baton Rouge

Christian

Faith Life

7 Love Grows, Love Flows

by Jack Lynch

8

Created for Intimacy

by Sharon Holeman

Family Life

10 The Lord is Their Shepherd

by Lisa Tramontana

Creative Life

18-23 Cover story

Chaplain Alonzo Young Music and Mentoring for the Mentally Ill

12 A Look Back...at Love

by Sharon Furrate Bailey

Man Up for Life

14 Men are Called to Christian

by Susan Brown

Intimacy

by Rev. Ted Fine

Pastor’s Perspective

30 Knowing Him Leads to Absolute

27 12

inside each issue

36

Intimacy

by Rev. Dr. Brian Sleeth

Witness at Work

32 Faith Can Be a Key to Success

by Lisa Tramontana

Healthy Life

34 Keep Your Heart Healthy

5 Publisher’s letteR 6 Words of the word 26 a little lagniappe

Finding God When the Unthinkable Happens

by Rachele Smith To Everything, There is a Season We Need Leaders with Faith and Character by Dale Brown Testimony of the Intimate Heart by Pamela Gauthier

36 WHAT DOES IT MEAN? 37 COOKING FOR LIFE 38 opportunities for life

Magazine

issue 11, volume 3 February 2018 PUBLISHER Beth Townsend beth@brclm.com Associate Editor/Publisher Susan Brown Director of Distribution Elmo Winters elmo@brclm.com contributing writers Lisa Tramontana Susan Brown Sharon Furrate Bailey Sharon Holeman Kelli M. Knight Jack Lynch Ted Fine Rachele Smith Dale Brown Brian Sleeth Pamela Gauthier COVER Alonzo Young Taylor Frey of Taylor Frey Productions LAYOUT & DESIGN BY Illuminated Designs Studio printed by RR Donnelley / Memphis, TN BATON ROUGE CHRISTIAN LIFE MAGAZINE WEBSITE BY Therese Winters, Mine Your Business Virtual Solutions & Kadmos BATON ROUGE CHRISTIAN LIFE MAGAZINE 9655 Perkins Road, Suite C-133 Baton Rouge, LA 70810 225-910-7426

batonrougechristianlifemagazine.com 4

@brclifemagazine

@brclife

FEBRUARY 2018 l Baton Rouge Christian Life Magazine

Facebook.com/batonrougechristianlifemagazine

Publisher’s LETTER

W

Introducing…‘Words of the Word’ One of the most powerful tools in the world is perhaps the most underutilized. Words.

The first chapter of Genesis is the story of Creation. One of the key phrases is “And God said…” He created this most amazing world by speaking. “Let there be…” Also in Genesis, we read how God created man in his own image. If God spoke the world into existence with His words and created us in his image, what does that say about our words? Our words have tremendous power.

Because of this transformational Truth, we will spend this year focusing on ‘Words of the Word.’ This month’s word is Intimacy. Since “love is in the air” in February, we felt it would be fitting to go deeper and talk about the depth of God’s love for us and our love for one another. “No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.” (1 John 4:12 ESV).

Each month, our theme word will reflect one team member’s favorite. While planning the year, each has carefully picked one special word that had deep meaning to them. That person will write about what they have chosen and why it is important in their life. We know you will enjoy hearing from our various team members each month!

As publisher, my goal for our monthly magazine has been to bring unity to our Body of Christ. Can you imagine how we could affect our city if we were all working together, somehow on the same page for the same reason at the same time? While we attend different churches of various denominations, we can come together and support one another. One way we can do that is to commit to using our words as tools to bring change and help others to grow in their faith.

Some words to consider: Encourage: It takes very little to encourage another. Speaking kind words is always good, but speaking life means reminding others to reflect and see God at work in their life. “Let’s pray about this. Ask the Lord to lead you about that. Let’s find a Scripture for guidance before you make that decision. What if you wait until you hear from the Lord before you make that life change? May I pray with you now?” Those simple statements or questions can usher God’s power immediately into any situation.

Y

Equip: Remind others that God has a purpose for them. Even in the hard places, He is at work bringing about His will. Our world rushes people into quick decisions, yet our faith is most often deepened when we choose to wait on God. Equip others by reminding them to listen for God’s voice above the noise of the world and the voices of others. Waiting on God can often help others avoid making catastrophic decisions.

Engage: Great conversations don’t just happen. It takes intentionality. Good eye contact and body language help initiate depth and authenticity. Listen more and speak less. Converse with one another, listen for the Holy Spirit to move as you seek to hear Him more. He promises to be our Helper! Let him truly help by inviting Him in to every conversation and trusting Him to guide and nudge our hearts into alignment with His will.

Words? How we use them can change everything! Join us this year as we commit to using them to encourage, equip and engage one another more intimately.

Beth Townsend Baton Rouge Christian Life Magazine l FEBRUARY 2018

5

X

Word from the Word

New in 2018...our ‘Words of the Word’ themes Intimacy

by Kelli Knight

“H

ave you ever met anyone that you literally just “clicked” with? With that person in your life, every breath you took seemed to make sense in the world. Just a glance at that person could make you smile literally for hours. Even if that person wasn’t with you, it was as though he or she was. You took a piece of that person with you everywhere you went. And, the best part, you could easily tell that the feelings were mutual. You knew without a shadow of a doubt that this person adored you…you were his or her reason to exist even if just for that moment.”

I saw this posted on a friend’s Facebook page, and immediately, the image of a tangible person came to mind. I felt a physical jolt as I went on to read the follow-up paragraph. It began like this: “Most of you have someone in mind when you read this. However, think for just a minute that it described a relationship with God. Is it hard to believe that God wants you to be just as passionate about His existence and position in your life?”

What an impact this point made. Nothing is truer, though. God wants an intimate and passionate relationship with each of us. Think of your children or your spouse or your parents. What happens if you’re somewhere and you hear a song that makes you think of one of them? You smile and maybe even call or text. Perhaps you’re in the store and you see the “perfect” gift for your spouse or child or parent and you know it’s “perfect” because of the intimacy that exists. Isn’t it wonderful to have “an object of your affection?” God wants this type of intimate relationship with us. He wants us to have it with Jesus, too. Life becomes exponentially more vibrant when one has an intimate relationship with God and Jesus, when they are the “object of our affection.”

How does one build intimacy with God? For some, this is a difficult answer. Intimacy comes with getting to know a person. The answer is unique to each person reading this. An intimate relationship is probably one of the most unique types of relationships that can be had. An individual has to determine what makes his or her relationship intimate. It could be simple conversation with God or doing good for others not because that’s what is supposed to be done, but more because we want to do the right thing. Once a person gets to know God, believes there will never be rejection in the relationship, and can feel the intimacy that’s been created, then that person can experience true happiness…an endless “honeymoon phase.” It’s there for us all once we decide to “click” with God. U

6

FEBRUARY 2018 l Baton Rouge Christian Life Magazine

Faith LIFE

Love Grows, Love Flows

W

by Jack Lynch

I

n this month that focuses on Valentines’ Day, we often think of intimate relationships we have with others. Intimacy defined by our society is one thing, but intimacy in the biblical sense is another.

Biblical intimacy has two directions. It is, first of all, vertical. Intimacy grows out of a relationship of love. The Bible teaches us that we are made in God’s image, and that God is love. Thus, God first loved us, and because of this, we are able to love Him (the vertical direction). The second direction is our ability to love others (the horizontal direction).

This is perhaps best expressed in 1 John 4:10-11: “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”

Here we see both the vertical and the horizontal – God loving us, and us loving one another.

The love here expressed is sacrificial in nature. It means doing something good that benefits another, not oneself. Sacrificial love is the foundation for all other concepts in the biblical “love family,” including intimacy.

The above passage expresses God the Father’s love for His creatures through His Son’s death for our sins, and this makes possible our response of love toward God through faith. It is an intimate, personal and spiritual relationship of love with God that is begun at that moment.

Apart from that unique relationship to God (spiritual rebirth), there can be no biblical, spiritual relationship to God and therefore, no biblical, spiritual intimacy with another. First comes the intimate, spiritual relationship with God. That can then be shared with another who is spiritually related to God. As for the intimate and spiritual relationship that a husband and wife may have in Christ Jesus … it is like nothing else this world can offer. U

Jack Lynch is an accomplished Bible teacher for Radio Bible Courses, Ltd., which meets every Sunday at 9:15 a.m. at Burden Conference Center. The public is invited to this amazing study of God’s Word. See ad on the inside back cover for more details.

Baton Rouge Christian Life Magazine l FEBRUARY 2018

7

X

Faith LIFE

Created for Intimacy

by Sharon Holeman

I

stood there in silence, taking a photograph in my mind. I wanted to take out my phone and snap a quick still, but it probably would not have been well received by the others in the room. I wondered if they could see the beauty that was before them, for to most eyes it was nonexistent. But for me, a photographer by trade, it was almost framed up too perfectly inside my lens eye to ignore.

I resisted. Hospital rooms are not pretty places. The walls are bland, the smells are bad, and the temperatures borderline frigid.

However, that September day, down that particular hallway, within those four walls, intimacy was present.

My father-in-law was a super likable guy. He was friendly – the life of the party, smart and successful. He was a happy person, and when he spoke with excitement about something, his voice would do a charming and unique soft squeak-crackle

Even though we as people do not know for sure where the Garden is located, we can find intimacy with God. He has gifted us with this simply for the asking.

Our pursuit of Him will not fall short.

Love Tree by Sharon Holeman 8

FEBRUARY 2018 l Baton Rouge Christian Life Magazine

Faith LIFE thing, a sound typically reserved for 16-year-old boys. I miss that crackle. He was also a handsome man to whom my husband bears an undeniable resemblance.

Pops, as he was lovingly called, lived a full life before the sickness took over. Like many of us, he had seasons of walking with God. Some of his seasons were full of involvement and some near seeming abandonment. I certainly can’t speak of his personal relationship with the Lord for that is forever between the two of them, but only what can be observed from afar… and across a room.

It is a strange thing to say, but the sickness, for all its horrors, was used by God for the good of Pops. “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” (Romans 8:28) The perspective of Pops transformed. He began to long for intimacy with a newfound intensity.

He read books on miracles and spoke of them with his crackle voice. He came to church with us and talked of visions of angels rejoicing in the aisles. He told my husband and me that he now realized marriage, or rather love, was so much more than physical. He gave his testimony to a tent full of strangers. He humbly reached out to past wounds with the hope of forgiveness. He found joy despite the circumstances as he pursued intimacy.

Pops got it right. After all, isn’t that what we are created for? Intimacy – created in God’s image (Genesis 1:26) for a relationship with others – animals, other humans and God Himself. Adam and Eve were granted dominion over the earth (Genesis 1:28), and Adam was allowed to name the animals (Genesis 2:19). God shared His creation with His creation.

How amazing is He! Such a good Father, initiating fellowship from the start. It is quite a thought - to freely walk in the Garden in the cool of the day, conversation among conception, surrounded by peaceful beauty, ultimate intimacy with God.

W

Even though we as people do not know for sure where the Garden is located, we can find intimacy with God. He has gifted us with this simply for the asking. Our pursuit of Him will not fall short. Jesus told us to “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened for you.”

(Matthew 7:7) Ask. Jesus did. “If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit who leads into all truth …” (John 14:15-17) – His abiding presence.

Ask. It is what Pops did that day in the hospital. After our visit was complete, he asked for pure, simple intimacy. It was time for us to leave so he could just be held. And as I watched his wife stretch her long, blue jean-covered legs atop the crisp white sheet, and lay her head next to his, beauty unfolded.

The simplicity of intimacy was before me: extended time with someone who loves you unconditionally – where there is no agenda, no rush, just a peaceful, priceless moment together.

The fall from grace that happened after the apple was eaten had dire consequences, but God did not take away the wonderful gift of relationship. It is still our choice to pursue.

It is available to us all. May we slow down enough to embrace intimacy – smell roses, walk in gardens, ask for hugs, carve out time for relationships, pray, sing, create and see the beauty that is right in front of us. U Sharon Holeman is a writer and photographer living in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She was the project creator, coordinator and co-author of the book Backyard Miracles - 12 American Women, 12 True Stories, 1 Miraculous God. Previously published in Her Glory and Inspire Louisiana, she is now penning her first screenplay. Sharon is a graduate of the University of Texas at San Antonio and The Art Institute of Houston.

She is currently attending Bethany College to further her pursuit of the Lord and His Word.

YOUR BODY IS SPEAKING weight gain, fatigue, mood swings, food cravings, brain fog, insomnia, digestive issues, depression, anxiety, skin maladies

IT’S TIME TO LISTEN

Find Out More!

reclaimwellness.net or call (225) 772-6880 Baton Rouge Christian Life Magazine l FEBRUARY 2018

9

X

The Lord is Their

Shepherd

55-year marriage is a gift from God

by Lisa Tramontana

C

..ongratulations to Milton and Leola Lee, who recently celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary. The

Lees have two children and eight grandchildren, and are lifelong members of New Pilgrim Baptist Church in Zachary.* Milton and Leola were high school sweethearts at Northwestern High School in Zachary, where Milton played football and Leola performed in the band. After marrying in 1962, Milton worked as a lab technician at Copolymer Corporation and retired after 40 years.

Leola was a Motor Vehicles Officer at the State Police Headquarters for 33 years.

They keep a positive attitude by staying involved in hobbies and church activities. At least once a week, Milton plays golf and Leola bowls in the Young at Heart bowling league. He is active in the Zachary Men’s Club, and she has long been a member of the East Baton Rouge Women’s Auxiliary. At church, they have both served in various roles, including choir, Bible study and social committees.

They agree on the secret to their long and happy marriage … God. “God is in our life and always has been,” said Milton.

“Like all couples, we’ve had our ups and downs, but as long as we’ve put him before everything else, he has kept us together.”

Leola says communication is another key to a successful marriage … with her husband and with God. “With Milton, I talk about whatever is on my heart,” she said. “With God, I pray … to keep my faith strong and to watch over the people I love.” And when she needs comfort, Leola says, she goes to her Bible and reads her favorite Scripture, the 23rd Psalm. *New Pilgrim Baptist Church is led by Errol K. Domingue, Ph.D.

10

FEBRUARY 2018 l Baton Rouge Christian Life Magazine

Milton and Leola Lee celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary.

Words of Comfort

Go to batonrougechristianlifemagazine.com to hear an audio recording of Leola Lee reading the 23rd Psalm from the Old Testament.

Largest Flexsteel gallery in Baton Rouge

Family life

WALK IN TUBS

BATH REMODELS

WALK IN TUBS

Family & Cosmetic Dentistry

0% 0%

WERS Treatment of Snoring/Sleep Apnea

WERS

“We know how MONTHS to make you smile” 18

WALK IN TUBS

18 MONTHS

TILE SHOWERS

$1000 $1000 OFFOFF

18 MONTHS

VISIT OUR VISIT OUR SHOWROOM SHOWROOM 12504 S CHOCTAW DR

CALL CALLTODAY 12504 S CHOCTAW DR BATON ROUGE, LA 70815 TODAY BATON ROUGE, LA 70815 $1000 OFF 400-5444 Town (225)(225) 400-5444 CounTry Furniture

BATH REMODELS Owners TILE SHOWERS Owners Danny & Brenda LeBlanc Danny & Brenda LeBlanc

Call Today!

0% (225) 292-9700

WERS

TILE SHOWERS

BATH REMODELS

(225) 400-5444

11811 Coursey Blvd. Ste. A WERS WERS www.cffdds.com CALL

VISIT OUR SHOWROOM

YOUR SPECIAL ORDER STORE Over 3500 fabrics and a million design options

$1000 TODAY 0% *New Patients only.

New Patients WALK IN TUBS OFF WALK IN TUBS Must present BATH REMODELS TILE SHOWERS ReceiveWERS *FREE D0150,coupon.

WERS VISIT OUR 0% D0274, D0330 $1000 SHOWROOM 0% (225) 400-5444 (Value $252) 18 CALL Exam & X-rays OFF MONTHS 18 WALK IN TUBS

Owners Danny & Brenda LeBlanc

WERS

BATH REMODELS 12504 S CHOCTAW DR BATON ROUGE, LA 70815

TILE SHOWERS

18 MONTHS

WERS

TODAY BATON ROUGE, LA 70815 VISIT400-5444 OUR (225) SHOWROOM Owners 12504 S CHOCTAW DR

Owners Danny & Brenda LeBlanc

MONTHS

6545 Airline Hwy. LA (225) 355-6666 TILE SHOWERS Mon-Sat 9:30-5pm

BATH REMODELS

$1000 OFF

tcfurniture.com VISIT OUR SHOWROOM CALL

We need you in 2018!

Owners Danny & Brenda LeBlanc

CALL TODAY WERS

12504 S CHOCTAWDanny DR & Brenda LeBlanc BATON ROUGE, LA 70815

12504 S CHOCTAW DR BATON ROUGE, LA 708

(225) 400-5444

(225) 400-5444

WERS

TODAY

Join us in the ‘Good News’ Business WERS

+ Since 2015 we have reached over 1 million people with the gospel + Print and web editions available each month, pick up rate near 100% + Distributing 10,000 copies monthly to 5 parishes in over 250 locations + Non-denominational stories that include all, encouraging unity in the Body of Christ

Changing our city, one story at a time!

Help us share the good things happening in our city.

Contact Founder Beth Townsend for a meeting.beth@brclm.com Baton Rouge

Christian Magazine

Baton Rouge Christian Life Magazine l FEBRUARY 2018

11

X

Creative LIFE

A Look Back

at Love

by Sharon Furrate Bailey

God is Love. In Him we move and have our being. (Acts 17:28).

This month, we contacted several of the artists featured in our 2017 Creative Life stories and asked them for their definitions of love. Whether their talents consist of painting or performing, they all agree that God the Father is the master creator. In a sense, he hands everyone a brush and a can of paint and says, “Go to work. Use your gifts.” The word revelation means “to unveil.” When an artist has a revelation or an intimate encounter with God, he or she may deliver that message on canvas, with a song, through dance, or whatever talent he or she possesses. Here, some of our featured artists share their thoughts:

“Love? Hmmm … I believe love is when we allow ourselves and encourage ourselves to be who we were created to be without judgment.

We should not develop stereotypes or try and keep up with ‘the Joneses.’ We need to feel free to just be!” My favorite Scripture is Psalm 34:7. “He will send angels to encamp around us to protect us and deliver us from all of our fears.”

– Kim Bullen, painter Angel Teepee pointed by Kim Bulllen.

“Love is doing something for someone else without expectations of that person. We should give and show love through our actions and not expect something tangible in return. As for my favorite scripture, it is Philippians 4:13 (NKJV) – I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” – Randell Henry, painter, Southern University professor

Saturday Night painted by Randell Henry.

12

FEBRUARY 2018 l Baton Rouge Christian Life Magazine

Creative LIFE “To keep it simple, yet profound, love is …‘Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.’ [Luke 23:34]. Jesus was the most falsely accused and unjustly punished man in history. He was humiliated, tortured and separated from the things He loved, but He still asked the Father to have mercy on his persecutors and then He died for the crimes they committed against Him. What he did for us is a true example of unconditional love. God’s desire for us is to say to those who hurt us, ‘Lord, forgive them for they know not what they do.’ Forgiveness is a treasure we can hold in our hearts. One of my favorite songs is the Revelation Song. It always brings me back to the awesomeness of what Christ did for me on the cross. It gives me hope that no matter what painful and scary trial I am facing, God has already won the battle, and I’m going to be better than okay.” – Allison Collins, singer

W

Allison Collins, local singer

“Love is a state of being, not just a feeling. It starts within and flows out to touch others. One of my favorite Scripture passages is Proverbs 31:1-31. It has served as a guide for when I set goals, and it reminds me to live as God would have me live as a woman of faith.” – Maria Boudreaux, painter Boudreaux with Prayer and Meditation

“When I think about love, I think about God’s longsuffering character. The Hebrew term is arek aph, which literally means ‘slow to anger.’ I like the way the J.B. Phillips translation of 1 Corinthians 13 describes love: ‘This love of which I speak is slow to lose patience … it looks for a way of being constructive. It is not possessive: it is neither anxious to impress nor does it cherish inflated ideas of its own importance. Love has good manners and does not pursue selfish advantage. It is not touchy. It does not keep account of evil or gloat over the wickedness of other people. On the contrary, it is glad with all good men when truth prevails.

Love knows no limit to its endurance, no end to its trust, no fading of its hope; it can outlast anything. It is, in fact, the one thing that still stands when all else has fallen’ (1 Corinthians 13:4-8a).”

– Monica Wood, ceramic artist/painter

Ceramic pieces created by Monica Wood.

Sharon Furrate Bailey grew up in Alexandria, La., and moved to Baton Rouge to attend LSU. She earned a B.A. in English Literature in 1990. She attends Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church. Sharon has been in the field of marketing, sales and public relations since 1996. She is a gifted artist and has been a columnist since 2005. She can be reached at sharon@brclm.com.

Baton Rouge Christian Life Magazine l FEBRUARY 2018

13

X

Man UP for life

Men are Called to

ChristianIntimacy

by Rev. Ted Fine photos courtesy Rev. Ted Fine

by Rev. Ted Fine From left, Valerie Fine, Patricia Taylor, Rev. George Veal, Rev. Ted Fine and a young volunteer at a community service project.

I

ntimacy can be a tough subject for men. After all, real men are strong, self-sufficient and taskoriented with a special calling to spiritual leadership in the family (I know, not necessarily the politically correct thing to say nowadays, but true nonetheless – Gen 3:16, Proverbs 31:1-31, Ephesians 6:4, Colossians 3:18, 1 Peter 3:1-7, you get the picture).

14

FEBRUARY 2018 l Baton Rouge Christian Life Magazine

Women are the intimate creatures in God’s creation, and it’s better to let them do what they do best, and men to do what they do best, right? As it turns out, not so much, according to Scripture. And how (or whether) the Christian chooses to acknowledge that fact has a huge impact on the Church and its effectiveness in carrying out the great commission.

“How in the world,” you may ask, “can male intimacy affect the Church?” One of the more straightforward clues can be found in 1 John 4:7-8: “Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love.” The first thing to notice in John’s exhortation to love is that it is a universal calling: “Everyone who loves is born of God” which means that men are called along with women into loving relationships with God and His created order. I might add that

W

Man UP for life we are called on equal footing with women (Galatians 3:28). That being said, what more intimate expression of the human condition is there than love? The answer is simple: None! Thus, it follows that all Christians have been called to a godly intimacy. If we are not practicing it in every part of our lives, we are not going to be in a right relationship with God, and ultimately, we will fall away from full and faithful participation in the Church.

Here’s where all this plays in to the whole effect-on-the-Church scenario: Studies have shown that the level of a family man’s (full) participation in church (or lack thereof), can have a huge impact on the rest of the family’s participation (by up to as much as an 80% swing in their children’s level of attendance), regardless of the woman’s level of dedication. The takeaway: If men go to church, the vast majority of their children tend to be there with them. That’s not a hit on motherhood by the way. It is simply a fact that speaks directly to the importance of men to the family unit when it comes to their overall participation in the Body of Christ.

The fact is, we (the Church) must be all-in when it comes to having high expectations of unwavering male participation in congregational communities, expectations that begin with intimacy and the love of Christ, though they most certainly do not end there.

The universality of intimacy called for in Scripture is not limited to defining male/female equality in things of God. Indeed, it extends to calling for equality in all people everywhere.

Last year, I became involved in the Kingdom Group Men’s Unity Breakfasts, an effort focused not only on engaging Christian men in greater discipleship participation, but also in encouraging cross cultural dialogue on racial disunity, one of the biggest killers of Christian unity in the United States. These gatherings encourage hard conversations, with lots of listening and a willingness to approach others with open hearts and open minds. The really good news is, the men showing up at these breakfasts are open to listening and growing in their understanding of other people’s racial and life experiences. The Bible tells us that the beginning of wisdom is insight (Proverbs 4:7), and insight is the beginning of

Selwyn Blouin, left, reaches out to community children.

greater understanding and the breaking down of the walls - walls of fear that keep the children of God separated and weaken the Church of God. I am looking forward in 2018 to a year of massive headway in race relations and the unity of the church through the efforts of groups like the Kingdom Group, as well as other organizations such as East Feliciana’s own FBIJ (Firm Believers In Jesus) spearheaded by Bishop George Veal. Like

Valluzzo Companies Locally Owned and Operated with 50 Locations in Louisiana and Mississippi

Baton Rouge Christian Life Magazine l FEBRUARY 2018

15

X

Man UP for life Left: East Feliciana Sheriff Jeff Travis leads an ecumenical town prayer.

Right: East Feliciana Sheriff Jeff Travis and Rev. George Veal attend an FBIJ gathering.

the Unity Breakfasts, FBIJ aims at cross cultural experiences, offering monthly opportunities for joint worship between folks who look different from one another.

The bottom line, friends, is that all of these efforts begin with Christian intimacy, and men are not only called into that intimacy along with women, but are actually the ones who should be out in front leading the way to closer, more intimate relationships with one another and with the God of all creation. U Smith, D. (2014, June 16). Swiss study shows fathers are important to a child’s chuch attendance.

The Rev. Ted Fine and his wife Valerie moved to Clinton, LA and began serving as lead pastor at Clinton United Methodist Church and Clear Creek United Methodist Church in July, 2016. They have four grown children and one grandchild. Rev. Fine is passionate about ministry, both inside and outside the walls of the church, believing that the real Church has no walls and knows no boundaries. His one great desire in life is to see the love of Christ lived out as it is intended by God and ascribed to in Scripture. Besides his pastoral duties, Rev. Fine serves as prayer advocate for the Louisiana Conference of the UMC, and chairman of the East Feliciana Long Term Recovery Group’s Unmet Needs Committee.

16

FEBRUARY 2018 l Baton Rouge Christian Life Magazine

? LIFE

W

8281 GOOdwOOd blvd., Suite a-1 ~ batOn rOuGe, la 70806

225-218-2299 •

pilatescenterbr.com

owner/instructor: therese pittman

barre cardio classes • private & Group sessions • morninG thru eveninG hours

A fully equipped studio that offers personalized training with credentialed instructors Pilates can make a difference in your health without taking a toll on your body. By emphasizing proper breathing, correct spinal and pelvic alignment, and concentration on smooth, flowing movement, you become in tune with your body and learn how to control its movement.

Our Specialty areaS include: ScOliOSiS, OSteOpOrOSiS, pre/pOSt natal, & pink ribbOn breaSt cancer

pOwer plate acceleratiOn traininG

Change your words.

Change your world.

Baton Rouge Christian Life Magazine l FEBRUARY 2018

17

X

Cover Story

Chaplain Alonzo Young Music and Mentoring for the Mentally Ill

by Susan Brown

photo by Beth Townsend

Alonzo Young, president, Louisiana Chaplain’s Association

18

FEBRUARY 2018 l Baton Rouge Christian Life Magazine

“ W

Cover Story

W

I know the power of God: what he can do, what he will do. He’s just looking for vessels that will be obedient, that will be open to the Spirit of God. -Chaplain Alonzo Young

hen Chaplain Alonzo Young walks through the Eastern Louisiana Mental Health System’s Secure Forensic Facility in Jackson, a palpable sense of well-being follows.

In a high-stress environment, he is often the calm in the storm, the voice of optimism, the touch of reassurance that God has not forgotten or forsaken the residents.

“God’s power can work with anything. God’s so loving, so gracious and so forgiving,” Young said. The facility is home to men and women who have been committed for a variety of reasons. There are mentally ill inmates placed by the Louisiana Department of Corrections and pretrial residents who receive treatment to become mentally competent for trial. It also houses those who are acquitted of crimes because of their mental state but remain potentially dangerous.

“How do you minister to these people? They still have souls,” Young said. “They are forgotten by their families because they did this tragic thing. We don’t know what allowed that trigger in their minds.”

Chaplain Young plays his trumpet during services at the facility’s chapel. ‘Music ministers to people,’ he said. ‘God blessed me with that gift.’

”

photo by Taylor Frey Baton Rouge Christian Life Magazine l FEBRUARY 2018

19

X

Cover Story

Those who are dealing with such a challenging environment must be intentional about staying well themselves, whether they are ministers or family members.

Constant communication with God is key.

photo by Taylor Frey

“But God is looking for people to stand in the gap,” he said.

“Find common ground to talk about, whether football, food or Star Wars. Get into their world. Just talk, just listen. It brings healing.”

So does music. Young brings his high-energy, trumpet-playing worship style to services in the facility’s chapel using skills he developed in the Eastside High School Marching – and dancing – Band in Gainesville, Florida. “Music ministers to people,” he said. “Saul was depressed, and David came and played his harp, and the Bible says the [evil] spirit left Saul.”

Rather than hymns - unknown to many who attend services - Young finds a spiritual message in familiar, secular music.

20

FEBRUARY 2018 l Baton Rouge Christian Life Magazine

“They can relate to it: ‘Ain’t no mountain high enough’ to stop God from reaching up there and pulling you down.

There’s no valley low enough to stop God from stooping down and pulling you up. There’s no river wide enough to stop God from putting his arms around you, because God loves you.”

Those who are dealing with such a challenging environment must be intentional about staying well themselves, whether they are ministers or family members, Young said. Constant communication with God is key.

“My wife prays with me: ‘Lord, lead me today, guide me today, help me today.’ Stay in the word. The church I

Cover Story

W

photo by Beth Townsend

Chaplain Young, newly re-elected as president of the Louisiana Chaplain’s Association, says the growing number of mentally ill residents need the attention and mentoring of churches. ‘Volunteers are filling the prisons, but they are missing mental health facilities.’

photo by Beth Townsend

More than 500 residents - both men and women - are housed at Eastern Louisiana Mental Health Services.

Baton Rouge Christian Life Magazine l FEBRUARY 2018

21

X

Cover Story

Louisiana provides a gravesite managed by the chaplaincy on a nearby hillside.

attend, Mount Gideon Baptist Church, outside of Jackson, keeps me going. They’re filled with the Spirit.”

It’s also important to find something you enjoy and do it often. “I love fishing!” He said. “It’s a great comfort - eases my mind.” He enjoys hanging out with his eight-year-old nephew, Devon, his five kids and 14 grandchildren.

Coping with mental illness takes discernment and balance, Young said. “You know when someone’s possessed by the devil and you know when a person has psychological problems: the DNA, physical issues and generational issues.

There’s a difference in that and the spiritual side.”

Young believes in a holistic approach to mental illness that includes prayer and professional treatment. “Thank God for the medication. It brings them down, calms them,” he said.

“I won’t say that everybody who gets depressed has a demon; that’s not true. David was depressed and so were Elijah and many old prophets. Jesus was depressed, 22

FEBRUARY 2018 l Baton Rouge Christian Life Magazine

photo by Beth Townsend

sweating blood. That was a lot of stress. Some things cause depression. The enemy causes oppression. That’s why we have to pray to God: ‘God help me; lift this thing.’”

Young learned the power of prayer early in life. “One day I was hanging out with the wrong crowd and ended up in juvenile detention,” he said. “My mom picked me up. She cried and said, ‘I don’t know what I’m going to do with you.’” The next Sunday, he went to the Church of God in Christ with his cousin, James. “They really believed in the power of God. Seasoned ladies, prayer warriors, were praying for me,” he said. He fell at the altar. “The pastor said, ‘Son, what has happened to you?’ I answered, ‘I asked the Lord to forgive me. He changed my heart.’”

Then, he heard specific direction: minister and preach God’s word. “I began to say, ‘Lord, hey, that’s too much.

I see the failed ministers, and I don’t need this in my life.’ And that’s when he said to me, ‘Either you do what I ask you or you will suffer as others have suffered.’ I was

Cover Story

W

“I’ll never forget this. One guy was crying, and he said, ‘Lord, I want you.’ And I was praying with him. All of a sudden, the light came in and he was rejoicing. On the way back, I said, ‘Lord, this is where I want to be. This is where you’ve called me.’” - Alonzo Young suffering right then. I said, ‘Yes, Lord. I’ll do what you want me to do.’”

Soon, another young minister from his home congregation, Emmanuel Baptist Church, told him, “I’ve got a prison we can gophoto to.”by Taylor Frey “I had never been to a prison, so we’re driving, and I see all this barbed wire fence and young guys playing ball. Mostly, I saw African Americans - young men. But they came and started singing. The music, it really grabbed me, and Rev. Willie Cunningham started preaching and, oh, the power of God!” he said. “I’ll never forget this. One guy was crying, and he said, ‘Lord, I want you.’ And I was praying with him. All of a sudden, the light came in and he was rejoicing. On the way back, I said, ‘Lord, this is where I want to be. This is where you’ve called me.’”

He began serving at the Gainesville work camp. The inmates had never seen an African American chaplain. “They did not have anyone they could relate to,” Young said. “And when the service started, the chapel was packed. It was like a revival; it exploded there. You would see guys running from their dorms to the chapel, giving their lives to God. We were baptizing 15-20 guys a month, making decisions for Christ.”

Now, at ELMHS for five years, Young and Chaplain Henry Johnson reach out to 500-600 patients, a daunting task. “Volunteers are filling the prisons, but they are missing the mental health,” Young said. A majority of the patients at ELMHS come from Baptist backgrounds.

“They are in that depression world. Can you imagine choirs coming, praising God, lifting their spirits up? Smiling and praying with them? It would be wonderful to see pastors come and minister to our patients,” said Young. “Jesus said, ‘The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few.’” [Luke 10:2]. U

Susan Brown began her career in radio news. She was news director for WJBO/WFMF radio and a journalism instructor at LSU. She holds master’s degrees from LSU and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, and served as a chaplain at Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women.

Baton Rouge Christian Life Magazine l FEBRUARY 2018

23

X

JOIN OUR TEAM make a difference All

SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

SUNDAYS OFF

Are available up to $10,000

Gain important

SKILLS

of the workforce

FLEXIBLE SCHEDULING To work around school and extracurricular activities

@ College Drive

Apply in store or online at snagajob.com 24

FEBRUARY 2018 l Baton Rouge Christian Life Magazine

W

Kristian Stringer, Assistant Manager “I started working at Chick-fil-A on College Drive in July 2013. I had just moved to Baton Rouge from Shreveport to start college at LSU. I started working part-time to cover some of my new living expenses. On my first day, I would never have imagined the growth I would experience working at a fast food restaurant. One of my assistant managers at the time saw great potential in me and challenged me relentlessly, which is the reason I am in a leadership position today. In addition to working, I have had the opportunity to graduate from college with a degree in Kinesiology and spend some of my spare time volunteering at a physical rehabilitation clinic. Chick-fil-A has given me the opportunity to grow as an individual and provided me with communication and leadership skills that will last a lifetime.”

Tyler Murphy, Team Captain “My Chick-fil-A journey started six years ago in Covington, Louisiana. Since then, I have had the opportunity to work with three incredible operators at three very different stores. When I started at Chick-fil-A, I was very active in high school clubs and sports, mainly soccer. Chick-fil-A offered the flexibility that would eventually allow me to grow into leadership roles.

Considering I started working at 15, I have literally grown up with Chick-fil-A. The life skills that I have learned in the course of working here are skills that I have carried through college, and have helped me get to the position of graduating with a business degree in May. After college, I plan to stay with Chickfil-A and pursue a career as an operator at a store of my own.”

Baton Rouge Christian Life Magazine l FEBRUARY 2018

25

X

A Little lagniappe

Finding God …

When the Unthinkable Happens

by Rachele Smith

W

...hat does it mean to have an intimate relationship with Christ? Does it mean

studying the Bible and developing a deep understanding of scripture, possibly one similar to a biblical scholar? Or is an intimate relationship more personal, one that involves meditation, honesty and prayer from the heart?

Certainly, there is no right or wrong answer, as most Christians would agree intimacy happens whenever an action draws you closer to Jesus.

But for one Baton Rouge woman, it took the action of another – the unthinkable and horrendous action of a perfect stranger – to remind her that God is always near and his love is far deeper than ever imagined.

In the late 1990s, Staci Polozola was the victim of a violent crime.

She was kidnapped and taken at gunpoint to another state.

The ordeal lasted 18 hours yet somehow in those hours, “God’s grace was all over me,” she said.

“I still remember the exact spot on the interstate where I made the decision to make peace with what was happening,” she said, explaining that in her fear, she sought refuge with the only one she knew could help. But as her eyes and heart looked to heaven, her deepest desire wasn’t personal. Instead, the story of the Cross flooded her mind, and as she reflected on Christ’s Passion, she began to see her situation differently.

“I said to God, ‘Father, forgive this man,’ and almost immediately, I felt this calmness come over me,” she said.

As she began to “let go” and experience an incredibly intimate and overwhelming sense of God’s love, her feelings of fear and anxiety were removed, she said. “By

26

FEBRUARY 2018 l Baton Rouge Christian Life Magazine

surrendering, I was able to trust God completely. In that instant, I knew everything was going to be okay.”

Prior to her ordeal, Polozola said she believed in God and always had a faith, but she was focused on getting by on her own. “It was all about me at that time,” she said, explaining that by allowing and accepting God’s plan for her life, even during such an intense and terrifying moment, she was able to endure.

And there were other benefits.

By trusting God and keeping her high levels of fear and anxiety in check, Polozola was ultimately able to break free from her kidnapper, who was later arrested, convicted and sentenced.

Polozola believes that with God’s grace, she has been able to move forward, but she continues to seek and experience a deep relationship with God through personal prayer and works of faith, which include volunteering in prison ministry.

She said some people who know her story are surprised that she can help those imprisoned, but Polozola understands not only the value of every life, but also the value of releasing bitterness and learning to forgive. “Some people hold on to hate, even with things less tragic, yet it drains the life out of you. You can’t live with that,” she said, offering encouragement for anyone wanting to develop an intimate relationship with Christ.

“It begins by making a conscious decision,” she said.

“Every day, it’s a decision you make when you say, ‘I’m going to trust in God, and I want to improve my relationship with him.’” U

A Little lagniappe

W

To Everything, there is a Season It’s not certain when, but in the coming months, the Catholic community in Baton Rouge may welcome a new bishop. In December, the beloved Bishop Robert W. Muench announced his plans to retire after 15 years in his current role.

According to Canon Law, bishops must submit their resignation to the Pope when they turn 75. Bishop Muench celebrated his 75th birthday on December 28. Only when he receives a reply from Pope Francis will his resignation become effective, and it’s impossible to predict how long the process will take.

In an article published in The Catholic Commentator, Bishop Muench said his years as bishop have constituted “the richest blessings of ministry I have ever received.” And he added that it will not be difficult to move on.

“There is an appointed time for everything under the heavens,” he said.

(Ecclesiastes 3:1)

Join the Local Baton Rouge Chapter

Connect Form New Friendships Face the Media World Together Our organizational framework promotes and provides opportunities for industry networking, professional equipping and spiritual refreshment through our regional connections, fellowship networks, national conferences and our private member area. www.CWIMA.org

The bishop was born in Louisville, Kentucky, and was raised in New Orleans. He was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of New Orleans in 1968.

His career has included roles as religion teacher, guidance counselor, liturgy director, school chaplain, associate and co-pastor, vocations director, assistant to the Archbishop, Vicar General, Auxiliary Bishop, and Bishop.

Christian Women in Media Association (CWIMA) is a professional association dedicated to Connecting Women in Purpose and Vision. With an international platform focused on advancing Christian women in media, our members work in the fields of TV, Radio, Film, Social Media Professional, Author/Publishing, Journalism, Music, and Arts and Entertainment. Our organizational framework promotes and provides opportunities for industry networking, professional equipping, and spiritual refreshment.

Baton Rouge Christian Life Magazine l FEBRUARY 2018

27

X

A Little lagniappe

Need Leaders with Faith and Character

We

By Dale Brown

If there was ever a moment in our histor y when leadership was needed, it is now. With all the greed, dishonest y, selfishness, evil, and bad things going on in the world, we need good leaders. A common qualit y of great leaders through the ages has been their master y at articulating a vision of the future. They see something that is not yet there and can relay the image to others. In any leadership position, the most important aspect of the job is getting ever yone to work together.

However, working together is only a beginning. The world needs leaders who find their strength in faith and character. Exceptional leaders will get their team members to feel they’re an integral part of a common goal. How is this done? This may sound odd, but the underlying theme of teamwork is our ability to convey a renewed sense of optimism. Teamwork doesn’t just happen – it takes a captain to steer it in the right direction. The role of the captain – whether it’s a coach, teacher, father or mother – is to give the ship direction, purpose, and ultimately success.

We need to make a difference, but we can do it only through the grace of God. I am convinced that we are capable of solving any problem, whether it is race, crime, poverty, terrorism, pollution, drugs, or whatever plagues humanity.

You, with God’s help, are responsible for your future.

You’re really free the moment you don’t look outside yourself for someone to solve your problems. You will know that you’re free when you no longer blame anyone or anything, but realize you control your destiny and are capable of changing the world. People can be divided into three groups: those who make things happen, those who watch things happen, and those who wonder what happened. We’ve got to decide in which group we will be.

28

FEBRUARY 2018 l Baton Rouge Christian Life Magazine

“The role of most leaders is to get the people to think more of the leader. But the role of the exceptional leader is to get the people to think more of themselves.”

– Booker T. Washington

The king is the leader (highest ranked) player on the board.

The most important thing to God is our relationships with one another. He made us in such a way that everybody needs somebody. And God’s idea for success is a community, a group of people who are committed to each other and who strive to follow his will. Communities and nations will be transformed when humanity returns to God and his purposes. Humans have not advanced a centimeter in the history of the world by fighting, hating, killing, and cheating. The only notable advancement humans have ever made is becoming brothers and sisters who labor toward a common goal. You see, the best potential of “me” is “we.”

So the question in our life journey is not whether God can bring peace, love and happiness in the world. The question is, can we? U Legendary Coach Dale Brown spent 25 years leading the LSU Tiger Basketball Team. Under his coaching, the team earned Final Four appearances in 1981 and 1986. His full story will be featured in our March issue.

A Little lagniappe

Testimony of the Intimate Heart

W

by Pamela Gauthier

Intimacy - a close, familiar, and usually affectionate or loving personal relationship with another person or group.

And He ordained twelve that they should be with him and that he might send them forth to preach... (Mark 3:14).

T

he story of Jesus’ relationship with his disciples was one of love, pain, betrayal and restoration. And Jesus said to them, “Come and dine.” This was after broken fellowship had taken place before His death, burial and resurrection. These were the men that He’d spent His time on earth building, shaping and preparing to turn the world upside down. They had once enjoyed sweet communion and closeness. They followed Jesus everywhere as He built their faith and taught them His ways. He called these men and chose them for a special purpose.

Even though they had a great relationship, when He needed their support the most, they all left him.

Many of us have experienced broken relationships in this way.

As children of God we are called for a special purpose. When we receive the gift of grace, through our personal relationship with Jesus Christ, we can enjoy sweet communion and fellowship with other believers. The testimony of Jesus and His disciples sets the stage for all of us to glean from, whether it is marriage, business or parenting … there will come a time when all relationships will be challenged.

In the parable of the sower, Jesus explains that the word of God is like seed being sown into the ground. When the seed of the word is properly sown into a heart, it produces the right fruit (Mark 4). Relationships are the main places this principle can be tested. In this parable, you can see the closeness between Jesus and His disciples. Even though He taught the parable to the crowd, He took His disciples apart from the crowd to explain its meaning to them. Jesus wanted them to see how powerful the word is when sown into our hearts and how it exposes our innermost thoughts and desires (Hebrews 4).

Before Jesus’ death on the cross, He told his disciple Peter that he would have to endure an overwhelming temptation that would cause him to deny Jesus. He also encouraged Peter that He had already prayed for him so the temptation would not overtake him (Luke 22:32). Peter did indeed deny Him, as did all of the disciples.

Jesus is the living word and because we can depend on His great love, we have no need to try to impress or hide who we really are.

When we’re true to Jesus, we can then be true to ourselves and others to achieve greater intimacy in our relationships.

When it came time for Jesus to restore the relationships with His disciples, He met them right where they were, in a state of confusion and desperation.

The disciples felt they had disappointed the Lord and failed Him. The beautiful part about intimacy is that Jesus is always ready to forgive and restore. Jesus extended the invitation to them to come and have breakfast with Him. After they’d partaken of their meal together, He encouraged them, loved on them and restored purpose to their existence once again (John 21).

He extends this very invitation to us all. We have only but to believe, trust and “come and dine!” U Pamela Gauthier is a writer, poet, and owner of HeARTune Creations Poetry.

Pamela is married to Ronnie Gauthier and is the mother of four and grandmother of five. She began her journey writing poetry as a way to lift the spirits of those in nursing homes. Her goal is to touch the hearts and lives of others whenever encouragement is needed.

HeARTune Creations Baton Rouge Christian Life Magazine l FEBRUARY 2018Poetry, 29 LLC.,

who has been writing for over 20 ye

X Pastor’s perspective

Knowing Him Leads to Absolute Intimacy

by Rev. Dr. Brian C. Sleeth

W

e all crave intimacy. It’s how God made us.

Originally, that intimacy was loving, wonderful, joyous, carefree, satisfying, delightful, trusting, pure, complete, innocent ... sinless. It was perfect intimacy.

But that perfect intimacy was lost because sin came into the world. Sin resulted in a broken relationship with God and with one another.

The dilemma is that we all still crave that true, deep, satisfying, pure, complete intimacy. We try to feed that hunger in all kinds of places, with all kinds of things, and with all kinds of people. We pursue cheap, superficial substitutes that promise fulfillment, but only leave us feeling even more empty than before.

The good news is that God still wants an intimate relationship with us through his Son, Jesus Christ. He wants it so much that he sent his Son to die on the cross for us.

The goal of intimacy with God through Christ is to personally know him.

We’re not talking about an intellectual knowledge. Knowing Christ is an intimate, growing, trusting, powerful, deep, soulsatisfying relationship that is to grow more and more.

For Paul, knowing Christ is the ultimate goal in life, and nothing that this world has to offer can even compare to where our soul’s greatest satisfaction lies. He says in Phillippians 3:7-8, 10-11: But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ 30

FEBRUARY 2018 l Baton Rouge Christian Life Magazine

Pastor’s perspective Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him ... that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

About 35 years ago, a Bible scholar defined knowing Christ as “a personal encounter with [him] that [begins] a special intimacy ... that is life-changing and ongoing.”

Paul clearly communicates to us in verses 7-8 that there is nothing more important, valuable, or as satisfying as knowing Christ. When it came to his life before Christ, Paul had a lot to boast about, but after he met Christ, his value system completely changed. All those things that he boasted of were now counted as loss.

God showed him something better. And not just a little better, but something of “surpassing worth,” intimacy with Christ Jesus. Our relationship with Jesus is so valuable that it’s not only better than everything else; it’s so valuable that everything else compared to it is a negative, a loss.

Because of our ongoing struggle with sin, we have things on our gain list competing with Christ for our affections and desire for intimacy. Some of those things are superficial, cheap substitutes, but some of those things are good, fulfilling things.

But no matter how good that good thing is, Paul says he counts everything as loss compared to intimacy with Christ.

What is on your gain list? Is it Christ alone? Is there other stuff on that list with him? Ask God to reveal to you what it is and to remove it.

He revealed it to Paul and stripped him of the things that formerly defined his life, gave him significance, and in which he placed his confidence and trust. More than considering those things loss, a negative, he considered them rubbish.

The Greek word for “rubbish” is skubalon, and this is the only place in the New Testament where this word is used. It really doesn’t mean rubbish; that’s a cleaned up, safe translation so as not to offend. It’s more like human excrement, but it’s even more than that. It’s really a vulgar Greek term. He does this to show the stark contrast between the things of this world and Christ.

Knowing Christ is of surpassing worth. The things of this world are a bunch of skubalon.

So, how do we pursue intimacy with Christ? Through trusting in him and talking to him in prayer, through him talking to us through his Word, through worshipping him, and through the sufferings of this life where he uses our circumstances to draw us higher up and deeper in.

Our pursuit of intimacy with Jesus never ends. We never reach a stopping point. There is no end to the breadth and length and height and depth and fullness of knowing him. U

W

Serving Louisiana since 1978 12659 South Choctaw • 225-272-5680 www.pbcind.com

industrial * welding * safety * marine * janitorial

“Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves.”

– John 14:10-11

Rev. Dr. Brian Sleeth is the Executive Director of The Christian Outreach Center of Baton Rouge, a Christ-centered homeless prevention ministry.

This includes oversight of The Outreach Center itself, Christian Outreach Transitional Employment Services, and The Purple Cow thrift stores.

Baton Rouge Christian Life Magazine l FEBRUARY 2018

31

X

Witness at Work

Faith can be a Key to Success

by Lisa Tramontana

Jeffrey Welsh and Carol Poche formed their business in 2006.

It’s funny how you can look at something for weeks, months, even years … and not really see it. Jeffrey Welsh experienced this years ago when he was trying to decide which direction his life and career would take. Speaking with a pastor about his search for a meaningful ministry, the pastor pointed out that Jeffrey had already found it. In fact, it was right there in plain sight if he only cared to look.

But we’ll get to that later.

32

Jeffrey and his partner Carol Poche are leaders of The Keyfinders Team at Keller Williams Realty. They might spend their workdays in the real estate world, but their careers are founded on a commitment to serving God. They believe their shared faith is what brought them together professionally.

Carol joined Keller Williams Realty in 2002 after 16 years operating Mamacita’s Restaurant with her husband. A year later, Welsh brought his property management company to KW and began to focus on the sales side of real estate.

He and Carol became friends right away and their friendship deepened when they

FEBRUARY 2018 l Baton Rouge Christian Life Magazine

worked closely together after Hurricane Katrina, helping a wave of New Orleanians find homes in Baton Rouge.

Not many people know it, but Keller Williams Realty International, founded in 1990, is based on Christian principles.

The company’s belief system is God, Family, Business – building careers worth having, lives worth living, businesses worth owning, and legacies worth leaving.

It’s this kind of philosophy that helps people see a company or business in a new light. The real estate field wouldn’t seem to have any Biblical connection, but Jeffrey disagrees. “I’d say that the

Witness at Work

W claytongonzales.com 13653 Airline Highway, Gonzales, LA 70737 (225) 644-4663

The key in the company logo creates the shape of a white cross.

first real estate transaction was when God gave Adam and Eve the Garden of Eden and told them to tend to it.”

In any case, Jeffrey and Carol formed The Keyfinders Team in 2006 with the support and encouragement of their spouses Pam Welsh and Gerry Poche.

Since then, the two have become top producers in their market, averaging 100 transactions per year. Best of all, their team has become a family affair with 10 employees, many of them spouses, grown children and in-laws.

Quite simply, they have formed a “marketplace ministry.” The term describes a belief that one’s work IS one’s ministry, that every profession provides opportunities to practice evangelism, help others, and spread the Gospel.

Although Jeffrey has long been familiar with the term, it took a pastor friend’s insight to really make it come alive.

Although he was practicing his faith and finding success in his work, Jeffrey wanted to do something more meaningful with his life. “I began feeling called to the ministry,” he said. “And one day, I was having lunch with Pastor Larry Norman asking for his guidance.

When we got back to my office, he looked at my sign and said, ‘Jeffrey, this business is your ministry. The proof is right here.’”

Before coming to Baton Rouge, Jeffrey had worked with his mother at the property management company she founded in the 1980s. She had also designed the company logo which featured a red key. When Jeffrey looked

closely at the key, he could clearly see the shape of a white cross in the design.

“All those years, I had never seen that cross,” he said. “I took it as a sign, and I started to seek God on a different level. I was fired up.”

Carol and Jeffrey look for opportunities to connect with their clients on a deeper (spiritual) level. “In this business, you often find yourself sitting at people’s kitchen tables talking about the changes in their lives or the losses they’ve suffered,” said Jeffrey. “It gives us the chance to minister to them, to be peaceful and patient as they share their feelings, and to offer them our friendship.”

Carol agrees. “It’s such an honor to play a role in bringing a young family to a new home where they will welcome their firstborn, celebrate holidays, and live life to the fullest,” she said. “It’s a gift to us, and one that we treasure.

Every sale is so much more than that.

It’s a family we are serving and a life we are enriching.” U

God, Family, Business

The Keyfinders Team Admin./Exec. Assistant Jillian Argrave Buyer specialist Stephanie Pierce Buyer specialist Bryan House Buyer specialist Neal Francois Buyer specialist Claire David Transaction Coordinator Gerry Poche Buyer specialist Brandon Baird Buyer specialist Laura Obier

www.thekeyfinders.com 225-335-5395 8686 Bluebonnet Blvd. BR, LA 70810 225-768-1800 Each office is independently owned and operated.

Baton Rouge Christian Life Magazine l FEBRUARY 2018

33

X Healthy life

Keep Your Heart

Healthy Nothing works harder than your heart. At 80 beats per minute, that’s about 4,800 times per hour and 115,200 times per day. Imagine how hard your heart works over a lifetime! That’s why it’s important to take care of it --- by eating healthy, getting regular exercise, managing stress and seeing your doctor often.

February is National Heart Month, a time when healthcare organizations encourage Americans to live a heart-healthy lifestyle. The bad news is that heart disease is the leading cause of death in the country … the good news is that even small lifestyle changes can make a huge difference.

Here are some guidelines from the American Heart Association to reduce your risk of heart disease:

Y Kick the habit. Smoking greatly increases your risk of heart attack and stroke.

Y Eat a healthy diet of fruits and vegetables, whole grains and lean meats.

Y Limit your intake of sugary drinks, red meats, and foods with high salt content.

Y Get regular exercise. Even 2 or 3 hours a week is beneficial.

Y Drink no more than one alcoholic drink per day.

Y Talk to your doctor about managing high cholesterol and high blood pressure.

Y Choose an activity to help you manage stress, such as yoga or a daily walk.

(Information provided by the American Heart Association and Web MD.)

34

FEBRUARY 2018 l Baton Rouge Christian Life Magazine

Healthy life

W

The Starting Point For Technology

kadmostech.com Let Kadmos step in and create an online presence that truly improves the way your business operates!

Our wide variety of online marketing tools help you convert casual click browsers into actual customers on your sales floor.

Do you LOVE Romance?

CHECK OUT

MY NOVEL Love For Dunces.

It’s family-freindly love and romance!

Your Guide to Digital Marketing onlinemarketinggps.com ellenmcdowell.com

Independantly Owned and Operated

Monthly Marketing Membership Guide Email Marketing Social Media

Websites

Online Scheduling

SCAN THE CODE TO CONNECT WITH ME!

Kelli Knight, novelist /kellissimeaux

kellissimo69.wix.com/kellissimo

"Your talent is God's gift to you.

What you do with it is your gift back to God." - Leo Buscaglia

Baton Rouge Christian Life Magazine l FEBRUARY 2018

35

X

What Does It mean?

Trivia for fun

In what year was Mardi Gras declared an official Louisiana state holiday?

A ) 1837 B ) 1920

C ) 1875

D ) 1718

Answer: C) 1875 The Louisiana Legislature formally proclaimed Mardi Gras a state holiday in 1875, shortly after the end of the Civil War. Since then, Fat Tuesday has become synonymous with Louisiana. And 143 years later, the state’s public offices and schools still close on the Monday and Tuesday before Ash Wednesday.

What Does it Mean?

Mardi Gras

Literally, Fat Tuesday (in French), the day before Ash Wednesday

Biblical Biography Isaac and Rebecca February is a month of celebration and romance. What’s more, it is a time when most of us consider the states of our personal relationships. As we reflect, we should also turn to the Word. By doing so, we learn that the joys and sorrows we experience in our contemporary relationships differ very little from those faced by people in the Bible.

The marriage of Isaac and Rebecca is one of the most interesting affiliations found in scripture. They married (never having met one another) after Isaac’s father Abraham sent a servant to Armenia to choose a bride for his son. Rebecca was selected from the family of Bethuel, and luckily, she and Isaac got along relatively well.

Isaac is fairly unique in terms of the Old Testament because he was unconditionally faithful to his wife. There is no evidence of any extra-marital, romantic relationships, and although it was common at the time, he did not practice polygamy. That being said, his marriage was hardly ideal. Rebecca famously helped her youngest son, Jacob, lie to Isaac, and in the process, deprived her elder son, Esau, of his birthright.

36

FEBRUARY 2018 l Baton Rouge Christian Life Magazine

Because it precedes the season of Lent, a time of sacrifice and fasting before Easter, Mardi Gras is considered the last day to indulge in feasting, celebration and excess. This year, Mardi Gras occurs on February 13.

Ash Wednesday The first day of Lent in the Western Christian Church, marked by services of penitence For many denominations, Ash Wednesday is a day of abstention. It marks the beginning of the Lenten season and is an occasion for peaceful selfreflection. Its name comes from the practice of priests painting ashen crosses on the foreheads of their parishioners. The crosses are bold reminders that “from dust thou came and to dust thou shalt return.”

Lent A time of fasting and repentance Not all Christians observe Lent but, for those who do, it is a period of atonement. Between Mardi Gras and Easter, many people give up something they cherish and replace it with prayer as a means of strengthening their relationship with Christ. This year, Lent lasts from February 14 to March 31.

Cooking for life

W

Easy Crab Cakes

These pan-fried crab cakes are fast, easy and delicious. Cook them as an appetizer or

pair them with a green salad for a main course. In any case, they’re fantastic!

What You’ll Need:

12 oz. crab meat 2 tsp. lemon juice 1 tsp. Sriracha sauce 3 green onions, chopped salt and pepper to taste

1 egg 3 Tbsp. mayonnaise 2 Tbsp. fresh chopped parsley 1/2 cup breadcrumbs 1 Tbsp. olive oil for frying

How to Make It:

Add all the ingredients (except the olive oil) in a bowl and gently mix together.

Form the crab mixture into patties, depending on how big you want the patties to be.

This recipe should make about 10.

In a skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Place the patties in the skillet, a few at a time, and cook until golden brown, about 5 minutes per side. Gently flip them over and cook for another 5 minutes until golden brown. Repeat with remaining patties.

Serve with your favorite side dish.

Note: You can bake these crab cakes as well. Simply preheat your oven to 375 F degrees and bake for about 15 minutes or until golden brown.

Recipe by Joanna Cismaru

Do

you have a favorite or “tried and true” recipe that you’d like to share? We would love to feature it right here! Send your recipe to Baton Rouge Christian Life Magazine and it may be chosen for publication in an upcoming issue. Send it to recipes@brclm.com.

Baton Rouge Christian Life Magazine l FEBRUARY 2018

37

Opportunities for LIFE

X

Calendar of Events Do you have an event to share? To have your event included in our calendar, please email a brief summary of your ministry or service-related event to news@brclm.com by the 8th of the previous month. Please include details (date/time/ location/information/etc.) so we can be sure it’s ready to print. Please send MARCH submissions by FEBRUARY 8.

FEBRUARY 1, 8, 15, 22

FEBRUARY 17

FEBURARY 4, 11, 18, 25

FEBRUARY 18-24

THURSDAY DISCIPLES’ TEACHING 7 p.m., Greater New Bethel Full Gospel Baptist Church, 110 S. 19th St. General Overseer Melvin L. Carter, Elder Patricia Carter and the Greater New Bethel Church family.

Purpose Church (launch) 10:30 a.m., Purpose Church (launch), Lyceum Ballroom, 124 3rd St. downtown. For more information, visit PurposeChurch.co, email info@purposechurch.co, or follow @PurposeChurchLA.

FEBRUARY 5, 12, 19, 26

BIBLE STUDY FELLOWSHIP, BATON ROUGE EVENING WOMEN’S CLASS 6:40-8:10 p.m., 1700 Lee Dr. Join us as we begin an exciting year of studying the Book of Romans. Bring a friend and learn more about His Word.

FEBRUARY 5, 12, 19, 26

PARKVIEW BAPTIST MEN’S STUDY: BOOK OF HEBREWS 6 a.m., Mission Cafe, 11795 Jefferson Hwy. For more information, call (225) 293-2820.

FEBRUARY 6, 13, 20, 27

PARKVIEW BAPTIST MEN’S STUDY: DISCIPLESHIP ESSENTIALS 6:30 p.m., Mission Cafe, 11795 Jefferson Hwy. For more information, call (225) 293-2820.

FEBRUARY 7

GARDERE INITIATIVE MONTHLY MEETING 9-10 a.m., 8425-A Ned Avenue. For more information, email GardereInitiative@gmail.com or call (225) 769-0305.

FEBRUARY 8, 15, 22

GULF SOUTH MEN: CONQUER SERIES VOLUME I 6:30 p.m. in Baton Rouge. Call Bax Kegans at (225) 953-3499 or email bax@gulfsouthmen.org for location and details. Study guides $15.

FEBRUARY 13

MARDI GRAS LUNCHEON 11 a.m., Oak Lodge Reception Center, 2834 S. Sherwood Forest Blvd. Baton Rouge Christian Women’s Connection invites you and your friends to our Mardi Gras luncheon. RSVP by February 9 to Sherry316@cox.net or call (225) 362-3588.

PRESENTATION: “MY EXPERIENCES CONDUCTING FAMILY RESEARCH” 10 a.m., Bluebonnet Library, 9200 Bluebonnet Blvd. Free event open to the public and sponsored by Baton Rouge Genealogical and Historical Society. For more information, call Mary McKeough at (225) 924-8921.

CHRISTIAN YOUTH THEATRE’S LITTLE MERMAID BOOK FAIR 9 a.m.–10 p.m., Barnes & Noble Book Store, 7707 Bluebonnet Blvd. Help Ariel and her friends hit the stage in March! At anytime during the week, make a purchase at Barnes & Noble and CYT will receive a percentage of the proceeds.

Ariel and her friends will be there at different times in the week for storytimes and to sing for you. For more information, call Tonja Rainey at (225) 938-1438.

FEBRUARY 24

MEN’S UNITY BREAKFAST 8 a.m., Clinton United Methodist Church, 11321 Old S Drive, Clinton. Join us for fellowship, food and fun. For more information or to RSVP, call (225) 305-3006.

FEBRUARY 27

GARDERE YOUTH COALITION DINNER MEETING 8 a.m., Greater New Bethel Full Gospel Baptist Church, 110 S. 19th St. General Overseer Melvin L. Carter, Elder Patricia Carter and the Greater New Bethel church family.

SUNDAYS IN FEBRUARY

THE PROMISE – HEBREWS 6:15 6:30-8:30 p.m., Faith Chapel, 995 Staring Lane. For more information, email GardereInitiative@gmail.com or call (225) 769-0305.

ENROLL TODAY – PROGRAM STARTS IN MARCH

CELEBRATE RECOVERY, A CHRIST-CENTERED 12-STEP PROGRAM 7 p.m. Fridays, Church at Addis, 6781 LA-1, Addis. Take part in this Christ-Centered 12-step program that will free anyone with hurts, habits and hang-ups. Free to residents of West Baton Rouge, Iberville, Pointe Coupee, East Baton Rouge and surrounding areas. For details, email JamesHaase@churchataddis.com or call (225) 218-5630.

You never know what we’re up to! Stay in touch. :)

Baton Rouge

Christian Magazine

#ONEinrouge #brchristianlifemagazine

Distribution locations and how to subscribe monthly are quick links at www.christianlifemagazine.com Instagram (@brclifemagazine)

38

Facebook.com/batonrougechristianlifemagazine

FEBRUARY 2018 l Baton Rouge Christian Life Magazine

Twitter (@brclife)

Radio Bible Courses, Ltd. Founded by Dr. Nick Kalivoda “But the word of the Lord endures forever. Now this is the word by which the Gospel was preached to you.” - 1 Peter 1:25

^

9:15 AM - 10:00 AM

Call for a Complimentary Initial Consultation (225) 291-1411 22 Years Experience, Individual, Business and Non-profit Tax Returns We help with taxes related to:

^

Join us during the ■ What the Bible means by month of February what it says as Louis Hilliard ■ Open to the Public teaches ■ Q&A Session “The Revelation of Jesus Christ.” ■ Sunday mornings

ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS

Dependent care, Education credits and deductions, Social security benefits, Capital gains and dividends, Retirement, Tax credits, Households with children, and more!

Louis Hilliard

OPEN TO EVERYONE! Visit our website to view our Schedule of Speakers and download free materials from Dr. Kalivoda’s teachings: www.rbcword.org

MERCERCPAS.COM

The Campus Bible Class meets at: Burden Conference Center - LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens 4560 Essen Lane, Baton Rouge, LA

■ Come early and join us before the class for coffee & cookies ■

Baton Rouge Christian Life Magazine l FEBRUARY 2018

39

X

We Salute You! www.peterswealth.com wealth advisors llc 225.766.4885 40 FEBRUARY 2018 l Baton Rouge Christian Life Magazine

Investment advisory services are offered through Peters Wealth Advisors, LLC (“PWA”) an investment advisor registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Such services are only provided after clients have entered into a Wealth Management Agreement confirming the terms of the advisor client engagement and have been provided a copy of PWA’s ADV Part 2A brochure document.