Unfailing
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Life Is Like Perspective A Biblical Bumper Cars page 26
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The ABCs of SALVATION Some people think a personal relationship with God is something only theologians can comprehend. Actually, God’s plan of salvation is simple enough for everyone to understand. Here are the ABCs of salvation.
Admit
Believe in Jesus Christ as God’s Son and receive Jesus’ gift of forgiveness from sin. God loves each of us. God offers us salvation. Although we have done nothing to deserve His love and salvation, God wants to save us. In the death of Jesus on the cross, God provided salvation for all who would repent of their sins and believe in Jesus. “For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
Confess
Confess your faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord to others. After you have received Jesus Christ into your life, share your decision with another person. Tell your pastor or a Christian friend about your decision. Following Christ’s example, ask for baptism by immersion in your local church as a public expression of your faith. “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation” (Romans 10:9-10).
VEER / CORBIS IMAGES
Admit to God that you are a sinner. All persons need salvation. Each of us has a problem the Bible calls sin. Sin is a refusal to acknowledge God’s authority over our lives. Everyone who does not live a life of perfect obedience to the Lord is guilty of sin. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Since none of us is perfect, all of us are sinners (Romans 3:10-18). The result of sin is spiritual death (Romans 6:23). Spiritual death means eternal separation from God. By God’s perfect standard, we are guilty of sin and therefore subject to the punishment for sin, which is separation from God. Admitting that you are a sinner and separated from God is the first step of repentance, which is turning from sin and self and turning toward God.
Believe
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Mature Living / may 2015
Letter
FROM THE EDITOR
Getting the Most MAY IS THE MONTH we become convinced winter is finally over. April teases us. We get great weather one day only to be ambushed by one last winter blast of cold rain and, in some places, one last snow. Now, the weather has turned warm and is staying that way. So, it’s time to make plans. Summer is almost here, and there are a lot of projects we want to accomplish. We make plans — everything from household projects to exotic travel. We know days are precious. Now, we’re determined to get the most out of them.
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Mature Living / may 2015
But how do we do that? How do we determine what getting the most out of our lives actually means? This is one of the reasons we publish Mature Living. We believe graying baby boomers and senior adults have significant resources to offer our communities. We have skills that have been sharpened by experience. We have wisdom earned by attending classes at the University of Hard Knocks. There’s still time for us to do great things. We are needed. At Mature Living, we want to encourage you not to settle for what is simply enjoyable or
doable. Abraham and Sarah, Moses, Noah, Zechariah, Simeon, and Anna remind us that God isn’t limited by the abilities of the people He’s using — nor their age. The real question isn’t whether or not we got the most out of life, but whether or not Christ got the most out of us.
MIKE GLENN Executive editor
“Knowing we had doctors who would pray for us and care for us gave us so much peace.” Patty Marshall Breast Cancer Patient
Larry Marshall Prostate Cancer Patient
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
I was still fighting my cancer when Larry was diagnosed with prostate cancer. It was very devastating for both of us. But we believe God has a plan for us, and that’s why He led us to Cancer Treatment Centers of America®. They are focused on treating cancer with leading technologies and therapeutic options that help keep us strong throughout treatment, so we can go on living the life we love. Atlanta | Chicago | Philadelphia Phoenix | Tulsa
We just feel close to God here. The spiritual support, the love they show, the hope they give—there’s just a wonderful sense of peace. To learn more, call or visit our website:
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©2015 RisingTide
No case is typical. You should not expect to experience these results.
10
VOLUME 39 NUMBER 08 MAY 2015
UNFAILING LOVE CHANGES EVERYTHING by Jennifer Rothschild A look into the heart of Hosea reveals the love of God that changes everything.
LIVING IN THE WORD
24 Living the Extraordinary Life by Mike Glenn
26 The Power of Prayer and Fasting by Dr. Ronnie Floyd
28 This Is My Story by Eric Wyse
30 In the Word
by Linda Tomblin
BALANCED LIVING
36 Prescription for Life
by Richard Furman, M.D.
38 Life Well Lived
by Steve Rogers
39 Recipes by Barbara Smith 42 Mind Benders by Ruth Myer 44 Tech Corner by Stephanie Huffman
LEGACY LIVING
50 The Comfort Project 52 As You Go by Norman Rodgers 56 Mentor Power by Chuck Lawless
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Mature Living / may 2015
62
WITH THE TURN OF THE TASSEL
by Ann Brandt
Have you released your graduate to God?
MORE LIVING
for Boomers
58 By Faith by Jeff Kinley 60 Do What Matters by Deb DeArmond
KICKS & GRINS
46
BEE LINE TO MURDER Chapter Two (Fiction) by DiAnn Mills A casual conversation turns Vince’s scientific research to a nagging suspicion that he can’t shake off.
68 Grandparents’ Brag Board 70 Cracker Barrel & Puzzle Solutions 72 No Laughing Matter by Marie Armenia
Also in every issue…
3 Plan of Salvation 4 Letter from the Editor by Mike Glenn 8 Read-the-Bible-Through Plan
FEATURES 16 Dessert in the Driveway by Anna Holmes
Ministering to neighbors can be as easy as eating ice cream.
20 Big Outreach: Reaching Out with Small Groups by Rick Howerton
Be ready and willing to reach those around you.
22
THE AMAZING TOMATO by Lisa M. Ledlow The fruit that masquerades as a vegetable is easy to grow and makes for great conversation when sharing with the neighbors.
32 Kiddie Wisdom by Victoria York
If you need a fresh take on life, listen to a kid.
66 When Grace Was Given by Terry C. Terry Hannah reminds us that we serve the God of grace.
Mature Living / may 2015
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Read-the-Bible-Through Plan Living a Christian Legacy volume 39 number 8 · may 2015 Eric Geiger Faith Whatley Amy Lowe Emily Ellis Mike Glenn Nancy Comeaux Dawn Wyse
vice president, lifeway resources director, adult ministry manager, adult ministry publishing publishing team leader Executive Editor production editor art director
Send questions/comments to: Content Editor, Mature Living, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234-0175 or email us at matureliving@lifeway.com.
advertising Rhonda Edge Buescher director, media business development for magazines Send advertising questions/comments to: One LifeWay Plaza, MSN 136, Nashville, TN 37234 Email: magazineadvertising@lifeway.com Media kits: lifeway.com/mediaoptions Printed in the United States of America cover photography Corbis Images Mature Living (ISSN 0162-427X; Item 005075227) is published monthly by LifeWay Press®, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234, Thom S. Rainer, President. ©Copyright 2015 LifeWay Press®. For inquiries visit lifeway.com, or write LifeWay Church Resources Customer Service, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234-0113. For subscriptions or subscription address changes, visit lifeway.com/magazines, fax (615) 251-5818, or write to the above address. For orders with three or more issues shipped to one address, mailed monthly, at the ministry rate, visit lifeway.com/magazines, fax (615) 251-5933, or write to the above address. Annual individual or gift subscription, $29.95. Save by choosing the ministry rate to place your order (three or more issues shipped to one address, mailed monthly), $1.95 each per month, plus shipping. Please allow six to eight weeks for arrival of first issue. Advertisement Disclaimer: This magazine includes paid advertisements for some products and services not affiliated with LifeWay. The inclusion of the paid advertisements does not constitute an endorsement by LifeWay Christian Resources of the products or services. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible®, copyright 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. We believe that the Bible has God for its author; salvation for its end; and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter and that all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy. The 2000 statement of The Baptist Faith and Message is our doctrinal guideline. Submit queries only at matureliving@lifeway.com or to Mature Living, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234-0175.
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Mature Living / may 2015
May 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
2 Samuel 5—6
Luke 12:1-12
2 Samuel 7—8
Luke 12:13-34
2 Samuel 9—10
Luke 12:35-59
2 Samuel 11—12
Luke 13:1-17
2 Samuel 13—14
Luke 13:18-35
2 Samuel 15—16
Luke 14:1-24
2 Samuel 17—18
Luke 14:25-35
2 Samuel 19—20
Luke 15
2 Samuel 21—22
Luke 16:1-18
2 Samuel 23—24
Luke 16:19-31
1 Kings 1—2
Luke 17:1-19
1 Kings 3—4
Luke 17:20-37
1 Kings 5—6
Luke 18:1-17
1 Kings 7—8
Luke 18:18-43
1 Kings 9—11
Luke 19:1-27
1 Kings 12—13
Luke 19:28-48
1 Kings 14—15
Luke 20:1-26
1 Kings 16—17
Luke 20:27-47
1 Kings 18—19
Luke 21:1-28
1 Kings 20—21
Luke 21:29-38
1 Kings 22
Luke 22:1-23
2 Kings 1—3
Luke 22:24-53
2 Kings 4—5
Luke 22:54-71
2 Kings 6—7
Luke 23:1-12
2 Kings 8—9
Luke 23:13-32
2 Kings 10—11
Luke 23:33-56
2 Kings 12—13
Luke 24:1-12
2 Kings 14—15
Luke 24:13-53
2 Kings 16—17
John 1:1-18
2 Kings 18—20
John 1:19-51
2 Kings 21—23
John 2
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Feature
Unfailing
LOVE
Changes Everything A look into the heart of Hosea reveals the love of God. by JENNIFER ROTHSCHILD
T
“Mom, do you have to write on my napkin?” HAT WAS 5-YEAR-OLD CONNOR’S question after his first week of kindergarten. Every day I packed his lunch. Along with his juice box and peanut butter and jelly sandwich, I scribbled I love you on a napkin and stuck it in his Batman lunchbox. But he didn’t want me to do that anymore. “I don’t want you to write on it because when I’m done, I feel like I’m throwing your love away!” “Oh, Connor,” I exclaimed as I flung my arms around his little frame, “just because you throw away your napkin doesn’t mean you throw away my love!” He giggled in relief and confessed he didn’t really use napkins anyway! I was struck by Connor’s sensitive heart, and it made me examine my own. Do I carelessly throw away God’s love? Do I casually dismiss the big and small ways God expresses His love to me? Do you? We all do sometimes, just like the wayward Israelites did in Hosea’s day.
Mature Living / may 2015
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I first heard of Hosea from my dad who was a master storyteller. Growing up, I loved listening to his stories. His specialty was weaving together tales that blended a lot of God’s truth, a bit of application, and a definite Southern drawl. In fact, sometimes I couldn’t quite make out the characters’ names because they were lost in Dad’s sweet, slow, Southern twang. When he told me the Bible
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Mature Living / may 2015
story I’m about to tell you, a love story about an unlikely couple, I honestly thought the characters were named Hosear and Goma! As far as I was concerned, those were their real names until I realized, years later, that not everyone shared our brogue. Hosea (not Hosear!) was a preacher — a prophet, really — who lived at a time when religious folks didn’t want to hear his message. The Israelites were more interested in worshiping idols than worshiping Jehovah. They were, as the hymn writer put it, “Prone to wander … prone to leave the God I love.” One day, God told Hosea his bachelor days were up. The problem with the wedding announcement was it came with a dreadful prophecy. His wife would break his heart. Aware of Gomer’s promiscuous reputation, Hosea humbled himself in obedience to the Lord.
SUPERSTOCK & THINKSTOCK
As a godly man, he Hosea was a faithful Why did God redeem surely had different husband; was an you? Why did Jesus pay unfaithfulGomer hopes for marriage — wife. the ultimate price for those of pursuing a lover God is the faithful lover your redemption? who would share not only of our souls. We are often his heart but also his faith Why does God continue faithless, prone to wander. and convictions. How many Hosea and Gomer’s story to give His unconditimes had he dreamed of late the story of God and tional love to a people isIsrael. night talks, stolen kisses in It is also our story. who continually the courtyard, and holding When we, like Gomer, throw it away? It’s not were enslaved, God hands as he drifted off to sleep beside the one with because we deserve it; bought us back. When we whom he longed to build his it’s because His mercy found ourselves stuck in future? Instead, he awakened chains we never intended demands it. from his marriage vows to — chains of insecurity, emptiness and abandonment. discontentment, or fear — God freed us. When The Bible doesn’t say when or how; all we we, by our very nature, threw God’s love away, know is that it did happen. Hosea began to hear He redeemed us. rumors. His heart began to break. His beloved When Hosea bought Gomer back, when he was going off with other men. He couldn’t even be redeemed her, he did so with 15 shekels of sure the children she bore were his. Hosea — a silver and 5 bushels of barley (Hos. 3:2). When broken-hearted father, a betrayed husband, and God redeemed us, He paid the ultimate price a bewildered preacher — felt like his fragile heart with the blood of His Son (I Pet. 1:18, 19). would never recover. And, then, the final blow Gomer did not deserve to be redeemed. Her … Gomer’s wanderings had drawn her into the behavior did not merit such mercy. Israel did wrong company. not deserve God’s faithful betrothal. Their God told Hosea to do the unthinkable — to go unfaithfulness did not merit such mercy. You redeem his wife. Gomer was being sold as a slave. and I do not deserve salvation. Our sin does Hosea must have cried out to God, “She’s thrown not merit such mercy. my love away. Why should I have to buy back Why did God redeem you? Why did Jesus what is already mine?” pay the ultimate price for your redemption?
Mature Living / may 2015
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Hosea Bible Study
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Mature Living / may 2015
I AM SO EXCITED to share my latest Bible study with you, Hosea: Unfailing Love Changes Everything. In this seven-session video-based study, you’ll experience the love story of Hosea and Gomer, which mirrors the love story of God and Israel. And, you’ll discover it’s your love story, too! • Through Hosea, you’ll learn how to know your God, know your identity, and live out your beautiful love story. • If you wander away to find yourself, God brings you home so you’ll be found in Him. • If you feel stuck in chains you never expected — chains of regret, discontentment, or rejection — God frees you. • If you’ve ever felt beyond God’s restoration or redemption, you’ll discover, just like Gomer, that God’s unfailing love changes everything. • Hosea invites you to look in the mirror and see Gomer’s reflection. Though she was prone to wander, she was loved, accepted, and worth fighting for … and so are you. ★ Visit JenniferRothschild.com/Hosea for some freebies. ★Visit lifeway.com/Hosea for more about the study.
JENNIFER ROTHSCHILD is a popular Bible teacher, author, and speaker who has written 11 books and Bible studies, including best-sellers Lessons I Learned in the Dark and Me, Myself, and Lies. Hosea: Unfailing Love Changes Everything is Jennifer’s fifth Bible study with LifeWay. Her book on the same theme, Invisible: How You Feel Is Not Who You Are, will be in stores in August.
ISTOCKPHOTO
Why does God continue to give His unconditional love to a people who continually throw it away? It’s not because we deserve it; it’s because His mercy demands it. Aren’t you glad God does not treat us as our sin deserves? (Ps. 103:10) God chose you and loves you. This love story is your story. Even if you are faithless, He will remain faithful. If you are enslaved, He will buy you back. If you are lost, He will find you. If you are ashamed, He will cover you. If you wander off, He will bring you home. If you give up on Him, He will not give up on you. No matter where you are, God sees who you are, and He loves you. Through the story of Hosea, God tenderly touches your arm and whispers, “Come home. My love sets you free. When you get tired of striving and wandering, I’ll be there to draw you to Myself again and remind you who you are in Christ.” That’s the message of the whole Bible, isn’t it? At a manger in Bethlehem, God entered the slave market where all of us were putting ourselves up for auction, prostituting ourselves and our humanity to a lesser life. But on the cross, Jesus paid the full price for our freedom. He bought us back. This is the scandal of God’s love — His loving desire to make us His people and the full persons He intended us to be. God’s response to you is the same as it was to Israel. He will heal your faithlessness. He will love you freely. God has written on your very life the words I LOVE YOU. He values you so much that He enters into covenant with you, redeems you, and remains faithful to you. May we never carelessly throw away what cost God so much. Oh, what love!
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Mature Living / may 2015
Feature
Dessert in the Driveway Ministering to your neighbors can be as easy as eating ice cream.
M
by ANNA HOLMES
CORBIS IMAGES
MY HUSBAND AND I live on a nice,
quiet cul-de-sac. We have 36 people living on our block with ages ranging all the way from an adorable 2-year-old to a sweet lady who just turned 90. There is a good mix of kids, working singles, working parents, and retirees. Everyone stays busy, but we wave to each other as we go by in our cars or stop and chat while watering the yard or walking the dogs. One couple has lived on the street for more than 30 years; another is a young couple who recently moved in. It’s a quiet block with nice people who like each other but rarely take time to get together. That changed during the summer when James and I decided to host a very informal dessert-inthe-driveway gathering. To make invitations, I found a free, downloadable picture online of an ice cream cone. I created a simple invitation and printed one for each house. A couple of days before the event, on my morning walk, I taped an invitation to each door.
(I didn’t leave it in the mailboxes because it’s illegal to use mailboxes for anything except mail.) James picked up four different flavors of ice cream and a box of cones at the grocery store. That was all we planned to serve. Remember, this was to be a simple gathering. I decided the activity would last from 7:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., short and sweet. A half hour is not too long to make anyone feel awkward. I made sure everyone knew it was just a fun time. Although I hadn’t asked for an RSVP, I had three people call me. The 90-year-old called to say she thought she had better not try it but asked if I would please call her later to let her know how it went. A retired lady said she and her husband would be out of town but hoped we’d do it again. A young mom, who was thrilled at the idea, called and said of course they’d be there! On the day of our event, we set up a small card table in the driveway and arranged the four chairs around the table. Then, we stored the ice
Mature Living / may 2015
17
their needs in the cream in the cooler and conversations around placed the cones, ice you. Then, keep them cream scoop, and paper on your personal napkins on the table prayer list. Don’t covered with a plastic be surprised if God cloth. We were ready provides an opportufor our neighbors. It nity for you to speak probably took us a truths into their lives whole 10 minutes to Please come join us for during a gathering or get ready. It couldn’t Dessert in the Driveway! later as a result of the have been easier. Thursday, June 4 relationships formed. Guests started coming 7:00-7:30 p.m. Ice cream may not at 7 o’clock. The kids No rules, no agenda, be the way to salvanext door were the just a time to have fun and tion, but it can first to arrive, anxious catch up with the neighbors. sure help develop for an ice cream cone. We’ll provide the ice cream! important relationAs we served them, James and Anna Holmes ships for sharing Jesus others headed our way. 1058 Scott Avenue with your neighbors! Soon we had 18 of our 36 neighbors in our driveway, talking to one another, laughing at the kids, HOW TO GET STARTED petting the dogs, eating ice cream cones, and enjoying getting to know each other better. Our little 30-minute gathering continued for almost an hour and a half until Find out who lives on your block. darkness and mosquitoes finally drove us If you don’t know, that’s OK. Make some invitations and put them on in. We were having so much fun that no the neighbors’ doors. one wanted to leave! Keep it simple. If you want other On our block, we have Christian people to host dessert-in-thefamilies, Jewish families, a gay couple, driveway events, don’t make yours a cohabiting couple, an avowed atheist, a hard act to follow. If a neighbor seems and a retired missionary — the whole interested in hosting the next gathering, range of society. We are some of the few let him know you think that would be a people on our block who go to church. great idea. While we didn’t use this particular Provide name tags. We also had a opportunity to invite any of them to sign-up sheet for emails and phone church or to share the gospel, conversanumbers. Signing up for this was tions turned to things of faith in several completely optional. instances. When faith is a part of who Let people mingle. As the host, make sure no one gets left out of a you are, that happens. conversation. Perhaps you are thinking, That is easy; Build the relationship. After the I could plan a dessert-in-the-driveway gathering, pray for all your neighbors gathering like that. You can turn any by name. The next time you see your gathering into a ministry opportunity neighbors, talk about the gathering as a way by being sensitive to the Holy Spirit: be to continue developing the relationship. alert for ways to encourage someone or to follow up with a helping hand. Offer silent ANNA HOLMES, a retired writer living in prayers over your neighbors as you hear of Tennessee, is always up for a party!
Dessert in the Driveway
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THINKSTOCK
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Mature Living / may 2015
Feature
BIG OUTREACH
REACHING OUT WITH SMALL GROUPS
D THINKSTOCK
by RICK HOWERTON
DO YOU FEEL that tugging to mentor others, to study the Bible with a group, to do life together? Who are those people: young adults, single parents, students, couples, or a combination of various people from your church or community? Whoever they are, they are waiting for someone like you to reach out to them. Forming a small group for ministry is more intentional than it is difficult. Here are simple steps to start your small-group ministry: 1. Pray. Ask God to stir a passion in you for the people in your life. Ask Him to work in them an openness to be part of a small group. Pray for others who can lead alongside you. 2. Select resources or Bible studies. Find resources that
meet the needs of the people you are trying to reach and fit your abilities as a leader. 3. Choose a time and date. New groups can start at any time. Consider the lifestyles of the members, and choose a time and date that best meet everyone’s needs. 4. Choose the location. Most groups meet in homes, but you can meet in public places, such as a park or a coffee shop. 5. Train your small-group leadership. Plan together, learn about the group members, and share responsibilities for leading the group. 6. Start with a fellowship. Many people are interested in being part of a small group to make new friends. A fellowship is a relaxed way to bring people together and begin to know one another.
7. Host the first group meeting. Prepare your lesson ahead of time and make sure the place you are meeting is ready. Allow time for fellowship and prayer. 8. Evaluate, encourage, and celebrate. Evaluate the process, encourage your group, and celebrate as new people join. Build relationships by planning fellowships and ministry projects. Be there for one another. 9. Enlist and train additional leaders. As the group grows, mentor other small group leaders. Encourage the group to pray about starting another new group in the next 6 to 18 months as most groups cease to grow after 24 months. Begin the process again. Adapted from GroupsMatter.com/ Launch
Mature Living / may 2015
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The Amazing
Tomato
The fruit that masquerades as a vegetable is easy to grow and makes for great conversation when sharing with the neighbors.
A
by LISA M. LEDLOW MERICANS love their tomatoes. Most home gardeners grow tomatoes which are a member of the nightshade family. According to the USDA, we eat 22 to 24 pounds of tomatoes per person each year, mostly in the form of ketchup and tomato sauce. We were slow to warm to them as food. In colonial America, they were grown strictly for decoration. No one dared eat them, fearing that they were poisonous like their cousin, Atropa belladonna, known as the deadly nightshade. Various legends of the tomato exist; but according
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to one, attitudes changed on September 26, 1820, when Colonel Robert Gibbon Johnson stood on the steps of the Salem, New Jersey, courthouse and consumed a bushel of tomatoes with no ill effects. At last count, 19 states hold one or more tomato festivals, mostly from June through September. Some festivals sponsor a tomato fight patterned after Bunol, Spain’s annual La Tomatina, where people come from far and wide to throw 150,000 tomatoes at each other. Tomatoes are berries which come in many sizes, and not all are red. Some are a golden yellow as were likely the first tomatoes introduced to Europe in the 16th century. Others are orange, black, green, pink, purple, and white. They originated in what is now Peru, but our word derives from the Aztec xitomati, meaning “plump thing with a navel.” Incidentally, “the plump thing with a navel” truly is a fruit, but for purposes of tariff taxes, the United States Supreme Court in its Nix v. Hedden ruling on May 10, 1893, declared the tomato a vegetable. A staple in garden salads, tomatoes are also consumed in liquid form in juice, salsa, or soup. Others are used with sandwiches or pastas. They can be pan grilled or stewed to complement steak, fish, or vegetable dishes. Possibilities are limitless. Their popularity is justified not only by taste but by nutritional content. As many as 22 different nutrients are found in tomatoes. The top seven include vitamin C (growth and repair of tissue, healing), biotin (cell growth), molybdenum (metabolism), vitamin K (blood clotting and strengthening and repairing bones), copper (organ function and metabolism), potassium (brain and neural function), and manganese (bone, liver, and kidney health). Now that you have a better appreciation for the common tomato, hopefully you will plant some in your garden this year. Consider sharing a few with your neighbors as an outreach ministry. Start with a little “tomato talk,” and watch the relationship blossom! LISA M. LEDLOW is a freelance writer from New York.
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The All-New Life Application Study Bible Holman Christian Standard edition
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LIVING IN THE WORD
Mike Glenn / LIVING THE EXTRAORDINARY LIFE
Christ gives us permission and power to take action.
W
HEN our boys were young, they would ask me if we could do this or that, and my usual distracted-dad answer was “We may.” The boys would then look at each other and say, “That means no.” I was trying to put off making a decision until I either had thought through the issue more or had more information; but for the boys, I was just waiting for another time to say no. When I turned the calendar page and saw the word May at the top of 31 squares, that’s the story I thought about. That, of course, got me thinking about a lot of other things such as “fixin’ to get ready.” In the South, we love this expression, although no one is exactly sure what the expression means. If someone says, “I’m fixin’ to get ready to go to the store,” what has he told you? Is he going to the store? Is he ready to go to the store? Or, is he beginning to prepare to
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go to the store? No matter how you understand it, most of us do know this — our friend is a long way from the store.
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You May
Too many of us live our lives “fixin’ to get ready.” There are things we may do — things we need to do, things we know we should do — and we’ll do them all ... just as soon as we finish “fixin’ to get ready.” The problem is we never finish getting ready. Most of our plans are piled up in heaps on our desks, carefully laid out, but never executed. They are just things we may do. This lack of execution seems to be a universal problem.
Corporations spend millions on strategies only to have their plans atrophy because no one gave life to the strategies. Every church I know has a carefully worded vision statement and well-defined plans for outreach and growth neatly bound in a three-ring binder sitting on a shelf in the pastor’s office. Yet,
Jesus calls us to live our lives richly, deeply with passion and purpose. I know of only a few congregations that have actually executed those plans. We know two or three things we may do to make our families stronger and happier. Some of these plans are complicated, like figuring out retirement plans. Others are pretty simple, like expressing appreciation or love, praying together, or serving together in some ministry. Sadly, even though most of us know this, few of us actually do those things. They are lost simply because no one was mindful enough to do them. Whenever people ask how they can know God’s will, I tell them, “You already know three things God wants you to do right now. Do those three things, and God will tell you the next three things He wants you to do.” Knowing is rarely the problem. Doing is. The word may gives us permission, but it doesn’t
guarantee action. When I perform a wedding, I say to the groom, “You may kiss your wife.” That doesn’t necessarily mean he will (although grooms always do). It just means no one will object if he does because he has permission. In Christ, we’ve been given permission to live in radical obedience; it doesn’t mean we will, but we can. The glorious reality of life with Christ is that He gives us a lot of permission to act. We can go on grand adventures. We can teach a student Bible study. We can work with those who are homeless or teach our grandchildren a skill like playing the guitar. Christ gives us permission to live our lives to the fullest. The door to joy, real joy, is open. Jesus calls us to live our lives richly, deeply with passion and purpose. So, what is it you really want to do? What grand plan has been swirling around in your mind, worked out in detail, but still undone? What have you been waiting for? Permission? Well, you have it. It’s written on the top of every calendar page for this month. Yes, in the power of Jesus, you may. The only question remaining is “Will you?”
MIKE GLENN is the executive editor of Mature Living and serves as senior pastor of Brentwood Baptist Church in Brentwood, Tennessee. Follow his blog mikeglennonline.com.
LIVING IN THE WORD
Dr. Ronnie Floyd / THE POWER OF PRAYER AND FASTING
What Is Our King Going to Say? With the assurance that salvation is by grace through faith, let’s then attend to kingdom matters.
T
HERE WAS once a page in the king’s court. He did not have many important responsibilities to carry forth until one day the king called him into the throne room. The king handed the boy a scroll, and on that parchment were written the following words: “In the prison across town, there is a man who is going to be hanged today. I have decided to pardon him.” “Quickly,” said the king, “take this message to the head jailer.” The little boy was excited about what he knew the king wanted him to do. He ran through the town, thinking over about how grateful that prisoner would be, knowing he was now pardoned and would not be hanged. As the boy passed a store, he saw some clothes and thought, You know, the prisoner will surely need some new clothes for his new life. So he went into the store and bought a splendid outfit for the one who would soon be free. He ran a little bit longer, and then, suddenly,
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THINKSTOCK
If we don’t choose to fulfill the spiritual challenges God has issued to us, we may one day walk away in grief, even as that little boy did. he saw a place to eat, so he ran in and got some food for the convicted man because
he knew the prisoner would be hungry. Then he started running with all of his strength toward the prison. When he arrived, the young boy entered the jailer’s office. With a smile on his face, the youngster took the scroll of pardon from the king and handed it to the head jailer. The boy said, “This is from the king himself. The man who was going to be hanged today is to be pardoned.” The jailer shook his head and began to cry. He said, “Oh, son, we executed that prisoner five minutes ago. He is dead.” Tears welled up in the little boy’s eyes as he walked out of the prison and headed back to the palace. As he shuffled toward the throne room, the guards could hear him mutter, “What is the king going to say? What is the king going to say? What is the king going to say?” Our King, the Lord of lords, Creator and Sustainer of all, King Jesus, is coming again. But before He appears, He wants to see a mighty awakening stirring in your life, in mine, and in the churches throughout this nation. If we don’t choose to fulfill the spiritual challenges God has issued to us, we may one day walk away in grief, even as that little boy did. Prayer and fasting are means given to us to experience the power of God in our lives. How often do we neglect these spiritual disciplines because we are attending to other, less important matters?
When we are ushered into the presence of our King — our last, fleeting, propitious moment before the judgment — you and I will know in our hearts that God wanted us to do something great through His power, but that we, somehow, were too preoccupied with other distractions to meet the challenge. Then, on our way to stand before our God, it will dawn on us just exactly what we missed. The breakthroughs were ours for the receiving, but we settled with where we were. As we approach the judgment seat of our Lord Jesus Christ and come face to face with the King of kings, the fear of God will overcome us as we realize it is too late in the day to humble ourselves before the Lord, too late to fast and pray, too late to help others see God’s gateway to spiritual breakthroughs. As these thoughts slam into our hearts, we will find ourselves whispering those same words: What is our King going to say? What is our King going to say? What is our King going to say? Parts taken from The Power of Prayer and Fasting by Ronnie W. Floyd. Copyright 2010. Used by permission of B&H Publishing Group. All rights reserved.
DR. RONNIE FLOYD is pastor of Cross Church in Northwest Arkansas and president of the Southern Baptist Convention. He is author of 20 books, including The Power of Prayer and Fasting. He and his wife, Jeana, have two sons and six grandchildren.
Mature Living / may 2015
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LIVING IN THE WORD
This Is My Story by ERIC WYSE
“This Is My Father’s World” A hilltop view inspires a pastor’s poetic praise.
“I’m going out to see my Father’s world.”
T
HE YOUNG minister often headed outside for a walk to the top of the hill overlooking Lake Ontario. His love of creation and the Creator led Dr. Maltbie Davenport Babcock to pen the words of the 16-verse poem, “My Father’s World,” published posthumously by his wife in 1901. Born in Syracuse, New York, Babcock’s first pastorate after seminary was in Lockport, New York, near Niagara Falls. Later pastorates found Babcock living Above: Dr. Maltbie D. Babcock Right: Boreal forest and Lake Ontario shoreline. Upper right: Niagara Falls, New York
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in Baltimore and New York City. In early 1901, while on a trip to the Holy Land, he died at the age of 42 in Naples, Italy, due to an infectious illness. Later that year, at the request of friends and former church members, his widow, Katherine, collected many of his sayings, sermons, letters, and poems in Thoughts for Every-Day Living. Included in this volume was his poem, “My Father’s World.” Fourteen years after the publication of the poem, Franklin L. Sheppard, a good friend of Babcock and the music
director for a church in Baltimore, chose six stanzas from the poem, adapting an old English folk tune to create the hymn we know today as “This Is My Father’s World.” The hymn is a compelling message of God our Father revealing His character in nature and offering the gift of redemption through the incarnation of His Son Jesus.
THIS IS MY FATHER’S WORLD
ERIC WYSE serves as pastoral associate for music and worship in Franklin, Tennessee, and is a songwriter and composer. He and his wife, Dawn, a LifeWay employee, have two college-aged children.
CORBIS IMAGES / THINKSTOCK
This is my Father’s world, And to my list’ning ears, All nature sings, and round me rings The music of the spheres. This is my Father’s world, I rest me in the thought Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas; His hand the wonders wrought. This is my Father’s world, The birds their carols raise; The morning light, the lily white Declare their Maker’s praise. This is my Father’s world, He shines in all that’s fair; In the rustling grass I hear Him pass, He speaks to me ev’rywhere. This is my Father’s world, O let me ne’er forget That though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the Ruler yet. This is my Father’s world, The battle is not done; Jesus who died shall be satisfied, And earth and heav’n be one.
—Maltbie D. Babcock Enjoy a performance of the song by scanning this QR Code.
Mature Living / may 2015
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LIVING IN THE WORD
In the Word by LINDA TOMBLIN
Work for the Good of All “Therefore, as we have opportunity, we must work for the good of all, especially for those who belong to the household of faith” (Gal. 6:10).
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but I’ve got to leave. That was the owner of the motel over on Main Street. They have a family staying there that was traveling through town when their car broke down. The police are providing a room, but they don’t have anything to eat. I’m going over to see if I can help.” “But … , but … ,” I sputtered. “We were going to ask you about our spring missions project … and you haven’t even eaten yet … and … I have a delicious strawberry shortcake.” “I’m sorry,” he said. “I’ll just run by the Burger Shop and pick up some burgers. I’ll be back soon.” Burgers? I looked at my table almost groaning under
the load. What on earth was I thinking? There was a hungry family sitting alone in a motel room nearby, and we needed to help. God had just given us our spring missions project! “Hey, everyone, listen up,” I said as I passed out paper plates and bowls. “Start filling these up,” I instructed. “God has just given us a chance to be missionaries tonight in our own hometown. And don’t forget to put extra strawberries and whipped cream on the shortcake!”
LINDA TOMBLIN has been writing for 30 years and has articles in numerous publications.
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I
T BEGAN with a special Mother’s Day meal for my Sunday School class at our home. I had been asked to take over the group in April, and I thought it would be a good opportunity to get to know them better. After a short meeting, we gathered around our dining room table which overflowed with home-cooked dishes and a strawberry shortcake made from last summer’s hand-picked strawberries. Our special guest was our pastor. He had just finished asking the blessing when his cell phone rang. He moved to the side so he could hear over the talk and laughter. When he returned, he said, “I’m sorry,
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Mature Living / may 2015
Kiddie Wisdom If you need a fresh take on life,
listen to a kid.
VEEER /CORBIS
T
by VICTORIA YORK
HIS MOTHER’S DAY, I’m reflecting on the treasures God has given us in the kids we know and love. I have learned many life lessons from my 8-year-old granddaughter, Zoe — though she’s unaware how often she’s the teacher and I’m the student. One frigid day last winter, we lunched at Taco Bell where she ordered nachos. To say she enjoyed them is an understatement. She reveled in them. She celebrated them. I wondered briefly if she was going to wallow in them. And in those few minutes, several weighty truths hit home: • Enjoy the present moment, no matter how simple. • Don’t be afraid of expressing yourself. • Live big even when you’re small. • Th e best things in life frequently cost less than $2.50.
•E verything is better when you’re wearing a faux leopard-skin coat. LIFE LESSONS FROM THE GRANDS upon investigation, I found that many grandmas have gained wisdom from their grandkids: Value humble pleasures. Catherine shared about her 5-year-old granddaughter: “Amelia was thrilled with the simple things on our shoestringbudget lifestyle … like how Publix gives the kids a free cookie and a balloon. And even though we don’t have a pool like the one she has at home, she was so happy playing in the makeshift water feature I made out of an old garden hose by punching nail holes in it and capping off the end.” Trust your heart. Lainey learned this truth: “My grandchildren have talked to people I would never talk to; and sure enough, we’ve discovered those same people have precious hearts even if their outside was a little rough. Children seem to
Mature Living / may 2015
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Caiden, age 10, was trying to pay for a milkshake for me. I told him I was treating him. He said, ‘You told me God gave me a gift because I like to share, and now you’re not letting me use my gift!’ What could I say? He bought me a milkshake!” WISE (AND FUNNY) ANSWERS upon hearing these grandmothers’ thoughts, I wondered what other words of wisdom our little ones might share. So, I went straight to the source. My subjects include Alexandria (age 9), sisters Kathryn (age 7) and Lexie (age 6), and brothers Aiden (age 8) and Noah (age 5). “How much do grandmas weigh?”Clearly, grandmothers come in many sizes, as answers range from 6 to 400 pounds. Noah’s answer, “Sixty-thirty-five,” is most intriguing. “What advice would you give adults?” Noah and Aiden take the reins on this one: “They should give us more ice cream,” they say, “and they should all own four dogs.” “How can you make others happy?” Lexie is concise: “Go to their birthday parties and be nice to them. That’s all I’ve got.” “What’s the best gift you can give others?” Noah answers immediately: “To a girl? A pony.” Aiden answers, “You can give them hope.” “That’s a lovely idea,” I comment as Noah adds, “Or bracelets!” “What are women not very good at doing?” Kathryn, whose mother regularly works 60-hour weeks, answers, “Working … and they’re not so good at fixing stuff, either.” Rolling his eyes dramatically, Noah explains that “they’re not good at flying planes. I was on a plane before, and a girl wasflying it and crashed it!”
THINKSTOCK
have an innate discernment, but we teach them to look at the outside and strip that from them. I have learned to trust my heart a little more and look at the outside a lot less. Wisdom isn’t head knowledge but heart knowledge.” Don’t take yourself too seriously. Mary had two stories to tell — first, about her granddaughter Tonya: “Even before she could walk, Tonya found everything funny — including herself! When she laughed, her whole body giggled. Her humor has carried her through situations that would have devastated some people. And that has taught me to do the same.” Cultivate a sense of wonder. Heidi taught Mary a separate, but equally valuable, lesson: “When Heidi was 16 months old, we were watching the neighbor’s cows on the hill. We looked away for a moment, and when we looked back, every cow was gone. ‘Where did they go?’ Heidi asked. Thinking she was worried, I explained, ‘Oh, just over the hill.’ She cocked her pretty head and said, ‘I wonder why.’ Curiosity has enriched my life as I’ve thought, I wonder why, and then searched for answers. It has even brought me a deeper relationship with God.” Accept God’s love. Another thought about our relationship with God comes from Angelika: “My granddaughter’s behavior never affected how much I love her. I myself had an issue about accepting the deep love Jesus has for me, and I used to believe that I had to be perfect. Reflecting on my love for my granddaughter Kyla (age 15) opened the door to accepting God’s love for me.” Give and receive. Sometimes, grandkids turn the tables by reminding us of what we’ve taught them. Cyndi tells this story: “My grandson
Can a protein originally found in a jellyfish improve your memory? Scientists say,
“Yes”!
Aiden glances my way and subtly shakes his head to let me know that little brother’s story is not entirely accurate. When Lexie announces, “Girls are smarter than boys!” I realize that, to be fair, I must ask another question. “What are men not very good at doing?” Aiden responds, “Eating healthy,” and then he explains that his dad ingests a lot of sugar. Kathryn reports that men are not very good at cooking but then remembers, “Well, sometimes my daddy cooks noodles.” “What’s the best thing about grandparents?” The answer is unanimous: “They do fun stuff with us.” “Is there something grandmas often say?” Aiden recalls that grandmas say: “Oh, shoot!” “Why?” I ask. “Because they mess up a lot,” answers Aiden. I have to agree with him. We’re learning — and obviously from some great teachers! VICTORIA YORK is a writer and editor from Clarksville, Tennessee. She enjoys running, reading, eating sushi, and spending much of her time assisting husband Kenny, founder and director of a local food ministry, Manna Café. Follow her blog, The Doulos Chronicles, at douloschronicles.com.
Can a simple protein hold the key to improving your memory? Researchers have discovered a protein that actually supports healthy brain function.* Robert Pastore, Ph.D., a member of the New York Academy of Sciences explains, “As you age, you lose about 30,000 brain cells a day and that impacts every aspect of your life...how you think and how you feel.” Fortunately, scientists made a significant breakthrough by developing a scientific process to produce a protein called “apoaequorin” that can support healthier brain function, sharper mind and clearer thinking.*
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The jellyfish connection
Apoaequorin is in the same family of proteins as those found in humans, but it was originally discovered in one of nature’s simplest organisms — the jellyfish.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
PRVMATLIVV1
BALANCED LIVING
Prescription for Life by RICHARD FURMAN, M.D.
Ideal Weight Maintain a healthy weight in order to actively serve others — longer.
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and vegetables, that is. There will be no limit to the amount of fruits and vegetables you eat. 2. The second secret deals with portions of what you can eat. Begin leaving some food on your plate. Sit a few minutes and talk or look at your iPhone, and then if you are still hungry, eat a little more. Cut down on your portions. 3. The third secret is the rule of no snacks. Controlling your snacking is one of the most significant aspects of weight loss. People add many surplus calories because of just a light afternoon snack or just a bite
of something before going to bed. Apply Prescription-forLife’s 10-minute factor: Control the urge for 10 minutes by sipping on a non-caloric drink and getting your mind on something else. Read, work, or call someone on the phone. After 10 minutes, your urge for a snack is gone. 4. The fourth secret is to eliminate the extras with your meal. Say no to bread and appetizers before meals; they are simply extra calories. Say no to desserts. Instead, drink a cup of coffee or tea. Say no to beverages with
ISTOCKPHTOO
D
ON’T FOCUS on losing weight for just appearance but rather to have a better quality and quantity of life in service to God. Did you know that being overweight takes six to seven years off your life expectancy? It’s one thing to reach your ideal weight, but I want to help you stay at that ideal weight. Prescription for Life reveals five secrets to maintaining your ideal weight. The premise is that the same eating habits you develop while you are losing weight are going to continue for the remainder of your life. It doesn’t work on fad diets or supplements. 1. The first secret is to fill up on vegetables and fruits. Has anyone ever told you the secret to losing weight is to eat as much as you want? Well, that’s exactly what you can do — with fruits
FIND NEW
calories. You will be amazed at the hundreds of calories you will avoid by shaving off these extras from your menu. 5. The fifth secret is to say yes to grilled or baked foods. Remember you will add a third more calories if the food is fried. Not only will you be saving calories, but you will also be developing healthier arteries in the meantime. Each day, each meal, you are developing healthier eating habits as you follow the Prescription-for-Life plan. Remember this is a lifestyle plan. Focusing on your food choices
will make you feel better and motivate you to take the next step: exercise. Proper eating plus exercise are the two factors that make it all happen — losing excess weight and maintaining your ideal weight. As you continue this month making wise food choices, begin thinking about that next step of exercising. To help you, I like to use the simple example of a Brown University study where two groups of overweight women were compared. One group dieted plus exercised while the other group only dieted. The group that dieted and exercised lost almost twice the weight more than the ones who did not exercise. Those numbers shout a loud statement concerning the significance of exercise. It is another one of those walkingaround-sense realizations. If you want to lose weight, do more than just the diet portion. If you want to get a jump start on next month’s discussion, begin moving around more now. This article is for informational purposes only. Please consult your physician for specific dietary concerns.
RICHARD FURMAN, M.D. is a past president of the North Carolina chapter of the American College of Surgeons and a two-term governor of the American College of Surgeons. He is co-founder of World Medical Mission, the medical arm of Samaritan’s Purse, and is a member of the board of Samaritan’s Purse.
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BALANCED LIVING
Steve Rogers / LIFE WELL LIVED
A daily, spiritual check can keep you smelling like the fragrance of Christ.
N
OT LONG AGO, our garbage disposal stopped working. I flipped the switch. Nothing happened. No sound. No action. I put off dealing with it for days until the food still in the disposal started to decay and cause a less-than-pleasing aroma in the kitchen, which, of course, encouraged me to be a little more proactive. I grudgingly admitted defeat, found the manual, and began reading. It didn’t take long to find the page where I was told what would solve the problem: Press the tiny red reset button (which I never would have seen without being told that it was on the very bottom of the disposal). First, I had to remove all of the stuff under the kitchen sink. With the help of a flashlight, I found that tiny red button and gave it a push. Sure enough, the garbage disposal fired right up, and the undisposed garbage, along with the lingering smell, was swiftly swept away.
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“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). You don’t have to be an expert in garbage or garbage disposals to see a life lesson can be found in my experience with the reset button. Without our even realizing it, often the garbage of this world starts to pile up in our lives and cause a stink.
STEVE ROGERS is president and co-founder of the Adrian Rogers Pastor Training Institute in North Palm Beach, Fla. A well-known author, songwriter, and speaker, he co-wrote three books with his father. He and his wife, Cindi, have a daughter and a grandson.
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Hit the Reset Button
If we’re not careful, resentment, thoughtlessness, pride, selfishness, and other miscellaneous foul odors begin to accumulate and cause what Zig Ziglar referred to as “stinkin’ thinkin.’” The solution, of course, is to hit the spiritual reset button. Here’s a simple three-step reset process: confession, cleansing, consecration. First, confess all of your stinkin’ thinkin’, rotten reactions, and foul-smelling failures. In 1 John 1:9 we are told, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Step two is cleansing. God is able to reset your life back to a state of total purity. What an amazing feeling to know you are completely cleansed — without even a taint of sin! The last step, consecration, is simply when you say to God, “Lord, here I am. Thank You for the cleansing. I smell (and feel) a whole lot better. My life is Yours to use as You choose.” No need to wait until you smell something malodorous. But whenever you do, don’t forget to hit the reset button.
Barbara Smith’s
MOTHER’S DAY LUNCH
VEER / CORBIS
BROCCOLI RITZ CASSEROLE
STOCKFOOD
CHICKEN PASTA CASSEROLE
STOCKFOOD
BROWNIE TRIFLE
THINKSTOCK
EASY TOSSED SALAD
Our Favorite
R ECIPES Broccoli Ritz Casserole
Chicken Pasta Casserole
2 (10 ounce) packages frozen broccoli florets 2 tablespoons milk 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese 24 Ritz crackers, crushed ¼ cup butter, melted
4 large chicken breasts ¼ green pepper, chopped 2 stalks celery, chopped ¼ medium onion, chopped 1 tablespoon butter 2 cans cream of chicken soup dash cayenne pepper 8 ounces angel hair spaghetti, cooked ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
Preheat oven to 350o. Cook broccoli until tender. Drain and place in 9-by-13-inch greased baking dish. Pour milk over broccoli and top with cheese. Combine Ritz crackers with butter and sprinkle on top of cheese. Bake 20 to 25 minutes. Yield: 6 servings Hospitality Note: This is such an easy dish to prepare.
Boil chicken breasts. When cooked, reserve enough broth to fill a soup can halfway. Sauté green pepper, celery, and onion in butter. Shred chicken. Preheat oven to 350o. Combine with soup, reserved broth, veggies, cayenne pepper, and spaghetti. Pour into a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Top with cheese, and bake 30 minutes. Yield: 8 servings Hospitality Note: Prior to baking, this dish can be prepared a day in advance of serving.
MATURE LIVING MAGAZINE / MAY 2015
MATURE LIVING MAGAZINE / MAY 2015
Brownie Trifle
Easy Tossed Salad
1p ackage fudge brownie mix (prepare as directed on box) 1 box chocolate pudding mix (prepare as directed on box) 16- ounce container whipped topping, thawed and divided 8-ounce package chocolate-covered toffee bits
1 cup croutons 1 bag Romaine lettuce 1 cup mayonnaise 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese ½ cup Italian dressing
Break cooled brownies into small pieces. When pudding is cool, combine with half of whipped topping. In trifle dish, layer half the brownies, pudding mixture, and toffee bits. Repeat layers and top with remaining whipped topping. Cover and refrigerate. Yield: 8 servings
Mix lettuce and croutons in a large bowl. Combine mayonnaise, Parmesan cheese, and Italian dressing together. Pour over salad just prior to serving. Yield: 6 servings Hospitality Note: Double the dressing recipe and keep in refrigerator for other salads.
Hospitality Note: Prepare this a day in advance and add fresh raspberries on top for garnish.
MATURE LIVING MAGAZINE / MAY 2015
MATURE LIVING MAGAZINE / MAY 2015
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BALANCED LIVING
Mind Benders by RUTH MYER
6 8 5 2 9 5 4 3 5 3 7 8 2 2 9 4 6 2 5 9 6 7 4 7 5 2
SUDOKU
Fill in the grid so that every row, column, and 3-by-3 box contains the numbers 1 through 9. Solution is on page 70.
Search up, down, forward, backward, and diagonally to find names of birds in the Bible. Solution is on page 70.
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Mature Living / may 2015
K
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== Bittern == Buzzard == Cormorant == Crane == Dove == Eagle == Falcon == Glede == Hawk == Hen == Heron == Hoopoe == Ibis == Lapwing == Osprey == Ossifrage == Ostrich == Owl == Partridge == Peacock == Pelican
== Pigeon == Quail == Raven == Red Kite == Rook == Rooster == Seagull == Sparrow == Stork == Swallow == Swan == Swift == Thrush == Turtledove == Vulture
THINKSTOCK
Bible Birds
BALANCED LIVING
Tech Corner by STEPHANIE HUFFMAN
Text, But Not While Driving!
Y
OU MAY HAVE seen those ads or the flashing signs on the roadway that say, “Don’t text and drive.” It’s amazing, but people do it. OK, so I’ll admit, most of the gang down at the R.C. don’t actually drive. They ride the van offered at the center. But not Kyra. She’s 92, has a car, and uses it! She calls up my 75-yearold mother, and off they go. I’m happy to tell you, she doesn’t text while driving. For that, my mother and I are most grateful. If you haven’t yet tried texting, you should — while stationary, of course. Even if you don’t have a smart phone, did you know you can text? It’s a bit harder because the buttons on that flip phone make it more difficult to locate the letters, but it’s doable.
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Mature Living / may 2015
So what is texting, anyway? It’s literally typing a message on your phone or iPad and sending it to another person’s phone or iPad. You simply use the person’s phone number as his address. He can receive it instantly no matter where he is. And you can basically talk back and forth in what we call real time. Fascinating! Now, next time you see your kids or grandkids typing into their phones or devices, you’ll know they are communicating with someone right then and there. Did you notice I mentioned iPad? That’s right. If you’re set up properly, you can even text from your iPad. The iPad’s numbers and letters are larger, which makes typing and reading easier. And the text messages you place in either the phone or the iPad stay there until you erase or delete them. Pretty nice, huh?
So here’s your homework: 1. Be aware that your monthly phone service plan may charge you extra for this. If you don’t have the texting service, contact your phone company. 2. Ask a tech savvy person to show you how to text on your phone, iPad, or both. 3. Have that person show you how to add people’s phone numbers to your CONTACTS list (your address book) in your phone, and simply use that option to help you send messages to them. It’s definitely something you should try. But not while driving. STEPHANIE HUFFMAN is a freelance writer living in Nashville, Tennessee, with her Black Lab, Bosco. When she’s not writing, she enjoys visiting her mother and friends at the retirement community (R.C.), gleaning the latest regarding their take on tech and other important facts of life.
ISTOCKPHOTO
If you can type a letter, you can text a message.
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THINKSTOCK
46
Mature Living / may 2015
Bee Line to Fiction
Murder Chapter Two
Robyn glanced around the table, hoping it wasn’t a mistake to invite Professor Ensinger to dinner. Dad could be judgmental about city people, and Colby usually clammed up around adults, preferring the world of video games and the computer. She refused to complain about her son. He could have been like his father, more interested in partying than his family.
TYPOGRAPHY DIRECTION BY CRAWFORD DESIGN
by DIANN MILLS
DAD HAD COOKED FAJITAS, and the enticing aroma of onions, green and red peppers, and a mix of beef and chicken helped ease her misgivings. “I’ve never tasted Mexican food this good,” Vince said after Mr. Kingston returned thanks. “Those fajitas should be patented.
I would eat all over again, but there’s nowhere to put it.” “Then I’ll let you rest before I bring out the coffee and flan.” Dad laughed. Vince had won him over. “Professor, I know my proper daughter isn’t ready to talk about the bee problem, but I am. I hear you’re educating the community.”
Mature Living / may 2015
47
You don’t belong here. Go home before someone else gets stung. Robyn cringed. When had life become so perilous? “The bees aren’t any faster, but they will chase you farther — sometimes a quarter of a mile. Don’t swat at them because if you kill one, the dead bee puts out an odor that will send more after you. You need to simply outrun them. Sheriff Jenson and I looked for the bees today, but we didn’t find a thing. We’re going out again in the morning.” “How many stings does it take to kill a person?” Colby said. “About 10 per pound of the victim’s weight. Exceptions are those who are allergic to bees or those who have severe health conditions.”
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Mature Living / may 2015
Colby leaned in. “The way I look at it, each time someone is attacked, those bees die. The more dead people, the fewer bees.” “Colby!” Robyn nearly bolted from the chair. “You’re talking about people, our friends, dying.” Had her son no value for human life? “It’s all right.” Dad touched her arm. “He’s simply making an observation.” “I’m sorry. I keep seeing Amber’s closed casket.” She forced a smile at her guest. “I will do whatever it takes to help you.” “And I promise to do all I can to end the fear,” Vince said. “Thank you.” Robyn sensed the commitment of this man before her. She liked what he stood for and his resolve. This plague of killer bees would pass. Soon they’d be able to resume their normal lives and take precaution for the future. At least, that’s what she kept telling herself. “I’m sorry for upsetting you, Mom,” Colby said and turned to Vince. “Lots of kids at school are afraid.” She smiled at her son and then at Vince. “Can we change the subject for a while?” she suggested. “Of course,” Vince said. “Lee, tell me why you haven’t started a restaurant.” Dad laughed. “Sounds like my daughter. Might open me a place. Haven’t decided.” “What’s your background?” “Retired oil man. Also German. My mother came to America, leaving my father behind when he joined Hitler’s army. She didn’t know about me until she arrived here. Anyway, she changed our name from Koch to Kingston. When I was 12, she told me the truth. If it hadn’t been for the good Lord working in my life, I wouldn’t have been able to forgive my father. I did my stint in the U.S. army during the Korean War.” Robyn never tired of hearing the story. “What did your family do in Germany?” “Beekeepers.”
THINKSTOCK
“Please, I’m Vince. Professor makes me feel ancient.” Dad raised a white brow. “Sounds good to me. And I’m Lee.” “What we have is a bee safety guide that explains how to avoid killer bees and what to do if you’re stung. In the morning, the brochure will be available at the sheriff’s office, library, churches, and several grocery stores. The danger with African or killer bees is their highly defensive nature. The venom in each sting is no more powerful than the honeybee, but it’s the number of stings that makes them deadly.”
••• Vince had every intention of sleeping until around 7:00 a.m. Saturday, but he’d been chased by bees as big as Longhorns all night, and he awoke at 3:30 with no inclination to go back to sleep. Long after he’d showered and dressed, the nightmare continued to plague him. A movie about African bees had inched into his subconscious. The movie had used all the hype of Hollywood to create a ridiculous scenario, but right now with the very real nightmare nipping at his heels, nothing seemed outlandish. And he was the professor. Robyn. Had he really formed an opinion of her? The same intelligence shone in her eyes as Vince had seen in her dad and son, except she was much prettier and petite. Her offer to help tempted him, but not just for business purposes. He turned on his laptop. Emails poured in from his students, but he wasn’t in the mood to respond. One message had killer bees in the subject line, so he opened it: You don’t belong here. Go home before someone else gets stung. Startled, then angry, Vince hit the reply key. The more he thought about the threat, the more he realized the sender wanted him to respond. Hoax. Someone yanking at his chain. Without another thought, he deleted the message. The Bible beside the laptop caught his eye. “This will clear my mind,” he said out loud as he thumbed through the Book of Psalms. A couple of hours later, he met Sheriff Jenson at his office. “I’d like to look at the victims’ records. Everything you have.” “Why?” Vince told him about the email. Jenson crossed his arms over his chest. “I don’t like the way this looks. Is it possible to direct bees to a particular person?” “Yes. If that’s the case, Mrs. Meadows and Mr. Humphrey were targeted by someone who wanted them out of the way.” Jenson pulled open a file cabinet. “Let’s get busy. See if the two had anything in common.”
His phone rang. “Yes, this is Jenson. ... When did you find the body?” Vince’s gaze flew to the sheriff’s face. “I’ll be right there. I’m really sorry.” Jenson dropped his phone into his pocket and headed for the door. “Victim number three, a boy in Colby Walters’ class. Stung to death early this morning while doing chores.” He shook his head. “What’s going on? Is someone in my town responsible for these deaths?” Vince had no answers. “I’d like to go with you.” “Sure. Bring those files, and we’ll talk about them.” He frowned. “I shouldn’t let the files leave the office, but the circumstances aren’t normal.” A nagging thought seized Vince, one that kept him on alert. “Mr. Humphrey was in his 90s. Was he a World War II veteran?” “Yes.” Vince edged forward. “Did Amber Meadows have a connection to the war?” Jenson hesitated, a frown indicating his confusion. “As I recall ... someone in her family had won a medal of honor — an uncle or grandfather, maybe. Anyway, Amber was in charge of a yearly celebration on Veterans Day that specifically honored World War II veterans.” Vince despised his suspicions, but they’d rooted last night at dinner. Lee Kingston’s father was a Nazi soldier … and the family had been beekeepers. But how did that fit with the teenage boy’s death? ▷ “Bee Line to Murder” is a three-part series. If you miss any part of the series, you can email us in June at matureliving@lifeway.com, and we will send you the complete story. DIANN MILLS is an award-winning writer who believes her readers should expect an adventure. Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists. DiAnn won the Christy Award in 2010 and 2011. DiAnn is also a Craftsman mentor for the Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writers Guild. She and her husband live in sunny Houston, Texas. Visit her website: diannmills.com.
Mature Living / may 2015
49
LEGACY LIVING
The Comfort Project A Testimony of Comfort for Those Who Are Falsely Accused
Surrendered to Worship
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Mature Living / may 2015
THINKSTOCK
S
EVEN YEARS AGO, our family faced had never known before. I daily cried out to God something that threatened to tear and wondered how He could ever use this mess us apart and separate us forever. My to encourage others. It was shameful to even talk husband and I had been married 11 years about. But it was during this time that we learned and had a strong marriage; we had to trust God and depend solely on Him. We a strong faith in God and served Him wholecame to know God as our only source of heartedly. One day, we were given the strength; we learned to trust Him as our news that my husband had been falsely “THE BATTLE sole provider when it seemed we would accused of a crime, and the threat of IS NOT YOURS, lose our home due to the crushing legal imprisonment hung over us for a period of BUT GOD’S” debt. We saw God provide for us in more four long years. He was a loving husband, (2 CHRON. 20:15). ways than there is time or space to tell. I a wonderful father, and a godly man. want to share with you a few things He What we encountered in the years following would taught me during this critical time in our lives. test our faith in God and our resolve to stay married. First, God is absolutely able to give peace, As 2 Corinthians 1:8 states, “We were completely “which surpasses every thought” (Phil. 4:7) in the overwhelmed — beyond our strength — so that we midst of crushing difficulty. It was an indescribeven despaired of life.” From one day to the next, we able peace, causing us to stand up under the did not know if he would be taken from us. weight of the trial. And trust me when I say that During this time, our church family supported there were days when I found breathing difficult. us in prayer, and we experienced God in a way we But God sustained me.
Second, there is nothing God cannot do in answer to prayer! As the church stood for us, God delivered us from the hand of the enemy. The Lord even placed it on the heart of someone we did not know to pay a legal debt of $38,000! No strings attached. The church continued to intercede on our behalf. After four grueling years and many tears, the case was dismissed. Last, I learned to worship God simply because He is worthy. One day as I was pondering the account of Paul and Silas, I realized that these men chose to worship God, not because their circumstances were ideal — far from it! Despite being in prison chains, despite the flogging, despite their circumstances, they worshiped God. I surrendered the circumstances to God, asking Him to do what He felt was best and believing that if He wanted me to be a single mother, He would grant me the strength and wisdom I would need. I wanted to worship God whether He gave or took away. And that is the safest, most secure place to be. In closing, know that wherever you may find yourself, the Prince of peace Himself will walk with you. He will sustain you, and He will deliver you, leading you to worship Him simply because He is worthy of all our praise and trust. These testimonies were shared anonymously through The Comfort Project as a portion of Mrs. Older’s mentoring and marriage blog. Visit this blog at awordtothewives.blogspot.com.
LEGACY LIVING
As You Go by NORMAN RODGERS
West Virginia’s Southern Surprises
A
FREQUENT OBSERVATION of firsttime visitors to southern West Virginia is something like, “I had no idea there was so much to see.” Largely rural and mountainous, the natural beauty of the rugged countryside is spectacular. In the fall, brilliant swatches of gold, red, and bronze foliage create a breathtaking landscape quilt that rivals any other place in America. On our trip here, we approach the southern tip of the state, turning north on Interstate 77 near Wytheville in southwest Virginia. The Allegheny Mountains form the horizon ahead of us, and the Blue Ridge range fills the sky across the valley behind us.
TA M A R A C K
More Than a Craft Center our first stop after crossing into West Virginia is the Tamarack Artisan Retail Center near the city of Beckley. As we take Exit 45 off the interstate, we are immediately struck by the impressive crownlike, red-roofed building and the beautifully landscaped grounds that surround it. Tamarack is one of the nation’s most outstanding craft
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Mature Living / may 2015
centers, but that description does it an injustice. It is much more than that. In fact, the first priority on our agenda is lunch at Tamarack’s Taste of West Virginia food center, which has garnered accolades such as Saveur magazine’s Top 100 American eateries, Blue Ridge Country’s best buttermilk biscuit, and Southern Living’s list of favorite regional restaurants. We are inspired as we browse among the amazing creations of the state’s master craftsmen. Furniture, pottery, blown glass, jewelry, soaps, wood, metal, apparel, musical instruments, candy, homemade food items, and handcrafted souvenirs represent the labor of area artisans, many of whom work with native materials. The highlight of our visit to Tamarack is watching in fascination as craftsmen demonstrate their artistry, creating objects of beauty from raw material to finished product.
B ECKLE Y COAL M IN E
Following the Miners into the Mountain the thought of going into a coal mine makes us a little fearful that it will be a bit claustrophobic, but anticipation overcomes our anxiety. We are at the Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine aboard the little mine train that will take us into the dark depths of the worked-out areas. This mine bores into the side of the mountain, and our journey
ALL PHOTOS THINKSTOCK
“I lift my eyes toward the mountains. Where will my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth” (Ps. 121:1-2).
will be horizontal. Our driver and guide is a miner and knows all of the mine’s secrets. As we travel along, he shows us the difficult conditions under which the men labored, and we see the tools and machines they used. Learning about the process of extracting coal focuses on those hardy men who did it. Our admiration for them quickly escalates. Back outside, we are able to better understand what life was like for the men and their families
Top row: A sun-kissed mountain meadow in the Dolly Sods Wilderness in eastern West Virginia; view of mountains in the Potomac Highlands of West Virginia. Lower row: Pinnacle Rock State Park in West Virginia at sunrise in October; Glade Creek Grist Mill in Babcock State Park, Fayette County, West Virginia.
in the early 20th century. A restored Coal Company house, the superintendent’s home, a school, and a church teach us a history lesson.
Mature Living / may 2015
53
LEGACY LIVING LEWISBURG
A Really Cool Town we drove through Lewisburg on our way to Cass, and now we will return to find out why this town has received so much recognition by travel organizations and magazines. One national magazine even designated it as one of the “Coolest Small Towns in America.” The Greenbrier Historical Society and North House Museum is a good first stop for our orientation of Lewisburg. As we stroll along Main Street, we pass historic buildings, excellent restaurants, sidewalk cafes, antique shops, art galleries, and specialty shops. The Old Stone Presbyterian Church, built in 1796, generates a desire to sit awhile in peaceful communion with God. For a time, we leisurely walk around the cemetery, reading headstones that have been there for centuries and imagining what life was like here so long ago. Lewisburg is also home to the Greenbrier Valley Theatre, the State Professional Theatre of West Virginia, where there are performances of plays, musicals, and other productions year round.
CASS SCENIC R AILROAD
Fall Foliage from a Log Train We have chosen to visit West Virginia when the trees don their most flamboyant party colors before their winter sleep. The Cass Scenic Railroad, in the mountains a couple of hours northeast of Beckley, is a perfect way to immerse ourselves in this spectacular scenery. The 100-year-old Shay steam logging engines push us in open cars up the mountain through the forest. The Shays were built to negotiate steep grades and tight turns. Conversation yields to concentration as our attention is totally focused upon scenery that is more felt than comprehended.
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THE GREENBRIER
A Secret Hideout the greenbrier, an elegant five-star resort and National Historical Landmark in White Sulphur Springs, will be the last place we see before leaving West Virginia. In 1958, construction began on The Bunker, 720 feet inside the hillside at Greenbrier. Its purpose was to provide complete living and working facilities for the United States Congress in case of nuclear attack. It was kept secret for more than 30 years but is now open to the public. How glad we are that we came to this distinctive American destination! How much more we have to anticipate the next time we journey to “The Mountain State!” NORMAN RODGERS is retired and lives with his wife, Jan, in Mississippi. For many years, they conducted tours for senior adults. He considers enabling life-enhancing experiences for others a ministry rewarded by appreciation and lasting friendships.
ALL PHOTOS THINKSTOCK
Above: Historic Harpers Ferry, site of the 1859 raid on the federal arsenal by abolitionist John Brown and later the site of a Civil War battle. The town changed hands eight times during the War Between the States.
Do you know who you are? Who You Are tells the incredible story of how God worked through the life of one man who turned down the NFL in order to start a children’s home. Today, nearly 2,000 children have called this home— the Big Oak Ranch—their home. Yet, the bigger story is in who you are and how God can work through you to make a difference in the lives of others.
Available Now
LEGACY LIVING
Mentor Power by CHUCK LAWLESS
Mentoring Lessons from the Wrestling Ring
SUPERSTOCK
Remind those in a battle that the victory has been won.
I
’M A BIT embarrassed to admit it, but I grew up watching professional wrestling. In fact, it was my saintly grandma who introduced me to rasslin’, as she called it. Every Saturday, we gathered around her black-and-white television with Grandma
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Mature Living / may 2015
sitting in the center in her well-worn rocking chair. The crazier the wrestling became, the faster my grandma rocked. At times, I saw her rock herself all the way to the television set as the matches heated up. On this particular weekend, we watched in horror as one of our heroes (known as “The Stomper”) turned evil in the middle of the match. He started the match as a good guy, but then he unexpectedly attacked another good guy. The announcers expressed their shock, and my grandma rocked more quickly than I had ever seen her rock! Indeed, she was beside herself for the rest of the day. I can still hear her refrain as she expressed her grief and tried to teach her grandkids at the same time: “He didn’t have to do it. He knew how to win! He didn’t have to do it. He knew what winning was like!” Grandma may not have understood that rasslin’ is fake, but she knew this truth: The experience and hope of victory should keep people from making bad choices. Somehow, I think the apostle Paul may have sent a similar message to his mentees. He knew they would face spiritual battles, but he also believed they could win those battles through God’s strength and in His armor (Eph. 6:10-13). Loosely paraphrased, his words might have been,
“When temptation and trouble come, you don’t have to lose. You know how to win.” Paul also challenged Timothy to remain faithful in the midst of trials, trusting God to complete His work in him (2 Tim. 3:10-17). To Titus, he sent the mandate to reject worldly passions while awaiting Christ’s return (Titus 2:11-14). The apostle lived in victory even in persecution as he looked forward to being with Christ (2 Cor. 12:7-11; Phil. 1:22-24), and he wanted his mentees to experience the same. We have the same opportunity with our mentees today. First, we need to remind them of the reality of the spiritual battle. Those of us who have been in the ring with the devil can warn others that he really does want to devour us (1 Pet. 5:8). No believer is immune from the enemy’s arrows. Second, we have the privilege of praying for our mentees during the battle. Through the power of our intercession and the presence of the Holy Spirit, they are never alone in the conflict. The army of God is strengthened because we fight alongside each other — not against each other. Third, we have the privilege of teaching our mentees about the sweetness of victory. Jesus has already won the battle for us (Col. 2:15), and He prays for us even today (Heb. 7:25). Regardless of the enemy’s
schemes, we are on the winning team. This month, remind your mentees that we do not have to lose the conflict. Show them how to wear the full armor of God. If one of your mentees has lost a recent battle, remind him that our God is forgiving. He grants us a new beginning when we confess yesterday’s failures and trust Him in today’s battles.
SPIRITUAL BATTLES
Passages to Review About the Spiritual Battle • Ephesians 6:10-17 • James 4:7 • 1 Peter 5:8 • 1 John 4:4 • Revelation 20:7-10 Questions to Consider 1. Are people without mentors more susceptible to spiritual defeat? 2. H ow might a mentor help a mentee win spiritual battles? 3. W ho taught you about the reality of the battle? CHUCK LAWLESS is the author of Mentor: How Along-the-Way Discipleship Will Change Your Life (LifeWay). He is dean of graduate studies at Southeastern Seminary and serves as global theological education consultant at the International Mission Board.
Mature Living / may 2015
57
MORE LIVING
By Faith by JEFF KINLEY
When All Hope Seems Lost Sarah discovered nothing is impossible.
H
AVE YOU EVER noticed how so much of life is mundane, expected, and
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Mature Living / may 2015
normal, often making it difficult to distinguish one day from the next? Ever wondered why, as we get older, time seems to speed up? Years fly by, and before we
know it, our kids are grown and gone … and here comes that first grandbaby! We think, Wait a minute here; I’m too young to be a grandparent! We ask, “Where did all that time go?” Coupled with this awareness of age and season of life is also a sudden realization of our mortality. It dawns on us that over half of our life has already been lived. Below: Abraham’s counsel to Sarah (Sarai) by James Tissot (1836-1902/French), Jewish Museum, New York
SUPERSTOCK
Suddenly, we see autumn leaves turning, reminding us winter will follow. This reflection can produce everything from sadness to panic to even a sense of resignation. We can start to slide. To sink. To settle. And that’s when the real dying begins to set in. Recently, I was invited to speak to a group of women who had read my book As It Was in the Days of Noah. At the close of our time, we were discussing how God could use us as believers in the last days. One older woman spoke up, confessing that she felt useless in her church as they had adopted a more youthful, contemporary approach. However, the more we talked, the more obvious it became that this lady had a wealth of wisdom and experience to offer her church and community. How about you? Have you ever felt spiritually impotent, concluding, “God can’t use me. I’m too old. Too weak. Nothing worth salvaging from my life”? Like an old sweater, you feel worn out and ready to be thrown out — tossed aside like that old lawnmower in the garage that finally gave up the ghost. You feel there’s nothing left but to be put out to pasture or kicked to the curb for pickup. Ironically, there’s a woman in Scripture who felt the same way. Sarah was married to a successful man who walked
with God. However, the one thing missing from her life was a child. Barren for decades, she had given up all hope of ever having her own baby, of being a part of God’s covenant with her husband, Abraham.
The Lord wanted her to know … that He is sovereign over the universe, the nations, and even the body of a 90-year-old woman.
condition was not a problem for God. The Lord wanted her to know that He is in charge and in control — that He is sovereign over the universe, the nations, and even the body of a 90-year-old woman. He can do whatever He pleases. Although Sarah’s husband was as good as dead himself, “By faith even Sarah herself, when she was unable to have children, received power to conceive offspring, even though she was past the age, since she considered that the One who had promised was faithful (Heb. 11:11, emphasis added). Sarah opened up her heart by faith, and God opened up her womb to conceive. Faith made the impossible a reality for her. And the promise of a son whose descendants would deliver the Messiah was finally fulfilled. Age isn’t an issue with God. And He’s nowhere near finished with you. Have faith, dear friend. And let those autumn leaves fall where they may. Is anything too hard for the Lord?
When the Lord’s promise of a child finally came to her, she had already reached the age of 90. Though still an attractive woman, Sarah’s expectation for conceiving had withered and died like a plant in the Sinai desert. She had come to accept that her lot in life was to bear the embarrassment and shame often associated with women who suffered from her inability. That helps explain why she laughed when she overheard the Lord’s announcement to Abraham that within a year, she would bear a son. But God saw past her laughter to her lack of faith in Him, declaring, “Is anything impossible for the LORD?” (Gen. 18:14). And with that one rhetorical question, Sarah’s mind and JEFF KINLEY is founding pastor of heart began to open to the VintageNxt in Little Rock, Arkansas, possibility of the impossible. and speaks at men’s conferences and churches. He is the author of 20 books, She eventually realized her focus had been on her inability including As It Was in the Days of Noah — Warnings from Prophecy about the instead of God’s ability. Her Coming Global Storm. Jeff and his wife, faith revealed that her barren Beverly, have three grown sons.
Mature Living / may 2015
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MORE LIVING
Deb DeArmond / DO WHAT MATTERS
With God in control, your struggles can lead you to dream again.
“I’d like to ask about your chickens.”
T
HE WOMAN at the door was new in the neighborhood. She was interested in raising some chickens herself. Tamra opened the door and asked her in, explaining that she was not well and would need to sit while they talked. The conversation eventually shifted to Tamra’s illness. The woman listened closely before announcing, “I think I know someone who can help you.” Tamra Bolton had waited years to hear those words. It had been a difficult time. “I was battling depression and dealing with chronic illness,” Tamra explained. “At one point, bedridden for four months, I thought I was going to die. I felt hopeless.” Hope returned one chilly afternoon when she asked her husband to carry her outside. “I breathed in the fresh air, raised my hands in surrender,
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and said to God, ‘I don’t know if I’m going to live or die. Whatever it’s going to be, I accept it. I’m grateful for all I’ve been given.’ “In that moment, I felt God physically wrap His arms around me. It was the first hope I had of healing.” Doctors had long doubted Tamra’s self-diagnosis of Lyme disease but offered no other
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Journey of a Dream
answers. “Lyme disease? Not in Texas,” was their rationale. But Tamra was right — and so was the new neighbor. She knew a doctor who became the link to Tamra’s recovery from Lyme disease. It was long and slow, a total of six years, but health returned. “In year seven, I felt God was saying, ‘Let’s get busy.’” God’s plan took Tamra by surprise. “A friend I hadn’t seen in years called. We had shared a teenage dream to publish a magazine together, and she was actually doing it. She invited me to write and take photographs of Texas for her travel magazine. I wasn’t sure I could, but she was. I said yes.” Tamra traveled for three years, extolling the virtues of
“A friend I hadn’t seen in years called. We had shared a teenage dream to publish a magazine together, and she was actually doing it.” her beloved Texas. When the magazine left publication, she felt stuck. “I was writing and taking photographs but had no real direction.” She’d been trying to do it all herself and hadn’t let God take care of the details. “I needed Him to show me where to go.” That direction came when Tamra, her siblings, and her aging dad took a road trip in 2011. The Lord had plans for the trip as well. “During my devotional time one morning, I sensed God’s strong presence. But I had no idea what lay ahead. “A quick stop at a farmer’s market set the stage. My sister chatted with a woman selling hand-pressed olive oils.” The vendor explained their olive production in Tuscany, Italy, and their annual event for visitors to join them for the harvest and olive pressing. “My sister told the woman that I was a travel writer. She was immediately interested,” Tamra recalls. “Tuscany had long been on my bucket list. I asked for the opportunity; I knew God was at work.” By conversation’s end, Tamra had an invitation to cover the event. From there, Tamra’s career blossomed. At 50-plus, she has
traveled widely, capturing the beauty of her surroundings and sharing them with the world. The year 2015 heralds a new focus on her writing and family. Tamra offered some insights about her journey: “My illness was a gift. I had been discontent with life and marriage. My relationship with God wasn’t great. Lyme disease was a wake-up call to get my eyes back on Him. “I think of my life as one of those puzzles with 5,000 pieces. God has been putting the pieces together, building the puzzle over my lifetime. The edges, the framework, went fairly quickly; the rest has come slowly. God is bigger than I am,” she continued. “He sees everything, so I trust Him to fit the pieces.” Tamra’s life verse is Psalm 119:67: “Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your word.” Tamra’s dream survived her struggles as her focus remained on God: “I promised the Lord, back when I could barely stand, that I would run through whatever doors He opened.” It’s been an incredible run.
DEB DEARMOND is a writer and speaker. Deb shares insights into her 40 years of (happy!) marriage in her new book, I Choose You Today: 31 Choices to Make Love Last, available at booksellers and online.
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Feature
With the Turn of the
Tassel Letting Go of Your Graduate Gracefully by ANN BRANDT
YOU WALK THROUGH THE HOUSE, noting the quiet and remembering yesterday when your child left home. On this first day of her absence, in those first moments between being asleep and awake, you realize your life as a parent has changed forever. Memories crowd your mind of the days when she was dependent on you for everything: the 2-year-old saying, “Me do it”; the teenager with the shrug and the sigh, “Whatever.” You have traveled a bumpy road in your role as a parent and emerged with a young adult. Now what?
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Mature Living / may 2015
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may not be sufficient to quell parents’ anxieties. Whether a child has left home to attend college, enter the work force, serve in the military, or join the mission field, parents may still feel responsible for their child. One father says you never fully let go. Now after his son has completed four years at a Christian college, the father hopes his son will show the love of God in the choices he makes in his career and through his outlook on life. Be intentional about affirming your adult child by sending notes or being there for special occasions. Make new memories together. A college student with special medical needs presents another challenge. Chronic illness “makes everything so confusing about how to let your children handle their own problems,” a parent confesses. Sometimes parents in such a situation cannot let go as they had hoped. One family’s connection with student services and the health center has helped to work through some larger challenges. Campus Christian ministries can be a source of support. As you let go and trust God, your faith becomes stronger; your relationship with God deepens. Yes, this may be a different season for you and your adult child. But releasing your graduate to God and trusting His sovereignty can turn the loss into much greater gain. The promises of God often seen on graduation cards are for both the graduate and the parents: “For I know the plans I have for you ... plans for your welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. You will call to Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you” (Jer. 29:11-12). Let go and celebrate as you see God at work in your child’s life and in your own life, too. ANN BRANDT lives in Broomfield, Colorado. She began writing after retiring from teaching at a community college.
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A nest suddenly empty presents a time when parents need assurance and encouragement. To get through the initial moments of loss and to begin navigating a lifestyle change, we need to ask God for guidance and strength, remembering He is near. He has been there all along to sustain and encourage. But while we pray for ourselves, we should also pray for our children as we turn them over to God. Praying will keep you in touch with your child in comforting and exciting ways. You can have new experiences with God, seeing that He is in control — always. Looking back may help during this life transition. Memories can be a source of strength as we relive times with our children. Celebrate those times. One parent remembers riding in the car with her son and singing together about God’s love that never fails, never gives up, and never runs out on them. She knows that “he may not include me in his daily life — where he goes and what he does — but this one request remains: that he stays passionate about his walk with the Lord.” When they talk, she encourages his spiritual growth. A father watches his 16-year-old daughter begin the 80-mile trek to the campus that has accepted her in an early college program. His parenting has been complicated by an emotionally draining divorce, so the daughter’s departure leaves a hole in his heart, only healed with dreams for her future. With a feeling of pride mixed with sadness, he states, “My little girl is all grown up.” In addition to a parent’s grief and sense of loss, the concern is always there: Will my child trust in God to lead her way on a path that pleases Him? Let your child know you are her prayer warrior; then, find comfort and joy spending time in prayer whenever she comes to mind. With demands of school or work and constricting time schedules, communication
Feature
A Monologue Based on 1 Samuel 1-2 Hannah reminds us that we serve the God of grace. by TERRY C. TERRY
M
Y NAME IS HANNAH. That means “grace.” Grace is what I needed. Grace is what I received. But I’m getting ahead of my story. My husband Elkanah, of the tribe of Levi, was from the hills of Ephraim. He had a second wife, Peninnah. I was barren while Peninnah had given my husband children. She took great delight in rubbing that in. My husband loved me and saw to it that I had more than I needed — except for children. We made our annual pilgrimage as a family to worship at the Lord’s Prayer Of Hannah, The Mother of Samuel TERRY C. TERRY is retired from LifeWay Worship. He and his wife, tabernacle in Shiloh. One the Prophet by Vereshchagin, Vasili Marvis, love spending time with particular year, I was really Petrovich (1835-1909) 1864, Russia their grandson, Ethan.
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When Grace Was Given
feeling down. Elkanah had made the sacrifice for all of us, but I was so despondent I didn’t feel like eating. I went to pray to the Lord. I was embarrassed about being barren and didn’t want anyone to hear my prayer, so I was just pouring out my heart to Yahweh, mouthing the words. Barely whispering, I promised Yahweh if He would just give me a son, I would gladly give my child back to Him. Eli, the priest at Shiloh, thought I was drunk! Imagine that. I told him I was hurting and pouring my broken heart out to Yahweh. Eli encouraged me to believe that the son I was asking for would be given to me. My heart jumped within me. That was the first time I felt hope springing up in my spirit. We all went back home, and in time, Yahweh did indeed give me a son. I named him Samuel because I had said, “I requested him from the LORD” (1 Sam. 1:20). As soon as Samuel was properly weaned, I took him to the Lord’s tabernacle in Shiloh and gave him to the Lord as I had promised. Then when we would make our annual pilgrimage to worship in the Lord’s tabernacle, I would visit with my son. When I left my son with Eli, I prayed a prayer, rejoicing in the Lord and giving Him thanks: “There is no one holy like the LORD. There is no one besides You! And there is no rock like our God” (1 Sam. 2:2). Grace I needed. Grace I received.
Throughout their tour, they encounter the Gospel at every turn. Every aspect of the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte is designed to proclaim God’s love and forgiveness. Come experience this journey of faith for yourself.
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KICKS & GRINS
Grandparents’ Brag Board The One and Only
Our granddaughter, Cadence Grace, loves books; so I sent her a children’s Bible she could read on her own. She began reading and kept reading.
After a few days, she said, “I’ve finished reading the Bible. Is there a sequel?” —Grace Booth, Picayune, Miss.
R-E-S-P-E-C-T
M
Y HOLLE BIB
“Here is something my mom told me that I am passing along to you. There is nothing so bad that a quart of ice cream can’t make better.”
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Mature Living / may 2015
Healthy Dinner
Many years ago, I was diagnosed as diabetic. My family helps me with sugarfree snacks and meals. One morning, my 4-year-old grandson, Cassidy, came into the kitchen with his toy gun and said he was going hunting. From the kitchen window, I watched him hide in the shrubs and shoot at deer and squirrels. Later when he came in, he said, “Meme, when I’m a big boy, I’m going to shoot you a sugar-free squirrel for dinner.” —Mavis Brown, Salley, S.C.
Send submission of 25-125 words to: Grandparents’ Brag Board, Mature Living, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234-0175 or email, matureliving@ lifeway.com. Include name, address, and phone number. Stories may be edited and will not be returned.
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DOUG JONES
Y 9-YEAR-OLD GRANDSON, Caleb, listened attentively to the sermon. When he heard the preacher say that Caleb was a good and faithful man and the world needed a lot more Calebs, he nudged his mom and said, “That’s right!” On the way home, he announced, “The preacher did good today. I’m finally getting the respect I deserve!” — Pansy Kaeo, Linden, Ala.
“Middle age is when you choose your cereal for the fiber, not the toy”
© PHOTO CREDIT
— ANONYMOUS
“DON’T BE SO OPEN-MINDED THAT YOUR BRAINS FALL OUT!”
Beth remains in the hospital and needs blood donors for more transfusions. She is also having trouble sleeping and requests tapes of Pastor Jack’s sermons. (CHURCH BULLETIN)
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KICKS & GRINS
Cracker Barrel A Heavenly Kiss
Tight Fit
Springtime flowers Are sweet bliss. They’re nature’s way Of blowing a kiss. –Ralph J. Polk Jr., Warrenton, Va.
I had trouble exercising. I tried with all my might. But the problem was I couldn’t get into my tights! –Suzan Wiener, Spring Hill, Fla. Answer to Sudoku Puzzle (Page 42)
4 8 5 6 2 9 1 3 7
Blessings Galore!
In the birdbath arena are our feathery friends, Sp lashing and chirping — the fun never ends! Sq ueaking and swaying is the old garden swing; Th ese blessings are some of our favorite things! –Nancy Legat, Lexington, S.C.
I finally got a GPS, But I’m wondering at what cost. I’m not good at following directions, So it just aids me in getting lost. –Lyn Keys Tutor, Magee, Miss.
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Answer to Word Search Puzzle (Page 42)
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Recalculating
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KICKS & GRINS
Marie Armenia / NO LAUGHING MATTER
The Crayon Effect
the crayon effect. In scientific terms, the crayon effect is the result a melting, purple crayon has on the clothing tossing around with it in a hot dryer. It was my fault for not checking God can completely wash away the pockets of my 4-year-old the stains of sin. son’s jeans. I couldn’t remove the purple crayon stain. All the clothes were ruined. I cried in frustration. It was at this particular moment the Holy Spirit decided T’S ONE of the great to speak to a frustrated wife mysteries of life for me. and mother about the love of I stand in front of The God. He gave me a hint of the Bermuda Triangle of great despair my Heavenly Laundry — a.k.a. the Father felt over my soul — and clothes dryer — asking the same yours — being forever ruined by question I’ve asked a thousand the indelible stain of sin. All of times, “Where’s the other us are born with a permanent, sock?” I look behind the clothes indelible filth that separates dryer, in the laundry basket, us from Him. Sometimes, I and all over the floor. It’s gone. be dry-cleaned but didn’t want can fool myself into thinking When I was a young and naïve to spend the $90 the dry cleaner it’s about me being a good laundress, I assumed the lost was going to charge, I put the Christian. At times, when I see sock would eventually show up. drapes in the washing machine. the evil in the world around me, I smugly reasoned with myself They shrank two feet in length I forget that I, too, was once an that socks don’t just disappear and the white liners turned pink. unforgiven, sinning citizen of it. into thin air. Then, I learned the In a panic, I dragged the heavy, My cleanliness before our Holy awful truth: They do. That’s why wet drapes across the floor and God is a gift from Him paid for some people set aside May 9th hoisted them up on the rods to by the blood of His only Son. as National Lost Sock Memorial see if they were really and truly A gift I did not earn. Nor do I Day. I don’t observe the day. I ruined. They were. And by the deserve. My stains are gone. don’t want to memorialize the way, so was the carpet because Forever. Thank God. He used a lost socks. I want to FIND them. the soggy drapes dripped red crayon to remind me. My husband would be grateful dye. I needed new drapes and if the worst thing I ever did with emergency carpet cleaning. In a washer and dryer was to lose a retrospect, $90 would have been sock or two. I can turn a washer MARIE ARMENIA continues to destroy a bargain. and dryer into a weapon of mass things with her washer and dryer but And then there’s the day destruction. For example, when I not as often as she used to. Visit her website at mariearmenia.com. the dryer taught me about decided my red drapes needed to
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I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. - Psalm 40:1 NIV
When Life is Looking DOWN,
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Looking Up Devotional is bestselling author Beth Moore’s timeless message of hope and deliverance taken from Psalm 40 in a new deluxe edition.
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Mature Living, May 2015
It’s All There in
Black and White
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