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Single Boomers=
EASY MONEY!
How to Raise
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MustKnow TAX TIPS
When God SPARKS a Beautiful Risk
WHAT’S YOUR PLAN?
FOUR
simple ways to spring into
The Key to a Successful Venture
FITNESS
DO WHAT MATTERS USE YOUR ONE BIG THING
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APRIL 2013
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DO WHAT MATTERS
Two years after I married Terry, the love of my life, I was involved in a near-fatal farming accident that left me paralyzed from the waist down. Through the work of the Holy Spirit, this painful experience has become the opportunity of a lifetime. God has opened doors for Terry and me to share our story, messes and all. We speak to churches, business clubs, and women’s groups. We’re amazed how our story has propelled others to move closer to God, since we’re just an everyday couple facing an unexpected second-half-of-life challenge. Recently, Dr. Sandra Stevens invited me to participate in a research study at Middle Tennessee State University. For the last 17 months, I’ve been walking on a treadmill encased in Plexiglass and filled with water. Did you catch the key word walking? As I drive to therapy, I have long conversations with God: Lord, be glorified through my life. Please use my faith and determination as a witness to others in the lab. It’s hard to describe the amazing blessing the scientists have been to me. As I began to walk with a walker and leg braces, I realized God is still in the miracle business. Moving my legs again is miraculous, but seeing others walk toward Jesus because of my accident has been the greatest gift of all. I would never have imagined that my MORE would evolve from my accident, that losing my ability to walk and working hard to regain it would be the path God used to draw others to Him. – Carmen Thompson See the story of Saori Ishikawa on page 66.
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PHOTO: ALLEN CLARK PHOTOGRAPHY
This Is My More Story. What’s Yours?
Tell Us Your MORE Story! Volume 1, Issue 8 • April 2013
PRODUCTION & MINISTRY TEAM
IVEY HARRINGTON BECKMAN NANCY COMEAUX was CHRISTI KEARNEY She once ALAN RAUGHTON recruited by the DAVID APPLE FBI to work as an CHANDRA BENNETT
undercover agent.
Content Editor Production Editor Graphic Design Specialist Lead Adult Ministry Specialist Adult Ministry Specialist Editorial Team Leader
Send questions/comments to: Editor, More Living One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234-0175 or email us at moreliving@lifeway.com
Each issue of More Living features the story of someone who has discovered his or her MORE — that unique talent, gift, or passion now focused on something that really matters. Send your MORE story in Word format, along with the testimony of someone whose life has been impacted by its ministry, to moreliving@lifeway.com. For each MORE story published, we will pay $75.
MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL
FAITH WHATLEY Director, Adult Ministry PHILIP NATION Director, Adult Ministry Publishing DEBBIE JOHNSON, KEN BRADDY, AMY LOWE Managers, Adult Ministry Publishing
ADVERTISING
RHONDA EDGE BUESCHER Director, Media Business Development for Magazines instruments SCOTT HANCOCK Advertising Production Plays six
(but not all at the same time).
We Are a Living Ex ample of More.
In May 2010 , the Nash ville flood our family. forever chan We had work ged ed hard to ground in to house. plant our Stewards Daily we were Garden, a Communi keenly awar place like ministry of ty Church home, e that there Christ in Franklin, washed our is no that was celeb but we also experienc Tenn. Then work into ed family rated every the rain the Harp severely dama unity food from time we recei Stewards ged our home eth River. It also ved gifts Garden. We as the plant . We felt as fruits of God’s not only lived of s that floate uprooted creation; we d down the on the But the minis to love fresh thrived. Our Harpeth. vegetable kids learn was first creat try born when Stew s. Jacob told ed creation is ards Gard ed in 2009 us, so “God’s cool!” And en immediate had deep Anna soon plot of her ly began to roots and wanted a own. bear fruit. garden through the Our famil While we mud and y is a living sludged debris in friend, Jenn exam of More and our home ifer Swee , a dear the life-chang ple of the power t, replanted Her humb Acts 20:3 ing message our garde le act 5. We are n plot. of thankful for thanked God of service was a huge Stewards the minis gift. We for giving Garden — try of us a churc loved us. and those from its boun h family who Jennifer and who served us ty. others knew to serve our exactly how family durin g that diffic Babcock — The Babc family garde ult time. The ock Family n would grow could not Susan, Char tend it. even when lie, Anna, we That summ Jacob See page er was a tough 2 to learn our home how God one financially Marion Seat was being gave . While on the vision repaired, we for Stewards moved from house Garden.
Send advertising questions/comments to: One LifeWay Plaza, MSN 136, Nashville, TN 37234 Email: magazineadvertising@lifeway.com Media kits: www.lifeway.com/mediaoptions COVER PHOTO: GETTY
More Living (Item 005490044) is published monthly by LifeWay Press®, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234, Thom S. Rainer, President. ©Copyright 2013 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 bulk orders shipped to one address, visit lifeway.com/magazines, fax (615) 251-5933, or write to the above address. Printed in the United States of America. Annual individual or gift subscription, $29.95. Bulk orders shipped to one address when ordered with other literature, $1.60 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.
e. Example of Mor I Am a Living amazing quilt , I received an my cancer surgery ille Baptist’s One week after made by Gladev . It’s the 47th one by Sarah from my church is lovingly led ilt ministry, which ion of God’s perfect Piece*Love*Qu is a beautiful illustrat had Craig. The quilt learned my cancer hours earlier, I’d sewn prayers the timing. Just 24 and love expression of I knew spread. But the me sweet peace. of my quilt gave up. into every stitch were lifting me for team of quilters Sarah and her throughout visits were inseparable ss trips to My quilt and I nts, and countle treatme — not of radiation, chemo real and cold ce. My fear was cancer the doctor’s offi side effects of but rather the . But physical death, fog, and nausea brain pain, ess, treatment: weakn peace is far greater showed me His in my God continually wrapped myself As I continually than my fear. Psalm 23. l visits quilt, I claimed red if the hospita At times, I wonde those visits But God used would ever end. , and doctors s, patient for His glory. Other nted on my quilt, nurses often comme to for me to witness opening the door ise not have otherw people I would d, has been enriche known. My life glorified through and God has been ilt ministry. the Piece*Love*Qu free. Still, cancer now I am close by. A my quilt is always s touch remind simple look or the power me of God’s love, the love God’s of prayer, and r. for one anothe people have le of examp living a I truly am More. the power of
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retailer. also available. Leader’s guide or your local book y christian stores Available at LifeWa
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APRIL 2013 MORE LIVING
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Inside More
18
More Passion {for Christ}
09-32
Use your gifts, talents, and wisdom for God’s glory.
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More Focus
{on Living Well}
41-54
Make smart choices so you can serve well.
More Joy
{for the Journey}
55-66
Celebrate relationships and have some fun.
Features 10 Your One Big Thing
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God has a purpose and a destiny for you. Here’s how to discover it.
18 Easy Money
How to raise cash for your ministry by simply doing what you love.
22 Beautiful Risks
It’s a great time to take a beautiful risk for God.
24 Plan Your Success
61
Want to launch a powerful ministry? You need a business plan.
30 The Great Omission?
Why evangelism must be a priority in churches.
42 Spring Into Fitness
Renew your health, strength, and vitality.
46 God’s Diet Plan
Pastor Rick Warren weighs in on weight loss.
56 Single-minded Devotion
Unmarried Boomers have exceptional opportunities to follow hard after God — and change the world.
61 Fads and Flubs
For every challenging Rubik’s Cube we Boomers can claim, there were a dozen Troll dolls and Wacky Wallwalkers.
48
DEPARTMENTS
14 Inventure Spiritual growth 48 Stewardship of Life Wise choices 50 Money Wise Good stewardship 63 Kicks & Grins Funny stuff
COLUMNS
6 Life Up Close 28 Mentor Power Chuck Lawless 64 Boomer Humor Marie Armenia
IN EVERY ISSUE 2 My More Story 8 Reply All 32 Salvation 52 Food for Thought 65 More Living Insights 66 Living Example
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Life up close
In Good Hands April can be a taxing month. You must ensure that fat envelope addressed to Uncle Sam contains forms that add up, hopefully in your favor.
IN THE NEXT ISSUE OF MORE LIVING
• What Millennials Can Teach Boomers About Spiritual Growth • 50 Books to Read (or re-read) in Your 50s • The Faith Legacy of Non-Traditional Mothers • Lessons of Memorial Day
AT MORE LIVING We believe the best choice is always DO WHAT MATTERS.
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And, most likely, there’s a pile of graduation and wedding invitations demanding your time and money. Those things, of course, are just the extra weight of April. At this stage of life, your nest is supposed to be empty — or close to it. But chances are, it’s refilled with boomerang kids, aging parents, grandchildren, or a wild-and-crazy mixture of these family members. Life in a not-so-empty nest can be, well, taxing. There are likely days when you want to run out the back door, hands in the air, screaming at the top of your lungs, “Beam me up, Scotty!” A Calgon bath isn’t going to fix anything at that point, especially if the plumbing is on the fritz again. Besides, if your house if packed with people, hot water is MIA. In the midst of life’s complexities (which can be far more taxing than the ever-changing tax code), here are some simple
but life-changing words: “GOD holds the hands of his people,” (Psalm 135:14, The Message). Roll back your memory, and picture the days when your dad would hold your hand as you crossed a busy street or weaved through a throng of people. Remember the security of his firm hand around yours? There was no need to fear. Someone bigger, stronger, and wiser was leading the way; you simply had to wrap your fingers around his and walk closely beside him. Whatever is taxing you this month, remember this: God has your hand in His; you’re not alone! Take a moment to slow down, be still, and rest secure in the knowledge that He is God, and He loves you unconditionally. Walk with confidence, knowing that Someone bigger, stronger, and wiser than you is leading the way. Your life is in good hands.
OUR CREED: MORE OF CHRIST, LESS OF ME “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30).
MORE GIVING, LESS GETTING “In every way I’ve shown you that by laboring like this, it is necessary to help the weak and to keep in mind the words of the Lord Jesus, for He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’” (Acts 20:35).
MORE CELEBRATION, LESS HESITATION “Happy are the people who know the joyful shout; Yahweh, they walk in the light of Your presence” (Psalm 89:15).
More e FRIENDS! We need som
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k. s on Faceboo Please like u g /more livin facebook.com magazine
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Facebook: facebook.com/morelivingmagazine THE MORE LIVING TEAM VERIFIES THE APPROPRIATENESS OF ALL WEBSITES USED IN THE MAGAZINE. BUT, HEY, USE CAUTION BEFORE VISITING ANY WEBSITE. THE STUFF BEYOND OUR CONTROL CHANGES WITHOUT NOTICE. SCARY, HUH?
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Reply All Editor’s Note: We hear you, Kay! The grit is going away. You will enjoy smooth matte cover stock on future issues of More Living.
It’s All There in Black and White
We’d like to get a few words from you. Send them to moreliving@lifeway.com. We’ll pick and choose from the letter pile, of course. And we may edit a bit for length and clarity. You’re good with that, right?
A celebration of The Andy Griffith Show and the biblical truths and life applications found in the beloved TV classic.
Fun-Filled Bible Study Based on Favorite Episodes Soul-Stirring Preaching and Worship Toe-Tapping Bluegrass Music Lodging Nestled in a Beautiful Mountain Setting BREAKOUT SESSIONS Barney and the Choir The Haunted House The Horse Trader Opie’s Charity • The Rivals
COST: $219 (per person, based on double occupancy)
Includes two nights lodging, five meals, and program fee
LifeWay Ridgecrest Conference Center® Sept. 24-26, 2013 • Ridgecrest, NC Event subject to change without notice.
800.588.7222 LifeWay.com/Mayberry
IS THERE AN APP FOR THAT? I would love to have More Living on my Android tablet. Please consider adding one. Great magazine by the way!
secret to What’s your a Sudoku quickly solving members puzzle? Most ving staff of the More Li le, so help us are word peop ly. Post your out numerical cebook page. tips on our Fa y clueless.) (We’re seriousl
PENNY ODOM HENRY FACEBOOK
Editor’s Note: We would love to offer that option. As our circulation increases, hopefully our budget will too. Tell your friends about More Living so we can expand the magazine’s reach. To order call 1-800-458-2772.
NIX THE GRIT More Living is a great magazine that speaks to the heart of us Boomers. It is relevant and beautifully done. I would suggest a physical change ... flip the cover inside out so that the reader is holding the glossy paper, not the gritty side. KAY HUDGINS FACEBOOK
SUDOKU PUZZLE ANSWER FROM MARCH ISSUE
6 1 8 5 7 9 4 3 2
3 4 7 8 6 2 5 9 1
9 5 2 1 4 3 7 8 6
7 3 6 9 5 1 8 2 4
1 2 4 7 3 8 9 6 5
5 8 9 6 2 4 1 7 3
8 7 3 2 1 5 6 4 9
4 9 5 3 8 6 2 1 7
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MORE
Passion
PHOTO: © GETTY
{for Christ}
APRIL 2013 MORE LIVING
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PHOTO © GETTYIMAGES
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Your One Big Thing by Phil Cooke
God has a purpose for your life. Discover it.
S
amuel Morse was frustrated. He had given his life to be a painter — even traveled to Paris in pursuit of that dream. As historian David McCullough recounts in The Greater Journey (Simon & Schuster), painting had been Morse’s dream since college, and he had set his heart on that and that alone. But after a long series of setbacks, Morse finally abandoned it. The crushing moment was his losing the appointment to paint a historic mural at the Capitol in Washington. With that loss, he gave up painting entirely and began to focus on something new: inventing the telegraph and eventually a language called Morse code, which literally changed the world.
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Sad but true, many people prefer to live in denial rather than face the truth that could set them free to discover their true God-given destiny.
To accomplish such a success with the telegraph, Morse first came to terms with one fact: He had hit a wall. He had failed, and he needed to make a serious change. Sad but true, many people prefer to live in denial rather than face the truth that could set them free to discover their true God-given destiny. What about you? You may not consider yourself a failure, but the question is: Have you really achieved what God put you on Earth to accomplish? Everywhere I travel, men and women in their 50s, 60s, and even 70s tell me, “Phil, I’ve worked hard all my life, but I honestly don’t know if I’ve actually accomplished what I was put here to do.” That deep frustration and sadness drives me to help people discover how they are wired and what God put them on Earth to accomplish. Are you looking for those answers in your own life? Start by prayerfully asking yourself these four questions:
1. What comes easy to me? Think about your life. How many times were you asked to do something because you were the organized one, the athletic one, the good writer, or the most patient? Looking back, think about the moments when you naturally gravitated toward a particular task at church or at the office. Perhaps you’ve built a reputation as the person who finds this or that task or challenge easier than anyone else. Far too often, we simply brush aside the thing we naturally do well when it could be a critical key to personal calling.
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For most people, the One Big Thing, as I like to call it, is an ability, a skill, a God-given capacity to handle something other people find challenging. Something bigger than a single job that could apply to many fields, such as the uncanny ability to sense when others are hurting or the knack for motivating people in difficult circumstances. Don’t guess, and don’t make a snap judgment. Take your time, and really think about your One Big Thing.
2. What do I love? Another important signpost on the journey to your One Big Thing is discovering a task, job, purpose, or cause you love. Some people think this a ridiculous notion because to them, work is work. Period. They’ve never felt that work was anything to enjoy, let alone love; it’s only something done for a paycheck. But the most productive, well-rounded, and fulfilled people have found jobs they love and do extraordinarily well. I have the opportunity to see many successful executives living out their passion through nonprofit and humanitarian work. They’ve spent their careers making money — often at jobs they hated doing — and now they have the opportunity to find fulfillment helping a great cause. I also know men and women who have dedicated their lives to missions. They have little in the way of material things, but they can’t wait to get up in the morning and pursue their calling. But remember: Just because you’re passionate about your work doesn’t make it stress-free. While she was working in the desperate slums of Calcutta, Mother Teresa
encountered difficult situations. But it was her incredible love for the outcasts in India that motivated Mother Teresa to keep going, and her life transformed millions of people around the world.
3. What drives me crazy? In many cases, the thing you hate most could be the problem you were born to fix. In other words, what do you hate? What drives you nuts? The key to your destiny could be found in the answer to that question. Christine Caine would get physically ill hearing stories of women trafficked for sex. Learning that they were kidnapped, drugged, moved in packed shipping containers from port to port, and then forced into a life of drug addiction and sex with strangers moved Christine to tears. That’s when Christine and her husband, Nick, formed The A21 Campaign (thea21campaign.org). At the time, they didn’t have any money or an organization behind them, but today they’re making a global difference. And it all began with an evil that drove them crazy. Your hot button doesn’t have to be a social cause. It could be something you don’t like about your mobile phone, the process at work, your schedule, or a ministry outreach. How often have you wondered, Why isn’t there a _____? Whatever it is, think about it, isolate it, and realize that fixing that issue could be what you’ve been put on Earth to accomplish. The answer may change the course of your future.
How to Exchange the Daily Grind For the Job You Love Be bold, not dumb. Begin today strategizing and pursuing your purpose, but don’t be drastic. Keep your current job until you have a transition plan in place. Don’t burn your bridges. When the time comes to make your transition, leaving on good terms can reap a huge return down the road. Trigger your connections. In the age of social media, there’s no excuse for not having a powerfully effective database of relationships and connections. Keep your résumé and portfolio polished, so you can seize opportunities to pursue your dream. Brace yourself for the risk. Nothing is foolproof, and there are no insurance policies to protect your dream. But there’s nothing like the feeling of discovering your purpose in life.
4. What do I want to leave behind? When you reach the end of your life, will you be able to say that you lived a life of significance? It’s been said that you won’t be remembered for the money you made; you’ll be remembered for the lives you impacted. God has a great purpose and destiny for you. Discover it. As a follower of Christ, you have the opportunity to use your One Big Thing to show God’s love and share His gospel with those you encounter. So, what’s your One Big Thing?
ILLUSTRATION © THINKSTOCK
Phil Cooke, Ph.D. is a filmmaker and media consultant to churches and ministries around the world. He’s the author of One Big Thing: Discovering What You Were Born to Do (Thomas Nelson). Learn more at philcooke.com.
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MORE PASSION FOR CHRIST INVENTURE
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Ways Believers Can Influence the World
“Christ and His church have had an enormous influence. And if only we were out and out for Jesus Christ in the fullness of our commitment, then we would have far more influence than we do,” says John R. Stott in an article for Christianity Today. Here are four ways Stott says believers can influence the world:
2
puts it this way: “First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all those who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.”
3
The power of Christian example. Christians are marked people; the world is watching. And God’s major way of changing the old society is to implant within it His new society, with its different values, different standards, different joys, and different goals. Our hope is that the watching world will see these differences and find them attractive, that they “may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).
4
The power of truth. As John said in his prologue to the fourth Gospel, “That light shines in the darkness, yet the darkness did not overcome it” (John 1:5). Of course it cannot; that light is the truth of God.
The power of group solidarity. There is a great need for dedicated Christian groups committed to one another, committed to a vision of justice, committed to Christ; groups that will pray together, think together, formulate policies together, and get to work together in the community.
Adapted from John Stott’s sermon “Salt and Light,” PreachingToday.com, a ministry of Christianity Today.
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ILLUSTRATION: © ISTOCKPHOTO, PHOTO: © THINKSTOCK
1
The power of prayer. 1 Timothy 2:1-2
MORE
PASSION FOR CHRIST
INVENTURE
OBEDIENCE NOT AN EASY DECISION “When it comes to obedience, spiritually mature disciples of Christ have a loving motivation to obey God, the self-awareness to know they must be proactive to avoid bad decisions, and the humility to confess sins they commit,” says analyst Scott McConnell quoting a survey on Transformational Discipleship conducted by LifeWay Research. The survey reveals 64 percent of churchgoers agree with the statement: “A Christian must learn to deny himself/herself in order to serve Christ.” However, 19 percent disagree with the statement. “Obeying God is only easy when a person’s own desires match God’s,” McConnell explains. “Until believers have the same mind as Christ, denying their own natural desires will be hard. Many people think of obeying God as something they must do on their own,” McConnell adds. “However, it’s clear through the research findings that the teaching, encouragement, and accountability of corporate worship have a direct impact on obedience.”
Survey Says! When I realize my attitude does not please God, I take steps to try to fix it.
49% somewhat 32% strongly
4% DISAGREE
A Christian must learn to deny himself/ herself in order to serve Christ.
AGREE 34% strongly
19% DIS-
28% somewhat
THE GOSPEL FOR THE PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE “According to the apostle Paul, the gospel isn’t only for the lost; the gospel is also for the saved. It’s not only for when you die but also for every day of your life. In fact, the only way someone can truly live the kind of life Jesus intended is to understand that the gospel is for your past, present, and future. It’s the means by which you are saved, are made holy, and are preserved until the end.” — Matt Chandler, The Explicit Gospel Bible Study (LifeWay)
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MORE PASSION FOR CHRIST INVENTURE
APPS THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE Scripture Memory App
Spiritual Growth Apps HCSB Study Bible The HCSB Study Bible app is an easy-to-read visual Bible featuring more than 15,000 study notes, 290 word studies, 141 photographs, 62 timelines, 59 maps, 24 articles, three Bible reading plans, and much more. Great for teachers and those who wish to dive deeper into God’s Word. $9.99. Purchase on iTunes at http://bit.ly/10j9dqf.
100 Bible Verses by Robert J. Morgan 100 Bible Verses is a memory tool based on the book 100 Bible Verses Everyone Should Know by Heart by Robert J. Morgan. In addition to the 100 preset verses organized under 13 topics, you can add any passage from Scripture to view in memory card mode or read in context. Other features: Share verses through Facebook or Twitter, quiz yourself in flashcard mode, ask for a hint to reveal one word at a time, record and listen to yourself reading a verse, search by key word, organize verses by topics you create. $ .99 Purchase on iTunes at http://bit.ly/XnXcu1.
Fast Facts This app offers 20 facts about faith and culture everyone should know, along with responses to 25 common challenges to the Christian faith. Users will also find a free version of the HCBS Bible, and all Scripture references are linked for immediate access to relevant verses. $ .99. Purchase on iTunes at http://bit.ly/10j9t8r.
Live Loved by Max Lucado Devotionals based on the writings of Max Lucado on topics such as facing your fears, accepting His grace, and knowing God’s love. This app comes in two versions: Lite (free) http://bit.ly/XSMZd0 Full version has more devotional material. $9.99. Purchase at http://bit.ly/U8Gb6t.
(Lite)
(Full)
16 MORE LIVING APRIL 2013
ite faith-based What’s your favor k on More app? Share the lin ge: facebook.com/ Living’s Facebook pa Let the downmorelivingmagazine. rnest! loading begin in ea
GREAT READS
The Power of Prayer and Fasting by Ronnie W. Floyd (B&H Books) Offering true stories on the difference prayer and fasting have made in the lives of God’s people, this book discusses how these two spiritual disciplines should be lived out in a believer’s life. THE POINT: The disciplines of prayer and fasting are biblical, ordained acts of obedience.
MEMORIZE THIS
PHOTO: © GETTYIMAGES
“For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile everything to Himself by making peace through the blood of His cross — whether things on earth or things in heaven” (Colossians 1:19-20).
QUOTE: “When you pray and fast, the powerful presence of God will accompany you and wake up in you like never before. You will never be the same — never.”
Eat Mor Chikin: Inspire More People by S. Truett Cathy, (Chik-fil-A Inc., Looking Glass Books) This is the story of how one man built a business selling chicken sandwiches by being resolute in keeping biblically based values. THE POINT: Commitment to God, people, and service is a recipe for success.
QUOTE: “When we’re fully committed to something, we’re not likely to give up or become discouraged, and we’re not likely to fail. Commitment works in our business life as well as in our relationships with our families and with the Lord. When we’re fully committed, strange and unusual things happen.”
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Easy Money Raising cash for ministry is simple when you’re doing what you love. by Sandy Smith
B
uy a candle from Diane Lovell, and as you enjoy the scents of mango and papaya, know that the lost are being ministered to in Nicaragua. Savor a plate of Lloyd Runnett’s barbecue, and realize his church’s good works are being expanded. Lovell and Runnett have tapped into the entrepreneurial spirit that is becoming a Boomer trademark. A new study by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation found those ages 55 to 64 have a higher rate of entrepreneurialism than do those between the ages of 20 to 34. But for many Boomers, raising quick cash is not about building a business or pocketing extra income but advancing God’s kingdom. Those who want to raise cash for ministry should focus on what they know. And that’s exactly what Runnett and Lovell have done.
BARBECUE FOR BENEFIT
PHOTO: © SONYA FERRELL/GETTYIMAGES
Runnett, a retired firefighter, first learned to cook in the firehouse. By the time he bought and adapted his smoker, the “Chopping Road Beast,” barbecue sauce was in his veins. Unlike a lot of serious barbecuers, 52-year-old Runnett has skipped the competition circuit and focuses his efforts on fundraisers, primarily for his church and programs it supports, such as Young Life.
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“It’s a blessing to be able to serve by doing something I’m passionate about and want to do really well.” – Lloyd Runnett
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he says. “This gets me excited, and it makes it easier. It’s a blessing to be able to serve by doing something I’m passionate about and want to do really well.” And out of that passion, Runnett has found that blessing others blesses him even more. He’s had so many requests for his barbecue for private events that he’s created a side business, Muddy Boots BBQ. But that won’t take the focus off his tireless barbecuing for ministries. “I try to bless people, but when I do, God reaps more blessings on me. I’m trying to help somebody out and He provides for me, which gives me the opportunity to help others. It’s contagious.”
LIGHTING A CANDLE FOR NICARAGUA Making candles for missions took a few twists and turns for Diane Lovell. A long-time math teacher, Lovell took a break from teaching to help her disabled son, who at
PHOTO: © ROB MELNYCHUK/GETTYIMAGES
“I can do more good this way,” Runnett says. “I was taught at an early age that it’s our responsibility to look after one another. I’d rather help people and do things that make life better than I would just about anything.” When his church and community were damaged in the 2011 earthquake that struck Virginia, Runnett provided barbecue for a fundraiser that earned $55,000 to help rebuilding efforts. He also barbecued chickens to thank those who came to town with a disaster relief ministry. But Runnett’s church counts on him most for twice-a-year fundraisers for Young Life and the Faith Works annual fundraiser that benefits the church’s benevolent fund. Barbecuing is a long effort. When a whole pig is on the cooker, it may need tending for 20 hours. But the waiting and watching provide time to pray and listen, so the long nights of stoking the fire and slathering on the sauce aren’t tiring for Runnett. “There’s the Bible passage about not getting weary while you’re working,”
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22 had aged out of the school system, adjust. She began working for her husband’s company, an environmental sciences firm, where she came across a warning about cancer-causing effects of paraffin wax candles, which she burned constantly. “It was contradictory: saving the planet by day and killing off my family by toxic fumes at night,” Lovell laughs. She met a candle maker who extolled the virtues of soy-based candles, and Lovell began whipping up concoctions in her kitchen laboratory. When her church planned a missions trip to Nicaragua, Lovell, her husband, and one of her sons were intrigued. But the costs were expensive, especially for three. So Lovell took her candles and started hitting crafts fairs and community events. She quickly raised enough to pay for the missions trips for all three, plus enough to help other church members who wanted to go. Back home, she kept making candles, always setting the money aside for missions. When she returned to teaching, one of her students wanted to buy a candle, but only had $3. She offered to give her the candle. The girl refused, believing her $3 could help someone. Lovell began giving away the candles, with one caveat: “I said, ‘Just pray for missions whenever you smell the candle or see the glow. Use that as a reminder.’” She also accepted donations on behalf of the organization her church partnered with in Nicaragua: Because We Care Ministries (bwcm.org). Moving to the donation-based system has earned “thousands, not yet tens of thousands,” Lovell says. Lovell believes the candles will not only fund the organization she works with, but also will eventually inspire others to seek out missions opportunities of their own. Though Lovell gets to Nicaragua while on summer breaks, the mission field has carried over to her home. As she uses her hobby to raise funds for ministry, she’s found “nothing sweeter. And it makes me look for other avenues, not just in providing a good or a service, but it’s really opened my eyes to how I can serve in daily living. If God can use melting wax to His glory, there’s no limit in my life.”
“CROWDSOURCE” YOUR CAUSE Looking to raise funds for a ministry? The Internet has made it so much easier to find groups of like-minded people. Research these options and others to find a group that matches your beliefs and ministry goals. Meetup.com Allows you to find people in your community who share your interests. If you’d like to find help with making cards, crafting, or painting, for instance, check out groups in your area. As with anything on the Internet, use caution and common sense when making connections. Kickstarter.com This, and other groups like it, allows you to post a project and solicit funds. Kickstarter prohibits charitable solicitations, though other groups allow them. However, you can still use Kickstarter to fund your passion and then route the funds toward your church.
Sandy Smith is a writer and editor based in Nashville. She’s been known to enjoy both barbecue and candles.
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Beautiful Risks
God is calling us to live a life untamed. A life of trust. A life of adventure.
by Jason Jaggard
Y
PHOTO: © ISTOCKPHOTO
ears ago, I was up late praying. I was desperate to sense more of God in my life. I wanted to hear Him. I told Him I’d do anything that He asked of me, if He would only speak. I had prayed this prayer many times. What’s weird is that I sensed God speak every time. It’s just that every time God spoke, He asked me to do something, well, stupid. So I usually didn’t do it. That night, I sensed God say, I want you to go down to the 7-Eleven and tell whomever is working there that I love them. Are You kidding, God? I responded. Are You sure You don’t want me to memorize a book of the Bible or something? C’mon, it’s 2 in the morning. I’m in my pajamas. You don’t have to change if you don’t want to, God said. I took that to mean I didn’t have to put on jeans over my pajama bottoms. So I put on
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a robe and slippers, and then I got in my car and A university student named Nathan decided he drove to the 7-Eleven. Walking into the store, wanted to compose a song and perform it for a I felt (and looked) like a nut. There were a few girl who, as far as I could tell, didn’t know Nathan people shopping, so I pretended to browse in the existed. (The rest of us were eager to show up the candy section. I was determined that my embarfollowing week to hear how things turned out.) rassment should not have a large audience. The next week, Nathan walked in with a huge After the last customer left the store, I hesismile on his face. He told us how nervous he had tantly walked up to the lady at the cash register. been. He had composed a song (it wasn’t very I stammered and finally said, “Uh, I know this good, he said), and then he approached the girl sounds strange …” he wanted to sing to. She was probably reaching for the silent alarm. “So it went well?” we asked. “But, uh … I feel like I’m supposed to tell you He laughed. “No!” Then he made a hand that God loves you.” gesture like a plane crashing. The woman looked at me “Crash and burn,” he said. “It REQUIREMENTS OF and said, “I know.” freaked her out.” A BEAUTIFUL RISK I blushed, said, “OK,” and He had failed fantastically. left the 7-Eleven. So all of us raised our 1. Immediate: something you will Years later, that woman won metaphorical glasses do in the next six days the Nobel Peace Prize and and toasted. “Mazel tov!” 2. Controllable: something that is thanked me in her speech. (Literally, “good destiny!”) in your power to do No, she didn’t. I never heard “Salud!” (“To life!”) from her again. For Nathan, writing a 3. Challenging: something that stretches your comfort zone Sometimes we take risks, song and singing it to a girl not because of the outcome wasn’t only about trying to 4. Positive: something that makes we’re sure it will produce in get a date. It was also about your life or the world better others, but because of the becoming the kind of person outcome it might produce in who wasn’t afraid to love. He us: namely, becoming the kind of people who are was sad, sure. But in the ache, Nathan was able to likely to hear God and then go out and risk for enjoy the thrill of having made a beautiful choice. His sake. Life is wild. It cannot be tamed; it can only This is the abundant life God is calling us be chosen. So follow God’s leading, and take a to live. A life of trust. A life of adventure. The beautiful risk for His sake. Transform the world, Scriptures record Jesus as saying, “I came so one small risk at a time. that humanity could experience full, rewarding, vibrant Life,” John 10:10 (author’s paraphrase). God wants to lead us to this vibrant Life. It is Excerpted from Spark by Jason Jaggard. Copyright © 2012 by achievable. It simply has to be chosen.
4
WORTH THE RISK We can’t control what we get out of life; we can control only what we put into it. We can’t control the outcomes of our taking risks; we can only control if we risk.
Jason Jaggard. Excerpted by permission of WaterBrook Press, a division of Random House, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher. To learn more about the Spark movement, visit sparkgood.com.
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PHOTO: © ISTOCKPHOTO
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A
t age 11, Cherry Blackwell shared the gospel with a young Taiwanese man and watched peace and happiness replace his loneliness and homesickness. “I knew at that moment what I wanted to do for the rest of my life — [be a missionary],” Blackwell says. Today, she and her husband, Ben, lead Lagniappe Ministry, an evangelistic outreach to athletes, the military, tourists, and others who impact the New Orleans hospitality and tourism industry. Although the duo didn’t begin Lagniappe with a business plan, they now have one in place. “Lagniappe Ministry is so unique, so out of the box. We weren’t really sure what direction we needed to go in, and, to be honest, if the ministry would really take a foothold. But we have gradually put together a plan for the present, two years out, and five years out,” Blackwell says. And that plan has played a crucial role in Lagniappe Ministry’s success, she realizes.
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When establishing a business plan, keep God’s message first and foremost. Keep the communication line between you and God open. Talk to Him often and about every detail. –Cherry Blackwell
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“If you don’t have a plan, then how will you know what direction you need to go? Without a plan, how will you know if you are succeeding or if you need to change direction?” The Lagniappe business plan is clearly centered, and Blackwell strongly recommends this approach: “When establishing a business plan, keep God’s message first and foremost. Keep the communication line between you and God open. Talk to Him often and about every detail,” Blackwell says. “In choosing a ministry path, look at what you love to do most. What is that thing that makes you unbearably happy, something that you can’t imagine living without doing it every day? That passion is your ministry.”
WHAT’S IN A PLAN? At New Seasons Church, a multi-ethnic 1,100-member congregation in Spring Valley, Calif., ministry plans are so crucial anyone submitting a proposal must fill out a standard questionnaire. Narri Cooper, New Seasons’ service department director, said the questionnaire defines the ministry and determines whether it’s consistent with the church’s core values. The ministry must be designed to serve a particular population, either within the church or within the wider community. In submitting an idea, church members must consider the ministry’s operation plan, including its financing, its cost, and its structure, Cooper says. A plan must outline how the ministry will be implemented, how its success will be measured, how members will be recruited, and the spiritual gifts desirable for those leading and working in the ministry, she explains. Chuck Bentley, chief executive officer of Crown Financial Ministries and host of the national daily radio broadcast My MoneyLife,™ explains that a ministry plan puts everyone on the same page and indicates a stronger commitment to the ministry than does a poorly developed idea. Bentley says the most important elements of a plan are: • Leadership: who will be responsible for operating the ministry; • Target audience: who will be served; • Product or service: how they will be served and with what tools and resources; • Business/Service model: the costs and/or revenues associated with the plan. “A well-developed proposal will include research and data to indicate that the person responsible for developing the
ministry/business plan has a grasp on all the key metrics involved in the activity,” Bentley explains. For example, let’s say you’re trying to reach youth in the community. You should know the demographics, current socioeconomic circumstances, the needs the youth have expressed, and how your ministry can meet those needs, Bentley says. If you’ve already been serving the target audience, he suggests indicating in the plan how the group has responded to your service. “Follow the simple ‘who, what, when, where, how’ format. Your plan should clearly answer the questions any outsider might ask about your proposal without them having to research the answer,” Bentley recommends. “Include research
to support your key points. Data is critical for each point you want to make.” Also indicate if anyone else is providing the service, whether they are successful, and the reasons for their success or failure. Differentiate between their work and your proposal, and avoid exaggerated claims about your ministry idea, Bentley adds. “You should be able to explain your plan in a concise manner. If you cannot communicate it, others will never get behind it.”
Diana Chandler is a staff writer at Baptist Press and finds time to write for various Christian publications. A Mississippi native and Nashville transplant by way of New Orleans, the Bible teacher is patiently awaiting God’s guidance in her latest ministry venture.
HOW TO SELL YOUR CHURCH (ON YOUR GREAT IDEA)
ILLUSTRATION: © THINKSTOCK
A church’s size and culture can determine the path your ministry idea takes to reach the light of day. At the downtown congregation of First Baptist Church Nashville, Senior Pastor Frank R. Lewis recommends finding five others who share your passion for the particular ministry in mind. “Once you have this many people willing to pray, support, and help organize, then the idea has a better chance of becoming reality,” Pastor Lewis explains. The next step at FBC Nashville is to schedule a meeting with the church’s executive pastor. Members of the approximate 2,200-member church should utilize its system of committees, Pastor Lewis adds. “This way, the
[ministry idea] has already gone through a vetting process of sorts to see if others in the body discern that it’s a viable ministry option for us to consider further.” At the 1,100-member New Seasons Church in Spring Valley, Calif., Senior Pastor A.B. Vines says presentations should show how the proposed ministry fits within the church’s current vision and should conform to the church’s standard ministry suggestion questionnaire. The worst thing to do when pitching your idea to this pastor? “Tell me, ‘God said do this,’ or ‘The Lord told me to tell you we need to do this,’” Pastor Vines says. “If God gave you the vision, I shouldn’t
have to rewrite your vision.” When pitching a ministry idea to New York’s 100-member East Seventh Baptist Church, Adult Ministries Director Kareem Goubran recommends the CDROM approach he equates with the Good Samaritan: • Compassion: care deeply, and pray. • Do something: one small thing to get started — and pay close attention to details. • Refer to Others: include prayer support, a team of helpers, ministry leaders, and so forth. • Mañana: (Spanish for “tomorrow”): plan a followup meeting.
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The View from a Lawn Chair A godly man, a good seat, and time Everyone knew Jack Tichenor as “Brother Jack,” and I met him after he retired from decades of pastoral ministry. He allowed me to listen to his wisdom, grow from his
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experiences, and learn at his feet while sitting in lawn chairs in his garage. Many were the times when Brother Jack and I sat talking in the garage while the sun pounded the driveway. Here’s what I remember about Brother Jack: He was a godly man who always made time for me. Granted, he was retired when I met him, but he always kept busy. He had
PHOTO: © ISTOCKPHOTO
COLUMN: MENTOR POWER
Chuck Lawless
served as state president of his denomination’s churches, and that position opened doors for him to speak even in retirement. Because he was a funny, popular, “down home” speaker, churches often invited Jack back time and again. Jack’s busyness, though, never precluded him from making time for me. A simple phone call usually led to an appointment to sit in the garage, share a sandwich, and talk. I spent many hours talking with Jack, and I never recall his saying a negative word about anyone. Ever. Not once. He didn’t always agree with others, but he respected and loved them. Even in times when local churches were struggling and church leaders were resigning, Jack always defaulted to prayer rather than criticism. “We need to pray for them,” was his simple reminder that all of us could someday find ourselves in need of support rather than condemnation. To this day, I think of Jack when my mind and lips tend toward criticism. Occasionally, Jack and I left the garage to have lunch at a local restaurant. There, Jack talked to everybody, and he somehow worked the gospel into each conversation. It didn’t take long for a restaurant hostess, server, or the next person in line to meet Jack
and to hear about his God. He would speak about Jesus while engaging a stranger with his genuine heart and gentle spirit. Many times I could sense that a server wanted to pull up a chair, take a break, and join us in a longer conversation. I’m an introvert, but I still use Jack’s model to push myself to initiate conversations with others. Jack also loved model trains. In his garage were trains set to run their course at the push of a button. Sometimes after Jack and I finished a conversation, we simply sat together watching the trains circle the tracks. Those quiet times with this rock-solid man of God gave me rest from a hectic life and encouragement to press on with my ministry. Few are those whose very presence brings comfort and peace, but Jack was one of those men. I learned from his silence as much as from his words. And whenever I see a lawn chair, I think of him. Who in your life might like to have a lawn-chair conversation with you? With whom might you like to have a conversation? Think about it. Then pull up a chair and make it happen. Chuck Lawless is the author of Mentor: How Along-the-Way Discipleship Will Change Your Life (LifeWay). He is also dean of graduate studies, Southeastern Seminary and Global Theological Education Consultant, International Mission Board.
The
Great Omission? Why evangelism must be a priority.
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Evangelism is dying in many churches today. No, that’s not an overstatement. I am not speaking hyperbolically. Evangelism is dying. Look at the data. Measure almost any group of churches today versus 30 years ago. You’ll likely find that only one person is being reached with the gospel for every 40 to 60 church members. You will find that conversions have declined precipitously. And where you find numerical growth, you are more likely to find that the growth is transfer of Christians from one church to another. That’s not evangelism. That’s sheep shuffling. Pastors and other leaders must fall on their faces before God and ask Him to reignite their congregations with an evangelistic passion. When evangelism dies as a priority in the church, the church has already begun to die. So why should evangelism be one of the highest priorities of your church? 1. Because Christ commanded it. We typically refer to the Great Commission of Matthew 28:18-20 as our evangelistic and disciplesmaking command. But there are many other places in the New Testament where the priority of evangelism is clearly evident. Christ commanded it. We must do it.
PHOTO: © GETTY/FLICKR
By Thom S. Rainer
2. Because Christ is the only way of salvation. There is no way around it. Salvation is exclusive. There is only one way. Jesus could not have made it clearer in John 14:6: “Jesus told him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’” Jesus had an urgent message. He had an exclusive message. We must be conveyors of that narrowly-defined hope. 3. Because Christ died for the world. There is a reason John 3:16 is the most familiar and most quoted verse in the history of humanity. Jesus died for the world. He is the only way, but He has provided a way for everyone. This is a message that is urgent and worth telling. Indeed, it is the greatest message ever.
4. Because churches that are not intentional about evangelism typically are weak in evangelism. Many pastors and church leaders will affirm this article. They will give mental assent to the priority of evangelism. But they do not practice the priority of evangelism in their churches. What are you doing today to make certain evangelism is a priority of your church?
5. Because churches tend to obsess inwardly when they fail to move outwardly. Where has a lot of your church’s energy been expended lately? Rancorous business meetings? Expressions of petty church preferences? Worship wars? Power struggles? Those are inward obsessions. Lead your church to an evangelistic priority and watch the focus shift for the better.
6. Because churches become content and complacent with transfer growth. Some churches are growing. Others are adding members without significant numerical growth. But many in both categories are growing at the expense of other churches. Some may be reaching unchurched Christians. That is good, but that is not evangelism. We can fool ourselves into thinking we are evangelistic when we are simply recirculating the saints.
7. Because evangelistic Christians actually grow stronger as better discipled Christians. Those who are evangelistic are obedient to Christ. Being obedient to Christ means that we are
We fool ourselves into thinking we are evangelistic when we are simply recirculating the saints. following His teachings and becoming better fruit-bearing disciples. Most churches are busy with activities, programs, and ministries. Few churches are truly sending out their members to evangelize those in their communities. The Great Commission has fast become the Great Omission. Evangelism is dying. Churches are dying. People are going to hell without Christ. It is perhaps the greatest tragedy today. What are you doing to lead your church to become more evangelistic? This article was originally published at ThomRainer.com. Thom S. Rainer serves as president and CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources. Among his greatest joys are his family: his wife Nellie Jo; three sons, Sam, Art, and Jess; and six grandchildren. Dr. Rainer publishes a daily blog at ThomRainer.com and can be found on Twitter @ThomRainer and at facebook. com/Thom.S.Rainer.
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Finding Pure Hope
Patty Mason is a smart, determined woman who sets goals and achieves them. Early on, she chose a career in sales, but soon her glamorous lifestyle wasn’t satisfying an emptiness she felt inside. She concluded that getting married and having children would bring fulfillment. So she did. Patty embraced her role as wife and mother while working as a sales executive. One evening, at an awards ceremony before thousands of her coworkers, Patty received the highest award the company gave. She recalls, “The moment that should have been the peak of my life was when I realized success, family, and material things were never going to give me what I was longing for.” Thus began Patty’s long journey into a deep depression.
Patty recalled there was a Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) meeting that day. She went. At the end of the meeting, Patty poured her heart out to the guest speaker. A tidal wave of pent-up emotions came pouring out, and she felt the dark cloud of depression leave her. A few days later, Patty took her children to a Christmas presentation at a local church where the pastor explained the plan of salvation. “Even though I grew up in church, I had never heard
You will never find fulfillment apart from God. She began drinking to manage her pain: “The alcohol took an edge off the sadness, so I drank more.” Soon Patty began to have thoughts of suicide. One day, she cried out to God. “I’m not sure why I did; God wasn’t part of my life. He was something I did on Sunday mornings as a child. But I told Him, You’re the only One who can help me.”
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the plan of salvation. What that pastor was sharing was wonderful, and I wanted Jesus in my life,” Patty says. “God changed my life in that moment. You will never find fulfillment apart from God. The only pure joy, the only pure hope is in Jesus Christ.” You can learn more about Patty Mason’s experiences since that moment by visiting her website libertyinchristministries.com.
Have you ever wondered what the phrase “born again” means? The Bible records that Jesus used the phrase in a conversation with a man named Nicodemus. Nicodemus approached Jesus at night. He was curious about Jesus and the kingdom of God. Jesus told him: “Unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). Nicodemus responded, “But how can anyone be born when he is old?” (John 3:4). Nicodemus was a highly moral man who obeyed God’s law. He was a respected leader of the Jewish community. No doubt he was a fine man. Yet something was lacking. Like Nicodemus, many people today confuse religion with new birth in Christ. Phrases like “I pray regularly” or “I believe there is a God” often are confused with a real new-birth experience. New birth begins with the Holy Spirit convicting a person that he or she is a sinner. Because of sin, we are spiritually dead. For this reason, spiritual birth, as Jesus described it, is necessary. God loves us and gives us spiritual birth when we ask Him for it. The Bible says all persons are sinners (Romans 3:23). Jesus died on a cross and was raised from the dead to save sinners. To be born again means that a person admits to God that he or she is a sinner, repents of sin, believes in or trusts Christ, and confesses faith in Christ as Savior and Lord. Jesus told Nicodemus that everyone who believes in (places faith in) Christ would not perish (John 3:16). Jesus is the only One who can save us (John 14:6). To believe in Jesus is to be born again. Confess your sins and ask Jesus right now to save you. “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Acts 2:21). After you have received Jesus Christ into your life, share your decision with another person, and following Christ’s example, ask for baptism by immersion in your local church as a public expression of your faith (Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:6).
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BORN AGAIN
PATTY MASON
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nfolding a map of the Southeast– or, more likely these days, studying a map online– is like opening a treasure chest of travel choices. Just think what’s in the 12-state region’s footprint. This attraction- and action-packed quadrant of our nation stretches from the mountains of West Virginia to the coastline of Virginia, down the Atlantic seaboard to the slightly wacky world of Key West, around the Gulf of Mexico to the “Cajun Outback” of Southwest Louisiana and up to the natural beauty of Arkansas. The whole place is a treasure. The best aspect is that you can start anywhere– and asking any two people
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Tiny Tallapoosa, Georgia, celebrates each New Year’s Eve with its Possum Drop. (Don’t worry. The possum, whose name is Spencer, had a date with a taxidermist long ago.) Salley, South Carolina, pays tribute to a certain part of pig with its Chitlin Strut in November. Up in Richwood, West Virginia, there’s a big fuss every April over ramps, a wild leek with a strong garlic-like aroma and a pronounced onion flavor. It’s the Feast of the Ramson, and it’s a good thing everybody present eats the stinky vegetables. A breath mint should be the festival’s official sponsor. You get the idea by now. Southerners don’t need much of an excuse to throw a party and invite people to drop in. Macon, Georgia, stages “the Pinkest Party on Earth” (aka the International Cherry Blossom Festival) in March just because residents planted 300,000 cherry trees, while the Biltmore Festival of Flowers in Asheville,
North Carolina, stretches from late March until the middle of May. Music is the root of many festivals. Tennessee is awash in music festivals in early June. Chattanooga draws thousands for the Riverbend Festival, throngs fill otherwise empty farm fields near Manchester for the internationally famous Bonaroo and Nashville really is Music City during the nationally televised Country Music Association Festival. Look hard enough, and you probably can find a barbeque event every month of the year. Most are pig-based events, but the folks in Owensboro, Kentucky, toss some mutton into the mix– just for fun, no doubt. With choices all over the map, look for some guidance. If a festival you’re considering is a Southeast Tourism Society “Top 20 Event in the Southeast,” that’s a pretty good seal of approval. Check them out each month at EscapeToTheSoutheast.com.
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APRIL 2013
pril is an ideal time for a family getaway or church group trip in the Southeastern United States, with numerous events across the region featuring live entertainment in a variety of musical styles; flowers, herbs and gardens; pageants; athletic events; cook offs and regional food; street fairs; horticultural and Southern folk life artisans; carnival rides; model trains; kids’ activities; films; hot air balloons; fireworks; prize giveaways and more, along with beautiful Southern spring weather in which to enjoy the activities. Visit www.EscapeToTheSoutheast.com to learn more about special events each month across the Southeast and to request your FREE Escape to the Southeast ® Travel Guide. Apr. 1-7 Apr. 5-6 Apr. 5-7 Apr. 6 Apr. 10-14 Apr. 11-13 Apr. 11-20 Apr. 12-14 Apr. 12-14 Apr. 12-14 Apr. 12-14 Apr. 12-14 Apr. 13 Apr. 13-14 Apr. 13-14; 20-21 Apr. 13-June 2 Apr. 15-May 2 Apr. 18-21 Apr. 18-21; 25-28 Apr. 19-21 Apr. 20-21 Apr. 24-27 Apr. 25-27 Apr. 26-28 Apr. 27 Apr. 27-28 Apr. 30-May 12
Pensacola JazzFest– Pensacola, FL Springtime Tallahassee– Tallahassee, FL 41st Annual Summerville Family YMCA Flowertown Festival– Summerville, SC Plantapalooza!– Athens, GA North Carolina Azalea Festival at Wilmington, Inc.– Wilmington, NC Louisiana Railroad Festival– DeQuincy, LA Come-See-Me Festival– Rock Hill, SC Alabama Chicken & Egg Festival– Moulton, AL Westlake Family Fun and Food Festival– Westlake, LA Blessing of the Fleet Festival– Darien, GA Crossroads Film Festival– Jackson and Madison, MS Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival– Ponchatoula, LA Lewisburg Chocolate Festival– Lewisburg, WV 25th Annual Dogwood Festival– Perry, GA KidFest! Ridgeland– Ridgeland, MS 28th Annual Georgia Renaissance Festival– Fairburn, GA Kentucky Derby Festival– Louisville, KY 36th Annual Vidalia Onion Festival– Vidalia, GA Mississippi Coast Coliseum Crawfish Festival– Biloxi, MS Lockport Food Festival Presents: “Le Fete du Monde” – Lockport, LA 29th Annual Bloomin’ Festival Arts & Crafts Fair – Cullman, AL 29th Annual American Quilter’s Society Quilt Show & Contest– Paducah, KY Rose Show and Festival– Thomasville, GA Sacred Heart Garden Festival– Augusta, GA Herbs Galore & More at Maymont– Richmond, VA Melbourne Art Festival– Melbourne, FL Contraband Days Pirate Festival– Lake Charles, LA
Sandy Springs Georgia
1-866-511-7742 www.visitSandySprings.org
Have faith that you’ll have fun You can have faith that your church groups will have fun here in Pigeon Forge. Whether it’s the shopping, attractions, shows or Dollywood ®, you’ll find wholesome entertainment at every turn. And the majestic beauty of the Smoky Mountains is always an inspiring sight. Pigeon Forge is filled with variety and dedicated to creating a family friendly atmosphere that everyone can enjoy.
PigeonForgeMeeting.com 1-800-285-7557
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PFT3287_M3rr_LifeWay_wBleed.indd 1
TWELVE
1/22/13 Alabama – You’ve heard about whooping cranes
UNUSUAL
Destinations in the Southeast
You’ve bought a t-shirt at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, wiped confectioner’s sugar off your shirt from a Café du Monde beignet in New Orleans, wished you had worn a shirt at Myrtle Beach and maybe lost your shirt whitewater rafting on the Nantahala River. In other words, you’ve had many of the big experiences the Southeast offers. Shift gears and consider this collection of destinations that aren’t so famous.
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and efforts to save the species, but have you ever seen one? You can at Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge in north Alabama, where a few whoopers spend the winter and 284 more species pass through each year. fws.gov/wheeler
Arkansas – Heifer International has worked to end global hunger one cow at a time since 1944. Its home base is in Little Rock, right next to the Clinton Presidential Library, and it offers great lessons in helping others. Heifer Ranch, 45 miles away in Perryville, offers another unusual vacation experience. Heifer.org Florida – As the year-long Viva Florida
celebration marks the 500th anniversary of Ponce de Leon’s arrival, many people need reminding that Florida’s first settlement was in modern-day Pensacola, not St. Augustine. Yes, the Pensacola settlement got whacked by a hurricane and didn’t survive, but what’s there now is lots of fun. VisitPensacola.com
Georgia – Everyone knows about the Everglades, but fewer know about another famous swamp, the Okefenokee. Folkston, Fargo and Waycross are your entry points to 700 square miles of cypress forests, marsh, lakes and islands. You might even meet Pogo Possum. fws.gov/okefenokee Special Advertising Section
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EscapeToTheSoutheast.com
for additional travel information
12
UNUSUAL Destinations in the Southeast
Kentucky – Not too far from the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green is a decidedly slower means of transportation– boats that travel underground. Lost River Cave lives up to its name because Lost River really does flow through the cave, and it’s big enough for a boat ride. LostRiverCave.com and VisitBGKY.com Louisiana – If you don’t have a Cajun or Creole bloodline, trying to figure out the culture of South Louisiana is a challenge– until you visit the Vermilionville Living History Museum and Folklife Park in Lafayette. Ask to meet “the gumbo lady.” BayouVermilion.org and LafayetteTravel.com Mississippi – It’s somewhat of a mystery why
tamales and Mississippi go together, but it’s no mystery finding places to put great tamales on your plate throughout the Mississippi Delta. The Southern Foodways Alliance explains this culinary phenomenon at TamaleTrail.com
North Carolina – Chimney Rock is a towering
315-foot-tall monolith at the edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains overlooking Hickory Nut Gorge and Lake Lure. To reach the 75-mile view, you can burn some calories with a 20-minute walk up 491 stairs or zoom up a 26-story elevator. ChimneyRockPark.com
South Carolina – Theodore Roosevelt said the battle
at Kings Mountain “marked the turning point of the American Revolution.” It was a strange battle– Patriot and Loyalist militias and only one British soldier. It’s quite a history lesson just 40 miles southwest of Charlotte, N.C. nps.gov/kimo
Tennessee – Board an ocean liner in landlocked Pigeon Forge. It’s the Titanic Museum Attraction, which really does look like the famous ship that sailed into history in 1912. Your boarding pass is a passenger’s biography and not until the touching Memorial Room do you learn that person’s fate. TitanicPigeonForge.com Virginia – Many people explore Virginia’s Civil War
battlefields, but the history of an entire branch of the Armed Forces is at Quantico. It’s the National Museum of the Marine Corps, where you can learn why the Marines display an Academy Award along with a fighter jet and photos of Iwo Jima. usmcmuseum.com
West Virginia – Elkins was a railroad town until the railroad left. Years of work have transformed it into a certified West Virginia Arts Community and a place named one of the 100 Best Art Towns in America. Music, dance and crafts abound– as do new railroad excursions into the mountains. ElkinsWV.com
Special Advertising Section
Sand Crabs.
Discovered October 12, 2012 by Sasha Stevens - Gulf Shores, AL
Children learn the most amazing things when they’re having fun. At Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, they’ll never know they’re still in school. Because 32 miles of uncrowded, sugar white beaches, sparkling water and numerous interactive educational attractions provide an exciting, entertaining way to learn. And a whole different state of discovery. i
Call 1-877-659-9025 or visit GulfShores.com/Lifeway
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EscapeToTheSoutheast.com
for additional travel information
Escape to the Southeast Info and Offers Showcase free information To learn more about our Escape to the Southeast travel advertisers’ products and services, simply visit LifeWay.com/AdPartners and check the boxes of the destinations below from whom you would like to receive FREE information. When you request information about these destinations at LifeWay. com/AdPartners, you will be entered automatically to win one of FIVE LifeWay Christian Stores gift cards valued at $50 each (enough to purchase some great reading material to take on your Southeast vacation). For more information and regular updates about these destinations, visit LifeWay.com/TravelGuide.
Alabama Gulf Shores & Orange Beach www.GulfShores.com/LifeWay 1-877-659-9025
Florida Central Florida Visitors & Convention Bureau www.visitcentralflorida.org 1-800-828-7655
Georgia Alpine Helen – White County Convention & Visitors Bureau www.helenga.com 1-800-858-8027 Sandy Springs Hospitality & Tourism www.visitSandySprings.org 1-866-511-7742
Tennessee Pigeon Forge www.PigeonForgeMeeting.com 1-800-285-7557 Sevierville www.VisitSevierville.com 1-888-738-4378 Visit Graceland www.elvis.com 1-800-238-2000
Escape to the Southeast To order your FREE Escape to the Southeast Travel Guide, obtain more information about top events and the best travel destinations in the Southeast United States, or to enter travel sweepstakes, visit EscapeToTheSoutheast.com.
Make the most of your Escape travels to the Southeast. To SE EscapeToTheSoutheast.com 1/3 Vertyou’ll has all the information need: destinations, attractions, accommodations, events and more!
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Focus
PHOTO: © ISTOCKPHOTO
{on living well}
APRIL 2013 MORE LIVING
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It’s time to recapture health, strength, and vitality.
Spring Into FITNESS
PHOTO: © ISTOCKPHOTO
by Branda Polk
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pring makes you want to shake off winter doldrums and run in the sun. For many Baby Boomers, all that shaking and moving is harder and a little more painful these days. But it doesn’t have to be this way. You can make changes to get stronger and more fit and put spring back into your step. According to Brian Stecker, a certified personal trainer and Boomer fitness expert from Vancouver, Wa., you’re never too old or too out of shape to reach the goals of getting healthy and fully engaging in life. Brian was motivated toward fitness by his grandfather’s positive example of faith in God and his commitment to make a difference in the lives of others. Brian saw the health challenges his relatives were facing in midlife and knew, based on his studies in exercise science, that fitness promotes better health and reduces many age-related diseases. He wanted to change lives by helping Boomers see their full potential and regain the vitality to charge into the second phase of life. (Visit boomerfitness.com.)
THE CHALLENGES Brian identifies challenges Boomers face to getting fit, challenges which can become excuses. Empty nest syndrome. Cooking for two people seems futile, so Boomers eat out on average five to seven times per week. Eating out this often contributes 500 or more additional calories consumed in a week. Multi-generational caregivers. Baby Boomers may be caring for boomerang adult children, aging parents, and grandchildren all at the same time. This leaves no time in the day for them to properly care for themselves. Stress. Family, work, time, and financial pressures create stress and a stress response. High blood pressure, weight gain, and sleeplessness are a few side effects of stress. Retirement strain. Many Boomers are near retirement age but financially need to work longer.
FAR OUT OF THE GYM WORKOUTS Try these exercise options for 30 minutes to burn extra calories each day.*
PHOTOS: © THINKSTOCK, ISTOCKPHOTO
Hula–Hoop and burn 300 calories.
Wii Fit with grandchildren and burn 100 calories.
Hike and prayer walk through the woods and burn 200 calories.
Kayak an obstacle course and burn 200 calories.
*Calories are approximate and based on a 175-pound person.
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For women. Hormonal changes lead to reduced muscle mass and a slowing metabolism. With this reduction in calorie-burning muscle, women burn, on average, 3500 fewer calories per week, which can translate to gaining 3 to 5 pounds a month. For men. Lower testosterone levels lead to the reduction in muscle mass and an increase in body fat. Pain. As joints stiffen and muscles weaken, pain is the result. To avoid pain, Boomers often move less, which exaggerates speed of fitness decline.
THE OPPORTUNITIES
4 SIMPLE WAYS TO GET HEALTHY 1. Invest your time and resources in your health instead of into your sickness. Staying healthy is much less expensive than the rising cost of medical care. 2. Cook and eat at home. Learn how to creatively cook smaller portions of healthy foods. Consider planning a meal and splitting it with another couple. 3. Invite a friend with a similar fitness level to partner with you at the gym. Group training with a personal trainer is a cost-effective and motivational way to stay consistent with an exercise plan. 4. Join an active group. Biking, running, hiking, swimming, and ballroom dance are excellent group exercises.
Brian sees these challenges as opportunities and motivators for Boomers to get healthy. “The number one fear of the Baby Boomer generation is the loss of independence,” Brian says. “They see their parents aging and want to do something about their own health before it’s too late.” Brian encourages his clients to look at health as a three-legged stool. Health is the seat of the stool; exercise, nutrition, and mindset represent each leg. When one or more of the legs is out of balance, the stool is unstable.
THE GOALS Realistic, measurable, and structured goals are needed to improve health, says Brian. Once goals are set, progression toward those goals is critical. Brian recommends beginning with a dynamic warm-up of rhythmic, full-body movements or stretches. Then move to strength training in a circuit station-to-station type method. Many former athletes recall training from their sports days and try to begin where they left off in high school or college. This often leads to injury, soreness, and quitting. Safe and effect circuit training using weight machines or other types of strength training equipment allows participants to move with consistent pacing between each exercise with minimal breaks. Circuit training builds muscle mass and helps decrease many of the signs of aging. Finish with or complete at a different workout cardiovascular exercises such as walking, biking, or swimming. Many Boomers see changes in strength, stamina, energy, and range of motion after only a few sessions. Over time, dramatic results occur.
There’s a huge amount of life and ministry potential left in Baby Boomers. “The training of the body has a limited benefit, but godliness is beneficial in every way, since it holds promise for the
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PHOTO: © THINKSTOCK
THE BIGGER HEALTH PICTURE
present life and also for the life to come” (1 Timothy 4:8). When overall health and strength improve, this increases the opportunity to impact families, churches, and communities for Christ. “A new view of ‘normal’ older age should be active, involved, productive, and valued for wisdom and guidance. It takes courage to act and think differently and to lead by example,” says Dr. Donald M. Vickery, author of Live Young, Think Young, Be Young ... at Any Age (Bull Publishing). Since Boomers have made a brand out of the “Go Big or Go Home” mentality, now is a great time to continue that mind-set, especially in the areas of physical health and how it connects with spiritual impact. “Faith plays an important role in fitness,” Brian explains. “Aging is an opportunity to strengthen our character and shape us into the people God really want us to be. Fitness gives us an opportunity to minister and shape our communities for the better.” Branda Polk is a certified personal fitness trainer and wellness coach in Rock Hill, S.C. She also trains Baby Boomer clients and helps them be their best at any age.
Can a protein originally found in a jellyfish improve your memory? Scientists say,
“Yes”!
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.*
Supports healthy brain function*
According to Dr. Pastore, “These proteins are vital and found naturally throughout the body. As we age we start to lose some of these proteins. When this happens you may start to experience mild memory difficulties.”
Now produced through a scientific process, Researchers formulated this vital protein into a product called Prevagen®. The unique ingredient within Prevagen is unlike any other available today. It is the first and only supplement that supplements proteins for brain health.* Prevagen® comes in an easy to swallow capsule and is available without a prescription. It has no known side effects and will not interact with your current medication.
Clinically Tested
Just how well does Prevagen work? In a computer assessed, double-blinded, placebo controlled study, Prevagen improved memory for most subjects within 90 days.*
Try Prevagen for yourself and feel the difference. Prevagen® comes with a Money Back Guarantee. Call toll-free to order, (877) 803-1007.
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.
PRVMOREMAGV1
God’s Diet Plan? Pastor Rick Warren weighs in on weight loss.
author Deck
CONNECT FOR SUCCESS. After checking with your doctor, join or create a Daniel Plan small group at your church.
USE BIBLICALLY BASED STUDY AND ENCOURAGEMENT. The plan has Bible-based video and study materials to guide individuals and small groups through the process.
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EAT A DIET OF WHOLE FOODS. Follow the plans 70/30 rule: 70 percent of what you eat is made up of whole foods like fruit, vegetables, nuts, and seeds; 30 percent is lean protein, starches, and whole grains.
GET UP AND MOVE! Your body is made to move. Find exercise that is fun: walking with friends, biking with family, swimming to relax, etc. The idea is to get moving with easy-on-the joints, enjoyable exercise that promotes fitness and fellowship.
LIVE SMARTER. THINK SHARPER. Get seven to eight hours of sleep. Learn to breath deeper to reduce stress. Stay away from alcohol and tobacco products. Add “brain foods and spices” such as cinnamon to increase attention span. Meditate on Scripture to replace negative thoughts.
For full details, resources, and guidance on starting a Daniel Plan small group, go to danielplan.com.
PHOTO: © GETTYIMAGES
Title W
eighing in at 295 pounds, pastor Rick Warren, 58, was overweight — and he knew it. After baptizing hundreds in one day, his body told him just how out of shape and overweight he had become. He decided to do something about it. With the help of medical experts and others in his church, Rick created the Daniel Plan, which is based on the biblical story in Daniel of staying true to God’s plan for living. The plan promotes lifestyle over diet, and it seems to be working. Members of Saddleback Church have dropped close to 300,000 pounds since the Daniel Plan initiative began in 2011. Pastor Warren has dropped 60 of the 90 pounds he intends to lose. Here’s a basic overview asdadsaof the Daniel Plan as you consider springing in to fitness this year.
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No previous medical experience required. Compare the money you can make!
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We make it easy to learn how to prepare medical claims for Medicare, Medicaid and private patients. And since every medical procedure must be properly billed, there’s plenty of work available. You’ll make great money working with doctors as a part of the medical team doing a job that really helps people.
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Our experts train you step by step to perform the job of a qualified Medical Billing Specialist. Everything is explained in easy-tounderstand language with plenty of examples. You learn exactly what to do and how to do it! You can graduate in as little as four months and be ready to take your first step into this exciting, high-income career.
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MORE FOCUS ON LIVING WELL STEWARDSHIP OF LIFE
Voluntourism. Approximately 16 percent of Boomers surveyed said while on vacation in the last two years they’d seen poverty, orphans, disaster damage, or pollution. Some companies have put together tour packages that merge traditional sight-seeing with an opportunity to volunteer:
MAKE YOUR TRIP COUNT New Ways to Vacation The 50-something crowd is transforming vacation-time travel. Consider these types of getaways:
Missions. Join with fellow
opportunity to experience another career, such as chocolatier or architect. These vacations allow you to immerse yourself in that career as you receive coaching by professionals for nominal fees. Vocationvacations.com specializes in career test-drives stateside.
church members in fulfilling the Great Commission. If your church doesn't have a missions trip planned or you want to serve in some specific capacity, search the Internet for short-term missions opportunities through organizations whose beliefs and policies match your vision.
Vocation vacation. Several companies provide experiential trips that give you the
• Hands Up Holidays (handsupholidays.com), Allows users to search by country or region or by volunteer activity. • GlobeAware (globeaware.org), a nonprofit that organizes volunteer tours. • Travelocity, the discount travel site, offers an index of volunteer trips and often provides $5,000 voluntourism grants. To learn more visit travelocity.com/ TravelForGood.
Exercise Your Brain ... Because it Matters That gray stuff housed inside your head needs exercise to stay sharp. If you want to improve your memory, processing speed, problem-solving skills, or you would simply like to easily remember people’s names and where you put your car keys, lumosity.com can help. This fun, interactive website offers lots of cognitive exercises that will make your brain sweat a bit. You can test drive it for free and then build a personalized brain training program for a nominal fee each month.
“Exercising Christian faith is exhibited in a life that depends on Jesus Christ for salvation and is filled with the expectation of His daily activity.” — Ed Stetzer, LifeWay Research
48 MORE LIVING APRIL 2013
PHOTO: © ISTOCKPHOTO
Well Said
MORE FOCUS ON LIVING WELL STEWARDSHIP OF LIFE
IN THE KNOW ABOUT H2O? 4 Reasons to Drink Up
1. The average adult body loses 12 cups of water every day. Besides the obvious, the drain includes: 2 cups of perspiration
85% 2. The brain is about 85 percent water. Dehydration can affect brain power.
3. Joint pain, stomach pain, ulcers, back pain, low energy, mental confusion, and disorientation are all signs that your body is dehydrated.
4. A
5%
drop in body fluids will cause a
25-30%
2 to 4 cups lost breathing as carbon dioxide is expelled
loss of energy in the average person.
½ to 1 cup lost from the soles of feet Source: Dorchester, Maryland Health Department
8 2
5 3 1 9 2 5
7 8 6
3
PHOTO/ILLUSTRATION: © ISTOCKPHOTO
9 1
9 6
5
4 7
1 9 4 2 8 5 6
World The first ip io hamp nsh Sudoku C in in Italy was held was e winner 2006. Th om ntant fr an accou . b u h Rep lic the Czec
8 7
Puzzle by websudoku.com
APRIL'S SUDOKU BRAIN CHALLENGE Fill in the grid so that each row, column, and 3-by-3 block contains the numbers 1 through 9 exactly once. Look for the answer on our Facebook page. See page 8 for answers to March’s puzzle.
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COLUMN: MONEY WISE
God’s Word makes it clear that we should fulfill our tax responsibility: “Give back to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s” (Mark 12:17). But the Bible also says plenty about planning and seeking wise counsel, and we should definitely heed this wisdom as we prepare to fulfill tax obligations. Many possible tax changes are looming. Here are eight items you’ll need to address whether you prepare your own tax return or use the services of a trusted tax professional. 1. Depending on how much your tax liability has increased, adjust your withholdings or estimated tax payments to avoid owing Uncle Sam. If you have too little withheld, you could be subject to penalties and interest.
With changing tax rules likely, you must pay wisely. by Megan Pacheco
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3. If you have college-age children, the expiration of the American Opportunity Education Tax Credit means you’ll likely be shouldering more of their education expenses. Here are some other
ILLUSTRATION: © GETTYIMAGES
Not a Penny More
2. Pay close attention to capital gains and dividend income. The new tax rates could affect how you distribute this income over tax years, assuming options are available.
education funding options to think through: •C onsider opening a Roth IRA account to save money for higher education. Even if you’re younger than 59½, you can withdraw your contributions (but not earnings) without a tax penalty after five years. With some planning, Roth IRA accounts can be used to set aside funds for college expenses. • Use ESA and 529 college savings plans. These will give you best results when started early since compound interest and time will work to your advantage. Both accounts are subject to contribution and income limits. • C onsider talking to your children about choosing a local community college for the first two years in addition to working and paying for some of their own education.
ILLUSTRATION: © RAY GLASBERGEN
4. The threshold for deducting medical expenses has increased from 7.7 percent of Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) to 10 percent of AGI. 5. If you’re in the upper income brackets, $200,000 AGI and up, you could be hit with two Medicare-related taxes. Expect a 0.9 percent tax on wages and self-employment income and
a 3.8 percent tax on unearned income. Consider maximizing your pre-tax Flexible Spending Account for all health carerelated expenses. Just keep in mind that if you don’t use the funds you set aside, you’ll lose them. 6. The marriage penalty has returned in 2013, which means if you and your spouse file jointly and do not itemize, you’ll get a smaller standard deduction than singles or couples who file separately. 7. Do you have elderly parents permanently living with you? You may qualify to claim them as your dependents. 8. Last but not least, your contributions to your church and charities still qualify as tax deductions. As you plan your acts of generosity, remember
that you can also donate older cars, furniture, clothing, and so forth. If you donate non-cash items, save the contribution receipt so you can claim the value of those items on next year’s return. Many people donate hundreds of items but never ask for a receipt. Taxes are complicated and require careful planning. As a steward of God’s resources, ask questions and seek wisdom and understanding regarding tax matters. Lack of planning could potentially cost you more of your hard earned money, putting it in the hands of “Caesar” who most certainly will not spend it as wisely as you would.
Megan Pacheco is the director of product development at Crown Financial Ministries, a leading provider of personal finance resources from a biblical perspective. For more info, visit Crown.org.
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The day is coming when a single carrot, freshly will set off a revolution. –Paul Cezanne
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PHOTO: © HEINZE, WINFRIED/STOCKFOOD MUNICH/STOCKFOOD
observed,
A Great Dig Get to the root of the colorful and versatile carrot. From soups and pot roasts to cakes and even ice cream, the carrot has blazed orange. Here’s the skinny on all your burning carrot questions. Q: Where did carrots originate? A: Prior to the cultivated carrot we eat today, carrots grew wild and are believed native to Afghanistan. Q: Do rabbits really crave carrots? A: The iconic image of Bugs Bunny nibbling on a carrot is misleading. While rabbits can enjoy the veggie as an occasional treat, carrots are too high in sugar to be a staple in a rabbit’s diet. Feed a pet bunny too many and you could find yourself asking, “What’s up, Doc?” due to digestive problems and tooth decay. Q: Why are carrots so orange? A: Beta-carotene gives carrots their hue. Carrots also come in a rainbow of other lovely colors: purple, red, and yellow. Q: Do carrots really help your eyesight? A: The link between vision and carrots is vitamin A, which is essential to our retinas. Carrots are high in betacarotene, which our bodies convert to vitamin A. So the assumption is the more carrots you eat, the better your eyesight. However, if your diet is already balanced, eating more carrots won’t improve your vision.
Spicy Carrot Soup 2 tablespoons olive oil 4 tablespoons butter, divided 1 onion, chopped 2 leeks, trimmed, chopped and cleaned thoroughly 2 garlic cloves, chopped 2 pounds carrots, chopped 4 stalks celery, chopped Salt and pepper 1- inch piece of fresh ginger, grated (about 1½ tablespoons) ½ teaspoon red chili flakes 4 cups chicken stock Heat olive oil and 2 tablespoons of butter in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onion, leeks, and garlic. Cook until soft, about 5 to 10 minutes. Add carrots, celery, salt, and pepper. Cook until carrots and celery begin to soften, about 10 minutes. Add ginger and red chili flakes, and cook another two minutes. Pour in the stock and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until carrots become tender, about 15 minutes. Test with a knife. Once carrots are tender, purée the soup with an immersion blender right in the pot. If consistency is too thick, add more stock. Serve with a drizzle of pesto or a dollop of sour cream along with warm crusty bread. Serves 6 to 8.
Q: Should you peel a carrot? A: A carrot’s skin is totally edible. Just give them a good scrub before eating. After all, carrots live in dirt.
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5 Steps to Launching a Meals Ministry 1. Recruit volunteer cooks. 2. Ask your church office to let you know when needs arise. 3. Determine frequency and sion. Every other day for two weeks is a good length. 4. Use a website like
takethemameal.com to organize your calendar, alerting cooks to dietary restrictions.
Sweet Carrot & Beet Salad ⅓ cup raisins 1 pound carrots 1 large red beet, peeled ½ lemon, juiced ¼ cup sour cream ¼ cup mayonnaise 2 tablespoons sugar K osher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste ¼ cup walnuts, chopped ⅓ cup diced fresh pineapple
In a small bowl, pour hot water over the raisins and set aside while they plump. Grate the carrots and beets using a food processor or a box grater. In the bottom of a large bowl, mix together lemon juice, sour cream, mayonnaise, sugar, salt, and pepper. Add the grated veggies and mix well. Fold in the drained raisins, walnuts, and pineapple. Allow to sit 30 minutes to an hour to develop the flavors. Taste for seasoning and serve cold or at room temperature. Serves 4 to 6.
. 5. Ask cooks to deliver meals by a specific time in disposable containers.
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Note: Carrots, especially when grated in a food processor, release a lot of water. Make this salad no more than a few hours before serving it to avoid wilting. Larissa Arnault is one of those crazy people who loves chopping vegetables — she finds the monotonous rhythm relaxing. She channels her inner Julia Child and listens to French music while slicing and dicing in Nashville, Tenn.
PHOTOS: © HEINZE, WINFRIED/STOCKFOOD MUNICH/STOCKFOOD, GETTYIMAGES
length of meal provi-
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Joy PHOTO: © ISTOCKPHOTO
{for the journey}
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Single-minded
DEVOTION
Unmarried Boomers have exceptional opportunities to follow hard after God — and change the world. by Leona Bergstrom
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All are uniquely designed individuals with color-filled palettes of life experiences, talents, gifts, and passions.
A
slight shame-laced hesitation lingers in Marcia Carole's voice when she shares her story. Two abusive marriage relationships, messy divorces, and painful endings have left her single again. But Marcia is following hard after God, and at age 59 is discovering a new life filled with abundant grace and indisputable adventure. Recently she left for Pattaya, Thailand. She and four other women are armed with huge tote bags overflowing with colorful fabric, acrylic paints, tissue paper, and glue. They are going to share art and Christ's love with women who are bought and sold on “walking street.” Marcia is the team leader. She’s one of a growing number of single Boomers in churches across the nation. Many, like her, are divorced. Others are widowed, and a number have never married. All are uniquely designed individuals with color-filled palettes of life experiences, talents, gifts, and passions.
MARCIA Marcia is an artist. She loves to watch a beautiful picture emerge as she strokes watercolors on canvas. She compares her life to a painting, full of radical color as well as dark shadows. Marcia married young, had four daughters, and divorced after enduring years of domestic violence. Her second marriage, also abusive, ended in a dreadful divorce. Marcia felt misunderstood, discarded, and worthless. For much of her career, Marcia taught first grade. Deep inside, however, she wanted to be an artist. Every afternoon as she put the next day’s date on the blackboard she would cry out, Lord, when will You release me to follow my passion? When her second marriage ended, Marcia shared that plea with a counselor who wisely reminded her, “You can’t just ask the Lord to do it all. You need to do something, too.” So Marcia started moving toward her dream. She committed to creating art every day for a year. She started a blog. She often worked into the wee hours of the morning, but every day she posted a sketch or painting on the Internet. After nine months, she had a robust portfolio and was recruited to teach art in a school in Morocco. This single, middle-aged woman’s life was never the same. Upon returning to the U.S., Marcia's living room became an art studio, the world became her classroom, and abused women became her mission field. Using art to share the love of Jesus, Marcia has seen women around the world set free from bondage.
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“I learned being single meant I had time to develop a relationship with the One who would never leave me.”
JEFF Jeff Simunds, 51, retired at age 35, burned out from the corporate expectations of an 80-hour workweek. He took his stock options and pension, cared for his mom until her death, and then traveled the world for five years. Upon his return, he spent two years in counseling and recovery dealing with his same sex attraction issues. Today, Jeff has been transformed by the gospel, and he pursues holiness with passion. He serves full time as a volunteer counselor directing Tower of Light, a ministry for men and women who struggle with same-sex attraction. Jeff regularly teaches classes in churches around the country, sharing the hope, love, and power found in Jesus. He has led many to Christ and has seen lives radically transformed by finding wholeness in the Son of God.
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GLORIA Gloria Cailiff was 50 when her husband was diagnosed with stomach cancer. While extensive surgery would dramatically impact his life, there was every reason to believe they could still enjoy a long life together. That was until unsuspected heart disease killed him two days after surgery. Suddenly single, Gloria began the hard task of putting the pieces of her life back together. Her husband was an elder in their church, and they had enjoyed serving in many different ministries. Without him, Gloria was uncertain who she was or where she belonged. Her first faltering steps landed her in the arms of God. There, she learned to completely depend on Him. “At the end of the day,” she said, “there was no one else to talk to. I learned being single meant I had time to develop a relationship with the One who would never leave me.” A passion re-emerged: Gloria loved running, and prior to her husband’s death, she competed in several Ironman triathlons. Early on, she began writing and reflecting on how the principles of endurance sports compared to living the Christian life. A widow facing life’s arduous journey alone, Gloria began running again. And swimming. And biking. She became stronger and could perform long races with increased endurance and improved times. Eventually her writings were published and she began sharing her lessons about perseverance and faith. She pursued a degree in women’s ministry. She started coaching and training young athletes. She competed in more triathlons. Gloria got back in the race.
5 SMART SINGLE MOVES 1. Single Boomers have considerable freedom to go places and do ministry. Jeff says his independence and flexible schedule give him many options for involvement in local and global ministry. Gloria says she has a unique freedom to explore new opportunities God puts in her path. Marcia travels unreservedly to do ministry around the world. 2. Single Boomers have distinctive opportunities to grow. It can be less complicated to go back to school, change careers, or travel. Gloria took on a full-time job and moved to a new part of the country. 3. Single Boomers are rich in life experience. Life is hard. Mistakes are made. Single Boomers have deep, rich, and sometimes difficult experiences in their life stories. Jeff is redeeming the pain of his life by helping others through recovery and healing. Gloria learned to depend heavily and solely on God
NO TIME TO WASTE Soon Marcia and the women in her Thailand mission team will return to the United States. Their tote bags will be empty, their hearts full. The others will return to husbands and family responsibilities. Marcia will come home to her studio and continue filling life with art, color, and story. What’s more, she will return to medical treatment. Marcia has Stage IV breast cancer, and unless God intervenes, it most likely will take her life. But Marcia has found a purpose and calling that supersedes health, marital status, or financial security. She’s following hard after God and is changing the world. She is a single Boomer on a
through life’s darkest hours. From time to time she shares those lessons through public speaking or leading grief support groups. Marcia now fights injustice instead of being its victim. 4. Single Boomers enjoy healthy social relationships. Jeff has a large group of friends who are his support. He has fun. He invites people to his home. Gloria finds other single friends to “do life” and even run with. Marcia mentors others, including a Christian artists’ group that meets regularly on her patio. 5. Single Boomers are uniquely designed by God for His purpose. Marcia shares that, at one time, her outlook was limited and her world seemed small. When she realized God had created her with special talents and gifts and that He wanted to use her, a huge world opened up. She reminds us “each person is designed for God’s glory!”
mission. In her own words, she has “no time to waste.” “It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just make sure that you don’t use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; that’s how freedom grows” (Galatians 5:13, The Message). Leona Bergstrom and her husband, Richard, co-direct Re-Ignite, a ministry designed to equip leading-edge Boomers discover their passions and purposes for the second half of life. They also co-direct 2nd ½ Ministries for Him of Converge Worldwide and at Northshore Baptist Church near Seattle. Leona is passionate about encouraging Boomers to follow hard after God and change the world. Re-Ignite.net.
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How do you want to be
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by Clint Kelly
Fads and Flubs
PHOTOS: © ISTOCKPHOTO, THINKSTOCK
For every challenging Rubik’s Cube we Boomers can claim, there were a dozen Troll dolls and Wacky Wallwalkers.
T
he 78 million babies born between 1946 and 1964 are a statistical bulge known to demographers as “the pig in the python.” Could that less-than-flattering label stem from the privileged way in which many of us so roundly rejected and redefined the traditional values of our parents and the Eisenhower era? Maybe. But perhaps it’s just payback for having rotten taste. Troll dolls and mood rings? Really? It wasn’t bad enough that we actually tried to teach our pet rocks to sit, stay, and roll over. Oh, no. We had to work our ant farms, cuddle our Sea-Monkeys®, and groom our Chia Pets®. And why in the name of all that’s sane are plaid men’s pants going for upward of $100 a pair today? We invented, and should have killed off, that trend years ago. But we made it worse with psychedelic bell bottoms (1960s), followed by high-waist stretch disco pants (1970s), followed by acid washed jeans (1980s). Let this be a lesson: When adults allow a Soupy Sales or a John Travolta to set fashion trends, we get adults clad in plaid pajama bottoms — in public. For every challenging Rubik’s Cube® we can claim, there were a dozen Troll dolls and Wacky Wallwalkers. Our generation considered itself “amped,” “far out,” and “stoked,” but surprisingly often our social trends were less than “tubular.” According to my mood ring, I’m feeling a little amber about how we were sometimes slow to change. You know, amber for “unsettled, mixed emotions.” Like that box of 8-track tapes in the attic. Isn’t it possible they could make a comeback? Clint Kelly is an adventure novelist and a communications specialist for Seattle Pacific University.
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JOY FOR THE JOURNEY
KICKS & GRINS
Surely There’s an App for THAT! THE WHAT’S HIS NAME? APP When someone whose name you should know approaches your smart phone, the app does a facial recognition analysis and texts you the name. THE MUSIC AVOIDANCE APP You’re walking through the mall when your smart phone detects bad music that will be running through your head for hours. The app automatically reroutes your path courtesy of Google Maps.
AND THE THUNDER ROLLS One spring evening during a violent thunderstorm, a grandmother was tucking her visiting grandson into bed. She was about to turn off the light when he asked with a tremor in his voice, “Grams, will you sleep with me tonight?” The grandmother smiled and gave him a reassuring hug. “I can’t, dear,” she said. “I have to sleep in Grandpop’s room.” A long silence was broken at last by his shaky little voice: “The big baby.”
THE CLAP OFF APP Walk into the Worship Center of your church. Clap twice and your smart phone will automatically shut down every device in the room. Great for pastors.
WHAT HAPPENED TO ... ? • Real friends: In a virtual age where you can have 5,000 so-called friends on Facebook, what happened to that guy who had the key to your house and was always present when things went wrong? • A cheap cup of coffee
PHOTO: © THINKSTOCK. ILLUSTRATIONS: © ISTOCKPHOTO
• A smart, funny movie without a single sexual innuendo
{
“The most wasted of all days is one without laughter.” –E. E. Cummings
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COLUMN: BOOMER HUMOR
Marie Armenia
The Invitation Conspiracy
going to be able to stay home one night during the week and finally read that book you downloaded when Abraham Lincoln was president, a friend says, “I’m having a ‘Make Your Own Candle Party’ Thursday night. You’re in, right?” I am? Evidently, I am. When I became a member of the Second Chapter of Life Club, I naively had plans for my extra time. I never factored in the Invitation Conspiracy. You exist in a megalopolis of relationships. If you’re even minimally nice, friends will invite you to stuff that will take 43.5 percent of your free time — or so it seems.
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This includes, “I have astronaut training that night.” • If you own an animal which causes people (i.e. me) to swell, itch, and turn red, and you simply cannot understand why we decline your invitation then, well … really? • If the party’s purpose is to sell and therefore profit from us, then technically we have become customers and not friends. And the customer is always right, so don’t be offended when we say no. Is there a solution to invitation exhaustion? Yes, and ironically it comes in the form of yet another invitation: Jesus says, “Come to Me, all of you who
If you’re even minimally nice, friends will invite you to stuff that will take 43.5 percent of your free time — or so it seems. entreat everyone on earth to limit invitations to one birthday party a decade, one anniversary party per friendship, and no invitations ever to see pictures of any trip anywhere on earth. • If you demand an explanation for our inability to attend, then any excuse is acceptable.
are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). This is an invitation with an offer I cannot and would be foolish to refuse. I go, and He gives rest. You’re in, right? Marie Armenia is someone you laugh with as she laughs at herself. Follow her at awordtothewives.blogspot.com.
ILLUSTRATION: © ISTOCKPHOTO
JUST WHEN YOU THINK you’re
I love having people who love me. But I’ve got white-water rafting to do. To resist this social bondage, I humbly offer the Invitation Proclamation: Whereas, the Creator has endued each person with the inalienable right to have no plans for five nights out of seven, we do hereby proclaim to our friends, family, and countrymen: • That an invitation is not a subpoena. You have invited us, and we are honored. However, we retain the right to decline. Why else did the French invent the term R.S.V.P.? • We unequivocally, irreversibly, everlastingly, overwhelmingly, and exceedingly
More Living Insights • Boomer ministry will be envisioned by Boomers, lead by Boomers, and paid for by Boomers. • Meaningful Boomer ministry reaches up to aging parents, down to next generations, and out to the lost in their own generation. • A large number of Boomers indicate a desire to study biblical topics, especially controversial ones, and to come to studies that address issues related to faith, family, and relationships. Unchurched Boomers indicate they want to study similar issues in groups at church. • A robust ministry, geared toward what Boomers in your church really want to do, will likely be the best vehicle for reaching unchurched Boomers in your community.
PHOTO: © GETTY
Research data taken from RESPECT: Meaningful Ministry with Baby Boomers in Your Church and Community by Bill Craig and Donna Gandy (LifeWay).
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DO WHAT MATTERS
I am working on my doctorate in exercise science at Middle Tennessee State University, where I assist in a pilot research study designed to help those with spinal cord injuries. Carmen Thompson is one of the participants. So many things have happened in my life since meeting Carmen. I normally keep my emotions to myself. But early on when I would talk with Carmen, she made me feel so comfortable that my emotions would come spilling out. I went with Carmen to church for the first time right before Easter last year. She shared her story of the accident with a Sunday School class, and I was surprised at how emotional I became. At that time, I was feeling something strong, but I didn’t know what it was. I thought I was responding to Carmen, but I now know I was responding to God. I am at a point where many things are going on in my life — finishing up my degree, searching for a job, and working on a new relationship with someone I really cherish. Usually I would be overwhelmed and stressed by these situations. But since meeting Carmen, going to church, and learning that God is in control, I feel peaceful. And that feels so good! Every time I see Carmen at the lab, she has a smile on her face. She is the happiest person I have ever met. In her beautiful eyes, I see someone who is full of life, peace, and joy; I certainly do not see a disabled person. Because of this, I have wanted to know her more deeply and learn what it is that makes her so cheerful. I am on a journey — a journey that has taken me from knowing nothing of Jesus Christ to learning more and more about Him every day. Through Carmen’s church and a Sunday School class, I am learning about giving and receiving love. Everyone at her church makes me feel so loved and accepted. This is the kind of life I want for myself and for my future family. The peace I feel is unbelievable but so real! I am so thankful to God for allowing me to meet Carmen and learn of God’s love.
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— Saori Ishikawa See the story of my friend Carmen Thompson on page 2.
PHOTO: ALLEN CLARK PHOTOGRAPHY
I am a Living Example of More.
Don’t go it alone.
Mentor, a new 6-part study from Threads, examines the ins and outs of a mentor relationship. Drawing on years of personal experience, author Chuck Lawless addresses the essential components of having and being a mentor, as well as the common pitfalls these relationships face. Mentor is a perfect resource for small group Bible studies and an essential guide for those seeking to live life together. Mentor: How Along-the-Way Discipleship Will Change Your Life is now available at threadsmedia.com/ mentor, by calling 1.800.458.2772, and at the LifeWay Christian Store near you. range to bottom edge
range to bottom edge
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and worship leader TRAVIS COTTRELL Join Beth, Travis, and 250,000 women around the world from the comfort of your home or church for this live Internet streaming event. You get a front-row seat to one-of-a-kind Bible teaching and life-changing worship. It’s easy—all you need is an Internet connection. Hosting a simulcast isn’t much different than streaming your favorite TV show. So gather your girls and sign up! Register as an individual, small group, or church for a Saturday with Beth that will refresh and recharge you spiritually. Don’t miss this special event!
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