Fall 2015 by Champions Centre

FALL 2015

life

VISIT CHAMPIONSCENTRE.COM FOR MORE INFORMATION ON WEEKLY SERVICE TIMES AND OUR EVENT CALENDAR. BELLEVUE 425.289.1878 TACOMA 253.475.6454 FOLLOW US ON TWITTER, FACEBOOK & INSTAGRAM @KEVINGERALD @SHEILAGERALD @CHAMPIONSCENTRE

GOOD THINGS

"There's a huge difference in assuming God is good and seeing evidence of His goodness.

FEATURES

- KEVIN GERALD

6 STRESS: USING IT WITHOUT LOSING IT BY JODI CAMERON

STRESS USING IT WITHOUT LOSING IT

1 4 THE GROWTH MINDSET BY CHRIS DUNAYSKI 1 8 GOOD THINGS BY KEVIN GERALD

IN THE KNOW 9

Champions Foundation Update By Sheila Gerald

Department Spotlight By Steve Shackett

Good Things

Real Life Application From Jonathan Yadon

IN EVERY ISSUE FALL 2015

3 LET’S TALK 4 YOU TO US

life

ABOUT US Champion Life Magazine purposes to equip people to live successful Christian lives.

12 CHAMPION FINDS 22 REAL LIFE CHAMPIONS 24 K. WISE FALL / 15

E XE CU T IVE PU B LIS H E RS Kevin Gerald & Sheila Gerald

E DITO R-IN-CH IE F Jodi Cameron

S E NIOR P ROJE C T MANAGE R MARK E T ING DIRE C TOR ART DIRE C TOR CONT RIB U T ING E DITORS

Paula McFadden Jen Mueller

Dallas Drotz, Drotz Design

Judi Shackett, Susan Duplissey Wilson,

Paula McFadden, Yolanda Perry, Andy MacDonald CONT RIB U T ING P H OTOGRAP H Y

Scotty Augkhopinee, Andy Mueller,

Renee Biscarret, Ardorlit Photography CONT RIB U T ING GRAP H IC DE S IGN CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Kevin

Venessa Koehn, Mickey Elliott

Gerald, Sheila Gerald, Chris Dunayski,

Jodi Cameron, Jonathan Yadon, Paula McFadden, Melissa Segura, Andy Macdonald, Rebekah Mandt P RODU C E R

Champion Life Magazine is produced by Kevin Gerald

Communications (KGC). KGC is a department of Champions Centre in Tacoma | Bellevue, WA, a non-profit organization.

TO S U B S CRIB E championscentre.com/magazine Phone: (toll-free) 888.935.6914

TO S P ONS OR

If you are a business who would like to partner with

our magazine through distribution or sponsorship, please contact us at: 253.475.6454 x361.

QU E ST IONS / COMME NTS / IDE AS

Let us know. We welcome your

feedback. Please write us at: championlife@championscentre.com

MAIL Champion Life Editorial 1819 E. 72nd St. Tacoma, WA 98404

Produced by Champions Centre Publishing ÂŠ 2015. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without expressed written permission is prohibited and a violation of applicable laws. 2015 copyright. Printed by Cascade Print Media

let's talk

THERE'S A HUGE DIFFERENCE... ...in assuming God is present in your life and seeing the evidence that He’s present in your life. There’s also a huge difference in assuming God is good and seeing evidence of His goodness. What if you could train your eyes to see the good? What if we read verses like “I will remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord,” (Psalm. 27:13) and actually see His goodness? This past year, I have been investing a lot of my time into writing my first book in seven years. It was a daunting adventure in some ways and invigorating in others. It’s a topic that has been in my heart for several years now, but it has taken that long to marinate and develop. I know now that it was a topic that was birthed out of extreme brokenness met with God’s unending grace. I began the journey in writing a book about God’s favor—but I didn’t want it to be just another book on favor and blessing. I set out to create a broader stroke of God’s favor and goodness in our everyday existence. A big question that I hear a lot of people talk about today is, “If God is good, then why does bad stuff happen?” My hope is that in the months ahead we will instead of focusing on the “why” that we will eliminate the “if.” Yes, bad stuff happens, but God is still good no matter what. And, as we eliminate the “if ” from the equation, we’re able to see God’s goodness more clearly. Because of that, I decided to call the the book, Good Things: Seeing Your Life Through the Lens of God’s Favor. To help launch this project, we have made this issue of Champion Life Magazine all about Good Things. You will read articles from my daughter, Jodi, my good friend, Chris Dunayski, and myself as we continue to see the goodness of God in the middle of our circumstances. My wife, Sheila, and I encourage you to be a part of all the things ahead for small groups whether you attend Champions Centre or not, and I challenge you today to begin to see the good things in your life. I pray that you continue to be blessed.

P.S. Tell us your story at championlife@championscentre.com. FALL / 15

you to us

So excited for our little man. It's his first weekend moving up in elementary at church, and he is so excited to be with Pastor @nickdavila and so are we. Thanks for sowing into him and all of our kids and for planting the seeds in their hearts. And for our little man we can't wait for all he's going to experience in the upcoming years. #goodthings @stefmjames

I'm grateful that Champions Centre is in my world! Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m entering a new season this fall at Champion Centre College, and there's no doubt that God has put me where I am supposed to be. I'm excited to watch the journey unravel with #goodthings. @elainenabua

I love being in church. I'm constantly reminded that no matter what I'm going through, I can be excited for what is in store. #goodthings

@freshnclean

"Change your mind; Change your life." - Pastor @Ry_Cam. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s preaching #goodthings

@aprilswaine

Out for a walk, I saw that God's got his paintbrush out again tonight. #goodthings happen when you look up. @markrstewart

"Jesus was an includer. He drew a circle not a line" @KevinGerald. #goodthings

@FrankWashburn

You have a story, and we want to hear it! What is God doing in your life through the ministry of Champions Centre? PLEASE WRITE US AT: championlife@championscentre.com MAIL: Champion Life Editorial 1819 E. 72nd St. Tacoma, WA 98404

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LIBERTY OFFERING

UPDATE

EVERY YEAR OUR CHURCH FAMILY RALLIES TOGETHER TO GIVE OUR ONE TIME BEST OFFERING OF THE YEAR. IN 2015, WE RAISED FUNDS TO UPDATE OUR CAMPUSES AND GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY.

BECAUSE OF YOUR GIVING: 98 CLASSROOMS SET UP IN BELLEVUE FOR THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR. 1 KIDS’ PLAYZONE REDESIGNED.

496 PARKING STALLS PAINTED.

1 YOUTH AUDITORIUM UPDATED. 2 KIDS’ STAGES PAINTED. 1,980 SQ. FEET OF FLOORING INSTALLED. 57 TRUCK LOADS OF TRASH COLLECTED TO HELP CLEAN UP TACOMA.

BY JO D I CAM E R O N

THE WORD “STRESS” HAS GOTTEN A BAD RAP. People get stressed with school, work, and traffic. Some people—like myself—get stressed when it comes to laundry. Stress gets affiliated with growing older, money, time management, making decisions, and meeting new people—even the Christmas holiday gets labeled as stressful by some!

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The list can go on and on, and really, stress can come in a variety of forms depending on who you talk to. Stress is a reality . . . for everyone. But, it’s our perspective about stress, how we handle stress, that makes a difference whether we use it to our advantage or not. Think about it like this: stress is a feeling that is created when we react to particular events.

P HIL 4: 6 – 7 ( NIV)

STR E S S R E ALLY IS N ’T TH E EN EMY

and our goal can’t be to try and eliminate stress entirely. Trying to live a stress-free life can actually end up being stressful in itself! Instead, the “enemy” is our thoughts about stress. Feeling stressed can cause people to be “out of control” or led by their feelings whether it shows up as an outburst or completely shutting down, but our feelings don’t have to be in control of our lives. We can choose to be in control of our feelings. Sometimes, we just need to become more aware of where these feelings come from.

FEELINGS FOLLOW THOUGHTS We can manage our feelings (like feeling stress) by managing our thoughts. We start by taking back control of our thoughts, because our thoughts drive our feelings. When we change the direction of our thoughts, we determine what feeling follows. We don’t have to be controlled by anxiety, worry, anger, frustration, or other negative feelings. We can have feelings of hope, confidence, and peace based on the thoughts we choose to think—despite the circumstances. What I have learned is that it is so easy to fall into stress and let it dictate our lives. Although stressful events happens, they don’t have to overwhelm us. A couple years ago, I found myself on the edge of depression, and I wasn’t sure how I had arrived there. On the outside, I acted fine, but on the inside, I knew I had to do some serious overhauling. Ryan and I went to a week-long, in-depth counseling retreat center in Colorado with a counselor who specializes in working with church leaders, and he really helped us. It was there that I began to see my life from a refreshed perspective. Looking back, I can understand now that I took myself down a path to emptiness and depression from not handling stress appropriately. More often than not, stress is a feeling that begins on the inside of us in our hearts and in our heads. Then, it is perpetuated in our everyday lives as a harvest that we’re actually planting ourselves in our thought life, and over time, everything that is introduced into your life gets labeled as some sort of “stressor” more because of how we frame it. I had to choose to take back my thoughts. I had to start noticing the good all around me. I had to choose to see God at work in me and through me. I had to intentionally decide to trust God (not

“

Do not be anxious (can be a form of stress) about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

just on behalf of others which came more naturally to me but to trust him for myself too). Sometimes it’s still a challenge to make decisions like these on a daily basis. But, I know now that I was letting stress handle me instead of me handling it. I have found so much strength and hope in putting the word of God and His truth up against all the negative feelings I had allowed to dictate my thought process. God’s word helps us flip the cycle so that we take control of our thoughts and allow our thoughts to drive our feelings. 1 Thessalonians 3:7 says, “. . . For this reason, in [spite of all] our stress and crushing difficulties, we have been filled with comfort and cheer about you [because of] your faith (the leaning of your whole personality on God in complete trust and confidence).” This verse is telling us that despite the circumstances—we can be filled with feelings of peace and joy. Paul, the apostle, wrote these words in a letter to the Thessalonian people—he was dealing with persecution, people that were against him, and probably some internal feelings of stress. Paul is a prime example of how his reaction could have been different, but he chose to not let the stress of his situation keep him from still being joyful and full of peace.

MOST EXTERNAL STRESS BEGINS WITH INTERNAL STRESS. The reality is, most of our lives are lived with unknown issues inside that are creating issues outside that are completely

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1 T H ES SA LO N I A N S 3 :7 (A M P )

“

...For this reason, in [spite of all] our stress and crushing difficulties, we have been filled with comfort and cheer about you [because of] your faith (the leaning of your whole personality on God in complete trust and confidence).”

avoidable. When we raise our awareness of what is going on inside of us and learn that we can avoid the negative feelings of stress, our perspective changes. For me, when I remember to approach a stress-filled event with the right thought process, I can choose to remain positive and be at peace. It’s a completely different result from when I just allow the stress spill over into my thoughts and feelings of being overwhelmed take over. But let me be clear: the goal is not to have zero stress in our lives, because the reality is that there are things that stress brings out of us that won’t come from a stress free life. Imagine if we didn’t have school or exercise. Both require stress and both help in our own health and well-being. Chasing zero stress is stressful in itself, but instead, we must take steps to learn how to handle stress. Paul’s life story teaches us that we can be confident even in the midst of stress. We can have the peace of God that exceeds our understanding. We can guard ourselves from feeling overwhelmed by our surroundings. It takes intentional decisions. When Christ is at the center of our lives, everything changes. We may have every reason to lose it or stress out, but we must be confident in times of concern and uncertainty. That’s where the trusting God comes into play.

We can have the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding. We can find hope in the midst of hard times. We can find peace in our hearts even when there is chaos around us—because our God is a God of peace that transcends. He goes above our understanding. Sometimes in our lives, we do face the big stressors that dramatically change the course of our lives, but most of the time, we face daily stress. Some of us feel stressed when it’s actually a healthy process of being stretched. Instead of losing it to stress, let’s find ways to use it in our lives to shape us, form us, and make us better. Instead of focusing on stress in our thoughts and feelings, let’s redirect our focus: to the HOPE we have in Jesus, to the CONFIDENCE we can place in His word, in His promises, to the PURPOSE God has for the planet. Even though stress is a part of being human, that does not mean that we have to let it overwhelm our lives and our paths that God has us on. We can change our mindset and see that He is working it out in everything and everyone—including you and me.

JO D I CA M E R O N E XEC UTIVE DI R E C TO R O F M I N I ST R I E S , J O D I CA M E R O N , A N D H E R H U S BA N D RYA N AR E C H AMPI O N S CE N T R E BE LLE V U E CA M P U S PASTO R S . J O D I LI V E S H E R L IFE OUT LOUD. W I T H H E R E X P E R I E N CE S I N T H E AT H LE T I C WO R LD, A BA I N MA N AG E MEN T, A N D R A I S E D I N A H O U S E H O LD O F ST R O N G LE A D E R S H I P, JODI’ S PASSI ON IS TO I N S P I R E W H O LE N E S S I N E V E RYO N E S H E M E E TS .

CHAMPION LIFE MAGAZINE

CHAMPIONS FOUNDATION UPDATE BY SHEILA GERALD

“WHEN YOU ARE HARVESTING IN YOUR FIELD AND YOU OVERLOOK A SHEAF, DO NOT GO BACK TO GET IT. LEAVE IT FOR THE FATHERLESS, SO THAT THE LORD YOUR GOD MAY BLESS YOU IN ALL THE WORK OF YOUR HANDS.” –DEUTERONOMY 24:19 That verse is the driving force behind what we do at Champions Foundation. We believe that every single person deserves to have hope, and we provide hope by loving on the people of our community. We need to ask ourselves, what are we doing today that is going to help those in need? At the beginning of this year, my daughter, Jodi, and I found out that Washington State has one of the worst foster care systems in the United States in terms of abused and neglected children.

Champions Foundation a dollar for every pound of clothing that was donated. We also played a short documentary titled Removed that highlighted the conditions children are going through today. It’s powerful and moving story showing a young girl taken from her home and placed in foster care and gives a small glimpse into her life as a foster child. I was so moved by this film that I knew that something needed to help these young boys and girls. I get emotional every time I think about children in harmful situations being taken from their homes with their things in a black trash bags thinking that is all that they are worth, but we know they are worth way more than that. Together . . . let’s learn how to give hope and a voice to those that cannot speak up for themselves. We can provide that glimmer of hope that good things will begin to happen in their lives because of people like you and me who give of their time and finances to make a difference in the world. Join us in this Foster Care Initiative. For more information on how you can help, visit championsfoundation.org.

To help raise awareness, we had a clothing drive for several weeks around when we had our Oxygen women’s conference. We partnered with a local clothing drive that gave

S HEI LA GER AL D SHEILA AND HER HUSBAND KEVIN GERALD PASTOR CHAMPIONS CENTRE. HER MISSION IS TO ILLUMINATE AND IGNITE PURPOSE IN THE LIVES OF OTHERS, AND HER PASSION IS HELP OTHERS THROUGH THE LOCAL CHURCH AND CHAMPIONS FOUNDATION.

CHAMPIONS FOUNDATION IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION Our mission is to inspire faith, hope, compassion, and education through collaborative partnerships in our community and worldwide. Web championsfoundation.com Email getinvolved@championsfoundation.com Phone 253.475.6454 Ext. 108

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Good Things ahead in2016

A R E L AT I O N S H I P CONFERENCE FOR EVERYONE FEB 17-18 SPEAKERS LEVI AND JENNIE LUSKO

M AY 1 2 – 1 3 SPEAKER B I A N C A O LT H O F F

16 O N WA R D AUG 1–3 SPEAKERS CRAIG GROESCHEL STEVEN FURTICK

championscentre.org/conferences

champion finds

Good Things Small Group DVD Study In this five-session, video based small group guide, Kevin Gerald invites you on a journey of seeing your life through the lens of God’s goodness and favor. Through this experience, you will take a fresh look around you with eyes that cut through the daily distortions to see the undeniable and extravagant goodness of God. Kevin will equip you or your group to: 1. Discover that the goodness of God exceeds the pain of life’s hardships. 2. Know how to keep your mind on God’s favor, not on your failure. 3. Recognize the grace and favor are so intertwined you can’t separate them. 4. See what you are certain to overlook until your eyes are trained to see it.

Become a Good Finder to get exclusive access and free stuff. Learn more at GoodThingsBook.com.

LOCAL 253.475.6454 ext. 361

TOLL FREE 888.935.6914

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ONLINE kevingerald.tv

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Praise for Good Things

“ “

With humor and truth, Kevin Gerald gives us the binoculars to see the limitless landscape of God’s favor in a new and fresh way.” —MARK BATTERSON, New York Times bestselling author of The Circle Maker

Good Things will train your eyes to see God, his goodness, and his favor upon you in every situation you find yourself in and will dramatically change your life. I so appreciate Kevin’s solid approach and his uplifting voice.” —LYSA TERKEURST, New York Times bestselling author and president of Proverbs 31 Ministries

“

Seeing God’s favor in your life can sometimes be difficult, especially if you are facing challenges, insecurities, or fears. Sometimes all it takes is a change in perspective. Good Things explains what God’s favor is all about and how we can see it everywhere if we just look for it.” —CRAIG GROESCHEL, senior pastor of LifeChurch.tv and author of #Struggles: Following Jesus in a Selfie-Centered World

RESOURCE YOURSELF AT KEVINGERALD.TV Go online to find a wealth of resources, including free videos from Kevin Gerald and MP3s of messages.

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BY CHRIS DUNAYSKI

O GROUP, NO GROW: that is the

idea behind why being in a small group is so important. We believe the benefits of being in a small group offer both the ability to build community and to experience personal transformation. Small groups give people a place and a space to grow not only in their relationships but also within themselves. Basically, I’m passionate about this because I believe that life change happens in small groups, and they make church personal.

“

CHURCH ISN’T JUST A PLACE TO ATTEND, IT’S A COMMUNITY TO BELONG TO.”

I recently heard a story of a man who attends a Bible study on Friday nights at our Tacoma campus. When he first started coming to Champions Centre, he had no intention of getting involved. He just wanted to get what he needed each weekend and leave, but when someone asked him to be a part of their small group, he decided to step outside of his comfort zone. Through his experience, he realized that there is something more that happens when he opens himself up to the possibility of community. He began to feel more confident and now serves on teams, and because of small groups, he no longer is limited in his thinking about what church is. Another story comes from our Bellevue campus where a couple who never saw themselves as “church-goers” are now hosting a small group and encouraging others in their faith. Stories like these inspire me—and I hope will inspire you—to keep moving forward by encouraging

CHAMPION LIFE MAGAZINE

people to host or attend their own groups. One of the things I’ve learned from being at Champions Centre the last 23 years is that church isn’t just a place to attend, it’s a community to belong to. And, I think small groups provide healthy community both inside and outside the walls of church.

Besides growing in community, having a growth mindset begins with being willing to constantly renew our minds. When we look at verses like Romans 12:2 that says, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will,” we can see the importance of renewing our minds, but how do we actually do that? We renew our minds by being in community, by hearing the word of God, and talking through our struggles, our victories, and our questions. We are surrounded by the patterns of this world daily. We experience what the world says success is and become blind to what God is wanting to do in our lives.

WAYS TO GROW: 1) PARTICIPATE IN SMALL GROUPS. 2) READ THE BIBLE. 3) BE IN COMMUNITY WITH PEOPLE ON THE SAME PATH OF GROWTH. 4) FIND ACCOUNTABILITY.

needed. She offered to make meals for her and drive her to doctor appointments. It was through this experience that this young woman realized the importance of community—one that truly believes in doing life with each other through both the good and the bad. Now, she attends her small group every week and has become that same support for others. Her growth is shown in her willingness to move past what she has been through and still recognize God and His goodness. Now, she encourages others to see the good things happening all around them. Her story along with so many others remind us that when we choose to participate and cultivate a growth mindset, there is no limit to what God can do through us.

5) BE A LEARNER NOT A KNOWER. That’s why small group life is so vital, because it helps us see things that we have been blind to. Our mission is to equip people to live successful Christian lives. There are certain things we need to know and certain things we need to grow, and a small group environment provides the atmosphere for us to go deeper into a subject. Then the people in the group can provide the support and accountability to apply it. This fall around Champions Centre, we're jumping into a topic as a church by our lead pastor, Kevin Gerald, called "Good Things.” In our small groups from this topic, we're going to focus on the question: "Do you believe that God is good no matter what?" This means that in groups people will be able to share the struggles they have gone through when they experienced difficult times, yet still know and believe in the goodness of God. It provides an opportunity for group members to share with one another and sharpen each other’s perspectives on who God really is. There is a young woman who is a part of the young adult small group on Sunday nights in Tacoma. She has been a part of this church her entire life, serving in the kids’ ministry, but she never got connected beyond that. However, last year, everything changed for her. She underwent some health issues that almost took her life. Even though she wasn’t in a small group yet, her volunteer lead gave her the community she desperately

GROWTH IN COMMUNITY: OCT. 17–NOV. 19 | SMALL GROUP OPTIONS: Off-campus groups Host one yourself or find a friend already hosting On campus options Wednesdays in Bellevue @7pm Thursdays in Tacoma @7pm Get more information at championscentre.com/clg. CHRIS IS A MOTIVATING AND COMPELLING LEADER WITH A GREAT LOVE FOR THE CHURCH! HIS MISSION IS TO HONOR GOD WITH HIS THOUGHTS, WORDS, AND ACTIONS, AND INSPIRE OTHERS DO THE SAME, AND HE IS CURRENTLY THE DIRECTOR OF CHAMPION LIFE GROUPS HERE AT CHAMPIONS CENTRE.

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FACILITIES TEAM BY STEVE SHACKETT

n e o f t h e m o s t r e m a r k a b l e t h i n g s about walking into our buildings in both Bellevue and Tacoma is knowing how much effort goes into making it look and feel the way that it does. Work that is done completely behind the scenes at all hours of the day and night, there are people who devote their time and their talents to making this place a place people love to be.

Now, all of our teams do this, but I am specifically referencing our Facilities Team who from cleaning, organizing, building, and creating, they do so much. Almost everything you see from the parking lot to the lobby to the main auditorium to the kids’ classrooms has been created or maintained by our Facilities Team. Many might have already seen the Scrooge the Musical set before, which was designed and built by them, and if you haven’t, I encourage you to come experience it this Christmas season. The team replicates old London Town using all kinds of equipment and techniques taking several weeks and months to pull everything together. They’ve also replicated the Space Needle. They’ve built bridges, trees, and huge tables. They’ve torn down walls and waxed f loors. They installed lights, painted walls, built wood cabins, huge wooden American f lags, and every new design element you see on stage.

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A MIRACLE IN LONDON TOWN I m ag e s o n t h e s e pag e s show the work of our Fa c i l i t i e s T e a m

Nothing seems too impossible for them to accomplish, and we are very lucky to have them on our team. I’ve been a part of this church since it first began. I’ve witnessed the fountain in the lobby and the blue carpets in the auditorium, and I’ve seen this building become what it is today: a building that is full of life and vibrance that people enjoy spending their time together. There is nothing quite like walking in the building and seeing the incredible talent and hard work of all our teams.

Steve Shackett is the Director of Operations at Champions Centre. He oversees the management of everything from the facilities to finances.

THIS DECEMBER Get your tickets online. championscentre.com/scrooge Tacoma, WA

Good Things by Kevin Gerald

I wear glasses, and it’s not because I have terrible sight. I can somewhat see without them, but when I put my glasses on, everything comes into focus. All the little blurry details sharpen, and I become more confident in where I am going.

hat I want to stress here is that I don’t have to put on the glasses, but by doing so, it changes the way that I see for the better.

A lot of times our vision of who God is gets blurred by the negative circumstances of our lives. We put God’s goodness on trial and decide that the existence of hard times means God is not good. But, James 1:17 says, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” What this tells us is that everything good comes from God. That promotion, the parking space up front, the restored relationship with your family are all a result of His goodness, and the wonderful thing is the second part of that verse where it says: He doesn’t change.

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Good Things

Despite what we may go through, who God is never changes. His promises are the same every morning even when it feels like our world is caving in. Let me be clear. I’m not negating the fact that we live in a world that has struggles or hard times, but what I am saying is that we can still know that we have a God that loves us without fail. He is still the same one that sent Himself to die in order for us to have an opportunity at eternal life with Him. But often, we allow the question “If God is so good, then why __________________?” become the main focus of our minds. That blank can be filled in with an almost infinite list of tragic, heart-breaking events of life in a broken world. My goal here is not to answer the “why” but to eliminate the “if.”

“

When you eliminate the “if,” God’s goodness is no longer on trial. The evidence of blessings and favor becomes so obvious that a verdict is handed down. A decision is made. The conclusion is clear: God is good!

Philosophers and theologians refer to their conclusions on this topic with a complicated sounding word: theodicy, which is the name given to the study of how God’s goodness exists alongside the pain, suffering, injustice, and inequality of life. Life is hard; God is good. The apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 4:8 that we should keep our minds on the right things. I call it the “P4-8 principle,” as a way of reminding myself to focus on the right things. There’s a huge difference in assuming God is present in your life and seeing the evidence that He’s present in your life. There's also a huge difference in assuming God is good and seeing evidence of His goodness. What if you could train your eyes to see the good?

everywhere. If you are anger-minded, you will have reasons to be angry when nobody else sees a reason to be angry. If you are poverty-minded, you will always see yourself as lacking and poor. When you are favor-minded, you will find more favor. Being favor-minded won’t remove the daily challenges, but it will point you towards favor and more favor. His favor on us is unearned. It’s the outworking of His grace. Its origin is in the same grace by which we receive salvation. Which means favor, like salvation, is undeserved and is something to be received not negotiated or bartered for.

Nothing increases favor in our lives like thinking favor and expecting favor.” It’s based purely on relationship and identity with God. Much like parental favor, God’s favor is natural and relational. You can be aware of problems—but think favor! Just like a good book is made up of many chapters, so a good life has many chapters. Some people make the mistake of turning a chapter of their life into the story of their life. Between the plot being formed and your response to it, you have a chance to frame every situation into a perspective. You get an opportunity to decide how you’re going to see it. What some see as the end, others see as a chance to begin again. Stay creative and confident in today’s supply of fresh favor. One of the biggest mistakes we can make is to get sentimentally attached to a past season of God’s favor versus moving forward to experience a new season of His favor.

I’m not saying to proclaim God’s goodness with the idea that we won’t have disappointments or experience struggles in our lives. We proclaim God’s goodness in the midst of our disappointments and struggles in life.

When God asks us to do something out of the ordinary, it is because He wants to do something out of the ordinary for us! A slight shift in our attitudes, routines, perspective, hearts, and choices can be the “internal shift” that positions us to experience a holy shift in our lives.

Nothing increases favor in our lives like thinking favor and expecting favor. If you are trouble-minded, you will find trouble

A shift may not be about doing something different but about doing the same thing in a different way. A shift in even just our

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Good Things

words can make a huge difference in our lives. It might seem like a small thing, but the right words create a shift in us and open us up to experience all that God has for us. But, the greatest expression we may have available to us now is to “pay it forward” by passing on kindness to another person. This is exactly the state of mind David was in as he remembered his friend Jonathan, the son of the previous King Saul. David was on a mission that no one in the palace could fully understand or comprehend. To him, kindness meant much more than a small act. It was a complete game-changing, life-altering demonstration of favor that would impact Mephibosheth’s life continually from that day forward. We were born as part of God’s family but were crippled by sin— marginalized, disenfranchised, and excluded. Our story is the story of fallen humanity. Because of a covenant our Father made on our behalf, we have received unconditional, unmerited,

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Train your mind to see the good and everything else will flow from just knowing that.”

your own disappointment in yourself, or from others, or from the enemy himself. God’s voice offers affirmation and approval. God wants you to know that even though some things in your life look like an unfinished work of art, the artist is still at work! He’s still doing His creative and brilliant work in your life and in your family’s life. There are two kinds of unfinished works of God: First, there’s the work He’s doing in you. Then, there’s the work He’s doing through you. Don’t be discouraged by the way something looks right now. When something’s half finished, it lacks the clarity of a complete work. My prayer for you is that you’re fully convinced that God’s favor is for you. Don’t waste a prayer trying to convince God to give you His favor! Know that He’s already committed to supply you with a lifetime of favor and thank Him for it! Don’t let what you may be going through keep you from experiencing all the goodness of God. Keep on moving forward with your eyes fixed on His truth. Train your mind to see the good and everything else will flow from just knowing that. What I don’t want you to settle where you are. God has so much more in store. Pick up your favor-minded glasses and start seeing the good.

unsolicited, and unending favor. Our story is not just one of mercy. Our story is a story of God’s extravagant favor. When you’re seeking approval, you’re operating with the premise that you don’t have it. But that’s just the opposite of what God wants you to think about His approval! It’s time to give up that premise and stand on His promise. Don’t let yourself get down when you have failed to perform like you want to. If you hear words of condemnation, those words are not coming from God. Condemnation comes from

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My hope is that you feel encouraged and inspired by this article and take the opportunity to learn more about seeing the Good Things in your life. Start a small group. Read the book, and your life will forever be changed for the better.

KEVIN GERALD

Known for a ministry that imparts practical, Biblical principles that equip people to live successful Christian lives, Kevin and Sheila Gerald are the Founders and Lead Pastors of Champions Centre (Tacoma and Bellevue, Washington), one of the largest congregations in the Pacific Northwest. In leadership and life, Pastor Kevin purposes to locate and communicate wisdom, and those who know him value him for his relevant, practical approach to ministry.

REAL LIFE APPLICATION [ g ood t h ings ]

am 25 years old I have grown up in church, which means I am a born on a pew kind of church kid. I love Jesus. I love church, and I am growing in my faith and learning how to be a better leader. As the youth pastor here, I feel very blessed that I get to what I get to do every day. One of the things that my parents made sure to teach me from a very early age was the principle of tithing, and I cannot thank them enough for that. Now, I am experiencing what happens when consistent tithing is a priority. A few years back, I got a phone call on a Tuesday night. It was one of my good friends asking if I wanted to go snowboarding, so we loaded up the car and headed out that next morning. What you may not know about me is that I have a tendency to try new things. So, there I was rolling down the hill at a pretty fast pace, and I decided to do a half pipe. I was in the middle of the backflip, and I was going for it when I landed on my head. I ended up being taken to the emergency room. Doctors were telling me that I had abnormal brain activity and that some wires were crossed from the impact. They kept saying that things were not looking good and that nothing was going right for my head injury. Something was going on in my brain with all the signs saying that it was pretty bad. But, my family and I never accepted what the doctors were saying. We continued to pray and believe. We knew that we have a Doctor that far exceeds their knowledge and understanding. Today, I am healthy and strong with a brain that works most the time as far as I know, and I have never been back to that doctor. What I have learned is that it is okay to hear what the doctors of our lives are saying but choose not to accept it.

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Whatever it looks like for you, a teacher might be saying that your son or daughter has an attention problem. Your boss might be saying that the company is going to be making some budget cuts soon. Your parents might be talking to divorce lawyers. It may feel like everything is falling apart, but we also know that despite all the negative circumstances of our lives, we also know that God is good. His doctor report tells us: BY JONATHAN YADON We are forgiven. We are blessed. We are set free. He will provide all our needs. He is our Healer. He is with us. He will not forsake us. He is our protector.

Jonathan is a pastor on the Students' Team at Champions Centre. He brings life as he builds relationships and helps lead the younger generations. His love for God and for people drives his passion for being a part of building God's church.

He will direct our steps.

His truth brought me out of some of the darkest parts of my life. What I know is that it took choosing to see the good despite what i was going through. It took remaining faithful in serving and in tithing, and by staying consistent in those things, it has made seeing God’s goodness that much easier.

His truth brought me out of some of the darkest parts of my life. ”

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melissa segura

REAL LIFE my life at the age of 21 during the most difficult season of my life wasn’t an overnight-quick-fix, but that one day experience made a huge impact on my heart and changed the course of my life forever. Being a part of a volunteer team helped me to learn accountability, service, compassion, and grace, and I started to see the purpose God planned for my life. The beauty of serving on a team is seeing what happens when you have the willingness to grow and learn through loving God and loving people. I remember when my younger brother had been in a longboarding accident involving a car that left him in a coma for multiple weeks and life-altering brain damage. My family and I didn’t leave his side or the hospital through that traumatic time.

THE START OF MY ADULT LIFE WAS VERY SELF-SERVING. I was the main focus wherever i went and

not for the best of reasons, making sure to shine that negative spotlight even brighter. I was what you would call a “mean” girl who did what I wanted, when I wanted to.

My aunt and uncle had to practically drag me through the doors of Champions Centre when I went for the first time a few years ago. Despite where I was at in my life, I remember feeling included even though nobody knew my name.

Because of all this, I found out that Champions Centre has volunteers that serve at TreeHouse , which offers family housing to immediate family members of patients who need a place to stay to be close to the hospital.

This community captured my heart moments after walking into the doors of Champions Centre. I knew I needed to be here, and I began to feel this incredible shift inside of who I was. I immediately got plugged into volunteering thanks to my aunt and uncle as they have always seen my potential and not my past.

Now I get to serve meals to families every Friday night at TreeHouse, and it is there that I began to believe and belong to a community like none I’ve experienced before: selfless and serving others.

There hasn't been a day where I have regretted that decision—the decision of just saying yes. I knew my life was full of lost hope, and I was tired of trying to do it all on my own and completely the wrong way. Don’t get me wrong. Accepting Christ into 22

“There hasn't been a day where I have regretted that decision—the decision of just saying yes.”

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Knowing a glimmer of what families at the hospital are going through, I see the power

CHAMPIONS that comes from showing compassion, offering companionship, and having hope-filled conversations that show that we care. It can lift their spirits in the traumatic season they may be in. Being apart of the team now and serving on Fridays has literally changed my life. God is so into the details of our lives, placing opportunities to serve and love others just as God loves us right before our eyes. I learned very quickly that the inconveniences in life, the happenings in my every day to-dos that weren’t planned or in my schedule were the moments that God used the most to communicate something to me I needed to hear, see, and learn from to remind me of His love for me, you, and all of us.

many times, time and time again. There is a saying that most people know, “The good things in life are free.” How amazing is it that we can say that saying is true because our God that gave His life for us to be free. Before coming to Champions Centre and volunteering, I didn’t understand the power of one. How one smile can change someone’s day, one handshake or hug can lift up someone’s mood, one sentence of encouragement can bring hope to someone’s life, and how one moment with God can change someone’s life. The power of one was in me, the entire time. I just had to let God into my life for me to be able to see Him in every detail of my life. I had to finally stop self-serving and serve others. We all have the power to serve wholeheartedly right where we are using what we have. Love is what love does. We love by serving others.

The moments I’ve had in the community through volunteering are forever etched on my heart. The more I make myself available to serve God through different outreaches, the more good things happen in my life. God shows Himself true in so many ways, so

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BY KEVIN GERALD

I FIND TECHNOLOGY COMPLETELY FASCINATING even though I struggle with it from time to time. Today, we have so many advancements that help us manage our lives much more efficiently. Apps on our phones allow us to monitor calories giving us the ability to manage our diets. Digital calendars can give us constant reminders of events and meetings, which manages our time. GPS systems in our cars take us on the best route possible, managing our routes from place to place. The list can go on and on. But what about our minds? What app can we purchase that allows us to manage the thoughts that come in and f low out of our minds? Well, it may not be digital, it may not be on your phone, or in your computer. But the greatest app of all was sent down to earth a little over 2000 years ago. It’s your direct relationship with Jesus, is the fastest link to mind management that you can get, and it is free of charge!

...YOUR DIRECT RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS, IS THE FASTEST LINK TO MIND MANAGEMENT THAT YOU CAN GET... But, it takes a little work. I like to say that we need to pray as if it is up to Jesus, and work as if it is up to us. So essentially we must become the app, meaning we have to apply ourselves and use the word of God to help manage our minds. A few years ago, I developed an acronym of F.A.I.T.H. that can help all of us manage our minds and have victory in our

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day to day, week to week, month to month, and year to year lives. Here is how to use your F.A.I.T.H., to manage your mind:

FOCUS ON THE POSITIVE.

Get into God’s word and know His promises. Then, our thoughts become easier to manage when we align them to His word.

AFFIRM YOURSELF.

This takes knowing who we are in God taking steps to affirm the plan God has for our lives.

IMAGINE GOD DOING SOMETHING GOOD.

We must choose to recognize God's goodness above everything else and believe that it is at work in our situation.

TRUST GOD IN ALL THINGS.

Don’t let our fears keep us from a lifetime of honoring God by knowing that He is sufficient.

HOPE FOR THE BEST.

Stand up to that voice that throws water on every spark of hope that comes into our minds.

These are just a few ways that I have seen help myself and others control the negative thoughts that can sometimes invade our minds. The reality is technology can’t replace the word of God unless it’s the Bible app. Put the word of God on your heart, stand strong in and on His promises, and always exercise your F.A.I.T.H. without hesitation.

g n i h t d o every go y r e v e d n given a m o r f s i t f i g t c e perf n w o d g n i m o c , e v abo . . . r e h t a F e h t m fro 17 james 1:

COMING OCTOBER 2015... Kevin Gerald has a new book releasing this fall—if you would like to be a part of our Good Finders Team for this book visit our website at GoodThingsBook.com for more information and to sign up. Being a part of our Good Finders Team means you get free stuff, exclusive access to book related materials before anyone else, and you get to be a part of getting the word out about this life changing message. #GoodThings

“I believe that Good Things will help you see the favor of God with fresh eyes and a more open heart” —Pastor Joel Osteen, Lakewood Church, Author of The Power of I Am

GoodThingsBook.com #GoodThings