Gentleman's Purpose eMagazine - April 2022

Fast Forward, Pg. 10

The Dancing

Avocado

Kitchen Page 38

Table It, Pg. 18 The Balance of Value, Pg. 30

April 2022

Gentleman’s Purpose Articles

eMagazine Publisher General Media Consulting Co. Editor in Chief J.N.Gaynor General Media Consulting Co. 3961 Langford Rd. New Smyrna Beach, FL 32168 1-800-484-9825

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FAITH

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Fast Forward Written by Justin Gaynor

Sometimes the things we do, if we do them with the right heart and mind motivations, have deep implications in the spirit. Not just in our personal spirit, but in the collective spiritual realm. Fasting is one of those activities, or so I am learning. I am not sure why it is that when we deny ourselves of certain things our ‘voice’ becomes louder, much less that when I choose not to eat, some strange butterfly effect happens that somewhere, somehow, some poor soul that would not have had a meal, has one. It is as if God, in His sovereignty, is maintaining a balance in the cosmos, and when we choose to intentionally partner with Him in the healing of the world, the small meal that we give over to Him in faith, somehow gets multiplied to the benefit of many…and there is still more than enough for me. It is a very strange dynamic to be sure. However, that is how it seems to work.

It took me a while to figure this out though. I had been a Christian for years without ever fasting. One of my counselors told me that, as a married man, whenever he would get a ‘wandering eye’, he would fast a few days to help discipline his physical body with its needs and desires, bringing it into submission to the Spirit. Fasting is good for that sort of thing as well. Saint Francis of Assisi famously referred to his physical body as “Brother Donkey”. It was always actin’ a fool and trying to reclaim the driver’s seat. As Messiah-people, or Christians, we are not to be directed by our physical needs and desires, or even our own best thinking. We are not to be either carnal or soulish. Rather, we have become “pneumatikoi”, people who have freely received the Spirit of the Son, Jesus, to sit in the driver’s seat.

Easing into fasting as a spiritual exercise is a good thing. I started fasting twice a week, on Wednesdays and Fridays. I chose those days because the earliest Christian document we have regarding specifics like this in the life of the Church, the Teaching of the Twelve, or Didache, gives that instruction.

1-Day Fast – A one day fast is pretty easy. Once you have an early dinner on Tuesday night, just drink water for 24 hours, and then celebrate with a meal. I would stop into PA BBQ after church on Wednesday nights to break the fast and rejoice with some ribs, chicken and a glass of Cabernet. You may also choose to give the money you would have spent on food that day to a local food bank or put it in your family Tzedakah box for use towards some other charity.

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3-Day Fast – After getting into a rhythm of fasting on Wednesday’s and Friday’s, I got to the point where I wanted to go for the 3-day fast. The first time I engaged in this practice, it was a lot more difficult. The first day was ok, but when the celebratory meal was not there after Wednesday night worship service, I began to get quite hungry. However, more time in prayer, drinking more water, and focusing on Bible reading and meditation helped me press through the difficult part. Once I was well into Thursday evening, the third day was a piece of cake, the cravings disappeared and even when I broke the fast on Shabbos, I wasn’t devouring everything on the menu. It was exciting, but something happened where my physical body was learning to be under the control of the Spirit without throwing a fit.

The Daniel Fast – Ever have “strong-fellowship” with your wife? We were not getting along very well at all. We had been seeing marriage counselors and all sorts of things. A friend of ours had read Susan Gregory’s book, “The Daniel Fast” and recommended it as a good spiritual exercise. So, we agreed together to go full vegan, eating only unprocessed foods that come from seed - raw fruits and vegetables. No adult beverages, oil, or sweets…and we exchanged our times of marital intimacy for more time in prayer and conversations with each other. This fast was for a limited time, 21 days. In the preceding decade or so leading up to this the only time we had gone without sex for more than a week was after our children were born, so this was a pretty huge step for both of us in breaking free from lust.

The Lenten Fast – Part of the reason fasting was such a novelty to me was that the Christian tradition that I had grown up in did not have a regular practice of fasting. It wasn’t until years after doing “The Daniel Fast” with my wife that I found myself worshipping in a liturgical church in North Carolina. The Lutheran Church engages in the season of Lent. Something that Baptists and Non-Denominational church’s typically do not openly do. This was a period of 46 days, essentially doing “The Daniel Fast”, except on Sunday’s where everything is fair game since we are celebrating the Resurrection and the renewal of all things. Of course, since my time with the Lutherans, I have worshipped with other liturgical congregations who have each had a slightly different approach to Lenten fasting. Things like the fact that fish, or any other cold-blooded animal is not actually considered “meat”. Also, unlike “The Daniel Fast”, beer and wine are typically staples of all meals.

Whatever fasting you choose to engage in, the most important thing is to keep front and center the type of fasting that is actually acceptable to God. That is why I strongly recommend that any time you fast, you should spend time meditating on the portion of the book of Isaiah that discusses the fast that is not acceptable to God, and the kind of fasting that pleases Him.

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Relationships

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Table It

Written by Justin Gaynor Getting along with people can be a challenge. Many times, looking for and focusing on common ground is the best way to begin a relationship. However, at some point, if you want to grow together, picking up those issues and problems that create disunity and looking at them together constructively will be necessary. It is certainly possible to go your entire life loving someone and yet having areas of significant disagreement. The truth is; however, that the more of those areas of significant disagreement that you come to the same mind on, the stronger your relationship will be, and the greater blessing you will both experience.

So, what is the best way to engage in these conversations? Well, it certainly depends on the overall dynamics of the relationship.

The stronger the areas of common interest and worldview, the more likely we are to want to grow together with the other person. This puts us in a position where we will want to avoid “agreeing to disagree” and simply letting a particular area of disunity fester under the surface. It’s like having a spot of cancer that you are aware of, but simply choose to ignore. It is better to look for the best way forward.

Consider how the Apostle Paul handles the disagreement between two Christians about whether or not eating meat is something a Disciple should do or not. Rather than declaring “we must all be vegans!” or “we must all eat meat!”, he told us that all things are permissible, people that feel they honor the Lord by abstaining from eating meat, honor the Lord. People that feel they honor the Lord by enjoying all things with thanksgiving, honor the Lord.

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What we should not do, is to try and force our preferences on others when the Kingdom of Heaven has nothing to do with what we eat or drink, but it is about joy and peace in the Holy Spirit. If you are not able to sit at table with someone eating a steak, because your conscience won’t allow you to eat steak, that is your problem, not theirs. If you have an unholy desire to force your weakness of faith on the one who is free to eat anything, then that also is your problem.

However, a free man or woman may choose to abstain from eating meat at table with you from a heart of love, realizing your immaturity in the faith. This should only be a short-term solution though. You should grow to a point of celebrating our individual uniqueness and our freedoms within the overall unity of the body.

Accusing your Brother or Sister of not being “loving” enough because they won’t forever bow to the weakness and preference of some, was never Paul’s intention.

So don’t be afraid to table certain matters from time to time, revisiting them in seasons that seem appropriate, for the sake of stronger, more fruitful relationships that are rooted in grace and truth, rather than control and manipulation.

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Justin Gaynor, REALTOR®, 3510 S. Nova Rd., Ste. 112, Port Orange, FL 32129 - 561-876-9728 (Mobile)

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Style

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“Eye see!”, said the Blind Man Written by Justin Gaynor

When it comes to style, accessories can change the entire look.

This month I want to look at eyewear. Gentleman’s Purpose eMagazine is based out of Florida and we spend a lot of time outdoors here in the Sunshine State. Eyewear not only accentuates your style, but it also serves to protect your eyes from wind, sand, UV rays, and a lot more besides. I think we can all agree that taking good care of our eyes is an important thing.

So, let’s look at a variety of shades that are on the market for this spring and summer!

Clears Reading glasses and how they are viewed in public opinion have changed a lot. Far from being teased with names like “Four-eyes” or “dork”, people that don’t even need prescription glasses are buying “clears” just for the look. It seems that somewhere along the way people realized that “dorks” and “nerds” are pretty good at innovation, as well as making and retaining wealth. Geeks became real cool, real quick when that epiphany occured. Clears are also very useful to the motorcycling community when riding at night.

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Here in Florida, you aren’t required to wear a helmet when riding your motorcycle, but you had better have your glasses on or you could get ticketed. “Motorcyclists must always wear eye-protective devices, like goggles, that are approved by the Department of Transportation (DOT) when riding in Florida. This is so bikers can see clearly and comfortably at speeds, and to prevent bugs and dust from flying into your eyes or obstructing your line of sight.”

Aviators The classic aviator style sunglasses brought to the forefront of style by movies like “Top Gun” with Tom Cruise and are kept fresh and on the cutting edge of style by men like Brad Pitt, and of course, my college RA, Lake Hamilton, who could rarely be found without a cup of coffee in his hand and a pair of aviators on. The size of the lens offers great protection for your eyes and they are available in a variety of lens colors, and their frames are also available in different types of metal finishes, with slight variation in the construct of the frames.

Oakley Razor Blades Oakley produces a vast array of sunglass styles and they are one of the highest quality and most sought after brands. However, when I think of Oakley, I think of the classic Oakley Blades and Razor Blades. I remember as a kid, how all the “cool kids” had them. You could mix and match the lenses and frames, the nose pieces and so forth. In the 1980s, and early 1990s, the wild color variety was the popular thing. Today, that vintage 80s style is embraced in certain circles and offers a loud declaration of personal style without saying a word.

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Ray-Ban Clubmaster Classic Another leader in the eyewear industry, Ray-Ban, offers their popular Clubmaster Classic sunglasses. The Clubmaster’s offer a far more refined and sophisticated style than either the Aviators or the Razor Blades. This style is often enjoyed amongst the yachting community, golfing community, polo enthusiasts, as well as classier socialite situations.

Ray-Ban Wayfarer Classic Another timeless classic from Ray-Ban, and one of my personal favorites is the Wayfarer Classic. Made utterly infamous by Jake and Ellwood in the movie Blues Brothers, these shades have defined an entire genre of music since. Easily going with the most casual attire to a black-tie affair. Every gentleman ought to have a pair of these, and they will likely be your ‘go to’ selection for most days.

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Business

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The Balance of Value Written by Justin Gaynor

Gentleman’s Purpose eMagazine is a production of General Media Consulting Co. where we help entrepreneurs build strong, fruitful businesses. My personal work with small business owners in a consulting capacity led me to obtain both Florida licensure and experience in real estate. Recently, we have seen average 30 year mortgage interest rates rise comfortably over 5%. Historically, still very low, but more than double what they were at recent lows. This creates a battle for dollars with regard to purchasing power and who is going to get the lion’s share of the financial benefit, the banks on the interest rate side, or the homeowners on their market value.

If a home buyer has a budget of $1600 per month for their mortgage, that’s roughly a $300,000 home at the current 30-year average rate.

With rates at their recent lows, you could have afforded a $405,000 home for the same $1600 per month. So, one of two things will happen, either the value from low interest rates will evaporate and the market value of homes will remain high, or market values will decline to make up for the additional interest expenses. There are some pretty heavy factors that favor the first scenario, with market values actually continuing to increase until the market can’t bear it any more. Inflation has skyrocketed meaning that the actual dollar cost of building materials is higher than ever and builders are having to adjust wages to account not only for higher minimum wage requirements, but also COLA (Cost of Living Adjustments). For this reason, renovating existing homes and building new homes is getting more expensive, causing homeowners to sit tight, even though the market value of their homes are higher than ever. This reality is working to keep inventory levels in the housing market very low, and with supply and demand working the way it does, prices don’t look like they are going to be pulling back too drastically any time soon. Quite the opposite, if all things stay the same, we could continue to see costs involved with homeownership rise.

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A quick aside on the COLA thing with regard to your employment situation. Most reputable companies, like some that I’ve worked for in the past, usually offer employees annual merit increases depending on individual and company performance, as well as reasonable forecasts for the upcoming year. They also offer a COLA (Cost of Living Adjustment) annually.

So, they would look at, let’s say, a basket of groceries at the beginning of the year that cost $175. The next year, they would look at the same basket of groceries and if it would now cost $183.75, that means the cost of living increased by about 5%. So, their employees would receive a 5% COLA to their salary. Of course, the company would also have to look at the prices they were charging for their products and services, sales numbers, etc. and adjust prices to make sure they could pay for their expenses and still turn a reasonable profit. This is how more mature firms typically operate and it helps them to retain quality employees. The cost of excessive employee turnover can be much higher than these incremental adjustments. If you have questions about how this works at your company, don’t hesitate to contact your HR department to discuss their approach to handling inflation for the company and it’s employees.

So, gentlemen, consider the variables that play into your household’s financial situation and make wise choices that are going to be most beneficial to you and your family in the long term.

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Dining

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The Dancing Avocado Kitchen A Restaurant Review by Justin Gaynor

Many of you who are familiar with me know that I am currently journeying through the season of Lent with the congregation at St. Luke’s Anglican Church. Essentially, this has meant a pretty radical shift in the types of food I consume, how I invest my disposable income, and my most valuable resource, my time. The foods that I consume have shifted away from the consumption of any warm-blooded animals. So, my diet mostly consists of fish, fresh vegetables, fruits, and so forth. I tell you all of that because it has informed the restaurant that I chose to review this month.

The Dancing Avocado Kitchen is an eclectic little restaurant with all of my favorite things. They have a beachy, aloha vibe and the atmosphere radiates a certain calm and peacefulness that is not stoic, but vibrant. The décor brings together the best of Hawaiian and Caribbean and, well, a kind of melting pot of “good vibes”.

The waitress, Christina, invited me to sit wherever I liked. They have patio seating that looks out onto Beach Street, a main Downtown Daytona street with lots of great small businesses. Giving the menu a good once over, I saw a lot of delicious, healthy options. I was looking for something that was either vegan or something with fish.

The dish that called out to me was the Tuna Salad wrap made with spring mix, tomato, carrots, and sprouted lentils. This came with a side of potato and pasta salad and a crunchy dill pickle spear. So, I placed my order with Christina, who was quite delightful BTW, after she brought me a mandarin Jarrito! One of my favorite beverages.

When my food arrived, it was a delight to the eyes. All the ingredients appeared to be and tasted super fresh. When you don’t eat a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables and you start to, it’s almost shocking that God creates such an amazing variety of wonderful foods that are a delight to the eye, the various textures, and flavors…it’s all quite excellent You will likely find me at “The Dancing Avocado Kitchen” more often now that I’ve found it, so if you are ever in Daytona Beach and you want to grab a delicious, healthy lunch in a very chill atmosphere, make “The Dancing Avocado Kitchen” your destination!

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Books

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Recommended A Library For April 2022: Ess

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Additions To Your sential Books on Business

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Recommended A Library For April 2022: Ess

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Additions To Your sential Books on Business

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Music

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Abby Owens

“Simply magical! A true inspiration & not often you see her play without capo..pure heart” - David Ross “Love your voice, your guitar playing, and your heart!!” - Bill Porta “I am getting chills....and Eva Cassidy vibes. Wow new fan here!” - Barbara Bruce

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Gear

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MARINE ELE

GPS / Chartplotter Sure you can do things the old fashioned way, and you should know how, but technology like this makes sailing far safer.

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ECTRONICS

Quantum2 with Doppler Being acutely aware of where other boats are near your location and what kinds of weather you are in for is vital to safe journeys at sea.

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MARINE ELE

Marine Radio Communicating with other vessels, bridge tenders, and so forth helps to keep everyone safe.

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ECTRONICS

Multifunction Displays (MFDs) These state of the art devices allow you to have a central location that all of your various marine devices can feed information into so you can make timely , wise decisions.

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Travel

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Marco! Polo!

Written by Justin Gaynor

One of the top travel destinations during Spring and Summer of 2022 should be Marco Island. This amazing location is a barrier island on the Gulf Coast of Florida and is perfect for a long weekend. As with most Florida seaside destinations, there is paddle boarding, kayaking, and a whole host of water activities. Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) will put you right into Naples and Marco Island is just a short drive away.

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Locating a place to stay in Marco Island will surely depend on your budget. Marriott’s Crystal Shores or Marco Beach Ocean Resort will run you around $1300 per night this time of year. If that’s a little steep for a three-day weekend in your book, further inland you will find some options that currently range between $200 and $400 per night.

The Marco Island Historical Society has a wonderful museum to explore. You will learn more about the history and development of Marco Island, as well as some of the local Indian tribes. In addition, you can find out about their local economy that has benefited from such industry as commercial fishing to pineapple plantations.

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Tigertail Beach is a barrier Island that is the winter home and nesting site for a whole host of shore birds. Its gorgeous tidal lagoon offers a great place to go for a swim, or simply relax on the white sandy beaches and watch one of the most amazing sunsets you will likely ever see.

A great vacation is nothing without great food. On Marco Island the top 3 destinations for the die-hard foodie has got to be Sale De Pepe for Italian and Marco Prime Steak and Seafood Restaurant, for, well, steak and seafood.

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While Marco Island offers amenities for all ages, it is known among Floridians as the place to sneak away for a romantic weekend. So, gentlemen, if it’s been a season of stress and anxiety in your house, pick up the phone now. Schedule some time to refresh with your beloved and allow the Lord to restore your soul.

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