Summer Camp Guide
Local Events
Problem with Pinterest Dream Weddings
Jeremy Camp
Let’s go halfsies! We’re paying 50% for first-time overnight campers!
Let your kid spend a slice of summer at a beautiful retreat away from home with WinShape Camps. Located across North Georgia and the Carolinas, the awe-inspiring outdoors and our next-level programming create space for campers K-12 to shine. Choose from one- or two-week experiences designed just for boys or girls. Over the course of several days, all campers develop skillsets indoors and out, build friendships and grow in their relationship with Jesus—while having the summer of a lifetime.
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CONTENTS 06
GOODlife EVENTS Upcoming local events with activities for all ages
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DON’T GROW WEARY DOING GOOD How to press forward when you’re tempted to tire
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MAKING GREAT DECISIONS IN CLOUDY CONDITIONS How leaders can find clarity in times of transition
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THE PROBLEM WITH THE PINTEREST DREAM WEDDING Making your big day special in a better way
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GOODLIFE SUMMER CAMP GUIDE Top picks for camps in North Georgia
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IT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE SO HARD Trusting God instead of trying in your own might
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THREE TRUTHS Crucial points that are eternally relevant to all people
FEATURED COVER: JEREMY CAMP The acclaimed musician whose testimony is chronicled in the new movie,
I Still Believe, shares how tragic loss and restoring love mark his story.
Publisher
Kristen Bland
Editor-In-Chief Gabriel Bland
Assistant Editor Autumn Burr
Contributing Writer Maggie Boggs
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Riley Watkins Riley@goodlifemagazine.org 770.883.3264
Article submissions
submissions@goodlifemagazine.org 1582 Williams Dr, Suite 250 Marietta, GA 30066
www.goodlifemagazine.org facebook.com/goodlifechristian Instagram: @goodlifechristian GOODlife Magazine is a bi-monthly publication distributed throughout Atlanta and Metro Atlanta. Entire contents, including design elements and logos, are copyrighted and may not be reproduced in any media without the express written consent of the publisher. GOODlife Magazine, LLC reserves the right to edit or reject any editorial or advertising content. Advertisers assume liability for content of all advertisements. All information herein has been checked for accuracy to the best of our ability. Not responsible for deletions, omissions, errors and/or inaccuracies. © 2020 GOODlife Magazine, LLC. All rights reserved.
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be here Whether you’re reading Shakespeare or studying organic chemistry, Covenant’s campus provides the perfect environment to immerse yourself in deep learning. Our scenic 400-acre campus sits atop Lookout Mountain, Georgia, just eight miles from bustling downtown Chattanooga, Tennessee. In our tight-knit community, your passions will take shape as you recieve career mentorship from our esteemed faculty. covenant.edu/LiberalArts
Also Seeking Certified Individuals Who Are Looking to Work in the Home Health Profession
EVENT EVEN TS Born Again Blessings Children’s Consignment Sale
Fri, March 13 from 9am–7pm, and Sat, March 14 from 9am–noon Riverstone Church, Kennesaw Children’s and maternity clothes, shoes, toys, nursery items, baby equipment, furniture, and more! bornagainblessings.com
Acworth Daddy–Daughter Dance
Sat, March 14 from 7–9pm Acworth Community Center This year’s theme will be a Masquerade Dance! All girls ages 13 and under are invited to attend with their dads or male chaperone. The event includes a DJ, light refreshments, gifts for the girls, and a photographer for optional pictures. Register online in advance. acworthparksandrecreation.org
MercyMe’s 20/20 Tour
Sat, March 14 at 7:30pm James Brown Arena, Augusta Live performance by the multi-platinum selling band, along with Jeremy Camp and David Leonard. mercyme.org/#tour
Miracle – Kennesaw State Owl Dance Marathon Sat, March 14 from 12pm–12am We will stand, dance, play games, listen to Miracle Stories, and fundraise for 12 hours straight to make miracles for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta! owllife.kennesaw.edu
Georgia Bridal Show
Sun, March 15 from 1–5pm Cobb Galleria Centre, Atlanta You’ve been online searching wedding ideas and trends. Now it’s time to see all of this come to life at the Georgia Bridal Show. Meet face-to-face with wedding professionals and find everything you need
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in one place and in one day! georgiabridalshow.com
Worth – A Women’s Conference
Thur – Sat, March 19–21 World Changers Church International, Atlanta Featured Speakers: Taffi Dollar, Stacia Pierce, Toya Exnicious, and many other radical women from around the world for three life-changing days! taffidollar.org
Spring Atlanta Home Show
Fri – Sun, March 20–22 Cobb Galleria Centre, Atlanta Over 350 exhibitors in the home remodeling and outdoor living industries will offer expertise, services, and products designed to remodel, repair, and refresh homes of all sizes and styles. It’s one-stop shopping for everything from the roof to the basement and from interiors to landscapes, as well as live radio broadcasts and presentations on a variety of subjects. atlantahomeshow.com
True Girl Pajama Party Tour – Mother-Daughter Event
Fri, March 20 from 6:30–9pm First Baptist Church Woodstock Join over 400,000 moms in experiencing America’s largest mother-daughter connecting event. At a True Girl event, you and your daughter can experience 2 1/2 amazing hours of undistracted time together, focusing on truth about beauty, relationships, and identity. fbcw.org/events
Born To Be Brave – One Night FatherSon Adventure Fri, March 20 from 6:30-9pm First Baptist Church Woodstock Learn to lead your son in becoming a godly man. Whether you are a father or father figure, grab your
son and join us for a night of adventure with the Wheel of Destruction, 2,000 ping pong balls, the high-energy live worship music of Allan Scott Band, and digging into God’s Word. fbcw.org/events
Casting Crowns – Only Jesus Tour
Fri, March 20 at 7pm The Classic Center, Athens Live performance by the acclaimed band, and also featuring Matthew West. castingcrowns.com/tour
The Acworth Art Fest
Sat – Sun, April 4–5 Main Street, Acworth Come visit over 100 whimsical and talented artisans from around the country. Enjoy wonderful food from Acworth’s own eateries. The event also includes an energetic Kidz Zone filled with fun activities that make smiles bloom.
Cars & ‘Q for the Cause
Sat, April 18 from 4—7pm Choate Construction’s headquarters, Atlanta In support of the Georgia Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF), the popular car show and party now tops 1,200 attendees who will enjoy over 120+ prizewinning rides, along with a generous spread of mouth-watering BBQ, ATL’s favorite craft brews and wine, a silent auction, live music, a friendly car competition, and more.
Big Shanty Festival
Sat – Sun, April 18–19 Main Street, Kennesaw Come enjoy the 44th annual Superior Plumbing Kennesaw/Big Shanty Festival. The downtown Kennesaw area will be transformed into a giant family-friendly festival with a variety of activities to entertain all ages.
Spring Jonquil Festival
Sat – Sun, April 25–26 Village Green, Smyrna The festival, presented by Superior Plumbing, features over 175 arts & crafts booths, 20 food
booths, an entertainment stage, and a variety of children’s activities. The show will draw crowds of around 25,000 people. Admission is FREE.
Taste of Marietta
Sun, April 26 from 11am–7pm Historic Marietta Square One of the largest and tastiest events in Georgia returns! Taste of Marietta brings together over 80 Cobb County restaurants showcasing their best dishes. With an impressive variety of restaurants—some new to the event, along with past favorites—this year’s festival is sure to be better than ever. tasteofmarietta.com
Canton Festival of the Arts
Sat – Sun, May 2–3 Brown Park, historic downtown Canton The 17th annual festival features a juried Artist Market, live entertainment, make-and-take art stations, and a food court. With the charm of a historic river town, Canton offers views of the North Georgia Mountains and provides a delightful setting for the festival. cantonartfestival.com
Smoke on the Lake Barbecue Festival
Fri – Sat, May 8–9 Cauble Park, Lake Acworth The festival features a Friday night Lord of the Wings competition, followed by a concert under the stars starting at 8pm. On Saturday, teams from all over the Southeast will compete in professional and amateur divisions to see who will take home the title this year. The Saturday event will feature another people’s choice competition where you get to be the judge. All proceeds will be distributed amongst several local charities. smokeonthelake.org
Leadercast - Positive Disruption
Thur, May 7 Infinite Energy Arena, Duluth Largest one-day leadership event in the world, bringing together experts in leadership and organizational health to help attendees master the art and science of developing and leading healthy teams. live.leadercast.com
FOR MORE LOCAL EVENTS, GO TO: GOODLIFEMAGAZINE. ORG/EVENTS
AT NORTH You’re invited to celebrate Easter at Mount Paran North!
You’ll experience a welcoming atmosphere and a powerful message of hope. Kids service and nursery provided at 9:30 & 11:15am. Sunrise Service - 7am at the Sports Pavilion
Easter Celebration - 9:30 & 11:15am in the Worship Center
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1700 Allgood Road ∙ Marietta, GA easteratnorth.com
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead...” - 1 Peter 1:3
T
his is our prayer for you, our readers, that you would more deeply grasp the truth in the words of this scripture. No matter how mature or new your relationship with Jesus Christ is, there is always more depth to discover in God’s all-encompassing gift to us. Our hope is that you would live out this truth, not just on Easter day but also as we prepare our hearts in the days leading up to the celebration of Christ’s resurrection and in every day that follows. If you have yet to accept the free gift of salvation offered through the death and resurrection of God’s son, Jesus Christ, we pray that your heart is stirred to take that step of faith this Easter season. See the “Three Truths” article on page 25 to gain more understanding about this decision. Receiving the “new birth” is just a prayer away!
– The GOODlife Team
Mother’s Day Father’s Day
Don’t Miss Out! Do you have a mom or a dad that you’d love to celebrate? If so, tell us about them! Nominate your mom or dad and give them the chance to win some incredible prizes! (Prizes to be announced soon) Past prizes have included: Three-13 Salon, La Vida Massage, Hilton Hotels, Top Golf, and more! For all the info, go to:
www.goodlifemagazine.org/contest
Don’t Grow Weary Doing Good By: David Mathis
Those who genuinely “do good” will be tempted soon enough to grow weary. Give yourself to doing good for others—on God’s terms, to fulfill his calling—and it’s just a matter of time before you will be tempted to tire. Even the apostle Paul, with the utter clarity of his calling, testified to “fighting without and fear within” (2 Corinthians 7:5). And becoming spiritually and emotionally drained was enough of a temptation in his day that he wrote twice in his letters, “Do not grow weary in doing good” (Galatians 6:9; 2 Thessalonians 3:13). Weariness can be contagious (Deuteronomy 20:8). But when we fight back, it also can work the other way: to help others persevere. God means for us not only to endure in “doing good” ourselves but to help others “not grow weary” (1 Thessalonians 5:14). When doing good gets tough—and it will—Paul does not simply say, “Don’t quit.” He says, “Do not grow weary.”
How Not to Grow Weary God does not rescue us from sin and death to then do nothing. He means for his people to give our lives, what precious little time we have, to “doing good.” “As we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith” (Galatians 6:10). That kind of doing doesn’t simply “overflow” or happen effortlessly. It takes intentionality and practice and planning. “Let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful” (Titus 3:14). “Doing good” is not just for peaceful, convenient times in our lives but just as much for seasons of suffering and conflict. “Let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good” (1 Peter 4:19; see also 1 Peter 2:15). Are we excused from “doing good” when wronged? “See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone” (1 Thessalonians 5:15). How do we fight back against the darkness? “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21). Jesus himself champions, “I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you” (Luke 6:27). The vision may be clear enough in Scripture, but how do we not “grow weary in doing good” when we are challenged from within and without? 10
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1. Humbly test yourself. First, when tempted to grow weary, ask with open hands, Am I “doing good” on God’s terms for others’ good and not just my own? Am I serving others, or self, with my sense of calling? When resistance comes, internally or externally, we do well to ask about the nature of the opposition: • Is this resistance a gift from God? • Are people who manifestly love me trying to helpfully redirect me? • Am I being opposed by those who aren’t defining “good” on God’s terms? • In my “doing good,” am I seeking my own glory instead of God’s (John 7:18)? Opposition presents us with the opportunity to humble ourselves and test our labors. The temptation to weariness begins as a chance to check our own hearts. As we release our grip on what we’re doing, we can test to what degree it is “good,” and whether it might be better. Are we truly serving the needs of others, or just actualizing our own selfish desires?
2. Expectantly turn to God. Peeling the onion of our own hearts will only get us so far. We need solid footing outside ourselves to persevere. When we feel the temptation to weariness, we have somewhere to turn— someone to turn to—for clarity and direction and strength. We are not left to drum it up from within. We know the one who does not faint or grow weary. Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. (Isaiah 40:28) And not only do we have our divine, heavenly Father but also his fully human, flesh-and-blood Son who himself “went about doing good” (Acts 10:38). Jesus faced relentless resistance. He knew weariness (John 4:6). He felt opposition—from within in Gethsemane and from without at Golgotha. We look to him “who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted” (Hebrews 12:3)— not just “not quit” but “not grow weary.” After humbly testing ourselves, one concrete, powerful avenue we have for not growing weary is to turn our attention to Christ. But how, specifically? When faced with weariness in our good works, how do we “consider Jesus” (Hebrews 3:1; 12:2) and draw strength from our God who “does not faint or grow weary” (Isaiah 40:28)?
3. Confidently lean on his promises. God has given us his word that we might learn to lean on God himself—not just generally on true ideas, concepts, and Christian slogans but specifically on the actual words of God for us, letting all the ways God speaks to us brace us for doing good. Hear the risen Christ say to you through his appointed spokesman, “My beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58). Or rehearse the very words of Jesus in this parable:
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The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come (Mark 4:26–29). We humble ourselves, turn to God, open his Word, and trust what he says—not what we see. We seek to readjust our hearts to his truth, not allowing the world’s appearances to steer us. We aim to lean not on our own understanding, whether self-justifying or self-doubting, but on his specific words and promises to us in the Book.
4. Patiently trust his timing. Walking by faith in God’s promises is no magic spell to force his hand. Trusting his words doesn’t bend his arm to conform to our timing. Rather, it readies us to adjust our sense of timing to his. That is the great ground on which Paul gives his charge in Galatians 6:9: “Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” How often does our weariness stem from our own sense of “due season” instead of God’s? God has impeccable timing. His promise to exalt us, if we humble ourselves under his mighty hand, comes with one of the most important phrases in the New Testament: “at the proper time” (1 Peter 5:6). If you are genuinely “doing good” on God’s terms— serving others, not self—and you are discouraged by the result or the opposition, take this promise to heart: you will reap in due season. God will exalt you at the proper time. Keep sowing faithfully. God sees. He knows. In Christ, your labor will not be in vain.
Where Doing Good Happens Both prominent charges to “not grow weary doing good” (Galatians 6:9; 2 Thessalonians 3:13) are humble and out-of-the-spotlight contexts. The vast majority of “doing good” happens not in the limelight to be celebrated by thousands but in the private, unobserved place where God’s kingdom goes forward and eventually turns the world upside down. Doing good is not like the flash and sizzle of fireworks but the slow, organic growth of crops. Not through remotes and apps that let us feel a sense of control but through planting and watering and waiting that forces us to trust in God. When Christ gives us a particular calling to fulfill, he emphatically does not promise that it will come easy. In fact, it is often precisely the opposite. Difficult obstacles emerge to confirm the genuineness of our calling. The breakthrough will come not in retreat but in enduring under trial with faith in God’s promises. We may even swell in hope as obstacles increase, anticipating that the breakthrough we need may be near at hand. 14 12
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David Mathis (@davidcmathis) is executive editor for desiringGod.org and pastor at Cities Church in Minneapolis/ St. Paul. He is a husband, father of four, and author of Habits of Grace: Enjoying Jesus through the Spiritual Disciplines.
Identity Crisis: AVERTED
By: Kate Hartley Photos: David Cannon
3 Critical Things Every Middle Schooler Needs to Navigate Identity
W
hen asked to name a time in our lives that we would least like to revisit, many of us would resoundingly answer: “Middle school!” Those years of braces and breakouts leave their mark on us all. So, take the normal awkwardness of adolescence and add in smart phones, social media, and cyberbullying, and you quickly see why today’s youth emotionally struggle more than any previous generation. In October, the Center for Disease Control released sobering statistics: the suicide rate among teens has increased by 56% in the last two decades, since 2000.1 So, as a parent today, how can you help your child navigate the churning waters of middle school? “The answer is in Proverbs 4:23, which says to guard your heart because everything you do flows from it,” says Craig Konchak, a licensed professional counselor and the Middle School principal at North Cobb Christian School (NCCS) in Kennesaw. “We can’t compete with social media. We can’t erase peer pressure. The best thing we can teach our kids is how to guard their hearts.” How do you do this, exactly? Here, Konchak shares the unique approach they use to “guard the hearts” of adolescents at North Cobb Christian School. As parents, we can all take a page from this wise approach.
Uncover Unique Genius.
“Middle School is a journey towards identity. First, ground a child’s identity in Christ, conveying that there is a Creator of the universe who loves you,” shares Konchak. “Once they know Whose they are, they can discover who they are.” At NCCS, students explore their God-given identities by participating in the school’s innovative Pathways Program. Through reflections and self-evaluations, students discover their spiritual gifts, aptitudes, budding purpose, and more. Their findings are compiled into portfolios: a portrait of who God has uniquely created them to be. NCCS students are also encouraged to get involved in an athletic or artistic pursuit. “NCCS offers everything from mountain biking to musicals, plus middle schoolers participate in clubs every Friday like drone-flying, crafting, and outdoor adventures,” Konchak explains. “When adolescents know where they shine, they’re more likely to remain firmly planted in who they are, regardless of social pressures.”
Give Them A Guide.
As middle schoolers move from concrete to abstract thinking, they benefit from mentors to help process life. “Middle school is a time of peaks and valleys. They need someone who has gone through it to say, ‘Keep climbing; the next mountaintop is just ahead,’” affirms Konchak, who notes that godly teachers make the best mentors. “Our alumni always attest to the lasting impact of our teachers, who become like family. We call their impact the ‘hidden curriculum.’” Students in 5th through 12th grade at NCCS bond with teachers (and each other) during Advisory Groups—teacher-led small groups of same-gender students that meet regularly to process life. NCCS also offers the Timothy Peer Mentorship Program, connecting older and younger students in a “big brother / big sister” format.
Broaden Perspectives.
And, finally, Konchak says that adolescents need experiences in “real time”—off devices—to ensure an accurate worldview. “We start every year by taking all of our 5th through 12th grade students on retreats,” shares Konchak. “They unplug, bond, and have a blast.” NCCS students also go on Spring Term, an annual week of missions and cultural trips. Middle school trips include Savannah and Washington, D.C., while high school students have global options from Haiti to Hawaii. “Through these adventures— many of which focus on serving others—identity is shaped,” says Konchak. “They’re learning: this is who God created me to be, and this is my purpose in this wide and wild world.” To meet NCCS’s education experts, set up a personalized tour of the school any time by calling 770-975-0252 or emailing admissions@ncchristian.org. | North Cobb Christian School |Preschool K3 - 12th Grade Fully Accredited | Award-Winning Arts, Athletics, & Academics | 4500 Eagle Drive, Kennesaw, GA 30101 | ncchristian.org | 770-975-0252 Curtin, S., and Heron, M. (2019, October). Retrieved from www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db352-h.pdf.
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| Sponsored by North Cobb Christian School
By: Maggie
Camp
Boggs
JEREMY
I Still Believe: Jeremy Camp on Loss, Love, and Loyalty to God When Jeremy Camp was sixteen, he didn’t plan to play music for a living. He had no idea that he would become a national sensation in the Christian music industry. He didn’t expect to receive a Grammy nomination, or sing forty #1 radio hits, or inspire a movie based on his life. Nor did he know that tragic loss and restoring love would mark his story. Like most of us, Camp had no way of anticipating the triumphs and trials of the future—triumphs and trials that, by the grace of God, often remain hidden to our eyes until they happen. When Camp was sixteen, he packed his bags and set off for youth camp. He had just written a song called “Set Me Free.” As a young teenager, Camp had been struggling with worldly temptations, but he was eager to make a change. He sensed that the path he had been traversing was dangerous, and he wanted 14
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to turn around. “The song was literally a cry of my heart saying, ‘You gotta set me free from sin. Help me, Lord,’” recounts Camp. “God just spoke to my heart and said, ‘I want to use you, Jeremy, but you’re on the edge of a cliff about ready to jump off. You need to run as far away as possible.’ It was kind of like this almost sobering moment—like, ‘You’re living in sin, but you’re about ready to dive into a darker part of it.’” Camp remembers this turning point in his faith journey not as a condemnation but a rescue. When explaining how the Lord convicted him at youth camp that year, Camp clarifies that “it was out of love,” a description of God’s discipline not unlike the image presented in Hebrews 12 of a loving father correcting his son. And in response, Camp felt an awakened love for his Heavenly Father that prompted him into submission: “I said, ‘God, whatever you want
me to do, I’ll do. I’ll serve you with all my heart.’” Camp would hold on to his openhearted willingness to do God’s will through his calling to be a musician, through the devastating loss of his first wife, and through his involvement with the production of I Still Believe, the just-released movie based on his memoir of the same name. “It was in Bible college when I really felt God saying, ‘I want you to play music,’” Camp shares, adding, “It was interesting. I wasn’t like, ‘I want to do this. That’s all I want to do.’ It was more, ‘God, whatever You want me to do, I’m willing.’ And He started opening doors for me and…bringing the right people alongside me to mentor me and encourage me. And it came to the point where I just said, ‘Okay, obviously this is of You because I’m walking through doors that You’re opening, not me forcing it and kicking it down.’” And it was after Bible college that God opened up yet another door for him. Camp met his first wife, Melissa, at a church group in San Diego where he was leading worship. Fans familiar with the story know that, after dating and quickly falling for Melissa, Camp learned she had cancer. Though he knew the cancer could mean the end of her life, they were married on October 21 of 2000. On February 5 of the following year, just four and a half months later, Melissa passed away. Despite living against a backdrop of sorrow and grief after Melissa went to be with the Lord, Camp decided to remain faithful to God’s calling for his life. The first song he wrote after her death was “I Still Believe,” a song saturated with the defining resilience of Camp’s story. For those who aren’t familiar with the song’s affecting lyrics, the chorus of “I Still Believe” is a powerful proclamation of faith in the unseen: I still believe in Your faithfulness I still believe in Your truth I still believe in Your holy Word Even when I don’t see, I still believe. And today, when asked what he would like to say to encourage other Jesus
followers, Camp again highlights this sort of faith-in-the-unseen trust. With striking vulnerability and humility, he explains that trusting God is still hard: “Because of what happened to my wife, the enemy tries to attack me.” Specifically speaking, he sometimes fears more heartbreak and pain, or wonders whether God really inhabits the minor details of our days. Yet Camp speaks of how, in those moments full of doubt, God is full of tender faithfulness. “One thing that God constantly shows me and encourages me with is the saying, ‘Jeremy, perfect love casts out fear—like if you understood how deeply I love you, how much I love you.’” Camp cites Romans 8:39 to make his point: Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ. “That’s when you really go to the depth of going, ‘Oh, my word. Okay, God, You do love me.’ And I think we have to understand that God’s not out to get us, that He loves us and that He has good plans for us,” says Camp, who has been blessed with his current wife, Adrienne, and their three children. He adds, “Now, it doesn’t take us away from going through trials and tribulations. We’re going to go through those…He’s trustworthy, and it doesn’t mean it’s not gonna always be hard or difficult, but He is good, and He loves you.” Camp maintains that God’s grace is sufficient, even when we walk through difficulties. When Camp goes through tough times, he takes care to look backwards with intentionality. He explains that, by remembering how God’s grace and peace were sufficient in the past, we can move forward with confidence that His grace and peace remain sufficient for the present. “I always encourage people—it’s like, if you never trust again, then you’ll never walk again, you’ll never move on again. And I think you have to move on, and you have to know that you may stumble again. You may have a hard time again, but His grace is sufficient for thee.”
“One thing that God constantly shows me and encourages me with is the saying, ‘Jeremy, perfect love casts out fear...’”
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It’s all about “how we react in those situations,” according to Camp. He’s recently been reading The Calvary Road by Roy Hession, which, for Camp, emphasizes finding true humility through Christ in the midst of true brokenness. “I read this passage in The Calvary Road, and it said, you know, if He wouldn’t have been that gentle lamb, then the dove would not have been able to land upon Him…This whole kind of beautiful picture…that He came as a lamb, [which] of course later led to the sacrifice. But the lamb is that gentleness; the dove is a symbol of peace. And for me it’s [about] being willing to lay my life down as a sacrifice so that peace could rest upon me. And I think that’s a lot of what God’s teaching me right now.”
But what about those trials that are so heavy, so cumbersome, so painful? Camp’s been there. He admits that he doesn’t have all the answers, that all he can say to people is to go to God. But in the middle of pain, sometimes people just don’t want to hear it. Nonetheless, Camp insists that trusting God to carry us through hardship is worthwhile. Two years ago, he experienced a downward spiral that kept him bed-ridden for a week. “I don’t have the formula of how to get through things,” he confesses. “I can tell you that I decided to trust the Lord again, and He has been there for me when things have gotten tough again.” Camp talks about how he prayed, worshipped, and sought God through that low week, and God faithfully hoisted him “out of that pit.” Even with a star-studded Lionsgate film hitting theaters this month, Camp’s desire for I Still Believe is that Christ would be glorified, not himself. “I don’t need another notch in my belt,” Camp says. “If this doesn’t really impact the kingdom, then there really is no point.” When asked what he would like to share about I Still Believe, he zeroes in on the film’s domestic and international reach and its potential to spread hope to those viewers. In Camp’s eyes, the movie extols Christ and celebrates the hope that only He can bring. He goes on to admit that having his life’s story on display for millions of people is “not easy.” That’s because, of course, I Still Believe centers around his relationship with Melissa and how God brought him through the death of his spouse. Camp refers to Melissa’s passing as “the darkest part of my life.” He realizes that he will “get questions from people and, you know, story after story from people,” but he’s willing to carry the “responsibility and weight of that.” Camp knows “it’s for ministry and for the kingdom.” This kingdom mindset serves him well in other areas of his life too. In his walk with the Lord right now, God is teaching him to steward relationships with the people in his life from a place of humility and grace, Camp explains. “I’ve had a lot of different things come up through conflict,” he says. “People say things that aren’t true and you’re just…hurt. And the natural reaction is, of course, to be offended or to be like, you know, ‘You don’t know what you’re talking about,’ or, ‘How could you do that?’” In those situations, he has to take a step back and realize that God wants to refine him through the hurt.
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As I Still Believe reaches theaters across the world, Camp is very hopeful about how the movie will encourage viewers, but he anticipates some level of resistance. He says that people may find something they don’t like about the movie, or about him, and criticize him for it. And that’s no fun, especially when those people don’t actually know Camp personally. He is determined, though, to turn the other cheek: “I think that I have to walk into it with just humility and not succumb to that and not be offended but say, ‘This is a broken world that needs Jesus. I need Jesus.’…It just kind of allows me to have a lot more joy, a lot more peace, to be honest.” Camp clearly desires for God’s will to be done in his life and through his story. His humble approach even shines through the comical story he shares about the beginning of his music career. He explains that “it was almost like God was giving me this [experience to start] my career off right.” While performing at a stadium in San Francisco, Camp wanted everyone to jump along with him at a certain point during the song “Lay Down My Pride.” However, this choreography did not go as planned for Camp, who recalls, “It was raining outside, but we were covered. But it was still wet on the stage. So, I jump off this drum riser, and I land, and I just slip and go *BOOM* right on my back. And I…laid there and I went, ‘Keep jumping…’” Camp laughs. “It was just this moment of going, ‘Yeah, I was literally singing a song called ‘Lay Down My Pride.’” Camp’s fall onstage in San Francisco—and his candid retelling of the anecdote—speak not only to the immensely popular singersongwriter’s humility. The story, funny as it is, also paints a picture of endurance and hope. Even in the darkest valleys, God desires His children to keep going. (Or, in Camp’s case, to keep jumping.) To keep walking. To keep trekking onward toward the light. Not by our own strength or striving, but through the Lord’s guidance and grace. As Camp puts it, “His expectations of us aren’t for perfection. He just wants to help us walk through and to trust Him and to continue to allow those things to soften us.”
i still believe is in theaters march 13, 2020
How to make
GREAT DECISIONS In Cloudy Circumstances BY GAVIN A DA MS
AS a leader, have you ever struggled with a decision? If you lead or
have ever led anything, the answer is unequivocally “yes.” Making decisions is crucial to leading. Making decisions is an inseparable part of leadership. Leaders who cease to make decisions abdicate their leadership.
Of course, some decisions are obvious, some are more challenging, and some are absolutely daunting. The decisions leaders face during times of transitions, whether personal or organizational, are often the most difficult. The reason is simple:
TRANSITIONS BRING CLOUDY CONDITIONS. Great decisions are only possible when we have clarity—clarity of the situation, problem, possible solutions, and ramifications. So, our first step should always be to seek God in prayer for clarity. Clarity is essential, but as every leader knows, when seasons give way to what’s next, the transition creates conditions that work directly against our ability to hear from God and make clear decisions. Transitions are cloudy because they happen between what is known and what is next. What is known is often clear, but what’s next is typically new. New always has an element of unknown, and unknown is often unclear. It’s like driving our car into a dense fog. When you can barely see, it makes driving nearly impossible. If the fog grows dense enough, moving forward ceases to be a viable option. In our car, we can always pull over and wait out the fog. But as a leader, waiting out the transition isn’t practical. And hence, our decision dilemma:
HOW DO WE MAKE GREAT DECISIONS IN CLOUDY CONDITIONS? Before we answer that question, we should acknowledge that these transition decisions are often the most important decisions we as leaders make. This is an unfortunate, yet true reality. When change and transition occur, the organization and the people therein look to leadership for stability and direction. The decisions we make during these transitions set the pace, tone, and direction for the next season. These decisions are critical. And they are uncomfortable—because they are so cloudy. As you’ve probably seen, too often leaders facing transition decisions freeze in the face of the cloudy conditions. The clouds reduce their clarity, causing them to do nothing. It’s as if they think it’s possible to wait out the fog on the side of the road. But not making a decision is a decision—an often disastrous decision. Transitions are, by nature, movement-oriented. Therefore, decisions must be made for the transition to complete and the next season to begin. The other option is to make our best guess in the face of the fog. But this isn’t a wise option, either. Guessing certainly doesn’t place you in the best position. Nobody wants to depend on luck for leadership success. 18
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So back to the key question: as a leader, how do we make great decisions in cloudy conditions?
THE ANSWER IS TRUSTING IN OUTSIDE COUNSEL. But it’s not quite that simple. When we are in the middle of the transitional clouds, not only is our decision-making obscured, so is our ability to trust. But the Lord puts godly people in our lives for a reason. Those outside our transition will have a clarity we don’t have. Finding wise counsel is the easy part. The challenge is trusting what the counsel is seeing even when we can’t see it ourselves. The clouds inhibit our ability to clearly see both the decisions we face and what our counsel observes. And that’s why simply having wise counsel isn’t enough. We know this is true because we can all remember times when we had incredible clarity in the midst of another’s cloudy situation. We offered our perspective and even attempted to explain our observations, but the person overwhelmed by the cloud couldn’t see clearly enough to decide on their own or to trust what we were seeing. We have to fight against becoming the person in the cloud refusing to trust or listen to the counsel of those outside of our cloud. Our first step as a leader is to ensure we have trustworthy, godly coaches who understand us and our organization before we ever need their coaching, before we find ourselves surrounded by a cloud of confusion. We prepare now for what we will need later. Moreover, we need to pre-decide that when we are in the middle of cloudy conditions, we will trust those who have clarity outside the fog— even when we can’t see what they see. So, who are your coaches? If you don’t have any, make it a point to find them sooner than later. And when you do, begin to build trust. You, and all those you lead, will appreciate your intentionality when the clouds of transition form around your next big leadership decision.
Gavin Adams is the Lead Pastor of Woodstock City Church, a campus location of North Point Ministries, and a student of leadership, communication, church, and faith.
THE PROBLEM WITH THE PINTEREST DREAM WEDDING BY BENJAMIN VRBICEK
Dear engaged Christian couple, I’m honored that you would ask me to officiate your wedding and walk you through premarital counseling. It’s been a joy to see your faith in Christ, your service together in the church, and your love for each other grow. During our counseling meetings, we’ll talk through things like the lifelong commitment of marriage, becoming a new family, having and raising children, budgeting and finances, and sexual intimacy. These tend to be the sensitive areas that have the potential to bring great joy, but also, at times, great pain in the years to come. But I’m writing today about your wedding— about the day, the service, and the celebration after. There seems to be a subtle but growing pressure on couples to make their wedding day btter than others, a kind of competition to have the Pinterest dream wedding. No one says it outright (it would sound ridiculous). But it happens, and it seems to me like it happens a lot. I recently picked up a wedding magazine. In it, there were advertisements for reception halls, everywhere from rural barns to Victorian ballrooms. The dresses and photography promised to be “unique,” “custom,” “special,” “perfect,” “unforgettable,” and, of course, “of your dreams.” And to help you plan your perfect wedding, one article offered a checklist of eighty-six “essential” items. The pressure is real, and it will be for you. Society’s sermon points are clear. When your wedding pictures finally drop on social media, you want them to be better than the wedding pictures your maid-of-honor posted when she got married. Your table centerpieces need to be altogether trendy but not cliché;
homespun, yet done with elegance; original, yet exactly what people expect a centerpiece to look like. And what about the gifts for your wedding party? Better start logging hours on Etsy. The venue could be a church, but it can’t be an ugly church. And the reception should probably be outdoors but only at exactly the right time of year. It all seems so compelling online and in the popular imagination but silly when we step back and think about what this day is really about.
(John 15:11), not an exercise in trying to create your own do-it-yourself happiness. A bride beautifully adorned is a biblical picture of the greater Bride—the Church—and her Groom—the Christ. But as pastor and author Tim Keller argues, when a good thing (in this case, an extravagant wedding) becomes an ultimate thing, we walk the aisle with idolatry. In short, while Pinterest might be a good tool, it is a terrible master, and a worse god.
Your big day should indeed be special, but not on the world’s terms.
It’s a warning for pastors, too. I feel the same pressure when I officiate. There’s something in me, something ugly, that longs to preach Ephesians 5 better than it’s ever been preached: a sermon that engages the unchurched, dazzles the mature Christian, and rescues the estranged couple off the cliff of divorce. In short, I want to preach a Pinterest dream wedding sermon. But I can’t. And that kind of sermon wouldn’t please God anyway.
Your big day should indeed be special, but not on the world’s terms. The truth is that your wedding day will happen so fast, it will mostly be a blur. And your family and your real, Christ-following friends don’t care about the competition. They care about you. They don’t want to see you go deep into high-interest credit card debt for the next four years or prolong your engagement so you can save money for your wedding. They want to see you be a happy and faithful husband and bride. Even more important than them, God doesn’t want you to be distracted by all these peripheral things. Your greatest joy in life will be to know Christ and make much of him, and now you get to do that together in marriage. Your wedding day should be a day to display the joy he’s given you in himself
We all need to fi x our eyes on Jesus. I’m asking you to aspire to something greater than the Pinterest dream wedding. Skip the competition, the stress, and all the extra expense. You’ll find the surpassing joy of making your wedding day not finally about you but about the ultimate purpose of marriage, the displaying of the gospel: the love of a holy God for his bride. And as we do, we’ll show the world a better way to marry, so that they too might one day “enter into the joy of [their] master” (Matthew 25:21). Yours Truly, Your Pastor Benjamin Vrbicek (@BenjaminVrbicek) is a teaching pastor at Community Evangelical Free Church in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He blogs at Fan and Flame and is the co-author of More People to Love.
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WinShape Camps City: Multiple Locations Ages: K-12th Grade Type: Overnight Camp Cost: $829 - $2100 Activities: Wide range including archery, arts and crafts, rock climbing, performing arts, sports/fitness, horseback riding, outdoor adventures, Bible study, and more! Special Focus: This camp, started by the founder of Chick-Fil-A, is the place where friendships take root, personal growth is front and center, and faith runs through all you do—the place for lifechanging, memory-making, and adventure-taking awesomeness. Website: www.WinShapeCamps.org Boys or Girls: Both, separated
Summer Programs at Mount Paran Christian School City: Kennesaw/Marietta Ages: PK3-12th Grade Type: Day Camp Cost: From $150 and up Activities: Princess, Braves, Falcons, LEGO, robotics, Pinterest, fishing, sewing, football, and more! Special Focus: 80+ camps from SAT to Cooking to Basketball Website: www.mtparanschool.com/summerprograms Boys or Girls: Both, mixed
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WEEKLY WEDNESDAY TOURS AT 10 A.M.
Your corner for a good smile! Mar/Apr Theme:
GOODsmiles
Funny Childhood Memories
When I was about four, my family got one of those “hatch your own butterflies” kits. I was so excited to watch these little caterpillars eat leaves, grow, and make cocoons. I remember how excited I was when they hatched and they were beautiful orange butterflies! My parents and I quickly went to the back yard to let them spread their wings and fly. We gently took the first one out and let it go. We were all pointing and watching it fly away when all of a sudden, a blue jay swooped out of a tree and snatched it mid-air. My parents hoped I didn’t see it and took me and the rest of our butterflies to the front yard. They only found out I saw it about three years later when at dinner I blurted out, “Remember when my butterfly was taken by a blue jay?!” - Allison B
My best friend and I loved to play on my go-kart when we were younger. It was a gas-powered two-seater go-kart called the “Yerf Dog”, and with it’s little yellow flag, we would go flying around my long circular gravel driveway over and over. Well, one day we discovered a massive mud puddle that if we drove through it at a high speed would send the mud flying everywhere! And we did it again and again—until our parents came running out, arms waving, yelling ”Stop!” It wasn’t that our parents were upset with us getting a bit dirty; the dilemma came in the fact that the mud puddle we had discovered was not made from just mud and water, but rather a busted septic line that was seeping to the surface and making the most memorable mud puddle of my childhood. The hose water was very cold that day. - Michael P
Have a story that gives others a GOODsmile? Share it with us! Next submission: Funny Vacation Story
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IT DOESN’T
HAVE TO BE
SO HARD By: Joyce Meyer
We all have areas where we would like to see growth and change. And we all have weaknesses just as we all have strengths. But if we’re trying to change in our own strength, we’re just going to have frustration. Psalm 127:1 says, “Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain” (NIV). This scripture is saying that it is not just by our effort, but by the grace of God through the work of His Holy Spirit, that we change and grow in life. It doesn’t really matter what our strengths or weaknesses are because we will always need God. The truth is, we’re desperate for God all the time whether we feel like it or not. And God promises us in 2 Corinthians 12:9, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (NIV). God wants us to give Him everything
we are—and everything we’re not—so His strength can be made perfect in us.
The First Step to Real Change When we’re ready to experience change, we usually set our minds to do something about it or make something happen. But in John 6:28-29, when the disciples asked Jesus, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” Jesus told them, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” The first thing we need to do is just believe, because it’s not by our own effort that we are changed. As believers in Jesus Christ, we have the Holy Spirit living in our spirit. And He will do in us and through us what needs to be done if we will just stop trying to do it ourselves. march/april 2020
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Believing is spiritual activity, and the level of peace and internal rest we experience reveal how much we’re living by faith in God. Hebrews 4:3 says, “For we who believe [that is, we who personally trust and confidently rely on God] enter that rest…” (AMP). God’s rest is a rest in our soul that says, “I’m not worried… I’m not frustrated…I’m not upset…I’ve entered the rest of God.” It’s not a rest from work; it’s a rest we have in work.
Follow God’s Lead Next, we need to do what God leads us to do. As we do our part, God will do His part. For example, if you’ve hurt someone and He prompts you to apologize, do it. Then trust Him with the results. That person might not be willing to forgive, but that’s not the point. Your part is to obey the leading of the Holy Spirit in your life. The way the other person chooses to respond is between them and God. Do what He tells you and leave the results to Him. Obedience to God is critical to having breakthrough when we’re facing issues in our lives. We just need to make sure we’re following God’s plan, not our own. We can only do what He empowers us to do, and it’s pointless to try to do what only God can do. All things are possible
with God (see Matthew 19:26), but we have to get out of His way and let Him be God. We also need to spend time with God and study His Word. The Word of God is the medicine we need for every problem we face, and the greater the need, the more time we need to spend with God. When I made a firm decision to pray and study the Word in areas I was weak in until the truth made me strong, God’s grace then gave me the power I needed to overcome the things I needed to overcome. Hebrews 4:12 says that the Word of God is alive and full of power. When we receive teaching from the Word of God, it’s like medicine for our soul. Approach the Word of God with your heart wide open to Him, believing His Word has the power to change your soul. Second Corinthians 3:18 says that, as we look into the Word of God, we are changed into His image—we are changed by the grace and mercy of God. It’s so amazing to know that God wants to help us change by His grace because He loves us and He wants us to be everything He’s created us to be. All we have to do is ask Him for His help and exchange our trying for trusting Him.
For more on this topic, order Joyce’s three-CD series Busy Going Nowhere. Joyce Meyer is a New York Times bestselling author and founder of Joyce Meyer Ministries, Inc. She has authored more than 100 books, including Battlefield of the Mind and Healing the Soul of a Woman (FaithWords). For more information, visit www.joycemeyer.org. Please note: The views and opinions expressed throughout this publication and/or website are those of the respective authors and do not necessarily reflect those of Joyce Meyer Ministries.
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THREE TRUTHS BY: WILL GRAHAM
For the past decade, I’ve had the great blessing of traveling the world, sharing the hope of Christ and the promise of eternity with Him. I have several different passages from which I preach and multiple anecdotes that I like to use.
When it comes right down to it, however, there are three key truths that I share every time I step up to the podium. They are applicable and relevant for every person in the audience, young or old, across the globe. First, there is a God who loves you and wants a relationship with you. One of the most famous and oft-repeated verses in the Bible is John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (ESV). God loves us so much that He sent His Son to establish a relationship with us. If you are a parent, you can understand the great sacrifice this was on our behalf.
Finally, God sent His Son to restore that relationship through Jesus’ death on the cross. God loves us and wants a relationship with us, but sin has damaged that relationship. What’s the answer? God sent His perfect Son, who knew no sin, to take our place and the punishment for our sin. Romans 5:8 says, “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (ESV).
Jesus took your sin and mine and became our substitute. He carried our sin, and in its place gave us His perfection. Now when our holy and sinless God looks at us, He sees us as blameless. Now, my friends, those are the truths that I share from Scripture—that God loves us and wants a relationship with us, that sin has destroyed that relationship, and that God sent His son to restore it. As an evangelist, I can tell people this, but I can’t make them accept it.
And, no, eternal life isn’t a default setting that exists Second, sin has destroyed that relationship. for everybody. One must make the decision to follow Romans 3:23 says, “for all have sinned and fall short Jesus, to believe in Him and accept the free gift of of the glory of God” (ESV). God is perfect and can’t salvation He offers that brings healing and restoration tolerate sin in His presence. You and I, on the other to that sin-broken relationship. I pray that you have hand, are sinful and broken people. We aren’t hiding made that decision and found that hope and that you that sin from God. He knows who we are and what use these three truths to reach others. we’ve done. Please don’t underestimate the destructive nature of sin. You may think that it’s okay, not a big deal. However, every sin erodes that relationship and draws us further away from God rather than driving us to Him. Sin brings spiritual decay.
Will is the third generation of Grahams to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ under the banner of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA). He also serves as vice president of the BGEA, and as executive director of the Billy Graham Training Center at The Cove in Asheville, N.C.
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RECIPE
AN EXCERPT FROM:
A PLACE AT THE TABLE by Kelly Minter with Regina Pinto
Sun-Dried Tomato Bow Tie Pasta PREP TIME: 30 minutes | COOK TIME: 20 minutes | SERVES: 4-6
INGREDIENTS: 2 packages sun-dried tomatoes, softened and cut in strips 16 ounces bow tie pasta
1. Soften the sun-dried tomatoes according to the package directions and cut in strips. 2. Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain pasta; set aside. 3. While the pasta cooks, if you are adding chicken to this recipe, cut chicken into bite-sized pieces and set aside. 4. Heat olive oil over medium heat in a sauté pan. When the oil is warm, add garlic and sauté for 2 minutes. Add sun-dried tomatoes and sauté for another 2-3 minutes. 5. If using optional chicken, add the chicken to the sauté pan and cook until done. Add chicken and sun-dried tomato mixture to the pasta, sprinkle with pine nuts, Feta cheese, and olives. Serve immediately. 26
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2-3 tablespoons olive oil 10 cloves garlic, minced 1/2 cup pine nuts 16 ounces Feta cheese, crumbled 1 (16 ounce) can black olives, chopped Salt and pepper, to taste Optional: 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into small pieces
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