February 2013 Metro Christian Living

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Life, Love, and Facebook Easy Affordable Valentine Decor What the Fiscal Cliff Means to You

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contents FEBRUARY 2013 columns 11 The Way I See It Leaving Your Mark

12 HomeWorks

Transformational Habits—Closets

15 Outside In

Nobody Loves Me But My Mama

16 Living My Call A Grandmother’s Heart

18 Modern Motherhood A Motto and a Mission

20 Welcome Home

Easy, Affordable Valentine’s Decor

22 Salt & Light First Presbyterian Day School Raises Funds for Malawi

27 The Doctor’s In

Guard Your Heart—Literally

features

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34 Let’s Talk It Over

Why Is Life So Hard Sometimes?

Larry Grantham

38 Let’s Get Real

Conflict: His and Hers (Part II)

A Man Among Men

40 Pastor’s Perspective Life, Love, and Facebook

44 Chewed Petunias Throwing Down Your Staff

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45 Single Still, Single Again Trusting the Plans He Has for Me

49 Education Connection The 50-50 RuleSM Sharing the Care for Your Parents

50 Legal Advice Role Reversal: When the Child Becomes the Parent

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departments 24 Healthy Living The Heart Healthy Diet

36 Food For Thought Sweetness

42 Fresh Finds 46 Sports Victories Swayze Waters – Gridiron for God’s Glory

48 Money Matters

What the Fiscal Cliff Means to You

51 Rave Reviews

Books, Movies, and Music

What’s Coming Next Month?

52 What’s Going On

in every issue 8 53 54 54

Editor’s Letter Event Calendar Quips & Quotes Ad Directory

metro ®

Volume 7, Number 8 Publisher: MHS Publications, Inc., Member, M.I.P.A. Editor: Marilyn Tinnin marilyn@metrochristianliving.com Administrative Assistant: Carol Rodgers carol@metrochristianliving.com Associate Editor: Suzanne Tanner Art Direction/Graphic Design Sandra K. Goff Sales Marilyn Tinnin, Kimberly Stephens, Suzanne Tanner Contributing Writers Marla Baker, Lydia Bolen, Laurel Boyd, Amanda Brown, Shawn Dean, Connie Grantham, Barbara Hamilton, Cathy Haynie, William B. Howell, Lee Hutchings, Amy Ingram, John R. McCallum, Robin O’Bryant, Janie Pillow, Susan E. Richardson, Peggy Wall, H. Chris Waterer, III, Martin E. Willoughby, Jr., Robert Wilson Cover Photography Stegall Imagery Distribution Assistants Laura Kidder, Randy Fortenberry, Carol Rodgers, Andrea Sabillion, Rachel Schulte, Jerri Strickland, Priscilla Sullivan, Tim Waldon, Bob Whatley

Metro Christian Living 573 Highway 51 North, Suite C Ridgeland, MS 39157 Phone 601-790-9076 • Fax 601-790-9078 www.metrochristianliving.com Metro Christian Living is committed to encouraging individuals in their daily lives by presenting the faith stories of others and by providing information that will point every person, at every stage of life, to a deeper, authentic, personal, and life-changing encounter with Jesus Christ. Views expressed in Metro Christian Living do not necessarily represent those of the publisher. Every effort has been made by the Metro Christian Living staff to insure accuracy of the publication contents. However, we do not guarantee the accuracy of all information nor the absence of errors and omissions; hence, no responsibility can be or is assumed. All Rights Reserved. Copyright 2012 by Metro Christian Living, Inc. Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of International Bible Society.

Metro Christian Living is published monthly and is available at high traffic locations throughout the metropolitan area. Copies are also available by subscription, $29 for one year. Single issues available for $3 an issue. POSTMASTER: Send change of address to Metro Christian Living, 573 Highway 51 North, Suite C, Ridgeland, MS 39157.

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➺editor’s letter Love Always “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you…” (Ephesians 1:18).

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I am not sure exactly ❝ what heaven will be like, but I know that when we die and it comes time for God to judge us, he will not ask, 'How many good things have you done in your life?' rather he will ask, 'How much love did you put into what you did?

❞

– Mother Teresa

cling —through many a move—to a box of sentimental memorabilia of birthday cards from friends and mentors, some of whom are no longer walking among the rest of us here on planet earth. I don’t hold the same warm and welcoming feelings about birthdays since they seem to be coming all too close together these days, and as a member of the Baby Boomer generation, I once thought I would be young and invincible forever. Oh, well. Despite the relentless march of Father Time and my reluctance to travel with him, the birthdays keep coming, and the mirror tells me I am aging, and whether I like it or not, this is the inevitable fact of our humanity. My mother’s advice to cultivate “inner beauty” seems wiser than ever here on the threshold of Medicare! I wish I had started sooner on that one! I was on my way to Olive Branch recently to see my very pregnant daughter who was banished to bed rest. It was a horrible, rainy day, and I55 is a terribly boring drive. Charles and I have sworn off 24/7 breaking news and talk radio these days since we were finding it hard to even get out of bed every day amid all the pessimistic and frightening happenings in the world. Somewhere around Grenada, I found a very strong signal from the French Camp station, and they were playing Southern Gospel. Suddenly, I felt like a long forgotten part of me came alive! A day before, Suzanne, Kimberly, and I had been reminiscing about our favorite childhood Sunday School songs—complete with hand motions. We had almost fallen in the floor giggling. The instrumental strains of a familiar tune caught me so by surprise, and the words to an old Sunday School song from my childhood made me laugh and cry at the same time! I can’t believe I could fill in the lyrics! “Every day with Jesus is sweeter than the day before.,.” “Vintage” fashion is very “in” these days, and what can I say about the Southern Gospel? I can only compare it to “vintage.” It was priceless and timeless and it touched me in a way I don’t think I have been touched in a long time! I was suddenly hungry for its message! Have you noticed how we don’t use words like “sweeter” anymore? In our cynical pragmatic culture, we tend to major on the worst elements of human nature and avoid anything that smacks of virtue or goodness or—heaven help us—a lofty ideal. No matter what your creed or religion or background, you have to admit we all have a common yearning to experience the very virtuous quality called love—both to give it and to receive it. In my humble and unsophisticated thought process, I think our yearning is all because we are each one created in the image of our heavenly Father, whose purpose in creating us, was for fellowship with Him. We are incomplete apart from that with an insatiable hunger that never goes away. I think we have put forth a huge effort to present many sides of love in this February issue. I can’t wait to hear from you and to know what resonates with you right where you are in this very moment. 1 John 4:8 tells us that “God is love.” Love wears many faces. As a woman, a wife, a mother, a grandmother, a sister, a friend, and a sinner saved by grace, I thank our Lord for the reality and the forever fact that “Love never fails” (1 Corinthians 13: 8). Steve Brown, who is one of my very favorite theologians, (www.Keylife.org) always says, “We can only love to the degree that we have been loved.” If this is true, we are each one on equal footing and each one has the potential to love others—even the really tough people in our paths—with an incredible, enduring, inexplicable, and amazing love. Why? Because each and every one of us has been loved by a Father who wanted relationship with us enough to sacrifice His most precious treasure to bring us into His family. Y

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ebruary used to be my favorite month of all because I happen to be a Valentine baby, and in my young (much younger) years, everyone made a big fuss over that fact. I have forever Kodak moments of heart-shaped birthday cakes, and I

Marilyn H. Tinnin, Publisher and Editor marilyn@metrochristianliving.com

10 FEBRUARY 2013 â?˜ Metro Christian Living

➺

the way i see it

by MARTIN E. WILLOUGHBY, JR.

LEAVING YOUR MARK ne of the stories of this year’s NFL football playoffs has been the retirement of Ray Lewis, linebacker for the Baltimore Ravens. At the time of this writing, Lewis and the Ravens are still alive in the chase for the Super Bowl. While a football player retiring may not seem like big news, Lewis is no ordinary football player. He is arguably one of the greatest defensive players in the history of the game and is a lock for the Hall of Fame one day. In the NFL, the average career tenure is just over three years. However, Lewis, age 37, is in his seventeenth year as a professional. He is a vocal Christian and talks openly about his challenges and the mistakes of his youth. I find his story compelling, and his motivational speeches have become a sensation on the Internet. Even if you are not a football fan, his commitment and pursuit of excellence are inspiring. In his speeches, Lewis reminds audiences that they have “one opportunity in life.” He challenges people to look deep within and consider how they will leave their legacy. Lewis emphasizes that, “Greatness is a lot of small things done well.” He believes that we have to “make up our mind to have greatness in life.” As a business coach and consultant, one of the things I emphasize the most is living intentionally. We all are leaving footprints in the sand. Each of us will leave a legacy with our life. The question is what will it be? Living intentionally means that we are proactive in considering who we are and what we stand for. It means identifying our core values and what is truly important to us. In contrast, too often we live reactionary lives and run from crisis to crisis. We might subscribe to the theory that one day we will begin to live the life that God really planned for us. I call this “the myth of the deferred life.”

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As Scripture frequently reminds us, we are here for a brief instant then gone. We are but just a mist (James 4:14). During our brief stay here, we all have the opportunity for greatness. This does not mean that we will all win the biggest awards or receive public accolades. It does mean that we can choose to give our very best to whatever we invest our lives. Heroes of Scripture like Paul, who gave all he had to spread the Gospel of Christ, inspire me. I do not believe that we were put on this earth to lead lives of mediocrity—to simply pass time. Life is hard. We all know that. It can beat us down, and we feel like surviving is all we can manage. However, I believe we are not just here to survive, but to thrive. We all have a sphere of influence. Are we being good stewards of not just our money, but also our lives? Are we inspiring by example others around us to be their very best? One of the best exercises to put your life in perspective is to write your own obituary. This brings a powerful sense of clarity to life and what is really most important. What will people say about you? What did you stand for? Who did you inspire to be a better person? How did your life reflect Christ? These are sobering but powerful questions. I hope that each of us will realize that we are leaving our own unique mark in the world. Every day brings a fresh start to expand our story. By living an intentional life, we create our own legacy one day at a time. Y Martin E. Willoughby, Jr,. is Chief Operating Officer of Butler Snow Advisory Services, LLC located in Ridgeland. He and his wife, Nicki, have two children, Ally and Trey, and live in Madison. metrochristianliving.com ❘ FEBRUARY 2013 11

➺homeworks by CATHY HAYNIE

Transformational Habits—Closets In a series on habits to help make your life a bit more orderly, we will look at 510 ideas each month for different areas of your home and your life. Pick just one or two ideas to transform a particular area that might be frustrating you.

REMEMBER 1. The best way to get a good idea is to get a lot of ideas, and; 2. It only takes one new habit to transform a target area!

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verwhelmed? Feeling like it can’t really matter in the grand scheme of things? It is important to recognize a central truth about organization.

Organization is freeing. Whether it’s finding your keys, getting the dinner on the table with ease, choosing what you will wear, or greeting guests at the door and actually inviting them past the doorway, a few organizational habits will free you—to do the next thing, to live a less stressful life, to enjoy quality time with people, to engage in ministry, and so much more! This month, we will look at ideas to organize your closet. Choose one or two and find yourself easily picking out and putting away clothes in a space you actually like. Give your closet a small block of time and see what you can accomplish!

✓ A major clean-out session. Gather black and white garbage bags, a storage box or two, and a laundry basket. Clear off your bed to use for sorting. Use white garbage bags for trash, black ones for give away, boxes to pack things up for later (things you know you will use again), and the laundry basket for items to deliver to other rooms in the house.

✓ Sort by item. By hanging like items together in the closet—all the shorts, pants, shirts, coats, etc.—you not only ease the in and out process for your clothing, you also create space under your clothing rods. Take it a step further and sort by color.

✓ Shop in your own home first. Don’t begin an organizing project in the container aisle of a store! Instead, dive into your project and see what you need. Using boxes, baskets, and items you already have saves time and money. For example, to sort scarves and socks and more in a dresser drawer, cut the ends off of shoe boxes and arrange in sections; cut PVC pipe in short lengths 12 FEBRUARY 2013 ❘ Metro Christian Living

for a cool look to your sorting, or use zip lock bags to store items used less often. Egg cartons or ice cube trays sort buttons or jewelry, and large baskets hold bulky items.

✓ Backwards coat hangers. If you are short on time or motivation, take 10 minutes to turn all of your coat hangers around backwards. In a few months, you will have a great visual of what you actually wore. We all have those things we like to wear, then there’s the rest of the closet! This takes the time and emotion out of cleaning out.

✓ A shopping bag or laundry basket in the bottom of the closet. Every time you take something off in favor of another selection, place the discarded item in the bag. When it’s full, drop it off at a donation site.

purses, jewelry, belts, or caps. If you have lots of space between the top shelf and the ceiling, add another shelf. Use a hanging clear vinyl shoe bag for more than just shoes—sort scarves, slips, belts, and more in an easy-to-see space that takes up very little room. A valet hook or coat hook here and there is a great place for tomorrow’s outfit, your robe, or your everyday jacket. Use the back of the door for ties or a mirror.

✓ Like your system. Whether you use matching coat hangers, colorful baskets, or add a sentimental dresser to closet, a space that is visually appealing to you helps you keep it organized. When we got new carpet recently, I hung my coat hangers backwards. I’m beginning to see a pattern, and will have to break out the black garbage bags soon! What will you try in your closet this month? Y

✓ Something in, something out. When you buy something new, pull out something old.

✓ Find hidden storage. Use wall space for coat hooks or pegboard to sort

Cathy Haynie is the Headmaster at Christ Covenant School in Ridgeland. She and her husband, Jack, have three teenagers and make their home in Madison.

Is Radial Right for You? Ask Your Cardiologist. Radial (Wrist) Catheterization This is a newer and more convenient procedure that is being offered now at Baptist. Approximately 30% of the catheter procedures at Baptist are now being done using the radial artery. After this procedure, patients can walk around much sooner and can sit up in a recliner. This technique has been shown to be less painful with a much lower complication rate and can allow the patient to go home within a few hours after the procedure. For more information, visit www.mbhs.org/cardiovascular.

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outside in

by SHAWN DEAN

Nobody Loves Me But My Mama “Nobody loves me but my Mama and she might be jivin’ too.” - BB King. he deepest scars are the ones inflicted by the people in your life that are supposed to love you the most. When a life is molded, the

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hands guilty of the most noticeably marked impressions are those of the mama and daddy. The darkest corners of our hearts, the tender hidden places that erupt when touched are there by way of parental influence. The internal unresolved pain that produces the external destruction can almost unanimously find itself linked to the “did” or the “did not” of the father and mother. The women and men I know with the deepest of spiritual depravity and troubled history of addiction and self-destruction, have as their accomplice a father or mother who abused or neglected them. In our culture of “do as I say and not as I do,” the expectation falls on the child to behave as one while the adult vacates his post and returns to childish things. This is the fashion in which I was raised and one I wholeheartedly desire not to repeat, because the pain is real and diabolically linked to my poor behavior in certain situations. When I found Jesus (or when He found me), He planted the story of the Prodigal Son in my heart. When I was only a son and not a father, it spoke to me as a son. Now, as a father, it speaks to me both ways equally. I know the son’s rebellion and repentance. I feel the father’s heart as he rushes to get his transformed son. There’s yet another message I read as it applies to the parent/child relationship dynamic. A son can’t be a son until a father decides to be father—first. I can’t be a son to Jesus unless He first adopts me as His son, and if He ever decided to stop being my Father, I’d, by deductive reasoning, be relieved of my duty as son. And vice versa, even though a mother may have a son, if the son stops being a son, who will she be mother to? The intent of Fatherhood or Motherhood goes way beyond the giving of birth and so proven by the love given by those that adopt. And, when weighed relative to those that birth but abandon their duties, their title deserves to be forfeited. In plain southern English, “don’t call yourself mama or daddy if ya ain’t one.” What I see in my life and in the life of others around me is story after story of fathers and mothers who weren’t, leaving the children

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to pick up the pieces and learn to be parents without a good example to go by. Broken homes abound. I hear confusion and doubt in the voices of teenagers who recognize the hypocrisy in their parent’s Sunday-morningonly Christianity. Their parents are home but they’re not home, present but not present. We used to visit nursing homes as a ministry opportunity, but the sadness and loneliness was overwhelming—a testimony to that torn relationship whose clock never stopped. Then I see Jesus, in the form of the father of the prodigal son, who forgets the past when presented with repentance and moves on to the hopeful future where relationship truly exists. A father with his son back or a son with his father back, either way, is a beautiful thing. Reconciliation is a runaway train on the tracks that lead to worship. It’s healing. It’s beautiful. It’s Jesus—and only Jesus. If you sit there today, father or son, mother or daughter or any combination of the two, don’t give up hope in what He can and wants to do. I’m a transformed son from that same broken home who reconciled with his transformed father before he died. I’ve waited many years to have a mother again, and she appears to be on the threshold of wanting to be one again, and I, likewise, would like to be a son again. And, if you believe that uncomfortable, transparent honesty with a dash of love is a good recipe for relationship, you’re right. Y Shawn Dean is Regional Sales Manager for Airflo Sales, Inc., located in Ridgeland, MS. He and his wife, Laura Beth, have three children, Isabelle, Ann Mabry, and Mary Frances. They live in Madison.

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➺living my call

by PEGGY WALL and BARBARA HAMILTON

A Grandmother’s Heart ociety has done a good job of convincing us that the aging process gives only bumps and bruises, illness and injury, wrinkles and worry, but I have discovered it affords us a marvelous gift called “grandparenting.” It’s all about

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establishing relationships and bringing together generations. When I ask my children about my role as a grandparent, they answer, “Just be there for our kids like our grandparents were for us.” Reminiscing over precious memories of times my kids spent with their grandparents, I know exactly how important that connection is. There are so many things I would like to give the grandchildren, but I realize my time and attention are the best gifts. As my life has become somewhat tamer, I have time to sit and not only talk with them, but also listen to what they have to say. Often, I pull out a book instead of a Kindle, and as the pages are turned, the words become magical. When we’re together, I have to make the most of the time I spend with my grandchildren. I enjoy sharing what I love, and at the same time, learning what they love and finding some common ground of understanding and appreciation of the other. At times that requires some serious patience, and often it can be quite humorous if not downright comical. Think Scrabble vs. Xbox. As a grandparent, I find myself passing down the same life lessons I taught my own children, the ones like faith and honesty, good behavior and citizenship, self-sufficiency and character. And my life’s example must always match my words, or else they’re just that— words. I also catch myself praying for my grandchildren daily just as I always have for my children—praying that God will hold them close, protect them, and give them the courage and strength to be all He wants them to be. Being a grandparent allows me to see the world in a whole new way if I listen to my grandchildren and appreciate their creativity and unique way of doing things—and, if I don’t put them down every time they express themselves whether in dress, speech, or ideas. They are giving me a second chance to realize that some of the behaviors and appearances I couldn’t overlook as a parent, I can now smile 16 FEBRUARY 2013 ❘ Metro Christian Living

about and know they are only for a season. Grandchildren like mine have energy and originality. I like that. I want to soak it up. With them, I feel like my heart can stay young forever, and I have the freedom to act like a kid without fear of being accused of regressing to my second childhood. That is so liberating, and I love it! I love their contagious enthusiasm. I look forward to being with them, and I want them to know it. But I also have to give them a sense of what is real in life and what is not real because today, the two can amazingly, but sadly, look so much like the other. Once I told the story, “The Gingerbread Man” to a youngster who struggled to make a connection between what was real and what was make-believe. When I saw her the next day, I showed her a white bag. “Do you know what’s inside this bag?” I asked. She shook her head, “no.” “It’s a real gingerbread man,” I explained. Taking him from the sack, I continued, “It’s a real gingerbread man, but he’s only a cookie. The story I told you yesterday is make-believe. This cookie can’t talk or run; he’s only a cookie.” The same concept is true for older kids, too. Whether they are children or teenagers, today’s grandchildren can be easily confused about life’s realities.

I have found that one of my greatest responsibilities with my grandchildren is to teach them that Jesus is real and not just a story. I want more than anything to help them understand how He came to us as a baby, grew as a child and teenager, and later became our Savior. I believe God called grandparents, as much as parents, to live out Jesus before these young lives, to answer their questions, and help them understand how important it is to trust God completely. I know one day they’ll forget the movies we saw, the games we played, the gifts and the toys, but I hope they’ll remember the hugs and kisses, the simple text message, “I love you,” with a smiley-face, the prayers prayed over them, and my heart’s desire for them to know the Lord and depend on Him every day in every situation. To me, it isn’t the “job” of grandparenting; it’s the “joy,” and I’d say that’s quite a gift! Y

Peggy Wall and Barbara Hamilton are making and storing precious grandmother memories and having the time of their lives along the way.

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➺modern motherhood by ROBIN O’BRYANT

A Motto and a Mission

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As my children have gotten a little older. I’ve found myself wishing for school to start back less and less when they are out for a break. This Christmas was the best yet.

It’s been almost a year since someone’s thrown up on a road trip; everyone has pretty fail-proof bladder control, and all three girls get along pretty well. I remember the days not so long ago when I started counting down the days until school started back while I was still sitting in the school parking lot. It’s been such a blessing to really enjoy spending time with them and being able to do things other than change diapers and say “NO!” one million times a day. But, after a week of rain back in our own house, everyone was starting to get restless. The girls were fighting and the shriek factor was rising—as was my blood pressure. It was Friday when the sun finally peeked out from behind the clouds and the rain stopped. My kids made the mistake of telling my mother that they were bored. Shuggie, as they call her, suggested we take them for a walk. I scoffed. “I’ve tried that before. You won’t make it 20 feet out of the driveway before one of them is crying that they are hungry, somebody has to go to the bathroom, and somebody else wants you to carry them. It doesn’t work.” She was undaunted. Not that I was surprised. As far as I can tell my mother is fearless in all things. She told them to get dressed; they were going for a walk. I decided to take a walk as well—in the opposite direction, walking as fast as I could with my earbuds shoved in my ears and my music blaring. I walked for about half an hour before circling back to the house to catch up with them. I knew they had headed down to the levee to throw rocks in the river and I figured I could find them there. I wasn’t surprised to see them leaving our driveway for a second time, but what was a bit surprising was that they were all holding garbage bags. Knowing my Momma like I do, I realized instantly that they were headed back to the river to pick up trash. I caught up to them a few minutes later and found them doing exactly that. Aubrey and Emma, my eight and six-year-old, were on all fours climbing carefully up and down the rocks tossing their bags ahead of them. Sadie, my four-year-old holding an open trash bag, trailed behind my mother. They were focused on what they were doing, and the whiny, dissatisfied children I’d seen in my living room only half an hour before were nowhere in sight. Aubrey talked to me as we picked up trash, “Momma! Why are people so nasty? Why would they throw this trash down here? It’s so gross!” Emma squealed every time she found an interesting rock and stuffed them all into her pockets. We filled four bags slam full in less time than it would have taken them to watch one episode of iCarly. The sun began to disappear behind a thick bank of clouds. “Alright, girlies! It's getting really cold, time to go home!” I said. “But Momma! I just found this arrowhead! I want to look for more!” Aubrey

18 FEBRUARY 2013 ❘ Metro Christian Living

protested. Any rock that is remotely shaped like a triangle is an arrowhead. I gave them a few more minutes and then we walked home. The girls played in our yard but their restlessness and whining were gone. I could tell they felt satisfied—the way you do when you’ve done something for someone other than yourself—and they were contented by the fleeting sunshine and crisp cold air. I spent the rest of the weekend thinking about my Momma’s wisdom, in the simple act of getting my kids outside, seeing a need, and then give them the tools to take action and make their community better. I marveled that such a small fragment of time, such a small act, could give them contentment and joy. Aubrey asked on Saturday after my mother left for Alabama, if we could go back to the rocks and finish cleaning up. As it was raining again and the levee is steep, I told her it would have to wait. In church on Sunday, my Sunday School class was talking about the peace of God—what does it mean? Is it real? Is it meant for us in this world or the next? Can we have it? What do we do with it? The discussion was interesting but when Gene Stansel spoke, I grabbed a pen and scribbled down his words on my church bulletin. His words rang true and perfectly put into perspective what my Momma had taught my kids with a simple walk. In his Mississippi drawl, Gene said, “Don’t set out to change the world, just do the next best thing. Everyday.” I believe I’m going to steal my Momma’s attitude and Gene’s words and make them my own personal motto. Can you imagine the world we would live in if we all did the same? Y Robin O’Bryant is mother to three daughters, wife to one husband, and debut author of Ketchup Is A Vegetable And Other Lies Moms Tell Themselves. She shares the drama and hilarity of motherhood in her syndicated family humor column, “Robin’s Chicks” and on her blog by the same name (www.robinschicks.com).

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➺welcome home by AMANDA BROWN

Easy, Affordable Valentine’s Decor ou may have never considered decorating for Valentine’s, but with these easy, affordable ideas, perhaps you will be inspired to add a little something “sweet” to your table, door, or mantel!

© AMANDA BROWN

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Feather Boa Wreath SUPPLIES NEEDED:

♥ 1 piece of foam board, cardboard, or wreath form (I used a 24 x 36 foam board)

Candy-filled Containers Fill any hurricane vase, Mason jar, or apothecary jar with conversation hearts, strawberry marshmallows, M&M’s, or other Valentine’s candy of your choice. These make quick seasonal centerpieces! Spend a few minutes on your candy aisle and see what you come up with. Decorating with seasonal candy is fun and versatile! Y

♥ 3 feather boas (More or less depending on size of circle—pink wreath pictured is approximately 20 inches in diameter.) eBay or online bulk sites are cheaper than buying at a local craft store. ♥ Electric knife or X-Acto knife First, trace a circle shape in the desired size onto the foam board. I used a large round platter for the outside circle and a smaller bowl for the inside circle. Circle shown is 3 1/2 inches wide, but you can adjust these measurements to suit the space where it will hang. Using an electric knife or X-Acto knife, carefully cut out the circle. It does not have to be perfect, as the boas will cover it anyway. Start wrapping the first boa around the wreath form. Continue around the wreath, adding the next two boas. Tuck the ends of each boa into the wrapped boas, eliminating the need for hot glue. This will allow you to use your boas for another project, too! Hang your Feather Boa Wreath over your mantel as part of a Valentine’s display or on your front door! Perfect year-round in a little girl’s room, too! 20 FEBRUARY 2013 ❘ Metro Christian Living

Conversation Heart Tree SUPPLIES NEEDED:

♥ White styrofoam cone (any size) ♥ Conversation Hearts Candies ♥ Glue gun/glue sticks Starting at the base of the cone, dab a dot of glue on the back of each candy, gluing the candy in rows all the way to the top. I did attempt to keep the colors in the same pattern, but it is not necessary! Display varying sizes on a tabletop or mantel. For height, place the trees on wide candlesticks.

Amanda Brown is a Jackson, Mississippi native and blogger at www.amandajanebrown.com. At her blog, you will find affordable ways to create memories using simple seasonal decor, everyday recipes, and family traditions…ideas for living intentionally in the little–and big–stuff…and real-life stories of following Jesus from a far-from-perfect perspective.

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➺salt & light by MARILYN TINNIN

First Presbyterian Day School Raises Funds For Malawi “And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.’” (Matthew 25:40). Metro Christian Living has run several stories in the past year about Clean Water for Malawi. This ministry, headquartered in Jackson, began through a very grass roots effort when local businessman Victor Smith became burdened for the Malawian people. He had been involved with the ministry Here’s Life Africa. That ministry trains pastors, preaches the gospel, and has seen over three million people confess Christ as savior. Now, 85% of the Malawian people are Christians. Poverty is extreme, and one of the greatest challenges the Malawian people face is the widespread absence of safe drinking water. Over 30,000 people, many of them children, lose their lives each year to water related illnesses. Since 2011, Clean Water for Malawi has The birthday boys. Ben McBride, Walker Poole, Jack Harvey, and Charlie Hight present their drilled 58 wells providing safe water to birthday check to Head of School, Gary Herring thousands. An entire well costs $3500, but the value to those served by it is beyond measure. It is indeed the difference between life and death. The students at First Presbyterian Day School had several opportunities in recent months to hear about the ministry and the plight of the Malawian people. Teachers at FPDS had a summer reading project which was to read the book, Kisses from Katie, the story of a young girl who left her home in Tennessee to live Girl Scout Troop 7535 is shown presenting $500 to FPDS Neighborhood in Africa. Bible Teacher Ruth Smith as a contribution toward a water lemonade stands Amid much enthusiasm well in Malawi. provided more and all-around interest, the funds for Clean student body and the faculty Water for individual efforts. Four third-grade boys shared took on the project of raising funds to build Malawi. a birthday party at Laurel Park in December their own well. Since August, the endeavor has and requested that their classmates bring raised enough money to complete one well, but donations for Water for Malawi instead of that was just the beginning. Matching funds by an anonymous donor provided for a second well, birthday gifts! That idea netted $300! And FPDS Girl Scout Troop 7535 the project inspires other schools. It has been a and the fundraising will continue through the raised $500, while another group of students great life lesson for the students to experience remainder of the school year. raised money through lemonade stands the joy of giving their time and treasure to make Although money is collected each week from in their neighborhoods. a difference in the lives of those who have each grade during chapel offering, several Head of School Gary Herring’s hope is that nothing to give in return. Y students have gotten quite creative with their 22 FEBRUARY 2013 ❘ Metro Christian Living

JINGLE COINS Shiny , Golden & Very Satisfying.

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I am so thankful for the foundation of a Christian education at FPDS, and for the privilege to be able to pass on what my wonderful teachers taught me.

Jingle Coin Gift Certificates may be purchased at the Highland Village office, Ste. 281 or Dancing Divas, Ste. 155.

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– MARGARET HARVEY FPDS alum, parent, and kindergarten teacher

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➺healthy living by CONNIE GRANTHAM

The Heart-Healthy Diet

Broaden Your Horizons he words “heart-healthy diet” often conjure up thoughts of boring, tasteless food. There is an almost automatic response to these words that invoke thoughts of what must be eliminated in order to become healthy. Thoughts like, “I will have to give up (blank) and I can never have (blank) again.” By the time we inventory all that must be eliminated, we conclude that our diet will consist primarily of chicken and green beans day in and day out. For sure, boring and tasteless—and oh, how we resist! In reality, nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, the opposite in thinking should occur. Rather than trying to narrow our food world (down to chicken and green beans) to become healthy, we need to reverse our thinking and work to broaden our food horizons. Consider that there is a world of flavor and food out there that we may like, and that might even be considered healthy, but we have never experienced. The saying “variety is the spice of life” certainly applies to what we eat. It takes many different foods every day to keep our bodies and our hearts healthy. The fact is the more varied our diet, the healthier we will become. Food, after all, is what fuels us. It contains the chemicals that our cells need to function properly. Depending on what we consistently put in, these chemicals will either fight or fuel disease. One way to keep variety in our diet is to tune in to Mother Nature. Look to the garden and the season of the year to determine what’s for

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dinner. For instance, during the winter the garden delivers dark, leafy greens, cabbages, root vegetable, and citrus fruits. These are the foods we should focus our winter eating around. Rather than plan the meal around the meat, let the vegetable inspire the meal. Think about what meat might complement the vegetable. Then simply change the focus with the seasons. In the course of a year, many delicious and new foods will be enjoyed. Try it. It’s fun! That said, here are the principles of a hearthealthy diet: ♥ Eat grains that are whole and fewer refined grains. Choose cereals with 5 grams of fiber or more per serving. Oats are good for heart health because they are a good source of soluble fiber. Include them regularly. Choose brown rice or whole wheat bread over white. Limit grain portions to one-fourth of the plate.

♥ Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables every day. Hold the white potatoes. A healthy goal is 5 vegetables and 2 fruits every day. Cover half your plate with mostly non-starchy vegetables such as leafy greens, broccoli, squash, etc.

♥ Limit the amount of dietary cholesterol in your diet. Cholesterol is found only in foods that originate from animals. Choose healthier lean protein sources including fish, chicken, nuts, and beans. Limit red meat, pork, and cheese. Try to eat a meal which includes fish at least twice per week.

♥ Substitute healthy plant fats for unhealthy animal fats. Use all fats in small amounts

because the calorie content is high. Avoid fried foods. Choose unsaturated fats like olive oil, canola oil, nuts, avocado, and natural peanut butter in small amounts. Choose omega-3 fats found in cold-water fish like salmon, sardines, herring, and mackerel.

♥ Limit the amount of sodium/salt to <1500 mg per day. Eighty percent of the sodium we consume comes from packaged and alreadymade foods. Strive to put more real/unpackaged food into your diet. Think: apple, carrot, etc. Cook at home more and use fresh ingredients. Limit eating out to 1-2 times per week.

Finally, strive for a healthy body weight. If you are overweight, try to reduce your calories by paying close attention to portion sizes and limiting high-calorie, high-sugar foods. Limit desserts to once a week. Avoid regular sweet drinks such as sodas and sweet tea. Measure what you eat to become familiar with serving sizes. Keeping a food journal is often a good tool to help identify problem areas and to set goals. Heart-healthy eating is delicious and satisfying. Attitude is everything so be adventurous, broaden your food horizons—and above all else make it fun! Y

Connie Grantham is a registered nurse associated with The Jackson Heart Clinic, P.A. lipid management program.

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the doctors is in by H. CHRIS WATERER, III, M.D.

Guard Your Heart—Literally he heart is a very complex muscle. I have learned just how complex it is in my twenty years of practice as an interventional cardiologist at the Jackson Heart Clinic, P.A. I have watched the field of

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cardiology evolve tremendously over this time period. The biggest changes I have seen are how structural heart problems can be repaired using catheter-based modalities. With February recognized as heart month, it’s a great time to learn not only signs and symptoms that may not be obvious but also the present and future of treating heart disease. Peripheral arterial disease, also known as PAD or PVD, is a broad term that describes any disease or disorder of the blood vessels that are outside of the heart and the narrowing of the peripheral arteries that bring blood to the body. It is a very common problem affecting one of every twenty Americans over the age of 50. Up to 75% of patients that have PAD will have no symptoms. The diagnosis of PAD also increases the likelihood of a heart attack or stroke. Women, in particular, are increasingly diagnosed with PAD. This parallels the increased rates of obesity among women. Scary, huh? Now, let’s look at ways to guard our hearts and try to prevent heart disease from affecting so many individuals. Symptoms to look for with PAD include pain in our extremities (arms and legs-mainly in one’s lower extremities); a tired, weak, heavy, or numb feeling; a weaker pulse in one’s legs or feet; hair loss on legs; loss of leg muscle mass; difficulty moving; and an extreme symptom would be the lack of blood flow in tissue, leading to wounds and ulcers, which can lead to amputation. Some risk factors include snoring, diabetes, hypertension (high blood pressure), dyslipidemia (an abnormal amount of lipids in the blood), those over the age of 50, obesity, family history of heart disease and/or vascular disease, and smoking or tobacco use of any kind. Diabetics are four times more likely to have PAD. This is increased even more for those who have a history of smoking. The first and foremost treatment of any vascular disease is the modification of existing risk factors. The treatment recommended by a cardiologist depends on one’s age and overall health, the severity of one’s PAD, and most importantly, the symptoms that an individual is suffering from. Treatment of PAD may include one or more of the following: lifestyle changes (quit smoking, exercise, diet, and weight loss), medication (treatment of hypertension, high

cholesterol, and/or claudication), and revascularization and surgery. The goal of percutaneous intervention (PCI) is to improve the flow of blood within a blood vessel in a minimally invasive manner. This is done by inserting a catheter in the artery to be treated, and then threading an instrument into the narrowed blood vessel. Angioplasty opens the vessel by inflating and deflating a tiny balloon. Atherectomy involves removal of the atherosclerotic plaque from the body. Stenting involves the insertion of a tiny wire mesh expandable tube (stent) that helps to prop open a blockage. As you can see, PAD/PVD is a prevalent condition that can be treated and some cases prevented with recognition and early treatment. Another exciting and revolutionary area of diagnosis and treatment is in the treatment of valvular heart disease, particularly the aortic valve and aortic stenosis. There are four valves inside the heart. The aortic valve is the one between the left ventricle and the aorta. The left ventricle is the primary pumping chamber of the heart that pushes oxygenated blood into the aorta, which carries blood throughout its branches to various parts of the body. Aortic stenosis is the narrowing of the aortic valve, which prevents blood flow out of the left ventricle. It can be related to a congenital abnormality, degenerative process, or an infectious process. Over time this causes increased strain on the left ventricle, ultimately leading to the thickening of the heart muscle, enlargement of the heart, and diminishing pumping function of the left ventricle. Symptoms of aortic stenosis include chest pain, fainting spells, and congestive heart failure (a variety of symptoms including shortness of breath, swelling, and the inability to lie flat in bed). After the onset of symptoms, survival rates are 50% after two years and 20% after five years. This currently affects about 1.5 million patients. Treatment options are limited to medical therapy (which does nothing for the valve itself) or repair and/or replacement of the valve. Medical treatments include diuretics (fluid

medications) to relieve edema and improve shortness of breath or beta blockers which help the heart muscle relax, slow down, and possibly, decrease thickness over time. In the past, options for repair or replacement of the valve have been limited to open, surgical replacement treatment. Using a balloon to open the valve has been done for years but has had minimal effects (lasting less than six months 50% of the time). Now available, in limited sites, is the ability to replace the aortic valve using an artificial valve inside a stent that is placed, either from the leg or a small incision in the left side of the chest, inside the diseased valve. This is accomplished by a team of doctors (cardiologists, cardiovascular surgeons, and anesthesiologists) and nurses in a hybrid operating room with advanced imaging equipment that is identical to what is used to perform catheterizations. This procedure is called TAVR (simply stands for transcatheter aortic valve replacement). The Edwards Company has developed the artificial valve and procedure over the last several years. Fortunately, this procedure is now available in the United States. Jackson Heart Clinic, P.A., along with the Baptist Medical Center, is one of the first fifty sites to offer this procedure. After this procedure, patients typically stay 1-2 days in the hospital prior to going home, compared to staying 4-7 days after standard surgery. During my practice, the advances in medicine, pertaining to cardiology, have been remarkable over the last twenty years, and I can only imagine what the next twenty years will bring. Y “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” – Proverbs 4:23 “You change your life by changing your heart.” – Max Lucado Dr. Waterer practices interventional cardiology with Jackson Heart Clinic, P.A. He is an active member of Christ United Methodist Church and resides in Jackson with his wife, Dr. Rebecca Waterer, and their two children, Joy Kate and Hank. metrochristianliving.com ❘ FEBRUARY 2013 27

Larry Grantham — A Ma arry Grantham’s resume is, by anyone’s standard, quite impressive—Ole Miss Sports Hall of Fame, Ole Miss Team of the Century, MS Sports Hall of Fame, New York Jets 1969 Super Bowl Champ—and those are just a very few mentions from a very long list of accolades and trophies. He is easy to find on Google or Wikipedia, and he is the first to tell you, in his very unassuming and soft-spoken manner, that in many ways he has lived every little boy’s dream. In the beginning, it seemed to be just that—a dream that had little chance of coming true. His journey had its share of closed doors, but quite a few open windows. And his life gives

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evidence that when God has a plan, the opportunities WILL come your way. When God opened the window, Larry did his part to climb on through! But while some former celebrity athletes never quite find a meaningful path when the glory days fade, Larry’s days are filled with a mission, “to help as many people as I can, any way I can, for as long as I can.” As a recovering alcoholic who has not had a drink in 26 years and as a faithful member of Alcoholics Anonymous, he is a support system to a host of friends who check in with him every day to tell him they are not drinking. As the fourth of six children born to Carl and Mabel Grantham in the tiny community

of Gatesville in Copiah County, his childhood love was sports. All sports. What he lacked in size, he made up for with a natural skillful agility and an uncanny ability to see everything happening on any athletic field at once, plotting his movement based on his teammates’ and his opponents’ positions. This God-given talent was noted throughout his career by coaches, players, and sportswriters! In Larry’s mind, that ability kept him from injuries. He had no “blind spots.” In addition to being very present at the Gatesville Baptist church every time the doors opened and fulfilling the family expectation to walk the aisle and get baptized before the age of 12, the Grantham kids attended grade

A Favorite at Jackson Heart Clinic

an Among Men school in Crystal Springs. Larry played every sport during the year, attending after school practices each day, even though being a member of the team meant missing the school bus and having to walk the eight miles home every night. He laughs when he says that when he tells that part of his story to people, they always ask why he didn’t catch a ride with someone. His answer is always the same, “I lived so far out at the end of a road that nobody was ever going in that direction!” His father Carl, a World War II vet, returned from service with a lung disease. Carl worked hard to provide for his family, but Larry knew that if he had any hope of attending college it would be up to him to get

some kind of scholarship. His football team tied for championship in the Little Dixie Conference during his senior year. Ole Miss came scouting but told him he was just too small for college ball. Mississippi State offered him a one-year tryout, but his dad nixed that idea saying that if he got hurt, there would be no scholarship and no way to continue his education. Larry was headed to junior college as his only apparent option, but because his 18th birthday did not fall until the following September, he was eligible to play American Legion baseball the summer following high school graduation. The Ole Miss baseball coaches Tom Swayze and Buster Poole happened to be in

He was following instructions and healing according to plan from throat cancer when his heart began to beat out of rhythm and cause problems with breathing and an irregular pulse. He landed back in the hospital where he met Dr. Judson Colley of Jackson Heart Clinic. Dr. Colley became a new fan, a huge cheerleader, and the one who helped put Larry on the stable path to yet another recovery. Atrial Fibrillation, which was Larry’s diagnosis, can be a chronic condition and one where there is not a one-size-fits-all remedy. Treatment is very much trial and error and certainly helped when a patient is very “patient” understanding that the remedy will likely involve trying several things before finding the magic formula. Dr. Colley, like so many others, was drawn to Larry’s winsome personality and his cooperative spirit. There was an instant connection—as there seems to be often where Larry Grantham is involved. Football is ever a topic that breaks the ice and opens the relationship, but it’s Larry’s attitude and his transparent and authentic heart that forges the lasting friendship. metrochristianliving.com ❘ FEBRUARY 2013 29

From the Little Dixie Conference champion (left) to the NFL (center and right), Larry Grantham won the respect of coaches, teammates, and opponents.

something of the alumni team leader who keeps up with the guys he played with and keeps them all abreast of each other. They are a tight-knit fraternity who would literally take the shirts off their backs to help a teammate who needed a hand. the stands one night when Larry had a particularly good evening. They signed him for a baseball scholarship on the spot. But a few days later that door seemed to slam shut when they called to say they did not have the funds for a full scholarship but could do a half scholarship. The remaining tuition was still beyond Larry’s reach since there were five other Grantham children his parents were trying to feed, clothe, and educate. A few days passed and Ole Miss called with another offer. They could give him half of a scholarship in baseball and half of a scholarship in football. That is how Larry Grantham became an Ole Miss Rebel for life! He became a key player in the successful 1957, ’58, and ’59 teams and was named to the All SEC football team in 1958 and 1959 when Ole Miss defeated LSU in a Sugar Bowl rematch game. The regular season contest that year is remembered for Ole Miss’ defeat when Billy Cannon made his famous 89-yard punt return—but as Larry points out the Ole Miss defense gave up only 21 points the entire season. Larry never got the attention in the national press that his teammates Charlie Flowers or Bobby Franklin received, but he was never out for himself, and even then, the values that had been instilled in him as part of a large, loving, God-fearing, family served him well both on the field and off. When Larry participated in the 1960 Hula Bowl, the post-season invitational game that was something of an all-star game for collegiate standouts, he was named Most 30 FEBRUARY 2013 ❘ Metro Christian Living

Valuable Player. He definitely earned the respect of the professional scouts who had previously considered him “too small” to play in the Pros. Instead, both the Baltimore Colts and a brand new AFL team, the New York Titans, drafted him. Larry chose to go with the Titans. Three years later, the Titans became the Jets, and Larry was there serving as team captain for seven of those remaining 10 years of his career. The Super Bowl victory over the favored Colts in the 1969 game was at that time, “the happiest, most fantastic moment of my life.” Who could have ever thought that the boy who was “too small to play” at every level would walk away with the game ball in a world football championship! To this day, he is

Larry and Dr. Judson Colley at Jackson Heart became fast friends.

Life After the Limelight Looking back, Larry’s subtle seduction into alcohol addiction should not have come as a surprise. He says, as a professional football player he had a lot of free time, extra money in his pocket, and he and his football cohorts spent a lot of time sitting on bar stools in New York City, talking football and being treated like celebrities. “We had a nucleus of about 40 guys, and at least 25 of them drank pretty heavily.” It was 1972 when the football career ended, and at age 35 he returned to Mississippi to start a successful business. As a salesman, he traveled a lot, a fact that did not do much to discourage his drinking habit. But he thought he could handle alcohol fine for a

Larry’s amazing ability at gauging “blind spots” kept him injury free through his career.

long time. In the beginning, when law enforcement would pull him over for erratic driving, they would recognize his name, take one look at his Super Bowl ring, start talking football and let him go without so much as a slap on the wrist. Eventually, however, his luck ran out. There came a point when nobody could look the other way. Larry says, “I realized that drinking was just too much a way of life for me. It was way too important.” It was affecting his family and every other aspect of his daily life. The first step of the Alcoholics Anonymous Twelve Step Program says, “We admitted we were powerless over alcohol – that our lives had become unmanageable.” He decided to do something about the unmanageable part of his life and put himself in a two-week treatment program in Brinkley, Arkansas. That was in 1986. He has not had a drink since, and the same tenacity that launched his unlikely football success story, is evident in the way he has embraced his own recovery—and the recovery of others. His past achievements in football gave him an instant platform. His active role in AA led to many speaking opportunities, and he became a kind of one-man ministry in befriending and going the extra mile with anyone who struggles with addiction. When he was invited to speak at an AA convention in Kansas City 12 years ago, the CEO of Freedom House, a recovery facility in Glen Gardner, New Jersey, was also a speaker. Fred Reihl says, as the head of a non-profit, he is always looking for a celebrity to get interested in helping him raise funds for the program. Freedom House boasts a better than 90% sustained recovery rate for the men who complete their program. He was thrilled to hear that a former New York Jet player would be speaking in a time spot close to his, and he

hoped whoever this guy was would be the guy he had been hoping to find to help the Freedom House program. He says he was not prepared for the Larry Grantham he met. “First of all, I was expecting a hulking 240pound linebacker, rather than 180-pound Larry.” As others before him had learned, there is nothing “small” about Larry’s heart. He knew in short order that this was the man he had been hoping to find! Any doubts Fred had vanished with the first conversation they had. There was an instant connection, and it was as if the two had been childhood friends. Fred says he was always inviting sports figures to come to New Jersey and speak to the men enrolled in the program at Freedom House, but few ever took him up on it. He had learned to “half listen” when someone promised to come, take a look, and meet the men in the program. Larry was different. Fred has since learned that “If Larry Grantham says he will do something, he does it—and not halfway.” He went up to Freedom House the first time and fell in love with the place. His ability to connect with the residents was amazing, and he delighted in letting them try on his Super Bowl ring while assuring them that if he could get sober and stay that way, then anybody could. Before Larry left, Fred told him about a golf tournament Freedom House had been putting on the last few years. It had never really turned a profit, but maybe Larry would consider lending his name to the tournament and calling on a few of his former Jets teammates to come in and play. That could raise money to help defray the expenses of offering this recovery program to those who could not pay. Larry was on board, but Fred says he had absolutely no idea how hard Larry was going to work to make it happen. The first year Larry’s invitation brought in 24 of his former teammates. Eleven years later Freedom House boasts such names as Joe Namath, Don Maynard, Emerson Booser, and others that have been part of the tourneys that have raised about $1.7 million dollars to help Freedom House. Fred notes the camaraderie that exists among these former Jets. He attributes a great deal of it to Larry’s ability to connect with people. He cares on a level that makes everyone want to be his friend. Larry continues to make visits to Freedom House. He has made over 20 visits during the last 12 years. Fred says, “I would call Larry Grantham a man among men. Over the years there has never been a request he said, ‘no’ to.”

Larry’s memorabilia from Crystal Springs High School and Ole Miss now reside at the MS Sports Hall of Fame & Museum.

Health Challenges Larry’s two-a-days and years of tough physical workouts seemed to carry him for a lot of years. He confesses that he really did not hit the gym or pay great attention to his health post football. He was blessed with good genes and having worked his body so hard for so long, he rode on that effort for years after the gridiron. Eventually, however, his negligence seemed to catch up with him. He was living in Olive Branch and not feeling his usual fit self. He went to a doctor for a hernia repair that turned out to involve much more. There was something amiss in the GI tract, and the doctor ended up taking a portion of his small intestine. But that was just the beginning. When he came home to recuperate, he began to have problems with eating. His throat was raw and painful. He stepped on the scales one morning and saw metrochristianliving.com ❘ FEBRUARY 2013 31

that his weight had dropped to 140 pounds, and he knew instinctively that he was much sicker than he had imagined. He called his daughter, Leigh Anne, who works for a Jackson physician, and she told him to get in his car and come to Jackson that instant. She was able to get him scheduled to see a cadre of doctors on short notice. He was diagnosed that very weekend with NonHodgkin’s Lymphoma. Larry’s fearful spirits were lifted by oncologist, Dr. Bobby Graham, who told him, “This is not only treatable, but it is curable.” Months of debilitating chemo followed, but so did remission. Larry continued to work the AA program and to encourage and be involved in the lives of recovering alcoholics. He is one who always sees the glass “half full” rather than “half empty.” By the time he came to the last of his chemo treatments, he had racked up an astronomical medical tab. Even with great insurance, the outstanding balance was enough to bankrupt him. Larry says his parents had taught him well that a responsible person always pays his bills. He came to the agonizing decision that the only way he could pay down his debt substantially was to sell the possession he most valued—his Super Bowl III ring. With a little research he discovered a memorabilia dealer in Las Vegas who came highly recommended. Victor was honest and knew how to get top dollar for something like Larry’s ring. The two corresponded, and the ring went on an Internet auction site, and the bidding began. When Larry’s friends at Freedom House discovered Larry’s intentions, they immediately began their own fundraising efforts to buy back that ring. They contacted a sportswriter at the New Jersey Star-Ledger who wrote a story on the former Super Bowl champ and his plight.

New York Jet Larry Grantham’s relatively small size never kept him from being a forceful linebacker.

Meanwhile, Larry was having second thoughts, too. He called Victor and asked if he could pull the ring from the auction. Victor was sympathetic, but he explained why that was not possible. The bidding had progressed too far; and his credibility and reputation were at stake here. Days passed, and Larry’s angst grew. One morning he dropped to his knees in front of his couch and surrendered the situation to God. He prayed that God’s will would be done in every area of his life and that he wanted more than anything to be at peace with whatever God’s will was. “You know,” he says, “Every time I have gotten even a little away from my upbringing and away from God, He has a way of setting in place circumstances that only He could set in place.” Such divine interventions affirm to Larry the reality of God’s protective care and redemptive love.

Not even one hour passed before the telephone rang, and it was Victor, the memorabilia dealer. He and his wife had gone to a funeral in Pittsburgh and he had picked up a Star-Ledger in an airport. He had read the story about Larry. He shared that he and his wife were also in recovery from alcohol addiction, and they were so moved by Larry’s courage, compassion, and character that they agreed the right thing to do in this situation was to send the ring back. What are the odds a memorabilia dealer from Las Vegas would happen through an airport on the east coast on the one day in 365 that a personal story that affected him and an ex-professional football player/client from Mississippi would appear on the front page of the sports section? And the happily-ever-after ending includes the fact that the $15,000 the Freedom House had raised to buy back the ring went toward Larry’s medical bills!

Today At 74, Larry’s recoveries—from addiction, from cancer, and from a heart crisis—inspire those around him. He brags that his “numbers” are perfect, and his focus continues to be “helping anybody and everybody that I can, in any and every way I possibly can, for as long as I can.” You will find him on Sundays either at the First Baptist Church of Crystal Springs or at Pinelake in Brandon where he visits quite regularly. “Family is everything to him,” his friend, Linda, tells me. He is the proud father of a son and a daughter, and grandfather to six grandchildren who bring him great joy. Three sisters and one living brother round out the family circle, and life is very, very good. God has been very, very good to Larry Grantham.

Y

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➺let’s talk it over by LAUREL BOYD

Why Is Life So Hard Sometimes? everal months ago I was contemplating this very question— again. My sister had just had her gallbladder removed and was having a horrible recovery. As one not a stranger to suffering (stay

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If God knows all, can do anything, is not cruel, and cares about us, then why would he allow suffering in our lives?

tuned for examples,) I have considered this question before. As I thought about it in relation to people that believe in God, I came up with only five options that seemed viable to me. Option one is that God doesn’t know about our problems. This is quickly dispelled; it seems that most people who believe in God believe that He is all knowing. As 1 John 3:20b tells us, “…God is greater than our hearts and He knows everything.” Option two, I thought, is that He knows our problems but can’t do anything about it. This can also be quickly dismissed when we think about how He made the world out of nothing, parted the Red Sea, and raised Lazarus from the dead. Actually, we can think of so many different miracles He has done and realize that He can do anything He wants to do. We know “…with God all things are possible,” (Matt 19:26b). The third option for me was that God is cruel; He actually likes to see us suffer. Then I thought of God as a father. That stopped me short because I am a parent also and I know that I would do literally anything to keep my kids from suffering. If broken and sinful me as a parent thinks like this, then how much purer and better is God’s love for his children? God does not enjoy hurting people or causing them sorrow according to Lamentations 3:33. Marching on. Option four would be that God just doesn’t care. This one caused me to pause and think because—being completely honest—sometimes it seems like this is true. When life gets hard, I can truly wonder if God cares. As I pondered this option, a verse I learned in childhood popped into my mind—”Give all your worries to God for He cares about you,” (1 Peter 5:7). Well okay, so there is one form of proof (and, of course, there are many more) that He does actually care. This led me to my final option—number five. If God knows all, can do anything, is not cruel, and cares about us, then why would He allow suffering in our lives? He must actually have a purpose in it. It must be His plan to use hard things to refine us and grow us even though we don’t get it and can’t understand. “”As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts,” (Isaiah 55:9). No, this doesn’t make the pain stop or the hurts go away, but to me as I thought these options through and then landed on option five, it somehow made it more okay. I felt less alone in the pain after considering all of this. Suffering is on a spectrum. I’m not sure how you would rate a bad recovery from surgery like my sister had, but I can tell you that in my life if we used a scale of 1 to 10, I have definitely had some sufferings that are 10s. When I was 18, I watched my mother die of cancer. I have a son that was born with autism. My husband and I have a baby in heaven, and I am in the midst of raising teenagers and have been blindsided by the challenges that brings. As a therapist, I have sat across from and wept with clients who have sufferings that on that same scale would rate a 72! And in all of it I can say that these are the five options, or some form of them, that always seem to surface as to why God would allow pain. Furthermore, landing on option five, when NOT used (and this is important) as a trite answer or a quick fix, brings comfort. While these observations probably haven’t been new revelations, I hope they can offer you some security, like they did for me, and make whatever you are going through a little more bearable. Y

Laurel Boyd, MA, LMFTA , is a marriage and family therapist, treating drug and alcohol addictions at Summit Counseling of First Baptist Church Jackson. She can be reached at 601.949.1949 or lboyd@fbcj.org.

34 FEBRUARY 2013 ❘ Metro Christian Living

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➺food for thought

“My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of Him that sent me, and to finish His work.” – John 4:34

by LYDIA BOLEN

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Sweetness

he month of February typically brings to mind this word— Chocolate. Candy, cookies or any combination of different chocolates seem to be

the gift of choice on Valentine’s Day. Everyone, young and old alike, looks forward to February 14th! Engage your children in the making of some family favorites this year. Even my 4-year-old granddaughter is learning the art of helping her Mom roll out the cookies! It can be a fun activity for all. Try some of my personal chocolate favorites to share this year with loved ones. Happy Valentine’s Day!

CHOCOLATE TOFFEE BARK 35 to 40 1 1 1 1/2 1 1/2

saltine crackers cup butter cup packed light brown sugar cups semisweet chocolate chips cups walnuts or pecans, coarsely chopped Cooking Spray

Line a 15 x 10 x 1 inch baking pan with foil. Coat with cooking spray. Place crackers in rows on the foil. In a saucepan, melt butter; add the brown sugar and bring to a boil for about 3 minutes. Pour over crackers and spread until covered. Bake at 350 degrees for 5 minutes. Remove from oven and turn the oven off. Sprinkle chocolate chips and nuts over crackers. Return to oven until chocolate is melted (about 1 to 2 minutes). Remove pan from oven. Using an offset spatula, press nuts into the chocolate. Cut into one-inch squares while warm. Cool completely. Remove candy from foil. Yield: 5 dozen

36 FEBRUARY 2013 ❘ Metro Christian Living

TING-A-LINGS 3 1 1 1

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Melt the butterscotch and chocolate chips together in the microwave or a double boiler. Combine the Wheaties and cocktail peanuts in a large bowl. Pour the melted chips over the Wheaties combination and mix well. Drop by teaspoon onto waxed paper until set. (Can be placed in decorative paper cups; place paper cups in a miniature muffin tin to make it easier.) Servings: 36

CHOCOLATE FUDGE 3 3/4 1 1 1 1 1

cups sugar cup (one and one-half sticks) butter can (5 ounce) evaporated milk package (12 ounce) semisweet chocolate chips jar (7 ounce) marshmallow creme cup pecans or walnuts, chopped teaspoon vanilla extract

Grease a 9 x 13 inch pan. Bring sugar, butter, and milk to a full boil in a large saucepan on medium heat; stirring constantly (about 2 minutes). Remove from heat. Add chocolate and marshmallow creme; stir until melted. Stir in nuts and vanilla extract. Transfer fudge to the prepared pan, and let cool before cutting into squares. Makes about 3 pounds Y

Remember to make memories through the kitchen— “the heartbeat of the home.” E-mail me at lbbolen@gmail.com for any questions.

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➺let’s get real by JANIE PILLOW

Conflict: His and Hers (Part II) The cycle goes like this:

In counseling about relationships, I often draw a circle that demonstrates how we become disenchanted about our partner and the relationship. Or put another way, we wonder if they really love us. Often we doubt that we love them.

38 FEBRUARY 2013 ❘ Metro Christian Living

We marry an ideal. In a dating relationship, we are both putting our best face forward. Often we act like we are the person we know the other person wants. But when we marry, the age-old longing to be accepted for who we are becomes the flip side of longing to be married to our ideal—not a real person who is a sinner just like we are. Remember, we want to be accepted for who we really are, but we want the other person to be our ideal partner.

1.

Next comes what I refer to as “the expansion phase.” This is when we are trying to help the other person become who we think we need for them to be. (Now remember that they are doing the same in regard to us. Women are just usually more obvious about it than men. Women’s brains are more formed to tolerate obvious conflict than men’s). While we are in this expansion phase, what we are doing to each

2.

other to “help them be our ideal” is often very hurtful and often makes both parties become defensive in their own style. This starts “the constriction phase.” Both parties are losing their feeling of security and belief in the initial relationship. When I see them in counseling, they are often sitting there holding and defending their own wound because they have become convinced if they let go of it, they will bleed to death and their partner won’t care. Of course, the partner is feeling and doing the same thing. They have basically forgotten all the good times and feelings that were in the initial phase of the relationship because their unhealthy conflict has caused them to doubt their partner and the relationship. John 10 describes Christ’s relationship toward his followers. He says, “I know them. They hear my voice, and no one can snatch them out of my hands.” I often cup my hands and use this passage to form a metaphor for what a real relationship is like. I put my hands

3.

together and say, “If you act like you love me, I feel secure.” And then I say (as I am separating my cupped hands), “If you act like you don’t love me, I am not secure because I have lost my confidence in the relationship.” And the dance goes back and forth from cupped hands that are together to opening your hands and letting what is in drop. Belief in the relationship is just that. I choose to believe that I do not understand what you did, but that you married me because you love me. I choose to believe that you are not my enemy. (There is an enemy, but it’s not your partner.)

Both of us are married to real people, not our ideal that we dreamed up when we were five years old... In keeping with this, when I knew that my husband was about to drop a bomb on me, I would say, “Okay, before we start, I need to hear you say that you love me—even though you are disappointed in my actions, beliefs, or feelings.” That way I could hear what he was saying from the position of security. He could feel that I knew he was disappointed in me, but I was ready to face his thoughts. In effect, we were not going to declare the other the enemy. If you are my enemy, I must defend myself. If your problem is with something I did, not who I am, it is easier for me to try and work with you on a solution. If we approach it from a defensive posture, then it is a self-fulfilling prophecy. We will get what we are looking for. Returning to my cycle: I try to help people look at themselves (as the Bible does,) not the other people. If all we do is blame, nothing changes, and we are not open to new information about the relationship and ourselves. Our blind spots continue to exist, but BOY DO I SEE YOUR FLAWS! It’s terrible to be so holy and be married to such a fallen sinner! Thus, if we began to see who we really are, the other person can stop his defensive stand and began to look at him/herself and see that they are a fallen person just as we are. Both of us can realize that we were doing the best we could with the choices we thought we had. This phase I called “the reality phase”. Both of us are married to real people, not our ideal that we dreamed up when we were five years old that would do all the good things our parents did and make up for all the childhood losses.

4.

This is how we go from anger (remember, anger is a secondary response). Hurt, loss, frustration, and fear are what is primary and make us feel vulnerable. We defend against this vulnerable feeling by pulling for power. Anger makes us feel powerful, but it also can make the other person the enemy. It is rather the problem underneath the feelings that is the thing on which we need to work together. I may need to give you a road map. Where I am going in this series is towards forgiveness and learning how to restore broken relationships. But until we grow in sanctification and maturity as a person, we will stay stuck in our five-year-old place. You know when little boys are playing trucks and one gets mad and says, “I’ll take my truck and go home.” Thus, the fun game has come to an abrupt end. They may lay this quarrel aside and play trucks again, but no one grew in the process. As we get willing to stay in the relationship and stop blaming and start learning what each one of us does that is hurtful to the other person, we can then go to God with this new found knowledge about ourselves and ask for grace and mercy. When we learn how to really accept grace and mercy, we learn how to accept ourselves, fallen as we are. Only in this new position of self-caring, we have renewed energy to grow and solve problems. We realize more and more that God loves us, but that he is also conforming us into the image of His Son— and lo and behold, He is using that person to whom I am married to enlighten me!! As we do this process, our trust gets stronger. As our trust grows, we are more able to keep our hands cupped together and look into those cupped hands at two struggling people that are doing the best they can at the time. Because we work through one crisis, it gives us confidence that we can work through the next. Oh, by the way, if you need to ask for reassurance before the conflict start, it’s okay. Christ in the garden went to his father and asked for reassurance. Hebrews 12:1-6 reminds us that sanctification and forgiveness are Christian acts, but both are a process. Remember forgiveness from God was not just He saying, “It’s okay. I forgive you.” It took a lot more than that. Y Part I of this series can be found in our December 2012 issue. Janie Pillow is in private practice at Janie Pillow Counseling (601- 8534788) She is also Co-founder of Third Millennium Ministries and has served since its inception as Chairman of the Board. See www.ThirdMill.Org. “Seminary Education for the World for Free.” metrochristianliving.com ❘ FEBRUARY 2013 39

➺pastor’s perspective Life, Love, and Facebook by LEE HUTCHINGS

hen God looked at everything he had created in Genesis there was only one thing he saw and called “not good”—for man to be alone (Genesis 2:18). And with all the

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transformation, progress, and change in human history, our need to be known and loved has never changed nor evolved. In many ways as a culture and society, we have never been closer or more connected to one another. Only 150 years ago, it was unimaginable to travel around the world in less than 24 hours. And 100 years ago, it seemed impossible to view important events in real time and in living color, from the comfort of your favorite couch. Over 50 years ago, a programmable computer took up the space of a boardroom. And only 15 years ago, the terminology of Twitter, Facebook, and social media were as foreign as the iPhone 5. For the most part, these avenues of connection are a gift! The ability to express and identify ourselves through new mediums and blogosphere are great opportunities for the church to spread the Gospel and reach out to a dying world. However, like many tools, these opportunities can be abused. By substituting the real thing—authentic relationships—for their shadow (how many Facebook friends do you have?), we run the risk of missing out on the very best God has for us. Some have characterized human relationships in 2013 as “a mile wide and an inch deep.” This is certainly true of those who are thirsty for the kind of community where we can feel at home, truly be our selves, and yet are looking in all the wrong places. (For a much more insightful analysis than I can give, check out Jesse Rice’s The Church of Facebook: How the Hyperconnected are Redefining Community) God not only expresses his dissatisfaction with the isolation of mankind in Genesis, but when He calls His people to eternal life he does so with the understanding that this life is a life together. Jesus sums up the Law by saying, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind—and the second is like it: you shall love your neighbor as yourself,” (Matthew 22:37, 39). Loving my neighbor then is an extension of loving the Lord, and primarily of the love He first showered upon us (1 John 4:19). The New Testament gives us a beautiful picture of what relationships are meant to look like, and how God fills our need to be loved. Look and listen to Acts 2:42-47 and see if this is not something we all want: “And they devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.” 40 FEBRUARY 2013 ❘ Metro Christian Living

Did you see what characterized harmony and joy in the early church? Devotion to teaching and fellowship, to hospitality and committed time to one another, to mutual concern and compassion, to prayer and tremendous reverence and awe in worship. These are the pillars of true connection and relationship. Sin seeks to separate us from those realities. Sin always promises to fulfill our desires, but it never delivers. Meanwhile, the Gospel sets us free to enjoy exactly what we need: a right relationship with a just and holy God and reconciles us to one another, so that we can be loved as we were intended. But in a culture that is increasingly more self-obsessed, seeking true community in the Church is as essential as ever. In Acts 2, the believers ministered to one another from an over-flowing cup of grace and peace that gave them the joy to consider others as more important than themselves. They were not captive to the temptations of a world that demanded not only their time, but in some cases their life. This they knew because Jesus says, “ Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom...For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also,” (Luke 12:32, 34). A person who treasures themselves will be starved for love and relationships. But a person who treasures Christ and one another will have more joy than they can ever imagine. We were made for it. Y Lee Hutchings is the Pastor of Discipleship at Highlands Presbyterian Church in Ridgeland. He and his wife, Diane, are originally from Akron, Ohio.

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Faith & Business Luncheon Thursday, February 21, 2013 at 11:00 am Presented by the Mississippi College School of Business Anderson Hall, Mississippi College Clinton, Mississippi 39058

h Tickets are $25 and include lunch. RSVP requested and recommended to mcbusiness@mc.edu or to 601-925-3421

The Faith & Business Luncheon is the highlight of the L. D. Jordan Faith and Business Week at the MC School of Business—a week-long focus on faith and career. Keynote at 11:00 am, followed by panel discussion and lunch at noon

Keynote Speaker: Bill Rhodes Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of AutoZone, Inc metrochristianliving.com ❘ FEBRUARY 2013 41

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4 | O! HOW CUTE (601) 825-5080 Love Frame, $41.95 Cube Candle with Cross, $18 Aromatique Smell of Spring

42 FEBRUARY 2013 ❘ Metro Christian Living

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➺chewed petunias by SUSAN E. RICHARDSON

Throwing Down Your Staff Moses answered, “What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, 'The LORD did not appear to you'?” Then the LORD said to him, “What is that in your hand?” “A staff,” he replied. The LORD said, “Throw it on the ground.” Moses threw it on the ground and it became a snake, and he ran from it. Then the LORD said to him, “Reach out your hand and take it by the tail.” So Moses reached out and took hold of the snake and it turned back into a staff in his hand. (Exodus 4:1-4) While listening to a sermon, I found myself considering this scene where God commands Moses to throw down his rod and it becomes a snake. The idea intrigued me because the Lord had been asking me to “throw down” a lot of things. The basic idea works except for the fact that Moses wasn’t doing anything wrong by holding onto his staff. He was an older man and needed its support. As I mused over the idea, I realized that when we’ve endured pain we often hold onto things we shouldn’t. We cling to something besides the Lord to hold us up. I had done that. I held onto unhealthy defenses and other things the Lord wanted me to release. Just as Moses’ staff became a snake, anger writhes and hisses as it hits the ground before the Lord. Shame slithers through the soul while fear constricts our very being. Bitterness injects venom into every cell. Letting those things out in the open feels as dangerous as standing before a King Cobra. God then called Moses to pick up the snake, but in the most ridiculous way possible from a human perspective. Pick it up by the tail. That’s not in anyone’s list of “10 things you should do when confronted by a snake.” And the snake became a rod again. Actually, it went from a rod, to the rod, to the rod of God. The rod didn’t just become what it was before, but became part of what God was doing. Perhaps we must face how dangerous our false support can be before we can release it. In some ways Moses had it easy. He could tell that the snake was dangerous. When it comes to our defenses, they feel safe. Coming out from behind defenses leaves us feeling vulnerable, which is why the process can take a lot of time.

When I threw my own pain and woundedness before the Lord, He didn’t say, “Okay, I’ll take care of that now. You can get up and we’ll move on with what I’d like you to do.” I wanted instant healing, but received a difficult journey that seemed worse than what I had originally. I thought two or three months’ work would smooth things over. Instead I spent two years plodding through painful insights and changes. The old poison was familiar and comfortable. Leaving well-known ground to walk through a jungle of memories, never knowing when pain might strike, terrified me. Keeping my deadly defenses seemed safer than recognizing that they were killing me. When we obey and release our defenses, God’s transformational power changes them into tools He can use. In His hands, anger can become peace, and shame, security. Fear becomes faith, and bitterness changes to contentment. Only you and the Lord know what you’ll need to do for that to occur, but that bit of “foolishness” will be the key to healing. Much later the Israelites got a lesson in where our true protection lies. They were terrified when they realized the Egyptians had come after them. “Moses answered the people, ‘Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today,’” (Exodus 14:13). Only the Lord provides true safety and deliverance. What are you trusting instead of the Lord? Beginning to see the defenses you’re holding onto is both painful and frightening. If you’re not ready to do that yet, give yourself some time. When you begin to see what you need to release, stand firm in the face of the fear.

Lord, Your commands don’t always make sense. Give us the courage to stand firm and wait for Your direction, and to follow that direction. No matter how frightening or dangerous the result seems to be, You’re leading us to healing. Y (*To get started with the full chewed petunias story, please visit www.chewedpetunias.com. You’ll find the story plus other material that may help you along the way.)

Susan E. Richardson has a passion for meeting people’s needs through the written word. You can reach her by email at Susan@chewedpetunias.com or check either of her two websites: www.chewedpetunias.com or www.nextlevelcritiques.com 44 FEBRUARY 2013 ❘ Metro Christian Living

single still, single again by AMY INGRAM

Trusting the Plans He Has for Me

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gh. I’ve written three or four articles and none of them seem fitting in this moment. I

thought it’d be appropriate to write an article about the love of Christ with Valentine’s Day looming. But no, the Lord sat on all of those, changed my life, and said, “Here, write. Talk about this.” Well, okay Lord! When I graduated from Ole Miss, I cried all the way home. I didn’t have a clue what I was going to be doing, the job I wanted wasn’t panning out, and life just seemed to be caving in from all of the unknowns. Within two months of that absolutely ridiculous time, I had an incredible internship with a national magazine, and was able to truly look back and see God’s hand in every facet of my life. I proceeded to take that job I wanted after my internship, hated every day of it (funny how God gives us what we think we want only to be shown it’s not really what we needed at all), and ended up moving to Jackson to take a job with a local ad agency. And that started the last 10 years of my life. So let’s talk about last Friday. Week before last, one of our major client’s business model was changed dramatically, thus causing them to eliminate the need for an agency. This change caused us to lose the account and within a week, jobs had been eliminated—including mine. I honestly never, ever, ever thought I would be one of those people. You know, the kind that lose their jobs. How come I thought I was exempt, I’ll never know. The week prior to the layoffs, the Lord had been preparing my heart and mind. It was like

he had spoken to me, told me to get in his Word, and go ahead and guard all aspects of myself with his truth. So as I got the call that my time was up, I was full of his grace, his goodness, and he had protected me enough that I was able to muster the words: “Thank you for this opportunity for the past 10 years.” Now here’s where you need to know something—that behavior mentioned above is not Amy. My flesh is weak. My heart fails. My selfish gain and bitterness is fighting against every bit of Christ in me. But guess what, He can win. He has won. God is not shocked. He has not forsaken me. He is with me. He protects me, guides me, and

ultimately has His hand upon me. I will look back in years to come and praise Him for what He is doing right now. The verses, as mentioned above: My God “makes perfect and protects all that concerns me.” (Psalm 138:8). He “goes before and comes behind, and has his hand upon me,” (Psalm 139:5), and ultimately means all “suffering/trials for his glory and good” (James 1). I am choosing to be the woman “who laughs at her future” (Proverbs 31), rather than choosing to be filled with extreme fear. For with Christ, his perfect love cast fear aside. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt there is one person that will read this and is either going through this, has been through this, or fears this. Please hear this: God’s got this life of ours. I say all of this to you so that you may know that God has every part of your life—your job, your family, your friends, and ultimately your marital status under control. No plan of his can be thrown aside (Job 42:2). Again, welcome to 2013. The year of new beginnings. New successes. New journeys. New jobs. And Happy Valentine’s Day. Don’t sulk— go serve someone. A nursing home, orphanage, homeless shelter. Do not let the enemy write his lines over your mind. Soy Amada—I am loved. You are loved. Be loved. Y Amy Ingram is a Senior Account Executive at a local advertising agency. She lives in Madison with her little boo, Mabel. Feel free to contact her at amyeingram@gmail.com and/or follow her on twitter @ingramjackson.

“As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”– Joshua 24:15

GAMEROOM GALLERY 660 Ridgewood Road • Ridgeland, Mississippi

601-853-7777 www.gameroom-gallery.com metrochristianliving.com ❘ FEBRUARY 2013 45

➺sports victories

by ROBERT WILSON • PHOTOS COURTESY OF ARGONAUTS.CA

Swayze Waters

Gridiron for God’s Glory

ormer Jackson Prep star kicker, Swayze Waters, had his biggest moment as a pro football player November 25 when he helped the Toronto Argonauts win the Grey Cup, the Canadian Football League’s version of the Super Bowl.

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But that wasn’t Waters’ biggest highlight of that day. It came during the wild celebration when Toronto safety Etienne Boulay gave Waters a massive hug and said, “Thank you,” with tears rolling down his cheeks. “That was my biggest win over the year, not the Grey Cup,” Waters said. You see, the reason why Boulay was telling Waters thank you was because Waters was a major influence on Boulay receiving eternal life in Heaven just a few weeks before. Let Waters explain. “Etienne is a big star in Canada (he won two Grey Cups in six years for Montreal) and he signed with Toronto on the same day I did,” Waters said. “We stayed in the same motel and became friends. I didn’t have a car up there so I would ride with him to eat all the time. I began to talk to him about my faith and what God meant to me. God laid it on my heart to talk to Etienne and witness to him. Gradually, he began listening to me, understanding me, and my faith. I downloaded some Christian music and some sermons for him. It was amazing watching Etienne’s faith grow. Then on the final chapel meeting of the year, our chaplain, Herbie Khun, asked if there was anyone who wanted to make a decision for Jesus Christ. Etienne gave his life for Christ that day. It was awesome. For several months, I had developed a relationship with him and Etienne began a relationship with Christ. So after we won the Grey Cup, he said thank you. It brought it all home for me. I was on this journey in Canada for a reason, a much bigger reason than kicking a football. God has a bigger plan. I was there to make a difference in someone’s life and help them gain an eternal place in Heaven.” Waters has definitely been on an interesting journey, an up and down trek where many would have quit and started a new path. But not Waters, who was an All-State kicker from Prep where he was not only the team’s leading receiver for three years, but also one of the top kickers in the South. No Division I school in Mississippi offered him a scholarship, so Waters 46 FEBRUARY 2013 ❘ Metro Christian Living

signed with AlabamaBirmingham and became an AllConference kicker there. Even though he was a finalist for the Lou Groza Award, named for the best kicker in the nation, Waters wasn’t drafted by the NFL and signed a free agent contract with the Detroit Lions. He did well, but was injured and didn’t play in a regular season game before being released. He signed again the next year with the Oakland Raiders, played well, but was cut before the regular season. In 2011, same result, different team—this time with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Waters didn’t give up on his dream to play pro football. In the spring of 2012, he was signed by the New York Jets, but cut days later. Then the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League signed Waters in June, but he was cut in July because of the American-Canadian ratio on the team. Finally, Waters got the break he needed with Toronto. Their star kicker, Noel Prefontaine, went down with an injury and the Argonauts signed Waters. He stuck. Waters punted, kicked off, and kicked field goals and extra points. He became one of the top kickers in the league and helped Toronto to the Grey Cup championship. But more importantly, Waters has been a Christ-like influence to his teammates, many who didn’t know the Lord. He also spoke at churches in the Toronto area and saw many come to know Christ through his message. “For the first time since college, I felt a part of a team because I was there for an extended period of time and bonded with

Thursday, April 11 & Friday, April 12

some of the players,” Waters said. “The locker room camaraderie was my favorite part. I got into the weekly groove. Also, I participated in a weekly Bible study and was able to disciple outside of the team locker room. That was a blessing and icing on the cake. I was able to dig into God’s Word.” Now, Waters is back in Mississippi and still sharing his faith. He is working with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and, along with Kiel Higginbotham, is in charge of 61 high schools and three colleges in District 6 in the central part of Mississippi. “I have the honor to be able to speak to groups, student athletes and coaches about my journey and how God was there every step of the way,” said Waters, who is a member of

HEART OF THE HOME GALA Home of Clay and Steve Davidson Thurs., April 11, 6:30 - 9pm

Christ United Methodist Church in Jackson and lives in Jackson with his wife, Kendal. “Kiel and I are visiting a lot of schools and listening to their students and coaches’ hearts and visions. We are seeing kids and coaches who are fired up for Christ and how they are learning more about God.” Waters is on a twoyear contract with the Argonauts and plans to go back to Canada later this year. He still has dreams of the NFL, but Waters knows he must listen to God and follow His plan. “God’s ways are not our ways and we must obey what He says and calls you to do,” Waters said. “I’ve gotten opportunities in Canada to speak that I never imagined and I’m able to reach others for Christ in an unbelievable setting. I’ve been asked to speak at a conference with about 300-400 college students this year in Toronto. God has given me a great platform to share his Word. I thank Him for the honor of doing that every day.” Y Robert Wilson is Business Developer for BFAC . He is a freelance writer, author, and the publisher of Victories in Metro Jackson magazine. He is a member of Broadmoor Baptist Church. Contact him at Robert@bfac.com.

An annual event hosted by the Jackson Prep PAT SPONSORED BY

HEART OF THE HOME TOUR Home of Jana and Kenny Barraza Fri., April 12, 10am - 2pm THE MARKET GALLERY/ GOURMET CAFE´ Cooking Demo by Julie Levanway Fri., April 12, 10am - 2pm

For tickets and more info, please visit heartofthehomeinfo.com

ONLINE AUCTION

Heart of the Home is a community event benefiting Jackson Preparatory School’s educational programs and classroom activities. metrochristianliving.com ❘ FEBRUARY 2013 47

➺money matters by JOHN R. MCCALLUM, CPA

What the Fiscal Cliff Means to You As 2012 came to a close and the United States hurtled perilously close to plunging over the dreaded “fiscal cliff,” uncertainty about the nation's tax policies was at an all-time high. The New Year arrived without any major catastrophes and the nation's leaders managed to pass legislation to avert that most dreaded cliff. Congress passed, and the president signed into law, the “American Tax Relief Act” in the eleventh hour—actually it was the thirteenth hour, but who's counting— and all is well with the world, right? Let's examine what the “Fiscal Cliff Legislation” really means to you. Barring any action from Congress, income tax rates were set to revert back to pre-2001 levels on January 1, 2013. Prior to changes in the tax rates under the George W. Bush administration, the top income tax rate was 39.6%. Starting in 2001, this rate was lowered to 35%. Rates on all other levels of income were also lowered under the “Bush Tax Cuts”. However, those rates had a “sunset date” when they would revert back to previous conditions. Congress has repeatedly extended those rates annually until now. All of these rates remain unchanged except for the addition of a 39.6% top tax rate that will apply to individuals with taxable income over $400,000 ($450,000 for married filing jointly). These same taxpayers will be subject to a 20% capital gains tax rate, while others will still enjoy the 15% capital gains rates that have been in effect for several years. If you don't quite make $400,000, you may think you have gotten off without any tax increase— but the reality is that most everyone is already paying more tax in 2013 than they did in 2012. Another tax cut that was set to expire on December 31, 2012 was the “Payroll Tax Holiday” that was enacted 48 FEBRUARY 2013 ❘ Metro Christian Living

under the Obama administration beginning in 2011. This was a 2% reduction in the employee portion of the payroll tax. Everyone that earns a paycheck or has self-employment income is subject to the payroll tax. The Payroll Tax Holiday was allowed to expire as of the end of 2012, effectively raising everyone's taxes 2% on earned income. The New Year also marks the beginning of some tax aspects of the “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act” (more commonly known as Obamacare). Higher income individuals will start paying 3.8% additional tax on Net Investment Income. This effectively creates a rate for high-income taxpayers of 23.8% for long-term capital gains and 43.4% for short-term capital gains. There are numerous other changes to the tax code that will change how you determine your taxable income. For example, there is now a limitation on itemized deductions at income thresholds of $300,000 for married couples, $275,000 for heads of household, $250,000 for single taxpayers, and $150,000 for married couples filing separately. This reduces the amount of otherwise allowable deductions by 3% of the amount by which the taxpayer's adjusted gross income exceeds the applicable threshold. However, the total itemized deductions are not reduced by more than 80% under this provision, and there are certain exclusions. Another related change is the phase out of personal exemptions with those same thresholds. The amount of exemptions claimed is reduced by 2% for each $2,500 by which the taxpayer's income exceeds the threshold. Some other changes resulting from the “Fiscal Cliff Legislation” include setting the new maximum estate tax rate at 40%, with an annually-adjusted $5 million exclusion for the estates of those dying after December 31, 2012. Estate tax rates have varied greatly over

the last decade and this may help to at least provide some amount of certainty so that families can plan accordingly. The Act also includes a “patch” for the dreaded Alternative Minimum Tax, which will now be adjusted annually for inflation, rather than being dependent on Congressional action on an annual basis. A number of credits were also extended permanently, including the child tax credit, the earned income tax credit, the adoption credit, and the child and dependent care credit, among others. Some notable changes for business owners include setting the dollar limit for section 179 expensing at $500,000 with a $2 million investment limit. Also, 50% “bonus” depreciation was extended through 2013 and the Research and Development tax credit was also extended for another year. A number of other lesser-known tax provisions were also extended. These are only the highlights of some very wide-sweeping legislation, and there are many more details that you may want to explore. But it is safe to say that you are going to see some increased payroll taxes if you earn a paycheck—and if you are in the higher income tax brackets, you will see some significantly increased rates. It is increasingly important to consult with a tax advisor to make sure you aren't paying more than your fair share. Remember to heed the advice of the anonymous quote, “you must pay taxes, but there's no law that says you gotta leave a tip.”

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John R. McCallum is a Principal in the CPA Firm Grantham Poole with offices in Ridgeland and Oxford. See the website at www.granthampoole.com or telephone 601 499-2400.

education connection by MARLA BAKER

The 50-50 Rule

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Sharing the Care for Your Parents 1. Talk and listen. Sit down with your siblings and parents and begin to list the resources that your family will need through this journey. What type of care would they like? Do they have a will? All of these issues are better handled before a crisis occurs.

2. Research options. When you and your siblings have identified the types of services, interventions, or care options that your parents need, research organizations and resources that can help you meet those needs.

3. Plan ahead. Will your Mom want to stay at home and age in place? Consider how those duties will be divided and if you will be supplementing care. Inheritance and financial planning are also better settled before a crisis.

4. Be flexible. Consider a division of labor that takes into account each family member’s interests and skills, as well as their availability.

hen we think of love, family is one of the first things we hold sacred. In family life, love is the oil that eases friction, the cement that binds closer together, and the music that brings harmony. Mother

5. Be honest. If you are the primary caregiver and it’s getting

Teresa says, “Love begins by taking care of the closest ones—the ones at home”. The Bible even commands us to honor thy mother and father. Family caregiving is an honor, but can be very stressful. The 50/50 RuleSM is a public education program, developed by Home Instead Senior Care, to discuss how to extend care to your senior parents while dealing with the sensitive issues that can send brothers and sisters into turmoil. The 50 refers to the average age when siblings are caring for their loved ones, as well as the need for brothers and sisters to share in 50/50 plans of care. At Home Instead Senior Care, we have watched resentment build when one sibling becomes responsible for the bulk of the caregiving. This can result in deterioration of relationships between family members. If you are 50, have siblings, and are assisting with the care of seniors, it’s time to develop a plan that can help. Following are tips on how siblings can better share the plan.

At the core of The 50-50 RuleSM public education program is a family relationship and communication guide of real-life situations. Regardless of their circumstances, most siblings do feel a responsibility to care for parents that is built from love. And that’s a great place to start. These sibling relationships will continue even after the parents are gone. If the care is shared with some planning, the extra effort will be well worth a loving relationship with your brothers and sisters. Call today for your free 50/50 guide at 601-926-1181 compliments of Home Instead Senior Care.

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We believe that every moment matters. Maybe that’s why so many families believe in us when it comes to choosing a hospice provider. For more information or to receive our free DVD, “Hospice and Your Loved One,” call 601-983-3193. gentiva.com/hospice

Flowood, MS

phone 601-983-3193 / fax 601-983-3194 Magee, MS

phone 601-849-5803 / fax 601-849-5805 Gentiva accepts patients for care regardless of age, race, color national origin, religion, sex, disability, being a qualified disabled veteran, being a qualified disabled veteran of MKT3144 the Vietnam era, or any other category protected by law, or decisions regarding advance directives. © 2011 Gentiva Health Services, Inc.

to be too much, make sure your siblings know that you need help. Discuss specific tasks that your siblings can help with, such as grocery shopping or running errands.

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Marla Baker has been the Community Service Representative for Home Instead Senior Care since October 2003. She is a member of Pinelake Church, and lives in Brandon with her husband Dallas, and her two children, Paris and Will. Contact her at 601.926.1181 or 866.507.8484.

COLLECTION

101A Village Blvd, Madison, Mississippi 39110

(601) 607-6004 Private Collection Consignment metrochristianliving.com ❘ FEBRUARY 2013 49

➺legal advice by WILLIAM B. HOWELL

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Role Reversal: When the Child Becomes the Parent

We all have our image of ourselves in relation to our parents. It is probably one of obedience and respect.We were taught not to talk back and not to ask unnecessary questions, but to obey. That was acceptable when we were, in fact, much younger, but now that we have matured, are in our middle years, and our parents have truly become elders, that picture no longer applies. Now our parents may be becoming forgetful, or becoming infirm physically, which leads in some cases to a fearfulness of things that in prior years would have given them no concern. These are very real changes, and they have to be addressed in the relationship of parent and child. In order to make the life of the parent better and to make the life of the child easier, we cling to the old relationship, but at our peril. Make certain that, as you need to take over for your parent, you have the actual authority. Many people rely upon a skimpy one- or two-page power of attorney and think that will do the job. There are several omissions that will make such a document faulty and hobble your ability to do things on behalf of your parent. Specifically, if there is real estate involved, and most particularly if it is homestead

real property, you need to have the actual legal description of the property and the specific authority set out within the power of attorney, and the power of attorney needs to be recorded at the courthouse. Recording is always a wise thing to do under any circumstances, because you may need multiple “true” copies of the power of attorney. It is much easier to get an attested copy from the chancery clerk’s office than it is to keep track of countless originals. Also, there is the problem of some banks and others not honoring a power of attorney. That can be overcome by having a living trust rather than, or in addition to, a power of attorney. Of course, our parents, ourselves, and just about everyone else, need an Advance Health-Care Directive to be able to specify what it is that we do and do not want done for our care from a medical standpoint, particularly in the latter stages of life. This is a most useful document, but one that, strangely, many people do not have. It is easy to obtain and, again, should be recorded and copies given out to the persons who are involved, including your physician and decision makers. Make certain that it includes provisions under HIPAA (the federal medical privacy regulations). Finally, ask about and learn about in detail your

parents’ finances. This applies regardless of how wealthy or how little they may have. Knowledge of their financial situation is crucial when you are the one going to be called upon to make the decisions regarding possible nursing home placement, independent living, or other arrangements. There is no substitute for knowledge, and the biggest impediment to gaining that knowledge is the child’s own reluctance and fear of being perceived by the parent as prying, when all the child is attempting to do is to gain the necessary knowledge to provide meaningful assistance in seeing to the care of the parent. They usually will understand this unless the parent is into advanced paranoia, in which case this inquiry should have been done a long time ago. It is imperative that you have a handle on the financial aspect. Parenting a parent is a daunting task, especially with the baggage that most of us carry with us regarding our relationship to our parents. But, it is so very important, and it may well be your final expression of love to your mother or father. Y William B. Howell is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and practices law in Ridgeland.

You have worked hard for it. WHY THROW IT AWAY? We are all living longer. But we are not all going to be in good health, or aware of our families, or both. Then what happens? Someone has to take over. The question is: Will this be someone you chose? And will it be outside of court or in court? The same with the distribution of your assets after you pass away: In court or out of court? The choice is yours. What about protecting your assets from lawsuits, or a child’s inheritance from a divorce? And will most of your hard-earned savings go to the nursing home? Or have you planned? Here are a few ideas for you to consider:

Living Trust – Allows the person you choose to take over for you in the event of your incapacity, without any court involvement. At your death the person you have chosen makes the distribution of your assets the way you have instructed in your Living Trust, and to do so promptly, inexpensively and privately, without going through probate in the court.

Asset Protection – Lawsuits are filed every day. If you get sued, are your assets protected? They can be, and probably should be. Also, the divorce rate has never been higher than it is today. Will your child’s divorce cause them to lose half of what you leave them after you are gone? Not if you plan now. The level of protection (or not) is up to you.

Nursing Home Planning – Don’t qualify for long term care insurance, or can’t fit it in your budget? You don’t have to spend everything that you have in order to become eligible for nursing home benefits. There are legal and ethical ways for you to save well over half of your assets in most cases, even if you are already in the nursing home. Hear Mr. Howell on the radio

Tuesdays 8:35 am WJNT NewsTalk 1180 50 FEBRUARY 2013 ❘ Metro Christian Living

THE LAW FIRM OF WILLIAM B. HOWELL, LTD. 406 Orchard Park • Ridgeland, Mississippi (601) 978-1700 or (800) 839-7857

National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys

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rave reviews BOOK

The Sacred Search

Reviewed by Susan E. Richardson

Jumping into Gary Thomas’ new book The Sacred Search brings as much shock to the mind and heart as the “polar bear plunge� does to the body. His practical and Biblical counsel for those considering marriage runs counter to our emotion and sex saturated society’s messages. Looking at potential marriage from the viewpoint of seeking first the kingdom of God requires a radical shift in thinking. Thomas points out that if we build our lives around Matthew 6:33, which contains the command to seek first God’s kingdom, our decision to marry and choice of a marriage partner should fall under that directive, too. Rather than looking for romantic thrills and attraction, we should look for a mate who will join will us in seeking God first. Since culture has conditioned us to consider being in love the most important prelude to marriage, Thomas takes a look at what happens in our brains when we feel infatuation. The conclusion: what we feel is real but will not last long enough to use as a basis for marriage. The author also explains the Platonic origins of the idea of a “soul mate�—one person meant solely for each individual. Having knocked down most of the common factors used to decide on marriage, Thomas spends the rest of the book offering guidance for finding a mate who will help you fulfill your ultimate goal of serving the kingdom. If you’re considering marriage, pick up a copy of this book before moving ahead. Y Susan E. Richardson is a writer, critique reader, and former Christian retailer with a passion for meeting people’s needs through the written word. You can reach her through her website www.nextlevelcritiques.com.

MUSIC

Josh Rosonet & The Press Written by Casey Combest of The Collective Josh Rosonet, a Tupelo native, has had a lifetime’s worth of performing experience, even as a 23-year-old. Starting his career as a four-year-old singing “Just A Little You,� Josh has shared the stage with David Crowder, Lecrae, and Jeremy Camp. Until recently, Josh has spent most of his musical career as a bass player in more than nine different bands. After his YouTube cover of “Something Beautiful� (by NEEDTOBREATHE) received over 15,000 views, he decided it was time to move to the front of the stage. His new selftitled EP, released in December, is a soulful mix of pop rock and organic acoustic rock. “Scary Beautiful� is a song that describes the tension believers feel as they encounter a God who sees our deepest desires— and meets them with the open arms of grace. Hear this song along with many more on iTunes under Josh Rosonet and The Press. Y

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➺what’s going on Living as a Christian in a Secular World

Since 1895

Palmer Home

Continues to be a leader as a privately funded organization with a christ-centered mission to provide long-term care for children who lack adequate family structure

PA LM E R H O M E for children Where Hope Still Grows www.palmerhome.org

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52 FEBRUARY 2013 ❘ Metro Christian Living

Richard E. Simmons, noted author and lecturer, will present a seminar on “Living as a Christian in a Secular World” at Millsaps College’s Leggett Center on Sat., Feb. 23. Simmons is the author of the popular book The True Measure of a Man and is a well-known men’s Bible teacher and conference leader. Simmons says that he wrote True Measure in part to help men deal with the fear the modern world presents—fear of personal and business failure, fear of the future in unstable times, fear of losing the ability to cope with what life throws at them. “The Number One imperative that God gives his people is not to love or to be generous or to be kind. It is to ‘fear not,’” Simmons says. “And obviously it’s because fear does great harm to our lives. It runs wild in our imaginations, and men don’t know how to deal with that fear.” A graduate of the University of the South, Simmons is founder and executive director of the Center for Executive Leadership, a professional counseling group in Birmingham, Ala. Before founding the Center, he was CEO of Hilb, Rogal and Hamilton, a property and casualty insurance firm. Simmons is a frequent public speaker whose topics range from the struggle to find God to the difficulty of living in tough economic times to the challenge of faithful discipleship. He knows the demands of the professional life and seeks to convey ancient biblical wisdom to those who are experiencing the stresses of modern life. Simmons’ most recent book, Reliable Truth: The Validity of the Bible in an Age of Skepticism, was published in December of last year. In it he shows that the Bible reflects the true nature of reality and he debunks the many myths, legends and false beliefs about the Bible found in popular discussions of the sacred text. It is a timely resource to provide clarity and confidence to those who question the Bible as the inspired word of God and who seek to know the truth. In his endorsement of Reliable Truth, Gary Fenton, senior pastor of Dawson Baptist Church in Birmingham, notes its relevance to all Christians. “Simmons provides convincing and convicting evidence for the reliability of the Bible. It’s a great book to give to college students, and every pastor and Bible study leader needs to read it as well.” The seminar is sponsored by Firm Foundation, a Mississippibased clergy and lay Episcopal group dedicated to the promotion of biblical Christianity and the preservation of traditional Anglicanism. The public is invited to attend. Time: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (by Rosemary Foncree) Y

events calendar

Bill Rhodes, chairman, president and chief executive officer of AutoZone, will the guest speaker at a Mississippi College School of Business event on February 21 on the MC campus. As part of the annual J.D. Jordan Faith and Business Week at the MC School of Business, the weeklong event focuses on faith and business ethics. It’s an opportunity for hundreds of MC School of Business students to gain insights about the AutoZone success story, Mr. Rhodes’ rise to the top, and the role of faith and business ethics along the way. Sponsored by the School of Business and 1951 MC alumnus, Don “Papa” Jordan, co-founder of the Memphis based family-friendly Holiday Ham and Deli restaurants, the Faith and Business Ethics week attracts prominent business leaders as speakers and participants with topics that integrate faith and career. The highlight of the week is a luncheon on Thursday where Mr. Rhodes will be the keynote speaker. Rhodes, 47, was elected the AutoZone chairman in June, 2007. He has been president, CEO, and a director of the Memphis-based company since 2005. Prior to that, he was executive vice presidentstore operations and commercial. Before joining AutoZone in 1994, he was a manager with Ernst & Young LLP. In addition, Rhodes is a member of the Board of Directors of the Dollar General Corporation. He is a graduate of the University of Tennessee Martin and received an MBA from the University of Memphis. He serves as immediate past-chairman of the Board at the Retail Industry Leaders Association and is the treasurer of the National Civil Rights Museum. For more information on this year’s lineup of speakers and other details, contact Katrina Pace at the School of Business at 601.925.3421 or KPace@mc.edu. Y

BRANDON February 14-17 Pinelake Church will play host to a 4-day event that is sure to change lives. The Compassion Experience consists of two trailers (totaling 3,500 square feet) that feature replicas of the homes of three Compassion beneficiaries who live in extreme poverty. Visitors will experience an interactive tour, to help gain understanding of the plight of one billion people living in poverty around the world. For additional information, call 601.829.4500.

CLINTON February 21 Mississippi College School of Business presents the 2013 Faith & Business Luncheon, which is the highlight of the L.D. Jordan Faith and Business Week—a weeklong focus on faith and career. The keynote speaker is Bill Rhodes, Chairman, President and CEO of AutoZone, Inc. Tickets are $25 and include lunch. RSVP requested to mcbusiness@mc.edu or 601.925.3421.

JACKSON February 14 Belhaven University’s Arts Ablaze will host Jackson Public School’s finest middle school and high school instrumentalists selected to perform in the 2013 All-City Honors Band. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with complimentary admission.

February 16 The magic of Cirque comes to Thalia Mara Hall in an event sure to please the entire family. Cirque de la Symphonie and the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra share the stage with aerial flyers, acrobats and jugglers in an entertainment showstopper. For additional information, call 601.960.1565 or visit www.msorchestra.com

February 21 The McClean Fletcher Center—Mississippi’s only grief support program geared towards children and teens—is having their Heartstrings Gala fundraiser at the home of Jack & Leigh Herrin. This worthwhile event enables The McClean Fletcher Center to continue the mission of providing a safe place in peer support groups where children can interact with others who have experienced similar losses. For more information, call 601.206.5525.

the school equipment drive. Enjoy heavy hors d’oeuvres, a silent and live auction, and entertainment throughout the night. For ticket information, call 601.982.7827.

February 23 Richard E. Simmons, noted author and lecturer, will present a seminar on “Living as a Christian in a Secular World” at Millsaps College’s Leggett Center 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The seminar is sponsored by Firm Foundation, a Mississippi-based clergy and lay Episcopal group dedicated to the promotion of Biblical Christianity and the preservation of traditional Anglicanism. The public is invited to attend. For more information, call 601.974.1000.

VICKSBURG February 1-3 The Vicksburg Theatre Guild – Parkside Playhouse will be featuring Smoke on the Mountain, a charming and funny story of a Saturday Night Gospel Sing at a country church in North Carolina. For time and ticket information, visit www.vicksburgtheatreguild.com. Y

Richard Simmons Author of The True Measure of a Man

Living as a Christian in a Secular World February 23, 2013 9 a.m. ² 4 p.m. Millsaps College Leggett Center

See story this issue And visit thecenterbham.org $40 individual/$70 couple (Lunch included) Name

___________________________________

Address ___________________________________ ___________________________________ Phone

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February 23

Email

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New Summit School’s 13th annual fundraiser “Around the World” will be held at The Forestry Museum from 6:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m. Take a chance to win $5000 while supporting

Mail registration to: Firm Foundation, P.O. Box 13451, Jackson, MS 39236 metrochristianliving.com ❘ FEBRUARY 2013 53

FEBRUARY 2013

AutoZone Leader Speaks at MC Faith and Business Ethics Program

➺quips & quotes

ADVERTISING INDEX

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Cut out the scriptures and quotes and place them around your home for daily encouragement!

✂

“God does not waste suffering, nor does He discipline out of caprice. If He plows, it is because He purposes a crop.”

“All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt.” – Charles Schultz

– Oswald Sanders

“He reflects the glory of God and bears the very stamp of his nature, upholding the universe by His word of power.” – Hebrews: 1:3a

“Do your duty in all things.You cannot do more, you should never wish to do less.”

“A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold.” – Psalm 22:1

“To love God is the greatest of virtues; to be loved by God is the greatest of blessings.” – Author unknown

– Robert E. Lee

“Love, and a cough, cannot be hid.” – George Herbert

“Love is a fruit in season at all times, and within the reach of every hand.”

“Grow old along with me, the best is yet to be.” - Robert Browning

– Mother Teresa

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to me shall not hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst.” – John 6:35

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54 FEBRUARY 2013 ❘ Metro Christian Living

“But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” – Matthew 15:27

ADVERTISER

PAGE

American Heart Association Go Red for Women..26 Baptist Medical Center.............................................13 Belhaven University.....................................................5 Blue Cross Blue Shield..............................................10 C Spire .........................................................................3 Callaway’s Yard & Garden ........................................14 Christ Covenant School............................................21 Circle Seven Outpost & Provisions..........................21 Covenant Caregivers ................................................15 Diabetes Care Group ...............................................17 Dogwood Vision Care ..............................................32 DORE Program .........................................................39 East Lakeland Ob-Gyn Associates, PA....................33 Energy Insulation.......................................................51 EyeCare Professionals...............................................10 Firm Foundation........................................................53 First Presbyterian Day School ..................................23 Gameroom Gallery ...................................................45 Gentiva Hospice........................................................49 Grantham Poole Certified Public Accountants ......37 Highland Village........................................................23 Home Instead Senior Care.......................................41 Jackson Academy .......................................................2 Jackson Heart............................................................26 Jackson Prep Heart of the Home............................47 Joel Clarke & Sons Jewelry......................................35 King’s Daughters Hospital........................................33 Law Firm of William B. Howell, Ltd. ........................50 L.D. O’Mire Financial Services .................................33 Mangia Bene Catering .............................................37 Mission Matthew 5K.................................................19 Mississippi College Faith & Business Luncheon.....41 N. State Animal Hospital..........................................54 O! How Cute.............................................................52 Palmer Home ............................................................52 Persnickety ................................................................11 Pennington & Trim....................................................14 Pilates V Studio .........................................................25 Private Collection......................................................49 Ray’s Fine Linens .......................................................21 River Oaks Health System........................................56 Sitters, LLC ................................................................26 Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company....26 St. Dominic’s................................................................4 Sta-Home...................................................................23 Stegall Imagery .........................................................55 Summit Counseling...................................................35 Sunnybrook Estates ..................................................35 Sweet Dreams...........................................................21 The Club at the Township ..........................................7 Tinnin Imports..............................................................9 The Veritas School ....................................................41 The Waterford...........................................................37 Trustmark...................................................................19 Twin Lakes....................................................................2 Venable Glass Services .............................................33 WHJT Star 93.5.........................................................55 Wright & Ferguson Funeral Home..........................37 Written in Stone........................................................41

If I gave everything I have to the poor & even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing. – 1 Corinthians 13:3

real love.

real acceptance.

www.star93fm.com metrochristianliving.com ❘ FEBRUARY 2013 55

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