Beacon July 2016 by The Beacon

Fourth of July

Safety Tips for Pets PG 13

July 2016

Serving San Antonio and the Surrounding Communities Since 2001

VOL.16 — NO. 7

Summer Homesickness It’s normal for kids to get homesick. But what’s the gameplan if yours do? Things to consider when the little ones miss home. PG 7

Local Women Connect to Change Lives Worldwide. BY AMY MORGAN

Moment of Truth Is this it? Is this all there is? Successful businessman inspired to do more from volunteering on the Eastside. PG 9

Beacon Radio in July South Texas Alliance for Orphans, The Sister Project, The Admirals Basketball Academy, Last Chance Ministries and the Growing Love Network. Saturdays, noon on KSLR AM620. PG 17

A Season To Remember Two area high schools (Alamo Heights & Johnson High) reach the UIL state baseball tournament for the ﬁrst time. PG 19

If one person can change the world, imagine the impact of 100. And what if that 100 were a group of like-minded women whose hearts’ desires are to greatly benefit the lives of other women and children in need? So thought Debbie LeDoux a former grant-writer at the Bexar County Justice Center, when she heard of a group funding local charities. She gathered a few friends and founded another: The Sister Project, a non-profit group of 100 women who commit $1000 each year, pooling $100,000 to annually fund three deserving causes. The group awards a $80,000 grant, and two of $10,000 to causes in the Christian realm, LeDoux said. Since 2011, The Sister Project has granted a total of half a million dollars to five large and 10 smaller projects. Most years, the chosen are a mixture of international and local groups. Past winners include local Jesus Says Love, which befriends and ministers to women working in strip clubs; a New Braunfels day care; and Life of a Single Mom, a ministry supporting single mothers. Others, like Adera, which ministers to women in Ethiopia’s slums; and this year’s first-place winner, Orphan’s Heart, span the world. In their care of Ugandan orphans, they identified a need for a sanitary, indoor feeding facility that will also serve as a community continued on page 2

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SOCIAL ISSUES

The Sister Project Committed to Help Women and Children in Need ners are revealed and the previous year’s top project presents its progress. “Each year when we gather, we get one story of how our investment has paid off and three stories of opportunity for further kingdom investments. It really is a very a rewarding evening,” she enthused. “We are always looking for wonderful applicants,” she added. “We’re looking for the ability to manage resources as high as an $80,000 grant and that they be well man-

by AMY MORGAN, Beacon Content Director amy@saBeacon.com

continued from page 1

center and place for discipleship. “THANK YOU, Sisters!” said Orphan’s Heart representatives. “The beautiful giving of your money, time and prayers will allow Orphan’s Heart to save lives, both physically and spiritually, in one of Uganda’s poorest villages. May God multiply these gifts like the fishes and loaves! No more cracking their hardboiled eggs in the red Ugandan dirt, the ‘least of these’ will soon eat clean, nutritious meals, study the Bible, and enjoy bonding time with their entire village in the sanitary new feeding center your money will build! May The Holy Spirit fill this beautiful, new place!” LeDoux said Orphan’s Heart was chosen

Ethiopian children growing up in the dump are helped by Adera, a past grant winner. They thank The Sister Project for caring for them, teaching them about Jesus and providing work for their mothers. Photos Courtesy of The Sister Project

aged and well run. We want them to describe how our investment will open a new avenue for their ministry.” Membership is ﬂuid; there is always room for another sister. LeDoux suggested contacting carrie@thesisterproject.org for more information. “The Sister Project seeks to shine the light of Christ by aiding, assisting and encouraging women in need through the combined gifts of 100 women.” For more information, go to www.thesisterproject.org.

because the group “did a phenomenal job of taking our focus down into one village in Uganda, where they have already invested in a school and medical facility. They made The Sister Project’s contribution very simple and tangible for us.” The grant application process for next year’s winners will open in August, LeDoux said. At April’s annual meeting the new win-

Orphan’s Heart, The Sister Project’s top grant winner this year, sent a team to Uganda in May to start work on the feeding station for the orphans in the community they serve.

MARRIAGE

A Safe Place

Bring Ambiance to your

Occasion...

by LORI BYERLY

I’ve been thinking about respect lately. A part of respect is honoring the way another person is designed. You don’t have to be like them (we should all be the lovely individuals we are designed to be). You just need to make room for them to express their unique design. In a similar fashion, a part of respecting someone is honoring their beliefs and ideas. You don’t need to agree with them, just make room for them to express their thoughts without fussiness or harsh judgement. (You’re free to express your own beliefs and ideas as well.) I have a friend that is fairly liberal in a political sense. She is married to a man who is far more conservative. They have lively discussions and have agreed not to put political signs in their yard (they don’t want

A part of respect is honoring the way another person is designed.

to confuse their neighbors). This kind of respect helps to create a safe place for sharing in your marriage. You and your spouse are free to be yourselves and explore what God has for you. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10 ESV Prayer Prompt: Ask God for the ability to appreciate your husband’s unique design and calling. Lori Byerly is a wife, mother and grandmother. You can visit her writing at www.the-generous-wife.com.

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REAL ESTATE

Words that Make or Lose You Money in San Antonio Real Estate by ENERGIZED REAL ESTATE

As you may expect, individual words matter in your home listing. After researching MLS listings posted over the last five years from a few of the most popular areas of San Antonio, including zip codes 78209, 78258 and 78260, we found a correlation between some specific words used and the average sold price of the home. Now, we want to share what we found to be some of the best and worst words to use when putting your home on the market.

PUBLISHER: Full Armor Media CONTENT DIRECTORS: Pam Leslie, Amy Morgan ADVERTISING COORDINATOR: Melody McCrea

Words that don’t work: Great neighborhood – homes describing a “great neighborhood” in their listing got $44,482 less than the homes listed without it Great – this five-letter word was in home listings that sold for $43,252 less than their competition Awesome – homes marketed in the specified areas that used the word “awesome” in their listing received, on average, $33,222 less ! – an exclamation mark may not be a word, per se, but listings that contained this special character brought in $31,913 less than listings without it Fantastic – marketed homes that had the word “fantastic” in their description got $23,305 less than others in the area Spacious – “spacious” homes received $9,097 less Lovely – homes listings with the word “lovely” in them got $3,607 less than their competition

COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST: Todd Reid COMMUNITY MANAGER: Blake Clifton CIRCULATION: Greg Wharton CREATIVE/PRODUCTION: The Roberts Goup CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Amanda Graves, Jim Faulk, Kirk Freeman, Darryl Lyons, Lauren Robertson THE BEACON OFFICE: P.O. Box 591490 San Antonio, Texas 78259 PH: (210) 614-8884 FAX: (210) 614-8885 ONLINE: www.saBeacon.com MISSION STATEMENT To deliver hope, inspiration and change happening all around us through relevant articles from local and national writer, news sources, and Beacon staﬀ. We strive to be recognized as the forum for family-oriented community events and activities, directories for area churches, schools, charities, businesses, and camps.

So what words should you use? Wood ﬂoor – homes described with a “wood ﬂoor” brought in $5,824 more Stainless steel – the words “stainless steel” in the description gave home sellers $12,546 more Granite – listings with “granite” received $64,286 more than others Media – when sellers used the word “media,” they received, on average, $96,356 more than their competition Remodeled – a home described as

“remodeled” sold for $51,937 more than homes without the word Be specific! Notice a pattern in those dos and don’ts? Descriptive and specific words that highlight desired features of a home (like “granite,” “stainless steel” and “remodeled”) correlate to a higher sales price than

words that are too general and generic (like “fantastic,” “spacious” and “awesome”). Energized Real Estate is a team of real estate advisors in San Antonio led by Dan Easen. You can ﬁnd out more about them at www.energizedrealestate.com.

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Program Guide

God bless America, land that I love Stand beside her, and guide her Through the night, with the light from above From the mountains, to the prairies To the oceans, white with foam God bless America

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Thru The Bible Renewing Your Mind Truth For Life Focus On The Family Insight For Living Leading The Way Family Life Today Grace To You Turning Point Pathway To Victory Jay Sekulow Live Hope For The Heart John Hagee Today Somebody Loves You Messianic Perspectives Key Life Real Life Radio Chris Brown’s True Stewardship Living God Ministries The Eric Metexas Show The Word to Stand of for Life Maranatha Bible Church Richard Ellis Talks Grace Revealed Hope For Life Calvary Current Focus On The Family The Word On Investing Bless Israel Pentecostes Sigue su Marcha Hope in the Night

J. Vernon McGee R.C. Sproul Alistair Begg Jim Daly Chuck Swindoll Michael Youssef Dennis Rainey John MacArthur David Jeremiah Robert Jeffress Jay Sekulow June Hunt John Hagee - Cornerstone Church Raul Ries Gary Hedrick Steve Brown Sean Azzaro - River City Chris Brown Aaron Budjen Eric Metaxas Ron Arbaugh - Calvary Chapel Rander Draper - Maranatha Bible Church Richard Ellis J.D. Link - Abundant Grace Steve Leavitt Bunjee Garrett- Calvary South Austin Jim Daly David Mitchell Yechiel Eckstein George Weber - Templo Pentecostal June Hunt

7:00am 7:30am 8:00am 8:30am 9:00am 9:30am 10:30am 11:00am 12:00pm 1:00pm 1:30pm 1:45pm 2:30pm 3:00pm 4:00pm 4:30pm 5:00pm 5:30pm 6:00pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 9:00pm 9:30pm

Paws And Tails Adventures in Odyssey High Resolution Kathleen Whitten Ministries KSLR’s Church Of The Week Pray San Antonio The Cross At Kerrville Hill Country Institute Live Beacon Radio Digging Deeper Believers In Business Believing the Bible Real Life Radio The Word On Investing Discover Your Destiny Rehoboth Voice Prophetic Voice Of Our Time RCCG Salvation Center Focus On the Family Weekend Town Hall Weekend Journal Maranatha Bible Church Steve Brown ETC His Life Ministries Pray San Antonio

Insight For Living Focus On The Family Kurt Hudspeth Kathleen Whitten Baron Wiley Elieen Vincent - City Reachers Mac Greiner Larry Linenschmidt Steve Teel Gary Johnson KSLR Scott Lane & Terry Read Sean Azzaro - River City David Mitchell Philip Sundar Johnson Varkey Mike & Cris Sosso - Freedom Fellowship Dr. Adekoye Sanni - RCCG Salvation Center John Fuller Hugh Hewitt Rander Draper - Maranatha Bible Church Steve Brown Todd Grainger Eileen Vincent & Natalie Hardy

7:00am 7:30am 8:00am 8:30am 9:00am 10:00am 10:30am 12:00pm 12:30pm 1:00pm 1:30pm 2:00pm

Calvary Current Road To Reality Richard Ellis Talks Living Your Best Life Bible Baptist Hour Revival Ministry Grace To You - Weekend Kathleen Whitten Ministries High Resolution KSLR’s Church Of The Week Leading the Way - Weekend His Life Revealed

Bunjee Garrett - Calvary South Austin K.P. Yohannan Richard Ellis Les Hollon - Trinity Baptist Lasserre Bradley Jr. GD Coppedge John MacArthur Kathleen Whitten Kurt Hudspeth - Four Winds Baron Wiley Michael Youssef Todd Grainger - His Life Ministries

2:30pm

Digging Deeper

Gary Johnson

3:00pm

The Safe Money Retirement Show

Rudy Hernandez

3:30pm 4:00pm 5:00pm 5:30pm 7:00pm 8:00pm 8:30pm

The Word On Investing The Cross at Kerrville Phophetic Voice Of Our Time RCCG Salvation Center Abortion Hurts God Heals Pure Sex Radio Richard Ellis Talks

David Mitchell Max Greiner Mike & Cris Sosso - Freedom Fellowship Dr. Adekoye Sanni - RCCG Salvation Center Saundra Decker & Virginia Lange Jonathan, Stephen, & Lee Richard Ellis

9:00pm

The Bible Live Quiz Show

Soapy Dollar

10:30pm Pray San Antonio 11:00pm The Christian Outlook

Eileen Vincent - City Reachers Don Kroah

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FAITH

Crumbs: Letting Go, Looking Up and Finding Your Very Best Life by JEN WISE

I don’t often eat cake, but when I do, I like to eat it for breakfast. Nothing too sweet, no sugary frosting (I’m more of a butter girl). But if there’s an extra little slice leftover, I’m much more likely to enjoy it with an early morning cup of coffee than after a full dinner (isn’t that the worst time for dessert? We need to rethink this…). Earlier this month was one such cakefor-breakfast day. I happily sliced off a piece with an attitude of daring excitement (quite the rule-breaker, I am). Spying two large pug-eyes staring up at the cake I decided we’d both get a little treat that morning and sliced off a chunk for the dog. As I picked up her piece a few crumbs fell to the ﬂoor. Gidgit lost her mind– scrounging on the ﬂoor, snorting, desperate to get every last crumb, panicked someone else might get them first. All the while I’m calling her name, and even patting her on the head, trying to get her to look up to see that I’m holding an entire piece just for her. So often this is us. We’re so busy scraping for crumbs that we won’t look up and see the better thing that God is holding out to us. We’re scraping for the right house in the right neighborhood, and for the right furniture to fill that house, so we can solidify the identity we think we need. We’re scraping for the right job at the right firm, for recognition and a platform and a following. This is what I need—to be secure, valued, and worthwhile, we think. And while we’re frantically trying to to find approval and meaning, God calls our names and gently pats our heads, saying, “Hey! Up here! If you’d just look at me you’d see I have something so much better— you’re after scraps, I’ve got a whole friggin

We’re so busy scraping for crumbs that we won’t look up and see the better thing that God is holding out to us.

cake here with your name on it. Keep your eyes on me and you’ll find better than you can imagine.” The best part? He’s freely holding it out to us. We don’t have to SCRAPE for it. We don’t have to TRY so hard. In fact, the secret to our very-best-life is simple: set your feet to follow Jesus, keep your eyes on God, and the Spirit in your heart. When we’re not so worried about fighting for a place, elbowing others out of the way, and getting our cut, we find that we’re able to actually rest. And relax. And slow down. And breathe. And suddenly, what do you know, we’re moving forward with grace—no more scraping and sweating. Our footing is sure. Our value determined. We’re not so worried anymore—we’re not living under a crushing anxiety to perform and impress. We’re just following Jesus, one step at a time. Our eyes are set on better things, bigger things, God-things. And the Spiritin-us is shining through in the form of peace, goodness, kindness, and love. Kindreds, is there a better way to live? What are you scraping for? What do you need to let go of in order to look up and notice what God is holding out to you? Jen Wise is a compassionate theologian, obsessive foodie, constant hostess and voracious reader. She is a graduate of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (MA Theology). Jen lives with her husband and their two sons in Philadelphia’s Main Line neighborhoods. You can read more of her writing at www.restorationliving.org

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FAMILY

WHERE HOPE COMES FROM

The Do’s and Don’ts of Summer Homesickness by KIMBERLY SEALS ALLERS

From summer camp to “Camp Grandma’s House” to going “down south”, the kids can get homesick while you’re enjoying the break! Follow these tips to help keep homesickness to a minimum. I mean, if they didn’t get homesick at all, you’d be a little worried, right? Now that summer has arrived, millions of families are planning to say farewell to their children for the summer months—it’s camp season. Camp is a place where kids can go and enjoy the summer and being a kid. Camp is also a place where kids are able to be free from parents and learn how to make friends and explore their interests. Many kids discover their favorite sports and hobbies at summer camp. Kids, and parents alike, are often worried about homesickness—for both themselves, and their happy camper. It is normal to be homesick and it’s a common feeling experienced by campers and parents every summer. If you’re sending your kid(s) to camp this summer, you may be wondering how you can help comfort and alleviate the symptoms of homesickness. The American Camp Association® recommends the following do’s and don’ts to help families calm the nerves from homesickness: 1. DO pack a personal item from home,

such as a stuffed animal or your child’s favorite blanket. 2. DO It is normal to be homesick and it’s involve your a common feeling experienced by child in the campers and parents every summer. process of choosing a camp. You’ll want your child to feel comfortable and excited with the camp that they will go to. 3. DO send a note or care package ahead of time to arrive the first day of camp. Don’t forget to say in a positive way that you’ll miss your child while he or she is away at camp. 4. DON’T try to bribe your child with material objects to get them to stay at camp. The real reward should be their new found independence. 5. DON’T blow up on your child if their camp stay is cut short. Just be positive and don’t forget to mention you’ll try camp again next year! Kimberly Seals Allers is an award-winning journalist, a trusted authority on issues relating to mothers of color, author of The Mocha Manual™ series of books and founder of www.MochaManual.com, a pregnancy and parenting lifestyle destination and blog for African Americans.

Good News by JEFF HARRIS

The headlines are crowded with bad news and scandals. The truth is, Good News doesn’t get talked about. Bad news may be altered a little to sound good, but that doesn’t make it good. Bad news seems more exciting. News services quip, “if it bleeds it leads.” The Good News, or Gospel, was originally associated with a Proclamation of a King. When Jesus came, He came to preach the Good News! Essentially He had a proclamation, and the authority to make it happen. This proclamation was that now, at this time, He was starting His Kingdom. He would live in a way that nobody else had ever lived, and people took notice. He would pay the penalty for their sin, so they could participate in this Kingdom. He would display authority over death to prove that, in fact, the Kingdom begins now. And He did so by grace, through faith

alone, so that no one could be able to say, “look what I earned.” He did all of this because He is crazy in love with us. He wanted to restore us to a life with Him at the center. He gives the Holy Spirit so we can start that life now, and know for sure that we will have it eternally. Jesus died for all our sins. When He did so, all our sins were in the future. When we place our faith in this good news, His forgiveness is total, for all our sin-past, present and future. Our old life is gone, and we are given a new life, by grace through faith. We start living eternally now. That is good news.

News services quip,

“ if it bleeds it leads.”

Jeff Harris is the Senior Pastor of Grace Point Church. which exists to lead common people into uncommon life in Jesus. For more information about Grace Point and their locations and service times, visit www.gracepoint.org. If you want to know more about the good news Pastor Jeff spoke of, you can call 210-696-6093 and someone from the church would be happy to talk to you.

SENIORS

I Am Not Old – Just Well Seasoned by BOB LOWRY

Recently, I read the results of a study asking people when someone was considered old. Not surprisingly, the answer depended on the respondent’s chronological age. Youngsters placed those in their late teens as qualifying for that label. Young adults generally thought being 50 was the magic line. When reaching sixty, old became somewhere in the early 70’s. Make it to 70, and one must be at least 80 to be considered old. All told, the average age for respondents was 68 - at that age one could be called old without too many arguments. As someone who is about 18 months from that point, I protest. I am moving closer to my father’s definition. He had determined that middle age extended until 125. Only then, did he or she enter old age territory. Dad died earlier this year at 91, still considering himself barely middle aged. I am not willing to be quite that expansive, but those I know in their mid to late 60’s are not “old age.” They remain active, involved, fun to be with, engaged in the world, and many years younger in attitude

I want to be satisfied that I didn’t leave too much on the table, make too many enemies, and loved my life.

than their actual age might imply. I hate the overused “ 60 is the new 40 “ cliche because it is simply inaccurate. At 60 someone has much more life experience and maturity than a 40 year old. I would suggest the slogan should be the “ 60 is a new 60 .” To me that implies what we think of as defining a 60 year old must be scrapped and replaced with the new definition of someone entering their seventh decade.

continued on page 18

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HAPPENINGS

Tex Hill Student Council Partners with SA’s Honor Flight SUBMITTED BY NEISD

Tex Hill Middle School Student Council students raised money last October for the non-profit organization with the hope of collecting enough to sponsor one veteran on the Honor Flight trip in May. They raised more than $1400, enough to sponsor a seat for Major Bill Roberts to take his trip of a lifetime to visit the WWII Memorial in Washington D.C., according to Melinda Cox, Tex Hill PTSA healthy lifestyles chair. The 92-year-old veteran was captured in Poland during WWII and spent 11 months as a POW where he was often interrogated by the opposition and thrown in solitary confinement. The aerial gunner remembers being shot down over Czechoslovakia in 1944. “I bailed out – 5 miles up and 40 below zero. There was nobody in the sky but me and the Lord, so I had a little talk with him on the way down,” Roberts said. “When you get there (Washington D.C.) there’s a whole field full of memorials. It makes you sort of sit back and think of it more than 400,000 men died in that war. I

was one of them, but I got to come home. It hits some emotional strings you have but you don’t think about,” he added. Student council students were very proud to be able to support Honor Flight San Antonio and to meet Roberts, who visited the school to thank the students before he left. Students returned the favor and met him at the San Antonio Airport to welcome him and the 25 other veterans home. Hill students also made thank you cards and letters for the veterans to keep as a remin der Major Bill Roberts, WWII Veteran, is greeted by students and parents of Tex Hill Middle School, where the student council raised $1400 to send him on the Honor Photos: Courtesy of NEISD Flight this spring.

of students’ gratitude for their service. “They took a bunch of pictures of us when we got back. It made me feel good that I was part of the big picture. Usually as you go through life you are just a spectator,” Roberts said. “I just sat back and enjoyed it. I would like to thank all the people it took to make it possible.”

Tex Hill students and parents welcomed home San Antonio WWII veterans as they returned from their Honor Flight visit to Washington D.C.

Tex Hill students wrote letters to the 25 San Antonio WWII veterans who took the Honor Flight in May.

June 2016 Issue Major Bill Roberts visits the WWII Memorial in Washington D.C..

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SOCIAL

Moment of Truth Inspires Businessman to Remodel Families from the Inside (the east side of San Antonio’s inner city), to we pay them in kingdom bucks. see how to help in my own arrogance, and I “There was a 10-year-old little boy who was the guy who came back was eyeballing some great Bill Morgan faced a moment of truth in helped.” tennis shoes. He didn’t have 2007. At the pinnacle of his business career He started volunteering the $3 for them. I asked him “ We‘re not about he found himself asking, “is this all there is? and eventually started a minto pick some weeds around growing numbers and the fence. He said, ‘Mr. B, this “I went down into the ‘hood,’ as we call it istry named after its inspiration. Moment of Truth Minisjob I’ve ever had in raising money. We’re ismythelife!’firstI asked tries now encompasses sevhim about his eral different endeavors: a really about building grades. He said they were not community store; outreach in very good. I asked him, partnership with God’s House a community,” ‘because you can’t or because church; transitional housing; Bill Morgan, founder, you don’t’ and he admitted he facilitation of the use of a Moment of Truth Ministries didn’t behave in school. This shed full of construction tools; was in January. I told him I’d and building remodel. look at his report card in May. Morgan said MOTM houses 20 families I got a call from his principal 10 days later – “affordable homes for folks: elderly women asking, ‘what in the world is going on with or families who don’t have a man in the this kid? He was a pain… he’s all but polishhouse. We want to help deal with the core ing the teacher’s apple now.’” issues of the family – remodeling from the By the end of his summer working, the Over spring break this year, Moment of Truth Ministries faith. family. community. inside – which is the important part. boy was able to buy a bicycle. connected 200 kids from 15 universities to projects helping others on San Antonio’s Eastside. Volunteers MOTM is part of the Resurgence Collab“If somebody needs something from come to see how they can help – it’s our opportunity to orative with the City of San Antonio. They MOTM’s Kingdom Works Community Store serve them and1/4 expose themDesigns to the needs close to 2016 Proposed page forsoMarch are the faith-based arm of a group of social - (locations 1730 East Commerce Street in their home, said Bill Morgan, founder, MOTM. services provided for people re-integrating downtown San Antonio and 7 Daisy Lane Photo courtesy of Moment of truth Ministries into society after incarceration. Morgan in Boerne), we ask them to volunteer, and by AMY MORGAN, Beacon Content Director amy@saBeacon.com

A place to learn… • A caring Christian faculty and staff • A safe Biblical values and standards community • A best value Christian School • A challenging curriculum for college and career preparation • A diverse student body

Call (210) 653-2800 today to reserve your child’s place.

A place to worship… A place you can call home. Come as you are; find people who accept you as you are, and grow to become everything God wants you to be. Sunday 9:00 am – Café Church | Sunday 10:30 am – Worship Service | Wednesday 6:45 pm – Adults, Youth & Awana trinitychurch.com | 5415 N Loop 1604 E | Easy 1604 access between 281 and 35

For information how to get involved, contact him through email bmorgan@motmsatx.org, or visit the website, http://momentoftruthministries.org/.

4 Ways to Keep Comfortable this Summer

“

Now Enrolling for Fall 2016

• Professional staff • Spacious and clean classrooms designed for creativity and functionality, and generously supplied with age-appropriate learning resources • Covered playgrounds

hopes to recruit many volunteers to mentor and walk alongside the recently paroled. He leads by example, as his outreach partner at God’s House, Pastor Clayton, is a three-time felon who was called to preach in prison 20 years ago. “God brought this businessman and former drug leader prisoner together,” Morgan said. “He’s used our relationship to tie the communities together to show them something different than they see on the news.” “Moment of Truth is a perfect example of faith in action – it’s one thing to talk about it – but to be able to put it in action – he’s a role model for me,” said Scott Barr, Steward of Southwest Exteriors and Community Leader. “We see our job is to love people and tell them the truth as best we know it about what God’s done in our lives,” Morgan said. “It has been the toughest, but the most rewarding thing I’ve ever accomplished.”

Joe Incardona Rosenberg Air

Springtime temperatures create built-in benefits for enjoying indoor comfort while conserving energy. Try these tips to make the most of lower energy costs:

”

Ad Ventilation. During moderate temperatures, natural ventilation is your best strategy for saving on energy, so fling open windows and use fans to move the air around.

2 3

Prepare Your Equipment. Service your AC system before summer. Proper maintenance will increase its life and preserve its efficiency. Watch Your Settings. DOE says you can save up to 1% for each degree you set the temperature back for 8 hours or longer. So, if you run your AC at 78° instead of 72°, you can save from 6-18% on your bill. Programmable thermostats will monitor settings for you.

your ductwork and attic insulation levels inspected especially if 4 Have you live in an older home. Many heating and cooling systems waste significant amounts of energy (and your money) leaking air into the attic space. What is the sense in paying for electricity if you are cooling your attic?

For expert service, call Rosenberg Indoor Comfort:

(210) 798-8000 www.Rosenberghvac.com

TACLA022493C

Adv

J U LY 2016 — B E A CO N

Area Churches

w w w.saB eaco n.co m LUTHERAN-MISSOURI SYNOD

Concordia Lutheran Church 16801 Huebner Rd, SA78258 (210) 479-1477 www.concordialutheranchurch.com Mt Calvary Lutheran 308 Mt Calvary Dr, San Antonio 78209 (210) 824-8748 www.mtcsa.org N O N - D E N O M I N AT I O N A L

A F R I C A N M E T H O D I S T E P I S C O PA L

Hodges Chapel A.M.E. 401 Gulf St, San Antonio 78202

(210) 224-0665

ANGLICAN

All Saints Anglican Church 11122 Link Dr., SA 78213 (210) 344-1920 www.allsaintanglican.net A S S E M B LY O F G O D

First Assembly of God 13435 West Ave., SA 78216 (210) 496-9977 Living Springs Assembly Of God 151 Purple Sage Rd, Bandera 78003 (830) 796-7932 Northwest Assembly of God 2714 Hunters Green, SA 78231 (210)492-5531 Victory Assembly Of God 1017 W Byrd Blvd, Universal City 78148 (210) 659-3251 BAPTIST

Calvary Baptist Church 6142 Fm 78, San Antonio 78244 (210) 222-1541 Castle Hills First Baptist Church 2220 NW Military Hwy, SA 78213 (210) 377-8485 Central Baptist Church 1226 S. Presa St., SA 78224 (210) 533-5882 www.freewebs.com/centralbaptistchruch Converse First Baptist Church 9162 FM 78, Converse 78109 (210) 658-2891 Elmendorf First Baptist Church 7795 FM 327, Elmendorf 78112 (210) 665-2113 www.efbconline.org First Baptist Church Universal City 1401 Pat Booker Rd., Universal City 78148 (210) 658-6394 Grace Point Church Medical Center 9650 Huebner Road, SA 78249 (210) 696-6093 www.gracepoint.org Grace Point Church- West Campus 8531 Leslie Rd SA 78254 (210) 363-8932 www.gracepoint.org Helotes Independent Baptist 15335 Orange Tower Dr, Helotes 78023 (210) 695-2321 Hondo First Baptist 2400 Ave P, Hondo 78661 (830) 426-4047 Iglesia Bautista Hispana 1226 E Borgfeld Dr, SA 78260 (830) 438-3081 Lytle First Baptist 16827 N Prairie St, Lytle 78052 (830) 709-2202 Resurrection Baptist Church 1002 E Live Oak Rd, Schertz 78154 (210) 658-0459 www.myrbconline.org/ South San Filadelﬁa Baptist Church 2483 W. Southcross, SA 78211 (210) 225-7537 www.myssfc.org Southeast Baptist Church 2414 S WW White Rd, SA 78222 (210) 333-6304 Trinity Baptist Church San Antonio 3233 N Saint Marys St, SA 78212 (210) 736-0969 True Life Church 202 W Byrd Blvd, Universal City 78148 (210) 658-5945 www.livetruelife.church C AT H O L I C

St Gabriel Catholic Church 747 SW 39th St, SA 78237

(210) 433-3689

CHURCH OF CHRIST

Dellcrest Church of Christ 1550 S WW White Rd., SA 78220 Liberty View Church Of Christ 1719 Burleson, SA 78202 (210) 251-2325 Northside Church of Christ 19818 US Highway 281 N, SA 78258 (210) 494-1908 www.nscoc.org

Abundant Life Church 5626 Randolph Blvd #1, San Antonio 78233 (210) 650-4816 www.abundantlifechurchsa.org Cornerstone Church 18755 Stone Oak Pkwy, SA 78258 (210) 490-1600 www.sacornerstone.org/ Crossbridge Community Church 25700 Overlook Pkwy, San Antonio 78260 (210) 496-0158 www.crossbridgecommunitychurch.com/ Destiny Church 8635 Callaghan, San Antonio 78230 (210) 349-2295 www.destinychurch.cc Faith Outreach Center International 3806 Sunshine Ranch Rd., San Antonio 78228 www.faith-outreach.org Grace Community Church Universal City 701 Kitty Hawk Rd, Universal City 78148 (210) 659-8200 www.grace-sa.org Harvest Fellowship Community Church 16111 San Pedro, SA 78232 www.harvestfellowship.org House Of Living Bread Church 18940 Redland Rd, SA 78259 (210) 402-6500 Oak Hills Church - Crownridge 19595 West Ih 10, San Antonio 78256 (210) 698-6868 www.oakhillschurch.com/crownridge Oak Hills Church - Journey Fellowship 16847 Interstate 35 N # 3, Selma 78154 (210) 651-1463 www.oakhillschurch.com/journeyfellowship Oak Hills Church - North Central 814 Arion Parkway, Suite 410, SA 78216 (210) 698-4689 www.oakhillschurch.com/northcentral Oak Hills Church - Westside 321 N General Mcmullen Dr, SA 78237 (210) 433-1484 www.oakhillschurch.com/westside Summit Christian Center 2575 Marshall Rd, SA 78259 (210) 402-0565 www.summitsa.com The Living Word of God Christian Church 608 Schertz Parkway, Schertz 78154 (210) 468-3609 Vertical Church 4218 Thousand Oaks, SAT 78217 www.facebook.com/VerticalMinSA Victory Outreach Church 851 Hammond Ave, SA 78210 (210) 533-7060 OTHER

Alamo City Christian Fellowship Church 6500 IH 35 North, SA 78218 www.alamocity.org Alamo Heights Christian Church 6435 N. New Braunfels Ave., SA 78209 (210) 828-5728 Church Alive 18850 Redland Road, San Antonio 78259 (210) 490-1770 www.sachurchalive.com/ Crossroads Community Church 5834 Ray Ellison, San Antonio 78242 (210) 623-4500 www.wherelifechanges.com/ Divine Fellowship 200 So Camp, Seguin 78155 (210) 632-4448 First Christian Church 201 Harriman Place, San Antonio 78204 (210) 226-8545

Friendship Center 217 Pleasanton, San Antonio 78214 (210) 367-6243 Grace Bible Church La Vernia 390 FM 1346 S, La Vernia 78121 (830) 779-5200 Grace Tabernacle Church 3630 SE Military Dr, SA 78223 (210) 534-7080 www.gracepraise.org/ Hope Fellowship Christian Church 4836 Rittiman Rd, SA 78218 (210) 370-3397 https://www.facebook.com/HopeFellowshipSA/ Iglesia Cristiana Oasis de Amor 11333 West Ave, SA 78213 (210) 653-9048 Iglesia de Hogar 1071 W Kirk Place, SA 78214 (210) 433-9993 Iglesia El Jordan 13003 SW Loop 410, SA 78224 (210) 628-4772 Iglesia Vision Y Restauracion 1845 Donaldson Ave, SA 78228 (210) 432-1265 International Bible Church 2369 Benrus Blvd, SA 78228 (210) 434-5541 www.church.ibctx.org/ Jesus’ Church 5726 Mobud St, San Antonio 78238 (210) 682-5224 JMB Outreach Ministries 9558 Cantura Crest, SA 78250 (210) 607-1537 Kingdom Life Christian Ministries Inc. 10635 IH 35 N, Suite 313, San Antonio 78233 (210) 650-5334 www.kingdomlifecm.org/ Kings Mission Fellowship 610 Moursund Blvd, SA 78221 (210) 922-5366 www.kingsmissionsa.com/ Living Water Faith Church 118 Fredericksburg Rd, SA 78201 (210) 733-1980 Living Word Christian Fellowship 4952 Windsor Hl # 103, Windcrest 78239 (210) 650-0712 Love Gospel Church 8102 Crosscreek, San Antonio 78218 (210) 650-3400 Mission of Mercy Ministry 502 E Southcross, SA 78214 (210) 425-3365 New Creations Christian Fellowship 8700 Fourwinds Dr, Windcrest 78239 (210) 646-7997 New Life Christian Center 6610 W US Highway 90, San Antonio 78227 (210) 679-6050 New Life Church 1503 Standish, Floresville 78114 (830) 216-1008 Nuevo Amanecer 502 E Southcross, San Antonio 78226 (830) 281-1162 Primera Iglesia 437 W Johnson, Pleasanton 78064 (830) 570-4999 Real Christ International Church 1136 W Woodlawn, San Antonio 78201 (210) 913-5435 Redeeming Grace AME Zion Chr 1690 Rigsby Ave, SA 78210 (210) 359-6240 Road To Damascus Church 2105 Pinn Rd, SA 78227 (210) 673-4924 Shalom Outreach Ministries 3107 Guadalupe, SA 78207 (210) 438-1257 Shekina Glory Church 614 Chalmers, SA 78214 (210) 577-8212 Souled Out - BFA 3439 Willowwod Blvd, SA 78219 (210) 862-5221

1/4 page ad

Souls for the Kingdom Ministries 3802 W Salinas, San Antonio 78207 (210) 534-8186 www.souls4.org/Home_Page.html Templo Amor Y Gracia 332 Wilcox Ave, SA 78211 (210) 923-1929 Templo Espiritu de Verdad 96 Ninth St. , Somerset 78069 (210) 639-5328 Thousand Oaks Christian Church 13007 Jones-Maltsberger, SA 78247 (210) 490-7729 Todo Esta Pagado Mission 8305 S Foster, SA 78222 (210) 413-6602 Tower City Church 11220 Perrin Beitel Rd, Suite 110, San Antonio 78217 www.towercitychurch.com/ True Christian Unity Church 10311 Lee Roy Lane, Adkins 78101 (210) 707-1837 Winds of Grace Church 1512 Bandera Rd, San Antonio 78228 (210) 954-2370 www.windsofgrace.org/ P E N T E C O S TA L

Harvest Time Fellowship Ministry 1815 S Ww White Rd, SA 78212 (210) 304-6000 www.htfm.org Iglesia Emanuel Pentecostal 2908 Mission Road, SA 78214 (210) 789-8340 Lively Stone International Christian Church 210 S Grimes St, Ste 103, San Antonio 78203 (210) 226-1234 Mission De La Fe Pentecostes Hwy 35, Derby 78061 (830) 317-6001 PRESBYTERIAN

Faith Presbyterian Church 1307 Blanco Woods, SA 78248 (210) 492-8038 First Presbyterian Church San Antonio 404 North Alamo Street, SA 78205 (210) 226-0215 www.fpcsanantonio.org/ Holy Trinity Presbyterian 16245 Nacogdoches, SA 78247 (210) 654-3411 Stone Oak Presbyterian Church 20024 Crescent Oaks, SA 78258 (210) 497-7974 S E V E N T H D AY A D V E N T I S T

Highland Lakes SDA Church 6642 West FM 1431, Granite Shoals 78654

512-755-4379

UNITED METHODIST

Asbury UMC 4601 San Pedro, San Antonio 78212 (210) 735-8115 Bulverde United Methodist Church 28300 Hwy. 281 North, SA 78260 www.bulverdeumc.org Coker UMC 231 E. North Loop Road, San Antonio 78216 (210) 494-3455 Colonial Hills UMC 5247 Vance Jackson, SA 78230 (210) 349-9583 Northern Hills UMC 3703 N Loop 1604 E, SA 78247 (210) 654-0881 www.nhumc.org/ University United Methodist Church 5084 De Zavala Rd., SA 78249 (210) 696-1033 www.uumcsatx.org Windcrest UMC 8101 Midcrown Dr, SA 78239 (210) 654-0404

Feel Better Live Better

CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE

Dominion Church of God In Christ 3023 Martin Luther King Dr, San Antonio 78220 (210) 226-2932

We are a privately owned clinical enterprise providing optimal rehabilitation services to the general public. Guided by the core values of integrity, honesty, respect, and responsibility.

CHURCH OF GOD IN CHRIST

Thompson Chapel C.O.G.I.C. 903 S Palmetto, SA 78210

(210) 533-7849

E VA N G E L I C A L F R E E

Northeast Bible Church 19185 FM 2252, Garden Ridge 78266 www.nebible.net FOURSQUARE

We promise to listen to you, communicate with you, and provide you with the tools you need to feel better… and live better.

Lifehouse Church 20825 Wilderness Oak, San Antonio 78258 (210) 499-5775 www.lifehouseSA.com Living Faith Church 7801 Marbach Rd, SAT 78227 (210) 256-7711 www.livingfaithsa.org I N T E R - D E N O M I N AT I O N A L

Community Bible Church 2477 North Loop 1604 East, San Antonio 78232 (210) 496-5096 www.communitybible.com Community Bible Church Brooks 3005 Sidney Brooks St, SA 78235 (210) 534-1764 www.communitybible.com Community Bible Church Northwest 8118 Tezel Rd, San Antonio 78250 (210) 509-1800 www.communitybible.com Trinity Church 5415 N Loop 1604 E, San Antonio 78247 (210) 653-0003 www.trinitychurch.com LUTHERAN

Christ the King Lutheran 1129 Pat Booker Rd, SA 78148 (210) 658-2254 Good News Lutheran Church 11020 Old Corpus Christi Hwy, SA 78223 (210) 633-0551

PRI PHYSICAL THERAPISTS Stone Oak: 19260 Stone Oak Pkwy, Ste 107 (210) 545-9355 Hank Bussey, Stephanie Bussey, Gabriel Molina, Derk Harrington,

PT, DPT, MS, OCS PT, MPT PT, DPT, CMT, MBA PT, MPT, CMT, OCS,

Medical Center: 10007 Huebner Rd., Ste 107 (210) 593-0774

Visit us Online: www.myPRI.net

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J U LY 2 0 1 6 — B E A CO N

EDUCATION

What Makes a Great Teacher? A Student’s Perspective by LAUREN ROBERTSON, Beacon Intern

“Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” This old proverb resonates with the responsibility indebted to teachers: equipping the next generation of students with enthusiasm to learn, reason, and apply themselves to the world around them. Teachers prove an invaluable asset, but with a myriad of learning styles education can sometimes be lost in translation. So what constitutes a quality teacher? Looking back on life from pre-K to senior year, I noticed a consistent theme among my most memorable teachers…. 1. Teachers should engage students on a personal level. There is a big difference between talking at someone and talking with someone. As a student, I felt more engaged (and less compelled to fall asleep) whenever the teacher actively included the students in his or her lesson. Tailoring classroom activities towards the audience will not only create a more engaging learn-

ing environment but will generate greater respect from students. 2. Teachers should maintain a controlled classroom. Throughout high school, my least favorite classes where those in which the teacher was evidently not the leader. Students would file their complaints about homework or tests and as a result there was no structure on due dates or class agendas. Public Agenda President Ruth A. Wooden stated on the organization’s website, “Rowdiness, disrespect, bullying, talking out, lateness and loutishness – these misbehaviors are poisoning the learning atmosphere of our public schools.” Publicagenda.org further reported: “A minority of students who routinely challenge legitimate school rules and authority are preventing the majority of students from learning and teachers from teaching.” All in all, teachers are the foremost authorities. Teachers ought to be open to student feedback, but ultimately should dictate the activities and tone of a classroom. Students who are taught to respect authorities results in a more productive atmosphere conducive for learning. After all, school is an academic environment, not a day care center. 3. Teachers should be prepared beyond the textbook. One of my favorite classes was dual credit Western Civilization my junior

I learned the most from teachers who valued my education and saw me as a worthwhile investment.

year of high school. My teacher was an expert on the subject. It even became a game among my peers and I to try to outwit our teacher. My teacher’s quick rationale and familiarity with ancient civilization pushed us to learn more. By the end of the class I realized I had learned more by simply trying to outsmart my teacher than I did in other classes where I merely memorized material. The Center for Public Education reports: “Teachers’ knowledge of the content they teach is a consistently strong predictor of student performance, even though studies differ in how strong its effects are.” Passionate teachers familiar in their field are better equipped to translate their knowledge and enthusiasm to their pupils.

As a student, I often sought out dedicated teachers who were personally invested in my academic success and desired to see me excel. I respected the teachers who prioritized their duty to truly teach the material at hand. Ben Franklin said, “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” I learned the most from teachers who valued my education and saw me as a worthwhile investment; not necessarily from the curriculum they taught, but from who they were as a person and what they pushed me to believe about my capabilities. Lauren Robertson is a recent graduate of San Antonio Christian Schools. She served as Editor-in- Chief of her school’s magazine, the Revelation. She will be attending Baylor University this fall where she will continue her passion for medicine, business, and writing.

EDUCATION

Castle Hills First Baptist School Becomes an Independent Christian School, Makes Plans to Buy Current Property SUBMITTED BY THE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL AT CASTLE HILLS

Serving students from 18 months through the 12th grade, Castle Hills features academic excellence from a decidedly Christian worldview. The school also oﬀers championship athletic programs, award-winning fine arts, a high school leadership academy, and 85 percent of the 2016 graduating class received academic scholarships to college. Thousands of Castle Hills’ alumni are dotted around the globe—serving as television producers, physicians, missionaries, pastors, state legislators, and more. To learn more about Castle Hills, please visit www.castlehills.school.

As of January 1, 2016, Castle Hills First Baptist School officially became an independent, Christian school—separating itself from Castle Hills First Baptist Church. For this reason, on July 1, 2016, Castle Hills First Baptist School will officially change its name to The Christian School at Castle Hills. The move came out of lengthy discussions between school officials and school board members who saw this as an opportunity to expand the appeal of the school beyond its current base. “Since 1981, Castle Hills First Baptist School has educated thousands of children and youth. The legacy of training students to know Christ and make Him Known will continue as we become The Christian School at Castle Hills,” said Superintendent Michael Pinkston. “We remain deeply grateful for the historic roots and outpouring of support across the years from Castle Hills

First Baptist Church. This next chapter of becoming an independent Christian school means our school can expand and grow— while still providing the same level of academic excellence from a decidedly Christian worldview that San Antonio residents have come to expect.” As Castle Hills First Baptist Church looks to relocate, school oﬃcials have begun negotiations to purchase the property on which it currently stands. The 24-acre property would allow the school to expand enrollment and allow the school to add additional classrooms and upgrade facilities. School oﬃcials have secured a 3.5year lease with the church to stay on the current property, giving ample time to raise the funds needed to buy the historic buildings and land. As of May 1, the school has experienced early success in this major campaign, and future fundraising efforts are in the works.

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J U LY 2 0 1 6 — B E A CO N

PETS

Fourth of July Safety Tips for Pets

HURTS, HABITS, AND HANGUPS

by DR. SHAWN MESSONNIER

Put Down the Cup of Comparison by KIRK FREEMAN, Pastor CrossBridge Community Church

One thing I always dreaded when I was a high school student was the year-end superlatives...Most Popular....Most Likely to Succeed...remember those? Instead of being able to celebrate someone else’s award, I’d wind up comparing myself to each of the winners. Even worse, sometimes I’d pick the best attributes of three or four different people and combine them into one imaginary person and feel extra bad about myself. Even as an adult, I can fall prey to the comparison game. Am I as successful? Am I as significant? Am I as handsome or beautiful? Seems like all the old superlatives are still haunting me, aren’t they? The problem is that comparison is like drinking poison. It kills our self esteem. It sucks out joy from our lives and diminishes our contentment. It consumes us with feelings of inadequacy and robs us of productivity. Even in those rare moments when we feel like we have it better than someone else, our contentment is on shaky ground because life is unpredictable and uncontrollable. Comparison never--and I mean never-does anything good for us. Yet we drink this toxic cup anyway. The reason we do this is because we were designed for significance. We have a sense of greatness inside us. We want to know that we matter, so we look for observable cues to tell us how we’re doing. And where’s the easiest place to look? That’s right, other people.

Almost every time we look to others who are, themselves, seeking the same validation. This fails us in two big ways... First, we never are able to see all of another person’s life, so we’re stuck comparing ourselves only to the little slice of their life we do see. It’s not fair to compare ourselves against such a small portion of someone’s observable life. My bet is, if we could experience every aspect of someone else’s life--including their fears, pressures and struggles--most of the time we’d stick with our own. Second, measuring ourselves against others doesn’t take into account the way each of us was uniquely designed. One of the very first things God says in the entire Bible is that he made us in his image. It’s no wonder I don’t fare well when I compare myself to others--I’m not supposed to be like them in the first place. I’m supposed to be the unique person God created me to be. God also tells me he has a plan for my life (he has one for yours, too)--a good plan, rooted in his love for us. What’s more, he promises I can discover this plan when I put down the cup of comparison and start believing what he says about me is true. That last line is super important, and I don’t want you to miss it: “Start believing what God says about you is true.” It makes all the difference in the world. Kirk Freeman loves being a husband, daddy and serving as the lead pastor of CrossBridge Community Church in San Antonio, Texas.

Here are some tips on keeping your pet safe this July 4th from my colleagues at Texas A&M. The 4th of July might be a day of celebration for people, but for pets it is a day of potentially hazardous situations. Dr. James Barr, clinical assistant professor for the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, explained that pets are at an increased risk for several dangerous scenarios during our holiday celAs a pet owner, it is important to consider all dangerous situations your pet may experience during the holiday. ebration. “Most of the injuries or sicknesses that happen around the 4th of July in the 4th of July holiday is fireworks. Although dogs have to do with an increased amount we might fall into a trance of admiration at of outdoor activity,” Dr. James Barr said. the loud popping noises and flashing of col“There are more dogfights, car accidents ors in the sky, our pets might not enjoy the involving dogs and heatshow so much. If your dog related illnesses than any typically becomes frightened other time of the year.” “There are more during thunderstorms, Barr also discourages ownchances are it will react the dogfights, car ers from feeding table scraps to same way to fireworks. “If their pets. “Because dogs and your dog is frightened by the accidents involving cats have exposure to a lot fireworks, you need to minidogs and heatmore food from barbecues and mize the exposure that they parties, they tend to get upset have to the loud noise of the related illnesses stomachs from eating things fireworks,” Barr said. This can they shouldn’t,” he said. Somethan any other be done by finding a safe and times it is seen as humorous for room in your home time of the year.” quiet owners to share an alcoholic where your dog can stay beverage with their pet, but relaxed. If Fido is in attenBarr includes alcohol on his list dance at your outdoor firework show, keep of dangers for pets on Independence Day. him or her on a leash to prevent it from “Pets have much smaller bodies than we do running away or jumping a fence in an and it can be quite dangerous to have them attempt to find safety. Remember, it is drink alcohol. It can even be fatal in severe always important to properly identify your circumstances,” he said. pet just in case it becomes lost. If you plan on bringing Fido to an outAlthough Independence Day is a fundoor party, be cautious of the dangers of filled holiday for people, it might not be the mosquitos, fleas and ticks. Spraying your same case for our pets. As a pet owner, it is pet with insect repellant may seem like a important to consider all dangerous situareasonable solution to the bug problem, but tions your pet may experience during the some sprays are not safe for animals. holiday. If you are concerned about the danInstead, Barr recommends using an effecgers your pet may face and want to fully tive flea and tick repellant prescribed by protect them, the simple solution is for Fido your veterinarian. Since heartworms are to sit this party out in the safety of your transmitted to pets through mosquitos, a home. common summer nuisance, Barr also Dr. Shawn Messonnier, a 1987 graduate of Texas A&M College of Vetreminds owners to make sure their pet is erinary Medicine, opened Paws & Claws Animal Hospital in 1991. His taking heartworm preventative before they special interests include exotic pets, dermatology, cancer, and interenjoy the holiday outdoors. nal medicine. Dr. Messonnier is a well-known speaker and author. One of the most exciting traditions of

J U LY 2016 — B E A CO N

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The human body is a wonderful creation of God.

Let’s work together to stay healthy. Photos courtesy of Fit Family Challenge

Honor God and stay healthy with Fit Family Challenge Throughout the summer, there will be over $25,000 worth of prizes and incentives given away to those participating and earning their points.

Fit Family Challenge Around the Community

Your family can stay in shape and win big prizes this summer with Fit Family Challenge!

What is Fit Family Challenge?

San Antonio Sports Fit Family Challenge, presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas is the coolest summer program around. It encourages families to get physically active and live a healthier lifestyle by offering free events and resources to help families learn about fitness and nutrition. Fit Family Challenge is for the entire family! Zumba and Kid Fit classes are offered weekly MondayThursday at seven locations. While mom and dad do Zumba, so will the kids!

People throughout our community participate in Fit Family Challenge for many different reasons. Yvonne Hernandez has been participating in Fit Family Challenge for four summers. She started because of health issues. “Fit Family Challenge has motivated me and has provided me with the resources to lead a healthy lifestyle,” explains Hernandez. “Zumba has become part of my daily routine, an extension of my work day with a strong supportive crew with my friends and workout buddies. A quote I saw recently perfectly describes why I continue to participate in Fit Family Challenge activities: ‘I work out because I love my body, not because I hate it.’”

Another frequent Zumba participant, Lydia Peacock, loves to move. “I attend Zumba because at 85 years old, it keeps me moving and ﬂexible! My husband and I used to dance around the house, so Zumba is a nice reminder of him while keeping me active!” While Fit Family Challenge is open to all families in Bexar County, locations are concentrated in 10 zip codes in San Antonio that have the highest rates of diabetes and obesity. Whether it’s to get active, stay active, interact with friends, or just to let their kids get some energy out, everyone is welcome!

This Summer’s Events!

You can join Fit Family Challenge weekly classes at any time. The next family-friendly Fit Family Challenge Big Event, Jump into Fitness, will take place on Saturday, July 23 at Harlandale Park from 8-10 a.m. Come out for a morning of fitness, family, and fun in the park. Weekly Zumba classes continue until August 16. To learn more about locations and class times, visit FitFamilyChallenge.com. Bring your family and join our Fit Family Challenge family.

Visit: FitFamilyChallenge.com to learn more.

J U LY 2 0 1 6 — B E A CO N

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SPONSORED CONTENT

HEALTH & WELLNESS

ALL ABOUT EYES by MONICA ALLISON, OD

Summer in Stone Oak and Now BULVERDE We have some exciting news... We are opening a satellite office in Bulverde for our families that live farther north on 281. The address is 121 Bulverde Crossing, Suite 116, Bulverde, 78163. Our phone number there is 830-980-2020, and we are scheduling now for July. We hope to provide back-to-school care for the families in Comal county in a location convenient for them. We will follow this new addition with a new building in Stone Oak in the fall. Keep updated on progress on our Stone Oak Facebook page. We will have more room, more product selection and are adding a new doctor to cover both new offices. Summer suggestions: we definitely recommend a good pair of sunglasses to protect your eyes from the intense summer sun. Even if you don’t need prescription eyewear, everyone should have protective sun wear, including children. If you are normally a glasses wearer, you might try contact lenses as a good option to enjoy some summer fun wearing non-prescription sunglass. If swimming is a big part of your family’s summer, and if a family member is nearsighted, they may have difficulty being able to see clearly at the pool. Most contact lenses should not be used while swimming, and glasses are not always the best option. As an alternative, we can make prescription swim goggles, or we can prescribe ortho-k lenses.

Ortho-k is the process of using special contact lenses that are only worn at night during sleep. Similar to how a retainer works on your teeth, the molding lenses gently reshape the front surface of your eye, and when you wake up and remove the contact lens, your vision is clear throughout the day. It works best for nearsighted individuals and is safe for children. Because children are not candidates for LASIK, Ortho-k is a great option for them. At Stone Oak Vision Source and Bulverde Vision Source, we accept most insurance plans. We will help determine what is best for you according to your plan options. We also treat eye emergencies such as pink eye and foreign bodies. Call and make an appointment if the need ever arises. We will soon have four doctors to serve you between our two locations: 19202 Stone Oak Parkway, Suite 106, and 121 Bulverde Crossing, Suite 116, Bulverde. Visit us online at www.visionsource-stoneoak.com or www. bulverdevisionsource.com, or call for an appointment at 210-495-9020 (Stone Oak) and 830-980-2020 (Bulverde). If you are experiencing any eye concerns, or just want to stop in and meet our team, we are currently located at 19202 Stone Oak Parkway Ste 106. Please visit our web site www.visionsource-stoneoak. com or call 495-9020 to schedule your appointment today.

FINANCES

God Sized Goals by DARRYL LYONS

Your ideal place may be in a deer blind, a home oﬃce, or just in your car. It just needs to be quiet and away from distractions.

“ Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?”

People You need to work with your spouse, loved ones, or business partner to set goals. They will see things you can’t. This is wise counsel. Did I say spouse? Don’t discount the power of having your spouse engage in the process. I know it has personally saved my career.

—Luke 14:28 (NIV)

Prayer Do not disconnect the Maker of the entire Universe from goal setting. This is a habit that must be broken. Prayer is the vehicle where we get to talk to our Heavenly Father about what is on our hearts, learn about His will for our lives, and see if the two are aligned.

Goal setting is distressing for me to write about. I am concerned you will do what I did for many years. You will set goals independently of God. You may (with good intentions) potentially create a checklist of things to do to accomplish in your own selfish ambition. Like I do all too often, you will discount the omnipresent Creator of the Universe who is interested in every decision you make. Then, you will experience the disappointment of accomplishing things only the world praises. You will waste a portion of your life only focused on dollars and cents and not the lives around you. Looking back, you will regret the selfish season. The good news is that God restores. He gives you another chapter in life. This time, prior to setting selfish-ambition goals, you will change the approach. You will establish the two goal-setting prerequisites: (1) successful setup and (2) high expectations.

Prerequisite 1: Successful Setup Distractions and a messy mind will destroy valuable time. Take a moment to set up the right environment to truly experience the benefits of the goal-setting process. Time A big chunk of time away from the oﬃce and distractions is needed. You should not fill up the time only writing things down. You will spend much of the time just staring and thinking. It is in those moments that clarity comes. My goal-setting venue of choice is a hotel lobby with access to coffee.

Prerequisite 2: Set High Expectations You may set low goals, discounting the greatness the Lord has in place for you. You have to think like a Texan: think big or go home. Pastor Tim Keller said, “I will no longer disrespect God by having low expectations (of what He can/will do).” You need to be excited about the potential God has in your life. God wants to participate in life and He wants you to live it abundantly. We subtly recognize God when we say, “It happened for a reason.” I’m suggesting that setting goals with God not be so subtle or reactive. We need to set goals that ensure the unique gifts God has given us are being recognized, used, and not wasted. Planning with God makes too much sense! Rather than simply meeting budget desires, your goals will now include the lives of those around you. With a goal-setting attitude in complete union with God, you are free to experience the abundant life you were called to live. Darryl W Lyons, Author of Small Business Big Pressure: A Faith-based Approach to guide the Ambitious Entrepreneur. www.smallbusinessbigpressure.com Darryl is also the co-founder of PAX Financial Group, LLC. He can be reached at 210-881-5703 or darryl@smallbusinessbigpressure.com

J U LY 2 0 1 6 — B E A CO N

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ENTERTAINMENT

Tune in Saturdays for Beacon Radio Tune in to our new Beacon Radio show Saturdays at noon on KSLR AM630. Host Steve Teel Steve@saBeacon.com Steve Teel hosts local and national difference makers who will share their stories and insights to give you hope, inspiration, and change. Steve is the pastor of Momentum Bible Church, author, and founder of Very Bold Ministries.

Our Guest Lineup July 2

Jennifer Smith and Mike Sharrow

MEN

When Being a Man Isn’t Enough by BLAKE CLIFTON, Beacon Community Manager, Blake@saBeacon.com

July 9

Debbie LeDoux: The Sister Project

July 16

Darryl Lyons: Admirals Basketball

July 23

Jimmy Robles: Last Chance Ministries

July 30

Jon Anderson: Growing Love Network

The San Antonio Area Foundation hosted a meeting of community leaders on June 20, with the hope of discussing the present and future of San Antonio. A wide range of individuals sat together in a room and engaged in a discussion led by the Unicity Board, which includes a number of spiritual leaders in our community. The question that was discussed was simple: What defines a man in today’s society? Jeff Kemp, a former NFL quarterback with the Seattle Seahawks and now a part of Family Life, led the way in the discussion. A recurring issue that we as a society struggle with is relating to the generation other than our own. So often, as the world changes in culture and personality, our opinions and hopes for the community can simply be lost in translation. We are seeing Baby Boomers, Generation X, and now Millennials work and live in the same areas, but not learning from each other. Men who have lived a full life have tre-

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mendous insight and wisdom to share with the younger generation, if they are willing to listen. Millennials can easily translate the culture in today’s age with the older generation. To be a man is to truly understand that it was Christ’s humility on the cross that exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name. It is not enough to grow as a man each day. We will hold ourselves back again and again until we strive to grow as a man of God. What if every man in the church viewed themselves as a father and friend to his community? What if every man understood his role in the household, and made his family feel safe and secure? As Jeff Kemp stated, “Manhood is bestowed in the company of true men.” Let us learn from the men both above and below us in age, and invest in tomorrow’s leaders through openness and transparency.

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J U LY 2016 — B E A CO N

May 2016 w w w.saB eaco n.co m issue - PROOF 2

YOUNG ADULTS

Success in Failure We cannot prevent unbalanced forces from occurring or cause them to happen. We can only decide how to respond. by RENEE UMSTED

My 9th grade history teacher always said that perfect practice makes perfect. Is this true? Logically speaking, yes. Mastering a skill requires dedication, focus, and hard work. It is reasonable that an expert would perfectly complete a task in his or her field, right? Wrong. Even professionals make mistakes, despite countless hours spent in practice. This is reality, the struggle of humans. Regardless of how much we practice, how noble our intentions are, or how desperately we desire something, an obstacle will always stand in our way. Trying harder doesn’t always work. Pushing our limits doesn’t always make us successful. But that doesn’t mean we should stop trying. Newton’s First Law of Motion states that an object in motion will remain in motion unless acted upon by an unbalanced force, and that an object at rest will remain at rest unless acted upon by an unbalanced force.

There are two scenarios.

In the first scenario, we wake up with the desire to be the best version of ourselves, spreading love and encouragement and practicing our virtues. This is the object in motion. Undoubtedly, something will happen that rotates our attitude and per-

spective 180°. This is the unbalanced force. In the second scenario, we wake up in the morning with a negative outlook on life, thinking that there is no point in even trying to be a blessing to others because we will mess up anyway. Or, we don’t wake up at all. This is the object at rest. Then, someone we encounter smiles at us or compliments us. This is the unbalanced force. We cannot prevent unbalanced forces from occurring or cause them to happen. We can only decide how to respond. Let us refuse to allow drizzles or thunderstorms to scare us into hiding. Instead, let our sunshine radiate and our warmth penetrate the icy hearts of those who try to stop us. Let us allow other stars in our life to light up the dark nights in which we have been living, and let those stars inspire us. Our failures cannot completely discourage us. Treat each failure as a single lost battle in the greater war. This war we can, and will win, if only we continue to fight by relying on our fellow soldiers and our commander and learning from our mistakes. So even though we will not always at first succeed, we must try and try again.

Our Mission: We help our customers reach their business goals by providing client-focused technology solutions with the highest level of support and ethical standards. Our Values: Always maintain our reputation for honesty and integrity Give back to our community Achieve a “win-win” solution between customer and KOS Promote balance in life to include: faith, family, health, work Enjoy what you do!

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Renee is a high school student living in San Antonio, who is passionate about writing and desires to be a journalist later in life. You can ﬁnd her writing at: realtalkwithrenee.wordpress.com.

I Am Not Old – Just Well Seasoned continued from page 7

An expression I hear occasionally is the title of this post. It probably comes as close as any to describe what might be the most accurate definition of someone who is truly on a satisfying journey through retirement. The human body decays. The thinning hair (actually by now a bald spot) on my head, the wrinkles, the brown “liver spots” on my arms and face, mark me as someone who is “getting up there,” as folks used to say. But do I think of myself as old? Will I think of myself as old when I turn 68? No. I see myself as aging but not old where it matters: in my relationships, engagement with life, desire to learn new things, and the chance to stick around this earth as long as the good Lord deems it appropriate. When it is my time to move on,

I want to be satisfied that I didn’t leave too much on the table, make too many enemies, and loved my life. Maybe I am like a chuck roast (if you are a vegetarian, just go with my example!). This is a cut of meat that is sometimes hard to chew. It often lacks much taste. It is relatively inexpensive and not considered a prime cut of beef. But, with the proper seasoning, spices, meat tenderizer and a lot of care, it can be made quite tolerable, even tasty and appealing. We are not old based on a calendar or someone else’s definition. We are old only if we stop living a full life while adding seasoning to the world around us. Bob Lowry is the author of the deﬁnitive retirement guides: Living A Satisfying Retirement and Building A Satisfying Retirement.

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J U LY 2 0 1 6 — B E A CO N

SPORTS

Alamo Heights, Johnson High Compete For State Titles

Alamo Heights Forrest Whitley, Pitcher, vs College Station

Alamo Heights Nathaniel Prete, 2nd baseman, vs College Station

Johnson Jaguars before the state final vs Dallas Jesuit

Johnson High players pray before the state final

SPORTS

Poor Oﬃciating? Copyright: 123RF Stock Photo

2016 was a high school baseball season to remember as two area high schools, Johnson (6A) and Alamo Heights (5A), earned berths to the UIL state championship tournament in Round Rock on June 9-11. In the last 45 years, only nine greater San Antonio schools have made a combined 12 appearances in the state tournament, with Smithson Valley being the last in 2005. The 1968 Highland Owls was the last SA team to win the title at the highest classification. Johnson High’s ascension into an elite program has been rapid. During the program’s inaugural season, Avatar and Up appeared on theater marquees around town. Players like second baseman Yuuki Chilcutt and right fielder Jacob Corner had already made an exit from the coach-pitch level. Who would’ve imagined only 2,700 days later, in a state where an ocean of high schools have only watched the state tournament from a distance, the Jaguars would be on their march to the final weekend. Ask Alamo Heights (27-8) how tough it is to make it to the state tourney. This was their first trip in school history and their campus opened during the beginning of the Korean War. The Mules’ star pitcher, Forrest

Whitley, was drafted by a MLB franchise (Houston Astros) that wouldn’t exist for another 12 years as the Colt .45s. More than 24,000 days would pass before AHHS would finally get their invite. That’s a lot of dreaming and hoping. But it was worth the wait. Coach Jason Thompson and his mighty Mules faced College Station in the 5A semifinal game, with Whitley striking out 11 on 123 pitches to help his squad beat the Cougars, 5-2. Their quest to win the state title would come up just short, as they lost 9-2 to Grapevine in the final. The 6A Jags, led by Coach Gordy Gesell, defeated Amarillo High in the semi-final game, 2-1. Richard Gilbert, a 1st team AllState selection, tossed a three-hitter and struck out nine to help Johnson High advance to meet Dallas Jesuit (36-8-2) for the championship trophy. Unfortunately, they lost a hard fought battle to the Rangers and Gatorade National Player of the Year, Kyle Muller, 6-2. In the end, what a fantastic season it was. The gauntlet these teams survived in order to make it to the final weekend was thrilling to watch, considering Texas has arguably the deepest pool of baseball talent in the country. Congratulations to both schools on their historic seasons. Thank you for allowing us to be along for the ride.

by TODD REID, Beacon Communications Specialist, Todd@saBeacon.com

by JIM FAULK, Area Director-FCA

Let me preface this article with a confession – I’m climbing out of a state of sadness. I find myself forced to settle for an NBA Championship series between the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers, due to an early departure (beating) of the Spurs at the hands of the Trailblazers. Truthfully, I’m sitting in my easy chair in front of a big-screen HDTV, and I can’t figure out who I’m supposed to root for – how sad! Should I jump up and down for King James when he forces his way through the key to slam dunk the ball, or cheer on Stephen Curry as he bombs the three-pointers from the outside perimeter? Okay…I’m going with Curry, because he’s FCA’s cover story in the FCA Magazine. Call me biased! Or, I could get caught up in the story line that the media, to include those paid TV sportscasting courtside commentators, have been focused on since the Spurs-Blazers series. From ESPN to local sportscasters and sports anchors, there has been a running commentary on the numbers of errors and no-calls made throughout the NBA Playoffs. It has become such an issue that even the NBA Commissioner weighed in at the halftime of Championship Game 3. All that having been said, in general, as a former coach and now a professional spectator, I’ve found that “poor oﬃciating” and “bad calls” only happen to losing teams (LOL!). I’m telling you, in all my years of playing, coaching, and watching, I’ve rarely heard a winning team or its fans complain about bad oﬃciating. But there’s just something deep within us that wants justice, integrity, and for the game to be called equally for both sides.

Isn’t it that “do right” Jiminy Cricket morality marker that God built within us that goes crazy when we see injustice, without which things just go totally off-course? The problem with the fairness of the call or the ruling, unfortunately for us humans, depends on how it affects us personally – whether we benefit from the call or not. Isn’t that personality flaw the reason we must have new life, which only Christ can give? Then, I must renew my mind daily to think the way God thinks. That is what’s so awesome about Almighty God, the ultimate game official. He never makes mistakes or bad calls, his judgments and decisions are never affected by feelings, emotions, losses, or wins. His calls are perfect, because PERFECT is Who He Is. Thanks be to God, Who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus – the Creator of the universe, the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the referee above all referees! When it’s time to blow that final whistle of judgment, we can count on Him to make the perfect call! Whew. Originally from Ft. Worth, Jim Faulk has lived in SATX since high school. A MacArthur HS and UTSA graduate, he coached briefly in the Judson School District. Jim recently celebrated his 30th anniversary as the Alamo Area Director for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He and Sandi, his wife of over 40 years, have a son, a triathlete and pastor, a marathoner daughterin-law, and two darling (really!) granddaughters. Jim and Sandi have taught the Scriptures and served through First Baptist Church of San Antonio for almost 35 years. Jim is a very competitive distance runner – look for him in area half-marathons! Follow FCA on Facebook & Twitter @SanAntonioAreaFCA, on Instagram @alamofca, and visit our website http://www.alamofca.org/.

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