Faith & Family January 2012 by SB Faith & Family

Faith & Family

contents 08

features 12

Where’d Everybody Go?

God’s Jealousy

Christmas Isn’t Over

columns: 06 07 08

Shepherd’s Staff The Holiday Nexus Marriage Matters The Greatest Cheater Teen Talk Louisiana Camp Joshua Comes to Ruston

january 2012 19

Faith under Fire Come to the Edge

in every issue:

City Scene Volunteer to Read through the Entire Bible

Event Calendar

Quips & Quotes

Mama Drama Resolutions

Ad Directory

Wise Words Doing Good Works

Single Life If The Shoe Fits...or Not

Sensible Stewards Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program

Thoughts in Christ Living Hope

Single Parenting Sibling Rivalry

Faith & Family wishes you a

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The Holiday Nexus The presents are opened, the tree has come down, the lights

into the new days ahead, to experience the fresh reality of what He is

on the house have been removed from the roof (unless

making new in us, leading us to develop in the likeness of Jesus. And

you store them there for next year), and the food has been

God also calls us to move beyond ourselves to participate in the new

eaten. Now what? The transition from Christmas to New

creation of the world as well, the kingdom Jesus inaugurated, one

Year’s Day is all too fast and disjointed. Advent, a great

with a future in need of our daily involvement and sacrificial service

time to get quiet, is noisy, rushed, and then Christmas

for 2012.

comes and goes as fast as the gifts are opened. We suddenly find ourselves staring at the end of one year and at the beginning of another. And, if we aren’t careful, we all too easily can miss the connection between the ancient, dusty manger and the brand new, shiny year. What is the connection? We find it best in the nexus of what once was, what is now, and what will be in the future. The manger, while in the past, represents the new God was doing in the world. The world changed the day Jesus was

Martin Luther’s words speak of this great nexus, connecting old manger to new year.

Glory to God in highest heaven, Who unto man His Son hath given; While angels sing with tender mirth, A glad new year to all the earth. May it be so in 2012.

born, as a whole new way of relating to God was birthed. Through Jesus, God provided an eternally clear picture of Himself to the world, one framed with eternal love for all. This was a way of light in darkness, righteousness amidst unrighteousness, love in the midst of hate, grace over legalism, victory over defeat, salvation rather than loss. God had a new way of relating to the world. The world had a new Way of encountering God. What we can discover is that the past intersects with the now. What God did in the manger affects us today. We just spent a season singing about it, eating around it, and buying in the name of it. It, though overly-commercialized, is still a season with the Christ child at the center of its meaning for Christians. The content of the ancient manger continues to provide hope in our workplaces, our homes, our schools, our relationships, and our souls as we remember how God is with us, here in our now. As we move into the future in this new year, we can do so recognizing that God is in our future as well. God calls us 6

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John Henson, Pastor Church for the Highlands

M A R R I A G E

The Greatest Cheater When you read the title of this article, I am sure to many of you, a particular person came to mind. We have all been cheated on and betrayed in some way and many times those moments go with us all throughout our lives. Rarely do we recognize that within ourselves, lies the greatest cheater. The cheater that I am speaking of is PRIDE. In Proverbs 16:18-19 it says, “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. It is better to be lowly in spirit and among the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud.” Pride robs us in our relationships, builds walls between people, separates us from those we love the most. It causes arrogance and the inability to admit wrong. Slowly with pride, you isolate yourself and become dependent on you and you only. Pride leads you right into sin! “My name is Pride. I am a Cheater! I cheat you of your God given destiny because you demand your own way. I cheat you of your contentment because you deserve better than this. I cheat you of knowledge because you already know it all.

M A T T E R S

I cheat you of greatness in heaven because you refuse to wash another’s feet on earth. I cheat you of God’s glory because I convince you to seek your own way. My name is Pride and I am a cheater. You like me because you think I am always looking out for you. Untrue, I am looking to make a fool of you. God has much for you, I admit, but don’t worry…. if you stick with me, you’ll never know!” Author unknown I pray this puts it all in perspective. Many of us have a thread of pride that runs through us and keeps us from loving people the way that God has called us to. Pride makes you the main event, and God said we are to love others first. The opposite of pride is humility. Today, consider this….is my life centered around me, or do I put others before myself? Just a thought! Don’t be cheated! -Steve and Debbie Wilson www.marriagemattersnow.com Check out our website for our 2012 Marriage Conference Schedule

I cheat you of healing because you are too full of “me” to forgive. I cheat you of holiness because you refuse to admit when you are wrong. I cheat you of genuine friendship because nobody’s going to know the real me. I cheat you of love because real romance demands sacrifice.

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T E E N

T A L K

LOUISIANA CAMP JOSHUA COMES TO RUSTON FOR THE 2ND TIME Louisiana Camp Joshua, Louisiana’s premiere pro-life training program, will be taking place in Ruston at the Gospel, Inc. Retreat Center from February 24-26. Begun in 2008 to equip the youth to be the pro-life leaders of tomorrow, Camp Joshua has trained over 450 teens across the state. Graduates of Camp Joshua have gone on to start pro-life groups in their high schools and college. Like Joshua of the Old Testament, Camp Joshua teaches students to “Be Joshua” and tear down the walls of the culture of death. Leaders across the state strongly support the Camp Joshua program. Mike Johnson, Dean of the Louisiana College of Law, stated, “I strongly encourage churches and families to send their high school students to Camp Joshua. Camp Joshua is preparing young men and women to be defenders of innocent human life.” At the heart of the Camp Joshua ministry is education and activism. Over the weekend, students learn to effectively dialogue about abortion and also learn the value of chastity and the connection of chastity to the pro-life movement. Students are given

the chance to hear testimonies from post-abortive men and women, an experience that students find to be very moving and memorable. “What I loved most about Camp Joshua was learning to actually speak about abortion confidently,” said Nicole Bonk, a high school senior in Shreveport, LA. Students also have the unique privilege to visit a crisis pregnancy center and learn about the life saving work and volunteer opportunities available. Also, students learn about the importance of pro-life leadership from elected officials. Last year, State Representative Frank Hoffman shared his wisdom on life in public service and the call to uphold the dignity of life in the legislature. Perhaps the most valuable part of Camp Joshua is the friendships formed between students, college leaders, and presenters. Camp Joshua gives students a special place to share their passion for the pro-life movement. Graduates of Camp Joshua work together to change hearts and save lives. Deb Brittain, Education Director of ARK-LA-TEX Pregnancy Center said, “I believe that Camp Joshua is the most phenomenal equipping tool for the pro-life community. I strongly encourage any teen that wants to do more to defend life to attend this amazing weekend.” Louisiana Camp Joshua is truly teaching students to be builders of the Culture of Life. Visit the Louisiana Camp Joshua website at www.CampJoshuaLA. org for more information, or call Kacie Hampton, Louisiana Right to Life Youth Programs Director, at 1-866-463-5433. Cost is $60.00, and scholarships are available. Register now, space is limited!

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Faith & Family

F A I T H

U N D E R

Come to the Edge Over the Thanksgiving holidays I took my grandsons to the magnificent Norton Art Gallery grounds for a nature walk. Near the end of our journey through giant leaves, moss-covered stones and soaring pines, we came upon a small, manmade waterfall that cascaded noisily over several concrete slabs. I was struck by one particular leaf that kept hanging onto the edge for dear life. Was it scared of letting go? Was it stuck on something I couldn’t see? Finally, with some urging from the boys, it plummeted to the next level (which really wasn’t much of a dive). But its timidity reminded me of a poem I have loved for years, Come to the Edge, by the English poet Christopher Logue. Too bad I waited until now to listen to its powerful message: Come to the edge. We might fall. Come to the edge. It’s too high! COME TO THE EDGE! And they came, and he pushed, and they flew. Recently I made a decision to take a particular plunge, and at the writing of this column I’m in a pretty scary free-fall mode. Yet, I have a peace that is tangible and I’m seeing doors open before me, so I know God is guiding. It was not a decision considered lightly. Rather, I’ve been wrestling with Him for years and making excuses about why I needed just a little more time. I’ve known exactly what He was telling me to do; I just didn’t want to do it. I also know the exact moment in October when He spoke to my heart and said, “Now.” Several of the most recent signposts (a.k.a. blessings) along this difficult way were so unexpected and so unasked for, that they shone like “Godthing” beacons. At this point, I would have to work at missing His confirmation. Yet, the problem with decisions, big ones and small ones and even right ones, is that we don’t live in a vacuum. What we say and do almost always has a ripple effect on others, either directly or indirectly. So, after all my dithering and arguing with the Lord, I have (again) placed my life – and those my decision will affect – back into the hands of the Father.

F I R E

defeated Satan, sin and death with a word (Rev. 19:11-21). But instead, He chose to experience human life in all its frailty in order to conquer it – for Himself and for us. If Jesus did not struggle with the decisions He made and the words He spoke, always looking to the Father and the Spirit for direction, then He was not “tempted in all things.” But, because Scripture tells us He was tempted (Heb. 2:17-18; 4:15), He therefore did wrestle with decisions (Luke 4:1-13; 22:3946). And He knows how we feel when we procrastinate, fail, refuse to come to the edge, or whine about getting pushed over. Always remember. He knows how you feel! My rather insignificant leap of faith pales in comparison with Jesus’ sacrifice, yet, it is my leap, and therefore rather personal to me. Before I made my final decision, I also spent a year looking at a small sign on my desk. Looking, but not doing. It reads, “Sometimes you just have to take the leap and build your wings on the way down.” Well, I’m flapping now, Lord, and trusting that I will “gain new strength” and “mount up with wings like eagles…” (Isaiah 40:27-31). Here’s another quote from a November HGTV House Hunters International program. It struck such a cord in me that I grabbed a sticky note and wrote it down: “The adventure of your life begins with a tough decision.” So, I’ve made mine, but I will always wonder where the flight would have taken me had I heeded His urgings and decided sooner. Dianne Howell Shreveport, La.

All of this jumping off the edge and plunging over waterfalls made me think about Jesus who took the ultimate “plunge” when He became human. I wonder. He and the Father and the Holy Spirit knew what had to be done to save mankind, but, could The Omnipotent One possibly have known what it would be like to be trapped in a human body, and saddled with a human brain and emotions? I somehow doubt it. Yet, to me, that is the primary point of the Incarnation. Jesus could have swooped down like Superman or Captain America or even His glorified self – the King of Kings and Lord of Lords – and J a n u a r y 2 012

where did everybody go? Have you ever noticed how much everything changes during the holiday? Not just in the ways we choose to decorate, but the people around us change. Hearts are more open, hands are ready to help, eyes begin to notice needs, and minds choose to give with less hesitation. This change is beautiful, but are we not part of a bigger story? It is a story being written everyday, not just a tale of Christmas. As the body of Christ, all parts should be at attention, ready and waiting for opportunities to move. So many ministries depend on what the holiday season brings, but the impact we could make by involvement year round could change the lives of individuals, not just make their Christmas. Episodes of intense difficulty always come at the worst times, but if it came at the best times, it would not be considered a crisis. Crisis is exactly what Centerpoint Community Services/2-1-1 Connections is all about. As a year-round crisis prevention and intervention non-profit organization, they provide a central entry point for information, referral, and direct assistance for anyone facing a crisis. It is easy to feel like there is nowhere to turn in the midst of despair, but this organization has made it as simple as 2-1-1. 2-1-1 is a direct dial number that leads to information about receiving help from social and human services. Terri Axelson, Executive Director at Centerpoint Community Services/2-1-1 Connections says, “over the last twelve months, we have assisted 14,950 local households with over 4.8 million dollars in assistance.” They provide services in Housing with rental assistance or mortgage foreclosure, in Shelter with emergency or transitional housing, in Utilities with assistance in gas, electricity, and water, in Emergency Food with Meals Ready to Eat, referral to a Food Pantry, and food stamps, in Identification by providing access to school for children, healthcare, and human services for individuals and families, in Transportation by providing access to medical appointments, continuing education, employment, and more, and in Clothing and Furniture. Centerpoint Community Services has a mission of linking people and resources. As a part of their mission, they respond to those who prioritize people who may be in need during Thanksgiving and Christmas in order to make the most of the opportunity. Axelson understands that “needs are certainly highlighted by the common spirit of giving during the holiday season,” and takes advantage of that spirit with holiday giving events. For Thanks-

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giving, the event is HEARTH Meal Boxes and for Christmas, they have The Christmas Stars, a children’s angel gift program. Axelson stated, “all of our donors realize that the urgent needs of those we serve do not appear conveniently during the months of November and December each year. Clearly, those we serve face challenges throughout the year that warrants our continued and uninterrupted service to our community.” The continued support would increase the impact on the community, but capitalizing on the Christmas spirit brings appreciation. “We cannot say thank you enough to those who call or come in to Centerpoint with the highest expectations of how their seasonal and targeted giving can HELP during the holiday season.” Other ministries rely on more than giving to make their ministry a success. Ministries like these depend on consistency of volunteers throughout the year. The Hub: urban ministries is a nonprofit organization operating in Shreveport, LA. The Hub “exists to love and care for the poor and homeless of our city.” The ministry genuinely loves the people they serve. Cassie Hammett, director of The Hub ministry, says their desire for the people they work with “is for them to know who Jesus is, feel a part of the world around them and be loved and supported through friendship and accountability.” They have designed the ministry to have events every week aimed at meeting the immediate physical needs (food, clothing, and necessities) as well as their need for friendship and community.

Centerpoint provides assistance for anyone facing a crisis. It’s as simple as 2-1-1. The Hub is a volunteer based organization. They believe “God’s body, the church, is called to be unified in [their] efforts to expand His kingdom.” Hammett explains how the ongoing dedication of the volunteers benefits the people they are targeting to serve. We treasure the army of people that God has raised up to serve the “least of these” in our city. We could literally do nothing without our volunteers. On

a daily basis, Hub volunteers from all over the city pour their lives, energy, time, resources and care into the people of poverty that we serve.

Over the last twelve months, we have assisted 14,950 local households with over 4.8 million dollars in assistance. If there is one thing that we can boldly say it is that we have been blessed with volunteers who are consistent, loving and real. We want to give a BIG shout out to anyone and everyone who is a part of The Hub in any way shape or form! We are SO thankful for you! You are leaving an impact on your city that will have eternal worth! Hammett and the ministry understand that needs are everywhere and never take a break. She goes on to show how help and serving is for more than Christmas. God calls His children to love the world that is around them. He doesn’t ask us to do this once a year, or at Christmas time. His desire is for us to be His hands and feet to the world by the way we live. He sent His son, Jesus, as a living, breathing example of how we are to live! He loved the outcasts, the fringe of society, the broken, dirty and lost. He loved the sick and offered them life. That is what we are called to do if we are His followers. In any serving opportunity, YOU are the difference. YOU are the part that makes it all work. Just as Jesus lived His life for others, we are called to do the same. We are called to seek out those who need help every day, not just at times when we are made aware by all the things we have. Ministries, organizations, and the people they serve are absolutely grateful for the awareness this time of year brings, but we should live a life of awareness; a life comprised of more than just moments of sensitivity. In order to be a volunteer, “you have to make a choice to just volunteer or to invest.” The people at The Hub want to challenge you to INVEST! Hammett describes investing as “being consistent for someone or a group of people. Investing means praying for the people you serve.” Why invest? “Investing in

something will make it a part of your life.” Because of the investment of the volunteers of The Hub: urban ministries, the ministry is able to maximize the impact they have on the community. The ministry has “seen God do some major work in people’s lives, bringing them from the street to housing, from addictions to a life of freedom, but not without the investment of time, energy, patience and love in their lives.” If this is what a single ministry in Shreveport can accomplish simply because of the commitment of their volunteers, think about the influence that can be made in our city if the holiday spirit of service permeated everyday life. So, the holidays are over. Where did everybody go? Back to their homes, jobs, or lives of solitude? The people you served at Christmas still exist. Their needs are still relevant. Opportunities are endless. After this holiday season, will you disappear or continue to work in the lives of “the least of these?” (Matthew 25:40). Cassie Hammett said it best, “Serving is not a one time volunteer opportunity. It’s a lifestyle!” If you would like to be involved in Centerpoint Community Services, contact Terri Axelson at taxelson@centerpt.org or at (318)-550-4578. If you would like to be a part of The Hub, send an email to serve@thehubministry. com. They will send you info on how to get involved in CHANGING PEOPLES LIVES. If you want to explore other opportunities in the area, go to www.volunteermatch.org and search “Shreveport, LA” to find a place that fits your gifts. Do not miss your opportunity to grow, love, and serve in a way unlike any other and take your place in the amazing story God is writing for our city. Angelique Milliken Shreveport, La.

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C I T Y

S C E N E

Volunteer to Read Through the Bible The entire Bible will be read aloud, non-stop, and a local church will literally “pray without ceasing” for more than 70 hours to ring in the New Year! Central Assembly of God, The Church of the Cross, in Bossier City, Louisiana, will begin this prayer and Bible reading marathon at 12:00 noon on Sunday, Jan. 1 and will continue around the clock until 12:00 noon on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2012. Hundreds of people are volunteering to read from “In the beginning” in Genesis to the last “Amen” of the book of Revelation from the church’s pulpit, and to pray in one hour shifts at the church’s altar for the needs of the community, the nation, and the world. Pastor Andy Harris invites anyone with a prayer request to call the church’s prayer line at (318) 949-PRAY. The event will be broadcast live on the church’s website at www.churchofthecross.cc. Other churches, Sunday School classes, local prayer groups and individuals of all ages are invited to participate in the Bible Reading and Prayer Marathon. For more information, call the church office at (318) 949-0010.

Faith & Family

Central Assembly of God

The Church of the Cross Bossier City, Louisiana 12:00 noon on Sunday, Jan. 1 until 12:00 noon on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2012.

NON-STOP reading of the Bible

M A M A

D R A M A

Resolutions After a solid week of gorging, entertaining, and being entertained, I feel as empty as the wine bottles and gift boxes strewn about our home. I tried this season to dive without restraint into each gathering, rolling in the revelry of rare visitations and a husband off of work. I cooked, I laughed, I forgot completely about household projects and upcoming commitments. Just this afternoon I saw the wet blanket marked, “too much of a good thing” ominously poised to drop on our back-to-back festivities, validating my response of “because it wouldn’t be as special” to my son’s “Why can’t Christmas be everyday?” The truth of the matter is, I am exhausted. On my refrigerator a brand new calendar hangs nestled between art projects and photographs. The unmarked squares offer 31 exciting chances to schedule in the predictable resolutions guaranteed to take my joy and efficiency to the next level. I have such high hopes but little faith in my abilities to get healthy and organized. I am that girl who spends $100.00 on yoga gear only to watch the DVD twice before conveniently filling the time allotted for exercise with sleep. As I type this, I can see from the corner of my eye the notebook I have dusted off and filled with weekly, dated, to-do pages. Sheepishly, I admit to you that I have repeated this symbolic gesture every January since entering the new millennium seven years ago, without lasting success. By mid-February, I resort to my old tried-and-true method of panicking over forgotten details in the middle of the night and switching my wedding band from one hand to the other, like a string tied to a finger, to remind me of the really important thing that should have been done yesterday, but will have to be accomplished half-heartedly tomorrow. I would like to claim that I naturally work better under pressure but that would be a misleading statement, to say the least. After so many failed attempts at maintaining better habits, I am starting to see my plan of action as somewhat faulty. Perhaps I am putting the cart before the horse here. Deciding for myself what characteristics would make me a “success” and then trying to force those traits upon my malnourished soul, is essentially like attempting to create a blooming rose bush by taping petals to a dead twig. There are probably deeper issues preventing me from bearing fruit.

The question I ask myself should not be “what do I want to do?” but rather “who do I want to be?” Why does a whiteboard filled with chores make me resentful? Why do I run from commitment? Why do I take solace in food when life gets stressful? How am I supposed to choose which goals are best for me, for my family, and for my community when there are so many legitimate options to pick from? When my long-term agenda is in a constant state of flux, my daily decisions have nothing sturdy to build upon - no motivating force to keep separating the good from the bad. I run out of gas because I never

bother to map out a final destination, fueling myself accordingly. The question I ask myself should not be “what do I want to do?” but rather “who do I want to be?” This year, before I make any resolutions, I believe it would be in my best interest to sit down and read with open-minded prayerfulness the fifth Chapter of Matthew in which Jesus preached the, still controversial, beatitudes. How I pack for a trip down the narrow path towards meekness, peace, and purity will be vastly different than how I would prepare for a journey towards comfort, security, and notoriety. It isn’t my natural inclination to be righteous so in order to keep stepping forward towards that particular objective, I will need to immerse myself in the lives of those who have already met that goal, following their own steadfast examples with the support of prayer and the holy sacraments. Being organized is good. Being healthy is essential. These attributes are icing on the cake, icing that cannot stick to raw batter. “Who do I want to be?” I want to be like Christ. This won’t happen today, tomorrow, or even, quite possibly, in this lifetime. It will require countless failures and setbacks but if I can keep my eyes focused on Him, my finish line, my everyday decisions will have eternal merit and meaning. My life will have merit and meaning, and maybe I can become that rose bush after all, sucking nourishment up my through my roots and blooming with vibrancy and vitality. I picked out a fantastic pen to keep clipped to my ultra streamlined notebook. I have already emptied, with relief, the nagging concerns that threaten my sleep into a tabbed “to-do list” section placed conveniently behind my 2007 calendar. Right above the reminders to call my insurance carrier about a claim and pay my Visa bill, I will use that nifty pen to write out PRAY FOR PERSEVERANCE. This should be scheduled as an “all day event”. Now, if I could only find that DVD … Molly Sabourin Orthodox Christian, Columnist and Author

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W I S E

W O R D S

Doing Good Works Abbot Pastor said: “If you have a chest full or clothing and leave it for a long time, the clothing will rot inside it. It is the same with the thoughts in our heart. If we do not carry them out by physical action, after a long while they will spoil and turn bad.” (from The Wisdom of the Desert) At this time of year especially it is time to carry out good intentions. But it is better still to empty out the “chest full of clothing” (both literally and symbolically) every few months. Take an inventory this week. What do you have that you do not use? Give it to som eone who can use it, and you will both be blessed. – Fr Brendan

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S I N G L E

L I F E

Sensible Steward

If the Shoe Fits...or Not

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program

What to do when you find your shoes on the wrong feet

Centerpoint has operated an IRS Certified, Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program for eight years as part of the region’s Asset Building Coalition of Northwest Louisiana. Terri Axelson, their executive director, participated in a meeting in 2004, where she heard the story of an Executive Director of another non-profit centered in Harlem, in New York City, NY. They had processed about 2,000 Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Income Tax Returns for their Clients, returning in excess of $3 Million dollars into the hands and their local economy through the refunds of the families they served. At that time, Centerpoint Community Services/2-1-1 Connections received about $3 million dollars annually in requests for crisis assistance. Axelson believed If they could develop a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program, identifying those Income Tax Filers who qualified for Earned Income Tax Credits, then they could essentially mitigate those requests for assistance for a large portion of the population who present for crisis assistance each year in our community. It sounded like a WIN-WIN plan. However, it would require a significant coordinated effort, volunteers or personnel with certified training as tax preparers, operational funding, and the public notice to direct those in need to the VITA Sites to make this plan successful. In 2008, their efforts had reached the pinnacle of all of the hard work of the prior years. In 2010, their numbers exceeded even those goals established by the Asset Building Coalition of Northwest Louisiana. (Ref. IRS 06/2011) Funding that supported the development and continued annual service of the Asset Building Coalition of Northwest Louisiana was eliminated in 2009, by the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services. However, the United Way of Northwest Terri Axelson, Executive Director Louisiana sought to invest in “Asset Building Education” or Financial Literacy/Independence – Where families obtain financial literacy, credit repair and foreclosure counseling while building savings for unexpected expenses. They accumulate assets to support longer-term goals such as home ownership. Recognizing that VITA was a means to achieve some of their campaign goals, they sought to sponsor the Asset Building Coalition of Northwest Louisiana in an effort to bring recognition to its successful endeavors and identify additional funding to sustain the VITA Program for our community. While the coalition has lost some sites due to funding cuts and capacity of those sites to continue to provide this comprehensive service, Centerpoint Community Services/2-1-1 Connections, and Goodwill Industries of North Louisiana continue to operate VITA Sites for the upcoming tax season. 2-1-1 continues to be the number to call when you need HELP, and Centerpoint will continue to identify those resources that will HELP our community become stronger and more independent.

I have the luxury of wearing scrubs pretty much every day during the work week. Many of my friends say, “I wish I could wear scrubs or pajamas to work.” Yeah, it isn’t such a bad thing until Friday comes and you go to put on a pair of jeans on and realize, A) Either someone washed and dried them without you knowing or B) The five days you ate lunch at Chick-fil-A wasn’t such a good idea. The drawstring pants are everyone’s friend and they never let you know if you need to push back from the table. There was a day last week that I was not going to be in the operating room so I decided to spice up the ol’ scrubs a bit. I just landed a pair of sweater looking Uggs and haven’t been able to wear them so I went out on limb and paired them up with my scrubs. They were a different feeling, but I was pretty sure that’s because I’ve worn the same Mee Maw Danskos everyday for the last three years. During my first appointment my patient went on and on about how cute they were. All day I had compliments and several of my nurses said, “I’m going to wear my Uggs tomorrow too. You’ve made a new fashion statement.” Hey, I’m just trying to add some color in our world. Eight office stops and six patients later, as I was walking out to my car I thought to myself “These shoes are pretty cute. My only complaint is that they make my feet point Outwards and this long walk to my car is not very comfortable.” Long story short it dawned on me, my shoes were on the wrong feet! When I got to my car I switched shoes and waaahhlaaaahh my feet pointed straight! On my drive back to Birmingham I laughed wondering how on earth I managed to put my shoes on the wrong feet and go all day without noticing. Well, my feet hurt a little, but I was so carried away with my cute shoes, I ignored that part. I must have looked pretty silly enjoying all those compliments with my feet so mismatched. I then thought about how that relates to life. I mean, I still got through the day. I got everything accomplished (my nurses and doctors probably think I lightened my hair one shade of blonde too much this last time if they noticed my feet pointing outwards.), But my point is some of us are going through life with our shoes on the wrong feet—functioning and getting through the day, but that’s all. You aren’t going to reach your full potential and you are probably going to have blisters and sore feet by the time it’s all over. I’ve been there many times and making excuses as I went such as, “Well, this probably isn’t right, but who cares.” Or “This relationship probably isn’t right, but I’m not getting younger so I’ll just settle or change the person later.” I’ve discovered that if I go through life with my shoes on the wrong feet I get in trouble. It doesn’t take much to get off the right path either and sometimes you feel almost comfortable for awhile, but then something or someone (the God who pursues) eventually wakes you up. So if you feel like your shoes have been on the wrong feet, stop and get it right. The Lord says in Proverbs 3:6 that if we acknowledge Him, He will instruct us and make sure we are on the right road and headed towards all that He desires for us. Ultimately, isn’t that what we all want?

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Living Hope Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” (I Peter 3-5)

The Divine Liturgy begins with a proclamation, a direction and a promise: “Blessed is the Kingdom of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.” We announce the Kingdom because it is, it is where God is, and it is where we ultimately shall be. God is not just the Creator [although many in our times dispute even that], but we believe that God is our Father. How do we know that? Because the unique Son of God came from the Kingdom to find us and to lead us there whence He had come, sending the Holy Spirit to continue directing us there. That promise is affirmed in the poignant phrase above from the epistle of St. Peter: “begotten us again to a living hope.” Is not all hope by definition alive? Hope might be a promise written in a document, even in the Holy Bible, a term not all or even many believe any longer. The Apostle means by living hope what one can feel in the human hearts of those who do more than read about it, but rather whose lives are proof of such hope, a vital force motivating and energizing their existence. One could imagine a deed performed by a relative who had willed you a mansion in some exotic foreign land. You know about it, you hold the deed to it, but you have neither the time nor the means to go there. Nevertheless, just by the awareness that it is your possession, it offers you a promise for the future. Living hope is more than that. It is not a location, not even a mansion; given our mundane imagination, our Lord chose to phrase the Kingdom in such a way that it is understandable even with our limitations (John 14:2). The Kingdom is not a location in outer space or even beyond space. The Kingdom of

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God is life in and with the Holy Trinity — the Father-Creator of all existence, life and being, the Son of God Whom we know as Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. Put in other terms, the Kingdom is union with God not as the Trinity exists per se, but a union nonetheless in God’s energy or love for all eternity. The question is: Why would God do such a glorious deed? Why us? Why union with divinity? Is not immortality sufficient? The overwhelming promise, so great a glory contrasts to anything or everything we experience on earth since birth. The only adequate answer is love. The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is living proof of the heavenly Father’s mercy to us, an incomprehensible compassion that He manifests by giving us a new and second birth infusing with divine life. That life is different from this earthly existence because that Kingdom is our inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away. Jesus contrasts earthly with heavenly treasures. Stain, moth, mildew can damage the most expensive cloth. Beautiful paintings, like flowers, fade with time. Valuables can be defiled by the elements or stolen by thieves. What does the promised inheritance that we bear as a living hope mean to us? For one, we are to evaluate our priorities. We must sort out those parts that perish with our death from what accompanies us into eternity. The images that are false, fleeting and unhelpful ought to dissipate and disappear from our value system along with all the deeds and thoughts that hinder us from appreciating the glory that lies ahead. – Fr. Vladimir Berzonsky

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Sibling Rivalry “Mom! My brother won’t stop, even though I’ve told him a thousand times!” How many times have I heard this at my house? Let’s just say....a lot! Believe it or not, it is common for brothers and sisters to fight with one another. One minute they will be best friends and the next, absolutely detest one another. Siblings compete for everything from toys to attention. My children are nine years apart and they still compete. As kids grow and mature, they relate to one another differently and rivalry will come and go. I have asked myself on many occasions why my kids fight. In my experience, it is usually because of jealousy, lack of patience and maturity or competition. It can be really difficult as a parent, to referee our children and keep the peace. Children with special needs can require more parental time which can also create jealousy with their siblings. As we know, kids tend to act out when they are wanting attention. Children with different temperaments can cause conflict too. Where one child might be clingy, the other might be autonomous, causing the more needy child to be resented by the more independent child. A wise person once told me that my children are learning how to resolve conflict by watching me, their parent resolve conflict in my own life. If I am respectful, productive and patient, then my children learn that is how conflict is resolved and adopt these tactics into solving problems with one another. This can be a frightening thought for me, knowing

that I can be very impatient at times. If they are watching me yell, slam doors and loudly argue, they are most likely to pick up these bad habits themselves. So, what do we do when they start fighting? I found a few suggestions that I am trying to integrate into my family. Whenever possible, don’t get involved. Unless there is danger of someone getting physically injured, let them work it out. When we always intervene, then they will depend on us to solve the conflict. We can also avoid showing favoratism. 1. Seperate them whenever possible, until they are calm. 2. Don’t focus too much on which one is to blame...it takes two to argue. My hopes are that they will learn life skills that will serve them later, like perspective, compromise, and how to control impulsive aggressive behavior. Consequences to breaking ground rules are important. Slamming doors, name calling, cursing, yelling, and hitting are unacceptable behavior. We are all responsible for our own actions and learning this will serve our children well. Teaching our children that people have boundaries can be difficult. We are all selfish by nature. Looking to parents with more experience can be helpful too. The bottom line is that even though siblings love one another, they will argue and fight. My goal as a parent should be teaching them to resolve conflict properly and to love others. I encourage you to love out loud. Tell your kids today how much they are appreciated and loved. After all, isn’t that what we need to hear? Crystal Chappel Single Parent

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S P E C I A L

God’s Jealousy Once, when I was in college, I got into a discussion with someone about whether or not God is subject to passions. I was arguing that, as God, He is capable of loving us unconditionally, without any of the restraints or limitations we sinful people experience because of various passions. This person then asked me, “But why does God call Himself ‘jealous’ in the Bible?” I didn’t know how to answer. I think I said something about anthropomorphic language and not taking something like that too literally. But I realized I didn’t actually know what I was talking about, or what it means for God to be “jealous.” Just the other day – more than a decade after that conversation – something clicked for me. I’m quite sure this is nothing original (God forbid). I probably heard this all explained during one of my seminary classes without it sticking. But in any case, the thought came as tardy news for me that not only can God be jealous, but only He can properly be jealous with absolute, perfect, and passionless jealousy, and that this jealousy is an aspect of divine love. My reflection was actually prompted by the phrase, “I have been very zealous for the Lord

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Almighty…” in 3 Kingdoms (1 Kings) 19:10. I find this passage to be incredibly poignant. I feel the agony in Elijah’s words, and competing sympathetic voices of fear, faith, sorrow, and indignation seem to well up within me as I read. I wonder what the sound of the “gentle breeze” would be in my ears if I could be silent for a few minutes. Perhaps it would sound to me like this: “I have been very jealous for you…”. It occurs to me that zeal in humans – true zeal, which is according to knowledge and coupled with love – is in some sense the faintly mirrored image of jealousy in God, which is always according to perfect knowledge and is in fact an expression of perfect, universal love. God, who alone knows infallibly what is good for us, and who alone loves with love as perfect as death on the Cross, is also alone in being able to say, “You are mine, and only mine.” And He says it to each of us, and He says it with perfect dispassion. Perhaps, then, it is not when we speak of God’s jealousy, but when we speak of human jealousy that we anthropomorphize, having substituted something from fallen human existence for something divine, impossible to experience outside the experience of God’s love. There is, however, a very human image of this

reality in the New Testament. When the Lord is staying with the sisters of Lazarus in Chapter 10 of Luke’s Gospel, we hear an echo and interpretation of the Old Testament expression of God’s jealousy. To Martha, distracted by many cares, our Lord says, “One thing is needful.” Mary kneeling at the feet of Christ shows us what the Lord would have each of us do, for He is a jealous God. He wants our hearts, souls, and minds – undividedly, unconfusedly, unhesitatingly, and unhypocritically.

God has the right to be jealous, but I don’t. I see three practical implications flowing from this reflection. First, God certainly has the right to be jealous, but I don’t. Human jealousy is inevitably misguided and destructive. This is because God alone can demand and expect complete and utter devotion. My jealousy would only conflict with His, being an expression not of divine love, but of self-love. Second, what God’s jealousy does demand of me is zeal. Like Elijah, when I become aware that God is a jealous God – and this because He loves all people and desires all to abide in Him – my response ought to be zeal for the Name and the house of the Lord, and deep sadness concerning apostasy. That includes both the apostasy in the world and that within me. It is the inner kind that I am most in a position to correct, so I had better get to work slaying the priests of Baal that lurk in the “high places” of my heart. On the level of human relationships (my marriage for example), what is required is a zealous pursuit of loving attentiveness to the other, rather than a jealous (or envious, or self-pitying) withdrawal into sulky defensiveness. Third, and most importantly, neither the cultivation of holy zeal, nor the avoidance of unholy jealousy is possible apart from doing what both Elijah and Mary show us: silencing ourselves that we might hear continually that gentle, life-giving reminder that we are God’s and His alone. Fr. Daniel Bethancourt St. Nicholas Orthodox Church Shreveport, LA

Faith & Family

January Calendar Gather the family together, on a cold January

January 3 2012 Caring Hearts Toiletry Drive. Donated items will be accepted on Tuesdays and Thursdays 12 noon- 2:00pm. Donated items can be taken to the outreach center, which is located at 5900 Mansfield Road. The outreach drive begins January 3, 2012 through February 28, 2012. Items needed most are paper towels, tissue and personal hygiene items , the youth are females ages 16-21 years of age. Please donate toiletries to help with the shelter outreach. For more information please email heartsofcaringhearts@aol.com or contact Mrs. McHenry at (318) 834-4337.

January 22 The Collingsworth Family in concert, 6:00p.m. Central Assembly of God

This will be a lively, uplifting gospel concert that you will not want to miss! Come and celebrate God’s love through their gift of music. A love offering will be collected.

January 31 The 1st Annual CC Antoine Teen Pageant will be held Saturday February 18, 2012, 3:00pm at Louisiana Fair Grounds. The Program is open to teen’s ages 13-19. For information on participation please email ccantoineevent@yahoo.com Deadline January 31,2012. Admission is free with a can good all can goods to be donated to Louisiana Food Bank.

February 25 - Arklatex Stars & Hearts Parade of Beauties Saturday February 25, 2012 3:00 p.m. Community Outreach Center 5900 Mansfield Road., Shreveport, La Little Miss Division ages 6-12 Teen Division ages 13-19 Cost $50.00 proceeds to benefit Star mentor program for girls Deadline for participation February 5, 2012 Info hearts.stars@aol.com or contact Ms. Rain or Ms. Storm at 318-636-7904

“The Church of the Cross”. Admission is free. A love offering will be received. For more information contact 949-0010

January 22

GET LISTED!

Kingsmen Quartet

To submit calendar listings, send informa-

Barron Road Baptist Church, 11am – morning worship service.

tion to SBFaithandFamily@gmail.com.

January 28 Immanuel Lutheran Church is hosting a return engagement with THE CHORDSMITH on January 28, 2012 at 6:30 PM.

Include the name of the event, date and time, venue address, short description, appropriate age range, fee, phone number and Web site address. Submissions are listed on a space-available basis. We’d love to include high-resolutions photos, as well. Deadline for the January Calendar is January 15.

Evening, for a night of remembering. Plan a few snacks for munching while you share. You will need to turn on exactly 12 lights in the house (include ceiling lights, lamps, porch lights, stove lights, etc.) Line up 12 votive candles on a plate or other safe setting, and have a lighter or matches available. As you share memories, you will turn out a light in the house to signify saying goodbye to 2009, and light a candle, welcoming 2010. Read the following and share: January is the first month of the New Year. Share something new you tried last year, or something new that came into your life. (Turn out a light, and light a candle – do this after each month) February is the month of hearts and sharing love. Share one thing you love about the person on your left. March includes St. Patrick’s Day, when tradition states to wear green. What is your favorite color? April brings in the rain and showers that then bring flowers. Share something good about rain. May is the month that includes Memorial Day, when we remember those who have fought, or are fighting, for our country. Stop and pray together for these young men and women, and their families. June – Summer’s here! School is out! What’s your favorite summertime memory from last year? July – The 4th is Independence Day, the day to celebrate freedom. Share with each other what it means to be set free from sin. Give thanks aloud for salvation. August is the hottest month of the year here in Austin, and school is about to begin. How do you react when something fun is over, and work begins? How can you make work fun? September ushers in the fall season. Routines are in place, and everyone is busy, but we all need a quiet place and time. Where do you like to spend your quiet time, and what do you do during that time? October is full of color, scents and tastes. Candy corn, popcorn balls and caramel apples are just a few of the goodies we love. What’s your favorite “treat”? November is the month of giving thanks. Remember last year, and give thanks for something that was a bit difficult to experience. December is the month in which we just celebrated Christmas and our memories are fresh. What was your favorite gift (you either gave or received)? Now that all the candles are lit, and all the lights are off, spend a moment of silence together, remembering the past year. Pray together for a blessed New Year as you hold hands in the candlelight. Enjoy His presence as you rest in His light… Families that pray together and play together, grow together. Above is a small sample of the type of family devotions you will find in Catching Fireflies, written by Marcy Lytle. Take one evening, gather the family together, and catch the light from God’s word as you have fun doing it! (www.Marcylytle.Com)

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Q U I P S

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Cut out the scritures and quotes and place them around your home for daily encouragement.

A D V E R T I S E R S

Abacus Hair Replacement. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 5 Abbot Promotional Products. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 18

The three-part story is hope for the believer and offers that fresh start, clean slate and forgiveness. I hope you will reflect of 2011 and look ahead to this New Year full of hope and renewal. I look forward to a year of finding ideas with you to make life a little less chaotic an d a little more simple, less inward and more outreach focused and centered on what’s really important. I hope the unfolding Christmas story is very real to you in 2011.

“My interest in in the future because I am going to spend the rest of my life there.” - Charles F. Kettering

“Everyone wants to change the world, but no one thinks about changing himself.” – Dostoevsky

Ashley Ridge Imaging. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 10 Astec Roofing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 23 Barksdale Baptist Church. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 8 Barksdale Credit Union. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 24 Broadmoor Baptist Weekday School. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Brookwood Weekday Preschool . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 19 Camp Joshua La. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 14 Cochran Construction Company. . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 23 Cosse & Silmon Orthodontics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 4 Holy Angels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 9

A New Year’s resolution is something that goes in one year and out the other. – Anonymous

“You are never too old to set a new goal or to dream a new dream.”

You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put itunder a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. - Matthew 5:14-16

- C.S. Lewis

Lifeway. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 5 Litton Mortgage. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 23 Miracle 89.1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pages 5,7,16 Ratcliff Animal Hospital. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 5 Sci Port. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 16 Time-It Lube. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 18 Word of God Academy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 2

Helping Hands Food Bank of Northwest Louisiana

Wherefore is any man is in Christ, he is a new creature: the old things are passed away; behold, they are become new. -2 Corinthians 5:17

675-2400 www.foodbanknla.org Operation Santa Claus www.osccaddobossier.com Salvation Army 424-3200 www.uss.salvationarmy.org

Youth is when you’re allowed to stay up late on New Year’s Eve. Middle age is when you’re forced to. – Bill Vaughan

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There is something special about putting away the Christmas decorations, sweeping up the last of the tree needles and packing it all away. I enjoy the Christmas season and its sparkle and greenery, but the house just feels a bit cleaner and larger in January. It is a new start and a new beginning. But hold the tinsel, Christmas isn’t over yet. Christmas is a special time of celebrating the birth of Christ for believers everywhere. The Christmas story is really a three-part story: part one is the tender manger scene, followed by the cross in part two, and you got it, the empty tomb is the rest of the story. Whether packing up your decorations leaves you a little sad or a little rejuvenated, the best is yet to come! The three-part story is hope for the believer and offers that fresh start, clean slate and forgiveness. I hope you will reflect of 2011 and look ahead to this New Year full of hope and renewal. I look forward to a year of finding ideas with you to make life a little less chaotic an d a little more simple, less inward and more outreach focused and centered on what’s really important. I hope the unfolding Christmas story is very real to you in 2011.

Faith & Family

Shreveport/Bossier Rescue Mission 227-2868 www.sbrescuemission.com

318-747-8919

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