Faithfamilymagjulyfinal 1

FAITH

FAMILY JULY 2013

INSIDE

Glorifying God While Providing Family Fun

In God We Trust Desiderata

July 2013

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FAITH

JULY 2013 Splash Kingdom Glorifying God, while Providing Family Fun

FAMILY

JULY 2013

Publisher Ashley Foster ashley@sbfaithandfamily.com Editor

Jason Foster

Ad Consultant

Close to Home Is Left Really the Right Way? Marriage Matters Everyone Has Ticks!

Pressing Upwards Tips to Prepare your Child’s Brain for Kindergarten Shepherd’s Staff Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness

Ad Dictionary

Faith Under Fire In God we Trust Teen Talk First Priority of America Health & Wellness Desiderata Thoughts in Christ They Found Something Chic Chat You Better Think!

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Word Search Happy July 4th

Mary Driscoll

Photo Credit Splash Kingdom Advertising Mary Driscoll Mary@sbfaithandfamily.com 318-423-4483 Lawrence Farley, Dianne Howell, Calvin Hubbard, Rebekah Lewis, Tim Palmer, Kevin Singletary, JoAnne Timothy, Debbie Wilson, Steve Wilson

SB Faith & Family exist to provide Christians and the community at large with ways to grow and develop as a part of their faith & family. The local publication is designed to promote positive living by sharing with readers the latest news on entertainment, healthy living, parenting and inspirational literature as well as what individuals and organization are doing to try to address needs of the family.

SB Faith & Family is published monthly and is available at high traffic locations throughout the Shreveport/Bossier Area. SB Faith & Family can also be read online at www.SBFaithandFamily.com

6658 Youree Dr. Suite 180 #297 Shreveport. LA 71105 SBFaithandFamily@gmail.com

Follow us on FACEBOOK SB Faith and Family Stay up to date on local events & concerts.

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Close to Home

Is Left Really the Right Way?

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If you’ve ever gone south on Line Avenue toward downtown you have seen the confusing ramp leading to I-20. In order to go east you must go west. The ramp eventually makes a large loop that will send you to the internet based orthodox radio appropriate destination, but it can easily be ANCIENT FAITH RADIO missed. My grandfather liked to say the ramp Christianity a day from must Timeless have been designed 24 byhours engineers Louisiana Tech, my alma mater. But for me, Podcasts, 24 hour music the words Jesusteaching, come to mind. and talk of stations, conference recordings, “Whoever finds his life will lose it, and and much more. whoever loses his life for ancient my sake willfaith radiofind it.” www.ancien tfaith .co m Here’s my translation: c o n c i l i a r m e d i a m i n i s t r i e s “You want to go to New Orleans from Shreveport? Go north.” r r! ou ea y

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I wonder if the words of Jesus sound more like quaint Hallmark greeting cards in our ears because of our lifetime of familiarity. Is this the way his initial followers received his teachings?

I see three possible responses for us.

Short term thinking can’t trust that a quick western journey can eventually lead east. The world understands the folly in this degree of near-sightedness. Long term thinking, which I propose is still of this world, is capable of delayed gratification. Long term thinking understands that it must be patient to gain pleasure. A friend recently told me about a group of New York businessmen that he met.

Although their level of respect for a southern engineer was small, they knew how to feign respect. They knew how to tuck in their pride and arrogance to win the race of good business.

This is the world’s version of maturity: training our selfish nature like a pet to be a good boy around the right people so we can get what we want. God has a different way. I call this eternal thinking.

He says, if you want to go south, head north and never look back. If you want to be the greatest, be a servant to all and never try to gain honor for yourself. He offers to change our deepest desires; our very nature. He only asks that we lay down our entire lives to follow Him. When I reflect upon the intersection of Line ave. and I-20 I realize it is an example of long term thinking, not eternal thinking.

Don’t take my word for it. Pick up a gospel and read it in it’s entirety, listening for the eternal

thinking that God is inviting us to participate in today. It doesn’t matter where you are, his proposal is the same: lose your life for His sake and abundant life will be yours, starting now and for all of eternity.

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Everyone has Ticks !!!

Early in our marriage we lived in a community that had dairy farms. One day I went to visit a family at one of the dairies and when I pulled up in my car, about six stray, mangy dogs came up barking at me.

They were friendly, but very much farm dogs. I went in to visit and when I came out, all of the dogs were gone but one. I walked to my car as I said goodbye to the family, I suddenly looked down and there was one dog staring up at me as if to say, “Mister, can you get me out of here?” He had huge blood ticks all over him and all the ticks and fleas had eaten all the hair off of him. I looked back to the family and I asked, “Do you all want this dog?” They laughed and said, “We have plenty of dogs, feel free to take him!” I loaded him up, knowing Deb was not going to be happy with my decision. I had already decided I was going to keep this dog so I stopped by the store and bought some

flea and tick shampoo. Debbie lived up to my expectations because when I walked in the door she said, ”Steve, what are you thinking?” I told her, “this is my dog and you don’t have to have anything to do with him.” And…..she didn’t. I took him in and washed him and when I pulled those blood ticks off, he would cry, and I would say, “it’s OK buddy, you’re going to be better.” I said that over and over as I slowly removed every tick.

After the bath, Deb and I noticed that if she moved or went to the kitchen, the dog never noticed. However, if I went to the kitchen, he followed me. If I crossed my legs, his head would come up. That dog was 100% loyal and faithful to me. Why did he do this?

Because I saved him! All of us have ticks and Jesus takes our ticks off. II Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, old things have passed away and behold all things become new.” All our ticks, God carefully removes!

Signs your ticks have been removed: • There is a great appreciation for the Grace and Mercy God extended to you and for the transformation the Gospel has made in your life.

• You have compassion and grace for those who still have ticks on them. You want to love them to the Gospel.

• Your love and appreciation for what God has done for you makes you choose to be obedient to his Word, allowing God to use you to bring others to Him! Is your heart acknowledging what God has done for you?

Steve & Debbie Wilson www.marriagemattersnow.com

July 2013

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LearningRx Offers Tips to Prepare your Child’s Brain for Kindergarten

cognitive skills weakness hiding beneath that enthusiasm is waiting to rob them of their joy of learning. LearningRx’s LiftOff brain training program is designed to ensure a solid foundation of cognitive skills strength for preschool and first grade As the school year approaches, parents students. of preschoolers are looking for ways to prepare their child to learn in kindergarten. What are some activities I can Parents all over the Shreveport-Bossier area do at home with my child to get have been asking us some very important ready for kindergarten? questions:

How can I best provide my child(ren) with a boost before entering kindergarten?

Our LiftOff program is based on LearningRx’s proven cognitive training that is customized especially for the needs of preschool and first grade children.

Training reinforces how fun learning can be. Students are prepared for a lifetime of easy learning and reading through basic auditory, memory, visual, and logic training. The key learning skills built with LiftOff training lead to a better start in school.

My child doesn’t seem that excited for kindergarten. How could LiftOff help?

Young students just launching into school are almost always filled with an enthusiasm for learning. In some, an undetected 8 | Faith & Family

1. Teach concepts. While it’s helpful to head into kindergarten knowing colors, shapes and numbers, comparative concepts and opposites can help children better understand and communicate what they’re thinking.

Work on simple, visible comparisons like “bigger,” “shorter,” and “under,” as well as tangible opposites like wet and dry, or soft and hard.

2. Build cognitive skills. Many parents incorrectly believe that letter knowledge is the foundation to reading. But reading skills are built on phonemic awareness (sound blending and segmenting). In fact, studies show a 90 percent decrease in reading problems if children are first introduced to sound analysis activities.

3. Get social. A lot of kindergarten is based on sharing, collaboration, cooperation and interaction, so find opportunities to encourage interaction with other kids – even if they’re not the same age.

4. Let your child make choices. It’s natural for even the most outgoing kids to be nervous about kindergarten – especially if they didn’t attend preschool. Involving your child in decisions can help them feel a bit more in control when facing the unknown.

Let them help choose school supplies, snacks or brown-bag lunches, barrettes, outfits – and maybe even dinner on the first day of school. Cut photos of foods from a magazine and create a shopping list or menu for the first week of school.

Have her lay out several outfits for the first week of school and post photos of each in her room so she can get dressed without help – or hassle.

5. Tour the school. Ask the school about orientations that are appropriadte for the children and not just the parents.

Taking a 5-year-old to a two-hour Q & A with a packed gym won’t leave him excited to return. If possible, set up a private meeting so he can meet the teacher, touch things in the classroom, sbfaithandfamily.com

LearningRx is actually CHANGING THE BRAIN to learn better and retain information more effectively.

The average IQ gain for LearningRx students is 14.9 after 12 weeks of training.

98.7 % of the skills trained are the 6. And to prepare yourself? Expect tears same or better one year after the – from both of you – on the first day training. of school. Take photos to capture the IQ can be changed! LearningRx moment because before you know it, brain training improves the they’ll be heading off to college.

Some important facts about what we underlying skills that make up intelligence. That leads to a smarter do at LearningRx: brain, and a higher IQ. LearningRx doesn’t just treat the IQ scores can be deceptive. A deficit symptoms – it tackles the source in a key cognitive area could prevent of the problem, fixes it, and offers a person from comprehending permanent solutions. visit the library and even play on the school playground. Consider packing a family lunch to actually eat in the cafeteria, and take photos of everything to allow him to share his dry run with a friend, neighbor or relative.

the test, and that person’s true intellectual ability wouldn’t be reflected.

It’s possible for people to have both a high IQ score and a learning problem. They may have extremely high cognitive abilities in certain areas, and a deficit in another. That average looks good but may be masking a serious problem.

For more information, contact: LearningRx of Shreveport-Bossier 8856 Youree Drive Suite D Shreveport, LA 71115 318.797.8523 www.learningrx.com/shreveport

July 2013

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Shepherd’s Staff LIFE, LIBERTY, AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS These are familiar words. Written 237 years ago, the concepts are linked to a rights-endowing Creator.

Consider, these rights become a license for an ‘anything goes’ mindset if divorced from their source – the Creator.

Who is the Creator? Gen. 1:1; 2:4; Ps. 8; Rom. 1:20; and Rev. 4:11 state that the Lord God created the heavens and earth. John 1:1-4 and Col. 1:9-18 state that the Lord Jesus is the creator of the heavens and the earth. Throughout Scripture, the one true God is the Creator.

Who has given us life? Life is a gift from the Creator, the one true God. It is neither ours to give nor ours to take. The apostle Paul said, “He gives to all life, breath, and all things… for in Him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:25b, 28a). Paul recognized that life originates with the Lord. Because of this, many believers today stand against abortion and euthanasia, and support adoption.

The Lord Jesus Christ alone gives us both physical and spiritual life (Psalm 8 and John 10:7-18).

Where do we find liberty?

After the creation, Adam sinned.

He willfully disobeyed the Lord’s command.

Because of that one action, sin and death entered into the world (Romans 5:12-21). One of the

10 | Faith & Family

lives (Psalm 1), in trusting the Lord (Psalm 2:12b), in forgiveness of sin (Psalm 32:1, 2), and in consideration and care for the poor (Psalm 41:1).

Paul said that he had learned to be content (Phil. 4:11), having food and clothing (1 Timothy 6:8). The writer of Hebrews tells us to be content with what we have (Hebrews 13:5).

Contentment is found in Christ and His provision, not of the things of this world.

So, give Christ thanks for your life. Live in Christ’s liberty. Find happiness and contentment in Christ’s affects of sin is slavery to sin (Romans service and provision. Then, you will 6). Before being set free in Christ, sin have an independence day like no ruled our lives, and our passions and other. lusts controlled our actions (Romans 6; Matt. 15:18-20; Gal. 5:19-21). Our In Christ Alone, liberty was paid for in the sacrificial Calvin Hubbard death of Jesus upon the cross (Gal. Pastor, Barksdale Baptist Church 5:1, 13-14). We are set free from sin’s power when we confess our sin and trust Christ as Savior and Lord, so that we might love and serve one another.

We find liberty in Christ and Christ alone (John 8:31-36).

Where do we find happiness?

We seek after happiness. We do so through the accumulation of stuff and the accolades of others. Real happiness is not found in those things. True happiness is found in the instruction and application of God’s word in our sbfaithandfamily.com

Faith UNDER

FIRE

In GOD We Trust You go to bed at night trusting the alarm to wake you in the morning. The alarm sounds and you flip on the light, trusting that electrical current is flowing. You move to the bathroom where you trust water will flow from the shower head and the toilet will flush. You shuffle to the kitchen and trust the electricity is still working, because without it there’s no coffee or tea or toast. Vitamins you trust have not been tampered with get swallowed without a thought. Back to the bathroom where you trust you can see to apply your mascara without poking a hole in your eye.

enter the elevator you trust will take you upstairs instead of hanging up in between floors. You turn on a computer you trust will still contain your files and emails, instead of having sent them into cyberspace over the weekend.

not lean on your own understanding. In all

your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” (v. 5-6) “My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments.” (v. 1) Jesus said it another way. “If you love Me, you will keep Every second of every day, we trust and My commandments.” (John 14:15) trust and trust. In technology. In energy. In people. In life. In fact, we trust so much that Love and trust are inextricably bound we mindlessly assume that everything will together. We trust what we love, and we love always be there, working and operating on what we trust. So, where is your heart? What our behalf. We do the same thing with God. do you trust?

It’s called taking Him for granted. We have His name plastered across our money, yet Dianne B. Howell Ready for work, you trust the A/C will keep the way we use our financial resources often Shreveport, LA working so your pet won’t roast while you’re has nothing to do with Him, or is in direct gone. You lock the door with a key you trust contradiction to His nature. hasn’t been copied, and punch in an alarm code you trust hasn’t been compromised. Do we really trust Him for every breath we You hit a garage door button and trust the take, every move we make, every thought door will go up. You turn on the ignition and we think? Hardly. We typically believe that trust your car will start. Safely on the road, no matter how we act or think, He will be you stop at a traffic light you trust is set there to bail us out – just like the switch that correctly. Otherwise, Red might mean Go, turns on the lights. But that’s not the way the and Green might mean Stop. You trust that Kingdom of God works. Proverbs 3 is pretty other drivers are awake instead of asleep, clear and worth reading on a regular basis.

Our money. Our motto. texting or talking. You arrive at work and “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do July 2013

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Turn a Vision into a Local Destination oing to waterparks while vacationing across the country had always been a favorite pastime of Johnny and Marci Blevins. When they traveled with their young son they always made sure to stay near a waterpark so they could cool off and enjoy some family time together. It was these cherished memories that led the Blevins to consider opening a waterpark of their own. After much prayer, research and Godly council the Lord helped the Blevins breathe life into Splash Kingdom in 2005.

The Blevins have built their business on a strong Christian foundation.

The couple felt led to make a difference in the local community by providing a safe place for area youth to work and spend time with their families, all while glorifying God. In fact that’s Splash Kingdom’s mission statement: to glorify God while providing a safe and fun recreation experience for families.

The first Splash Kingdom location opened in Canton, Texas in June 2006. In the beginning 12 | Faith & Family

there were only three full time employees, two of them were the owners. In 2010 the Blevins purchased Water Town on West 70th Street in West Shreveport.

That season it opened under the Splash Kingdom name. Now there were two waterparks, and it was time to assemble a hard working dedicated team to help the Blevins with their mission of glorifying God while providing a fun environment for families.

Splash Kingdom has been working to get the word out about the property being under new ownership and offering a new and different experience for families.

Fast forward to 2013. Splash Kingdom is in the process of opening a third waterpark in Hudson Oaks, just outside Fort Worth near Weatherford. It will be called Splash Kingdom Wild West Hudson Oaks. While work is being done on the waterpark in the Lonestar State, back here in Sportsman’s Paradise Splash Kingdom in Shreveport is undergoing a million dollar makeover.

“The park is converting underutilized space.

We want to be a family friendly entertainment destination,” says Johnny Blevins, President/CEO, Splash Kingdom Waterpark.

New additions will include a five slide tower and a new activity pool. Construction is expected to be finished by the middle of the summer, giving fans of

Splash Kingdom a new pool to swim in before the 2013 season ends. The new pool and the new kitchen being built next to it have yet to be named. The new pool will feature a spray ground with several unique inground water sprayers, a zero depth entry full of rain trees, a gator slide, a turtle slide and statues of our mascots. The

“ The park is converting underutilized space. We want to be a family friendly entertainment destination”.

sbfaithandfamily.com

school or business. There’s also an option to buy-out the park after hours for a company picnic or gathering. Splash Kingdom does not allow outside food and beverage inside the park, but you can bring your own lunch and enjoy it at a pavilion located outside of the park gate.

The 2013 season is off to a great days a week through August start! For the first time Splash 11th. It’s open weekends only August 12th – Labor Day. Hours Sunday- Thursday are 11am – 6pm. Hours Friday and Saturday are 11am-7pm. Parking is free.

Out at Splash Kingdom there’s something for everyone. There are several water slides, a lazy river, wave pool, activity pool and a kids’ area. Big Bends is an enclosed slide with great acceleration. The Bonzai is a single rider open slide thrill ride.

You never know when you might run into our mascot Smiley the Shark. Life jackets and tubes are free for guests to use. When you’re ready to take a break from the water we there’s plenty of tasty food options for you to enjoy. Splash Kingdom serves pizza, chicken strips, hot dogs and hamburgers just to name a few. If you’re craving something sweet there’s cotton candy and mini melts ice cream. You can also celebrate your birthday out at Splash Kingdom. Birthday Kingdom welcomed Twiggy the packages start at $269 plus tax. Waterskiing Squirrel.

Twiggy They include eight admission and her mom Lou Ann were tickets, pizza, drinks and cake. here in June. Crowds gathered You can also rent a cabana for for three performances at the the day. Splash Kingdom also wave pool. Twiggy’s story is has group rates for our church, a testimony of faith and an

The season started Memorial Day

weekend and runs through Labor Day! Splash Kingdom is open seven days a week through August 11th! catch pool will offer recreational swimming. The new kitchen serves chicken fingers, curly fries, ICEE’s, Coke, Mini Melts and Cotton Candy. “Families in Shreveport-Bossier have been cooling off and spending quality time on this property since 1983. To celebrate 30 years of professional waterpark amusement in our city, Splash Kingdom is proud to install this new pool and slide tower. We’re very appreciative of the city’s support and we look forward to serving the community for many more years to come,” says Jared Troutman, General Manager, Splash Kingdom.

The new additions to the waterpark in Shreveport will not increase the cost of admission.

Day passes are $21.95 plus tax (42” and over) and only $16.95 plus tax (under 42” and ages 65 and older). After 4pm anyone can purchase a day pass for $14.44 plus tax. Season passes are $95 plus tax. Also this season you can purchase a family four pack.

It includes four day passes and four meal vouchers. The season starts Memorial Day weekend and runs through Labor Day. Splash Kingdom is open seven

example anything is possible with God. Lou Ann’s husband was the one who began training Twiggy to waterski. After he died while trying to save a family member from drowning, Lou Ann closed down the act. But after so many calls came in from people wanting to see Twiggy, Lou Ann decided she would keep the performances going. She says it was all made possible by God. Besides the fact a waterskiing squirrel is adorable, Twiggy sends a message to children and adults about the importance of water safety and learning how to swim. Twiggy always wears her life jacket out on the water and you should too!

Splash Kingdom also offers live musical entertainment that’s included in the price of admission.

In June Canadian Christian rock band Manic Drive came to

town for two performances at the waterpark. More musical acts are slated to come to Splash Kingdom during the 2013 season. Splash Kingdom is featured in the 2013 Locals Love Us directory.

Locals Love Us hosted an event at the waterpark last month as a way to say thank you to everyone who voted for their favorite places in town.

When you come to Splash Kingdom you’re greeted by friendly people and Christian music. Splash Radio plays Christian music throughout the park daily. There are locker rentals available through the retail shop. If inclement July 2013

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weather causes the waterpark to shut down for the day you will be issued a rain check to come back another time. You can find the latest information about Splash Kingdom on our website www. splashkingdomwaterpark.com or on our Facebook page Splash Kingdom Waterpark Shreveport.

To date Splash Kingdom has been recognized by the World Waterpark Association (WWA) seven times since 2006. The waterpark won the WWA Industry Leadership Award two years ago.re

Here’s a timeline of Splash Kingdoms awards: 2006 WWA Best Radio Commercial 2007 WWA Best Sales Presentation Video, Best Billboard 2008 WWA Best Sales Presentation Video, Best Press/Media Kit 2009 WWA Best Email

This year Jared Troutman, the general manager of Splash Kingdom in Shreveport, received a P.R.I.D.E. award for outstanding attractions professional of the year. P.R.I.D.E. stands for “Proud Residents Involved in Developing Our Economy.” The annual awards banquet is put on by the Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau.

This is Troutman’s second year at Splash Kingdom and this is quite an accomplishment for his first year at the waterpark. Speaking of the local tourist bureau, you can stop by the downtown Shreveport office to check out the Splash Kingdom display in the main lobby. It features items you’ll find at the park, including a palm tree.

Splash Kingdom has come a long way since it started in the early 2000’s. The owners credit God with helping them make it this far. They continue to lean on him for support and guidance as they grow the brand. Where do you think the next Splash Kingdom will be?

Campaign, Best Radio Commercial 2010 WWA Best Billboard, Best Social Media Campaign 2011 WWA Industry Leadership Award 2012 WWA Best in-park promotion (Shreveport), Executive Board Award

14 | Faith & Family

sbfaithandfamily.com

Wise Words

July 2013

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Teen Talk

First Priority

If given the information that you had only one year to live, how you chose to spend that time would reflect a lot about you. Perhaps for some, this would be the first time that they would consider the question of eternity; many others would spend time re-arranging their priorities. So what do you get when you blend eternity and priorities and add middle and high school students? You get First Priority of America.

According to Steve Cherrico, Director of Organizational Services for the National First Priority Staff, “The idea was thought of in 1982 by twelve pastors in the Ft. Worth, Texas area who wanted to see their influence reach beyond their churches and youth groups they served. The faith-based non-profit, officially established in Birmingham, Alabama in 1991 and in its 23yrd year of ministry has a powerful vision: the hope of Christ in every student. First Priority is an evangelistic organization. We believe that the only true hope for change in anyone’s life is found in Jesus first. ” In 2010, local resident and former student minister John Carruth agreed to serve as Executive Director for First Priority ArkLaTex. “Being from this area and having served in student ministry, I have an incredible burden to help equip the church to reach students with the gospel of Christ” Carruth said.

After just three years in the local area, clubs are active at Airline HS, Byrd HS, Caddo Magnet HS, Captain Shreve HS, Parkway HS, Ruston HS and Youree Drive Middle School. During the 2012-2013 year alone, these seven campuses hosted 200 students meeting weekly; over 1,000 students heard the Gospel shared on campus by fellow student; 70 students shared the Gospel throughout the school year; 70 students shared their testimony; 35 different business, community, church leaders spoke on campuses at student’s invitation; 200 student leaders were trained to run First Priority Campus Clubs and more than 30 different churches worked together on 7 campuses to reach students.

Serving as Campus Coach at Byrd HS is Phillip Cole, Student Ministries Pastor for Jr. High and High School Students at Church at Red River. Choosing to work with First Priority was an easy decision for him as his relationship with the organization began when he was a high school student in Hattiesburg, MS. When he heard that they were coming to Shreveport, he jumped at the opportunity to become involved again – this time in a different role.

16 | Faith & Family

Cole said “First Priority has established a presence in the community over the last few years and is really making a difference not only in middle and high schools, but among churches. It's been so great to see students reaching students who then receive Christ and get plugged into a church.”

And this presence couldn’t have come at better time. Steve, John and Phillip agree that today’s youth face many challenges in a fast-paced world. Cole said, “As a youth pastor, I see believing and non-believing teens alike more connected technologically and socially than ever, yet lonelier too because their relationships lack genuineness and honesty. Teen’s relationships with parents are becoming increasingly fragmented because teens have more opportunity to hide this aspect of their lives in social networking. Parents struggle to keep up with technology and simply provide healthy boundaries for their children.”

Agreeing with them is Lauren Haigler, a junior at Airline HS, who became involved with First Priority during the school year.

“When I decided to open up and connect with people outside of my comfort zone, God changed the way I saw the people around me, and I now notice so many things I was unaware of before. In just this semester alone I have gotten to know teenage girls who struggle with such wide range of issuesfrom teenage pregnancy to issues finding their identity and everything in between. “ However, she sees hope for them through finding a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and finding that clubs are open to any student who wants to attend a club meeting at their high school. “First Priority has caused me to form many valuable

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relationships with people on our campus I would have never considered talking to before, and my prayer is that through our time together God will stir something in their hearts.”

The power of changed lives with hope is what drives John Carruth to continue making plans for the future of First Priority ArkLaTex. Although expansion is limited based on present funding levels, the goal is to increase the schools with FP from 7 to 15 by the end of 2014. And long-term, “he desires for every middle and high school campus in our community with an FP club to provide hope for students through Jesus Christ” Carruth said

For more information, contact John Carruth, Executive Director for First Priority ArkLaTex, at 318-751-0799 or visit www.firstp.org.

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Desiderata All actions are guided by some core values that are the depth of our beliefs.

All human action comes from what we truly believe! Without respect to what we say we believe, or even think we believe, what we do with our daily choices tells everyone around us what we actually believe!

How do we change our beliefs so that we can do the things we know we need to do or realign our beliefs with an ideal that we want to live out? Well, that’s the difficult part! We see this everyday at the gym. A client comes in and hesitantly shares about some failure regarding their eating. They already know that they’ve wrecked their diet and have continued a vicious cycle that keeps them overweight and feeling self-conscious. A hopeless feeling begins to invade their mind and then an interesting thing happens...a choice begins to form. Either they resist the hopelessness, or they succumb.

When hope is gone, self-justification begins to take root. My metabolism just slowed down with my age. My body just isn’t responding to my exercise program. Etcetera.

Fighting hopelessness and self justification takes effort...AND...HELP!!! We can’t take on hopelessness alone. However, when selfjustification is present our pride becomes paramount. We don’t want help, because then we have to admit that we are the problem... not that we have a problem. We must take ownership. Here is where our current society contributes to the problem. Not only do we victimize ourselves, we also offer ourselves no grace. No one can berate me, mentally beat me up, or abuse me better than I can do it to myself. There is no hope in either of these scenarios. Additionally, they feed off of each other!

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Having laid a context, I want to share with you Max Erhmann’s poem, “The Desiderata”. It has helped me, may it help you too!

“Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexations to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time. Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals; and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection.

Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of

all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass. Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul. With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.”

Max Ehrmann, “Desiderata”

Keep changing. Train hard. Be gentle with yourself! I believe in you!

Matt. 6:33

Grace & Peace, Tim Palmer

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In one of my favorite Woody Allen films, “Love and Death” (a spoof on such Russian novels as War and Peace), the following dialogue takes place between Boris (played by Woody Allen) and his cousin Sonia (played by Diane Keaton): Boris: “What if there is no God?” Sonia: “Are you joking?”

Boris: “What if we’re just a bunch of absurd people running around with no rhyme or reason?”

Sonia: “But if there is no God, then life has no meaning! Why go on living? Why not just commit suicide?”

Boris: “Well let’s not get hysterical. I could be wrong. I’d hate to blow my brains out and then [gesturing upward] read in the papers they found something.”

As is often the case, Woody Allen reflects the assumptions of the common man. As well as reflecting here some of the nihilism and perplexity of his time, he also reflects the assumption that all truth is essentially scientific truth, and that truths about God, if they can be discovered, will be discovered scientifically. Like all scientific discoveries, it might be the case that “they” (the scientists) poking about in outer space (to which Boris was gesturing) finally “found something”.

It reminds people of my vintage of the story that when Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin returned from his quick journey in space he reported that he looked and did not see God while in space.

(The authenticity of the quote is disputed, but that is another question. The atheistic propaganda version of what the cosmonaut said stuck.) Like Woody Allen, this view presupposes that God can be discovered through telescope, or microscope, or through scientific theorizing. It is true that they haven’t discovered anything yet. But hold on—maybe one day they will find something.

Actually, they already have found something. But not through scientific theorizing and laboratory experiment. God is not an inert substance to be stumbled upon, nor a rare breed to be discovered in the remote wilderness, like the creatures Darwin discovered in the Galapagos. Rather, all the initiative for contact between God and man lies with God, and He has said that He will only allow Himself to be found by those that seek Him with their whole heart (Jeremiah 29:13).

It is therefore not surprising or disturbing that God was not discovered by scientific poking about beyond earth’s atmosphere. What would have been more disturbing to Christian theology would be if He had. But God has allowed Himself to be discovered by those seeking for truth. And long ago, they did “find something”.

Specifically, they found an empty tomb, with the grave clothes left behind and neatly folded up.

Read all about it in the eye-witness document known as the Gospel of John: “Then Simon Peter came and, following John, went into the tomb; he saw the linen cloths lying and the napkin which had been on His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but rolled up in a place by itself ” (John 20:67). Eventually they would meet the Lord Himself, and see His wounds, and eat and drink with Him over a period of forty days (John 20:19, Acts 1:3).

That is, proof for the existence of God/ the truth of the Christian Faith was found historically, not scientifically. This is because, as said above, God is not a thing which can be put under a microscope and examined, but a Person who can be met and loved. And in Christ He chose to enter human history as a flesh and blood person like the rest of us. After He did this on the first Christmas day, He grew to manhood, and did many other strange and miraculous things, including rising from the

dead and leaving His grave-clothes behind, neatly folded up.

All of these things, occurring in history, are susceptible to historical verification, not scientific verification. To demand scientific proof for historical claims is not to demand rigorous proof.

It is to confuse science with history, and prove oneself an incompetent scientist. One proves the truth of historical claims (such as whether or not Nelson won the Battle of Waterloo) through historical methods, such as the credible reports of eye-witnesses and other records. One proves the truth of scientific theorems (such as whether or not water boils at 212 degrees Fahrenheit) by repeated scientific experiment. Only an idiot would try to prove whether or not Nelson won the Battle of Waterloo in a lab. That is the work of an historian, not a scientist. The term “scientific proof ” has come to be “conclusive proof ”, but a moment’s reflection reveals the nonsense.

“Scientific proof ” can only be had when proving matters of science; whereas proving whether or not something occurred in the past—i.e. matters of history—requires not scientific proof, but historical arguments. And the presence of the empty tomb, and the testimony of the apostles, and the astonishing volte-face conversion of the persecutor Saul of Tarsus, and the countless experiences of Christians ever since—all constitute just such historical arguments. Nihilists should indeed refrain from blowing their brains out in a pique of nihilism. It looks like they found something after all.

- Pastor Lawrence Farley

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YOU BETTER THINK !

Why do I have so many questions in my mind?

The ‘thinking skill’ that God gives us determines our actions! If we think things through and spend time with God over them – with our attitude toward God as the ruler of our lives – the outcome is rarely important.

If we ‘think’ things through on our own and ‘act’ on things – most of the time we make things harder for ourselves!

Thinking is a tool that God WANTS us to use for good. Even Jesus asked the disciples often what they thought!

– (Matthew 22:42; 17:25; 18:12, 21:28) – He wanted to see if the disciples were thinking things through with God. He was training them. We are disciples of Christ also and we are in training – by the Holy Spirit - to see through the things of this world and peer into the Divine!

It takes training – that lasts a lifetime!

Are you ready to LEARN to think like Jesus thinks and take ‘captive’ every thought?

Part of being an overcomer

in this life is changing how we think about things! The Bible clearly outlines what we SHOULD be thinking about and as we begin to pour in these things – we find that our thought process is changed!

What SHOULD you be thinking about?

Here are some ways to control thoughts: Think about godly things as the Bible says in Philippians 4:6-8. If we are focusing on thinking about those things we don’t have time to put in things that are not godly!

Learn to resist Satan by recognizing what he is doing! God wants us to ‘stand firm’ in Him to be able to resist! In 1 Peter 5:8-9 we are instructed to stand firm in the faith and resist Satan! To take our thoughts captive in Christ we have to resist the enemy!

Communicate with God – He will give us the POWER to defeat Satan! In James 4:2 we learn that our relationship with God is key in taking our thoughts captive! We must come to God with everything and when we do that we find that all our needs are met in one way or another and our mindset is one of seeing past the temporary straight into the extraordinary with God! God is GREATER than the enemy

and He will take care of us if we are focusing our mind on Him! It is hard and it takes time but the rewards are OUT OF THIS WORLD! Invest with God and find that He will make the difference in your life! 1 John 4:4 – “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” – HEAR God’s Promise here and believe Him!” When we begin to recognize the enemy and keep him from our mind and we are taking our thoughts ‘captive’ in Jesus – we find that we are FREE from this life – no longer worried or feeling like we are in need. We don’t sit in judgment of others or care if they judge us – it is the most wonderful feeling this side of Heaven! John 8:36 says – “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

Begin right now taking your thoughts ‘captive’ and giving them to God! Let Him change you from the inside out so that you can walk in this life as an overcomer in Him – beginning with your thoughts!

-JoAnne Timothy

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