ADAPTING YOU TO LIFE. ADAPTING YOU TO GOD
ISSUE 1. VOL. 1 $2.99
THE BATTLE IN THE SPIRIT RAGES... WILL YOU
FIGHT OR... FLEE?
PLUS: MEET CHRISTIAN RAPPER, K. SPARKS
INAUGURAL ISSUE
January/February 2013
MASTER DEBT GO DEEPER FIGHT WITH EXCELLENCE IN 2013
EPHESIANS 6:10-17 ESV
FINALLY, BE STRONG IN THE LORD AND IN THE STRENGTH OF HIS MIGHT. PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD, THAT YOU MAY BE ABLE TO STAND AGAINST THE SCHEMES OF THE DEVIL. FOR WE DO NOT WRESTLE AGAINST FLESH AND BLOOD, BUT AGAINST THE RULERS, AGAINST THE AUTHORITIES, AGAINST THE COSMIC POWERS OVER THIS PRESENT DARKNESS, AGAINST THE SPIRITUAL FORCES OF EVIL IN THE HEAVENLY PLACES. THEREFORE TAKE UP THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD, THAT YOU MAY BE ABLE TO WITHSTAND IN THE EVIL DAY, AND HAVING DONE ALL, TO STAND FIRM. STAND THEREFORE, HAVING FASTENED ON THE BELT OF TRUTH, AND HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND, AS SHOES FOR YOUR FEET, HAVING PUT ON THE READINESS GIVEN BY THE GOSPEL OF PEACE. IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES TAKE UP THE SHIELD OF FAITH, WITH WHICH YOU CAN EXTINGUISH ALL THE FLAMING DARTS OF THE EVIL ONE; AND TAKE THE HELMET OF SALVATION, AND THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT, WHICH IS THE WORD OF GOD.
CLASS IS BACK IN SESSION. ARE YOU READY TO IMPACT YOUR CAMPUS FOR THE KINGDOM?
(CONTENTS) SPIRITUALITY
IN EVERY ISSUE
P. 13 | Go Deeper in 2013 Want to know God more? Want to do something great? Here are six books that are bound to challenge the way you view yourself and your relationship with the Lord.
• EDITOR’S LETTER • CONTRIBUTORS • BY THE NUMBERS
LIFE P. 16 | The Plight of a Lazy and Tired College Student Monica Solomon talks candidly about her walk with the Lord, college and journey to find beauty beyond the crown.
CAREER PREP & MONEY P. 21 | Set Goals To Achieve More Start 2013 with a solid plan for accomplishing your biggest goals.
MUSIC, JUSTICE & ETC. P. 27 | New Releases Check out fresh music from various Christian artists coming out January and February. P. 32 | Jesus In Their Own Words Monica Moss is preparing to be a missionary to the people of Mozambique. She shares a little bit about simply translating the Bible into another language can change everything. adaptmag.com
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adapt (FEATURES)
SPIRITUALITY
LIFE MATTERS CAREER PREP & MONEY
MUSIC, JUSTICE, ETC.
COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE P. 14 | Commitment to Jesus Equals Commitment to Excellence Sometimes serving the Lord is hard. Adapt Magazine Editor, Allysen Kerr reminds us that the straight and narrow is the more excellent way.
GET COUPON SAVVY P. 16 | The Coupon Savvy College Student Antoinette Charles, aka “The Christian Bargain Hunter” helps students master the art of couponing. Try her 60-Day challenge this month.
VICTORIA SHELLY P. 18 | Living Life Debt-Free Victoria shares how discipline and sacrifice helped her pay off $17,000 of student loans in less than a year.
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K.SPARKS: NEW LIFE. NEW MUSIC P. 28 | Introducing K. Sparks Rapper, K. Sparks opens up about loving Jesus and creating a new kind of music that glorifies the King.
Jan/Feb.
FIND MORE WAYS TO ADAPT...
MAG.COM
ALLYSEN KERR Editor editor@adaptmag.com PAULA KERR Contributing Editor MONICA SOLOMON Contributing Writer ANTOINETTE CHARLES Contributing Writer MONICA MOSS Guest Writer
Adapt Magazine is published six times a year by UnKonventional Media, LLC. All questions regarding subscriptions or this publication should be directed to publisher@unkonventionalmedia.com. Please visit www.unkonventionalmedia.com to learn more about our company.
SPRING 2013
“HOW BEAUTIFUL IT IS WHEN BROTHERS DWELL TOGETHER IN UNITY” WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/UFUNITENOW
(LETTER FROM THE EDITOR) Sometimes following Jesus is a difficult task. Sometimes the things He requires of us seem too daunting and totally impossible. Noah was told to build a ship (when he didn’t know how), Gideon was told to fight an army with only 300 men, and Esther was told to go before her king without his permission (which could have resulted in her death). One thing I’ve learned is that God never leaves us without out a way to complete the task or a strategy to win the battle. The problem is us, you, and me. We tend to view things through the eyes of men instead of God’s eyes, forgetting that when He says things like, “I will never leave you nor forsake you,” He ACTUALLY means it. A little over five years ago, the Lord gave me a specific vision for a magazine geared toward college students. The first time I felt this calling, I will admit that I wasn’t swift to follow through. I tried to bargain my way out of it, telling the Lord I’d only go this far and no further. As God’s sovereignty would have it, He wanted me to go all the way. So welcome to Adapt Magazine: a place where you can learn to follow God’s calling for your life, overcome battles, and find encouragement along the way.
allysen
CONNECT WITH ADAPT MAGAZINE
FACEBOOK.COM/ADAPTMAGAZINE ADAPTMAG@GMAIL.COM
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(CONTRIBUTORS)
MONICA SOLOMON, BEAUTY QUEEN
Paula Kerr, Career Expert
Monica Solomon was recently awarded the title of Miss Black Tampa USA 2013. She graduated from the University of Florida where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Education Monica is currently pursuing a Master of Science degree in Public Health at the University of South Florida with a specialization in Behavioral Health. During her year of service, Monica plans to promote workforce health promotion in Orlando and Tampa through her platform: Work, Learn, Pray: My health, My Location.
Paula is a senior writer for Walt Disney Parks & Resorts®. Her background and experience include communications, human resources management, recruiting, benefits administration and communications, as well as training and development. In her current role, Paula develops and writes communication and education resources for Disney Destinations. She obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications/Public Relations from Iona College, New Rochelle, New York. Paula has been a contributing writer for adapt magazine since 2009.
ANTOINETTE CHARLES, Christian Bargain Hunter
MONICA MOSS, WYCLIFFE MISSIONARY
Antoinette is a hard-working young woman. This wife and student is currently pursing a degree in Education. She and her husband recently moved to Tampa where they felt God drawing them to grow the Kingdom. She has two dogs, Cocoa and Lex, who are very much like children. She enjoys serving in her church’s children’s ministry and looks forward to singing, dancing and praying with the kids each week.
Monica is missionary with Wycliffe Bible Translators. A recent Gator grad, she is preparing to spend two years in Mozambique helping to translate Bibles into the country’s native language. If you would like to support Monica or learn more about her missions efforts, visit www.monicamoss.wordpress. org or give at: http://www.wycliffe.org/Partnership. aspx?mid=EDC89C
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Spirituality Discipleship prayer relationship with God worship life
SPIRITUALITY >> BOOKS EDITOR’S PICKS
GO DEEPER IN 2013
Books that will influence your walk with the Lord (If you read them)
FUTURE GRACE
INTERCESSORY PRAYER
John Piper
Dutch Sheets
In this novel, John Piper offers readers the “key to overcoming sin and living a life that honors God.” Increase your faith, receive grace.
“If God is all-powerful, why does he need us to pray? If we pray and nothing happens, does this mean that God isn’t listening? If you have ever felt that your prayers don’t count, Intercessory Prayer will show you just how vital your prayers are. Pastor Dutch Sheets will inspire and give you the courage to pray for the impossible and help you find persistence to see your prayers to completion.” - DutchSheets.com
SECRETS OF THE SECRET PLACE
SEVEN LONGINGS OF THE HUMAN HEART Mike Bickle
Bob Sorge “Not only will this book help to defuse your personal struggles related to the secret place, it will also inspire you to the thrilling exhilaration of developing a personal connection with God. Your heart will be ignited with passion for Jesus, and you will profit from the practical advice on making it work. This has become our bestselling book.” - OasisHouse.net
START SOMETHING THAT MATTERS
40 DAYS OF FAITH Benjamin Reynolds Benjamin Reynolds’ ‘‘40 Days of Faith’ is a devotional for anyone who desires a closer relationship with Christ and an outpouring of His anointing.”
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“God created every person with deep longings that only He can fill. We all long for beauty, for greatness, for fascination, for intimacy. We all long to be enjoyed, to be wholehearted, to make a lasting impact. When we realize that these longings are godly and that God wants to fulfill them, we begin to find new freedom and joy.” -MikeBickle. com
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Blake Mycoskie This book is for anyone who wants to start their own nonprofit, business or anyone who is looking for inspiration. “Mycoskie profiles other social entrepreneurs who have turned their passions into meaningful and sustainable businesses and organizations.”
Jan/Feb
Commitment to Jesus Equals Commitment to Excellence BY: ALLYSEN KERR, EDITOR
God is a God of excellence. He made this very thought it would become an idol because I loved clear when He crafted the birds and the fish out of it too much. nothing but mere words (Genesis 1). He has a high Lie. standard for perfection. God wired us to love and to love well. He also I, on the other hand, often find myself running wired us to finish well (1 Corinthians 9:24). away from this commitment. Sometimes I’m afraid of what I’ll have to do if I Whether it was commitment to my courses, friend- really let God take control. Will He make me pray ships, relationships I spent my whole life running. longer? Will I have to get up at 3:30 a.m. to deal From my youth I’ve been running from one thing with a roach or lizard lurking in an unpacked box to the other always leaving that one thing undone. of shoes? Will I really fall in love with the guy I It’s the reason I never finished karate, the reason want? Will I have children? Will I be as successful I started and stopped many projects and the rea- as I envisioned? son I got B’s and C’s on tests when they should Well as I am writing this, it is seven minutes after 4 have been A’s. a.m. After enough times running from God’s comSome people may call my actions entrepreneurial. Apparently entrepreneurs are notorious for starting and stopping things. It all sounds cool until you’re ready to develop your idea and then at the first sign of trouble, you bail. I think another way to look at this is called, “Fight or Flight” syndrome. Once I started following the Lord, if whatever I was pursuing didn’t involve Jesus, I would run. I adaptmag.com
mitment, I know that I can’t escape and I don’t want to.
This semester is a first time for some students and a just another one for others. Whatever you do, whether in word or in deed, do it as unto the Lord (Colossians 3:17). He is a God of excellence. Success only comes to those who commit to the whole dream including the failure. Embrace the dream. Embrace excellence. Fight well.
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L I F E College Life Relationships Health & Fitness Dating Beauty Family
Confessions of a Beauty Queen THE PLIGHT OF THE TIRED AND LAZY COLLEGE STUDENT By: Monica Solomon Photo: Antoinette & Sharmi Charles
“I went by the field of the lazy man, and by the vineyard of the man devoid of understanding; and there it was, all overgrown with thorns; its surface was covered with nettles; its stone wall was broken down. When I saw it, I considered it well; I looked on it and received instruction: a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest; so shall your poverty come like a prowler, and your need like an armed man.” Proverbs 24:30-34. I have a slight confession... As an undergraduate it was quite common for me to fall asleep between 2:00 a.m. and 3:00 a.m. only to wake up between 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. on the days I didn’t have class. My senior year was a whirlwind of 11:00 p.m. student organization meetings and all-nighters that seemed to produce uncanny inspiration for hours as I feverishly typed 10-page papers. Throughout my undergraduate studies I pushed myself to the max between undergraduate research, a full-time adaptmag.com
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class schedule, and numerous leadership roles. However, my seemingly innocent undergraduate habits managed to creep into my post-college life. As a result during the couple of months after I graduated, I am 97.1 percent sure my body went into shock. After graduating, I was exhausted and all I wanted to do was sleep. Most people will say that it was well needed or well deserved rest and I agree to a certain extent. However, my “well deserved rest” was quickly turning into a habit and manifesting in laziness. I had to be honest with God and myself and admit that my sleeping habits were not sustainable. My naps after work were causing me to stay up late thus making it a lot more difficult to wake up in the morning. I’m sure some pageant queens won’t admit this, but we all tread between being an overachiever and not wanting to do anything at all.
HERE ARE 7 TIPS THAT I FOUND TO BE HELPFUL
1
EAT AN APPLE IN THE MORNING
The fructose found in this delicious snack has the ability to raise your blood sugar level causing a “sugar rush”. It is a healthier and cheaper alternative to coffee. I fully understand the broke college student life so believe me when I say cheaper is better.
Jan/Feb
2
PLAY MUSIC IN THE MORNING
3
PLACE YOUR CELL PHONE IN THE BATHROOM OR CLOSET
Whew, I love my Fred Hammond Pandora station! Try playing music in the morning and feel free to use your toothbrush as a microphone. If you have roommates, use earphones and lip-sync your heart out.
Try putting your cell phone in the bathroom or closet before you go to sleep. When the alarm goes off you will be forced to get of bed to stop the blaring ring tone.
4
PREPARE TO BECOME BROKE
5
CHOOSE YOUR OUTFIT THE NIGHT BEFORE
6
CREATE A GOOGLE CALENDAR REMINDER
7
HOST MORNING PRAYER WITH A FRIEND
Proverbs paints a pretty clear picture of the rewards of being a faithful man and the consequences of being a lazy man. The scriptures discuss the riches and wealth of the faithful man and the ruin of the lazy man (Proverbs 28: 19-20; 15: 19; 18: 9; 18:15; 26:13-16). After all the work we put into our college degrees, let’s not squander it away by being unfaithful or just plain lazy.
KICK LAZINESS TO THE CURB WITH THESE AWESOME APPS All of these apps are available for iPhones and Androad Phones. Find these apps and more on iTunes or in the Google Play store. BE PRODUCTIVE
GET ORGANIZED
Decide what you are going to wear the night before and lay it out on a chair. You will save time in the morning and look refreshed when you step outside the door.
SHOP SMARTER
Add your appointments and meetings to your phone and create pop up reminders. These reminders are great motivation to start your day and you will be more prepared for work, meetings, or class. One word: Accountability. Try scheduling 7:00 a.m. prayer phone calls with your friends. It is a great way to start the morning and it encourages early rising.
LIVE HEALTHY
I must admit: the biggest thing that has helped change my habits has been God. Once I began earnestly praying and asking God to change my heart and perspective regarding certain areas such as cooking, cleaning, and sleeping I began to notice big changes in my attitude and behavior. God is very interested in every aspect of your life, whether you sleep three hours or eight hours. With 2013 in full effect, this year presents an excellent opportunity to ask God to help you put these tips into action and apply them to your life.
GIVE MORE
Life is short and it is important that we maximize every second, minute, and hour to the fullest. Remember that ambition without work and action never amounts to anything. As budding young professionals it is imperative that we strive for excellence in every aspect for our lives...even our morning routine. Finally, beautiful Adapt readers remember apples before coffee. Much Peace & Love Check out Monica’s personal blog: missblacktampausa.blogspot.com
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(From Clockwise) Be Productive: Evernote, Google Drive, Cam Scanner. Get Organized: Mint.com, You Need A Budget. Live Healthy: Fooducate, Couch to 5K, Recipe Search--All the Cooks. com. Shop Smarter: Apartment Guide, Autotrader, Amazon Student. Give More: United Nations Foundation, Instead. All images, trademarks and logos belong to their respective businesses and entities. Adapt Magazine does not claim any ownership rights to these images.
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LIVING LIFE DEBT-FREE VICTORIA SHELLY:
Get into the University of Florida. Check. Graduate from UF. Check. Get a Master’s degree from UF. Check. Pay off student loans in one year. CHECK.
ents did have to pay a little bit (extra) for me,” Victoria said. “I did not have a job while I was in undergrad so they really supported me through that.”
There are probably some of us former high school students who made similar lists and set similar goals when it came to our college careers. However, once we stepped off the bus of big hopes and dreams, many of us were confronted with the harsh reality that accomplishing these goals would be easier said than done.
In addition to supporting their daughter financially, Victoria’s parents also helped her see where she could cut back.
Somehow Victoria Shelly found a way to overcome her own obstacles, obtain a bachelor’s and a master’s and pay off $17,000 in student loans. How did she do it? When Victoria was in elementary school, her parents heard about this program that allowed them to pay for her tuition before she even graduated high school. It was called Florida Pre-Paid. While taking advantage of this program did help Victoria pay for college tuition, it wouldn’t be enough. She needed more assistance. Victoria managed to meet all the requirements for Florida Bright Futures Scholarship. This scholarship would help Victoria pay for school in full. Florida Pre-paid covered tuition and Bright Futures the remaining expenses including housing on campus. “It actually wasn’t enough most of the time and my paradaptmag.com
Her first year she had an unlimited meal plan, which the Shelly’s realized wasn’t the best value. “So the second year my parents had an interesting idea of giving me the money they would have paid for my meal plan…and I had to make that last for the entire semester,” she said. This move forced Victoria to learn how to budget on her own. “I still remember that first semester of my sophomore going nuts, like shopping,” Victoria said. “Once I had that money I was like, ‘I’m setting aside a thousand dollars to take to the mall…it was a little, a lot irresponsible” (Laughs). Victoria quickly realized that if she wanted to make it to graduation, and eventually grad school, she would have to curb her carefree spending habits. When grad school time did arrive, she was so concerned about getting in that she didn’t even really think about how she would pay. But she came up with a plan. “Once I got accepted…I started looking into scholarships and fellowships and teaching assistantships that would pay for my tuition.”
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U.S. AVERAGE DEBT $26,600
FLORIDA AVERAGE DEBT: $23,054
STUDENT LOAN DEBT OUTLOOK CLASS OF 2011 The government offered Victoria a generous amount of financial aide but after comparing her options, she decided to go with subsidized loans because they wouldn’t accrue interest, she said.
account and kind of keeping it for a rainy day and I ended up not spending most of it.”
“That was the best part because they paid for my tuition,” Victoria said. “So then I just had to budget my living expenses and figure out how I could make that work with my subsidized loans.
“I did not want to write a check as soon as I graduated because that would leave me with zero, zero, zero in my bank account but over the next year, I was very aggressively paying it off in huge chunks,” she said.
By the time Victoria graduated from her Master’s program in 2011, she was exactly $17,000 in the hole.
Victoria says that having that goal helped her to stay focused. She encourages other college students to do the same.
“Especially with the job that I had, still have, which is…teaching English at the UF English Language Institute, I make less than $30,000 a year.” “I was a little nervous because $17,000 seemed like it would take me a little while on that salary, but apparently it did not.” Victoria set a goal to pay off her loans a year from the time she graduated. She made it happen in less than a year. How? By living off the salary from her teaching assistantship.
Once she graduated, she took her time paying off her loans.
“It was funny how misleading getting a letter from the government saying, ‘you are now in repayment. Your first payment is due three months from now and it’s only like a $118 that you owe us,’ I’m just like, ‘Oh, this is nothing,’ and then [realized] that it’s going to take 20 years to pay this off. Did not want that hanging over my head.”
FROM STUDENT TO TEACHER
Victoria also says that students need to be faithful in tithing and giving. As hard as it may be give and tithe on a college student’s budget, God’s favor is on that.
“They paid my tuition, they also gave me a stipend of $450-$500 per paycheck,” she said. “So I was trying to live off of $1,000 a month, which was a little difficult at times, but since I had taken that money out, I was letting it sit in my savings adaptmag.com
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Careers & Money
INTERNSHIPS JOB PREP FINANCES SAVING LOANS
SET GOALS TO ACHIEVE
MORE BY: PAULA KERR, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
Goal setting involves establishing specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-targeted (S.M.A.R.T ) goals. The theory behind goal-setting suggests that it’s an effective tool for making progress by ensuring that participants in a group with a common goal are clearly aware of what is expected from them. On a personal level, setting goals helps people work towards their own objectives—most commonly with financial or career-based goals. Effective goal setting helps you take the right actions to achieve what you want in life! It’s a way to progress through life with clear direction and purpose. So why would anyone not want to set goals? Setting goals is a form of self-motivation that drives us to achieve more in less time, or in a time mostly controlled by outcomes and, who would not want to achieve more? Sometimes we fail to achieve our goals because we either don’t have a workable plan for achieving them, or we set unrealistic expectations that cause us to fail too soon. Fortunately there are strategies and behaviors we can adopt for successfully setting and achieving goals. adaptmag.com
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Goal setting involves establishing Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Timetargeted (S.M.A.R.T ) goals.
S PECIFIC M EASURABLE A CHIEVABLE R EALISTIC T IME-TARGETED
Jan/Feb
1. First Things First Know what you want and believe that you can achieve it. Be confident that you have a clear concept of what it takes and that you can do what is necessary to achieve your goals. If you waver you will fall short of accomplishing what you want. Once you’ve determined what you want, write down the goals most meaningful to you and then list what you would need to do in order to achieve them. You could start by asking yourself four simple questions: • What do I want to achieve? • How do I achieve it? • What will I do with it? • When do I want it? As an example, you may want to obtain a college degree (or start another one). How you achieve this goal may include thinking about where you will go to school, how you will pay for your degree, what ways you will use it once you achieve it and, finally, whether you want to accomplish this in two or four years.
2. Short Term Goals vs. Long Term Goals Simply put, short-term goals are those goals in which you expect to accomplish in a short time frame (a day, a week, a month, etc.). Long term goals are for longer periods (a year, five years, 10 years, etc.). Examples of short-term goals are: • A new summer wardrobe • A weekend getaway • Pay off a credit card
3. Stay on Track We all know that at times there can be setbacks on the road to achieving our goals. Therefore, making sure that you are on target with your goals will require periodically checking your progress to determine if they are still relevant. If you find yourself falling behind, revise your course and up your game plan as needed.
• Buy a treadmill As for long-term goals, you are basically in it for the long haul. It could be that you want to start a business in five years, buy a house in 10 years, get married in five years, or start a family when you’re 30. The key components of goal setting is organizing and prioritizing your goals in small, manageable chunks. But above all else, set realistic goals that you can actually measure. Taking this approach will cause things to look a whole lot less daunting and overwhelming.
Remember:
Goal setting gives you clear direction and helps you stay organized and focused. It helps build self-confidence and gives you a sense of accomplishment. Once you understand the benefits, you can achieve anything.
4. Eye on the Prize Stay Focused and Motivated You need to keep your focus and remain motivated. This is sometimes hard, especially with long-term goals, but if you set your sights on the end result and the benefits you will reap, you will stay on track. One way to keep focus is to log your progress in a notebook or journal. Reading through your progress from timeto-time will motivate you to keep your eye on the prize – the end results!
THE COUPON
SAVVY STUDENT
COUPONING TIPS TO HELP YOU SAVE MORE BY: ANTOINETTE CHARLES, CONTRIBUTING WRITER
It’s a new year and some of us have some pretty hefty goals we want to accomplish. We want to make all A’s, lose weight, run a marathon, read the Bible every day, get a part time job or a number of other things. We spend so much time doing homework, studying or even having a family that we wonder if we have time to have a social life. So do you even have time to save? Of course you do! In fact, I believe that God calls us to spend our time, resources and money wisely. I came across Prover 6: 6-11 that reminds me very much of the act of coupon-ing. Like the ant, there is work required. However, the work is minimal thanks to people who work very hard on our behalf. We are all very busy so I will be teaching you the quickest and easiest way to coupon. There will be plenty of visuals and a 60 day challenge on AdaptMag. com to help you put your knowledge to the test. How does couponing work? Couponing works by applying manufacturer coupons and store coupons
to items that are on sale. There are websites that match current sales to the coupons you have for free. You can combine ONE store coupon and ONE manufacturer coupon to any item. However, you are never able to use two store coupons or two manufac-turer coupons on an item. You can exhaust all your coupons in one transaction (unless the coupon says otherwise) if you want. After you are done applying your coupons feel free to use a “money off total purchase” coupon ( such as “$5 off $25 purchase”) to save even more money! {Please note, we are unable to double coupons in the state of Florida!}.
“GO TO THE ANT, YOU SLUGGARD! CONSIDER HER WAYS AND BE WISE, WHICH, HAVING NO CAPTAIN, OVERSEER OR RULER, PROVIDES HER SUPPLIES IN THE SUMMER, AND GATHERS HER FOOD IN THE HARVEST.” PROVERBS 6:6-11 NKJV Manufacturer’s Coupon
STEP 1: DEFINE A BUDGET First, you are going to need to define a budget for yourself and invest in some materials to organize your coupons. You may be a once a month shopper, an every day shopper or a when you have money shopper due to your income. Take whatever you
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Store Coupon
Jan/Feb
• File Box Setup: Place TUFF hanging files, file folders, labels and a marker in the box.
are and start planning to be a once a week shopper. For your materials, feel free to reuse things you already have laying around. For help creating a budget, check out DaveRamsey.com.
• 3” Coupon Binder Setup: Consider printing a category organizer from thekrazycouponlady.com (right hand side, scroll down and right under “Featured Video” you will see “Coupon Binder.”) If you don’t have a printer you can always make your own. Grab 40 sheets of paper and write a category on each page with a page number (using the Krazy Coupon Lady template as your guide.) After you have your categories printed/written put each page in a sheet protector and then into the 3” binder. Place your trad-ing card sheets at the back of your binder to grab as you need to fill each section.
STEP 2: GATHER MATERIALS • Newspapers: Purchase in even quantities and get at LEAST two every Sunday. These can be found at local stores but consider subscribing for best the prices! Always check your paper before leaving the store. • Hanging File Box (with TUFF hanging files, file folders & labels) or Letter Size Expandable File • Coupon Binder & 40 sheets of Paper: I recommend 3” size with zipper.
• Cheap Folders/Binder: Label each as follows: “Shopping Trip,” “Store Coupons,” and “Dining, Fast Food, Entertainment & more.” Place three to five trading card sheets in each. Feel free to put the last two categories in a folder/binder together.
• Trading Card Pages (9-Pocket Style): Get about 50 sheets if you can. • Sheet Protectors: You will need somewhere between 5 and 50. • Cheap Folders/Binders with center clasp and side pockets: Get two or three • Personal Printer: Consider purchasing a cheap printer to print coupons from home. • Markers, Pens and Pencils: For labeling various things
STEP 4: GATHER AND ORGANIZE YOUR COUPONS! Coupons are found in the center of the newspaper and come in the form of coupon magazines (aka coupon inserts.) Separate and place each type of coupon magazine in a folder. Label with Date/Type and put in file box. (I staple small sticky notes to folder as a label so I can reuse the file.) -P&G (Proctor & Gamble) are only good for the month, so label as: Month & P&G -SmartSource, RedPlum and others label as: 11/11 SS, 12/2 RP, 12/2 SS , etc. (Same applies if you are using a letter sized expanding file system. )
Bonus! Publix sends out a Green Advantage and Yellow Advantage store coupon flyer monthly. When you see these separate by type, place in a sheet protector and put into your “Store Coupon” folder/binder. STEP 5: SHOP DEALS!
STEP 3: SET UP YOUR MATERIALS It’s important to have your system in place before gathering your coupons. adaptmag.com
Now that you have a system and some coupons it’s time to shop deals! Understand that It will take you collecting newspapers for a few weeks before you are able to take advantage of consistent deals. Check out the *Website Spotlight* and *Store Spotlight* in every issue to learn more about how couponing works at each store. Clip only the coupons you are going to use and file the insert back when you are done. The date is on the spine of each insert just in case you forget where you grabbed it from! Store your clipped coupons in your “Shopping Trip” binder/folder so that you can easily hand them to your cashier. Now join the 60 day challenge and put your new skills to the test! See you on AdaptMag.com -The Christian Bargain Hunter 24
Jan/Feb
CAREER PREP & MONEY
WEBSITE SPOTLIGHT! www.SouthernSavers.com
This is a great website for beginners! Select your store from the top and then click on the most recent ad date. She always lists the BOGO (buy one get one free) coupon match ups first. As a couponer, think of a BOGO as getting each item half off, this will make it easier to calculate your discount. She does the math for you and lists the regular price as well as the BOGO individual price of each item in parenthesis. The box to the left is clickable if you want to create a grocery list. The “acorn” means that it’s the lowest price she has seen in awhile. The red “M” denotes a manufacturer coupon and the blue “S” denotes a store coupon. Remember you CAN use ONE store coupon and ONE manufacturer coupon per ITEM, even if the item is listed as a BO-GO. The SS, RP and PG tell you which type of coupon magazine the coupon is in and the date tells you which week’s file you can find that coupon in. Note: Coupons vary by region, sometimes you may not have a coupon listed. Sometimes you may not have a coupon listed for the same dollar value shown. SUNDAY AD INSERTS (blue button): This is a great place to find out which type of coupon magazines (inserts) to be on the lookout for in your newspaper.
STORE SPOTLIGHT! publix
Publix is one of my favorite grocery stores because take other competitor store coupons. Each Publix has a different policy regarding which competitor coupons they will except. Check with the customer service desk or the Weekly Ad station where you will find a slip of paper that looks similar to this. Try to find a Pub-lix that will find Target, Winn-Dixie and Save-A-Lot coupons. These stores typically have a lot of really great coupons you can use on any item Publix carries, even if its on sale! Happy couponing!
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New artists New releases Music reviews
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nonprofit spotlight justice issues missions
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Op-Ed Column
NEW RELEASES FRESH YEAR, FRESH MUSIC
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ew year means fresh music from the artists we love. From Sho Baraka’s “Talented Xth” to Andy Mineo’s debut album “Heroes for Sale,” 2013 is sure to be a promising year in the Christian music world. Look out for more artist releases in every issue. Check out the anticipated release dates for January through February.
SHO BARAKA
PLANETSHAKERS
Jason Castro
MEREDITH ANDREWS
January 15, 2013
January 15, 2013
January 15, 2013
January 22, 2013
DA T.R.U.T.H
COLTON DIXON
SANCTUS REAL
January 29, 2013
January 29, 2013
February 5, 2013
Jeremy Camp
RED
February 12, 2013
February 5, 2013
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. . . G N I C U D INTRO
S K R A P K.S
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MUSIC
WHO IS K. SPARKS? WHERE DID THE NAME COME FROM? I am a recording artist from Queens, NY. I received my name from a few things. For starters my government name is Kyle so that’s where the ‘K’ comes from. The Sparks part came from me always free styling in cyphers. People in my neighborhood use to ask me to spark up rhyming cyphers and the name “Sparks” stuck as a result of that.
YOU STARTED PERFORMING AT THE AGE OF 15. WHAT WAS THAT LIKE? Very intense in a positive way. It was an introduction to performing for me, and also helped groom me as an artist. I performed any and everywhere from lounges and clubs, to music festivals and concerts. I learned a lot during those days because they helped build character. Plenty nights I played shows for a crowd of only 10 people, and five out of the 10 people I already knew; real humble experience. But it built character, and with time the shows got better and bigger. At that time in my life I went from performing at small shows to performing at shows with major recording artist such as Q-Tip, Kanye West, Joe Budden, Talib Kweli, and [more]. Those experiences proved that persistence wears down resistance.
AS YOU GAINED RECOGNITION, YOU ALSO GAINED FAME, MONEY, CARS…EVERYTHING YOU COULD IMAGINE BUT YOU STILL FOUND YOURSELF MISSING SOMETHING. WHAT HAPPENED? When it all hit me was at a strange time. It was right after I purchased a new home, bought a new car, had a destination wedding in Aruba, released over 15 albums; things were going well. But one day I was seated in my recording studio at my new house and felt like everything adaptmag.com
meant nothing. I felt like there was a void, like everything I was doing was a waste of time. Now that was crazy because I was at the top of my game in the music industry. I had released a [bunch of] albums, writing songs for other artists, my buzz was excellent; and my songs were getting played on Hot97 but still felt like everything was a waste. That’s when I started to rekindle the relationship I had with God and asked Him what was going on. I was raised in the church because my mother is an evangelist, so from a young age I always knew of God, I just eventually lost interest in religion and decided to go my own path. However, God has a way of bringing things full circle, and that is exactly what he did with me. The message that I received was clear: only what you do for Christ is going to last. So even though I was successful in my own regard, I still wasn’t successful according to God’s standards and that’s where I was falling short, and that is why I felt empty. Everything I was doing was for self-edification. God showed me that people need real leaders in this day and age that will dare to be different and take a stand for something positive. [Many] of the artists nowadays glorify themselves and place themselves on pedestals and want people to treat them as gods, but they all got it twisted. There’s only one God, and that is who I’m here to represent. God showed me [that] what’s happening is bigger than me and it’s not about me or my talents. I’m just a vessel that He’s using to convey a message of hope to the people that need it.
WHAT’S THE MESSAGE BEHIND YOUR MUSIC TODAY? 29
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Persistence wears down resistance. I want people to be encouraged that there is hope regardless of their situation. I try not to be overly preachy because I want people to embrace the message. I’ve found peace through Christ, however even if others don’t follow the same religion as me they can still appreciate and connect with the message of hope.
WHO ARE YOU TRYING TO REACH WITH THIS MESSAGE? Everyone willing to listen. The scripture says that he came so that we can have life, and have it more abundantly. So with that said, everyone is entitled to this message. Regardless of race, gender, or religion; no one is denied access.
WHAT PROJECTS ARE YOU WORKING ON RIGHT NOW? I just finished my album “Read Between The Lines.” It was presented by DJ Booth and is available now for free download. For 2013 I’ll be working on two albums, an album with my bother Kurser from Paris, and another with my brother Payozo from Sweden.
Adapt Magazine is all about helping our readers “Adapt to Life. Adapt to God.” What has been the hardest thing you have had to “adapt” to as an artist, husband and father, disciple, etc? Everything (laughs) within the last year my life has been a roller coaster. I had to adjust and adapt to a lot. From a music perspective I had to adapt to the CHH (Christian Hip Hop) Industry, which is very different from the secular music industry. I’ve found that a lot of fans are very judgmental and quick to lash out at artist. I had one guy go as far as to tweet he didn’t believe I’m a Christian because I support Obama, so he deleted me from his iPod; pure antics. People just judge without even having a proper understanding of what they are talking about. So I had to adjust in that regard. Aside from that, being a husband and father is both an adjustment as well because I also wear those hats in addition to being a recording artist. However I enjoy every moment.
WHAT ARE YOU HOPING THIS NEW PROJECT WILL ACCOMPLISH? To reach people that would normally not listen to the message. Most people think that music with a message is corny or overly preachy, but my music does the opposite. It’s quality music with content that anyone can vibe to.
Connect with K. Sparks
“READ BETWEEN THE LINES” AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD NOW
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Jan/Feb
GET ON MISSION With First Assembly of God, Gainesville
VISIT WWW.FIRST-ASSEMBLY.ORG/MISSIONS FOR DETAILS ON MISSION TRIP OPPORTUNITIES IN 2013
Jesus In Their Own Language
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MONICA MOSS, GUEST WRITER Photo: Submitted by Monica Moss
Monica Moss is on a mission to help the people of Mozambique read the words of the Bible in their own language. Read about the work that’s being done as she preps for her own two-year trip through Wycliffe Bible Translators. The most exciting part of Bible translation is hearing stories about finished projects and of the lives changed by people hearing and reading the Bible in their (own) language. Well, I am thrilled to report that one more people group now has the New Testament! At the end of last year some of the Mozambique staff joined with 900 others for a celebration to dedicate the Naro New Testament in Botswana! This translation began in 1991 and now is available in print and also in audio format for those who cannot read. This is a HUGE reason tocelebrate! And the Naro people are only one of many people groups to receiveScripture in their language this past year. For the first time ever, the number of languages needing a translation has dropped below 2,000! The official translation need is now 1,967--also worth celebrating! For the first time there are more translation programs in progress than there are translation needs. With a world population of over 7 billion, the number of people without access to God’s Word is now approximately 209 million. More people have access to Scripture than in any previous generation!
have started is exciting, it also means that there is more work to be finished than ever before. I am so eager to begin my work in Mozambique and my May 15 departure date is fast approaching! In order to buy my plane ticket and apply for a visa, I must have 100 percent of my funding committed. My supervisors want me to be fully funded by March 31 so I can begin these necessary preparations. This means in the next two months I am trusting God and working diligently to raise the remaining $500 ofmonthly financial needs. If you have been considering joining my financial partnership team, now is the time! What we do matters--my part in going and your part in sending, giving, praying. God has chosen us together to contribute to the greatest acceleration of the pace of Bible translation ever witnessed by the Church! It’s a great calling!
INTERESTED IN GIVING OR PRAYING FOR MONICA? SEND AN EMAILTO EDITOR@ADAPTMAG.COM FOR DETAILS.
While reflecting on the number of Bible translations that adaptmag.com
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BY THE NUMBERS
PECULIAR STATS ABOUT SINGLES RESEARCH BY: ANDREA LEVINGS
As of 2000, the most common household type in The U.S. is a person living alone. 40 MILLION
THE NUMBER OF OF U.S. SINGLES THAT HAVE TRIED ONLINE DATING
99.6 MILLION
The number of unmarried people over the age of 18 in the United States.
e-HARMONY has 20 Million Members
15 MILLION
Match.com members
131
NUMBER OF COUNTRIES WHERE CHRISTIANS ARE PERSECUTED (THERE ARE 196 COUNTRIES WORLDWIDE)
50% of all people who die from blimp-related accidents are single (average is 1 death per year from blimp-related injuries)
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ACCORDING TO YAHOO!, THE FAVORITE VACACTION SPOT FOR SINGLES TO MEET IS CANCUN (DON’T GET ANY IDEAS...THAT WASN’T A THUS-SAYS-THE-LORD MOMENT)
25%
of unmarried people 25 and older in 2011 had a bachelor’s degree or more education ...REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE STATS SAY, REMEMBER THAT THE LORD IS THE AUTHOR OF YOUR LOVE STORY. HE KNOWS YOUR END FROM THE BEGINNING. CONTINUE TO WAIT ON HIM AS HE PREPARES YOU TO RECEIVE A LOVE LIKE YOU NEVER IMAGINED.
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