FREE
JUNE 2013
Meet Our Care Management Team Over 60 Years of Combined Experience in Service Delivery to Seniors Rhonda Boles, Office Manager. Rhonda has been with Covenant Caregivers since day one. She has been instrumental in developing the systems and processes that we utilize today. She directs the dayto-day operation of our Madison office. In this role, Rhonda is involved in every aspect of what we do. Her background includes over seven years of administrative work in the assisted living industry during which time Rhonda developed a desire to serve and be with senior citizens. Patricia Coward, Client Care Manager. Tricia’s primary responsibilities include new client consultations, care coordination, and community education. She has spent the last 16+ years working in the retirement and assisted living industry then hospice care. Through these experiences, she has gained a tremendous knowledge of senior resources in our area. As our Client Care Manager, Tricia is able to offer “tried and true” advice to those we serve.
Freda Jackson, Mike Davis, Patricia Coward, Nona Beal and Rhonda Boles
Nona Beal, Scheduling Coordinator. Nona is responsible for insuring that our clients have the one-onone coverage they desire. She carefully selects caregivers for our clients based on the skill set of the caregiver and needs of the client. Her daily interaction with both our caregivers and clients gives her the information she needs to find the best possible match. Nona’s background includes 14+ years in both hospice care and medical clinic operations. Freda Jackson, Administrative Assistant. Freda’s role includes assisting our Scheduling Coordinator, maintaining caregiver records and files, making checkup calls to clients and families and much more. Known as “Friendly Freda,” she is likely the voice you will hear when calling our office. Freda’s passion for serving the elderly came from over 12 years in the assisted living industry where she coordinated resident services on a daily basis.
NON-MEDICAL HOME CARE Personal Care Attendants • Companions • Private Duty Caregivers
Mike Davis, Owner. In the latter part of 2011, Covenant Caregivers was formed by our owner. Mike’s desire was to create a service for senior adults that would be unmatched in the Jackson area. This became a reality with our first client in January 2012. Having served this “greatest generation” for nearly 15 years in multiple venues such as retirement, assisted living, and memory care communities as well as hospice and palliative care, Mike felt strongly led to create Covenant Caregivers.
Call us today for a FREE in-home consultation
601.856.5660 2 JUNE 2013 ❘ Metro Christian Living
www.CovenantCaregiversMS.com
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contents JUNE 2013
metro ®
columns 8 The Way I See It Purposeful Parenting
10 Living My Call Mike Davis’ Covenant Caregivers Is a Success Story
13 Community Outreach Giveback 2013
14 Modern Motherhood Dads Who Do It Right
17 This Is My Story Tony Dungy—All Pro Dad
18 The Doctor Is In New Advance in TMJ and Headache Treatment
features
20 Think Tank
26
28 Salt & Light
Frank Pollard—Difference Maker
David and Meg Robbins
Southern Gospel Touches Hearts
Ministry to Millennials
30 Let’s Get Real Conflict: His and Hers (Part IV)
36 Let’s Talk It Over The Treasure of a Father’s Presence
38 Chewed Petunias Following the Shepherd
40 Pastor’s Perspective Millennials: A Hope and a Future
44 Lagniappe For God and Country
30
32
47 Legal Advice Do You Have a Will or Trust? Why?
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departments 22 Healthy Living Faithfully Fit Fathers
32 Food For Thought Here’s to Dad
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34 Fresh Finds Gift Ideas for Father’s Day
42 Sports Victories Brad Cliburn of Florence High School
48 Rave Reviews
What’s Coming Next Month?
Books, Movies, and Music
49 What’s Going On
Publisher: MHS Publications, Inc., Member, M.I.P.A. Editor: Marilyn Tinnin marilyn@metrochristianliving.com Associate Editor: Suzanne Tanner Durfey Art Direction/Graphic Design Sandra K. Goff Sales Marilyn Tinnin, Kimberly Stephens, Suzanne Tanner Durfey Contributing Writers Lydia Bolen, Dr. Charlie Boudreaux, John Branning, C. Rochelle Culp, Dr. Cole Fortenberry, Robert Green, Barbara Hamilton, William B. Howell, Robin O’Bryant, Janie Pillow, Susan E. Richardson, Peggy Wall, Tracey Williamson, Martin E. Willoughby, Jr., Robert Wilson, Andy Wimberly Cover Photography Stegall Imagery Distribution Assistants Laura Kidder, Randy Fortenberry, Andrea Sabillion, Rachel Schulte, Jerri Strickland, Priscilla Sullivan, Tim Waldon, Bob Whatley
Metro Christian Living 573 Highway 51 North, Suite C Ridgeland, MS 39157 Phone 601-790-9076 • Fax 601-790-9078 www.metrochristianliving.com Metro Christian Living is committed to encouraging individuals in their daily lives by presenting the faith stories of others and by providing information that will point every person, at every stage of life, to a deeper, authentic, personal, and life-changing encounter with Jesus Christ. Views expressed in Metro Christian Living do not necessarily represent those of the publisher. Every effort has been made by the Metro Christian Living staff to insure accuracy of the publication contents. However, we do not guarantee the accuracy of all information nor the absence of errors and omissions; hence, no responsibility can be or is assumed. All Rights Reserved. Copyright 2012 by Metro Christian Living, Inc. Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of International Bible Society.
Metro Christian Living is published monthly and is available at high traffic locations throughout the metropolitan area. Copies are also available by subscription, $29 for one year. Single issues available for $3 an issue. POSTMASTER: Send change of address to Metro Christian Living, 573 Highway 51 North, Suite C, Ridgeland, MS 39157.
Jack Lane Chaplain to the Mississippi Braves
in every issue
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6 49 50 50 4 JUNE 2013 ❘ Metro Christian Living
Volume 7, Number 12
Editor’s Letter Event Calendar Quips & Quotes Ad Directory
M I P A Mississippi Independent Publishers' Alliance
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➺editor’s letter What Difference Does It Make? “Know well the condition of your flocks, and give attention to your herds, for riches do not last forever; and does a crown endure to all generations?” (Proverbs 27:23-24).
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As a Baby Boomer—albeit a small town and very sheltered one—I recall the decade of the 60s as a time of upheaval, protest, and rebellion; a time when traditional values were challenged on every front, and when images of unkempt, unwashed college students were beamed across our television screens every evening. The “flower children” that grabbed the headlines advocating almost
“Be very careful, then, ❝ how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are – Ephesians 5:15 evil,”
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6 JUNE 2013 ❘ Metro Christian Living
everything anti-establishment may have been my generation, but we were eons apart in worldviews. I am just surmising that prior to the Internet, social media, and 24/7 breaking news, there were more defined differences between those who grew up in the Bible Belt and those who grew up on, say, the West Coast. Remember those “surfer movies?” LOL. The phenomenon of the youth culture was in its infancy. Fast-forward 50 years. The Millennial Generation is now the buzz everywhere. As children of Baby Boomers, most of whom eventually DID settle down and discard some of their more radical ideas, the common trait between these two groups, is their passionate determination to shape their universe. As they move into the corner offices, the executive boardrooms, and the halls of government, what worldview will inform their decisions? What kind of society will they strive to create? What role will they assign Christian truth, or will they assign it at all? Most everyone who has spent even a brief time in church is familiar with the Great Commission, that admonition in the closing verses of Matthew’s gospel to “go and make disciples of all nations.” Decades ago that command conjured up visions of living in a grass hut in a third world country, dodging cannibals, and learning a foreign language. No more. The new mission field is all around us, and one of the most challenging ones is in the heart of the largest cities in our own country. Ole Miss alumni David and Meg Robbins, who grace our cover this month, share their heart for the 20-somethings, fresh from college, who move to New York City eager to chase their dreams, and who find the transition more difficult than they ever imagined. It can be more than a little intimidating and often quite lonely. The missionary journey of the Robbins is really reminiscent of a few others you may remember—like Abraham or Paul! They’ve been called to blaze a very new trail. Nancy Pearcey, in her book Total Truth, sums it up perfectly. “As Christians we are called to be missionaries to our world, and that means learning the language and thought-forms of the people we want to reach. In America we don’t have to master a new language, but we do have to learn the thought-forms of our culture. We need to speak to philosophers in the language of philosophy, to politicians in the language of public policy, and to scientists in the language of science.” And I would add, to Millennials in the language of Millennials. June is the month for celebrating our fathers. What a daunting task is theirs today. Can this culture ratchet up the pace, the noise, the negative messages, and the distractions even one more notch? It takes a wise and intentional parenting style to capture the hearts and attention of today’s children, but it is heartening to read about fathers who are doing just that. Don’t miss Peggy Wall and Barbara Hamilton’s article on Coach Tony Dungy’s thoughts about being a dad. By all means, check out Martin Willoughby’s “Purposeful Parenting,” and find a concise and persuasive case for being a great dad and why it does indeed matter. How we live and what we believe matters. It matters because our words, our thoughts, and our heartfelt beliefs shape our lives AND the lives of those we care about most. Y
Marilyn H. Tinnin, Publisher and Editor marilyn@metrochristianliving.com
➺the way i see it by MARTIN E. WILLOUGHBY, JR.
Purposeful Parenting ather’s Day always creates mixed emotions for me. I am extremely thankful for my children and the gift of fatherhood.
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However, I am also saddened as I reflect back on the loss of my father who played such an important role in my life. He died before I was married and before I became a follower of Christ. One thing I have learned is that God is a father to the fatherless (Psalm 68:5). By God’s grace, men of faith have mentored me and shown me what it looks like to be a Christian father. Christian authors such as John Eldredge, Steve Farrar, Robert Lewis, and Stu Weber have influenced my thinking on biblical fatherhood. One of my good friends helped me realize that the journey of a father is not a solo one. There is strength that comes by having a band of brothers who lift each other up and encourage one another. I am fortunate to have friends who share a vision of the importance of being a Godly father. We learn from one another and create accountability for how we raise our children. I have learned from men who raised Godly daughters of the importance of being present and a strong influence in the life of my daughter. I have learned that one of the best things I can do for my children is to love their Mom and show selfless service and respect to her. I have learned the importance of defining manhood in raising a son. In a culture of blurred gender roles and responsibilities, I have seen the value of being a proactive father who casts vision and direction.
Our children are bombarded with an incredible deluge of information which competes to define who they are and what their values should be.
To me, fatherhood is a marathon, not a sprint. There will be good times and bad. I have experienced many failures along the way, and I know there are many more to come. I pray to have the courage to admit those failings as they occur, and lean into God for wisdom. One of the things that I have observed is the need to reject passivity and take an active role in the spiritual development of my family. I am a big believer in delegation and outsourcing, but the spiritual development of my children is not one of those
areas. George Barna’s work in Revolutionary Parenting influenced my thinking regarding the importance of partnering with your spouse to be intentional in raising passionate followers of Christ. In his work, Barna points out that, first and foremost, you have to live out a vibrant faith if you expect your children to follow suit. I am not a believer in being a helicopter parent and having a child-centered life. However, I do believe that investing time in being a purposeful parent is a good thing. I like the work of people like Patrick Lencioni in his Three Big Questions for a Frantic Family, which encourages readers to have a vision and clear values for their families. Our children are bombarded with an incredible deluge of information which competes to define who they are and what their values should be. I believe that providing clarity for our children of the mission of the family and its core beliefs is an incredible opportunity to counteract that cultural assault. Ultimately, our children become our living legacy. They become part of the imprint we leave on the world during our brief stay here. By living an intentional, purpose driven life, we can set an example for our children and shape the legacy we leave along the way. May you have a blessed Father’s Day! Y Martin E. Willoughby, Jr,. is Chief Operating Officer of Butler Snow Advisory Services, LLC located in Ridgeland. He and his wife, Nicki, have two children, Ally and Trey, and live in Madison.
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➺living my call by MARILYN TINNIN
Mike Davis’ Covenant Caregivers Is a Success Story A working owner is exactly what he is. He frequently drives clients to their doctor’s appointments himself. Being familiar with more than a good idea as Mike Davis, CEO of Covenant Caregivers, can the personalities and tell you. preferences of his clients In January 2012, he took a giant leap of faith to launch Covenant helps immeasurably when Caregivers. The economic forecast was anything but rosy, but Mike had it is time to match a been turning the idea over in his mind for a while. It seemed the harder caregiver with a family. It he prayed about it, the more God nudged him in that direction. He had also allows him to spent the previous 15 years in a variety of know the positions, all providing care and services individual to the elderly. Mike believes older people Covenant Caregivers is a Mike, Nicole and their favorite girls: challenges his are frequently underappreciated, and he non-medical, home care business caregivers face when Cayce, Francie, and Mary Huntley genuinely enjoys being around them, providing companions and dealing with a hearing their stories, and giving the personal care attendants in the specific client. It is time well spent, and Mike laughs that it is attention they desire. home who offer one-on-one care never ever dull! He says, “When you own your own business, you His education (he has an MBA), his and service to those in need. have to be willing to do a little of everything!” experience, his passion, and his willingness Services have quite a range— The caregivers Mike employs all undergo a screening to work hard have all contributed to a from offering companionship and process and a background check, but it is really in the personal great success story. From his humble conversation to providing personal care services, meal preparation, interview that Mike decides if the applicant is a good fit for beginnings working from his kitchen table, and light housekeeping. An Covenant Caregivers. He sets the bar high looking for cell phone in hand, Covenant Caregivers individualized care plan is created employees who feel as called to take care of the elderly as he has graduated to a corporate office for each client to provide an does. “It really is a matter of the right attitude and the right employing 90 people and boasting a long optimal experience. heart,” he says. The ability to be with someone for as much as list of satisfied clients—in just one year! 12 hours a day requires a level of commitment and “It is really abundantly clear that God compassion. He has an aversion to the word “sitter,” explaining was preparing me all along for this that he wants to provide some value and stimulation for the client. business. While He has given me many challenges in the first year, He Although about 40% of his employees are Certified Nursing Assistants, has protected me along the way and prepared me so well. I am just all have similar skill sets and experience. amazed by it when I sit down and think about it.” This young husband and father of three daughters loves to go to work One key to Mike’s success is his personal involvement in every aspect these days. Finding your God-ordained purpose in one’s vocation—it just of the business. doesn’t get any better than that! His six year old, Mary Huntley, describes “You have to be a working owner,” Mike says. “Families who are about her father’s work this way. “He takes care of grandmas.” to entrust you with their mom or dad deserve to see your face, and they For more information on Covenant Caregivers, call 601.856.5660 or deserve to have you check on them, to check on their loved one, and to visit their website at www.CovenantCaregiversMS.com. Y know you care.”
tatistics on the failure rate for startup businesses should cause any ambitious entrepreneur to think long and hard before investing his heart, soul, and resources into a new venture. Success is always about much
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community outreach by TRACEY WILLIAMSON
GIVEBACK 2013 Provides Free Colonoscopies to Uninsured Patients GI ASSOCIATES, a gastroenterology practice located in Jackson, Madison, and Vicksburg, recently hosted Giveback 2013, an event that provided colonoscopies for uninsured patients at no charge. Giveback 2013 took place at GI Associates’ Jackson Endoscopy Center. GI Associates plans to make this a yearly event in recognition of Colon Cancer Awareness Month each March. Colon Cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S., and the most preventable!
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GI Staff participating in Giveback 2013
A Mission to Save Lives
GI Associates’ mission is to reduce the number of colon cancer deaths in Mississippi, and the staff and physicians had these results a few days after the long wanted to offer a way screening tests. Significant polyps for uninsured people to were found and removed in 47% of have access to life-saving the participants. colonoscopies. “It’s so important to reach people A Merciless Disease who might not be able to Colon cancer is the second-leading afford a colonoscopy,” said cause of cancer deaths in the United Dr. Reed Hogan. “If we can States. By the time patients notice remove their polyps in the symptoms of the disease, it is often in early stages, we are giving the advanced stages and difficult to them a much greater chance treat. Colon cancer is often symptom for a healthy future.” free in the early stages; that is why it is Pat Benson, RN; Robyn Weathersby, RN; Shelia Allred, RN; Lea Anna Planning for the event so important to perform colonoscopies Burnside, RN; Retta Love, Nurse Manager; Lauren Houston, RN; took several months, as the to detect polyps that can turn into Rachel McHann, RN; Jenny Jones, RN first hurdle was finding a cancer before they become life Saturday when a large threatening. When caught early, colon Kotfila. “We were humbled by our patients’ number of GI Associates staff could be available cancer is 90% curable. appreciation and thankfulness for the free to perform all functions needed. When a date “Unfortunately, the rate for colon cancer is services provided. We were able to remove was set, GI Associates contacted their referring extremely high in Mississippi, as it compares polyps from several patients, and it was a physicians, asking them to refer patients who to the other regions of the country,” says Dr. blessing to be able to improve their lives in could most benefit from the service. In addition Vonda Reeves-Darby. “It’s so important to get this way.” to being uninsured, the patients needed to meet the word out that colonoscopy at the right age one of the following criteria: can be life saving.” Major Results GI Associates’ Chief Operating Officer Lisa • Those with a family history of colon cancer More about GI Associates Jordan stated, “It was amazing to see the • African Americans who were 45 years old GI Associates is the largest gastroenterology outpouring of compassion and teamwork • Anyone 50 years old who had never group in Mississippi and one of the largest in exhibited, especially on a rainy Saturday. It says been screened the Southeast. GI Associates treats all a lot about our staff that they were willing to spend a Saturday giving back to the community. conditions relating to the GI tract, including A Meaningful Event adult and pediatric specialties. GI Associates is Even more satisfying were the gracious Over 60 GI Associates staff members located in Jackson, Madison, and Vicksburg. comments received from each patient.” participated in Giveback 2013, including For more information, visit www.gi.md or find After the colonoscopies were performed, physicians, nurses, nurse anesthetists, them on Facebook. Y pathologists completed the process by pathologists, and technicians. All volunteered evaluating each specimen and generating a their time so that the day would be a success. complete pathology report. Patients received “This was a great day,” said Dr. Ronald
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metrochristianliving.com ❘ JUNE 2013 13
➺modern motherhood by ROBIN O’BRYANT
Dads Who Do It Right
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My husband, Zeb, works less than a mile from our house, which means he can come home for lunch on a pretty regular basis. Our youngest daughter, Sadie, and I really enjoy getting to spend time with him without the usual clamoring for his attention that goes on in the evening when all three girls are home. Recently he came home and sat at the bar in the kitchen with me to eat leftovers. Sadie was running, spinning, and twirling through the room, as four-year-old girls are wont to do. “HOLD ME DADDY! HOLD ME!” She squealed, as he tried to eat and talk. Zeb would pick her up for a few minutes then she would yell, “Put me down, Daddy! DOWN!” Her feet hit the floor and she scuttled away only to come back a few seconds later. “Hug me and kiss me Daddy!” She reached up for him. He picked her up and tossed her playfully in the air, hugged and kissed her as instructed before putting her back on the floor. The next time she came wheeling into the room she was holding her “purse”—a small coin purse holding a few pennies and a tube of the ugliest lipstick I’ve ever seen. She clicked open the bag and looked at her Daddy, “You whan some of dis pwetty wipstick outta my purse, Daddy?” I assumed he’d just say no but instead, as she opened the tube of dark purple lipstick he yelled, “Sadie, NO! I can’t wear lipstick during the daytime!” My children are beyond blessed to have the best daddy I’ve ever known. Sadie and I found ourselves at a local grocery store recently and after I had checked out Sadie saw a display of locally grown tomatoes by the register. “Momma, can we pwease get a tomato!?” She begged. “We don’t need one, honey. I have all our groceries for this week and we don’t need it,” I explained. “But my Daddy weally wuvs tomatoes and I want to get him one so bad! He will be so excited!” She said. The owner of the store reached across the counter and handed Sadie a tomato and she squealed with delight. On the short drive home, Sadie schemed from the backseat, holding her tomato. “I’m gonna wrap it up and give it to him and yell SUPWHIZE! And Daddy is gonna be so excited cuz he wuvs tomatoes, wight Momma?” She asked.
I agreed that he did, indeed, love tomatoes and texted him to let him know that his level of excitement over Sadie’s surprise needed to be over the top. I was touched by her thoughtfulness and her pure joy in being able to give her father something she knew he loved. The media gives a lot of attention to moms—how we have a thankless job and how hard we work. I’d just like to point out that there are a lot of men in this world who are doing the same things. My husband is up in the morning making breakfast for the kids before I ever wake up and will sit and answer the question, “Why?” for hours and hours on end. He rides the lawnmower with someone sitting on his lap and while he usually does get to go to the restroom alone (lucky!), rarely does he leave the house on the weekend without taking at least one kid with him. I know there are more men like him out there, and for Father’s Day, I wish I could buy you all a tomato. Y Robin O’Bryant is mother to three daughters, wife to one husband, and debut author of Ketchup Is A Vegetable And Other Lies Moms Tell Themselves. She shares the drama and hilarity of motherhood in her syndicated family humor column, “Robin’s Chicks” and on her blog by the same name, robinschicks.com.
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this is my story
by BARBARA HAMILTON and PEGGY WALL
Tony Dungy—All Pro Dad ony Dungy could speak for days about football, but he prefers to spend his days talking about being a dad. Recently 4,000 adults
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and young people gathered in Jackson to hear him speak about the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the thousands of lives that have been impacted by its message. But what they didn’t hear was the passion and commitment for what he considers his number one job. For Tony, sports has always played a major role in his life, and coaching took him all the way to the top of the football world and a Super Bowl ring, but the thing that means the most to him is family and fatherhood. Following the role model of his own dad, Tony has made fatherhood a top priority in his own life. The role of the father in a family cannot be understated. “There’s no substitute for a fulltime dad,” he emphasizes. “Dads who are fully engaged with their kids overwhelmingly tend to produce children who believe in themselves and live full lives.” Added to that, they are happier, better adjusted, and more secure within the family unit. But that’s not always the case. Tony believes one of the greatest foes facing families today is the absence of a father in the home. Too many sons and daughters are growing up without the authority, stability, and nurture of a dad in the household. Someone once said that fatherless sons have a hole in their soul in the shape of a dad, and as hard as anyone tries, nobody can fill that hole in the same way a Christian dad can. Consider this alarming fact: Over 24 million children in the United States live in fatherless households. From these homes come: ■ 63% of all youth suicides ■ 71% of all high school dropouts ■ 90% of all homeless and runaway children And these are only a few of the staggering statistics that reflect the unhealthy, long-range effects of fatherless homes. So the message is clear: Dads, you are needed in your family. Tony Dungy persists, “Dads need to be available for their kids and be totally involved on many levels—physically, emotionally, socially, and spiritually.” In other words, they need to be there for their children. They need to teach their sons how to love their moms, how to accept responsibility, how to issue discipline with respect. Their daughters need to learn from them the proper relationship of a husband and wife—a mom and dad—and witness the role of authority
and consistent living. Because Tony has both sons and daughters, he knows there has to be time for both. What children observe in the home is what they will learn. What they learn is what they will do and will later transfer to their own relationships and families. Tony Dungy, NFL coach, best-selling author, and popular sports analyst works closely with and lends his support to All Pro Dad, a charitable organization which seeks to help dads of all kinds become great dads which is not always easy. He describes it as “giving men the equipment they need to do their most important job.” Every child is looking for a hero, and every dad can and should be that hero to his children. Kids need their dad to be their best advocate and offer support and encouragement, to help them find their purpose in life and realize their dreams, to let them know how important they are to him, and most important, to teach them about God and live out his faith before them. Early in Tony’s career, Chuck Knoll, coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, told him, “Welcome to the NFL. Football is now your career, but it is not your life.” That advice stuck with Tony, and today he is quick to point out that coaching has always been a job—just a job. “Coaching was the role God had for me for 28 years, and it hasn’t stopped now. I want to continue being a coach for my kids and other kids who need to hear God’s Word. They need to know how much He loves and cares about them.” It takes courage to raise a child. “Courage like nothing else,” he says. Tony sums up his role as a dad with these eloquent words: “But I wonder if we all need to do a better job of listening to that gentle whisper from a God who daily reminds us to enjoy the sacred moments with those we love— especially with our precious children. They are moments we will look back on with either regret or a smile. Either way, the memory will last forever.” Well said, Coach Dungy, well said. For more information about being a great dad, go to www.allprodad.com. Y Barbara Hamilton is a freelance writer for Mississippi publications and resides in Brandon. A Speech/Theater graduate of Mississippi State University, she is a member of First Baptist Church, Jackson where she directs drama. Peggy Wall is a freelance writer living in Ridgeland. She enjoys reading, writing, and spending time with her grandchildren.
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601-366-4696 Affiliated with Jackson Psychiatry Group and The PMT Clinic metrochristianliving.com ❘ JUNE 2013 17
➺the doctor is in New Advance in TMJ and Headache Treatment Comes to Madison Dr. Cole Fortenberry Answers Your Questions here are over 80 million Americans that suffer from chronic temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain, chronic headaches, and migraines. Many of these conditions have dental force
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related imbalances that either cause or aggravate these issues. Patients suffering from these symptoms should not only see their physician, but should also consider seeing their dentist. The most common symptoms of TMJ disorder include headache, face pain, and aches in and around the ear. People with TMJ problems may also experience a sense of dizziness or imbalance and feel like their ears are clogged or ringing. According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, TMJ disorders are the second most common pain-causing musculoskeletal conditions after chronic low back pain. TMJ disorders affect 5 to 12 percent of the population, and women are twice as likely as men to experience TMJ disorders. Most people who have TMJ problems experience temporary but recurring pain that may go away on its own. However, some cases result in long term problems. According to the National Headache Foundation, over 45 million Americans suffer from chronic, recurring headaches. About 20 percent of children and adolescents also have significant headaches. And according to the American Migraine Foundation, 36 million Americans (about 12 percent of the population) suffer from migraine headaches. One-in-four households in America have a member with migraines. Migraines are three times more common in women than men, with migraines affecting 30 percent of women over a lifetime. Many people who suffer from TMJ/Headache problems have spent significant time and money looking for a solution. They have visited multiple health care professionals and tried various medications and therapies without much relief. Now, a new diagnostic and treatment system has been introduced to dental offices called TruDenta. This leading edge technology allows professionals to quickly pinpoint possible problems, that when properly treated can decrease or alleviate pain. Local dentist Dr. Cole Fortenberry has been implementing the TruDenta system and has experienced great success in helping this group of patients achieve significant pain relief. His Madison dental practice performs a wide variety of dental procedures, but has a special focus on helping people with TMJ dysfunction.
18 JUNE 2013 ❘ Metro Christian Living
Dr. Fortenberry, when a patient who has suffered from chronic TMJ pain, headaches, or migraines comes to you, what is done initially to determine what could be a factor in their symptoms? Dr. Fortenberry: Most patients we see have already seen their physician to rule out any life threatening or organic pathologies. Our office uses new technologies to allow us to screen patients using a digital bite force analyzer to measure the different dynamic forces in the mouth (musculature, joints, and teeth) to pinpoint imbalances. This allows us to determine the type of treatment or combination of therapies that might be needed. We also use a computerized tool that measures the cervical range of motion and identifies dysfunction or disability in the muscles of the head and neck. In an in-office screening appointment, we can determine whether the patient’s TMJ pain is related to improper or imbalanced forces.
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Does the program involve pain, needles, or drugs? No, in fact, it’s exactly the opposite. There is no pain whatsoever with our treatments. The TruDenta treatments are conservative and noninvasive, and the program is specifically designed to help decrease pain and reduce the need for medicines. Patients report that the therapies are very relaxing and most begin experiencing pain relief after one or two treatments.
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Give us an example of the kinds of treatments you might perform on a chronic TMJ pain sufferer. Because TMJ dysfunction, headache, and migraine sufferers have many sensitivities that can trigger pain, our treatment plans are designed to be
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slow, conservative, and effective. We use a combination of FDA approved medical devices to reduce inflammation and restore blood flow in the muscles and TMJ. Additionally we use low-level cold laser therapy to help restore energy at a cellular level. We also use a specially designed mouth orthotic that helps restore normal function in the TMJ, and then selectively correct the bite imbalances with the aid of our digital bite analysis system. The thing that really makes this system unique is the blend of treatments: some that target muscles and nerves—combined with advanced dental treatments targeting TMJ dysfunction and bite imbalance. What kind of results have you seen? The results have been amazing. We have treated a number of patients who have been plagued with severe TMJ pain, headaches, and migraines for more than 10 years, robbing them of countless hours of their lives every week. These patients come into my office desperate for help. When you can help take away or reduce their pain in a matter of weeks, it becomes a life-changing experience for that patient. As a healthcare professional, helping my patients become free of pain is the most rewarding part of my practice.
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In what other ways can the TruDenta technology and training you have received be used? The TruDenta system is not only effective on patients with TMJ problems, but also patients who clench or grind their teeth or who have tinnitus (ringing in the ears).
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Is treatment affordable? Are there options to pay for it? What about insurance coverage? We strive to make the cost of care affordable, with treatments ranging from several hundred dollars to several thousand dollars, depending on the number and types of treatments needed. Certain insurance plans cover the treatment, and financing is available.
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How can we find out more about the TruDenta system? Visit www.smile4alifetime.com for more information and to see patient testimonials, or call 601-853-3565 to schedule your consultation in our office. Y
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Dr. Fortenberry is a general dentist that has been in practice in Madison, MS, since 1990. He is a member of the American Dental Association (ADA) and the Mississippi Dental Association (MDA). metrochristianliving.com â?˜ JUNE 2013 19
➺think tank by ANDY WIMBERLY
Frank Pollard Had a Difference Maker that Made a Difference in Many Lives early everyone from around here has either known Frank Pollard or has heard him speak, but most people don’t know how he got started. So with the help of my friend Eddie Kinchen and others that knew or wrote about Frank, here is a bit of Frank Pollard trivia and history. This man was such an accomplished speaker that Time magazine once named him one of America’s top seven preachers. Most people are shocked, however, to learn of his humble beginnings. Frank tells it on himself. When Frank was a child in Olney, Texas, a man named Claude Hedges asked him to come to his Sunday school class of 10-year-old boys. A bit later, he introduced Frank to Jesus. Frank said, “That is the greatest thing one person can do for another.” Fast forward to when Frank was in college and God called him to preach. Practically no one believed in him. His classmates wondered how someone too shy to speak to them could ever stand in a church and address a crowd.
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His classmates wondered how someone too shy to speak to them could ever stand in a church and address a crowd. During those college years Frank worked as a janitor of the Baptist Student Center and when no one else was around, he would practice preaching to the empty seats. He grew discouraged and frequently thought of quitting. He probably would have, except for one man, one day, and one sentence. It happened like this: When Frank gave his first sermon to a small country church, instead of coming up to shake his hand, the small congregation headed for the doors. Only one man, Mr. Beverly King—the richest man in the little community—walked up and bragged on him and told him, “Frank I know you will make it.” Every week, Frank Pollard received a postcard from Mr. King back in Olney saying, “I love you, Frank. I believe in you. You can do it.”
Frank Pollard confessed, “I am in the ministry today because of that man.” Many times, Frank told me, and thousands of others, that his mission and passion in his life was to, “tell the story of JESUS CHRIST to as many people as I can, the best that I can and for as long as I can.” Those of us who were lucky enough to hear him preach know that he fulfilled that mission as only Frank Pollard could. Of course Frank would always say he didn’t do it, it was all GOD’s will, spirit, and power. In our last article, we wrote about what difference makers can do to make a difference for others, so they can one day make a difference too. Mr. Beverly King was a DIFFERENCE MAKER, which in turn gave Frank the opportunity to become a difference maker, as well. Mr. King took the time and effort each week to drop Frank a short, simple note or a call of encouragement: “You can do it, Frank.” What a difference this made in Frank Pollard’s life and what a difference Frank Pollard made in thousands of others’ lives. I wonder how many folks are “plopped up in Heaven” right now because of these two men—one an encourager and the other a passionate, skilled communicator of the Word of GOD. The interim Pastor at First Baptist Church in Jackson, Dr. Frank Page, says he is the CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention. Dr. Page is pretty cool; he says CEO stands for CHIEF ENCOURAGING OFFICER. What about you? Are you an encourager? Do you want to be a difference maker? Take the time this week to write a short note, make a quick telephone call and encourage someone! You never know—they might just be the next Frank Pollard. Y Wimberly & Associates are executive coaches and financial advisors. They help individuals and businesses live better lives and reach their full potential. They use THE DISCOVERY PROCESS™ to provide vision, clarity and direction. Contact beth@thediscoveryprocess.com
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➺healthy living by C. ROCHELLE CULP
Faithfully Fit Fathers
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Fathers have an overwhelming list of good habits they should model for their children. Physical fitness, as well as spiritual fitness, is key. Meet a few dads who are hanging in there providing the example.
Glen Silverman
Bucky Stewart
Chief Executive Officer of Madison River Oaks Medical Center
Ridgeland Attorney with Copeland Cook Taylor & Bush
Fitness has always been a part of my life and I have some great memories that revolve around fitness. As a child I can remember running with my dad. I don’t remember them being long runs, but I remember asking the types of questions only a five year old could possibly ask. Almost 40 years later, the memories of those runs make me smile as I now try to avoid or redirect similar questions from my five year old. My mother also had a strong commitment to being physically fit and active, which included a daily routine of getting in the gym. Despite her hard and lengthy fight with cancer, she rarely missed a day. I remember going to the gym with her and watching in admiration, as she would keep up with the rest of the ladies in the aerobics class. I am so thankful for parents who planted the desire of being physically fit and got me involved with sports from an early age. Sports and competing on different teams not only provided me with an understanding of the importance of being physically fit, but it helped build character, prepare for a future as an executive who leads and engages a team each day—and most importantly—built the foundation for becoming an encouraging husband and father. Over the years my reasons for being physically fit have changed, but I still reap the rewards of a healthy lifestyle while building character. As I’ve grown older, my habits have changed. I once was known as a “gym rat,” but now you can find me on the Madison Central football field getting an early jump on the day. Currently, I train from 5:00-6:00 a.m. each morning—which keeps me active, but also serves as a great stress reliever. I also enjoy running 5K races. With an active family and three small kids, time is at a premium so my routine changes as life changes. Our faith and spiritual foundation help guide my wife and I as we raise five children, ranging from college age to our youngest of nine months old. Being a dad in my forties to young children, I focus on staying young at heart while at the same time trying to stay fit so I can provide my children with similar memories that will hopefully last them a lifetime.
My wife, Lynda and I, reside in Madison with our two boys, Buckley (5) and Charley (21 months). I decided not too long ago that if I am going to be the best husband and father that I could be, change was paramount. Badly overweight and out of shape, in January 2012, I signed up for a 12-week fitness boot camp run by Jackson native, Paul Lacoste. I continue to participate in Paul’s 5:00 a.m. fitness camps where I have met and befriended many incredible people on the same journey as me. When boot camp is not in session, I run 4-5 miles a day with a great group of individuals I met through the camp. To date, I have lost 85 pounds, and I am in the best shape of my life. One thing I have learned is that achieving a certain level of physical fitness can positively impact every aspect of your life. I have become more confident, focused, and motivated at home and in the workplace. Dads, as the head of the household, we lead by example. To see the pride in my oldest son’s eyes when I crossed the finish line of my first half marathon this year made the physical sacrifices of this past year worthwhile. We get one shot to make a difference, to leave a lasting influence. It starts with you. Getting in shape is one way you can show God that you are grateful for his presence in your life, and that you are going to take what he has given you and make it the very best it can possibly be. Happy Father’s Day!
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▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲ Benny Montgomery Retired School Administrator Physical fitness has been the norm for me literally all of my life. From the age of seven or eight, until I graduated from college, I was into fitness all day. However, my parents called it chopping and picking cotton, bailing hay, feeding livestock, harvesting crops, and anything else dealing with the fields. After graduating from college, marrying my college sweetheart (Betty), and starting a family, my priorities changed. I thought about my families’ medical history, which is replete with severe hypertension, strokes, and heart failures. I knew I had to make changes if I wanted to be around to see and assist my children, Keisha (Don), Frederick (Bridgett), and Kristie grow up. Therefore, I decided to be a victor
rather than a victim to my situation. I started a regular program of exercise that included playing basketball and tennis (other than with my children) three to four days a week. Later after my children were older, I started walking and running six to eight miles per day, five days a week, which I still do. As an educator (Middle/High School Teacher, Middle/High School Principal and Deputy Superintendent), my fitness routine served me well. It helped me control my weight, hypertension and stress. God has been and is good to me, and I trust and believe in him in every aspect. I would be unfaithful, negligent and irresponsible to attribute physical fitness as the sole source of reducing my stress, hypertension and controlling my weight. I believe if you acknowledge God in all your ways, he will direct your path. When God directs my path, what would I have to worry and stress about? Due to my beliefs and commitments to God, I serve in several capacities in my church such as: Superintendent of Evangelism, Chairman, Deacons, Sunday School Teacher, and Choir Member. One of my greatest joys, one that I am most proud off, is to see my children, and their spouses, working in the church, faithfully serving the Lord. TO GOD BE THE GLORY.
BE THERE For Him
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Early on, after moving to the City of Ridgeland, it became apparent to me that God was leading me to serve as mayor. Many opportunities were placed before me that were preparing me for this position. In the summer of 1989, I began to pray, seeking God’s will. God began showing me the time was right to accept this wonderful opportunity. In my position, I’m allowed to provide services to the citizens of Ridgeland and set long term goals for maintaining our high quality of life. I started cycling over 15 years ago to support cycling events in Ridgeland such as the Natchez Trace Century Ride. Keeping fit and having a healthy lifestyle has assisted me in my leadership role. Not only does it help me focus on my work, but it gives me the energy to work long hours and do what I need to get the job done. I feel better when I exercise. At least five days a week, I’m cycling with friends. Weekdays, I ride about 28 miles, then Saturday mornings and Sunday afternoons I usually ride more miles—anywhere from 30 to 50 depending on my schedule. I try to get 150 to 200 miles of riding in per week. My wife, Jane; daughter, Karie; son, Wint; and my 7 grandchildren have all been very involved in my career and very supportive in everything I do. My family also enjoys staying active with outdoor activities such as running, biking, swimming, soccer, basketball, and football. I’m fortunate to have a wonderful family that supports me, not only in my career, but also in keeping a healthy lifestyle. Y
metrochristianliving.com ❘ JUNE 2013 23
David and Meg Robbins Ministry to Millennials ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ AVID AND MEG ROBBINS spent three years of their early married life working with college students at the University of Georgia. They spent four more years
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overseeing the 48 Campus Crusade for Christ (renamed Cru in 2011) college ministries across the Southeastern region. Counting their own college experience, these Ole Miss graduates spent a total of 12 years in daily contact with the collegiate scene. They have observed dramatic changes in every aspect of that specific culture, and along the way, they developed an appreciation for the unique challenges as well as a deep love for the “Millennial” generation. That group encompasses all those born between 1980 and 2000. They have come of age in a chaotic era of increasing violence, few moral absolutes, rapid and expansive technological transformation, a secular humanistic education system, and society’s subtle message that Christianity is not so relevant to real life anymore. Is it any wonder that so many of them depart the traditional church somewhere around age 15, and more than half of them do not return when college ends? In this competitive, dog-eat-dog world, climbing their career ladder takes center stage. The Barna Group calls them the “exiles.” Who better for God to call to a unique ministry to just that age group in New York City but this couple who share a common purpose? They sealed their marriage vows with the scripture in Joshua 1:16, “All that you have commanded us we will do and wherever you send us we will go.”
A Change of Plans Meg and David spent a year as part of a Cru team in central Italy and decided to live there long term to serve at the University of Pisa. They came back to the states to train, to raise their support, and to convince their families that this Meg and David were was exactly where God was college sweethearts. leading them. They were excited about living abroad and intended to raise their future children there. And then God intervened. Five months into their work in Pisa, and after Meg had become quite proficient with the language; David received a call from the Cru leadership back in the U.S. asking them to consider serving at the University of Georgia. Their initial reaction was, “That is crazy! We had put so much time and effort into getting where we were— telling everyone we were so called to this!” Meg says. After much persuasion, they reluctantly agreed to at least pray about it. The Lord taught them much in that situation, the first thing being that He is the one with the plan—not them. The unique thing in having a ministry as a couple is the fact that they are a true team in every sense of the word. This baffling situation was a great test for their future ministry together as they prayed independently, and over a period of days, they both discerned that God was indeed leading them to go back to Georgia even though 24 JUNE 2013 ❘ Metro Christian Living
neither of them was just in love with the idea. There was some grief and a few “Why God?” questions in the mix. But God was ready for all their confusion. Any worries like, “Oh, no. We convinced other people to come to Italy because we are going and now we are going home” vanished as all those people they had recruited still wanted to go to Italy regardless of whether David and Meg were there. “Not only did they want to come,” says David, “but they all brought other people with them!” The lesson for Meg and David was that God was definitely able to accomplish whatever He wanted to accomplish and nothing in His purpose was dependent on their gifts or abilities. He was the “One who is able to do exceedingly abundantly…” Italy had made so much sense to them, but then, the University of Georgia made sense, too. A southern campus with demographics much like their alma mater, Ole Miss, meant an immediate understanding of the student population, the likely mix of churched and some unchurched students, and a pretty accurate idea of what issues were the toughest for
Cities ARE the new missions’ frontier. Five billion people move into cities worldwide each month! Culture is shaped in cities, and the Robbins believe wholeheartedly that Christians NEED to show up there! Not having a yard for their three very active children means lots of trips to close by public parks.
With over 8 million people in New York City proper and at least 800 different languages being spoken, it is the crown jewel of “diversity.” Ninety-seven percent of New York residents are unchurched.
most of them. So, they settled in and began to build friendships and see the ministry flourish. Any lingering questions about why God had called them home from Italy became abundantly clear with Meg’s pregnancy a few months later. An early sonogram revealed the likelihood that their baby boy would be born with Cystic Fibrosis. Here they were at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta where they would have access to the very best and the newest and most effective care for a CF baby—something that they would not have had in Italy. “That was a huge gift,” says Meg. “We do feel like that was definitely the reason why the Lord brought us back.” Ford Robbins was born on August 15, 2006. And, yes, he does have Cystic Fibrosis—and yes, there have been some challenges in that. Did Ford’s diagnosis ever cause them to think maybe they should not pursue ministry? They did not see it that way at all. Instead, they viewed the care and the early intervention—that occurred BECAUSE they were where they were—has given Ford a “leg up” in so many ways. And so they have grateful hearts. Today, as a six year old, when he goes to his periodic checkups, he seems to have become quite a “poster child” for the amazing strides that are happening every day, improving the quality of life for CF children and moving ever closer to a cure. Meg says that doctors
They had heard about and read about the term “urban stress.” David explains, “There are no private spaces.” The density of the populace means that you are toe to toe with strangers all day long. It takes time to adapt to that.
always want to invite colleagues and students to see Ford because he is thriving so beautifully.
The Preparation and the Call The University of Georgia proved to be another point of preparation as God continued to connect Meg and David with collegiate millennials metrochristianliving.com ❘ JUNE 2013 25
■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ who were just a few years younger than they were— and yet living in a culture that seemed to have changed and continued to change on a daily basis. One of the primary things David learned: “You can assume deep wounds with this generation. They have been exposed to so much. Whether it’s family hurt or dysfunction of some kind—they have the internet in their hands, the sexual experimentation. So much—and it’s all extreme.” David and Meg share that on summer projects they would often do anonymous Q&A Twenty Questions. It is an icebreaker of sorts and a way to get the kids talking about specific issues. Questionnaires are passed around and answered anonymously, then shuffled, passed out again and students raise their hand based on the questionnaire they were given. No names. No identities. But a revealing look into the habits, regrets, secrets, and regular lifestyle of so many collegiates. “Mind-boggling,” is the way Meg describes it. When David assumed the role as Regional Director for the Southeast, his one-on-one contact with collegiates may have been curtailed, but his constant contact with the leaders on 48 campuses where Cru had a presence continued to impress on him the challenges and the complexities that this group—younger by a mere decade—face. There came a point during David’s stint as Regional Director when he and Meg began to really miss being on the front lines in ministry. They had added a daughter, “Mim,” and a second son, “Roe,” to the family. Life was good. It was very comfortable, and as Meg says, “We just began to question if this was really where we were supposed to be.” “We just related so to Abraham during that time,” Meg says. They knew God was stirring their hearts, but they had no idea what was going to come next. Walking by faith in 2012 did indeed look a lot like it looked for Abraham in 1500 BC. They told the Cru leadership that they were leaving. They began to pack up their home and put it on the market— although they were not sure where they were going at first. “We were trying to fill in the blanks,” said David. He and Meg spent untold hours in prayer. They reviewed the core principles they had written down together when they returned from Italy seven years earlier. At the time, they had agreed that those principles were to define their ministry and family over the next decade. Had they stayed on course? “One of those values was to surrender completely to something that there was no way we could do on our own, but only because it was God’s movement,” David says.
The Heart for the City In reviewing those principles, they were reminded of their initial hope to live in an international context. The pieces began to fit. “We thought we were coming home from overseas temporarily when we left Italy. Then Ford was born and we thought hopefully medicine would advance to a point that we could still go overseas one day. And, in a way, our prayers are answered because we are definitely going to a different culture. It is just not across the ocean,” he says. Doors opened quickly once the New York City decision was made. They would NOT be leaving Cru at all, but instead accepted the invitation to be part of a small team moving to NYC to launch something brand new. CruNYC is an outreach to millennials, the very age group David and Meg had so poured their lives into during their years in campus ministry. In the middle of the worst housing market in modern history, their four-bedroom house sold quickly. Close friends offered temporary quarters living in a basement apartment, while Meg and David stored their belongings until they secured a place to live in the city. It seemed a lot like a great adventure for a few weeks, and David sees that as one of 26 JUNE 2013 ❘ Metro Christian Living
God’s many gracious preparations. By the time they left there and finally moved into their very small two bedroom apartment in New York City, the family was accustomed to living in close quarters. A second unexpected blessing was a phone call they received in the fall before they were scheduled to leave for New York City in December. Although they were completely surrendered to God’s call to serve in New York City, they had some degree of anxiety about the brutal New England winter and the effect it might have on Ford’s CF. Ford’s doctor confirmed that Ford’s genetic test results made him one of a minute percentage of pediatric patients who would likely respond favorably to a new drug that vastly improved the immune systems of CF patients. With Kalydeco, the doctor explained, Ford’s response to the hard winter should be no worse than that of his very healthy siblings. Five months later, after an unusually cold and wet season, David says Ford’s good health has just been one more way God has blessed their move. The Robbins family arrived in the city the second week in December. They had several weeks to explore the city, and enjoy the novelty of a totally new way of life before school started for Ford, and the ministry was launched. From adjusting to walking everywhere—and not even owning a car—to the challenge of grocery shopping and figuring out how to get the items from the store back to the apartment on foot with three little people in tow, there have been a myriad of adjustments! And as Meg says, “We are still trying to figure out some things!”
Doing Ministry Meg and David are part of a very small team. They have another fulltime teammate and one part-time teammate. But it is amazing in this era of social media the outreach these four have already had. Prior to their January launch, they had used social media to connect with NYC-bound Cru graduates from an array of colleges and universities letting them know about this new thing that would be starting in New York City. Through word of mouth and the amazing networking that is hallmark of millennials, the team has a core group of about 60 people with whom David says they are cultivating “significant” relationships. Their ministry team has put together an impressive website, www.Flourishingcity.com, geared toward answering the questions millennials in transition ask—both practical and spiritual. The romanticized notion of living in the grand city can fall short of expectation in the middle of some pretty overwhelming adjustments. David and Meg see that as one of those crisis moments when many hearts are seeking the
A laid back dinner with no agenda on Thursday nights creates a space where relationships can grow.
■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ David’s Favorite Reads Counterfeit Gods by Timothy Keller Leading With a Limp by Dan B. Allander The Celebration of Discipline by Richard J. Foster Let the Nations Be Glad by John Piper Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership by Ruth Haley Barton
Meg’s Favorite Reads safe place that is Christ. There is an opportunity and a desire amid the discomfort to seek true security in a way that one may not have done in a previous life. The website even has an entire page of insider tips on everything from finding the right apartment to interviewing a potential roommate. After reading that, who wouldn’t want to connect with these wizards who had figured out so much of the nitty-gritty? There is contact information, a blog, and a weekly devotional—and it is all done in a way that is very low key, but honest. David points out that traditional approaches used by churches and ministries in the past have been discipleship through events and programs rather than through relationships. That does not work with this generation. Cru’s research revealed seven out of ten 22-32 year olds will not accept an invitation to a Christian event—many believing they’ve been there, done that—but at the same time they are very “community” minded and eager to join in a cause to benefit someone else. The Cru team builds a ministry through relational networks and shared projects, seeing themselves as a sort of bridge back to the church over time. To David, success is defined, not in terms of how large the gathering was, but how large was the “scattering.” As he and Meg attempt to live “incarnationally” as he puts it—that would be in a true Christ-like manner—their belief is that they will gain the trust of those they seek to serve as they show up as friends loving them where they are, and trusting that God will open the doors to a deeper conversation. They know it works because they have already seen it. Thursday nights are part of their “Third Space” approach. People have work friends, church friends, and even work-out-at-the-gym friends. A casual dinner at David and Meg’s on Thursday nights gives believers a chance to invite their friends to a place where the only agenda is making friends. There are no gospel presentations there, but easy conversation, a
Brokenness by Nancy Leigh DeMoss Grace-Based Parenting by Tim Kimmel Ruthless Trust by Brennan Manning Radical by David Platt Same Kind of Different as Me by Ron Hall and Denver Moore For more information on CruNYC, see www.FlourishingCity.com or contact David Robbins at david.robbins@cru.org.
■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ lot of networking, and a lot of relationships move to a little deeper level where friends begin to share their heart. There is nothing forced, but God has already opened so many doors. One unbeliever who came with her friend has become a regular, but when she left the first night she was so amazed and not offended, because of the easy flow format. She asked David, “Do you know all these people?” He said, “No, but I am definitely getting to know them.” She said, “Well, I just never heard people talk like that and there is something unique about them.” Her curiosity was piqued, but she was not intimidated. She has become a regular. David has some amazing stories of the opportunities that continue to present themselves—not just for him—but for the Cru graduates who have connected with them and been able to keep the flame burning in their own hearts in a way that has enabled them to pay attention to their co-workers and their other connections. There is a little revival there in the heart of Manhattan. I mean, if Jesus could turn the world upside down with his ragtag group of disciples, who’s to say a revival can’t happen in New York City? Y metrochristianliving.com ❘ JUNE 2013 27
➺salt & light by MARILYN TINNIN
Southern Gospel Touches Hearts in Profound Ways Editor’s Note: Southern Gospel Music had its origins right here in the Southeast. The lyrics, the harmonies, and the genuine passion in the performance have moved many a hard heart to faith in Jesus Christ. Tim Hendricks, a member of the Southern Gospel Music Association of Mississippi shares a little about the ministry that is Southern Gospel.
MCL: What makes Southern Gospel music unique, and how many Southern gospel groups do you think we have in Mississippi? Hendricks: At the heart of Southern Gospel music are the male quartets. These differ from the Barbershop Quartets due to the extreme demands placed on certain parts. All require a wide vocal range. We estimate there are probably at least 1,000 Southern Gospel singing ministries in Mississippi alone. Most are churchbased and sing only in their church or local churches or their town festivals. There are probably several hundred traveling ministries who go wherever God calls them.
MCL: When and where is your annual Gospel Jubilee held? Hendricks: This year’s Mississippi Gospel Jubilee will be held at Trinity Baptist Church, 2610 Napoleon Drive, Pearl, MS, on Saturday June 8, starting at 6:00 p.m. MCL: Where do these groups come from, how are they selected to perform here, and what is the purpose of a “Jubilee?” Hendricks: This year, all the ministries are based out of Mississippi, from as far south as Sumrall and as far north as Southaven. We (Southern Gospel Association of Mississippi) invite “ministries,” not businesses to take part in the Jubilee. Thunder Cave Productions (our banner) invites only those we know are in a true ministry with their purpose being to serve Christ and not promote themselves. This does not mean these ministries are lesser quality. In fact, some are booked a year in advance and are booked in all parts of the country. We start by selecting a base of about four top-notch ministries then we carefully choose other ministries that will work well with those first selected. The styles and make-up of the ministries we invite vary, providing a night of music that flows from one to the next, complimenting each other. A Gospel singing by any other name would still be a Gospel singing, but when you call on the Holy Spirit and He comes, it becomes a time of Jubilation. Thus, because of our experience in years past with decisions being made for the Lord and lives being changed at this event, we call it a “Jubilee” in faith that the Holy Spirit will come and be with us again. It is a “Jubilee” because we are “jubilant” about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and want to spread the word wherever we can.
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COVERING THE JACKSON METRO AREA 28 JUNE 2013 ❘ Metro Christian Living
MCL: But if this is not a competition, what draws so many groups to just get together and sing? Hendricks: The fact that this is not a competition in any sense of the word is one of the things that draw ministries to be part of it. Too many times you will see Gospel groups at multi talent events trying to out do each other and show themselves as better than the others. When this happens it becomes more about the singers than the Lord. At the Mississippi Gospel Jubilee, we do everything we can to keep this from happening. We invite ministries that are willing to support and encourage each other.
Oftentimes, you will see people from one ministry stopping others before they take the stage to pray for them. These ministries travel many hours to come without receiving any compensation except the blessings they receive from participating. Apparently this is enough enticement, as each year we have a very difficult time deciding who out of twenty or thirty selected ministries will get one of the last three or four invitations. These are all people who want to serve the Lord through song and witness. All will accept love offerings to help their ministry, but none require it. Their main desire is to serve God as He has led them. MCL: Tell us something about the venue. Is it part concert, part worship—describe it. Hendricks: This is tough to describe. In truth, it is all concert AND all worship. The Gospel music community strongly believes in worshipping while we are singing. At times some people sing straight through their allotted time and others will stop and give personal testimony as the Holy Spirit leads them to. The audience is a vital part of the worship aspect of the singing. As the congregation feels and expresses their feelings of the Spirit, the ministries are feeling the same thing and they feed off of each other’s excitement. If you ever want to see Gospel singers singing their hearts out just let them know you are feeling the spirit yourself. The actual venue is Trinity Baptist Church on Napoleon Drive in Pearl. It seats about 300 people with great acoustics, and visibility of the performing ministries. MCL: Music is always one of the church things that everyone seems to have a strong opinion about. Tell me why the Southern Gospel style speaks to a listener’s heart. Hendricks: Southern Gospel music is almost always scripturally based and theologically sound. This makes each song a mini-sermon in itself. The words of these songs inspire people with hope in the future through the Grace of God and Salvation through Jesus Christ. Y
metrochristianliving.com â?˜ JUNE 2013 29
➺let’s get real by JANIE PILLOW
Conflict: His and Hers (Part IV) Righteous Indignation (Anger) and Forgiveness
F
or some time now, we have been looking at solutions to conflicts we have in our relationships. As we have seen, conflict can be as simple as a disagreement. But often it is more serious than this. From time to time, we all experience conflicts because we feel seriously wronged. As strange as it sounds when Godly people are wronged, they get angry. Who can forget how angry Christ became when he saw how God’s house of prayer was defiled and people mistreated by the moneychangers (John 2:1317)? When injustice happens righteous people get angry. This is called righteous indignation. It happens because you were morally wronged. Now we have to be careful here. Jesus did not become angry over every little thing that hurt his feelings. He was only angered by serious wrongs toward God and toward his image. So we need to be sure that we have been wronged so seriously that anger is justified. But when we are, anger is the right way to respond. Only when we feel appropriate anger in the face of being morally wrong can it lead to forgiveness. 30 JUNE 2013 ❘ Metro Christian Living
Righteous indignation is not retaliation or resentment. It is a moral protest that says, “This is wrong and I cannot overlook it.” The protest does not necessarily change the other person, but it makes clear to the offender that someone has been wronged in a way that deserves a strong reaction. It is identifying with God’s moral law and you as his image
Two Responses to Being Wronged (Injustice) One is righteous indignation (anger). The other is retaliation that can lead to bitterness and resentment. The latter is not the correct response because it can keep the cycle of wrong going. (Resentment will be dealt with in following articles).
Wrong Responses to Injustice If Jesus’ example shows us that there is a time for righteous anger, then what keeps us from it? 1. Many Christians have been taught that anger is always evil, rather than a God-given emotion to be used in the right way. But
Scriptures encourage us this way: “Be angry, but do not sin”(Ephesians 4:25). So God approves. In fact, he commands us to be filled with righteous anger at certain times. 2. Other people condone the wrong that they have experienced. They see others that don’t become angry when they go through similar experiences and we lose our own moral bearings. “Maybe I’m making too much of this,” we say to ourselves. Many of these people were punished as children for a display of anger, so they decided not to have angry feelings because they displease people. But our reactions to being wronged must be determined by God’s word, not by what others think. 3. We want our relationships to be positive. Sometimes we want others to like and accept us so much that we don’t want to risk a negative reaction. So we deny the wrong and look the other way hoping the wrong behavior will simply go away if we are nice enough. But we are just “letting go of it” and recommit to the relationship. But, there is no growth, no healing, and no redemption.
4. We are conflict avoidant. All too often, we feel so uneasy when we face conflict that we hold back. We just don’t think we can deal with more conflict. But think again. It’s better to get it over with. Avoiding conflict usually causes righteous anger to fester into something that is not pleasing to God.
Right Responses to Being Wronged Righteous indignation opens the opportunity for honesty, forgiveness, trust, and fulfilling intimacy. • Honesty is the best policy. Any time there is conflict over a serious wrongdoing the only way to move forward is to be open and honest. It can be scary, but it’s the only thing that works. Honesty before God and honesty before the one who has wronged us makes it possible to move forward and not get stuck in the abuse cycle. • Forgiveness addresses the problem. Forgiveness always involves at least three steps: 1. The act of acknowledging the wrong. 2. The decision not to return hurt for hurt. 3. The commitment seeking good for the one who has wronged you, and yourself. • Moving on is a matter of trust. To move beyond honesty and forgiveness, we have to hand the situation over to God. After all who really has the power to make lasting change in our relationships?
Forgiveness One thing that forgiveness is not is the offender robotically saying “I’m sorry” over and over, without getting to the core of how the other person felt and empathically addressing the offense from a place of understanding. Nor is it the other person saying, “I forgive you,” without sensing that the other person legitimately is expressing remorse for the offense. Forgiveness is acknowledging the wrong, addressing all the underlying feelings, and
moving on towards the higher ground of forgiveness. Forgiveness has two levels: 1) the decision not to return hurt for hurt; 2) the action of trusting God that he means what he says. In my opinion forgiveness is a uniquely Christian response when we are wronged. I say this because forgiveness requires: 1. Respecting God’s moral law. 2. Purposely imitating Christ—Christ said, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” 3. Obeying Christ—the Lord’s Prayer commanded us to forgive, as we want to be forgiven by God. 4. Deliberately trusting God that he will not let sin go un-dealt with. God says all wrongs will be taken into account. Forgiveness is exercising and growing in trust. It is putting God in control not only of your life, but the life of the offender. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of an angry God. Without forgiveness, both the victim and the offender are put in the hands of God’s judgment.
Forgiveness Is GOOD FOR YOU: As long as you hold onto anger it impedes your spiritual growth. Thus, forgiveness is not letting them off the hook. It is not saying, “Step aside God, I can handle this.” It is quite simply trusting and releasing us of a lifetime of our emotional and spiritual energy taken up with hatred and bitterness that eat away our lives. God said forgive because He knows it is good for you. It brings about deeper psychological and emotional peace so that we can get on with our lives, not be stuck in the past. It demonstrates our humility and trust. Therefore, in the end, I am suggesting that you forgive, not because it is deserved, requested, or best for the other person—but because it is the best for you! It is because I want you to have a life worth living, and
OLD TOWNE, RIDGELAND
purely and simply trust what God says and who He is. He wants the best for you!
Trusting God and Growing: God knows that the best thing for you emotionally and spiritually is that you grow in grace. On the phone the other day, one of my children commented that he was learning that trust was the foundation for all of the fruits of the spirit. If we don’t exercise faith, we cannot grow in love, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and selfcontrol. Living with these not only grows us spiritually, we become more physically healthy people and live longer and with more freedom. God wants the best for His children. Trust in His word and His love for you. Thus, the difference in righteous indignation and other responses is that it involves pleasing and trusting God. We do not dismiss injustice, because God did not. We deal with it so that it will make it possible for us to move forward and live in today rather than being stuck in the past. (Some of these thoughts have sprung from comments of Mark Baker, a man from Los Angeles with whom I do consultation. Thank you, Mark, for challenging me to contemplate and expand my understanding of forgiveness and God’s wisdom. I hope it has deepened my wisdom and challenged me to be a more forgiving person.) Y Parts I, II, and II can be found at www.metrochristianliving.com/category/colum ns/relationships/letsgetreal/ Janie Pillow is in private practice at Janie Pillow Counseling (601- 8534788) She is also Co-founder of Third Millennium Ministries and has served since its inception as Chairman of the Board. See www.ThirdMill.Org. “Seminary Education for the World for Free.”
601.790.1144 Follow us on Facebook.com/FiveKfortheFatherless metrochristianliving.com ❘ JUNE 2013 31
❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖ ➺food for thought ❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖ Here’s to DAD ❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖ F ❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖ ❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖ ❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖ ❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖ ❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖ ❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖ ❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖ ❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖ ❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖ ❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖ ❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖ ❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖ ❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖ ❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖ ❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖ ❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖ ❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖ by LYDIA BOLEN
ather’s Day is June 16 this year. Whether you celebrate with a special lunch, a backyard barbeque, or a family dinner, find recipes to serve your Dad the foods that are special to him. My own father loved to plan meals, but was not much on helping to prepare them! He liked good old-fashioned dishes and requested them on a regular basis. I vividly remember his obsession with Sensation Salad. This salad originated in the kitchen in an old Baton Rouge, Louisiana,
SENSATION SALAD AND DRESSING 4
cups cold iceberg lettuce (washed, spun dry, and torn into small bite-size pieces) 1/3 cup vegetable oil 1/2 cup olive oil 2 tablespoons lemon juice 3 cloves fresh garlic, minced and mashed 2 tablespoons white vinegar Salt and pepper to taste Granulated garlic to taste 2 tablespoons fresh parsley 1 cup grated Romano cheese (can use Parmesan cheese) In a 1-quart jar with lid, blend together oils, lemon juice, mashed garlic, white vinegar, and season to taste using salt, pepper, and granulated garlic. Cover with lid and shake well. Place salad dressing in refrigerator and allow it to sit for 24 hours for flavors to incorporate. When ready to serve, shake well. Place iceberg lettuce and parsley in a large mixing bowl, top with dressing, and toss to coat well. Add Romano cheese and toss gently. Note: Add a little dressing at a time. Toss and add more as needed. Too much dressing will make the salad too oily. Yield. 6 servings
32 JUNE 2013 ❘ Metro Christian Living
restaurant. It closed down in the early 1970s, but the salad and dressing has sunk its roots deep into the local culinary culture. This dressing is now bottled and sold in many Louisiana grocery stores. I can’t recall a single week going by that my mother wasn’t making Baked Custard or whipping up various pound cakes at my father’s request. The cream cheese pound cake wins out as his very favorite. Enjoy!
CREAM CHEESE POUND CAKE
BAKED CUSTARD
1 1/2 1 3 3 6 2
4 2/3 1/2 1/4 1/4 3 2 2/3
cups butter (8 ounce) package cream cheese cups sugar cups cake flour, sifted eggs teaspoons vanilla extract (or use one teaspoon vanilla and 1 teaspoon almond)
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease one 10-inch tube pan or 2 loaf pans. Cream together the butter, cream cheese, and sugar until light. Stir in the extracts. Add the flour and the eggs alternately, ending with the flour. Pour batter into the prepared pan or loaf pans. Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. (Bake loaf pans at 300 degrees for 1 hour and 15 minutes.)
eggs cup sugar teaspoon salt teaspoon ground nutmeg teaspoon ground cinnamon teaspoons vanilla extract cups milk
In a bowl, combine eggs, sugar, spices, and vanilla. Blend in milk. Pour into 6 ounce custard cups or ramekins. Sprinkle top of each ramekin with nutmeg. Place cups in a 9 x 13 inch baking pan; fill pan with hot water to 1-inch depth. Bake at 325 degrees for one hour or until a knife inserted near the middle comes out clean. Yield: 6 servings. Can be served at room temperature or cold. Y
Remember to make memories through the kitchen— “the heartbeat of the home.” E-mail me at lbbolen@gmail.com for any questions.
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’s Days ! r e h t a F Happyd the gift of Neblett Give da
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➺let’s talk it over by DR. CHARLIE BOUDREAUX
The Treasure of a Father’s Presence Our Earthly Father’s Presence Fathers who spend time with their children bless those children with a priceless gift—a treasure those children will always cherish. Don Piper, author of 90 Minutes in Heaven, relates how awesome was the gift of being able to be present for his daughter’s GA Coronation “walking” down the aisle in his wheelchair. This happened after lengthy hospitalizations and a horribly painful rehab after a terrible automobile accident, which mangled his body. He actually died for 90 minutes! Don had pushed himself to the max to be present with his daughter for this special moment in her life. His daughter was ELATED that her Daddy could be present—a memory—a precious gift from her daddy she will cherish forever. Many fathers don’t realize the importance of our presence with our children. For two special young ladies in my life, the absence of their fathers left an empty space no one could fill; my daughter-in-law, Debi whose beloved Daddy died when she was 18, and my niece, Danna—her beloved Daddy died when she
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36 JUNE 2013 ❘ Metro Christian Living
Our gift comes with a price tag—an expenditure of our time and our energy!
loud and clear. How important it is to make time to be with our children that God has entrusted to our care.” Oh, how powerful our presence is! On this Father’s Day, may we as fathers remember how powerful and priceless our presence is to our children!
The Promise of our Heavenly Father’s Presence Jesus promised His presence to His followers.
✦ Matthew 28:20b - “And lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the earth.” (And surely I am with you always to the very end of the age.)
✦ Isaiah 41:10 - “Don’t be afraid, for I am was 14. Each walked down the aisle alone at their weddings. Both had said, “NOBODY can take my Daddy’s place! We may not realize the strength, comfort, and security our presence provides our children. I remember my children waking in the night from a bad dream or during a storm and crying out in fear. I would go to their room and give them a hug and say, “It’s okay, I’m here.” and they would soon fall back to sleep. My presence was a strong source of comfort and security that gave peace. Our desire is often to protect our children from all harm that might come their way—but we cannot do that. Even when we are with them, despite our best efforts, they may get hurt. And when our children do get hurt, we want to be present to help them get through the hurt, and to strengthen and to comfort them in their pain. Simply being there with our children is a big help! Yes, our presence is our children’s primary source of comfort for life’s “booboos”! Our gift comes with a price tag—an expenditure of our time and our energy! Yet, we will find that our investment pays dividends that are tremendous: Our presence with our children in hard, sad times to hold and comfort—priceless! Our presence with our children in happy times: playing with them, investing time listening to them, talking with them, taking opportunities to be present “in the moment” with them, rather than our bodies with them but our minds somewhere else—on cell phone, watching TV, etc.—priceless! From Parenting by Grace: “One of the best ways to show love and affirmation for children is through our accessibility. Open arms, open hearts, and open ears say ‘I love you’ to children
with you. Do not be dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you. I will help you. I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.”
✦ Psalm 16:11 - “You will fill me with joy in your presence” (In Your presence is fullness of joy)
✦ Psalm 23:4 - “I will fear no evil for you are with me!”
✦ Psalm 118:6a - “The Lord is with me. I will not be afraid.”
✦ Psalm 118:7a - “The Lord is with me. He is my helper.”
✦ Deuteronomy 31:8 - “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you. He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid. Do not be discouraged.” Don Piper in 90 Minutes in Heaven wrote about getting through the long agonizing hours, days, and months with searing pain that never ended: “I never saw or heard anyone, but I felt a presence—Someone sustaining and encouraging me…”
The presence of the Father—how precious a treasure! On this Father’s Day, may we as fathers remember how precious and priceless the presence of the Heavenly Father is in our lives, and may we remember to spend needed time with Him—and to lead our children to know Him, who will always be with them! Y Dr. Charles Boudreaux is an Associate Pastor of Counseling with Summit Counseling of First Baptist Church Jackson. To contact him, please call 601949-1949.
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➺chewed petunias by SUSAN E. RICHARDSON
Following the Shepherd “He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young,” (Isaiah 40:11). “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd,” (John 10:14-16).
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rust has been an ongoing struggle for me. I still have to work to maintain a healthy balance in looking to God and taking responsibility for myself. Looking to other things for my defense rather than God comes naturally to me. One Sunday morning during Sunday School, my teacher, Ken, began talking about sheep. We were studying John and reached this portion about Jesus as the Good Shepherd. To begin, Ken asked us to list some characteristics of sheep. Someone answered, “Defenseless,” and I suddenly realized how ridiculous it was for me to believe I could defend myself. Trusting in your defenses is a natural response to being wounded, but the truth is that we’re all weak, wandering, wooly creatures. Jesus calling us sheep wasn’t a compliment, but it’s quite accurate. Pathetic isn’t it, to consider that such a beast could actually protect itself? The two thoughts—trust and self-protection—came together as I considered what it means to be the Good Shepherd’s sheep. Perhaps, like me, you’re a timid sheep huddled in the security of the fold. There we’re warm and safe, and we feel protected. The Shepherd, though, calls to us every morning to follow Him outside the fold. He wants to lead us to good pastures and to quiet pools where we can drink. Instead of responding to His call, we shrink back into the sheepfold, afraid to come out. We place our trust in the walls around us and refuse to leave. Because the Shepherd isn’t in the business of driving His sheep, He lets us stay. So there we stay, fearfully crouched in a corner, snatching a few mouthfuls of grass close to the door now and again, perhaps a drink
from a puddle, but refusing to go out. All we can see is the danger of the world. We’re afraid of the wolves and bears out there. The very openness of the world is frightening. In the sheepfold things are stable and predictable. Daily the Shepherd issues the invitation to come out. Maybe we’ve even begun venturing a little further a time or two before we retreat. What we’ve missed is the fact that our real protection is the Shepherd, not the sheepfold. He built the fold—for our protection. He guards the door—for our protection. He goes with the sheep— for our protection. We may have chosen to put our trust in the things, not the One behind those things. We can even manage to delude ourselves into thinking we can create our own defenses. We’ve kicked up a couple of ridges of dirt in the sheepfold floor and convinced ourselves that they’re walls that can protect us. We convince ourselves that because we can butt heads with other sheep we can also defend ourselves against the wolves of the world when in reality only the Shepherd’s staff can protect us from them. Daily the choice comes before us: will we trust the fold or the Shepherd? We can trust our false sense of security and continue to live in the confines of the sheepfold, hungry and thirsty because we won’t go into the pasture, or we can choose to follow the Shepherd, trusting in Him alone to keep us safe. He makes no promise that we won’t be frightened in the pasture. Sometimes the wolves do attack. We bear the scars of such attacks. Injury does come, but the Shepherd is always there, comforting and healing
Lord, You’re calling us outside of the sheepfold and we’re not sure about venturing out. We trust other things for our security and refuse to follow You. Often we’d rather keep retreating from the world than go into it. We confess that, Lord. Help us find the courage to follow You and trust You with whatever comes. Y (*To get started with the full chewed petunias story, please visit www.chewedpetunias.com. You’ll find the story plus other material that may help you along the way.)
Susan E. Richardson has a passion for meeting people’s needs through the written word. You can reach her by email at Susan@chewedpetunias.com or check either of her two websites: www.chewedpetunias.com or www.nextlevelcritiques.com 38 JUNE 2013 ❘ Metro Christian Living
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➺pastor’s perspective by ROBERT GREEN
Millennials: A Hope and a Future his week’s Time magazine cover calls them the “Me Me Me Generation.” It says they are “lazy, entitled narcissists who still live with their parents.” They grew up on
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reality shows and likely know their number of Twitter followers far better than the tally on their car’s odometer. They take pictures of themselves and post for all to see. They are “Millennials.” Who exactly are millennials? We know “Boomers” are those born between 1943 and 1960. (Oprah Winfrey and Tom Hanks) We know that “Generation X” refers to those born between 1961 and 1980 (Jennifer Lopez, and Jon Stewart). Millennials were born between 1980 and 2000 (Mark Zuckerberg and Lady Gaga). This group is being characterized as entitled and restless with random work patterns, inflated self-esteem, and Twitter-sized attention spans. Gosh—pick your pejorative. But not so fast! What if we looked past their problems, to their potential? At our church this past Sunday, we dedicated babies—six children, on display by proud parents. These little joy bundles haven’t been labeled with a generational tag yet. But Psalms 128 says they are like “olive shoots” Not olive trees, or olive branches—but “shoots” They are not now what they will be. We asked each parent to take a vow to envision their future and pray for their potential. Though years ahead of these babies, the future for millennials teems with possibilities. Lady Gaga, a millennialist, said recently, “I suppose you could say I’m quite a religious woman who is very confused about religion.” Evidently, she’s not alone. Folks are leaving the church in droves. But I see hope. And while I see hope, I have hopes. I hope we will be better at six things: FIRST, live the good news. The gospel as lifestyle improvement app or cheap marketing pitch is wearing thin for street-smart young adults. A watered-down gospel is powerless to help real people in our real world. By showing how the life and death of Christ brings reconciliation with God, neighbor, creation, and self, young adults will heed the call. Young people know in their toes that what Jesus taught and how He lived is more dangerous than what 40 JUNE 2013 ❘ Metro Christian Living
they see. They know better than we do, the price for trading in travel soccer for Sunday morning worship, for seeking a vocation and not just a profession. What about giving away 20 percent of our income? Casting our lot with a struggling faith community instead of a thriving one? Or risking ridicule by waiting to have sex until married? Is Christianity worth the risk? SECOND, make connections. When I travel to conferences with other church leaders, the gurus talk a lot about how to create atmosphere. Honestly, I think we don’t need to create atmosphere as much as we need to cultivate relationships. Churches that are intentional about connecting college age kids with older adults, and holding older adults responsible for discipling younger people, will flourish. Millennials have been marketed to since childhood. They can smell it a mile away.
“Churches that are intentional about connecting college age kids with older adults and holding older adults responsible for discipling younger people will flourish.” They can step into church and sense it. Our “Young Adult Outreach” may be well intentioned, but it comes off as phony. When they sense that we are preoccupied with attendance among their “target demographic,” they feel like we are making them into a number. Guess what? They are like us. They want to be known and valued as individuals. THIRD, invite participation. Contrary to what some are saying, millennials aren’t allergic to responsibility. They just want to make sure what they commit to really matters. It’s not like they want to get on board with the general cynicism about the church. They want to participate. Maybe they know what we don’t— that the church is alive when we are problem solving, studying, and serving together. What if some of us older leaders looked at them and said, “Go after those who are seeking God. Don’t copy our ways. Don’t do what we have done. Innovate. Try. Fail. Succeed. Forge a new
path. Build new kinds of churches and new communities. Show us a new world founded on love.” The result? Some losses and many wins. FOURTH, talk about money. What Jesus taught is true—we can either live spiritually or materially. Millennials are the generation that demands fair-trade coffee and supports ecofriendly companies, but will dump them just as quickly if they’re caught “greenwashing.” There are too many people living in poverty, and far too many churches doing nothing about it. Young people who visit our church for the first time are asking questions like these: Where is our money going? What are you doing for others? Are you feeding and clothing the homeless? Are you hosting support groups for addicts? Are you finding childcare for single parents? FIFTH, you must be present to win. The essence of love is presence. Too often, we promise to pray for people at some later, undisclosed time rather than praying for them right then and there. Often, we allow the distraction of our mobile device to keep us from being fully present. SIXTH, be more like Jesus. Be inexplicably generous, unbelievably faithful, and wholeheartedly committed. Be a noticeably better person than you were last year and the year before that. Y Robert Green is the Lead Pastor at Fondren Church in Jackson, MS. For more information, visit www.fondrenchurch.com.
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➺sports victories
by ROBERT WILSON • PHOTO BY WILL SMITH
BRAD CLIBURN Florence High School lorence High School athletic director Brad Cliburn shook hands with God in January 2008, at a chapel at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. “Cancer is a bad dude. The big C word scares everybody, but once I shook hands with God I never really worried about it because I knew it was His,” Brad said. “I accepted Christ as my Savior when I was nine years old, but at 48 years old I found out what it really meant.” “I was told I had cancer again (the first time was in 2003) that January and that the doctors were going to have to go in and remove my vocal cords and voice box. It was going to be a 10-12 hour surgery, a very complicated surgery. But I was fine because I had given everything to God before that.” When Brad and his wife, Carla, arrived at M.D. Anderson, one of the first areas they saw was the chapel. Brad told Carla he had to go in to talk to God. “I got down on my knees,” Brad said. “The Bible says in Psalms 34:18 that the Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. I was broken. I shook hands with Him that day and it changed my life.” “The doctors had been very straightforward as to what we were facing and the overall decision was that Brad’s voice box and vocal cords would have to be removed, making it a challenge for him to talk again,” Carla said. “We were feeling pretty low and we came upon the chapel. Brad was in there for several minutes and when he came out the first thing he said was, ‘I got right with God.’ And he has. We would not have gotten through this if his faith had not been strengthened that day. him in the right direction. Also, God put a card with an important phrase “God did send us an angel that day. Our last appointment was with a in front of Brad when he was a sophomore in high school that he still speech pathologist whose father just happened to also be an athletic gives to students today. director, like brad, at a high school in Missouri. She was very positive and “We were playing at Brandon High and I was in the locker room assured Brad that she would have him talking.” getting ready before the game,” Brad said. “I looked down under the Brad was the starting point guard for Florence High School’s 1977 bench and there was a card. On the back of it was this phrase—The Class AA and Overall championship team under more you do with what you have, the more God coach Doug Hutton. He teamed with star will give you to do with. I picked it up and put it players, Greg Grim and Danny Lewis, for a 37-3 in my wallet and I kept it there until I couldn’t record. After playing basketball and baseball at read it any more. I’ve tried to live that way a good The whole experience Hinds Community College, Brad finished his part of my life. The phrase has been in my with cancer has really education at Southern Mississippi with a degree dressing room of every school where I’ve been a blessing. I’ve in athletic administration and coaching. He coached.” coached at Forrest County AHS for four years But Brad admits, he hasn’t always been close had my ups and downs, and Raleigh for five years before returning home to God. but I’ve been blessed. to Florence in 1991. He was head girls “I took a wrong turn when I graduated from basketball coach from 1991-2003 and head high school,” Brad said. “I went down the wrong baseball coach from 1991-95. Brad has been road and left Jesus. I starting going out, partying athletic director since 2001. with the guys, and sometimes overindulged. I still read my Bible because The only son of Ann and Shelton Cliburn, Brad was brought up in a I knew I was supposed to, but I didn’t study it. I was praying, but I don’t Christian home in Richland and he and his family (Brad has one younger know if I was really praying. And I was praying for myself, not for others sister, Bridgett) were members of Richland Baptist Church. and not for God’s Will.” “It seemed like every time the doors opened I was there,” Brad said. Brad still wasn’t close enough to God in 2003 when he was first “I was fortunate enough to grow up in a great Christian community with diagnosed with cancer. great Christian friends.” “When I got cancer, to me it was God saying, ‘You better watch what In addition to his friends and family, Brad credits Hutton and you are doing,’” Brad said. “He said, ‘I know where your heart is, but you Richland Junior High basketball coach Richard Wilkerson for steering aren’t living right.’”
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42 JUNE 2013 ❘ Metro Christian Living
Brad straightened it all out with God when he shook hands with Him in January 2008. It hasn’t been easy since, but Brad knows God is by his side. “This whole experience with cancer has really been a blessing,” Brad said. “I’ve had my ups and downs and I struggle sometimes, but I’ve been blessed. I’ve been blessed with a great wife (Carla and Brad have been married for 25 years) and son (Cody, 20) who have always been there for me. We have been members of a great church (First Baptist Church Florence) for the past 20 years. I listen to the words of the sermon and of the worship songs now instead of just hearing them.” Because of his surgery, Brad couldn’t talk for six months. He also could not swallow and had to be fed through a feeding tube for three months while everything healed. Once everything healed, the doctors put in a voice prosthetic device, which has to be maintained daily and replaced every six or seven months. The prosthesis gives Brad the ability to talk, and even though he sounds like he has laryngitis, you can understand him. “Brad has taken things day-by-day and has kept a positive attitude knowing that this is part of God’s plan,” Carla said. “People do not realize just what he has to go through every day to be able to communicate. He is an inspiration to me and Cody and all who know him. We are inspired every day by his determination to get out of bed, do his job, and do it as best he can. We could not have gone through this without family, friends and our church family praying for us. Prayer works and we are proof of that.” Y
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Testimonials from our readers “MCL did a write up on my wife and I in November of 2011. At that time, we were not advertising with them. I was floored at how many people came up to me and said they had seen the article. Even now, 21 months later, I still have people mentioning that article to me. I had no idea how big of a following MCL had. I told my staff we need to start advertising in this magazine. It’s well done month after month with great articles, uplifting stories, and a huge following. That’s one advertising check that’s easy to write because I believe it easily pays for itself!” — Ed Trim, President & CEO Pennington & Trim Alarm Services
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metrochristianliving.com ❘ JUNE 2013 43
➺lagniappe by JOHN BRANNING
For God and Country
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A mind for tru . A heart for God.
Christ-Centered Counseling To set up an appointment, contact us at: 601-923-1645 | bmartin@rts.edu rts.edu 44 JUNE 2013 ❘ Metro Christian Living
very person in the military has a special reason why they serve and I am no exception.
I have been an Army Chaplain serving in the Mississippi Army National Guard since 2007. I want to share with you a brief history of our Corp, which was formed by the command of General George Washington on 29 July 1775, with a desire that local clergy would serve in the Continental Army alongside their parishioners. It was his desire that the Continental Army would have a moral and spiritual compass through the leadership of the Chaplain. Our job has progressed today as we offer religious services, counseling, moral support to the Soldier, and serve as a personal advisor to our command whether in peacetime or at war. In the civilian world, I serve as an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church. I have been the senior pastor of the Crystal Springs United Methodist Church since 2004. Yet, one weekend a month my church family grows from the small town of Crystal Springs to the State of Mississippi as I put on the uniform of the Army Chaplain for the 185th Theatre Aviation Brigade. I am at that point no longer a Methodist preacher, but a Protestant Chaplain. My Soldiers are of all denominations, beliefs, and at times, lack of beliefs. I found this to be the greatest challenge of my life when in 2010 our unit was called up for Operation Iraq Freedom and New Dawn. After mobilizing at Fort Hood Texas and a brief transition through Kuwait, we acquired our mission in Northern Iraq in Early February of 2011. It was there that my mission as a Christian Chaplain began. It was not long after I arrived at a Contingency Operations Base, COB Speicher in Tikrit, Iraq, that my pastoral skills and training were called upon. We were 6,500 miles from home and any news of a problem back there made it very difficult for any Soldier to focus on the mission. Mission focus is essential when you are in a combat zone because lives are at stake. I had a little office with a couch, and in 10 months’ time 325 Soldiers made their way to see me to discuss everything from personal conflict with other Soldiers to failing marriages. I realized very soon into the mission that I was the only pastor that many of them had ever
talked to or been around. It would be very important that I give the word that God intended on them hearing in these most difficult and confusing moments. I began to ground myself further in Scripture and prayer asking God to use me in this moment as an instrument of peace in a time of war. I preached sermons in a little chapel that was usually filled with Soldiers, carried Holy Communion to smaller COB’s and outposts, and mostly practiced the ministry of presence to help bring a measure of calm in these difficult situations. It is amazing to see the power of the Holy Spirit work in the lives of people in midst of stress in war. To watch young Soldiers walk around with camouflage Bibles and other images of their faith around their wrists, unashamed for others to know that they are believers is a quite witness in the midst of chaos. Local churches from around Mississippi and all around the country would send me books, trinkets and morale kits for the Soldiers that I would distribute in the name of Christ. Though many of these Soldiers were not believers they begin to see the love in action of the believers back home. I was able to see lives transformed and hearts warmed. Husbands and wives began to look forward to the return home to attend church with their spouse and family, many longed to be better men and women of God. I was able to observe all of this first hand. Most of us will never have the experience of going to war and I hope that my children’s generation never has to. Yet, I have learned the wisdom of George Washington in creating the Chaplain Corps and sending clergy with our troops to remind them that they are still created in the image of God no matter where life takes them. They were created for a divine purpose and the faith we profess in the local church should be magnified when we are sent into the world. Most importantly to remind them that the love of Jesus changes lives and when He changes our life all things become new. I hope to serve many more years in the Mississippi Army National Guard and represent the Lord to Soldiers. Y John Branning is pastor of Crystal Springs United Methodist Church and also serves as Chaplain in the US Army National Guard. He and his wife Traci are parents of three boys.
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metrochristianliving.com â?˜ JUNE 2013 45
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Your kids are the future of your church. Train a child to share their faith today and you prepare them...for the next 50, 60, 70+ years! TARGET: 3-6 GRADES Adapts to fit your ministry: • • • • •
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For more information go to: USA.eeHopeForKids.org or contact: Tag Reed at 662-836-6750 or email treed@eeworks.org or Erin Williams at 662-836-4194 or email ewilliams@eeworks.org 46 JUNE 2013 â?˜ Metro Christian Living
legal advice by WILLIAM B. HOWELL
Do You Have a Will or a Trust? Why? hen planning your estate the initial decision to be made is whether to center your plan with a Last Will and Testament or with a Living Trust. In generations past families were very close, there were few estates with any tax liability, and children respected their parents’ wishes, both before and after the parents passed away. We live in a different time. Estate litigation is no longer rare. In order for your wishes to be carried out, they have to be in writing, and that writing will govern what actually gets done when you cannot speak for yourself. The difference between a will and a trust, according to Black’s Law Dictionary, “is that a will operates from the moment of death, while a trust operates in the present.” A will is a perfectly good way to pass your assets at death, but it cannot provide any help if you become incapacitated during your lifetime. A trust, on the other hand, is in effect from the moment it is properly set up and funded, providing protection and assurance that your wishes will be carried out, both during any period of disability as well as at your death. A will must go through the court proceeding known as probate to become a legally effective instrument to carry out your wishes, while a trust functions without the need for a court procedure, both in the event of disability as well as at death. If a will is selected as the cornerstone of your estate plan, then you will need an additional provision for someone to manage your assets in the event of your incapacity during life. As mentioned above, the will only comes into effect after your death. Many people have utilized a durable power of attorney for this purpose. However, in recent years many of those persons have run into businesses that decline to honor a power of
W
THE LAW FIRM OF
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attorney. No one is required to honor a power of attorney by law in Mississippi. So what do you do in that case? A living trust takes the place of the power of attorney and must be honored. Some people put their children’s names on their assets with authority to deal with them in the case of the parent’s disability. Sounds good, but this will often result in the assets being exposed to the creditors of the child, or to their bankruptcy, or even to being considered as an asset to be divided in their divorce. The same problems can arise when using lifetime gifting to avoid probate or to bring down the size of the taxable estate. It can be done with relative safety with a very special type of protective trust for the child, but not with an outright gift. Don’t want your assets to wind up in the hands of your former sonin-law (or daughter-in-law) and their new spouse? Do your estate planning around a living trust - particularly where there are children from a prior marriage. You can make sure that your children do not get “accidentally disinherited,” but that your spouse has the benefits of your estate during his or her lifetime and that your children then can receive their inheritance. Some people in their planning have chosen to have elaborate trust structures included within their wills. Nothing wrong with that, as long as they realize that for these type trusts (called “testamentary trusts” ) to come into existence the will must first go through the probate process. Make sure you understand your plan completely and that it will accomplish your objectives. Y William B. Howell is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and practices law in Ridgeland.
YOU·VE WORKED HARD FOR IT³WHY THROW IT AWAY? WHILE YOU ARE ALIVE, YOU CAN AND SHOULD MAKE ALL DECISIONS AND MANAGE YOUR PERSONAL AFFAIRS. WHAT IF YOU BECOME INCOMPETENT? WHAT HAPPENS AT YOUR DEATH? WHO WILL TAKE OVER AND MANAGE YOUR AFFAIRS? WILL IT BE SOMEONE YOU CHOSE OR THE COURT CHOSE? HOW IS THAT DONE? AND WILL IT BE OUTSIDE OF COURT OR IN COURT? THE SAME QUESTIONS ARISE WITH THE DISTRIBUTION OF YOUR ASSETS. THE CHOICE IS YOURS. AND WHAT ABOUT PROTECTING YOUR CHILD·S INHERITANCE FROM A DIVORCE OR A LAWSUIT? AND WILL YOUR HARD-EARNED SAVINGS GO TO THE NURSING HOME? HAVE YOU EVER ASKED YOURSELF THESE QUESTIONS? THE LAW FIRM OF WILLIAM B. HOWELL, LTD. IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING YOU AND YOUR LOVED ONES WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND TOOLS NEEDED TO AVOID THESE SITUATIONS WHICH CAN BE FINANCIALLY AND EMOTIONALLY DEVASTATING TO YOUR LOVED ONES. BELOW ARE SOME ITEMS TO CONSIDER:
OUR LIFE
EXPECTANCY HAS INCREASED, BUT ARE ALL OF US
GOING TO BE IN GOOD HEALTH IN OUR OLD AGE?
UNFORTUNATELY,
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REVOCABLE LIVING TRUSTS
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ASSET PROTECTION PLANNING
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IRA INHERITANCE TRUSTS
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POWERS OF ATTORNEY
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PERSONAL ASSET TRUSTS
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LAST WILL & TESTAMENTS
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NURSING HOME MEDICAID PLANNING
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ADVANCE HEALTH-CARE DIRECTIVES
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SPECIAL NEEDS TRUSTS
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HIPAA AUTHORIZATIONS
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WE HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING WHAT
THE FUTURE HOLDS FOR OURSELVES AND OUR FAMILIES.
THE LAW FIRM OF WILLIAM B. HOWELL, LTD. IS DEDICATED TO PROVIDING YOU AND YOUR FAMILY A PLAN THAT OFFERS TRUE
PEACE OF MIND.
1-800-839-7857 www.howellelderlaw.com
GET THE FACTS³ACHIEVE TRUE PEACE OF MIND FREE SEMINARS³FREE CONSULTATIONS HEAR MR. HOWELL ON HIS RADIO PROGRAM TUESDAYS 8:35 A.M. NEWSTALK 1180
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www.howellelderlaw.com metrochristianliving.com ❘ JUNE 2013 47
➺rave reviews BOOK
MUSIC
Joni & Ken: An Untold Love Story Reviewed by Susan E. Richardson
Most of us have known Joni Eareckson Tada’s basic story. Her books Joni and A Step Further told of her struggles to adapt to life as a quadriplegic after breaking her neck in a diving accident. Many have seen her amazing paintings, accomplished by holding a paintbrush in her mouth, or read one of her devotional books. Others may know her as an advocate for those with disabilities. But until Joni & Ken: An Untold Love Story we have known little about her marriage. The book goes far beyond “how we fell in love.” The publisher could have subtitled the book “An Honestly Told Love Story” as it chronicles both the highs and lows of Ken and Joni Tada’s marriage. Quadriplegia provided enough challenges without adding chronic pain and breast cancer later. Readers see both Ken’s and Joni’s point of view, and therefore their personal struggles at various points. For a teacher and coach like Ken, simply going with Joni on her speaking tours was a revelation. As time passed and other trials came, he began understanding what it means for a husband to be a warrior and fight spiritual battles for his wife. Readers who are simply interested in hearing more about Joni will enjoy this book. However, it offers more than a good story. Readers can glean spiritual tips about standing firm through trials and allowing God to work through pain. Men will gain a clearer picture of what a warrior-servant looks like in daily life. Y Susan E. Richardson is a writer, critique reader, and former Christian retailer with a passion for meeting people’s needs through the written word. You can reach her through her website www.nextlevelcritiques.com.
Nothing Is Wasted by Casey Combest of The Collective This month, we will take a quick look at the new release from North Carolina-based Elevation Church, entitled Nothing Is Wasted. For this listener, this is one of the best corporate worship albums released in the last six months. Their big band feel is accessible to all ages, and their lyrics truly encourage and nurture to the core. Tracks like “Greater” feel lyrically familiar but still fresh. Tracks like “In Your Presence” are delivered soulfully without being cheesy. It’s clear from the songs that Elevation Church has been through a time of struggle and difficulty. The listener will be reminded of God’s faithfulness in their own lives to use those times of struggle to strengthen us and draw us closer to him. Unique to this project, Elevation Church released all of the studio versions of the songs at the same time as the live versions. The reason for this was they felt the studio versions didn’t capture the energy of the lyrics. For this reader, the live versions dominate the studio versions as a worship experience—but both are extremely enjoyable. Find out more about Elevation Church at elevationchurch.org or check out their albums on iTunes. Y
MAINE’S BEST KEPT SECRET!!
We believe that every moment matters. Maybe that’s why so many families believe in us when it comes to choosing a hospice provider. For more information or to receive our free DVD, “Hospice and Your Loved One,” call 601-983-3193. gentiva.com/hospice
3 BR, 2.5 bath furnished LOG HOME nestled on 20 private wooded acres on a 500 ACRE LAKE in Mid MAINE! Great for 4 seasons as YOUR home away from home! Snow Sled, White Water Raft, Moose Watch, Hike Appalachian Trail, or relax in front of the fireplace and read! PLENTY of room for 2 or 3 COUPLES to SHARE! Delta, Northwest, or Continental Airlines (or American if you fly into Boston & drive up to Bangor)
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phone 601-983-3193 / fax 601-983-3194 Magee, MS
phone 601-849-5803 / fax 601-849-5805 Gentiva accepts patients for care regardless of age, race, color national origin, religion, sex, disability, being a qualified disabled veteran, being a qualified disabled veteran of MKT3144 the Vietnam era, or any other category protected by law, or decisions regarding advance directives. © 2011 Gentiva Health Services, Inc.
48 JUNE 2013 ❘ Metro Christian Living
www.cabininmaine.net – Facebook Cabin in Maine P.S. It’s only 2 hours from BAH HAHBAH, and Acadia National Park. That’s a great day trip, and has great FRESH lobster!!
events calendar Annual 5K for the Fatherless 200 Million Flowers is not your average adoption agency. Founded by Jackson’s own, Craig and Rachel Robertson, this Christian non-profit is committed to not only providing low-cost private infant adoptions, but also raising awareness for Mississippi children available for adoption in foster care. The name 200 Million Flowers comes from the number of estimated orphans in the world and a quote from Mother Teresa. Mother Teresa said, “How can there be too many children? It’s like saying there are too many flowers.” 200 Million Flowers is fueled by creative, energetic volunteers and staff with hearts for children who deserve a loving family. On June 22, 2013, 200 Million Flowers will host its second annual “5K for the Fatherless”. This run/walk event will be through the streets of Olde Towne Ridgeland and the West Jackson Historic Overlay District. There are cash prizes for the top three male and female runners along with awards for age-group winners. Children under 12 can enter the one-mile fun run, with medals for all who participate. Inspired by the Bible verse James 1:27, 200 Million Flowers is called to “care for” children in need of a forever family by connecting them with Christian parents. We understand that not everyone is called to adopt, but believe all Christians are called to help. We are dedicated to providing opportunities for the body of Christ to do just that. Proceeds from this event will help develop a photo gallery of Mississippi foster children waiting to be adopted and provide assistance to birth mothers placing their babies for adoption. For more information about 200 Million Flowers, the race, or volunteer opportunities, please visit our website at www.200millionflowers.org, call Ann Regan Bilbo 601.248.3338 or email her at annreganbilbo@gmail.com. Y
CLINTON June 8 Firefly Market from 4:00-8:00 p.m. in Clinton’s Olde Towne district. You’ll find original art, gifts, fresh produce, homemade treats and great summertime entertainment. For more information, visit www.clintonms.org/city/main-street.
RIDGELAND June 15 Annual Father-Child Fishing Tournament begins at Old Trace Park at 8 a.m. Judging takes place at 10 a.m. Prizes awarded. Free event. Sponsored by Pearl River Valley Water Supply District and the City of Ridgeland Recreation & Parks Department. Moms are welcome. For more information, call 601.853.2011.
June 22 5K for the Fatherless sponsored by 200 Million Flowers. A fun run/walk through the streets of Olde Towne Ridgeland and the West Jackson Historic Overlay District. For more information, contact Ann Regan Bilbo at 601.248.3338 or annreganbilbo@gmail.com or Lyndsey Hester at 601.790.1188 or lyndsey@200millionflowers.org.
PEARL June 8 Mississippi Gospel Jubilee will be held at Trinity Baptist Church, 2610 Napoleon Drive beginning at 6:00 p.m. A Gospel Sing and amazing concert featuring some of the best gospel groups from all parts of Mississippi. Free admission. Love offering will be taken.
JACKSON
June 1 3rd Annual C Spire Summer Soaker at the Mississippi Children’s Museum at 2145 Highland Drive. Registration begins at 8 a.m.
Events include a 3K Fun Run and Tot Trot for children under 5. Registration fee includes tshirt, bag, and water bottle. See www.visitjackson.com for details.
June 3-7 First Baptist Church Jackson presents Vacation Bible School for children entering K5 through 6th grade. 9:00 a.m.-noon. Register online at fbcj.org or contact 601.949.1900 for more information.
June 12 Lucky Duck Drawdown at Colonial Country Club benefitting MS SIDS Alliance. Drinks, dinner, dancing, and silent auction. Contact Cathy Files at cathyfiles@gmail.com.
June 15 Sponsored by Pro-Life Mississippi, Father’s Day Walk 4 Life will begin at 7:30 a.m. at St. Richard’s parking lot located at 1242 Lynwood Drive. Everyone who walks receives a Walk 4 Life t-shirt and prizes will be awarded according to the money the walkers raise. For additional information, call 601.956.8636.
June 8 Jackson Zoo “Wild About Learning Day” from 10:00 a.m.1:00 p.m. Half-price admission. Enjoy educational games, book readings on the amphitheater stage, animal encounters, and more. See www.jacksonzoo.org or call 601.352.2580.
June 27 Celebrate Independence Day at the 6th annual Red, White, & Jackson event at Smith Park and the Old Capitol Museum. Sponsored by the Jackson Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Jackson Partners. Events begin at 11 a.m. in Smith Park with food and live entertainment. Children’s activities, celebrity cook-off, and fireworks that evening. See www.visitjackson.com for details Y
metrochristianliving.com ❘ JUNE 2013 49
JUNE 2013
WHAT’S GOING ON
➺quips & quotes
ADVERTISING INDEX
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Cut out the scriptures and quotes and place them around your home for daily encouragement!
✂
The best way to get your husband to fix something is to get out his tools and start the project yourself. – Somecards.com
An average view of the Christian life is that it means deliverance from trouble. It is deliverance IN trouble, which is very different – Oswald Chambers
One of the biggest needs in our generation is for men to step into the lives of boys to train them, equip them, and cheer them on to grow up as they begin the process of “manning up.” – Dennis Rainey
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? - Psalm 27: 1
Be merciful even as your Heavenly Father is merciful. Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not and you will not be condemned; forgive and you will be forgiven; give and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For the measure you give will be the measure you get back.” – Luke 6: 36-38
Being a great father is like shaving. No matter how good you shaved today, you have to do it again tomorrow. – Reed Markham, American Educator
NORTH STATE ANIMAL & BIRD HOSPITAL 5208 North State Street • Jackson, MS 39206
601-982-8261 Dr. Adrian Whittington Dr. Jeb Cade Dr. Melissa McLendon OFFICE HOURS: Monday-Friday: 7:30 am - 6:00 pm Saturday: 8:00 am - 12:00 pm Sunday: Boarding only 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Boarding & Grooming Services Available
50 JUNE 2013 ❘ Metro Christian Living
To be in your children’s memories tomorrow, you have to be in their lives today. – Barbara Johnson
If you look for something to criticize, you will find it. If you look for something to compliment, you will find that, too.Your choice. – Katrina Meyer
We are so obsessed with doing that we have no time and no imagination left for being. As a result, men are valued not for what they are but for what they do or what they have—for their usefulness.
– Thomas Merton
The Sermon on the Mount is not an idea, it is a statement of what will happen in me when Jesus Christ has altered my disposition and put in a disposition like His own. Jesus Christ is the only One Who can fulfill the Sermon on the Mount. – Oswald Chambers
You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you. – Dale Carnegie
Rejoice always: Pray constantly, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
ADVERTISER
PAGE
200 Million Flowers...................................................31 Apple Annie’s............................................................21 Baptist Medical Clinics .............................................35 Behavioral Health Specialists, LLC...........................17 Belhaven University.....................................................9 Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mississippi......................29 Callaway’s Yard & Garden ........................................15 Carter Sledge Family Dentistry................................39 C Spire .........................................................................3 Christ Covenant School............................................45 Circle Seven...............................................................39 Cole Fortenberry, DMD............................................37 Covenant Caregivers ..................................................2 Crossgates River Oaks..............................................12 David Ingram Real Estate.........................................28 Dogwood Vision Care.................................................8 East Lakeland Ob-Gyn Associates, PA....................15 Energy Insulation.......................................................46 EyeCare Professionals...............................................29 First Presbyterian Day School ..................................41 Fresh Cut Catering & Floral .....................................33 Gentiva Hospice........................................................48 GI Associates.............................................................23 Grantham Poole Certified Public Accountants ......41 Highland Village........................................................41 Hope for Kids............................................................46 Jackson Academy .......................................................2 Jackson Heart............................................................45 Jackson Orthopaedic Clinic, P.A..............................41 Jackson Preparatory School.....................................39 Joel Clarke & Sons Jewelry......................................17 Law Firm of William B. Howell, Ltd. ........................47 Liberty Baptist Church..............................................20 Maine’s Best Kept Secret .........................................48 Michelle Whitaker, Ind. Insurance Agent ................14 Miskelly Furniture......................................................11 Neblett’s Frame Outlets, Inc....................................33 N. State Animal Hospital..........................................50 O! How Cute.............................................................20 Parents & Kids...........................................................45 Pennington & Trim Alarm Services, Inc...................37 Private Collection......................................................14 Reformed Theological Seminary .............................44 Sitters, LLC ................................................................39 Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company....19 St. Catherine’s Village...............................................16 St. Dominic’s Family Medicine.................................52 Stegall Imagery .........................................................51 Summit Counseling...................................................36 Sunnybrook Estates ..................................................10 Sweet Dreams...........................................................21 The Club at the Township ..........................................5 The Waterford...........................................................21 Tinnin Imports..............................................................7 The Veritas School ....................................................44 Trustmark Bank..........................................................43 Twin Lakes Conference Center................................35 Venable Glass Services .............................................46 WHJT Star 93.5.........................................................51 Wright & Ferguson Funeral Home..........................45 Written in Stone, LLC ...............................................46
If I gave everything I have to the poor & even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing. – 1 Corinthians 13:3
real love.
real acceptance.
www.star93fm.com metrochristianliving.com ❘ JUNE 2013 51
ST. DOMINIC’S FAMILY MEDICINE 20 CLINICS. 60 PROVIDERS. ONE MISSION. St. Dominic’s doctors are focused on one mission: convenient, compassionate care for you and your family. With one of the largest clinic networks in the state, a St. Dominic’s doctor is always nearby. Let us partner with you for your healthcare needs.
Same day appointments available
CALL 601-200-8000 FOR YOUR ST. DOMINIC’S DOCTOR. www.stdom.com/clinics