22 -December 9 through December 15, 2010
The Boca Raton Tribune COLUMNISTS East/West Boca Raton, FL
BARRY’S BUZZ
FAITH
By Barry Epstein
By Rick Warren
The Practice of Surrender Struggling with temptations? Fed up with life? Questioning God? If so, and you need someone to talk to, contact an online mentor to talk privately. “If people want to follow me, they must give up the things they want. They must be willing even to give up their lives to follow me.” Matthew 16:24 (NCV) Paul’s moment of surrender occurred on the Damascus road after he was knocked down by blinding light. For others, less drastic methods are needed to get our attention. Regardless, surrendering is never just a one-time event. Paul said, “I die daily.” (1 Corinthians 15:31 NASB) There is a moment of surrender and there is the practice of surrender. The practice of surrender requires perseverance. It is moment-by-moment and lifelong. You may have to re-surrender your life fifty times a day: “If people want to follow me, they must give up the things they want. They must be willing even to
give up their lives [daily] to follow me.” (Matthew 16:24 NCV) Let me warn you: When you decide to live a totally surrendered life, that decision will be tested. Sometimes it will mean doing inconvenient, unpopular, costly, or seemingly impossible tasks. It will often mean doing the opposite of what you feel like doing. “Those who are living by their natural inclinations have their minds on the things human nature desires; those who live in the Spirit have their minds on spiritual things.” (Romans 8:5 NJB) We are, by nature, selfcentered. When hurt by someone, your natural inclination is to hurt back. It is natural to hoard money instead of generously sharing it, to defend yourself when criticized, to hide your mistakes instead of confessing them, and to try to impress others. You can usually figure out what will please God by doing the opposite of your natural inclination.
Bill Bright founded Campus Crusade for Christ. Through the worldwide Crusade staff, his tract The Four Spiritual Laws, and the JESUS film (seen by over one billion people), it’s estimated that over 150 million people have come to Christ and will spend eternity in heaven. I once asked Bill, “Why did God use and bless your life so much?” He said, “When I was a young man I made a contract with God. I literally wrote it out and signed my name at the bottom. It said ‘From this day forward, I am a slave of Jesus Christ.’” Have you signed a contract like that with God? Or, are you still arguing and struggling with God over his right to do with your life as he pleases? It is time to surrender – to God’s grace, love, and wisdom. Question: Have you accepted a life of surrender to God’s perfect will for your life?
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• U.S. Congressman Steve Israel (D-NY-2nd) has been named DCCC Chairman, by Minority Whip and former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, beating out South Florida Congresswoman De-bbie Wasserman Schultz, which puts him in charge of helping democrats get elected or re-elected to the US House of Representatives. He is the brother-in-law of our own local FL State Representative, Dr. Steve Perman (D-Boca Raton). Rep. Israel’s wife Marlene Budd, a Suffolk County family court judge, is the sister of Rep. Perman’s wife, Irene. • Word has it that Old Navy will be opening in the Shadowwood Center currently housing Borders. • County Commissioner Steven L. Abrams announced the approval of an agreement with the City of Boca Raton to continue and enhance one of the countys busiest Palm Tran bus routes, Route 94. This route provides service between the Boca Tri-Rail station and Florida Atlantic University/Palm Beach State College for approximately 1,000 passengers a day, an increase of almost 50% from last year. The funding for this bus route, originally provided by South Florida Regional Transportation Authority (SFTRA), was due to expire and Route 94 was in jeopardy of being reduced. For more information on this and/or other Palm Tran routes, please contact Palm Tran at 561-841-4287 or toll free at 1-877-030-4287.
• Part time Palm Beach resident Donald Trump is lobbying University of Miami president Donna Shalala to hire Texas Tech coach Mike Leach as the Hurricanes next head football coach. • FAU Graduate student Charles Michael Burdman was the recipient of the South Florida Public Relations annual student recognition certificate for achievement. Mr. Burdman re-ceived much praise for being an active and positive force for promoting the new FAU stadium and other campus activities and is a graduate assistant of alumni relations. Michael received his gift at the Coach Schnellenberger breakfast last Friday, Dec. 3. His award included a gift certificate for F.Y.E. • Gloria and Emilio Estefan opened their Bongos Cuban Café yesterday at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. On Tuesday night, they hosted a private party with a red carpet celebration, Cachao band, cigar rollers and live music, with the Estefans pulling in some of the glittering Miami crowd. (If they were not too tired after Art Basel.) The 7,000-square-foot Bongos also has a 5,000 square foot rooftop lounge with a 360-degree view of the entire Hard Rock property. The Estefans own Lario’s on the Beach in Miami Beach and Bongos restaurants at AmericanAirlines Arena in Miami, Miami International Airport and Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando. The Hard Rock location will be open for lunch and dinner daily.
The rooftop lounge will open until 3 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. • The 34th annual City of Boca Raton Holiday Boat Parade will be Saturday, December 18 at 6:30 p.m. from the C-15 canal (Boca-Delray city limits) south to the Broward County line, sponsored by Su-mmit Brokerage, The Boca Raton Resort & Club, Marine Industries of PBC, barry r. epstein associates and others. • Temple Beth Shira 5th annual Yard Sale will be Sunday December 19th from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Call 912-1453 for one of the only 200 spaces available. 5,000 attended last year/They expect 6,000 this year. • The swing and jazz preservation society season kicked off Tuesday at the Spanish River Church, 2400 Yamato Road. The next concert is Dec. 21. Tickets are $18 for members, $26 for nonmembers. Subscriptions are available at $102 for six shows. Membership in the society is $30 the first year, $25 every year thereafter. Call 561-499-9976 or visit http:// www.swingandjazzpreservationsociety.org. • The Ultimate Jersey Boys tribute concert, Frankie Valli and the 4 Seasons will be the Temple Beth Shira fundraiser on Saturday, Jan. 8 at 8 p.m. in the Countess de Hoernle Theatre at Spanish River High School. Call 9121453 for the $35 tickets. • Movies opening this week include The Tourist, The Chronicles of Narnia and Hemingway’s Garden of Eden.
Barry Epstein, APR, is a noted public relations, marketing and political consultant based in Boca Raton, and is president of the West Boca Chamber of Commerce (www.westbocachamber.com). His website is www.publicrelations.nu
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