GOODlife Magazine September/October 2019 - for King & Country

for KING &

Fall Festival Guide

COUNTRY Growing Old Graciously

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CONTENTS 06

GOODlife EVENTS Upcoming local happenings for you and your family

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MERCY THAT TRANSFORMS Nancy Alcorn’s story of how relentless grace turned into a lifetime of loving women in need

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FALL FESTIVALS The season of festivals has arrived— be in the know about where to go!

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SIMPLE WAYS TO ACHEIVE THE LIFE YOU WANT What if you gave it your all instead of settling for mediocrity?

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HOLISTIC LIVING & THE GOSPEL OF GRACE The Bible’s take on a healthdriven lifestyle

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GROWING OLD GRACIOUSLY We all age, but by God’s grace, we don’t have to become curmudgeonly.

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GOODlife TRAVEL Amicalola Falls: Find space in the North Ga Mountains to rest, play, and reset from Atlanta life.

FEATURED COVER: FOR KING & COUNTRY Sitting down with Joel Smallbone, one of the iconic For King & Country duo, we discuss the heart behind their latest breakout songs “joy” & “God Only Knows.”

Publisher / Editor Kristen Bland

Creative Director Gabriel Bland

Assistant Editor Autumn Burr

Contributing Writer Sharita Hanley

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EVENTS Divine Women’s Conference

Thurs, Sept 19 – Sat, Sept 21 Free Chapel Church, Gainesville An upbeat women’s conference for mothers, sisters, daughters, and friends to worship together, learn together, and live life together. Hosted by Jentezen and Cherise Franklin, with guests Dawncheré Wilkerson, Lysa Terkeurst, and more! www.divineconference.org

Come To The Table Tour

Fri, Sept 20 at 7pm Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church, Marietta A night of laughter, digging into Scripture, and cooking around the table together.

Featuring Danielle Walker, Angie Smith, and Annie F. Downs. www.mtbethel.org/event

True Conference 2019

Thurs, Sept 26 – Fri, Sept 27 Victory World Church, Norcross Passionate worship, sensory experiences, pampering stations, and inspirational messages by Jackie Hill Perry and Pastor Colleen Rouse. www.victoryatl.com/true

Atlanta Home Show and Outdoor Living Expo

Living Proof Live – Beth Moore

Sat, Sept 28 from 8:30am-3:30pm First Baptist Church Woodstock Experience the powerful biblical teaching of best-selling author Beth Moore. www.lifeway.com/livingproof

Catalyst Atlanta

Wed, Oct 2 – Fri, Oct 4 Infinite Energy Center Catalyst is a 3-day experience to help leaders like you build great churches, grow strong teams, and be a catalyst for change. www.catalystleader.com/atlanta

Fri, Sept 27 – Sun, Sept 29 Cobb Galleria , Atlanta Over 300 exhibitors will showcase some of the newest and most innovative interior and exterior home improvement products and services. Don’t miss Ty Pennington from TLC’s “Trading Spaces.” www.fallatlantahomeshow.com

Women’s Empowerment Day

Sat, Oct 5 at 10am Janice Overbeck Office, Marietta This day of women’s empowerment will be a panel style seminar featuring female business owners and leaders, including seminar, workshops, food and fellowship. www.janiceoverbeck.com/events

Jeremy Camp at the North Georgia Fair

Fri, Sept 20 at 7pm JR Miller Park, Marietta Free concert with paid park admission. www.northgeorgiastatefair.com

for King & Country in Concert Woofstock

Supporting Our Military Heroes

Sat, Sept 21 Woodstock First Baptist Church A motorcycle ride with LOE and a car and truck show, benefiting Cherokee Veterans Community. www.supportingourmilitaryheroes.org

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Sat, Sept 28 – Sun, Sept 29 Smyrna Market Village “Atlanta’s Largest Pet Party In The Park” is one of the largest pet adoption events in the Southeast with 40,000 pet lovers attending over two days. It features a variety of activities for the whole family (including pets!) to enjoy: live music, dog contests, pet adoptions, pet vendors, arts and crafts, delicious food trucks, and ice-cold beverages. Free admission. www.woofstockatl.com

Thurs, Oct 10 at 7pm Fox Theatre, Atlanta Live concert – Burn the Ships Tour www.forkingandcountry.com

Taste of Acworth

Sat, Oct 12 from 10am-6pm Downtown Acworth In addition to great food, there will be two stages providing live entertainment throughout the day, including the fun fashion show at noon and dog show at 3pm.

Also includes a kid zone. www.acworthbusiness.org

Atlanta Concours d’Elegance

Sat, Oct 19 – Sun, Oct20 Terry Perry Studios, Atlanta The premier auto show showcases hundreds of vintage and modern-day cars from some of the most valuable and rare collections nationwide.

The new location blends the historic atmosphere with the vibrant Atlanta community and brings thousands of enthusiasts, spectators, and their families together. www.atlantaconcours.org

Avalon in Concert

Fri, Oct 25 at 6:30pm Due West UMC, Marietta With their first headlining tour in ten years, Avalon is back with The Called Tour! Joined by special guest Reagan Strange from The Voice. www.avalonlive.org

Taste of Kennesaw

Sat, Nov 2 from 11am-6pm Downtown Kennesaw The town will be filled with the sweet smell of food from over forty restaurants, a variety of kids’ activities, and the sounds of Rock ‘n Roll.

MercyMe in Concert

Sat, Nov 2 at 7pm Infinite Energy Center, Duluth Imagine Nation Tour, featuring MercyMe and special guest David Crowder. www.mercyme.org

Divine Design Conference

Fri, Nov 8 – Sat, Nov 9 Grace Ministries, Marietta Ever wonder what the grand scheme of life is all about?

What is your purpose? Come find your Divine Design and God’s destiny for you. www.gmint.org

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Nancy Alcorn:

Mercy that Transforms

B Y: S H A R I TA H A N L E Y

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No matter how hard I tried to push their love away, it didn’t go anywhere,” Nancy Alcorn reminisces. She was seventeen years old, and although she liked her Christian friends, she didn’t take them too seriously. “I was basically persecuting the church like the apostle Paul but on a much lesser scale. I didn’t get anybody thrown in jail or try to kill anybody, but I did have Christian friends who tried to witness to me, and I made it my business to mock and make fun of them.” But the more she ridiculed them, the more they reached out her. The more she mocked their beliefs, the more they prayed for her. The more she rejected them, the more they wanted to get to know her. The more she lashed out at them, the more their temperaments stayed the same. Steadfast. Constant.

Rooted. “I’d never experienced [love like] that before,” she explains, and although she didn’t know it at the time, the love and mercy she experienced then would ultimately become the groundwork for God’s calling on her life. So much so that she’s now the Founder and President of Mercy Multiplied, a residential counseling program that helps women ages thirteen to thirty-two break free from life-controlling issues.

But it all started from a moment of unexpected mercy and an unsuspecting invitation.

An Invitation “We had just graduated from high school, and everybody was ready to go their separate ways and go to college,” she recalls. “I was just so empty because I’d experienced the party lifestyle at a young age, and it left me feeling really alone,” she continues, revealing she had started feeling guilty about how she had treated her Christian friends. Assuming they would retaliate against her in an attempt to “get her back” for the ways she had treated them in the past, she refused to let her guard down. To her surprise, they extended her an invitation instead.

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“I got asked to attend this youth service, and young people were giving their testimonies. And the girl who invited me was the one I had treated the worst of all. So, I ended up going—not because I wanted to go, but because I started feeling guilty for treating her so badly. At least that’s what I thought it was. Once I got there and got exposed to all these young people telling their testimonies about how they had overcome all these unbelievable things, it made me want to receive Christ because I had been questioning what life was really all about.” So she did. She asked Jesus Christ into her heart and to show her what life was really about, and He did. He showed her that there were women who felt just as empty as she had—women who needed mercy, unconditional love, and an invitation to a changed life, just like she’d received.

A Harsh Reality Not long after she graduated from high school and started college, Nancy started working with troubled young girls. “I spent five years working at a girls’ correctional facility for juvenile delinquent girls.

And believe it or not but, it was set up just like a women’s prison, except it was for girls from the state of Tennessee. There were probably 300 girls there at any one period of time, and they were sent by juvenile court judges for committing criminal offenses, and usually they were there for a oneyear period.” Excited about her own salvation, Nancy was eager to share her faith with the girls but couldn’t because it was a government program which required separation from church and state.

“It was frustrating because, as a new believer, I was excited about my position there because I could help the girls understand that their past did not have to destroy their future, that they could be forgiven an have a new life. And yet, during that five-year period, I saw girls do their year-long time and go back to the same neighborhoods they came from—and the pimps, the drugs, and the gang members were waiting on them.

I knew what was at stake, and I also knew that some of them had been abused as

children and had horrible things happen “By the time I finished my degree in Criminal to them.” Nancy continues, “Eventually, we Justice and started on my Master’s degree, I began to hear of those girls returning to the got recruited by the State Department of same influences that got them into trouble Children Services to come to work in the in the first place. Some of them died from Emergency Child Protection unit in the city drug overdose, were killed in street gang of Nashville. They wanted someone who fights, murdered by their pimps. And some had criminal justice experience who wasn’t of them, past the age of eighteen, went afraid to go out with the police all hours to prison—and now it wasn’t just a year of the night. My unit was on call twentysentence, but for life. And there were also four hours a day,” she explains. “It was not some that committed suicide before their uncommon to be called in the middle of eighteenth birthday because they felt like the night to go out and meet the police at they had no hope. I knew that God wanted a home or hotel or any place where a child them to understand that He loved them was being used and abused. It was just so and He would forgive them and that they hard. I started having nightmares and had potential and that He had a plan and found myself kind of angry at God, really. I purpose for their life. But because of the kept thinking, Why do you have me here, I’m state-controlled environment and broken having nightmares. I mean, I battled with depression and wanting to hurt the people system, many of them didn’t know that.” that were hurting the children, and it was just a very difficult time,” Nancy admits.

“I was like, ‘Lord, I don’t want to do this anymore.’ I got really quiet, and I heard that still, small voice say to me, ‘You just spent five years dealing with angry teenage girls, and now I’m taking you back in time and showing you why they were so angry. And I’m preparing you for something in the future, so you just stay put, and I’ll let you know the right time.’”

“Altogether, it was a total of eight years I spent with government work before I felt God release me to start Mercy in 1983.

Basically, I can sum up that eight years with one sentence: God has not equipped the government to heal broken hearts and set captives free; He’s called us, His people to do that.”

The Call to Multiply Mercy The call to start Mercy Multiplied came from three distinct core values. “God said, ‘If you do these three things, I will make sure that all your needs are met,’” Nancy explains, admitting that she didn’t understand how abiding to all three principles would be possible.

But ultimately, God told her to make the program free of charge, to tithe ten percent of the organization’s september/october 2019

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income to other faith-based programs, and to not take any “My message to anyone out there who is hurting and suffering government funding or money that would restrict the flow of in silence—maybe you’ve been sexually abused, maybe you’ve sharing Christ. had multiple abortions, maybe you’re afraid to speak up because you’ve been bullied by your abuser or someone else—whatever Bewildered but still believing the Lord, Nancy, who had just left the case may be, my message to you is there’s no such thing as her job and had only $1,000 in her pocket, moved from Tennessee a life that cannot be transformed. God loves you. He knows to Louisiana, where she didn’t know anyone. “So, I went and got everything about you.” She adds, “There’s no condemnation plugged into a local church, and then I started getting invited or shame, even to anyone who has made the choice to get an to speak at civic/city groups because word had gotten out that I abortion. I don’t want to see them suffer in silence or live in had moved there to create a program for young women. And the regret. I want to see them set free and for them to know that God local newspaper did a story about me that was like a feature story loves them so they can release that pain to God. He can heal any on the front page of the paper, and so people started calling and part of their heart that’s a result of that pain.” inviting me to speak. And by grace, things came together. We bought our first facility, and pretty soon, there was a waiting list.”

Transfigured and Transformed Lives

Thirty-six years later, Mercy Multiplied has helped thousands of women from all over the United States break free from lifecontrolling issues, such as anxiety, depression, sexual abuse, eating disorders, self-harm, addictions, unplanned pregnancy, Nancy Alcorn is the first to admit she wasn’t born a saint. She and sex trafficking. With residential homes in Monroe partied. She drank and even dabbled in illicit substances at one (Louisiana), Nashville, St. Louis, New Zealand, Canada, and the time in her life. But she encountered mercy that transformed United Kingdom, God has really used Nancy to multiply his love her life and transfigured her destiny. And that has been her life’s and mercy throughout the world. mission: to continue God’s work of multiplying mercy, mercy that transforms lives, transfigures hearts, and rekindles lost and “We also have a licensed adoption agency [as part of our services]. broken souls.

We feel like our job is to help women come to Christ and to teach them how to be led by the Spirit of God. If they want to keep “I remember when I was first saved, I said to my friends, ‘I’ll the baby, we will prepare them for parenting, and if they choose worship with you guys and read the Bible with you all, but to put the child up for adoption, they get to make a list of what remember, I’m not like you guys. I will never pray out loud, and they want in a couple and choose who that couple is,” Nancy says, I’ll never sing in front of anybody and tell my testimony. This is adding that she prevailed in a debate against Planned Parenthood going to be a very private thing.’ And I think the largest crowd personnel at Vanderbilt University. “With us challenging them I’ve ever spoken in front of is 50,000, so we better watch what we that ‘If it’s not about money, then why charge for abortion?’ and say,” she shares, laughing. telling the audience that our services were free of charge, we won It’s no secret that God is in the business of transforming lives. the debate hands down.”

May Nancy’s story remind us that the love and mercy we show But Nancy’s heart isn’t set on debates. She’s instead focused on others can indeed transform lives through the power of Christ. healing women and setting them free through the power of Christ.

Fall Festival GUIDE 2019

HELEN OKTOBERFEST

HELEN, GA | HELEN FESTHALLE SEPTEMBER 5 ‐ OCTOBER 27 Celebrating its 49th year, this event opens with a parade and features German music, dancing, food, and drinks! It draws thousands from around the world and is frequently included in Top Oktoberfest lists because of its authentic atmosphere.

7TH ANNUAL ATLANTA KOSHER BBQ FESTIVAL

SANDY SPRINGS, GA | CITY GREEN AT CITY SPRINGS CENTER SEPTEMBER 8 Presented by the Hebrew Order of David, the festival draws about 3000 members of the community every year. You do not have to be Jewish to love Kosher BBQ or even to field a team for the BBQ competition. Showcasing local Kosher caterers, community organizations, and artisans, the event also includes a huge Kids’ Zone and live music throughout the day.

ATLANTA GREEK FESTIVAL

ATLANTA, GA | GREEK ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL SEPTEMBER 13 ‐ 15 This signature “Taste of Greece” celebration welcomes you with philoxenia and kefi. Come experience warm hospitality, exuberant dancing, sumptuous wines, unique artisan jewelry and apparel, rich history, deep faith, and some of the most delicious food in Atlanta.

MOUNTAIN MUSIC FESTIVAL

BLAIRSVILLE, GA | VOGEL STATE PARK SEPTEMBER 14 This popular event includes Appalachian, Bluegrass, and Gospel music. There will also be art and craft booths with handmade items for sale, and food concessions provided by Vogel Volunteers/Friends of Georgia State Parks.

NORTH GEORGIA STATE FAIR

MARIETTA, GA | JIM R. MILLER PARK SEPTEMBER 6 ‐ OCTOBER 28 The 87th annual North Georgia State Fair is the largest fair in metro Atlanta. It features live music, free attractions and shows, blue ribbon competitions, flower shows, live farm and exotic animals, dancers and performers, fun food, and rides.

BLUE RIDGE BLUES AND BBQ MUSIC FESTIVAL

BLUE RIDGE, GA | DOWNTOWN BLUE RIDGE SEPTEMBER 21 The sounds of Blues music and the sweet smell of BBQ from local and regional cookers will fill the air as families and groups of friends enjoy the unique setting that is a perfect backdrop for this early fall event.

MARIETTA STREETFEST

MARIETTA, GA | GLOVER PARK, MARIETTA SQUARE SEPTEMBER 21 ‐ 22 Shop for arts and crafts, hear grassroots music, see classic cars, and visit the kids’ activity zone.

ROSWELL ARTS FESTIVAL

ROSWELL, GA | HISTORIC TOWN SQUARE SEPTEMBER 21 - 22 This event features artists and local entertainment, children’s activities, food trucks, and a healthy dose of small town charm.

SUWANEE FEST

SUWANEE, GA | SUWANEE TOWN CENTER PARK SEPTEMBER 21 - 22 This annual two-day celebration of community returns with nearly 200 vendors and exhibitors, 15 entertainment acts, a family fun zone, and an amazing parade.

september/october 2019

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PUMPKIN FESTIVAL

STONE MOUNTAIN, GA | STONE MOUNTAIN PARK SEPTEMBER 21 ‐ NOVEMBER 3 Play by day, glow by night. Take in all of the splendor that autumn provides while you enjoy park attractions, fun-filled games, live shows, and more! Take a journey through classic storybook tales that come to life in 10 new themed areas, featuring 40 newly imagined scenes with glowing lights, massive carved pumpkins, bubbles, fog, and plenty of notso-spooky, glow-in-the-dark adventures after sunset.

ALPHARETTA SCARECROW HARVEST

ALPHARETTA, GA | BROOKE STREET PARK SEPTEMBER 13 ‐ 15 The streets will be lined with over 100 scarecrows to celebrate the town’s fall spirit. Join in on the free family entertainment that includes a DJ, games of crow-cornhole, quirky face painting, food trucks, historical demos, artsy activities, stimulating story-telling, and engaging inflatables.

ROCKTOBERFEST

GEORGIA STATE FAIR

HAMPTON, GA | ATLANTA MOTOR SPEEDWAY SEPTEMBER 27 - OCTOBER 6 The Georgia State Fair is celebrating its 172nd year with all sorts of exciting rides, games, food, live music, and daily attractions.

SANDY SPRINGS FESTIVAL

SANDY SPRINGS, GA | HERITAGE GREEN SEPTEMBER 28 - 29 Two exciting days of art, live music, cultural performances, a pet parade, Chalk Walk Art Competition, 5K/10K race, children’s programming, classic rides, gourmet and festival food options, and much more.

DULUTH FALL FESTIVAL

DULUTH, GA | DOWNTOWN DULUTH SEPTEMBER 28 - 29 One of the most successful festivals in the Southeast, this event features a carnival, parade, concert, Donut Dash 5K road race, arts and crafts, food vendors, Man’s Corner and Kids’ Korner, and worship on the Town Green.

LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN, GA | ROCK CITY OCTOBER 5 - 27 (SATURDAYS & SUNDAYS) Celebrating its 13th year, this premiere autumn festival includes live German music, polka lessons, German food, specialty beers, the Fall Fairy, Ik the Troll King, a live birds of prey show, and fun for the whole family.

FALL FAMILY FUN DAYS AND SUNDAY FUN DAYS

THE ROCK, GA | THE ROCK RANCH OCTOBER 5 - NOVEMBER 2 Visit the farm for themed fun events including hot air balloons, smashing pumpkins, super heroes, and monster truck shows!

TRANSFIGURATION FALL FESTIVAL

MARIETTA, GA | TRANSFIGURATION CATHOLIC CHURCH OCTOBER 5 This community festival features food, fun, games, music, and entertainment for the whole family!

GEORGIA MOUNTAIN FALL FESTIVAL

RIVERFEST ARTS AND CRAFTS FESTIVAL

HIAWASSEE, GA | GEORGIA MOUNTAIN FAIRGROUNDS OCTOBER 11 - 19 The 9-day event features exciting musical performances, arts & craft vendors, educational demonstrations, a flower show, and the ever-popular Georgia’s Official State Fiddlers’ Convention.

CUMMING COUNTRY FAIR & FESTIVAL

CHALKTOBERFEST

CANTON, GA | ETOWAH RIVER PARK SEPTEMBER 28 - 29 The 35th annual event features over 200 arts & crafts vendors, concession stands, and entertainers, as well as a children’s area with rides and activities.

CUMMING, GA | CUMMING FAIRGROUNDS OCTOBER 3 - 13 Celebrating its 25th year, the fair promotes safe, clean, family fun with exciting attractions and shows, live music, all your favorite fair foods, spectacular carnival rides and kiddie rides, historical heritage & native Indian village, & more.

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MARIETTA, GA | HISTORIC MARIETTA SQUARE OCTOBER 12 ‐ 13 Enjoy your afternoon listening to live music from local artists, watching professional Chalk Artists chalk the streets, eating great food, and sampling craft beers and wines at the beautiful downtown square.

BLAIRSVILLE SORGHUM FESTIVAL

GOLD RUSH DAYS FESTIVAL

BLAIRSVILLE, GA | MEEKS PARK OCTOBER 12 - 13 AND 19 - 20 With over 300 vendors, the festival offers two exciting weekends of food, handmade arts and crafts, a parade, an antique car show, and more.

DAHLONEGA, GA | DAHLONEGA TOWN SQUARE OCTOBER 19 - 20 The square is taken over by thousands coming to see fall colors peaking and to celebrate Dahlonega’s 1828 discovery of gold. Over 300 art and craft exhibitors and food vendors gather around the public square and historic district in support of this annual event.

OWL O’WEEN HOT AIR BALLOON FESTIVAL

SOUTHEASTERN COWBOY FESTIVAL & SYMPOSIUM

KENNESAW, GA | KSU’S FIFTH THIRD BANK STADIUM OCTOBER 18 - 19 A 2-day family-friendly event at Kennesaw State University, featuring amazing balloon glows, trick-or-treating, tethered balloon rides, live music, vendor marketplace, food trucks, drinks, entertainment, interactive kids area, and more.

CATERSVILLE, GA | THE BOOTH MUSEUM OCTOBER 24 - 27 The largest Western-themed event in the South! Experience the West through events such as gunfight re-enactments, Native American dancing, art-related events with featured artists Scott Christensen and Quang Ho, a concert by Riders In The Sky, children’s activities, Cowboy Church, and so much more!

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A Point and a Purpose G ur r & B y : Au t u m n B

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he room was filled with a few hundred people sitting and listening as a small boy about five or six years old stood on his chair, nervously holding a microphone, sharing a story. To the two gentlemen sitting on the stage, he expressed heartfelt thanks in his childlike way for a song they had written. This song had helped him cope with the loss of his mother the previous year. As the boy sat down, the woman seated next to him stood, wiping away tears from her eyes, choked up as she took the mic and offered to expand on the story. She shared that, the year prior, the young boy’s mother had been killed in a car accident by a drunk driver and that, after some time had passed, the adults in the family had resolved that they were going to forgive the young man who had taken their loved one’s life. When the family explained to the boy their decision to forgive the other driver, he responded by saying, “I’m glad you’ve decided that. I already forgave him.” And the lady retelling this story, barely able to hold back the tears, revealed that the song that had been so instrumental in helping the young boy to press on through his sorrow was fittingly called “joy,” a number one hit by For King and Country.

And the two men he had thanked were Joel and Luke Smallbone, the brothers who make up the GRAMMY- and Dove-award-winning duo.

As it did for that little boy, “joy” inspires us to consciously choose to be joyful despite our circumstances or bleak environment, with lyrics that include: Gotta get that fire, fire, back in my bones Before my hard heart turns into stone So won’t somebody please pass the megaphone I’ll shout it on the count of three One, two, three Oh, hear my prayer tonight, I’m singing to the sky Give me strength to raise my voice, let me testify Oh, hear my prayer tonight, ‘cause this is do or die The time has come to make a choice

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nd

And I choose joy Let it move you, let it move, let it move you Yeah, I choose joy Let it move you, let it move, let it move you

A Deep Impact

To have a song make such a significant impact on someone else’s life must be profound for a band whose name is derived from an old English battle cry, where soldiers chose to stand for something greater than themselves, to bleed for what they believe, by chanting: “For king and country! For king and country!” With Jesus as their king, the duo serves their fellow countrymen through songs of hope and encouragement.

Their music is obviously making an impression on many. Along with “joy,” several of their songs so far have reached number one in the charts: “Priceless,” “Fix My Eyes,” “Shoulders,” and, most recently, “God Only Knows,” which includes the following lyrics: You keep a cover over every single secret So afraid if someone saw them, they would leave But somebody, somebody, somebody sees you Somebody, somebody will never leave you God only knows what you’ve been through God only knows what they say about you God only knows how it’s killing you But there’s a kind of love that God only knows God only knows what you’ve been through God only knows what they say about you God only knows the real you There’s a kind of love that God only knows

“One of the great tools we can use in this coming together is breaking down this ideology that we’ve got it all sorted out on our own.”

The Social Side

Joel, the elder of the two brothers, tells us that “joy” and “God Only Knows” are two of the songs in particular on Burn the Ships, their third album, that he considers to “have this very social side to them.”

That is, they touch on the fact that, despite our tendency as humans to try to be self-reliant, we need God and others to join alongside us, to help bear each other’s burdens, and to seek unity with one another in spite of our differences.

Joel points out that all throughout the New Testament, Jesus and his disciples and the first-century Christians regularly worked together in groups of at least two or more. The followers were “people from different places and different walks of life and different religious beliefs at that time.” Joel’s hope is that he and Luke—originally from Sydney, Australia, but raised in Nashville, Tennessee—having recently become U.S. citizens, can encourage Americans “in a very defining time in this country’s history” to similarly set aside their differences, “whether it’s gender or color of skin, or whether its political position or fill-in-the-blank…to love our neighbor as we love ourselves, to love our enemies, and to not judge.” God has really been impressing on him that “what unites us is so much stronger than what divides us.”

The need for God’s people to become “more corporately based than individually based” is the other thing the Lord has been placing on his heart lately. “One of the great tools we can use in this coming together is breaking down this ideology that we’ve got it all sorted out on our own,” Joel asserts, pointing out that we literally couldn’t survive without the many people directly or indirectly involved in our lives, including our families and friends, our pastors, police officers, farmers and food distributors, and so forth. “We’re completely dependent on the people around us. We are completely dependent upon God to keep the rhythm of our heart going,” he professes. We were made for community.

“This whole idea of being a Jesus follower is not only directly tied to community, but it’s also directly tethered to weakness. When I am weak, He is strong. You’ve got some of the hallmarks of our faith being imprisoned for years of their life, on house arrest; you’ve got them being hung upside down. You’ve got the lead man, Jesus— you’ve got Him being wrongly accused and being put on trial and being hung among criminals. This whole idea of what we stand for is, actually, when we are we weak, God is strong. And yet, kind of coupled with that individualistic mindset, there’s this idea of, ‘Well, I’ll flex my muscles, then God will be really lifted up,’” Joel explains, alluding to how this biblical idea of dependence on God for strength is countercultural to our society’s belief in the lie that independence makes us strong.

In addition to its social aspect of reliance on the Lord and others, “God Only Knows” is also very social in the sense that it speaks to and draws the interest of a vast range of listeners through its

september/october 2019

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“There’s almost seven billion people on this planet, but you are unique, and you are fearfully and wonderfully made in the image of God, and there is a point and purpose to your existence.” message of unconditional love. Joel expounds on the song’s title phrase: “I remember when we wrote it because I said to Luke and the guys we were with, ‘Man, isn’t it such an interesting concept that we throw this phrase around so flippantly?’ And it’s usually negative, right? Only God knows why these sorts of silly things happen. But if you really dig into the truth of the phrase, it’s really a deep truth…” He points out that there’s an “incredible amount of intimate information that God only knows, and yet He still says, ‘I choose you. I love you. I accept you.’”

“People in general, and I say people with a capital ‘P’—religious or irreligious, from different walks of life, whether it’s Timbaland or Sydney from Echosmith—people are coming and posting on social media, ‘Man, this is my song!’ and ‘We want to be a part of this.’ And that’s been a great solidifier and a real encouragement that we are at a place where, I think, we’re all starving for this kind of truth.”

Contemplating further, he attests, “The greatest, deepest drive of mankind, I believe, is to know and be known.”

An Abundance of Talent

Joel and Luke have always enjoyed developing their talents to serve God and impact others—from their teen years when they worked as roadies for their older sister, Christian music artist Rebecca St. James, to young adulthood when they formed their band to pursue their own musical career. In recent years, they have also expanded into the movie business.

Priceless, a full-length film released in 2016 features For King and Country’s song of the same name and stars Joel as the leading character. As if their family didn’t have enough talent, it is directed by another of the seven Smallbone siblings, Ben, and produced by Luke and their father, David. Inspired by true events, the story is about a man who gets involved in a sex trafficking ring by mistake and, in turn, resolves to rescue the victimized women. The song

lyrics, including the chorus below, echo the passion Joel and Luke share for honoring women and helping people understand their own true worth: I see you dressed in white Every wrong made right I see a rose in bloom At the sight of you O, so priceless Irreplaceable Unmistakable Inspirational Darling, it’s beautiful I see it all in you O, so priceless

True Value

In a culture where it is so easy to seek our self-worth in all the wrong places, Joel reminds us where our value really comes from.

To someone who is feeling insignificant or downcast, he would say, “I deeply, genuinely believe and have sensed in my own life that there is a point and a purpose for why you were created, that you are unique. There’s almost seven billion people on this planet, but you are unique, and you are fearfully and wonderfully made in the image of God, and there is a point and purpose to your existence.”

When life seems hopeless, and God only knows what you’re going through, remember that He loves you deeply and considers you priceless. And just like the young child who found solace through a For King and Country song after losing his mother, make the intentional decision to choose joy!

Don’t miss your chance to see For King & Country LIVE during their “Burn the Ships Tour” here in Atlanta, October 10th at the Fox Theatre! www.ForKingAndCountry.com/Pages/Ships

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S I M P L E WAY S TO AC H I E V E T H E

Life You Want

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BY JOYCE MEYER think it’s healthy to stop periodically and take inventory of our lives. It’s important to ask, “Am I really living the life Christ died for me to have? Or am I settling for something less?”

Regardless of what’s happened in the past or what obstacles seem to be in our way, God has a big, full life in store for each one of us. But it’s up to us whether we’re going to get the best out of life and make the most of our time, talents, relationships, and opportunities.

The book of Genesis contains a great lesson in this area. It shares the story of Abraham’s father, Terah, who gathered his family, packed up everything, and set out for his ultimate destination— Canaan.

However, Genesis 11:31 tells us, “...Together they set out from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to Canaan. But when they came to Haran, they settled there” (NIV).

I wonder how many people start out to do one thing in life but settle somewhere along the way because they get tired or because it’s convenient. It’s not really what they want, but it’s something they think they can “settle for.”

Are there areas in your life where you have settled, or maybe just haven’t made as much progress as you had hoped?

Are You Settling for Mediocre?

The Lord has called us to excellence, and we don’t have to settle for mediocrity. The word mediocre literally means “to live halfway between success and failure.” And that’s where so many people live; 18

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they haven’t completely failed, but they’re also not where they really want to be.

This applies to every area of our lives. Maybe you’ve begun studying the Bible, and you have a goal to really know God’s Word and develop an intimate, close relationship with Him. If that’s the case, don’t settle for just reading a chapter a day to “put your time in”—stay determined to make it a priority and reap the benefits of truly knowing God. Or maybe you have a goal to lose twenty pounds. If so, make a decision that you’re not going to give up when it gets difficult. Even if you have a bad day and actually gain weight, be determined to bounce back the next day!

Sometimes we get used to the place where we are and forget there’s something better. Life gets busy, complicated, or even comfortable, and we lose sight of the dreams and goals we used to have. That’s when we need to stir ourselves up and become determined to attain every single part of God’s plan for our lives.

What If ...

Let’s take a few moments to play the “What If?” game: What if you decided to give God your all and seek Him with your whole heart?

What if you demanded the best from yourself instead of settling for “just average”?

What if you stopped making excuses why you can’t accomplish your dreams and goals?

What if you changed the way you speak and refused to say anything negative?

What if you started confronting problems instead of running away from them?

What if you decided to stop procrastinating?

Can you imagine where you would be this time next year if you followed through with just one or two of these things?

Give It Your All The Bible is full of scriptures that encourage us to do our best. Second Timothy 2:15 says, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed...” (NIV).

I love that phrase: “Do your best.” It may be easier to go halfway, but what could happen if you decided to give your best in your marriage, at your job, or any other area of your life?

Some of the greatest blessings in my life now are things that have required the most effort. Today, my husband, Dave, and I have the awesome privilege of sharing God’s Word with millions of people through Joyce Meyer Ministries. Many times over the years, it required tremendous sacrifice and the decision to keep moving forward when we felt like giving up.

Yes, it required time and effort to do everything God placed in our hearts to do, but I am so glad we didn’t stop halfway when things got tough. I thank God that I didn’t get discouraged and quit during the days when only fifty people were attending my conferences.

The truth is if you will give your best and do what you can do, God will do His part and do what you can’t do!

So, don’t settle for mediocre or halfway. God has an incredible, fulfilling, and exciting life just waiting for you.

Yes, it’s going to require effort and determination; it may also require you to push past fear so you can enjoy greater freedom and success. But I promise you this: Whatever it takes, it’s always worth it.

Joyce Meyer is a New York Times bestselling author and founder of Joyce Meyer Ministries, Inc. She has authored more than 100 books, including Battlefield of the Mind and Unshakeable Trust: Find the Joy of Trusting God at All Times (Hachette). For more information, visit www.joycemeyer.org.

Please note: The views and opinions expressed throughout this publication and/ or website are those of the respective authors and do not necessarily reflect those of Joyce Meyer Ministries.

Come be a part of the excitement as we move forward to a greater future!

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Organic Food, Essential Oils, and the Gospel of Grace

By: Stacy reaoch

O

ne of the latest buzz words in Christian circles, and everywhere else, is “organic.” As a society, we are spending increasing amounts of money buying organic produce, cage-free eggs, and grass-fed beef. Anything with the label “natural” is quickly becoming the preferred method, even when we’re not totally sure what “all-natural” really entails. For some, essential oils are replacing traditional medicine, with promises to heal across the spectrum, from a simple cold to chronic illness.

While eating organic foods and using non-traditional medicine certainly can be valuable, the danger comes when we develop a sense of superiority to go along with it. In our attempt to create a more organic, natural lifestyle, it can be easy to begin looking down our noses at someone who isn’t on our bandwagon. When promoting our own choices for food and medicine is becoming the latest form of evangelism, we are showing where our hope really lies—and that we are close to forgetting the gospel we say we hold dear.

Let me be clear that I am not against healthy eating. I wholeheartedly agree that what we eat has a significant effect on us, and we are to be wise stewards of our bodies. Bodily training, which includes responsible eating, is of some value (1 Timothy 4:8). But my growing concern in our Christian communities is that we be careful not to become more passionate about convincing others to feed their families the same way we do, rather than pointing them to Christ.

Disputable Matters

A dear friend of mine in women’s ministry tells me of a few passionate pleas she received to lead Bible studies on healthy eating.

But does the Bible really tell us enough about what we should eat for a whole course? And do we have a right as believers to tell others what is the more biblical menu option?

Romans 14 addresses exactly these kinds of issues. Choices with food and medicine are exactly that—choices. And these fall into a gray area in the Bible known as “disputable matters.” Paul writes in Romans 14:1–4: As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who

abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him.

Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

Here one believer feels the freedom to eat meat (despite its associations with the local pagan religion), while another is convinced he can only eat vegetables.

Paul states that these choices with food, even when the stakes are this high, are a matter of personal conscience. One person is not deemed more righteous or godly because of the restrictions they place on themselves, or don’t place on themselves. God has welcomed both believers—and we should too.

We should ask ourselves: Are we promoting a welcoming atmosphere when we’re strongly stating our opinions on food and medicine in a group of people?

What is our tone of voice communicating to those around us when we’re explaining our lifestyle choices? Could we be repelling others by our seemingly haughty and opinionated views on things that are really a matter of personal preference?

Where Is Your Righteousness?

When we strongly identify ourselves with a certain lifestyle choice, we evidence our temptation to find our identity and righteousness in that personal preference. Eating and schooling and vaccinations are areas of personal and family choice that can easily become our cause in life. How intent are you in trying to convert someone to the same schooling method as your family? Or are you out to get everyone to use the same oils as you, while looking down on a sister in Christ who just put their child on a round of antibiotics for an illness?

If we find our conversations continually revolving around our current pet issue, it’s time to ask whether that issue has become too important in our lives. If we’re constantly passing others information about the way we eat, treat illness, or school our kids, a red flag should be raised in our minds about what we’re really putting our hope in. As Christians, we have a center and hope that far surpasses these “disputable matters.”

Our One Great Cause Only in Christ do we find true wisdom, hope, and healing. It is his words, promises, and all-encompassing truth we should be most eager to pass along to others, not the latest studies reinforcing our family’s food choices as the wisest.

Let’s be known for what Christians are really to be known for: an unfading hope and trust in the power of Christ to change lives—no matter what you eat for breakfast.

Stacy Reaoch (@StacyReaoch) is the author of Wilderness Wanderings: Finding Contentment in the Desert Times of Life. She also writes regularly at her website, stacyreaoch.com. She and her husband, Ben, live in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with their four children.

Growing Old Graciously

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each us to number our days carefully so that we may develop wisdom in our hearts. — Psalm 90:12

I have officially entered that season of life where we talk about life having “seasons.” I’m getting old, y’all. I am daily, officially, unceremoniously getting old. I’m in that wonderful honorific limbo between youth and senior citizenship called “middle age,” named of course after the time in history where everybody lived behind moats and tried not to get poisoned. By high-sodium foods, I assume.

In all seriousness, though, I’ve thought a lot about my journey into and through middle-agedness, precipitated mainly by my transition out of the pastorate and into the pew and having pastored quite a few elderly saints before that transition.

I’ve seen men and women grow old well.

And I’ve seen some men and women grow old not so well. I do not want to be in the latter camp, and I’ve determined to begin thinking about it now, at the relatively young-old age of forty-two. I don’t want age to sneak up on me because that’s how one grows grouchy, I suspect. I may not be able to grow old gracefully—seriously, every morning something new creaks, and I am in danger of injury just from yawning— but I can certainly, by God’s grace, grow old graciously. Here’s how:

By:Jared C. Wilson Jared C. Wilson is the director of content strategy for Midwestern Seminary, managing editor of For The Church, and author of more than ten books, including Gospel Wakefulness, The Pastor’s Justification, and The Prodigal Church.

1. I ca n c o m m en d t h e yo u n g er g en er at i o n.

Did you know the millennials have ruined everything? All you have to do is go to Google, type in “millennials killed,” and the auto-fill will give you a complete rundown of all the ruination these whippersnappers have managed to craft in their few short september/october 2019

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years of cultural dominance. What these search results won’t tell you is that a lot of the stuff they killed probably should be dead. In any event, I’m not a huge fan of dogging on the younger generation, if only because it’s such an old man thing to do. Let people without the Spirit of God in their souls shake their fists and yell about which feet touch their lawn; let the rest of us encourage, exhort, and edify our little brothers and sisters.

Paul commands Timothy not to let anyone look down on his youthfulness.

I don’t want to be the kind of man who puts Timothy in the position of having to obey that command. What can I do? I can be appropriately and constructively critical, yes, but I can be abundantly more so cheerful. I can look at the younger generation (of believers, especially) and commend all the good I see in them, all the ways they are an improvement on my generation, all the advantages they have

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to spread the kingdom in fresh, exciting, and Jesus-magnifying ways. I want my younger siblings in Christ to know that I am for them.

be Uncle Rico, reliving my glory days vicariously through young people who increasingly find my reminiscing creepy or lame. I want to actually equip, to the best of my ability, the younger generation. I don’t know everything, but what I do know, I can share.

2. I ca n po u r i n to t h e yo u n g er g en er at i o n.

It is not enough, for me, to be a cheerleader. Often appreciation for youth without engagement leads us simply to idolize youthfulness or even inappropriately desire to remain young. I don’t want to

This is one reason why I’ve enjoyed this season of service at Midwestern Seminary and directing the Pastoral Training Center at Liberty Baptist Church [in Liberty, Missouri]—from these vantage

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points, I don’t have to be a passive observer of the younger generation’s ministry journey; I can actually assist. I don’t want to get crusty holding on to the ministry reins longer than I ought. I want, as I get older, to increasingly loosen my hold on those reins. Or, to use another metaphor, my leg of the race is winding up—I may not be done running yet, but it’s time to start passing the baton. We’ve all seen the older saints who refuse to give up control; it’s not a good look. So I don’t want to just clap my hands for the younger generation of ministers; I want to lend a hand.

3. I ca n p i c k m y c r i t i ca l s h ots.

I watch the evangelical landscape with dismay as older saint after older saint seemingly tarnishes their legacy with curmudgeonly criticism on the daily—getting wrapped up in intramural theological controversies, getting bogged down in never-ending culture wars, getting caught up in gross political idolatry. I don’t want to go that route. I want to be biblically critical, yes—to call out sins and false teaching in appropriate and prophetic ways. But I do not want to get so scared of change and transition that I make my last laps around this track about denominational in-fighting, vain social media disputations, soapbox fearmongering, and so on. I realize that any good I’ve accomplished, any commendable legacy I’ve created thus far, can easily be overshadowed by a graceless last season. I don’t want to go out like that, so I want to be more circumspect about the criticisms I make. The situation must be really dire—a real corruption to the church or a real obfuscation of the gospel—for me to weigh in with much energy. And I want to trust wise counselors who may help me see when I’ve misjudged even those situations.

4. I ca n r efr a i n fro m t ry i n g to r ei n v en t m ys elf.

When I was a young church planter in Nashville, I frequently shared a coffee shop workspace with a fifty-something pastor who wore embroidered skinny jeans and Affliction tees and had the spiky tips of his carefully crafted bedhead frosted. I thought to myself: Don’t be that guy. I don’t want to treat aging like something awful, nor youth like something all-precious. That’s a surefire way to get old gracelessly. As I get older, I hope that I am growing more in my security in Christ and thus becoming more free to be myself. I don’t have to hide behind a persona or a platform. I don’t have to pretend to be something I’m not. The truth is, people see through it anyway, especially the older I get, because the more awkward I get about it. One of the blessings of getting older is coming to care less what others think. I want to embrace that (in the right ways). It’s much less stressful.

5. I ca n k eep lea r n i n g a n d g row i n g.

As you get older, change appears to happen more quickly.

And as you get older, you adjust to change more poorly. One dynamic I’ve seen take place in churches in transition— intentional revitalizations or just the youth that comes with

growth—is that older saints watch their churches grow so quickly and thus change so quickly. And they already feel increasingly uncomfortable with a rapidly changing outside world. They’re getting slower, the world is getting faster.

It makes emotional sense, then, that the one place where they’ve felt at home (and more in control) is church. And it makes sense that changes in church can strike them as quick, unnecessary, or even wrong.

I want to commit now, even as I’m beginning to feel the angst of cultural and technological changes, as I am beginning to experience daily the reality that I’ve effectively aged out of the world’s target demographic, not to turn off my heart and brain. Too many older saints have effectively retired from the Christian life. I may not be able to keep up with the young, but I’d rather lag behind than drop out of the race. So I keep reading, keep watching, keep discussing. These young punks got a lot to learn from me. And I’ve got a lot to learn from them.

I want the second half of my life to find me still moving. Life is not a sprint; it’s a marathon. And I prefer to finish strong.

The righteous thrive like a palm tree and grow like a cedar tree in Lebanon. Planted in the house of the Lord, they thrive in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, healthy and green. — Psalm 92:12-14 september/october 2019

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Amicalola falls state park & Lodge

Dawsonville | GA By : Gabriel BLand

GA’s Highest Waterfall!

Newl Reno y vated !

L

ocated only two hours north of Atlanta is your mountaintop retreat for a perfect weekend reset. Situated in the center of Dawsonville, Ellijay, and Dahlonega is Amicalola Falls State Park & Lodge. Whether you can get away only for a day or for a full weekend, you’ll find refreshing, fun, and relaxing options for all ages, and even for those with limited mobility.

Feel the freedom to simply breathe, as you settle in to a beautiful room at the recently renovated Amicalola Falls Lodge, situated just a short walk from the top of tallest waterfall in the Southeast—Amicalola Falls—the spectacular natural attraction after which the park and lodge are named. And if your room faces the valley side of the lodge (highly recommended by my wife and me), the view from your mountaintop vantage point is that of the serene Chattahoochee National Forest.

But breathtaking scenery and breathe-easy peacefulness are not the only experiences afforded guests of the lodge.

For dining, The Maple Restaurant at the lodge, which has its own spectacular views, offers a wide array of American and Southern-style food choices, at different price points, from their a la carte menu or their buffets. Whatever you choose, you will find large portions and high quality taste. The chef and team work to make sure everyone has options they can enjoy, as they seek to accommodate all dietary restrictions, and to the best of their ability, allergies as well (which, in our experience, was very accommodating). All of this is handled with extremely personable service (definitely beyond what we were expecting), making every dining experience feel that much more special.

Now, for those who have had the chance to unwind, have satisfied their appetites, and are

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ready for a little something more, you are in the right place. The park offers opportunities, at all levels of physical activity, for adventure amid the beauty of nature, and the surrounding areas offer charming small towns to explore and enjoy.

At Amicalola Falls State Park, you can fly high in an aerial adventure park, featuring sixteen zip lines, or take on the challenges of 3-D archery, a GPS scavenger hunt, or even tomahawk throwing! The park also offers a wilderness survival camp and animal meet-and-greets. Of course, you can also do our personal favorite: take a hike (guided or on your own) up the trail leading to the renowned waterfall or one of the countless other trails to blaze.

Leaving the park’s miles of trails, campsites, cabins, and lodge behind, you are just a few minutes away from the start of the Appalachian Trail, from Burt’s Pumpkin Farm, and from the nearby towns of Dawsonville, Ellijay, and Dahlonega. For those who don’t fancy themselves the outdoor adventure type, Dahlonega, especially, is a beautiful town full of rich history where you you’ll discover lots of small shops, restaurants, and other unique finds. Visit a few local historical landmarks, shop for antiques, and indulge in some specialty chocolates or fudge. Also the home of University of activity Spotlight North Georgia, this small town is always full of life.

Tomahawk Throwing Challenge: Amicalola State Park’s newest No matter what helps hit your reset button, let the beauty, relaxation, and adventure found in the North Georgia Mountains offer you a break from the craziness of life and create space to simply breathe.

adventure activity is a ton of fun. While tomahawk throwing is far from new, it has recently seen a resurgence in popularity. In what is most easily compared to an archery range, you are taught the basics of technique and safety and are given an hour with an instructor to see which of you and your friends can rack up the most points by throwing tomahawks at a wooden target. In our experience, an hour was the perfect amount of time. This activity isn’t based on strength or prior skill, which makes it great for both guys and girls of all ages (eight & up). So, get out there and give it a shot—or rather, a throw!

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