GOODlife Magazine January/February 2020 - Tim Tebow

2020

Atlanta CHRISTIAN SCHOO GUIDE

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Watch Where You Walk Connect with Your Spouse

TIM TEBOW

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CONTENTS 06

GOODlife EVENTS Upcoming local happenings for you and your family

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FOCUS FOR THE NEW YEAR Heed the biblical instruction to “look carefully…how you walk”

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CONNECTING WITH YOUR SPOUSE Prioritize your marriage amid the busyness and distractions

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BUSINESSPEOPLE’S PURPOSE Use your skills to play a strategic role in God’s kingdom

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FRUITFUL VERSUS FRUSTRATED A busy, self-centered life will never satisfy

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CHRISTIAN SCHOOL GUIDE Find the right school for your children in your area of Atlanta A GAUGE, NOT A GUIDE Understanding the role God designed your emotions to play

FEATURED COVER: TIM TEBOW As a professional athlete, speaker, businessman, and more, Tim Tebow persistently seeks to live a life of significance beyond his personal achievements.

Publisher

Kristen Bland

Editor-In-Chief Gabriel Bland

Assistant Editor Autumn Burr

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Riley Watkins Riley@goodlifemagazine.org 770.883.3264

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EVENT EVEN TS Marietta Christian Women’s Connection Luncheon

Wed, Jan 22 at 11am Marietta Country Club, Kennesaw “Declutter” with Laura Ray of Organize Atlanta. Speaker and music: Susan Schreer Davis. eventbrite.com

Winter Jam Tour Spectacular

Sat, Feb 1 at 6pm, JamNation starts at 3:30pm State Farm Arena, Atlanta Approximately four hours of showtime, featuring Crowder, Hillsong Young & Free, Andy Mineo, Building 429, Red, Austin French, Newsong, and more! jamtour.com

Fashion Show Tea Party

Sun, Jan 26 at 5pm Mount Paran North Church Gym, Marietta Ladies of all ages: dress in your tea party attire. Event benefits Wellspring Living.

Tickets are free; register online. mountparannorth.com/events

20/20: New Year, New Vision

Sun, Jan 26 at 6:30pm Burnt Hickory Baptist Church, Powder Springs An evening with bestselling author and speaker Chrystal Evans Hurst. Enjoy a girl’s night out and get inspired to leave behind the baggage of last year and start fresh. burnthickory.com/events

Johnny Hunt Men’s Conference – Renovate

Fri - Sat, Jan 31 - Feb 1 First Baptist Church Woodstock A weekend just for men. Renovate: Tear down the walls and get back to your foundation. johnnyhuntmensconference.com

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North Atlanta Home Show

Fri - Sun, Feb 7-9 Infinite Energy Center, Duluth An event that illustrates products and services for the home: kitchen & bath, landscaping, interior design, pool & spa, building products, energy saving solutions, home decor & furnishings, home remodeling, lawn and garden equipment and accessories, and home and patio furniture. northatlantahomeshow.com

Chick-fil-A Daddy-Daughter Date Night Thurs, Feb 13 from 6-7:30pm Enjoy an evening out with your little girl at your Atlanta area Chick-fil-A restaurant. Go online to RSVP your time and location. atldaddydaughterdate.com

Worship Circle

Sun, Jan 26 at 7pm Church of the Apostles, Atlanta Worship Circle is a mentoring and training ministry for worship leaders around the world. Join the event leaders Paul Baloche, Meredith Andrews, Charlie Hall, Todd Fields, and Christy Nockles for a night of unforgettable worship and remembrance. apostles.org/worship-circle

needs ages 14 and older. Over 670 churches from around the world host events for approximately 90,000 honored guests through the support of 175,000 volunteers! timtebowfoundation.org/ministries/nightto-shine

Run for the Son

Sat, Feb 1 from 6-10:15am Burnt Hickory Baptist Church, Powder Springs Radiate Student Ministry fundraiser is a 5k, 10k, and 1-mile fun run. The 10k is a Peachtree qualifier. burnthickory.com/events

Night to Shine

Fri, Feb 7 from 6-9pm Due West Church, Marietta Passion City Church, Atlanta First Baptist Church Cumming First Baptist Church Woodstock Faith UMC, Cartersville Free Chapel, Gainesville NorthStar Church, Kennesaw Powder Springs First UMC West Ridge Church, Dallas Night to Shine is an absolutely unforgettable prom night experience, centered on God’s love, for people with special

Special Needs Ministry Conference

Sat, Mar 7 from 8:15am-4pm Mount Paran Church, Atlanta The Together Conference is open to all special needs ministry leaders, children’s and youth pastors/directors, church staff, volunteers, and parents. Jillian Palmiotto and the Mount Paran Family Ministry will be sharing tips to help you start or improve your church’s special needs ministry.

Register online. mountparan.com/event

FOR MORE LOCAL EVENTS, GO TO: GOODLIFEMAGAZINE. ORG/EVENTS

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Watch Where You Walk in the New Year

T

he Christian life is not a sprint. It is a journey of ten million steps.

Day after day, and year after year, we put one foot in front of the other as we flee the wreckage of our sin and follow Jesus on the path of life. We step away from self-protection toward love, away from darkness toward light, away from foolishness toward wisdom. Step after step after step—ten million times.

But unless we stop every so often and take a careful look backward and forward, our feet will gradually drift from God’s paths and stumble onto others. Like a hiker who never checks his compass, we’ll set out in the right direction and end up miles off the mark. Slowly, subtly, and perhaps imperceptibly, we’ll exit the narrow and hard path that leads to life and merge onto the wide and easy way to destruction (Matthew 7:13–14).

The new year is a time for course correction—a time for taking out the map, consulting the compass, and heeding Paul’s command to “look carefully…how you walk” (Ephesians 5:15).

In Ephesians, Paul commands his readers five times to “walk”—in good works, in a manner worthy of their calling, in love, in light, and in wisdom. As we consider three of Paul’s “walk” commands, take a look backward and forward: Where have you drifted off the path? What steps might you take this year, with God’s help, to follow Jesus down these hard but happy roads?

Walk in Love Walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (Ephesians 5:2)

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For Jesus, love meant nails through his hands and feet and a spear through his side. Love meant climbing onto a cross and offering himself up as a sacrifice.

Love meant inconvenience and sorrow and an excruciating death. This is the love that breathed life into our dead lungs (Ephesians 2:4–5); the love that is broader, longer, higher, and deeper than the galaxies (Ephesians 3:18–19); the love that is washing every stain of sin from our souls (Ephesians 5:25– 27); the love that God commands us to imitate—even if our strongest love is a whisper compared to his symphony.

Therefore, walk in love—go low to lift others up. Spend your time with the lonely. Bend your body to bear burdens. Ransack your imagination to meet needs. Give your presence to the grieving. Fix your attention on the forgotten.

Such love will cost us, of course; we’ll have to relinquish handfuls of time and comfort and convenience. But in the end, Jesus knows how to repay everything you lose on the path of love: “Whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord” (Ephesians 6:8). Go low in love, and Christ himself will lift you up.

Walk in love this year.

Walk in Light At one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light. (Ephesians 5:8) When the light of Christ broke into your life and dispersed your constant midnight, he shone on you so that his light might make its home in you.

The God of light made you a child of light—a little candle lit from the sun of Christ.

Therefore, walk in light—drive out the shadows from your soul. Train your

By : Scott Hubbard

“The Christian life is not a sprint.

It is a journey of ten million steps.”

“Jesus knows how to repay everything you lose on the path of love.”

tongue to heal others instead of cutting them up. Relish the deeper pleasure of purity instead of giving yourself over to sexual immorality. Grow in gratitude for all that God has given instead of stewing over all that he’s withheld. Ache for “all that is good and right and true” (Ephesians 5:9).

You can walk in these paths of light this year because you already are light in the Lord. The dark version of you died with Jesus at the cross, was laid with Jesus in the tomb—and will never rise again. Even if you feel like a smoldering wick right now, if you are in Christ, your destiny is to “shine like the sun in the kingdom of [your] Father” (Matthew 13:43). And that transformation will happen as you keep on stepping out of the shadows, repenting of the specific darkness that still grips you, confessing it to God and others, and shining the light of God’s word upon it.

Walk in light this year.

Walk in Wisdom Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.

(Ephesians 5:15–16) Every path in this world cuts through our enemy’s backyard. We don’t yet walk in the safety of the new heavens and new earth; we walk in “the present evil age” (Galatians 1:4), an age where the devil stalks the earth with a quiver of burning arrows, his eyes keen for careless travelers (Ephesians 6:16). If we do not apply God’s wisdom to how we are walking in every area of life, the devil will be more than happy to chart the course for us.

Therefore, walk in wisdom—seize your days from the devil’s hand. Clutch onto every opportunity in your life and turn it in a Godward direction. Make a plan for your marriage this year. Go to work on your parenting. Gauge the health of your friendships. In each of these areas of life (and every other), ask, In this part of my life, how can I live like Christ is precious, the gospel is powerful, the Spirit is inside me, and eternity is coming?

God has already broken the devil’s spell on you. He has already handed you a shield to extinguish his arrows and a sword to swing back (Ephesians 6:16–17). These days may be evil, but you don’t have to be—no part of your life has to be. With a lot of careful looking and the Holy Spirit’s help, you can make the best use of these evil days. Walk in wisdom this year.

God’s City of Joy One day soon, you will not need to look carefully to how you are walking. Perfect love will course through the veins of your resurrected body. The light of God’s righteousness will radiate from your every thought, word, and action. Unclouded wisdom will rest upon your immortal shoulders.

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Until that day, this is another year to “look carefully…how you walk” (Ephesians 5:15). Walk in love—go low to lift others up. Walk in light—drive the shadows from your soul. And walk in wisdom—seize your days from the devil’s hand. These are three roads that lead us to God’s city of joy, where our journey of ten million steps will finally end.

Scott Hubbard is a graduate of Bethlehem College & Seminary and an editor for desiringGod.org. He lives in Minneapolis.

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Connection 14 Keys to Lasting Love

An excerpt from

By: Dr. Kim Kimberling

Nancy and I could fill a notebook with the list of things we have done wrong in our marriage over the years. Fortunately, we have done some things right too. One thing we feel has made a difference is the time each day that we set aside to check in with each other. There were years when it was harder to find that time, but almost without exception, we found it. Some days it was five minutes, other days, thirty minutes or more. Those “thirty minutes or more” days have always been my favorites.

Getting couples to set aside time each day to connect is usually a process. It’s not that they say they don’t want to or that they have something better to do. Usually the tough part is carving out time and holding it sacred when schedules scream for their focus to be elsewhere. Todd and Jessica had three kids who were spaced the “perfect” two and a half years apart. Their oldest was ten, then seven plus, and five. My guess is that you can relate in one way or another to their lives. Jessica homeschooled the two youngest, and the oldest was in public school. Todd had a really good job that usually let him be home by five on weekdays and very seldom required him to work weekends. They had recently purchased a new home on a cul-de-sac. There were seventeen kids on their street, and most of them loved to hang out at Todd and Jessica’s home. On top of all of those things, each of their children was involved in two outside activities, which usually meant two practices, one game, and one day for a music lesson—times three!

The first time I saw them in my office, I thought, This couple looks really tired. As we talked, I found out I was right. They told me they were tired and that they sometimes felt like strangers, which scared them. Todd said, “It doesn’t seem that long ago that we were so connected; and then we had kids.” I get that. Kids are one of the greatest blessings that God gives us in our marriages, but they are also one of the greatest distractions from our marriages. Todd and Jessica did what almost every couple does as they enter the “raising children” stage of life: they forgot to prioritize their marriage. Connecting before kids had been easy, but now it seemed impossible. Welcome to life in the twenty-first century.

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I asked them what they had recently tried. Todd said, “I try to ask her how her day went, but I know she thinks it is because I am supposed to, and usually she is right. I just want to check it off my list, and I almost never hear her response.” Jessica said, “When we were close, I felt like I was completely involved in every part of Todd’s life. When things went well for him at work, I knew, and we celebrated every victory no matter how big or small.

Now, since his office moved a year ago, I’m not sure I could find my way there.”

As much as you may identify with Todd and Jessica, you may identify with this too: life was not always this way for them. I cannot tell you the number of couples for whom the words “we used to be so connected” are part of their first counseling visit. That’s the bad news.

The good news is that they know what to do. You know what to do. Connection is not an abstract idea.

You used to connect, and many of you did it well. It just got squeezed out with the demands and busyness of life.

That needs to stop. Look at it this way: Your marriage is the most important relationship you will have in this life next to your relationship with Jesus.

If your marriage fails, look at the fallout. It will be devastating to you, your spouse, your kids, and on and on. If, on the other hand, you say no to some activities for yourself, your spouse, and your kids, the fallout will probably be zero!

When your kids roll into adulthood, what do you want them to remember: a terrible divorce or parents who made their marriage a priority and thus provided a loving, secure home for them?

The next steps are yours.

• First, find an hour to spend alone together when you will not be interrupted. This is not a “date night” but a “work night,” which will lead to more date nights!

• Second, commit to a daily time together. If you can’t find more, start with five minutes. The big idea here is to commit.

• Third, brainstorm all the things you did through your dating years, engagement period, and the before-kid time of your marriage that connected you when you were together. Write them down. What will fit into your daily time together? What would be great for future date nights? If physical touch is not on your list, add it.

It can be sexual, nonsexual, or preferably both.

• Fourth, don’t let anything get in the way. Make these new marriage-long habits.

For Nancy and me, connection time each day is a highlight. It was, and is, something we both look forward to. Our pattern before kids Excerpted with permission from FaithWords, a division of Hachette Book Group.

was to spend that time right after I got home from work.

Someone told me a long time ago that the way a couple spends the first ten minutes in the evening together determines how the evening goes. I took that to heart.

Did that mean that we never had arguments later in the evenings? Not necessarily, but I think there were fewer, and they were less intense because of the way we spent our first ten minutes.

When our kids were little, it took more effort and often a little sacrifice. I made it a priority to find Nancy as soon as I got home. Sometimes I was walking with a kid on each leg or one in my arms and the other hanging on. I navigated around toys, dogs, etc., but I found her, kissed her, and asked how her day was. Our connection time during those years came after the kids were asleep.

Someone wanted to know if we were tired during those years. The answer is yes, but we realized how important connection was for us. We looked at it this way: we could be rested and disconnected or tired and connected. We chose tired, and looking back, that was a good choice.

Dr. Kim Kimberling has been a professional counselor for over thirty years. He is the author of the recently released 14 Keys to Lasting Love (FaithWords). He holds a PhD and a Doctor of Ministry in Christian Counseling. He also holds master’s degrees in Christian ministry and theological studies. Dr. Kim is president and co-founder of Awesome Marriage. He lives with Nancy, his wife of over forty years, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

By: John Rinehart

How Businesspeople Can Reach the World

M

y parents were businesspeople. My inlaws were businesspeople. And my wife and I both followed suit.

As a young businessman, I believed the Great Commission was not just for pastors and missionaries, but it did seem like the ministry professionals saw the real action—that is, until I came across the stories of “gospel patrons.” These stories captivated me because they were business leaders playing a strategic role in God’s kingdom.

They were not second-class Christians. They were fellow workers, partners in the work of the gospel.

This model was there in Scripture in the three women who quietly supported Jesus’s ministry (Luke 8:1–3). It was there in history in the wealthy cloth merchant who generously gave to produce the first English Bible.

The more I investigated this idea, the more I came across people like Peter Thomas. Peter leads a growing business in central California. He’s an engineer by trade. And he’s passionate about foreign missions.

He said, “With the wealth that I have, and with the wealth we have in America, we should be the

hub—the American church should be the hub of doing foreign missions.”

So did Peter become a foreign missionary? No. A pastor? No. Those are great callings, but Peter found his part to play as a businessman who engages in the Great Commission by partnering with others.

One of these partnerships is with a globetrotting cameraman named John. Together, John and Peter are helping to stir up the Western church to be more engaged in the work of foreign missions.

We believe our generation could finish the Great Commission, but it will take a team effort of all of us playing our parts. As John says in the resulting film, the stories of gospel patrons need to be heard because they can inspire businesspeople to see how God can use them, in their fields, in connection with his global mission.

Whether we go or give, speak or send, preach or promote, we are members of one body and partners in one mission, until all tribes, nations, and peoples have heard.

John Rinehart lives with his wife and children in Southern California. He is the author of Gospel Patrons and executive producer of the short films available at gospelpatrons.org.

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The  Versus the Frustrated Life

By: Joyce Meyer



ave you ever spent your time running around all day long, but at the end of it, not knowing what you actually accomplished? It’s so frustrating when you realize you were busy, going from one thing to the next, but you didn’t get around to doing anything you intended, or needed, to do.

It’s easy to live this way in our world today with so much going on all the time. But I can’t find any scripture in the Bible where God commands us, or even suggests to us, that we be busy. However, it does talk a lot about being fruitful— bearing good fruit in our lives.

There are two ways we bear good fruit. One is by displaying the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). And the second way is by getting out in the world where God has planted us and being good to people.

I’m talking about helping people who are hard to love or don’t seem to deserve it. Or giving to the poor and getting involved with people so you can make a difference and help make their lives better, rather than spending all of your time trying to make yourself happy.

I’ve discovered that being selfish and self-centered never makes anyone happy. Living for God is really just the opposite of that. God does want to bless us and give us the things we need, but when we give our lives to Him, our purpose is to serve Him.

Who Do People Think You Are? In Matthew 12:33 (AMP), Jesus says, “…The tree is known by its fruit.” And this is how people know who we are. Just as you recognize an orange tree by the oranges it produces, you recognize a Christian by the fruit of his or her lifestyle.

I’ve said often that you won’t be recognized as a Christian just because you have a Christian bumper sticker on your car or you wear Christian jewelry or go to church every week.

Most of the time, people won’t care what you have to say if your behavior doesn’t back it up.

The fruit of our lives is seen in our behavior—what we do to help others and our attitudes—as well as what we say. It’s the visible expression of the invisible work that God is doing in us.

Jesus says in John 15:8, “My Father is glorified and honored by this, when you bear much fruit, and prove yourselves to

be My [true] disciples.” In other words, we’re not proving anything to anyone simply by what we say. It’s the fruit of our lives that proves who we really are.

So, it’s good for us to frequently ask ourselves: Who am I helping in my life? How am I making a difference or making someone else’s life better?

How to Bear Good Fruit Every Day The key to bearing good fruit is found in John 15:5, which says, “I am the Vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him bears much fruit, for [otherwise] apart from Me [that is, cut off from vital union from Me] you can do nothing.”

Jesus is telling us that, as we spend time with Him in prayer and by studying the Bible, His Spirit is working in us, changing us little by little (2 Corinthians 3:18), causing us to reflect His image or characteristics more and more. It’s a progressive transformation that takes time and requires a consistent commitment throughout our lifetime.

If you aren’t spending regular time with Jesus and growing in your relationship with Him through prayer and Bible study, I want to challenge you to reevaluate your priorities and put first things first. The truth is we put our time into what we really want to do. And if something is truly important to you, you will find time to do it.

God’s Gift to You God created you because He loves you, He wants to have a personal relationship with you, and He wants to do amazing things in you and through you. Every day is a gift from God, and it’s so precious!

Ephesians 3:20 says that God “is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly more than all that we dare ask or think [infinitely beyond our greatest prayers, hopes, or dreams], according to His power that is at work within us.” He has a plan for you, and He will give you everything you need to fulfill your destiny as you seek Him and grow stronger in your faith in Him. I want to encourage you to focus on Jesus and live by the wisdom He reveals to you in His Word. Choose to do today what you will be happy with later on, and no matter what the cost, you’ll find that the good fruit it brings is more satisfying and fulfilling than just being busy any day of the week!

For more on this topic, order Joyce’s three-CD series Busy Going Nowhere. 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 Healing the Soul of a Woman (FaithWords). 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. january/february 2020

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LIVING A LIFE OF SIGNIFICANCE By: Gabriel Bland

T “We don’t get to play God; we get to serve God. And he says that everyone matters, that everyone’s loved, and he puts a value on everyone.

And it is a great value. It is valuable enough for Jesus to die.”

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If you don’t recognize the name Tim Tebow, you’ve been out of a lot of different loops for quite a while now. I mean, who doesn’t remember the “Tebowing” sensation that dominated social media feeds and schools back in 2011? Or who hasn’t watched him on ESPN in one of his many different career exploits?

But for those few who still aren’t familiar with him, Tim Tebow is an outspoken Christ-follower in every arena he is in—both literal and metaphorical. He has used many different platforms and career successes to bring glory to Jesus Christ, including as a professional baseball player, professional football quarterback, broadcaster, author, businessman, film producer, and speaker (If you haven’t heard him tell his John 3:16 story, don’t miss out—look it up!). Moreover, he founded the Tim Tebow Foundation that exists “to bring faith, hope, and love to those needing a brighter day in their darkest hour of need” and serves by “fighting for those who cannot fight for themselves.”

Amidst his continual efforts, in all his areas of influence, to love God and love others, he was able to spend a few minutes talking to us at GOODlife about his walk with the Lord, his passions, and different seasons and rhythms of life.

What has God been putting on your heart?

Tim: One thing that I’ve really been enjoying over the course of the last maybe five or six months is, you know, when you grow up in church, it’s always very imperative— or most of the time I think a lot of people make it very imperative—that you start off your day in a quiet time, right?

You start off your day in the Word, you know, starting a day “right.” And it’s always been something I’ve really tried to get in the routine of doing. But I’ve got also be honest, I’m very much of a night owl over a morning person, and so I kind of slowly got into a routine of studying and having more of my reading and my studying of the scriptures at night, actually right before I go to bed, and I found out that I love it.

And it’s really been helpful for me because I think about it as I go to sleep. I think my brain continues to process it as I sleep, and I wake up feeling like I’ve retained more of the information—and also with just a little bit more of a tender spirit towards it in the morning…

I think there’s still a part of waking up in the morning and really trying to give your day to the Lord and ask for guidance and wisdom and start it off that way. But [the morning time

can be spent just] doing that versus actually studying or different things, you know?

If you could communicate one thing to someone reading this article that you think would help them in their relationship with Christ, what would you want to communicate?

Tim: Oh my gosh, that’s such a big, deep question. There’d be so many things I would want to communicate... Something that I’ve loved getting the chance to share in so many different aspects and areas, especially lately, whether that’s from hospitals to prisons to orphanages to young people with special needs, and it’s just been so very strong in my life…is just how valuable people are to God and the value in which he loves them—and not only loves them but likes them—and the value that every single person holds. You know, if we really wanted to change society, then we would try to view people the same way God views people, with that value, because when we understand the value that God has on us, that we are so loved that he sent his Son for us…then we can actually see other people that way too. Right? Because now it doesn’t even have to do with me liking someone else; it has to do with understanding how much value God puts on that person. And if that person is that valuable to the God of this universe, then I better treat him or her with honor and with dignity and with kindness and with sweetness and with the right words and the right manners and the right tones…

But it’s because we believe it’s the church doing what the church is supposed to do—and that’s loving those that are in need and caring for those and crowning every single one as a king or the queen of the prom because we believe that’s how the God of the universe looks at them every single day. But also, it’s for the community. It’s for the people that want to do good, but they don’t know how; they want to get involved, but they’re just not sure. Well, guess what? Come here, sign up, volunteer. And if you’re not sure how to be a buddy or how to do some of the more intricate things, then you can stand on the red carpet and you can cheer.

When you cheer for someone with special needs

Sometimes we’re in places where society doesn’t value certain people.

You know, there are certain people in prisons or other places around the world where special needs people are cursed or thrown away or “less than.” And, one of the things that we do at our foundation is we go find those kids and those people…and we love them and we support them and we care for them and we do everything we can. And, you know, it just becomes overwhelming at times to think about the value and the love that God has for all of humanity, every single person.

At our foundation this year, we came up with our five nonnegotiables, and one of our non-negotiables of who we are, of our mindset of what we do every day is that everyone matters. Everyone matters. We don’t get to play God; we get to serve God. And he says that everyone matters, that everyone’s loved, and he puts a value on everyone. And it is a great value. It is valuable enough for Jesus to die.

What advice would you give to individuals who see the need and feel the calling to love and serve those who are, for whatever reason, devalued by our society but aren’t sure how or where to start because maybe they don’t personally know someone in that situation or don’t feel equipped?

Tim: Well, I think there’s someone in your community and in your school or in your business that needs you and needs help. I’ll start by saying that. Number two is if you don’t know where you can go, you can go to Night to Shine on February 7th this year. There will be over seven hundred locations, and there will be one close to you.

And if you don’t know what to do, go volunteer, stand on the red carpet, and you cheer. I believe that your life is going to be impacted by doing it. It’s been amazing for me and my team just watching Night to Shine and how God has grown it so much every year. january/february 2020

15

going down the red carpet, it has a chance to be the first time in their life that they’ve ever been cheered for and they’ve ever been clapped for and they’ve ever been appreciated in that way. And you know what happens in a life when it finally realizes that it’s valuable and it has worth? It changes. And it also changes for the people that are cheering for them and that are celebrating them. That’s why it is my favorite night of the year… We’ll have over 220-ish thousand volunteers in over thirty-two countries around the world celebrating people and celebrating God’s love for people… And it’s easy as possible for people to be able to be part of something and volunteer… I wanted to try to create as easy of an on-ramp as we could so people could kind of take that first step.

You may have already touched on this a bit, but what are you passionate about?

Tim: I mean, that’s easy. It would be Jesus and people… You know,

I think theology can get tough sometimes, but I think it’s important to break it down to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself. And if we are focused on loving Jesus and loving people and in the pursuit of both of those things as best we can, I think we’re going somewhat in the right direction.

What else do you have going on that you’d like to share?

Tim: Well, I’m getting married in January, so that’ll be pretty big…

I’ll be very excited about that! There’s so many different things as a foundation that we’re involved in that we’re trying to bring, faith, hope, and love to as many people as we can in their darkest hour of need. And so, we’re excited about all those things. But [we’ll] be starting the year off with a bang with those two things [wedding and Night to Shine].

What advice do you have for singles who want to enjoy the season they are in but are also hoping to find that special someone and get married one day?

Tim:

I would just say it’s trusting God and understanding that there are seasons for everything… and being content with where he has you but knowing he has a plan for your life. So, it doesn’t mean that you can’t be pursuing things, but it also means, I think, that we need to be trusting him in the midst of all of it. And I think that it’s not an easy thing to do. It’s a lot easier to say than it is to do. But when we are having faith in God, I don’t think that we can also at the same time have bitterness in our situation. Now, you can have it in your life—you can still believe in God and be bitter about situations.

But to be content in something and to be bitter about the same thing? I just don’t think they can both be there. I either am content with where God has me or I’m upset about it. And I think it’s really learning to just try to give it to the Lord and say, “God, I know you have me in this season or this place for a reason, and I want to be able to understand it and [have] the biggest impact for your kingdom, even though this season might not be the most fun for me.” So, I would say in any season—and I’m not just talking about singleness or dating or marriage or anything but more in a bigger scale of all of it—to find God’s purpose in where you’re at and what you’re doing at that moment, even if it’s not your favorite season.

Can you share something about yourself that shows what you are like in everyday life?

Tim: I love to just hang out with friends, make fun of each other, laugh, and play games. Last Monday, we had the whole foundation team over... We got to just share God’s love with a group of people, and then afterwards we all came to the house. We played games, and then we just did impersonations of one another for like an hour and a half… I think everybody got the biggest kick when people were impersonating me, and it was hysterical. You know, personally, that’s stuff that I love to do.

Any New Year’s advice for our GOODlife readers?

Tim: The first thing that comes to mind is don’t make a new year’s resolution just to make a new year’s resolution—and don’t make one that you know you’re going to break. If you’re going to decide on something, then I think it’s important to first be convicted of it and then say, “OK, you know what? I’m going to get on this diet” or “I’m going to start doing this” or “I’m going to give this up”… If it’s something that’s on your heart and you feel passionate about it, then do it. But then choose to stick with it.

For more information on this year’s Night to Shine, check out our events on page 6!

16

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Read Pray Love 940

3 Essential Things Every Parent Should Do With Their Kids By: Kate Hartley

There are 940 Saturdays between the time a child is born and when he or she turns eighteen. Only 940 Saturdays to make the most of your child’s time under your roof before they fly the nest. And speaking of flying, how many of those Saturdays have already flown by?

But now, the good news: With a bit of intentionality, you can raise your kids without regrets. We recently sat down with the team of experts at North Cobb Christian School (NCCS) in Kennesaw to discover the most critical things every child needs from his or her parents. If you intentionally do just three things this year, make them these.

1 | READ

“Decades of consistent research have shown that reading with your kids is one of the best things you can do for them,” reveals Wendy Titus, Lower School Principal at NCCS. “Kids who read twenty minutes a day will encounter 1,800,000 more words annually and will score significantly higher on standardized tests than non-reading peers [do].”

The best way to get kids reading? Read aloud to them! “Even ‘big kids’ enjoy hearing a good story!” says Titus. “Introduce them to your favorite kids’ books or discover a new one together.” Favorites of NCCS teachers include Charlotte’s Web; A Cricket in Times Square; The One and Only Ivan; The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe; and Wonder.

2 | PRAY

Pray with your kids! “It’s so important to teach our children that a relationship with God is not a silent one,” encourages Student Life Director Jonathan Ray, whose job is to disciple and guide students spiritually at NCCS. “Being in relationship with God means not only communicating with him but also listening. Teach children to ask God to reveal himself.”

18

goodlifemagazine.org

Ray notes that so often in Christian culture, we have all the answers when it comes to faith, but we don’t explore what it really means to interact with the Creator—just like we do with other relationships in our lives. “Ask your kids, ‘What has God been telling you? Not just teaching you, but telling you.’ James 4:8 says that if we draw near to God, he draws near to us. So, model that. Slow down. Take five minutes at bedtime to model praying and listening,” suggests Ray. “So much of our lives are wrapped up in our own little boxes, but prayer takes the lid off the box so we can see eternity.”

3 | LOVE

Ten minutes on social media these days reinforces our society’s obsession with achievement. And while, as parents, we want our children to be well-rounded and successful, it’s important to counteract messages of perfectionism. “Teach children the difference between achievement and worth,” advises Emily Siller, Upper School Counselor at NCCS. “With my own children, I directly remind them that it’s fun to use our gifts and talents, but our worth doesn’t lie in those abilities. Your worth is in who God made you to be, at your core.”

Teach your children that hobbies, sports, talents, and activities can bring amazing joy! But make sure your kids know their true identity comes from who they are at their core. “Our worth comes from our true selves, made in God’s image,” affirms Siller, “and not from anything we do or achieve.”

So, remind your kids that you love them, no matter what—and that they are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14), with or without accolades and awards!

To meet NCCS’s education experts, set up a personalized tour of the school any time by calling 770-975-0252 or emailing admissions@ncchristian.org. | North Cobb Christian School | Preschool K3 - 12th Grade | Fully Accredited | Award-Winning Arts, Athletics, & Academics | 4500 Eagle Drive, Kennesaw, GA 30101 | ncchristian.org | 770-975-0252

| This ad was submitted by North Cobb Christian School

Atlanta

Christian

School Guide 2020 # Students

Average Class Size

Any Bus Availability?

Religious Affiliation*

Woodstock

$4,500 $13,750

K5 - 12th

Bridge Program for mild learning challenges

375

17

No

C

Community Christian School

Canton

$4,750 $5,000

K5 - 8th

N/A

50

< 12

No

C

See ad on page 21 for more info.

Cornerstone Preparatory Academy

Acworth

$6,300

K - 12th

University-model school

490

14:1 18:1

No

C

Covenant Christian School

Smyrna

$7,027 $11,187

K4 - 8th

N/A

134

14:1

No

C

Dominion Christian School

See ad on page 20 for more info.

Marietta

$8,900 $9,900

6th - 12th

N/A

200

16:1

No

C

Eastside Christian School

Marietta

$9,220 $9,500

K – 8th

Discovery Program – additional support for small learning gaps

200

12 - 14

No

B

Excel Christian Academy

Emerson

$7,020 $9,180

PreK - 12th

N/A

170

10 - 15

Yes

C

Faith Lutheran School

Marietta

$8,800

12 month 8th

SB-1- scholarship, financial assistance

190

12

No

C

Kennesaw

$2,150 $8,900

PK2 - 8th

Schoolwide STEAM program; Fine Arts; Coding

118

9

No

C

Powder Springs

$1,848 $7,596

K3 - 8th

N/A

300

18:1 max

No

P

Mount Paran Christian School

Kennesaw

$4,010 $20,319

PreK3 - 12th

Directed Studies, PLTW®, 57 AP/Honors, PK-12 STEAM

1,100

12:1

Yes

C

Mt. Bethel Christian Academy

Marietta

$10,731 $15,562

K - 12th

Pathways program for learning support

630+

18

Yes

C

North Cobb Christian School

Kennesaw

$5,000 $15,000

PreK3 - 12th

Moving Forward Program, plus extensive Honors + AP

900

7:1 - 11:1

Yes

C

Powder Springs

$5,600 $7,000

K3 - 12th

Mosaic Program, fine arts

280

15

No

C

Kennesaw

$5,150 $8,900

PK3 - 12th

Directed studies program that assists students with mild learning disabilities

150

10:1

No

B

School Name

Special Needs/ Specialty Programs

Grades

Cherokee Christian Schools

E= Episcopal CT= Catholic P= Presbyterian B= Baptist C= Christian - No denomonational affiliation

Location

Annual Tuition

*Key: Religious Affiliation:

REGION 1: NORTHWEST

First Baptist Christian School See ad on page 23 for more info.

Midway Covenant Christian School

See ad on page 21 for more info.

See ad on page 9 for more info.

Praise Academy Shiloh Hills Christian School See ad on page 22 for more info.

january/february 2020

19

Average Class Size

Any Bus Availability?

Religious Affiliation*

2yrs - 8th

Spanish as part of core curriculum

485

20

No

C/E

Kennesaw

$7,990

K - 8th

Tuition assistance available

340

18

No

CT

Marietta

$7,099 $9,230

K - 8th

N/A

440

24

No

CT

The Cumberland School

Austell and Powder Springs

$4,230 $9,990

PreK3 - 12th

N/A

300

16

Yes

C

The King’s Academy

Woodstock

$3,735 $4,320

K - 12th

JROTC, fine arts, CTAE in coordination with Chattahoochee Tech

960

21

No

C

Marietta

$2,200 $10,600

K - 9th

N/A

144

18:1

No

C

Smyrna

$10,000 $20,000

PreK - 12th

N/A

850

8:1

Yes

C

Dunwoody

$6,300

K - 12th

N/A

40

6 - 10

No

B

Dunwoody Christian School

Sandy Springs

$7,000 $11,000

K - 3rd

On-site speech and occupational therapy

13

7

Yes

C

Hebron Christian Academy

Dacula

$6,000 $18,400

K4 - 12th

N/A

925

18

Yes

C

Heritage Preparatory School

Atlanta

$16,760

PreK - 8th grade, adding an Upper School in 2021

N/A

165

12

No

C

Johns Creek

$8,670

K - 8th

N/A

456

25 - 28

No

CT

Holy Spirit Preparatory School

Atlanta

$3,655 $24,780

PreK-12th

Resource centers for mild, language-based learning challenges

450

6:1

Yes

CT

Intown Community School

Atlanta

$7,800 $11,400

K - 8th

N/A

230

10:1

No

C

Annual Tuition

Special Needs/ Specialty Programs

$7,930 $15,200

School Name

Grades

Smyrna

E= Episcopal CT= Catholic P= Presbyterian B= Baptist C= Christian - No denomonational affiliation

Location

# Students

*Key: Religious Affiliation:

REGION 1: NORTHWEST CONTINUED St. Benedict’s Episcopal School St. Catherine of Siena Catholic School St. Joseph Catholic School

The Stonehaven School

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Whitefield Academy

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REGION 2: NORTHEAST Crossroads Christian Academy

Holy Redeemer Catholic School

College preparatory · Dual enrollment program · Family atmosphere · Full athletic program · Grades 6-12

dominionchristian.org/open-house MARIETTA, GA

Average Class Size

Any Bus Availability?

Religious Affiliation*

$8,179 $16,237

PreK2 - 12th

Father Colin Program for students with learning differences

500+

18

Yes

CT

Johns Creek

$6,320 $13,055

K - 8th

N/A

520

8:1 - 18:1

No

P

Cumming

$9,180 $18,470

PreK3 - 12th

PARC Learning Support Program

700

20 - 24

No

C

Providence Christian Academy

Lilburn

$8,800 $18,000

K - 12th

STEM; academic support

700

13

No

C

Shallowford Presbyterian School

Atlanta

$1,150 $6,300

15 mos. - 5th

N/A

194

4:1 - 8:1

No

P

Brookhaven

$12,700 $23,350

Toddlers 8th

Kairos Learning Center

600

20

Yes

E

Peachtree Corners

$17,400 $24,900

K - 12th

N/A

1,179

8:1

Yes

C

Grades

Annual Tuition

School Name

Special Needs/ Specialty Programs

Duluth

E= Episcopal CT= Catholic P= Presbyterian B= Baptist C= Christian - No denomonational affiliation

Location

# Students

*Key: Religious Affiliation:

REGION 2: NORTHEAST CONTINUED Notre Dame Academy Perimeter School Pinecrest Academy

St. Martin’s Episcopal School Wesleyan School

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Annual Tuition

Grades

# Students

Average Class Size

Any Bus Availability?

Religious Affiliation*

Creekside Christian Academy

Hampton and McDonough

$6,250 average

K3 - 12th

Limited

835

18

No

C

Community Christian School

Stockbridge

$9,700

6 weeks 12th

N/A

750

16

No

C

Eagle’s Landing Christian Academy

McDonough

$4,068 $13,944

K3 - 12th

MERIT student support services. EXCEL – for exceptional learners, School of Fine Arts open to home-school families

1,005

14

Yes

B

Strong Rock Christian School

Locust Grove

$13,680

PreK3 - 12th

Learning Lab for academic support

828

11:1

No

C

Marietta

$23,000

1st - 8th

Specializing in dyslexia

120

5-8

No

C

Roswell & Buckhead

$30,000 $50,000

Pre-K - 12th Brain-based special needs + Therapy for program. Individualized programming all ages

150

1:1 - 6:1

No

N/A

E= Episcopal CT= Catholic P= Presbyterian B= Baptist C= Christian - No denomonational affiliation

School Name

Special Needs/ Specialty Programs

Location

*Key: Religious Affiliation:

REGION 3: South

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Be in the know on: “Classical Education”

of learning. A visitor to our school will find a very different learning environment in the Kindergarten classroom versus with Brett Edwards, head of school | the Stonehaven school the seventh grade classroom. In the Grammar school, there is a particular focus on teaching children the mechanics What is Classical Education? of language in every subject through memorization. As children move Across the United States, an increasing number of schools are opening into our seventh through ninth grade Logic program, teachers place a with a particular adjective that seeks to clearly distinguish their academic greater emphasis on critical thinking skills, reasoning, and analysis. The identity: classical. A classical education, above all else, seeks to cultivate tenth through twelfth grade Rhetoric program trains students to apply wisdom and virtue in the hearts and minds of our children. At Stonehaven, language and logic for the purpose of persuasion. the classical model is rooted in biblical truth. Our mission is “to glorify What type of student does the classical approach God by cultivating truth, goodness, and beauty in students through a seek to educate? distinctly Christ-centered classical education.”

Stonehaven’s end goal is to nurture each child to be a particular someone How is the classical model different? rather than to do a particular thing. If our children can become adults A core goal of a classical education is to equip our children with the who possess wisdom and virtue, we believe the doing of right things will “tools of learning.” In an ever-changing world, we know that a well- inevitably result from their character. A true education is not only about educated individual has developed habits to learn independently. More teaching our children to know the right things but, more importantly, important than just teaching what to learn, classical educators instill in training them to love the right things. Our goal as a school goes far children a knowledge of how to learn. A temptation in many schools beyond an eighteen-year-old who has excellent grades, a high SAT score, is the disintegration of subjects that have little relation to one another. and acceptance into elite universities. We strive to partner with our Classical education teaches every subject as one part of a cohesive whole. parents in guiding children to adopt a life dedicated to loving their God Teachers in classical schools help connect the ideas of history, literature, and loving their neighbor. math, science, and the arts. One of the essential requirements for classical How can I find out more about educators is that they embody and demonstrate a passionate love for Stonehaven’s classical and Christlearning. As students in classical schools observe their teachers, we centered education? believe they learn to appreciate and appropriate a similar love for learning Stonehaven is accepting applications for the 2020that continues beyond the walls of a traditional classroom.

2021 school year in Kindergarten through ninth What makes the classical model effective? grades. Contact our Admissions Director, Hannah Knowing that our children are designed by their Creator to learn Miley (admissions@stonehavenschool.org), for more differently at different developmental ages, a classical education teaches information or visit our website at stonehavenschool. “with the grain” of a child. This systematic approach includes three stages org to schedule a tour. | This ad was submitted by The Stonehaven School

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Your Emotions Are a Gauge, Not a Guide Gauge Guide

By: Jon Bloom

T

herefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 1:13)

"God designed your emotions to be gauges, not guides.

They're meant to report to you, not dictate you."

Jon Bloom (@Bloom_Jon) serves as author, board chair, and co-founder of Desiring God. He is author of three books, Not

by Sight, Things Not Seen, and Don’t Follow Your Heart. He and his wife have five children and make their home in the Twin Cities.

is the measure of your treasure, because the emotion of pleasure is a gauge that tells you what you love.

Your rest is coming. Sooner than you know, you will receive your “imperishable, undefiled, and unfading inheritance” (1 Peter 1:4). And when it comes, you will understand why your faith was more precious than gold (1 Peter 1:7). This is where Peter wants your hope to fully rest.

But because our emotions are wired into our fallen natures as well as into our regenerated natures, sin and Satan have access to them and will use them to try to manipulate us to act faithlessly.

That’s why our emotional responses to temptation can seem like imperatives (you must do…) rather than indicatives (here’s what you’re being told). Just remember, that’s deceit.

But today is a time for war, not peace. It’s a time for faith, not sight. It’s a time of grievous trials that test the genuineness of your faith (1 Peter 1:6–7). So it’s a time to prepare for the action of battle, to keep sober.

Emotions aren’t imperatives; they’re not your boss. They’re indicatives; they’re reports. That’s why Paul wrote, “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions” (Romans 6:12).

Your battle today will not be against “flesh and blood” but the deceitful forces of evil (Ephesians 6:12) and the deceitfulness of indwelling sin (Hebrews 3:13). And these two forces are going to try to use your emotions against you. So it might be helpful, by way of preparation, to remember the purpose of emotions so you can fight more effectively and know when to counter them.

So get ready today. “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). He will make promises to and/or threats against you. He will likely try to tap into your weak areas of unbelief, and you may find your emotions surging in the wrong direction.

God designed your emotions to be gauges, not guides. They’re meant to report to you, not dictate you. The pattern of your emotions (not every caffeine-induced or sleep-deprived one!) will give you a reading on where your hope is because they are wired into what you believe and value— and how much. That’s why emotions such as delight (Psalm 37:4), affection (Romans 12:10), fear (Luke 12:5), anger (Psalm 37:8), joy (Psalm 5:11), etc., are so important in the Bible. They reveal what your heart loves, trusts, and fears.

At Desiring God, we like to say pleasure

When that happens, don’t be overly impressed. And remember that your emotions are gauges, not guides. Let them tell you where the attack is being made so you can fight it with the right promises. Go to a trusted friend for prayer, perspective, and counsel if you need to.

Remember that this “light momentary affliction is preparing for [you] an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison” (2 Corinthians 4:17) and very soon, it’s going to be over. And God, your Great Reward, will be all the inheritance you will ever want forever.

Set your hope fully on that. january/february 2020

25

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A place to caa home! a place to

SERVE

1700 Allgood Road Marietta, GA 770.578.9081 | mountparannorth.com

be here Whether youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re reading Shakespeare or studying organic chemistry, Covenantâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s campus provides the perfect environment to immerse yourself in deep learning. Our scenic 400-acre campus sits atop Lookout Mountain, Georgia, just eight miles from bustling downtown Chattanooga, Tennessee.

In our tight-knit community, your passions will take shape as you recieve career mentorship from our esteemed faculty. covenant.edu/LiberalArts

Let’s go halfsies!

We’re paying 50% for first-time overnight campers!

Let your kid spend a slice of summer at a beautiful retreat away from home with WinShape Camps. Located across North Georgia and the Carolinas, the awe-inspiring outdoors and our next-level programming create space for campers K-12 to shine.

Choose from one- or two-week experiences designed just for boys or girls. Over the course of several days, all campers develop skillsets indoors and out, build friendships and grow in their relationship with Jesus—while having the summer of a lifetime.